A/N: Well, I saw Spiderman 3! It was AMAZING...though a little nauseating if you end up in the front row due to a packed theater, I noticed. But I liked it, and reccomend it to anyone else who likes action movies.

I started playing KH II in proud mode, and I'm getting my butt kicked. I guess I don't have total video gaming mad skillz... :'(

(You'll notice I went with the older version of demon Naraku here. There is a reason for this.)

EDIT: Sorry about the grammatical errors. It seemed ff . net didn't save my changes again. :(

Chapter 30: Choices

As the first rays of light filtered in from the small window, the birds chirping on the breeze caused one of the two to stir. Kagome was still asleep as Inuyasha's amber eyes slowly opened, to settle instantly on the beautiful woman in his arms. Kagome was snuggled up to him, with her head resting gently on his shoulder, and a hand on his chest, directly above his heart. Smiling softly, the hanyou wrapped an arm around her, pulling her closer.

Burying his nose into her hair, Inuyasha felt that sweet scent fill his senses once more. Her scent…so pure and beautiful, that it still held dominance, even with his own covering her gently, like a blanket. She's mine…he thought, holding her tighter. Not anyone else's, mine…

At first, he had been a bit nervous, about taking their relationship further. After all, with their difference in status back in the Human Lands, it would never be allowed. But now, after caring for so long…Inuyasha couldn't bring himself to care about that anymore. Kagome was right; they had run away from their pasts and their old lives, so that now, they were equals, nothing else.

Though, as he held her, he had to remind himself that while Kagome was his now, she wasn't completely his yet. Even though they had made love the night before, he hadn't marked her as his mate…Inuyasha wanted to wait until later, when they were married in a human ceremony…jut to keep it special.

Thinking about all this, while holding the woman of his dreams in his arms, made Inuyasha remember just several months ago, when he was still upset over Kikyou, thinking that no woman would ever love him or accept him for what he was, and that it was all wishful thinking on his part to imagine it. But now, after so long and such hardship, here he held this beautiful woman, knowing that he loved her and she loved him as well.

Though he loved her, he had never really gotten the courage to say the words. She said them to him so many times, but whenever he tried…something held him back. Some doubt, deep in his mind. When he finally told her, it would seal the deal. And yet…even after what they had shared, Inuyasha couldn't mouth those words; those three little words that he knew she longed to hear.

A troubled look crossed the hanyou's face as he glanced back down at her, and gently, he reached out and touched her face, feeling her stir ever so gently. Kagome…I promise, I'll tell you someday, but right now…I just can't. I'm sorry…

Soon, Kagome stirred a bit more underneath the scratchy sheets, before slowly opening her eyes and blinking in the sunlight. Brown eyes focusing upon him, she asked, sleepily, "Inuyasha?"

"Kagome," he replied softly, as she snuggled back into his bare chest. "Are you…you're okay, aren't you?"

"Mmm…" she nodded, her cheek against his shoulder, as her hand came to join with his. "I feel…I feel a little sore, but that's normal…or so I've heard." I feel different now, too. I've been changed…not just by this. But because I dared to do what no other princess has done…I loved a man so much, a man that I should not have loved, that I ran away and gave myself to him, declaring it once and for all that despite everything, no other man has ever made me feel the way he does.

Inuyasha sighed for a moment, nuzzling his nose into her shoulder, sniffing her delicious scent once more. "Good."

As Kagome felt him place gentle kisses on her neck, she closed her eyes, and pulled him closer. This was heaven, she knew. Being in the arms of the man you loved, feeling loved in return. Though he never actually said the words… She had hoped, that after last night, he would have said something to her, especially after she whispered them to him as they lay together in the afterglow. But, he had kept silent. Kagome knew he loved her; his actions spoke more clearer than before, but even so…hearing him say those words every woman wished to hear would have been more perfect.

I am his now, she thought, smiling back as the hanyou ceased his attentions to her neck, only to pull back and hold her in his arms once more. Not Naraku's. Not some lord's that I care not a whit about. His. Their lovemaking last night had sealed the deal, as princesses were supposed to be married with their virtue intact. With that no more an issue, no other husband would take her. It was perfect, as she wanted no one else for a husband, but this man holding her so tenderly.

As Inuyasha pulled her against his side, she hugged him back, speaking softly, "I don't want to leave here…it feels like…when we leave, it will all be a dream, and none of this would have happened…"

"If it is a dream, then I never want to wake up," he whispered. He didn't know all the words to describe how he was feeling. Glancing down at her nude body in his arms, he said, "You're so…beautiful, Kagome…"

Kagome knew the words were uncharacteristic of him even as he said it. She gave a small giggle and glanced up at him. "It's okay Inuyasha, I understand…there was what happened last night, and you are a man, after all."

Like had happened a few times in the night, a blush sprouted over his face. "I didn't mean that! I just meant…well…"

Giving a small laugh again, Kagome leaned up and kissed him gently on the cheek, the scratchy sheets rusting around them. "For what its worth, Inuyasha, I enjoyed last night, too."

Her declaration caused him to blush even more. Well, damn it, the beautiful mood they had going was gone by now! Even so, he couldn't help but feel a small bit of pride bubble up in his chest. "You…you did?"

Kagome nodded once more. "You know…back where I come from, they say it is a sin for women to enjoy a man's attentions…they believe that the man is the only one to feel pleasure and his wife must endure it because it is her duty to have sons…but I know that's not the case. If we are meant not to enjoy it, then why was it made to feel so wonderful? I can understand a woman feeling ashamed if she does not like her husband, but with the man you love…" her eyes flickered up to his for a moment, "that is the most beautiful and natural thing in the world."

He understood what she was telling him. That she wasn't ashamed of what they had done. It didn't matter to her now that they were not married, or never supposed to be together at all. It was her way of saying that she loved him enough to not care about any rules or what was right anymore, just like she had broken through all barriers for him, as he would do for her. It was truly and amazing and mind-boggling thing, to find a woman willing to risk everything, just for him. It made Inuyasha feel more loved than he ever felt, a feeling sending him soaring into the skies.

"And when we have our own little hut, to live together for all eternity," she continued softly, entwining her fingers with his once more, "I'll be able to tell everyone that instead of being a duty, our children were conceived out of pure, innocent love."

Our children…that phrase caused his heart to speed up a little more…Kagome wanted to have his children…a family…in addition to a mate, he would have a family with her as well. In this moment, he loved her more than every thing. "You…wonderful woman…" he murmured, his lips meeting hers gently as she held him back, his happiness spilling over to her.

Their world became cut off from reality once more, and Kagome knew, this was how her life was to be. In the arms and bed of the man she loved, thinking of their future children and the happiness to come. Her past had been hard, but Inuyasha was to be her future, and that thought caused happy tears to spill once more, the princess finally knowing her dream of being loved had come true.

Hours later, the princess and the knight had left the village and the inn they had spent the night in, and were traveling through a flowery field. Kagome's black hair fluttered in the breeze, as Inuyasha watched her, a smile on his face. She looked so happy, so alive, a sharp contrast to what she had been in her homeland. He wanted to see her happy like that forever, and would do everything to protect that happiness for her.

When he thought about it, Inuyasha knew it would only take four more days at the pace they were traveling to reach his old village. After that…he didn't know where they would go. He wanted to find some small village to blend in, and build themselves a hut, but Kagome…what would she want?

The water of the rushing river gurgled near them, as Inuyasha, getting up the courage, stepped closer to her, trying to begin a conversation. "You know…the villages around here are nice…they have a lot of fields with wildflowers, since you like them and all…"

Kagome's eyes narrowed back at her lover. "What do you mean?"

"I mean…well, I was just thinking that…if you want, we could…"

"Are you asking if I want to live here?" she replied, once again reading through his nervous exterior.

Giving a small growl at his inability to say something straight out, Inuyasha replied, "Yeah…"

Kagome's immediate reaction was not one of happiness, but of confusion. "Weren't we going to your mother's old village? I wanted to see it."

"Yes, but I mean, after. After we leave there, do you want us to settle down somewhere around here? I like it but, we should decide before we get married, and—"

Brown eyes widened at the word 'married'. That word held too many negative connotations for her to ignore it. " 'Married'? When did we decide on this?"

Instantly, Inuyasha was on the defensive. "Hey! I just thought that—"

Sighing, Kagome rolled her eyes looking away, "I thought I made it very clear that it didn't matter to me right now, Inuyasha. Besides," she continued in a small voice, "you never even asked me."

Scratching the back of his neck in a nervous gesture, Inuyasha continued, "It should matter because…I don't want to appear dishonorable, even if you don't see me that way. I don't want to stain your reputation by living with you if we aren't married, wherever we go."

"I've already ruined my reputation as much as I can ruin it, I suppose." Kagome huffed, only imagining what people were saying about her back home.

"Kagome," Inuyasha stood in front of her, his face serious. "Midlands or no, having you living with me when we aren't married will still mark you as a disreputable woman…I can't let you be seen as that…not when you're the purest woman I know. Kagome, do you…" his ears drooped for a moment. "Do you not want to marry me?"

Her eyes were filled with love as she spoke softly, "I do want to marry you, Inuyasha. More than anything…I always wanted to walk down the aisle, with the man of my dreams waiting for me…but I want you to understand that no matter what road life takes us to, marriage or no marriage, I don't care. As long as I'm with you, I don't care at all…" Inuyasha sighed in reassurance, but now Kagome looked away, saying, "And you still didn't formally ask me, you know…"

Giving a small chuckle, the knight placed a few fingers under her chin, tilting her face up to his. "Kagome…will you marry me?"

The smile quickly to her face. "Oh, yes!" she sighed at once, leaning up to kiss him as their hearts beat a frantic tempo. How could she have ever contemplating marrying another man when Inuyasha made her feel like this? So utterly loved and desired?

She felt her lover and husband-to-be pick her up in his happiness, knowing that the woman he loved would soon be his wife. Kagome continued to kiss him, unable to stop. At last…my happily ever after…

The world spun, and Kagome found herself lying on the soft grass, Inuyasha holding her close and embracing her as if the world was melting away, the only sound was the rushing water of the river and their hearts beating frantically. She was pinned under him, both of them too far lost in wanting to repeat the scene of the night before that they didn't realize the sky was suddenly darkening above them.

As Inuyasha nipped at her collarbone, Kagome's eyes slowly opened, before she gasped, and pointed at the sky. "Inuyasha!"

He instantly whirled around and jumped to his feet as he saw it too. She got to her feet as Inuyasha drew Tessaiga, the sword transforming into its true form, as the red ball of fire fell from the sky.

With a shrieking sound it fell, getting larger and larger, until, with a large explosive sound, it hit the ground, causing a shake that knocked Kagome to the ground. The scent that wafted to Inuyasha's nose was a scent that he hadn't smelt in over two hundred years…yet he instantly knew who it belonged to. "Get behind me Kagome!" he shouted, as the dust cleared and the red barrier dissolved, to reveal Naraku.

But it was no more the elegant Lord Naraku as they knew him. It was the demon Naraku…his true form was his bare human torso, with tentacles of many different types of demons bursting from his lower body…a haphazard collection of so many different beasts that it was truly a disgusting sight to behold.

"Naraku?" Kagome gasped, her heart racing in fear. He was a demon…and he found us! He's come to take me back!

Naraku, seeing the fear in her eyes, chuckled to himself. "Did you really think you could escape me, you little whore?"

Growling low, Inuyasha yelled, "What did you call her?"

Maroon eyes narrowed on Inuyasha. "I only called her what she is; an adultress."

Gathering the courage to speak, Kagome yelled, "I am nothing of the kind! We weren't married, Naraku!"

"Ah, but we had an engagement. Signed in contract, even," he grinned as he could feel the fear running off her like water. "It was as good as any marriage in the eyes of the law."

Sensing Kagome's fear, the hanyou roared, "I won't let you take her! She is mine! Never yours!"

The demon's sinister eyes narrowed. "Did you really think I would go to all this trouble for her? A pathetic little harlot that gives herself to hanyous? No, all I want is the Shikon no Tama," he glanced at the pink jewel, hanging from Kagome's neck as she attempted to cover it. "Hand it over, girl."

"No!" she shouted, pink jewel in her palm. "I won't give it to you!"

Chuckling sinisterly, Naraku grinned. "Very well, if you will not give it up…then I suppose I shall have to take it from you." Tentacles lunged towards the princess, and in a flash, they were met with a sharp sword.

Kagome was only inches behind Inuyasha as he turned and yelled at her, "Damn it, get out of the way, Kagome!", which she did at once. But as she moved, the tentacles lunged again, the hanyou flying to meet them and slice them away with his sword.

But Naraku was near invincible. The tentacles kept coming and coming, reappearing when sliced off with Tessaiga. Kagome watched, fearful as Inuyasha kept dodging the lunging tentacles, seeing both Inuyasha and Naraku fight faster until they were nothing more than blurs, flying through the air.

As Inuyasha concentrated on protecting Kagome, he didn't see the one tentacle lunge for him instead. "Inuyasha!" Kagome cried in fear as it flew, catching him across the ankle. He cried out as he was pulled sharply backwards, dropping his sword. Tentacles wrapped around his arms, and his throat, threatening to strangle him. As Inuyasha attempted to pull the one wrapped around his neck off, another pointed directly at his heart, ready to strike.

"You see your choice, Kagome," Naraku grinned as Kagome gasped at the sight. "Either give me the Shikon no Tama, or your lover will die."

Her eyes, filling with tears, glanced back at her former betrothed. "No…please…"

"Do it, or you will see him draw his last breath," the demon ordered, constricting the tentacles, causing the hanyou to gasp as he was cut off from air.

Nails digging into the tentacle around his throat, Inuyasha spoke, "Don't…listen to him…Kagome…Don't…give it…"

The princess gasped from the man she loved to the man who was threatening Inuyasha's life. Here lay the hardest choice of her life. She couldn't see Inuyasha die, but if Naraku got the Shikon no Tama, countless innocents would also be killed. As a princess, it was her job to make sure evil would never receive the Shikon no Tama, at the cost of any small life over thousands, but…Inuyasha…

Seeing her struggle, Naraku sent a sharp tentacle across Inuyasha's chest, slashing him and causing him to give a small gasp in pain. "He will suffer unless you hand it over," Naraku repeated, his voice manipulative. "Do you really want to be responsible for your lover's death, Kagome?"

Her hand gripped the Shikon no Tama around her neck, as she glanced back at her lover, eyes spilling over with tears. There was no other way now. She held his gaze only for a moment, before whispering, "I'm sorry," and turning away.

Inuyasha knew what she was doing as she slowly walked towards Naraku, biting back tears. "No, don't do this, Kagome!" Inuyasha yelled, struggling to free himself from Naraku's tentacles. "Don't give it to him!"

She didn't listen as she slowly pulled the jewel from its chain around her neck. With one small sob as she looked back at Inuyasha, she dropped the Shikon no Tama, the jewel with a limitless supply of power into Naraku's outstretched hand.

There was a cold, cruel laugh as Naraku's fist tightened around the jewel, the pink fading as a deep, purple hue filled it. Kagome stepped back in the horror of what she had done, as the power began to wrap around Naraku, filling him with strength he never felt before. The tentacles released Inuyasha as he ran towards Kagome, yelling, "You fool, why you did that?"

"I had no choice, Inuyasha!" she cried back, tears streaming down her face. "He was going to kill you! I couldn't let you die!"

Inuyasha's impending reprimand was cut off. "Oh, but you will die anyways," Naraku laughed, making both hanyou and princess turn. Without warning, another green tentacle shot out, wrapping around Kagome's waist, pulling her back before she had the time to scream.

"Kagome!" cried Inuyasha in horror, reaching for his sword. But he was too late.

"You aren't even worth my time," spat Naraku, lunging with the green tentacles once again.

Kagome screamed, but wasn't fast enough. Inuyasha could only move an inch as the tentacle went straight through him, piercing through his stomach. As he gasped from the pain and the shock, droplets of blood pooled at the edge of his mouth, while his amber eyes clouded, vision blurring on the one woman he loved so much.

Kagome couldn't speak; she couldn't breathe. She could only watch as Naraku whipped Inuyasha off the tentacle, flying to land in the racing river. His body went under, but he didn't resurface. Inuyasha…

Sound came back all at once as Kagome screamed, "Inuyasha! Inuyasha!" As Naraku took off with her, heading back into the Demon Lands, her cries faded into the night.