Inuyasha looked over at Kagome, and smiled. She was talking with Sango. Shippo suddenly said something and made them laugh. Inuyasha glared at Shippo. Of course, because he was half-demon, he could hear what the full demon cub had said. Kagome turned to look at him.

            "Inuyasha, come sit with us," she invited, patting a spot on the floor next to her. He sighed, and began to walk over.

            "Yesterday, we finally defeated Naruku, and got the remaining shards of the Shikon Jewel from him. Now the Jewel is whole again, and everyone who had been wronged by Naruku has been avenged." Inuyasha contemplated. "Kikyou is appeased now, and her false reincarnation no longer walks around in torment. Miroku is back to normal, and me--" Inuyasha started, as he sat next to Kagome. She smiled at him and rested her head on his shoulder. "I'm perfectly content." At this display of affection between the human and the hanyou, Miroku raised an eyebrow, and looked at Sango. She glared at him, her hand menacingly near to her huge boomerang. He shrugged, defeatedly.

            "Some things NEVER change," Shippo said, out loud, causing everyone but Miroku to laugh. Even Inuyasha. At the moment, he had no worries or cares, so he could afford to laugh. Kaede suddenly poked her head in the door.

            "Dinner is served," she said. Shippo bounced up and bounded out the door with an ecstatic 'ALL RIGHT!!!'. The rest of the occupants of the hut stood up and made their way toward the door.

            "When we got back to the Village, Kaede insisted on having a feast for us as a celebration. I guess that could be expected, what with Naruku gone, the Sacred Jewel back in one piece, and all--er, MOST of the village's troubles gone," Inuyasha thought. When they reached the table where the food was laid out, they found Shippo already busily munching on his portion of the feast.

            "Some things never change," Kagome said, sighing, as they all sat down to eat.

            "So, what are we going to do about the Sacred Jewel?" Kagome asked, after they were done eating.

            "Well, I think that you should decide, Kagome. After all, without your help we would have never FOUND the jewels in the first place," Miroku replied. Inuyasha got a look that he was about to reply, but Sango cut him off.

            "We ALL helped win them in some way, so it wouldn't be fair to go by that," she said. Inuyasha blinked, and nodded. Everyone turned to look expectantly at Kagome.

            "What am I going to do with the Jewel?" she asked. Everyone shrugged. She stopped to think.

            "Inuyasha wanted the Jewel so that he could become fully demon. But then when he met Kikyou she convinced him to become fully human. The Jewel can help demons become more powerful, but it can also help humans in the same way. What should I do with it?" she pondered. She suddenly stood up.

            "Inuyasha, come with me," she said, and walked off toward the forest. They all looked at her, startled. He stood up and followed her. Miroku sighed.

            "I knew that she would use the Jewel on Inuyasha," he said. Shippo nodded.

            "Yes, but you have to wonder whether he will come back a full human or a full demon?" Sango pondered.

            Kagome suddenly stopped walking and turned around to face Inuyasha. He stopped walking as well, and opened his mouth to say something, but stopped when he saw the expression on her face.

            "Inuyasha, I know that your greatest wish is to become full blooded," she started. He nodded.

             "But...I...we don't know what will happen after the Jewel is used. Will I ever be able to return to my own time? And if I do, will I ever be able to come back here?" she asked. Inuyasha looked at her, and he could tell that she had been thinking about this for a long time. Possibly even since the beginning of their quest. What troubled him is that he had been dreading the same thing. He silently drew her into a hug.

            "Kagome," Inuyasha started.     

            "Hmm?" she replied.

            "I don't want to become a full demon--or a full human for that matter--if that means I'll lose you," he started. She blinked, startled.

            "He would give up becoming a full demon for me? He's been relentlessly pursuing the Sacred Jewel for Kami-knows-how-long, and yet he is willing to give that up for me?" she thought.