The village was nearly destroyed. Children were crying, people were running around madly, men and women alike with weapons drawn, Inuyasha, Sango, Miroku, Shippo, Kaede… all urging the villagers to run away. "Protect Kaede! Protect the children!" Kagome's eyes grew hateful as she looked up into the sky. Naraku sat there, in a floating throne, laughing at the destruction he had caused. Kanna, Kagura, both at his side. Laughing. Glaring. Gleaming with perfect malice and perfect insanity. Hatred and rage grew inside of her the more she stared at them.

And then, Kagura's fans rose, and she sent an attack of razor wind. Kagome's eyes followed them, and growled in horror when she realized they were heading for a child. All eyes fell on the fatal wind, running for the child… but no one would get there in time. No one. Before Kagome could think, the child was in her arms, and an enormous crater was right where the little girl had been. The little child sobbed in Kagome's arms, buried her face in Kagome's chest, little fingers clutching for safety and security. All eyes fell on Kagome.

All at once, Miroku, Sango, Shippo, Kirara, Inuyasha, Kaede, Kikyo… they were all surrounding Kagome, but Kagome took no notice of them. Her eyes were fixed on the trio in the sky, surrounded by demonic barriers. Kagome sat the child on the ground gently. She forced a smile and touched the little girl's shoulder. "You and all the other children take cover in the forest, okay? We'll come get you when it's alright to return." The little girl nodded shakily, and began to run.

Kagura raised a fan again and sent another attack, but Kagome jumped in the way and countered it with one of her own. The evil trio seemed surprised at Kagome's counter, but said nothing. They didn't have to. It was all over their faces. "A tiger demon, ne?" Kagome growled viciously, Kikyo at her side. "Your time has come, Naraku! You die today!" Naraku laughed at Kagome, mocking her. "I think you've got it backwards, little Miko. Tiger demon, lion demon, what does it matter? None of you are a match for my power. Now hand over the jewel and I might let you live."

The jewel shone around Kagome's neck, teasing Naraku from afar. "In your dreams, you nutty bastard. The only way you're getting this is over my dead body." Naraku grinned, though his eyes showed proof of his testiness and impatience. "That can be arranged."

"Perhaps you should leave before you and your whores meet your demise, Naraku."

All eyes turned to the new voice. Sesshoumaru and Jaken were standing atop Kaede's hut, glaring coolly at Naraku. "Oh, so it's a party now. No matter. Let's finish this. I have a wish to make." And the battle started just like that. With all the children and villagers stashed safely in the forest, no one had a reason to hold back. Hiraikotsu, wind tunnels, claws, fangs, Tetsusaiga, Toukijin… all were thrown at the trio with no effect. They all returned to the ground, where they were laughed at mercilessly.

"It's that damn barrier! We have to get rid of it. But… how?" Naraku just kept laughing. "Fool! It cannot be broken! Now stand there and die!" All they could do was dodge the attacks that were thrown their way. Kikyo stayed close to Kagome, watching carefully for any sign of immediate danger. "Inuyasha, use your barrier breaker with Tetsusaiga! Kikyo, let's shoot arrows as Inuyasha strikes. Our combined power may break it!" The plan went into effect immediately. Inuyasha rose and attacked with his sword, Sesshoumaru jumped in with Toukijin, and Kagome and Kikyo charged their arrows with holy power and sent them flying.

Naraku didn't laugh for long. The barrier cracked, and his eyes went disturbingly wide, and then the barrier broke altogether. Kagome grinned up at him from the ground. "Don't try to run away now, Naraku. This is it, remember? You have a wish to make. And so do we!" Naraku's eye twitched. "And what wish is that, little Miko?" Kagome frowned. "The wish of your demise, for now and all eternity!" Naraku was no longer protected, so he tried to take them out quickly.

Kagura and Kanna swarmed, Kanna actually attacking with her mirror. Miroku sucked it up with his wind tunnel, not bothered by the Saimyoushou. If this battle were over quick enough, the wind tunnel would disappear, and he would be free at last from his family's ancient curse. Free to be a normal man. Inuyasha remained at his side, slashing whenever necessary. Kagome was focused on Naraku intently. His tentacle like-arms shot after her, seeking flesh that could be broken, but Kagome had been trained. She knocked them all away effortlessly, growling as she took her battle stance, climbing ever closer to him. Naraku hissed, and raised a hand, summoning demons to distract them.

Sango began slashing through them effortlessly, but there were so many… the scene looked very much like Kagome's idea of hell. Everything was on fire, thousands of demons darkened the sky, the evil aura was intoxicatingly disgusting… she would not give up. None of them would. This was the final battle, and Naraku would perish! Kagome knocked an arrow in her bow, sent it flying… it struck Naraku's shoulder solidly, blowing it away completely. He hissed at her again and sent his tentacles after her once more.

Kikyo remained close to Kagome, knocking away the ferocious arms she was unable to see. Her eyes were wild with rage and protection. Kagura screamed in agony, and Kagome was mildly distracted. Sesshoumaru had slashed her in two, and her body separated into thousands of demons, all which flocked back into Naraku, completing him once more. Kanna had long since perished. Now all that was left was Naraku, and the troublesome (yet minor) demons he had summoned. He was a mere ten feet form Kagome… five. She lunged for him, attacking him physically with her claws. They met his flesh and horrified eyes and then she shredded him to ribbons.

His body separated into tiny pieces, and Kagome and Kikyo fell back to earth safely. They growled up at the sight and everyone flocked around them, eager to see if this was really the end of Naraku. Kagome growled up at the sight, ignoring the congratulations from everyone around her. This was not over. Not by a long shot. A dark miasma surrounded Naraku's body, and then Naraku's half-formed jewel joined with the dark flesh, and everyone stared in horror as it formed into a giant spider.

Naraku became as massive as a mountain, his spider legs easily seventy-five feet in length. Kagome's face became a stony gaze. "Kikyo. Remember that secret technique we learned? I think it's time." Kikyo nodded in agreement and stood beside her, and they both closed their eyes to focus on the transformation. And then, Naraku's voice boomed throughout the land. "The end is near, fools! Did you think it would be so easy?" And then, one of his eight legs shot from the ground, gigantic claw poised on the tip of it, and it cut through Miroku's stomach. Kikyo and Kagome's concentration was broken, and they watched in horror as the leg retracted and Miroku fell to the ground.

The sight was painful to see for all, but even more terrifying was Inuyasha's horrific scream of pain, and Naraku's malicious laughter combined, echoing on and on for all eternity. Inuyasha crouched beside Miroku, holding the man in his arms, great tears forming in his eyes as he held his dying lover. Miroku clutched at Inuyasha's hand, a broken and distant expression on his face. "Koi, don't cry… it's.. it's so unlike you…" Inuyasha wept openly, bitterly as he held Miroku. "Miroku, don't leave me! Hold on, Miroku… please!" Miroku smiled up at Inuyasha, caressed his cheek. "Win for me, koishii. Destroy… Naraku…" And then, his eyes went completely blank, and his head fell back, lifeless.

Inuyasha roared in agony, holding the man to his chest, breathing labored and heavy. Naraku growled in disgust. "Stop this faggotry! You disgust me!" All eyes fell on Naraku again. Inuyasha lay Miroku on the ground again softly, his eyes hidden with his silvery bangs, tainted with Miroku's bloody hands. He shook violently, claws extended… when he lifted his head to look at Naraku, his eyes had gone blood red. Not a word was shouted or muttered as Inuyasha lunged at Naraku, attacking. Naraku landed a few hits, Inuyasha would hit the earth, and then he would jump back up again, murder singing in his veins.

"He can't do it alone, Kikyo! Now!" And again, they closed their eyes. Noses extended into graceful snouts, arms and legs into feline appendages, a soaring, ripping pain through their bodies and then into large creatures. Shippo stared up from Miroku's body, fascinated and horrified. An enormous tiger and lion stood, just as large as Naraku, and then Sesshoumaru transformed and joined them, elegant in his large white dog-demon form. Four demons taller than any tree in Japan, as large as mountains. Naraku watched them warily, drawing his legs in for defense. Kagome and Kikyo and Sesshoumaru growled together, and then began the attack.

Teeth and claw clashed and forged as Naraku tried desperately to keep them at bay. Kagome jumped on Naraku's back and sank her teeth deep into the hairy hide that waited there. Kikyo slashed at his legs, cutting them away one by one with her claws. Sesshoumaru jumped high into the air, graceful and deadly, slashing down the length of Naraku's back. Naraku screamed in pain, knowing his end was near. "You will pay for this! You will suffer!" And then, with his dying strength, his last attached leg struck out, bending, extending, and stabbed through Kagome's feline back, slashing through muscle and fur. Kagome roared in pain and fell off Naraku's neck and hit the ground with a thud that echoed and shook everything in a fifty mile radius.

Kikyo roared and jumped to Kagome's side. Naraku's body fell limp, and he turned once more into a human man, in pieces. The only thing remaining was his head, and his eyes looked around, frightened, terrified. Inuyasha pounced on the last remaining living part of him, and cracked his skull to pieces, slashing his brain, ending all that once was Naraku. And just like that, Inuyasha faded into his hanyou form and collapsed next to Miroku. Kagome's body lay a few feet away, transformed back into her small body. Kikyo and Sesshoumaru had retreated into their humanoid forms as well. Kikyo held Kagome gently, weeping.

Kagome wasn't moving. She was barely breathing. She was dying. Kikyo shook violently as she held her. Begging her to look at her, to do anything. The wound Naraku had inflicted was fatal, leaving a hole clean through her body, just next to her heart. Kagome breathed shakily, her eyes staring blankly, afraid as they stared endlessly at nothing. "Kagome, please… please, please, please don't do this to me! Our baby, our life together Koi! Please don't leave me… don't leave!"

Kagome was already gone. She was not conscious, let her eyes remained open. And then, she stopped breathing, and her faint heartbeat disappeared altogether. Kikyo screamed in agony. The battle was won, but it came with a hefty price. A price no one was willing to pay. Victory was there, yet they all felt like they had lost. Shippo circled around Kagome's head, crying. Sango covered her mouth with her hands, screamed, beat the earth. Darkness had fallen around all of them, even as the sun shone brilliantly in the sky, mocking them all and reminding them that they should be careful what they wished for.

"Why? Goddamn it! How did this happen? How? Kagome!"

Sesshoumaru gazed at the destruction around him. Two dead bodies, broken houses, fire. He had seen many terrible things in his day, thousands of innocent people dead, and none of it had affected him immensely. Yet somehow this was unacceptable. His normally cool heart began to break for his half-breed brother and for the tiger-demon Miko who lay dead on the ground, her lover trying to shake her back into life. He sensed another life inside of Kagome, fading quickly. She was with child, and that child would die if something wasn't done quickly. Tenseiga pulsed at his side, gently urging him towards what he already knew he should do.

He took the sword in his hand, unsheathed it. His eyes focused on Kagome's dead body, watched as the scavengers crawled all over her, ready to carry her to the afterlife. He sliced them cleanly, destroying them in one swift movement of his arm. Kagome took a breath and her eyes fluttered open, focused on Kikyo. Kikyo's heart stopped, and then beat madly. "Kagome? Kagome!"

Sesshoumaru did not stop there. He walked over to Inuyasha, where he was still clutching at his lover, weeping. "Step back, half-breed. I have something to accomplish, and you are in my way." Inuyasha jerked his head away from Miroku, eyes red with bitter tears. "Sesshoumaru, you-" And the sword rose again, and cut away the scavengers. Miroku, too, opened his eyes, the wind tunnel gone from his hand, in perfect health. Inuyasha gazed down at him in awe, in shock, and then kissed him lovingly on the forehead, the cheeks, his lips. Sesshoumaru turned away, mildly embarrassed.

"Come, Jaken. We must get back to Rin." Jaken had tears in his eyes. "Merciful and kind Sesshoumaru-sama! Yes, yes! We shall retrieve Rin!" And Sesshoumaru turned away, retreating into the trees gracefully. Inuyasha stood and ran towards him. "Sesshoumaru, wait!" Sesshoumaru stalled, turned his head slightly. Inuyasha fought with his words for several moments, and then he sighed. "Thank you, Sesshoumaru. Even if it was something you didn't want to do… thank you." Sesshoumaru's lips curved into a small smile, but he said nothing, and moments later his body was hidden by the thick forest surrounding them.

Inuyasha stood there for several moments, wondering if he had imagine the smile, but then at Miroku's faint call, her returned to his lover. Kagome and Kikyo were kissing like crazy. "Kikyo! Is the baby okay? Are you okay?" Kikyo wept openly, happy tears now. "Yes, Kagome, yes! The baby is fine, I am fine, and you are so beautiful! Don't you ever scare me like that again, do you understand? Ever!" Inuyasha was having a similar, though slightly rougher, conversation with Miroku. Sango observed them all, laughed, fell back on the grass. Kirara nudged her hand sweetly. Sango smiled at the little demon and scratched her ears lazily.

"Guess it's just us now, ne, Kirara? Everyone else is…"

"Sango?"

Her heart stopped. She turned around and gasped. Kohaku was standing a few feet away from her, looking confused. "Sango, what happened?" Sango's eyes filled with tears, and she embraced her brother forcefully, laughing crazily all the while, weeping, muttering incoherent phrases. "Sango, you're squishing me! All I remember is the village being attacked… dad is gone, the village…" Sango wept, held him a little more gently. "There is much to speak of, Kohaku. I have missed you…"

"I found this in the grass… what is it?"

Sango peered into Kohaku's hand and gasped. Naraku's half-formed jewel shard lay there, along with… would it be? Kohaku's own shard. She took his hand and led him over to where Kagome and Kikyo were sitting. "Kagome!" Kagome turned to Sango in confusion and happiness. "Sango! Can you believe it? He's finally gone…"

"Yes, Kagome, it's so wonderful! But listen… is this the shard that was keeping Kohaku alive? In his hand?" Kagome looked at the shard strangely, then at Kohaku, then broke into a brilliant smile once more.

"It is, Sango! Kohaku is standing on his own! Now, there's just one thing left to do…" Everyone watched as Kagome placed the jewel together. The two halves and the lone shard combined, forming a complete jewel… or so they thought. Kagome frowned and turned the little jewel around in her hand, and then she sighed. "We're missing two more shards." Inuyasha growled. "Kouga." Kagome nodded seriously. Speak of the devil, a tornado-like wind clouds appeared from inside the trees, and moments later, Kouga was standing before them. "You call, sweetheart?" Kikyo growled at Kouga in warning. He sniffed the air carefully.

"What's this? You're pregnant, Kagome?" All eyes turned to Kagome. She frowned at Kouga for ruining the news. They hadn't told anyone yet. Everyone congratulated her at once, surprised, incredulous, and then happy. Kagome frowned deeper. "Thank you everyone. Yes, it's true. Look, Kouga, thank you for ruining my big news, but we have the jewel. It's complete, save for the two shards you have in your legs. Now hand them over." His eyes went wide, from her own eyes to the jewel in her hand.

"You can't be serious! You go out and get mated, cheat on me, then demand my shards? Hell no! You're crazy."

"Kouga, do as she says."

Kouga blushed furiously as Ayame appeared from behind him, scowling. "K…K… Koishii!" Ayame placed her hands on her hips, then turned to Kagome, smiling. Kagome's eyes fell on her stomach. Ayame was very, very, pregnant. "Ayame! Congratulations!" Ayame smiled. "Thank you, Kagome! And congratulations yourself!" Kagome beamed. "When are you due?" Ayame shrugged. "A few days from now, I reckon. I shouldn't really be traveling, but I have to chase this mate of mine everywhere he goes. He's completely harmless, but he's not exactly bright." Kouga growled slightly, but said nothing.

Kagome blinked, not understanding something. "But Ayame… when did you get pregnant? I just saw Kouga a few months ago… he didn't mention this at all!" Ayame smiled sheepishly. "Well, demon pregnancies usually don't least very long. It differs by species, but I've only been pregnant for two." Kagome laughed. "That's amazing!" Ayame nodded. "Mm-hmm. Now Kouga… hand over the shards before I go into labor. Now." Kouga sighed, then held his hands over his legs and extracted the shards. He whined briefly as he handed them to Kagome.

Kagome thanked him and placed the shards with the jewel, and then it merged, the Shikon in one full piece again. It glowed brilliantly, its rays glimmering in the sunlight. Inuyasha twitched nervously. "So who gets to make the wish? And what should the wish be?" Kagome turned to Inuyasha, her eyes searching his. "I know we said that you would make the wish, Inuyasha, but… what is it you would wish for?" Inuyasha shook his head. "I don't want to make it. I have everything I could possibly want. Being a full-blooded demon doesn't interest me anymore. You make the wish."

Kagome nodded at him, but stared at the jewel for several long moments, careful not to form any wishes in her head. But what should she wish for? Before thinking anymore on it, she wrapped the jewel in a piece of cloth, so she wouldn't make one accidentally. Now, what to wish for… Would she wish for eternal life with Kikyo? For the health of their children? No, that was too selfish… what could she possibly wish for? Everything was perfect! Everybody was happy, the village… the village. The village was in shamble and would take months to fix. Many families were without homes now, without fresh water, as it had been stained with blood… One wish had to be able to fix it all. So suddenly, she knew.

She unwrapped the jewel and held it firmly in the palm of her hand. She closed her eyes and focused her energy gently, making sure the jewel remained pure. And then, she focused on her wish. Everyone looked around carefully, gazing at Kagome, tense and wondering what she was wishing for. Several moments they thought to ask her what it was, frightened that she would make a mistake, but at Kikyo's stern eyes, all were silent. And then, something amazing happened.

The homes began to form together once more, better than ever, the river became fresh, the people emerged from the trees to welcome their newly rebuilt home, Miroku suddenly fainted… And then, the light disappeared from the jewel and it disappeared altogether. Kagome collapsed to the ground, too, obviously exhausted. Kikyo looked over at Miroku's squirming, slightly disoriented body and then looked at Kagome. "What did you wish for, Koi?" Kagome smiled slightly, tired. "For fate to be set right for everyone who deserved it."

And then, Miroku grew claws and little black hanyou ears. Inuyasha stared down at Miroku, shocked. "Kagome, what did you-!" Kagome sighed. "It's alright, Inuyasha. It's the way fate was supposed to be. You guys should be able to get pregnant now, too. I recommend visiting Hasana around the time the baby is to be born. Great doctors there, just great." Kikyo smiled down at Kagome and kissed her forehead tenderly.

"Why are you so perfect, Kagome?" Kagome smiled. "Because you make me a better person." And they kissed again, and the village celebrated, forever pledging to hold a festival in the warriors' honor, to honor the defeat of Naraku and the brave ones who fought the battle. All was well in life once more. Everything was perfect. Everything was fine. And that was how it would remain for all eternity.

And it did. There were the typical hardships that everyone had to face in life, but that was what made it all perfect. Kagome and Kikyo together raised nearly thirty children, the first five being their own, and the rest being adopted. And it would be that Kagome and Kikyo, a month and a half later, went into labor together, side by side, both giving birth ("I'm going to kill you, Koi!" and "Not if I kill you first!") to one boy each, named Daisuke and Kazuki, Daisuke being the first child born of Kikyo and Kazuki being the first born to Kagome.

Twenty years after Daisuke and Kazuki, Kagome gave birth to two more children, twins, a boy and girl. The boy was named Hiroshi, and the girl was named Hotaru. Some years later still, Kikyo gave birth to one last boy, whom they named Sanyu. Shippo, of course, was one of the adopted children, and found a loving female fox demon to be his mate, and they lived happily and had many children. And Mrs. Higurashi was fond of all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

They were able to travel back and forth through time still, and remained in contact with Kagome's mother up until she died, and then back to remain in contact with Souta and his children and his children's children in the future. Under Kagome's rule, the liger demon tribe grew, some half-breed, but all tiger and lion-hearted. She and Kikyo had given birth to liger demons - with the strength and survival of tigers, but with the wisdom of the lions, all in control of themselves. A new age had dawned. And as the future grew nearer and nearer, humans and demons alike grew in harmony, all going through phases of hardship and prejudice. But in time, with hard work, like every other person who wanted only to be equals and fought for it, they all managed to set aside their differences and live together.

Kaede's village was kept exactly the way it was, even as skyscrapers sprung up around it. It was protected a national park and spread out for several miles. Kagome and Kikyo built a home for themselves and their children around that fated honeymoon spring, while the children, as they grew older and had their own families, built homes in the village of Kaede, named after the priestess who died a few years after the battle with Naraku.

Inuyasha and Miroku did have children. Two girls, one born to each, named Emiko and Keiko. Their children also had children, and were watched over by Kagome and Kikyo long after Inuyasha and Miroku grew old. They were only half demons, and therefore only lived half as long as Kagome and Kikyo. One thousand years in the future, they finally passed quietly together of old age. Sesshoumaru, twenty years after the Naraku incident, mated with Rin, and they too had children. Sesshoumaru shared his blood with Rin, hence extending her life to five hundred years, and after she died, Sesshoumaru suffered a deep depression, but through his children and his children's children, and the support of Inuyasha, Miroku, Kagome, and Kikyo, he lived on, just as long as Kikyo and Kagome, forever a father, grandfather, and uncle.

And Sango found a loving husband in the feudal era, a human, like her, but she passed long before the modern age came to be. Her children lived on, and Kagome watched over them, although their human heritage and death age was hard on her sometimes. Living a long time meant that you had to see loved ones pass, and sometimes that grew to be too much. They all supported one another, though, one big family, and together they made it through the hard times and were able to live happily.

Life had made them laugh, life had made them cry, and sometimes it made them downright angry. But the point of the story, ladies and gentleman, is that they did live. And they lived happily ever after, until their stories ended and another story began.

-Fin.