Finding The Answer

The sunlight filled her room as it streamed in through the window blinds. With a soft yawn she opened her eyes and stretched. A smile graced her half sleeping face as she snuggled in the warmth of her comforter. Memories of the night before flooded her mind causing her smile to vanish. Grabbing some clothes she retreated to the bathroom for a hot morning shower. After dressing and drying her hair, she returned to her room to made her bed.

As she walked down the steps she thought it odd there was no smell of food in the air. Reaching the kitchen her eyes were drawn to the table where a note and some money laid. She almost started laughing as she started reading what it said.

Dear Kagome,

If you are reading this that means you have come home and we are gone. Sorry we missed you hunny. Your aunt is ill so we went to help her for a few days. I left you some money with this note and food in the frig. Try to have a little fun with it Dear. I hope to see you soon. We miss and love you. Love Mom,

Well that explains a lot. She thought and almost started laughed at how worried she had been the night before about waking anyone up. Looking down at the money she was surprised her mother had left her so much. Placing the money in her pocket she proceeded to get herself something to eat.

Opening the door she could only stare when she saw so many containers of different foods. Thanks mom. She thought with a smile as she started pulling out containers. After eating her meal and cleaning up, she retreated to the living and found she had nothing to do.

For the first time in a long time she had no one telling her to hurry and pack. That there was somewhere they needed to be. At first the idea of having time alone doing whatever she wished was intriguing. As the day drug along though, it became a different story. She quickly became bored and almost annoyed with the silence of the house. As she moved room to room she almost expected to see or hear someone yelling for her, but nothing came, only silence.

In the Feudal Era silence was in very short supply as the small group started waking. When Shippo woke and saw that Kagome was no where to be seen, the silence of the sleepy village was broken. Jumping to his feet he turned to see Inuyasha in the corner covered in Miroku's sutras. Even as young as he was he knew why Kagome was gone and who was to blame for it.

" What did you do to her this time?!" He screamed and started toward Inuyasha. Sango quickly grabbed Shippo up stopping him from attacking Inuyasha in his bound state. As Sango tried calming the now very upset kit, he continued to yell and scream at Inuyasha for whatever it was he had done to cause Kagome to leave them.

He had not doubts in his mind that it had indeed been Inuyasha's fault. After screaming out how much he wanted to hurt Inuyasha, Shippo jumped out of Sango's arms and ran out of the door. Instead of chasing after him Miroku and Sango let him go. They knew it was of no use trying to convince him to return to the village. They both knew where Shippo would be. Each time Kagome would leave because of Inuyasha, Shippo would sit at the well waiting for her to return.

Even with Shippo's yelling and screaming at him, Inuyasha sat quietly and waited. He knew sooner or later Miroku would remove the vile pieces of paper that were still stuck all over his body. While he sat and waited, he thought of what Shippo and Miroku had said to him. Although he admitted it to himself he would never admit to them that they were both right.

What can I do? I know she isn't Kikyo but she looks so much like her. I can't help but see Kikyo's face. His eyes shifted to the bed where Kagome normally slept. Maybe it would be better if she didn't come back at all. He thought to himself as he looked at her empty sleeping bag. He was unaware of the eyes that had been watching him with interest.

" She will return in time." Came a voice from the other side of the room drawing him out of his thoughts. Looking up he watched Miroku stand.

" Humph. If it wasn't for the shards she could stay gone for all I care." But his harsh statement lacked the bitterness it should have had and didn't fool Miroku. Miroku knew to continue to speak on the matter would only worsen it. So he kept his silence as he began to pull the sutras from Inuyasha's body.

Finally being free of his bonds Inuyasha stretched his now stiff muscles as he walked out of the hut. Walking past Sango he ignored hers and Miroku's voices as he walked out of the village toward the woods. At the moment all he wanted was to be alone. He was once again reminded how badly he had hurt Kagome as he walked along the edge of the woods and saw Shippo sitting by the old dried up well crying as well as talking to himself.

Looking at the ground he turned from the sight of Shippo and walked to his tree deeper in the forest. The very tree he had been penned to by Kikyo for 50 long years. Reaching the old tree Inuyasha jumped up into its branches. Leaning back visions of Kagome and Shippo's faces filled his mind and he wished he could undo what he had said the night before.

Later that afternoon Miroku walked up under the tall proud tree trying to convince Inuyasha to return to the village. His efforts did no good as Inuyasha ignored him completely as if he were not even there. Returning to the village Miroku only softly shook his head no as Sango looked at him. For the next couple days it was always the same.

Inuyasha would go off for hours on end refusing to speak to anyone. Shippo refused to leave the well, not even to return to the village long enough to eat or sleep. Sango would take food to Shippo and sit with him for long periods of time. When Inuyasha would pass by the wells clearing Shippo would look at him with degust before looking away. Seeing Shippo look at him in such a way bothered Inuyasha much more than he thought it would.

In the Modern Era things were not much better with Kagome. The next couple days Kagome spent hours on end sitting alone in the old well house staring at the well or at the Sacred Tree wondering what to do. Should she return to the Feudal Era to her duty and her friends? Should she stay in her own time leaving the well sealed for good?

Being so engrossed in her own thoughts Kagome didn't notice when her three best friends walked up the steps and called out to her. " Kagome they let you out?!" The three girls squealed with excitement of seeing her home. The smiles on their faces slowly slipped away when she didn't answer them.

Looking at each other confused, Eri reached over slightly touching her shoulder. Being so deep in her thoughts, Kagome reacted as she was taught by Sango. Kagome grabbed Eri's wrist taking her to the ground as she jumped back. Eri not expecting such an act from her long time friend quickly found herself on her knees, her writs throbbing with pain.

Yuri and Ayumi gasp at seeing what had just happened. They would have never believed their kind and genital friend of any type of violence. As soon as Eri's knees touched the ground Kagome realized what she had done and released her wrist as if it burned her from the very touch. Oh no! How am I going to explain this? Her mind started going into a hundred different directions trying to think of something to say.

" Oh my. I am sooo sorry Eri! I've been learning to defend myself and I guess I just reacted when you surprised me. Please forgive me." Kagome said in her own defence as she was helping her oldest friend up from the ground. Her statement wasn't a lie, just not the whole truth. Over the time she had been traveling between the ages she had learned how to get around the truth without lying. Something she was grateful about.

Looking down at her sore throbbing wrist, Eri softly started rubbing it and smiled. " Of course Kagome. Wow I never knew you was so strong. Can you teach me that?" Eri replied and started giggling. Soon the small group of friends were laughing and the event was forgotten. After retreating inside Yuri noticed her family was gone and commented about it.

Kagome thought nothing of it when she informed them her family was out of town. Kagome knew something was up as her friends looked at each other and their faces lit up with grins. " I have a fab idea. Lets have a sleep over!" The three started vigorously nodding their heads.

Well mom did want me to have some fun. Kagome thought to herself as she looked at her friends hopeful faces and pleading eyes. When she smiled and agreed, Eri, Yuri and Ayumi all squealed with joy. They eminently started talking to each other of the things that would be needed for the night. They sound like old women gossiping. Kagome thought, causing her to hold her breath to stop the laughter from escaping.

Out of no where they all grinned at each other and as if it were an unspoken agreement their hands went up and " To the mall!" past all their lips at the same time. Walking down the street the 4 talked non stop about anything and everything. Stepping through the large doors of the mall a strange feeling washed over Kagome as if hit by a bucket of water.

Looking around she couldn't see anything that was different but inside she knew something was. Deciding to not worry about it she push it to the back of her mind. By the time they reached their favorite shop the strange feeling she felt was forgotten. After trying on almost half of the stores things they were pulled from their shopping by the feeling of hunger.

As they carried their bags to the food court, Yuri and Ayumi started talking about the new shop that had opened. After having lunch the small band of friends headed off once again shopping. Kagome noticed the closer they got to the new shop the stronger her strange feeling got. As she stepping into the shop she looked around and her eyes went wide.

Lining the walls were swords, bows and many different things she would have expected to see in the Feudal Era but not here. Moving through the shop she gazed at many beautiful sword. Reaching the back of the shop she stopped in front of a sword that hung all alone. For a moment she could have sworn she heard a voice speaking lowly to her.

The feeling of needing to hold the sword was almost overwhelming as she stood frozen in a trance like state. She was unaware of the set of eyes that had been watching her since she had first walked through the doors. Unknowingly her hand started to raise to the sword but was stopped by a deep velvet voice from behind her shoulder.

" I see you have an appreciation for fine swords." Turning around she saw a very well tones young man smiling at her.

" It's a beautiful sword." She said as she looked back to him. The young man said not a word only nodded his head in agreement with her statement. Before the man could stop her Kagome reached up and took the sword into her hands. He lightly grinned when he saw a light aura flair up from the sword. Kagome's did as well willing her control over the weapon.

The world around her seemed to vanish as she stared at the sword in her hand. She lightly gasp when she felt her body pulse and saw the aura coming from the sword. In that instant she knew the strange feeling she had earlier must have been the sword calling to her. But why a sword would be calling to her was something she didn't understand. She said not a word as she carried the sword over to pay for it.

Instead of the salesmen moving to the register, he vanished into the back room. When he reappeared he was holding a box. " The continence of this box goes with this sword. May you put them to good use." The man said as he took the money. Picking up the box Kagome walked out of the shop with her friends smiling.

Later that evening as the 4 laid in their sleeping bag, Yuri told a story of something her friend had done. Listening to the story Kagome wondered if it would work for her as well. As they all laid going to sleep Kagome make her decision. That's what I'll do then. I'll go back and everything he has put me through I will make him go through. No more being nice.