Disclaimer: I do not now, nor I have I ever owned Inuyasha. I own only my own

sanity, . . .barely.

What Happens Now?

Chapter 8

By Ks-Starshine

For the next week or so, Kagome followed Kaede's advice and stayed in bed. She didn't really have much choice; Inuyasha never once left her side. She was healing slowly but surely. Today she had finally convinced everyone to let her sit outside and take in some of the morning sun. Of course, a certain hanyou insisted on carrying her.

Shippou was possibly more excited about the event than Kagome, herself. Instead of sitting and enjoying his breakfast with the rest of them, the kitsune was bouncing around the hut talking so fast nobody could even understand him.

"Geez Kagome, did he find a stash of that candy stuff you're always bringing him or what?!" Inuyasha shouted.

Kagome couldn't help but giggle. "Hey, don't blame me. He ate the last of my candy weeks ago." Just then Shippou tripped over his own feet and went flying. . .straight into Inuyasha's breakfast.

Inuyasha's eyes grew wide as anger crept onto his face. "Why you little. . ." he yelled before he heard those two little words. . .

"Inuyasha, SIT!" Kagome choked out between breaths as she tried to stop laughing. Shippou dashed out of the way and safely into Kagome's arms before the hanyou crashed into the floor.

"What the hell was that for?!" he yelled once he pulled himself back up.

"You were going to hurt Shippou! "Kagome answered calmly, having quelled her laughter.

"Hellz yeah! He ruined my breakfast!" he fumed.

"Oh calm down, Inuyasha," Sango said. "You can finish mine. I'll go set up a nice blanket outside for you, Kagome."

"Thanks, Sango," Kagome said with a smile. With that, Sango handed over her bowl and exited, grabbing a blanket by the door on her way out.

"I think I'll go help Lady Sango." Miroku jumped up and followed Sango's lead with a mischievous look on his face. Shippou looked from the door to Inuyasha before scurrying out of the hut at Miroku's heels. "Somebody's got to keep an eye on him," he called as an explanation before he was out of earshot.

Eager to join her friends, Kagome quickly gobbled the rest of her breakfast. "Aren't you done yet?" she asked. Inuyasha sat staring at his bowl, moving the contents around with his spoon. "What's the matter with you? I don't think I've ever seen you ignore food like this."

"Are you sure you feel up to this?" he asked without looking up.

"Inuyasha, I'm fine now. I'm still a little stiff, but you don't need to worry about me anymore," she tenderly replied.

He swallowed the rest of his meal and gave her his characteristic smirk. "Like that will ever happen. Come on, let's go outside." He scooped her up carefully, as though she might break and carried her out to where Sango had laid out the blanket in the shade of a nearby tree. As Inuyasha helped her get comfortable, she couldn't help but laugh out loud at the antics of her friends. Miroku's wandering hands had gotten him in trouble with Sango again. The taijiya was now chasing him around the meadow bordering the forest. Shippou didn't want to get trampled, so he was jumping up and down on nearby the blanket cheering for Sango.

Hearing her laughter was such a welcome sound all of them stopped in their tracks. Miroku waved with a rosary-free right hand. Kagome couldn't believe she hadn't noticed it before. "Miroku's wind tunnel!" she whispered in astonishment.

"Yeah, it left along with Naraku," Shippou explained. "He's been waiting for you to notice all week." Miroku and Sango jogged over to the blanket with smiles plastered on their faces, their previous spat forgotten.

"Why didn't you tell me about your hand sooner, Miroku?" Kagome squealed as she grabbed his hand and felt the smooth surface of his palm.

The monk laughed, "And miss a reaction like this? Never! Besides, you were busy building up your strength. I didn't need to bother you."

"What he means," Sango interjected, "is that he wanted your full attention when he told you so you could give it all the appreciation he feels it deserves."

"Well it deserves attention," asserted Kagome. "I am so happy for you!"

"Yes," sighed Miroku. "Naraku's death has brought about a true turning point in my life."

Kagome surveyed her friends faces and noted that although each showed relief, their eyes all beheld some hidden turmoil and confusion. "What's wrong with you guys?" she asked.

Eyes darted around as though silently asked someone else to speak first. Kaede's voice cut through the silence as she slowly walked out to meet the group. "Don't worry yourself, child. Naraku is dead and the jewel is safe. They are not concerned about these facts. They are merely curious, as am I, as to what happened to ye in the battle."

"Is that really why you have all been so concerned?" she asked as the old miko settled down on the blanket.

They all nodded. "You looked so weird," Shippou whimpered. "That pink glow looked like it swallowed you or something. I was scared."

The young miko reached out and picked up the kit. "You don't have to be scared about that."

"Well, what did happen?" Sango asked, not noticing as Miroku seemed to withdraw slightly from the group.

"I'm note entirely certain," she confessed. "I saw Naraku. I remember being so angry." Her eyes locked on Inuyasha. "You were fighting so hard. I had to do something. Then, I don't know where it came from, but I felt a strength building inside. It was like my heart knew what to do, even though I didn't."

"It sounds more like your soul," the monk stated solemnly.

Inuyasha looked at Miroku in shock. "You don't mean. . .?"

"There is something I didn't tell any of you yet," the monk continued. "As I fought the demons alongside Sango, a flash of red and white caught my eye. At first I thought it was you, Inuyasha, but it didn't move. The figure simply stood in the shadows watching the fight progress. It was. . ."

"Kikyou," Kagome's whisper echoed in the silence, with a sad, thoughtful look in her eye.

Miroku slowly nodded. "Yes. In the glances I was able to steal during the battle, I saw that she never seemed to engage in the fight. She never took her eyes off of you, Kagome."

"Me? I thought she would be watching. . .well," she looked over to Inuyasha's stunned face.

"She saw you watching Inuyasha fight," Miroku went on. "It was brief, but I'm almost sure I saw in her eye's. . .what all of us have seen for so long. I think she finally understood what you and Inuyasha have together and that she would never have that again."

"She released her soul back to Kagome, didn't she," Kaede stated simply.

"From what Kagome said, that is what I believe to be so. It seemed as if she just vanished. Shortly after that is when you began to use the full potency of your miko powers," Miroku explained.

"She gave up her life. . . for me?" Kagome gasped.

Inuyasha looked at Kagome, seeing the conflicting emotions flash across her face. Understanding how she felt, he reached out and embraced her hand, giving it a squeeze for assurance. "No, she did it for us. . . and herself. Maybe now she has found her piece."

She squeezed his hand back and offered a weak smile. After a brief awkward silence, Sango started a new conversation on a much lighter subject. Kagome leaned toward the hanyou she loved. She rested her head on his shoulder, savoring the warmth and love that emanated from him. As she listened to her friends talk jovially, the emotional and physical strain of the morning began to catch up to her and she slowly fell into a peaceful sleep.

When Kagome awakened, it was night and the stars were out. While she slept, Inuyasha had moved behind her so she now rested fully against his chest. "I see I woke up just in time to go to bed," she giggled as she stretched. "Where did everyone else go?"

"They went back to Kaede's awhile ago. Shippou had already fallen asleep," Inuyasha answered as he watched the night sky.

"I can't believe I slept all day," she remarked.

"You still have a lot of healing to do. You need your rest."

As she turned her head to look up at him, she caught sight of the prayer beads he still wore around his neck. She reached up and touched it, running her fingers along the smooth worn beads.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"I was just thinking," she said, thoughtfully, recalling her actions during breakfast. "You probably hate this, don't you?"

He gently took her hand in his. "I used to. I still hate the way I eat dirt whenever I upset you," he chuckled, "but I've grown used to their feel around my neck. I've become accustomed to the sound of the beads clicking against each other when I move."

"But nobody should wield control over anyone else like this," she said full of guilt. "Lean down," she ordered.

"You don't have to do this," he reassured softly.

"I want to. Now lean over before I say 'it' one last time." He acquiesced and leaned his head forward. She turned to face him completely. After saying a quick prayer, she reached her arms around his neck and removed the beads from the shoulders where they had rested for so long. "How does that feel?" she asked. Clutching the necklace tightly in her palms, she searched for his eyes hidden behind his silvery, white locks.

"The spell is really gone?" She nodded. He covered her hands with his and met her gaze. "You know what, I already miss it."

She giggled," You do not!"

"Sure I do," he smirked. "It was my first connection to you. In fact, if you don't mind, can I keep it?"

"What?" she laughed, "why?"

"Because," he mumbled, "then it's like I'll always have a piece of you with me."

With a smile that lit up the night, she relinquished the necklace and gave his hands a squeeze. "You don't need the necklace for that. After all we've been through, you couldn't pry me away if you tried."

She leaned in taking in his earthy scent. His hands rested at the nape of her neck, gently pulling her up for a gentle kiss. This was their moment. The moon and stars shone just for the two of them. Without any other thoughts or cares, they quickly became lost within each other. . .until another voice broke the spell.

"Kagome?"

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A/N: Well, what do you all think? Who interrupted the moment for the two of them? Guess you'll all have to wait for the next update!! Don't forget to read and review! Thanks all!

Chicagosis: Thank you soo soo much for your review! You know how much I value your opinion. Did you catch my little tribute to you? Talk to you soon! Much loove!

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Gero: Thanks for reviewing! I can't really answer your question right now, but we'll just see what happens.

Black Betty: Glad you liked it! Keep reviewing!

Kagome: Hope this chapter satisfied you!

Remix-69er: Wow! Loved it x10! Hope this chapter lives up to the last one!

NARGIEGIRL21: Thanks for reading. I'm glad you liked it!

Kiba: tear now you went and made ME cry! tear Thank you so much!

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Palmtree: I hope this chapter gave you enough mush and fluff to last awhile! Thanks for your review!

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Inu-fluff-luvr/S.Weez: I updated! Does this mean we are best friends now? Yea!!!