Standard Disclaimer - *
Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi.
Summary: When, one night Inuyasha of the future turns up in Sengoku
Jidai beaten and bloody, Inu-gumi are surprised-except for Kagome, who rushes
to his side without hesitation. Secrets are revealed & an untold future
comes to light, but will Inuyasha accept his newfound responsibility?
Rated: PG-13 / R for mild to moderate sexual content and Inuyasha's
potty mouth.
Warning: This chapter is seriously full of violence and angst, Kleenex
tissues (& chocolates if your Bex) recommended! Rated PG-13 +
by: *Angelstars
email: angtanuk@yahoo.co.uk
--
0.6 – In death, comes life
**Story re-cap**
After Kagome's attempts to save Inuyasha from being cursed, and from his life
or death encounter with Kikyo, fails, she breaks down with grief. Inuyasha,
however, does not hold any resentment against her - Kikyo included -
Meanwhile, back in present day Tokyo, Inuyasha and Kouga are plotting revenge.
Things progress from there and Inuyasha gets seriously hurt whilst protecting
Shippo (All explained in this chapter)
Later, as the Inu-gumi (Inu-gang) settle for the evening, Inuyasha has thoughts
and regrets about the way he handled Kikyo's promise to leave with her to hell.
His thoughts get interrupted by the intrude of Kouga, who demands Kagome to
leave with him.
**Continuation**
-- last time…
Sengoku Jidai
Kagome rubbed her eyes and looked up at Inuyasha. "Inuyasha?" She began, but
was cut short when a familiar twister of wind whirled its way in front of her.
Kouga-kun?
"Kagome!" The wolf youkai stopped inches away from the half-asleep girl.
"Quickly, he needs you!"
Kagome's eyes widened.
The wolf lowered himself onto one knee and beckoned her to climb upon his back;
she didn't hesitate and clambered from her sleeping bag onto his back. Inuyasha
growled and made a move toward them just as Kagome looked up with moist eyes.
He froze.
"Inuyasha, we're going to follow them" Sango said, not waiting for the hanyou's
reply as Kirara took into the air with the monk and Kitsune not far behind.
Inuyasha swallowed sharply, his ears twitched as he scented the air once again.
His senses hadn't lied.
He could smell his own blood.
--
Kagome could feel her heart pound against her chest, her breath was coming
short and the nausea that stung at her stomach didn't help her hold her nerves.
She looked down at Kouga as he effortlessly ran through the blackened forest;
she hadn't taken notice of his attire. He wore worn jeans and a white tee,
except it was far from white – it was covered in blood.
She closed her eyes and swallowed a lump from the back of her throat.
Unconsciously, she gripped tighter onto the wolf-youkai as they neared the
Goshinboku tree, Kagome could see the well's aura as it lit and shone high
above the trees--lighting the area with a bright pinkish glow.
Her eyes roamed and skimmed the forest, her nose, just barley, picking up the
scent of fresh blood.
She suddenly felt faint.
--
Sango looked to the side, where Miroku and Shippo were now running
beside her and Kirara. "Houshi-sama, didn't Kouga look odd to you?" She
bellowed over the rushing winds forming around her and the transformed
fire-neko.
"Aa, I did note his strange appearance. However, it is Kagome-sama that I am
more concerned over," he replied, turning his head slightly, but still keeping
an eye on where he was going. The darkness of the woods and lack of light made
it harder to see.
"Hn, Kagome-chan looked distraught as soon as he spoke. Did you notice the
blood stains on his clothing?"
Miroku nodded in her direction and back toward the Kitsune, who had been
uncharacteristically quiet, the whole journey. "Shippo, why so quiet?"
The cub returned his question with a shake of his head, allowing a reassuring
smile to escape his lips.
"Oi, Miroku, Kagome is up ahead and she's not alone," Shippo announced, but
paused with confusion written over his face.
"When did Inuyasha pass us?" He quickly added.
Miroku and Sango exchanged looks before leaping behind the taijiya to land on
the back of Kirara.
"Hurry Kirara!" Sango tightened her hold, as the large neko picked up speed.
--
Kagome's eyes widened with fear as she and Kouga cleared the forest, a little way
from the god-tree, where Inuyasha and Kikyo had, not long before, encountered
one another. Her eyes laid to rest upon the huge tree in the middle of its
core, there leaning up against it was a bloodied and wounded Inuyasha and
another at his side.
"INUYASHA!" She squirmed her way off of Kouga, who had barely stopped running,
and took off, in full, toward her fallen hanyou.
"Inuyasha…" she whispered as she fell on her knees in front of the Inu-youkai.
He opened his eyes making contact with his mates; she had tears brimming at the
corners with a look of worry and sadness bestowed upon her face. He moved
slightly, causing one of his bloodied wounds to re-open, and taint his bandages
with fresh red dew.
"Kagome," he pushed himself into her embrace as she drew closer.
Kagome held onto him tight, laying his head to rest upon her heaving chest. She
stroked his mused silver locks and hushed him quietly, whispering reassurances
as she rocked with him back and fourth.
"Kagome?" Kouga's voice came from the side of her; she looked up and met his
gaze with fresh tears burdened upon her cheeks.
"Gomen, Kagome. He got hurt bad, and he just won't stop bleeding-"
"How did this happen? Why isn't he healing?" She interrupted him, keeping eye
contact with the wolf youkai.
"It's all my fault…" Another voice gained its presence. Kagome picked her head
up and looked at the stranger who had spoken.
"Iie!" Inuyasha chocked as he pushed away from Kagome's hold and glared at the
one who has spoken.
"You little shit, when are you gonna get it through your thick skull? It wasn't
anyone's fault!"
"Demo, Inuyasha-"
"URASI!"
Kagome's eyes widened as the boy drew into the light, "S-Shippo?" She whispered
and gasped as the teenage boy lowered his downcast brown eyes to the floor, and
kneeled slowly in front of her and Inuyasha. Kagome could make out his distinct
hair colouring, reddish tinged with ginger and brown, he looked human to the
untrained eye, but his pointed ears and raised hunches gave away his youkai traits.
"It was my fault!" He declared, clenching his fists into his palms.
Inuyasha clenched his jaw and growled, "I said, shut up!"
"Inuyasha please!" Kagome took him into her chest once more, "I can feel how
much pain you're in, please—stop!"
The teenage Kitsune raised his head, giving away his tear stained face and
blotching, piercing eyes.
"Gomen ne, Kagome…" His eyes reached her own, holding her gaze as she tried to
read into his mind, melding her aura within his to help reassure him.
Shippo closed his eyes, unworthy of allowing her to continue to unconsciously
sooth him, he moved away to stand closer to Kouga.
"Kagome-chan/Kagome-sama!"
Kagome picked her head up making contact with the worried glances of her close
friends. "Its all right, minna".
Inuyasha gripped onto her tighter, causing the miko to turn her attentions upon
him once more. "I'm not going to leave you, Inuyasha…" She whispered, trailing
her fingers through his matted hair once more.
The hanyou relaxed in to her hold, closing his eyes to bite back his internal
pain.
"Kouga," Inuyasha beckoned the wolf closer.
Kouga crouched in front of the hanyou and watched his movements as he tried to
focus his eyes upon his face, "Oi, Inukuro, don't push yourself-"
"Shut your mouth wolf, if I weren't fucked up right now, I'd kick your ass for
calling me that!" Inuyasha retorted through clenched teeth.
Kouga grinned.
Inuyasha looked up at him, his eyes full of serious, silent pleas. The wolf
youkai nodded the wordless request and turned to look Kagome in the eyes.
She swallowed back another uncomfortable lump and smiled, gratefully.
Sango and Miroku moved closer, unsure of what to expect. They had both heard
Kagome's reassurance, but still concerned over her well-being.
"Kagome-sama?" Miroku gained everyone's attentions, three heads turned toward
him and his eyes widened at what he saw in front of him.
Kagome was cradling a wounded Inuyasha in her arms, Kouga was crouched in front
of them and another youkai, who looked like a Kitsune, circled above them.
"Kagome?" Another small, child-like voice rose from in front of them.
"Shippo-chan, go back to Miroku and Sango-" Kagome panicked as the Kit moved
cautiously closer.
It was Inuyasha's turn to state said plea. "Shippo!"
"I-Inuyasha?" The Kitsune froze, his eyes wide with fear and confusion. His
senses picked up on Kagome's discomfort and hurt as the smell of blood drilled
at his scent glands and the sight before him.
Inuyasha's breath caught in his own throat, he didn't want the little Kit to
see him like this, knowing the cub would pick up on the deathly aura around
him. His only thoughts leaning toward pleas as he fought to stay calm. "Don't
come any closer!"
The kit gasped. There was something not right about this Inuyasha, he
smelt older, and he looked different. His eyes weren't piercing amber and his
whole appearance differed from the Inu-hanyou he knew now, but there was
something else…
He stopped short.
The cub's eyes burned slightly, causing him to gasp and pull back. "W-what's
wrong? Kagome? Inuyasha?"
Kagome looked like she was about to spill tears, and Inuyasha was obviously
ridden with pain. The blood smelt fresh and his wounds were deep, as far as the
Kit could make out.
"Shippo! Did you not hear what I said?!" Inuyasha's angry voice interrupted his
study gaze.
"Hai, demo-"
"Don't just fucking stand there! Get the brat away from me!" Inuyasha's voice
turned toward Kouga and the other youkai, who smelt like a Kitsune –much like
Shippo himself.
Kouga nodded and leered at the cub, whom had tears running down his cheeks.
"Demo…demo, Inuyasha! You-you're bleeding!" The kit blurted with unleashed
sobs.
Inuyasha clenched his teeth and held his jaw as Kagome fought the urge to take
the upset cub into her arms, just as the teenage Kitsune hushed the cub with a
small squeal. Kagome looked at the boy, he was crouched in front of the kit,
his head tilted to one side as he made small purrs/squeaks in the cub's
direction.
Miroku approached from behind and picked the upset kit from the floor, "Hush
now, Shippo. You must be strong and show Kagome-sama and Inuyasha your
strength."
The kit hiccupped his last sob and nodded, keeping his eyes upon the older
looking Kitsune.
Kouga cleared his throat and looked back down at the flushed girl and hanyou in
her arms.
"We should leave" It wasn't an option rather a statement/command.
Sango was reluctant at first, making her opinion known as she glared at the
commanding wolf. Kagome's reassuring, soft gaze told her she would be fine.
Miroku had taken the kit and seated him a top of Kirara, who had re-transformed
from her kitten state.
Kouga and the older Kitsune looked back at the mated couple one last time,
before following the trio and neko out of the forest and toward the village.
Unaware of the new set of eyes that watched from high above, surrounded by
branches and leafs, Kagome leaned herself and her hanyou a back to the shinboku
to rest him upon her chest once more.
---
The older miko raised her eyebrows as the crowd of human's and youkai entered
her darkened hut. Sango carried a sleeping Kitsune and a warn out Kirara in her
arms as Miroku followed her side along with the wolf-tribe leader and another
Kitsune.
"Excuse our imprudence, Kaede-sama. We appear to have had an eventful evening."
Miroku bowed before making himself comfortable.
"Aye, ye are welcome here anytime, houshi-dono," she replied, lighting a small
fire as she invited the rest of the group to be seated.
The houshi nodded his thanks, and turned his attentions toward the two youkai.
Kouga shifted uncomfortably, remembering how he used to be. The older
looking Kitsune looked off into the embers of the fire, not really paying much
to the old hut and the miko who watched him with one eye.
Silence passed between the groups before Sango demanded an explanation.
Kouga was the first to grunt and splutter a none-of-your-business reply,
but the fox-youkai interrupted any more the wolf had to say.
"Inuyasha got hurt trying to keep me safe…" he started, never leaving his eyes
from the burning fire.
"Feh! It wasn't just that, brat!" Came Kouga's sharp retort. "It was Inukuro's
choice to protect you while he fought against that bastard-"
"Iie!" The boy interrupted, turning his attention away from the fire to glare
at the wolf. "Inuyasha didn't have to protect me! I didn't need his help!"
"Feh, you were about to get your head sliced off by that disgusting lowly
demon. You were lucky Inuyasha was there at all or that you're still fucking
breathing!" The wolf growled, "Have some fucking respect!!"
"Now, now. If we lower our voices just a tad, maybe the kit wouldn't have to
hear this?" Miroku intervened and motioned his hand toward the cub, who stirred
slightly in his sleep.
The wolf nodded as the older Kitsune went back to staring at the fire's
enticing glow. Kaede was the next to speak.
"Do tell us, from what ye be talking about?"
**Flashback**
Modern Tokyo – earlier that night
Inuyasha and Kouga snuck up to the old shady looking warehouse, they could
smell the stench of demon already. Inuyasha had picked up on Shippo's scent and
was readying himself to pounce on one of the larger looking demons, which
guarded the out side of the place.
Kouga grunted and nodded, watching as the hanyou hid his youki and clambered
his way over the roof of the old building.
Shippo had gotten himself involved with the wrong kind of youkai; he had been
requested to do some private work for a well-known and wealthy tai-youkai. What
he hadn't expected was to fall for the upstanding youkai's daughter. She was
his job. He was to escort her to places of importance and be at her beckoning
call 24/7 for a contract written for 6 months.
After those 6 months were up, he was free to leave the mansion-with a rather
large sum of money. (Money he needed to pay back from what he stole from
Inuyasha, to pay for his mistakes) Inuyasha wasn't –at first- aware of
this fact, no. If Inuyasha weren't to have found out that Shippo had stolen
from him, he never got as far as to thinking what his betrayal had done to the
hanyou.
Inuyasha didn't deserve to find out like he did. Shippo felt badly about it, so
took the job, but somewhere a long the line he had fallen in love with the
tai-youkai's daughter.
He was to learn that in his attempts to gain the young youkai's affection, she
was to be mated to another. Shippo had gotten himself, knee deep, in with his
emotions for the lass and inadvertently gotten in trouble with the
tai-youkai.
Thus why he was surrounded by the lord's body-doubles and held captive in an
old abandoned warehouse.
Damn his luck!
Meanwhile, Inuyasha and Kouga had beaten two large youkai down with brute
strength alone and were making their way inside the dumping grounds. Inuyasha
spotted Shippo, surrounded in what looked like a youki built barrier, he smiled
to himself –the magic was weak and could easily be taken down.
He looked over to where Kouga had positioned himself, making sure that he
stayed within Inuyasha's youkai disguise. He gave him a quick nod and that's
when they both attacked the unsuspecting demons.
Kouga was keeping most of the smaller youkai in check and grounded them with
one swipe of his clawed fist, while Inuyasha took out a larger youkai from the
side. Shippo was trying his hardest to free himself from his bindings, which
had obviously been charged with holy power prier to his capture.
Inuyasha had managed to take down the large demon using Sankon Tetsusou followed by a rather well placed elbow to the jaw and a
upper cut to finish him off. He went down like a tone of bricks, which left
Inuyasha free to take down the barrier keeping Shippo at bay. A few choice
words followed his rescue and Shippo was safe with him once more.
Except, not one of them noticed the tint of red eyes that watched from the
shadows.
"Keh! That was to easy!" Inuyasha grunted while wiping dried blood from his
claws.
"Least I got to kick some demon-butt!" Kouga announced, baring his fangs and
highly polished teeth for all to see.
Inuyasha turned toward the Kitsune, and sighed. "What the fuck did I tell you
about bitches? Never trust a pretty face!"
"Aa, Inuyasha should know about that!" Kouga continued, giving the hanyou a
wicked grin. "All his bitches want him dead or—"
Inuyasha was growling.
Shippo lowered his head with shame, "If I just took the money, I could have
paid you back!"
"Keh, who cares about that, at least your safe and we let Kouga off his
leash-so it wasn't all a waste of time saving your ass" Inuyasha replied
gruffly, but with a grin.
Suddenly there was a loud howl and a giant youkai appeared from the shadows, at
first all three demon's stood frozen, before the large youkai took a flying
leap toward Shippo. Inuyasha's eyes blazed red as the youkai ignored he and
Kouga and focussed an attack on the Kitsune.
He looked at Kouga, who smiled and motioned a hand as an invite to go first.
With that, Inuyasha leaped upon the animal as it thrashed to get the hanyou
free of itself. Kouga decided to join in and took a chunk out of his hind leg,
causing the youkai's tail to whip out and collide with the wolf, in turn,
sending him flying across the room.
Inuyasha snarled and dug his claws in deep as the youkai, which looked half
wolf-half dog, turned its attack toward Shippo. A giant claw swiped at the
Kitsune, causing the boy to fall to his knees, fresh blood now sinking to the
ground, pooling around the wounded fox.
Inuyasha's ears twitched as the scent of Shippo's blood collided his senses.
Once again, he felt his youkai blood stir. His eyes tinted with red and long
twin tattoos slowly rose to the surface of his skin.
Shippo clenched at his wounded arm, slamming his eyes shut under the stress of
the pain. He heard Inuyasha's snarl and looked up.
Inuyasha doesn't have Tetsusaiga.
"Inuyasha! NO!" He yelled, his eyes now wide as he watched Inuyasha let loose
his youkai to slam into the beast's muzzle.
The giant animal roared with pure power, and Shippo recognised the aura that
left its body.
Tai-youkai-Mena's Mate
The massive black beast eyed Inuyasha with a reddened streak; its growl echoed
the warehouse as it took its final blow. Inuyasha was also gaining on it,
getting ready to pounce and strike with his now elongated claws; it came to a
stand still with a sudden thump followed by a yelp.
Shippo rose on unsteady legs as he rushed over to the fallen hanyou, now calmed
from his blood rush.
"Inuyasha!"
--
Inuyasha woke with a start, his breathing felt heavy and his chest and arm
ached.
"Lay still, Inuyasha." A soft feminine voice soothed him, followed by a gentle
push.
"K-Kagome?" He managed to grind out, his senses still distort from his sudden
alertness.
"Shh, Kagome's not here Inuyasha. If you don't rest, you'll never heal-"
"Higurashi-san, I got the herbal wash as you requested," Another voice
interrupted, Inuyasha recognised it as Shippo's. "Inuyasha!" The boy was at his
side, "Inuyasha you're awake!"
"Not so loud, brat!" Inuyasha grunted, trying desperately to find his senses
once more.
Higurashi-san? He was at Kagome's house. Shippo was safe, so he gathered Kouga
finished the bastard off.
"Inuyasha?" Shippo's worried voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Keh, its just a scratch!" Inuyasha retorted, finding the pain in his chest
unbearable and trying his hardest not to allow it to reach Kagome. He bit back
another painful twitch and fell back slightly.
"Inuyasha!"
"Take me to Kagome- onegai, I need Kagome…" The hanyou pleaded, his breathing
came in pants as his sight clouded.
**end flashback**
The older looking Kitsune looked up toward Kaede, Miroku and Sango. "In all the
time I've known Inuyasha, he has never once spoken like that –not at least in
front of me! I got scared!"
Miroku nodded, "Aa, I agree. I do not think Inuyasha would so easily be
defeated unless he knew something were wrong."
Sango and the old miko silently agreed.
Kouga snorted and leant back against one of the huts walls. "He knew he was
going to die…"
"Nani?" Shippo looked up, "What do you mean, he knew?"
Kouga continued to speak one toned, "He always knew it, Kid."
--
Kagome continued to sooth and hold Inuyasha close to her, she could feel him
slipping every so often and begged for him to stay with her. He was shaking and
felt cold to the touch as she spoke softly into his hair and rubbed his ear
gently.
Inuyasha returned her embrace, content to stay like this forever. His eyes
wondered from the ground toward a single tree.
Kagome soon picked up on the familiar aura and turned her attentions to said
tree, she inwardly panicked.
"Leave him be…" Inuyasha caught her stare.
"I don't want him here" Kagome shook her head, keeping her eyes upon the
ground.
"I want him to be…" Inuyasha replied.
"I don't-"
"I want him to be here, for you, after I leave" He continued, pulling her chin
to catch her gaze.
Kagome's blue orbs burned into his dull amber irises as she stifled a small
sob, "Why? Where are you going?" It was a stupid question and she already knew
the answer.
He watched her and sat in silence for a few minutes before answering.
"Open your locket Kagome…" His voice came soft and quiet.
Smiling, Kagome complied and reached into her top to cup the small locket into
her palm, she looked it over and found a clasp and gently undid it. It opened
in her hands and suddenly let off a slight glow, as if she felt something
within her shiver, like someone had tickled her. The feeling came and went and
she merely shrugged it off to look inside the small heart shaped pendant.
On one side, a picture, so small, could be clearly seen of her and Inuyasha,
together. And on the other, a blank red shaped heart peered back at her. She
looked at Inuyasha as he smiled and held out his hand for her.
"That was left blank on purpose," He spoke as Kagome took his hand and pulled
him back into her chest. He closed his eyes and continued, "Its for a picture
of our pup" he finished.
Kagome leant her chin a top of his head and swallowed hard before allowing more
tears to run down her cheek.
"Please don't leave me-" she managed to sob, and tightened her hold.
"I'm not going to, and I'll still be with you… both of you" Inuyasha tried to
reassure his mate, finding comfort under her nape.
The dark-haired miko closed her eyes and buried her nose into his hair, taking
in one deep breath as he rubbed his nose and lips against her skin.
"I'm so tired, mate," he whispered, his eyes barely open as he looked up at
her.
She smiled and smoothed away loose hairs from his eyes and softly replied,
"Then go to sleep, my mate…"
She watched as his eyes closed, a lone tear escaping his fluttering lashes as
he did so. Bending down, she kissed the tear away and hushed him once more. Her
own silent tears now working down her own cheeks.
Inuyasha watched from the tree, his ears twitched in order to hear the
conversation. Even for his acute senses, it was hard to hear, and without
moving and being seen, he couldn't get any closer.
His nose picked up on the sour smell of blood mixed in with salty tears, his
scent had settle on the rather distinct aura of death and a shiver passed down
him as he watched the pair say their goodbyes.
She held him tight to her chest as she felt his breathing slowly come to an
end, her eyes closed, filled with excess salty droplets as she silently said
goodbye.
It was like a broken link had just snapped--it felt that painful. Her chest
drew shallow, sharp breaths as she fought the urge not to scream in anguished
pain, but to no avail.
She had lost so much and all in one day.
She sobbed at first, allowing the sharp breaths to subside and make it easier
on her to intake air. Those sobs soon turned into hysterical tears and then
onto a pain filled release as she bellowed and churned—a mixture of loss and
hurt all lay out in front of her at once.
And all because of her…
Inuyasha's ears flattened to his scull as his nose twitched, Kagome's tears had
gotten stronger and somehow, he knew he had just witnessed his own death along
with her. What he didn't expect was for Kagome's grief stricken, almost like,
screams to affect him the way they were. His death hadn't even scratched the
surface of his emotions, but Kagome's cries… they made him heave.
And for the first time in his adult life, he threw up.
--
A/N: I cried my heart out writing this chapter! The ending had me in
tears, and like my boyfriend commented on, the heart pendant scene pulled on
ones heart strings. I have to agree, that bit did bring on the tears. I'm so
sorry for killing off future Inuyasha, but we all want Kagome to get it
together with our Inuyasha, ne? There is a MAYBE in that there statement
^^;
Oh, and if you're unclear on if Inuyasha still got cursed, the answer is
sort of ^^; But there is a twist in the story, so don't worry! And, if I can
change Inu's past, I can also change his future –Inuyasha was to far gone to save
and his healing abilities weren't working any longer, proving his blood never
changed – BUT now, things have changed and time will return to normal soon.
Next chapter 07 - Mine to do as I wish
The after affects of Inuyasha's death finally hit the groups. Kagome's not
the only one who feels as if it was all her fault— final goodbyes leave a
surprising truth and Inuyasha finally comes to terms with his mixed feelings
for the miko of the future, but will she accept his proposal?
- Shout Outs/Kudos!
Bex – You know I love your reviews ^_^ There will be a twist at the end
of this fic so *mumbles* Inuyasha won't be as seriously ill as his
former future self. You guessed right tho, I wanted Inuyasha to witness his own
death, just for him to understand Kagome's bond she has with himself.
(Reference: next two chapters) I hope you didn't cry or choke to much on this
chapter?
KagomeWannabe – It's not coming to end just yet, and I promise the fluff
will start happening in the next chapter onwards. ^_^ I love Inu/Kag WAFF too
=+@Said Angel@+= - Thanks for all the great reviews; I'm pleased I
confused you then, ne?
Hope and Harmony – I can't believe you stayed up to read all the chapters
at once! You're as bad as me when I get into a fic!! I'm sure any confusion will
be answered for you shortly, the ending chapters will clear up most of
everything and I might add an epilogue too – thanks for your words of praise
Alexa Gray – Ah, I see where you're confused, there are two Inuyasha's in
this story lol. One is from Kagome's time and the other from the warring states
(which is the one we all know and love)
Thanks to all who reviewed and asked me to continue ^_^ I love you all,
including my readers – Keep reading and I'll keep writing, you all want to know
what happens next right?