Hello, my loves. :) Before you begin reading, I'm going to clarify a few things about this fic.

First, this is an alternating POV story. The first chapter was Kagome's POV, obviously, and now this chapter is Inuyasha's.

Second, this fic is going to be super long, so I hope you'll be in for the long haul. :) Posting each chapter one-by-one is the best excuse for me to the big edit to this fic, and it's also helped me figure out the errors and moments that didn't quite work. I hope it's all to your liking!

Finally, I want to mention that the chapters will get longer from now on. I realize these first two chapters are pretty short, but don't let that fool you for future ones!

Okay, I'll stop talking now and let you read. :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. All rights to Rumiko Takahashi.

Chapter 2: Under Goshinboku

I thought I was dreaming when I found Kagome in the meadow near the well. That stupid well had brought us together, kept us apart, and then finally brought us back together. Honestly, I didn't really freakin' care anymore. As long as Kagome was back here, I was content.

When she came out of the well, it was like a giant weight had been lifted. She'd pulled a Kagome move and lost a shoe but as soon as she got it back on, all I could do was hold her. As soon as I felt her touch, I relished in how desperately beautiful she had become and how much I'd missed her. Once we'd pulled away from each other, I leaned in to kiss her without really thinking about it. I mean, hey, I couldn't help it. I'd been dreaming about her for the last three years, and now that we were finally together again, that kiss in the Meido was flooding my head.

The moment ended when Miroku, Sango, and Shippo came over so I didn't get a chance. I kicked myself for it as we walked back to Kaede's house. My cheeks stayed hot but I kept a tight grasp on Kagome's hand.

Even though I tried not to, I couldn't help but look at Kagome every few minutes. She just looked so different. Her hair hung several inches longer than I remembered, so the locks fell to just above her waist. Her eyes still held the kind gleam I remembered, but they seemed wiser and were curiously taking in all of the changes she was encountering. She'd somehow become even more beautiful in the last three years, and it baffled me that that had even been possible for her to do. She held herself in a more confident and adult way. Kagome had grown herself up. As I studied her, a question radiated through my mind.

In our time apart, had I been on her mind as much as she'd been on mine?

I was lost in thought until something Kagome said struck me. "…I went to the well every day I was gone, and it hadn't seemed any different when I went this morning," she said. My head snapped up. She went…every day?

Her words ran through my mind and it pretty much stayed like that the rest of the time we were there. We were sitting next to each other but it was driving me crazy to not be as close to her as possible. I'd had to let go of her hand when we sat down so she could hold the baby. Right after she gave him back to Sango, Shippo jumped on her lap so I just kept my hands in the sleeves of my kimono.

I did, however, catch Kagome looking at me with a small smile on her face a few times, and it put any uneasiness to rest. Her face still held such kindness; her eyes were still deep and full of life. It didn't matter where I looked. I saw Kagome everywhere.

Kagome announced that she would be staying permanently before Miroku and Sango left, and that was when I finally took her hand. She looked at me and I knew that she was confirming her promise.

When Miroku and Sango had left with their children and Shippo was asleep, Kagome rose. I stood, too, and with one look, we were on our way to Goshinboku.

I took her hand as soon as we were outside of Kaede's house and Kagome held on tightly. A thousand questions were running through me, but I kept them locked up until we reached the tree.

Kagome let go of my hand and walked up to Goshinboku. I watched as she reached up to touch the scar that my fifty-year slumber had left on the trunk. Her face brightened into a smile.

"You know," she said, "I used to go to the tree on my side every day. It was sort of like a routine I had. First, I'd check the well, and then I'd come to the tree. There were some nights that I would just sit against it waiting for something to happen." Her smile faded a little. "Nothing ever did, though."

Kagome's face was illuminated in the moonlight, and I once again found myself enthralled by her. "Kagome…" I began hesitantly. "What is it?" she asked. Words escaped me as I looked at her and took in every inch of the girl I'd loved for so long.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome said as concern began to fill her voice. Her hand fell from the tree as I finally reached out for her. My arms went around her waist and I pulled her close like I had when I first saw her at the well.

But this time I didn't hold back.

My lips collided with hers in a very overdue kiss. I felt Kagome freeze in surprise, but she quickly melted beneath my touch. She lifted her arms and put them around my neck as her hold on me tightened, and I could feel that neither of us could get enough of the other. I slowly ran my hands up her back and into her hair as I deepened the kiss. The long, soft waves of her jet-black locks tickled my fingertips as I pulled her closer.

After a few moments, I felt Kagome laughing quietly against my mouth. I pulled away breathlessly and looked at her. "What's so funny?" I asked in a spacey voice I didn't recognize. Kagome shook her head. "You just surprised me," she replied.

I immediately loosened my grip on her waist so she could pull away if she wanted to. "I'm sorry," I said. "I just…" Kagome stopped my words by kissing me again. I immediately kissed her back, but I was still worried about what she was thinking. She pulled away first this time, and looked up at me with a shy smile on her face.

"Don't apologize," she said with amusement in her voice. "I've been waiting for you to do that all night." I smiled in relief and pulled her close again. Her head lay on my chest, and I felt her sigh against me.

"I pictured what this moment would be like in my head so many times while I was gone," she said after a quiet moment. I breathed in her scent and felt the pang of sadness that had haunted me for the last three years. "Me, too," I replied. "I thought about what I would do when you returned and that was always the first thing."

Kagome leaned back to look at me. "You said when," she said. "Not if." I smirked. "Well, of course," I replied. "I always knew you wouldn't be able to live without me for too long." Kagome laughed.

"I'm glad to hear you say that," she replied. "But I'll admit that it was hard for me to believe I would ever see you again. I had to constantly remind myself that somehow we would be together." Her words stirred up the pain I knew we'd both been feeling for the last three years.

"We were born for each other, Kagome," I said as I remembered my words from those three days in the Meido. Kagome sniffled a little and I saw a tear trickle down her cheek.

"That's why I could believe it," I continued. "We were meant to be together. I believed that you would come back. I believed that you'd come through the well again and that you'd sit with us in Kaede's house." Tears rained from Kagome's eyes as her mouth turned up in a smile.

"But most of all," I concluded, "I believed that you and I…" My words trailed off as Kagome leaned her head up.

Our lips met in another earth-shattering kiss. This girl, this amazing girl, was finally here. She was finally with me. No matter what happened, that was enough.

Once we'd pulled away, Kagome led me to the tree and we sat down against the trunk. For hours, we sat there just talking about the last three years of our lives. Kagome leaned her head against me as she told me about graduating.

"I never thought I'd be able to do it," she admitted. "Not with you always interrupting my studies." I laughed and shook my head.

"You shouldn't have spent so much time on them," I countered. "It's not like they mattered in the end." Kagome picked her head up and looked at me. At first she seemed annoyed, but she began laughing a moment later.

"You're actually right," she replied humorously. "Odds are I'm not going to have to know half of the stuff I learned in my math classes." I shrugged and took her hand. "Well, I guess you should've listened to me," I said. Kagome's laughter started up again.

After she'd stopped laughing, we slipped into a comfortable silence for a few moments until Kagome leaned her head back on me.

"I'm really tired," she said. Her sleepy-sounding voice was muffled by my kimono and I chuckled. I wrapped my arms around her and she curled up against me.

"I'm sorry," Kagome said. I leaned my head on hers. "Why are you apologizing?" I asked quietly. She nuzzled her face deeper into my haori. "I'm about to fall asleep even though I just got here." I laughed. "It's okay, Kagome," I replied. "You can sleep. I'm not going anywhere."

I felt her nod against me and not even a minute later, her breathing evened and I knew she was asleep.

This content feeling that had been awakened inside me was growing just by holding her. I loved her so much. Nothing could take away the happiness I have now that she's back.

But there was an ache, too. I had a secret I was keeping from her, and it was one that was going to hurt.

To be continued...

Hmm...what's Inuyasha's secret? You'll find out in a few chapters! Keep reading. :)

I love hearing from you guys. Reviews are the best encouragement! What's your favorite part so far? Anything seem strange or too OOC? Hope you're enjoying. :)