Finally I have finished it! Yeah for me! Because it is so long I will only post two or three chapters to this a day. This story is why there haven't been any updates to my other ones. After having this hanging over my head for a year I decided it's time to kill it and finish it off once and for all. If you have read it before the new chapters will be up by the end of the week if you haven't; then you have a lot of reading to do. Hope you enjoy. Much love for you all. NUM

XX

A girl in a black battle kimono stood on a hill looking upon a castle as old as time itself. Her brown eyes stared unblinking into a single window that only showed the blackness of the night. Once there was a light in that window but it was extinguished a long time ago.

She placed a black gloved hand upon the red hilt of a sword strapped to her side in order to calm its unease. Slowly glancing down at the shaking sword on her side; she unsheathed it and held it up in front of her expressionless face. A dark aura whipped around the sword wanting to take control but she could not let it consume her. "Silence" She whispered to the sword and placed it back in its sheath as the sword calmed. She then ran her fingers across the hilt of the sword strapped to her other side. This one was silver with a giant dog carved into the hilt. Touching this one made her remember who she was searching for and why.

It was time for her to go. Her knee length black braid swung around her as she abruptly turned and faded into the dark forest silently as the wind itself.

She was on the hunt but not for food. No, what she was hunting for was more precious than food, more desired than the oxygen in her lungs, and more loved than her own life. All tried to tell her that her search was in vain; but she knew them to be wrong, for if he was indeed dead as they said then she wouldn't feel him calling for her.

She would search to the very ends of the earth if that's what it took to find him and kill all adversaries that stood in her way. Nothing would stop her from finding him; not even time itself.

How long it has been since the final battle with Naraku and the disappearance of the Lord of the West? How long ago was it that Inuyasha went to hell with Kikyo? How long ago was it that the shikon no tama reentered her body; extending her life span to that of a youkai and possibly beyond? How long ago was it that her two dearest friends faded with time? She watched as time slipped past her as mankind inherited the earth driving those who they feared and despised into hiding and into myth.

She stood by and watched as her own life came to be; her first trip through the well and every one after that. She watched as her family grew old and faded to the sands of time as all humans eventually did. Humanity became to bold, felt invincible, and wanted to dominate everything they laid their eyes on. She knew that that would only lead to war and wars did happen.

Countries devastated each other for failure to bend to the others will. Lives lost, revenge acted upon, theft, plagues, rape, and the list went on, until humanity was nothing but a single grain of sand lost to the desert. It was as if time itself had reset; bringing back the nature that mankind had destroyed in favor of technology, bigger homes, more land, and the ease of lazy life. She knew they were destined to fall to their own vanity and egos; and when the time for the end came she sheltered herself within the walls of his castle, using her powers to protect it from destruction.

Her time within the castle; during the great wars, was spent training her powers and body for when the day would come when she could continue her search for him. She knew that after the wars were over; only the strong would survive and the weak would fight to die. Of course she wouldn't die due to the power of the shikon no tama but she'd be damned if she would depend on the one thing that cost her so much to survive.

She stepped out into the field where the battle between good and evil happened. Though the moon was only a sliver in the sky she could see the field clearly; being every inch of it was burned into her mind. She remembers when the whole area was covered in the ashes of purified demons, blood, and broken earth. She used two quivers of arrows that day and felt as if she didn't help at all.

Naraku the coward sent forth his army of demons to wear down his adversaries before he attempted to enter the fray. "Coward" She hissed as she remembered seeing him standing behind his armies with a smug look on his face.

Standing in the same place she was when the battle begun she went through the motions of firing an arrow at demons long since dead. Standing there for a second with one arm held straight out in front of her and the other pulled back by her cheek; she relived that very first moment.

xx

The group of shard hunters stepped out into the field where Kagome felt the pull of Naraku's jewel shards; they were greeted with Kagura's army of the dead and hundreds of demons behind them. Naraku stood behind both lines grinning like he had already won the war and gained control of the shikon no tama.

"Naraku you bastard!" Inuyasha yelled at the hanyou while unsheathing the Tessaiga. Without a word Naraku sent his armies at the group.

"LOOK OUT!" Sango screamed at Kagome as she threw her hiraikotsu at the opposing army. Kagome grabbed an arrow out of her quiver, notched then fired it at the advancing line of demons purifying hundreds as the arrow sailed past. She repeated this until both her quivers were empty.

It was then that her life was threatened by the hanyou Naraku. A black tentacle came at her and just as it was about to grab her a strong arm wrapped…

xx

No, she didn't want to remember how it felt when he held her. She dropped her arms to her side and continued to stare at the field that held so many memories; memories that she wished she could forget. So much pain she suffered that day. No; it was better if she forgot all that happened that day. She turned and without a backwards glance left the area vowing to never return; just like she has done every time her feet led her there.

Just as dawn was beginning to break the horizon; she felt a vibration against her back. Scanning the area she saw what caused the Tenseiga to come to life. A young fox kit was lying on its side; its chest showing that it was struggling for breath. Walking over to it she looked down upon it with no emotion showing in her eyes.

The kit was going to die and from what she could see it was going to die from being attacked by another fox. This was the cycle of life; it was no concern of hers if it died or not.

xx

"Kagome can I ask you a question?" Shippou stood at Kagome's feet shifting from foot to foot in a little nervous dance.

Kagome kneeled down in front of the kitsune who she loved with all her heart. "Of course Shippou. I've always said that you can ask me anything. So what is it?"

"Well… I was just…. Just wondering if…." He stammered out.

"Shippou just ask me. I'm not going to get angry with you." She placed a hand on his shoulder in hopes of easing his nervousness.

"IwasjustwonderingifIcouldcallyoumama?"

He spit it out so fast that Kagome didn't understand a word he said except for the first and last word. "Shippou I couldn't understand you. Take a breath, slow down, and ask me again… slowly."

Shippou's cheeks tinged red but he managed to get the nerve up to ask her again. "I was just wondering if I could call you mama?"

Kagome looked wide eyed at the kitsune. He wanted to call her mama; she was shocked.

"Kagome?" Shippou patted her hand. "I'm sorry. I won't call you mama if you don't want me to."

Tears started to form in his eyes bringing Kagome out of her shock. She grabbed the kit up in her arms hugging the life out of him. "Of course you can call me mama." She cooed in his ear.

The kit wrapped his tiny arms around her neck….

xx

Kagome shook her head ridding herself of the memory of her long lost son. That was another memory that she wanted to forget but never could. Looking down at the kit dying at her feet with no readable emotion on her face watched as it breathed its last breath and died.

Reaching up she unsheathed the Tenseiga and felt the pulse of its life giving power; wanting to bring the kit back to life. Holding the sword up in front of her she waited until she saw the soul stealer and with one slash of the sword gave the kit a second chance at survival.

Slipping the sword back into its sheath she then turned and walked away. She could feel the mother of the kit hiding in the bushes wanting to get to her pup. She wondered if the mother of the kit knew that her pup died and if it felt the pain of loss. Most likely not; it was just an animal after all.

xx

Sesshoumaru wrapped his arm around the miko and moved them both out of the hanyou's reach. Without a glance he plopped her down outside the battlefield and headed back into the fray without a single word spoken from his lips. Kagome not to be one left out headed off after him.

She wasn't exactly sure how she was going to battle being she was out of arrows but she'd be damned if she was going to stand by while her friends fought for their lives. Looking around she found a long thick stick and picked it up. If she didn't have arrows to fight with she could use the stick as a staff fused with her powers.

"WIND SCAR!" Inuyasha yelled as he let off a wave of yellow energy obliterating all the demons in front of him. "Damn it!" He cursed as more demons replaced those he killed.

"Inuyasha!" The monk yelled as he battled his way over to his hanyou friend. "There's too many. We may have to retreat for now."

Inuyasha released another wind scar and turned towards the monk. "No way am I letting that bastard get away again." He swung his sword at a small group of demons attacking from the side.

"Inuyasha be reasonable. We can't win." Miroku threw ofadas at some demons turning them into ash.

"Feh. Hōshi if you want to quit and run away then go." Inuyasha leaped off and began working his way towards Naraku.

Miroku watched as Inuyasha battled his way towards Naraku and shook his head then turned his attention back to the battle at hand.

xx

Kagome stood at the base of a giant tree; she was always amazed that it survived through so much. No matter how the times changed and how badly mankind had destroyed the land the Goshinboku had stood against it all and survived.

Her eyes traveled from the base of the tree up to the scar; a scar that was a testament to the betrayal of two lovers. This was where she first met her hanyou friend and released him from the tree in order to save her. "I'm not Kikyo. I'm Kagome." She whispered to the tree as she looked up at the scar on the tree.

Normally she would have run her fingers across the scarred bark but with time the tree has grown and now it was out of her reach.

xx

"INUYASHA! BEHIND YOU!" Kagome screamed as Kagura sent a wind attack at the hanyou. Inuyasha jumped out of the way just in time to avoid it.

With an evil smirk Kagura sent another wind attack at the hanyou which he narrowly missed. "What's the matter Inuyasha? Are my attacks to fast for you?" She questioned with laughter in her voice.

"Shut up bitch!" Inuyasha raised his sword in order to let loose the wind scar but before he could an arrow surrounded in pink light embedded itself into the wind witch's back; turning her into ash that disappeared on the wind.

Inuyasha looked around and saw Kikyo standing on a hill getting ready to fire another arrow. The hanyou smiled in spite of himself. No matter how much she said she hated him she still loved him no matter what. He turned and headed back into the fight with renewed energy he had to get to Naraku. It was for Kikyo that the hanyou slime had to die.

xx

Kagome's eyes turned almost black at the thought of Kikyo and Inuyasha. The hanyou never understood that no matter how much he loved the priestess; that if she loved him back as much, she would have never believed that Inuyasha betrayed her. Nor would she have taken him to hell with her.

That was Inuyasha's ultimate downfall. Kikyo was his weakness; he believed her to be innocent no matter the proof of her guilt. Even when they found out that Kikyo gave Naraku all the shards she had stolen from them; he still believed her to be innocent.

Kagome placed her hand on the metal spike hanging around her neck for comfort. It was one of the spikes off his armor and it always seemed to give her strength no matter how down she felt. Turning on her heel she silently left the tree' she was searching for someone and reminiscing about a long lost love wasn't bringing her any closer to hers.

She walked a little ways and came to an area where she had come and gone to Sengoku Jidai more times than she could count. This was the area where the bone eaters well used to be; but it was destroyed decades ago. She didn't know what or who destroyed it; all she knew is that one day she came here and it was gone.

This was where her adventure began thanks to a centipede youkai. It pulled her through the well desiring the shikon jewel. Had Kagome known what was in store for her once she was pulled through the well; she would have never let Inuyasha bring her back once she made it home the first time. Then again had she never came back she would have never met him.

xx

Sesshoumaru never broke his gaze from his enemy as he fought his way towards Naraku. He was going to kill the half-breed filth on this day and nothing was going to get in his way; including his whelp of a half-brother.

Kagome watched as Sesshoumaru slaughtered his way towards Naraku and was awe struck at how even when killing; he did it with such grace it should have been against the law. His silver hair flying around him, his armor glinting in the sun, and not even a spot of blood on his perfect skin. How he could kill so many and not get a speck of blood on him was beyond her.

She was brought out of her musings when she felt something attach itself to her leg. Looking down she saw it was Shippou crying and bleeding from a horrible gash across his chest. Kagome kneeled down and looked at the wound on his chest. "Shippou! What happened?" She tore her skirt and pressed it against him to stop the bleeding. Before the kit could explain his eyes rolled back into his head and he fell limp into her arms.

Kagome laid the kit onto the ground and began using her powers to try and heal her precious kit. While she was focused on her healing technique a demon came at her and was intercepted by the fire neko Kirara. Kirara guarded over the miko and kit protecting them while Kagome tried her best to heal her son.

xx

Kagome looked on at the barren piece of land once known as Tokyo or as she fondly remembers it Kaede's village. Tokyo was decimated during the Great Wars. Who dropped the bomb destroying the land and all that lived there she didn't know and she really didn't care. Within the span of ten years all major cities were destroyed; leaving nothing but death and rubble behind.

Of all the places that were destroyed this was the only one that mattered. This was where she met the woman who was her mentor, her friend, and the grandmother she never had. Kaede was a wise woman who taught her how to use her healing powers, her purification powers, and how to find her true self.

She was always there for her when Inuyasha would break her heart with his sneaking off to see Kikyo or when he would anger her with his insensitive words.

xx

"OUSWARI! Inuyasha you're such an insensitive jerk!" The young girl screamed at the hanyou. "I'm trying my hardest and if you don't like it you can go hunt jewel shards BY YOURSELF!"

"Now child calm ye self down. Inuyasha doesn't know any better."

Kagome turned towards the elder woman. "Of course he doesn't or he wouldn't say such things." Kagome turned and stormed into Kaede's hut.

"Inuyasha, ye should be kinder to the child she doesn't come from this time."

Inuyasha climbed out of his hole and crossed his arms over his chest. "What do you know old woman."

Kaede glared at the hanyou with her one eye. "Tread lightly Inuyasha your harsh words will be your down fall." Kaede turned and went into the hut in order to calm the young girl from the future.

"Kagome child ye shouldn't be so hard on Inuyasha." The older woman sat herself by the fire and looked over at her young prodigy.

"I know Kaede-Baba; but why does he have to say such things? I can't help it that I don't know how to use a bow and arrow very well or that I can't control my powers."

"Don't stress yourself child in time you will master both."

"Yea and once I do I'll purify those little doggy ears right off his head." She gave herself a curt nod of agreement.

"I suppose ye could do that but then he wouldn't be able to hear ye sit him."

Kagome eyed the older woman and was amazed that she had tried to make a joke. She never took Kaede to be one to be funny but here she was being funny. Kagome began laughing but not at Kaede's joke but at the thought of Kaede doing stand up in front of the village.

Kaede looked over at the girl who was laughing and was rather pleased with her attempt at making the girl feel better.

xx

Kagome kneeled down and picked up a small rock and rolled it around in her hand. Was this rock part of a building or did it survive the centuries and was a rock that was there in the village; ignored or kicked by the children of so long ago?

She tossed the rock; it didn't matter how long the rock was there or where it came from. All it was doing was keeping her from finding the one she was looking for and bringing forth more memories that were better left in that darkened corner of her mind.

She walked straight through the barren land that was once her home in modern times as well as feudal times and was reminded of the time So'unga awoke and took control of Inuyasha and how HE saved her and Rin.

She couldn't think about the young girl that traveled with him. The memories of her and how her end came were far too hard.

xx

A loud scream was heard bringing Kagome out of her meditation of healing her son. Shippou was healed enough that she could leave him lie and let his demon blood do the rest. Picking the kit up she put him on Kirara and told her to take him to Kaede's then looked around for the source of the scream.

She locked her eyes onto Naraku who was now facing Sesshoumaru with Rin being held up in front of him as protection against the taiyoukai. Kagome was mortified; the poor girl was being used as leverage against Sesshoumaru and there was nothing anyone could do about it. She was to far away to offer herself in place of the child and if Sesshoumaru made a move against the hanyou the girl would surely die.

With a determined look on her face she began to walk towards Naraku and Sesshoumaru. She was going to get to them no matter what and save the girl from Naraku. She could feel her rage boiling and with it her powers were trying to surface but she couldn't lose control of them lest she purified friends as well as her enemies.

Using her staff she purified anything that got within range and continued her march towards the coward who would use a child to hide behind. She knew that Sesshoumaru wouldn't do anything that would cause the girl harm; for as much as he was a cold and stuffy he loved that girl.

She was about halfway to her goal when a mighty roar covered the battlefield.

xx

Kagome narrowed her eyes at the memory. Why was her mind flooding her with these memories of the past? She worked far too hard to forget them just for them to be brought back like a winter's snow. She would not remember anymore' it was too painful. She had to focus on the road ahead that would lead her to him.

She stopped in her tracks; she was going to be deterred from her search once again. Closing her eyes she focused her aura on the one that would dare approach her and was disgusted with what it was. Unsheathing the two swords at her sides she prepared for battle against her enemy. A creature more vile than Naraku and just as deadly.

She had hoped that during the wars the thing would have been killed but wasn't surprised when he turned back up after all was said and done demanding that she hand over Tokijin; as if she would do such a thing.

Holding Tokijin up in front of her; she could feel the charge in the air as Zetsumei appeared right where the tip of the sword was pointed. "How about I just kill you with the sword you so desire." She said in an eerily calm voice. Then again it had been a long time ago that she thought with her emotions and not with her head.

xx

Kagome looked on in horror as Naraku ran a tentacle through the mid section of the child then flung her off to the side. Forgetting Naraku; Kagome ran as fast as she could through the battle of her friends and demons towards the little girl. If she got to her soon enough then she could heal her with her miko powers.

"Kagome!" Sango yelled as she made her way over to her friend. "Where's Kirara?"

Kagome; still trying to get to Rin hollered back. "I had her take Shippou to Kaede's. He was injured pretty badly." Kagome swung her staff at a line of demons purifying them. "Sango you have to help me get to Rin."

"Alright. Hiraikotsu!" Sango yelled as she flung her giant boomerang at the demons slicing them in half. "Come on Kagome before they regroup!"

Kagome nodded at her friend and took off running through the opening Sango made. In her run to the young Rin she stumbled over a rock and fell to her knees; scraping them raw. She hissed in pain but didn't stay down long before pushing herself up and taking off again. She had to save Rin… she just had to.

Finally after what seemed to be an eternity she made it to the girl and was horrified at what she saw when she arrived. Kanna was standing over Rin sucking her soul into her mirror. "NO!" She screamed and ran at Kanna in order to stop the child from stealing Rin's soul.

Kanna easily stepped out of Kagome's way while keeping the mirror trained on the dying girl Rin. Kagome; with tears in her eyes, swung her staff at the demon child trying to purify her but was halted when Kanna turned towards her with a complete image of Rin in her mirror.

"She belongs to us now." The void child said and began to walk towards her master.

Kagome was angry and wasn't going to let a little demon child get the best of her and take Rin's soul. She swung her staff at the demon child's back and just as she was about to make contact; Kanna turned around. Kagome couldn't stop the staff from shattering the mirror.

She heard a scream from behind her and turning she saw Rin's body covered in cuts similar to that of the shattered mirror. Kagome ran to her and kneeled down beside the broken body of the young child as tears flooded her eyes. Rin was going to die and it was all her fault.

xx

Kagome narrowed her eyes at her enemy trying to shake herself of the memory of Rin's death. Without a word she flicked her wrist putting a nick on Zetsumei's neck.

Zetsumei hissed in pain and jumped away from the girl. Placing his hand up to his neck he raised his lip at the girl and growled at her. "Bitch. You dare to draw my blood."

Kagome shrugged her shoulder at him. "Your blood isn't the only thing I am after. It is your life I will take from you." She said it with such coldness that Zetsumei could almost feel the chill as her words surrounded him. "You don't have the strength to take my life."

Kagome smiled a wicked smile. "I will accept your challenge. Let us see if I have the strength or not." Holding Tokijin in front of her and her miko sword straight out behind her she charged at her enemy. As she came in range of Zetsumei she swung Tokijin from left to right missing her mark but as she spun around her miko sword didn't miss.

Zetsumei fell backwards with a gash straight across his chest which bubbled and hissed as the miko energy from the sword burned his flesh. He placed a hand over the wound and came up to his feet. "You will die." He hissed at the girl then ran at her drawing his sword from his side.

Kagome was prepared for the attack. She understood that an angry enemy was a careless enemy and easily blocked the attack with her miko sword and using Tokijin she slashed at Zetsumei's thigh creating another nasty gash on his leg.

Zetsumei paid no attention to the wound on his thigh and began swinging his sword at the miko. Kagome parried each of his attacks. She was purposely taking the defensive; waiting for the perfect moment to take control of the fight.

xx

Kagome picked the little girl up and held her close to her chest not caring about the blood that was soaking her clothing. Rin's injuries were far too great for her to heal and it was her fault. "Rin I'm so sorry." She sobbed into the child's hair.

Kagome felt a trembling hand on the side of her cheek and looked down at the dulled eyes of the young girl. Rin shook her head and whispered her last wishes to Kagome with tears streaming down her cheeks. Then she took her final breath and fell limp in Kagome's arm.

Kagome held her tightly to her chest whispering her apologies to the girl and praying that she found the life she so desired in heaven. She was pulled out of her mourning when she heard Sango screaming her brother's name.

Placing a kiss on Rin's forehead, she laid the child down, slowly rose to her feet, and turned to where her best friend was fighting against her own blood.

Xx

Zetsumei stabbed his sword at Kagome's neck; Kagome stepped to the side while crossing her swords at the base of his attacking sword. "You don't stand a chance against me demon." Zetsumei grunted at the girl. "That is where you are wrong miko; it is you that is struggling against me."

With an evil smirk he used his free hand and slashed her mid section with his claws. Kagome didn't even flinch. The pain of his claws was nothing compared to the pain she suffered at the hands of Naraku.

She plastered a smirk of her own on her face. "Know your enemies as you know yourself. You don't know your enemy so of course you would think that." Pulling her swords away causing sparks to fly as metal slid against metal she side kicked Zetsumei in the chest and sent him flying backwards into a tree.

Zetsumei jumped to his feet. "I know you better than you think I do. For instance the one you are searching for will never be found... he is dead." He gave a smirking laugh at the slight change of sorrow in her eyes before they went back to their cold brown.

Kagome crossed her swords in front of her. "Silence you know nothing of what I search for." She charged at the demon and he jumped out of the way of the two swords slashing at his chest.

"That is where you are wrong. I know very well what it is that you are searching for and I know of his death being it was you who caused it."