Chapter 1: You were Mine

Inuyasha had just returned from the Feudal Era. He had been staying over there longer and longer for the past few weeks. Kagome watched as he packed his things into a bag. He didn't bother to pack one single picture.

Kagome swallowed her tears as he made his way out of their bedroom.

'Why?' Her mind screamed. 'Why now?'

"Inuyasha," she whispered, he didn't even turn around at the sound of her voice.

If only he would talk to her, tell her what was wrong. How could Kikyou have reached into the future and taken him away from her. Kagome couldn't believe after they had been together for so long that Inuyasha was leaving her.

She didn't want to live 'life after Inuyasha', she didn't want to ever have that kind of mourning in her life. After he left the house, Kagome found herself alone in the bedroom. It was late so she went to bed.

"No, Inuyasha! Please stay!" She cried in her sleep, pleading with her only love not to leave her alone.

She woke up freezing and with the tears running down her cheeks.

Kagome got out of bed and closed the open window. Inuyasha always loved to feel the clean air from outside creep in under the sheer curtains. Kagome walked into the living room picking up the scrapbook of their wedding day. The book opened up to a picture of her in a flowing white dress beside Inuyasha in a black tuxedo.

Kagome couldn't have realized what would have eventually befallen her happy, younger self. She looked at their happy faces, looking at each other and seeing only their loved one. The love that warmed Inuyasha's eyes that day made her want to weep.

How could Kikyou pull Inuyasha away from her? How could she come back from the underworld, after betraying Inuyasha, and take his heart away. Kikyou, who wanted change who Inuyasha was, wanted him to be someone else. A human.

Kagome left the room and wandering back to bed. She dreamed of Inuyasha coming back home and telling her that he loved her and only her. But soon she woke from that dream crying again, knowing it to be only a dream in her heart of hearts.

The irony of the whole situation made her sick to her stomach. What kind of twisted world did she live in where she only got him for a little while, before Kikyou swooped in again?

She got up and made her way down the hallway and into the spare bedroom.

She pushed the door open to see her children sleeping peacefully. They had made their parents marriage and devotion to each other stronger at their births.

They wouldn't know their father had left them till the morning. And how would they react? She walked back through their empty house and sat down on the couch and began to weep.

She wept for all the happy memories that they had shared. She wept for all the memories they lost.

Kagome looked out the window to see the sun rising. Even on the darkest night, she found comfort in knowing the sun would rise in the morning. Maybe, just maybe, life after Inuyasha wouldn't be so bad.

And she thought to herself, I remember when you were mine.

A few weeks later...

"Kagome, you don't have to do this!" Her mother argued with her. Her mother was holding her two year old son.

"Mom, what kind of future can they have in this world?" Kagome asked with exasperation.

"One where they can grow in peace, and with a family that loves them for who they are!" Her mother yelled.

"Mom, they don't belong here," Kagome said calmly still packing their clothes into bags.

"You're being selfish, Kagome!" Her mother said quietly. "You're going to drag these children back into Feudal Japan so that you can be close to their father! They don't deserve this! Haven't they suffered enough already?"

"I don't care what you think or say," Kagome said.

"Where will you live?" Her mother cried. "Think, Kagome! For God's sake!"

Kagome sighed. "We will come and visit."

She picked up the bags she had packed and walked out of the house to well house. She threw the bags into the well and walked back into the house.

"Kagome," Souta said. "Please listen to Mom, come on Kagome! You can't take a two year old into the Feudal Era!"

But, Kagome was being stubborn and she was not just going to sit by as Inuyasha walked out of her life. She would not allow him to abandon her or their children. Her presence in the Feudal Era would force him to acknowledge her and their children.

"But what about Izayoi and Tashio?" Souta asked angry that his sister would endanger his niece and nephew.

"They will be fine," Kagome said as she pushed pass him.

"Mama! Are we going to see Daddy!" Izayoi asked excitedly.

"I don't know, baby," Kagome said patting her head. "We're going to see some of Mama's friends though."

"Yay!" The young child shouted.

Kagome walked into the living room to see her mother had abandon her son with her grandfather.

"Kagome," her grandfather sighed.

"Grandfather, this is something I must do," Kagome said sitting down next to him.

"It may not work out, Kagome," he said handing her son to her.

"Mama!" Tashio cooed.

"Here," her mother said coming into the room carrying a large diaper bag. "This should last you a while since Tashio is almost potty trained. There is also medicine for the children and bottles."

"Thanks Mom," Kagome sighed.

Her mother hugged her tightly. "Protect my grandchildren no matter what, Kagome!"

"I will."

They said their final goodbyes in the doorway of the well house. Kagome was holding a sleeping Tashio in her arms and had Izayoi by the hand.

"On three, okay Izayoi?" Kagome said as they got ready to jump into the well.

"Okay!"

"One, two, three!" They shouted together and jumped into the well. Tashio woke as the light was engulfing them and started to cry.

"Shh! Tashio! Mama is right here!" Kagome soothed him and by that time they were already at the bottom of the well, and in the Feudal Era.

"Kagome!" Shouted a shrill voice as she climbed out of the well, which was difficult while trying to hold Tashio.

Shippo came bouncing up to her. "I can't believe you came back!"

"Here Shippo, hold Tashio," Kagome said handing the toddler over.

"Oh, wow! He looks just like Inuyasha!" Shippo exclaimed. He had trouble holding the toddler since he was only twice the pup.

"Mama! I want to get out of here!" Izayoi whined at the bottom of the well.

"You've got two kids! Wow! Not even Sango has two kids!" Shippo said excitedly.

Kagome climbed back down into the well and carried Izayoi up. She put Izayoi on the ground and climbed down into the well to get their bags.

"How long are you staying Kagome?" Shippo asked noticing all the bags. "Why didn't you come with Inuyasha?"

His question made her freeze. "Have you seen Inuyasha, Shippo?"

Shippo hesitated at the anger in her voice. "Yes...just a few weeks ago when he came out of the well. But, I haven't seen him since then."

"Oh," was all Kagome said. "Can you help with all this stuff?"

"Yes!" Shippo said picking up as many bags as he could carry. He grown into an adolescent while she had been away and was about the size of a young human child. "Are you staying with us in the village?"

"Of course, Shippo!" Kagome said smiling her anger had disappeared.

Sango and Miroku were happy to see Kagome and her children, but they didn't tell her that they had been expecting her. They had known something fishy was going on when Shippo had reported seeing Inuyasha come through the well alone. Although the sight of him coming through the well alone was commonplace, Inuyasha had not returned immediately to the future.

"Your children are beautiful, Kagome, they look just like Inuyasha," Sango said to see how Kagome would react.

Kagome only smiled at the compliment. "Yes, they do take after their father."

"Ah, but Izayoi has the beauty of her mother," Miroku said looking at the girl carefully.

"Your daughter is beautiful as well, Miroku," Kagome said smiling at the three year old. Izayoi and Jade had not left each other's side since their meeting. "I'm happy they play so well together."

"Is Tashio short for Inutaisho?" Miroku asked curious about the baby's name.

"Yes, it was Inuyasha's decision," Kagome said smiling sadly. Sango frowned at her friend's sad face and decided to find out what was bothering her.

"Kagome, could you come with to collect the clothes off the clothesline?" Sango asked getting up.

Kagome nodded and followed Sango out of the hut.

Once they were away from the hut Sango began her questioning.

"What is it Kagome? Why are you so sad?" Sango asked grabbing Kagome's hands.

Kagome blinked back the tears threatening to fall. "What-what do you mean?"

"Oh, Kagome!" Sango sighed. "We know Inuyasha came through the well a few weeks ago, and without returning to you. What happened? You can tell me!"

Kagome sighed as she lost the fight to control her tears. "He...he left us."

Sango looked at her, puzzled, then her face smoothed in understanding. "Kikyou?"

Kagome nodded wordlessly. Sango hugged her dearest friend and began to cry with her, sharing her grief.

"I'm so sorry, Kagome," Sango choked out. "Why would he leave though? I thought you were mated?"

Kagome had no answer and only cried harder.

Sango just hugged her friend and tried to offer her all the comfort she could.