A/N: Okay, I lied...but anyway, here it is! The last chapter! ::grins hopefully::

Chapter Nine: Always Lost

Inuyasha's fist tightened over the hilt of Tetsusaiga as he swung the massive dog-demon fang in front of him, sending monstrous waves of energy over the bleak and gray battlefield. An arrow zipped past his face, and he turned and stared in complete shock as Kikyou stood feet away from him, her master's bow held out in front of her. Her cold, gray eyes narrowed in hatred, and although he could see her lips moving no sound came out.

Against his will he started walking towards her, the massive hoards of youkai behind him forgotten as he lost himself in her calm beauty. 'Wait...didn't I kill you?' he thought, confused. Suddenly a whistling noise made him blink and look around and in the next moment Kikyou shattered into pieces and crumpled to the ground. Inuyasha opened his mouth in a noiseless shout; Sango's boomerang bone was stuck deep into the dirt where Kikyou had just stood. Sango ran towards it and dislodged it from the ground and turned to Inuyasha, "It's an offspring of Naraku, made from porcelain, like Urasue's clay dolls!" It took all of her effort to not slam her weapon into Inuyasha's skull for becoming distracted at a time like this.

"KAZAANA!" Miroku's deep yell broke through the silence Inuyasha had forced upon them, causing heads to turn in his direction as at least twenty demons were sucked into the air-void. "Miroku!" Sango screamed, and hitching Hirakoutsu over her shoulder she turned and bolted in Houshi's direction. Inuyasha rolled his eyes.

This was precisely the wrong thing to do as a second later one of Kagura's wind-blast-things caught him off guard and he flew back some ten feet before slamming into a wall. After a few seconds he pushed himself up and raked the back of his skull with a clawed hand; his fingers were stained red. "Damn!" he cursed, wiping his fingers on his haori and not noticing when his knuckles turned white because of how tight he was holding Tetsusaiga.

Kagura's blood red eyes narrowed and a thin smirk spread across her face as Inuyasha staggered towards her. "Bitch!" he said and with more force than he'd even imagined he released Tetsusaiga in mid-swing and watched as it sailed towards Kagura. Wide amber eyes watched as cold crimson ones slowly focused on Inuyasha. Kagura eyed the sword sticking through her chest with mild interest, before, with some difficulty, pulling it out and admiring it. Her bloodstained fingers almost lovingly stroked the steel blade, her eyes dancing with the flames on the hilt.

Without wasting another second (as he had done twice in the past minute) he dove forward and slammed his hand down on midair. Ripples of energy spread through the air and shredded Kagura like she was made of paper. Shreds of her striped kimono and bits and pieces of her fan littered the ground, sprinkled with bits of crimson. Inuyasha gazed around, spotted Tetsusaiga, and ran to his beloved sword.

A piercing scream exploded in the air and Inuyasha looked around and saw, his heart plummeting deep inside his chest, Kagome stood feet away from Naraku. Baboon fur gone, his long black hair and pale skin gave him the appearance of a prisoner. Kagome's hands were tightly gripping her bow and arrows, but they were shaking so badly Inuyasha figured they'd be more likely to hit Miroku instead of Naraku himself.

Naraku extended a thin hand out to Kagome, and she dropped everything and walked to him. Crimson flooded his vision and Inuyasha ran forward as fast as he could, but not fast enough to stop what Naraku had planned. Kagome inched closer and closer to Naraku. Her lips were centimeters away from Naraku's...

Inuyasha growled.

He didn't lose control like he figured he would. Instead his adrenaline soared to an unbelievable height and he all but flew towards Naraku, his blood pounding in his veins.

"Kagome!" he yelled, his feet scarcely hitting the ground because he was running so hard. Tetsusaiga de-transformed and was just a rusty blade as Inuyasha ran for Naraku. He didn't need it to kill Naraku...

Something caught under his foot and he pitched forward. He was inches away from Naraku by now. He put his hand out to break his fall, the hand with Tetsusaiga. Naraku shoved Kagome in front of him as a human shield.

Inuyasha couldn't stop in time.

"Miroku!" Sango cried, running to the hunched over figure on the ground. She was feet away before she realized something was wrong. This wasn't Miroku she was running towards...

Kohaku's chained scythe caught her around her legs and he pulled it forwards so she was flung backwards. Her magenta eyes widened when she sat up, her boomerang wedged into the dirt so she could pull herself up.

Her little brother's dark eyes were alive with malice and Sango shuddered under his gaze. She fingered Hirakoutsu's strap, her conscience battling with her instincts. A sharp splintering sound rang throughout the air and Sango saw that Kohaku's scythe was embedded deep inside the bone, its steel point having gone all the way through.

Thud. Thud. Thud. The sound of Kohaku's footsteps pulled Sango from her thoughts and she looked up and cried out as Kohaku ran his sword through the part of Hirakoutsu that wasn't severed by his scythe. The bone cracked and split apart in her hands. Sango threw the pieces aside and drew her blade.

A distant shout by Miroku was her downfall. Her attention averted for all of 0.3 seconds and Kohaku seized the moment to plunge his dagger into her arm. The blade forced its way through skin and bone, breaking her arm into what seemed to be a million pieces. She should join up with Sesshoumaru; they appeared to have something in common now...

Her magenta eyes blurred and she saw three different Kohaku's standing in front of her, all wearing the same expression: a mix between loathing and accomplishment.

Her breath came out ragged and she dropped to her knees. Kohaku drew his dagger from her hand and wiped it on the now crimson dirt. Her hair fell limp around her face, her ponytail having become too loose.

"Kohaku..." she said, a small trail of blood dripping down her face, and mixing with her salty tears. The boy looked at her calmly, his face a mask of indifference.

"...please..." She could hear muffled footsteps.

Her mind became a whirlwind of thoughts. 'Why did I fall for someone who gropes any woman he sees and probably sleeps with them as well? Why did I let my love for my little brother, the one who killed my entire family and village, become my death? I've put so many peoples' lives in jeopardy for my stupid lust for revenge. How could I have been so stupid?' She felt Miroku's hand under her chin. Kohaku had done enough and stood by the side, watching with uninterested eyes.

"...don't let me die..."

Tetsusaiga slammed into her chest so hard that the tip of it was merely inches away from Naraku. Kagome's eyes widened and she opened her mouth in a wordless gasp before slumping to the ground. Inuyasha pulled his sword from her stomach, his eyes misting with tears he swore he'd never cry.

He dropped to his knees and pulled Kagome's body close to him. "Gods, I'm so sorry...Kagome...don't leave me here alone, please, please..." Her chocolate eyes opened and she smiled. Her mouth formed words but Inuyasha couldn't hear her. She raised a bloody hand and brought his head down. 'Distract him,' she whispered, 'my miko powers can heal like you can. I know it wasn't your fault.' Inuyasha lowered her body just as her eyes slid closed. Naraku smirked and Inuyasha smiled too, his Kagome was alive!

Taking advantage of Inuyasha's apparent misery, Naraku drew a sword of his own and made to attack Inuyasha. The grief-stricken hanyou whirled around and slammed his fist against Naraku's face so hard that he staggered backwards and almost tripped over Kagome's abandoned bow and arrows.

A nasty-looking bruise had already begun to form around Naraku's eye. Inuyasha knew there was nothing he could do for Kagome at this moment so he glared at Naraku with red eyes. Naraku backed away, a flicker of surprise flaring in his eyes for all of two seconds.

Inuyasha's fingers curled tightly around the hilt of his sword, his lengthened claws digging into the roughly shredded leather. Tetsusaiga quickly transformed in his hands and turned crimson. Blinking Inuyasha stared at it for a moment thinking, 'What happened to it controlling the demon in me?'

He spat on the ground. "Bastard now is the time you pay for all you have done!"

Something slammed into the ground behind him, and Inuyasha whirled around and saw Hirakoutsu lodged deep into the earth behind him. Sango's cold brown eyes narrowed at him as she pulled it up with ease. Inuyasha stood, confused. Sango smirked and tossed the boomerang-bone at him again, this time narrowly missing his left arm.

Suddenly it struck him and he flew back and nearly hit Naraku. His back slammed into the ground and Tetsusaiga flew from his grip. Back on his feet in less than a minute, he growled and grabbed his sword. Sango was nowhere to be seen and when he looked around but suddenly a searing pain in his arm holding Tetsusaiga gave him a clue.

He whirled around and saw her sword lodged into his arm. Hissing in pain he ripped it out and swung Tetsusaiga at her. "KAZE NO KIZU!" he screamed, watching as flashes of light soon dissolved around Sango...or what was left of Naraku's offspring. "Shit!" Inuyasha cursed, slamming his hand against the ground. Naraku's footsteps rang behind him and he turned around, eyes narrowed, to find his sword inches from his throat. Out of his peripheral vision he saw Miroku running towards him, Sango tightly curled up in his arms.

Naraku smirked and started to say something. His mouth opened and nothing came out but a small trickle of blood dripping from his mouth. Inuyasha backed away, disgusted. Something slammed into Naraku's back, driving all the way through so that he stood, the shaft of one of Kagome's purifying arrows impaled through his chest. The baboon-fur-wearer turned around and received another arrow to the arm. Kagome smirked, stringing another one, her eyes glowing.

Miroku finally reached him, Sango dangling in his arms. Even in her apparent distress Inuyasha saw the hint of a smile on her lips, as though she had planned for all of this to happen. "Kanna's gone," Miroku said, his voice sounding strained. "A few scrolls and she was immobile."

Inuyasha smirked, his eyes focused solely on Naraku's deteriorating form on the ground. He nodded to Sango and Miroku and stepped forward. "This is for Kikyou!" he roared, slamming Tetsusaiga into Naraku's back, right where the spider mark still burned.

Then...all was silent. Kagome slumped to the ground, but not before Inuyasha's arms were around her. There was nothing left of her wound but the dried crimson blood staining her clothes. Inuyasha turned to Miroku.

"Where's Kirara?" he asked. Said fire-cat suddenly appeared on Miroku's shoulder. Seeing Inuyasha, she jumped off and turned big. They all clamored on somewhat haphazardly but feeling good nonetheless.

Three Days Later

Inuyasha sat up on his roughly made futon. 'Ugh...' he thought, rubbing his head. Looking around, he saw that there was no one in the room other than Kaede. "Where is everyone? And how long did I sleep?" he said, speaking loudly so the old crone could hear her. Kaede gave him a disgruntled look, as though she knew what he was thinking about.

"This is the third day since you all arrived back, practically all sliding off of Sango's cat because you were all sleeping. Sango and Miroku are outside and Kagome is in her time. I suggest you go and visit her."

Eyebrow twitching, Inuyasha muttered a thanks and stormed out of the hut. Almost immediately he was blinded by the bright sunlight and wandered around until he tripped over Kirara. "Shit!" he cursed, slamming into the ground and getting bit (very painfully) on the ear by Sango's youkai kitten. "Damn cat," he muttered, pushing himself up and squinting around till he saw Sango and Miroku. Both were sitting three feet away laughing hysterically at what had just occurred.

"Feh. I see you two haven't changed and what the hell?!" he said, his eyes wide and staring in the direction behind them. Sango turned around and saw Kohaku off playing with Shippou. "My brother, smartass, he's finally free of Naraku and he's staying with Miroku and I."

Inuyasha stared in disbelief at the two, uselessly pointing at the both of them and muttering confusedly. They nodded and much to his dislike started whispering sweet nothings at one another. "SHUT THE HELL UP!" Inuyasha growled after one too many 'I love you'sgraced his ears. "I'm going to see Kagome, who knows when I'll be back and if you eat my ramen I'll kill you." ("Crap!" Shippou squeaked, his mouth full of noodles.)

"Kagome?" Inuyasha said, leaping out of the well and running towards the Higurashi house. In a matter of seconds he was perched on Kagome's window, watching her peaceful form in slumber on her bed. Smirking to himself, he climbed into her room through the window.

Her eyes snapped open. "Inuyasha?" she muttered lazily, and he replied gruffly, "Huh?" Kagome pushed herself into a sitting position and stared at him. "Are you okay?"

Inuyasha's response was to grab her hand and pull her up and into him. One of his clawed hands stroked the back of her head while the other was placed at the small of her back. Her arms hung loosely at her sides.

He stepped back and stared at her. Kagome's eyes filled with tears even though there was no reason for her to cry and, "I guess it's all really over...the jewel is gone, we made our wish," she said.

Inuyasha nodded. "But I don't care about the goddamn jewel, Kagome. I don't care about any fucking little thing except you." His hand gently pushed back her hair behind her ear.

Their faces were inches apart.

"Inuyasha..."

Their noses touched.

"I think I love you."

Inuyasha smirked and he pulled back. "You know what?" he said to her quizzical look. "I know I love you," and with that he leaned down and pressed his lips against hers. Her arms wrapped around his neck, and he rested his hands on her back.

It was the perfect 'Kodak' moment, and Souta just had to open the door. "Mama!" he yelled running down the stairs as bright red Inuyasha and Kagome chased after him. "Kagome and Inuyasha-nee-chan were kissing!"

Mrs. Higurashi smiled at Inuyasha and Kagome.

"Will there be grandkids anytime soon?"

The End

A/N: ::cheers:: Yay! I finished it! Now all you guys have to worry about is Imaginary...and I swear I've rewritten it like three times already. And as for Inside Moon, it's offline for now but assume it'll be eventually reposted.

Thanks for reading!

Miko-chan