InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Kind Of Fairy Tale ❯ Going Home ( Chapter 1 )

Kagome slowly opened her eyes as the morning's first beams of sunlight shined upon her face. Groggily she sat up, unsure of where she was. As she looked down to see Shippou nestled beside her, it all became clear. Even now, after all of this time she still awoke with a bit of confusion, but she figured that was only expected to happen when you wake up five hundred years in the past. She rose to her feet, careful not to disturb the sleeping child.

Today is the day. I made up my mind on this a long time ago, and yet I feel so uncertain. I know what I need to do- what I should do, but I'm not so sure it is what I want to do. I have neglected everyone at home for so long... my work here is finished. InuYasha doesn't need me holding him back any longer. Today is the day. I am going home, for good. He should be happy I am leaving right? I was just a `jewel detector' after all…wasn't I?

She carefully tip toed to the nearby stream to wash her face. Everyone else was still asleep, including InuYasha, who was propped up against a tree snoring loudly. He looked exhausted. She stopped to linger on the sight of him. His long silver hair reflected the sunlight like a mirror as it whipped around his face in the breeze. Though covered with dirt and blood, she thought he looked more like an angel than the half demon he was. After gazing upon him for a few minutes, Kagome turned away almost embarrassed for staring at him so blatantly. She sighed and went on to wash her face.

She knew the truth. She had known for some time now. She didn't really want to leave, but she knew that she couldn't stay. Her feelings for him grew every day, and it would tear her to pieces if she didn't do something. The only option was to leave. She could just go back to her old life, couldn't she? It was easy enough to turn her back on her old life to be with InuYasha, shouldn't it be just as easy the other way around? She didn't think it would, but she had to try.

You are such a fool, Kagome. You know that you love him. How do you expect to just jump right back into your old life? A life without him?

Kagome sat back against a tree and quietly watched her friends begin their day. Sango sat near the stream, yawning and dangling her feet into the water. Miroku sat near by, nursing some minor wounds he had gotten the night before. The fight had been short, but fierce. A large demon had attacked them, hoping to steal away the once again whole Shikon Jewel. While the demon had been considerably weak, his size had proven to be a problem. Kagome looked down at the glimmering orb that hung around her neck, and sighed.

The jewel had caused so much trouble for so many people. It had ruined the lives of those who had survived being near it. Yet the jewel had brought happiness to her only. It was what brought her to him. It was the only thing that bound them together. As she stared at the jewel her eyes filled with tears. She was filled with resentment for it. She wished it was broken all over again. At least then she would have a reason to stay.

"What's your problem?" InuYasha said from behind her. She had been so deep in thought that she hadn't even noticed that he was there. She forced a smile and rose to her feet. As he saw her tears his eyes filled with concern.

"No problem," she said mustering up as much cheerfulness as she could. She had to tell him soon. She had to say goodbye. The thought brought a wave of sadness over her. She shook it off and pretended to be preoccupied with packing her bag.

"I'm not buying it. Seriously, what's up with you today?"

"I don't know what you mean," She said, keeping her eyes to the ground as she rearranged the things in her bag, periodically wiping away the betraying tears from her eyes.

"Come on, Kagome. What do you take me for, an idiot? What's the matter?" Frustration started to surface in InuYasha's voice. It was now or never. She had been putting off the inevitable all morning.

"I'm going to go home," She said quietly.

"Ok, when should I expect you back?"

"No, you don't understand, InuYasha. I mean, I am going home," she glanced up at him, feeling his amber eyes peering right through her. "For good this time,"

"You…what? You can't!" He yelped. Sango, Miroku, and Shippou went silent. "Why? What did I do to piss you off this time?"

"You didn't do anything…it's just-"

"Then why the hell are you leaving!" By this time, everyone was gathered around trying to make sense out of the commotion.

"Kagome's leaving!?" Shippou squeaked as he skittered into Kagome's lap. His eyes were big with tears as he clung to her arm. "No Kagome! Please don't go," InuYasha thumped the little fox on the head and tossed him aside.

"You're not going anywhere!" InuYasha scoffed with his arms across his chest, pouting the way he always did when he didn't get his way. She could feel everyone's eyes burning right through her.

"No InuYasha… I am going," She said softly as she removed the jewel from around her neck and placed it in his hand. "For real this time. I have left so many things unfinished back in my time. There are so many people I have neglected. This isn't where I belong. You know that," She smiled sadly at him and walked off between the trees, determined not to look back. InuYasha stared at the jewel in his hand, his eyes flickering with disbelief. Miroku stepped towards the trees to follow her.

"No, monk. Let her go," InuYasha said quietly as he tucked the jewel into his shirt. Could this really be happening? Why had she decided to leave him? InuYasha's mind raced with questions that had no answers.

You fool, what have you done this time? You must have really done something terrible. But what? I have been good to her, haven't I? I mean, I know I am sometimes hard on her but she knows I care… Doesn't she? She must know by now that I…love her.

"Aren't you going to stop her? What's wrong with you InuYasha!? Do you want Kagome to leave?" said the little kit through sobs. His words made InuYasha flinch.

"Don't be stupid," InuYasha said as he patted Shippou on the head.

"Well, what do you plan to do? If you wish for her to stay, you need to swallow your pride and go to her, InuYasha. Apologize to her for whatever you did," Miroku interrupted.

"What do you mean `whatever I did'!? She's moody, is all. She'll be back. Besides, she left her bag. She ain't going anywhere without that thing," He prayed that he was right.