Kikyo could feel herself floating. Her clay body had been destroyed, shattered into a million pieces. She did not care. For the first time since her resurrection she felt at peace. They had won. In his weakened state, with none of his incarnations to defend him, Naraku had fallen. 'Finally, it's over.'

"No, it has only just began."

Kikyo was surprised to see the spirit of Midoriko standing so close to her.

"How is this possible?" Kikyo murmured in wonder.

"We are both dead, is it so hard to believe that I would find you?" Midoriko asked unsurprised.

"It was assumed that your spirit had moved on." Kikyo replied.

"I have, but I may also return here. Spirits are not bound by the same laws that constrain humans." Midoriko explained.

"Why has not my spirit returned to my reincarnation?" Kikyo asked confused.

"It is true that Kagome was reincarnated with your spirit, however, your soul had grown large by combining symbiotically with other weaker souls while you awaited reincarnation."

"So this soul is my own. Those souls that merged with mine are now separated from me but have become the soul of that girl." Kikyo murmured thoughtfully.

"It is because of this that I have come." Midoriko answered. "Because of the jewel that I created your life and the lives of so many others were lost. I watched you suffer for many years. The jewel is a great burden and so I will return the life you gave."

Kikyo opened her mouth to speak but quickly shut it when she realized that many other spirits were gathering around them. Amongst them was a beautiful princess and a striking demon. For some reason they brought Inuyasha to mind. Some of the spirits she did not know, but many were the spirits of villagers she had nursed and protected fifty years ago.

"Together, we will restore what was lost." Midoriko said so softly Kikyo could barely hear her.

The world faded becoming dark and soundless. She could feel her soul descending, growing heavier with every second that passed. Suddenly sensation ceased completely.

Her eyes snapped open and she set up with a jolt. With a shaking hand she touched her face. Flesh. Warm. Alive. Tears slid down her cheek. She could feel the sunshine and the wind. It was a moment before she realized that she was sitting in a field.

'I should go.' She thought. 'I did not see the spirit of Kohaku, I hope that he still lives.'

Darien stared out over the harbor unseeing. 'Where are Serena and Artemis? Why can't I feel you with me anymore?' He sighed, pushing away from the rail, and began his lonely trek home. 'I don't understand. It's been so long.' Glancing up he saw her reflection in the shops window. 'Serena?' He froze. Forgot to breathe. When the reflection disappeared he shook himself out of his stupor and hurried into the shop. He became anxious when he didn't see her at first. He scanned each aisle feeling more and more panicked. 'Where is she? I know I …' There she was. Standing on the aisle reading one of those manga she liked so much.

"Serena." He called as his legs ate up the distance between them.

She startled and looked up at him.

"Darien." Serena was at a loss. 'How do I handle this?'

Darien hugged her fiercely. Unfortunately for him, Inuyasha and Kouga choose that moment to round the corner.

"Kouga. Inuyasha." Serena blinked in shocked surprise as Darien was pinned to the wall by two very pissed off canines.

Darien couldn't hide his fear as they growl viscously.

"Guys?" Serena called trying to get their attention.

"You like hitting on our woman?" Kouga snarled menacingly.

Inuyasha's voice sounded like gravel. "We should make an example on him."

Serena sweat dropped a little. 'I gotta do something fast or Darien is toast.' Serena grabbed Kouga by his arm and tried to tug him away. When that didn't work she tried to pull off Inuyasha but without results. Serena worried her bottom lip as she tried to think of a way to distract the angry males from pounding the interloper. Out of nowhere an idea popped into her head.

"Since you two are busy here, I'm going to the beach to show myself off to some hot college boys." Serena zipped down the aisles to the back of the store and crossed her fingers. In less than a second, they appeared, one at each end of the aisle scowling thunderously.

"Hey, it worked." Serena said causing both men to sweat drop.

Inuyasha threw his arm over her shoulder again and Kouga wrapped his arm around her waist.

"Who was that looser anyway?" Inuyasha growled still upset.

"Ah, well…" Serena mumbled out the truth.

"You were engaged to that?" Kouga's tone made it clear he wanted to hunt down the human and dismember him.

Serena laughed nervously. "I haven't seen him in five hundred years so it's really not an issue."

Inuyasha snorted. "Whatever. Let's go eat."

"What about my mangas?" Serena pouted cutely.

Kouga grabbed the one she was reading and disappeared.

"Hey!" Serena tried to protest as Inuyasha hustled her out of the store.

Kouga met up with them in the café next door. "We don't need to go there again this year."

Serena gaped at him. "But I like-"

"I bought everything in the store in that genre." Kouga cut her off.

Serena's indignation melted into glee.

"And you think I spoil her?" Inuyasha snorted.

Kouga bared his teeth at Inuyasha but let the comment slide.

Serena ignored their byplay instead studying the menu. "I want the steak and baked potato. Well done. With everything on the potato. And they want the same."

Inuyasha and Kouga grunted as the waiter disappeared.

"I ordered us all tea since you guys were busy growling at each other again." Serena said sweetly.

"Kouga?" A female voice exclaimed.

"Eh?" Kouga glanced over his shoulder.

Ayame walked over to their table, adjusting her hold on her cub.

"How's Hakkuko?" Serena asked with a friendly smile.

"Hey Ayame, how's it going?" Kouga asked casually.

"Fine, on both accounts." Ayame smiled.

Inuyasha eyed the cub. "Got a new one already?"

Ayame blushed at that. "No, this is my grand cub."

"Congratulations." They all said.

"Thank you." Ayame murmured happily.

"Here." Serena scribbled their number and Ginta's on the back of a napkin. "Tell Hakkuko to give us a call sometime. I know Ginta would be glad to hear from him. He worries, you know."

"I will. It was nice to see you again." Ayame pocketed the napkin and exited the café.

"We just keep running into people today." Serena giggled.

Inuyasha and Kouga scowled at her.

"That reminds me." Serena snapped her fingers. "I wanted to call Kagome and see if she needs any help moving into her dorm."

"You mean you want to lend us out to her." Inuyasha stated dryly.

"Those boxes are really heavy for us poor human females." Serena pouted. "Besides that you don't want me to get abducted by evil college boys do you?"

Kouga snorted. "What makes you think you're going anywhere near 'evil college boys'?"

Serena decided to play dirty, just to be on the safe side. "Does that mean you don't want to stay home with me afterward?"

Inuyasha's ears perked up. "Define staying home."

Serena flushed and whispered. "Home as in our bed."

"For how many days?" Kouga asked slyly.

Serena nearly dropped her glass of tea. "Days?"

"Five at least." Inuyasha said with a purr.

Serena blushed and whispered. "I don't think I'd last one."

"Three then." Kouga smirked and handed her his cell phone. "Call Kagome and tell her we'll be over after lunch."

Serena blinked in shock. They had neatly trapped her in her own snare. With a sigh she began dialing the shrine. 'The things I do for friends.'

Kagome taped the last box closed. Feeling satisfied she hefted the heavy box and began picking her way down stairs.

"Oh there you are." Mrs. Higurashi open the front door for her so she could stack this last box with the others.

Kagome surveyed the small mountain of boxes with trepidation. "I'm glad that parts over, getting down all those stairs is going to be a nightmare though."

"I'm so proud of you." Mrs. Higurashi swept her into a hug. "You worked so hard for this."

Kagome felt equally pleased and embarrassed.

"I couldn't have done it without you mom." Kagome whispered.

Mrs. Higurashi broke away. "Look at me acting so emotional."

"I'm only leaving for a little while. I'll be back before Souta leaves for school." Kagome consoled her.

"I know." Mrs. Higurashi wiped her eyes. "Serena offered to help me with the shrine."

"If Serena's coming you better expect Kouga and Inuyasha too." Kagome giggled. "They follow her like little puppies."

Mrs. Higurashi laughed too. "They're certainly amusing. And Dad could use the help. Oh, that reminds me, I just took some cookies out of the oven. I thought you might a snack after all that packing."

"You're the greatest mom!" Kagome beamed at her.

The shrill sound of the phone cut through the air.

"I better get that." Kagome dashed into the house. "Hello?"

"Kagome? It's Serena."

"Hi Serena."

"We were wondering if you needed any help moving. We're having lunch now, but we're not that far away if you'd like some help."

"That would be great! I was just about to attempt the shrine stairs."

"I'll take that as a yes then. Inuyasha and Kouga can have it all down in a snap and they can help unload too."

"Sounds good. I'm about to stop for a snack break so this works perfectly."

"Great see you soon! Bye."

"See you soon. Bye." Kagome sat down at the table. "Good news, Serena, Kouga and Inuyasha are going to come over in a little while and help me move."

"That's wonderful." Mrs. Higurashi smiled. "I'll make some more cookies when we finish. Nothing motivates you youngsters like the promise of sweets."

Serena nibbled on a cookie from the bag Mrs. Higurashi had insisted they take. Kouga and Inuyasha we taking the last two boxes to Kagome's room now so they would be leaving soon. Kagome was setting up her bed since she was tired from packing.

"All done." Kouga purred in her ear.

"We're ready for our reward." Inuyasha nuzzled her neck.

Serena blushed and stammered out. "We're not at home yet."

Kouga and Inuyasha smirked.

"Then by all means what are we standing around here for?" Kouga squatted in front of her so she could climb on his back.

"Let's go." Inuyasha hustled her into place.

Serena held on tightly as they took on in a blur. 'At least we don't have to worry about being spotted.' She blushed. 'I can't believe I got myself into this. You think after five hundred years I would learn.'