A/N- HELLO!!!!!!!!!!!! YES it's true I have returned after whom the hell knows how long, but I am alive! I wonder if I even have any readers left? Not to mention any reviewers... ::sniff sniff:: I am truly sorry for leaving u all, I have had a lot to do, I am now a senior in high school, and college is just around the corner, it is quite scary to tell u the truth, oh well, enough with my excuses... onward to the story!!!!!!!!

Here's a quick re-cap of what happened lat time just in case u all forgot and don't want to simply push the button back...

"Kagome... is it true?" Inuyasha sped to her side at the bed, almost knocking Mrs. Higurashi over at the same time. That's the Inuyasha we all know and love.

"Inuyasha..." Kagome's tears came again, but this time they came from a different place. She was happy. "Yes... I wanted to tell you last night, but my voice just wouldn't come."

"Kagome... I don't care if you tell me or not... just as long as you felt it... that's enough for me." Inuyasha smiled as he gathered Kagome up in his arms and kissed her lightly, restraining himself so as to not harm Kagome any further. Inuyasha broke the kiss long enough to ask, "What about you moving away? Don't you want to be with your family?"

"I want to be with you more. I love my family," Kagome looked at her family, "but, you were always there for me, even more than my real family... Inuyasha, you are my family too, you and Sango and Miroku. I love you all." Kagome smiled as she saw Inuyasha smiling back at her.

"Hold on... Kagome... you are still my daughter, and I say you are moving with us..." Mrs. Higurashi said, breaking the lovers' trance. "Please, kindly remove your hands from my daughter; she is much too young for such relations."

Kagome and Inuyasha both frozen, as Mrs. Higurashi's glare bore into them. She was not happy, not one bit.

"Momma, please, let's sit and talk about this." Kagome tried to reason, her voice was now near normal volume and was getting better. Inuyasha sat next to Kagome, with his hand protectively around Kagome the entire time; he was not letting some old crone tear him away from Kagome, not again.

OKAY! Now for the new stuff!!!

Ch.16- Choices and Closet Encounters

The Higurashi family stood dumbfounded. This boy that no one knew was all of a sudden claiming to love their Kagome and now touching her. What had happened since they left?

"Kagome! Now I'm sure that this Inuyasha boy is a nice man, but we are moving, and the shrine is already being put up for sell." Mrs. Higurashi tried to sound in control and rational.

"Momma, you can not expect me to just pack up and leave everyone, all my friends, my school, my life... it's not fair, not for me at all." Kagome said, neither yelling nor sounding calm, her voice shook and was cracking from lack of moisture and use.

Inuyasha was unsure of what to do. If it was purely his decision he would snatch Kagome up, tell her family to fuck off and take her to his apartment where they could be alone for once, but he knew how much Kagome longed for her family, and how lonely she was when they were not there for her. He could never take her away from her family, not for all the ramen in the world. Though letting her go would certainly kill him.

"Kagome..." Her grandpa pleaded. "Listen to your mother, we love you, but this is a great opportunity for all of us. The new shrine has a great reputation and many, many visitors. Our income will more than triple with all the merchandise we sell on the grounds. The local schools are very well respected; transferring into a decent college would be no trouble from any one of those schools."

Kagome looked into her grandpa's eyes; they were filled with concern, but also blinded by the prospect of a 'triple income.' Her brother was unusually silent; Kagome noticed then that he was starring intently at Inuyasha. "Souta?"

Souta jumped at the sound of his name, he was knocked back into the real world, from wherever he had been before. "Ummm, yes sister? Wh...What is it? Hmmm?" Souta stuttered.

"Why so nervous? What were you thinking about?" Kagome was glad for the break in the conversation. Her mother and grandpa were obviously not changing their minds about the move, and she needed time to think.

"Hmm, thinking? I wasn't thinking about anything... nope..." Souta looked away nervously.

"Liar." Inuyasha stated plainly.

"I am not!"

"Are to!"

"Am not!"

"Are to! You little insolent basta..."

Inuyasha was cut off by Kagome's hand securely covering his mouth. "Shhh... Now Souta, why don't you go play somewhere, while the grown ups talk, hmm?"

"He's hardly a grown up..." Souta muttered about Inuyasha as he sauntered off to go find something to do.

Inuyasha found that having Kagome's hand cover his mouth was not as pleasant as he would have imagined. He looked at her, she was looking at the spot where Souta had disappeared. Taking this chance to have a little fun, disregaurding the inappropraitness of the time and place, he gently took the tip of his tongue and traced a pattern on Kagome's palm. He watched her facial expressions from the corner of his eye as they went from surprised to a slight smile, to a sudden realization at what he was doing and who was also in the room.

"Kagome? Are you alright?" Mrs. Higurashi asked noticing her daughters sudden change in composure.

"Uh, what? Yeah, I'm cool, nothing wrong here..." Kagome mumbled as she removed her hand from Inuyasha's busy mouth. 'Wicked devil... what the hell was he thinking?'

'Ha... that'll teach you to try and shut me up... wench.' Inuyahsa smirked at himself. He was thoroughly pleased with himself at the moment. It was certainly a nice break from the grimness of the current situation.

A nurse was busily running up and down the halls, caring for all the various patients that reside in the hospital. She was running around looking for some more towels, when she came across the supply closet. "Perfect." She mused and continued to open the door. She looked straight to where the towels were usually, but in their place was something else. "Ahhh! What are you two doing here? Get out this is a hospital not a cheap motel!"

Sango and Miroku scrambled for their clothing and various things that had fallen out of their pockets during their heated exchange.

"Sorry miss..." Miroku avoided eye contact as he and the beat red Sango ran out of the closet.

"Kids... I swear..." The nurse shook her head in dismay and decided to go get towels from another closet, not being too sure as to what may be in the one she was starring at.

Sango was looking at the floor the entire time. "You know it's ok that we didn't, you know... 'do it' as they say." Sango whispered.

Miroku looked ahead. "Right... look could we not mention this anymore, I'm sure Inuyasha will just have a field day with this."

"Oh, yes, of course. Next time will make up for this time, I'm sure of it." Sango smiled a little at the prospect of the next time.

"No."

"What? What do you mean no?" Sango looked at Miroku who was void of all emotion.

"I mean, there will not be another time. This was a one time thing, I'm sorry." He sped up slightly and reached Kagome's room before Sango.

"No next time?" Sango stopped for a minute. 'That doesn't sound like the Miroku I know... something must be wrong.' She ran to catch up.

"Now Kagome you get to leave at 5pm today, at that time you will come with us to the old house to gather your things and then we will proceed to your new home. Do you understand? That is final." Mrs. Higurashi decided to put her foot down and finally give Kagome a command.

"Mother..." Kagome started but stopped. 'What do I say?' She glanced over at Inuyasha, he was looking at her also, but he had been staring, trying to read her thoughts maybe. 'He's so cute... but a devil at times.' She thought as she remembered all the memories she had with him. "I could never leave him." Kagome said, not noticing she had said it out loud.

"What? What have you two done that makes it that you can't leave him? Kagome! What have you done?" Her mother almost blew a gasket thinking about her daughter being with someone before she was married.

Inuyahsa leaned into Kagome and whispered close into her ear, "I know you want to, but you can not let anyone else know about the Shikon no Tama. Already too many people know."

"Right" She whispered back. "Momma, listen. I love Inuyasha... and he loves me. I just can't live without him, or my friends."

With this Miroku walked in, looking like he had just been hit by a speeding car.

Inuyasha almost lost control laughing when he caught sight of his clothing. "What the hell happened to you?"

"Not now..." Miroku murmured and took a seat, not acknowledging Kagome's family in the slightest.

"Well, okay then. Kagome you can't stay here by yourself, no house, no family, no nothing." Grandpa said coming to touch Kagome's hand.

"She can stay with me." Inuyasha offered, glancing at Miroku briefly then at Kagome.

Kagome starred at Inuyasha in disbelief. 'That was sudden. Only last night he finally admitted how he felt and now he wants to live with me?'

"With a man?" Mrs. Higurashi pointed out.

"Why not, that way I wouldn't have to drive all the way to her Aunt's house just to fuck her. She'll be in the next room, or the same bed, whatever." Inuyasha smiled, completely serious.

"Oh my god..." Kagome clamped her hand over his mouth again, though this time she was too late.

Mrs. Higurashi's eyes were literally popping out of her face, almost as much as the vain in her neck. "Young man, do you think that is anyway to go about winning this argument?"

Kagome removed her hand before Inuyasha could try anything. "Mother, calm yourself, he was only joking."

"No I wasn't." Inuyasha crossed his hands over his chest.

"Inuyahsa, shut up right now." Kagome smiled sarcastically at him.

"Only because you asked so nicely." He returned her sarcasm with a bite.

Sango entered the room and was surprised to see Inuyasha holding Kagome around the waist, and that Miroku was slouched in the chair looking horrible. "Umm, did I miss something?"

"Sango just sit down right now." Kagome motioned to an empty chair, which was surprising seeing how many people were acumalaiting in her room.

"Right." Sango complied and sat down quietly, glaring at Miroku once in awhile.

Now that everyone was assembled in the same room Kagome felt that she could finish this without anymore interruptions, truthfully she was not completely well and was beginning to get tired. "Alright, now listen to me, I will only say this once more. I am tired and want to rest. I love Inuyasha, and even if I move with you guys, I will not be home at all. I will be constantly here with my friends, and spending the night at Inuyasha's or Sango's. So either way mother I will be here."

"What if I forbid you?" Mrs. Higurashi countered.

"I am almost of age to where I can choose for myself, or maybe I will just run away in the mean time. Do you really want to risk loosing me forever? Can you do that? Maybe you can, you were never home anyway after father died. All of you always had to be somewhere, and go on some vacation without me. Of course you always left enough money, and I was always well taken care of, but you were never there. Never." Kagome had finally said it. It all just came flowing out. 'Wow, that was bottled up for a while.' She felt Inuyasha's grip tighten on her. This comforted her.

"Kagome... I... I don't know what to say. I never knew you felt that way. Why have you never said anything before this?" Grandpa said, greatly surprised by Kagome's little outburst.

"Always. I have always felt this way."

"We will leave you now..." Mrs. Higurashi stated suddenly, looking to the floor.

"Momma?" Kagome questioned as Mrs. Higurashi turned to the door.

"Grandpa, go get Souta, I will meet you out front." Kagome's mother said not once turning around.

"But, Kagome..." He started to protest.

"Now!" She yelled with force.

"Yes..." Grandpa began to leave, but he turned to look at Kagome one more time. "We do love you my little one."

Kagome's eyes began to could with tears.

"Kagome, live life your way... keep the credit card, it will be paid for monthly, use it s you see fit." Mrs. Higurashi walked to the door, as she came close to exiting, she stopped herself and looked back. "Kagome, you know where we will be... don't forget we will always be there should you need us, call sometime, so I don't worry too much. Alright?" Tears were trickling down her check, leaving moist trails behind.

Kagome stared at her mother for a good minute, then cleared her throat and whipped away the tears. "Alright... momma..."

"Good, see you then. Inuyasha, don't touch her." Then she was gone. The room was quite. No one spoke.

Miroku had watched the entire thing, he was very surprised at the outcome. He was sure Kagome would be carted off to live somewhere far away and then he and Inuyasha would have to move again.

"If you all wouldn't mind, I would like to get some sleep, this has taken a lot out of me." Kagome smiled weakly.

"Of course." Sango and Miroku said together and then walked out, smiling comfortingly at Kagome.

"I will be right outside if you need me." Inuyasha said as he began to rise.

"No, please lie here with me, at least until I'm asleep..." Kagome grabbed Inuyasha wrist has it began to leave her.

Inuyasha smirked. "Are you sure? I mean your mother did say I was not to touch you."

"I was never one to obey my mother, and something tells me you weren't either." Kagome started to lie down, as she did she pulled Inuyasha down with her.

"You know me all too well." He laughed as he relaxed.

"Inuyasha?"

"Hmm?"

"I love you."

Inuyasha leaned over and showed Kagome how he felt with a kiss, a sweet and slow one. "I know."

"Aren't you suppose to say 'I love you too, my darling' or something like that?"

"Nope..." Inuyasha closed his eyes and began to snore.

"What? Inuyasha? You bastard!" Kagome turned over and slowly drifted into sleep, muttering the entire time about how selfish Inuyasha was.

When he was sure she was asleep Inuyasha slowly opened one eye and kissed Kagome's neck. "I love you too, my darling."

A/N- Okay there you have it. If any of you are still out there please review so I don't get back into this habit of not updating. Next chapter I will hopefully address Miroku and his problems with Sango, though most of you may already know from what I had wrote already, it's not that hard to figure out. Inuyasha and Kagome will have a nice time for awhile, I think they deserve at least that, so Kouga won't come until at the very least Ch. 18.

Love Y'all and PLEASE REVIEW!!!!