Disclaimer: This story is based on 'Inuyasha', owned by Rumiko Takahashi. No copyright infringement intended or implied.
This is a new series, based on short pieces that take place during the three-year interval when Inuyasha and Kagome were separated. The first two chapters were moved from the catch-all series "Little Bits."
Return
Three days later, it was Miroku's fate to be on watch when the well returned. Calling the others from the crude shelter where they were resting, he squinted against the pillar of light. A boxy form began to appear. For a moment, he thought that was all he would see, and felt a pang of heart-felt grief. Then the light flared, and a tall figure in red and white became to coalesce out of the glittering mist. His heart leapt--
Inuyasha!
But--alone.
"Kagome!" wailed Shippo, clinging to Sango's shoulder. "Where's Kagome?!"
"Kagome is safe."
"But where is she?!"
"Safe, Shippo," said Miroku, moving to put himself between the kitsune and the hanyo. "Sango..."
After nearly a year of arguing, fighting, and saving each other's lives, they knew each other well. Stepping forward, he looked closely at Inuyahsa with eyes and inner vision. Beyond the composed face, he saw the pale skin and distant eyes, the slightly-dropping ears and drooping shoulders. He knew that preventing the kitsune from trying to force Inuyasha to tell what had happened was correct. Inuyasha was exhausted--physically, emotionally, spiritually.
"Inuyasha?" he asked in a quiet voice, when the hanyo continued to stare into the distance. Dull golden eyes focused slowly on him. Miroku smiled gently, reaching out carefully with his bare right hand to grip a red-clad shoulder. Eyes blinked.
"Welcome home, my friend."
Eyes widened, then glistened. A clawed hand covered the human one, trembling. A pause, a tear, a single word.
"Arigato."
Author's Note: This was originally posted on July 24, 2008 to the Issekiwa community on LiveJournal, for challenge #56: Force theme. It won first place.