Hey Minna!!

Well I'm back and very rested up, so I'm happy to announce that I've finished writing this fic, but not quite done editing it. So that means I'll still only be putting up a few chapter a day, but I may have the entire thing up by this weekend.

Aren't you all so excited!!

*Sabichan Vibrates*

I know I am.

BUT...I'm kinda sad too. This fic has meant a lot to me. I've spent a lot of time writing this and now that it's almost done...I don't know what to do with myself! So once again, I extend the offer of taking requests. Help me, I don't wanna be bored! Seriously though, I'm so happy that I got such a great response from this story. I almost didn't post it! Think about that! Why?

Well, my biggest fear was of a ripoff fic (c'mon we all know they exist. you know where someone takes your unique idea, and writes an imitation of it?) Well that, and also, I loved the storyline so much, that I felt it could stand alone as an actual story, not just a fanfic. So if you ever see a book extremely similar to this fic, it may just be me. After all, being a writer is my goal in life.

Okay, I just told like my life story, so how about I give you a chapter?

YAY for chapters!

*still vibrating*

Ja ne!

~Sabichan~

**K POV**

And that was it. I was on my way home. I snuggled into the plush seating of Sesshomaru's private jet as we took off, trying to calm my racing mind enough to get some sleep. He, on the other hand was busy typing away and talking softly into a headset.

He really wasn't that bad of a guy. He had, after all, spent the last six months searching for me, and I had done a hell of a job covering my tracks if I do say so myself. I'd had several different names, bought a few wigs, and had even picked up a pair of color contacts.

I suppose I should have been more careful in choosing my last pseudonym. Keiko Miko- that was uncommon as a last name with 24 letters. After all, there are so very few miko's in the world to begin with. It must have set off alarms in his assistant's head right away.

Speaking of that assistant-not only had he packed up my entire apartment into only five neat boxes and a suitcase, he'd also driven us to the airport and was now flying the plane. I'd felt very uneasy as first, not being much of a flyer to begin with, but the takeoff had been smooth and Sesshomaru had seemed more than at home with it.

I wanted to talk to him some more, but the moment he'd boarded the plane ahead of me, he'd taken out his cell phone and had been on and off since. Then he'd sat in the seat closet to the cockpit, and between calls, had began working on a laptop computer. The phone rang once more and he hadn't gotten off since.

I watched his face intently before finally figuring out who he was talking to. That soft look in his eyes, though trained on the screen ahead of him; the faint smile that graced his lips, and just the relaxed position of his body. He was talking to his fiancee, Rin. Of course overhearing him say "Don't call me fluffy, you know I hate that." had been something of a dead giveaway too.

I turned my eyes away from the man before me and looked out the window. I could see the faint lights of the world below us as we flew to the city I hadn't seen in a year. The sun had already begun to rise.

I was scared...no more like terrified to go back. I didn't know what to say, not only to Inuyasha, but to my family, the Houshi's and -gulp!- Sango. That girl was sure to kick my ass the moment she saw me. That in itself was enough to convince me to stay right where I was at my quaint little bar.

But...I had no choice now. I was already on my way, so I should probably start to think about how I was going to handle everyone.

I stared out the window for what seemed like hours, trying to sort out all of my thoughts, watching the sunrise as the new day began.

Mom wouldn't be angry with me. She had a knack for understanding the stupid things I did. Souta would just be upset that I hadn't called more. Grandpa would plague me with questions, and probably make me go through some kind of purification ritual when he found out where I'd been.

Sango, I decided, would get over it. Her biggest issue would be that I hadn't taken her along. Miroku wasn't a problem for me, neither were the Houshi's. Even though I'd gotten so close to them in the time before I took off, we'd formed a bond, and I knew it would take more than a year to break it. I only hoped Shippo had coped well with my absence. The boy had stuck to me like glue.

Then there was him.

What the hell was I going to say to Inuyasha?

My stomach was turning just thinking about it. There was no way I could just walk up to him and say "hey I'm back, sorry I tore your heart out and spit on before I left you for a year. Um, I love you?"

No, no, far more tact was required.

I picked at my fingernails as I thought back to what Sesshomaru had told me.

Inuyasha had tried to commit suicide, at my father's gravesite, the day after the Kikyo incident. I felt a pang of guilt as I realized I had already been long gone by then. I could tell Sesshomaru had been angry about it. The look in his eyes. How could I blame him? His only sibling was killing himself over some girl who'd left him in the dust.

But Inuyasha still loved me. After all I'd done to him, after all I'd put him through.

Through all my words and mistakes and jealousy, he'd never once stopped wanting me.

I smiled warmly thinking about it. I didn't deserve him, no. Not at all. But he'd made it quite clear to everyone around him that he didn't give a shit about who did what-he just wanted me to come home.

He just wanted to love me.

Those had been the last words I had heard him say, from the other side of my door as I had cried. My grandfather, Souta and Miroku had had to literally drag him kicking and screaming away from my room. He had wanted me to let him in, not just into the room, but into my heart. He'd just wanted a chance to make me happy, to love me, and all I had done was lock the door.

"I'll never understand how such strong women can cry so much. Rin is much the same way. She's got me wrapped around her little fingers, and she bawls like a baby when she watches any of those girlish movies. But You? All you have to do is look out the window."

I wiped away the stray tears making their way down my face as I tried to glare at him. He sat down opposite of me.

"I was wrong before. You are definitely both brothers. You must be the spoiled one."

"Me? Spoiled? I'm offended." He raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah and I'm the queen of Sheba."

"That might have been another good name for you. Much more creative that Keiko Miko. I mean, come on now? Did you want me to find you?"

"Brat." I stuck my tongue out at him.

"I refuse to sink to your level of childishness. Save that for Inu."

I laughed lightly.

"What did Rin have to say...Fluffy?"

I swear he growled at me.

"I hope I won't have to ask you more than once to never bring that up again. It's simply something she knows I hate and uses to blackmail me into doing her bidding."

"You really love her don't you?" He didn't hesitate to answer me, though he refused to meet my eyes.

"She is my reason for living. I would deny her nothing...not that she gives me much of a choice to argue."

"You're just a big softie aren't ya?" I teased. He rolled his eyes again.

"I can see why you're friends with that Sango girl. You and Rin will get along just fine."

"What makes you so sure things are gonna work out with me and Inuyasha? What if he doesn't want to take me back? What if I leave again?"

"Because I am a Shingetsu, and Shingetsu men are never wrong. My brother is no different." He folded his hands neatly in his lap. "I apologize for shocking you earlier. You're stubborn like him, so it's hard to get you just to listen. Even if Rin hadn't made me come for you, I would have gone still. I can't stand to see my brother fall into the same trap my mother did. I love him, and I would spend the rest of my life trying to make up for leaving him behind. He deserves to be happy, after all he's been through. You won't leave Kagome. Once he sees you again, he's never going to let you go."

"Tell me...tell me what he's like now."

"He hasn't changed a bit. I will admit everything seems to have passed him by. I'm getting married quite soon,-I hope, and Naraku and I have merged our companies together. My mother, she lives with him now. Miro and your little friend have been together for some time. I've granted your family shrine a landmark title and I believe your brother has his eye on one of his classmates. Not that that's any of my business mind you, but he has asked every man he knows for advice...But Inuyasha is still much the same. He still lives in that same apartment, even though he's alone. He still comes to work at the Fukai Mori each morning, and to the mail room at night. I've tried firing him, but he still shows up. He...still goes to that same bus stop where you two met. He refuses to drive anywhere. I think maybe deep inside he carries some hope....that maybe some morning he'll see you there again. He has a lot of hopes when it comes to you Kagome. It's all he has left."

I did my best not to cry again, but to little avail. I couldn't handle the thought of my Inuyasha being so sad.

"It's all my fault..."

"Ah, true, I won't deny that...But there is a certain amount of righteousness in being the one to blame. You see, when something is your fault alone, that means you alone have the power to fix it. You are going to make up for your mistakes Kagome, just as I am going to make up for mine. It may take us the rest of our lives, but dammit if we aren't going to try."

"I...I'm scared Sesshomaru."

"I know. Use that to your advantage. Focus that energy and make it work for you." The moment he said the words, my father's voice popped into my head again, just like it had on the night of my birthday.

"...Feel at peace, Kagome-you are no longer afraid..."

I looked up at Sesshomaru as he continued to gaze out of the window.

"I don't know how to repay you for this."

"You're going to be one of Rin's bridesmaids. She only had Sango and Faye before. I like the idea of there being three. I should point out that you don't have a choice in the matter, she's already decided. Don't argue with her please. I'd like to get married sometime in this lifetime." He said with a dismissing wave.

"Then I'm honored to do so. Sesshomaru, thank you so much, for everything."

"Call me Sess. We're going to be related soon enough."

I furrowed my brow at him, not quite sure what he'd just said.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

The plane dipped a little just then, causing me to yelp in surprise. He looked unfazed as he yawned.

"What the hell was that ?!"

"Turbulence. Must be a storm up ahead. Don't worry Jaken is an experienced pilot. Get some sleep, we've got about two hours before we land."

"Are you sure he'd a good pilot? I mean wasn't he just your chauffer, and your assistant?"

"Jaken is many things and quite good at all of them. Just don't tell him I said so. Now sleep, you look terrible."

I had to smile at that. He was doing his best to calm my nerves, I could tell.

"You know, your brother called me a drowned rat the first time he talked to me. It was raining, and I had no umbrella."

"Charming isn't he?" He muttered.

"Yes...very."

I shifted in the oversized seat and got comfortable. I pulled Sess's jacket tighter around me and closed my eyes, a smile still resting on my lips. I heard his phone ring once more, and he went back to his spot by the cockpit to answer it.

In a few hours I was going to see him, my Inuyasha.

**?? POV**

She continued to sleep soundly, once again completely unaware of the loving eyes steadily trained on her. A content smile rested on his lips as he wondered for the millionth time in the past year just what he'd done to deserve this-to deserve her. It was nothing short of a miracle, to say the least. Here in his arms lay the most perfect, most beautiful woman to grace the earth: Shiori Shingetsu.

She shifted, her eyelids fluttering slightly, and he knew she would be awake soon. He had long since committed her morning routine to memory. First she would turn to her left side, like she had just done. Then she would turn back over onto her right. Finally she would unconsciously snuggle into the warmth of his body as he embraced her.

After that, those warm, enchanting eyes would be gazing directly into his own. He'd often dreamt about it, back before he'd even met Kagura. That he would someday see the same love he felt for her reflecting in her eyes, only this time directed at him...

A moment later, she turned back over, now facing away from him. As he brushed a few stray hairs from her face, he smiled even wider. He had decided that today was the day. Today he would propose to her and ask Shiori to be his forever. Almost a year ago, he would never of even entertained the thought of marrying her as being possible. Now, as she lay peacefully in his arms, he knew deep in his heart, she would not say no. Today every one of his dreams would come true.

And all because of one girl.

He felt a twinge of sadness as she came to mind, as it was usually followed by thoughts of Inuyasha.

No one had been angered that he had let her leave, but that didn't stop him from being disappointed in himself. He had let her slip through his fingers, unable to give the young man that would soon be his son the one thing that would make him truly happy. And not having that one woman by your side...that was a feeling he knew all too well.

'Shoji...would you have done the same?'

Instinctively, he already knew the answer. Yes. Shoji would have let her go, not tried to stop her or talk her out of it. Shoji would have understood. No, he had done the right thing.

The credit card was one of the things that had put Inu's mind at ease, and he was glad that he had given it to her. Unfortunately, his plan to track her movement with it had backfired as Kagome hadn't used the thing in over six months. The large cash withdrawls had spoken volumes though-she did not want to be found. But now that Sesshomaru had set locating her as his mission for making things up to Inuyasha, things might be different very soon. Even at that moment, he was on the east coast, investigating a lead there.

Sesshormaru...he had grown up so well since he'd left. It was incredible, but not at all surprising to see what kind of life he'd made for himself during his absence. Now with the merger, the young man's wedding and the possibility of Kagome soon returning...Marrying Shiori would be the last step to perfecting his life.

Of course this newfound happiness had come with it's downfalls. The main one had been the loss of his one and only son, Kouga. Without so much as a goodbye, he'd left, with even less of a trace than Kagome. He knew where he had gone though. No doubt to his mother and whatever man she'd chosen to leave him for.

Kagura....Kouga....

The only two members of his family had left him, and he accepted most of the responsibility for it.

His wife, because of the woman now curling up against him, and his son, because he had failed as a father. It was complicated, yes, but he knew better than to blame circumstance. If he had learned to live with the life he'd been dealt, and to love the woman who chose to marry him, things might have turned out differently. But Kagura had made her own choices as well, just like Kouga did.

And then again...if he had accepted fate as it came to him...he would not be here now...<i>she</i> would not be here....

Kouga would be happy with his mother, and she with him. They would be fine. Now he had to move on and embrace the future that was dawning before him.

Still....

Shoji had always known. He had known how he felt about Shiori, knew that he loved her with the same intensity. Naraku had fought a constant battle with his own desires and his loyalty to the man who'd been his lifelong friend. The man who'd saved him from an abusive father, who had given him strength to stand on his own, who had saved his life in so many ways.

After Shoji's accident, he'd been wracked with terrible guilt. No, he'd been in no way responsible for it-he hadn't even been on the same coast at the time.

The guilt he felt was born of his reaction to the news. Upon hearing that Shoji was on the brink of death back home, he'd felt a traitorous hope, even if only and ever so slight glimmer, that his best friend would not make it. That his death would leave Shiori alone and ....tragically available for him to take as his own.

He'd hated himself from that moment on. How...How could he think such a thing about the only person who'd ever cared for him?

Shoji recovered, and though he'd lost use of half of his body, he was the same man as ever, full of vigor and life. Naraku however, was rock bottom.

After consulting countless therapists, no solace was found. Was he truly an evil man for such thoughts against Shoji?

He finally come upon the answer himself months later, as he watched the happy couple announcing to friends that they were now expecting their first child.

No. He was not an evil man.

He was simply a man.

Just a man that wanted to love and be loved. He could not be the only one on this vast earth who'd had such thoughts, nor would he be the last. He was only human

From that point on, he'd pulled himself out of the pit of despair he'd dug for himself, and tried his damnedest to live his own life, instead of pining away for what he would never had.

Shiori's constant friendship had been tortuous at first, but gradually, he learned to live without revealing his true feelings to her. If she ever noticed how he felt, she showed no signs. But indeed, Shoji had always known. It was the only source of tension between the men, but surprisingly enough, one that was never voiced or confronted. And it remained that way because of one truth that neither could ever forget or overlook.

They were friends, and that loyalty would not be torn down by any woman. No matter how wonderful she was. No, their connection meant more than that, and would take more than one person to destroy it.

Shoji trusted him without a shadow of a doubt, and in turn, Naraku had always done his best to earn and keep that trust alive.

But now that Shoji was actually gone....

Things were different. He felt the same guilt, not for wanting Shoji's death, but for his current position. This was Shoji's wife, Shoji's love, Shoji's reason for living.

Lithe arms wrapped around his waist, and a contented sigh rose from the still sleeping woman. Stroking her face gently, he came to a realization, one so obvious, but still so unbelievable.

Shoji was dead.

Shiori was alone.

He had always sworn to take care of her if anything happened....and something had.

Shoji wanted things to be this way.

As he pressed a small kiss to her forehead, eyelids fluttered open and her intense brown eyes gazed into his own.

"G' morning..." She mumbled sleepily, laying her head against his chest.

"Good morning." He said back, and enveloped her in a tight embrace.

The immense guilt that had plagued him for the majority of his life seemed to wash away, his bloody hands finally clean. He would remain loyal to the man he owed his life to, and would cherish every second with her.

`Thank you Shoji...thank you for trusting me with her....Thank you....

Suddenly, the phone rang...

Tbc…

If you're wondering, Kagome and Sess's talk took about an hour. Yes, Kagome went to New York basically, but since I've never named the cities, I didn't think doing it now would make much sense. So remember the three hour time difference. By the time Naraku's phone rings in this chapter, Sess and Kag are already on their way home (basically to California. Sorry I live here ya know). The Miro/Sango chapter was also this same morning, let's say about nine or nine thirty. The next one will continue that day.

Man....that lemon tree is getting really big! Very soon, it'll be ripe for the picking.

*vibrating*