Disclaimer: I am not delusional ~ I don't own Inuyasha.

A/N: Don't you hate it when you've been waiting and waiting for an author to post a chapter of a story you've been following, only to find that they've posted a chapter alright ~ but not for the story you've been wanting updated? In fact, the new chapter is a for a new story that he or she has obviously been working on instead of finishing the one you've been eagerly awaiting? Ugh! I hate that! I really do!

So, now that I'm a hypocrite by my own definition, please let me explain (to those of you that care). I have NOT ditched Dance of Life!!! I am working on it, bit by bit. But tonight when I sat down to write on it, I had massive writer's block, coupled with this new story spinning around in my brain, demanding to get out. I figured if I wrote it, I would get it out of my head, and be able to get back and finish my other story. Gomen! Please forgive me. I am working on it.

Ok, here goes.very short, I know, but for those of you who have read my previous story (which, by the way, this is in no way linked, except that it is an IY fic, and of course, is IY/Ka because I don't write anything else...), you will know that I am almost never short winded. In other words, this will be the only short chapter!

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A Hanyou's To-Do List

You probably have one - a list of things you want or need to accomplish within the parameters of a certain time span - whether assigned or self- imposed. A list of goals, if you will. It may or may not be written down, but even if you have never thought of it as one, you probably have a "to-do list".

Inuyasha had one, too. He never called it that, of course, or even thought of it as a list, but he had one. In his mind, he had what he thought were clearly defined goals to accomplish. As time went by some of the goals changed, but they still had an order to them which, according to his own code of honor, he felt was unalterable. Half-breed or not, he took pride in knowing himself to be an honorable being ~ one who fulfilled his commitments, even at considerable risk to himself, both emotionally and physically.

First on his list, of course was to gather all the shards of the Shikon no Tama. Without it, accomplishing the rest of his goals would be much more difficult; even impossible. Closely following that goal was to kill Naraku and avenge the evil done to himself and Kikyo, as well as to his friends Miroku and Sango, and their families.

He had another goal, but it was one he rarely allowed himself the luxury of considering. And yet it was this very goal that gave him the strength and will to go on fighting every day. He was very well aware that his chances of surviving the battle with the evil Naraku could very well end up in his own death, and it was a chance he was glad to take. But if by chance, by some miracle of the gods, that he were to survive and come out victorious with the help of his friends... On very rare occasions, when the night was clear and starry, and the air was still and free of malevolent youkai, he would perch on a branch high in a tree and contemplate a life after their quest had ended. A life with a mate and a family, and something he hadn't known since he was a small pup...

A home.