A/N: Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, or any of the characters from the manga and/or anime.

Three days. That's how long Mrs. Higurashi, Jii-chan, and Souta had been sitting in the shed, the one that formerly housed the Bone Eater's Well. Three days ago, the well had vanished, leaving Kagome with no way to get home from Sengoku Jidai.

The three of them sat in front of the space in the shed that once housed the well; it was now nothing but a dirt floor. Mrs. Higurashi's face was filthy and tear-streaked. She had dug frantically into the dirt when the well disappeared, screaming her daughter's name. They heard Inuyasha calling them, asking if she was there. When they told him that she wasn't, his voice was unreadable.

"Don't worry," he had said, "I'll get her back. I promise I'll find her."

That was two days ago, and they hadn't heard anything from Inuyasha since. Kagome's friends had come and gone; they didn't understand why her family was sitting in an empty shed if Kagome was missing. They especially didn't understand why Mrs. Higurashi refused to call the police, and why she had said, "There's nothing they could do, anyway."

On that third day, Mrs. Higurashi and Jii-chan sat tensely in the shed. They had allowed Souta to remain home from school; he was sleeping, his head in Mrs. Higurashi's lap.

"Why were we so willing to let her travel back and forth?" Mrs. Higurashi murmured. "Why did we let her do this?"

"Because she is strong, and she had a mission," Jii-chan responded, just as softly.

"We have to pray that Inuyasha will find her and protect her," Mrs. Higurashi said. "He always has, and I hope that he always will."

Suddenly, there was a huge flash of light shooting up from the ground. Mrs. Higurashi and Jii-chan scrambled back, Souta tumbling out of his mother's lap. She dragged him backwards as his eyes shot open.

As the light poured forth from the ground, the three Higurashis watched, astonished, as the Bone Eater's Well slowly came back into view and solidified. And there, sitting on the ledge, were Inuyasha and Kagome.

Mrs. Higurashi gasped. "Ka—go—me—"

Inuyasha leapt from the well's ledge, holding Kagome gently in his arms. He landed in front of her family and set her down carefully. Kagome fell into her mother's arms, the two of them sobbing. Souta jumped into Inuyasha's arms. Jii-chan hugged his daughter-in-law and granddaughter. Everyone was talking at once and crying.

"How did you find her?" Mrs. Higurashi asked Inuyasha, stroking her daughter's hair tenderly.

Inuyasha adjusted Souta in his arms. "Thanks to Testusaiga's new power, it showed me the way. I couldn't have found her without it."

"I knew you would bring her back," Mrs. Higurashi replied, holding an arm out to him. "Thank you." She brought Inuyasha and Souta close, and held all three of the children.

As they stood in the shed, rejoicing in their reunion, they were suddenly blinded by another shaft of light coming from the well. There was a massive burst of light, a whoosh, and all the light flew forth from the well, shot through the roof and into went the sky.

Inuyasha put Souta down and moved toward the well. "What the hell-?"

Kagome and her mother also moved toward the well. Kagome leaned over and looked in. The well was dark; it felt…empty.

"Hold on, Mama," she said, disengaging herself from her mother's grasp. She turned to Inuyasha. "What do you think that was?"

"Hell if I know," he shrugged. "Let's try it." He took her hand and they jumped as Mrs. Higurashi rushed forward, crying, "Kagome! No!"

"Don't worry, Mama," came her daughter's reply. "We're not going anywhere. The well's not working."

The tension around the table was beyond palpable. Mrs. Higurashi bought steak for dinner – Inuyasha's favorite – in hopes of creating a celebratory mood. After all, her daughter had been returned to her safe and sound, and she couldn't help but feel ecstatic. But she also understood why Kagome and Inuyasha might not feel like celebrating. Although the Shikon Jewel had been destroyed, they were cut off from a world that, to Kagome, was starting to feel like a second home, and to Inuyasha, was home. They were cut off from their friends—Miroku, Sango, Shippou, and Kaede must be worried sick. Mrs. Higurashi knew that Kagome must have felt sick thinking about that.

So they sat: Jii-chan at the head of the table, scowling at Inuyasha, who was scowling right back at him; Kagome, seated between the two of them, trying to smile and somehow failing; Souta, to Inuyasha's left, gazing at his hero with starry eyes; and Mrs. Higurashi, between Jii-chan and Souta, picking at her food, hoping that the mood would shift once everyone settled down a bit.

"So, Kagome," said Souta, carefully chewing his steak, "will you be going back to school tomorrow?"

Kagome looked up from her plate, stunned. She hadn't even thought about school. Her books, her study notes…all of it was back in Sengoku Jidai. She had no idea how she would be prepared for school tomorrow, much less for the day after that, and after that.

"Maybe," said Mrs. Higurashi thoughtfully, "you should take a few days to adjust."

Kagome turned her gaze to her mother, her eyes thoughtful. "That might be a good idea, Mama. Thanks." And I don't even know what we're going to do about Inuyasha, she thought miserably. She felt his body next to hers, as it had been for the past two years. But instead of cool and relaxed, it felt warm and tense, unsure of how to process this new situation. How am I going to help him? How will he adjust to living in 21st century Tokyo?

As if in response to her thoughts, a solid rap sounded at the front door. "Who in the world?..." Mrs. Higurashi muttered, pushing back her chair and going to stand.

"Wait," said Inuyasha suddenly. They all turned to him as he stood, his eyes flashing. He paused for one incredibly long second. "Oh, fuck me!" he exclaimed and ran to the front door, leaving the Higurashis to blink at one another confusedly. They heard Inuyasha throw open the door and yell, "What the fuck are you doing here!"

The tall man at the door smiled slightly, his golden eyes hard. "Nice to see you as always, little brother."

If the tension around the table was high before, it was off the charts now. Jii-chan had been forced to give up his seat at the head of the table to Sesshomaru; he now sat in Souta's seat, while Souta had been forced between Jii-chan and Mrs. Higurashi. Inuyasha had moved to Sesshomaru's immediate left, holding onto Kagome so tightly she was practically in his lap, much to Jii-chan's chagrin.

"What," Inuyasha hissed, "are you doing here? How are you even here?"

Sesshomaru ignored his brother's rantings and reached under the table, pulling out a briefcase. Kagome watched him, fascinated; although she had only seen Sesshomaru a few days before in Sengoku Jidai, when they defeated Naraku, she knew that five hundred years had passed and yet, in some ways, he seemed exactly the same. His armor had been replaced by a dark gray wool suit, which complemented his silver hair and golden eyes perfectly. His hair was pulled back in a low ponytail, with a few hairs escaping around the front, giving him a slightly untamed look. His purple and red demon marks still painted his cheeks, as did the purple half-moon on his forehead. If anything, he seemed older, but no less commanding of a presence. Kagome knew he could kill everyone in the room with one swipe of his whip if he were so inclined.

With a flick of his claw, Sesshomaru opened the briefcase and pulled out a series of documents, which he laid out across the table. "This," he said, looking directly at Inuyasha, "is the paperwork you will need to exist in this century."

Inuyasha blanched. "What?"

"The paperwork," Sesshomaru repeated in a bored tone," you will need to exist in this century."

Kagome reached across Inuyasha and picked up the pile of papers. "This is…a birth certificate," she said in a hushed tone, shuffling through the papers, "and your registration on Sesshomaru's family register…and an ID…and a high school diploma…" She looked up at Sesshomaru, surprised. "Why?"

"If he is to live in this world," Sesshomaru stated simply, "he must exist."

Through this exchange Inuyasha had said nothing. Kagome tried to guess his thoughts, but his expression was unreadable. He took the papers from Kagome and sorted through them carefully.

"How did you know I would need these?" he asked, his tone neutral and careful.

Sesshomaru shrugged. "This Sesshomaru was there, little brother. You went into the Meido after the miko. The well was restored; you didn't return. So, logic would suggest that you went to the miko's time. Once she was born, once she turned fifteen, preparations could be made."

"Hold on, hold on," Kagome burst out, drawing an icy gaze from the older demon. "So you just waited around for us? What are you doing here? How are you even alive? Demons don't exist in our world."

"Don't they?" It was more of a statement than a question. Kagome said nothing.

"So you knew that Kagome was here…that I was most likely here… for the past two years…and you didn't try to reach out to us? You didn't contact us, to let us know you were here?" Inuyasha finally spit out. Kagome saw red starting to tinge his golden eyes. She put a reassuring hand over his, and felt him relax under her touch, the red receding from his eyes.

"Actually…" said Mrs. Higurashi in a small voice, speaking for the first time.

"Who do you think restored the Shrine house after you tried to kaze no kizu a cockroach?" Sesshomaru asked dryly.

Inuyasha and Kagome looked at each other in horror, neither daring to breathe or speak. Kagome could feel Inuyasha's thoughts; could feel the rage starting to radiate off his body. In a flash she threw herself across him, saying, "No, Inuyasha…not here." When he grasped her tightly to him, she whispered, "Please. There's plenty of time. Not here…not now."

Sesshomaru stood up abruptly. "You will come home with me, little brother."

"Like hell I will," Inuyasha growled, starting to stand, one arm around Kagome still, the other reaching for the sword at his waist.

"I think…" said Mrs. Higurashi hurriedly, "it would be better for Inuyasha-kun to stay here for now." When that statement drew Sesshomaru's gaze, she quickly added, "please. The children have just arrived. They are tired and still reeling from a very traumatic time. Let them rest here for now."

Kagome shot her mother a grateful look.

"Fine," Sesshomaru said. He turned to Inuyasha. "A car will come for you Sunday at 2," he stated. "We have much to discuss. And miko," he added, turning to Kagome, "you will join him."

"Me?" Kagome said, surprised.

"Your training must continue," he said carelessly, heading to the door, "and you must meet your teacher."

"I am perfectly capable of training my granddaughter," Jii-chan spoke up angrily, only to be hushed when Sesshomaru gave him a withering glare.

"Little brother, miko," he continued, ignoring Jii-chan, "Until Sunday."

Inuyasha suddenly jumped up, nearly dumping Kagome on the floor. "Hold, on-Sesshomaru, dammit!" he yelled. "Hold on!" And he ran out the door after the demon lord.

Although it was already April, the night air was bitingly cold. Inuyasha ignored the feel of the cold paving stones outside the shrine house as he chased his bother across the courtyard. "Dammit, onii-san," he bellowed, using the proper term for "older brother" for maybe the first time in his life, "Will you wait?!"

Sesshomaru paused at the entrance to the shrine, looking bored. "We've said all we need to say tonight, little brother."

"Like hell we have," Inuyasha spat.

"INUYASHA." Sesshomaru drew himself to his full height, looking down at his brother, terribly menacing now. "There is nothing more to say tonight. We will talk more on Sunday." He turned to leave, but then turned back. "Oh, you will need this," he said carelessly, flicking a small object at his brother. Inuyasha caught it easily and opened his hand; it was a thin band of leather, circled and joined by two beads so the leather could slide back and forth. "What the fuck is this?" Inuyasha snarled.

"A bracelet," Sesshomaru replied. "A cloaking bracelet. It has an enchantment on it that will hide your appearance from humans. It will keep you safe. Anytime you leave the shrine, be sure you are wearing it. If you slide it on your wrist, adjust the beads and it will fit you. And please," he added disdainfully, "do not drag the Tetsusaiga around the city. I do not need to conduct any more coverups because of you." Sesshomaru flicked his wrist at Inuyasha, half mocking, half in farewell, and was gone.

Inuyasha stood alone at the Shrine gate, looking out into the night. Instead of stars, he saw clouds; he saw lights. Instead of crickets and frogs, he heard cars; he heard the noise of the city. Instead of fresh air, he smelled smog and gas and sludge. He emitted a low growl, deep in his chest; how the fuck was he going to survive in this sensory overload that was Kagome's time?

Outraged, he ran to the shed that housed the Bone Eater's Well and threw the doors open. The well still stood open; Jii-chan hadn't yet covered it with his ineffective ofudas. With a howl, he jumped into the well, and howled even more loudly when his feet hit the solid dirt of its 21st century Tokyo floor.

Notes:

A quick note on family registers: in Japan, a family registry (koseki) is where all births, deaths, and marriages are kept. Typically Inuyasha would show up on his parents' koseki, but since they are long gone, it made more sense for Sesshomaru to add him to his registry, with Sesshomaru as the head of that household.

Thanks for reading!