Ah, I'm glad that the last chapter is over. I don't like battles, or Naraku, but I do like fluff! Expect lots of fluff this chapter. Or at least some.

I was expecting this chapter to be longer... Gar... And I had NO idea what to call it.

A Change in Our Future

Chapter Nineteen: Miroku's Protection

After we defeated Naraku, Kikyo (everyone besides Sango and Miroku had no idea she was there) returned Kohaku to us and he rode with Sango, Miroku and Shippo on Kirara's back. I was so exhausted that I fell asleep while riding with InuYasha, and he had to carry me in his arms instead of on his back. I held the jewel close to me, and I also added my own jewel shards to it. Koga reluctantly gave the jewel shards in his legs to us, and he went off, though, he was still as fast as always. I didn't expect him to go off so fast without the jewel shards.

When we got back to Kaede's village, InuYasha woke me up and we walked the rest of the way. People would look at us as we passed, pointing at our cuts and bruises. They all knew that we were gathering the jewel shards, but did they know how much work it was?

We reached Kaede's hut without trouble, and we went inside.

"WE DID IT!" Shippo shouted, jumping off the ground about five feet. Kaede turned to us and raised an eyebrow.

"We defeated Naraku, Kaede," I said, a smile plastered on my face. Sango walked into the room, holding onto her brother's shoulder. Kohaku looked really worn out.

"That is wonderful news!" Kaede said. She sounded probably the most excited I've ever heard her. "We should have a feast, honoring your accomplishment."

"Ooh! A party?" I said, grinning widely. Kaede nodded.

InuYasha frowned. "Keh. Whatever."

I turned to him and smiled. "Well, just think of it as a reward for defeating Naraku!" I said.

- - -

That night the whole village was having fun. Kaede explained everything that wasn't understood by the villagers, and everyone made food for us. They even seemed to like InuYasha! I was happy about that. The children came to me and told me to play with them, and I played until the sun set and I sent them home.

The rest of the night was full of partying and drinking, and not to mention feasting. We all had our fair share of food, and I was stuffed.

To wash it down, I poured myself some water and gulped it down, not even tasting it. Unfortunately, I didn't notice what I drank until I looked at the bottle.

Saké.

GREAT! Now I was going to get drunk. And I drank a huge glass full! Not one of those tiny saké glasses, a whole big cup! Almost immediately I felt a little bit dizzy and happy, but somehow I managed to realize that it was just the saké working on me. I held my head and started to walk away from the party, trying not to stumble over anything as I walked.

My legs led me to the Go-Shinboku. The sacred tree. I looked up at it and touched the bark. I hiccuped and giggled, and soon I was just laughing, having to lean against the tree for support.

"Kagome?" someone said, walking into the clearing.

"Hm?" I turned to see InuYasha standing there, looking at me strangely. "Oh, InuYasha!" I said, and I giggled.

"Are you all right?" InuYasha asked.

I gripped the tree tighter as I started to lose my balance. "Oh... I -hic- accidentally drank some saké."

"How can you accidentally drink saké?" InuYasha shouted at me.

I glared, tears coming to my eyes.

InuYasha looked shocked and then started to shout out apologies.

The next thing I realized is that I was sitting on the ground, bawling into my hands and InuYasha was sitting next to me, helpless as ever.

I stood up and had a quick change in emotions, because then I was as happy as a kid in a candy store. I gripped onto the sacred tree for support and looked up in the branches.

InuYasha stood up also, obviously confused at my sudden change in attitudes.

"I think we better get back to the party," I said, taking a few steps toward InuYasha.

My foot caught on a rock and I started to trip, but I fell into InuYasha's chest instead.

I looked into InuYasha's eyes, a huge blush on my cheeks, and he looked at me. Even though I was intoxicated, I think he thought that this situation was familiar... But what do I know?

"I'm sorry," I said, my face as red as a tomato.

InuYasha shook his head and hugged me. I let out a gasp, but I let him hold me. I was just happy to be there. I was happy to be with InuYasha.

Suddenly I felt a presence down wind of us, which just so happened to be the way InuYasha's back faced. I knew he wouldn't be able to smell whoever it was there, so I readjusted myself to look over his shoulder. My eyes widened at what I saw.

There in the forest was Kikyo. She was just standing. She wasn't doing anything to harm, or to help. But, I could have sworn that I saw a small smile on her face right before she left.

InuYasha looked down at me and let me out of his embrace. I was sort of upset that he let go, but I didn't show it... Or mind too much.

"What were you looking at, Kagome?" InuYasha asked.

I looked at him and smiled sweetly. "Nothing... Just something from the past."

InuYasha shrugged and turned, walking back to the village.

"Let's go, Kagome," InuYasha said. "You better get back."

I started to walk again, but I lost my balance and barely managed to steady myself.

InuYasha turned and frowned.

"Keh. Clumsy wench," InuYasha said, walking over to me and lifting me up in his arms.

I glared, but ignored the insult. At least... At least everything would turn out just fine.

- - -

Back at the celebration, Sango had been happy, even though she left early. She walked into Kaede's hut and checked on her brother, who was asleep, recovering from the battle we had just fought and Naraku's influence.

Even though Sango was happy, she couldn't help but feel upset that Miroku had gone off to chase some girls. I can't blame her, though.

I don't know the reason she left the party, but maybe it was just to get fresh air, or to think... Or maybe it was to blow off steam when she just happened to see Miroku pulling his old 'will you bear my children' act.

She walked into another part of the village, and went into the edge of the forest. She looked around, thankful that no one was there with her.

Sango sat down and sighed, closing her eyes.

"Stupid monk... Why does he have to do that?" Sango asked herself, clenching her fist.

Sango jumped up when she heard a rustle in the bushes and she stood up, ready to defend herself. She relaxed when she realized it was just a drunken man, coming from the party. Either he had lost his way, or he was doing some other thing that I couldn't think about...

Sango sighed in relief, and looked at the man who was walking towards her.

"Excuse me, sir, are you all right?" Sango asked politely.

The man walked towards her and started to laugh a bit, and Sango got the strangest feeling that it was a really bad thing to be there right now. She started to back away from the strange man, but he just kept walking towards her.

"Back off!" Sango shouted, readying herself to fight him off if she needed to.

"You're a pretty one, aren't you?" the man said in a nasty voice.

"STAY AWAY!" Sango ran towards the man and punched him in the stomach, making him fall to the ground. He grabbed onto her haori and pulled it down with him, but she managed to rip it away from him, causing half of her haori to come off.

"Great! Just get away, you bastard!" Sango yelled, kicking the man's hand away from the sleeve he was gripping. She started to run, but he got up amazingly quick and tackled her to the ground.

"GET OFF OF HER!" yelled a male voice, and Sango felt the man getting lifted off her back. She turned just in time to see Miroku lifting the man up and punching him in the face. Obviously frightened, he ran off, holding the part of his face that was punched.

Miroku crouched next to Sango, who was still laying on the ground, and grabbed her hand gently. Unexpectedly, he pulled her up and hugged her.

"Are you all right, Sango?" Miroku asked. Sango didn't realize it, but, she was crying.

"Yes... Thank you," Sango said, pulling away from Miroku's embrace.

Sango looked at Miroku, her eyes filled with mixed emotions. But, suddenly she blushed and realized what she was wearing... or not wearing.

Miroku obviously had seen too, because he was grinning so wide that you could fit all of Tokyo in his mouth, but Sango instantly wiped that grin off of his face, after getting her haori back on.

She readjusted her haori and stood up. Walking away from the monk, she stopped and looked back at him, who was smiling sweetly.

"Come on, Miroku," she said to him, and she held out her hand.

He got up and walked with her, grasping her outstretched hand.

"Miroku... Thanks again."

Aww... Even though there were some dangerous stuff, they all figured it out... AND WITH FLUFF.

Next Chapter: Now that Naraku is dead, Kagome needs to go home, and recuperate... And to see if her world has gone back to normal.