Chapter 15: Her Final Gift

"Kagome!" Inuyasha shook the girl in his arms in an attempt to wake her. But she wasn't moving; she wasn't even breathing.

"No…." the hanyou fought hard against the tears that suddenly stung his eyes. She can't be….

"Inuyasha?" he raised his head to find Sango and Miroku standing hesitantly before him. "Kagome…?"

"She'll be all right…we have to get her help! Damn it, where's the nearest-!"

"Inuyasha," panicked golden eyes glanced up. Miroku's head was bowed as he spoke, both hands clenched into fists at his sides. "Inuyasha, she's gone."

Sango gasped, her dark hair swaying as she shook her head in denial. Miroku wrapped his cursed arm around her and drew her in close. They had been too late to save her.

"No…no!" Inuyasha snarled in helpless rage. She wouldn't leave him like this! He wouldn't let her! The hanyou slid around her side so that he was fully facing her, both clawed hands locked onto the slim shoulders. "Come on, Kagome! Wake up! Wake…"

He trailed off as Miroku's free hand came to rest on his shoulder. Without even a glance at the monk, he knew what was being said.

The truth of the moment finally hit Inuyasha, and he drew Kagome's lifeless body in close. It was his fault that she was dead! If only it hadn't been the moonless night! He could have protected her! He could have…. Inuyasha grasped the girl tighter, tears brimming at the corners of his lidded eyes. I'm sorry, Kagome….

The courtyard, which had minutes ago been filled with the sounds of battle, was silent now. Men who had been locked in mortal combat had stood shoulder to shoulder as they watched the spectacle unfold before them. Now, after witnessing the defeat of their lord, Yojikin's men let their weapons fall to the earth. A dead employer was not worth fighting for.

Gishohu motioned for his men to secure the prisoners. They would be taken in to the nearest daimyo'sfortress for imprisonment later. For now, though, he had greater things to worry about.

"Aniko!" he ran to his daughter's side, grasping her shoulders tightly. "How could you disobey me like that?"

The girl looked up at her father's concerned face. The sun-kissed skin was lined more with worry than anger, and she ducked her head in shame. "I'm sorry, father. But I needed to avenge Mother, just as much as you did."

Instead of the reprimand she was expecting, Aniko found herself being pulled into a tight hug. She clung to her father's shoulder as he held her, and in turn he stroked her soft hair. "You're all right now, daughter."

After another moment she pulled away, allowing her father to keep his comforting arm around her shoulder. They turned to the three who had helped them defeat Yojikin. Gishohu watched them, his heart filling with sadness. They had led the attack against the castle, had even helped the village prepare for the worst, and because of that they had failed to reach their friend in time. Now they hovered around the tortured girl, their faces cast down in mourning. He squeezed his daughter close. If it had not been for that girl's sacrifice, he would have lost someone else he loved to his brother's madness.

Of those gathered, the monk was the first to speak. "Inuyasha, we should take her home," he almost choked on the words, and he paused to steady himself. "We need to take her home to her family. Kilala can carry her."

"No," Inuyasha whispered, his voice broken and rough. "I'll…I'll carry her."

Miroku nodded. He called to Kilala, who was still guarding a handful of soldiers that she had managed to corner. She growled once in their direction before padding over, and when she neared the group her tail dipped low. Kilala knew what had happened. While Miroku helped Sango onto the youkai's back, Inuyasha cradled Kagome's limp form close and rose.

"Please, wait," Gishohu called hesitantly. "I know that this is not the time, but I wanted to thank you. Without you, we may never have defeated my brother."

Inuyasha ignored him as he walked past. Gishohu let him go, knowing that the hanyou was grieving and probably hadn't even heard him speak. Following behind at a respectful distance were Sango and Miroku, and as they passed the monk leaned toward the lord. "Take your brother's land and burn his castle. Let the dead finally rest in peace."

Gishohu closed his eyes and nodded. "I am sorry. I wish that there was something I could do."

"There is not. But perhaps I can yet help her."

Gishohu turned and faced the speaker. "What…?"

Standing between Gishohu and the gate where Inuyasha now paused was a ghostly apparition clad in scarlet robes. She made her way toward Gishohu, her etheral form making no sound as she covered the short distance. One hand reached out to touch his face, hesitating slightly before resting on his cheek.

"Mother?" he asked in an unbelieving whisper.

"My son… long have I wished to see your face again," she smiled sadly as she took in the child who was no longer such. "Ye have grown into a handsome man, and a good man," her eyes turned to the girl next to him. "She looks so much like ye, Gishohu. Ye have been a good father, but must learn to let her live. Let her follow her own path, as your father and brother could never allow."

Her dark eyes grew sad. "I do not have much time. Even now, I am using borrowed strength from the girl Kagome to appear before ye. I lent her the strength to stand against your brother, and now I wish to use the last of that strength to help her one final time." The elder Aniko touched her son's face once more. "I am proud of ye, Gishohu, and I will always love ye, my son."

Tears flowed freely down Gishohu's face as his mother turned to Inuyasha. "Give her to me, please."

The request was gentle, but the untrusting hanyou clutched Kagome's body closer. He curled his lip back, bearing a fang as a low growl crept from his throat. "No, you can't take her!"

Aniko sighed gently before nodding. "Ye do not want me to take her to the afterlife, do ye?" she paused for a moment, cutting Inuyasha off before he could answer.

"Every woman who my son has killed is trapped here," she began. "Because of his hatred, he was never able to release them, even after their deaths. Their souls have remained, never to pass on until Yojikin set them free.

"And then Kagome arrived. Even from the moment I first saw her, I knew that she would be different. She fought against her imprisonment harder than any of us ever could," she paused, her eyes dark, "and she paid the most for it, as well.

"In the end, she allowed me to lend her the strength to rise so that she could, as her final act, fulfill a promise she never had to make. She gave her life to help us, to protect a child she had never even met, and such a noble act cannot go unrewarded," Aniko reached out a transparent hand to brush away the hair that had fallen across Kagome's pale face.

Inuyasha eyed her carefully, ready to pull away at the first sign of trouble. But this strange woman seemed sincere, and so he let her be. He watched her turn her gaze skyward, her lips parting in a sigh. "Come," she breathed. "Let us repay this priestess."

By now, most of the villagers had gathered the prisoners near the gate. They turned as a strange breeze began to wind through the courtyard, pulling their attention to the sky and the new, golden sun as it crept over the castle walls.

From within the sun's brilliance swirled dozens of tiny orbs of light, each floating down to the torn earth and those gathered upon it. One by one, they broke off from the main group, landing gently before several of the village men. Eyes widened in wonder as they realized what they were facing. The orbs were the souls of the ones Yojikin had taken away.

While the lost souls bid their final farewells to husbands, fathers, sons and brothers, Aniko turned again to Inuyasha. "Please, give her to me."

Though he still did not trust the specter, he knew that this might be Kagome's only chance. Slowly, he took a step forward and carefully laid Kagome on the ground.

The souls, now finished, flew back and gathered around their Lady. She smiled once at her son and then closed her eyes. The orbs began to glow fiercely, rivaling the morning sun as they swirled around Aniko. She bathed in the light for a moment and then gently lowered herself to the ground beside Kagome.

Inuyasha took a step forward, suddenly fearful that this woman truly was intending to take Kagome's soul. He growled when a hand reached out to grab at him, until he realized that the hand belonged to Miroku.

"Trust her, Inuyasha."

So the hanyou watched and waited as Aniko placed her hands on Kagome's chest. The glow moved from the orbs of light down the ghost's arms and through her hands, disappearing as it entered Kagome's body. Aniko sat motionless until the last of the power had vanished, and then she gathered her dark robes and stood.

She was barely visible as she smiled. The gesture, though weak, was hauntingly beautiful as it lit her fading features. Aniko appeared as though an enormous weight had just been lifted from her shoulders, and now she faced Inuyasha with a relieved and peaceful look in her eyes. "We have given her all we can," she whispered. "There was much damage done, but we have returned to her that which she so freely gave for us."

Sango, who was still seated atop Kilala, watched with hopeful eyes. "Do you mean she's…?"

Aniko smiled and motioned to Kagome's prone form.

Miroku and Sango exchanged a glance and then hurried to their friend's side. The taijaya knelt by Kagome while Miroku moved the hand that had been barring Inuyasha's advancement. It slid up to the hanyou's shoulder and squeezed gently, his dark eyes wide as he waited for Sango to speak. Inuyasha didn't even notice the monk's reassuring gesture as he too waited for the final truth.

It came a moment later when Sango turned her watery eyes upward. "She's breathing!"

"Kagome…" Inuyasha didn't dare finish the thought. His wide eyes shut tightly against the sudden onslaught of emotion that threatened to overtake him. To find her again, only to lose her was too much, but now this….

The monk at his side gave his shoulder another squeeze, and the hanyou forced his eyes open once more. Miroku stood next to him, tears openly streaking his tanned cheeks. Inuyasha was about to make a comment about it when he realized that his own face was damp.

He dropped woodenly to his knees, and Sango quietly relinquished her spot. She rose, and her biggest smile lit her face as she wrapped an arm around Miroku's shoulders. They leaned into each other, so caught up in their relief that they did not bother drawing away from the open display of affection.

They watched Inuyasha sit next to Kagome. He stayed there, unmoving for a few moments, as though he were afraid that she would disappear. Finally he reached out and touched her. His hands were shaking when his fingers met with her hair, his touch feather light against her pale skin. The dirt and dried blood still remained, but the dark bruises were gone. The hanyou let his hand linger for a moment longer before drawing it away. Twin molten orbs traveled down her body until they rested on the stained blouse, and with careful hands he parted the material once again. Only this time, it was hope that guided his hands instead of dread. As before, the sticky cloth parted easily, but what lay beneath was completely different.

"It's gone…" he breathed, his voice heavy with relief. All that remained of the vicious wound was a light pink scar over her left lung. Excitement guided his hands as he checked the rest of her body for the signs of the abuse she had endured. Everything was gone now, except the marks on her back. There, too, remained light scars that would hopefully fade in time. Throughout his search Kagome remained motionless, and even though her heart beat in her chest and her lungs cycled the air through her body she was still unconscious.

He sought out Aniko, who stood waiting nearby. "Why won't she wake up?"

"She has been through much. Her body must take time to recover the strength she has lost. Kagome may sleep for days, but do not fear; she will wake when she is ready."

The hanyou nodded and lowered his head. "Thank you," he whispered around the lump in his throat.

Aniko smiled down at him. She could tell that Kagome would be all right in the hands of this boy. One look at him and it was obvious why the girl had called for him in her hour of need. She loved him, and he loved her in return.

Something began to pull at the specter and she turned her eyes upward to find the source. Already she could see the fading souls of the other women drifting to the heavens. Their time on this earth was over, and it was finally time for them to find their rest.

She turned to her eldest son. The look in his eyes told her that he knew it was time to say goodbye.

"Mother…please, be at peace."

"Goodbye Gishohu. You have made me proud," as her final words reached his ears, her ethereal body faded away until only a small orb of light remained. Aniko's soul danced upon the morning wind, floating up to join the last of her charges. Together they flew into the heavens and disappeared.

Gishohu hugged his daughter close. "Be at peace."

A/N: I figured that I would stop torturing y'all with cliffies!

I'm sorry to say that this is the final regular chapter, folks. There will be an epilogue sometime soon, along with a little suprise for you all that will hopefully turn into something great. See ya soon, and thank you all for reading!