HELLOOOOOOOO PEOPLE! This is yet another of my most beloved InuYasha fanfictions. Yes, I know I write a lot of them. But it's fun. So nyah! Anyway, yes, it's a romance, and yes, it's a bit long. Well, maybe not too long when it's typed. But it's long when handwritten. But I think you'll enjoy it!

Disclaimer: Fortunately, I don't own InuYasha. Because if I did, I'd do terrible things to the characters, and then they'd all turn on me. Not to mention millions of fans would hate me.

Hope and Trust Is Really All We Have

"It's really the last one, isn't it?" Kagome said, holding the jewel shard gingerly.

"Yeah," InuYasha replied quietly, sheathing Tetsusaiga. "It's all over now."

"What are you going to do now, Kagome?" Shippo asked, jumping onto InuYasha'a shoulder.

"I guess, I should make the jewel whole again," she replied, taking the near-complete Shikon Jewel out. She paused, looking at InuYasha, thinking, Do I really want to do this?

"Well, what are you waiting for?" he asked rudely, watching her impatiently.

Sighing, she turned her attention back to the jewel. "Here goes." She slid the shard into its place.

At first, nothing happened. Then, the jewel started to glow, brighter and brighter. With a blinding flash of light and a forceful wave of energy, the shard merged into the jewel, making it whole again.

"Did it work?" Shippo asked, sitting up.

"It better have worked," InuYasha grumbled, getting up and dusting off his kimono. "Stupid jewel, has to make such a stupid scene."

"It worked!" Kagome exclaimed, holding it up for them to see. Then, in a quieter tone, "We should probably give it back to Kaede."

"Yeah! Let's go!" Shippo cried, marching off into the trees. Kagome started to follow him, but stopped.

"InuYasha?"

"Yeah? What is it?"

"InuYasha, do you still want to use the Shikon Jewel to become a full-fledged demon?" She didn't turn to look at him as she asked.

"Well, yeah, of course," he replied, annoyed. "Why do you keep asking?"

"Then you can have it," she said softly, throwing it over her shoulder. He caught it, confused.

"Kagome, why—"

"It's not like I could stop you from taking it, since you aren't bound by the beads of subjugation anymore." She turned and faced him, forcing a smile and trying to keep the tears out of her voice. "And besides, after all the help you've been, and all the times you've saved my life, you deserve it. It's time you got what you want." She turned and ran off into the woods without waiting for an answer.

InuYasha made no move to follow her. He just stood there, looking at the jewel in his hand.

"C'mon Shippo, we've got to get back to Kaede's."

"Where's InuYasha, Kagome?" he asked as she picked up her bike.

"He's not coming with us," she replied. "Now c'mon, I want to get there before night falls."

"Kagome! How could ye do such a foolish thing?"

"I'm sorry Kaede," she said, looking at the floor.

"If InuYasha uses the sacred jewel to become a full-fledged demon, he could easily forget us and in the end, kill us!"

"I don't think he'd do that," Kagome said quietly, standing and heading for the door.

"Where do ye think ye are going?" Kaede asked angrily.

"I'm going home." She walked out, going towards the Bone-eaters Well.

"We are all doomed," Kaede said gravely.

"I'm with kagome on this one," Shippo piped up. "I don't think InuYasha would hurt us."

Okay, that's it for this chapter, and I know it's really short, but I had to stop here. You'll see why when I get the next chapter up. It just had to be done. So, review, and I know this might be boring, but I hope there's enough suspense in there to bring you back to read more! It gets better, I promise!