Hello! I have been away for awhile and decided it was time to fix some of these older stories. So, here is "Crowded" freshly updated! I do hope it is a little better lol

I DO NOT OWN INUYASHA OR ANYTHING RELATED TO INUYASHA!!

I shouldn't have to state that but it's better safe than sorry I guess _(ツ)/

The world, in a word . . . Crowded.

Each child, elder, young women; everyone following their own paths. Going about their day never caring to notice.

Imagine for a moment, the world void of people. All that is left, a series of lines. Criss-crossing, overlapping, running threw one another. A rats nest of invisible strings guiding each and everyone of us to our destinations. Some leading out of a dark pit to the blinding rays of days first light. Others to a seemingly cold, lonely, dead end.

The paths, as defined as you and I. Laid before us on a never ending yellow brick road. Pathed by our knowledge that all roads are set in stone. A lie told to us as young children to scare us into compliance. To fit the mold society has created. But take it from someone who knows.

The path is an ever winding dirt road. With twists and turns and pot holes the size of craters meant to take your feet from under you. To teach you to stand back up. To give you the choice to continue or to kick a rock, send it hurtling down the dusty trail, to laugh in its face and take a detour through the forest. Creating your own path. Cutting and shaping your own string. Embroidering the cloth of your future with your own two hands.

The strings of fate.

A life vest on this slowly sinking ship called life. The only thing keeping your head above the freezing ocean. Something we all take advantage of. Sometimes forgetting its even there.

Re-enter humanity. The strings slowly fading into the crowded, busy streets. All but forgotten.

~_~

The sidewalk, in a word . . . Crowded.

Strings of all shapes and sizes tangled.

We are all nothing more than insects caught in a spiders web. Mindless to the impending day of our death. Choosing to turn our backs to the giant spider, creeping ever closer.

Pretending that everything was ok. That this is the path we are meant to be on and that god wouldn't have carelessly tossed us on a dead end.

But he did.

He chose a dead end, and firmly planted all of us on it with the hopes that someone would climb the brick wall at the end and continue moving forward. Creating their own paths. But to his disappointment, few ever do.

~_~

Life, in a word . . . Tangled.

Thousands of millions of invisible lines knotted together. Creating the world we call home.

The world is immortal. It was never born and will never die. It's an illusion, planted in our minds to trick us into thinking we are living. That we are accomplishing something no other human has ever done.

We fool ourselves into thinking we are making a difference. That the world is changing because of our selfish actions. Our desires to be noticed and praised as gods among mortals. Hurtling down our paths at a breakneck speed, being chauffeured by our demons. Life being viewed from the window of a speeding car. Never noticing until it was to late.

My name is Kagome Takahashi. And I pole vaulted over that brick wall at the end of the road.

~_~

I live comfortably in a small two story home in a very quiet neighborhood with my loving husband, Inuyasha Takahashi.

We have two very loving, rambunctious children. Shippo, our adoptive son who is now seven and our three year old daughter, Shiori.

I am the history professor at the local college, Shikon University. And my husband is a police officer downtown with his best friend, Miroku Hiorshi and his wife, Sango, who was a detective before she got pregnant with their first child. Now she is a busy mom to be. I try to help as much as possible, knowing how stressful it can be leading up to the due date.

Knowing the busy schedule of a police officer. I took pity on Sango and eventually turned in my resignation letter. As much as I love my job, Sango could really use the help. Not to mention, the idea of being a stay at home mom was very appealing to me. Especially now that I'm pregnant again.

That's a secret I haven't told anyone yet. But that's all gonna change tonight.

Every other week, Inuyasha and I have a date night. Miroku and Sango take the kids, which gives them plenty of practice for the near future and I get to spend quality time with my sweetie.

Walking threw the door, arms loaded with groceries. I could hear the paddle of little feet on hardwood. Emptying my arms of the bags, they were quickly filled with two small bodies.

"MOMMY" they both cried together, I smiled and hugged them to me,kissing both their heads "Shiori, Shippo. How are my babys today?"

With that simple question, they launched into the fascinating tale that was the two hours since I was gone.

As their little stories progressed I couldn't help but snicker at the grumbling I heard coming from my husbands study. Sending the kids off the play, I followed the sound of whining. Opening the door, I stepped in and closed it behind me.

I was greeted with quite a sight. My husband sitting in front of his computer, with his beautiful white hair castigating down his back, his reading glasses sitting on the bridge of his nose. Clad in a black wife beater and grey sweatpants. I couldn't help but to snicker as the threatening glare he sent towards me. Moving forward, I comfortably wedged myself on his lap.

"Has anyone ever told you, that you look like a grandpa with those glasses?" I stated, battling to keep a straight face.

Snorting he replied "I think you've mentioned it once or twice." leaning forward he captured my lips in a sweet kiss that spoke of our love. As our kiss heated I reached up and rang my finger over the edge of his very soft, very cute puppy ears that where on top of his head... Did I forget to mention hes a half demon? Oops...

Breaking the kiss, I could hear little ears on the door. Smiling I kissed his cheek and got up "i'm gonna take the kids over to Sango's and Miroku's, then we can get this party started"

With a nod and a smile, he smack my behind as I got up.

With a shake of my head and a smile on my face, I gathered our children and headed off. Eager to return and have my handsome husband all to my self tonight.

Walking threw our cherry wood door i froze and couldn't help the stupid grin the broke out on m face. My living room floor was covered in red and white rose petals and candles. It reminded me of how he proposed to me ... but that's another story for another time...

~_~

Returning sometime later, I was meant with the lights dimmed. Candles were lite and spread throughout the space. The floor covered in rose petals leading towards the kitchen. Call me weird, but I'm a sucker for romantic cliches.

He had thought of everything. Roses, candles, I could smell dinner and man did it smell good. Following the path of petals, I woundered into the kitchen. And there, next to the table, took my husband. Dressed in a plain white button down and black slacks. On the table sat a dish of pot roast, one of the few things he could cook and my favorite white wine.

To bad I couldn't drink for a while.

With tears in my eyes I moved closer.

He kissed my cheek and spoke. "God, I love you so much. I don't know what I did to deserve you, Kagome. You deserve so much more than me but I will forever be grateful that you decided to ask me out." I giggle and he smirked. Yes, I did make the first move when we started dating.

" These past years have been the best of my life and I wouldn't be here with out you... I love you so much baby" Learning down he captured my lips once again. The world momentarily forgotten I indulged him and poured all my love and desire into the kiss before I had to break away for air.

Passing me a glass of wine, we toasted and drank. Well, he drank. I just swirled mine around the class waiting for him to notice. It didn't take long. With a confused glance, he asked the question I knew was burning on his tongue. "Baby? Are you ok?" It was quite strange that I didn't even take a sip of my favorite wine.

Glancing up, I smiled. "I'm perfect. I just can't drink for the next seven months or so." The see was planted, now all that's left to do was wait.

I could see the wheels turning in his head " But you always have at least a sip, except when you where..." Thats when it clicked. I could practically hear the gears in his mind grinding to a halt. His features morphed from confusion to fear, then hope. " Kagome.. are you ... are you pregnant?"

That's my Inu for ya. Good looks and a brain.

Blushing slightly from joy, I set the glass on the table. "Eight weeks."

The joy that radiated on his face exploded outwards and I quickly found my self in the air then pulled to a hard muscled chest. I laughed and kissed him when he pulled back

Breaking the kiss and placing me gently on my feet. He landed on his knees before me. With a shaking hand, he lifted my shirt and kissed my stomach. I didn't comment on the near silent tears he shedded. Knowing my dog-demon husband hated dealing with emotions.

We sat there for who knows how long. Basking in the glow of the candles and the pure happiness that radiated off of both of us. Our family was growing again and neither one of us could be happier.

He loved me all threw the night and 9 months later we had twins, a boy and girl. We named our little girl Izyoa after Inu's mother and our little boy, Jasper.

Four years later, we had another little girl.

Sango and Miroku ended up having four children with another one of the way and couldn't be happier.

Life is knotted with invisible string. All our paths crossing and tangling together. Leading us on a wild goose chase towards a dark, deserted, dead end. Next time you hit a brick wall, try climbing it. You might find the view on the other side was worth the climb.

I know mine was.

THE END! _