AN: Ahahaha...sweatdrop sorry about the delayed update...things have been INSANE where I live. I believe this chapter may hold you over till the epolouge.

Free Of Restrictions

Chapter 3

Kagome let out a regretful sigh as she glanced at the swollen suitcase sitting on her bed. 'We go back tomorrow night...But If I go, I will probably never see Inu Yasha again...Its only been two weeks, but he's...he's all I've ever wanted in a man...' She glanced up at the sound of someone knocking on her door.

"Come in!" She called, heading towards her door.

"Kagome?" Came Sango's voice as the door creaked open. "You're still here? I thought you were going out with InuYasha tonight."

Kagome shook her head. "Not until 8:30. I'm meeting him in the lobby. We're going out, since we go home tomorrow."

Sango nodded, before hesitantly glancing at Kagome. "Are...Are you sure you're up to this? I mean, just...leaving .You've spent practically every minute since you met InuYasha with him...Maybe you can invite him to come visit us..."

"But what about Koga? I've tried to dump him at least twelve times, and he's still convinced that I'm 'his woman,' " Kagome said dejectedly. "If InuYasha came to visit, the two of them would end up fighting, and one of them would get hurt. InuYasha is more temperamental than Koga ever could be - you should have seen him when that pick-pocket tried to steal his wallet!"

Kagome sighed, sitting down on her bed, burying her face in her hands. "I don't know what to do! I really like InuYasha! He's everything I've ever wanted, but if I go home, I'll never see him again!"

Sango watched in surprise as Kagome completely broke down, her shoulders shaking with small sobs. She sat down next to her friend, wrapping a comforting arm around her shoulders. She heard Kagome mumble something, and she paused.

"What was that?"

Kagome looked up, her face slightly pink from crying. "I said, 'I think he might be the one'..."

"What!" Sango exclaimed, wide eyed. "You aren't serious, are you? You've never..."

"He's...we just...fit. Sure, we argue over dumb things, like where to go on our dates, or where to eat...but even though we do, I feel...I feel attached to him." Kagome laughed wryly. "He's always so rough, a total mama's-little-heartbreaker poster child, but when he's around me, he's so caring...he's passionate in what he does, he's loyal, he - he always is concerned for my well being...I love him, Sango...It seems odd, but I'm completely head-over-heels for a man I met two weeks ago..."

"Kagome...maybe you're right...you've been happier on this trip than I've seen you in years...maybe..."

Kagome looked up. "Maybe what?"

"What if you stayed? Maybe went to stay with him for a few weeks...or if you two are serious...you might live with him for a while. You're always complaining that you don't particularly feel...attached, to your job. You keep joking about going back to college and taking some classes, majoring in something other than journalism...What if you went to a college in Texas, and stayed with InuYasha? You'd be free from Koga..."

She paused, before her eyes widened. She let out an excited squeal, before throwing her arms around Sango's neck.

"Sango, you're a genius! Oh, thankyouthankyouthankyou! I think this might work!" She said tearfully, as she continued to strangle Sango in a bear hug. "Sango, you are the best friend ever!"

Sango let out a laugh as Kagome finally let go of her to proceeded to prance around the room, and chant a mantra that sounded suspiciously like 'I'm ditching Koga the dork!'

"Come on. Lets get you ready. You've only got 20 minutes till you're meeting him, and your make-up is a mess!"

"InuYasha, where are we going!" Kagome cried happily, as he dragged her down the street. He didn't answer as he pulled her into a parking lot and towards his rental car.

"I'm not gonna tell you till we get there. We gotta hurry to get there before sunset!" He said, before something was thrown over her eyes. She giggled as he grabbed her hand and helped her into her seat, shutting the door after she was in. She heard him open his door, and get into his seat, before he started the car and shut his own door.

"Where are we going?" She asked, groping around her shoulder for the seatbelt. He reached over and pulled it into her hand before he answered.

"I told ya. Its gonna be a surprise, so I'm not tellin' you till we get there!" She frowned and folded her arms across her chest, only to hear him laugh.

"Don't worry Kag, it won't be long."

He started driving, and after a moment, she noticed soft music playing from the car speakers. Recognizing the song, she smirked.

"Dixie Chicks? You have Dixie Chicks?"

"Hey, whadd'ya expect? I'm from Texas. I grew up in this little nowhere ranch...and for your information, my mother is the one who bought me this cd."

She smiled. "This is one of my favorite CDs, actually. Sango thinks I'm crazy."

The ride continued for a short while longer, with Kagome humming along to the CD and InuYasha's occasional teasing about her 'squawking'. She observed that about 20 minutes into the drive, it seemed as though they went off-road. They finally reached where they were going, and InuYasha turned off the car to go out and help Kagome out of the car.

"Can the blind-fold come off yet?" She asked, but he merely tugged lightly on her hair.

"Not yet. We're not quite there yet. I'll lead you there--don't worry, I'll make sure you get there in one piece."

He grabbed her hand, and she promptly clutched it like a lifeline, her heart pounding in excitement. He started walking slowly, and as their feet moved, she thought it sounded like they were walking on sand.

"Here we are," he said softly, helping her sit down on the ground, on what felt like a blanket. He moved behind her and untied the blind-fold. Her eyes widened when she saw the small table laid out on the blanket, complete with candles and a meal for the two of them.

"Wow..."

"I know its not much," He said bashfully. "But its kinda hard to get something exquisite out here."

She smiled at him as her eyes looked around to survey the area around them. All around them was simply the desert, with the exception of off to her left, where she could see the distant bright lights and tall buildings of Las Vegas. She didn't spend much time looking at the city, but at the horizon opposite of it, the sky lit up with vibrant oranges, blues, yellows and violets.

"It's wonderful..." She muttered, awestruck. She missed the happy grin on his face, but turned at the sound of a cork being popped.

"Sparkling cider?" He asked with a quirk of his eyebrow. She giggled, holding out her long-neck glass.

"Only you would bring me out here and offer me cider, InuYasha."

He poured her glass with a light scowl. "What? I've TOLD you what alcohol does to your liver. I can't tell you how many drunks end up in the ER for severe liver failure."

She smiled. "I know. I just enjoy teasing you."

He merely snorted, pushing her dinner plate towards her, and beginning to eat his own. Not much later, they had finished, and placed their dishes in a small basket she hadn't noticed before, and she found herself reclining in InuYasha's arms, stargazing. They simply stayed that way for a long while, just enjoying one another's company. After about an hour, she smiled, humming to herself, before breaking into soft song.

"Cowboy take me away, fly this girl as high as you can, into the wild blue. Set me free, oh, I pray. Closer to heaven above and closer to you...closer to you...I wanna walk and not run, I wanna skip and not fall, I wanna look at the horizon, and not see a building standing tall..."

He smiled, before whispering in her ear. "I wanna be the only one for miles and miles--except for me and you, and your simple smile. Yes it sounds good to me...oh yes it sounds so good to me..."

She smiled, before leaning up to softly kiss his lips. When the pulled apart, she shyly looked into his eyes.

"InuYasha-"
"Kagome-"

They both stopped upon hearing the other, then laughed.

"You first." She said to him, and he rolled his eyes and acquiesced.

"I've been wondering...I enjoy your company so much, Kagome. I love being around you more than anyone else...I don't want you to go back to New York, cause just thinking about you leaving..."

He shook his head, before continuing.

"I just want to ask...if you would consider coming to stay with me...at least for a while. I know its a lot, for me to ask you to leave your job, but...I love you, Kagome."

Her eyes widened, and after her brain recovered from shock, she let out a happy cry, throwing her arms around his neck.

"That's what I was going to ask you..." She mumbled in his shoulder. "If you'd let me come stay with you. I'm tired of New York, I'm tired of my under-paid job, and I'm tired of jealous men who don't seem to know when they've been dumped!"

He blinked, before prying her away a bit.

"Is that a yes?"

She only squeezed him tighter and kissed him.