-Disclaimer-

The characters of InuYasha are not mine; they are property of Rumiko Takahashi. I make no profit from this story nor will I ever.


Chapter 3: I Hate You

"Wow, five kids? That's impressive!" Kagome scoffed, hardly believing the information that had passed by her ears. The group sh had been with for some time were now gathered about, giving their companion all their attention. Sango and Miroku sat side by side, a baby within her arms and a little girl sitting on her father's lap. Kirara was out and about, watching the other children for Sango had her hands full now with the monk, her newborn and now Kagome. Shippō, who barely grew any as the years passed, sat on Kagome's lap, hugging onto her abdomen with a huge smile and happy eyes.

"You're telling me. Miroku wasn't kidding about wanting a big family," Sango sighed as her monk laughed,"We are done now, he has a son and I have to say, I'm okay with that."

"Oh, c'mon! You love having kids, you always had a glow when you were with child," Miroku said in a cheerful tone but Sango shot him a look and he quickly sulked down and began to whimpered as if he was some punished dog.

Kagome let out a giggle and couldn't feel any more happier than she was now. It felt like old times but with a fresh new twist, they all grew up,"Still, you guys look so happy together. I'm glad," she smiled contently.

"So, what have you been up to?" Miroku quirked as he forced his rowdy daughter to sit down.

"Mm, well, a lot of things. I finished school, I'm sure you all remember that uniform I wore and stuff. I'm on my way to another school, in another country. It's pretty far but I made it with all the hard work I did to make up for the bad grades I had been getting from traveling here so often. Well...that's pretty much it. Hahah, it's hard to believe it's been three years since I've been here, since Naraku's death. Has everything been calm?"

"Surprisingly, yes," Sango spoke,"There are still demons causing trouble but my brother and a handful of new demon slayers have been tracking each one down. This village is especially peaceful. It's all tha-"

"I believe I can introduce myself," a soft voice spoke, sounding as if it belonged to a young girl but when Kagome turned her head to see who was speaking, it was a older women but she very much could pass for a young maiden,"I am Mikako, priestess in training. You are Kagome, yes?"

Kagome had to catch her thoughts for a moment. This maiden was beautiful. Her hair was an unnatural golden hue and her eyes were hauntingly blue. It was as of she was from another world,"I-I am. It's nice to meet you," she finally spoke but sounded like a quiet mouse.

"But its all thanks to her that this village is so calm. She has such a purifying power, close to the strength of yours, Kagome. She has been a saint since Kaede passed," Sango said matter-of-factly, hoisting her son up and handing him to Miroku, who 'gooed' and 'gaaed' at his offspring.

"She died? I missed so much..." Kagome tried to hold back her tears but it caused more pain. Shippō finally let her out of a hug and looked up at his saddened friend.

"We can go to her grave, if ya want. It's not that far!" he proclaimed, trying to give some solace to her. The girl smiled and patted the kitsune on the head.

"I would love to," and with that spoken, the young demon jumped off the human's lap and skipped past Mikako, and then stood waiting for his companion,"I'll be right back," she said to the others, who nodded her off.

It was a small trip and Kagome was half-expecting to run into InuYasha again but that was no such luck. He had ran off as soon as she tried to smile at him. He spoke nothing and the glare was the same he had given her so many years ago when he took her home. It was heart-breaking but she could have kicked herself. What did she expect? After everything they been through, she up and left him. He had every right to be upset and angry. She was a fool but it was too late now, her future was set.

"We're here," the fox called out causing Kagome to snap out of her thoughts and peer at the grave site. The ground had obviously been disturbed and what stood there was a small tree with prayer charms hanging onto the branches. The old priestess' name was carved into it's trunk. It was a calming sight but Kagome still felt lost. She hadn't known or even thought this would happen, had she, she would had forced herself into the past to see the old women off to the next life,"Uhm...Kagome, I'll leave you alone for a bit, 'kay?"

The girl smiled. She fell to her knees and hugged the boy,"Thank you, I won't be long," with that, he ran off and Kagome sat at the grave, praying to whatever deity that took Kaede. A small wind rushed by, making the small tree rustle in the wind, "I'm sorry I wasn't here, Kaede. I hope you were not in any pain when you left. I guess you and Kikiyo are together, eh? I hope so, you two were close...I sound crazy talking to you like this, don't I?" she let out a sad laugh but continued to converse with the ground. It was only then that a certain voice caught her ear.

"Whatt'ya doin'?"

It was that irritated tone that caused Kagome's heart to swell,"InuYasha, I'm talking to Kaede," she talked in a playful tone but made a face at him. The half-demon contorted back but snorted and blew her response off.

"What are you doin' here anyway? I thought you left, for good," his expression showed only curiosity but his voice was rather hostile and wanting. She had moved her head back to peer at the tree but her gaze went back to InuYasha, who now sat down next to her, close enough to make her heart speed up.

"I wanted to have another goodbye. To tie up loose ends...to see you," had she been the same girl she was years ago, that very sentence would have never left her mouth but after being gone so long, she had nothing to lose,"I've missed you."

The boy was silent, hiding his red face from the girl who he barely recognized now. Her appearance was about the same, except her hair had grown and she didn't wear that green clad uniform, but this courage she held was nothing like his Kagome, "T-then why did you leave?" he barely made the words come out and the way they did, they sounded as if he was accusing her of something.

"Because...you and I were not made to last. You still love Kikiyo and I couldn't...still can't handle that. It's hard to see you miss her like you still do. I understand she will always be with you but you still see her in me and I just wonder if...if that's why you ever wanted to be with me to begin with. I say goodbye and leave because...I love you, InuYasha and I can't handle it," her voice was quiet, her head now bowed down. The boy sat in silence too, unable to even glance at her.

"Will you come back?" he spoke in a solemn tone.

"No. This is my final goodbye. I don't know where the future will lead, maybe if I was older I could handle all this but it's too much right now. I belong in the present, as you belong here. I just want you to understand that I don't do any of this to hurt you," her words trailed off, her eyes welling with tears. Her emotions were blaring, making her silent cry into a sob. She hated herself for everything but she knew it was the only way she was to survive.

"I hate you."

Kagome whipped her head up but InuYasha was gone, leaving her there in a emotional heap. The sobs were still there but now she had more reason to cry,"I-I hate me too..."