Romance/Drama... keep that in mind. Also this fan fiction has 26 or 27 chapters with an epilogue.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha

Chapter 22: Only Love Can Save Thy Soul

"Inuyasha, stop!" Kagome screamed finally. The battle had been carrying on for about an hour now and Inuyasha was on the brink of death, Kagome was as well, but she was holding her pain in for Inuyasha's sake. She held in her pain, but she couldn't hold in the tears.

Inuyasha looked over at her sorrowful gaze.

"Kagome, let me fight. I must fight for you." He said bravely standing up again and glaring at Akahito.

"Hanyou, you are almost dead and I have barely broken a sweat. Give up and I will make your death quick."

"I'm night giving up you bastard. I will protect Kagome!" Inuyasha charged in for a final blow, but Akahito was once more the victor and his blow was deadly.

Inuyasha flung to the floor like a rag doll and could feel his life slowly slipping away. He knew that it was his turn to die. He could barely move and could no longer stand.

He moved his gaze from Akahito to the crying Kagome. She was looking at him and in her stare Inuyasha could see her pleading him to stay a live.

He smiled and in his own stare told her he was sorry, but he couldn't. He coughed and blood came from his mouth. (A/N: Kagome and Inuyasha's theme begins to play.)

"INUYASHA!" Kagome screamed with all her will and pulled to get free. The parts of the vines that held her to the wall glowed blue from miko power as they snapped and Kagome was freed.

She fell to her knees and crawled over towards Inuyasha slowly using all over her will.

"What the girl broke my restraints. No matter she will die soon enough." Akahito watched amused as Kagome made her way to Inuyasha.

Kagome was at Inuyasha's side by now and looked over at him as he looked up at her with his ever so beautiful amber eyes.

"Kagome..." Inuyasha looked straight at her. "I'm sorry I could save you..."

"Inuyasha... it's not your fault... please don't blame this on yourself."

"But I want... to thank you..." He began. "Thank you for teaching me to trust again Kagome... Thank you for teaching me love." He smiled at her and noticed more tears spring from her eyes.

"Don't leave me here Inuyasha... I love you so much..." She said softly.

"What's this?" Akahito began to worry as he felt himself decomposing.

"Kagome... I love you too.." Inuyasha leaned up slowly and kissed Kagome's lips softly. He could feel her wet tears against his face. (A/N: Inuyasha/Kagome theme still playing.)

"No...this can't be.." Akahito's eyes went wide as he body fully began to decompose. "What's going on? A hanyou and a human can't love one another..." He was in denial, but if they didn't love one another he wouldn't be dying.

Inuyasha and Kagome pulled away from the kiss and Inuyasha saw only more tears in her eyes. He looked over and watched as Akahito began to die away. 'Of course... the only way to destroy hate is with love.' He thought remember Miroku's words. Thought the hate demon was dying that still didn't mean Inuyasha could live, but... Kagome could.

"Kagome here..." Inuyasha held out his bloody wrist to her. "Drink.."

"No.." She said. She used her weak hand to push Inuyasha's down. "If I can't live with you, at least let me die with you."

"Kagome.." Inuyasha brought his hand to her cheek. "You can live on.. and have a family..." The words were chocked out. A family was all Inuyasha really ever wanted. He wanted one with Kagome. "I've lived my life... now it's time for you to live your own."

"Inuyasha.. stop talking that way.. you know I'm to stubborn to live without you." She lied her head down on his chest and felt his arm wrap around her. "Anyway even if I did live I would never want a family with anyone... but you.."

These words saddened Inuyasha, but made him happy. So he could have had a family with Kagome and he was such a coward he never told her how he felt. Now look at what happened.

Suddenly Kagome's head shot up as she looked over where Akahito had disintegrated. She sensed, as well as saw the glow of the sacred jewel Akahito had stolen from her. It was the whole thing though. So Akahito was the one who had the whole sacred jewel.

"Inuyasha?"

"Hmm?"

"Look." Kagome pointed to the jewel.

"The jewel... It's whole!" He than felt Kagome move away from him. He watched her. She grabbed the jewel and was right back at his side.

"Here.." She handed him the jewel, but he nodded no.

"I already told you, you could keep it. Make whatever wish you want." Kagome looked at Inuyasha and bobbed her head in an agreeing manner.

"Alright Inuyasha." She said. She closed her eyes and held the jewel to her heart. Suddenly her hands glowed a pinkish color and than the pink surrounded Inuyasha and her.

Inuyasha watched in amazement as their surroundings suddenly changed from the dark castle to a beautiful meadow. Though it wasn't just any meadow. It was the meadow that contained the well and winter had slowly began to turn to spring by now. Even though it was night everything still looked beautiful and there was a full moon shinning light down.

The two were under the sacred tree. Soon the glowing stopped and Kagome looked at Inuyasha. She smiled glad to see his wounds were now healed and hers were as well.

She noticed Inuyasha smile back and she leapt into his arms crying after the jewel disappeared from being purified.

"It worked." She cried happily into his haori. Inuyasha embraced her in a warm, loving embrace.

"Why are we here?" He asked noticing the tree.

"Well it's nicer than the castle right?" Kagome smirked with joy.

"I don't know it brings up some bad memories. Like the first time I had to meet this noisy wench named Kagome." Inuyasha joked. Kagome glared.

"Wench?" She questioned with a smirk. Inuyasha blushed.

"I meant woman.." He said. "You heard wrong." He turned away from her. "We should get back to the others. We've been gone for weeks."

"Inuyasha.. I was thinking... they don't know about my family yet. Should we tell them?"

"Whatever you want."

"I'd rather wait a little while longer."

"Than wait." Inuyasha stood and helped Kagome to her feet. "After we see them we should head back to Sesshomaru's. If we wait much longer he'll be coming by with that annoying kid and drop her off until she learns."

"She's not that bad." Kagome laughed. She watched Inuyasha kneel in front of her signaling her to get on. "No, I'd rather walk. I haven't walked in a while. Oh and would you mind it if we went to Sesshomaru's tomorrow? I want to get a nice bath first."

"Whatever." Inuyasha stood tall.

"Sit."

THUMP

"What the hell was that for?"

"Well I just had to say it. It's been a while since I last sat you." Inuyasha stood up and glared at her.

"Why you..."

"We better hurry. Don't want the others to worry." Kagome got up and began to ran laughing, only to be tacked by a seemingly hyper Inuyasha.

"Your not getting off that easy." he growled playfully. Kagome blushed and with Inuyasha's sight it was visible in the night. He brought his lips down on hers and rolled over so she was on top.

Inuyasha let his hand slide under her shirt and up and back as he continued kissing her.

"There you two are. We were looking..." Sango was cut off when she saw how close the two were. They jumped apart blushing furiously.

"Did we interrupt something?" Miroku grinned. Sango elbowed him for his lecherous thoughts.

"Where have you two been? You didn't tell us you were going out to look for the sacred jewel." Sango said.

"Oh about that.." Kagome didn't know how to put it into words. "Sango do you want to go to the hot springs for a little while. I'll tell you about it there."

"Sure."

"Okay I just have to go get my things from Kaede's. Come on." Kagome said as she began to run to Kaede's house. Sango followed.

"So..." Miroku went to Inuyasha's side and elbowed him. "What happened with you and Kagome?"

"Nothing monk. Not that it's any of your business." Inuyasha said. Miroku seemed to frown at this.

"Well what happened than."

So Inuyasha began to explain the story about how Kagome was cursed and stuff.

Meanwhile

A little while later Sango and Kagome were in the springs. Kagome scrubbed herself hard, but Sango only lightly rinsed.

"Kagome, you're going to burn your skin like that." Sango warned.

"I'm trying not to. It's just the blood dried on me."

"Blood?" Sango questioned.

So Kagome began the story.

Well... what'd you think? THIS FAN FICTION ISN'T ENDED YET!