Hehehe, Microsoft is back! Now I can fix my errororrs..lol.

Chapter 14---Life---

"This looks like the last of them." Miroku said, unloading the pile of wood onto the ground. "She's gonna love it. I'm sure. And it right next to our home, so we'll always be nearby." He looked up at the men working on the roof. Kagome was staying at the village of women who had been raped. It had been a month since she'd left, she'd be coming home soon.

Inuyasha decided it would be the perfect time to make a home for her. Souta stayed with Sango and Miroku while Inuyasha was out. The house was coming along pretty nicely. It was wide and had one window next to the door. The frame and walls had been built, they were currently building the roof. It was thatch of course, but still looked very good. The pile of wood was already gone and the last board needed to be placed.

Miroku hung the reed door on the frame. It looked great. This would be their home, the place where they did everything. This is where they would eat, sleep, drink and...love.

"Looks good eh? When are you going to get Kagome?" Miroku asked.

"I'm going right now I guess. We could get some good shard hunting done on the way back. Not that I really care about that anymore. All I need to get by is Kagome. I love her more than anything." He put his hands on his hips and looked up at the noon sky. "Well, no time like the present, gotta go, see ya Miroku, watch Souta while I'm gone."

With that the hanyou took off after the sun, ready to get his woman back. He ran through the forest, his forest. He knew what was going to happen. He was going to ask her, he had to. This was the day he asked her to be his mate.

He was there relatively fast. It had taken him two hours to get there, but with Kagome, it would take three days to get back. That meant three days of courting, and then asking for her final decision. He slowed a little, he didn't want to alarm the women that would see him.

He approached the village elder. She smiled up at him and motioned for him to look at the direction of the river. There sat Kagome, with the girl they had seen only a few weeks ago. They were laughing. Laughing. She hadn't laughed in ages. Kagome looked up, the sun catching her face perfectly.

She looked at him in the eye. There was something different. Like her eyes were a brighter shade but..they weren't. They were the same chocolate swirls they always were. She turned to her friend and kissed her forehead. They shared a long firm hug. Kagome stood up and walked towards Inuyasha. She smiled up at his amber eyes.

"Hi Inuyasha, I'm ready to go." she said as she took his hand. She waved back to her friend, and said bye to the village elder.

"Is it good?" Inuyasha asked. He had killed a rabbit for dinner that night. For some reason, watching Kagome eat what he made was so rewarding. It was cute, watching her cheeks get big, she'd chew and then swallow, the look of content written on her face.

"It's great, thank you. So...how are things at the village? Anything new? How's Souta holding up?" She said after swallow a juicy bite.

"The village is just fine, the rice fields are coming in nice. Not much new stuff, more or less same as always. Souta's doing fine, just misses video games." He was so nervous, he didn't know how to ask her? How the hell would he go about it? 'Hey Kagome, I know you've been raped several times but I still want to mate with you?' He thought in silence. He was about to talk when-

"There's something I want to tell you, Inuyasha." She started. Inuyasha swallowed. What would she say? He sat in silence and waited for her. "Well, I've had a lot of time to think this past month. Things have been really hard, and I know that sometimes they'll still be hard. But I want you to stick by me. I don't know if you'd want to, afterall, I'm kinda...well, tainted. I-" Inuyasha cut her off.

"What happened wasn't your fault. You went through that mess because you're a caring sister. How noble is that? Very if you ask me. I look up to you Kagome, you're so strong, and you always have a smile on your face in hard times. You're not tainted. I don't know if we've ever talked about exactly what happened but...virginity is something you lose when you make love. You can't make love if you're not in love. And you weren't in love with Hojo. You're still a virgin to me. Still as pure, and as lovely." He took in a deep breath. "I need to tell you something as well..." he trailed off.

"What is it?" she asked, so innocent, so curious. She titled her ear to listen. He looked at the ground where he sat, his face contoured with confusion. He looked her in the eyes.

"I..no more acting Kagome. I don't know how you feel, but I'll openly say that I love you. I've been in love with you since I can remember. I don't want to remember what life was like before you. Yes, I did love Kikyo, but she can't compare to you. Your soul is as pure as ever, despite the hardships you went through. What I want to know is...will you be my mate?" his eyes darted downward, face clenching and waiting for a tough blow.

Kagome smiled. He loved her. He said it. Practically shouted it to the world. Her eyes twinkled. Her soul shimmered.

"I love you, Inuyasha-" He didn't wait, he hugged her then and there. Her tears seeped through his clothes, his tears made her hair shimmer. She slowly raised her lips to his ears. "I'll be your mate, from now till eternity."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Six months later~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You're so beautiful. I'm happy you're mine." Inuyasha said. They were a day from the human marriage ceremony that Miroku would perform. Kagome wasn't ready for a while, she had a few break downs. But Inuyasha was there every time, and she was thankful for it. Not to mention getting adjusted to feudal life. She adored the house that Inuyasha had made for them, but she didn't love it to the point where she wanted to spend all day inside!

"Thank you." Kagome said quietly. She smiled at him. They had shared a few kisses since the confession of their love, but nothing more. Once her and Inuyasha had been 'making out' so to speak when he touched the small of her back. She froze. Inuyasha hadn't realized what the hell he had done when she started to cry, but he held her anyway.

It was tough at times. Souta was a handful, but he was very helpful too. Who would've known knowledge could go so far? He tried a new soil mix to grow some radishes, which worked wonders. He liked village life, and he adored the village girls. He was already courting one, and he'd barely turned twelve.

They were shard hunting. They'd go home later in the evening, to prepare for the ceremony the following morning. Everything was already taken care of, so the couple sat on top of a hill, watching fireflies play.

Kagome leaned against Inuyasha, half asleep. She was pretty tired. The jewel was almost complete, it seemed they needed only three shards more. Two of which belonged to Kouga. No one had seen him for a while; he had disappeared from the earth, more or less.

Inuyasha looked at the woman in his arms. "So beautiful." He whispered in her hair. He grabbed a nearby sleeping bag and pulled it over the two of them. He rested her on his chest, seemingly her favorite spot. She nuzzled her cheek into his upper belly, so she could hear his heartbeat. Inuyasha looked up at the stars above.

'My life has become so rich.' He thought to himself. 'How did I become the luckiest man alive? It seemed just yesterday I was trying to steal the shards from Kagome, now I can't live without her. She's become the air I breathe, the water I drink, and the food I eat. I can't imagine what I'd do without her, she's my life. Souta's become my little brother, my partner in crime. The two of us pick on Kagome when her spirit needs lifting. He's like my little sidekick.'

The hanyou's eyes suddenly felt heavy. Smelling nothing alarming in the air, Inuyasha let himself fall asleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

Miroku stood in front of Goshinboku. Sango sat nearby, with a bouncing baby boy in her arms. Hana and Haru scattered flower petals. The ceremony was set, Inuyasha waited nervously for Kagome to come the hill. The village men and women sat facing the tree. Inuyasha's ears twitched.

"When is she coming? I can't hear her." Inuyasha told Miroku. Miroku smiled.

"She's coming, don't worry. Kaede is merely helping Kagome with her hair. You know how girls are about hair, it always has to look good."

And there she was. Souta at her side, Kaede behind her. She wore a white kimono, with lace sakura patterns on it. She had on earrings made of moonstones. Her lips were a pretty pink, her skin was beaming and her eyes, oh her eyes how they shone. She was a picture to behold. Inuyasha straightened himself, he had to look good for his mate after all.

She smiled as Inuyasha made adjustments to his posture. Kagome gleamed. The villagers stood up for her. Souta led her down between the rows of people, winking at his girlfriend. He led her to Inuyasha and Miroku. Then, Souta sat down next to Kaoru, his future wife.

Everything slowed down. Miroku's mouth moved, but nothing went in. All Kagome knew was that she was going to be the happiest woman alive. Miroku bound Inuyasha and Kagome's wrists together with a white cloth, symbolizing their union. That was followed by a walk around the sacred tree.

Before they knew it the ceremony had passed. Now they were married, and soon to be mated. Kagome felt she was ready for sex now. She would be ready for anything life threw at her as long as Inuyasha was with her.

Inuyasha leaned forward, dipping his mouth to meet hers. She looked up to him, leaning on the balls of her feet. Their lips met for one instant, then they pressed together. Slowly, their mouths opened, and their tongues touched.

This was love. This was what she didn't have with Hojo. She was so happy she couldn't put it into words. Inuyasha's arms found their way to her waist, her arms pulled around his neck. She was surprised when he spun her in circles, but overjoyed to say the least.

The reception was simple. Some salted fish, some rice balls, it was nice. Everyone was having a great time, even Kaede. Miroku and Inuyasha danced together, though (as the author) I can't imagine why. Sango took Kagome's hand and they danced like the sisters they were.

"So, can I expect to be an auntie soon?" Sango winked at Kagome, who blushed in return.

"I don't know, we'll just et nature run its course I guess." Kagome looked to her left where Miroku and Inuyasha were dancing. She belted out a laugh. Miroku had his head on Inuyasha's shoulder, who bared a strange look on his face. One of pure horror.

"Miroku, stop scaring Inuyasha and tend to Jishiro, he wants his daddy." She stopped dancing with Kagome and looked at her. "Look at Hana and Haru, they're so silly." Kagome looked in the direction Sango pointed. Sure enough, Hana and Haru were dancing with bundles of flowers they had made.

Everyone gathered around at the center of the village to watch the newly weds leave for a honeymoon. Souta understood perfectly what they were going to do, but didn't say anything.

Kagome had put on a different kimono and packed some supplies in a pouch. She waved bye to her family as Inuyasha bent down for her to climb on. She smacked his butt, which made him giggle for some reason, and climbed on. Inuyasha sped to the central lands, famous for its' hot springs.

They were there within two hours. It was awkward, they both knew what was coming, and they both wanted it. Kagome waited patiently as Inuyasha made a fire to keep them warm throughout the night. Little did he know, they wouldn't need it at all.