InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Ready Heart ❯ A Ready Heart ( One-Shot )

A Ready Heart

(A Inuyasha and Kagome Fanfic)

[Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha so please don't sue ok?]

Inuyasha: Yea she's poor enough as it is.

Terri: [Thinks to argue then thinks better of it and nods in agreement with Inuyasha] I was going to argue, but he's right. I can barely afford to take the classes I am right now. So…

Inuyasha: [Grins] Score!

Terri: [rolls her eyes and laughs]

Sesshomaru: [Comes up from behind and wraps his arms around Terri's waist.] Hey let's get this fanfic started shall we love?

Terri: [Giggles] All right.

Shippo: Read and review k everyone….

Written by. Terri C.

Chapter 1

Inuyasha folded his arms up above his head and leaned back against the trunk of the tree. Just as he lifted his head to watch the sun setting behind the horizon, he lowered it again and closed his eyes. "There's going to be a new moon tonight." He breathed a heavy sigh. Never in all his life had he ever been this bored. Without Kagome here to bicker with or protect, he found that living in this feudal era was boring beyond comparison. Sure, he had Miroku and Sango to keep company with, but that was completely different. He didn't hold them in same light as Kagome. She was more then a friend to him, she was his confident, his equal. And though he found her constant need to contradict him more then nerve-racking, he couldn't imagine his life without it, without her. Somehow now, his life felt empty, meaningless. At that, he growled and pounded his fist angrily into the tree. * Damn it Kagome why'd you have to go and leave me anyway! * "Something troubling you Inuyasha?" Miroku's calm voice asked from down below. "Nothing that concerns you priest." Inuyasha retorted while jumping down from the tree. As he did so though, his transformation from demon to human took place. By the time he touched ground, he was fully human right down to his dark amber brown eyes and long black hair. He muttered a low curse beneath his breath. "Ah so the transformation is complete." Sango murmured as she returned from her walk. Mirkou smiled and folded his arms across his chest. "Yes, it would seem it is." Inuyasha kept his back turned and remained silent. "You know Inuyasha, I know it was Kagome you were thinking about up there." Inuyasha huffed and stared off into the distance. Miroku came up from behind Inuyasha and placed a friendly hand on his shoulder. "You know, missing Kagome is nothing to be ashamed of Inuyasha. We all miss her." "Who the hell said I was ashamed?" Inuyasha retorted pulling roughly away from Miroku. Miroku bowed his head and smiled to himself. "Ah so my speculations were correct, you do miss Kagome." It took every ounce of willpower for Inuyasha not to walk over and clobber Miroku over the head. He settled instead for folding his arms tightly against his chest and muttering angrily to himself. "Damned nosy priest." Sango said nothing, only sighed. Miroku leaned up against the tree. "Anyway Inuyasha if you want to see Kagome so much, why don't you just go to her era. You know how to do it." "Yes, and now that you're human, you shouldn't have any problems walking freely about there." Inuyasha's head perked up. "You really think so eh?" Miroku and Sango nodded. "Of course." "Hmm…" Inuyasha folded his arms across his chest once more. "I suppose it's worth a shot." And with that he turned and began to make his way to the all too familiar well. Once he stood atop it though, he stopped and bowed his head. "Well?" He muttered. "Well what?" Miroku returned as he and Sango came to stand on either side of Inuyasha. Inuyasha breathed a heavy sigh before grabbing tight hold of each of them and jumping down into the well. Inuyasha, who had already been down the well twice before found falling through time and space no problem at all. Miroku and Sango, who had never done so though, did. They were still in a startled state of shock long after they had arrived at the bottom of Kagome's well. "Oh snap out of it will ya?" Inuyasha released the pair from his grip and began to climb out of the well. "Follow me." Sango and Miroku merely blinked at each other before shrugging and following after him. By the time they got to the top, Inuyasha was already standing outside the temple talking to somebody. "Huh?" Miroku and Sango questioned before walking out to stand at Inuyasha's side. "Oh Inuyasha are these your friends?" The older woman asked with a kind smile. "What?" Inuyasha turned toward Sango and Miroku. "Oh them." He smiled nonchalantly. "Yea. This is Miroku and Sango." The woman smiled and clasped her hands happily in front of her. "Oh Miroku and Sango yes of course. Kagome's told me a lot about you two. Welcome." Sango smiled. "Thank you." "You're…Kagome's mother." Miroku observed with a serene smile. Kagome's mother smiled kindly. "How very perspective of you Miroku. Yes, I am Kagome's mother. But please call me Mrs. Higurashi." Miroku beamed. Mrs. Higurashi laughed lightly. "Come Inuyasha, Miroku, Sango." She started on ahead of them. "I will show you inside." "Alright." And with that the three followed her on inside the house. After a good hour and a half, they found themselves both fed then dressed in modern day clothes. "Sheesh how can the people of this era wear this stuff?" Inuyasha muttered as he looked at himself in the long length mirror. Dressed in nice fitting blue jeans, a black tee shirt and a black corduroy jacket, Inuyasha looked the perfect part of a regular modern day guy. "I hope Kagome appreciates all this." Inuyasha muttered darkly under his breath. "Oh speaking of Kagome, you're probably wondering where she is huh?" Mrs. Higurashi asked with a small smile. "Well I um…" Inuyasha cleared his throat and placed a hand behind the back of his neck. Damn what was with the sudden wave of insecurity and nervousness washing over him? Mrs. Higurashi laughed and placed a hand on Inuyasha's shoulder. "Relax Inuyasha I know my daughter is the reason you are here. You can go on ahead. She'll be getting out of school in about half an hour. Do you know how to get there?" "Yea, yea no problem." And without waiting for Miroku or Sango to come back from their tour around the temple, Inuyasha walked out of the house and began to make his way down the street. Mrs. Higurashi watched him go with a soft smile on her face. "Hmm…he looks good, normal. Still I think I like him better with his white hair and cute little ears." She laughed at herself, then after watching him disappear around the corner walked back inside to prepare for Kagome's surprise birthday party.

Chapter 2

Inuyasha had just leaned up against the large iron gates of Kagome's private school when he heard the school bell ring. As he folded his arms back behind his head, he couldn't help but gaze studiously at all the students and people walking past him. They regarded him with polite smiles and nods. Save for some young girls who when they caught him regarding them through narrowed lids giggled and hurried past him. Inuyasha rolled his eyes and only started to tilt his head back against his arms when he saw Kagome walk out of the school gates. She was walking alone with her head bowed in what looked to him as deep thought. For a moment he just stood there and watched her. Though it had only been a year since they had parted ways with one another, it seemed to him like a century had passed. Before she could walk fully past him though he spoke out. "Long time no see.... Kagome." "Huh?" Kagome stopped and turned to face the guy that had called out to her. She crooked an eyebrow at him. "I'm sorry do I know you?" "I don't know," Inuyasha pushed himself away from the iron-gate and lifted his face into clear view. "You tell me." It took Kagome but a few seconds to recognize him. Tears began to slowly well up in her eyes. Inuyasha's happy smirk immediately diminished at the sight. "Kagome..." He walked slowly up to her. After a short minute of just staring down at her, he gathered her into his arms and rested his cheek atop her head. "Why do you always have to go and get all emotional on me? You know I can't stand it." "I know... I know!" Kagome cried throwing her arms around him. "But I can't help it." She moved her head then so as to look up at him. "I missed you." "Yea, well I…" Inuyasha bowed his head. "...I missed you too." Kagome let out a soft laugh. "I would have liked to hope you had Inuyasha." Inuyasha crooked an eyebrow, but before he could so much as utter a word Kagome leaned forward suddenly and pressed a friendly kiss against his lips. "Ack!" Inuyasha backed up a step. "Why the heck did you do that for?" Kagome laughed and pinched his cheek playfully. "Don't know really, suppose my happiness just got the better of me." "Humph!" Inuyasha huffed before turning away to fold his arms across his chest. Kagome laughed once more and turned to pick up her book bag. "Well it's good to know some things and people never change." "And by that do you mean that you have Kagome?" Inuyasha asked over his shoulder. "Of course I have silly." Kagome answered before quietly taking hold of his hand and beginning to tug him along down the sidewalk. She sighed. "Sometime or another we all gotta change Inuyasha. Be it for the good or be it for the bad. That's just how it is. Life without change at least in my book, would not only be totally meaningless but also quite boring. I mean could you really imagine what it'd be like if you and I never matured, if we never grew out of old habits? That would be so..." Kagome left her sentence unfinished. Hmm... Inuyasha found himself at a loss for words and it wasn't the first time either. Kagome had a funny way of always doing that to him. It both irked and irritated him beyond comparison. Still even as he turned his head and looked away, he allowed her words to linger in his mind.

Right as they turned the corner leading into the temple though, they ran into Miroku. Kagome stopped and stared at the nicely dressed priest. "Miroku is

that-" "Yes, it's me." Miroku said with a roguish grin. "Unbelievable..." Kagome released her hold on Inuyasha and stepped up so as to straighten the collars of Miroku's cream colored shirt. "For once I have to admit that you really do look quite handsome." "More handsome then Inuyasha even?" Miroku asked with a hopeful look on his face. "Well..." Kagome turned to press a hand up against each of their chests but just as she started to look between the two men, Sango walked in on them. "Ah Kagome there you are. I was starting to think Inuyasha had lost you." "Lose me... Inuyasha?" Kagome shook her head, then stepped up to press both her hands against Inuyasha's chest. "Naw that could never happen." Kagome lifted her face to peer intently up at him. "Never." Inuyasha's hard gaze softened and he placed a gentle hand atop hers. "Kagome I..." "Surprise!" Yelled a bunch of voices from all around them. Kagome yelped and jumped straight into Inuyasha's arms. "What the hell?" Inuyasha muttered as he with Kagome in his arms turned to look round at all the gathering people. "What are all these damned people doing here?" "They're here for Kagome's surprise birthday party of course." Miroku answered with a smile. Sango nodded. "Yes, naturally we would've told you before you'd gone for Kagome, but well you know." "Yea... whatever." Inuyasha placed Kagome back on her feet and walked off through the crowd. "Inuyasha wait!" Kagome tried to go after him but a crowd of people blocked her path. Sango stepped up to Miroku and shook her head. "What do you suppose is the matter with him?" Miroku bowed his head and smiled knowingly to himself. "I know." "Miroku?" Sango pressed a hand against his chest. Miroku smiled and steadied an arm around her waist. "Don't worry Sango he's alright. He just needs time." "Needs time for what?" Miroku shook his head. "Just time."

Chapter 3

Inuyasha let out a frustrated sigh as he turned his head to gaze down into Kagome's living room window. He had been watching Kagome's party off and on for some time now. And though he felt a strong urge to be by Kagome's side, he remained steadfast up in his tree. How could he expect to show up at Kagome's party with no gift for her? "Humph!" Inuyasha folded his arms across his chest and leaned fully back against the thick tree branch. * I wish I had something to give her, something that would put everyone else's gifts to shame, but I don't. * He gritted his teeth and banged his fist hard against the tree trunk. "Damn it!" He had nothing for her, nothing of great value anyway. Or did he? Hmm. Inuyasha pulled the shikon jewel out of his coat pocket and held it out in front of him. The light of the setting sun seemed to make it shimmer and shine even more. If he really wanted to, he could use the last of its special power to make himself turn fully human. He could, but that meant he'd have to sacrifice it all, all his special demon powers, the use of his sacred Tetseiga, his existence in the very era that had given him birth. Everything. Could he do that? Was he really willing to give up everything he had ever known and loved for Kagome? His heart told him yes, but his mind told him no. Torn as to what he should do, Inuyasha jumped down from the tree he was in and began to walk quietly away. He hadn't walked but ten feet before he heard footsteps fall behind him. "Huh, what the-" He let out when someone tripped and fell forward into his arms. "Ah ha found you, thought you were going to get away from me again didn't you Inuyasha?" "Kagome?" Inuyasha placed his hands at her waist so as to help steady her. "What are you doing out here?" "Well looking for you of course." Kagome first grasped tight to his forearms then gazed inquisitively up at him. "So, what are you doing out here all by your lonesome anyway?" Inuyasha bowed his head and looked away. "It's much quieter out here, less crowded too." Kagome laughed. "Yes, I suppose you're right." She sighed and wrapped her arms around herself. "You know it is getting kind of cold out here Kagome." Inuyasha removed his jacket and draped it around her shoulders. "Perhaps you should go back inside where it's warmer." "No." Kagome stepped up to press her head and hands against his chest. "I'd much rather remain here with you." "Kagome..." Inuyasha relinquished his hold on her arms and began to walk slowly past her. "I'm sorry..." He bowed his head then and went to sit cross-legged in front of the shimmering moonlit pond. Kagome turned to arch a curious eyebrow at him. "Sorry for what Inuyasha?" Inuyasha closed his eyes. "...Sorry for being the only one here who doesn't have a gift for you." "Inuyasha..." Kagome walked slowly over to where he sat alone and kneeled down beside him. "You're here with me..." She draped her arms around Inuyasha's neck and rested her head against his. "That alone is the greatest gift I could've ever hoped to get today." Inuyasha said nothing in turn only reached up and tightly covered her hands with his own. As he did so, his human transformation slowly melted away. Kagome turned her head to look at him. She smiled as she watched the last of Inuyasha's black hair return to its original white color. "I have something to show you Kagome." Inuyasha's voice was low and monotone. "Oh?" Kagome's eyes widened. "What is it?" Inuyasha stood then reached into his shirt and yanked the necklace he had hanging around his neck off. "This." He turned to Kagome and opened his hand to reveal the sacred jewel sitting in it. "The shikon jewel?" Kagome pulled herself up and went to stand in front of Inuyasha. "But I thought you destroyed it all that time ago." Inuyasha dropped his head. "So did I but the day after you left my era it reappeared around my neck." Kagome furrowed her eyebrows. "Hmm, did you ever think of the possibility that maybe it couldn't stay destroyed because its true purpose wasn't served?" Inuyasha nodded. "That thought did cross my mind a few times." "Hmm I wonder w-" "Kagome?" Inuyasha grabbed her hand in his and peered down into her face. Kagome's eyes widened and her cheeks began to turn a soft shade of pink. "Y-Yes Inuyasha?" Inuyasha said nothing at first only gazed quietly down at her. In turn Kagome found she could do nothing but stare back at him. She wondered at his thoughts. What was he thinking about? No sooner had her thoughts strayed to Inuyasha that he spoke out again. "You know Kagome I did think of one thing I could give you tonight." "Inuyasha I already said you don't have t-" Her words fell away though as the Shikon jewel in Inuyasha's hand began to give off a faint shimmering glow. She peered quickly up at him. "Inuyasha what are you going to-" "I'd do anything for you Kagome." Inuyasha closed his hand tightly around the glowing jewel. "Even sacrifice my demon blood to become a full fledged human." Kagome sucked in a startled gasp. "B-But Inuyasha you can't...you mustn't." "Why not?" Inuyasha asked his amber gaze burning into hers. "At least if I was human I could stay here and be with you when and wherever I wanted to. Where as in my demon form I can't." "You... really wanna be with me...Inuyasha?" Kagome asked, her voice just above a whisper. Inuyasha narrowed his eyes annoyingly at her. "Of course I do Kagome. Do you honestly think I'd be here, willing to sacrifice all I have if I didn't?" "Inuyasha..." Kagome bowed her head and placed a hand to her heart. No sooner had she done so that the jewel began to give off a bright radiant glow. "Huh?" Inuyasha opened his hand only to have the light shooting out of the jewel engulf him entirely. For a short moment Kagome remained immobile. *If I let Inuyasha do this, he would lose everything he's ever known, he's ever loved. His demon powers, the use of his father's sword, his world as a whole, everything! I can't let him... I

can't! * "No!" Kagome threw herself into the beam of light and knocked the glowing jewel out of Inuyasha's hand. The minute the jewel touched the ground, it lost its power and went out. Inuyasha immediately turned and grabbed her by her forearms. "What, are you crazy or something? That light could've engulfed you too Kagome." "I know, I know." Kagome balled her hands into loose fists and pressed them up against his chest. "But I couldn't let you do it Inuyasha. I didn't want you to loose the demon part of yourself." "What?!" Inuyasha crooked an indigenous eyebrow at her. Kagome shook her head. "Don't you understand? It's that demon part of you, that makes you special to me. If that hadn't been a part of you, if you had looked and acted like every other ordinary human guy I would never have wanted to get close to you." Inuyasha huffed. "I don't understand you Kagome. Which side of me do you want to be close to, my human side or my demon side?" "None." She stepped fully up against him. "I just want to be close to you Inuyasha." She raised her face and smiled softly up at him. "Just you." Inuyasha opened and closed his mouth. "Kagome I-" His words trailed though as a soft Collin Raye song sounded from the open living room window. "What the-?" Inuyasha's eyes darted from side to side. Kagome smiled to herself. "My mom said she was going to play a song like that. Although why she chose to play that particular song at this particular moment is a mystery to me." She shook her head. "Hmm, guess she was saving it till she thought I had found you." Inuysaha's hard gaze immediately softened. He blew out a long breath. "Hmm, your mother certainly has very good timing." Kagome let out a light laugh. "Yea, kinda like you." The sound of Kagome's light-hearted laughter caused Inuyasha's wandering gaze to return back to her. "Hey Kagome?" Kagome lifted her face up to his. "Hmm, something wrong Inuyasha?" Inuyasha shook his head roughly. " No nothing, It's just that I uh... I want..." "Yes?" Kagome inquired innocently. "What it is you want Inuyasha?" As usual, her scent and closeness were making it hard for him to make words or think straight. At one time that used to really irritate and piss him off but now...now he felt only warmth and comfort in them. His hold on her arms tightened. "Inuyasha...?" Kagome's voice was barely audible. Inuyasha leaned his face close enough so that it was only inches from hers. "I wanna be with you Kagome. I've wanted it for a long time. Only..." He lowered his eyes. "...I was afraid to act on that want. The fear of losing you the same way I had lost Kikyo was more then enough to make me keep quiet." "Inuyasha...." Inuyasha pressed a finger to her lips. "Hold on I'm not finished yet." Kagome closed her eyes and nodded. "I'm sorry please finish." Inuyasha released Kagome then and turned to stare up at the waving branches of the sacred tree. As he did so his long white hair fluttered behind him in the breeze. "Kagome this may sound really out of character, but I'm going to tell you anyway." He closed and opened his eyes. "When you left me a year ago it forced me to realize a lot of stuff." Kagome held her breath, waiting for him to go on. Inuyasha brushed his bangs out of his eyes. "I realized I had forgotten that the most happiest days of my life were the ones I had spent with you. I forgot that I wanted to hear you humming happily as we walked or see you fall asleep on my shoulder by the campfire. I forgot that sometimes I said things to you, insensitive things, things I didn't really mean." Inuyasha turned slowly round to face Kagome again. At seeing the tears trailing softly down her cheeks, he stepped up and rubbed them away with his thumbs. "Now look at me Kagome." When she did, he reached down and laced his fingers tightly through hers. "The most important thing I let myself forget to say before you left though was that I loved you." Though Kagome said nothing in turn, her eyes widened and two new tears trickled from her eyes and plopped down onto her and Inuyasha's joined hands. "It was a surprising revelation to me too I admit." He murmured. "Shocking actually. Even now, I'm still having trouble dealing with the reality of it. You see after Kikyo, I didn't want to have to go through the whole love thing again. It was just too much pain and effort on my part. I wanted to stay as far out of the love loop as possible. Love meant strong attachments and lifelong commitments. I didn't think I'd ever be ready to be tied down like that again, at least I thought I didn't until you walked into my life. You changed me that much." Inuyasha released her hands then and turned to look back up at the tree. Kagome let out a short laugh before wiping her tears away with her hand. "So what you're really saying is that my showing up in your life accommodated you?" "Not entirely." Inuyasha turned to face her yet again. "Believe it or not, I actually came around to all this revelation of love on my own. So, I know that if I somehow screw it up I'll have no one to blame but my dumb self. But Kagome I want you to know that I'm going to try my best to not screw it up." "So what are you saying Inuyasha, that you're willing to leave your world behind to stay here with me in mine?" Kagome gripped her hands nervously behind her back. It was almost too much to hope for. Inuyasha shrugged. "More or less yea that's exactly what I'm trying to say." Kagome's cheeks flushed a deep shade of pink. "Inuyasha I.... I don't know what to say, for once you have put me at a complete loss for words." "That was the whole point of my confession Kagome." Inuyasha replied, a slow smile curving his usually downcast mouth. "But you know now that I think about it," He bowed his head and smiled to himself. "There is one thing that I'd really like to hear you s-" "I love you." Kagome confessed between tears and laughter. "I do. I love you Inuyasha." "Yea?" Inuyasha lifted his head to smirk at her. "Prove it then." "Fine, I will." And without another word Kagome pulled him to her by the collar of his shirt and pressed her lips up against his. Inuyasha decided to say nothing more as he smiled against her mouth and closed his arms tightly around her waist.

Epilogue

(Five Years Later....)

After tightening the belt on her long black trenchcoat, Kagome stepped out into the chill December air. It was Christmas Eve and all her friends and family had come over to spend the holidays with her and Inuyasha. Inuyasha.... A slow smile crept out across her face. It was hard to believe that five years had passed since they had promised to love and cherish each other forever. And though they had had more then their share of hardships, they always overcame them. Now as she reflected back upon those times, she realized them to be nothing more then stepping stones to where they are and where they've been. If given the opportunity she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she'd do it all again. Inuyasha no doubt felt the same. After watching the snow fall for a few moments, Kagome walked over to the Sacred Tree and leaned her back against its cold hard trunk. It was chilly and so caused tiny shivers to run up and down her spine. Before she could think to rub the warmth back into them though, Inuyasha hung upside down from one of the tree branches above her. "Do you really think it's alright for you to be out here in your condition Kagome?" "Condition? Hmm, that's funny I thought I was just pregnant." "You know what I mean." Inuyasha swung down from the tree. "I don't want you to strain yourself anymore then you have to. Aidan was hard enough on you." "Yea well if your son hadn't inherited his father's stubbornness..." Kagome poked him pointedly in the chest. ".... He probably would've been less of a challenge for me." Inuyasha grinned and pulled Kagome close. "You're acting like you expected anything less from my kid." Kagome laughed and pressed her hands lightly against his chest. "Yea well hopefully this next one will cut me a break and go easy on me." Inuyasha's expression suddenly softened. He smoothed her cheek with practiced gentleness. "Yea and maybe it'll be a girl and look just like you." "Would that make you happy Inuyasha?" Kagome inquired softly. Inuyasha tilted his wife's chin up and smiled deep into her eyes. "Kagome why ask me a question to which you already know the answer?" Kagome opened her mouth to respond but Inuyasha quickly closed his mouth down upon hers, silencing any and all words. Kagome felt her heart clench tightly in her chest. She sighed against his lips. Her arms had only just come to lock around his waist when the sound of children shouting and running toward them could be heard. Inuyasha brushed his nose against Kagome's before pulling reluctantly away from her so as to turn and catch his three-year old son in his arms. "Hey there kiddo what's up?" Aidan shook his mast of long white hair and pointed accusingly down at the small raven-haired boy who was standing on the snowy path down below him and Inuyasha. "Kohaku pushed me into a pile of snow." "He pushed me first though. " Kohaku argued pointing straight back at Aidan. "Did not!" "Did so!" "Did not" "Did so!" "Did not!" "Did so!" "Hmm, I should've known wherever you son was that mine wasn't far behind." Miroku replied comically from afar. "Daddy!" Kohaku turned to run and scramble up into his father's arms. Miroku laughed and hoisted the small boy easily up into his arms. Inuyasha surprised Kagome by keeping quiet and simply smirking at Miroku. She smiled and shook her head. She then grasped his arm lightly and stepped up so that she was standing beside him. "So Miroku where's Sango?" Miroku's smile turned wryly. "Inside, no less looking for me so that she could knock me senseless for letting Aidan and Kohaku run outside without their jackets on." Kagome laughed. "Yes well even if you had somehow managed to get their coats on, they no less would've shirked them off five minutes after you let them loose outside." Mirkou grinned wide. "Yes, I have no doubt that they would've." Kagome tilted her head and laughed again. Inuyasha in the meantime wrapped a steady arm around his wife's waist. "I think it's time to get you and the kid back inside. It's getting to cold out and I don't want to take any chances of either one of you catching your death of it." Kagome opened her mouth to argue, but then just as soon clamped it shut and let Inuyasha lead her back up the snowy path toward her house.

When the party was over and all their guests had gone home, Inuyasha joined Kagome on the back porch. He eased up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. Kagome leaned back against his chest, and he in turn placed his hands lightly over her swollen stomach. He smiled to himself, while at the same thanking the keeper of stars for bringing her into his life. It seemed that not a day went by that he didn't give thanks. He closed his eyes and hung his head. `Forever Kagome.' He thought. `Forever."