Kagome woke up to see Inuyasha's face staring down at her from the rock next to the stream of the feudal era. Inuyasha blushed when she saw him, and he immediately looked away. Kagome held back a laugh for Inuyasha's sake. He could be so proud sometimes.
Sango glanced at them and thought, "They'd make a cute couple," then laughed at the thought.
Kagome went to Sango and asked, "What's for breakfast?" even though breakfast was always the same in the feudal era.
Miroku, who was standing behind them all, answered, "The usual. Berries and some herbs. Shippou is gathering them as we speak."
Inuyasha watched as Kagome smiled. Shippou had returned with blackberries and a couple of herbs from down the forest. Kagome was chipper on the outside, but she had something to announce to everyone-something that wouldn't make anyone happy.
She stood up after breakfast to break the news. "Everyone, I have an announcement to make."
She sighed as she got Inuyasha's attention. "My family is taking me to California next month," she breathed deeply waiting for their reaction.
Inuyasha looked at Kagome with despair clearly showing in his eyes. She had been afraid of this result.
Shippou was stunned and asked, "California? Please let that be in Japan!"
Kaede laughed at his small intellect and said, "I'm afraid that California is not in Japan, but in America."
"A merry-ka? What's that?" Shippou scratched his head in thought.
Kaede just chuckled as Kagome felt a teardrop stream down her cheek. But she smiled to show bravery in front of Inuyasha. Sango grinned to show support.
"I've always wanted to visit California." Miroku said.
Inuyasha said nothing, and did nothing. All eyes were on him and he panicked.
"What are you all looking at me for!" he yelled.
Then he saw Kagome's eyes water and his soft side kicked in.
He said gentler, "Oh, um...I hope you have a good time."
He then realized something that made the berries he'd eaten lay like bricks in the pit of his stomach. "Does this mean you'll never come back to the feudal era anymore? Not ever?"
Kagome's face changed from a frown and tears, to a frown and angry eyes. "Inuyasha, I'm leaving for California and vacationing for three weeks!!! Do you really think I'd leave for good without a fight?"
Miroku hid in fear and enjoyment at Inuyasha being lectured like that. Kagome didn't plan to stop until Inuyasha apologized. "What do you take me for? A complete moron!"
All Inuyasha could do was gape at his stupidity (which he would never admit he was) and listen to Kagome bite his head off. He now wished he hadn't been too hasty.
Then Inuyasha got mad and yelled, too. "Well, how was I supposed to know?? I thought it would me for months! And right now I think you're a complete jerk for accusing me of think you are a moron!!!"
Miroku smiled. He loved to watch Inuyasha and Kagome fight, although it meant them being so mad, that Kagome might stay home permanently- or worse, California! Sango saw Miroku's goofy grin and hit him on the back of his head. Shippou and Kaede looked at each other and giggled.
Meanwhile, Inuyasha and Kagome were still going at it. But Sango cut in the middle and made them say sorry to each other. Kagome took a look at Inuyasha's angry face, opened her mouth to say something, and then stopped. She didn't want to be the one to apologize first. At least, not this time.
Inuyasha took one look at Kagome's cheerful (if incredibly upset is the same as cheerful) face, and wanted to apologize. So he took a deep breath, and started, "Kagome, I-"
Then he noticed Miroku, Kaede, Shippou, Sango, and Kagome stare back at him.
He gritted his teeth and screamed, "What are you all gawking at??? Isn't it enough that I'm saying sorry in the first place??? I don't need a peanut gallery!"
Kagome's frown and angry eyes once again turned to a frown and tears. She turned around and dropped back down the well she came out of.
She ran so quickly she didn't hear Inuyasha say, "Kagome!! Wait! I didn't mean you!!!"
Kagome pounced onto her bed and sobbed.
A few minutes later, she hoped that Inuyasha would come through her window. Then they would make amends in time for her trip to California. But soon, her hopes vanished. It had been an hour since she returned home, and Inuyasha still hadn't come to see her.
One week passed, and Inuyasha still hadn't come to get her to come back to the feudal era. Kagome had lost hope and went to school the next day. She hated not being in the feudal era with Inuyasha, and she knew it. 'Why can't I just apologize to Inuyasha? He's obviously not going to'… she thought. But Kagome still had a hard time getting herself down the well.Inuyasha hated being away from the girl that he loved. He wanted to make it up to Kagome, but didn't know how to do it. He knew he wanted to apologize, and he wanted to do it now. But his big ego was taking over, and he stopped thinking about saying sorry almost instantly.
Another week later, someone had to apologize soon. Otherwise, they would be angry at each other when Kagome was on vacation. But neither said anything, and neither one visited the other.
The next week was Kagome's vacation. She felt miserable packing, and even more miserable driving the taxi to the Tokyo Airport. Inuyasha knew that he should be the one to say sorry first, but he was scared that she wouldn't forgive him. He did accuse her of leaving her friends and not being upset about it.
Kagome felt more upset the closer and closer she got to board the plane. All the time she was waiting with her family at Gate Forty-Three, she never got bored. This was because she was thinking about Inuyasha, Sango, Miroku, Shippou, and Kaede, and how much she would miss them. And how much they would miss her. But she knew she would miss Inuyasha the most- even though he yelled at her for going to California.
She was so deep in thought, that she didn't hear the speakers announce, "Gate Forty-Three will now board the twelve o' clock flight for California."
Kagome sat in the airport's chair thinking about their fight three weeks ago.
"Kagome? Didn't you hear the loudspeaker? It's time to get going!" Souta shook his sister out of her daydreams.
"Huh?" Kagome said, still thinking. Souta rolled his eyes.
"KAGOME!! WAIT!!" Kagome heard a faraway voice say. She turned her head to see…
"Inuyasha?" Kagome's surprise was heard all through Gate Forty-Three. But it wasn't Inuyasha- it was only Hojo.
"Oh, it's you." Now it was Kagome's disappointment that filled the Gate.
But Hojo was not fazed.
"Hi Kagome. I just wanted to say good-bye. And oh yeah, have fun in California. We're all going to miss you, very much!" he said.
Kagome thought it was sweet, but he was no Inuyasha.
"Oh, well, thanks, Hojo! I'm sure I'll miss you, too!" she said just to be polite.
"OK, thank you for stopping by. But, um…I have to board the plane now."
"Oh ok, bye then! See you in…?"
"Three weeks. I'll be back in school by then." Kagome answered him.
"OK, cool. Bye, Kagome. Have fun!!" Hojo waved then walked out of the airport.
Kagome sighed as she watched Hojo leave. She wished Inuyasha would just come and apologize, already! She was halfway into the airplane, when Kagome heard a distant voice.
"KAGOME, IT'S ME!!" It was no other than…
"INUYASHA!" Kagome turned her head and saw the man she loved, in the dog-demon flesh with a silly hat on his head, of course.
"Kagome…I wanted to say…" Inuyasha mumbled the words. He had a tough time getting it out.
But Kagome's smiling face made him get it out nonetheless.
"I wanted to say…" 'Why can't I just come out and say it?? Damn it, Inuyasha!'
"I…I…" he stumbled.
Kagome got her hopes up and said, "Yes…?"