Ah, it's good to be back to typing again. I'm going to have fun with this chapter; something big is going on.

A Change in Our Future

Chapter Twenty: Kikyo's Request

I awoke with a horrible headache. Sure, it was only one glass of saké, but it was a big glass of saké! Ugh. How could I ever mistake saké for water? Who does that? Well, if you don't pay attention to taste, I guess it would be pretty easy...

I slowly sat up, holding my head in my hands. I slowly managed to open my eyes, but I squeezed them shut almost instantly. The light was a little much right now.

After getting used to the light I opened my eyes and looked around, having to squeeze my eyes shut every once in a while. I turned and saw Kaede next to a pot by the fire. I hardly remember anything from last night, besides the fact that after I went away from the party I talked with InuYasha and then we went back to the party... I don't remember a thing after that. I must have went to sleep in Kaede's hut.

No one else was in the hut, so I got up and left without a word to Kaede. She looked busy anyway.

I walked outside, but the bright sunlight caused my head to hurt and I closed my eyes immediately.

Then I remembered something. The jewel!

I sensed it over near the Go-Shinboku, the sacred tree.

I ran as fast as I could to get to it, my legs straining as I struggled to keep the pace I had set for myself.

When I neared the Go-Shinboku I slowed to a stop near the edge of the forest, breathing hard and looking at who held the jewel in front of me.

Kikyo stood there, holding the jewel and looking at the single missing piece that was Kohaku's shard. Sensing my presence, she turned to see me standing there, catching my breath. After seeing me, she turned back to the jewel, like an invitation to come next to her. I took a few hesitant steps forward, but then started walking at a normal pace.

I stopped next to Kikyo, looking at the jewel that she held in her hand. There was a small piece missing from the jewel, the spot where Kohaku's jewel shard would be placed... We just had to figure out a way to let him live and get the jewel shard at the same time. Sesshomaru was pretty much out of the question... He wasn't much of a ' help out the humans' sort of person.

"In order for the jewel to disappear, it needs to have a pure and selfless wish granted upon it," Kikyo said, closing her eyes.

I knew all of this. Why was she telling me this now? "Yes, I know."

"I can tell that something troubles you... Are you feeling apprehension about something?" Kikyo asked.

Kikyo seemed to want to help me, but why? Yes, she used to hate me, but what now? Why is she being so kind to me? There had to be a bigger reason.

"Yes... I am afraid to go back to my time. Recently, I found out that we didn't kill Naraku, and he was there in the future. For some reason demons appeared in my era, where no demons were before... Though, now I'm almost certain that he is dead," I answered. "I am a little bit afraid to go back, even though I know that there won't be demons in my era anymore."

Kikyo turned to me and held out the jewel. I put my hand out and she set the jewel in my hand and covered the jewel with her own hand.

"You need to make sure that this does not fall into the hands of evil," Kikyo said to me. "But... You also need to come up with a wish that is pure. Are you sure you can do that?"

It was like she was testing me! She lifted her hand from the jewel and I clenched it in my fist. I nodded, my eyes gently closing.

"That's good," Kikyo said, looking at me and smirking. I looked at her, my eyebrows raised.

"Why did you really come here, Kikyo?" I asked her as she started to walk away.

"You mean, did I come here to say anything about InuYasha?" Kikyo asked. I blushed a little, but my face didn't change. "I am one of the dead. I can't have InuYasha now. You don't belong in this world... But you're the best thing he has. And, though I suppose I am a bit jealous of you being able to be with InuYasha, I don't think I know anyone better for him."

I stood there, trying to blink away the tears that were starting to form in my eyes. I suppose that was the closest thing to a compliment that I was ever going to get from Kikyo... But... The thing is, I was sort of sad for her. She couldn't ever be with InuYasha again, even though they once loved each other so much.

"Kikyo... Thank you," I said, holding the jewel close to me.

"Just... Take care of InuYasha," Kikyo said, her tragic gaze turning away from me. It was obviously hard for her to say that, but she managed to say it anyway.

Kikyo walked away from me and disappeared into the forest, leaving me to stand there with the jewel in my hand... How had she gotten the jewel anyway? I needed to keep better tabs on it.

I sensed another presence and turned to see InuYasha standing there, looking at me with glazed eyes... Well, he wasn't really looking at me, more like looking through me. I could tell that he knew who was here.

"You came here when you caught Kikyo's scent, didn't you?" I asked, glaring. Though Kikyo and I were on decent terms, that didn't stop me from being angry at InuYasha for things involving Kikyo.

InuYasha glared. "No," he answered defensively.

"Liar," I said, turning away from him.

I heard quick footsteps and was startled when InuYasha turned me to face him.

"I am not lying. I came here because I was worried about you," InuYasha said.

Though at first that took me off guard, I glared again and said, "And you were looking for Kikyo. I can tell by the look in your eyes."

"Maybe I was coming here to find Kikyo! That doesn't mean that I can't be worried about you too!" he shouted at me, but then blushed. I blushed also.

What was he doing? He was never like this before! The only time I've ever seen him like this is with...!

My eyes widened at the sudden realization.

"InuYasha...?" I said, a little bit worried. I couldn't help but feel confused and startled at the same time. It was a bit nerve-racking. My heart was pounding in my chest and my legs felt weak. I could hardly keep standing. But even though I was getting butterflies, I liked being there.

"Kagome..." InuYasha said, closing his eyes. "Let's get going. We need to check on your world." InuYasha dropped his arms from my shoulders and started to walk towards the well, not looking back at me. I followed him, holding in a deep sigh. It was like he wanted to tell me something, but he couldn't.

What could it be?

We stopped at the well and I looked down into the dark depths. A demon had recently been thrown in there; the bones were still at the bottom of the well. I put a hand on the well and then jumped over it, falling through to my time.

I climbed out of the well just when InuYasha came through to my time.

I couldn't help but smile a little bit. I was finally going to go back home, and it was going to be like it should be. InuYasha hesitated behind me, but I didn't notice. I just went through the door to exit the well house and took a couple steps outside. I looked around and smiled, but stopped.

Something was wrong.

I looked down to see the same three-tailed cat demon rubbing against my leg.

"No..." I whispered, looking towards the street. I couldn't believe it. People walking on the sidewalk had demons walking next to them, holding bags and other sorts of things, all of the demons wearing the strange collars.

InuYasha walked behind me and looked around. So that's why he hesitated, he smelt the demons.

I fell to my knees and put my hands on the ground, trying to support myself. I couldn't keep the tears in, and they just started to slowly run down my face and onto the ground.

"Kagome..." InuYasha said, sitting next to me.

The demons were still here... even though we had defeated Naraku.

It was like a hell on earth.

I was in the middle of it.

MWUA HA HA HA HA! You didn't expect that, did you? NO! Ha ha ha ha!

I showed you! I bet you're all shocked to find that I had the biggest twist ever! HA HA HA

Next Chapter: Kagome and InuYasha haven't fixed the future at all. Is Naraku somehow still alive? What else could it be?