I got positive feedback for this, so I will be continuing this. There are flashbacks in this chapter, marked with Italics and horizontal lines. This chapter is a bit longer. Enjoy.

Kagome's P.O.V.

I climbed out of the well and stepped out into the shrine. This is where I belong. Tears were brimming my eyes but I couldn't let them out. I walked to my home slowly, and upon arriving, I opened the sliding door to see my family sitting down to a meal.

"Kagome, you're finally back, dear!" My mom said as she smiled at me.

"Big sis!" Sota exclaimed, laughing. I smiled flakily, hoping my mother wouldn't notice, but of course she did.

"Kagome, honey, are you alright? You don't seem like yourself…" The tears were coming. As soon as I looked at my mother's sweet, understanding expression, I broke. I dropped my bag and ran into her arms. She was embracing me in an instant and I let everything out right there and then.

After taking my bath and helping myself to some of my mother's amazing cooking, I found myself wandering around the shrine and eventually looking up at the sacred tree. The same tree that Kikyo bound Inuyasha to hundreds of years ago.

…

I was a replacement.

To Inuyasha, I was a replacement for Kikyo. When we first met, he always compared me to her. Always called me by her name. Belittled me. Doubted me. I frowned slightly. I was nothing but a jewel sensor to him. Looking down at the two sacred jewel fragments in my hand, I began to get angrier. How could I have been so blind?

Once Kikyo was revived, he prioritized her over me. Her happiness over mine. Everything was clear to me, now. I lifted the tiny bottle of jewel fragments, holding them to the sun.

"I have to bring these back. Once I do that, all my ties from this world and the feudal world will be cut and I can go back to living my life as an ordinary girl. Like none of this ever happened." With that in my mind, I returned back to my home to fill my bag with medical supplies like I had promised, and returned to the well afterwards. Taking a deep breath, I leaped into it for what I thought would be the final time.

Inuyasha's P.O.V.

I waited near the well for Kagome. I didn't know what I was expecting to happen. But I still wanted to see her. One last time… No. She saw what I did. It should be clear to her now and it's clear to me. My place is by Kikyo's side… But, my heart still aches for Kagome. I hate making her cry…

I made my way over to the well, staring down into it.

…

This would be goodbye.

Kagome's P.O.V.

I looked up, seeing the familiar trees peaking over the top of the well to wave to me with their sturdy branches. Like they were saying goodbye. I climbed out of the well, sighing as I clutched the bottle of jewel fragments. I noticed Inuyasha. He was staring at me. Neither of us knew what to say, but I had to get this over with so I could move on. It was obvious that he had already.

"Inuyasha..." I started, but he cut me off.

"Kagome, I'm sorry that you had to see what happened between me and Kikyo. But… I've made my decision. I belong with her." It stung hearing the truth from him, but we both had to let go. "I'm sorry for dragging you on. I truly do care for you, but I have to be with Kikyo. I owe my life to her. That's the way it's meant to be. I'm supposed to be here and you're supposed to be back in your own time." Even though we were going our separate ways, I was a bit glad to see that he had matured a great deal, especially compared to when we first met.

… So this was it. I didn't think Inuyasha could be so sentimental and understanding, but I guess he could be. "I… I'm happy you feel the same way." I gulped down my tears. "Then… I-" I was cut off by a strong wind and the sensation of feeling a set of three jewel shards coming towards us quickly.

…

Koga?

In an instant, Koga was in front of us. He was holding a bouquet of pretty pink flowers. "Hey, Kagome!" His smile was charming as always and his extraordinary pale blue eyes were filled with joy. "I was nearby and I wanted to stop by to see you. What are you doing alone with this mutt?" He walked up to me oblivious to what was going on. He handed me the pretty flowers. I didn't have much of a choice so I accepted them with a smile and he held my clasped hands in his.

"Uh… We weren't doing much of anything, really." I said with an awkward smile as Ginta, Hakkaku, and a few wolves finally caught up to him.

Should I tell Koga that this would be the last time I would see him? I would hate to break his heart. Koga was such a nice person. He always paid attention to me, and he thought about me. He was bold. So bold that it made me blush sometimes, like the time when he confessed his love for me in front of his entire tribe and my friends. I didn't think much of it at the time because I was so in love with Inuyasha…

"Why did you kidnap Kagome, mangy wolf?!" Inuyasha yelled, angry.

Koga turned around, spear in hand as he looked down at Inuyasha. "I don't have time to play your games, so run off and play, puppy. She's my woman now, accept that."

"Huh?" Inuyasha and our other friends looked confused.

My face paled. When did I agree to this? "Th-there's no truth to what he's saying!"

"There's no denying it." Koga turned around, glaring down at Inuyasha. "Kagome is no ordinary girl, mutt. She can see the sacred jewel shards. That means she's perfect for me. I'm not afraid to admit it." He turned to look at me. I could see the passion in his pretty eyes. "I'm in love with you, Kagome!"

… Huh? My face was blank.

Koga had triumph written all over his face. "You can leave him and come with me whenever you want, Kagome. Once you experience what it's like being with a real warrior, you'll never go back to scraps again." He began to laugh while his tribe whistled and whooped with delight. The wolves were howling.

"Well, he's straightforward, I'll give him that." Sango said, in light amusement.

"… I wish I could be that bold." Miroku stated, still a bit dazed about how straightforward the wolf demon tribe leader was.

I had never requited Koga's feelings. In a way, I felt like I was always leading him on because it was so hard to find a way to let him down easily.

I heard Inuyasha growl loudly. Whenever Koga came around to visit me, him and Inuyasha usually ending up arguing over me, but this time Inuyasha had Kikyo. Why was he getting mad over me?

"Get your hands off of her, you mangy wolf!" Inuyasha moved me behind him protectively so he could be face to face with Koga.

"Move out of the way, stinky mutt. Don't you have something better to do, like dig in the village's trash?" Koga growled as well.

"You'd better leave before I send you running home with your tail in between your skinny little legs after I take the jewel shards jammed in them."

"Me? Running? Hah." Koga looked at me, pride in his eyes. "Kagome, you need to get your mind off of this mutt and come with me." He began to laugh with his friends and the wolves howled with delight. Koga was right. He understood. My mind was wandering.

If I stayed here, I could help Koga and his tribe find the jewel shards… I would be able to say hi to my friends whenever our groups crossed, and I would have Koga and his tribe's support, which was something Inuyasha barely gave me. Koga and his tribe did their best to cherish me, respect me, and they accepted me as one of their own.

…

Did I really want to stay here with Koga?