Okay so here's chapter 2. I hope you like it. And by the way, to answer a question from one of my reviewers, yes Kagome could tell Inuyasha about condoms and they could go ahead and mate, but where's the fun in that? Don't worry though, I have it all planned out. Besides, I figure that other demons would be able to smell that they mated, especially Naraku, and they would purposefully set out to kill her because of it. Anyway, on with the story (please forgive me because I didn't feel like writing out the entire final battle. I'm feeling lazy, so sue me, I'm only human). Enjoy!

I do not own any of the characters mentioned in this story. They all belong to Rumiko Takahashi.

Where am I? I thought groggily, as I slowly took in my surroundings. The last thing I could remember was the final fight with Naraku, and finally killing him. But that didn't explain where I was. How did I get here?

(Flashback)

We'd just gotten back to the Sengoku Jidai, when Shippo appeared at the well. "Kagome!" He screamed, running over and jumping into my arms, almost knocking me backwards. Luckily Inuyasha caught me before I fell.

"Hey Shippo. Did you miss me?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"Of course I did! Who wouldn't? That's the whole reason Inuyasha came after you." He said, smiling and looking proud of himself.

"Shut it runt!" Inuyasha seethed, glaring daggers at the little fox demon. He reached over and bopped Shippo on the head, then turned around, hands in his sleeves.

"Ow! Kagome Inuyasha hit me!" He said, looking up at me with tear filled eyes and the cutest little puppy dog pout.

"Inuyasha! Sit boy!" And with that the hanyou was face first on the ground. A string of curses could be heard escaping his mouth as he waited for the spell to wear off. Shippo hopped onto my shoulder, and we headed back to the village, soon followed by an angry Inuyasha who was still cursing under his breath.

As we reached the village, we heard a resounding SLAP! noise. "Miroku you pervert! Keep your hands to yourself!" Sango screamed, storming away.

"He'll never learn." Shippo said, sweatdropping.

About an hour or so later, we were all sitting around in Kaede's hut when I sensed something ominous and powerful. "Naraku!" I screamed, standing up to look out the window.

"Where is he?" Inuyasha demanded, standing behind me in a second. I pointed in the direction of the mountains, then noticed a black, swirling cloud heading towards the village. We all headed outside, poised and ready for battle. This time, Naraku would die. This time, we would finally be victorious and make the jewel whole once more. I was ecstatic with the thought. Who was I to know that I would regret it?

We won the battle of course. But we almost lost all of our friends in the processes. It was the hardest thing I've ever done. I was surprised I was still alive when it was all over. I was standing next to Inuyasha, resting my head against his arm, staring in front of us at the remains that used to be Naraku. I couldn't believe it was over. It's finally over.

We were still standing next to the well, the forest around it almost completely destroyed. I was turning around to head back to the village, jewel clutched in my hand, when I was roughly shoved. I turned as I was falling to see Inuyasha staring awestruck at me. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Naraku fading away completely, smiling and laughing the whole time. I crashed into the well and disappeared into the time stream. It felt different this time. What's going on?

(End Flashback)

Inuyasha was still staring at the well, and where Kagome and the well had just been. He fell to the ground, hands clutched in fists and pounded the ground, occasional tears falling from his eyes. Sango, Miroku, Shippo, and Kirara were all standing by, watching silently. It was then that they heard it, an almost silent cry for help. Looking around, they didn't see anyone. Suddenly Inuyasha was on his feet, looking straight at where the held had been only moments ago. "Kagome!" He screamed. "Kagome, can you hear me? It's me, Inuyasha! Are you ok?"

"Inuyasha, I think we should be asking if you were the one who was ok. Who are you talking to? Lady Kagome has gone back to her time." Miroku said, concern written on his face.

"No idiot, you don't understand! I can hear her. I don't think she's back in her time. I think she's trapped somewhere in between here and there. I can't explain it, but I know she's in trouble. I know Naraku did something just before he died. I've got to go find her." Inuyasha stammered, looking around at his friends. They couldn't think of anything to say, so they just nodded their heads in agreement.

"Go my friend." Said Miroku.

"Save her Inuyasha. Make sure she's ok." Shippo said, tears threatening to spill over.

"Take care of her, and make sure she has a safe return to her family." Sango said, leaning against Miroku and pulling Shippo closer to her.

"I promise." Inuyasha said before using his sword and disappearing.

It was really dark and lonely here. Where exactly was this place? "Mom? Grandpa? Souta? Can you guys here me?" There was no answer. I sighed and curled up into a ball, quivering and wishing I could get out of here.

"Nobody is going to come save you Kagome. You should make a wish on the jewel for the darkness to go away. To get out of here and back to your life." A mysterious voice said, and it echoed around me like it was in full stereo.

"Never! Inuyasha will come. I just know it. He'll save me like he always does. Just wait and see." I said, trying to convince the mystery voice as much as I was trying to convince myself. Suddenly I was no longer in the dark, but back in my time.

"Come on Kagome, we're going to be late for our first day of high school." Eri said. First day of high school? How did I get here? I don't remember taking the entrance exam.

"Ya Kagome. Especially after you worked so hard to pass your entrance exams and get here." Ayumi said.

"Can you believe it you guys? We're in high school!" Yuri screamed, pulling us all into a hug, and smiling like a cheshire cat. I just stared at my friends, trying to figure out what was going on here. Suddenly I heard a faint voice calling my name. Looking around I called, "Inuyasha?"

"Ya Kagome. It's me. Don't worry, I'm coming to save you. Just stay calm, and don't make a wish until I get to you, ok?" He said.

"Ok!" I called back, suddenly back in the dark void I had been in earlier.

"He's not going to come Kagome. He can't get to you. You're going to be trapped here forever. Just make a wish Kagome, and you can be out of here and rid of the jewel. You can go back to having a normal life again. Doesn't that sound good Kagome?" The mysterious voice said. I was tempted to take its advice, but then I heard Inuyasha calling to me again.

"I'm coming, I swear Kagome. Don't lose faith. I'll be there soon." Inuyasha said, unknowingly strengthening my resolve.

"You here that? He's coming for me, just like I said he would." I said, smiling as I said it.

"He won't be able to reach you." Said the mysterious voice. Suddenly I could see Inuyasha, surrounded by demons, and fighting his way out. But it seemed like for every one demon he killed, three more showed up.

"Damn demons," I heard him growl, "There's too many of them. Please hold on Kagome, I'll be there as soon as I can." And I knew he was telling the truth. I just didn't know whether him being truthful mattered in this situation. I was starting to get scared again. It was like I was trapped in a never ending dark. Please hurry Inuyasha.

Suddenly the Inuyasha I could see swung his sword and disappeared. A moment later I felt arms encircle my waist, and I turned to see him standing there, smiling. "I told ya I'd come and save ya." He smirked, and I crushed him in a hug and cried into his chest. "Now let's get you out of here."

"No. I need to get rid of the jewel first." I said, stepping out of his arms and turning to stare in front of us. He nodded his head, silently telling me I was right.

"You know what to do." He said. I nodded and pulled the jewel close to my heart, bowing my head and making a silent wish. The jewel glowed, and then flew out of my hand. I faintly heard a voice, and guessed that it was Midoriko.

"If that is your true wish, then so be it." She said, and with that the jewel disappeared. Inuyasha grabbed hold of me as the time stream consumed us one more time. We descended out of the well in my time to see my family crying and staring back at us.

"Oh Kagome! I'm so glad to see your okay! We were so worried about you!" My mom said, stepping forward to pull me into a hug.

"I missed you to, momma." I said, wrapping my arms around her tight.

"Thank you! Thank you so much Inuyasha, for returning my baby girl to us. You don't know how much this means to us." My momma said, letting me go and stepping forward toward Inuyasha. Souta and grandpa rushed forward and started hugging me and talking to me but I wasn't listening. I was to busy staring at Inuyasha, as he started to disappear.

"It was no problem Ms. Higurashi. I promised I'd always protect her, and I was just doing my job." He finally disappeared fully and left us all there, crying like a bunch of idiots, together. I walked inside with my family, silently contemplating my options. I didn't even have to go back to the well to know that it was sealed. I cried silently, and my family just took it as me getting over the shock of what happened.

I stayed in bed and cried for days after that. I just couldn't get over the fact that I would never see Inuyasha again. I would never see any of them again. It hurt so much inside. But I know they wouldn't want me to hurt. They would want me to move on with my life. To graduate, and do something. To be happy. I just wish it was that easy.

From that day on I vowed I wouldn't rest or slack off until I graduated. I went to school everyday, and studied from the time I got home until the time I went to bed, only taking breaks to eat, sleep, and use the bathroom or take showers. I aced my entrance exams and started my first year of high school. It started out smooth enough and I kept up my routine. Everyday, however, I went and checked the well, just hoping that today would be the day that I found it unsealed.

(One year later)

I was sitting in my desk at school, looking over formulas in my algebra book, when I heard someone clear their throat. I didn't think anything of it at first, but then I heard it again so I looked out of the corner of my eye and saw Hojo standing there. "Can I help you with something Hojo?" I asked, not really wanting to know the answer.

"Well, I was wondering if you wanted to attend the Masquerade with me tonight. We didn't really get to enjoy our time together there last year, and I was hoping that we could try again this year." He said, looking as hopeful as ever.

"Sure Hojo, I'd love to." I said. I didn't want to because it would remind me off last year with Inuyasha, but he wouldn't be there this year and I needed to accept that. "I'm sure we'll have tons of fun. Thank you for asking." And with that I stood up and left, walking out of the school. After calling my friends, we decided to meet up at the mall after school and look for dresses for tonight.

We were back in the same store that we found my dress and mask in last year. Hopefully I would be as lucky this year as I was last year. I was in the dressing room trying on my next dress. The other girls had already found theirs, and were waiting on me. The dress I was trying on was black and sleeveless. It had silver sparkles and sequins arranged all across the top in the shape of a shooting star, that thinned out the farther it went down. I zipped up the back and walked out of the dressing room. Just like last year, I heard all around gasps. I didn't even wait to here what they would say. I just walked back into the dressing room and took the dress off. I would get it. I chose a simple pair of silver heels to match and then went and chose a stunning mask. It was black and silver and had jewels encrusted all over it, with a large crescent moon shape on the top of it. It looked fantastic and matched with the theme of the shooting stars.

The cashier rang up my items, and I left. I got home and went through the same routine I did last year. This year I left my hair straight and the makeup was just simple black linear on the top and bottom lashes with a small silver jewel at the corner of each eye and some mascara. I got dressed and went down stairs. I silently passed by the kitchen where momma was, and went outside. I crossed the grounds to the well house and stepped inside, closing the door behind me. I stepped down the stairs carefully and walked over to the well. Bending down, I peered inside to see if maybe, just maybe, I would see what I hoped for. But just like fate would have it, there was no trace of the well being open. I sighed and rested my head against the cool surface of the well, running my hands across the wood, suddenly feeling tired.

I heard the door open behind me, and turned to see my mom standing there. "Kagome, dear, Hojo is here." She said. I nodded and stood up, following her out the door. I slid it closed behind me and silently wished I hadn't agreed to do this. I wasn't ready yet. A silent tear slipped down my face, but I quickly wiped it away before anyone noticed.

As I danced with Hojo, I realized something. I needed to stop wishing for something that wasn't going to come true. Inuyasha was from a different time, and there was nothing I could do about that. We were never meant to be together. I needed to stop acting like a child, and grow up. Life was too short to waste it wishing for things that would never happen. From that night on I didn't visit the well, I did my best not to think about Inuyasha and the others, and I threw myself into my work. I was planning on graduating early.

I visited the well every three days, hoping that I would find Kagome there, waiting for me. Shippo always teased me about it, but Sango and Miroku always gave me sad look. I understood why, they were just worrying about me. But they didn't understand. They never would. I just knew she would come back. She had to. We were meant to be together. I would never lose hope when it came to Kagome. She never let me down.

A lot of things had changed since she left. Rin had moved into the village to stay with Keade, and learn how to live among humans again. Sesshomaru still came and checked on her, made sure everything was going ok and that she had everything she needed. Shippo would disappear every couple of days to go take another one of his fox exams. Sango and Miroku had gotten married, and were expecting there first child. Miroku and I still worked together, slaying demons whenever they caused trouble. Miroku also worked with Keade in the spiritual field. I just worked in the field, with the rest of the village men. I had gotten my own hut on the outskirts of the village. It wasn't much, but it served its purpose. The village men had helped me build it.

I was silently looking out over the hill at the sunset, thinking of the last time I saw Kagome, huddled with her family, crying. It always made me feel bad that I wanted to take her away from that. That was her life, and who was I to take that away from her. I should be happy for her, that she finally got back to the life she always wanted, but I never could be. I was selfish about it and I knew I was. But I couldn't help it. I needed her here with me.

I was shaken from my thoughts a moment later when a hand was rested on my shoulder. I glanced behind me in time to see Miroku sitting down. He gave me a knowing look, and sighed. "Inuyasha, I know you miss Lady Kagome, we all do, but don't you think it's time you moved on? Forget about her? She's safe and where she needs to be. Can't you be happy for her? It's not that much to ask for my friend." He said, sighing again.

"I know Miroku. I know. I just can't do it though. Especially since I told her I loved her. I just can't let her go." I could feel the unshed tears prickle behind my closed lids. I hadn't told them about telling her. I didn't think it was their business to know.

"So that's what this is about. You told her before you two returned that night, didn't you? Now I understand now. I know it hurts, my friend, but maybe it was all for the best. Fate works in strange ways. Well, anyway, Sango wanted me to tell you that dinner would be at 7 tonight. Don't be late, you know how she gets." Miroku said, looking at the sunset in front of them. He heard a rustle, and didn't even have to look to know that the hanyou was gone, most likely heading towards the sacred tree. He sighed, knowing his friend would never change.

Miroku stood up, walking back to his wife and hut. It was almost the same routine everyday. And it would more than likely continue to be.

I sat in the auditorium, waiting to hear my name called. Today was the day I graduated. Today was the day I was liberated. I had already been accepted to Tokyo University. I had my whole life ahead of me. Today was the day I would never forget.

After graduation, Hojo walked over and congratulated me. He wrapped me in a hug and kissed me on the cheek. We had started dating after the masquerade, but I had never really thought much of it. I noticed as he got down on one knee, and pulled out a velvet box. I gasped as he grasped my hand, asking me if I would marry him. I didn't know what to say so I just nodded yes. I didn't love him, not like I loved Inuyasha, but I could try to learn to. It was the practical thing to do. He slipped the diamond ring onto my finger, then stood up and kissed me.

After we parted, I headed back to the shrine with mama, gramps, and Souta. Souta wouldn't look me in the eyes, and I knew why. He had always hoped I would marry Inuyasha. Lets face it, so did I. Momma smiled, but I could tell it was fake. They only one who seemed genuinely happy was gramps, but I think it was because he really didn't understand what had just happened.

We had a special congratulatory dinner for both my graduating and my engagement. I was still in my dress, cap, and gown. After dinner, I excused myself and stepped outside to think. I looked over towards the well and started walking in that direction. I hadn't visited it since the night of the masquerade. I opened the well house door and stepped inside. I walked down the steps and placed my hands on the side, reminiscing about all the memories I had thanks to this well. Suddenly, the well started to glow. I jumped back, surprised. I heard a sigh behind me, and looked to see my family. They all nodded, and I knew they were giving me their blessings to go. I ran inside and changed into a soft blue cotton dress, whit short sleeved sweater, and matching flats. I ran a brush threw my hair and then ran back outside. I said goodbye to, and hugged mama, Souta, and grandpa. I waved goodbye and handed the engagement ring to momma, giving her an apologetic look, then turned and leapt into the well. I let the time stream engulf me as I prepared for what lay ahead of me.

Ok, so that's it for chapter 2. I hope you liked it. No this isn't the last chapter, and that's not how I'm going to end the story. Sorry if I had you scared with the engagement thing. It's all part of my master plan. Mwahahahahahaha! I'm also about to start working on two new stories:

Living art- It was Kagome's freshman year of high school, and all she wanted was to blend in, stay out of trouble, and ace all her classes. It wasn't to much to ask for. So why did she get stuck in an art class with the brash and short tempered Jr., Inuyasha. What will this year hold for her and her best friend, Sango?

And

Breakfast at Tiffany's- It was just a simple breakfast at a friend's house. So how did everything get so out of hand? And why is Kagome so jealous?

I hope you'll read and enjoy them both. That's it for now. Bye!