"Kagome's home," InuYasha said, pointing through the trees.

Kagome gave him a confused look, but turned obediently to see. A quick, quavering breath left her, because there, not a hundred yards away, was indeed 'Kagome's house', the treehouse she had left only the night before. "Mama," she whispered.

Her feet seemed to move of their own accord, carrying her through the remaining leaves and onto warm sand. It seemed like a dream, after the events previous, and she was in more than a little shock.

Then, from the lower room stepped her mother, stopping on the narrow deck to shade her eyes and search the area opposite Kagome. Looking for Grandpa, no doubt.

"Mama," she said again, and then, "MAMA!"

Kagome began to run.

Hana turned sharply, blinked twice, and gave a joyful cry. She fairly threw herself down the ladder to the beach, and met her daughter only steps away. They fell into each other's arms, and then to the soft sand, sobbing in relief and joy. Tomo, having heard the cries, rushed from the other side of the treehouse.

"Kagome! My girl!" and then he, too was on his knees, holding his family tight in his embrace.

When she could speak again, Hana demanded, "Where have you been, Kagome? We've been worried sick!"

"And where is Naraku and Hojo," Tomo asked, concerned for the other members of their party, which, he noted, had not joined them.

Kagome shuddered in her mother's arms.

"Kagome? Speak!" Hana insisted.

"I don't know," the stunned girl managed to answer. "And I don't care. I hope they're both dead!"

Hana and Tomo exchanged shocked looks. Just what had happened last night?

"Let's get you inside, you must be starving," her mother urged. "I'll warm you some soup, it's all I could manage this morning when you didn't return."

The three rose, Tomo and Hana stepping to the ladder. Kagome hesitated. "I'm okay, mama. InuYasha took care of me."

"InuYasha?" her grandfather asked, latching onto this new name.

"Yes, he saved me," Kagome said, "I'll introduce you!"

She turned back the way she'd come, calling for him. Only the surf and sounds of rustling leaves answered.

"InuYasha!" she called again, but received no answer.

She might have darted back into the jungle in search of him, but her mother caught her arm.

"Come inside, Kagome. You've apparently had a shock. You can tell us about it, and this 'InuYasha' once we get you cleaned up," Hana said.

Kagome wanted to argue, but she knew that if he didn't want to be found, searching was a hopeless endeavor. She gave one, last sorrowful look at the jungle, and followed her family inside.

Would she ever see her hanyou again?

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Golden eyes had watched the reunion carefully, ensuring she was safe. Then, the hanyou turned and vanished into the jungle, to mourn privately. What had he done wrong? Why had his woman not wanted to stay with him?

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"No more, mama. I'm stuffed!" Kagome insisted, pushing the bowl of soup away. She had been hustled into her mother's room, stripped of the sheet, and bathed with cool water and fragrant soap.

"Alright then," the Higurashi matriarch agreed, setting the food aside. "Now tell us what happened last night."

So Kagome did. Halting and shuddering by turns, she told them everything. "And he brought me back, to the edge of the beach. Home."

Her mother was speechless. That this had happened to her baby girl! She wanted to gut the bastards. Tomo was silent, fuming but calculating. "Are they dead," he finally asked.

"Huh?" Kagome replied, "Who?"

"Naraku and that damn traitor, Hojo!" her grandfather roared, his fury making itself known. "If this InuYasha didn't kill them, then it is possible they could return. They will be angry, and dangerous. We must be ready." His hands were clenching and flexing, over and over, desperate to wrap around necks and squeeze.

Kagome had all but forgotten this possibility. "I-I'm fairly sure they're dead. InuYasha was very angry."

"Hmm," her grandpa answered. "And about this hanyou, this….beast. Where did he-"

"He is not a beast!" Kagome shrieked, upending the chair she had been sitting in. "He saved my life! He lived in a tree house just like this one. He uses cups and bowls, and sleeps in a bed, with sheets and blankets!"

Kagome's chest heaved with righteous anger, but she tried to calm herself. "I think he was raised here. In this treehouse, I mean. He can speak, and read. He can learn! He is not a beast!"

Her family knew to tread cautiously here. Kagome had had a shock. Arguing with her would not be helpful to her recovery. Still, the situation must be addressed.

"Will he return," Hana asked. "This InuYasha? Will he hurt us?"

"No!" Kagome cried. "He would never do that," she continued, more quietly. "He would never hurt us; he-he wanted me to stay with him." She had seen it in his eyes. "I kind of wanted to."

"Kagome!" her mother gasped. "He is a hanyou! Only half human, you-"

"Mama-"Kagome protested, but her mother cut her off.

"I am grateful that for his intervention, and that he saved you, my darling, but now it is over. You must forget about him and focus on the future. With…the men out of the way, we can go home. The ship will return in a couple more weeks," her mother soothed.

This was anything but soothing to Kagome, however. Go home? To Japan, back to the life she'd had before? It had been a good life, but now….Kagome was forever changed. This place had changed her, and InuYasha had opened up ideas and feelings she had never dreamed of before, even with Hojo. She didn't want to go home.

But would she ever see InuYasha again?

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A week passed, and then, before she knew it, ten days. The ship's return was imminent, and still there was no sign of the hanyou. Tomo had taken to carrying one of Naraku's long guns when he left the treehouse, and insisted that both Hana and Kagome be armed with knives. He feared that the men were not dead, and would return for vengeance. He kept his reservations about the hanyou to himself.

Kagome barely cared. She was frantic to see 'him'. The first few nights, her mother had demanded that she sleep with her. Kagome had finally insisted on returning to her room, spending late nights at the window, searching the dark jungle, praying for a glimpse of silver and gold. He never came.

She despaired.

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He watched the treehouse morning and night. He saw the old man come and go, never going far, and armed with the strange fire-stick. He was easy to avoid. Once, Tomo passed directly beneath him where InuYasha perched in a high tree. All the hanyou's focus was on her.

Kagome stayed inside for much of the first day, at her mother's insistence. When she did venture out, she cast longing glances at the jungle that tore at his heart. He knew she wanted to see him. He had been close enough once to hear her as she stood, just at the edge of the trees.

"Where are you? Won't you come back?"

He was uncertain of the words, but the tone was unmistakable. She suffered. He wanted to go to her, but did she long for him, the hanyou, or the other? Then, he got his answer.

"InuYasha…." She sighed, and turned from the jungle, back to the safety of the treehouse, before her mother could scold her.

His heart had leaped when she'd whispered his name. He wanted to shout, to roar his joy to the heavens. But he did not. She wanted him, but she was young. She needed her family, he knew that. He could not take her from them; she would never get over the loss. She had to choose him on her own.

But would she? He continued to watch, unable to tear himself away.

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The day was upon them. The ship crested the horizon almost before the sun. It anchored offshore, and a small rowboat was sent out. Tomo met them, and they had a long discussion. The captain's first mate was deeply perturbed. Something terrible had happened here, but there were other issues as well.

"There is a storm on the way. It is likely to remain offshore, but it is in our way back to the main shipping channel. We'll have to wait it out. Probably a couple of days. Sit tight and we'll get you all out of here as soon as possible," he assured.

Tomo sighed, but knew it was pointless to argue. He let the first mate know they would be fine onshore one more night; he went to tell the women. Hana was not thrilled. She wanted her daughter out of this jungle, away from villainous, traitorous men who might or might not be dead, and especially away from that hanyou. She had seen Kagome's longing glances, heard her sighs, and been silent witness to late night sobbing, poorly muffled.

Kagome was infatuated, but she was young. It was easy to understand. Hojo had destroyed her trust in men, but this InuYasha had somehow rebuilt it, and in one night, no less. This was dangerous. Her daughter was liable to make a foolish decision should the boy return.

Hana tried to think of him in good terms. He had saved her daughter, and given her no harm. He was somewhat civilized, and could learn. But he was still hanyou. Inu, at that. They were known for being fierce, deadly once provoked, and lethal over things they considered their own.

Hana feared that he might look at Kagome as his. But when he had not reappeared, had not spirited her daughter away, her fears had eased. Perhaps Kagome was safe. He probably saw her as a child, and so returned her to her parents. It was over and done, she told herself.

Get Kagome back to Japan, with her friends and school and the city, and she would be fine. She'd look back on this time with mixed feelings, but eventually she would move on. Hana prayed it was so.

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It was a sign!

The ship would not sail that day, waiting on the storm. Kagome had wavered, fearful and torn. Could she leave her family for the unknown? Did he really want her like that? Could she even find him again? All she knew was that she had to try. To return to the city, to life 'before' was untenable. She had to know what there was for her here. With InuYasha. She was ready.

She left a note on her bed, now stripped of all linen save a blanket for this last night, and shimmied out the window at first light. Her grandpa was not yet stirring, and the ship was invisible in near dark that lingered on the water.

The jungle was cool, but far darker than the open beach. Kagome did her best to stay in a straight line, trying to put as much distance between the beach and herself. She knew that once her note was discovered, grandpa would do all in his power to rouse help from the ship. She did not want to be found. At least, not by family or crew.

Her plan was tenuous. Travel far into the jungle, beyond her family's reach, and then shout for InuYasha. She knew it was foolish, but it was all she had. She prayed that when the time came, he would hear her, and find her before some other youkai did. The knife in her hand seemed very small.

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So sorry, my dears, that I've been MIA. Easter party planning and life got in the way. I hope you enjoy this slightly longer chapter. Will Kagome find IY before her family finds her? Are Hojo and Naraku really dead? Will her family leave her if they can't find her? How will K and I manage a relationship? What do you think? Review!

I can't promise weekly updates, but I'll try not to stay away too long!

Happy Spring!