The time did come when she had to make a trip back to her time. Kohaku had warned her not to look for his future self-even information-because of the risk of changing what shouldn't be changed. He didn't like that she would be so far from him, but he could not forbid it. He'd known from the beginning that she had responsibilities in both times.

Neither of them was prepared for the agonizing maw that opened inside them when time pulled them apart. Kagome nearly collapsed at the loss of her other half. It felt like someone had severed an appendage from her.

Staggering up, she vowed to make this the quickest trip ever. Instead of five days, she stayed two hours and rushed back down the well. As soon as she'd made it to the top, Kohaku was in front of her.

Dropping all of her things, Kagome lunged for him, finding him meeting her halfway. This time, his kisses were demanding and fierce, almost setting her on fire from the ferocity. His power pulsed out, clearing the area and ensuring nothing bothered them. The feel of it made her moan into his mouth, her hands scrambling to get his clothes off. With a small breeze, both of their clothes were gone and Kohaku was suddenly pressing her back into a softness that couldn't possibly be the ground.

It was different, out of the water, as Kohaku was a solid weight above her. Kagome held onto him as he strengthened their bond, their souls one and his power flooding hers in a way that had her crying out for him. His eyes darkened as he cradled her cheeks and pushed her higher. When she finally came, she was incoherently sobbing his name.

Kohaku murmured something just before they fell into water. Finding the spots that made her wild, he kept her in a pleasure-filled delirium for the next five days.

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

"There's only one shard left," she told him a month later.

Kohaku turned his sparkling green eyes to her curiously. "You know where it is."

Swallowing, Kagome plucked at a thread on her hakama. "We think it's in the land of the dead."

Frowning, the spirit pulled her closer. "That is not a place for the living. You would be fine, but your companions would not fare well."

"We don't have any choice," she pointed out.

"Of course you do. Fight Naraku now and retrieve the shard after he's defeated. If he somehow manages to get your half, he'll have the Jewel in its entirety if you retrieve that shard."

Brows up, Kagome grinned and nuzzled into him. "That's brilliant. Thank you!"

Chuckling at her actions, Kohaku easily held her to him.

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

The group did defeat Naraku and all of his minions. Kagome hurried eagerly back to Kohaku, stunned to find him waiting for her, a very familiar shard held in his palm.

"How did you get that?" she asked as she accepted the precious gift.

"It is no great feat for a spirit to traverse the world of the dead," he told her, his lips pulling up. "As I could not be with you for your final confrontation with the spider, I thought to aid you another way."

Tears in her eyes, Kagome cupped his face. "Thank you," she whispered as he nuzzled her palm.

Her friends were behind her, equally as surprised at the ease of acquiring the final shard. Inuyasha clenched his fists at seeing the two together again. They looked like they were in their own world, as if nothing else mattered to them besides each other. It disturbed him to see Kagome looking at another the way she'd once looked at him. Actually, he didn't think he'd ever seen her look that enthralled with anyone. Sango's assertion from their first meeting was right, Kagome did appear almost drugged as Kohaku held her.

"Keh! Hurry the hell up, wench!" he finally hollered to her.

Kohaku tucked her protectively in his arms and gave a sharp glance to the hanyō in warning. Kagome sighed and relented to her friend's insistence.

"I guess I should merge the Jewel shards now," she muttered. Swallowing, she met Kohaku's eyes. "What if I get pulled back?"

Pain flickered in his gaze and his arms tightened minutely. "Then, find me as soon as you are able in the future. I refuse to relinquish you, even to time itself," he swore, his power flooding her and sealing his words as truth.

Wiping her cheeks, Kagome nodded and moved to her friends. "I'll feel really silly if nothing happens, but just in case…"

Shippō leapt into her arms and snuggled close. "I'll never, ever forget you, Kagome! You're like the sister I always wanted."

Miroku nodded. "The same goes for me," he told her with a smile.

Sango hugged her and Shippō both, Kirara purring loudly at the group hug. "And us. If you are taken back, we'll bury things in front of the Goshinboku for you. Hopefully, some of it will survive until your time."

Sniffling, she whispered her feelings of love and friendship to all of them before turning to her stubborn hanyō friend. His ears were against his head as he gritted his teeth.

"Don't cry, woman. Nothing'll probably happen, now that you've made such a big deal about it."

Laughing wetly, she nevertheless hugged him. "Inuyasha, you'll always be my best friend."

Returning the embrace, he huffed quietly. "Suppose the feeling's mutual, since you developed a fondness for dragons."

Kagome smiled faintly at the jibe, having finally sat down with Inuyasha and hashed out their relationship shortly after Kohaku had fully claimed her. Inuyasha hadn't been pleased with it, but knew it was for the best. With Kikyō still wandering the land, his heart was always going to be torn between the two women. And, he cared too much for Kagome to take away her happiness, even if he had a rough way of showing it.

"Not dragons," she chided, "just Kohaku."

With that, she looked back at her spirit. He was watching her steadily, but she could feel the restlessness of his soul. Stepping up to him, she gripped his top and took a shuddering breath.

"I know it's really poor taste to ask in front of everyone, but will you kiss me? Just in case?" she asked softly.

Green eyes soft, he dipped his head and pressed his mouth to hers in a tender, heart-wrenching kiss that tasted too much like goodbye for her comfort. Sobbing, Kagome forced herself to bring up the final shard and merge it with the rest. The Jewel pulsed once, whole again for the first time in years. Then it flew into her side, dissolving back into her body. Kagome jerked and gasped, her eyes snapping open in alarm.

"No," she cried, reaching out to clasp Kohaku's hand as she began to be pulled away.

He pulled her back, his power building to keep her with him, but the remnants of the Jewel would not be daunted.

"Please," Kagome begged, desperately clinging to Kohaku as he transformed in order to wrap around her. "Don't take me away!"

For a moment, she thought it'd worked. Completely surrounded by his large, powerful body, Kagome thought he'd managed to fend off the Jewel. When her side pulsed again, she knew differently. Holding onto his muzzle, she urgently tried to get out all she could, knowing that he was going to be in agony for centuries.

"I'll find you, I swear, Kohaku. I'm so sorry!" Her heart opened with all she felt for him just as the Jewel pulsed again and she faded away.

Kohaku staggered as near-debilitating pain struck his heart. Roaring his anger and desolation, he dove back into his churning waters.

Kagome's friends were left shocked in the wake of the event, wondering if they'd ever see either of the two again.

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Next Chapter: Finding Kohaku!