Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.

Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews!!! :D Many thanks to Darklight14, kouga's older woman, JEN-SVU, Diamond369, kidalare, Midnight-Ninja-Of-The-Darkness, jiselle101, breaking-midnight, xoxolove-live-partyxoxo, Kaggy-Higgs88, LovesYaoi123, BoredGirl17, 888Amy888, and SharaMoon for reviewing. Darklight14, I will try my best to see if killing Rin can fit in the story, but I highly doubt I will even re-mention her again since she moved out with Sesshomaru thanks to the tension in the house :P. kidalare, if I had made Kikyo bring Kagome to her house, Inuyasha would have found a way to find Kagome again since he does, in fact love her, and because Kagome would have Alane with her. And your welcome. For updating, I mean. :D

Never Again

Alane started crying while Kagome lost her focus on Kikyo. All blurs, everywhere, getting even more blurry, smudging, running together... the lights of this world, turning dark...

Another gunshot rang through the office. Kagome looked around, and thankfully, Alane was not the one shot. She had to look down to figure out what part of her body had. Her thigh was now not the only thing covered in crimson, but her calf on the same leg was also dripping the thick substance of her blood. Some had splattered on Kikyo's face, who wiped it off, but only succeeded in smearing it across her cheek. "Wake up, bitch," Kikyo snorted, "then die."

It's over, Kagome thought. All of my life... ending. Kagome closed her eyes, and Kikyo slapped her, bringing Kagome's eyes open again. "Wake up, I said."

Kagome just looked at Kikyo with all the hate she could muster without feeling her leg. Don't think about it, don't think about it, Kagome thought.

She was thinking about it.

But Kagome's whimpering was not heard by Kikyo, because Kikyo laughed. It didn't sound mentally deranged, or even evil, it just sounded like a spoiled brat getting what she wanted... again.

That was until footsteps were heard on the concrete floor of the deserted store. Kikyo didn't hear them; she was laughing. Kagome heard it... because it was going to help her. She knew it. Now her leg didn't hurt anymore. Alane would live. Alane would...

-.-.-

Bringing his hand up to the door knob, Inuyasha opened it just in time to see Kikyo taking the saftey off the pistol, aimed at Alane.

Within five seconds, Inuyasha proccessed what was happening to know that no way in hell did he love Kikyo. And that he did love Kagome, who was staring right at him with a smile he hadn't seen since... well, since he had betrayed her. Kagome... Kagome... Kagome!

Now, now, Inuyasha, your little girl is about to get shot and all you can think about is Kagome? ... FINALLY!

... Alane! ... There you go.

"Kikyo!!" Inuyasha yelled as he ran across the floor. Kikyo stiffened at the sound of her name being said by that voice. She knew that voice. She loves who it belongs to so she probably should know the voice and that in the tone that he said that word in, know he did not love her anymore.

Inuyasha knocked Kikyo down with such force that the gun flung out of her hand across the room. "NO!" She screamed, wriggling to get up and retreive the dropped item.

"I don't think so," Inuyasha said through gritted teeth. Kikyo stopped wriggling and looked up at his face.

"Oh, Inuyasha--"

"Don't even start."

Kikyo pouted and Inuyasha looked to Kagome. Seeing her bloodied leg for the first time, he turned back and gaped at Kikyo. That she was capable of trying to murder someone... he fought off a shiver while he walked over to Kagome.

"Are you okay?"

She nodded without giving an answer, her teeth were closed shutfor a reason: so that she wouldn't scream all the profanities in her vocabulary at the pain. Kagome jerked her head towards Alane.

"Right. Untieing her, then you." Kagome nodded uncertainly. This was very wierd. Kikyo was still on the floor, catching her breath from the fall (Inuyasha is very muscular :D :D).

After untieing Alane and picking her up, he untied Kagome with one hand. Once she was untied, Kagome looked up at Inuyasha in a way that said 'Do you expect me to start walking?'

Alane made a bubbling noise kind of like laughing, and Inuyasha turned around to look at the door. Kikyo was standing in front of it, gun in hand, saftey off. Instantly, Inuyasha froze. He put Alane in Kagome's lap, who put her arms around Kagome's neck. Both Inuyasha's and Kagome's eyes stayed locked on Kikyo's.

"What do you want, Kikyo?"

Kagome shivvered as she responded, "I want them dead."

Inuyasha managed not to frown when he said in as stern a voice he could, "Drop the gun, Kikyo."

"No." Kikyo answered reflexively. Inuyasha put his arms up and began walking towards her slowly.

Kikyo moved the pistol to point at Kagome. Inuyasha froze where he was, and tried another tactic. "I wouldn't marry you if you did this, Kikyo." He smiled at her gently, friendly.

Kikyo lowered the gun slightly, then repositioned it at Kagome. "No, you still wouldn't even if I did let them live."

Inuyasha wavered. "Kagome is dieing Kikyo. She's loosing blood too fast." He lowered his voice to a whisper. "Please, Kikyo, don't do it."

Slowly, ever so slowly, did Kikyo lower the gun.

"Alright. But--"

Kikyo didn't get to finish the sentence. Inuyasha was up and running towards her, until he had the gun in his own hands, pointing it at Kikyo. "Get out," he said.

"Drive to the house. Pack your things. You can keep the car to drive away--just get out." He growled the words at her, and she sprinted out the door. Inuyasha heard the engine starting and tired skidding as he made his way to Kagome. "Why would you... ?"

Inuyasha shook his head. "Never will I let this happen to you ever again. I promise. I love you, and I will do everything I can to make sure you know it."

Kagome smiled, then grunted when the white-hot pain shot down her leg again. "Well, you can start by getting me to a hospital."

-.-.-

Author's Note: There's the ending. If I decide to do an epilouge, you guys will be the first to know.