Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha

Chapter 1. Letting Go of You

...

"Aren't you actually quite pleased? The woman who came between you was gone. But the moment Inuyasha heard Kikyo was alive, he went after her again. Whether she's dead or alive, Inuyasha's heart belongs to Kikyo."

"Inuyasha has chosen Kikyo, not you."

Holding the baby in her arms against her will, Kagome began to contemplate his words. As much as she didn't want to admit it, she knew je was right. Inuyasha would never forget about Kikyo, and seeing him chasing after Kikyo like a lost puppy, while she was deeply in love with him… was almost too much for her to bear.

"Don't you feel bitter towards Inuyasha? Don't you hate Kikyo?"

As her consciousness began to drift away, she saw Kagura with a corrupted jewel shard in her hand, and a sudden realization hit her. 'This… They're trying to manipulate me! They wanted to use my feelings to control me… against Inuyasha. No, no. This can't be happening...'

Kagome closed her eyes, and in a flash, unwanted pictures came invade her mind. Inuyasha and Kikyo, hugging. Inuyasha and Kikyo, kissing. Inuyasha and Kikyo, loving each other. That longing, passionate looks Inuyasha had in his eyes everytime the two of them met…

Whether she's dead or alive, Inuyasha's heart belongs to Kikyo.

Inuyasha's heart belong to Kikyo… only to Kikyo..

"He's right," Kagome admitted to herself, "No matter how long I stay by his side, no matter how bad I wanted to be with him… Still. I am not the woman who holds his heart. And I would never be able to…" slowly, she opened her eyes. "You're right… But I just… I just can't hate them. Inuyasha and Kikyo share a bond that can never be broken… There is no room for me. And that's why," she paused and took a deep breath, "I'm letting go."

"What?" The baby narrowed his eyes.

Kagome inhaled deeply. "I'm letting go of Inuyasha… Meaning that I would try to cast away all my feelings for him. I am not sure how long will it take, or how can I do it. But one thing for sure, I won't stand in their way anymore."

'After all,' she added to herself, 'I'm all hopeless. I'm only a fool if I'm hoping that Inuyasha will somehow love me back.'

"You wench. What tricks are you trying to pull on us now?" Kagura spatted in anger and annoyance.

"KAGOME!" a loud crash was heard as Inuyasha destroyed the hut they were in.

Everything started to become a blur for Kagome as she looked up to her savior. "Inuyasha…" she managed to murmur weakly as she began to collapse and threw the baby in her arms away. Swiftly, Inuyasha caught her before she hit the ground. "Kagome!"

"You bastards. What the hell did you do to Kagome?!" He demanded angrily.

"Ck. What a bad timing. I think it's time for us to leave Kagura." The baby commanded with in his creepy, monotone voice.

"Hmph. Very well." Kagura took out the feather on her hair. It turned to a giant leaf and lifted herself up with the baby to the sky.

"Hey, I'm not done with you two! You bastards…Wind scar!" Inuyasha yelled his battle attack. The wind scar completely blew the hut and destroyed it to pieces, but Kagura and the baby managed to get away.

"Remember this, Inuyasha," the baby began, "We might not be able to corrupt Kagome right now. But you must not be happy yet… After all," he paused, "Next time, I think it would become easier for us to do whatever we want to the girl."

"Just what do you mean by that?!" Inuyasha growled.

But the two of Naraku's incarnations were nowhere in sight. Inuyasha cursed and took a glance at to the girl in his arms. 'Kagome... I'm sorry I left you.' He thought.

.

The next morning, Inuyasha was waiting patiently beside Kagome who's resting inside Kaede's hut. Slowly, Kagome opened her eyes, revealing a pair of brown orbs.

"Kagome. You're… awake?" came the voice of a concerned Inu-hanyou.

Kagome blinked a few times, as if trying to adjust her eyes to the light. "Uhh…" she looked at the owner of the voice and smiled a bit. "I see, so you did came for me after all." She murmured softly to herself.

'Thank goodness,' she thought. 'At the very least, I still mattered to him. Even if… it might be the same way as he cares for Sango, Miroku and Shippo… or,' She paused to stare at his face. 'as his jewel detector'. When that last thought crossed her mind, her lips began to form a bitter smile.

She tried to sit up, and almost instantly, Inuyasha was by her side.

"Take it easy." He said as he helped her up.

.

When the two of them were alone outside, Inuyasha began to apologize.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you." He murmured in a voice full of remorse.

"It's okay," the miko said gently, "You came for me. That's enough."

"No, Kagome. I left you all alone!" The hanyou argued heatedly. "You could've-"

"No Inuyasha, listen to me," Kagome said firmly. "You…You couldn't help it. You were looking for Kikyo."

As Kikyo's name escaped from Kagome's lips, Inuyasha flinched a bit.

"But that's okay. None of that mattered anyway." finished Kagome quickly, as if sensing Inuyasha's uneasiness.

Inuyasha furrowed his eyebrows. 'What does she mean? I thought she was going to-'

"Inuyasha,"

The hanyou didn't get to finish his thought as he heard his named being called.

"I've been thinking, I think… I've been treating you unfairly," she paused and breathed deeply, "All this time, I've been acting like a spoiled child, wanting to keep something that's not even mine to begin with, and getting angry to you for no apparent reason,"

At this, Inuyasha grew even more confused. What did the futuristic-miko talking about?

"But," Kagome took a deep breath and continued, "I promise… If you ever go and try to find Kikyo again… and if you somehow manage to find her alive… I will let you do whatever you want. I'm not gonna stop you."

Inuyasha's golden eyes widened as they met Kagome's brown ones as he stared into them carefully, trying to find the hidden meanings behind her unusual words.

"Kagome…" he whispered softly. What should he say now?

Seeing the sudden change in Inuyasha's expression, Kagome tried to go back to her cheery self as she stood up and smiled at him. "Now let's get back to the others, I think they've been looking for us! And, Inuyasha?"

Still confused, the hanyou glanced at the now standing miko.

"When I promised that I will always be by your side… Trust me. I won't break that one." 'Even if it is not by your side the way I wanted it to be.' She added to herself.

After saying that, Kagome proceeded to walk back to Kaede's hut.

'Kagome…' Inuyasha thought as he saw her leaving, 'I should be happy that she remembers her promise that she wouldn't leave me. But why do I feel so uneasy about this?'

.

.

.

"Bye everyone! I'll be back as soon as I finished my exam." Kagome announced to her friends.

"Sure, take your time, Kagome."

"Take care and see you later Lady Kagome."

"Don't forget to bring me some candies, Kagome!"

Kagome smiled as she waved her goodbye and hopped into the well. The light began to engulf her, transporting her to her own era.

"I wonder where Inuyasha's at," Sango mused, "He's not here to try to stop Kagome like he does every time."

"Ah. I believe that has something to do with the incident we had recently, dear Sango," The monk answered, "And knowing Inuyasha, he's probably sulking somewhere now."

"That brainless jerk," Shippo muttered angrily, "When will he ever learn? I bet it's his fault that Kagome went home again! That stupid, arrogant, numbskull, no good-"

BONK

"And just who the hell is this stupid, arrogant, and numbskull person you're talking about?"

"I-Inuyasha!" the kitsune stuttered as a bump began to form on top of his head, "Sango help me!" He jumped to the demon slayer's arms.

"Keh. I've only been gone for no more than an hour… and here you guys are bad-mouthing me. Geez. Some friends I have." Inuyasha scoffed as he crossed his arms.

"Inuyasha, Lady Kagome has gone back to her home, just before you got here." Miroku said, completely ignoring the sarcasm in the hanyou's words.

Upon hearing Kagome's name, Inuyasha's expression began to change. "I know." He answered simply as he stared down at the empty well. Unbeknownst by them, after the incident with Kagura and the creepy baby, he never let himself more than 1 mile away from Kagome. And thanks to his demonic hearing, he could hear it pretty well from the roof of Kaede's hut when Kagome told the others that she's going home today to take some of her exams. But he knew that Kagome needed some time to herself. He still remembered the conversation they had few nights ago.

.

"Really Inuyasha, it's ok. You don't need to follow me. It's not like I'm going to go fight some demons alone or something. Besides, the well is only a few steps away from Kaede's hut you know. " Kagome tried to convince the hanyou. She said that she couldn't sleep that night, and she wanted to go back home to take some of her book and study for the upcoming tests.

"But it's past midnight! You shouldn't-"

"Inuyasha," Kagome stopped him mid sentence, "Look. If this is about that… time, with Kagura and the baby, you can just drop it. I'm okay, and you don't need to worry so much. To be honest, the more you're doing this," she paused, waiting for the hanyou's reactions. But when there's none, she sighed and continued. "The more I feel like… You're only stay by my side out of guilt."

"What?! Guilt? No, Kagome I-"

"Save it Inuyasha," Kagome closed her eyes for a few seconds, and opened them again to reveal a pair of warm, gentle, yet tired brown eyes, "You don't need to explain everything. I'm pretty sure I understand the whole situation."

Inuyasha was about to say something back when his eyes suddenly caught an expression he had never seen in Kagome's face before. 'Why does she look so… distant and distraught?'

Kagome sighed. "I'll be back in no more than half an hour, Inuyasha. I promise."

And with that, Kagome left to her world, only to be back half an hour later just as she had promised.

.

Inuyasha sighed. "She needs to work on those tests of hers. And I don't wanna keep her around if she really need some time in her own world."

"Since when did you became so considerate Inuyasha?" asked Shippou in bewilderment as he popped out of Sango's arms.

"Oh shut up you runt. Wanna taste my fists again?" the hanyou cracked his knuckles.

"I was only asking!" the kitsune replied nervously as he hid behing Sango's arms once again.

"Keh."

.

.

Meanwhile, five hundred years in the future, the troubled young miko was studying her brains out.

"Urgh. At this rate, I'll never graduate high school!" She groaned as she threw another scratch paper to the bin, "I just haaate math!" She pushed her books away and lay on her arms on the table. "I think I need some refreshment…"

"Mom! I'm going out to the grocery. I'll be back soon!" She said as she picked her shoes.

"Take care, dear." Mrs. Higurashi answered from the kitchen where she was cooking.

.

'Going out alone is just lame…But I guess it can't be helped… Ayumi, Yuka and Eri must be studying right now, and besides,' She thought, 'I bet they gonna talk about Inuyasha again, like they did all the time. And I'm really not in the mood for it.'

Caught up in her own thoughts, Kagome didn't realize that she was about to bump to someone.

"Ouch!"

"Oh, I'm so sorry Miss- Kagome?"

Kagome looked up at the guy she has just bumped into. "Oh, Hojo, hi! I didn't think I would meet you here!"

Hojo smiled. "Neither did I. So have you recovered from that mad cockroach bite infection of yours?"

Kagome blinked several times as she tried to register Hojo's words. "Huh… I guess so. Heheh" she nervously. 'Mad cockroach what? Oh God. Gramps is really out-doing it this time.'

"I'm so glad to see you all well and healthy, Kagome. Have you prepared for the math test tomorrow, by the way?" Hojo asked innocently in his usual carefree expression.

Kagome smiled to herself. 'It must be good to be as carefree as he is.' But then she remembered about her test.

She sighed. "Actually, Hojo… I'm not really confident with this exam… I mean, you know how long I've been absent this month…" she bit her lip, "I'm not… sure I'll be able to do tomorrow's exam."

"Why not, Kagome? I know you're pretty smart. Sometimes we just need to try harder though… Practice makes perfect remember?" The schoolboy answered as he winked one of his eyes.

At his words, Kagome felt a bit relieved. "Thanks Hojo, I appreciate that."

Hojo nodded and grinned. "No problem. Uhm… you know Kagome, we're friends and, I was wondering if you probably need my help to study? Or lend my notes perhaps? Considering how many times you missed the school… It must be pretty hard to keep up with the notes taking and all." asked Hojo as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Really? You'd do that?" Kagome asked happily.

"Why of course!" Hojo answered with a smile.

"Oh my thank goodness! You really are the best!" Unconsciously, Kagome hugged the boy.

"Waaa! Kagome…?" He blushed madly.

"Huh?" Realizing the position they were in, Kagome's face began to turn as red as tomato as she quickly pulled away. "I'm so sorry Hojo!" She could tell that the people on the road had saw them, and if possible, she blushed even harder when an old lady mentioned something about "teenagers these days" and "public display of affections"

"Uhh.. That's okay, I'm just a bit surprised, that's all…" Hojo scratched his head. "Well then, why don't we get to your house before it's getting late?"

"Uhm… Okay," answered Kagome. 'Well, this is awkward.'

.

A few hours later, the studying session had finally ended. Hojo had been pretty helpful; carefully explained to Kagome the formulas that she didn't understand and helped her to revise her homework.

He was about to walk out of her house after he politely refused Kagome's mom offer to have dinner together, saying something about picking up his cousin at the train station before he suddenly heard his name being called.

"Hojo!"

"Yes Kagome?" he asked.

"About this day… Thank you. I don't think I can do it without your help. And, uhm. I really sorry about accidentally, err. Hugging you earlier." Kagome said as she played with the hem of her shirt.

"It's no big deal." He chuckled nervously, "And as I said before, you're actually pretty smart Kagome. You understand all the new materials quickly."

"Thanks, Hojo." Kagome smiled at him warmly.

Hojo could feel his heart skip a bit.

"You know Kagome," he started, "I might not see you very often… Especially these days when you tend to get sick more frequently."

"Um… well.."

'He really is clueless, isn't he?' Kagome thought to herself. What she didn't expect though, was Hojo's next question.

"But, Kagome. Forgive me if I'm wrong… but does something's been bothering you today?"

"Eh?" She blinked a few times.

"When I first taught you the new formulas, you just seemed to be in a great distraught and sometimes you would have this empty stare in your eyes. As if your mind was somewhere else. Tell me, Kagome. Are you… by any chance is troubled with something?" Hojo asked as he looked straight at her eyes.

"It's nothing Hojo," Kagome answered quickly as she tried to muster a smile, "I think I'm just a little bit stressed by the exam, that's all."

Hojo sighed. "Well then. I just want you to know… You… you can count on me too you know. I- I mean, you can tell me if you have any problems, and I'll try my best to help you. Cause that's what friends are for, right?"

Kagome nodded smiled warmly at him. "Thank you. You are very kind, Hojo… I'm lucky to have a friend like you."

The brown haired boy blushed. "I-it's nothing, really. Well, it's getting pretty late. I think I should get going now. See you later tomorrow then?"

"Alright. See you later Hojo! Be careful on your way!" Kagome said as she waved him a good bye.

Kagome stared to the road as she saw Hojo's silhouette began to get smaller, smaller, until he's completely out of sight. She sighed. She remembered all the times when she turned Hojo down without any second thoughts. Actually, sometimes she did feel bad about it though. Especially when he was only trying to be nice to her…

'Wouldn't it be nice if I got a caring boyfriend like him?'

Someone who wanted to understand her and try to make her happy.

Someone who's not afraid to tell her how he feels about her.

Someone who would only set his eyes on her.

Someone who would be by her side no matter what.

Someone who would not… chooe another one over her?

She remembered all her friends saying about how she and Hojo would make a great couple.

'Can I,' she thought to herself. 'Can I give Hojo a chance?'

.

.

"I can't believe this! For the first time in my life, I got a B+ for my math exam!" exclaimed Kagome enthusiastically.

"Don't forget who you owe that to, Kagome!" Eri said as she winked one of her eyes.

"Whooa. Who is it Eri? Oh! Must be Hojo, right?" added Yuka.

"My, my, Kagome. You two must get together soon!" Ayumi grinned meaningfully.

Kagome sweat-dropped and laughed nervously. "Really, you guys."

Out of nowhere, the boy that the four friends were talking about suddenly appeared before them.

"Hi, Kagome!" Hojo greeted cheerfully.

Kagome smiled at him. "Oh, Hojo. Hi!"

Her friends looked at each other as they came to a silent agreement to leave the two together.

"Kagome, we forget that we need to help Kumiko Sensei today! See you later!" Eri said as she dragged the other two with her.

"Ehhh, you guys!" called Kagome, but the three of them had completely disappeared from sight.

She sighed. 'Well those three are as weird as always…'

She turned her attention back to Hojo, who was still smiling at her happily.

"So, how's your exam yesterday?" Hojo asked.

"It's great Hojo!" Kagome grinned. "I got a B+ for the first time in my life! I really owe you big time for this, Hojo."

"Good to see that I could help you… So, uh…. say Kagome, would you be free tomorrow?" asked Hojo.

Kagome fell silence for a while. She did tell everyone she'll be back as soon as she finished her exam. But well… One more day wouldn't hurt, right?

"Well," she said, "I think I am." She smiled to him.

Hojo grinned happily. "Great! I got two tickets to the fun park…. So I was wondering if you care to join me?"

Kagome contemplated his offer for a while. Taking a deep breath, she answered, "Sure. I'd like to."

.

.

The very same day in the Feudal era, a very grumpy Inuyasha was waiting beside the well while tapping his feet impatiently.

"Keh. The wench should've been back by now," he looked at the sun that had began to set, "I wonder what she's doing though… does she- does she really mad at me?"

"Inuyasha, wouldn't it be better if you go to Lady Kagome's time and get her?" said Miroku. "

"And probably apologize to her." murmured Sango.

Inuyasha's ears twitched. "What do you mean apologize, Sango? I ain't doing anything wrong!"

"Sure you are, Inuyasha…" said Sango as she rolled her eyes.

"Keh." He replied, acting arrogant as usual.

But he couldn't help but to began to think that he was really the cause of Kagome's lack of cheerfulness.

'Kagome, did I… or is this because of… Kikyo?' Inuyasha thought to himself as he continued to stare at the well.