AN: Okay, this is the last chapter! I hope everyone enjoyed reading this story.

Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, and I am not making any money from this fanfiction.

Bella/Natsuki POV

OOOOO

I ran back to where I knew the group was. How long had I been gone? Days? Weeks? Months? I knew it had been a while, and now I could only hope for the best. I hoped that I would be able to find them.

To my surprise, I didn't even have to look. They weren't where I originally left them, but I ran into InuYasha in the forest. Literally. We both tumbled to the ground and lay side by side before be both sat up, staring at each other with unreadable expressions.

"InuYasha…" I mumbled, not really knowing what to say. "I…I broke it."

He still didn't smile or say anything, but he did stand up, pulling me to my feet as well. I opened my mouth to speak when he crushed me in a hug. My eyes widened in shock, and I quickly wrapped my arms around him as well. "I'm sorry, Natsuki. I'm so sorry."

"It's my fault," I corrected, "but now I have a whole soul. I'm no longer cursed. I can return to my lands and you can stay with Kagome."

He pulled away, and his eyes hardened. "I don't want to stay with Kagome, Natsuki. I want to go with you."

"Huh?" was my oh-so-brilliant response.

He smirked, grabbing my hand and leading me to where they had camped. I glanced at him before parting the pushes and staring into the clearing. There sat Alice, talking to Sango about anything and everything as the other girl nodded and smiled happily. Kagome and Edward sat side by side, whispering quietly. Then as I watched, the vampire leaned forward and kissed her. I was entirely shocked, and much to my surprise I wasn't upset with the action at all. I wanted him to be happy. He deserved it.

I turned back to InuYasha. "What does this mean for us?"

"I was wrong Natsuki," he told me, leaning closer, "I don't want to be with Kagome. I never really did. I know now that I want to be with you. I always have and I always will. I'm so sorry I let Kikyo come between us." He leaned even closer, pressing his lips to mine.

It wasn't anything like kissing Edward. It wasn't forced, and it wasn't because I felt that I needed something to do to pass the time. It was a real kiss. It meant something, and I knew that InuYasha would always be there for me in that one moment.

I knew I would have to go to my lands and claim them as mine. I knew I might have to send troops out to help defeat Naraku. I knew Sesshomaru would be a thorn in my side. I knew Kagome and Edward—most likely Alice as well—would be around to help with the Naraku mission as well as to see InuYasha and I. I knew that even though I used the Cullens we would still be friends.

But in that moment with InuYasha all my other worries were gone. I could just concentrate on the half-demon in front of me. I ended the kiss, choosing instead to smile at him and murmur, "I'm sorry about attacking you before. I'm sorry about everything."

He hugged me again, saying, "I'm sorry too, Natsuki. At least everything's alright now. At least we're together now."

I laughed freely. Yes, it had taken a long time, and it had taken a lot of effort, but InuYasha finally had realized that we were meant to be together. There was nothing else between us. No curse. No Kikyo. No Kagome. It was just us. It was then that I knew that no matter what, I would always have InuYasha beside me.

I knew he would be there for me and that he would never let anything happen to me just as much as I knew he would protect our friends. I knew InuYasha, and now I could know him for the rest of my demonic life.

Yes, living through the curse was worth it.

It was worth it for my friends, my family, and InuYasha.

It was worth it because of this.