Author's Note: Hey everyone, I hope you enjoy this fanfic, please let me know what you think, thanks! And no, of course I don't own Inuyasha. Enjoy!

Side note: "Normal parenthesis" means that someone is talking; parentheses italicized means that it's a message/email and parentheses italicized and underlined is Kagome's thoughts during that moment or her reflecting back on that scene. As always, enjoy!

Part 19: Yura

When I finally confessed to Yura, we were on our way to watch a play. At that moment, we were sitting in the school bus, with few other students.

"So, any news on Kagura and Naraku?" I knew she kept in touch with them, despite knowing everything. She was the type that needed peace and not fights.

"Why? Still got the hots for Naraku?" She smirked and winked at me, nudging my side.

"No. Not anymore. Well?"

"Naraku broke up with her. She's different now that they've split. It's like she's herself again, you know?"

"You mean, she's not a robot anymore, stuck to his side and doing as he says?" I looked at Yura in surprise. I remembered when Kagura had slapped Yura sophomore year because Yura had been too close to Naraku for comfort.. She had gone from a happy anime loving girl to turning on her friends and ignoring her school work for Naraku.

"That's right. She's her old self again."

"And Naraku? What happened to him?"

"Works in a local bakery after he graduated, since he was a year ahead of us. He's got a new girlfriend now."

"The boy works fast." I laughed. Everything had turned out for the better, I guess. Now, it was time to come clean to Yura, my best friend.

Then, I decided to tell her my story.

"... And that's where we're at now." I took a breath, looking at her.

She averted my eyes, looking out the small window instead. A few minutes later, she asked softly, "Do you want the truth or support?"

"The truth.." I swallowed, ready for what she was about to throw at me.

"I think you should break up with him. End it now. The deeper you fall for him, the more hurt you'll be when this is all over. Just regard him as a beautiful memory and let go." She now turned to me, who looked down. "I'm saying this for your own good… I've been there. In an online relationship with a guy from Texas. I loved him very much too, but I never told anyone, like you.."

She had a secret love affair too? Looking up, I stared at her in shock. "You did? Really?"

"Yes, really."

"What happened?"

She took a pause. Then said in a slow voice, "He cheated. I found out about his second girlfriend through Facebook and we teamed up against that lying dirt bag.. Not the point. The point is, you need to end it. Now. End it. Or else, you will realize one day that he's not the one. Or worse case scenario, he will and then he'll end it. Do you really want that?"

I shook my head. "He's different than that guy.. He hates people who cheat and lie."

"...Dwelling on something you can never have is being greedy. Unable to let go of something you already lost is being stubborn. Never having what you lost previously is being presumptuous.. Listen to me and let go of those obsessions and greed so you can live the rest of your life peacefully. Like I did when I broke up with that guy."

I remembered her boyfriend Kagewaki Hitomi, whom I had met in real life. A sweet guy, who didn't say much. I was happy for Yura, but I knew deep down, that I couldn't follow her advice. I needed to make my own decisions. Even if, in the long run it turned out to hurt me.

"So? Did you tell her?" Ayame asked later that night in the library's private room.

"I did."

"And? She approved?"

I shook my head.

"She disapproved?"

I nodded. "Her words stung. They just keep ringing in my head.. I know that she wants me to not follow the same path as her.. To not get hurt.." I looked Ayame in the eyes. "You both do. I can see that."

Ayame sat down across from me. "Yes."

"But I need to make my own decisions.. I've decided. No matter the outcome.. No matter if I get hurt ultimately in the end.. I want to be in love with him. I want to continue this romance. I want to give it a try." I took her hands in mine, lightly squeezing. "You guys are trying to protect me from so much.. Thank you. But I want to learn and I want to grow up. No. I need to experience this. I can't have you guys shielding me because I'll never grow up and learn that way. I trust him. I love him. Let me stay by his side?"

She smiled, as a tear started to fall from her right eye and then she got up, running over to hug me tightly. "You've grown Kagome.. You want to persist in this love, you're sure of that?"

I nodded against her shoulder. "It's my decision. Although his endless loops are really painful to keep loving him sometimes, I still do, I still love him."

"However, remember that love cannot be forced. Sometimes, even if you've worked hard, there may not be any results. Don't be too sad in the long run."

"I won't know that unless I try."

And we hugged for a while, the two of still sailing on the love boat.

"Hey."

"Hey."

"*hugs your back* wyd?"

I looked up from my stack upon stack of papers. "Studying. How are you feeling?"

"I'm good."

"Have you eaten?" I looked at my clock. 11 PM. It was pretty late. And he was an hour behind my time.

"Yes. I just wanted to spend some time with you."

I smiled. His affectionate side was so sweet.

"*smiles* That so?"

"*kisses your neck* mhm. So spend some time with me."

"Alright ^_^"

"*gently kisses you*"

"*kisses you back as gently*" I didn't want what had happened today to ruin the moment. I just wanted to be in his arms.

"*Gently turns you, still kissing you*"

"*wraps my arms around you, while kissing you back*"

"*lowers you to my bed*"

"Hm? *looks up at you*"

"... I really want you. If we had met differently.. In real life, I'd have made you a mother by now."

"If you had met me differently.. In real life, I don't know if we would have gotten together.."

"Oh? Why is that?"

"I just don't know if you'd have liked me in real life.."

"You're the one who spoke to me first."

"True, but.. Who knows if you'd have fallen for me in real life?"

"I wouldn't have liked you. I would've loved you. You're still you, even in real life."

"*smiles* thank you."

"*gently moves your head to my heart* hear that?"

"hm?" What was he doing?

"It's beating only for you. My heart is yours."

It was so cheesy, but I loved it.

"But what if you get bored of me?"

"Babe, I've loved you for 3 years already, and it's still ongoing. I promise, I'll never be bored of you."

"*pinches your cheeks* Cheeky."

"*smiles, kissing your forehead* Cheeky, but yours."

"*smiles back* shut up."

"Make me."

"*sticks out my tongue*"

"*kisses you*

"*kisses you back* I made you lol"

"Oh? *squeezes your ass*"

"*lightly hits you with a pillow* perv"

"I'm your perv though."

I couldn't stop the laugh that escaped my lips. Yes. I definitely wanted to be with him forever.

"me... ome... gome.. Kagome!"

I blinked, snapping out of my daydream to look over at Yura, who was visiting my room.

"Yes!"

She gave me a confused expression, then asked, "you're still thinking of Inuyasha, aren't you?"

Sighing, I said back, "don't ask me that. It's annoying."

"You're running away again?"

"What's wrong with running away?"

"Running away can't solve the problem!" Yura got up, placing her hands on my shoulders. "Listen, you need to end it. Before you fall any deeper.. Is it worth it?!"

"It's not a matter of worth! I just love him." I averted my eyes. She was my best friend.. But she didn't support my decision.

"I'm just worried for you. I'm not out to harm you Kagome."

Looking back into her eyes, I said calmly, "then let me make my own choices. Let me make my own mistakes. Let me grow and learn what love is. If I don't try my best, I'll regret not trying. I'll regret giving him up so easily."

She sighed, letting go of my shoulders. "Forget it."

I placed my right hand on her shoulder, "it's ok. No matter the outcome, its ok."

"Why?"

"Because I have you guys. Because I have you and I have Ayame to support me if I fall. So I'm not afraid to try. Ok?"

"Ok." A slight smile came onto her face as she patted my back. "We'll always be here."

Author's Note: Hey everyone, thank you very much for reading! As always, please leave your reviews on what you think about what you've read so far. Would you want to see more? Please favorite the story or feel free to hit the "follow" button for me, so you'll be notified first of any new chapters/stories. Thank you guys again!