A/N: Here it is like I promised! Hope you enjoy…it's late, and I worked hard on it, despite the random fire alarm :P hehe. Ok onto the story!

Chapter 8:

Kikyo couldn't wait to get ready for her fieldtrip. She was up bright and early, and her grandmother helped her get ready. Since the ring had been too big for her finger, she wore it around her neck, on a silver chain her grandmother gave her. Then Kikyo was sent off with a brown, paper-bag lunch and a warm hug from her grandmother, she hopped up into the van. Most of the kids in her class were riding in a bus, but there wasn't quite enough room. So, Kikyo ended up riding with a friend, named Justin, and his parents. It wasn't so bad. Justin was nice enough, but they never got along the way Inuyasha and her had in the past week. And once again, she fell back into her shy state, so conversation was scarce, as they traveled. His parents were nice, though, and every now and then offered Kikyo a snack when they stopped for a break, or if she needed anything.

To Kikyo, this was one of the coolest days she'd ever had, and she almost couldn't wait to see Inuyasha the next day and tell him all about it. They were able to pet sting rays, and pick up horseshoe crabs (those scared her out a little bit, what with all those flailing legs). They walked in a glass tunnel that was surrounded by water and a myriad of different species of aquatic life, including eels, starfish, sea cucumbers, various sharks, sting rays, and even sea turtles. There were exhibits of countless fish, from small to big ones, in all the vibrant colors seen by man. She enjoyed the way they flowed through the water, or the way they blended into their surroundings. Kikyo decided that when she grew up she wanted to be an aquarium person. Yup! That would be so much fun!

But all too soon, it was time to head home. As the orange, glowing disk faded through the sky into night, creating a melted, pastel-like array of golds, pale blues, and even thin violets, the kids loaded into the bus, (Kikyo and Justin in the van, of course).

Kikyo had so much fun that day, and couldn't wait until tomorrow, so she could tell Inuyasha all about it. But at the moment, she was also incredibly exhausted, and was more than ready to snuggle into her warm bed.

"Justin, please sit in your seat belt," his mother told him for the hundredth time, exasperated. For whatever reason, Justin wasn't tired, and wanted to watch the sparkling lights in the buildings as they passed. His mother turned around and sighed, knowing she wouldn't be able to make him do anything at the moment.

His father was nearly falling asleep at the wheel. He'd had quite the long day, what with running after little kids and making sure none got lost in the swarm of the boisterous crowd of youngsters.

"Honey, are you sure you don't want me to drive?" his wife asked, quite concerned as she watched his eyelids drop for the tenth time in the past two minutes. He shifted himself awake.

"No…I'm all right," he reassured her. His wife wondered what it was with boys and men and their stubbornness not to cooperate, especially when she wanted to just make sure they were safe.

An old woman began backing out of her driveway. The tractor trailer approaching never saw her until it was too late. With a screeching of his tires, he tried to stop, but by instinct swerved into the left lane to avoid her. Right into the lane that the van was in. Justin's dad was jolted awake as he slammed on his breaks, but just couldn't stop in time. The car did a double flip and landed on its side. To anyone else it was over in a matter of seconds. It was surreal, as all terrifying experiences are.

The last thing Kikyo heard was screaming, as panic rose in her small being. Something shot past her. Window? A thousand slivers of pain…and an instant, pounding jolt. White flash. Then darkness...

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Inuyasha wanted to leap home today. He had something special prepared for Kikyo when she came tomorrow. Daniel barked and ran by feet. It was almost completely dark out, and the stars were plentiful.

As he got home, he knew something wasn't right. Everything was quiet, and the air hung tense and grave. He found his father staring out the window at the night, his mother with tears down her face, and even Sesshomaru looking rather grim. When he saw his younger brother walk in, he avoided his gaze. As soon as his mother saw him, she bit her lip, willing herself not to overwhelm her son with the news by her tears. But she failed.

"Sweetie, come here," she said, her voice breaking. Inuyasha was scared now. He ran to his mommy and gave her an unsure hug.

"What's wrong? Why are you crying mommy?" he asked. His voice broke her heart even more and she felt the pressure rebuild. She took him in his arms, and it was a good while before she could even find the strength to talk.

"Oh…sweetie…you're friend Kikyo. On their way home tonight, there was…there was an accident," was all she could manage. Inuyasha didn't quite understand, but was becoming more anxious by the second.

"Kikyo…was in a car accident," she finally said, breaking into fresh tears. Inuyasha still didn't quite understand.

"But she's okay, right mommy? She'll come play tomorrow, right?" he said, the situation finally beginning to dawn on him. He finally fully realized it, when his mommy, new tears pouring from the corner of her eyes, and sliding down her hot cheeks, shook her head slowly.

Inuyasha's eyes widened at her actions, and finally understood. His mother tried to console him, as he clenched his teeth and little fists. He felt something inside he never had before. Anger…shock…disbelief…all in one. Then the sadness melted in, but…he didn't know to cry. He cried for things before, but nothing like this.

He broke from his mother's arms and ran up the stairs, where he buried himself under the covers, trembling. There he stayed all night, drifting in and out of a dream-like state in the darkness of his blankets…

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Earlier that night, Kikyo's grandmother had called, completely breaking down through the whole conversation. Apparently Kikyo's grandmother had been contacted by the emergency hospital, and was there, right now. She relayed the events to Izayoi. The old women pulling out of the driveway. The tractor trailer. The van not being able to stop on time. The firemen and police who were at the scene…and finally…the casualties. Justin had died. Shot through the front window of the van and was killed. Both parents were injured gravely, but somehow managed unscathed. The man in the tractor trailer and the women with minor injuries. And Kikyo…her side of the car had been the one that smashed into the tractor trailer. The window shattered, and parts of her door crushed inwards, cutting the upper part of her body, from her head to her torso and slamming into her fragile body. As a fireman dragged her out of the car which had been flipped on its side, she died. The sight was too much for him to behold, and his tears fell like the rains of sorrow, as he cradled her, fresh blood smearing with the grime in his uniform.

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During the next few days, nothing much happened. Life went on as usual, only it was much graver. No one said much in the house, as plans were made with Kikyo's grandmother for her funeral. Her grandmother of course was even more heart-broken than the others, and stayed up several nights with Izayoi, each consoling the other. Izayoi, many times tried to comfort Inuyasha, but he stayed holed up in his room, only coming down for meals, but even then staying silent. No one much smiled that week, though there were one or two attempts. Even Sesshomaru didn't pick on Inuyasha. Not once. Even he was lost for words. Certainly, he never wanted something like this for Inuyasha, and avoided being in the same room with him. He wasn't sure what to do. He thought of offering his words of reassurance, but he just didn't know how.

The day of the funeral arrived, but Inuyasha's parents wouldn't let him go to the ceremony, for their own reasons. They did, however, let him go to the wake. Inuyasha, dressed up and all, approached her wooden casket, adorned with flowers. The day she died he had drawn her a picture of them in the field of Kikyo flowers, both with great big smiles. He set it at the foot of her casket, then peered in. Nothing could have prepared him for the sight he saw, both good and bad. She had been washed, and dressed in a small, lace-white dress. Her hair had been brushed, and her arms lay by her side. A white cloth lay over her body. But her chest lay unnaturally bent in, and her face still bore the cuts.

Inuyasha felt that anger, the shock, and the sadness rise in him again. He stomped his foot and shoved his hands in the casket. Before anyone could do anything about it, he prodded her as hard as he could, tears starting to stream down his face.

"Wake up Kikyo! You promised you'd come back! You promised!" he screamed, continuing to shove her, willing her to move so hard. But she never did, and he was quickly pulled away by his parents. One or two people, who didn't understand, commented about his rude misbehavior. He struggled hard against them, and they found him quite strong for a five year old.

"You promised that ring would protect her mommy!" he accused his mother. As soon as they were away from all the people, he sat down under the tree and sobbed loudly. His parents not knowing what to do, kept their distance, but also an eye on their upset son. Inuyasha's father put an arm around his wife, reassuring her that he was just overwhelmed and upset and that his words were just a synthesis of that.

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A few days later, when Inuyasha had calmed down, he asked his parents to drive him to Kikyo's grave. When he arrived, the sky was cloudy and a few raindrops fell from above. A light wind picked up, and ruffled the grass. The cemetery was surrounded by trees, and there was no pathway. But with the help of his parents, found Kikyo's grave. He sat by it and stared at it for a long time, knowing now, that she would never come back. At the head of her grave was a small grey gravestone, inscribed with her basic information. After about five or ten minutes, Inuyasha laid the fresh Kikyo flowers he picked from his backyard on her grave.

"Bye Kikyo," he said, his voice quiet. A breeze brushed around him.

"I wanna go home now," Inuyasha said softly, rubbing his eyes. He reached for his mother's arms and she picked him up. He rested his chin over her shoulder and watched as Kikyo's grave disappeared over the hill.

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Back the Present

"That's horrible…what happened to you. I can't believe you remember it," Kagome said, with a hand covering her mouth at the tragic story. During it, Inuyasha had to pause of course to answer her questions. She went "awww" at the cute/sweet moments, and laughed at hearing Inuyasha's actions as a young child.

"Yeah…I mean I remember things vaguely, and what my parents tell me. I kinda wish I had taken a picture of her, but even now, I can still remember certain moments, you know?" Inuyasha pulled Kagome closer.

"I'm sorry that happened," Kagome said, truthfully.

"Yeah…me too," Inuyasha responded, mostly to himself. "But it's ok…you know, I think she taught me stuff. I liked being friends with her," he said, almost as if he were thinking aloud.

"You loved her, didn't you? I'm a bit jealous…I would've liked to known you when you were younger," Kagome said.

"I guess…in a way, I did love her. But I'm glad I'm with you now, Kagome," he said, kissing the top of her forehead. He recapped the moments of his childhood spent with Kikyo in his head, as he watched the embers spark and die down. Daniel, now, an old, big, white lab, came and lied down beside his owner, licking his hand. Inuyasha scratched his behind his ears.

You said the jewel would protect me. And it has. And you promised you'd come back. I think…today, in a way, you have. Thank you, Kikyo. We were just kids back then...and didn't know each other for very long. But even as we were then, you were special to me. And I still miss you...Kikyo...but in my heart's a memory…and there you'll always be…

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Sometimes things happen in life for reasons we can't explain. Most of the time, it's truly unfair, especially for the young heart of Inuyasha and the soul of Kikyo. But although this is a tragic story, it does not have a sad ending. For I believe that because Inuyasha learned and harbored the pure love for Kikyo, he remembered it. And he was able to love Kagome. Not in the same way, for no two loves are the same. But he could share a love with the same vitality and faith that makes it last forever.

A/N: Okay! That's it! Hope you liked it, and don't spear me please, as I hope I explained and defended myself well enough not to have that happen :P Anyways, thanks for your loyal support! As I said, dedicated to someone I love very much. I hope you never have to go through what he did.