Disclaimer: not mine

Inuyasha felt himself waking up. But as soon as he registered this, he moved tentatively, not sure where he was going to be. Opening one eye first, he realized he was back in the forest, in the same spot he had fallen asleep before.

He got up and looked around. There was no sign of Smoky World, or Kagome. He brought a finger to his lips. They still tingled from the kiss he had shared with her. There was no way that all could have been a dream. He couldn't possibly be back in his youkai world. Mujin had been destroyed. It was over…wasn't it?

Then, he heard familiar chatter, and instantly his spirits were lifted. He walked towards them, spotting short and keeping hidden at the last moment.

It was Shippo, Sango and Miroku, all talking to each other. But they weren't talking like strangers trying to remember each other, they were discussing like friends:

"I don't understand." Miroku was saying. "If Inuyasha turned himself into a demon, how are we all still here? How come I can recognize you all?"

"That's a good question." Shippo said. "I thought I'd wake up all alone. And instead I find you guys…well…"

At this point, Sango and Miroku shared a secret glance, blushing profusely. Inuyasha chuckled to himself. So that's how they got the kid in my youkai world, those nasty kids…

But as he listened to their conversation, he realized that the three of them where behaving as if he hadn't taken the potion at all. It was as if his transformation never even happened in the first place.

"That's not important." Sango said quickly, her face still red as a beet. "We need to figure out what's going on."

Inuyasha chose this time to step out of the shrubbery. "What's going on," he said in a loud clear voice, making the three of them look at him. "Is that I didn't go through with it after all."

"Inuyasha!" Shippo said cheerfully.

He jumped up and hugged Inuyasha first, followed by Miroku and Sango. Against his normal nature, he allowed and accepted each embrace. He couldn't deny it, he was happy to see them. Or more specifically, to see them, and they know who he is.

"What do you mean 'you didn't go through with it'?" Miroku wanted to know after the greetings were over.

"Well it's complicated." Inuyasha said, scratching his head. "I actually did go through with it, but since you guys don't remember, I guess technically it never happened." As he stared at three clueless faces, he shook his head. "Never mind, where's Kagome?"

"In her time we figure." Shippo said.

"Alright." Inuyasha said. "I'm going to go get her. I'll be back."

"Hey Inuyasha."

Inuyasha had walked away from the group, but stopped at the sound of Miroku's voice. He turned around. "Yeah?"

Miroku nodded and smiled. "Thanks. For deciding to stay."

Inuyasha shrugged. "I'm telling ya, I really…" he paused, shook his head and smiled back. "Yeah, no problem." He finished.

He went into a dash for the well, and jumped down into it, eager to see Kagome's face. When he got to her time, he found her house deserted. He headed for her room, and found her still sleeping in her bed, holding a pink lily in her hand.

He smiled at that, then, gently, he nudged her in her back. "Kagome? Hey, Kagome. Wake up."

She woke slowly, and blinked at him as if trying to discern who it was she was looking at. "Inu…yasha…."

He smiled. "In the flesh."

She gasped, then frowned. "Sit boy!"

Plop! And this time, there was no soft smoke for him to land in. "What you do that for wench!" he exclaimed when he got back on his feet.

She gasped again. "Wait a minute. I didn't think it would work. Where am I?"

Oh, I get it now, he thought to himself. Of course she was going to be on the defensive. She thought he had turned himself into a demon.

"You're in your room Kagome." Inuyasha explained. "I didn't go through with it."

She smiled. "You…didn't?"

He shook his head. "I couldn't."

Her smile brightened. She jumped out of bed and threw her arms around him. "Inuyasha, that's wonderful!" she exclaimed.

He returned her embrace, already familiarizing himself with the feel of their bodies pressed together. But as soon as she felt his arms around her, she backed away from him, her face turned red.

Inuyasha shrugged. I guess I'll have to deal with shy Kagome again.

"What changed your mind?" she asked quietly.

"Honestly? You, Kagome."

Her face became redder. "Me?"

He nodded. "I couldn't stand the thought of losing you. You mean so much to me, and I love you Kagome."

She gasped. "Y-Y-Y-You what?"

He smiled. "I love you."

Her hand flew to her mouth in surprise. He saw her eyes beginning to water, but before he could say anything about it, her smile gave it all away: they were tears of joy.

"Inuyasha, I…" She put her arms back around him. "I love you too."

They hugged again, before Kagome drew back. "But what about Kikyo?"

"Forget Kikyo." He said. "I'll always care about her, but she's not the one I love. You are."

She smiled, and he kissed her. The same way he remembered when they were on that plane, and Kagome asked him to come home. They kissed with the same intensity, the same passion, the same love.

When they broke away, Kagome was blushing again. But she was smiling. "Come on, let's go back. I want to see everyone."

He nodded. "Okay."

They kissed again briefly, before Kagome asked him to step outside her room so he could change. Part of him wanted to tell her he already saw everything she was trying to conceal, but now she had the beads of subjugation over him again. He wouldn't take his chances. So he waited till she was dressed and they left the house and went to the shrine.

Then, arms linked, they jumped down the well together.

A/N: thanks to all who read this epilogue. review and tell me what you thought about the WHOLE tale now.

and its reeli over now you guys, nothing reeli comes after the epilogue.

thanks for all your love! i'll see you soon

Love 3

Brinvixen