Time After Time

By RoseFire

Disclaimer: Welcome to the last chapter of my longest InuYasha fiction. This has taken a very long time and a lot of energy to make this story so special. Someone recently told me this story has taken 3 years to complete. All I can say is wow! Not that it took so long, but that so many people were willing to wait patiently for me to finish. All I can say to you is thank you.

I don't think I will be able to write another story so long again; I'll stick primarily to one-shots or collections of one-shots. But you never know. I feel strangely sad that my story is done. I really am proud of it and I'm so glad everyone likes it. So, without further ado, onto the final chapter.

Chapter 20 – New Year of Destiny

Inuyasha watched in fascinated horror as Kagome rose above them all, her kimono rustling in the wind she created around her.

"Inuyasha, what is she doing!" Shippo cried, his face pale in shock.

"She's going to destroy Shiho." Midoriko said. "And she may die in the process."

"Everything has its time. Everything must come to an end." Kagome's voice sounded strangely hollow. The glow of the Jewel surrounded her like a halo and her hair fell loose about her shoulders.

"You cannot destroy me!" Shiho roared. "If you doubt yourself even the slightest, if you hold the slightest love of life here, you'll only repeat the past!"

"No, my brother." Midoriko said as she moved over beside him. "She has moved beyond attachments of this world. And she will destroy you where I could not."

Shiho stared in shock as the meaning of her words sunk in and, at last, the dragonish face showed fear.

"How is this possible!" he screamed.

"Instinct has taken over." Midoriko said. "You are causing pain to her by hurting all that gives her joy."

Miroku watched in fascination.

"Of course, she's like a child." Miroku said. He looked to the others.

"If a child's mother or father is being hurt, what child wouldn't move heaven and earth to save them." he said. "And Kagome, the most powerful priestess in the world, can move heaven and earth to save the good from the evil. Even Shiho himself."

Shiho was screaming in anger and pain.

"You will not stop me!" he bellowed. "Mika! Satoshi! Attack!"

But as the duo surged forward, Kagome stretched out a hand and a burst of light shot from her extended fingers. Mika and Satoshi were held in midair.

"You are as of the dust of the earth." Kagome said. "Return from whence you came."

Satoshi let out a scream of terror as he crumpled to dust. Mika cast her eyes to Inuyasha and, for an instant, Inuyasha recognized the gentle smile of Kikyo, the smile he'd not seen since he first met her. Then, she too, was gone.

"NO!" Shiho roared again. Around his neck, the Jewel cracked and split as its power weakened. Shiho snarled and turned to Ayame. "Move, you foolish child, or lose everything you have worked for."

Ayame seemed to be frozen a moment. Then her eyes flashed green and she moved slowly forward. Kagome did not move or raise her hand again.

"What is it you want, Ayame?" Kagome asked. Ayame stopped. Tears filled her eyes and she glanced at Koga, whose misty outline stood over Hojo's body. He met her eyes and raised out a hand to her.

"Ayame, come to me." Koga said softly. Ayame let out a sob and ran to Koga. She collapsed against his chest and at once she stepped from Eri's body, leaving it to collapse unconscious beside Hojo.

"I love you, Ayame." Koga said, his voice soft with tears of joy. "I wish I could have said so sooner."

"Koga, I love you!" Ayame sobbed. "I have always loved you!"

Koga brought his lips down to hers and they shared a kiss.

"You fool!" Shiho said and made a movement with his hands as though he were pulling a chord back. But Shiho's power over Ayame had been broken.

"Ayame, we don't have any place here anymore." Koga said, smiling warmly. "Let's go where we belong."

Ayame rested peacefully against his chest and nodded. They seemed to melt away like fog and settle back into the unconscious bodies of Eri and Hojo. Shiho doubled over in pain as the Jewel around his neck cracked and split again.

"I'll find the other vices I need!" Shiho growled. "There are others!"

"But you have cut them off." Midoriko said. "The world is dead and you have no one to feed your power anymore."

Shiho looked around at the blackness and the silence around him. All there was before him was the young girl, Kagome. Kagome looked on at him.

"She won't kill me." Shiho said flatly. But he looked again. And he knew instantly that Kagome was not as he'd known her. Within her mind, he could clearly see no doubts, no confusion or fear.

"My brother." Midoriko said. "End it now. You can not win."

Within Shiho, he felt something he'd not felt in countless years. He felt his heart racing wildly in fear.

"Sister." Shiho said. Midoriko stared and saw her brother's face behind the mask of her old body, behind the twisted face of the dragon. He stared at her with wide eyes.

"Shiho, my brother." Midoriko asked. Shiho smiled and a tear trickled down his face.

"Inuyasha." Kagome said and raised her hand. The sword in Inuyasha's hands pulsed and grew to the large fang-shaped sword from long ago.

"Strike him down." Kagome said. "My power will unite with yours."

Inuyasha regarded Shiho with cold eyes. This was just another enemy to defeat. Like Naraku. Like the Band of Seven. Inuyasha was quite able to look beyond the outward appearance and see the evil within that had to be destroyed.

"Wind Scar!" Inuyasha shouted and brought the blade down hard. The lines of energy drove through the air and straight at Shiho. The monster dragon roared and, for one brief instant, in the energy waves around him, Shiho appeared. The real Shiho. He was a young man, about 20, with a thin frame, pale skin, intense brown eyes and dark hair loose around his shoulders. Kagome reached her hand across to him and he began to dissolve into dust.

"Thank you." Shiho whispered. He looked at Midoriko, her face impassive and smiled at her. Midoriko returned his smile, tears of joy running down her cheeks.

"My sister, I am so sorry for what I have done." Shiho said. He reached out to her and Midoriko took his fading hand in hers.

"Be at peace, my dear brother." Midoriko wept openly now. "Let us both be at rest now."

Shiho embraced his younger sister and the two faded away. With an earth shattering crash, the Jewel shattered and turned to dust along with its Master. Kagome continued to float in the air, her arms extended against the blackness of the sky. Inuyasha, feeling timid for the first time in his life, rose to his feet.

"Kagome, please, that's enough." Inuyasha said quietly. "You don't have to hold on anymore."

"I have so much yet to do." Kagome said. Tears ran in gold trails against her skin. "There is so much I can bring. I bring life."

Miroku stared in dumb shock as Sango gave a deep, shuddering gasp to pull in air. She opened her eyes and stared upwards at Miroku.

"Sango?" Miroku said, hardly daring to trust his vision. Sango smiled up at him and touched her cheek where two soft drops of water had suddenly landed.

"I promised I wouldn't leave you this time." Sango said. Miroku inhaled a sharp sob as he squeezed her to him gently. Sango winced, but hugged him tighter. Shippo threw his arms around her as well.

"In death, there is life." Kagome said. "And in life, there is death."

"But you can't control life and death." Inuyasha shouted at her. "There are just some things that mortals are never meant to do. Kagome, let it go! It's going to kill you!"

Kagome extended her arms out further as the world grew light. Below them, the festival continued as if nothing had happened.

"Kagome, stop this!" Inuyasha said pleadingly. "You stupid wench, stop it right now!"

At these words, Kagome blinked and her eyes returned to their normal brown. She slowly descended to earth, her hair and kimono settling gently around her as the wind died down. As she touched the grass, she looked at Inuyasha. She smiled at him and fell to the ground. Inuyasha ran towards her and felt for a pulse. He felt his heart drop like an icy stone into his stomach. Kagome's heart had stopped.

She was dead.

---

Inuyasha looked wildly around as the others reached him. Sango covered her mouth and Shippo was sobbing. Hojo and Eri still lay unconscious. Miroku looked over Kagome closely before shaking his head sadly at Inuyasha.

"Midoriko!" Inuyasha shouted. "Midoriko, where are you!"

But the priestess did not appear. Inuyasha clutched Kagome to him and buried his head against her.

"How can this happen?" Inuyasha hissed mournfully. "She won. She gave her all to save all of time and she has to die because of it?"

Silently, Sango, Miroku and Shippo gathered beside him to mourn with him.

---

Kagome was floating somewhere. There was nothing around her. She opened her eyes and looked around cautiously.

"Where am I?" she asked and heard her voice sounding flat and muffled, not the reverberating echo she'd expected.

"Welcome, Kagome."

Kagome glanced round to see Tori again. She was dressed in a short sapphire blue kimono with tiny birds glittering around it. Her hair was the red of a robin's breast and her eyes, still a merry brown, twinkled.

"Am I dead?" Kagome asked. Tori laughed.

"Not what you might think of as dead." Tori said. "But you're not alive either."

Tori laughed at the confusion on Kagome's face.

"I don't understand." Kagome said. "If I'm not alive, that's dead."

"What's life? Life's nothing." Tori said. "Trick of nature to keep the body fresh. You've seen people who were dead suddenly come to life again. Certainly you've heard of souls floating away. 'Don't go toward the light!' and all that."

"Are you saying I'm having some sort of out of body experience?" Kagome asked.

"If that's the best way for you to put it, then go ahead and think that." Tori said, sounding as though the idea was rather boring.

"What happened?" Kagome asked. "Why am I here anyway? Where is here?"

"You destroyed Shiho." Tori said. "You used your soul, just like Midoriko, but you didn't have anything holding you back, so the soul didn't trap itself in the Jewel, instead it floated away. You're here because the soul is waiting for something to happen, what I don't know. And I have no idea where "here" is. It's your soul, you tell me?"

Kagome grew thoughtful. Was she in her own mind? Maybe she was in that void between time. That place Shiho had drawn his power from to spark the Dark Jewel? She looked around. There was nothing but emptiness here, but it wasn't fearful or sad. It was like sitting in the fog by the ocean before sunrise. And it hit her like a thunderclap.

"I'm in the Jewel." Kagome said. "The Jewel is dead, and so is my body, because my soul is gone. The soul is waiting for the sun to rise."

"Oh?" Tori asked. She smiled. Kagome smiled back. And they waited.

---

"We should get going." Sango said softly, drying her eyes. "Hojo and Eri will be waking up soon and Kagome…" she trailed off.

"We'll have to take Kagome home." Miroku finished. His eyes were bright.

"It's not right though." Inuyasha said. He'd been so quiet for such a long time.

"She never should have been here in the first place." Inuyasha said. "She should have never met any of us. If she hadn't, the Jewel would have stayed asleep and she could have lived a normal life."

Inuyasha looked at Kagome's peaceful face.

"But then, I never would have known her." he said softly. "And I never would have known what it was like to have someone care so much about me that they'd be willing to risk all they had."

"She was such a courageous person." Shippo said.

"She was so wise." Miroku added.

"And such a wonderful friend." Sango said tearfully.

"I love you, Kagome." Inuyasha said. He fingered the Jewel around Kagome's neck and felt it pulse against his fingers.

"What was that?" Inuyasha started. The Jewel began to glow a soft gold.

"The Jewel is alive?" Shippo asked. "But without Kagome, it can't be."

Suddenly, the air was filled with a misty haze and floated over Kagome. The Jewel grew steadily brighter and, as though exploding, it reached out to them. Each was surrounded by a light that seemed to come from deep within them. Miroku glowed a deep purple, Sango was engulfed in pale pink. Shippo looked over himself as he was surrounded by deep blue and Inuyasha seem to be ablaze with fiery red.

"With each soul is a gift of the four purities." The voice seemed to come from everywhere. From the shrine and from within their own hearts. It was a soft voice, but authoritative.

"Tori?" Miroku asked softly. Standing over them in misty light was the shape of a bird. But the brown eyes were all too familiar.

"Miroku gives wisdom. Brilliance and thought born in experience to guide others. Shippo gives courage. Willingness to stand against the challenges of life and face the unknown. From Sango comes friendship. Kindness and zeal to support those closest to her. Inuyasha, you are love. You bind them all together and give them purpose. For you love this woman as you love yourself."

The lights swirled together to create a brilliant golden light that floated gently into Kagome's body.

"It's the soul." Miroku said. Kagome was enveloped in the golden light. Inuyasha was never able to explain later why he had done it, but he bent down and kissed Kagome gently. He felt a fluttering of breath behind her lips and the gently brushing of lashes as Kagome's eyes opened to look into his.

"Inuyasha." Kagome said softly and Inuyasha gave a cry of joy as he pulled her tight against his arms. All around them were shouts of joy as Miroku and Sango hugged each other tightly and Shippo danced for joy. Nearby, Hojo and Eri stirred awake and looked around in confusion.

"Where are we?" Hojo asked. Eri shook her head in confusion but smiled at him. Hojo returned the smile and looked over at the rejoicing group.

"I don't know what's going on." Hojo said. "But somehow, this seems right."

Inuyasha hugged Kagome tightly. Kagome felt as though she were being crushed, but welcomed the sensation of being alive and able to feel again. The silence

"Guess you'll be sticking around awhile longer." he whispered. Kagome gave a small laugh and hugged his neck tighter.

"Just try and get rid of me." Kagome said.

"Never." Inuyasha said. "You're mine. And nothing can take you away from me."

---

3 years later…(author's note…for some extra fun, play V6's "Brand New World" while reading this part.)

"1234556. Higurashi Kagome." announced the homeroom teacher. Kagome smiled and got to her feet.

"That's me. I'm Higurashi Kagome. I was a normal student at one point, before I fell through our family's shrine well. I didn't think I would ever live a normal life after meeting Inuyasha. But, you know, I don't think I want normal anymore. I don't expect it."

Kagome looked around and saw Hojo and Eri waving from their seats at her.

"It surprises me that those two are still together, even without Koga and Ayame guiding them. But they'll be going to college here in Japan, and I'll have to start referring to Hojo as "Doctor." It was bound to happen though. All those years working for his mother in their little health shop."

Kagome exited the stage and joined her class. The principal began his speech and she took the chance to glance around the room. She spotted her family off towards the back. Shippo was sitting with them.

"Shippo is going to be starting at Gakugei next term. He's really excited I think. And my brother will be starting at Gakugei as well. They've really become good friends. I think I see a couple future soccer stars."

Kagome heard the sound of a slap and grinned to see Miroku gingerly rubbing his cheek, but was grinning all the same. Sango was sitting next to him, trying to look angry, but failing.

"Miroku and Sango graduated a couple years ago. Actually the year after our whole mess with Shiho. They got married after that and have been going to school in America. Miroku tells me that the University of New York's literature program is really enjoyable, and Sango makes me laugh with all the stories about her early childhood education classes. I wonder how long before they'll announce their expecting."

Kagome looked around a moment more, but couldn't find her fourth guest. But she didn't worry. She knew he was there.

"Inuyasha stayed in town, going to the university. Big surprise that he chose to do coaching in fencing. But he surprised me when he said he was going to go to America too."

The principal dismissed the graduating class and they hurried off to join their families for celebrations. Kagome made her way towards her friends and family. But something caught her attention and she turned to smile as a young man approached her, bearing a rose and a smile.

"Congratulations, Kagome." Inuyasha said and picked her up in his arms.

"As for me, I'm going to America too. The University of New York has a great history department and I'm looking forward to the change."

Inuyasha slipped her engagement ring on her finger, the same one she'd been given 3 years ago. She and Inuyasha shared a smile that spoke of many years of friendship and love, past and future.

"It seems like a dream, all those years ago when I'd jump through our shrine well and have adventures in the Feudal Era. But the biggest adventure I could have ever dreamed of is about to happen. Inuyasha and I are getting married before we leave for America and then I'll be off on a new journey. The Shikon Jewel is powerless now. I gave it to my grandfather to display at the shrine. It's nice to know that he actually has something really valuable to show people who visit."

"Inuyasha, you won't ever stop loving me, will you?" Kagome asked. Inuyasha gave her a look and gave a snort.

"Stupid girl, what kind of question is that?" Inuyasha asked. Kagome was about to retort when he kissed her quickly.

"Time after time, I will love you." Inuyasha said softly and Kagome returned his kiss.

"Ready for dinner, Kagome?" Miroku asked. Kagome smiled and took in her friends faces.

"Let's eat!" she cried. The hurried off amidst the cheers and laughter.

Time after time I tell myself I'm so lucky
To be loving you I'm so lucky to be
The one you run to see
In the evening when the day is through

I only know what I know the passing years will show
You kept my love so young, so new
And time after time you'll hear me say that I'm
So lucky to be loving you

I only know what I know the passing years will show
You kept my love so young, so new
And time after time you'll hear me say that i'm
So lucky to be loving you

THE END

PHEW! It's done. Oh, thank you so much for being patient while I finished this. I really respect you enough to make this read worth your while.

Stay cool minna! From here on in, this will be fun!