Surprisingly, no flames last chapter. Wow.

Otulia: Uh…we don't own InuYasha.

A New Journey Begins

InuYasha and Miroku sat up all night, keeping watch should there be any other mountain bandits lurking around. Luckily, if there were any, they made no appearance, and the night passed peacefully.

Dawn broke, and InuYasha's demon powers came rushing back. He was finally able to relax, his keen sense of smell telling him that no one was anywhere near their camp. But the scent of the bandit was all over Kagome, and he had to use all his willpower not to growl angrily. He didn't want to wake her up, not when awakening would only bring back to her memories of the night before. No, he would let her sleep.

But she awoke anyway, with a start, not realizing at first where she was. When she tilted her head to look up at InuYasha, he could see a bruise starting on the side of her face. "InuYasha," she whispered quietly, her voice sounding so terribly fragile. "I want to go home." She wasn't simply making a statement, or demanding he take her back to the well. She sounded almost as if she were asking for permission, and this sudden change rent a hole in his heart.

He nodded. "'Course you can go home," he replied softly. "We'll go back today."

"Thank you," she whispered, her eyes misty. She buried her face in his haori, crying again, but this time, they were silent tears. InuYasha held her gently, wishing desperately that he knew how to console her.


The group walked in silence for most of the day. Kagome stayed close to InuYasha, and would jump at every sound coming from the underbrush. They didn't take their usual rest stops, and no one protested when InuYasha kept them going. When Kagome tired, InuYasha carried her on his back, and she clung to him gratefully.

Shippo hung back with Sango and Miroku, desperately wanting to know what was wrong with everyone, but not wanting to be the one to break the uneasy silence. He was beginning to wish he hadn't started using earplugs when he slept so he wouldn't be woken by InuYasha's loud mouth. Something had obviously happened after he'd dozed off. Kagome seemed really afraid, InuYasha was being unusually nice, Sango looked almost angry, and Miroku hadn't done anything perverted the whole day. What in the world could be wrong with them?

It was late in the afternoon when they approached Kaede's village. InuYasha turned to the rest of the group. "I'm gonna take Kagome home," he said. "You guy go on ahead to the village."

Miroku nodded, and InuYasha bounded off with Kagome. The monk sighed and led the way into the village.

They were greeted by Kaede. "Where are Kagome and InuYasha?" she asked.

Sango and Miroku exchanged a glance. "InuYasha took Kagome back to her world," the demon slayer answered.

The old priestess looked them over gravely. "Come inside, and tell me what has happened."


InuYasha slid open the well house door. "Wait," Kagome said from behind him. He turned and looked at her, sensing her fright. "Mom's going to get upset," she whispered. "I…I don't want that. I don't want to talk about it. I just…"

He put his arm around her shoulders. "I'll tell her, if you want," he offered. She nodded.

"Thanks."

They walked into the house together, and were immediately greeted by Mrs. Higurashi. "Welcome home, dear," she said pleasantly.

"I'm going to take a bath," Kagome said quietly, stepping past her mother and heading up the stairs.

Mrs. Higurashi looked from her daughter's retreating back to InuYasha. "What happened?" she asked, worry written on her face.


Shippo sat by Kaede, stunned. He could hardly believe what Sango and Miroku had just told them. In the rational part of his mind, he knew that it made sense, and explained all that had been…wrong…today. But the other half of his mind refused to believe that something like that could have happened to Kagome. It just wasn't possible.

Suddenly, Sango stood and ran from the hut, tears in her eyes. "Sango!" Kaede called after her, but she received no reply.

"I'll go find her," Miroku said quietly.

Is it okay? Please tell me! Do you think I kept everyone in character? I hope so! Review please! Onegai? Por favor?