[Author's Note:]

This chapter is another flashback which takes place after the last chapter, but before the first one. Fuuh... had a tough time with this chapter. Writers Block sucks!!! But keep reviewing, please! Thanks!!! ^_^

The sun shone down brightly through the cloudless sky, warming the docile earth under it. It was a mesmeric day, the perfect day to do nothing. Inuyasha lay on his back in the warm, inviting grass. His hands were tucked behind his head and his hazel eyes were shut. His beautiful hair gleamed in the sunlight, swept back behind him like a sea of silver, moving only slightly when the hanyou inhaled. Miroku and Sango lie nearby, much in the same position as Inuyasha. Miroku gazed at his right hand which contained the Wind Tunnel, and Sango absent-mindedly stroked a sleeping Kirara lying on her stomach. They stayed in silence for a long time, and then:

"Do you think… things would have ended up differently if I would have acted sooner?" Sango questioned, her voice dull and mono-toned. She was referring to a winged demon the group had fought a few days prior but they had failed to defeat it.

"There was no way you could have. That demon flew way too fast and way too high, even for your Hiraikotsu*. There was nothing else any of us could have done." Miroku answered reassuringly, not taking his eyes off his right hand.

Sango sighed. "Yes, I suppose you're right. But I was just thinking that maybe…" She stopped herself abruptly and cleared her throat. "Never mind. It's not important." she mumbled.

"You thought what, Sango-san?" Inuyasha said firmly, opening his eyes half way.

"Well…" she began hesitantly. "Maybe if Kagome were here, you know, she might have used her bow and arrows… But it's not major. It was just a thought."

"Kagome." Inuyasha whispered under his breath, breathing in deeply as he said her name. She had been gone a long period of time, and in that time, the group had not vanquished even half of the demons as they would have if Kagome were with them. Just by being there, she was their optimism, their spirit, their hope. And without her, they couldn't fight nearly as well.

Inuyasha rolled over on his side as he pulled something out of his kimono so the others wouldn't see. He fingered the small folded paper he had pulled out a minute before opening it to reveal one of Kagome's school pictures. He turned the picture around in his hands and gazed at her shining smile and bright eyes. A small smiled tugged at the corners of his mouth.

"How often do you look at that thing?" Miroku asked, now sitting up, looking over Inuyasha's shoulder.

Inuyasha was faintly startled by the interruption, and embarrassed that he was caught. "Only when I miss her." He answered thoughtfully, more to himself than to Miroku.

The picture had become worn and faded. All the color was nearly gone, the corners were dog-eared, and a large crease occupied the middle of the paper. It was ripped in several places. But Inuyasha looked at it as if it were brand new.

"Cheer up, Inuyasha. It's not so bad." Sango was now on her stomach, her hands supporting her chin. Kirara was lying beside her. "We've gotten along for a year or so without her. We can wait a little longer. She did say she'd be back."

"Yeah," Inuyasha clumsily shoved the picture back into his kimono and rolled over onto his back. He thoughts diverted to the day Kagome left. "She did say that. But I still don't understand why she left that day in the first place."

Miroku twirled a blade of grass in his fingers. "Well, you were a bit rude to her after you rescued her from your brother's cave. She went through a lot and, excuse me, but you treated her like shit."

Inuyasha became defensive. "You think it was my fault she left?! She was the one who was being bitchy about every little thing after I risked my own life to save hers. She wasn't even grateful! She deserved to be treated like that!!"

"Osuwari**!!"

There was a long silence. Miroku and Inuyasha both blinked and turned to stare at Sango, not quite sure what to say.

"Sorry…" she blushed. "It seemed like the right thing to say."

Miroku chuckled, dismissing the tension felt a moment ago. "I guess we all miss Kagome a little more than we thought."

They all sighed in unison and went back to their own silent thoughts, giving Inuyasha time to cool off. He closed his eyes again and his mind drifted. A year is much to long to be gone, he thought; much too long. He really didn't mean the things he said to her that day. That was just his personality getting the best of him. "She shouldn't have taken me so seriously." He replayed the scene in his mind over and over, each time hurt more.

Then, about twenty minutes later, Inuyasha's sensitive, velvet demon ears began to twitch and swivel from side to side. He could hear a sound coming closer, a sound that was strangely familiar. He couldn't quite figure out what it was. Then suddenly his eyes shot open. "Kagome!!" He exclaimed eagerly. Miroku and Sango exchanged puzzled glances with each other, not sure what he meant. Before he had a chance to explain to them, Inuyasha jumped to his feet and took off running in the other direction. Miroku and Sango got up and followed, still confused. They ran a few feet before they could hear it too.

"That's Kagome-chan's bike!" Sango said excitedly. Miroku nodded, hearing it too.

Inuyasha saw her first, appearing out of the horizon peddling on her bike. His footfalls quickened toward her, a smile spreading from ear to ear. Kagome saw him too and waved ecstatically. He almost reached her, when he noticed she was holding something in her arms. He stopped short and his smile faded. Kagome stopped her bike and put out the kick stand. She approached Inuyasha cautiously, not quite sure what to say. Inuyasha looked perplexed as he stared at the bundle she carried. Then it squirmed and turned around, so Inuyasha could see that it was a small child.

He gasped. "WHA…WHAT THE HELL IS THAT???" he pointed at the child.

"Well, hello to you too." Kagome glared, slightly annoyed.

Miroku and Sango came up behind Inuyasha, catching their breaths.

"Kagome!" Sango smiled and went to embrace her. Miroku did the same.

"And who is this?" Miroku, surprised, asked about the baby Kagome was holding.

"Umm… It's a child. I found her." She looked away a little nervously, as she tucked a piece of unruly hair behind her ear.

"You found it?! Where did you find it?" Inuyasha questioned.

"Well, on my way here, I passed a village that had been attacked. No one was left alive except…" She paused. "Except her." she mumbled quickly through the story hoping they would believe it.

Inuyasha grimaced at the child. "It's pretty ugly if you ask me."

Kagome instinctively became protective, bringing the bundle closer to her body. "Well, no one asked you, baka***! And stop saying "it". It's a HER and HER name is Kaia!" she was nearly shouting at him.

"Here we go again." Miroku said to Sango under his breath.

"Well it is!" Inuyasha shouted back. "I mean, look at those ears!" The blanket had fallen from Kaia's head, exposing her demon-like ears, which were extremely over-sized for her small head.

"Hmm, those are interesting." Miroku said pensively, as he gently touched one of the demonic ears. "Do you think she might be part demon, Kagome?"

Kagome felt sick at this question. She hated lying to her friends. But it was the only way. They could never find out the truth.

"Yeah… the thought crossed my mind."

[Chapter 3 Vocabulary Guide:]

* Hiraikotsu - Sango's large boomerang she uses as a weapon.

** osuwari - sit. This is the command Kagome uses to "dicipline" Inuyasha.

*** baka - idiot, moron, etc.