A/N: Oh my GOD, you people are gonna drive me NUTS!!! THAT WAS THE LAST CHAPTER OF OPMADP!!!! PLEASE don't ask me for an update. And, I DID tell you. It says, right up in front, THIS IS THE LAST CHAPTER!!!

breathes heavily

I'm ok. I'm good. Sorry, guys, I just HAD to get that out. AND, also, no one reads my bio! This is a good thing to do, as it tells you how far along I am in the next chapter of my ongoing fics, tells you when I'm gone, tells you all sorts of important stuff. So read it, ok?

Previously, On A Shot In The Dark: The police, the Nashimura family, Inuyasha, Miroku, Sango, Eve, Kouga and Naraku arrived at the same time, pulling up in front of the thirty storey office building.

Sesshoumaru got out of the car and slammed the door, snarling at the officer who tried to forbid him entrance. Naraku raised an eyebrow.

Inuyasha muscled his way past everyone, his eyes flickering red and gold. Just as everyone made it to the door, there was a gunshot, light flaring for a brief second from the top floor.

Disclaimer:

Chapter Twelve

Complete

Inuyasha felt his heart stop at the flash of light. He was suddenly frozen, staring up at the top floor. Everyone else seemed to be as frozen as he. I have to get up there! I have to find her!

Trying to run was like trying to move through thick honey. He stood rotted to the spot, refusing to even think what he knew must be true.

A scream brought him out of his trance, and he darted around his still stunned friends and to the stairs.

Kagome stood confidently, her hand steady. Kuroko continued to look at her and did not move.

"Do you know why you want to kill me?

Kagome faltered. "What? Of course. Not only have you been trying repeatedly to have me killed, there's the small matter of you being pure evil.

Kagome could feel it. The woman emanated a black energy, pulsing and hungry.

"Is that enough?

"Is that enough? Is that enough?! It is for me, you bitch!

"Temper, temper," Kuroko tsked. She stood slowly. "You're not going to kill me, Kagome. You can't. You're too good. Your aura exudes purity. It's sickening.

"You're not capable of killing.

Kagome pulled the trigger.

Naraku was the next to dash into the building. He ran faster than he ever had before, racing to get to the top floor before it was too late.

Miroku and Sango leapt after the two men, Eve and Kouga close behind. Both were wielding weapons, Eve a rather large knife, and Kouga had somehow gotten his hands on a gun.

Miroku could feel his heart pounding, and he felt fear, real fear, for the second time in his life. It coursed through his veins, ice cold.

He skidded to a stop at the elevator, calling it. By some stroke of luck, it opened immediately, and everyone climbed in.

Nika was growling loudly. Sesshoumaru was paler than usual, and he was fingering his claws. Kouga was silent and held Eve's hand in a fierce grip.

Sango's presence by him was calming, and he took several deep breaths, willing the elevator to speed up.

Kuroko screamed. A large blood stain blossomed on her shoulder. She straightened and smirked through the pain. "See? I told you you didn't have it in you.

"Wanna bet?" Kagome took a step closer, the gun still pointed at the youkai in front of her. "I don't want to kill you, Kuroko. At least not now. Oh, no, I want this to be slow. I want you to know how much I hate you." Kagome's aura roiled, the light blue darkening slightly.

Another gunshot rang through the air.

The sound of another loud crack spurred Inuyasha on faster. He ran beside Naraku, and couldn't find it in himself to hate it. All that mattered was Kagome.

Kagome gasped. The second shot had hit, but seconds after, Kuroko disappeared. Her arm twisted painfully behind her, and Kuroko's voice purred in her ear. "You didn't think it would be that easy, did you?

The elevator dinged, and a sickening crunch met the ears of the occupants. Kagome screamed.

Inuyasha burst through the door to the top floor, hearing Kagome's scream. He froze again at the sight of a bleeding Kuroko and a gasping Kagome.

Kuroko froze as well. There were six behind her, two to the side. One of whom she knew. "Naraku. Well, well, well. This I did not expect.

Inuyasha crouched low. "Bitch," he spat.

"Hello, Kuro." Kuroko turned slightly. She paled at the sight of Nika, standing beside Sesshoumaru, her eyes glowing red.

"Natsuko.

Kouga held his gun trained at Kuroko's head, Eve held her knife ready to throw, Sesshoumaru had his hand placed on Nika's shoulder, perhaps the only thing holding her back. Miroku was as close to snarling as a human could get and Sango had dropped into an offensive stance.

It was a miracle Inuyasha hadn't jumped her yet. He could feel Naraku's impatience, and shifted slightly.

"Let her go.

Kuroko turned black eyes towards him, amusement written plainly on her face.

"And If I don't?

"I'll kill you.

Kuroko grinned. "She's tried that already. Didn't work.

"Fuck!" The word came out as a scream, as Kagome wrenched herself away from the distracted youkai. She whirled and cradled her arm against her chest, shaking, but still holding her gun, this time in her left hand, pointed at Kuroko.

The black eyed crane made an odd croaking noise, the equivalent of a snarl. "No!" The terror was written plainly on her face.

"Yes!" Inuyasha launched himself at the bleeding woman at the same time as everyone else. They all stopped at the same time. Eve's dagger was poised at Kuroko's neck, Kouga's gun at her head. Sesshoumaru had his claws pricking her stomach, Naraku had hold of her wrist, ready to break it. Miroku had his hand on the pressure point on her neck. But it was Nika and Inuyasha who had their hands through her abdomen. As close as they all were to her, Inuyasha had gotten there first, and driven his hand straight through Kuroko's stomach, Nika following closely.

Sango was holding Kagome up, stricken. She breathed harshly, eyes fixated on Kuroko. Kagome slowly walked forward, brushing Sango off.

She didn't say anything, but stared into Kuroko's eyes until they closed, and the body went limp.

Kagome collapsed.

Nika promised to take care of it. The body, the files, the reports. There would be no trial. Kagome's arm was set and cast, her weapon disposed of. Naraku bowed out, after sending a long look towards Kagome, who, for the first time in a long time, did not shudder at the sight of him. He left with his heart lightened. She never saw him again.

Inuyasha had looked at her briefly, had helped her to the ambulance, had ridden with her, but he didn't say one word. Kagome's heart ached, and she fought the impulse to cry.

One hand went comfortingly to her neck, where the mark she didn't know she had was slowly fading.

Inuyasha saw, and he nearly broke down, but managed not to. He loved her. He loved her more than life, and he would always be there when she needed his help, but she had broken their bond willingly.

Never again would he look at another woman.

Everyone went home. Kouga comforted a traumatized Eve, Sango and Miroku held each other tight. They had never before seen death, and it wasn't a pleasant sight.

Nika and Sesshoumaru went home to their family, to drown the memory in a deluge of love and kisses.

It was several days later when Kagome finally caught Inuyasha. Everywhere she had been to find him, he had managed to avoid him, but she waited in front of his door until her came out, and she cornered him.

"Hello," she said shyly. Her chest twinged when he looked at her with dread. He grunted a reply and pushed by her. Kagome bit her lip and moved in front of him, laying a hand on his chest when he tried to move by her again.

"Would you listen to me?!

"Why should I? You made it perfectly clear you didn't want to be around me.

Kagome's lips tightened. "I had no choice.

"Oh yeah, you broke my heart into tiny little pieces because you had no choice. Well, I could've given you a nice one. How about not breaking my heart into little tiny pieces?

"Look-

Inuyasha glared at her, and cut her off. "I don't want to hear it, Kagome. I would've given you everything, if I could, and I will never stop loving you, but you left me. I can't do thisÉ" His voice faltered. "I can't do this again.

Kagome swallowed. "Just-just hear me out. After that, if you want, I'll never bother you again.

Inuyasha let out a grim laugh, staring incredulously at her. "Never bother me again? Jesus, you don't get it, do you?

"Get what, Inuyasha? God, what do you want?" Kagome felt desperation creeping up on her. She knew she was loosing him, if she hadn't already.

"What you I want? I want a nice leather jacket that won't get ruined in the rain. I want to move to America. Fuck, Kagome, there's a lot of shit I want. But there are things I need, and you're at the top of my list. I need you to live, Kagome. Even if I'm always a step behind, I need to be there.

Kagome felt tears welling up in her eyes around the middle of his speech, and when he finished, she let her head drop.

"I was trying to save you. They said they'd go after you, they said they'd kill you. I couldn't let that happen, do you see? There were only going after you because I cared about you. They used you against me! I couldn't-I couldn't live if you got hurt because of me. Fuck, Yash, they threatened my family, our friendsÉ.if they got you guysÉ.I'd cease to exist!

"SoÉ.I left you. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't regret, and I think I'd just die if you didn't forgive me.

Kagome wasn't crying. She stared dry eyed at the floor. A soft hand pulled her chin up, and she looked in bright gold.

"You were tying to protect me?

Kagome nodded.

"Idiot," he said affectionately. "I can take care of myself. Don't you know that I'd rather die for you than be pushed away so I can be safe?

Kagome interlaced her fingers with his. "Don't say that. You're not going to die on me.

Inuyasha chuckled lightly. "Everything's not going to be the same, you know. You didn't trust me enough to tell me what was going on, and that tells me we should take it slow.

"But I think you should know that I was planning to ask you to be my mate.

Kagome gaped. "What?" Her voice came out on a whisper. Inuyasha nodded.

"I still want you as my mate, but it may be a little while before we're ready again. But I'll wait forever for you. I wanna see little kids running around with your beautiful eyes and my hair." Inuyasha closed his eyes and leaned his forehead on hers. "I want to grow old with you.

"Until my hair matches yours?" Kagome's voice cracked slightly, but he could tell she was smiling.

"Longer." Inuyasha pulled her into his arms and buried his face in her neck. "I love you." she felt his lips move on her neck, his hot breath expelled in a rush. She reached up and held him against her.

"I love you too. Forgive me?

"Always.

They stood embracing in the hall for a few more moments before letting go reluctantly.

"Are you gonna kiss me now, or do I have to do it myself?

Kagome grinned and kissed him full on the lips, her hands tangling in his hair.

"I missed you," she mumbled into his mouth. She felt him smile, and he murmured back, "I missed you too.

The two lovebirds slowly wound their way up to Inuyasha's dorm as fast as they could, intent on spending some quality time together.

As they moved, giggling and touching each other, Kagome felt the piece of her heart that had been missing slide into place.

She put one hand up to her neck, oblivious to Inuyasha's knowing smirk.

For the first time since she had gotten that fateful phone call, Kagome felt complete.

A/N: END!!! Do not review with a Ôplease update soon' or Ôis this the end?', because then I will blow a gasket.

This was a great story to write, and now I have more time to commit to Carry Me home and my as of yet Untitled HP fic. AND, also, no one reads my bio! This is a good thing to do, as it tells you how far along I am in the next chapter of my ongoing fics, tells you when I'm gone, tells you all sorts of important stuff. So read it, ok? (I decided to repeat this, in case some people only read the end a/n)

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!