I would like to thank everyone for revewing the Comparison Game your encouraging words inspired me to write this semi-short sequal. I tried to make into a one shot but it is going to be a two or three shot so enjoy.
For three days he didn't speak to me. He wouldn't even look me or offer to carry me. In his mind he was probably picturing me and Sesshomaru embracing and laughing behind his back. I can't blame him. It was what I kept imagining every time he ran to Kikyo.
I was just so tired of fighting with him and causing the rest of our pack un-necessary tension that by the fourth day, I was going to apologize until Naraku came.
His attack was fast injuring all of us immediately. If it wasn't for the many people following that disgusting pig that night to end his miserable life, our lives would have also been ended that same night.
Many were hurt; Sango had two broken ribs and was cradling a slowly dying Miroku in her arms. Koga was bleeding from the wound in his legs were the jewel was ripped out of his body by Naraku's revolting tentacles but other than that he would survive. Sesshomaru looked pristine as ever. Not a smidge of dirt or a drop of blood. And Kikyo was dead, while a bloody Inuyasha was kneeled over her body crying.
And I…well I was alone covered in dirt, cuts, and bruises.
I stood alone while my friends were hurt and wounded around me. My soul cried at the scene and my heart ached with the knowledge that I could not stay here. The feudal era had become a drug that I had become very addicted. Inuyasha was my dealer and drug of choice.
I would always keep returning to them both and left with the feeling of wanting more. Now, I had to give up that drug cold turkey. I could never be first in Inuyasha's life anyways. I could never be Kikyo. So maybe it was for the best.
I felt the pulse of the tama in my hand a constant reminder that I still had a duty to fulfill. And no matter how badly I wanted to end up on this side of the well when that duty was done, the bottom line was I did not belong here no matter how much I wanted to stay.
I just did not belong here.
Tears that were flowing freely from my eyes now blurred my vision as I peered down at the now complete jewel. I knew the wish that had to be made but first I pulled a small letter out of my bra. I couldn't risk it getting damage in my bag so I kept it close to my heart. Where memories of my friends will continue to reside, even after I am gone from this time and where my love for a golden eye hanyou will always continue to haunt me.
Damaging me for all other.
I did not write the letter to them but to Shippo, the small Kitsune who was like a son and younger brother rolled into one incredible cute stuff doll. I knew once the time came for me to leave this era, I would be unable to say good-bye, so I wrote Shippo a letter to read once I was gone.
So without looking into his water green eyes, I handed him the letter. All the while closing my eyes and bringing the jewel to my lips to whisper my wish.
The wind seemed to pick up around me as the jewel burned bright white with my wish. Then it crumpled into dust within the palm of my hand. The torrential winds spraying the dust around me like a tornado and fading my friends battered forms from my sight. I thought I heard my name yelled in the distanced but the howl of the wind around me was to loud to be sure.
I hated how things were ending but maybe it was for the best. I get to start fresh now and decide who I really am. For too long, I wore the labels that others have given to me. Shard detector, reincarnation, miko from the future, but not one of those labels was placed there by me.
Wiping the tears from my eyes, I finally open my eyes and realize that I know longer stood in a bloody battle field. I was standing in the middle of my family shrine but it no longer felt like home. I had spent so much time in the feudal era concerned about Inuyasha and my friends that had become a stranger to my own time… to my own family.
Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath. It was now my time to place me first, to place my family first. I will not look back or regret my choices….right now in this moment I was free of burdens that I had never wanted but accepted without argument.
Just when I felt ready to exhale all of my past grief, I heard my name spoken by the one person I never thought I would see again. His voice was soft and deeper then I remembered it to be. His aura tickles my senses and I felt myself pulled back into the addiction I thought I could quit since I would never be around it again.
I slowly yet reluctantly opened my eyes to a beautiful and breathlessly painful site. He was standing there a bit taller than when I saw him few seconds ago and still as beautiful as the day I pulled him from the God Tree.
Gone was his boyish good look, instead before me stood a man who looked like he was no older the 25. Dressed in fitted black jeans and a red cotton t-shirt that accentuated his muscular figure.
His silver hair was now braided down his back and pulled over his shoulder right shoulder and a blue stripe adorned his cheeks and arms. His cute ears were still on the top of his head and his amber colored eyes look… they looked full with some emotion that I did not want to think about because by his side was the most stunning brunette… a brunette that should not have lived this long… a brunette that should have died centuries ago… Sango.
The sister I never had but always wanted. Standing there, still looking the same as she did when I left her…seconds ago and even more beautiful… if that was possible. Wearing a black pencil skirt and a white blouse and her hands were intertwined with his.
The man I cried for, the man I messed up my future for, the man I wanted so bad I made myself sick for. My dealer…My addiction.
"Kagome", this time my name was spoken by her, my sister in spirit, my enemy, his mate. That was the only possible way she could have lived this long. Suddenly it was too much to bear as I took a step back. I slammed my hands over my ears trying to keep their voices out of my head. I closed my eyes trying to keep their concerned treacherous eyes and hands from my sight.
"I can't do this, I can't do this" was a mantra that I not only sang in my head repeatedly but out loud. They took a step toward me but I slammed a barrier around me so fast it shook the shrine grounds.
"Kagome please let us in. Let us clean you up", Inuyasha said as he stepped before my barrier. Trying to pacify me with words but his actions had put into motion a withdrawal so bad that if he spoke one more word to me I was going to snap.
"You need to go, you need to leave. I can't do this I can't play this game I need a time out", I said, my hand itching to touch him, his marks, his ears, but he was no longer mine.
He never was.
Then a deeper more commanding voice was heard. Slowly opening my water eyes, I noticed Sesshomaru and Shippo for the first time. Dressed in a dark blue business suit, Sesshomaru had his clawed arms embracing Sango as she cried into his chest and Shippo stood off to the side observing.
"Let us go Inuyasha. Our presence only seems to distresses the miko more", Sesshomaru stated authoritatively yet softly as his eyes held mine. Silently willing me to do as Inuyasha asked but not pushing… never pushing. Never breaking eye contact with me he gently released his embraced on Sango to place a hand on Inuyasha still form.
"We waited this long, we can wait a little longer", Sesshomaru one again spoke but the softness in his voice contradicted the worried look I kept seeing in his eyes.
"He is right Inuyasha", Sango choked out between hiccupped cries. "We waited this long, let's give her time to adjust. Years have passed for us but seconds for her. Let us go". Once again she choked out but this time she stepped in between the two Inu demons and loving rubbing their head and back lack a master would do their dogs.
They both stood beside her, both a pillar of strength and entwined their hands with each of hers. Silently giving each other their strength and affection… and then they were gone.
The silent scream that I had been slowly building and holding since Inuyasha said my name came forth and my barrier popped like a floating bubble. I felt cold and numb not just on the outside but on the inside and like a faucet my tears stopped.
He was with her now. They were a happy little family and my resolve to put me first had never felt stronger. Time. They had their time and now it was mine.
Brown loafers filled my view from the floor as a clawed tanned hand was offered to me. "Are you going to be okay"? The soft semi- masculine voice asked. I looked up into Shippo's sparkling green eyes.
"Yes", I said softly. Already formulating plans for my future in my mind. I placed my hands into Shippo's larger one and genuinely smiled for the first time since being back into my time.
"I think I am going to be okay", as I wrapped my arms around him for more support.
"Great! Let me tell you how wealthy you are. The advice you left me made us very wealthy individuals", Shippo affectionately stated as he guided me into the house to plan my new life.