Disclaimer: MUST I keep writing these things. You know what it's going to say.

Chapter Four - Reunited.Er.Kind Of

The shock of finding her at the well after a year quickly wore off as Inuyasha stood staring at her. He still had no idea what he was going to say, but seeing her again he realized that Kaede had been right, he had put the past off for much too long. It was time to come to terms with everything that had happened and what should have happened. Silence filled the clearing, not even the grass blowing in the breeze made a sound. It was as if the world itself was waiting to see what would happen between these two people who had shared so much and not enough. Lacking the words to say what he needed to, Inuyasha looked her over instead. Physically she was the same; perhaps a bit trimmer, but her eyes told him that she had indeed changed. Though that light - that love of life and unwavering trust in people's hearts - still shined in her eyes, it was far dimmer in comparison to what it used to be. Now, that light was tempered by a deeper understanding of what the world was really like.

As he studied her, she in turn inspected him. He looked exactly the same in appearance, still wearing the exact same fire rat haori as he used to, still just as fit as ever. However, she noticed that he didn't stand with his shoulders as straight as he used to and the proud defiance that had lit his eyes with such fire was slightly humbled. Mentally, she nodded in approval. As the sky lightened with the rising of the sun, she found the courage to break the silence that hung over the clearing.

"It's been a while, Inuyasha," Kagome said. "I'm glad to see that you are well."

With her words the world burst into life again. It was as if her speaking was a sign that it was all right. Birds began singing, leaves rustled in the wind, and insects hummed in the air. Inuyasha started. He had gotten used to the silence from moments ago.

"How have you been, wench?" he asked.

She shrugged, used to his name calling by now. "I've been well. It's been a bit quiet, though, since our quest ended."

Inuyasha gave her a half-smile. "I bet it has. Normal life can't possibly compare to searching for magical jewel shards while fighting youkai almost every step of the way."

"Oh, it wasn't that bad." What am I saying? She thought as they grew silent again. Of course, it was. That's the whole reason I want to forget.

Finally, the hanyou spoke again. "What brings you back here after so long?"

Again Kagome shrugged. "I just wanted to see everybody again. It's been so long, and I've missed my friends."

He nodded his understanding while wondering if 'my friends' included him. He hoped so. "They'll be glad to see you. Especially Shippo, that little fox has been driving me crazy begging me to bring him to see you."

She chuckled. "He always was attached to me. He was on my shoulder so much that I was just waiting for the day when he would become a permanent extension of my arm."

She just had to laugh at the look on Inuyasha's face at the picture that presented. To her surprise, he joined in. It was perhaps the first time she had ever heard him laugh out loud, a real laugh anyway. When they calmed down, he offered her a ride to the village on his back.

As Inuyasha ran through the forest it was comforting to have Kagome on his back again. He hadn't realized just how much he missed it until now. After all, for three years he had carried her just like this as they searched for the Shikon shards. Carrying her as he was, he easily caught her scent and he remembered something that he had neglected to realize; not all memories were painful ones. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Shayril: Okay, guys, that chapter didn't have anything cliché. I bet you're glad about that. Go ahead you can admit it. I won't do anything. So what'd you think of it? Was it good? Just send you opinions to tigerwitch13@yahoo.com. Hope you think so otherwise I'll be so depressed that I won't write anymore fanfics after this .... Snorts .... Yeah right! I wouldn't stop writing them if you held a gun to my head .... waves hand back and forth in the air .... Forget I said that. Writing isn't worth dying. Okay, I wouldn't stop writing them for a million dollars. Anyway, not much happened in this chapter, but more will in the next ones ... Stops, scratches head ...... Huh. I guess that's all I have to say. Wow! That's the shortest I've ever written. Well, go away. I have to do the next chapter..