Third Time's a Charm

Final Chapter

Kaori's POV

You could argue that after that faithful day Inuyasha and I had a hard time staying away from each other. It seemed like since I'd arrived here almost 2 months ago our attitudes about one another changed very rapidly and drastically.
However some habits die hard. Like, our petty bickering that seemed to get on everyone's nerves but our own.
And I have to say I didn't mind them half the times because those arguments led to a few pretty good make up sessions which make up for the lack thereof sense in our relationship.

"Stupid dog…"

"Smart-ass cat…"

"Rather be a smart-ass than dumb-ass."

These phrases were often heard, in non-violent tones of minor irritation throughout our conversations. But nonetheless I don't believe our affections wavered.

Sango and Miroku had just arrived back from one of their demon vanquishing commissions and Sango had brought me back some new clothing.

"I knew you had to be getting sick of the white kimono you had getting filthy all the time and having nothing else to wear. So we brought you back these!" Sango said handing me a box. I opened it and discovered a beautiful black kimono and a sapphire blue obi for it. And another dark forest green kimono underneath it, with a black obi.
"Sango these are gorgeous!" I exclaimed embracing her. "I'm gonna go try the green one on now!" I hurriedly scurried off with the box to my room.

Inuyasha's POV

Miroku found his way to me once he and Sango arrived back from their demon slaying commission a passerby had requested them to do.

"How're things going, Inuyasha? I trust you and Kaori have been getting along swimmingly." He said with a smirk sprawled across a smug visage.

"Things been going great. Why you ask?" I answered. Miroku shrugged.

"Just curious is all. I find it quite comically really." Miroku said sitting down next to me by the pond.

"Oh really. Why's that?" I asked.

"You and her did not get along so well when she first got here, and you two have made a totally new outcome then what you first saw." Miroku stated. "I'm just saying that I'm happy you chose the course of action you took. She's pleasant, gets along with everyone and really seems to care a lot about you." He added.

"Did something happen on this last trip you made? Cause your coming out of the blue sayin' this crap to me like I didn't already know that…" I replied. "I mean I'm happy you approve and all but is everything ok?"

"Yes Inuyasha everything's fine." Miroku answered. "I'm just saying, I'm very glad that she came into your life when she did. I think that without her you would've stayed rather…depressed for a while." He added. I nodded.

"I can see that…" I said looking down at the water. "For once, I feel like I'm not regretting a decision I've made. I feel like I'm not dishonoring Kagome, or Kikyou's memories. Cause now I see that, even though the thought hurts like hell, moving on to another person is what they would've done as well, because they understood that all I would want for them is to be happy, with or without me. I think they'd want the same." I added picking up a pebble and tossing it to the water; I saw Kikyou and Kagome's face appear in the ripples, smiling and happy.

"I'm glad to hear that." Miroku concurred. "C'mon let's get back to Kaede's. Dinner is probably going to be ready soon." Miroku abruptly changed topics on me.

"Fine." I sighed.

Kaori's POV

I tried on the green one and settled for that one for this evening. When I exited in the kimono Inuyasha and Miroku had just walked into the hut.

"Look what Sango go for me!" I exclaimed twirling in a circle.

"Wow!" Miroku exclaimed. "I'm glad they fit she spent forever picking those out too!"

Inuyasha's face was frozen with his jaw dropped ever so slightly.

"How do I look?" I asked. I saw his cheeks flush red. Shippo giggled from afar in the corner of the room with Sango.

"He's so dumbstruck he can't even think. Inuyasha stop drooling!" Shippo teased.

"Shippo you wait for the day a cute girl walks into your life and I will make sure you have a snowball's chance in hell with her." Inuyasha swore. I giggled.

"So…" I caught his attention again. "Gimme your answer." I ebbed. He smiled and crossed his arms.

"I dunno…how do you feel?" He asked slyly.

"Alright, alright stop with ye flirting…food is ready." Kaede chimed in before I could get my straightforward answer.

Inuyasha's POV

She looked gorgeous oh damn her. After we ate dinner immediately got her to take a walk with me like we normally would some nights after dinner. The sun was just setting and it gave a purple and ruby hue to the sky and the water.

We walked in a comfortable silence into the forest edging the village. As we entered she subtly reached for my hand and we intertwined fingers. I stole a glance down at her, and for a moment I almost couldn't believe she was real. This beautiful girl who shared some of the same pains I had growing up, one who accepted me for every quirk and quip I threw her way, and above all, cared regardless the shit I put her through.

I stopped walking when the trees became a little more dense.

"Inuyasha…" Kaori said in her singsong voice. I answered by looking in her direction. "You never gave me a definite answer earlier." She smirked coyly.

"I suppose you wanna know what I think of the new clothes?" I chuckled a little. She nodded her head vigorously. "Well I'll just ask again. How do you feel?" I countered.

"Good…I think?" She said shrugging. "but I wouldn't mind knowing what you feel about it." Damn she was good. I scoffed.

"You really want to know?" I asked and she grinned wildly. I pulled her close to me and I locked eyes with her. "I think you look beautiful." I answered kissing her gingerly. "No matter what clothes you're in."

"Good answer. Very smooth." She laughed and smiled that cute little smile. I kissed her again, except with just a little more passion than before. After a moment, we deepened the kiss and I wrapped my arm around her waist and her arms slid around my neck. I turned a propped her back against a nearby tree gently and used it for support, since she felt like she was going to give out any moment. I broke away from the kiss for some air and began to trail kisses up and down her neck. Her smell was so intoxicating, and I could remain in this moment in time without ever leaving it, and be happy for eternity.

"Kaori…" I whispered faintly. Her steady heartbeat throbbed hard against her chest and her breathing slowed and became a little heavier. "I love you." I whispered again. "You're the best thing that's happened to me in a long time." I said facing her. Her green eyes matched the kimono she was so fond of, and were shimmering in the fading sunlight and rising moonlight.

"You're the best thing in my life, since it began really." She replied quietly. "I love you too. Nothing's ever going to change that." I let her finish before I kissed her again, this time she clutched me close to her, my body hard pressed against hers. And it felt like our heartbeats were beating in sweet unison.

In this perfect moment, I found that loving without reservation and without fear of anything was all I really needed now.

I hope you enjoyed it while it lasted :) . I tried to make the ending as sappy as possible since I really only had them picking on one another until the very end. Thank you for reading!