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Somewhere Beyond This

Chapter 7: Final Goodbye

I never knew bus rides could be so loud and irritating. Not only do you have to deal with the constant bumps in the road and smell of exhaust, but you have to listen to your classmates talk to each other, each of them raising their voices to be heard over the commotion.

I was lucky that I brought my headphones. They would be able to block out everyone else's conversation for the time being. I glanced out the window and watched the landscape fly by in a blur of green. I heard a scream from beside me and shifted my eyes, half intrigued as to what Sango was upset about this time. I shook my head at the red hand print splayed proudly across Miroku's face. Should have known the lecher would try something.

"Attention everyone," Totosai tried yelling over the roar of his students. I turned off my music, hoping I wouldn't have to screech at everyone to be quiet. Luckily, the old man knew what he was doing this time. "Silence!" he shouted, causing even the bus driver to slow down and glance in her rear-view mirror. Everyone blinked at him, all conversations quieted. Never expected the geezer to have it in him.

"Ahem." He cleared his throat and folded his arms, his big bug eyes leering at us from the front seat. "In about five minutes we will be pulling up to the airport. I'm sure your parents are already waiting to see you off. You will have twenty minutes to do as you please before meeting at Gate 3 where I will hand you your ticket." Yuka raised her hand. "Uh, yes?"

She sat up farther in her seat. "What about our luggage?"

"Oh, that's right." He pounded his fist into his hand and looked around for a moment before spotting Sesshomaru in the seat across from him. "Do you recall where the luggage is being kept?" he whispered to him.

Sesshomaru gave him a sideways glance. "Do you believe that this Sesshomaru would know where a foolish man placed the suitcases?" I couldn't see his face, for his back was facing me, but whatever he did sure frightened Totosai.

The old man backed away and seemed to be cowering against the window farthest from Inuyasha's brother. "R-right, of course," he stammered, obviously a bit scared of one of his former students. I shook my head.

"Dumb ass," I heard Kouga mumble from behind me. "All of our carry-on luggage is back here and the rest you stored in the compartments under the bus."

Our professor looked at him with a blank expression. "I did what?" He paused, as if thinking about his earlier actions that day. "Oh yes! That's right!" A collective groan swept over the bus. To think this man even had a job. "When we depart the bus, you will follow Sesshomaru and myself inside the airport. The luggage that you are not taking with you will be picked up by the airport baggage handlers. Any other questions?" No one said a word, probably because the building was looming just ahead and we didn't want to waste too much time with Totosai scrambling about to remember things. "Okay then, when the bus stops, follow me."

"Do you think we'll have time to grab a bite to eat before we get on the plane?" Rin whispered across the aisle. I shrugged. Although each of us were excited about the forthcoming trip, I couldn't help the foreboding feeling that had taken place in the pit of my stomach.

As the bus came to a complete halt, everyone immediately jumped out of their seats and rushed towards the door, leaving me and Sango stranded in the seats until everyone else left. "Come on, Kags," Kouga called, waiting patiently for the both of us to exit.

"Thanks," I mumbled, taking my place ahead of him. I hooked my purse on my shoulder as well as a small duffel bag I had packed with things to do on the plane ride. It was supposed to be a really long flight, although Totosai forgot to mention to us how many hours it would take. Miroku might know. I should probably ask him later.

Sunshine and the smell of gasoline greeted us as we stepped off the school vehicle. I coughed a few times, not too happy about the exhaust. But soon I would be up in the air, flying over a large expanse of ocean towards a new adventure. At least, that's what I hoped it was going to be. "Hey, Kagome," Ayumi called, waving me and Sango over. I smiled and trudged up to her, Kouga close behind me. Yuka and Eri were beside her, backpacks slung over their shoulders. "Are you excited about the trip?"

I nodded. "Yeah, its going to be great."

"I wonder who we'll be sitting next to on the plane ... " Eri mumbled, glancing over at Totosai as he hauled his carry on towards the building.

I giggled at his reaction, receiving curious stares from my friends. "Never mind," I said, waving it aside. "So, want to grab a bite to eat before we go?"

Sango shook her head. "Ugh, plane rides and food don't really do well with me."

"So you're not going to eat the entire way there?" I asked, a bit confused.

"Hey," Miroku called, walking over to us. "Maybe we should get going. Don't want to waste time standing around here."

I sighed. "Yeah, yeah. We're coming ... " We walked through the doors of the airport terminal and were greeted with crowds of people. "Busy much?"

"We're not the only ones going on a trip, Kagome," Ayumi said with an innocent look.

"I think she was being sarcastic," I heard Yuka whisper to her. I held back a smile.

While we walked through the building, we struggled to keep up with one another. Totosai said Gate 3, which happened to be on the opposite side of the long row of gates. Why couldn't the old man make the bus deport us on the correct side? "We've got about fifteen minutes," Miroku informed us, glancing at his watch. "Why don't Kouga and I take the bags to the right terminal and catch up with you guys in a few minutes?"

Sango and I exchanged glances. "You're going to carry all of our bags?" she asked with a raised brow.

He looked at us curiously. "Uh, yeah?"

Men can be so stupid sometimes. "Okay," I mumbled. "If you say so." The six of us girls threw our bags into their hands and stepped back, no longer able to see their faces.

"Hurry up and come back. We'll be over here," Eri said with a giggle, pointing towards a small cafe. We heard a muffle of a reply from behind the suitcases and our laughter grew before we watched them stumble towards the correct gate. At least, I think that was the right direction.

"Lets just grab something and go," Rin suggested. "By the time they get back, it'll be too late."

"I guess you're right," Sango said with a pout. She really was enjoying the time harassing Miroku. Pay back's a bitch, isn't it?

We ordered some snacks to go (we all happened to have a sweet tooth, which amounted to cookies and chips) and began walking back to the third gate, only to see Kikyo and Inuyasha standing off to the side in their own little world. My chest started aching and an angry fire lit within me. "Hey, isn't that Yash and Kikyo?" Ayumi pointed out, bringing my friends' attention to the couple. Please, let the earth swallow me whole.

"Yeah, you're right," Yuka said, peering over at him as we passed.

I continued to face forward, pointedly ignoring him. Why should I care if he was smacking lips with Kikyo? "Hey guys!" Miroku came running up to us, clearly out of breath, with Kouga on his heels. "Wh-what happened t-to the food?" He stopped before us and placed his hands on his knees.

Rin held up our bag of treats. "Sugar or salt?" she asked with a serious expression.

Kouga came next to me and wrapped his arm around my waist. "What the hell?" he asked dully. "You expect us to eat that crap?"

"Either that or the airplane food," Eri said before she, Ayumi, and Yuka walked passed them, snickering.

"I suppose it will have to do," Miroku said dejectedly, grabbing a bag of potato chips and began walking towards Gate 3, Sango and Rin following close behind.

My boyfriend placed both of his arms around me. "Hey beautiful," he greeted with a dazzling smile. Although, to me it wasn't so dazzling. "You excited?"

I forced a grin. "Of course," I replied with a hint of excitement. "I'm always excited to go and visit America on a class trip."

His smile faltered for a moment. Bet you any money that he was talking about the time we would be able to spend alone together at the hotel. Totosai was our chaperon, along with Sesshomaru, but did anyone really believe that they would either care or remember to watch after us college students? Probably not. Nonetheless, his smile had returned in a moment and his eyes were focused solely on mine. "That's not what I was talking about," he mumbled in a suggestive voice. He placed his lips against mine in a tender kiss and, even though it felt a bit awkward, I kissed him back.

"Come on, you love birds!" I heard Sango call from a few feet away. "We've got a plane to catch!"

I dropped my face from his and casted my eyes downwards. "We should go," I simply stated, pulling out of his arms and walking in the direction of our plane. I only had a few seconds alone before his hand slipped into mine and gave it a tight squeeze. I sighed. Did you ever notice how confusing love can be? Or not be? I shook my head to get rid of the migraine that was beginning to form. Oh, why couldn't life be simple?

X.x.X.x.X.x.X

When we were told that our parents would be waiting for us, I had expected my mother to be there with a hug waiting. I did not expect to see my mother standing there with two large suitcases and Ayame by her side. I stepped away from my group of friends to greet her. "Hey mom," I whispered to her, immediately embracing her. "Whats with the extra baggage?"

She smiled at me. "Oh, they're just some extra things me and Sango's father packed for you girls."

"Thanks, I guess," I said with a sheepish smile. "But all of our luggage has already been loaded and I don't think these will fit in the carry-on compartments."

Ayame shook her head. "Actually, we already spoke with the security. They have a special holding room in the back for extra baggage. So its all taken care of."

I grinned and enveloped her into a hug. "You guys are great. Didn't expect to see you here though."

She stepped away and quickly glimpsed our friends behind us. "I just wanted to see you off and wish you good luck on your trip." She handed me some extra money and squeezed my hand shut. "Buy me a souvenir?"

I nodded. "Of course."

"Gate 3 - destination Los Angeles, California - now boarding," a man announced over the intercom.

The three of us glanced up at the voice before gazing at each other once again. "Well, thats my cue."

"Goodbye, dear," my mother said, enveloping me in a brace once more. "Take care of yourself."

"Yeah," Ayame chimed in, giving me a hug as well. "I'll be waiting to hear all about your adventures."

I grasped both suitcases in each hand and smiled a final farewell. "Don't worry, I'll be back before you know it." For some reason, those words seemed like a lie on my tongue. With a wave, I walked towards our gate with the new suitcases in tow and met up with Kouga, who had grabbed my other bag. I listened to the happy conversations my friends were having around me.

I looked back to where my mother and Ayame stood, waving a goodbye to me. I nodded to them before stepping through the gate and walking through the tunnel to the plane. And then a feeling took over the pit of my stomach. Wanting to turn around and run back to the safety of your mother's arms is never a good thing. But what could I do? My ticket was paid for, my luggage boarded, my friends waiting expectantly for me. I continued walking, watching as the two women disappeared when the doors closed. There was no turning back.

A/N: Hope you liked this chapter. Its a bit short and kind of a filler, but its setting the stage for the next chapter.