Wax Effigy
Word
count: 282
Every time she fell into the well, she felt herself grow thinner, worn down. She couldn't remember when the feeling began. She just knew that after so many trips from present to past and back again that she felt strained.
It was getting worse too.
It used to be that traveling to Sengoku Jidai was an adventure and a welcome relief from daily responsibility. Returning to her present was once a desired respite from the cold ground, constant danger, and repetitive arguments with one insufferable hanyou she fell hopelessly in love with.
Now stress defined her present.
She had lessons to learn, homework to do, and exams to make-up. Her friends constantly complained about her possessive, two-timing jerk of a boyfriend while throwing her at Houjou.
She dreaded returning, but the past had little to offer in its place.
Inuyasha was constantly chasing after Kikyo. Kikyo wanted her soul back. Kouga could not accept no for an answer, and demons were constantly after her for the jewel shards.
She couldn't handle it anymore!
The well may look dry, but she could swear there was water filling it to the brim. Each journey forced her to travel against a current, wearing her down, stealing her strength. It felt as through each trip through the well washed a layer off her soul where it was cast in wax and left floating in the time slip. And with each passage, the absent waters of the well dulled the edges and shrunk the wax effigy.
She could only hope that once Naraku was defeated and the Shikon no Tama made whole that there would be enough left of her soul to return to a normal life.
AN:
This drabble, defined as 300 words, was inspired by the livejournal challenge theme water posted on iyficchallenge. In other notes, this interpretation came from what I can imagine Kagome's thoughts could be right before/during her jump through the Bone Eater's Well. I believe everyone has moments when one grows weary of one's burdens and responsibilities. It's how we chose to handle those moments that define us.