To Which Future Do You Return, Kagome?

By. Tate Icasa

Part Two

The Days When History Changed

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, Kagome, or any of the other original characters. They belong to Rumiko Takahashi-sama, not me. Don't sue.

There was a moment of silence.

"What?" Kagome shrieked. "Whadda you mean I caused this?"

Sesshomaru sighed. "It began the day you left and never returned."

"I don't understand." Kagome said, confused. "How'd that change the future so much? And why are you still here? I thought all the youkai were banished."

"In this timeline, we were not."

"Well, why on earth not?"

"You were not there to banish us."

She blinked. "Ok, why don't you start at the begining?" She suggested. "And try not to confuse me too much."

Jaken scowled. How dare this human child address Lord Sesshomaru in such a disrespectful manner! And why does Lord Sesshomaru allow it? As he pondered this, he realized that his Master had told him to leave.

"But, Lord Sesshomaru!" he studdered.

Sesshomaru shot him an icy glare, which sent the toad fleeing from the room. "The begining." he said.

Flashback

"I thought you said Kagome'd come back!" Shippos whined, running in cuarcles around the half-sleeping Inuyasha.

Inuyasha opened one eye and grabbed the little Kitsune by the back of his neck.

"Hey! Lemme go!" Shipp yelled, waving his arms and legs around.

Inuyasha was happy to oblige, dropping the poor fix-demon on his head.

"Oww!" Shippo whined. "I just wanted to know when Kagome was coming back!"

"Well don't ask me." Inuyasha growled. "I have no idea when she's planning on returning."

"I don't think she's coming back." Shippo said.

"Feh! Of course she's coming back! She always comes back, baka!"

"What if she can't?" Shippo asked after a minute.

"What?" he asked, sitting up all the way. "Why wouldn't she be able to?"

"Maybe she didn't take a Jewel Shard with her."

Inuyasha took out the vial of Jewel Shards and emptied them into his hand, counting as he did so. "Damn!" he said, replacing them all. He stood up suddenly.

"Are you going to the well?" Shippo asked. "Can I come?"

"No. Go back to the village and tell the others where I've gone!" he called, already disappearing from sight.

End Flashback

Flashback

Inuyasha leaned over the well, preparing himself for his trip to Kagome's time. So intent was he on his own thoughts that his sensitive ears didn't pick up the strange sound until it was too late. He spun, cursing himself for not noticing sooner. The second he turned, Sesshomaru's sword went into his heart.

He gasped, his hand instantly going to the hilt at his side, but it trembled. He drew the Tetsusaiga as best he could, but he was too weak. It fell from his grasp, as Sesshomaru cut his heart out. He took the heart in his hand after sheathing his sword. He felt it pulse, one last time, before he crushed it, as look of perverse fascination on his face. Inuyasha's heart stopped beating. Forever.

Sesshomaru, using Inuyasha's blood as a glove, picked up the fallen sword and disappeared.

Shippo, Sango, and Miroku entered the clearing then.

"Inuyasha!" Sango gasped.

Inuyasha drew one last shuddering breath, and said his last words shakily, but clearly.

"I'm. . .sorry. . .ka. . .gome. . ."

There was a moment of stunned silence. Then, Miroku reached out tenatively and closed Inuyasha's eyes.

"W-we should go t-tell Kagome." Shippo said, taking the vial of Jewel Shards from Inuyasha's kimono.

Miroku nodded. One by one, they dropped into the well and disappeared.

End Flashback

"With none of you left to stop him, Naraku easily gathered the remaining Shards. Within a year, he gathered a large army."

Kagome wiped her damp face. She was crying for him! For Inuyasha!

"S-so why bring me here?" she asked, when she'd recovered her composure. "Why not just kill me?"

"I've brought you hear at the request of another, whom wishes to meet with both of us, and your friends."

"Which other?"

Sesshomaru didn't seem to acknowledge her question. "She says she has a plan to be rid of Naraku. In fact, she says he's her responsibility. Perhaps you've met her?" he suggested.

"Kikyo." Kagome said, her mouth going dry.