Yawning, Kagome sat up on her futon and stretched, wincing when she felt a couple of joints pop. Rubbing a hand over her face, she stood up and changed into a simple brown and white kimono. Walking over to where she kept the rest of her clothes, she pick up her miko robes. Smoothing out the material in her hands, Kagome gave a small smile. She remembered when Kaede first gave her the four sets of miko robes, the old miko saying that the dark blue suited her much better than the traditional red ever could. Walking over to her bag, she grabbed her bathing supplies and stepped out of the hut intent on going to the hot spring not too far from the old well. It was still early out and there was not too many people walking around the village, making it one of the perfect times during the day to take a bath undisturbed. Some of the village boy were hitting that age where they were curious about girls, and she was not about to be spied on. She had had enough of that from Miroku on her travels hunting Naraku. With a small smile on her face brought on by the memories, the young miko continued on her trek to the path of the old well. About fifteen minutes later, Kagome had come to the old well. As was her ritual everyday, she stopped and put her hand on the worn and claw marked ledge of the well, and bowed her head before speaking. "Mama...Souta...Grampa...I hope that you are all doing well. I miss you all so much...but I swear that I will see you again one day."

As she was about to turn and continue on to the hot spring, she felt a tingling of youki at the edge of her senses. Whipping around towards the source, a bow and arrow of pure reiki appearing in her hands, she faced towards the trees. "Who's out there?! Come out and face me!"

Kagome watched as a tall shadow slowly appeared out of the thick forest, and when it got close enough to see she let go of the bow and arrow, letting them disappear as she bowed. "Sesshomaru-sama...what can I do for you?"

Standing there in all of his regal and intimidating glory, Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow at the bowing miko. "Hn. Where is the half-breed, miko?"

Straightening up, Kagome sighed and internally rolled her eyes, not really caring anymore about the feud between the two half-brother's. "I don't know, I haven't seen him since yesterday."

Giving another 'Hn' in response, the curious Taiyoukai noticed the odd mix of excitement and apprehension at the mention of the inuhanyou's name. "Miko. Why do you feel such at the mention of the hanyou's name?"

Giving the Taiyoukai a confused look, she cocked her head slightly to the side. "What do you mean Sesshomaru-sama?"

If Sesshomaru had been human, he would have slapped a palm to his face at the slowness of the miko in front of him. Instead, he glared at her and replied, "Your aura miko. It displays apprehension and excitement at the mention of that half-breed's name. This Sesshomaru wonders why that is."

Kagome's eyes went wide and ran her palm over her face, giving Sesshomaru a sheepish look. "Oh...right. Well...you see, I am planning on going on a small trip, and I am not looking forward to hearing his reaction when I get back."

The Taiyoukai merely looked at her, and inquired, "Hn. When you get back?"

She looked down at her feet for a moment, finding the grass much less intimidating than the being's gaze in front of her. "I don't plan on telling him that I am leaving Sesshomaru-sama. Knowing him, he would rant and rave about how I couldn't do this or I couldn't do that, and most likely try to prevent me from going, though Kami knows why...And I would rather just skip all of that and save it for when I get back in time for the birth of Sango's baby."

Sesshomaru looked at the small miko in front of him. 'Such a strange human...She is not willing to face the hanyou now, and would rather face his ire at another time? This makes no sense to this Sesshomaru.' "Hn." Sesshomaru turned around, ending the conversation, and headed back towards the tree-line. Before his form was completely absorbed by the shadows of the forest, his voice floated back to Kagome. "Miko...remember what this Sesshomaru said after the battle with Naraku. Rin would be...most pleased if you came to see her."

Kagome watched as the rest of his form was absorbed by the shadows, and then turned around and continued walking towards the hot spring. Bringing a finger to her lips, she pondered over the parting words the Taiyoukai left her with. 'Now that I remember it...he did say in a roundabout way that I could come and visit Rin at the Western Citadel. Hm. Maybe I could take a trip through the Western lands? I mean, Sesshomaru is kind of an ally, so I wouldn't need to worry too much about getting attacked all the time. And I could stop by and see Rin...I miss that wonderful young girl.' Getting to the hot spring, Kagome set her bathing supplies down at the edge of the spring and disrobed, slipping into the relaxing hot water. As she went about her daily bathing ritual, she thought more and more about taking that trip through the Western lands. After all, Edo was in the Eastern lands and only about a five day walk from the border of the Western lands. And it sounded so much better than traveling through the Eastern lands, seeing as she REALLY did not want to run into Kouga. Now finished with her bath, the young miko climbed out and got dressed in her clean haori and hakama and journeyed back through the forest and back onto the path leading to the village, her plans set. Kagome was leaving tonight for the Western lands, no matter what a certain hanyou could try to do and stop her should he find out.

Hours later, Kagome was just leaving one of the villager's huts when she saw Inuyasha heading towards her. She thought to herself, 'Great. Just the thing I need right now....' Plastering a smile on her face with practiced ease, she waved and said, "Hey Inuyasha! How are you today?"

Inuyasha frowned at the young miko in front of him. "Wench, what was that mangy bastard here for?"

Kagome sighed, she really didn't want to answer that question. She was tired of the hanyou's rude attitude towards her and put a sweet smile on her face, knowing just the thing to distract him from his question and she could get back at him while she was at it. Knowing that look, Inuyasha started to slowly back away, hoping to make a break for it. "Inuyasha....OSWARI! HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU?! DON'T CALL ME WENCH YOU BAKA!! MY NAME IS KAGOME! KA-GO-ME! GET IT RIGHT!" Crossing her arms over her chest, she huffed and walked away from the rude hanyou-shaped hole in the ground. Making her way across the village, Kagome saw Miroku leaning out of his doorway with a snickering Sango at his side. Shaking his head at the hanyou-shaped whole in the ground, he looked up at her with mirth filled purple eyes. "He will never learn, will he Kagome-sama?" Stepping to the side, he made room for the angry miko and his wife to head into the hut before following the two of them inside. Miroku sat next to his wife, his 'cursed' hand resting comfortably on his wife's shoulder as she prepared tea for the three of them. It seems that after marrying his precious Sango, his 'cursed' hand was cursed no more and no longer wandered to other women, which Sango greatly appreciated. Pouring tea for the three of them, Sango rolled her eyes. "He just can't learn to shut his mouth, can he?"

Kagome took a sip of her tea and huffed again. "Apparently not Sango. See what I mean? This is why I need to go on this trip! I am so tired of him being rude to me all of the time! I mean, for Kami's sake, he needs to get over the fact that Kikyo is dead and she can't be brought back! I couldn't bring her from where she is even if I tried!" Kagome huffed once more, and took another sip of her tea.

Miroku nodded and gave Kagome a understanding smile."Ah...so this is what my lovely Sango was telling me about yesterday. If I may say so Kagome-sama, I think that it is a very good idea to go on a trip by yourself. We know that you can protect yourself should the need arise, and you are more than able to take care of yourself as far as finding food and shelter goes."

Sango nodded in agreement with her husband and poured them all some more tea before responding. "I think so too Kagome. You said that you felt the need to leave for a while and find yourself again. But where would you travel to?"

Kagome pushed her cup of tea around, debating on telling her friends about Sesshomaru's invitation. Deciding that they wouldn't overreact like Inuyasha would, she took a breath and told them. "Well...I thought that maybe I could go travel through the Western lands for a while." Before either one could interrupt, she continued, "Plus, Sesshomaru told me that Rin would like me to visit her, and how could I say no to that sweet girl?"

Sango and Miroku shared a quick look before Miroku said, "Kagome-sama...I thought Sesshomaru did not particularly like any of us, most of all Inuyasha. How do you know you wont be attacked the very moment you cross the border?"

Kagome rolled her eyes at her friends. "Guys...why would I be attacked if he basically invited me into the Western lands to travel under the premise of visiting Rin? And also, it isn't that he doesn't like us. He tolerates us, but he wouldn't willingly keep our company. He only did so before so we could defeat Naraku." Kagome gave her friends a look and sipped her tea. "Oh, not to get off subject, but have you guys heard from Shippo yet?"

Sango gave Kagome a look that said 'we aren't done talking about this, but I'll let it go this time'. "No, we haven't yet, have you?"

Kagome shook her head, her long blue-black hair swaying behind her. "Nope, not yet. But I was wondering, do you think you guys could respond to him if he sends a letter while I am gone? And just in case I don't get a letter from him before I leave, will you tell him that I'm not here?"

Miroku nodded, taking a sip of his tea. "We'd be happy to Kagome-sama. When do you plan on leaving?"

Kagome gulped. She had hoped that question wouldn't be brought up, but knowing her friends like she did, it was inevitable. Giving them a sheepish look she said in a small voice, "Well....I was thinking...maybe tonight...."

Miroku raised an eyebrow and shared a look with his wife. "And why is that Kagome-sama?"

Kagome dropped her head and sighed. "Because I REALLY don't want to hear it from Inuyasha if I were to leave after my birthday. And I thought this way I could leave without all the hassle."

Nodding sagely, Miroku took a sip of his tea. Sango shook her head. "Kagome, you are going to leave tonight even if we try to convince you otherwise, aren't you?"

Kagome nodded. "Yeah...sorry guys. I just feel that this would be the best way to go about it."

Sango sighed and refilled the tea again. "If you feel it is right Kagome, we wont stop you. But do you think we could give you the presents we got you, seeing as you wont be here for your birthday tomorrow?"

Kagome's eyes went wide for a moment. She had no idea her friends would buy her gifts! Feeling kind of embarrassed, she sputtered, "Oh! You guys didn't need to get me anything!"

Miroku shook his head, and Sango smiled at her friend. It was such a 'Kagome' reaction. She never did like anyone giving her gifts or drawing attention to herself. "Kagome, you know that I will not let you leave this hut until you take the gifts, right?"

Dropping her head, she gave in, knowing her heart's sister could be even more stubborn than herself sometimes. Because knowing Sango, she really wouldn't let her leave until she took them, most likely she would end up being tied up in the hut until she gave in. And she really did not want to run the risk of possibly being stuck in the hut and ruining her plans. "Okay...okay...I'll take them..." She said with a slight pout. Miroku smiled at his friend and stood, making his way over to a chest against one of the walls of the hut. Opening it, he pulled out two packages and walked back over to his seat. He set them on the table and pushed them towards the young miko. "Happy Birthday Kagome-sama, from Sango and myself."

Kagome smiled at her friends. "Thank you guys...you really didn't have to."

Sango gave her almost-sister a half halfhearted glare and laughed a little. "Oh, just open them already. I know how curious you are Kagome."

The young miko gave them both a bright smile and opened the first package, and holding it up, found it to be a taijiya outfit just like Sango's except for it had blue instead of pink. In the second package was five stacks of ofudas. Kagome looked up from the gifts in her lap, tears in her sapphire eyes. "Oh guys...thank you so much!"

Miroku and Sango smiled at the young miko. Sango moved over and gave her friend a hug. "You are welcome Kagome! I hope you like them! I know that the taijiya outfit will come in handy on your travels, and so will the ofudas. Miroku blessed them himself, so their power will be amplified when you use them."

Hugging her dear friend back, she told them both, "Thank you guys, you are so awesome!"

Miroku chuckled at her futuristic expression. "As my dear Sango said, you are most welcome Kagome-sama."

After having one more round of tea, Kagome left the couple after saying her goodbyes and thank you once more, and ventured towards Kaede's hut so she could tell her of her plans for leaving. Getting to her destination, the young miko pushed aside the mat door and headed inside. "Hi Kaede-sama!"

Kaede looked up from the herbs she was sorting at Kagome's greeting. "Ah, hello child. Come, sit and tell me what you have on your mind."

Kagome never ceased to be amazed at how Kaede was able to figure out when she needed to talk to her or tell her something. She walked over and sat across the table from the aged miko, and started to help her sort the herbs while she talked. "Well Kaede-sama, I've decided to leave tonight instead of the day after my birthday."

Kaede nodded. "Hm, ye want to avoid a confrontation with Inuyasha."

Kagome gave her a sheepish look. "Yeah...I am just tired of fighting with him. I would rather just hear it from him once when I get back in the spring, rather than twice."

Kaede added some more herbs to a pile and said to the young miko, "Aye child, I can understand that. But before you leave, I have something for ye."

Kagome raised a brow. Did everyone get her a gift? Jeeze, how many times did she have to tell them! They didn't need to get her anything! Just having them around was gift in itself! But she kept her mouth shut, knowing Kaede would be even more stubborn than Sango and herself put together. Kagome watched as Kaede shuffled over to the back of her hut and came back with a wrapped item in her hands. Walking up to the younger miko, Kaede sat beside her and handed her the package. Kagome smiled at Kaede and opened it, gasping at what was inside. Pulling the well made simple silk kimono out of the coarse cloth, she held it up to get a better look at it. It was the same sapphire color of her eyes, with hand-made swirling mist like silver designs that were thicker along the bottom and slightly thinner on the sleeves of the kimono. On on the back was the Shikon no Tama surrounded by delicate swirling silver designs that spelled the names of herself, her friends, and the people who participated in the final battle, even including Kikyo. Surprisingly, Kagome was not sad at seeing the formerly undead miko's name on the kimono. She was happy to see it there, knowing that her sister remembered and loved her enough to include her when she was sewing the designs. Setting it aside, she looked at the silk obi and saw that it was the same light pink color as the Shikon no Tama on the back of the kimono, with alternating thick and thin sapphire and sliver swirls decorating it. Tears shining in her eyes, Kagome hugged the aged miko. "Oh Kaede-sama...thank you so much...."

Kaede hugged her back, patting her on the back. "Well child, I knew that ye would need a formal kimono just in case ye happened to be in the presence of a Lord or someone of higher standing."

Kagome pulled back and wiped her eyes, a grateful smile on her face. "Thank you again Kaede-sama!"

Kaede smiled. "Ye are welcome child. Now, tell this old one what ye plans are."

Leaving Kaede's hut with a smile on her face after saying goodbye, Kagome glanced back at the sunset before heading over to her own hut. Walking with the packages in her arms, she kept a look out for a certain aura in the village before heading inside. Not finding the aura anywhere near the village, she smiled and headed over to her bag, setting the items she received inside, and sat down to wait for darkness to fall.