The Village

"Miroku! Sango! Minna! Come see who I found!"

Kagome reflected that, although Shippo was taller and stronger, he still acted like a kid at times. He held her hand as if afraid that she'd disappear again as he dragged her into the village. People were sticking their heads out of their homes and stopping their work to see what the commotion was.

"Miroku! Sango!" Shippo yelled again.

"You don't have to yell," Kagome said, embarrassed.

The kitsune just gave her a fanged grin and continued to drag her toward Kaede's hut. As they got closer, a robed figure appeared in the doorway. Although he had aged, there was no mistaking that it was Miroku who stood in the doorway. He stared in open disbelief at Kagome as she and Shippo stopped in front of the startled monk.

"Is it really you?" Miroku asked softly.

He reached out and traced the curve of her cheek. Then his face broke into a big smile and he enfolded her in a hug.

"It is you. Thank kami-sama. I thought we'd lost you forever."

Kagome was startled by the monk's uncharacteristically familiar greeting. And then another oddity about the situation hit her. Miroku hadn't made any attempt to grope her. She pulled back from her friend and looked at him. He smiled.

"I have reformed my ways," he said as if reading her mind.

"Anata," came a voice from inside the hut. "Who are you talking to?"

Miroku took Kagome's hands and pulled her into the cool darkness of the hut. There, sitting by a low fire, was Sango. The taijiya was wearing her usual kimono and held Kirara in her lap. Miroku led Kagome to the fire and turned to Sango.

"We have a guest," the monk said.

Sango's face took on a stern expression. "I know that. I heard you talking. Who is it?"

Kagome's hand went to her mouth to stifle a cry. She was standing not two feet from the other woman and yet Sango didn't know who was next to her. Miroku shooed Kirara from her mistresses lap and helped the taijiya to her feet.

"See for yourself," the monk said as he took Sango's hands and placed them on Kagome's face.

Kagome understood then. It wasn't that Sango didn't recognize her. It was that the taijiya was blind. Kagome stood still as Sango's hands ran over her face. The girl couldn't help but let a few tears escape, wondering how the other woman had lost her sight.

"Miroku," Sango said after a moment, "who is it?" Frustration tinged the woman's voice.

"You truly don't know?" Miroku asked.

Sango shook her head.

"It's Kagome. She has returned to us."

Sango's hands came up again to touch Kagome's face. Her sightless eyes widened and tears trickled down her cheeks.

"It is her," Sango said. "Where have you been?" she asked as she hugged Kagome.

"I don't know," Kagome replied as she returned the hug. "Truly I don't know. Shippo says I've been missing for ten years, but I have no memory of it. It seems to me that we just got back here yesterday from Kaguya's illusion castle."

Miroku, who had left to fetch some tea for everyone, returned and haded out steaming cups. Kagome looked around for Kaede who was usually the one getting the tea when the Inuyasha-tachi were visiting her.

"Where's Kaede?" Kagome asked. "And Inuyasha. I'll bet he's worried about me."

Sango was quiet and Miroku stared into his tea as if looking for answers.

"He's gone," Shippo said before taking a sip of his tea. "He went a bit nuts after you disappeared and he left."

Kagome's fingers tightened around her tea cup. Inuyasha was gone?

"Where did he go? Can we reach him? And what about Kaede?"

The lord of the castle shifted restlessly on his throne. Something in his realm had changed. There was a familiar scent on the wind and it disturbed him. The lord stood and brushed his long silver hair away from his face.

"Rin!" he roared.

A woman entered the room and bowed. She was dressed in the outfit of a taijiya and at her waist was the sword, Tenseiga.

"You called my lord?"

"Gather the troops."

"What should I tell them?"

The lord walked to a window looking out over the land. "Tell them we're going to visit some old friends."

Rin bowed her head and rose leaving the lord to look out over his domain.