A/N: Thanks for reading guys. Sorry for the delay in getting this updated.. Life has a way of dragging me into the abyss. :) Hope you enjoy! A little tense change in the dream sequence.

"Make your wish, girl." The voice was disembodied, and I couldn't tell where it was coming from - except, the only thing I could see was the Shikon Jewel with my arrow through it.

"I won't!" I didn't have the correct wish - I didn't know what would make the jewel disappear for forever. Instead of making my wish, I just floated, clinging to the haft of my bow like a lifeline. It was the only thing I could do - the only thing that grounded me in this space. The jewel kept taunting me, telling me that I could return to my family and friends if I just made a wish to do so.

"Kagome!" It was Inuyasha's voice that I heard, and it jerked my head up from where I had it hidden in my hands. That couldn't be right, I had to be hallucinating.

"Did you hear him, Kagome? He is calling for you. Wish to return to him and you will be reunited." If I just wished on the jewel, I could go back to the way I was? I could go back to Inuyasha and the others? The jewel pulsed as I felt my heart waver, but my thoughts turned back to the wish that Kikyo had made, and my knowledge that the jewel never grants their real wish.

"No! I won't! Leave me alone!" I covered my ears, squeezing my eyes shut as tightly as I could even though I felt the cold streaks of my tears cascading down my cheeks. It wasn't the right wish - it was the wrong wish to want to see Inuyasha again! But… what if I didn't wish to see him again? What if I made my wish and it was the wrong one and I was stuck in this darkness forever?

"Kagome! Don't make any wishes!" His voice came again, and again the jewel taunted me. I could only shake my head, trying to focus, to steel myself for the chance that I wouldn't get out of here. But I still trusted Inuyasha with my heart, and my soul. He would find me. It felt like forever before a bright light burst ahead of me, a light so bright that my eyes burned. The next thing I knew, strong, warm arms were wrapping around me and I was pressed into rough cloth.

Through my tears, I recognized the cloth as the fire rat, and in my chest my heart pounded as I looked up to see Inuyasha's face. "Kagome.." For a moment, I couldn't breathe, I couldn't move before my arms broke the spell first and wrapped around him.

"Inuyasha! I was so scared.." He muttered comfort to me, and his arms held tight like bands of living steel. We pulled back before kissing - and I felt like every nerve ending was on fire. It had happened before - these touches, kisses like this.. Memories that I would cherish until I couldn't anymore. We parted, and I could look at the jewel now, pulsing as it waited for my answer. "I have my wish.."

She sat up in bed, her hand clutching her chest, her heart pounding a beat that felt like it was going to pop right out of her chest. Kagome closed her eyes, her free hand reaching up and brushing sweat drenched hair from her face. That dream again - she always had it this time of year.. That dream and many others. But it was that dream that often left her with the worst shakes. Thankfully she was able to wake up before the worst part of it happened.. Before she had been forced away from Inuyasha and left alone in the future.

Groaning, Kagome looked at her clock and sighed, wiping her face with her hands. It was only four fifteen..Well, she supposed she could get up and do some cleaning before Maaya woke. Swinging her legs over the bed, the raven haired woman grabbed a fresh change of clothes, showered and then made her way downstairs. She left the lights off - having remained in her childhood home as an adult made it easy to navigate all too familiar halls and furniture without stubbing her toes.

Once outside, Kagome made her way to the small building in the back of the shrine grounds and paused, frowning at the door. She was fairly certain she had closed it - but it was slightly ajar. Her footsteps were silent as she pushed the door open and peeked inside, only the scent of the incense and the dim light of the two wall sconces above the altar were her company. Strange - she normally never left this door unlocked.. The only one to ever enter this place was herl Maaya didn't need to know about her past just yet.. Kagome knelt once more in front of the altar, pressing her hands together after lighting the candles.

Silent prayers were sent to whatever god would listen, once more hoping that her friends had found peace, and that their family lines had continued on well into this world. She opened eyes that had betrayed her, tears sliding once more down her cheeks and quickly dashing the offending moisture away. Maaya wouldn't have a sad childhood - Kagome would make sure of that. She leaned to blow out the candles before frowning at the bowl of beads in the center of the altar. Without thinking, Kagome reached out and slid her fingertips over the tops of the beads. A fine layer of dust had covered some of them - but others were disturbed.

The hair on the back of her neck rose as she got to her feet, blowing out the candles and turning to inspect the inside of the small shrine with suspicious eyes. Someone had been in here recently - and it wasn't her. Kagome frowned, leaving the shrine and this time, she made absolutely sure the door was locked. Returning to the house, she couldn't help but look at the grounds surrounding the shrine. Nothing seemed to be disturbed, but she knew that someone skulking around would be careful not to leave traces. She made her way into the well house out of habit, and spent some time inside.

Kagome often found herself sitting on the edge of the well while Maaya was in school. Especially this time of year, when memories ran rampant and magic seemed to hang thick in the air. What would she do if the well opened anyway? It wasn't like she could just up and leave, Maaya needed a modern education, and she needed to have access to the modern medicines. Mortality rates for children in the feudal ear were ridiculously high. Her hand smoothed over the well worn wood that bordered the top of the dried well, touching marks in the wood that had been made by her dragging her bike over, or by Shippo's practicing fox magic in the clearing.

Before more tears could fall, she forced herself to her feet, and glanced at the watch on her wrist. It was almost time to get Maaya up for school. She wasn't sure how she'd managed to waste three hours, but she had. Kagome rushed to the house, closing the well house door behind her and kicking off her sandals at the front door.

The problem with being in a hurry is that you miss things. And had Kagome paid attention, she would have noticed that she wasn't alone in the old well house.

"She's.."

"Stuff it, Kit."