A/N So here's the second story I've been working on. I'm not sure when I'll be able to post another story but hopefully soon.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.


Background (on time's passage): It's always been nagging me about the way time works in the Inuyasha storyline. The way I see it, when a month passes for Kagome in the past, a month has passed for her family in the future. That means that when 500 years have passed for Inuyasha and the others-going from 1500s to 2000s (and they catch up to Kagome's time), her family would have also had 500 years pass and so instead of being in the 2000s, they would be in the 2500s. That means no matter what, those in the feudal era will never catch up to Kagome's time as they will always be trailing by 500 years. That's the premises this story works on.


The past was a tight shackle that held her down. And it infuriated him. Why should she, someone who didn't even belong there, be tied down by sometime that should have had no effect on her? She was an innocent bystander who had gotten dragged into a mess and now she-not the ones responsible-would bear the consequences. It tore at him to see her get thinner, and more weak-willed as time wore on. They both knew that was something she was running out of. Both here and in the future. As she strove to protect his world, her own was crumbling. Slowly, she was being alienated from what was truly hers and while she would always deny, he knew that as much as she loved it here, the future was where she belonged.

Above them, the stars continued their trek across the night sky, seeming to be invincible soldiers heading off into the unknown, like she had once headed off, strong and determined, even if it was for all the wrong reasons. And then he thought they seemed to be like sand in an hourglass, slowly marking the passage of time, a nightly reminder that soon, someone or something would have to give in.

It pained him in a million ways. Despite knowing that she would be happier in the future, he wished that she would stay in the past, where she was always within reach. But it was her happiness for his and that was something he could never ask. She had already given up so much; how could he ask her to give it all up? Her family, her life and everything she knew. Reincarnation or not, she had been born and grew up in a time that he would never reach. In the 500 years it would take for him to catch up to her, she herself would have already experienced those same years. And he knew that no matter how hard he ran, she would always be 500 years away.

And so, when before the final battle she walked up to him and slid a necklace with a simple crescent shape stone around his neck, he knew that this was goodbye. And when her eyes locked onto his, he realized that she knew the truth as well as he did. This was the end, for there would be no catching up, no fate or destiny to reconnect them.

And when the battle ended and the festivities slowed, he watched quietly as she smiled at everyone, making false promises of always looking for them in the future. Neither had the heart to destroy the hope that was slowly building after years of fighting, tears and heartbreak. It would be better when time had allowed the still fresh wounds to heal and the truth would be easier to accept. And as she went to jump into the well, and her eyes locked onto his for the final time, the last goodbye was exchanged and the last secret smile was given. Then she was gone and he slowly walked away, knowing that she was where she belonged and that everything would now be okay, because 500 years or not, they had made an unbreakable bond that would span the gap. And because, time was no match for the friendship they had shared.