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"I thought Kouga was your mate?" Kurama voiced from the sidelines.

Kagome started to laugh. She was almost to the point where she couldn't breathe. It was official: everyone around her was insane. "No, Kouga's not my mate." She shook her head sadly at the memory. "I killed him. He's been dead for five hundred years." Kagome walked towards the door, but stopped at Inu no Tashio when he spoke.

Kagome had a sad and far away look to her eyes, so he decided to say something more on her behalf. "Like I would let my future daughter get together with that moron."

Kagome rolled her eyes at him. At least now the sadness he had seen in her eyes vanished. "Right, like Sesshomaru is any better." Kagome scoffed and left the room. She left everyone staring at her with jaws dropped.

Inu no Tashio tisked his only living son, "You should have been nicer to her. I thought I taught you to never piss off a miko. Fool me once shame on me, fool me twice shame on you. Whatever she does now..." He shook his head in disappointment. "There's no one to blame but yourself." With that said he turned around and walked out on his son and towards the miko. He only hoped they would make it in time.

Chapter 13 – The Final Goodbye

Furious, Kagome ran. Outside she stopped dead in her tracks. She had no idea how she was going to save Inuyasha. If Miroku was here he would think up of something, but he too was dead. There was nothing she could do.

Kagome rounded the corner of the castle and there before her stood a massive crow. She cried out in fright and landed on her backside. Sitting there, she stared at the giant bird, and she yipped as it turned its fearsome head towards her.

This thing was huge! It wasn't a bird; it was a giant mass of feathers. The demon cawed, gaining her attention. She sat there with her mouth agape looking at the beast. Again it cawed, and she somehow managed to clue in that crow demon speech that specific caw equaled Inuyasha.

Or at least she hoped.

"Are you going to take me to Inuyasha?" Kagome got up and shouted.

She raced towards it as it cawed once more and nodded its massive head. She thought about how she was going to get on the demon, but she didn't have time to stop. She ran up the back of the bird's tail feathers.

The bird took flight with Kagome still trying to get seated. She settled for mid-back. She tried to get comfortable but the wind pressure was too much for her. She laced her hands in the feathers and held on for dear life.

She didn't care where she was going; all that mattered was that she reached Inuyasha before it was too late.

"Kagome!" She heard her name called and looked behind her. Inu no Tashio was gaining speed as he advanced towards her.

"So how am I supposed to save Inuyasha?" She cried louder than normal. The wind was howling about her distorting her senses.

"I thought you'd come up with something."

Had Kagome not been holding on to the demon with a death grip, she would have fallen to her death. They wanted her to come up with a plan? She wasn't made for thinking up plans; she acted on instinct. She groaned in her frustration because now she knew she had spent too much time with Inuyasha.

Kagome became aware of where she was. This was the exact spot where Naraku died. This was also the spot where the two lovers took their leave to hell. The only problem with that is Inuyasha was currently in a place worse than hell.

Just thinking about it made her sick to her stomach. Kagome peered over the crow and saw Inuyasha in a shimmering-like form. He stood there looking worse off than a zombie. She never knew her heart could hurt more than it already did.

"Inuyasha!" She screamed. Kagome stopped all rational thought. It seemed as if the crow was taking too long to land. Before she knew it the demon bird had landed and she was running towards him.

Everyone in the hall stood silently waiting and watching for what the ex-demon lord would do. Despite the fact that he was no longer their ruler meant nothing to them. Most had seen the results of his anger and none wanted to incur his wrath.

No one in the room made a sound until he snarled and flew from the room.

"We must go after them." Koenma told his entourage.

Yusuke almost dropped to the floor in disbelief. "You want us to go after them, are you insane? Have you lost your freaking mind?" He ranted to his boss.

"I'm sure Koenma has a perfectly legitimate reason for going after them." Kurama dutifully spoke up. Everyone turned to their boss and waited for his explanation.

"Of course," The small ruler coughed. "The ceremony is illegal, and it's your duty, Yusuke, to stop it."

"You want me to go running off after those psychos?" If it was possible, Yusuke would have flown over to his boss and strangled the living day lights out of him. "Are you crazy, or do you want me killed?"

Koenma shook his head, "You need not follow them; you need to stop them."

Hiei stood watching the turn of events with a slight smirk on his face. If everything went according to the thoughts in his head, Koenma would be dead by Yusuke's fury; then Yusuke would kill the girl and the world would be a happy place once again.

However, that was a pleasant dream, but that's all it was: a dream.

Hiei looked at his 'boss' and silently smirked as he watched the small ruler shiver.

"Do you feel that?" Koenma subconsciously held himself.

"I have the tinkle feeling again Urameshi, and this time it's a big tinkle."

"We have to stop them." Antsy, Koenma opened a portal. "This should take us to the energy." Without waiting for a reply he stepped in the portal.

Yusuke grumbled, he didn't like this one bit. "From the frying pan and into the flame..." He didn't know what was worse, the oil or the egg. "I think the frying pan is worse off."

Kurama glanced at Yusuke who was mumbling to himself but walked into the portal. Everyone emerged from the portal to find themselves at a base of a mountain, or rather what was left of one.

There before them stood the female and a ghost like figure of Sesshomaru. The similarities were there, but the major differences, aside from being dead, were the ears and no tail.

"Inuyasha," Kagome sobbed. She couldn't stand looking at him when he was like this. She stopped in front of him. "Come back to me Inuyasha. You've been gone too long." She didn't know if it was possible, but she tried. She wrapped her arms around him. She sobbed when they went through his form, but she didn't care because this was her Inuyasha.

She wasn't about to let him down again.

The tears she had been holding in poured out. She cried for not only what she had lost, but also for everything Inuyasha suffered.

She was about to touch him when a voice stopped her. "Stop there girl, or I will be forced to take action against you." Kagome turned slowly and glared tear filled daggers at the person that spoke.

She never hated anyone, except for Sesshomaru, but right now the child was ranking right up there with him. No one was allowed to say to her that she would not find a way to save her love. She was about to unleash her full fury and possible death on the child, but Inu no Tashio growled stopping her in her tracks.

"What are you talking about boy?" He snarled advancing towards them.

Koenma held up his hands as a peace gesture. "I'm sorry Sir, but continuing with this ceremony is an offense under code 4B, section 256C of the spirit realm. Anyone caught doing this criminal offense is punished by death."

Inu no Tashio smirked darkly. "You have two things wrong, little man. First off, this is not the spirit realm, and secondly I'm already dead. So go ahead, punish me."

Kagome smirked slightly as she watched the child open and close his mouth like a fish. The dead demon lord did have a point.

"You are correct about that one point, but I will also have to take in your female companion because she's an accomplice." Koenma pointed out.

"Touch her and I'll-"

"You'll what, kill me?" Koenma baited him. "Dead demons have no power."

"You might be right, but I'll be the one to slaughter you all before you can move." Kagome removed the cloak that was concealing her and placed her hand on the hilt of the sword. The power was an encouraging hum as it crept up her arm.

"Umm, why are you in your pajamas?" Yusuke questioned looking her over.

Kagome shrugged and slightly blushed. "It is comfort clothes, and I'd rather be comfy if I'm on a mission."

Yusuke looked at his boss, "So does that mean I can wear my p.js too to work?"

Koenma fumed, and everyone laughed. "Yusuke, you don't wear pajamas." Kuwabara reminded him.

Yusuke blushed and Kagome giggled, "Now that I would like to see."

Inu no Tashio growled and Kagome's smirk vanished. Instead she rolled her eyes. She was allowed to joke at someone's expense. She nodded her head at Inu no Tashio and resumed her 'work'.

"Inuyasha, come back to me." She walked towards him, her hand still on the hilt of her sword in case they attacked. The power that was coursing through her from the sword helped her gather her strength. Silently she thanked it.

She heard growling behind her and paid no attention to it as she concentrated fully on Inuyasha.

That's when she felt it. It was a pulse of energy. It started off so small that Kagome thought it was a trick played by her mind to make her feel better. But when the pulsing became larger and more powerful, Kagome looked into his dead eyes and saw the life slowly returning to them.

Kagome stood up on her tip toes and whispered into his ear, "Inuyasha, come back to us, come back to me."

She took a step back and watched as his form became tangible for a moment. For Kagome, this was the happiest day of her life. Inuyasha was returning to her. Finally, something was looking right again in her life.

"Kikyo."

Kagome's world fell.

She knew she looked like the old miko, but despite everything she silently hoped Inuyasha would see her. She also understood that Inuyasha thought he was dead, so it was only natural he called out her name.

"No Inuyasha, it isn't." Her voice was soft. Despite the pain she was going through, she couldn't be mad at him.

"Gods Kagome," Before she could register anything in her mind she was in his arms. She felt safe and loved. The tears didn't stop; they probably couldn't stop if she wanted them too.

She forgot how safe and loved she felt in his arms. It was a rare occurrence to feel them wrapped around her smaller frame, but it felt so good. Then as soon as it started he was a spirit again. "I'm glad you're back Inuyasha. I thought you were gone forever."

"What happened? Last think I remembered was going to hell, then nothing but darkness."

Kagome shook her head, "It doesn't matter any more. You're safe now, and that's all the matters."

"Kagome, I know that you like to be comfortable and all, but is it really necessary that you dress in your night clothing?"

Kagome smirked and shook her head. "You have a slave driver as a father. You should be proud." She nodded in the dog demon's direction. She moved out of the way to allow Inuyasha a better look at his father.

"Dad?"

Inu no Tashio was currently baring his teeth at the group that was ready to charge. At that word, he stopped and turned towards his son. Relief, joy, and sadness flashed in his eyes.

Kagome regained Inuyasha's attention once more. "Here, you left this last time you were here." She handed the sword over. The moment his hand touched the hilt, it became transparent like its owner.

Kagome sighed in relief. It was over. Inuyasha was saved.

"I'm sorry girl, but all of you will be taken into custody for breaking the law." Koenma said, safely behind the spirit detectives.

Father and son growled, and Kagome shook her head. "No your laws do not apply in this instance child. Seeing as he was dead before the barrier or your laws were created, he is exempt."

"There are no exceptions to any rule."

Kagome's hand had pulled out the sword. The blade was a pinkish red as it powered up her fury. "Do that and I will send you all back to the feudal era." Her tone left no hint of faking it either.

"You couldn't. You don't have the power to do that." Koenma's voice trembled a little.

Kagome smirked darkly as her whole body started to glow with power from the sword. "Watch me."

The spirit detective team took an unconscious step back. "Hey wench, when did you get the sword?"

All of Kagome's power receded and she smiled at her lost love. "It was a gift from your father. Do you like it?"

"Feh, I told you I was going to protect you. You have no need for a weapon."

Sadly she shook her head, "You're dead, remember?"

"Oh yeah. What about the rest of our group? Did Miroku and Sango get married and have a slew of children?"

Tears welled up in her eyes. "Not in this lifetime. Their lives were taken away from us."

Inuyasha hung his head low, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I wasn't there…"

Kagome allowed the tears to spill. "There's nothing you could have done."

"Shippo?"

Kagome made a small growl and her hand held onto the sword. Inu no Tashio shook his head. Inuyasha knew that meant that the young fox demon was dead too. Kagome's power was started to flare again, and everyone looked at Inuyasha. He opened his eyes wide, how was he supposed to know that the fox's death was a sore subject, he was dead before them.

"What about the jewel?"

His question knocked Kagome out of her trance. She perked her head up. "Oh there's one shard left, and it's safe. I have plans on getting it soon." Kagome looked at the child ruler who was quivering behind Yusuke. "There's nothing to worry about. It's all in the making."

Inuyasha nodded his head. He was about to ask another question but he felt something coming towards them at an incredible rate. Instinctively, he stepped in front of Kagome protecting her. A slight giggle escaped her lips. "I can protect myself now."

The winds howled and stopped in front of them. Kagome brushed her hair out of her eyes and glared at the ex-demon lord that stood in front of them. "You should have let sleeping dogs stay dead; especially when it concerns mutts."

Before anyone could comment, Kagome's sword and drawn and powering up. She snarled at the demon in front of her. "You have no right to speak, you filthy mongrel."

"How dare you speak to this Lo-"

"I wouldn't. However, you are not a lord anymore."

Inu no Tashio couldn't help but push them together for the last time. "Oh a lover's tiff! You know the makeup sex is great!"

Kagome turned bright red and glared daggers. "If you weren't already dead, you would be!"

Inuyasha stood in shock, his brain trying to process the intangible. "You and Sesshomaru are m-m-ma-together?" He couldn't find the strength to say the word.

Kagome didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Instead she settled on choking for the precious air she needed to survive. "Never, love. I stole Tetsusaiga back so I could save you, and became Lady of the Western Lands and dethroned your brother all at the same time. Seems like old times. We were always kicking his ass."

Inuyasha smirked. "Yeah. Thanks Kagome."

The elder brother, not taking the fact that they were bruising his ego so openly, pulled out Tensaiga. "Thank you father, now with this sword I can kill you all and have no regrets."

Inu no Tashio glared at his son. "You would destroy our souls so you can have vengeance?"

Sesshomaru smirked. It chilled them to the bone. "I have no family. I'm ridding myself of these impostors."

Kagome didn't know how the sword of life was supposed to kill them, but she figured it was something to do with them being dead already. She didn't want to find out. She allowed the sword to have full control of her as she blocked the attack. She felt time slow again as she saw the arc of the sword come down upon them.

She blocked the attack, and allowed her purifying powers to send Sesshomaru flying across the open field. "Hurry," Kagome panted. "Take your son and leave before it's too late. I will hold him off."

"No, I'm staying." Inuyasha said as he pulled out the sword.

"No, I can't risk losing you again. Inu no Tashio, take him now before you lose your son again. I will be fine. Just hurry!" Sensing her urgency, he nodded and grabbed his son.

"No, I have to protect her!" He fought against his father's hold.

"You will only render yourself killed again. I lost you once. I will not lose you again to your brother, who needs his thumb taken out of his ass."

Inuyasha laughed at his father's remark. "Be safe Kagome," He called out to her as he left her again.

A lone tear ran down her face as she smiled and blew him a kiss goodbye.

Sesshomaru howled in fury as his father and half brother left this world again.

Kagome turned back to her opponent and waited for his attack. Suddenly a cruel and cold smile half appeared on his emotionless features. "You know what this means right?"

"Inuyasha's resting in peace, and that's all that matters."

"By succession I am once again Lord over these lands."

Giving an indifferent shrug, Kagome stated, "I never wanted to be Lady of the Western Lands anyway."

Sheathing Tensaiga, his eyes started to swirl with red as his hatred and fury for the mortal in front of him consumed him. "This means you are trespassing on this Sesshomaru's lands. This is punishable by death, one that I will seek immediately." He unsheathed Toukijin and attacked.

Kagome could feel the dark power swirl about his sword. She could feel hers rise in power as it answered its call. She retreated into herself as she became the thing she hated most: a killing machine.

She could tell the sword was only playing with the demon lord. If she needed a metaphor, she would have said it was like a child with a new toy. The sword was being careless and allowed Toukijin to cut the side of her leg.

The wound healed instantly, but these were her favorite pair of sleeping pants. Now she was pissed. At first her swings were wild and full of rage. None of her attacks hit. She knew she would have to calm down first. She panted slightly, and she could see the slight strain appear on the demon lord's brow.

You would have to be strong and powerful in order to be around this amount of purifying power and not be killed. The mere radiation of it would kill a weaker demon, but here stood the demon lord with the power close enough for him to have it touch his face.

Kagome rushed the demon lord. He brought the sword up to block. He was pushed back slightly. His eyes widened in the slight realization that the human just might be able to best him. He hardened his eyes and vowed that this whelp of a human would never get the chance.

Kagome's eyes flashed a brighter shade of pink. "You underestimate me Sesshomaru." Her voice was husky and power laced. "Because, now you have lost." Before Sesshomaru could prepare to defend himself, Kagome poured more power into her sword.

The sound of metal cracking was loud and deafening. Before he could pull back, Kagome stepped away. Toukijin snapped in half and landed blade first in the ground above him.

"Seems like I win." She grinned. "Come and see me when you get a new sword, and I'll be happy to play with you again." Kagome smirked and started to walk away. She knew if she didn't leave now she would be a dead girl.

She had made it to the trees before his voice carried out on the wind towards her, "Where do you think you're going?"

"Away." She sheathed her sword back at her hip.

"You are not going anywhere filth!"

"How about I throw a stick and you go away?" Kagome sneered. 'Yes, insert foot into mouth ….. now.'

Before she could wait to be killed she ran. She was glad she still had some power left over from the fight because she used this to help her run. She looked back and saw that he was fast approaching. What was the saying, never look back or you'll end up dead? Well that's the truth anyway.

Kagome stumbled along the way. She had no idea how she was going to get back, let alone shake Sesshomaru off her trail. She was running out of options, and now she was out of space to run. Fifty feet in front of her was a cliff.

She peered over the edge and saw that they were so high up that clouds obscured their view. She scanned for another way down, but was trapped as Sesshomaru tore through the forest.

'Great, I'm going to die. But it was well worth it to see him go down. I saved Inuyasha, so my life wasn't that much in vain.'

"Nowhere to run, human," The demon lord snarled.

Kagome slowly and unknowingly kept creeping her way to the edge of the cliff. She watched as the faster demons of the spirit detective group watched in horrid fascination at what would be the outcome of this.

Kagome backed her foot up and her heel was now off the ledge. She turned and glared at Sesshomaru. If she was going down, she was going down fighting. "You're just jealous that your father loves your brother more than you. Your father doesn't even recognize you as his son, you're not even worth the time to say goodbye. I wonder, when you die will he be there to greet you, or will he have forgotten all about you?"

Kagome advanced him, and he snarled. She now had a good ten feet between her and the ledge. "You will die for that comment human."

Kagome's eyebrow perked up, "Oh, which one was that? The one where you're trash, or the one where you'll end up alone and miserable?"

The demon lord's eyes were hard and cold. "You're between a rock and a hard place. Either way you die by my hand."

Kagome looked back at the ledge, "You know Sesshomaru, I like to take the path never travelled." Kagome smirked at him and took off for the cliff.

Kagome's feet touched the edge and she pushed herself with all her might. She cackled slightly as she foiled his plans again and rushed towards her death at the bottom of the canyon.

Note: hides I'm sorry people; TCP/IP and Server were killers for work and energy. Plus my muse left me, and I TRIED to write…but it wasn't the same. Please forgive me and enjoy the chapter! It's 12 pages long so I made it up to you! Remember to review, and enjoy the cliffhanger! Yes I do know I was cliché happy!

Beta: -hisses- my head hurts. I should charge you a dime for every comma I fixed. Oops, I forgot to read Dori's e-mail… -disappears-

Bluespark: Actually, Ino no Tashio is the name they used in the third movie, so I'm going with that. I don't know what they would call him in the English version; I have yet to watch it in English.

Shabopo: Okay in the movie, the sword was originally kept in Kagome's store house, and it flew down the well. So I took that concept and twisted it into my own little piece of insanity. Now, when she stomped her foot into the ground sending a burst of power, she was actually calling to the sword. She didn't know it until it arrived. As for being ruler .. naw… that was only for the moment. You'd think that being a ghost after hundreds of years you'd develop some type of "power". It's also been proven that restless ghosts have been known to pick up things. Then I'm getting all metaphysical, so I'll say just let the willing suspension of disbelief wash over you, and enjoy the story without over analyzing things. It makes for a much more enjoyable read, and no headaches at the end!

I would reply more, but I gave you the chapter. As for the pairings I'll let you figure out who it's NOT going to be, and then you can check them off your list as we go along. If anyone has read my other stories then you'd know. But this authoress is not saying one word. If you have any major questions concerning characters (not pairings) or plot holes let me know! Yes is Inuyasha is gone again .. this time for good.