Chapter 15: The Thirteenth Hour-Epilogue

Hello, my name is Kagome Higurashi and I have been living in a dream for the past 13 hours… A dream I couldn't control… a dream that he controlled… a dream where he held my heart in his hands… a dream where everything I loved and cherished were gone… forever…

NO… it wasn't a dream… I just wished it was… Let me tell you… my heart aching tale… of how I fell in love… with the Demon King… Inuyasha… in a world where everything seems possible, and nothing is what it seems.

Kagome was back inside her house, standing right in front of the front door. Once the clock had stopped chiming… Kagome put her hand up to her face to find that there were tears were trickling down her cheeks.

Kagome felt her heart breaking as she listened to the clock beginning to tick again. What happened? One minute she was with Inuyasha and the next…

She looked around at the familiar old building… she then pinched herself, just to make sure that this wasn't a dream. OUCH! Nope… not a dream this time.

Suddenly, she remembered something… "Sota?" she said staring around her as if hoping he would just appear. "Sota!" she called as she ran up the stairs, praying with all her heart and soul that he was upstairs in his room. She practically flew to his closed door and opened it, half terrified of what she might find. As she looked into the dark room, the light from the hallway shone onto the bed; which revealed a sleeping figure.

Kagome turned on the light, and there, sleeping on the bed, was Sota. Kagome let out a sigh of relief as she walked over to him and sat down on the edge of the bed and looked at his face. Sota was sleeping both peacefully, and deeply, and he hardly stirred when the light came on or the added weight of the bed. Kagome smiled when she saw that he was going to be just fine. She remembered that Inuyasha told her that he had been asleep during his stay in the Spirit World and he wouldn't remember a thing.

'Thank god,' she thought as she gently traced the side of her brother's face. She smiled again as she stood up and quietly turned off the light, and stood in the doorway. She looked back at Sota for a minute before she said softly, "Goodnight Sota… I'm sorry that I ever wanted you to go away. I swear I never meant it. But from now on, I'm going to appreciate every waking second with you. Even if you act like the annoying pest that I know all too well," he didn't answer, not that she expected one. She shut the door softly, and muttered, "I love you Sota. I promise I won't ever forget that again."

Kagome headed back to her room and collapsed onto her bed. "Oh, there's no place like your bed," she said through her pillow. But she then sat up; she wanted to look at herself in the mirror.

Boy, she was a mess. Her face was covered with sweat, dirt, and tear stains; her hair was tangled with had bits of leaves and twigs stuck in it and her clothes… oh her poor dress. I wasn't the beautiful creamy white that it was this morning. It was covered in mud, torn, wrinkled, and had turned a brownish-gray color. She looked liked the kind of person you see living on the streets.

She took off her dress and went to go and take a long hot shower. It was heaven… absolute heaven to her. After she had finished her bath, she combed out her hair until it was silky smooth, and changed into some clean pj's.

Just as she had finished, she heard the front door open and her mother call up, "Kagome? Kagome are you still up?"

"Yeah!" Kagome called back as she left the bathroom to look down the staircase at her mother and grandfather. "Welcome home!" she said cheerfully.

They both looked up at her slightly startled at her cheerful expression. "Are you ok?" grandpa called up at her.

"Yeah," Kagome replied, "It's just good to see you again." She then turned and went back to her room.

Mom looked over at grandpa, looking just as confused as she did. "Good lord," said grandpa bewildered. "What's gotten into her?"

Mom just shrugged, "She's a teenager… it's got to be a boy problem?"

Kagome went to lie down on her bed to think of everything that happened in the last 13 hours. She thought about her friends and wondered if they're alright… she thought about every little thing she saw and experienced… and she wondered if Inuyasha was missing her right now. She turned over as she began to fall asleep.

Before she went into dreamland, she thought to herself, 'I know why you left me Inuyasha. You thought that returning to the Spirit World was the only way to protect me. You and I live in different worlds. But one day, love with triumph… and bring you back to me.'

She then shut her eyes… wondering what dreams she would have after a night like tonight.

*When she started to dream*

She was flying through space. Below, on the ground, she saw the faces of Miroku and Sango looking up at her. Their mouths were moving, as if they were calling out to her, but all she could hear was the thrum of rushing air. Strange things, and pieces of things, and things of pieces, were whizzing through space with her, some overtaking her, some receding.

She started to recognize objects. The dancer from her music box pirouetted past, upside down, followed by several of her favorite books, in random order, their pages flapping loose in the wind. It was an aerial Sargasso Sea formed of everything she had ever seen or imagined but rearranged in improbably combinations.

The next thing she knew… she was in a room.

But not just any room; this room was huge! But she then smiled when she looked around and recognized where she was… Kagome was, once again, in the gorgeous ballroom. The ballroom where she danced with Inuyasha… where they shared their first kiss.

Everything was as she remembered… except the room was empty. There weren't any dancers or servants walking around… there was no band or party going on. But then… what is that music she's hearing? Violins playing a slow waltz, accompanied by softly blowing trumpets? And then she saw an old record player, with a golden horn attached to a maple box, with its record already playing.

She could hardly believe that she was back in the ballroom, but she then realized that she wasn't in her PJ's anymore. She was wearing a deep crimson gown, with an even darker burgundy bodice, with her hair pined up so delicately, that it looked like a shining raven's wing.

Smiling, Kagome walked to the center of the ballroom, and closed her eyes. She put her arms in a frame, as if there was really a man there in front of her. And she started dancing. Kagome was light on her feet, and she twirled, but when she came back to her 'partner', she felt a hand encircle her waist. She grinned even wider and didn't bother to open her eyes… for she knew who it was. They danced for a few more steps before she finally said something.

"Hello Inuyasha," she said as her eyes snapped open. In front of her was the man she loved. He wore a black and white suit, and his eyes were golden… his silver hair was tied back and he too was grinning from ear to ear.

They began to dance around the room… no one there but them and the music. Kagome felt like she was flying in his arms, and she felt him pulling her closer. She felt him let go of her hand and place it behind her neck. She looked into his eyes, and felt like she would wonder, lost, in them forever. Kagome saw him lean down and felt his lips on hers, her eyes closing, and she felt her hands wrap around his neck, pulling him closer. His arms pulled her closer, encircling her tighter—he pulled away to trail some kisses on her neck.

"Kagome," he whispered in her ear, tickling it with his breath.

She sighed. She loved the way he said her name.

"Yes," she said into his chest.

"I love you," he said.

"I know you do," she said smirking. "But… but what happened? Miroku? Sango? Shippo? Everyone? Why did you send me back like you did? Please… I need some answers."

Inuyasha let go of her hand for a moment to put it on her lips to silence her. "Let me explain," he said as they continued their waltz. "Thanks to you, Naraku's dead. Sesshomaru left—went back to his own kingdom with Rin. Now that Naraku's dead, Miroku's free from the wind tunnel and is now able to live out the rest of his life in peace. Sango was happy her village was revenged, and now she no longer has to fight just to survive."

Kagome let out a small laugh, "Besides, Miroku wasn't under the Wind Tunnel anymore. Wedding bells anyone?"

Inuyasha shook his head dryly. "Good luck's all I can say." He looked her in the eyes and couldn't seem to turn away as they continued to dance.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome asked, wanting to know but fearing an answer.

"What?" he asked as they spun around.

"What about us? I mean…" Kagome laid her head on his chest so that she could hear his heart. "What are we going to do?"

"What do you mean?" he asked not understanding the problem.

"I live on earth! You live in the Spirit World!" Kagome said loudly. "What are we going to do?"

"Isn't that obvious?" Inuyasha said. "We wait until you graduate school."

"And then?" asked Kagome desperate.

"And then we'll get married," he said calmly.

Kagome stopped dancing. She looked up into his face and she knew that he wasn't kidding around.

"You mean?" Kagome said softly.

"That is…" said Inuyasha quickly, "IF you want me?"

Stunned, Kagome stilled stared at him before she crashed her lips against his.

'I take that as a yes!' Inuyasha thought as he returned the kiss all too willingly. This kiss lasted longer than their other ones, and this was the one that meant the most. But finally, they both needed to breathe and pulled away.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome asked uncertainly. "Are you sure about this? About me?"

"I should be asking you that," Inuyasha said as he brushed a stray hair from her face. "Don't cry anymore. I'm so glad to have met you. I loved you more than anything else. And once you finish with school back on earth… we can spend the rest of our lives together. Just promise me one thing."

"What?" she asked.

Inuyasha smiled, "Don't forget me."

Kagome felt tears form at her eyes as she put her hand on either side of his face. "I won't forget…" she said with so much certainty that Inuyasha believed her. "I won't ever forget you again. My heart belongs to you and you alone."

He gave her a wicked grin as he pulled her against his chest even tighter. "That's all I need to hear." He held her tightly as they stopped twirling… he put his nose down into her hair and breathed in her scent.

"I think 5…" she said to herself after awhile.

Inuyasha froze for a second, "5?" he asked. "5 what?"

"Yes…" said Kagome stroking his face lovingly. "When I come back and we get married… I think we should have 5."

Inuyasha stared at her before bursting out laughing, "What? Only that?"

He grabbed her by the waist and leaned her back while he kissed her once again…

… and then he was gone.

"Inuyasha," Kagome said as she opened her eyes to stare at the ceiling in her dark room. She was back on earth. She was in bed, back in her PJ's, and no Inuyasha in sight.

She sighed from both relief and sadness. She couldn't take her mind off him. He was that mysterious, handsome boy that had held her, had danced with her… the one she was going to marry as soon as she got out of school. She leaned back onto her bed and shut her eyes.

"Goodnight, Inuyasha. I love you," hoping he could hear her.

Unknown to her, his golden eyes could see her sleeping form. He came to her and lightly tucked the covers around her. He bent down and kissed her one final time, and Kagome unconsciously leaned toward him as he pulled away.

"Goodnight, Kagome. Soon, we will be together."

*6 Years Later*

Kagome waved goodbye to her friends as she went home with her family. Her mother hugged her tightly as she quietly said congratulations. Sota, who turns out didn't remember anything that happened that night, handed her a small bouquet of flower and said 'good job sis'. Kagome said 'thank you' to them both before she looked up at the sky…

"I can't believe it's already been 6 years," she said to herself.

"From what?" asked Sota.

Kagome shook her head, "Nothing you would find interesting Sota."

"What's wrong?" asked Sota suspiciously. "You just finished school! Shouldn't you be happy? What's the problem?"

"There's no problem, Sota," said Kagome but Sota rolled his eyes.

"Come on sis. Whether you like it or not, your siblings know your problems," said Sota.

"Yeah," said Kagome smirking, "And sometimes they're the cause of them."

Sota laughed as Kagome shut her eyes. She dreamt of him every night. His golden eyes… his warm arms… his kisses. She grinned—if Inuyasha still wanted to marry her—then they would be seeing each other soon.

Once they got home, they had a small party in celebration, and had all of Kagome's favorite foods. When finally, Kagome went to bed, stuffed and tired… she fell asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow. She had a very strange dream…

… except she knew that it wasn't a dream.

Kagome was standing in the throne room once again. Kagome looked around her, and she smiled as she recognized where she was. But what amazed her was what she was wearing… can you guess?

She was in a wedding dress with a long silver veil trailing behind her.

As Kagome admired the dress, she saw a flash of silver out of the corner of her eyes. She smiled as she closed her eyes; her mind going back to 6 years ago. She then felt strong arms wrapping around her, lips kissing every inch of skin.

"I'm sorry Inuyasha," she said as she leaned back into the arms of the man she loved. "Where you waiting?"

"What do you think?" he said as he smiled.

"Inuyasha," Kagome said as she turned around in his arms to see his face, "I've been waiting for you… I've been waiting to start our lives together." She leaned in and gave him a kiss that she had been waiting to give him for 6 years. The Demon King picked up his queen bridal style (Smirk) and, never once breaking their kiss, he took her to their room. After all… they have a lot of work to do.

THE END

(Thank you one and all! I finally finished this story and soon I'm putting up another one! Hope you enjoy it as much as this one! Thank you for sticking with this story for so long and I hope that I didn't disappoint you. Thank you again!)

For those of you who want to know:

Inuyasha and Kagome married and they didn't have 5 kids… they had 6! They had 3 girls and 3 boys… in order… Kikyo, Sota, Inutaishou, Izayoi, Shiori, and finally Buyo.

Miroku and Sango did marry in the 6 years that Kagome had been gone, and they were more than happy to reunite with her once she returned to the Spirit World. Sango and Kagome have become best friends and do almost everything together. Sango and Miroku have 10 kids.

Shippo was adopted by Kagome and Inuyasha and is now as dear to them as if he were their own son. Although he does test his 'father's' anger often.

Sesshomaru and Rin were finally married and so far they have 1 son.

Sota falls in love and marries a girl back on earth. He lives a normal life.