February 23

We spent the rest of the evening yesterday peacefully at home. By that night though, after such an emotional roller coaster of a day, it seemed that Inuyasha wasn't as okay as I thought he was.

Moroha had long since gone to sleep. I was in bed as well, laying under the blanket waiting for him to join me. We locked eyes when he came back into the room and I smiled. "Come to bed, love," I said, pulling back the blanket for him.

He lay down next to me but instead of saying anything, he kissed me. It wasn't just any kiss, it was deep and biting telling me without words how terrified he had been for me that day. He moaned into my mouth while his tongue wrestled with mine, vigorously and desperately tasting me. His arms were around me, holding me as close as possible as if he were afraid I would disappear forever if he let go of me.

"Yasha…" I breathed, trying to keep up as I became lost in the feeling of him so close to me.

"I love you, Kagome," he said between our kisses.

Suddenly he was on top of me, still kissing me and making me even more desperate to feel all of him.

But then he stopped. I opened my eyes when his lips parted from mine. His forehead was on mine and he looked at me with such intensity like he was trying to remind himself that I was real. "Thank you, Kagome," he said after a moment.

"For what, Yasha?"

"For bringing me back to normal when you saw me like that today. I wasn't in control of myself. I had let my demon blood take over me completely; I could have done something terrible. But you didn't give up on me...you never have."

I ran my fingers gently through his hair. "And I never would. I'll always be by your side, no matter what happens."

"You're the only thing that can save me when in like that. I'm so grateful." He took my hand and kissed it then laced his fingers in mine. "I was so scared today. I still feel so shaken up by it. Just the thought of you and Moroha gone forever…" He closed his eyes and let his voice trail off. I could tell he was still very distraught by what had happened.

"We're not going anywhere," I said as I ran my thumb across his cheek to comfort him. "Everything is okay now."

He pressed his lips to mine with the same intensity as before. "I need you," he whispered. "I couldn't live my life without you."

"Same here, Yasha. I love you. I'll always love you."

My lips found his again as I tried to convey to him all of my love, and trust, and reassurance in him. The sex that followed was so desperate and raw as we showed each other just how much we loved and needed each other.

I wanted to make sure Inuyasha wasn't as worried today. Everything that happened yesterday had deeply affected him but I didn't want him to dwell on it. His happiness was my ultimate priority.

So our morning consisted of lots of hugs and cuddles. First, it was just the two of us holding each other and kissing as we lay under the blankets. When Moroha woke up we brought her over to join us and then Nico got involved as well. We ended up just being a ball of family hugs and it was such a nice way to spend the morning until we all got too hungry and wanted breakfast. The genuine smile on my husband's face through it all was the best part of it though.

"I'm going to the shrine," I said after breakfast.

"Can we come?" Inuyasha asked.

"Of course," I said happily. Inuyasha didn't always come to the shrine with me but when he did it made me extra happy to have him there to support me. I could also tell that after what happened yesterday, he didn't want to be separated from me. So we walked over together holding hands as we always were. He held Moroha and sat in the back while I did my responsibilities there.

I remember when I first became a full-time priestess here and Inuyasha was worried about going to the shrine with me because of the way people had always treated him as a half-demon. I don't know how it is in other places, but people here fully accept him. Before everything started I noticed him talking with a few people in the village and those people were smiling and were kind to him and Moroha.

They waited outside for me when I was done. People were exiting the shrine and I was one of the last to leave. Inuyasha stood nearby holding Moroha as they waited for me. But then things changed.

Someone from the village saw it first, the bug demon that was about the size of a deer diving towards the crowd. In fact, it was coming straight for Inuyasha and Moroha.

I immediately reacted and pulled out an arrow. "Inuyasha, duck!"

He had been about to take down the demon with his claws but when he heard my voice and saw my arrow raised, he did what I said.

I shot the arrow and it flew over his head towards the demon which dissolved on impact.

The few people who remained by the shrine thanked me graciously for stopping the demon. My main concern was my family though.

"You alright?" I said to Inuyasha when I reached him.

He placed a kiss on my lips. "Thanks, baby. That was some quick thinking."

"You're welcome." I then took Moroha in my arms and hugged and kissed her. "Come here, my little angel." I'd missed holding her after all of that time I was working in the shrine. It'll be a true miracle if I'm ever able to spend an extended period of time away from her one day.

Inuyasha and I started to walk home together.

"What do you want to do for the rest of the day?" he asked.

"I don't know about you, but after all the excitement we've had lately, I just want to do something quiet and peaceful."

He laughed a bit. "I agree."

So we ended up laying in the hammock in our backyard with Moroha. It didn't take long for her to sleep and soon after we were right behind her.