A/N: phew!! took me a while to write this one. i shud warn you all...i tried a "fighting scene" kind of thing...but i SUCK at that stuff. so do me a fav, and look passed the fighting and remember the storyline. the storyline is still good. fighting scenes, bad. storyline, good!! just warning ya...

Disclaimer: not mine

Summary: Inuyasha is presented with a one-time opportunity – to become a full demon. With his childhood years, not to mention the first ever reason for hunting down the Shikon Jewel in mind, his choice seems apparent – a no-brainer. But there's a catch. Becoming a demon will mean giving up the life he knows now. In fact, only he will remember his life as a hanyou, while others will now only know him as Inuyasha the youkai. Is he willing to give everything and everyone up?

Chapter Fifteen

By the time Inuyasha saw Naraku's castle in the distance, his chest was killing him. The wound – even though it was in the process of healing – was more damaging than he thought. But he couldn't blame Kagome for it. She had thought him to have betrayed her. Her first inclination was going to be to kill him. He had already been down that road with Kikyo.

Only one person to blame…

Inuyasha was going to slaughter him. Then maybe, if he was lucky, Naraku would regenerate himself and come back together…so Inuyasha could slash him to pieces again. It didn't matter if he had the jewel or not, he was going to use every ounce of his strength to defeat him once and for all. This wasn't just for him anymore. This was for Kikyo's death, for Miroku's Wind Tunnel curse, for Sango's pain over Kohaku's erased memory, and more importantly, for Kagome and her broken spirit. Inuyasha would kill him for everyone.

When he approached outdoor castle gates, he could see a demonic aura around the building. He had to be inside.

Momentarily, Inuyasha wished he was still a hanyou. Tessaiga would come in handy in the battle he was about to engage in. But in this state, he couldn't even hold it. He would have to depend on his own strength now. And while he didn't doubt himself, he knew it would be difficult against an already powerful Naraku with a completed and tainted Shikon Jewel in his possession.

Here goes everything. He ran through the doors, and yelled: "Naraku!"

The demon materialized before Inuyasha's eyes at his call. He no longer looked like a comrade as he had when he first entered his youkai world, but looked like the same Naraku that ever inch of him despised. Naraku smirked.

"You rang Yash?"

"I hope you've fucked some slut already, because if not, you won't get another chance."

"And why is that?"

Inuyasha growled. "Because I'm going to kill you."

Naraku chuckled, before showing Inuyasha the jewel. It was black as the night. "Forgot that I had this? Don't you know what this jewel does?"

"What does it matter? I won't let you use it!"

And with that, Inuyasha lunged out and slashed his outstretched arm. The now dead limb fell to the floor, leaving a bleeding stump where his arm used to be. Naraku didn't seem the least bit phased. He only chuckled again.

"I'm disappointed Yash, if that's the best you can do."

Inuyasha looked down at the arm just in time to see it spring up and reattach itself to Naraku in an instant.

"My turn." he said furtively.

Using his now fully functional hand, he pressed the Shikon No Tama into his chest. His flesh absorbed the jewel, and Inuyasha saw it glimmer once before he couldn't see it anymore. Damn.

Naraku's demonic aura grew as his power increased. He basked in his new strength before drawing a sword from his sheath.

Inuyasha hadn't even completed his blink before Naraku had sped towards him, sword raised. He managed to make it out of the swipe in time to not suffer any major damage. But he had gotten some good leverage on his right arm. He could feel the sleeve of his shirt being soaked with his blood. He touched his wound, until his fingertips were coated with red.

He turned to face Naraku: "Blades Of Blood!"

Naraku avoided his attack swiftly, charging for Inuyasha again, ready for a second strike. Inuyasha dodged it barely, but landed into Naraku's waiting fist. With a groan, he fell onto the ground.

Naraku grinned. "Come on Yash. You're no fun this way."

Inuyasha stood up slowly. Naraku watched him as he caught his breath. Then, letting go of his sense, he let his youkai take over. He could feel the pulsations of his blood rushing faster in his veins, his fangs and claws growing longer, eyes reddening with rage.

"Hmm." Naraku said. "Mildly impressive. Let's see how you do in this form."

Naraku came after him again. Inuyasha stood there, timing his attack. Slipping out of the way at the last minute, he had two seconds to get a perfect back attack.

"Iron Reaver, Soul Stealer."

Perfect hit. Naraku fell forward onto the dirt, sliding a few feet before coming to a stop. Inuyasha glared at his still body, and prepared to attack him again.

Coating his fingers in his blood again, he cried: "Blades Of Blood!"

Naraku was up in a second, and he deflected the attack with his sword. Inuyasha gasped. Not only was that one of his stronger attacks, but his first one had left a barely there scratch on his chin. Naraku chuckled.

"You just don't get it. I'm invincible. You couldn't possibly defeat me. Kagome put up a better fight that you, although–" he smiled wickedly. "–I won that fight as well."

Inuyasha clenched his fists momentarily before lunging at Naraku, determined to rip his head off. But before he could, he spotted a sword raised above Naraku just seconds before it came crashing down on him.

Naraku must have sensed the attack before Inuyasha had, because he moved out of the way. But he still got the bulk of it, a huge gash now in chest.

Inuyasha saw Sesshomaru step into the clearing, his sword – Tokijin – now soiled with blood.

"Sesshomaru."

"You're right Naraku." Sesshomaru was saying. "Yas can't defeat you. Not on his own at least."

"And you're going to help him?" Naraku grunted out, his hand pressed against his wound that was now gushing blood.

Sesshomaru nodded. "Yes. I am."

"Thanks Sesshomaru." Inuyasha murmured, words he thought would never leave his mouth.

"Thank me when this villain is dead."

Naraku snarled. "I'll kill you both."

"No you won't!"

The new voice was commanding and powerful. And with it, an arrow came sailing down at rocket speed, straight for Naraku's already open flesh. He gagged at the contact, letting out an anguished groan. But Inuyasha didn't watch the demon fall. He turned to look at where the statement had come from, wondering if his suspicions were true.

And they were. Kagome stood on one of the gate pillars, a new fire in her eyes.

"What are you doing here Kagome!" Inuyasha yelled.

"I'm coming to tell you…" she paused, then looked him in the eye with a triumphant smile. "I needed to tell you that I remember!"

---

The words were like music to Inuyasha's ears. He glanced at Naraku for a second. He was obviously still in much pain, but was recovering quickly, beginning to pull himself off the ground. He faced his brother.

"Can you hold him off for a while?"

"Don't be long." Was all Sesshomaru said before charging for Naraku's weakened body.

Inuyasha turned to Kagome, and ran towards her, just as she jumped down from the pillar. She ran to meet him halfway, tears of joy in her eyes. They embraced each other, and he held onto her tightly. She nuzzled her face into the front of his shirt, before pulling back.

"Inuyasha!" she said excitedly. "I remember! I remember everything!"

Inuyasha could only look at her in muted disbelief, a smile on his face "You…remember…"

She nodded. "I remember it all. I fell down a well, and you were attached to a tree. I broke the arrow and you fought a centipede. I broke the jewel, not intentionally, but I did. And we search the country trying to find the shards. We met Shippo, then Miroku, and at last Sango in the end."

Inuyasha's smile grew with every sentence. "You do remember."

She nodded again. "I remember being in love with you Inuyasha. But you loved Kikyo, and vowed to kill Naraku to get your revenge. Because he turned the two of you against each other."

She said this with a hint of sadness, which compelled Inuyasha to reply. "I used to love Kikyo. I love you now. And don't you forget that."

She smiled again. "I won't. I promise."

"But I will still kill Naraku." He said.

Kagome nodded. "I'm going to help you. I'm going to stand by your side."

Inuyasha smiled down at her. "I appreciate that."

Suddenly there was a sharp groan from behind them. They turned to see that Sesshomaru had taken a strong hit from the ever-gaining strength Naraku.

"I think your time is up Inuyasha." Sesshomaru said, before attempting to strike again.

Inuyasha nodded. "Right." He turned back to Kagome, and slipped out of his jacket. Then he handed it to her. "Put this on. It–"

"It's made of the skin of the Fire Rat, extremely durable." Kagome said with a knowing smile.

He couldn't resist returning the gesture. Then, he was about to attack when Kagome held him back. "Hang on Inuyasha."

He turned to face her, and she locked her arms around his neck, pressing her lips against his. Taken aback at first, he slowly got into the kiss as well.

"Not the time." Sesshomaru called to them.

Kagome pulled back. "What was that for?" he wanted to know.

"Outside of the fact that you're so damn kissable? This." And she handed him the Tessaiga.

"Kagome…I can't–"

"You can now. You're in your purified demon state. Just like that time when we were trapped in the demon's stomach. You could wield it then. And–" she pressed the sheath in his hand. "–you can wield it now."

---

She was right. It didn't burn in his palm. He stuck the sheath in his belt, and put his hand on the hilt of the sword. He pulled it out, and it transformed before his eyes. He felt an adrenaline rush as he stared at the magnificence that was his Tessaiga. Then he turned to Naraku – who had turned his now blood red eyes on the two of them – and grinned.

"You're dead."

"That's what you think!" Naraku cried.

He began to take shape, breaking out of his human form. He kept his human head, but his body underwent some repulsive changes, until he came to his final form. Now, attacked to his head was an insect frame with octopi tentacles.

He laughed manically. "What do you think of this!"

Inuyasha sneered. "I think you look more disgusting that usual Naraku."

This was obvious not the answer he was going for, because one of those hideous tentacles came darting his way. Inuyasha only grinned.

"Wind Scar!"

The charging tentacle dismembered itself from his body. But as soon as it did, another one sprouted in its place. Inuyasha charged for him, ready to do another, and Sesshomaru came up with his as well. They attacked at the same time, and managed to remove a couple more tentacles, but they all regenerated instantly.

Naraku laughed again. "You can't stop me!"

A tentacle lunged for Inuyasha, and swept him off the ground before he could move away. Inuyasha was about to cut himself free, but Kagome shot an arm at the limb before he could. But instead of being severed like the rest of them, it burst in midair. Inuyasha fell to the ground, but managed to land without added more injuries to his already dented body.

Naraku's face had gone pale with rage. "I cannot regenerate my arm! What the fuck is this!"

"It's called miko powers bastard." Kagome hissed. "Last time I remember giving you a taste of them. You called me a pathetic miko." Then she smiled slyly. "Change your mind?"

Inuyasha could actually see the fear in Naraku's eyes as Kagome prepared to shoot at him again. She appeared not to be aiming for a limb, but for the center of his chest.

The jewel! He thought suddenly. She must see the jewel!

Naraku must have noticed that as well because then he yelled: "No! I won't let you have it!"

And suddenly, a tentacle came rushing at her. But Kagome was still trying to aim for Naraku's chest, that she didn't notice it coming. Inuyasha's eyes widened and he sprinted for her.

"KAGOME! LOOK OUT!"

She turned, but it was too late to move. The thorny limb shot right through her shoulder, over her left breast, through her shoulder blade. Inuyasha couldn't miss the déjà vu: it was the same place Naraku had attacked Kikyo fifty years ago. He lifted her off the ground, holding her from the place he had pierced her body. Her body jerked in pain, tears welling in her eyes. Then, as if she were a rag, he flung her off his limb. Sesshomaru managed to catch her before she hit the ground.

Inuyasha's bottom lip trembled in anger. "KAGOME!!!"

Naraku chuckled again. Then he faced Inuyasha. "Sorry to kill your miko. But don't worry, you can share her fate."

Inuyasha severed the tentacle coming for him, then rushed to be by Kagome's side. She was trying to stand up, but she was arched over horridly, her face contorted with pain.

"Kagome, what are you–"

"We have to stop Naraku." She said weakly. "We can do it…together. With you Backlash Wave, and my arrow."

Inuyasha immediately understood what she was taking about. She removed an arrow from her quiver, waiting for his cue.

She winced. "Do it now."

"Right!" he watched as his sword gathered power. Then, once he felt it at its peak, he released the attack: "Backlash Wave!"

Naraku laughed. "You think that will kill me!"

"No! But this will!" Kagome cried, just as she let her arrow go.

The two connected, resulting in the Sacred Backlash Wave. Naraku cried out in anguish. "No! It's can't be!"

The explosion came shortly after. Inuyasha stepped in front of Kagome and held her, shielding her from the massive blast. It took a while, but when the smoke cleared, Naraku's scent was gone.

Sesshomaru stood up. "You've done it."

Inuyasha looked at Kagome, smiling. "We did it Kagome. We beat him…"

Her breathing was labored, and her expression was pained. "Inu…yasha….I can't…."

Inuyasha looked at her wound in concern. "I'll get you to the village. We'll fix that up."

"You won't make it." Sesshomaru said. His eyes were narrowed on her wound as well. "She's lost a lot of blood."

"I will make it." Inuyasha said fiercely.

Sesshomaru looked at Inuyasha. "No brother, you won't. Kagome is going to die."

A/N: just to tell you all...Inuyasha's purified demon state is what he looked like after Kagome hugged him wen they were in the monster's belly. episode 167 - very last one. if you havent seen it, n you're not sure what he looks like, you should all go look it up on lol!! i shud tell you tho...he looks really sexy (wink wink)

hope you liked the chapter. yes i know it ends reeli sad. but i told you all, it gets reeli sad. neway...if you need a pick me up, i wrote a new story called "All Because Of You". SessRin. Its rated T tho, so no explicit lemon...(not yet at least) but its a laugh (at least i think so) if ur gonna check it out, remember to review.

if you rather wait for my next chapter n drive yourself crazy over what Kagome's fate is, then i'll see you as soon as possible

Love 3

PS: REVIEW THIS CHAPTER!! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW!