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Blue: So, this is it! The last chapter! Wow, it's been a long ride, but it's the end. Are all you awesome reviewers sad? I sure am! I'm going to miss writing this funky story! Alright, read on…

When Two Worlds Combine

Chapter 8: Finale

It was finally here, the day of reckoning. There were no more jewel shards to collect, no more rumors to follow. All that remained was a ragged group consisting of a Houshi, a Taijiya, a half demon, and a human. All that remained was a half demon who had, at some time, been the cause of grief for each person in said group. It was down to this, just them, and him, and only one would come out on top.

Kagome stared apprehensively at the approaching Taiyoukai. He had decided to set aside his pride for a while and join Kagome (For that is the only person who truly accepted him in the group), if only to kill Naraku for his plot to kidnap Rin, the Taiyoukai's small charge. Kagome had graciously accepted his offer to join forces, but she was still intimidated by him, even if she did care a great deal for his reincarnation…

"Kagome." He greeted, using her name for the first time since she had met him.

"Uh… Sesshoumaru-sama, it's good of you to join us here. We've learned from Kagura that this is where Naraku has decided to end it. I'm thankful that you took Shippo to your castle. He's only a kit, and I don't want him to endure this sort of thing…"

Sesshoumaru mutely nodded, reminding Kagome of Akai. Thoughts of Akai stirred up the memory of her farewell to him.

:Flashback:

Kagome stood, staring at the sunset. Akai stood next to her, and neither spoke as they just enjoyed each other's company. As soon as the sun had set, a chill spread across the pond, causing Kagome to shiver. Akai placed his jacket around her shoulders, a smirk tugging at his lips.

"Akai…"

"Kagome…"

Kagome was having a hard time saying goodbye. The words were stuck in her throat, not wanting to come out. She didn't want to leave him without saying something, though. What if she never came back? He'd continue waiting, and she would never see him again! So Kagome made herself force the words out. He had to know that she might not be able to see him ever again.

"Akai… I'm… I'm going to be undertaking a dangerous assignment, of sorts, and… And I might not be coming back." Akai's look of confusion tore at Kagome's consciousness, but she quickly bit back her urge to tell him everything. "I just want you to know that… I just… I love you, Akai!"

And with that she ran, the tears finally flowing. They spread out behind her, leaving tiny, crystalline spheres floating to earth. She had quickly jumped into the well, not wanting to face Akai until her task was over.

:End Flashback:

Kagome sighed as she thought of Akai, standing there with that look of shock on his face. She was going to make it through this fight, and she was going to see him again! She would make sure of it…

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

A whirlwind of power suddenly ripped into the clearing, and Naraku stood before them. They knew he was the real Naraku, not just a puppet, and though the thought scared Kagome, she was relieved that it was finally the end. She was relieved that soon, she would either live to tell this tale to her children, or die trying to save a future and a man she loved.

As the hordes of demons approached, the small group split up. Inuyasha moved off by himself so he could use the Kaze no Kizu without hurting others, Miroku stood beside Kirara, who had a tense Sango on her back, and Sesshoumaru watched the oncoming tides of evil with Kagome, face emotionless, as usual.

Miroku immediately pulled the prayer beads off of his hand as the demons reached them, allowing his kazaana to suck in the vile youkai.

"Miroku, Saimyoushu!" Sango, riding astride Kirara, yelled, pointing to a swarm of the buzzing insect youkai. Miroku inwardly cursed, wrapping up his hand again. Unfortunately, this was a distraction, and provided all the time the youkai needed to pounce of the monk, their claws sinking into him before he even had a chance to defend himself.

"Miroku, no!" Sango screamed, catching Hiraikotsu and quickly turning Kirara towards the monk. And then she froze.

"Ko... Kohaku..." He stood there, eyes void of emotion and a katana held in one hand. Sango limply slid off of Kirara, motioning the cat towards Miroku. Her eyes were fixed on the shell that had once been her younger brother. A tear slowly slid down her cheek, but she resolutely stood her ground, awaiting the first move.

Kagome and Sesshoumaru, meanwhile, stood back to back, one swinging Tokijin and the other loosing Hamaya. Youkai turned to ash in the wake of Kagome's powerful arrows, yet a bead of sweat still trickled down her temple. It was becoming a strain on her body to keep using her power, but she knew that if she stopped, the oncoming masses of twisting bodies and snapping jaws would overwhelm her, and she would surely die.

Sesshoumaru, for his part, was as calm as ever. Hard pressed as he was to keep the evil youkai at bay, he was secure in the knowledge that they would win. It wasn't possible for them to lose, for he would not allow failure.

Inuyasha was also having a difficult time defeating the staggering amount of enemy. As he was about to use the Kaze no Kizu, all commotion around him ceased, and the youkai moved to the side, creating a pathway.

Inuyasha stood there panting for a few seconds, before a figure could be made out walking towards him. The long black hair and red eyes could only mean one thing! Kagura had joined the battle…

"So Inuyasha, you thin you can win?"

"Keh, bitch, I know I can win!"

Kagura's sneer turned into a cold frown, and she quickly pulled out her fan. Though she was hesitant to fight the ones who were supposed to eventually free her, her heart lay in Naraku's hands, and she was forced to comply with his will.

"Wind blades!"

Inuyasha dodged Kagura's attack, quickly dipping his claws into one of his various wounds.

"Blades of blood!"

Kagura moved out of the way in time to avoid most of the attack, but she had become sloppy in her reluctance to fight, and her left arm was torn to pieces. She let out an inhuman shriek, clutching her arm to her chest.

Suddenly another scream ripped through the clearing, and everyone stopped, their eyes turning to the young miko who was inevitably supposed to save them all. Kagome was kneeling on the ground, eyes shut tightly in pain. One of Naraku's tentacles protruded from her shoulder. She began to glow a brilliant light pink, and Naraku's limb began to melt.

With agonizingly slow movements, Kagome got back to her feet, and picked up her bow again.

The battle returned to its magnitude after the initial shock of Kagome's scream had worn off, but the small rest had helped the weary Inu Tachi. Kagome quickly surveyed the area, gritting her teeth in pain as she drew back her bow again.

"Sesshoumaru, I don't know how much longer we can keep this up, I'm running out of arrows and-" She was cut off by the howling of wolves, and a tired grin spread across her face.

"Kouga!"

Kouga swept into the battle, Ginta and Hakkaku (accompanied by Ayame), hurrying to help the beleaguered warriors. With the wolves came new hope, and the tide began to turn on the evil hanyou.

"Hey dog breath, why don't you go help Kagome… The wind witch is mine to kill, and you know it."

For once Inuyasha complied with Kouga's request, moving aside to let the wolf leader take his place. Kagura could only glare at Kouga in distaste before readying her fan again.

"You're lucky you weren't with your clan when I showed up at your den." She snarled viciously.

Kouga bared his fangs at the wind youkai, his eyes beginning to bleed red. Without another word, Kouga attacked, jaws snapping at Kagura's flesh.

"Sesshoumaru, to your left!" The youkai that had lunged at the Taiyoukai burst into ash as Sesshoumaru's whip decimated it.

"They are becoming less." He said quietly, not wanting to waste breath.

Kagome could only incline her head slightly, her whole body aching. The continuous flow of power that she was channeling was starting to take its toll on her. Because of her weariness, Kagome couldn't sense the danger that flew toward her.

It happened as if in slow motion, the arrow infused with dark miko energy burning its way through the sky, barreling straight towards her. As she stood, paralyzed with shock ad fear, a body moved in front of her, taking the blow. As soon as he hit the ground, Kagome was galvanized into action.

A scream ripped from her throat, and a swell of power rippled out from her frail body. Pink light streamed forth from Kagome's mouth, surging up and outwards to encompass everything in the clearing.

When the light finally died down, nothing was left of the hanyou Naraku, or of his detachments. Kagome had fallen to her knees during her outburst, and now staggered to her feet. In her hands she cupped the full Shikon No Tama, its once opaque surface now shining a brilliant pink.

'He-He's gone… Naraku is defeated!' Kagome felt happiness flood her body, and a small grin appeared on her face.

But then she heard it. Sobs were coming from where Sesshoumaru lay, and Kagome was afraid to turn around. When she did, she was forced to stare down at the wounded Taiyoukai and the little girl sobbing over his limp body. Shippo stood behind the girl, holding the reigns of Au Un, Sesshoumaru's flying dragon. Kagome felt numb with shock, and a tear silently trailed down her cheek. She knew that the dark miko magic was slowly killing the pained Taiyoukai.

Sesshoumaru, the great Taiyoukai of the West, had saved her before Naraku had fallen. He had saved her from Naraku, and she owed it to him to save him as well. But if she did...

'Think Kagome, think! If you heal Sesshoumaru, you'll never meet Akai... This is obviously the place where Sesshoumaru is supposed to die… If you heal Sesshoumaru, Rin won't be alone! If you heal Sesshoumaru, you'll give up the only person who truly, really and truly, cares about you, and the only person you really and truly care about! Are you willing to give up your love so that a small girl can have happiness?'

Kagome's vision blurred as tears began to slip out of her tightly clenched eyes. The full Shikon no Tama was resting in her hands, glowing a bright pink. All she had to do was make one wish, and everything would be over. Just one wish and she would lose the man she had come to love. Just one wish, and that one wish was tearing her heart in two.

Kagome quickly pushed back the tears, pushed back the feeling of pain that resounded through her very core. She had to do this, even if it meant losing the one person who she never wanted to lose.

"I wish... I-I wish that they were healed... All of them!"

As the words left her lips, a burning sensation began to grow in her chest, and tears dripped down her cheeks. A bright light erupted from the Tama, throwing Kagome backwards. Her last thought before she blacked out was of Akai, and a feeling of intense sadness welled up in her chest.

Then there was nothing…

FIN

Blue: Well, I hope you enjoyed the story. If you don't know why it took me so long to update, check of my profile or whatever that thing's called. Hm, shall there be an epilogue? Maybe… R/R and tell me what you think!