CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Christmas by the Seashore.

Kagome smiled into his eyes as the fire crackled before her. She could hear her friends in the background screaming, not singing, out Christmas carols like 'Grandma Got Ran Over By A Reindeer' and 'Santa's Coming to Rob Billy Bob' or the all American classic: "Rudolph the Redneck Reindeer." She could barely hear the ocean behind them as its waves lapped against the shore. But she liked this. She loved her friends more than anything in the world.

Kagome felt like the happiest person alive. So much had happened to her over her life, but this was truly what life is supposed to be about: spending it with your loved ones. Her friends were her loved ones; they were her family.

Spike stood up and threw his empty bottle into the bonfire before he screamed. "Whose ready for fireworks?"

Rei sighed as she began messaging her temples. "Spike…you're drunk aren't you?"

Spike sputtered something before he stumbled backwards.

Everyone laughed.

Kagome giggled as Miroku and Duo tried to help Spike to his feet, but their speech was just as slurred as his was, and the three of them ended up striping down and skinny-dipping. They were lucky that it never got cold where they lived in California.

Kagome watched as even more of her friends went and joined the streaking party, until finally only the girls and Inuyasha were left with cloths on. Kagome was embarrassed to see that even Kouga was plastered. Aunt Misao was going to be pissed.

Ayame looked at Kagome worriedly. "Is he always like this?"

"Who Kouga?" Kagome snorted. "Trust me…it only gets worse. I'm lucky to have a guy who's…" Kagome turned to smile at Inuyasha but he was gone, "…mature." Kagome saw him jump onto Miroku's back as the boys tried to stuff a firecracker into a seashell with out burning themselves…in the nude. Kagome's face went scarlet.

"Oh yeah," Sango snorted sarcastically. "Inuyasha mature…never thought I'd hear that one." She skeptically looked at the bottle in her hand. "Maybe I've had a little too much." She hiccuped before she stood up and pulled her shirt off. "If you can't beat em…join em." She took off.

Kagome glanced over at Asuka who was glaring daggers at something; Kagome followed her gaze. Kenji was standing right in the center of flesh as the firecracker went off…this time blowing up a crab. Boy, after a few drinks Kenji became incredibly…open.

Kagome giggled. Yep…this was the reason for life.

She stared up at the sky peacefully. It all felt so long ago…like years behind her. But on the grand scale of things the tournament had really only just happened. She felt like a new person, like it wasn't her anymore…or like she was watching herself from a distance. It didn't feel real. Kagome didn't feel like the 'angel sent from God himself to save the world.' That was how she was described in a scroll found in Israel by a couple of scientists earlier that month. Kagome didn't feel like the savoir of the world. She didn't feel like she had done much of anything, but then again her life wasn't over with yet. She still had probably many more prophecies to fulfil that she hadn't heard of yet; hell she might even die from one. She tried not to think about that now.

But she really didn't feel like she did much of anything, although there was still a lot of things that happened during the fight with Demona that Kagome couldn't remember. For instance…Sion Barzahd. But she had asked for that, Kagome had asked Asuka the day she had gotten back from the hospital for Asuka to erase most of her memory of Sion Barzahd and Dante Doi. She felt guilty because of it, but she had felt so depressed about their deaths. Kagome may be the Last Miko, but she was still just a human, with many human weaknesses. Sion had been a friend. But Kagome didn't remember him much anymore…only a vague picture occupied her mind…though she did know that he had once existed and helped her…but she never knew what happened to him. She was lying to herself, something she knew she would pay for dearly, but now that it was gone it didn't haunt her much anymore. What she didn't know didn't hurt her.

Kagome, before she had had her memory altered, believed that she hadn't been the one that killed Demona. She had believed that Sion had sacrificed himself. Since if Demona died, Sion would, Kagome had a slight feeling that it could work the other way around. And when Sion's autopsy was done, there was poison found in his system, and a bottle containing the substance was found in his pocket. Kagome had thought that she had killed Demona a little too easily. Kagome believed Demona had been dead by the time she had even started her attack. But those theories had been erased.

Inuyasha ran over and picked Kagome up (in his swim trunks you perv…but you can imagine he's nude if you want) whispering into her ear. "Love you." He kissed her cheek.

Kagome sighed, she could smell the alcohol on his breath. Oh well…at least he's showing affection…even if it's at the cost of a hangover. "I love-"

Inuyasha suddenly picked her up into his arms, not giving her the chance to finish her sentence. "Ready to get a little wet?"

She protested, yelling at him and hitting him with her fists, but it didn't deter him as he began to carry her out into the ocean and then threw her into a wave. Kagome glared at him before she charged, jumping onto his chest and sending them both sprawling under water.

She surfaced first, and the second she saw his head break through the water she dunked him back under. She was grinning victoriously when suddenly her legs were yanked out from under her, sending her right back under the salty ocean. She was going to be sore tomorrow; not that she wasn't already from the 'Sigfreed Suicide'.

When Kagome reached the surface again she turned to glare dangerously at her drunk boyfriend. Inuyasha just grinned boyishly at her.

Kagome sighed. She couldn't stay mad at him.

Inuyasha waded over to her, the water now just skimming his chin. "I'm gonna have a bitch ass hangover tomorrow aren't I?"

Kagome nodded. "Yeah."

"And I'm going to end up at your house so Aunt Misao doesn't find out, right?"

Kagome snorted. "Yep…just like last time…just like the last three times actually."

"And you're going to end up sitting by my side the whole time too?"

Kagome nodded. "Unfortunately…this is what I get-"

"I'm sorry."

She snapped her eyes onto his, openly staring at him. She was trying to read his emotions, and see if he really meant his apology, but his eyes were too glazed over to really tell. Either way an apology wasn't an often occurrence with him so it had to be sincere.

"I wish I could be better." His voice was very slurred. "But I wuv you."

Kagome gave out a heavy sigh and smiled. "I know." She couldn't help it, when he was drunk he reminded her of a small child or puppy. So cute and naïve. She just couldn't get mad at him.

Inuyasha looked at her desperately before he glanced down at the bottle that floated beside him. "I'm not very good at this boyfriend thing am I?"

Kagome giggled. "Neither are they." She pointed over at Miroku and the other guys as they started trying to stuff a firecracker down Shippou's swim trunks.

"Yeah but…I'm supposed to be the best…I have to be if I want to keep you."

Kagome looked deeper into his glassy eyes in wonder. "Inuyasha?"

He glanced down into the water. "You can get a better one than me if you want."

Kagome rolled her eyes before she wrapped her arms around him. "Nah…I like the dog ears…and the muscles…I don't think I could find another pair of those that love me as much as yours do - my asshole."

He hugged her as tight as he could without harming her, even when he was drunk he knew he had to be easy with her. She was fragile, even if she tried to act like she wasn't. She was especially delicate now, her back, arms, shoulders, legs, thighs, stomach, and chest were all still covered in bruises from the fight, most of them came from being thrown around in the rafters. She was special to him. Kagome was everything, and he was going to keep his promises that he had made when he thought Kagome was dead. He was going to protect her no matter what, even if it meant he could never touch beer again. He was slowly learning what it took to take care of her, and how his actions affected the outcome. If he had a fight with someone right at that second over her in the drunken state he was in…he knew he'd loose. Though he didn't mind that she was so much more work than other girls. Other girls were only out for the good time; Kagome was there for the rest of his life. He knew she was the only girl that could truly make him happy…or be able to put up with him. She was the girl for him.

Kagome's brow creased, just by touching him she could read a few of his thoughts, not all of them, only the ones that he openly thought about. Most of them were about her, and just how much he loved her. But what caught Kagome's attention the most was a small thought he had about being willing to give up anything just to keep her. The realization hit her: this was for real. She'd never had anybody love her with their entire being before. She thought for a moment if her feelings were as strong as his. Most definitely. This was the guy she pictured herself living the rest of her life with, which sort of spooked her a little. She had her whole life ahead of her…she wasn't ready to 'settle down' or anything yet. But then again….

"I love you so much, Inuyasha." She actually cried, which is an emotion she tried to never show anyone.

Inuyasha slightly hiccuped. "I wanna have your baby."

Kagome giggled. "Just how many drinks have you had?"

He started counting them on his fingers…and then his toes. "Three."

Kagome sighed. "I'll make you a deal, I can drink more drinks than you before the night is through. If I win…" She leaned in and whispered something into his ear.

Inuyasha's cheeks went red. "And if I win…can we do the same thing?"

Kagome giggled. "Sure…but only if you brush your teeth. You've got beer and pizza breath."

He burped.

"Yuck." Kagome laughed. "I'm dating a slob."

He chuckled. "It'll get worse over time."

Kagome frowned. "When?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "You'll have to stick around to find out." He wrapped an arm around her neck as they made their way back towards the shore.

"Mm-hmm. I can't wait." She laughed sarcastically. I love you.

I love you, too, Kagome.

Kagome grabbed a beer from the cooler, having a slight problem popping the cap off she settled on using her powers and melted it off. She wasn't supposed to use her miko abilities much, not if she didn't want time to repeat itself. But everyone knew Kagome wasn't good at following orders.

She sat back down on her towel in front of the fire and watched as it crackled, entranced by its heat. Inuyasha sat down behind her, wrapping his arms around her middle, and resting his chin on her shoulder. She leaned into him and smiled.

"Inuyasha…?" There was a question she had been wanting to ask him but she didn't know how to say it without sounding, greedy, clingy, or needy. "Why-why do you love me? I mean other than being the last miko…there's nothing really all that special about me…."

Inuyasha gave her a strange look, almost like he was stunned by her words. "Why wouldn't I?"

Kagome took a deep breath. "No, I mean what is it about me…that makes you love me? There has to be a reason."

Inuyasha reverted his gaze back to the fire. "You don't need a reason to love someone. I mean sure, there can be something you like about someone…but if that something is the entire reason you care about them then it sounds like you're drawn more to that something than that person."

Kagome stared at him through the corner of her eye, there was something about Inuyasha when he was drinking alcohol, sure it wasn't healthy or smart…not to mention illegal, but whenever he drank it seemed like he lost his barriers and the real Inuyasha came out. He even sounded smarter and more intellectual. He was more open, he even said things that made even Kagome wonder…to bad he wouldn't remember any of this in the morning. So…Kagome decided to take advantage of that.

"Do you want to know why I love you? I really don't know why. Normally I hate all the lovey-dovey romantic crap…I hate chick flicks and Fabio novels…but with you I feel differently about that. I…I just don't know what it is that draws me to you. But you know I love you no matter what. I always have, I think, or at least since the last day of school last year when you and I got in that fight right after school…."

"You mean the time you pinned me down to the floor and yelled at me to say mercy?"

Kagome's face reddened. "Yeah. I don't know why…but I think something clicked that day." She took a sip of her beer, her first real sip, and practically choked. "Dear God…how can you drink this crap?" She threw the bottle into the fire.

Inuyasha laughed. "Well at least I now know I'm going to win this bet."

She elbowed him, but laughed nonetheless. She knew whether she won or not the outcome would still be the same.

And so the night went on from there. Thank God they were on a private beach for locals only. The boys demolition total went as follows: 3 crabs, 29 seashells, Kouga's guitar, Sango's bra, and Shippou's swim shorts. Kagome and Inuyasha's bet: Kagome had half a bottle of beer. Inuyasha made it all the way to seven. What they did that night in the back of his new truck…it's up to you.


Kagome took a deep breath as she stared up at the school's entrance. "I can't believe I'm actually going in there."

Inuyasha gave her a funny look. "Its just school…you've been going to it for eleven years…you'll live."

Kagome nodded. "Yeah but…I really don't want to face all these people-"

Inuyasha took her hand and kissed it. "Hope it's not because of me…cause you know I ain't going anywhere…you're stuck with me."

She rolled her eyes. "Ain't is not a word."

"It's in the dictionary."

Kagome took a deep breath. "Whatever." She exhaled and sighed before she grumbled: "Christmas vacation was fun while it lasted. Hey, do you think there's any way no one heard about …about the Sigfreed Suicide?"

Inuyasha nodded. "I doubt it…but Texas is far away…if we're lucky no one even heard about it."

Kagome smiled. "Oh well…back to hell we go." She made her way up the steps cautiously, still hand in hand with her boyfriend…and this time he didn't have to pay her.

Kagome was still incredibly sore from the accident, and the stitches in her stomach still hurt from where she had accidentally ripped them back open at the New Year party they had had at 4-C.

Inuyasha stood by her side, carrying her book bag for her. The doctor had said that he didn't want Kagome carrying any heavy loads for awhile, especially on her back where she'd fallen on to the edge of the boxing ring.

Kagome's grip tightened around Inuyasha's hand as they took their first steps into the front lobby. As they made their way towards Kagome's locker everyone seemed to turn and stare at her, Kagome wasn't sure if it was because she was holding hands with Lucifer or because they knew what happened. No one confronted her about it, instead they gossiped away behind her back. She hadn't even been in the school five minutes and they were already spreading rumors about her again. Well at least everything was back to normal…whether that was a bad thing or a good thing she didn't know.

Kagome leaned in and whispered into Inuyasha's ear. "Why do you think everybody is staring at us?"

"Oh I dunno…maybe it's because its…us…together…holding hands. We're supposedly mortal enemies, you know?"

"Oh…well I never got that memo." Kagome rolled her eyes before she opened her locker door. Her eyes widened as literally hundreds of folded up notes and cards came spewing out onto the floor. Kagome looked and saw a vase of red roses sitting on top of her books; she removed a note that had been stuffed under the ribbon. She read it:

Kagome,

I am so sorry for everything that has happened. When I saw it on the news the only thought that came to mind was 'that could have been me…or even more possibly my brother.' I apologize for everything I ever said and did to you. You seem like a nice person…even if you did break my nose at Inuyasha's party. Lol. I'm so sorry, I hope you can forgive me.

Sincerely,

Sakuya Kobuyashi

P.S. The roses are from the entire cheerleading squad.

Kagome turned to Inuyasha in astonishment. "Pinch me."

"But you're sore-"

"Just do it."

He did.

"Ouch." She smacked him. "I don't believe this. Here, read this note." She handed it to him. "Can you believe it?"

He read it. "Whoa…and she seemed like a bitch when I dated her…."

Kagome's brow furrowed. "Then why did you date her?"

"Because I knew you hated her."

Kagome grumbled something about 'dating a dog' before she knelt down and began picking up the letters. "They're so many." She gaped. "There's like one from everyone." She read one. "This ones from…the PE teacher…and here's one from Kaoru Tomoku…you remember him, Inuyasha? He's one of Naraku's gang members. And here's one from Kaeko the girl in third period that used to make fun of me and call me a barbaric control freak because I beat the crap out of you last year."

Inuyasha frowned. "Just because you had me pinned to the floor doesn't mean you beat me up."

Kagome just giggled. "All these letters are…apology letters. I can't find one that's mean." Her eyes were sparkling, Inuyasha noticed this, she seemed…happy. "Look Inuyasha…here's one with a poem someone wrote…but the writer's anonymous."

Inuyasha smirked…that would be one of his that Spike had put in her locker for him earlier that morning.

Kagome's smile widened when she found one from Shippou, inside was a stick figure sketch of Demona being hung by 'Kagome the executioner.'

Sango and the others made their way over to Inuyasha and Kagome.

"Wow…are all these for you?" Spike played innocent.

Kagome nodded, "I…I…I don't believe all these people wrote me notes."

Asuka smiled. "It looks like there's one from everyone in the school…."

"Even from Kikyo." Kagome added as she held up the letter.

"Well it looks like those rumors are finally going to be put to rest…and it doesn't look like everyone hates you either."

The others agreed.

"It's all over." Kagome sat down on the floor in the middle of her letters. "It's all over…I'm…free?"

Spike snorted. "Not quite."

Kagome gave him a wry look. "What's that supposed to mean?"

The others smirked.

"You'll see…but right now we have an assembly in the gym we have to get to."

Inuyasha helped Kagome to her feet as she started stuffing as many letters as she could into her book bag, pockets, and when she finally ran out of room she started putting them in Inuyasha's satchel before they took off to the gymnasium.

They took a seat at the very back of the bleachers as Kagome took it upon herself to read more of the letters. She didn't even hear the principal arrive at the front of the congregation. She was too engrossed.

"--I hope everyone had a pleasant Christmas break" The Principal echoed over the crowd. "--I also hope that everyone had enough time to rest and rejuvenate so you can hit those books hard. But this is not the reason for this last minute assembly. It has come to my attention that upon recent events…the following students have been requited for heroic actions--"

Spike's smile erased. "What's he doing?" He hissed in Rei's ear. "I thought you told your dad that this is supposed to only be for Kagome."

Rei shrugged her shoulders. "I dunno."

"--And I would personally like to take this time and recognize them. Couch Hiei!" He beckoned

The Coach stood up and made his way over to the podium, taking a piece of paper out of his pocket. "Would the following students please come stand beside me. Asada, Rei for using her strengths to protect, rejuvenate, and protect others when they needed it. And for using all she had to protect her team."

Rei fumbled down to her father's side, her cheeks flustered.

"Fujishima, Sanosuke…for taking it upon himself to retrieve help for his friends when they were in danger…and for fighting for the life of others."

As he said this Sano sheepishly stood up from his spot on the bleachers to fumble down to the Coach's side.

"Haruno, Asami…for coming up with the resources to make the rescue possible…and for complying in the face of danger."

Asami didn't hesitate for a second to skip down and stand at Sano's side.

"Hayashi, Miroku…for protecting his friends even when he knew he was risking his own life…and yet he still took the place for others and endured the pain selflessly."

Miroku took a deep breath and made his way down to the front.

"Langely, Asuka…for giving everything she had, even when she was on the brink of death…just to secure her friends' safety."

She went and stood by the others.

"Matsumoto, Nobunaga…for complying in the face of danger and for giving everything he had…and then some…even if it meant endangering himself…which it did."

Spike reddened. It seemed like the Coach forgot about the little detail where Demona had mind warped him.

"Maxwell, Duo…for fighting with everything he had and for watching the backs of others."

Duo went to stand by his friends.

"Osagawa, Daisuke…for enduring relentless pain just to ensure that we were able to save the others, and for fighting with everything he had. "

And as the couch went down the line, everyone who he called out went down to get in line, some quicker then others:

"Sagara, Katsumi for giving it her all, even if she knew she would suffer for it and for braving through the fight even when she was on her last rope."

"Sagara, Ryoko for using her abilities to save fellow team members and for having the courage to fight."

"Sakamoto, Sango for sacrificing herself to save someone else, and for endangering herself when she knew she could have been killed."

"Shingumi, Kenji for taking leadership when it called upon him, and for taking uncharacteristic bravery in the face of danger…possibly even death."

"Ishinomori, Taki for using all that he had to help others when they were in danger, even if that meant using up all his own energy…and for fighting his heart out even if he was overwhelmed he still pushed forward."

Taki was the last one down, leaving Kagome alone up at the top of the bleachers. Everyone was staring expectantly now, but she wasn't aware of it. She was still engrossed in her letters.

"And finally…" the coach drawled out. "Would Miss Kagome Hirugashi please stand up."

Kagome snapped her head up at the mention of her name. "What?"

Coach Hiei sighed before repeating himself. "Would you please come to the front and stand here with the rest of the team, Miss. Hirugashi?"

Kagome shakily walked down to the front, taking a spot next to Inuyasha.

He smiled down at her and took her hand in his. "What's wrong with you?" He laughed in her ear. "You look like you've seen a ghost. You're all pale, and sort of greenish…and you got bags under your eyes…speaking of your eyes…they're blood shot." He was only joking but the look Kagome gave him told him she didn't think it was funny.

"Shut up."

"I would like to make a special acknowledgement of Ms. Hirugashi." The Coach announced. "Even though it was her we went to rescue…she ended up being the one who saved all of us. Ms. Hirugashi is a braver person than I could ever be. She endured torture…and just…far more pain, I'm sure, than any of us could comprehend."

Kagome was blushing now.

"Ms. Hirugashi is a strong individual, and I pray that everyone in hear understands this."

Kagome could see all 11,000 Deep Forest High School students staring down at her. She felt her cheeks go hot, her stage fright taking its toll.

"Take a look at these students." The coach indicated to his team. "It's because of them that all semester exams have been canceled."

Suddenly the room was filled with students screaming and jumping up and down.

Kagome looked at Inuyasha as he looked at her and smiled. "Doesn't look like anyone's going to hate you much anymore huh? In fact…you might just come out of this popular." He laughed.

Kagome's smile widened from ear to ear. "It doesn't matter if I do or don't. I'm just glad that Yusuke's rumors are over…and Sakuya apologized…and…Inuyasha?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks."

"For what?"

"For…everything. I love you." She had to scream over the crowd for him to hear, even with his demon hearing. Kagome jumped up and wrapped her arms around his middle.

Inuyasha smirked as he pulled back from her just enough to look her straight in the eyes. "Now if you can just promise me that you won't try blasting my head off we can live happily ever after."

Kagome glared at him, even though she was inwardly laughing.

Sango stared over at the couple and frowned. She was still worried about there safety.

Katsumi, seemingly able to read Sango's thoughts just laughed. "Don't worry, Sango. Kagome and Inuyasha are fine…in fact, Midoriko was born of a miko and a demon, and look at her, she became the most powerful woman in history…or was anyway. Kagome's ten times stronger then Midoriko, and as long as Inuyasha's around he'll protect her."

Sango shook her head. "That's not what I meant…I mean their bloods mixing and…."

"Sango chill." Duo chided in. "Kagome and Inuyasha are fine. Like Kitty said, Midoriko was a hybrid…and she turned out fine, really fine, granted she was hunted down and killed by a demented demon…but she was still-"

Sango rolled her eyes. "I get the picture."

Spike cheered before he ran over and tapped on the microphone on the podium "This thing on?" He could hear himself echo in the background so he took it as a yes. "Hey everyone…PACK's singing at 4-C this weekend. It's free-for-freaks-Friday. Everyone's welcome to come…we're even having a special concert. We have a new singer joining the band…Kagome Hirugashi!"

Kagome suddenly went very rigid. "WHAT? Spike you're dead!" She took off after him, literally hurtling over people.

Inuyasha just stood back and laughed. He had a feeling that when he and Kagome got married (don't tell her he was actually thinking about something like that) that Spike would end up being his best man…probably not a good thing, but oh well. That didn't matter now. He was content in the present. He had the girl he loved, his friends, his drum set, his car…he didn't need anything else. "So goes life." He sighed. "So goes…."

Kagome grabbed Spike by the collar. "You die now little man."

Inuyasha snickered. "I need new friends."


Well that's it folks, it seems like yesterday I started this thing on a whim…and it got a little bit bigger then I would have ever imagined. I started this thing as a 'high school fic' and then in the middle of it I just decided I was going to make the plot thicker. I may do an epilogue, but not likely. Just kidding. I will. Promise.