Title: Forget Regret
Part of: Inuyasha no konto
Theme: Goodbye
Word Count: 506
Disclaimer: Any characters within these shorts are the creative property of Rumiko Takahashi. They are being used for non-profit recreation.
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Forget Regret
Their entire journey came down to this one moment. It was time to say goodbye.
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It was hard for her to stand. Knees knocking, she used the old well for support.
Kagome took a deep breath and looked over inside the structure. Once comforting, the dark depths reminded her of things that would never be.
She turned her head from the darkness, her raven hair whipping around to rest on her shoulder. Her courage failed her and she slumped to the dirt. How could they expect this of her? After working so long and so hard to complete the Shikon no Tama, didn't she deserve total happiness? Happiness did not dictate that she give up half of her life.
Happiness did not, but her duty did. As well as her heart.
She removed the pale pink orb from her neck and looped the newly fashioned chain around her fingers. Even now, when the jewel hung loosely out of her hands, it called for her to make a wish.
She could, she reasoned, wish for the well to remain open – but what good would that do? If the time slip never closed, she would be trapped between two eras for ever, never truly belonging. And wasn't it that sense of belonging she wanted more than anything?
She picked herself up off of the ground and leaned against the well. Tears were in her eyes as she climbed up to sit on the wooden edge. She glanced into the darkness and saw their faces already. There would be tears from them as well – gods, would there be tears – but she had to do this. She had to belong. And, regretfully, she knew where she belonged. Wasn't it where she had always belonged?
She knew that her excuses were lame and told nothing of the torment she had been wrestling with for the past few months. She knew that their journey would eventually lead to this one moment but it was now her journey – she stood alone. Inuyasha could not rescue her from her inner demons; Miroku did not have an ofuda for regrets. At last, Kagome had to make her own decisions without any help.
It was time.
She wiped her eyes hurriedly and glanced inside the structure once more. As hard as this would be, she would have no regrets. Sadness, yes – even loneliness and forgotten memories, but no regrets.
She looked around, taking in the surroundings. The next time she saw them, she would be home. The well would be gone. As she clasped the sacred jewel around her neck, she allowed herself a small smile. I'll make sure of that.
It was time.
She took another deep breath once the jewel was resting on her chest once more. Soon the weight of such burdens would be lifted and she would be free. All she had to do was get past this, this the most difficult decision of her life. But she would do it – it was her destiny.
With a shaky resolve and a sense of impending loss, Kagome tossed herself into the well.
It was time to say goodbye.