Okay, firstly I really like to thank all the wonderful reviewers out there who have made my job writing this story that much sweeter with your wonderful reviews and comments. I know many have commented on my grammars and spelling errors but unfortunately when I am writing the story I need to type very fast with the ideas and plot bouncing out of my head so very often I will misspell words or accidentally type the wrong word so the stupid word program won't pick it up. I usually go back and proof read it but as you know it takes a lot of time and I just wanted to uploaded as soon as possible so that the people who are reading this story won't be inclined to kill me for taking so long to update.

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Chapter 26

Kikyo held onto Inuyasha's warm hand as they walked down the peaceful road side by side. Above them, stars dotted the clear night sky and a soft breeze billowed in the air ruffling their hair. She smiled watching Inuyasha feeling content and relaxed as she had never felt before. The weight which had clung tight onto her shoulders dissipated like the morning breezing had taken away all her anger and doubt with its departure.

Inuyasha barely noticed Kikyo's presence – his mind filled with Kagome and the picture of her face when he left the café. Inuyasha frown unable to get rid of the niggling fear in his stomach. He felt that there something was wrong with Kagome and no matter how he tried; he could not shake of the feeling.

"Inuyasha!" A brisk voice pierce through his thoughts.

Kikyo stopped turning angrily to Inuyasha, "what is the matter with you Inuyasha? You have not spoken since you returned, what have I done wrong this time?"

Inuyasha glanced at her and briskly walked off not bothering to look back. Kikyo stamped her foot in anger reluctantly following after him.

She frowned watching the man walking in front of her. He had been like that ever since they had left the hospital but today his gaze was colder as if all the warmth left in his body seeped away disappearing with the long gone smile.

Kikyo thought back to that day when she had followed Inuyasha to a small café. She had watched from her car when Inuyasha carried out his talk with Kagome to his fight with Kouga and finally witnessing Kagome being carried away coughing blood by Kouga and driven to the hospital.

She sighed wondered if Inuyasha knows about any of this. Kagome looked like she could be dying this very moment –

"You're still thinking of her." Kikyo commented silently.

Inuyasha suddenly paused in the middle of the road. His white hair trembled around his head as he turned to face Kikyo. Kikyo gasped taking a step back in fear shocked by his sudden fury.

Inuyasha made a visible effect to calm down. What seems to be a very long minute later, he began walking away but was stoped when Kikyo grabbed on to his sleeves.

"Let go Kikyo." He asked quietly pulling his arm away.

"No! I never had and never will. I love you Inuyasha!" She yelled angrily clinging on even tighter.

Inuyasha gritted his teeth dark shadows clouding in his eyes.

"You will never understand Kikyo what real love is." He replied letting all his resentment and frustration out as he shoved her away.

His entire body was trembling with fury, his eyes mingled with sadness and regret. He spoke holding back the emotions in his words which had threatened to burst forth.

"Not once in my life have I ever truly gotten what I really desired. When I meet you Kikyo, I thought that I had it, I thought that after all my years of searching I had finally found someone to share my pain and give me care."

Inuyasha chuckled, the resentment not fading but mounting ever stronger. "How wrong can I be Kikyo for I was to be forever in your dept the day you rescued me. Kagome and I had shared real love but because of you all I could do was walk away from the only person that I have ever wanted and watch her heart break."

Inuyasha breathed loudly as if trying to with hold the pressure. He looked at Kikyo angrily.

"My heart died the day I saw you in Naraku's building and afterwards when he told the police how you betrayed us all."

Kikyo gasped in surprise. "You knew all this time!"

"Yes I did Kikyo, I had suspected long before but I gave you a chance to turn back. If only I knew you would be such a deceitful person -"

Kikyo slapped him.

"How dare you speak to me in that way Inuyasha!" Kikyo yelled in anger. "All these years of following and chasing after you, dropping my entire life and career to be with you but what did you do? Nothing, you did nothing not once did you acknowledge my sacrifice!" Kikyo sobbed shuddering in the night breeze.

"Do you know how much I have lost because of you Inuyasha? Everything I do and have done was because of you and after all the trouble I went through this is what I get!" Kikyo laughed wildly have screaming half crying.

Inuyasha stared at her looking worried. "Kikyo I - "

"I don't want to listen to you anymore Inuyasha! I had enough with this life, to act like a dog forever chancing you for the love which I will never get!"

Kikyo shook her head - her spilling flow of tears flying off her pale face.

"Go Inuyasha, go to your Kagome. I free you from your debt, you no longer own me anything." The words left her mouth startling both of them. Kikyo smiled slightly her eyes softened under the moonlight.

Her voice was gentle but strained. "I finally understand now. You will never love me as much as Kagome will you?"

When Inuyasha didn't answer she pressed on. "That day, if I wasn't hurt, if I did not have any blood or wounds on me, Kagome would have been the one you choose to save." There was no question in her words and when she looked into his eyes, her words were confirmed.

"Why? Tell me why Inuyasha, why still be with me after all this?" She cried painfully.

Inuyasha opened his mouth but he was speechless. Painful jabs of guilt pounded his heart. Words finally came out, his anguish matching hers.

"Because I knew that you did all this for me." His voice was thick with emotion. With those words, the heavy tension between those two finally loosened.

They stared at each other acknowledgement clear in the air.

Inuyasha wrapped his arms around Kikyo's quivering body.

"Let's go home." He whispered.

Kikyo clung onto him and could only nod with contentment.

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"Kagome are you ready?" Kouga yelled from downstairs.

Kagome nodded absent minded in her bedroom clutching the lavender perfume Inuyasha had given her for Christmas. She delicately fingered the fine engravings on the bottle – "To my dear girl, my lavender."

Inuyasha's face flashed in her mind so sudden is made Kagome gasped.

"Kagome? Are you alright?" Kouga yelled again stomping up the stairs.

"Yes-yes I am fine Kouga. Hold on a second." Kagome quickly wiped away her tears and stuffed the bottle in the suitcase along with everything else on her bed.

Kouga appeared at the door and helped carry both Kagome and the suitcase down the stairs. When they arrived down stairs, Kagome saw Sango, Miroku and her mother on the lounge.

"Sango, Miroku you are here!" Kagome cried in surprise as Kouga settled her down on the ground from his arms.

Miroku smile slinging an arm around Sango's shoulder. "We are here to announce that Sango and I are getting married. We felt that we need to tell you this in person before you leave."

"I am so glad for you Sango!" Kagome gushed hugging her friend when Kouga finally put her down. "Congratulations!"

Sango smiled hugging Kagome and couldn't help notice how thin and frail she was getting.

"Kagome, do you have to go? I will miss you so much and who will be my bridesmaid for my wedding?"

Kagome looked at Sango trying to hide the unhappiness in her eyes. "You know I love to stay Sango but I need to go with Kouga. He knows a doctor who might be able to do something about my illness."

"But why do you need to go for so long? One year seem to be a long time!"

"Sango, don't worry! I will be fine and anyway, Kouga will take good care of me." Kagome reassured her friend smiling at Kouga who was sitting beside her.

"Is that so Kagome?" Miroku asked frowning. "What about Inuyasha then Kagome? He told me a few days ago that he is going to quit his singing career and go back to America with Kikyo."

"Miroku!" Sango frowned at him looking warily back at Kagome. Kagome's eye widened for a second surprise showing on her face.

"It's alright Sango, Inuyasha and I have already talked it over and we understand each other now. I am happy with his decision as long as he is happy."

"But are you happy Kagome? " Miroku asked earning another glare from Sango.

Kagome paused looking down at her hands unable to answer. Her hands were shaking and she found it hard to stop the movement.

Kouga sat down beside Kagome wrapping his hand around hers.

"Don't worry Miroku, Kagome may not have gotten over Inuyasha but I will make her happy one day."

Miroku nodded but frowned inside. He wanted to talk things over with Kagome in private but it seems like he isn't going to have that opportunity. Kagome still doesn't understand the situation and he was afraid she is going to regret what she is doing.

Miroku signed. Their relationship was too complex even for him to fathom.

"When will you be leaving Kagome?" Her mother asked looking pale and worried.

"When the car arrives mom." Kagome replied not daring the meet her mother's eye in fear that she might broke out crying in front of everyone.

They talked for awhile but no body was relaxed each with heavy matters weighted on their minds. Close to an hour later, the tell tale sounds of a car pulled up into the drive way and few second later the door bell rang.

They all pause staring at Kagome who had quickly turned away concentrating on a small spot on the wall.

When no one made any move, Kouga finally got up to open the door. Before they knew it, the luggage was in the trunk and they were ready to go.

All of them stood outside the house looking tearful and sad.

Kagome couldn't stand it anymore. Fresh tears burst out of her eyes and like a chain reaction so did the tears of Sango, her mother and Miroku. They stood outside hugging and kissing each other swearing to write and call and keep in contact as often as possible.

When they could not drag it out any longer, it was time to go. Kagome turned to her mother and gave her one last hug.

"I will be back mom, hopefully feeling better. You need to take good care of yourself too."

Her mother clutched her tightly nodding wildly. "I will Kagome, you be careful ok? I want you back with me as soon as possible, you are the only one I have now!"

"Don't say that mom." Kagome cried.

"We need to go now." Kouga announced uncertainly watching the tearful group.

Everyone gave her one last hug and before long, the car had left the drive way fading off in the distance.

No one noticed that just around the corner, another car was also heading to the airport, sitting inside this car was none other than Inuyasha and Kikyo...

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Sorry guys, there is still more to go, maybe two more chappies!