Hello!  I've decided to write another Inuyasha fanfiction, this one taking place after the defeat of Naraku.  Hope you enjoy it, and thanks for reading!

Yuki the Rat: I'm glad that you enjoyed my last FB piece.  Thanks for your suggestion, I've started thinking about what I'll write, hope I'm up to the challenge! :)

Disclaimer: Inuyasha and its characters are the property of their respective owners.  This piece is not for profitable purposes.

Ever with You

Chapter 1: The Shikon no Tama

Standing unsteadily, Kagome attempts to recover from the initial shock.  All in the group had suffered injuries, but Naraku had amazingly been defeated through the combination of all of their powers, including that of the distant Sesshomarou and the hotheaded Kouga.   At the assurance of Naraku's demise, Kagura smiles slightly and takes off upon her feather.  Her usual expressionless look upon her face, Kanna drops the mirror, which shatters as it hits the ground, before she turns and walks away.  The remaining group watch as the two depart, but make no moves to stop them.  Aware of the end of danger, Kouga limps over to Kagome and grins as he uses his claws to remove the shards from his legs and hands them to her.  She smiles quietly in return.  The shards merge with the jewel, which now has only one imperfection - the shard embedded in Kohaku's back - the only thing keeping him alive.  Sango, who wanted to be the one, walks over to Kohaku, who looks at her with a face of mixed emotions.

Her face downcast and her eyes shadowed by her hair, she stands before him.

"You can have it," he says simply.

Surprised, she looks up at him.

"Kohaku."

"I know that the one in me is the last one, and that she needs it to purify the jewel."

He turns around so that his back is facing her.  He looks back at his forgotten sister and smiles as he says, "Even though I don't remember you, I'm glad that I could see you again."

Her eyes fill with tears and, her hands and fingers shaking, she uses her sword to cut at the spot where Kagome had told her the shard was located.  The shard revealed, she re-sheathes her sword, removes the remaining piece, and steps forward as she captures in her arms his lifeless frame as it slips to the earth.  Silent moments pass and tears fall onto his remains before she delicately places his body upon the ground and stands.  Mustering her courage, she walks with the last shard to Kagome.

As she hands her the final piece of the jewel, Kagome quietly says, "Thank you, Sango."

Sango, unable to speak, nods her head in return and moves back slightly.

Kagome places the shard near the jewel, and it levitates to the main piece, and the shikon no tama completes.  Using her miko powers, Kagome purifies the jewel, causing it to emit a bright and blinding pink light.  All the group circles around her, Inuyasha, who leans on his sheathed tessaiga for support, watches most intently – but his sight is upon Kagome, rather than the jewel.  The group had decided together what Kagome would say when this time had come.  She breathes deeply and then lifts the arm clasping the shikon no tama within its fisted hand to the sky.  She raises her face to set her eyes upon the jewel and opens her mouth to speak.

"Midoriko-sama and the shikon no tama, those gathered here seek to make a wish upon the jewel.  Please, lend us your power, and allow Kohaku to return to life, this time, with recognition of his dear sister and his mind, heart, and soul at peace."

The shikon no tama slowly comes apart into floating and twinkling glimmers that ascend to the sky above until Kagome's hand is empty.  Sango is first to move to Kohaku and to see him stand once more. 

He looks to her and smiles as he says, "Nee-chan."

Her eyes tearing, she embraces him tightly and says, "Kohaku."

He returns the embrace as he says, "Thank you."

She moves away from him slightly and wipes her tears as she says, "I'm so happy, I have waited for this day for so long."

He looks to all the others in group but then rest his eyes upon Kagome as he says, "I am grateful to you all, especially you, Miko-sama for having used your powers to make this wish upon the jewel."

Kagome blushes slightly as she says, "We are all glad that you and Sango-chan are reunited."

Sango looks towards Miroku and he smiles calmly as he approaches her.

"Hoshi-sama – no – Miroku, your hand it, surely, it…" she trails off, unable to finish her sentence.

He removes the prayer beads and cloth from his hand and places it and his other over her right hand.

"Together with Kohaku, let us find happiness, my beloved Sango."

Once again overjoyed, Sango leans forward as Miroku takes her into his arms and strokes her hair as she cries.

Kagome tears at the scene before her - and at the thought of the path that awaits her, the one that she has secretly chosen.