Chapter 16

"What's up with Inuyasha?" Shippou groaned. "He's been sitting in the God's tree for over an hour."

"He had to seal over the well. It seems that the jewel opened it up for anyone who wanted to go through, and he couldn't have that kind of danger in Kagome's era. So he sealed it up... I... Kagome's really not coming back this time..." Sango whispered to the tiny kitsune.

"What? Why didn't she come here and live with us then? Why did she stay on the other side?" Shippou whined. Sango looked at him with sympathetic eyes.

"Shippou, Kagome has family on the other side of the well. She has her mother, her jii-chan, and her brother. She can't just leave them to stay here."

"Yes she can!" Shippou cried. "She has to come back! We need her!"

"Shut up, runt. She ain't coming back. She has the jewel... so... only she can come back... but she won't. She can't risk the lives of the people in her era just to come back to visit us." Inuyasha growled, still perched up high in the tree. Shippou looked down at his feet.

"I understand that... but... weren't we like her family too?" he asked. Sango and Miroku, even Inuyasha looked at the kitsune. He was right. They all considered Kagome their family. To Sango, she was a sister. To Shippou, she was a mother. To Miroku, she was also a sister. To Inuyasha... to Inuyasha she was his love. The woman he wanted to stay with forever. His home.

My home? Kagome... Kagome is my home? So... wherever she is... is where my home is... but... I told her that my home was here... no... I was wrong. I lied. My home and place is with her. Why... why did I leave? I don't care if i'm a hanyou! I'll wear that stupid had glued to my head for all eternity if it means I can live with her! Why was I so stupid? Now i'll never see her again! Why... if I still had the jewel... I could go and tell her everything. I could go home. Inuyasha sighed and let a tear fall. Shippou immediately sniffed the air.

"Oi, Inuyasha? Are you crying?" he asked.

"SHUT UP, RUNT! I AIN'T CRYING! I JUST HAVE AN ITCH IN MY EYE AND IT'S WATERING, OKAY!" Inuyasha growled. Shippou just groaned.

"Whatever, Inuyasha."

"YOU WANT TO COME UP HERE AND SAY THAT!" Inuyasha threatened. Shippou gulped.

"I'm sorry, Inuyasha! Forgive me!" he wailed as he hid behind Sango. Inuyasha slumped against the tree again. It's all my fault... if only i'd realized that she is my home sooner. I would have been able to be with her... I... i'm such an idiot! She loves me and I didn't see it! I've loved her and yet been blind to it. I... I don't think I can live without her...

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"The wrong choice? What are you talking about, mom?" Kagome asked her mom. What in the world could she mean, the wrong choice? I didn't have a choice! I had to seal the well or else this era would be in danger! Her mother laughed.

"You chose to stay here, Kagome." she explained. "When you know full well that you should be in the feudal era with him."

"Wh-what!" Kagome yelped in shock. I mean... I want to be with Inuyasha... but what about my family?

"Kagome, you love that boy more than anyone in the world. You even said it yourself that you could never love another. A woman's home is not neccessarily where her family lies; sometimes it lies in the heart of the one you love. Your true home is in Inuyasha's heart." her mother sighed. "Don't get me wrong, Kagome. I love you. You are my daughter, and I will love you no matter what happens. I just don't want to see you giving up on love that easily. What I felt for your father, and what we had was the best thing to ever happen to me. I would have done anything for that man. Kagome, I know that you think you have responsibilities here, like family and school, but Kagome- school is for people who will get jobs in the work force. Family is important, but you have to start your own too. You already have a job, and a family, Kagome- your job is hunting youkai and treating the wounded. Your family is Sango, Miroku, Shippou, and Inuyasha. That... that is where you are meant to be. Don't worry about everything here- we'll all be alright. I love you, Kagome, and I know you better than anyone else except Inuyasha and possibly Sango. I know that you want to live out your life there with Inuyasha. So... so i'll help you pack, alright?" her mother began to cry. "I'll miss you, but i'll know that you're truly happy there, Kagome."

"Thank you, mom!" Kagome cried as she hugged her mother tightly. "I love you too... but you're right. My life is meant to live its existence out in the feudal era." Kagome sniffed. "Let's go. Let's go get me packed! I'll use the jewel to go back!"

"So, what supplies do you want to get for the trip?" her mother asked her while she grabbed a shopping cart.

"Ramen and pocky for sure. Preferably bulk-size, since once i'm there, there is no going back." Kagome sighed. I love Inuyasha... I... I have to do this... I want to be by his side. I promised him that i'd be by his side forever.

"Okaaaaaaaay! Anything else?" her mother asked in an overly chipper tone. She was obviously going to miss her daughter. Kagome smiled.

"Soda and chips! Oh yes, some crayons and coloring books for Shippou... and... I think that's it. Wait... Mom? Could you give me a sec? There's something I want to go get Inuyasha in the mall across the street. Can you get this stuff, and meet me there?" she asked. Her mother nodded.

"Of course. Where should I meet you?"

"Food court in an hour!" Kagome chirped. Her mother smiled. She was going to have a wonderful life with that boy.

Roughly four hours later, Kagome had said goodbye to her friends and packed. She had told her friends that she was leaving for America to attend a boarding school for students who are frequently ill. She also made sure that Jii-chan used the same excuse, and not some made up viral infection like last time. Kagome looked at her bags. There was a lot of stuff, but most of it was supplies of ramen and pocky. What will Inuyasha do without his ramen when these bulk boxes run out? Guess he'll just have to manage. Kagome smiled. I... I hope he wants this too. What if I get there, and he's changed his mind? What if he meant that he only loved me as a friend? What if he told me that he loved me just so i'd feel better, knowing he wouldn't have to face me again... no. No. Inuyasha wouldn't do something like that. I'm not going to wind up like Kikyo and be blind to the truth. Inuyasha loves me. He... he killed Kikyo so that I would live. He gave up a future with her just so that I would be alright... even when he thought he'd never see me again, my life was more important than Kikyo's or his own. Kagome looked down at the medium-sized box she held in her hands. It was labelled, 'To Inuyasha'. Kagome opened it carefully. I hope Inuyasha likes this... she thought as she looked at the gift she had purchased. She was also taking some of her things to sell so that the group didn't always have to resort to Miroku's 'exorcism' con. When Kagome was ready, the family walked her to the well house.

"Okay, Kagome. Just... just remember to think of us always!" her mother cried when they were inside the well house. "No matter what, i'll always be your mother! So don't do anything I wouldn't do!"

"Be careful, sis! Say hi to Inuyasha for me!" Souta cried. He really would miss his big sister. "We'll miss ya, Kagome. Life will be boring without you resting at home and Inuyasha coming to get you. I'll miss hearing you guys fight."

"Goodbye, my granddaughter! I'm glad to have had you in my life." Jii-chan admitted. "Every time I boil water, i'll remember how you accidentely ran your school into the ground with boiled youkai at that school festival."

"Yeah! Like when Inuyasha got all jealous of Hojo and drew Tetsaiga! He ripped a hole right in the roof of your school!" Souta laughed. Mrs. Higurashi smiled.

"Plus, when you improvised the acting so that no one would suspect anything odd, and you had Inuyasha carry you out the hole in the roof." she giggled. "This, Kagome- this is why you have to go. Your fondest memories lie with that boy, Kagome- that hanyou boy who has always been there for you." Mrs. Higurashi hugged her daughter. Kagome smiled as tears fell from her eyes.

"I love you all. I'll... i'll never forget any of you!" Kagome cried. "It's time..." she said. Her family nodded. "Goodbye!" Kagome unsealed the well and took one look back at her family. I'll miss you all so much... but you know... mom... you're right. I belong in the feudal era. If I didn't, I wouldn't have been able to transcend time like I did.

Kagome quickly jumped in the well, trying to hold onto her things so that they would pass through with her. Surrounded by that familiar light, Kagome knew that this was what she wanted. She wanted to be with Inuyasha.

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