Thank you whoever is reading this, after last chapter I wouldn't be surprised if nobody read this. If only I realized I was digging my own grave when I came up with this plot. I suppose I overestimated my writing skills. Anyways I am sorry that the last chapter sucked. I will probably go back and revise both Reborn Horror and this one in a couple of months. Also I don't know about a sequel, I have an idea for one but I'm afraid I'll screw it up like this one. –sighs- I have to stop wallowing in self-pity.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha...and lucky for me the annoying lawyers who refuse to leave me alone are all drunk on egg nog and a non-stop flight to Cambodia, with fake passports. So once their sober they can't get back...I am so evil!

Lawyers:...I needed a vacation anyway...(opens another bottle of egg nog and passes out)

Me: I win... : )

Chapter Eighteen: Where Do We Go from Here?

Inuyasha and Kagome sat down on the steps of their home with a sigh. Naraku was dead. They were free. But one thing dominated their thoughts, Kai. After the fight, Kai was brought to the village for medical treatment. Since she transformed back into a quarter demon and Kiyoshi's healing spell, it was only a matter of time before she was on her feet again. She had been asleep for two weeks.

"Good morning Kagome, Inuyasha." Rin said cheerfully. She had told them what happened to Kagura, while they were fighting Naraku. Kagome felt bad for her, but suspected that the demon didn't truly intend to battle Lord Sesshomaru. She chose to die.

"Hello Rin." Kagome said. "When did Sesshomaru saw he was leaving?" The younger woman shifted.

"He didn't say, but he mentioned that he didn't want to return to the Western Lands any time soon. I don't know what's gotten into him lately." Rin paused. "It's almost as if he wishes he didn't kill Kagura." Kagome sympathized for the poor woman. She could tell that she loved the demon lord.

Kagome opened her mouth to comfort Rin but closed it quickly not knowing what to tell the woman. Rin shrugged and flashed a false smile. "Well, I'm sorry but I'm going to talk to Lord Sesshomaru now that I'm thinking about it." With that Rin stormed off.

"I really feel bad for her." Kagome said as she leaned against Inuyasha. "I don't think he is capable of love."

"You said the same about me and look what happened." Inuyasha said smugly. Kagome looked at him in disbelief.

"When did I ever say that?" She demanded defensively. Inuyasha just laughed. Kagome looked at him confused and he laughed harder. Kagome sighed and decided to drop the subject. He is such a baka, she thought.

Rin walked slowly her head lowered. She felt ashamed for spilling out what she thinking since Kagura's death. She was so absorbed in her thoughts she didn't notice Sesshomaru behind her.

"You're wrong Rin." He said. She stopped in her tracks and turned to face him. To her surprise his face was pink and his silver bangs veiled his golden eyes.

"My lord?" She asked.

"Call me Sesshomaru."

"Ok, Sesshomaru. How am I wrong?"

"I heard you talking to Kagome and you're wrong about me. I don't wish I didn't kill Kagura." He paused. "I was worried that you could've been killed."

"But you have the Tensaiga." She said, denying the flutter in her heart. "It doesn't matter if I die because you can always resurrect me."

"That's not the point." He said. "I don't want you to die. Can't you see that, damn it?" Rin looked at him in awe, as he fumbled for the right words to express his emotions. Rin simply walked up to him and stared into his eyes.

"Does this mean you care about me, despite the fact I'm human?" She asked. He sighed.

"Of course. Why do you think I let you follow me all these years?"

Rin giggled. "Cause the kindness in your heart?" Sesshomaru snorted.

"You're hopeless." He said colder than he intended. He began to walk away, but Rin grabbed his hand. Her fingers intertwined with his. She smiled up at him with faint hints of a blush on her cheeks.

"Maybe I am."

Shippo and Chandra in the Forest of Inuyasha with their backs against trees facing each other. Chandra nervously hugged her legs to her chest, her long tail twitching.

"Why are you so jumpy?" Shippo asked concerned.

She shrugged. "I'm worried about Kai and Kiyoshi. They both don't seem well enough to be moving." Shippo knew that wasn't what she was thinking. He could tell by her manner.

He stood up and walked to where she sat and crouched down to look at her. His face was inches from hers. Chandra reddened at the close proximity.

She sighed. There was no fooling him. "Shippo, why are still friends with me?"

He seemed taken back by her question. "Because you haven't changed inside." He said simply. Chandra giggled at his corniness. "You are exactly the person I saw through your disguise. Except much prettier." Chandra was blushing. 'You're one the I fell in love with.' Shippo silently added to himself.

Chandra smiled and stared in Shippo's eyes a moment longer than she expected to. In them she saw no hard feelings, just trust and…love?

Chandra looked away. Shippo just sighed. He knew it would take awhile for her to completely open up it him, but hell he had all the time in the world, he was a demon after all.

Kasumi had been wandering outside the village, her ravens flocking around her. She knew they didn't want her around and with Naraku gone she was free to go wherever. She looked at her wrist. Above her tattoo a thin scar was only evidence of her imprisonment. She was going to put it all aside. She couldn't stay and rest her burden on everyone else.

"Kasumi." Someone called. She turned. It was Kohaku. "I never did get to thank you."

"For what?" She asked. She didn't deserve thanks.

"For saving Kai."

"I didn't do it for her." She said coldly.

Kohaku sighed. "I know, but thanks anyway." Kasumi nodded and turned her back to him. "For what its worth…" He called out. She stopped. "I know there's more to you than what meets the eye and I'd be willing to find out what it is."

"What in the hell is that supposed to mean?" She asked.

"Will you stay and be my friend?"

"I don't need friends." She said, a tear forming in the corner of her eye.

"Everyone needs friends." He said casually. Kasumi didn't move. "Well my offer still stands, if you ever change your mind." He turned and walked away.

Kasumi was shocked. He wanted to be her friend? He actually cared about her, after everything she did to his friends?

"Kohaku, wait." She said, her back still to him.

"Yes?" He replied. He didn't go very far. He knew she couldn't resist a friend.

"Are you serious about being my friend?" she asked.

"Yeah."

"Ok." She said turning to face him, tears streaming down her face. "Friends?" She held out a hand. He grabbed it. "Friends." He said firmly.

Kai stood up and was walking around. She had Kagome even up her hacked off hair. Now it was an inch beneath her earlobes and cut in layers. The front tendrils of hair that hid her absence of human ears were hanging down to her collarbone. It was quite the usual hairstyle but Kai believed it suited her better. She looked down at her chest, which was completely wrapped in bandages. She sighed knowing underneath it all was the Shikon Jewel embedded in her body. It was Midoriko's last trick. The jewel would eventually dissolve and no longer exist but until then it was stuck in Kai. Midoriko had spoke to her in her sleep while she was recovering. Kai learned that she was the reincarnation of Midoriko. At first she didn't know how to react but the priestess had more to say. Kai's soul was the product of the fusing of Midoriko and a thousand demons. Kai's soul was the Shikon Jewel.

She didn't know how that was possible, but the great miko merely said. "Kai, you were born in a time were the Jewel didn't exist. So when you came to the feudal era, a part of your soul was stolen to restore the Jewel. That was how Naraku could reappear after his death and seek revenge. But it's over now. I'm afraid I can't give you any more advice, but I will always be you."

Kai had grown attached to the miko and now she knew why. She is a part of her. It was still freaky to her, and she hadn't told anyone yet. She doubted anyone would believe that but then again there was a lot of weird shit in her life.

"Kai." A familiar male voice called to her. She spun around. It was Kiyoshi. He was deathly pale but thankfully alive. Kai rushed and gave him a huge hug. He stiffened but then tightened the embrace. "Kai, what happened?"

She pulled away and looked into his eyes. He was so confused. Uncertainty tormented him. "What do you remember?" Kai asked, her voice shaky. Did he forget their 'betrayal'?

"The last thing I remember was Kasumi stole the Ice Pendant from me." He said. "I know that was awhile ago, but anything in between all I see is a white fog, but it pains me to try to remember." He explained.

Kai stood shocked. He has no memory of Naraku's treachery after all! This is good, she thought. We can put this behind us and continue with our lives. Then dread sank in. She would have to tell him. She had to tell him that she had wanted to kill him and she went insane. Tears welled in her eyes. The knowledge would break him.

Kiyoshi embraced her. "It's ok Kai." He said. "I will remember soon enough." Miserably Kai thought, but when you do…Kai buried her head in his chest and cried at the cruel twist of fate.

Kiyoshi, unaware of her inner struggle, simply tightened his arms around her waist and rested his chin of the top of her head. Then he whispered in her dog-ears. "I love you."

"I love you, too." She said softly. Whether he heard her or not she didn't know but he smiled. Kai looked up at him and saw he was so happy to be with her. Forgetting her troubles, she leaned in meeting Kiyoshi halfway. He kissed her tenderly at first and then pulled away. Then Kai pulled him back for another more passionate kiss. She felt one of her wounds reopen but she didn't care. She continued to melt in the arms of her beloved.

When they finally calmed down. Kai stared into Kiyoshi over bright blue eyes, she knew. She knew that no matter what everything will be fine. Their love for each other overcame Naraku's tricks. But Kai knew it the back of her mind that it was only a matter of time before the truth would come out. "We can't all have happy endings," she thought. "But I can sure as hell try…"

Epilogue

Life went on for Inuyasha and the gang. The torments of Naraku and wounds are still fresh in everyone's mind that was unfortunate enough to remember. The summer had come to a close. Kai would have to return to the modern era and start up school again. She couldn't afford to screw up another year of school. Her grades were important and she had a new determined focus. One day when Kai was in the modern era walking to the store to restock on Ramen when she ran into a woman about her age maybe younger. She had shoulder-length black hair. She was wearing a white and purple striped shirt and a black skirt with white feather print. When Kai looked at her eyes they appeared red. She blinked and did a double take. They weren't red; they were only brown and full with life.

The woman had noticed that Kai was watching her. "Hello." She said brightly. Kai couldn't get over the fact she was familiar.

"Do I know you?" Kai asked politely. The woman looked thoughtful.

"I don't believe so…" She said scanning her. "Well maybe we have met in a former life." She joked. Kai laughed involuntarily. The woman sighed." Sorry, bad joke. My name is Niwa Yoshiko. I'm new here."

"I'm Higurashi Kaiaya." Yoshiko thought for a moment.

"Higurashi? I can't say I've heard of you, but maybe I'll see you at school." Yoshiko fiddled with a necklace that hung down in front of her shirt. It had a two charms on it one was a feather and the other one was a heart.

Then Kai knew she was talking to the reincarnation of Kagura. "Are you happy?" Kai asked abruptly.

Yoshiko didn't hesitant. "Yes. I am free as the wind itself." Someone called Yoshiko and she said her goodbyes and promised to see Kai at school. Kai watched her go surprised.

"So Kagura," she said aloud. "You found happiness in another life." One tear of joy streamed down her face. There was still hope for those victimized by the Jewel. Herself included…

There you go a 'relatively happy ending.' lol. Right now I'm torn on whether or not to have a sequel because of last chapter horriblness.If I make a sequel it will probably revolvearound Kai & Kiyoshi and maybe Shippo &Chandra, and no Naraku!(no he won't come backagain, I already pulled that trick...)

So what do you think?

On another note I promised I would finish this before Christmas and I cut it pretty close don't you think? Its a shame to see the end of this but...sniff...it had to end otherwise it would still be dragging.

In a couple of months I will go back and revise both of my stories, and rewrite the bad chapters and now I have rest and enjoy the rest of my holidays.(am I repeating myself?)

Happy Holiday y'all! (yes Lindsey I said y'all, I'm a hick now...lol)

SMR