inashosetai:

Is this the end?! SURELY it is not... is it...? I REALLY wanna read the next chapter...! I HAVE to read the next chapter! It was SUCH a COOL STORY! I LOVED it SO MUCH! Update!! I really wanna know what's gonna happen next...! Well... I wanted to ask you. Are you Japanese? Cause you sure know a hell of a lot of Japanese words! Anyways... not much to say. Ja ne!

Haunt: Nah, that's not the end. This is the final chapter before the epilogue. And no, ::laughs:: I'm not Japanese. I just like anime too much.

Terrasina Dragonwagon:

Aw...how cute...he has puppydog ears too! squee That's precious.

sniggers Puppydog ears just like YOURS, Inuyasha! Hah hah hah...

Inuyasha: What of it?

Kagome: Yes, dog ears are CUTE! ::tweaks Inuyasha's::

Roki:

Aw... How CUTE! Inuyasha is acting SO mature!

Inuyasha: You got a little better, you called her wench just ONE time. And then made it up to her by calling her 'beloved' :)And Congratulations to you! You have a son now!

Kagome: I'm happy that you don't go along with Inuyasha's crap. (Well, at least you don't show it) Hm, there was something more to this too...
Ah yes, will Sango be god-mother? Congratz, for the same reason as inuyasha obviously.

Haunt: This story is still developing, I like that. Wait, I'll explain that... What I mean is that you still write new situations/'happenings'. (Okay, I know there is a better word for that) some authors tell the whole story in the first chapters and then they just write fillers. Keep up the good work!

/Roki

Haunt: Oh, but the plot is not done yet...Bwuha xD

Inuyasha: I can be mature...

Kagome: Thank you for the congratulations! :D And, um, I dunno...will Sango be the godmother, Inuyasha?

Orion Kohaishu:

Aww, baby. YAY! Here's to welcoming Yuuki to the world! --I'd hug him, but his daddy would bitchslap me-- Cute chapter! Loved it! Gonna go do hw and not fail now!

Orion

And no, Inuyasha, "this creature" is not human. But "this creature" IS insane and random. Deal with it. :-P

Yuuki: ::blinkblink::

Inuyasha: Look, Yuuki. That is known as a 'crazy bitch.' She is very much like the wench that wrote this story.

Haunt: This 'wench' is the reason that you and Kagome are together, baka...

WaKoWiThNoLiFe:

Aww! Yuuki is so adorable!! Congrats Kagome and Inuyasha! I cant wait for him to grow up! Will you survive the crying in the night? Porbably. hope you update soon! toodles!

Kagome: Well, I think we've fared pretty well so far...

UberPea:

HA! snugs pup gets away from InuYasha's (probable) glare. KAWAII! Take good care of it, you guys! Where are ears? I wishto see cute wittle dog ears! Hee. Lotsa roughage now, Kagome. BUILD UP STRENGTH!!

Kagome: ::Blinks:: Roughage?

This is the last chapter before the epilogue. Guys, I am SO sorry this took so long...;-; Muse and Mage don't like TOM anymore. I promise, the epilogue won't be this long a wait.

-.-.-

"Hey, Inuyasha?"

"What?" The hanyou looked down at his mate, gaze traveling to the sleeping three-month-old in her arms for a moment.

"What do you say we get Sango and Miroku to watch Yuuki and we go down to the hot springs?" Kagome asked him.

They were on their way to the village. Yuuki had grown considerably; due to his demon blood he was able to crawl around and say a few words. As expected, the young boy had made fast friends with Donguri, but Inuyasha studiously refused to believe Kagome's prediction that the two would get together one day.

"I guess that's fine, so long as the lecher doesn't influence my son," Inuyasha replied with a shrug.

The girl giggled as they stepped into the village.

-.-.-

Several minutes later, Inuyasha raced along the forest path, weaving between the trees in an easy, swaying motion. The girl was snuggled comfortably in his arms, content to be carried.

A sudden scent reached him--a demon, and not one that was particularly nice. The hanyou skidded to a stop, ears twitching as he scanned the surrounding area. The miko in his arms as sensed it too, and her eyes widened. "A demon?"

"Yeah," the boy replied, setting his mate down on her feet and stepping in front of her. "Stay behind me, and don't try anything."

Kagome nodded. "Okay."

Barely ten seconds passed before a lizard demon, scales tinged an ominous reddish-black, slithered into sight from among the leaves. It wasn't any pixie, either: this creature was huge, at least twice the hanyou's size. Inuyasha smirked and unsheathed Tetsusaiga in a flash of light. "This'll be easy."

The reptilian monster uttered a gurgly roar and leapt forward, swinging enormous claws. The sharp, yellowed nails were at least the size of the hanyou's head, but he hardly batted an eye, slicing the creature's toes clean off.

The lizard hissed in pain and skrittled backward, crimson orbs narrowing to slits. It hissed in pain suddenly, though Inuyasha had not struck it: an arrow had flown, unnoticed, from behind the hanyou and buried itself in his opponent's shoulder.

The lizard let out an enraged roar and its fiery gaze fixed on the miko. Inuyasha looked behind him, glaring at his mate. "I told you not to--!"

Too late. The hanyou never should have looked away from the demon, because that gave it a chance to move--and strike Kagome.

The girl gasped and fell back, pierced in the ribs by one of the lizard's monstrous claws.

The scent of his mate's blood sent a spurt of rage through the hanyou. A low snarl rose in his chest, escalating to a full, terribly angry sound, like a rabid wolf that had its paw caught in a bear trap.

There was half a second's pause before Inuyasha sprang forward, Tetsusaiga moving in a bright arc.

The creature's headless carcass hit the ground with a resounding THUMP, head rolling away as the fangblade cut through it.

Kagome whimpered, trying to sit up and failing. Inuyasha was at her side in an instant, sheathing Tetsusaiga and lifting her against his chest. "Don't you die on me," the hanyou hissed, bolting toward the village with the girl in his arms. "I can't lose you yet."

-.-.-

"That is all I can do, Inuyasha." Kaede said finally, sitting back.

The hanyou sighed and scooted closer to his mate, gaze falling to the darkening bandage around her side. He sighed. "Is she gonna be okay?" he asked, voice softer than he figured anyone had ever heard it.

"I am not sure, Inuyasha." the old miko replied. "She may be. Kagome is strong."

Not this strong... The hanyou frowned and looked to Kaede. "Is there anything I can..?"

Silence.

Inuyasha sighed and looked down at the sleeping girl again, resigning himself to staying near her at all times

"There is one thing..."

The hanyou's amber optics blazed and he rounded upon the old woman. "Tell me. Now."

"You give her some of your blood."

"My blood?"

"Yes. Simply cut your wrist and trickle some of your blood into the wound."

"What'll that do?"

"It will give her the strength to survive this. In addition, it will give her the same lifespan as you."

Inuyasha's eyes widened.

"Will you do it?"

The hanyou didn't hesitate. "Yes."

"Then undo the bandage."

He did so, then dragged his claw across his wrist--careful to avoid the vital vein--and held it gently over her wound.

Several crimson droplets landed within the gash, mixing with the girl's blood. The cut glowed slightly, then closed over, the binding done.