A/N I DON'T OWN INUYASHA OR EVER AFTER

At Kouga's castle it was the early morning Kouga found himself so happy that he got up early. He could not keep his smile off his face. He had such a great time with Kagome or as Kouga knew her as Rumiko… Kouga had gotten so many ideas that he could not wait to tell his parents that he rushed into their room. Their bed had a curtain around the bed to keep the dark inside… As he opened the curtain both parents were still asleep. But once Kouga opened the curtains some sunlight came in this slightly waking his parents. The King was talking in his sleep "Off…. With his head" the Queen woke up and saw Kouga so she nudged her husband "Oh…Dear wake up…. Our son has something to tell us"

Kouga looked at both his parents with a smile on his face "Mother, Father. I want to build a university…with the largest library, where anyone can study no matter what your station"

"This is highly unlike you son." said the King. Kouga just smiled at his father and went to leave but remembered one more thing to tell them "Oh, I also want to invite the Gypsies to the ball" he then went to go about his day until he saw Rumiko again…

Kagome was still sleeping off her hang over and could not get up. She let out gasp as a broom made up of sticks poked her on her side to wake her up.

"Are you ill?" said Kagura in such an angry voice

"No" said Kagome as she tried to get up but to no luck as she fell back to bed "Yes"

"Where were you?" asked Kagura. Kagome looks over and tries to look sad and confused "I got lost….my lady"

"I don't believe you." Kagura looked Kagome up and down to determine if she was lying. You are hiding something from me…. And I demand to know what it is"

Kagome had had enough of the questions and wanted to go back to sleep "Why don't you tell me what I am hiding so I can get back to sleep?"

Kikyo looked shocked at this "What about our breakfast?!"

"You have two hands… make it yourself" replied Kagome. At this Sango had a smile on her face but not for long once she heard "Sango…. Go and boil some water" Sango groaned and said "I knew it!... I knew it!" as she stormed off. Later that day Kagome finally got herself up and ready for the day, so she started on her many chores… When she was pulling up weeds she heard "Mistress, you would better get in here quick!" said Kaede while waving her inside. Kagome put her basket down and headed inside. Kaede pointed upstairs to Kagura's room. Once she was there, she saw Kagura, Kikyo and Sango. They had her white dress out and they were trying the dress on Kikyo. Kagura looked over and saw Kagome coming over, so she had an evil smile on her face "Oh, look who woke up" said Kagura

"What do you think you are doing!" said Kagome in a very angry voice.

Kikyo looked over to Kagome with a smug look on her face "Why trying on my dress… of course"

"Honestly, Kagome do you think that after this morning… I'd let you go anywhere?" said Kagura while not even looking at Kagome. Kagome looked at both Kikyo and Kagura with disgust as she walked over to them "Do you honestly think these games and intrigues… are going to win you a crown? To hunt royalty like some sport… it's disgusting!"

Kikyo looked over to Kagome "You're just jealous" Kagome was almost in tears because she was so angry "These are my mother's" Kagome said as she took her shoes. Kikyo then got an evil look on her face and turned to Kagome and said "Yes and she is dead"

The whole room got quiet and Kagome stormed over to where Kikyo was standing and then BAM Kagome punched Kikyo right in the face and Kikyo fell over the bed and landed on the floor. Kagome reached out for Kikyo "I'm going to pull out your hair!" she screamed. Kikyo screamed and ran out of the room and down the stairs with Kagome hot on her heels. Kagome almost caught up to her a few times as they ran from room to room. In one of the rooms Kikyo saw an old book that was Kagome's that her father got her and luckily for Kikyo was near a fireplace. she held the book over the fire…. "Get away from me or so help me, Kami…"

"No Kikyo, don't! put it down!" said Kagome, Kikyo looked over at Kagome and saw that Kagome still had the shoes in her hands "Give me the shoes"

"Put the book down!"

Kagura came into the room and saw this going on and heard everything "Consider carefully, Kagome… your father's book or your mother's shoes? Though neither will save you from a lashing" Kagome looked at Kagura and Kikyo trying to decide what she should do. She slowly… slowly…. brought over her mother's shoes to Kikyo. Once they reached Kikyo's hand Kagome did not want to let them go but did in the end. Once the shoes were in Kikyo's hand, Kikyo threw the book into the fire anyway….As Kagome saw this she tried to get the book but was held back as she screamed "No!" as the book burned..

Later that day Kagome was laying on her bed with her back being treated by Sango because of the lashes she had received….. As Sango pressed a wet cloth on Kagome's back. Kagome let out a painful gasp "Oh! Kagome, now really you brought this upon yourself you know… First with breakfast. then with what happened with Kikyo"

"I don't know what's wrong with me" said Kagome. Sango placed another cloth on Kagome's back and tried to lighten the move by saying "Although, I shall never forget…. The way Kikyo's feet went up over her head" they then both started laughing. Sango went on "she should not have said that about your mother" Kagome said "Thank you" in a quiet voice….

With Kikyo and Kagura. They were having tea with the Queen. Kikyo got a black eye from the punch that Kagome gave her. When the Queen saw this, she was quite concerned.

"You really must let my doctor look at that. To think you saved that baby from a runaway horse!" said the Queen. Kikyo touched her eye and tried to look modest and a smile on her face "It was a maternal instinct, your Majesty"

The Queen gave both women a smile "I am sorry that my son could not join us today, he has gone off again."

"Again?" asked Kagura

"Yes… he was gone all yesterday and did not return until dawn"

Kagura got a look on her face as if she knew something but it was gone in a second. The Queen continued to talk "Perhaps you could help me with a mystery for me? Do you know Comtesse Rumiko Takashi, apparently she's staying with a cousin, but nobody seems to know who"

Kagura thinks for a moment even though she knows that name "Did you say Comtesse Rumiko Takashi?"

"Well yes… Oh, how wonderful! I was beginning to think she was a ghost" said the Queen as she starts to laugh and so does Kikyo and Kagura. Kagura stops laughing and said "No, no she has been around for years, yes… and um… staying with us, as a matter of fact" Kagura looked towards Kikyo who looked confused at what her mother was saying "Isn't that right darling?" Kikyo recovered and looked towards the Queen with a smile "Yes, our cousin"

"Whom you like to call Cinderella" said Kagura to Kikyo. Kikyo's face paled at this news. She then remembers that name and knew that it was Kagome the whole time. She became so angry that she got up and moved away from the table and while still in sight Kikyo starts stomping her feet and screaming and getting her anger out. Once she had finished she turned and walked back to the table and sat down as if nothing had happened.

Both the Queen and Kagura looked at Kikyo as she composed herself. The Queen reached out to her to see if she was alright. "Good heavens child… are you alright?" she asked. Kikyo turned to the Queen with a smile "There was a bee" Kikyo said to reassure the Queen that she was alright. They then went back to their talk.

While this was going on Kagome went to visit Kouga at the ruins. The ruins were of an old castle that was covered in leaves and had trees growing in places, and ivy climbing up the walls. It also had bits and pieces of the old is there a word missing here?all around.

Kouga saw Kagome walking towards him. He got up from a window shelf that he was sitting on. He did not know what to say at first, so he just said "Hello" Kagome returned this. "Are you well" asked Kouga

"I fear that I am not myself today," Kagome replied. Kouga took Kagome's arms in his hands and tried to move as close as possible.

"I feel as if my skin is the only thing keeping me from going everywhere at once"

"There is something I must tell you" Kagome said as she tried not to cry

"And I you… oh here, your book you left in the carriage yesterday" Kouga said as he gets the book out, Kagome takes the book and gives him a smile "Your Highness…."

"Kouga"

"I can't stay for long, but I had to see you Kouga but there is much to say" said Kagome. Kouga took Kagome's hand and went to show her something in the ruins. "Come I want to show you something" as they walked around "I used to play here as a child" he points to a nearby tree that was as big as him "I planted this when I was younger and now it's as tall as me…. Before the war, my father and I used to come here it was his favourite place"

Kagome looked around at the place looking and listening to the world "It is beautiful"

"There is so much life to live… but.." Kouga took Kagome's hand into his. "..I no longer imagine it alone" Kouga then kisses her hand and they both smile. Kagome takes her hand back "You're not making this easy… I"

"I have not slept for fear I would wake to find all this a dream… oh I also last night, I had a revelation…" Kouga holds Kagome's hands again. " I used to think, if I cared at all, I would have to care about everything…. And I'd go mad…. but… now I've found my purpose. It's a project actually. I feel so free since I've met you"

Kagome looked down "It was not me" Kouga puts two fingers under Kagome's chin to lift her face up "Rumiko you are unlike anyone I have ever met… and tomorrow at the masque… I shall make it known to the world… that I chose you"

"Why did you have to be so wonderful?" she said slightly crying

"Now, then what is it you wanted to tell me?"

Kagome simply could not hold it any longer and started to cry ever so slightly but she could not bring herself to tell him the truth "Simply that…last night was the happiest night of night my life" Kouga placed his hands on Kagome's back and brought her closer so that they could share a kiss but it was cut sort as Kouga had put his hands on Kagome's scars that where still hurting so she let out a small yelp and moved away "I must go" she said as went to get her book.

"Rumiko!" Kouga tried to stop her from leaving but Kagome did not listen and keep on leaving "I'm sorry but I have to go" she said without looking back…