The creature roared, the sound echoing off the trees around her. However, Kagome fought the urge to cover her ears. She kept her eyes on the beast and her arrow ready to fire.

“Kagome! Where’s the shard!” Inuyasha demanded.

The half-demon had succeeded in severing two of the monster millipede’s limbs. Yet, there were several left to fill the void. Biting back a nasty reply, Kagome concentrated.

“The shard’s in its top shoulder,” she announced, “its top right shoulder.”

Gripping his sword tighter, Inuyasha began to focus his strikes on the creature’s shoulder. Despite the seriousness of the battle, Kagome was tempted to laugh. ‘To think he calls me slow.’

“Your other right, Inuyasha!”

He promptly switched to the appropriate shoulder, cursing the entire time. The creature swung one of it arms to hit Inuyasha in the back. With no time to warn him, Kagome let an arrow fly, cutting it off.

He risked an annoyed glare in her direction. “I don’t need your help!”

The rest of his tirade was interrupted as the creature renewed its attack. With a shout, Inuyasha raised his sword high. The blow had considerable force and the blade sliced through the shoulder. Swinging the blade around once more, he severed the creature’s head.

Kagome sighed in relief as the monster’s body shrunk in size before hitting the forest floor. She raced forward, along with the others. Already the shard was levitating from the beast’s shoulder.

It floated to her hand. In a moment, the young priestess had purified it. With a sigh, she turned to Inuyasha.

It was the final shard. After the dangerous battles with Naraku and the encounters with various monsters and demons, their quest was completed. Now, it was time for the decision.

She added the shard to the jewel. Completed, it flared with bright purple light. As the light faded, she offered it to the half-demon.

“It’s finally completed, Inuyasha,” she stated quietly.

His yellow eyes remained fixed on the jewel. This was the moment he had fought so hard for. Yet, Miroku’s words kept repeating in his head. If he chose to become full demon, he could kill Kagome and the others and not even care.

However, he knew that he could not become fully human either. Too many demons lurked in the land. He would not make himself helpless against them.

Taking a deep breath, he closed Kagome’s hand around the jewel. “You’re the priestess of the jewel. It’s your duty to protect it now. In your own time.”

She stared up at him, her mouth opened to protest. The look in his eyes robbed her of words. Averting her eyes briefly, she swallowed.

“Then there’s only one thing left to do.” Using her free hand, she reached up to his chest. Kagome fingered the dark rosary beads for a moment before grabbing them. Then, with a savage jerk, she broke them.

“Lady Kagome!” the flea demon breathed, his awed tone mirroring the shocked expressions of the others.

Inuyasha stared at her as well. “Kagome, why did you. . .” Yet, he couldn’t finish the question.

“You’re free now, Inuyasha.” Fighting back tears, she stood up on her toes and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. Before he could even react, it was over and she was running away.

It was ironic that the last battle would be so close to the well, where the whole adventure had begun. Kagome paused and risked a glance back. Her heart twisted at the sight.

Shippo was crying her name and fighting to run after her. However, a grim-faced Miroku held him back. Inuyasha watched her with a dark expression as well.

Kagome was so tempted to stay. She wanted desperately to tell him that. Yet, something told her that this was how it was suppose to be.

With a final, sad smile, she entered the well and returned back to her own time.