He sat perfectly still on a broad tree branch as his pale silver hair gently swayed in the wind. The spell of calmness was over as he attempted to shift into a more comfortable position. He rested his hands in back of his neck, cradling his head with his arms, as he crossed his ankles together. His golden eyes were fixed on the well as he stared at it with impatience. He grumbled silently but furiously to himself. She was late. Although there wasn't really a specific time when she had to be here…
A small hand suddenly emerged from the well as it clutched onto the edge. About time…
He leapt off his tree branch and landed inches away from the well. "What took you so long?"
A young schoolgirl appeared and held out her hand, beckoning to him to help her. Without hesitation, he put both hands on her waist and lifted her. "Again I repeat, what took you so long?"
"I had to take a make-up test," she answered. "I've been missing so many days of school because of my duties here," she smiled rather slyly. "Why? Did you miss me?"
"No!" he answered hastily. The girl chuckled and looked away before she could see the sudden blush that crept up his face. "That's the stupidest thing to ever assume! Why would I miss an annoying girl like y—."
"Sit."
With that command, he crashed headfirst into the ground. "Stupid incantation…" he squeaked.
"Good for you, Inuyasha," the girl crossed her arms and walked off haughtily.
"Kagome!" he cried out. "You're heartless! Cruel and heartless!"
"So sue me," she continued walking.
"Sue you? Is that another 'human term'?"
"Oh never mind…"
"Don't 'oh never mind' me!" Inuyasha jumped to his feet and ran after her. "You get back here!"
~*~
So obnoxious… Kagome thought after her visit to the feudal world. But she had gotten used to Inuyasha's behavior. It was one of his traits… a trait that she found rather… cute. There I said it… cute. Cute. Cute. Cute. She climbed out of the well and proceeded to walk towards her front door. She turned the knob and the door squeaked as it opened.
Grandpa was sitting on the floor and abruptly looked up to meet her gaze. His appearance was solemn… almost guilty.
"Kagome…"
She kneeled down next to the old man and stared at him with full concern. "Grandpa? What's wrong?"
"Kagome…" he repeated again. "I-I'm sorry… I…"
"Grandpa…" she rested her hand on his shoulder. "What is it?"
"The well… the well…" he whispered.
"What about it, Grandpa? What about the well?"
He looked at his granddaughter with miserable expression plastered across his face. "We have to close it."
"What?"
"The demons of the feudal era are able to come and go as they please. And it's threatening our world as well! If we don't close it for good, then our world would be doomed as we know it—"
"But Inuyasha and I always manage to protect both worlds! We don't have to close the well! My connection with the feudal era will be cut off…" her voice trailed away. "Grandpa…"
"I'm sorry Kagome… I'm sorry."
"But… Inuyasha…"
"Say good-bye to him if you must… that's all I can say. Please forgive me…"
Kagome was unable to think. "It's not your fault, Grandpa…"
He nodded and stood up. A great pang of guilt filled his heart. But it had to be done. The well must be closed.
~*~
Kagome ran back to the dark room, flung the shrine doors open, and scrambled to the well. She clutched onto its edge until her knuckles turned white. She bit her bottom lip as she tried with all her might to keep her tears from flowing.
She didn't want to say good-bye.
Several of her tears dropped into the well. I should just do it… With that thought, she jumped into the darkness.
She pulled herself up and was now in the familiar surroundings of feudal Japan. To her surprise, Inuyasha was standing above her. How did he know I was coming?
"I could smell your tears from miles back," he told her as if he had read her mind. "Are you okay?"
Kagome blinked with astonishment at his sudden show of concern. She shook her head vigorously. "I'm fine."
"I'm not dumb, Kagome," he reached out and pressed his finger against her cheek as a single tear trickled down and landed on his index finger. He held his finger up to his face and examined it. "A tear."
"Uh… allergies. My eyes are getting watery—"
"Feh! Bullsh—"
"Inuyasha!"
"Okay, okay…" he paused. "But if you won't tell me what your problem is… I'll have to force it out of you."
"But I can't tell you… yet."
"Why?"
"Let's just…" she reached out for his hand. "Talk… or something."
Inuyasha's face began to heat up at the sudden touch of Kagome's hand. "W-what's wrong with you?"
Kagome was determined to spend every minute with him without a single argument. It was her way of saying goodbye. "Come!"
"O-okay…" he stammered. Kagome was acting unusual. It wasn't like her to be so… what's the word… nice?
They spent the whole day together as Kagome asked him random questions. Strange questions.
"Hey Inuyasha… what's your favorite color?"
"Uh…"
"Favorite food?"
"What—"
"Favorite sport? Favorite movie?"
"What's a movie—"
Kagome knew she was acting like a dork. But she felt as if it was her duty to know and memorize every single thing about Inuyasha in the few hours that she had left.
Sensing something, Inuyasha stood directly in front of her and placed both hands on her shoulders.
"I-I'm fine," Kagome faltered. "I swear… nothing's wrong with me. I just—"
"Be quiet," he interrupted. "You talk to much. Now tell me… what's the matter?"
"Inuyasha…"
"Yes…" he was beginning to feel hopeful. Was Kagome going to tell him that… she loved… him? His heart began to pound in his chest as he awaited her confession.
She tightly shut her eyes. "Goodbye!"
"What?"
"Goodbye…"
"Why?" he asked nonchalantly. "You goin' on a vacation or something?"
She felt her tears beginning to surface. "No…"
"Then…"
"I came to say good-bye for good!" she clenched her fists. "Grandpa's gonna close the well. And I can never come back."
"Don't lie to me."
"I'm not lying!" the tears were definitely visible now. "And he's right anyway."
"What do you mean?!" he shouted. "What are you talking about?!"
"I don't belong here! I belong in my time! I can't keep visiting the past. It's not right! That's not how life goes. And I agree… the well should be closed—"
Inuyasha raised a finger to her lips to silence her. "Shut the hell up," he whispered harshly. "You stupid girl…"
Kagome's eyes widened. "Inu—"
"Shut up!" his eyes raged with fury. "You think that you can leave?! Just like that?!"
"I have to…"
"No you don't!" he was practically shouting. "You have your obligations here as well as you do at home! We can always defeat the demons that cross over into you world. And what do you mean 'you don't belong here'? Of course you belong here! You're Kikyo's reincarnated—"
"I'm not Kikyo! I can never be Kikyo! So stop comparing me to her!" Kagome's tears cascaded down her cheeks. "I hate hearing about her! In fact… I hate her! Now I can go home without feeling any regrets—"
"I know you're not Kikyo," Inuyasha grabbed her wrist and held on to it. "You can never be Kikyo…"
"Good," she hissed and struggled to free herself from the half-demon's grasp. "Now let me go."
"No."
"If you love Kikyo so much and hate me as well… why don't you want me to leave?"
"Who said anything about hating?!" his eyes widened. Kagome thinks I love Kikyo…
"Why don't you want me to leave?!" she shouted, repeating her question.
"Because I…" Inuyasha released her wrist and gazed at her, his golden eyes saturated with pain and devastation. "I don't know…"
"Fine," she slipped one leg into the well. As if she was buying more time, she looked over her shoulder at him. "Thanks for everything."
"Aren't you gonna leave now?" he crossed his arms and turned his back to her. Kagome nodded although he was unable to see her. She stared at him once more. Memorizing his rebellious stance, the way his silver hair swayed in the wind, or how his golden eyes gleamed with slyness. She took in his aura and stored it away in her heart.
"I'll never forget you, Inuyasha…" she said softly before slipping into the dark well. Inuyasha heard her words as he felt his heart began to ache. "Stupid girl," his voice trembled. "Why did you have to come here in the first place?!" he shouted as if Kagome could hear him. "Why did I have to meet you?!"
I hate you… I hate you for doing this to me.
He unsheathed Tetsusaiga and let it drop as the sharp blade plunged into the soil. He clutched onto the hilt and sank down to his knees. His breath came out in short jaded gasps as he wept softly. I hate you…
