Chapter 15: Don't Piss off the Wolf
The two had been walking for days, arguing every waking hour. It was hard to believe that best friends could have such a difference of opinion. Finally, aggravated beyond comprehension, Suikotsu turned to address Bankotsu.
"Look. I'm going to that village that recently lost their miko. A seven- year-old child can not possibly perform all the medical duties entrusted to a priestess. You don't have to come." Suikotsu informed him before turning his back and continuing on his way.
Bankotsu didn't miss a beat as he ran to catch up with his friend, his long black braid flying behind him. "But if you join with me then the other five guys will tag right along! It won't be any fun if you don't fight with us."
"I will not kill anymore. I am a doctor. I am supposed to save lives, not take them." Suikotsu glared at him coldly.
Bankotsu pulled something from his pack. He held before Suikotsu a pair of iron claws. "You know you want to wear them again. You won't feel right until you try them on. Come on, once more for old time sake."
"I told you no. I will not become that mindless assassin. I have a difficult time dealing with blood now thanks to your adventures. What kind of doctor is afraid of blood?" Suikotsu shouted in exasperation as he continued on towards his destination.
"Exactly! You make a rotten doctor. That's why you need to join the other guys and me. We can go and create havoc! Just think of all the necks I can slice with this baby!" Bankotsu affectionately stroked the hilt of his beloved sword.
"I think that's the village up ahead. You can leave now. I am not changing my mind."
Bankotsu shrugged. "Maybe they won't want you. Then you have no excuse not to come back with me. I'm coming."
#####################
All was not right in the world of Kagome Higurashi. Her environment was some sort of misty realm. Shadows marred the otherwise blank nothingness that was the inside of this enchanted mirror.
The bored track star decided she might as well pass the time running some laps. It wasn't like she could get lost. There was nowhere to go to get lost. She sure hoped she didn't have to spend the rest of her life in this place.
Of course, she knew that would not be the case. Surely, Naraku captured her through the little albino girl. He'd take her portion of the jewel and then kill her. But then if she had anything to do about it, he would do neither of those two actions.
She lay down onto the ground of the nothingness and had closed her eyes to relax. She had finally gotten comfortable when she felt the planes shifting. Looks like she was making her exit from her misty abode.
Naraku absorbed the essence of Kanna back within his body and then smiled when he saw the miko appear before him, lying on the ground with arms behind her head. "Were you sleeping, my dear?" He asked in an amused tone.
Kagome opened one eye to peer at him before shutting it once more. There was no need in being a whimpering idiot. Might as well be a stubborn snot. She could pull that role off well. All she had to do was imitate her little brother, Sota.
"Why don't you stand?" Naraku suggested in a less than friendly tone. When the miko did not comply he decided to change his tactic. He was enjoying the small act of defiance. However, that would end once he took her for his mate. "I can see up your skirt you know." He told her with nothing short of amusement.
Quickly, Kagome rose to her feet and glared at the arch nemesis of so many of her friends. Truth be told, he was probably more her nemesis than theirs. "Whatever you want, you can't have it."
"But everything I want is in my possession." Naraku told her as he wrapped his arms around her lithe form and crushed her against him. "It's all right here in my possession." He whispered in her ear in a menacing growl.
Kagome concentrated and tried to ignore the revolting feeling that caused her to want to spew. She focused and felt the surge of power deep within her as she sent the hanyou careening towards the far end of the chamber they were located in.
That was when she noticed that she was in a bedroom chamber, alone, with Naraku. She glared at him. "Well you can't have all the jewel anyway."
Naraku merely smiled at her, not bothered by her taunt at all. "Don't worry. Your friends are bringing them here as we speak. I had other plans for now." He began to approach her again.
For every step Naraku took forward, Kagome took one back. Inevitably, her back hit the wall and Naraku's approach continued. She tried to focus on her powers to blast him back. But fear started to overwhelm her. She couldn't focus!!!
Naraku could sense her inner turmoil and it caused a wicked smile to form.
A smiling Naraku was not helping Kagome in her focusing at all.
####################
The great brown wolf was practically flying across the distance to Naraku's castle. Every leap brought him that much closer to the one he was supposed to protect. Every bound brought him that much closer to his Kagome.
Ice blue eyes shown bright with fire. Massive jaws clenched with anticipation. Strong rippling muscles brought him closer to his mate.
Soon, the castle of Naraku finally appeared before him. The vision only increased his haste as the blood that would soon flow drove him into a blood lust.
###################
Naraku was distracted by the waves of fear he could sense rolling off the miko. He cursed himself a moment later, when he finally noticed the arrival of the wolf prince. His aura seemed altered, but it mattered not. He needed those shards in his legs.
Kouga found the castle and with one mighty sweep of his giant paw he ripped down the entire eastern wall. The room left standing in that section was the one where his prize was located.
He saw his mate and his prey. He would eat well this night. His massive tail reached for the shocked miko and pulled her out of the ruins of the castle. Once she was safely out of his way. He began to pay attention the multiple tentacles wrapping around his right front paw.
He looked confused for a moment, until he realized that Naraku was attempting to absorb his flesh into his motley crew of a body. Angrily, Kouga kicked Naraku away from his paw with his free front one.
His fierce jaw clamped down upon the hanyou and ripped him in half. An annoying tugging was taking place on his tail. He looked back at his mate with half a Naraku dripping from his fangs.
"Kouga?" Kagome asked. "You can not kill him that way. I have to purify him." She looked at him determined.
Kouga spit out the nasty parts of Naraku that were in his mouth and backed up slightly while placing his mate on the ground.
Kagome needed to channel her powers on something. Anything! If only she had an arrow! An idea came to her. She began walking toward the mass that was Naraku and watched as the figure began to reform before her very eyes, using the power from Shikon shards.
She closed her eyes and bent low to the ground. She made a signal for Kouga to get off the ground. It was hard to think in his altered state but he understood and moved away.
Kagome bent to the ground and touched it with her palms that were glowing blue. She opened her eyes that were illuminating blue and smiled before releasing her purifying powers to incinerate any Naraku parts lying on the ground.
A hideous scream filled the air as the Shikon shards Naraku had were instantly purified and added to her miko powers.
She looked back up towards Kouga. Kagome almost fainted in shock when she first saw him, but she knew it was him. No one else had those ice blue eyes. Slowly she watched as he once again took his humanoid form.
She walked towards him after picking up all the scattered shards. He ran towards her, and with his enhanced speed met her with in seconds.
"I was afraid I would be too late." He admitted before falling to his knees and wrapping his arms around her hips. He buried his face into her stomach. Confused, Kagome lightly placed her hands upon his soft hair. She ran her fingers through his thick locks that were flowing free.
She then bent down as well to join him on the ground. She smiled at him. "I like your hair better down." She told him teasingly as she continued to run her fingers through his tangle-free mess.
Kagome was slightly annoyed that there were no tangles in his hair. It must be some sort of youkai thing she thought bitterly to herself. What she wouldn't give to have such gorgeous hair.
"Kagome, I thought that I had lost you forever. I'm so sorry for not being there. I let my revenge against Kagura keep me from being with you." Kouga told her with guilt lacing every syllable.
Kagome gave him a sad smile. "You can't always protect me." She whispered scolding.
"But I want to. I want you to be my mate for real." Kouga explained desperately.
"Kouga, this is not my time. I don't belong here. I have to return to where I belong." Kagome told him with strength that she didn't know she possessed. It broke her heart to see the pain this statement had upon Kouga.
Her heart ached for him. Did she love Kouga? She didn't belong in this time. She couldn't forsake her family and friends back home in Tokyo. Her time here in the Feudal Era had been great, but it was time to get back to her normal life.
A single tear escaped her eye, and Kouga didn't fail to catch it. He lightly brushed his thumb across the trail it made upon her cheek. "If that is what you feel you must do." He told her sadly as he stood and helped her stand as well.
Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru, Sango, Miroku, and Kirara arrived not long after the couple stood. Miroku practically leapt off Kirara and ran towards Kagome giving her a tight, bone-breaking hug.
"Kagome-sama! Look!" He shoved his cursed palm into her face, only to show that it was a perfectly normal palm. "It's gone! The curse is gone! You did it!" He hugged her again.
Kagome smiled at him once he had settled down and moved away with no lecherous attempts what so ever. "We all did it. This victory was a group effort." Kagome told her friends. She held out her hands and accepted the shards that Kouga and Miroku extended towards her.
She held the pieces of the jewel within her hands and focused once more in fusing the pieces. Everyone gasped when the jewel was completed and radiated a pale pink color. Kagome walked over to Inuyasha and gave him the jewel.
"The wish is yours to make." She told him with a smile.
Inuyasha looked at the jewel for a moment. Then he looked around at his friends and brother's faces. He saw no expectations or limitations placed upon himself by them. He saw only acceptance of him. Inuyasha, the hanyou, was their friend.
He handed the jewel back to Kagome. "I have found what I have sought. Thank you. The wish should be up to you."
Kagome looked at him confused for a moment, but accepted her burden once more.
"Let us return to that village near your well. You can spend some time contemplating your decision." Sesshoumaru suggested.
Everyone agreed and began the journey back towards Kaede's village. All of the companions wore mixed expressions. The destruction of Naraku was a victory. However, with the jewel complete Kagome's mission was over. Would she leave their lives forever?
#######################
The seven-year-old miko was laughing her little head off as the doctor continued to tickle her.
"I give!" She declared as the man composed himself and smiled at her, satisfied with the result of his torture.
"I don't really know enough about medicine and we would love to have you serve as our doctor." She admitted with much exasperation.
The man standing in the doorway threw up his hands in despair. "Now what am I supposed to do?" Bankotsu groaned, as it was obvious that Suikotsu would not join in his band now. Looks like the Shichinintai would have to remain an unrealized dream.
Bankotsu left the hut annoyed and began walking aimlessly down the village streets. He ran straight into a large stone-like entity. "Watch where you're going." He mumbled.
Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps it is you who should watch out, human." He spat with obvious disgust. If Kagome was leaving, then there was no need to find anything respectable in that species. Well maybe the monk and demon exterminator were worth respecting, but other than them!
Bankotsu looked up and noticed that he had crossed paths with the lord of the western lands. He smiled and narrowed his eyes a bit. "Perhaps I should." He replied before deciding to leave the village.
"He was an odd one." Miroku commented walking up to Sesshoumaru's side.
"Indeed." Sesshoumaru agreed.
##################
"Wow! You actually did it! That's really neat." Kaede gushed as she was leaning on her elbows absorbing every word Kagome told of their adventure.
Kagome smiled at the little girl and the young doctor, Suikotsu that sat beside her.
"So what will you do now?" Suikotsu asked. Kagome's friends all had their ears perked up for this one.
"I will make my wish." Kagome declared.
"What will you wish for? World peace?" Kaede suggested.
Kagome shook her head and giggled at the eager girl. "No. I think I'll wish for the jewel to restore all those who were lost because of Naraku." Kagome told her.
The group all thought her wish sounded pretty good. It most definitely wasn't a selfish wish and wouldn't taint the jewel.
Inuyasha cleared his throat. "Hey, Kagome, can I talk to you for a second?"
"Sure." Kagome graced everyone with a smile as she followed her friend outside.
Inuyasha surprised her grabbing her by the waist and running off to the woods. He leapt into a tall tree and set her beside him on a great branch.
"Something on your mind, Inuyasha?" Kagome asked with amusement. Her friend was never very subtle.
"You can't leave." Inuyasha told her in a very serious voice.
"It's okay. You'll be fine without me. Besides Kikyou should be back with this wish and you could be together." Kagome tried to ease his concerns.
Inuyasha stubbornly shook his head. "No. I don't really care about Kikyou. She never really accepted me for who I am. She only thought in terms of who I could be. It would never work with us. But that's not the point. The point is YOU can't leave."
"But I have to. I have to go back to where I belong." Kagome answered him sadly. "I don't belong here."
Inuyasha shook his head in denial. "If you didn't belong here, then you would never have traveled through that well. You do belong here, why can't you see that?"
"I'm sorry Inuyasha." Kagome told him sadly again.
"See how sad you are? You don't want to leave, do you?" Inuyasha demanded with a look Kagome had never before seen in his golden eyes.
Kagome had to agree she didn't want to leave her friends. She didn't want to leave Kouga. "But I have to return to where I belong." She answered more quietly than before.
"I have an idea." Inuyasha told her. "When you wish on the jewel request for those lost to Naraku to be restored and for you to be taken to where you belong."
"But that will just take me back home." Kagome told him.
"Exactly. Just do it." Inuyasha replied. Perhaps she didn't realize that he felt her home was in the Feudal Era. "But, just in case it doesn't work." Inuyasha began biting his bottom lip slightly with a look of embarrassment.
"What is it?" Kagome asked confused.
"I just want you to know that you're the best friend I ever had, and I love you, and want to be with you for the rest of my life." He kissed her quickly on the lips before holding her tightly against him and burying his face into her hair. He hoped that he would not lose the scent of Vanilla and Cherry Blossoms to the fates of time.
Kagome still hadn't fully processed everything that he had told her, but she was crying onto his shoulder. He was right, she didn't really want to leave this era. It was more home than modern-day Tokyo had ever felt.
##################
Kagome stood before the well with her friends. Sesshoumaru had not spoken a word, but the look behind his eyes reflected great sadness. Sango and Miroku had told her goodbye and that they really didn't want to lose her. She had become a dear sister to both of them. Inuyasha had spoken his peace in the tree. Kouga had tried after the battle.
It was Kouga's ice blue gaze that Kagome looked to for strength. His final words were wishing her strength in whatever choice she was to make. Kagome took a deep breath and stood on the lip of the Bone Eater's Well.
She looked down into the dark abyss below and felt the powers swirl within. She looked at the complete Shikon no Tama within her hands and closed her eyes in concentration.
"Mistress of the Shikon no Tama, Midoriko, I beseech thee. I make my request upon your essence. I request that you restore those whose lives were lost because of Naraku and that I go to wherever it is that I belong." Kagome jumped into the well as the pink light of the jewel surrounded her.
Pink light from the jewel clashed with the blue magic from the well. A great purple light spread across the land.
A soft thud could be heard at the bottom of the well. The sensitive ears of Kouga, Sesshoumaru, and Inuyasha all heard the soft curse that could only be Kagome.
The three all rushed towards the well, followed by the humans in attendance.
"Kagome?" Kouga called down into the well.
"I don't understand. I'm still here." Kagome turned her face up towards her friends.
Everyone gasped.
"What?" Kagome demanded as she began to climb out of the well.
Inuyasha smiled at her. "It appears the jewel granted your wish and you belong here after all."
"Look at yourself closely, Kagome." Kouga advised once she had reached the top of the well.
Kagome frowned at her friends, but then decided to check herself out. She gasped when she noticed the differences.
It would appear that Kagome was no longer a human miko. Her raven tresses were now highlighted with silver and her fingernails had extended into claws. She reached up to explore her ears and noticed them to be elven shape like Kouga and Sesshoumaru's.
Perhaps the main difference was the fluffy silver and black tail that now protruded from her lower back near her sacral vertebrae.
"I don't understand." Kagome told them.
Kouga broke into a huge grin. "You've transformed into a wolf youkai, Kagome."
"What?" Kagome asked with her now sapphire eyes growing the size of saucers.
Kouga didn't hesitate to envelop his love into another embrace. He leaned to whisper to her in happiness. "Kagome, now will you take serious my offer of becoming my mate."
All Kagome could do was nod her head mutely.
The two had been walking for days, arguing every waking hour. It was hard to believe that best friends could have such a difference of opinion. Finally, aggravated beyond comprehension, Suikotsu turned to address Bankotsu.
"Look. I'm going to that village that recently lost their miko. A seven- year-old child can not possibly perform all the medical duties entrusted to a priestess. You don't have to come." Suikotsu informed him before turning his back and continuing on his way.
Bankotsu didn't miss a beat as he ran to catch up with his friend, his long black braid flying behind him. "But if you join with me then the other five guys will tag right along! It won't be any fun if you don't fight with us."
"I will not kill anymore. I am a doctor. I am supposed to save lives, not take them." Suikotsu glared at him coldly.
Bankotsu pulled something from his pack. He held before Suikotsu a pair of iron claws. "You know you want to wear them again. You won't feel right until you try them on. Come on, once more for old time sake."
"I told you no. I will not become that mindless assassin. I have a difficult time dealing with blood now thanks to your adventures. What kind of doctor is afraid of blood?" Suikotsu shouted in exasperation as he continued on towards his destination.
"Exactly! You make a rotten doctor. That's why you need to join the other guys and me. We can go and create havoc! Just think of all the necks I can slice with this baby!" Bankotsu affectionately stroked the hilt of his beloved sword.
"I think that's the village up ahead. You can leave now. I am not changing my mind."
Bankotsu shrugged. "Maybe they won't want you. Then you have no excuse not to come back with me. I'm coming."
#####################
All was not right in the world of Kagome Higurashi. Her environment was some sort of misty realm. Shadows marred the otherwise blank nothingness that was the inside of this enchanted mirror.
The bored track star decided she might as well pass the time running some laps. It wasn't like she could get lost. There was nowhere to go to get lost. She sure hoped she didn't have to spend the rest of her life in this place.
Of course, she knew that would not be the case. Surely, Naraku captured her through the little albino girl. He'd take her portion of the jewel and then kill her. But then if she had anything to do about it, he would do neither of those two actions.
She lay down onto the ground of the nothingness and had closed her eyes to relax. She had finally gotten comfortable when she felt the planes shifting. Looks like she was making her exit from her misty abode.
Naraku absorbed the essence of Kanna back within his body and then smiled when he saw the miko appear before him, lying on the ground with arms behind her head. "Were you sleeping, my dear?" He asked in an amused tone.
Kagome opened one eye to peer at him before shutting it once more. There was no need in being a whimpering idiot. Might as well be a stubborn snot. She could pull that role off well. All she had to do was imitate her little brother, Sota.
"Why don't you stand?" Naraku suggested in a less than friendly tone. When the miko did not comply he decided to change his tactic. He was enjoying the small act of defiance. However, that would end once he took her for his mate. "I can see up your skirt you know." He told her with nothing short of amusement.
Quickly, Kagome rose to her feet and glared at the arch nemesis of so many of her friends. Truth be told, he was probably more her nemesis than theirs. "Whatever you want, you can't have it."
"But everything I want is in my possession." Naraku told her as he wrapped his arms around her lithe form and crushed her against him. "It's all right here in my possession." He whispered in her ear in a menacing growl.
Kagome concentrated and tried to ignore the revolting feeling that caused her to want to spew. She focused and felt the surge of power deep within her as she sent the hanyou careening towards the far end of the chamber they were located in.
That was when she noticed that she was in a bedroom chamber, alone, with Naraku. She glared at him. "Well you can't have all the jewel anyway."
Naraku merely smiled at her, not bothered by her taunt at all. "Don't worry. Your friends are bringing them here as we speak. I had other plans for now." He began to approach her again.
For every step Naraku took forward, Kagome took one back. Inevitably, her back hit the wall and Naraku's approach continued. She tried to focus on her powers to blast him back. But fear started to overwhelm her. She couldn't focus!!!
Naraku could sense her inner turmoil and it caused a wicked smile to form.
A smiling Naraku was not helping Kagome in her focusing at all.
####################
The great brown wolf was practically flying across the distance to Naraku's castle. Every leap brought him that much closer to the one he was supposed to protect. Every bound brought him that much closer to his Kagome.
Ice blue eyes shown bright with fire. Massive jaws clenched with anticipation. Strong rippling muscles brought him closer to his mate.
Soon, the castle of Naraku finally appeared before him. The vision only increased his haste as the blood that would soon flow drove him into a blood lust.
###################
Naraku was distracted by the waves of fear he could sense rolling off the miko. He cursed himself a moment later, when he finally noticed the arrival of the wolf prince. His aura seemed altered, but it mattered not. He needed those shards in his legs.
Kouga found the castle and with one mighty sweep of his giant paw he ripped down the entire eastern wall. The room left standing in that section was the one where his prize was located.
He saw his mate and his prey. He would eat well this night. His massive tail reached for the shocked miko and pulled her out of the ruins of the castle. Once she was safely out of his way. He began to pay attention the multiple tentacles wrapping around his right front paw.
He looked confused for a moment, until he realized that Naraku was attempting to absorb his flesh into his motley crew of a body. Angrily, Kouga kicked Naraku away from his paw with his free front one.
His fierce jaw clamped down upon the hanyou and ripped him in half. An annoying tugging was taking place on his tail. He looked back at his mate with half a Naraku dripping from his fangs.
"Kouga?" Kagome asked. "You can not kill him that way. I have to purify him." She looked at him determined.
Kouga spit out the nasty parts of Naraku that were in his mouth and backed up slightly while placing his mate on the ground.
Kagome needed to channel her powers on something. Anything! If only she had an arrow! An idea came to her. She began walking toward the mass that was Naraku and watched as the figure began to reform before her very eyes, using the power from Shikon shards.
She closed her eyes and bent low to the ground. She made a signal for Kouga to get off the ground. It was hard to think in his altered state but he understood and moved away.
Kagome bent to the ground and touched it with her palms that were glowing blue. She opened her eyes that were illuminating blue and smiled before releasing her purifying powers to incinerate any Naraku parts lying on the ground.
A hideous scream filled the air as the Shikon shards Naraku had were instantly purified and added to her miko powers.
She looked back up towards Kouga. Kagome almost fainted in shock when she first saw him, but she knew it was him. No one else had those ice blue eyes. Slowly she watched as he once again took his humanoid form.
She walked towards him after picking up all the scattered shards. He ran towards her, and with his enhanced speed met her with in seconds.
"I was afraid I would be too late." He admitted before falling to his knees and wrapping his arms around her hips. He buried his face into her stomach. Confused, Kagome lightly placed her hands upon his soft hair. She ran her fingers through his thick locks that were flowing free.
She then bent down as well to join him on the ground. She smiled at him. "I like your hair better down." She told him teasingly as she continued to run her fingers through his tangle-free mess.
Kagome was slightly annoyed that there were no tangles in his hair. It must be some sort of youkai thing she thought bitterly to herself. What she wouldn't give to have such gorgeous hair.
"Kagome, I thought that I had lost you forever. I'm so sorry for not being there. I let my revenge against Kagura keep me from being with you." Kouga told her with guilt lacing every syllable.
Kagome gave him a sad smile. "You can't always protect me." She whispered scolding.
"But I want to. I want you to be my mate for real." Kouga explained desperately.
"Kouga, this is not my time. I don't belong here. I have to return to where I belong." Kagome told him with strength that she didn't know she possessed. It broke her heart to see the pain this statement had upon Kouga.
Her heart ached for him. Did she love Kouga? She didn't belong in this time. She couldn't forsake her family and friends back home in Tokyo. Her time here in the Feudal Era had been great, but it was time to get back to her normal life.
A single tear escaped her eye, and Kouga didn't fail to catch it. He lightly brushed his thumb across the trail it made upon her cheek. "If that is what you feel you must do." He told her sadly as he stood and helped her stand as well.
Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru, Sango, Miroku, and Kirara arrived not long after the couple stood. Miroku practically leapt off Kirara and ran towards Kagome giving her a tight, bone-breaking hug.
"Kagome-sama! Look!" He shoved his cursed palm into her face, only to show that it was a perfectly normal palm. "It's gone! The curse is gone! You did it!" He hugged her again.
Kagome smiled at him once he had settled down and moved away with no lecherous attempts what so ever. "We all did it. This victory was a group effort." Kagome told her friends. She held out her hands and accepted the shards that Kouga and Miroku extended towards her.
She held the pieces of the jewel within her hands and focused once more in fusing the pieces. Everyone gasped when the jewel was completed and radiated a pale pink color. Kagome walked over to Inuyasha and gave him the jewel.
"The wish is yours to make." She told him with a smile.
Inuyasha looked at the jewel for a moment. Then he looked around at his friends and brother's faces. He saw no expectations or limitations placed upon himself by them. He saw only acceptance of him. Inuyasha, the hanyou, was their friend.
He handed the jewel back to Kagome. "I have found what I have sought. Thank you. The wish should be up to you."
Kagome looked at him confused for a moment, but accepted her burden once more.
"Let us return to that village near your well. You can spend some time contemplating your decision." Sesshoumaru suggested.
Everyone agreed and began the journey back towards Kaede's village. All of the companions wore mixed expressions. The destruction of Naraku was a victory. However, with the jewel complete Kagome's mission was over. Would she leave their lives forever?
#######################
The seven-year-old miko was laughing her little head off as the doctor continued to tickle her.
"I give!" She declared as the man composed himself and smiled at her, satisfied with the result of his torture.
"I don't really know enough about medicine and we would love to have you serve as our doctor." She admitted with much exasperation.
The man standing in the doorway threw up his hands in despair. "Now what am I supposed to do?" Bankotsu groaned, as it was obvious that Suikotsu would not join in his band now. Looks like the Shichinintai would have to remain an unrealized dream.
Bankotsu left the hut annoyed and began walking aimlessly down the village streets. He ran straight into a large stone-like entity. "Watch where you're going." He mumbled.
Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps it is you who should watch out, human." He spat with obvious disgust. If Kagome was leaving, then there was no need to find anything respectable in that species. Well maybe the monk and demon exterminator were worth respecting, but other than them!
Bankotsu looked up and noticed that he had crossed paths with the lord of the western lands. He smiled and narrowed his eyes a bit. "Perhaps I should." He replied before deciding to leave the village.
"He was an odd one." Miroku commented walking up to Sesshoumaru's side.
"Indeed." Sesshoumaru agreed.
##################
"Wow! You actually did it! That's really neat." Kaede gushed as she was leaning on her elbows absorbing every word Kagome told of their adventure.
Kagome smiled at the little girl and the young doctor, Suikotsu that sat beside her.
"So what will you do now?" Suikotsu asked. Kagome's friends all had their ears perked up for this one.
"I will make my wish." Kagome declared.
"What will you wish for? World peace?" Kaede suggested.
Kagome shook her head and giggled at the eager girl. "No. I think I'll wish for the jewel to restore all those who were lost because of Naraku." Kagome told her.
The group all thought her wish sounded pretty good. It most definitely wasn't a selfish wish and wouldn't taint the jewel.
Inuyasha cleared his throat. "Hey, Kagome, can I talk to you for a second?"
"Sure." Kagome graced everyone with a smile as she followed her friend outside.
Inuyasha surprised her grabbing her by the waist and running off to the woods. He leapt into a tall tree and set her beside him on a great branch.
"Something on your mind, Inuyasha?" Kagome asked with amusement. Her friend was never very subtle.
"You can't leave." Inuyasha told her in a very serious voice.
"It's okay. You'll be fine without me. Besides Kikyou should be back with this wish and you could be together." Kagome tried to ease his concerns.
Inuyasha stubbornly shook his head. "No. I don't really care about Kikyou. She never really accepted me for who I am. She only thought in terms of who I could be. It would never work with us. But that's not the point. The point is YOU can't leave."
"But I have to. I have to go back to where I belong." Kagome answered him sadly. "I don't belong here."
Inuyasha shook his head in denial. "If you didn't belong here, then you would never have traveled through that well. You do belong here, why can't you see that?"
"I'm sorry Inuyasha." Kagome told him sadly again.
"See how sad you are? You don't want to leave, do you?" Inuyasha demanded with a look Kagome had never before seen in his golden eyes.
Kagome had to agree she didn't want to leave her friends. She didn't want to leave Kouga. "But I have to return to where I belong." She answered more quietly than before.
"I have an idea." Inuyasha told her. "When you wish on the jewel request for those lost to Naraku to be restored and for you to be taken to where you belong."
"But that will just take me back home." Kagome told him.
"Exactly. Just do it." Inuyasha replied. Perhaps she didn't realize that he felt her home was in the Feudal Era. "But, just in case it doesn't work." Inuyasha began biting his bottom lip slightly with a look of embarrassment.
"What is it?" Kagome asked confused.
"I just want you to know that you're the best friend I ever had, and I love you, and want to be with you for the rest of my life." He kissed her quickly on the lips before holding her tightly against him and burying his face into her hair. He hoped that he would not lose the scent of Vanilla and Cherry Blossoms to the fates of time.
Kagome still hadn't fully processed everything that he had told her, but she was crying onto his shoulder. He was right, she didn't really want to leave this era. It was more home than modern-day Tokyo had ever felt.
##################
Kagome stood before the well with her friends. Sesshoumaru had not spoken a word, but the look behind his eyes reflected great sadness. Sango and Miroku had told her goodbye and that they really didn't want to lose her. She had become a dear sister to both of them. Inuyasha had spoken his peace in the tree. Kouga had tried after the battle.
It was Kouga's ice blue gaze that Kagome looked to for strength. His final words were wishing her strength in whatever choice she was to make. Kagome took a deep breath and stood on the lip of the Bone Eater's Well.
She looked down into the dark abyss below and felt the powers swirl within. She looked at the complete Shikon no Tama within her hands and closed her eyes in concentration.
"Mistress of the Shikon no Tama, Midoriko, I beseech thee. I make my request upon your essence. I request that you restore those whose lives were lost because of Naraku and that I go to wherever it is that I belong." Kagome jumped into the well as the pink light of the jewel surrounded her.
Pink light from the jewel clashed with the blue magic from the well. A great purple light spread across the land.
A soft thud could be heard at the bottom of the well. The sensitive ears of Kouga, Sesshoumaru, and Inuyasha all heard the soft curse that could only be Kagome.
The three all rushed towards the well, followed by the humans in attendance.
"Kagome?" Kouga called down into the well.
"I don't understand. I'm still here." Kagome turned her face up towards her friends.
Everyone gasped.
"What?" Kagome demanded as she began to climb out of the well.
Inuyasha smiled at her. "It appears the jewel granted your wish and you belong here after all."
"Look at yourself closely, Kagome." Kouga advised once she had reached the top of the well.
Kagome frowned at her friends, but then decided to check herself out. She gasped when she noticed the differences.
It would appear that Kagome was no longer a human miko. Her raven tresses were now highlighted with silver and her fingernails had extended into claws. She reached up to explore her ears and noticed them to be elven shape like Kouga and Sesshoumaru's.
Perhaps the main difference was the fluffy silver and black tail that now protruded from her lower back near her sacral vertebrae.
"I don't understand." Kagome told them.
Kouga broke into a huge grin. "You've transformed into a wolf youkai, Kagome."
"What?" Kagome asked with her now sapphire eyes growing the size of saucers.
Kouga didn't hesitate to envelop his love into another embrace. He leaned to whisper to her in happiness. "Kagome, now will you take serious my offer of becoming my mate."
All Kagome could do was nod her head mutely.