Finally, after five long years I made it. I straighten my cap in the reflection of the window next to me while waiting in line with the other hundreds of graduating arts and humanities students. It had been a crazy ride to get here but now, finally, I'm about to walk across the stage and leave a college graduate.
When the jewel sent me back to my time, I knew it couldn't last forever. After a few days of moping around, wishing for it to work, I figured I would bide my time until it finally decided to let me through again. I started and finished high school, took a year off because I just knew that that would be the year it opened and I didn't want to be tied up in classes and miss my chance. It didn't matter that it hadn't opened once in the last three years, I convinced myself it would happen. When four years had passed, I resigned myself to the fact that the well didn't want me to go through anymore. I had done my job. Now, I was stuck here.
I couldn't feel like I truly belonged to my time after my adventures through the well. My friends seemed immature, they had all moved on with their lives while I was stuck five hundred years in the past. We didn't connect anymore. Besides that, the city seemed far too loud, the sky too cloudy, and life too dull. While I will never take things like indoor plumbing or cushiony mattresses for granted again, I found myself longing for life in the feudal era where things were simpler. So, I decided to take over the shrine from grandpa, and since my mom insisted on a college education, I majored in history, something that would only be helpful working in a shrine.
It was a tough five years. Despite having done well in high school, I found myself woefully ill-prepared for college courses. I had to relearn how to study, how to write papers, how to read in the way that they expected. For the first time since the well closed behind me, I didn't have time to pine or feel sad about everything I had been forced to leave behind. That's not to say I haven't thought of them since, I specialised in mythology after all where I learned that all youkai were kept, as mere myths and nothing more. Every class discussing youkai brought everyone rushing to the forefront of my mind. Each history class that focused on the feudal era brought a wave of memories that were almost too much to handle in the beginning. But, slowly, I was able to remember them fondly and without tears, and things got easier. I managed to pass every class in the top percentage and talk about my friends, long passed, without tearing up each time.
"Alright guys, come on in!" The students in front of me begin walking towards the large double doors that lead into the auditorium where the ceremony will be held.
"You ready, Higurashi?" The boy next to me, Hara Kou, gently nudges me with his elbow once we make it to our seats. "I'm gonna miss seeing you in class everyday, maybe we could get together sometime?" I smile and agree, knowing I probably won't follow through. No matter how much prodding and encouraging my classmates and family did, I hadn't been able to bring myself to date anyone. Not when there was a chance… I shake my head agains the intruding thought, knowing if anyone were left they would have come for me by now, and try to focus on what the announcer is saying. I had somehow zoned out through the first two speeches, but the third sounded like it was copied straight out of a slice of life film. Finally, they began calling up rows to come onstage and receive their diploma covers. It seemed like hours before it was my rows turn. I try to look out passed the lights to where I thought my family had said they were sitting in the text a few hours ago but the glare is too much for me to make out any distinct faces. I notice someone with white hair and my heart lurches a bit at the reminder.
"Graduating from the college of arts and humanities, majoring in history with minors in feudal studies and mythology, Higurashi Kagome, summa cum laude." I'm pulled from my thoughts as the announcer calls my name and quickly make my way up the stairs, careful not to trip in my heels. I hear Souta's voice vaguely over the applause and smile out at the crowd as the first the president of the college shakes my hand, then my department head, and a few other professors I don't recognise. Just as the applause starts to die out, a few too many cheers continue, forcing my gaze back out into the audience. I manage to find mom, Souta, and gramps, all beaming at me from their seats. The row directly behind them, however, has six men standing and cheering louder than anyone else in the auditorium. My feet stop as my eyes tear up and hand raises to cover my mouth as I notice a familiar white Mohawk, black ponytail, bright fox orange hair, and two heads of long white hair.
"That's my girl!" InuYasha's voice carries over the crowd and, suddenly, I'm flying down the stairs and out into the audience. I barely hear Kouga's arguing over whose girl I really am as I rush down the aisle. Before I make it, they all file out into the walkway and, the second I'm within reach, all of their arms are around me. "Sorry we're late," InuYasha whispers, his voice taut against the emotion in it. "Bastard couldn't figure out what to wear." I chuckle, pulling back to look them each over from head to toe, reassuring myself that they really are there.
"If we're throwing blame around, it's his fault," Kouga swears, pushing InuYasha and Sesshomaru aside. "He told us the wrong time."
"I was hoping you wouldn't figure it out." While they're distracted, Ginta and Hakkaku sandwich me in a hug, muttering how much they had missed me.
"Shippou?" I whisper, eyeing the now taller than me fox demon I had helped take care of.
"I missed you, mama." I pull him into my arms, head barely resting on his shoulder, and feel his ponytail tickle my arm.
"I am sorry to interrupt," Sesshomaru's smooth baritone cuts through the boys' bickering. "But I believe you are supposed to move your tassel now." My eyebrows lower as I look back to where the students are sitting. Sure enough, they had continued the ceremony despite my outburst, and the students were moving their tassels to the left. Smiling up at him, I quickly move my own tassel over, noting the hint of pride in his eyes. "Congratulations, Kagome." Before he can protest, I throw my arms around his neck and am only slightly surprised when his arms wrap around my waist in return.
Things really are about to change for the better.
Hello everyone! Long time no see, I hope you're all doing well :) I'm so sorry for my extended absence, I really thought I would be able to continue writing and manage my schoolwork this semester but I was very wrong. This story is in honour of my own graduation that took place today at 15:15, I just really like the idea of them all showing up to her graduation, I think it's adorable and so sweet. This is a bit short, but I am resuming work on the So She Dances sequel and my other stories as well after my internship that I started a few weeks ago, so hopefully I will have those updated sooner rather than later. Thank you so much to those of you that are still here and, again, I am so sorry for the wait, hopefully I can make it up to you soon. Until then, have a lovely day/evening!