A/N: Another chapter. Yeah I know. You're probably thinking, "When is this chick going to end the dang story?" The answer is...whenever I feel that you've read enough. Before it's over I promise you will want to rip me to pieces. Lol. Jk. Anywho, I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as the last 13! I really do wish that it is to your content.

Disclaimer: If you don't have anything nice to say, you've just become my new best friend. -kicks Bob- Oh and I don't own Inuyasha...er...or any of the other characters.

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"I would like to see you try!" Naraku raised his sword and was about to cut Inuyasha down, when a figure appeared in front of him.

"Naraku. Nice to see you again." Kagura whipped open her fan and swung it. Inuyasha jumped back and watched as Kagura attacked Naraku.

"I thought I killed you." Naraku said after he dodged Kagura's attack.

"You did. But Kanna was so kind as to bring me back to life." Kagura grinned.

"You are worthless and disobedient." Naraku stood up straight and glared a whole through Kagura's body.

"Once I destroy you, I will be free to roam wherever I please. I will have my heart back." Kagura turned angry. She was about to attack Naraku again, but a blue object whizzed past her cheek nailing Naraku directly in his heart.

"Wha-What is this?" Naraku fell backgrounds from the force of the attack.

Chapter 14: A Death and A Tough Love

Naraku's chest started to rot away. You could hear the crackling noises from his flesh burning and ripping away from the rest of his body. Naraku was to the point where he actually wanted to scream in agony.

"You wench! What have you done to me!" Naraku pulled the arrow that had inflicted his wound, out of his chest. But it did no good, his flesh was still being eaten away from the purity of Kagome's arrow. Naraku stood up and lifted his hand (the only one he had left) to the sky.

"Now you're going to get it." Kagura said as she looked back at Kagome, who still had her bow in place. Inuyasha looked at Kagome in shock. That was the last thing that he had expected from her, especially when she was tending to Sango and Miroku.

"My demons...come forth to me!" Naraku yelled into the sky as he tilted his head back in a rage. Inuyasha ran over to Kagome, in hopes that he could protect her from anything that Naraku was summoning. Kagura stood still with a playful grin on her face.

"Fascinating. Naraku might actually pose a threat." Kagura said sarcastically.

"Come to me! Bring me your strength!" Naraku stared into the empty sky. Inuyasha gazed into the direction that Naraku was looking in. A herd of demons suddenly sprouted from the peak of the mountains, and they were coming quickly.

Naraku's body was being eaten away quickly. The demons fleeted towards Naraku, in hopes of a good meal. Naraku opened a portal in front of him, that gave off a white light. Every last demon was sucked in one by one.

"Now you die." Naraku was in a perfect form again. He had both arms and his chest was no longer withering away. Inuyasha stepped forward.

"Tch. Try that the other way around. So what, you got a new arm. Kagome can just shoot that one off, too!" Inuyasha smirked.

"Don't be a fool. The girl is useless. She won't catch me off guard again." Naraku walked slowly towards Inuyasha.

"What's wrong Naraku? Are you scared?" Inuyasha lowered the Tetsusaiga. Naraku only laughed at Inuyasha's comment, which made Inuyasha think that Naraku was teasing him. Inuyasha ran as fast as he could towards Naraku.

"Get ready for this!" Inuyasha darted back and forth from left to right. Making it hard for Naraku to keep sight of him, especially at the rate of speed that he was going. Naraku attempted to dodge Inuyasha and stab him in the back, but only found himself face down into the ground. Inuyasha had elbowed him in the stomach and struck his legs under Naraku, making him fall.

"How can that be...?" Naraku asked weakly from his hole in the ground. Inuyasha jumped back about twenty feet in order to get a better sight of his opponent. Naraku slowly rose from the ground and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. Inuyasha bolted back towards Naraku again and jumped into the air. Naraku grabbed a hold of his ankle and slung him to the ground.

Inuyasha fell to the ground, but caught himself before plummeting into the dirt. Inuyasha grasped his leg in pain. Naraku had burned his flesh off.

"Heh. What's wrong? Are you angry? You have never battled this way before. It's most amusing." Naraku gained his posture and stared evilly at Inuyasha.

"Shut your mouth. I'm getting sick of hearing your voice!" Inuyasha stood up straight, despite his injured leg. Kagome watched from the sidelines, where she was helping Sango and Miroku. Kagura had managed to slip away, but Kagome didn't let her guard down.

"Sango, can you hear me? Are you alright?" Kagome lifted Sango's head onto her lap. Sango opened her eyes slightly.

"I'm fine. Where's Miroku?" Sango asked weakly. Kagome smiled and let out a sigh of relief. She was happy that Sango had finally woken up.

"Miroku is right here. He fought for you after Naraku tried to kill you. Miroku used his 'Windtunnel' and sucked in a lot of Naraku's poisonous insects. He was really worried about you, Sango." Kagome helped her friend sit up. Sango winced at the pain from being thrown to the ground.

"Miroku..." Sango stared at the monk that was lying helpless on the ground. Sango stood up and walked over to Miroku. "Miroku wake up." Sango placed her hand on Miroku's face. "Can you hear me?"

Miroku cracked his eyes a little. "My dear Sango, I can hear you. But I can't...I can't see you very well. Come closer." Miroku put his hand over Sango's.

"Hmm?" Sango lowered her face down to Miroku's. "Can you see me now?" Sango had a bad feeling about this. Miroku grinned on the inside as he made his way from Sango's hand to her bottom. "Grrr. Nice try Miroku." Sango smacked Miroku and stood up. "Some things never change!"

"That helped me wake up." Miroku said in pain as he rubbed his face.

"Idiot." Shippou plopped down on the ground and stared at Miroku.

"Where's Inuyasha?" Miroku asked after a few minutes.

"He's still fighting Naraku." Kagome said as she helped Miroku to his feet. He was still a little weak from all of the poison, but Kagome's herbs were bringing him along quite nicely.

"I have to help him. I can't just let Inuyasha defeat Naraku all by himself." Miroku picked up his staff and headed towards the battlefield.

"Miroku wait. You're still too weak." Sango placed her hand on Miroku's shoulder.

"My dear Sango, you do not need to worry about me. I am fine." Miroku continued to walk.

"He's right ya know. If he can withstand your hits, he's just fine." Kagome said to Sango with a smile on her face. Sango nodded.

"Well if he's going, I'm going." Sango grabbed her Haraikotsu and boarded onto Kirara.

"Today's the day Sango. Kohaku will finally be free of Naraku." Kagome assured Sango as she grabbed her bow and arrows and climbed onto Kirara

"Thanks Kagome." Sango said as Kirara took to the air. Inuyasha was clashing forces with Naraku. They were moving incredibly fast.

"Wow. I've never seen Inuyasha fight like this before." Kagome stated.

"Yeah. It's like he's fighting for everyone." Sango agreed.

"Knowing Inuyasha, he probably is." Kagome responded. Kirara landed on the ground to let Kagome off. "Thanks Sango!" Kagome yelled as she entered the battlefield. Sango nodded her head and took to the air again.

"Haraikotsu!" Sango flung her weapon at Naraku, knocking his sword out of his hand.

"Impudent wench." Naraku pulled his baboon pelt over his body and jumped in the air. A green claw busted through his cloak and started snapping at Sango. Kirara bit the claw, which made it detach from Naraku's body. Naraku landed on the ground and attempted to escape, but was met by Miroku.

"Die Naraku!" Miroku unraveled the prayer beads around his hand. "Windtunnel!" Naraku leaned back and let a hive full of his poisonous insects out. Miroku was quick to wrap the prayer beads back around his hand. "Curse you." Miroku destroyed a few insects with his staff before Sango came by and grabbed him by the hand. Miroku was pulled onto Kirara.

"What just happened?" Inuyasha was befuddled. He stood in shock and watched as Sango and Miroku attacked Naraku. "Weren't they just injured? Whatever...now we'll all kill him!" Inuyasha ran towards Naraku. "Kagome shoot your arrow!" Inuyasha yelled at her as he lifted his Tetsusaiga.

Kagome nodded her head and aimed her arrow at Naraku's chest. Inuyasha sniffed out the fisher in the wind scar. "Naraku you've been alive for too long. Now you're going to feel true power! Wind Scar!" The stream of energy hit Naraku dead on, destroying his baboon pelt. Kagome shot her arrow and it went directly through Naraku's body. A big explosion occurred and Inuyasha held Kagome in his arms, to keep her from blowing away. After all the light cleared, Inuyasha observed the place where Naraku was. There was no sign of him. Naraku's scent was completely gone.

"Is it over? Is Naraku finally dead?" Sango asked as she jumped off of Kirara. Kagome bent down and picked up the enormous fragment of the Shikon jewel.

"I think so." Kagome stared at the jewel as her spiritual powers cleansed it of all the evil that Naraku had brought upon it. Miroku unraveled the prayer beads from around his hand.

"Naraku's really dead." Miroku sat down on the ground and stared at his hand.

"Your 'Windtunnel' is gone?" Everyone asked in unison. Miroku nodded.

"Take a look for yourself." Miroku held his hand in the air. Everyone crowded around Miroku and started poking his hand.

"Oooo...Ahhhh.." The gang said in unison. Miroku put his hand down, in hopes that everyone would get out of his bubble. It worked.

...Kagura and Kanna...

Kagura walked alongside Kanna until she felt something pounding in her chest.

"Can it be?" Kagura placed her hand over her chest.

"Yes. Naraku is dead." Kanna answered.

"I can now be as free as the wind. Naraku is no longer in control." Kagura looked up at the setting sun. 'The day I've waited for, for so long. Kanna and I have been serving under Naraku for almost two years. Freedom, at last. I am grateful to Inuyasha.'

...The gang...

"We should get going. It's getting late." Inuyasha said as he turned in the direction of Kaede's village.

"Right." Sango said as she hopped onto Kirara. Miroku and Shippou were soon to follow suit. Kagome just stood in one spot and stared at Inuyasha.

'Naraku is finally gone. Inuyasha has avenged Kikyou's death. And their betrayal.' Kagome had a depressed look on her face. 'We only need a few more shards of the Shikon jewel. What will I do when it is completed? What reason will I have for returning here? Will my adventures here be put to a stop? No...not yet. It can't happen yet.'

Inuyasha noticed Kagome staring at him with a depressed look on her face. 'Why is she looking at me like that? What's she thinking and why does she look so sad?' A million questions were going through Inuyasha's mind. "Kagome?"

"Huh?" Kagome was broken from her gaze.

"Would you like to ride with me?" Inuyasha asked as he turned his back to Kagome.

"Mm." Kagome climbed onto Inuyasha's back, and they were off. 'I can't believe that Naraku is actually dead.' Kagome thought to herself.

'There is one more thing that I have to do before we head back to Kaede's village. Kikyou.' Inuyasha made a sudden turn, which kept Sango and Miroku from following him and Kagome.

"Inuyasha? Where are we going?" Kagome asked. Inuyasha ignored her question and came to a sudden stop. "Where are we?" Kagome asked as Inuyasha let her off of his back. Once again, Inuyasha ignored her question. Mainly because he didn't want her to get angry. Inuyasha went to a spot where the dirt was loose.

'Kikyou.' Inuyasha removed the dirt from the spot and took out something that had a cloth around it.

"Inuyasha...is that...no...don't tell me it's her." Kagome had a disgusted look on her face. Not because Inuyasha came back for her remains, but because it was literally Kikyou's remains.

"The least I can do is give her a proper burial." Inuyasha had a depressed look on his face.

"Mm. I understand." Kagome looked at Inuyasha sympathetically. Inuyasha looked up at Kagome in surprise. He hadn't expected her to stay calm.

'Kagome...I'm glad that you understand. Kikyou lost her life for you to be brought back to life. The first time she lost her life, Naraku had deceived us. Kikyou told me that my life was hers. And now I understand, because hers was mine.' Inuyasha stood up and cradled Kikyou's remains in his arms. Kagome looked on at him with a smiling face.

"We should go now." Kagome said as she turned her back to Inuyasha.

"Right..." Inuyasha let Kagome onto his back. All this was awkward. Inuyasha coming back for his first love, when he had his new love with him. Inuyasha ran off in the direction to Kaede's village.

'Inuyasha still loves Kikyou. I feel sorry for him. His whole life was ruined by Naraku. Kikyou and Inuyasha were supposed to be together...but somehow, I found my way into Inuyasha's heart. I used to think that there was no room in his heart for me. But as our adventures went on, we grew closer together. But now that the sacred jewel is almost complete, I'm worried that Inuyasha will turn into a full demon and forget all about me. Everything that he has told me, will it just disappear?' Kagome noticed a light up ahead. It was Kaede's village. Sango, Miroku, Shippou, and Kirara were all sitting around a campfire.

"It's about time you made it." Miroku said as he stood up and made his way towards Inuyasha and Kagome.

"Yeah. Where were you?" Sango asked. Inuyasha stood silent. That was the last thing that he wanted to answer. Miroku, Sango, and Shippou would badger him about getting Kikyou's remains when he had Kagome with him.

"Tch. Why do you care?" Inuyasha shoved past Sango and Miroku and entered into Kaede's hut.

"What's his problem?" Shippou asked Kagome as he jumped onto Sango's shoulder. Kagome smiled at the young kitsune before she walked towards Kaede's hut.

"Kaede, I have Kikyou's remains. Do you think we could bury her tomorrow?" Inuyasha asked.

"Yes. Ye should be happy Inuyasha. Kikyou is finally put to rest, and ye may now live a happy life with Kagome." Kaede accepted Kikyou's remains from Inuyasha.

"Yeah. I know." Inuyasha looked away from Kaede and stared at the floor. His ears drooped low. Kagome stopped at the door. She didn't want to listen in on their conversation, but she couldn't make herself move.

"What is wrong Inuyasha?" Kaede asked. Inuyasha hesitated. Kaede was the last person that he wanted to talk about his feelings with.

"I don't know. Whenever I'm around Kagome, I'm happy. But then when I think about Kikyou, my heart aches with pain. Kikyou told me that my life was hers. I was ready to plunge into hell with her whenever she wanted me to. But then I seen Kagome's smiling face. And it made me realize that I wanted to live my life to the fullest. Kagome means so much to me, but Kikyou was the one that gave her life up when she was coming for me..." Inuyasha hesitated once more. He didn't feel right talking about Kikyou. Sure he still loved her, but he had told Kagome that Kikyou meant nothing to him anymore.

"If ye could go 50 years back into the past and stop ye and Kikyou from deceiving each other, would ye? Or would ye rather have things the way that they are now?" Kaede knew how to get to Inuyasha. She knew how to make him realize his real desires.

"If I could, I would stop Kikyou and I from deceiving each other." Inuyasha answered almost instantly. Kagome put her hand over her mouth to keep from gasping.

"I see. Kikyou is the one that joined forces with Naraku. Don't ye forget. Kikyou gave him Kagome's fragment of the sacred jewel." Kaede sounded almost as if she were pitting herself against her sister.

"Never! Kikyou wouldn't ever do anything like that. She wanted to cast the jewel and Naraku into oblivion. Kikyou would never truly try to harm me, or Kagome." Inuyasha stood up.

"Calm down Inuyasha. Are you so sure that she wouldn't try to harm Kagome? I recall several occasions where my sister planned on killing Kagome." Kaede said calmly. Inuyasha sat back down.

"Tch. Whatever. Maybe if Kagome hadn't wondered off by herself, it wouldn't have happened." Inuyasha crossed his arms.

"Inuyasha. Ye wish to be with someone that is no longer of this world. Kikyou hasn't been for over 50 years." Kaede said sternly. Inuyasha sat in silence.

'Then..it was all lies. Inuyasha was lying to me all of this time!' Kagome could feel tears start to swell up in her eyes. Sango walked up to her friend and put her hand on Kagome's shoulder.

"Kagome what's wrong?" Sango looked Kagome in the eyes.

"I...I can't stay here." Kagome picked up her bag and ran into the forest. Inuyasha busted out of Kaede's hut and stared in the direction that Kagome was running.

'Did she hear all of that?' Inuyasha had a worried look on his face. Sango looked at Inuyasha in anger.

"What did you say?" Sango pulled Inuyasha's hair.

"Ow! Not a damn thing!" Inuyasha managed to get away from Sango's deadly grip.

...Kagome...

Kagome fell to her knees once she got away from the village. It was dark out and she didn't know where she was until she looked up at the tree in front of her. It was the sacred tree that Kagome had first met Inuyasha under.

"Inuyasha..how..how could you?" Kagome bowed her head in sadness. Tears flowed from her deep beautiful brown eyes. "Why am I crying? I should have known that it would come to this. Even after everything that has happened between us, Inuyasha will always be in love with Kikyou. I was foolish for believing that there was a place for me in Inuyasha's heart. That's why he wanted me to go home! Inuyasha wanted me to leave so he could be with Kikyou." Kagome wiped the tears from her eyes and reverted to sitting flat on the ground.

Kagome's black hair swayed in the wind. "Two years...and I'm still alone. Kikyou may no longer be walking this earth, but she will always hold her place deep within Inuyasha's heart. That's why I can't stay here any longer." Kagome stood up and turned around to discover Inuyasha standing there. His silver hair was shining in the moonlight, along with his gorgeous amber eyes.

"Kagome..." Inuyasha looked at Kagome the way he did before she died. He had a great amount of sympathy in his eyes. Almost like he could see into Kagome's soul.

"Inu...Inuyasha?" Kagome's tone turned harsh as she broke her gaze with Inuyasha. Kagome grabbed the necklace around her neck and ripped it away. 'I don't need these anymore...' Kagome thought sadly as she threw the Shikon jewel fragment onto the ground by Inuyasha's feet.

Inuyasha stared at Kagome in anguish. He couldn't believe that Kagome actually gave him of all people, the jewel fragment. 'Does this mean that she plans on never coming back?' Inuyasha thought as he stared at Kagome. This was by far the most pain that he had ever felt in his life.

'I don't know what to say anymore..' Inuyasha thought as he watched Kagome back away from him.

'Why is he looking at me like that? Why won't he look away?' Kagome bowed her head in sadness before she turned away from Inuyasha and ran towards the well. Inuyasha watched as Kagome left his life.

"Kagome...I need you." Inuyasha stood in the same spot and continued to watch as Kagome ran away. For some reason, his legs wouldn't move.

...Kagome...

Kagome ran as fast as she could towards the well, tripping over anything in her path. Kagome couldn't dare look behind her. She was afraid that she would see Inuyasha coming after her. Kagome reached the well and put her leg on the lip of it.

"I can't ever come back here...I just can't." Kagome jumped down the well and met the familiar blue light that always surrounded her. Kagome was angry, she didn't know why she was angry, but upset didn't even come close to the way her heart felt. Kagome felt as though her heart was filled with joy, then torn away and stomped on. Within moments, Kagome was home.

"I'm here. Mom will be surprised to see me." Kagome said as she put a fake smile across her face. 'Seeing that I wasn't supposed to be home for two weeks..' Kagome thought as she climbed out of the well and ran towards her house. Kagome slide open the front door to find her family sitting down to dinner.

"Oh Kagome. Nice to have you back dear." Kagome's mom smiled at her daughter and offered her a place at the table.

"No thanks. I'm not that hungry." Kagome placed her hand on her stomach before she ascended up the stairs. What am I talking about? I'm starving!'

Souta and Kagome's Grandpa watched Kagome in silence. "I wonder what's wrong with her?" Souta whispered to his Grandpa, who only shrugged.

"This food is simply delicious!" Kagome's mom broke the gaze that Souta and Gramps had on Kagome, as she walked up the stairs.

Kagome walked into her room and dropped her backpack onto the floor. "Inuyasha." Kagome whispered to herself. Kagome felt the spot on her chest that the jewels once hung. "I gave them back to him...I can never return to the feudal era ever again!" Kagome placed her head into her pillow and sobbed, for what it seemed to her, all night.

...Inuyasha...

Inuyasha had picked up the jewel fragment and sat down on the ground. This was the first time in a long time that he had felt lonely. Inuyasha never moved his gaze away from the spot where he had last seen Kagome. 'Kagome, I need to see you again. But I can't. It would be wrong. I was the one that made you leave. Now I will never see you again.' Inuyasha's ears drooped low. It was hard to believe that Kagome would never return to him. Inuyasha would spend the rest of his life thinking that Kagome was visiting her home, and she would one day return to him.

"I can still smell Kagome. It's like she's right here next to me." Inuyasha looked at the jewel and seen his reflection in it. "How could I have been so stupid? Saying that I would rather be with Kikyou!" Inuyasha stood up and took his anger out of the tree that was closest to him. Inuyasha punched the tree so hard, that you would have thought that he would have knocked it over. Inuyasha laid his forehead upon the tree before sinking down to the ground. 'I'm an idiot...'

...Kagome...

Kagome fell asleep and woke up at the crack of dawn. It was Saturday, and Kagome was thankful for that. She didn't have to go to school with a depressed look upon her face, and then having her friends ask what her boyfriend had done to her. Kagome rolled out of bed and decided to get a nice hot bath before joining her family for breakfast.

Kagome ran a hot bath and sank into the steaming water. "This is way better than the onsens back in the feudal era." Kagome lied to herself. 'What are you talking about? You love to bathe beneath the stars.' Kagome felt more helpless today than she did the day before. Kagome washed her hair and felt her stomach growl.

"Wow. I guess I should have eaten last night." Kagome grabbed her towel and wrapped it around her body. "Time to eat." Kagome blow dried her hair and put on some clothes before heading down stairs.

"Hey sis." Souta said from his spot at the table. Kagome gave a small smile before sitting down. Kagome's mom smiled at her sweetly.

"Good morning dear. Won't you have some breakfast?" Kagome's mom handed her a bowl of rice.

"Sure. Thanks mom." Kagome grabbed the bowl and picked up her chopsticks. Souta and Gramps were staring at her suspiciously, it was kind of creeping Kagome out.

"Kagome, how long will you bless us with your visit this time?" Gramps asked. Kagome sighed.

"May I be excused?" Kagome picked up her dishes and walked over to the sink to wash them before walking outside.

"This can only mean one thing." Gramps whispered to Souta.

"What's that Gramps?" Souta asked confused.

"Boyfriend problems." Gramps answered before sipping on some tea.

"Ohhhh. Kagome must have had a huge argument with Inuyasha to be home so soon." Souta agreed.

Kagome walked outside and stopped in front of the sacred tree. "I can't go back. I will never see Inuyasha again." The sad look on Kagome's face washed away. "Why do I care? It's not like he wanted me there anyways..." Kagome heavily sighed.

...Inuyasha...

Inuyasha eventually fell asleep up against the tree he had punched, and was awoken by Sango, Miroku, and Shippou.

"Wake up Inuyasha." Sango said as she shook the hanyou. Inuyasha opened his eyes, but he still looked groggy.

"Would you stop shaking me?" Inuyasha yelled at Sango, which made her jump. Miroku and Shippou looked at each other in surprise.

"Have you seen Kagome?" Sango asked Inuyasha. Inuyasha stood up and looked away from Sango sadly. "She didn't leave did she?" Sango asked with a worried look on her face. Inuyasha held out his hand to reveal the enormous fragment of the Shikon jewel. Shippou jumped up onto Sango's shoulder.

"Inuyasha you idiot! Do you know what this means? She can't ever come back here!" Shippou was pounding on Inuyasha's head before he even realized it. Inuyasha picked Shippou up by his tail and dropped him on the ground. Miroku turned his back to Inuyasha.

"What did you say to her this time Inuyasha?" Miroku had an irritated sound in his voice. Sango just kept silent and stared at Inuyasha incredulously.

Inuyasha could feel the guilt arising in his heart. No one had ever seen Inuyasha look so sad before. Sango placed her hand on Inuyasha's shoulder, which got Inuyasha to turn around and look at her.

"I hope you will do what's right Inuyasha. Will you get Kagome to return to us? Or would you rather pussyfoot around and keep Kagome miserable?" Sango's voice was stern and steady which made Inuyasha think.

"Tch. Leave me alone, ok? Don't you think I'm upset about it too?" Inuyasha stormed off into the forest. Sango looked back at Miroku.

"I wonder what happened." Sango said. Miroku stepped forward.

"I'll bet that it had something to do with Kikyou. Kagome only gets this upset whenever Inuyasha talks about Kikyou. And for Kagome to give up her only means of returning, I would have to say that Inuyasha really upset her." Miroku put his hand on Sango's shoulder.

"Even if Kikyou is dead, Inuyasha will always hold her in his heart. Kagome understands that, but I can only imagine the pain that it causes her to know that Inuyasha doesn't have room for her, too." Sango sighed. "Poor Kagome."

Shippou sat on the ground and looked down. "Does that mean that we will never see Kagome again?" Shippou sobbed. Sango looked at the young kitsune.

"I'm afraid so Shippou." It hurt Sango so much to have to tell Shippou that. But if she knew Inuyasha, he wouldn't be going to get Kagome anytime soon.

"I miss her already." Shippou pouted. Miroku picked Shippou up and they all headed back towards Kaede's village.

...Kagome...

This all felt like a bad dream to Kagome. She wanted someone wake her up, so she didn't have to feel sad anymore. "I love him so much. I didn't even get to say good-bye to everyone. I just stormed off. Why does this have to hurt so much? I wonder if I'll ever forget Inuyasha...No I can't...What is going to happen when he completes the jewel? Will he complete it? And if he does...I wonder what he'll be like." So many questions were going through Kagome's mind. She didn't know what questions she actually wanted the answers to, and which ones actually mattered to her. Kagome dropped to the ground in front of the sacred tree.

"I wonder what you're doing right now..." Kagome rested her elbow on her knee and put her forehead in the palm of hands. Inuyasha's face came to Kagome's mind, which made her stomach fill with butterflies. 'Every time I think of him, I feel so happy inside. I feel like I can be myself whenever I'm around him. But now...I just feel the pain of loneliness. I can't make myself believe that I'll never see him again.' Kagome gave herself a little smile. Although she felt the emptiness of her heart, she knew that Inuyasha would eventually come to his senses and get her.

Kagome looked up at the sacred tree and remembered when she first met Inuyasha. 'He looked so peaceful, almost like he was asleep. But he wasn't, it was because Kikyou put a spell on him. Kikyou...she was destined to be with Inuyasha. But Naraku deceived them both and Kikyou ended up dieing. Then I came. Inuyasha tried to kill me at first, but as our adventures went on together, we grew extremely close. Before I knew it, I deeply loved Inuyasha.' Kagome sat under the tree for hours. Souta and Gramps kept their eyes on her, and discovered that they were right about her boyfriend problems.

'Inuyasha has finally defeated Naraku. Now what will they do? It's better that I decided to come home now. When the jewel is completed, what would I have done?' Kagome was becoming restless with her thoughts. Being away from Inuyasha was too much to bear. Kagome's mom decided that it was best to talk with Kagome, instead of letting her linger too long with her emotions. No one knew how depressed Kagome would become if her mom wasn't there to talk to her.

...Inuyasha...

Inuyasha ran as far from Kaede's village as he could, knowing very well that Sango, Miroku, and Shippou would badger him about Kagome leaving. Inuyasha sat down on a rock next to the river.

"Damn it. Why did I have to go and let Kagome get away?" Inuyasha was mentally kicking himself for letting Kagome get away so easily.

"It's up to me to bring Kagome back. If I don't get her, I'll never see her again." Inuyasha could feel the remorse surfacing in his heart. He knew very well that Kagome meant more to him than Kikyou. Or did she? Did Inuyasha mean what he said about wanting to plunge into hell with Kikyou?

'Of course I didn't. How could I? Kagome makes me want to live. She makes me realize that I have a burning desire to live. Kikyou gave up her life again just so I could be with Kagome. She told me that I would rather be with Kagome because she wasn't alive anymore. Kikyou once told me that my life was hers, and hers only. So why did she just let me go?' Inuyasha gritted his teeth in frustration. He could hear a low growl come from the depths of his throat.

"I don't have a choice to make anymore! Kikyou is gone for good so why do I keep having these doubts about being with Kagome? Is it because I only want to be with Kagome because Kikyou isn't here with me anymore? It doesn't matter. I've got to get Kagome back." Inuyasha stood up and looked in the direction he had come from. 'I've already avenged Kikyou's death and our betrayal. So it's time to move on. I may now enjoy the rest of my life with Kagome by my side. If she will still accept me...' Inuyasha shook the thought away and darted in the direction of the well.

...Kagome...

Kagome's mom walked up beside Kagome and sat down next to her. "Kagome. Is there something that you would like to talk about?"

The presence of Kagome's mom shocked her. Kagome was so lost in thought that she didn't even notice her mom sit beside her. Kagome smiled at her mom and nodded.

"Mom, there's something that's been bothering me for almost two years now." Kagome looked up at the sacred tree again, which gave Kagome's mom a hint at what they were talking about.

"What is it honey?" Kagome's mom wrapped her arm around Kagome.

"I know I'm only 17, but I'm in love with Inuyasha." Kagome could feel tears start to form in the corners of her eyes, so she fought hard to suppress them.

"Kagome, the age that you fall in love doesn't matter. You have known Inuyasha for two years and I know that you are close to him. Whenever you come home from the feudal era, you seem like the weight of the world has been lifted off of your shoulders. It's because of the pull that you feel towards Inuyasha." Kagome's mom smiled, although she knew that what she had just said confused Kagome.

"What do you mean?" Kagome asked.

"Kagome, whenever you love someone, you just can't get enough of their presence. I know that you can feel an emptiness in your heart right now because you think that you will never see Inuyasha again." Kagome's mom looked at Kagome, it was almost like she could read her mind. Kagome looked over at her mom, curious of how she knew.

"Mm." Kagome let a tear fall from her eyes. "Something happened that I just can't get out of my mind." Kagome said before telling her mom about everything that happened while she was away, accept for her dieing because she didn't want to make her mom worry.

"I see. Although you are unable to go back to the feudal era, I am sure that Inuyasha will realize all of the hurt that he has caused. And he will come for you. If Inuyasha loves you as much as he told you he did, he will be here in a heartbeat. Kagome, it's up to you to choose if you want to be with him again, or not. I will not tell you what to pick, because it is up to you to decide if you want your destiny to be intertwined with Inuyasha. Only you may choose what you want to do with your life." Kagome's mom put her hand on Kagome's face and stood up.

"Thanks mom. You're the best." Kagome smiled at her mom. All Kagome had to do now was wait for Inuyasha to decide if he loved Kagome enough to bring her back. Kagome's mom walked back into the house and left Kagome sitting under the sacred tree.

"Inuyasha...I'll be waiting for you." Kagome stood up and stared at the sacred tree for a few more moments.

...Inuyasha...

Inuyasha made it to the well and had no second thoughts about bringing Kagome back before he jumped in. A blue light surrounded Inuyasha, and he soon found himself in Kagome's time.

...Sango, Miroku, and Shippou...

"Inuyasha finally decided to get Kagome I see." Sango said with a big smile on her face.

"I'm glad. That just shows that he loves her enough to apologize and bring her back to us." Miroku said. Shippou was so overjoyed that he couldn't even speak. His big grin, however, was creeping Miroku and Sango out.

...Inuyasha and Kagome...

Inuyasha grabbed out of the well and slide the door closed. He spotted Kagome standing under the sacred tree staring at it. 'I must have really upset her...I'm so sorry Kagome.'

Inuyasha stopped a few feet behind Kagome and stared at her. She looked beautiful with her hair blowing in the breeze and flower petals blowing around her. Kagome sighed and turned around to go inside, when she spotted Inuyasha. Kagome's cheeks turned hot, she tried her hardest to keep from blushing. Inuyasha extended his hand and revealed the huge fragment of the Shikon jewel.

"Inuyasha...how long have you been standing--" Kagome was interrupted by Inuyasha.

"I'm so sorry Kagome. I feel like a fool." Inuyasha grabbed Kagome around her waist and pulled her to his body. Kagome blushed once more. Knowing that her family was around was kind of awkward. But having Inuyasha hold her again, was more than she could ever want in life.

Just as Kagome had suspected, Kagome's mom was watching through a window. "Aw. True love." Kagome's mom intertwined her fingers together and rested her chin on them.

Inuyasha released Kagome from his embrace. "Kagome, I don't know how I could even compare Kikyou to you. She will always be in my heart because she died for my sake. But you stayed by my side no matter what. I watched you shed tears for me. I've been with you for two years now. And in those two years, I have grown attached to you. I don't know how I could ever live without you, even if I tried. Before you Kagome, I never trusted anyone. But now, whenever I'm with you, I feel happy. Like everything will always be okay when you're by me." Inuyasha was staring deeply into Kagome's eyes.

'Inuyasha...is he opening up to me AGAIN?" Kagome felt the empty space in her heart fade away as she stared at Inuyasha.

"I knew you would come back for me. I knew that you loved me enough to bring me back. I doubted it, sure. But when I sat down and thought about it, I knew that you would get me. I had an empty space in my heart for a long time Inuyasha. But when I finally realized that I truly loved you, my heart felt complete. You were the one that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with." Kagome felt like she was in a soap opera.

"I could never forget about you Kagome. Even when I become a full-fledged demon. I promise I will never forget you or harm you in any way. Kagome...I've been meaning to ask you this for a while." Inuyasha lowered his mouth down to Kagome's ear.

'Is he going to ask me what I think he's going to ask me?' Kagome could feel tears coming back to her eyes.

"Will you be my mate?" Inuyasha has never shared his emotions like this to anyone but Kagome. For some reason, she was the only one that he actually felt comfortable talking to this way. Inuyasha knew that he didn't have to keep his tough guy exterior up around Kagome, although he did anyways.

Kagome was speechless. She couldn't tell him no, because she loved him. But did she really want to be his mate? Of course she did. Kagome didn't give any second thoughts about it.

"Of course, Inuyasha." Kagome answered after a few seconds of silence. Inuyasha pressed his lips up against Kagome's and held her tight to his body. Kagome knew that this was the moment that she had longed for ever since she discovered that she truly loved Inuyasha. It wasn't long before Inuyasha released Kagome from his 'killer death lock' in which she could barely breathe. Kagome ran inside and grabbed her things. Kagome's mom looked at her and smiled.

"You let your heart decide." Kagome's mom said before she turned around and walked back into the kitchen. Kagome paused for a moment to let her mind soak up what her mom had just said.

"I did." Kagome said to herself before heading outside to go down the well with Inuyasha.

Kagome and Inuyasha arrived back in the feudal era within moments to see Sango, Miroku, and Shippou waiting for them.

"Welcome back Kagome." Miroku, Sango, and Shippou said in unison before giving Inuyasha the 'evil' eye. Inuyasha felt a chill go down his back.

Kagome smiled and hugged Shippou and Sango.

"We should get going now. We've wasted enough time." Inuyasha spat. Kagome laughed. She was happy that he was back to his normal self.

"Now that Naraku is gone, we can find Kohaku and complete the jewel." Kagome said. Inuyasha and Sango nodded.

"I can't believe that Naraku is really gone." Sango said as her eyes filled with tears. "Now I can have my brother back." Miroku tried to embrace Sango, but got a lump on his head instead.

"Keep your hands to yourself lecher." Sango turned her back to Miroku and started walking. Inuyasha and Kagome laughed. Yes things were definitely back to normal.

"Aren't you going to bury Kikyou?" Kagome asked Inuyasha.

"No. Kaede will do that. I can pay my respects next time we visit." Inuyasha replied. Kagome looked at Inuyasha in shock, she couldn't believe that he was actually turning down Kikyou's ceremony.

"Are...are you sure?" Kagome asked. Inuyasha ignored her question and extended his hand. Kagome looked down to see the sacred jewel. "You're giving it back?" Kagome asked.

"No. I'm just letting it sit here for decoration." Inuyasha said sarcastically. Kagome snatched the jewel out of his hand.

Sango and Miroku smiled. It was nice to have things back to the way they were. "I'm still surprised Inuyasha went and got her." Sango whispered to Miroku. Inuyasha overheard.

"Tch. I had to. She's the only one that can see the jewel shards." Inuyasha knew that he had made a bad move after he said it. Kagome glared at him. "Why are you looking at me like that? Kagome...I don't like the look in your eyes."

"Inuyasha...SIT BOY!" Kagome pointed her finger at Inuyasha and watched as he plummeted into the ground.

"Would you stop doing that!" Inuyasha groaned from his hole. Kagome just smiled and looked into the sunset and the wind blew through her hair.

The End.

A/N: Hey hey hey. I was aiming for 16 chapters, but I got grounded from the computer AGAIN so I only made one huge chapter. So instead of 16, you got 14. Oh well. Be happy. I hope you enjoyed my story as much as I enjoyed writing it. I am so happy that I got so many readers and so many reviews! I never dreamed that I would have this many people reading it. Thank you to my extra special readers Karen12 and Shel! I've had so much help from you 2! In about 2 weeks I should have a new story up (because I'm moving from Arizona to Kansas). I hope that you will read it also. I have an excellent story line for it, also. Oh and Lady Gata, I am going to add in a bonus chapter titled "Miroku's Dream." I am going to put Miroku's dream into play and I'll dedicate that chapter to you since you gave me the oh so special idea.

Tefi2007- Oh thank you! I hope you enjoyed this entire story! I was thinking to myself that the detail wasn't all that good, but you helped me get rid of that idea! Thanks again!

Karen12- Haha. Yeah, zero arms! Null, Cero, Zero, and uh…none. Lol. You really think it had nice action! I stink at battle scenes. Thank you so much! He never gave her heart back? Oops…my bad. I forgot to add that.

Thanks to you people also!

Trekker4life, paju13, InuNekoYoukai, Lady Gata, hanyouxmiko990, and kowzkowzkowzkowzetc. I appreciate all of your excellent compliments! I am so happy that I get great reviewers!