The day was perfect; the sun was shining, the sky was as blue as a robin's egg, and the water as clear as crystal. On a day like this, one couldn't resist being outside to enjoy the warm weather and slight summer breeze. One such person to enjoy such a wonderful day was none other than Kagome Higurashi. Just returning from a visit at her parents, she was extremely excited, and the beautiful sunny weather couldn't do anything but help her already eccentric mood. She skipped down the path to Kaede's village, humming a happy tune as she made her way past the Goshinboku. She couldn't help but stop to think about it. Goshinboku... The same tree that had separated Inuyasha and Kikyou had united the hanyou and herself. She owed a lot to that tree.

She felt her hand along its bark-covered surface for a few moments, feeling where the shard embedded in it had been. That little shard was the key that brought her and Inuyasha together when they were separated. That had been the first winter that area had seen in a long time. She furrowed her brow as she recalled the events. She remembered how it hurt when they were apart, and how good it was to hold him in her arms again. That soft red haori, that long, silver hair, those sweet, amber eyes...

She shook her head and began to head down the path again. Thinking of Inuyasha had reminded her of what she was originally so happy about. She needed to tell him, and she needed to tell him right away.

--

The village was a bustling, busy place, just as it always was, when she had arrived. She headed for the hut that she shared with her "mate", as the hanyou would call it. "Boyfriend" was a much better term, the girl thought, but she shrugged it off and swung the door open.

"Inuyasha! I--" she stopped. No one was there. "Inuyasha?" She sighed. Apparently he wasn't home. She headed to the first place she could think of: Kaede's. Sure enough, the hanyou was sitting on the floor, chatting up with "Kaede-baba".

"Welcome, Kagome, we were just talking about you," said the old woman who stirred a pot in the center of the room. The hanyou sat across from her, leaning his hand on his left leg.

"Oh, about me? Anything good?" She asked, almost too excited to hold in her news, but did anyway. She took a spot next to Inuyasha on the floor.

"He was just worried about you. When you threw up yesterday morning, he thought you might be sick. So he came to get some herbs."

"I'm not sick Inuyasha!" the girl proclaimed. She paused. "Thanks for caring, though." Inuyasha looked away, saying nothing, only blushing a little.

"But I do know why I threw up," the girl said. The half demon gave a confused look as he turned toward her.

"Why's that?"

"I'm..." she beamed, blushing slightly. "I'm pregnant!" Inuyasha turned as red as an apple. He looked at her, blinking out of astonishment.

"You...you're pregnant?"

"Yes!" Kagome exclaimed, embracing him. After years of watching her best friend have her three beautiful children, it was finally Kagome's turn to do the child-bearing.

"Aw, I'm so happy for you!" Kaede said, clasping her hands together. "When did you find out, Miss Kagome?"

"Just this morning," she said. "I took a test and-"

"Like those things you take at school?" Inuyasha asked. "I don't want you to take too many of those. 'Cause every time you do, you're always stressed."

"No, Inuyasha," the girl replied. "It's a different test. It tells you if there's a baby in you or not. It's not anything you write down or anything..."

"Oh," was all the hanyou said. He looked to the side.

"And don't worry, it's yours," Kagome added, seeing the look on his face.

"I wasn't worried!" He snapped, looking at her with a bright-red tinge on his cheeks. She smiled and poked his nose.

"Riiiight. I bet you were thinkin' it was Kouga's."

"I was not! Even Shippou's not dumb enough to sleep with that guy." Kagome gave him a look for a moment, but then returned to her normal self.

"Let's tell Miroku and Sango, eh?"

--

"Oh that's wonderful, Kagome!" Sango exclaimed. The girl smiled as she hugged her friend, who was also pregnant. Only she was in her ninth month, and it showed. She already had twins- a girl and a boy, and a little toddler as well. 'When she said twenty children, she meant it,' Kagome thought absentmindedly.

"How did you know? You haven't gained a single pound." Kagome had forgotten that in the Feudal era, they didn't have things to tell before the signs showed up, whether they be the ever-obvious bump on the belly, being extremely tired, morning sickness, or swelling of the bosom. It was so much easier in modern times.

"In my time you can take a test to prove it," the girl said with a smile. Sango smiled.

"Well, anyways, I'm so proud of you!" They hugged again. The girls weren't the only ones excited.

"Its finally your turn to be a father," Miroku said, proudly patting his friend on the shoulder. The hanyou smiled a bit, looking off into the distance.

"Yeah. Unlike you I was patient."

"Riiiight. More like you just weren't fertile enough."

"Shut up, Monk!"

"Boys, boys," Sango interrupted. "Don't fight; it's a time for celebration!" She clasped her hands together. "This calls for a feast!"

Kagome smiled. She watched her friends and loved ones laugh and talk, and time just seemed to slow down. She was happy that she was having Inuyasha's child, just as much as she was happy for her best friend on their new little bundle of joy. She looked out the window at the sky. A perfect, cloudless day. All was well. And she knew it would always be.

--

Sorry, it was sort of a bad ending, but this marks the end of Deliverance! Review on this chapter or the whole series, tell me what you think. Thanks for reading!