Hello, I'm Shayril and I'm new here... Smiles and gives nervously little wave ... This is the first fic I've ever written. I really hope you like it. If you don't I'm going to cry. I promise you guys that I'll update as often as I possibly can. Hopefully, on a fairly regular basis. Most importantly, I DO NOT OWN INUYASHA. Just clearing that up for ya. Of course, to make people happy, I'll reiterate that fact whenever I update despite how painful it is to admit. If I did own Inuyasha you can bet that you would be watching this as an episode and I'd be really rich with my castle in Ireland. Sadly, that's not the case. I don't have a castle in Ireland. yet. And I'm not really rich. yet. And you are reading this rather then watching it.

Anywho, as you can see, I LOVE to talk, thanks to all you who took the time to pay attention. It really makes my day when people actually listen to me talk. So... Does the whole dramatic clearing of throat thing ... Without further adieu I give to you... ------------------------------------------------------------------------

This Is Where You Belong

By; Shayril

Chapter One - Past Remembered

She sat on the floor of the shrine with legs crossed and eyes closed. Her mind wandered down roads that hadn't been traveled in a while. She had been trying to meditate, but for some reason the past wouldn't leave her alone. What had brought about this sudden walk down memory lane she didn't know. It had been monthss since the last time she had thought about it. She had wanted to forget about it, had thought that she had. Then, a couple days ago past events started to intrude on her thoughts.

Kagome growled in frustration. "Dammit! Can't I even meditate in peace?"

"I did not think a miko would speak so. Especially not the guardian of the Shikon no Tama."

She turned at the sound of the voice. "Even a miko must voice her frustrations at some point, Jii-chan."

"Perhaps I could help with those frustrations," he said serenely. "If I knew what they were."

She sighed. "Hint taken."

As her grandfather settled beside her, she gathered her thoughts. She had actually wanted to speak with him about it. But even after so long she didn't know how to go about it. Oh, she could talk to him, sure. And he would listen and give the best advise he could. It was just that this was a difficult matter to discuss. With anyone.

She sighed again. "I've been remembering, Jii-chan."

"And this troubles you?"

"I don't want to remember. I wanted to put it all behind me, like I would a dream."

He nodded knowingly. "But you don't put dreams behind you. At least, not until you pick it apart and learn what it is your dreams are trying to tell you. Perhaps you are remembering because there is something you need to face."

"It's painful to remember," Kagome said. "I don't want to."

"Kagome, it has been a year since your quest ended. You will have to face your past and what's bothering you sooner or later. I think it better that your past chooses now rather than later. It will be a lot easier to face now than it would be when you are my age and full of regrets."

She grew silent and stared at the altar where the Shikon no Tama, the source of all her sorrows, rested. Ironic to think that she now safeguarded something that caused her so much grief. Well, she admitted to herself. The jewel itself isn't what gave me grief. It was just the indirect cause. The real cause of her sorrows was one of her companions from the quest to put the jewel back together, a certain silvery-white-haired hanyou. Kagome looked up and was surprised to see her grandfather still sitting beside her. He stared at her with a knowing look in his eyes.

"Perhaps," he said. "You could better face those memories if you were to face the memory maker."

She frowned. "The Shikon no Tama sits on the altar, Jii-chan. I face it every day."

"It is not the jewel I speak of, Granddaughter, and you know it."

When she said nothing, he pushed to his feet and left the shrine, leaving her to her thoughts. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Shayril: Okay, guys, what do you think? Is it a good beginning? Does it catch your interest? Are you gonna read further? Please let me know at tigerwitch13@yahoo.com. No SPAM!!!! Be brutally honest. I can take it. Honestly I can! ..Winces as if anticipating a blow ... I'm just kidding. Seriously, I can take it. So, Kagome's sitting in the shrine having deep thoughts. Bet your wondering what happened after the Shikon no Tama was put back together. Aren't ya? Admit it! If you keep reading you might find out. Now, I wouldn't force you to keep reading. If you don't like it you could keep going just to laugh at how incredibly inept you think I am at writing, or to find out just what I'm planning to do. There is also the chance that you actually find my rambling entertaining and will keep reading just to find out what I'll say next ... Sighs, bats eyelashes, then snorts ... No one finds me THAT entertaining. I'm not an idiot you know. HEY! ... Shakes hand menacingly .... You're supposed to agree with me when I say that. NOT when I say I'm not entertaining. What's that? Oh, now you're tired of my rambling? Well, fine! Go away and leave me alone for now ... Pouts, grumbles something indistinguishable .. Not that you care anyway! Well, what are you waiting for? Leave me alone so that I can start writing the next chapter...