A few villagers glanced at a pair of half-demons as they wandered by leisurely. The day was early, but the sun was already beating down intensely. There was no breeze, but the female's hair seemed to flutter lightly as if being blown by one.

Kagome frowned as she looked at Inuyasha. He had been deep in thought since they'd left earshot of Tsukyo. It wasn't entirely uncommon, but it was unexpected. Kagome expected to be lectured, but apart from what she'd received the day Inuyasha came after her, there was none.

The previous day had been an difficult-to-swallow twist to Inuyasha. He had always been accustomed to hatred towards hanyou. Kagome, and later he, however, had been accepted readily. He thought it might have been a good place for him to live, if he'd ever settle down.

Inuyasha looked over to Kagome, who had begun to jog. He matched her pace, and the two of them gradually broke into a run.

After several hours, Kagome and Inuyasha were more than three-fourths through the central lands and slowed from a run to jog.

"Inuyasha? What have you been thinking about?" Kagome asked, not expecting an answer as she looked over to Inuyasha.

He surprised her. "A little about that town. A little about how long it's been since we were alone. A little about what you did...with Kikyo-and the village. Some of everything, I guess."

"I see. I just wondered, because of how quiet you've been." Kagome sighed and quickened slightly.

"Kagome?"

"Yes, Inuyasha?"

"Why did you resurrect Kikyo?"

"For you."

"I know that. But...why?"

"I hated seeing you sad. And besides, she'll help us fight Naraku now. You can't say we can't use the help."

"Sure I can," he answered, sounding slightly cross. There was a beat of silence. "But she could have killed you."

"It was killing me to see you in misery."

"Does it pain you to know my brother is in as much hurt?"

"What? Why are you bringing him up? And no, it doesn't. Sesshomaru is just a thorn in my side who expects me to baby-sit for him."

"He wants you to sit on children?" Inuyasha shook his head. "I mentioned him since he's been familiar with you as of late. I wondered if you hadn't spent more unaccounted time in his presence. And not like it's any of your business what I talk about anyway."

"You're jealous!"

"I am not! I just don't want you wasting any emotions on that bastard."

"Oh Inuyasha you are the worst liar on the face of this planet!"

"Keh. Whatever."

There were four more silent, monotonous hours before they finally arrived in Keade's village.

"Kagome-chan!" Shippo cried, running towards her from the village.

Shippo ran as fast as his legs could carry him and launched himself into Kagome's arms. Kagome laughed at him and ruffled his hair. Inuyasha looked amused for a moment, but let disgust cover it.

"How's that little brat supposed to grow up if you keep babying him?" Inuyasha demanded, looking at Shippo as if he expected him to start crying.

"Oh lay off, Inuyasha. He hasn't seen me in a while. And besides, I did take off kind of abruptly," Kagome defended Shippo, who stuck his tongue out at Inuyasha.

"Oh yeah, that's real mature, ya little brat. Honestly, Kagome, what does it matter how long you've been gone or how you left? He's still acting like a little baby!"

Kikyo watched the three approach. Inuyasha behaved around Kagome. They looked like a couple, from a distance.

There's a mommy, a daddy, a baby...and a mistress. A worthless afterthought. Because Shippo ran out to Kagome, but Inuyasha didn't run to me, as he used to. But he was more than willing to run after Kagome...She said he loves me, so why does he give his affections to her? She's not so amazing. Kikyo laughed at herself for her jealousy. Of course she's amazing. She's sacrificed everything. She'd tall and proud and unshaken. As I was, and can be. But Kagome shoulders the world and remains so pleasant and cheerful, where I was miserable and saddened those around me with my worries. That is why even now, if Inuyasha had to choose, he would choose her. Kikyo sighed mournfully.

"Inuyasha! You've returned!" She called happily, waving to him.

"Yeah, I'm here, and I managed to get Kagome, too," Inuyasha answered and nodded at the girl who carried Shippo.

"Good to see you, Kikyo. Where is everyone?" Kagome asked and let Shippo out of her arms.

"Our dear Mei-Lin is being courted! The children are with Kaede, giving her a good fright by disappearing now and again. Miroku and Sango are helping me search for some herbs, needles to say they've vanished off somewhere."

"Mei Lin with a man? That's...I'm not sure what that is. I guess she'd rather a father for her children, but still..."

"Actually, he came here looking for you, Kagome. Name of Satoshi?"

"Satoshi was looking for me? I saw him only a few days ago. By all means I ought to have beaten him here." Kagome sounded suspicious, and Inuyasha felt she had good reason to be. Something about 'Satoshi' had bothered him, though he couldn't place it.

"Something isn't right, then, obviously. That fox demon would have had to have left before us, and we saw him. Unless that wasn't him," Inuyasha stated to sum up his thoughts.

"That one or this one, and why would someone pursue Mei Lin under the guise of my friend? The one in Tsukyo is the only one to benefit," Kagome said slowly, working it out in her head as she spoke.

"Kikyo, do you know where Mei Lin and Satoshi went?" Inuyasha asked, wondering how soon they would be able to determine the true Satoshi.

"No, but they said they'd be back by nightfall," Kikyo replied, curious as to this character. Obviously he had an affiliation with Kagome, and Kagome decided she would have to ask the girl later.

"Well, that's not too far off. Our timing is perfect!" Kagome exclaimed happily, gazing at the sun.

"You're telling me you saw me in Tsukyo two days ago?" Satoshi asked doubtfully.

He, Kagome, and Inuyasha were sitting in Keade's hut, Meilin, Keade herself, and all of the children had been shifted over to Mei Lin's house.

"Yes. He spoke like you, smelled like you, looked like you, obviously," Kagome said, looking pointedly at him.

"It isn't possible! I've been here the past three days! You can ask Mei Lin, I've spent the duration of most of them with her."

"Speaking of which, I heard you two were hitting it off! Way to go!" Kagome smiled and clapped his back, but very quickly her expression became dark and she had a death grip on his shoulder. "You hurt her and I'll be forced to torture you in most unpleasant ways before killing you slowly."

Satoshi laughed nervously and held his hands in the air. "I've the purest of intentions, honestly."

"Well that's great!" Kagome said, cheerful again. "But that still doesn't solve the case of the mysteriously appearing Satoshi."

"No..." Satoshi mused, appearing to sink into thought.

"Are you sure you don't just have a long-lost twin brother or something?" Inuyasha asked, more than ready to have the whole affair over with.

"I had an older brother once, but..."

"Those monsters killed him, didn't they," Kagome assumed, finding it easy to put blame on the heads of cruel beasts.

"I...I think so...no. No, they didn't!" Satoshi cried, jumping up. "They took him! They took both of us but I'd forgotten! I never saw him, so it was easy to think..."

"But where does that put your brother..? Is he, what, evil now?"

"That...that could be. He could be what I was or worse!"

"Inuyasha, I have to go. Say goodbye to everyone for me."

"You'll have to stop though. You should wait-"

"I'll push myself. C'mon, Satoshi. Your village may be in grave danger."

"Right. Send my farewell to Mei Lin as well, Inuyasha."

"Now hold on, Kagome I'm not going to let you walk off to face some-"

"Inuyasha, I faced off with Kagura. I think I'll be fine."

"At least sleep a few hours."

"No, this is important, Inuyasha. I have to go--Now."

Kagome and Satoshi took off running and Inuyasha felt a wave of foreboding wash over him.

Well folks, it's short, yeah, but I want these DONE! Lol. I have long LONG chapters already written, and they're PERFECT and WONDERFUL, but I'll be damned if they're still 2-3 chapters away! Lol. It's driving me CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry I haven't updated in so long. It just slips my mind, then suddenly it's been two weeks, then two months, you know how it goes. But I'm already starting the next chapter, which may be out tomorrow or it may be out next week, but it definitely will be out.

(Someone who lives nearby has actually gotten into the story, so going back on my word could be hazardous to my health.)