Authoress here.

I wanted to write a fic that could make people cry...but I don't think it's going to happen. I may as well try my hardest anyway! I love Inuyasha, so I figured it was about time for me to spew some Inuyasha stories.

EPILOGUE

She remembered the warmth of Miroku's hand in hers.

"I'll come back for you when you're older, Matori," he had said. "In four years, I'll come back."

She remembered him slipping his other arm around her waist to hold her close to him, being trapped in the moment for what seemed like an eternity.

She had smiled and the two had shared a kiss before he parted, not wanting to look back. She too, had turned away, knowing that to watch him walk away would break her heart more than him leaving already had.

It had been six years since she had last heard his voice and seen his sweet face. Six years had taken its toll on her heart.

START CHAPTER

"Inuyasha, do we have to stay here?"

Inuyasha growled at the young fox demon, and didn't reply.

"It's better than the woods, I guess," Kagome admitted. "But I don't see any places to stay."

Miroku hadn't said anything from the moment they had entered the small town after a few days walking. It was located in the middle of the woods, and didn't seem like a major tourist attraction. In fact, it seemed pretty small and desolate compared to others that he had seen. Now, his eyes landed on the sign that bore the town name: Karai. After he had seen the sign, he had fallen into a state of shock, but kept a blank expression on his face.

"Miroku? You okay? You haven't grabbed any girls butts yet." Sango said sarcastically.

He nodded, holding his staff tighter. "I'm fine. I was just thinking...how untouched this place is. Naraku's influence hasn't spread here yet." It was a lie, but a convincing one.

Inuyasha scoffed. "Yeah, whatever." He flexed his hands a moment later, sniffing the air with his keen nose. "I smell blood. Human."

Kagome shivered, looking around her. There was no sign of anything wrong, no demons, and no violence. "I don't see anything, Inuyasha."

Sango glanced around worriedly as well, her hand straying to her weapon, a giant boomerang. "Me either."

They entered the town square unhindered, and took in the layout. In the center, there was an ancient fountain on which most of the spouts were clogged, making the fountain a sad, dribbling chunk of stone.

Surrounding the fountain was a large marketplace that used the buildings as a border. Houses, more like huts than anything else, stood alongside the paths that led to the town square.

On one such path, a door to a nearby house was flung open quite suddenly, and a woman stumbled out. A red mark was visible on her cheek, and a cut across her hand was bleeding freely. A bear of a man stood in the doorway, a bottle of sake clutched in one hand. "Stay out there until you learn to keep your trap shut, you little bitch," he spat drunkenly before slamming the door closed.

The woman picked herself up, brushing off her clothes with her uninjured hand. Her hair, long and dark red, veiled her face as she wound a strip of cloth across what looked like a knife wound on the back of her hand. She sighed, taking no notice of those around her, and pushed back her hair. With her face revealed, she was a very pretty woman. If you ignored the bruises, that is.

She had one especially vibrant bruise spreading across her previously red cheek, and yet not a tear fell from her eyes. She was silent and unflinching though it was clear what had just happened. No ring shone on her finger, stating that she was not married to the one who had thrown her out the doorway.

The clothes she wore were simple and plain; a gray tunic with a pair of black pants underneath and nothing on her feet. Obviously, she wasn't well off in life, but she held her head high nonetheless. Not wincing, she touched a hand to her bruised cheek. Momentarily, she shut her eyes and heaved a sigh.

Kagome could only keep silent for so long. "Are you okay?" she called out, taking a step towards the other woman.

The redhead started like a nervous horse, having not seen Kagome. "I'm fine," she replied tiredly, recovering from the brief shock from both being addressed by a stranger, and having someone concerned about her well-being.

Kagome's eyes shifted to the house from which the woman had come. "What happened in there?"

"Nothing." The sharp reply cracked like a whip in the air, leaving the others silent for a moment or two.

"Who was that man?" Sango asked, gesturing towards the house.

Deciding it was time to observe the girls companions, the woman didn't answer right away. "He's my..." She fell silent suddenly, her eyes growing wide and her mouth dropping open bit.

Following her gaze, Kagome realized who she was gaping at.

"M-Miroku?" the woman stammered, her eyes wide and disbelieving.

A moment later, the ground rushed towards her as she collapsed.

END CHAPTER

Okay, so I left it with a cliffhanger. Sort of. It's a cliffhanger if you're interested in hearing who the guy is...and who the girl is, for that matter.

I'll see how people like this story, then possibly and obsessively write more of it. Meaning if you like it, send me a review. It makes me feel so happy to check my email and see stuff from FanFiction saying I have a review.

Just in case you've never read anything else by me, it's my style to ramble pointlessly at the start and end of every chapter. Hope you don't mind my ranting.

All done. (rubs hands) Ouch.

Authoress out.