Kagome dreaded the thought of having to go back to school and take one more of those tests that were slowly driving her insane. It felt as if every time she crossed through the well and back into her own time, there was a special, really hard test waiting with her name on it. She saw the points of the school’s roof come into view as she walked further up the hill as she let out a deep sigh. She gave her temples a quick rub as she kept reminding herself, “It’s almost over..it’s almost over..”

As she neared the entrance gate to the school, she could her the voices of the many teenagers laughing and conversing before the final bell rang. She gave a soft smile, as she looked at all the familiar faces of her peers. It was nice to see people she recognized and who dressed and acted like her. Being in the Feudal ages, majority of the time, was slowly becoming a habit to Kagome, but seeing those few faces of her past, made her appreciate her time even more. However, she did love seeing Miroku and Sango always arguing, Shippo being bonked on the head by Inu Yasha and… “Inu Yasha..” Kagome softly muttered to herself. It had been three days since she last saw the group because of her final exams coming up and her argument with the demon. She had to study. And while everyone else understood her departure, Inu Yasha was always standing there in front of the well, with that smug look on his face and his arms folded across his chest. If it weren’t for those prayer beads around his neck, who knows if Kagome would ever be able to get home. But now, that wasn’t a concern..

“Inu Yasha! You know darn well I have tests that I need to study for! I’m trying my hardest to get into a good High School and running back and forth between my time, my many absences and consent “sicknesses,” isn’t help my cause at all!”

“I don’t care! We are so close to this jewel being done that I can almost taste it! And when we finally get a led on where Naraku is, YOU decide to run back home and take a stupid test! I won’t let you go!”

“You can’t tell me when I can and can’t go! I know we’re close, but it will only be a couple of days and personally, getting into a High School is more important than this stupid jewel!”

“You always leave! Just say you’re sick again or something!”

“No Inu Yasha! MY tests and MY life come first, not yours!”

“I’m not letting you by me.”

“Oh is that a fact?”

“Damn right, bitch!”

“SIT! SIT SIT SIT SIT SIT and SIT!”

Even through the dirt the muffled curses and yells of Inu Yasha could be heard clearly, but Kagome paid no mind as she finished packing her carrying sack and headed out of Kaede’s hut. As she trekked through the forest, she could feel the demon approaching her fast, up until the point where he jumped down in front of the well, his face covered with blotches of dirt and grass.

“Out of my way Inu Yasha or next time it will be 10 “you-know-whats” in a row!”

“I just want you to know that if you go back now don’t even think of returning back here.”

“Eh?”

“I’m sick of this Kagome. I’m sick of you always running off when we need you the most! We are so fucking close and now, of all times, you have to leave! If you go, then stay in your fucking time!”

Kagome looked at Inu Yasha for a few seconds with a blank stare as his words slowly entered her brain. She blinked a few times when it finally hit, and she could feel her body tremble with both anger and sadness.

He doesn’t need me anymore..he never needed me! He never cared about my needs or me! It was always the jewel! It was always about himself!

She felt the tears begin to weld in her eyes but she quickly shook them away as she shot out at Inu Yasha, ripping the necklace that contained the Shikon Half on it, throwing it at his chest.

“There! Take it! Take your damn jewel! Your damn life! You don’t need me?! Well I don’t need you! Happy hunting Inu Yasha and don’t worry, you won’t have to see me ever again! If all you’re going to care about is yourself then I hope you live a happy life with you and that piece of glass! Sayonara Dog Boy!”

And with that, Kagome shoved Inu Yasha out of the well’s entrance and jumped inside, disappearing into the darkness. It took Inu Yasha a few moments to collect himself and to realize that she had actually done it. He slowly looked down towards the ground and carefully picked up the Shikon Half that she had thrown at him. He swallowed hard, his heart beginning to hurt. He really didn’t mean those words..he was just angry...he needed Kagome..without her..what was the point of anything or doing anything? It’s no fun arguing over the jewel if she wasn’t there to always yell at him back. What had he done? How could he have been so stupid?!

“She really meant it…” He softly whispered to himself as he looked back down into the well, a great sadness pulling at his heart. He had to shake it off, she was just a stupid mortal girl who did nothing but get them into trouble. It was her fault we were in this whole mess to begin with! He told himself.

“Fine! Stay there! See if I care!” He yelled down into the well as he stormed off back towards the village while a faint scent of the girl hung in the air like a blanket. Inu Yasha quickened his pace; he had to get away from it fast.

Kagome slipped through the gates of the school and was quickly jumped upon by her three friends, jumping up and down as if they could barely contain themselves.

“Kagome-Chan! Guess what this Friday is!” Keiko exclaimed excitedly.

“Ne….”

“Oh come on Kagome! You have to know!” Rei shook her arm like it were a rag doll’s. Kagome was being thrown back and forth by the two girls when finally Ayashi broke in and informed Kagome of the news.

“It’s the Junior Prom! It’s already here! Sensei said that the principal allowed it this year, the first time in over ten years! Isn’t that exciting?!”

“I..I..I guess so..but..I don’t have a-“ Kagome was quickly cut off.

“We’re going shopping this afternoon for dresses! You have to come with us! You have to go to Prom. It’s our only chance to go! Besides, I overheard Hojo-chan saying that he wanted to ask you but afraid you’d forget about him again or get ill."

“Please Kagome! Please please please?! Say you’ll come!” All the girls suddenly huddled in a tight circle, bottom lips out and quivering while their eyes got large and sad like. Kagome looked at them and gave a deep sigh. Well she could now. It’s not like she would be running back to the past any time soon, if ever. And now would be the perfect time to finally get a date without Inu Yasha always popping up..ofcourse..even the though of that boy made her heart hurt..she missed him terribly..even though she didn’t want to admit it. She wanted to go back and apologize..she wanted to make amends..but he never wanted to see her again…

“Okay..I’ll go.” Kagome muttered.

“YAY!!!!” All three of the girls suddenly grabbed Kagome up in a huge hug, jumping up and down excitedly. Kagome laughed and smiled. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all…

Inu Yasha lounged on his usual branch of the God tree, his arms folded across his chest, a stern yet blank look plastered on his face. Three days since...he growled to himself. That stupid girl running off and believing him! Were all teenaged girls of her time that gullable?! She snorted in disgust and turned his head slightly, glancing down towards the base of the tree. Usually Kagome would be standing there, yelling at him to come down and he would roll his eyes and do so. But now..the only words that Inu Yasha could hear were the mock whispers of the trees, laughing at him.

"Ay there dog boy..lost yer woman I see..."

"Ah..don't be so hard on him..it's not his fault he's an idiot.."

"Doesn't even know how to react around the woman he loves.."

"Gah! Shutup!" Inu Yasha yelled, folding his dog ears back against his head. Now even the forest was making fun of him. He really did blow it, didn't he. And what the hell did they mean by the woman he loves?!

"I do not love her you pathetic excuses for fire wood!" Inu Yasha exclaimed, jumping down from the branch and storming away back towards the village. He couldn't stay there while the damned trees mocked him! His shoulders began to sag slightly as the anger slowly began to wear off his body as realization took over. He....didn't love her...did he? No, he couldn't. How could he?! She was always crying or yelling or making him plumit into the ground with that stupid "S-word!" She always complained how he acted, telling him he should act more respectful like Miroku or loveable like Shippo if he ever expected to get anywhere in a relationship..wait..relationship with you?! What was that wench planning? Did she...no...no, she couldn't. She seemed to be dispised by him..didn't she? Inu Yasha stopped for a moment and leaned against the trunk of one of the trees, cupping his chin with his forefinger and thumb in a questionable stance. She did act like she didn't like him..right?

He stopped in mid-thought with a hurtful realization. She did care about him...and he was always so blind to even notice...he wasn't used to anyone actually telling him that they cared..well..Kikyou always had her suttle way but Kagome..she said it and yet her words just went right over his head. If she ever did tell him that she cared, he always pushed it aside, telling her to stop whining so much. And yet now..he wished...

"How could I have been so blind.." he whispered to himself..now he understood why her eyes looked so hurt when he told her not to come back..he did care about her and her life..but at that moment he was just so frustrated that they were so close and then he went and took it out on her..the most important person he needed by his side was never going to come back..all because of him...

Suddenly a faint rustle caught his sensitive hearing as he quickly looked over to where the well was. It rustled a few more times and Inu Yasha quickly hurried over to it, praying that it would be her emerging from that darkness. He jumped towards the ledge hoping to grab her as she came out, hug her and yell at her for leaving him like that and then hug her again, apologizing over and over again.

"Kagome I-...!" but he stopped short as when he landed by the lip of the well, all he was greeted by was the faint rustle of the wind against the leaves that had been built up against the wall of the well. Silence fell on Inu Yasha again as he stared down into the blackness of the well, staring and straining for a faint outline of her form..that beautiful form that always made him stare whenever she wasn't looking..a faint hint of that sweet scent that filled his sensitive dog nose of honey and jasmine..and her..that woman he..needed so desperatley...

"Suck up your pride man and just go and apologize and ask her....beg her to come back to you!" he scolded himself. Inu Yasha quickly glanced around his surroundings, making sure that no one would follow, and with one quick leap, he was in the well, traveling through an eternity.

He would never get used to that sudden stop as he hit the floor of the wall and fell with a thud, his face burying itself into the dirt. He quickly stood up, wiping the smuge from his face as he catiously scaled the wall of the well with ease, poking his eyes up just enough to give a slight glance around, making sure Kagome wasn't around. With one easy shove, he was up and out of the well, slowly walking up the steps to the entrance of the mini shrine. He kept thinking over and over in his head how he was going to apologize. His usual, "Get your ass back here, Kagome!" sure as hell wasn't going to work. He had to tone it down..make it more..

Sensitivity..ne..he was going to have to work on that..a lot. He kept practicing over and over in his head more kinder words than his usual. Kagome..PLEASE get your ass back here! Gah! No..ummm...Wench I'll...I'll cry if you don't come back! Oh what the hell am I thinking?! He'd never be "sensitive" at this rate. His best bet was to just..well...lie and tell her Shippo needed her back..atleast..he could tell his feelings through the little fox child...and when the time was right...explain his side...

He poked his head slightly out the door of the shrine and glanced around. He couldn't hear or see anyone coming, but her scent hung faintly in the air. He glanced upwards to where her house was, catching sight of her bedroom window and the branch he usually sat in when he would wait for her to come home from school and then tell her to hurry up and come back to his world. So many days he remembered, as he would watch her sleep at night, just for the sake of his being lonely..on those nights..he would just watch her..loving the sight of the moon striking her sleeping face just right..like an angel's vision..

"Gotta snap out of it!" He told himself as he quickly made a break from the shrine to the tree. He moved with blinding speed as with one leap, he was up and perched silently on his branch, hiding in the dense foliage to make himself unknown. He peered through her window and discovered she wasn't there..."Where could she be..?.." he wondered as he laid himself back against the trunk, folding his arms across his chest as usual, and keeping his ears alert as he let himself doze for a bit..atleast he'd have something to break his sensitive side if it got out of hand...

"Feh..women..always keeping a man waiting..."

Kagome, Rei, Ayashi and Keiko came busting through her bedroom dooring, giggling and throwing many of their shopping bags down onto her bed. Inu Yasha's ears quickly jumped into action as his eyes shot open to the four girls bustling back and forth in the room, removing these brightly covered garments from bags. He peered closer, trying to get a better look at what was going on, but more importantly, a better look at her. She looked..so..

"Wah! I'm so happy! They had my favorite color in this beautiful dress! Can you believe it?! What luck!" Kagome exclaimed excitedly as she held the dress up to herself as she gazed into the mirror. It was a long, dark hue of Amber gold with thin straps for the shoulders and criss-cross straps in the back that seemed to fit her form well. The other girls nodded in agreement as she looked at her, removing similar dresses but of different colors. Keiko glanced over at Kagome who seemed to be in a slight trance as she stared at the dress in the mirror. Keiko giggled.

"Kagome..what's wrong? Are you thinking about a boy?!" All the girls suddenly bursted out into giggles as her cheeks turned to a red hue. Inu Yasha leaned even further this time, really trying to hear the conversation now. Kagome turned back around, hanging the dress up onto a hanger and sitting down in her desk's chair. She had bought the dress in that color because it reminded her of his eyes..that dark amber gold..the moment she had seen it, she thought of him..what would he say if he had seen her in the dress. She rolled her eyes at the thought. "What the hell is that silly garment you are wearing?! You aren't expecting to fight in that thing are you? Get back into your weird clothes because we have a mission to complete if you've forgotten already." She sighed and shook her head. Definetly what he would say..he had never commented on her style of clothing..not that he ever really understood, but as long as she looked like Kikyou, everything she wore was "a silly garment." All three of the girls watched the sudden changes of emotion on Kagome's face as it looked like an ongoing battle of thought. They looked curiously at eachother before Rei leaned over and shook Kagome's shoulder.

"Ne..Kagome..are you okay?"

Kagome quickly snapped to attention. "Ne?"

"You were thinking about Hojo weren't you?!" Keiko exclaimed with a giggle.

Kagome's eyes widended slightly in surprise as the girls all burst into giggles. A sweatdrop formed on the back of her head as she shook her head and hands quickly in defense.

"No no! I was-..!"

"Wondering if he'd take you to Prom..I told you already Kagome, he wants to take you! You just have to say 'yes!'" Rei said. Inu Yasha blinked at his statement in puzzlement. What the hell was a prom and if that hojo whatshisface even tries to..! Kagome smiled and waved her hands at her friends.

"I know I know..I'm just..taking my time..I don't want to say 'yes' incase someone else decides to ask me.." She said bashfully. Inu Yasha cocked his ear slightly. Someone else? Who..? All the girls stared at her.

"Kagome, you have a secret crush?!"

"Oooo! And you didn't tell us?!"

"Who?! Who?!"

Kagome only sighed softly as she stared down at the floor. Well..it's not like he was a "crush" but..she had tried to shut those emotions off ever since she had seen Kikyou and him kiss..it was inevitable that they would never be together..and if so..it was only because he thought Kagome as his long lost love..and there was never a point to put her heart through a love that wasn't even for her..but her former self.

"He's..he's just someone I know..from..the past.." She muttered softly.

"Kagome..why don't you ask him to Prom if you like him so much.." Rei spoke quietly, seeing the sudden hurt on her friend's face. Kagome smiled slightly. Yeah..funny..she could just imagine Inu Yasha's face.

"No..no..it's okay..he doesn't dance and he doesn't even know what a prom is.."

"He doesn't know what a prom is?! What's wrong with him?" Keiko said.

"It's like he's from another time or something." Rei added. Kagome could only laugh at that statement as her friends looked at her, confused.

Inu Yasha's heart slowly began to hurt as he watched the pain etch across Kagome's face. She was talking about him..as if..she didn't hate him at all..as if she..she too missed him..He had to apologize and bring her back with him, now..even more than before..

"Oh well you guys, it doesn't matter anyways. We had a fight a long time ago and he doesn't even want to see me any more.." She stated as she stood up and clapped her hands infront of her. "He's just in the past now." No pun intended, she added silently. The girls all rushed over to give her friend a hug and rant and rave how men were just jerks. Inu Yasha sighed softly upon hearing those words leave that sweet mouth of hers. He leaned back in the tree, carefully making his way down the trunk to the base. "Guess I was wrong.." he whispered to himself as he headed away from tree to the mini shrine. She seemed happy now..with her friends..in her time..with her "proms" and "hojos." She didn't need him hovering around her anymore...

Kagome smiled and laughed at her friend's "men" comments when suddenly a familiar ping hit her mind and she quickly rushed over to her bedroom window, looking around, but only the window caught her black tendrils, whispering them around her face. "Kagome, you okay?" Rei asked. Kagome looked into the tree, hoping to caught his familiar outline in the leaves but all that was there was a faint memory. Kagome slowly nodded and turned back to her friends, a small smile on her face.

"Yeah..I just..thought I felt something..."