A Journey in A Different Time
-Chapter 17-
The Way Home
"So that's what happened, eh?" Kaede questioned Sango. Sango nodded in response.
Sango and everybody else were back at Kaede's village. Kagome and Inuyasha, were somewhere in the village, staying away from each other. Sango, Miroku, Shippo and Michelle were in Kaede's house, explaining what happened earlier that day. Michelle also explained on what happened to her while she was separated from them. Technically, Michelle blames herself that Kagome is sad and not talking much. She still hasn't changed out of her miko clothes yet. Michelle stood up and walked outside, getting some fresh air. Breathing in some clear air instead of bloodstain air. The breeze against her hair and skin felt good at once when it touched her.
Michelle stretched out her arms and yawned. After that was done, she looked around the village, wondering where either Kagome or Inuyasha is. She sighed, when she couldn't see a sight of them. So what should she do now, besides moping around and doing nothing all day? A walk in the forest will be nice, maybe a trip to the Bone-Eater's Well will do. And she was off, walking up to the forest to the Bone-Eater's Well, hoping she'll find something of how to get back home at least. She's been yearning to get home ever since she got there, hopefully, she'll be able to go back home without the other's help. Besides, entrance exams are coming up quick! She can't afford to miss the exam and not get into high school, her mom would kill her!
As her figure disappeared into the depths of the forest, she walked past trees and bushes. Moving branches aside so she can have room to walk through. Now, which way was it again? Gah, who knows, she'll eventually find it, right?
When she removed another branch aside, she smiled in relief, seeing the Bone-Eater's well in the open. She quickly jumped out of hiding, and slowly walked to the well. Taking baby steps, she put her hands on the edge of the well as soon as she got there, and looked down. Seeing the corpses of youkais was a disgusting sight to her. She wanted to puke her guts out when she saw the bones of youkais at the bottom. But instead, she put one foot on the edge, and hesitated, thinking if she should really go down there at this time. What would the others do if they find out that she was missing? They would be searching all over the place when she was home all along. And another thing, how would she ever explain the weird clothing to her mother?
Michelle sighed to herself, and slowly put her foot down, and leaned her back against the well, looking up at the blue sky and the sun. She closed her eyes, breathing softly, the sunrays against her skin, relaxing to the gentle breeze and the silence. It was going well for a few minutes, until she heard footsteps. Her eyes opened in shock, wondering where the footprints were coming from. She left the well, and started to follow the sound. Again, moving the branches and walking in the grass, but this time, she's doing it gently. When she came out into another opening, she saw Kagome, at a tree.
She started to wonder herself why Kagome was there. She saw Kagome feeling the tree with her hand, her hand roaming over the missing bark on it, using her finger to touch the tiny hole on it. Michelle took a step forward, accidentally stepping on a twig, hearing it snap in two, startled Kagome. She quickly turned around and breathed in relief.
"Sorry, I thought you were someone else," said Kagome.
Michelle shook her head. "No, no. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you." She saw Kagome turned her back against her, looking at the tree. Michelle took anther step forward. "Um...May I ask what you are doing?"
"Just remembering memories of this tree."
Michelle was confused; she walked closer up to Kagome until now she was a few feet away from her. "Why? Is this tree special?"
She saw Kagome nod her head slowly. "Yes, it is. It's where Kikyo killed Inuyasha."
Michelle's eyes widen. "Killed?"
Kagome turned around to face her. "That's right...I never told you about Inuyasha." It took a few minutes to tell Michelle about Inuyasha's past. How Kikyo killed him fifty years ago. Kagome has told Michelle about everyone: Sango, Shippo, Miroku, now it's time for Inuyasha.
"I see...Kikyo sealed him with a sacred arrow..." said Michelle slowly.
"Yes..." She turned to the tree again. "It's where Inuyasha and Kikyo departed...and it's where I met Inuyasha...for the first time." Michelle looked at her. "In the beginning it was a little disturbing...but as we traveled together and got along...we...met Kikyo..."
"How did she come back to life?"
"A witch came and grabbed her bones and ashes and brought her back to life. It's why she is here today." Kagome paused, thinking of what else to say. "Every time Inuyasha sees Kikyo...the memories of him and her in the past comes back, along with his love to her. I always get sad at that...I know he cares about me, but all he wants to do is run away when he sees me hurt." She became quite.
Michelle frowned at that. Inuyasha may be a jerk, but he does have inner feelings that he wishes that no one would no…including Kagome. Michelle's thoughts were interrupted when she heard Kagome sobbing. She saw a tear dropped from Kagome's face. She put her hand on her shoulder, and Kagome turned around to face her, tears rolling down her cheeks. She gave Kagome a hug, rubbing her back gently, trying to comfort her friend. Eventually, Kagome's sobs started to fade away, and she hugged Michelle back, smiling to her. She whispered, "Thank you…"
Michelle smiled to herself and to Kagome. "Your welcome…"
After a few minutes, Kagome finally let go and started to head into the direction to the village. But Michelle thought of something that didn't seem right.
"Kagome, where are you going?" Michelle asked, getting worried.
"I'm going home…" Kagome said, quietly, but loud enough for Michelle to hear what she said.
"What…but…I thought we couldn't get home."?
"Well…that was you, who knows about me, my stuff is already near the well, so I can go home right now if I wanted to. And I am going home right now."
"But what about Inuyasha? And the others?"
"They'll know where I went. It's sort of a routine. Ever time he sees Kikyo, I get upset, and I go home, relax at home and maybe go to school and do stuff around the house."
"Let me go with you."
Kagome turned around, facing Michelle. She looked into her hazel eyes, seeing the want that she wants to go home so much: to see real people again, and to see Tokyo.
"Ok. Let's go."
They walked through the bushes and to the well. Michelle didn't notice it earlier that the yellow backpack was there. Probably Kagome meant to drop it there so she can come back after visiting the Sacred Tree. Kagome grabbed the strap of the backpack and pulled the straps on her shoulders. She sat on the edge of the well, and Michelle sat across from her.
"Ready?" Kagome asked her.
"Ready." Said Michelle. Michelle was finally happy, she was going home...
Kagome took her hand out to Michelle, and she took it, together they both jumped down. Kagome's hair flowing down as she goes. The auras around her were appearing, knowing that she's actually going through time. In time, she landed on her feet and got up. She sighed happily, she's home now. And so is Michelle.
"Well, lets go-huh?" Kagome stopped when she didn't see Michelle anywhere down the well. 'What happened? She jumped down the well with me and she's not here?' She looked around the well again, just to make sure. "Maybe…she can't go through the well…but through something else…I wonder where though…"
(Back where Michelle is)
"Dammit!" Michelle punched the dirt bottom of the well, frustrated. Why couldn't she go back home but Kagome can? She punched the ground repeatedly, punching it until her hand was covered in dirt. Angry tears started to develop and roll down her cheeks to the ground. "All I want is to go home…why can't I go home?"
After awhile, she calmed herself down, and laid her back against the wall of the well. She sighed heavily, still trying to relax before she leaves and walks back to Kaede's village.
Now she was ready to go, so she stood up and climbed out of the well, finding that the blue sky became colored. The sun was setting. How long has she been down there?
Well, that's not really important, she should get back before the others starts to worry about her. She darted off to the village in silence…
"Inuyasha, have you seen Kagome or Michelle anywhere today?" Asked Sango, curiously.
Inuyasha's back was against the wall of Kaede's house. His arms were folded over his chest. He turned his head to Sango, who was just outside of the door to the house.
"No, I haven't seen either of them," Inuyasha answered, silently, with a gentle tone.
Sango sighed. "They're going to be late for dinner…Hm? Michelle?" Sango saw Michelle walking towards her, her miko clothing a little dirty, and her hair had a green leaf in it. "Where have you been?" Sango walked over to her and took the leaf off of her head, Michelle laughed nervously.
"Oh, I just took a walk in the woods and tripped while doing so, oh, and I ran into Kagome too," said Michelle, smiling and still laughing nervously.
"Did she go home?"
Michelle stared at Sango in surprise. How did she know Kagome was going home? That's right…Kagome said it was a routine so she would know. So does that mean Miroku and Shippo know about it too? Including Inuyasha?
"Yeah, she did." Michelle finally answered, taking a quick glimpse at Inuyasha, seeing a dark aura over his eyes.
"As always…well, we should go in now, it's time to eat." Sango walked into the house, leaving Michelle and Inuyasha outside.
"Inuyasha…" Michelle started.
"Don't talk to me," Inuyasha darted away, leaving Michelle far behind. All she wanted to do was just help him. Why does he hate her so much? Was he made because she was with Kikyo again? Or is this about him and Kagome?
Michelle ignored the questions and walked in Kaede's house and smelled some delicious soup. "Oh great, I'm starving!"
It was late at night, and Inuyasha didn't eat anything tonight. He was staring at the full moon, lying on the roof. His hands were on the back of his head, his elbows in the air, and one knee bent in the air. Counting the stars around the moon, he got bored of that. But he then noticed a pattern: The stars formed into a shape of Kagome…
(Late at night)
He sighed. He didn't know what to do.
"So…this is where you have been…"
Inuyasha nearly almost jumped off the roof when he heard Michelle's voice.
"Wow…even the hanyou can get scared easily," she said with a grin on her face.
Inuyasha got his senses back and got angry. "Bitch, don't even do that again!" Angered Inuyasha.
"I'm sorry, I didn't really mean to do that. I just wanted to have a little fun. Is that really wrong?" She questioned him.
He was about to speak but stopped, she's right; having a little fun everyone once in awhile is good. It's not wrong, just needed to find the right time to do it. And Michelle found that right time. Inuyasha saw that down his legs and arms crossed, his eyes closed, listening to Michelle's breathing. He could imagine her still wearing this miko clothes.
"So what do you want?" Inuyasha finally asked her.
"Just wondering why you didn't eat dinner with us," she answered, normally
At least this time, it's starting off gently instead of roughly. "I wasn't in the mood…"
"I see…" said Michelle, she then laid on the roof, looking up at the beautiful full moon. Staring at it nonstop, enjoying the gentle breeze out here.
"Oi…" said Inuyasha quietly.
"Hai?"
"So…what did you guys talk about?"
"Huh?" Michelle was confused at first, but a second later she knew what Inuyasha was talking about: he was wondering what her and Kagome was talking about. He wanted to know if she was ok and not badly hurt or anything like that. "Well…she did most of the talking…she basically told me what happened when you guys first met; how Kikyo was resurrected; how you feel for Kikyo…" Inuyasha nodded silently. "She really cares about you, Inuyasha…she'll do anything to protect you and make you happy. But what's stopping her is your feelings for Kikyo."
He nodded again, and spoke. "I care a lot about Kagome. But Kikyo died a horrible death, and she came back to life…I can't just leave and forget about Kikyo for the rest of my life." Michelle thought about it, and he was right. "I'm…just very confused now…I haven't seen Kikyo since we both died on the same day. And when I met Kagome…she reminded me a lot like Kikyo…her looks…her hair and eyes. But the better I got to know Kagome, I started to fall for her…very slowly though…but that's when Kikyo came…" He sighed again. "My feelings for her came back…and I didn't know what to do, she was so angry…felt so betrayed…"
"I see…"
"That's it? 'I see' is all you can say?"
"Well, I'm the listener, aren't I?"
"Keh!" He hissed angrily.
Michelle sighed. 'Here we go again…' "What else do you want me to say? 'I'm sorry, I know how you feel' or 'I'm sure things will be back to normal.'"
"No!"
"So what did you want me to say!"
Inuyasha was about to speak, but stopped. What did he want her to say?
He growled angrily. "I don't know!"
Michelle stared at him blankly and stupidly. She closed her eyes, and smiled, and then she giggled. Inuyasha didn't understand why she was laughing, and he probably didn't want to know either.
As soon as he heard her laughing ceased, he felt a hand on his. He looked at the hand and then looked at Michelle.
"I'm sorry about you and Kagome, but I really do hope things will work out for you two. Get some sleep, you do need it." She quickly gave Inuyasha a kiss on the cheek and then jumped down from the roof.
Inuyasha was stunned…she kissed his cheek!
Back down on the ground, Michelle was blushing rapidly, she kissed his cheek! Why in the world she did that for? Could it be that…she was starting to like Inuyasha…No way! Kagome is the one that is in love with Inuyasha, she shouldn't interfere, and most of all…she should stay away from Inuyasha for a good while.