A/N: Thanks for the reviews guys. I really appreciate all the input, even the criticism. :0)

So you know the deal, I don't own Inuyasha...if I did I'd be rich...

o0o0o0o0o0o

Kagome ran as fast as her legs would carry her. She ignored the burning sensation running rampant through her lungs and in the backs of her legs. The only sensation that she wanted to quell was the one of her breaking heart and she knew that it could only be eased by helping her fallen comrade. She stumbled momentarily as one fickle memory seeped its way into her mind. Her heartache increased as she remembered the night it had first broken. That was the night Kikyo tried to drag Inuyasha into hell with her.

A single tear rolled down her cheek as she reached Inuyasha's side and collapsed to her knees mere inches away from the bright red of his fire rat kimono. She noticed almost immediately that his breathing was ragged, although she was surprised to see that it wasn't terribly labored. She had half expected his body to succumb to shock with the amount of damage it had been given but there was only a small pool of blood surrounding the young man that gave away his pain along with the sword through his body. She noted that his hair was a matted mess and despite his best efforts to pull off the tough guy act, there were tears in his eyes. Kagome felt more of her own salty tears slide down her cheeks as she reached out to wipe his away.

"Inuyasha? Can you hear me?" she cooed softly to the man, afraid he would die in front of her. She trailed her hand along his face and immediately noted the cold sweat that rubbed off onto her hands before she managed to remove the water from his eyes.

"Ka-ka...Kagome. Help...me...please," he whispered in response as he opened his eyes. They were still shining with the fever of life. He hadn't lost his will to survive, only the demon part of him that aided his healing process.

Suddenly, a sharp pulse rang through tetsusaiga causing Inuyasha to cry out in pain. Kagome grabbed the hilt of the blade and began pulling with all her strength. Her mind was whirling, but it had at least taken in the sharp change in light. At long last, the only remaining bit of the sun had hidden itself behind the horizon causing day to end and a night full of terror to begin for Inuyasha.

Kagome's arm twitched as yet another pulse ran through the tetsusaiga. The strain with which she pulled the blade caused the rest of her senses to dull and she never heard Inuyasha cry out as his hair turned black or as his teeth became normal human teeth. At long last there was a soft popping sound and Kagome removed the tetsusaiga from Inuyasha's torso as it transformed back to its rusted, katana state. Her face ran over her fallen comrades as she carefully laid the blade next to his body. She watched as a fresh coat of sweat leaked its way onto his paled face and her heart wrenched as he winced and whimpered with every breath. It wasn't uncommon for Inuyasha to feel pain, but it was uncommon for him to feel pain in his human state.

"Inuyasha," began Kagome again, trying to soothe him with her words alone, "Inuyasha, I'm so sorry."

"Wh-Why?"

She felt a lump rise to her throat as he spoke. It was clear that it was a large effort to get his voice to cooperate and the more he tried to force his voice to cooperate, the more the hole in his gut fought him. Kagome opened and closed her mouth several times, looking very much like a fish, before she felt a hand press gently on her shoulder. She immediately recognized the grip on Miroku and she turned to face him as she tried to put on her best courageous visage.

"Kagome, I think we need to get Inuyasha to the nearest village," stated the monk plainly. It was obvious to the miko that he was trying to act strong for her and she wanted nothing more than to hug him for it.

Kagome nodded in agreement and turned her attention back to Inuyasha. His breathing was becoming more shallow as the seconds passed. His eyes were starting to lose their shine and Kagome could've sworn that she could feel the exact amount of pain that he was experiencing as well.

"Ka-Kagome. I...need...to tell...you...this," began Inuyasha. There was a new passion burning in his voice and a swell of new found strength grew in his eyes as he continued. "I...l-l-love..."

"Shhh. I know Inuyasha. I love you too."

There was silence as Kirara approached the scene with Sango and Shippo riding on her back. Miroku stood in shock at the scene he had just witnessed. Never in all of his life would he have guessed Inuyasha to profess his true feelings for her, let alone with him present!

"Shippo, let's get off of Kirara and let Kagome and Inuyasha take over, ok?"

"Alright, Sango."

Inuyasha rolled his head to the side as he watched Shippo jump from the back of the fire cat. His hands and legs felt numb in comparison to the burning in his chest and stomach from Kagura's attacks as well as the impact of the tetsusaiga. His mind felt sluggish, although he felt strangely at peace knowing that his miko knew his true feelings. A faint smile crossed his lips as he rolled his head to look at Kagome. Even with the tears in his eyes, the tears that she was shedding for him, she still looked beautiful. He was happy he could tell her his true feelings in case this was the last night he lived on the planet. He knew inwardly that if it were his time to pass on, he could die in peace knowing Kagome loved him back.

"Inuyasha? I'm going to help you get up, ok?"

Inuyasha nodded and acknowledged the pain he was about to feel course through his core. He could feel Kagome's warm arms encircling him as she kneeled closer. She could feel her hair draping over his cheeks. His body felt shocked, however, as she pressed her lips against his sweetly before she began to pick him up.

Kagome's heart fluttered at the intimate contact she initiated. She didn't care that the others of her team were around to watch. All that mattered to her was getting Inuyasha onto Kirara's back to get him the help he needed. Her heart broke as she watched the pain flood Inuyasha's face. To his credit, he never once cried out, but she knew that was the one thing he wanted to do most.

Inuyasha was seated on Kirara's back with a lot of help from Kagome and Miroku as well before Kagome mounted the fire cat and wrapped her arms around Inuyasha's torso for support. She could feel him instantly relaxing into her touch and the sensation warmed her heart. She was happy that he was able to express himself so well in his human state. She just wished he hadn't gotten so badly injured.

A sharp jolt racked through Kagome's body as Kirara leaped into the air. She heard Inuyasha yelp at the sharp movement and she instantly leaned her head against his back to calm him.

"Kagome...thank you...for...everything...I...really do...love...you..."

Kagome smiled as Inuyasha spoke, but her heart fell as his body began to go limp. She was relieved, however, to see that he had not fallen into eternal slumber, but merely succumbed to the pain that had been crushing his spirit since the night began. She held him a little closer to herself as fresh tears streamed down her face.

Don't leave me Inuyasha. Just hold on!

o0o0o0o0o

A/N: Well? You like, you dislike? Let me know what you think!