Story by: Eric Lentz

Chapter Twelve: Where are you Kagome?

(Kagome's Time)
(Kagome's Home)

Inuyasha, Sango and Miroku were standing in Sota's room since Miroku decided they needed to talk in private and with Kagome obviously acting strange, they needed to be out of sight for a little bit. Inuyasha was standing in the room with his arms crossed while Miroku was standing with one hand on his staff and Sango standing to his left and dressed in a casual clothes that Kagome's mother had given her to wear.

Sango felt strange wearing 'modern' clothes but she did it out of respect for Kagome's mother and a little guilt that somehow whatever happened to Kagome was her fault.

Miroku looked at Sango for a moment who was wearing a white shirt that had a face of a pink kitty over her left side and a pair of jeans that Kagome had bought once but didn't fit right anymore, but they fit her just fine. Miroku thought, "Sango looks good in 'present day' clothes, I wonder if I can talk her into wearing them more often." And then he shook his head and returned his look to Inuyasha as he thought, "No, now is not the time for thinking such things, I need to stay focused for Kagome's sake."

Miroku said to Inuyasha, "Inuyasha, I called us in here to discuss what to do in light of... Kagome's recent behavior." Inuyasha nodded and said, "Yeah, I know. Kagome's not acting like herself at all." Then Sango spoke up and said, "Inuyasha, I don't think that Kagome's going to get any better in her time. This is obviously magic and the only ones who use magic are back in the our time." Miroku nods and said, "Sango is absolutely correct Inuyasha, and I think the sooner we go back, the sooner we can help her."

Inuyasha just looked at the two of them for a long time and then said to the two of them, "I know you're right, but where will we find that snake? I just know that it has something to do with all this!" Miroku glances at Sango who meets his eye and then he looks back to Inuyasha to say, "Inuyasha, I know how you feel. However, I feel our chances of finding that snake are slim. Naraku has most likely used another priestess or demon who has a snake to get what he wanted from Kagome, even if at the present what he is planning is unclear."

Inuyasha growled, "Damn that Naraku, I'll make him pay! I'll make whoever did this to Kagome pay!" and flexed a clawed hand openly in the air as if wanting to shred whoever did it. Miroku says, "Calm down Inuyasha, it won't do Kagome any good until we can return her missing half to her. Until then I say we save the revenge for after we have her back to normal." Sango nods and says, "As much as I hate to say it, Miroku is right. We should focus first on restoring Kagome back to normal before going after who did this."

Inuyasha growled a little and then says, "You're both right, Kagome comes first." And then he looks at the door after his ear visibly twitches. Without another word, Inuyasha walks over to the door and yanks it open into the room and in spill Sota and Shippou to the ground since they'd been leaning on the door trying to hear.

Inuyasha growled, "Why you two..." and was about to hit them when Miroku put his hand on Inuyasha's shoulder and said "Wait Inuyasha." Miroku looked down at the two boys who had scrambled to their feet and quickly apologized for spying. Miroku said, "What did you two hear?"

Shippou was the first to speak up and said, "I heard that you think it is time to take Kagome back to our time and I want to help Kagome return to her normal self too!" Sota was next and said, "I want to help too! It is freaky to see Kagome like this! Nothing upsets her and believe me I tried!"

Sango kneeled in front of the two boys and said, as she put her hand on Sota's shoulder, "I promise you that we'll do everything in our power to return your sister to you the way you remember her. Just have faith in us ok?"

Sota gave Sango a hug and said, "Thank you Sango! I know you guys will do your best, but trails off and fear shows in his eyes before he looks up at Inuyasha What if Kagome can't be returned to normal? What if she's like this forever?"

Sango runs her hand over Sota's head, thinking of how Sota reminds her of her own younger brother and fights back the urge to make her eyes watery and hears Inuyasha say, "Don't worry kid, we'll return Kagome to normal and I'll make sure that whoever did this pays for this." With that sureness in his voice that always made Sango believe that he could accomplish what he said no matter what the odds. Sango looks back to Sota and says, "Sota, until Kagome's back to normal how about you just think of me as your sister. After all Kagome and I are practically like family after all the stuff we've done for each other."

Sota looked up into Sango's eyes and says, "Really? You mean it?" Sango looks back into those eyes and says, "Yes, I promise." And ruffles his head playfully, lightening the mood somewhat. Sota says, "Hey! I'm not a pet!" and then when Sango moves her hand away, he yells, "Gotcha!" and laughs! Sango smiles and joins in on the laughing.

Just then Inuyasha hears more footsteps approaching the hallway but he recognizes the walk and says nothing until Kagome's Mother appears in the doorframe and says, "Hello, so this is where you all are." She smiles when she sees the smiling faces of Sota and a kneeling Sango, just happy to see Sota smiling since they all came here with her hurt daughter. She thought to herself, "They're starting to get over their grief, good... they'll need it to help Kagome." But stops her thought when she looks at Inuyasha and still sees the pain in his eyes.

Kagome's mother says, "Well, I've made you all some Bento lunches and packed all the usual stuff that Kagome takes through the well with her for you all. When do you plan on going back through the well?" Everyone looks surprised, "How did you know what we were planning?" asks Miroku who was the first to regain speech.

Kagome's mother simply smiles and says, "Oh that is easy Miroku, whatever has happened to her started in the Feudal Era before you came here with her, and it is obvious that is where you all must go to find the answers." With it being said in such a way that it was the most obvious answer in the entire world.

Miroku smiles and says, "I see, you're a very intelligent and observant woman." Kagome's mother just smiles and says, "Thank you Miroku, Kagome has told me you were always the sharp one and I see that she's right."

Sango stands up and says, "Thank you for being so understanding. I think we'll be leaving as soon as Kagome feels up to traveling." Kagome's mother looks at Sango and says, "I think she's ready to travel right now, just be careful out there because she's not herself." Inuyasha spoke up and says, "I promise you, I will protect Kagome with my life if necessary!" Shaking her head, she says, "No, Inuyasha... I want you both to be safe, it would make Kagome very sad when she returns to normal and find that you're not there anymore." This surprises Inuyasha and so he says, "Alright, I always stay by her side and defend her then." She looks into Inuyasha's eyes, and says, "I know, but thank you Inuyasha."

Miroku was silently impressed by Kagome's mother, and thought to himself that she had a strength that he'd never seen before. It was almost like she was certain that no matter what happened, Kagome would be all right. He wondered for a moment if she had some kind of foreknowledge of what was going to happen or just had faith in her daughter and the love in the love Kagome had so recently announced to Inuyasha?

Sango looked at Kagome's Mother and thought to herself, "What a strong woman she is, I don't know if I'd be able to be like her if this happened to my daughter. I would probably go out myself and try to help in any way I could if it were me." Then she realizes something, "She is doing something, she is staying out of our way because we're the best people to help Kagome." And admired her for having the silent strength to do what she could and nothing more.

Shippou looked up at the people and said, "What are we waiting around for? Let's go get Kagome back to normal!" and moved towards the exit with Sota saying as he followed him out, "I'll go get Kagome!" Within moments, both kids were gone, leaving the rest standing in the room.

Kagome's Mother says, "Well, I guess you'll all be leaving now. Please have a safe journey all of you." Then she turns to Inuyasha, "Inuyasha, I want you to not take any unnecessary risks on Kagome's behalf ok? I want to see you return with Kagome when she's returned to her old self, all right?"

Inuyasha grumbled a little before nodding and says, "Ok, I promise I'll return with Kagome." Smiling, Kagome's mother says, "Good, now that's settled. she turns to Sango I have your Kimono and your demon slayer outfit all cleaned and packaged for you on the dining room table."

Sango smiles a little and says, "Thank you, but you didn't have to go through all that trouble." Kagome's mother says, "Oh, it was no trouble at all my dear. Now, you all had best get along before Kagome begins to wonder what happened to you all."

Everyone leaves the room and walk out to the dining room where Sango picks up her clothes and pauses to look at them, thinking that she's never seen them so clean before! Sango turns to head back into the house when Kagome's Mother says, "Where are you going?" Sango says, "I'm going to go change, I feel more comfortable in my clothes for my time. I also need to return these clothes to you." Inuyasha and Miroku continue on the way out to the yard that leads to the well and run into Kagome, Shippou, Sota and Grandpa.

Kagome's mother shakes her head and says, "Oh, you don't need to worry about returning them. They're yours to keep." Blinking in surprise, Sango says, "Really? But I couldn't..." and is stopped by Kagome's Mother saying, "I insist Sango, you and the others have already done so much for my daughter. Think of this as a thank you for everything." Sango looks at her clothes and says, "I... I don't know what to say, but Thank you. I'll wear it when I come back here." And they give each other a brief hug.

Inuyasha yells to Sango who is still in the house, "Hey Sango! We don't have all day you know!" Sango says, "I better go hurry and get changed. Can you tell them I'll be right out for me?" Kagome's mother nods and says, "Yes dear" and walks out the door while Sango goes down the hallway to quickly change into her kimono. Sango rushes back out to the yard, finding everyone there and a large backpack on Inuyasha's back and Kagome carrying the smaller stuff.

Waving to her mother, Kagome says, "See you later Mother!" and with the big smile that she's had since returning from the hospital, she turns and with Inuyasha by her side she wraps one arm around his and pulls him towards the well, making him stumble a step from the yank. Miroku turns to Sango and says while offering his arm, "Shall we go Sango?" which makes her blush and walk quickly away from him.

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AN: I got two reviews telling me to update ASAP, so that's exactly what I've done! Enjoy! Sorry if it's not to my usual style of multiple times and places, but hey... this is long enough as it is! LOL! Anyway read and review please!