A/N: The thoughts of my main characters (which aren't really mine, since I don't own them) are from the lyric's of the Cher & Peter Cetera song "After All." I don't own it, nor do I own any of the Inuyasha characters, though I would very much love to have my own Fluffy! Nev

Chapter Fifteen: After All

During the weeks of her recovery, Kagome spent time with her family. She learned what they had been doing over the many months she had been gone, and relived many of her favorite past times, such as baking cookies with her mother, or giving tours of the sacred shrine with her grandfather. Even Sota was kind to her. They played video games together, despite Kagome's utter lack of hand eye coordination.

However, each night, when she laid down in her bed, her thoughts were on her friends back in the feudal era, and her dreams were all of Sesshomaru. She couldn't believe her life had changed as fast as it had. The quest for the Shikon Jewel was over and now she had another journey to prepare for. She had to make a decision. Where was she going to live the rest of her days?

She loved her family dearly, but she loved her friends too. They had been through so much together that she couldn't just shut the well and forget about them all, but how could she leave her family? Sango and Miroku's wedding was coming up. She'd wait until after than to make her decision, by then she would have to figure out where she belonged.

Mrs. Higurashi and Kagome returned to the hospital after a long recovery to have the stitches removed and to get a check up.

"Every thing seems to be in order," her doctor announced happily. "You are free to return to your normal routine."

Kagome flinched when he said, "normal." Her life was anything but normal. She fought with demons, had a perverted monk for a friend, was the surrogate mother to a kitsune, and her best friend was a demon slayer, who was the last of her village. Then there were her affections. She was smitten with the demon lord of the Western Lands, who had tried to kill her on numerous encounters. Normal? Hardly.

"So," her mother began on their drive home. "Will you be staying a while longer? Or can we expect you to return to your friends?"

"I was thinking about going back. I'm sure Sango is worried," Kagome replied, looking out her window. Her mind wasn't really on what her mother was saying. She was still thinking about the taiyoukai. Her mother took notice.

"Kagome," she said softly, pulling over to the side of the road. She turned the car off, and faced her daughter. "What is troubling you? Is it Sesshomaru?"

She didn't say anything in reply. How could she? If she did, it would be a lie or something that would make her cry. So instead, she continued to stare out the window, as if her mother hadn't said anything. She tried to forget the gentle way he had held her face in his clawed hands, how she had saved him and how he had saved her. She forced herself to forget the way she had fallen for him, how she had planned on giving him her everything. Because now that was all gone. They weren't together and they were never going to be together. They didn't belong with one another because he was a demon and she was…a human.

"Kagome Higurashi," her mother said sternly. "You look at me this instant."

Taking a deep breath, she ground the lump that was climbing up her throat down, and glanced over at her mom.

"Tell me what is bothering you? You have barely eaten in the last two weeks, you don't sleep, and I doubt you have the strength to go back and fight demons looking as sleepy as you do." When her daughter didn't answer, she went on.

"I hear you at night, lying there in your room, crying. I haven't said anything. I thought I would leave you to make your own decisions, but Kagome, no one deserves to go through so much pain. I have seen your selflessness, how you go about your duties to your destiny. If anyone in this world deserves happiness, it's you."

"Mom," Kagome whispered, her voice cracking. A tear escaped from each of her eyes, and more filled up the area they had left vacant.

"If you love him, you need to tell him. I talked to him before he left you. I know what was in his heart, Kagome. I could see it in his eyes. He didn't want to leave you, but he thought he was doing what was in your best interest. He was sacrificing his happiness so that you'd be safe," she admitted. "I'm sorry that I didn't say anything before now. I didn't think things would get this serious."

"Go back," she said, reaching across the car to hug her daughter. "Go back to the feudal era and find him. See your friends first, tell them you are alright, then go back. Find him and tell him how you feel. I don't want you do come back until you're with him again," she smiled, tears flowing from her eyes as she pulled away.

Kagome was crying as well. "Mom," she sobbed, but she couldn't say anything more, so she just hugged her. "I will," she promised, as her mother put the car in gear. "I will."

Meanwhile, in the Western Lands....

"Fluffy, when will Kagome-chan come play with me again? Rin misses her."

The child had been asking the same question for weeks now. The Great Lord of the Western Lands didn't know what to tell her. He had already used up all the excuses he could think of. Without the miko, he had no one to keep his charge occupied. For one week, she had been satisfied with beating up Jaken, and locking him in closets for her version of hide-and-seek, a game fueled by Kagome's attempts to tire her out. Now, she was bored.

Rising from his seat, he waved to Jaken to take Rin out to the gardens. He needed to think. Maybe if he found another woman to work for him then Rin would not pester him for her old teacher. It was a perfect plan, except for the fact that there was only one miko who was strong enough to protect herself and Rin, while giving a rather reputable education to the girl. After having such an excellent teacher, none could do better or even compare. Rin, he knew, would still be bored.

He went to his study then. Content to do paperwork regarding his lands. He wanted to bury himself in his work and forget about the girl that held his heart, a girl that he would never be able to hold in his arms again or tell her how he really felt.

Back at the well....

"Man," Kagome said to herself as she climbed down the ladder in the well house. "My backpack is heavier than I remember it." She felt the sensation of time travel happening. Closing her eyes, she allowed the Shikon No Tama to transport back to her friends. When she opened them again, she saw the shifting light of sunset and heard the sounds of the forest around the abandoned well.

Recalling what had happened last time she had returned, she was more cautious, pulling herself out slowly, avoiding sudden movements until she was within sight of Kaede's hut. The smoke billowing up from inside told her that everyone was inside, probably eating dinner. Smiling, she walked taller with her backpack to where her other family was waiting for her.

Just before she could go into the door, she heard a voice. "Kagome-chan, nice to see you are well."

"Kikyo," she nodded to the ex-priestess. "Are the others here?"

"They are inside. My sister has prepared dinner," she answered.

Kagome felt something different in Kikyo, something dark, like what she had felt in the jewel before she had purified it. She reached into the old miko's heart to feel this darkness and found that it was identical to the evil of the demons that had been swallowed with Midoriko in the Shikon Jewel. The evil sensed her presence and attacked her like a wave of ice water. Gasping, she pulled out, blinking several times before her vision cleared.

"Are you ill?" Kikyo asked, sounding anything but concerned.

"No, I'm fine," Kagome told her. "I think I'll go find Sango now."

"Yes, well, I'm going out for another walk. You'll tell my sister, won't you, Kagome? Tell her not to worry. I'm taking protection with me." With that, she walked away, deep into the forest. But Kagome noticed she had no arrows with her or her trusty bow. Not thinking much of it, she went inside the hut.

"Kagome!"

"Kagome-chan!"

"Mom!"

"Hey Sango! Hi Miroku! Shippo!" Kagome greeted them all in order just as Shippo jumped into her arms.

"Are you still hurt?" Sango asked, taking Kagome's pack off of her back.

"No, the medicine in my time helped. I'm back to normal," she replied, though Sango could immediately tell that there was something wrong with this form of "normal." "I'm just happy to be back."

"We are most delighted to have you back," Miroku commented, his hand inching.

SLAP!

"Pervert!" both girls shouted at the same time, while the monk stalked out of the hut, symmetrical red handprints on his face.

"Now, tell me all that happened," Sango said, sitting down on the ground aside of Kagome who had Shippo in her lap. So Kagome explained about how Sesshomaru had acted in her time and then what had gone on when they had come back to the feudal era. All the time Sango was thinking. At the end of her tale, Kagome asked, "Has anything weird happened while I was gone?"

"No, why?" Sango asked, getting up momentarily to stir Kaede's soup. The old woman was out gathering herbs for the dinner.

"It's nothing, just something I felt about Kikyo," Kagome shook her head, though she was still wondering about the other girl.

"Hmm, now that you mention it," Sango came back over, taking her seat by her friend. "Kikyo was with Inuyasha the morning you came back."

Kagome was silent. It was true that she had feelings for Sesshomaru, deep feelings, deeper than she had ever felt for Inuyasha, but she still had loved the hanyou long before she had known the real demon lord. It still hurt to know that she would never be number one in Inuyasha's heart.

"I'm sorry," Sango apologized, immediately noticing her mistake. "I shouldn't have-."

"No," Kagome interrupted her, "Kikyo and Inuyasha are together, just as I wished it to be. I can't feel bad about that just because I don't have him anymore. That wouldn't be fair."

"Kagome."

"It's okay. Is there anything else you noticed about Kikyo while I was gone. And how's Inuyasha? Did you ever figure out what triggered him to go demon?"

"Nothing," Sango shook her head. "Miroku talked to him. He had to try several times. He didn't want to talk to anyone after he went back to normal. He knew what he had done and didn't want to see anyone. You know how he gets. But after Miroku persisted long enough, he got through. Before going all demon, Inuyasha had no memory of what happened. All he knew was that Kikyo was walking through the forest ahead of him, then nothing, then attacking you."

"That's strange," Kagome commented.

"Yes," Sango nodded, beginning to feel odd about the other miko just as Kagome did. There were too many coincidences. Why hadn't she seen this before? She was losing her touch as a demon exterminator. Her safety depended solely on her ability to be able to detect things that were off balance in the world around her. "I suppose I should have seen this sooner."

"It's not anything serious, I'm sure." She rose from her seat and went to the door. Kaede was steadily walking toward the hut and smiled when she saw Kagome. "I think I'm going to take a walk," she told her friend.

"But don't you want some dinner? Kaede's soup is delicious."

"I ate before I came," she lied, walking past her mentor with a small greeting. Miroku was coming as well, carrying several logs for the fire. When he saw her, he didn't say anything, just left her to her thoughts.

She hadn't gotten far when Shippo came bounding after her. He had fallen asleep while she and Sango were talking, but now he was awake and wanted to be with his mother. Smiling, she stopped, turned around, and picked him up in her arms, carrying him as she would a newborn.

They entered the forest, just as Shippo began to fall asleep again. Kagome heard movement and crouched amongst the bushes. Someone was traveling nearby. She wasn't sure if they were friend or foe so she kept her breathing low and prayed Shippo was silent. That's when she saw Kikyo and Inuyasha in a tender embrace.

Only several miles away...

Sesshomaru was stalking prey. Actually, it was a lesser demon, a lizard demon that had destroyed property within his territory. He was going to take care of the problem in his own matter, which meant killing it. Smirking, he brought the Tetsusaiga down on the pathetic beast, watching him melt until he no longer existed. Such a small thing, but it did wonders to his mood. It wasn't until he turned to go back to his castle that he noticed where he was.

He had found Kagome near here, had truly found out how kindhearted she could be when she saved Rin. If he was correct, which he usually was, she lived around here with that group of hers, the one she considered her friends? But what was the point of going to see her? She probably hated him now for leaving her bleeding in a hospital all alone. He'd hate himself too, but he already did, so he didn't have to worry about that.

The Lord of the Western Lands began walking away when he caught a scent on the breeze, the smell of sweet Sakura blossoms and slight cinnamon, the smell of Kagome. Before he could stop himself, he was racing toward her; unable to control the dire need to see her one last time.

Kagome put a hand over her mouth so she wouldn't gasp aloud. She had seen Inuyasha embrace Kikyo on countless occasions. Each time the priestess seemed not to share his strong emotions of love, but this time, it was the other way around. It was Kikyo who was hugging Inuyasha with a strong passion and him who was trying to back away. She was about to break them up, when she felt someone's eyes on her. Pivoting around, she got in a stance to fight.

Well, here we are again, I guess it must be fate

Sesshomaru stood there, unsure what to do or say. He couldn't move a single limb of his being. Nothing seemed operational. However, he had no reason to be immobile. She on the other hand had every reason. When she had turned, he had caught a glimpse of his damned half-brother with that witch. He knew what a sight like that did to Kagome's heart. He couldn't bear to have her hurt again.

We've tried it on our own, But deep inside we've known we'd be back to set things straight

She just stared at him, caught up in that amber gaze that was so similar to his brother's and yet, at the same time, it was entirely different from Inuyasha's eyes. When he stepped closer, she felt her breath catch in her throat. Hadn't she come back to tell him how she felt. Now he was right in front of her, but what could she do? Nothing. She couldn't even move. Not even flinch. So she settled for the next best thing. She stood there.

I still remember when your kiss was so brand new

He watched her face, wondering if she despised him, wanted him to go, because as much as he knew he was breaking every rule he had ever set for himself, he had to be here with her, he had to see her at least once more if he was going to live the rest of his days without her.

Every memory repeats, every step I take retreats

Kagome saw him getting closer. She stopped worrying about Inuyasha, Kikyo, Kaede, Shippo, Miroku, and even Sango. She saw the man…demon she had fallen in love with standing in front of her, approaching her with a rather changed look in his orbs of gold. When he got so close she could hear her heart beating out of her ribs and feel his breath running over her forehead, she took a step back, terrified of what was to come.

Every journey always brings me back to you

She was leaving. She was afraid. He reached out, pulling her against him in a desperate attempt to keep her. However, to any onlookers, it would appear that he was about to kill her. He had come to kill the lizard demon that had taunted his pride by demolishing a small village on his land, but now he was here, holding Kagome as he thought he never would again. Fate was ironic that way.

After all the stops and starts we keep coming back to these two hearts, two angels who've been rescued from the fall

She couldn't stop herself from falling into his embrace. She crushed herself against him, crying. She wasn't sure who she was shedding tears for more; Inuyasha, her closest and dear friend or herself. All she knew was that she had never felt more comfortable in another's arms as she now felt in Sesshomaru's loving embrace.

And after all that we've been through, it all comes down to me and you

He felt her tears after he had smelled the salt of the air. She was crying over that idiot hanyou again, but he couldn't yell at her. This was what he had wanted, to be able to cradle her, soothe her, and hold her again. He had only wanted to see her one last time, but what he had really needed was to get her back. Rin wanted her back and he'd be lying if he said he didn't want the same.

I guess it's meant to be, forever you and me, after all

"Kagome, I am going to take you home."

She nodded, wiping the tears from her eyes. All she wanted was that right now. He lifted her up with out any effort whatsoever. She pointed to the ground where Shippo was sleeping soundly, oblivious to what was going on around him. Smiling, the demon lord picked him up as well, and soon the three of them were off on his cloud, sailing off to the Western Lands.

Neither noticed the angry priestess watching from the inner forest.

A/N: Okay! I got it done! Yay! Another chapter completed! For those of you who thought the last chapter was the end….YOU WERE WRONG!!! That was only the best tearjerker cliffy I have ever written. Kudos to myself. –ahem- Now that I'm better, and hopefully back on track, I will work on my Cowboy Bebop fic ( "Our Raining Symphony" ) and my Labyrinth fic ( "Reality Behind the Movie" ) before I return to this. Then you will have another chapter! I'm going on vacation in two weeks so I'll have plenty of time to write then. REVIEW! Thanks Nev