InuYasha's bare feet thumped against the creaking floorboards of the dilapidated shrine as he followed after Naraku and Sesshoumaru. He didn't remember taking off his shoes but this felt a lot more comfortable for him. He still couldn't believe he literally just killed someone that he had just met. He hadn't even gotten that far with his military training. At the end of the elongated corridor of the shrine he kicked open a pair of double doors with both feet using all the strength in his legs. He quickly took in his surroundings. A glowing yellow whip flashed before his eyes and shortly after Sesshoumaru darted by.

"Took you long enough, little brother." Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes, wrapped the yellow whip successfully around Naraku's ankle who was trying to get away. He pulled back with great force and Naraku came smashing down onto the ground.

"InuYasha..." A voice softly called from beside him. InuYasha turned his head from the battle before him over to the voice. Coming from the shadow walked Kagome very hesitantly. InuYasha's facial expression softened. Her hair was softly tousled but other than that she appeared to be unscathed. Her hair was longer than he remembered when he first departed but still long and beautiful, perfectly framing her face. "You came for me."

The scene before him vanished as if they were the only two in that room. His sword dropped from him clutch as he approached her. Words couldn't express how utterly grateful he was that she was alive. He tried several times to say something in return but his vocal cords were failing him. She reached out to him and cupped his face. He placed his hand over hers and closed his eyes as tears began to erode his vision. "I thought I lost you." He managed to muster. Kagome snaked her arms around his torso and clung onto him as if to ensure he wouldn't evaporate. She buried her head into his chest to cover her own tears.

"You came for me." She repeated. She couldn't have asked for a more perfect hero. How did he know she was here? Why didn't he tell her he would be back to visit? What was he doing here?

He picked up her chin, unashamed of either of their tears and gazed into her eyes. Kagome always thought he was handsome but nothing could compare to how he looked right now before her. She had craved for his strong touch for months.

Their sweet moment was cut short by Sesshomaru slamming into the wall, upside down, leaving quite an impressive dent. He groaned out in pain.

"Kagome." InuYasha said softly. Kagome released her grasp from him and backed away, nodding, knowing what had to be done.

Sesshomaru peeled himself off the wall and recalled his whip. He wasn't as young as he used to be. How on Earth was he going to handle THREE toddlers? He would have kept Naraku preoccupied longer for the lovebirds but he could only take so much ass-beating.

Naraku's aura seemed to grow stronger the more that Sesshomaru fought him. By the time he was able to regain his composure, InuYasha was joined at his side with his sword in his hand. Sesshomaru gawked at it, never actually seeing it in its true form. Why the hell didn't father give Sesshomaru THAT blade as inheritance? InuYasha wasn't aware that the sword even belonged to him. You can't steal what was already yours.

Naraku was now levitating in the center of the room. His long tentacles created a fan like appearance from behind that was like nothing InuYasha or Sesshoumaru had ever seen. One of them shot towards Kagome, who attempted to run but it circled around her small frame, casting her into the air.

Kagome grimaced. Of course the guy wasn't going to let her run to go call the cops. InuYasha gripped onto his sword tighter and scowled.

"Let her go!" He demanded. Naraku just laughed.

"If you say so, lad." Naraku's tentacle retracted and let Kagome go. Instantly Sesshoumaru jolted forward, tumbling and caught Kagome in the nick of time.

"Lad?" InuYasha spat. "Nobody our age says that! What time period are you from!?" He didn't think it was possible to want to kill someone more than he already did for dropping Kagome.

Naraku tilted his head to the furthest degree he could and stared at InuYasha with great malice. The anger that was radiating from InuYasha fueled Naraku's power. Sesshoumaru took the opportunity to grab Kagome and with one swift leap, sped out like a dragon demon. He had done what he could to weaken Naraku's barrier with his whip but it was no match to the damage that could be done by the sword their father had planned to give InuYasha on his 21st birthday. Sesshomaru knew that his main goal was getting Kagome to safety. As much he didn't want to admit it, InuYasha could handle this on his own. He could almost feel his pulsing demon blood beating to protect Kagome. He knew that InuYasha would not fail the family.

"Is he going to be alright on his own?" Kagome asked, looking back in the direction as they fled together.

"More than he realizes." Once they reached back to the entrance of the shrine, Sesshomaru set Kagome back on her feet softly. "How much did Naraku tell you?"

Kagome fiddled with her fingers and shook her head. "Not much. I didn't really understand all the business talk."

"He didn't touch you, right?"

Kagome was taken aback by the fatherly concern portrayed by Sesshomaru. She was constantly reminded of how lucky InuYasha was to have a brother like him. Kagome shook her head 'no.'

"There may have been a slight turn off when they realized I wasn't-" Kagome stopped midsentence, remembering that Naraku had a companion with him through the ordeal. She looked straight ahead at the remnants of InuYasha's battle with Hakudoshi. The sight brought her hands over her mouth. The flesh of Hakudoshi was pierced freshly by the diamond fragments that eroded from the ground. Sesshoumaru didn't quite understand it either, but nothing in this world seemed to make much sense. Sesshoumaru stepped in front of Kagome and unpierced the lifeless body. He unclicked the rusty sword at his hip and sighed. Always having to clean up after his little brother. In one quick sweep of his sword the body pulsed twice. Kagome watched in fascination as Sesshomaru said a quick prayer in his mind and re-sheathed his sword. She studied as he unwound his yellow whip and tied the body to one of the shrine's posts.

"Hopefully InuYasha can keep his second opponent alive until authorities arrive or your two's visit will be short lived." They watched as the color slowly returned to Hakudoshi's face. "Come. I'm sure your mother is terribly worried. InuYasha will follow shortly." He assured.

Kagome clasped her hands together and gazed back at the shrine, faint crashes could be heard on the inside. She simply nodded and followed Sesshomaru as he guided her to safety.

()()()()

"So where's the bitch anyways?" Naraku had his hand wrapped around InuYasha's neck. "She was the special guest of the night. Carrying out all my ordeals for me cause she thought she was in love. Broken hearts are the easiest targets."

InuYasha's blood was boiling in his own veins. Although Kikyo decided to end things with him, she would always hold a special place in his heart and he wasn't going to let anyone talk ill of her. InuYasha kicked his legs up and kicked Naraku in the ribs, forcing him to release him from his grip. InuYasha caught himself once he fell to the ground and balanced himself back upright. Naraku met eye to eye with InuYasha and his full demon. He chuckled to himself, thinking that the transformation was a weak excuse for a half demon. InuYasha rose his sword above his head, a gush of wind swirling around him, building up potential energy. The sheer energy alone took Naraku off guard. InuYasha cried something incoherent before crushing the sword onto the ground. Naraku was swallowed in a black aura that caused his tentacle-like features to disintegrate. He cried out in pain as he watched his powers slowly diminish. His scaly armor broke into pieces and his long black tresses slowly fell to the ground. It was a horrific sight. His skin began to bubble and blister, leaving third degree burns, he looked like a completely different person. The black orb unleashed from InuYasha's blade seemed to have consumed every inch that made Naraku youkai. What remained barely breathing on the ground was nothing more than a mortal man in his place.

"I don't understand. You're a half demon?" InuYasha mustered, out of breath, wielding the giant sword.

Naraku could barely speak. He was in immense pain from the burns. "I just wanted to be a demon. Your family had everything and left my family with nothing. I just wanted to be a demon." He repeated, his voice very faint.

In that same instance, Tokyo's S.W.A.T team came bursting through the doors with their shields up and targets locked on InuYasha and Naraku.

Naraku gave one last sympathetic look at InuYasha. "This world doesn't care about hanyous like us. I just wanted to…." His body shut down from the pain that exceeded the caliber of tolerance.

His words stung InuYasha more than he could comprehend. He didn't even notice that both of his parents had rushed to his side. His mother crying, clinging to his. Naraku had a grudge against the world and sought to be a full demon just as InuYasha had when he was younger. He knew more than anyone what that felt like but he had never wanted to cause harm to innocent civilians.

'Like us.' InuYasha replayed in his head. 'Please. You're nothing like me.'

()()()()

News reporters were practically wrapped around the Taisho's legs waiting to hear on what the latest drama was. InuTaisho was sick of writing numerous checks but it seemed to be the only way to keep peoples' mouth shut tight about what had happened. He didn't want Kagome to be exploited on the news per her and her family's wishes. His lawyers were working feverishly through damages caused by the Taisho brothers but at least they were able to catch the culprit who was currently being treated at a burn unit, heavily monitored by security. His companion was escorted to the juvenile county detention center where he was held for further questioning.

InuYasha wanted to go see Kagome immediately but Izayoi made him stay. He sat in the main sofa, bouncing on his toes impatiently.

"I always knew you'd take it someday." InuTaisho laughed light-heartedly, interrupting InuYasha's foot taping. InuYasha darted his eyes over to the katana resting near the front door. InuTaisho joined his wife, sons, and daughter in law in the living room. "I intended for it to be a 21st birthday gift but I guess you've more than proved you're worthy of it now."

It was nearly four in the morning at this point, but nobody seemed to be in the mood for sleeping after what happened. Except for Rin, she managed to lull fast sleep whenever curled up next to Sesshoumaru's warmth. Sesshomaru rubbed her back gently as she slept. Her face had dried tears running down the sides of her face. She had been so worried about him. Sesshoumaru knew better than to whine when it was his 21st birthday. Although he had preferred InuYasha's katana, InuTaisho explained that he would one day understand why his sword held equal importance. Tonight was the night that it made sense.

The home phone rang, startling the silent family. InuYasha sprang up immediately to answer it. Now normally you would think that would look weird but InuYasha's sense of hearing didn't require him to hold phones awkwardly. His face instantly perked up like a dog being asked if it wanted to go for a walk.

The entire family rolled their eyes. There was only one person in the world that could light up his face like that.

Hey I know its late, but would you mind coming over? I'm at my mom's.

InuYasha could almost sense the blush on Kagome's face on the other line. "Yeah of course, I'll be right over."

InuYasha placed the phone back on the ringer and was startled by his mother directly in front of him now with her arms crossed. "Your best friend was literally kidnapped and you're not going to let her sleep on it?"

InuYasha lightly pushed her aside to grab his keys from the wall. "She called me. It doesn't count." InuYasha sang, wagging his finger.

InuYasha grabbed his light jacket and patted his pockets, making sure he had everything before he left. Izayoi walked him out, kissing him on the cheek grateful that her son was out of harm's way. She reached into the sleeve of her kimono and placed something in her son's hands.

He looked down in the palm of his hand and gave his mother the 'really mom?' look. He ran back into the living room and threw the two condoms at Sesshomaru's head. "That's the son that needs them! He's cooking 'em up three at a time!" With that he slammed the front door behind him.

Sesshoumaru flipped off InuYasha without turning around to look at him from the couch. InuTaisho just laughed at his wife's efforts.

"I thought you wanted more grand children, Izayoi?" InuTaisho questioned.

Izayoi lightly pressed her hand to her cheek. "I'm already questioning how I'm going to be able to hold three grand children at once. I need InuYasha to space it out for me." She said innocently.

()()()()

InuYasha tapped lightly on Kagome's window sill on the second floor of her mother's house. Kagome smiled, pushing open the window to let him in like she always used to do when they were kids. Her mother had just recently called it a night knowing that Kagome was safe and sound and staying at her place for the time being. He closed the window behind him and offered her an apologetic smile.

'This wasn't exactly the homecoming I had planned for us." He admitted. Kagome closed the gap between them, breathing in his scent.

"I was so scared."

"I know, Kagome. You're safe now." InuYasha ran his hands up and down her arms, giving them a light squeeze. He had never felt so grounded with the world than in that instant. Time could stop right there and they would both be perfectly fine with it.

"K'gome, if you don't frickin' kiss him, after he frickin' rescued you like a feudal fairy tale then I will, you frickin' frick." Sota proclaimed, shouting through the wall from his room that was right beside Kagome's old room before she moved out. InuYasha elbowed the wall exactly where Souta had his face pressed against. Kagome gasped and placed her finger over her lips harshly at InuYasha. She didn't want them to wake up Gramps or her mother.

"I'm sorry about him." She whispered, although the room was lightly dimmed he could clearly see how red her face had turned. "He's too scared to use real curse words in the house."

"Oh, I have something for you!" InuYasha reached into his pocket and pulled out Kagome's necklace. "This thing seems to pop up a lot. If you didn't want it anymore you should have just said so." He joked.

Kagome shifted her gaze to the ground. "I mean. I guess in a way I didn't. It reminds me so much of you and for a while I was convinced you wouldn't make it back from the war. My heart couldn't bare it."

InuYasha lifted her chin, pushing her hair out of the way. "I'm not going anywhere, Kagome. I'm sorry I couldn't do this sooner." He prayed to any god that was possibly out in the world that she wanted this just as badly as he did. And with that, he went for it and planted his lips firmly on hers.

Kagome prayed that he couldn't feel how heavy her heart was pounding- he probably could.

InuYasha prayed that it wasn't obvious he hadn't moisturized his lips in forever.

But no matter how much the two were internally panicking, their lips linked almost perfectly.

InuYasha opened one eye, only to find that Kagome also had an eye open. They instantly pulled back and started laughing at each other.

"I-I'm sorry." InuYasha covered his face with the palms of his hands. Kagome had never seen him so red in her life. "God I don't know when you started making me feel all nervous. This isn't like me."

"May I have another one?" Kagome asked bravely, biting her lip. InuYasha gulped and with only slight hesitation this time around, again met her soft lips eagerly awaiting his gentle kiss.

Hope you all enjoyed the chapter. The OCD in me wants to make the cut off at chapter 50 cause it didn't end at 45 but then another part of me thinks I can wrap everything up nicely in one more chapter (*dodges knives being thrown*). So we'll see…. O.o Thank you for reading.