Lauren: Hey everybody! I'm back and feeling good! Sorry…I really wanted to get this posted as soon as possible but I had lack of abilities when I returned and they didn't come back until like Monday and I slowly got this chapter written out. Sorry for no review replies, as I said just a second ago, I wanted to get this up ASAP so I didn't have time to answer any BUT next chapter I'll resume my normal ways and write review replies, I promise! And don't worry, this doesn't mean that I didn't read the reviews cause I read each and every single one of them, like I always do. I figured I'd rather have you all mad at me for no reviews answers than taking forever to get this uploaded. So any who, nothing really action-y in this chapter, just getting some things sorted out and such. I hope that everybody had as great as a break as I did! I had an awesome, wonderful time and I finally got to relax! It was so annoying getting back into evil school's schedule and stuff. Argh, I'm watching A Walk To Remember which is like one of the sweetest movies but it always makes me cry….!! ;_;!! Yeah, that was way off subject but that's okay. The idea for the game in this chapter later is from the author Aishuu Shadowweaver. I wanted to change the blood part but it was the only thing that really fit in, nothing else worked with it. Any who, Happy New Years everybody! And with the New Year…I bring a surprise for everybody! Over break I wrote a little AU Inuyasha story, it's already finished so it won't take my attention away from this fic, don't worry. I know I should have been working on this but…it was like my break from writing this too. I just found myself unable to work on it during the little time I had to write. So any ways, the story is called "Stolen Money, Borrowed Time" and the short summary of it is this: Inuyasha's a famous hockey player who gets everything he wants. He's just been given a contract to play in the NHL, so he puts it in his car and parties. Until he yells at an odd girl. And she STEALS his car...with the contract IN it.

You can read it here:

http://www.fanfiction.net/read.php?storyid=1164933

Hope everybody likes it! Thanks so much for putting up with my absence recently; you guys are the greatest ever! Congratulations to Kawaii Bunny for being my 700th reviewer! Jeez, isn't that like you're third time? Hehe! Thanks! And now…our regularly schedule resumes!

~*~ Where Did You Go? ~*~

~By: Lauren~

-Chapter 22-

"Smoothly"

Kikyo blinked, keeping her expression stoic as she stared forward at a woman with curly brownish colored hair. She wasn't sure how to act and so she dove forward into the unknown territory, taking on whatever was thrown at her. "Hello mother." She muttered, eyeing the woman over. She was dressed in simple brown loafer shoes, a fuzzy pink sweater and a faded green skirt.

The woman stared back at Kikyo, a strange glint in her eyes. Obviously, she knew that something…something was different about her daughter.

"We want you to keep her inside for a little bit then slowly take her out into the open. Nothing too shocking and keep a close eye on her for any changes…we don't want anyone harmed." The doctor repeated to Mrs. Higurashi.

"I understand." She replied, folding her hands in her lap. "Are you sure this is Kagome?"

The doctor looked shocked for a second. "Of course it is. She would appear different to anyone with the fantastic changes she has undergone recently." The doctor signed a few sheets of paper, releasing Kagome.

"Okay…" Mrs. Higurashi muttered, taking some of the papers and signing in a few different spots. Kikyo was taken away to be dressed properly while things were settled out.

Kikyo sighed as she pulled on a pair of black slacks and a white button up blouse. She ran a hand through her hair, wondering if 'her mother' would catch on or not. She was obviously suspicious already.

A nurse entered the room, opening the door to lead Kikyo out. "We'll miss you." She smiled warmly as Kikyo walked through the doorway and through a few hallways. Under her breath, Kikyo stated, "I won't miss you." She then met with her doctor and Mrs. Higurashi.

"I hope I don't have to see you again." The doctor joked, "At least not in here. You enjoy your life, okay?" He gave Kikyo a brief hug, causing her to nearly gag.

"Thank you." She mumbled, "Bye."

With that said, Mrs. Higurashi took Kikyo's arm and led her down another hallway, through a sliding glass door and out into the sunlight. It blinded her for a moment but her swimming vision eventually cleared.

As they walked down a sidewalk, people passing on both sides, her mother paused, eyeing Kikyo over once more. Finally, she spoke.

"Who are you and what have you done with my daughter?!" She demanded, clenching her hands into fists as she glared at Kikyo.

Kikyo smirked, "I am your daughter."

Mrs. Higurashi narrowed her eyes at her, not quite sure what to say. "You're not convincing me." She began to walk, picking up a quick pace towards the shrine.

"I must do a better job then." Kikyo trailed after her, not faltering once. "Kagome is fine. She'll be joining you soon once she finishes some…business. Listen, I become Kagome for a while and then you'll get your daughter back safe and sound. But if I don't become her…think of it as if you never had a daughter…or at least, not one living in the outside world again."

Mrs. Higurashi gaped at Kikyo in shock for a minute or two before she shook her head and said, "Yes…Kagome…" Grumbling under her breath, the two entered the shrine. Mrs. Higurashi figured her daughter would pull something like this but…how? And why? She wanted Kagome back safe and sound so she figured she might as well go along with this imposter for now…Instantly, Kikyo was greeted by an excited youth.

"Sis!! I missed you!" Souta pulled Kikyo into a tight hug before he released her, looking her over. His face seemed to grow confused, sure that this was not his sister. He turned towards his mother, opening his mouth to say something but he was cut off.

"Kagome will be staying with us for a bit." She forcefully said the name 'Kagome' to get the point across.

Partly understanding, Souta nodded. "Here, let me show you to your room." He took Kikyo's arm, leading her into the unfamiliar house. Kikyo followed the boy, smirking in delight at herself.

~*~

Sango looked impossibly confused as she slid down on the couch, her mind working in an effort to readjust from the battle mindset to the return of her friends safely. Inuyasha looked so strangely different with his white hair, dog-ears and claws. Kagome and her both were dressed and washed now from the clothes they had been wearing before they were attacked by Daemon. They looked a bit different cleaned up…but it was the look in Kagome's eyes that really had her the most confused. Kagome looked…happy?

After getting over the joy of seeing everybody alright, panic began to seize Kagome once again as reality set in. "What are we going to do now?" Kagome ran her fingers through her hair, scanning the grave faces of Sango and Miroku but when she looked at Inuyasha, he was smirking and staring at his claws, cracking his knuckles and grinning like he had discovered some great thing. Which, in a way, he had. "Oh God…now he's going go crazy with his new 'features'." Kagome rolled her eyes, frantically trying to think of something.

"Calm down Kagome. I'm sure everything will be fine." Sango smiled weakly at the raven-haired girl, her wounds now bandaged as she fought to stay awake. This had been one crazy night and she wasn't enjoying it very much.

"Daemon has half of the Shikon no Tama!! Everything will not be fine! We're all going to die! His powers are going to be amplified now…he'll be a lot stronger than how he was before!" She frantically began to tug at her sleeves in worry.

"But I'm stronger too." Inuyasha smirked, flexing his muscles and claws.

"Yes, you're stronger but he has part of the Shikon no Tama!!! He's a LOT stronger!!! GAH!" Kagome couldn't stand it anymore as she slammed her fists down on the plush couch then leaned her head back, closing her eyes and sighing. Everybody was silently watching her, a bit surprised at her outburst. "I'm sorry…I'm just tired…excuse me…" She stood up, brushing her hair behind her ear as she wandered into her bedroom. Once inside, Kagome flopped down on the bed, her mind searching for ideas. She was following down this path logically and yet, another thought came to her mind. It was a terrifying one, but one that she would have to face eventually. In a way…everyone has to eventually face this, too. It may come in different ways and different forms but this thought will have to be faced.

Who is the real Inuyasha? Which one of them is the real one? Which one of them is the reality? Is either of them a dream? What is reality any way…but the very substance of a dream? What is real? "Am I dreaming?" She asked herself, speaking quietly to a soft-furred cat that had sauntered up to her and had curled up against her. "Don't you think that is a disturbing- questioning your very existence? All people eventually question, but not all do it as I do. After all, how can they? In the end, everybody realizes that they are real. That their reality is reality. But how can I possibly question things as they do? Because the truth of the matter is- I DON'T know what is reality. It may be this one. Or, it may be the feudal era and this place is only a shadow. In a way, it's like having multiple personalities. Which personality is real? Which reality is real? Which reality is the real one and which one is the dream? Are these higher ups and demons reality too? Which puzzle fits in with which piece? How can yin and yang exist as they do? Honestly, I don't know. In fact, I'm still trying to figure it out. I'm still trying to figure everything out." Kagome sighed, finishing her speech to the yellow cat that was staring at her. She had missed Kirara ever since Sango had taken her from Inuyasha's apartment, but then again, she had only been gone for a short time. Kagome missed Buyo, her familiar house cat at home. Speaking of familiar things, an old song came to Kagome's mind. It was one she had not sung for a while- not since she was stuck in the clinic. Singing it ever so softly, the words flowed from her lips, tumbling into the air as it calmed her beating heart.

"We live our lives standing frozen to the spot,

Unable to cry out, for eternity...

I'm sure that the heart I left behind

Still lies hidden in the heart of the deep, deep forest.

Exhausted, without the strength to search

People vanish into the infinite darkness.

If it's so small, I wonder if I can see it even now?

As we live on,

We lose a little bit more.

Shrouded in falsehoods and lies,

We stand frozen to the spot, unable to cry out

The days pass by and change,

Without us even realizing how blue the sky really is.

Overcoming that made-up scheme, we live the present,

And our rusted hearts begin to beat again!"

"Beautiful." Inuyasha clapped his hands together quietly, standing in the doorway, leaning against its frame. Kagome blushed, not realizing he had been there.

"Thanks." She whispered, her eyes growing heavy with sleep and yet she was afraid if something would happen if she let her guard down. Daemon knew where they were, he could attack any moment.

Inuyasha could sense her fear as he sat down next to her, the bed sinking down a bit. "You can rest…don't worry, I'll watch over you." He pulled himself up next to her, sitting upright against the bed frame.

"Thanks again." Kagome snuggled against Inuyasha, laying her head on his lap as she closed her eyes. Inuyasha began to stroke her cheek tenderly before he combed his fingers through her hair carefully, staring off into the dark room.

~*~

Miroku yawned then blinked. "It's so weird…after all they've been through…she's still going to marry him." His voice was one of disbelief. Even after all that mess, Kagome was still considering the possibility of marriage. "What's going on?"

"Even if there's danger…I think…maybe…she just loves him." Sango tried to find a logical explanation. He looked wistfully at her as she continued, "I like to think that underneath all that, she really does still love him and will forgive him for his reckless fighting…"

There was a silence. Sango may be younger than Miroku, but at times she felt a lot older. "Love makes you do that, Miroku. It has the power to make sense of things that don't. And it's always right."

He nodded in agreement. "We should get some sleep…Inuyasha's going to keep watch for a while." But neither of them moved, not wanting to break the spell of Sango's words. Love was certainly a funny thing.

Sango closed her eyes, leaning back into the couch and not wanting to move and cause her aching body to react again painfully. If she still had energy left in her, she would have been surprised when Miroku wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close against him, letting her head rest against his chest. "I'm scared Miroku…" She whispered, not noticing she was trembling slightly. "This is all too fast and…unreal…"

"Don't worry…I'll protect you…" Miroku ran his fingers through her hair, "Everything will be worked out in due time."

~*~

Kagome paused, opening her eyes. "Inuyasha…"

He looked down; studying the delicate young woman who sat curled up against him and wondered why he couldn't be as pure and perfect as she looked. She smiled almost sorrowfully, "My entire life has been a secret…" She said. "I wish…" Kagome started, then stopped to start again a second later. "You're a psychiatrist… so how do you know what the truth is? What is truth?"

Inuyasha pondered this then began, "I guess…you don't. There is no such thing as absolute truth, merely interpretations of what's happening around us, I suppose. Everything, our reality, is a matter of perception but we begin by perceiving and telling what we believe our truth is to others. By sharing ourselves with each other, we relieve the pressure of falsehood and…darkness." Kagome almost snorted at how smart he sounded but then Inuyasha went on. "Am I a creature of the darkness…? I was never meant to be truthful…" He murmured softly, "At least a part of me is."

"What do you mean?" Kagome asked, looking up at him.

Inuyasha shut his eyes and she could see that he was struggling to find the right words, "Do you know about yin and yang?" He frowned a bit, "It's about the balance. Between darkness and light, cold and hot…" Inuyasha seemed incredibly sad for some reason. "Am I part of the darkness because of what I am…?"

"Oh hush silly," Kagome scolded him, "You are Inuyasha. You aren't darkness because you fight for what is right, don't you? You're you, no one else, nothing less and nothing more. That's part of the reason why I love you." She whispered, trailing off. Kagome had just noticed that there was something oddly sad about Miroku's house. She had been feeling this aura of sadness about the place and she now knew the reason why. Miroku's family…they didn't exist anymore and they barely had. There were none of the personal effects that families gathered over the years. Miroku had had only a short while to collect them and his paltry collection of mementos wasn't enough to cover up the emptiness of his home. But there were tons of pictures covering the walls, many of Sango, Inuyasha and others of his friends, some Kagome recognized and some she didn't. It was as if he was trying to surround himself with memories with a vengeance. "I want to play a game." She stated clearly.

"What? A game?" Inuyasha eyed her, scooting back on the bed so that they were both sitting on opposite ends.

"One of my old psychiatrist played it with me once when I first was sent to a clinic…" Kagome trailed off and Inuyasha noticed that this was the first time she had spoken of the clinics. "Anyways, it's called 'The One True Thing'. Basically, we go back and forth and chose a topic and say one true thing about it, what we think. It's kind of like a getting to know you game."

Inuyasha raised an eyebrow. "But we've known each other for a while."

"There's still a lot about each other we probably don't know. I want to know everything about you Inuyasha. After all, I'm marrying you, aren't I?"

"Keh, but that's impossible." He crossed his arms. "No one can ever know another person completely."

"But that doesn't mean I should stop trying, now does it?" Kagome pointed her finger in the air, shaking it at him, "So will you play? Please?" She gave him puppy eyes.

With a sigh, Inuyasha agreed. He hated those damn eyes!!! "Do I say any true thing or only the truest thing?"

"Hm…" Kagome went into deep thought, "With strangers, it can be any true thing about you but since we're closer…I think it should be the truest! Can I start?" She bounced on the bed. He shrugged and she continued, "We'll start with something easy…the one true thing about today!"

"So I have to answer that?" Inuyasha raised an eyebrow again. Kagome answered yes and he sighed, "The one true thing about today was that Daemon is stupid. I was ready to kill him and poof; he's gone like a chicken.

Kagome smiled, nodding her approval. "The one true thing about today is that it oddly made me feel normal." Inuyasha wanted to push on about that comment but knew he had to wait, so he sighed instead. She smirked, "The one true thing about Miroku!"

"The one true thing about Miroku is that…he actually has a pure heart and hopefully mind." Inuyasha suppressed laughter at Kagome's stare.

Kagome yawned, "The one true thing about Miroku is that he puts on an act sometimes but has a huge heart, especially for Sango. The one true thing about Sango is that she knows how to love…"

"The one true thing about Sango is that she's precious to me, in a kid sister way." Inuyasha returned, yawning as sleep crept on him. "The one true thing about me is that I can never say what I feel, unless it's really blunt and not that big of a deal."

Kagome chuckled softly, "The one true thing about Inuyasha is that his eyes speak for himself."

Inuyasha blushed, "The one true thing about Shippo is that he annoys the hell out of me."

"The one true thing about Shippo is that I consider him my son sometimes." Kagome crossed her arms, getting thoughtful as she yawned, sleep clouding her mind, "The one true thing about my thoughts right now…is that I miss Inuyasha."

Inuyasha's eyes widened, waking up more as he stared at her. "Inuyasha? But…I'm right here…" He had to clench his fist from punching out the wall. "What do you mean?"

Kagome blinked, "I said that?" She shifted in her seat uncomfortably.

Inuyasha growled, "Kagome, the one true thing about this game is that I'll stop playing if you don't answer me."

Kagome sighed quietly, avoiding eye contact with him, "I don't know why I said that…" She trailed off, her eyes glancing briefly out of the window. "It's your turn." She whispered.

Inuyasha sighed, "The one true thing about my thoughts right now is that I want to know what you meant about missing him. I'm right here…"

"I didn't mean it that way…I just meant…I miss the old times…being with everybody back in the feudal era…" She paused, looking down. "I'm sorry. The one true thing I've noticed is that you seem to avoid talking about your old life."

Inuyasha looked up, stung. "The one true thing about my old life is that it makes me feel unreal."

"Why?"

"My past life…it's so strong and it seems like you talk about me as if I'm two different people. I'm the same Inuyasha you knew back then…just more modern. I hate talking about it because…it just reminds me that I'm only the rebirth of Inuyasha. I hate him sometimes."

Kagome's eyes widened, noting that this was the truest thing he had said tonight. She knew because she could see it in the way his eyes blazed.

"It's his fault I'm the way I am! He changed my life, filling me with memories. I hate him sometimes! He took away my old life! I hate it! I mean…I could take it but… sometimes I see how he hurt you or how in love you both were and I feel like I'm just a substitute…and every time I see you now…I feel guilty. I don't even know if I'm real, if I'm really me! Sometimes I wish I had never been reborn!!" He said, finishing his tirade. The words had come out quickly, some of them he had been holding in ever since he had discovered his memories.

"Do you want to know the one true thing?" Kagome growled, her hands snapping out to grab his own limp hand. Inuyasha's eyes widened, telling him he had pushed Kagome too far.

"What?" He asked, almost afraid. Something hung in the balance at that moment- a moment where a life changing decision was about to be made.

Kagome shut her eyes then opened them. Taking his claws, she quickly raised her hand and took the claws, slicing them deeply into her skin. She winced as crimson blood spilled out quickly.

"KAGOME!" Inuyasha snapped back to life, pulling his hand away from her. "What do you think you're doing?!" He reached for Kagome's hand.

Wincing, Kagome grabbed both of Inuyasha's hands and sliced his own hand opened while Inuyasha yelped in shock. "Have you lost you mind?!" He hissed.

"This is the one true thing!" Kagome yelled, "Look at your own blood then look at mine! They're both red- they're both real. You're as normal and human as I am. You are real- you're yourself, not a copy or anything!" Inuyasha could only stare at both of their hands as Kagome gripped his, their blood mixing together before dripping onto the bedspread. Quickly jumping off, Kagome brought out some paper to wipe it up.

"I wish I could believe you…" He trailed off.

Kagome glared at him dangerously, "Listen Inuyasha- it doesn't matter where you came from- it doesn't matter about the memories. You are Inuyasha, a smart doctor and that's all you need to know. You're free to hate whomever you want and you aren't the past Inuyasha, you haven't done anything that he has. You just happen to be sharing souls…similar looks…it's like Kikyo and I. I had to accept that I was a reincarnation and it isn't that bad…you're nobody different. You're only you and the past doesn't matter. Who you were back then doesn't matter because that's not who you are now!!" It was hard for her to explain. For a while, Kagome too had seen Inuyasha as being the same person she had left when the well had been sealed but after a little bit…she noticed the distinct differences between them and began to realize that they were different people, very similar but still very different. And…she had fallen in love him as he was, still.

"But sometimes…you describe Inuyasha as some great demon-angel guy…and I'm nothing like that…" Inuyasha stared down at their hands.

She looked at Inuyasha, realizing now how distant from the rest of humanity he must feel. "You're much more of an angel than he was…he was a great person but you are too. You are the same person but at the same time you're not. You are the man I love!" She stated sharply, trying to make sense of it all. It was true that they were the same person but they DID have slight differences…making both of them distinct but she swore each day he seemed to act more like his old self. But Kagome didn't mind, she had fallen in love with him all over again the day she had spotted him outside her window.

Inuyasha smiled, "Thanks Kagome…"

"Sorry about that." She looked at their hands then leaned forward, kissing his cheek lightly.

Inuyasha snorted, "Sometimes it takes something like that to make a point with me…I guess I can be thick sometimes."

Kagome laughed, thinking about how true that statement was. "You can be oblivious sometimes…" She smirked. "I'll go get some bandages." Getting up, Kagome disappeared out of the room.

Lying back on the bed now, Inuyasha closed his eyes, careful to keep his hand away from the precious sheets. A smile slowly crept across his face. Kagome really DID love him…and not because of who he used to be…not because he used to be her old love in the past…

Walking back in, Kagome immediately began to bandage up both of their hands. "It's so adorable. Miroku and Sango both fell asleep against each other on the couch…if only I could have gotten a picture of that." Kagome froze as Inuyasha held still, gripping her now-wrapped hand with his own fixed one. Smiling, he pulled her down next to him. "Will you stay with me forever?" He whispered into her ear.

Kagome smiled while blushing, "I'll stay as long as you need me."

"Then you'll never leave." Inuyasha said with contentment before his eyebrows furrowed in thought, "Kagome…why does it always seem like there's something in the way?"

"I…" She searched for an answer, "I really don't know…I guess the road less traveled by is a hard one…but worth it…cause I found you and somehow…somehow I know we'll work everything out somehow and we'll make it…" Kagome smiled, cuddling close to him. "Sometimes Inuyasha…sometimes things don't go smoothly…but because of that…we see things that we don't normally see…and that can be a good too…"