9 Months

Prologue: Many Losses

Kagome still couldn't believe what she had heard come out of his mouth. Yeah, they had been fighting Naraku for almost eleven years now, but she never thought he would ask her this. And now that the battle was over, she really had no idea what to say to him.

"W- what did you say?" she stuttered.

Inuyasha looked at her, trying to find the courage to say the words again. But he found he could not. Staring at her, he moved closer to her. They had been sitting in the Sacred tree for little over an hour now. Looking away, he found himself thinking about the night before. How terrible it had been, but also, how relieving to know that almost everyone was safe.

Flashback…

That night had been one of terrible loss and anguish for the many people who had come to help in their fight to defeat Naraku. Sango's younger brother had died, protecting his sister from a fatal wound to the chest. Having finally remembered her. His last words echoed through the starry night.

"I love you, sister," he whispered as she screamed for someone to help.

Sesshomaru looked on, still bleeding profusely from the wound to his neck, chest, and lower back. But his sword, the Tenseiga, had been broken. He could do nothing to help anyone who had perished…

Rin was laying on the ground, with at the very least a gash to the side of her beautiful face which curved around her left cheek, and down to her jaw line. But Jaken had not been so lucky. A few feet away lay his upper body, thrown against a large jagged stone. And the other half only a few feet away. Sesshomaru slowly walked over to her, pulling her into his arms, shaking.

"I'm sorry Rin," he whispered to her. "I can't keep my promise and bring everyone back to life. I don't have the power to any longer."

Her eyes turned lifeless at hearing those words, but she still held onto him. Looking around at all of the demons he had asked to join in this fight, now lying dead or injured, she cried.

Sesshomaru held her slightly tighter. Even though she was no longer the little girl he had saved so long ago, he knew she had a right to cry. Those demons may have been his servants, but they had also been her friends for many years.

Miroku awoke to someone crying over him.

As he looked up, he saw Sango, her eyes pouring rivers down her face as she looked at him. She had a long, fine slice over her chest, which was dripping blood onto his chest. He had tried to move his arms to hold her, to show that he was alright, but they wouldn't move. Looking to his sides, he found both of his arms, completely broken, bleeding, and bruised.

"Sango," his voice cracked. "I'm okay, please don't cry."

But she didn't hear him. As she threw herself on top of him, weeping softly, Miroku wished for the life of him that he could move his arms. Turning his head slightly to her, she looked at him, her eyes shiny and almost completely red from all of her tears.

"It's okay, love," he whispered, giving her a warm smile. "I promised you that I would never leave you."

"Miroku?" she asked looking into his eyes.

He smiled again.

"Yes,' he whispered back.

Without any warning, Sango pressed her lips to his, holding him in a fierce hug. His eyes widened for only a moment, but they closed after allowing the simple moment between them to continue.

When she finally pulled away, she glared at him.

"Don't ever scare me like that again! Why in god's name would you allow yourself to be thrown so many feet in the air?"

"Because, I didn't want it to be you that Naraku threw," he whispered again, taking in a deep breath. "I love you, Sango. And I protect those I love with my mind, body, and soul. Don't ever forget that."

Sango sat there for a moment in this open embrace, knowing full well what he would be doing had his arms not been broken. She smiled at him with a warm smile all her own.

"I love you too, Miroku. And I always have," she whispered back.

"Then, may I ask you something?"

"And that you be?"

"Would you do the honor, of bearing my children someday," he said now smiling back. "And marrying me, Sango?"

At first, she was shocked. The last line of his proposal was one he had never used. Not with anyone. But she smiled even more realizing that.

"Yes, I will. But you have to have your strength back before we get married."

Miroku smiled his small, yet evil smile. Knowing what she meant in more ways than one.

"Deal."

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Kagome lay passed out and nearly dead in Inuyasha's arm. Her soul was weak and barley alive. He didn't know what to do. Without the other half of her soul, which resided in Kikyo now, she would most definitely die. His tears were falling in a rush. Like as though they had no idea how to stop. He was going to lose her. The woman he secretly loved for over eight years now.

"Kagome, please don't leave me," he whispered to her fragile form in his arms. "I love you, don't you see that? So, you can't die. Not now, not ever. So please wake up."

"Inuyasha," a female voice said to him from behind.

Turning around, he saw Kikyo standing there. Her clothes were torn, but there was no blood on her body. Well, there couldn't be anyways. All she was, was a walking clay doll with a soul trapped inside.

"Kikyo," he said in a strangled voice. "What should I do?"

Seeing the visible torment on his face, Kikyo's expression saddened. Sure, she hated yet loved him, but this hurt more than anything. He was choosing her reincarnation over her. But, she knew from the moment everything started eleven years ago, that Kagome would be the victor over the hanyou's heart and soul.

"Stand up," she commanded.

He obeyed, but not as quickly as she hoped. This was something she knew she had to do now. Because now, her soul could finally be at peace.

As he stood in front of her, he awaited her command to go to hell with her. He knew he had promised, but he truly wanted to stay by Kagome's side.

"Pull out your sword, Inuyasha."

Now he was confused. ' Why is she asking me this?' he thought. But he did as she asked. The sword did not transform, because he could not sense any real danger. But what he heard next, shocked him. Kikyo looked up into his eyes, and smiled.

"Kill me."

Inuyasha stared at her. Not believing what he just heard.

"What?"

"Do it, then place my soul back in Kagome's body. It's the only way to truly save her now. Without her soul being complete, she will die. Now please, kill me, so I can also be at peace."

"I can't do that! You know I can't," he screamed.

Kikyo sighed, then gave him a glare.

"Then if you can't. I will."

Before he could say anything in reaction to her last words, Kikyo ran into him, impaling herself on the Tetsusaiga. As he looked at her in shock, she smiled at him.

"I love you," she whispered as the clay started to crack, allowing all of her souls that she had collected to escape from their tomb. "Don't ever forget that. But now, I think it's your turn to be happy as well. Good luck, Inuyasha, and thank you."

With that she placed her final kiss on his lips as her body shattered into dusk. Only one soul, a pure pale pink one remained. As quickly as he could, he grabbed onto the flaming ball of light and sat down next to Kagome. Her skin was even paler than it had originally been. Slowly, he placed the remaining half of her soul over her heart. The one thing that Kikyo no longer had after she had been resurrected.

As the ball of light slowly sunk into her flesh, Kagome's color and breathing retuned. Inuyasha stared on in amazement as her wounds started to heal instantly too. This was Kikyo's doing. And he smiled with that knowledge.

And with that, Kagome opened her eyes. And found herself staring into the golden pair that she loved so much. He was smiling back, and had tears in his eyes as he grabbed her, then held her to his chest.

"I thought I'd lost you."

Kagome was a little startled by his actions. He hadn't hugged her in months. Pulling away, she saw the carnage around her. There were so many humans and demons that had been slain. And now as she looked down at her necklace containing her half of the jewel, she gasped.

It was whole again.

"Did we do it? Did we defeat Naraku?" she asked, still looking around.

Inuyasha chuckled at her, with another smile on his face. Standing up he found himself pulling Kagome into his arms again, and just holding her as they stood on the edge of the remnants of the battlefield.

Looking back into her eyes, he leaned down and kissed her. Her eyes shot open for only a moment, but then they closed. As she enjoyed the feel of his lips on hers, she found herself smiling at him. And that's when he said the one thing she had asked him before.

"Yeah, we did."

End Flashback…..

"W-what did you just say?" she asked again.

Inuyasha looked over at her. And took a very, deep breath.

"Marry me."

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I know, I know. The prologue isn't very long. But I had to put it in just the same.

And I'm REALLY sorry that it's a cliffy!

But, it had to be done.

Okay, the first chapter will be up soon.

Hope you guys liked the beginning so far.

Toodles,

Me

: P