Now.

Yet another light summer breeze passed, a young women's raven hair was gently tossed by the invisible force. Babbled words of two children that ran around her were lost as she took in the world that she belonged in. The sun was pinned in the sky overhead, proudly glowing cooper as it cast shadows to the tree tops that danced in the wind. Villagers went to work, doing this or that as they usually did. Kagome's eyes caught sight of Rin, a young girl that once traveled with her husband's older brother, Sesshormaru. The teen had grown since then, of course. If in modern times, Rin would be nearing the end of middle school.

Remembering modern times, Kagome couldn't help by let out a longing sigh. How long had it been since she was granted permission to go back? How was her family doing? Sota, Grandpa, Mom?

Her thoughts quickly cleared as her hand was met with another one. Her dark eyes looked over to the small child that had taken hold of her hand. "Yes, Asami?" She asked with a soft smile on her lips. She had always noticed that Asami look much more like her mother, Sango than her father. She had long dark hair that looked brown in the sunlight and her eyes matched her mother's darker ones. Asami wore a pink kamodo with a few swirled designs at the neck.

"Where Doggy?" She asked innocently. Kagome reached down and picked the small child up with a chuckle.

"You mean Doggy ran away again?" Kagome asked, already in full knowledge that Inuyasha took every chance he could to get out of watching the children.

Asami nodded. "Doggy wan away!" She exclaimed, throwing her hands up in the air to add a dramatic flair. Something she picked up from her mother no doubtfully.

Kagome looked around. The only other person she saw was Amaya, Asami's twin sister. Amaya was determined on also finding the half breed, for she called out "Doggy" almost Religiously.

"Inuyasha, come on out! You're supposed to be watching the twins!" Kagome called out, knowing that the man was somewhere around here.

"I'm *not* coming out!" Kagome heard him huff response, his voice filed with a sort of immaturity that the women learned to lie with.

Amaya ran over to Kagome as her and her sister shared a toothy grin. "Doggy!" They chimed.

Kagome searched for a moment before something red caught her eye. Inuyasha had perched himself in a tree, his fingers pulling at something in his hair. Kagome set Asami down next to her sister and in an instant the two began their search once more.

"Inuyasha! Come down now!" She demanded, staring up at him. He "keh"ed in response, his fingers twiddling quicker.

"Where Doggy?" Amaya asked, grabbing her God-Mother's hand. Kagome kneeled down besides the pouting child, the white kamodo she wore rustling as she did so.

"Look up in the tree." The women instructed, pointing a thin finger towards the silver haired man. Amaya's eyes eagerly followed the path that Kagome had pointed out for her.

"Doggy! Doggy dare you au!" She cheered as her large eyes caught sight of their favorite half demon. Her words soon grabbed Asami's attention as the other twin looked up.

"Come down now, Inuyasha! They found you." Kagome ordered. The hanyou grunted.

"Yeah ri-" he began, but was cut off by a single word. "Sit!"

The hanyou was pulled to the ground, the branch that had provided him safety from the two children snapping from under him. "Doggy!" The two girls sung in unison as they attacked the now fallen, and annoyed Inuyasha.

"What was *that* for?" The male shot at Kagome, grunting as he sat up with difficulty.

"You didn't seem to find a way yourself, so I helped." Kagome mused bluntly with a wave of her hand to dismiss his complaints. "Now you watch the kids like you promised."

"Wha! I thought it was the *women's* job to watch the kids!" He stood up, pushing the avid twins towards their Mother's best friend.

"Well now it's your-"

"Inuyasha!" A new voice joined the conversation, cutting Kagome off as the speaker ran around the small wooden hut that the four were behind. Miroku stopped in front of the couple and two children as the urgency in his voice disappeared. He silently gazed upon the half demon, looking almost awe struck. "... Are those... Bows in your hair...?" He asked almost in a whisper. The hanyou growled, his hands balling into fists. Nevertheless, loosely tied knots -that resembled bows- were weaved in the long silver locks. The father of the two girls couldn't help but laugh. Never in his years of traveling with his companion had he been blessed with such a sight!

"Shuddup, Miroku!" Inuyasha barked, stomping his foot as he turned to face him. "It was *your* fault for telling me to watch your two- two demon children!" He shot a clawed finger at the two girls that just giggled and attached themselves to the half demon's legs.

"Doggy play! Doggy play!" Asami chanted, pulling at Inuyasha's red clothing.

"Keh! What did you want Miroku?" Inuyasha growled, picking the twins up. He knew well that they weren't old enough yet to get a deserved pound on the head.

"Oh!" The lech stamped the bottom of the wooden staff he held on the ground as he became enlightened with his memory of business. "There's been story of a demon who is harassing a neighboring town." He explained almost joyously. Another one of Miroku's famous scams, of course.

"What about it?" Inuyasha demanded. Though he's grown much since Kagome first met him, he still wasn't too thrilled about helping people for no reason. As Miroku explained one thing or another about karma, Inuyasha was distracted as his ears became prisoners to four curious hands.

"Come on! K-Kagome! Take them!" Inuyasha almost pleaded. Kagome sighed as she took the two children and set them down.

"Inuyasha, if you go help Miroku, I'll watch Asami and A-" Kagome couldn't finish her sentence, for in an instant, the hair bows were on the ground and Inuyasha was off.

"Oi, which way did you say it was?" He barked over his shoulder to Miroku.

Miroku sighed and gave Kagome a quick smile. "Thank you, lady Kagome." With that, the two ran out of the women's view.

"Doggy...?" Kagome grabbed the twins' hands and headed into their hut. The girls forgot about the dog as their mother came into sight "Mommy!" They shouted.

"Oh, Kagome." Sango smiled at her friend who presented her with the children. The two girls ran to the mother and began babbling on about their day. Sango just nodded and gave an "uh huh" or "oh really!" here and there to keep the two happy. The women was dressed in her white and pink kamodo that she was commonly seen in now and days. Her hair was pulled back into a high pony tail, her bangs freely covering her forehead.

Kagome sat down next to the bed where a small Shako slept as she waited for the mother to finish up. Shako, Sango and Miroku's youngest child was almost three now, but he slept more than he was awake. Opposite of the girls! Tossing and turning here and there, Shako looked peaceful. Half of his body was spread out across the white, soft blanket while the other half remained hidden to the world. No matter how much noise his sisters made, he didn't open his eyes or stir beyond the occasional twists.

Once the girls calmed down, and turned their attention to playing with kirara, Sango sat down next to Kagome. "Where is Inuyasha?" She asked, noticing that he was not with her as he usually was.

Kagome switched her attention from the sleeping cub to Sango. "He went with Miroku on a job." She explained. Sango nodded with a slight sigh.

"Though I hate how Miroku scams people, we do need it."

"I underst-" Kagome began, but a new figure appeared at the door and cut her train of thought.

"Shippo!" The twins greeted the fox demon that used his arm to enter the hut. Kirara gave a small "merow" to the newly arrived guest. Kagome noticed that the once young lad looked older. His bushy tail seemed to have shrunk, but Kagome saw that he had, instead, gotten taller. His fiery hair was is a long pig tail that resembled Kouga's, and his bangs were brushed to the sides of his face.

"Hello, Shippo." Sango welcomed him with a curt nod as he made his way to sit down in front of the two women. "What brings you here? Weren't you taking another exam?"

"Yup!" He confirmed with a huge grin. "I made it up another rank!" His enthusiasm made Kagome and Sango remember how wonderful it was to have the kid around, always so happy.

"Congratulations!" Kagome returned his bubbly smile. "That means you're in seventeenth place now, right?"

He nodded. "Once I make it to the top ten, I get the opportunity to meet Kitsune!" He explained. Kagome raised a brow.

"Kitsune?" She asked, not recognizing the owner of the name.

Shippo nearly exploded. "Yes! Kitsune is a great demon fox! Legend has it that he was the first ever demon fox, and he knows every trick in the book! Of course I'm not so sure about that. He would have to be millions of years old for that and it'd take skill to know every trick but-" A small whimper came from Shako before he began to cry. His eyes opened slowly, tears blurring the dark hazel orbs. Sango was swift to pick up the child, holding him close to her heart. She lightly 'shuss'ed him as she swayed to calm the sprout down.

Shippo watched with a sort of admiration. Ever since Shako was born, Shippo seemed to love the child. He enjoyed company from the two girls, too, but Kagome guessed that he saw Shako as the younger brother he never had.

After a moment, Shippo broke from his daze. "Kagome, do you have any Ninja food?" He asked with desirous dripping down his chin, memories of getting a lollipop when he visited chuffed around in his head. The women laughed. No matter how old he looked, he was still a small child at heart.

"I wish I did, but not this time." Kagome breathed. "Inuyasha has been so hesitant about letting me go through the well. He's afraid that something will happen and I won't be able to return."

Shippo looked around quickly. "Where is he?"

"On a job with Miroku." Sango jumped in, the toddler in her hands quite, his eyes fluttered shut once more.

"Then why don't you go while he's away, and then hurry back!" Shippo suggested as he used two fingers to illustrate walking.

"But... Inuyasha will get mad if I leave... And I'm supposed to help Kaede make remedies tomorrow.." Kagome sighed.

"C'mon! Don't tell me Inuyasha has *you* on a leash now! And if you bring back some medicines from your time it'll be fine." Sango said as she put the child back in his bedding.

"Yeah! And that idiot likes Ninja food, too! So he'd forgive you, right?" Shippo added, giving her a thumbs up.

Kagome thought all this over. If she made it quick... and the worst thing that could happen would be of Inuyasha got impatient and had to come to her time... "Alright." She agreed. "I'll go home."

"Really? And you'll bring back Ninja food?" Shippo asked hopefully, rolling onto his hand and knees, holding out a pinky for Kagome to take.

Kagome put her own pinky in his before standing. "Yes. I'll be back soon..."

"Don't rush yourself." Sango called after her as she left. "Take some time over there! We'll tell Inuyasha that you'll be back in a few days, so take as long as you need!"

"Really? Oh! Thanks so much Sango! I owe you!" With a quick wave goodbye, she disappeared from the hut.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

"Oi! Where's Kagome?" Inuyasha demanded as he looked around. Shippo and Sango met the two men outside as they came back with a few barrels of rice.

"Kagome went home for a couple of da-"

"Waddyou *mean*? Home is right here!" Inuyasha growled, cutting Sango off rudely. The half breed shot a steady glare at Shippo and Sango who exchanged quick glances.

A pink shadow, that was caused by the setting sun, fell over the village and the four that stood near the path that was closest to the well. It had become considerably chilly, reminding them that fall was creeping closer into the summer air.

"We mean she went back to her own time,Stupid." Shippo said slowly, as if talking to a child.

"And who gave her permission to do that?" Inuyasha barked.

Sango glared over to the monk whom leaned against a barrel of rice. Meeting her eyes, Miroku quickly stood up. "Inuyasha, Kagome is fine. She doesn't need protection *all* the time!" He joined- with a little too much enthusiasm.

"Yes she does!" Inuyasha yelled, slashing his claws through the air with an arrogant flash of anger. "I *promised* I would protect her!"

Sango sighed. What was his problem? She'd gone home many times, and as far as she knew, Kagome could handle herself there. "Yes but-"

"I will *not* break that promise to her, I *will* protect her!" He yelled, crossing his arms in frustration.

"My good man, she doesn't need protection in her own time." Miroku continued.

"You've never been there! You don't know what could happen! What if she took more dried food? Or-Or a human attacks her? Or-"

"The well closes." Sango finished. Inuyasha tensed up, fists falling to his sides. It was something feared to say the least...

"Inuyasha that won't happen anymore. She is free to come and go." Miroku reminded him with a quick pat on the back. "As long as her desires to come back don't change, she can pass through! She's came and gone with no problem, so I have no doubt in my mind that the well will work!"

The hanyou gulped down his next reply, his eyes darting away. He hoped that was true...

"Just give her three days." Sango pleaded. "And if she's not back by then, you can go see her."

After a long moment of silence, the stubborn male threw a barrel of rice over his shoulder and turned away. "Fine. I'll give her three days. If she's not back by then, I'll go get her." Never ceasing to grumble and murmur excuses under his breath, he walked away from his friends and towards the hut that he shared with Kagome. It was small, a bed was in the back and a small fire place was filled with wood near the right wall. Inuyasha sighed, since Kagome wasn't here, he didn't need to light the fire.

The hanyou took his sword from his waist and laid it besides the bedding. Damn, he'd promise three days...

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

The young women sat up lazily in her bed, a pink sheet and matching blanket providing her endless comfort. Sun peeked through her window as birds chirped joyously to one another outside. It'd been two days since she had returned to modern times, and she wondered how long until Inuyasha would come and get her. Kagome threw her legs over the side of the bed to stretch. Until Inuyasha comes, she would spend all the time she could with her family... And her bed!

The day went on normally- well, as normally as it could when she found herself looking out of the window every five minutes, searching the yard for a red kamodo. "So why didn't Inuyasha come back with you, sis?" Her middle school brother, Sota, asked as he walked in, his school day finally over.

Kagome gave a sigh as she tossed her hair back, getting a good look at her brother. He wore an uniformed middle school outfit and his hair messily shot out everywhere. Sota slung his gray school backpack off of his shoulder and tossed it in front of him as he kneeled down. "He didn't want to come." It was half true. Inuyasha didn't want her there either, though.

"Oh. So when are you going back?" As he spoke, he shuffled through his bag, pulling out a school book. Sota laid on his stomach as he flipped through the pages quickly. Kagome couldn't help but flinch as he scanned the contents of a book she knew all too well.

"When Inuyasha comes to get me, I guess." She answered, resting her chin in her palm as she resumed staring out the window. I wonder if he's mad at me...

Sota looked up for a moment, before returning his focus to the formulas he would have to remember for an upcoming exam. "Will I be able to see him before you leave again?"

Kagome raised an eyebrow. "Why do you want to see Inuyasha so bad?"

Sota shrugged. "Its just nice to have a boy around that's not Gramps."

Kagome just stood and stretched her arms. "Then get some friends your own age." She said with a bit too much attitude. Sota just turned the page of his book. With one more glance out the window, Kagome left to draw herself a bath.

~•~•~•~

Sighing contently, Kagome let herself slip into the hot water. She had missed this. Her eyes fluttered shut and she couldn't help but think of Inuyasha. She owed Sango big time for keeping that over protective dog away for this long! How did she manage it? Kagome knew Inuyasha was nothing but a hard head...

Taking a deep breath, Kagome let all thoughts of her life bubble away as she plunged her head into the steaming water.

After her relaxation, Kagome was able to go to the store. She turned a corner and came upon the instant noodle isle, but was soon distracted as her name was called by a familiar voice. Yuka, Eri, and Ayumi all hustled to greet the old friend that they hadn't seen in months.

"Yuka! Eri! Ayumi! How are you all?" She asked, abandoning her shopping cart as she turned to the three friendly faces.

"Kagome! When did you get back? Sota said you went to America with that delinquent boyfriend of yours!" Eri started. Kagome scratched the back of her head.

"He said that...?" Kagome's eye twitched. She just hoped they wouldn't ask about it...

"Not boyfriend!"Ayumi said softly. "Husband!" The all too happy women spun around and gave her usual "how romantic!" sigh.

"Yeah, what's with that? Why'd you marry *right* after high school? Did you even *apply* to collage?!" Yuka demanded, starring her down.

"W-Well no.."

"No!?" Eri and Yuka yelled, grabbing the women by both arms. They were determined to knock some sense into this one! Before Kagome knew it, the four of them sat in their usual burger joint to talk as they had done many times when they were in school together.

"So, is that Inuyasha of yours still two timing?" Eri questioned as she sipped at her soda. Kagome shook her head. Ever since Kikyo died again...

"No, but I still don't think that his ex is completely off his mind." She sighed, looking down at her plate. She wasn't even sure that he'd ever fully forget about his first love...

"Well he married *you* right? Not her. That must count for something!" Yuka added, jabbing a figure in Kagome's direction.

Kagome simply shrugged. If Kikyo was still alive... Would he have married her instead? In those three years that she was gone he would have no doubtfully asked her instead.

"Of course it does." Ayumi countered. "He pledged his love to you when he asked!" Kagome blew a piece dark hair that hung over her eye out of the way.

"W-Well.."

"Wait, don't tell me *he* didn't ask!" Yuka exclaimed, placing both hands on the table to hoist herself closer to Kagome.

"He, uh, more suggested it." Kagome explained, rolling her wrist. She was just now realizing how unromantic Inuyasha was.

"So he didn't get down on one knee an ask for your hand in marriage?" Eri put her hands over her heart, showing that she hurt for her friend. Kagome sighed as she recalled what Inuyasha had said to her.

Well... Now that you're back, you, uh, wanna do that thing and... uh, you know... get m-married...?

She couldn't help but remember the cherry blush that spread over his nose to both of his cheeks. Of course she said yes! But now that she thought about it, it wasn't really the marriage proposal of her dreams...

"He... blushed a lot." Kagome offered, shrugging a shoulder as she tried to justify Inuyasha's inexperience with romance to her friends.

Ayumi swooned, closing her eyes and swaying. "Oh, he's the embarrassed type! How romantic!"

"Everything is romantic to you, Ayumi." Yuka sighed. "Well, Kagome, you better not let him go for that! Every girl deserves the best." Her eyes landed on Kagome's left hand before gasping. "No ring!"

Eri stole Kagome's hand swiftly, bringing it to eye level as if it was a school book and she had to study it. "He got you a ring, *right*?" She looked into Kagome's eyes. Sweat moistened the married women's brow.

"W-Well no..." Eri let Kagome's hand fall before she slammed her own fist into the table.

"Where is he!? We gotta talk with him!" Yuka gave a cheer in agreement to Eri's demand and Ayumi nodded.

"W-Well... he's not here." Kagome shrugged. It was true, he was still five hundred years in the past.

"So you came from America *all* by yourself!?" They cried. Kagome gave a short nod in reply. They made Inuyasha out to be some devil...

"That- that-"

"He doesn't deserve you!"

"Oh, how romantic!"

Kagome sighed.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

"Inuyasha! You promised! *Three days* remember? It has only been two!" Sango yelled, crossing her arms as the hanyou growled.

"I just want to check up on her! I won't bring her back until tomorrow!" He defended. Sango shook her head.

"Give the poor girl some time to spend with her family."

"But-!" He threw his hands up in petty frustration.

"No "buts". If you want something to do you can go help Kaede." Sango instructed as she stirred the rice that cooked over the small fire in he hut.

"I don't have *time* to help Kaede! I have to go check up on Kagome!" Inuyasha shouted, his golden eyes flairing with worry.

Sango didn't look up to respond to the male that lacked maturity. "She's fine, Inuyasha! Give her some space!" The women put a lid on the pot of rice as the water began to boil.

Inuyasha stood abruptly, spinning around with a low growl. "I don't need *your* permission!" With that, he stormed out of the hut. He was going to go see Kagome! As he hurried to the well, he couldn't help but feel slightly relived. 'She's fine' Sango and Miroku had assured him. He whispered to himself over and over again, "Kagome is fine. She's fine." Coming upon the well he swiftly jumped to the wooden lip and peered into it. At the bottom was nothing but dying grass. But, when he or Kagome jumped through it, he would reappear five hundred years in the future. He bent his knees and leaped into the dried out well.

His heart sunk as his feet hit the dry grass. He wasn't in Kagome's world... he was still...!

Without any thought against it, Inuyasha jumped out of the well and back again. Then again. And again. Nothing was happening!

"Kagome!" He screamed as he bashed his hand into the side of the well, causing the wood to splinter and indent.

"KAGOME!"

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~