KAGOME'S POV

Inuyasha and I had made our way back to Kaede's hut, the moment we stepped inside my attention was caught by the sleeping children on the floor lying by Sango. They resembled Miroku, And that gave me a feeling of peace inside knowing that my friends had their happily ever after, even if I hadn't had mine. "Sango, they're beautiful." I smiled with tears threatening to fall as she slowly stood up, her back facing me. Miroku and Kaede also stood up in disbelief, they whispered my name staring at me as if they were gazing upon a ghost. Sango turned around to face me, our faces only inches apart. She was still the same beauty I remembered, she even wore her same kimono. Pulling me into a hug, she cried "Kagome!"

I hugged her back, feeling everything falling back into place as it once was. "Yes, I am home my friend." Sango and I eventually parted and I said my hello's to the others as they informed me that Shippo was off training, and of course of all the happenings that I had missed in the last four years. We all smiled and talked for hours by the fire as if no time at all had passed, the entire time inuyasha sat by my side holding my hand, gently stroking it. He hardly said a word, and his eyes never left their gaze upon me. I was happier than anyone could be, but my mind kept drifting off somewhere far away. I was feeling guilt and sadness in my heart thinking of Hojo, the man I left behind. By now I'm sure he had woken up for his usual late night snack and bathroom break, in his discovery of my absence he probably called my mother only worrying her and my family. When I don't return home will he hurt, the way that I hurt when I was separated from inuyasha? I don't wish that pain on anyone. I didn't even leave a note, am I that cruel that I wouldn't even return to explain to him where I've gone? My thoughts were interrupted by Inuyasha tugging on my arm. "Kagome lets get some rest, it's late and everyone has left." I shook my head getting out of my trance, only to see that Miroku and Sango had taken off with their children, leaving just Kaede by the fire. I stood up next to Inuyasha, apologizing "Sorry it's been a strange day, we'll get out of your hair Kaede and I'll see you tomorrow."

Kaede gave me a half smile, "It is fine child I enjoy the company, but ye get your rest because we have much to discuss in the early hours." She stood up and bent over into a basket beside her pulling out a pair of folded red and white clothes. "These are my sisters clothes, making them your clothes Kagome." Her smile grew as she looked at me thoughtfully. "Wear them proudly, they are meant to be worn by a powerful priestess."

I walked over taking the clothes from her, I gave her a nod of understanding, yet I didn't feel reassured inside. A priestess. I hadn't thought of myself in that light in a very long time and even though I was Kikyo, i wasn't at the same time. It felt wrong wearing her clothes, I would never live up to my past life.

Inuyasha and I parted with Kaede leaving the hut, once we got outside he picked me up onto his back carrying me into the forest. When we got to our destination I gasped in surprise, I remembered these woods like the back of my hand and this definitely hadn't been here before. There was a small hut in front of us surrounded by a meadow of flowers. I got off Inuyasha's back staring at him, waiting for an explanation. He averted his gaze from me, appearing embarrassed.

"Kagome." He breathed.

"Yes?" I questioned him, confused.

"When you left things began to change. The life we had been living together with our friends was slowly disappearing in front of my eyes. Miroku, Sango, Shippo, and myself traveled together slaying demons and helping local villages even after your departure, but it didn't stay that way long. Shippo began leaving to train for weeks at a time, and understandably Sango and Miroku were ready to enjoy the peace that we had all fought for for so long. I knew they didn't want to hurt me, or to make me feel left out but I naturally became a third wheel. Sango became pregnant and shorty after Miroku did what was right and built them a home in the village so that they could raise their children." Inuyasha laughed nervously, shaking his head back and fourth. "Miroku suggested that I court a village woman, and build a house next to him. Can you believe that?"

I pursued my lips together, angry that Miroku would suggest that so quickly after I disappeared. "I sure can." I snapped.

"The thing is Kagome, the idea was exactly what I wanted." His words tugged at my heart, Inuyasha wanted to live with another woman? I had no right to be angry but it still pained me. "It's not what you think, see I wanted to live near my best friends, and watch them grow their family but not with just any local village woman. I wanted you, only you, and even though you were gone I built this house in hopes that one day you'd return and come stay with me here to live." I felt my body tense, Inuyasha had never outright expressed such feelings to me, weather it be because we were always fighting demons or because he sill had a duty to Kikyo I was never sure but the change in his attitude now was all I ever wanted. "I didn't build it next to Miroku and Sango, I was-" inuyasha's cheeks became red and his voice became soft. "I was embarrassed to build a house in hopes to live with you, a woman beyond my reach. I know when I would wait for you by the well they would look at me with pity, this would have only given them more reason to feel sorry for me. Besides, I like the privacy out here better." Inuyasha stayed quiet for a few moments, and I buried my head in his chest, urging him to go on. "Anyways, what I'm trying to say Kagome is that I love you, I have always loved you and I know I'm not a human man and that I can't give you the life that a human woman deserves but I will always protect you and I will never leave your side. Please stay here with me, don't leave again. Don't go back."

Inuyasha's words were shaky and I could feel Him tremble. I stepped away from him, causing his face to fall in disappointment. I walked over to the door of the hut, turning to face him with a smile of reassurance on my face. "Inuyasha, I will never leave your side. I will stay here, I will be your wife, your companion, whatever you need me to be I will be. I'm not going anywhere ever again, there is no where else for me." Inuyasha walked toward me his face soft, and his eyes sparkling in the moonlight. He pushed the door open walking inside without a word, I followed him closing the door behind us. He lit a candle, just enough for me to see a pile of blankets and fur in the corner of the hut. Inuyasha grabbed my hand leading me to to sleeping area, I gave him a nod of reassurance and we lay down together. He pulled me close to him wrapping his arms around me, covering us with blankets made of fur, I was more comfortable than I had been in any bed from modern times. I rested my head on his chest staring at the stars through the hut window. Inuyasha fell asleep quickly, leaving me to my thoughts. As I drifted off to sleep with a smile on my face and everything I had ever wanted in my grasp, I still couldn't get Hojo out of my mind and the feeling that my happiness would not last.

I know we are only three chapters into a very long story but how are you guys liking it so far? Sorry for any grammatical errors, I'm not writing on a computer which is harder for me. I'll try and get better as I get used to writing my stories on my phone instead of computer! Thanks (: