IMPORTANT: If you want to see a picture of Suno Kazasami or Ikuto Kazasami, then check my bio for information on how. Their handsome!

Q: I was confused. Kirara had Miroku and Sango, but Kouga and Inuyasha have Kagome?

A: It says that Kirara grabbed Miroku, Sango, and Inuyasha and Kouga grabbed Kagome. I should have probably put a comma there, but Kirara had Miroku, Sango, and Inuyasha. Kouga has a hold of Kagome.

C: I think it's tacky when authors say "I'm not updating unless I get so many reviews."

A: I get big long reviews mixed in with a couple of "update" or "good story." I enjoy having really good reviews and they are worth more than a giant number, but you have to understand that you don't see the stats of this story. I do. There are hundreds of people that read this story per chapter. It's great that I'm averaging 20 reviews a chapter, but can't you imagine how awful I would feel if I saw 300 click viewers and only five reviews? I would be glad that many people checked it out, but I'd still be upset that not everyone else knew. There are so many readers that look at reviews and judge the story by that alone. Why does my review count keep rising? It's because it was already high and people think "That must be a good story." Like I keep saying, "The Other Side of the Story" and "The Ruler of All" is way better than "Irony" but not many people know that, because they see the number of reviews rather than the summary or the title. I know people that won't consider a story unless the review count is high. It's unfair, but that's the truth, and I prefer to have people review like crazy. Authors write for mainly two reasons: For their personal enjoyment and to be recognized. I'm doing it for both.

C: The title "Irony" doesn't fit because it's not ironic that Ikuto is Inuyasha's reincarnation.

A:...That's not why it's called "Irony." It's that title because of Kagome. Kagome is involved in a love triangle. You see, Inuyasha is in love with Kikyou and Kagome but picks Kikyou over Kagome. Kagome still loves Inuyasha, but can't help but be jealous of Kikyou. Now Inuyasha is in Kagome's position. Kagome loves Ikuto and Inuyasha. The only question is who Kagome will choose. That's why the story is ironic.

Q: Is this an Inu Kag story?

A: Well, yes. It is a love story involving those two characters. I think your real question is "Are they going to end up together?" The answer is...maybe. Only I know, and yes, I know how I am going to end it now. I'm almost ready to say. This story, believe it or not, is almost over. All shall be revealed shortly. Just stick with me and you will see.

Chapter 48

I do not own Inuyasha

"Sesshoumaru!" Inuyasha said with caution. All of his enemies just had to show up at this moment! Oddly enough, Sesshoumaru being there would work to their advantage. They could concentrate on another matter, rather than Naraku.

Ikuto's death…

"Ikuto…" Kagome whispered as she rubbed her thumb on his lifeless cheeks. She was still crying, crying so hard as she held him. It had begun to rain and rain so heavily. Kagome couldn't feel the rain though, but she could feel the cold and the emptiness of the darkness in the sky. Ikuto was gone. She loved him, and now he was gone.

So many thoughts began to cloud Kagome's mind. 'Why did this have to happen? It wasn't supposed to be this way! I thought you hated Inuyasha. Why didn't you think about me? I loved you, and now you're gone? Why? Why did you go? Come back!'

Despite her sadness, she knew there was hope. She knew the power that Sesshoumaru possessed and if anyone could bring Ikuto back to life, it was him. He could bring Ikuto back. 'Sesshoumaru...you've got to!'

"Naraku" Sesshoumaru was holding on to the Tokijin tightly, ready to strike again. "Today I shall end your life."

"Go ahead and try, Lord Sesshoumaru. I have already explained that it is futile though. You are unable to defeat me. No one can."

Sesshoumaru glanced over to his little brother. He was in his human form, a rather pathetic state. Naraku obviously wished to take advantage of Inuyasha's condition. Sesshoumaru thought it was foolish to let Naraku of all demons know the secret, but Sesshoumaru could care less about the welfare of his little brother.

The mortal girl Kagome was with Inuyasha and she was crying, holding a dead body. By the amount of blood and the wound, he had to be dead, unless he wasn't human at all, but the smell was unmistakable, though the skin was a little different. He had to be a foreigner. There was something else though. The boy's clothes were odd, just as odd as Kagome's. Sesshoumaru's interest was sparked by his odd appearance at first, and with the fact that Sesshoumaru had never seen him before. Sesshoumaru noticed something else. Though his face was covered in blood, Sesshoumaru could see a resemblance. Whoever this human boy was, it looked like...Inuyasha? It looked like Inuyasha? He was with that mortal girl, who looked like the woman that sealed Inuyasha to a tree for fifty years. That was not a coincidence. From the information he had gathered here and there, Kagome was supposedly the reincarnation of the woman Kikyou. Sesshoumaru could care less of Kagome's origins, but with this new person, it only made sense that he was Inuyasha's reincarnation...in theory.

This, he figured all out in a glance that only lasted half a second.

He also saw something else. He saw that mortal girl Kagome looking at him. She was sad, grieving over the mortal that was dead in her arms. She also looked hopeful? Was that the word the mortals used? Hope? She was desperate and was obviously looking for his help.

As if he would ever help a mortal, let alone Inuyasha's mortal.

"Naraku, I find it fitting that a coward like you would attack Inuyasha in this moment, when he can't do anything to defend himself. You truly are a pathetic creature."

"I am a pathetic creature?" he asked. "Then destroy me, if I'm so pathetic!"

"That is what I plan on doing, Naraku!" Sesshoumaru charged Naraku and began hitting Naraku with his Dragon Strike, blowing him apart with every blow.

"Hey!" Kouga yelled. "Naraku is mine to kill!" Kouga cracked his knuckles. "Do you hear me Sesshoumaru?" Sesshoumaru paid him no mind and continued fighting. "Naraku is mine!" Kouga began to charge at Naraku, cutting him piece to piece, but that angered Sesshoumaru.

"This isn't your concern" he told Kouga. "Stay out of my way or die where you stand."

"Just try me!" Kouga started to charge at Sesshoumaru while Naraku was pulling himself back together, but Sesshoumaru was not about just back down. He used his Dragon Strike quickly, but if it wasn't for Kouga's instincts and his jewel shards, he would have been hurt by the Dragon Strike, and perhaps ripped apart, but he thankfully did.

While the two of them were fighting, or rather, while Kouga was avoiding Sesshoumaru the best that he could, Shippo handed Kagome the full jewel that came out of Ikuto's body. "What does it mean, Kagome?"

Kagome held it and it all began to make sense. "This is what was so different. This is why he had gotten into so many horrible incidents and survived. This is why he's so fast, so strong, heals so fast, and this is why...this is why that demon that possessed him grew so strong inside of him." She bit her lip. "That's why."

Sango, Miroku, and Kirara joined them. "It all makes sense" Miroku muttered.

"When I die" Inuyasha said awkwardly "I...well, someone must burn the jewel with my body, just like Kaede did with Kikyou's body."

"Look how much we've changed" Kagome said. "Everything...it's all my fault. The jewel has to be inside of Ikuto because of all that I've done here. There's no telling how much the both of us have done." Kagome began pulling the jewel closer to Ikuto's body.

"Don't do it, Kagome" Inuyasha told her. "Every time the jewel healed him, he was alive. He'll just be the living dead, like the band of seven if you put it in him now. He'll be the living dead, and I know you or he doesn't what that."

"You're right Inuyasha. There's only one chance."

"Ahhhhhh!"

The yell caught Kagome's and Inuyasha's attention. Though Kouga had the jewel shards, he was not fast enough to dodge Sesshoumaru forever. Sesshoumaru himself was fast, very fast, so his attack eventually did hit Kouga, and for at least a while, Kouga was not getting up. "Let's finish this Naraku."

The sky was still filled with darkness, even though dawn should have approached by now. Naraku couldn't do anything with Sesshoumaru right there. "We'll continue this another time, Lord Sesshoumaru. I'm afraid I'll have to leave." Naraku began to make a quick escape, away from his foes.

"Do you think you can escape me?"

"Wait!" yelled Kagome. She just couldn't let Sesshoumaru leave. She gently took Ikuto's body off of hers and ran to Sesshoumaru to plead with him.

"Kagome no!" Inuyasha warned. "What are you doing?"

Sesshoumaru was going to ignore her, but she wouldn't let that happen. "Please, I need your help, Sesshoumaru! Please bring my friend back to life with your sword! Please! I'm begging you to do this. I'll do anything! Just bring him back!"

Sesshoumaru faced her, but even looking into her eyes, he couldn't feel any compassion for her. "No."

"Just do it, Sesshoumaru!" Inuyasha yelled. He joined Kagome's side. "Just bring him back."

Sesshoumaru thought this to be a good opportunity to find out what he needed to know. "Is that boy your reincarnation, Inuyasha?"

That struck a nerve within Inuyasha. "Yeah, it is."

"Then no" Sesshoumaru told them. "I do not understand why it is possible why you have a reincarnation while you are still alive, but regardless of the reason, it is still technically you, little brother. Why should I do anything that would benefit you, Inuyasha? Perhaps if you would have inherited the Tenseiga instead of the Tetsusaiga, then you would have the power to bring your friend back. I lack the compassion to do it for you. He'll just have to stay dead."

"Please!" Kagome yelled.

Sesshoumaru started to walk away, but just as he was leaving, the Tenseiga began to pulse. "Tenseiga?" 'You wish to save this boys life?' He looked at Ikuto, lying there, cold and lifeless. He cared nothing for this boy. He wasn't that curious, but if the Tenseiga was pulsing, there must have been a good reason to why the boy should be brought back. "Stand aside" he told Kagome and Inuyasha. The both of them obeyed and Sesshoumaru walked right over to Ikuto's body and observed it closer. He was young, but looked older than Inuyasha by a few human years. It was strange, but still, if Tenseiga was pulsing then he had to do it. There had to be some reason. He placed Tokijin back on his sash and drew the Tenseiga. Sesshoumaru could see the soul collectors surrounding the boy. He raised his sword, still not sure why, and killed the soul collectors with one swing. "It's done."

Sesshoumaru began leaving, before Ikuto even lifted his body again, knowing that it had to be done. "Thank you, Sesshoumaru!" Kagome said happily.

"Thank the Tenseiga; it had nothing to do with you." He began walking away.

Kagome ran to Ikuto and waited for his body to do something. "Ikuto?" Soon his eyes began to open, and as if nothing had ever happened at all, he got up and his hole was gone and he was as good as new. "Ikuto!" She hugged him as hard as she could.

"What just happened?" he asked. When he saw Sesshoumaru leaving, he could mostly figure out what happened. "Suno?"

Sesshoumaru's ears picked up the name while he was leaving, but he thought it best not to ask. For some reason, he was suddenly disgusted.

"Naraku killed you, and now you're back!" She showed him the jewel. "This was in your body..."

"That? The whole Shikon Jewel was?"

Kouga finally woke up and saw an unbearable sight to him. Kagome and Ikuto were together and happy. It saddened him. It saddened him so much. "Kagome..." He was sore, but he got up anyway. "Naraku got away."

"And Sesshoumaru beat you" Inuyasha teased.

"Shut up you mutt!" Kouga yelled.

The both of them began fighting verbally with each other, but Kagome didn't even care. She was just so happy that Ikuto was alive. "You really scared me, Ikuto."

"Well, being dead is no picnic, Kagome. I'm just glad I was right about Sesshoumaru and Kouga coming to aid us."

Shippo screamed once he heard a sudden blow of thunder. "It's as if the Earth itself is crying out for help" Miroku said. "What is wrong?"

"The sun should have come up by now" Sango told them. "It's still dark though."

"I warned you all" came a voice deep within the forest. "I warned you of what would happen." Kikyou appeared from out of the forest, looking rather upset. "I warned you, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha stopped arguing with Kouga and was suddenly grabbed by Kikyou's presence. "Kikyou..."

"The boy had the jewel in his body the whole time. It made him incredibly special. The problem now is that it was removed. Now, there is too much power here. The jewel is too powerful to exist in two time periods like this. It will shatter everything here."

"If that's the case" Miroku asked "then shouldn't have a disaster struck ever since Ikuto came to this land?"

"He was born with the jewel in his body. It was part of him and his body almost acted like a shield. Think about it. Kagome couldn't even sense the jewel even though she spent so much time with him."

"But Kikyou..." Inuyasha was upset with himself. Things were turning worse. He should have listened to Kikyou in the first place. "I'm sorry Kikyou."

"He has to leave now" Kikyou told them. "He must leave with the jewel and go into his own era. If he doesn't go now, then everything will be destroyed."

Ikuto held the jewel in his hand and stood up on his own two feet. "Then I'll have to leave, and leave now." He started running towards the direction of the well, as fast as he could.

"Wait!" Kagome yelled. She just ran right after him.

This saddened Kouga and Inuyasha. Kouga was a little angry on another matter as well. "Hey, why does he get to keep the full jewel? I need it!"

"That jewel would be useless to you" Kikyou told Kouga. "It would only destroy you for causing such a horrible imbalance. The present jewel in this era hasn't even been put back together completely."

"I understand now" Sango interrupted them. "When Ikuto was possessed, it had such a horrible effect on him. It made him insane and powerful, but it was destroying him. Ikuto using the jewel to survive time after time is alright, but if anything else uses it, like that parasite demon-"

"Then there's an imbalance and whatever uses it will be destroyed" said Miroku.

"Inuyasha" Kikyou told him sadly "there will probably be demons after Ikuto, since he holds the jewel. You must protect him at all costs."

Inuyasha wanted to stay with Kikyou longer, but he knew she was right. "Kikyou..."

"Kagome's in danger?" Kouga asked. "Then I'm out of here!" Kouga began running to Kagome as fast as he could.

"Stay out of this wolf!" Inuyasha yelled.

Kikyou began to leave, but before she left, she gave one final warning. "Ikuto, or the jewel in his body, must never return to this land. Keep them there, and keep the jewel shards of this era here. It will only cause greater calamity if there is more than a full jewel in one place."

Inuyasha wanted to embrace Kikyou. He couldn't help it, but he had to protect Kagome. "Come on guys!"

"Up with the sun?" Sarah asked Suno, as she walked into his study and saw him working. "You know, you don't have to go to work today. Why not just relax?"

"Why?" he asked. "Ikuto's not in the house and he's probably doing something reckless, probably with Kagome and Inuyasha. I told him that I didn't want him to have anything to do with her, as long as she's in the Feudal Era with Inuyasha. He doesn't ever listen to me."

"So big brother is worried and can't sleep?" she asked. "You should try relaxing sometime. It'll make you feel better. I promise it will."

"It's the night of the new moon. I'm sure he'll be home soon. It's morning now."

She sighed. "I only hope you worry this much about our darling child." She left him there with his thoughts.

'My child won't be half as foolish as Ikuto.'

"Kagome!" Inuyasha called out to her once he saw that she was sitting by the well with Kouga. It had instantly stopped raining and the sun began to shine. In a matter of seconds, Inuyasha was once again a half demon. "Where's Ikuto?"

"He's back home, Inuyasha. I should go there too."

"Kagome...I..." He felt like he should say something, but his emotions were just so clouded. He was jealous, very jealous. He felt guilty because once he saw Kikyou, he wanted her. He was confused to why Ikuto saved his life, baffled that Sesshoumaru brought Ikuto back, and he was curious to know Kagome's thoughts. "Kagome..."

"You don't have to say anything" she told him. "I'll be okay. I just...I'll be back in a day or so. You don't have to follow me." She made sure that she gave her jewel shards to Inuyasha and jumped down the well.

"And she just jumped into the future with that boy?" Kouga asked. "And we can't reach her?"

"I can..." Inuyasha told him. "But I don't think I should..." his doggy ears fell.

"So you're just going to let him win?"

"It's Kagome's choice..." Inuyasha himself couldn't believe what he was saying. "She'll do whatever she feels is best."

"This stinks! Go stop that kid from getting Kagome!"

Inuyasha wanted to, and at the moment, he was acting out of character, but the kid did just die for him. "She said she'd be back, and I'm going to give her some space." 'Although I'd rather not, Kagome. I want you to stay with me...'

"Kagome..." Ikuto tried to tell her, right there and then. "I..."

"Hold that thought!" she said. "There's too many spirits at my shrine that would go insane if they sensed the jewel, we've got to get over to your place."

He was afraid to face his brother, but he knew it was for the best. 'I'm going to be in trouble.' "I don't think you should go to my house though, Kagome. Suno would flip out, and we were going to draw the line here, remember?"

She didn't want to. "But Ikuto..." She wrapped her arms around him and began to sob so hard. "But I love you! I've always loved you!"

He held her tightly. "Kagome, I love you, and I know that we're meant to be together. I know we are, but it's not my place to be with you right now. I'll only...I'll only keep getting you, myself, and my family into trouble. You've already screwed around with the time line, and I shouldn't mess it up anymore than what I have, Kagome."

She began to cry again. "I thought I lost you forever, and then I realized that..."

"Why don't you tell me that later, Kagome. Hold those words in your heart and tell me when we've got a chance together. As for right now, everything is pulling us apart, Kagome."

"I really do love you, Ikuto."

"I'll be willing to wait, Kagome. You're the only girl for me. There's no one else in my life that I know I can love forever. Our love is eternal, and it transcends time itself. What you have for Inuyasha proves that."

"I feel so horrible about everything. I've caused you so much pain. It's been my entire fault."

"No Kagome..." he told her. "It's because of you that the jewel returned to the past, and since it did, I got it. It's going to be burned with Inuyasha's body and passed on to me. That's probably why I survived that fire when I was small, Kagome. You...you're the reason why I'm alive. You saved my life, Kagome."

She blushed brightly and let go of him. "You think it's because of me?"

He kissed her on her lips and poured all that he could into it. He loved her, and she loved him, but given the circumstances, they couldn't be together, but he was willing to wait for her. "I've got to go, Kagome. Suno's probably realized that I'm not home."

"Then go." She kissed him on the cheek. "I'll miss you, Ikuto."

"Good luck Kagome" he told her. "You'll need it." He didn't want to linger on. He had to hurry before he changed his mind. Despite all the sense staying away from each other made, they were still teenagers. He ran off her property and into his car, trying not to look back and hurry home.

'Ikuto...'

An hour later, Ikuto had gone over the story with Suno, but hadn't mentioned the part about how he died. He just explained that Sesshoumaru saved him. "So you bailed me out again" Ikuto told his brother.

"You're so reckless, Ikuto. The next time you do this-"

"There's not going to be a next time, brother. I'm going to stay out of Kagome's way and focus on myself. I keep putting you all in danger, so until she's done in the feudal era, we're keeping our distance."

Suno was relieved, but didn't completely trust Ikuto. He didn't think that his brother would actually do as he said. "Anyway, I've been wondering about this Sesshoumaru."

"Your former demon self?" Ikuto asked. "What's there to say?"

"What of him?"

Ikuto sighed. "He's Inuyasha's half brother, except he's a full demon. He's strong, fast, smart, graceful, and resourceful" Ikuto shrugged his shoulders. "He supposedly hates humans, but let's a little girl hang around him. He's a bit cruel in battle, and he's power hungry. Inuyasha and him don't get along too much. The kind of hate each other...supposedly."

"Hm...Interesting. I was merely curious."

"Daddy?" Rina knocked on the door and entered. "Are we gonna go to the store?"

"Yeah" he told her. "We are." Suno shut down his lap top. "You may leave, Ikuto."

"I'm going."

Inuyasha was sitting alone by the well, sad and still confused on what he should do or what was going to happen. He saw the look in Kagome's eyes. She was so heartbroken. 'Kagome...if you want to stay with Ikuto...'

"Inuyasha?" she climbed up and sat beside him. "Are you okay?"

"Sure, but are you okay?"

She nodded. "I'm just glad Sesshoumaru brought him back to life. If he wouldn't have..."

"Kagome, don't get upset again! He's alright. He's fine."

"I know but..." She became so sad once she thought about how hurt he was. "Inuyasha, we're not going to see each other until we're done here Inuyasha. We're serious this time. He died and I could never forgive myself if he..." She leaned on Inuyasha. "Things are going to still be hard for us; you realize that, don't you?"

"Sure I do Kagome. I know that, but we can pull through. I know we can stop Naraku and put the jewel back together."

"If we don't, then Ikuto will die."

"I know Kagome, and I do owe him my life, even though I hate to admit it." He held her tightly. "We can do it Kagome. Trust me."

She closed her eyes, just becoming tired all of the sudden. "Thank you for being here for me, Inuyasha. I can always count on you."

"I'll always be here for you Kagome, until the day I die..."

To be continued...

A/N: Okay, Ikuto's alright. I think the next chapter will be the last one. Yes, I believe it will be! I'm not positive but I think it will. Please review!