A/N: Well what can I say! This is it. The End. Le Fin. I really hope that you have enjoyed the story! This story itself has tallied over 800 + reviews and for that I am very thankful! You people rock! Well enjoy and please do me one last favor and review!

Disclaimer: Inuyasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. =)

Don't Say A Word

Chapter 12: Out of the Ashes

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"I still don't see how one girl could stand up against a man twice her size…she couldn't have done it alone."

"I guess it will just have to remain a mystery for now…with the restraining order and everything I doubt they will ever have to deal with the likes of him again."

At hearing this comment, Kagome smiled ruefully as a cool breeze caused her hair to flow into her face. Brushing her hair aside, Kagome leaned her chin on the palm of her hand as she rested her elbow on her knee. Kagome sighed slightly as she watched the investigators get into their car and drive away down the street. Past the fire hydrant, past the stop sign, then disappear.

"Hey Kagome?" Souta's voice echoed slightly as the boy stooped down to sit next to his sister on the bottom most step of the seemingly never ending steps that led up to the shrine.

"Hey." Kagome replied quietly, side glancing her little brother who stared solemnly back.

"When's Mama coming back?" Souta asked, picking up a small pebble to toss it across the path, off the curb, and land with a clink in the gutter.

"She should be home soon…It will be nice to see Jii-chan won't it?" Kagome replied, glad that the family would finally be truly reunited.

"Yeah…Kagome?" Souta asked once again, waiting eagerly for his sister's reply.

"Hm." Kagome answered again, closing her eyes as the sunlight filtered across her face.

"I'm sorry."

Kagome opened her eyes slowly, refusing to answer the little boy's apology right away. It disturbed Kagome to realize that Souta had done what any boy his age would have done, immediately think that all the events that had come to pass were his fault. Yet Kagome did not ask what she was going to at Souta's apology, "What For?" No not this time. For some reason Kagome was afraid to hear what her little brother had to say on the matter. Instead she replied with the best answer for him that would cause the least amount of distress possible.

"Don't be Souta…It wasn't your fault."

Realizing that her little brother barely even knew half the story, Kagome left her response at that, leaving the boy to ponder what his sister had meant. Yet the two siblings were barely given time to think as a sound of steps and a wheeling noise entered their ears causing them both to look up.

There was Jii-chan, sitting upright in a wheelchair being wheeled down the street towards the two children. He was being pushed slowly but surely by Mama, who was taking enough time as it possible could take to make sure that Jii-chan didn't catch any bumps on the sidewalk. Jii-chan however, thought otherwise.

"Why must you go so slow? I am eager enough as it is to see my grandchild-" Yet his merry words were cut short by a throaty an deep cough, causing the old man to stop in mid sentence. Kagome laughed slightly at her grandfather's feistiness, yet her eyebrows furrowed nonetheless as he erupted with coughs.

"Dad…you heard what the doctor said. 'Keep over exuberance at a minimum.'" Mama reprimanded him softly.

Yet Jii-chan waved this known fact away as he shook his head muttering things.

As the two neared Kagome and Souta, Kagome noticed how thin Jii-chan had become, his face narrow and his cheekbones protruding through his pale skin. Yet even at his appearance, there was no doubt that he was still the same Jii-chan that Kagome had always known. No matter how much the sickness had taken over his body, it could clearly be seen that his feisty spirit and strong will to live were as present and stronger than before.

"Jii-chan!" Souta cried, leaping from the steps to run over to where his grandfather and mother stood.

"Souta…how you have grown!" Jii-chan exclaimed, looking the grandson that he had not seen for in so long up and down.

"And Kagome…" He stated more slowly.

Kagome stood to approach her mother and grandfather, glad through and through that he was finally back. Although Kagome's mother had informed her that he knew nothing of the recent events that had come to pass, the tone in his voice made Kagome think otherwise.

"You grow even more pretty by the minute." He finished with a smile, which Kagome returned as readily as ever.

"Say…how is that Inuyasha fellow? Haven't seen him in ages!" Jii-chan inquired again, giving in to his senile curiosity.

"Inuyasha? He's fine." Kagome reassured him with a smile, not meeting eyes with her mother.

Kagome's mother also remained quiet, looking a bit uncomfortable at the silence that followed. Yet the blustering wind that caused the leaves on the sidewalks to arise in a flurry reminded them what they had come home for in the first place.

"Well then, Why don't we start on up." Kagome's mother broke in quietly, setting the wheel breaks on Jii-chan's wheelchair.

"But how in the world are we supposed to get him up there? We can't carry him!" Souta exclaimed, eying the amount of stairs it would take to reach the top.

"Well if we work together we can help him walk up." Kagome offered cheerfully, moving to assist her mother who had Jii-chan's right arm tucked under her elbow.

"Of course! I'm not dead yet or anything." Jii-chan replied in a miffed tone, tugging the two females along impatiently.

"Dad be careful, you might trip yourself." Mama warned, quickening her step to keep up with the old man who pressed on.

Kagome who had occupied his left arm held on tightly to her grandfather in case he lost his footing. Souta trailed behind, dragging the heavy wheelchair step at a time up the flight of concrete stairs.

"You're going to slow!" Jii-chan exclaimed, leaving his grandchildren to smirk and giggle at their grandfather's impudence. Mama just shook her head while smiling slightly as they continued their long trek towards their home.

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Dinner was a quiet event, calm and peaceful like it had been all those times before. Jii-chan's feistiness was leaving him slowly as the evening progressed, common old age tiredness finally taking him over.

To everyone's relief, Mama had informed that the wheel chair was only temporary, leaving Jii-chan to grin in triumph while commenting on how he really didn't even need to use the 'blasted chair on wheels.' "Of course Jii-chan." Everyone had replied knowingly.

After the meal, Jii-chan retired to his bedroom, and after 2 secure checks from Mama, he had fallen asleep in no time, much to everyone's relief. Souta had settled himself in front of the TV for another round of Monster Battle, leaving Kagome and her mother to wash the dishes.

The sound of water sloshing in the sink tub seemed to make the most noise, conversation between mother and daughter kept to a minimal. No matter how much Kagome wished things could be completely normal, the damage had cost a deep toll on their relationship, something which Kagome realized would never be the same.

Picking up the last dish, Kagome scrubbed it clean and set it in the dish rack as she watched the bubbles go down the drain. Taking a side glance at her mother, Kagome turned off the faucet and headed for the shoji. Yet much to her surprise, Kagome was stopped as she felt her mother's hand rest on her shoulder, preventing her from exiting the kitchen and escaping to the solace of her room.

She could feel her mothers hand shaking as it pressed down upon her shoulder, causing Kagome to turn around and face her. Yet what she saw was something she entirely did not expect.

Her mother's eyes were filled with tears as she gazed apon her daughter. Kagome was taken aback at her mother's emotions and shifted uncomfortably at the silence that followed.

"Kagome…" Her mother choked slightly, biting the side of her lip.

Kagome remained silent, willing enough, as it was to hear her mother out.

"I know things will never be the same between us, but I want you to know…I'm sorry. I know I have failed you and Souta as a mother by putting especially your well being in danger. I have failed this family…" With that Mama covered her hands with her face while stifling sobs, and turned away from her solemn daughter.

Yet everything Kagome felt, the anger, the sadness, the grudges, everything melted away leaving her to do what only any daughter could do to comfort their mother. Stepping forward slightly, Kagome drew her arms around her mother as she felt her own tears rise to her eyes. Word's were not needed, and the kitchen remained silent except for the harsh breathing that came from Mama as her daughter embraced her.

Jii-chan slowly retreated to his room down the hall as silent as possible, a small grin placed ever so gently on his wise face. Bowing his head in silent thanks, Jii-chan entered his room and softly closed the door.

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"Kagome do you really have to leave again…" Souta whined, abashed that he was being left behind by his older sister. As much as he hid it, it could be seen that the thing Souta was worried about the most was that as soon as the family had been reunited it was being separtated again.

"Don't worry Souta, I'll be back in a few days!" Kagome replied cheerfully, ruffling her younger brother's hair playfully.

Meanwhile, Mama was busy packing Kagome's yellow bag full of snacks and other edible goodies, and Jii-chan was giving them a detailed history of a charm he dangled from his hands.

"Bring this with you Kagome, It will protect you and keep you invisible to evil spirits! It has been passed down from generation of generations of Higurashi's!" He said enthusiastically, handing it to Kagome who took it happily.

Yet as soon as she saw her grandfather's expert hand slip the 'Hospital Gift Shop' tag into the trash, Kagome just sighed while muttering thanks as she tucked the charm into the same pocket that she had stored the Jewel Shards. Yet what she didn't see was Jii-chan slip a small envelope into her yellow bag right before she zipped up its contents and loaded the huge pack onto her back.

Giving her Mother, brother, and grandfather all hugs, Kagome slipped on her shoes and proceeded to head out the front door, closing it cheerily behind her. Rising her head to the sky, Kagome gave thanks that she was together again with her family, almost as things used to be. The feeling that overcame her was almost overwhelming, one of resolution and peace.

As she neared the well, Kagome realized how long it had been since she had returned to the feudal era, and the excitement of seeing her friend's again began to build up. Jogging the last few feet to the well, Kagome flung back the doors and ran down the steps towards the era she missed so dearly.

Yet as she stood over the dark well, a sudden fear overcame her and she hesitated to jump in.

'Has it really been that long since I have come to fear the things I used to know so well?' Kagome wondered, brushing the doubts in her mind aside. Making sure that her pack was secured to her shoulders; Kagome stepped up onto the sides of the well and allowed herself to fall.

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Inuyasha sighed slightly, adjusting his position on the tall branch that he had been so comfortably sitting. Glancing at the well for what seemed the hundredth time that day, Kagome began to flow back into Inuyasha's thoughts.

 Even though it had been a few day's since he had left her in her room, it seemed like months ago to the troubled hanyou who idly dragged his claw across the trunk of the tree. Even though Sango, Miroku, and Shippou were bombarding him with questions, Inuyasha had managed to stay silent, thinking that it would be better if Kagome told them everything had happened if she wanted to tell them at all.

Yet almost as if on queue, a familiar smell began to flow into Inuyasha's nose causing him to sit up and sniff the air around him. It was defiantly Kagome. Yet what he didn't know was that he would be seeing her sooner than he had expected.

Just as he jumped swiftly from the tree onto the grass below, an utterly familiar yellow bag hurled itself from the mouth of the well landing with a 'thump' as its contents were spilled across the grass.

Yet almost predictably as soon as the bag had landed a dark head popped up out of the well as Kagome struggled to haul herself over the mouth. Yet as she too landed with a 'thump'on the grass next to her bag, a familiar shadow crossed her path blocking the sunlight from shining in her face.

"Kagome…what are you doing here?" Inuyasha asked cautiously, surprised to see Kagome back so early.

"Well…" Kagome paused with a smile as she picked up a bag of rice crackers to deposit them in her bag.

"To see you of course."

Inuyasha was taken aback at her response, yet nevertheless stooped to help the girl gather the contents of her bag. Yet as he picked up a bag of potato chips, a very white envelope caught his eye, something which surprised him even more due to the fact that his name was scrawled across it.

"For me?" Inuyasha muttered as he dropped the bags of snacks in order to examine the envelope.

"I didn't put that in there…" Kagome pondered aloud. "But if it says your name open it."

Backing away to allow the girl to clean the rest, Inuyasha turned away from Kagome and ripped the envelope open with his claws. Inside was a simply piece of white paper with a small note scrawled on it:

'Inuyasha, Thank you for protecting my family.'

Inuyasha folded the note and placed it gingerly inside his hakama, to turn back to Kagome who looked at him with curiosity.

"What did it say?" She asked immediately, hauling her bag over her shoulder, which was immediately relieved from her by Inuyasha.

"Oh…. it was nothing." He replied, hoping his answer was suffice enough for her. Ignoring her inquisitive looks, Inuyasha suddenly stretched his hand out towards Kagome, who eyed it in surprise.

Yet seeing the genuine expression that danced in Inuyasha's eyes, Kagome took his hand as they made their way back to the village.

"Thank you Inuyasha." Kagome stated suddenly, turning to look at him slightly under the morning light.

Meeting her eyes just as readily, Inuyasha squeezed her hand and smiled at her, the note still fresh in his mind.

"Your welcome, Kagome."

"Your welcome."

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The End

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A/N: Well I hope you enjoyed the ending. Again I want to thank all of you for reading this story and I hope it has touched you in the many ways it has touched me! While writing this story I have come to realize that no matter what happens, things can and will always get better. This story really applied to me and my family (not the abuse or anything) and taught me that bad things can only make you stronger and make your family closer even though things can never be the same. Not only does this apply to family but also to friends, school, work, and life in general. I hope you got the message and moral of this story and were affected by it in many good ways! Thanks again to everyone and please stay tuned for more stories to come in the future!

Sincerely, Rin =)