Author's note: Much love to my two reviewers, DarkRose217 and Kawaii Youkai Miko! You have no idea how happy your feedback made me! Thanks!

Disclaimer: They're not mine!

Kagome slowly made her way to the outskirts of the demon exterminator village. She couldn't bring herself to go inside just yet however. She wanted to calm down before she saw her friends again, before she had to tell them that once again Inuyasha had left her to go find Kikyo. It was humiliating to say the least.

Wiping her eyes, she let herself slide down into a seated position next to a boulder. She sniffed through her nose just before swallowing the lump in her throat. She didn't want to be crying over this, but she couldn't help herself. There she was, ready to tell Inuyasha that she loved him, and Kikyo had to show up and ruin it all. Why did he always have to run after her? Couldn't he just have waited a few more minutes so he could at least hear what Kagome wanted to tell him?

Suddenly it was painfully clear. Inuyasha was always going to pick Kikyo over her, whether she declared her love to him or not. What choice did she have but to go home to her own time and try to forget the past three years? And yet that thought broke her heart, not just because she would never see Inuyasha or her friends again, but also because she had come to love her life in the Feudal Era. Somewhere along the line she had come to prefer sleeping under the stars to hanging out in the mall. She had come to prefer riding on fire cats' and dog-demons' backs to the cars and buses of her time. She preferred the folk songs the villagers would sometimes play on flutes and drums to the latest and greatest pop music her friends would always clamor to buy. Everything people cared and worried about in her time just seemed so trivial now compared to what the villagers had to go through. They built their own houses, grew their own food and took care of each other, and it all just seemed so right to Kagome. Sure, it was going to be nice being with her family again, but part of her would always long for the simpler life here in Feudal Japan.

"What's wrong with me?" she asked no one. "Now I don't even feel right in my own time. I just don't belong anywhere anymore."

She continued to sit there next to that boulder until she managed to cry herself to sleep.

"Back from the springs already?" Miroku questioned with a smile as he watched Sango make her way towards him.

"Yes," she replied, taking a seat next to him, but far enough away that roaming hands could not reach her. "I left Kagome in the woods with Inuyasha so they could talk. Before we ran into him I was trying to convince Kagome that she should talk to him about how she feels. I don't know if I got through to her though."

"I had a similar conversation with Inuyasha, although he gave me no response."

"Did you ask him about what he plans to wish for?"

"Yes, but he hadn't yet decided. But he did assure me that he no longer intends to become a full demon. I also asked him about Kikyo, but Shippo interrupted us before he was able to answer."

Sango sighed.

"At least you tried," she stated. Noticing that Kilala had run off with Shippo, she decided that now might be a good time to talk to Miroku about their relationship, seeing as they almost never had time alone together.

"Miroku," she began, "I've decided that I want to rebuild my village, so I'm going to be staying here after Inuyasha and Kagome leave."

"Rebuilding your village is a very noble undertaking and I commend you for it." Inwardly, Miroku's was worried. Did she want him to stay with her, or was she just informing him of the end of their journey together?

Sango felt incredibly awkward herself. Was it really a woman's place to ask a man to stay with her? Would he think her inappropriate or presumptuous for asking? Fortunately, her inner debate was soon ended for her.

"Would you like me to stay and assist you?" Miroku spoke up.

Sango let out a sigh and smiled. "I was just about to ask you that," she explained.

"So, does that mean you do want me to stay with you?"

"Yes, Monk."

"And you want to be with me?"

She nodded a reply.

"And you will bear my children?"

"Yes, Miroku. I will have your children." Sango put her hands to her cheeks to cover the deep red blush, but she couldn't cover her smile. Miroku, too, was smiling as though he were the luckiest man in the world. Soon he closed the distance between them and took her into his arms.

"Finally, Sango," he explained, "my life is complete. Naraku is defeated, my wind tunnel is gone, and I have the love of a good woman." Sango melted into his embrace and was thoroughly enjoying the moment until she felt the familiar caresses of wandering hands.

"Just because I love you, Miroku, it doesn't mean you can still do that…. Not all the time at least." Miroku chuckled as she added the last part and then brought her lips into a kiss. Sango replied by wrapping her arms tight around his neck. With Miroku, she knew she'd be able to fulfill Kohaku's wish that she have a happy and long life. It was possible after all.

Although it was painful to walk, Inuyasha soon found himself in a clearing and in the presence of Kikyo. She was lounging in the branches of an old tree, soul-stealing demons slinking around her.

"Inuyasha," she stated coolly as she opened her eyes. She examined him with a steely gaze. "You're injured."

"I've defeated Naraku once and for all," he explained. "I've avenged you."

"So you say," she replied as she slid down off her branch, positioning herself in front of the hanyou. "Do you think that makes me happy?"

"I promised I would avenge your death and now I have. What else do you want?"

"I want my soul to have peace."

"Tell me how and I'll do it for you," he pleaded. "Please." Suddenly Inuyasha found Kikyo in his arms, and he couldn't help but wrap them around her, holding her close.

"Come with me, Inuyasha. Come with me to hell."

"Why?" he found himself asking, although he already knew the answer. After all, she had wanted this since the day she was brought back.

"You were supposed to die with me that day. But instead I awoke to find you alive and traveling with my reincarnation. How can I ever rest while you still walk this earth? If you truly care for me, you'll come with me."

"More than anything, I want you to have peace," he told her. "I will come with you."

But even as he stood there with the woman he cared about so dearly in his arms, there was only one person he could think about.

'Kagome.'

"Kikyo, there are still things I need to do before I can go. Give me time to take care of them, and then I'll be able to go with you."

"More important things than me?"

"I have friends that will look for me if I disappear." Kikyo noticed that he didn't deny her accusation.

"Very well," she replied. "I will come for you tomorrow evening." She pulled out of his embrace and began to walk away, never once looking back at him.

Inuyasha simply stood where he was and closed his eyes in frustration. How was he going to be able to face Kagome and tell her what he planned to do? He didn't want to leave her, but he had too. Fifty years ago, Kikyo had chose to die rather than to use the Shikon jewel to continue living without him, and for that he owed her his life. What kind of man would he be if he chose to ignore such an act of devotion?

Sighing, he turned and began his arduous trek back to the village. His wounds had yet to heal completely, so he would need to lie down when he got back, even if it was only for a little while.

The sun was high in the sky and he decided that his companions were probably preparing lunch by now. Just walking to where Kikyo was had taken a considerable amount of time. He had been surprised when she agreed to let him say goodbye to his friends. Maybe she finally understood how important they were to him. Maybe this was a new Kikyo, one more like the woman he once loved. Deep down, though, he knew that wasn't the case. The Kikyo he loved died a long time ago. More than likely she was looking forward to taking Inuyasha away in front of everyone, to see the dismay on all of their faces.

And they would be upset too. Inuyasha didn't know how, but somewhere along the lines these people began to care about him. They actually considered him a friend. His whole life it had been all he was looking for, for someone to accept him the way he was. And he had finally found it in some interesting places. Who ever would have thought that a monk and a demon exterminator would call a half-demon their friend? And here he was about to throw it all away. And Kagome. She was someone who cared for Inuyasha's well being even more than her own. She was the most selfless person he had ever met. She was his best friend, and he could no longer imagine life without her. But he had to now. He had to pay his debt to Kikyo. He hoped they would all understand.

"Kagome? Kagome, wake up."

She would know that voice anywhere.

"Inuyasha?" she asked softly as she opened her eyes. She found the hanyou in question down on one knee before her, supporting himself with his sword.

"You were asleep," he explained. "I would have taken you back to the village, but I don't have the strength yet. You need to get up and walk there." Before he realized what was happening, he found himself being thrown back onto the ground by the force of Kagome wrapping her arms around his shoulders.

"You came back," she cried. "I had this horrible feeling that she was going to take you away and I'd never see you again. But you came back!"

"Yeah, I came back. Now would you get off of me?"

Kagome blushed as she realized what a precarious position she had put them in. There was Inuyasha lying directly beneath her as she held him tight. Quickly, she sat herself up and helped him to do the same.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I forgot you were injured. I was just so happy to see you."

"Yeah, well, let's go back. I think I need to rest after being knocked down like that." He barely smiled as he said it to let Kagome know that he wasn't mad at her. She beamed a smile in return as she put his arm over her shoulder in order to help him walk, but Inuyasha pulled away and insisted he walk on his own. Kagome shrugged it off to his usual stubbornness, but in reality he had a different reason. He couldn't stand the guilt of her happiness to see him, her complete willingness to help him walk even though he really didn't need it. It would be so much easier to leave her if she wasn't so caring and loving. If it was any other person he would leave with Kikyo without a second thought, but something about Kagome made him want to stay with her for as long as he could. And here she was so happy in the fact that he had returned to her. It was going to break her heart when he left. How was he going to tell her goodbye?

Maybe he didn't have to. Maybe he should just enjoy what time he had left with her.

He stopped walking, causing Kagome to do the same.

"Are you okay? If you're too hurt to walk anymore I can send Kilala back here for you."

"How can you do that?"

"Do what?" she questioned.

"Be so damn caring about everyone. You're the only person I've met who puts other people before themselves. Why?"

"Because everyone else is more important than me," she replied with sad eyes, and inwardly he began to curse himself for all the times he ever called her a worthless human. Every time he insulted her, he never expected that she'd take it all to heart.

"Don't ever say that again." He had a dark and seriousness tone to his voice. Kagome even thought she heard a low growl as he said it. Her only reply was a curious stare.

He gently placed his calloused hand over her soft cheek, his claws tickling her ear. She took his wrist into her own hand and seemed to sink into his palm. They stared at each other intensely for a while. He inched forward then, bringing his face close to hers. Merely a breath away from her lips, he stopped himself. Kagome watched his golden eyes as they showed the debate going on within him. Suddenly his eyes were downcast and his hand dropped away. Heaving a sigh, he began to walk away.

"Come on," he said softly. "The other's are probably worried about you."

Kagome closed her eyes tightly to rid them of tears before she began after him. Her heart ached and her stomach churned. Inuyasha had almost kissed her. Almost. What happened? What made him stop?

'I'm sorry Kagome,' the hanyou thought to himself. 'I shouldn't be selfish about this. It would only hurt you more when I leave if I gave into my feelings for you now. I don't want you to suffer like that.'

Soon they found themselves back in the village where they were greeted with Sango and Miroku and their good news. Kagome was genuinely happy for her friends, but Inuyasha was inwardly groaning. Everyone was finally happy, and he felt like a bastard because he knew he was about to ruin it all.

Another Author's Note: Not as long as the last chapter, but good enough I think. Gosh, that Kikyo scene was hard to write. She's such a confusing character, so I hope I did an all right job of writing her. This is turning out to be pretty angsty, but I threw in some SangoMiroku fluff for good measure. There's more angst to come, but I assure you it'll all be okay in the end. Anywho, please review and let me know that you care! :D