Betrayal

It wasn't anything personal…

K. Higurashi

Kagome Higurashi calmly sipped on the cup out tea as she watched Ashley interact with the few kids in town. The corners of her lips perked up, hidden behind the cup. The woman, though looking tired, seemed to interact well with the children. Kagome inhaled the scent of the black tea and realized she missed her mother's green tea mix.

"Do you have any little ones?"

Kagome blinked, tearing her eyes away from the children and back to Ashley. Sapphire and brown clashed before Kagome softly smiled and replied, "I adopted a young one."

"Not one for the old fashioned way?" Ashley teased and motioned her eyes upstairs.

Upstairs, that's were Dean was, currently showering away the grime from the woods and the dust from the hotel. Kagome's eyes widened as her mind caught up to her and she realized what the woman was implying. Roughly, due to nerves, she set the teacup down and shook her head.

"I've never had the time," Kagome quickly excused.

"Really," Ashley drawled.

"Really," Kagome agreed, hoping that would end the topic.

"You ever wanted a family?" Ashley questioned as she handed out another sandwich. Glancing back at Kagome, she noticed the way she squirmed and with a smirk stated, "It's not every day a hero comes to town." The woman sighed, making eye contact, "It may be cliché, but I wonder what a hero's hopes and dreams may be."

Kagome propped her elbow upon the table and exhaled as she rested the side of her face in the palm of her hand. The constant traveling always had a way of pushing away dreams. That's all they could be, dreams, for the simple fact she knew that there was no future for her so to speak.

"I always wanted kids," Kagome finally admitted. Ashley offered a kind smile as she moved out of the crowd of children and toward the table. "I always wanted two boys and a girl."

"Two boys?" Ashley questioned, surprised.

"Yep, two boys," Kagome mused. "So they could watch out for each other."

"And the girl?" Ashley asked.

"I need someone to dress cutely and help keep the boys in line and vice versa," Kagome answered.

"Is your boyfriend interested in kids?" Ashley asked with a smirk.

Kagome laughed a single mocking bark as she seriously said, "Dean?"

"Yes, Dean!" Ashley stressed.

"Dean's not mine and he's not into that," Kagome softly muttered.

"Dean's not into what?"

Kagome whipped her gaze to Dean who jogged down the last few steps. His hair was still wet, but starting to spike up and his skin was damp causing his clothes to cling to his body. He winked at Kagome causing her to blush and pick up her cup once more and hide her face behind it.

"You're not going in unprepared," Kagome smoothly lied.

Dean cocked an eyebrow he replied, "Depends on what I'm going into."

Kagome choked on her tea and tried to cover it up with a cough before she drank the warm liquid in an attempt to soothe her throat. Dean chuckled and took a seat at the table and stared at Kagome as she kept her face hidden with the cup.

"You can't keep hidden in that cup," Dean pointed out.

Kagome softly scowled, but lowered the cup gently onto the table as she stated, "And I meant going into battle."

"Ah," Dean scoffed, "figured that."

Kagome rolled her eyes as she lifted the teacup and finished the liquid. Her eyes darted to the window where she saw that it was still dark. Glancing at the clock she realized that it was about eight in the evening. Deeply, she inhaled and relaxed, allowing her senses to spread out.

"So," Ashley drawled, "have you found out what's causing this and how to stop it?"

"Yeah," Dean mumbled.

"And it's currently towards the dock," Kagome informed.

"What, he just waiting there?" Dean asked, confused.

Kagome didn't answer. Instead, she let her gaze refocus and turn it back out the window. She knew that Naraku wouldn't let her sense him if he hadn't turned the odds in his favor. It was a trap and she knew it. There was no other way to describe this convenience. Kagome bit her lower lip in annoyance at that thought. It meant that she would be dragging Dean into danger, which she didn't want. After the incident with Inuyasha, well, she didn't want a repeat. Kagome stopped chewing her lip and sighed because she knew Dean would be coming regardless of anything she said.

"What do you want to do?" Dean asked as he looked at her expectantly.

"I want to go to the bathroom," Kagome mumbled.

Dean watched as she quickly moved away from the tables and ran up the stairs. Once her footsteps stopped he sighed and glanced at Ashley, who stared at him.

"She wasn't this edgy until you came," Ashley flatly stated and then she moved away from the table.

Dean glared at her back before he switched his gaze to the ceiling. He'd be edgy too, but she needed to open up to him. Dean sighed as he pushed away from table and ran up the stairs after her. He was good at many things, but a heart to heart talk? That wasn't him. All he could do was pound on her door and then tell her to get her act together. He reached the shut door and licked his lips before he knocked on the door.

"Kagome."

He waited a few moments and rolled his eye as he knocked again.

"Kagome, open the door."

Dean had never been the most patient person in the world. He knocked harder and scowled at the wood.

"I know you can hear me, so open the damn door!"

If she was going to be immature and not answer then he was going to be immature and just barge in. He twisted the handle and was surprised to find it unlocked. Pushing the door he scowled when he saw the empty room. Dean softly cursed knowing he wouldn't find her in the shower when the window was wide open and the coolness of the mist was chilling the bathroom. He crossed the distance, slammed the window shut and moved out the door.

He couldn't wait to shoot something.

Kagome had landed on the balls of her feet, thankful for the youkai that had cursed her. It was because of that youkai that she found she could withstand more than the average human. Kagome ran, endurance strong as she ran towards the town knowing that from there she could reach the docks. She shifted the bow upon her shoulder and smirked.

'I've got no arrows,' Kagome mentally sang.

She had quickly discovered that this island wasn't big on archery, and the arrows, she had been shooting, had vanished with those souls. Kagome scowled as she made it into town. Her eyes scanned the area and quickly noted no threat. She moved toward the town wondering where exactly Naraku was hiding. He had done a wonderful job of hiding his himself once more, which didn't please her. Kagome wondered if she were better off stealing a knife from one of the restaurants, and then decided against it.

'I wish I had my machete,' Kagome thought as she continued.

A weapon. She needed a weapon, something that she could use to end Naraku's life quickly and also make it quick for Souta. An exorcism was out of the question because Naraku was too strong and wouldn't leave. So, she had to make it quick for Souta's sake. Kagome made it to the docks and paused against a tin shack. She quickly moved around it, keeping her eyes upon the black forms squirming in the sea she moved into the shack.

Relief filled her being when she realized she had found a tire iron. Kagome smirked when she realized that the items in the shed were dirty and grimy. Her eyes lit up in a brilliant thought. It was going to be a long shot, but she planned to get this through before Dean could get down to the docks. Kagome quickly dipped her fingers in the black grease and began recreate the Buddhist seals upon her skin. With a determined sigh, she placed the final one upon her stomach. She waited a few moments for the grease to stain her skin before she readjusted her clothes.

"Thank you Miroku," Kagome softly murmured.

"I take it you plan to die."

Kagome turned on her heel, tire iron in hand ready to bash the strange voice's owner in the head. She took a deep breath, but didn't relax when she met the aged man's dead, grey gaze. She recognized the dead gaze and found herself not surprised.

"We keep meeting Death," Kagome softly said.

He was a refined man, Kagome thought. She couldn't call him a human and she didn't know if he was a demon, but she knew he was male. His black suite was perfectly pristine, his hands resting upon his cane as he blocked the exit of the shack.

"You are not the stupidest being I've met," Death calmly said.

"You made it obvious," Kagome spoke, not knowing if he was insulting her or not. "Cap' Ron, Charon. The pontoon named Hermes."

He smirked as he replied, "You know your mythology well."

"I've been around too long," Kagome replied, their gazes not leaving each other. "Are you here for my soul?"

Death didn't sigh or display any reaction that could be called human. He remained stoic in his face as he replied, "I am here to give you a gift to help you in your quest."

"Is this another trick of Lucifer or Naraku himself?" Kagome snapped, not pleased that those two could be toying with her.

Death shifted and his gaze darkened, the only sign of emotion she had seen upon his face. It was strange to see him reacting in such a way. Kagome watched as he reached into his black dress coat and pulled out a sickle. The blade was dark and it appeared to be old, but she could feel something within the blade, a power that caused her to go cold.

"Much like how you are bound to this quest and life," Death began calmly watching her eye the sickle as he placed it among the tools upon a table, "I am bound to Lucifer's will, despite my imprisonment."

"I can't free you," Kagome blandly stated.

"You are not meant to," Death calmly stated. "Your soul has existed, much too long Kagome." He motioned to the sickle, a pale and slender hand waving over it. "This has the power to kill anything." Her sapphire eyes darted to Death as he merely gazed at her. Kagome glared at the sickle.

"You shouldn't leave that lying around, you might lose it," Kagome advised.

Death smoothly replied, "Everything is as it was meant to be."

She didn't want to look at the sickle, but its power hummed, gently calling to her. Kagome glared at the sickle before flicking her eyes back to Death to find him gone.

The power from the sickle hummed, drawing her attention as she felt the seals she had painted upon her body burn.

Dean had found himself reflecting upon his emotions more times this past week than he had his entire life. He didn't like meeting his emotions, because caring meant you got screwed. And he could get plenty screwed without caring. Dean pushed himself against the brick of the buildings as he pumped the shotgun. His knife would be better suited to this job, but he first had to get close to Kagome and those shadows, the souls from the water were standing upon the shore, simply not moving. He wondered if a bullet would do any good against those things.

'Kagome's fairy gloss didn't do any good,' Dean thought, scowl present upon his features.

"What are you doing?"

Dean swore as he swung around to see Castiel standing behind him. His face wasn't expressing much as he stood there causing Dean to sigh.

"What the hell have I told you about announcing yourself?" Dean angrily growled.

Castiel ignored him as he looked over Dean's shoulders and saw what he was staring at. Understanding dawned upon as he realized why Mihr had warned him. She had said that the Miko was escaping and that the male would stupidly follow.

"The Miko is in the shack," Castiel stated, sensing the distinct spiritual essence of Kagome.

"She is?" Dean questioned, anger gone as he turned to face the shack sitting upon the dock. It was a small rusted shack and he couldn't understand why she would go into it.

"Kagome needs a weapon and is searching," Castiel softly said, not wanting to draw attention to himself.

"She went without a weapon?" Dean spat, anger back as he glared at the shack. "Can you…" Dean trailed off and scoffed as he glared at the spot Castiel had been. "Not one for goodbyes.

"Ka…gome, Ka…gome."

Dean instantly recognized Kagome's name. It was softly being sung; her name traveling through the mist causing the souls to still within their oily prison. Soft groans twisted through the air as the voice continued to hum.

"When will you come out?"

The voice, despite its soft tones was male. It was the pitch that confirmed the gender for Dean and left him wondering why Naraku would be singing. Glaring into the distance he spotted someone standing upon the deck.

"At dawns and evenings."

Dean knew he couldn't nail whoever was singing with this distance and didn't know exactly what those shadows could do. Despite the odds, Kagome was in that shack like sitting bait. He didn't know what move to make. The situation as usual, looked unfavorable. The voice continued to hum and his eyes narrowed as the mist shifted to reveal Kagome's brother. His hands were crossed behind his back as he hopped from plank to plank upon the dock, trying to miss the cracks.

"Crane and Turtle fell."

Souta stopped his skipping and cocked his head to the side as if he was listening to something. Dean's eyes searched the area noting that nothing had changed. And then he saw it, behind Souta an arm reached out from the oil and gripped the side of the dock. Another arm followed and his eyes widened when he noticed the sickle. The oil slithered off the sickle and off the hands. It quickly peeled away from the woman that was kneeling upon the deck.

Her cobalt eyes were focused upon Souta's back. The sickle clenched tightly in her hand as she remained still. Souta moved his hands to his sides as if sensing something was wrong.

"Who is behind you?"

Kagome softly sang and then lunged. Souta twisted around, his brown eyes wide in shock and his ears ringing with the sound of her battle cry. Forgetting he could simply teleport, he dodged the attack of the sickle and proudly admired the way she let it twist in her hand and brought it around for a backhanded swipe. Kagome growled as she jumped closer to her brother's form. Her lips curved up as his pupils widened at the brazen attack. He stumbled backward, bringing his arm up to block her wrist and keep the sickle from entering his head.

"You seem upset, are you upset?" Naraku softly taunted.

Kagome softly smirked at him as she moved forwarded and kneed him in the stomach causing him to exhale and quickly she brought her elbow down upon his head sending him to fall into the wooden planks.

"Ow!" Souta's voice cried out. "Why are you so mean, sister?"

Kagome ignored the distraction and brought the sickle down. The sickle glided through the royal purple mist that Naraku's form had turned to. She softly cursed as she watched him drift over the water and maneuver over the rolls.

"Naraku!" Kagome shouted out as she glared at the mist.

How she wished she had her arrows. There was no way to channel her purifying powers through the sickle. Life and Death could not mix and she felt the weapon's warning when she had grasped it. It was meant to kill; not protect or purify. It only knew the moments when a soul finally was released and not saved.

"You aren't supposed to have that toy," Naraku blandly stated. There was no teasing to his tone. She dared to say that he sounded upset. "I see that's Lucifer's pet has been gnawing at his leash again."

Kagome smirked before she chuckled and asked, "Are you afraid?"

He scoffed and hissed, "I fear nothing."

Kagome raised a brow as she twirled the sickle in her hand with ease and slowly eased her powers to the surface. If she couldn't see Naraku, she would sense him out.

"I think you fear death," Kagome taunted, smirking with confidence as she stated, "you are so worthless you can't stand the thought of leaving behind this world."

Naraku tried to regain confidence as he loudly laughed, "Hell has allowed me to live again! I do not fear hell."

Kagome's pupils widened when she felt Dean's presence. It was angered, but there was no denying that it was him. She glanced in his direction and saw the man leaning against the side of one of the shops. Her eyes softened, but she couldn't get distracted.

"I do not speak of hell, Naraku."

Confusion was in the air and she let her eyes drop to the forms twisting within the darkness. And then she felt his presence. Naraku was near, in fact he was standing behind her because she could hear the exhalation of air that he didn't need.

"I have the power to extinguish you."

She felt panic spike in Dean's aura and her eyes widened as he suddenly darted forward. Kagome knew that Naraku was behind her and she didn't want Dean interfering.

"Death is still nicely caged," Naraku hissed. "He is only able to manifest bits and pieces till master decides to open his cage…he can give you nothing of worth!"

Kagome felt the heat of his energy as Naraku's demonic aura flared. She turned and fell backwards as his hand shot towards her neck. Kagome twisted and dodged his hits until he sharply jabbed her in the face with his knee sending her to the ground. She tightly gripped the sickle, refusing to let it go as she fell with a sharp gasp.

"Your pet is coming!" Naraku chuckled.

Dean stared at the boy as he continued to chuckle. His brown eyes ignited with various emotions and his lips quirking. Souta widely grinned as Dean raised the shotgun and kept it aimed at the boy. Naraku chuckled as he arched a challenging brow at the human.

"All bark and no bite?" Naraku taunted the male.

Dean scowled as his eyes shifted to Kagome. The demon had a lot of guts to turn his back to Kagome and ignore her. The Miko was currently rubbing her jaw and glaring at Naraku's back as she got to her feet. The sickle scratched against the wood as she shifted and kept her gaze upon Naraku.

"If you move, I'll kill him," Naraku calmly said.

Kagome's eyes shot back to Dean and she softly cursed when she saw the violet mist rising from the ground and surrounding Dean. Dean's eyes widened, but instantly recognized that this was a bad situation. It brushed against the material of his jeans quickly eating through the material before backing away from him. Naraku smirked as he turned his gaze to Kagome. Her hands were clenched as a bead of sweat rolled down her face.

'What can I do?'

She couldn't risk Dean's safety, not for her revenge. Yet, she wanted to free Souta. It was important that she didn't fail, because if she failed, then Souta was damned to Naraku's methods. Souta's face twisted in pain as the echoing sound of a gunshot was consumed by the mist. The blood from the wound smacked her in the face as the bullet exploded from his shoulder. Kagome's eyes darted to the smoking barrel of the gun as Naraku gripped his injure shoulder and fell to his knees. The mist twisted and began to close in on Dean.

Kagome tucked the sickle into her pants and took off in a sprint. Her heart ached as she heard Souta's voice call out to her. There was a more important person she had to reach, a person that still had a chance at life.

'He will live,' Kagome thought.

Determination caused her to run into the miasma. Her Miko Ki flared around her, protecting her from the evil as she reached Dean. His eyes were upon her, watching her skin glimmer with the natural powers she carried within her. Her lips curled up and she stood before him. Her mouth opened and Dean shook his head as he took her hand and wove their fingers together.

"Nothing corny," Dean muttered with a smirk.

Kagome heard Naraku's howl of rage as she let her energy flow into Dean with ease. His aura easily accepted her as something safe. The sound of footsteps reached her ears and she turned and used her free arm to block the punch that was aimed for her head. Dean brought the gun around once more and Naraku easily caught it. He watched as the barrel dissolved and he dropped the useless weapon as Kagome twisted her body using her right fist in an attempt to catch the demon with an uppercut.

Souta's eyes flashed with darkness and she knew this was going to get out of hand. He hadn't attempted to run she knew that he now meant business. Kagome pushed Dean backwards; his Miko Ki filled body allowing him to pass through the Miasma unharmed.

"Foolish Miko!" Naraku hissed.

Kagome charged and roundhouse kicked, determined to injure him. He caught her ankle and threw her to the ground. Her head smacked the ground and she groaned as she curled up in a ball to comfort the injury. Dean swung and Naraku caught his wrist. A twist of his hand and the sound of snapping bone had her eyes widening in fear as she heard a guttural groan of pain. Naraku kicked the man to the ground and tightly gripped his throat.

"Prepare to watch him die," he growled.

"No!" Kagome cried out as she moved. She remained on her knees as she cried out, "Please! Spare him!"

Naraku laughed, the deep tone twisting out of Souta's mouth. Kagome pulled the sickle from her belt and tossed it toward Naraku, eyes filled with tears.

"I'll give you my body!" Kagome pleaded. "I can't stand to lose another."

Naraku paused at this and looked over his shoulder to stare at her. Her face was dirtied from the fight, her hair was frazzled, and her eyes red with unshed tears. She dug her hands into the dirt and he let his eyes fall from her to the sickle at his feet. He softly chuckled as he let the male fall the ground. Dean didn't matter, he was and would always be trash to Naraku. This Miko was the true prize, the one that he had sought out. Even when he burned in hell, there wasn't a moment he hadn't thought of her. A smirk twisted his features, he could overtake her body and then kill her beloved brother and Dean with her own hands. There was no way she could purify him from her body, it was only a matter of getting in.

"You'll let me in?" Naraku questioned.

"If you leave them alone I will," Kagome sighed. "I am so tired of fighting and want them safe."

"Ka…"

A swift kick to the guy silenced Dean from speaking. Naraku turned his gaze to the Miko as he regarded her. Everything that she had would be his and he would parade her away like a woman does a new purse. She would be his favorite outfit; his favorite everything.

"Any tricks and I'll kill Souta like that," Naraku stated as he snapped his fingers.

Kagome nodded and then watched as the black mist poured from Souta's mouth.

Despite the pained look that Souta carried, she cried. She remembered his birthday and that his favorite type of cake was an ice cream cake. The echo of his voice calling out for Inuyasha had her tearing up even more. She wondered if he blamed her for the death of Mama and Grandfather, she hoped not; however she would happily take the blame if it eased his soul.

The darkness descended upon her and she noticed Dean call out to her. His hand gripped the sickle as she felt the black fog forcefully enter through her mouth and clog her nose. She reached up and gripped her throat as she wordlessly cried out.

'I will not fail,' Kagome sorrowfully thought.

She could feel the last of her consciousness ebbing away as the black fog fully entered her.

Dean Winchester had seen many things in his life; he had even witnessed his own father expel a demon. Yet, he had never seen someone willingly take a demon into them. Souta's body fell to the ground like a puppet that had its strings cut and Kagome's eyes became alive with a new color and gaze. Dean tightly gripped the sickle and wondered if this was how she planned to save her brother. A deep male laughter escaped Kagome's throat and he glared at the creature that was in her.

"Finally," Naraku murmured as if he had received the greatest gift.

He watched as Kagome's hands flared not with pink, but with a dark purple energy. It was like a physical proof of the corruption that had befallen her. Dean got to his feet and twirled the sickle in his hand; he would save Kagome the only way he knew how. Naraku smirked and waved his new right hand. Dean suddenly had the feeling of not being on his feet which ended when his back hit the metal shack. Naraku deeply laughed.

"Time to die!" Naraku stated in her voice.

He winced at the feeling of pain, but quickly opened his eyes and struggled against the hold, but remained stuck to the metal. Naraku chuckled as he moved closer to the captive Dean. He stepped over the body of Souta and smirked as he made his way to the Winchester.

"I thought you agreed not to harm us," Dean pointed out.

"There was no time limit set and I didn't give my word," Naraku mocked as he finally stood a few feet from Dean.

Dean had to admit that the darkened expression upon her face looked more than like it belonged there. They all had darkness within them, but Kagome's seemed to be a special case. It was a darkness born of regret. Naraku reached out and using Kagome's hand he brushed the curves of Dean's face in contemplation before he pulled back in thought. Dean scoffed and chuckled as he tried to free the hand with the sickle. He heard a groan and saw the boy twitch on the ground.

"Such irony," Naraku mused. "She wished to save those closest to her heart and now I'll use her hands to destroy you both."

He reached out with her right hand and felt along Dean's chest until he could feel the steady beat of his heart. Naraku wanted to time this perfectly, make sure that he reached clear through the chest, squeeze his beating heart, and then rip it out. It was important that he experience every detail so he could relay it to the Kagome that was just beneath the surface. She would experience this and she would suffer.

Naraku pulled back his hand and grinned as he struck. As his nails dug into Dean's chest his arm froze. Kagome's left hand reached out and gripped Dean's hand that held the sickle.

"Not this time," he heard her mutter.

Kagome brought the hand holding the sickle up and dug it under her ribs. Naraku's scream of pain overpowered her own as Dean fell to his feet. He gripped the short handle of the sickle in attempt to pull it out, but the muscles of her body tensed as she fell to her knees. Her head was thrown backwards and she laughed as Naraku tried to escape.

"I made my body a seal…to keep you from escaping!"

Dean saw the black grease marks upon her skin. She spat up blood and fell to her back. His eyes widened as he watched an electric current pass through her body and Naraku gave a final scream. She fully relaxed with the sickle in her chest and exhaled. Dean reached for the weapon and Kagome placed her hand over his own and smirked.

"Not this time," Kagome muttered.

"You can't die," Dean stated, more to assure himself.

She coughed up more blood and turned honest sapphire eyes to him and gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.

"At Ashley's house," Kagome softly sighed. "There is a book I keep in my pack…make sure Souta gets it…and you can have my…"

"Stop talking as if you're dying!" Dean snapped.

Kagome blandly looked at him and said, "I am dying. This is Death's sickle and its breaking down the youki in my body before moving onto my body."

He didn't know what to say that, but he couldn't believe this was happening. This was the girl that had lived centuries and endured so much and she was dying because of what looked like some old rusty farming tool. The sound of gravel crunching under foot caused him to look up and he scowled when he saw the two angels.

"Heal her," Dean demanded.

Castiel looked uncomfortable and Mihr he noticed, she looked somber. She gave a sharp shake of her head and he found himself angry. Kagome gripped his wrist drawing his attention back to her.

"Take my book on youkai," Kagome firmly stated and then coughed.

"But..."

She smiled up at him and interrupted him as she said, "Dean, remember to live."

He opened his mouth and Mihr approached. She placed a petite hand upon Kagome's forehead and shut the woman's eyes and then slowly pulled. Dean watched as a pink glow consumed her body and he pulled the sickle from her and set it by her body. When he looked up he saw a translucent Kagome standing next to Mihr. In the blink of an eye, they were both gone and it was only Castiel, the body, and Dean.

"She's in a better place," Castiel firmly stated.

"She really…died?" Dean questioned, not quiet believing it.

Her body was still warm and even though she was still, he could imagine her laughing. He tightly shut his eyes and frowned at the situation. His frown deepened when his arms felt lighter. Glancing down, he saw that her body was crumbling, turning to dust only to be swept away into the wind. Dean had no choice but to stand up and watch her scatter. Dean stared at the spot Kagome had been and sighed as the fog cleared and the water returned to a pristine blue. He ran a hand down his face and groaned as the weather became too bright for his mood.

"Dean," Castiel muttered, unsure how to comfort the man in his time of loss, "Kagome really is in a better place and she wants you happy."

"Just because you know something, doesn't make it any better," Dean grumbled with a scowl.

When they heard a groan they both looked at the body that was laying curled up on the dock. Dean wondered what he was supposed to do with this kid. As far as he knew, all of this kid's family was dead. Yet, Souta rolled over and opened light brown eyes and Dean watched as the kid began to sob his eyes out. It wasn't simple tears, but gut wrenching sobs mixed with mumblings of Japanese.

"Where do I go now?" Dean questioned as he looked over to the vacant spot of where Castiel had been. 'Wonderful.'

The road back to civilization had long and awkward. It wasn't like Dean could talk about Kagome to Souta since the boy partially blamed himself for her demise. Souta silently stared at the book that Kagome had left him. It was a photo album of her life and times. In the first part of the book were sketches and some little paintings of her life before the camera. It slowly moved to more modern times that had the boy smiling.

"This is you," Souta softly mumbled.

Dean stopped at the sign and turned his gaze to the photo album. His eyebrows rose as he saw a picture of him sleeping in bed. It was at one of the hotels they stayed at. He didn't remember seeing her with a camera, but sure enough on the opposite page was a picture of the Sesshoumaru's twins.

"Your sister was special," Dean scoffed and then winced; the subject was still too fresh.

"She was," Souta softly agreed and then went back to staring at the photos and being silent.

The boy was silent until they arrived on that desolate road that would lead them to wolves. He seemed to recognize the area and became twitchy. Dean hoped and prayed that these wolves would know what to do. So, when he pulled off the side of the road and parked his car in a familiar area. The Impala door shut heavily as soon as he stepped onto the gravel and waited. Kouga and his family found him the last time and so he wandered closer to the grass and waited for the youkai to find him. Glancing back over to the Impala he noticed Souta slink further down into the seat.

When he turned back around he was staring into the crystal eyes of one Wolf youkai who didn't too happy. The male crossed his arms and glared at him, his nose twitched.

"She's gone."

It wasn't asked and he didn't hesitate in his words. Dean gave a solemn nod and looked away briefly. He noticed Kouga flinch and then shake his head. The wolf moved past Dean and towards the Impala. He lifted a hand and rapped on the glass with a knuckle.

"Come on out, I know it isn't your fault," Kouga firmly said. The youkai then looked over at Dean and asked, "Did you get what she left you?"

"I don't understand how she could've…"

Kouga huffed and replied, "She wasn't invincible."

The car door opened and out stepped Souta. His brown eyes went to Kouga and then to Dean and the Winchester found himself saying, "He won't hurt you."

Dean shut his eyes, since when was he assuring humans that monsters weren't dangerous? Kouga and his family were different; they knew Kagome and Kagome didn't hang around with monsters.

"I'm sorry," Souta mumbled.

Kouga could only grin and mutter, "She did it."

Kouga reached out and held his hand out to the younger boy. Souta was reluctant, but took the wolf's hand. Crystal blue met eyes that were a dark, almost jade green. The wolf grinned and slapped Dean on the shoulder.

"Thanks for sticking by her," Kouga honestly said.

"It was hard not to," Dean replied.

Kouga looked pensive for a moment before he said, "If you need anything you know where my tribe is."

"Yeah, thanks," Dean sighed.

He watched the wolf walk Souta into the field. If there was anywhere to take him, he figured it would be beneficial to take him to Kouga. Kouga was family to Kagome and he figured he'd know what to do with the boy. Dean moved back toward his car once he realized they were gone. He leaned against the warm metal and crossed his arms. It seemed unreal to know that she was gone and that this was truly over. He looked up toward the sky and hoped she was in a better place.

'Live,' he thought.

Dean Winchester opened the passenger side of the Impala to see the book Kagome gave him and a picture. He smirked as he picked it up and stared at the photo. The picture was taken alone, but Kagome was dressed in western wear in the black and white photo. Despite the old fashioned picture, she was still smiling. Dean chuckled as he stuck the photo into the book. That was when he noticed silver ink on the inside of the cover.

You only live once, so do it right the first time!

Missing and loving you, Kagome.

Author's Note: Beta'd by OhioWriter...

It's been a long, long, long time. Yet this story is now finished and happily too. I know that some of you knew she was going to die. I tend to be in a habit of killing off Kagome in Supernatural fics, yet it fit. I had planned her to die since the first chapter; I just couldn't see her interupting the natural order of the Supernatural series, nor could I see her with a freed Souta, because that would simply be drama.

I would like to thank all of you that took time out to comment on this story, as a writer I appericate any and all feedback!

Much thanks and love,

The End!