Second chance at life, Second chance at love by Amarioko

Prologue

Second chance at life, Second chance at love

Disclaimer- I don't own Inuyasha. . . Sigh

Prologue

Heavy, dark, Ominous clouds hung over the warriors in the clearing below, ice cold rain stung like that of needles. Battered and bleeding they clung to the hope, The hope that this would be the final battle. The end of the evil that was Naraku, no matter the cost.

"Die!"

Naraku's shout brought their attention to the tentacles they had been ignoring, in favor for the hordes of demons surrounding them. The very demons that had made up Naraku. The two miko's were unsuspecting. Kagome stood in battle pose, her form hovering protectively over her adoptive kit. Kikyou stood not too far away, brandishing her bow as a weapon, having run out of arrows long before.

"Kagome-chan!"

"Kagome-sama!"

"Mommy!"

"Kikyou!"

The sound of a body hitting the ground echoed throughout the clearing, a gasp of pain not too far off. Inuyasha stood, as a hanyou shield, in front of his beloved. His kikyou.

She looked at him, her once dulled brown eyes filling with tears, tears for him. "Inuyasha," She whispered, caressing his face with a pale hand. His own hand covered hers, rubbing it in a soothing manner, as if she was the one in pain instead of him. He smiled then, a true smile, one only meant for her. "I. . . I love you," Blood trickled from his mouth as he fell straight into her waiting arms.

"Inuyasha," She shook him, nonbelieving. "Inuyasha!" She shook harder. A sob tore from her throat and she hugged him to her. "Inuyasha! Inuyasha!" She rocked him as she would a child. "Wake up! Wake up, my love! We. . . It- It's not time! We were supposed to die together!" He lay unmoving, limp in her arms, "I love you!" She cried, "Do you hear me, I love you I said!" She purified the tentacle from it's place through his chest, blood flowing freely. The undead miko stood,but not before placing his body gently behind her. She looked into his glassy eyes, using her palm to slide them closed. She left a lingering kiss on his dead lips.

The vengeful cries of Inuyasha's companions brought her attention back to the matter at hand.

They combined their strengths, as Kagome had told them to. Miroku's staff and Sango's hiraikotsu. Kikyou's arrows, Sesshoumaru's blades, and even Shippo's foxfire. Naraku's dying wail filled them with such relief and pain, knowing that the battle was done, but at what cost?

Sango's harsh sob brought their attention to the younger miko, her body halfway hidden by the slayer's hunched form. Shippo knew he would never forget those pained blue orbs. He ran for her, but Kirara held him back, knowing her master needed a moment. Shippo's tears soaked her soft sandy brown fur.

Teary eyes widened as the proud Youkai Lord dropped to his knee's before the miko, Kagome. He took her into his arms with such gentleness, the gentleness of a lover. Tenseiga lay beside him, useless. The sword would not bring her back to him. His once emotionless eyes filled with such love and anguish they felt they were unworthy of such a sight. Tears slid down his striped cheeks, dripping to the ground below.

"Gomen ne sai. . .," He whispered, stroking her cheek. She smiled at him, but the choked gasp ruined it. He could feel her blood, smell it, taste it even. The crimson liquid oozed from unhealed wounds, wounds he failed to save her from. He held her to his chest, raking his claws through her hair. "S. . .Sesshou. . ." She whispered. "Shhh," He silenced her. "Gomen," She cried out suddenly, His eyes widened. He felt like the pup he once was, holding his mother's bleeding body as she died.

"It. . . It is I who should apologize," He stated, trying to keep his voice as emotionless as always, but failing horribly. "Baka." She tried to laugh, but only coughed up blood. He wiped her mouth with his stained sleeve. She stared at him. Stared at him with those eyes of hers. Those eyes that had held so much life, so much joy. Now, they were only dulled imitations.

"Don't forget me?" She suddenly whispered, clutching his kimono tightly. He shook his head, loosening her hands to a relaxed state. "Never." Tears welled up in his eyes, he tried blinking them back, but they ran down his face like twin rivers.

Kikyou stood behind him, in her hand the jewel that caused this. The Shikon no Tama. "Make a wish,"

She held it out to him. He took it from her, gripping it with such force. He wished it would shatter again, but knew his beloved died for this. . .thing. He relaxed his grip, making a silent wish.

He placed it in Kagome's hand, curling her dainty fingers around it.

He looked up at her angelic face, those azure eyes staring back. "Miko. . .," he whispered. "Kagome." She reminded him, "I love you." There, she said it. "I-. . .I. ." He couldn't find the words, and as he wasted this time he felt her slipping away. Her breathing became shallow, her heart rate sluggish. It was when she became transparent he found the strength to say the four words. "I love you," She whispered again. She vanished. She was gone, and he hadn't told her. The four words she longed to hear.

I love you, too.