Just a quick word before this chapter. I really enjoyed writing this and it contains a favorite scene between Inuyasha and Kagome, you'll probably know it when you read it. For all of you who feel like I do, this may be your favorite too. Okay on with the chapter...

Confrontation

Inuyasha heard the flea and his heart beat faster. It should work and then he'd be able to end this mess. When he heard Sango say Kagome wasn't in pain any longer it felt as if a huge stone had been lifted off his chest. Suddenly he felt it. A pinprick on his neck and automatically his hand flew up to slap at it.

Everyone watched amazed as Inuyasha sat up with his hand at his neck. He removed his hand and watched as the flea floated down unto his palm. "Thanks Myoga." Quickly he tossed the flea over to Kirara and heard, "No problem, glad to help."

Inuyasha saw them all staring at him but he only had eyes for the girl at his side. Gently he turned her over and was shaken to his core at her appearance. Kagome's hair was damp with sweat, her skin pale - too pale and her eyes, it seemed as if someone had punched her and given her black eyes. Picking her up he cradled Kagome in his lap.

Miroku sighed, relaxing just a bit and felt Sango put her hand in his. Inuyasha and Kagome were together again.

"Kagome? Kagome, I'm here." He smoothed back her hair and picked up her hand and brought it to his lips. Those fingers that touched him earlier, he kissed each one. A faint smile appeared and Kagome eyes blinked at him.

She was so tired but she remembered everything. She remembered Inuyasha. Here was Inuyasha the man she loved and her very best friend. She remembered taking him home with her and sharing her family with him. Kagome saw the worried look on his face and sought a way to reassure him and her friends. "The spell…it's gone." With just a hint of a grin she spoke to Inuyasha. "Remember the… next time we…go home…you promised to go karaoke…with me."

Inuyasha threw back his head and let out a short laugh. "I know, I promise." He leaned closer and laid his face against her's. "I was scared Kagome." He whispered in her ear.

"Me too…but I'll be fine." They stayed that way for endless minutes but it ended all to soon for both of them.

Up on Miroku's shoulder, Shippo was wiping his eyes. Tears rolled down Sango's face and even Miroku had wet eyes. Koga had left the clearing; he was just inside the forest leaning against a tree. He wouldn't leave until he was sure Kagome was safe but he couldn't watch Inuyasha and Kagome together.

Finally Inuyasha looked up at Kikyo and his eyes were cold. He stared at her hard. Where in that false body was the gentle woman he once knew? He felt a wave of disgust flow through him. Feeling Kagome stir in his arms he decided it was time to have it out with Kikyo so he could take Kagome somewhere safe and let her recover. He looked for the little demon cat.

"Kirara, would you mind?" The twin tail was standing next to Sango. She mewed and increased her size. Moving next to Inuyasha she sat so that he could place Kagome in the curve of her body. "Thanks." With one last caress he stood and faced Kikyo.

Kikyo was angry and upset. Inuyasha wasn't supposed to have awakened – not until she was ready, until she had convinced him that it was she he loved! That damned demon flea had broken her spell. This wasn't how it was supposed to turn out. The wolf demon was supposed to leave with Kagome and then she could have either scared off Inuyasha's friends or incapacitated them and left with Inuyasha. His body was so stiff as he stared at her. He was supposed to be looking at her with love – not Kagome!

"Where in the hell do you get off playing with our lives! Damn it Kikyo! What's wrong with? Even if you wanted to take me and kill me or whatever, why did you have to involve Kagome!" Inuyasha was incensed.

"Kagome! Kagome! Why is it always about Kagome? It was me you first fell in love with! It was me who first showed you that you could be happy, that you didn't have to live alone! You just think you're in love with Kagome when it's really me you want!" Kikyo yelled back at him.

Inuyasha backed away from her and tried to calm down. "No. I do not want you. Not anymore." He spoke plainly. "What we had is over, I've moved on Kikyo. To Kagome."

"I don't believe you. How do you know that the feelings you have for her are not really feelings you still have for me? We look alike Inuyasha, we have some of the same powers. It is me you want." Kikyo stepped forward and placed a hand on his chest.

Inuyasha closed his eyes, "Once that may have been true, but no longer. You twoshare a lot but Kagome is totally different than you. She has a generous heart and a loving spirit plus – she's alive." Again his voice was cold as he spoke those final words.

Sango shivered to hear it as she glanced at Kagome who sat quietly watching. Miroku shook his head, the words were hurtful but they needed to be said. There could be no doubt in Kikyo's mind that Inuyasha had chosen Kagome.

Kikyo dropped her hand and stepped back. "Yes, I'm dead but we could still be together Inuyasha. Once Naraku is destroyed we can go into the afterlife together. We could be together for all time, Inuyasha. It was meant to be." She said passionately. It was their fate to be with one another. Kikyo believed this and wanted it desperately.

Inuyasha folded his arms and shook his head. "No. Don't you get it Kikyo? I'm alive. Once I thought I owed it to you to die but not anymore. I want to live – live and be with Kagome. She makes me happy." Inuyasha gestured at the place where he'd lain. "In that illusion you used, you tried to give me what you thought would make me happy and you failed. That wasn't what I want. That's my past, a fifty year old dream. Fifty years Kikyo – I've changed. Now, today I'm a different person and want different things and you can't give them to me."

It amazed Kikyo at how much those words hurt. She stared at him and then at Kagome who sat watching them, pity in her eyes. Kagome loves Inuyasha. I love Inuyasha, but we're not the same person. He loves her and not me. Kikyo froze with that statement echoing in her mind.

Miroku thought it was time they should be leaving. Inuyasha's words seemed to finally get through to Kikyo. "Inuyasha, shall we go?"

Inuyasha looked to him and Sango and Shippo – his friends. They'd come to get him and save Kagome. That was something else she'd brought into his life, people he could care about. "Yeah, I think its time we go."

"No!" Kikyo seemed to wake up from her trance. "No Inuyasha. I still don't believe that you two belong together. She's from another time and place! It can't work!"

Inuyasha sighed; he wanted to leave – to have this be over. "It doesn't matter. Whatever time we're allowed, I'll take it. Kagome wants me. She chooses to be with me, Inuyasha the half-demon. Somehow we make it work and I find being a half-demon is not so bad when I have her."

"What, you no longer wish to be human? You'd have to become human to really be with her." Kikyo finally had a reason for him to leave Kagome.

"I love Inuyasha… whether he's human … half-demon or …all demon. He can be… whoever he wants… to be and… I'll still love him." Kagome stated quietly.

Inuyasha looked at her tenderly. "That's right. Kagome has never asked me to change but took the whole package."

"And that's a lot to handle." Miroku muttered and got a laugh from his friends. But Kikyo didn't think it was funny.

"Stop laughing! Stop it! Inuyasha once you wanted to be human and live with me, are you saying you won't do that for her? Because then it just proves that you don't really love her!" Suddenly something occurred to her and she got in Inuyasha's face. "And not once have you said that you love her." She said quietly.

Inuyasha stared her down. "I'll do anything for Kagome. If I decide that I want to be human then we'll find a way to make it happen but she doesn't require it. Thankfully I'm what she wants, dog ears and all." Inuyasha stepped away from Kikyo and moved over to Kagome. He kneeled before her hand captured her chin. He spoke again loud enough for Kikyo to hear but only looked at Kagome. "As for love, not since my mother have I ever felt such unconditional love. For that if for nothing else, I give you my heart Kagome. Now and five hundred years from now, I love you." Long fingers framed her face as he stared at it. Bruised and pale she was still beautiful to him.

"Oh Inuyasha." Kagome parted her lips and accepted his kiss.

Again their friends were moved to tears but were overjoyed for them. That is until Kikyo screamed. Miroku quickly moved and placed himself in front of Kagome and Inuyasha. Sango joined him in shielding the couple. Koga too was near to help – heart on fire, mind reeling from knowing Kagome was out of his reach.

There was a white aura surrounding Kikyo as she stared at Inuyasha still on his knees beside Kagome. Inuyasha was supposed to be with her! How could he just turn away? And what would happen to her? Was she doomed to spend eternity alone? Suddenly a bow and arrow appeared in her hands.

Frowning Inuyasha stood. Undoubtedly, Kikyo was on edge – would she snap and attack them? He desperately hoped not for if she did – he would have to defend them.

"Kikyo, you need to let go of the idea of us being together." He moved around his friends, hand on his sword. "Once, a long time ago, you were there for me. You gave me friendship and love. You showed me there was more to this world than being a strong demon and I thank you for that. I'm better for it, without you I'd probably have died long ago. It's time for you to gain some peace. We'll defeat Naraku and free you from thepain you suffered at his hands. You'll have a new start, a new life. Let me, let all of us go. Please."

Silver white hair blew in the wind. His face showed so much emotion that Kikyo shivered. Once that would have been impossible for him, letting others see him show emotion but it was all there – nothing hidden. Inuyasha was pleading with her and that stopped her from any action she might have taken in anger. The bow fell to the ground. This man was someone she'd never known, had no responsibility for creating. This was all Kagome's doing. This was Kagome's man, this new Inuyasha. Kikyo placed a hand against her chest, her hollow chest and felt a loss like she'd never known. She turned away from him – the man who once was hers but now belonged to another.

"Go. I won't bother you again. Just go, all of you."

Inuyasha nodded to the others to get ready to leave but he moved to stand behind Kikyo. "I want you to know that you'll always mean a great deal to me. As I said, you showed me love, gave me your love and I'll always treasure that memory. If ever you need me – need my help send for me and I'll protect you. Try to be happy Kikyo." He raised his hand as if to touch her but let it drop.

Sango and Shippo were on Kirara and there stood Kagome being supported by Miroku. Smiling he went to her and bent down so she could get on his back. The warm weight of her felt like a healing balm to the raw emotions he's been dealing with. Looking up he saw Koga watching from the tree line. Inuyasha nodded to him. Koga stared a moment before returning the nod then taking off surrounded by a whirlwind.

"Let's get out of here, shall we?" Miroku said as he got on Kirara. He looked back at Kikyo. Her back was to them and she was surrounded by her soul collectors. Miroku felt pity for her, her life had been difficult then ended quickly. Having been brought back from the dead, she wanted all that she had been denied. Yes, she was to be pitied but if she ever interfered in their lives again – there would be hell to pay. Miroku looked forward at Inuyasha and Kagome; they all had found something precious in each other and no way were the going to allow anyone to take it from them.

Kikyo heard them leave and slumped to the ground on her knees. Inuyasha was gone and all she had left was her vengeance. Vengeance was hard and cold, like she was – a perfect match. The sun began to set giving her one last ray of light before dipping into the horizon.

Awww, didn't you just love it! Who knew Inuyasha could be so sweet? There's just one chapter left, see ya there.