Sorry it took so long. i got this chapter done in one night so it might not be my best. i can continue a story but wrapping it up is not my best art. anyway, i hope you enjoy this.

Ch 21

Kagome and Ayumi climbed out of the well and walked back to the village. The whole way they talked about upcoming tests and studying. Finally they made it to the outskirts of the village and looked on at all the motion. The farmers were in the fields tilling the soil (is that right?). Children were running around playing various games. The women were doing chores everywhere while talking amongst themselves. Kagome smiled to herself. It's so peaceful here. I actually wouldn't mind living here. She was taken from her thoughts as Inuyasha walked up to them.

"Ooi! What you gawking at wench? Come on we have a job to do." Kagome rolled her eyes but followed Inuyasha with Ayumi on her trail.

They made their way to Kaede's hut where everyone was waiting. As they entered everyone looked up and greeted them warmly.

"Welcome back Kagome-sama. Ayumi-san." Kaede nodded to the two of them as they sat down with everyone.

"So shall we? I don't know about the rest of you but the sooner this jewel is gone the better everyone is." Kagome smiled. They all nodded.

"Okay, to begin Kagome the jewel please." Kaede held out her hand as Kagome took the jewel from her neck for the last time. She put the glass ball in Kaede's hands. "Now the process is not a complicated one. We merely have to be in a pure area so the jewel cannot be tainted." Everyone thought of where they could go that would be pure. Then Sango popped up.

"I got it! Midoriko's grave. There is a barrier around it. And the jewel started there so it seems suitable that it ends there." Kaede nodded as did everyone else.

"Nicely put. Very well, Midoriko's grave it is." Everyone stood and grabbed their weapons as procedure. They made their hike to the cave in silence. Sango led them followed by Kaede on a horse with Kagome and Inuyasha behind her. And Ayumi and Miroku in the rear.

When they reached the cave they stopped and looked at each other.

"Well, here goes." Kagome walked through the barrier with no problem. Kaede walked in with Ayumi close at her side. Sango walked in with Kirara on her shoulder. Miroku and Inuyasha stood at the entrance looking at each other.

"After you monk."

"Oh I insist that you go first Inuyasha." They glared at each other and walked in at the same time.

Everyone gathered around Midoriko's icy figure. Kaede walked around her setting candles in place. Then she stood in front of the figure and said a prayer that no one could understand. Then she bowed back and turned to Kagome.

"Everything is set; all that is left is for you to make your wish." Kagome nodded to her and walked up to Midoriko. She got down on her knees and sat on her heels. Then she started her wish aloud.

"Midoriko. This all started here. You fought so hard. You still are, even in the after life you go on. This jewel has caused so much trouble for everyone, including you. It has kept you from having a peaceful rest. So to rid the world of this burden I will make one wish." She paused and grasped the jewel tightly to her chest and looked up to Midoriko's face. "I wish that the internal battle within you will end in your victory, leaving you to rest peacefully and ridding the world of this jewel, The Shikon No Tama."

There was silence but for only a second as everyone watched and waited. Then the jewel in Kagome's hands pulsed and rose above her head. It rose to the height of Midoriko's chest and stood still. Then it moved towards her body slipping into the hallowed out hole in her chest. It filled the space and Midoriko started to glow and the glossy cover around her seemed to melt. Everyone stood in aw starring at the woman begin to move. Her eyes slowly opened as she moved from her stance. All the frozen Youkai around her shattered as she moved. She stepped down and stood in front of Kagome. Kagome just sat there starring up at the glowing woman.

"Kagome…please stand…" Midoriko held out her hand and Kagome slowly took it and stood before her. "Kagome, I have limited time before I must go. But I want to thank you and your friends. You worked hard to achieve this. And I also want to thank you for you wish. The war is finally over and the jewel is gone." Then Kagome realized something.

"Midoriko-sama, now that the well is gone does that mean that the well will close?" Midoriko gave her a sorrowful look.

"I am sorry but yes, it will close." Ayumi gasped as she took in that piece of information.

"But that means we will never see our families again." Ayumi began to weep as she thought about never seeing her mother again. Kagome also became a little sad but didn't start to cry. Inuyasha didn't like watching this.

"Midoriko. Do you have any power to keep the well open for them?" Midoriko shook her head and Inuyasha cursed inwardly.

"I can't do that but, I can grant you limited immortality." Now Inuyasha was confused.

"Wait you can't keep the well open, but you can make them live forever?"

"The well deals with forces I can not tamper with. But immortality is a small task. But they will not be completely immortal, the spell with break when they reach this day in 500 years." Kagome thought for a moment.

"So we would eventually see our family again?" Midoriko nodded. "But will we age? Ayumi can not see her mother again if she looks on way one day and sees her the next looking 500 years older."

"You will not age. Your appearance now will be what you contain until you reach this day again as I said. Then you will continue your aging."

"So it's like growing is put on pause?" Ayumi questioned.

"So to speak, yes. Now if you want this we must do it quickly I must leave."

"Okay, we will do it. Just tell me this. Does that mean that when we get to this day our life continues as if nothing happened?" She nodded. "Okay let's do it."

Without wasting any time Midoriko said a prayer and a glow surrounded Kagome and Ayumi. Then it faded.

"Now this will not affect you. You simply will not age or change physically. Just as I said. Now I must take my leave. Again I thank you for what you have done. And I wish you all well." With that said they all watched as a light behind her started to glow and she turned and started to walk into it. Then she was gone. There was silence for a while before Kaede spoke.

"It is finally over. Kagome-sama you have done a great thing. As Midoriko said." They all nodded.

"I'm glad. But I can't help but feel sad that I won't get to see mama, Souta or jii-chan…for 500 years." Now Kagome began to cry. Inuyasha walked over to her and gathered her up in his arms and began to walk out of the cave. Everyone followed silently.

After they were back at the village everyone started on working on new huts for Kagome and Ayumi. Everyone accept Inuyasha and Kagome. They were sitting in Goshinboku.

"I still can't believe it."

"It isn't like you will never see them again."

"Yeah but I won't see them for 500 years. Do you know how long that is?"

"Yeah but you have your friends." Kagome snorted.

"But Miroku and Sango won't last forever. They will die. And I don't want to see that happen."

"But Ayumi and I won't. I will never leave you Kagome. Never." Inuyasha hugged Kagome close to him and rested his chin on her head. She nuzzled into his chest and cried silently. He rubbed her back while cooing in her ear to calm her.

Finally she calmed down and wiped at her face.

"Well I guess we should help everyone. I mean the huts are for Ayumi and I. we probably should have something to do with the process." Then something dawned on Kagome. "Hey, Inuyasha. Do you even have a home?" Inuyasha scratched his head and shook it. Kagome looked puzzled. "Well Ayumi and I are getting a place to stay. Why not you. Stay with me. I might get lonely anyway, living alone and all." Kagome looked at him thoughtfully as he stood there dumbstruck.

Out of nowhere Inuyasha grabbed Kagome and pulled her to him in a hug. "Kagome, you have done so much for me already. And you still give. How do you do it?" Kagome shook her head.

"I never thought about it."

"Hm…and that's why I love you." Before he even realized it he had said it. He heard Kagome gasp in his arms. Aw shit. You probably don't want to ever see me again.

"Do you…mean it?" Kagome looked up at him eagerly. It caught Inuyasha off guard that she actually wanted him to mean it. So he nodded. "Yeah, I do." Kagome's face lit up.

"Inuyasha! I love you too! I never thought you would ever say it." Kagome hugged him tighter. They stood there for only a little while before continuing on to the village hand in hand.

Inuyasha, I have been through so much with you. In the beginning I never would have thought I would spend the rest of my life with you. But it appears to look like that is what will happen. You go through so much and I never truly realized how much it hurt or how much it affected you. But now I truly see what you see…

And I forever will.

A/N: Well I think that went well. I would like to say that this is where it ends. I will follow through with a summary chapter about what happens up through 500 years. A little skim with detail.

I just want to say thank you for all your support. And I might come up with a sequel. MIGHT though. I'm not sure. I got to take a brake for a while. But I will try to get another story going. Again thanks for your support and look for the summary in a few days. Jamatane.