Another sporadic inspirational moment, that means another update. Yeaaaah! I got hit with a mental roadblock (damn they suck) so this will be a short chappy. Well just a few more chapters to go, someone told me anything more than 25 is an epic… I so didn't want this to be an epic, so the end is near, at least for this story. Can you believe that a simple 2 sentence plot has become all this? N E ways on with the story…

In the forest near the bone eater's well two pair of amber eyes watched the girl emerge. They saw as she froze, perhaps they had been spotted? But when she appeared to collect herself and begin to travel in the direction of the human village, they followed. They watched as she stopped at the last hill, then saw her continue on the remainder of the way to the miko hut. When they had seen that she entered it, they turned and ran. Their master will be pleased to know she had finally returned. And they will finally be able to stay with the rest of the pack. Anticipation made them hurry along.

Shippo followed listening to Inuyasha and Miroku discuss the length of time they would stay at Kaede's village. Sango was walking behind him, carrying Killila in her arms. She was down wind of him so he had to rely on his sense of hearing to keep track of her. He knew she wanted to comfort him, because she knew how hard it was for him to return to the village. Just as he knew she wouldn't approach him, not unless he gave her indication that he wanted her to. His anger at the whole situation was slowly burning itself out. Why stay angry at fate? There was nothing you could do about it except maybe learn to watch out for the signs, so you don't make the same mistake twice. This seemed to chase the anger further away.

"We'll stay for a week then set out again. The new moon is coming up and it would give us all time to restock." Inuyasha had said. Shippo and Sango both sighed together. The new moon was just an excuse and the fact that Inuyasha was using it was proof enough of it. They have spent several new moons out in the wilderness or hunting other demons for it to be an issue.

Shippo slowed his pace to walk with Sango, "That's the lamest excuse he's given in a while. He should just say it; he wants to go see Kagome." Killila meowed her agreement and Sango smiled at him.

"You know how Inuyasha is when Kagome's involved." she responded.

"Yeah well whatever." Shippo said.

" Now how's being evasive?" she questioned him. He gave her a crooked smile and shook his head but said no more. They continued to walk until they had caught up with Miroku and Inuyasha. The hanyo looked him full in the face and then his right hand came down and introduced itself to his head several times in a row. Inuyasha stared him in the eye and spoke, "Don't forget Shippo, I can hear you really good even at a distance."

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When Kagome entered Kaede's hut, it was empty. She wasn't really surprised, Kaede was always either gathering herbs or out tending sick or injured villagers. So after setting her backpack down, she headed out in search of her. She came across a villager who told her Kaede was in fact out gathering herbs and pointed her in the general direction. During her walk she thought out how to explain her absence. How was she going to tell at least Kaede what kept from returning? She was going to tell her, but mainly because she needed advice on how much to let the others know.

How badly had they taken her extended nonappearance? Would they still be upset that she took so long to come back? Inuyasha would be, but she could always subdue him with the rosary if he got too out of hand. Then again, he didn't come back for her so maybe he wouldn't be upset about her not returning. No, if he did get mad it would be because she came back, not the other way around. Miroku would probably show acceptance that she returned. If he did want to be judgmental it wouldn't be in front of everyone, he'd save that discussion for a private moment. Sango, what would she do? Would she hug her like a lost friend found once more? Or would she revert to her stony appraisal of everything around her like when they first met her? With Sango it would be easier, she was a demon hunter afterall, Kagome could just take her to a spring and show her the scars. Then she could say it was recovery time. She would be telling the truth, in manner of speaking. She could take Shippo with her too, he bathed with them often enough.

Oh, Shippo, he was the one she worried about more next to Inuyasha. He was so attached to her, how would she feel their roles were reversed? Most of the guilt she carried came from this particular question. He was just a child, and she was his constant since he joined them. But he was so intelligent for his age, not that she knew exactly how old he really was. And had a maturity level to rival Miroku's from time to time, well when Miroku wasn't being a lecher that is. So many questions she hadn't really given any thought to rose one after another until she began to give herself a headache just sorting them out in her own mind.

Coming out of her musing, she saw Kaede was only a few feet in front of her. How long was she lost in the confines of her thoughts? Didn't matter, what mattered was to get through this first awkward moment and hopefully not fall too hard on her face in the process. "Kaede." she called. She saw the old miko start, and then watched as she slowly turned disbelieving eyes to her.

"Gracious childe, ye have returned!"

"Yeah, sorry about being gone so long. It's kinda a short story that stretched itself out pretty far."

" But ye have come back, and ye appear to be healed in body. What a relief, we worried ye had not made it, your wounds were very severe last we saw ye."

"That's kinda one of the main reasons I was gone so long. Another was that I well, I was scared. It took almost as long to get over that as it did to heal my body."

"No matter. The others will be most pleased to see ye again. Their search for jewel shards has been a slower journey without ye. Come, help this old woman gather these last herbs and then we'll head back to the village and get a cup of tea."

"Sure I'll be glad to help. I haven't really done anything like this in a while. But before we head back to the village Kaede, I have a favor to ask." she didn't know exactly how to ask so she just said it. " I need help to control my miko powers. They've grown since last time I was here, and can get way out of control fast. I don't want to." she hesitated a moment, "hurt anyone with them by accident."

" Ye worry about Inuyasha and Shippo. Do not worry too much. The others return from time to time but have not come recently. They were after a sneaky demon with a shard; called away weeks ago and last I heard they were still tracking it. We have time. I will teach ye the best I am able to control these new powers Kagome."

Relief passed through her. She took in a breath and let out a smile. " Well, let's get started then."