A/N: *wipes tears from her eyes* I just don't know what to say at this point. The amount of reviews I've received since starting this fic has really thrown me for a loop and I'm just sooo grateful that my first attempt at writing Inuyasha fanfic was so well received. I'm very grateful to have had such wonderful reviewers such as all of you who have supported me and stuck with me no matter what has gotten in the way and made me update sometimes slower than others.
But…this is the end of the line. The Epilogue to this odyssey I have traveled on which had made me realize so many wonderful things about myself and the people that are out there to meet. I am going to miss all of you terribly and I hope to hear from you all again when I start posting my next story, for I will feel as I haven't heard from dear friends until I do!
Which brings to mind something else…at the end of the fic, you'll notice there's another 'chapter' which you can click the forward arrow and access. The A/N at the end of the fic will explain what that is, but do click it and you might get a nice surprise! A 'thank you' for all the months of loyal reviewing.
About this chapter: Well, I tried to tie up all the loose ends I could find and I hope I've done a decent job of it. There are some points that I know are not talked about in the series, but I hope you will stay in my 'fictive dream' long enough to accept them as probable and as my version of how it might work. I love you all and I hope you enjoy the end!
Disclaimer: They're still not mine, but by now, I hope you've come to realize that if they were, they just might have more fun! ^_~.
Rating: I'm pretty sure this is back to regular, maybe even PG. I don't think there's anything here randy in the least.
Thanks: Woo-hoo!!! That's it, folks, this is the last chapter ever to be posted for Breaking the Habit. I might go back and update or fix one or two of the chapters, but as for new information, this is the end. And being so, I really want to thank all of you for being so wonderful in reviewing. As I was responding to you guys, my eyes got all misty from all the wonderful things you all said and just the fact that some of you have been reviewing since practically, chapter one. Not only have you guys made me feel good about the story I've written, but about my skills as a writer, as well and I have no words of thanks for what that has meant to me. Thank you, all of you, for letting me into your hearts and thank you for taking the time to assure me that you were out there, reading what I wrote.
Special thanks go out to GiroWolf for adding me to his/her favorite author list even if he/she didn't actually review, even that means a lot to me. And as always, my eternal gratitude to all the other 23 people who have had me on their favorite author list for being wonderful reviewers and for giving my self-esteem the boost that comes from knowing that out there, somewhere, I'm one of the favorite authors of 24 people!
Special, incredibly meaningful thanks go out to LilacRose23 who is THE best Beta the world, certainly ff.net has ever known.
Ghoul King (& co.): *thinks* Well, I'm happy at least some of you liked the fic. I'm not sure how to take your reaction to it, Ghoul King, but I did warn you, didn't I?
Writer Corwin: I'm so happy you figured out how to do it! I love it when that happens, don't you? *grin* Thanks for telling me about Blizzard, I would've never known! I don't play much video games, I'm no good at them so I just decided to bow out gracefully, but I'm sure my brother would've known.
Female Necromancer: Awww….really? Thanks so much. I'm so glad you liked it or that you didn't find any holes in it, pot or plot-wise! *wink*
#4: Well, I'm sorry you couldn't enjoy this fic!
#2: I have considered a book, and seem to be constantly working on one, but I don't seem to have time to finish an entire book…there's so much more work that goes into writing a book of your own, and even though I have all the ideas in my head, I don't have time to devote to it fully, so it always seems to be a work in progress! Thank you, though, for thinking that I should and that you like the story, and THANK you for reviewing what I write on ff.net. *grin*
#3: *sigh* I realize about Sango and Miroku, but they just sort of popped up last minute after Puck decided he liked them and wanted to write them into the story more completely. I had originally intended for the story to pretty much revolve around Inu and Kag, but Puck will have his way…consequently, I didn't devote enough time to their characterization as I should have. I am glad they only acted incorrectly at times, though!
#5: I'm glad you thought it was nice, even if it wasn't something you'd be interested in. *watches potion bubbling* er…yeah…moving on…
#6: *sweat drops* Well, I'm happy you thought it went well despite some missing details. I didn't have a Beta until the last few chapters, and I did try to get everything in, but I am glad you liked it. *thinks* I wish I had an iron-clad memory…then I'm sure I'd breeze right through school!
#7: *grins* I'm so glad you figured it out, 7. I'm glad they figured it out themselves, too! *winks* And don't worry about being a little slow, the important thing is you figure it out!
#8: Sorry.
#9: *sighs* That would be nice, wouldn't it? *brightens* But it's enough that the power of their love brightens their world and makes them happy, isn't it?
#10: Sorry, can't do explosions or Boom Boom for this fic, the plot just didn't call for it! And, Inu isn't played by Vin Diesel, either, so *shrug*
#11: *grins* Thank you, 11. Glad you liked it.
#12: *smiles* Merci, beau coup, mon ami.
Corwin : Thanks for saying the fluff worked well, I'm always worried about it. And I'm happy to respond to the reviews, I figure if you take the time to review, the least I could do is respond. As for the career in writing…I did consider it, once long ago before I realized that I would need to actually earn a living somehow and get money for food and all those pesky necessities, now I'm just happy to write in my free time but thank you so much for thinking that I'm good enough to do it! I have other options for fics running around in my head, and if you go the the next thing I posted, you can read a blurb of each one and vote on which one I should work on next!
Ghoul King: Well, I can't say I'm not glad that the wand didn't work, and I'm sorry you feel that way, but…well, I DID warn you, didn't I?
Wand-O-Doom: I know you didn't do it for me, but, THANKS! ^_^
Fushigi Wolf: *blushes* Thank you! I hope you like the Epilogue and I'm so honored you have me on author alerts! If you click on the forward arrow after reading the Epiglogue, you can get a sneak peek into the fics I'm considering writing and vote on which one you think I should do! Thanks so much for reviewing and your wonderful praise! Hope to see you again!
Ash-chan: Aw *blush* thank you so much. I hope you like the Epilogue.
LilacRose: I feel kinda funny responding here, since I pretty much talk to you every day, you wonderful beta you, but thanks for reviewing anyway! You not only beat me with 33, you surpassed me, in my opinion with 34! ^_^
Kai-Aki-Ti: *laughs* You're so cute! Thank you so much for the wonderful review and I'm extremely happy you liked the chapter and that you got the subtle reference to the title in it! Oh, and, hello to a fellow Em! I hope you like the epilogue, just as much! I am going to write another fic, and if you press the forward arrow after reading this chapter, you'll get some blurbs as to what fics I'm considering and you can vote on which one I should continue! Please do so! Puck's just so happy to be writing another fic, he doesn't care which one I write and I don't know which one to do!
Pruningshears: *blush* Thank you! I'm so honored by your review! There's a bit more fluff in the epilogue, but mostly it's about Inu and Sessh. I considered putting in your suggestion and I tried to, but it just kept on making the section waay too long…but it's on my list of things to consider updating the previous chapter with. I've got to go back and make some changes to a few chapters, minor things that won't really change the story at all, but will just make it tighter, I guess, and I'm going to try to put in a discussion on his ears like you suggested. You're my Sesshy person, so I hope to hear from you after you read the Epilogue and tell me what you think!
Gloria Underhill: YEY!! You were the only one who recognized it! Or, at least, told me they recognized it! It was My Fair Lady, indeed. I just couldn't help thinking that the song was perfect for Inu's feelings at that point and so it was obviously colored by it. I'm glad it was still enjoyable. I hope you like the Epilogue. *grin*
Inuphoria: *exhales* Wow! Good fluff, I'm so glad. I'm always worried about the quality of my fluff. I never really think it's good, but thank you so much for saying so! Sequel…well…Puck just really wants to get on with another storyline, but I am not going to say no sequel at all, because I really enjoyed my time in this fic and anything's possible, right? For a sneak peek at the other stories I'm considering writing, hit the forward arrow after you finish reading the epilogue. You can vote on which one you think I should write next!
loverofInuKagome: Awww…*blush* thanks so much! I'm so happy to hear you say so! (or, read you say so, as the case may be!) I hope you like the epilogue.
Wyrm of Souls: *Puck eeps and flies away. Em grins* Don't worry, he's motivated. It took us a while to do the Epilogue, cause there was so much I wanted to put in there I wanted to make sure it came out perfect, but he's really motivated now to do another story. Click the forward arrow and vote on what you think I should write next! I'm so happy to read that you enjoyed the story. Thanks so much!
Aeyikie: I'm so sorry to hear about the theft of your property. It feels like an invasion of your privacy, I understand. I hope everything turns out well for you! *Puck peeks in from where he was busily working on other story ideas* "Shibby, I have seen no purple cat…purple mice, yes. Purple People Eaters, *nods* sure, I've even seen a Purple elephant, but no purple cats…it's safe, at least, over here!" *Puck waves back and disappears* ^_~.
Eartha: *grins, blushes* Wow…you're so nice to me! Thank you so much for everything you said and for taking the time to review! You've been wonderful!
Bruka-chan: *blushes wildly* Aww…thank you! That's so nice of you to say! All of it just really made my day. I'm so glad I made you happy and I'm so glad you liked the story. I'm sorry to hear about your burn, but I hope it's better by now. I hope the epilogue meets expectations and if you click the forward arrow after you're done reading, you can get a sneak peek at the ideas I have for a story and help me pick which one I should write! Thanks again for all your wonderful words!
Sukuri: Please, don't be sorry! It's totally ok! I understand how life can get in the way of things we'd like to do sometimes and you've been so wonderful at reviewing that I can't complain about you not reviewing one time because it would be just wrong! You're a wonderful reviewing and…*looks around at the baskets filling her apartment from top to bottom*…have great taste in floral arrangements…*munches on chocolate* and chocolate! Thanks so much, but I totally understand, really. *smiles.* I do understand what you mean and I don't think you're a "mento freakazoid" *grin* I love all of you all for reviewing so wonderfully and consistently.
Oh, and btw, it was partly due to your comment about asking me how Kag was going to live in the end, that I added something in the epilogue about that, so thanks!
*widens eyes* You recommended my fic on a site? Really? *eyes water* Oh, that's sooo sweet! Even if it is dead, doesn't matter…that's still really sweet. Thank you so much! I'm really glad you liked the chapter and the ending especially. I hope you like the epilogue and be sure to click the forward arrow and look at the blurbs I posted next so you can help me pick which story to write next!
Oh, and about the subduing spell, you got it completely right. That's exactly what I wanted to show. It's why I had him freak out when she removed it, cause he felt like she was really cutting off all her ties to him and it just made him break. I'm so glad you caught it.
Thanks for the support about the spelling. I'm glad it didn't really throw off anybody.
And, everytime you write one of your amazing reviews, you do help! A lot!
So, thank you again for all your wonderful help and your amazing reviews and I hope to see you again when I start posting the next fic!
Harm Marie: *grins* Thanks! I hope you like the epilogue!
AgentScully: *blushes brightly* Awww…thanks!! I'm so happy to hear you liked the ending and were satisfied! That's what I was going for! I didn't want anyone to be dissatisfied with the ending after having had you go through so much to get you there! That description, that you were 'satisfied' means everything to me! Thanks so much! You've been such a wonderful reviewer and, dare I say it? Friend. I hope you like the epilogue, too!
Oh, and yes, I do have aol messenger, the screen name is : EmaniaHilel
You can email me at emaniahilel@bonbon.net
I hope to hear from you again soon!
Oh, and remember to click the forward arrow at the end of the epilogue and look at the different stories I'm considering writing next…and vote!
Thank you so much for being such a fantastic reviewer! ^_^
Jen: Thank you for reading and reviewing! You've been great! I'm glad you liked it!
Andrew Maschke: *blush* Thanks so much for reviewing! I'm so glad to hear that the fluff went over well, as you could probably tell, I'm always worried about it. I hope you like the epilogue! ^_^
My-Name-Is-Spoken: (9) Thank you for revieweing and I hope you've gotten here so you can see that I am responding to your review. In answer to your question, yes, they can time travel. I hadn't realized that they couldn't, in the series, until after I had written that, so I just sort of changed that fact of the story a little! Call it artistic license! *sheepish grin* Thanks again!
PurpleOboe: *laugh* Well, the writer in me is happy to hear that you think the cliffies were good enough to have killed you if you had to wait for the next chapter and the reader in me understands exactly what you mean by saying you're glad you found it at the end, since it's happened to me too! I'm glad you thought the more mature version of Inu/Kag seemed fitting. I couldn't really think of keeping them that young for everything I wanted them to go through. Thank you so much for taking the time to point out the particular points you liked, even in previous chapters. That really makes me feel good as a writer! Thanks! And I hope you like the Epilogue…sorry you did have to wait a little for it! ^_~.
RavenShadow: Thank you! I'm so happy to read you think that way! Yeah, we all are romantics, and I think that's probably why I'm so worried about the fluffiness of my chapters, all the time, I'm always worried they're going to be too fluffy or just too mushy, y'know? Thank you sooo much for your wonderful review. It means so much to me that you think the story was well written and especially that the plot was well conceived. As you probably noticed from the beginning of the fic, the plot wasn't the main reason I wrote the fic, so I'm just glad that it turned out all right! *wink* I am planning on continuing to write (click the forward arrow after reading the epilogue!) and I really hope you like the epilogue!
Katergator: Thank you so much for all your wonderful reviews and praise! Thank you for saying you liked the chapter! I hope you like the epilogue, too!
Kittydemon: (11) Thanks for your great review. I'm glad the idea of Inuyasha dancing went over well. When I came up with the idea, I was kinda cringing myself, but I figured that I could see him dancing in this particular context, so I had to move them all to a different sort of club to make it happen! I'm very happy it went over well! ^_^. (16) I'm sorry you feel that way. I do agree that the majority of the chapter doesn't really deal with Inu/kag relationship, but all I can say is that my intentions when I wrote it were that it would develop the relationship between Sango and Kagome a little more. My reasoning behind why that would be relevant is just that the story took on a life of its own and where it initially was just about the development of Kag and Inu's characters, it ends up being much more than just that, really.
Code Name: Anrui Yuy: *blush* I'm so honored. Thank you! *grins* I hope the epilogue isn't a let down! ^____^;;
Moon Fairy: *blush* Thank you for such a great review! I'm really honored and amazed and thankful that you think so. I'm in tears that you think so highly of my humble little fic! Thanks again for being such a loyal and wonderful reviewer! ^___^ I hope you like the Epilogue and it doesn't disappoint!
Yoshiko-Rae: Thank you so much for the review! You've been a wonderful, fantastic, incredible reviewer throughout and I am so very grateful to you! I'm glad you liked the ending and that it didn't disappoint the way I brought them together. And, I'm incredibly glad that it's one of your favorite stories! That's such an incredible honor! Really! I hope you like the epilogue!
Umber Cloud: *blushes profusely* Oh, wow! Such a wonderful review! Thank you so much for all the nice things you said. I really appreciate it, and not only my face, but the whole of me is blushing! It means a lot to me that my writing affected you so! I am going to write another fic, but I have a few different ideas running around in my head *a picture of Puck running around crazily throwing out ideas excitedly pops before the screen, a la silent movie in fast forward* so, I'm hoping all you wonderful reviewers will help me and I'm posting blurbs at the end of this fic so you can vote on which one you think I should do!
I would be happy to read your story, in fact, I'm honored that you even care about my opinion at all! I'm going to do so as soon as I finish replying to these reviews and I will review to your story what I think!
Evil Irish Eyes & Garlend: *Em's eyes get watery and teary* Aww!! Thanks, Evil, for doing all that just to make me the priority! And it's alright. Trust me, I understand what it's like getting distracted by life! But thanks for taking time out to review! I did miss you! *grin*
If Garlend is a little smitten, I don't know what I would describe Puck as…as soon as he saw we had a review from you, he kicked me out of my chair so he could read it first…really! And, a few days ago, on the feast of the Fae, he disappeared for hours at a time, while I was trying to write the epilogue, mind you, and I have a sneaking suspicion he was trying to find the universe where Garlend lives to have her join in the festivities. I don't know if he found her…he won't tell me…
*Puck scoffs from where he was working through papers and documents* "Yeah, like that's going to happen! I wouldn't tell you…"
*Em glows* So something did happen!
*Puck falters* "I wouldn't tell you if something did or didn't happen much less what might have happened if something did, which I'm not saying anything did happen, but if anything were to happen, I wouldn't tell you even that it did. *takes a deep breath, to make up for his breathless tirade* "So there." *sticks out tongue.*
*Em blinks.* I'm not sure I got all that, but…*shrug* You see what I mean, anyway.
*Em beams as she reads Evil's review of the chapter.* Aww…I'm so glad you liked it. I was particularly proud of having Kag take off the beads be the catalyst to Inu's reaction, so of course, I was especially worried about how that worked. I am sooo glad that you think it worked well, and I'm glad, too that you didn't think Inu was OOC or the confrontation was unjustified.
I will not take it the wrong way at all, I'm actually quite happy you got the reference…I was hoping people would cause I was actually listening to that song when I wrote that part…weird playlist, really, cause I was listening to "Faint" by linkin Park when I wrote the confrontation part, and then Rex Harrison's version of "I've Grown Accustomed to her Face" and I thought it would be PERFECT for Inu's feelings toward Kagome. Honestly, that song in My Fair Lady has got to be, at least in my opinion, one of the most romantic scenes, romantic songs EVER…in the history of romantic songs. I just love the concept that he realizes he loves her because he's just so used to her he can't think of being without her. In my head, that screamed Inuyasha.
Thank you so much for saying you enjoyed the chapters and the fic in general. Your opinion means so much to me!
I hope you like the Epilogue just as much, Goddess knows it's taken me long enough to do, no thanks to Puck! *Puck ducks as Em's glare sends freezing cold winds his way, then continues on his way in a flurry of movement*
Oh, in case you're wondering, Puck's all excited cause I've given him the okay to start work on a new fic. He's so ecstatic that he can finally work on a new idea that he's just been popping out with all sorts of different story ideas...and of course, he's just so happy to get to work on a new story, that he doesn't particularly care which of the few options he's given me, I decide to work on, so I will need your help! I've decided to post a small blurb of the two most prominent story ideas after the Epilogue and I hope you'll read them and let me know which one you'd like to read.
*Puck peeks in the screen* "Garlend, sweet, please don't worry! I hope that we will continue to know each other and meet in reviews to come!" *Thinks* "Actually, why limit to reviews? You can come visit me on Avalon or here anytime! Really! Please don't cry! I will miss you terribly if you don't, so promise me that you will…or, at the very least, keep in touch somehow!"
*Em wipes tears from her eyes* Oh, now you're getting me started! *wipes at tears* It's okay, I'll see you guys again, won't I? *eyes do that watery doe-eyed anime-thing* Please?
RinoaOHeartilly: *blushes* Awww…that was so nice of you to say! I'm sooo happy that you liked the way I ended it and you thought it was fitting and not disappointing. Thanks so much for the vote of confidence to have me keep writing. I am planning to, and actually am considering two different plot lines to work on next. If you click on the forward arrow at the end of the Epilogue, you can get a sneak peek at them and vote to tell me which one you think I should work on next. Puck's not being any help as he's just so glad to be writing something new. I hope you like the Epilogue…there are a few things here I'm not so sure about, but I just really couldn't think of not writing them in. You've been such a great and constant reviewer, always urging me on and answering whatever questions I might have posed in an effort to make me feel better about my writing…you are wonderful! Really *wipes tear* Please don't cry…you'll get me started! ^_^,
AlexaGray: *wipes tear* It seems the deeper I go in answering these reviews, the more I feel like crying from the utter wonderfulness of your comments. Thank you so much for being such a great reviewer and I'm only happy that you thought the chapter was worthy of the time you've spent urging me and making me feel better about myself as a writer and in supporting this fic. Thank you, again, for thinking even the end with a joke idea was good. I was unsure of the flippant nature of it, and whether or not it was appropriate for the serious tone it had before, but it seems to have gone over well and thank you so much for bringing it up as an aspect you particularly liked. I'm so glad I didn't disappoint you! I hope you enjoy the epilogue as well. ^_^
Ayaka: *grins* Just the fact that you said that it was never boring really makes my poor little writer's hear soar. Then of course, you made me feel so honored that you admire my skill. Thank you so much! I hope you liked the next chapter and I especially hope you like this one!
StrawberryBellBell: (13) Thank you! I'm glad you liked it and I hope you liked the rest of it too! ^_~.
Sumeragi Kousei: *wipes tears* Thanks so much for saying so! And for reviewing! ^_~.
LilyFlower: Heart-Attack fluff?! Really?! Wow! I'm so honored! I'm beyond honored, I'm fall flat on my a@@ amazed! Thanks for reviewing and I'm so glad you still like the story!
Kagome_Higur: *blushes* You're too sweet. Thank you so much for thinking so and I'm glad you enjoy the story. I do not have a yahoo email address, but I do have an aol instant messenger and you can always email me at the email address in my profile at ff.net. I am planning on starting another story…you can even help me pick which plot line to follow if you click the forward arrow after you read the epilogue! ^_^
Inuyasha's-Princess: Hello! Thank you for reviewing and I'm so happy that you liked the story. I hope you like the epilogue. And I'm sorry I made you wait for awhile! Muse-trouble! *grin*
Forgotten Sorceress: Thank you for the review! I'm glad you liked the fic and that you got it alright. I'm so glad the ending didn't disappoint! ^_^
Sailor-Knight Shadowstar: (6) You got me! I think what I meant by addictive was like cocaine addictive. Alcholism is actually a disease more than an addiction, so I guess I didn't really count it as such. Thanks for pointing it out, though. Hope you enjoyed the rest of the story anyway.
Pori-Pori: *blush* Aw, gee…thanks ! I hope you've gotten to this point so you know how much I appreciate your comment. ^_^
Niku: *blushes* Wow…thank you so much. I'm so happy that the chapter went over well. I was really very worried, I wanted to make sure the chapter, the end, really didn't let anyone down especially after everything I put you guys through as readers, I wanted to make sure it was satisfactory! ^_^ Thank you so much for going through such trouble to review…and I hope you think the epilogue was worth waiting for!
Epilogue: All I Ask Of You
"Then say you'll share with me one love, / One lifetime / Let me lead you from your solitude / Say you want me / And you need me / Beside you / Anywhere you go, let me go too / That's all I ask of you."
- All I Ask of You, Andrew Lloyd Webber (The Phantom of the Opera)
Inuyasha watched as Kagome fell onto her backside with a soft oath and tried not to laugh. However, seeing as how her miko abilities had been steadily increasing since her encounter with Benten and the connection between them had only grown, he didn't have to do much but incline his lips upwards and Kagome turned her head to glare at him. He tried to wipe the humor from his eyes, but it was too late, she had seen.
"Shut it," she said warningly, still sitting on the ground.
"I…" Inuyasha started, but was cut off by the death glare offered to him across the field.
"Just, shut it, okay?" she repeated.
"Seeing as how Inuyasha has inherited your taste for chocolate since your joining," Miroku spoke up, amusedly. "One might think you would have acquired something of his fighting style, but all you have seemed to acquire of his is his temper."
"Monk," both Inuyasha and Kagome spoke warningly.
Miroku grinned like the cat that ate the canary. "See?"
"It's alright, Kagome," Sango interrupted, putting aside her wooden practice sword to extend a hand to Kagome. "You have acquired Inuyasha's agility and his instincts, but fighting is something that is learned through patience and practice, not something you can receive in your blood or through a mating mark," she said as she helped the younger girl stand. "Practice and patience."
"Yeah," Inuyasha piped up, turning to Miroku at his side. "Look at Miroku, he isn't any better a fighter since he joined with Sango, is he?"
Kagome faked a frown. "So, what you're trying to say is that after months of training I'm still as bad a fighter as Mirouku and that I should just take it as a given that Sango will beat me?" she asked.
Inuyasha grinned. "Hell no," he exclaimed. "I want you to kick her butt, Miroku and I have a bet going."
Kagome returned her mate's grin. "And you bet on me?"
Inuyasha smiled, and it was just for her. "Of course, I always will," he spoke surely.
Kagome nodded, then picked up her wooden practice sword and stood in her first position, facing Sango. "Bring it on," she said seriously.
Sango looked from Kagome to Inuyasha and then to Miroku. "How much did you bet on me?" she asked.
Miroku grinned. "The farm, you're a sure thing!"
Sango raised a brow. "Are you going to have to catch dinner again if I loose?" Sango asked.
Miroku grinned sheepishly, then nodded. "Yup."
Sango turned to Kagome. "Sorry, Kagome, but you're going down, I can't afford to go easy on you and chance having to eat whatever Miroku can catch."
Kagome's eyes widened. "Aw, come on, Sango…that's no fair!"
"That's my girl!" Miroku called out.
Sango broke her concentration and glared at Miroku. "Your girl?" Sango questioned. "I thought we had spoken about this?"
Behind her, Kagome saw her chance and swept the practice sword across Sango's legs, knocking her off balance and onto her butt on the ground.
Sango looked up at Kagome, surprised more than hurt.
"Never take your eyes off the opponent, Sango, first lesson!" Kagome exclaimed. Sango blinked up at the younger girl as she jumped around and whopped in happiness.
Inuyasha jumped to his feet, pointing at Miroku. "Ha! Take that!" He rushed to Kagome's side and took her in his arms, spinning her in place. "I knew you could do it!" he said, kissing the soft spot just behind her ear.
"Best two out of three?" Sango asked.
Kagome made Inuyasha put her down, pasting a serious look to her face. She shook her head. "Uh-uh."
"Come on, Kagome, you don't want to eat whatever Miroku can catch either, remember the last time?"
Kagome's look of triumph fell. "Crap," she exhaled.
"Yes, exactly," Sango enthused.
"Alright," Kagome gave in. "Best two out of three."
Inuyasha and Miroku settled back to watch the girls, knowing that whoever won, Inuyasha would probably be the one to go out and hunt for food. He watched Kagome move in the exterminator armor Sango had helped her make and couldn't help but admire the way she had learned to move in the last few months since Sango had begun training her. She moved surefooted and smooth, he could hardly hear the steps she took on the ground even when he tried. He smiled at the idea of maybe convincing Kagome to go on the hunt with him. She had been getting better with the bow and arrow and he enjoyed feeling her quiet presence with him as he found a rabbit or such for their meal. He especially loved to watch her string the bow and arrow, the concentration on her face as she carefully took aim…
He snapped out of his reverie with a jolt. He felt the call in his veins as surely as if he had heard it in the air around him. He sniffed at the air out of habit, more to tell in which direction he was than who it was. He stood and Miroku was at instant attention. How they had all gotten to know each other in such a relatively short amount of time, Inuyasha wondered, that Miroku could tell by the way he stood that something was wrong.
"What is it?" Miroku whispered.
"Sesshoumaru," Inuyasha answered.
Soon, little brother, we will have another conversation…
Sesshoumaru's parting words echoed in his memories. He had put the promise to the back of his mind, refusing to think about it in the months that had passed since Sesshoumaru had spoken them. He hadn't had much time to think about them, truly, what with searching out the jewel fragments Kagome felt imbedded in the ground and the eventual, final confrontation with Naraku. They had even managed to complete the jewel. These past few weeks had been the first time they really had to themselves. Kagome had kept the jewel, of course, and having purified it, holding it amplified her powers which made her the natural choice to protect it. And now Sesshoumaru was back and calling to Inuyasha. He could feel the call through their blood, that link they could never deny they had, the same way Inuyasha had called to Sesshoumaru when Kagome lay dying in his arms and he had need of Tensaiga. Had Sesshoumaru come to collect?
"What could he want?" Miroku asked, taking his staff in hand and preparing to leave with Inuyasha.
"No, Miroku," Inuyasha stopped him. "This is family business."
"You can't go alone," Miroku insisted.
"He won't," Kagome spoke, coming up to them.
"Kagome," Inuyasha started warningly.
Kagome stopped him with an upraised palm. "Don't give me that, Inuyasha, I'm part of the reason why this is going on in the first place, so don't even think that you're leaving me."
Inuyasha put his hands on either side of Kagome's face and brought her forehead to touch his.
This is between brothers, Kagome, Inuyasha said in her thoughts. This is something a long time in coming.
Kagome swallowed against her instinct to go and face this with her mate. I will stay, she consented. She reached her hands on either side of his face and looked him in the eyes. But swear that you will come back to me, she said fiercely.
Nothing can separate us now, Kagome, Inuyasha replied just as fiercely. Remember I promised you that already.
Kagome sighed, parting from him and nodding. She held his hand in hers. She felt that part of her that had always belonged in Sengoku Jidai make itself known within her and the old words came to her lips as if she had always known them. It had been much easier to fall into the roll of miko and warrior once Kikyo had given up the piece of her soul she had stolen. In quiet moments, Kagome sometimes wished they might have come to some sort of truce, the two of them, and in her deeper thoughts, she mourns the loss of…well, almost a sister…but Kikyo had felt the mark between Inuyasha and Kagome and something had changed in her. Where once was hate, Kagome felt peace. Kagome would swear that she even smiled before she let go of the piece of Kagome's soul she had been holding onto, but she never did speak to her and Kagome could only guess as to why she had done it. In the quiet moments, Kagome wondered about it still, but everything had came much easier, then…especially the magic, and the words. "Bring me back a brother, but do not lose me my mate."
Inuyasha's lips curled into a wry smile. "I make no promises about bringing you back a brother, but you won't get rid of me that easily, love," he said cockily. "I guess it's up to you to hunt for dinner, after all, Miroku," he threw over his shoulder as he walked off.
Kagome watched Inuyasha walk away toward the forest until he was no longer visible. She knew he had walked rather than taken to the trees so that she could keep him in sight as long as possible and she smiled, but didn't look away.
"Kagome?"
Kagome turned to watch as her mother came from the direction of the village, holding a cool looking pitcher in one hand and Shippou's hand in the other, and smiled.
"Did Inuyasha have to go find dinner after all?" her mother asked, smilingly. "He lost the bet, didn't he?"
She felt almost instantly better knowing her mother was there, and she didn't have words to thank Kaede for finding a spell that would work to open the Well to her family even if she wanted to thank her every day for it.
'I may have found the knowledge, child,' Kaede had told her. 'But twas ye who supplied the magic.'
She didn't care what Kaede said, she would always thank her in her heart. It had been so much easier to make the decision to stay in Sengoku Jidai knowing that her mother, grandfather and brother could travel to see her and she could travel back.
"No, mamma," Kagome spoke quietly. "He's gone to see Sesshoumaru."
Mrs. Higurashi's eyes widened in surprise. "His brother?"
In the few times Mrs. Higurashi had been to Sengoku Jidai they had briefed her well on the situation as it stood and she realized the significance of her daughter's statement all too well.
"Yes," Miroku answered, moving to take the pitcher from Mrs. Higurashi and placed it on the stump they had been using as a bench. "It seems Sesshoumaru has come calling."
Kagome looked at her mother and her mother smiled at her. "It'll be alright, dear," Mrs. Higurashi said surely, the way only a mother could.
Miroku looked from Mrs. Higurashi to Kagome and back again as they seemed to have an unspoken conversation.
Shippou was doing much the same, looking from one to the other. "Aren't you going to go after him, Kagome?" Shippou asked innocently. "He might be in trouble!"
"Shippou!" Sango chastised, looking to Miroku for help.
"No, Shippou," Kagome answered. "Inuyasha needed to do this on his own.
"But…" Shippou started.
"Shippou," Miroku interrupted. "Why don't you come with me? I need to hunt for tonight's dinner and I could use your nose."
Shippou instantly brightened, the confusion leaving his face. "Alright!" he exclaimed, bounding over to land on Miroku's shoulder. "I'll find us a large boar* or better yet, a deer!"
Miroku started walking away into the forest. "I'll settle for a juicy rabbit or two," he told him. "I'd hate to face them if I brought home a…"
Shippou stopped him with a childish hand on his mouth. He shuddered. "Don't say it, Miroku, I don't even want to think about it!"
Kagome went quietly into her mother's arms. "I saw the look in his eyes, mamma, he looked almost resigned," she whispered.
Mrs. Higurashi chuckled. "Don't worry, Kagome, he won't do anything to leave you," she chuckled again and smoothed back her daughter's hair. "Not now that he's finally got you!" she said brightly. "You'll see."
+~+~
Inuyasha walked calmly into the clearing, the figure of his brother tall and proud and looking for all intents and purposes quite put out. He bit back the first words that sprang to his lips and unconsciously squared his shoulders, his hand automatically resting on the hilt of Tetsusaiga as if in comfort.
Sesshoumaru watched his brother approach warily, seeing the question in his eyes. He could smell the human on him and hence confirmed his information. They had, indeed, mated. His younger brother's eyes were guarded and suspicious, but he had yet to sneer a puerile comment or react thoughtlessly. Sesshoumaru saw the exact moment when Inuyasha held back his instinctual reaction. He seemed to be assessing the situation, attempting to read him to determine how to react.
Finally deciding that Sesshoumaru was, for some reason, waiting for him to speak first, Inuyasha decided on as neutral a comment as he could muster. "I don't know why you've called me, Sesshoumaru," he said, his voice as detached as he could make it. "But if you've come for Tetsusaiga, you missed your chance." He wasn't ready to die now. Everything was right with the world, nothing could drag him away from Kagome without a fight…not even his brother.
Sesshoumaru was pleased with Inuyasha's opening comment. His voice had remained impassive, his body language reserved, and his words themselves established his position without being threatening. He had learned much, indeed.
"I have no wish to take Tetsusaiga from you, little brother," Sesshoumaru finally spoke, his own tone belying nothing of his intentions.
"Then why am I here?" Inuyasha questioned.
"Because we need to discuss Tetsusaiga none-the-less, and your future with it," he answered.
Inuyasha bit back another rash response. This attempt at not being the first to start a fight with his brother would be harder than he thought. "If you are not here to try to take it from me, then I don't see how my future with Tetsusaiga is any of your business." Something inside him knew that he could have said that more diplomatically, but, he feh-ed internally, that was as good as Sesshoumaru was going to get.
Sesshoumaru's lips hardened and his eyes narrowed minimally, enough in his otherwise impassive face to constitute a frown. "As Lord of the Western Lands, the future of Tetsusaiga is my concern," Sesshoumaru explained. "Do you forget where it is you come from, Inuyasha?"
Inuyasha's eyes flared anger. "I come from nowhere," he replied bitingly. "You made certain of that, didn't you?"
"I did not," Sesshoumaru replied calmly. "You did not belong in the Western Lands after father and your mother died because you were too wild and I would have had to kill you," he said simply. "I never denied that you came from there."
Inuyasha swallowed another retort and it tasted bitter on his tongue. He fought for control of his emotions and exhaled a calming breath. 'If Sesshoumaru can be calm about this,' he thought, 'then so can I.'
"What is this, Sesshoumaru?" he asked coldly. "If you're bringing up the past, trying to blame the fact that I grew up alone on my own actions, all as some ploy so that I should surrender Tetsusaiga to you, then you're better off fighting me for it, cause I won't give it to you, no matter what you say."
Sesshoumaru smiled inwardly. Inuyasha had managed to feel the wish to lash out, but had controlled it and spoke his mind without loosing his calm. This was leaps and bounds from the Inuyasha he had always known. As far as Sesshoumaru was concerned, there was only one test left.
"It has been quite some time since I have come to realize that I was not meant to wield Tetsusaiga," Sesshoumaru admitted calmly. "Our father in his infinite wisdom made certain of this," his voice never lost its pitch. "And I have since come to accept it."
'Sesshoumaru…accept…?' Inuyasha tried not to look surprised, but it was difficult with everything that Sesshoumaru had just said.
"Yet," Sesshoumaru continued. "Both fangs were made to be wielded together—to be used together to rule the Western Lands," Sesshoumaru looked into his brother's eyes and saw an almost mirror image of a look he remembered from his childhood. The memory was vague from disuse; he typically had no use for memories. Occasionally, however, it was quite trying for him to not see his father when he looked at Inuyasha, and this was one of those times. "It was in his wisdom that our father established this as well-" Sesshoumaru pushed back the memory of his father and ignored the look of shock on Inuyasha's face. "You have mastered our father's legacy to you and have mastered your own emotions—you have shown yourself loyal, courageous, a skilled warrior, and an honorable youkai, able to make the decisions necessary to protect your people."
Inuyasha was flabbergasted. Was Sesshoumaru complimenting him? If it hadn't been for his completely bland tone, the words might well have been mistaken for praise.
"In short," Sesshoumaru continued. "You have proven yourself worthy to take up your rightful place as Prince of the Blood to the Western Lands as our father deigned it should be."
Inuyasha looked at Sesshoumaru for a long time, unsure of what he should say, unsure even that Sesshoumaru expected him to say anything at all. It didn't seem as if Sesshoumaru expected him to say anything – it seemed as if Sesshoumaru expected him to thank him for finding him worthy and assume whatever duties the title might entail.
After all the fights and arguments, after all the times Inuyasha had felt fear and hate and even pain…He found that he could admit it now: Sesshoumaru's repeated attacks, repeated attempts to take Tetsusaiga had caused him pain and even fear and for the first time since he had been feeling his emotions more acutely, he cursed the fact that he had taken them away with him as part of his joining to Kagome. He couldn't risk showing the emotion to Sesshoumaru now and so he ruthlessly pushed the developing memories of pain and sorrow down where they wouldn't give him away and left behind only the anger.
Did he really think that all he had to do was say that he was worthy and all would be forgotten? Did he really think that the saying now that their father thought they should rule the Western Lands together and that he was worthy of doing so now would wash away all the pain and suffering he had caused? Did he really think that Inuyasha would be so happy to find himself the acknowledged Prince of the Blood to the Western Lands that he would forget that it was Sesshoumaru himself who had kicked him out of the only home he had ever known while he was still a child?
If Sesshoumaru thought that he could simply find him worthy and it would all be forgotten he was seriously mistaken.
He remembered each and every one of Sesshoumaru's insults, and each one added wood to the fire of his anger. He remembered, too, the feeling of having no one, of being alone. That memory added to the pyre of his anger and it grew. He remembered the attacks on his life, the attempts to take Tetsusaiga…
Anger wore away at the shock until it was the only thing left. And by the time Inuyasha met Sesshoumaru's eyes the full extent of the anger was laid bare for him to see.
Sesshoumaru saw the flare of anger kill the shock in his little brother and almost smiled. 'Will you try to fight me now?' Sesshoumaru wondered.
Inuyasha's hands itched to free the Tetsusaiga from its sheath, but a sudden warmth filled his heart where the anger had been taking over and he recognized Kagome's scent. He knew she had not followed him, but he could feel her own special kind of strength flow through him and he smiled.
"You've been giving me hell for the whole of my life and suddenly NOW you want to act like family?" he finally spoke. His voice was cold as the northern winds. "Whatever scheme you may be planning Sesshoumaru, you won't get it," he said simply. "I have no need for the title you offer me, and if that's the only thing you wanted from me, I'll be leaving now…my family is probably waiting dinner on me."
"Family…"
Sesshoumaru's voice hadn't risen in pitch, hadn't changed in tone, but something about the lilt he gave the word stopped Inuyasha from walking away. And as he turned, he saw the barest hint of humor in Sesshoumaru's eyes.
"Such a strange word to hear from your lips little brother," he spoke calmly. "You, the one who swore himself to solitude," he took a step closer to Inuyasha. "The one who, in a last act of defiance, denounced family forever." Sesshoumaru saw the defiance still in his brother, saw the part of him that wanted to argue the point, and watched as it waged war with the mature part of him that would not simply let him react rashly any longer. "Only remember, family is not only those we choose to have around us, and as much as you may wish to deny it," Sesshoumaru paused, faltering momentarily. "We are family."
Inuyasha watched Sesshoumaru for what seemed like a long time, until it suddenly dawned on him. Could Sesshoumaru be…lonely? Inuyasha shook away the unfamiliar tug deep inside him and once again wished it were as easy to push away his feelings as it had been before Kagome and he became mates. He looked at Sesshoumaru and an image seemed to be superimposed on his face…an image of eyes strong despite the pain deep within. Inuyasha blinked. Has Sesshoumaru always looked so much like father? His memory of his father was hazy and worn at the edges, like a scroll yellowed with age, but he would always remember that look of pain he sensed in his father after his mother had died. He blinked to clear his vision and focused on Sesshoumaru once more.
"You're right in one thing, Sesshoumaru," Inuyasha finally spoke, quietly. "I did denounce family forever, but that is all you're right about…" He met his eyes and felt the words come from his very soul. "True family are those people who stand by you and fight with you and love you despite your faults, the people who can fight with you and scream at you and still cry for you, they are the people who don't take any of your shit, but never…never give up on you," he squared his shoulders and smiled, almost sadly. "You may be my blood, but those people waiting for me back at the village are my family." He shook his head. "We are not family."
Sesshoumaru's face betrayed none of his emotions. For all intents and purposes, he was sure that none of them even knew he had any emotions. Inuyasha had surprised him in more than one way this day, he thought. The prickling his words managed to bring to what he supposed was his heart was by far, the most surprising of his actions. No one but Rin had made the prickling feeling come to his chest before. Rin and his mother. The slight pain like sensation didn't make his countenance change. He was used to pain, of course, and this particular pain was slightly uncomfortable, but bearable so long as it was not constant, and it always went away before…he was sure it would go away this time as well. It was not fear or a pain warning him of some problem with his body, and so it was useless and he ignored it.
"Say what you will," he spoke dismissively. "Blood is blood, and yours is tied to the Western Lands, just as is mine." He didn't so much as shift in position. "The Western Lands were meant to be ruled under the protection of the fang of destruction, Tetsusaiga, and the fang of creation, Tensaiga," he reached down to touch Tensaiga still in its sheath. "It is our destiny." Inuyasha could see the truth in his brother's eyes. "It is time now that you stopped playing here amongst the commoners and took your rightful place," Sesshoumaru spoke, his face impassive once more. "You have a responsibility to fulfill, brother, one that will not wait for much longer."
At Sesshoumaru's words, Inuyasha finally had a name for the strange sensation he had always fought when anywhere near his birthplace. Blood is blood. Sesshoumaru's words echoed in his mind. The Western Lands were as much a part of him as the Go-Shinboku tree was, or Kaede's hut, or Kagome…he was tied to the West, he realized with a shock like falling from a tree. Inuyasha came to an inner decision and he schooled his face into passivity.
"I cannot forget all of our past, Sesshoumaru," Inuyasha spoke, "And return to the West as if nothing had ever happened, but I do understand the responsibility you say awaits me there and I will consider what you have told me," Inuyasha conceded. Sesshoumaru nodded, the barest of movements, and before he could walk away, Inuyasha spoke: "However."
Sesshoumaru stopped mid-turn and looked back at Inuyasha. "Yes?"
"Kagome is my mate and the others are my family as well," he spoke succinctly. "Wherever I go, they will be welcome and expected."
Sesshoumaru understood what his brother was not so subtly saying. Sesshoumaru nodded once more. "That was…expected," he answered and started to turn again.
Bring me back a brother…
Kagome's words echoed in Inuyasha's mind like a reminder and he reacted, for the first time since meeting his brother that day, instinctively.
"Oy," he called out. Sesshoumaru turned only his upper body to meet Inuyasha's eyes this time. "I meant when I said that we weren't family, not anymore," Inuyasha spoke. Sesshoumaru started to turn wordlessly, but Inuyasha continued to speak. "That doesn't mean we couldn't be again…" Inuyasha trailed off as Sesshoumaru's whole body seemed to stop moving. How does he do that? Inuyasha wondered, but was more surprised at Sesshoumaru's unexpected reaction. "…someday."
His back still to Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru nodded, his action excruciatingly deliberate, and then disappeared through the trees.
+~+~
The sun was just beginning to set when Kagome looked up from the mixture of herbs she was grinding together for the poultice that was to go on the burn on the welders' apprentice arm.
"What is it?" Sango asked, looking up from where she was mending a dent in her armor.
Kagome stood up fluidly, as comfortable in her newly acquired agility as she was in all her new duties and abilities and walked outside the hut. The sight that greeted her let her draw in her first real breath in what seemed like an eternity now.
She ran out of the hut and straight into her mate's arms. She sighed into his neck. "I could feel you were okay, but I wouldn't believe it until you were back in my arms."
Inuyasha chuckled into her hair and held her tighter, drawing in the scent of her. He would never grow tired of that scent. "Hey, have I ever lied to you before?"
Kagome drew away from his arms and glared at him. "Don't you ever do that to me again, you hear?" she asked, whacking him across the arm to punctuate the important words.
Inuyasha cringed, even though it didn't really hurt. He knew they weren't meant to hurt. "Ow!" he exclaimed, rubbing his arm melodramatically. "You've got to stop doing that, Kagome, you're getting stronger, you know!" he whined.
Kagome placed her hands on her hips and Inuyasha winced. Oh-oh, he thought. The hands on the hips glare was definitively worse than the regular glare, but still, so long as it wasn't the crossed arm glare, he was alright.
Sango chuckled from the door of the hut and walked back inside, letting the bamboo curtains cut out the sound of the argument that would surely ensue and went back to her armor. Speaking of arguments, she thought, I wonder where Miroku might be?
Outside, Inuyasha grinned sheepishly and brought her back into the circle of his arms. She stood there, immovable, but at least she couldn't hit him anymore. "I'm sorry," he admitted. "You know I would've taken you with me if I could have, but…" he sighed. "I needed to talk to Sesshoumaru alone."
Kagome relaxed in his arms and her own arms wrapped comfortably around him. She sighed. "I was actually scared, you know? Even after mamma told me you'd come back and even though I knew you'd want to in my heart, I was still worried Sesshoumaru might manage to convince you of something…" she let her sentence trail off and hugged Inuyasha closer.
"Speaking of which, where's your mother?" he asked, searching around above Kagome's head.
"She went to get Souta…" she pulled away from him enough to look at him. "You know he still is a little afraid of traveling by well alone."
Inuyasha smiled. "Great, so dinner isn't ready yet?"
"Almost, we still have some time," Kagome answered.
"Great," Inuyasha stepped away from Kagome but kept hold of her hand. "Come on, we need to talk."
Kagome followed him, but frowned. "About?"
Inuyasha stopped at the edge of the lake and waited, unsure of how to proceed, until the last of the sun's rays were but mere after images on the horizon. "Sesshoumaru said I was Prince of the Blood to the Western Lands," he spoke quietly. "And that I need to take up my duties as such."
Kagome, shocked, sat on the moist grass, heedless of what grass stains would do to her cream colored pants. "Prince of the Blood?" she asked. "What is that, exactly?"
"It's almost like a co-ruler," Inuyasha answered. "And whoever of us has children first, our child would be the heir to the throne after us." He turned to look at Kagome and wasn't sure what he read there. "Basically, he wants me to rule alongside him."
"Now?" Kagome asked, fingering the chain of the Shikon-no-tama, the way she always did when she was nervous. "After all this time?"
"That's what I said," Inuyasha admitted. He sat down in front of her and took her hands in his. "He gave me all this crap about me having proven myself and being able to handle the responsibility, but Kagome," he met her eyes. "There was something inside him that made me think…" he trailed off and only Kagome's comforting touch in his hands allowed him to go on. "Kagome, I think he's lonely."
Kagome blinked, half-shocked, half-touched. She smiled then. "I would imagine he might be," she answered. "After all, we have each other, and our friends, but he has only Rin and Jaken."
Inuyasha looked up into the sky as the stars started to appear like magic and sighed. "I don't know what to do…" he admitted. "He's right that there is some connection inside me to the Western Lands, but they rejected me so many years ago…"
He felt Kagome's hand on his cheek and he turned into it. "You're right," she spoke softly. Inuyasha's eyes opened in surprise and she smiled. "It was many years ago."
"I couldn't forgive him just like that, Kagome," he said, as if she had told him otherwise.
"No one's asking you to," she pointed out.
He looked back at her. "It wouldn't be easy, for any of us."
"So long as we're together, I know we can face anything," she answered. She smiled brightly at him. "You taught me that, remember?"
Inuyasha smiled, then it faded. He looked around his surroundings. "We'd have to leave this place," he whispered.
"Not forever," she offered. "We will come back, and besides," she leaned into him and he put his arms around her. She sighed. "If there's anything I've learned since I first stepped foot in Sengoku Jidai, it's that my home is wherever my loved ones are."
Inuyasha chuckled and the sound reverberated from his body and through hers. Kagome felt strangely like purring.
"It won't be easy to convince Miroku and Sango," he added.
Kagome sat up and looked at him. "You think they might not come?"
"Are you kidding?"
Inuyasha and Kagome jumped at the sudden voice behind them. Sango and Miroku stepped from the trees into the growing moonlight.
"Free room and board?" Miroku questioned, a grin on his face. "And a chance for a place with some privacy?" He shook his head. "No convincing necessary."
Sango walked up to Kagome and brought her into a fierce hug. "With the exception of expressly saying you want us out of your sight," Sango said fiercely. "You couldn't get rid of us that easily." She met Kagome's eyes. "Our home is wherever our loved ones are."
Kagome grinned from ear to ear, then, thinking better of it, glared and walked up to Miroku, punching his arm. When Miroku cringed at the soft punch, Kagome glared at him. "I thought your eavesdropping days were over?"
Sango stepped up next to her husband and smiled sheepishly at Kagome. "It's not all his fault, Kagome," Sango intervened bravely. "We were bid to bring you to dinner," she said by way of an explanation. "And couldn't help overhearing." She smiled apologetically.
Kagome smiled again and linked her arm through Sango. "That's okay," she said cheerily.
Miroku leaned in to Inuyasha. "Is she always that violent?" he whispered.
Inuyasha grinned mischievously. "No," he said innocently. "It must be you."
"I heard that!" Kagome called over her shoulder. She started to walk, leading Sango with her. "We should get going. We've got quite a bit of news to relay, don't we?" she said, looking back at Inuyasha.
Inuyasha smiled at her with all the love and contentment he felt in his heart. If someone would have told him 50 some odd years ago that his life would end up like this, surrounded by friends like this, and mated to a woman like her, he would have probably smacked them silly for trying to take him for a fool.
And the amazing part was, he realized, this was only just beginning.
~The End~
(For real, this time! ^_~.)
+~+~+
A/N: *trumpets and horns resound throughout the land* Hear ye, hear ye! I have officially finished Breaking the Habit!!!! *waits for applause to die down* Thank you, thank you.
On a serious note…you all have been absolutely wonderful. I couldn't have asked for a better group of reviewers, I feel like all of you are the most wonderful of friends and I hope that just cause I've finished the story, it isn't the last I hear from you. I can't express in words how much it meant to me that I had people as marvelous as all of you to review and keep my spirits up throughout the extent of this crazy, kookie, madcap scheme of mine called Breaking the Habit. Through crazy chapters, half-dazed ramblings, and emotional upheavals, you all have stood by me and shown me your support. For that, I am eternally grateful.
I have but one more thing to ask of you all, and it's this…following, I'm going to post a kind of blurb of some of the options I have running around in my head to devote time to as my next story. These are all different stories, extremely varied in nature and character. Would you all continue to be as wonderful as you have proven yourself to be countless times…one more time…and help me pick which one I should write next?
LilacRose (of Through the Ancient Well fame) and I have agreed to collaborate on a story together, and we're chomping at the bit to do it, already beginning preparatory work, but I think if I don't give Puck something else to work on, he's going to shoot me, especially since I've been promising him he can have at a new story once I finished Habit, so please, do hit that little review button, tell me what you all thought of this final chapter, and then click the arrow to help me pick which story I should write next, yes?
For now, I'll just say *pops outs and pops back in, dressed in a frilly medieval/renaissance gown complete with a flower garland in her hair.* "Goodnight, goodnight! Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say goodnight, till it be morrow!" *pops back into her normal clothes, blinks. Grumbles* Damn, Puck and his practical jokes, I swear when I get my hands on him I'll…*fade out as she tries to find Puck who is hiding somewhere*