Disclaimer: I do NOT own Inuyasha or any of the characters from the series.
A/N: I am taking some liberties, and making some changes to society today. Please don't take offense at anything!
Dear Kagome,
It's now been six years since you left us, however not a day goes by in which you are sorely missed. Kaede came up with this idea, to make you one of the 'care package' things you always brought us back from your time. She is enclosing some of her final teachings, Shippo has put in some drawings he made with the last of the crayons you gave him, and Miroku and I are writing you this letter. We are married now, we have 4 children already, and another on the way! I knew you wouldn't mind, we named our first born daughter Kagome after you! One of the villagers made a drawing of her likeness; Miroku wanted you to have it. He also just told me to ask you (and I'm glaring at him for it) "Will you do me the honor, of bearing my child?" I think I really must slap him a few extra times for that one. Anyway, I don't know what else to write here. We miss you so much; you will always be on our minds and in our hearts.
All our love and prayers,
Sango, Miroku, Shippo, and Kaede
Tears rolling unchecked, Kagome looks through the parchments. The likeness of the child to both Sango and Miroku's faces brings a smile to her lips, and the pictures Shippo enclosed get a soft laugh. 'I'm glad they all lived happy lives…I wonder what happened to Inuyasha – NO! I can't think about him. He is gone, in the past! Oh, why did I have to just leave him to make his choice?' crying uncontrollably, she thinks back to the day she left them all, just one week after the final battle was won.
Inuyasha looked down at me as I gathered my things, "So, that's it? You're just going to leave, after all that?" he said. I'm clutched the jewel in my hand, a determined look on my face. 'He needs to make this decision alone. I cannot force him to love me, if he does, he'll follow me – or ask me to come to him.' I looked into his eyes and smiled.
"Inuyasha, I want you to have the jewel." He opened his eyes wide -- I can see he's shocked at this statement. "It is yours now; you have to decide how to use it. I am going to return to my time. If you want, you'll always have a place there, with me." I say, with tears welling up in my eyes. I reached up and hugged him tightly, whispering "if you want me to come back, come get me please" very softly, knowing he hears me. 'I must NOT cry -- I want him to be happy, don't I?' I smiled at him brightly, and then turned to the others.
"Shippo, I'm going to miss you! You are still small, but you have a huge heart and understanding of this world that takes other people a lot longer to learn. Take care of everyone for me, will you?" I whispered, hugging him tightly. He smiled at me, tears rolling down his cheeks as he cried "Kagome, do you have to go? Why can't you just stay here?" I shook my head, the look in my eyes pleading with him to not ask me anymore, then placed him on the ground and turned to Miroku.
"I'm not hugging you monk, don't get any ideas!" I laughed at him as he held his arms open to me. He leered at me from under his lashes slap Sango didn't appreciate the gesture. "I'm going to miss you, Kagome!" He said, rubbing his cheek.
I then turned to Sango tearfully "Oh, what am I going to do without you here Kagome!" Sango cried, hugging me tightly.
"Take care of yourself, and don't let the lecher over there give you too many problems" I told her, hugging her tightly. Then I climbed onto the edge of the well. Before jumping down, I turned back to everyone with a bright smile on my lips (which couldn't reach my eyes) and tearfully said "Goodbye guys, I will miss you…" With that, I jumped down the well and into my own time...that was the last time I saw them, any of them.
She gathered the pages and carefully placed them back in the box, closing it gently. As she rose to her feet and gathered the box, she couldn't help thinking about what her life was going to be like from now on. Demons, while less of a threat then they were back then, were still walking around in society. Occasionally there were reports of a demonic rampage, multiple deaths or a maiming. She was prepared to face them, and purify the ones persistent enough to be a threat towards society…however was she prepared to be a spiritual guide to those who sought her out for her wisdom? As she walked down the hall to her room, she thought about what advice she could possibly give. 'Most of my training was done in the feudal era…well, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it I guess' she thought as she opened the door. Lying across her bed, she noticed that the monk had someone deliver her new uniform.
Miko these days were still noticed by their uniforms, though they had not changed very much since the feudal era, there were definitely some changes she noticed. She picked up the long red silk skirt and let the fabric flow between her fingers; the material was strong and sturdy, and would hold up well in any fights to come. The cut was simple, a sarong style which would flow around her, leaving her legs unencumbered to run if needed. She would wear red leggings under the skirt in the winter times, to help keep warm. The simple white blouse was tight around her chest, tying just below her breasts; with long, simple flowing sleeves. There was also a lovely set of ivory prayer beads, and a silver headdress which will drape across her forehead. 'Tomorrow this becomes my official uniform' she thinks, smiling.
'I might as well continue my archery training for a few hours…I still need to work on a few incantations before leaving tomorrow.' Grabbing her bow and quiver, she heads to the training fields. While most of the mikos and monks these days prefer to use guns, Kagome still feels more comfortable with her bow. Other people mock her, saying that an arrow couldn't possibly outrange the bullet from a gun and she should give it up; she simply smiles at them and tells them that the bow feels stronger to her. She doesn't notice the looks of envy she receives as she hits moving targets from 1000 feet away, or the way most stop and watch her on the battlefield. While some mock her, most envy her skills. When her arms begin to shake from hours of shooting, Kagome decides to go to sleep, silently saying a prayer that she doesn't have that dream again tonight; she has a big day ahead of her.
And for the first time in six years, the dream did not come.
Kagome awoke slowly, going through her morning ritual as usual. 'Today I go home!' she thinks, smiling. She donned her new uniform and walked to the morning prayer session before calling a taxi and heading home.