Inuyasha climbed the shrine steps with reverent feet. When the well first closed, the tree had become his home, but he hadn't been back in decades. As he reached the top, he was struck by how familiar the scene was. It looked almost exactly the same as it had before.

He sought out the ancient tree, drawn to its enormity, and settled himself within the roots. If he closed his eyes he could almost imagine Kagome were with him. He had no idea what year she had been born in, but if current fashion was any indication, it wasn't this decade.

"Can I help you, sir?"

Inuyasha was on his feet in seconds, and only careful restraint kept him from attacking on instinct. As it was, he had already frightened the man with his speed alone.

"Sorry," Inuyasha started, "I was just paying my respects to the Goshinboku."

"Very well. My name is Higurashi Futoshi, but if you need anything, my son Kenzo will be around. Please feel free to explore the Shrine."

Inuyasha bowed to him, "Thank you."

He attempted to tamp down the excitement he felt just from hearing her surname. Kagome's family had been the caretakers of the shrine for generations, of course they would share a surname. It would help if he knew just how much of an ancestor these men were to Kagome.

He decided to wander the grounds, and was both relieved and disappointed to see that the main house looked different from Kagome's time. He knew he was at least a few decades from her birth, and seeing her home as he remembered it would be difficult. It also reminded him he had years to go before he would see her again.

His feet carried him to the wellhouse, almost of their own will. As he slid the door back, he caught sight of what must have been Kenzo.

"Hello, can I help you?" The boy asked. He couldn't have been more than sixteen, but for some reason, his scent was vaguely familiar. Inuyasha studied his face for much longer than was respectful before he finally made the connection.

This was Kagome's grandfather.

He wanted to laugh and cry all at once, overjoyed that he had finally entered the right century, crushed by the knowledge that he had at least six more decades, rather than the two or three he had been wishing for.

"Sir? Are you alright?"

He shook his head, "Yes, I'm sorry. It's just been many years since I've been here."

Kenzo gave him an odd look, and Inuyasha realized a moment too late that to humans he only looked to be in his late twenties, and his illusion barrier made him seem even younger. He probably sounded like a moron.

"Well… let me know if I can help you with anything." Kenzo said. Inuyasha grunted and offered him a smile. Once Kenzo left, Inuyasha ran his hand along the edge of the well.

He was still too early.

Kagome's graduation was today. She knew she should be happy, at one point she'd have been happy simply passing her grade year, given that she was never in class. But for some reason, she felt like crying. Graduation meant going away to college, getting a real job, becoming an adult.

Moving on from childhood things.

There would be no more time for pining over Inuyasha for Adult Kagome.

Nevertheless, she got up, and curled her hair, even put on a little makeup, and put on her uniform for the last time.

Mama had breakfast ready for her, with all her favorites. She couldn't help but laugh at how Inuyasha's nose would have crinkled at the smell of so many "spicy" foods.

"Good morning, Kagome! Are you excited?" Her mother chirped from the stove.

"Of course, and thank you for the big breakfast, Mama."

"Well you can't be hungry on such a special occasion! Besides, it will probably be a long day for you."

Kagome had a feeling her mother was right. It was going to be a very long day.

Her friends chattered excitedly on either side of her, they were all waiting to be led into the gym for the ceremony. She tried to follow their conversation, but her heart wasn't in it. High school seemed like such a small achievement in light of what she had already done in her life. How had it been three years since she floated in inky blackness for days to destroy to jewel? How had she lived this mundane life all this time?

"Kagome? We're moving." Ayumi said as she poked her side and gestured to the large gap between them and the group ahead of them.

"Oh! Sorry, daydreaming over here." She said.

"Are you thinking about college? You must be so excited to be going to Kyoto University, it's such a great school!" Eri said, and Kagome took the easy cover.

"Yes! I'm excited to live in a new city, but I'm going to miss my family a lot." She hoped that would explain the melancholy look on her face.

"You couldn't find somewhere closer to home?"

Kagome shook her head. "None that had the major I wanted." Feudal specific history classes were apparently not that common. And she needed desperately to distance herself from the shrine and every memory that came with it.

"Attention!" The principal called out, "Please line up according to your class behind your homeroom teachers, they will lead you in."

"This is it!" Yuka whispered excitedly.

Kagome took a deep breath and followed her friends into the gymnasium. This was it.