Disclaimer: The characters of InuYasha are not mine; they are property of Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, Sunrise, and Viz. The following story is for entertainment and not profit.

Prologue: The End

Kagome felt hot tears slide down her cheeks as they stood looking down at the small village. She hadn't realized how much like home she had come to see it. Now it stood, devoid of life and being consumed by flames. She also shed tears for the old miko, Kaede, shot down by her own sister. Inu Yasha and the others had been forced to drag Kagome away from the old woman's dying body.

Naraku's insects stood between them and any chance of escaping. They were going to have to make their last stand here and now.

The sun was setting, but even the moon wouldn't light the sky this night. Naraku seemed to be waiting to continue his attack. It made her wonder if he knew about Inu Yasha's weak time or if it was just his evil luck. No, it couldn't be luck. It had to be Kikyo's doing.

Kagome wiped at her tears, this was no time to cry. This was the time to fight and to use her pain to give her strength. They would all have to be strong now.

Inu Yasha groaned inwardly, this was not how he pictured their final confrontation. His sword, Tetsusaiga, was going to be useless. It wouldn't transform while he was in human form. Their best hope was to last until sunrise, but from the looks of things, their chances were slim. He looked to Kagome; her scent had changed. The salt of tears was fading and quickly being overpowered by the anger that was radiating off of her. Shippo, too, turned to look at her, prepared to follow her lead to whatever end. Inu Yasha smiled at the little brat, he was braver than they often gave him credit for.

To his other side stood Sango, dressed for battle, with Kirara transformed and ready to carry her where ever she commanded. Inu Yasha noticed that she still looked tired, although she attempted to hide it. Ever since they'd lost Miroku she hadn't been the same.

The last rays of the sun disappeared beneath the horizon. Inu Yasha felt his demon blood receding. It wouldn't be long now.

Naraku was mindful of the change in his prey's scent, the undead bitch, Kikyo, had been right, this was the perfect night to attack. With the sweep of his hand the first wave of demons moved in.

Shippo and Kirara felt the demons approaching.

"Here they come." The small voice of the kitsune, loud in the oppressive silence.

Kagome slid the bow from her shoulder and nocked an arrow. She wouldn't be able to destroy them all in one shot, like Tetsusaiga, but she was determined to take out as many as she could. Sango released Hiraikotsu taking out multiple enemies with each throw, but still more came to take their place. Inu Yasha drew Tetsusaiga. Even as an ordinary sword, it could do some damage.

"Inu Yasha" The sultry voice wafted across the field like that of a siren. His eyes moved from the attacking demons to the lone figure standing across the field.

Kikyo stood with her bow drawn, an arrow aimed for him, framed by the burning village behind her. The hanyou's vision blurred as the image was overlaid by a similar one from his memory; only this time there would be no God Tree to save him.

Kagome caught Inu Yasha's movement from the corner of her eye. His arms fell to hang at his sides as his sword slipped from his fingers to lie at his feet. As she turned to see what had him entranced, her eyes landed on the undead miko as she released her fatal arrow.

"NOOOO!" Kagome's feet moved instinctively, placing her body between Inu Yasha and the impending danger. A searing pain ripped through her causing her to stumble in mid-step. Inu Yasha blinked as Kagome broke into his line of sight and reached to catch the falling girl. Her face was contorted in pain. His eyes flew wide as he noticed the arrow protruding from her chest, the feathered end still visible behind her. The school uniform she wore darkened quickly as her blood seemed to pour from the wound. Inu Yasha watched in horror as her skin grew pale and her eyes became glazed and unseeing. Rage welled up in him; he couldn't lose her, not like this.

Shippo had also seen Kagome stumble, pierced by the arrow that had been meant for Inu Yasha. The childish innocence left his eyes as they became deep red with rage; he would not lose another mother. An unfamiliar strength filled him, releasing a deadly ball of blue fox-fire. It tore through the cool night air, incinerating everything in its path as it raced toward its intended target.

Inu Yasha looked up from Kagome's dead expression to see Kikyo's body engulfed in flames and crumbling. He watched, emotionlessly, as her flesh returned to the dirt and ash that it had been formed from; her vengeance denied.

As the second wave of demons rushed towards the diminished group, Shippo leapt forward, his need to kill spurring him on. Nothing he could do would be able to bring his Kagome back, but he was determined to fight every last demon, even Naraku, himself to avenge her death. His mind clouded by his grief he realized too late that he had been out flanked. Weakened by his exertion, his forward momentum was halted as he was surrounded; his tiny body torn to pieces in the hungry jaws of Naraku's demons.

Inu Yasha was lost in his own thoughts as he moved Kagome's empty shell from where it had fallen, mindless of the actions of the small kitsune. Picking up his discarded sword, Inu Yasha's anger found a target to focus itself on. Rising quickly to his feet, he took off towards his goal with more speed than he expected from him human form. With skill and strength he had only thought he possessed as a hanyou, Inu Yasha dodged and struck at the attacking horde.

Sango saw her enraged friend charging the field and was quick to spring into action. She didn't know where the others were only that Inu Yasha was going to need help. Kirara carried her parallel to his charge, so she could use Hiraikotsu to widen his path and keep the demons from crashing back in on him.

Single-minded in his purpose, Inu Yasha failed to notice the help of the demon exterminator. Like the drawing back of a curtain, the sea of demons seemed to part bringing his prey into sight. Naraku stood unafraid of the pathetic human that dared to challenge him. Continuing him head-long rush forward, Inu Yasha was caught by the spider-like legs that rose from the other half demon's back. Tetsusaiga dropped from his hand as the bones there were crushed. Naraku let out a low laugh as he pulled his captive closer.

"As a half-demon you could not kill me; what made you think that you would fare any better now?" Using his demonic strength and reflexes, Naraku crushed Inu Yasha's windpipe before he could respond. The evil hanyou smiled as Inu Yasha realized that he could no longer breathe. Continuing to squeeze the pitiful neck in his possession, Naraku let out another malicious laugh as he heard the sickening snap of bone.

Sango watched as Inu Yasha's body sagged in the grip of the vile hanyou. Turning Kirara towards their new target, Sango forgot about the demons that surrounded them. It was a fatal mistake. With all her attention focused elsewhere, the lesser demons saw their chance. Kirara threw her rider as Naraku's minions sunk hungry fangs into her side. The fiery cat fought back, biting and clawing at anything she could catch.

Sango's body landed hard, though her physical pain barely registered as she watched the bloody, mutilated body of her oldest friend plummet to the ground. Her first instinct run to her aide, but she knew what the pain in her legs meant when she attempted to move. The bones had broken in her fall. The pounding of her heart filled her ears so that she nearly missed the approach of Naraku's soft footsteps. Crouching before her, he smiled at the scent of her pain. It was sweet and spiced with fear as he wrapped his fingers around her slim throat. As his grip tightened, Sango felt her lungs begin to burn. Naraku watched as her eyes begged, hopelessly, with his for air.

The battle was over and he had won.