The following week Kagome's funeral was held. Tears spilled down Inuyasha's cheek, but he didn't care. She was gone. Before they lowered her down he looked at her for the last time. Her face was peaceful and relaxed as she lay in death. The dress he had helped her pick out just days before lay on her now as it would forever, freezing her in a moment of beauty. Then they closed the casket and put her in the ground.
Before he went through the well for what would be the last time, Inuyasha went to Kagome's room. As he walked in he breathed her gentle scent, already fading into oblivion. He looked around, taking in every bit of her that he could. When his eyes rested on her nightstand, he spied a locket. Gingerly, he picked it up. Inside were two pictures: himself and Kagome. With a tear he placed it around his neck. Nearby were the shards of the shikon no tama. He picked them up and placed them in his robes. He looked around one last time, knowing this was the last time he would see this place. Then he left, going back to the place he belonged.
When he got back to the feudal era, Shippo ran up to him. "Inuyasha where's Kagome?" The little kitsune had been anxiously waiting for his friend to return, not knowing he would never see her again. He became worried when Inuyasha didn't answer. "Inuyasha?"
"Kagome's not coming back Shippo."
"What do you mean she's not coming? What did you do to her?" Shippo cried.
"She died Shippo!" he shouted, tears springing to his eyes. "She died because-because I couldn't protect her!" A single tear rolled down his face. "I couldn't protect her and now she's gone." He looked at Shippo, eyes filled with pain, and whispered, "I'm sorry."
"No. You're lying." Shippo said. "You're lying!" He ran towards the village, scared tears trailing behind him.
"Heh, poor kid. He already lost his dad. Now Kagome's gone too." Inuyasha started walking toward the village. Just as it came into view he saw Miroku and Sango running towards him. Shippo was right behind them.
"Inuyasha, what happened?" Miroku paused, out of breath. "Shippo says something happened to Lady Kagome."
He looked up with sad eyes and answered. "She died Miroku. Some bastard used a weapon from her time and I couldn't save her." With those words he left them there, baffled and shocked, to go on to the village.
"Miroku, do you really think he's telling the truth?" Sango asked, not willing to accept that the girl she had come to see as a sister could actually be dead.
With a heavy heart Miroku realized he had indeed been telling the truth. "He wasn't lying Sango. If you saw his eyes you know he wasn't." When she asked what he meant he replied, "He has only gotten a look remotely close to that when he has seen Kikyo. Kagome is gone."
At those words Sango was crushed. She had borne so much pain in her life, but this- this was all she could take. She crumpled to the ground, everything pouring forth in streams from her eyes. The gentle monk by her side knelt down by her side and she cried into his robes. When her tears were gone, he helped her up and they went home together.
The next few days were spent in mourning. Miroku, Sango, and Shippo were always together. Kagome had brought them together, and they would remain friends in her death. They all stayed close together, and leaned on each other when it all became too much. All except Inuyasha.
They didn't see much of him. He would go off into the forest to mourn in solitude. He would only return at mealtimes, and even then he did not eat. His friends begged him to eat but he refused. She was gone.
On the fourth day, Inuyasha decided to leave. He gave the shikon jewel to what remained of the group and told them to do what they wanted. He didn't need it. As he handed over the tiny sphere, now only missing a few shards, he vaguely remembered the day they had slain Naraku. As the Tetsusaiga bit into the monster's flesh, something snapped. Naraku's eyes grew wide, and then dimmed as his body melted away to oblivion. Within seconds all that was left was a small glowing object. Kagome went forward and picked it up. "It's finally over." She whispered. She had remained, collecting the remaining shards after that, not really knowing what would happen. But now he handed it over, not caring what happened next. When he left, he looked back, imprinting in his memory the image of his friends watching him go. Then with a tear he walked on.
For days he traveled in a southerly direction. He did not eat, only walk and rest every now and then. Many times he thought of simply killing himself, but could never bring himself to do it. On the night of the new moon he became human. His hanyou blood that held his emotions in check vanished, and he was filled with pain anew. The entire night he cried. When morning came, and the sun rose he got up and pushed on.
Two days later he arrived at a beach. He stepped through the sand to edge of the water and listened to the waves. The gentle, rhythmic lapping soothed him, and he felt at peace. Yes. This would do. This was where he could mend his broken heart. When nightfall came he found a grove of palm trees, and climbed into the balmy branches. He leaned back and let the song of the ocean lull him to sleep.
-next day-
"Get back here! We're not done with you!" Inuyasha sat up, still half asleep, trying to locate the source of the noise. "Where the hell are you Shinju?"
As he looked around he spotted a girl in the nearby forest. She was running. Upon closer inspection, he saw she was being chased by a group of men. They were the ones making all the noise. Suddenly, the girl burst onto the beach. Hurriedly she looked around, and spotting the palms, ran over. She jumped up with more grace than possible for a human and landed next to Inuyasha.
"Hey! What the hell are you doing?"
"SHHHH! Please be quiet. Don't let them know I'm here." She gave him such a pleading look he had no choice but to play along.
Just then the men ran onto the beach in hot pursuit. "Shinju! Where the hell are you? Damn that girl. Shinju!" When he turned around Inuyasha was right behind him.
"What are you looking for?" he asked, trying to lure them away.
"We are looking for the girl, Shinju. I know she came trough here so you must have seen her. Which way did she go?"
Pointing away from the palm tree hideaway he said, "That way."
Hastily the men thanked him and ran off. As soon as they were gone The girl jumped down. "Thank you so much! I really appreciate you helping me get away and all, but-"
"Save it demon. Yeah I know what you are, but I want to know who you are and why you were running."
When the girl realized what he said she closed her eyes and was engulfed in smoke. When it cleared there was a teenaged girl with sandy blond hair and spring green eyes. On top of her head sat two fox ears, the right one sporting a single gold ring. A large bushy tail, also sandy colored, gentle swayed behind her. Then, with a toothy grin, she simply said, "I'm Shinju."