Deceitful Time
Chapter Twenty-Seven: Decided

"How did we get here?" Kagome mumbled after Inuyasha helped pull her out of the well, her eyes wondering around to see that they were very much once more five hundred years in the past. Nothing but the open blue sky and green groves surrounded them, the burnt hut had yet to be erected, and the air was fresh.

"I don't know…" Inuyasha replied as he allowed her to lean on him some for support, his gaze glanced down to see that the back of her heel was still bleeding some, "you idiot, I told you not to walk on that stuff."

"Shut up," she whispered, had Shiro not been pulled into the well, too? Gods, wouldn't that be awful? He was already so upset with her that her disappearing into the past once more would only irk him more but when she turned just slightly she saw him jump out of the well, too, and brush off his outfit. He looked about everything but at her and grunted something too low for her to catch what he said. Should she try to talk to him? Should she say how sorry she was again? But… she just couldn't choice yet, what if he asked her to do so right here and now?

"Fuck me," he grumbled lowed enough for her to catch it as he turned around finally to look at her, his eyes narrowed more and it took her just a moment to figure out why—Inuyasha's arms were sort of around her.

"Shi-Shiro," she muttered as she pushed slightly away from Inuyasha but didn't really let go of his suikan.

"Shut up," he ordered with a bit of a growl, "stay away from me!"

"But—!"

"But nothing, just do it!" He ordered before he began off into the trees.

"Shiro! Where are you going?!" Yet, there was no immediate answer and she was highly doubted there'd be any… he was mad. Didn't he have a right to be? Didn't they both? She slowly glanced up to Inuyasha who's own eyes were locked on the area that Shiro had vanished in, "Inuyasha… I'm…"

"It's alright," he murmured before he picked her up, "let's just go back to see everyone. Kaede can look at your heel, too."

"Inuyasha…" she whispered as she closed her eyes, she wasn't going to argue with him. He was probably right, anyway… still, she couldn't help but glance back to where Shiro had gone. He wasn't going to get lost, right? He was going to come back… right? He wasn't going to try and go through the well and return home without telling her, was he?

She guessed the better question was could he. Somehow, she really doubted that… the well seemed to have a mind of its own sometimes and she got the feeling that right now it wanted them here. But… why?

{xoxoxoxoxo}

"Thank you, Kaede," Kagome gleamed as she smoothed her hand over her wrapped foot, "the herbs you put on it makes it feel a lot better, too."

"I am glad to hear that, child."

"Kagome," Shippou started as he hopped onto her lap, "you're gonna stay longer this time, right?"

"I… don't think I can get through the well so I don't think I have a choice," she replied. After all, if she thought she could go home right after Kaede wrapped her ankle she wouldn't have changed out of her PJs and into a spear pair of red hakama and a white haori—it was the typical priestess outfit, and Kaede had one around that fit her just fine.

"The well has been acting very strange lately, hasn't it?" Miroku mused.

"Yep," she sighed as her eyes wondered over to the window that showed her the orange and pink fused sky… the day had passed and Shiro still hadn't shown himself, she wasn't shocked but… no, nothing bad could have happened to him. He was just pissed at her, or maybe he had gotten through the well? But would he have left her alone in Feudal Era when he was so certain that it would seal her death…?

Did he care any longer?

For some reason something sparked in her, it almost seemed to be fired from her very soul, a sudden undeniable need. Where had it come from? It consumed her heart, her body, her mind—they had to end it, they had to find Naraku and kill him. She shouldn't return home until that was done—but why? Where did that come from? She slowly returned her stare from the window to see Inuyasha was sitting in his usual stance in the corner not too far from her, his eyes closed, she was sure he was still trying to make sense of all that Shiro had shouted at him, she wasn't sure how to really approach the subject… particularly the last thing he mentioned, should they even talk about it? It wasn't like the current her was ever pregnant with his child or killed so… She just looked away and to Shippou who was looking up at her with pleading eyes, Sango had a tinge of sorrow to her, and Miroku looked a bit ill… it must be her conscious speaking, tell her to stop being selfish and holding her friends back from what they deserved. Sure, they could go on without her but they were too good, they would never leave her behind like that.

Miroku was dying, yet she fiddled around in her time because of her confused heart?

Sango's soul cried out for her sweet little brother, yet she couldn't be a good enough friend to put her own grief to the side and stay to help her in her search?

Shippou… didn't want her to leave him anymore; she was family to him, so why not stay a little longer?

Perhaps she'd die in the end… but was there stopping it? If she was destined to die wouldn't she no matter where she was? Why not die with meaning? To kill Naraku, complete the jewel she shattered, help Sango retrieve Kohaku, and free Miroku from his curse? Yes. Yes, for sure, that was what she wanted to do… even if Shiro would hate it, even if it meant her own death… for the people she cherished like another family, she couldn't help but want to do just that.

And she would, no matter what; it was what the well wanted—wasn't it?

"I'm staying," she stated with completely certainty. That got all of them to snap out of whatever horrors their minds might have been lingering on and look to her, "I'm staying until Naraku's dead. That's that."

"Really?" Sango awed, "truly?"

"Yes, school can wait, I want to do this," she promised, "I really want this."

"What about that guy?" Inuyasha grumbled.

"Shiro…" Kagome murmured as her gaze locked with the ground, "he can't stop me…" well, she was certain he could probably physically stop her but would he? She got the feeling that right now… if she told Shiro about her choice he'd just leave her but… she couldn't… deny her friend's their lives—because it was just that to them. It wasn't really revenge, it would mean life for Miroku and it would reunite Sango with the only family that she had left. It would give her two friends a chance to start a family of their own, too.

"Alright," Inuyasha even smiled a bit as he closed his eyes once more. If it weren't for the fact that she knew him so well she doubted she would have been able to label that slight curl of his lips as a 'smile' at all.

"I think my foot feels a lot better now," she began meekly as she tried to stand up, there was a twinge of pain but she could walk on it well enough, "I'm going to go look for Shiro…"

"You shouldn't go around alone," Inuyasha protested, right as he was about to get up but Kagome grabbed the set of bow and arrows that were waiting around for her return before he was all the way up.

"Please stay, I won't go any farther than the well, if I can't find him then… I'll come back," she requested with a bit of a pout, she could tell he was debating over his choice a great deal before he sat back down and glanced away with a 'keh'. "Thank you, I should be back soon, hopefully."

{xoxoxoxoxo}

It took some time wondering about in the forest until she came across the Goshinboku tree, the place she first met Inuyasha… why was she not surprised to find Shiro right there? He sat with his back to the tree and his eyes closed almost as if he was sleeping but she was fairly certain he wasn't so she continued to proceed towards him until she was only a mere two or three feet away and knelt down there. He had to know she was there, if he wanted to say something he would…

The sun faded finally from the sky before he bothered to open his eyes and look over to her, she contemplated what to say yet… there was nothing. She could apologize again but what use would that be? He'd only repeat what he had said before—if she was truly sorry, why not pick already? And that's what really scared her… how could she? She should, she knew it, but she never wanted to hurt either of them and whoever she didn't choice… why was she given such power? It was cruel; really, she could break either of their hearts with only a few words, "I choice –insert name here–" and there it would be, a heart would be broken… a heart she cared ever so much about, too.

"I…" he began before he sighed and reached his hand out to her, "should maybe apologize?"

She shook her head as she took his hand, "you… you were right…"

He squeezed hers in his but made no effort to pull her into his embrace, "I… was with Takeo when you kept calling me. I just wanted to avoid you… and then we went to this place called Demonic all night and… it's designed to house or needs."

That sparked her complete interest as she looked up to his eyes, what type of needs did he have met at that place?

She didn't have to ask, he knew that was what her hazels told him she was wondering, but did she even have a right to be mad at him? They were together yet she still had her little moment with his past-self in the cabin, granted, they are literally the same person but that didn't make it alright to him. It was cruel, he knew it, but he remained silent for some time before he decided to reply to her unspoken question, "our demonic needs, hence the name. It's really hard sometimes for me to act like I'm human when I'm not, Kagome," he gripped her hand in his some more only briefly, "I'm a demon, a full demon and that part of me needs to be let out and have fun every now and then. It's hard to hold it in when I'm pissed and I was really pissed."

"I'm sorry for that," she muttered.

"Yeah… I wasn't drunk this morning or anything," he knew she probably had thought that, "was I slurring my words at all?"

She shook her head as she looked away, that just made it worse… if he was so cruel—yet so right—while sober.

"It's just… I have a bad temper and after I let my demon side out all the way for a night it's hard to get it to stay in. When I saw you with him… I just snapped again."

"Oh," she nodded before looking back to him, "we didn't do anything…"

"I know, I didn't smell him on you or you on him…" he muttered as he let go of her hand, "he's probably really irked now, eh?"

"Not so much… I think he's really confused, he's been quiet."

Shiro simply nodded before he shut his eyes once more, "you changed into this eras clothes… I'm guessing that means you wanna stay here, huh?"

"I do…" she whispered, "I understand if you are mad but I have to stay. I can't just keep Miroku and Sango and everyone from their goals because of my own selfishness. I need to help them, do you understand?"

"They can do it without you," he retorted with a wrinkled nose.

"No… they can't, they need my help. I'm going to stay and help them kill Naraku. I won't leave until it's done… if you are mad about that I am sorry. I know you've waited a long time to try and keep me safe but I just cannot abandon my friends. No matter what." No matter if it meant her own death.

He sighed heavily before he stood up and held out his hands for her, reluctantly she took them and let him pull her to her feet; she put all her weight on one instead of the other. Their eyes locked before he nodded and let her go, "I figured… you are difficult. Besides, they well's not working…"

"I figured," she murmured, "Shiro—"

"I refuse to let you go without me," he stated firmly as he grasped her chin to make sure she was looking him square in the eyes, "maybe with two Inuyasha protecting you, you can make it through all of this, huh?"

She smiled lightly before she placed her hands on his, "I promise, I'll make it through everything, Shiro, I'll be OK."

"I hope so," he sighed, "do you need me to carry you back to the village?"

"No it kinda hurts but I can walk on it just fine," she assured as she wiggled her foot. "Shiro… one more thing…"

"What?" he couldn't help but sigh again, he had an ever so terrible feeling about whatever was to come.

"I can't choice," she stated meekly, "will you… not make me until it is all over? When Naraku is dead I swear I'll make my choice."

He glanced away from her for a bit before he muttered something below his breath.

"I'm… not going to be too bad about it, I promise, I won't do anything with either of you. I'll be good about it… I'll try my best not to hurt—"

"Blah, blah, blah," he muttered before he placed his hand on her head and pulled it gently so she would look up at him, "that's kinda a cheap move, huh? You die and you never have to make a choice?"

He picked up on that, did he? She frowned some; she had thought she was being so clever. If she had to die she might as well get something out of it, right? Like… not having to personally break someone she loved so much's heart? "I… didn't think about that."

"Liar," he grinned, "but that's alright, fine, I'll give you that. You know, though," he let his hand slip down to her cheek as he took a step forward, "I don't mind you doing stuff with me while we look for Naraku."

"Shiro," she smiled with a bit of a laugh, "of course you wouldn't."

"Fine," he smiled right back at her, "I'll be good as long as you are."

"Will you behave? You are the older Inuyasha; you should at least try to be the mature one."

He rolled his eyes lightly before he shrugged his shoulders and then nodded, "I'll try my best."

"Promise?" she asked with a tilt of her head.

"I…" he felt so stupid but still, "I promise."

"Thank you."

{xoxoxoxoxo}

"You shouldn't come up here," Inuyasha muttered as Kagome stumbled about to find her way to sit down next to him.

"Yeah, well…" was all she could come up with as she arranged herself properly on the roof of the hut, wrapping her arms around her knees as she pulled them to her chest. "So… Shiro's going to come with us to kill Naraku."

"Keh," he snorted.

"He's strong, he'll be helpful," she promised as she looked up to the stars, "he can't get through the well, either."

"Yeah? So you tried to get through?" He muttered as he glanced over to her.

"Nope," she honestly replied, "I just figure if he can't then I can't and I was serious when I said I won't go back until Naraku's dead."

"Maybe…" he began weakly as he looked away, "it'd… be best if you—"

"Shiro's sorry for acting like an ass," she interrupted, "he didn't mean, well, he did… but all the same, he was right when he said the Kagome he knew isn't me because… none of that stuff has happened to us, I'm still alive," she stated firmly as she looked over to him, "I'm not going to be killed by Naraku. I'm safe. You know I'm here, Shiro didn't know that the other Kagome had returned from my world so he didn't know he needed to protect her. I promise everything's going to be OK, I promise Naraku won't kill me," what a promise… it was wrong, she was sure, to make a promise that she couldn't keep for certain but she wanted to comfort him and it seemed to work because he looked back to her.

"Then what…?" he grumbled, "you are gonna go back through the well with that guy and stay?"

"I don't know," she shrugged, "will you give me until Naraku is dead to decide what I want to do? I promise I'll be good," that she could keep. "We'll just all be friends until the end and then I promise I'll… I'll make a definite choice."

He wrinkled his nose at the idea, "I ain't gotta be friends with that guy."

"Can't you try to get along? It'd be better if everyone got along while we went after Naraku… it's going o be hard enough without you two fighting with each other."

He grunted and looked away, "I… won't fight with him."

"Good enough," she smiled as she returned his gaze to the stars, "it's pretty tonight, isn't it?"

"Yeah…" but the stars weren't what caught his fancy, and she knew that, too.

Tomorrow, they'd leave the safety of Kaede's village. Tomorrow, they'd head out to kill Naraku. Tomorrow, they'd begin the final fight… none of them knew that on their last peaceful night sleeping under the same roof. For once, they all got a restful night; almost as if their bodies knew they needed to prep for the war that was to come…

A/N: I know how I want to end the story but I struggled with this chapter nevertheless. I hope you enjoyed it either way and thank you for all the reviews, it's great.