Authors note: Hey guys! Another chapter ready, faster than I expected I must admit, but I hope it will of your liking. I just want to thank *tn65loverinuy620jd* for her great review on the last chapter! You really encouraged me to believe that this story was worth continuing. Thanks a lot!
I kind of liked how this chapter turned out. I believe that after some time I will need more time to figure this story out, but then again I will publish as often as I can. I hope you will review as you see fit!
Now it's time for me to shut up and let you read. Hope you Enjoy! :D

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha nor its characters. It all belongs to Rumiko Takahashi! (even though I wish I owned it... XD *silently crying*)

Chapter 2: Home

The trees swayed sleepy in the wind as they walked down the hillside from the Bone Eaters Well. Kagome couldn't stop smiling. It was as if she just figured how to do it and got emotionally attached. Shippo was happily placed on her left shoulder, and wouldn't come down anytime soon. Sango walked beside her as they spoke of good old times, humming every now and then as she gently shook the baby boy on her back. Miroku and Inuyasha walked silently behind them, enjoying the scene in front of them.

The two small girls hang happily on each side of their fathers golden staff, which he had placed over his shoulders earlier on. The village came into view and Kagome blinked at the sight. So much had changed! How come it was so much bigger than she remembered?

Sango saw the look in her eyes and started laughing "Well, I expect you to be suppressed. Everyone in the village has worked so hard to make it as it is now. You see, we have a lot of new people living her now, so the village had to expand to make room for everybody." She smiled as she lightly tapped Kagome on the back. Sango glanced back at Inuyasha for a moment before turning her eyes back at the village smiling. Kagome glanced back herself, but Inuyasha turned his face to the side, leaving Kagome motionless. Did she miss out on something?

As they entered the village her thoughts disappeared as both new and old faces stared at her. They soon started whisper among themselves, some measuring her from head to toe. Kagome leaned over to Sango with concern in her eyes "D-do I have something in my face?"

"Haha, don't worry, Kagome-sama. You look just fine. They are just as shocked as we were" Miroku laughed gently as he stepped forward. "They just don't believe it yet" he lightly placed his hand on her shoulder. "If you say so" Kagome nervously replied, but she turned her head in Inuyasha's direction again, hoping to get some help.

Her eyes met his, and for a moment everything else disappeared. She was lost in them, drawing her in. She felt her mouth dry up, her mind turning blank. Why did her knees feel so weak all of the sudden? He didn't blink, just kept her there. What was this feeling?

"K-kagome? Is that... is that really you?" a familiar voice came from behind her, tearing Kagome back to reality. She felt dizzy all of a sudden as she tore her eyes away from his, facing the direction of the voice. As the figure in front of her came in focus, she was about to tear up again. "It's been so long, Kaede-baa-san." Kagome smiled at the smaller figure in front of her. Her long grey hair still tied behind her back, her dark eye patch covering her once lost body part. Her remaining eye was filled with tears as she stared at Kagome with deep affection.

Kaede shakily walked in Kagome's direction, Kagome meeting her halfway, her arms wrapping gently around the old miko, pulling her closer. She soon felt the gesture being returned. After a quiet moment they pulled away, tears lingering in the corners of their eyes. "I can't believe it's you, Kagome-sama. After so long, I was really starting to believe that we had seen you for the very last time, but yet again here you are. It really is a miracle." Kaede smiled up at the girl in front of her. "It really is" Kagome agreed, smiling tenderly back down at her.

"Lady Kaede-sama. Who is that?" another voice behind Kaede asked, making them both look up. A girl probably around the age Kagome was when she left, stood in front of them, eyes glued on Kagome. Her hair was golden brown, reaching right above her shoulders. Some of it was bound with light, white hair ties hanging loosely, one on each side of her face. She wore a sleeveless purple haori with darker silk linings, and a pair of knee length white pants, her feet covered by a pair of sandals. Her purple eyes never leaving Kagome's.

Suddenly Kagome felt the urge of looking away, but afraid that it would seem rude she kept her eyes on the girl, giving her a weak smile. "My, Mijori. I have already told you about Kagome now, haven't I?" Kaede spoke gently as she turned her attention to Kagome again. "This girl, Inuyasha, Sango and the good monk Miroku-sama defeated Naraku and destroyed the Shikon no Tama three years ago, but unfortunately Lady Kagome couldn't stay with us and was sent to her own time." Kaede spoke, her expression saddening at the memories. "But now she's finally back with us once more"

"Hey don't forget about me and Kirara!" Shippo interrupted as he jumped down from Kagome's shoulders and onto the ground facing Kaede "We were also there, remember!"crossing his arms in front of his chest. The gang started laughing as Shippo puffed his cheeks and looked to the side, eyebrows slightly brought together. "Haha, of course you were there, dear Shippo" Kagome said as she bent down to pick the fox demon up in her arms again. "Who could forget?" she lightly kissed him on his forehead, earning a bright blush from the little fox. A familiar sound had her turn only to meet Inuyasha's slightly widened eyes before he quickly turned around, a slight blush forming on his cheeks. She blinked and turned her attention slightly over to Sango who appeared to have seen it all. She lightly raised her shoulders as if saying "What did you expect?"

Now she couldn't help but blush herself. The mumbling and whispers build up again making her look around her "You heard that?" one whispered to another "Lady Kagome has returned?" she heard an elderly woman whisper. "She is back?" another asked. Before she knew it, she was surrounded by people asking her all kinds of different questions, welcoming her one after the other. Kagome didn't know where to look, who to focus on, how to breathe.

But as quickly as it started it was over as she felt herself being pulled to the side and behind something soft and solid. "Give the woman some room to breathe! She just arrived for Christ sake. She don't need you silly humans hanging all over her!" Inuyasha's growling voice filled the air. Her body was pressed up against his back, his soft haori brushing her face comfortably. She felt how the warmth filled her face, and it was not the warmth from Inuyasha.

"Inuyasha's right. Let's give her some space. We'll get plenty of time asking Lady Kagome questions later. Now let's make a big welcome party for our new guest tonight, shall we?" Kaede boosted as she gave signal for them to start.

People cheered and spread out to ready the party. As some of them passed by Kagome, they wished her welcome and gave her their blessings. Kagome just nodded and smiled, her body still pressed up against Inuyasha's, protectively, his hand still holding her in place.

She closed her eyes, inhaling his scent, feeling his warmth, how his long soft hair brushing over her head now and then, his firm strong back against her. It was all so familiar but yet so new to her. If she only could freeze the time at this very moment.

A light cough brought her back to reality, and her eyes flew open. "They are gone now, Kagome" Inuyasha's voice stated. Her cheeks filled with color once more, and she wondered why the blood bothered disappearing in the first place. This on and off started to tire her already.

She forced her face away from his body, the cold taking its place faster than she liked "A-ah, yeah... Sorry that you had to do that..." Kagome voice stumbled as she moved away from him. He let go of her arm and her head lifted to look at him. He was still standing with the back to her, lightly scratching the side of his cheek "It was nothing... I don't mind really..." He huskily replied, the last sentence came out more as a whisper.

"Well aren't you two sweet? Want us to leave?" Miroku's teasing voice broke the silence, and suddenly Kagome was reminded that they weren't alone at the moment. She looked around her and wished she had a hole to burry herself into. It was true that most of the people had left, but some still remained including Kaede, Miroku, Sango, Shippo and the new girl Mijori. All bearing this teasing smile on their faces, thought Sango and Kaede's were a bit kinder. Mijori just stood there staring at her, her expression the same as she left her.

"Oh, shut it, Monk" Inuyasha spoke, annoyance clearly affecting his voice. Kagome suddenly felt very self conches and pulled her blue skirt down a bit just in case. To change the subject she turned to Sango. "I have wondered for a while now, Sango. Where is Kirara? And Kohaku for that matter? Didn't he stay with you in the village?" Kagome spoke, looking around her just in case they might have slipped past her sight.

"Oh, I forgot to mention that I guess. Kohaku is out there somewhere helping other people. He asked me if he could borrow Kirara for a while as he did so. They visit from time to time, but it's been a while since I have seen them, I must admit." Sango went over to Miroku and he lightly lifted the sleeping baby of her back and carefully into his own arms.

"Come now, Kagome-chan. You and I have a lot of time to catch in on." Sango hinted for Kagome to follow her. Shippo followed them happily, but he was soon lifted off the ground by the not so happy Inuyasha. "Oh, no you don't" he lightly flicked his middle finger into the little fox forehead. "Hey! What did you do that for?!" the fox whined as he stared daggers into Inuyasha's eyes.

"Keh, you heard her, didn't you? They need some time alone at the moment. Which means" Inuyasha poked his finger into Shippo's stomach "YOU stay here with me while they go of somewhere private. You got that, runt?"

"Why can't I go with them?! I missed Kagome too! Right, Kagome?" The little fox demon swayed his feats in the air to get Kagome in his sight. "Haha, I'm sorry, Shippo. Not this time. We'll talk later, ok?
We won't be gone long" Kagome gave him a comforting smile before following after Sango into the village, leaving a speechless Shippo hanging by his clothes in mid air.

-
Afterword's:

So what did you guys think? I thought it was best to end it here, I hate pulling out things... As you most likely noticed I introduced you to another Oc of mine "Mijori", who most likely will play a big part in this fan fiction. She wasn't mentioned much in this chapter, but I have something planed for her in the future. I kind of like her already, thought.
I hope you can tell me your thoughts of this chapter. If you liked it or not, I don't mind. I just want to hear from you, so that I know if it's something I should fix and such.
Well, that's it for now. I will try to update as soon as I have things ready. I don't want to rush things, that's for sure. I have a lot of planning ahead of me, but I hope you will hold up with me! :D
Love you all!