Disclaimer: Christmas is coming! And I've got a big red box under the tree… hehehe….

Ah! The final chapter! I'm sorry for ending it but I must, in order to post my new story! (There will be a preview at the bottom) So enjoy the end to this tragic tale!

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He waited till dark, a smart thing to do; Inuyasha was already fast asleep in a tree beside the hut by the time he got there. The moon's rays shimmered down onto the clearing, and bounced off all the details of the scene. The small hut was unoccupied, except by a corpse that is. He had to do it quick because they were planning a burial tomorrow. He slowly crept out of the darkness, swooped into the hut without a sound, and found her; her lying, dead, her face a chalky white, and her lips blue from cold, some drops of dried blood on her blue lips.

Her long raven tresses were spilled out onto the wooden flooring, and she had a look of relief upon her features. The long black waves of her eyelashes swept down from her closed bronze orbs, and all her muscles were relaxed. He walked over to her, knelt down and studied the corpse. As he stood, he grasped the Tensaiga, pulled it out of its sheath, and waited for the demons of hell to make their appearance. (I couldn't think of anything else to call them, so if you know what they're really called then tell me!)

After a few moments, the small green gremlin apparitions materialized around Kagome in his sight. With one swing of his blade, the minions dissolved into the air, and Kagome's long eyelashes batted. The chocolate orbs glanced up at the demon lord that just revived her, and she spoke a slight "Huh?"

"S-Sesshomaru?" She spoke weakly, as she sat up, rubbing her head. Some traces of color coming back o her face. "What are you doing here? Aren't I dead?"

He put his sword back into the sheath and spoke quietly to avoid detection. "I did this not for you, but for my benefit only. If you are not there, my little brother would never put up a good enough fight for my standards. Therefore, you are to be alive as long as I can still take the Testsaiga from my younger brother."

"But, you brought me back to life… How am I supposed to explain this?" Don't worry Kags! Just say: "Oh, I just felt like coming back! I wasn't really all that dead!"

"Say you don't know. Seeing blue or some strange color of that sort will confuse them. Tell them I did it and you can expect to be back in hell again."

Her face flushed slightly, all the colors regained their positions on her small face. "Thank You Sesshomaru. I didn't think… I mean, that you never…"

"I don't have the time to hear your gratitude. I have to leave, now."

He turned hesitantly to leave, and he heard her whisper another "Thank you" before he silently whisked away into the moonlight. Kagome smiled a half smile- half smirk and lied back down on her pillow. Rest is what I need… Inuyasha and the others can wait until morning…

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It happened again that morning. Kouga swooped in and started yelling at Inuyasha. The others were watching as the fight took place. Not weapons, just mouths.

"STUPID MUTT!"

"LOUSY WOLF!"

"Ya, think they know what they're fighting about anymore?"

"I have no idea what they're fighting about."

"MUTTFACE!"

"Aye. At least their language is good."

"YOU STUPID BASTARD!"

"I think you spoke too quickly Lady Kaede."

"If only Kagome could come break this up!"

"She was the only thing that kept these two from killing each other."

"When Kagome doesn't break it up… they fight forever! Then they start fighting all over again!"

"GET BENT, DOGFACE!"

"This is going nowhere."

"But we can't do anything about it, Miroku."

"I know," He wrapped his arm around his fiancé, "If only Kagome was here." He stated, shaking his head lightly, Sango holding back tears.

Sesshomaru was standing in the background silently, a small smirk faintly showing on his face. Just keep waiting…

In the hut-

The yelling was sluggishly made its way to Kagome's ears. With all her color and warmth returned to her, the mocha eyes fluttered open and she sat up in almost-shock. "Was it a dream? Am I dead? Alive? Dead but now alive?"

Just then she heard the subject of the yelling. She quietly stood up and sneaked to the doorway. With one quick glance, and a few moments of listening, she was tempted to jump out and embrace them both.

Kouga had a look of pure and utter abhorrence on his face, and he was growling constantly. "You IDIOT! How could you let this happen?"

Inuyasha had a face not-so-wicked, and his normally bright and shining tawny orbs were glazed over with grief and sorrow. Not what you would expect to see in someone in his place at the moment. "Shut-up, wolf, it's not like I didn't TRY to save her!"

"I doubt that! She freed you from that goddamn tree and what does she get for it!"

Now Inuyasha's face fell, and he looked to the ground, growling, lost in thought.

"She saved you and you couldn't even manage to save her?" It was apparent in his voice that he was on the verge of tears. "How is that considered love!"

"You don't know what you're talking about, Kouga!" He shrieked, glaring upwards at the wolf. A single tear slipped down his smooth cheek, making the others stare in both fear and confusion. Even Sesshomaru's look turned to shock. "You just… don't understand… It's not like that…" He sighed heavily. Both from frustration and relief from letting his emotions show for the first time in what seemed like forever.

"M-mutt…? Y-you're…"

His hands balled into fists and he growled faintly. Kouga stopped when Miroku put a hand on Inuyasha's shoulder, making him look up curiously at the monk.

"In the famous phrase, 'Tis better to have loved and lost, than to never have loved at all.'" I know that phrase wasn't famous back then, but I had to put it! Watch…

She felt the urge… the urge to go but… what if he didn't think it was really her? He would catch her scent wouldn't he? She couldn't take it anymore. She had to say SOMETHING. She slowly raised the curtain…

"But what if you loved, but never lost?" She stated quietly, suppressing the embrace and desire to be in his arms again. All eyes were on her. Everyone save Sesshomaru was staring at her in disbelief. Was it really her? Her who died two nights ago?

Inuyasha was the first one to speak, once regaining the ability. "K-Kagome, is it really you…?" He somewhat didn't want to hear the answer, but if he knew she was there somewhere, that was enough.

She nodded and smiled whole-heartedly; getting some small squeals and hurried sighs escape the others. "It's me. I'm alive. Don't ask me how, but I am. And that's what matters."

He gradually walked towards her, taking in every bit of her sweet sugary scent like his life depended on it. She walked to him as well, but not a hesitantly. When they were a foot apart, she smiled lovingly at him. "I'm here, Inuyasha." It came out just louder than a whisper, but those words meant everything, and the soothing tone was consoling.

Her scent was intoxicating; it made him urge to pull her closer to him, making him want to hold onto her forever. Kouga was watching this entire scene with a sullen stare, he lost.

"Kagome… I-" He discontinued his sentence when he felt her arms snake around his neck and pull him into a tight embrace. He enveloped his arms around her and rested them on her waist, with his wrists crossing each other on the small of her back. She nestled into the crook of his neck and didn't even notice the onlookers, watching intently to see what they would do next. "I'm sorry," He started. "I couldn't protect you from this."

"'Sal'right," she removed her head from his shoulder and looked into the amber eyes that were draining out the sullen misery and replacing it with purity. "You know as well as I do that no one could protect me from this. But I'm okay now, and I still love you."

She smiled a smile that would send Nicholas Sparks running for cover. (See author's notes) She leaned up and captured his lips in hers, though it was only brief, it had more feeling in it than their previous kiss. When they pulled apart, they gazed into the eyes opposite them; although the moment was ruined by a huff and "I've got another!" by Kouga. Sesshomaru had also chosen to leave. He hurriedly leaped away in a whirlwind as always, to escape the odd and embarrassing situation. Inuyasha and Kagome were left in one another's arms; Inuyasha laughed lightly at the idiot wolf and turned to Kagome, who was gazing at him with affectionate mocha eyes.

"We missed you."

"I missed you too."

A small scream echoed through the clearing and Kagome almost jumped out of Inuyasha's arms, almost. Sango was left standing with Shippou on her shoulder and Miroku backing away, looking completely innocent.

"We can't take it anymore!" She ran over to Kagome, pushed Inuyasha out of the way, and tightly hugged Kagome; Shippou jumped into her arms shortly after, and snuggled comfortably into her warm hold. "Thank Kami-Sama you're alive!" Sango was crying liquid shards of joy by the time Miroku came to console her.

"I missed you so much Kagome!" The fox kit squealed, happy to have his 'mother' back with him again.

She laughed at his excitement, "I missed you too, Shippou. I promise I'll never leave you again." She set Shippou on the ground with Kirara and found herself trapped within two strong arms. "Common…." She complained, trying to, playfully, wriggle her way out. But she had no avail, as she was only brought in closer to him. She giggled mischievously and whined in a three-year-old tone. "Lemme go!" He laughed a 'You-have-GOT-to-be-joking-why-would-I-even-consider-it' laugh.

She reached up with her soft hands to the top of his head and commenced rubbing and tweaking his ears. He sent her a questioning gaze but decided to just let her do it. It didn't feel all THAT bad…

Her facial expression changed from enjoyment to where her lips moved to one side of her face and her eyes narrowed. (Does that sound right?) "Aw, it didn't work!" She shrugged and cuddled into his chest. The others having moments of their own and Shippou and Kirara sitting patiently for the lovebirds to get it over with. Just like when she died, she mumbled into his haroi:

"Now I will always be with you."

"I'll always protect you… from everything."

"I know, Inuyasha. I know."

Fin

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That was… so…. beautiful… Not really. FLUFF OVERLOAD! Haha, well I couldn't help it. I mean, it was a sweet reunion! Can you really blame me? (Nicholas Sparks is a famous romance novelist) Anywayz, that puts an end to my story! Here's a preview to my next like I promised!

Duty or Love? Torn Between Brothers (This isn't the first chapter, or the first words, just a little piece)

"How do you know he's not a nice person?" Kagome asked; her voice full of curiosity.

"I've know the jerk my whole life. You think I would know." Inuyasha huffed again and crossed his arms over his chest. "Besides, the lazy jerk will turn you into his personal slave if you're not too careful." He laughed at his own joke, but after seeing the look on the girl's face, he stopped.

"It doesn't matter to me... as long as my brother gets that operation. Then I can be happy." She spoke quietly and hesitantly.

"But how can you be happy when you've got a bastard for a boyfriend?"

"I'll find a way. How am I to trust you, anyway? I've barely even met the guy!"

"Really? But you've been going out for a week."

"Souta needs someone… and I can't be hanging out with a guy forever… even if I claim him as my love." She strained that last word, like it was hard for her to say.

"But he's not your love, is he?"

She just shook her head lightly.

There ya go peoples! I hope you'll check it out! Peace, Sayonara, Ja, Ja-ne, see ya, later, and bi!

-Yura