Happy?

Chapter 7

I made it to the bone-eaters well, and jumped into the darkness without a second thought. Feeling the magic lingering in it, I finally hit the bottom, and started climbing out, hoping that it took me back to the present time.
I crouched down, and proceeded to launch myself out of the well. Gently landing on the balls of my feet, I took in my surroundings with a heavy heart.
I was standing alone, in the dark shrine. I shuffled outside and poked my head out of the opening, it was probably close to midnight.
I was emotionally exhausted from crying and just wanted to sleep, so I trekked in to the house I grew up in and snuck up the stairs, slipping into my bedroom undetected.
I would face the music in the morning, but for now I launched myself onto my bed and sunk between the comforters. I slapped my hand around, looking for my fox plush that gramps had given me. Sitting straight up with a horrified look on my face, I realized I had left it in my room at Sesshomaru's home.
Groaning, I flopped back into the pillows, something else I'll have to deal with tomorrow. With that thought I slipped into a deep, dreamless, sleep.
I was pulled from my sleep the next morning by shouting coming from Kagome's room. I groaned and rolled, onto the floor. Getting to my feet, I stumbled into kagomes room, eyes still closed.
"Kagome..." I yawned.
"Please kindly shut up." I walked forward and fell onto her bed, well tried to. I landed on a firm body.
"Hey! Get off would ya?!" A male shouted before shoving me to the ground.
I heard growling, and then another voice started yelling at the first.
"Sit boy!" Kagome yelled, causing a loud crash.
I finally managed to pry my eyes open and saw Kagome, Inuyasha, and shockingly, Sesshomaru all peering down at me.
"I guess my alone time is over?" I whined.
"You've had us worried sick!" Kagome started scolding me. I inhaled deeply and flattened my ears against my scalp.
"Look...I'm sorry I had you worried...but I had some things I had to do. For myself. I had to know why." I felt my voice shake again as I remembered the words from yesterday.
Kagome fell silent and looked upon me with pity,
"Go see gramps and mom...at least let them know you're okay." She finally said softly. Nodding, I scampered away, on all fours of course.
"Gramps!" I yelled and squeezed him in a big hug.
"Welcome home, Ai." He chucked at me and squeezed me back.
"Where's mom?" I didn't smell her in the house.
"Oh she's out shopping right now." Gramps said absently.
"I'm sorry that I disappeared." I mumbled, suddenly finding my shoes interesting.
Gramps smiled warmly down upon me.
"It's okay dear, I've known for some time now. Your mother had mentioned where you had come from briefly." He said with his eyes sparkling.
"She has left a second note, but I had clear instructions to let you learn on your own. Something about meeting someone on the other side." He mused.
I frowned, wanting to be angry, but it wasn't gramps' fault and there was no reason in being mad anymore.
"I have to go back." I whispered and felt tears well up in my emerald orbs.
"I love you guys, and I appreciate all the years of love and kindness that you've all shown me, but this isn't my world. It never was." I smiled sadly at him.
He looked close to tears as well, kissing my forehead,
"I know Ai, you've been a daughter to me all these years." He sniffled and hid his tears from me.
"But it's time for you to go home." He added and squeezed me one last time.
"This is goodbye, now go pack before I change my mind." He laughed and wiped away a tear.
My lip trembled as I turned back towards the stairs,
"I love you, gramps."
I ran up the stairs as sobs wracked through my body. Somewhere at the back of my head something told me I could always come back and visit, but I knew that wasn't true. In my heart I knew that it would make it that much harder when the day came that I couldn't pass back over.
I pulled out my large pink backpack and began putting some of my belongings in it. A picture of the whole family, a picture of me and gramps, my baby blanket, and a few sets of my favorite clothes.
I sighed when I was finished and walked across the hall to Kagomes room.
"This is goodbye sis, I probably won't be returning." I smiled sadly at her.
"It's okay...I heard you and grandpa talking downstairs." She walked closer to give me a hug.
"You'll see me again, I'm on a mission to collect the shards of the shikkon jewel." She smiled and patted my cheek lovingly.
"Now get out of here before mom gets home and really doesn't let you leave." She laughed a little and turned away.
I turned lastly to look at Sesshomaru and looked up at him with big eyes, and made a granny hand up at him like a child.
"C'mon." I said in a small voice.
He cracked me a small smile, breaking the emotionless face he always wore around others and gently took my hand.
I heard Inuyasha choke a little bit and fall back dramatically.
"You're seeing this shit right?" He loud whispered to Kagome.
She rolled her eyes and smacked his head,
"Language!" She scolded.
I giggled and let Sesshomaru lead me away.
"I guess we should talk to huh?" I asked, eyeing my shoes as we walked. I felt so small and vulnerable right now.
"We should, but we can do that back home." He answered.
I smiled at the word home. I was glad that he wasn't going to just throw me out and make me live alone in the creepy fox compound.
"Okay." I finally agreed and down the well we went, hand in hand.