InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Speaking Through Dreams ❯ The Reality of the Chaos ( Epilogue )

Speaking Through Dreams

 

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha; that right belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. No profit is being made off of this story, so please don't sue me; I have no money.

 

Japanese Words in this Chapter:

Baka: Stupid/idiot

Sengoku Jidai: Feudal Era or Warring-states Era (time period that Inuyasha takes place)

Miko: Shinto (Japanese religion) priestess

Ookami: wolf/wolf demon

Youkai: Demon

Shikon no Tama: Jewel of four souls

 

Name Meanings:

Inuyasha: dog-demon

Kikyou: Chinese Bell-flower

Shippou: Tail

Miroku: The Laughing Buddha

Sango: coral

Kirara: mica

Kohaku: Amber
Kaede: Maple
Myoga: Invisible Divine Help

Sesshoumaru: Destruction of the Circle of Life

Rin: Park/Valiant/Companion/Counter for Wheels and Flowers (I don't get this one either) /Phosphorous

Jaken: Evil Sight/Cruelty
Midoriko: Green Child
Naraku: Hell
Onigumo: Demon Spider
Kanna: Canna Lily

Kagura: Is the name of ancient Shinto music and dancing
Kageromaru: Shadow Man
Juromaru: Beast Man
Goshinki: Mind-Reading Demon
Kaijinbo: Ash-Blade Child
Toutousai: Sword Ceremony Preparer
Kouga: Steel Fang
Ayame: Iris
Souta: Dashing
Houjo: Assistance/Support/Aid
Akitoki: Fall of Time
Yuka: Floor
Eri: Brave/Clever/Neckband/Neck/Collar
Ayumi: Walking
Hiten: Fly Heaven
Manten: Full Heaven
Souten: Point at Issue
Nazuna: Shepherd's Purse
Koaru: Little Spring
Sara: Assistant
Mushin: Dream Mind
Jinenji: Earth Boy
Urasue: Black Pottery
Tsubaki: Camillia
Kuromiko: Black Miko

 

SEPCIAL NOTE: I would like everyone to know that I'm really sorry about the wait for this. It started out as me simply waiting to see if I'd get more than two reviews, but that soon evolved into me putting off the posting of this chapter while I adjusted to college, to me completely forgetting that I hadn't posted it yet (thanks kawaichan and Tyashaay14 for reminding me). Again sorry for the wait, and I hope this satisfies you.

 

Epilogue: The Reality of the Chaos

 

“I-Inu-yasha?”

 

Kagome's voice felt like it hadn't been used in over a month. She was lying in a hospital bed, with Inuyasha next to her, holding her hand and crying on her shoulder. A soon as she spoke he looked up. He was terrible; his hair was a mess, his eyes were red from crying and probably lack of sleep, he had tears all over his face and in his eyes, and he looked pale and starved with dried blood covering his body.

 

At first he only blinked at her, like she wasn't who he thought she was. But then he sniffed and wiped his eyes quickly and proceeded to try and look angry.

 

“Kagome you baka!!” he yelled “What were you trying to do, give me a heart attack?!?! How could you scare me like that?” Although he was trying to sound angry, Kagome could tell that he was relieved about something.

 

“Inuyasha, where am I? What's going on?” Kagome looked around the room. There was hospital equipment everywhere including three of four IVs hooked up to her, a heart monitor, and a few other things that she didn't recognize. The room was almost all white and looked very clean; standard hospital room. There were several chairs around her bed as well as a table next to her that had flowers and “get well soon” cards strewn about it, as well as some prayer beads and what looked like all the shards of the Shikon no Tama.

 

Just then, Miroku came running into the room to see what all the yelling was about. And when he saw Kagome his eyes were filled with disbelief and joy.

 

“EVERYONE, COME QUICK! KAGOME'S ALIVE AND AWAKE!!” What was he talking about? Of course she was alive. Several people came rushing into the room, including her family, her friends from the Sengoku Judia, and several doctors, all of whom had similar reactions to Miroku's.

 

“Will somebody please tell me what's going on? Where am I?” Then a realization hit her: in the height of her confusion she had forgotten one important detail that made her want to cry. “And why are you guys alive?”

 

“Kagome,” Sango said softly, “you've been in a comma for over a month.”

 

~~~~~~~Flashback~~~~~~~

 

Naraku formed a tentacle out of his arm and shot it towards Kagome. Paralyzed by fear, Kagome could only watch as the scene unfolded before her. As the tentacle/arm speed towards her, Inuyasha jumped in front of it in an attempt to stop it and save Kagome. He was almost successful too, but at the last second the tentacle split in two. One pierced Inuyasha through the chest, went straight through it and looped his neck to choke him while the other one dodged Inuyasha and went straight into Kagome's neck. With a smirk, Naraku pumped miasma through his arm and out the tentacle ends. Miroku and Sango (and Shippo from Kirara's back) watched in horror as Inuyasha got a face full of miasma while Kagome, with a tentacle sticking into her neck like a syringe, was no doubt being injected by the noxious vapor. They tried to move to help their dying friends, but found that they were paralyzed with fear over the gruesome scene. Shippo had covered his eyes when the tentacle rushed at Kagome and now took a peak to see if she was all right. From where he was he could see Miroku and Sango standing stone-still with expressions of horror on their faces. In front of them was Naraku with a spreading hole in his chest and his right arm extended as a tentacle that split in two. The right split was sticking through Inuyasha's chest and around his neck, simultaneously choking him and covering him in an ever growing cloud of miasma. The left half of the tentacle had Kagome on the end of it, with obvious pain showing on her face. When Kagome's eyes started to go blank and close, Shippo fainted.

 

The hole in Naraku's chest was growing faster and faster, spreading to his feet, arms and neck. Then, after a few seconds of pumping his miasma, Naraku gave his last defiant smirk and smashed his portion of the jewel (which was most of it), scattering them all over again as one final “screw you” before the hole completely devoured his entire body and he was gone.

 

Kirara landed with Shippo on her back as Sango and Miroku rushed over to Inuyasha as he coughed and gasped for breath.

 

“Inuyasha, are you all right?” Miroku asked worriedly.

 

“Yeah,” Inuyasha gasped, “that baka had his tentacle choking me so I didn't inhale any of the miasma. How's Kagome?” The three of them looked over to see Kagome lying on the ground, convulsing.

 

“KAGOME!!” the three yelled in unison. As they rushed over to her, her body emitted a pink light and her convulsions stopped, but she still didn't wake up.

 

“Kagome!! Kagome are you ok? Please wake up!” Inuyasha yelled leaning over her. He didn't like this one bit. He could smell blood mixed with miasma spilling in troves inside of her and she was starting to get the stench of death.

 

“Inuyasha, what's wrong with Kagome?” Miroku asked as he and Sango ran towards him.

 

“It smells like he injected her with miasma. Quick Sango! Get Kirara!” Inuyasha ordered.

 

“Right! Hold on Kagome-chan.”

 

“Come on Kagome, hang in there!” Inuyasha grabbed her hand with his. “I swear if you die on me I'll never forgive you!” He shouted as he squeezed her hands.

 

“Inuyasha, be careful! Your claws are digging into Kagome-sama's hands!” Miroku told him. Inuyasha looked down at her hands to see them bleeding and immediately let them go in horror.

 

“You must calm down, Inuyasha. You worrying is not going to save Kagome-sama. The only chance for her to survive is if we can get her to Kaede-sama's in time.” Miroku tried to comfort Inuyasha. As Miroku was saying this, Kirara flew down with Sango and Shippo on her back.

 

“Hurry Houshi-sama, we need to get her on Kirara!” Sango said anxiously. But before either of them could move, Inuyasha had picked Kagome up, put her on his back, and sprinted off in the direction of Kaede's village faster that any of them had ever seen Inuyasha travel.

 

Inuyasha ran all night and all day without stopping once for anything. When he arrived at the village well past midnight the next day, he shouted at Kaede, who had run out of her hut to see what all the commotion was this late at night, to “get all your medication and anything that can help or heal wounds ready” and added particularly sharply that “There's no time to explain”. Kaede glanced at Kagome before quickly preparing everything that would help a variety of wounds and pain-killers.

 

By the time the others arrived Kaede had everything that could be prepared on such vague symptoms, and was laying Kagome on a futon. She had a terrible fever and was sweating horribly; her hair was matted to her head as thick beads of sweat gathered on her face, and her clothes were soaked.

 

“She looks horrible.” Sango said with a small, worried voice. She walked over to a basin full of cold water that Kaede had, dipped her scarf in it, and proceeded to place it on Kagome's head. “There, that should at least help the fever a little, shouldn't it Kaede-sama?” Sango asked, sounding hopeful.

 

“I hope so Sango, but she will still need medicine or she is likely to die. What happened to her?”

 

“You mean you don't know?” Miroku asked shocked, “Why hasn't Inuyasha told you?”

 

“He has just been sitting there with Kagome since he arrived, demanding that I heal Kagome. He hasn't said a word since; just sat their, staring at her holding her hand.” Inuyasha had in fact been doing just that. He hardly noticed anything around him; all he could do was worry for Kagome and wonder what he could have done differently.

 

“We were attacked by Naraku.” Sango started, slowly and painfully. “It was a long, hard battle; we all suffered wounds from it, both physical and emotional. Eventually Naraku started trying, and unfortunately successfully, to break are hearts by reminding each of us how he…he had hurt us.” Sango grimaced at the memory of Naraku standing there, that smug smirk on his face and that cold voice…oh how she was glad it was over. “Eventually his words made Kagome-chan so mad that she shot an arrow with so much miko energy at him, that it purified him almost instantly. Unfortunately as a dying move, he attacked Kagome” Sango's voice started to get higher and sadder in an unusual display of emotion as tears welled up in her eyes “…Inuyasha…Inuyasha tried to stop him, but­—but…he got hit to and then the attack went around him and it—it…”

 

“He punctured Kagome's neck and pumped miasma into her body.” Miroku solemnly answered for Sango, who had started to cry bitterly. “And to make it worse he broke what he had of the jewel, so that now most of the shares are re-scattered.”

 

Kaede was silent for a few moments as she digested this enormous amount of information. Miroku was kneeling on the ground next to Sango as he comforted her on his shoulder, trying his very best to control his hand, as this was not the time for that. Shippo was still unconscious from his faint and was on Kirara's back, who had yet to de-transform. And Inuyasha was still sitting there, staring at Kagome with a vacant, sorrowful look that showed he was thinking deeply of her as he held her hand.

 

“KAGOME!!” Inuyasha's cry startled everyone, and they immediately froze in panic over what had caused Inuyasha to scream in the first place. Kagome was beginning to shake violently on the ground and gasp for the breath she wasn't receiving, almost like she was having a seizure. Shippo woke up at the sound of Inuyasha and stated crying loudly at what he saw, Miroku and Sango were frozen with panic, and Inuyasha was grabbing her shoulders and forcing them down, trying to make her stop.

 

“She's having a reaction to the miasma!” Kaede yelled. “Sango hand me the bowl nearest you! Houshi-dono, start making all the antidotes you know for a spider and snake youkai poisoning and mix them together! Kirara take Shippo outside and keep him quiet! And Inuyasha stop holding her down; you'll only injure her further.” Kaede commanded. She was experienced with situations like this, though never this severe, and knew exactly how to handle them. Each person did what they were told and Kaede was able to feed Kagome a mixture of antidotes and pain killers which, to everyone's great relief, served to stop Kagome's spasms.

 

“What the hell was that!?” Inuyasha demanded, talking for the first time since he initially brought Kagome in.

 

“The miasma that Naraku injected into Kagome's body was attacking her. It is normal for the body to react like that to deadly poisons, though usually the person is dead afterwards. Kagome is very lucky to have survived it.” Kaede said. “But don't worry, the medicine I gave her should keep that from happening again; it's just a matter of how long it takes, if ever, for Kagome's body to heal itself.”

 

Miroku, Sango, and Shippo looked relieved to hear this, but Inuyasha didn't. He simply got the same distant look on his face that he had before and stared at Kagome. Eventually the others fell asleep from exhaust and the lateness of the night, but Inuyasha refused to. All night he kept watch over Kagome, occasionally talking to her even though he knew it was pointless.

 

The next day Kagome's fever got worse, but at least she showed no knew symptoms. They spent the day worrying about and treating Kagome. Shippo helped Kaede and Miroku pick herbs for Kagome's medicine while Sango changed Kagome's sheets, bandages, and cloths with cool ones, and Inuyasha stayed in the same position, never leaving her and not even acknowledging anyone else's existence. All he did was sit with her and talk to her; Kagome said that miasma attacks your mind and tears it apart, so maybe if she heard a familiar voice, it would give her something to hold on to and help keep her mind together.

 

That evening Kagome started to convulse and have spasms again, only this time they were stronger that before. Kaede gave the same instructions out as she had the previous night, except this time she was prepared for it. And as she hastily prepared what she hopped would cure Kagome, Inuyasha continued to talk to her.

 

“KAGOME!!! KAGOME CAN YOU HEAR ME!?!? KAGOME, I WON'T LEAVE YOU. IF YOU CAN HERE ME PLEASE ANSWER. IF NOT, I'LL JUST KEEP YELLING AT YOU!!!”

 

“Inuyasha shut up!! Listen to me!” Miroku yelled as he attempted to grab hold of Inuyasha's shoulders and force Inuyasha to look at him. “Yelling at Kagome isn't going to help her, and it isn't going to help Kaede get an antidote ready. You must calm down. We all want Kagome to get better and we're all doing our best. You need to do that too; you need to help her, not yell at her.” Miroku released Inuyasha who looked defeated and lost. Miroku went back to his hurried task and Inuyasha just sat there, muttering to Kagome.

 

“Wake up; I love you Kagome. Please, wake up. You need to wake up.”

 

The convulsions continued for several minutes with Kagome's chest flying up in the air and horrible gargling sounds coming from inside her. Kaede finished a suitable antidote was finally able to administer it to Kagome, who was blue in the face and had blood was streaming down the sides of her mouth, like she had been coughing up blood. Kagome's spasms slowed to a halt and everyone held their breath in anticipation over what would happen next. The silence in the room was so thick you could cut it with a knife. It was almost too quite. Wait a minute, where was the sound of Kagome breathing!?

 

“Kagome!!” Inuyasha shouted when he realized what was going on. “Kaede-babaa what'd you do to Kagome!!”

 

“The antidote took too long to prepare, the miasma must have attacked more of her body than it could handle.” Kaede said regretfully and panicky.

 

“Come on Kagome, you gotta wake up!”

 

“I can't figure out what's wrong with her.” Said Miroku who had been desperately trying to think of some way to revive her.

 

“She's not gonna to die, is she?” Sobbed Shippo, tears running down his eyes.

 

“Of course not runt! Come on Kagome, wake up. Kagome, wake up, please wake up!” Inuyasha was getting more and more frantic as everyone else was panicking “Kagome wake up! KAGOME!”

 

Kagome took a sharp intake of breath and continued to breathe uneasily. Everyone let out a sigh of relief as Kagome revived herself. Later that day, Kouga came busting in the village, wondering where his Kagome was.

 

“YOU LET HER WHAT!!” Kouga shouted at Inuyasha as Miroku explained what had happened. “I knew it, dog-turd, you're not capable of protecting the people around you! I guess it's up to me to protect my Kagome! I'm taking her to my de—” Kouga was cut of from his arrogant rampage by Inuyasha grabbing him by the throat. It happened so fast no one, not even Kouga, saw him move. On moment Kouga was raving, the next he was pinned to the wall of the hut by his neck with Inuyasha on the other end.

 

“Let's get a few things straight, ookami. First of all, she is not yours, she never wanted to be yours, she told me herself, and she never will be yours because she belongs with me; not as a piece of property like you treat her, but as a person.” Kouga seemed taken aback by this and tried to argue but Inuyasha pressed on. “Second of all, don't you dare think that I didn't protect Kagome that night.” His voice sounded like he was crying but no tears were shed; Inuyasha never cries. “I protected her as much as possible. That attack was aimed at her heart and had it hit, she wouldn't even be feigning death right now. And third,” His grip around Kouga's neck grew tighter and as he drew his face closer so that they were practically touching. “Don't, you, ever, talk, about, my, ability, to, protect, my, friends, again…EVER!!” With that, Inuyasha dropped Kouga and went back to watching over Kagome.

 

Rubbing his neck as he got up, Kouga, ego deflated, asked Kaede if at least there was at least something he could do to help Kagome.

 

“Actually, yes. I believe I know of a medicine that can Kagome's fits and save her from the miasma, but I require a flower that only grows in the northern mountains.”

 

“Say no more!” And Kouga was off; he already knew the flower that Kaede was talking about, since its healing properties were the reason his den was where it was. While they waited for Kouga to return, the others had nothing to do but sit and talk. Inuyasha didn't include himself seeing as he was still talking to Kagome, trying and hoping to reach her while Kaede was getting everything ready for the medication and Kouga's return.

 

A few hours later he arrived with a flower that looked like a Sakura blossom, only it was purple. With yellow outline on the pedals.

 

“Ah, very good! This will do just fine.” Said Kaede as she took the healing wonder. After grinding up the flower and adding it into the medicine, she brought it over to where Inuyasha and Kagome were. Inuyasha roughly snatched the cup, muttering a cross of “arigato” and “what took you so long”, and pressed it up to her lips as he gently tilted her head back. Everyone watched anxiously as Inuyasha rubbed Kagome's throat in just the right spot to make her reflexively swallow the medicine. Immediately she started cooling down, end everybody gave a sigh of relief.

 

“Just for good measure, why don't I give here these too.” Kouga made a small cut in his leg with his claws and removed his jewel shard, then did the same for the other one. “These should help keep her alive long enough for her body to heal itself.” Said Kouga as he placed them in Kagome's hand. It was so weird seeing Inuyasha and Kouga get along like this. But then again, both of them had Kagome's life in mind, and the two had apparently and un-verbally agreed to put their differences aside for Kagome's mutual benefit. But if seeing the two of them getting along wasn't weird enough, three hours later (it's now around dusk) Inuyasha suddenly grew stiff, and Kikyo walked into the hut.

 

“Well, it seems like my reincarnation has gotten herself into quite a mess this time. Kaede, I trust you gave her the proper medicine?” Kikyo said as she stared at Kagome.

 

“Yes…yes I have.” Kaede said, slightly taken aback by the idea that the image of her sister was standing there, talking like she would have if she were still alive.

 

“But Kikyo-sama,” Miroku asked confused, “how did you know of the condition of Kagome?”

 

“Simple, she and I share the same soul, therefore when she is in trouble I can feel it and visa versa. I am also aware that Naraku was defeated in the battle, since his youki is no longer detectable. But what of the Shikon no Tama? Have you located Naraku's piece of it yet?” Asked Kikyo to Sango and Miroku; she seemed to be completely ignoring Inuyasha and the fact that the only acknowledgement he made of her presence was to go rigid and cease talking.

 

“No. When Naraku died he re-scattered his fragments of the Shikon no Tama.” Sango said quietly.

 

“And why have you not stated looking for them?” Kikyo's monotone voice was laced with a dry and mocking surprise.

 

“Because of Kagome. Plus, how would we find them? She was the only one who was able to sense the presence of the shards.” Answered Miroku.

 

“Not quite.” Said Kikyo, a smirk forming on her face. “You forget that I have the same powers as Kagome, if not more.”

 

“Whoa, whoa, whoa…hold on a second!” Kouga interrupted. “Who the hell are you, and how are you related to Kagome?” Everyone seemed to have forgotten that Kouga had never met, or even heard of Kikyo before. After Miroku filled Kouga in on all the important matters dealing with Kikyo, from fifty-three years ago, to her involvement with Naraku, and everything else that was of importance (he didn't tell Kikyo about Kouga because she apparently already knew about him), Kouga fell into a sitting position, shocked that so much was going on with Kagome that he hadn't even known about. A few accusations of “and you said I was two-timing Kagome with Ayame…” Kikyo decided to continue what she had been saying where she left off.

 

“Inuyasha.” Kikyo turned to him, addressing him for the first time since her arrival. He didn't move, but his ears tweaked (indicating that he was listening) and a look of worry overtook his far-off look. He didn't say anything, but it was obvious that he was expecting Kikyo to collect on his promise to her right now, and drag him to hell with her. “I free you of your promise; you don't have to go to hell with me. I never even expected you to in the first place.”

 

“Nani?” It was the first thing Inuyasha said since she came in and he tore his eyes off Kagome to look at her in disbelief and shock.

 

“During my wanderings I came across a temple. There I met a priest with spiritual powers even grater than my own. He knew what I was the minute he saw me, and yet he still invited me to stay at his temple and train with him. While I was there I learned to accept myself for who I am, not what I am or who I was. I was happy, for the first time since that day, fifty-three years ago. Inuyasha, I know you love that girl, it's written all over you face. We may have loved each other in the past, but Naraku ruined that love; it's tainted now, false. Just the remnants of what once was. Inuyasha, you don't love me and you shouldn't love me; you are alive and I am not. I will not hold you to the promise I made you make out of hatred and bitterness. Also, as penance for my sins, I will assist your friends in recollecting the shards of the Shikon no Tama. After that is done and if Kagome is revived, I shall return the missing piece of her soul that I have.”

 

Everyone was shocked to hear this little speech. But they were happy, both for Kikyo and Inuyasha, who couldn't believe what he heard. So for the rest of the month Kirara, Sango, Miroku, and Kikyo, accompanied by Kouga (who still couldn't believe that Inuyasha had been two-timing Kagome and then getting mad at him whenever he showed up) searched for the shards of the Shikon no Tama, while Shippo and Inuyasha stayed behind to watch over Kagome and help Kaede. Over the month, Inuyasha grew more and more irritable. His lack of sleep and food made his control over his youkai blood wane, and his canine instincts start to surface . He started growling at people who entered the hut, and once he even bit a man for looking at Kagome. He was becoming possessive with her and would barely let Kaede near her to administer medication. He was starting to act like a wild dog.

 

And it didn't help his mood that, in spite of how well she was doing at the beginning of the month, Kagome was steadily getting worse. Her fever returned, accompanied by fits of chills and rashes, and occasional small spasms. In fact, by the end of the month, even through all the mediation and the help of Kouga's jewel shards, Kagome was worse than she was when she didn't have any of them helping her.

 

Miroku and the others arrived at the hut around this time because Kikyo had sensed Kagome's serious condition through their link. Kagome was dieing, and there was nothing in this world that could stop it from happening. The fact that she had survived the first hour of its intrusion in her body was a miracle. There simply was no cure.

 

“I thought this might be the case.” Kikyo said sadly after placing her hand over Kagome to read some vital sign that only a miko could sense (spending a month with Kagome's friends made Kikyo feel close to her reincarnation as a friend. Sango's and Miroku's sadness had become her own). Inuyasha had to force himself to allow Kikyo close enough to do this. His instincts were showing like the cushions of a worn-out pillow; he wouldn't even let Miroku get close to her.

 

“The miasma that Naraku injected into Kagome's body was not merely miasma; it was also cursed. Usually miasma will kill a person within a few days at the most. Kagome had the help of medication, her miko powers, and the Shikon no Tama to keep her alive. This won't cure the miasma, but it should have held it at bay and kept it from spreading. Unfortunately this did not happen, which means the miasma is regenerating itself and actively working to kill her, or at least tear her mind apart. The only way that it can be this aggressive is with the aid of a curse. Naturally, her mind is trying to fight it, but the combination of miasma attacking her physically and a curse attacking her mentally is enough to overpower anyone.”

 

“But Kikyo, isn't there something we can do?” Wined Shippo. Tears were welling up in his eyes. First his mother, then his father, now Kagome? His poor little kitsune heart couldn't take it. If he lost Kagome…even thinking about it made his heart feel like it was being crushed and forced into his stomach.

 

“Unfortunately, no. The only way Kagome could be saved is if we could cure the miasma, which would allow her mind to build up its strength and fight the miasma. But no such cure exists.”

 

“Not yet it doesn't, but it will…” Inuyasha stated with quiet thoughtfulness. “Remember when Naraku attacked us? Remember what Kagome said? She said that the healers from her time have only cured a handful of people. But if a handful of people have been cured, that means that they can cure it!” Inuyasha said with more joy in his voice then anyone had heard in a while. “I'm taking Kagome back to her time! That's her best chance for survival.”

 

Inuyasha picked up Kagome bridal style and ran towards the well without waiting for anyone to say a word. Nothing mattered to him except Kagome getting better. “Don't worry Kagome; you'll get better soon. I promise...I won't fail you too.”

 

Needless to say her family was pretty worried and upset when Inuyasha came crashing through the front door with an unconscious Kagome in his arms, demanding to know where their healers were. After quickly telling them that she had miasma poisoning (they told him that they had to know what was wrong with her first), her family called the hospital. Inuyasha didn't let go of Kagome during the five minute wait for the ambulance and had to force himself to let her family see and touch her. But when the paramedics arrived and tried to take her, Inuyasha growled viciously as his eyes flashed red. But luckily their attention was on Kagome and trying to get her away from him so they didn't notice. And before he attacked anyone, Kagome's mother was able to coax him into letting them take her and assured him that he would be able to see her at the hospital. Before she got in the ambulance with her daughter, Mrs. Higurashi quickly told Inuyasha what a car is and that it would take him to Kagome.

 

Before they took her away, the paramedics removed the jewel shards that were in Kagome's hand, which immediately triggered a seizure. Kagome's body had become so dependant on the Shikon shards, that without them the miasma was able to run free again in her body.

 

The seizure was horrible, worse that any the doctors had ever seen and they doubted if she would survive it. Kagome had blood coming out all over her body from her orifices and from cuts that were being created the inside by the miasma as it ate through her. By the time they reached the hospital, Kagome was already receiving a blood transfusion and the doctors immediately placed her in a code blue room. They worked hard and fast to save her, and after an hour they were able to subdue the miasma and stop her seizure.

 

“The girl appears to be stabilizing.” Announced one of the nursed, relieved.

 

“That's good news. We almost lost her there.” Agreed the doctor.

 

“Let me see Kagome!!” Shouted Inuyasha as he beat his way past the security guards, shoved the doctors out of the way and knelt by her side. “Hey, Kagome! Here, I got these for you” Inuyasha gently opened Kagome's hands and gave her a pair of prayer beads, putting them in her hands. “They're Miroku's. He had them blessed to help fight the curse. Isn't that great! Pretty soon we will be together again. All you have to do is wake up!” As it turns out, after Inuyasha left with Kagome, Miroku high-tailed it after them. Since Naraku was dead, Miroku's kazaana had disappeared, and he no longer needed his prayer beads. And since they were blessed to fight Naraku's curses (i.e. his kazaana), he simply had Kikyo use her miko powers to adjust the blessing so that it would now fight the curse that Kagome had instead. Then, taking a jewel shard in hopes of it allowing him to travel through the well, Miroku gave chase. He ended up showing up right as Jii-chan was leaving with Inuyasha and Souta.

 

By this time Kagome's mother and Jii-chan had talked to the doctors and convinced them to let Inuyasha stay with Kagome. They also told them that their security couldn't stop him even if they tried. So for the next few hours, Kagome's family was properly introduced to Miroku, and they all sat with Inuyasha and explained what everything did.

 

“The bag on the pole is called an IV, and it's filled with medicine and blood that it puts directly into Kagome so she doesn't die. The big machine in front of the bed (what she is lying in) is called a respirator and it helps her breath. And that beeping thing is keeping track of her pulse. Every time it beeps her heart beeps too, so it tells us that she is alive.”

 

“Fascinating!” Miroku said as he inspected every item in the room. He had never seen any of it and was amazed at what there was in the world; it was mind-boggling to see how much technology advanced in 500 years. Everything was different! Some things seemed good, like the apparent lack of youkai and the advancement of the medicine. And yet, everything was so big and impersonal, and where were all the trees and forests? It was fascinating and a bit scary all at the same time.

 

After the use of everything of the room had been described and explained, Miroku decided to retell what had happened to Kagome, since Inuyasha had gone back to his habit of not noticing anything but Kagome. Miroku retold the battle, what had happened afterwards, and after answering all their questions to the best of his ability, started telling Jii-chan about what the Sengoku Judia was like (who happened to ask him).

 

After a while, everyone but Inuyasha was preparing to leave for the evening, when all of a sudden Inuyasha and Miroku felt the prayer beads and Kagome pulse with energy. Then Kagome went into another seizure, this one worse than before.

 

“Quick get a healer!!” Shouted Miroku. “The curse must be fighting the prayer beads.” Miroku speculated as doctors rushed in to find Kagome shaking and twitching on the bed. She was soaked in blood and sweat and her skin looked like it had just had a good hour-long rub with broken glass. Blood came gargling out of her lungs and the heart monitor was going haywire. The doctors started pushing people out of the room as they filled the IV's with more blood, antibiotic and antitoxins, but they were fighting a loosing battle. With the curse fighting her mind, the miasma was going unchecked through her body, to deteriorate it from the inside out.

 

Inuyasha was growling furiously at so many males trying to separate him from his partner. “Get your hands offa my Kagome! Iron Reaver Soul Stealer!!” Inuyasha shouted as he aimed for the doctors, but Miroku stopped him, and together with Jii-chan and the hospitals security they were able to hold him back. Kagome only got worse as the seizures increased in severity and blood was starting to squirt out of the cuts the miasma was creating. Her body was hissing as it was eaten away by the miasma and the doctors were trying desperately to save her life. The heart monitor showed that her heart-rate was getting dangerously high, and if it continued she would have a heart attack too.

 

“We're loosing her!” One of the nurses shouted.

 

“Quick! Get some more antidotes and fill the IV! We need to counteract that miasma!” A doctor commanded. Everyone was tense.

 

“Let me see Kagome!!” shouted Inuyasha. “Come on, Kagome, stay with me! I swear, if you die I'll never forgive you!!”

 

“Someone get him out of here!! Listen! You're in the way and you won't help her. There's nothing you can do!” shouted a doctor angrily. And much to everyone's surprise, instead of rebelling against what the doctor said, Inuyasha simply sunk to the floor with a watery far-off look in his eyes, like he was reliving some traumatic experience.

 

Eventually, after another pulse of energy from the prayer beads that only Inuyasha and Miroku could feel, Kagome stabilized, and the seizure stopped. The doctors cleaned her up, bandaged her, and as soon as they were done Inuyasha immediately went right back to her side. The whole ordeal had taken 8 hours and it was around 4 o'clock in the morning. Souta and Jii-chan had gone home and Kagome's mother was asleep in the waiting room with Miroku.

 

Nothing happened that day, and the following evening Jii-chan arrived with Sango, Shippo, and Kohaku to see Kagome. Sango briefly told Miroku and Inuyasha that she had beseeched Sesshomaru about using the Tensaiga on Kohaku, as payment to Kagome for defeating Naraku. He agreed (after some prompting from Rin) and Kohaku was revived, allowing them to take the final shard of the Shikon no Tama from his back.

 

Everyone then went in to see Kagome (Shippo was uncomfortably fitted into pants that hid his tail and was wearing shoes); since Miroku hadn't returned, they assumed that he was successful in traveling through the well, which meant that so could they. Kouga and Kikyo stayed back at the village to help protect it while the others were gone, and Kirara wasn't allowed inside the hospital, so she was left at the shrine with Buyo. When they were done visiting and the initial shock of actually being in Kagome's time seceded, they all had the same general reaction as Miroku; wanting to know what everything was, what it did, and how it worked.

 

When Sango set the Shikon no Tama on the table where the other two shards were being kept, everyone was pleasantly surprised to see Kagome turn a shade back to her normal color (she had been extremely pale from all the blood she was loosing). The next day Kagome was moved to the recovery room (the doctors weren't expecting any more attacks, since they had been able to stop her last seizure and they seemed to have cured the miasma) where her friends from school were waiting for her with flowers and cards (rumors of Kagome's illness spread very quickly through the school).

 

When the doctors walked in some time later, they announced the results of Kagome's tests to her family and friends. Luckily there had been no serious internal damage, and most of it had miraculously healed. However, much of the miasma had been centered on attacking her brain, and based on the results of the cat-scan they had taken, there was a tremendous amount of neurological done. They doubted she would ever wake up from her coma. But as soon as they talked about putting her out of her misery and just letting her die, Inuyasha promptly punched them in the faces so hard the fell over, and yelled at them to get out, to which they happily and hurriedly obliged.

 

The next day, Kagome died. The seizure wasn't messy or bloody like the previous ones, it was deadly and to the point. Apparently, while the doctors had been able to cure most of the miasma, there was still some left that waged and all-out assault on her brain; most specifically her brain stem, which is what keeps a person alive (it controls breathing, heart beat, etc.), but also sparing the time to crush her conscious mind too. It was unheard of for anything to attack with such ferocity and persistence; the doctors had never seen anything more horrific. Even without the blood, the sight of Kagome's body twitching and convulsing so hard and showing so much agony was a painful sight. The doctors did everything they could, but nothing helped. Her breathing was gargled as her lungs closed up, and shortly after her heart stopped, along with her breathing and shaking. The doctors had done everything they could but it was all for naught.

 

As everyone filed solemnly out of the room, Inuyasha stayed behind, refusing to believe Kagome was dead.

 

“Kagome!! Kagome you have to fight it! You have to hold on! I don't want to lose you!! You can! Come on Kagome, you're the strongest human I've ever met! Don't let this get you! You can beat it!” The heart monitor let out a beep, but Inuyasha didn't notice. “Just wake up Kagome, please, just wake up!” Inuyasha's voice was shaky and small, like he was crying. But he refused to let the tears come. He never cries. “I don't know if you can hear me Kagome, but if you can I'm begging you to hold on for me. I can't live without you; no one has cared about me like you have since my mother died. I don't want to lose you too. I wasn't strong enough to save her and I swore I would never be that weak again. Please, I begging you, don't make me break my promise.” Kagome's chest started rising and falling as the heart-monitor started beeping louder, but Inuyasha wasn't paying attention. He didn't even notice when Kagome glowed pink and something seemed to evaporate out of her; his eyes were closed as he grabbed onto her hand. “Just wake up Kagome, please just wake up.” His soft voice was filled with sadness, almost a whisper. A tear left his eyes and landed on Kagome's cheek. The heart monitor started beating louder and more regular. “Please,” he was crying now. “please just wake up.” More tears left his eyes. He buried his face in her shoulder and cried, but was startled a few seconds later as he heard Kagome's voice.

 

“I-Inu-yasha?”

 

*******~~~~~~TWO WEEKS LATER~~~~~~*******

 

Kagome was finally finished with her physical therapy to rebuild her muscles, and she was going to be released from the hospital. (She always wondered why it was that none of the doctors said anything about Inuyasha's ears or Shippo's youkai traits). During the past weeks she had re-told her dream to the others, and thought heavily about what she would do with the Shikon no Tama. It was a heavy burden to bear and it required all of her concentration, but her mind always strayed back to her dream and what had happened in it. It had been Inuyasha that kept her going, both in her dream and in real life; if he hadn't been talking to her, her mind would've fallen apart and she wouldn't be alive right now. When she was dreaming, his voice in the real world kept her focused on him and trying to find a way to revive him, giving her the will to live and persevere, which translated to her mind's stamina in fighting off the curse and miasma. All these things kept going through her mind as she tried to figure out what it all meant in the whole scheme of things.

 

That evening her family and friends from the Sengoku Jidai held a celebration to commemorate her release from the hospital and the fact that her quest was now over (after all, Naraku was dead, the Shikon no Tama was complete, and she was alive and well). It was a great party, everyone having a good time, playing games, swapping stories of past adventures, explaining contraptions, talking about the way of life in the Sengoku Judia, eating ramen; everyone was having a good time. Inuyasha was kinder to Kagome now, and Kagome was more understanding of what his life was like, having, to all intents and purposes, lived as a hanyou for over a month. And she oddly missed it.

 

After a few hours of fun, Kagome decided to make an announcement she had been preparing in her head for the past two weeks.

 

“Everyone, I've decided what to do with the Shikon no Tama. I've been thinking a lot about the dream I had, and my adventures in the Sengoku Jidai. Something that I've noticed is that I've been growing apart from my friends at school. I still like them, but because of my quest, I've grown up while they're still kids; I can't relate to them any more. Similarly, in my dream my family was the only place I had to go to in this era, whereas in the Sengoku Judia I had many different villages and people to turn to and relate with. Also I've come to realize, many things about Inuyasha. Like how caring he is, even if it's hard for him to show it, and how he will do anything to keep me safe. And after being separated from him in my dream, I've realized that I love Inuyasha with all my heart and I want to spend the rest of my life with him.” Kagome paused to let the murmurs of surprise, that came as people realized the implications of what was just said, die down before continuing. Inuyasha looked stiff as a board and was blushing and sweating profusely. “Now I know, after having spent three years with him, that Inuyasha is worried for my safety because I am a weak human and can be injured easily; proof of this being what just happened two months ago. And also, Inuyasha, I want you to know that you are not worthless (the expression on his face and personal experience told Kagome that Inuyasha didn't feel worthy of her love. And who could blame him, really, for feeling this way after having been told so for most of his life). I love you for who you are, not what you are; whether you're a hanyou, human, or youkai. You have always been worthy of me, and it's about time you realized it. That argument aside, and all these things considered, I have decided that I want to use the Shikon no Tama to become a hanyou, and live in the Sengoku Jidai as Inuyasha's mate, if he'll have me.”

 

As Kagome expected, everyone was shocked beyond words by this decision, and Inuyasha was desperately trying to fight off tears as he looked at Kagome with unbelieving eyes. He couldn't believe that somebody actually love him. When the initial shock subsided, a flurry of questions flooded Kagome. Her family, of course, wanted to know if they'd ever see her again. But she assured them that she had the well, and even if that stopped working she could see them when she was 500 years older. After all, youkai and hanyous live a long time. Souta thought it was cool, Kagome's mother was excided that Kagome was finally getting married and made her promise that she would make her lots of grand children (to which Kagome and Inuyasha both blushed and looked away), and even Jii-chan was proud that she was going to take an active part in history. Miroku, Sango, Shippo, and Kirara were, of course, elated that Kagome would be living with them permanently from now on (Kohaku was still slowly recovering from what Naraku did to him, so emotions were hard to come by with him).

 

Later on, Inuyasha pulled Kagome aside and asked her if this was what she really wanted, to live the rest of her life as an outcast and unloved, but she quickly reminded him that they would have the others, and that they would have each other. She already told him that she loved him, and he had proven many times that he loved her, even if it was hard for him to say so (and that was enough for her). Then, to make her point clear, she gave him a long, passionate kiss on the lips.

 

When the party was over and Kagome was packing, she wrote a note to Hojo, Yuka, Eri, and Ayumi, telling them that she was eloping with Inuyasha, and that they would be moving to Canada. (It was something that they could believe and would explain her absence from their lives). After that was done she packed everything she could think of that she would want to take with her, just in case the well closed up, including first-aid equipment, history text books, and enough ramen to last a life-time…or at least a month.

 

Inuyasha took everyone back through the well on his back, since they didn't have shards any more (Kagome had put them all back together into one jewel) and Inuyasha didn't need them to be able to use the well, while Kagome gave her last good byes to her family. Finally, holding on to her future husband's back, Kagome went through the sacred well, probably for the last time, where her new life, a new adventure, and the final step towards ridding the world of the Shikon no Tama awaited her.

 

And as she traveled through the time slip, she realized that she was actually thankful to Naraku. Because if it wasn't for him, she wouldn't have fallen into a coma, and then Kagome and Inuyasha never would have realized their feelings for each other. And as the light of the time slip covered them, Kagome thought about all that she had to be thankful for: from the love of Inuyasha, to her life, and she would never forget that it was all thanks to Inuyasha, and his speaking through her dreams.

 

The End…

 

A/N: There it is. My first fanfic. *stands back and admires it* It's been a fun ride, full of interesting people, great reviews and reviewers, and some good laughs (on my end at least). I hope you all enjoyed my story and don't mind that it got a little mushy at the end there. I would like to thank all those who reviewed, and give out a special thanks to kawaichan and Tyashaay14, who were my first and my most steady reviewers! Thanks guys, you helped me a lot and reading your reviews was always a pleasure. If anyone has any questions about my story (or just in general) that weren't answered in the epilogue, feel free to ask me in a review, and I'll happily reply to it (I'll post a Q and A page or something like that).

 

And one other note, I haven't been doing nothing while I was AWOL; I have started on a sequel to this story that, while it's still in its infancy, is looking to start growing rapidly here in the next few months. So for all those who are interested, you have that to look forward to.

 

See ya space cowboy…

 

Akuhonou Ryuu- The DarkFlame Dragon