Disclaimer: All characters from Inuyasha are owned by Rumiko Takahashi, but this story belongs to me.

Two Kids and a Skunk Farm

It was no surprise that Kagome chose education over going directly into the workforce. Her obsession with that school thing made it the obvious choice.

It also wasn't surprising that Shippo chose to follow in her footsteps. He would follow her to the ends of the earth, as long as she had a steady supply of pocky. Oh fine, she was more than a supply of ninja food. He'd probably still follow her. It was HIS job, however, to make sure that the kid grew up as a demon instead of as a human child. He would stay childlike for far longer than a human child. In fact, by the time he hit a hundred he would still look youthful. Demons, the ones lucky enough not to get on the wrong side of his blade, were quite long lived. One day Kagome would understand that Shippo couldn't be treated the same as a human, but he'd let her believe it a little while longer.

That Sango chose to go the route of education was no surprise either. The slayer looked to Kagome for guidance in many things. Sure she was older and was a trained killer, but when it came to being a woman she looked to Kagome. Without Kagome, she may never have found herself to be anything other than a warrior. She could be both.

Miroku chose the path that seemed easiest, the quickest path to money. Also no surprise. In fact, his entire group was pretty predictable.

Only Inuyasha refused to participate. He preferred to watch. There were only room for four anyhow. Kagome had offered to share, but he had hurumphed and jumped into the tree above her to take the post as sentry.

Inuyasha looked away from the group and allowed himself a smile.

It was a nice thought. A warm glowing thought. A thought he really shouldn't let himself think about too often.

A dream.

And even he had a right to dream, didn't he? Or would this be his life? Simply watching.

Miroku was the first to make money. He was an entertainer. His smugness was there if you looked for it, even though he tried to look calm and serene. The others may be fooled, but dog demons weren't so easy. The monk reeked of it. It was annoying. It was like he was saying (well… thinking really) that he made better decisions than Kagome.

Then he noticed that her head ducked down and she hid a smile. Maybe mikos weren't so easy to fool either.

"Awww… Miroku has money already," whined Shippo. "And he didn't have to pay all that money for school loans! He got paid after one lousy move! Look how far ahead he is! Why'd we go this way?"

"Patience, Shippo. See, look here. Now I get to choose between three careers instead of just taking what is given to me. And I get to choose from three different salaries. You don't have to take the college route to make money, it just gives you more choices." She sighed. "Why did that sound like my mother talking?"

Inuyasha frowned. Would Kagome choose to go to college? Did she want more choices instead of what life just gave her? Did she want… more than him?

"Ah," Miroku sighed, "A woman to bear my children at last."

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. Why couldn't he just have said 'wife'? Or 'mate'? It's no wonder Sango doesn't take him seriously. It sounds like all he's looking for is a womb, not a partner. He shrugged. It wasn't his problem as long as he kept his lecherous hands off Kagome.

One by one his friends got married. It irked him when Kagome chose her husband and set him next to her. Shippo named his.

One by one they started having children. Miroku was thrilled with his baby boy. He named the kid without even thinking. Meaning he probably had all dozen or so names picked out for all dozen or so kids he planned to have. He then had a baby girl, who also was named within moments. Another baby came along. It seemed to make him a delirously happy to have three kids in such a short space of time. Sango ended up with no children. Miroku simply told her that THEIR children were all simply riding with him. The slayer surprised him by smiling instead of clobbering him over the head.

Kagome had twins. She had asked his opinion on what they should be named. Of course he responded with a "keh", but it got him thinking.

What would it be like to have babies with Kagome? What would it be like to be a father? He didn't know how to be a father! Would he be able to protect them all? To provide for them all? Not just food and water, but for everything it takes to be a family. He would have to teach them to protect themselves and their mother. They would only have a quarter of demon blood in them, but that should still make them stronger than a human. He would have to teach them to take out demons who have a great advantage over them. Maybe he should watch Sango closer and study what it takes to be a demon slayer. And weapons. He would have to get them weapons suited for them.

Kagome would insist that they are educated, regardless of which time they chose to live in. Though maybe they could live in both. He knew that he wouldn't be much help with the school stuff. Maybe he should learn… Would it be possible that they would let him go to Kagome's school with her? Then he could protect her AND get smart enough to teach his kids.

Kagome explained about insurance and stocks. There was so much about her world that just didn't make much sense. Would she look for a mate who already knew these things? How could she trust him to take care of her when he didn't even know what insurance was? If only she didn't have to ever go back to her world, her time. He could take care of her just fine over here. He understood how things worked here.

She laughed happily at some comment Shippo made about the farm she just purchased.

He loved it when she laughed.

Before Kagome there was no laughter. No games. Even during the brief time he was with Kikyo there was not this feeling of joy. Kagome was laughter and joy and happiness and sunshine and passionate emotions. Especially passionate emotions. He never saw anyone be so quick to anger over the stupidest things as Kagome. But she was just as quick to laugh or smile. Or shed tears of joy or sorrow.

She was life.

"I won!"

"Congratulations, Shippo!" Kagome exclaimed. "Good job."

"Thank you for bringing the game, lady Kagome," Miroku said as he collected the LIFE tokens and put them back in the box. "It was very enjoyable."

"I thank you as well," Sango said, trying not to look like she was sneaking glances at the monk as she put up the little plastic cars and the little plastic pegs that represented the people.

"Thanks, Kagome! Maybe next time Inuyasha will quit being such a jerk and play with us."

"Shippo, be nice. There can only be four players. Besides, I was letting him share my car. So technically he was playing with me."

"But he didn't even spin the spinny thing! You weren't playing, were you Inuyasha?"

The kit glowered up at him, but the dog demon paid him no mind. Kagome had been sharing her car with him. He was the man she married and had the kids with. They bought a house (and a skunk farm) and became grandparents. They traveled together until the very end. Was she really picturing that or was she just playing the board game?

"Yeah, I was playing runt. Now go fetch some firewood."

Miroku handed the box to Kagome. "I believe that I will see about finding us some dinner." He glanced at Sango, who blushed.

"Um… I'll… uh… go make sure he doesn't get into any trouble…"

Kagome watched them disappear with a smirk on her face. Kirara shook her head then followed Shippo as he left, complaining about his chore. Inuyasha was just glad they were all gone. He liked them all, but sometimes it was difficult always being surrounded by others where he had to fight (sometimes literally) to get Kagome's attention. Then he could just be alone with her and they could just be.

"You were awfully quiet, Inuyasha. Is everything ok?"

He grunted an answer. She waited for a few moments for him to say more, but he stubbornly refused to elaborate. When she went over to her bag to pack her game up he followed. His ears picked up Shippo and Kirara playing and Sango and Miroku talking quietly. Kagome, however, was not saying a word. When she finished packing up the game and bringing out some food, she speared him with a look.

"I don't know why you play that stupid game," he said against his will. "That's not like real life at all."

She looked at him. Then she LOOKED at him. He could swear sometimes that she could actually read his thoughts. There were times that he wished that she could. That would solve soooo many problems.

"They didn't make this game with time travel or demon slaying in mind," Kagome told him gently. "Some of the questions are questions that you really do have to think about in your life. And some of them are just silly. It isn't meant to be taken seriously."

"So you aren't planning on college?"

She winced. That couldn't be a good sign.

"I don't know. But it is an option I have to consider. I'm… trying to prepare for… well… different options for my future."

Inuyasha snorted. "Does college take as long as school? Maybe…" He took a breath, then looked away as if he wasn't really interested. "Maybe I should go with you."

"To college?"

Humph. She didn't have to sound so surprised. "Someone has to keep an eye on you."

Quickly she turned so he wouldn't see her tears. But he didn't have to see them to know they were there. What had he done to upset her now? After what she thought was stealthily wiping her eyes, she turned back to him. She was smiling. It was breathtaking, like she had swallowed the sun. She was so confusing. Of course, every thought left his head when he felt her take both of his hands in hers. He stopped breathing and his heart stopped beating when she leaned closer to him. All he could see was her. The only thing he could hear was the loud roaring of his blood in his head. It was a physical ache in his body when she pulled back. Taking her hands, her warmth, away from him.

It took a moment to realize that the leaves were rustling and Shippo and Kirara were on their way into the clearing with a small tree that would need to be cut into pieces.

"I'm hungry," the kit whined.

"We'll eat shortly," she told him. Then she turned back to Inuyasha with a smile. "We'll just have to find our own way in life."

He nodded, then hopped back up into the trees. He watched as his pack began their evening dining ritual. He watched as Kagome mothered not only the kit, but all of them. Watching gave him a sense of peace. Watching reminded him that this was his pack, his family, and that he had a home. Kagome turned and smiled at him, encouraging him to join.

Yes.

Where ever Kagome was, there was home.

She was his life.

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Author's Notes: Wow! I want to thank everyone for such positive feedback last chapter. I will continue writing this series the way that I have been. When I run out of games to explore I'll write up a nice neat ending, but till then… well, it will still be a collection of one-shots loosely following the same thread.

Several of you recommended The Game of Life. So here it is! I may not write stories on every recommendation, or it may take several chapters until I get to it. It all depends on whether or not I get struck by inspiration by

Disclaimer Part II: The Game of Life does not belong to me either. It belongs to Parker Brothers.