Disclaimer: Don't own any of the Inuyasha characters nor am I making any dosh from my incessant ramblings, so please don't sue the crazy woman, okay?
Author Notes: Hey all! Some of you may have already read this under my previous penname of DragynFyre. I'm in the process of editing the first few chapters to take into account changes I've made to the overall plot; therefore, some of the content here is new while some remains the same.
Also, in response to my first reviewer Cold Demon Lord (thank you very much!) - the changes affect certain gray / awkward areas of the plot while the original pairings remain unchanged. As was the case with the first draft, this fic is intended as a continuation of the canon universe plotline, a sort of 'The jewel's complete, sowhat happens next?' scenario with Inu / Kag as the main pairing and some snippets of Mir / San.
For any of you who read the first posting of "Paradox", I hope that you would be kind enough to give it another go and perhaps let me know what you think of the revised version.
For those who are new to me and my writing, I recommend leaving all rational thoughts at the door as I welcome you to my insane little world!
Paradox
Chapter 1: History Rewritten
It was finally over.
Gazing bleary eyed around the corpse strewn battlefield, Kagome wiped a weary hand across her brow, grimacing at the gritty feel of her grime covered face. She was beyond exhausted, her legs trembling slightly from the effort of remaining upright. Her bow hung limply from her left hand, the muscles in her arm aching terribly from having fired an unknown number of arrows. The quiver pulled heavily at her shoulders even though it was now empty.
Inuyasha was a few yards away from her, bent down over a pair of dusty red hakamas and a white haori, his eyes wet with unshed tears. Kikyo had finally been laid to rest, her clay and bone body destroyed by one of Naraku's tentacles. It happened not long before the final fight ended and the affect her second death had on Inuyasha had nearly cost them the battle. Particularly intent on finishing off the reanimated miko, Naraku had concentrated his attacks on her as Kikyo sent one purifying arrow after another into the writhing mass of tentacles composing his body. As she rapidly depleted her supply, Naraku had waited for the opportunity to strike. When her hand reached back one last time to grasp nothing but air, he had struck with a vengeance.
The tentacle had pierced her body through the stomach, the grotesquely twisting appendage gleefully breaking her body apart and scattering her remains to the wind. The souls which had been trapped inside had floated eerily up into the air before disappearing in tiny flashes of blue. At the same time, the small portion of Kagome's soul providing Kikyo with the ability to live had slammed fiercely back into the younger girl's body, sending her flying backwards to land heavily on the ground.
Inuyasha had cried out in anguish, his eyes flashing red as he yelled. "Kikyo! No!"
Distracted by the horrifying sight of Kikyo's rapidly crumbling form, Naraku had lashed out with another tentacle that threw the hanyou into the trunk of a nearby tree, temporarily knocking him unconscious.
Hearing Inuyasha's tortured cry, Kagome had risen to her feet, her steely blue eyes filled with grim determination. With the missing portion of her soul returned to her, she had been consumed by the intense hatred which had driven Kikyo for so long; a cold, burning fury that had made her heart clench painfully in her chest. Notching another arrow to her bow, she had allowed that rage to flow through her as her body began to glow a vibrant purple. Pouring every ounce of her being into the projectile, she had aimed at Naraku's chest, offering a silent prayer that her aim would be true.
Taking a deep breath, she had let her arrow fly.
Iridescent red-violet light had formed around the speeding arrow, turning into a comet tail of brilliant energy. The arrow had struck Naraku just below his right breast, sinking deep into his pulsating flesh. The hanyou had screamed in agony as the purifying light engulfed his body, turning muscle and bone instantly into ash. Pulsating darkly with the fading remnants of his evil will, the completed Shikon no Tama which Naraku had swallowed to increase his power fell harmlessly to the ground.
It was towards this that Kagome found herself inexorability moving, the irresistible pull of the stone's power calling out to her. She could feel the evil aura still clinging to it, the energy having a foul, oily quality that slid unpleasantly along her skin. When she was a foot away from where the jewel lay atop a small pile of ash, she stopped, warily staring at the smoothly polished stone which gleamed wickedly as if taunting her. Her attention fully captured by the sparkling crystal, she nearly jumped out of her skin when Miroku suddenly spoke beside her.
"Kagome-sama? Are you all right?" Turning her head to meet the monk's deep purple gaze, Kagome offered him a weak smile while nodding her head.
"Umm, I guess. Just a bit tired." Her voice cracked as she spoke, belying the calmness which she was trying to affect in her tone.
Miroku gazed at her for a moment with a considering look that said he didn't quite believe her before turning towards the Shikon no Tama lying near their feet. The dark aura surrounding the jewel was making him lightheaded and he didn't dare to touch it, knowing that he would be unable to stave off its corrupting influence. Kagome was the only one who could purify the lingering traces of evil; yet, she seemed hesitant to touch it as well.
Since the young miko seemed incapable of rousing herself to action, Miroku gently cleared his throat and said. "Ah, perhaps we should remove ourselves from this place and set up camp for the night. Sango's injuries need to be tended as well."
Again nodding her head, Kagome mechanically reached for the Shikon no Tama and was relieved to see the color change from sickly black to a muddy brown before brightening to a soft pastel pink. Holding the warm crystal in her hand, she could no longer detect Naraku's taint on the stone; instead it filled her with a calming energy that miraculously quieted any concerns she might have had. Dropping the jewel into the pocket of her skirt, a genuine smile lit her features as the reality of their situation sank in.
It was finally over.
Sango was in pretty bad shape. Fortunately, none of her wounds were life threatening though it would be a while before the taijiya was hoisting her Hiraikotsu around. Her right leg was broken and she probably had some cracked ribs from when Kirara had been knocked from the sky by one of Naraku's tentacles and they had landed against a boulder. Miroku and Kagome were able to bind her chest and set her leg with some splints and bandages from Kagome's first aid kit. The monk then left Kagome to finish dressing the remaining wounds while he and Shippo went to gather more wood for the fire and hopefully some food.
The campsite which they had chosen was accessible to a nearby stream and easily defendable. One side butted up against a sheer, rocky cliff, the grassy clearing was set on a small rise and offered a clear view of anyone approaching from the surrounding forest. As night approached, the fading sun hung tenaciously to the horizon with slender fingers of reddish gold light; stretching before it a hazy veil of bluish pink as protection against the encroaching darkness.
Not long after they had set up camp, Inuyasha had disappeared into the forest with Kikyo's clothes and Kagome watched him go with sad eyes, presuming that he was going to bury them and say his final farewells. Her only other companion at the moment was Kouga who had decided to stay the night with them rather than make the long journey back to his clan's den. The wolf demon had proven to be loyal to their cause and offered his valuable assistance even after he had given up his shards to reform the jewel. Kagome considered him a dear friend and she was glad to have his company as she cared for the taijiya.
"What are you going to do now, Kagome?" His deep voice carried softly across the clearing to her and Kagome paused in wrapping another layer of bandages around Sango's torso to consider her reply.
They had waited so long for this day to come, wondering how it would all end and now that the moment was here, she really wasn't sure anymore what she wanted to do. The most likely scenario would be that she would return to her time and continue to live her life as she had before she came to the Sengoku Jidai. As much as she wished that she could stay here with her friends, and more importantly with Inuyasha, she knew that this wasn't her true time and she would eventually have to return to the present permanently.
Pasting a smile on her face, she replied with forced cheeriness. "I guess I'll go home first. My family is probably worried about me since I haven't been back in over six weeks and I'm sure that I'm so far behind at school that it will take me the rest of the year to catch up."
Kouga could see the pain glimmering in her eyes and felt his own heart tighten as she tried to pretend that her heart wasn't breaking. He had seen the way she kept glancing in the direction Inuyasha had gone as she treated the other girl and he could smell the saltiness which permeated her normally sweet scent. Her eyes were red rimmed and puffy and he suspected that she had been crying when she left the camp earlier to attend a call of nature. And while she had technically answered his question, she hadn't given him the answer he wanted most. He needed to know if she was going to stay with her friends or Inuyasha. If she had said she was going to stay with her friends, maybe, just maybe, he might find a way to win her over from the inu-hanyou.
Kouga was just about to ask Kagome if she would elaborate on her answer when Sesshoumaru swept silently into the clearing. Having put aside his feud with his younger brother, the taiyoukai had become an unexpected ally, his hatred for Naraku far outweighing his feelings for his sibling. Drawn willingly at first into the fray with Naraku's scheming to pit brother against brother, his attitude had changed significantly after he reluctantly adopted the young human girl he had revived with Tenseiga. Rin had been a powerful influence in changing his opinion of the human race in general and without the added advantage Sesshoumaru's participation had offered, the balance of power would have been tipped in Naraku's favor.
Casting cold, golden eyes over the tableau of the wolf demon attempting to attract the undivided attention of the young miko, Sesshoumaru barely contained his snort of disgust. He had seen enough in the past few weeks to know that the wolf was helplessly infatuated with the human girl. Not that the wolf made any attempts to hide his feelings, frequently declaiming his love at a near shout, especially when Inuyasha happened to be within hearing distance. His efforts were futile though since the miko often paid the ookami little heed, not even noticing his presence whenever his idiot brother was around.
Yet, despite this, the wolf demon stubbornly chose to remain blind to the obvious. After witnessing only a handful of interactions between his brother and the human girl, Sesshoumaru had no trouble ascertaining exactly where the girl's affections lay. Hell, even that kitsune brat knew the miko was hopelessly in love with Inuyasha. That the stupid wolf didn't simply give up showed just how simple minded he was.
Much to the taiyoukai's chagrin, he knew precisely how deep the girl's affections ran given the monk's, taijiya's and kitsune's frequent discussions. Sesshoumaru had also seen enough to know that his brother definitely reciprocated the girl's feelings though he tried hard not to show it. That thought brought a small smirk to the demon lord's lips. Inuyasha was about as eloquent in expressing his emotions as a bull parading through a shrine and the girl would likely die of old age before the hanyou got up the courage to tell her how he felt. At least the wolf had the confidence to speak of his feelings, although his sickeningly sweet declarations frequently turned Sesshoumaru's stomach.
Ignoring the scathing look the wolf shot him for interrupting, the demon lord strode purposefully over to a large oak tree and gracefully sat down, settling his back against the trunk and calmly watched the unfolding drama with a healthy measure of cynicism. The miko was busily working on cleaning the numerous cuts and scrapes the taijiya had suffered, her teeth unconsciously worrying her bottom lip as she concentrated on the task. Adding to Sesshoumaru's increasing amusement, she appeared to be giving the wolf demon only half an ear as he began speaking again.
"Will you come back after you see your family?" Kouga tried to keep his tone even, but there was still a slightly pleading note tingeing his words.
Paying closer attention to the wound she was cleaning, Kagome vaguely replied. "Umm, I hope so. I'm not sure when though."
Unsatisfied with that explanation, Kouga's impatience prompted him to get up from his seat on the other side of the fire to go crouch beside Kagome, his shoulder brushing hers lightly. When she didn't immediately acknowledge him, he exasperatedly caught her hand, forcing her to stop what she was doing and look up at him in surprise.
Blue-gray met startling blue as Kagome felt a lump develop in her throat when she saw his earnest expression. His intense, searching gaze piercing her, he fervently clasped her hand to his chest and taking a deep shuddering breath, he whispered. "Kagome, I need to know if you are coming back or not."
She knew what he was asking her, knew that he would always be there for her no matter who she chose, but she also knew that she couldn't promise him something that could never be. Not even for Inuyasha could she stay in the Sengoku Jidai and that thought alone was enough to bring fresh tears to her eyes. With a hoarse cry, she flung herself into his strong arms and giving in to the anguish she was trying so hard to suppress, she sobbed wretchedly. "Kouga-kun, I don't want to go. I don't want to leave everyone, but I can't stay in this time. It's impossible."
Startled to find a weeping Kagome clinging desperately to him, Kouga could only hold her awkwardly as her delicate frame shuddered with each hiccupping breath. Uncertain what exactly he should do and having little experience in dealing with weeping females, he warily rubbed slow circles on her back to soothe her, hoping that the action would calm her like it did a whining wolf cub. A delicate cough alerted him to the fact that the taiyoukai was bemusedly watching the exchange and above Kagome's head, Kouga fixed the arrogant inu youkai with a hard glare.
Sesshoumaru's face remained impassive though a fractional narrowing of his eyes indicated he was displeased by the other demon's impertinent behavior. The only reason he tolerated the wolf's lingering presence was because he provided some entertainment when he and Inuyasha engaged in a round of insult trading that would eventually cease when the miko sat' the hanyou. That little trick of hers had supplied Sesshoumaru with a great deal of amusement these last couple of weeks and he had enjoyed watching his brother's face being ground into the dirt on each occasion. However, as much as he enjoyed seeing his obnoxious brother taken down a peg or two by a slip of a human, the mangy wolf also needed to remember his place. That he would dare to incite a taiyoukai such as Sesshoumaru's wrath showed just how stupid the ookami demon was.
Ironically, their present situation brought to light that there really wasn't any reason for the demon lord to remain with the motley group either. He had duties which needed to be attended to and obligations as the Lord of the Western Lands that he could no longer neglect. With Naraku defeated, the retribution Sesshoumaru's honor had demanded for the dark hanyou's transgressions had been satisfied. Thus, he no longer had that excuse to delay his departure, so then what other reason did he have?
With a subtle shift of his eyes from the wolf to the trembling figure in his arms, the demon lord had his answer. Outspoken, ridiculously stubborn and with an explosive temper that could rival Inuyasha's, the miko was a mystery that puzzled him greatly.
For starters, she didn't dress like other humans and her absurdly revealing clothing was far removed from the demure yukatas or kimonos most women wore. Bordering on being scandalous, the short green and white outfit was made from a soft fabric that was surprisingly sturdy for it withstood quite a bit of wear and tear and the dye didn't fade despite repeated washing. He had often wondered if this was due to the strange chemical he could smell wafting up from the material whenever she had returned from one of her brief sojourns home.
In fact, the girl possessed a number of odd chemical mixtures which he had great difficulty identifying. His interest piqued, he had questioned her about them one evening. Once she had gotten over her initial shock, she was clearly delighted by his interest and without further prompting, had plunked a hard case full of strange medicines between them. Eagerly showing him the various ointments, creams and bottles of pills contained therein, she had spoken at great length about how they cured sicknesses, prevented infection and helped wounds to heal faster.
The longer she talked; an activity which he had regrettably learned the young miko was quite fond of, it became clear that her knowledge of human illnesses and treatment of wounds was impressive, certainly greater than any other human he had previously encountered. Thus, he couldn't help wondering why her skill with herbs and herbal remedies was so sadly lacking. From what he knew of them, most priestesses received thorough training on herb properties and their preparation since they often worked as healers within villages.
Which brought to mind another dichotomy; the girl was clearly well educated, much more so than her role as a priestess would require. In addition to her studies in chemistry, mathematics and biology, she could read, write and speak at least two languages with remarkable fluency. Considering humans were predominantly illiterate, her achievements were rather remarkable which he concluded was in part due to a dedication that bordered on obsession. Every spare moment they had away from chasing the dark hanyou or battling his detachments, the girl would spend engrossed in the strange tomes she toted around with her in an oversized yellow pack.
His lips twitched every so slightly in amusement.
The unwieldy, garishly colored monstrosity housed an array of foreign objects, some of which were impossible to identifying, as well as a seemingly never ending supply of Inuyasha's favorite food, ramen. Packaged in little containers made from a material similar to the medicine box, the young miko would simply add hot water to the dried contents and in minutes, a steaming noodle soup was ready to be consumed. Though it smelled appetizing enough, he had been reluctant to ingest the oddly prepared food, but forced himself to eat some in order to get the miko to stop her incessant pleading. Expecting the worst, he had been surprised by how good it tasted and had readily accepted the second portion offered by the smiling girl with a small smile of his own.
As soon as he realized what he had done, he had been both deeply confused by his uncharacteristic behavior and somewhat amazed that the unusual miko had managed to elicit such a response. From that moment onward, he had determined that any human who could garner such a reaction from him bore further scrutiny and he would continue to suffer his brother's company until such a time as he gained the answers he sought.
Eventually the miko's weeping subsided and as she awkwardly began to extricate herself from the wolf's embrace, Sesshoumaru decided he wanted an explanation as to what she had meant when she said 'she couldn't stay in this time'. That simple statement had said far more about her than her odd behaviors and unusual possessions combined. She rarely spoke of her village in anything more than vague references and when asked about its location, she would immediately reply that it was 'not far from Inuyasha's forest'. Ironically, he could detect no falsehood in her pat responses, but it was painfully obvious that her answers were merely half-truths. The handful of times he had pressed her for more information, he had sensed a power in her that was far greater than that possessed by the reanimated miko and couldn't help wondering if this was the key to solving the riddle of her origins.
Sitting back on her heels, her face tearstained and flushed with embarrassment, Kagome gave Kouga a watery smile as she apologized. "Gomen, I didn't mean to cry all over you."
Kouga grinned at her in a way that said he hadn't minded at all and would have backed it up with words if Sesshoumaru's icy tone hadn't cut in. "Why can you not stay in this time', miko?"
Startled by unexpected sound of the demon lord's sharp voice, Kagome hastily whirled to face him, a strangled squeak rising from her suddenly constricted throat. Swallowing nervously, she started to speak then hesitated as she slowly replayed his question in her head. Inuyasha and the others had warned her to not speak about the well with either Sesshoumaru or Kouga as they didn't know how the demons would react to the news that she was from the future. Realizing she must look ridiculous with her mouth hanging open, she snapped it shut with an audible click as she attempted to formulate a suitable reply.
Until now, she had never been in a position where she was alone with either of the full-blooded youkai and had always had her friends to back her up if she couldn't come up with something plausible. But, with the way Sesshoumaru was staring at her, an indecipherable expression on his face, Kagome felt a frisson of fear that if he didn't like her answer, he might try force the truth out of her. Since Inuyasha, Miroku or even Shippo hadn't made it back yet and Sango was still out cold, Kagome didn't know how long she needed to stall before help arrived.
Stammering, she tried to draw out her response as much as possible. "Uh, actually, what I meant to say was that I couldn't stay this time'. Eheh, I guess it came out wrong, you know, since I'm a little tired and, well, probably not thinking very clearly..."
Clamping her teeth together to stop her rambling, Kagome smiled apologetically at the two demons, mentally crossing her fingers that they would buy her pathetic sounding excuse. Unfortunately, luck wasn't on her side. She felt her heart sink as one of Sesshoumaru's delicately arched brows rose slightly, indicating he didn't believe her for a second. A quick peek at Kouga who was giving her a skeptical look said he had also caught her gaffe.
Wringing her hands before her, her ears straining for some sign that one of her friends was returning, Kagome anxiously hedged. "Ah, I mean, I have to go back because I belong with my family now, well, at least until I finish school that is."
Hitting slightly closer to the truth this time, she was relieved to see Kouga's stiff posture relax a little, probably drawing the conclusion that once she 'finished school' then she would be able come back. Sesshoumaru, on the other hand, was still eyeing her intently and Kagome couldn't stop herself from squirming under his probing gaze.
Although he could tell the girl was not lying, the demon lord again sensed a deeper meaning in her choice of words. Being privy to the strong feelings the girl harbored for his annoying sibling, Sesshoumaru knew that had she been given the choice, she would invariably remain with the hanyou. However, she had clearly said that she 'belonged' with her family, for a second time inferring that she was not supposed to be here in the first place.
Suspecting that he was getting somewhere in ascertaining the miko's origins, the taiyoukai was about to question the fidgeting girl further when the rising wind informed him that the monk and kitsune were returning and would soon reach the camp. Resigning himself to continuing his interrogation later, he released the miko's anxious gaze and masking his displeasure, smoothly gained his feet and headed towards the tree line. As quietly as he entered, the tall, elegant demon exited the clearing a scant second before Shippo came bounding through the underbrush followed a few moments later by Miroku.
His ecstatic voice piercing the night air, he joyfully cried. "Kagome!"
Racing across the grass, the fox demon leapt into the miko's waiting arms, a delighted laugh escaping her lips as he snuggled against her. Settling into his usual perch on the girl's shoulder, he childishly stuck his tongue out at Kouga, whom seemed a bit peeved that his time alone with Kagome was again interrupted, before he began to excitedly relay how much food they had been able to get from a nearby village. While kitsune chattered away, Kouga, seeing that the miko was no longer paying him any attention, opted to follow Sesshoumaru's lead and, with a last longing glance towards the object of his affection, disappeared into the forest.
Absently stroking the fox's tail as she listened to his banter, immensely grateful that he had saved her from Sesshoumaru's uncomfortable questions, Kagome felt a sudden pang at how much she was going to miss the little demon. Having spent almost as much time with him as she had with Inuyasha, she had grown to see the precocious kit as more than a friend. He was more like her little brother and it pained her to know that she was going to hurt him terribly when she left. He had already lost so much during his young life and she hated adding to his suffering. Feeling close to tears again, she valiantly swallowed the knot of emotion which was threatening to set her sobbing.
Miroku seemed to sense her distress and called Shippo over to help him prepare the meat for cooking. As the fox demon bounded off her lap, Kagome smiled a small smile of gratitude at the monk for his consideration which he acknowledged with a brief nod and look of understanding. Mentally shaking herself to clear her melancholy thoughts, she figured the best thing she could do was keep busy. They still had to travel a couple of more days before they reached Kaede's village and from there, the well; so, in the meantime, she would just have to occupy herself as much as possible to keep her mind off her impending departure.
With that thought in mind, she briefly smoothed her hand over Kirara's head as she lay curled against Sango's side, then set about finishing wrapping the last of the taijiya's injuries. Satisfied with her efforts, she gave the fire cat demon one last pat which earned her a soft purr in response. With a sidelong glance towards where Miroku and Shippo were working starting a small campfire, Kagome stifled a yawn, suddenly feeling tired. Recalling everything that happened in the last twenty-four hours, the defeat of Naraku being the high point, she grinned wryly when she realized she should have passed out from exhaustion hours ago.
Spotting her sleeping bag rolled up beside her backpack, she eyed the fluffy bundle with increasing interest before deciding to sneak in a quick nap until dinner was ready.
Inuyasha roughly shook her awake as another dawn edged its way along the horizon. They would reach Kaede's village later that afternoon and she would make her wish on the Shikon no Tama before she leapt one last time into the Bone Eater's well. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Kagome yawned loudly as she sat up to greet the morning.
The company had been rather subdued these last couple of days. Though Naraku was now gone, everyone seemed to have trouble coming to grips with the fact that their adventure was now over and each could go on with their lives. The one most immediately affected by Naraku's defeat would have to be Miroku. Following the dark hanyou's demise, everyone had expected his kazaana to immediately vanish. However, the curse appeared to be working itself in reverse exactly how it had advanced, slowly. The cheerful monk didn't seem particularly worried as it apparently had started to shrink and he said he could feel that its power had lessened. The air void probably just needed some time before it disappeared completely.
On the plus side, Sango was improving at an impressive rate. Her ribs had been bruised rather than broken and the swelling on her broken leg had gone down tremendously after the first night. Insisting that she didn't want to be coddled, Inuyasha and Miroku had fashioned a makeshift pair of crutches after Kagome had explained their function. With them, the taijiya was now somewhat mobile, but her greatest challenge lay not with her physical injuries.
Fate had cruelly allowed Kohaku to die twice in his sister's arms and both times she had been unable to do anything to save him. Kagome's heart went out to her friend and she fervently wished that there had been some way she could ease Sango's suffering. As it were, the taijiya stayed fairly close to Miroku who seemed to understand her situation better than anyone. And to his credit, the monk was showing admirable restraint as he comforted the grieving girl as best he could.
In a way, they were kindred spirits. Each had lost everything they held dear to one man before fate had conspired to set them on the same path to seek their revenge. As tragic as their lives had been up until now, there was some small reassurance that, having confronted the demons of their past, the future would be brighter for both of them and they seemed inclined to approach that future together.
Watching their budding relationship grow was bittersweet for the young miko who was left lamenting her own future; one that was devoid of the people she had come to love so much.
After interring Kikyo's remains in some secret location, ensuring that no one would ever again disturb her rest, a subdued Inuyasha had returned to the campsite long after his companions had fallen asleep. Since then, he had been withdrawn and moody; his mind preoccupied with his own thoughts which he seemed unwilling to share with anyone. Kagome had tried to talk to him a couple of times, but the hanyou had stubbornly refused to answer her queries and resorted to insulting her just so she would leave him alone.
Watching Kagome slowly rise from her sleeping bag, Inuyasha was struck by how beautiful she looked even at this ungodly early hour. Her silky black hair mussed from her sleep, hung half over her face; her blue-gray eyes half-lidded as she gazed sleepily around the campsite. Raising her arms above her head, she stretched languorously like a cat, the action pressing her softly rounded breasts forward in a provocative display.
Swallowing hard at the appealing picture she made, the hanyou attempted to hide his rising arousal with a sharp rebuke. "Oi, lazy wench, can we leave before the sun is high overhead?"
Brought fully awake by the half demon's ranting, Kagome glowered at him from beneath her bangs. Definitely not in the mood to hear his insults this early in the morning, she smiled with saccharine sweetness as she slowly drawled. "Inuyasha…."
He instinctively flattened his ears against his head at her tone, dreading what was coming next.
"SIT!"
Slamming painfully head first into the ground, Inuyasha mumbled a few choice curses into the dirt as he waited for the spell to wear off. His humiliation was increased tenfold by the distinct sound of both his brother and Kouga snickering at his predicament.
Why the hell both of them were still hanging around was beyond him. Even with his not-so-subtle hints that they had overstayed their welcome, neither youkai seemed inclined to leave. As mobility returned to his limbs, he pushed himself up off of the ground to see his two least favorite traveling companions smirking wryly as he dusted himself off. With a muttered keh', he stalked over towards the tree in which he had slept last night and leapt up into the lower branches to sulk as the others set about breaking camp.
A half hour later they were ready to depart and Kagome was safely riding on his back for what would probably be the last time. The sun warmed the air around them, releasing a delicate bouquet of scents which tickled his nose, but there was only one the hanyou chose to indulge in. Cinnamon, vanilla and a hint of cherry blossom blended together to create an intoxicating aroma that had the power to sooth his very soul. Inhaling deeply, Inuyasha savored the scent which was uniquely Kagome's.
How he could have ever compared her to Kikyo was unimaginable now. When he had first met Kagome, it was true that there had been some vague similarities between her and Kikyo, but those proved to be superficial at best. Kagome had always been softer and gentler than her predecessor, her immense love and concern for her companions displayed for all to see. To him, she was simply Kagome, the woman who had somehow worked her way so deeply into his heart that the thought of losing her was almost unbearable.
Inuyasha felt his heart give a tiny stutter at the thought of not seeing Kagome again. He had tried to avoid thinking about her leaving and in the end had thought about nothing but that. As much as he wanted her to stay; as much as he needed her here with him, he knew she had to return to her time. He had been fooling himself for so long that she didn't have to leave that they would find a way for her to live here and the two of them could be together forever.
Reality had then rudely intruded on his little fantasy.
She wasn't from the same time as him. She belonged in the future with her family, friends and that infernal school she so desperately wanted to attend all of the time. Her life was there; his was here. The fact that they had met was something that should never have happened in the first place. No matter how either of them had tried to justify the reason the well had brought her here, the time they had spent together was stolen and eventually had to be given back.
So, she would go home and…well…that was it.
Kagome must have had some inkling of his thoughts for she squeezed his shoulders tighter as if in reassurance and said. "I'll never forget you. You know that, right?"
Uncertain what to say in response, he nodded, not trusting his voice to find the words for him. In mute understanding, she gave his shoulders another squeeze and lay her head against his back, treasuring their last few hours together.
They reached the village all too soon in Kagome's estimation. After a brief lunch during which they filled Kaede in on the details of the battle and mourned her sister's second passing, they could no longer put off the final event which would conclude their journey. The atmosphere was solemn as the long time companions slowly trudged through the rice fields and then Inuyasha's forest towards the clearing where everything had begun.
Tears pricked Kagome's eyes as she spied the Goshimboku and the memory of her first encounter with Inuyasha came flooding back in vivid detail. As fresh in her mind as if it had happened only yesterday, she giggled as she recalled playing with his ears while he slept; the sound drawing Inuyasha's attention to her.
"Kagome?"
His face reflected his concern and his beautiful gold eyes shone with worry. Shaking her head slightly, her lips drew upwards into a smile as she reached out to take his hand in hers. They had fallen behind the others a little and at her insistent tug, they stopped while their friends carried on towards the well. Turning fully to face him, Kagome lowered her eyes to stare at her feet as a blush began to creep up over her cheeks. Poking the toe of her shoe into a little hole in the ground, she slowly began, "Inuyasha, do you remember the day we met?"
Nodding a little, he waited for her to continue which she did, her voice tightening with emotion. "You know, I didn't like you very much back then. I thought you were rude, arrogant selfish and irritating beyond belief."
She paused, a wistful smile playing about her lips. "And then I saw this other side to you. One which you didn't want other people to know you had. You were courageous, strong and you told me you would protect me. I think that was when I first noticed it."
Surprised by what was sounding more and more like a confession, Inuyasha could only stare at her dumbfounded as she went on to explain. "I saw you for who you were and I began to like you for the person you were trying to be. I didn't see you as a demon, a hanyou or a human, although those are all part of whom you are. I saw you as Inuyasha' and…"
She finally raised her eyes to look at him, tears sparkling along her lashes. "And, that's who I fell in love with."
The air left his lungs in a whoosh as her words hit him with a physical force all their own.
There were so many times he had wondered if the depth of her feelings mirrored his own. He had known that she considered him her best friend and somehow, she would manage to forgive his transgressions, but his uncertainty, the lingering fear of rejection, had kept him from telling her just how much she meant to him. Still, he had dared to hope that she might love him as he did her and now that he knew for certain that she did, he was elated.
Sweeping her into a crushing embrace, he held her tightly against him, his heart thundering madly as his mind raced. Over and over again, he replayed the best way to relay to her the tender words she deserved to hear for so patiently staying by his side, for loving him in spite of his flaws. His whirling thoughts created poetic metaphors, heartfelt declarations, passionate whispers; yet, he could give voice to none of them. His lips remained sealed and in an instant he remembered why he couldn't speak.
She was leaving.
With growing trepidation, he realized he would have to give her some sort of answer. And knowing he could not give her the answer she wanted, his guilt tore at him like so many knives, rending his heart asunder and leaving him feeling empty inside. Reluctantly, he loosened his hold on her and gently set her back on her feet; offering her a weak, apologetic smile as he said. "Come on, we don't want to keep the others waiting."
Hearing his casual acceptance of her declaration of love, Kagome felt like her heart was shattering. Her cheeks flaming hotly, she averted her gaze from his smiling face, feeling lower than low that she had blurted out her feelings when he obviously didn't feel the same way. Silently cursing, calling herself a hundred times a fool, she wished she could take everything back; regaining some small consolation that her love remained unrequited because he never knew how she felt.
Kami, help her. She couldn't believe she had been so stupid.
She hadn't meant to tell him. She had decided that she would return to the future without any declarations of love passing between them. She had reasoned that it would be better that way; easier for her to deal with the heartache if she didn't bare her soul. But for some reason, at that moment, with the two of them standing in the shadow of the Goshimboku, she had decided to take a chance. Love had the power to make miracles happen, or so her mother had always told her. And she had thought that it couldn't hurt to have a little faith in such a silly sentiment, had wanted to believe that he would say he loved her, too. If he had, she might have been able to keep some tiny hope alive that their love would find a way for them to be together.
But that hadn't happened.
He hadn't said anything and she felt like an utter fool for imagining that there was something more than friendship between them. Miracles didn't happen everyday, no matter how hard someone wished for them. If they did, she would have wished on every star in the sky. But, there would be no miracles in her fairy tale and love, especially one-sided love, didn't have the power to conquer all.
Disillusioned, Kagome pasted what felt like a mask of happiness on her face, burying her hurt deep beneath that shining exterior and sadly followed Inuyasha as he headed after the others.
The clearing which housed the Bone Eater's well opened before them and Kagome's heart shrank even more as the end of her adventures came into view. Almost a year had passed since that fateful day she had first fallen into the well and now she had come full circle. She had completed what she set out to do and it was time to move on to what fate had in store for her next. Her life was waiting five hundred years in the future and that was where she belonged.
Valiantly trying to appear unfazed by the whole affair, she knew she was failing miserably as twin trails of moisture flowed unchecked down her cheeks. Hugging each of her friends in turn, her tears fell in earnest when Shippo began to wail inconsolably, begging her to not go. Kouga was strangely reserved, apparently not fully grasping what was going to happen, while Sesshoumaru watched the proceedings with discerning eyes. Offering the taiyoukai a formal bow in parting, Kagome finally turned to find Inuyasha standing between her and the well, an unreadable expression on his face.
"Are you ready to make your wish?" His voice sounded choked and Kagome could have sworn that his eyes were suspiciously moist.
Nodding, she slipped her hand into the pocket of her skirt and pulled out the completed Shikon no Tama. The jewel glowed briefly with a soft pink light as she held it cupped in her hands before increasing in magnitude until the entire clearing was bathed with the warm color. A humming began in her ears, the sound deafening her to anything else, and she could feel her body grow hot. The volume increased until her entire being was vibrating and she began to lose all sense of her surroundings.
While her mind was still cognizant enough to form a thought, she made her wish.
The moment the thought was formed, the ground lurched violently beneath her feet and Kagome felt herself plummeting downwards into darkness. She had no idea which way was up and the disorientation was making her sick to her stomach. As suddenly as the feeling began it ended and she landed heavily on her hands and knees in the dirt, her breath coming in fast, panting gasps. Opening her eyes, which she had squeezed shut to help counteract the nauseating sensation falling had evoked, she looked with something akin to horror at the moist, dark earth between her fingers.
A damp, musty scent assaulted her nose, adding further proof that her eyes were not lying to her. Straining her ears, she could hear the mid-afternoon traffic trundling along the road below the shrine and even detected the faint sound of a school bell ringing in the distance. Lifting her eyes warily to look at her surroundings, she confirmed what she already knew.
She was back in the well house.
The well sat to her left, the old wood cover and sealing spells firmly in place as if neither had been removed in at least a hundred years. The door stood ajar and she could see her backpack sitting at the top of the stairs where she must have left it after entering the building. A scuffling noise drew her attention to the darkened area beneath the rickety wooden steps and two golden eyes peered back at her from the shadows.
Sitting back on her heels, she called softly. "Buyo, is that you?"
An indignant meow ensued as the multicolored cat streaked across the floor towards her. Butting his head against her thigh, she reached down to scratch behind his ears wondering what in the world had happened to her. Buyo purred in delight at the attention, rubbing himself along her leg. It was then that Kagome noticed her skirt was dark blue and not the green she remembered putting on this morning. Glancing at her shirt, she saw that it too was blue, although lighter in color, and the collar was encircled by a thin, dark blue ribbon tied in a bow beneath her chin. Lifting herself slowly from off the floor, Kagome stared in wonderment at the dark blue knee high stockings and black leather shoes which completed her outfit.
Standing up made her aware of something else entirely unpleasant, her head throbbed mercilessly and reaching up she felt a bump developing on her left temple just inside the hairline. Her fingers touched something sticky and pulling them away, she was surprised to see they were smeared with blood. Shakily making her way across the room, she began to gingerly climb the stairs when a shadow fell across the door above her.
"Nee-chan, are you in here?" The voice was familiar, but sounded deeper than she remembered. Shielding her eyes against the bright sunlight filtering through the slatted door, she squinted to see if her suspicions were correct.
Dressed in a hunter green uniform jacket and matching slacks, the boy at the door was as tall as she was; his long, gangly legs and widening shoulders showing the first signs of an emerging teenager. His chiding brown eyes were unmistakable though as Souta looked down at her with a wry grin on his face. "What are you doing down there, sis? You know Mom hates it when you come in here. Grandpa still gets palpitations when he even thinks about that time you nearly fell into the well."
Nearly fell into the well? The pounding in Kagome's head intensified as she tried to make sense of that. Didn't Souta remember that she went into the well all the time? That she had been traveling back and forth in time for nearly a year to put the Shikon no Tama back together? Didn't he remember Inuyasha and all the times he had come to drag her back to hunt for jewel shards? Swaying slightly from the effort of concentrating, she wondered what in the world was going on.
The teasing look on his face turned serious when he spied the blood slowly trickling down her cheek. Eyes widening, he raced down the stairs towards her. "Damn Kagome, did you hit your head? Are you all right?"
Raising her bewildered gaze to meet his, Kagome finally found her voice. "Souta, what happened? How did I get here? Did Inuyasha bring me back? What's going on?"
A queer expression flittered across Souta's features before he schooled them back into one of concern. Ignoring her questions, he gently prodded the knot on her head, clicking his tongue as he inspected the damage. "You don't appear to have cut yourself too deeply, but Mom is going to pitch a fit when she sees the blood on your shirt."
Grabbing the front of his uniform, Kagome narrowed her eyes angrily as she demanded. "Damn it, Souta, answer me. What happened? How did I get here? Where's Inuyasha? Where's the Shikon no Tama?"
That weird look appeared again and this time, Kagome recognized it. It was fear. His hands pushing at her shoulders, she reluctantly released her brother's jacket. Raking his fingers through his shaggy brown hair, he sighed heavily before he said. "Kagome, none of that ever happened."