A/N: Hey you guys! Sorry for the late update, but I'm getting pretty busy with getting ready to go on a five-day trip. I leave on Thursday and I don't come back until Tuesday morning. I want to get in this chapter right before I leave so that Bella can start the epilogue.

Sweet reading!

Disclaimer: Don't own, so don't sue.

Chapter 13: Freedom

"Why the hell do you have to involve Kagome in this?" Inuyasha yelled up to Takeshi. "It's me you want, isn't? Because Kikyo loved me and not you?"

I glanced at Inuyasha as he said this, slightly surprised at the mention of Kikyo. We hadn't talked about her since she was taken away.

Takeshi just laughed.

"I don't care who Kikyo loved or if she ever cared about me," Takeshi laughed out louder. "Because it doesn't change the fact that my revenge will be sweet. You fell for the trap so easily," He pulled me closer, seductively tracing his finger on the curve of my cheek. "Would you really give her up so easily?"

"Get your dirty hand off her and fight like a real man!" Inuyasha bit out. His knuckles were white from the anger he was surely experiencing at the moment. I didn't what to do, especially the way Takeshi was holding me. It felt wrong, sick and I longed the arms of the man I loved, but what could I do?

Before I could think of anything, Takeshi backed towards the wall and flipped a switch that illuminated the whole warehouse. It was then that I saw the guns that were pointed at Inuyasha and my friends. I saw his stance turn defensive as did Kouga's and Ayame's. Miroku pushed Sango behind him.

"I never intended to fight, Inuyasha, because I just don't think you're worth the time killing. I have what I want." He began towing me to the stairs that would lead to the ground floor of the warehouse, but I wasn't about to let myself go willingly. I didn't know what else I could do but thrash and kick. I had to save my friends and my husband.

"Damn it, just move!" He pulled me harder, making me fall the the ground. When he tried to pick me up, I kicked him on his injured leg.

"I won't go with you!" I yelled, fresh tears streaming down my face. "I don't love you and I never will! And even if you do manage to force me, I will never be yours because my heart will always belong to Inuyasha. But," I added. "I'll go quietly if you let Inuyasha and my friends leave."

"Kagome, don't!" Inuyasha yelled from behind me. I didn't want to so see his face because if I did, it might break my resolve and right now, the most important thing was to get them out of here, even if it cost me my freedom.

Takeshi stared at me and when he finally decided to believe me, he turned to his goons. "Fine," he said, "Move out!". The guns immediately were gone and the men behind them reappeared to apprehend my friends. I heard the footsteps of my friends being forced out, but Inuyasha wasn't moving.

"I'm not leaving without her!" Inuyasha shouted, hitting the man that was holding him down. Even in his human form, he was stronger than most. He took down half the men before he made a mad dash towards me. Takeshi held up his gun and I screamed when he pulled the trigger.

Inuyasha yelled with pain as the bullet him him and I wished that I had been shot at instead.

Takeshi dragged me as he moved to see Inuyasha. He was shot in his chest and he was bleeding profusely, soaking his clothes through. Inuyasha was barely conscious with all the blood loss. I wanted to crawl towards him but Takeshi yanked me back by my hair.

"See, this is why I didn't want to fight you." Takeshi kicked Inuyasha with the toe of his shoe hard on his side. "You're too easy to kill while you're in this form, but I guess that was part of my plan from the start."

"How . . . did—"

"How did I know the night of the full moon was when you turned human?" Takeshi finished for him. "Ah, it was simple. A small raid through your house and I had the information I needed. By the way, do you know your wife was pregnant?" His eyes were cold and his smirk was wide with his triumph. "Almost since the day she left."

I gasped when he told him. If Sango had kept her promise, Inuyasha wouldn't have known about the baby that I was expecting. God, this was not the way I wanted to tell him. Inuyasha glanced at me, but I didn't register surprise or anger in his eyes. All I could see was sadness.

"I—" Inuyasha tried to choke out.

"But of course you didn't know. So sorry to burst your bubble, but you won't have to worry about it. She's not going to have it, not if I have anything to say about it."

That did it. That there, that was pushing the line. Way over the line. Taking advantage of my unbound hands, I grabbed his leg and pulled. He was so surprised that he fell and the gun in his hand skittered across the floor. I grabbed the sword that was at Inuyasha's side and stood up. It was my last weapon of resort but even if I didn't know how to use it well, I'd defend what I loved.

"Damn you," Takeshi growled. "I should have just forced you to come and kept you bound." Standing up, he glanced at the sword in my hand. "You don't even know how to use that."

My grip on the sword tightened. "Who cares? I'll just run you with it."

"Ooh, touchy aren't we? Didn't like the fact that I told your husband your secret?"

"My life is none of your damn business! You should've stayed in jail where you belong. How many more lives do have to ruin before you're satisfied?"

"Tall words for someone who was in my own business. Who told you to look up my files? See, I was going to let you live but now that you've pissed me off," Takeshi's eyes hardened. "I have no choice but to kill you."

To that, I had no answer. I didn't know how or what he was going to do, but his threat left no doubt in my mind that he'd rather have me dead then be with me. I glanced behind me, where Inuyasha was laying and saw that he was passed out. What could I do to get him out of here?

I had no choice but to make the first move. I tried thinking of a good stance to start on, but I gave up after a few seconds and just resorted to running straight with the sword at a straight angle. I thought I'd be able to at least severely injure him, but he was better than I imagined.

Takeshi grabbed the sword form the blade side, twisted it and swung it hard. Since I was grasping the hilt so hard, I flew with it. I hit the wall and the sword fell about ten feet away from me. I wanted to grab it, but I was hurt and couldn't move. I was scared that if I moved anymore, the baby would die. I couldn't let that happen.

Takeshi grabbed his gun and walked right up to me. He pointed the gun in my face, a few feet away from my nose. He grinned as he saw my horrified expression.

"I guess you and your baby's number are up." He spit on me then. "Doesn't matter. You half-demon spawn would be a freak of nature anyway." He cocked the gun and I closed my eyes, breathing what were probably my last breaths.

Ugh, to die so young.

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I thought I was a goner. I thought I was chopped liver. I thought fate was being cruel again. What I didn't think, was that I was still alive and breathing. I opened my eyes and the image shocked me to the point where I almost fainted.

Takeshi stood in front of me, blood dripping from where Inuyasha's sword had pierced through him. His eyes found mine and I could see the hatred in them burn for a second before he fell to the side. Inuyasha must have woken up or something. But it wasn't Inuyasha.

"Damn it," Leila cursed, dropping onto her knees. "I shouldn't have moved so fast."

My mouth fell open and I couldn't find a word to say to her. Leila, whom I hated, who had almost ruined my life, had instead saved it? Was the world upside-down? Did I enter an alternate universe or something? I pinched myself, but I figured that it would hurt to if I was in a parallel dimension. She glanced up at me and frowned.

"Are you just going to sit there? Isn't your husband on his death bed over there?" She jabbed her thumb behind her.

"But what about you?" I asked, softly. I could see where the bullet had entered her chest and where it was still lodged. She was bleeding so much I thought she might just keel over and die right there, but I listened and crawled over to Inuyasha.

"Inuyasha, honey? It's me, Kagome." I grabbed his hand and held in next to my cheek. "I'm so sorry, Inuyasha. I should've trusted you." I cried.

"S'kay." he mumbled, cracking open his eyes. I thought I'd never see his beautiful alluring human eyes again. "I . . . should h-have talked to you."

"Shh, you don't have to say anything more." I pressed a finger to his lips. "I'm going to get you out of here and then—"

"Over my dead body!"

I heard Leila's gasp and my own at the same time. I turned around and saw Takeshi standing up, barely, but still standing. What the hell! Was he made of titanium or was he from another planet? How was it that this guy still wasn't dead? Leila tried to scrambling towards us but Takeshi wasn't having that. He ripped the sword from his gut with a howl of pain and ran it through Leila. If there had been a small hope for her living, it was trampled and gone now. She was never going to be able to survive all that blood-loss.

"No one will be leaving this place," Takeshi fumbled in his pocket and striked a match. "I had this place hosed with gasoline. I wasn't going to let anyone make a fool of me. I'll die tonight, but you'll be coming down with me!" His laugh sent chills down my spine and my heart stopped when he let go of the match.

He was right. The place lit up in seconds and then the flames were suddenly near me and Inuyasha. I was about to grab him, when he stopped me.

"Save yourself and the baby," he whispered, touching my face. "My— our child, needs to live."

I about died of joy right in that second, but reality crashed down on me. Literally. The warehouse was falling apart and if we didn't get out fast, we'd both be charred barbecue.

"No! I'm not leaving without you because even if you don't think so," I grunted as I hoisted Inuyasha up. "Our baby needs a father."

Inuyasha tried to grin, but he moaned when it hurt. I wanted to giggle, but I had a more pressing matter at hand. I maneuvered carefully around the flames and finally was able to get towards the exit. I kicked opened the door with my foot and managed to get out of the flames.

"Kagome!"

I glanced up and saw my friends, a little battered but okay. While we had been inside, they had been having their own battle outside. Kouga was still a little way's off, dragging some knocked out goon to the bushes.

"Stay here with Inuyasha. I'll be right back." I handed him over to a surprised Miroku, but Ayame grabbed my arm and shook me.

"Kagome, you can't go back in there! The place is ready to fall and you're pregnant. Don't do anything to hurt yourself!"

I shook her off. "I won't. I have to go save someone else."

I ran off back into the warehouse, but I was sure I heard Ayame and Sango curse my 'good-natured heart' as they put it. Well, they were right. Damn my good-natured heart if I die.

I ran back to find Leila still alive, panting, but okay. She shook her head when she saw me and tired pushing me away.

"Don't, Kagome."

"I have to! I can't just leave you here." I responded, trying to grab her arm, but again she shook it off.

"Why, of all people, why me? I did nothing but hurt you. I don't deserve this kindness." I noticed that she was crying now.

"Because you were being used. You were manipulated, just like I was." I said, grabbing her tightly this time. She sighed and closed her eyes as I dragged her as fast as I could without getting ourselves burned. It was so hot now; I could feel the sweat dripping at a constant rate. Where was the damn exit?

I cried out when I saw a black figure try to drag itself toward us. It had been licked by the flames already, and it seemed as if the fire followed its trail. It moaned, but I couldn't hear it, but I didn't need hearing aids to hear his shout.

"DIE!"

I screamed and pulled Leila faster, turning and trying to find the exit. I cried out in joy when I finally found it. I pulled Leila through first, Sango and Ayame still at the door. They frowned when they saw her, but they carried her out anyway. I was just about to go through the door when the charred figure grabbed my leg.

I screamed bloody murder. It was as if my worst nightmare was coming to life. Kouga pulled me from one side and with a swift kick from myself, I wrenched myself free and closed the door. I smiled and felt free to pass out. Only one thought kept me smiling.

I was finally free.

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A/N: That's the last chapter, you guys! The epilogue will the the last part to this story. I am so happy was able to write this and I am eternally grateful to midnightlily (aka Bella) for supporting me and helping me write half the story! Without her, the plot would have skewed towards a different angle, but I'm glad it turned out this way. I love you, Bella! (No homo, of course)

I also want to thank every single one of you who has ever read or reviewed "Shop 'til you drop!" and this sequel, "After the honey moon ends,". For those of you who have only read this story, you should really read the prequel, but thanks for reading anyway.

I LOVE YOU ALL! I hope I see you guys review my other stories, so always be on the look-out for Daichi, the authoress! And as my last request, (not my last, but drama makes everything better) REVIEW!

~Daichi