Within a few minutes, they touched down beside the sacred tree. Inuyasha bent down to allow Kagome to easily slide off his back. She stood and adjusted her skirt and looked toward the tree. She felt as if time stood still here, it looked like not even a single leaf was out of place from the tree that stood on her families shrine five hundred years in the future.

Inuyasha walked toward the tree and sat himself down at its base. He sat with his legs crossed and his arms stuck in his kimono sleeves, he looked up within the branches of the tree and then lowered his head so he was looking right at Kagome. It was time to get it all out in the open and finally talk about the question mark in the middle of them. But neither of them knew what to say. Three years of silence made them accustomed to it.

Inuyasha was full of surprises today, and he found the courage to speak up first. "Do you remember that first day?" He asked.

"Of course." She said. Kagome would never forget that day, the day her life changed forever. "I remember being so confused and wandered around the forest. Then I saw the tree and felt like I was close to home, and that's when I saw you." She said. Inuyasha looked back toward the tree and said nothing. "You looked so peaceful when I first saw you, I thought you were asleep." She finished.

"I guess." Inuyasha said plainly, he then started to look uncomfortable. "Uhm- I-I'm sorry, y'know, about attacking you," Inuyasha said with a blush creeping up his face. Kagome was shocked that he was apologizing for something she never even thought to be his fault.

"Inuyasha it's okay, you don't have to apologize." She said as she lowered herself to sit on her knees a little ways in front of him. Inuyasha shifted his gaze back toward her as the red faded from his cheeks.

"Right," Inuyasha said simply. "Things sure have changed a lot since then, haven't they?" Inuyasha asked with a small smile. Kagome let out a small laugh.

"Yeah, they have," Kagome said she didn't know what else to say it seemed like a very closed-ended question.

"I've changed." Inuyasha suddenly said. Kagome knew that he had changed, but not in the way she thinks he means. "I was so sure I wanted to be all demon, and gain power and that, that would make me happy. I'd have a place to belong." He said as he lowered his head to stare at his lap. Kagome had heard him say something like this before, back when they first met Jineji. "But-" He began but paused trying to summon up the courage. "You made me realize that changing myself to belong, was wrong." He finished still not meeting her eyes.

"If you have to change yourself to belong, you're not really belonging, are you? You're camouflaging." Kagome said with a smile gracing her lips. Inuyasha looked up toward her again and returned her smile with a small one of his own.

"Yeah," Inuyasha said.

"You know, I don't think you changed that much," Kagome said suddenly.

"Huh?" Inuyasha looked puzzled.

"You didn't change you just accepted who you really were," Kagome said and then started to laugh. "I knew you were just a big softy under that bravado exterior." Inuyasha blushed again and lowered his head but kept eye contact with her.

"Ha, ha. Very funny." He said flatly, obviously, she had hurt his pride.

"Besides, I'm glad you're still a half-demon." Kagome started, she remembered his promise at Kaguya's castle that he would stay a half-demon for a while longer. She had been terrified when he transformed into a full demon, not because he was dangerous, but because she thought she would lose him. "It just wouldn't be you if not."

Inuyasha looked down at his lap again and slowly lifted his gaze back towards her. His face with a small grin. "I'm glad too." He started to stand up and Kagome lifted herself to her feet as well. Inuyasha then turned himself to look at the tree. He placed one hand against the scar that was on the tree from when he had been pinned to it. "It's thanks to you." He said suddenly.

Kagome felt a blush fill her face and was thankful that Inuyasha was not looking at her. "I'm happy to hear it." Kagome didn't want to comment too much in fear of making him feel awkward about what he had said. But, she didn't want to let the silence begin again. "I spent a lot of time around this tree, during the three years I was gone. Days when the well would make me sad, the tree would give me comfort." She said. She thought it had to be the most she'd said directly to him so far about the separation. Inuyasha gave a small nervous chuckle, still not turning to face her.

"Same for me." He said shortly. There were a few moments until one of them spoke again. Kagome felt brave without him looking at her and dared to ask.

"Every three days?" She spoke quietly trying to tread carefully around the subject.

"Uh." He sounded nervous. "Yeah, maybe even more." He admitted. She saw his hand grip the tree a little as if it was his silent support. "I just felt- y'know- I-" He stammered.

"You had to?" She asked. He made a small grunt in surprise at her comment, which she took as a yes. "'Cause that's how I felt I guess." She said. There were another few moments of silence, and Inuyasha remained with his back turned to her. Finally, Inuyasha dropped his hand from the tree. He let out a long sigh and dropped his head.

"Kagome-" He started. "Before I met you I never trusted a living soul." He continued and slowly turned to face her. "But it's because of you now I opened myself up to people and gained the friends I have. You gave me a reason to smile, and to believe in people. I am forever grateful for that."

"I-" Kagome started but was cut off by Inuyasha raising his hand toward her, which she was thankful for because she didn't know what to say.

"I just need to say that I'm really glad you're back." He said. "I tried to forget about you but I couldn't. You were always there because the life I had was thanks to you." He seemed to be getting frustrated as he talked. "I went to that damn well every day for the first lunar cycle you were gone and every time it refused me." He turned toward the tree once more and kicked the trunk, she could sense him becoming more and more frustrated at the memories. She quickly went to him and grabbed onto his hand.

Kagome heart was pounding at the conversation they were having. Inuyasha was finally opening up to her with such confidence in what he was feeling. She wanted to say something but finding words was hard and her brain felt like it was turning to mush. Inuyasha grasped onto her hand as if it was his crutch.

Before Kagome had a chance to form words Inuyasha spoke again with less tension in his voice. "I thought I'd lost you in the meidou and as soon as I thought I had you back, you were gone again. Your family was there so I knew you weren't alone but-" He stopped and let a sigh escape his lips. "Never mind, it's nothing." He scoffed and let go of her hand.

"You were alone." Kagome finished for him. Inuyasha stiffened and held his breath. She knew she said what he was trying to avoid. He planted himself back onto the ground this time his whole body facing the tree. Without seeing him she knew he was embarrassed and was probably blushing.

"I guess-" He began but took a slight pause. "I guess I was." They let another moment of silence slip passed them and Kagome noticed how dark it really was, but she could still see Inuyasha clearly. She knew it was late and that Kaede would be wondering where she was, but she couldn't leave this conversation. "I thought you being safe on the other side of the well was what I wanted, but-" Inuyasha said suddenly throwing Kagome out of her thoughts and back into the conversation. "Damn." He cursed and suddenly stood up and turned to look her straight on, which made Kagome almost jump. "I need you with me." He finished with a hint of regret in his words.

"Inuyasha." Kagome started, it was her turn to finally say something to him. She walked past him toward the tree and she sat down with her legs under her, his eyes were following her movements. She then motioned for him to join her and he quickly followed suit. "Things weren't easy after the well closed for me either." She said reluctantly, Inuyasha remained silent to allow her time to collect her thoughts. "I stayed in my room most of the time and only came down to eat, or check the well." She explained. "I realized after that first month that I needed to put the feudal era behind me but-" She paused which caused Inuyasha to stiffen once again. "I couldn't, or I wouldn't bring myself to." Inuyasha let out the breath he was holding. "I told you before, I want to stay here with you. "

Inuyasha seemed to relax the more she talked as if she was pulling out a needle in his back with everything she said. "I went to well every three days, and I'd get so frustrated. I replayed seeing you fading away in the well constantly, and it just haunted me. I loved being with you and the others in this era, and suddenly I was thrust back into my old life." Kagome said.

"Kagome." Inuyasha started but stopped himself cause he knew she had more to say.

"You were wrong." She said suddenly.

"What?" Inuyasha questioned.

"I was alone." She stated firmly. "Everyone in my era, they didn't see or do the things that I did. My family were the only ones that knew and even they didn't understand. I stopped being a part of that era the moment I was dragged down the well." She looked up from her lap for the first time and did a scan on the clearing they were in, she glanced up toward Inuyasha and she bravely rested her hand on his arm. Inuyasha's arm tensed at her touch and then his muscles relaxed. "I was alone because the people I belonged with weren't there." Kagome finished, she didn't realize it until it was too late, but a small tear had escaped from her eye and went down her check. Inuyasha had been watching her intently and noticed the small drop.

"Kagome? Are you crying?" He inquired.

"Yeah," Kagome said with a small smile and she retracted her hands from Inuyasha arm and reached up with the sleeve of her cardigan and wiped the stray tear away. "I suppose I am." She said flashing him a small smile to show that she was all right.

The two sat in together under the tree for a few more moments of silence, both not knowing what to say next. They were lonely without each other in the three years and now that they had each other they were unprepared for what to do. So they just sat in each others company, both unsure of what the future held for them.

"So-" Kagome began, they still had something big to talk about it and Kagome knew it couldn't be avoided, but didn't know how to bring it up. "Back in the meidou-" She started to say then she saw Inuyasha tense up at the realization of what she was trying to talk about. "What did it mean?" The 'it' referring to the brief kiss they had shared.

"Kagome" Inuyasha started, he took his hand from out of his kimono sleeve and brought it up to his temple, rubbing it as if it would help him concentrate. "It- well-it- uhm-" Inuyasha stammered.

"It's okay if you don't want to talk about it. We can pretend like it didn't happen." Kagome said, even though she didn't agree with what she was saying.

"NO!" Inuyasha retaliated and grabbed her hand from her lap. "Look, 'it' meant a lot. I just never thought I'd be having this conversation, and I don't know what to say." Inuyasha said all the while slowly adverting his gaze from her face to their clasped hands.

"'It' meant a lot to me too, Inuyasha," Kagome said looking at Inuyasha face that was still locked on their hands. He seemed to lose some of the tension built up in his system when she said that. Another moment passed and the two kept their hands still clasped together and Inuyasha gaze was unwavering. Kagome then reached up her other hand and put it on top of their clasped ones, gaining a glance to her face from Inuyasha. "Tell me what you felt," Kagome said.

"When 'it' happened?" Inuyasha asked. Kagome nodded. "I felt really determined to get to you. I was surrounded by demons that kept on telling me we'd never see each other again and I knew they were wrong. Then when we were finally reunited it felt-" He paused and looked around at their surroundings while humming trying to find the word to fit it thoughts. Suddenly his eyes met hers and he gave a shy smile and finished his thoughts "It felt right."

Kagome couldn't help the smile that came across her lips. There was only one thing left to ask, and she felt she knew the answer. "Did you want to be with me?" Kagome asked bravely.

"I don't think it comes down to want, or even a need," Inuyasha said while shifting his position so his legs were no longer under his body, but not letting Kagome's hand go. "I realized that we were meant to be together." Inuyasha finished with just a touch of embarrassment on his face.

Kagome was flustered and felt she could say nothing. The guy that she had fallen for, and had lost was now in front of her telling her they were meant for each other. She didn't have words for him but tried her best to find some in her clouded mind. "I think I've come to realize that too." She looked down and felt her cheeks gain a warmth.

Inuyasha's grip on her hand grew tighter and Kagome looked up to see his gaze focused hard on his face. "Kagome, will you be with me?" Kagome felt a whole new warmth on her cheeks.

"That's why I'm here right," Kagome said with a bright smile, gaining her one from Inuyasha. The two stayed locked in each other's eyes for a few moments more when Kagome realized how late it truly was and knew she needed to get to Kaede's hut. Inuyasha seemed to sense it as well and was the first to let go of their grasp on each other. He then stood and reached his hand toward her to help her up as well. She took his offer and was pulled up from her spot on the ground with ease. "I should be getting to Kaede's hut," Kagome said shyly feeling self-conscious of the fact that she was now talking to her boyfriend.

"Yeah, I know," Inuyasha said quietly, no doubt also feeling the change in their relationship.

"Goodnight." She said sweetly

"Night," Inuyasha said giving her a small half-smile that flashed one of his fangs toward her.

Kagome reached her hands around his waist and brought him into a hug. She felt her hands circle around her and tighten. He brought one of his hands up to her head and stroked her hair and kept his other hand at the small of her back. Kagome leaned her head against his chest, feeling his heart beat quicken. She loved being in his arms, she felt safe. She reluctantly loosened her arms from his waist and he followed suit, letting his hand fall from her head and back.

"Bye," Kagome said, and bravely rose to her tiptoes and gave a small peck of a kiss onto his cheek, feeling them go up a degree on her lips. She began to lower herself down to flat feet when Inuyasha grabbed either side of her waist and lifted her body up to meet his face and crashed his lips onto hers.