I Will Come Home To You

A/N: It started as a oneshot sad fic back in February. Now in late April, here I am, continuing it. Why, I don't know. Boredom? Anxiety attack because I was going to NYC in a few hours after I started editting it? Oh well. I've made a commitment and I'm going to keep it. I'm only writing one other story apart from this so it won't be too bad on me. n.n

'Ushinau' means 'to lose' or 'to part with', BTW.

Disclaimer: I only own Inuyasha in my sick and twisted fantasies. n.n

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Japanese words:

Dakara - So / Therefore
Demo - But
Hanyou - Half-Youkai
Ima Made Arigatou - Thank you for everything
Imouto-chan - Little Sister
Itsumo Aishiteru - I'll Love you Forever
Iya - No
Minna - Everyone
Oneesama - Older Sister
Saa - Uhm, I'm not really sure how to explain it really. o_o; Something like "Come on" I guess.
Tanuki - Dog/Raccoon type animal, one is Miroku's friend. Remember him? n.n
Youkai - Demon

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Prologue~Ushinau

Inuyasha painfully gritted his teeth and used Tetsusaiga to support his weight. His left side was entirely numb, and he was bleeding profusely from a wound on his chest. Sango, Miroku, who were sporting less serious injuries, and Kirara helped hold him up. Kagome was bent at the ground a few yards ahead.

"Kagome..." Inuyasha uttered, breathing raggedly.

A light shone in front of her, illuminating her in the dark remains of what was once Naraku's castle. She turned, the completed Shikon no Tama held gingerly in her hand. There wasn't a trace of a smile on her face.

"It's finished," she whispered, more to herself than anyone. "Our journey is over.."

~~

A few days later, they had finally reached their destination of Kaede's hut via Miroku's tanuki friend. She tended to their wounds, congratulating them on their victory. Kagome remained rather saddened over the next few days while Inuyasha's worst wounds finished healing.

Kaede took the time hen she redressed his wounds to speak to him about his plans for the future.

"Are you still going to become the youkai as you planned from the beginning?" she questioned him seriously.

Not meeting her eyes, he was hesitant to respond. "Iya..I was born a hanyou..and a hanyou I will die."

"And Kikyou-Oneesama? Are you going to go to hell with her? I suppose she knows the Shikon no Tama was completed, I've been expecting her to come by.."

Inuyasha was even slower to respond with a simple mumbled "I don't know."

Kaede also managed to talk with the ever-glum Kagome.

"Are you going to take the Shikon no Tama back to your time?"

"Probably.." Kagome said slowly. "But..wouldn't be be better to destroy it entirely? Then it wouldn't be a problem at all.."

Kaede nodded. "It would be, probably. Kikyou-Oneesama tried to the same same 50 years ago, and look what happened.." After a long pause, Kaede said "And what about you?"

"Eh?"

"Will you...disappear along with the Shikon no Tama?"

Kagome was silent for a long time. "If Shikon no Tama is destroyed, I can't ever come back," she said slowly, indecisively.

Kaede nodded, understanding. "It's late." Kagome nodded and began to leave the room, but was stopped. "Kagome, Inuyasha is waiting for you." Forcing back the tears that threatened her mercilessly, Kagome walked outside, heading towards the well.

A light breeze uplifted a few silver tendrils. Inuyasha sat on the well, facing away from her. Kagome bit her lip and slowly approached him. "Inuyasha.."

His ears twitched, and he slowly turned. "Kagome.." Amber eyes reflected longing and sadness. Wordlessly he stood up and held her tightly. Her arms snaked around him and they held each other for a long time. Kagome rested her head on Inuyasha's shoulder, and he rested his cheek on her soft, silky hair.

"I don't want this moment to end," Kagome sadly whimpered into Inuyasha's shoulder. His grip slightly tightened around her.

"I don't either..demo.." There was a short pause during which Kagome clenched the fabric of Inuyasha's jacket. "You can't stay here forever..and I can't go there for forever.."

Kagome tilted her head to meet his eyes. "I won't be able to see you at all," she whispered, lip trembling as tears pricked her eyes. "I have to destroy the jewel once and for all..dakara.."

Kagome buried her face back into his shoulder, her own shoulders shaking with sobs. Each choked cry was like a knife through his heart. Inuyasha knew there was nothing in his power to ease the pain struck in either of their hearts except to hold her close to his heart.

He let her cry until her sobs dissipated into an occasional hiccup. Tilting her chin up to meet his eyes once more, Inuyasha whispered to her, "After so long, after so much, it's not fair that it ends. I don't want to be apart from you, Kagome. Itsumo..aishiteru.." He leaned down, his lips brushing lightly against hers, before they met in full contact with one another.

~~

From behind a tree, dark eyes glared at Inuyasha and Kagome as they embraced so tightly, so lovingly. "I suppose it was meant to be so. Inuyasha, it seems you've chosen that girl over me. I'll continue to watch you from hell..And wait for the day you return to me. Then..." With that, Kikyou let go of what hate was grounding her on earth and set the souls of the dead girls free, and let herself be swallowed up by the void that took her back to where she belonged.

Inuyasha...I'm so sorry...

~~

The next day was a tearful one. Shippou sobbed and begged Kagome not to leave. Sango understood Kagome's reasonings, but cried just the same. Even Miroku shed a tear. Lecherous as he was, he had feelings and loved Kagome like his imouto-chan. He didn't even attempt to grope her when he hugged her farewell.

"Ima made arigatou, minna," Kagome said, her eyes glimmering with tears. "I'll never forget you. Even when I'm old and I forget everything else..you'll never leave me." She hugged Shippou, Miroku, and Sango one last time and Inuyasha led her to the well. They held each other for the last time, both crying amply. Inuyasha, who had only shed a tear when he thought his closest and only friends were going to die, let the tears flow freely. It was pointless to hold them. back.

"Never forget me, Inuyasha."

"No. I never could." He cupped her cheek in his hand and kissed her longingly, lingering for a few seconds.

After they parted, Kagome said, "Inuyasha, promise me. If you..if you fall in love with someone else..I want you to be happy. Don't ignore all your feelings for other people just because of me. Be happy, Inuyasha."

He nodded, not trusting himself to speak. Kagome, on the verge of tears again, stepped into the well, looking over her shoulder at Inuyasha. Inuyasha stared into the well for a long time after she disappeared, until he noticed Miroku, Sango, Shippou, Kirara, and Kaede all gathered around with him.

"Saa, Inuyasha," Miroku said, smiling.

"Inuyasha," Sango smiled.

"Let's go home," Kaede said.

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~~Back in February..~~

-sniffs- I thought it was good. n.n; Although I didn't spend a terrible amount of time on it. :P Just remember it was written the release stress because I have Solo and Ensamble for band tomorrow. (i.e. I play a trio and a solo in front of a big scary judge and try to get a good score, mostly because mom threatened to ground me if I get a 3 or a 4. O;; No anime or computer if I get a 4, and I get to choose which not to lose if I get a 3. O_O; WAHH! ;.; I'll get a good score. ;;)

Anyways, reviews are very much appreciated. If you're wondering, nononono, this is just a oneshot, I don't want to continue it. e_e; And no, I'm not evil. ;.;() I just think that this is a possible ending for IY. (Not exact, but ya know. :P People can be severely evil and make terribly sad endings. ;.; Remember Escaflowne?)

~~Time Forward 3 Months~~

Uhm. I swear. I'm really bored. And I'm about to leave for New York in like..six hours. And here I am, sitting, (with my freshly dyed hair n___n) revising and turning a former sad/angsty oneshot into a [hopefully, or if not, a little] long reincarnation story. I've never seen one in the Inuyasha Fanfic realm, though they're rather popular in Rurouni Kenshin for as much as I've seen.

So the fic formily known as Ushinau turns into "I'll Come Home To You" with the original (revised) Ushinau as the prologue. n.n;; So yeah. That's what's there.