"This is it," Kagome said with false cheer. She looked around; all of her friends huddled in close despite it being a beautifully warm day. Sango held Miroku's arm close to her chest, the two of them offering and taking comfort from one another. Shippo sits in Kaede's arms, trying valiantly to hide his tears. Inuyasha, her beloved hanyou, stood at her side, surly, arms crossed, but his low lying ears gave away his melancholy. Kilala sat perched on Sango's shoulder, watching with her wide red eyes.
For a moment, she let her eyes wander past them to the tree line in the distance but, she wouldn't find anyone else. She had hoped that he'd come. When they were last together in their final battle with Naraku, she'd told him that she would be leaving in a week, likely for good. Sesshomaru's eyes had gone wide, but then he was once more the stoic untouchable lord she'd battled against at the beginning of her quest.
She knew differently now. How Sesshomaru's stoicism was a mask for the world, hiding a depth of feeling and gentleness that she'd only glimpsed during the days leading up to Naraku's defeat. She was honored to have seen it and lamented that she wouldn't have more time to view the demon in this new light. With a noncommittal 'hn,' he had turned and left. The hope of a farewell dwindled with the fading sunlight. But maybe he wasn't good at goodbyes. With a sad smile, she thought, 'he wasn't good at 'hello's either.'
"Be well, child,' Kaede said, drawing Kagome's attention back to her friends. "It has been an honor knowing you."
Kagome nodded, "thank you for everything. All of you." She pressed her hands to her trembling lips, trying to hold back her sadness. Once she was able to renew her smile, she continued. "Maybe this isn't really goodbye. Maybe the well will still work."
Inuyasha scoffed and pulled her into a hug, holding her tight. "You know it won't."
She nodded, and the first tear spilled over and down her cheek. It triggered the first and only group hug they'd ever known. Everyone pressed in and clung to their little time-traveling priestess; Miroku even managed to keep his uncursed hand from wandering.
When they pulled back away, she wiped her eyes and memorized everyone's faces. Despite the plethora of photos she had stored at home, she was afraid she wouldn't remember them as they should be. Did the camera catch the faint crow's feet beginning to form by Miroku's eyes? It could never hold the somber strength in Sango's stance as she gracefully paved her way forward despite the tragedies in her life. The tentative hope in her eyes as she looked at Miroku. Or Kaede's teasing sarcasm that held sonorous wisdom and a nostalgic longing for a stolen youth. The kindness and forgiveness that she was capable of even as she whacked you over the head of inattention. Kilala's knowing gaze as she lent her strength or warmth on the nights that Kagome's heart had ached.
The way Inuyasha's ears broadcast everything he was feeling, telegraphing is care despite his bluster. Or how he'd softened over time and learned to trust others and open up to them. How he'd learned to accept himself for who and what he was. She'd never meet the man he was becoming after finally avenging Kikyo and himself.
And Shippo, her second little brother, and partner in crime. Even if she was able to stay in this time, she'd never see him fully grown. But she wouldn't be there when he learned his next trick. Or to stop Inuyasha from smacking him on the head after being pranked. Could a picture truly hold that twinkle of mischief in his emerald eyes?
And even though they weren't here to say goodbye, she thought of them. The life slowly returning to Kohaku's brown eyes now that Naraku no longer controlled him. His decision to stay with Sesshomaru instead of his sister had cut Sango deeply. However, Kagome had faith that he'd find his way back to his sister when he was ready. And in time, the siblings would be a family again.
Rin's sunny smile. The little human girl who faithfully followed the demon lord across Japan and slowly coaxed out the real demon hidden behind his mask. Her lilting voice and exuberant laugh as she chased Jaken down with handmade flower crowns. Sesshomaru's hard golden eyes softening as she neared him with her gift of flowers. The one time she caught him twirling a tiger lily between his fingers and how he'd tried to melt her camera when he heard the shutter click.
She took a steadying breath and looked away from the treeline. "I love you all." She closed her eyes and pulled the jewel to her chest, "be happy."
And then she made her wish.
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A/N: Wow? I'm posting a story? Who'd have thunk? For those of you that have read my story "Stay" I would like to apologize. It has been over ten years since I have updated it. I have tried to go back an finish it many many times over these past ten years and have just felt stuck. I do hope to one day continue and finish it. However, a lot has happened in the past decade. The main thing being that I lost all confidence in my ability to write and tell a story. And yet, I keep coming back to fan fiction and sesskag fanfics in particular.
So I present to you "The Well" in hopes that some of you enjoy it and I find my voice again.