Summary: Kagome and Satoru had always been close, but the presence of the jewel formed a wedge between the pair. It doesn't bother him. After all, as her big brother, Satoru knows he's her favorite. Or, that's what he always assumed. When the spot seems to be at risk of being claimed by another, it strikes a nerve. Who said another could steal her heart from him? It's not fair.

Pairing: Satoru/Kagome

Disclaimer: I do not own either series. Each belongs to their rightful owners.

Chapter One

When she woke up next, she was keen to notice that the room was a lot dimmer than it'd been earlier. She rolled onto her back, blue eyes staring at the ceiling for several long, uninterrupted minutes as a calming silence swept over her. It was a few minutes later when she pushed herself up into a seated position.

She was quiet as she sat there, glancing down at her hands as she let them rest in her lap. Dark lashes fluttered closed as recollection washed over her, a familiar aura in the distance finally able to be detected by her recovering senses. Her eyes opened a second later, a guarded gleam invading the crystal pools.

"... that's right," she whispered. She reached a hand up to burrow her fingers inside the material of her shirt. She couldn't help the somber tone that had sunk into her voice. Her shoulders slumped, and she heaved a soft sigh. "I know I shouldn't be surprised, but…" she stopped herself before the full thought could be spoken aloud. Her grip on her shirt loosened, her hand falling back to join the other in her lap.

She wished she would've had the chance to say a proper farewell, at least. Alas, it seemed that such a thing hadn't been in the cards for her before she'd been all but forced back to her proper time. It hurt to think that after four short years, those faces were destined to become distant memories to her. They'd become a second family to her, and to be unable to have closure left a heavy weight in her mind.

Coming home to the modern era had offered no reprieve, either. The jewel was a source of chaos and potent cursed energy that rivaled very few things. It should've come as no surprise to discover that its presence brought trouble even in the modern era.

She'd thought that she'd found a solution to it while collecting the last few shards, but…- Things weren't that lucky for her, it would seem.

A tired sigh fell from her mouth as she pulled herself up out of the well. Once she'd made her way out of the bottom of the well, Kagome sat down on the creaky ledge, shoulders slumping as her heavy bag fell to land in the grass by her sandal-clad feet.

"What a day…" she exhaled softly, crystal blue eyes straying up to scan the clear sky above. It was a stark contrast to the rainy sky on the other side of the well. As she observed the sky, her hand came up to gently tug the incomplete Shikon no Tama from beneath her haori. She silently glanced over her shoulder, eyes gazing down into the well's abyss.

After today…-

"I think I'm making the right choice," she whispered. Her mother had been sad but understanding as she ever was. Naraku's death long ago had allowed them to slow their pace down, but now the jewel was nearing completion. She'd been thinking for a while now, about what she planned to do in the end. For a few months now, since she'd been able to finish school, she'd been weighing her options a bit more carefully and with a lot more rational thought.

She'd finally mustered up the courage to talk to her mother about it. About her remaining in the past following the jewel's completion. Given the jewel's power and cursed energy, she knew it would be for the best if it remained here. In turn, if it remained, then she would also have to stay.

It was exhausting trying to hide the jewel's energy with her own. It didn't have anywhere near the power behind it in its incomplete form, but it was still incredibly exhausting trying to suppress it under her own in its current state, even if it was only for a few days. The thought of trying to suppress the completed form for the rest of her life seemed daunting. She doubted that she would be able to manage that task.

Here, it would be better off.

At least, that was her belief behind it. Her companions seemed to be in agreement with her and they were more than prepared to shoulder the burden of it alongside her.

With a sigh, Kagome pushed herself up from the well. Her hand landed on the lip of the well.

"I shouldn't go back through," she whispered softly to herself. "It'll be for the best if I don't, at least."

She picked up her bag, placing it back on her shoulders as she made her way down the familiar path that'd lead her to the village. Upon making it to Kaede's hut, she stepped in. The elderly woman was present, but the rest of her group were nowhere to be seen.

"I'm back!" Kagome exclaimed as she set her bag down against the wall. Kaede greeted her warmly.

"The others were unsure of when ye would return," she explained. "They've gone off to a neighboring village to handle a demon."

Kagome nodded, settling down across from Kaede with a smile. "I'll wait for them to get back, then," she said. A silence hung in the air before Kaede nodded in her direction.

"What have ye decided, Kagome?" she asked. A wry smile appeared on Kagome's face as she shrugged.

"I decided I'm gonna stay in the past," she said. "The jewel… with how powerful it is, I don't think I can reasonably expect to go back through the well once it's whole. I won't be able to mask the aura like I can now," she said. "Even now…" Kagome sighed, hands digging into her red hakama. "Trying to suppress the jewel's aura for more than a few days drains my energy too fast."

Kaede nodded. "That might be for the best," she conceded. "Ye won't be scant for help in guarding it here."

Kagome nodded, sharing her sentiments. "I told my mom that I likely won't go back anymore," she said. "She said she understood, but I know it made her sad."

"Should the well remain unsealed, I don't see why ye can't go back every once in a while," Kaede said.

Kagome's expression shifted, blue eyes clouding over faintly. "I need the jewel to go back through…" Even if it was for a brief time, trying to imagine the strain she'd be placed under… She knew it wouldn't have a good impact on her.

"Ye could always try to place a seal on the jewel in order to lock it in a dormant state," Kaede advised. The suggestion made Kagome lift her attention.

"Could I really do something like that?" she asked, the faint echo of hope lining her voice. If the jewel were to fall dormant, then she could freely traverse to and from the past without having to worry about the jewel's impact on the modern era.

"There's no way to know without trying," Kaede responded. "The jewel might be too powerful to be sealed, but I think it's still something ye should consider, Kagome."

Kagome nodded, her hand coming up to gently pull the jewel from where it rested around her neck.

She wasn't sure if she was strong enough to seal something like the jewel, but…-

"I'll give it a shot."

Considering her decisions, there wasn't anything that she'd lose if it didn't work. If it did, however, then she could stand to gain a few things she'd already lost.

Fate would seem to have different plans for her, however. Following the jewel's completion, she was sent back to her rightful time. She tried to seal the jewel, but the results were…-

…- less than desirable.

It had reacted negatively to her sealing attempt, which ended up causing its presence to be detected far too quickly. In response to its presence, they'd decided to get rid of it. To them, that was the only way to go about it, but to do so was much easier said than done.

The jewel bore a strong connection to her from once being locked into dormancy within her soul. The same connection that enabled her to sense its presence from miles away was the same connection that doomed her. To get rid of her jewel, then she, as well, would have to cease to be.

The only reason she was still alive was because of Satoru. That much she knew. What he'd done, what he'd said… She had no clue the method he'd gone about to change their minds. All she knew was that he'd done something. He hadn't confided anything about it to her. As much as she hoped the jewel was gone, or as gone as it could be, she couldn't shake the faint nagging feeling burrowing inside her chest.

She couldn't feel its pull anymore. She had no bearing on its location or status. A part of her hoped that meant the jewel's connection to her had been severed entirely. That the jewel was no longer her burden to carry.

Her movements were slow as Kagome got up out of the bed she was in. Bare feet padded softly across the hardwood flooring as she made her way to the door that'd been left halfway open. It was an invitation, she knew, and she decided to take it before too much time slipped by. She wasn't even sure how long she'd been asleep at this point, but at least her senses were recovering normally.

She could feel Satoru in the distance. He knew she was awake now, yet he'd refrained from coming to her. Instead, he gave her the opportunity to come on her own. Kagome lifted a hand to gently pat down her slightly messy hair as she stepped out into the main hall. It didn't take her long to find him, and her steps came to a slow halt when a pair of blue eyes, much lighter than her own settled on her.

She didn't miss the smile he looked at her with.

"Look at that," Satoru hummed, arms across his chest as he approached her. "You're getting some color back to your face finally." He paused in front of her. "How are you feeling now?" As he stood there, he let his hand thread through her hair, gently combing through the lengthy strands.

The question was one she pondered quietly for a few, long seconds. After a pause, she sighed softly. Her hands fell to land peacefully at her sides. "I'm feeling a lot better now," she admitted. Her voice was soft, quiet. There was no reason to raise her voice, not when he was close enough to touch her. "I think it's because the jewel is gone," she continued. "It's nice not having the weight of it bearing down on me." She paused, a soft smile gracing her features. "I feel a lot lighter now."

His smile softened, threading his fingers through her hair in a soft caress. "You don't have to worry about that anymore." Kagome nodded, not waiting to ignore something that she could take only as a blessing.

"I'm glad…" she admitted, a faint waver lingering in her voice. Her hand came up, deft fingers finding purchase in the baggy material of her shirt. The remainder of what she wished to say seemed to fade away, dying on her tongue as relief coasted through her body. For the first time in forever, it felt like she could actually breathe.

It was such a freeing feeling. One she feared that she would never have the chance to experience due to the jewel's overwhelming, smothering aura. The peace that came from being without it was calming.

He noticed her silence. She didn't voice her thoughts outloud, but what she felt was clearly reflected in her eyes. She'd always been so expressive, after all. She was easy to read.

Satoru didn't break her concentration as his hand slowly shifted from where it rested in her hair, falling slightly to brush along her cheek. His caress was swift, yet gentle as he cupped her cheek in his large palm. He took another step closer to her, his larger frame easily dwarfing her petite size. It did the trick in pulling her attention back to him, and he smiled down at her when her eyes finally returned to his face.

"Aren't you cute when you're focused," he cooed in a faint teasing tone. The remark, paired with his tone, caused a face to take on a light pink hue. He laughed at the reaction he'd garnered. "You know, now that I'm thinking about it, I still haven't told you the best part yet."

Those words piqued her interest, and a curious light seeped into her eyes. She tilted her head to the side. "What are you talking about?"

"Due to your experience, you've officially been approved as my teacher's aide!"

The comment took her by surprise. It showed on her face, but, before she could say anything, he beat her to it.

"I'm sure you're wondering why, huh?" He asked, and she nodded. He grinned. "Well, it just so happens that one of my students has got himself into a predicament with a rather strong cursed object," he explained. "Since you dealt with a situation similar to it, I was able to plead a case for it."

"So that's what you did," Kagome responded. He nodded.

"On top of sealing the jewel," he responded. Satoru looked down at her, a grin on his face. "Anyway, don't pretend like it won't be fun," he stated.

Kagome sighed, a small smile on her face. "I suppose it does sound a little nice," she admitted. If she could help this unfortunate kid deal with his situation, then it couldn't be all that awful, anyway. "If I can help, then I want to do all I can."

Satoru grinned. "I knew you'd say something like that," he remarked. "There's just one little stipulation to this arrangement."

"What is it?" she asked.

"Students and teachers live on campus," he explained. "So, you'll also need to move on campus."

Kagome tilted her head to the side. "How come you're not there now, then?" she asked. "The school year already begun…-"

"I took a temporary leave of sorts to take care of you," he answered. He didn't specify whether he'd been approved to do so or not, just that he'd done so either way. "Since you've recovered, then you should be ready to move in."

The information was sudden, and she was taken by surprise. "Are you sure it's okay?" she asked. "The year's already begun," she reiterated. "Isn't it a little strange for me to join late?"

He shook his head, brushing off her concern. He tucked a lock of her hair back behind her ear. "Not that late," he responded. "Either way, they'll adjust quickly." He paused, looking her over. A second later, he laughed. "I bet they'll warm up to you in no time." She always had a way with kids, after all.

Kagome couldn't argue against it. Not when everything was already decided on. It was set in stone, there was nothing that could change it, but Satoru couldn't help but find her worrying to be cute.

"Anyway…" he continued after a few seconds. "You can't reasonably expect to be let out of my sight," he stated. "This way you're safe and no one has anything to worry about."

The remark caused shadows to form in her eyes as she downcast her gaze. He didn't need to say exactly what he meant. The meaning sank in either way.

"... I know," she whispered.

Even without the jewel constantly bearing down on her shoulders like a beast waiting for a chance to strike, she knew a certain path had been set for her. At least it didn't seem to be that bad of one.

Stepping from the shower, Kagome breathed a soft sigh. Once she'd dried off and redressed, she walked over to the mirror and lifted a hand to wipe the steam fogging the glass up. Through the streaky reflection, she caught her gaze.

"It'll take some time to adjust…" she mused quietly to herself. After a second, she shook her head and looked away from her blurry reflection. She knew she shouldn't worry about it anymore. Not for now, at least. That thought was what lingered in her mind as she left the bathroom.

Walking out into the hall, she nearly collided with the other occupant of the apartment. She caught herself before she could run into his chest, looking up at him in confusion.

"You're all healed up," Satoru remarked. Kagome glanced at her no-longer bandaged arms.

"Mm," she nodded. "Since I've slept so much after coming back, my body was able to recover quicker."

He reached for her as she spoke. Kagome didn't react much outside of observing his actions. He took her by her wrist gently, fingers tracing along her newly flawless skin. She didn't miss the smile on his face.

"Good," he remarked. "I don't like seeing you hurt, you know."

Kagome smiled and stifled the urge to roll her eyes. A second later, she gingerly pulled her arm out of his grip. "I've had worse than that," she stated. "It wasn't that bad, really," she said in an attempt to reassure him. "I'll have you know, I've gotten a lot stronger since the last time you saw me."

He laughed, and Kagome pouted at his reaction. When he noticed her pout, he laughed harder and waved a hand to try and calm her down. "Of course you have."

Kagome huffed, folding her arms over her chest as she glared up at him. "You're making fun of me," she stated. He shook his head to deny it, but he didn't make a very convincing figure.

"Not at all~," he chuckled.

Kagome sighed and turned away from him. She couldn't get too far before he easily curled an arm around her shoulder, tugging her into his side. She couldn't move out of his grasp, and he leaned down so his forehead pressed against her own.

"No, no, I'm not making fun of you," he assured. "It's just cute seeing you so proud of how strong you've grown." He was well aware of just how strong she'd become on her own, and it made him happy. The soft scent of strawberries lingered on her, and he found it hard to let her slip away. After a few more seconds, dragging the moment out for as long as he could, he finally let her go.

Kagome didn't step away immediately after he released her from his grasp. He smiled, letting his hand fall to rest on the small of her back, gently guiding her along with him.

"It's late," he remarked. She glanced up at him as he guided her to the bedroom. "I'm sure you want some sleep. Tomorrow we have to get up earlier to get you moved into the dorms."

Kagome nodded as she sat down on the edge of the bed. Her hands landed in her lap. In the brief time she'd been in the apartment with Satoru, she'd noticed that there was only one bedroom. She was quiet for a few seconds before she looked up.

"Um…"

At the sound of her voice, Satoru looked at her with a curious smile on his face. He already knew what she was going to ask before the words even left her mouth.

"I can sleep on the couch if there's only one bed," she offered. He chucked in response, shaking his head before she had the chance to voice the offer.

"There's no need," he remarked. "We can share."

Her face took on a faint pink hue as she fumbled for words that wouldn't form. Her response made his smirk deepen, a teasing glint reflected in his eyes.

"You mean, sleeping together?" she asked. Satoru hummed, tilting his head ever so faintly to the side.

"Is there something wrong with that?" he asked in a tone she couldn't discern. He approached her, crouching so he was on her level. To do so, he'd set his palms down on the bed. His nose bumped her own, his gaze capturing her own easily. "You used to love sharing a bed," he remarked, a teasing lilt in his tone. He didn't miss the flush of red deepening on her cheeks, much to his satisfaction.

"W-Well…" Kagome trailed off, looking off to the side to avoid his stare. "I-It was different back then."

"Hm?" He tilted his head to the side. "How so?" Of course, he was well aware of that, but he couldn't pass up the opportunity to tease her. A few seconds ticked by before she shook her head.

"N-Nevermind…" she sighed. When she conceded to the idea, he backed up. His hand went to her head, gently patting her hair down.

"Good girl," he remarked. "Go ahead and settle down," he encouraged. "I'll join in a minute."

Kagome nodded, relenting and shifting her weight back to slip underneath the covers. She closed her eyes when her head rested against the pillow. True to his word, he returned a minute later. The light in the room was turned off as he came to join her. It wasn't long before he settled behind her.

It was quiet as he slipped his arm around the bend of her hips, and her face heated up when he rested his nose against her hair, laughing faintly.

"You're so stiff, you know," he remarked. His hand moved, gently rubbing along her arm in a soothing motion. Despite his teasing tone, he actually did try to soothe her. He was keen to note how it worked. Paired with the combination of her recovering energy, she soon ended up falling asleep like that. Once she had, his arm returned to where it had been before, curling around her hips and keeping her fixed close to his chest. Soon enough, his hand moved, slipping just beneath the bottom of her shirt so his palm could rest flush against the skin below. It was warm to the touch, comforting. It didn't take long for his fingers to graze the scar marring the flesh on her hip.

A harsh, glaring reminder of the connection she had to the cursed jewel. The object that nearly took her from him not once, but twice.

He knew she was content without its presence looming over her. However, he wasn't so certain she'd be exactly pleased to know he'd been the one to ensure she remained in the present. He'd made sure the portal to the past was left unsalvagable.

For safety, of course.

"I see," Satoru stated. In front of him was the mother of the blue-eyed miko he'd come to see. "So, she decided to stay there."

Kun-Loon sighed. The smile on her face felt forced. Still, she nodded, trying to maintain a positive outlook and attitude about it all. "Yes. She thinks it'd be for the best," she said. "She's always been so determined," Kun-Loon sighed softly. "I'm not going to try and change her mind. She's well enough off to make her own decisions, after all."

He didn't say anything in response. Kun-Loon offered him a more certain smile.

"Oh, anyway, she's made some lovely friends throughout this journey," she stated. "One in particular- he's able to come through the well like her. I can tell he's got a real soft spot for her, and she really likes him, too. She'll be in good hands."

"Is that so?" Satoru remarked. A smile that betrayed none of his thoughts lingered on his face. "Well, if that's the case, then how can I not be happy for her?"

Kun-Loon's smile brightened. "I figured you'd see it that way," she said.

At first, a type of anger entirely new to him stung his chest. It wasn't until she showed up again, wounded but alive that it swapped to relief. Relief that she was back. Relief that he could change what she'd tried to decide on her own.

Not much remained of the well house that'd once laid on that piece of land. Debris and empty space lingered in the spot where the small building that had been saturated with her energy once resided.

Now that he was standing in the aftermath of his actions, he paused to think.

Maybe he'd acted too rashly. He knew she'd be upset when she saw what he'd done. Knowing her, there'd be plenty of tears and yelling. As good-natured as she was, she was also emotionally driven.

He took a few steps, pausing when his foot landed on a remaining plank of wood. It creaked weakly and snapped under his weight. A second later, he shrugged, a ghost of a smile on his face at the finality of his actions.

"Oh well," he remarked. "What can be done about it now?" he mused out loud to himself. His tone was casual, truly unperturbed by his actions. They cast no shadows in his heart and left no guilt in his mind.

Those words her mother said ran through his mind as he stood there.

"One in particular- he's able to come through the well like her. I can tell he's got a real soft spot for her, and she really likes him, too."

He chuckled, shrugging his shoulders. "Looks like it wasn't meant to be after all."

When she'd been sent back through the well, by some method it'd remained open and as an accessible portal. Once he'd realized that, it was something he swiftly rectified. After all, it seemed like the ideal time to get rid of it.

It came as no surprise that she was missing the friends she'd grown to depend on so much. Honestly, it was expected of her…-

But she'd make new friends. New friends of his own approval. New friends that wouldn't be able to take her away.

She had always been his, and that is how it would stay. No one could stand to be her favorite. Well, other than him, that was.

Auroua-chan: 2/9 Update! Okay, sorry for abruptly taking the prior version of this chapter down hours after publishing it. A few glaring errors were brought to my attention. In short, what happened is the version that got uploaded was an old copy of a prior version. It was a version that was initially written before the story got remodeled into what it currently is. (Because this is an older file that I changed, so what it was at the start is different from its current version.)

I didn't catch that it was the wrong version while uploading because I proofread, closed it out, and then later came back to upload it. When I closed the page after proofreading it, auto-save was off and it didn't save the current version, but a prior one.
I had to rewrite a bit, and add several things that got left out of the other version, which leads this one to be a bit longer than the last one.

If there's any confusion or question about Kagome's age, she's supposed to be 19 (currently) for this story. She's also supposed to be a teacher's aide to Gojo, and not a student.

Gonna end this here. So, Gojo destroyed the well once Kagome returned to the present (without her knowing.) He did what he felt was best for her, only because he loves her.

Anyway, that's it for now! Thank you all for reading, and I hope you all enjoyed! Hopefully I caught all the errors before posting, thank you!

Please remember to Review&Favorite&Follow, thank you!

Bye for now~