AN: We've finally come to the end. Makes me sad. Thank you all for sticking with the story and continually leaving me feedback. It's so encouraging and makes me really antsy to finish my next fic so that I can share it with you! I hope you've enjoyed this.

"Where are you going, dear?"

Kagome paused in the process of slipping on her shoes and looked over her shoulder. Her mother was coming down the stairs and watching her curiously.

"I was going to surprise Yuki with a picnic after school. I finished my school work and left it in the office."

Smiling, the older woman nodded and peeked into the picnic basket she had. "Oh, this is very nice, Kagome. You and Yuki are so cute together."

Blushing, Kagome accepted the basket and couldn't deny the claim. Still, she looked away and decided to share something with her mother that she'd always been too scared to before.

"I was afraid for a long time he'd leave when the curse was broken," she admitted softly. "Yuki's not perfect, but he kinda is at the same time. And, sometimes our souls are so entwined they feel like one."

Gathering her up, Mrs. Higurashi hugged her tightly. "Then, you'd better not keep him waiting, dear. Goodness knows a teenage boy can eat."

Grateful for her understanding, Kagome waved goodbye and dashed out of the house. Yuki had been swamped with tests the past few days and so hadn't been by to see her. His last one was today, however, and Kagome had decided to surprise him after school with a picnic she'd made. She'd never been to his school, so it took her a bit to find it. When she did, she wondered where she should wait.

The bell rang then and soon the students began pouring out of the building. She'd never find him in that crowd. Spotting a bench, Kagome brightened and climbed up on top of it. Squinting, she finally spotted Kyo's bright orange hair and close to it a familiar mane of soft grey.

"Yuki!"

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Yuki turned his head when he heard his name called by a very familiar voice. His lips turned up when he saw Kagome across the schoolyard, standing on a bench in order to find him.

Returning her wave, he began making his way to her, Tohru and Kyo with him.

"You know," the former cat grumbled, "Kagome's actually all right, which is why I still don't get her dating you."

Without looking, Yuki whacked him in the face. Tohru hid a smile and didn't say anything as they finally broke through the crowd of exiting students. Yuki almost groaned when he saw a line of girls confronting Kagome.

"Oh, hell, girl-fight," Kyo muttered.

"What do you want with Yuki?" one of them demanded.

Kagome rolled her eyes and hopped off the bench. "I'm not sure why it's any of your business."

"We make sure Yuki Sohma isn't bothered by people like you," another sneered.

Seeing Kagome's brow begin to tick, Yuki thought he should intervene before those idiots ruined the afternoon. Easily sliding between them, he stood beside Kagome and let his hand rest on the small of her back. She relaxed and beamed up at him, all traces of her irritation gone.

"Good afternoon, Yuki."

Smiling, he tipped his head to the side. "It is now." Glancing back to the flabbergasted girls, he lost his amicable air. "This is Kagome Higurashi, my girlfriend. I'd appreciate it if you didn't…bother her."

One of them began wailing. All of them looked as though they'd been struck by lightning. Kyo snickered and flapped a hand at the girls.

"You heard him. Scram."

Tears were in their eyes as they wisely retreated. Tohru wrinkled her nose at the girls while Kagome scooped up the basket that had been on the bench.

"I wanted to surprise you with a picnic," she told him, her face awash with happiness. "I've missed you."

Pulling her to him, Yuki pressed a kiss to her temple. "Me, too. And a picnic sounds wonderful."

"Hello, Tohru, Kyo," Kagome greeted. "I packed enough for probably ten people, so you two are welcome to come."

Kyo smirked slyly and met Yuki's eyes. "Date crashing? Don't mind if we do."

"Kyo, really," Tohru admonished. "You can't do that to them."

"What? She asked! And, Kagome makes awesome bentos."

Yuki frowned and shook his head. "I'll bring the remainder home, Kyo. Now, go away and pay attention to your own girlfriend."

He pulled Kagome with him and they left one blushing Tohru and a ranting Kyo (who was also vaguely red).

Giggling, Kagome leaned into him as they walked to the park. "That was mean."

"I haven't seen you in days and you invited Kyo of all people on our date, Kagome. The only one worse would be Shigure. Or Ayame."

That made her laugh fully, her blue eyes dancing with her amusement. "I like Ayame. He's so over the top that you like him in spite of yourself."

"You're just saying that because after you managed to break his curse he lets you shop for free."

"First, he and Mine have been in love with each other forever, so it was probably only a matter of time before he would have done it himself. Second, he lets me shop for free as a way to make you happy, Yuki," she muttered with a deep blush. "Trust me when I say that he is way too interested in which bra you'd like best for the clothes to be for my enjoyment."

Incredulous, Yuki jerked his eyes to her. "Ayame tries to dress you up for me?"

"Yeah. And Mine is just as bad. Of course, she goes for actual clothes instead of underwear, so it's not quite as embarrassing."

Yuki would like to say he couldn't believe it, but knowing his brother and his brother's girlfriend, he most certainly could. And did. Ayame had taken an instant liking to Kagome when he'd met her and had refused to call her anything but 'little sister.' That Kagome found his antics with Shigure to be hilarious and the fact that she'd healed Hatori's eye meant that the girl could do no wrong in Ayame's book.

Narrowing his eyes shrewdly, Yuki glanced over his girlfriend. "You didn't actually accept anything from him, did you?"

When she wouldn't meet his eyes, Yuki had his answer. Thinking of her in some of the scanty bits of lace that Ayame peddled made his mind shut down.

"It was from Mine more so," Kagome muttered, "and it was really pretty."

Spreading out the blanket in a secluded section of the park, Yuki could only shake his head and smile.

"They're corrupting you," he accused.

Unpacking the basket, Kagome shrugged and then returned his smile. "Maybe a little. Not all the stuff they sell is off a porn set, Yuki. Some of it is actually very nice."

"Can we stop talking about Ayame?" he begged. "Especially Ayame and porn?"

Throwing back her head, she laughed, the picture of youthful happiness. Yuki's heart hit his ribs painfully at the sight and his soul reached for hers. Hers rushed into his with such warmth it went beyond affection and filled every dark place in him. Before he could second guess himself, he reached out and drew her to him.

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Kagome's laughter fled as Yuki pulled her to his chest. Then, he closed the distance between their mouths and gently…so gently it was almost reverent, invited her lips to dance with his. Their souls lit up, swirling together with pleasure and belonging as he coaxed her through her first real kiss. Leaning against him fully, she shyly responded and wrapped her arms around his neck when his found her waist. He tasted like home and magic and held her as if she were made of spun silk.

Kagome's toes tingled and she knew she had a stupid look on her face when they finally parted. Yuki's eyes were a dark violet swirling with what could only be desire. The look made her inordinately pleased, even as she realized hers was probably the same. And the feel of him holding her tightly to his chest made her ache. Her soul curled more securely into his at the thought, causing her to shiver.

One of his hands slid into her hair before he kissed her again. Their souls twisted and embraced until she couldn't tell where hers ended and his began. She suddenly knew that Yuki would never ask her to be anything but what she was. Over the past year, he'd seen glimpses from her soul of her best and her worst and had truly gotten to know her. He knew who she was on a fundamental level and-if his soul's reaction was anything to go by-found her to be more than enough.

She could have melted into a puddle of goo right there at that realization. The feeling of closeness she had with him was unlike anything she'd ever known. It wasn't just lust-although with his tongue tracing the seam of her mouth there was definitely a good dose of that-it was almost like completion. Yuki make her feel complete. With that came an almost desperate need for him. It would have frightened her if she didn't feel so wonderful when he was kissing her.

As his lips moved over hers, Kagome parted them in an unconscious effort to be closer. Yuki's fingers flexed as he hesitantly deepened the kiss. A low, kitten-like sound tumbled from her throat as they slowly learned how to respond to each other.

Drawing away, Yuki rested his cheek against hers and smiled. "I knew I wouldn't be able to let you go if I ever found out how you taste," he murmured.

Grinning, she touched her mouth and righted herself so that she wasn't half-sprawled in his lap. "I-um-am so glad Kyo and Tohru didn't come."

That made him break into giddy laughter, shaking his head and kissing her forehead before releasing her. Ignoring her blush, Kagome unpacked the picnic she'd packed.

"Maybe he'll finally ask her out," Yuki said as he accepted the bento she passed him.

Opening her own, she huffed. "I wish he would. He thinks he's playing it so cool, but anyone with eyes can see he's stupid for her."

Pausing, he arched a brow and then pointed out, "The same could have been said about me, Kagome, and you never noticed."

Dropping her eyes, she couldn't deny that. Still, there had been some painful reasons for her blindness.

"No, I didn't, but part of that was feeling how much torment you already carried," she admitted. "I wanted to heal you and so I set aside my personal feelings on the matter because I didn't want to be one more person that took advantage of you."

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Yuki's heart swelled with emotion as her words took one more layer of pain from his childhood. Stroking her cheek, he wondered how-in a little less than a year-he'd gone from an isolated Hell to soaring with an angel through the heavens. Kagome had helped him find himself again; passed the broken glass of a black room and constant beatings, passed a mother that sold him for favors and a brother that couldn't even remember his name. She reached passed all that and led him to the Yuki he was at his core. She gave him freedom and hope and a place to belong.

She did it all simply because she could, with no ulterior motive. Choking a laugh, he set down his food and caught her hand. Blue eyes looked to him in shy question as Kagome gave him her full attention.

"You'll never take advantage of me, Kagome," he whispered to her. "All I have is yours-all I am is yours. I'm giving, so don't ever worry about taking."

Holding her gaze, he watched as emotions filled her eyes, her hesitance fleeing in the face of his fervency.

"That's quite a promise, Yuki."

Gently lacing their fingers, he smiled tenderly. "You have the other half of my soul, little priestess. Do you really think I'll let you go after finally finding you?"

Leaning down, he kissed her, trying to convey all he felt for her with it. Kagome accepted him, made him accept himself. She was his other half and he would have faced Akito a thousand times over to keep her.

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"It always seems hotter in here when Kagome comes by, doesn't it?" Tohru asked as she finished doing the dishes and came into the living room.

Kyo snorted while Shigure smirked in a way that let her know he was about to say something perverted.

"It's because the bastard hasn't fucked her," Kyo snapped before Shigure could.

Blushing ten shades of red, Tohru stared at him with wide eyes. "Ex-excuse me?"

Shigure threw a wad of paper at Kyo's head. "Shut up, you unromantic fool. Of course, he's not wrong, Tohru. I don't know how the boy's resisted her for so long, honestly. How long have they known each other?"

Kyo shrugged and tossed the paper back, hitting Shigure in the face. "Tohru, it's hot in here because they're hot for each other, duh. It's practically like watching them eye-fuck each other and damned if I'm not ready to lock them in a room together until they get it out of their systems."

Glancing around, Tohru blinked. "Um, didn't they go to Yuki's room?"

The other two looked at each other and then up the stairs. Identical looks of mischief sparked in their eyes and as one they took off to the second story. Tohru hurried after them, wondering just what they thought they'd find. She found them outside Yuki's room, staring dejectedly at the open door. Inside, Kagome and Yuki were looking at the visitors from their position on the floor, surrounded by what looked like homework.

"See, they said they were going to work on the math Kagome's been having trouble with," Tohru pointed out in confusion.

Shigure's eyes welled with tears and he threw an arm across them as he began to sob. "I've failed you! You don't even know what to do with a girl and a bedroom!"

Scowling, Yuki rolled to his feet. "I know better than to think I'll have any privacy in this house. Go away. We can't concentrate with all your dramatics."

He slid the door shut in their faces. Kyo huffed and slunk off to his room while Shigure sniffled and left to his office. Tohru had just taken a step away from the door when she heard a delighted giggle.

As Yuki's soft chuckle joined it, Tohru smiled to herself. Kagome was very nice and Yuki seemed to just light up whenever she was around. Darting a look at Kyo's closed door, she bit her lip and debated with herself. Finally, she ran to her room and gathered a few things before coming back to the cat's door. Mustering her courage, she knocked on the frame.

When it slid open with a snap, she swallowed and shifted under Kyo's expectant glare. "Um, I was wondering if you'd drill me on the History test we have coming up Thursday?"

For a moment, she thought he'd tell her to get lost. Instead, he sighed and rolled his eyes before shifting to the side.

"Sure, whatever."

Grinning, she eagerly took the implied invitation and entered his room.

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Yuki laid beside Kagome in the wooded area behind her house. She'd brought out an old thick blanket and spread it out for them to enjoy the last dregs of the afternoon. They'd spent the past hour just reveling in each other's company and speaking of what was happening with the rest of the Sohma family.

Akito had been released into Shigure and Hatori's care, but that was all he knew of her. He didn't care to ask Shigure and the former dog was tactful enough not to mention her after his visits to the main house. Yuki knew he'd have to face her again one day, but it didn't feel urgent. Right now, he was relishing the feel of his girlfriend tucked against him as she told him stories from her time in the past.

"Mistress Centipede wasn't the only bug demon we came across," she said. "We fought a moth demon and his minions, too. That particular battle sucked."

His hand drifted to rest on her side as he listened. Kagome moved it slightly and glanced up at him.

"That's where the Jewel was ripped out of me."

Dropping his eyes, he hummed his acknowledgement. Kagome giggled and rolled onto her back.

"I thought you wanted to see it?" she teased.

Blinking, Yuki sat up on his elbow and rubbed the hem of her shirt between his thumb and forefinger. "Well, you've seen mine. Fair is fair, Kagome."

It wasn't. Her scars were from fighting for her life from enemies out to kill her. His were from the head of his family and her sadism. Kagome must have caught a bit of his thoughts because her soul flexed in his hold and twined tighter with his-flooding him with comfort.

Meeting his eyes Kagome pulled up her shirt just enough that he could see where something massive had sunk its teeth into her. Hissing, Yuki glanced to her for permission and then hesitantly traced the silvered skin.

"How did you even survive that?" he asked in horror.

"A great deal of luck and-I suspect-the Jewel of Four Souls." Her eyes were turned away, as if she were ashamed.

That didn't set well with Yuki. Knowing it was clichéd, but having a strong urge to do it anyway, he leaned down and pressed a kiss to the worst scarring. Kagome sucked in a breath, her gaze snapping to his. Holding her eyes, he gently kissed her side again before resting his head on her stomach. Slowly, she threaded her fingers through his hair, lightly rubbing his scalp as she did.

"It's kind of ugly," she said quietly, "and why I don't go for two piece swimming suits."

"Nothing about you is ugly," he denied swiftly. Looking up, he realized all he could see were her breasts. Mind momentarily blanking, he cleared his throat and sat up. "Do you like me less because I have scars from Akito?"

Fury at that reminder lit in her expression before it cleared. "I took those away," she reminded him. "Everything that monster did to you has been erased from your body, Yuki."

"But not my mind," he stated. "You healed the bitterness and the taint of the memories, but they still exist, Kagome. Nothing you can do can take away a childhood spent in a black room and constant fear-alone. Those scars I'll always carry. Am I less because of them?"

He'd thought for a long time that he was. He'd thought that it must have been some kind of innate failing of his that had kept him isolated and beaten. No one else was subjected to that from Akito-not even Kyo. So, it must have been something wrong with him.

Kagome had shown him that wasn't the case. Because she saw something good in him, he'd begun to see it for himself. And he was beginning to put the blame for his abuse where it should be-on Akito and his mother. He'd been six-a child. He hadn't deserved what they'd done to him.

Kagome frantically shook her head in answer to his questions. "No! No, Yuki, of course not!"

Yuki smiled and put his hand over her scar. "Then why do you think you are? Do you think I don't know how broken you were when we met? You hid it very well, but you couldn't hide the hurts of your soul, Kagome. Not from me. And I still thought you were the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen."

Tugging him down into a kiss, Kagome silently let him know she believed him. Yuki's fingers flexed on her side, tracing her ribs up until they met the distinct feel of lace. The realization that he was touching Kagome's bra slammed into him, making him ache for her. She tipped her head to the side and Yuki didn't hesitate to explore the column of her throat with his mouth. With a little mewl, she arched against him, his hand sliding to cup that lacey mound.

"Yuki," she gasped in his ear when he felt a mild panic over what to do now.

He was holding Kagome's breast and she was rubbing against him in a way that had his blood boiling. Bringing his mouth back to hers, he kissed her again, this time groaning at the heat that exploded between them. His hold on her chest shifted, prompting his thumb to rub over the peak of her nipple.

Tearing his mouth away, he realized she'd worked his shirt free and had her hands scalding the skin of his back. Hovering over her, Yuki panted and watched as she looked at him with half-lidded, pleasure-drugged eyes.

"Kagome, we're right behind your house," he muttered.

She blinked and then a delightful blush spread across her cheeks. Clearing his throat, Yuki moved his hand away from her chest, nearly groaning again when her fingers slid out from under his shirt.

"I'm not sure if I should apologize or not," she admitted with embarrassment. "I kind of wouldn't mean it."

Laughing breathlessly, Yuki flopped onto his back and tried to will away his arousal. "I wouldn't, either."

Crossing her arms, Kagome looked up at the trees and was silent for a while. Yuki's situation slowly relented allowing him to relax and soak up the sounds of the woods around them. As their fervor cooled, peace returned to the area.

"I don't masturbate," she blurted.

White noise over took his mind, rendering him unable to do anything but wheeze. Gasping for air, Yuki sat up and put his head between his knees as he tried to get his scrambled synapsis to work.

"W-what?" he choked, knowing he must have misheard her. Kagome never spoke so blatantly about sex.

When he looked down at her, she was studiously looking away, her arms still crossed and a deep red coating her face and neck. Realizing he really had heard her tell him that, he felt absolute bewilderment.

"Uh…" his normally extensive vocabulary failed him. Epically.

Finally, she sighed and fiddled with the bottom of her shirt. "I just meant…I don't, so I…you're my first boyfriend, Yuki," she stuttered with as much mortification as he was currently feeling.

Catching the gist of what she was saying, however, made him relax even as he felt heat in his own face.

"Did you forget the part of me not dating while I was cursed?" he asked her.

Peeking up at him, she studied his face and then lost her defensive position. "I actually didn't mean to tell you that," she said as she covered her face with her hands. "It just sort of slipped out. Oh, God, I can't believe I said that."

Incredulous laughter bubbled up and out of him as he flopped back. "You accidentally told me you don't masturbate? I was thinking about how peaceful this place is and you were thinking about—"

"Shut up," she snickered, elbowing him in the side. "I blame your soul. It keeps trying to seduce mine."

Knowing she was probably right, Yuki tried to stem his amusement. His soul was constantly calling to hers, wanting to merge and feel permanently whole. For Kagome, who was so very spiritually aware, the feeling was more than likely almost physical. As his chuckles died, he shifted until his left side was pressed against her right and took her hand.

"I do," he told her quietly, feeling the need to make up for his teasing.

Her fingers twitched, but her gaze remained on the canopy of limbs above them.

"You're a teenage boy," she muttered. "Of course you do."

His lips pulled up ruefully. "Not until I met you."

When the penny dropped, her eyes jerked to him, but he kept his on the sky.

"Oh." She bit her lip. "I don't know what to say to that."

"Does it bother you?"

Shaking her head, Kagome used her free hand to worry the still-untucked hem of his shirt. The nervous gesture shouldn't have been as cute as he was finding it.

"It's kind of hot," she admitted lowly.

She thought it was hot that he masturbated while thinking of her. Yuki was pretty sure that was going to fuel some fantasies.

"This is alternately the most awkward and yet sexiest conversation I have ever had," he stated.

"Ditto," she agreed quickly. "Maybe you should kiss me again so I won't say anything else embarrassing."

Grinning, Yuki watched as she leaned over him, an impish light in her blue eyes. "We are still behind your house. You're mother likes me, but even she has her limits. Catching me with my hands up your shirt would push her passed hers, I believe."

Her hair fell around them, pooling beside his ears as she lowered her torso until her lips were just out of reach. "Kiss me like you do when you think about me in your room, Yuki," she dared.

The request shocked him, but ignited a hunger in him for her and her sassy mouth. Studying her eyes, he found an echoing anticipation-a desire that pushed away her shyness and left only passion. Bringing his hands up, he splayed his fingers across the skin of her sides and shifted her until her legs cradled his hips. Not breaking the gaze, he felt her breathing deepen and saw her eyes dilate. Tracing her ribs almost leisurely, he let his hands drift, chill bumps erupting under his touch as he found the spots that made her bite her lip.

Tipping his head, he nipped at her neck before soothing it with his tongue. Kagome shuddered, moving to better accommodate him as he tasted the sweetness of her skin. Dipping his tongue into the small hollow between her jaw and her neck, Yuki let his fingers once more find the lace of her bra. That made her hips jerk, the motion hitting him so perfectly it had him slamming his eyes closed to both savor and guard against the feeling.

Pulling his eyes back to hers, he found them an inferno of need. Holding that fire, Yuki caressed her breasts the way he'd wanted to the first time he'd really seen her. Their breaths mingled, becoming pants as he rolled her nipples and wondered just how much she'd let him get away with.

"You make me want to be obscene," he murmured.

His left hand slid behind her until he was cupping that perfect behind he'd coveted. As she made a surprised sound, Yuki pulled her firmly against him and took her mouth in a kiss that was a far cry from his usual ones. This one laid claim to her without negotiation and plundered her essence until she was whimpering for him. When her hands slipped under his shirt to explore his own chest, Yuki unconsciously pressed her harder against his lap.

Nearly coming in his pants, he tore his mouth away and hugged her to him. "I have to walk home," he rasped.

Kagome's knees tightened on his hips, drawing a strangled groan from him. "It hurts when you leave," she whispered.

Closing his eyes, Yuki rested his head on her shoulder. She didn't mean it like a typical teenager. Kagome meant it quite literally. When they were apart, their souls cried for each other, now that his wasn't being possessed.

"I know. I'm sorry."

With a heavy sigh, Kagome pulled back and smiled reassuringly. "One day it won't. They'll click together and it'll make all of this worth it."

Softening, He kissed her forehead. "You're already worth it."

"Sappy," she accused wetly. "And you totally used my line."

Holding on to each other, they shared a grin.

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Kyo finally got around to asking Tohru out officially at their graduation ceremony. Everyone who wasn't close to the couple were gob smacked to realize that the two weren't actually in a relationship. Technically. Everyone close to the couple knew they'd been together practically from the moment Tohru moved in with the boys. Whether the couple knew or admitted it was irrelevant. (Although Kagome had gone passed frustrated with the two ages ago and now just glared at Kyo whenever he was being particularly willfully blind.)

Kagome had fist pumped and high-fived Haru before whistling loudly.

"It's about damn time," Arisa grumbled, rolling her eyes.

Yuki chuckled as he and Saki joined the group. Kagome immediately hugged him, happily offering congratulations.

"That's one thing being homeschooled causes you to miss: the graduation ceremony," she pointed out.

"Che, it's the parties you should care about missing," Shigure declared, popping up from nowhere and startling them all.

Yuki drew Kagome away as the group began discussing the graduation parties, Momiji and Kagura vowing to hit every one, even though it wasn't their graduation.

Giggling, Kagome raised a brow at her boyfriend. "Do you want to go to any of the parties?"

"Perhaps," he temporized, digging in his pocket.

A moment later, he pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to her.

"What's this?" she asked as she accepted it. There was an address on it.

Yuki shifted until they were facing each other. "That's an apartment close to the university. I-I would very much like you to go with me to look at it."

Swallowing as she recognized that he didn't mean as just another opinion, Kagome held the paper to her heart.

"You want me to move in with you?" she stammered, barely able to hope. She was a few weeks away from her eighteenth birthday and had thought to stay on the shrine while she took correspondence courses at the university Yuki was attending.

Smiling shyly, Yuki nodded. "I spoke with your mother and grandfather. They agree that your education is most important and that the shrine will be fine with you living off-site for the time being."

Brows furrowed, she gaped at him. "You convinced my grandfather that I should move in with you?"

"Well, I might have presented an impressive case."

Crossing her arms, Kagome eyed him suspiciously. There was no way her traditional grandfather would go for her shacking up with a boy.

"Like what?"

Stepping closer, Yuki gently untangled her arms and held her hands. "I told him that it would be rather inconvenient for a man's wife to live at a different residence."

She heard the words, she did, but for some reason they weren't making sense to her. Staring into his jewel-like eyes, Kagome wondered if she'd fallen asleep. There was no way he'd just proposed to her. It was the most anticlimactic moment ever.

With a flick of his wrist, he produced a gorgeous ring, dangling from a red string. "I could give you a long speech about souls and overcoming odds, but all of my rehearsed words seem to have left me. In the end, it really only comes down to this: I want to marry you, Kagome. Will you let me?"

Heart in her throat, she gasped what she hoped was a yes before throwing herself into his arms and sobbing. Yuki laughed-the sound filled with relief and happiness-and picked her clean off her feet to spin her around. When he finally let her stand, he was beaming from ear to ear.

Red string tangled through both of their fingers, Yuki kissed her, reaffirming what he'd told her so long ago. She was the most vibrant thing in his world and he wasn't letting her go.

Kyo huffed as he stood with his arm draped over Tohru's shoulders. "Damned rat always has to one-up me, doesn't he?"

Fairly vibrating with happiness, Tohru clasped her hands and grinned. Tearing her eyes away from the engaged couple, Tohru looked up at her boyfriend. For a moment, she swore his eyes flashed gold.

"He's been planning his proposal for months, Kyo."

"Well, at least he's going to take care of the wench," he grumbled.

"Why do you call her that?" she sighed.

He shrugged and led her away. "You haven't pissed her off, have you?"

As the sun set, the light hit the couples just right. And the faintest afterimage of a tall demon, a priestess, a hanyō and a little girl flickered before it faded into the past.

The End