What To Do

Kagome didn't even wait for Inuyasha to follower her to the well. She just wanted to get as far away from her home as possible. Jumping into the old moldy well and going 500 years into the past sound like the best place to go.

Walking down the shrine stairs, Kagome heard her name being called by Inuyasha but didn't turn around to acknowledge him. She only had one focus, to make it down the well.

Climbing on top of the well, Kagome never looked back as she closed her eyes and jumped. The flow of time wrapped around her like a warm blanket and with in a blink of an eye, she was in the one place that always felt like home.

Climbing out of the well, Kagome headed into the forest and toward the big bolder that was next to the stream. Her mother was right she would come up with a solution it was her duty to take care of her family. She promised him she would take care of them and she will not fail. She had to sit and think of a way to get her family out of this trouble.

Just when she was about to climb on top of the bolder she felt a hand grab her waist and bring her back to the ground. Spinning around Kagome came face to face with a pair of warm golden eyes that were filled with something that resembled pity and concern.

"What do you want Inuyasha?" Kagome said, annoyed that he was interrupting her for the second time tonight. Any other time she would love his company but for the first time in a long time she needed to put her family first and she couldn't do that if he's around.

"What has gotten into you Kagome and why were you fighting with your mother? I never seen you and your mother fight," Inuyasha demanded. He was curious and worried now. She still wasn't crying and that is not like her. She was holding it all in and from experience he knew nothing good could come out of that.

"Inuyasha, please I can't right now. I just want to sit quietly by myself and think," Kagome whispered, while closing her eyes and leaning into the rock.

"Feh, whatever it doesn't matter to me any how," Inuyasha stated, as he grabbed Kagome by her waist and hopped onto the bolder. As quickly as he was by her side he just as quickly left her behind with her thoughts about the future.

I wish she would tell me what is going on. Inuyasha sighed as he hoped from tree to tree putting enough distance to give Kagome the space she wanted, but still stay close enough to protect her from any danger.

Kagome drawn her knees up to her chest and rested her head on her knees. She didn't know why but she couldn't cry or even scream out in anger, she just felt numb and hurt. How could her mother not confide in her? How could she just pretend everything was ok? It was her fault her mother was in debt in the first place.

Flash back

After speaking with Souta, Kagome decided she would wait for her mother in the kitchen. Grabbing her bag she headed down stairs. She busied herself by making a cup of tea then washed dishes. Then she decided to clean the kitchen all together. Sweeping the floor, Kagome found a letter that fell between the refrigerator and the wall. Picking up the letter, Kagome skim the contents to find out what Souta said to her was true. Her mother took a loan against the house for twenty thousand dollars. If she doesn't pay her monthly payments on time the bank will take the shrine as payment in full.

Unable to believe what she was reading, Kagome had to sit down at the kitchen table. She sat there for a long time listening to the wall clock tick away the seconds. Seconds turned into hours waiting for her mother to return home. That is how her mother found her, sitting at the kitchen table in the dark with a piece of paper in her hand.

"How did this happened mother? When did this happen?" Kagome demanded, as her mother walked through the kitchen door.

"Oh my goodness Kagome you scared me! What happen? What are you talking about dear?" Her mother replied nervously as she saw Kagome sitting by the door waving a piece of paper in front of her.

"Stop lying mother, stop lying to me," Kagome shouted, as she stood from her seat to approach her mother. She took her mothers purse and coat and placed them on the table then turn on the light.

"Explain this letter to me mother. Explain why we are in danger of losing our home. The only home Souta and I have ever known?"

"So you found the bank letter." Kagome's mom said as she pretended to brush away an imaginary wrinkle in her shirt.

"That's all you have to say? You found the letter?"

"You weren't supposed to find out," Kagome's mom said so low that for a moment Kagome thought she didn't respond.

"I wasn't supposed to find out. Well, guess what mom I did. So once again how did this happen and when?" Kagome said in a hurt fill voice. She felt guilty about screaming at her mother but she needed answers.

Kagome's mother never moved. She stood with watery eyes in the middle of the kitchen facing her enraged daughter. "It started a year after you fell into the well. Grandpa's little store of charms and homemade remedies started to lose money. Then I lost my job. Bills started to pile up, Souta needed medicine, and you needed supplies to take back with you. I didn't have the money so I went to the bank and took out a loan."

"Why didn't you come to me? Why did you lie to me? Kagome said feeling betrayed by her mother. "You told me that you got a better job that is why you left teaching kindergarteners. Wait my supplies; this is because of me isn't it. You were spending so much money on supplies for me and the gang that you were wasting money you didn't have." Kagome said, feeling like she caused this misfortune to happen.

She slowly turned away from her mother to grab the kitchen counter. All of a sudden she felt like she couldn't breathe. She felt hurt but most of all she felt angry with her mom but mainly at herself.

"No Kagome, I would have still had to take out the loan because I lost my job. I just hope I would be able to keep it a secret. I didn't need you worrying about us while you were with Inuyasha. I know you have an important duty to protect the Shikon no Tama and Souta is so young," Her mother said, trying to reassure her daughter

Kagome whipped around to face her mother. For some reason her mothers remarked cut her deeply. Did she not think that I care about this family as much as I care about putting Shikon no Tama back together? How could you not tell me? I am still part of this family," Kagome screamed at her mother. "I have a right to know"!

That was when Inuyasha came and brought her back here. Back to a place were life was so simple and the air was so clean. It is a perfect vacation spot if you do not mind power hungry demons trying to kill you ever so often.

She always tried to protect these lands and the people from the demons even as she doubted the possibilities of being a miko. She gave them her full attention never leaving here for more then three days. Now, her family is the one who needed protection. Protection from being thrown out in the streets and going hungry.

Kagome knew what needed to be done, but it would mean facing her fears. It will mean finally taking responsibility and embracing whom she really is. For so long she has been hiding, pretending she was someone else. Even here in the Feudal Era, she has allowed other to protect her and fight battles that she alone should have fought. Not anymore, for now on Kagome was going to fulfill her promise and embrace her destiny. She just needed to talk to Kaede.

Sliding off the boulder, Kagome stopped and looked around the forest. "Inuyasha I am ready to go now," Kagome whispered, as she made her way to the dirt path that leads to the village.

"About time wench, how long does it take to think?" Inuyasha said, as he waited for Kagome on the dirt path. Before Kagome even whispered she was ready to go, he heard her slid off the boulder and decided to wait for her on the path.

Placing a fake smile on her face, Kagome just looked up at Inuyasha and shrugged her shoulders. Then she turned around and headed toward Kaede's hut leaving a frustrated Inuyasha to follow behind.