A/N: Hope you all enjoy the chapter! (It's getting closer to the end! ^^)

Chapter 36

"Shippo!" Kagome and Ginta gasped at the sight of him.

While physically different he was the same as well. His face was still childish and looked like his old self, only now it was longer, more pointed, fox like and a hint of seriousness to it. His body was lean and long, to a point where his height could rival Sesshoumaru. He was dressed almost exactly like Inuyasha, the only difference being that his clothes were tighter, almost like a ninja's and they were deep natural shades of brown and black rather than Inuyasha's red.

Strapped to his hips were two Sai and tied to his back was a long bow with some arrows. He looked like a trained assassin, and the toning in his arms spoke of years of training- but how was that possible he had only 'died' a few weeks ago.

He smiled weakly and stepped closer to Kagome who was shaking as her eyes looked him up and down. He touched her shoulder and smiled warmly, any doubts Kagome may have had about who he was vanished with that smile- it was just like him, it was warm, honest but cheeky all at the same time. The smile reached his eyes and Kagome found herself launching into his arms. It was Shippo! It was her Shippo!

The ache that had taken her heart at his death filled with a warmth, love radiated from her as she held him tightly. Those who looked upon the sight almost had to turn away the sheer power of the display being almost too much, Sango and Ayame found tears touching their eyes.

"You're real…" Kagome found the strength to pull away after some time.

Shippo, who would later deny the redness of his watery eyes, nodded. "I was sent back, you guys need me."

Before Kagome had the chance to respond Tiana cut in. "See I told you that I didn't kill him- what do you mean 'sent back'?" She managed to do a very good job of ignoring the death glares that were being thrown her way.

Shippo looked confused for a moment. "I don't really know how to explain it…" he scratched his head and thought for a few moments. "I think what she said was 'Tiana's spell had enough power to kill me but because it wasn't the intent of the spell on the arrow it caused me to 'die' for a few moments before coming back to life, it wasn't much but enough for the jewel to absorb me' she explained it a little bit more fanciful than me." He let out a weak laugh.

Kagome's heart clenched at the realization that even though Shippo was standing before her he had in fact died for a few moments. Her Shippo should never have had to die or go through any pain… for reasons unknown to her, her hand clutched at her abdomen, causing warmth to spread through her. The action did not go missed by several observant eyes.

Tiana took a weary glance at the barrier surrounding the north before glancing back at the group. "Perhaps we should sit and discuss this?" she gestured to the barrier. "This problems not going anywhere soon so it would seem like we have lots of time."

The other's nodded in agreement- it was probably the most sensible thing that Tiana had said all day. Sitting in a circle the others all eyed Shippo who was, oddly enough, sitting next to Ginta, the others had assumed that he would have sat next to Kagome. Shippo then took notice of Kagome sitting with Sesshoumaru standing beside her, his nose twitched and his eyes widened a fraction.

"When did this happen?" he gestured to the two- he wondered if this had happened while he was little.

Inuyasha let out a groan and Kagome felt her cheeks redden. "Um a while ago…" she pushed a hair behind her ear.

Shippo's eyes moved down and locked onto her abdomen, his nose twitched and he opened his mouth to say something, only to have Tiana interrupt him. "So Shippo can you please explain about 'being absorbed into the jewel'?"

Shippo scratched his head and laughed nervously. "Yeah… at least that's what she told me." He paused and his eyes flickered as he tried to calculate his thoughts. "Apparently if you've touched the jewel you leave an 'imprint' or something on it and when you die you are absorbed into jewel- there's a lot of people in there and they're all continuing with the war that Midoriko and Melanor started."

Surprisingly it was Inuyasha that spoke. "Melanor? Who the fuck was he?"

"Midoriko's demon mate whose soul was controlled to lead the demons against Midoriko." Shippo answered, he seemed to have learned a great deal while in the jewel. "He was also the only one in the Shikon world not fighting- I saw him several times."

"What do you mean, 'not fighting'?" Miroku spoke, his brow furrowed in confusion.

Shippo paused and looked away into nothingness. His eyes shifted from side to side erratically as he murmured softly, he seemed to be entranced, his fists clenched and he bit his bottom lip. Kagome reached out wanting to hold him, something in his expression made her want to cry.

Suddenly Shippo's eyes stopped and went wide. "The demons… the humans… everything and everyone who had ever touched the jewel and died is there and they fight… there are no sides, no friends… only war…"

Kagome felt her heart ache at the thought of her baby Shippo in such a place. Sure they were always around fighting, but Shippo was never alone and he was never in a place where he would have to fight alone. Her hand touched his shoulder.

"At first I was on my own… running for my life from all different types of demons." He shook his head and he glanced up, his eyes locking with Ginta's. A strange expression took his face. "Then I met Keiko and she helped me… she took me to Midoriko and they both helped me train… they apparently had seen me and my travels with Kagome."

Tiana dropped from her rock and onto her knees. "Keiko?"

Shippo nodded. "She and Midoriko explained everything to me, they looked after me and when it was time for me to go, they explained how and why I was going to get back."

"How were you able to come back?" this time it was Ginta who spoke, his eyes still locked with Shippo's.

"I wasn't technically dead." Shippo explained. "Midoriko only kept me there because she had been watching us and knew we would end up going to the north. She said she wanted us prepared for the final battle- she also knew we would need the thunder pike, and since Hiten was inside the Jewel, the pike was with him."

"You have the pike?!" Tiana scooted closer to him.

Shippo nodded and reached into his shirts. After a few moments of rummaging he pulled out a tiny pike that was no bigger than his index finger. Whispering a small 'grow' the others watched with wide eyes as the pike grew to six feet long. He smiled at the pike and tapped it, making it shrink back to its tiny size. He then put it back within his shirts.

"So we can get to Naraku now?" Kagura questioned.

"Onigumo." Tiana corrected with a glare.

Shippo nodded and glanced at Kagome who was looking at him strangely. "What's wrong Kagome?"

Kagome shook her head. "Its silly but… Shippo how did you get so big? You've only been gone a few weeks?!"

Shippo laughed and put an arm around his surrogate mother. "Time in the Jewel is different Kagome. In there at least three hundred years have passed."

Sango, Miroku, Kagome and Inuyasha's eyes all went wide. "What?!" they shouted simultaneously.

Shippo could only laugh.

X

It was late and they had decided to spend one more night resting before they used the pike to get into the North. While Inuyasha hadn't been overly fond of the idea, even he had to agree that they all needed their rest before going into what would probably be the biggest battle of their lives.

While the others went to set up their respective camps for the night Kagome took the opportunity to talk with Shippo.

"I heard you, you know, while you were there." She sat beside him as he stoked the fire.

Shippo gave a wryly smile. "I cried for you, every time I slept." His hand reached out to hold hers. "I missed you every day while I was in that place."

She squeezed his hand. "I felt drained, like something was using my energy, that was you, wasn't it?"

He nodded. "I needed the energy to stay there, I needed to get stronger to come back here." He eyed her and sighed. "I'm sorry if I hurt you."

Kagome smiled at him. "I'm just glad that you're back. I missed you so much." She reached out to him her arms coming to rest on his as she clutched at him. He let out a sound that sounded suspiciously like a sob and clutched at her. She let out a cry and held him her ward tears seeping into his shirts. Their embrace lasted the longest of times before Shippo pulled back.

"I have to ask though." He smiled at her. "Why Sesshoumaru? He's so scary!"

Kagome laughed and began to tell him about what had happened.

XXX

'I'm glad Shippo's back' she thought with a smile. She had a feeling in her chest, something was telling her that although tomorrow's battle may be hard, with everyone she cared about by her side, they would be okay. They were going to win. She glanced up at Sesshoumaru and placed a kiss on his cheek.

His amber eyes looked down at her. "You are feeling better?" he asked.

She smiled wider. She had known he had been worried about her the last few weeks. He might not have said anything, but it showed. "Better than okay Sesshoumaru. Better than okay."

That wrung a sound that almost sounded like a content pur from him and he held her closer. She clutched him tighter and breathed in his scent. She felt comfy safe with him.

"Do you think we'll win?" she asked him.

"Naraku, Onigumo, they will die." He said with a finality that hit her to the core. It was said with such conviction that it helped fuel Kagome's own belief that they would win.

"And then what?" she prodded. "What do we do after that."

He looked up towards the starry sky. "Then we go home dear." He said simply.

She smiled and closed her eyes. "Home…"

X

"Sango…" Miroku walked over to his love who was sitting beside Kirara while sharpening her blade.

Sango looked up and smiled at him. She patted the spot of grass beside her and he sat beside her. She went back to sharpening her blade and Kirara let out a little mew before twirling herself around in a cat fashion several times then curling up to sleep.

Miroku watched the woman beside him while she took care of her weapon, he loved that she took such care in everything that she did. It was truly amazing. He knew that she would be amazing at everything she did… which bought him to the reason why he had come to see her.

"What will you do when all this is over?" he asked.

Sango smiled and a faraway expression took her face. Miroku could see that this was something that she thought about frequently. "I want to go back to my village," she put the sword down. "try to rebuild."

Miroku nodded. He had a feeling that she would say that. He leaned back and looked up at the sky. "I don't suppose…" he began slowly. Inwardly he was shocked at how hard it was for him to say what he wanted to. This wasn't him, this was crazy. "…I don't suppose you would want company? Some help with rebuilding…"

Sango smiled and scooted closer to him. Her hand hesitantly reached over and touched his. "That would be wonderful." She said simply.

Kirara mewed and snuck off to go snuggle with Kagome, giving the pair some much needed privacy.

XXX

Ayame walked over to Koga who was training in a small clearing not too far from the camp. She watched his arms flex as he punched and she her eyes drawn to the movements of his muscles. He was so graceful. Graceful, that wasn't a word that most would have used in conjunction with Koga, but there really wasn't any other word for him.

Letting out a sigh she watched as he did a back flip. She let another sigh and looked up at the sky. Why in the world did fate have to be so cruel? Here was the object of her desire, of everything that she had ever wanted and not only did he not want her but they were most likely going to die tomorrow before she had her chance to really try. She felt her eyes water as everything began to hit her. Koga, her position in his life, and the fact that she might not live past this day...

Once the tears had started, they would not stop and soon enough she was leaning against a nearby tree. Her clawed hand was clutching at the bark as she held onto it for dear life. Her sobs were silent, but to Koga it was the loudest sound he had ever heard.

"Why are ya crying?" he asked hesitantly walking up to the crying demoness.

She rubbed her eyes into her arm as she cried. "I don't think I'm going to make it tomorrow." Her words were sobbed softly. "I know I'm not going to make it tomorrow…"

Koga tilted his head to the side in confusion. "What makes you say that?"

Ayame shook her head as more tears fell. "I'm not strong, not in the way you all are. I wouldn't last five minutes out there…" she looked away in shame. "I'm completely useless to you Koga…"

Koga scratched his head and tried to think of what he could say to her. "Hey its okay, you're tough." He lightly punched her on the shoulder. Never before had Koga been this awkward with a woman. She let out a chocked laugh and continued to cry.

Scratching his head Koga watched her for a few moments before he patted her on the head. Her head snapped up and she shot him and incredulous look. Koga jumped back.

"Y-You… y-you…" she bristled before letting out an exaggerated groan. She flung her hands up in the air and stormed away from him.

Koga watched with wide eyes as the demoness stormed into the foliage. He blinked wondering what in the world he had done. "Women…" he muttered going back to his training.

XXX

Inuyasha glanced at Kagura who was sitting by a tree inspecting her fan. He frowned, if someone had told had told him a few months ago of the events that would happen; Kagome and Sesshoumaru being together and that Kagura would be travelling with them he would have laughed at them… well laughed for a few moments before removing their head from their body.

"Can I help you?" Inuyasha jumped at the sound of her voice. His cheeks flushed at being caught staring.

Inuyasha scratched the back of his head and laughed nervously. "I err… Why are you still here?" he asked with a nervous laugh.

Kagura raised a brow and tilted her head. "What are you talking about?"

Inuyasha gestured almost helplessly. "Well… you aren't being held by Naraku any more, so why would you be here to help us? You could go off and be free."

Kagura let out a snort. "You are really dense." She laughed. "While I have no desire to die, either way I have no choice, if I don't fight I die, if I do I die." She placed her hand against her chest. "My heart is in his possession."

Inuyasha opened his mouth to speak only to close it again. He then did something he rarely did, he thought. Hard. All of his friends, his ally's, hell even his brother had a choice. They chose to be there, even if they sad they had no choice, it was a lie. They could easily walk away, but Kagura, had no real choice her only choice was how to die. She could fight and still die or she could hide and still die. Something in the thought made him see red.

"Kagura." He walked up to her. "We'll get you free. I promise."

Kagura's eyes widened.

XXX

Hakakku opened his mouth to say something to Ginta only to stop as he watched Shippo walk to their spot of the camp. He wanted to sat something, only he did not as he found himself feeling almost like he was intruding on something. Not that it made sense, just what could he be intruding on?

He instead decided to turn and walk away to Koga, he could probably use the training before tomorrow.

Ginta looked up from his food to see the tall fox demon raise his hand with a wave. The wolf nodded in response and watched as Shippo sat across from him. Ginta took a bite of his charred newt and eyed the fox, he found himself feeling something twirling in his stomach, it was an odd feeling that he had not felt before- well he had felt similar before but nothing like this. His cheeks flushed.

"I heard that you passed out at the same time as Kagome." Shippo said and gestured helplessly with his hands.

Ginta nodded. "Y-yes." He flinched as he stammered. Why did he feel so awkward all of a sudden?

Shippo let out a chuckle and suddenly Ginta found the fox's face directly in front of his. He jumped back at the closeness. What was the fox demon doing? Ginta tried to scoot back further and found himself against a tree. Ginta found trapped. He glanced around and tried to look for a way out the situation.

"They told me about you while I was in the gem." There was something in his voice, something that Ginta couldn't name. "I felt it when I saw you again." The next thing Ginta knew there were a pair of firm lips on his. Ginta's eyes flew open and he froze. Ginta felt a tongue flick against his lips before Shippo pulled back. A grin on his face and his tail wagging.

Wide eyed and red faced Ginta lifted his fingers to his lips. His eyes lifted to Shippo's, the other grinned at him and the wolf found himself returning the smile.

XXX

Rin looked up at the night sky as she stood outside of Kaede's with Jaken. She clasped her hands together as she saw a star shoot across the sky. She silently prayed for Lord Sesshoumaru's success. She knew that he would, but it didn't hurt to help.

"Jaken Lord Sesshoumaru will be okay won't he?"

"Of course he will Rin!" Jaken snapped.

XXX

Fingers twirled nervously in her black hair as she stood at the steps of the shrine. She looked up the stairs and sighed, she tried to will her legs to move but nothing was happening. They just wouldn't move. The finger twirling in her hair increased in its motion and she trembled lightly.

"Shall I carry you?"

She sent her mate a glare before letting out another sigh. Finally she found the will to move and her legs pulled themselves up the steps. Her heels clicked against the stones as she stepped. Beside her, her mate silently moved.

"Do you think that she'll be mad at me?" she said quietly.

"She is your mother, only you can tell that."

"I think she will be," the woman replied glancing at the tree where she had met Inuyasha. "She would have red my note by now. I can only imagine how angry she must be." As her old home came into view she reached for her mate's hand. He held it and his grip tightened lightly in a reassuring manner.

When they finally reached the door Kagome lifted her hand to the doorbell and rang it. The pair waited for what felt like eternity before the door opened with a click revealing her mother. Kagome felt her heart clench as she took in her mother, it had been so long! She wanted to rush to her and hold her tight, only she couldn't. She found herself stuck in the piercing gaze of her mothers wet and red eyes.

"K-Kagome?"