QAM_Andy: Thanks. ^_^
Hanyou Krys: Thanks again *Blush* and you don't blabber.
Mijuju: Glad you could stick with me too the end. ^_~
Paul Powell: Sorry, that really wasn't in the original idea, but don't worry.
Slycat: EEP! No Don't Strike!
Tsunami-chan: Ok no more hiding, and no sorry no fluffy-chan
Cherrymecha: Thank you very much. If it makes you feel better, it haunted me for a while as well.
MJ: Hee hee, me and my evil logic.
Future Repercussions
Chapter 6
The group stood staring at the well as if willing it to bring Kagome back to them, each lost in their own private thoughts. That strange girl from the future had walked into their lives and made herself at home, as if she where meant to be there. Now she was gone, and had left a gaping hole in all the hearts she had touched.
"Hey Inuyasha." Kouga said suddenly, shattering the endless silence. Inuyasha looked at him kind of strangely; Kouga never called him by his name. "Look I know the two of us have never had the best relationship, but in this journey, you have become like a brother to me. You where always there when I needed you, even though I was just a thorn in your side. If you and Shippou would like, I would be honored to have you join my pack; with you, Inuyasha, as my sworn blood brother." Inuyasha blinked a few times. Kouga had just offered him something he had wanted ever sense his mother had dies, a family and a place to call home. He smiled in spite of himself.
"Kouga, I accept your offer. But I would like to stay in this village for the time being. I have caused this village many problems and owe them the time to make up for it. Also I can not leave Sango and Miroku." He replied.
"I understand, Brother. I will visit often and if you ever need me just call." Kouga said with a smile and extended his hand to Inuyasha. The dog demon did the same and the two clasp each other's forearm.
"Well this is a sight I never thought I'd see." Miroku said.
"Come, brother." Inuyasha said choosing to ignore Miroku, "The village is having a festival in honor of our victory." Kouga nodded and the group headed towards the village. A silence soon fell as each slipped off into their own thoughts again.
Dark fell over the tiny village that was a light with torches. Large lengths of cloth were laid out on the ground and covered with plates of food. A single long table was in the center of it all light at each corner with a torch. Shippou, Inuyasha, Kouga, Sango, and Miroku sat eating the many dishes set before them. They all ate in silence, only speaking when it was necessary. It was Shippou who finally spoke what they all felt.
"This doesn't feel right with out Kagome." He said in a small voice.
"You are right Shippou. We couldn't have won with out Lady Kagome, she should be here to share this victory feast." Miroku agreed quietly.
"Feh! I must be going crazy." Inuyasha muttered, "She's only been gone a short while and I'm already picking up her scent as if she where still here."
"Now that you mention it…" Kouga said, "I can smell her too."
"Me too." Shippou chimed in.
"But why would she come back? If you three met her on the other side, what reason would she have?" Sango asked.
"I don't know…" Inuyasha said thoughtfully. It was at that moment something leapt from the trees of the forest into the sky. The thing was moving at an unreal speed, so it looked only to be streak of darkened colors. It arched and hit the center of the table with enough force to shatter it and send it's occupants scattering back in surprise. Kagome jumped from the creature's back and all but flew into Inuyasha's arms.
"Kagome?" he asked slightly stunned. Then his eye fell on the other figure still crouched on the ground amongst the remains of the table. He had long straight black hair that fell freely over his face obscuring his features. The creature was growling with every breath and was covered in blood. Inuyasha growled and drew his sword. "Who are you and what did you do to her?"
"He… he brought me…back." Kagome choked out against his chest. Inuyasha looked down at her in surprise.
"Why are you crying?" he asked softly, "and why did you come back?"
"I'm just so glad to see you alive." She said looking up at him with shinning eyes. Then in the blink of an eye she released him, grabbed Shippou and began spinning around. She tossed the Kitsune into the air, caught him, and gave him a tight hug and a kiss on the head. She deposited her still dazed son on the ground and pulled Sango and Miroku into a double hug. She followed this by making the surprised young Kouga the recipient of a kiss on the cheek. Then she wrapped herself around Inuyasha again.
"What in seven hells?" The now completely confused dog demon asked.
"Oh Inuyasha!" she said snuggling deeper into his chest, "When I got to the other side, everything was wrong. All of you died terrible deaths to protect me and the jewel. The only one left was Kouga. And if he hadn't have pulled me from the well I would have been killed by these monstrous demons. Then he brought me back so I could make it right." Kagome said it all very fast. Everyone eyed her for a minute then looked to the still crouching creature she had arrived with. He slowly rose to a standing position, his breath had evened out and the growls had stopped now that there was no reason to be threatening. And looked at them with his familiar electric blue eyes, that some how held such pain as he stared at them. Even with the loose hair, strange clothing, and heavy scaring, there was no mistaking that it was indeed an older Kouga.
"I must admit that it is great to see you alive and well again brother." He spoke directly to Inuyasha, "And I must offer my apologize for being unable to do all you asked of me." His eyes fell on the Kitsune still sitting dazed on the ground. "Little Shippou, I owe you so much as well, for letting you down." He gently ran his fingers through the auburn hair in a very fatherly way. Then he turned to Kagome. "Kagome, I do hope you can correct the mistake that was made all these years ago and I would love to help you, but this is not my time anymore and I must return lest something else goes wrong. Might I have something of your to get back through the well with?" Kagome nodded and untied the bow to her uniform and handed it to him. "Thank you, Kagome. Be safe." With that he leapt into the air and disappeared in the direction of the well.
"Now," Inuyasha said sitting down and pulling Kagome into his lap, "Tell us what happened."
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"That is quite a tale Lady Kagome." Miroku said in awe as she finished, "But how do we keep this from happening?" The group had moved to sit beside the well, taking a picnic with them. Kagome was sitting curled up in Inuyasha's lap with Shippou in her arms. The other three sat before then still in slight shock from the story they had just been told.
"Kouga and I thought that if the jewel was to disappear then none of this would happen, but it's just a guess." Kagome answered as she leaned into Inuyasha's chest and held Shippou close.
"So someone has to make a wish." Sango said simply, "But who and what to wish for?" This was followed by a long silence.
"Might I make a suggestion." Kouga said after a while, "What if you wish never to have to be human on the new moon, brother?"
"That might be like wishing to be a full demon or it could just move it to a different time of the month." Inuyasha replied.
"What if you wish that Shippou could pass through the well?" Miroku suggested. "That way all of you could go to the future together like you intended."
"That's a good idea." Kouga agreed, "My pack and I will protect the village in your absence and I will be waiting for you on the other side."
"Well…" Kagome said thoughtfully, "It is the best idea we've had. What do you think Inuyasha and Shippou."
"I'm for it." Inuyasha said.
"Me too." Shippou said, "I want to be with you Kagome."
"Ok then." Kagome said standing up and taking off the necklace the jewel hung from. "I guess this is good-bye again." She said looking at the three friends she would be leaving behind. They all nodded and exchanged hugs, good wishes, and promises. "Here Shippou." Kagome said picking him up and handing him the jewel, "Make the wish." Shippou nodded and took the gem between his tiny hands. Inuyasha wrapped his arms around them both.
"I wish to go to Kagome's time with Kagome and Inuyasha." He said with all his confidence. As soon as the words left his mouth the Shikon jewel began to glow with a beautiful pink light. It rose into the air over the small family and flashed brilliantly, setting the three of them aglow as well. Then it descended and passed back into Kagome's body. The three continued to glow even after it had gone.
"Was that it?" Shippou asked softly.
"I don't know," Kagome answered "but we better try to go while the glow is still on us or it might not work." Without another word Inuyasha leapt backward into the well, taking his mate and kit with him.
They touched down lightly on the bottom of the well. Kagome looked up to see a wooden roof over head and a ladder leading out. Her heart leapt.
"Did we make it?" Shippou asked softly.
"I think so." Kagome said.
"I think your mother is cooking Raman and Oden." Inuyasha smiled as he sniffed the air.
"Brother is that you?" They all looked up to see and older, scar free Kouga. Souta was standing next to him, as was Kagome's grandfather. All they could do was smile.
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A/N: Well, what can I say. I'm a sucker for a happy ending. I know some of you were hoping for a great battle back to the well, but it really wasn't in the original idea. This idea, as well as one for another fic I'm working on, came to me late at night when I couldn't sleep. I wavered on the idea of adding a chapter about getting Kagome back through, but I finally decided to keep it in the form it originally came to me in. I'd like to say that I really have enjoyed all the reviews and hope you will be back to check out the next piece I do. Till then, I wish you all well, good reading and good writing.