OMG! I passed the 25th chapter. Did I scare you guys, thinking there would be no more? I guess this could be considered an epic then. Have I even come near the climax yet? ( Frantically searches for that elusive sketch paper trying to see what the original plot was) Well until I can find it I guess we'll all have to hang on and hope the waters don't drag us all under. Can't promise this will be a IY/KAG fic, but hey if it doesn't work out that way I can write another all nice and fluffy just for you Sarah the Original! Yeah, just let me stock up on Green tea and lots and lots of suga! The hamster has gotten into the coffee pot again… On with the story…

"Wow this must be what a hang-over feels like." Kagome mused as she woke to find herself lying next to the toilet. Getting up gingerly, she placed a hand on the edge of the sink and slowly pulled herself to a standing position. "Okay, now back to the room." She took a step forward and immediately began to sway on her feet. "Or maybe a shower would be nicer." She was afterall already in the bathroom. Why go to all the trouble to return to her room only to have to come back in here? She had just turned the water on when there was a knocking on the door.

"Kagome, dear, Hojo is on the phone. Would you like me to tell him to call back?" Kagome's mother asked.

"Tell him I'll call him back. I'm gonna get ready." she responded.

"Alright then." her mother said.

On her last trip back, she and Hojo finally went to see that movie they have been trying to get to see. She didn't kiss him goodnight on the cheek when they parted though. He was in a hurry to get back to house; his uncle needed him for some reason. She was understanding about it and just said her farewells, but before he left he wanted to know when she would be returning. She smiled at him flirtatiously, and told him in three days. He returned hers with one of his own. He held her hand a bit longer then turned and left, still waving back to her as he began his decent down the shrine stairs.

She really shouldn't lead him on. It's not as if she's gotten over Inuyasha or even the odd attachment she has for Kouga. But she wasn't entirely sure she was leading him on. Hojo did treat her so well, and it deal feel right to be with him. Just as it did to be with Inuyasha. Admittedly, she enjoyed Hojo's company now, just as much as Inuyasha's, if not more so. At least with Hojo she knew he was being honest with his feelings. She never had to question them or his motives for any of his actions. It was rather refreshing.

Yes, but it wasn't exciting.

Damn it! Why couldn't she settle for the good thing she has here, now. If she put her mind to it, she could focus so much more energy on Hojo. Yeah, just concentrate on getting the shards back in the Warring Era, and concentrate on securing deeper romantic roots in her own time. It's not as if, after the shards are all gathered she'll be able to continue going into the past to be with Inuyasha. Would the well even work after that? And what if they defeat Naraku, what will happen to the rest of the group? That's assuming Inuyasha'll still be around after all said and done. His plans as far as she knows are still to go to hell with Kikyo. Why does he have to give Kikyo his life and soul? Didn't she already get that the first time around? Would Inuyasha be less likely to run from his feelings if Kikyo'd not be brought back by Iruasue?

Such deep philosophical questions were too much to be thinking on first thing in the morning. She was giving herself a headache. Food first, spend the day with Hojo second, pack up for the trip back third. Yes, she had her day planned and ready to go. All she had to do is get dressed and get going.

"Kouga, are we heading back for Kagome?" Hakaku asked as they began their journey away from the den. He hadn't been there when Kouga had killed the two wolf demons that'd abandoned their post. Those two had gone off, listening to their demons' lust rather than pack loyalty. The female had begun to go into heat, so you couldn't really blame the male for following. But apparently Kouga did. If she had conceived would he still have destroyed her? Hakaku would like to say no, but a part of him questioned it. Leaving the den unprotected was one of the most traitorous things any of them could have done. After this, it was not likely to ever happen again.

Ginta looked back to him, face solemn. Kouga still had not answered him. Killing those wolf demons had disturbed Kouga deeply. It would seem Kagome's influence had softened their prince. Prior to her, Kouga wouldn't have spared a second thought on who he killed, pack or no. Ginta shook his head no, signing to be silent. Hakaku complied. It seemed as if whatever thoughts had kept Kouga silent, also kept him from using the added speed the Shikon fragments gave. They had just passed the territory marker for their pack when Kouga suddenly increased his speed. Ginta and Hakaku were still able to keep pace with their prince, but if he picked up his step again, they will once more be trying their damnedest to catch up to him.

########

Even though Shippo had appeared to be excited about discovering Kagome had returned, he was slow to approach Kaede's hut. Sango looked to him concern marking her face. Inuyasha's hand on her shoulder, touching briefly before continuing into the hut, kept her from approaching the kitsune. Miroku's hand palming her butt further distracted her from Shippo's plight. Face red with anger she half turned, bringing her own hand to his face. She then entered the hut leaving the monk rubbing his cheek and trying to control the smile on his face.

'Shippo, a moment of your time please." Miroku said.

The kitsune stopped and looked expectantly to Miroku. Miroku's face looked as neutral as only a holy man can get it to look. Shippo went on the defensive. Whatever Miroku had to say was not going to be something he wanted to hear.

"Perhaps it might be best if you and I wait here for Kagome to come out."

"Why?"

"She might not be prepared to see you. The two of you have a close bond and she is accustomed to seeing you how you were before. The older, taller version of you might make her hesitate."

Shippo felt his hackles rise. Was Miroku insinuating Kagome wouldn't recognize him?

"Calm down. There's no need to growl at me. You are becoming more like Inuyasha with each passing day."

He hadn't realized he started growling. He stopped. He did notice Miroku trying to pacify him and this made him angry.

"I'm not Inuyasha to fall for your stupid tricks Miroku. I know Kagome wouldn't know me in my new form. That's why we're out here right? So Sango and Inuyasha can fill her in on what happened to Me." his voice took an insecure note. "Do you think she'll be scared of me?"

"Now Shippo who in their sane mind would be scared of a such a cute ball of fluff?" Miroku teased.

Maybe it was because Miroku had gone to all the trouble to try and pacify him, which he allowed himself to calm down. The monk did have a point. Kagome most likely wouldn't know him; he had grown almost quadrupling his size. Not to mention his new attitude around Inuyasha. With a sigh he decided to play along and turned away from the hut and went towards the small bridge near it. Miroku followed.

They had spent several minutes in comfortable silence together when Shippo picked up on Kouga's scent. He turned his head towards the small whirlwind coming at them. Kouga had obviously known Kagome had returned, why else would his scent sill be all over the place? But he hadn't come to tell them. No, to tell him, Shippo corrected in his mind. He admitted feeling a bit betrayed by this.

With his thick black ponytail swinging forward to catch up to his sudden lack of motion, Kouga came to a stop. Damn it! They're back already. Kagome hasn't come yet has she? He thought. Being as direct as he always been, he asked Shippo if Kagome was already in the hut with dog-turd. Shippo answered saying he didn't know, he'd been told to wait outside. The monk standing next to him sighed as the kitsune made that comment.

"Why would they tell you to wait out here?" Kouga asked.

"Lady Kagome has been gone a long time. Shippo body has undergone a rather drastic change since then. She may need to be forewarned of what to expect. So as a precaution we decided to do so." Miroku answered for him.

Kouga's companions had finally caught up with their speedy prince. The voiced their greetings and complimented Shippo on how well he seems to have developed his body. They also asked if it was Inuyasha training him. Shippo confirmed that it was and this started another barrage of questions as to what type of techniques the hanyo was using, who was training him to strengthen his powers of illusions, and so forth. Kouga stood silent during all this questioning, appraising the kitsune. He let a small smile form on his face.

I have to admit mutt-face has done a good job it seems in training him.

But he also knew it wasn't just Inuyasha that could be praised for this development. He looked over to the monk and turned his eyes questioning silently if he had a hand in this boy's training. Miroku gave a small affirmative nod of his head and Kouga smile seemed more natural.

It wasn't the fact that he could say it wasn't all of Inuyasha's doing that made Kouga smile. It was knowing that these four had made a pack out of themselves. Nothing pleased a wolf more then knowing he was a pack member, and as leader knowing that the pack was healthy. He was proud of them in a way. More so when he knew that they would survive even without Kagome. And they would have to, because he was here to claim her. Their reunion was interrupted with Inuyasha coming out of the hunt, a displeased look crossing his features.

"What are you doing baka?" Inuyasha asked.

"Feh, what do you think dog-turd. I came for my woman."

"She's not your woman." a smile crossed his face as he said the next." And she's not here. So take your mangy ass back to your pathetic pack."

Kouga's pride made him quick to anger. He was going to attack Inuyasha for his disparaging remarks, when he remembered that Kagome had told him she missed him as well. He had a better way to torment the hanyo.

"I know she's not here dog-shit, I came to meet her like she asked me to yesterday. I only went back to get these two," tossing his thumb in the general direction of Ginta and Hakaku, "and leave someone else in charge until I go back."

"Seems like you wasted your time to me." Inuyasha said.

"Whatever, she told me she wanted me to come back to wait for her because she missed me. I noticed she didn't wait for you to come now did she?" Kouga taunted.

The others in the group had by now come outside being lulled out by the rising voices of the two arguing. This was nothing to get excited over, these two only had to come within hearing range to begin fighting. It wouldn't turn violent unless Kouga would try and touch Kagome. And since she wasn't here, this wasn't going to be a problem.

The smug look that Kouga's face took made Inuyasha madder. If he hadn't been talking with Kaede and learned why Kagome hadn't stuck around, it might have been much worse. The fact that Tetsusaiga was still sheathed said a lot on Inuyasha's self-control at the moment. But it wouldn't last too long if they continued to bait one another.

Through this Shippo had once more been ignored. No one missed his look of disappointment when they carelessly mentioned that Kagome wasn't here. And no one else took note of him slowly backing up to head towards the bone-eater's well.

Okay just like to say for those of you who have me bookmarked (ah this feels good to say you think of me good enough to keep tabs on my stories ) you may have noticed I have another story started. Not to worry, I will finish this one before I get too involved with that one. What can I say, it was screaming at me to write it, and I couldn't go to sleep until I did at least the first chapter. N E Wayz enough of my rants.