Chapter 24: This is Where I Belong

A voice answers the question. "It's his love that healed you, my daughter." Kagome hides in Inuyasha's arms. Hige's spirit appears in the sunrays. "Daddy?" She peaks out. Hige smiles down. "Kagome, I know it means a lot to you but I talked to your mother, and sister about this." Kagome is now confused. Right on cue, the door opens revealing her family. Ai and Kikyo come to the other side of her bed. Kikyo is shocked to see Kagome as half-demon form but must stay calm. Ai intents to do the same. "Kagome…" Ai starts off, but doesn't know what to say next. Kikyo decides to take over, "…I'm just relieved you're healed." Kagome nods and looks down to her clawed hands. "How was it that I became a half-demon?" She asks them. Hige takes that question, "It's because Inuyasha loves you, that he turned you into one…by kissing you." Kagome blushes in embarrassment and looks away onto his chest. Ai smiles fondly, "Sweetie, I'm sorry for what I said earlier, before you ran away." She ends with a sad frown. Hige even in spirit form, grabs her shoulder. "But if it weren't for you, she'd would've met Inuyasha," He adds to what she was going to say afterwards. "And I know we must accept now for what's right for her." Hige ends sincerely. Kagome looks up to them, "And what is that daddy?" Kagome asks him, even she doesn't know what he's talking about. "That you belong here, you can't be back with us because of the newly form you're in." Kikyo said to them. Kagome blinks her eyes, "Are you saying that I have to stay here for the rest of my life?" She asks them believing being abandoned. "It seems like it. I can't risk you being out in the public, who knows what the neighborhood let alone everyone in the world would think or do about you." Ai said sadly as tears form in her eyes. Come to think of it, Inuyasha had the same situation and that he was and he decided to build a place where nowhere could find him with a barrier. Kagome nods showing that she understands what her family is saying. "But there are times when you can come visit them though." Inuyasha assures her on the bright side. Thinking back when Inuyasha was disguised as a human to take her back to his mansion, she smiles up to him. "You have those disguised pills that can turn me into a human." She recognizes that time. Inuyasha smiles back to her. "So there's nothing to worry about. But you need to stay for awhile to get used to your form though." Inuyasha reminds her. He has a point. It's probably best that he teaches her how to use her newly powers properly as well. Kagome sighs and nods. "I understand. I guess there's no arguing about that." She agrees on his terms. "Kagome I wish you the best, and good luck on your future." Kikyo said as she and Ai hug her and head to the door. "Kagome, I just wanted to do for what was best for you." Ai weeps as her tears show shame for what she did in the past, and hopes that her daughter would forgive her. She and Kikyo then left the room, heading back home.

Hige knows that he has to leave. "Kagome, I just to make sure you'll do great here. I'm proud of you as it is." He ruffles her head gently. "I will dad." She replies to him with a smile. "And remember I'm always in your heart." He reminds her as well. He then disappears through the sunrays. "Bye dad." She whispers with a sad smile.

So now it's just the two of them. Kagome is going to have to get used to live as a half demon, but she's confident enough to pull it off. But for now she's a lot of rest. She looks up to Inuyasha, "Hey, Inuyasha?" He looks down to her, "What is it?" Kagome looks down a little while blushing, "I just want to say thank you for saving me." She murmurs, but he heard her like a whisper. Inuyasha smiles down at her, cupping her cheek, "Anytime, Kagome." To make sure she's looking at him while he gently lifts her chin, "I'd do anything to save you. I thought I failed you because of the Heavenly Flower, but I had no idea that my kiss could heal you, now that you have my demon blood coursing through your body." Kagome sighs happily, "But if it weren't for you, I'd died right now." She counters him while leaning onto his chest to stay warm. Even now as a half demon, she still has her lavender scent that he can't get enough. He looks down to see her sound asleep. He decides to pick her bridal style as she cuddles in his arms, and heads to his room.

About a week later, Kagome quickly learned how to use her demon powers. Inuyasha couldn't be any happier than he thought. Especially during mating season as they'd call it for courting. Inuyasha wants to make sure that she's okay with what's happening lately. He doesn't want his inner demon to take control of the scenario. He must be patient and see what she thinks about it. Later that night, Inuyasha is in his room doing some projects on the barrier, keeping his word to protect her from anyone who dares to trespass his property. A knock on his door gets his attention. "Come in." He said without turning to see who it was at the door. The door opens as Kagome walks in. "Inuyasha, is it okay that I sleep with you tonight?" she shyly asks him. He turns around and can see that she's lonely from the expression in her eyes. "Sure." He offers his answer as she heads to his bed. Inuyasha turns off his computer and joins her. "Inuyasha do you still want me as your mate?" She asks him. He didn't even see that coming. He instinctively wraps his arms around her, "Because I'm a half demon, should that mean I should know about my inner demon as well?" She looks up to him. He looks back, "Yes there's a second conscious in your mind, telling you the right thing. That's why it urged me to ask you to be my mate. And I bet yours has done the same thing." He caresses her face. Kagome nods for her answer. "Yes I have. My inner demon has been urging me to ask. I'm just afraid that you might reject me in the end." She weeps in the end. Who could blame her? Inuyasha had his inner demon having the same thing, and he knew better to trust his instincts when it comes to situations like these. He wipes the tear trails off of her face, "Kagome, you must know that I will never reject your offer, and neither should you. Do you know why?" He strokes her hair fondly. Kagome shrugs. "Because this is where you belong Kagome, with me." He pulses as his facial features change, as well his claws lengthened. Kagome first stiffens, but from the comforting hold, he leans more as she holds his grasp. She looks down to see her hands have the length of Inuyasha's demon one. "This is where I belong." She said as well. She looks up to him to see his eyes bloody red with teal irises, purple ragged stripes on his cheeks. She caresses along the stripe on his cheek. "With you, Inuyasha." She ends it. Inuyasha leans down to kiss her on the lips, and work his way down to her exposed neck and finds a visible vein. He bites down hard, but she did flinch from the pain. Instead she feels complete from it. "With me, Kagome. You belong here, as my mate. Forever more." He said to her huskily. She smiles as she lies onto his chest. "Forever and always." She corrects his theory as she goes asleep. Inuyasha smiles more down, "You were just like me, knowing your place in the world, until you came here, and now you're here with me as my mate." He said back as he adjusts his comfort with her in his arms. And he will make sure that he'll protect her from anything who would dare to take her away from him. And this is where she belongs, with someone who accepts her for who she is.

THE END