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EPILOGUE

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At first the others had been shocked but neither he nor Kagome could find it in themselves to care. All that mattered was that they each found comfort and peace in each other's arms. So they lay together night after night within the confines of Kagome's sleeping bag, nothing untoward naturally…at least not in the feudal era…it was far too dangerous to do some of the things they had done there. Days passed, then weeks, then a year and finally, finally Naraku was defeated and the jewel made whole.

Despite the celebrations going on around him, all Inuyasha could focus on was the steady beating of Kagome's heart, his efforts to memorize every tiny detail of her face, to imprint her scent permanently on his mind for you see, hanyou don't get happy endings. At least not one like him. Oh, he had made great strides to move forward the guilt that still ate away at his soul, handling it in a much more healthy manner with Kagome's help but still…he felt he didn't deserve any of her help or her love no matter how comforting.

That night, he lay next to her – clutching her tightly against his chest as he spooned her – savoring what may be the last time he ever got this privilege. The jewel was to be purified in the morning and past that…she might be ripped away from him forever.

Morning came all too soon and for a moment, as the jewel shone brightly in the sun before vanishing from Kagome's palm, it was as though the earth had pressed a giant pause button. No birds chirped, no one breath, the wind didn't even blow before it all slammed forward as a pink light blasted everyone in the vicinity off their feet. Desperately, amber eyes searched for his love as he called out her name – hoping beyond hope that she hadn't been ripped from this world when his eyes widened in disbelief. Out of the light came three figures.

Kagome.

Kikyo.

Izayoi.

"Midoriko gave me two additional wishes," Kagome muttered softly, her cheeks flushed a light pink, "Aside from wishing for the jewel to disappear. I thought it would…you were so sad and I…"

Breathing a happy sigh, Inuyasha rushed forward and crashed his lips down on his miko's before spinning her around in the air and turning to look at the other two women in his life who had been ripped away from him. Cocking his head to the side, his face fell slightly as the strong odor of shame and worry emanated off his mother.

Gently placing Kagome down, he approached her and smiled kindly, talking in a much more refined tone than anyone present ever recalled him speaking before, "Mother, whatever is the matter?"

"I made some terrible choices," she whispered as she averted her eyes and a tear slipped free, "I…I had felt…I took my own life…and I thought I took yours…but somehow you're still here. I left you all alone. I'm so...so glad that you didn't suffer at my hand and yet...and yet..."

For a moment, the two mikos and the half-demon stared at the woman in shock before Inuyasha did something that surprised both priestesses who were silently stewing in their own stew of anger and horror. Gently lifting his mother's chin, he wiped the tear from her cheek with him thumb as he whispered quietly, "I understand and I forgive you."

As the years passed, it became abundantly clear that Kagome's age as well as the rest of the inutaichi – including Rin – had their life spans tied to his own. The only rational explanation they could come up with is that Midoriko had made a wish of her own. Kikyo got her wish to see their puppy eared children and was as loving as any good aunt could ever wish to be. His mother went above and beyond to make amends – despite Inuyasha insistence that she was truly forgiven (if it wasn't for her actions, his life would never had led him to this point). Sango and Miroku had so many children it was almost obscene whereas Kagome and Inuyasha were happy to stop at five.

Life was perfect but none of it would ever worked out this way were it not for that one stupid spell.

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A/N: Know it got really dark really fast. Hope you enjoyed it!