"Title"
Thoughts
Flashbacks
Flashback thoughts
I can't believe he did it again. You would think that as many times as he has done this in the past I would get it through my head that he wants Kikyo and not me. But seriously does he think we don't notice when he gets up in the middle of the night and leaves to go to her? I wish I didn't love him… that I didn't feel this way every time I saw him, thought of him, heard him or smelled him…ok even to me that sounds gross. I wish I could just get over him! I look at the door. Should I try and find him to make sure Kikyo does not drag him to hell? I shake my head at myself. He would probably like that, seeing as how even after we defeated Narku three years ago we still didn't get all of the jewel shards together. I continue to look out the door. He would probably just accuse me of spying on him again. But still it is only three days till the full moon and I know how vulnerably he is then….
I look around the hut that Kaede had given me after tiring of us always bunking in her hut. This helps because I seem to be gathering quite a band of people around me. There was a bunk for each of the people who had come to mean so much to me over the years. In the eight years since I meet them we had all changed in some way or another. Sango with her lovely brown hair and coffee colored brown eyes while no having changed in appearance she had become a lot easier going. Miroku no longer has to worry about being killed if his perverted thoughts make their way to his hands. As a matter of fact Miroku still looks the same with his shoulder length black hair slung back in a low ponytail and his dancing violet eyes, no longer groups random women or asks them to bear his children. That is not to say that he quite his pervert ways all together, he just focus that and his grouping on the Demon Slayer who has captured his heart. He says it happened the moment that he laid eyes on Sango, but I know it happened when she knocked him to the ground for grabbing her ass. I guess it was no surprise to learn that Miroku had finally proposed while I was gone a month back. I am glad that their wedding day is approaching fast… I look over at the couple who had moved their bunks together and were snuggled up together laying their heads on Kirara's warm cream colored belly. Kirara had grown a lot in the last eight years too but other than that had stayed her sweet loving self. Shippo on the other hand has changed the most, gone is the cute little four year old that so captured my heart that I had adopted him in this era. His cute baby fox tail, fur and ears are now gone replaced by sleek ears, tail and darker fur. He had shot up a couple of more feet and has even begun to master his fox demon powers.
My mind begins to wonder to the people who are absent from the group. My rival Kikyo has not changed over the years…Well being dead kind of does that to you. From there my mind wonders to InuYasha, all the years of fighting Naraku had turned his body into a woman's midnight fantasy. His puppy ears were still their sexy although they had become a little sleeker and he could hear things from a greater distance now. His claws have started to become longer and more lethal when he is mad. His beautiful amber eyes now have a few laugh lines around them, while he is still his cranky mean self most of the time he now will let loose and joke and laugh with the group instead of sitting to the side and watching like he use too.
I run my hands through my hair and over my dark blue tank top and cotton sleeping shorts in frustration. There is no way I am going to be able to go back to sleep now. I head outside and sit under a tree and stair up at the stars in the night sky. I let the piece of the moment take over. A noise to my right snaps my head in that direction. Well it is about time!
"You finally see enough of Kikyo and decide to come back and get some sleep?" I ask casually.
"I am not sure InuYasha would be happy to know that you are out here all alone and unprotected." His voice can still send shivers down my back after all these years! My eyes widen as Sesshoumaru steps out into the moonlight. Even he has changed since I meet him all those years ago. He is still unbelievable sexy in a leave me alone or you will regret it kind of way but I works for him. He looks so much like Inuyasha now that it hurts my heart to look at him. Except for his Inu marks that are always visible on him they could be twins now. He has become a decent guy since Rin entered his life. "Besides I don't think Rin would like me visiting Kikyo do you." He asks with a grin.
"Where is Rin anyway?"
"Knowing her she will be here at any moment." He looks over his shoulder and before my eyes I see his face lights up as he hears her and then as we both see her as a beautiful girl with long brown hair, very light brown eyes and a short brown and white kimono comes into view.
"Hi Kagome!" She says. Wow I still can not get over how beautiful she has become in the years since I meet her, even her voice sounds beautiful like shrine bells to me. Just look at how she tamed the beast. I glance at Sesshomaru and catch him staring at Rin with love in his eyes. Wish I had someone to look at me like that.
"Hey Rin. Did Sesshomaru try and leave you at home again?" I smile at her.
"Yeah you would think by now that he would know it was pointless. I guess he will never learn that lesson though." She says as she smiles up at Sesshomaru. He winks at her causing her to blush and turn back to me with a laugh. "So where is Inuyasha? I want to…" I try to hide the quick gasp that the name brings out of me, but Rin has already heard me. I try to smile at her but it slips and I can fell my happy mood begin to fade. "Don't tell me…Did he go to Kikyo again?" She gives me the look that all my friends have begun to adopt about this subject. Her eyes are full of sadness for me and hope that he will finally realize what he is doing to me. I sigh.
I really hate that look. I know they mean the best but… "Looks that way." I try to sound casual but I can tell she is not buying it anymore than I am.
"He does realize how close it is to the full-moon right?"Sesshomaru asks getting the evil glow in his eyes that we all know so well, the one he has when he is planning something that can not be good. Rin whorls around to face him her hands going to her hips. I guess his tone must have alerted Rin. I think I will let her take care of this for me. I sit back and watch the show.
"You don't have to sound all evil about it. Remember you two made up." She tosses her hair over her shoulder giving away just how agitated she really is.
"Oh I remember the deal you got me to agree. That does not mean that I can let him get to the shards before I do." He yells at her. I think that is my Que.
"Later guys." I wavy as I head into my hut but I can tell neither of them have heard me take my leave.
3 Days Later…
"Kagome, I don't see how you put up with this."
"Sango, what else can I do? Go home? You know I can't. That would mean leaving all of you not just that pig headed jerk. I can't do that to Shippo." I look out across the meadow at my adopted son. I smile as I watch him sneak up behind Miroku and steal his staff. He will never change in that respect. I hear him giggle as Miroku reacts the same way he always does. I glance back at the woman who has became the sister I never had and we smile. "Besides I gave up on Inuyasha a long time ago. Who knows I may even find another guy someday soon."
"That would serve his ass right." She looks at me and I can tell that she believes my story about as much as I do. "Oh yeah Koga was by here when you went home the last time. He says that he misses his woman and that it has been over a year since he got to see you." Not this again. I thought I had stopped him from saying things like that about me.
"It has been a year since I saw Koga last hasn't it. Wow the time flies. I just never have the time to go see him anymore. I guess being a powerful wolf demon leader and a powerful milko doesn't really allow us the time to spend on our friendship." Now that I think about it I really do miss him.
"Well he said he would be back by in a few weeks to check and see if you were back yet." She gives me a sly look. "You could always take Kirara and Shippo and go see him for a while. It might even do you some good."
"I don't know…" movement catches my eye. I look over and see InuYasha and Kikyo walking through the forest together towards my hut. What the hell! InuYasha's amber eyes being so much darker than normal tells me that the full moon that will happen tonight is already beginning to take effect on him. I so cannot deal with this! I spin around and walk into my hut. "I think your right about my going away for a while." I look over at Sango who has followed me into my hut. She sees how mad I am and decides to wait for me to talk first. "Will you go and get Shippo for me and tell Kirara what we will be doing." I watch her as she nods her head and walks out the door. I begin to grab cloths for me and Shippo for a few days then stuff them into two knapsacks. Shippo comes running into the hut just as I finish packing our cloths for the trip.
"Are you going home again so soon?" he asks me as his ears droop. I turn around and smile at him. How could I ever leave someone who loves me and would miss me this much?
"No. You and I are going to take a vacation like a normal family." I ruffle his hair affectionately. "Can you think of anything you else you may need. I have your clothes already packed." I can't help but laugh at the look of pure delight on his face.
"Nope. When is everyone else going to pack? When do we leave?" He asks so fast that his words run together.
"Well you see we are the only ones going so there is no need for the others to pack." Hope this does not crush his hopes. I notice that he is so excited that he can hardly stand still.
"Really, just you and me?"
"You bet!" With that he rushes over and grabs his knapsack and my hand. When we immerge from the hut I see InuYasha and Miroku talking in low voices as Kikyo and Kaede talk a little ways away from the guys. My heart breaks into a million pieces. This can only mean one thing. InuYasha finally proposed to her. We make it to Kirara and Sango without me even noticing.
"So what is going on over there?" I ask.
"I think InuYasha is trying to get Kikyo…"
"Never mind I don't want to know." I interrupt. I turn to Shippo. "Why don't you hand me your bag and go give Kaede a hug, Miroku too. Who knows how long we will be away for?" He hands me his bag. Don't let InuYasha know what you are doing. "Just don't tell them we are leaving, okay. Sango will tell them after we head out. I look at Sango and catch her slit nod. I add in a side whisper "You know how InuYasha is. He will have a fit if we try and take a break from looking for the shards."
"Okay." He winks at me and runs off in that direction.
"Sango help me hurry up and get these on Kirara while they are too busy to notice." We hurry and put the bags on Kirara's back. "Sango please wait till we are out of sight to tell them. I know you already know this but don't tell InuYasha where I am going. She gives me a hard look but I can see the laughter twinkling in her eyes. I climb up a Kirara's back in front of the bags hoping to hide the bags from sight, by this time Shippo is back and climbing up in front of me.
"I even gave InuYasha a hug bye." He tells me in a whisper. "I told him that we had to go pick herbs like we always do." This admission makes me smile.
"You are such a smart boy." I tell him lovingly. I watch as he puffs up with pride. "Ok, Kirara we are ready. Bye Sango. Give Miroku and Kaede a hug for me. Tell them that we will be back soon. Love ya!" I say as Kirara begins to rise. Miroku looks up and waves to me and Shippo, the look in his eyes tells me he already knows what is happening. I smile and wavy back. I fight the tears till we are high enough that only Shippo will be able to tell, a single tear runs down my cheek. "Ok, Kirara take us to Koga."
