Chapter 1: Goodbye Forever

Miroku stared at the spot in the sky where Kikyo's soul skimmers floated about. They were about 5 meters above the forest canopy, and he and Sango both knew from that direction Kagome would come and leap in the well to return to her own time. Sango got up. "I'll be at the hut. I don't want to see Kagome the way she is when Inuyasha goes off with…it." Sango finished due to lack of a better word. I mean what were you supposed to call someone who was technically dead but still managed to walk about and do anything most living folk could? And some things most normal people couldn't. Miroku had been keeping a mental countdown to when Kagome would retreat from the scene of the crime.

"Three, two, one." At that precise moment a fuming Kagome came stomping out of the woods, hot tears of rage threatening to overflow her eyes. She walked past Miroku as if he wasn't even there in the direction of the well, but Miroku grabbed her wrist before she could go much further. "I'm sorry Kagome." Kagome could tell he was truly very sorry. He only abandoned the title of 'lady' when he was in a deep state of some emotion or another. Kagome's eyes suddenly brightened as if she had remembered something of great importance, which she had. She took the small vial containing the shikon shards off her neck and put it in his hand, closing his fingers over it.

"Here." she said. Miroku was confused. Why was she giving him the shikon shards?

"Uh…Kagome, why are you giving me these?" Miroku asked.

"Because I'm leaving. And I'm not coming back." Kagome replied.

"What?" Miroku asked in shock. "Why?"

"Inuyasha. He treats my like dirt. Dirt who can seek out the sacred jewel fragments. I'm not letting him walk all over me like a doormat. Besides, why does he need me when he's got Kikyo? She should be able to see the jewel shards too, shouldn't she?" More tears welled up and she wiped them away. "Damn it Kagome, you promised yourself you wouldn't cry over him. You can take it."

"But Lady Kagome, Inuyasha isn't all you have here in this era." Miroku said, doing whatever he could think of to get her to reconsider. "What about Sango? What about Shippo? What about me?"

"Miroku, I know that the four of you will be able to restore the jewel and defeat Naraku without me. I'm not needed in this time." Kagome insisted. Miroku's look turned stern.

"Do you really believe that all you are to us is a better way to find the jewel? Kagome you are like family to us. And just think of how Shippo would react if you were to simply leave us for all eternity." Miroku gave her to ponder, hoping her soft spot for the young demon might sway her decision.

"You cheated." Kagome remarked with a rueful smile as she took the bottle with the jewel back from Miroku.

"Don't worry I know a way we can make you feel all better." Miroku said slyly. "Let's go back to Kaede's.

Miroku was relieved to see that neither Sango nor Kaede was at the hut. He started digging through Kagome's backpack. "Miroku, when did I say you could search through my belongings? I have personal items in there!" Kagome scolded him.

"I'm sorry to be going through your haversack with out permission, but I have something in here that will make you feel better." Miroku promised with a wink as he produced a bottle of red wine from the oversized yellow bag. "I got this from a villager for exorcising a demon from his home. It's grape wine from Europe in the west, but I prefer to call it 'ambrosia of the gods'. Try some." he suggested, uncorking the bottle and passing it to Kagome. Kagome knew exactly what grape wine was, but how was Miroku supposed to know they had it in the present?

"I appreciate the offer, but I can't have any of that." Kagome told him.

"Why not?"

"Well, I'm too young." Kagome said.

"Blasphemy!" Miroku protested. "Have some! It's good."

Kagome figured it couldn't hurt to indulge in a little alcohol. Besides, what did the laws of the present matter in the 1500's? She took a deep drink from the bottle. "Wow. This is good stuff. Do you know what part of Europe it's from?" Kagome asked passing the bottle back to Miroku.

"Nope. I would go there if I did though." Miroku replied also drinking deep. After passing the bottle back and forth among small talk, Kagome figured they had had enough, since she was beginning to feel a little tipsy.

"Thanks for that Miroku. I do feel a little better!" Kagome said gratefully.

"No problem. We'll save the rest for Sango and Inuyasha." Miroku responded, corking the flask. "Well, maybe Inuyasha. He hardly deserves any after what he did to you. (Hic!) 'Scuse me."

"I know." Kagome agreed. "You know how many times he's told me he'd give up on Kikyo? Six! Six times, and every time he goes back on his word."

"You know what I say? I say let him be a necrophiliac. He's no good for you. I know you can do better." Miroku remarked.

"Oh don't lie to make me feel better. What kind of guy would go for me?" Kagome asked.

"The kind with eyes. And that's even before they discovered your wonderful personality. Besides, Koga wants you, doesn't he?" Miroku pointed out.

"I guess so, but that's just one guy."

"What about that Hojo fellow from your time? The one that Inuyasha's always getting (hic!) steamed up about?" Miroku reminded her.

"Well, I only like him as a friend. The only guys that are interested in me I have no interest in." Kagome explained.

"Aw, Kagome, that hurts me right here." Miroku said, putting his hand over his heart.

"You? You're interested in me? But, I thought you were in love with Sango." Kagome remarked.

"Well, I like Sango very much, maybe even love her, but I've always felt a certain attraction to you too Lady Kagome."

"You have? Why haven't you said so before?"

"Because Inuyasha would rip my throat out." Miroku said.

"Good point." Kagome admitted. "I don't know how he can get so jealous over me and then run back to Kikyo every time she slinks near."

"He's a bastard. You'd be much better off with Hojo or Koga." Miroku opinionated himself.

"Or you." Kagome added.

"Maybe."

"Thanks for being there for me Miroku. I don't know what I'd do without you guys." Kagome thanked him.

"We'd be in quite a fix ourselves without you Lady Kagome. It's nothing." Miroku replied modestly.

"I'm sleepy. Goodnight Miroku." she said, using his shoulder as her pillow.

"I'm pretty tired myself. I'll say goodnight as well." Miroku in turn used her head as his pillow. Both drifted off into a peaceful slumber.