Twin Kats (and and answer to supersticiousmonkey): Def. an Inutaisho/Kagome. I mean, if you really want to go by straight Takahashi characterization, Sesshomaru is hot but too much of a cold jerk and Inuyasha can be sweet but insensitive (and he has this thing about keeping promises to dead girlfriends). Inutaisho is caring, knows the true meaning of obligation, is pretty f-ing hot, and chills with falling in love with a human. I mean come on...obvious choice anyone? The only thing working against 'em is the fact that he's dead...and that's not stopping Kikyo. I would tell you about my own trials with figuring out how to make this pairing work, but that would give away the story :)

And a special thank you to Amaquieria for her inspiringly truthful words of encouragement.

Download for this chapter: Hear Me, by Kelly Clarkson...you'll know when to play it.

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"...and then the Jewel popped out and rolled to Shippou and he wished for my happiness," Kagome finished after about a half an hour of story telling. The group was seated around a small fire to ward off autumn's chill. Sango and Miroku had helped Kagome with the story, adding bits ad pieces here and there, but Inuyasha was silent, staring at his father who chose to ignore the younger son for the time being. Inutaisho sat for a moment, musing.

"You must be a very selfless person to have given your life to accompany my son on his task." Kagome blushed.

"Well it really was my fault for breaking it in the first place, and besides, I'm only nineteen yet."

A frown furrowed the brow of the great dog demon, but it retreated quickly.

"I would like to hear more about the future you live in, Kagome." The way his voice caressed her name gave her butterflies. Or perhaps it was that smile.

"Um, sure, no problem," she answered. He stood abruptly and nodded to Inuyasha.

"I must speak with you and Sesshomaru."

The former hanyou made a face, at his brother's name or his father's orders one didn't know. And then they left.

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Kagome now had time to really process what was going on. She left the fire and went toward the North Star, a ninety degree difference than the way the dog demons went. She needed more than a breath to contemplate her...their new companion.

It was as if the Jewel had melded the two brothers together. Sesshomaru's grace and carriage mixed with Inuyasha's ruggedness and playful nature. The frosted silk of Sesshomaru's hair and the choppy wildness of Inuyasha's bangs. Sesshomaru's cat-like eye shape, Inuyasha's brighter amber color.

She wondered what kind of person he was. He had saved Inuyasha's mother at the cost of his own life, but he had taken many, many others. She hoped the Jewel had included the kinder side of Inuyasha's heart because when all was said and done, Inuyasha did have a soft side.

Kagome let out a low chuckle. She should be hypothesizing why the Inutaisho was ressurected, not what personality traits he had. Perhaps Sesshomaru had secretly wished for his father to return. Or maybe Inuyasha did and was just trying to deny it.

It was so odd to watch the interaction between all three of them. Inutaisho had been deceased for over fifty years, and there was Sesshomaru who, after recovering from his initial shock, acted as though it were an everyday occurence to have a parent rise from the dead. Inuyasha too; though he seemed unsure how to proceed at first, that could be contributed to the fact that he never actually knew his father, and after a few moments it was like a normal conversation!

She had the sudden urge to go spy on the dog demons and eavesdrop, but she quickly brushed it away. If it was important, Inu...yasha would inform the whole group.

She frowned. Why was the first name that came to her mind in that sentence end with -taisho?

00

-An explanation of how things deteriorated between Kagome and Inuyasha-

For every love story gone right, there is a love story gone wrong. One could say the problem was that Kagome had made things go a little too fast for Inuyasha.

Naraku had backed off for a bit, and while that usually spelled trouble in the long run, the respite was welcomed. Kagome had taken the opportunity to visit her time, as she had not been there for a few months. She had already graduated, with decent marks that would easily get her into a lower level university, which was a surprise even to her It was decided that she would finish her quest in the future before applying so she wouldn't end up neglecting her studies.

They were a short distance from the well and Kagome had since learned to control her powers, so she walked there by herself. Inuyasha had, surprisingly, been agreeably with her that day so there was no fight.

She was in sight of the well when her miko sixth sense told her to put up a shield. As soon as she did an arrow bounced off of it. Kagome looked in the direction that it was shot from and saw the clay miko. Wildly she fumbled for her bow, intending to defend herself until she could reach the rickety portal that took her home.

Kikyo took all of this in, and an unnatural smile appeared on her face. She aimed her arrow once again for Kagome, then suddenly veered towards the well. Kagome's heart leapt in her throat and before she could cry out, Kikyo had released and there was a shower of wood and dirt as the well erupted into a geyser of useless parts.

In the future, Kagome's mother dropped the groceries she was carrying as she heard the well crumble from inside its protective house. At the same time, five hundred years apart, her and her daughter's eyes both misted with tears.

Kagome...

Mother...

One broke into sobs, the other broke into screams.

The shield Kagome had in place grew rapidly like an atomic bomb explosion, and before Kikyo was engulfed, the enraged miko asked her a question:

"Why?"

The dead woman looked at her, taking in the range of feelings across the younger girl's face, and answered:

"There are more things in this world that jealousy and hate."

She said it with such sorrow that Kagome was nearly startled into submission, but her powers were like a tidal wave and now even she could not stop them. Kikyo was obliterated in a blinding flash of light and the welcoming relief was palpable. Unfortunately, one person couldn't feel that.

"Kikyo!"

Inuyasha's scream rang out in the clearing.

The anguish in his voice was apparent, and like a cooling rain, realization flooded over Kagome. Along with it came acceptance. Inuyasha had not been ready to let go of the miko he had once loved, and Kagome saw this. She knew that a relationship between the two was never in the stars in the first place. She had given him friendship and acceptance, the same as her former self, but it was Inuyasha that had given Kikyo love. It was Kikyo that had accepted that love. And it was Kagome that didn't have the right to bully him in to giving up on her.

Inuyasha had been ready to strike Kagome, he was so enraged. But something caught his eye. Usually not that observant, it was odd that he recognized the wreckage of the Boneater's Well. It occured to him that Kagome had not heartlessly killed his first love, but did something reactionary that could not be stopped.

He knew her family was important to her.

She somethimes talked with Miroku in whispers about her fear of the well breaking down.

He turned to face the girl that freed him from his bark-and-vine prison.

The blankness in her face scared him.

But to forgive her?

The sadness and anger that flamed in his eyes gave Kagome a new hope. With the death of Kikyo her hope of love had died as well, but with the abscence of hate in the hanyou's eyes, the hope of friendship had blossomed like a cherry tree in the spring. It would be hard to reconcile, she knew, but she had to try.

00

Kagome finished reminiscing and felt that now would be a good time to celebrate the fact that Naraku had been defeated. She went to her yellow backpack that was so like a magician's hat and pulled out a small boombox and a few cds. It made her smile when she tought of the time she had placed two of them secretly in the bushes with specially made disks...

(Flashback)

"I think they're something in there," Kagome said while walking over to the clump of bushes. She pretended to look around, then made a coughing noise to cover up the click of a button. "Oh I guess not..."

She had started to walk back towards the rest of the group when bopping noises sounded at full volume. All looked up, curious, and then jumped as AJ's voice let out a loud 'YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!'

Sango, Miroku and Inuyasha jumped up with their weapons drawn as it continued. Kirara turned into her true form and growled. The kitsune was nowhere to be seen

'I may run and hide when you're screamin my name, ALRIGHT! But let me tell you now there are prices to fame, ALRIGHT!'

Sango threw Hiraikotsu, but there was no effect. Miroku was about to use his wind tunnel, but the exterminator reminded him of Naraku's insects that could be lurking.

'Aaalll of our tiiiime spent in flaaashes of li-ee-yi-ee-yi-ee-ight.' Sango and Miroku's eyes were narrowed in concentration.

'ALL you people, can't you see, can't you see?' Inuyasha's ears were stuck to his skull when the yell came.

"Kaze no Kizu!"

And then it was no more. Fortunately, Kagome had a backup. From her place next to the rest of the group when some violins sounded on the other side of the camp.

'BYE BYE BYE'

Shippou ran out of the bushes screaming for help.

'I'm doin this tonite. You're probably gonna start a fight.'

Inuyasha began yelling over the rest.

"You're the one starting the fight!"

'Hey baby, come on'

"Baby!" he roared

'I loved you endlessly, and you weren't there for me...'

"Could it be Kikyo?" wondered Miroku aloud.

"It's a guy's voice, baka!" Inuyasha snarled. He raised the Tetsusaiga over his head, but Kagome yelled out to him. Her body was moving jerkily...

'I wanna see you out that door...'

And then Shippou began doing the same thing, jumping up and down like Kagome, their arms out and waving.

"Kagome? What's wrong with you? Shippou?" Sango sounded panicked. They continued the strange movements in unison.

"Don't touch them!" Miroku yelled "It could be a trap! Or contagious!"

"I know how to fix this," Inuyasha turned back to where the noise was coming from, but it ended as abruptly as it started. Kagome started choking and the warriors turned back to face her, concerned. She looked up, with tears streaming down her face and gasped:

"April Fools!"

They looked at her, confused, then Shippou piped up with a huge smile on his face.

"Mama taught me the dance!"

(End Flashback)

00

It had taken a while to explain April Fool's Day, music videos, stereos, and CDs, but Kagome didn't mind. That was probably the funniest thing she had ever witnessed in her life. On the downside, Miroku kept groping her, then saying 'April Fool's Day' to keep him immune from the blows that usually followed. Sango hadn't agreed and kept hitting him, saying she didn't celebrate that holiday. Sadly, Kagome was left to fend for her own, as she had opened that can of worms. She spent much of the day avoiding the avid and amorous monk.

But now she laid on the incline of a hill, watched the stars and listen to music from her time, a precious commodity as it would only last as long as her supply of batteries did. Such was the case, she listened to only two songs before she put on the one that had become kind of an anthem for her state of mind as of now. She mouthed the words instead of singing them as habit told her to do.

Hear Me

Hear Me

You gotta be out there...

Inutaisho froze. Did she sense him? What was that music?

You gotta be somewhere

Wherever you are

I'm waiting...

Her right hand reached toward the night sky and twirled.

'Cause there are these nights when

And then it went back down to hug her body

I sing myself to sleep
And I'm hopin' my dreams
Bring you close to me
Are you listening?

Suddenly she thrust her body up and Inutaisho heard two voices singing as the miko twisted and writhed theatrically, in an odd dance.

Hear me
I'm cryin' out
I'm ready now
Turn my world upside down
Find me
I'm lost inside the crowd
It's getting loud
I need you to see
I'm screaming for you to please
Hear me
Hear me

He walked a step closer.

Hear me
Can you hear me?
Hear me

She slowed now, looking forlorn, and he held himself back.

I used to be scared of
Letting someone in
But it gets so lonely
Being on my own
No one to talk to
And no one to hold me
I'm not always strong
Oh, I need you here
Are you listening?

Again the theatrics, and he noticed her eyes were closed. Was this a ritual? Was she a performer of some sort? And where the hell was that music coming from? It was like an orchestra..

Hear me
I'm cryin' out
I'm ready now
Turn my world upside down
Find me
I'm lost inside the crowd
It's getting loud
I need you to see
I'm screaming for you to please
Hear me

More steps, whirling, twirling, searching, pleading. Perhaps she was a performer.

I'm restless and wild
I fall, but I try
I need someone to understand
Can you hear me?
I'm lost in my thoughts
And baby I've fought
For all that I've got
Can you hear me?

She must have written this song. From what he saw and was told, Inutaisho believed the song was to express herself.

Hear me
I'm cryin' out
I'm ready now
Turn my world upside down
Find me
I'm lost inside the crowd
It's getting loud
I need you to see
I'm screaming for you to please

Did she really feel so lonely?

Hear me
Hear me
Hear me
Hear me

Well, one couldn't blame her. It was almost parallel, their situations. Stuck in a time not their own. Although his wasn't nearly so drastic.

Can you hear me?
Hear me
Hear me
Hear me
Can you hear me?
Oh, oh, oh, oh...

She sunk back down to the ground.

Hear me
Hear me
Hear me

And then she pressed a button on the box next to her and sighed. He waited for a moment before approaching her.

"Kagome?"

She looked at him like a deer caught in the headlights.

00

Yay! Over 2000 words!

The song I borrowed is 'Hear Me' by Kelly Clarkson. Thanks guys and sorry, cause I guess this is kinda a cliffhanger.

Attention! I need a beta for another story I'm working on. It's Kag/Sess and you must be reliable! The reason 'Be Careful What You Wish For' is on hiatus is because my beta dropped off the face of the earth with the continuation of the story. So if you're up to the task, email me please!