A/N: go and read, my readers...

cowsin: that's right! Onward cow!!

random person: don't quote Kaede. it doesn't suit you- i mean go right on ahead

cowsin: are you trying to imply something?! (veins popping)

me: just leave it alone SUPERCOW!!!

Disclaimer: don't own inuyasha

Chapter 5 – Departure

Sango and Miroku both looked at Kaede confused.

"Lady Kaede, Kagome is no longer with us. We cannot go through the passage in the well that links her time with ours." Sango exclaimed.

"Yes, how are we to go and get her, priestess?" Miroku added.

"Aye. It is difficult, child. But, we must, or there'll be no future to go to."

"What must we do?" Miroku and Sango replied in unison.

"There is thy way. But, if it can be done, we can get dear Kagome back to us."

"What is it?" They replied again in unison. "What must be done?"

"Aye. Miroku and Sango, if you could perhaps write a note and bury it deep within thy ground, it may travel through to Kagome's era. But, it is too uncertain, for what if Kagome does not find it, then we all shall be doomed-"

Before Kaede could say another word, Sango and Miroku, both stood up, "We'll do it."

Sango and Miroku quickly wrote the letter and sealed it, like Kaede instructed. Afterwards, they both went to the forest of Inu-Yasha and buried it deep within the ground near the big tree in which Kagome first met Inu-Yasha.

"Do you think that Kagome will find it, Miroku?" Sango questioned.

"Sango, it may be risky to depend the fate of the world on Kagome finding one message, but I believe that Kagome can do this. She'll find it, Sango. I'm sure of it."

Leiko finally reached the Higurashi shrine. He snooped up the stairs and went closer to the house.

"I wonder if they're home. Hmm…" Leiko looked around at the house. Then he spotted a room in the upper level of the house with the lights on, illustrating a desk and a computer on it, including a pink lamp. Leiko eyed the room for about a second. "That must be her room."

Leiko climbed up the side of the house toward the lighted room. He finally reached the window and slowly peeked in. Kagome was slouched over the desk with make-up work under her arms, holding something in her hands, gleaming brightly, taking all her concentration to just stare at it in her hands. What a dope.

"Kagome! It's time for dinner!"

Kagome got up startled. "Huh! Oh, coming!" Kagome quickly got up and ran for the door, leaving her things behind.

Leiko watched her until she exited the room and heard her footsteps going down the stairs. Then he slowly opened the window. Leiko stuck his head in first, to make sure that no one was there. Then he crept through the window all the way. As he put his foot through, he stepped on some paper and slipped making a soft thump on the floor as Leiko landed on a pile of clothes.

"So, this is her room. Awkward girl." Leiko got up to only see the desk covered with papers, the trashcan filled with crumpled balls of paper, clothes everywhere, and the bed outlining where Kagome slept.

"What was I here for again…" Leiko was distracted at the sight of the Shikon Jewel. It laid there, on top of the desk. Leiko went over to it and picked it up. "So, this is what she was holding." Leiko stared at it. "Girls and jewelry." Leiko shook his head. Suddenly, after he looked at it some more, Leiko became entranced by the gleaming jewel in his hands.

Unexpectedly, Leiko then heard footsteps coming back up the stairs. He looked at the door, then quickly tried to make his way back through the window.

"Hey, mom! I'll just be a second!" Kagome reached the front of her room.

Leiko panicked. He opened the window all the way and tried getting out. Just as he put half his body out, Leiko heard the door opening. In fear of being caught, Leiko lost his grip and fell. Uh oh.

When Kagome finally got the door opened all the way, she heard a crash coming from the window. Kagome quickly ran in. She looked around and then felt a slight breeze. Kagome looked up and noticed that the window was opened. She ran to the window. "Inu-Yasha?!" Kagome took a step back. Man, I'm really losing it. First at school, now home?! What should I do? Kagome turned her head and saw the Shikon Jewel. She picked it up in her hands and held it close. Inu-Yasha. Then she tied it around her neck, forming a necklace. Kagome looked out the window again. She was about to turn back and close the window when the tree caught her eyes. "That's where I met Inu-Yasha back in the feudal era." Kagome sighed as she stared at it.

Leiko got up in relief that Kagome didn't notice him there. He looked up and jumped extremely close to the wall. Man! She's right there! I need…I need a distraction. Leiko looked around at the ground. Then he found a rock. Yeah! This should do. I just need enough time to get outta here. And so, Leiko threw the rock toward the tree, hoping that Kagome would notice that and look away.

As planned, Kagome saw something fly from the house to the tree. "What?! What was that?!"

She looked at it closely, and the rock landed at the trunk. Kagome squinted her eyes to get a better look. Then, she saw the rock along with something else. Kagome couldn't get a better look, because the sun was setting and so the object was blinking with light. "What is that?"

Kagome, startled and full with curiosity, ran toward the door and down the stairs, outside.

Leiko, on the other hand, didn't expect Kagome to come outside, so he ran to the closest building.

Kagome reached the trunk of the huge tree and approached the shining object. She reached out her hand and picked up the bottle with a message in it. "Hmm…how did this get here? Wonder what it says." Kagome opened the bottle and tapped the message out.

When Kagome finished reading the letter, she froze with both confusion and terror. Kagome dropped to her knees and her head to her hands. "Wh-what's going on? This is fr-from S-Sango and M-M-Miroku." Tears dripped from her face. "They need my help."

At that moment, she heard the doorway to the well shut. She gasped as she stood up. "S-Sango…Mir-Miroku…" Kagome advanced toward the door with a branch in her hands. No! It can't be! Sango and Miroku can't go through the well…can they?

Kagome placed one hand on the door and raised the other hand with the branch. Kagome took a deep breath and slid the door open. "Aah!" Kagome screamed as she struck the branch down.

Leiko jumped out of the way and grabbed her arm. "Hey, Higurashi, it's just me!"

Kagome opened her eyes slightly to see the dark figure. "Inu-Yasha…" Kagome turned and looked at him. Her eyes were filled with tears as she dropped the branch and hugged the figure. "Inu-Yasha…Inu-Yasha it's you! It's you! I knew it-"

"Higurashi?"

Kagome looked up with widened eyes blushing. "L-Leiko! What, what are you doing here?!"

"What?" Leiko looked at her awkwardly, forgetting that he was at her house.

Kagome, flustered and pulling back, replied, "What are YOU doing HERE, at MY house?!"

Leiko looked around to find that he was, in fact, at her house. "Well…well if YOU didn't have to be all weird and stuff, I wouldn't even be HERE trying to figure YOU out!"

Kagome looked down at the ground. She knew it was her fault. She felt the guilt rising once again.

Leiko just kept continuing though. "What's your problem anyway?! I mean, come on. You follow me around almost everywhere, otherwise your watching me from afar. What are you, stupid or something. Is that your hobby…stalking? -"

Whoa! That's a little too far. Talk about your ego. Kagome placed a hand on her head. Then she dropped her things with fist to her side as before. "ME! Well, if YOU didn't have to be…be…be so rude and…and egotistic…and…you know what, forget it!"

"Hey, you!"

Kagome didn't answer but turned around crossing her arms.

"Hey, stupid!"

Kagome turned back to face Leiko, in the same position as before. "INU-YASHA!"

"Whoa! Hey! Stop! Um…stupid! Uh…hey calm down! I-"

"SIT BOY!"

"Higurashi!" Leiko tripped on the bottle and fell backwards into the well, but grabbing the Shikon Jewel from Kagome's neck before he fell.

Kagome looked up to see that Leiko was no where in sight and that she never heard a thump. "L-Leiko…" Kagome ran to the well and looked down to see nothing. Kagome gasped. "He, Leiko couldn't have?! …could he?"

A/N: eeeeeeeeeeeeppppp!!!!!!!!!!

cowsin: who's SUPERCOW!!!!

me: YOU ARE!!!!!!! (running away) don't forget to review!!!!!!