~Rin's POV~

I woke to soft fur. Instantly I recognized Kirara. What had happened? I felt someone behind me, and turned to look. It was the youkai, Shippou. Where were we? My head was pounding like a giant drum.

I obviously asked my questions.

He looked a bit surprised that I was awake, but answered nonetheless. "We are going back to a village I know. You were attacked by the youkai just as I found the Wound."

"Oh. So it is dead?" I asked.

"Yes." He replied. He helped me into a sitting position, and then put his hands on my waist. It was unexpected, but I let him hold on.

After a few hours of flying, we stopped Kirara.

"Do you know how far away this village is?" I asked, exasperated.

"Yeah. We're half way there now." He said, "I'll go get firewood, you stay here."

I didn't argue. Shippou had been strange toward me all day. True as it was I did not know him all that well, but it was as if he knew something I didn't, and was reluctant to share it. I didn't question him much on it when he got back with firewood and some dinner.

After eating, I said, "I'm going to take a shower."

"Wait a moment." He said. "Hn?" I asked.

"How do you know about the Tetsusaiga and the Wound of the Wind?" He asked.

I didn't know how to explain it. I just told him, "I knew its owner."

"The true one?" He asked. I didn't quite know what to make of that.

"What do you mean its 'true' one?"

"Did you know the hanyou Inuyasha?" He asked. He was looking at me now.

"Yes, but I was speaking of another." I said.

"Sesshoumaru? I was right." He said and sat back against the bark of the nearest tree.

"Right about what? Knock it off, stop being so damn cryptic!" I was getting frustrated.

"Rin, I knew you! When we were kids, we helped defeat a hanyou named Naraku!"

I froze. "Shippou?"

"I was the kitsune who held your hand and crushed the Shikon no Tama. I am right in saying we both have Shikon shards." It wasn't a question.

Realization dawned on my face.

%! FlashbacK !%

I watched the others disappear, and saw Inuyasha's silver head go slowly down the hill to the village beyond. On the girl's bike was the kitsune who had helped me break the Shikon. I smiled, silently making a promise to find him again someday. I waved, though no one but Jaken noticed. Jaken cussed at me. I giggled as Sesshoumaru kicked him in front of us.

"Will we ever see them again Sesshoumaru-sama?" I asked.

"Maybe, Rin. Not now, however." He said.

%! End of FlashbacK !%

"The kitsune, Shippou." I breathed. He nodded.

"Where is your Shikon shard?" He asked. I dug into my neckline to find it.

Lifting it up, I said, "Where's yours?"

He unsheathed Tetsusaiga, and I became alarmed. Was he going to take my shard? "Shippou?"

"Here." He said.

I glanced at Tetsusaiga, and saw that his shard was bound tightly to the hilt.

"Coincidence meeting you. Where is all the people you traveled with?" I asked.

"I could ask the same of you." He said, but complied to my question anyway. "I do not know what has happened to every. I know that Sango and Miroku went to rebuild Sango's village, and Inuyasha was trying to lay to rest Kikyou's soul, but of Kagome I don't know."

"Wait, just a minute!" I said, "Kikyou? Who is she?"

"The miko at the village where we slayed the youkai. She is dead, and doesn't belong on earth. That's why we're traveling to her sister's village."

It sounded like lunacy to me. "Is her sister alive?"

"I believe so, yes. Although I have not seen Kaede for many years." Shippou looked a bit distressed.

"What is Kikyou doing alive?" I asked.

"She was resurrected some years ago though the part of her soul that Kagome has, and old witch was the one who did it." Shippou explained. "I believe now that it is your turn to explain." I blushed.

"Sesshoumaru didn't give me my shard until I was good enough with a weapon, which wasn't until I was ten. Three years after that when I was thirteen, he left me. I don't know where he went, or where he is right now. He might not even be alive." My eyes shimmered a bit, I was sure. I had never come to the conclusion he might be dead.

"And Jaken?"

"Jaken I'm sure is dead. He was killed when he wandered accidentally into a fight. They were fighting over Sesshoumaru's territory." I said.

"The Western Lands, right?" He asked.

"Yes." I said.

~Shippou's POV~

I guess I was a bit vague on some of my explaining, but on the other hand, it was a little too much. How long had I known Rin? I had met her as a kit, yes, but we had known each other barely three days' worth of time. Could I even trust her? Our conversation turned to her, and when I asked about the Western Lands for which I control now, I was unsure of whether or not I wanted her to know that I owned them. So I just asked more questions.

"And how did you get Kirara?" I knew that one was burning in my mind.

"Kirara.well." Rin looked toward the sleeping youkai, "I found her near an old well. We've just been together ever since."

"I see. Why did you become an exterminator? It's a coincidence, but Sango used to own Kirara, and Sango was a demon exterminator as well." I asked, a little suspicious.

"One day I was walking through a village, and they were being attacked by some youkai, and so I helped them out a little, and the miko there suggested I become an exterminator." Rin explained. I said nothing. I guess it was time to tell her.

"Do you know who owns the Western Lands now?" I asked.

"No, why?" Rin asked.

"Because I do." I said.

"Wait.wait. You own the Western Lands now?" She asked, shocked.

"After Sesshoumaru disappeared, they fell to Inuyasha as the only surviving kin of the great Inuyoukai. When he went to search for Kikyou, he left them to me." I said.

"Why would he leave them to you?" Rin asked.

"I suppose it was because when I was little, my parents were killed, and when Inuyasha and Kagome found me, I considered them my parents. Maybe Inuyasha looked to me as his son?" I said.

"Maybe. Can I take my bath now?" Rin asked.

"Oh. Yeah. Just watch yourself. We're in Inuyasha's Forest." I said.

"Ok. I'll leave Kirara here." Rin said, walking toward the lake we had seen on our way here.

I sat and watched the fire, occasionally putting on more wood, thinking. Why had Sango left Kirara? Where was she now, with Miroku? What happened to Inuyasha? And Kagome? I was so full of questions, that I fell asleep, slumped against the tree.

~Miroku's POV~

Sango and I had taken a night to rest and where now only three miles away from Kaede's village. We sure had traveled fast without Inuyasha and Kirara. Sango had been silent for some time after we shared everything. My mind was once again on my horrible prediction that we would not make it. What inside me wanted not to hope anymore?

~No POV~

A certain hanyou in red was terrorizing the forest. Jumping and running faster than man, he was searching for her- for Kikyou. Suddenly, he stopped. Jumping into a tree, he raised his head to the breeze.

"Kikyou!" Inuyasha yelled to the forest below.

Nearly 500 years in the future, a woman suddenly stopped walking with her friends. She gasped, clutching for something at her neckline.

"Kikyou!" Kagome said.

~Sango's POV~

We had finally entered Kaede's village. I thought it was humanly impossible that we had gone so fast. That or the lands were shrinking. I decided not to think about it and just be happy that we had made such good time. Miroku stopped a villager to ask about Kaede, where he learned about it.

"I'm sorry, houshi-sama, but the miko Kaede has passed." She said.

It was bad enough that Miroku hadn't tried to grope the pretty villager, confirming my suspicions he was completely changed, but that Kaede was dead? How much time had passed, and how could any of us have not been here?!

I gave dry sob. Miroku put his arm around me and said to the villager, "We were very close to Kaede."

The villager nodded, and went on her way. Eventually, Miroku released me realizing that I was no longer crying. We made our way to Kaede's old hut, and found it empty. Apparently, it had not been too long ago that she had died. I voiced this, and Miroku nodded.

"We will take this hut as our home here." He said.

"Alright." I said. I set my large boomerang in the corner. Amazing that I have had it all this time.

~Rin's POV~

When morning came Shippou and I were on our way again. I was riding Kirara, and he was walking beside me.

"You can ride if you want to." I told him. He looked at me a little startled.

"No thanks. I like to walk." Shippou said. He smiled. I loved the way he smiled. It had the effect of a beautiful firework. It lit up my features with a smile as well.

"Do you know of a landmark I can look out for?" I asked.

"Yeah, a dry, unusual well." He laughed. Soon, I was laughing too. I came to see it might just take us a while longer to get to the village.

~Kagome's POV~
I hadn't said her name in a long time. But there I was, stopping at the sidewalk with a few of my friends, and I had said her name. I thought I had felt her presence. Was I wrong? Grasping the Shikon shard I hadn't ever taken off before, I felt it. It seemed everything was all right.

"Kagome?" A friend of mine stopped too.

"I'm alright." I said. Upon seeing that there was nothing wrong, they continued walking. "Guys? I think I'm going to go home. See you later."

A different friend said, "Ok, bye Kagome!" They said their goodbyes and continued window shopping.

I raced back to my car and drove home. When I got there, I ran all the way up the steps and into the old shrine that housed the Bone Eater's Well. Maybe I should go and see if anything's wrong? I didn't give myself time for an answer. Jumping in, I felt once again that pang of familiarity.

'Inuyasha, I'm coming!' I thought.

~Inuyasha's POV~

Feeling her somewhere. where was it?! I was growing even more frustrated. I had felt her presence. Maybe it was far. I jumped tree to tree and tried to find the dark dead miko who had plagued my conscious too long. It was Kikyou's time she met her death and faced the consequence of her action.

~Rin's POV~

Shippou and I were well on our way to the village when I spotted the well first. It was wooden and had no bucket. I remembered this place. We defeated Naraku somewhere close.

"Shippou, there it is!" I said.

"Ok, lemme on." He said, and jumped onto Kirara behind me. Kirara sped up, and I felt very apprehensive.

~Shippou's POV~

Rin was a bit tense under my hands, but seemed cheerful anyway. We were crossing the clearing of the Bone Eater's Well, when I saw a head pop out. My first thought was Kagome, but I realized it would be a slim, if impossible chance.

"Hold it!" I said. Rin turned around.

"What is it?" She asked.

"Someone in the well.." I said.

The person was lingering in the bottom, and almost didn't come up at all. I pushed Rin behind me, but she just sidestepped and stood to my left. I didn't know I was holding my breath before I let it out. A girl arose within the well. Rin gasped.

"Is she-?" Rin didn't finish her question. I gripped Tetsusaiga.

"Hello?" The person called. My heart leapt. Kagome!

"Kagome?" I questioned.

She hopped out of the well, and I just about toppled her over. It was Kagome! She was a little different from what I remembered her to be, but nonetheless it was she. She had matured a little more, and was about full- grown. She was a little shocked to tell the truth.

"What the-?" She asked.

"It's me Kagome!" I said. "Shippou!"

"Shippou?! Oh! Wow!" She exclaimed. Kagome about squeezed the life out of me.

"Kagome?"

"Hn?"

"I'm being squished worse than Myoga." I gasped.

"Oh. Right." And she let go. "Who is this? Kirara too!"

Petting Kirara, she looked at Rin.

"That would be Rin." I told her. "I can speak for myself." Rin retorted.

"Rin? Uh." I could tell it was not ringing any bells as Kagome stood up in thought.

"One of the seven Shikon protectors." I reminded her.

"Oh! Hi Rin." Kagome said. I laughed and Rin relaxed a little.

~Rin's POV~

Needless to say, Shippou's laugh relaxed me a great deal. I was still unsure about Kagome. Hell, I was unsure about Shippou. But there was something about the youkai that I just couldn't help. He was handsome. and sweet. funny. down to earth. I shook myself roughly. There is no need to get all buttered up about some guy. The Shikon, if what Shippou claims is true, needs my protection. The Shikon Shard anyway.

"Hello Kagome." I said after she said hello. Kagome looked around the well.

"Where is everyone Shippou? And Sesshoumaru and Jaken? Where are they all?" Kagome asked. Shippou hung his head. I exhaled deeply.

"This might take some explaining." I said.

"First, let's go to Kaede's village. It wasn't safe when Inuyasha was here, now it's even worse." Shippou said.

As Kagome got up on Kirara, and nudged Shippou in the ribs. I gave him and exasperated look.

"You have to make it so obvious? Wait until we've explained!" I hissed.

He put a hand behind his head and laughed nervously.

"Sorry. heh."

I got up after Shippou and wound my arms tightly around him. Breathing in his scent, however undetectable it was, I fell into a slight daze. Was this man intoxicating or what!