The Change of Seasons by Jaewyn of the West

Childhood Summer Ends

Disclaimer: I, sadly, do not own the works of InuYasha or the characters therein. Those are under the strict ownership of Rumiko Takahashi.

Standing at the top of the waterfall just outside of the village, a young miko with black hair watched the setting of the sun with her azure hues. Her left hand was gripping onto her bow with no little amount of pressure which left the wrapping upon the wood leaving quite the imprint on her hand. Had this been during the time of Naraku, she likely would be crying fully from the most recent of arguments with InuYasha but with her growth at all the times before, it was like beating a dead horse.

While no less furious than she normally would be, she found her time on wanting InuYasha as a lover and more had come to an end. It was at this point that she wondered if her return back to the Feudal Era that affected her so dramatically was foolish. Without traversing through the well this way and that and juggling the responsibility of the jewel, Kagome was more than able to easily catch up on her studies. This made it easier for her to do the clubs and she took to archery in the hopes that she would be returning and even finding all information from her grandfather and any other shrines what she could to control her power.

A few were silly old men but there were a couple that helped her temper her formidable power to be used when she wanted it to be used rather than when she felt her life at stake.

Surprisingly, when she had been able to return, that was actually one of the moments of contention when it came to InuYasha and her. InuYasha wanted everything back the way that it used to be and time and time again she would prove that she was someone that would be able to take care of herself.

In the first few weeks of her return, she remembered when she called Sesshomaru big brother because she thought that everything would work out to the happily ever after like she envisioned. Thinking back to the look on his face had her give a small smile from the distraction and giving the smallest hum of laughter. At least they now had a far less tenuous friendship given their shared adoration of Rin. The Shikon Miko thought he would be a brilliant brother in law with his ability to listen and truly debate with her.

Those past choices could be forgiven though. It was the most recent of incidents and the explanation that came with it that had her feeling the fool.

In their more recent argument, a village girl, Amari if her memory served and not much younger than herself had interceded and commanded that she stop yelling at InuYasha like she was. Kagome wasn’t going to think anything of it until she saw the change within those golden eyes she had come to know so well. They softened in a way that she thought was only for her and it caused the young miko to take a step back to understand what was going on. Apparently they were approaching a relationship before Kagome had returned as InuYasha wasn’t sure that she would be returning. The shocked woman could only stop him from trying to embrace her, nod at them both and make her way to her current location.

The miko thought to the time he told her they were born for one another and let a single tear fall. A fool’s errand but at second glance she knew that it was silly for a modern woman like her to think that her very first love would be the only one for her.

Her right hand came up and pinched the bridge of her nose to stave off the impending explosion of emotion that she could feel bubbling as she tried to work through the last piece of her heart being pulled away from the Inu Hanyou. The sun had finally finished setting and Kagome looked up to the twinkling night sky. It was then that she had made a choice and she was wondering how she was going to be telling her friends of this. The warmth of summer was starting to give way into fall, she could feel that very shift.

With the change of the season, so too would she need to make a change in herself. The last bits of a fantastical childhood was changing into the woman she would come to be. The warrior that was being born from the path she walked, inspired by the heroic acts that her dearest friends made and continued to despite choosing to settle down.

Letting her eyes close, she turned on her heel and started to make her way back to Kaede’s hut. The woman never having looked down to see the pair of keen golden eyes that saw the emotions that played over her face that ended with acceptance and determination. There was a glow about the female that couldn’t and wouldn’t be denied. It made the demon lament the loss of a piece of that innocence but the woman borne of it could never disappoint.

The very owner of those eyes mirroring her own movements of closing and turning to walk away as she had. Walking into InuYasha’s Forest and vanishing like a spectre in the night, leaving no evidence that the demon was ever there.

AN: Hi there! I’ve had a concept for a while but wanted to start writing out the idea before it filled too much of my head. I don’t have a beta at all so I apologize if there are any grammar errors. This is primarily going to be a series varying in length when it comes to chapters given that chapters will be more about certain events more than anything. This will also be primarily via Kagome’s point of view but if some are wanting some things to come from Sesshomaru by all means let me know as things go on.

Reviews are welcome as I adore criticism to try and get better!