'Most of the time, it is proper to introduce a character and then to go into the details. We all know who I am though- and we all know my story. Well... we're all about to anyways.'

--

Kagome climbed from the top of the well with tears clouding her eyes. How could this possibly be the end? Was it even supposed to end in the first place? Three years of her life were gone now, and so was-

"Inuyasha." The sobs choked her and she felt the dull ache begin to tighten around her heart. In the end, everyone had been there.

--

Sango and Miroku fought side-by-side, Kirara and Shippou were a dynamic duo, and even Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha seemed to work somewhat compatibly. As for her partner- Kikyo- let's just say it was more like they were fighting NEAR each other, not as allies. In the last moment of battle though, they both shot identical arrows into Naraku's heart causing a blinding light to spread over the field they were in.

"HIT THE MARK!" Kagome had screamed as the holy power erupted from her fingertips.

Everyone seemingly stopped in that moment. The entire battlefield was silent, or that was how it seemed. In the end there were thousands of warriors on each side. So many of them had given their lives and it made Kagome feel so guilty knowing this could've been avoided had she not broken the Shikon no Tama into a thousand pieces.

So many allies lay dead by their feet. So many memories shared, so many heartbreaks... all for the tiny jewel she had gone and plucked from Naraku's remains. Kagome had sighed at that moment. What now? Would Inuyasha use the jewel to become a full-fledged demon? Or would she use it to make the jewel disappear forever?

"Kikyo," Inuyasha had hoarsely whispered. Kagome ignored the wave of pain that erupted down her body at that. She looked at everything but their embrace... Sango helping Miroku up, Shippou hugging Kirara and crying because it was finally all over, Sesshoumaru walking away- what? Wait!

"Sesshoumaru!" Kagome cried out over the battlefield. He glanced behind his shoulder at her and waited as she ran over. He raised an eyebrow in question at her. Kagome smiled and said, "Why are you leaving? Don't you want to celebrate the end with us?"

Sesshoumaru merely looked at her and said, "One does not celebrate an end of war. One must merely acknowledge that it has."

And then he walked away, leaving Kagome feeling like she was fifteen years old again witnessing him change into his true form for the first time, when she still believed he had the intent to kill her. She stared in his direction even after the distant trees swallowed him. This was the end... she just truly realized that.

No more sleeping under trees looking for jewel shards, no more- anything. It left a lump in her throat and a nauseous feeling began to settle in her stomach. Turning back to her comrades she hollowly walked over to the smiling group. Inuyasha looked at her and his ears drooped.

The moment had come... they all knew it was bound to but she had hoped for more time. He had not realized she was the one for him yet...

"Kagome..." Inuyasha said quietly, very softly, very un-Inuyasha. Kagome looked at him with vacant eyes. She knew his decision, and she had promised him the jewel in the beginning and she would keep her promise.

"Here Inuyasha- so you can become full demon... like I promised." She didn't even look at him as she held her hand out with the jewel enclosed in it. Moments passed and still the jewel lie on her outstretched palm. Giving Inuyasha a look of question, she noticed his ears flatten down. She swallowed heavily and said, "Won't you take it Inuyasha? I promised."

Inuyasha moved back a step and stood by Kikyo. "I made a promise too Kagome. I've decided- to go with Kikyo."

Kagome sadly nodded. She understood- really, she did. But her heart didn't, the damn thing felt like it was going to beat right out of her chest.

Kikyo stepped forward and closed Kagome's palm. "You must get rid of the jewel Kagome, so that no one may ever abuse its power ever again."

Kagome nodded once more and clasped it close to her chest. She looked to Inuyasha and gave him a watery smile.

"Thank-you Inuyasha. For everything... be happy, wherever you end up." She then turned to Kikyo and said, "I know we have not always gotten along but I hope that you can be at peace now. Our soul can rest."

Kikyo nodded and took hold of Inuyasha's hand. Inuyasha embraced her tightly as the ground opened up underneath them. Inuyasha turned once more to Kagome and said, "Now Kagome..."

Kagome felt the tears slip down her cheeks and nodded. Closing her eyes she held the jewel in her fingers and prayed. 'Please- hear my plea. I wish for Midoriko and her demon to be at peace. Let their battle end so that the world's may end as well.'

--

The result had been surprisingly anticlimactic and when she opened her eyes once more, Inuyasha was gone and all she had left was a dull glass bead lying in her hand.

Honestly she had not known if she would be able to return to her time, but she had been. She knew though that she could never return to theirs. The proof of that was hanging so innocently around her neck.

Saying goodbye to the others- was so hard. Who knew what life held in store for them, and she would never get to see it. She would be living 'in the past' in the future. They could all be with each other, to talk about past times, to talk about her and of him. All she would have were her memories of them all. No one could understand what they all had gone through. No one could ever truly grasp the mixture of satisfaction and an overwhelming horror growing in her that it was in fact over.

She stared at the last remaining link to those times, the defining years of her life, the God tree. She traced the mark that once held Inuyasha and sobbed.

--

"Is she gonna' be okay Mama?" Souta asked a few weeks later, watching Kagome stare at the tree for the who knows how many time. Kagome's mother sighed and moved to watch over her daughter as well.

"She's had a tough life Souta. She's so young- but she's already done so much. Your sister saved the world you know and she's having a hard time accepting the end. She's a strong girl Souta so don't worry too much. She'll be fine."

Souta frowned. Kagome saved the world? Was that why Inuyasha hadn't been poking around the house lately, because the journey ended? When was Kagome going to go back to her friends? Was she?

Everything was so confusing- especially since Mama had said not to talk to Kagome about it!

--

Kagome sighed again for the thousandth time in the past few weeks. So much had changed, in her, and her surroundings.

' "One does not celebrate an end of war. One must merely acknowledge that it has." Sesshoumaru... you were so right. Even if I did not completely understand what you meant, I now know that one does not celebrate an end.'

"Inuyasha..." Kagome felt her eyes begin to water once more. In the past few weeks all of her free time was spent under the God tree filled with thoughts of her distant past.

Everything she worked for, all the friends she made, the people she came to care for- were dead. Did they live long, happy lives? Did Miroku and Sango get married and have a trillion babies? Did Shippou grow up to be strong? Did Inuyasha find peace with Kikyo? Did they ever think of her again? Had they forgotten?

She could never answer these questions, because all of her knowledge ended 3 weeks, 11 hours, and 7 minutes ago. She fingered the glass bead that no longer glowed with power hanging around her neck. She missed everything she had.

So it seemed this was her ending. Not of her life or anything dramatic like that, but of her adventures to be sure and of love. Now... now she had all the time in the world to do what had been so important while she was there, and now just- didn't matter.

Her end... oh how wrong she was!