Disclaimer: Nope, not me, I don't own Inuyasha. (sigh)
Wow, thank you all for the kind reviews! Sorry to anyone who thought that was the last chapter. You know I just realized I killed a lot of people off in this story. Miroku, Sango, Kagura, Kanna, Kohaku, Kikyo, Shippo, all of my OC's, and I drove Inuyasha insane. (gives self pat on the back) I am so proud!
Sesshomaru- Err…yeah…that was really um good for you. You're amazing!
I know! Anyway, this is the last chapter. Welcome! I hope you enjoy it.
Every muscle was aching, her head was pounding, and the feeling of flames devouring her was still coursing through her body. Kagome laid completely still, not even breathing as she closed her eyes and tried to concentrate on what was going on. Slowly, as the seconds passed, the pain began to subside. Memories began flooding through her mind, like a silent movie that she desperately didn't want to see. After around half an hour of mind splitting pain and re-living the awful memories of the past few weeks, everything stopped.
Her breathing began returning to normal. She opened her eyes a bit, wincing at the bright light which surrounded her. (Where could I be? I'm…probably at home.) She should have been happy with herself; if she was at home, then her wish had worked. Naraku was dead. More than that, he'd never been created. None of the evil he had unleashed on this world had ever happened. The people he'd hurt had never even been touched by the grief and pain he had caused. So why did she feel like her heart had been ripped out from her body?
She groaned as she tried to push herself up. Her body was completely drained of all energy, and the slight movement was beginning to make her feel dizzy again. (I'm exhausted. I guess using the power of the Shikon jewel really took a lot out of me. Well, I guess it would. It did alter everything…)
Sango would be alive, as would Miroku and Shippo. That was what she had wanted, right? She wanted to bring her friends back. They hadn't deserved to die because of that monster. With a sigh she allowed herself to fall back. It wasn't worth the struggle of trying to get up. Instead, her mind raced back to what she remembered before she had passed out.
(Inuyasha.) She had been crying, she remembered, when she told him she loved him. She hadn't wanted to do it, but she'd had no other alternative. Getting rid of Naraku was the only thing she could think of to bring her friends back and make it as if he had never inflicted his evil on that world; even if it did mean that she would have to leave. (I changed everything. Kikyo never died, so Inuyasha probably became human and stayed with her. Miroku and Sango and Shippo; they were all unharmed by Naraku's plans. Their all better off.)
She closed her eyes and began blinking back the warm tears that threatened to spill. (I knew what I was doing when I made the wish. I knew that by destroying Naraku with that wish that in the end, it would mean that I would have never gone there at all.) The image of the hanyou she loved standing with Kikyo entered her mind. (At least he'll be happy.) Unable to hold back any longer, she began sobbing, the warm tears rolling down her cheeks. She wished she didn't remember, since he no doubt would. Ignorance was bliss, was it not?
"I wish I didn't remember. I don't want to remember any of it!" she cried to herself, wrapping her arms around her small frame.
"Don't remember what?" someone questioned softly.
Without thinking she instantly replied, "Everything." Momentarily she stopped her crying. In the haze of all of her thoughts, she realized that someone else was with her. Lifting her head up, she nearly screamed in surprise when she saw the familiar face only inches away from own.
"I think she's delusional," Sango whispered in a confidential tone to the houshi sitting beside her.
Leaning forward, Miroku simply tilted his head. "I don't know. Isn't it normal for women to awaken in hysterics?"
The demon slayer glared and hit him across the head, the sound of the slap echoing in the small hut. Inuyasha chuckled.
"Serves 'ya right monk," he said as he sat down next to Kagome. He turned his attention to her, his gaze softening. "Are you all right? Shippo came and told me that you were in here crying."
She only gaped at them. Her eyes widened and she began shaking her head, pulling a sheet around herself and scooting away from the three. "T-this isn't happening…" she said. "This can't be real!"
The others exchanged glances. Inuyasha simply shrugged his shoulders, a dumbfounded 'I-have-no-freaking-idea' look passing over his features. Sango began scooting closer, cautious to frighten the young miko.
"Kagome," she said. "It's me, Sango. You remember me, your friend?"
"Your dead!" the miko cried. Her voice was cracking as tears began flowing freely.
Narrowing his eyes at the others, Inuyasha moved over to Kagome and took the young girl into his arms. "Great going," he whispered as he lifted her up bridal style in his arms. "You made her cry more!" Making sure he deliver a kick to Miroku's side, he exited the hut and carried a semi-hysteric Kagome out of the hut.
The houshi rubbed his side. He then looked over to Sango, confusion on his face. He leaned forward and began studying her intently. Lifting his hand, he gently poked her shoulder. She stared at him blankly. Before she could say anything, the monk pounced on her, pressing a kiss to her lips. Surprised, she fell onto her back.
"Miroku!" she said, a blush appearing on her cheeks. "You're supposed to wait until after the wedding to do that…"
"Sango," he interrupted. "Since when were you dead?"
If the demon slayer had not already been on the ground, she would have fainted for the monks sheer stupidity. "Nani?" she questioned. "I'm not dead Miroku."
"You don't seem like your dead," he continued, hardly noticing she was speaking.
"I'm not dead baka!"
"You don't kiss like a dead person…"
"How many dead people have you kissed?"
"Err…that was just a misunderstanding…"
"Lecher!"
----
Still muttering profanities under his breath, Inuyasha carried Kagome the short distance into the forest. He sat her down beside a large tree and took a few steps back, giving her the space she needed. The young miko merely stared up at him, disbelief on her features.
"Inuyasha…" she breathed. "How can you…you're not…what the hell is going on?!" she shrieked in frustration.
"I don't know," he told her softly as he kneeled down beside her. "When I left this morning you were still asleep. I was helping Miroku get things ready when Shippo came up and started throwing fox fire at me for making you upset. Kagome, why were you crying?"When he recieved no answer, he placed his arm around her shoulder and attempted to pull her closer. She quickly pushed him away and stood up, scrambling to move away from him.
"Just…stay away from me!" she yelled at him, her breathing beginning to quicken.
He stared up at her, hurt flashing across his eyes. "What's wrong with you? Your acting like you've never seen me before."
"I can't…you…this is only a dream. You can't be real!"
Without waiting for any kind of response, the young miko turned and began running through the forest. She didn't stop, even when she heard the hanyou calling for her to slow down. (What's going on? This…this can't be happening!) A few tears began to gather in her eyes as she continued running. This was not what was supposed to happen. She was supposed to be in her own time, brooding about the fact that she had just lost the love of her life because she'd had to destroy a great evil! But instead she was at the very place she had prepared herself to leave forever.
One of the smaller branches from the trees hit her cheek, scraping across her skin. She ignored the stinging, even when the felt a small drop of blood on her face. Even when a somewhat painful burning ache went through her legs she continued moving as quickly as she possibly could.
The unshed tears burned her eyes, blurring her vision as she ran. A small yelp escaped her as she tripped over something unseen, falling face first into the ground. She lifted her head, sputtering out some dirt and grass. (Now I know how Inuyasha must feel…)
"Kagome?" questioned a concerned voice from above. The raven haired girl looked up to see Kaede standing above her. The older woman leant down and extended her hand to help her up. With a smile she accepted and stood. "Has ye seen Inuyasha? He was supposed to help the priest set up things for the ceremony…"
She blinked at her. "W-what ceremony?" she questioned, trying to push her tears away.
"Has ye forgotten about Sango and Miroku's wedding?" Kaede asked. The miko gaped at her. "Ye is a bit sicker then I would have thought…"
"Kaede," Kagome sat, sitting back down on the grass. "I need you to tell me everything."
"Everything? Well, it would take quite a while to tell ye everything…"
"No, I mean everything that…that you know about me…"
(I have to find out what's going on around here!)
Somewhat suspicious, Kaede took a seat in front of the miko. She studied her face intently, as if trying to find any traces of anything other than sincere honesty. Sighing, she began to speak.
"I know that you are the reincarnated sprit of my sister, Kikyo. Around two years after she died, you somehow stumbled upon the Bone Eaters Well and came to this era. At first you were rather hysterical, as was Inuyasha. But of course no one could blame him."
"What do you mean?" Kagome questioned. (Two years? Didn't I come here fifty years after Kikyo's death?)
Kaede tilted her head to the side with a somewhat confused expression momentarily on her features. "He and Kikyo were to be married. That is why he used the Shikon jewel, that had been in my sisters possession, to become completely human. She drowned in the lake a few weeks before they were to be married. It took Inuyasha a long time to get over losing her.
"Then, you came. He nearly had a breakdown just by seeing you. But somehow, over the years, the two of you became very close. And, as I was to understand, he had asked your hand in marriage."
"Marriage?" the miko squeaked, not really knowing if she was processing all of this information correctly.
"Yes. When you finish your schooling in your own era, you are to come and live here. That is why you were so eager to help Sango plan her marriage to the young monk." She furrowed her brow. "Ye acts as if this information surprises ye. Tell me, has ye hit ye's head lately?"
Kagome stared at her, mouth open wide. (Inuyasha's human? Sango and Miroku are getting married? I'm getting married?) She had to be dreaming. This couldn't have happened…could it? (Unless…unless this is what would have been had Naraku never come into existence!)
A feeling of pure happiness filled her. She beamed at Kaede then lunged forward, wrapping her arms around the older woman for a hug. Waving goodbye she jumped up and ran back towards the forest, hoping that Inuyasha would still be there. Kaede shook her head.
"She is a strange girl," she murmured to herself.
Kagome sprinted through the forest. "Inuyasha!" she called out, hoping the hanyou…or, now, human, would hear her. (How did I not notice that he was human? Was I really that hysteric?) After a few more minutes of running and shouting, an out-of-breath young miko saw the man she was looking for. He was sitting against a tree, his arms and legs crossed, a look of deep concentration on his face. She approached him. "Inuyasha," she said softly, causing him to look up at her.
"Oh so you know me now!" he shouted in typical pissed off Inuyasha style.
She smiled at him and kneeled beside him. "Gomen, about earlier. I was a little…"
"Hysterical? Crazy? Moody? Out of your mind?!"
Wincing as his voice got louder, she offered him a soft smile. "Yeah," she replied. "I just had a bad dream, that's all."
He studied her for a few moments. His face was hard, not even his eyes showing what he was thinking at the moment. Finally eh wrapped his arms around the young miko and pulled her into a hug, which she quickly returned.
"It's all right," he told her. "I was just worried about you. You know me…"
"I do," she said. Still smiling, she leaned up and kissed him softly. Surprised at first, since this was the girl who only moments ago had been telling him that he was nothing more than a dream, he did nothing but stare at her. After a few moments he responded, pulling her even closer to him.
When she pulled back, that smile was still in place. She buried her face into the nape of his neck, a feeling of comfort washing over her as his arms tightened around her.
"Kagome, we should probably get going," he said, interrupting their comfortable silence.
"Hmm?"
"The wedding, remember? There's still a million things to do. And if we don't get everything finished up in time, Sango is going to kill me!" He stood up. "Come on."
"All right Inuyasha," she replied and stood as well. She laced her fingers through his own as they began walking. He looked at her, smiling and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.
"I love you," he whispered and squeezed her hand.
She squeezed back. "I love you too," she replied.
They continued walking towards the sight of the ceremony.
"So…" Inuyasha questioned. "Just a dream, are you sure?"
"Yeah," she answered with a slight nod. "It was just a dream."
THE END! Thank you to everyone who reviewed! Here a few reviewer responses that I managed to get up.
Obsessed-fan girl-mimi: Ah! The kittens! There, here you go! The ending. Look, it's fluffy! Naraku dies and Inuyasha is human and with Kagome and Sango and Miroku get married! Just don't send the kittens!
Fluffy- (growls) Bring 'em on!
Inuyasha- Yeah!
Freaky-hanyou: See? Happy ending? Don't cry! (hugs plaque that was given for stupid perverted one shots) Oh thank you! You are too kind! I'm glad you liked this story as well as my stupid perverted stories! (blushes insanely) You let people read them? Preach the gospel girl! Err…yeah. (giggles) Something you may find amusing, someone flamed me for 'What Are They Doing Now' and actually asked if I was perverted? (falls over laughing at sheer stupidy of flamer)
Kaginu=love: Here you are! Thank you for reviewing!
Dumber then a Moogle Ass: I have been wanting to tell you this for a long time……………………………….............I LOVE YOUR NAME! (giggles) Thank's for being such a great reviewer! Your soooo nice!
TwilightSakura: Yes, you can have bad karma for not updating!
Miroku- Especially humor stories that have you waiting on the edge of your seats!
(cough) Retrogression (cough) Anyways, thanks for reviewing!
Tiffany: You love it? (blushes) Thanks!
Yogi bear-321: he he…see I brought everyone back! Err…well except Kikyo and my OC and Naraku, but who wanted them back anyway?
Naraku- Gee, thanks!
Oh and though he wasn't in here really, Kohaku is back too!
Fanfictiongeek36: Without you, this ficcy wouldn't be here.
Fluffy- Well yeah. Your so stupid she had to send you the first three chapters cause you deleted them!
Oh…hush.
Megz: Yeah, I know, you reviwed like at 13 but who knows, you might still be reading! That was like, the longest review I've gotten for anything ever! I'm glad you liked the story. I actually did attempt to e-mail you, but it failed, miserably, for reasons unknown. I do have two other Inuyasha stories at the moment. Betryal (InuKag, sort of…) and Addicted (my first Sango/Miroku, whoo!) So, if you want to read them, it'd be greatly appreciated! And thank you so much for the wonderful review!
All right, and to everyone else who ever reviewed this story, YOU GUYS ARE THE BOMB! A sincere thanks to everyone who has added this story to their favorites list. Well, I'm out! I'm going to miss you all so much!
Sango- Yeah…right.
Miroku- Hey…if she's finished with this story…then she can finally write for Addicted again! (winks at Sango)
Sango- (blushes)
Inuyasha- No, she's writing Betrayal!
Kagome- I don't know if I really want her to write Betrayal…
Miroku- Addicted!
Inuyasha- Betrayal!
Naraku- A story with me in it!
Haldir- Sweet Misery!
All- Err…why is he here?
Haldir! Go back to your own A/N!
Haldir- He he…sorry…
All right, I'm really leaving now! (leaves)
Miroku- Hey guys, where'd the author go?
Inuyasha- Eeep! We better follow her before the fan girls get us!
Miroku- Fan girls eh? (winks)
MIROKU!
Miroku- COMING!