With or Without You by MoonAngel

Only Time

"And who can say why your heart cries,

When your love dies?

Only time..."

>Sengoku Jidai<

Naraku has finally been defeated and the Shikon no Tama has been restored. It seemed like time had stopped. Kikyou stood next to Inu-Yasha. Kagome stood with the rest of the group some ways away from the two past lovers. They stood so close, neither moving. Almost afraid to invade the other's 'personal space'. All were battle ready, as if feeling that the quest wasn't quite over. Kagome held the Shikon no Tama to her chest, protecting it with all her will.

Suddenly the ground began to shake and then mother earth opened her mouth to the world above. A bright pillar of light shot out from the ground and seemed to reach into the heavens. It was such a beautiful light, magically shimmering against the twilight sky.

"Wh..what is that??" Sango stuttered.

"It is the way to Hell" Kikyou said in a cold monotone voice "And I'm not going without you Inuyasha"

Inu-Yasha stood there. What was he supposed to do?? Could he really just leave everything and go to hell with her? Though he felt he did owe her something for the pain that was caused. But was eternal hell the answer? He just didn't know. And what about Kagome?? He was so confused.

Kagome stood there and watched. That's all she could do. She didn't want Inu-Yasha to die. She'd do anything to keep him alive. Anything? Yes.. anything. She'd even die for him, if it meant he'd live. Only then, did she understand what she had to do. She wasn't going to let Kikyou take him to hell. She wasn't going to let him die needlessly. She was going to make the decision for him. Kagome turned around and walked towards Sango.

"Sango-chan ... I want to thank you for all your help. I'm so very sorry about Kohaku .. I hope he'll be able to rest peacefully now. I just wanted to say .. I always thought of you like a sister" She said as she hugged the youkai hunter.

"Don't worry Kagome-chan, I'm sure he's happy now that it's all over" Sango said as she hugged Kagome back.

Kagome bent down and picked up Shippou. She gave him a tight hug "You know, you kinda remind me of Souta sometimes" She said tearfully. She gave him another hug and handed him to Sango. She then walked over to Miroku and smiled.

"You know, I'll really miss you" She said as she giggled. Then she hugged him tightly, tears already starting to fall.

She tried to pull away but he held her there. "Why do I get the feeling your saying goodbye" He said softly.

"Because I am Miroku. This is .. goodbye" She said as she pulled away.

He looked into her eyes and smiled sadly. "I see .. then .. I won't stop you" He gave her a quick hug and moved back with the rest, wiping his sleeve against his face.

She looked at them once more and smiled happily, even though her actions were betraying her. She was anything but happy. She walked over to Inu-Yasha and stood in front of him. He hadn't noticed her, for he too deep in thought. She bent down slightly and looked into his amber eyes. So much confusion. He startled when he seen her and stepped back a little. She smiled sadly at him.

"Inu-Yasha ... I want to thank you. You've given me so much. This was quite an adventure. And I now have the courage to do the one thing I'd never thought I'd be able to do. I'm going to do it now ... because .. there will never be another chance"

"Kagome .." He whispered softly.

She closed her eyes, savoring the way her named sounded coming from him. She opened them again and stepped towards Him. She reached up and slid her arms around his neck. She looked him directly in his eyes "I love you ... always" She whispered. Then she leaned in and kissed him firmly on the lips. She slid her hands along his neck and gently undid the prayer beads. Slowly she pulled away, savoring the way his lips felt against hers. The only sound was that of the prayer beads hitting the ground.

Inu-Yasha stood there, completely frozen by Kagome's sudden actions. She smiled slightly. She figured that would happen. All the more better, now he wouldn't be able to stop her. She slowly started to move backwards.

"I just want you to know .. that I love .. I'll always love you Inu-Yasha. Heh .. I think I've always loved you" She moved farther back, towards the pillar of light.

"K..Kagome ..what are you .." Inu-Yasha managed to say.

"It's okay now. I just want you to be happy. I know now ... that ... it can't be with me .. so .. please .. take care of them for me. I know you will" The tears are now flowing freely down her face. Though she makes no move to wipe them away. "I'll never forget you .. my Inu-Yasha"

"Kagome!! No please!!"

Kagome walked back into the light. She felt it pull at her very soul. It felt like every inch of her was being pulled into a million different directions. Inu-Yasha tried to grab her from the light, but a unseen force threw him back. He stared on in horror as her body slowly started to fade away. The others could be heard screaming her name and crying in sorrow.

"Inu ... Yasha" was the last thing they heard as the pillar of light was sucked back into the ground as the opening in the earth closed before them.

Suddenly a scream filled the air. They all turned to see Kikyou kneeling on the ground. She was panting and coughing, her whole body shaking with every breath. "What .. what's happened to me" She said hoarsely.

"It seems to me ... that your alive" Miroku said as he knelt next to the miko. He grabbed her wrist and felt it. "Yes.. Kikyou .. your alive"

"But .. how ... how can she be alive!?" Inu-Yasha half shouted.

"Even in the end ... Kagome thought nothing of herself" Sango said softly.

"It seems, Kikyou-sama, that when Kagome died, you were brought back to life. One life for another" He said as he stood. Glancing quickly to Inu-Yasha.

"So .. her soul is now mine?" She asked hesitantly.

"No, I guess you have a new soul .. or something. I don't know how to explain it" Miroku said as he started to remove the beads from his wrist.

"I .. don't understand. Why would she do that?" Kikyou asked as she took in everything the priest had told her.

Sango snorted hatefully "I don't understand either. Let's go back to Kaede's. She'll need to know what happened. ~*~*~*~

"I see. So she gave her life, so that Kikyou would live, thus making Inu-Yasha happy?" Kaede asked no one in particular.

"I .. just can't believe that she's dead!" Shippou shouted as he started to cry "And it's all your fault!!" He said as he started to beat on Inu-Yasha.

"Keh, think what you want fox breath" He said as he shoved the fox off him, got up and went outside.

Inu-Yasha walked aimlessly about the forest and stopped when he came to the well. He walked over to it and knelt in front of it. He looked over the lip of the well and into the darkness. He kept replaying everything over and over again, from her words to her kiss to her death. He started to cry, for the first time in a very, very long time.

"Why ... Why Kagome!!" He cried out into the well.

He sat there for some time. He heard the footsteps but made no move. Kaede knelt beside the hanyou and put an arm around him and brought him to her in a quick hug.

"I'm going to seal the well later tonight. If that's alright?" She asked him.

"Whatever .." Then he got up, leaped towards his tree and jumped up to one of the branches.

Kaede shook her head sadly and went into the village to contract some workers so build a shack around the well once it's been sealed. Eventually they will come to understand her sacrifice. They will become less hateful and cold. They will come become more wise and soon, they won't need to mourn. For they will always have her memory, and the time they shared together will always be in there hearts. Hopefully they will forgive one another. Only time will tell.