Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha (Rumiko Takahashi-san and Viz media do).

DAY 15

Inuyasha/Kagome: "From the Other Side of the Well"

It had been a week since the well separated Kagome and Inuyasha. Perhaps, now, it would work. Kagome slid the door to the well house open. It was late at night, but she couldn't sleep. Instead she snuck downstairs, out to the shrine, and into the well house. She wore shoes and threw some ramen into her yellow backpack, just in case. She left a note on her pillow. There was no school tomorrow, so she would spend the day in the feudal era. Then she would come back.

Kagome sat on the lip of the well and stared into the darkness. She didn't feel anything from the well, but when had she ever? It had always just worked. Except that one time when Inuyasha sealed it off from his side, but she got through eventually. Now, blocking the well was the last thing he'd do. Kagome imagined running towards him and being caught in his arms as he held her tight. She jumped.

The blue light didn't catch her, didn't transport her through time. She was falling and only the hard ground reached up to meet her. Crack! Thump! Kagome landed on one foot and immediately fell sideways, clutching her ankle. She cried out, but stopped, not wanting to wake anyone up. Not wanting them to find her like this, sneaking out in the middle of night. How foolish she had been for hoping.

Mrs. Higurashi sat up in bed. There had been a sound, a loud noise. She couldn't pinpoint what it was or where it had come from. Maybe it was just the house creaking, or the traffic below? She wanted to lay down and go back to sleep, but instead, found herself leaping out of bed. She walked down the hall and checked Sōta's room. He was fast asleep and nothing seemed amiss. Kagome's room was next. The first thing she noticed was the open window. And then the empty bed.

The blankets were thrown back and a piece of paper lay on the pillow where her daughter's head should be. The notebook it was torn from sat open on the desk with a pen thrown down beside it. A dresser drawer hung open. Mrs. Higurashi ran down the stairs.

The door to the well house was slightly open, as if someone had forgotten to close it all the way. Mrs. Higurashi pushed it open the rest of the way and approached the well. Down below, at the bottom of the well, Kagome sobbed. It was the sound of a broken heart.

She swung one leg over the lip of the well, her foot finding the rope ladder. She climbed down, into the dark well, where she knew she'd find her daughter.

After all was said and done, Kagome was lucky. Her ankle was broken, but it was only a hairline fracture - the bones were still aligned and she did not need surgery. Unfortunately, her foot had to be in a plaster cast, and then a boot, for the next two months. During the first week, she was laid up in bed with her leg propped up on a stack of pillows.

"Kagome?" her mom called, knocking on the door. "Can I come in?"

"Sure, Mama." Kagome set aside her math textbook, using her homework as a bookmark.

Mama came in and pulled the desk chair over to the bed to sit on. She held her daughter's note in her hand. "Kagome," she began, "I'm worried about you."

She knew this was coming. Her actions had been desperate and rather sudden. She knew the well didn't work anymore, but she tried anyway. She needed to get back to see everyone again. To see Inuyasha again.

"I'm sorry Mama," Kagome whispered, "I just wanted to see him again. I hoped the well would work this time. I know it didn't when I climbed down the ladder and hopped down last week, right after it reappeared, but I thought maybe if I actually jumped in it would work. I - I was so stupid!" Kagome started crying. "I thought, maybe if I wanted it enough, the well would work. I'm such a fool! When has hoping for or wanting something ever been enough to get it?"

"It's okay." Mrs. Higurashi held her crying daughter and stroked her hair. "You're going to be okay. I know it hurts right now, but someday it won't."

"But what if I never see him again?" Kagome wailed.

"I think…" Mrs. Higurashi hesitated, not wanting to give her daughter false hope. But somehow, she knew. She had always known, ever since her daughter began leaping through time. Fate was a murky thing, but it always had a way of working out. "I think you'll see him again. I don't know how, or when, but you will."

"But what if I don't?"

"Then you'll keep on living. Each day will get a little easier. And he'll always be in your heart, Kagome."

Inuyasha jumped into the well every three days. Each time, the hard earth rushed up to meet him. And each time, he sat at the bottom of the well, missing Kagome.

Every three days, Kagome sat by the well. She peered over the side of the well and stretched out her spiritual senses as far as she could to feel for any energy coming from it. There wasn't any. She missed Inuyasha. Sometimes, she talked to him, as if he was there. Sometimes, she swore she could feel him.

'I miss you, Inuyasha. I finally got that stupid boot off my foot and I joined the archery club at school. My old friends and family are all here, but it's not the same. I miss Sango, Miroku, Shippō, Kaede, Kilala, and all the others. But I miss you most of all.'

'I aced my history exam today. There was a question about the Hōjō clan's control of the Sagami and Izu provinces in the feudal era. Do you remember when we met Akitoki Hōjō? You were so jealous. Hōjō - the one in this era - Yuka, Eri, and Ayumi keep asking what happened to you. I don't know what to tell them.'

'I'll be graduating next month. How much longer will we have to wait to see each other again? I hope you don't have to wait five hundred years. Are you even alive in my era? I tried looking for demons here, but the only yōki I've sensed is very faint. I want to see you again. I need to see you again, Inuyasha.'

Sometimes, Inuyasha spoke to her as well. Sometimes, he swore he could feel her.

'I miss you, Kagome. Sango and Miroku got married yesterday. I wish you could have been there. Everyone misses you. But I miss you most of all.'

'Shippō just got back from the kitsune exams. He moved up three ranks. Do you remember when we found that kitsune inn? I don't think any of us actually slept that night. Miroku says I need to move on. Kaede says she has faith that you'll come back. I'm going to keep trying the well.'

'It's been three years. How much longer is this damn well gonna make us wait? Will it ever work again? I'll wait five hundred years if I have to. I hope I live that long. I have to see you again, Kagome.'

For the first time in three years, Kagome jumped through the well. It was time; the well was finally open after three years of longing and waiting. She knew this would be a one-way trip. The familiar blue light caught her and she landed on the other side of the well, five hundred years in the past. She could smell the clean air and felt overjoyed as she climbed up the vines - up towards the blue sky and to her future. As she neared the top, a hand reached down for hers and she took it. Inuyasha pulled her out of the well and into his arms.

"Did you come back here to be with me?" he whispered, barely audible.

"Yes."

She leaned up and kissed him, hands fisting in his robes as she pulled him down to her height and deepened their kiss. They broke apart after several long moments and discovered they had an audience. Not caring, Inuyasha kissed Kagome again before the others could steal her attention away from him. He pressed her close to him, needing to feel her warmth against him as proof that she was actually there. He held her tightly, afraid she would slip away if he let go. She was there. She was real. He released her lips and looked into her eyes. Eventually he let go of her, but kept hold of her hand as they turned to face the others. She was here. He was home.