New Author's Notes: In honor of the one year anniversary of the first chapter of 'The Confessions Trilogy' I have decided to perform a massive edit of this story, and will be going over every single chapter. Below you will find all the original author's notes from the story, because I hadn't the heart to part with them, and then beyond that the new and improved story. Maybe this will become a tradition...we'll just have to wait and see!

Though not described in detail, this story does deal with rape so be warned if that sort of topic bothers you

Original Author's Notes: Phew! That was tough! I hate writing action scenes. But I hope this chapter's long enough to appease all of you who put up with my many cliffhangers. I don't think this chapter can be considered a cliffie, but if you disagree...I'm sorry.

The story has finally crested at least one peak, and will now move on to another. So stay tuned to see what happens when they go back to Kagome's time! Thanks for reviewing, and enjoy!

Title: Confessions of a Broken Heart

Author: dolphingirl0113

Chapter: Fourteen

Rating: PG-13 (rated for violence, language, and implied sexual situations)

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.

It was ironic that the demon Naraku, who had been the source of so much pain and suffering, left the world without so much as a scream. The arrow pierced his heart cleanly, not even drawing blood, surrounding his body in a purified pink light, and then he was simply gone, his last thought that he had chosen the wrong woman to watch in order to prevent in destruction.

Kanna vaporized into thin air shortly after he did, after all her very existence had depended on Naraku's life, and without him she was wiped from the world, the only remaining evidence of her life being small footprints in the ground.

And so, in less than a minute, a journey and battle that had taken nearly three years was over.

Inuyasha collapsed to the ground as the blade holding him against the tree disappeared, obviously having been another creation of Naraku's that required his presence to exist. He fell to his knees, his lower body aching as blood began to flow regularly through his veins once more, his head light and somewhat queasy. His neck was sore too, a bruise forming a ring around his trachea, and he put a hand up to his skin as though to make sure his head was still indeed attached to his body as he rose shakily to his feet. But his focus quickly shifted from his own discomfort over to Kagome's form, still levitating just above the ground framed in pink light, her bow and arrows golden in her hand, her eyes staring off into some world he could not see. And then he glanced at the place where Naraku had just been, glaring at them all.

Could it be true? Was he truly gone? Was the nightmare that had plagued him for over fifty three years finally over at last?

Inuyasha could hardly believe that all they had worked for was finally done, that the mission, and his revenge, were both at last fulfilled. At first he felt empty, as though he had no purpose, but then he remembered Kagome, and all the love he felt for her came flooding back in waves. He chuckled and looked at her again. He'd never expected her to be the one to deal the final devastating blow, and yet, now that he thought about it, it was almost fitting that she, the one who had been the least affected by Naraku, should be the one to kill him.

He was awed by her beauty as she floated nearby, her feet mere inches from the ground. To him, she looked like an angel surrounding by her halo of pink, clutching her golden arrows. Her face seemed to radiate light, and her eyes sparkled in a way he'd never seen before...as though she now understood more about life than she ever had before.

It was a look of pure enlightenment.

She continued to stare at the spot where Naraku had vanished, as though in some sort of trance...almost like she could still see him. No emotion flickered across her face, either victorious or remorseful, but Inuyasha did see her whisper something, her lips moving subtly, and he wondered if she was actually praying for the cruel demon lord. The thought caused him to feel bitter, but his repulsion was short lived, because he was instantly distracted when Kagome held out her hands, her palms holding her pieces of the Shikon jewel.

Everyone watched, fascinated, as a pink light, brighter even than the one that currently surrounded her body, glowed like a small sun in her hands, and Inuyasha could barely make out something forming in the center of the ball of light. Something round...

And then there was a unified gasp as the light faded and they all gazed upon the Shikon no Tama, complete once more and gleaming brightly in Kagome's hands, the ancient beaded chain hanging over the side of her palm. It looked so beautiful, especially in her possession, and Kagome seemed to glow as though from another world. Perhaps she was now...

"Kagome...?" He whispered hesitantly, not realizing he'd spoken aloud until she turned to him, her eyes suddenly filling with all the love and kindness he'd come to know so well over the past few years. It was strange how they'd only just now admitted to one another how they felt and yet, somehow, he'd always known about and come to depend on her love...that love which kept him going even in the darkest hours of his life.

"Inuyasha..." She breathed, and suddenly all her strength seemed to evaporate, as though she had finally been brought back to reality. The pink light faded, her eyes drooped in exhaustion, and she collapsed. Inuyasha rushed to her side and caught her against him roughly, falling to his knees under the impact and doing nothing to stop the silent tear from falling down his cheek. He didn't care if anyone saw...he'd been so sure that he'd lost her that now he wanted to turn and shout out to the world how much he cared, so that no one would ever forget that Inuyasha, the lowly hanyou, loved Kagome Higurashi, the most beautiful woman on earth.

The jewel had fallen from Kagome's hand, and Kikyou calmly bent over to pick it up, holding it in her hands for a moment and remembering what it had felt like when she was once its protector. It had been such a burden then...something she had been willing to die for to get rid of.

But she also found herself recalling the young woman she had once been, who'd possessed a soul pure enough to hold the jewel and watch it sparkle in her palm. She'd been innocent then, kind, and forgiving. And she'd loved a lowly hanyou, and been ashamed of that fact. "Things were so different then," she sighed so softly that even Inuyasha didn't hear.

The jewel no longer sparkled for her as it had when she was its keeper, as though saying her time as now over as it sparkled in Kagome's hands instead. Now, in her own palm, it was a deep purple...but with her reincarnation it was a healthy pink. The miko sighed and felt a wistful smile come to her face.

Inuyasha sensed Kikyou kneel beside him, and instinctively pulled Kagome closer to him before he could even realize what he was doing. But Kikyou did nothing more than smile again, a halfhearted smile that was full of melancholy and nearly broke the hanyou's heart.

"Do you honestly think that I would harm her now?" She whispered, looking away to hide her pain. She laughed softly, regretfully. "I should never have tried to harm her in the first place...not even in the beginning. She was no threat to me." Kikyou gazed upon the peaceful face of Kagome, the girl's eyes currently closed in an exhausted sleep. "She has saved my life numerous times, the foolish girl, frequently at great cost to her own life. And all I've ever done is showed her contempt."

Inuyasha blinked. "You saved her life today," he offered, and Kikyou looked at him, their eyes meeting. For just one moment they were transferred back in time fifty years, to when they'd held the hope that they could both just lead a normal life together as husband and wife.

Finally Kikyou looked away, knowing that was a memory she would just have to bury deep in her heart from now on. "I merely helped her find her way," she commented. "The rest she did on her own. The strength was in her all along, she just needed to believe and find it for herself. She truly is a powerful miko." To accent her point, the mkko took the jewel currently in her hands and placed it gently, almost reverently, around Kagome's neck, watching as the jewel instantly started to glow pink once more. Kikyou nodded. "She is its new keepier, and now Kagome won't even need the shards to pass through the well. The power of the Shikon no Tama will always be with her, from this moment forward."

Inuyasha looked up suddenly at that. "You mean...the well won't be closed now that the jewel is whole? Even if we make a wish?"

Kikyou shook her head. "I once possessed the same power, but since I am now dead the jewel does not hold the same sway over me as it once did. Kagome, on the other hand, is very much alive and as such there is no reason why she shouldn't be able to travel back and forth through the well, even if the jewel is eventually destroyed with a wish."

That caused Inuyasha to acquire a beaming smile, and he felt like a great weight was lifted from his shoulders. That had been one of their greatest obstacles, and both he and Kagome had always assumed she would be forced, in the end, to choose a side of the well to live on. He'd hated that idea, because on the one hand he hadn't wanted her to leave him, but on the other he didn't want her leaving her family for him either. This new information gave them a whole new world of possibilities.

While he silently brooded, Kikyou rose to her feet, startling him out of his reverie. He looked up at the sad miko, the woman he had once loved, and a mixture of respect and gratefulness came into his eyes. "Kikyou, where will you go now?"

She looked away. "I don't know for sure. I can't stay in one village for too long, or else they realize what I am, and that disturbs the children. I could never willingly frighten the children." She sighed. "I suppose I'll just continue to wander this world until I find a place, perhaps, someday where I can live permanently. Or maybe," she smiled sadly, "I'll gather the courage some day to just let my body die once more."

"Kikyou..."

"Please Inuyasha," she put up her hand for silence. "I don't want your pity. The fact that you will be happy is enough for me. Or, at the very least, it will be some day."

This made the hanyou feel immensely guilty. As an undead but dead person, Kikyou could never find someone else to love her for who she was. Who could, in all honesty? After all, no one enjoyed the smell of earth and soil, and how exactly could you kiss skin and lips that were so cold they burned? Because this was true, the miko would never fully be able to move on.

It was a cruel fate, to be sure, and not one he would wish on anyone, let alone the woman he'd once loved.

Kagome breathed gently into his chest, bringing him back to reality, and Inuyasha smiled. He was so grateful he had such a treasure in his life, and so thankful he had been given another chance at life. It made him have a very positive outlook on life, and he just had to believe that there was a way for Kikyou to be happy too...to have the same opportunity to start over that he'd had.

"I won't pity you, Kikyou," he finally commented, clutching Kagome's sleeping form to him tightly. "But I will tell you to be safe in your wandering, and...take care of yourself."

Kikyou smiled, and for once it was a true, genuine smile, giving him a glimpse into the past, and the woman he'd once known. "Thank you, Inuyasha," she sighed. "And be sure to protect Kagome. Never stop loving her, because it was that love which saved her in the end."

Though he wasn't quite sure what that meant, Inuyasha found himself nodding anyway, and watched in silence as the woman turned to leave, her soul stealers instantly appearing at her side, always adding a touch of mystery to her persona. She was the wandering miko now, without a home or a life to call her own. And as she slowly faded away into the darkness, out of his life forever, the hanyou found himself saying one final goodbye, never expecting to see her again.

Kagome had been deep in thought for the past few days, ever since she'd woken up in Kaede's hut and had a chance to come to terms with everything that had happened...and everything that she had done.

Sitting on a bluff overlooking the mountains and the small valleys beyond, the sky pink with the setting sun and a gentle wind combing through her hair, she hugged her knees to her body tightly, willing her mind to relax so she could think. She'd been coming here often the past few days, needing time alone to meditate on her life, and the direction she now wanted to take with her life.

Naraku was gone. That fact alone was enough to shock her, let alone the realization that it was she who had done the ultimate dead. Even though he had been an incredibly evil man, the reality that she'd killed him still caused an excruciating amount of guilt to weigh down on her soul, and she often found herself shaking with the magnitude of her actions.

It all came down to one question. Even though he'd been evil, did she have the right to take his life? Was it up to her to decide if he lived or died? Was it anyone's right to determine the right of any creature to live? It was a question that was on her mind a lot lately, and something she couldn't quite answer for herself. Neither answer was very pleasing, because one meant that she had done something wrong, while the other made her out to be a monster because she believed that yes, she did have the right to end a person's life.

Perhaps it wouldn't have been so bad if she could simply claim amnesia, but the reality was that she remembered everything, from the moment she had been sucked into Kanna's mirror the moment when she had fallen asleep in Inuyasha's arms in the end. She remembered the cold loneliness of the dark, and the way Kikyou had, at that moment, seemed to be a beacon of hope, pulling her back to the light once more. And she also remembered the way she'd felt nothing but the desire for revenge, for blood, in the moment when she'd fired her arrow at Naraku. Was that what was called bloodlust? Was that what Inuyasha felt every time his demon blood overtook him, and what drove men like her rapist to act the way they did? She shuddered to think that she had, even for a remote moment in her life, been like that.

Her thoughts were distracted as the jewel around her neck caught the setting sun and glittered brightly, pulling her gaze away from the unending horizon. Kagome took the round ball gently between her fingers and studied it as though to press its image into her memory forever. For this object, this small thing, she and the others had hunted a man down for nearly three years. And for this seemingly insignificant thing she had killed a man. Had it been worth it in the end?

As though to answer her question, the jewel glittered again, seeming to nod its head, and Kagome was reminded of yet another dilemma she was now faced with. As the new guardian of the Shikon no Tama, it was her responsibility to decide what its fate would be, which meant, in other words, that it was up to her to determine what wish would be made.

It had to be a pure wish, with no hidden motives or selfish intentions, and she honestly didn't know if that kind of wish existed. After all, didn't all wishes, to some extent, contain a certain amount of selfishness? Wasn't that why wishes were made in the first place, because someone wanted something?

Thinking about the jewel caused Kagome to think about its previous protectors, and what they would have done in her situation, which inevitably led to her thinking about one protector, one woman, in particular. The one woman she didn't want to think about at that moment. "Kikyou..." She whispered, and closed her eyes in pain.

She still felt like she'd stolen something from the dead miko, the woman to whom she literally owed her very soul, something that wasn't rightfully hers. Unlike Kikyou and Inuyasha, Kagome had been born 500 years apart from her lover, and in reality had no claim other than lucky chance for meeting him at all.

But did that necessarily mean that she had no right to be with him either?

Inuyasha had told her everything that Kikyou had said that first day after she'd woken up, including the fact that she could now travel through the well without the need of a Shikon shard. Kagome had been doubtful, but at the same time did not believe that the miko would have said such a thing if it weren't true. She may have been cruel to her incarnation at times, but a liar the priestess Kikyou was not.

Unfortunately, Inuyasha had also told her how things had been left between them, and it drove home the fact that Kikyou was now all alone in the world, with no hope of a new life or a new love, instead being cursed by an existence that required the souls of dead girls to live. Kagome shook her head and a tear rolled down her cheek. That was no way to live, especially for someone who had lived as nobly and honorably as Kikyou had in life.

As she thought more about it, the jewel glittered again, as though trying to tell her something, and Kagome studied it closely, enraptured by its beauty. Finally, after several minutes, a smile broke out across her face, and she knew, at long last, what she wanted to do.

Rising to her feet, she practically flew back down the hill and into the village, her feet barely touching the ground as she ran up to Kaede's hut, where she saw Inuyasha chasing Shippou around a large tree, obviously angry about something. But then, when was the hanyou ever not angry with the little kitsune?

"Inuyasha!" She called out to him, but he didn't seem to hear her as Shippou was yelling protests louder than ever. He didn't seem to be aware of her either. With a sigh of frustration, she put her hands on her hips and rolled her eyes. "Sit!"

Inuyasha instantly face planted, and Kagome had no doubt he knew where she was now, the argument with Shippou completely forgotten.

Ignoring the glare he sent in her direction as he muttered profanities into the dirt, Kagome smiled and knelt beside him. "Inuyasha," her voice was kind, "Would you be able to find Kikyou for me?"

His eyes opened wide in surprise, and his jaw dropped to the ground (once he'd finally managed to lift his head). Obviously he hadn't been expecting that question...not that she could blame him. "Can I what?"

"Can you find Kikyou for me?"

"Kagome," He stood up and playfully put a hand to her forehead. "Are you feeling okay today? Should you go in and take a nap or something, or maybe take some of that medicine stuff from your time?"

She rolled her eyes and glared at him, causing the hanyou to step back and hold up his hands. "I'm fine, okay, so why can't you just answer the damn question!"

Inuyasha brushed himself off lightly before returning her furious gaze with a cocky smile. "Sure I can find her, but only if you promise to watch your mouth from now on." He winked and wagged a finger at her in mock disapproval. "The last thing we need around here is to have you sounding like me."

His playful mood was contagious, and Kagome felt her anger dissipate instantly as she saw him smile. In the end, she wound up hugging him tightly about the waist, her cheek pressed to his chest, and he wrapped his arms around her shoulders, pulling her close as he took a deep whiff of her hair. Kagome sighed. This is what she had wanted from the beginning, she realized...and now she couldn't get enough of her hanyou.

"I'll go find her," he finally added, "But it could take a while."

"I don't care."

"You are strange." He pulled back with a small chuckle and planted a light kiss on her forehead. "But Kagome, you have to tell me why you want to see her. I mean, it's not like you two have all that much to talk about."

Kagome sighed. "Just trust me when I say it's something I need to do, alright? Consider it my way of saying thanks to her."

He gave her a puzzled stare, but finally nodded and shrugged his shoulders. "Alright," he turned and started running away, yelling over his shoulder as he did so. "I'll be back as soon as I can!"

Kagome nodded and watched him go, knowing that a stupid smile was on her face form when he'd kissed her. She couldn't have gotten rid of the expression if she'd wanted to...and she didn't.

"Well, somebody looks positively smitten," a familiar female voice sounded from behind, and Kagome smiled brightly as she turned to see Sango and Miroku walking toward her. The monk was still forced to lean heavily on Sango's strong shoulders to get around, the poison having been incredibly strong, but Kaede assured everyone that he would recover, and besides, Sango didn't seem to mind anyway.

"So Sango, I've been wondering," Kagome thought out loud, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Since Naraku is dead, when are you two planning on having your wedding? After all, since I'm in it I think I have a right to know."

At that Sango and Miroku both blushed, which surprised Kagome since the monk never blushed about anything, and Sango was the one who replied shyly. "Actually, we haven't thought that far ahead yet." She glanced at Miroku. "I think we just want some time to be together first and get used to being a couple, you know? And besides, I want to find Kohaku and see if he's still alive." The shadow was only slight before passing over the exterminator's face entirely, but Kagome knew that her friend was still horribly worried about her younger brother, and could never fully commit herself to a man, even Miroku, and a new life until she knew what had become of Kohaku.

"Sounds good to me," Kagome finally replied cheerfully, trying to break the somber mood that had suddenly fallen down around them. She glanced at the monk. "And how are you feeling these days, Miroku?"

He smiled. "Much better, thank you for asking Kagome...though I intend to use my weakness to its full advantage in order to be closer to Sango at all times, for I fear once I am well again she shall ignore me." He commented bluntly and gave both women a fake pout, to which Sango responded by slapping his arm playfully.

"If you truly believe that, Miroku," she scolded teasingly, "Than you don't know me very well." Miroku blushed at the feel of her breath on his skin, very close to his ear, and it made him think of other, much more personal ways he could get to know his bride to be. It made him suddenly want to get well as fast as possible.

It took him two days, but finally Kagome saw Inuyasha come into the village carrying Kikyou on his back. The jealously in her stomach only lasted an instant upon seeing the miko in what was usually her place, and Kagome reminded herself silently that she had asked to meet with her incarnation this time as she put a smile on her face, hoping she seemed pleasant enough. That was all she needed; to seem bitter towards Kikyou even now when she had, in all honesty, won the rivalry.

The two women moved towards one another, and all the villagers watched them closely, whispering about the return of their Lady Kikyou and suddenly feeling very confused over which woman they should approach out of respect. It made Kagome feel the need to go somewhere more secluded, without all the prying eyes, and she gave Kikyou a meaningful look, indicating the woods. "Kikyou, would you come with me? I need to talk to you alone."

The woman barely hesitated before nodding, but Kagome didn't miss the hint of confusion on her face. No doubt she was as confused as to why Kagome had asked for her presence as Inuyasha was. They'd been rivals for so long...old habits just didn't go away fast enough.

As they both turned and headed for the forest, Kagome called over her shoulder, "We'll be back shortly Inuyasha," And then they disappeared.

The woods were quiet and serene, and once she was sure they were far enough away from the village to avoid prying eyes and eavesdropping ears, Kagome turned to face Kikyou, who, up until that point, had merely been following her. "I know what I want to do with the jewel," she said solemnly, trying to match the older miko's stoic expression.

Kikyou blinked in surprise. This is what the girl had brought her back for? This is why Kagome had sent Inuyasha to track her down from village to village? To tell her the fate of the jewel? At this point, Kikyou hardly cared...it was no longer her problem.

She must have had a harsh look, because Kagome winced slightly, but sucked in a breath and started speaking rapidly, fiddling with the jewel around her neck as she spoke. "Fifty years ago you and Inuyasha had your youth and innocence stolen." She looked down, feeling suddenly shy, as she always did in the presence of this great woman. "It was unfair and cruel of Naraku to steal that from you, especially when you two were tricked into betraying one another. But now Inuyasha has been given another chance because you could not bring yourself to kill him that day fifty years ago, instead preserving him against the Goshinboku with a sealed arrow, where I found him when I stumbled into the past."

It was always painful to relive that day, and Kikyou found herself growing impatient as she looked away with a frustrated sigh. "You called me back here to recap my life, Kagome?"

The girl before her blushed and looked down at her feet. "No."

"Then why am I here?"

"Because while you saved Inuyasha that day, no one saved you, Kikyou."

At that the miko couldn't help but blink in surprise and allow herself to look at her reincarnation once more. She hadn't been expecting that. "Go on."

Kagome nodded. "You died that day, Kikyou, sacrificing yourself honorably in order to destroy the Shikon no Tama. But then you were cruelly brought back to life by an evil witch, your body now made out of clay and your soul containing only hate for the man you had once loved. And..." She blushed. "You suddenly had to deal with me, your reincarnation, a reminder that you were no longer one of the living as I had the better half of your soul. I was in your face and stealing the man that you loved. I...I'm sorry to have caused you so much pain."

The girl lapsed into silence once more, but this time, rather than snap, Kikyou forced herself to wait patiently for the rest of her speech, sensing the important part was still to come.

She was right, because Kagome continued after a few moments. "I feel you deserve a second chance as much as anyone, Kikyou. And that's why," Kagome pulled the jewel up and off her neck, holding it in her hands, both women watching as it glittered bright pink, "I...I want to grant you your life back, so that you can have a chance to fall in love again and still raise a family and live a normal life, just like you once told Inuyasha you always wanted."

"You..." Kikyou swallowed, trying to regain her bearings. "You want to wish for me to be alive again?"

Kagome nodded. "Yes. It's a pure enough wish, because I am giving you the jewel for unselfish reasons. I will gain nothing from this, other than fulfillment in my heart knowing that I helped you in some way after all that you've done for me."

"All that I..." The miko couldn't believe she'd just said that. "Kagome, I've done nothing but hurt you since the moment I was resurrected from my grave. I've tried to kill you, I've tried to trap you on the other side of the well, and what's worse...I've tortured you by dangling Inuyasha out on a chain, enjoying watching him wriggle in discomfort, not knowing who he should love. For that I'll never forgive myself..."

"But don't you understand that I forgive you for all that?" Kagome demanded, feeling her temper shorten slightly. "I'm tired of dwelling in the past, Kikyou. The reality is that you saved me...twice. First, right after my rape, you gave me the words I needed to hear most, and helped kick me out of the rut I'd found myself in. Then, when Kanna had me trapped in her mirror, you pulled me out and back to reality so that I could fight for those I love. Without you, I would have been lost forever." She looked up and met the miko's eyes fiercely. "I owe you my life, and this will make me feel more content."

Kikyou stared at the jewel again for several moments of silence, the pink ball reflecting in her eyes. The possibility of being alive again was a tantalizing prospect. Up until that moment, she had not dared to hope that she could ever life normally again, assuming that she had no other option besides roaming the world, lonely and unable to fit in anywhere ever again. But now, Kagome offered her the precious wish that so many sought...

"Why...?" She found herself asking again, her voice wavering, her eyes still trained on the jewel.

Kagome's eyes softened. "Because, like I said, you deserve to be happy as much as Inuyasha and anyone else in this world, Kikyou. Unless you'd rather wander this earth and watch the passage of time as a mere bystander, never changing, stuck as you are for eternity..."

Kikyou frowned, not liking the idea at all. But again, up until that moment she'd thought that was all there was.

"Please, Kikyou," Kagome insisted, "It would make me feel better if you let me do this last thing for you."

The miko grunted at that. "And what have you ever done to feel bad where I am concerned, Kagome?" Kikyou retorted, not meaning to sound as bitter as she did.

Kagome winced slightly, and returned once more to having the look of a young, naïve girl who desperately wanted her mentor's approval. "I've made your life miserable by coming between you and Inuyasha, and while I don't regret loving him, or he loving me in return, I am sorry for being the cause of your broken heart."

The miko wanted to smile sardonically, to shake Kagome by the shoulders and tell her that she'd had a broken heart long before they'd ever even met, but decided not to, instead settling for a half-hearted answer that only explained some part of the truth. "That's an awfully big burden to place on yourself, Kagome." It was the closest she could come to admitting that there were many other reasons for her unhappiness in the world.

Kagome shook her head, as though humoring a child, and then, without waiting for another sign of approval, walked up and placed the jewel in Kikyou's hands, curling the woman's fingers over the smooth round ball. "I want you to wish for your life back, Kikyou," she said gently, and released the miko's hands, turning to walk away.

A thought occurred to her, and before she could resist, Kikyou blurted out what was on her mind. "You trust me to wish for my life? I could wish for any number of things...your death, or for Inuyasha to forget you..."

Kagome froze and turned, her eyes soft as she gazed back at Kikyou, seeing in the older woman's eyes not cruelty or malice, but a genuine amount of confusion. Kikyou truly couldn't understand why someone would trust her so wholly and completely, and it suddenly leveled the playing field, and Kagome no longer saw them as so different; they each had their faults, and their strengths. Her strength was the ability to forgive and forget. "I know you won't," she replied simply, and walked away.

Inuyasha was waiting for her where she had left him, leaning against a tree, his head bent and his eyes closed, lost in thought. She thought about all the times she'd come across him before in that very pose, and stopped to admire his silent beauty. But he caught her scent, and his head instantly snapped up, his amber eyes coming to life as he smiled happily. He noticed the absence of Kikyou, and frowned.

"Where's...?"

"I gave Kikyou the jewel so that she could wish for her life back," Kagome interrupted, explaining herself before he jumped to the wrong conclusion. The last thing she needed was him believing that she had murdered his former lover. "I feel it was the only wish I could make that would truly make someone happy." She shrugged. "Now she can move on with her life...just like you have."

Inuyasha stared at her in shocked disbelief for several seconds, unable to process what Kagome had just said. She had given Kikyou her life back...? Using the Shikon no Tama...? Then, like a key fitting into a lock, it all clicked, and he pulled her quickly and tightly into her arms, kissing her face with dozens of feather light kisses. "I love you, you incredibly wonderful, kind, forgiving woman." He hugged her tightly to his chest, and she smiled.

It was so heartfelt that Kagome couldn't resist the tears that came to her eyes as she put her arms around his waist, and they stood together for several minutes before she finally pulled back. "Come on, Inuyasha," she said, smiling and taking his hand in her own, loving the fact that he closed his fingers over hers without hesitation now. "I want to go home for a while, and I want you to come with me...if you don't mind."

Inuyasha blushed, unaccustomed to such forward openness about their feelings, but readily accepted her offer, grateful that she wanted him to be around to protect her if needed. He nodded and returned the squeeze of her hand, and together they headed towards the well, both feeling at peace with one another at last. One battle had finally ended, and now there was just one more before they could both truly move on to the next chapter in their lives completely.