Disclaimer: We all know I do not own Inuyasha or the new sequel would be going WAAAAYYYYY differently.

In a flash, the old and dilapidated castle was left behind and the three found themselves standing in a war torn valley. The land was scared and ravaged by a fierce battle that looked like it was centuries old. In fact, it was.

"You have arrived." A strong, female voice rang out from behind. The voice alone was enough to have Kagome shuddering with the formidable force behind it, but before she could turn around Sesshomaru was whipping her body around so she stood behind his back. A low growl cut through the silence.

A beautiful female warrior raised a delicate ebony brow at the daiyoukai's show of aggression, unfazed and unimpressed. Her battle armor was both battered yet pristine as it reflected the strange light of the sunless sky. Grim and dirt could not touch her. She stood above it all as she quite literally stood on top of a heap of dead youkai.

"Settle down, pup. I have no intention of harming her. In fact," The cold, unforgiving line of the onna's pink lips bent and her warm brown eyes exuded a gentle light that made Kagome feel warmth in the depths of her soul. "I have been waiting for her."

Hopping down from the pile, the onna landed lightly on her feet despite the heft of her bulky armor. Her being radiated from within with holy energy, the reiki simmering just beneath the skin-a fact that quite obviously had Sesshomaru on edge. It was just shy of the limitless power dwelling within Kagome.

"Midoriko-sama." Kagome gripped Sesshomaru's sleeve as she peeked from behind him. When the miko smiled at her call, Kagome felt an overwhelming urge to get closer. It was the same smile her Mama wore when she welcomed Kagome home. "H-how are you. I mean, what are you-no, I mean…" Kagome mumbled as she tried to take a step forward.

"Miko." Sesshomaru growled as he held her back. He did not like this situation at all. The teleportation, the rising energy of both inconceivable youki and reik swirling around him for dominance, and the hanyou…

"Naraku." Sesshomaru snarled as he felt the repulsive slurge of the spider's distorted youki flare behind him. Taking Kagome in hand, Sesshomaru leaped to a safe distance, one where neither the should-be dead miko nor the filthy abomination were at his back.

"Ugh, a little warning next time, will you? I'm getting whiplash." Kagome grumbled after she bumped her head on the hard metal plate of Sesshomaru's armor. It felt like she just did a double round on the teacups at Disney.

Sesshomaru did not deign the comment one of concern so he ignored the disgruntled miko. He had much more important matters to focus on, like the mass of flesh dissolving into the most distorted being of pure evil Sesshomaru had ever seen standing right before him.

"Wha...what is that thing?" Kagome's eyes were glued on the gruesome lump of intermingling youkai.

"Magatsuhi." Midoriko watched Sesshomaru and Kagome with interest. She knew the miko child on a spiritual level. She was her successor, the one born to complete the task she was not strong enough to champion. The one here to save them all.

Such a child of the light. Midoriko smiled in genuine fondness. Living in this hell for so long, the sudden appearance of another holy being was rather blinding. However…

Kagome clung to Sesshomaru as she watched in utter astonishment. What she was seeing was beyond comprehension. Oh, not the massive behemoth of a being glaring down at them with its beady red eyes and mingled assortment of lower youkai body parts. That was not too out of the norm for Kagome nowadays. No, what held her gaze was something both mortifying, relieving, and yet somewhat unsatisfactory.

"Naraku." Kagome blinked as Naraku's face distorted in what could only be called fear vanished beneath the purplish skin of Magatsushi. His body was submerged in the flesh of the larger youkai like he had done to thousands before, and in a second all traces of their arch enemy were gone.

"His power is now Magatsuhi's. No matter," Midoriko heffed the heavy blade of her sword onto her shoulder. "Evil is evil. He will be purified all the same. Now, hold your questions, it's time for action."

The battle-seasoned miko's body moved with the grace of a lethal warrior. Her tall yet slim frame leapt into the air like the metal she bore weighed nothing but her sword swung down with the weight of the world as it heaved a chunk of demonic flesh off the mountain sized youkai. The roar resulting shook the ground and Kagome to the point of near collapse.

"So cool…" Kagome managed to say after her teeth stopped chattering. She officially just developed a mad girl crush.

"Miko." Sesshomaru looked less than pleased at the admiration in Kagome's gaze. That look would not bother him if he was the object of her attention, but that she was so entranced by the dirt old female irked him.

"Huh?" Kagome's eyes stayed glued onto her new miko role model as she chopped and hacked at the evil beast while avoiding deadly teeth and claws with such grace you would think she was dancing. The poise and deadly precision Midoriko wielded her weapon and reiki with ignited a flame inside Kagome, a fire that propelled her forward into battle.

"Come on, Sesshomaru. We have to help her." Kagome shouted over her shoulder as she ran past the baffled daiyoukai. Reiki flared and the roars intensified as mikos began attacking as one, like they had fought together a million times before.

"Hah." Sesshomaru sighed with the irritating and unfamiliar feeling of being disregarded in a battle, that and the urge to detain his female. Did the miko even consider danger before throwing herself into battle?

Hand on the hilt of his sword, Sesshomaru joined the fray and all hell broke loose. Magatsushi and Midoriko knew one another like only two age-old foes were capable of, allowing them to predict and deflect blows before they even occurred. Sesshomaru read and reacted like any soldier would, with the most efficient and damaging blows his sword and youki could inflict. They all combined like a well oiled machine, their blows intersecting one another in an almost organized fashion. Or, it would have happened like that, but, to their great advantage, no one was capable of predicting what a passionate Kagome Higurashi was capable of doing.

Deciding her reiki bow and arrows were not as effective as she would like, Kagome watched the three battling figures with worry and trepidation. Midoriko and Magatsushi were evenly matched. It was obvious why their battle had waged for centuries, and though Sesshomaru was helping tip the scale in their favor, youki could not purify youki.

His main contribution was melting youkai flesh with his poison and slicing Magatsushi's thick hide to ribbons. A painful and gruesome experience for sure, but the hanyou's regeneration was a hundred times faster than Naraku's. Without a more explosive blow, Magatsushi will just continue to battle on without end.

"An explosion…" Kagome's blue eyes shined with her epiphany. "That's it!" Kagome was exhausted, her body bruised and battered, but this was the perfect way for her to help Midoriko and Sesshomaru.

The young miko's reiki receded from the battle and the loss was noticeable to her allies but not tide turning. Chunks of purple-black flesh continued to fall to the ground as Midoriko's sizzling reiki blade spun through the air and Neon green light whipped back and forth in the air as Sesshomaru disregarded his blade-for a regenerating beast it was best to melt it than fillet it.

It was only after Kagome's warm light remained absent from his senses for an extended time that Sesshomaru began to have a sinking feeling in his chest. Gold eyes glanced back to see the small onna standing alone, head bowed and hands covering her chest.

Without thought, Sesshomaru abandoned Midoriko and rushed to his miko's side. Green light receded from his claws as they came up to lift the female's face, but she refused to move.

"Miko, look up." Sesshomaru's voice was a degree colder than usual as an unknown feeling sat heavy on his chest. He smelled no injuries on her person and her scent was not distraught or in pain, but being denied her gaze when he needed to see it most was more terrifying than any foe Sesshomaru had ever faced.

When Kagome did not respond or heed his order, Sesshomaru's claws carefully moved under her jaw to coax her head up. Once her face was in view, the daiyoukai only grew more concerned.

Face and eyes pinched in concentration, skin pale with exertion, and sweat beading along her brow was all he could see. Her pretty pink lips were stretched white in a taut line as she remained unresponsive to Sesshomaru's presence. Her hands never leaving her chest.

Whimper. Him and his beast came to the same heart-dropping conclusion. Is the problem her heart?

"Miko." The beast's growl leaked into his voice as red bleed into gold. Screw Magatsushi and damn Midoriko, if his miko was in danger he would find a way to get her out of here now. Whatever the cost.

Two large hands moved to hold the tiny onna's, his voice emotionless as he pointedly ignored the slight tremble in his fingers as he held onto her.

"Miko, let me check for injuries." Sesshomaru dropped his pretentious titles and tried to pull her hands away from her chest. Still, she resisted him.

"Kagome," Sesshomaru breathed her name in what was dangerously close to a plea. However, Kagome remained as still as a statue.

Sesshomaru was lost. He could pull her hands away with just a little force but what if the damage was something internal? What if she was fighting something he could not see and moving her would result in her defeat. He already moved her once, what if doing so again was tempting fate?

Just as Sesshomaru was contemplating what to do, bright blue eyes opened wide, shining like a holy beacon.

"Move." Kagome's voice was strained and her eyes never focused on him. No, they were locked on Magatsushi.

Sesshomaru raised his brow at the miko, wondering what she was planning, but that is when he sensed it. An overwhelming well of spiritual power was pooling in Kagome's chest, and the wisps leaking out of her were a sign that she could not contain it much longer. An instinctual tingle of both wariness at her formidable strength and covetous desire over that same power ran down his spine and made the daiyoukai's lips pull back in a feral smile.

"As you wish, Miko." Sesshomaru moved behind the onna for a front row seat to the glorious display of his future mate's might. As soon as he was out of range, Kagome let the power within her explode.

Magenta light flooded out of her into a powerful beam of youkai destruction. Magatsushi and Midoriko both sensed the impending attack but it was too late for one of them.

As Midoriko jumped back to stand beside the younger miko, magenta light so bright that it exuded heat like the sun lanced through the empty cavern where the hanyou's heart would have been-if he had one.

Those beady red eyes that lost their humanity long ago were like that of a beast facing death. Black light similar to that of the tainted Shikon whirled around it in a desperate attempt to battle off the miko's holy light, but it was useless. Kagome's light was all consuming.

"Roarrrrrr." The dying roar of a youkai who long lost his ability to speak was more distressing than that of a dying man's. It was a senseless sound that could only signify one thing. Death.

Kagome felt no remorse as this death was long overdue. Death is not always a sad thing, she reminded herself, sometimes it is necessary.

In fact, as Magatsushi's varied limbs waved with abandon and his body struggled to fight for his life, Kagome forced even more reiki out of her soul. Her body glowed with the amount of energy under her control and it was slowly but surely purifying the youkai from within.

Threads of light began to spread out from Kagome's point of attack, crawling over Magatsushi's disgusting form like fire chasing gasoline. Those threads then became stings, strings became streams, and those streams turned into raging rivers of reiki that corroded the flesh in its path and painted the black creature in holy light. Then it was over, and Magatsushi could no longer scream.

"Haa.." As the light faded, Kagome swayed and her world spun. If Sesshoamru was not there to catch her she would have fallen right on her ass.

"Nngh." Kagome felt awful. She was nauseous, dizzy, and sore beyond belief. Her head was pounding as it leaned back on Sesshomaru's unarmored shoulder, and the only sense of comfort she could find was the daiyoukai suddenly nuzzling her neck.

"Little Miko," Sesshomaru's voice was low and deep, sending a shiver down Kagome's spine as it rumbled against her skin. "You never cease to surprise this Sesshomaru."

"Haha." Kagome laughed despite how drained she felt. With what little strength she had left, her fingers gently lifted to graze the side of Sesshomaru's face and markings.

"Oh, you have no idea." A puff of air just behind her ear made Kagome smile. Score one for the miko, probably the first to ever make Sesshoamru laugh.

"Well, this is nice and all." Midoriko looked on in amusement as Sesshoamru's red rimmed eyes glared at her and Kagome's body jerked to stand up straighter, apparently forgetting the older miko was still there.

"Midoriko-sama, I...I" Kagome stuttered as her body wobbled to attention. Her legs locked to hold up her teetering form and she refused to lean on the rather disgruntled daiyoukai, but his hand remained firm on her back. "Um, well, hello?"

The three stood in silence until Midoriko's serious facade broke down and a motherly smile commanded her beautiful features. She laughed at the awkward child's chagrin and decided then and there that no one other than Kagome could have been her successor. Only someone like her, who speaks so fondly and humbly after literally saving all of Japan, could be the true Shikon Miko.

"I, um." Kagome looked up to Sesshomaru for help as Midoriko's whole demeanor changed. Like a weight was lifted off her shoulders, the woman who battled for hundreds of years now stood there before them, looking soft, feminine, and utterly at peace.

"Do not worry child, that is part of your charm." Midoriko tried to settle the younger miko's nerves, but the smile did not leave her lips. "In all seriousness, I must say that it is because of who you are that you were able to do what I could never accomplish."

Midoriko looked to the spot where Magatsuhi once stood, a trace of resignation dimming the laughter in her eyes. "Unfortunately, since your job is done, there is no need for the two of you to remain."

"Wait, that's it? What about the wish?" Kagome pulled a face as she battled off her exhaustion to remain present for this conversation. How could it be over just like that? Do you know how many hours she pondered over what wish to make?

"Do you have a wish to make, child?" Midoriko glanced back at Kagome. Her body was barely able to stand its own weight but her back remained straight. What a stubborn little thing.

"Well, no. Not really. Is the jewel really gone?" Kagome said, with a look of pure bewilderment.

"Yes. You purified all of Matsugushi's youki, to the point he can no longer regenerate. The power of the Shikon relied on the battling force of his youki and my reiki. Without one of the two, the other becomes obsolete and so does the jewel.

"Then, what about you?" Kagome looked out at the barren plain in front of them, parts of Matsugushi's unpurified body littering the area around them. Devoid of youki it was just mini mountains of flesh. The landscape was horrid and not a place fitting for people. "Do you have to...stay here?"

"No. It is also my time to go." Midoriko's smile became forelon. For the first time in a very long time, she wanted to remain in the present for just a little longer. She wanted to know this young miko, to see inside her head for but a moment. Kagome reminded her of herself, the self she lost long ago.

"Go where?" Sesshomaru's hand moved to wrap around Kagome's waist. He could hear the unasked question, 'do you have to die, too'. This time she did not resist him. Instead, she let him pull her to his side.

"I'm not quite sure myself. Where I am meant to be, perhaps?" Midoriko chuckled, but Kagome's obvious sadness at her response gripped the old miko's heart. It would be the one trace of regret she had left, that and…

"It is time for me, my dear. My soul is at peace, and I am finally allowed to rest." Midoriko walked up to Kagome and placed her hand on the young onna's head, funneling some of her own reiki into Kagome. It would take some time to restore her back to her true power, but the last remaining dregs of Midoriko's reiki will keep Kagome from experiencing too many negative side effects. She will be fine after a long rest.

"It was you." Kagome's eyes took on an unfocused look as she analyzed the taller onna's face. Midoriko raised a questioning brow. "You were the woman, the woman in the painting."

Her words were like a shock to Midoriko. She only ever sat for one painting, a painting not meant for anyone to see. No one but her.

"That painting remains? I'm sure that old lizard would have shredded it by now." Midoriko's smile remained the same, but her eyes became unbearingly sad.

"Chiyoko-sama," Kagome paused as Midoriko's eyes trembled at the name. She hesitated but felt what she wanted to say needed to be said. "She seemed to treasure the painting, quite a lot."

Midoriko's eyes widened at her words before her lips pulled to one side. "Perhaps old age has raddled that one's brain then. She said it was her most mediocre work."

"Chiyoko-sama painted it?" Kagome gasped. It was such a realistic painting. The dragon priestess could rival modern contemporary artists with her usage of color and life-like style.

"Of course." Midoriko answered as if it was obvious. "I am a miko, child. The same as you. Do you have the habit of lying naked before strangers?"

"Wha-No! Never." Kagome blushed scarlet, but then a thought hit her. She has only ever been naked in front of two types of people. Sango and Shippo, whom she considered family, and Sesshomaru, who, though under a spell, would have to be considered a 'romantic' relation. If that was the case, who was Chiyoko to Midoriko? Before she could ask, Midoriko answered her internal query.

"Of course not. Neither would I. No, the only one to ever see me in such a free state was her. My dearest and closest friend, Chiyoko." A life-time of memories flooded the remaining piece of the old miko's soul. She had not thought of her friend in a very long time, not since they parted ways, but with the mention of her name the regret resurfaced.

"Miko Kagome." With her title being called, Kagome snapped to attention. There was a seriousness in Midoriko's face as they looked at one another. Warm brown eyes bore into the depths of Kaogme's blue as if emphasizing the importance of the coming request by searing it into the young miko's soul. "Will you look after her for me? I've left her alone for far too long."

The heartache in Midoriko's eyes made Kagome tear up, of course she would help! She would have said so too if she did not get all choked up. Instead, she vigorously nodded her agreement. A smile was her answer.

"Alright, daiyoukai raise a solid barrier. I will transport you both out." Midoriko issued her order as she turned her back to them, refusing to see the two off. Sesshomaru snarled at the order but Kagome elbowed him into submission, he can let it slide just this once since he admittedly had no idea how to get them out.

When the barrier rose and Midoriko was sure the other two could not see out, the older miko sighed. Moving towards a particular hunk of lower youkai flesh, she heaved her sword down to cut the chunk in half. Low and behold, out rolled a familiar face.

"Hello, Onigumo. I'm surprised to find you still in there." The friendly face Midoriko wore when speaking to Kagome was gone and in its place was the stern face of a disapproving elder. Long black hair covered a pale face in thick matts still clumped together with youkai flesh and his purple robes were long gone, his body as bare as the day he was born.

"You. You did this?" Onigumo looked down at his human hands hosting the burn scars he once sold his soul to get rid of and black eyes spit fiery accusations at the priestess. The weakness of his body was a sure sign that his vitality was fading. He was going to die. Human.

"Not I, the Miko Kagome purified Matsugushi and it would seem, in the process, both freed and purified you who had yet to be fully incorporated into the youkai's flesh." Onigumo made a humanistic growl of frustration and disbelief as he tried to summon the energy to get up and attack her.

It was an impossible feat for the current him, however. "Don't look so surprised, I believe Kagome warned you. You truly should have never underestimated her." Midoriko observed the lost soul with genuine intrigue as he howled in rage. The old onna even wondered what Kagome would do, if she knew the black hearted human Onigumo remained. Would she save him? Give him a second chance?

Wisely, Midoriko took on the dirty work with her own two hands. Onigumo should not be allowed to live. Not in this lifetime, as he had yet to let go of the hatred in his heart.

The fierce look on Midoriko's face shifted to reveal a sliver of pity before the corner of her pale lips lifted into a condescending sneer. "Congratulations, Onigumo, you had a hand in bringing the two most powerful beings in all of Japan together. Though I cannot spare you in this life, perhaps Buddha will have mercy on your soul in the next for your contribution to the peace of Japan those two will bring."

With that said, a blast of pure, white-hot power shot out of Midoriko as she released her soul from the confinement of the jewel, shattering the shikon from within and destroying its legacy forever.

A blinding white light flared out of nowhere, encompassing the entire night sky and scaring all youkai present shitless. That was a holy light. A light that could not be described as anything but the righteous fury of the divine.

"What in the hell?" As usual, Inuyasha was the first to find his voice. When no one answered, the hanyou grew even more belligerent. "What the fuck, come one guys. What the hell was that? Miroku? Explain this shit!" The sensation of hot as hell divinity sweeping across his skin will forever be burned into his mind, as he was sure every other youkai present would agree. It shook him to his core.

"I, well, uh…" Even the ever eloquent Miroku was speechless. His eyes were glazed over as he watched the sky in astonishment. The light faded to leave behind the celestial event that Naraku originally needed to fulfill his plot.

The sun and moon now hung on opposite sides of the horizon, making the bright light's appearance appear as the foretelling of the end of the world. Was Naraku successful? More importantly, what of Kagome and Sesshomaru?

"Tsk, lot of good you are." Inuyasha shook off the lingering tingles and his ears twitched with unease. Something big just happened, and they did not have a clue as to what it was. That power did not feel like Kagome's, it was different. Less forgiving, less loving.

Claws scratched his head like crazy. Just what in Kami's name was going on inside that damn castle!

"Inuyasha." The hanyou paced in front of the stone steps of Naraku's dilapidated castle. Think, Inuyasha. Think.

"Inuyasha."

What could cause such an eruption of holy power? Life? Death? The arrival of a god?

"Inuyasha!" Sango shouted as she grabbed one of the pacing hanyou's ears.

"Y-ouch! Dammit woman, what is your problem. Can't ya see I'm thinking here." Inuyasha snapped at Sango who just rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, yeah. I know that's a hard task for you, but look up." The exasperated demon slayer used her own hands to direct Inuyasha's attention to where everyone else was already watching in awed fascination.

In the sky painted in both the setting sun's pink and orange rays and the rising moon's midnight blue stood two figures. One, a figure in white and red. His armor and stone-chiseled face made him appear like the god of war descending upon the world. The other was an onna, dressed in black and blue. Her angelic features contrasted vividly against the dark hues of her armor while her smiling face exuded a brilliance brighter than any star. The moon and the sun. Black and white. Miko and youkai. They stood together in the sky, a clear sign of salvation descending upon them.

"That's…" Inuyasha's eyes remained glued on the two figures who floated down to join them in the world below. He could not believe what he was seeing.

"Yep." Sango smiled. She too, was astonished by the image of Sesshomaru standing so intimately close to their Kagome, but something felt too right for her to be disturbed by the image. When they landed on the stairs, the silence surrounding them shattered.

"You guys, it's over!" Kagome smiled with tears in her eyes as she tried to run to her friends. Forgetting her exhausted state, the miko only made it two feet before her tired legs fumbled and tried to trip her.

"Oof." The air blew out of her lungs as an unforgiving arm caught her around the ribs before she flew face first down the steps. A sheepish smile and a glance up at an unamused Sesshomaru had her hesitating for a second before she decided that she was too excited to care about things like decorum or etiquette.

"Thanks. Will you bring me down?" Kagome asked with only mild embarrassment. She could not walk on her own so there was no other choice at the moment. Besides, she was already in his arms anyways. He might as well help a girl out.

"This Sesshomaru's services are not cheap, Miko. Are you prepared to pay the price?" The daiyoukai's golden eyes landed on her face. The look was hot and heavy, and if Kagome was paying attention she would have sensed the implied danger in such an agreement, but the futuristic girl was too excited to psychoanalyze at the moment.

"Yeah, sure whatever. With interest if you hurry!" Kagome pulled on his sleeve to emphasize the last part. Her friends were still too shell-shocked to respond to her appearance but once they snap out of it things will probably get rowdy. It would be best at that time that she was not using the Western Lord as a personal carriage.

With a sly smirk at the onna's obliviousness to what she just agreed to, Sesshomaru made true to his side of the bargain. In a flash, the couple was down the stairs and on the ground before her friends and allies. The second she was out of his arms, she stumbled the few feet to her little pack and tackled the monk and slayer simultaneously as they were closest.

"You guys, it's really over." Kagome told them once again and the people around them started reacting. As the message registered with everyone around, a victorious clamor spread throughout the crowd.

"Over?" Sango's voice was laden with emotion, and Kagome nodded. Pulling back, she looked at the couple's faces. She knew what this meant to them.

"If you don't believe me. Why don't you check out Miroku's hand. Now, the only curse he has is a groping affliction." Kagome laughed as Miroku looked down at the beads sealing the wind tunnel cursed upon his family line by Naraku. The sign of approaching death that had haunted him for years. Could it truly be gone?

"Go ahead, Houshi." Sango urged gently. She wanted to give him time to process everything but this meant almost as much to her as it did to him, and if the monk did not get a move on she'd be breaking those beads in a matter of seconds.

As if sensing his future wife's impatience, Miroku released the beads and unwrapped the fabric over his palm. A soft sob escaped Sango as she buried her face into Miroku's shoulder. The monk, himself, was struggling to hold back tears.

"You are right, Lady Kagome. It is over. All over." Miroku clenched his fist and pulled Sango into his arms. The slayer was now openly weeping and Kagome cried with her.

"Kagome." A hesitant voice called out from behind her and Kagome turned to see her best friend, and the sight of his face reminded her of a task she still had to complete. A task that was nearly as hard as beating Naraku. She had to break her best friend's heart.

"Inuyasha." Kagome tried to smile. It was wobbly and obviously fake, which was useless anyways since Inuyasha could scent her sadness. His eyes were oddly calm as he appraised her teary eyes and pathetic smile.

"Kikyo?" His voice was steady and that scared Kagome more than if he was screaming at her. The calmness did not suit the brash hanyou, it was too collected and too conservative with his emotions. Even Kagome could not sort out the emotions hiding behind the one word.

"She," Kagome swallowed the lump in her throat as she tried to suppress her emotions like Inuyasha was doing. If he could do it, so could she, right?

Wrong.

"She..hic..she," Kagome began to sob and it was Inuyasha who closed the distance between them to wrap her in a comforting embrace.

"Keh, onna. You don't gotta say it. I get it." Inuyasha awkwardly pat her back as sobs wracked through her petite frame, and Kagome threw her arms around his shoulders as she cried the tears Inuyasha refused to shed.

"No, you don't understand," Kagome blubbered. "It's my fault. I-I couldn't save her." Kagome cried even harder at her own confession. Inyasha would never know how much regret she experienced in that moment. She truly wanted to save Kikyo, but she was too weak.

"She, ugh, she said that she is sorry." Kagome's tears stung her face as a cold wind blew against her, but she did not care. She held her best friend close, her embrace so fierce there was a possibility of her hurting the hanyou. It was because she held him so tight, that she could feel him trembling.

"She truly loved you, Yasha. She told me so." Kagome whispered so low that only Inuyasha could hear her, and he released a shuddering breath before she felt the man-child nod in understanding. Moments passed in silence as the two held one another, both finding strength in the other's presence.

"Snow." Kagome finally broke the silence as she looked to the sky after the cold air around them intensified. Delicate flakes of pure white had begun to drift down while they were talking and were starting to cover the blood soaked battlefield in a sheet of white. It was a new beginning, a blank slate.

"Wow, and I thought they were sprinkles-OUCH!" Inuyasha yelped as Kagome pinched his furry little ear. Well, at least he was well enough to make jokes.

Kagome was no fool. He would need to mourn Kikyo's death, again, and it would take time. However, this time she would be there for him. She and all their friends. Her best friend would never have to suffer alone again, not if Kagome had anything to say about it.

"Shut up, baka. A war may have ended and I may be dead on my feet but I still have the energy to S-I-T you."

"Wench, you wouldn't dare." Inuyasha's eyes widened as a smile bloomed across Kagome's pale face, implying just how willing she was to prove him wrong. Opening her mouth, Inuyasha held down his ears and squeezed his eyes shut in preparation for the blasted order.

Kagome laughed at her friend's gullibility. How could she sit him after all that has happened? Instead, she tip-toed and laid an innocent kiss on his cheek. Amber eyes snapped open and Inuyasha started to splutter as he looked at her in clear bafflement.

"Remember, I love you too, Yasha. I always will, so come find me when you're ready to talk." Kagome pat Inuyasha's cheek in comfort before moving to walk away. He surprised her by catching her hand and holding it there for a second longer.

"Yeah, I will." He pulled her hand from his face and squeezed it between his claws. "Wait for me, Kags. I'll come back to you." This time, his voice did crack before he turned to walk away.

"Of course, we're best friends," Kagome whispered into the air even though Inuyasha was already gone. He needed space. She knew that, but it still felt a little sad that he would not be here to celebrate Naraku's downfall with them. He was a key player, after all.

Looking around, Kagome saw all the happy faces. It was a show of pure happiness and joy as everyone celebrated a victory over evil. Youkai, monks, and miko were all celebrating amidst the freshly fallen snow. White surrounded her, but Kagome's vision began to grow black.

"Woah." Kagome put her hands on her forehead to try and steady herself. The dizzy spell would pass, but how much longer Kagome would be able to stay standing was a concern. As she was considering what she should do, a deep voice pulled her out of her thoughts.

"You need rest, Miko." Kagome was startled by his sudden appearance, but she did not know why. Lately, Sesshomaru always appeared right when she needed him.

"Sesshomaru." The miko's voice was becoming faint as the adrenaline that was fueling her exhausted body was running on fumes. It was a miracle she was still conscious.

The daiyoukai had been standing by, watching the entire time since they exited the jewel. He deserved a medal for allowing her so much excitement despite her condition, hell, he even left her alone to comfort the half-breed.

Though, he came dangerously close to separating the two when Kagome kissed the hanyou. He will get his revenge for that later, once the kind miko's eyes could no longer see the beating, er, lesson he will be imparting on his little brother about getting too close to another inuyoukai's intended.

"Miko, do you require this one's services once again?" Sesshomaru offered, fully intending to double the miko's debt. A fact the innocent little priestess will not learn until later, when it will be too late to regret.

"Ah, yeah. That'd actually be really nice of you." Kagome mumbled as her consciousness began to leave her. Again, before she could hit the ground, Sesshomaru caught her. Pulling her into his arms and holding her like she was the most important existence in the world, Sesshomaru looked down at Kagome with unconcealed emotion-too bad she was out like a light and did not get to witness any of this.

"Be prepared, Miko. For when you wake," Sesshomaru bent his head to nuzzle the side of the sleeping beauty's face. "It will be time to pay back your debt. Plus interest." A fanged smile told of what was to come as Sesshomaru alerted the miko's allies of their departure before taking to the sky.

AN: Hello everyone! It's me, your least favorite author who doesn't do regular updates (:'-[). I am sorry about that. This year has been crazy and I've been struggling just like everyone else. I am trying to get to all my fanfics whenever inspiration hits, but at the same time I am planning, researching, and working on my own original novel (which will take precedence).

That being said, I will update whenever I can. I promise. I do apologize because, as a reader, I know how sucky it is to follow a story that does not update. I will try to do better, I really will, but I have to say that my mental health and other responsibilities (like ones that will potentially pay this poor grad student) will come first. I thank all of you who understand that and continue to support me and my stories regardless of the hectic updates. It is because of you guys, especially the ones leaving support in the comments, that I am still here. Luv you guys and I hope to make you proud.

~See you soon.