Tomorrow (Inuyasha)

The rain fell in a torrential downpour over the bloodied battlefield.

Inuyasha could feel the rain falling on his face as he laid on the ground, unable to move. Both of his legs had been broken earlier, along with his left arm. He could smell the blood around him, though the smell was dampened by the extensive amounts of rain. He knew from this blood that the others hadn't fared any better than him.

Inuyasha growled deeply in this throat, thankful but unthankful that he had been blinded in the fight. He knew he wouldn't want to see Kagome and the others laying dead or near death on the ground near him.

A cry sounded to his right. Kagome's voice. As quickly as he could. he rolled onto his stomach and using just his right hand, he crawled to Kagome's side.

"Kagome," he rasped out. Sniffing the air, he could smell so much of her blood through the rain.

He could feel a hand press against his cheek. "Inuyasha." Kagome's naturally soft voice was even softer now. "Are you all right?" He could hear the question and shook his head against her hand.

"Are you?" Inuyasha cringed at his own question. He already knew the answer.

"I'm cold, Inuyasha. So cold." Kagome's hand shivered against his cheek. She reached around to the back of his neck and gave a firm tug. "Come here."

Moments later, Kagome's mouth latched on to his in a deep soul-searing kiss. Her right hand, which had been around his neck, moved in the folds of his kimono.

The kiss seemed to last a thousand years and a brief second all in one before Kagome's body went rigid. One final puff of breath escaped into Inuyasha's mouth and her hand fell from his kimono.

Fueled by anguish, Inuyasha curled around Kagome's still form and cried. Cried until he could no longer stay awake.

*~*

The next thing Inuyasha knew, he was dry. Dry and warm.

"So you are awake then?" A voice spoke moments later from somewhere in front of him.

Inuyasha turned and opened his eyes. He was still blind. Sniffing, all he could smell was the blood and rain from earlier.

"Who's there?" he called hesitantly.

"Can't you even recognize my voice, Inuyasha?" It came again, this time from Inuyasha's right side.

"Sesshoumaru," Inuyasha choked out. "Where am I?"

Sesshoumaru seemed hesitant for a moment. "At the house."

The house. It could only mean the place where he had grown up until InuTaisho had died and Sesshoumaru had kicked him out, leaving the big house empty while he patrolled the lands left to him by their father.

"What am I doing here?"

"I found you near dead on the borders of the western lands. Rin asked me to help you." Sesshoumaru seemed angry for a moment, that Rin had so much influence on him.

"Where's Kagome? What did you do with her?"

"She's dead, Inuyasha." He spoke it so softly Inuyasha had to strain to catch the sentence. "As was everyone else when I found you." A bit of sadness leaked into Sesshoumaru's voice and surprised Inuyasha's still fogged mind. "She's been buried in the house gardens along with the others at Rin's request."

Looking in his general direction, Inuyasha gave a blind -- but confused -- look. "Why are you doing this, Sesshoumaru?"

Sesshoumaru sighed softly as Inuyasha heard a piece of paper crinkle in his hand. "Maybe someday you will find out." Inuyasha heard him leave the room, assuming he was leaving him to rest.

*~*

As he left the room, Sesshoumaru read the piece of paper he had found in the folds of Inuyasha's kimono.


When tomorrow starts without me,
and I'm not there to see;
If the sun should rise and find your eyes,
all filled with tears for me;
I wish so much you wouldn't cry,
the way you did today,
while thinking of the many things,
we didn't get to say.

I know how much you love me,
as much as I love you,
and each time that you think of me,
I know you'll miss me too;
But when tomorrow starts without me,
please try to understand,
that an Angel came and called my name,
and took me by the hand,
and said my place was ready,
in heaven far above,
and that I'd have to leave behind,
all those I dearly love.

But as I turned to walk away,
a tear fell from my eye,
for all life, I'd always thought,
I didn't want to die.
I had so much to live for,
so much yet to do,
it seemed almost impossible,
that I was leaving you.

I thought of all the yesterdays,
the good ones and the bad,
I thought of all the love we shared,
and all the fun we had.

If I could relive yesterday,
just even for awhile,
I'd say goodbye and kiss you
and maybe see you smile.

But then I fully realized,
that this could never be,
for emptiness and memories,
would take the place of me.

And when I thought of worldly things,
I might miss come tomorrow,
I thought of you, and when I did,
my heart was filled with sorrow.

But when I walked through heaven's gates,
I felt so much at home.
When God looked down and smiled at me,
from His great golden throne,


He said, "This is eternity,
and all I've promised you".
Today for life on earth is past,
but here it starts anew.
I promise no tomorrow,
but today will always last,
and since each day's the same day,
there's no longing for the past.

But you have been so faithful,
so trusting and so true.
Though there were times you did some things,
you knew you shouldn't do.
But you have been forgiven
and now at last you're free.
So won't you take my hand
and share my life with me?

So when tomorrow starts without me,
don't think we're far apart,
for every time you think of me,
I'm right here, in your heart.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

NOTES: the poem, by Erica Shea Liupaeter, can be found here

No More Cry (Inuyasha)

I wanna feel just like before
Before the rain came in my door
Shook me up and turned me around
Made me cry till I would drown

Kagome didn't smile at the setting sun, as she usually did. She had always enjoyed the sunset before, yet this one made her sad beyond belief. She turned her head towards her raised knees and began to cry softly.

Naraku had been defeated earlier in the afternoon, his body turning to ashes before their eyes as Inuyasha's Tetsusaiga struck him, splitting him nearly in half before the remnants blew away, but that wasn't making her upset.

The jewel had been completed earlier that afternoon as well, with a glorious indigo blaze of light. But that wasn't what was making her upset either. When she had tried to hand it to Inuyasha, he had turned and turned away from her with nothing more than an angry look in his eyes and a "Keh", heading into the forest.

Everyone had left her alone after that. Shippo claimed he needed a bath and started off towards Inuyasha's path until the edges of the woods, then he vectored off to the south. Kirara, Sango and Miroku had all gone back toward the village, claiming they had things that they needed to do.

Stole the daylight, brought the night
So much anger I would fight
Lost my youth amid the blue
Saw all the loneliness in you

Kagome looked up for the first time in a while. It was dark now, the sun had gone down more than a twenty-five minutes earlier. She shivered, not really noticing how cold it had become, and stood up. The full moon was rising, meaning Inuyasha would be heading back to the village by now. It was his night to be human, and Kagome knew he was despising it as usual.

She picked up her large yellow backpack, took one look back at the smoke she could see in the half-dark telling her where the village was.

"Goodbye. Miroku. Sango. Shippo. Kirara. Kaede. Everyone else. Most of all, goodbye, Inuyasha," she whispered into the darkness, half-hoping her goodbyes would be heard by all of them, those she knew they wouldn't be.

She turned back towards the forest, heading for the well, wishing she didn't have to go.

Wanna help you give you love
Shine some light out from the mud
Fill the empty find a rhyme
A brighter day a better time

She would miss everyone on this side of the well. Especially Inuyasha. It had been nearly two and a half years since she had met him. They had become as close as two could possibly come, and Kagome still had doubts on Inuyasha's feelings toward her. Sometimes he hated her, other times he would show the most affection possible, and sometimes he would be moody and indeciesive towards her.

But I'm wondering where I'm gone
Can't find the truth within my song
And all I have I'll give you
To let you know you're not alone

"Inuyasha," she called out into the darkness, hoping that her senses were correct and he was somewhere close by, following her. "I want you to know that I'm not angry or anything like that. I'm actually very sad to be leaving, to tell you the truth…" Kagome took a deep breath and spoke the four words she had held in her heart for so long. "I love you, Inuyasha."

She turned and, without another look, lept into the well.

I'm telling you:
I'm smiling for you only
I'm trying for you solely
I'm praying for you only
No more cry, no more cry

Inuyasha smiled sadly. Kagome had been right in thinking he was nearby. He had been on one of the lowest branches of an old oak tree, hiding behind the leafy green leaves.

"I love you too, Kagome." He looked back at the well with anticipation. It had only been five minutes since she had left and already it felt like a lifetime.

No matter how doubtful he had been at times with his own feelings, he now knew with finality what he had known since he had seen Kagome for the first time. True, the first time he had seen her, Inuyasha had mistaken her for Kikyou, then tried to kill her, but after she had announced herself, he knew. He wanted her.

Treated her poorly in the begining was the only way he had known how to cover the fact that he was starting to like her. She had a certain air to her that he liked. She had a fire, deep down inside, that was always lit. At times, it made her tempermental and cranky, but it hadn't mattered that much. He missed her everytime she left.

It was just this last time, he realized she would never come back. Inuyasha looked at the well again and made his choice. He had a wish now, one that would he would need the Shikon no Tama for. He lept down, rather ungracefully, and raced over to where Kagome had last been seen.

Without another thought, he lept in hoping the well still worked.

I wanna here you laugh again
Without the ache to bring you down
No we'll never be the same
If only I could take your pain

Kagome leaned against the windowsill of her room, fingering the jewel that hung around her neck on a silver chain. I should've left it with the others to give to Inuyasha. He had always wanted the jewel from the start of this whole adventure. But he doesn't have a wish anymore, at least not that I knew about. She shifted from one hand to the other, staring at the full moon. His dream of becoming a full demon had been shattered when he had become one. I knew Inuyasha couldn't for that anymore. I just knew, and although he mentioned it time after time, his voice didn't sound as anxious as it usually had before.

Kagome turned away from the window and finished unpacking the bag she had always carried. As she reached down to pull out her school books, she didn't notice the figure emerging from the wellhouse.

Kagome yawned and looked over at her bed, thinking it was a particualry nice time to go to bed. Changing into her pajamas, she crawled in and closed her eyes, hoping sleep came as naturally as it did when Inuyasha was around.

But if it's true what people say
There still is beauty in each day
We'll find comfort in her strength
One day soon we'll meet again

I'm telling you:
I'm smiling for you only
I'm trying for you solely
I'm praying for you only
No more cry, no more cry

Inuyasha looked up at Kagome's window as the light went out and knew that Kagome had gone to bed. He walked around the shrine to the front door. Knocking quietly, he waited for someone to answer. Kagome's mom answered. "Hello, Inuyasha." She had seen him in this form a few times, so it didn't irk him as much as it did the first couple of times Kagome had done it. "Come in. Kagome is upstairs in her room. I'm sure she'll be surprised to see you this early after she has gotten home."

So she didn't tell her mother the jewel was completed… he thought amusingly. Usually, she told her mother everything first.

"Thank you," he spoke back before she opened the door further to let him in. He trudged up the stairs and opened the door to her room as softly as possible. Looking over at her, Inuyasha could tell she was already asleep. He stood there staring at her for a full five minutes before walking over to the bed.

I'm singing for you only
[Yeah] I worry for you only
I'm praying for you only
No more cry, no more cry

Kagome sensed the door open under half-open eyes and tried to see who was there. In the pale moonlight, she saw Inuyasha standing in the doorway. She knew he wouldn't follow her unless it were really important. Keeping up the pretense of sleep, she waited.

Reach out for your love
Shout out for your love
Listen for your love
Believe in her love

He sat on the edge of the bed and leaned over, drinking in her scent. "Kagome, I know I never told you how I really feel about you. Maybe it was because I was afarid you didn't quite feel the same way. Maybe it was because I knew you did. Maybe I was just scared." He swallowed past the lump in his throat. "I love you, Kagome." Inuyasha took off the Tetsusaiga and lay next to her on the bed, softly stroking her hair to keep himself calm.

I'm telling you
I'm telling you
I'm smiling for you only
I'm trying for you solely
I'm praying for you only
No more cry, no more cry

Kagome opened her eyes slightly and saw him lean over and kiss her. Calmly he reached over and pulled the jewel from around her neck, helding between his palms for a moment before swallowing it. She could sense the jewel's aura slide down his throat and disappear completely. She closed her eyes again at Inuyasha wrapping his arms around her.

"To stay with you forever. For you, Kagome. Only for you, because I love you." He whispered in her ear before drifting off himself.

I'm singing for you only
[Hey] I worry for you only
But it's you saves me from lonely
No more cry, no more cry
No more cry, no more cry

He nodded off before being able to hear Kagome's whispered words. "I love you too, Inuyasha. More than you might ever know." She snuggled into him, falling asleep immediately. She knew he would be there in the morning.

FIN

A Wedding Surprise (Inuyasha)

"Kagome, stand still!" Her mother admonished, trying to fix the fallen hem of the wedding dress Kagome was currently wearing.

She sighed, trying not to fidget (or fall off the bridal platform). This wedding was making her nervous. Kagome wasn't nervous because of the wedding, she was nervous to who she was marrying.

Her mother looked at Kagome, who was now staring at the closed door. "It is tradition that the bride and groom don't see each other before the ceremony." She tied the end of the thread and cut it off with the nearby scissors.

"I know that, its just I am nervous." Kagome said flatly as she stepped off the platform and spun around.

"It's not like Houjou is going to barge through the door like Inu--"

Kagome stopped twirling and looked flatly at her mother before she could finish that name.

It had been nearly five years since she had last seen the dog demon, and it had become hard to not think of him as often as she hoped he thought of her in the past. Within the last month, it had become extremely difficult, as she remembered some of the dreams she would have when she was younger of her and Inuyasha spending their lives together.

Kagome took a deep breath and exhaled just as loudly, keeping her emotions under control. Her voice cracked as she spoke, "It's all right, Mother."

But it wasn't okay. Although Kagome has gone on with her life, she didn't want this wedding. She wanted to just run home, cry a bit, jump in the well and disappear into the past with Inuyasha.

But she couldn't, for more than one reason. Her mother would never let her run out, especially with the wedding less than two hours away. The other reason was that the well was useless, it wouldn't let her pass anymore, though she had tried thousands of times since her quest had apparently been completed after three years.

Kagome sighed once and flopped down into the loftly velvet covered chair by the window, watching the birds singing in the trees. She had remembered that last day in Sengoku Jidai like it was yesterday…

**FLASHBACK**

"Inuyasha!" She had been calling his name for the last hour. It would be the last time they got to speak before the last battle with Naraku.

He appeared above her, scowling for no apparent reason. "What do you want?" She noticed the coldness in his voice.

"I wanted to talk."

"Why?" He lept from the tree and sat down next to the well. She sat on the edge looking down at him, waiting patiently for him to take that look off his face. He looked up at her once again, "What are you staring at me for!?" He looked back down at the ground, his face belieing an internal battle he was fighting.

Kagome sighed. "This is the last day right?"

Inuyasha looked up at her. "More than likely."

"What are you going to do with the jewel once it is completed?"

Inuyasha looked up, surprised. "You are giving it to me?" Pause. "Why?"

"You wanted it from the beginning, isn't that right?" When he didn't respond, she continued, "I really have no use for it."

He sighed, his face calming as it seemed he had come to a decision. "I don't want you here anymore. I can handle Naraku on my own. If I need help, I can always ask the others to help."

"No!" Kagome stood up. "I started this by breaking the jewel, I am going to help finish it!"

Inuyasha's eyes betrayed something he apaprently knew, because he looked infintely sad for the moment, before pulling her into a hug. "I don't want you to go, but you must." He pulled away and pushed her down the well once again, shardless.

**END OF FLASHBACK**

Kagome shooked her head and two tears fell from her eyes. It had been like before, but this time she didn't have the chance to go back to Sengoku Jidai. About a day after being sent home, she had felt a colossial change in her system, and she had known Naraku was gone for good.

But she could never return to the other side of the well, and he never came back to her. Eventually she accepted the changes and moved on. She began dating Houjou and eventually he asked her to marry. She agreed, and the wedding was set.

Bur somewhere in her heart, even though she loved Houjou dearly, she still loved Inuyasha.

*knock knock*

The door opened and Souta came in, closing the door quickly behind himself. He turned to Kagome's spot at the window. "Wow, you look beautiful, sis."

She smiled brightly for Souta. "Thank you."

He took a seat next to her, and looked closely at her. "You don't look as happy as I imagined you would."

Kagome laughed. "And you still sound like that silly 10-year-old I remember you being!"

"Hey!" Souta lightly smacked Kagome on the shoulder. "And you still sound like you are 15, in love with…" He stopped suddenly and blushed a bright red as embarrassment set in. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring it up…"

"It's all right." She smiled and stood up, taking her brother by the shoulder. "Come walk with me?"

"Sure."

*~*

Houjou smiled lightly as he secretly watched Kagome talking a walk with Souta in the garden behind the church. It wouldn't be long and he would be married to the one woman he truly loved, then he could tell her the secret he had been keeping since they met.

*~*

Kagome closed her eyes and waited for the church organ to start playing.

She had made up her mind, with the help of Souta. It was time to stop living in the past, stop waiting for Inuyasha, stop waiting period. She needed to do this for herself, for her family, for the man she loved.

Smiling brightly as the organ began to play, the doors opened and she walked slowly down the aisle, towards Houjou. Kagome got a sense she hadn't felt in nearly five years… jewel shards.

Coming up to the altar, she ignored the sense, and smiled brightly at Houjou who looked at her in awe. "You look beautiful," he whispered.

"Thank you," she whispered back.

Kagome felt peace all the way through the service, and said her vows proudly, loving and most importantly of all, she said them from the bottom of her heart.

"…And you may now kiss the bride."

Kagome leaned over to kiss Houjou. A small open-mouthed kiss, that seemed to last a moment and a lifetime all in one.

As she pulled back, she caught Houjou smiling at her. "I waited 432 years to do that," he whispered, "my dear sweet Kagome."

She was taken aback as he picked her up, and rushed her out to the car waiting to take them away. Once in the car, he attacked her lips again, this time with much more passion and less reserved than he had shown in the church, or in life for that matter.

"Oh, how I always loved you, Kagome. Ever since I laid eyes on you for the first time, still pinned to the tree, though I wasn't willing to admit it."

"Inu--yasha?"

"Shh…" He kissed her gently. "No one has called me that in over 200 years…"

"But--but--but--how?"

"You didn't think I would really let you get away from me that easily, did you? I didn't keep you close to me for over 3 years for nothing." He kissed her again, as he began to unzip the back of her wedding dress. "The jewel, Kagome." Still a whisper, as if someone was spying on them. "I wished on the jewel nearly a year before you were pulled down the well by Mistress Centipede."

"And what about the day I--"

He knew what say she talked of and looked enternally sad, as he moved his fingers to rub small circles on to her shoulder blades. "I'm so sorry about that, my love. I never meant to make you unhappy." He pulled off the top to her wedding dress and kissed the skin of her throat. He paused for a moment, before laying his head on her chest, listening to her heart.

"You-- would've died that day. You did die that day. I watched as you were killed by Naraku." Houjou licked his lips. "I realized I could keep you from that, so while you were away one day at the store with your mother, I took one of the jewel shards out of your room -- since you constantly left your windows unlocked -- and sneaked back through the well and told myself what was going to happen. Maybe I was being selfish, but I couldn't let myself go through that again."

She stroked his hair and scooted herself down to give him another kiss. "I'm glad you did. " She laughed lightly and began to unbutton his shirt.

"It's not important anymore." She attacked his lips again, trying to keep him from talking as she pulled his shirt off. "What's…" He kissed her again, and each pause punctuated by a kiss. "Important…is that…we…are together…and…legally…married…" He trailed off as she unbuttoned his pants and he pulled off the rest of her dress.

But before anything was done, the two whispered, "I love you" in unison.

*~*

They reached the cabin an hour later and nothing more was said for the rest of the night.

FIN

Author's Notes: I came up with this story after reading a short story callied "Thoughts" by Leloi…

Of course not to mention this story was thought up between two different places, the first half was though up while doing dishes and listening to the Sweet November soundtrack, and the second half was thought up while my mind played nasty little tricks on me in my sleep. I thouroughly blame this on my muse Jisoba, who woke me up at 2:30 in the morning to write this little piece of fiction.

Bedtime Tale (Inuyasha)

Inuyasha sighed softly. It had been two hours since they had decided to camp. Kagome had just fallen asleep with Shippou and Kirara, who lay sleeping in her lap. It left him with nothing to do but watch over her, idle fantasies brewing in his mind.

Miroku and Sango had gone off to the nearby hot springs together more than an hour earlier. Knowing what they were going to do, he left them alone. Inuyasha didn't even worry, there were no youkai in the area and they could both easily take care of themselves in case of sudden attack.

Inuyasha turned his mind back to Kagome, watching the young miko-in-training sleep peacefully below him. It had only been nine months since she had first come to Sengoku Judai, but now it seemed like she had always been here, taking care of evil and youkai as Kikyou had before her.

Kikyou. Although his thoughts wandered to Kikyou at the least once a day, they didn't cloud his thoughts as he had previously led the deceased miko to believe. Kagome took up the majority now, but damn him if he would actually tell her, yet. The 'yet' was the main word of that phrase. He wasn't too sure how Kagome would react to his feelings, and he didn't want to frighten her off, and not just because she was his shard dectector. He loved her. He could admit that to himself, if no one else.

A moan underneath his tree branch turned his attention away from his thoughts and back to Kagome. She was tossing lightly, holding Shippo (who was now awake) to her chest for dear life, so strongly he was straining to breathe. Kirara had woken up as well and climbed off Kagome before she could become a kitty pancake. She turned and rubbed her two tails against Kagome's face with no luck.

Inuyasha lept from his tree branch in attempt to help both Kagome and Shippo, who was now turning a pale blue color from lack of oxygen. He pried the kitsune from her equally tight grip and the kitsune took a gulp of air before turning back to his surrogate mother with evident concern.

It was not news that Kagome had been having nightmares the last few weeks, though no one - not even Kagome - knew why. They ranged from mild to serious in nature. One night she had even stopped breathing for two to three minutes because in her dream, she had been being choked by Inuyasha himself.

"Go over and rekindle the fire, then go to sleep Shippou. I'll take care of Kagome," he whispered softly.

The young fox, still very concerned, did as he asked Kirara in tow, knowing Inuyasha would never harm her.

"Kagome, wake up," he whispered softly, pulling her into his embrace, stroking her midnight black hair affectionately.

Lately, coaxing her awake was becoming more effective than simply snapping her awake. He learned that one night when she had screamed and slapped him very violently still being in the thrawls of her dream. "Kagome." He pulled her in closer and called her name again and again.

After five minutes, she slowly pulled away, her eyes clear but haunted. Seeing Inuyasha's concerned face, she put up a weak smile. "Thank you, Inuyasha."

Leaning back into the warmth of his embrace, Kagome nuzzled her face into his neck, sniffling. "Why do I keep having these dreams?" she whispered, almost low enough for Inuyasha to miss it.

"We'll find out why, then we will kill whatever or whoever is doing this to you." He smoothed her back, trying to soothe her. "Go back to sleep."

"Inuyasha." She lifted her head and pointed to her bag lying two feet away. "Can you grab my bag? I need something out of it. I have a headache."

Reluctantly, he placed her back on her sleeping bag and retrieved the bag, setting it at her feet. She dug around in it, pulling random things out. Packages of ramen (much to Inuyasha's delight), candy for Shippou, schoolwork and a small book that was handbound with a spiral. Last, she pulled out her first aid kit, opened and saw... everything but the bottle of asprin she had been looking for.

She sighed and tossed the kit back into her bag. Packing everything back up, she pushed it away rather forcefully. "It's not in there." Kagome flopped back down onto her sleeping bag, slightly angry.

Inuyasha sighed as well, as he reached over and pulled the bag back.

"What are you doing?"

"Shh..." He pulled out the small book and motioned for her to follow him. He had briefly seen the title and hoped it would help in putting Kagome back to sleep. Leaning up against the tree, Inuyasha pulled her in his lap and, after a moment's struggle with the zipper, unfolded bag around the both of them. He opened the book and Kagome pushed it back down.

"Can you actually read this?" She asked incredulously snuggling back into his kimono, as she had been when she woke up in the first place.

"Keh," he snorted, "My mother wasn't a poor person by an standards. She taught me to read when I was little."

Kagome said nothing as Inuyasha reached over and pulled the sleeping bag towards them. After fumbling with the zipper a moment, he stretched it out over the two of them causing her to snuggle even closer.

He opened the book and began to read. "Once in Sengoku Judai there lived a boy named Inu." he pasued a moment Inu? "Kagome did you write this?"

She nodded. "Literature project. I just happened to have gotten an A on it. Go on, keep reading."

"All right." He smiled. "Once in Sengoku Judai, there lived a boy named Inu. He was a half dog demon who lived in the forest near what is now Tokyo.

"One day, he woke to find a girl named Kata wandering around below his favorite tree named Goshinboku.

Kata must be Kagome... Inuyasha thought as he pressed on.

"Trying to frighten her away, he growled and yelled at her with all his might. This, of course, scared the girl, but not enough for her to leave entirely.

"She stayed in the village nearby for a while before hearing from him again. When he next appeared, he was carrying a shard of a very sacred jewel in which he asked her, rather rudely, to help him find the pieces. She agreed somewhat reluctantly.

"Over months, Kata and Inu found friends in some fairly odd people including a kitsune who she basically adopted because his mother and father had been killed in war. But Inu and Kata's friendship began to grow.

"One day, Kata was near a stream, gathering some water for a journey when she seen the reflection of Inu in the water. She realized she had come to like the young half-dog demon more than she originally thought.

"A few days later she got up the courage to tell him "I love you, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha paused from the book and looked down at Kagome in his lap. The sight made him drop the handmade book to the ground. Her breaths deep and even in sleep.

"I love you too, Kagome." He kissed her lips gently, snuggled her closer and fell asleep himself, a smile on his face. I'll have to tell her again when she wakes up... as I will for the rest of our lives.

FIN