This is the edited version of this chapter. (From my edit of the chapters up to 11)

Okay, this is not my first fanfic, but it is my first Inuyasha fanfic. So, I hope you like it, and please enjoy it.

The story takes place at the very end of everything. What I mean is that after Naraku, Shikon no Tama, etc are all finished, and it comes to Kagome and Inuyasha's decision. And then after the prologue, well, you'll see. :)

Oh, and Inuyasha's way of talking is not suppose to be perfect English...he speaks anything but proper Japanese in the manga and anime...and on the other hand, Miroku speaks extremely *proper* Japanese, so he speaks proper English as well. :)

Inuyasha doesn't belong to me, nor will it ever. All credit to the rightful creator/owners/etc. Of course, Takahashi Rumiko is wonderful for thinking Inuyasha up! Now for the story!

The Next Best Thing
Prologue
by Laura Hoak-Kagey

The sun was setting behind the trees as Kagome, Inuyasha, Miroku, Sango, Shippo and Kaede were all standing outside Kaede's hut. They had all managed to get this far, to the end. It had been a long few days, and there was silence in the air; no one knew exactly what to do or say.

It was Kagome who spoke first. "Everyone, I-I think that I'll have to go home. I've been thinking and thinking, and all I can come up with is that if I were to stay here, I would miss my family. My mother needs me, as does Souta and Grandpa."

Kagome's eyes began to glaze over as she tried to keep the tears back. "But, as long as I'm able, I plan to come back often. I wanna see you all, and I wanna see what you become. If I can without the Shikon no Tama, that is..."

Sango took a step towards Kagome to put a hand on her shoulder. "Of course we understand that you need to go back. And if you don't come and visit us, well, you probably don't want this Demon Hunter after you, right? I'm pretty tough to beat, ya know."

Kagome smiled at Sango's words. She knew that Sango was only trying to cheer her up a bit. She pulled herself together. "No, I wouldn't want to mess with you, would I? Anyway, I know that it might be a little rude, but I wanna take a walk by myself. If you guys would go back inside? I need to do some thinking."

Kaede nodded, understanding Kagome's words. There were things she needed to find out for herself. "Come on all of you. Let's get inside."

Kagome looked over her shoulder and saw Kaede taking the others inside.

However, what Kagome didn't notice was that Inuyasha wasn't among them anymore...

*~*~*

As Kagome walked through the woods, she began thinking to herself... [What'll I do now? What about Inuyasha? I haven't talked to him about anything...going home and all that. I wonder how he took my decision then...I know that he's said that he wants to be near me, and that he cares for me, but, we never did find out what happened to Kikyou after Naraku was defeated. I know Inuyasha still has to have a place for her in his heart. It would be too much for me to ask him to come with me. No matter how much I want to...I don't even know if I can come back since I won't have the Shikon no Tama anymore, AH! Why does everything have to be so confusing?]

Without thinking she uttered her final thoughts aloud. "Inuyasha...do you have any idea? Why don't you ever..."

"Why don't I ever what?" Inuyasha jumped down from the tree he had been sitting in. After he heard Kagome's words about going home, he had needed to get away. Since then, he'd been thinking, watching the sky slowly grow darker as it filled with stars.

After the initial shock, Kagome turned away from him. If she were to look in his eyes, or even touch his arm, she would break into tears. Inuyasha and Kagome had never had many chances alone together, and after Kagome had said she'd wanted to be near him, near him loving him, things had been going slowly. They had had other things to worry about, and when it came to their own lives and feelings, well, there hadn't been much time for it.

"Kagome?"

Inuyasha crossed the short distance between them, stopping right behind her. He then took her by the shoulders, and turned her towards him. "Kagome? What's wrong? Why aren't ya talking? Why'd you turn away from me?"

Once Inuyasha had turned her towards him, Kagome had not taken her eyes away from his gaze. Kagome couldn't keep her strong appearance up any longer, and a tear slid down her cheek.

"Kagome?" Inuyasha's face was of surprise and concern for the young woman in front of him. He gently wiped the tear off of her cheek.

"Talk to me, Kagome."

Even though her throat felt as if it had closed up, she managed to say a few words in a near whisper. "Inuyasha...I...us...I love you, but, I have to go home. I don't know what to do."

Kagome's tears started to fall freely, and she buried herself into Inuyasha's chest. It was so warm and safe whenever she did that. If she could always be like this, she would never ask for another thing in her life. Touching, feeling and breathing in everything about Inuyasha made her heart ache even more.

"Kagome..." He said in a gentle voice. She was crying...for them? Inuyasha closed his eyes for a few seconds before opening them again. He had to say and do something. He didn't want to lose the person that had won his heart and made him whole again.

"Kagome. You've got me, and I won't lose ya. You should know this by now! Why dontcha ever say anythin' before hand? Huh?"

Kagome looked up at Inuyasha again. "You can say that...but could you really live in my world? Give up everything you've known, and hide who you really are from the rest of the world? It's too much for me to ask for..."

Kagome looked away from him, staring at the tree next to her; anything to avoid meeting his eyes at the moment. She felt like she should run away, just so she didn't have to hurt him anymore.

"Ya know, sometimes ya think too much."

Inuyasha gently took Kagome's chin in his left hand. He made her look at him.

"I love you and I'm not gonna lose you." Before Kagome had a chance to say a word, he kissed her. It was more than a kiss. He put his heart and soul into that kiss. This was his Kagome, and nothing was going to change that. Why did she have to think of such stupid frivolities sometimes?

Kagome was at first startled by Inuyasha's kiss, but melted into it, the two of them expressing themselves to the other. She put her right hand into his hair, and other around his neck. This was what she had wanted, nothing more.

After much convincing of himself, Inuyasha pulled away. He needed to tell Kagome something important.

"Kagome, listen to me. I love you. I haven't said it before tonight, but it's true. I don't ever wanna be away from you again. I will go with you to yer world. If it means I've gotta face challenges, then fine. I'm not gonna lose you, have you got it yet?"

Kagome was the happiest she had ever been in her life at his words. She nodded, and then whispered into his ear. "My heart is bursting at those words. Please, in case anything happens, I don't want to give up this moment, or my chance with you. Please, love me completely. I want to show you that I am completely yours, and I won't have to ever regret not being with you."

She then looked into his eyes, her eyes reflecting the truth to what she had said. She didn't want to be so forward, but Kagome had had so much happen to her in the last year that she didn't want to give up a chance open to her again. Anything and everything could happen, and she wanted to be loved completely by Inuyasha. Her heart, her mind and her body yearned for it.

"Kagome, are you sure? I don't wanna ever hurt you or seem to take advantage of you. I've wanted you more than anything..."

He stroked the side of her face, not looking away from her eyes.

She nodded. "Inuyasha..."

She played with his hair that hung down the front, over his shoulders. Kagome had always wondered why his hair stayed like that, but figured it had something to do with being a half demon, but soon she didn't have time to think of such things. Inuyasha picked Kagome off her feet, and started carrying her to a safer, more private place. The last thing he wanted was for Miroku or Sango to come and find them. Even the thought of Miroku seeing his beloved Kagome naked was enough to make Inuyasha insanely jealous. His father's inherited canine instincts were starting to take effect. Inuyasha had to take care of and defend Kagome. She was going to be his mate, for life if he had any say in it.

He laid her gently on the ground. He settled himself right next to her, and brushed her face with the back of his hand. He kissed her neck gently before kissing her sweet lips. Inuyasha and Kagome's bodies started to react to the sensations and desires they both wished. Kagome pulled away for just enough time to pull her shirt over her head, and slide off her skirt. She lay naked under the moon.

"You're beautiful, my dear Kagome. So beautiful..." He had seen her naked body several times by chance, but nothing compared to now. She was more than willing to show him her body, and wanted him to see her. She was his, and now he would make sure she knew it.

He lay down on top of her, and kissed her lips once more before the two of them started to take advantage of one another's bodies.

The moon shone down on Inuyasha and Kagome. The two of them were in their own world, and after enduring a year of pain, anguish, hurt, surprise and a dozen other emotions, things looked to have a peaceful ending.

*~*~*

Miroku was sitting with Sango on the veranda of Kaede's porch. Shippou was asleep in front of the firepit, and Kaede was tending the fire next to him. The two of them stared up into the sky.

It was Miroku who spoke first. "Sango, don't you think Inuyasha and Kagome are late? It's been over four hours since we saw either one of them. Aren't you worried?"

Sango smiled before looking at the lecherous, perverted, yet charming monk next to her. "No, I'm not worried. I don't know if you ever realized it before or not, but the two of them hardly ever get a chance to be alone. Being with friends is good, but being alone with someone you love is even better."

Her voice became real soft before she said, "Of course you wouldn't notice, would you?"

Miroku's eyebrows went up, and his face took on a puzzled looked. "What?"

Sango sighed. "Never mind. Maybe someday you'll realize what I'm saying. That is, when you stop harrassing and taking advantage of every girl that comes your way!"

Sango stood up, and stomped into the hut. Sometimes she didn't know why she bothered. Miroku seemed to take notice of every girl except her. She didn't count his occasional feeling of various parts of her body either. At any rate, Sango hoped Kagome was having a better chance than she at love. But then again, Sango knew that pair would profess their love soon enough, if not already.

*~*~*

The next morning Kagome woke up in Inuyasha's arms. She didn't know when the two of them had fallen asleep, but she noticed Inuyasha's robe covering the both of them. She smiled. He must have woken up first, and put it over them to keep the cold out.

She stared at Inuyasha's face for a long time. She began to play with the hair that had fallen across his forehead. She was putting some of his hair back into place when she noticed Inuyasha hugging her tightly, right before he opened his eyes.
"'Mornin', Kagome." He kissed her forehead as a morning greeting.

"G'morning, Inuyasha. I hope I didn't wake you up? I dunno why, but I wanted to touch your face and hair, so I was putting it back in place. I wouldn't know why it got so ruffled, now would I?" She gave a playful smile.

"No, no, you wouldn't know, now would you?" He kissed her neck and then her lips.

"Anyway, we'd better go back. Who knows what they're thinking..."

Inuyasha started to sit up when Kagome tightened her grip, and held him close.
"Kagome? What's a matter?"

She held onto him even tighter. "I don't want this to end. I feel as if this is the only time I'll ever get to be like this."
Kagome realized she could be seen as acting childish, but she had some kind of feeling about it all; she didn't want to ever be separated from him again.

"C'mon, don't worry about stuff like that. You know I won't go far from ya again unless I'm forced to. Remember, I love you."
Kagome looked up at his face, and loosened her grip. Inuyasha began to sit up, and she did the same. As Kagome pulled on her shirt, she said, "I know you do. I'm being silly, that's all."

After a few more minutes, both of them were dressed. Kagome took Inuyasha's hand, and started to pull him along. "C'mon! I'm starving, and I'm sure you are too!"

"Yeah, yeah, but ya don't have to pull my arm off! Geez, if this is the way you are when you're hungry, I'd hate to see ya be mad and hungry at the same time..."

"What was that? You may just get the chance if you don't hurry up!"

The two of them started bickering, but it was nothing but harmless fun. Both of them enjoyed doing it, and neither one would ever take the words seriously.

*~*~*

Inuyasha and Kagome had made it back to Kaede's hut, and no one commented on the pair's disappearance for the night. Only Miroku had looked like he had wanted to ask, but a slight slap on the arm from Sango, along with one of her looks, stopped him from doing so.

The morning passed peacefully, with everyone talking and enjoying themselves. But, during that time, Kagome had stated that she would go home today. She didn't know how long it would be before she could come back because of all the things her life back home required, but, she promised to come if she was able. Not having the Shikon no Tama in her possesion made Kagome doubt that she could come back. Of course she wished with her heart that she could.

No one had been too surprised when Inuyasha said he was going with her. Everyone had pretty much expected that of him anyway.

As the daylight started to dim a bit, Kagome told them she should go now. A bit reluctantly, they all went to the Bone-eater's

Well and stood in silence. No one really knew what to say.

Kaede decided to speak up first. "Kagome, Inuyasha. You have been through a lot to finish what my older sister started. I thank you for that, and I hope from now on you will have a happy life. You deserve it, and as long as I'm around, please visit me as well."

Shippou spoke up next. He jumped on Kagome's shoulder, and as he hugged her head he said, "Don't forget us! We'll miss you."

"I won't forget you, Shippou...or anyone else. You guys are my friends. I trust you all completely." She gave a caring look to all of those around her. She had never had such great friends in her entire life. These were people she would trust her life with.

They finished saying their good-byes to one another with Sango and Kagome even beginning to cry at one point. They all promised to see each other again, and they would never forget one another, as long as they lived.

Kagome found it hard, but she moved towards the well, taking Inuyasha's hand. She turned her head, and said, "Until later guys. I'll be back, and don't have too much fun without me!"

Inuyasha threw a parting over his shoulder, and the two looked at each other.

They nodded and jumped into the well together, still holding hands.
======
June 2001
http://animeforever.com/inuyasha