~Disclaimer= Still don't own InuYasha. Sorry, boys and girls. He will not be making an appearance at your birthday partys!

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After the picnic they all returned to their homes. Both couples had long ago gotten their own houses in the village. As Kaede had said, "There is no way I am going to have two couples going at it in MY home!!" And the next day they were hard at work building their houses. They had all decided earlier in the day, before InuYasha and Kagome had gone back to the future, that they would begin their journey again in the morning. Kagome was ready. She didn't want the Shikon no Tama hanging over her head anymore. She wanted to complete their quest and finally have a little peace in her life. They had been very surprised that in the five years, Naraku had not come after the jewel. But they weren't about to go to him unprepared, and especially not with little children in tow. So tomorrow they would be taking Aiko and Sakura to Kouga, who had agreed to keep the children safe while they fought against the evil creature, Naraku.

InuYasha sat in the doorway, looking out at the stars. He didn't want to see Kouga, but they were all going and he didn't want them to think him weak. He would stick it out, secure in the knowledge that not only was Kagome his mate, but she loved him. Maybe not more than Kouga, but it was enough.

Shippo jumped into his lap and he absently petted the pup.

"InuYasha?" he asked. "Am I going with you tomorrow?"

InuYasha looked down at him and, after a moment of thought, said, "No. We're leaving you in the village. If something happens here while we're gone, it'll be your job to come find us."

Shippo nodded and curled up in the hanyou's lap, soon drifting off into a dreamless sleep.

Kagome tucked her daughter in and kissed her forehead. She had waited til now to tell her of their plans. "Sakura?" she said cautiously.

"Hai, okaa-san?" she replied.

"Sakura, how would you feel about going to stay with Kei-chan for a little while?"

The little girls eyes lit up. "Really, okaa-san!? For more than a day!?"

Kagome nodded and her daughter latched herself to her mother in a big hug.

"That sounds fun!" she said.

Kagome smiled and after a moment pulled her daughter off her. "But I won't be staying with you." she said.

The little girl looked confused asked, "Okaa-san gonna stay here?"

Kagome shook her head and replied, "No, otou-san and I are going on a little trip, like when we jump down the well. But this time it will be for longer. And to a different place." She paused, certain that her daughter wasn't going to agree. Suddenly she had an idea. "Aiko will be staying with you! And you will have to watch after her. She's human, you know. She's not as strong as you. And you'll have to make sure she keeps her hand covered."

Sakura jumped up into a classic InuYasha pose and flexed her tiny muscles. "I'm strong! Just like otou-san and okaa-san! I'll protect Ai-chan!"

Kagome laughed and said, "So, you want to do it?"

Sakura nodded furiously and Kagome tackled her, beginning her tickle torture.

InuYasha listened to his mate and daughter play in the next room. He was really quite content with their peaceful life. He didn't want it to end.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Next Morning~~~~~~~~~~

Everyone was up with the sun and already starting to assemble outside. Miroku and Sango stood with Aiko saying goodbye to Kaede.

Aiko had been throughly shocked that morning when she had awoken to find her mother wearing her demon slayer outfit. She had never seen her mother look so...deadly. And that huge weapon on her back was even more of a shock.

Sango had been wearing feminine kimonos for so long, she thought she would feel strange being back in her old clothes with her weapon on her back and Kirara transformed at her side, ready for battle. But, in fact, if felt like coming home. As she stood there she knew, this is what she had been born to. And no matter how much she may have changed, she'd always be a warrior at heart.

Miroku was just as happy to see his wife as she was five years ago. It was how he first got to know her after all. And the way he saw her, first and foremost in his mind, was high in the sky, atop Kirara, ready to hurl Hiraikotsu at the enemy. Though she was now a gentle woman with a child of her own, he felt somehow comforted to know she would always be the same woman who used to knock him senseless.

InuYasha strode up behind the little family with Sakura on his shoulders. "So, are we ready to go?" he asked.

Sango turned to face him and noticed a certain someone missing. "Where's Kagome-chan?" she asked.

"Right here."

They all turned again to face the voice. Kagome had emerged from Kaede's hut, and with what she was wearing, their mouths dropped. All except InuYasha. He knew what she was planning.

Kagome stood there, smiling brightly, wearing black miko robes. Her tail poked out a hole in the back and her white hair was tied back. Slung over her shoulder was a bow and a quiver of arrows.

"Kagome-sama!" Miroku stammered. "You...you...you look.."

"Cool!!" Sakura stated, using a word she had learned from her mother.

They smiled at her outburst and Sango went to Kagome's side.

"Kagome-chan, are you sure you want to wear this?" she asked concerned for reasons the children couldn't fathom.

Kagome just smiled and put a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Yes, Sango-chan. I'm sure. I don't care anymore. I am a miko afterall! And these aren't red." Then she lowered her voice and said, "Besides, people can't say I look like Kikyo anymore, can they? I'm not even human."

Sango nodded, reasurred by her friends words.

They quickly bid farewell to Kaede. Sango and Miroku got onto Kirara and Aiko sat between them with her arms around her father. InuYasha, out of an old habit, started to offer Kagome his back. Then he realized that she didn't need it. So he lept from tree to tree with Sakura on his shoulders and loving every minute of it while Kagome took advantage of her youkai blood combined with miko powers and flew just above the trees, glowing slightly. The three on Kirara's back flew higher, giving Aiko a thrill as she had never been allowed to ride Kirara before.

They went this way for the entire day, and just as the sun was beginning to set, they came upon the den of the wolf demons.

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(A/N) Guess who's back. Back again. Nika's back. Tell a friend. I finally managed to get access to the folder I had my fics in! (does happy dance)

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Thankies to SeaBlu49, LilMisSeXyThang, sleepybunny, Starkyrox9191, silverinuyasha, Kelly, yoko-kurama, Saria4, Trinity Kirara, Sangochan.

LilMisSeXyThang: Really? I've read lots where she's youkai. In fact, most of the ones I've read are like that! But thanks again! I'm hoping to make it better than it has been. It was too rushed for my tastes.

sleepybunny: Well thank you for reviewing! I'd write more of it more often, but I've got like eight fics going at one time! Not all of them are up yet.

silverinuyasha: Cool. Thanks.

Kelly: um, you're a little confused? That's fine, cause so am I. I haven't a clue what you're talking about! But bitch away, if it's actually helpful bitching. And yours was...or would've been...if I knew what you were talking about...(looks confused; wanders off scratching head)

yoko-kurama: O_O When I saw your review I just had to tell my bro. yoko-kurama reviewed my fic! I just thought it was so funny! Cause I worship Youko Kurama! The Everlasting Bishy!! And thanks for reviewing. And I'm glad people like mixed-up fics, cause so do I. ^_^

Saria4: ok? Just 'ok'?! That's the most uninteresting, uninspiring review I've ever heard!! Well, I've been known to just write 'good', so I should shut up now... But thanks for reviewing nonetheless!

Trinity Kirara: It's back! And it's better than ever!! Not to say it's wonderful, just better than it was. ^_^

Sangochan: I did!! I did!! Just took me a while!