Sorry for the long wait, it's been a very busy week. Anyway, I won't keep you waiting anymore so on with the story. Oh yeah,

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of it's characters. I do however own Tameiko, Tomeo, Naoki and Taro.

Ok, without further delay, I present...

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Chapter 12

Kagome squealed with delight.

"Wait! Does this mean you have to chop down the Goshinboku to fix the well?!" Inuyasha asked/yelled. He wasn't exactly willing to give up his tree. Sure, he was willing to give his life for Kagome, but his tree was going a little too far.

"No, no, no, nothing like that!" Naoki laughed. "If we had to chop it down, we would have to make it in the first place. We simply need a branch or two."

"Well, you better not touch MY branch!" Inuyasha snarled, calming down a bit, knowing he would still have his tree when it was all over and done with.

"We will try to use what is left of the well first. We might not have to take any branches."

"Good." Inuyasha replied, crossing his arms and putting his nose in the air. Kagome giggled. She knew Inuyasha was fond of the tree but didn't think he would be so protective of it, especially it was where he was pinned for 50 years, and it was, after all, only a tree.

"So, how do we go about fixing it?" Kagome asked, eager to get started.

"Don't worry young one, I will help you. But not now, it is getting late. You may all stay at the inn if you'd like. We haven't had much business lately." Naoki offered.

"Thank you so much for all your help!" Kagome said, a huge smile on her face. She just couldn't stop from smiling.

"We should tell Kaede the good news Kagome." Sango told her. Kagome quickly agreed and they all left, telling Naoki and Taro they would return later, and made their way to Kaede's hut.

Immediately upon their arrival, Kagome excitedly told Kaede what the learned. Kaede had to tell her to calm down several tomes in order to understand her. Inuyasha acted as a translator when it became impossible to calm her down. It took awhile, but Kaede was finally able to understand everything that happened at the inn and all that they learned.

"Use the Goshinboku hhmm??" Kaede asked in thought.

"Yes, that's right, that's what Naoki said." Kagome said excitedly, she had calmed down a lot after relaying her story to Kaede.

"I had no idea the Goshinboku was so powerful. 'Tis an excellent idea. I congratulate thee Kagome, it seems ye will finally be able to return home." Kaede smiled at Kagome cheerful face. She was beginning to wonder if she would ever see that smile again. Kagome yawned.

"Well, I thought I should tell you the good news. Naoki said we could stay at the inn, so we should be off, it's getting late. I'm exhausted." Kagome yawned again.

"Alright then, I will see ye all tomorrow then. Good night." They all said good night and headed back to the inn. Kagome wasn't the only one in better spirits, it seemed everyone else was as well, except Inuyasha. Inuyasha didn't want her to leave. He wanted her to stay with him forever, she did say she would remain with him for as long as he wanted, right?

When they arrived at the inn, Taro greeted them.

"Well, hello again! You seem in better spirits Miss Kagome!" he said smiling at her and reaching for her hand. Inuyasha sent him a warning glance and he backed away a few steps.

"My father has already gone to bed, but he asked me to show you to your rooms." he said, walking down a narrow hall way. "You get three rooms to split among yourselves. Breakfast will be served at seven. I look forward to seeing you all in the morning." Taro turned to walk back to the front desk. As he walked past Kagome, he smiled and brushed his hand lightly against hers. She didn't notice, but Inuyasha did. He growled and watched Taro until he could no longer see him.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome yelled from one of the rooms. "Are you coming? We're going to choose the rooms with out if you don't hurry!"

"Wait for me!" Inuyasha yelled back, stealing one last glance down the hall before turning to enter the room Kagome was in. It was a simple small room with a small stand with a single white candle burning on top of it and a futon in the center of the room. All three rooms were the same except one had an extra futon laid out. Kagome and Sango took two of the rooms, leaving Inuyasha and Miroku with the last. Shippo decided he was going to sleep with Kagome. They said good night and went to their rooms, Sango warned Miroku about taking a "midnight stroll".

Kagome had just changed into her night clothes and crawled under the blankets, Shippo curled into a little ball on her stomach and fell asleep instantly, when she heard a light knock on the door.

"Who is it?" she called quietly. Inuyasha opened the door a crack.

"It's just me, can I come in?"

"Yeah, sure." He opened the door wider and stepped inside, closing the door silently behind him. He walked over and sat on the floor next to Kagome who sat up.

"I just wanted to say....that...I'm glad you will be able to see your family again." Inuyasha stumbled, unsure of himself.

"Um, thanks Inuyasha, I'm glad too."

"Um, Kagome?"

"Yeah Inuyasha?"

"You will come back right? After you go home and see your family again?" he asked quietly.

"Of course I'll be back!" Kagome replied, a bit surprised by his question.

"Will you really?" he asked, looking into her eyes hopefully. She put her hand on his arm reassuringly.

"Of course, what makes you think that I wouldn't?"

"Well, I don't know. I just thought that you wouldn't want to risk being stuck her again, so you would go home and never come back." he said quietly, looking at the ground.

"Oh Inuyasha!" Kagome said, touching his face softly. "I promise I'll be back." He looked into her eyes and saw the truth in them. She smiled at him. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close for a moment. She gasped at the sudden contact but relaxed, wrapping her arms round his waist and leaning into his chest.

"Thank you, Kagome." he said and released her, quickly standing up. "Now get some sleep, I can see the dark circles under your eyes, even in the dark." He said and quickly walked out of the room, not giving her time to respond. She just smiled and snuggled back into her blankets and fell asleep in no time.

The next morning they all woke and walked to the kitchen for breakfast. Taro was already at the table eating.

"Well, there you are, I trust you all slept well?" he asked with a smile.

"Yes, we did thank you." Kagome replied, taking the plate he handed her and sitting down.

"Hey, where's Naoki?" Inuyasha asked, sitting next to Kagome.

"He left early to gather people to work on the well. They have already begun." Taro replied, going back to his food. Kagome and the rest quickly ate their food before running out the door towards the Bone Eaters well. When they got there they were surprised to see at least twenty men pulling rubble out of what used to be the well. Naoki seen them and hurried over to them, smiling.

"Well good morning everyone! I did not expect you out so early. Have you all eaten?" he asked. They all nodded to show that they had. "Good. We've started to remove the rubble and it seems the well is not nearly as bad as it seems. It should only take a week or two to repair it." Kagome was speechless. All she could do was stare at the work being done. 'I'm finally going to be able to go home!! I can finally see my family again!!' Tears of joy sprang to her eyes and she started laughing/crying at the site.

"Kagome? Kagome what's wrong?!" Inuyasha asked, worry evident in his voice. "I thought this is what you wanted?"

"It is Inuyasha, I'm just so happy that it's actually happening, that's all. I was beginning to lose all hope. I thought I'd never return home again!" she cried. Inuyasha smiled. He was happy to see her so happy again. He no longer worried about her going home and never coming back. He knew she would. She had given him her word.

"So, is there anything we can do to help?" Inuyasha asked Naoki.

"Well, I suppose you could all help remove the wreckage. If you see any pieces of wood large enough for us to use again, put it in that pile, if not throw it in that barrel over there. It seems we might have to cut down a couple branches from the Goshinboku after all."

"I'll do that!" Inuyasha quickly volunteered. "Just tell me when you need them and how many and I'll cut them down for you!" Kagome, who had stopped crying, giggled at Inuyasha's request.

"Inuyasha just doesn't want anyone to go anywhere near his beloved branch, it's that right Inuyasha?" Shippo teased. "With out it he may die. 'No not my branch!'" Shippo put his hand to his head and pretended to faint. Everyone laughed. Everyone, that is, except Inuyasha. He growled and lunged at the little kitsune. Shippo jumped out of the way just in time and the chase began. Kagome was laughing so hard, she couldn't find the breath to argue. When she finally stopped laughing, tears streaming down her face, she stood up and faced the rest of the group.

"Let's get to work, shall we?" They all nodded. "Inuyasha! Shippo! Where are you!!" Inuyasha came walking out of the forest holding a struggling kitsune by the tail.

"What is it Kagome?" Inuyasha asked innocently.

"It's time to get to work you two. Inuyasha, put Shippo down!" Inuyasha looked at Kagome then at Shippo. He gave him one last bonk on the head for good measure before dropping him.

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I hope you all enjoy this chapter. It has the answer that you've all been waiting for, or does it? Mhuahahahaha!!! Anyway, review and tell me what you think. And please refrain from using kitchen objects? They hurt!!! Especially the spork!! See what it did to me?!?! *Lifts up sleeve* See? See?!?! *readers look at her arm then back at her face as if she has ten heads* *looks at own arm* Oh, I guess it's gone then. Heh.......^_^*