This is my first fanfiction that i've ever posted i hope you like it.

Disclaimer: There is nothing I own except for my brain and body and I think someone recently put them on ebay.

Chapter 1

Kagome withered in pain, gasping for air that wouldn't fill her constricting lungs. She hated the pain she hated living with it every day, but she could not bring herself to hate the person or persons who caused it. No her hatred was reserved for those who were truly evil, not those who lingered in the world surviving off of part of her soul. Her hatred belonged to Naraku , not her Hanyou best friend who ignored her and her pain, nor the lifeless shell of a woman whom her best friend couldn't get over.

Perhaps she didn't even hate the filthy Half Demon responsible for the pain and suffering of her friends and the others of this era, perhaps what she felt was extreme anger, dislike, and pity for the cruel heartless abomination. Perhaps what was said of her is true, that she had no place in her heart for hatred. She doubted though, that she was as pure and untainted as everyone claimed.

She had always doubted herself, once she had started traveling between the two eras. It was hard to have any confidence when someone who you had loved was always comparing you to another, always insulting you, always putting you down, and always complaining. Her first year or two had completely diminished her trust in her abilities. She wasn't sure exactly she had lost all her trust in herself.

Yes she was confident, and yes she wasn't about to let anyone push her around but even when she seemed so strong willed there was a part of her that doubted she would ever be able to back up her threats. She had never really been put to the test except when her dear Hanyou thought she wouldn't dare subdue him.

"Lady Kagome," Miroku whispered and Kagome focused on what her friend was saying knowing that he might be able to help her through the pain, "Breathe milady. Slowly, shh. Calm down, force your pain away, breathe." The monk chanted placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Kagome followed his instructions; she inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. She thought of her friends and happy times. The people she loved and the people she knew loved her; she brought happy memories to the front of her mind allowing them to push away the pain that had so suddenly consumed her.

She let a sigh of relief escape her as the pain subsided into nothing more than a dull ache, although it was more than what was normal. She sat up and smiled at her monk friend in thanks, he was the only one who knew what she went through having another person live off of her soul, her life force. He had been a good friend by keeping her secret and helping her through it all. Sure the others, save for Inuyasha noticed that she sometimes experienced great pain, but Sango, Shippo, and Kirara had never been able to identify what it was.

Sitting up and stretching Kagome allowed her aura to spread out taking in the surrounding area, noticing the others may not be able to pick up. She knew that Kikyo was near and that Inuyasha was with her. The thought didn't cause her as much pain, nor the same pain, as it had before. What she felt was the pain of them never really having a chance, and although it was debatable on how much Kikyo loved the hanyou it wasn't remotely questionable on Inuyasha's side.

"Lady Kagome, do you know what 'caused you pain?" Miroku asked although he had a clue as to what it was.

Kagome nodded slowly, she was still a little uncomfortable with how much respect that monk gave her but she had given up on telling him to do otherwise. Not to mention it was nice to know that someone other than Shippo respected her, "Inuyasha is off with Kikyo again. Her nearness is the cause, but I think you might have figured that out on your own"

"Indeed, milady, but it doesn't hurt to be sure," Miroku said with a kind smile as he sat comfortably next to the young miko. "Does it still hurt that he will never love you?" Miroku asked understanding how much unreturned love hurts; he had his own scars from the past.

"No, not as much as it once had. I am rather surprised at that, I thought I would never get over it. Yet here I sit and the only pain I feel is because of her nearness, and the sadness of their story," She had never lied to the monk, and she wouldn't start now over something as petty as being sad about a love story.

"You are truly something else Kagome-sama," Miroku said letting a little of his awe taint his normally calm tone. Had he been in the situation he would have found it almost impossible to do what the young woman had.

"Do you believe that Miroku?" She asked a little surprised that he had said that, after all she had thought herself weak for taking as long as she had to get over it, forgive, and forget.

"Indeed. You are the only creature alive I know that could forgive that easily. I could not, and I don't know if I could now, and yet you do and your history with those two is a lot more to deal with than my own experience." Miroku said honestly. He had told her of his experience, and even through her own pain and struggle she had managed to feel for him.

"I thank you for those word Miroku-san, they mean a lot to me," Kagome said placing a friendly hand on Miroku's forearm. She then tensed and retracted her aura, "Inuyasha returns and not alone, I believe he wishes Kikyo to join us."

Miroku sat shocked for a moment he wondered why Inuyasha would do that, he also realized that his dear friend, his sister, would have to deal with an increased amount of pain. He would have to fight harder to control his anger now.

"I'll manage to deal, and if it is impossible I may have to leave and return when I'm able to deal with it. But for now try and return to sleep while I meditate and try to control the pain." Kagome said and lay down after the monk had left.

Kagome inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly focusing her mind on her breathing as the pain increased as the distance between the two priestess diminished. The closer the couple got the harder it was for Kagome to suppress the pain she felt. She clamped her eyes shut as she concentrated her brow wrinkling in her struggle. She inhaled deeply one last time gathering her thoughts together she exhaled allowing her memories of the people she loved to flood her mind sending the very peaceful emotions through her, calming her and numbing the pain until it was an ache, barely tolerable.

Finally she felt Inuyasha and Kikyo's presences enter the clearing they had made camp in. She almost whimpered as the pain almost consumed her. She doubted she could stay like this for long, she would try for a few days but they would be exhausting days and she doubted she would have much energy to fight. Which she was sure would give Inuyasha gloating privileges, had she thought that he would have given up on taunting her and belittling her she would have been a fool and that she was not.

Kagome remained awake all night and was well aware of when Inuyasha and the undead miko had finally fallen asleep. Only then did she push herself up to a sitting position and contemplate what their aura's had told her. Inuyasha had finally mated Kikyo and although it was no surprise Kagome had found herself wondering why he didn't wait until they could find a permanent way of resurrecting the miko. She didn't mind and was sure that Inuyasha expected the biggest fight from her; he thought her still in love with him. She figured he wouldn't even tell the others that Kikyo was now his mate, and she was sure that this would make Kikyo upset.

Standing and stretching she walked away from the camp wanting to be alone with her thoughts as she watched the sun rise. Kagome knew she couldn't stay long with her feudal family, she had always known that she would eventually leave them in search of her own personal strength. Determined to no longer be a hindrance she would train, the arrival of Kikyo merely sped her timeline up. Three days would be enough time to prepare; she would say her goodbyes and seal the well so that Inuyasha may not pass. She would also make it seem as if the well had been destroyed, in case he thought of destroying it out of anger.

Perhaps traveling over Japan would give her the training and experience she needed. She had her basic fighting skills and her Miko powers were progressing with time, she had planned to seek help in training as well. She had a while before the final fight came, she could feel that much. She could feel that a quarter of the jewel remained unclaimed and until it was the final battle would not take place. Naraku wasn't stupid and neither was she, she knew he was using them to gather the Shikon shards so that he wouldn't have to and because of that he would be stupid to try and destroy the group until all the jewel shards were collected. This was the reason his battles seems half-hearted, he was merely spurring them into motion not that Inuyasha took the time to notice this.

Kagome sighed as she felt her aura tug, her friends were waking and she better head back and make breakfast, some of them were in for a big shock, well most of them anyway. She calmly walked back and began the preperations for their morning meal. The events of what might happen were already playing through her head as she hummed softly to herself. Inuyasha would sleep in a little later; finally wake up start demanding her to make food before realizing that food was already made. Then after making a fool out of himself he would announce Kikyo joining their group. Miroku and herself would sit calmly, while Kikyo stood and looked at everyone with her cold, hard, dead eyes. Sango would stand and make a point of saying no, and Shippo would make a larger spectacle of his no throwing in jabs at both Inuyasha and his new mate in defense of his mother. Inuyasha would swear and yell and threaten, two of the group would retaliate and three would remain impassive until everything was over and done with.

The members of the traveling group were very predictable in these circumstances, or at least similar ones. She wouldn't be surprised if she could right out a daily routine for them. '7:00 Inuyasha wakes and demands food. 7:15 Kikyo stares coldly at everyone. 7:16 Sango glares at Kikyo. 7:18 Inuyasha finally notices and yells at Sango. 7:18 Miroku rolls his eyes as Inuyasha starts yelling. 7:19 Shippo interrupts with some kind of insult. 7:20 Inuyasha threatens Shippo. 7:20 I sit him for threating my son. 7:21 Kikyo glares at me for various reasons.'

Kagome smiled at her friends as they ate wishing that they would enjoy the peace of the moment before it was ripped to shreds by the ungraceful Hanyou that was about awake. '3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . .and-' Kagome almost didn't suppress her laugh when Inuyasha jumped down from the tree he and his mate had fallen asleep in.

"Wench! Wake up and make me some damned food already!" Inuyasha yelled, failing to notice that everyone was already awake and eating.

"Inuyasha the food is already made and we're all already up, were just waiting for you," Kagome said removing all tones from her voice, which made her sound much like a feminine Sesshomaru.

"Keh well it saves me from waking your sorry ass up!" he yelled attempting to save some of his diminishing dignity. He then bound back in the tree and gathered his mate in his arms, before landing gently on the ground. Trying not to disturb the fragile shell in his arms, standing said women on her feet he turned to the group. Plainly ignoring the two members who didn't like gaping idiots he addressed the ones who were repeatedly at a loss for words. "Kikyo will be joining us from here on in."

It was obvious that he expected Kagome to fight when his eyes shifted to her when he finished his announcement. Instead of the large reaction he was expecting the young miko nodded her head in acceptance.

"Oh and when did you come to this decision?" Sango demanded as she stood challenging her 'pack leader' as demons would call it.

"Last night." Inuyasha said thinking nothing of the Demon Slayers rebellion.

"And we don't get a say in the matter?" Sango asked mimicking the growl of an angered Youkai.

"No. It was my choice and I decided she travels with us," Inuyasha said thinking that it was the end of the rebellion.

Kagome sighed as the familiar yet different scene played out in front of her; it would soon be Shippo's turn to chip in. So she ignored the rest of her group and turned her attention to the other miko wondering briefly if her face as frozen in a permanent glare "Would you like some breakfast Kikyo?" She kindly asked the miko, who in return shook her head. Kagome figured the woman had no need of food, but as manners compelled her she handed the miko some tea she had made.

"What did you say you little runt?" Inuyasha demanded attempting to strike the swift kitsune, who had already escaped through his legs.

"I know you hear perfectly well what I said," Shippo taunted, he had spent a little too much time around Sesshomaru when he had stayed a week to learn about demon customs because it was glaringly obvious that no one here would be able to teach him. For the favor Kagome had to pay a price, although not a bad one considering what the stoic lord could have asked her to do. He merely requested she tell him of her time, and how she traveled in between the two eras.

Kagome had oddly enough enjoyed the time she spent with the killing perfection, learning that he was a lot less emotionless within the safety of his home spending half a year with someone could teach you a lot about them. Even then few saw him without the mask of indifference. She had when his curiosity took over; at first her only indicator had been his eyes from there it was subtle muscle jumps in his face. Then they returned home, Shippo knowing more about demon customs and her about the stoic lord.

"Don't taunt me you brat or I'll separate your head from your shoulders!" Inuyasha threatened and then paled as he realized that Kagome had started to growl.

"Sit." She said it calmly but the Hanyou met the ground with more power than any of her overly emotional cries could muster.

"What the fu-"

"Don't start. The faster you get out of your hole the faster things can get a move on," Kagome said cutting off Inuyasha. Miroku shot her a concerned look and only looked away once Kagome gave him a nod in confirmation.

"Fine," Inuyasha muttered into the ground before getting up a few minutes after. He sat himself relatively close to Kikyo his arms and legs crossed in the fashion he found most comfortable.

"Now." Kagome drawled trying to push back the pain that was brought on when she was in near the dead miko, "Why don't you tell them your other piece of news?"

Inuyasha looked at Kagome confused, as if he didn't know what she was suggesting. He was still trying to pretend that no one knew of the mating that had gone on between him and the living dead miko, the shell that once was his love.

"I mean the mating, Inuyasha," Kagome said more than irritated, "Tell them that you also took Kikyo as your mate last night"

"I took Kikyo as my mate last night," Inuyasha droned not thinking of what he was saying he was focused on Kagome, "How did you know?"

Kagome sighed before straightening herself out, "Demons are able to tell by smell, which I know you've covered so that neither Shippo nor Kirara would know. I know because a mating is not only a physical thing, which is what creates the smell, but a spiritual thing. A blending of the two auras, which I as a miko can sense, so can Miroku, but it's not his strong point"

"Oh and it's yours?" Inuyasha scoffed, "Like I'd believe that! Your to week to sense anything but the jewel shards and even then you're a weak shard detector, which was the other reason I brought Kikyo into the group. You're far too weak to do anything it would just be better if you returned to your time"

Kagome hadn't expected this, but she wasn't hurt by the Hanyou's words. In fact she was relieved now she could leave without upsetting Sango too much. This would also give her a chance to use her miko powers on the well. She nodded her head in understanding at Inuyasha's words, "Very well then. I will return home, but I ask that Sango, Miroku, and Shippo escort me back to the well. You are right I don't belong with you."

Sango, Kagome and Shippo climbed onto Kirara's back and Miroku ran beside the cat demon. It was a fairly short distance to the well. They landed beside the well and the rides slipped off.

"Mama, you can't go back," the little kitsune cried as he hugged his adopted mother. Kagome stroked his hair calmly.

"Shippo, honey. I'm not going back. I just need Inuyasha to think that, I need to be away from him and Kikyou." Kagome said trying to comfort the young fox demon.

"O-okay mama," the kit managed in between sniffles.

"I'm going to seal and mask the well, your job is to tell Inuyasha that you think that I sealed it on the other side and when I did the well disappeared. I don't want him destroying the only way I have home." Kagome said very calm and it was soon apparent to Sango and Shippo that she had been planning this for a while. They didn't ask though, and they didn't ask why Miroku was the only one who did not seem shocked.

"Where will you go?" Sango asked instead figuring that question was more important.

"Here and there. Everywhere. I don't know yet, I suppose I'll go where ever the wind takes me. If you want to visit I can send someone to tell you my current location. Just make sure it's only you three,"

The three nodded all seemingly understanding and Kagome briefly wondered about the extent of Sango and Shippo's understanding. She shrugged it off and gave her three friends, her family in this time, hugs goodbye.

"Okay so Miroku, Shippo you are going to feel an influx in the wells power, as if I am passing through the well. I will then mask my presence to make it seem as if I have gone through. After that I will seal it so that Inuyasha won't be able to go through, which will cause another influx of power. Once that has been done I will mask the wells aura and appearance so that it looks as if the well disappeared."

"Mama, why do you need to seal the well to Inuyasha if you are hiding it from him?" Shippo asked clinging to his mother figure.

"Inuyasha is connected to the well, if I merely hid it he would be able to tell that it is just a spell, if I close the well to him the connection is lost and it will lead him to believe that the well is gone for good." Kagome explained and place Shippo on the ground before walking towards the well.

Kneeling in front of the old dry well she placed her hands gently on the edge. Almost inaudibly she chanted the spell to influx the bone eater's well. She then quickly masked her presence, after that was done she looked back at Miroku who nodded his head. It seemed as if she had really gone through the well. Kagome smiled at him and turned back to the well, chanting the spell and begging the well to do as she willed. She smiled again when she felt the connection she had with Inuyasha disappear; again she quickly turned her attention and power to hiding the well's presence and appearance.

She took a step back and her brow furrowed as she looked at the well, it was still there. It should look as if it's no longer there. She looked at her friends, "Can you guys see the well?" she asked and smiled when the three of her friends shook their heads, "Great. Now, go back to Inuyasha and by me some time to get away."

Kagome immediately walked away smiling sadly as her friends went to tell her lie. She would keep walking until she could no longer feel their presence and when that happened she would be long out of their range.

She stopped briefly when she felt their presences almost faded completely. She quickly changed into a silk Kimono and stashed her yellow bag in nearby underbrush masking it with another spell. She took only her bow and arrow, medical supplies, a small traveling bag and some rations. The rest she would leave there until it was safer to retrieve it.

Looking up at the sky she took a deep breath, this is where her own story would begin. She had heard her grandfather go on about a Hanyou and two mikos, one he was in love with and the other was simply a friend. She knew that was the story of her first two years of her journey, but she had never heard her grandfather mention a story about a miko if it wasn't Kikyo. 'Or maybe I just wasn't paying attention' Kagome shook her head and smiled, she hadn't felt this good in a while, she was finally free of the pain both emotional and physical.

She no longer felt her soul being weighed down with constant insults, and comparisons, or the hatred the other half of her soul felt. She was happy, finally.

-I-

"So she finally went back?" Inuyasha asked as coldly as he could muster, it was hard.

"Yes." Miroku said and forced his face to look concerned, although the Hanyou couldn't tell the difference.

"Spit it out monk, what is it?" Inuyasha asked he felt odd, as if something was missing.

"Something-" Miroku paused just long enough, "odd happened after Kagome went through the well"

Inuyasha's eyes narrowed and Miroku silently panicked that the half demon could tell he was lying, "What?"

Miroku breathed a sigh of relief as he sat across the fire, opposite of the Hanyou in red, "Well she went through and the well suddenly flared again, as if she was coming back through. So we investigated and found that she wasn't at the bottom of the well. We turned away and then the well's aura suddenly disappeared. We looked back and it was-" Miroku paused again masking his face in confusion.

"It was what Miroku!" the impatient Hanyou asked growling lowly in his chest.

"It was gone. Inuyasha the well dissapered."

"WHAT?" Inuyasha demanded. He had never been shocked into silence and this wasn't going to be any different. He had been wondering what felt so off, and now he knew. The connection he had with the well was gone, his only connection to Kagome had been cut off. That shouldn't have happened, unless of course the well had been destroyed, but that wasn't the case because the monk had said so.

"I said the well Disappeared," the monk said calmly, which he knew wouldn't seem that odd considering he had the tendency to calm when another was about to lose it, and Inuyasha was obviously close to losing it.

Inuyasha growled and turned to Kikyo, "How would that be possible?" Inuyasha asked losing his angry and frustrated tone.

"If she sealed it," Kikyo said slowly trying to gauge the Hanyou's reactions, "Then it would cut off your connection."

"What else is there Kikyo?" Inuyasha asked feeling his mate hesitate.

"It is also possible that, since the wells only purpose was to transport Kagome between the two eras, it would disappear when it became obsolete." Kikyo said leaving no doubt that Kagome was in fact gone for good.

"I'll go see for myself," Inuyasha said gruffly. He stood and walked away ignoring the fact that Shippo, Sango, and Miroku were glaring at the dead miko who was glaring back with nearly as much hatred.

He ignored it because he couldn't handle the truth, he couldn't own up to the fact that making Kagome may have been the biggest mistake in his life. He didn't think she would go so easily, he thought she would fight until he gave up and stay here. Even if she did end up going home he didn't expect her to seal the well, he didn't think she would stay gone. He didn't want her to stay gone, but he wouldn't admit to that. He wouldn't admit to a lot of things.

End chapter.

Please tell me what you think, and thanks for reading.