Disclaimer: Don't own Inuyasha so don't sue!

A/N: FINALLY! Last chapter for all you dedicated readers of this fic – can't thank you enough! I had a few ideas for this chapter and decided this was the best one… I hope! . Once again thank you to everyone and I mean everyone who reviewed the story and everything, I'm so touched! I have another fic out and currently editing a few chapters so if you really liked this one go and read and see! It's kind of a dark fic but I'm enjoying writing Kagura's character… *cackles evilly*

Well anyway, enjoy this final chapter and for the third time – Doumo arigatou gozaimashita!

Japanese Vocabulary

Oni – Older brother

Boku – Me/I (male)

EPILOGUE: CONTEMPLATIONS

^_^

It's all in the way you look through your eyes

And when all is said and done

All of the fear and all of the lies

Are not hard to overcome

It's all in the way you look at it ~ that makes you strong

We were two ~ now we are one…

^_^

"I'm so glad they could come!"

Sango watched as her friend and her lover swayed to the soft music on the dance floor. It was clear that they were in love and she saw this in the way Inuyasha gazed at her with an unusual tenderness that she had never seen before. Similarly, Kagome would return it with a small, slightly flustered smile, which occasionally made the hanyou laugh.

Miroku sighed contently. Everything had finally worked out. Kagome had insisted that their engagement party be on Saturday night and not the following night. "You've already sent out all those invitations, I'll hate for you to waste your efforts and ring up everyone at the change of date."

So here they were a day later celebrating his engagement to Sango, and was it a damn a surprise or what? He recalled the moment yesterday morning when the three of them had flown back to Tokyo to meet Sango at the airport…

Flashback…

"Kami-sama…" Sango whispered at seeing the three of them smiling, her gaze however lingered on her friend a little longer. Kagome's hair was tied back into a loose ponytail and her eyes… they were sparkling with full light. The couple looked as if they had not been separated despite the events.

"K-Kagome…?"

"Sango-chan!" she squealed happily and dashed over to embrace the girl tightly. She couldn't believe that she was hugging her bestfriend after all this time. She had missed her so much.

"You're alright?" they pulled back and Sango's brown eyes regarded her carefully, "both of you…?"

Kagome smiled mischievously, "Made up? Oh no! Of course not! How could I ever forgive him for what he did to me?"

"Did what?" Inuyasha had stopped behind Kagome and tilted his head inquiringly. She turned and winked at Inuyasha, "We decided that we'd just be friends ne?"

"Naturally." He smiled and pulled her towards him to give her a heart-stopping kiss.

"F-Friends?" she stuttered, "after all this you just want to be –?" noticing their actions she stopped, "Oh…"

Miroku chuckled and put an arm around her. "Did you really think they would get tired of each other?" he watched the two, "now what about us?"

She punched him playfully and murmured, "lech" before leaning up to kiss him.

End flashback…

"Time for the speeches don't you think?" Miroku nodded and followed his fiancée to the stage for the announcement. He caught Inuyasha's eyes and nodded at the hanyou who turned around to face Kagome.

"You ready?"

Kagome nodded. "I suppose I am… I only had a day to prepare this!"

He hugged her tightly, "You'll be fine. Just pretend that you're singing in the –" He laughed when she punched him hard in the arm. "I'm not going to sing!" she glared but the smile on her lips betrayed her intended expression.

"Come on," he pulled her gently to the front of the room and winked knowingly at his friend. "Is everything ready?"

Miroku nodded. "Go on ahead. We'll just sit here and laugh at you both."

Moments later, Inuyasha watched as Kagome made her speech to the large gathering, however he wasn't listening to a single word she was saying, only watching the way she moved, spoke and her profile from where he was sitting.

After yesterday he had officially named her his angel, and the name suited her in every way. Not only did she appear like one, her actions toward him and other people depicted one so well. She's my little angel that saved me from myself… He didn't know how he could survive without her; I couldn't live without you either Kagome…         

Yesterday would probably stay with him for the rest of his life. Her confessions and explanations kept running around his head and the more he repeated her words, the more he began to understand her and what she had felt during that bleak period.

And she forgave you, you sonofabitch! She fucking forgave you for your mistakes! He must have gazed at her in awe for the millionth time now. He still couldn't believe that she had taken his word over whatever that fucking bitch had said. Somewhere at the back of his mind, there was a twinge of forgiveness for Kikyou and he hoped that everything would turn out all right. But right now, his was awed at the amount of trust that Kagome had for him… and this is the only way that I can make it up to her… He stepped up to the microphone and smiled at her before turning to his audience.

"I would start with 'ladies and gents' but then I saw Miroku and thought better of it."

A few laughs were heard as Miroku scowled at his friend from behind. Inuyasha grinned and shrugged innocently, before starting again.

"I know you all are expecting some sort of classy lawyer speech from me, but seeing as Kagome has said much of what I wanted to say, I'll let you all criticise her aural skills, so it won't ruin my reputation."

He received more laughs as Kagome stuck her tongue out and crossed her arms. "However, I did come up here for a reason." He smiled mischievously and gestured for Kagome to come up, "Kagome's going to sing for us."

"Nani?" a look of horror was expressed before she shook her head, "I can't!" she glared with a stubborn look upon her face.

"I'll sing with you?" when she continued to object he went down on his knees before her with the microphone and had a pleading expression across his face. "Please?"

Kagome was now blushing furiously; she was always very shy when attention was on her. What was he trying to do to her? Embarrass her? The baka will definitely get it tonight she thought vengefully.

"Well angel if you won't sing, I guess this would have to do."

She frowned as the curtain at the back of the room was pulled down to reveal five big words:

WILL YOU MARRY ME KAGOME?

Murmurs filled the room as Kagome stared wide-eyed at the banner that took up the entire back wall. She was in one word shocked. Glancing down at the hanyou she realised that he had produced a small ring in a heart shape box and was staring into her eyes expectantly. He spoke into the microphone once more, "You will make me a happy man if you accept?" he paused and tilted his head questioningly, "Please?"

She glanced up and read the writing again, she honestly didn't know what to say. Clearly, she had not expected this and everything had just –

But then she thought of all the time she had spent in Australia; those nights she would cry herself to sleep, do her daily activities without so much as a glance and all that heartache that she had endured to finally be convinced that the hanyou that was kneeling before her had always been true to his word and her; she'd really been a fool and it took her just over a month to realise so. Gazing down she admired his golden orbs and long white hair that she had missed so much.

"I-Inuyasha…" she whispered as she felt the tears begin to roll down her cheeks, "Of course… yes…" she almost choked and bent down to embrace him.

She distantly heard clapping and whistling as Inuyasha slid the ring on to her finger – it was a perfect fit. He pulled her up and bowed his head to kiss her and she responded with all the love and trust she had within herself. She felt the familiar emotions take over her mind and soul and knew that she would love him for the rest of her life.

They were finally one.

~*~

~Owari~