Serena just couldn't believe this. After all this time, getting to know everyone and working together to locate the pendants to save Termina, Link suddenly came to a decision, a selfish one at that. Simply put, he would turn his back on everyone and venture out into the world by himself, yet again.

No. She didn't want to see him all alone again. She'd seen it before; he was always so pitiful and for years, never spoke a word, and she feared he would return to that state yet again, maybe even worse. Somehow she had to stop him before he did anything reckless.

"I won't let you!" She cried before buzzing around his head irritably, which in turn caused Link to step away in annoyance before attempting to stop her incessant flying. "How could you do this? Think about their feelings!"

"I already have…" He replied with a sigh.

Serena's light brightened intensely. "What about Kagome, or Shippo? You know those two really care about you! Shippo even looks up to you!"

"Yeah…I'm well aware, Serena…"

As she watched him saunter past her through the thicket of trees, Serena felt her light flicker and dull slightly. Her illuminescent wings drooped in discontent as she slowly followed after her companion.

OOO

"They are not friends of mine."

That's what he heard. This entire time, Link had never once thought of them as friends. What was he playing at then? So this entire time, he planned to simply turn his back on them? What was the point in cozying himself up to everyone? As if he would let Link do that…Just what the hell was he thinking? What gave him the right to make such a brash decision?

As he stomped back to the camp, Inuyasha glared. What was he doing just walking away from that? Hell, he could have approached Link and questioned him about the entire ordeal, but he was so infuriated that he couldn't even think straight.

Ahead, he saw the flickering fire of the camp come into view, his friends still awake as they awaited his return, but of course he arrived empty handed and pissed to boot. He didn't care if he stomped into camp, worrying his companions who were at this point staring at him curiously, and it took all of his will power not to punch someone in the face.

"Inuyasha? What's wrong?" Kagome stood up and approached him worriedly. It had to be something, she was sure, that had riled him up.

"Did you and Link get into a fight?" Miroku questioned.

Inuyasha turned on them, scowling in obvious irritation. "I guess I was right. I should never have put my trust in him!"

Sango and Miroku shared a look before they stepped away from the fire to stand alongside the baffled priestess. By this point, even Shippo was awake, staring confusingly between his friends and Inuyasha as he quietly munched on his fish from Kagome's sleeping bag. Kirara merely tilted her head as she watched them.

"What do you mean?" Miroku inquired, and at this, the half demon growled.

"Didn't I tell you there was something strange about him? But none of you would listen!"

Reaching out, Kagome gently grasped his arm before looking him dead in the eye. What on earth happened to get him so riled up? She couldn't remember the last time she'd seen him like this. "Inuyasha…"

Miroku stepped up and patted him on that shoulder. "Calm down and explain in detail what happened. We won't understand otherwise if you're like this."

Inuyasha grunted before pulling away from both the monk and the priestess, who said nothing at the loss of contact. "I overheard Link and Serena talking. Doesn't need our help, so he plans to leave," He explained.

Kagome gasped. "What? Leave?"

"Could you be more specific about why he plans to leave?" Sango asked.

"What's there to explain?" The half demon asked before crossing his arms in his sleeves. "From the very beginning he never considered us friends! Probably never trusted us either!"

"What?" Miroku blinked confusedly.

"You heard me! I heard everything!"

Now this didn't make sense at all, especially to the monk, who looked on perplexedly. Link wanted to leave them? He didn't consider them friends nor did he trust them? "I'm sure you must have misheard, Inuyasha. I don't believe Link would ever betray us."

"He's right!" Shippo agreed as he bounded to Sango's side before staring up at the half demon expectantly. "Link is our friend. I can tell! Why else would he stick around with us, protecting us?"

Inuyasha gave the child a look. "Why else? To collect the pendants of course!" If he had to guess, he had a feeling Link intended to take all of the pendants with him if he seriously planned to head out all on his own. Like Inuyasha would let that happen!

Miroku sighed before rubbing his chin in deep thought. "I did not plan this night to be so complicated…"

"Link isn't the kind of person to turn his back on others," Kagome defended, which of course earned her a glare from Inuyasha. "I think I know him well enough."

"Of course you would say that!" He bit out irritably, causing the young girl to step away baffled as he approached her reprovingly. "Hell, you'd say anything nice about him!"

She frowned. "What exactly is that supposed to mean?"

"You're in love with him!" He accused. "Hell, you make it obvious!"

Gasping in surprise, she immediately raised her hand and slapped him across the face, which in turn caused him to defiantly glare at her harder. "What does my love life have to do with any of this?!"

Miroku and Sango shared a look.

At her loud outburst, he grasped her wrist and leaned into her, much to everyone's surprise, and it was such a shock that Kagome tried to pull away, but he was much stronger. "Figures you would take his side!" He growled before reaching his clawed hand toward her. He wasn't going to hit her, only hold her against him. Why did she have to love that kid? Why not himself?

At this moment, Miroku reacted instantly before quickly pushing Kagome out of harm's way and placing himself in between the two. "That's enough! Inuyasha, we understand how upset you must be, but taking it out on your friends isn't a wise decision!"

"Butt out, Miroku!"

"I won't!"

Beyond enraged, Inuyasha did the first thing that came to mind. Reprovingly, he raised his fist and with a force so strong, he sent the monk to the ground easily; it was difficult to withstand such a punch. In the end, he towered over him, watching as Miroku lifted himself onto his elbows before rubbing the blood from his swollen cheek. "Stay out of my way, Miroku! I'm warning you!"

"Sit boy!"

"Inuyasha, what's wrong with you?" Shippo cried worriedly as he eyed the small crater before the irate priestess.

Rushing to the monk's side, Sango inspected the injury. From what she could discern in the dark, he had a cracked lip and he was already beginning to bruise. "Are you alright, Miroku?"

He nodded. "It seems his temper has caught up with him this time around…"

Clenching and unclenching her hands, Kagome felt so much bitterness for her half demon friend. Really, there was no reason for him to get so upset over something that could have been a misunderstanding. Still, taking it out on others was not the best way to solve anything. Before she could sit him again, her brown orbs suddenly looked away from the face-planted, scowling half demon to a lone individual standing near the edge of camp with his fairy companion. "Link?"

All heads turned in his direction, including that of Inuyasha.

Well, he thought he heard a commotion on his way toward camp, and by the looks of it, it seemed to weigh heavily on Inuyasha's part, seeing as how he was at the priestess's feet, kneeling in a crater the size of his body. Then there was Miroku, who was offered assistance by the slayer to regain his standing; his lip was bleeding, and he guessed Inuyasha and him must have fought.

Somehow, Link had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach that said this was his entire fault. He knew the half demon had eavesdropped on his and Serena's conversation, so could that be the reason?

Feeling a little tired, and her light still dimmed to a faded pink, Serena eyed the camp questionably. "What the heck happened to you guys?"

A certain half demon didn't hesitate to stand up and approach him, but he only walked half the distance before Kagome and Sango held him back. "Why don't you tell us, Link?"

"Huh?" Serena had no idea what he was talking about.

The half demon glared. "You heard me…You were planning on betraying us all along! From the very start, you never considered us friends!"

Serena gasped. "You…overheard?"

Hearing this, and of course, not expecting to anyway, Kagome gasped. "You mean…it's true?" How could that be? No, it had to be a mistake.

Link said nothing but looked away. Well, now they knew the truth. Maybe it was better this way.

"Link?"

He looked up, into the eyes of confused and frightened young girl with long raven hair. From the look on her face, she didn't seem to want to believe that he was leaving, and he hated telling her the truth. Still, he didn't want to leave, but he knew that it would be for the best. "Sorry…"

"What the hell are you just standing there for? If you're going leave, then get going! We won't stop you!" Inuyasha replied with a turn of his head.

"You've got it all wrong!" Serena exclaimed. "You didn't hear the whole conversation!"

"I heard enough to understand that you were only using us. Acting like you were our friend then in the end deceiving us. You got what you wanted, didn't you? So leave. Get out of here! I'm tired of looking at you…" With that said, he turned his back to the boy and his fairy before jumping up into a tall tree to brood.

This was not turning out to be a very good night.

"I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation. Let's hear them out," Miroku replied, but Inuyasha simply ignored him and the others, feigning sleep.

"I agree!" Shippo exclaimed before bounding over to Link curiously. "You're our friend, right? You'd never leave us unless you had a really good reason, right?"

Link slowly nodded, but this only earned a disapproving look from the fairy at his side.

Ambling next to him, Kagome looked him over before staring into his eyes questionably. He really didn't seem like himself, and all this seemed a little distressing to him, by the looks of it. Even Serena didn't seem very well looking either. "Why? Do you really want to leave us?"

Inuyasha huffed from his place on the tree branch. "See, he can't even look you in the eye!"

"Will you give it a rest!" Kagome shouted back, but that only earned a glare from the half demon. When she turned back to Link, she was surprised and a little hurt to see him turn his back to them and amble into the forest by himself. "Link…" Deciding to follow after him, she explained to her friends she would return shortly.

After she disappeared from sight, along with Link, Serena turned to the monk and Slayer, not even bothering to spare a look at the half demon sulking. "Okay, I'll tell you everything…"

OOO

After wandering around the forest and carefully watching where she stepped, Kagome finally caught up with the young warrior. As she pushed through the bushes, careful of ripping her skirt on the branches sticking out, she saw Link sit down upon a large hill, his head lowered in deep thought. If he thought he was going to sit there by himself, then he had another thing coming.

As she climbed the hill, he merely stared at her solemnly before looking away as she took a seat beside him in the grass. "Is something wrong? What's troubling you?"

He didn't bother to look at her. "What makes you think I'm troubled by anything? Maybe I just want to be left alone…"

Now that was hard to believe. "No one likes to be alone. I've noticed you seem bothered a lot lately. You must have a lot on your mind."

Link blinked. She noticed?

When he didn't bother to reply, she kept going, before lifting her knees up to her chest and staring at the stars above. "You always acted like you were okay, but the truth was…you've felt lonesome…haven't you?"

Link scowled indifferently. "How would you even know what I'm feeling? We've only just met a short while ago…"

While anyone else would have felt hurt by his reply, she didn't. Instead she simply smiled. "I can just tell…You told us once, back in Ikana that you never knew your family. You've been alone for a while. Did you have any friends?"

Link nodded. "A few…but I'd rather not talk about that, if you don't mind…" He replied before inquisitively staring at her. "Why are you here? I'm sure you and your friends feel offended by what you've heard."

"No…We are just concerned. Why are you leaving?"

He sighed before leaning back on his hands. He was leaving because he didn't want any danger to befall them any longer…but now he wasn't so sure if that would solve anything. Now that he thought about it, it put wedge between them and himself. "I…thought it was for the best…"

"Leaving us when we've already gotten this far?" She questioned. "What about our feelings?" Didn't he know that this would affect them and not just himself?

"You wouldn't understand."

"What's not to understand?" Kagome knew this was no time to start picking a fight. Link was definitely bothered by this, and from the looks of it, he didn't appear to want to leave, but something was pushing him toward it. "You can tell me anything…I'm not going to think differently of you."

What could it hurt to open up? "In the past…I lost some of my close friends…I put their lives at risk…" He explained softly, and at this, she finally understood. "Do you remember when I told you of Hyrule, how I said peace returned?"

"Yeah?" From the look on his face, and his clenched fists, she has a feeling that wasn't the case. "It wasn't saved, was it?"

"Unfortunately no, not entirely. Peace was returned, but in the end everything I once loved perished. I couldn't do anything to save them…I've been trapped here ever since," He explained bitterly.

"Trapped here? In Termina?"

He nodded. "I came here by accident. When I arrived, the path home was impassible." There was nowhere else he could go, no true home to call his own. He was just here, and he didn't exactly belong nor did he feel out of place; if that made sense. "I think…it might be for the best if we say our goodbyes now…"

Before he could stand up and walk away, Kagome immediately grabbed his elbow and pulled him back down into a sitting position beside her. "Who said you could do that?"

"I can't stay, Kagome," He replied with a frown.

"And I'm saying that you can't just leave us. We need your help. We're friends, aren't we?" She asked. When he didn't say anything, she went on. "It's not a hard question. You know Shippo looks up to you. Sango and Miroku worry about you. Inuyasha might be pain sometimes, but deep down he is sorry for all that's happened between you two. I know that he is deeply hurt because he doesn't want you to leave," She explained.

"I…"

"Link, we want you to stay with us. I want you to stay…" She muttered the last part to herself, feeling a little flustered for admitting it, but he only stared at her for the longest time. "Nothing will happen. No one is going to die. We're going to save the land, and you're going to help us. Okay? We can't do this without you, Link."

"But…Kagome…" She was really making this difficult for him.

The priestess kept going. "I know that you are unsure, but we…really do care about you. If you left…" She snuggled her knees closer to her chest. "I'd be sad…" Everyone would.

"Y-you would? Why?" He asked, feeling a small blush grace his face suddenly.

Timidly, she placed a lock of her hair behind her ear before looking into his blue eyes bashfully. "I guess it's because…I've grown fond of you…" She replied, almost breathlessly and hesitantly. Well, now that she thought about it, she realized maybe that was a bit much. Hopefully he didn't think she was confessing her feelings for him, right? "B-besides, everyone else would miss you!" She nodded. Yes, that was true!

Well, he wasn't sure how red his face was by this point, but he figured he was about the same shade as Kagome's. He felt nervous. "I…this…" When he met her gaze, he embarrassedly looked away before scratching his head. "I know that…after all this is over, you'll…you and your friends will eventually return to your rightful worlds…" It was disappointing hearing it come out of his mouth, but it wasn't the first time his thoughts lingered on it.

"Well…maybe. Depends on if we're strong enough. If you were with us, then there'd be a huge chance we'd succeed," She explained, and Link had a feeling she was saying this in order to make him feel guilty; it was working. "But if not, then I guess we'll have to live the rest of our last days here in Termina," She said before leaning back and stretching in the grass before releasing a long sigh. A grin was spread across her lips as she recalled the good times back at Romani's Ranch. "The ranch seems comfortable enough, and I don't think Cremia and her sister will mind if we camp there…Besides…I need to earn back my title in Old Maid," She laughed.

After a silent moment passed between the two, silently looking up at the stars, Link allowed his eyes to look at the girl beside him. He wanted to ask her something, but for some reason, he couldn't seem to ask her. What was the point? Soon she would disappear from this world, and he'd never see her again or even hope to.

"Link, what will you do after all this is over?"

He pondered for a moment. "It seems I've put my previous quest on hold for some time now…I suppose I might live in Termina, maybe build my own place," He explained. Actually, he had thought about it, but he didn't know if he'd ever go through with it or not. After all, he wasn't very used to staying in one place for too long. Hyrule had changed him that way.

"You said you had a previous quest? What was it?" She asked curiously, and at this, he offered a small smile.

"I was looking for my friend, Navi," He explained. When it appeared that she wanted to know the entire story, he told her, from the beginning, how he first met her and when it came that she left him without even a goodbye. Originally, he had wanted to thank her for being there with him through the journey, and he had searched everywhere for her, but she was nowhere to be found.

Kagome frowned. No wonder Link was so sad all the time; for some reason, he kept losing the people he cared for, and soon it would be herself and everyone else. She had the urge to reach out and hug him, but she kept to herself. "I know that someday I'll have to say goodbye to my friends as well, I might not even get a chance to say goodbye."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, think about it. A modern day girl, traveling back and forth between the past and present, helping to collect the few remaining shards of the jewel may seem like something pulled right out of a fairytale, but sometimes they also come to an end. Sometimes you have to close the book, and you will know it has finally ended…" She sighed. "I know it wasn't a coincidence that I met Inuyasha, Shippo, Miroku, Sango…or even you Link. But after my job is done, helping my friends and fixing what I destroyed, it will be time to leave."

It would be time to leave…She was right. Sooner or later, she would have to return home to her Era. Although someone might get ripped from their reality into that of another, he knew it was impossible for her to exist in a time she never existed in. It was dangerous, yes, but if something were to happen to her, then it would indeed alter her time, he was sure. "You said you had one wish, after you gathered all the shards together, correct? I'm sure you could wish to stay with everyone."

At this, she only shook her finger at him in a disappointed manner. "It's not that simple. You see, only a selfless wish can be made, otherwise it won't be granted," She explained, and at this he understood. "You see…I don't really want to use the wish on myself…In fact, I want to use it to help my friends."

Now this had his attention. She was willing to sacrifice what she wanted in order to help her friends? Link smiled at this. Kagome was indeed a caring and selfless young girl.

"There is a wish I have in mind…but…I guess in a way it might be selfish…"

"What's your wish?" He asked, and he was surprised when she smiled at him and placed a finger to her lips teasingly.

"It's a secret." After a few seconds of simply staring at each other, her smile faltered and she took on a more serious look. "Won't you stay, Link? She pleaded. "We're all friends, up until the end. I know that Inuyasha might still be upset, and I know that you must have been troubled by this for a while. I'm sure everyone will understand your reasoning…if you do intend to really leave us," She softly explained despondently.

He only nodded at this, but what he hadn't expected was for her to suddenly move toward him and wrap her arms around his shoulders from behind him.

"You don't have to be alone anymore," She whispered to him, and at this, he suddenly felt his eyes water, but he refused to show any tears. From underneath her soft hug, she felt his body stiffen slightly and then relax against her.

"I know…" He voiced.

"Look at me," She whispered, and at this, he complied, turning his head to stare at her over his shoulder. "You can cry you know…it's not unmanly."

He smiled but nodded anyway. "It was a long time ago that I cried…but I'm okay now."

Was he really, she wondered? "Are you sure?"

Again, he nodded before reaching his hand to touch her own resting on his shoulder; the touch was surprising that it sent shocks through the young priestess and her face immediately flushed at the contact and the many emotions swirling around inside her. Link felt it too, and they sat there in each other's company, looking into each other's eyes until one of them, mainly Kagome couldn't help but giggle slightly which in turn caused Link to laugh.

Pulling away from him and returning to her spot next to him on the grass, the young priestess couldn't help but want to ask him so many questions. "Link…how do you feel about us?" Well, she was only asking this because she was curious. At first it just seemed like he was tagging along because the Great Fairy has asked him too, but after all that they've encountered, she was sure he felt something for each of them, especially up until now.

Having heard her sudden and quite forward question, he couldn't help but find his mouth open slightly in surprise. "Uh…about you and me?" He questioned before awkwardly pulling at the grass beside him and staring quite intently into her now surprised eyes.

"Huh?!" She replied embarrassedly. "I-I mean…" Now it was her time to grow embarrassed. What was wrong with her? Why was she asking things that could have two meanings? "about ALL of us!"

Link swallowed nervously before releasing a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. All of them. Not just the two of them. Why did he so quickly assume she meant him and her? "I…well, you're all unique…and interesting," Okay, he really didn't know what to say at this point; he felt completely flustered.

"How so?" She asked, biting back her nervousness as well. It felt like she had butterflies dancing around inside of her, and did she detect sweaty palms?

After a moment of careful pondering, Link felt he had an idea of how he felt about his teammates. But it was only natural to have a representation after being with them so long. "Miroku…he is a reliable comrade. Sure he might misuse his manners from time to time, but he doesn't hesitate to help someone in need," He explained. "Shippo, as small as he is, he does his best to help everyone. From what I've seen of his battling skills, he's not half bad, and he seems to have grown more confident."

Kagome nodded at this. She also saw the changes in her little Shippo. "And Sango?"

"I'm not that familiar with her, but I do know she's reliable and strong willed," He replied before another name came to mind. "Inuyasha…uh…" What could he say for him?

She laughed at this. "Yeah, he's a bit stubborn."

Well, he didn't disagree with her on that. "He doesn't neglect his duty in leadership, from what I've observed. He genuinely cares about all of you and although he may seem unreasonable at times, he does well to keep watch over those he loves," He explained. In his own way that was.

Now came the moment that had Kagome feeling anxious but also excited. "So…what about me?"

He nervously swallowed and couldn't help but stare at her, still red in the face. "Kagome…"

"Come on, it can't be that hard," She teased.

Link couldn't bring himself to look at her, and instead, he focused intently on the grass clenched in his fist. "I think…y-you're very compassionate and loving to all of your friends," He explained bashfully. "Y-you seem like a great mother to Shippo, and from what I've seen, you are caring, hardworking and honest about your feelings…" He admitted before scratching his neck and looking back at her. "I admire that about you."

If she was blushing before, then she knew her face had to have taken on the several different shades of scarlet. Well, she certainly was nervous and happy at most. That had to be the kindest thing anyone had ever said to her, and hearing it from Link had her stomach doing flips and summersaults. "Oh gosh, I'm not all that!" She laughed. "Tell me the truth, Link. What do you really think of m—"

Everything suddenly went silent. The crickets stopped chirping their harmonious song, and even the wind seemed to settle down nicely. Everything was completely still, completely quiet and also heart pounding.

It had happened too fast for her to comprehend. One moment she had looked away and the next, she saw Link move toward her slowly before cupping her chin with his hand. And the next, he pressed his lips gently against her own.

Kagome's breath was literally caught in her throat. She didn't move, nor did she blink. Her eyes were intently focused on him at that moment, and the kiss that had her melting on the inside. All in all, her thoughts mainly cried out, 'He's kissing me!'

From up close, she made out his long, dark lashes brushing against his flushed cheeks. It was the first time realizing he had such beautiful lashes. Blonde locks brushed against her forehead, and she softly inhaled his scent; it was impossible not to. Link smelled a lot like the forest and something sweet mixed in-between. Whatever it was, it did a very good job at making her swoon.

Was he rushing this? Did he seem too bold? When he leaned in to kiss her, she didn't pull away and she didn't return the affectionate gesture; Link had no clue whether or not she liked it, but he did feel her body still itself after he made the first approach toward her.

After a few, heart pounding seconds, he pulled himself away, his heart fluttering in his chest. From the sight of her parted mouth, her flushed and dazed expression, he knew for certain she had not expected it, but still, she had a dreamy look in her eyes, and he had the urge to do it again, but he held himself back.

By now, he was sure she understood his feelings for her; he was tired of hiding it anyway, and the worse she could do was flat out reject him, but he figured he'd cope with it. "I hope that answers your question, Kagome…" He replied.

'He kissed me! Link kissed me!' She thought before bringing a hand to her lips, and she was sure she could still feel his lips pressed against her lovingly. Kagome couldn't believe it. He had kissed her. Somehow, she doubted it was just some friendly Terminan greeting…Was it possible…Did it mean he really cared for her? Did love her?

From her silent nod, Link awkwardly stood up, before rubbing the back of his neck nervously. His palms felt sweaty. "You and your friends don't have to worry…I'll stay…" With that said he turned his back to her and stepped down the hill. He kissed her and now he didn't know what to do. For now, he just needed to leave…to think.

When the swordsman disappeared through the trees, a dopey grin found its way on the priestess's face before she suddenly felt the urge to giggle, and she did. Amazing. His kiss was amazing. It was nothing like Inuyasha's, no offense; it had felt…well she wasn't entirely sure what it felt like, but she thought tiny fireworks were going off inside her that very moment.