A/N: Here's something totally off the normal beaten track that popped into my brain the other day. Super hesitant to post this one but why not?

I don't know where this will go or when I will post to it but here it is anyways.

Enjoy!

In the end Kagome didn't settle for the bravest of the men who vied for her attention. It wasn't the most handsome whom had won her over and made her swoon. She chose to be with the kindest man she had ever met.

Not short on suitors she had grown tired of the male ego as a whole, from Inuyasha to Koga and whom ever else had kidnapped her in between. They were all stuck up in their ways, confident that they were the best based on their brawn, brain, or skill.

She supposed there wasn't anything wrong with that but it became old after some time. Being the damsel in distress had been a romantic notion for a while and she had played the part but again it became a tired trope in her own life.

Especially as her knowledge increased with her spiritual powers, she didn't need as much help as she once did. The only place she felt secure in her self was when she visited Jinenji and his mother.

Learning under him filled her days with a serenity she had never felt before. Jinenji's calm demeanor and soft voice put her at ease, he didn't berate her for making a mistake or yell at her for being stupid.

As time went on she stayed for longer stretches knowing she had to return to Inuyasha, her friends, and the village. A gnawing pit would form in her stomach.

The anxiety became near crushing some days at the thought of having to return to the village. Sitting with Jinenji in his fields of flowers and herbs Kagome couldn't take it anymore.

"I don't want to go back to the village." She said softly staring as the sun set below the horizon in a brilliant blaze of reds, oranges, and pinks.

"If you don't go back to the village then where will you go?" Jinenji asked gently with a hint of worry in his voice.

"I want to stay here." Kagome replied. "I like being here with you and your mother. It's so peaceful and easy in a way. In the village there's Inuyasha who is just well…a dog for no better term. I never asked to be a priestess and I mean I don't mind helping out but it isn't what I want."

Turning her attention towards her friend she saw he had turned away from her. Had she been too forward? "I'm sorry. I'll just go."

"Don't go." He said suddenly turning to her his face with the remnants of a deep blush. "I would like you to stay for as long as you like."

Smiling Kagome looked back up to the sky to see the first splattering of stars make their appearance. "Be careful, you might not get rid of me."

"I wouldn't mind." Jinenji said softly. Edging a bit closer to him Kagome was happy when he didn't shy away the way he normally did from her.

"What's been keeping you Kagome?" Inuyasha asked standing over her as she weeded.

"Been busy that's all." She replied with a shrug. "It's just Jinenji and his mom, they need help."

"No, somethings off. I can smell it on you." He said with his nose twitching. Rubbing her hands against the apron she wore she stood.

"Fine. You wanna know?" She asked. "I'm not going back to the village."

"Oh yeah? Then what's your grand plan if you're not in the village?" His voice held a sarcastic amusement to it as he folded his hands in his sleeves.

"You're looking at it." She stated with a dramatic flourish of her hands.

"You're gonna stay here?"

"Yup."

"What about Kaede and your duties as a priestess?"

"Kaede has Rin and I don't want to be a priestess anymore. I mean, I don't mind helping out here and there but not all the time."

"It's your duty as Kikyo's reincarnation to protect that village. It's where your familys shrine is in the future."

"Stop comparing me to Kikyo! Oh my god I thought we had gotten past all of that."

"Forgetting about your job what about us?"

"All we've done is fight since I came back. I'm tired Inuyasha. It was fun when I was fifteen but now, it just makes me tired."

"You could have told me instead of just hiding out here." Inuyasha said. "Otherwise I wouldn't have bothered wasting my time."

"I'm sorry, I didn't know how." Kagome whispered. "I still want to be friends."

Turning his attention away from her he stared at the sky for a moment before turning back. "I'll let everyone know you're gonna be staying here."

"Thanks." After Inuyasha had left Kagome went to the small pond that was some distance away from the fields and stared. She wasn't sad but she wasn't happy either.

Passing her days with both Jinenji and his mother's company made time seem to fly as one season gave way to another. Once the fields had been harvested and they had prepared more than enough for the winter with food stores there wasn't much to do.

"Jinenji would you like to take a walk with me?" Kagome asked. While he had grown accustomed to her company there were still some things that made him slightly panic. "We won't go far just to the pond and back."

"Sure." He agreed. Walking side by side in silence before reaching their destination Kagome sat down on the grass and patted the spot next to her.

"Thanks for letting me stay here. I've been really happy." She said.

"I'm glad." Jinenji replied.

"I'm not in way am I? Or I don't ask too many stupid questions?" Fiddling with the sleeve of her kimono she bit her lower lip.

"No. Never." He turned his attention towards her. "I'm happy that you're here."

"I feel like this is where I'm meant to be, that with you is where I'm meant to be." Her voice took on a wavering tone as she drew a breath in.

Jinenjis own faltered as he brought his gaze back to the pond. "Jinenji, have you ever…courted anyone before?"

"No." His voice came out curt. What was she getting at? Given what she knew of him and had seen why would she ask such a question?

"Me neither. There was a boy in my homeland who tried, he would give me things but I wasn't very interested in him."

"What about Inuyasha?"

"We never really courted. We were just forced together. We're not good together, we're just toxic." She explained.

"Toxic? Poisonous."

"Yes. We are poison to one another. Better to stay friends."

"Why did you ask?" Jinenji nearly jumped out of his skin as Kagome stood quickly.

"Ask me."

"Ask you?"

"Yes. Ask me."

"No."

"Why not?"

"Are you…teasing me?"

"Jinenji, I would never tease you." Kagome affirmed. "Fine, then I'll ask. Jinenji I would like to court you. Do you accept?"

Holding her hand out to him Jinenji stared at her blinking rapidly. Everything in him told him to run away but it was Kagome.

"I would…like to…court you." Taking her hand in his large one he felt dizzy. Kagome smiled widely at him and sighed contently.