"Hey guys, we need to be leaving." Kagome said as everyone finished up their meal.

"Why so soon Kagome?" Kagome started to say something, but then she had a bright idea.

"Don't worry; we'll be coming back soon. I need to go visit Keade and bring Momma and Souta back here." Kagome stood up and smiled brightly. "Besides, I think there is a Jewel Shard near here, so we need to stick around in case a demon has it and attacks the village."

"Kagome, will you guys wait a minute?" Tori asked as the gang got ready to leave. "I want all of you to pick out something that has caught your eye." He held up his hand to silence the others before they started to decline. "You all have helped my daughter and kept her safe. Think of it as a thank you gift. Plus, most of this stuff is just collecting dust." Kagome decided to help and pushed Mirouku and Sango a little to get moving. Shippou waited a moment to see if anyone was going to pick something up, and when Mirouku picked up the staff he had secretly coveted, he thought it was ok and went to get the kitsune-made slingshot he adored. Sango had found a very well made dagger with a one foot blade.

"Hey Kohaku, what's wrong?" Kagome asked as she saw the sad look on the boy's face.

"Um . . . I was wondering if I could stay here and help Tori protect this village. And possibly rebuild our village." He said quietly.

"I would love the help Kohaku. And I am sure some of the villagers would love to train to become slayers."

"Momma, I'm home!" Kagome called as she entered her house through the back, looking human. Inu Yasha followed her, and both of them were wearing the earrings that they had received. No one answered her call, so she went into the kitchen. Her mother was sitting at the table, her head in her hands. "Momma?" Her mother looked up at her suddenly.

"Hello Kagome. I thought that you weren't coming back till next month." She stood up quickly and started to fix herself a cup of coffee.

"Well, something came up. Where's Souta and Grandpa?"

"They went to a carnival. They'll be back around midnight. Why?"

"No reason. We're going to head up to my room."

"Are you going to stay the night?"

"Yeah. We'll be down in a little bit!" Kagome said before pulling Inu Yasha out of the kitchen and up the stairs into her room. Kagome sighed while shutting her bedroom door and leaning against it. "I thought she would have noticed the earrings but I guess not."

"Aren't you going to tell her?" Kagome sat down on her bed and thought a few moments.

"No. I think I'll just drop some hints. Now, where did that necklace get to?" She started looking through the desk drawers, then through her jewelry boxes, then finally in her closet. She pulled down an old shoe box and looked through it. "Ah ha! Here it is." She pulled the dusty black ribbon out of the box. "I thought it wouldn't collect dust if it was in a box but I guess not." She sighed while wiping it on her pant leg(she's still in her fighting kimono, remember?) and putting it on after restoring its brilliant black sheen.

End Chapter
Alright. Chapter 13.The next few chapterslead into the fluff promised last chapter. Since it's been a while since I've updated, I'm uploading three chapters tonight. Aren't I sweet?

Kat-Lyn