A/N: Sorry I took so long to update; I've been really busy, and I have volleyball four days a week.

Thanks for those who reviewed!

Anyway, here it is: all you've been waiting for!

Part 3

Sango was back with Miroku. Her friend was shivering and very feverish; her forehead was burning up.

The guys were waiting in the trees.

Sango gently ripped open the cloth. It was easy; most of it had already been slashed open by Sesshomaru's claws.

Come on, Kagome. You have to live!

She dipped a rag into a bucket of water. Taking it out, Sango wiped Kagome's wounds.

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Inuyasha, Miroku, and Shippo helped each other bandage the others' wounds. Inuyasha was the most hurt of the trio; he had his arm in a sling. Miroku had a few bruises and deep cuts, and a twisted wrist, and even Shippo had not escaped unscathed; he scraped his arms and had a small cut on his left cheek.

"I hope she's okay," Shippo said to break the deathly silence. He sighed.

"I know she's going to be alright," Inuyasha said firmly. "Kagome's not going to die, she can't die."

"Yes, but we must prepare ourselves for the worst," Miroku said.

"You guys can come back now," they heard Sango call. Inuyasha sped to the clearing and settled himself beside Kagome.

"She alright?"

"Well, it all depends on herself. I've done the best I can." Kagome's wounds had been bandaged; the long scraps of cloth covering her chest, shoulder, and hips.

"I'll be fine, Inuyasha," she whispered, opening her eyes.

"You should rest now," he told her, and drew a blanket over her.

"Stay with me, please," Kagome said. She closed her eyes and reached for his hand.

"I will, I'll protect you forever," Inuyasha promised. She was already asleep, but smiling peacefully.

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"My lord, you shouldn't move about so," Jaken said. Sesshomaru paced in the infirmary of his castle. Besides his arm, he had cracked a few ribs in the fall he had taken when the blizzard had swept in, also breaking his leg in the process.

"I'm fine," Sesshomaru growled. A mere human had done this to him!

"I think," Jaken paused, "that the woman is dead. Her companions may be so, too."

"And Inuyasha will suffer knowing he was responsible." Sesshomaru laughed at this bit of news, finally satisfied, but there was a nagging feeling in the back of his mind.

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Everyone was asleep, Kagome saw. She groaned softly and sat up on her straw pallet. Her hand was in Inuyasha's and the hanyou was lying beside her. Smiling, Kagome took her hand away from his and got up.

Writing a short note to assure her friends, Kagome put it in Inuyasha's hand gently. She also put the Shikon Shards in his hand. Clutching her chest where her wound was bandaged, she bent down quietly and kissed him on the cheek. He stirred a little, then went back to sleep. Her face peaceful and smiling, Kagome left the clearing.

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"Where's Kagome?" Sango asked. Inuyasha woke with a start and blinked, confused.

"Right—" he turned to look, "—here." but she was not there. "Damn!"

"Hey, what's that in your hand, Inuyasha?" Shippo asked.

"There's nothing in my hand, stupid." Inuyasha brought up his hand to show him, but there it was; a small piece of paper.

"I—it's a note—from Kagome," Miroku said, taking the note from Inuyasha. He read aloud, "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. Love, Kagome."

"Arggh! She probably—I don't know!" Inuyasha groaned. "Why's she leave again?" the others shook their heads; they did not know either. Suddenly, Inuyasha jumped and ran, calling over his shoulder, "I've got to find Kagome, before—before something happens to her!"

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"I hope he's still asleep," Kagome murmured to herself. She stood at the top of a high cliff. An angry, roaring river rushed by, crashing on the rocks below. "I don't belong in this world, and he loves Kikyo," she whispered to the night. Far over the horizon, she could see the red-orange glow of the morning sun flare and peek over the trees. Dawn had come, and it would soon be light.

Her end would be the start of a new day, and the beginning of a beautiful romance between Inuyasha and Kikyo.

Closing her eyes tightly, Kagome stepped to the edge of the cliff, and jumped.

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Inuyasha was walking quickly along the riverbank. He had a bad feeling in the back of his mind; it had been there since they had first discovered Kagome was missing.

There was a cliff just farther up the river. A lone figure stood gracefully atop it, long black hair streaming in the wind. The figure became clearer as he neared the cliff.

He began to run as he realized who it was.

"No, Kagome, don't!" Inuyasha screamed as he sprinted toward her. Soon, he could see her beautiful features more perfectly. He saw her eyes close and her lips whisper a secret o the wind.

Then, she stepped off the cliff to plunge down to the sharp rocks below her.

His own screaming filled the sir as he sank on the white snow and white sand of the riverbank in a faint.

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A/N: I love cliffhangers, this time I really do. There is more, so don't forget to keep reading and review! I'll try to update faster, see ya!