Naraku glared at the young girl. He sent bladed tentacles at her at lightning speed. "Get him Kagome! You've got this!" yelled Inuyasha. Kagome nodded. She aimed the arrow at Naraku. Suddenly Byakuya appeared behind her.

"Kagome!" yelled Inuyasha, running toward her. Byakuya took his blade from his side and stabbed Kagome in the back. Kagome screamed in pain, dropping on all fours. Inuyasha raced over and threw Meido at him.

"Damn you!" he screamed as he watched Byakuya begin to vanish. "As long as Naraku is alive, so will I be. I have no regrets. I was able to help Naraku in the end." he vanished. Sango rushed over to Kagome.

Inuyasha turned away just to be thrown away from Kagome. "Dammit!" he yelled. He reached for Kagome. "Kagome!" he yelled. Sango put her hand on Kagome's back. "Are you okay, Kagome?" she asked.

Kagome coughed hard. They looked at the ground. She had coughed black blood. She looked at her best friend. "I need your help." she asked. Sango nodded. "Help me up." Sango helped her up and she helped Kagome draw her bow tight. She started to glow a bright purple again.

"Naraku, DIE!" yelled Inuyasha, throwing Meido toward him. Kagome released the bow. The arrow shot across the land, glowing a pure purple light. 'GO!'

The arrow pierced through Naraku, breaking him up. "Damn you!" he yelled. Kagome looked at the sky. There it was. The completed jewel. Kagome turned to look at Kirara. "I need you." The feline nodded.

Kagome and Kirara flew up to Naraku. Naraku turned to glare at Kagome. "You wench! You think that you've won!?" I WON'T ALLOW IT!" he screamed. Kagome turned and she jumped from Kirara, catching the jewel.

A tentacle grabbed Kagome. She screamed as she tried to wiggle herself free. Inuyasha cut her free, catching her. They landed. Naraku looked at them. "You think that it's over? You think that you have won?"

"You think that just because I die, it's over?" he laughed darkly. "Even with my death, the shikon jewel lives on. You better keep hold of your precious Kagome." he laughed darkly, disappearing.

Miroku took his beads from his wrist, showing a normal hand. He looked in shock. Sango looked at his hand overjoyed. "Miroku, you're free!" She cried, hugging him tightly. "Indeed." They separated and looked at the well.

"Then that means that Naraku is truly gone. We are all free." Kagome smiled in relief and she dropped. Inuyasha caught her as she dropped to her knees. "Kagome, can you hear me!?" he asked, cradling her to him.

Kagome's eyes fluttered. "Inu…ya…sha…" She whispered, blood flowing from her mouth. "Kagome, you did it! You defeated Naraku. We are all free, thanks to you! So you have to stay awake!" he said, panicking.

"Remember your promise. You promised that you wouldn't give up. You have to keep your promise." Kagome coughed, more blood dripping from her mouth. Inuyasha sat her up slightly. Kagome looked at him.

"I am….so…so…rry." She said. "But….he's…he's dead?" she asked. He nodded. "Yeah, he's gone. You did it. You destroyed him. So you have to hang on. I can get you back to Kaede's. And then you can go back to your time and rest."

Kagome smiled slightly. "It's alright Inuyasha." You don't have to fight anymore. You're free." Inuyasha shook his head quickly. "Come on, Kagome! You have to keep your promise!" he begged.

Kagome winced in pain as another cough brought up more blood. "I'm sorry Inuyasha." Inuyasha hugged her to him, her face going into the crook of his neck. He could feel the blood that was seeping into his haori. Her blood was all he could smell.

Sango and the others backed away. She laid her head on Miroku's shoulder, and he put his arm around her. "Kagome, I am so sorry. I couldn't save you after all." he choked out, tears filling his eyes.

"Don't be. You…were there…to help me. I got to spend…my last few days…with you. That's enough." She said with a sweet smile. Inuyasha hugged her tighter to him, his body shaking.

"Please don't go, Kagome. I love you." he whispered in her ear. Kagome picked her head up and looked into his eyes. She kissed him sweetly. They separated and Inuyasha hugged her back to him. She smiled and put her blood-stained lips to his ear.

"I lo…." She went limp. Inuyasha looked at her, her eyes dead. "Ka..go..me?" he asked in shock as he looked at her. His body shook as his sobs choked him. He held Kagome so tightly as he cried over her.

Sango hugged her fiance and she cried into his shoulder. Miroku cried as well, blaming himself for not sucking Naraku into his wind tunnel when he had the chance. He clenched his fist at his side. 'Forgive me, Kagome. I couldn't help you.' Miroku bowed his head. Shippo walked over and he grabbed his leg, sobbing hysterically.

"KAGOME!" Inuyasha screamed, it echoing off the mountains. He held her to him and he allowed himself to fall apart as he held his lifeless love in his arms.

REWRITTEN FEBRUARY 2024