Disclaimer: Obviously I do not own InuYasha. This will be my one time disclaimer for the whole story.

Life Continues Forward

Chapter 1: Moving On

Wiping her arm over her forehead as she rocked back onto her feet from her kneeling position, Kagome looked up at the sky with a sigh. It was an uncomfortably hot summer day, and washing the new linens she would use for bandages in the cool river didn't offer her any relief from the muggy day. A younger her would have complained about the humid heat, but now she just silently endured it, going about her daily chores. Normally she would be almost done her mundane work, but her mind was occupied with the past and the next day marked the fourth year of her new life.

After defeating Naraku and choosing to remain in the Feudal Era, she spent half a year with InuYasha in the small community that would some day be Tokyo. She had accepted the robes of a priestess, became apprenticed to Kaede, and endured awkward interactions with InuYasha as she tried desperately to grab his attention in a more romantic way. Everything seemed to be going well until one day, he disappeared.

At first she just thought that he needed time to himself as sometimes he would go on small hunting trips alone to "clear his head". However, when he didn't return after a month she began to worry. He had never been gone longer than a couple of weeks in the past, and her mind began to conjure worse case scenarios. Was he dead? Had he lost control of his Youkai? Did someone come across him during the new moon? Was he trapped somewhere?

At first she began going on small trips a couple days at a time looking for him, calling his name and asking around other nearby villages. She did this knowing she wouldn't find him, but she wanted to do something. She had to. She couldn't live with herself if she didn't at least try. When she had found nothing after several months of this, she lost hope. He was gone and she felt utterly alone. He wasn't coming back. She wept for weeks, grieving for her lost friend, love, and the one person she felt safe with in this feudal world.

When Sango and Miroku found out about this they had come to her, offering her a place to stay in the exterminator village they were re-building. She refused. Continuing her studies as a Miko under Kaede, and wait for InuYasha felt like the only viable option left to her. They had looked concerned but didn't push her, returning to the new village they called home. Even shippou had come back from the kitsune school he enrolled in, offering to stay with her to keep her company. She had refused, insisting he continue his education. It was important after all.

She continued her own studies under Kaede for another two years, dedicating her life solely to the life of a Miko and surprising all of those around her with how quickly she began to learn. With no InuYasha around to distract her mind, with no friends, with no family, she had nothing else. She had no choice but to occupy her mind with lessons lest she think of him. Of InuYasha.

With her studious and bright mind, it wasn't long before she surpassed Kaede and was forced to learn on her own, mimicking what she had seen others do. It was a slow an incomplete way of learning, but because her strength was so closely tied to her emotions, she managed to find her way and discover what she was actually capable of.

It was on one of her pilgrimages into the mountains to meditate on her powers when it happened. Kaede died. That was when her world truly collapsed around her. Her only friend and teacher left to her was gone.

Weeks were spent trying to make the well work by channeling her ki into the old wood, hoping that it would ignite the long dormant magic. When it didn't work she became desperate and started jumping into the well, the pain of sprained ankles nothing in comparison to the suffocating pain of being alone. Only after breaking her leg and having one of the villagers find her sobbing at the bottom of the well several days later did she gave up. She spent the span of time it took for her leg to heal crying for her loss and loneliness.

That was a year ago. Now, along with the young woman, Aya, who had been apprenticed to Kaede before Kagome, she took care of the village. Kagome protected against the odd demon and helped out with chores where Aya mostly tended to the villagers, taking care of their various medical needs. It was a simple and rewarding life, but Kagome felt no attachment, built no connections between herself and the villagers. Nobody would ever be able understand the time traveling Miko.

Sighing again as she finished with the linens, Kagome gathered her things into the straw basket next to her and started back in the direction of the village. Tomorrow marked the fourth year of InuYasha's disappearance and she found she no longer longed for his presence. Not only that, but she had given up on the well. It was never going to open again as sure as she was that InuYasha would never return. There was no point dwelling on something that was never going to change. When she came to accept these things several months back, she also came to the realization that she no longer belonged in the village. The people kept their distance from her as they feared but respected the Shikon Miko that kept company with demons. With the silent acceptance of her circumstances, she decided she was going to leave on the same day InuYasha left her to this life. She would rather wander the feudal era and be truly alone than feel alone among a village. She would leave with the sunrise.

"Aya!" The young Miko called, placing her basket down next to her leather traveling pack she had acquired when both straps on the giant yellow backpack had finally broken. No longer did she need a large pack for her miko garb granted her access to many conveniently hidden pockets. She began cutting the linen into long strips and folding them away, placing into her almost full pack. That was the last of what she needed. She had a couple blankets, a cloak, a wolf fur given to her from Ayame when Kagome had convinced Kouga to mate the lovely demoness, necessary herbs, salves, bandages, soap, sewing kit, dried berries and meats, some rice, a couple pieces of silver she had saved over the years, and her old cooking pot. She would be traveling light as she planned to follow the road, acquiring what she needed from each town she stopped by. She would be Kagome, the wandering Shikon Miko that didn't kill demons without a reason.

"You really are leaving."

Kagome lifted her cerulean eyes to the younger woman before her and gave a half smile that didn't touch her eyes. There was no remorse in the words, only neutral acceptance. They would be fine. Demons hardly even came to the village anymore, they didn't need a full time protector let alone a miko that didn't always kill demons.

"I will check up on you when I can." she said, placing her pack next to the door as she walked out the small hut's door. "I will help you with the garden today."

Aya nodded respectfully and followed Kagome to the garden where the two girls pulled weeds and watered the growing plants in silence. This time tomorrow, Kagome hoped to be a long way from the little village she once called Tokyo.

Alright, now that you're all caught up to what happened to Kagome, now on to learning how she's changed. Next chapter is already outlined and it should be out in the next couple days.

Feel free to review, and I'm open to criticism. I haven't written in literally years, so please be constructive! Outright flames without reason are unnecessary.

I hope you're all ready for some real life changing views.

-Falcon