Chapter 9 Gold and Chocolate

She found herself outside a restaurant. She was cold and shivering but thankfully, it was raining and no one would question too much the state of her clothes. Keeping her head down, she sat at a counter and ordered some hot chocolate.

"You look like a wet kitten, honey." The waitress said.

"Thanks."

"You okay?"

"Had a fight with my boyfriend. If he comes looking tell him I went north, up the road. He's real mean. I don't want him to find me."

"Then stay here and I'll call the police for you." Sango considered it but didn't like the idea of him moving the others before she got help. She had to make sure someone knew where she might be.

"Thanks but no. He's a cop. Can't trust them." She ad-libbed. "Give me a pen." The waitress did that and quickly, Sango wrote out the important things. He might catch her. He was smart enough to get her off a plane that was thousands of feet in the air. He was smart enough to catch her. She described the place. Wrote about the other people he had. She wrote Inuyasha's name and number in it. The waitress gave her an envelope and shrugged at the questioning look.

"People are always sending letters from here. We have stamps if you need them."

"Thanks." She wrote the address of a high school friend she hadn't seen in years on one then on the other, she wrote Miroku's address. She slipped a note on a napkin into the envelope with her friend's name with instructions and a warning then slipped the other envelope - which had the letter – into that one. Hopefully, Trina still loved mystery novels and would get this to the police or to Miroku. "Do you have anything you want me to mail for you?"

"No. We'll mail this for you honey."

"Don't give it to the police." Sango said tearing up. "My life might depend on it. Mail it." The waitress saw the distress in her eyes and nodded.

"I will honey."

"I need to go."

"But you didn't drink the-"

"I can't pay for it-"

"It'll warm you up. I'll pay for it."

"Then I'll take it to go." Sango said looking over her shoulder.

Five minutes later, she watched as a car drove up to the restaurant and he stepped out. He went in and then not long after, he came out running. Like she thought, he went south. So she followed him. He'd never think she was trailing him. At least not yet. She kept off the roads, avoiding the hidden squad car she came up on. She was tired. She needed sleep. But she needed to give that waitress time to mail that letter. She had no idea where she was but she hoped that letter got to her friend in time to save her life and the others.

"Hello?"

"Should I pick you up or can you get to my house by yourself?" Inuyasha said.

"I'll get there." She hung up and jumped into her car, tension making her head ache. She had felt the activation of an old gift and hoped it would protect the wearer.

Thirty minutes later, she parked two houses down from Inuyasha's house then walked to his house. She used the key he had given her and then locked the door quietly. He was standing in the doorway from which she could hear the television. She heard the rumble of a man's voice and she nodded. She waited as he turned around and spoke to the occupants of the room.

"Guys, I need your attention for a minute." He said.

"What's up?" Shippo said turning off the television.

"Sounds serious." Miroku said looking at Inuyasha. "You introducing a woman or something?"

"Or something." He said and looked over his shoulder.

She nodded and stepped forward to stand beside Inuyasha. She removed the hood of her sweater and the glasses. There was a tense silence as they all looked at each other.

"Oh my-" Miroku said finally trying to speak. Shippo was tearing up in a bad way but he made no move towards her.

"That's some welcome for a girl who has been gone for ten years." She teased lightly. This triggered a reaction from the young kitsune who bolted from his position into Kagome. He sopped pitifully into the front of her sweater as she cradled him. "I was hoping for a smile but this is good too." She rubbed his red hair and patted his back lightly. She looked back at Miroku and he was still staring at her.

"Is it really you?"

"I hope so. If not then someone is playing a terrible joke on me." She said.

"I-" Miroku nearly tripped over his legs as he rushed to gather her up into his arms. "Dear god-Kagome." She hugged him, reveling in the love she felt for them.

Later, when emotions were a little more subdued, they spoke seriously. "I've been tracking Naraku for a while now and it wasn't working. So I went into hiding. He decided to come find me this time. He has-" she paused at Inuyasha's shaking head. "He has a place somewhere and I need to draw him out so the police can get him."

"But, isn't that dangerous?" Shippo asked squeezing her hand. It hurt but she didn't say anything.

"It's the only way. But the police will be helping. I'll have protection."

Shippo wasn't satisfied. "Will Inuyasha be there too?"

"I-" she began.

"You have to. He'll protect. He found you so he'll make sure you stay alright." He pleaded.

"Okay." Kagome said. "I can't stay here long. It's not safe. In a couple of days, I'll make my return public and then I'll be freer to spend more time with you guys. I wanted you to know before the whole world."

"I just wish Sango was here too." Miroku said.

Kagome looked at Inuyasha who had a hard gleam in his eye. "Me too." Kagome said.

She stayed a while longer before kissing Shippo goodbye and then waited for Inuyasha outside in the darkness. "Tell them the rest about what they should tell the police-if they ask."

"And Sango?" he whispered.

"She's alive. For now. I just hope I can get her back in time."

"I can't tell them she might be-"

"I understand. It wouldn't help to mourn her again. Let's just hope I can get her back." She looked up at him but could only make out the eerie glow of his gold eyes as they reflected the minimal light around them. He was stepping back when she threw her hands around his neck and pulled him towards her. He held her against him and breathed but could not pick up her scent. "You don't know how much I wanted to do this-" she said her voice cracking.

"There were so many times I thought I found you." He whispered. She squeezed tighter. "What will happen to us after this?"

"Let's just wait to see that there is an 'after this' before making plans. I couldn't-"

"Sssh." He pulled back so he could look into her eyes. "I'll make sure we have time after this." He kissed her briefly limiting the contact because he wasn't sure he could restrain himself much longer. He pulled away. "You should go." He said tightly. She looked at him before claiming the kiss they both wanted. She shared his passion when he kissed back. She poured her emotions into the kiss that she ended abruptly, taking off across the yard to her parked car. She jumped in then drove away.

She knew she had passed out and before she even opened her eyes, she knew he had her again. She was lying on a foul smelling mattress but her limbs were not bound. She opened her eyes and sat up. He was looking at her.

"I know why you're her friend." He said sipping from a mug that had seen better days. "Same gumption. But you won't be getting away from me again." He said and laid down the cup.

Sango looked around and saw it was the same room. Kenji was stretched out on the metal table with Kagura gyrating on top of his still form. She could see he was awake by the tension in his facial muscles. Marisa was pinned beneath a rutting Kumo. She was crying. Kumo was enjoying himself. Looking back at him she could see the perverted gleam in his eyes.

"What's say we join them?" he moved to her stripping off his robe as he went. She screwed up her face at the body she saw beneath it. His stomach had folds of fat that hung loosely around him. There were ugly scars everywhere. "You hate my body?" he chuckled. "They did too." He said indicating Kumo and Marisa. "Until I showed them how much pleasure I could give them both. And pain. You will too."

"Stay away from me you pedophilic lizard." She said softly.

"Or what? You can't stop me. I'm stronger than you are. Smarter. You won't get away from this. You'll enjoy it. But by all means fight me. I like that even more." He paused to look at Kagura. "Record this. I want the police to see me taking this one. I want them to see how much she likes it. How much she'll hate herself when she's done." He climbed on to the bed and laughed when she tried to kick him off. He grabbed her feet and threw himself down on top of her, leaving her open to him. He kissed her neck and she scratched him, drawing huge amounts of blood. He only laughed. He began to fondle her through the clothes before viciously ripping them off. He bit the top of her breast and she screamed in agony.

She was dazed after he bit her breast and ceased fighting for minute. It was long enough for him to get her naked. He leisurely ran his hand over here as he kneeled between her spread legs. When his hand cupped her, she screeched in rage and fought anew. Her hands fisted and punched him in his flabby stomach. He wheezed but otherwise didn't move. Her finger squeezed against the ring and she repeated the promise in her mind, screaming Kagome's name in the same fashion. He was probing her with his offending appendage, which was as ugly as the rest of him when her hand un-fisted and grabbed it. He threw his head back in ecstasy. Sango squeezed hard and he then he struggled to get away. The ring began to glow but she didn't see. He was punching her in the face. She held on to his now purple appendage and squeezed that much harder. The punches suddenly stopped and he was screaming in agony. He was pulling hard with is hips until finally he slipped out of her grasp. She peered through her swollen eye and saw that he was charred where she had perilously held him. He staggered away from her, wheezing, his face twisted in pain.

"A miko. You're a miko! I'll kill you for what you've done to me." She watched as the blackened area began to spread. He ran out of the room and, the door swinging wildly behind him.

"What the hell are you?" Kagura asked. "Are you a miko? Like he said."

"Are you a demon, Kagura?" Sango said weakly. Kagura nodded. "I'd advise you to stay away from me." Sango didn't know what had happened but she would play on this fact for as long as it took to keep her alive. Hopefully, Miroku would get the letter in time.

It wasn't Miroku who got the letter. Inuyasha did. Trina had opened both letters and called Inuyasha on his cell phone. "Hello? Are you Inuyasha?"

"Yes. Who is this?"

"My name is Trina McIntosh. I just got a letter from an old friend. She says she needs help. She warned me not to call you but I wasn't sure I could trust the cops."

"Who is this old friend?"

"I can't talk over the phone. May I come up to your office? I'm outside the building."

"Come up." He said then she hung.

Almost ten minutes later, a tall, blonde woman walked in with Darlene in her wake. "You can't go in there!"

"He said I could." She looked at Inuyasha who was looking at her. "Tell her."

"It's okay, Darlene. Leave us." Darlene glared at the woman before leaving in a huff.

"Trina?"

"Only if you're Inuyasha Takahashi."

"I am."

"Mind if I see some ID?"

"Not a problem if I can trouble you for the same." They showed each other their identifications before Trina spoke.

"Okay, I got this letter two days ago and I had to book the first flight to get here. It wasn't early enough for me." She handed him the letter. "Is it important?"

"It's from Sango."

"Yes. She said I should insist on protection once I got this."

"You'll have it." Inuyasha said

She was tied in the same position that Kenji had been when she first saw him. He had stayed far away from her feeling quite justified in whipping her. At first, she didn't scream. But when the whip started going over the still raw areas of her body, digging into her yielding flesh, she cried out. When it hit the side of her cheek, she cried miserably. Pitifully. But she did not cry for mercy. She would not give him the satisfaction. And so it continued. When he was not indulging in his depraved activities with the others, he was whipping her senseless. All the while, she hoped that her letter had found Miroku. She hoped that someone would find her and deliver her from the hell. And if not, she prayed for a swift death.

He waited until everyone was quiet. Then he spoke. "You have heard talk of the opening of this women's shelter. Well, today, it is a reality. Behind me is the brain child of a mysterious woman - Lily. We have been working hard to open this shelter and today, we can pat our backs and congratulate ourselves and the men and women that helped make this possible. The building," he continued. "Is outfitted like no other. It has rooms common to most shelters and in addition, bungalows for those who would require a space for themselves. It has kitchens and many bathrooms. Recreational rooms, schoolrooms for those who cannot afford to go to school. And many other things that you'll find in the pamphlets that will be made available. The Takahashi family hopes to open more shelters like this worldwide." He waited for the applause to stop. "Now, I present to you, the woman behind it all. A woman who has baffled media yet contributed so much to those who would need. May I present to you, Lily." He stepped away from the podium and she stepped forward.

There was a hush then murmuring. Reporters started flashing their cameras and questions started flying. She held up her hand, demanding quiet. "It is obvious you recognize me. This is not a trick or a publicity stunt. I am Kagome Higurashi." There was an uproar but again she demanded silence. "Many of you recognize me from news reports regarding my disappearance. It was not a hoax. I was in fact kidnapped by my stepfather, Naraku. I will not go into details as police will indeed want to speak with me about it before releasing the information. What I can say is that I will not rest until this man is brought to justice for the crimes he has committed against me and against those who are now deceased or fighting for their lives. And if you're watching, daddy, I suspect you know what happens to those who mess with me. I hope it hurt. And I will find you. Mark my words. And when you are brought to justice, I will be there to make sure you never get away." She turned and walked away. The uproar was amazing but Inuyasha whisked her into a waiting car and then they were gone.

In the police station the very next day, Kagome sat behind a table answering the questions that the detectives threw at her. "How did you get away?"

"He wasn't watching me as avidly as he should have. I disabled him and ran."

"How?"

"I think you should visit a shrine to find out about the ways of a miko. I am a novice." She said.

"What have you been doing for ten years?"

"Trying to find him. At first. Then I improved myself, going into seclusion so I could draw him out."

"And do you think it worked?"

"Too well. I thought he would come after me. Instead he went after other women and men. And now-" she paused.

"And now?" the detective prompted.

"What I'm about to tell you is not to be taken lightly. It is important that you do not try to stand in my way where this is concerned because if he gets away this time, I'm blaming you." They nodded but she knew they nodded only so they could hear what she had to say. "He currently has Sango."

"She is dead. Her plane crashed-"

"He has her and pretty soon, he'll be sending you proof as to that. I assume he had sent you tapes of his other victims." They looked at each other but didn't confirm. "Denial won't make it any less the truth. I will find her and you can tag along, quietly – to make the arrest of course. Anything happens to her because of a screw up on your part, will be on your head. Her family already thinks she's dead. Don't make them hope for her return and then be crushed because you guys screwed up."

"You're pretty confident for a woman who has been chasing him for ten years."

"And you've been chasing him for a lot longer. We can work together or I go off on my own and make you look even worse." She saw the protest and hurriedly said. "I'm not some traumatized girl seeking revenge. I just want my friend back. If it means killing him to do so, then so be it. And you can use that in a court of law against me. But it will never stick. Are we clear?"

"Very." Another detective said entering. "I am detective Fujiko. We're willing to work with you."

"Very good. I need your help finding somewhere then."

"Where is she? I saw her. She's around her somewhere." He said staring hard at the new pictures. "I must have her." he looked at the bruised and bleeding woman. "Soon, I will have no use for you." He looked at the others. "Or any of you." He laughed then went back to staring at the pictures. He slammed his fist into the wall and turned on the television. He played the tape of her over and over even as he touched himself.

"Kumo, bring Marisa to me."

"Please no-" Marisa said but Kumo shook his head and she went with him.

"Put your mouth on me." Naraku said and lit a cigarette. He smoked as the woman obeyed him. "Take her Kumo." He said and Kumo did as he asked. The man had become as depraved as he, taking delight in acting his fantasies. Marisa, the fool thought the man was taking care of her. Such a silly duck. Kagura was currently coaxing Kenji to attention. She had taken a special liking to the man though the latter hated all of them. Sango was unconscious. He purred in ecstasy allowing his mind to drift into oblivion.

"We found it!" one of the detective yelled. "It's an abandoned warehouse out on the docks."

"And who confirmed this?"

"Police questioned a waitress said she saw a woman matching Sango's description. The restaurant is near the woods that separate the roads from the docks."

"What about the other places we were checking out?"

Another detective answered. "Places are empty. One of them looks like he might have been there once."

"How do we do this, Captain?"

"We use her as bait. Let him catch her. We tail him to the place and then-"

"That's not going to work." Kagome said interrupting him. The room turned to look at her. "He knows me. He's been trying to catch me for over five years now. He wouldn't catch me so easily."

One smug detective decided to speak up in derision. "And you have a better idea, princess?"

"Don't call me that you smug bastard. If you're going to behave like this then you can excuse yourself."

"Now wait just a minute, Ms. Higurashi. I'm the captain-"

"And I can just as easily make it so none of you even remember any of this. I can do this by myself and then bring him to you." They were silent. "Good. I go there alone. No wire. Follow me only after I've been gone one hour. He won't try to move me yet. He can't chance it."

"And if he does chance it?"

"I have my own men on standby for things like that."

"You have a team?"

"Of course. After one hour, if all goes according to plan, storm the place. Get me and Sango out of there."

"And the others he might still have?"

"If they are still alive, get them out as quickly as possible." Kagome said. "Sango is priority."

"If you say so."

"I'm leaving tomorrow at ten. You should be leaving at eleven-"

"We can count." The idiot from before said. There was a flash of light and he was out.

"He will not be coming. I will see you tomorrow, detectives."

She was crying again. He was whipping her relentlessly. She could not think through the haze but she could make out that Marisa was crying. Not long after her return, Kumo had stopped pretending that he cared about her. She was crying in earnest. Kumo had her bent over a table while he took her from behind. She was looking at Sango with an even more defeated look in her eyes. Tears streamed down her face, her sobs interrupted by the jerking motion of Kumo behind her. He was laughing at Marisa and urging Kumo on. She could see him through the putrid robes he always wore. He suddenly dropped the whip and walked to Kumo, doing to him what the man was doing to Marisa. Sango swallowed the bile in her throat. She closed her eyes and tried to get the scene from her mind. When she opened her eyes after a long time again, Marisa was sprawled on the floor unconscious as the two men were going at it. It was disgusting that two men could enjoy doing that to each other. Unnatural. When they lay spent, she hoped fire would burn the place down and take with it the depraved acts forced upon her mind.

Kagome walked up to the warehouse. It was decrepit. And Sango was somewhere inside. She found the door and entered quietly. There were old boxes scattered around and the place smelled like a toilet. She heard rats currying out of her way and into safety. She smell was cloying, making it hard for her to breathe. It was dark, even in the light of day. She surveyed her surroundings and quickly found a flight of stairs. She used her gloved hands to help her up the shaky steps. When she was finally at the top, she looked to her left and saw two doors. To her right was a long corridor. She went left first.

The two rooms were empty. And long since. Panic roiled in her stomach that she was too late. But she went back, passing the stairs and entered the long corridor. She felt along it and found one door close to the end. She saw that beyond that was a dead end. She inhaled and then checked her watch. It was fifteen minutes to eleven. She had enough time to get in, distract him and wait for the cavalry. They would probably be leaving now. The police would not be leaving for another fifteen minutes, maybe sooner depending on their patience.

Calming herself she opened the door and the scene that met her almost made her forget her purpose. Naraku was standing before a naked woman and whipping her beyond recognition. It was Sango. He hadn't realized she was there yet. She looked around and saw a man pinning a woman to the floor. His back was turned so he hadn't seen her either. The woman was crying. On a bed, another man lay and he was looking at her but he said nothing. A woman was curled up – sleeping beside him. Kagome wondered how anyone could sleep with what was going on. She looked back at the other man and he was laying spent on top of the crying woman, his body twitching. With the flick of her wrist, he and the woman were unconscious. She couldn't deal with the woman's hysterics right now. It would only make the situation that more serious. She looked at the two on the bed and the man nodded his understanding and she repeated the action rendering them unconscious.

She looked at her watch and it was now ten minutes to the hour. Naraku was still whipping Sango. It was time to act. "Stop it!" she yelled, her feigned voice concealing the calm that pervaded her. He swung around in surprise then a sick pleasured look transformed his face.

"Princess! You're back! I knew you couldn't stay away for long." He moved towards her.

"You stay away from me." She took a calculated step away from him as if running away. He paused and put his hands up indicating that he meant her no harm. "What have you done to her?" She walked into the room giving him a wide berth. He walked in contrast to her so that he was blocking the door as she had just been doing. He smirked, not realizing how much he was playing into Kagome's plan.

Kagome touched Sango and the girl jerked violently. "S-Sango?" the woman opened the eye that was not swollen and looked at her.

"Kagome…"

"I'm here."

"You shouldn't have come. He won't let you leave."

"We're both getting out of here. Don't worry." She whipped around to face Naraku who was leaning confidently against the door jam.

"I thought you were smarter than this. Coming here and getting trapped so easily."

"I can't trust the police or anyone to do what I alone can do."

"And you think you can put an end to my reign of terror?" he laughed. "I'll always win, my dear Kagome."

"No." She turned and as if trying to yank Sango free but she was really using the action to strengthen the protection on the ring. She whimpered when he grabbed her and pulled her up against him. She felt that the years had not been kind to him. Terrible in fact. He was soft where he had once been hard. "Let me go!" she said struggling against him just enough to make him believe she was in a panic. He grabbed her neck and forced her to look at Sango.

"Do you see her? You know what this miko trash did to me? She hurt me princess and I had to punish her. I had to make her suffer for burning me. I'm all better now but I do so love when she cries." He chuckled. "I will get to hear you scream for me again. Their screams were getting boring. Now I can kill them and-"

"Don't kill them, please. I'll do anything you want just let them go."

"Sorry pet, I can't do that. They must die."

"Please-please, daddy-" she squeezed out a few tears then gasped in real pain when he squeezed her neck. The man laughed. Kagome was glad he was such a smug bastard. She knew he wouldn't be hard to convince if he thought she was alone. Helpless. Pleading with him. He dragged her backward and pinned her to the wall with his body. Kagome could feel his erection pressing into her back. She slipped her hand up to the wall as if to give herself leverage. She peered at the watch and saw that it was eleven. Her team was in position. They'd better be in position.

"I'm going to let you watch as I whip her one more time before I kill her. Maybe then, you'll know that friendships are a waste of time. All you need is me. I'll love you. I'll pleasure you. I'll give you children." He cooed in her ears. He stepped away suddenly and went back to pick up the whip. She protested, as she knew he expected then feigned shock when the whip bounced off an invisible shield and sent a charge up the whip. "The hell-"

"Please stop-" Kagome cried. She looked through the open door and saw the glint of a gun as it reflected the light in the room. She nodded to the man who was looking at her and then she threw herself at Naraku. She jumped on his back and flattened her hands on his face. He screamed in agony as she melted his skin from his bones.

He spun around trying to dislodge her and then the men stormed the room. They made quick work of releasing Sango. Just as one ran out with her, cloaked under a blanket, she heard the sirens. Naraku screamed anew.

"Do you hear that? This is the end, you reprobate. You're going to hell." His response was more screaming. "By the way, Sango isn't the miko, I am you filthy pig. You'll have one more scar to remember me by." He screamed some more then in a sudden, desperate show of strength he flung her from him. She hit the wall and the wind was knocked out of her. She saw him gingerly touch his face before turning to face her.

"You'll pay for this!" he yelled and grabbed her up. He held her against the wall and ripped at the front of her shirt. He ripped the loose pants she wore.

"Do you really want to chance losing it?" she asked. He paused and looked down at his precious appendage. He looked at her and then slapped her. Her eye felt like it exploded. She tasted blood. He punched her in the stomach and she coughed violently.

"You hateful, ungrateful whore! I loved you. I took care of you! And you spread your legs for that Hojo idiot! And if I hadn't killed them, those other boys would have defiled you too! But I didn't get to you soon enough! That damn dog-" he punctuated the word with a punch to her ribs. She saw spots. If this kept up, she'd pass out. The men looked at her but she shook her head. They were just removing the last person from the room and then they cleared out. Kagome was about to pass out now. She was strong, but he was stronger and he was beating the crap out of her. She wheezed as he squeezed her throat – he was gonna kill her.

"Police! Don't move!" one of the uniformed men said. Naraku froze and looked at Kagome, he grimaced and tightened his hands even more. She gasped. She wondered if he would snap her neck before the idiots managed to shoot him. "Release her. Don't make this any worse on yourself."

"Ha ha haha ha. Worse on myself? If I go down I might as well take her with me."

"Don't be stupid!" Kagome listened to the negotiation. She couldn't fault them but she was being choked to death and they were going by the book. She grabbed his hands again and using what little energy she had left, she burned him. He screamed and released her in shock. The men followed him with their guns and pinned him, handcuffing him. Knowing his Hanyou heritage, she quickly made sure the handcuffs were sealed. He struggled when he realized he was unable to get away.

"Damn you! Damn you!" he cursed all the way to the squad car where she repeated what she did to the cuffs. She was leaning heavily against a uniform.

"Don't open this door unless I am there. Do you understand me?" The driver and the man nodded. "Make sure. If he gets away, he's going to kill you. Make sure you do not open this door." She repeated. They looked unbelieving so she put it in their minds to keep the door closed on pain of death. Then she allowed darkness to consume her.

When she woke up, she was outside the police station. She looked at Detective Fujiko who didn't look too pleased. Behind him, a man had a bandage on his arm.

"Detective?" she said climbing out of the back of the car.

"My men just took a shot at me for trying to extricate Naraku from the car."

"That was my doing. You will need to show me where you're taking Naraku for holding. And for the trial-I'm sure there will be one-I need to be there to seal the room. The same goes for the prison that will hold him until sentencing. If he gets life, I will need to visit periodically to check the seal on his solitary confinement. If he gets the chair, I need to be there. If he gets a needle, I need to approve the cocktail."

"You're a demanding one aren't you?"

"I'm just making sure this man is out of my life for good. And don't try to hide things from me, because I have ears all over."

After an hour at the precinct, she was on her way to the hospital for treatment. She stayed there for three weeks then she went home.

"Today, after one year of arguments between the state and defense attorney, the infamous criminal Naraku was convicted and subsequently sentenced to death by lethal injection. This will put an end to almost two decades of terror. Naraku has been convicted of rape, murder, torture, kidnapping and a host of other things that his reporter cannot begin to list. His sentence will be carried out in two days at nine in the morning under a heavily guarded room…"

Kagome switched stations to see what else the media was saying.

"The victimized families rejoice today at the return of a guilty verdict that jurors returned for the defendant, Naraku. While some rejoice, others mourn, like the wife of recent kidnapped victim, Kenji Li. Mr. and Mrs. Li had only been married one month when Naraku kidnapped him. After only six months in therapy, Mr. Li took his own life. Mrs. Li had this to say today in court…"

Recording: "My husband was a strong man, of strong mind and character. But it took only a few months to decimate the man I knew. This creature has robbed me and I'm glad he has been given his due. I hope he gets the death penalty. And I hope he suffers."

"Mrs. Li would have given birth to her first child, for Kenji Li next month. Naraku's other surviving victims, Kumo Tai, Kagura Wind and Marisa James are currently still in therapy. When asked to speak in court they all wished for the death penalty. When asked for a comment by this reporter, only Marisa had this to say – 'Not only was a raped by Naraku, I was raped by Kumo Tai. While I can never forgive him for turning against me while in that hell, I hope that he gets the help he needs. Hopefully that is behind bars. Naraku might die now but we need to ensure that he hasn't left behind an heir to his legacy in Kumo Tai.' Strong words."

On another station, Kagome saw her picture and heard words of thanks to her for helping to bring Naraku to justice. This station had managed to get a comment from Kagura.

"…Kagura Wind had this to say 'I was a working girl before all this and it made me an easy target for Naraku. I will never comprehend my ensuing affection for him and I still struggle with it but I know what he did was wrong and what I allowed him to do was wrong. And what I helped him do was wrong. I would like to apologize to Mrs. Li. While I cannot say everything that happened I know that Kenji loved her very much and fought until the very last to get back to her. I hope Marisa has all the help she needs in the world to get past this. As for me and Kumo, I hope we're locked up in a prison – or psych ward forever. Four people were placed in a bad situation – two managed to survive with their dignity. And I would like to thank Ms. Higurashi for rescuing us.' Kagura wind has since checked herself into a mental hospital and has made herself a ward of the state. Kumo Tai is being investigated for previous offenses and will be charged with the rape of Marisa James…"

"It's finally over." She said. She looked at her friends who were looking at her.

"Yes. Finally." Inuyasha said.

"Now can we go? I've waited for three hours – add fifteen years to that – just so we can have this honeymoon." He complained.

"Be patient. We'll be leaving soon."

"One more picture, Kagome!" Sango explained. Sango had no scars, thanks to Kagome. On her hand, she wore the ring apologizing to Kagome for never ever giving it back to her.

"One more then you have to put Miroku out of his misery." Kagome said.

"Thank you!" he said. He got up, posed with the rest of them then the photographer snapped the picture.

They all hugged on more time then Sango was on her way. Kagome looked at Inuyasha who was staring at her stomach. "What?"

"You're hiding something." He said.

"I am not." She turned away and was hurriedly trying to flee the room. He stopped her.

"You've been wearing that sweater every chance you got. Are you sick?"

"Can't I be cold?"

"That's what I'm here for." Inuyasha said. "You said so yourself." He stared at her as she glared.

"F-fine-I'll tell you."

"Okay." He folded his arms and waited.

"I-I'm pregnant."

"W-What?"

"See, I knew you'd be upset."

"N-no. I'm not. Just confused. You told me-"

"I know what I told you. I told you what a doctor told me. Apparently he was wrong."

"So, you're pregnant?"

"Yes?" he looked at her for a little while, thought then scooped her up.

"Kagome, mine, you couldn't have made me any happier. I thought that, you, finally marrying me was the greatest. But this is just wonderful." He kissed her then. "You know I love you right?"

"And we love you too." She said tongue in cheek.

"Don't joke with me-" he complained.

"I'm talking about the baby, idiot." She kissed him softly. "Let's go home and practice for the next one."

"Yes ma'am."

"Sesshomaru?" Rin called.

"Yes?" he said.

"If you come near me again with that thing I will cut it off!" she said tiredly. She touched her baby's face and admiration. "You can have the next one." She said.

"Don't worry-I don't think I want to go through all this again."

"Don't talk so soon, Sesshomaru." Toga said smiling as he cradled the other baby. "You won't be able to resist holding another baby. Now take her while I go make sure Reina isn't missing her mommy and daddy too much."

"Bring her in later. She'll want to hold her new sisters." Rin said and smiled.

As things go, this was a happy ending for most. Gold is still desired and chocolate craved – both melt in ecstasy for the love that they find.