1 I'm Back from Cleveland. Guess what, while I was there, I saw this modern art sculpture of a giant stamp that said FREE on it. If I could get a crane, I would pick it up, stamp all of the InuYasha characters with it, and take them for myself, kukukukukuku. Anyways, thanks for all of the great reviews! I really hope to get lots more, I wanna break 100 reviews. But sadly, this is the last chapter before the epilogue. (Cries....and cries....still crying...... erm, this might take a while, heh, heh) BTW, exclamation points didn't work last chappie, so I'm not sure If they'll work on this one...

Disclaimer: I'm getting tired of this, what sort of idiot doesn't know by now that I don't own InuYasha! Oh.......you don't.......eh, heh, heh, heh. Ano.......look at the time, cya.

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Kagome stared up at InuYasha, Eyes full of pain, sorrow, and fear. 'Is she afraid of me?' He wondered, though showing no sign of his concern on his face. All that could be seen on his features was a look of pure seriousness. The shadows that fell on his face only emphasized that look. Kagome shuddered.

'Why now? Why me?' She thought. "I....." she trailed off, her courage failing her as one solitary tear slid down her cheek.

"You?......." questioned InuYasha, his face now changing to an inquisitive look.

"I- I-, Minna-san how to say this?" InuYasha was starting to get Impatient....some people never learn.

"Oi, a simple yes or no would be sufficient." Kagome looked deep into his eyes. Not even the rustling sound the bushes made good help relax the tension. She closed her eyes.

"Yes InuYasha, I love you." She her face away several more tears leaking from the corner of her eyes.

"Idiot!" shouted InuYasha "You know I love you Damnit!!!" but before InuYasha could even register what he had just said the cave echoed with the sound of a loud smack.

"How dare you!!!!!!" she screamed "I'm dead serious and you have the nerve to tell me you love me back when we both know how damn much you still love Kikyo!!!! And even after all this time, when you should have already known how I feel, you STILL have to ask me if I mean it!!!!! How dare you!!!! How God-damn dare you!!!!!!!!!" Kagome was panting from how loud she had yelled, and InuYasha took this time as his opportunity to respond.

"Kagome..... I- I- still have a promise to keep to Kikyo, I still have to protect her, but, I never promised her she could keep my heart forever. I never promised her I'd love her forever, though I admit, there was a time when I did think that I would. But, I think , no I know, that back then, I was wrong. And I know someday, I may have to break the promise I made to her to keep the promise I made to protect you. Because I do..... I- I do love you, and I want to be able to keep you safe and protect you from everything that could possibly hurt you in anyway, even if it means I have to protect you from myself. I love you Kagome, And I promise, I mean it, and you of all people should know I don't break my promises."

Kagome looked up into his eyes. She wanted to believe him so desperately, but she wasn't sure, she didn't want to go through heartbreak. And InuYasha was looking back into her eyes, and he could see her apprehension. A tear rolled down his cheek, but even in the dimness of the cave, you could see his loving smile, a smile that very few creatures ever got to see. A genuine, loving, caring smile. Kagome smiled back, finally feeling reassured. Without even needing to think, InuYasha pulled Kagome into his arms and kissed her. Kagome kissed back, letting all of her love and emotion flow into it.

The bushes rustled again. "All right InuYasha!!!!" The all to familiar shouting of a perverted monk was heard for behind them. Then the sound of a smack. "What? I couldn't help myself." They abruptly broke their kiss, Kagome blushing a bright red, and InuYasha with a vain popping out on his forehead and his hand clenched into a fist ready to pummel the poor lecher. InuYasha walked over to the bush where they had been hiding. He grabbed Miroku by the collar of his shirt.

"What are you doing?" he asked in the most intimidating annoyed tone of voice that anyone had ever heard.

"Well, you see," Miroku started, but InuYasha wasn't paying attention, he just started chasing miroku to pound the bleeding hell out of him.

"Kagome, aren't you gonna sit him?" Asked Shippou, who was currently sitting on Sango's shoulder.

"I can't." she simply stated. "He broke the rosary."

"What!!!!!!" yelled Miroku. InuYasha smirked, being sure to let his fangs show. "Fuck it." Said Miroku, and now he was running at least ten times as fast.

"InuYasha, don't kill him!" yelled Kagome. InuYasha stopped in the middle of a punch. "Even if the rosary is gone, he's still our friend!"

"Feh" said InuYasha. And as the sun was just setting over the horizon, they left to return home.

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A/N: Well, what do you think? The next chapter is the epilogue, then, I'll post the 'original' songfic chapter, and you'll see why I changed the song. Since I really don't have to right an epilogue, even though I really need to work on my endings to series, because I thought the way I ended this one really sucked, I'm not gonna post an my epilogue till I get at least ten reviews, cause I only got 4 last chapter and that made me sad. I feel bad about ending this, but every story has to end. And once this is over I can make a new story, but still, It'll be hard watching the end to my very first fanfic. So please R&R. Now I'm getting depressed that it's almost over. (Sigh)

oh well.

Ja Ne!

YuniX-2