Inu-yasha and the rest of the gang slowly made their way to Kaede's village. After a long battle with Kagura they were tired. Kagura got away like usual; she was as wounded as they were.
Shippo lightly moaned in Sango's arms. Sango looked down at the little kit. Ever since Kagome left she'd been the one to look after him. Surprisingly, Miroku also acted more mature to the kitsune as well. Sango looked to the monk she'd come to love during the years of their constant journey.
As of a month ago there hadn't seemed to be any demons that wanted to make themselves known. But all of a sudden there was thousands. 'Well we did get a whole year for a break.' Sango mentally laughed. "We are almost there. How is Shippo fairing?" Miroku asked, leaning gently on Sango for support.
"He'll be alright. Kaede can help him." Sango said, once again looking at Shippo. He had minor bruises and cuts.
"Feh. He's fine. Stop babying him." Inu-yasha snorted. Miroku smirked, "Now, now Inu-yasha there isn't much room to talk is there? You are quiet hurt as well. We will have to treat your wounds as soon as possible."
Inu-yasha growled low in the back of his throat and kept walking. Sango noticed a slight limp when Inu-yasha landed on his left leg. Kilala softly mewed and looked to Miroku.
Miroku was holding her the best he could without dropping her from his injuries. Kilala was wounded fairly well. Kagura got her good with her attacks.
Inu-yasha stepped into the village. "We're here. Let's go to Kaede's hut. She can get you pathetic humans help." Inu-yasha walked on.
'Ever since you left Kagome, Inu-yasha has been like this. It's like he has to be mean and rough, like he's trying to hide his hurt with them. Kagome where did you go?' Sango cried within her mind.
"Ye are back. Look at ye wounds, get inside, I will get herbs and tend to them." Kaede said, grabbing a basket of herbs on her way in. Sango smiled and walked within the small hut.
Inu-yasha looked at the people around him, silently analyzing each one. Sango, the demon exterminator, who lost her brother Kohaku when she lost her father and the rest of the village because of Naraku. Kilala, Sango's friend and companion. Transforming whenever she's needed in battle, or to get Sango somewhere on her back.
Miroku, a lecherous monk who always likes to touch girls butts. With a Wind Tunnel within his hand thanks to Naraku. Then there's Shippo. A little kitsune. Loosing his father to the Thunder Brother's just a few years ago.
'Years...It's been two years since Kagome has been gone. We've looked everywhere. But had no luck. Her smell just seemed to end by the God Tree. Where have you gone Kagome?' Inu-yasha asked himself.
A few days later
"Thank you very much Lady Kaede. Once again you have healed us and have given us somewhere to stay." Miroku bowed slightly at the waist. Kaede nodded and smiled kindly.
"Be careful, for ye will be sure to see more of Kagura and Naraku's other monsters." Kaede warned them. Sango nodded and lifted herself onto Kilala's back. Quickly glancing at Inu-yasha she noticed he no longer had a limp.
"Bye!" Shippo yelled, as Kilala lifted into the air with Sango, Kilala and Miroku on her back. Inu-yasha ran ahead. They had heard about a demon in a nearby village that may have a jewel shard.
Ever since Kagome decided to disappear they used to the rumors to find the jewels. It took quite a while to get them from the demons that turned out to have one. Inu-yasha had to completely sever everything from the body to find the blasted shard.
But as they neared the village, one they have never been to before something felt strange. It was an aura and a very strong one as well.
As they stepped forth within the boundaries of this village they noticed why. It was because of a girl. No older then 18, maybe even a year younger, Inu-yasha betted. She was sitting in a meadow of flowers, and what it looked like was she was meditating. Her long raven hair in a pony-tail softly lifting in the slight breeze. As she looked up to see who had intruded on her time of calm and peace she gasped.
'It can't be. That looks like...' Her thoughts were cut off when an excited voice yelled, "Look Inu-yasha! Look at the pretty flowers. Hey! There's a girl in the middle. Let's go talk to her, maybe she knows who the demon is!" Shippo yelled, jumping off of Kilala as she landed.
Inu-yasha was still staring at the girl even as she rose from her position in the flowers. Her hair went just about two inches past her butt. Her legs were long, covered with the black bottoms of her Kimono. Her top was almost like Inu-yasha but the sleeves were narrower, and instead of red it was black. As she walked toward them he noticed she was wearing a pair of black slippers that many women that were in the martial arts wore.
Miroku smiled and ran to her quickly. "Fair Lady, tell me what is your name?"
Her eyes shot from Miroku to Sango to Kilala, then to Shippo who was staring at her with wide and innocent eyes. Finally she looked to Inu-yasha. 'Inu-yasha. Two years, and I can still feel the pain.' The young girl thought.
Inu-yasha noticed the bow and arrows that were once on the ground beside her were now on her back. He lifted a dark eyebrow when he saw her staring at him for more time then he thought necessary. "What are you looking at wench?" he demanded.
To Inu-yasha's surprise the girl laughed. She laughed till he thought she wasn't going to be able to breathe again. "What the hell's so damn funny?" Inu-yasha growled at her.
She finally calmed down and smiled. "Hello." she said. Sango looked taken aback by this simple greeting. Miroku lifted an eyebrow, Shippo and Kilala stopped playing at the gang's feet and looked at the girl that was standing in front of them. Inu-yasha looked around noticing the strange behavior.
"What's you problem?" he asked all of them. "Now, now Inu-yasha. Why so angry?" The girl smirked. Inu-yasha scowled at the girl who didn't even know him that had the nerve to taunt him. He was sure that she could tell he was a half- demon.
'If she can't then she's dumber then she looks.' Inu-yasha decided. "Shut up we—," he stopped short, thinking how the last time he'd said that word she almost died laughing. "Bitch! Shut the hell up!" Inu-yasha decided this would work as well.
"Same ole' Inu-yasha. How have you been?" She looked to Sango when asking this. Seeing her almost brought tears to her eyes. "Who are you?" Sango asked quietly, be cautious she held her hand out almost like she was going to touch her.
"You don't remember me? I knew I was only a shard detector but come on. I kinda thought you would recognize me if we were ever t meet again." She laughed.
"KAGOME!" Shippo squealed, launching himself into her open arms. Kagome laughed into the kitsune's soft fur. "Shippo. I have missed you so much. How have you been? Have you been good?" she asked. Shippo nodded quickly and turned to the rest of the gang. "It's Kagome!" he cried, tears gently rolling down his cheeks.
Sango stared at the young woman that once was like a sister. Now two years older and a good 6 inches taller. "Kagome." Sango whispered. Kagome placed Shippo on the ground and hugged Sango. "I've missed you and Miroku as well." Kagome told her. Sango pushed Kagome back a little and looked at her face. Her eyes were the same as they once were, her face smooth and calm. Sango let her go so she could in turn be greeted by Miroku.
Miroku hugged Kagome tightly, as he was letting her go he reached to her butt. Kagome noticed this and smoothly slid away from his wandering hand. "Miroku, don't you think that you've been beaten by Sango enough, give it a rest for today." Kagome joked.
Sango grinned while Miroku smirked and nodded.
"Kagome." Kagome turned when she heard her name. She was nose to nose with the half- demon that still, after all those years stilled owned her heart. "Inu-yasha." Kagome said icily. Sango stared, confused by the cold tone in her friend's voice.
"Kagome, you wouldn't happen to know the demon that has a jewel shard would you?" Miroku asked. Kagome kept her eyes locked with Inu-yasha's but there was warmth in her voice again when she spoke to Miroku, "There is no demon. But there are jewel shards here." Inu-yasha asked, "Where?"
"Here." Kagome replied looking away from his amber orbs. "Kagome, where here? Who has them?" Sango asked gently. "Right here. I have them." Kagome said, turning to Sango and revealing the same bottle that she had before she left. But instead of only a couple, there was almost half of the jewel there. "Wow, how'd you get so many?" Shippo asked, sitting on Kagome's shoulder. "I can sense them still. So when there is one close enough I get it. Or if a demon with one shard comes looking around for more I get that demon's too." Kagome answered.
"Kagome, is there anywhere we can stay tonight?" Sango asked, rubbing her arms. It was getting dark and turning chilly out. "Yes, you can stay in my hut." Kagome led them to a hut, the same size as Kaede's. When they stepped in they noticed a fire already going. On the wall were pictures of Sango and Miroku. Shippo rolling in the grass with Kilala and of course Inu-yasha. Sango walked them and laughed.
"I remember these. You took them with that thing that flashes. A camera." Sango said, proud of herself that she remembered what it was called. Kagome nodded and put more wood onto the fire.
"You may stay here for as long as you like." Kagome told them. "Kagome, when we head out, will you go with us?" Miroku asked.
Kagome looked to each of the people she'd known like family. People she hadn't seen in years. Inu-yasha was sitting in a corner with the his prized sword it his lap, from when he walked into the door he had not said a word. But she noticed his ear twitch in her direction when Miroku asked that question.
Kagome knew he was waiting to hear what her decision would be.
Kagome said, "I don't know. I'll think about it for tonight."
Sango looked hopeful. "Kagome, why did you ever leave?" Sango asked.
Kagome panicked but then calmed. Her training taught her to calm herself, to keep her head clear. Kagome smiled.
Finally Kagome nodded, "I'll tell you."
Okay! That's it for now. Sorry I haven't updated. Been really busy. I hope I can get a few more reviews then last time. Let me know what you think! Thanks!
For you who did review, you're the best! Give me ideas!
Until next time!
