The end is here.

This was NOT edited. I shall do that later, when I'm not slitting my wrists over this chapter. I hate writing the end.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

Target Locked

Chapter Twenty-Four

It was strange for Inuyasha to watch Kagome fall, knowing that he was the cause of it.

"Get down right now!"

There were gunshots everywhere.

There was screaming everywhere.

All Inuyasha was focused on was Kagome and how her big eyes were trained on him, telling him everything she needed to say even with her lips taped shut. He held onto her tightly, wrenching her from the chair and pulling her close to his body.

The first gunshot had terrified the shit out of him.

There was the initial moment of blinding panic. His fingers were so tense, so still when the sneeze of the bullet crashed through the room. Suddenly there was a weight on top of him, crushing him. Kagome's eyes were wide, horror-struck as her chair wiggled on its four legs. And that was it for him.

His body reacted like it always would. He leapt into the air, toppling her chair over with him covering her body as best as he could.

"Kagome," he whispered, desperately, uncontrollably. "Kagome."

Suddenly he was looking around the room, seeing his gun just a few inches from his left land. He reached for it, thumbing off the safety, scanning the crowd. The first thing he saw was Special Agent Rin Noto, firing off a shot before her face crumpled in pain and she stumbled backwards. The second thing he saw was Bankotsu staring blankly, hand clutching his chest. In an instant the dying man's gun was raised to fire for one final time.

Inuyasha didn't hesitate. He fired two more shots, feeling the recoil tug at his shoulder. There was a flash of pain, the smell of gun powder filling his senses and suddenly everything went still, quiet.

"Inuyasha?" Shippo's sharp voice filled the spacious room, echoing against the walls. "Are you hurt?"

"No," Inuyasha responded, surprised at rough sound of his voice. Instantly he dropped the gun, turning to see Kagome. Her eyes were closed but he could hear the soft noise of her breathing. "Here," he whispered, gently tugging at the tape until finally ripping it off. Kagome winced, a quiet whine leaving her lips.

Soon Shippo was shooting out orders, calling for emergency attention. He was reporting the incident, the shots fired and that an agent was down.

Hurrying to untie Kagome, Inuyasha ripped her free of the ropes and carefully pulled her from the chair. "Kagome, are you okay?"

Her big brown eyes stared at him, terror-filled and worried. Quickly she shook her head, running her hands along her body as if to remind herself that she was in no way broken. "The girl- she's- Inuyasha," Kagome mumbled, staring just past him to Shippo kneeling on the ground.

Inuyasha ran over, his hand tight on Kagome's wrist. "Shippo, what the hell are you doing here?" That wasn't anything like what he was planning on saying, but it seemed just as good as any place to start.

Shippo glared at him momentarily before turning his attention back to Rin's fallen form. The woman was lying on the ground, breathing shallow as dark crimson ran across her arm.

"Good to see...you, Agent," Rin panted, focusing on Inuyasha momentarily before turning her attention back to the ceiling. "Always...doubted the...charges."

Inuyasha nodded, bending down to help as Shippo wrapped torn cloth around her shoulder. "Where were you shot?"

"It's her shoulder," Shippo replied, staring at Rin momentarily before turning his attention back to the wound. "There's another round at her chest but we're wearing our vests. It's why she's winded."

"Of course I get...shot there," Rin said, shaking her head briefly as if to snap out of it. She groaned slightly, turning her head to see the blood spotting her shoulder. "Just freaking great."

"At least your attitude didn't go anywhere," Shippo mused, rolling his eyes. "Medics are on their way so just keep breathing. Stop shaking your head."

"Sesshomaru is so going to...laugh at me, the bastard," Rin mumbled, instantly turning her eyes to Inuyasha. "Oh."

Inuyasha frowned a bit, opening his mouth to question when a soft hand touched his shoulder. "Kagome?"

Kagome's eyes were fixed on Rin, wide and uncertain. "Is she okay?" The words were soft, barely heard over the female agent's breathing and Shippo's occasional grunt.

"I'm fine," Rin answered, finally sounding a bit stronger. "It's no biggie. I'll just be spending some downtime at the hospital." She sighed. "The joy."

Shippo huffed out a breath, his glare returning to Inuyasha. "You're the biggest idiot I know. You left me in a parking lot with a stolen vehicle."

"You were going to stop me," Inuyasha countered. "I didn't have an option."

"We needed help."

"You got the help shot."

Rin sighed. "Will you two please shut up?"

Shippo didn't look like he was about listen when he finally bit his lip. His attention was drawn back to the down agent for a moment before looking back up. "We heard everything, all the shit that Bokuseno said." The orange-haired agent sighed again, looking somewhat torn. "Shit is going to hit the fan, you realize that right? You can't run anymore. We can fight this."

Inuyasha looked up at Kagome, watching her brown eyes flicker with emotion before finally nodding. She wasn't going to run anymore.

"We can fight this," Rin said, looking at the other three with conviction. Her words were repetitive of Shippo's, but the meaning was starkly different. There was something in her tone that made them look at her. "I have proof," she whispered, as if it was a secret.

The next hour and a bit was a blur, a whirlwind of emotions and threats as medics and police filled the scene, the FBI entering moments later. Inuyasha and Kagome were arrested on the spot, read their rights as they were dragged away.

Kagome was crying. Inuyasha was spitting out every swear word imaginable as he tried to repeat over and over the truth.

It didn't matter at that point in time since even the most obvious proof wouldn't have stopped the arrest. As Rin left in the ambulance and Inuyasha and Kagome were taken away in separate cars, Shippo remained behind to tell the truth.

What he told them shocked not just the agents, the police, the city, country and the nation; it shocked the world.

It took two days before Inuyasha and Kagome were released.

It took another week before the police stopped watching them.

It wasn't until their stories were cross-checked and double-checked and the incriminating evidence was triple-checked before they were officially and immediately removed as suspects. A fingerprint had been found from the scattered and broken pieces of the bomb that verified the role of the Panther Gang. DNA evidence found on the inside of the Demon X packaging matched that of Bokuseno Suzuki.

The FBI immediately sent out statements to the press, explaining the process that took place and why the evidence hadn't been provided sooner. Why had it taken so long? Why was there such a great chase for two individuals that were always victims?

Inuyasha and Kagome weren't allowed to leave the state for a while, at least until the investigation was completely over. The FBI sent out personal apologies to each.

Inuyasha Taisho quietly resigned.

He also quietly took a large sum of cash, which he personally liked to call "emotional-trauma/shut-up" money.

He didn't complain.

News about the major conspiracy flew worldwide. Newspapers, television shows and magazines wrote about the incident. Talk show hosts tried to get the couple to make an appearance, magazines asked for photos and a tell-all story.

Neither of them agreed.

One month later, news started to die as another huge conspiracy took place.

RCN News conveniently took the side of Inuyasha and Kagome, claiming the fault of the FBI and the CFPD for not doing their responsibilities to the fullest. Evidence wasn't considered at every angle. Witnesses weren't as thoroughly talked to.

Regardless, Kagome Higurashi was later promoted to a position that was out of the spotlight, with a big desk and a flashy name plate.

She was Myoga's brand new boss.

It was on February 24th, almost two months since Kagome and Inuyasha first met, that everything was resolved.

The case was finally closed, with TOX reports claiming Demon X was not only in Bokuseno's system but all over his house in tiny traces. With the proof of his DNA inside the packaging that Rin had found, and the witness statements of both Rin and Shippo, there was very little doubt about it.

Naraku Morikawa was sentenced to prison, guilty on all charges and spending more than half of his life in jail.

At this point in time, Kagome was entering the new condo that she and Inuyasha were sharing with groceries in her hand. "I'm back!" she called, rolling her eyes when Inuyasha's noncommittal grunt was all she got in return.

The former FBI agent was sitting on the couch in the living room, eyes glued to the television as video feed of Naraku entering the courthouse showed on the TV screen. "He's gone for good," he murmured, turning his head to watch as Kagome entered. "Need help with those?"

Shaking her head, Kagome continued on into the kitchen, smiling when Inuyasha's soft footsteps followed close behind. "There were only four people that approached me today," she said, taking the food out of the plastic grocery bags.

Wrapping his arms around her middle, he pulled her body up against his, kissing her hair. "That's good," he murmured. "How was work?"

"Fine," Kagome answered, tilting her head to smile up at him. She kissed him softly, taking her time to feel the press of her soft lips against hers before turning away. "Sango and Miroku are bringing dinner with them."

"What are we having?"

Kagome shrugged. "I have no clue whatsoever. I guess we'll see when they get here."

Inuyasha growled slightly, tucking her hair back and pulling her impossibly closer. "So we've got nothing to do until then, right?"

Kagome let out a whisper of a moan, turning around to face him. "Well, your brother is coming over with his girlfriend."

The next growl that left his mouth was totally different than the previous one. "I still can't fucking believe it. I'm going to kill him."

Laughing and pushing away, Kagome returned her attention to the groceries. "Don't kill him yet. He's the only one that's helping her get around now that she's out of the hospital. It's her right shoulder so she can't write anything with her arm in the sling."

"I'm still going to kill him," Inuyasha grumbled. "Did you know he was hitting on her when they were investigating the cottage?"

Kagome shrugged, letting a small smile show. "Did you know that we got together because we were suspected of terrorism – me for a bomb and you for drugs? It's crazy, isn't it?"

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "It's totally different."

"It's totally the same," Kagome countered, laughing again when he huffed. "Why do you hate your brother so much?"

"Do I have to keep reminding you that it's half-brother and not brother?"

Rolling her eyes, Kagome tried to get some more work done before Inuyasha was pulling at her, tugging at the zipper of her sweater. When it seemed impossible to ignore him any longer, she turned around and stared at him pointedly. "Do you want–?"

Inuyasha wasted no time in silencing her, sealing his lips over hers and drowning out the sound of her voice. Sliding the zipper down, he took off her sweater and made quick work of the tank top she wore underneath. "You wear way too much clothing," he whispered on her skin, kissing his way down her neck.

"You never let me get anything done," Kagome complained, letting her body wrapped itself around him as he lifted her on top of the counter. "You're going to put these away after, just to make it up to me."

"After what?" The question was rhetorical, the teasing glint in his amber eyes bringing out the fondness in hers.

She grabbed his face gently, pulling his head up so that she could press her lips against his. "Stop talking please," she murmured, nibbling at his lower lips and licking her way into his mouth.

They kissed like that for what felt like forever, heated moments of passion as his hands ran up and down her body, sending sparks through her system. She moaned into the kiss, pulling him closer as her legs wrapped around his waist.

Suddenly she was in the air, feeling the cool air brush against her back as he led them to the bedroom. Soon the sheets curled around her body and she was pressed into the mattress. She made quick work of his shirt, tracing all of the curves and muscles on his body.

"Mm, want you," he murmured in her ear, kissing his way across her jaw and down her throat.

Kagome tightened her grip on him, letting a content sigh pass through her lips. "Then take me."

The moment Sango and Miroku burst through the doors, the peace that was once their hotel room became utter chaos. Food was brought into the kitchen, sorted out and kept warm until Sesshomaru and Rin arrived.

The tornado occurred when the final couple arrived, dessert in hand as they entered through the doorway.

"How are you feeling?" Kagome asked, coming quickly to take the dessert out of her good hand.

Rin smiled at her. "I'm feeling fine. Everyone can just stop asking me that already."

"Now where's the fun in that?" Inuyasha asked, smirking at her before glaring up at his half-brother. "Sesshomaru."

"Inuyasha," the older one said, glaring right back.

"Well this isn't awkward," Miroku said, laughing when Sango hit him in the chest. Holding out his hand, he took Rin's good one and kissed it. "It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Miroku."

Rin raised her brows before looking at Sango. "Is he yours?"

Sango sighed, closing her eyes and rubbing at her face. "Unfortunately."

Pouting, Miroku turned around to grab Sango's ass. "I think you said that wrong."

Flicking him in the face, Sango growled. "Hand off ass, now."

"Alright," Kagome called, getting everyone's attention. "The living room is that way!"

Slowly they made their way over, gathering on the couches as Sango and Kagome got everyone drinks.

"So did you hear about Naraku?" Miroku asked, looking seriously at Inuyasha. "He's finally put away for good."

"Thank god for that," Rin murmured. "The guy got what he deserved."

Kagome and Sango came in soon after that, handing out drinks and getting the snacks started. "Did you hear? Inuyasha and I are allowed to leave the state again." While her smile and words were playful, Kagome could still feel the flutter in her heart when she thought back to the time when she was constantly running, constantly on edge.

"Well congratulations to that," Miroku cheered, raising his glass to them. "After a hitwoman and the Panther Gang and the goddamn Brotherhood Mafia, you two are still here and partying."

Inuyasha snorted, rolling his eyes. "There was a lot more crap than that."

"You forgot the dirty FBI agent," Rin pointed out. "And the personal assistant of a major pharmaceutical company who is currently under investigation thanks to Kagome's statement."

"Kaguya was the dirty one," Kagome agreed, looking at Inuyasha. "She was the one that started the link between her and Naraku. She's the one that hired Yura, the hitwoman, to kill us because she was afraid that I would expose her."

"When Bokuseno was found guilty for the Demon X, the FBI looked into his personal things," Rin started. "They found information on Gatenmaru Koyasu, the case Inuyasha was looking into. Apparently some of his funds were traced back to Kaguya's company. There were emails linking him to Ryukotsusei, the personal assistant, and we found out that the two of them were blackmailing her. Since Bokuseno already had ties with the mafia, he used them to get to Kaguya so he could get the shut-up money and Ryukotsusei could take over her company."

"And then he kidnapped Kagome to get to me, so that he could pin her murder along with everything else on my case," Inuyasha finished, shaking his head. "Fucking bullshit."

"Complicated as hell, but not bullshit," Sango corrected. "Bokuseno had a really good thing going. He had millions of dollars from Kaguya, enough Demon X to keep him wealthy for a long while, an outstanding and highly respected career and ties with one of the most unstoppable groups in America."

Sesshomaru shrugged. "It's not that complicated."

"Oh shut up," Inuyasha quipped.

"I'm not the one out of a job," the older one muttered.

Kagome grinned. "Actually, he's starting up his own service. What was it? He's helping those who were getting screwed by the law with investigative work."

"I've already got a couple pending clients," Inuyasha said, shrugging. "It'll be fine for now. At least until everything dies down around here."

"It will," Rin reassured them, smiling. "At least you're old news now."

Kagome laughed, nodding her head. "You should've seen how badly he wanted to punch some of them," she said. "He was practically shaking with the urge."

Inuyasha glared at her. "I was not."

"You were so."

"I was not, Kagome."

"Inuyasha, don't make me–"

"Who wants dinner?" Sango yelled, standing up suddenly and heading towards the kitchen.

Sesshomaru looked up at the ceiling. "Thank fucking god."

At the end of the night when everyone finally left, Kagome watched with amusement as Inuyasha leaned against the door as if to ward the evil out.

"We are never doing that again," he said firmly, nodding as if to reassure himself. "Ever."

"Oh come on," Kagome said playfully, tugging at the front of his shirt. "It wasn't all that bad consider what the last couple months have been like."

Inuyasha's eyes softened a bit, his arms winding around her small frame to pull her close. "It'll always get better."

"Yeah, I know," she murmured, kissing his chest. "Ready for bed? I'll clean everything up tomorrow."

Inuyasha smirked, picking her up and bringing her into the bedroom. The mattress dipped as he laid Kagome on top of it, taking his time removing the clothing and kissing every inch of her skin. Kagome easily returned the favour.

When the lights finally went out, Inuyasha ran his hands through her long wavy hair. "I promise everything is going to get better from here."

Kagome sighed, already feeling sleep tug on her senses. Her head was pillowed on Inuyasha's shoulder, feeling the heat of his body curl around her. "As long as I've got you. I love you."

"I love you," he whispered. The quiet lingered on as Inuyasha continued to toy with her hair, occasionally rubbing her back. "Kagome?"

"Mhmm?" She sounded like she was seconds away from sleep.

"You've got me – forever."

A second later and he was sure that she was asleep, already passed out from the busy day. It wasn't until her lips brushed against his collarbone that he smirked.

"Forever."

Thank you to everyone that has reviewed this story. There are so many I can't possibly name all of you but I'm still just as grateful. You're the reason I keep posting.

#1: The poll will be closed tomorrow so if you want to put in your opinion go, go, go :)

#2: I feel like people asked me questions for this story and I didn't answer them. So. If you have them, and they are of reasonable length, I will absolutely respond.

#3: No sequel. I hate sequels. The sequels I am doing are...well, only there because I have evil plans.

Love Witchy