For the next few weeks, Hinoko continued to hand out with Kagome and the girls, until they introduced him to Hojo. They seemed to get a long pretty well, and Hojo seemed delighted to have a new friend. After that, Hinoko stopped hanging out with the girls all of the time and only did when Hojo did.
It grew closer and closer to winter vacation. Timed seemed to fly by for Kagome since she was no longer traveling back and forth, from her era to Inuyasha's era. And before she knew it, it was the day before winter vacation, and she was sitting with Ayumi, Eri, Yuki, Hojo, and Hinoko at a table during lunch.
"So, I still can't believe we're almost done with our first year of high school!" said Ayumi.
Kagome sighed then took a bite of her lunch. She swallowed it, and started to talk.
"I can't believe it either," said Kagome and only half aware of what she was saying, because she was wonder how she was going to spend her vacation. Last time she was with Inuyasha in his era, and at one point was forced through the well, and left thinking that she would never see Inuyasha again. Fortunately, she and Inuyasha found a way against all odds to communicate with each other and break through the entangled vines in the well. But this time, this time there would be no return this time she wouldn't see Inuyasha again.
"So Hinoko," started Eri, "where are you going for vacation?"
"Oh, uh my family owns a shrine up north, but I live here during school, so I'm going there for vacation."
"So you'll be there the whole winter," said Yuka.
"Yeah I guess so," said Hinoko, "I have to help out at the shrine."
"So your family owns a shrine too?" asked Eri, looking from Kagome to Hinoko, "So does Kagome's!"
Hinoko looked at Kagome, surprised. Kagome still only half there, didn't notice.
"Really?" asked Hinoko, "That's cool!"
Hojo coughed, and tipped his drink over accidentally. It poured all over Kagome's skirt, waking her from her daze.
"Oh my gosh Kagome!" said Hojo, jumping up and grabbing napkins to help clean it up.
"Hojo!" said Kagome, trying to talk over Hojo who was freaking out while helping Kagome clean up the mess, "it's okay! Calm down!"
Hojo grabbed some more napkins at the same time Kagome did and their hands touched. Hojo's face became even more red and he pulled it back instantly. Kagome smiled at him, as he straightened up.
"Really Hojo," said Kagome, "Its okay!"
She finished with a smile reassuring him that it was alright. He scratched his head and picked up his things.
"Ok, I'll see you guys later, and have a great winter vacation!," said Hojo as he turned around and started to walk off, "Come on Hinoko."
Hinoko gathered his stuff and began walking off to Hojo.
"Good Bye you guys! And Have a good vacation!" said Hinoko as he ran to catch up to Hojo.
"You too!" Yuka, Eri, and Ayumi Yelled back at him.
When they were out of sight, they turned right back to Kagome. They all had a curious look on their faces. Kagome knew what was going to happen next.
"So," started Yuka, "Inuyasha, what's up with him?"
Kagome let out a sigh.
"Well, uh, he had to move and we can't see each other ever again!" said Kagome trying to sum everything up in one sentence. She shined a fake grin at them, but as much as she tried to cover it up, they knew she was in pain. The girls new they had to drop the subject. Then the bell rang.
Kagome was walking up the steps to her home, when she reached the top she, walked straight to the Sacred Tree and stopped right in front of it. A few moments went by, as she stood there and just stared at the tree, looking at the barren spot, where Inuyasha's body once lay pinned against it. She walked over the little fence that surrounded the tree, and placed her hand on the barren spot. She stroked her hand back and forth over the spot. In that instant a memory seemed to spark in her mind.
She was back in the feudal era, the night she had met Inuyasha, and the centipede demon was after the jewel in her body. She was pinned up to Inuyasha against the tree. She remembered his voice. She remembered the question of whether she wanted to live or not. She chose to live. She remembered everything, pulling out the arrow, and how the centipede demon had almost crushed her to death, but she was saved by Inuyasha. Then she was back.
She walked back over the fence and started toward the well. This was almost a ritual she had done every single day since she came back from the feudal era. She hadn't even noticed, her body just seemed to move without her being conscious of it.
She slid the doors open and walked down to the well. She stared into its darkness, and before she knew it she jumped. Her feet hit the ground and legs gave out, only to be followed by her knees slamming into the cold, damp, and rocky ground. She finally woke up from her daze, and then the pain hit her. She shook her head and climbed back up the ladder.
Her family was waiting for her inside with dinner. After dinner she went up to her room and fell asleep. Thinking of Inuyasha, like every night.
She closed her eyes. The first image that came to her head was Inuyasha. Then she was sitting in a cold metal chair, surrounded by people, all wearing blue and black gowns. She noticed some of the people. Most of them were from her school. They were all on a stage. There was a big crowd of people in front facing all of them. They looked like parents or relatives of the students sitting next to her. She noticed that it must've been at a graduation. Then everything went black. She opened her eyes, and squinted. She turned to look at her alarm clock, it was 6 am. It was the first day of winter vacation.