Disclaimer: InuYasha belongs to the creative genius of Takahashi, Rumiko. My wild imaginings belong to Twiknham.

As the door closed behind her, he laid his pen down and looked out the window. "Make the right decision, for all of our happiness."

ooooooo

Those three days were the longest days of Kagome's life. She spent time praying at the well, she spent time talking with her mother, she spent time staring out the window of her bedroom. Souta brought her meals to wherever she was at, and he was startled at how bad she looked by the end of the third day. "Nee-san…"

Kagome looked up at him. "Mmh."

Souta handed her a mug of tea. "Can we talk?" She nodded. Souta was worried; it was obvious she hadn't slept in the last three days. "I know you are having to make a tough decision, I was wondering if I could help."

Kagome rubbed his hair, forgetting for a moment that he was now an adult. "Souta, what does a little brother like you know?"

Souta reddened, but understood she was not trying to insult him. He turned to look at her. "I know that sometimes older Sisters cannot see the biggest forest because they do not ask for the opinions of the littlest trees."

Kagome blinked and looked at him seriously. "Souta, you're right. What is the opinion of this littlest tree?"

Souta laughed. "Besides the fact I'm now taller than my older sister, I can't give you an opinion until you explain what has been keeping you awake these last three nights."

Kagome quickly explained her conversations with Sesshomaru, and Souta was shocked that Sesshomaru had found a way to travel back through time without the Shikon no Tama.

"Yes, Housenki's son made a jewel for Sesshomaru that allows the bearer to go back to the Sengoku Jidai. However, that person cannot come forward again. Since Sesshomaru has had these 500 years, and it only takes Housenki Jr. a hundred or so years to make a jewel, Sesshomaru had time to wait for the jewel to be made."

"And he asked you if you wanted to go back to the past and be with InuYasha?" Souta traced a pattern on the rice mat.

"Hai…Iie, he gave me a choice. I can go back and live my remaining years with InuYasha, or I have a second choice that will allow everyone to be happy if I'm willing to take a little risk on some people I have not trusted in the past." She breathed in the fragrant steam coming off of the green tea in her hand.

"Namely Sesshomaru."
Souta sighed heavily, so did Kagome.

"Souta, I trust this Sesshomaru, today's Sesshomaru." She looked him directly in the eyes. "You have to believe that." He nodded. "The problem is that I don't trust the old Sesshomaru, the one from the past." She sighed. "I'm afraid that if I make the second choice, it will change the past and because of that, my future will not end happily."

"So your choices are to leave us and live with InuYasha, taking the risk so you might get to live a full life together in the Sengoku Jidai. Or you have to trust that the old Sesshomaru will keep his word and make everything happen so that InuYasha can be with you in the present." Souta coughed quietly and grinned at Kagome. "I'm glad I'm not you!"
Kagome whacked him on the shoulder knocking him down; and as he sat back up, he hugged her tightly. "I'm only kidding. Seriously, you know we love you. Whatever decision you make, both Mom and I will support that decision." He let her go and traced patterns on the floor again. "If you really want to go back to be with him, we'll miss you; but we'll understand. You find that kind of love only once." Souta pushed off of the floor and walked to the door before turning back. "I'd choose love, Kagome."

Kagome stared into the night stars, she knew what her decision needed to be; but it didn't make the morning come any faster.