Well, here it is! Chapter 12, and the last chapter! I can't believe it's over, it seems so short reading it.Atotal of four days in this entire story, amazing.I apologize to all, but the pairings are staying the same. In a possible sequel, they could be manipulated. One pairing, however, is totally out of the question: I/K. Everyone does I/K fics, and some are very good, but it's far too cliche a pairing for me.

Chapter 12

Fond Farewells

Kagome woke with a start. She was on a clean white bed, surrounded by her friends and roommates. They all looked worried. Yuki held out a phone, saying "It's for you."

Uncertainly, she took it and put it up to her ear. "Hello?"

"Oh my, it's really you, Kagome," said the familiar voice. "I've missed you so much! Where are you?"

"Mom!" The others in the room looked at each other in depressed silence.

"Yes, dear, it's me! Now, tell me where you are and I'll come and pick you up." Oh no this cannot be happening! Kagome thought desperately.

"Um, the Sohma estate, with Inuyasha. Do you know where that is, Mom?" Go away! Leave me alone! Why can't I stay just one more day? she screamed in her head.

"Oh yes! Why didn't you call me sooner?" Everything was happening so fast, and things piled up upon each other, and I really didn't want to go home!

"I forgot." she said bluntly.

"Forgot to call your own mother? I thought you were still in the Feudal Era until that nice man called me."

"Who?" Who on earth thought to call her?

"I don't know exactly," she replied slowly, trying to remember. "I think his name was . . . Harori? No, that's not it, Hatori! That's right." Hatori? Do I know him? Oh yes, he was the man who drove us over to the main house and led us to . . . with a flash, Kagome remembered everything.

"Mom, can I possibly call you back later?"

"No need, I'm just getting my coat on now. I'll see you in a few hours!" she said cheerily, before hanging up the phone.

Kagome stared blankly at the wall in front of her. This could not be happening! It simply couldn't! She wished desperately that she would wake up in her house, or even on some cold forest floor with her friends, and find it was all a dream. That was, until she recalled she had just woken up from the most real nightmare of her entire life. All that blood . . .

"What happened?" said Kagome, looking around the room, close to tears.

"Well," Shigure began.

(Flashback)

Hatori carried Kagome's limp body to his office. Thankfully, she only had minor injuries, and was cured in half an hour. She was still unconscious after her bandages had been wrapped expertly by Hatori. He laid her carefully in a hospital-style bed.

All of them had been watching the process intently, some wincing at supposed pain. Once she was sleeping soundly in the bed, they all breathed a sigh of relief. Kagome was all right, and Hatori hadn't transformed during the process.

"I'm going to make a phone call." said Hatori, walking toward the door.

"Oh, to whom?" said Shigure, with mild curiosity.

"Kagome's mother." In unison, every head turned to look, stunned, at Hatori.

"Wait, Hatori, you can't do that!" said Yuki desperately. "You wouldn't!"

"He would." reassured Shigure sadly.

"Yuki, her mother must be worried about her." said Hatori understandingly. "She hasn't had any news of her daughter for almost four days now. She should at least know Kagome's safe."

Yuki nodded helplessly, watching as Hatori walked away. His moment of relief at Kagome's safety was snatched away instantly.

"Hey, Yuki." To everyone's surprise, this comment came from Kyo. He had never called Yuki by his name, not to anyone's remembrance. It was always, "rat boy," "stupid rat," or "that damn Yuki."

"What do you want?" said Yuki, almost calmly. He also was refraining from his natural insults.

"Can I talk to you for a sec . . . alone?" This was more of a command than a question. Yuki nodded, making his way out the door with Kyo following.

(End Flashback)

"And that's all I know. After some time, the two came back, and Yuki here handed you the phone." concluded Shigure. Kagome looked at Yuki expectantly.

"Sorry, that's private." said the nervous rat. Kyo and Yuki looked at each other, and continued the flashback, almost not believing it themselves.

(Continued Flashback)

They passed the room where Hatori was on the phone. His voice floated through the transparent paper walls.

"Hello, Mrs. Higurashi?" Yuki turned away, fighting back a persistent lump in his throat. They continued on until they reached a room that guaranteed privacy.

"Why are you so serious?" asked Yuki coldly.

"Same reason you are."said Kyo glumly.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he answered suspiciously.

"You love Kagome too, don't you!" Kyo shouted, a bit too loudly. Yuki looked at the cat in shock.

"Too? As in also? Meaning you love Kagome?"

"God, do I have to spell it out for you?" he answered, exasperated. "So neither of us want her to leave."

"No one said anything about leaving." said Yuki unconvincingly.

"Don't be an idiot!" Kyo screamed. "You know what's going to happen as soon as her mother finds out where she is. The only reason Tohru's actually staying with us is that her guardians don't know she's here."

"So what are we going to do about it?" Yuki yelled back, fighting off the inevitable tears.

"I don't know!" Kyo shouted, his eyes now brimming with salty tears. "I just thought . . ." he turned away, taking a moment to compose himself. "I thought that two people would be of more use than one."

"When you brought it up, I thought you had a plan." said Yuki icily. "Some magical solution that your brain had conceived, but no. Not a hint of strategy on how to win her."

"This isn't another one of our childish competitions." said Kyo, back in control of his exploding emotions. "This is about losing someone we truly care about. So, for now, truce?" He held out his hand, waiting.

"Truce." confirmed Yuki, grabbing Kyo's hand in a firm shake, and neither tried to break the other's bones.

(End Flashback)

"Um, what did your mother say?" said Yuki casually, trying to break the tense silence.

"She . . ." Kagome restrained sobs. "She's coming to pick me up. She's on her way now." Her voice was choked with grief. "Inuyasha and I are going home." Kagome looked down at the clean white sheets, and away from her friends. It was taking all her might to hold back her tears.

"Why do I have to go?" said Inuyasha defiantly. Great. thought Kagome, already crying inside. A terrible situation and he has to make it worse.

"Inuyasha, we're both leaving." She tried to close the subject, but he wouldn't let it go.

"Why? I understand your mother's coming to pick you up, but why does that have to include me?" he protested.

"You'll never be able to get back to the Feudal Era without the well, and I can't very well search for jewel shards without you." she said practically, completely forgetting she had neglected telling her hosts about her double life.

"I don't care about jewel shards any more." His statement only slightly shocked Kagome. The others in the room were mostly blinking in confusion.

"I can understand that," said Kagome, "but what about Miroku? Shippo? Kikyo?" She paused, waiting for an answer. When none was offered, she continued, her emotions flying away from her.

"What about me, Inuyasha? Do you think this isn't hard for me too? Do you really think I want to leave?" She collapsed in silent sobs. There, on the bed, in front of all her friends, she broke down.

Yuki put a comforting arm around her shoulders, somehow trying to console her. The others congregated closer around her, all trying to ease the pain.

"You had to leave some time." said Shigure.

"We'll keep in touch." said Yuki, reassuringly.

"No!" she sobbed bitterly, salty rivers forming on her cheeks. "We can't keep in touch! I live in the Feudal Era most of the time with Inuyasha. I barely keep up with my friends from my own town!"

"We'll both come back and visit, often." promised Inuyasha, containing his emotions.

"Earlier today, you told me to cheer up. Now it's my turn." said Yuki softly, wiping a tear from Kagome's cheek. She smiled slightly, looking up at him.

"Thank you," she said quietly, "for everything." Sniffing slightly, she wiped away the rest of her tears. "My mom's going to be here soon," she said, more loudly and resolutely. "We'd better start packing, Inuyasha."

Hatori gave the group a ride back to Shigure's house. It looked exactly the same as it had when they left it, but it had a completely new meaning. Kagome looked up at the roof, remembering how she had jumped off it . . . was it really just last night? It seemed ages ago. As they stepped into the living room, Kyo recalled his crafty, and somewhat sinister, tricks. Yuki helped Kagome collect her things, hardly able to believe he had met her only three days ago. So much had happened since then, it was truly mind-boggling.

"What do you think will happen to your family now?" asked Kagome. They were all trying to avoid the upcoming farewells.

"Hm? What are you talking about?" said Yuki, not totally understanding the question.

"Well, you know, with Akito gone, whose going to be the new head of the house?"

"Oh, I haven't really thought about it yet. I suppose there won't be a core until a new one is born."

"What?"

"Akito was, what we consider to be the core of the Sohma curse. Just like there is only one member in the family born with the spirit of the rat, there is only one core. So, until another one is born, there is no core. Does that make sense?"

"Oddly enough," said Kagome, "I think it does." The two smiled warmly at each other and continued to stuff Kagome's belongings into her ever-resourceful pale yellow backpack.

In the next room, Inuyasha and Tohru were also talking, while Inuyasha methodically shredded his uniform.

"I'm so glad I met you, Inuyasha." said Tohru happily. He let the remains of his tie fall to the ground, and went to put his arm around her.

"I'm really glad I met you too."

Inuyasha brought his other hand up to softly caress Tohru's cheek. She was blushing furiously, but did not pull away. He let his hand drop, looked away shamefully, and was about to get up when Tohru pulled him back. She gave him a light tender kiss on the lips, then moved away. Inuyasha was pleasantly surprised by this outgoing move. He slid up next to her again, and tentatively whispered in her ear.

"I . . . I love you." She was still blushing, but whispered back.

"I love you too." Now they both stood up, Inuyasha sliding his hand into hers.

Outside, Kyo was practicing martial arts with a newfound vengeance, putting his whole strength into each move. He punched a strong, sturdy tree, and it fell to the ground with a crash. Disregarding this new exhibit of strength, he continued to beat the air. She can't leave! She just can't! he thought angrily, planting a solid high side-kick in the air and holding it there. He lost his balance and dropped to the ground, exhausted.

Expertly climbing a tree, he made his way up to the topmost canopy. As his head pushed through the final leaves, a panoramic sight of the house came into view. Through one window, he could see Kagome and Yuki talking about something. She's probably already chosen him, and doesn't even know it. he thought miserably. His eyes scanned the rest of the house for anything else interesting. He was about to give up when Shigure moved into view. He was farther away, but even from that distance Kyo could tell he was . . . crying? Yes, his eyes were red and swollen. Kyo felt worry sweep over him like some unknown bird's shadow. What could cause the ever-playful and ever-cheerful Shigure to weep?

His curiosity got the better of him. He leapt down from the tree in a precise series of jumps and landed catlike on the ground. Kyo sprinted through the front door and up the stairs to find Shigure's door locked. Pressing his ear up to the door, small whimpering sounds confirmed his suspicions. He knocked softly on the door. Silence from within, then the door opened enough to show one reddened eye.

"What is it?" said Shigure, struggling to keep his voice calm. "Is something the matter, Kyo?"

"I should be asking you the same thing." said Kyo. There was a pause before Shigure spoke again.

"He was my only brother, Kyo. That should be enough explanation for you." he said, his voice choked with tears.

"After all he did, you really still loved him, didn't you." replied Kyo, almost in awe. Shigure nodded, closing the door again.

Kyo couldn't believe it. Everything was happening so quickly, it was like a mad whirlwind completely out of his control. Opening a nearby window, he swung himself up onto the roof. Inuyasha had Tohru, that was clear by now. And Yuki truly had Kagome. Who was left for him? He felt as though everyone in the world had someone to care about, and he had noone.

He sat down on the sun-warmed tiles, trying to find some consolation. Kagome doesn't even know how I feel. he thought miserably. She can't very well choose me if the doesn't know there is a choice. "Then why don't you tell her?" said the small voice of reason in his head. Because . . . because I don't know how. "I'll give you a clue. You go up to her, preferably not teary-eyed, and say three simple words, 'I love you.'" it said sarcastically. You make it sound so easy, don't you. thought Kyo, letting out a great mental sigh. "It is easy if you have nothing to lose. And what do you have to lose? If you don't tell her, the automatically picks Yuki. If you do tell her, and she picks Yuki, you're no worse off. Making more sense, now?" You know, I think you have a point. Kyo thought, nodding to himself. "Of course I do. Now go down there and do it." motivated the voice.

Kyo was about to return through the window when he saw an unfamiliar car pull up into the driveway. Oh no, not now. Kyo thought, watching helplessly as a woman got out of the car. He felt a golf-ball sized lump form in his throat.

"Kagome!" his voice cracked as he called. "Your mother's here!" Kyo's voice reached the ears of all in the house. Despite his resolution, he remained on the roof as the party filed out onto the lawn.

Down on the lawn, Inuyasha and Kagome were saying their final good-byes.

"Thank you for letting me and Inuyasha stay at your house, Shigure." said Kagome politely, shaking his hand.

"It was my pleasure." he replied kindly.

Next in the line of friends was Tohru. When Inuyasha came to her, he gave her a soft kiss, and whispered, "Until we meet again."

"Tohru, thank you so much for being such a kind friend. I'm sorry we didn't get to spend more time together." The two girls hugged each other tightly, not wanting to let go.

Inuyasha came to Yuki first. They shook hands, almost formally.

Then Inuyasha said confidentially, "Take good care of her."

Kagome came to Yuki, with tears in her eyes. Suddenly forgetting all standards, she flung her arms around him . . . and he did not transform! They looked at each other in shock for a moment before making out passionately. Up on the roof, Kyo burst into tears, unseen and unheard by all.

Inuyasha climbed into the car, and Kagome followed. There was a small thud as Kyo landed safely on the ground. His eyes were red, and he looked a mess, but he grabbed Kagome's arm before the car door closed. He brought her back out, and told her what he should have said before.

"Kagome, it's fine if you want to be with Yuki, but I want you to know I've never loved anyone as much as I love you. I will always be there for you if you need me." Kagome smiled up at him.

"Thank you, Kyo." she said, and kissed him softly before returning to the car. The two drove away, waving through the back window until they were out of sight. The others waved back, wondering if or when they would ever see them again.

THE END!

Hope you all enjoyed reading my stories! Cadringiel, signing off!