This chapter was going to be up sooner, but I got caught up in a slight social life (GASP, what is a social life!? D: ) and haven't actually been home for ages... and I mean AGES

Anyways, this is the next and FINAL chapter of The Strange Half Demon! Oh my gosh! Can't believe it's finally finished! Unbelievable... seriously. Didn't think it'd ever finish! Ah well... suppose all things must come to an end... depressingly enough...

Anyways, here is the LAST chapter of The Strange Half Demon! Enjoy and please review! :D :D :D

Chapter 18:
Goodbye to a Friend:

Only a week passed before Nozomi was able to move from the hut and walk again. She was still in pain, but was healing at a faster rate than before. Her half-demon traits had come back in full, and her spirits were high. She no longer had her power – so she was finally free!

"Nozomi!" cried out Shippo, running towards the half-demon. "You're looking so much better!"

Nozomi grinned. "Thank you! I can feel myself getting stronger each day."

"That's so good," said Sango as she suddenly appeared, with Miroku not far behind her. "I'm glad that you're recovering so well – we all feared the worst."

Miroku nodded in agreement. "Indeed. We thought you were going to die."

"So did I," replied Nozomi with a frown. "I don't know how I survived… but I'm so happy that I did!"

Shippo laughed and threw himself on Nozomi, knocking both of them to the ground. Nozomi laughed as the fell and tickled the small demon. She knew she couldn't stay with them for long – but she was going to enjoy her short time with them.

oOo

Nozomi sighed as she looked up into the night sky. Night had come faster than she would've liked. She watched as Shippo happily fell asleep, watched over by Kagome and another sigh left her lips.

She didn't want to leave them, she wanted to stay. But she knew it wasn't to be. She had to go… she had too.

"Naraku is disappointed in you," said a black haired woman, appearing behind Nozomi. "He thought you'd be the key to him ruling the world."

"I know," replied Nozomi, her eyes glazing over. "He thought his precious daughter would help him – even if it meant her own life would cease to exist."

Kagura smirked at stared at the people below, wandering around the village and preparing for sleep. "Pathetic… they have no idea how much danger they're in with you here. Naraku will come for you, you know. And the longer you stay, the more danger they will be in."

Nozomi nodded, holding back the tears that started welling in her eyes. "I have to leave… I know. But I'm not running from him. I refuse. I will be coming for him – I will kill him."

"Good," replied Kagura. "I'd be disappointed if you said you were going to run. I won't tell him what you're planning… only that you've left the village and run."

"Thank you," said Nozomi. "I swear that I will try my best to get your heart from Naraku. I want to free you, Kagura."

A small smile formed on Kagura's face. "You really are nothing like your father," she murmured. "Thank you… for wanting to free me."

And with that, Kagura vanished into the wind, leaving a sad Nozomi alone with only her thoughts for comfort. She had to leave tonight – she knew she did. She sighed again as she tried to muster up the courage to tell her new friends that she had to leave.

This was going to be hard.

oOo

"What do you mean you have to leave?" question Kagome, staring at Nozomi in disbelief. "You've only just recovered! And we'd love you to be a part of our group!"

Sango and Miroku both nodded. "Don't go, Nozomi," said Sango softly. "You don't need to run anymore."

Nozomi frowned. "I know I don't need to run anymore… and… I'm not running. I swear I'm not! It's just… I need to go do some things on my own. Now that I don't have my ability… there are some things I need to sort out. Places I need to go and people I need to see. You guys have your own worries and I have mine…"

Inuyasha snorted. "Keh, whatever," he grumbled. "Just let her go."

Kagome glared at Inuyasha. "Sit!" she growled before turning away from the half-demon as he smashed into the ground. "Don't go, Nozomi!"

"Please don't make this harder than it has to be," begged Nozomi. "I need to go, I can't stay. I love you all but… I have responsibilities that I need to take care of… Please just accept it."

Miroku let out a sigh and reluctantly nodded. "We should listen to her," he said. "She wants to go, and no amount of begging will change her mind. It will only make this parting harder."

Nozomi shot a grateful smile at Miroku before turning back to Kagome. "That's why I didn't want Shippo here… I knew he'd make it so much harder for me to leave. Tell him I'm sorry, but I have to go."

With that said, Nozomi got to her feet and left the hut, her face filled with determination. She knew she wanted to stay with them – her whole heart and body was begging her to stay. But she had to go. Her place wasn't with them, and her mind knew this. So she reluctantly put one foot in front of the other and bounded off into the dark night and away from her friends.

Maybe one day she'd see them again. She hoped so with her entire being. She wanted to meet them again, at least once. She'd hold onto that hope – and if she held on enough, she might just see them again.