A/N: . . . o.O

Disclaimer: For the last time, I don't own Inuyasha! Kagome does! *cough* I mean, Rumiko Takahashi!

Epilogue: Flowers

"Is she okay?" Sango asked squeezing my shoulder. The paramedic nodded to her. I watched as the EMTs started to load Inuyasha and Leila into the back of the ambulances. I was so scared for them. Leila looked so near death; Inuyasha didn't look any better.

"Come on Kaggers; let's get you home so you can rest." Ayame wrapped an arm around me.

"No," I said pulling away from her. "I want to go with Inuyasha."

"Kagome, you're not going to be able to rest too well at the hospital."

"And you think I will at home?"

I'm guessing they saw the panicked expression in my eyes because neither Sango or Ayame protested as I walked over to the ambulance.

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He was going to be okay. He had to be. He had no choice, there was no way he could leave me alone. The doctor said Inuyasha would be okay if he could make it through the night because once he transformed everything would be uphill. Sunrise, he just had to make it to sunrise.

"You're going to be okay. Come on hun, just hold on until daylight. You can do it." I mentally tried to send Inuyasha good thoughts although I was mostly doing it to make myself feel better. The images of Inuyasha's limp and bloodied body flashed into my mind and I could feel tears welling up in my eyes. Nope, I shook my head and took a deep breath. I would not cry, not now. I only cried when things were going bad and things would be okay. Inuyasha was going to get better.

I hoped.

I went to a machine and got myself a cup of cocoa and sipped it slowly, letting the sweetness of the warm drink soothe me. I walked around and called my mom to let her know what was going on. She asked if I wanted her company while I waited but I assured her that I was okay. After a bit, I sat down and sent more good thoughts Inuyasha's way.

I jolted awake."Crash cart to 219! Crash cart to 219!" A voice called urgently over the intercom. Some weird type of alarm was going off. A large group of doctors and nurses ran by with a cart with a defibrillator and went through the doors that led to the ICU patients; where Inuyasha was.

My heart was pounding; I had no idea what room Inuyasha was in. Was 219 his room number? A sick feeling took hold of me and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake it. How could I have fallen asleep when my husband's life was in danger like that? Jeeze, I had to be the worst wife ever.

First I ran off leaving him alone because I was mad and now this? I put my head into my hands. It seemed like things would never be right because of one bad decision that I had made. If I hadn't have gotten mad at Inuyasha none of this mess would have happened. Now I had to worry about my being a widow and I hadn't been married more than a few months. Not only that but my baby. All I could do was pray that my baby wouldn't lose its father before they got the chance to meet. Someone tapped me on t he shoulder, I looked up to find a grim faced doctor standing over me. No, please no.

"Mrs. Takahashi?"

"Yes,"

"I have some bad news." My heart turned to ice and dropped down into my stomach. I steeled myself for the rest of the sentence.

"Leila went into cardiac arress. She's alive, but her heart's taken all she can." He sighed, dramatically taking his glasses off and rubbing his eyes. "Even with everything we've done . . . she won't make it. She probably has an hour left or so."

"Oh." A little gasp escaped my lips. It wasn't Inuyasha. I was so relieved. But Leila. . . I didn't know how to feel about that. Sure she was rude to me at first, but she was being used and she ended up saving my life in the end. Maybe I should visit her. Just so that she wouldn't be alone, I mean.

"My husband?" I asked, quickly sobering up.

"He's doing well, he was stable for most of the night and he's doing better now that he's finished transforming." He changed back? I looked for a window; the sun was up!

I glanced at the Doctor. "Can I see Leila?" Better do it before talking to Inuyasha. I still didn't know how he would react to the fact that I had kept the information on our baby a secret. He might even hate me. I shook my head and gathered myself to go see Leila.

"Of course." He nodded.

Leading me around the hallway and pass three rooms, we were there. The doctor looked solemn, so I didn't want to look at him while I opened the door to the girl on her deathbed. Slowly, I opened the door, not wanting the doctor to announce me.

It was a sight I wasn't prepared for.

There was just so much machinery! I could see tubes and needles sticking out from all around her and the heart monitor was beeping at a weird pace. Seemed like her heart was going against everything to keep beating, but it was futile. From what I could tell, Leila was not going to make it.

"Leila?" I whispered.

The bandaged figure in the bed glanced up. Leila's eyes were confused as I walked up to her.

"Oh," she said hoarsely. "It's you. Are you coming to rub in the fact that I lost to you? Or the fact that I'm dying?"

I shook my head. "No, Leila. I didn't come for any of that." I sighed. "I just want to understand how you could have done something like this," I paused. "to me and Inuyasha. I mean, why?"

Leila half-laughed. "Simple. I was blind."

"I don't understand."

Leila glanced at me wearily. "Ever heard of the phrase, "Love is blind"? Well, that's exactly what happened."

"Oh," I answered. So she had been in love with Takeshi? The thought almost sounded wrong to me, but when I thought about it, it didn't. Love knows no bounds, right?

Leila sighed, looking up at the white ceiling. "Yeah. I was too caught up with him. I thought we could have been something." She glanced at me. "But he always seemed to talk about you. Everything you did, he knew. It was horrifying to be so wholely ignored by the one you love."

"So you went along with his plan so that he could pay attention to you?"

Leila suddenly broke down, covering her eyes with her good arm. "Could you blame be for wanting that?" She sobbed. "I just . . . I just didn't know what to do!"

Her heart-broken expression made me remember how I felt when Inuyasha had been ignoring me. She was right. It was a horrible feeling. Painful enough to do anything to change it.

"Ah." I nodded. "I understand."

"You do?" She looked at me with wide eyes.

"Yes," I nodded. "It's the same thing I felt when you started taking Inuyasha away from me. I felt alone, as if there was no one to love me anymore. He felt so distant and the pain . . . was almost too much." If I hadn't had my friends to lean back on during that time, I don't know what I would have done.

Leila's eyes grew somber and sadder. "I'm sorry for that. Even if you don't forgive me, I still have to say it. No one should be put through the pain you must have felt. I deserve to die."

"I forgive you."

"What?" She glanced up at me, bewildered.

I sighed, almost embarrassed that I had to repeat myself. "I said, I forgive you."

She rubbed her eyes and laughed slightly. "You really have a damn good-natured heart, don't you?"

Where have I heard that before? Oh yeah, me.

"I also have to thank you."

"For what? All I did was inflict pain on you."

I shrugged. "Yeah, you did, but you made me realize something." I smiled. "You made me realize that I have friends who are there whenever I need them, you made me realize that I had to be strong for myself and my baby and you also made me realize what I wonder husband I have. Plus," I began to add. "you saved me back there in the warehouse. My whole family. Shouldn't we be even now?"

"If you want to say it is." She smiled half-heartedly.

I nodded and said, "I have one more question."

"Shoot."

"Why did you save us?"

Leila's smile came back. "I had a change of heart." She sighed, a long one at that. "I realized that Takeshi didn't love me, but was obsessed with you. I knew how crazy he could be, and rather than watch it all unfold, I chose to end the suffering. For the both of us."

"Oh, Leila. You're not as bad as I thought." I smiled, chuckling.

Leila shook her head laughing, but grabbed my hand with her bandaged one, squeezing it weakly. "I'm glad you came by. At least I was able to ask for forgiveness."

I smiled, suddenly tearing. "You have your second chance. I just wish . . ." I trailed off, not wanting to finish my sentence. The words just didn't want to come out.

"Who's to say I won't have a second chance?" Leila smiled, but her eyes were sad. "I don't think this ends here, Kagome. We'll meet again, somewhere beyond here." She chuckled, almost as if laughing at her own words. "Can we be friends then?"

"We already are." I choked out, my feelings getting to me.

"Thank you, Kagome." She closed her eyes, her voice getting softer. "Thank you."

The moment she said it, she stopped breathing and her hand fell from my own, making a thump noise on her bed. Her heart monitor only produced one long, infinite sound. I couldn't stop the tears from falling, even when the doctors came in. Leila had been a victim of Takeshi, just like I had been, and I felt for her even after everything that had happened. I had finally understood. You might call me crazy, but I think Leila described it right.

It was my damn good-natured heart.

Always the one to believe the best in everyone, I had been disillusioned many times. But it's the reason why I even got close to Inuyasha and it's why I felt free from all the hate that had been in me. By forgiving Leila, I had released the chains that had bound my heart from doing what it knew best.

To love everyone.

I wandered into the hallway and bumped into the doctor from earlier. The time to speak with Inuyasha had come. What would he say to me?I hadn't even opened my mouth when the doctor softly smiled at me and asked,

"Would you like to see him?"

I nodded, which was about the only thing I could do at the moment.

The room was down the hallway. I breathed in deeply and wiped my eyes. The doctor opened the door to the room and hesitantly stepped inside. Inuyasha was hooked up to a few machines but nothing too serious like Leila'd had. He looked a lot better, still pretty bad but better.

"Mr. Takahashi, you have a visitor." Inuyasha opened his eyes; those beautiful golden eyes.

"Hey baby, hey." He grinned my favorite crooked smile. "Don't cry Kagome," He called out softly. I wiped at my eyes trying to figure out what he was talking about, only for my hand to come back wet. Again with the waterworks! I thought I had stopped crying before I came in. Inuyasha motioned for me to come over and I eased myself into the chair next to his bed.

"I'm so happy to see you. I'm sorry, if I hadn't have been so stupid none of this would've happened. Are you okay? Does it hurt?" The words came out of my mouth in a rush. Inuyasha shook his head.

"Don't blame yourself. This is all Takeshi's fault and well, partially mine too for not listening to you. And yeah, I'm okay. The doctors are giving me lots of pain meds and thanks to my youkai awesomeness, I'm healing up nicely." Inuyasha gave me a small crooked grin. I tried to smile back and failed.

"Really Kagome, it's not as bad as it looks. Come here." He patted the bed and I climbed in next to him.

This was the first time that I'd been this close with Inuyasha in a while and it was in a hospital bed—I didn't even care—we assumed one of our usual positions, Inuyasha with his arms around me, and me with my head on his shoulder. We sat quietly for a while, just basking in each other's presence. I couldn't even begin to tell you how happy I was that Inuyasha was even alive, let alone doing how well he was. All I knew at that moment was that I never wanted to leave that bed. Inuyasha splayed one of his hands and placed it over my stomach before looking down at me.

"When were you going to tell me about this baby of ours?"

I cringed outwardly. "Believe me Inuyasha; I never wanted to keep that from you."

"And I don't doubt you sweetie." He cut me off gently.

"I've wanted to tell you so badly from the moment I found out, but I didn't think it would be a good idea to tell you while we were so mad at each other. I wanted to wait until things got a little better but then this happened. I'm sorry you had to find out from Takeshi." I hung my head a little. He was being so nice about this and I didn't know why.

"Actually, I found out before Takeshi said anything."

I looked up in surprise and found Inuyasha gently smiling down at me. I narrowed my eyes in suspicion.

"Sango. . ." I hissed out, plans for torture already forming within my mind. That girl couldn't keep a promise to save her life. Boy, was she going to hear from me real soon. With a frying pan, of course.

"Actually, you should thank Sango." He laughed. "Let's just say, knowing that my whole family was at stake helped me do what I needed to do." Inuyasha kissed my hair and I snuggled into him more. "So am I having a son or a daughter? And when is the kid due, because we have absolutely nothing for a baby at the house."

"We've got another six or seven months before our little one gets here and no, I don't know what we're having yet. It's a little too soon to tell."

"Well, as long as the baby looks like you I'm happy."

I was surprised. "Me? No, black hair and brown eyes are way too common. I like your silver hair and gold eyes."

"No, no, no, you're eyes are much nicer, Kagome."

I laughed. "Pfft, they're the color of mud!"

"Chocolate brown. A very gorgeous brown." Inuyasha said his voice dropping an octave and a soft expression took hold of his face. "You're so beautiful Kagome. I'm happy you're carrying my child." I stared up at Inuyasha for a moment before I started to laugh.

"Hun, I think that's the pain meds talking."

A hurt expression came over Inuyasha's face and I instantly regretted what I said. "I mean it Kagome. You're the best thing that ever happened to me."

"And you're the best thing that ever happened to me. I'd probably be dead right now if it weren't for you." I added, trying to liven things us.

"I wouldn't let that happen." Inuyasha said before capturing my lips with his.

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"This place looks deserted!" Ayame whispered a little to loudly.

I bonked her on the head. "Shut it, Ayame! We're at a funeral, for pete's sake!" I crossed my arms.

The red-head pouted, running back to Kouga. "Sorry."

I sighed and walked back to my husband, who was currently nearer to the coffin. I had a couple of flowers to give. Actually, quite a few.

"You know," Inuyasha leaned down to whisper in my ear while the priest was talking. "This place is pretty deserted."

I sighed. "I know. We make up half of the people here. She didn't have many friends and she had no family. Maybe that's why she clung onto him so long."

Inuyasha sighed. "It gives me a better understanding for what she did. Leila was probably all alone when Takeshi showed up. He just used to get to you and me."

"She was happy at the end though. She thanked me."

My husband nodded and the rest of the funeral went on without a hitch. When everything was said and done, and her body lay beneath the earth, I tugged on Inuyasha's sleeve. "Can we wait until everyone leaves? I want to say good-bye personally and in my own way." I held up the flowers gathered in my hand.

Inuyasha's eyes softened. "Of course we can."

Sango tapped me from behind half an hour later. "What are we waiting for? We should leave."

I held up the flowers. "I have to say a few things first. Okay?"

Sango had been the only one adverse to coming to the funeral. Everyone else either understood exactly why I had to do this or understood my feelings and the situation. It was appropriate because she had saved my life, but also because at the end, she proved to be a friend.

She sighed, but nodded. "Fine." She said nodding. She stood back with Miroku while Inuyasha and I neared the newly dug grave.

I readied my flowers and stood up straight. "Leila, thank you for everything you made me realize. I am indebted to you and I wish to give you these flowers." I took out the first one which was a white tulip. "This white tulip means forgiveness. I have forgiven you from the deepest part of my heart." I stuck my hand in again and pulled out a pink carnation. "This is to say that I will never forget what you have brought to me." I picked out another, a mixed color Zinnia. "The meaning for this flower is the absence of a friend." I picked out a forget-me-not. "and this flower is so that you always remember your promise and to show you I won't forget either."

Just as I was about to lay them on the ground, Inuyasha touched my shoulder, and pulled out a daffodil. "May I say a few words?"

I raised an eyebrow. "You know the meaning of that flower?"

he nodded. "Yeah . . . I knew you were into flowers so I . . . I just wanted to know what it would mean if I ever got this from you."

I smiled and gave him a chaste kiss. "You'll never have to worry about that." I ushered him on. "Go ahead."

Placing the flower on the dirt in front of the grave, he said, "This is for the love you were never able to get back. I hope that wherever you are, that you are happy and loved."

I knelt down beside him, placing my flowers next his. We stood up together, hand in hand. I was not crying, but I still felt the pain of losing a new-found friend. Even Inuyasha cried a bit, later claiming that it had been the pollen from the flowers, but we all know better, don't we?

As we entered our house, Inuyasha grabbed me in an embrace and kissed me with enough passion to light up the house. Laughingly, he pulled away and placed a hand at my belly.

"Can't wait for the baby." He smiled, and then wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. "Then we can make another one!"

I laughed and playfully hit him. "You're such a dog, Inuyasha."

"Thanks for noticing."

We laughed together and sat on the couch. The silence was not a burden on us anymore. There was something different now, ever since the warehouse incident had occurred. We were more united and we hardly went anywhere, except to classes or work, alone.

Inuyasha kissed my hair as I snuggled up against him. "What are we going to name the baby if it's a girl? Or a boy?"

I thought it over and smiled. "Well, I have a good feeling it's going to be a girl, so I won't stress for a boy name."

"You never know. What's the name then?"

I sighed. "Her name will be Izayoi, after your mother, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha stilled but then had his lips on mine before I could breath again. I laughed. "What's with the attack?"

"What? I can't thank my wonderful wife with a kiss?"

"It seems you want more than a kiss, if you ask me!" I chuckled. His laughter was loud as he picked me up bridal style. "H-hey! What are you doing?" I spluttered.

He only grinned. "Putting your words into actions, that's all. Don't tell me you don't want to?"

Embarrassed and tomato red, I reluctantly answered. "Well, no but-"

"Then it's settled." He bent down and captured my lips in a fiery kiss.

I smiled against his lips. I knew my life was finally going to be what I wanted to be. Takeshi was gone, Inuyasha and I were inseparable and I was going to become a mother pretty soon. What else could I ask for?

I sighed in content as Inuyasha carried me to our room.

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"DAMN YOU INUYASHA! DAMN YOU TO HELL!" I screamed a the top of my lungs, just as another contraction pain hit. I was being wheeled through the hospital quickly, all the while screaming obscenities at my poor husband.

"Kagome, calm down." He tried soothing me.

I couldn't speak as another contraction hit. They were coming faster. My baby was coming soon. If these hospital people didn't put me in a bed soon, hell would break loose. Literally.

After what seemed like an eternity of pain and curse words, I was finally in a room. The baby was coming and fast. I squeezed Inuyasha's hand so hard I felt that my bones were breaking. Even Inuyasha winced.

"Inuyasha," I gasped. "You love me right?"

He looked dumbfounded by the question. "Of course I love you!"

"Good!" I almost yelled. "Then I can get through this."

The baby was coming now. I could feel my precious baby move out from me and with one last push, my baby was out. As soon as I heard the cry, I sighed and leaned back against my pillows, exhausted. Inuyasha kissed me on my forehead, but quickly left my side to go cut the umbilical cord.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha called excitedly. "Izayoi has my hair!"

I sighed in relief. I knew it would be a girl and I had hoped for his hair color. "Good. I always loved the color of your hair. Does she have dog ears?" That was another feature I had hoped for.

Inuyasha nodded. "Cute ones too."

I held out my arms, wanting to see my baby. "Bring her to me."

He walked slowly, careful not to jostle Izayoi. Gently, he handed me to her. She was so beautiful that I couldn't say anything. All I could do was stare and wonder at how Inuyasha and I had been able to create such a beautiful baby. I turned to Inuyasha, pulled him down from his shirt and kissed him full on without caring that the hospital staff were there.

When we finally broke apart, I smiled. "She's so precious Inuyasha." I glanced at my daughter. "Whose eyes do you think she got?" I asked. We hadn't seen yet, since she hadn't opened her eyes.

"Let's see." He said, leaning in as the baby opened her eyes for the first time.

"Oh wow!" I smiled huge. "She has my eyes!"

Indeed, her chocolate brown eyes stared up at me and Inuyasha with wonder. "Izzy," I cooed. "I'm your mommy. You probably know me already but here is your father, the other half of the package." I chuckled.

"Hey, Izzy." Inuyasha whispered softly, adopting my new nick-name quickly. "Do you know you have the most prettiest eyes in the world? Your mom has them too."

As we sat there, talking to my baby, and holding hands with my husband, I couldn't believe there was a happier woman on earth. I was exhausted and sweating, but I pressed my daughter close to me. She would have a normal life with her parents and our friends. Besides, she'd have playmates soon. Ayame was almost to term with her baby boy and Sango with her twin girls.

It was funny how sudden Sango's wedding had been. When Miroku found out he was going to be a father, he proposed right then and there, in their bathroom. Sango had been so surprised that she had shouted out the wrong answer, but she did say yes when she figured out it wasn't a prank. Ayame had wanted to make this whole other-worldly celebration, but the bride and the groom were happy with the small wedding they asked for. Being pregnant together was pure hell for the men though. I would miss it, but right now, I was happy.

I was moved to another room and my baby was taken to be cleaned and examined so that we could leave in two days. During the day I breast-fed her for the first time and all my friends came by. By the time it was dark, Inuyasha was sleeping away on the black couch in the room and Izzy was in the little bed they had prepared for her. I laid back on my pillow and glanced at the flowers that were beside my bed, a pink rose and a cattail, and chuckled at how the meanings fit perfectly.

Perfect happiness and peace.

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A/N: And so ends the exciting adventure of ATHME! Wahhh! I am so happy and yet so sad at the moment! It was a pleasure writing this story, and I hope you guys loved it too. Please, regard me kindly in your reviews! Did you like the ending? If you have any questions, please write them in a review as I will be making a Omake sort of thing with author interviews. Bella's and mine, of course, so if you have a question for either of us, go ahead!

Thank you so much for all the support you gave us throughout this story and it's prequel and thank you for taking the time to review! I hope you do it all again!

See ya in the next story!

~Daichi