Morning came too soon for Kagome as she squinted her red-rimmed eyes against the light peaking in. Nightmare after nightmare plagued her as the confusion in her heart escalated. Sango came over to her and smiled softly, "Here, have some breakfast."
She handed Kagome a bowl of rice and sighed, "I could hear you tossing and turning all night."
"Yeah, I hate my subconscious sometimes."
The young woman gave her a funny look, "your what?"
Kagome shook her head and waved it off, "never mind, basically my brain wouldn't shut off and I ended up having nightmares about my unresolved issues."
Sango took a seat next to her, "what kind of unresolved issues?"
Blushing, Kagome ate her food and glance up at her, "I find myself having feelings for two different people, one lives here, and the other is in my time."
"So, you ignore those feelings for the guy here, until you can get home."
She snorted, "I wish it was that simple, but the guy here also has feelings for me and is making it very difficult to ignore. What's worse, a huge part of me doesn't' want to. It doesn't matter though, because he thinks I don't want to be with him."
Sango nodded her head, "well, that's good, right? I mean, you have nothing to keep you here or tempt you to stay."
Furrowing her brow, Kagome played with her food, "I suppose, but my heart is breaking from hurting him and I can't stand him being upset with me. He doesn't even know the reason why I wouldn't stay."
"It's okay, when we find InuYasha, I'm sure you'll have a chance to make things right."
Looking sheepishly at her, Kagome reddened in embarrassment, "is it that obvious?"
Sango grinned and chuckled a little, "InuYasha has always acted a little weird, but yesterday was a first, plus you two were trying awfully hard to avoid each other."
Moving the rice around in her bowl, Kagome smiled a little, "he makes me feel things I never have before…it was like living in my own romance novel; the fireworks, feeling like your floating, thinking you existed to be with that person for that one brief moment of oneness, I felt all of that when he kissed me. It was scary and exciting at the same time."
"Did it feel that way with the other guy?"
Thinking about it, Kagome realized that Yash's kiss was sweet and nice more than anything else. InuYasha's was passion-filled and rich with heady desire.
"No, it didn't, but it's cruel to be with him while I'm here, when I'll go back down the well one day."
Sango turned her head to look at her husband trying desperately to move as a little girl hung onto each leg, laughing cheerfully.
"I was engaged to someone before the monk. It was arranged when we were young, but I adored Hiroshi all the same. He was my first kiss and we were gong to marry on my fifteenth birthday, but a week before…a monk came into the village seeking shelter and a good night sleep. Miroku looked at me, smirked and winked, so I rolled my eyes and walked away. He had no idea the inner turmoil he started or how much I was trembling with awareness of his gaze.
My fiancé and his family, invited Miroku to stay in their home and be an honored guest at our wedding. In that one week, he pursued me aggressively, and I pushed him away every time, but the night before my wedding, Miroku was making his way to the geishas of our village when I caught up to him. I yelled at him, telling him that I couldn't be so special to him if he was willing to go off and have any other woman he wanted. I called him a lecherous, conniving, two-faced monk when…"
Kagome looked at her with big curious eyes, "when what?"
"When he kissed me. It was feverish, desperate, and passionate; it was also the first time I had felt anything so intense that it rocked me to my very core. So, that night I left a note for my fiancé and fled with Miroku. I was worried about disappointing my parents and hurting dear Hiroshi, but I was more terrified of not giving Miroku and me a chance and finding out where those feelings would lead us. Now, I have a wonderful husband and two beautiful girls I wouldn't trade for anything in the world. Kagome, I have no regrets, but if I had stayed and married the prince, I would have regretted it the rest of my life and wondered what my life would have been like."
"The prince?"
Sango blinked a few times, "did I forget to mention that part earlier?"
Shocked beyond belief, Kagome got very close to her face, "so does that mean you're a princess?"
Laughing, Sango shook her head, "not at all. My family and I came to their area to defeat a demon, and Hiroshi fell in love with me when he saw me fighting. He told his father he wished to marry me and so we were betrothed…I was ten at the time, so for five years we would see each other every week."
Kagome sat back down, "that does seem pretty romantic."
"I guess so, but now I want to know more about you."
Finishing her food, she looked up and recalled key moments in her life.
"Let's see, there isn't much to tell; I was born and raised in Tokyo by my mom and Grandpa, since my father was overseas in the army. I have a little brother named Sota, and we live on my family's shrine grounds. My father passed away a few years back, so it's just the four of us, but we make each day count and enjoy our time together, after all, no one is guaranteed tomorrow."
Sango nodded, "you're right, and that's why we should seize the moment when it arises."
Looking down, Kagome know she was right…about everything.
Just then, they heard a commotion outside. Sango told Kagome to stay inside and stepped out with Mirkou, bringing her giant boomerang with her.
Demons in battle armor, cackled as the villagers ran in fear. They made their way to Sango and Miroku. One demon stood in front and pulled out a scroll.
"Master Naraku, lord of the Eastern Lands, has advised that the girl, which came through the well, will be taken to Naraku's castle."
The couple moved to a battle stance as Miroku glared, "sorry, never heard of her. Maybe she's at another village."
A burly looking, quite orcish demon, walked up and pulled out another scroll.
"If you refuse to hand her over, then your village will be marked. Do you refuse?"
Sango looked at Miroku, "you can't do anything to us, not unless your precious ruler wants a war with our great dog demon. Your threats are empty and pointless; now, if that's all you have to say, then leave."
The demon looked toward Miroku, who smirked and shrugged, "my wife is right, so off you go."
As the demons walked away, Kagome ran out, but Sango grabbed her by the waist.
"Let me go! I won't let anything happen to your village, and if I have to give myself up, then so be it!"
"Calm down, Kagome! They can't do anything! The great InuTaishio is protector of this land and the strongest demon alive! So, stop trying to sacrifice yourself!"
Finally going limp in her arms, Kagome fell to the ground and wrapped her arms around herself, "InuYasha's right, I'm only trouble for you."
"Did I say that?"
The girl lifted her head to see the silver-haired Adonis approach them. Without conscious thought, she jumped to her feet and ran to him, curling her arms around his neck and holding him close.
"Where have you been?! I was so worried!"
He wanted to return the embrace, but he couldn't let himself be hurt again.
"I don't know why, it's not like I'm some weak human that needs protection."
The chill in his voice might as well had been a slap in the face, but she couldn't seem to let go.
"I'm sorry, InuYasha."
"Sorry for what?"
Lifting her face, she gazed longingly into his golden deep-set eyes, "for not speaking at the waterfall. I was worried about admitting to the way I felt, being with you only to go back home one day. The thought of knowing what could be and possibly being ripped from it…frightens me."
Glaring down at her, he tried to keep up the cold exterior, but the unguarded and vulnerable way she was looking at him, was his undoing.
"So, what are you saying Kagome?"
Taking a deep breath, she raised her hand to cup his cheek, "I'm going back home today, but I couldn't leave without telling you what I feel when I'm with you."
Lifting up on her toes, Kagome slowly lowered her eyes and licked her lips as she trembled with yearning to touch his own. InuYasha stayed perfectly still, but when he felt soft delicate lips against his own, the steely resolve to keep his distance came crumbling down.
InuYasha crushed her against his chest and took control of the kiss, delving his tongue into her waiting mouth. She moaned and moved her hand on his cheek to trail down and feel the strong muscles of his chest. Before things got too far, InuYasha stopped the kiss to look intently at her.
"Why do you have to go? If you want to be with me, then just stay."
"I wish it was that simple, but that lord Naraku guy sent some demons here to get me. They said the village would be marked because Sango and Miroku wouldn't give me up, but if I'm no longer here, then they'll leave the village alone."
Smiling a little, he cupped her cheek and rubbed the soft skin with his thumb, "so you're leaving to try and save the village?"
"And the whole region, since Naraku would be starting a war if he did anything."
"Just promise me something."
"Okay."
"Promise me you'll find a way to come back, because I'll wait as long as it takes for us to be together."
Smiling wide, she squeezed him tight and hid her face in his chest, not wanting him to see the tears that threatened to fall.
"I will find a way back to you, I promise."
The two walked over to Sango and Miroku, telling them what Kagome planned to do.
"Sango, do you remember the place you found me at?"
"Yes, I patrol those woods all the time."
"Please take me back there so I can go home. It's best for everyone and Naraku won't 'mark' your village if I'm gone."
Reluctantly, Sango agreed and Kagome started saying her goodbyes to the twins before InuYasha and the demon slayer escorted her there, leaving Miroku to take the girls to their friend's place in another village.
The trek wasn't too long, and it gave InuYasha and Kagome a chant to hold hands and just enjoy being together, but then the well came into view. Sango looked at them sadly, "I guess this is it."
InuYasha's touch, the warmth of his hand holding hers so gently, and the overall feeling of being near him…was it so easy to give that up? The tears she had been holding back for the whole trip there, finally released and streaked down her face.
"I hate this!"
Not able to stand her tears, InuYasha pulled her in his strong arms and claimed her lips, a truth coming alive between them; if God destined them to be together, then they will be. Even knowing that, a few tears fell from his eyes, something that hadn't happened since his mother died a hundred years ago.
"Stay just long enough to let everyone over there know you're okay, then I want you to come back with what a bride wears in your time."
She jerked her head up to look at him, "are you…"
Placing his finger over her lips, he smirked, "not yet, I'm just letting you know what to plan for."
Smiling, she nodded and let go of him.
Kagome straddled the side of the well and gulped, it didn't seem that far down the first time, but as she let go and fully expected the purple light to engulf her again, she was shocked to hit the bottom of the well with a hard thud.
"Ow! That freakin' hurt!"
Rubbing her sore butt, she looked up at the bright blue sky and frowned.
"Why didn't it work?"