In One Moment

Summary: Cancer. This six letter word can change the lives of anyone. So what happens when Kagome is diagnosed with it? Then, when she tells InuYasha that she has a few days to live and they can't be with him?

Author's comment: Eh. LAST CHAPTER LAST CHAPTER! Have I made clear enough? It's only the first week of school and I already have tons of homework. Of course that is partially my fault. My friends kept telling me, don't take four AP classes, but did I listen. No I didn't. Anyway, enough with my excessive babbling. On with the show, or story….

In honor of my best friend in the world, Lis, I am dedicating this story to her. I heart you, mi amore!

Disclaimer: Do I look like Rumiko Takahashi? That's what I thought! I do not own InuYasha.

It had been days since they had last seen Kagome. Whatever had happened between InuYasha and Kikyo had Kagome extremely angry.

Miroku, Sango and Shippo found InuYasha hiding in the forest. They told him, to find Lady Kagome and get the jewel shards she possessed, but, most of all, to tell her that she can never return. It was unfair to her. It was clear to them, that Lady Kagome loved InuYasha, but InuYasha clearly did not return the favor. For Kagome to keeping coming, was cruel.

'That's how it is.' InuYasha thought to himself, as he walked to the bone eater's well. 'I can never ask her. But Kagome should hear that from me. I'll go. I've got to go see her and bid her farewell…or else…' He stopped walking for a moment, but then continued his way after a second. 'I'll never be able to move on.'

InuYasha made his way out from the forest, his mind swimming with different thoughts of what to say to Kagome. He was in the clearing where the bone eater's well was. There, he stopped.

Kagome sat on the edge of the well, waiting for the hanyou to come. The wind blew lightly, causing her hair to fly around her face. Suddenly, she looked up and saw InuYasha staring at her. The sun shone brightly on her face as she gazed upon him with her chocolate eyes.

'…Kagome…' Whispered InuYasha.

The girl from the future stood up. Her fists clenched at her side, it seemed whatever she had to say to him was hard. No words formed in her mouth for a few moments, but the gift of speech finally returned to Kagome.

"Back in my own time…' She began, looking away from him. The ground had now stolen her gaze. "I thought about things. About you, about Kikyo, about…… me."

A sad solemn look appeared on InuYasha's face. "Kagome… I…" He started, but Kagome finished for him.

"I know. I finally understand your feelings and…" She paused, once again. "And I didn't think I could stay in this time any longer."

InuYasha kept a steady gaze on the girl. He desperately wanted to hug, but knew he couldn't. "Kagome, until I met you, I couldn't trust anyone. But you cried for my sake. You stayed by my side. I feel lighter with you. My heart is calm. But…" InuYasha now followed suit by also staring at the dirt around his bare feet. "I can't afford lightness or peace. Now when…"

'Not when Kikyo died chasing after me.' His thoughts finished for him.

InuYasha looked back up at Kagome, who was stilling facing away from him, with her eyes shut. "I have to protect her. I have to get Kikyo my life."

Kagome sat back down on the edge of the well. "I know. I can't compete against Kikyo. Because I'm…I'm still alive. I thought a lot about Kikyo. She and I are not all alike. Even if I am some reincarnation of her, I'm still not really Kikyo. My heart is mine. But, you know, there is still one thing we have in common. Just like me…" Kagome turned and finally looked directly into InuYasha's ember eyes. "She couldn't bear not to see you again."

InuYasha was taken aback when he heard Kagome say this. He, however, did not have long to think about it, for Kagome continued on.

"Somehow, if I think of it that way… That Kikyo felt the same way I do, it's easier. I don't have to hate her so much. So I dug up the courage to come and see you."

'Kagome." InuYasha thought, again. 'I wanted to see you, too. But…'

"I want to stay with you." Kagome told him. "I won't be able to forget you."

All InuYasha was thinking to himself. 'Kagome…I don't know how to answer.'

"InuYasha just tell me one thing." She said to him.

"Yeah…?" He timidly replied.

Kagome stood up and walked over to him. She took a deep breath before saying, "Can I stay by your side?"

InuYasha was shocked. After everything she had gone through, she still wanted to be with him. After all that, she was standing in front of him, asking if she could still be with him.

"You want to stay…?"

Kagome gave him a small smile. "Yes."

As she and InuYasha stared at each other, just being in each other's presence, Kagome quietly thought to herself. 'I can't even break the bond that he and Kikyo have. I know that. But InuYasha, I also know that it was no mistake you and I met. I can't leave you now.'

"InuYasha, let's go." Kagome said to him, grabbing his hand in her own.

"Yeah." InuYasha replied as he gripped her hand tighter. He smiled at her and she returned the gesture. Then she quietly said to herself. "It's alright to be light, sometimes. I want you to laugh. I don't what I might be able to do, but I'll always be near you."

'Can I stay by your side?' Those words echoed throughout InuYasha's mind. He would give anything to have Kagome say that again. It was ironic, when she had said those words, he was thinking about Kikyo; how he wanted to be with her and not Kagome. How ironic was it? Now Kagome was afraid of him; wouldn't even stand at his side. Oh, how InuYasha wished Kagome would remember him. He was desperate for her. He missed her soft, pale complexion. Her chocolate locks falling in curls around her shoulders. The way her brown eyes shown as she entered any room.

The forest was a blur as InuYasha leapt through the wood. He had caught on to Kagome's scent. There was the smell of salt, so he figured she had been crying, most likely from homesickness. He locked onto her scent and flew against the ground. His red kimono blew behind him, as well as his silver hair.

"Kagome." He whispered to himself. "How can I make you remember? What can I do?"

'…you cried for my sake. You stayed by my side. I feel lighter with you. My heart is calm.' Even when she was not near, Kagome still had that effect on him. Now, it was the opposite. InuYasha, the once cold-hearted half-demon, cried for her sake. Wept silent tears for her well being. In his mind, he was always by her side, giving her gentle guidance and protection. His heart was calm and he felt lighter with. All these effects returned when he first gazed upon her.

"Kagome, forgive me. I was not there, when you needed me most. Now, I need you, want you. Please find it in your heart to forgive me."

"Why do I need to forgive you?" A small voice asked from behind him.

InuYasha was too engrossed in his own thoughts, that he didn't realize he was standing in front of the sacred tree. Kagome was standing next to it. She rested gently against the trunk. She cocked her head to the right and asked again, "why do I need to forgive you?"

InuYasha ran his fingers through his hair. "Nothing. I wasn't thinking clearly."

"Oh." She looked down at the ground. There was that feeling again. It was an aching pain at the bottom of her stomach. It nagged against her heart. She had known this boy from before, but it was only a foggy memory. "I hate when that happens."

"Yeah." InuYasha replied. He took a step toward her. "So how do you like the Feudal Era?"

Kagome laughed. "It is hard for me to believe. How can I be 500 years in the past?"

"Allow me to explain." InuYasha told her. He walked over to her and placed his arm around her shoulders. Then he led her away from the tree and they walked down a dirt path that cut through the dense wood. Sunlight pierced the thick foliage, lighting the path for them. "Do you remember the Bone Eater's well?"

"Yes. That is the last thing I remember. I was in my own time. I hadn't been in the well house for sometime, so I decided to take a peek. Unfortunately, the siding was dry rotted and I fell in."

InuYasha couldn't help, but let out a small chuckle.

"Hey that's not funny!" She playfully hit him on the chest.

"I'm sorry."

Kagome rolled her eyes. "Yeah, whatever. Anyways, please continue with what you were saying."

"That well is a portal between our two worlds." He turned and looked at Kagome, to see the reaction on her face. Surprisingly, the look on her face was relatively calm.

She let out a small sigh before saying, "For some reason, I can believe that." Kagome turned her head and looked straight into InuYasha's amber eyes. "I can believe, I feel that I can trust you." Her voice dropped off a little. "I never feel that way with Hojo."

"Hobo?" InuYasha nearly growled. He remembered that little punk on the bike. "Who's he?"

"My fiancé." Kagome replied with some remorse in her voice. "We're going to be married in a few months."

"Oh….well…..Congratulations." InuYasha let his arm fall from her shoulders.

"Oh, please." She spat. "I don't want to marry him."

InuYasha's ears perked up. "What? Why did you say yes to him?"

"I never told anyone this, but I don't love Hojo. I only said yes, because I didn't want to be a burden to my family anymore. If I marry him, I know I'll be secure for the rest of my life."

"But there's more to life then just security." InuYasha told her.

"I know, love."

"You actually think I'd hand over the jewel shards as a ransom to get you back?"

"Of course you would, because that's what a lover would do!"

"But we ain't lovers! And without love the whole argument kind of falls apart!"

"Umm. InuYasha?"

InuYasha was startled at the sound of his name coming from Kagome's lips. Obviously, he face showed it, when Kagome looked up at him with confusion in her eyes.

"That is your name, right?" She asked him.

InuYasha smiled and nodded. "Yeah."

"Ok then. So where are we?"

They were standing on the edge of a small lake. The water lapped on the shore with a gentle splash. The sun's rays reflected off the water.

InuYasha briefly smirked as he gazed across the scenery. This had been one of Kagome's favorite retreats when they returned to the village. Hopefully, this would help Kagome remember. "One of your favorite spots."

"What?"

'How am I going to say this?' He thought to himself. Might as well be blunt. "You weren't going crazy when you said you thought you knew me before."

Kagome's mouth opened slightly. She sat down on the cool green grass. Her legs folded up underneath her as she sat. Her right hand went up to her face. "I don't understand."

InuYasha sat down next to her and tried to take one of her hands, but she pulled it away. "Please try. A few years ago, you fell down the bone eater's well, much like you did before."

Kagome slowly nodded her head slightly, indicating to him that she understood.

"Well, I was sealed to the sacred tree for fifty years and you released me."

"I did?"

"Yeah. Wait there's more," He stopped her from speaking. "The Shikon Jewel. The jewel of Four Souls was inside your body. A demon attacked you and the jewel appeared, however, by a freak accident," he couldn't help but roll his eyes on that last line, " the jewel was shattered into hundreds of shards and thus beginning our mission."

"Mission?" Kagome weakly replied. She had a headache that was growing bigger by the second.

"Naraku."

Kagome's eyes widened at the sound of that name. "What did you say?" She exclaimed.

InuYasha raised an eyebrow, unsure if he should say anything. "Naraku."

"Oh my." Kagome placed her hand on her chest.

"What's wrong?" InuYasha asked her, seeing the distress painted on her face.

"I used to have terrible dreams about….about this creature, demon. He was horrible. He killed so many people, destroyed some many lives. His name was Naraku." Kagome paused and closed her eyes, trying to calm herself. "I know it was a nightmare, but still. It felt so real." She looked at InuYasha with tears in her eyes.

"So you know all about him, then? How he betrayed the Priestess Kikyo and I, used us against one another."

Kagome slowly nodded. "Yes." She lightly touched his cheek. Her eyes fluttered at him. "Am I still just a reincarnation?"

InuYasha was taken aback. "You- you-, remember?"

"You saved me. All those years ago. You could have used the jewel to fulfill your dream and become a full demon, but you didn't"

Kagome stood up. She turned and took a few steps away, but then looked over her shoulder at him. "I knew from the moment I said yes to Hojo, I was making a mistake. I want to be with you." She smiled.

Standing up on wobbly legs, InuYasha walked over to her. He wrapped one arm around her waist and took her hand in his free hand. He pulled her close to himself; her back was against his chest. "You always knew? You never forgot?"

"You were supposed to come after me." She whispered, a few tears fell from her eyes. "Why didn't you?"

"I don't know. I thought…."

"I thought you wanted to be with Kikyo, again."

InuYasha kissed her cheek. "That wench is better off in hell." He told her, making Kagome smile. "I was afraid. You came to us, saying that you could never return. You talked of dieing and I panicked."

'I hope she's safe. I never want to see another women die ever again.'

Kagome turned, so that she was looking straight into his eyes. "I love you."

"After all I've done, you still…" InuYasha was broken off, by Kagome's lips against his. He kept his hand on her waist, but his other hand rested on the side of her cheek. He could feel her hand running through his hair. They broke apart.

"I missed that." Kagome laughed.

"So did I?"

"InuYasha, I have no intention of ever returning to the future."

InuYasha awoke to the annoying beeping sound of his alarm. He rolled out of his bed, his silver hair in a tangle mess. He hit the snooze button. He had the intention of sleeping a few more minutes, but he remembered what he had to do today.

Sighing, InuYasha stood up and walked over to his closet. He pulled out a pair of dress pants and a black buttoned up shirt. He closed the door and walked into the bathroom to take a shower. He got out pulled his wet hair into a low ponytail. With a nod of approval, he walked out the door.

A few days ago, InuYasha had celebrated his 737th birthday. He had survived all the trials of Japan. The Feudal Era, World War II, all of it. Sesshomaru was still alive, InuYasha had no idea where he was and frankly he couldn't give a dam. Sango and Miroku, unfortunately, did not share the same fate. InuYasha still mourned the loss of his friends, but it was so long ago. A long and distant memory.

InuYasha locked his door, before he left. He had specify bought this apartment, for it was close to the cemetery.

Before InuYasha walked through the black gates, he got a bouquet of red roses. The day reflected his mood, dark and miserable. It was one of those few days, where overcast covered the once blue skies. It threatened to rain and a brisk wind wept through, chilling everyone to the bone. Solemnly, he walked through the rows until he came to one. He placed the roses on the ground in front of it. Then he stuffed his hands in his pockets. He fell into a state of silence.

A bystander walked by, but couldn't help to stop with InuYasha was standing. Silently the man read the gravestone.

"Pity." He said. "Only seventeen. Too young to die."

InuYasha nodded in agreement. "Yeah. Cancer took her from me."

"Boyfriend?"

He shook his head. "No, we were destined to be something greater then just a teenager lust. I loved her, so much."

"I'm sorry." The man gave InuYasha a small pat on the shoulder and then walked away.

InuYasha sighed. Then he kneeled one knee.

Kagome Higurashi

Beloved Daughter and Sister

Forever in our hearts, forever in our souls

"It's been five Hundred years, Kagome. You have no idea how long, I've waited to say this." He clenched his fist. "I'm sorry I couldn't save you. I regret it every time I take a breath. I love you Kagome and I always will, until the end of time."

The road of life has many twists and turns. It never goes as planned. Unexpected events come into play and alter the course of time. In a moment a life is born, a life is loved, a life dies. In a moment everything can change, for bad or for good. No truly ever holds all the answers.

Yes, this is the ending. What meant to be a one shot turned out to become one of my most interesting stories, if not my favorite. I want to thank all who has ever reviewed, you kept me going, thank you. I don't know if I'll be writing another InuYasha fan fiction, I'm kind of short on ideas. So yeah. But if anyone likes Harry Potter, I have one story out, entitled My Ruined Life. Debating if I get anymore reviews.

Thank you to all! I will miss getting reviews from you and writing this story!