Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha! Just plot and eventual OCs.
Prologue
The winds blew a bit harshly, disrupting the tranquil leaves. Winter was fast approaching. Kagome pushed the hair out of her face as she slowly walked the worn path. The path she had traveled for the past three years hunting shards. It was over now. All the shards had been found and the real Naraku was no more. What was even better was the jewel was put back in her body to lay dormant once again.
Kagome put her right hand over her heart in remembrance. A soft sigh escaped her now full lips. She shook her head to wipe the memories away. Her feet took her closer to her destination. No. She refused to cry. It was over, and she was going to go home now. Forever.
Inuyasha chose Kikyo…and I'm happy for him, but I don't have a reason really to stay here anymore.
"I have to move on with my life now….without him…" she whispered to herself, her words carrying on the wind.
She came to the clearing where her future was. The well seemed to glow, welcoming her back. The magic was fading though. She knew that once she crossed, she would never be able to come back.
Kagome stood in front of the well looking down into the dark depths. A single tear fell from her eye as a small smile appeared on her features. She turned her head from the darkness of the well to the starry night above her. Another tear fell from her eye. Her smile was big now, and genuine.
"I am happy for you Inuyasha. Even if it is not with me, and it still makes me happy." She said as she wiped her tears away, but the smile remained.
Before she jumped, a rough hand gripped her wrist. She was yanked off the lip of the well. It was so sudden she had no time to scream. Kagome saw her life flash before her eyes. The hand released her wrist. Her big over stuffed backpack sent her toppling backwards. She was knocked out of her memories as her butt hit cold grass.
"Ouch!" Kagome whined as she stood up wiping her backside of dirt and leaves. She took off the backpack and whirled around to face her fate. A scowl marred her perfect complexion. Murder passed behind her cinnamon eyes as she stared at the attacker. The assailant was oblivious of his doom.
"Oi! Where do you think you are going?" Inuyasha yelled at her.
Kagome was absolutely livid. She clenched her hands into fists at her sides, hackles raised. "I'm going home Inuyasha." She bit out to him between clenched teeth.
"Oh, be back in the morning. Sango will be mad if you aren't." Inuyasha turned to head back to his hut, with his newly made mate. Kagome's anger seeped away with a gust of air. She shook her head at him. The clueless hanyou.
"Inuyasha, I'm not coming back. The well will only work once more. I'm returning where I belong." Kagome fought the tears back. She had better control then this.
Inuyasha stopped dead in his tracks. Reality biting him square on his ass. The selfish half demon's mind was racing. His best friend was leaving for good. His Kagome was not going to be coming back at all.
NO! She can't leave! Sango and Shippo need her! I…I still need her here…with me…my one true friend…what can I do?
Kagome had shouldered her pack once more. She walked back to the well's edge as his voice broke her concentration once again from jumping. She didn't turn around though. She was happy for him. She wasn't going to show him her tears. Not anymore.
"Kagome, don't go. Shippo needs you. Sango too. I..I…." Inuyasha's voice was just above a whisper. His grayish bangs covered his eyes from view, hiding his own watery eyes from her. His hands made fists at his side. Kagome slowly looked over her shoulder at him. A watery gaze with matching smile.
"They'll be fine Inuyasha. Sango has Miroku, and she said she was going to raise Shippo. You have Kikyo now…" Inuyasha cut her off.
"Damn it Kagome, stay with us!" he growled out.
"Why stay Inuyasha when there isn't anything here for me! I'm not from this time. I don't belong here at all." Kagome snapped back. "I'd rather be married to Sesshomaru then stay and watch everyone be happy… when I'm not." She breathed airily as she turned her head once more to the beckoning well. "I just don't want to be alone anymore."
Inuyasha had heard her below normal declaration. He was stunned, but it got the wheels in his mind going. (Watch out world!) He formed a plan. Kagome's foot was hanging over the edge when he stunned her once again.
"Two weeks! Give me two weeks to prove that there is something for you here. With us." Inuyasha declared to her back. His eyes were stern with just a dash of mischief.
Kagome turned around. Her arms were crossed over her chest. She was eighteen now. She wasn't as flat as she used to be, so it was still kind of awkward, but old habits die hard. She gave him her best glare. He inwardly cringed back. He wasn't going to be swayed. He was determined to get her to stay.
"And if you can't, I get to go back to my own time?" she raised an eyebrow to go with her stare.
"Yeah. IF I can't find a reason for you to stay here in this time within two weeks, you get to go home." He gulped hoping her competitive nature kicked in.
"You got yourself a bet Inuyasha." She put her hands on her hips. She was going to win this one. She just knew it.
"Huh?" Inuyasha was ready to give her another round of excuses when her answer came to his ears. It showed on his face. Kagome chuckled at him. She just couldn't stay mad at him. She hopped down from the well and strode over to him.
"I said, you're on dog boy!" Kagome gave him one of her brightest smiles. The dog comment didn't faze him as her smiles did. She held out her right hand to shake on it. Inuyasha looked at her, then at her hand warily. Exasperated already, Kagome grabbed his right hand and showed him what a handshake was. Kagome went back to her stance with her arms crossed over her chest.
"If I remember correctly Sango and Miroku will be getting married in two weeks. Well, that means the day of the wedding, everything will be decided." Kagome beamed as she clapped her hands in merriment. Inuyasha was going to head back with Kagome when he got whiff of something very familiar. Inuyasha stopped. Kagome stopped a little ahead of him sensing that he wasn't moving. She turned around in time to see him dash off to the left.
"Inuyasha?" puzzlement evident in her tone.
Frustrated beyond words she followed after him, hoping he wasn't going to get into trouble again before she won the bet.
Inuyasha drew Tetsaiga in time to parry an attack. Sesshomaru didn't waste any time. His second attack came in blinding force. Inuyasha went flying into a tree. He got up huffing and mad now. Sesshomaru just smirked at him. It was so easy to taunt the half breed. He was useless, save sparse amusement. He lunged with Toukijin aiming for his throat. Inuyasha readied for it this time. Blocked again. Undaunted Sesshomaru came at him again smirking.
"No pretty Miko to save you now little brother." He swung the sword only to miss as Inuyasha dodged. Some of the forest trees fell, cut clean into stumps.
The statement caught his attention. Some how he knew how to get Kagome to stay here now. It made his gut churn, but he was going to do it. He was going to play cupid for the two. Of course, he could not tell them. Inuyasha made a move to jump and slice per normal Inuyasha fashion, when one word made it all come crashing down around him. More like he crashed into it.
"Sit!" Kagome hollered. She stomped to the edge of the crater that was the shape of her friend. "You forgot Inuyasha that Sesshomaru helped us kill Naraku. That makes him as welcome here as you are. Got it!" Her words echoing down into the pit. She heard a yermph, and was satisfied. Inuyasha made no move to get up. Kagome nodded and stood up facing Sesshomaru.
"Sesshomaru-sama, what brings you here?" she asked as cheerily as she could, trying to not notice the obvious signs of fighting.
Sesshomaru looked at her in the eyes, back to Inuyasha's indent, back to her. Kagome fidgeted a bit under his gaze. He took in the woman that stood there. He compared her to her former school girl form. He nodded his head slightly approving the sight. He'd never admit it to anyone however. That meant death. More death if you even asked.
"Hnn." He stood up from a fighting stance he was still in. He moved to stand in front of Inuyasha's hole.
"I will be back again, half-breed." He turned his molten pools on Kagome. With a slight nod of his head he bid her farewell. "Miko." Before he vanished in a blurry gust, Kagome called out to him. A plan set in motion.
"Sesshomaru-sama, may I have a moment of your time…alone?" She ignored Inuyasha's slight protest. Not his usual anger, but she wanted to get this done with. She stepped around the indent. She stood in front of Sesshomaru waiting for a reply. He just nodded affirmation. He started to walk off into the near by woods, just to the right of the path. Kagome followed. Her stomach was in knots. She had no idea what she was getting herself into, but it was for Inuyasha, so she would gladly do anything.
Sesshomaru stopped just out of Inuyasha's hearing range and sat underneath what was known as the God Tree. Kagome found it kind of ironic, but kept the thought to herself. She shook her raven locks, freeing the tresses to play in the wind.
Sesshomaru sat watching her. She was a puzzle. This miko intrigued him to a fault. He was curious as to what she had to speak to him about. Her silence was a bit a nerving him.
"What is it you want girl?" he snapped.
Kagome jumped, being knocked from her thoughts. She was trying to get the wording to her question. Now it was all washed away by his deep baritone. She nibbled on her lower lip in frustration. She closed her eyes. A soft sigh escaped her lungs as she found her back bone.
"Sesshomaru-sama, I have a little…wager…I'd like to offer you." Her tone came out broken and rushed. He caught it though.
A delicate ivory eyebrow went up towards his long bangs. She was intriguing him even more now. Wager? What does this slip of a woman have that I, Sesshomaru, would want or need? I am, however…curious…
"What is it that you propose." It came out bland and demanding. Kagome wondered how on Earth he could do that with his voice. She'd ask him another time. If she had another time. Here goes nothing…sorry Inuyasha…this is for your sake…
"I bet you that you can't be nice to Inuyasha for two weeks."
Sesshomaru scoffed at her openly. A rare sight in of it self. He stood up and leaned against the tree. He folded his arms across his chest glaring at her good and hard. Dusk yellow orbs bore into her round candy colored eyes. Kagome stood her ground. She wasn't going to pass this chance up. She took a deep breath and exhaled. Staring straight back at him with her inner fire lighting her pearlesent jewels to a bright cyan tone.
"What could you possibly have for me to make such a wager woman?"
"I bet you that if you are nice to Inuyasha for two weeks, I'll give you Tetsaiga." She unwavered. Her voice held, but inside she felt sick.
To say Sesshomaru was shocked was an understatement. They just stared at each other as the minutes dripped by. Kagome went on to finish what she had to say.
"If you can not be nice for two whole weeks, you will never bother Inuyasha again for the sword." She knew it was impossible for Sesshomaru, the Lord of the West, to be nice to his half brother. Kagome was going to win this bet too. Sesshomaru stood up and walked to stand in front of her.
"You are willing to make this wager without that half breed's consent?"
She felt his breath brush past her cheeks as he looked down on her. She kept her gaze straight at him. Nothing was going to move her from this. Mountains would stand and dance before she gave up.
"Yes I am. Do we have a deal my Lord?" it was her turn to sound icy and demanding. Sesshomaru smirked at the show of bravery this girl had. She would be the only one to get away with it too.
"I accept your wager, Miko Kagome." He nodded his head and turned to walk away when she stopped him once more. Her audacity taking him off guard once more.
"Kagome, just Kagome. Kikyo is a miko, and I am just me."
He didn't say anything to this. He turned his head slightly over his right shoulder and nodded his head. She took it as a yes. She smiled at him. He walked away and disappeared.
Kagome let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. Her emotions were mixed when it came to the demon Lord. She moved a piece of stray hair back behind her ear again as the wind was picking up. She walked back to Inuyasha.
It was getting close to midnight. Inuyasha had crawled out of his hole. He sat on the edge of the well. Kagome found it slightly odd he hadn't come looking for her. She was gone a long time. She pushed it to the back of her mind. She had to keep her wits about her for the next two weeks. Sango and Miroku's wedding day was going to be life changing indeed.
Inuyasha was very happy that she was still here. His best friend was going to stay here. Two weeks. He had that long to get Kagome and Sesshomaru to fall for each other. It seemed like a lot of time, but he knew it wasn't. For tonight, he was going to go back to his hut for some rest. They headed back to the village in a companionable silence.
AN: This is a solo project of Lady Shard. Read and Review.