Sanji: ::Yawn:: ::Stretches:: Hm...Oh, hi readers!

Reader: Hullo, Sanji!

Sanji: Nice to see you're feeling perky.

Reader: ::Blinks::

Sanji: Tailz'll be excite— ::Stops::

Reader: .....?

Sanji: ....Tailz? Where'd you go?

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'Please let them be there,' Kagome prayed once more, pushing her way through the last bit of foliage. She found herself standing a few feet from the village. Kaede's village. There was the old woman's hut, and the river that flowed by.....everything. Holding back her tears and also the urge to shout and laugh for joy, she forced her feet to stagger forward towards the place she had called home for so long. She wandered through the houses. There were villagers wandering about, laughing, and working, as always. The children were running around, chasing a little ball. It was just as it had been before she'd gotten sick.

It was an interesting sensation to have people walking through her. Kagome thought oddly, it almost tickled. Almost. She made her way along, to Kaede's hut. Even though she knew they wouldn't be able to see or hear her even if they were there, it would still be a comfort to see and hear them. She had missed them all so terribly while she's been in limbo....Miroku's guilty apology, Sango's sisterly teasing, Inuyasha's deep voice, Shippo's giggle, Kaede's crackly laugh....she could hear them all, as clearly as if she were back again.

'Come play with me, Kagome!'

'HENTAI!'

'Heh, your brain's broken or something!'

'Excuse me, miss...will you bear my child?'

'Kagome. How was it in your time, child?'

Kagome smiled wistfully, and chuckled. She would memorize them here; memorize what they looked like. The chances were that she wouldn't see them again in life. She stepped up to Kaede's hut, took a deep, bracing breath, and pushed the animal-skin door open. Blinking at the sudden change in light, she looked around the hut. It was empty and rather dark, save for a mat and small metal plate in the middle which held an unlit candle. Kagome felt her spirits sink, and disappointment fill her throat like bitter liquid that almost tasted like...blood? Reluctantly, she left the dimness of the little house, her shoulders slumped. They weren't there. She walked straight through the village and back into Inuyasha's Forest, as it had been christened.

Wandering, she looked around. Certainly, the forest had gotten thicker since she had last seen it...perhaps she was somehow looking at the future? It would explain Kaede's absence in her own hut. The priestess was old even in Kagome's time. In the future, even a few years ahead...it was entirely possible that she had passed on. But that brought an interesting thought to Kagome's mind.

'If this is the future....where am I?'

And then it struck her. 'I'm...I'm....'

She had reached the clearing of the God Tree. Spurred by a sudden fear, she rushed forward and collapsed at the foot of the tree. She pushed the tall grass away feverishly, searching—if it was true, if she was right, it would be there—it would have to be— Suddenly, her fingers hit something hard. The dread rising in her throat, she pushed the last of the plants away, and read, with a hard swallow, what was written on the pretty silver plaque:

In Loving Memory And Gratitude

-Kagome-

Rest in Peace You Will Be Missed

"I...I'm dead," she whispered, and the realization hit her hard, even though she had suspected it from the first. She ran her fingers over the smooth, warm metal, and couldn't feel a thing. She couldn't even feel the engravings of the letters. Rest in Peace. She had died from the sickness. She knew that now. But it didn't make it any easier to accept. She had died, and everyone had had moved on without her. Which was only right, of course. She didn't belong there anyway. She was from the future, and this was the past. She never should've been there. It was all by chance that she had fallen—or rather been pulled into the Feudal Era.

'But that's not what I've always told myself...I've always thought...or at least wanted to think... that I was meant to come here...that it was for a reason...' An invisible tear rolled down her invisible cheek. 'But that wasn't true. I didn't come here for a reason. I didn't do any good at all. I'm just....' She paused. 'I just made things worse.' The image of the Shikon Jewel shattering invaded her mind involuntarily. Following were several memories of Sango, Miroku, and Inuyasha injured after a battle because they had to help her, save her...Inuyasha had almost died countless times trying to protect her. And she was sure that Shippo had done plenty of crying in the past few days... She was nothing but trouble. Nothing.

"Oh, Kagome..."

Startled, Kagome whipped around, throwing her arms out in defense, but being too enthusiastic, she ended up losing her balance and toppling backwards to fall through the God Tree. She looked up to see a figure standing there, crouched, his head bowed as if in prayer before her monument. She had thought for a crazy moment that he had been speaking to her, but as he didn't look up, or acknowledge her at all, she realized that he must've been talking to himself.

Or...her spirit. She was dead in this realm.

"Kagome...I miss you so much..." The man's voice cracked, with tears, and his shoulders shook. Who was he? His hair was red and stuck up rather oddly at the front, pulled into a pony tail at the base of his neck. 'Do I know this man?' She asked herself confusedly, creeping forward carefully even though he technically couldn't hurt her. She racked her brains as she crouched beside him. Did she know any red-headed people? Only Shippo....but he was hardly a man....

'Wait. Hold on. If this is the future...' Kagome swallowed, and waited for him to lift his face and verify it.

"I wish you were still here..." He looked up, and Kagome gasped. It was Shippo, undoubtedly. He had Shippo's vibrant green eyes and Shippo's adorable face—except now, that face was more handsome than adorable. He was a dashing young man, Kagome observed proudly. He was as fit as Inuyasha, and cool in a tousled, natural sort of way. He looked about fifteen...maybe older. It was hard to tell. As Kagome was pondering it, Shippo bowed his head to the placed a bouquet of wildflowers there and sat down on the soft grass.

"What're you doing, Shippo? Waiting for someone?" Kagome asked, though he couldn't hear her. Who could he be waiting for?

The two of them sat together in silence, enjoying the warm summer sunshine that filtered through the forest's fingers, and moved like skittish animals when the breeze ruffled them. Kagome glanced at Shippo every few seconds, studying his face, his expression, hoping to find some clue. He looked thoughtful, and also sad. His eyes kept darting to the base of the God Tree, where her memorial gleamed cheerfully in the sunlight. Rest in Peace. Kagome swallowed. Was she imagining it, or did she taste blood? How could she taste something when she wasn't even solid enough to stand on the ground...?

Swish, swish. Branches were shaking. While Kagome glanced all over, unsure of where it was coming from, Shippo stared pointedly at a certain spot, and moved his gaze forward steadily in time with a blur that leapt from tree to tree. At last, when the noise was just overhead, it became quiet again, except for a slight twang noise.

A silver haired person landed lightly on the ground, a shower of falling leaves cascading around him. Kagome stared disbelievingly, an unconscious smile gracing her features, Shippo stood. "Inuyasha," he said in a happy sort of voice, confirming what Kagome already knew. Then he surprised her. Stepping forward, he embraced the older man like a brother...or, a father. And Inuyasha allowed it.

'What in the world—? Since when are they so close?' Kagome smiled brightly again as they released each other. It was nice to see them getting along for a change.

"Shippo," Inuyasha said wearily, but his tired grin showed he was happy as well. Kagome's happiness faded a bit. Something about her beloved hanyou had changed. His smirk was halfhearted, lacking the infuriating cockiness and energy he usually boasted. His manner was slack, too, as he sat down, and his eyes seemed different—tired. Not physically tired but...tired of the world. Tired of the constant angst in his life. Kagome bit her lip guiltily, knowing she was responsible for that. This was the Inuyasha after her time.

"You've...gotten taller," Inuyasha said awkwardly, obviously making a stab at trying to converse, and not doing so well. Shippo laughed, but it held a trace of bitterness. He, too, seemed tired.

"Thanks, Inu. You've...er...gotten older. You geezer." Inuyasha raised his eyebrows in mock indignation.

"This geezer could whoop your ass," he snorted with a grin that gave it away, and they both chuckled together. "I dunno," Shippo said at last. "I'm not the weak little kid that you're used to. It's been a while."

"It has," the hanyou agreed. "Three whole years." His look saddened. "We broke our promise, you know."

"Yeah," Shippo said, the faint happiness fading completely. "We were supposed to meet...every year, on the anniversary..."

"Miroku and Sango broke it first," Inuyasha said sulkily, and Kagome could see a hint of his old arrogant self.

"Sango was having a baby," Shippo protested. "It's not like they did it on purpose." Inuyasha fell silent, apparently unable to find a comeback. Kagome smiled brightly. So, Miroku and Sango had had children. She would've expected no less. They probably had the biggest family in Feudal Japan.

'I'll bet their children are beautiful,' she thought, looking up reflexively as Shippo and Inuyasha did. A few seconds later, a rather ruffled looking Miroku appeared in the clearing, followed by a rather pregnant Sango. "Shippo! Inuyasha," Miroku said genially, embracing both of them as he sat, and helped Sango down.

"How've you been?" Sango puffed, looking out of breath and tired. "It's nice to see you, Shippo-chan. How's the village? Any demons attacked lately?"

"Only a weasel spirit," Shippo answered passively. "He didn't stay long."

"Oh." Sango smiled at him, and then at Miroku when he took her hand. "These trips are getting to be too much," she complained cheerfully, holding her free hand to her belly. "I'm getting too heavy for this." She glanced playfully at Miroku. "I might have to ride down here before too long."

"Hey, I'm not Inuyasha," Miroku protested, and Inuyasha smirked at him.

"Aw, c'mon, monk. Old age catching up with you?" The Halfling teased.

"Hardly," Miroku said dryly. "We may not be eternally youthful, my friend, but we are not old just yet."

"Feh," Inuyasha scoffed affectionately. "Okay."

"Careful, Miroku. This old geezer can whoop your ass too," Shippo laughed. Inuyasha smacked him on the head.

"All right, behave, you two," Sango muttered. "It's almost like we have four children, not two."

"I don't doubt you will one day," Inuyasha commented, and Miroku grinned. Sango blinked and then smiled hesitantly as well, looking almost embarrassed. Almost. Silence ascended as they apparently ran out of thought. Shippo's eyes returned to the plaque, resting innocently at the base of the tree.

"Can you believe it's been seven years?" He breathed, a pained expression coming over his face.

"No," Miroku answered sadly. "It feels like she's been here the whole time."

"Yes," Sango added. "The first few days after Keiji was born...I felt like Kagome-chan was there...helping. Every time I looked my son in the face...I pictured her smiling..." A sad stillness fell over them like a blanket, as everyone was submerged in their own memories.

Kagome looked around at them and waited.

"Hey...d'you remember when I first met you guys, Inuyasha?" Shippo looked like his younger self then, as he glanced forlornly at the hanyou.

"Do I," Inuyasha laughed. "You were such a scawny brat then. But you had spirit, I'll give you that much."

"You guys helped me get revenge for my parents...and I never got to repay you...either of you..." Shippo trailed off, and Sango, straining, reached over and patted him comfortingly on the head.

"I'll never forget the day I met the two of you," Miroku said, his deep voice holding traces of amusement and sadness simultaneously. "What was that comment I made to Kagome-sama again?"

"'You're like a Bhudda in Hell'," Inuyasha mocked with a laugh. "And then you grouped her. Lecher."

"And YOU almost removed my head," Miroku chuckled, and Inuyasha raised his eyebrows, not denying it.

"I remember when we first met you, Sango," Shippo cut in, bringing himself back into the conversation. "Miroku loved you from the first moment we saw you." Sango gave her husband a shifty look that was almost cold, and he smiled weakly.

"That's not really saying much," Sango said grimly. "But, yes, our Houshi- sama was a charmer." She giggled like a teenager again, and her stomach shook. "My, it feels weird to use that name again." Miroku grinned dreamily, and a memory of something lecherous flashed through his eyes. Sango slapped him, knocking the thoughts right out of his head.

"You know," Inuyasha said affectionately, his eyes clouding over, "I really do miss that wench."

"Did you love her, Inuyasha?" Shippo asked softly. All eyes turned to the hanyou. Silence, thick and sharp, came rushing back. As Inuyasha looked desolately at the ground. "Yes," he answered at last, almost too soft to hear, and Sango moved forward to hug him once.

"She knew it, you know, Inuyasha. She knew you loved her. We all did."

"I just wish...I'd gotten the chance to tell her...." Kagome felt tears well up in her eyes and trickle down slowly. "If I hadn't been so stupid..."

"She loved you too," Shippo whispered. "She watched you at night, after your arguments. When you turned away, and she thought I was asleep, she'd sit up in her sleeping bag and apologize...and....talk to herself..." The adolescent kitsune finished desolately, a single tear rolling down his face. "For the longest time, at night...I'd swear I heard her again, talking to you...even after she was gone...."

"It wasn't fair," Inuyasha said bitterly. "It wasn't right that she died. She was so innocent...she didn't deserve it, whatever happened. She should've been there in the battle with Naraku—"

"And when Keiji was born," Sango murmured.

"And when Kaede passed on," Shippo said softly.

"Damn it, Kagome," Inuyasha yelled suddenly, and all the others jumped. "You promised you'd be there! You promised you'd finish the quest!" Sango put a hand on his shoulder, and his yelling became a fervent string of muttered curses. "Damn it," he said again, his voice losing vehemence after all. "You shouldn't have left me...You promised..."

"I know, Inuyasha...I know," Kagome soothed, though her voice was broken with tears. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I knew you loved me...I'm sorry I left you, I'm sorry I broke my promise..."

Soon after, Miroku and Sango bade goodbye, saying they had to get home to check on their children. A few minutes passed and then Shippo left as well. "It was nice to see you, Inuyasha. I miss staying with you."

"Yeah, twerp," Inuyasha muttered. "I miss you too."

"Come see me sometime, okay?"

"All right," Inuyasha said, and watched as he left. A cold breeze blew through the clearing. "Goodbye, Kagome," Inuyasha muttered at last, standing and looking down at the plaque. "We'll be back next year, I promise." He withdrew a pretty morning glory flower from the folds of his red haori and laid it with Shippo's boquet, before bounding off too quickly for Kagome to watch. She stood there, alone with her monument and the God Tree in the clearing she knew so well.

"They miss me," Kagome thought, and suddenly she was ashamed of thinking she wasn't needed. She had been sent there for a purpose, after all—to befriend the Shard Hunters. That was well worthy of all of it, though she still missed them.

"Well, I've seen my friends," Kagome said, and she glanced at the well. "Now, I guess...."

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TBC!

Sanji: Tailz! TAILZ! WHERE ARE YOU?!?!

Ahhh! The great Tailz hunt has begun! But look! Before she left, she made the chapter a lot longer!!!