Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha...

Hey, everyone. Sorry it took so long to get up the new chapter. Really, I am, but one of my stories was deleted and I had one heck of a time getting over it. Typing this story definitely helped me out.

Well, onto the story! ^_^

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Closing the Back Door
The Uninvited, the Unwelcome
By Sakura-chan88
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Sesshomaru leaned against Kagome's bedroom door, watching as the girl's mother bandaged her hand with alarming calmness. It was as if she was use to such injures as the wound the teen had that would prevent her from using the appendage for quite some time. Kagome had said he was a threat... The elder woman didn't seem threatened.

Well, there was one injury the woman wasn't use to seeing...

"So, you don't know how she received this bruise around her neck?" she asked once again, looking at the man.

Sesshomaru remained silent, watching the woman's questioning face with a look of indifference.

"Honestly?"

He remained silent. She sighed and finished wrapping the wounded hand. Brushing a strand of stray hair from her daughter's face, she stood and approached the demon lord.

"I'm Eiko," she informed him, bowing slightly.

"Sesshomaru," he replied coldly, eyeing Eiko with suspicion.

She smiled and nodded. "Inuyasha's relative, I suppose. Where are your ears, though?"

He glared, turning his head slightly to show her his human-like ears. She frowned, then hummed to herself. Before exiting the room to leave her daughter in complete helplessness, she smiled again.

'What a strange human,' he thought, looking out of the window at the other end of Kagome's room. 'She wasn't scared of me- or the cut on her daughter's hand... Not the slightest bit of fear.'

He looked back to the sleeping teen and glared. She'd dragged him into this strange world and was content to continue slumbering...

Yet, her breath was shallow and the bruise around her neck had turned to a light purplish color with perfect finger impressions. He could understand. No human would stand something like that without staying unconscious for some time.

Approaching the girl, he reached down to touch the bruise with a poisonous claw. 'How easy it would be...' The scent of juniper and the first day of frost danced in the air. He couldn't help but notice the scent of fear mingling with it. 'Yes... you will be perfect... to announce my return.'

The sound of jumbled feet racing up the stairs to reach the second level of the building resounded in his ears. He retreated back to his former spot just as Kagome's younger brother, Souta, called to him.

"Hey, Sesshomaru! Wanna play a game? I'll teach you all about soccer!" The young boy came to stand in front of the demon, bouncing up and down in excitement. "It's really cool! You gotta be fast- like Inuyasha... Are you fast?" Souta questioned with big, curious eyes. He almost looked afraid- but not how Sesshomaru would have liked. It was more like afraid that the man was sluggish...

Sesshomaru glared, snarling a vicious answer. "Faster than that bastard brother of mine will ever be."

Souta gasped, his eyes widening even more. "You... you said 'bastard'," he whispered, then covered his mouth. "I'm telling Mom!"

Sesshomaru frowned. 'And I care why?' he thought as the boy bound two stairs at a time to the bottom.

The demon's attention turned back to look out of the window as another metallic, human eating, demon flew by in the background. The ground roaming demon roared as the trees swayed in the breeze. How could he be a threat? And why was no one afraid of them? They were human devourers!

He sighed silently to himself, approaching the window to feel the cold barrier to the outside. This place was so different. It was noisy and smelt horribly of toxic fumes and strong gases. Kind of like Rin and Jaken... Obnoxious and smelly... Yup...

Something pinched his ear and tugged sharply, startling the demon. As he swung to attack the one abusing his ear, Kagome gasped and shouted.

"No..! Don't... don't hurt... Mama..." and fell silent. She was still sleeping...

Sesshomaru looked at her puzzledly as Eiko berated him. She hadn't paid any attention to the plea, but it was all that had kept her alive- even if it only stopped him because of the suddenness and how it had caused him to lean away in surprise.

Sesshomaru listened to the elder woman, thinking he couldn't care less...

"You are not to curse in front of my children, Mr. Sesshomaru. I don't care who you are, but you will not say such things in this house, understand?" She asked, searching his face for the silent answer. Finding what she was looking for, she released the demon's ear. "Now, when Kagome wakes up, you'll have to watch yourself."

Sesshomaru's attention focused on the woman, sensing an underlying message. "Are you threatening me?"

"No, I'm warning you," she explained. "As I've heard from Souta, you're enemies with my daughter. If that's true, she won't be very happy to see you here... She may not listen to reason if she thinks we're in danger. From her reaction to the way you sprung to attack me, I think she won't even think twice about killing you."

"She won't be able to attack me," Sesshomaru stated. "She uses a bow, and with her hand like that... I can't see her ever picking up a bow again..."

"Then you don't know my daughter," and with that said, Eiko left, casting one last look over her shoulder.

'Such a strange woman... Strange world...'





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"What happened to Kagome for her to receive those wounds?" Eiko asked over dinner.

Sesshomaru studied the food in front of him... Some things never change...

He had spent the day watching Kagome sleep and listening to Souta chat excitedly about a soccer game he was going to with a friend next week. Though he wouldn't admit it, Sesshomaru was confused. Where was 'Friday' and what was 'players and goalies and scoreboards on the field and audience in the bleachers'? Especially the 'bleachers'... Were those another kind of demon? Souta said they were shaped like stairs...

"Do you want me to say in front of your child?" Sesshomaru hissed at her, shoving the bowl of miso soup away. "This Sesshomaru doesn't think so."

"This Souta wants to hear, though!" Souta squealed, looking at the older man with sparkling eyes.

Sesshomaru glared.

Eiko looked at him with suspicion. "You wouldn't tell me if he wasn't here, would you?"

A smirk found it's way to his face. She was quick...

A dull thud came from the ceiling, signaling either a) Kagome was up and wake, b) Kagome had fallen out of that oversized, cushy futon, or c) Kagome had kicked her obese feline pet off of the cozy sleeping mattress. From the sounds, Sesshomaru guessed a and b... He was impressed. Not even a full 8 hours had went by since she'd fallen unconscious. She was a strong human to recover so fast.





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Kagome gasped, taking in a deep, sharp breath of air as a burning sensation flared in her hand. Clutching it hurt even worse, sending her at a roll to the floor and onto her feet to get to the restroom and run some cold water over the flaming appendage. What was hurting her so?

Reaching the bathroom and flipping the light switch, Kagome twisted the cold water nozzle and studied her hand. It was bandaged and who ever wrapped her hand did a wonderful job... But again, she was having trouble remembering... How on earth did she receive a wound severe enough for her hand to feel this way?

She shook her head in thought as the water ran soothingly over the throbbing area. Something was wrong about all of this... She didn't remember anything passed Shippo with a mouth full of chocolate.

An uncomfortable feeling surrounded her, as if eyes were peering straight through her... The strangling shirt collar at her neck begged to be pulled, and when she went to pull it, no collar was there... Her throat flared at her touch, just as her hand had when she awakened.

Looking up to the glass in front of her, a vision flashed before her eyes. Cold golden eyes peered into her own as fingers tightened around her throat... Sesshomaru! Her family! Why was it so quiet...? He wouldn't...

In a flash, leaving the water to drain from the faucet, Kagome was at the bottom of the stairs. Ignoring the searing pain in her palm, she grabbed the bow and an arrow she'd always kept on hand at the dinning room entrance way. Flinging open the door and swinging the bow back into a full arch, she focused on the back of the silver haired head...

"Mama!" Kagome cried in exaltation, tears of relief forming in her eyes as pain shot through her bandaged hand. "Souta! Jiisan! You're alive..."

Her focus drifted to each, but shot back into place as Sesshomaru turned to face her slightly. He hadn't killed them... Why?

"What are you doing here?" Kagome queried, narrowing her eyes. "Why are you still here?"

"Im having... dinner... Are you blind?" he questioned.

She had almost rolled her eyes in exasperation. Instead, she found it better to glare. Though, she was curious as to when Sesshomaru had picked up a sense of sarcasm.

"Leave, now. I won't warn you again."

"Kagome!" Eiko shouted in disbelief. "He is our guest. You should treat him with respect."

"Respect," Kagome gaped. Why would her mother defend him so? " I will show no respect to a murderer like him. He's dangerous- he is one of my worst enemies."

Kagome's focus hadn't left the man in question. His attention was also solely placed on her. However, Kagome's focus faltered at her mother's next statement. Sesshomaru took full advantage of that.

"But we are still alive and, even if you are enemies, you'll have to get over it." Eiko smiled. "It's been decided that he's to stay with us for a month or two."

"What-!?"

Kagome's eyes flew wide open as the bow in her hands snapped in two and a thin cut was made on her left ear. It was just enough to leave a stinging feel, but remain blood free.

Her family watched her with confused and startled expressions as she stared openly at the demon. They hadn't seen it... Sesshomaru had used his whip to snap the bow... and cut her to make a point...

He wasn't going anywhere...

The Unwelcome

"Wow, sis! You're so strong, you don't even know your own strength," Souta exclaimed, bouncing up and down. "You're almost as strong as Inu-nii-chan, I bet! That would be so cool!"

Kagome's eyes widened in pain at the statement...

Inuyasha...

Kikyo...

The reason she'd left materialized in front of her and she fought to hold her ground. The pictures overwhelmed her, squeezing the air from her body...

'Why, Inuyasha...?'

Her knees swayed and gave way to let her sink in helplessness to the cold, hard floor beneath her.






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Sesshomaru watched as Kagome fell to her knees, looking at the ground in shame. She couldn't save her family if he had any inclination of striking them down. However, he was startled when the smell of salt and one of fire were given from the girl. She was crying...

Kagome was crying out of hatred, out of sorrow, out of helplessness.

"Why?" she cried to herself, just loud enough for the demon lord to pick up the whisper. "Why Inuyasha? Why couldn't you tell me earlier? Why... why her?"

Sesshomaru stiffened. She wasn't even giving the threat any acknowledgment!

"Oneechan?"

A deep, shuttering breath was taken before the teen spoke again.

"Sesshomaru, please, go back. Please. You can't live here..." She looked up with tear-filled eyes.

"Horrible memories?" He asked tauntingly. "I'm that much of a reminder?"

"Think about what you're leaving behind," She said, ignoring his statement. "About everything you have back in the Warring States Era- the time you came from."

Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed. What did she mean 'leaving'?

"That annoying toad Jaken- he has to mean something to you if you let him tag along," Kagome muttered, gaining courage as she went. She pushed herself to her feet, never looking away from his eyes. "Same with that human girl... The one you saved from Naraku and Kohaku..."

He didn't like the way this was going. Something inside of him was building up, and he didn't enjoy the feeling... Last time he'd felt this... Father...

"See what I mean? You are in their future," Kagome connoted. "Their future, Sesshomaru. Every one you know from there, everyone you care about... Think about it. You're 500 years past the last time you've seen them- not five days, not five months... Just think about it."

'Rin's... Rin's dead... I've... I've already thought of that!' he yelled to himself. 'I've already thought of that! She was only a human... She was... she was a friend...'

Kagome approached her mother, making a wide berth around the thinking man. Her jaw was set with determination.

"Mama, listen to me. We cannot let him stay here- he was to return to his time. Do you know what you're doing by saying that he can stay?" she questioned, crouching down to be eye level with Eiko. "You know the trouble Inuyasha caused. Inuyasha-" Sesshomaru heard a definite glitch in the teen's voice that flavored her words with anger, "- isn't like his- Sesshomaru isn't like Inuyasha."

"How so?" Eiko asked, looking past her daughter's shoulder to place the man in question in view.

"He's... He's one of my enemies- he's tried to kill Inuyasha countless times- and I've been attacked by him twice in the last 24 hours!"

Sesshomaru smirked to himself as he continued to think. Kagome was being extremely careful with her choice of words. Eiko got the message, though, and shot Sesshomaru a reproachful look.

"But," Souta began, looking at Kagome to voice his thoughts, "Sesshomaru's Inuyasha's brother!"

Kagome's eyes grew wide. Sesshomaru felt his blood boil at the announcement. Souta didn't know what kind of situation he'd just put himself in, but his sister pulled him into a protective hug and away from danger a second before Sesshomaru's rage hit full force.

"Souta!" She exclaimed, tears forming in her eyes as she surveyed the area that had previously been occupied by the boy in her arms. "Don't ever say that again- I don't care who you're around! Never, ever say that again!"

A single grain of rice split evenly in two, it's pieces tumbling down the mound to mix back in with the others, unseen by all but Kagome and Sesshomaru himself.





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It was a close call- too close. Kagome started to shiver uncontrollably as her shot nerves finally reacted to the tension in the air. And to believe she'd said all of that with Sesshomaru right there to hear it all.

She didn't know how this would work out, but she had one thing in mind. She had to get the demon away from her family before he was angered any futher.

"Sesshomaru, can I talk to you? Outside?"

'One way or another,' she thought, 'I'm getting Sesshomaru down that well!'

"Oneechan?" Souta called as she released him and walked toward the doorway. "When's Inu-nii-chan coming to get you?"

Kagome stopped in her tracks as a hand squeezed over her heart. 'I'm sorry Souta... to have to tell you...'

"Next time you see him, Souta... Say your farewells," she ordered, resuming her walk to the front door. "He won't be coming back, and I won't be dragged down, anymore."

'Like I am every time... Why do I let my heart get broken by him so much? I should've learned better,' she thought. 'I should've learned not to hope.'

The house fell silent as Kagome closed the door behind her. She didn't understand why it hurt so much when she had planned for this day for so long. She'd known the day would come, but...





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Sesshomaru followed the girl, continuing his earlier train of thought. Something was bothering him- something about Rin and Jaken. He was leaving behind traveling companions- ones that caused him more trouble than they proved useful. Ones that always got in the way. Ones that were always there for him... The people who still truly cared if her was alive or not.

They were going to be lost and helpless with out him, and it hurt him. Somewhere deep down, the thought of leaving them hurt him. Why, though? Why would he care?

"Why don't you still care?" He asked as he shout the door behind him. Kagome looked up from her spot on the stone steps. A curious look flashed across her eyes. "You know that the ones you travel with are also dead- not just Rin and Jaken."

"Rin was the girl's name?" she mumbled to herself before turning to look up at the starlit sky. "... I want you to go back with that... that... half-demon when he shows up. I don't know what you expect of this world, Sesshomaru, but this world isn't for you. No one here has seen a demon except for my family and a girl Inuyasha saved from a burning building once. If anyone found out what you are, you'll be hunted down..."

Kagome turned again to face the demon lord. She frowned, her brows creasing for the full affect.

"And if you aren't scared by that, you should be. There are weapons in this world that would have no trouble killing you- not one bit, even with your extraordinary healing powers and speed."

"Are you threatening me?"

"I'm warning you."

"... Why are you telling me this?" Sesshomaru questioned, narrowing his eyes to mere slits.

"..."

The slight pause given by the teen was enough for Sesshomaru to understand one thing. She didn't have any idea how to truly deal with youkai... She was confused about what kind of answer she should give.

That was the last thing you wanted to be in front of any youkai. It made you untrustworthy.

".. I want everyone here to believe they have nothing to fear because, in a way..." she said, turning to gaze briefly at Goshinboku. "... Like Kikyou was in her lifetime... Like my incarnate, my superior in every way- as Inuyasha kept reminding me- was..." Kagome turned back to him, her eyes soft with an almost happy look, a serene look, on her face. "I'm..."

Sesshomaru glared. She was making him wait for an explanation... He was starting to get tired of her pauses. And he was even less happy when she startled him again by smiling and laughing lightly to herself.

"I never thought about it like this, but, now that I do... I guess you could say, I am the guardian of this world and all the people this time holds."

'Guardian of this world?' his mind repeated. He was also a guardian... Guardian of the Western Lands- the Warring States Era's Western Lands. He was leaving his responsibility behind... 'Free from bondage to a land I care nothing for... Hmmm...'

"And you'd protect this world with your life?"

"Like I protect the Shikon, and how I would protect Shippou. Like I'd planned to, if push came to shove, for Inuyasha and Miroku and Sango," Kagome sighed, looking back to the sky. "But I never had to protect them... At least, not in his eyes."

There it was again, the smell of salt and fire. She changed tunes much to fast for him. Rin would stick to the same subject for hours on end, though... Maybe this was a bit better... Just maybe... However, it still created a headache in his mind.

Finding it tiresome to stand, and wanting to test the teen, Sesshomaru approached without a sound. She tensed before he had moved more than a step. Well, she was alert...

He settled down on the top step, leaning back against the stone railing, his legs crossed in front of him. Again, the smell of fear consumed her juniper frost scent.

"You're scared," he stated, watching as she scooted away an inch or two.

"Of course I am. I've never been near you without you attacking me or those around me," she mumbled, curling herself into a ball. "Last time you were this close, I had pulled Tetsusaiga out and you tried to kill me."

Sesshomaru looked to the sky, hearing the familiar rumble of the human eating youkai in the background. When the lights appeared against the clear night sky, he questioned about it. Kagome laughed outright, forgetting her fear of him. He snarled.

"Gomen, gomen! I've- I've just never thought of airplanes like that!" she squealed, covering her mouth. "Those aren't youkai. They're machines. They were made by humans so that we could travel in the sky at fast speed. Like- Zoooooommm!"

She had shot her hand forward, palm down while going 'zoom', then stopped to look at the man with an embarrassed expression. He frowned.

"Airplane?"

"Un. It's like a big empty metal bird that people can sit in and a pilot drives."

'What?' He had a feeling that it was not that hard to understand, but... What was she talking about?!

"... What is it that makes you want to stay, anyway?" Kagome asked. "And don't say it's to start over in life and leave your old reputation behind. I don't think you could live without killing."

"You're calling me a ruthless murderer?"

"Yeah, I am. But I'm right, aren't I?"

He refused to respond to that. She wasn't right, she wasn't wrong. He was a murderer.... Ruthless, though?

"That is my business."

"And it will remain your business, I'm sure," Kagome hissed to herself. "And I know there is no way for me to change your mind, so... Can you promise me one thing? Promise me you will not harm anyone- that you won't kill anyone? No matter how they offend you, or what they say, you cannot kill anyone here, Sesshomaru.

"If you can't make that promise, you should start by killing me now, because, without your word on it, I won't trust you," she said. "And without that trust, I'll have no choice but to try and stop you. I'm dead either way, really."

"And you accept it so easily?"

"Easily and willingly as long as no one else is in danger after I die."

"Then it wouldn't be so easy," Sesshomaru smirked. "If I plan on murdering anyone, then you wouldn't be the only one."

With that said, Sesshomaru left.

'She'd die to lessen the pain on her heart, not to help those around her. She is nothing more than a human cowardice.'





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Kagome's hand burned, the searing pain gathering in the centralized area as Sesshomaru stood and walked away. She wanted to scream in pain, to cry out as the heated skin flared and throbbed. It was wrong to let him go without more of a fight.

But Kagome was never one to stand in a battlefield on her own.

And no one was on her side now.





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It had been three hours since he had walked away, but Kagome remained in the same place, still watching Goshinbuko and its branches sway in the breeze. Her mind had long since wandered off to leave her staring. Life was fading from her as she let hope die. She never should have let her hope for anything grow as strong as the hope that Inuyasha would choose her over Kikyou had.

She was a fool. A fool for everything. For releasing him from the arrow's seal. For releasing him from the Spider Head's web when he was human. For releasing him from her watch as the days turned to weeks and the weeks to months.

For letting him hold her heart and drop it so often as he had, then dusting it off and giving it back for him to hold again.

She was a fool. A fool for caring. For loving a man with no reason to choose between a past love and a new. For loving a man of the past when she was the future. For loving what was and not what was to be. For loving a dead man.

For hating the man that was set to kill the one she loved when it was he who had been on her side and for her all along.

She was a fool for thinking Naraku was such a bad character when Inuyasha was worse.

The once pure heart had grown taint and now, the more she thought about it, the more the tainted covering slipped to show a clear, transparent heart where nothing but memories loomed and no feeling showed. She felt empty and the emptiness was all that gave her strength when the shrine well's door was forcefully opened and a man walked through to step foot on the ground Kagome would forever weep for.

The Uninvited

Time would forget the feel of this man after tonight and Kagome would make certain of it.





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Inuyasha was dazed at the picture in front of him the moment he stepped through the shine's doorway. Kagome, even with her hair to cover her face, looked just how he last remembered seeing her.

She had been sitting on the stone steps leading to the ground that once held Kikyou's bones, humming an unfamiliar tune as she placed a freshly picked flower above her ear... It had been just four days ago, but it felt like an eternity. He felt the span of time in his soul. He'd missed her smile, her voice...

It made him feel so guilty...

But he couldn't bring himself to tell her.

"Oi, Kagome!" he shouted, replacing the look of sorrow he knew had crossed his face. "Why are you still here? You were supposed to be back yesterday!"

It fell silent around the shrine grounds, the night wind dieing completely. The teen had stood and walked slowly toward the hanyou, never raising her head to look at him. He didn't get it. Why was she acting like this?

"Kagome? Are you feeling alright?" He asked, reaching out to feel her forehead. She jumped under his touch, flinching away from him. "What's wrong? Why are you acting this way?"





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"... Inuyasha," Kagome breathed, raising her head to look the man straight in the eyes, her jaw set with determination.

'It's time to end this once and for all.'





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He had to stop himself from stepping backwards involuntarily. Inuyasha was shocked beyond words. This was not the Kagome he knew. Her eyes- the ones that had always brimmed with life- were now dull and emotionless; frozen orbs of stone-like ice, devoid of a soul bore into his own. This was not his Kagome...

Something was wrong. She was supposed to get angry at him and yell, or at least beg to stay home instead of acting like death was looming just over head. He didn't know how to deal with it. Her expression was set, her jaw taunt to hold back any feeling.

This was not his Kagome...

She was determined to say something, it seemed. When she opened her mouth to speak, her eyes softened. Yet, she was not the person he remembered. She was not the same person he last saw. He had the distinct feeling she would never be his Kagome again.

The finality in the air was stifling.





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Her voice, when she spoke to him, startled her with its calmness. She spoke with love, love won and love lost. He'd won and would forever more have her love; Kagome would never have the chance to have his love again.

"You weren't there to see me when I arrived yesterday," she stated, leaning away. "Besides that, you weren't there when I made my wish... You did remember, didn't you, that it was my birthday, yesterday?"

Inuyasha nodded. She was sure he was also thinking exactly what she said next.

"It was, in a way, our first anniversary. Of our first meeting, you know? I hoped you would... But I'm done hoping, and I'm through with wishing. They've done nothing more than break my heart.

"Yesterday, I waited for you to show, but you never did... It's okay now, though. I understand why you couldn't make it. I'm glad I found out now instead of when the jewel was complete, since it would have been so much harder to deal with. Had I continued to journey with you without knowing... about you and Kikyou... I would have dug myself an even deeper hole- one I wouldn't be able to crawl out of.

"I'm sure you know where I'm going with this," she said, pausing to watch his ears flatten and his hair dance in the wind.

"Please, don't do this. Not yet, Kagome," Inuyasha plead, a light shimmer forming in his eyes. "I need you with me- Sango and Miroku and Shippou... You can't stay and leave us."

"I shouldn't, I know, but I am. I'm staying," Kagome said, stepping a bit closer and looking at her feet. "I wasn't the kind of help you needed. I'm not a fighter, I'm not a winner... I'm not worth losing Kikyou over, Inuyasha. I know that."

"That isn't true-"

"Yes it is. You're trying to fool yourself," Kagome spat, looking up into his eyes again. She knew her eyes had changed back to a dull, lifeless look, but she couldn't help it. It hurt to much to feel the emotions flowing through her veins- so she blockaded them to a single place. Her heart. "You love her- you've loved her for so long... And with you two being together the way you have... I can't be with you knowing I have no chance."

Inuyasha's head dropped. "I'm sorry."

"I'm... honestly, I am, but I'm not... It's hard to explain," she began, her voice softening again. "I'm sorry for everything we've went through, because I'll always remember and... It hurts... But I'm happy. For you, for Kikyou.

"You see, even with all of those times she's been against me, I've always found strength in knowing she's part of me- of my past life. I felt torn when she was brought back, because she was so confused inside. I can feel it now too. She doesn't know if you still really love her or not. She's not as strong as you think and I feel sorry for her. She lost you once, in faith and in life, and now she loses you to me...?

"Go back to her, Inuyasha," Kagome ordered. "Let me stay here and guard the shards that I possess, and when you've gathered the last piece, come back and get the rest from me. Maybe then I'll be able to face Sango and Miroku and Shippo again in Sengoku Jidai."

Inuyasha remained silent, listening to every word and taking them to heart. She hated to see the look on his face, the lost look, but hated him for still being so indecisive.

"Kikyou is more of an asset to your adventures, anyway. She can defend herself and Kouga won't come chasing after her ever time the wind catches her scent," Kagome laughed lightly. "And next time he comes around, tell him I said farewell- tell him I died wishing to see him again, it will keep him going...

"Tell Miroku to watch after Sango, and tell Sango I said to watch herself and Miroku-sama, and to take it easy," she continued, telling him all of the things she wished to tell them herself. "I'll miss them all... Tell Shippou I'll miss him most of all and that I want him to treat Kikyou as he treated me- if she doesn't push him away."

Inuyasha nodded, tears now flowing from his eyes. "I'm so sorry, Kagome. I didn't mean for this."

"It's okay, Inuyasha. We'll both live to see another day," she said smiling for a second before she turned back to her requests. "... And... To Kikyou... Tell her that when she asked me who I was, I didn't know. I didn't understand the question. Now, I do. I know who I am. I'm Higurashi Kagome, her incarnate and inferior, daughter of Higurashi Eiko, granddaughter of Higurashi Seno, sister to Higurashi Souta, and your friend. I am from the present where as she is from the past. I am not her, I am me. I was the one that lost and gave up, I was weak... And now I am free."

The night wind kicked up at her statement, her hair billowing out behind her as she wrapped her arms around his neck to pull him into one last embrace. He was cold, so different from the warmth she remembered his body giving off. This was definitely a goodbye that would be engraved in her memories.

"I'm sorry we have to let go," Kagome said, clutching the red fabric tightly. "I didn't want to hurt you, but it seems that's all I can do. Please, forgive me."

"How can you ask me to forgive you?" Inuyasha's voice cracked. "I am the only one who's at fault here... I can't forgive myself- not when you're hurt because of it. This isn't like before."

Kagome pulled away, taking a step back. She couldn't help but stare at him, watching in wonder as the man's tears began to flow again.

"Don't cry for me," Kagome commanded. "We'll see each other again when you return for the jewel shards. I promise I'll be waiting for you then, to see you again. You and the others, possibly...

"I also have another... request for you... It may sound odd and out of character for me, but," Kagome began, not sure how she should word the next statement. How was she going to say...? "Do you remember that girl that traveled with Sesshomaru?"





~*~*~*~*~ ^_^ ~*~*~*~*~






He watched from the branches of Goshinboku as Kagome embraced Inuyasha. He still couldn't catch onto the girl's train of thought. It changed too fast. One moment she was cursing him, then she was crying for him, now she was hugging him? She made no sense!

His brother sat back and let everything happen, listening to each word and nodding in acceptance. It seemed that both knew of exactly what was going on... He didn't.

Then, after he heard Kagome's voice waver and fall, he knew he wouldn't like the direction she was changing to.

"Do you remember that girl that traveled with Sesshomaru?" she asked.

Sesshomaru's eyes widened. What was she doing!? What about Rin?

"I... When I was looking for you, before I found you with Kikyou... I saw her wandering around with Jaken," Kagome lied. "If you see them, tell them that... Inuyasha, I don't know how to tell you this..."

"What?" Inuyasha asked, lifting her chin with a clawed finger. "Tell me..."

"Sesshomaru is dead."

A gasp escaped both men. Sesshomaru couldn't believe his ears! She was telling Inuyasha he was dead..! ... And Inuyasha cared...? That couldn't be right...

"How...?"

"I'm sorry Inuyasha... He attacked me thinking my death would be enough to get you into a rage, to fight him mindlessly... I was desperate to leave Sengoku Jidai and never see you again and when I saw him... He was blocking my path and I shot at him and missed, and the arrow..."

"Like Tsubaki?"

"Yeah... It looped and hit him from behind," she explained. "He... he didn't know what hit him, but he was purified.

"I... I don't want that little girl thinking that he's going to come back when he won't. I don't want her to have false hope and travel in the woods, lost and vulnerable. You understand, don't you? Will you take care of her? I can't help but feel responsible."

Inuyasha was silent. "So, he's really gone?"

"So much bad news for one visit... I am-"

"Don't say you're sorry, Kagome," Inuyasha muttered, stepping back. "You shouldn't be sorry- not for me, not for Sesshomaru, not for Kikyou."

"Okay then, I won't say it, but you know it."

Sesshomaru leaned back against the tree trunk, looking to the ground beneath him. She was watching out for him and Rin and everyone else with this one goodbye. It was odd to see a human be so unselfish.

And he had thought she was a coward... Maybe he really hadn't interpreted her answers correctly.





~*~*~*~*~ ^_^ ~*~*~*~*~






"Well, then. If you can remember those messages of mine," Kagome said, her lips beginning to quiver. "Then... It's time... that I end my journey with you... After all, I cannot be where she is.

"Sayonara, Inuyasha. Remember I'll be waiting," she said, looking away.

There it was again, the emotion beginning to swirl about in her heart and the familiar ache. She couldn't bring herself to look back up to him. She had lied to him, had shoved the little bit of love he gave her right back in his face, and was sending him back to face the past- his life and decision.

"Sayonara, Kagome."





~*~*~*~*~ ^_^ ~*~*~*~*~






That sentence signaled his departure and the end. It was the last thing he would hear from her... Until the Shikon jewel was restored, he would not see her, nor hear her voice, again.

'I cannot be where she is,' Kagome had said. However, Inuyasha understood the meaning. It was so simple, yet he felt so foolish. She'd known his heart better than he had. In truth, she had told him, 'I cannot be in your heart.'

He loved Kikyou... He loved Kagome... That love was different, and now it was severed by time. His heart was decided for him.

'Until I return for the shards... the ones we collected... together...'

His thought paused as the battles replayed in his head, then the time they had spent watching a fire at night, talking about the stars and the days to come. There he was again, resting his head in her lap as he recovered from the poison injected by the spider head... There he was after Sesshomaru had beat him so close to death after he'd slaughtered the group of bandits... There he was, lying on the ground after being attacked with his own Kaze no Kizu...

There he was with Kagome in his arms before he had sent her home, fearing she was in danger in Sengoku Jidai...

Now, he was the one to be sent away, and he was thankful. Kagome would be hurt so much more to be traveling with them.

He watched as she looked back at him, taking in every detail to engrave her in his memory. 'Take care, Kagome...'

With that last fleeting thought, he turned away. Slowly, step by each heart-retching step, he proceeded to the Shrine's well. Casting one last look over his shoulder as he closed the door behind him, he saw her expression change and contort with pain as she sunk to the ground on her knees. Her head dropped, her body shaking with silent sobs of renewed wounds, lost love, and the death of so many good friends.

They were now 500 years in the past, forgotten through the many ages, and she was the only one to have the heartbreaking memories.

When he reached the other side of the well, he lay in its bottom, wishing to be swallowed alive. A feral roar escaped him as he cried for the girl who had finally put the past behind her.





A/N: I hope the length made up for the wait... The next chapter is almost complete and will be up soon, so check back in a week or so, okay?

Well, I hope you enjoyed this chapter everyone!

Ja ne, minna!