Chapter 18: Farewell

"InuYasha, InuYasha?"

"That's voice. It is Kagome. Where is she?" InuYasha finally came to as his eyes slowly opened. He found himself lying on the floor. As he slowly got up, he found himself surrounded by bright white light, as far as he can see.

"InuYasha!"

"Kagome. Where are you?"

"Over here, InuYasha."

InuYasha turned his body and saw Kagome appearing from the bright light. InuYasha ran towards her and embraced her. "Kagome, I am glad you are ok."

"InuYasha, listen to me. I don't have much time."

InuYasha release his embrace and looked within Kagome's brown eyes. "What is going on Kagome? Where are we?"

"InuYasha, you were hit by the blast caused by the brothers' attacks and my sacred arrow. It left you unconscious. Right now we are in the spiritual plane."

"What about the brothers?" asked InuYasha

"They have been destroyed." Responded Kagome

"You did it Kagome. You saved us and now we can go home back to your world. Let's go." InuYasha grabbed Kagome's hand to follow him, however she would not move. InuYasha turned his attention around, facing Kagome, and notice there was tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Kagome, what's wrong?"

"InuYasha, I can't go with you." Responded Kagome, as she released her hand from InuYasha's hand.

"What are you talking about?"

More hot tears filled her eyes as she took in a deep breath to explain. "To defeat the brothers, I had to use the last of my spiritual strength and by doing so, I can't return to my body."

InuYasha stared at Kagome's sad face, as anger and despair filled within him. "It can't be true?"

"I'm sorry InuYasha. I had to sacrifice myself to save you and the others."

"InuYasha, Kagome…wake up?" yelled a familiar voice echoing in the distance.

"My friends are calling for us." Stated Kagome.

InuYasha embraced Kagome in his warm arms. "I won't leave you. We have come too far to loose each other. I need you with me. We still have to finish our mission, collecting the rest of the jewel shards." Pain pierced within InuYasha chest. His heart was aching. He couldn't give up.

"Kagome, please wake up." The voices from Kagome's friends kept echoing around them.

Kagome could feel the warmth from InuYasha's body. She knew she would never feel his warmth again, hear his voice, and see his beautiful face. There was nothing she could do. She didn't want it to end. She wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. Knowing that maybe the vision of the future she foreseen was never meant to be.

Kagome closed her eyes tightly; trying to hold back the tears as she released herself from InuYasha's embraced and looked up deep within his golden eyes. "I'm so sorry. Please forgive me." And without another word, she lifted her head and kissed him with all the love she was feeling within her heart.

InuYasha moaned lightly as he pressed her up against him, taken in every taste of her lips. He wasn't going to let her go. He wanted time to stop, so he would never be parted from her.

Kagome was the first to release the kiss and pulled herself away from InuYasha. She placed her hand over her chest and looked up at him. "InuYasha, please tell my family, my friends, Sango, Miroku, and Shippo I love them and I will never forget them. Tell them to be strong and that I am ok. Please take care of them and protect them. Promise me you will live, be happy and stay strong, for me. You brought me happiness and love and I will never forget you InuYasha."

InuYasha bent his head, closed his eyes as tears filled them. He clinched his fist as pain filled his body with agony that made every part of his body scream. "I won't leave you Kagome."

Kagome closed her eyes. "Please forgive me. Now Go." With her final words, she pushed InuYasha towards the light that would lead him back into his body.

"Kagome, I love you." InuYasha's voice echoed as he disappeared in the light.

Kagome fell to her knees and wept. "I love you too, InuYasha."

"InuYasha, Kagome, wake-up."

InuYasha's eyelids slowly fluttered open. His eyesight was foggy, but they slowly cleared. He found himself lying on the floor, surrounded by Kagome's friends.

"InuYasha, thank goodness, you finally awoke." Stated Serena.

InuYasha turned his head sideways slowly and saw Kagome's body lying right next to him. "Kagome!"

"InuYasha, we can't wake Kagome up." Stated Akane.

Tears filled InuYasha's eyes and he slowly got up, and crawled over besides Kagome's body and embraced her. "Kagome is gone. She will never wake up." InuYasha looked at Kagome's pale face as hot tears streamed down his cheeks.

"What do you mean, she will never wake-up?" yelled Lita.

InuYasha took in a deep breath, forcing himself to speak, without breaking down. He promised Kagome he would be strong. "She used the last of her spiritual energy to defeat the brothers. She gave up her life to save us."

InuYasha tried to be strong, but he couldn't keep his promised. He pulled Kagome once more into a tight embrace as his cries echoed in the room. "I'm sorry Kagome. I broke my promise. I can't be strong when you are my strength to live."

Kagome's friends fell to their knees and their cries echoed within the room.

Darien placed his hand upon Serena's shoulder. "Serena, there might be a way to save Kagome."

Everyone turned their attentions towards Darien with confusion in their eyes, especially InuYasha.