Hey! This is near the end. Well... technically this is the last chapter except for the epilogue, and a special. So... I really hope you'll like it. -smiles-
On with the story...
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Chapter Sixteen- Love Can Defeat Naraku. Right?
"Sango… Miroku… InuYasha… Inu… Yasha… he's dead…" Miroku and Sango exchanged looks.
"Dead? Kagome… are you sure? He's a demon…" Miroku suggested. Kagome cried harder.
"His… heart… it… it's… it stopped." She choked in between her words.
InuYasha…
"InuYasha…" Kagome said repeatedly in between her sobs. Everyone else didn't know what to do, so they decided that they would give the two some alone time.
"We'll be back, Kagome-Sama." Miroku said. Kagome just nodded meekly.
-----Kagome's Point of View---------
This is it. InuYasha's dead. After all the times he protected me… he did it this time. He's… dead. Kami… this can't be happening.
InuYasha… remember all the times you swore you protect me? Remember all the fun we had? The osuwaris… I already miss that. Those cocky times you kept Koga at a distance away… those times you came to take me back here from my own time…
I'm choked between a stiff laugh and a sob. Sure… he loves me. I love him. He's dead… if he'd said it earlier… if I'd said it earlier… InuYasha…
I take a few deep breaths and wipe my tears, but the coldness emitting from his body makes me want to continue crying. The silky black hair over the beautiful unconscious face is too much for me to bear. I touch his haori. His bright red haori that he had draped over me so many times to make sure I was safe. Next to him the tetsusaiga's sheath. The sheath that had protected him against the Thunder Brothers. The sheath that called Tetsusaiga whenever InuYasha needed it. Tetsusaiga, the powerful demon sword that I helped InuYasha take out from his father's grave.
Great. Now I'm all choked up again. His small pool of blood around his haori in his chest isn't what killed him. It was the tainted power of Kikyo that did. No… It was my lost memories that did. MY memories.
InuYasha wanted me to remember him, and he died trying.
It's a funny thing. I always thought that I'd die before him, seeing as I'm a human and all.
InuYasha. You do so many reckless things for me… you're always so stupid.
I hug him tightly, sobbing on him, letting my fresh tears drop onto his face and rolling down. I look down, and then I notice the rosary that InuYasha always wore. Ever since the first night that I met him, he had worn that necklace.
I take it off of him, it's not like he needs the thing anymore. I mean… I can't sit him when he's already dead. There's no point in that. So after I take it off, I put it on my own neck. The beads are cold… and quiet heavy. I touch it on my collar bone, but it's just not the same without InuYasha's warmth that used to come with it. I continue hugging him, never letting go. I don't plan to anytime soon, but Miroku and Sango came back already, with a crying Shippo in Miroku's arms, and a sad Kirara in Sango's. I slowly drop a few more tears down onto his haori before sitting up again and wiping my eyes, trying to get it free of tears.
"Kagome-Sama…"Miroku said, trailing off. I try to force out somewhat of a weak smile at least, but my lips just don't move.
"Kagome… we have to let go." Sango suddenly says. I don't get it. Here is InuYasha, lying on the floor, already dead, and they're telling me that we have to go… I stifle another few tears. It still seems rather futile… but I still try anyways.
"Kagome-Sama..."Miroku said ever so gently, but still loud enough so I could hear him over the crying Shippo that he caresses in his arms. "Let's bring his body to Kaede's village. Then we can find somewhere peaceful to bury him." I start sobbing again. It's really angsty of me, maybe, but I can't help but feel that this is my fault that he's dead. If just this once, I would listen to him, and not have gone past the well like he told me to, I'd still have him alive. If I… if I was stronger, and not so stupid and reckless too, he'd still be alive. I hear Shippo cry louder as well, and everyone was shedding tears. How could we not? He was the best friend, companion, fatherly figure, protector… hanyou there was. I'll be damned if there was one better than InuYasha.
"Please, Kagome. Let's go." Sango said, her voice cracking. "Don't make it harder… please…" Miroku holds Sango as Shippo jumped onto the transformed Kirara, still crying. He let a few tears drop on her shoulder, as Sango cried in Miroku's arms.
I smile. At least they have each other. That could be me and InuYasha… they look so perfect for each other. InuYasha and I might not be perfect… but we loved each other.
Everyone has a tie to InuYasha. Miroku survived on account of all the times InuYasha saved him from using the wind tunnel. Sango is only alive from that time that InuYasha scolded at her for trying to murder Kohaku and herself. Shippo was the reason that InuYasha battled the Thunder Brothers. Lord knows how many times InuYasha's saved me.
I push that thought in the back of my head and stand up, reluctantly letting go of InuYasha. I go and I grab the Tetsusaiga that laid untransformed on the ground. I put it back in its own sheath, where it belonged, and I took the whole thing from InuYasha. It's InuYasha's, I know that… but I've made my mind. I've got to do what I plan to do.
I try to pick up InuYasha, but it doesn't really work. I don't know how he picks me up so easily. Maybe because he was a hanyou or something… that could be, I don't know.
Miroku and Sango come to help, and we get him on Kirara. After we arrived melancholy at the village, Kaede greets us with open arms. I put on a faint smile, but it looked more like a straight face. Kaede doesn't seem happy when she sees the dead InuYasha as well. She even looked rather surprised and shocked of his black hair. Everyone was silent, which was stupid. It just makes everything worse. But who am I to say anything? I don't feel like talking myself.
Miroku and Sango beg me to go into the hut, especially when it's such a cold night. But leaving InuYasha alone, and dead outside is not something that I ever plan to do. They didn't want to bring him in though. The hut's small enough as it is. It can't fit a dead half demon inside. So I stay outside, next to InuYasha. His pitch black hair reminds me of the human nights. The nights of the new moon. Those times when we would just sit next to each other and look up at the stars. I look up at the sky, but it's empty tonight, which is rather strange for the feudal era. I guess the stars don't want to come out.
"InuYasha…" I whisper, and I cry again. He's still by my side, but I miss his cocky-ness when he was alive. I already miss his smirks and his gold eyes. The way he'd always hold me in his arms when I was hurt. I'm all chocked up again, and it's not even time to bury him.
I adjust him so he's on my lap, and I hug him as he used to, even if I am holding a corpse. It sounds kind of stupid, and looks that way too when you really think about it, but I don't want to leave him.
A few more hot tears crawl down my cheek and makes their way onto InuYasha's head. I wipe them and hug him tighter as more come, and suddenly, I'm sobbing again.
I feel rather stupid crying over him like this… I sigh, as if trying to get all my sorrow out with it, but I don't feel much better.
I told you that none of us will be able to have InuYasha.
Did I just have that thought? It was then that I notice that I have Kikyo's memories. Does that mean that Kikyo is now a part of me? I wouldn't really count that as a good thing, seeing as she is the one that killed him. I figure that I'd leave right now. I mean, I should. I don't want anyone following me when I go and do what I plan. I take the Tetsusaiga and the bows and arrows, and I leave. I leave after giving InuYasha one last hug. I swallow, and then I walk away, tears rolling down.
……………………………………………………………………………
It's been two nights since InuYasha's death. School started, and I know I should care, seeing as the other InuYasha would be so worried, but I can't. Not when I think I am so close to Naraku.
I despise him.
That voice inside my head says. I would understand why Kikyo would hate him. It's not like Naraku's the nicest guy on earth.
I haven't eaten much in two days. InuYasha usually caught fish whenever I ran out of Ramen to serve. But there's not even a river close by in this creepy forest. Suddenly I reach a cave. It's already dark outside, and so I figure I'd stay in there. I feel a slight pulse as I go in, and I think I just past a barrier. I don't really think about it, until I sense it.
The Shikon no Tama.
It's not one big thing. It's many small shards, and a big chunk. The shard that InuYasha had given me glowed in the cave, and I walk tentatively deeper inside.
I keep telling myself to be brave, but without InuYasha, or anyone else, I really feel scared. I cry again at the thought of InuYasha. That seems to always happen. I push the thoughts back once again, or try to anyways, as I continue going, the jewel feels like it's getting stronger.
This might be Naraku.
I wonder if I'll die trying or something…
I sigh, and I continue.
"Kagome…"I hear a low voice say. I squint my eyes to try and see who's there, but a flashing purple light confirms that it's Naraku with the tainted jewel.
I blink a few times, getting used to the lighting in here, until I fully see Naraku. But I see another thing next to him. It's Koga, lying on the floor with his two legs cut off. I guess he got Koga's shards as well. I feel even more scared, seeing as there really is no one that I can turn to now. I swallow and I try to take my fears down with it, but it's not working. I reach for an arrow and I pull it back against my bow.
"A bit pitiful, just coming here by yourself so recklessly, Kagome." Naraku says, smirking. I don't really see anything funny about this, but then again, it's Naraku. I glare at him, but I say nothing except let go of an arrow. It cuts his hair, and I notice that he doesn't have a barrier around him. I glare harder, because he probably thinks I'm too weak for a barrier or something. I take out another arrow, as one of his tentacles shoot for me. I quickly duck just in time, but the tentacles takes my quiver of arrows away from me. I quickly crawl away, and I jump as I see another few more tentacles. I continue ducking as I hear him speak.
"You must be very eager to join InuYasha. Why aren't you letting me help you?" He taunted. I stifle another tear, and that makes me too slow as one of his tentacles reach for me, and pierce into my stomach. I gasp for breath as he pulls it out, and blood automatically spills everywhere. I feel anger and terrible pain, when Tetsusaiga pulses.
I turn to it, and I un-sheath it. The sound reminds me of all the times InuYasha would pull it out, except I have no powers to transform the Tetsusaiga, let alone do any Wind Scar or anything. But the rosary pulses too, and that's when I wonder if InuYasha is still here. Naraku stares at me, doing nothing, and it creeps me out. It's like he's planning something as he watches me being tortured and slowly dying in front of him.
I turn my attention back to the rosary. It's not pulsing anymore. I can feel myself dieing, but I don't know why I haven't yet. I feel a sudden hate for Naraku. Well, more than usual. I'm guessing it's Kikyo's hatred.
I'm dieing anyways. I guess I will join InuYasha soon. So why not… just…
I take the Tetsusaiga and pull it against my bow. I have one shot. Only one. But if Kikyo really is a part of me, I think I can do this. Plus the fact that I put the sacred jewel shard inside the Tetsusaiga. Naraku chuckles as he sees me pull it shakily. He's still standing there, probably thinks I can't do it, until he senses it. The Tetsusaiga glowed pink, from the sacred aura that both me and Kikyo emit. He frowns, and now sets a barrier, and floats in the air. I'll try anyways. Maybe it'll do some good.
I hate you… Naraku. Kikyo thinks inside my head. Quick flashbacks of Kikyo's memories begin to appear, but it was only for half a second, tops. A tear drops as my vision begins to blur.
I love you… InuYasha. I take one last breath, as I let go of the arrow. A flashing pink light comes, as the rosary around my neck breaks. I wonder why, until I see they have changed into adamant, and went towards Naraku as well. The pink light is still glowing, too bright for me to look at. I don't know if that's the jewel, or the barrier…
But as the light glows, I feel a sign of happiness. InuYasha really was here with me. That's how I got those adamant… as it faded, my vision blurred a bit more. It suddenly makes me realize I'm in a miracle, seeing as I'm still alive. I see many of Naraku's remains, but the Shikon jewel's there. I reach for it, my strength is weakening, I know. I struggle, and I grab it. It becomes untainted, and I feel a hint of sorrow. Somehow, the jewel is now whole again. This means that Kohaku is dead. I bite my lower lip. I have to quickly make a wish… before I really do die. It's already surprising I'm still here, I'd better not push my luck.
But what to wish? And how to wish it?
……………………………………………………………
I blink. I guess the wish followed through. I'm surprised that I remember everything still. I look down at the well, and at the yellow backpack that's in my hand. Suddenly, a sound appears. A voice I hear, that happens to reply a question I asked.
"No, No, and NO!" was the half demon's reply. "You aren't going back to your time!"
-----End of Kagome's Point of View, and Beginning of InuYasha's.----------
"No, No, and NO!" I replied. "You aren't going back to your time!" No way am I letting Kagome go again. She just went a few weeks ago… I look at her face, and she seems… happy? Shouldn't she give me that look that tells me that she's about to 'sit' me or something? She puts down her backpack and continues the smile, with tears in her eyes. Now I know something's wrong.
"Why the hell are you crying?" Kagome steps forward.
"InuYasha…" I hear her say. She hugs me… well, more like she pounced onto me. I blink a few times and hug her back lightly. I feel myself blush.
"Kagome…" We pull away, and I look at her with a frown. Kagome smiles and touches my rosary. Then she looks at my Tetsusaiga, and back up. I look down at her with a raised eyebrow, and she laughs.
"You're here InuYasha…" Kagome says. That gets me off guard, but I smile anyways.
"Of course I'm here, idiot." She glares at me playfully, and I can't help but put up cocky smirk to show her. She smiles and picks up her yellow bag, I frown, thinking that she's going to still go through the well, but it surprised me when she comes towards me. She walks pasts me, towards the village. I turn around and stare at her, and she glances back.
"Well? Are you going to stand here the whole time?" She asks me. I wiggle my ears, making sure I heard right, and she giggles.
"So… you're not going back?" I ask. Kagome shakes her head.
"No. I'll listen to you, for once. You deserve that much, right InuYasha?" Kagome replies. I smile and walk with her back to the village. On the way back, Kagome seems to be really enjoying my company. More than usual. Suddenly though, she looks at me, and gives me a serious look on her face.
"I sensed a jewel shard inside the well…" She says. I frown.
"That's the reason why you didn't go through the well?" She shakes her head, and I get confused.
"No. I didn't want to go down, because I love you, and I want to stay with you." I gape at her. That's all I can do, besides blink a few times. I didn't even remember to breathe until my lungs told me that. "So surprised? You love me too, don't you?" She says. I feel myself getting hot in the face, and I guess I'm blushing. She smiles and me and takes my hand.
"Just don't do anything reckless, or go off killing yourself, okay?" She tells me. Now I really wonder if something happened to her.
"Like anything will kill me." I reply. Kagome looks unsure, and I wonder why. Maybe she had a bad dream or something. "I'll always be here, stupid." Kagome looks at me with shining chocolate brown eyes.
"That's good. That's all I need to hear."
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IT'S NOT OVER YET!
There's still more! -nodnod-
But for right now... let's thank my wonderful reviewers:
inuchik01 - dark.kagome.demon - tiny-flames - Roshanta Redditt
NEXT TIME: Epilogue... the Last Chapter
Everything is done right? So... what now?
Ja!
Lizzy