Disclaimer: nothing has changed.

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Seisouhen

ch. 4: "Don't Look Back"

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They walked together to Goshinboku. It was silent for a little while, then Kagome started another conversation.

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"What ever happened to Sango and Miroku?"

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"They got married and went off to Sango's old village. I think they had a son."

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"Good for them."

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Kagome smiled and closed her eyes. The image of Miroku groping Sango, then her bringing down her boomerang on his poor head,

replayed in her mind. Sango, who cried when Kagome left her life forever. Miroku, who turned his back to her, not being

able to watch her go for good this time.

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Kagome opened her eyes that were now filled with tears. Her tears blinded her, and she ended up tripping over a few bushes.

She would have fell flat on her face, had Inuyasha not caught her.

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"Why are you not watching were you're going?"

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Kagome looked up to the face she first saw when she came to ancient Japan. His same youthful face looked down to her grown

face. Kagome had grown older, and she looked like it. Inuyasha, however, still looked like the youth she last remembered

him as.

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Kagome suddenly felt old.

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"I was just... remembering...."

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Inuyasha nodded, and held her hand as they walked to Goshinboku. Kagome gently tried to get her hand back, but Inuyasha

held it firmly, yet gently. When they reached the great tree, Kagome stared at it.

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The same scar that was on the tree was still visible. It was were she first released Inuyasha. Where she first lost her

heart.

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"Buyo is right here."

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Inuyasha led Kagome to the base of the tree, on the left side. Buyo's name was scratched into the surface, no doubt by

Inuyasha's claws.

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"You buried my school uniform?"

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"No, I kept that."

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Kagome let her index finger trace the Japanese characters.

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"You spelled Buyo wrong."

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Inuyasha growled in annoyance, then looked away.

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"How did you spell it? I was only marking his name by memory, as I heard it."

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"Buyo is spelled B-u-y-o. You spelled it, B-y-o. But that is okay. I don't mind."

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"You sure?"

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"Yes."

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Kagome and Inuyasha looked at Buyo's grave in silence. Kagome put her hand on the small mound.

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"Kagome..."

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"Yes?"

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Inuyasha looked away, his golden eyes cast on the ground.

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"Nothing."

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Kagome looked at Inuyasha, burning the image of him in her mind.

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"I missed you, Inuyasha."

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Inuyasha looked at Kagome with a stunned expression.

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"There were so many times I wanted to see you." Kagome cast her head down as the tears threatened to spill. "Everyday for

countless hours, I would drop into the well, climb back up, and repeat. I never gave up."

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That was a lie.

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There was one time she dropped down into the well for the last time. It was after Buyo died. She tried to get through to go

to the past. On that day, she jumped into the well, and found herself still in her time.

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Kagome screamed in frustration, kicking a punching the dirt walls of the well. Her tears spilled, and dampened the dirt.

But she was still in her time.

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"I tried going through the well, too. Many times."

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Inuyasha turned his head in the direction of the well. Many days and nights, he would stand, leaning over the well, hoping

that he would see Kagome pop up. They would be like they always were.

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In the past.

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Inuyasha sometimes sat on a branch near the well. He often wondered if he made the right decision on that wish. The damn

rock gave him everything he wanted, and took away everything he wanted. It was a blessing. It was a curse.

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He would spend his time, waiting for Kagome. He vowed to himself to wait for her. They should be together. There was no

longer Kikyo holding him back. The only thing keeping them apart was Fate.

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"Did you ever wish that we could go back to the past?" Inuyasha asked. "Back to the way we always were."

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*All the time.*

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"There...." Inuyasha continued. "I mean, there were times when you got angry with me, and went back to your time. I made

sure you didn't know I was there.... I would watch you sleep, or watch you through your window. I don't know what I was

thinking, but... I just.... needed to... be with you..... But, I can't do that anymore."

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Inuyasha often sat by the well, and imagined that Kagome would climb out of the well, the huge, yellow backpack weighing

her down. They would fight, he would get his punishment, and they would continue the quest for the Shikon no Tama. But they

can't go back to that time.

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You can't live in the past.

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"I.... I have to go home..."

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Inuyasha looked at Kagome, his eyes wide with fear.

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"Bu-- But you just got here!!!"

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"I can't stay, Inuyasha."

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Kagome walked past the hanyou, to the direction of the well, until Inuyasha grabbed her, and pulled her towards himself.

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"Please! Don't go!"

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Kagome couldn't believe Inuyasha, the proud hanyou, was begging!

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"You walked out of my life once before, Kagome! Don't do it again!"

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Kagome stopped struggling, and Inuyasha loosened his hold on her. Kagome gently pulled away from him, but Inuyasha still

held her. She cupped his face in her hands, and then rested her forehead on his forehead. Then she spoke.

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"We can never return to that past. We can't go back to the way we were. As much as it hurts, we can't go back. The past is

gone. Don't live back then. Don't let me hold you back from the happiness you deserve. Look forward. All the memories, all

the happy times, all the sadness, the blood, the pain, the heartache, take it with you, and don't look back."

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Inuyasha moved his hands to hold Kagome's face gently.

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"Stay here."

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".... Only for the night."

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"..... At least.... I can have that."

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That night, Kagome was sitting by the fire. Some more snow was falling outside, but was not like the blizzard she got

caught in. The light from the fire danced on her face as she stared at the flames.

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Suddenly, a blanket was wrapped around her. She looked behind her, and saw Shippou smile sadly down at her.

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"How have you been, Shippou?"

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The fox smiled sadly again, and sat down next to Kagome.

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"Trying to live for myself and a certain stubborn hanyou. You visited your cat's grave?"

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"Buyo. Yes, I did."

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"I see. I never knew you had a cat. Too bad Buyo couldn't come here when everyone was still together. Kirara and Buyo could

have fell in love, and had hanyou kittens."

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Kagome couldn't help but laugh at that thought.

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"Yes, they could have."

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Shippou's voice had changed. While it wasn't deep, it was soft. The kind of voice that could put you easily to sleep. A

comforting voice. Yet, it wasn't the small, child's voice she heard so long ago.

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"Shippou.... What did you mean by you had to live for yourself, and Inuyasha?"

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Shippou looked at the fire.

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"When you left, he was broken. Inuyasha realized that he shouldn't have let you go. He waited every day, by the well.

Waiting for you. I hunted for both me, and him. He wouldn't leave the well. He wouldn't stop jumping into the well. He

never gave up on the hope that one day, you would come back. He always was the stubborn one of the group."

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Kagome smiled sadly, and nodded. Shippou continued.

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"Though he won't admit it, that stupid hanyou hasn't stopped thinking about you for a single moment."

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That fact rested in Kagome's mind the whole night. Far into the night, she thought about what Shippou said.

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Should she stay here? Or go back to her own time? That was where she belonged. She didn't belong in the past. She

belonged.... she belonged....

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*Where do I belong?*

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Dawn met the trio, all of whom were walking the ever familiar path to the well. When the well came into their view, Kagome

hugged Shippou, and told him that she will never forget him. The fox nodded, said the same thing, and walked away. He could

not replay what happened so long ago, once again.

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Inuyasha looked away from Kagome, a hurt look on his face.

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"Just to let you know, Inuyasha, I will try to come back again and again if I have to."

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"..... But the well might not work again."

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"....."

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Kagome had to make a decision that will affect her life, and everyone around her. Both past and future.

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"Then, this is the turning point."

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Did she really want to go back?

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Suddenly, Inuyasha grabbed Kagome, pulled her into a hug, and his lips met with her own lips. They kissed in hope and

desperation. Wanting to remember, yet wanting to forget it all. Kagome pulled her tongue out of Inuyasha's mouth, as did he,

and Kagome gently pulled her lips away from his.

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"I will still try to get back here. Even if I have to dig my way here."

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"I will meet you half way. Then, we can be together."

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"..... Of course....."

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Kagome left Inuyasha's embrace, and went to the well. She looked down the long, black hole. Her feet started to get cold by

the snow under them.

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"You...." Kagome whispered to herself. "You, Inuyasha, I will miss the most."

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She got ready to jump, when suddenly Inuyasha's voice caught her.

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"I love you, Kagome."

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Kagome turned her gray-blue eyes to the hanyou, her eyes wide. Then, she smiled. A real smile.

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"I love you too, Inuyasha."

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Inuyasha smiled, but sadly.

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"You should never say it if you don't mean it."

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"That is true. If I didn't mean it."

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And Kagome dropped into the well, the blue light surrounded her, and she disappeared. Inuyasha watched her the whole time.

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Inuyasha chose Kagome.

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Kagome chose the future.

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AN: Okay, this is getting really depressing! T_T How about I cheer us up a little on the next chapter? ^_^()

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Just so im original: Kei: my cousin, melonie, likes you right now. Her favorite character is kikyo, as well. But, yes, that

is what happens later on in the inuyasha series. Just one question. Why is your favorite character kikyo? my cousin already

yelled/ smacked me for calling kikyo a bitch. -_-;; but thanks for reviewing!! ^_^