"Kagome wake up!"
A small weight pressed against me, screaming for me to awaken.
"Shippo…"
I groaned tiredly, attempting to fall back to sleep.
"Ka-go-me! I'm hungry, please wake up!"
His voice continued to whine for me, so I eventually gave in and got out of bed.
"Yay Kagome! Will you play with me after we eat?"
"Shippo, leave Kagome alone. She just woke up!"
I smiled gratefully at Sango, then began to prepare breakfast for everyone.
The group finished eating, then began enjoying our time off. Since Kikyo's in the area, we'll be staying here for a while.
Sango took a walk, Miroku stalked Sango on her walk, Shippo and Kirara were playing hide-and-go-seek, and InuYasha was sulking up in a tree.
"More sleep…"
I climbed back into my sleeping bag and closed my eyes for a small nap. Before I knew it, I had dozed off.
The romantic garden scene came into view again, with the lit up Christmas lights surrounding it. I was in the beautiful gown and the man soon approached me, took my hand, and began to slow dance with me.
"Kagome, you get even more beautiful by the minute."
His voice was so familiar, but I just couldn't place the name.
"Thank you, but who are you?"
"Whoever you want me to be."
I could hear the smile in his voice.
"Kagome."
I turned around, only to see Kikyo standing behind me, her cold eyes staring into my soul.
Once again I sat up abruptly, awaking from the strange dream. Looking around, I noticed that both Miroku and Sango were back, but InuYasha was gone.
"Sango?"
I got up and made my way to my two friends.
"Where's InuYasha?"
The sad, disappointed look on her face told me enough. He was seeing Kikyo.
"I'm sorry Kagome."
Her hand patted my arm sympathetically.
"It's okay, I'm fine."
I tore myself from the conversation and slowly started walking around. Soon enough, Kikyo and InuYasha started coming my way.
"Kagome!"
InuYasha exclaimed, stopping in front of me with Kikyo.
"We have great news!"
He wouldn't tell me until everyone was there, so the three of us walked the short-distance back to camp.
InuYasha had us all sit down as he told his 'great news'.
"Kikyo and me were talking, and she knows where Naraku is hiding!"
This made us interested, so he turned to Kikyo to finish.
"Since his hide-out is hidden well, I will be accompanying you to guide you to Naraku."
That made us a little less interested.
"And Kagome,"
InuYasha turned his attention to me.
"Kikyo says that if she tries, she'll be able to sense the jewel shards so you don't have to anymore."
He seemed genuinely excited about this whole idea. Lucky for him.
I was feeling a lot of emotions, and none of them were pleasant.
"If I'm not looking for jewel shards, then what am I supposed to do?"
I just had to ask, even though I was scared of the answer.
"You can be Kikyo's assistant."
Nice suggestion InuYasha.
Not.
Great. Just Great. As if I wasn't enough insecure about being just the jewel detector and Kikyo's reincarnation. Now my only purpose for helping here is gone, and I'm even being replaced.
Great.
Sango, Miroku, Shippo, and even Kirara shot me these glances that literally read "uh-oh".
Yeah. Uh-oh is right.
"So, what do you guys think?"
I guess InuYasha was sick of the silence that settled upon us, and he was expecting an answer now.
"Well, I mean…I just don't know if that's…if that's a good idea."
Miroku attempted to put in words.
"Oh. Well too bad."
Of course, InuYasha always gets his way.
"U-um, InuYasha?"
My voice was cracking and I knew it meant that I might break down and cry any moment now.
"I don't think I'm gonna stick around here for a while. I think my m-mom needs me at home."
And you know what he said? He looked at me, shrugged and said
"Okay."
Just like that. No arguing, no whining, nothing. Just 'okay'.
"S-S-Sango? Can I borrow Kirara p-please?"
I pushed the tears back and forced a smile.
She nodded glumly and handed her demon-cat over.
"Thanks. I haven't been home in a long time, but I'll be gone for only…"
I stopped to see InuYasha flash Kikyo a huge smile.
"…A long while."
Kirara transformed into her larger form, but before I got on I turned to my group.
"Bye Miroku, Shippo, Sango…"
I paused before finishing.
"Goodbye InuYasha."
I practically choked on the tears in my throat. Good thing he didn't notice. At least I think that was a good thing…
"What? Oh yeah, kay see you."
Once again he turned his complete attention to Kikyo.
Knowing he wouldn't say anything else to me, I climbed up on Kirara and let her carry me off to the well, letting my tears drop the whole way.