It was heartbreaking.

Kagome looked on in despair as Inuyasha charged towards her incarnation, Kikyo, in a desperate attempt to save the woman he claimed he no longer loved. In that moment, she realised, every sweetness he'd ever uttered to her, every promise and reassurance, were to be taken at face value; just words. After all, her own were caught in her throat, her will to scream 'Inuyasha!' frozen. Black strands of her hair whipped across the teenager's face, thankfully obscuring her view as the object of her sweet affections embraced the other woman as she fell from suspension.

The strong winds that blew against the top of the cliff, swept the tears that rolled from Kagome's cheeks away with it's heavy gusts. Trapped where she was, hanging 40ft off the ground, limbs bound by the cursed spider hanyou's tentacles, her pained cry was taken by the winds also.

The only thing that kept the insidious bitterness that filled her body, from entering her heart, was the sight of the others, the people she had come to call her friends fighting fiercely to save her life.

Sango, the demon slayer and surrogate sister, threw her Hiraikotsu with her entire body from atop of the demon cat, Kirara, as they flew up into the sky towards her. The oversized boomerang spun continuously through the air, severing every tentacle and lower life demon that got in their way, before arching back to it's owner.

Miroku, a monk and the slayers "boyfriend" used his 'wind tunnel', the cursed black void in his hand, normally bound by prayer beads, and glared as it sucked in anything in his path). Of course, this weakened him and so used it only when necessary, otherwise sticking to sutras and purifications. Although the monk was also in a hurry to save the futuristic miko, his main worry was Sango. He watched in fear as she blindly charged into battle, to save her friend. Miroku did all he could to back her up. It would be devastating for him if he were to lose her.

Myoga, the demonic flea, like the coward he was, was nowhere in sight. The moment he sensed Naraku's demonic aura he was gone, promising to return when all was done…if the group made it out alive, of course. Most wondered why he even loitered around them.

The only member of the misfit group that hadn't been accounted for was Shippo, who stealthily hid against Kagome's back. If Kagome thought she would be alone in this, she was wrong. The little kitsune (when he'd come to see the futuristic Miko as his 'Mother') made a silent promise to himself, to never leave her side. Unlike the baka, Inuyasha, he had every intention of keeping his word. His small paws trembled with fear as he tried to manipulate his youkai to manifest in his palms-he had to be quick else Naraku would notice. Sweat rolled down his forehead from the exertion. Kagome's aura was distracting, as her reiki fluctuated with turmoil, giving of random pulses; and Shippo could tell from her crying she was not aware and had no control over her power, if she released he could end up purified. With that said, he pushed himself harder.

Kagome wept, crying out, "Stay back Sango, it's too dangerous!" She knew the risk, and did not want the knowledge of Sango taking a blow anywhere hear her abdomen, on her conscience.

Kagome didn't dare look, but she could hear Inuyasha's voice as he yelled out unwitting and crude insults, "I'm gonna rip your insides from your body you bastard!" at Naraku, whom merely laughed, knowing he had the trump card. The Shikon no Miko was at his mercy, if he rid of her, there would be no one to stand in his way.

Kikyo frowned at the evil hanyou's mirth filled expression. He was smiling. Not one of his- I've got something vicious for you- smiles…the hanyo looked genuinely happy. Why? The corpse Miko got her answer, when she tuned out Inuyasha's yelling, pulling herself away from his chest. She heard the faint yell, "No! I can't leave you!" from what sounded like the slayer, in the distance, and peered over Inuyasha's shoulder.

For the first time, she allowed a true expression to open on her literally porcelain face. Any other would find it ironic, how the first expression of the fearless dead woman, was in fact, fear; and it was then that she realised that her fool of an ex-lover had discarded her re-incarnation for her. She watched in horror as her future self was held prisoner high in the sky. That was why Naraku was laughing! She hadn't noticed before, because she had been in the same predicament herself.

Looking around for her bow and arrows, Kikyo spotted them splayed on the ground on the other side of the cliff. 'It's too far, I won't make it.' Instead, resorted to roughly shaking Inuyasha's shoulder.

"What?" he growled out.

"Did it ever occur to you, Inuyasha, why your insults aren't affecting him?" She asked in a patronising and overly sweet tone. Fast her eyes sharpened as confusion clouded his rage. "Look over there!" she slapped his face in the direction of Naraku's unfortunate captive.

Inuyasha's eyes widened in shock, at first it was because of the concrete slap, but then his mind registered at the sight of Kagome. Realisation dawned on him and oh shit was it bad. Why hadn't she called for him? Or had she? He couldn't remember. Kikyo's hands pressed against his back and pushed him into a run, he's wasting time gawking.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha made a dash for her, just as Kirara was hit by a demon that send her and Sango flying, luckily the neko regained balance and caught her master on time, shaking of the hit. Sango thanked her. Inuyasha used his supernatural speed to leap high, passing the two, with a clawed hand reaching for Kagome.

Feeling the imminent threat, Shippo threw up an illusion in front of Kagome, of herself. Seconds later one of Naraku's tentacle spears thrust passed Inuyasha and impaled her chest, straight through, bursting out of her back. Time froze and so did everyone else, as Naraku mercilessly wrenched the spear back out and it traveled back inside his body. Inuyasha fell, failing to complete his jump, landing unceremoniously on the ground in a heap. Kagome looked down at the gaping hole that was left, as blood poured out both the hole and her mouth.

Behind, Shippo was frozen in horror, trying to register the sight of the spear bursting through her back as blood sprayed across his face. He was in such shock, he didn't feel the spear clip his ear lobe. No, the evil demon had killed his mother. The child did nothing as Naraku's tentacles released Kagome, leaving them to fall to her second doom.