I want to thank you all for staying with me through all the revisions and new chapters and even the times when my computer broke down or I had no internet. No, this isn't the end of the story, but I just wanted to say thanks and let you know that I look forward to all of your comments. No I do not own InuYasha.

~*~*~*~xXx~*~*~*~

Kagome woke to the morning sun shining on her face. With a yawn she sat up and stretched her arms over her head. Finally she stood up and arched her back in a luxurious stretch. She smiled it was the beginning of spring all the birds and other creatures of the forest were out and about plants were growing, all around her new life was making its way into the world and she loved it.

Kagome walked over to her closet and looked through it finally deciding to put on her regular outfit. She slipped easily into the dark familiar earthy green and brown tones of her dragon scale armor. Last night she had promised to meet Sango in the castles sparing grounds so that she could assess how good Kagome had become. So she walked calmly down the hall ignoring the eyes that followed her as she went.

She arrived in the sparing hall and it was strangely empty, in fact there was no one there beside herself. Shrugging she got to work with stretches and a hard series of workouts that worked all of the muscles in her body.

We're back Kagome. Where are you? Akari's voice sounded in her head.

I'm in the sparing room. Came Kagomes calm reply.

Kagome sat on the ground and meditated going so far as to allow her barrier to enclose around the castle. As it spread a sense of peace and serenity spread through the castle calming and protecting all of its inhabitants. Though molding her barrier to fit the castle was an awkward shape for her to form she found it good practice and wondered how it might aid her in the future if she kept at it. Then she took the next step and concentrated on separating her demonic abilities from her spiritual and the ones she inherited from the ones she had received from Akari and Kagaru. When she began to feel the strain on her concentration she forced her focus and slowly pulled the barrier in allowing her abilities to swirl back together in a harmonious mixture. She stood slightly stiff and barely breaking a sweat. After all after a year of meditation it was hard work but her body became accustomed to it and adapted. She stretched her arms far over her head and felt the muscles in her back stretch and relax. Looking around and allowing her senses to roam the close area she found that Akari and Kagaru were sitting nearby watching her cheerfully. She allowed herself a real smile.

"Welcome back you two. I missed having you by my side." Kagome said cheerfully. There were exited mews from Akari and Kagaru as they launched themselves at Kagome.

"Glad to see that we're missing out on such a party huh Kirara." Came Sango's voice there was an agreeing mew and Kagome turned around.

Smiling Kagome introduced Sango and Kirara to Akari and Kagaru. "Sango Kirara this is Akari and Kagaru they're my companions they have been for quite a while now. Akari, Kagaru this is Sango and Kirara they were part of the group I used to travel with." Kagome started out with confidence but her voice wavered when she brought up the subject of her old group. They all knew why. The thought of the old group meant the thought of InuYasha and they all knew that he was going to be a sensitive subject until the air between them was cleared.

There was a short silence before Sango clapped her hands together and said "Alright Kagome let's see what you've got." Kagome smiled at Sango grateful for the distraction though she knew she would have to face him sometime soon.

"You asked for it Sango. Shall we bring our friends in or is it just one on one?" Kagome asked with a grin.

"If I bring Kirara in then there's no way that you can win but if you insist then let's bring them in." Sango was bragging only to get Kagome's spirit up.

"If you say so Sango but I would watch my back. No abilities for this round you guys just fighting force, speed, and intelligence." Kagome said addressing her nekos mostly. They nodded and jumped in beside her. Kirara transformed in a blaze of fire. Akari and Kagaru took the que transforming in that amazing way they did; summoning the swirling misty breeze and the molten stone wall. Sango gawked at them amazed at the beautiful way they had transformed but shook her head and to a ready stance. Kagome took a deep breath finding her center and allowing the minds of her and her neko companions to mold into one so that they wouldn't have to speak they would instinctually know what each other was going to do. She drew Akinasigua it purred delighted to be used and Kagome fell easily into a ready position.

Sango watched as Kagome seemed to fall naturally into a perfectly balanced position. She and her two nekos had their eyes closed like they were readying themselves and when their eyes opened all at the same time she was shocked. Kagome smirked at Sango who replied with a grin. Sango and Kagome began to circle and calculate where each other's balance was, looking for any weakness or strong point. Neither detected much more than they already knew but it had been worth a shot.

Akari launched into the air and charged Kirara playfully. Kirara saw and jumped into the air to play along they fought hard but not to hurt only to tag the other neither side ever doing more than skimming their claws over the others fur or giving a hard push. They tumbled in mid air and Kirara never noticed Kagaru's disappearance until she was tackled from behind and sent into a forward spin. Kagaru jumped off and roared playfully a spark of mischief in her eyes.

Kagome ran forward taking the first attack and threw and overhand cut. Sango managed to block the cut and smirked. "You'll have to do better than that Kagome." She challenged.

Kagome grinned and nodded they began to exchange blows neither gaining any leverage over the other. Side cuts, thrusts, overhands, backhands, overhand backhands were all thrown and still neither gained leverage. Five minutes in Akari and Kagaru jumped into Kagomes fight they danced around the blades bouncing off and using small attacks until finally Sango sank to one knee in a sign of defeat. Kagome panted and held out a hand to her Sango smiled and took it letting Kagome pull her to her feet.

"How did you learn to do all that?" Sango asked amazed at what she had seen.

Kagome smiled. "Takes a two months of practice in the Imperial Taijiya Village and then you have to keep practicing every time you get the chance or the skill will die down."

"Oh yeah, I forgot you told me about them the first day." Sango said with a comprehending smile.

"Come on there's a spring in the castle where we can clean up." Kagome said leading Sango towards the bathing area their neko companions following close behind.

~*~*~*~xXx~*~*~*~

Kagome smiled and walked to the garden of lilies. She couldn't help but admire them after all lilies had always been her favorite flower. Especially morning and tiger lilies and this garden was full of them. She found a small path and followed it through the field allowing her mind to wander and her guard to fall. She let the tears fall as the memories she had with him swirled around her mind. She let the pain tear at her and the sadness to sting, but then she wondered when she had gotten so upset. She pondered the thought as she leaned up against a willow tree and looked out at the flowers. Again she thought she might be able to see a pattern in them but she couldn't really tell so she let it be.

"He was devastated when you left you know." Came a wise voice from behind her.

"Sango said that too, Shippo said that he looked awful when he came in the hut, and I saw him the other night on the new moon. I just don't think I can do it again. I want to but he's just going to go back to Kikyou…he always does…I'm just not enough to make him happy Miroku. That's a fact that I knew I was going to have to face one day I just never wanted to do it." Kagome admitted sadly. Miroku placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"He's already told Kikyou that she can go back to hell without him, she has decided to stay and help to finish off Naraku but she said she'll leave him alone. Where is Shippo anyway?" Miroku said.

"I was with Shippo earlier but he stays with the other children like Rin and they play for most of the day." Kagome said though she sounded distracted. She was thinking, wondering, hoping that maybe just maybe InuYasha may have actually turned Kikyou away.

"Please Kagome for our sakes just give him a chance to apologize. I don't think he will make it without you forgiving him. I'm not saying let him back in but just talk to him." Miroku said sadly. By now Kagome's tears had dried and she wiped her eyes but said nothing. Miroku waited for some kind of answer and Kagome seeing he would not falter until she gave one nodded.

"Good. Now I hear that there's a beautiful princess around here do you know where she is?" Miroku asked having taken no notice of Kagome's different appearance.

Kagome giggled. "Who princess Ky? Why yes I believe she's right under your nose." Kagome said finally turning around to face him.

His jaw dropped as he scanned her new features. "Wow… I had no idea that you were part Neko Lady Kagome."

"Yeah you can get the full story from Sango I just need some time to think about this whole thing okay?" Kagome asked.

"Okay Kagome just know that Sango and I will stand by your choice. None of us will judge you for turning him away or taking him back." Miroku responded.

"Thank you Miroku." She said softly. He nodded and left.

Kagome watched him leave and then turned to follow the path further. She thought long and hard about taking InuYasha back and then after several hours of sitting in the field of lilies she decided to just let her heart choose for her. It would be easier that way and even if she got hurt again because she chose to be with him then at least she would have tried to fix it, tried to be with him the way she had always dreamed and almost achieved once so very long ago.

Kagome smiled happy with her decision and content to let her heart lead her where ever it might choose. So she allowed her feet to carry her where ever they might and found she was following the familiar path through the lilies. She kept going curious as to where it lead and ended up walking up a hill. It took her several minutes of strolling before she reached the top of the hill and walked through a curtain of willow tree branches. She looked around in awe a small smile on her lips.

She kept eyes to the sky looking at the small dapples of sunshine that shone through the leaves of the willow tree and watching them shift and glimmer in the breeze. She was so encased in the beauty of it all that she paid no mind to where she was going and bumped chest first into someone else almost falling back but she was caught before she could hit the ground. She was pulled into a rough bear hug before she could say a word or see who she had bumped into.

She stood stiff for a moment when they buried their nose in the crook of her neck and was caught off guard when she felt something warm blossom in her chest and her heart skipped a beat. Then she saw the familiar red cloth and long silver hair and felt tears prick her eyes.

~*~*~*~xXx~*~*~*~

Haha! I love this chapter soo much I hope you did too R&R Thank you!