Author's Note: It took everything I had to finish this installment. It is the last. Please DO NOT COMPLAIN ABOUT IT. My all was not in this installment, but I felt that loyal readers deserve the end that was long overdue. Have a good break and safe New Year.

Mischievous Female

Chapter 57

THUMP THUMP THUMP

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Kagome knew as she now stood in front of Lord Inutaisho that her life was forfeited. She knew that as she stood in the grand ballroom that her life would never be the same. The howling winds pour in from the windows, blowing and screaming with pain and sorrow. The rain continues to fall washing away the blood from the grounds. She had to kill many guards to ensure her success and death. She had to be alone when she face Lord Inutaisho; no guards, no royal family, no one.

She was alone in this fight because that was what she was meant to do. She had betrayed those who cared for her in turn she must protect them and let them live their lives while she might lose hers.

Why should she lose her life? She could fight and win Lord Inutaisho as he walks towards her with his hand glowing a sickly green. She probably would win, but how could she face Sesshoumaru and one day tell Kyoto how she betrayed the people she loved so dearly. How could she face such a challenge?

Kagome charges Lord Inutaisho hoping to gain the advantage of being on the offensive first. She slashed and cut while Lord Inutaisho dodged every attack gracefully.

"You are not thinking logically and rationally, Kagome," Lord Inutaisho teases.

Kagome does not answer her taunt instead she keeps slashing and cutting. Her mind was not focused on his taunts, but his body that remained undamaged. Then again, he was right, she was not thinking logically. She was throwing her sword at him like she was an amateur.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP

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Suddenly Lord Inutaisho stops and sniffs the air delicately with his nose. Then he smiles secretly to Kagome who stands breathing harshly against her clothes.

"It would seem that your mate is approaching the gate. Time for the finale."

Lord Inutaisho disappears from Kagome's sight and that was when Kagome felt the white hot intensity of something searing through her stomach and inside organs. Her eyes bulge from her head and something coppery dribbles from her mouth.

"I enjoyed playing with you, my dear," Lord Inutaisho speaks, "but I enjoy playing with my son more."

"You mean Lord Sesshoumaru, DIE INUTAISHO!!"

Kagome takes her sword and thrusts into Inutaisho's stomach, fast and hard. It was time for one reign to end and another to begin.

It was time for life to end as well.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

THUMP……………..THUMP……………….THUMP

Chapter 58

Her bloodied body lay on the cold floor of the ruined castle. Her fight ended and her body suspended. The battle won but at what cost? The guardian that betted it all; lost it all for what?

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Those golden eyes that broke down all my barriers and ultimately led to my downfall. Closing my eyes forever would end all the pain and he would call me weak for it. Those golden eyes that makes me feel so vulnerable and powerful at the same time.

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Her black hair matted together with blood, sweat, and dirt. Her clothes tattered on her body. Black marks on her fair, pale skin. Once rosy lips are blue and chapped. Angry scratches resided on her arms, legs, and exposed torso. Dry tears pave a trail down her cheeks.

She lies unmoving; barely breathing.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

THUMP…………………………………………………………..THUMP

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I wanted someone to love. I wanted Kyoto to have parents unlike I had. I wanted to be with Sesshoumaru.

His golden eyes. I don't want to leave. It hurts so much!

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Time ticks away as Kagome's lifeline becomes shorter and faint. Three hideous females with one removable eye holds Kagome's life string in their grimy hands with huge, dented scissors in one sister's hands.

"It is time."

"She has served her purpose."

"Kami, watch over her soul."

The scissors itch closer and closer until the hand closes on the string.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

The body of the dying female lays motionless while Sesshoumaru walked closer to her. He is almost there when a black barrier is erected over her.

"My dying gift to you, Sesshoumaru, if I can't have her then no one can."

Lord Inutaisho dies and his body disappears.

Sesshoumaru is forced to watch his mate die without anyone to help her. Rage consumes Sesshoumaru as he tries to break through the barrier but it's too strong. He continues to beat until his legs give out from the ended battle and no energy is left within him. Then he sees a black hooded figure on one side of Kagome and three hideous things on the other. Sesshoumaru knew who they were.

"Death. Fates."

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THUMP…………………………………………………………………THUMP

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

A graveyard is in view, miles and miles of graves and tombs. Fog casts an eerie effect over the empty gravesite. The ground cannot even be seen because of the fog. No sky and no stars and no moon to light the path.

A faded soul wonders the graveyard; it has no face or figure. It is not completely dead.

The bottom of the figure can be seen.

A hooded figure in midnight robes appears from the air. A silver scythe poised in his skeleton hands. There is no face that can be seen because of the hood that drapes over its eyes. A soul bag is on the waist of the mysterious figure along with a sand clock which sand is almost to the bottom.

The torso of the figure can be seen.

A few grains remain until it is completely empty and the soul can now be shown to Death. It waits for the figure to appear completely. It raises his scythe; prepared to bring it down.

It is time.

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"KAGOME!" Sesshoumaru yells, "KAGOME!"

She is becoming invisible, the end is too close to prevent.

"KAGOME!"

Kagome mouths a single word.

With each yell, his heart breaks a little more knowing that Kagome is too close to the other side to ever bring back.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Death slices.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

The Fates cut.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

TH-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Sesshoumaru stood over his dead love with Tensaiga in his hand.

She will live because he needs her to live.

No glow. No nothing.

"What purpose do you have sword?"

The useless sword is cast amongst the shadows.

Chapter 59

Three Days Later

"Lady Kagome was an orphan in Edo," Lord Sesshoumaru began in the royal gardens before a crowd and facing a pyre, "without people to care for her. When people failed her, the rulers should have taken care of her, but they did not until it was too late.

"She died a warrior for her land, a selfless woman who gave her life for Edo and our daughter, Kyoto. She killed the poison that was corrupting Edo. She killed the previous lord---Inutaisho.

"Edo has been in dark times, but those times will show brighter days.

"With thanks to Lady Kagome, Edo was prosperous as its rulers will shelter and provide for her subjects. Lady Kagome will be missed."

Lord Sesshoumaru took the flame to the pyre and watched the flames consume the wood and Kagome's wrapped body. As the flames burned Lord Sesshoumaru dropped to one knee, which was the ultimate show of respect for a dead warrior.

Lady Nami followed suit with little Kyoto sleeping in her arms by bowing lowly to the fires. Next was Inuyasha who dropped a knee and then everyone in the audience who dropped to their knees and touched the grounds with their foreheads.

Lord Sesshoumaru kept a tight control on his emotions. He was ruler now therefore; he had to remain strong for his subjects for Kyoto. Aisherturu.

That is what Kagome said as she died before him. She said it to him, but he was afraid to say it to her at the time, because it would have felt like goodbye and it was.

He looked to the blue skies and felt that the Kamis took away Kagome away before they could explore what they had.

The Kamis agreed. In 500 years, the lovers will have another chance.

END