Chapter 12

InuYasha and his friends all sat around Kagome, just waiting. It almost went completely through her heart, and no one could be sure that she could make it. Kagome grunted and everyone sat up straight, excited. Kagome slowly opened her eyes.

"InuYasha…" InuYasha sat up and looked at her waiting. "Did our plan work? Or am I still here?"

InuYasha tilted his head confused. Kagome opened her eyes more and looked around. She laid her eyes on InuYasha's ears. She sat up straight, and ignoring the pain from her wounds, she hugged InuYasha crying. "I'm back!" InuYasha looked confused, but then hugged her back.

"Wait a sec," InuYasha lightly pushed Kagome back down, "Don't sit up you idiot! You are hurt! And a weak mortal, I might add." Kagome nodded, ignoring the rude comment, and fell asleep.

When she next awoke, everyone was peacefully asleep under the moonlit night shining through the worn cabin windows. Kagome snuck out of her sleeping cot, careful not to disturb her comrades. She opened the bamboo flap of a door and stepped out in the moonlight, basking in its invisible warmth. Kagome went over to the edge of the hill and sat, thinking of this story. Could it really have happened? Kagome put a finger to her lips, still remembering the kiss of sorrow she had shared with InuYasha. She could still feel his gentle lips touching hers, and everything being blocked out, but each other.

She was so caught up in that memory. Kagome didn't notice InuYasha sitting next to her until he placed his cloth of the fire rat coat on her. "It's cold out. You could get sick." Kagome pulled the edges of the warm coat that was hers in the other world tightly around her chest. She grimaced as she laid a hand over her heart and felt the pain of her wound. InuYasha looked concerned. He grabbed Kagome's shoulder and pulled her so that her head touched his shoulder. "I thought I lost you… I was actually scared."

"I was scared too." InuYasha looked surprised at hearing her voice. She hadn't said anything for hours.

"What happened to you after you entered that mirror thing?" InuYasha questioned.

Back in the bushes, Miroku, Sango, Shippo, and Kaede, fought for front row seat so they could listen in to their conversation.

"You wouldn't believe me." Kagome stated, trying to end the conversation. I don't want to risk InuYasha finding out that I kissed someone, him, oh well. I just don't want him to know.

"Try me."

"Alright, I fell into the mirror and woke up as a half dog demon wearing your coat, shot to the tree of ages. Then you, a human from my time, freed me. We fought demons and met a pervert priestess named Sango, and a demon slayer named Miroku. We went and tried to destroy the demon Kagura, and her reincarnations, Naraku, Kanna, and Hakudoshi. When you shot the arrow at Hakudoshi's mirror, I jumped in front so I would get shot and fall into the mirror, hopefully coming back here. And, it actually worked." Kagome took a long breath. I was so nervous that I talked a mile a minute and forgot to breathe. I hope he heard me. I don't want to repeat it.

InuYasha's ears twitched, confused. Then he looked like he understood. "Really?" Kagome nodded, ready for him to burst out laughing. "I believe you. But, that's funny how you and I switched places, and Miroku and Sango switched too." He started laughing at how stupid that must have been, being human all the time, and Sango being a perv.

"Don't laugh at that InuYasha!" InuYasha jumped in surprise. She sounded really angry. "He was sweet and kind and gentle and he gave me good advice on how to tell you something important." InuYasha leaned forward waiting. Kagome didn't say a word.

"Yes. And what do you want to tell me." InuYasha looked sorry. He had said that harsher than it was meant to sound.

"InuYasha… this is hard to say. Really hard, but InuYasha, the other you, told me to. I know how much Kikyo meant to you." InuYasha flinched. He knew where this was going. "And, I could never do such a horrible thing as to ask you to forget her. But, I am sure of one thing." InuYasha calmed. This wasn't what he had expected. "I… I…" Kagome paused, twiddling her thumbs. InuYasha looked anxious. "InuYasha, I love you." Kagome said it shyly and sadly, because she knew that human InuYasha was wrong. InuYasha doesn't love her at all. He loves Kikyo.

InuYasha looked surprised, as though he had been longing for this moment. "Kagome… I may still have feelings for Kikyo… but, I still… I feel… I love you too." InuYasha smiled as he grabbed Kagome, and took her into a warm and deep hug.

"Miroku, are you crying?" Sango asked curiously at Miroku as he wiped his eyes.

He sniffled, "N… no!"

"Right…"

InuYasha pulled Kagome up to him, and they shared a long passionate kiss that over filled Kagome's body with warmth. She knew this was right.

Miroku, Sango, Shippo, and Kaede all sat smiling, and said in unison, "Finally!"

Kagome and InuYasha continued kissing in the moonlight, with a white glow surrounding them, and then the sun came up in a fiery orange. Kagome sat with her head on InuYasha's shoulder and they watched the romantic sun rise together.

Fin