A/N: Sorry for the long time between updates! I've been a bit busy lately. Anyway, here is chapter seven. I hope you enjoy it! Please let me know what you think:D Thanks for all the support for this show thus far! This chapter is going to be really short! Sorry guys!

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Where You Are
Chapter Seven: Forgive me, Kagome

Inuyasha shivered slightly. "I don't want to have to do this..." he whispered to himself.

"What makes you think I would even let that wench of yours come back?" Manami snapped.

Inuyasha glanced over at her. "It won't be your choice. Kagome can regain her control again on her own. I just have to...I have to talk to her first..."

Sesshoumaru's eyebrow rose. "Excuse me?"

"I'm going to sleep. I can talk to her that way..." he explained, closing his eyes slowly.

"Kagome...are you here?" Inuyasha whispered. Things around him were dark, and he frowned deeply. "Kagome...I need to talk to you. It's important. Please..."

"Inuyasha..." Kagome smiled. "I thought I warned you about this?"

"Koji can't get a hold on me, Kagome. My demon blood is too strong for him. I'm not human enough...and that means I'm safe..." he told her quickly. "But that is not why I'm here."

Kagome nodded sadly. "I am aware of what goes on, Inuyasha...even if I don't have the control..." She paused a moment. "It gets harder each time I try...to get the control and to keep it..."

Inuyasha coughed. "Sesshoumaru has told me what has to happen, Kagome. I'm going to have to..." he swallowed. "I have to kill you."

"I know, Inuyasha. Manami told me..." she revealed.

"No," he shook his head. "I have to kill you, Kagome. Once you gain control again...I have to kill you. If your body is dead, then Manami's spirit can no longer stay in it...and once she leaves your body, we can kill her..."

"Me?" Kagome repeated.

Inuyasha nodded, and his eyes shot to the ground. "Yes..." He took her hands into his own. "Kagome...I'm so sorry." he whispered. "Please...forgive me...I don't want to have to do this..."

"Don't be sorry, Inuyasha. I'm not scared." Kagome smiled. "I understand what has to happen, and why it has to happen..." she kissed his hand lightly. "I'm not scared. I'll be coming back to you for good soon...I can look forward to that..."

"Kagome..." Inuyasha cupped her cheek in his hand. "Everything will be all right soon...but I need you to fight...you have to be in control of your own body for this to work..."

Kagome nodded, and despite what she had told him, tears glistened in her eyes. "All right, Inuyasha..."

Inuyasha's eyes shot open. He gasped. "She was crying. I don't know if I can do this..." he whispered, more to himself than to anyone else.

And I can see your face
Your kiss I still can taste
Not a memory erased

Sesshoumaru coughed. "You have to. You explained it yourself. We need Kagome. You need her. This is the only way to get her back. Even father understood that."

Inuyasha reddened. "Shut it, Sesshoumaru! I know all that already. I just...I can't watch her die."

"Then hit her where you know it will be quickest." Sesshoumaru directed, patting his own chest. "Do it fast, and then stand back and let me do my work." he instructed. "If all goes well, we shall be rid of at least one-half of this problem by the end of the day..."

Sesshoumaru looked up.

Manami had gotten very silent. Her eyes were cast down at the floor. Suddenly, she took a very deep breath.

"Inuyasha..." she whispered in a tired voice. "Do it, Inuyasha..."

"How do I know...?" he began.

"I'll tell Buyo to claw you to death if you don't hurry..." she threatened. "I don't have much time..."

"Kagome, I don't know if I can..." he whispered his reply, and took several small steps forward. The two of them were only inches apart.

Kagome smiled. "You can do it." she said, using her hands to raise the hand in which he held the sword until it was pointing level with her chest. "You have to do it..."

"Kagome...I..."

"Don't stop to think about it, Inuyasha..." she warned. Although still smiling, she had tears shining in her eyes, and several small drops ran quietly down her cheeks.

Inuyasha gulped. "Forgive me, Kagome."

Oh I see your star
Shining down on me
And I'd do anything

Closing his eyes, Inuyasha pushed the sword forward. Kagome's mother screamed, and collapsed onto a chair. Kagome uttered a small, choking breath as she fell forward into Inuyasha's arms. Her eyes were closed, and her blood stained his haori as he held her.

"Step back, Inuyasha..." Sesshoumaru warned.

He shook his head, but did as his older half-brother asked of him anyway. Behind him, Kagome's mother sat still crying, and Inuyasha did his best to comfort her. "It's going to be all right," he whispered. "She won't be gone long. Sesshoumaru is here. She'll be fine." he promised her.

A white orb lifted itself out of Kagome's body and hovered above her. Kagome was finally free of Manami's spirit.

Sesshoumaru pulled out his tenseiga, and the sword pulsed. Looking down at the young girl, Sesshoumaru flicked his wrist several times, swinging the sword at the invisible creatures of death that had begun to surround Kagome's body. One by one, these creatures were annihilated. With one last flick of his wrist, Manami's spirit disappeared. Sesshoumaru placed his sword back in its sheath and took several steps back. He nodded behind him to Inuyasha and Kagome's mother.

"The sword has done my will." he reported.

Inuyasha and Kagome's mother dropped to their knees beside Kagome's body.

Finally, Inuyasha heard it. Kagome was breathing. He smiled and wrapped her tightly in his arms.

If I could just be right there
Where you are
Where you and I will breathe together
Once again will be dancing in the moonlight
Just like we used to do
and you'll be smiling back at me
Only then will I be free
When I can be where you are

She coughed. "Is it over?" she asked.

He nodded. "It's all over, Kagome. Manami is..."

Inuyasha gasped. They had forgotten to slay Manami's spirit when it exited Kagome's body! "Sesshoumaru!" he yelled. "Manami! Where did she go?"

"I've already disposed of her, Inuyasha. Were you not paying attention?" Sesshoumaru smirked. "The leecher is gone, which means that the problem...at least for one of you," he said, turning his eyes on Inuyasha, "is over."

Kagome took a deep breath. "What about Koji?"

"I'll gladly fix that..." Sesshoumaru flexed his claws. "No human weapon could kill Inuyasha, anyway. I will have to do it myself..."

"What? No!" Kagome screamed.

"It has to be done in order to get rid of the leecher, Kagome..." Inuyasha told her in a rational tone of voice. "It is going to be all right. Sesshoumaru will bring me back." He frowned at his brother. "Right?"

Sesshoumaru reluctantly nodded. "Yes."

Kagome looked worried. "But what if...?" she began.

"You do not have to harm the hanyou."

Sesshoumaru and Kagome looked at Inuyasha. His voice had changed. Could this be Koji that was talking to them?

"Manami and I wanted to be together," he continued. "I will leave the hanyou's body in peace now. There is no satisfaction in this without Manami..."

Kagome nodded as though she understood the demon's feelings. Sesshoumaru could only manage to look mildly confused as Koji's spirit rose willingly out of Inuyasha's body and disappeared.

He blinked. "The problem has apparently been solved." he said in a low tone. "Now, I demand to be shown the way back to where we belong, as my nose seems to be rather...overwhelmed at the moment..."

Inuyasha nodded. "Stinks, doesn't it?"

Sesshoumaru stared blankly at him. "Whatever."

"One second..." Inuyasha sighed, taking Kagome's hand. "Kagome, I..."

"You don't have to say a word, Inuyasha. I really do understand..." she whispered.

"I...I still wanted to say that I'm...I'm sorry that all of this happened..." he replied quickly.

She smiled, taking his hand. "You don't have to be. Let's go home."

Inuyasha's eyes widened. "Home?"

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A/N: So there you have it! Sorry it took so long. I know it's kind of short, but school has me a bit tied down at the moment. Please review and let me know what you think!