InuYasha was flummoxed.

"Go? Go where?" he asked. What was she talking about?

"Away," she answered, keeping her head tucked into his neck. "I know I'm mean and snarky and I've said horrible things. But please don't send me away."

He still didn't understand. "Why would I send you anywhere? Kagome, you have to stop crying and talk to me. "

Knowing he was right, that she couldn't hide forever Kagome slowly calmed herself. This was not the way she had intended to bring this up. No doubt she seemed like a typical overly emotional female.

InuYasha stroked her back with one hand, keeping the other snugly around her waist. He idly wondered if she knew she was in his lap. Not that he minded.

At last Kagome loosened her arms from his neck and sat back. She wiped her eyes and sniffed pitiably. Suddenly realizing her position, she gasped and made to move, but InuYasha used the arm around her waist to anchor her even more snuggly against him.

"Inu-" she started, wriggling to get free.

"No," he answered, his muscles tightening like steel bands about her. "Now talk. What brought this on?"

Kagome traced the patterns on his striped work shirt as she spoke. "The insurance check came a while ago," she told him.

His golden eyes remained on her, patient and warm. "Okay, so?"

Her gaze flew up to his. "So now I have money to get my own place. You don't have to help me out anymore."

He stared at her a moment. He went to speak but she cut him off.

"But I don't want to go! I-"

"Kagome, shut up," he told her.

She did, and stared in shock at him.

"Why would you ever think that I would send you away?" he asked. "Don't you remember the promise I made to you? What I said the day I came back?"

"I told you I'd take care of you," he sighed. "I meant what I said."

He cupped her face in his hands, making sure that she looked him right in the eye. "I told you eleven years ago that my life was yours. Nothing has changed about that, Kagome."

"But I was young, and stupid and insecure and I ruined everything!" she whispered. She was now grasping his shirt in her fists. "I don't want you to be with me because of obligation, InuYasha."

"Never," he growled. "I love you Kagome, don't you know that by now?"

He stroked her lustrous black hair, tucking a few strands behind her ear. "Besides, I have an apology of my own to deliver."

Her heart tripled its beat even as her brow furrowed. "You? For what?"

"I should have tried harder to keep in touch. I should have flown out here even if it meant another fight." Regret was clear in his eyes.

His ears drooped. "If I had, I could have been there for your when your family died. I'm so sorry I wasn't there Kagome, please forgive me."

She gave a little cry and hugged him fiercely. "That was my fault, not yours! I'm the one who refused to answer your letters and calls."

He scoffed. "I made a vow. But…I was young and foolish too. I figured you were too young when I made that oath. I was going to come fix things between us and settle for being friends."

He laughed. "What a stupid idea. I could never be just friends with you."

Unable to stop himself, InuYasha lowered his head to hers, resting his lips on her forehead in the faintest whisper of a kiss. Kagome didn't move, holding her breath.

He repeated the action, ghosting kisses across her cheeks, on the tip of her nose, and then finally on her beautiful mouth, which was soft and pliant and ready. Kagome moved her lips over his in a boldly demanding motion, giving as good as she got.

When they broke away for air, InuYasha repeated, "Never just friends, Kagome. Do you understand?"

She nodded, joy bubbling up and spilling over in tears, happy ones this time.

"Whatever comes, we'll work it out. I don't care about the insurance check," he reassured her. "You can keep it as savings, rebuild your parent's place, spend it all on whatever you want."

"If you want to move somewhere else, we'll do that. I know this place is a bit ritzy for you," he teased. "But no matter what, we stay together, understand? I don't leave you and you don't leave me."

"Always," she breathed, unable to look away from the love and determination in his eyes.

"Forever," he answered, and kissed her again.

XXXXXXXXXX Epilogue

Three months later found them still living in InuYasha's townhouse, only now it was their townhouse. Kagome had added her own touches here and there, and could not imagine herself anywhere else.

She had insisted on using just enough of the insurance money to remove the burned remains of her childhood home, despite InuYasha's willingness to pay for it. Once cleared, she sold the lot to a young couple who had big plans for an adorable craftsman to be built. Kagome was at peace with the outcome.

She was home the day the package came. It was large, around 30 by 36 inches, and it felt solid. Because it had InuYasha's name on it, she didn't open it, though she knew he wouldn't mind. It was probably something to do with his business, so she placed it in his office. He would no doubt tell her about it when he opened it. She could wait.

He came in the door at five. As had become their custom, she greeted him with a kiss that was anything but timid. Oftentimes when she did this, they never made it to the kitchen until supper was very cold. Today, however, he broke the kiss to glance around the foyer.

"Did a package come today?" he asked.

Rather confused as to his lack of enthusiasm, Kagome nodded. "Yes, it's in your office."

He smiled a cheshire cat grin. "Good. Go sit on the couch."

She frowned. "For what? What's going on?"

"Just do it," he called, already making his way down the hall.

Kagome huffed but did as he asked. What was he up to? A few moments later he returned with the package in his arms. He placed it carefully on the coffee table in front of her.

"This is for you."

She blinked. "Me? It has your name on it, InuYasha."

"I know. I had it put under my name so you wouldn't see it before I was with you," he answered.

"What is it," she asked, curiosity growing. He was always generous with gifts for her, ridiculously so.

"You have to open it," he told her.

When she went to do just that, he placed his hand over hers. "I tried to think of something that would connect you to your family. I-I hope you like it."

Really curious now, she reached out and stroked his cheek. "I always love the things you give me, InuYasha. I know I'll love this, too."

He swallowed hard, nodded, and removed his hand. "Open it carefully; don't drop it or bang it on the table."

Kagome frowned, but did as he said, taking her time and handling the package gently. Inside the outer shell was something surrounded by a thin layer of packing foam. InuYasha helped her remove it, setting the packaging aside and placing it back on the table. He seemed more uncertain and nervous than before.

Carefully, Kagome removed the foam, then the thin foam sheet over what seemed to be a picture of some sort. But it was too heavy to be a simple picture. Just what had he done?

When she finally pulled back the last cover, she gasped. Tears ran down her cheeks as she sat in awe.

"Where did you get this? How?" Her voice was thick with emotion. Her hands stroked the delicate outlines and lustrous glaze of the scene before her.

"I saw you that day, holding your mom's china shard. I remember your story, and how much it meant to her," he said. "I saw how hard it was for you to leave it behind, even broken and burned."

InuYasha gazed with her at the collage, made from her mother's china fragments and other solid colored pieces, depicting a rose garden, complete with trellis and chair, just like her mother's. There was a cane leaning against the table, made of grey porcelain, just like her grandfather's, and on the table was one of his beloved bonsai trees. In the yard, a black and white soccer ball sat waiting for Souta to come play.

"I went back soon after and gathered what pieces I could. I took them to a local artist and told her what I wanted, and this is the result. Is it okay?" he asked.

Kagome gazed at him, tears still flowing. This man before her, this man had dug around in the dirty ashes of her destroyed home, searching for fragments of broken china. Fragments most people would have forgotten about, considered beyond use, he had saved. For her. To create something beautiful out of the ashes that she could remember her family with every time she looked at it.

"It's perfect!" she cried, flinging herself into his arms. "You're perfect!"

And InuYasha held her there a long time, grateful beyond measure for this second chance. It was indeed, perfect.

XXXXXXXXXXX

Finis

I hope you've enjoyed Out of the Ashes. It was both a joy and a sorrow to write, but I finished it as happily as I could. How did I do?

I'm not sure what I want to post next. Another I/K, or my first Mir/San. What do you think?

Review and let me know. Whichever, it goes up next Friday, so stay tuned!