A Thousand Years by Sereia

Chapter 1

SessKag Week - Day 6

Prompt: "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri

..::**::..

It was fairly simple—after she'd figured out what to wish for. The jewel felt strangely heavy now that it was whole, though maybe that was just the burden that went with it. Taking a deep breath, she squeezed her eyes shut, the words echoing in her mind as she made her request.

The weight lessened, and when she opened her fingers, the jewel was gone. Breathing a sigh of relief, she looked up at her friends, smiling for the first time in a long time.

"Is it done?" Miroku asked, leaning on his staff for support.

Kagome nodded. "It was the right wish."

"You did well, miko."

She blushed, but embarrassment quickly shifted to anticipation as she turned to the daiyoukai, his hand already outstretched. Heart in her throat, Kagome ran towards him, intent on showering him in the affection she'd been holding back throughout the final battle, only to run right through him.

The pack collectively gasped, Kagome stumbling as she skidded to a stop. "What's going on?" She looked down at her hands and watched in horror as they began to fade. Tears streaming down her face, she looked up at Sesshoumaru, the normally stoic lord's face filled with dread as he reached for her, his desperation filling her ears before darkness claimed her.

..::**::..

Ten years.

Ten years she'd been back, and not so much as a glimmer from the well-house. Kagome had eventually moved away from the shrine, it only fueling her depression each time she'd passed by.

They'd been so close, so close to a happily ever after, but in the end, the jewel had had the last laugh, sending her back to an era where she'd forever feel out of place. Without her pack, without her friends.

Without him.

Mama had attempted to distract her with extra-curricular activities and jobs around the shrine, but even using her reiki was too much for her. She'd stopped training, stopped picking up her bow—stopped caring altogether. Being numb was the only way she'd survived.

And yet here she was again, ten years to the day, ignoring the pull, the pulse of power that always shone the brightest on this day. Every nerve was more sensitive, every hair standing up on end, but Kagome had always vehemently ignored it, not wanting something as dangerous as hope to start festering in her heart.

As soon as she'd been able to get away, she'd spent an entire year searching, sending out flares of her power wherever she went, all based on that stupid hope that someone, that he would find her. Time meant nothing to him, right? If he still wanted her, he'd still be looking, right?

But she never felt anything, never found anything. She'd come back through the well alone, and she'd been alone since. No one else knew what she'd been through, what she was going through, and as understanding as her family had been, they hadn't been enough.

And the guilt nearly destroyed her.

Hadn't she always complained to Inuyasha about coming home? About sleeping in her own bed and eating Mama's food? When had she started taking it for granted? When had they become less important? When had they become her second choice?

Kagome rubbed her chest and leaned back against the tree she'd taken shelter under. The park was more crowded today, so instead of her usual spot in the middle of the field, she'd sequestered herself against the trunk of a willow tree, hoping to avoid anyone looking for conversation on the bright summer day.

Her sketchbook lay beside her, one hand covered in charcoal. The next batch of designs wasn't due for a week, but she didn't want to chance falling behind with another depressive episode. Focusing on children's books' illustrations was enough to distract her from her turmoil.

Sometimes.

The heat in her chest increased to the point of discomfort, and she frowned. It had never been this bad before, not even on this particular day, and she felt the lid on her reiki tremble. It had been dormant for so long that she'd thought she wouldn't recognize the sensation, but the familiar buzz tickled her fingers, and for once, she was tempted.

What would happen if she let go? If she lifted the lid? Would it be the same as before? Did she even want it to be?

The slew of questions left her dizzy, and she rubbed her temples. Maybe it would at least ease the tension in her heart, allowing the numbness to return and the memories to fade.

Thankful that the branches of the willow tree concealed her, Kagome gave in to the call. Her reiki instantly took hold, wrapping her in an iridescent light that both comforted and destroyed her.

It was like being back there all over again.

She saw his face; each condescending sneer, each arrogant smirk, each hidden smile that she'd locked away in her heart.

Gods, how she loved him.

In her mind, he hadn't aged a day, those golden eyes still alive as they had always been—that outstretched hand reaching for her, as it has always been.

Why was time so cruel to her?

Tears ran down her face like rain, and she shuddered as she tried to put the lid back on, but her reiki had been inactive for too long. It seeped into the roots of the tree behind her, the bark warm against her back, and she choked back a sob, desperate to reign it back in.

You finally responded. 

Kagome jerked violently, hitting the ground as she struggled to breathe.

There is no need to fear, little one. Though I did not expect you to hold out for so long. 

Her head whipped around, the end of her ponytail sticking to her face due to the tears on her cheeks. "Who—"

You know you will not find me there.

And she did. She'd known from the first word that the voice was coming from inside her head, and she slowly turned to the tree behind her, placing a hand upon one of its roots.

Clever girl.

The tone was not meant to be patronizing, but her eyes narrowed all the same, reiki sparking. "Just because you aren't here doesn't mean I won't fry you. Trees burn down all the time."

The leaves rustled around her, and Kagome got the distinct feeling the being was laughing.

Such tenacity. I can see why he likes you. 

"What do you want?" she asked, rapidly losing patience. Her nerves were shot already; she didn't need some other world shrub mocking her.

A meeting. 

"If you want to see me so bad, why didn't you come here?" The branches of the willow swayed, the image of a secluded glade and deep roots forming in her mind.

Because I am old and unable to travel. 

Kagome bit her lip. She was curious, but did she really want to open up this part of her life again? Her mind screamed at her to walk away, to tighten the lid and pretend the whole thing never happened, but her treacherous heart sang a different tune. One of hope and friendship and relief at being able to talk to someone who knew.

The being seemed to sense her decision, the wood vibrating under her hand.

I will show you where to find me. 

..::**::..

The sun shone brighter as she entered the glade, and Kagome shielded her eyes. The air was alive with power, calling her own to the surface, the lid once again coming loose.

It had taken her a week to find the place, though some of that was due to forcing herself to complete her current list of commissions and loading up her yellow backpack with camping supplies.

It felt like old times, which both elated and terrified her.

There was no barrier, but she'd felt the deterrent around the edge of the forest—none without power could enter here. It was more spacious than she'd initially thought, but the location of her host was obvious, a lone tree standing tall and proud in the very centre. She made her way towards it, her feet shuffling through lush grass and vibrant wildflowers.

She liked it here. It was a soothing balm to her withered soul, and she instantly forgave the being for pressuring her into making the trek.

Was your trip a pleasant one?

Dropping her bag at the base of the tree, she rolled her shoulders. "It was fine. Though I think I'm going to be sore tomorrow. I haven't gone hiking in a long time."

An old hobby rekindled?

"Maybe." She looked around, inhaling deeply. "Your home is lovely."

Thank you. I recently had it redecorated. 

It started as a snort, but soon Kagome was holding her stomach, tears running down her face. The joke wasn't even that funny, but the fact that it had come from what seemed like a thousand-year-old tree made it so ridiculous that she couldn't help herself.

It is good to see you capable of such joy.

She wiped away the tears, sucking in a few deep breaths before she was able to stand straight. "I wasn't sure I could still laugh like that. Thank you." A deep rumbling ran through the branches as the front of the tree shifted, a face appearing out of the bark.

"You are most welcome. It is not often the Shikon Miko visits my forest."

The title brought both pride and melancholy. "You know who I am."

"I do."

"Is that why you called me here?" she asked, the familiar sting of being recognized for her abilities or obligation instead of herself churning her stomach.

The face crinkled as the tree demon smiled at her. "No."

The weight on her shoulders lessened, and she smiled in return. "Then call me Kagome."

"As you wish, Kagome. I am Bokuseno."

..::**::..

She spent three days in Bokuseno's glade, simply passing the hours away leaning against his trunk, working on her sketches or reminiscing about the past. It didn't hurt as much with him, as he hadn't been a significant player in the search for the Shikon shards. He was also a lot older than any of the people she'd met in the past, so the stories he shared were from centuries before Naraku.

He'd even known Inu no Taisho as a child.

"I see much of him in his sons, though the younger one never seemed open to any of my advice."

Pain shot through her heart, images of both brothers flashing through her mind. "That doesn't surprise me," she said in a broken whisper. "Inuyasha never was the greatest listener."

"A skill his brother acquired over the years as well."

The pain increased, pulling her out of Bokuseno's comforting embrace and back into reality. A reality where she'd been stripped of her happy ending. A reality she needed to get back to. "I should get going."

Bokuseno eyed her for a moment, a thoughtful expression on his withered face. "Are you sure you cannot stay another day?"

Kagome sighed but started to pack up her things, rolling her sleeping back into its case. "I wish I could. It's wonderful here."

"Your sentiment is appreciated, Kagome, but I know it is not my company you seek."

She flushed, knowing the way she'd avoided all conversation about Sesshoumaru hadn't gone unnoticed by the elder youkai. After loading up her bag, she got to her feet, patting his trunk. "Thanks for bringing me here. I'd like to come again if you wouldn't mind?"

He smiled softly. "You are always welcome here."

Her final goodbye was interrupted by the snap of a twig, Bokuseno looking beyond her to the far end of the clearing. "You would think after all these years, he would learn to be on time."

She frowned, opening her mouth to question him when the air shifted, goosebumps roughening her skin as silence descended upon the small hideaway, not even the insects daring to speak as a low baritone sounded behind her.

"Kagome?"

..::**::..

A/N - You get the sequel tomorrow!