Sango did return home with Miroku while Inuyasha and Kikyo returned West along with Naoko.
Sesshomaru did not return.
Sango found Kagome at her house closed off in her room when they returned. Her parents had been most worried about her as she told them nothing.
Sango let Miroku explain things. He told them everything the best he could, but he did leave out information about the baby she lost. He felt that was up to her to tell if she wanted to tell it.
Kagome didn't come out of her room for days and only did when Kikyo and Naoko showed up a few weeks later.
"You do have a choice in all this," Kikyo told her.
"Do I?" Her voice was void.
"You can choose the path I once lead and carry that jewel alone, or you can choose from two other paths."
Kagome looked away.
"You can return to the South" Miroku added "And marry Kouga" He looked at Naoko who nodded in agreement.
"Or you can go back West," Kikyo said firm.
Kagome looked up at her "No."
"Or you could stay here" Her mother walked in "There is a nice boy who has been calling for you while you were away."
"Is he human?" Kikyo asked suddenly,
"Well yes" Her mother stated,
Kikyo shook her head "That is the only path she cannot take"
Everyone looked at Kikyo.
"Why is that?" Miroku asked,
"Jeweled Mikos not only take on the protection of the jewel but its lifespan, Kagome and I are immune to the effects of time now."
Kagome fell to her butt, and Sango rushed to her "It's ok Kagome."
"I am afraid I did not have time to reveal that to her before Naraku attached, and the jewel took to her of its own accord."
Kagome began to wonder if she ever had a choice in anything up until now. It sure didn't seem like she did.
"Just think, you won't have to worry about sickness or death" Miroku tried to make it sound better.
Kagome slowly looked at him, tears in her eyes "Forever is a long time to be alone without the ones I love."
No one could argue against that.
"But you can still choose" Naoko finally spoke.
Kagome looked back at her family and friends "I don't want to leave my family, not now."
"You do not have to" Kikyo added, "But you must still choose, South or West?"
The sun went down, and Kagome watched it settle and shook her head.
"Kagome it is ok" Sango stated again. "We will stand by you always."
Kagome was angry with herself for feeling the feelings she was feeling. But "I only have one choice."
They all looked at each other and Naoko sighed; she had a feeling Kagome would say that.
"The jewel dictates that I not stay here and-" She swallowed "He made his choice" She placed a had on her belly "It was never meant to be" She looked up "I never wanted this, never asked for this, never needed this" She closed her eyes and let tears fall "But I never knew that he would, that I could-" She couldn't even finish what she was saying.
That day she watched as the sun settled in the West and with it her choice, her only option.
Sesshomaru never came back.
Kagome looked at Naoko, and she didn't have anything. Naoko closed her eyes briefly before opening them a looking at Kagome once more "I will go to my brother for you" She turned "Stay here the South shall come to you."
Naoko knew better than to plead with Kagome, and she knew better than to argue with Sesshomaru. Sometimes you just had to do what you had to do. Naoko had a choice to, so before going South, she veered back West.
It was now or never.