Chapter 12-Death Waits For No One

Time it seemed had slow down to what felt like mere moments to Kilala as she saw what had happened before her eyes between Sesshomorru piercing Tokijin through Inuyasha's chest. 'No! NOOOOOOOOOOO!' thought Kilala as she forgot about her captive in her arms that she on impulse let go and ran with all her speed towards Inuyasha who had an expression that was on his face that when he looked at her said, "I'm sorry," to her.

Sesshomorru seeing her approach removed a now blood covered Tokijin from Inuyasha's chest with a satisfied smirk on his face before turning to walk away. "You bastard you said you were going to kill Inuyasha in a fight, but me and Kagome did all the work. What gives?" said Koga as the others in the hut came out and started running as they saw a fallen Inuyasha on the ground with a crying Kilala holding his head that was wrapped around her arms.

"You two are so easily manipulated its pathetic. I knew the girl could not resist attacking Inuyasha as her hatred for him runs to strong to be denied for so long. I also knew that you would go along with her plan to kill him and with you two failing miserably I knew I could get in the one hit of a kill that would assure his death. As far as I'm concerned you two were the bait...for the much larger trap," said Sesshomorru walking away from them as he put Tokijin back by his waist.

"BASTARD!" yelled Kilala as she now lunged at Sesshomorru not caring if she died at the hands of Sesshomorru as Inuyasha was the only thing that mattered to her.

Sesshomorru didn't even hesitate or show any reaction at her movement or words as he moved to his right and back handed Kilala hitting her in the back of her head. "Think of me what you will, but keep those thoughts in the recesses of your mind as you drown in your loss at the death of Inuyasha," said Sesshomorru before Kilala's world went black.

(BREAK)

Kilala had woken up with a start looking at her now familiar surroundings after a good 5 maybe 10 seconds before a killer headache reached the back of her skull. 'My head hurts so much! It feels as if someone took the back end of...a...sword,' thought Kilala only to stop going any further as she now remembered what happened and tears crept out of her eyes before Sango and Shippo walked in.

"How are you feeling?" said Shippo though he had a pretty good idea that it wasn't what he had hoped though after what happened it wasn't surprising.

"He...he...he's gone. He's really gone," said Kilala as she started crying even more not daring to speak any further after that out of sheer anguish at her and the other's loss.

Sango and Shippo both nodded with a sad look in their eyes as they couldn't dare say the simple sound of the word that would signify her answer in a vocal way. "You were out of 3 days Kilala (Kilala gasps). Kaede and Miroku worked on you treating your head wound while Kikyo and the others tried to save Inuyasha from his more severe one. He lasted for another day and a half before his heart went out. It seemed Tokijin pierced right through Inuyasha's heart in the beginning to give him a quick death, but his own healing abilities were slowing his death down. As much as I hate to admit this Kilala...Inuyasha died in a slow and painful way because of it," said Sango as tears appeared on her face as it did Shippo's as they did before when Inuyasha stopped breathing.

(Flashback)

"Inuyasha hang in there you can do it! Please don't leave us," said Shippo watching his adopted father die in front of him while Kikyo still tried to help save him from dying.

"Sorry Shippo, but...but there is...is no other way. Forgive me...my son," said Inuyasha as he found breathing to be quite difficult with the wound in his heart acting up while blood was still in his lungs.

"Daddy you can't leave. What about Kilala? She's not awake yet to say goodbye. Please daddy...don't go," said Shiori holding her father's hand as tears left her face falling on the floor after down it.

"I know Shiori. It's all right. Kilala can visit my grave to say what she wants. I can't hold on any longer. Rin...Kanna. Come here," said Inuyasha as he felt his life fading from him while Sango held his head on her lap stroking his silver hair as she did so.

"Yes Inuyasha," said both girls at the same time making Inuyasha smile at what they just did as it was quite humorous even in this situation he was.

"Kanna. Rin. In the time I have known you both I have fallen in love with you as if you were my own children. You may not be my children by blood, but I love you all the same as if you were. I would be proud to call you two my daughters...if you wish to be that is?" said Inuyasha seeing their sad faces show a form of life in them that warmed his now dying heart as he could already tell what their answer was going to be.

"Of course!" said Rin and Kanna hugging him with tears down their faces that were a combination of sorrow and joy knowing this would be the first and last time they could do this as a family.

It was then that Inuyasha kissed the girls on their foreheads before closing his eyes and letting the shadow that was death take him. "Goodbye...everyone," said Inuyasha as his heart under the condition it was in gave out on him and the last of his breath left him for the other side.

The remainder of the time of that day they held onto him not once letting go all the while crying their own hearts out at the loss of their love. 'Inuyasha,' they all thought as they grieved more then they ever had before.

(End Flashback)

"What about Kagome and Koga? Where are they?" said Kilala as she knew as well as the others that they had a hand in his death if not the conspiracy of it all.

"Unfortunately, they got away soon after what happened since we were treating both you and Inuyasha in hopes of finding a place to hide. Fortunately, for us Kanna knows where they are though thanks to the powers of her mirror and has been keeping a VERY close eye on their movements. Shiori and Rin have been spending time with Kaede and Kikyo while Miroku has been spending time talking to Inuyasha after pouring some sake on his grave where we buried and marked it," said Sango as they had all done something along those lines with the exception of the three little girls and Shippo seeing as they didn't have the will to do so after burying Inuyasha.

It wasn't their fault or meant to be disrespectful in anyway it was just that they were just too depressed and too tired from the whole ordeal causing them to fall asleep. The entire time they were crying while whispering Inuyasha's name over and over again as they were sleeping. "Can I go see him? I want to go talk to him as I didn't get a chance to pay my respects," said Kilala standing up carefully not sure if she would feel any wooziness from the attack she felt that went with the headache.

"Sure Kilala. Miroku should be finishing up soon anyway so you should have all the time you need with him as we all got our own private moment in.

(Mid-Day-At Inuyasha's Grave by the Shrine)

Miroku sat in a meditative style next to Inuyasha's grave less then two feet from the tilted marker that was his sheathed sword. He poured some more sake' on the sheathed blade of Tetsuigia as it went down the weapon onto the soil giving Inuyasha something to drink as they "talked" in a sense to one another. It was always said that when one went into a deep drunk enough state that it would always open a path way up to talk to spirits that were on the other side. It was actually one of the reasons why monks allowed the creation of the alcohol filled beverage that was sake' to exist as to share it with the world. Miroku has also put himself into a near drunken stupor all in the hope that he could talk to Inuyasha one final time before they parted ways. "You (hiccup) you know I (hiccup) I (hiccup) had always (hiccup) thought (hiccup) that you would (hiccup) out (hiccup) out live (hiccup) us all (hiccup) Inu (hiccup) Inuyasha?" said Miroku as he wobbled slightly a little to the left, right, back, and forward supporting himself with his staff as he would have fallen over without it.

"You should've known that because of your curse you are going to out live us all. I mean you have the strongest reason to stay alive slowly growing in that right palm of yours just waiting to either absorb Naraku or yourself," said Inuyasha smiling as the image of the half-demon was in front of the monk sitting down like he normally did with his left knee by his face while the right one branched out while he held Tetsuigia with his right hand.

"I should've (hiccup) died (hiccup) in that (hiccup) hole like (hiccup) like (hiccup) my father did all (hiccup) all those years (hiccup) years ago," said Miroku drinking more of the sake' he had acquired before he spoke to the spirit of the half-demon.

"And failed to avenge your family and remove the curse that Naraku put on you? Please monk you have NO choice, BUT to live. You can't wait for your death to come for you Miroku despite what Naraku wants you to believe with the curse he gave you and your father. You must come to it. Should you forget that just remember this one simple fact Miroku...death waits for no one. Think about it. Besides if you don't live your life, who will kill Naraku and help Sango save her little brother? To be honest I half expected you to hate me stealing Sango away from you. Why didn't you?" said Inuyasha curious as to why Miroku didn't do such a thing as any man worth himself would have.

"Sango and (hiccup) I came to an (hiccup) an understanding (hiccup) of (hiccup) of sorts about (hiccup) that when we went (hiccup) in search of (hiccup) of you (hiccup) when (hiccup) you transformed (hiccup) back at the (hiccup) the Valley of Death. We came (hiccup) to a real (hiccup) realization that (hiccup) at the time we (hiccup) we were both (hiccup) both lonely people (hiccup) people with no one to (hiccup) to love us. That our (hiccup) that our love for (hiccup) for each other (hiccup) was created from (hiccup) two people who (hiccup) who wanted (hiccup) something that (hiccup) would have (hiccup) been miserable (hiccup) when created. Neither of us (hiccup) wanted that so (hiccup) so we care (hiccup) about each (hiccup) each other now (hiccup) as if we were (hiccup) were brother and sister (hiccup) trying to survive (hiccup) as a family. What (hiccup what (hiccup) what I want to (hiccup) to know is (hiccup) how you can (hiccup) can get not 1, not (hiccup) not two, but 3 (hiccup) 3 different women to (hiccup) to love you (hiccup) as they do? How in (hiccup) in the name (hiccup) name of (hiccup) of Buddha did (hiccup) you do that (hiccup) that when I (hiccup) I can't get one (hiccup) one simple (hiccup) simple Feudal Lord's (hiccup) daughter?" said Miroku as he looked up barely able to see Sango's, Kilala's, and Shippo's forms get closer to him as they were walking towards him and Inuyasha's grave.

"Don't be the perverted monk you make yourself out to be Miroku and you will do just fine in getting the woman you want to bare your children to continue your legacy. Just be yourself. Now get going it seems Kilala wants to speak to me alone from the look on her face," said Inuyasha smiling at the monk before becoming serious as he saw Kilala's still tear ridden face.

Miroku looked back at the grave marker that was Tetsuigia again to find Inuyasha's spirit was no longer their. Meaning that one: he was slowly becoming sober again and two: his time was up talking to Inuyasha. "Come on Miroku let's give these two their privacy so they can say what they want as the rest of did," said Sango picking the monk up ignoring the sake' leaving the bottle from the monks limp arm as she walked off with him as he groaned about following Inuyasha's advice about being himself causing Sango to raise an eyebrow at what he was talking about.

"I'd join you Kilala, but this is your time to talk with him and I don't think I'm ready to talk to him either. I just can't...you know," said Shippo looking down with real sadness in his eyes as he was always the trickster, joker, and prankster of the group making this even more difficult to express what was the opposite of his nature to do or even experience at such a level like he did with his parents when they died.

"Its okay Shippo I understand. You will do this when you feel you are ready and are able to handle this. Just don't wait to long or else he won't be here to talk to," said Kilala in a reassuring voice before the little fox demon bowed his head to both Kilala and Inuyasha's grave before scampering off to the others as he remembered the other three little girls that were Rin, Shiori, and Kanna needed some relief from the sadness though he was sure that even he would have a hard time doing that himself.

Kilala looked back at the little fox that was Shippo as he scurried away back to the others and couldn't help, but smile at him before turning to face the grave of her love. She hated this moment more then almost any other in her life as she got on her knees in front of the grave to talk to Inuyasha. "Your son is growing up a lot faster then I would like to see Inuyasha. Still in this time of unrest I suppose it is for the best and even the young must grow up sooner then expected. I...wanted to say I'm sorry Inuyasha. I'm sorry for loving you sooner. I'm sorry that I...that I never had the chance to know you sooner then when I did back in the old demon slaying village. I want to hold you in my arms one more time with your fur pressing against mine as we kiss. I'm sure the other two have already said something similar and I'm sure without a doubt they mean it, but I wanted you to know that like them I meant it too if not more. Now all I can do now is say...goodbye Inuyasha and that...I love you," said Kilala as she placed a kiss to her clawed fingers on her right hand and pressed it against the hilt of his sword as tears fell down her fur face and onto the ground as she changed into her more cat demon like form finding that there was no longer a reason to have it now that Inuyasha was gone as she now walked away back to the others to avenge the death of her love.

Had Kilala turned around she probably would have seen a certain half-demon looking at her with a smile on his face. "I love you too...Kilala," said Inuyasha before his spirit had faded from sight.

(Elsewhere-Near Nightfall)

As Sesshomorru walked through the forest he felt should have felt happiness and relief he killed his weak half brother of a half-demon that was Inuyasha, but strange enough as it was he had somehow felt...incomplete inside. It wasn't that he didn't have Tetsuigia with him he could always get that later when the others were away. Not that he really needed the weapon that was Tetsuigia of course. With Tokijin by his waist being it's equal if not its absolute greater he should have felt invincible, which was why this feeling of being so incomplete inside was both puzzling and disturbing all the same. 'I don't understand I thought by killing Inuyasha I would feel better, but instead I feel the opposite. I feel as if I took out something inside myself that wasn't suppose to be removed from me and yet I know I should feel better, but I don't. Why? Is this a premonition of something bad to come? Or is it some other feeling inside me that says I have made a mistake, but that's not possible as I have never made a mistake in my life except for letting that foolish girl Rin be restored and follow me around. What is happening to me?' thought Sesshomorru as he walked through the forest so deep in his thoughts he was unaware of a single pair of amber eyes watching him with an angry look that could melt through Tokijin, Tenseiga, and turn Sesshomorru's heart to powder in the time it took for it to beat.

It took the Lord of the Western Lands a good 20 minutes to realize he was being watched and followed, which was something he found to once more be puzzling and disturbing. "Show yourself and I will not have to kill you were you stand," said Sesshomorru turning to face where he sensed the mysterious figure.

"You disappoint me Sesshomorru and to think I didn't believe you could go any further then what you did to Inuyasha...no MY SON earlier. You should know that you cannot kill...what is already dead," said the figure who appeared from the shadows of the forest making Sesshomorru gasp in surprise as the Lord of the Western Lands saw a familiar form in front of him wearing similar armor with long silver hair, purple stripes on both his cheeks, and amber eyes that held a fury in them that Sesshomorru had only seen in Inuyasha.

"It's...its impossible. Father...," said Sesshomorru, but he stopped when he heard a growl come from the former Lord of the Western Lands Inutashio.

"Don't...you...EVER...call me...THAT…again. Not after what you did to your one and only brother that was Inuyasha. Damn you Sesshomorru for what you did! You are no son of mine. No son of mine would do what you did to his own family," said Inutashio cracking his claws and baring his teeth in full unrelenting anger.

"How can you LOVE him? Love a half-demon like him over your own TRUE flesh and blood that is me?" said Sesshomorru as he pulled out Tokijin hoping it would intimidate the being in front of him to give him answers.

"First, like your mother you Sesshomorru could never share with others whether it was the smallest thing or the power of the Western Lands. Second, also like your esteemed mother you had to be superior being to everyone else all the while removing them from being potential competition by killing or crushing them. Had I known that you would be like her I would have killed you while you were still in her womb along with her in the process," said Inutashio taking three steps forward not backing down from Sesshomorru's scare tactic.

"To think half of me was born from you and your soft hearted foolish ideals. You talk to me about not sharing like my mother when you never even shared your love that you had for Inuyasha's mother and him with me and mine! It was because you couldn't share that my mother died and at the hands of YOU no less," said Sesshomorru angrily who for the first time since the death of his mother started to involuntarily cry.

"As I recall it was YOUR mother who tried to kill Inuyasha's when she found out that the one woman that I loved was carrying him inside her. YOUR mother wanted me to have no other heirs out of fear they would be a threat to you in taking the throne. SHE feared like you did that Inuyasha would be more powerful then you even though he was a half-demon. Like YOU your mother feared the blending of the species because she knew that Inuyasha would be special!" said Inutashio taking FIVE more steps towards Sesshomorru as if to say "do your worst" to the Lord of the Western Lands.

"If he is so special then why is he DEAD!" said Sesshomorru swinging his sword down on his dead father's body hoping it would just become dead again or be an illusion set upon him by some foul demon or holy man.

The sword never reached Inutashio the way Sesshomorru expected as the former Lord caught the current Lord of the Western Lands attack with his left hand while removing Tenseiga with the right. "According to whom?" said Inutashio smirking with a strange glint in his eyes that told Sesshomorru that not all was what it seemed.

He then saw his supposed to be late father put Tenseiga around his waist before kicking Sesshomorru a good 20 feet into the nearest tree before walking away. "Give me back Tenseiga. It's mine!" said Sesshomorru getting back to his feet only to falter as he didn't realize the power behind the kick.

"This is an inheritance to my son and since you are not MY son I find that it is no longer yours to hold anymore much less own. To think...I had hoped that despite of all that had happened that you would see the truth and become the son I had always hoped you would be. I guess even I can make mistakes when it comes to these things. No matter as you will get your just desserts like those other fools that assisted you...much later," said Inutashio looking at Sesshomorru one more time before he started walking away from Sesshomorru fading into the shadows of the trees.

(Meanwhile...3 Days Later)

Kagome and Koga had gotten out of the village in a hurry shortly after Sesshomorru had killed Inuyasha with Tokijin piercing through the half-demon's chest. The last thing they needed was for Inuyasha's lovers and family to start hunting both of them down to take their revenge on them for assisting in Inuyasha's death. Koga had explained to Kagome that if they could get to his territory guarded by his pack he could assist in her protection as he was the pack leader. "How much farther Koga?" said Kagome as she was by that moment pretty much out of breath from traveling so far without using her bike, Kilala, or ironically Inuyasha to help get her at her destination.

"Not too much farther Kagome. Don't worry with me and my pack watching over you there is no way the mutts pack can get to you," said Koga though he himself was a little skeptical if his pack could hold their own against all those that loved Inuyasha and the fury they would produce to avenge his death.

When they got their though they were shocked at what they saw as they saw as the cave entrance of the wolf packs lair as well as that every single wolf demon both in wolf and human looking form were all...dead. No. Dead didn't even describe the scene in front of him nor could it possibly even be describe at what lay before them. The ground was a sea of demon blood, guts, and heads of wolves that went down fighting and those that didn't even see the attack coming. "Who...who could have...have done...all of...all of this?" said Kagome as she carefully walked around the lake of blood as to not get her shoes dirty.

"Whoever, they are...they are going to pay dearly!" said Koga as he suspected Naraku was behind it or someone close to Inuyasha who wanted to get even the only way that seemed possible.

"Koga...Kagome your angel of death awaits," said a whispery, but angry voice as a cold wind blew in around the two as a small storm seemed to be brewing up ahead.

"What? Whose there?" said Koga looking every way he could to determined the sound getting into a fighting stance.

"I gave you both more then enough passes wolf cub when it came to befriending you and what did you two do? You knocked them aside like yesterdays rotten food. What you see here and now before you...is just a taste of things to come. Soon there will be nowhere for you to run. THIS...IS...THE BEGINNING…OF THE END!" said the voice as lightning struck all around the two surrounding them in blaze of fire while the sounds of laughter echoed all around them.

(Naraku's Castle)

Naraku opened his eyes as he suddenly felt something in the natural alignment of things shift awkwardly around him. It was one of the gifts of having the nearly completed sacred jewel shard in his possession though the disturbance he felt made him question whether or not such a thing was a blessing now or a curse. He could literally feel it deep within his demon bones that were his at the moment as he gazed at the dark jewel in his right hand that was in front of him. He began wondering what exactly it was that would cause such thing that it would reach him from wherever it originated from. "Something is wrong and I need to find out what. Kagura!" said Naraku seriously as this was no time to be joking around in such a manner.

"You called Naraku," said Kagura in an almost equally serious voice as she had also felt the very same disturbance he had felt through the wind making her shiver in fear and in wonder.

"I assume you felt what I did correct? (Kagura nods) Find out what is causing this...type of feeling and eliminate it immediately. Kohaku still has to finish breeding my new type of miasma harpies and I need to give him more time to finish it. I cannot afford to have this...whatever this thing is jeopardize the creation of my new miasma harpy demon army from being completed. GO!" said Naraku in an ordering voice knowing Kagura would follow it despite her hatred of him.

"Of course Naraku," said Kagura as she bowed and left to carry out her "masters" orders, but only because she feared this power to as she felt it was like something she had felt before or at least encountered recently.

(Kaede's Village-Day and A Half ago-Nightfall)

Kaede walked over to Inuyasha's grave with a sad look on her face as a tear fell down her one good eye as it had when she had lost her sister all those years ago when she was a little girl. Now she had lost yet another person in her life she cared for that had only just started to be treated as one of the family. Still it didn't lessen the wound she was feeling or make her feel any better. Kilala, Kikyo, and the others had all left the village to track down Kagome and Koga before searching for Sesshomorru to exact their revenge on all three of them. Seeing Inuyasha's grave only made it worse for her as the old emotions she had back when she was a little girl that she had buried so long ago rose from the depth of her mind to plague her once more. Remembering how Inuyasha was helping Kikyo protect the village, Inuyasha watching over Kikyo when she went on her daily patrols around the village, Inuyasha saving...well saving her when Kikyo wasn't around in that one moment when she was still getting to trust him. "Inuyasha. No words can express how ye am truly sorry for what has happened to you. You have been through so much that a weaker man whether they be human, demon, or possess the blood of both would have fallen mad to such pain. I am sorry for not removing the rosary sooner, for not trusting when ye should have, and for seeing the pain you locked away until it was too late. The only thing ye can do now is say goodbye...Inuyasha," said Kaede as she then respectfully bowed her head before she turned around to walk away as she was unable to stand being their any longer as the grief she felt within gripped her heart more and more with each passing second.

As she walked away to grieve in silence she failed to acknowledge the rising storm that was brewing overhead as she went to her little hut to wait it out. Shortly after Kaede had entered the house she sat down to sleep unaware of what was happening outside at that very moment as a single form of lightning struck Tetsuigia sending a current into the soft soil of the ground. Shortly after a single clawed hand rose from the ground and grabbed Tetsuigia to lift the body it was connected to up from the earth it was buried in. "As I told Miroku heheheh...DEATH WAITS FOR NO ONE!" said Inuyasha in a demonic voice causing his voice to echo throughout the land.

(Current Day-In A Strange Hut Not Far From the Valley Of Death)

Oman threw some sand into the fire his eyes both natural and unnatural opened wide as he stared into the blazing unnatural fire in front of him...smiling. "Soon Inuyasha. Soon they will bare witness to your TRUE power. They will all soon see what happens to those traitorous souls...who think they can stare into the eye of the dragon. And on that, which is fast approaching all your enemies will turn to shadows...and dust in the wind," said Oman as a figure appeared before him beyond the fire.

"They now know he's alive. I've have one more thing to give to my son...my one TRUE son before I go back to the other side. Should I go tell his friends, family, and lovers he has returned as well?" said Inutashio as he stare at the shaman in front of him.

"No. Let Inuyasha do that on his own when he feels the time is right. Kaede will be the first to know in the morning when she sees Inuyasha's grave has been disturbed from the inside. The group that hold his loved one that are hunting Sesshomorru, Kagome, and Koga down will know next when during the confrontation. You will be there when that happens," said Oman looking at Inutashio in the process saying "trust me".

"What about this Naraku character? What about his servant Kagura and his slave Kohaku for that matter?" said Inutashio not wanting to take his chances with unchecked enemies that could hurt his son.

"He is not a threat...yet anyway. No doubt he felt the power of your son coming back into this world and has sent Kagura to investigate. By the time she reports back Inuyasha will be stronger then ever and will be ready to take on Naraku and his plans to make his new army complete and the sacred jewel shard whole again. I suggest you go find them and stick to the shadows till the time is right as it will be a few days before Inuyasha makes his appearance known to the others," said Oman thus ending the conversation between the two.

End chapter

(A/N: Whoa! Who would have thought Inuyasha's dad would come back from the dead and would reveal family matters like this to you guys. HA! Me that's who. Anyway what did you think? Made you almost believe I would kill of Inuyasha so quickly wit everyone saying their goodbyes and stuff. You know how I do this? Because I am smart. (I am so smart! I am so smart! I am so smart s-m-r-t...I mean s-m-a-r-t.) Boy are they going to be surprised when they find out he's alive. Heart attacks all around. Sorry I'm being weird again. Anyway thanks for all the reviews I appreciated every single one of them though you didn't tell me what fic you wanted me to write next. Should I do Star Wars or Naruto? Could you please tell me in your next review? Thanks! Keep on reviewing. Oh by the way you maybe wondering what happens in the next chapter so out of good faith you will review (and I know you will) I will tell you one thing. If you thought you saw stuff before then you haven't seen anything yet. Brace yourself. HAHAHAHAHHAHA! Sorry.)