Hi I'm back! Sorry about the late update. Had to work this weekend, but I do have the next chapter for you. And no this isn't the last chapter! ;) Enjoy!

I would like to but I don't own any of the Inuyasha characters!

Looking up from her hand and the jewel lying there, she met the eyes of Inuyasha. At Naraku's so called death he had returned to himself but the pain of loss was still clearly visible. He stared back for a moment before turning away. He had never bothered to correct his mistakes with Kagome and had in doing so lost what chance he had had of asking for Kikyo's return as a wish!

Kagome watched his retreating back. She couldn't just wish for Kikyo's return, while it might be an unselfish wish on her part, Inuyasha was not the only one to have lost someone they loved to Naraku. How could she look Kouga, or even Miroku and Sango in the eyes, how could she look the other villagers in the eye if she made such a selfish wish?

But there was a way to help all. She just had to word her wish right.

A hand on her shoulder pulled Kagome back to the present and the other people left standing in the clearing. Shippo's eyes were roaming over her, trying to see if she was hurt at all. Her baby boy was so grown up now. He had had to grow up much quicker than others. She couldn't bring his parents back without a direct wish for that. His eyes focused on her face again.

"Don't worry about me. I have a new family now!"

She wanted to cry. Here he stood trying to relieve her of her worries of him. She threw her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder, hugging him fiercely to her.

It was at this moment Shippo smelt something different about Kagome, but before he could take another sniff at it, they were interrupted by a big yell of joy. Kagome stepped back and turned to look. There was Miroku! He had pulled Sango into his arms and was spinning her around and around. The biggest smiles on both their faces. On the grass at their feet was the cloth and beads that had always covered Miroku's hand. Kirara was running around his feet, trying to avoid getting stepped on.

Their sheer joy put a smile on Kagome and Shippo's faces.

Kagome now knew what she needed to wish for. She wanted to give all her friends the happiness they deserved.

"Shippo, please step back for a second. Don't want you purified by accident!"

Snapping his head back down to look at her, he saw the small smile on her face and knew she was going to make a wish. So he moved off a little ways. His movement caught the attention of the others and they turned to look what was happening.

Kagome unshielded her aura again and filled the area with its presence. The Shikon no Tama flared in response to the holy energy around it.

In her mind Kagome heard a voice ask her what she wished for.

"I wish that all the injuries and deaths caused by Naraku and his Minions and henchmen will be healed so that those living can find the happiness they deserve."

As soon as she finished saying her wish a huge powerful pink wave rushed outwards from where she stood. As it moved over Japan, images flashed through her mind.

Kouga with a pack the size it originally was.

Sango's village filled with people.

A man looking like Miroku bending down to pick a flower.

All these and many more of different people, people she knew and others she didn't. The final image was of Kikyo stepping out of Kaeda's hut.

As the images faded so did the light. Kagome replaced the shield around her aura and turned to find everyone staring at her.

"You both should go home. Your families are waiting."

As her words started to sink in and realization followed, Sango burst into tears and ran to pull Kagome into a hug.

"Thank you! Thank you so much!" Were the only words to come from the nearly bubbling woman.

"Shippo, you might want to tell Inuyasha that someone is waiting for him back at Kaeda's village."

she said as she tried to calm Sango down. With a quick shake of his head, Shippo was off to tell Inuyasha what Kagome had given back to him, even after his rough treatment of her.

As Sango finally calmed down enough for Miroku to take over, she suggested that they make camp for the day. It would give everyone the opportunity to clean their wounds and have something to eat before they set out to where they wanted to go tomorrow.

Miroku simply sat holding Sango to him, savouring the feel of her in his arms, as Kagome went about starting a fire and fetching water from a nearby well to boil. As the water was done Miroku started cleaning Sango up.

All of a sudden there was a big crash and then a thump as someone stumbled into their camp. Inuyasha picked himself up again and ran over to Kagome. Picking her up, he brought her close to his chest and whispered,

"Thank you! I'm so sorry for what I've done, but thank you for this chance! Thank You!"

With that he sat her down and was off again. But this time it was only to find them food.

Shippo slowly approached Kagome.

"I think that is the most apologetic I have ever seen him."

"Me too. Well you don't look a gift horse in the mouth!"

Turning back to him, she pulled his arm as she sat down.

"I have something to ask and tell you." Clearing her throat a small blush spread across her cheeks.

"For many months now I have been seeing someone. After this battle he is taking me with him. I was... I mean... I... I would love it if you wanted to come with us. But I'll understand if you would rather go with the others or by yourself, I mean you are a young man now."

She turned her head away from him. Shippo couldn't decide if he should be worried about the man coming to take her away or happy at her wanting him to come along. Her embarrassment was so funny. So he settled for asking a question.

"Who are you going to go with?"

Once again her blushed deepened. She whispered something but too soft for even his demon hearing to catch.

"Who?"

"Sesshomaru!"

Shippo couldn't keep the shock from his face. Of all the people he thought it could be, he had actually expected to hear Kouga's name, but not Inuyasha's cold-hearted brother's.

"Why?"

And just like that her story bubbled out of her. How he had comforted her, taught her, had offered to fight with her. To say that Shippo was stunned was possibly the understatement of the century. He wasn't sure if the man she was talking about could be the same Sesshomaru that they all knew.

But as he prepared to ask some questions, Inuyasha returned.

In his one hand he held a boar and in the other a small demon.

"Feh! This one said he had a message from Sesshomaru! Why that bastard would send us a message is beyond me but hey!"

With that he dropped the small snake demon, he quickly got up and dusted off his robes.

"No more demons are needed to come to protect the Lord of the West or his castle. The issue with the Lord of the South has been resolved. A mating has been agreed upon. The Great Sesshomaru is taking the beautiful daughter of the Southern Lord as his Mate! All is well!"

With that he scurried off into the darkness.

Silence fell!

"Well that was unusual! I didn't even know the Southern Lord had invaded the West."

Miroku voiced the thoughts going through his mind.

"Feh, Sesshomaru with a mate. Poor demon!"

Only Shippo realized that shock and hurt in Kagome's face, before it disappeared behind a mask of indifference.

"Kagome, are you ok?" he quietly asked her.

She turned empty eyes to him,

"It always happens to me. You'd think I'd learn."

With that she got up and walked to Inuyasha.

"I need a favour please."

"Feh, can't it wait till morning women?" but as he looked up into the expressionless face, he felt a twinge of worry. This was not Kagome.

"Also good."

She stepped away from him and walked to the edge of the clearing. Looking over her shoulder,

"It was a great honour to have met and fought at your sides. Thank you and good bye."

As quick as a flash and before what she said could be taken in, she had disappeared in a flash of light, leaving a stunned group staring at the spot where she had been seconds before.

Moments later a small flash was seen near the Bone Eaters Well, but none went to investigate. Kagome turned to look at the village spread out below her. Drawing in her final breath of fresh air, she turned back to the well and jumped in. Unbeknownst to her, tears were running down her cheeks. With a final flash of light the clearing was as empty and silent as before.