Chapter 20: Many Partings: Epilogue

Disclaimer: I don’t own Inuyasha. I do own the original characters.

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Sango and Kagome ran through Naraku’s castle. They needed to find the other half of the Shikon jewel and Kagome’s senses told her it was somewhere in the castle.

“I hope we find it soon!” Sango told Kagome while running.

“It’s just up ahead!” Kagome replied. They ran faster and entered into a dark room.

“So you showed up,” came a familiar female voice.

“Kikyou!” Kagome gasped.

“Give me the other half of the Shikon no Tama,” Kikyou ordered.

“No way!” Kagome growled, clutching tightly to her half of the Shikon jewel.

“Don’t put up a fight girl! I need the Shikon no Tama,” Kikyou growled back.

“So do we!” Kagome countered. Kikyou got up and walked over to Kagome. Kagome stood her ground and glared up at Kikyou. Kikyou glared back and grabbed Kagome’s hand. “What are you doing!?” she demanded. Kikyou pried the Shikon jewel from Kagome’s grasp.

“Helping a friend,” Kikyou answered and walked out of the room.

“She just stole the jewel from us!” Kagome exclaimed, angry.

“Let’s get it back then!” Sango exclaimed and ran after Kikyou. Kagome was hot on her heels. They followed Kikyou right out to the back of the castle where a tomb was. The entered the tomb and saw Kikyou standing over a body. She murmured something and the Shikon no Tama glowed. The body started to move and sat up.

“Kikyou-sama?” came the dark voice of Kurai.

“My dear friend, I have restored the life you gave up for me. No more lying dormant in your reincarnation’s body,” Kikyou said.

“Thank you Kikyou-sama!” Kurai hugged Kikyou.

“That fool Naraku saved your body for you,” Kikyou whispered.

“Naraku will pay for his attack on Kari,” Kurai declared.

“This is incredibly weird!” Kagome exclaimed silently. Kikyou and Kurai looked at Sango and Kagome.

“Thank you, Kagome, for befriending my niece and reincarnated form,” Kurai thanked the young teen.

“Your niece!?” Kagome exclaimed.

“Did my sister not tell you?” Kikyou asked. Kagome shook her head. “Kari is a descendent of Kurai’s brother as well as her reincarnation.”

“I... see,” Kagome answered, feeling weirded out.

“Kikyou-sama! We have to help Inuyasha-sama fight Naraku! Kagome, I would be honoured if you would fight along side us,” Kurai said, bowing politely before Kagome. Kagome looked over at Kikyou who answered with a nod and a smile. ‘Kikyou’s not that bad after all,’ Kagome thought.

“Of course I will!” Kagome cheered enthusiastically. The three mikos and Sango ran back to the fight.

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Miroku set Kari down on the ground by a lake. He had run as fast as he could to get away from Naraku’s castle. The farther away Kari was from that place the better. He gently pulled the sword from her body. He had been in such a rush that he had forgotten to do it before he left with her. He tossed the sword aside and knelt down next to her.

“Stay with me Kari,” he told her and ripped the bottom of her kimono. He dipped the ripped cloth into the lake and then used it to clean the wound on her back.

“That hurts,” she mumbled.

“Kari! You’re still alive!” he exclaimed, relieved.

“I don’t deserve to be,” she said softly. Miroku took another piece of cloth and dipped it into the lake water.

“Don’t say that,” Miroku told her.

“It’s true! I almost killed Kouga and attacked Inuyasha,” she reminded him.

“It wasn’t your fault. You were under Naraku’s evil influence,” he told her.

“I was still aware of my actions,” she stated.

“Forgive me,” Miroku told her and opened the upper part of her kimono so he could get to the wound.

“Forgiven,” she mumbled and looked away. After a few minutes of silence, Kari looked back at Miroku “Are you okay Miroku-sama?” she asked him.

“Yes, I am. Thank you Lady Kari,” he thanked her. Miroku used the last of the torn cloth as a makeshift bandage. “That should work until we return to Kaede’s,” he told her. Kari nodded and covered herself with her kimono.

“I guess I owe you double now. You kept my secret and saved my life,” she said.

“It’ll be enough to see you with your lover,” Miroku answered.

“Lover?” she asked, looking him in the eye.

“Kouga. He was miserable without you. It’ll be nice to see you two happy,” he told her.

“It won’t work Miroku, Kouga and I. He got mad at me and left me alone because of my attachment to Inuyasha. He said it himself,” Kari told him. “I thought it was love, but it was just a way to console our grief. He was just starting to realize Kagome would never love him and I was just looking for somewhere to fit in,” she continued.

“Maybe you should give your family a chance,” suggested the young monk.

“Maybe I will,” Kari said, nodding slightly. “You know, you’re not as bad as Kagome says you are,” she told him.

“Oh? What has Kagome told you?” he asked curiously.

“That you’re just a lecherous monk that hits on every woman you see,” she replied. Miroku chuckled nervously.

“That’s uh... not exactly wrong,” he laughed. Kari raised an eyebrow.

“So that’s why you were looking inside my kimono!” she blurted out.

“What? No! Well, maybe... but I had to to be able to clean your injuries!” he stammered.

“You’re funny, Miroku-sama,” laughed Kari. Miroku glared at her.

“That wasn’t amusing,” he said.

“Oh sure it was! You should have seen the look on your face!” snickered Kari. Miroku shook his head and sighed. “We should start heading back to Kaede’s. The others will be there as soon as they defeat Naraku,” Miroku said and stood up.

“A little help?” she asked, extending her hand to him. Miroku smiled at her and helped her to her feet. He held her tightly against him to support her. “It’ll take forever to reach Kaede’s place like this,” she whined. Miroku’s smiled widened and he scooped her up off her feet. “Well, uh... this way works... I guess,” she stammered, blushing a bit.

“It does indeed,” he agreed and ran off.

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Inuyasha slashed at Naraku mercilessly with Tetsusaiga. At the same time, Kouga was attacking with his sword. They were doing very little damage between the too of them. Naraku laughed evilly and knocked Kouga away.

“Damn it!” Inuyasha snarled as he dodged Naraku.

“Naraku!” came Kikyou’s voice. Naraku turned around and saw Kikyou standing there with her bow drawn and an arrow ready to be fired.

“Kikyou!” he hissed.

“It’s time for you to die Naraku!” came Kagome’s voice. Naraku turned to his left and saw her standing just like Kikyou.

“You’re going to pay for all the lives you took!” Kurai’s voice came from the right. Naraku growled when he saw her was cornered.

“Have fun in Hell Naraku!” Inuyasha said and sliced right through him with Tetsusaiga. The three mikos fired their arrows and they hit Naraku. The combined powers of Tetsusaiga and the three sacred arrows caused Naraku’s body to be destroyed as well as his evil spirit.

“We did it!” Kagome cheered, jumping up and down excitedly. Sango joined her friend and hugged her.

“Kagome! Sango!” Inuyasha yelled and ran to them. Kikyou walked over to Kurai.

“Let’s go Kurai,” instructed Kikyou.

“But what about Inuyasha-sama?” Kurai asked.

“He’s with the one he truly loves,” Kikyou said and watched her old flame embrace her reincarnation.

“I’m sorry Kikyou-sama,” Kurai said softly.

“It’s okay,” Kikyou replied. The two of them walked off into the night.

“Inuyasha!” Kouga called. Inuyasha turned and looked at the wolf Youkai.

“Tell Kari I’m sorry, but things won’t work out between us!” Kouga ordered and ran off.

“Well that was odd,” commented Kagome. Inuyasha shrugged.

“We should probably go catch up with Miroku and Kari. Who knows what he’s doing with her,” Sango told her two friends.

“That lech better not touch her!!” Inuyasha roared.

“Calm down Inuyasha. Miroku would never take advantage of an injured woman... I hope,” Kagome tried to reassure Inuyasha.

“Both of you get on my back now!” barked Inuyasha, paranoid. Kagome and Sango looked at each other and climbed on Inuyasha’s back. Inuyasha sped off, determined to catch up to Miroku and Kari.

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Kaede greeted Kagome, Sango, and Inuyasha at the door when they arrived. Inuyasha pushed passed the old woman and looked around.

“How’s Kari?” Kagome asked.

“She shall be fine. She got lucky,” Kaede answered.

“Where is she? Where’s Miroku?” demanded Inuyasha, sounding greatly paranoid.

“Kari is resting. Miroku’s been by her side the whole time,” Kaede told the Hanyou.

“WHAT!?” exclaimed Inuyasha. “How could you let that lecherous monk stay alone with her!?”

“Calm down Inuyasha. It was the young lady’s idea,” Kaede told him. Inuyasha growled and stormed off to the room Kari was in. The three women followed behind to stop him from doing anything stupid. Inuyasha threw open the door to the room and stopped dead in his tracks. His jaw hit the ground and his eyes were wide. Sango and Kagome peaked over his shoulders to see why he had stopped and their reaction was similar. What they saw shocked them beyond all belief.

Lying on the floor in front of them were Kari and Miroku. Miroku was perched on top of Kari and the two of them were making out. Inuyasha felt his blood start to boil. He knew it wasn’t wise to entrust Miroku with watching a woman. Inuyasha stormed over to the pair and grabbed Miroku by the neck of his robes.

“Get your filthy hands of her lech!” he growled. Kari and Miroku looked up at Inuyasha.

“Uh... heh heh... hello Inuyasha,” Miroku chuckled nervously.

“Onii-san... what are you doing back so soon?” Kari asked, blushing brightly. Inuyasha glared at her.

“What... what were you doing with this lecherous monk!?” he demanded.

“Uh... he’s was doing a thorough examination of uh... my mouth?” she replied. Inuyasha fell over, stunned by her comment. Miroku managed to squirm free and dove behind Kari.

“Save me,” he whispered into her ear. Kari giggled and took hold of his hand.

“I’ll try my best,” she replied. Inuyasha scrambled to his feet and growled.

“You’re a coward Miroku!”

“Inuyasha-onii-san, don’t you care about me?” Kari asked out of the blue. Inuyasha’s attention moved to Kari.

“Huh?”

“Don’t you care?” she asked again, tears pooling in her eyes.

“No! Don’t start crying!” Inuyasha protested. Kagome and Sango watched, amused.

“You don’t want me to be happy! You just want to kill Miroku for taking care of me!!!!” she wailed. Inuyasha covered his ears.

“All right! I’ll leave him alone! JUST SHUT UP!” Inuyasha yelled. Kari stopped wailing and smiled.

“Thank you Inuyasha-onii-san!!” she chirped happily. Inuyasha muttered something and looked at Miroku.

“I’ll be watching you!” he warned and stormed off. Miroku snuggled Kari from behind.

“You’re really something Miroku,” Sango told him and left.

“I’ll come back to check on you tomorrow Kari. Right now I need to calm Inuyasha. Behave you two!” Kagome waved and left as well.

“She’s going to make me leave right away Miroku. I saw it in her expression,” Kari answered.

“I know, but you can come back anytime through the well,” he told her.

“I don’t know about that anymore, Miroku-sama. Kurai and I separated. I felt it,” whispered Kari.

“Then don’t return,” Miroku told her, kissing her neck.

“I have to,” she told him, trying not to cry. Miroku stopped kissing her and turned her so she was facing him.

“Hey, it’s okay. The important thing is we met and had fun, right? Who knows, maybe I’ll get lucky and be reincarnated too. I promise we’ll see each other again,” he told her.

“Promises are always broken Miroku,” she said.

“Then I’ll try my hardest to see you again,” he told her. Kari laughed.

“You’re very persistent, Miroku-sama.”

“Persistence is the key to getting what you want when you want it,” he replied with a smirk.

“Didn’t Kagome say to behave?” giggled Kari.

“And everyone says I have a dirty mind,” the monk teased.

“I learnt from you, Miroku-sama,” retorted Kari.

“Are you sure you won’t stay? You could become my apprentice,” he asked. Kari started laughing again.

“I’m sure Miroku-sama.” Miroku nodded understandingly. “I’ll never forget you, Miroku-sama. You maybe just another lecherous monk, but you’re a good friend too and one Hell of a kisser,” she told him, feeding his ego.

“You’re not bad yourself,” he complimented her. Kari grinned at him and kissed him.

“Stay with me tonight?” she asked.

“Of course,” he replied and held her closer.

“Inuyasha will kill us both... but it’s worth it,” she murmured.

“Indeed it is. Now you should get some rest. You need to get some energy back,” he instructed.

“Yes Miroku-sama,” she saluted him and laid her head on his shoulder. Miroku kissed her on the forehead and lay back with her still tucked in his arms.

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“Goodbye everyone!” Kari waved.

“Farewell Lady Kari,” Kaede said to the young girl.

“Goodbye Lady Kaede! I’ll miss you!” Kari hugged the elderly woman. Shippou hopped on Kari’s shoulder.

“Try to come back and visit, okay Kari? We can become great friends if you do!” he told her. Kari smiled at the little kitsune Youkai.

“You bet Shippou! Maybe one day you could come through the well and visit me too!” she told him.

“It was nice meeting you, Kari. You and Kagome watch out for each other, okay?” Sango said.

“As long as you take care of the guys for us,” Kari stated firmly.

“Of course,” Sango agreed smiling.

“Goodbye Lady Kari. It was a true pleasure while it lasted,” Miroku told her as he took her hand and kissed it.

“I told you he’s not a lecherous monk Kagome,” Kari laughed. Kagome laughed and stuck her tongue out at Kari. Inuyasha stood aside and watched. He hated to admit that he was sad to see Kari leave. He knew Kagome would visit frequently but Kari would never be able to again. Kari looked over at him. “Excuse me for a moment,” she said, pulling her hand free from Miroku. She went to join Inuyasha.

“So you’re leaving,” he stated casually.

“Yeah. Thanks for everything,” she thanked him.

“It was nothing,” he shrugged it off, trying to act cold and uncaring. Kari reached behind her neck and unclasped a gold chain that hung from her neck. Inuyasha watched her, noticing the necklace for the first time.

“My mom told me that my Dad bought this for me before he died. It’s a locket with his picture in it. He knew he was going to die and he wanted me to remember him. Now I’m giving it to you so you’ll remember me,” she said and put the necklace around his neck.

“Kari...” Inuyasha said getting choked up.

“It’s okay to feel sad and cry when someone you love leaves. I’ll see you whenever you come through the well,” she told him wiping her own tears away.

“I’ll miss you!” he exclaimed and hugged her.

“I’ll miss you too, Nii-chan,” she hugged him back. Inuyasha pecked her on the cheek and pushed her towards Kagome.

“Go on before you make me do something stupid like cry,” he said, trying to hide his emotions from the others. Kari laughed.

“We wouldn’t want to do that now would we?”

“Of course not, now go before I change my mind and make you stay,” he said, pushing her some more. Kari smiled, nodded, and ran back over to Kagome.

“Ready?” Kari asked.

“Yeah,” nodded Kagome.

“Goodbye everyone! I can’t wait until our next adventure together!” Kari called and the two girls hopped down into the well.

When they emerged on the other side, both girls’ families were waiting for them.

“Kari!” Camellia cried and ran to her daughter.

“Gah! Mom, be careful!” Kari yelped as her mother gave her a crushing hug.

“You’re hurt!” Camellia exclaimed.

“It’s fine Mom, just a little sword wound,” Kari laughed. Camellia paled and looked at her daughter.

“What were you doing there!?” she demanded, sounding just as paranoid as Inuyasha.

“Oh, just saving the life of a lecherous monk. Nothing unusual,” Kari shrugged her mom’s worry off. Camellia looked like she was about to faint. “I’ll tell you everything at home Mama,” Kari stated.

“That sounds like a plan,” Kari’s stepfather agreed. Kari turned and looked at Kagome.

“I’ll see you at school tomorrow Kagome! See you!” she yelled and ran to her family.

“Thank you Kagome,” Camellia thanked her daughter’s friend and joined her family as well. Kagome watched with a smile as Kari and her family walked off into the sunset.

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Preview of the Sequel:

(Taken from Chapter 1: Memories and Meetings)

“Kari, pinch me,” Kagome said. Kari pinched Kagome who winced.
“Now your turn to pinch me,” Kari mumbled and Kagome pinched her. “This really isn’t a dream, is it?”
“I can’t believe it’s her!” Kagome responded. The woman walked to her own table and sat down. She pulled a book from her bag and started reading. While they were watching the woman in black, a man was watching them through the café window.
“I wonder if the others are here too,” Kari mused quietly.
“Inuyasha and Miroku and Shippou, my three favourite guys,” Kagome sighed happily.
“Hey now, Miroku-sama’s mine!” Kari warned Kagome.
“I know, but he’s one of my friends even though he is a lecherous monk,” Kagome giggled.
“He’s a hot lecherous monk,” Kari said in his defence.
“Sure he is,” Kagome teased.
“Oh, he is! And a good kisser too,” Kari said with a sly grin.
“Oh great, you’re a lecherous college student now,” Kagome sighed in exasperation.
“Haha... no,” Kari replied.
“Hey, isn’t that your brother?” Kagome asked, looking back at the woman in black’s table. Kari looked over as well and her jaw dropping again.
“It is! What’s Shinwa doing with her!?” Kari replied. Shinwa was her older stepbrother and another one of her best friends. “Let’s go over there!” Kari exclaimed quietly and got up.
“Kari, wait!” Kagome called a little too late. Kari was already at the table and making small talk with Shinwa. Kagome sighed and joined her friend.