Chapter 1: To each their own

Dawn became certain when the golden orb shattered the night sky, bringing warmth and life to the cold darkness. Bright colors poured into the navy sky. Small drops clung to the vegetation and darkened the naked earth. Birds rejoiced with their morning medley, replacing the cricket's orchestra. The forest was beaming with new life after last night's rain. The scent of damp earth filled my nose, tall green trees towered over me. Ahead there was a muddy path with puddles scattered about here and there. 'Last night's rain was refreshing. It washed away everything and gave everything a fresh start. A new life. Me included. So we've defeated Naraku, Kikyo is gone, and it's been nearly six months. I just thought things would be different. But they aren't.

We still travel around helping villages plagued with yokai. Miroku and Sango married, but they aren't settling down just yet. I thought Inuyasha and I would do the same… but we aren't even dating.'

Glancing over to my right I stared off into the distance, my sight settled on a tall mountain range. The snow-capped mountain range reminded me of how I felt last night, small. 'Last night I decided to talk to Inuyasha. I told him I still loved him and wanted to be with him like we used to talk about. He just shrugged me off and didn't give me a specific answer, but it was a no.

A vague no, but a no all the same. He said he wasn't sure how he felt anymore and didn't want to be bothered with this right now. Then something about how we had a lot of time, to think about if we want to court or not. It's been like two and a half years! How much longer do you need to think about if we should date or not?! It's not marriage, it's dating.

But I did hope that marriage would eventually happen.'

Trying to clear my head I decided to just take in the beauty of the land. The mountains were several hues of grey, decorated with a few shrubs and pines. Despite the harsh sun rising higher and higher, the mountains were always powdered. The steep mountains hugged a bright green valley. The tall grass blew gently in the wind giving the illusion of waves. Dark brown objects bobbed throughout the green sea. One brown object moved side to side proudly displaying his large antlers. The herd looked as though they were playing a game of sorts, perhaps hide and seek.

'I can't wait anymore, he may have all the time in the world. But I don't. I'm mortal. I've waited long enough. Or at least that's what everyone has told me. I guess I really need to give up on him.

It'll be hard but I can do it. I just need to have some me time and then I'll be ready to be around him with a steel heart.'

"Hey, Kagome!"

Turning around I saw Sango walking towards me, 'How long has she been following me?' Kirara pranced proudly next to her owner. I Closed the distance between us and stood in front of Sango with a confused expression "Were you following me?" Sango smiled and tucked a stray hair behind her ear "Sorry, it's just I was a bit worried. I couldn't help but hear what happened last night. So Kirara and I decided to make sure you were okay." A bit annoyed Kagome sighed and waved her hand dismissively "I'm fine. I should be used to it by now." Kirara transformed and Sango climbed on her back "Why don't we return, who knows what those idiots are doing without us there." Kagome climbed on the large feline, she smiled at the thought of how frightened she was riding on her. Going high into the sky without any reins or saddle to secure her from falling to her death. But Kirara was a great flyer and never had her passengers fall from her before. If she had no doubt she would have caught them before they hit the ground. Taking off into the sky for the umpteenth time Kagome couldn't help but close her eyes and relax the gentle breeze tickled her face. It was nice. When she opened them, they were landing in front of an inn. She saw Inuyasha, Miroku, and Shippo staring up at them impatiently. Sango glanced at her and laughed "Look how lost they are without us. It's like we are their mothers."

Kagome couldn't help but burst into a fit of giggle "Yeah, at least I didn't marry a child in a man's body." Sango smiled and stared at her husband with a loving gaze "He may be a child in some ways, but I still love him."

"How have his eyes been?" Kagome asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Any wandering lately?"

Sango cracked a confident and shook her head "Nope.

If he does then he gets to sleep on the floor, alone." The girl's conversation came to an end as Kirara landed. Miroku helped Sango off and into his arms for a kiss.

Though Kagome was happy that Sango and Miroku's happy ending, she couldn't help but feel a little left out. Though they traveled as a group like they have been for nearly three years now it felt different, it felt lonely. Sango and Miroku were still experiencing that honeymoon phase and were often by themselves or at the back of the group together. Shippo came and went as he pleased visiting his old village, the fox inn and Kaede's village. He had a crush on one of Kaede's third cousins and often visited her as well. Even someone as young and innocent as Shippo had someone. Inuyasha was his usual moody self and seemed to keep to himself most days, he hardly even bothered Shippo anymore. 'Which leaves me blindly following this group that just doesn't seem to work anymore, before we were like a puzzle. We fit and we had a single goal. Now it's like everyone though we travel as one, it's like we all belong to different puzzles. Our pieces don't fit how they should, if they do at all it's because someone forced them together. Looking at our pieces even a child would notice. My piece has two protruding circles, I connect to a person with two circles missing. But I'm trying to connect with a person with just one circle missing. Shippo is a distant corner piece. Sango and Miroku seem to be the only pieces that fit together perfectly.'

"Oi, Kagome."

My attention was pulled from the clouds, but a rude voice. Helping myself off, I patted Kirara and praised her. Turning to face my friends I kept my eyes locked on the inn behind them trying to avoid one person's existence entirely. Walking past the group and ascending the steps of the inn, I heard the same voice again.

"Kagome."

I clenched my teeth trying not to say that word. 'Though he did make me angry it wouldn't be right to use that word to hurt him for no reason. Then again a broken heart is a good reason to hurt someone. Songs talk about it all the time. Burning someone to death, Keying up their car, destroying their life. But I could never do any of those things. Well maybe key up his car if he had a car, but he doesn't. He doesn't have anything. Not even a house. If he did I guess I could scratch the door or carve something into it.' I began to laugh 'I know English and no one else in this era does. I could carve something like: A huge dumbass lives here!'

"Hey! You deaf? I'm talking to you."

"No your talking at me!" I quicken my steps as I internally scolded myself, 'Damn it don't get wrapped up in another pointless fight!' The echo of steps on the stone stairs was loud, I was not alone. 'No doubt that heated dog was on my tail, he probably wants to bark orders for me to follow. Like a good little housewife, but I'm no housewife and from what he said I'll never be his. So I'm not wasting another second listening to him. He is the leader of our group nothing else. Not that we even really need a group! Shippo can go travel on his own. Miroku and Sango can physically settle down and Inuyasha can do whatever he wants and I can actually live a normal life? Yup! Yes, that's what's gonna happen! I'm going to do this before anyone can convince me of anything else!'

"Kagome."

My hand grabbed the wooden door, "Kagome." I quickly threw the heavy door open "KA! GO!ME!" I could feel him directly behind me and my hand grabbed the door, "KAGO-" I slammed it shut, as hard as I could. Part of me hoping I got a piece of Inuyasha, like his nose. If this were a cartoon I would have slammed it and it would have become huge and red like a tomato. It would have throbbed as a sad violin played for him. I giggled and wondered why was I laughing so much? 'Did I break? Am I going insane? No he couldn't have driven me insane. I must be happy. Really happy!' Looking to my right I gave the innkeeper an awkward smile as I held the door shut behind me. My smile grew wider when Inuyasha began to yell and curse on the other side "Kagome! I will break this door down! One. Two-." The man stood up from behind his counter with anger and worry clear as day on his face. "Sir you have lovely- SIT!"

A loud bang shook echoed from outside and the inn shook. The man confused immedenly sat in his chair and stared at me, 'Is she a god? A yokai? Was that an earthquake?!' I gave him an apologetic smile which made him turn as pale as a ghost. Before I could cause any more damage I let go of the door and ran down the hall, skidding at a stop in front of my door. Sliding it open my eyes immediately found what I needed. My trusty book bag! But I threw away my tattered yellow one, if was filled with rips, burns and holes from battle and travel. So a few months ago I got this pretty blue one with white anchors, not sure why but I loved it. It was so cute. All that time away from my own era it seems I still turned out like my friends, they were always trying to keep up with the fashions. Having the newest clothes, electronics and Ayame even had a car now! I didn't really want a car or the newest electronics. I couldn't fit a car down the well or carry it up, and there was no Wi-Fi in the feudal era so having a phone was pointless. But clothes. I began to read magazines and pick up on the newest fashions. My friends all had jobs now so they could afford their own clothes easily, but I had to bargain shop and save or ask for Eri, Ayame, and Yuka's hand me downs. I'm pretty sure my job which was time traveling, fighting yokai and saving the world was one of the toughests out there.

But it didn't pay.

So gramps and mom gave me some allowance here and there for things I did around the shrine over the past two and half years. I managed to save six hundred dollars and update my entire closet and bought a cute camera. It was an old polaroid camera, but it did the trick and I loved it. Diving for my bag I pulled out a pair of black high waisted shorts and coral tank top, 'Perfect.' I slid on my shorts and buttoned the three I had, pulling my shirt over my head I smiled it was a tank top that stopped right where my shorts began. My clothes hugged me tight showing my curves that I had patiently waited for. I grabbed my coral converse slipping them on without even tying the laces. I gathered my raven hair into messy bun and secured it with a single ponytail. Putting on my sunglasses and throwing my bag over my shoulder that was it. I ran back down the hallway and found Inuyasha at the end waiting for me. I pushed past him and ran outside. Though Sango, Miroku and Shippo stared at me like a I grown a third head, I felt better than ever. Like I could conquer the world.

"Kagome! What the Hell! What is with you?! Are you ragging?!"

'WHAT?! He's gonna die!'

"EXCUSE ME?!"

"WHAT IS WITH YOU?!" Inuyasha questioned.

"Not that it is any of your business. But no I'm not RAGGING! I don't get to do that anymore! The feudal era has made me give up many things! Including that! I've had to go one the pill because I spend so much time here. Anyways that's not the point here you low brow mut! I'm leaving! I'm going home and never coming back! You are wasting my youth! I should be having fun and living life to it's fullest IN MY ERA! I should be dating and falling in love, going to school regularly, having a part time job and hanging out with friends! I shouldn't have to be here hunting down yokai! I've finished my job. My job was to find the shards and help destroy the jewel. Well I did! So now I'm going home! GOODBYE!"

Inuyasha stood there for a moment like it hadn't sunk in entirely. I decided to take the chance I was given "Sango, can I borrow Kiara one last time?" Sango surprised by my outburst but seeming to understand gave me a hug and whispered in my ear "Take care. We'll miss you." My motivation was slowing down, but before it stopped entirely I hopped on Kirara's back. She took off into the sky "Bone eater's well." I looked down at the ground and saw Sango, Miroku and Shippo waving. I also saw Inuyasha standing there screaming and cursing things I couldn't hear. 'He's throwing a fit? What a child. But it's time to grow up! I need to live my life and since he made it clear we aren't going to date or get married, then I have no reason to live in the past. Both figuratively and literally at this point.'

I looked down at the lush green landscape that would soon be no more. The few villages would be replaced by large functioning cities. Cars would replace the need for wooden carts. Most of the wildlife would be restricted to specific areas, rather than being allowed to roam free. The wolves would be gone. Yokai and my friends who are bound here will all be gone. 'As sad as that makes me, I have to choose, my era or this one. Though travel between the two is easier than me boarding a plane. I can't spend half my life here and half there, I need to commit. I need stability.'

I watched the clouds as we flew through them, 'I'll miss this. This absolute peace of flying. I can always board a plane. But it's not the same. In a plane you have to trust strangers and hope that everyone around you has manners.' But Kirara was the best pilot and she offered a peaceful flight. I hardly noticed that three hours had passed. My motivation began to dwindle as I wondered if I was making the right decision.

'This must be the right decision. What am I supposed to do just run around playing hero forever? Eventually I'll grow old, as will Sango and Miroku. We just can't keep this up. We need to decide our own paths from now.'

I noticed we had begun our descent. I gave Kirara a hug and told her how much fun I had these past few years and how I'd miss her. Before tears came to my eyes I ran from her side and to the well in the middle of the field. I touched it's rough stone and looked down, a clean dirt patch was all that I saw. I had removed the bones long ago. 'It all happened so fast. I guess this is goodbye?' Deciding not to let my emotions destroy new possibilities, I swung my legs over and closed my eyes. Taking a deep breath I pushed off the edge and fell down it's chornocial abyss.