She stood under the sacred tree smiling to herself. In her hand she held the gateway to the future. The small piece of paper, was what she had been waiting for for months. Finally she would be able to give Inuyasha a definite answer about their future together.

She felt it the spark of his aura against hers unadulterated happiness filled her. Turning around, dark brown eyes gazed into molten gold and her smile fell. The silver haired boy that she loved so much, had a grim expression. The kind of expression that could only lead to tears. Immediately her thoughts went to his mother, silently praying that everything was alright. She rushed to his side.

"Are you okay?" He shrugged his shoulders gliding lightly on his feet moving past her towards the sacred tree.

She felt her stomach drop to the floor, he didn't reach out to hug her or attempt to steal a kiss. She braced herself, unsure of what to do as dread filled her She didn't want to see him hit rock bottom again, her heart and his wouldn't be able to recover so easily a second time.

"Kagome I need to talk to you about something."

Taking a deep breath trying to settle the uneasiness in her stomach. "Talk then, you are starting to freak me out."

Her gaze drifted to her feet, she couldn't keep gaze with the intensity in his eyes as they went from gold to deep amber.

"Kikyou broke up with Naraku" The air went still, the blow struck she steadied herself as dizziness set in. " She came to me today, wanting to talk."

Kagome expected pain but not the pain that came from the person she loved jamming a knife into her back.

"She wanted to give us a try. She really thinks this is our chance to get it right"

Kagome couldn't meet his eyes, her teeth biting into her lower lip. She was trying as hard as she could to keep from crying, trying harder to keep her body from trembling and trying her damndest to keep from falling at his feet.

"You know I always wanted a chance with her. The time was never right, and now after all this time I finally have an opportunity."

She felt a hand upon her shoulder but she shrugged it off. "I am sorry Kagome. I am so sorry I love you. You have to believe me when I say it, I do love you. But if I don't take this chance, I will regret it for the rest of my life. I might just end up bitter and spiteful towards you to, and I don't want things to be that way."

Kagome laughed the kind of laugh that bubbled from the pit of her stomach built with anger. Bile burned in her throat. She couldn't meet his stare, turning abruptly she looked up at the dazzling blue sky blinking the threatening tears away.

"Do what you have to do. I don't want to stop you from being happy."

"Kagome I.."

She put up her hand stopping any further words from being uttered. She couldn't face him not in this moment. She couldn't look at the boy she loved and show him how he was tearing her apart.

The bitterness and anger coiled inside of her. The crumpled paper felt heavy in her hand, she almost laughed loudly. Oh what a fool she was, she had planned her future around her love for this boy. And now that future was bleak, it was empty.

"Kagome, look at me."

She shook her head "This is obviously a sign. I didn't get into Tokyo University any way." crunching the paper tighter in her hand. "It looks like things have turned out the way they were supposed to. So go take your chance at happiness."She turned and flashed him her million dollar smile finally meeting his gaze. He didn't move not even a swivel of his ears. "I will route for your happiness every step of the way."

His mouth was slightly agape, before he could utter a word, she began to walk back to the house. Turning once more "Thanks for everything, now go before it gets late."

She didn't want to hold that last image of him as they parted in her mind. Instead she choose to remember the boy he was when they were younger. The friend that had always been at her side. The boy who spared her pain and discomfort.

When she reached the door, she took a deep breath and made a promise to herself. She would never again be someone's second choice. She would put herself first and find someone who wanted her for her, not just a stepping stone to her half sister.