The explosion had put out the fire, smoke and ash clouded the air.

Inuyasha pushed himself up. What had happened? The blast should have killed him, but..

But Kagome protected him.

She lay behind him, her body curved, in a feeble attempt to save herself.

He gathered her into his arms, searching for a pulse.

He didn't find one.

Well, that is, he didn't find one immdeately. Quickly, however, he found a pulse.

It was slow, and barely beating.

"Kagome," he whispered. "I'm sorry."

He ran out. Past the others. He was running,but he wasn't running fast.

Miroku, Sango and Shippo quickly caught up on Kilala.

"Inuyasha," Shippo pleaded, "shouldn't you hurry?"

"What's the point?" He said coldly. "She's practically..gone."

There was silence as they continued on, then Miroku burst out.

"So that's it? You're going to let her die?"

Inuyasha said nothing.

Miroku continued on, shouting. "Because of one accident, you're giving up on her! Well, I can certainly say, Inuyasha, Kagome never gave up on you! Ever!"

Inuyasha stopped.

Then he ran, full throttle.

Miroku huffed. Sango gripped his hand.

Shippo looked as if he was about to cry.

Inuyasha ran into Kaedes hut, waking her.

"She..Naraku..fire..she's dieing."

Kaedes face looked gave, then a look of determination took over.

Inuyasha walked out.

He felt numb. He walked to the well.

Inuyasha heard the others run into the hut.

"Kagome..why didn't you just let me die? Stupid, stupid, stupid.."

Later, Kaede approached him. She looked away.

"She'..she's almost gone."

The lump grew in Inuyasha's throat.

"I think..ye should take her home. To be with her family."

Inuyasha resisted the reflex urge to say, "We are her family."

Still, the hanyou walked back and picked her up, and took her through the well.

He leapt up a tree, opened her window, and entered her room.

Inyasha pulled back the blanket and laid Kagome's cold body down.

With fear, he touched her wrist.

The pulse was still barely there.

He sat down by her. She he wake her mother? No..no, it'd be too hard to explain.

He gulped.

This isn't fair..why..damn!

She lay, unmoving.

Inuyasha rested his head on the bed, remembering.

"Because..why?" "Because I love you!"

Shippo sat, sniffling on Sango's lap.

"Wh-why did Kagome give Inuyasha the fire rat kimono back?"

Kaede sighed. Her voice full ofsorrow, she said, "Sometimes, Shippo, when you love someone, nothing else matters."

Sango made a whimpering noise,like she was keeping in a cry.

Inuyasha stroked her cold hand.

"Kagome.."

For the first time in what seemed like forever, Inuyasha cried.

He made not a sound, but his face crumpled and the tears rolled off his cheeks.

The hanyou buried his face on the bed, heaving.

He took a shaky breath. He had to be strong.

Inuyasha stood, then leaned down and softly placed a kiss on Kagome's dull lips.

"I'll always love you."

With one last look, he left.

:sniff: THIS IS NOT THE LAST CHAPTER, OK? ITS NOT! THERE WILL B ONE OR TWO MORE!

allright. i didn't want a 100 reviews being like, 'noooo why end it that way!"

was it sad? tell me what you thought.

R-E-V-I-E-W!