I do not own InuYasha. Nuff said.

The Setting Sun

Slowly he opened his eyes. It was so bright. He could see nothing but a white mist that seemed to float all around him. His ears twitched at the strange sounds, high pitched whistles that seemed to fly past through the cloudy air unseen. Where was he? How long had he been here? A feeling of frustration swarmed inside him. He had to get out of here!

Someone…someone was waiting for him. He felt it. Felt her calling to him but… Who? A vision of dark hair, sparkling eyes, and a smile that grabbed at his heart, flashed in his head. Who was she? He felt the burning need to tell her… tell her…what? He couldn't remember. Why couldn't he remember? He blinked as slowly from the brightness a figure emerged, her long black hair and red hakama in stark contrast to the brilliant whiteness surrounding them. His heart pounded. Was it her? ……No. It was the other… he…he knew this woman. Her name floated through the emptiness that was his memories. Kikyo. He felt a bitter disappointment. She was not the one he wanted. He tried to move, he wanted to speak to her, to know where he was, why he couldn't remember but he was unable to, his voice and body were frozen.

"InuYasha," she murmured as she drifted closer and raised her hand, lovingly smoothing it across his brow and down to rest along his cheek. He had expected her touch to be cold but was surprised by the feeling of warmth and peace that washed through his body. He didn't know why, but suddenly he wanted to tell her he was sorry, that he wanted her to be happy. A smile crossed her mouth as if she could hear his thoughts. "Thank you," she whispered. Gently she pressed her lips to his. "Goodbye InuYasha," she breathed, her figure already fading back into the nothingness. He watched her go, in his heart a tinge of sadness that he didn't understand but also relief that she had found peace at last.

Goodbye Kikyo.

InuYasha opened his eyes and looked out of the window at the clouds that rushed by the afternoon sun as it started to sink in the sky. He hated these stupid things. It didn't feel right to him to be flying through the air in a metal tube. If it weren't for the fact that it could get him back to Kagome faster he wouldn't even have gotten in it.

At the thought of the girl he had left sleeping in his bed this morning a warmth spread through him. No, she wasn't a girl she was a woman now. His woman. Closing his eyes he remembered the feeling of her in his arms, her softness wrapped around him. It probably hadn't been wise to get into bed beside her last night but he had wanted to hold her, to stop the little shivers that had travelled through her body, to have her wake up beside him and hear his name on her lips. His hands clenched tightly on the Tetsusaiga by his side as his mind summoned up images of how he had woken up this morning, her warm feminine body pressed against him, his arms around her. He ached to touch her again.

He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, and tried to steer his thoughts in another direction.

'I want you' her whispered words echoed inside his head and he nearly groaned in frustration.

'Please' a blush spread across his cheeks.

"Ah, shit," he swore as he opened his eyes. He was getting worse than Miroku had ever been.

"What's wrong with you?" the disgruntled wolf sitting across from him asked. InuYasha's blush deepened as he scowled back at Koga. That idiot wolf was the main reason he wasn't with Kagome right now.

A young, dark haired man of about twenty lent over Koga and studied InuYasha's face thoughtfully.

"Hmmm," he looked back at Koga, a somewhat lecherous smile on his face that made him look incredibly similar to a certain monk. "I think InuYasha's having dirty thoughts,"

InuYasha's blush deepened even more but he shocked them both by simply turning to stare back out the window.

"Wow! This must be serious," the young man said "I think he must be in lo---,"

"Shut up Toshi," Koga growled and he too looked out the window as Toshi made a face but retreated to his seat across from where Sesshomaru sat with a strange expression on his face that to someone who didn't know him, might have said was amusement.

Koga knew what it was InuYasha had been thinking; a blush stained his own cheeks. Kagome. He could smell her scent all over InuYasha. He wasn't a fool, he knew what that meant. Kagome had been the miko the wolves had attacked last night. He closed his eyes, regretting that this problem with his pack had spilled over to involve Kagome.

He sighed as he thought of the girl he had wanted so long ago. He cared deeply for his wife, he did, but he couldn't help wondering what might have been if Kagome could have loved him instead of the mutt. Jealousy swelled inside him as he opened his eyes and looked over at the idiot; he didn't deserve such a woman as Kagome.

As if sensing Koga's thoughts InuYasha turned and glared at him. Koga screwed his nose up and glowered back. If InuYasha wanted to pick a fight with him, that was fine. He'd give him a black eye to go back to Kagome with, he thought spitefully. Gold eyes narrowed on him and a growl came from InuYasha's throat as if he knew exactly what Koga was thinking.

"We're nearly home," came the calm voice "do you two think you can keep from killing each other until we land?" Sesshomaru flicked shut the folder of papers he was reading and looked at them, only the tiniest hint of amusement flickering in his eyes.

InuYasha pulled his gaze away from the wolf and looked at his brother and scowled, everything he had done today …no…scratch that, everything he had done in the last year, his brother had found amusing. It was starting to piss him off. If it wasn't for the fact that they were about to land and soon he would be with Kagome again he would have punched that stupid gleam out of Sesshomaru's eyes and given the wolf a black eye. Giving both demons one last glare he once again turned to stare out the window of the jet, ignoring all of them.

Sesshomaru's gleam was joined by a small smile of intense amusement that he quickly smothered.

Rin was waiting for them by the entrance that separated the gardens from the airstrip, her hands clasped together in front of her. She smiled brightly at her husband as he walked toward her.

"What?" he asked as he came to stand in front of her. She frowned at his lack of greeting but otherwise ignored him, looking instead at InuYasha who was following Koga and Toshi through the gateway, toward the house. She waited for them to go through before she called out to him.

"Um… InuYasha," He turned to face her an impatient look across his face.

"Yeah?"

"Kagome's gone," she said simply.

"What?" His eyes narrowed and he stepped toward her "What'd you mean….gone?"

"She and Shippo were in the garden and then they were gone,"

He opened his mouth to ask where but closed it, he already knew. With a grim look he spun on his heel and took off, not caring what else she might have to say.

Rin sighed and felt her husbands arms come around her.

"Do you think he'll actually get round to asking her this time?" she asked him.

"Yes," he murmured his breath just behind her ear.

"How can you be sure?" He nuzzled the soft skin of her neck.

"Because though it has been amusing to watch him torment himself, if he let's her get away again and I have to put up with him for another year, I am going to beat him until he does," he pushed her sleeve down her arm, baring her shoulder.

"Really? She smiled as she felt his lips brush against her. "I remember you let me get away once,"

"Not for long," Sesshomaru pressed a kiss to the strange symbol that was the only mark on her perfect skin.

Rin smiled again, remembering "Only long enough for me to 'live a normal life'" she tilted her head back to look at him "That is what you told me wasn't it? 'Go live a normal life'," she mimicked.

He sighed and rested his chin on top of her head. When would she forget that?

"Your point being…?"

"Oh nothing," a mischievous smile teased her lips "Just that you and InuYasha seem to be more alike than either of you want to admit,"

"Is that so?" his tone was dangerously soft. Rin's smile widened.

"Only you're a lot slower. It took you more than five years to come and find me," He spun her around, his lips only a breath away from hers.

"I'm worth the wait," he whispered as his lips claimed hers in a kiss that sapped the strength from her legs making her cling to him, the passion between them as strong as the day he had first kissed her.

Yes…definitely worth the wait, was her last thought for some time as she melted into his arms.

As they flew through the sky Shippo felt Kagome shiver behind him and he gave a morseful sigh. It seemed he had been waiting for InuYasha and Kagome to get together forever. He did not understand. Why weren't they together? What was he doing, flying around in broad daylight with Kagome? This had to be InuYasha's fault. He obviously hadn't explained anything to Kagome and now she was hurt and confused. He sure hoped he had more sense than these two if he ever fell in love. He sighed again, this time in relief as he saw the Higarashi Shrine below them.

Kagome lifted her head from Shippo's back as they started to descend and looked down at the familiar sight. Home. Landing on the ground she jumped from Kilala's back and stood for a moment staring at the Go-shinboku tree remembering the pain of seeing Kikyo and InuYasha beneath it together. That pain had grown a little more each day, each moment until it had threatened to swallow her whole. It was the reason she had sealed the well, and it was the same reason why she was here now. She clenched her hands into fists at her side. When she'd woken this morning she'd felt so happy, she'd thought….She sighed, she didn't know what she had thought but the sight of that grave had made her want to fall to her knees. She was so confused, she didn't know what to think, what to do.

"Kagome?" Shippo's worried voice broke into her thoughts. Whipping her head around she realised that she had been standing there staring blindly at the tree. She shook her head and tried to clear her thoughts.

"I'm fine. Let's go to the house," she turned and started across the yard, Shippo slowly following. He had seen the look on her face, the pain; he bet he knew what she had been thinking about. Inwardly he cursed. Should he try to explain things? No, he would only mess it up. This was between InuYasha and Kagome. He cursed again, where the hell was InuYasha?

Kagome stopped and looked at her family home. She'd come here because it was everything that was familiar to her, she wanted to run into her mother's arms and sob out the pain she felt, wanted her to make it all better as she had when she was a child. She could see her mother now, moving around in the kitchen preparing dinner. She wasn't a child anymore though and she doubted her mother could make her feel better. There was only one person who had the power to erase her pain and she'd run from him yet again. He was the only one who could tell her what she wanted to know, to answer the questions that burned inside of her.

Did it mean anything to you InuYasha? Do I mean anything to you? Do you still love Kikyo? Is there any place for me in your heart? Kagome looked down at her hands, which only this morning had held him to her, that had touched him as she had always longed to. She was a fool.

"Shippo," she said quietly "I think I…." Her voice trailed off as a rush of air and the sound of feet hitting the ground came from behind her. Slowly she turned around and faced the angry hanyo standing behind her.

"InuYasha," she whispered an instant before he leapt right in front of her and grabbing her shoulders, pulled her to him, his lips taking hers in an angry kiss. Startled, it took Kagome a moment to realise that it wasn't only anger fuelling his kiss but also … relieve. He had been worried for her?

Blushing a little but smiling in relief Shippo continued towards the house. Spying Kagome's mother standing at the door he made his way over, noticing she also had a smile on her face as she looked at the couple. Looking at him she nodded in welcome and ushered him into the house, leaving the couple alone in the late afternoon sun.

After a long moment InuYasha pulled back, his breathing harsh, and looked down at Kagome.

"Why?"

She looked up at him and saw that the anger was gone, replaced by pain.

"Why did you leave me again Kagome?" his voice was rough with hurt.

Closing her eyes she let her forehead rest on his chest, her arms hanging limply by her sides. The pain in his eyes, the hurt in his voice, it was the same as in her own heart but … why? What about…

"I saw her grave and….I …you….Do you love Kikyo?" the question burst from her unchecked. He pushed her back and looked down at her, stunned.

"What?"

Kagome stepped back away from his touch and watched his face intently as she asked again.

"Do you love Kikyo?"

InuYasha couldn't believe what she had asked. He had expected her to ask anything else but ….'Do you love Kikyo?' What the hell kind of question was that? How could she even ask that after this morning? Ok, they hadn't talked, he hadn't told her the things he should have but she had to know that he had never felt for Kikyo the way he felt for her. Didn't she? How could she? In all the time we were together, even I didn't know how I felt.

He knew now though…

When he didn't answer Kagome dropped her eyes and wrapped her arms around herself trying to chase away the sudden chill that ran through her. He loves her. A feeling far worse than jealousy, so much more than physical pain gripped her. A shiver shook her body and she turned away from him trying to blink back the stupid tears that came to her eyes. She had to stop crying, she couldn't keep crying.

A warm chest came up against her back and two strong arms wrapped around her. No…please. Don't touch me…don't. I can't take it. Her mind cried even as her body lent back into his warmth. Her hands came to rest over his where they lay linked around her waist. She wanted to stay here forever….even as she wanted pull away and run. She felt his head lower until his mouth rested near her ear. He loves another woman. He loves Kikyo. He doesn't love…

"I don't love Kikyo,"

Kagome started as his quiet but clear words cut off the taunting voice inside her head. He didn't love Kikyo. She made to move, to turn around but he pulled her to him tighter, keeping her in place.

"Don't," he whispered, "Don't move… not yet. I need to tell you…" He held her close, his breath whispering through her hair. He said nothing for a long moment. Just as she was about to ask him what he wanted to tell her, he spoke.

" Kagome, I never loved Kikyo," her hand tightened over his but she said nothing, letting him go on. "When we were together, before Naraku, I truly cared for her but after…. I told myself I loved her …that somehow I owed her my life,"

She felt like she was in some strange dimension. Was InuYasha really saying this? The very words she had wanted him to tell her three years ago? "When you left me…" She nearly gasped at the pain she heard in his voice. "When you left I didn't want to see anyone, not even Kikyo. I stayed away from her but when I saw her again I realised…realised that I had been lying to myself," His hands grasped hers holding them tightly. "I didn't want to admit that somehow without my even knowing it the strange girl who was always by my side had crawled into my heart and I found I couldn't live without her," The breath left her body and she started to shake.

"InuYasha," she was sure her heart had stopped. He placed his lips right next to her ear, his breath hot on her skin.

"I love you Kagome,"

At his words, the words she had thought she would never hear, she pulled loose from his embrace and spun around to face him. Searching his face, she stared into his eyes trying to find confirmation there of what she had heard and looking into those dark golden depths she felt her knees go weak at the love shining from them.

"You…you love…me," Kagome swallowed hard as she felt something welling up inside her chest.

"You love me," she just couldn't stop saying it. He loves… me. Me. He loves ME! A great sob burst from her and she threw herself back into his arms, tears pouring down her cheeks as she clung to him. InuYasha's arms came up to encircle her, holding her tight.

"Kagome, please…please don't cry," he whispered into her hair but she didn't stop. Bending over he placed his hands behind her knees and lifted her up, carrying her across the courtyard to the stone bench under the Go-shinboku, where he sat down, cradling her on his lap. Smoothing his hand down her hair he waited as her tears gradually stopped.

Slowly she raised her head and looked at him, the most beautiful smile he had ever seen spread across her lips as she raised her hands cupping his face and looking at him, everything that was in her heart was there in her eyes. "I love you InuYasha," she whispered. "I…love you…so much,"

"Kagome," InuYasha groaned and swooped down taking her smiling lips in a kiss, his hands running over her body as if to make sure she was real. His breathing rapid, he lifted his lips from hers and held her close to him, the joy that he felt at this moment threatening to burst his heart. She was his, in his arms, he loved her, and she loved him. This was the way it should have always been….the way it will always be.

The sun slowly lost it's golden glow turning a burning red as they sat wrapped in each other's arms neither saying a word. Kagome sat cuddled to InuYasha's chest, listening to the sound of his heart beat while still trying to convince herself she wasn't dreaming. How could a dream feel this good? It felt as though she was glowing with the happiness, that it was overflowing from her. She was complete. Still…. something nagged at the edges of that euphoria. Questions left unanswered. Things that needed to be said.

Lifting her face she gazed up at the eyes staring lovingly down at her. For a moment she forgot all about unanswered questions or anything other than him.

"InuYasha," he raised a hand smoothing a strand of hair away from her face. She subdued the urge to pull him down to her and kiss him until they both couldn't breath. "InuYasha, where have you been?"

His hand stilled for a moment and he sighed knowing that she didn't mean today. He looked up at the red sky and wondered if he could explain it himself. She was going to be mad. He knew that. For a long moment he sat there thinking, not saying anything.

"InuYasha?"

"I was lost," he said suddenly, his hand at her waist tightened. "After you left… I wandered, fighting, protecting the jewel. I didn't want to use it unless it was to bring you back to me but it wouldn't work, no matter how many times I tried," her hand came up to touch his face and he caught it in his own pressing his lips to the scar that crossed her palm. "It wasn't until the day I saw Kikyo again that the jewel gave me the one thing I truly desired,"

"What?" she whispered as he pressed her hand against his chest above his heart.

"A way back to you,"

"How?"

" I don't know. The only thing I remember was realising how much I love you, that I wanted to be with you," He tried to explain to her the only real memory he had of the time after he had used the jewel. The white mist, the sounds…Kikyo.

"I'm glad she found peace at last," she whispered after he had finished. InuYasha pressed his lips to her brow. "Her ashes are protected in the grave you saw. I didn't want anyone to disturb her again,"

She nodded in understanding, wincing as she thought of the things she had been thinking, feeling but something still niggled at her mind. "How long have you been here?"

InuYasha sighed knowing she would be angry. "When I woke up I was in Sesshomaru's home. That was a year ago,"

"A year?" she whispered. He put his arms around her waist and held her tight as she tried to pull away and stand. She stared up at him with disbelief. "You have been here a whole year?" she looked away, hurt. "Why didn't you come for me InuYasha?"

How could he explain? He had wanted what was best for her; he wanted her to be happy.

" I did. The night I woke I came for you but when I saw you, you were with a group of people. I followed you, waiting until you were alone but as I watched you laughing and talking with your friends, I realised that you were happy,"

Kagome blinked up at him remembering a night just over a year ago when she had agreed to be taken out by her old school friends to celebrate Ayumi's engagement. She had been desperately unhappy as it had been exactly two years to the day since she had sealed the well and she had only wanted to stay home and cry but she'd put on her best fake smile and tried to enjoy herself even though she had had to blink back tears every time someone said the words 'happy couple'.

"I followed you home. I waited for you to go to your room but you went to the well instead," Kagome's eyes widened as she remembered that night. It had been a bad night. She'd grabbed the beads that she had kept under her pillow for so long and took them to the well throwing them in.

"I heard what you said,"

Kagome replayed the words she had yelled down the well that night ' I will never think about you again InuYasha. From this moment on I will have a normal life. I won't think about you. I DON"T NEED YOU!' She had been so tired of crying, so mad at herself for not being able to forget and mad at InuYasha for not loving her. She hadn't meant anything she had yelled.

"You deserved a normal life,"

There was complete silence for a moment, their breathing the only sound. Suddenly Kagome reached up and grabbed his long hair giving it a tug. "You idiot!" she tugged again. " I wasn't happy and in case you haven't noticed my life is never going to be 'normal',"

"Oww!" he loosened his hold as she gave his hair another sharp tug and she quickly stood. He stood too and faced her, an indignant expression on his face. "I wanted you to be happy!"

" Happy? Did you even stick around to see what happened next?" the uncomfortable look on his face answered her question "No, you didn't. You didn't see me crawl back down there and spend the night crying that I was sorry, that I loved you, that I would never forget you …ever!" Her hands clenched at her sides as he just stood their looking at her with his damn beautiful eyes. "Who gave you the right to decide my future anyway? To take away my choice…" she stopped and covered her mouth as she realised what she was saying. Hadn't she done the exact same thing to him? She'd only wanted him to be happy, to not have to see him hurt, that's why she had left. She bit her lip and looked at him, her anger gone. They had caused each other so much pain simply because they hadn't ever bothered to ask the other what they truly wanted. She dropped her hands.

InuYasha watched Kagome with a slightly worried expression. What was she thinking? She didn't seem angry anymore and he'd thought she'd be angry with him for at least a day.

"We are such idiots," she moaned as she stepped forward and took his hand leaning her head against his arm.

"Kagome?"

"Every moment of these past three years it felt as if a knife were cutting into me. I never stopped hurting," his hand came to rest at her waist and he sighed as if the minute he hadn't been touching her had been torture.

"I should have taken you with me that night," he said quietly.

At those soft words she raised her eyes and looked at his eyes, filled with regret. "I saw you laugh and I heard those words and I thought that…"

"It was a lie. I didn't want everyone to realise how unhappy I was. I didn't mean what I said, I was… angry at myself…" her hand came up and clutched the fabric of his shirt. "I should never have sealed the well," his hand covered hers.

"I should have stopped you,"

"I don't think you could have,"

"If you had stayed in my arms I would have made you forget," She blushed and feelings fluttered inside her at the thought.

"I should have taken you as mine right there," he told her pulling her fully back into his arms, holding her against his heart.

"InuYasha!" she gasped in shock, blushing even more she buried her face in his shoulder. "If I had known how it would feel, I never would have gone ," she whispered shyly. He raised her face to his and his lips found hers, his hands coming up to tangle in her hair as his tongue slipped between her parted lips caressing her own. His hands left her hair and moved down her body moulding her to him and her arms wrapped around his neck. His hands slid down her side brushing the sides of her breasts and making her moan against his mouth.

Suddenly he dragged his mouth from hers, losing his hold but not letting her go. Kagome made an "oh" of disappointment and would have fallen if he hadn't still been holding onto her.

"It'll be dark soon," he said and she stared at him confused and still dazed from his kiss. "I think we need to go somewhere private," he nodded toward something behind her and she turned, blushing as she saw her grandfather ambling across the yard to the house, unaware of the two lovers beneath the tree.

"Come on," he said a smile on his face. Turning, he presented her with his back. She blinked

"InuYasha…?"

"Forgotten how?" he challenged. With a slight 'huff' Kagome wrapped her arms around his neck and let him lift her onto his back. Hands slid along her bare legs and under her knees holding her firmly in place. Running across the courtyard he launched himself from the top of the stone steps and into the air.

Kagome leaned her head against his back and closed her eyes enjoying the sensation of being so close to him while flying through the air. She had missed this.

"Kagome?"

"Yes," she answered

"Are you ok?" he asked as he leapt from roof to roof.

"Yes," she murmured. He smiled, wondering if she enjoyed this as much as he did. It had always been one of his own secret pleasures, to have her body so close to his, her arms around him. Leaping across a highway, he looked up at the disappearing sun and put his head down, moving even faster.

A/N: I could have dragged that on forever but I think I've messed with Kag & Inu enough, they need a super smooshy ending now. I decided to write a stories for Sess+Rin and koga+Ayame so I didn't put much about them in here cause...well this isn't their story.