The Final Battle

"Kagome, stay back!"

Kagome nodded, staying with Shippo and Kirara a hundred fet away from the battle. She watched as Miroku, Sango and Inuyasha got ready, preparing for another strike. Kagura hovered above them, her jewel enhanced wings allowing her to glide along the battle field faster then any of them, so it was taking a team effort to take her out.

The wind demon had been causing problems as of late. With the fall of Naraku 3 months ago, every demon had decided recently that it wanted his old territory. That meant a day didn't go by that the group had to fight some demon with a chip on it's shoulder.

Kagura, however, was proving to be harder to take down then they had hoped. She had been tough before, but now, with the jewel shard in her neck, as well as some more she had managed to grab later on, she was more then a match for the group.

"Come now Inuyasha, is that the best you have!" Kagura shouted, dodged another strike. She flew down, missing Sango's weapon by inches, and slammed her fist into Miroku, sending him flying. "I could find puppies that put up a better fight!"

"Is that so!" Inuyasha growled, racing at her. "Wind Scar!"

She dove out of the way, once again barely avoiding the attack. She turned, and with a wave, a gust of wind struck Inuyasha, sending him to the ground. He grunted and lifted himself up.

"I am going to enjoy killing you…then I am going to take care of your little friend over there!" She glared at Kagome and smiled. "But I promise…your death will be painless…enough."

"You will not hurt Lady Kagome!" Miroku shouted, throwing one of his enchantment scrolls at her. She easily blew it away and sighed.

"I control the winds Monk…not even Inuyasha's wind scar can hurt me."

"Then let's try something else!" Inuyasha screamed. "Iron Reaver Soul Stealer!" His claws seemed to glow as he leapt up, surprising the youkai and driving his hand deep into her sides. She let out a cry of pain, her body going limp as he dug deeper. "And this time…stay dead!"

Kagura's body fell to the ground, and Inuyasha let out a heavy breath. Sango and Miroku ran up to him, cheering.

"We did it guys!" Sango shouted, a small plastered on her face, wiping her brow.

"That we did Sango." Miroku added. "I wonder if there is a reward for this." Sango rolled her eyes.

"Good job guys!" kagome shouted. "You guys were…LOOK OUT!"

Inuyasha, Sango and Miroku turned to see Kagura stand up, a crazed look in her eyes. Before they could even move, her wings flexed, and all her feathers shot out of them, stabbing into their bodies. They let out cries ans they were thrown back, the razor sharp feathers buried in their skin.

"NOOOO!" Kagome screamed, taking out her bow. She aimed and fired, and with one shot, turned Kagura into vapors. But that didn't matter. The jewel shard didn't matter. All that mattered…were her friends.

She ran to Sango, the closest, and gasped, falling to her knees. "no…nooo!" She hands were shaking as she looked at the demon hunter. "Please Sango…wake up…." She sobbed as she looked at the feather that had pierced her friend's neck, blood gurgling out onto the ground. Sango's eyes were cold and dark.

Kagome crawled to Miroku, lifting his head into her lap. "Please…come on…you guys can't be…" She heard Shippo and Kirara let out a wail as they looked at Sango, but Kagome couldn't focus on that. She stroked Miroku's hair gently, praying he would move. But his clothing was stained red, feathers piercing his heart.

"INUYASHA!" She screamed, dragging herself to his side. He had tried to take the brunt of it from Sango and Miroku in vain, and it cost him. One feather stuck out of his eye socket. Others were in his neck, more in his belly and chest.

His hand twitched. "Ka….Kagome…" He whispered, his breath short.

"Inuyasha…it will be ok…just stay here…I'll…"

"I'm sorry." He said gently, his good eye tearing up. "I'm sorry…I couldn't…"

"Inuyasha…just stay calm…we can make it through this. You'll heal up, we'll take Sango and Miroku back to Kaede, and soon…we'll be back on the road…" Her tears were falling now. "Don't leave me Inuyasha! Please…."

"Kagome….I'm sorry…I couldn't…say before…" He shook, his body shutting down quickly. "Kagome…" He whispered.

She held him close. "Inuyasha…please…you can't die…"

"…I love you Kagome….I'm sorry…I couldn't say that before…" he closed his eyes. "…I regret…I couldn't say….that…before…Kagom…."

Kagome looked at him, her vision blurred. "no….no…..damn it, you can't die! I won't let you!" She began to rip feathers out of his body. "Come on Inuyasha…you are stronger then this…please…I'll find Sesshomaru….I'll get jewel shards from kouga to heal you….I'll give my soul to that dark miko….i'll buy you a life time supply of ramen…..just don't leave me here….Inuyasha, don't go…come back to me…INUYASHA!"

&&&

3 Days Later+

Kagome sat still, looking down at the three graves. She didn't care that it was raining. She didn't care that she had been out here for hours. None of that mattered now. Nothing mattered

"Please…let me wake up…and this all be a dream."

But it wasn't. She herself had watch Kaede perform the burial, per her request. She had not moved the bodies, nor had she left them in three days. Shippo and Kirara had gone, and brought back the people needed to perform ceremony.

They had buried them were they fell. Kagome wanted it like that…she didn't want to move them at all. This is were they died, where their souls had left forever…this is where the bodies would remain.

She looked at the three headstones. It had taken the men a day to carve them, but she didn't care. They deserved it.

"My condolences."

Kagome turned and frowned. "Here to gloat Sesshomaru?"

The Lord of the West shook his head, lowering down to one knee. "I may not have liked him…but he was my brother. And those two…they were strong…for humans." He looked at her. "It is a shame that the young die while the old linger on."

Kagome nodded faintly. "Sesshomaru…I need your help."

"I can't bring them back." He replied, his voice emotionless.

"I know." She replied. She gently unwrapped a robe, and held out Tetsusaiga. Sesshomaru arched an eyebrow. "I need you to guard this with your life. It can never fall into the wrong hands. Please…you are the last person I have left to turn to."

Sesshomaru stared at the heart broken miko…and nodded. "What of the others? Their weapons?"

"They have been placed in Kaede's hut. They will be safe enough there."

"Kagome!" Shippo shouted, running towards her. "We are ready."

"Ready for what?" Sesshomaru said quietly. His emotions were actually showing. He felt a twinge of pain…the same he had felt after his father's death.

Kagome stood. "I am leaving…forever." She looked at him as he stare back. "There is nothing left for me here. I can't find the shards on my own. I am leaving that to others, like my friend Kouga, and Kaede…or anyone else that will take up the search."

"Where will you go woman?" Sesshomaru asked quietly.

"I am taking Shippo and Kirara home with me…and then I will make sure I can never return here…I can't come back…I won't."

Sesshomaru nodded. "Painful is a warriors life. It means a short life for you, and shorter for your friends. But there is a reward."

"And what is that?"

"A chance of peace in the next one." Kagome nodded, uttered a mild thanks, and leapt onto Kirara's back. She gave Sesshomaru a final glance, and was off.

This would be the last time she would step foot in feudal japan.