AN: Please Review!


A different fate? InuYasha spun and watched her as she disappeared. He didn't know what this fate nonsense was that she spoke of, but he knew that for the first time in his life, he witnessed a side of Kagome he had never seen. She was so strong and always, no matter what, she stayed by his side. But really she was always and it still is so fragile, and without him even realizing it she had been breaking apart right in front of him. Memories from the past came flooding back to him. All the times he couldn't protect her, all the times he left her to see Kikyo. Yet still Kagome always forgave him, she always stood by him, always hiding her pain from the outside world. He knew all that, he knew how many times he had hurt Kagome, but he never knew she felt this way. He never understood just how deep that pain cut her.

His chest ached and his hand clutched his kimono over his heart. He never once forgot about Kikyo, even now she still has a place in his heart. But Kagome….Kagome was different. She is special to him in a way that Kikyo never was. He had grown so close to her that it was just natural that she was with him. That's why when she left he felt so empty. If only he had known how she really felt, if she had just told him she would have never left. No, that's not true, he should have known. He should have, but he was selfish and put his own feelings above everything else. Not once had Kagome been selfish, not once did she ask him to forget Kikyo, not once did she ask him to return her feelings. She never asked him for anything except for his permission to stay by his side. And every time he granted her wish and let her remain beside him. He thought it was the least he could do for her.

Had he made the wrong choice by doing so? Perhaps he just made things worse by letting her stay. She only suffered when she was by his side. He shouldn't have let her stay with him. He should have sent her away. No, she would have never allowed it. He knew that. Even in the past he tried to make her go home for her own safety. But she always came back; she always said the right words that he couldn't even refuse her request to do so. He ran his hand down his face. He really was a fool. He could see now why she found his request to be so foolish. To her, asking her to stay with him would only cause her more pain.

"Damn it!" He let out a low growl and turned, once again slamming his fist into the sacred tree. Was she really that far out of his reach?


"Master, are you sure this woman is the one?" The young man held up the mirror, an image of Kagome running through the woods crying flashed across it.

"Yes" A deep strained voice answered from behind the dark curtain. "She's the one. Find her. Bring her to me."

He bowed his head and the mirror disappeared. "Yes Master"


"Daddy!" Miroku turned and smiled. Two little girls ran up to him giggling, grabbing onto his legs. "Daddy, play with us!"

He ruffled the little girls' hair. "Sorry, I can't right now. Daddy's looking for InuYasha."

"Doggy?" One little girl tilted her head.

"Yes" Miroku chuckled. "Doggy"

"Can I help?" They chimed together, there smiles so innocent.

"Sure" The girls jumped around chanting 'doggy', thrilled that they could help.

Miroku turned his gaze from the happy children and stared off into the distance. Something wasn't right. InuYasha has been acting even more distant than usual. And the way he keeps disappearing was growing worrisome. Something terrible was upon them, he couldn't explain what it was or where it was coming from, but he could feel the evil enclosing on them. He feared that their peaceful life was soon going to be disrupted.

"Doggy! Doggy!" Miroku's thoughts were broken feeling a tug at his robes. "Daddy we found the doggy."

He followed the girls' gaze and sure enough it was InuYasha. He could tell right away something was wrong with the half-demon. His gaze was focused on the ground as he slowly walked down the trail towards him. A distraught look was stretched across his face. A frown now crossed Miroku's face. It's been a long time since he's seen InuYasha look so troubled. The little girls' ran up to him and jumped around him. However he didn't seem to pay them any mind.

As he drew closer, the monk caught sight of something strange. Grasped tightly in his hand was a bow. His eyes went wide. He recognized it, it was Kagome's bow, and there was no mistaking it. "InuYasha? That bow…."

He stopped in front of the monk. "Here she'll be coming by soon, so please give it back to her."

Miroku looked at the bow, then back at InuYasha. Something had happened between them, and though he wanted know what exactly, now probably wasn't the time. He took the bow and InuYasha brushed past him continuing his slow walk, passed the hut and into the woods. The children stood at the edge of the wood, shoulders slumped in disappointment.

Miroku stared down at the bow. Kagome. So she finally came back. This answers one of his questions at least. He knows now why InuYasha kept disappearing; he has probably been able to pick up her scent for days now. He's also met with her already, and from the looks of it, it wasn't a happy meeting. Besides that, maybe Kagome returning is connected with this feeling he's been having lately, that feeling that was so close now. Could it? He let out a sigh. Guess he'll just have to wait till Kagome arrives to find out anything.


AN: Please Review!