Kagome couldn't believe it. He had really done it this time. He had really screwed himself royally over, and to hell and back if she was going to forgive him again this time for seeing that…that…that undead hussy. How dare he? How dare he sneak around behind her back, and see her arch-nemesis. Of course, she had never really told Inuyasha how she felt about him, and he didn't really know that she considered Kikyou her arch-nemesis…but he should know, after having known her and spent so much time with her all these years. Well that was it. Kagome was not going to stand for this any more. She was going to go home, after all, hadn't Naraku been vanquished? She came, and she did her vanquishing bit, and now she had decided that it was time for her to go home. Permanently. She would miss Sango, Miroku, Shippo…even sweet little Rin. She would miss the air, which seemed so much cleaner in the past than in the present. She would miss Kaede, and she would miss the simplistic life that the people took for granted here, and of which she could never achieve in her life in the future.

But she had decided to go anyways. Why? Because despite all that she would miss in the past, she couldn't move forward knowing that Inuyasha was with another female, much less a soul-stealing parasite of one.

Kagome finally reached the well, panting slightly. She gripped her signature yellow book bag closer to her body. She started out at a walk towards the well, which gradually turned into a run. She was just about to leap above the lip of the well, when a strong arm gripped her around her waist and pulled her back.

"Just what the hell do you think you're doing, bitch?" Twisting her body around to face her captor head-on, Kagome growled slightly in his face. Taken aback, Inuyasha loosened his grip on her a bit. Kagome lowered her head slightly, and with just a slight tremble to her voice, answered him.

"I'm…I'm going home Inuyasha. For…for good." She wouldn't look at him. Inuyasha had seen rocks with more spunk in them. What had happened to his Kagome? What happened to the 'come what may' hellcat that he had known? The girl who could handle anything? Inuyasha was astounded. Sure, Naraku had been killed, thus ending her usefulness in his time. But, Inuyasha felt something for Kagome that he had never felt before. He had thought that he was in love with Kikyou, but something had been missing. Something that he hadn't known about until he had experienced it. He could never love Kikyou now. He felt too much for Kagome. And now that he had finally realized how much he felt for her, she was going to go home before he could tell her? For good? Over his dead body.

"Goddammit Kagome! I forbid it! You aren't allowed to go home, do you hear me? I refuse to let you leave!" Struggling to come up with a reason as to why she should stay (without giving away his infatuation with her), Inuyasha said "There's still more demons out there that want to harm the weak! We need a miko to help us exterminate them! And what about Sesshoumaru? He's out there, lurking around somewhere, plotting God knows what. You can't leave us like this! Not for good!" Kagome finally met his eyes with hers. A tear leaked out of a corner of her eye as she felt the last part of her heart shatter, just as the Shikon jewel had shattered so long ago. Leaning over to Inuyasha, Kagome kissed him lightly on his cheek. Astounded, Inuyasha was so shocked that he let go of her completely.

"You're partially right, Inuyasha. I was going to leave without doing something very important first. You're free, Inuyasha. You're free of me, and of everything I am to you. I won't be a burden to you any longer. I should have done this sooner, but…well…it doesn't matter anymore. Goodbye, Inuyasha." Kagome yanked the chain of rosary beads that she had placed upon Inuyasha's neck once upon a time, dropped them to the ground, and bolted over the edge of the well. Closing her eyes, Kagome waited for the rush of magical energy to surround her and transport her to her own time. As soon as she did, she would seal the well permanently

But it never came. Kagome simply hit the ground, and she saw Inuyasha's head poke over the side of the well. Growling slightly, Kagome slid down onto her knees. She couldn't even make her grand getaway properly work.

Inuyasha was sitting there; staring at the rosary that he had once despised as it lay innocently in the grass. She was gone. His Kagome was gone, and he had not even stopped her. Without the rosary, he had no way of getting back to her either. Anguished, Inuyasha leaned over the lip of the well, only to see two big bright eyes staring back at him. Befuddled, Inuyasha leaped over the well, grabbed Kagome by the waist, and lifted her out of the well.

"What the hell happened, Kagome? Why aren't you back in your time?" Not that he was complaining or anything. However, before Kagome could answer, a bear youkai had bustled out from behind the tree line.

"Pardon me, but I'll be needing the human." And with that grand opening statement, the youkai charged towards Inuyasha and Kagome. Before Inuyasha could pull out Tessaiga, the youkai had Kagome in its claws, and was trying to rip her throat out. An action that was proving to be difficult, considering that Kagome had her backpack full of books held up to her throat, and was moving about. Kagome could feel the bear's breath fan her face, and she tried her best not to gag. It really was a shame that breath mints had not been invented yet. Suddenly, the bear youkai slumped on top of Kagome, practically crushing her. Inuyasha was standing above it, Tessaiga drawn and bloody, with a grim look on his face. Giving a grunt, Inuyasha lifted the now very bloody bear off of Kagome, pinned her with a telling look, and began to walk back to camp.

"Hey! You aren't going to just leave me here, are you? Inuyasha! Get back here!" Inuyasha turned around, stalked over to Kagome, and stopped within a breath's width of her face.

"If you're going to play with fire, little girl, I suggest you get used to being burned. You should have gone back to your time, but seeing as how you haven't, I suppose I'm going to have to protect your selfish ass. Again." Inuyasha knew that taking his anger out on Kagome wasn't fair, but he didn't really give a damn. He was angry at her for trying to leave. Inuyasha picked Kagome up, slung her over his shoulder, and stalked back towards their camp.

Rage didn't quite define what Kagome was feeling by the time her and Inuyasha had made it back to camp. Inuyasha just dropped her onto the ground and stalked over towards a note that was pinned to a nearby tree.

Reading through it quickly, Inuyasha cursed under his breath. "Shit." He gave the note to Kagome for her to read.

Dearest Kagome and Inuyasha,

Sango and I have decided to travel towards a village in the south. Myouga says that they have a bit of a demon infestation, and they are in desperate need of help and are willing to pay handsomely. Seeing as how we are in need of some funds, Sango and I decided that it would be prudent of us to accept the job. Myouga has assured us that Sango, Kirara, Shippo and I will be able to handle the job, so there is no need for you and Kagome to follow. Sango and I will meet you back in Kaede's village when we are finished – we shouldn't take more than a few weeks. Looks like you two will be alone for quite a while. Don't do anything I wouldn't!

Sincerely,

Kagome stared and gaped at the letter. She would be alone, with Inuyasha, for a few weeks? The gods above must be playing a very nasty game with her. She groaned and looked at Inuyasha as he stalked towards a tree and jumped into its branches. Night had fallen, and Kagome could feel the cold creep up on her. She went to the fire pit to light the fire, and after a few unsuccessful tries she cursed inwardly and gave up. Snuggling up in her futon underneath all of her blankets, Kagome closed her eyes and settled into a deep slumber, her last thoughts containing images of a bloody and battered Miroku.

Inuyasha shook his head slightly. The little twit couldn't even light the damn fire. After making sure that Kagome was really and truly asleep, Inuyasha jumped down from his branch and lit the campfire. He was determined to protect Kagome. She might not have realized it, but that bear youkai had to have been sent from someone to get her. To kill her. The trees rustled ominously as Inuyasha stepped back from the blaze that he had created within the fire pit. Well, they were just shit outta luck. Because the only way they would lay a hand on Kagome was if they killed him first. And Inuyasha had no intent to die any time soon.

AN: Hey all! I know it's been forever since I've updated my other stories, but I go where my muse tells me to go. I'll finish all the stories I set out to write, but I won't post a chapter or story before it's due time. Did a little revising in this chapter, grammer and stuff. As always, R&R!