FUCK GOD DAMN IT! I just realized something. Ok, in the manga, Miroku's cursed hand is his left. In the show, it's his right. Well, uh... in "The Demonic Side" I said that it was his left, going with the manga. That's what I have been wanting to do: go with the manga. But I noticed that until last chapter, I had been saying it's his right hand. I am SOOO sorry. I bet none of you noticed, but I still feel like shit for it. Just know that every time I said right, I meant left when talking about the kazaana, k?

Chapter Twenty-Five: Back Home Again

"Damn it, stop jerkin me around, ass wipe!" Inu Yasha screamed into the forest. Birds fluttered from their perches on the branches as pain shot through the hanyou's body. Koga smirked evilly as he gripped Inu Yasha around the chest. He was stuck carrying the torso, so he was going to have fun.

"Oh, come off it, I didn't do anything." Just as he spoke, he violently shifted Inu Yasha in his hands. The hanyou seethed with agonizing pain. Sesshomaru silently strode along the path, holding Inu Yasha's legs in one arm. Behind him, his younger brother threw curses and threats to the ookami youkai. Kagome stood beside the injured nigens, helping them when needed. Considering the intensity of their wounds, they were not much affected by their pain.

Miroku held Sango's hand with his right while his left clenched around the beads. The burning sensation hadn't ceased since he had woken up on the ground. Sango noticed his hand clench at his side and suddenly realized something. She stopped walking and grabbed his left wrist. As Miroku asked her questions as to what she was doing, the taijiya unwrapped his prayer beads.

"SANGO NO!!" He screamed. His outburst caused everyone to look in his direction. Sango stared down at the houshi's hand. The purple cloth was loosely hanging from his appendage as she flipped it, palm up. Silence fell over the group as Sango's light fingers rolled over the round shaped scar that was now in place of his kazaana. Kagome stared at the still healing hole as Sango continued to soundlessly touch it. A small grunt brought the group back to reality.

Koga made a frustrated sound as he resituated his arms, again shifting Inu Yasha. Without saying a word, the hanyou threw his head backwards and hit Koga in the chest. Everyone looked at them as he grunted. Kagome sighed.

"Alright, we're moving. Don't worry guys, the village is close," she replied. They all started walking again; Miroku's mind was completely void. His kazaana was actually gone. Naraku was really dead. He no longer had his kazaana to worry about. What now? Miroku had nothing to think about. The hovering curse had been lifted, like his exorcisms. It wasn't following him around. He was no longer cursed.

A small hand curled in his and brought a smile to his face. Sango leaned against his arm and sighed contently as they all walked to Keade's village.

---

Kagome sat under Goshinboku with the Shikon no Tama hanging from her neck. The cool wind blew by her as she mindlessly fiddled with the small gem. All their journeys were for this. All the pain and suffering everyone had undergone was surrounded by the power of the jewel. Was it really worth it? Could the jewel actually grant a wish? All she wanted was for every one to be happy. How could that backfire? She sighed and partly opened her closed eyes.

Sesshomaru had left almost immediately after helping Inu Yasha into the hut. Koga had left not long after, telling Kagome that "mutt face isn't that bad. But if he hurts you, I'm here for you." So, Koga finally understood that she was with Inu Yasha. Sango and Miroku were sleeping when she left the hut. Shippo was curled with Inu Yasha. When Kagome had left, not a person was awake. The sun had just been rising when she took her place at the base of the god tree.

Oranges, reds, and blues painted the sky around the sun and lavender highlighted the clouds. No one knew what the group had been through. The villagers in this time, the world in her time. Not a single person understood the suffering that she and her friends had gone through. Their paths in life had all been altered when Kagome came through the well all those years ago. Inu Yasha's because he was awoken and had fallen in love with her; Miroku's because he had finally gotten rid of the wind scar and met Sango; Sango because she had met Kagome, become basically sisters and fallen in love with a lecherous monk. And it all had started on the morning of her fifteenth birthday with a fat cat venturing off into the old well.

What would her life be like if she had never gone in to get Buyo? Yuka, Eri, and Ayumi wouldn't think she was deathly ill all the time. She would have gone out with Hojo many times and maybe even fallen in love with him. Kagome wouldn't have a clue as to who Inu Yasha was, so she wouldn't be comparing the two. Her schoolwork would be caught up; colleges would be accepting her left and right. But.... Did she really want that life?

The sun shone down on her, heating her skin as a cool breeze passed by. No, she wouldn't trade her life here for anything, not all the money, all the fame, all the brains, nothing. Kagome loved her double life. Her friends, her love, her adventures. It kept her on her feet, made her quicker, stronger. Inu Yasha was her life. She wouldn't give him up. Not now, not ever. She sighed sadly.

It had been three days since they had returned. Inu Yasha hadn't opened his eyes once. His skin was normal; his breaths had gotten deeper and normal. The light moon on his forehead was still there, but you had to look hard to see it. Maybe it was there to seal his demonic blood. But, did it also mean he wouldn't wake? Kagome could only think that since it was there, it was somehow making his healing time slower. He didn't have any wounds. Keade said he was only mentally exhausted. She looked down at the sparkling jewel.

Should she use the wish to make sure Inu Yasha never went full demon again? Should she wish that Kohaku were still alive, for Sango's sake? Should she bring Shippo's parents back and make the kitsune have his own, original family? A heavy breath escaped her lips as she contemplated what to do with the Shikon no Tama. It had caused so much pain, could it truly do good as well? She noticed the more she thought of making pure wishes, the light in the jewel shone a brighter pink. She tried something else.

Should she wish for everyone to die, bringing death and sorrow to the world? A dark menacing purple color filled the jewel. She made a weak smile. Maybe that wasn't such a good thought... Kagome began thinking of doing good again, bringing the pure color back into the gem. The stone fell from her hand and made a dull thud against the skin on her chest. The worn out school uniform swayed as she stood. Kagome made her way back to the hut to see if any one was awake. She needed to discuss this with them.

---

She sat down next to the still asleep hanyou. Shippo made his way to her arms before curling in her lap. He had his arms around Inu Yasha's, meaning the hanyou's hand was now also curled in her lap. Kagome smiled. The kitsune really did think of Inu Yasha as a father, just like Kagome was his 'mother'. Sango, Miroku, and Keade sat opposite of them, stirring a stew for lunch. Kirara sauntered into the hut, crawling into Sango's lap with a small mew and yawn.

"So, I've been thinking of the wish," Kagome started, slowly stroking the red hair on Shippo's head. "I have a couple suggestions."

Keade picked up a bowl and began to fill it. "Ye are the jewel's protector now, Kagome." The girl nodded.

"Then it should be your wish," Sango said.

"Well, Sango, I wanna use the wish for you. Don't you want Kohaku back?"

The taijiya smiled slightly and looked at her friend. "Kohaku is finally at rest, Kagome. He spent the good part of three years under Naraku's control. You don't have to worry about him. I bet he's happy now."

Kagome nodded, looking down at the kitsune in her lap. "Shippo," she said softly, watching as his tired eyes looked up at her, half open. "Shippo, would you like me to use the jewel to bring back your parents?"

The small fox thought a moment before hugging Inu Yasha's arm tighter. "No, you are my family now, and Mom and Dad would be happy." Shippo yawned once before instantly falling back to sleep.

"So, you guys really don't want the jewel for anything?" Everyone nodded. "Then, can I use it for Inu Yasha?"

"Of course, Lady Kagome," Miroku replied. She nodded and took the bowl Keade had filled for her.

END CHAPTER

All right, I need to know something from all y'alls. Ok. Since Kagome was raped by Naraku ::grumbles:: Inu needs to reclaim her as his mate. Would you guys like me to throw that lemon in here or just leave it at the end of the next chapter saying how they did? I need to know, so if ya'd please tell me. Later!!

Inu Face