"But you can not leave!"

Kagome frowned as she packed the last items into her backpack. She did a double cheek, making she didn't leave anything. Not because she was afraid of losing something, but more because she didn't want to affect history. The last thing she needed was to get home and found out that because she had left a battery lying around, the world was now controlled by demon monkeys.

"Kagome, you have a mission! You have to get back the Shikon shards…"

Kagome glared at Kaede. "This isn't my problem. Had you people have taken care of this the first time…I wouldn't have wasted the last year running around trying to find them…growing to care about people…" She turned away from Kaede. "If you all would have thought before burning that damn jewel, none of them would have been alive! Had Kikyo never helped that bandit…then Inuyasha wouldn't lay dead in the ground with Sango and Miroku."

Kaede looked at the young woman. "You are upset…you don't mean this…you will be back."

"The hell I will" Kagome said, so frustrated that she didn't even watch her language.

Inuyasha is rubbing off on me….had rubbed off….

She turned and handed Kaede the jewel shard container. "Kaede, I know all of this will work out. If it hadn't, I wouldn't even exist." She lifted her pack onto her shoulder. "Find someone else to waste their lives fighting for peace and caring for people…only to end up alone."

And with that, Kagome walked outside to where Shippo was waiting. He looked at her sadly.

"Are you ok Kagome?" He asked, shifting up on Kirara.

"Yes Shippo." Kagome said quietly. "Just…I want to go home." She got on Kirara's back. "Take one last look guys…this is the last time we'll see this Japan. Next time we see Japan…it will be my time." She looked out over the hills, where the trees still grew wild and free, where demons and humans lived next to one another.

Every sight reminded her…reminded her of her friends.

And with that, they were going.

&&&

A strong wind blew over the field where Inuyasha, Miroku and Sango's bodies laid in their deep graved. The sky had grown dark, the sun's rays no longer made it to the ground.

Out of the forest, a being walked across the fled, a soft aura around her. She had come her…to see if what she had heard was true. To see if the rumors of death and the fallen were more the rumors.

The woman reached the headstones, and fell to her knees. She touched the ground, then the headstone, and felt her throat close up.

"Inuyasha." Kikyo said. "Inuyasha…you are truly gone."

The dead miko looked down at the ground, staring at the fresh soul. There…there laid the only man she had truly loved. Someone she had cared so much about…then…Naraku had driven her to think….

"Inuyasha…why did you have to die?" She asked the earth. "Why could you not have lived…long enough for me to admit the truth?"

Kikyo felt herself growing tired, so tired. She wanted nothing more then to rest, to sleep. She laid on Inuyasha's grave, her hands gently storkignt eh dirt as if it were his side,like they were back in their youth, sitting in a meadow. Happier times. Before darkness had leaked into her heart.

"I love you Inuyasha. I was too stupid, too proud…I don't know what exactly…but I could admit it…not after I came back." Her body began to glow lightly. "When I said I wanted to drag you to hell…you misunderstood. You thought I said it out of hate…I said it in love…I feared I would end up in hell, and the only thing that would make it easier was if you were there to protect me."

Her body was beginning to break dwon now, the clay she had been born out of returning tot eh earth. But she still had more to say.

"Inuyasha…what hurts more is I now understand….I will soon be born again as Kagome. I accept this…and even though I will not remember a thing…I know I will fell this hurt all over again…and I can't allow that. Even if I am not me, but someone else…I can't allow this."

Soon, all that was left was a tiny spark, what was left of Kikyo's soul and mind. She hovered, before sliding into the earth.

"I purify you soul Inuyasha…so that you may find peace. Please…find me in the next life. And if you can't…send me someone to love."

And with that, she was gone. But upon the gravestone, the word Kikyo slowly etched itself next to Inuyasha's name.

&&&

"Kagome!"

Kagome smiled gently as her mother hugged her, stroking her back. She waved to Souta and her grandfather, who had also come to the well to greet her. She glanced over to see Shippo and Kirara struggling to get out of the well, and she stifled a laugh. It felt good to laugh again.

"What are you doing home so soon?" Her grandfather asked. "Did you and Inu…"

"Hey!" Shippo shouted, Kagome grateful for the interruption. "aren't you going to introduce us Kagome?"

Kagome nodded. "mom, grandpa, Souta…this is Shippo, and this is Kirara. They are friends of mine. Shippo is a fox demon, and Kirara may look like a kitty, but she is actually a very smart cat demon."

Kirara let out a small meow, glancing at her new home. A home without Sango…the kity let out another sad meow.

"Hello!" Souta said, running up to Shippo. "Wow! You have a tail, and dog ears! You kind look like Inuyasha! Are you to related?"

"Yes, where is Inuyasha?" Kagome's mother asked.

Kagome sucked in a deep breath. "Mom…about Inuyasha."

"Did you two fight?" her mother asked, coming closer. Kagome shook her head, trying to calm her nerves. "Kagome…what happened? What is wrong? Is Inuyasha hurt? Did he yell at you…"

"I wish." Kagome said, her voice shakey. She suddenly leapt into her others arms, sobbing on her shoulder. "He's gone mama! He's gone, and he's never coming back…." Kagome buried her face in her mother's shirt.

"Kagome…it's ok…tell me what happened…"

"Mrs. Kagome?" Shippo asked. Kagome's mom looked at him and he bit his lip. He had to be strong…for Kagome. "Inuyasha…and the rest of our friends…they…they…they…"

"Their dead." Kagome said with a faint whisper. She heard Souta let out a gasp, her grandfather mutter a silent prayer.

"Oh…Oh Kagome…" Her mother said, holding her closer. "Let's get you inside, and get you into a nice hot bath." Kagome nodded weakly. "And Kagome.., want you to stay her for a few days…"

"I'm not going back." Kagome said, her voice cold. "I can't mama…I can't go back…"

Kagome broke down again, and her family lead her inside.