Last Thoughts

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, but I wish I did. Him and his adorable little doggy ears.

Summary: The Battle with Naraku is a sucess! What happenes when Kagome is shot back to her own time? Please don't flame, constructive critisizm welcome.


Time

It had been two years and twelve days since that day Kagome was forced back into her own time. She was now a young woman, nineteen years old. She hadn't been near the Bone Eaters Well, nor the God Tree since that moment she finally managed the courage to pull herself out of the well.

Her Mother and Grandfather had been very sympathetic of her situation. Souta, however, seemed withdrawn. When Kagome had tried to speak with her younger brother, all she achieved was having a vollyball tossed her direction. She hadn't heard her brother speak to her since, and she knew why. He was blaming her for shutting the well. Convinced that she had tapped into the Shikon no Tama, and used a hidden wish for everything to be done with. For good. Resulting in her being placed -selfishly, I might add- back in present Japan.

It had taken her a very long time to build the strength to completely move on with her life. Finish school, and even apply for a couple of colleges. She wanted to study abroad. Everything at home reminded her of him. Of them. It only served to weaken her; and that was a feeling she was growing tired of baring.

She had secluded herself from her friends, focusing on the tasks at hand. It was the moment that she realized she was no different that Kikyo, the dead Priestess that wandered Feudal Japan in her body of bones and graveyard soil, that she had applied and got a job at a local resturant, serving as a waitress. The pay was shit, but it allowed her to feel. Well, as much as the young miko could feel at that point of time. She had been so numb, so broken.

She had been working on the eve of her nineteenth birthday when he walked in. That beautiful American Man who went by the name of Eric Christile. Very tame golden blond hair, and eyes as deep as the bark of The Forest of Inuyasha. His smile was soft, but untamed, and Kagome felt her legs melt everytime he flashed her one of those god-forsaken smiles. She had never seen a human man look so beautiful in her entire life. Not without some demon blood in their veins.

...Like Inuyasha.

The thought chilled her, and old emotions began to weild within her soul. It had almost seemed as though that thought hadn't entered her mind of her own will. Like it was placed there by some outside force. Paranoia began to strike, immediately, as she approached the golden-haired angel, notepad and pen in hand.

"What can I get for you to drink?" She asked.

Eric grinned up at her, "Cola?"

She nodded, as she turned on her heels and disappeared behind the bar. After a few moments, she returned with his drink. A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, as she approached him. He had sounded uncertain with his previous response, and she couldn't help but wonder if he spoke Japanese at all. "Are you ready to order, or should I come back in a few minutes?" She, after all, had been speaking in Japanese this entire time.

"I believe I'll just be having the drink tonight, Miss. Thank you," Eric had retorted, speaking Japenese with a perfect tongue.

Kagome was sure her eyes had grown to the size of golfballs by this action, because the golden-boy simply chuckled under his breath, before he pulled out a book and engrossed himself in it.

It had been like that for nearly two weeks now. He would come in, order a cola, and read his book. Kagome, of course, wasn't so naive that she didn't catch the subtle glances he would give her when she wasn't looking. She knew she was a looker, she had been hit on many times before. Even Hojo never ceased with his persuits on her, but she ignored them all. There was only so much room in her heart she had to love with, and it was already occupied by a certain Hanyou friend.

"Kagome," Eric had said, bringing her back to momentary reality, she felt herself blush, as she approached him. He stared at her for a few moments, before he gave a look at his watch, "I would very much like to see you, outside of your work. A date on your next day off?"

Kagome felt her heart swell, painfully, as she took a surprised step backwards. She knew this was going to come; she just never dreamed she'd felt as though she were a gazelle being preyed on by a lion when it did.

"Mr. Christile," Kagome began, uncertainly.

"Eric," The golden-haired man replied, with a childish wave of his hand.

Kagome chewed on the inside of her cheek, as her eyes fell to the floor, "Thank you, for-for-" How the hell was she supposed to finish that sentence? Stupid Kagome! "I don't think I-"

"You can what?" Eric asked, innocently.

"I don't think I can afford the time off work," Kagome finished, lamely.

Eric's smile grew even more heart-melting. Kagome felt as though she'd lose herself in that smile, "I'll pay for your time off work, then," he declaired. "Tips included."

Kagome felt her blood rise to her cheeks, as she glared down at the man. "How dare you say that to me?!" She growled, "I'm not some.. some WHORE you can pay for, Mr. Christile! Thanks, but NO thanks."

She turned on her heels, prepared to ask Mikotsu to finish off with Table Three, when she felt a hand wrap around her wrist. She halted all her actions, and sucked in some breath, turning her head slowly to meet Eric's georgeous brown eyes. "I didn't mean it in that manner, Kagome," he said, speaking slowly. "I apologize for offending you."

Why couldn't she breathe? Why was it so damn hard for her to find some breath? She continued looking into his eyes, almost drowning in them. "Allow me to make this up to you? Next week, eight o'clock?"

Kagome could only nod as he let go of her wrist.

--

A/N: Sorry for such a LONG wait, people. I haven't had my muse with me since forever. I hope this chapter was up to your standards. I will be adding more chapters here in the near future.