After Tomorrow

Chapter 1: Welcome Home

It was only a few days after Kagome had gotten back. She was wearing a kimono Kaede had given her. Kagome was so happy to be back with Inuyasha and the others. It had been three years since she had last seen him. Ever since she had wished to go back to the Feudal Era, the Bone Eater's well had opened up again. She couldn't be any happier.

Kagome was in the fields picking medicinal herbs with Jeniji and putting them in a basket.

"Hey, Jeniji, is this enough?" Kagome showed him the basket of medicinal herbs.

Jeniji, still bashful, only nodded and Kagome smiled.

"Ok, see you tomorrow Jeniji!" Kagome began to walk back to Kaede's hut to deliver the herbs. Suddenly, a familiar figure walked up next to her. She looked up and smiled as she kept walking.

"Oh, Inuyasha!" Kagome exclaimed. "You scared me a bit."

Inuyasha smiled a bit. "Hey, Kagome, um…" He swallowed nervously. "Can you me in front of the Tree of Ages after you drop them off at Kaede's?"

She smiled. "Ok, but what for?" She said with a questioned expression on her face.

Inuyasha blushed and looked away. "Um…I'll just…meet you there." Without another word he took off into Inuyasha forest.

Kagome was left dumbfounded as she watched Inuyasha run off into the forest. "What was that all about…? Maybe Kaede knows…"

She continued to walk towards Kaede's and walked into the hut. "Here you go Kaede."

"Thank ye, child." Kaede smiled kindly at Kagome as she took it from her hands.

"Hey, Kaede…" Kagome sat as she watch Kaede sort out the herbs. "Do you know what Inuyasha wants to talk to me about…?"

Kaede kept sorting out the herbs. "I have ye slightest idea…"

Kagome sighed as she stood up and walked out toward the forest. She continued to walk and think about what he might say.

'I wonder what he wants to talk about…' She kept thinking as she looked down at the ground as she walked. She then finally found herself a few yards away from the tree and she looked up to see Inuyasha staring at it. She found herself frozen as she watched him. "I…Inuyasha…?"

Inuyasha looked over at her and now looked a bit nervous but had content eyes as he stared back at her. She walked slowly up to him and then looked at the tree. She stared at the scar on the tree where Inuyasha was once bond to. She walked over the tree and touched the scar, letting her fingers run down it as she stared at it. Inuyasha watched her closely as she did this.

"It's amazing that its been four years…since I first saw you at this tree." Kagome said not taking her eyes off of it. Inuyasha just kept watching her his arms folded across his chest.

"It's hard to believe that Miroku and Sango are married and have three kids together now." She said and turned around to face Inuyasha. Inuyasha looked into her eyes and she looked back into his. She smiled at him and turned back to the tree.

'Four years ago, we met here at this very spot…' She thought to herself as stared at the trees worn down spot. 'Where would I be…if I didn't fall down the well that day…? What would I be doing…I can't even imagine. I'm so glad I'm back; I'm so glad I'm here. Here with-' Suddenly, she felt a tug on her hands and she realized that Inuyasha was now holding both hands in his and staring deeply into her brown orbs. Kagome blushed. "Inu…yasha?"

"Kagome, four years ago we met here at this very spot…four years ago our journey began together in search for Naraku and a year later, we defeated him together." Kagome had gasped as she listened to every word he said and still staring into his golden orbs. "If you hadn't come down that well, I would still be stuck to that tree and never would have met you. Kagome…" Inuyasha squeezed her hands a little tighter in his. "You taught me how to smile, to trust other people, and how to make friends…Kagome…please…" He swallowed a big nervous lump that had built up in his throat. "Please do the extraordinary honor of being…my wife."

Kagome blushed and her eyes instantly filled up with tears. "I…Inu…"

"Please…marry me." He managed to whisper out.

Kagome looked down, she couldn't look at him as tears of joy came into her eyes.

"Y…yes…" Kagome managed out under her breath. But Inuyasha sensitive ears heard it anyway and he picked her up, swung her around in a circle as he held her by her tiny waist, and laughed happily. She laughed too. He brought her down into a hug, unable to believe that she was finally his to have.

Inuyasha gently placed her down on the ground. He moved a few strands of hair from her eyes and smiled at her. She smiled back up at him.

"I…already have a hut made for us to live in." Inuyasha blushed.

Kagome looked surprised. "You do…?" She said happily.

Inuyasha nodded and took her hand to lead her back toward the village. They walked past Kaede's hut and Miroku and Sango's hut as well. All the way a little ways past the village and into a different part of the forest. When they finally reached there, there was a beautiful, blue lake in front of it.

"I…wanted us to have more privacy but still be close to other people." Inuyasha blushed.

Kagome stared in awe. "Inuyasha it's beautiful." She turned to him and leaned her head on his shoulder. "Hey…Inuyasha…"

"Hm…?" He looked down at her.

"When do you want to get married…?" Kagome asked a bit nervously.

"Well…um…" He blushed deeply. "It doesn't matter…as long as I'm with you…and protecting you…I made a promise…so I intend to keep it."

She smiled softly. "…how about…this Friday?"

He turned to her and he smiled. "Sounds perfect." He kissed the top of her head. "I'm going to go get a priest to marry us. Why don't you start preparations for the wedding…?" Inuyasha said as he ran into the village.

Kagome turned around and looked over the lake. In the far distance, was a mountain, beautifully topped with white snow. She put a hand over the lower part of her stomach. Then, something hit her. 'I wonder…' She thought to herself as she gripped her pant leg of the kimono.