A/N: Okay, I lied. I thought this was going to be angsty, but then I moved that chap back til next time, because it seems better this way.

Chapter 18: Going Home

It had been two days since Kohaku had died, and Sango was still in her village. Inuyasha and Kagome had taken off so she could go home, and to give her a little time. Miroku and Shippou had stayed with her, at her request. She had lost everyone she had loved a year ago…and losing Kohaku was almost too much.

She knelt by his grave and placed flowers upon it. Kohaku…she thought. At least, in death, you weren't under Naraku's spell…

Miroku came and sat beside her. "He died a peaceful death." he said.

Sango looked down at his grave with sad eyes. "He's buried here, between father…" She looked at a much older grave on the other side. "And mother…"

He put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Sango…"

She held back a tear. "Miroku…he never even knew that we were…"

"I'm sure he knows now." he tried to comfort her.

She sniffed. She turned to him. "Hold me…" she said, warm tears flowing freely down her face.

Miroku sighed and obliged, holding her close in her pain. And for the first time in his life, not a lecherous thought passed through his mind.

Inuyasha and Kagome crawled out of the well in her time. Kagome smiled as she looked around the well house. She was glad to be back after all that happened.

Inuyasha also looked at her. She's happy here…I knew it…She does want to come back here after we finish everything…

"Come on!" Kagome said. "We have to get back soon, don't we?"

He followed her as she ran up the stairs. But then that's strange…she wants to come here, yet she wants to go back?

She opened the door of her house. "Mama, Souta, Jii-chan! I'm back!" she called. "And I brought Inuyasha!"

Her mother walked out of the kitchen. "Kagome! It's been a long time!"

"Yeah, Mama. I know. We've been busy." she replied, setting her backpack down on the table.

"Are you going to stay this time?" her mother asked.

"Sorry, but I can't. We have to go back."

"Well, I'm glad you came." She looked at Inuyasha. "Hello, Inuyasha."

"Hello, Kagome's mother." he replied.

She smiled. She always thought it was nice when he was polite.

Souta walked in. "Inuyasha Nii-chan!" he said.

"Hey, kid."

"Inuyasha, can you go play with Souta for a second, I need to talk with Mama."Kagome said.

He shrugged. "Keh. Whatever." And he left the room, with Souta dragging him out.

Her mother sat down at the table. "What is it you wanted to talk about, Kagome?"

How can I break this to her? "Mama…you see…you know about the shikon no tama, right?"

Her mother nodded. "It's that thing you keep searching for, right?"

"Yeah…well, anyway…It's almost completed." she said.

Her mother looked happier. "Well, that's good news. Once it is, you can come home more often."

Kagome sighed. She really won't like this… "Mama…you see, if its completed, then one person needs to make a wish on it. And if I'm over there when someone makes a wish…" she paused.

"Yes?"

Kagome looked at the floor. "Then there is a possibility that the well won't work anymore, and I'll be stuck there."

Mrs. Higurashi lost her smile. "You mean…you won't be able to come back?"

"I don't know. I might be able to, I suppose. But Kaede told me there is a possibility that the well won't work because it was drawing off the power of the shikon no tama."

Her mother remained silent. She was contemplating the choices she would have to make.

"Mama…do you want me to stay here? Because…" She took a small breath. "If I stay here, I won't ever be able to see Inuyasha…"

The smile came back on her face. "You want to see Inuyasha?"

Kagome immediately blushed. "Um…well…I…"

"Kagome…" she said. "It is your life. It is your decision. I can't make it for you. I knew one day you might have to do this. You're going to have to decide whether you want to live here or there."

It's…all my decision…? "I…I don't know. I never really thought about it before, but…" Inuyasha…I can't live without him… "I…What I really want is…"

She didn't need to finish. "Kagome." her mother said. "I understand. You and Inuyasha remind me of me and your father when we were young."

Kagome snapped her head up. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Mrs. Higurashi grinned. "Nothing dear. But…if you can come back through the well, come and visit me. If you can't…you better leave something behind so I canfind it…"

Kagome smiled. "Don't worry mom. Who knows? Maybe you'll find me in a history book one day!"

"I'd like to see that." Her mother laughed. "Now go upstairs and pack. I bought you some new outfits."

"Thanks, Mama." At least she understands…I need to be with Inuyasha…

She walked into the other room, where Inuyasha was being forced to play a video game with Souta. He was losing horribly, due to the fact that he couldn't coordinate the buttons.

"Damnit!" he said, as he lost yet another life. "This is how people of your time battle?" he asked.

"Inuyasha Nii-chan, you have to push button A." Souta said.

The hanyou lifted the controller up. "Where?"

Kagome sighed. "Souta, it'll just make him mad if he loses. And I'm certain Mama doesn't want to hear his tongue around our house. Come on, Inuyasha, I got to pack."

Inuyasha threw down the controller. "Fine. I'm sick of this dumb thing anyway." They both walked up the stairs and into her room. Once she opened the door, Inuyasha was hit with a wave of her scent.

Her room…smells like her…It smells so good… he shook his head. Cut it out…she'll notice sooner or later!

Kagome instantly saw the pile of clothes on her bed. "Oh! These must be the clothes she bought for me!" She held them up to her body, seeing how they would look on her.

Anything would look good on her…Inuyasha thought. But nothing would look even better…No! Must not think like that lecher! The scent of her room was affecting him more than it used to.

"Thank you, Inuyasha." Kagome said.

"Huh?" he asked, starting to blush.

She turned around. "For coming home with me! My family really likes you, after all…"

"Well…um…" His blush deepened. "I had to come with you. Otherwise you would take forever."

She stared. "Inuyasha, are you sick?"

"What?" Damnit. She noticed.

"You're turning all red…" She moved closer.

Don't get closer, don't get closer…She placed a hand on his forehead. "Do you have a fever?" Kagome…don't…

His heart sped up, but he had to stop it somehow. He grabbed her wrist and lowered her hand. "I'm FINE." he said.

But touching her is what did it. Kagome…she smells good…touching her feels good…I just want…Kagome…I want her more than anything else…He started getting closer, not letting go of her wrist.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome asked, backing up. "What are you doing?" She backed up and hit the wall. She was forced to look up at him. What's he doing? It's like he's…His eyes had the same look they had before, that look that she was nearly sure was love. Why is he looking at me like that? He came closer, making her blush furiously and her heart to speed up to five times its normal pace. A melting feeling came over her body, something she had never felt before.

Inuyasha still held on to her wrist, but his other hand was on the wall, and he was leaning on it. He looked down at her, and now more than ever he wanted to kiss her, to tell her how much he loved her and to hold her tight. He was almost lost, drowning in her scent. He leaned closer, so close that he could feel her breath. Kagome...

She gave a small gasp as he got closer, and now he was only a few inches away from her lips. His silver hair tickled her cheeks, and his amber eyes burned with a need. The blue spaghetti strap shirt she had been holding all this time fell to the floor. I can't, she thought. I can't pull away…Their noses touched and her heart pounded faster. Inuyasha… She closed her eyes.

"Inuyasha Nii-chan!" Souta burst into the room. Inuyasha and Kagome immediately jumped away from each other. Kagome was left trying to catch her breath. What was that? It was like on the night of the new moon…he tried to kiss me again!

"WHAT?" Inuyasha roared, hoping the kid didn't think it was what it looked like. Damnit, I should have known not to go to up to her room. Her scent is enough to make me crazy, but in here…

Souta stared. "I thought I could show you a better way to learn how to use the controller, but you and Nee-chan look a bit busy so—"

"We are NOT busy!" he yelled. Although, I should be thanking the kid. He saved me from Kagome sitting me until there's nothing left. Damnit, why can't you just get over the fact that you don't deserve her?

"Inuyasha?" Kagome asked, a blush still on her cheeks. "Why don't you go downstairs…I…I need to try this on."

She wants you to go downstairs because you almost…baka. BAKA BAKA BAKA BAKA BAKA! "Sure, Kagome." he said, leaving the room.

She fell on her knees, still trying to catch her breath. That's the second time now. At first, I thought it was not what it looked like but…this time he really did try to kiss me. What if…does he…

No. I forgot. He did this once before, when he was thinking of Kikyou. She closed her eyes. He's thinking of Kikyou. And it's hurting me like this because I look like her. He wants to kiss Kikyou, not me.

The day Miroku-sama stops being lecherous is the day Inuyasha starts liking me…

Inuyasha walked down the stairs. Baka! She's probably not going to talk to you again. You have got to stop losing yourself like that…You're not worthy of her…

He sighed. I know, but I just can't help it... The day the monk stops being lecherous is the day I'm worthy of her…

He heard Souta talking in the other room. "Mama, I walked into Nee-chan's room, and Inuyasha Nii-chan almost Kis—"

Inuyasha ran into the room and pushed Souta behind him. "Nothing. Nothing at all."

"But Inu no Nii-chan, you did, didn't you?" Souta asked.

Inuyasha blushed a bright red. "I…I…I don't know what you're talking about."

Mrs. Higurashi smiled and sipped a cup of coffee. "Take good care of her, Inuyasha. Make sure she's happy."

How…how does she always KNOW! But she's wrong…Kagome doesn't…she wouldn't like me like that…

He couldn't think of anything else to say. "Yes, Kagome's mom."

Kagome came downstairs, to see her mother and her little brother smiling and one furiously blushing hanyou. "Inuyasha? Are we going to go?"

"Uh…uh…yeah." He said. She doesn't seem to hate me…yet…

Kagome hugged her mother while Souta grabbed Inuyasha and tried to hug him too. At first he didn't want to touch him, but then he ruffled his hair. "Bye, Kid."

"Mama…I'm going to miss you." Kagome said.

"I know. I'll miss you too. But…" she looked over at Inuyasha. "At least I know you're in good hands."

Kagome wiped a tear out of her eye. "Bye Souta…I have to go say goodbye to Jii-chan."

"He's in the storage shed." Mrs. Higurashi said.

As Kagome ran there, Inuyasha looked back at her mother. "Well, Bye Kagome's mom…kid…"

She smiled again. "I hope you two are very happy."

He turned around. "Uh…yeah…" She keeps thinking that it might actually happen…but I know better. Kagome wouldn't want me…

He walked outside and saw Kagome hugging her grandpa. He walked to the well house and waited. Soon, she walked in, wiping tears from her eyes. "I really am going to miss it…" she said.

"What?" Inuyasha asked. "You mean, you aren't coming back?"

"Kaede told me that there is a possibility that the well might close if the shikon jewel is gone…"

What? She wants to… "You'd rather stay in my time?"

"Of course." she said, blinking back tears. "This may be my time…this may be my family and I'll miss them…but Inuyasha…I couldn't live without you."

What does she mean? She can't…she can't…she would chose ME over everything she's ever known?

She sniffed. "Come on, I've got to stop crying. We have to get back to Sango-chan and Miroku-sama."

Inuyasha sighed. So that's why. She feels she has an obligation…But I'm hoping we can get the shikon no tama back before its used. That way…she won't have to stay with me…she can choose what she wants…

And they both jumped into the well, heading back to the Sengoku Jidai.

A/N: Dodges even more blunt objects HEY, I PUT IN SOME FLUFF, DIDN'T I? The kiss is coming soon, oh yes…VERY soon…And yes, sad. But think about it, would you rather choose going to school, or staying with a hot hanyou? Hmmm…I think I know the answer…!