Author's note: I won't be around this weekend because I'm out celebrating because of you guys. This story has over 5600 hits and over 100 reviews. I hit 5000 hits and 100 reviews this week. It's time to celebrate so this chapter is going up a day early.

I know I'm gonna get hate mail for this chapter. Just hang around there's still plot twists to go. I'm trying to update every day. Although I do have the next few chapters written, I'm still working on some intermediary chapters. I know most of you think this fanfiction is over but I got at least five more chapters after this one...Hang tough...I'm reading your reviews. Comments are welcome, though they won't change the outcome of the story, your comments will change the length and details of the chapters to come.

Ch25Fall of a Hero

"Inu-Yasha" Kagome cried.

She carefully moved his head into her lap.

"I didn't ask you to…"

"Shhh…" Kagome hushed him.

She ran her fingers across his face to remove the matted hair from it.

Inu-Yasha lay very still in her lap.

"I miss you." He whispered softly.

"Inu-Yasha" Kagome started, "Why did you do this to yourself?"

"What are you talking about?" He answered.

"Why haven't you eaten? It's almost like you want to kill yourself. Why would you do something like that?"

"Why else? I don't want to live without you."

The tears continued to flow from Kagome's precious eyes.

As Inu-Yasha's breathing slowed Kagome's pleas began.

"Inu-Yasha, NO. Don't leave me like this! You promised to protect me."

"Kagome…stop crying." Kagome held her breath trying to stop the tears.

"You never came for me."

"I couldn't. You broke the rosary."

"I'm sorry Inu-Yasha." Kagome whispered.

"You never came back." Inu-Yasha whispered as if he hadn't heard her last comment.

"I couldn't." Kagome cried softly. "I can't use the well."

"Then I can no longer protect you." Inu-Yasha spoke softly. "Your place in this world is finished as so is mine."

"But you promised…" Kagome cried with tears streaming down her face.

"Then my love will protect you." Inu-Yasha's voice echoed in her head as his eyes faded to a dull darkness.

"NO! Inu-Yasha!" Kagome cried. Her tears fell upon his ghostly face. When her tears soaked his face, a bright light shown from nowhere. Inu-Yasha's body was consumed in the light and eventually turned into pure energy. Kagome watched the light float above her head and disappear into the sky.

Dropping her head into her hands, Kagome's tears were no longer restrained.

Sango and Miroku raced out of the brush to where Kagome was kneeling on the ground.

Shippo was absolutely stupefied that he could see right through her.

Sango knelt down in front of Kagome and wrapped her arms around her. Pulling her arms tighter to pull Kagome into her embrace, her arms went right through Kagome's figure. The morning light peaked over the horizon. Upon reaching the area of the well, anything the light touched was seen as it really was. The wooden floors that lay beneath Kagome's knees began to disappear and with it Kagome. Once the light hit the well, the long night was over. Sango wrapped her arms around herself. The others mourned their loss. They not only lost Kagome but now they lost Inu-Yasha.

Kagome cried for a little longer before leaving the well house. Souta met her at the well house door. Kagome glanced at him without really looking. Souta's mouth dropped as he moved out of her way. Her cheeks were stained with tears, but her eyes were dull. The light was gone from them.