From the bushes Miroku and Sango watched as Kikyo ordered Inuyasha to kill Kagome.

"Nooooo!" yelled Shippo.

"Inuyasha, don't do it!" cried Miroku as he walked out the bush. Followed by Sango and Shippo.

"Inuyasha please don't! Kagome's is better then Kikyo." Said Shippo as he looked at Kikyo with disgust. "Kagome would never order you to kill her."

Miroku hit Shippo on the top of the head with his staff. While Shippo rubbed the lump that was already forming, Sango spoke. "Kikyo please, don't make Inuyasha kill Kagome. Let her go home, back to the present if you feel her as a threat."

Ignoring the comments Kikyo looked from one person to another, "So you brought your posse along." She finally said, "they seem to have taken a liking to this young girl." She looked at Inuyasha, "Have you taken a liking to her also? One which stops you from swinging your sword?"

He didn't want to answer. He couldn't. He turned as he heard Kagome whimper. "Please just let me go home." She whispered over and over. He was about to turn away when something she said caught his attention, "I love Inuyasha, but I just want him to be happy. And if Kikyo makes him happy then I just want to go home."

His expression softened and now he knew for certain he couldn't kill Kagome anymore then he could change back his transformation when the new was already overhead. "Inuyasha you know you can't kill her." Miroku was saying. But to him, it was a sound that was far away and undistinguishable.

Kikyo had had enough though. "Fine, Inuyasha if you can't kill her then I'll do it." She fit an arrow into the bow and steadily pointed it at Kagome.

Choose…

As soon as Inuyasha realized what was going on he leapt at Kikyo. But he was a fraction of a second to late and everyone watched as the arrow sped towards Kagome in slow motion and embedded itself in her heart.

"Kagome!" yelled Shippo as he started to run towards her body which had gone limp a few seconds after the arrow had pierced her.

Miroku held him back, "No Shippo, no. She's gone." He said trying to sound strong and make sure no one saw the tear that slid down his cheek.

Sango was also crying, but she didn't care who saw. "She was my best friend!" She cried as she dropped to ground. Miroku consoled her and they were all silent. Except for the whimpers and sniffs.

Inuyasha stared at Kagome's lifeless body and then turned with anger towards the woman in front of him. "Kikyo. Why?"

Kikyo shrugged, "She got in my way." She replied. She was waiting for Kagome's soul. With Kagome's soul she'd be alive, and she wanted that. I can be with Inuyasha when the soul comes back to me.

"How? By being a friend to us all!" said Sango who lifted her head quickly and then dropped it back down as Shippo crawled into her lap and Miroku knelt down and put his arm around her.

Inuyasha glanced at Kagome's body and then at the group mourning her death. Finally he stared for a long time at the woman he was now so close to he could have felt her breath, if she had indeed been able to breath. "I-I'm sorry Kikyo." Inuyasha whispered close to her ear.

"Huh? Sorry for----" Started Kikyo but the end of her question was cut short.