And then, it was time for the final battle.

Rin and Shippo were at Kaede's hut, watched over by the elderly miko, as well as Jaken and Ah-Un.

Kanna and Kagura were hiding out somewhere in the mountains.

Sesshomaru, Koga, Ginta, Hakkaku, Ayame, Kagome, Kikyo, Sango, Miroku, Kohaku, InuYasha.

These were the ones that would go to battle against the evil hanyou.

They stood before Naraku's last stronghold.

No more doppelgangers.

No more minions.

No more puppets.

No more illusions.

They attacked.

Naraku made his move.

The manor exploded in a writhing mass of tentacles. Just as future-Koga had told Kagome only a few days prior, it was pure and absolute chaos.

And Kagome found herself face-to-face with the monster who had created so much pain and suffering and sadness.

"Hello, dear little Kagome." he hissed, his handsome face distorted with hatred. "So nice of you to join me." A tentacle snaked around her ankle.

"It's over, Naraku." she said, her voice calm and steady. "You're done."

"No!" he snarled. "It's not over."

"Yes. It is." she said. "Any second now, someone will hit the death blow."

A crazed smirk worked it's way across his face. "Well, if I'm going to die, I wouldn't want to be lonely, now would I?" He laughed darkly. "How would you like to take a…ah…trip, dear?"

Even though she was absolutely terrified, Kagome refused to show the twisted hanyou her fear. "That's just like you, Naraku. You can't win, so you throw a tantrum, like a child."

"Perhaps." Naraku mused. "But my tantrums are so much more destructive."

At which point, he released his poisonous miasma.

Even though she'd known it was coming, the initial pain brought a gasp out of her mouth.

"Oh, I'm sorry, love, does it hurt?" Naraku mocked. She shook her head, refusing to cry. "What? It doesn't hurt enough? I can fix that."

The poison ate through her slowly, Naraku savoring every cry and sob he managed to drag from her. She fell to her knees.

"Why don't you beg, dear? I might let you live, if you beg. Or, at least, leave a body for your companions to bury." he suggested.

"No." she gasped, glad for the respite from the agony, however brief. "I am meant to die here. I will not beg you for my life."

Naraku shrugged. "Ah well." he said. "Shall we begin again, my lovely miko?"

The pain hit her again, all the more agonizing for that short pause. She cried silently, her tears sizzling as they met the miasma. He watched in delight.

And then…

"NARAKU!" InuYasha snarled, from somewhere close by.

Naraku looked disappointed. "I'm afraid we'll have to cut our little game short, love. Goodbye."

There was one, last, overwhelming sensation of unimaginable pain.

And then, numbness.

There was no more pain, no more…anything. Kagome looked down, and saw a body melting into the miasma. She saw InuYasha and Koga rush onto the scene, followed closely by everyone else. During the confusion, someone killed Naraku.

"No!" InuYasha screamed in anguish. Koga was speechless, dropping to his knees beside the remains. Sango burst into tears, cradled in Miroku's arms. Kohaku's eyes were watery, as well, and even the great Lord Sesshomaru looked mournful.

Kagome couldn't understand why they were so upset. "What's everyone so sad about, Miroku?" she asked.

He didn't answer her.

"Miroku?"

He didn't even look at her.

"Oh, I get it. Sango's finally clinging to you, and we shouldn't ruin your moment by interrupting you." She went over to InuYasha. The inu hanyou was howling up at the darkened sky.

"Why? WHY?!? She was better than all of us! She didn't deserve this! What kind of twisted game did you play with her life?!? She didn't ask for any of this, but she did the best she could! AND THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY HER?!?!?" He whirled around and disappeared into the trees.

Kagome began to remember what happened. She drifted over to Kikyo. "I'm dead, aren't I? Naraku killed me." she asked quietly. Kikyo hesitated a moment, then nodded, once.

Koga had turned to Sesshomaru. "Revive her!" he begged. "Use your Tenseiga!"

Sesshomaru shook his head. "This Sesshomaru cannot. The damage her body sustained is too great. The Tenseiga will bring a soul back to it's mortal shell, but only if the body is suitable to inhabit." He closed his golden eyes. "This Sesshomaru is sorry. The miko did not deserve this death."

Kagome's spirit began to fade. "Goodbye." she whispered, and somehow, they all heard her. "Thank you. All of you."

And then she was gone.