Kagome and her friends, Eri, Ayumi, and Yuka, stretched their arms, walking home from graduation.
"Highschool is finally over!" Yuka laughed.
"Yeah, now onto yet another torture."
"Hey, how's that guy, has he called?"
"He can't. Ever since he had to go off to train in another country it's been kind of limited."
"How long has he been gone?"
"Three years. We probably won't see each other again, ever. As much as we want to. He's probably forgotten me."
"Kagome!" A voice ripped through her thoughts. What? Now? She ran to the edge of the sidewalk, looking down to the street. Her foot slipped over a pool of water from the recent rain. Head over heels, she fell from the height.
"Kagome!" Her friends hurried to the edge, careful not to slip. But they needn't have worried. Kagome was in the arms of her lost love, Inuyasha. He had returned. The trio of girls took the stairs to check on their friend.
"Are you okay?" No response. The pair didn't speak, merely looking at each other as if believing it all a dream. Then she was locked in a strangling embrace. Tears streaked from her eyes as she spoke to low for them to hear.
"Is it really you? Inuyasha?" Her eyes were wide open, scared that if she blinked it would all vanish, like so many dreams from the last three years.
"It's really me. The well suddenly opened up. I came as fast as I could. Are you okay? No demons?"
"I'm fine. I missed you so much. Are you injured? You haven't been trying things you shouldn't have you?"
"No, I'm fine. Gods I missed you." They stood there, just staring into each others' eyes, unaware of anything else. He leaned in closer, their lips met. Her arms closed around his neck, reveling in the joy of having him back. He whispered in her ear.
"Kagome, will you come back with me? To stay?"
"I promised I'd wait for you before we were separated, and I have. There's no one else, never. All I've thought of was seeing you. I'll go back with you, forever. I love you."
"I love you too. I was terrified I wouldn't ever be able to get here, or worse you'd have found someone new."
"That could never happen. I didn't learn how to shoot and fight innumerable demons just to find some normal modern guy. Hey, how's Shippo?"
"He's off training to become a full fledged demon warrior."
"Sango and Miroku?"
"Married and three kids."
"Wow. Miroku up to his old tricks?"
"Not really. The kids sort of put things in perspective."
"And he got tired of Sango crushing his skull. Granny Kaede?"
"Same as ever. A little older though."
"Uh, hello? We can't quite hear you, but are you okay Kagome?"
"I'm great. Now I've really got to run. Girls? This will probably be the last time you ever see me."
"Why?"
"I'm going to be with Inuyasha."
"Like for real? You're going off with him?"
"Yeah. I'll learn under Granny Kaede, if she can handle an apprentice. My grandfather was a shrine keeper, and we know I had a talent for the priestess art, right Inuyasha?"
"Uh, yeah. Whenever you were around, everything was better. Kaede will be overjoyed to have you back."
"I'm leaving tonight, so good bye."
"Be safe Kagome." Yuka hugged her friend.
"Be careful of men." Eri looked a little uncertain.
"And if things get bad, call us."
"I'll contact you if it get's too hard. Bye you all! So I wanted to ask, is my stuff still at the house? You know, the long bow?" She turned back to Inuyasha.
"I wouldn't let Miroku get rid of it. I knew I'd get it to you somehow. You ready?"
"Yeah. How's Myoga?"
"The usual. He's with Toto-sai these days."
"There's an interesting set. "Kohaku?"
"Out demon slaying. He doesn't visit." They were nearly home.
"Let's see, who haven't I asked about?"
"Koga?"
"How is he? I remember that as an interesting topic in the past."
"He married Ayame last year. He said that if I ever saw you again, to say hey."
"I'll drop in and say hi myself sometime. Let's see, how's Hojo?"
"He seems to be doing fine. I'm really not sure. He went abroad two years ago, never drops in. Hey, we're here. You ready?"
"Yeah, I'll just pack and we'll go home. Mom! Mom! You'll never believe who's here!" Her family came running out.
"Inuyasha? How?"
"The way opened up an hour ago. I got Kagome the second I arrived."
"Mom, I'm going back, but I'm not coming here again."
"I understand. Before the incident, I knew you two had something special. Now you can go back to where you both feel right. I'll help you pack."
"I'll take care of her." Inuyasha held tight to her hand.
"Right. I'll make some lunches for you all. It's my last chance to cook for them."
"They'll like that. Come on Inuyasha." Kagome drug out her suitcase. "Okay, clothes, a couple books for easy reading, what am I thinking? Just some clothes. I don't need most of my books. Oh yeah, I bought a few things over the years in case I ever got back. Twenty of Shippo's favorite candies, that dress for Sango, those sandals for Miroku, and of course, I'll bring plenty of Inuyasha's favorite noodles." Finally she felt ready.
"Oh! I almost forgot. I bought this repair and crafting kit in case I ever made my own arrows again. Now I can repair my arrow heads much easier."
"Hey, we should get going. Don't want the well to close up again.
"Okay. I'm ready. Let's go home." Kagome's mother waited with a large lunch pail outside the door.
"Good luck Kagome."
"Bye Mom. Do good in school, Sota. Don't be like me. Grandfather, don't overwork yourself. You're not as young as you once were."
"You were alive five hundred years ago, so don't call me old."
"Ha ha ha. I wondered when you'd use that line. Bye everyone! If my friends call, tell them I'm happy in my new home with the people I love. I really have two families. You're my blood family, but Kaede is like a grandmother, Miroku's like a very annoying older brother, and Sango's my sister. Inuyasha, well, he's more than just any family. So let's be on our way. I have a lot of greetings to get through today. I have to see Sango and the kids, I have to make sure Ayame hasn't killed Koga yet, and I simply must make sure Granny Kaede is doing well."
"I told you they're all fine, aside from missing you."
"They don't have to miss me anymore."
"None of us do."
"Bye again!" The reunited lovers dashed to the well and dove straight in. After three years, Kagome had nearly forgotten what it felt like to traverse time. But it still was second nature. The smell of crisp air, unpolluted by industry struck her like the touch of a cool breeze. Finally, she felt home.