Title: Bite

Inuyasha ran in front of Kagome to shield her with his body and both were blown back, into doorway of the derelict temple. Timbers crashed around them. Inuyasha stood weakly over her, raising the timbers with his back. Kagome looked up at him.

Kagome thought anxiously, "If we don't break this spell, there's no way of defeating them!"

Kagome looked up at Inuyasha and closed her eyes. An image of her human self mirrored itself on the dog. Both the dog and the human looked as if they were listening to some far-off sound. Then a strange glowing light came from within Kagome and spread across everything, turning all into an empty, white, soft-glowing void. The spirit of Kagome, separated from the dog, drifted up somewhere and landed where there seemingly was no floor.

"Huh?" said Kagome.

Kagome looked around and saw sitting distant from her a woman in a kimono. She ran to her.

"Uh, hello," she said awkwardly, "my name is Kagome Higorashi, and I…"

"I am you too," said the woman. Kagome couldn't reply.

The woman, who was maybe even older than Kikyo, took Kagome's hand and caused her to lay her head on her lap. She stroked her hair soothingly.

"Shh, shh there child," she said. "Sleep. All will be well for us."

Kagome's eyes drooped and she fell asleep. The woman gently laid her aside. She turned her head as a figure, reminiscent of Inuyasha in his human form, came walking in from a doorway from out of nowhere. He paused with his hands on the door frame, smiling.

"So you called?" said the Inuyasha-like-spirit. The woman spirit who looked so much like Kagome, only older shook her head yes with a tender smile.

"We have to do something to reverse this spell."

"Ah, so the dog-eared one, is it?" said the Inuyasha-like-spirit with understanding.

The woman smiled. "I liked you in that form."

"I don't know," said the Inuyasha-like-spirit, "he is pretty arrogant." The woman smiled.

"But I still like you that way," she said, "especially since…" The woman pulled down her collar and a tattoo with the words "cherished forever" was seen. The Inuyasha-like-spirit took her in his arms and murmured gently to her.

"Cherished forever," said the Inuyasha-like-spirit.

"Eternal love," said the woman.

"Chasing each other to the end of time."

"No matter what lives we lead," she said, "we always find a way to each other."

The two looked tenderly at one another, the woman playing with a lock of his hair. Then the Inuyasha-like-spirit let go. He took her hand and she put hers in his. Together, they created an orb with a pink glow. Then they let it cease.

"Well, I had better be returning now," said the Inuyasha-like-spirit. "That baka has to go on with his life." The woman nodded, smiling.

"I had better return to the girl," she said. "But I'll be waiting for you here, one love eternal."

Everything was eclipsed again by the bright white light and Kagome drifted back to her dog-form, only she wasn't a dog anymore, and neither was Inuyasha. They both looked at each other startled. Kagome was still pinned beneath Inuyasha.

Inuyasha stuttered. "What the… How did…"

"Shhh," said Kagome. Kagome was unsure what had happened, but she somehow she knew what she had to do.

"I don't know what happened," thought Kagome, "but there is one thing I need to do. I still have… my fangs." Kagome leaned up.

"Kouga," she thought without any hesitation, "I'm sorry, but I choose Inuyasha."

Kagome leaned upwards and biteInuyasha's neck. Some blood dripped out of the corner of her fang. Then the fang faded away as she released. Kagome looked up at the man above her.

"Inuyasha," she said.

Inuyasha pulled himself up onto his knees and pulled Kagome towards him. He shouted out triumphantly. "Hah, ya mangy wolf!"

Inuyasha leaned forward and bit Kagome as gently as he could on her neck. Carefully, he licked the wound.

Inuyasha spoke softly to her. "Are you okay, Kagome? I didn't hurt you too bad, did I?"

Kagome shook her head. "Unh-huh. No, Inuyasha."

Kagome tucked her head under his. Inuyasha allowed this for a moment, but then he couldn't resist and raised his head to mock Kouga. "You see that, you mangy wolf! She's mine, ALL MINE, and you can't take her!" Kouga collapsed on his knees.

"Kagome, but I thought,"

"You thought wrong deluded wolf boy!" shouted Inuyasha happily.

"Bah, you're still the same old reeking mutt. But…" Kouga stood up and held out a hand. "I have to admit I lost out to a better man."

It was a strange moment for both of them, the amber light, a truceful handshake. Then Kouga pulled back his hand and got angry once again. "But if you ever do anything to make her unhappy I swear I'll rip out your living heart and feed you to the worm demons!"

Inuyasha waved a hand dismissively. "Keh. You don't have to worry about anything like that. I'll take good care of Kagome, I swear."

Kagome was clutching onto Inuyasha's shirt front. They walked forward together. Kagome looked around anxiously. "Where is everyone?"

At that moment, Songo flew up on Kilala. Miroku, still poised for battle, had retreated to where they were, too. Kagome caught her breath. "I'm so glad you're all alright."

Shippo climbed up on her shoulder and placed a hand near her neck. "Kagome, what's that?" he asked curiously.

"Oh," said Kagome not ashamed. "Inuyasha and I decided to be mates from now on."

"Damn right we are," said Inuyasha.

"Inuyasha!" said Kagome mildly.

While Inuyasha and Kagome had been speaking, Shippo had been watching swirling light on their cuts. He pointed out the one on Kagome's neck again.

"Look Kagome, words!" he said.

"Hum?" asked Kagome. "What do you mean Shippo?"

The trio watched as the light turned into the kanji for "cherished forever". Shippo read it outloud.

"And look Inuyasha," said Shippo. "You have writing too, it says, 'eternal love'."

Inuyasha and Kagome stood close to one another, and Kagome tucked her head under his. Their sweet moment was interrupted by a large crashing. Miroku called out to them.

"Inuyasha!" he shouted desperately. "They're coming!"

"All right!" said Inuyasha determinedly. "Let's get it on then."

Inuyasha ripped out his Tetsiaga and transformed it. He raced out of the building, leaping close to the two dogs which were several stories high. Leaping up, he rammed his blade into the nose of the white dog. The white dog backed away with a sharp whine, then a fierce growl.

"Yeah, you should have thought of that before you messed with me," said Inuyasha. Inuyasha empowered his sword and took a leap. He twisted his body, sweeping the blade down in an arc.

He bellowed out, "WIND SCAR!" unleashing his attack.

The two dogs disintegrated on impact. Inuyasha landed and sheathed his sword. He looked at the deep ruts he had created, glowing with molten lava. What a wind scar! Inuyasha's group gathered around him to look also, and Kagome stood behind his arm. Kagome looked at his thoughtful face.

"Inuyasha?" asked Kagome.

"Rrrrr," said Inuyasha suddenly sweeping her into his arms and twirling her around. He set her down gently after that.

"Come on Kagome," said Inuyasha. "Let's all celebrate our being human again. Well, you know what I mean."

"An excellent idea!" input Miroku. "And I know just the village where we might go to buy sake."

Songo spoke warningly. "Miroku…"

"Ah come on Songo," said Miroku convincingly, "Inuyasha and Kagome are together now, the demon is defeated, we should all have a proper celebration."

Songo agreed reluctantly, "Well, all right then. We do have a lot to be thankful for."

Kagome smiled and said, "Like we're all together again."

"And we can hunt for Naraku," put in Miroku.

Shippo spoke in an undertone. "That does put a damper on things you know."

"No, he's right," said Songo shaking her head. "As long as we're able, we have to try. We reversed this, and someday we'll reverse Miroku's windtunnel."

"Yes, we have to keep thinking optimistically," agreed Miroku.

"Don't worry you guys," said Kagome. "We'll always be here for you, right Inuyasha?"

"Teh," said Inuyasha. "As long as we're able to fight, monk."

Kouga watched them talk and then turned his head. He leapt off running. He came to where Ayami was calmly sitting on a large rock beside the stream, listening to the waters. Kouga stopped behind her and she turned her head.

Kouga spoke softly. "Ayami? How's your leg?" Kouga walked up to stand beside her.

Ayami responded with a touch of sorrow. "It's alright, really. It is just a little wound. It will heal completely." Kouga leaned down and took her ankle. He looked at it and lowered it back into the water.

"When you're ready to go," said Kouga, "I'll take you back to the wolf den."

"I can get there myself," said Ayami. Kouga shook his head.

"No Ayami," said Kouga. "I said to you a long time ago that I would take care of you. I think I'm ready for that now."

Ayami blushed. "Kouga…" Kouga caught her wrist.

"Ayami," said Kouga seriously, "you asked me to look at you. From here, the view's not all that bad. You're more than I thought you were." Ayami couldn't respond and Kouga dropped her hand.

"Er. You fought really well today Ayami," he said nervously.

"Really?" said Ayami.

"Sure."

Ayami stood up, swaying on her ankle a bit. She leaned on Kouga's arm.

"I'm ready to go back now," she said.

Kouga scooped her up in his arms bridle style and leapt off. Ayami leaned against his chest and smiled happily. She knew they had things to work out, but it was okay with her.

Elsewhere, Miroku walked up front of the group with his staff clinking. Songo was alongside slapping him, Shippo was riding Kilala laughing happily as he talked, and Kagome and Inuyasha were dragging behind, walking close to one another. They stopped and looked at one another.

"Inuyasha," asked Kagome.

"What?" Inuyasha said.

"Do you have any regrets that it was me?"

"Keh," said Inuyasha. "I don't regret anything. I don't know why, but I've felt closer to you all along."

Kagome smiled. "I'm glad. After a pause, she asked, "Why Inuyasha?"

"I don't know why," said Inuyasha. "It's just that… you've always accepted me for who I am, and so now, I've even accepted myself."

Kagome moved closer and laid her head on his shoulder. "I'm glad," she said.

Inuyasha cleared his throat and changed his tone to a stern one. He brushed her off and moved ahead. "Come on Kagome, we don't have time for that. We have to get Naraku, remember? This time, I'm gonna end this!"

Inuyasha made a fist emphatically. Kagome shook her head with a smile at his excuse of not having enough time to share. She walked behind him, looking at his ears.

Kagome thought to herself, "Some how I doubt that, my love, eternal." It was a sunny day as Inuyasha's group walked once more down the traveler's path.

THE END.

Hope you enjoyed my story! Praise to Rumiko and her cast of unforgettable characters.