A/N: Hey everyone! This chapter is a little different. I really like it, and don't kill me when you finish it. I promise everything will get better later on in the story. Well, now I know that you are all curious, so I won't hold you up any longer. Enjoy!
A couple of weeks later Izayoi was sparring with her father.
"Good job Izayoi. Your left hand block could use a little work though."
Kagome was sitting off to the side watching the two fight. She smiled to herself.
"Inuyasha is so good with her, and she adores him. I don't know what he'll do when he finds out another man has a special place in her heart."
The sparring ended and Inuyasha and Izayoi walked over to Kagome.
"I'm hungry Mom. Do we have anything at home?"
Kagome stood up and brushed herself off.
"I think we do."
Inuyasha smiled.
"Great! I'm starving. Let's head back."
"You two go ahead. I'm gonna stay here for a while."
Inuyasha frowned.
"Are you alright?" he asked concerned.
"I'm fine! I just want to enjoy the fresh air and the peace and quiet for a little longer. It's not everyday Sango and Miroku take Aiko and Hotaru to play with Kohaku so that I can have a break."
Inuyasha smirked.
"Okay. You enjoy yourself. Yell if you need me."
Kagome nodded and leaned up to gently kiss her mate. When Kagome pulled away Inuyasha and Izayoi headed home for lunch. Kagome sighed contentedly. She walked a little way until she reached a very familiar tree. She gently brushed her fingers over the rough bark that held so many memories and kept so many secrets. Looking up into the branches she smiled remembering the first time she met Inuyasha.
"He was so angry, so lost then."
Taking another glance before leaving, she nodded in appreciation.
"Thank you old friend. You gave me my entire life. I'm very grateful to you."
Kagome let herself walk on a beaten path. She used to walk it all the time, but hadn't in years. She soon found herself in a grassy clearing. In the middle stood an ancient well, and Kagome couldn't help but smile.
"It's been entirely too long." she whispered taking a step toward the structure.
"I promised that I'd visit, but I haven't. I wonder if they all think I'm dead."
Soon she found herself kneeling at the well and looking into its depths.
"It looks so ordinary. Who would every think that it's a portal?"
Kagome laughed.
"If it still is a portal."
She stood up and climbed up on the rim. Just as she was about to jump in, she heard movement behind her. As she turned to see who was there she found herself breathless. Standing in front of her was a teenage boy. He was obviously a demon because of his pointed ears and tail, not to mention his fangs and claws. His clothes were out of the ordinary as well. All he wore was armor and fur pelts that didn't leave much to the imagination. He was very muscular with sun-kissed skin and dark red hair, but it was his eyes that gave him away to Kagome. He had the same icy blue eyes as his father, and Kagome knew that she was looking at Koga's son for the first time.
"Hello." she said.
The boy just kept starring at her.
"You're Koga's son Ryo, aren't you?" Kagome asked.
This got the boys attention.
"Yes. You're Izayoi's mom, aren't you?" he asked.
Kagome nodded.
"If you don't mind me asking, why are you standing on the rim of that well?"
"Huh? Oh! Well…I…I was just admiring it." Kagome stammered.
"It's just an old dried up well."
"To you it is."
"What are you doing here?" Kagome asked changing the subject.
Ryo looked at the ground.
"I need to talk to Izayoi. Is she here?"
Kagome jumped down from the well and walked over to the teenager.
"She's with her father, and it wouldn't be good if he knew you were here. He and your father have somewhat of a rivalry together."
"I know. Dad talks about it all the time."
Kagome nodded.
"Just like those two to never let anything go."
"Why do you need to talk to her?"
Ryo blushed, but he answered, "I need to tell her something really important. Can you tell her to meet me at our usual place tonight at sunset? I promise I won't do anything! I just really need to talk to her."
Kagome could hear the pleading tone in his voice and knew that this was indeed something important.
"I'll tell her."
Ryo smiled and bowed.
"Thank you. It was nice meeting you."
Kagome smiled.
"It was nice meeting you too, but you don't need to bow to me. I'm not important."
Ryo shook his head.
"You're a lady, and I was taught to always show respect to ladies."
Kagome laughed.
"That must have been a lesson you learned from your mother."
Ryo nodded.
"I'll tell Izayoi to go."
"Thank you. Goodbye."
Ryo left and Kagome couldn't help but smile.
"He's very handsome. Izayoi has good taste! Inuyasha's not going to like this at all."
Soon enough Kagome found herself standing in front of her home. She could hear Inuyasha and Izayoi inside talking about different fighting techniques. She walked in and cleared her throat.
"Oh, hi Mom!" Izayoi exclaimed.
"Hi dear. Can I talk to you for a minute?"
Izayoi gave her mother a confused look, but nodded her head and followed her mother outside. Once they were out of earshot of the hut Kagome stopped.
"What is it Mom?"
"I met Ryo today."
Izayoi gasped.
"You did! When!"
Kagome smiled.
"A few minutes ago. He asked me to tell you something."
"What is it?"
"He wants you to meet him at your usual place at sunset. He has something very important to tell you."
"Did he say what it was?"
Kagome shook her head.
"He didn't say, but it must be very important for him to come all this way."
Izayoi nodded.
"I wonder what it is."
"Izayoi, I'm going to let you go, but I want you to be careful. I know how much you like this boy, and to be honest, I like him too. He's very handsome and polite."
Izayoi blushed.
"He most definitely is handsome."
Kagome laughed and pulled her daughter into a hug.
"You better get ready. It's almost sunset." she whispered.
Izayoi nodded. The two women started heading back home. When they were right outside Izayoi gave her mother a hug and a kiss.
"Thanks Mom." she said before she disappeared into the hut.
"You're welcome honey."
Just as the sinking sun began to turn the sky red, Izayoi showed up at the river. Ryo was already there, and his breath hitched in his throat when he saw Izayoi. She was wearing a sky blue kimono with a navy waistband. Her hair was pulled back in a low pony tail with a gold ribbon. A few strands of hair were left out to frame her face. For once she wasn't wearing her battle suit underneath her clothes and her bow and arrows had been left at home. Takara, however, was securely strapped to her side. When Ryo finally got over how stunning she looked he was finally able to breathe.
"Hi." he whispered.
Izayoi blushed at his lack of words.
"Hi yourself."
The two teens just stood in silence for a few minutes.
"She's so beautiful. I always knew she was pretty, but now she's gorgeous. I didn't think it was possible for her to be any more attractive."
"My gosh! He's so handsome. The setting sun really makes his eyes sparkle. I could stare into those eyes forever."
Izayoi was the first to get her wits back.
"You wanted to tell me something?"
Ryo shook his head to clear his thoughts.
"What? Oh! Yeah, I did. Let's sit down." he said.
"Okay."
Ryo helped Izayoi sit on a boulder while he sat on the ground at her feet.
"How am I gonna do this?"
Izayoi started to get worried at his silence.
"Is something wrong Ryo?"
The teenager sighed and nodded his head.
"Yes. Something's very wrong. My mom and dad have decided that I'm not going to have any say in my life or in my future. They've betrothed me to a girl from the southern tribe. She's supposed to be traveling here to meet me right now. What none of them know is that I'm not going to be here or anywhere near here for a long time."
"What! You're leaving?" Izayoi gasped.
Ryo nodded and took her hand.
"I have to. I need to figure out my life and what I want, and I need to do it on my own terms. If I stay I'll be mated to some girl I don't even know and my future will be handed to me on a silver platter. I don't want that. I never did. Besides, I could never feel about anyone the way I feel about you. I love you Izayoi, and don't pull your, "We're too young to be in love." I know how I feel about you. It's one on the only things I'm sure of. Leaving you is going to be the hardest thing I'll ever have to do, but I have to do it. I have to figure out my life. Please try to understand."
Izayoi couldn't hold in her tears, so she let them fall. Ryo didn't tell her not to cry, he was fighting tears himself. Instead, he wrapped his arms around her and held her. She latched onto him and held him close to her heart. When she got her tears under control she pulled back so she could look him in the eye.
"I do understand. I understand that you never wanted the life you were handed, and I understand that you have to find out what you do want. Go. Find what you're looking for, just, please don't forget me."
Ryo smiled and hugged her again.
"I could never forget you. Even if I tried to, I'd never be able to. You're my best friend, and more importantly, I love you." he whispered.
"I love you too." she whispered back.
He gasped and pulled back to look into her eyes. When he saw the small blush that adorned her cheeks he knew it was true. He tilted her head to face him and then leaned toward her to press his lips to hers. Izayoi was shocked, but in a good way. She kissed him back, and before she knew it, the kiss was over.
"I'll come back for you. I don't know when, but I swear I'll come back for you."
Izayoi nodded.
"I'll wait. No matter how long it takes, I'll wait for you."
Ryo smiled and kissed her again. When he pulled back he stood up and pulled her to him.
"I love you Izayoi, and one day I promise to make you my mate."
"I'll wait for that day." she whispered.
He gently kissed the top of her head and pulled her close one last time.
"I have to go now. My mom and dad will have noticed I'm gone by now. I have to make sure they can't track me."
Izayoi just nodded. She didn't trust her voice. She hugged him one last time then watched as he walked away. Before he entered the forest he turned back to her and nodded. She waved back to him, and then he was gone. Once he was out of sight she collapsed on the ground and cried. She was so young, but that didn't stop her heart from shattering into a million pieces.