A/N: Yay, another chapter to my heart warming fic. I would like to extend a very special thank you to OddIsMyHomeboy for being my first reviewer. You're special! And thank you to Kikira-Lynn for reviewing as well. You man not have been the first to review, but you're just as special! Any way, keep the reviews coming as I keep these chapters rolling. Tell you the truth, my biggest source of inspiration is the reviews that I get instead of the stats on this site. The stats don't tell me if you liked the story, they only tell me how many times a story and it's contents have been viewed. So please, keep me inspired and tell me what you think! Thanks!

Now, on with the story:

Chapter 2: Homecoming

Kagome's screams of panic had caused her assailant to quickly put her down and as her feet touched the ground, Kagome could hear a laugh burst from behind her and she instantly blushed at her predicament.

"You shouldn't sneak up on people like that you know." Kagome snapped.

"Hmm, and I thought you would have been happy to see me." Inuyasha's voice came from behind her head.

Kagome whirled around and looked as if she was about to 'sit' Inuyasha into the ground a couple of times over. Inuyasha's ears tilted back as he realized his mistake and waited for the infamous phrase that would activate the cursed rosary around his neck. When no words came from Kagome's mouth, Inuyasha tilted his head in confusion, trying to figure what was going through the woman's head.

"I'm just glad it was you. I missed you guys very much." Kagome said as her pulse returned to normal.

Inuyasha's arms shot out and grabbed Kagome around the middle, dragging her towards him in a big hug. He stuck his nose in her hair and inhaled the intoxicating smell of her shampoo that only her era could produce. "We missed you too. Geeze, and I thought you might have hung yourself with as long as you have been away." Inuyasha said with a small laugh.

"I've been getting that a lot lately." Kagome replied with a laugh of her own.

"Dammit, you really had us worried though. What were you thinking staying away all this time without informing us first?" Inuyasha asked, his relief and kind voice turning to frustration from worry.

"Well, school's been rough and I've had very little time to myself. You think it was a picnic for me? I didn't visit my family for all this time as well. They were just as worried, but understood that school is hard work." Kagome replied, frustration lacing her own words.

"You mean you let your family assume you were dead too?" Inuyasha asked, his voice raising slightly at the thought of Kagome's dear, sweet mother worrying herself sick, thinking Kagome was dead.

"You know, to assume is to make an ass out of you and me. Besides, she could have picked up the phone at any time and called to make sure I was alright." Kagome defended.

"So? Why couldn't you do the same? From what I understand, it would only cost you a couple of minutes to pick a phone up and communicate with your mother, in return letting her know that you weren't dead. Works both ways, doesn't it?" Inuyasha retorted.

"Grr, I'm done arguing. I'm back, aren't I? You can see for yourself, I'm alive and well." Kagome ground out. She knew she was wrong, but to admit such would only flare Inuyasha's ego.

"Yes, and we're happy to see that you're alive and that you two haven't changed a bit." Miroku's voice sounded from behind Kagome.

"You're right, Miroku. Here we thought Kagome was hanging from a tree somewhere by the way Inuyasha worried about her this whole time." Sango replied with a smile as she came up and put a hand on Kagome's shoulder.

Kagome turned to her two friends and smiled widely at them. "Sango! Miroku! I've missed you guys so much. It feels like it's been an eternity rather than just a couple of months." Kagome cried happily as she hugged her friends. "And why does every one assume that I would chose hanging as a method of taking my own life?" Kagome asked.

"You just told us that 'to assume makes an ass out of you and me'. Looks like you're an ass, Kagome." Inuyasha said while trying his best to do a Kagome impersonation, smiling at his own cleverness.

Kagome's eyes flared with fire as she glared Inuyasha down, but with nothing smart-ass enough to use as a come back, she instead smiled sweetly at him, too sweetly. "Inuyasha..." She said, her voice dripping with venomed honey as she spoke Inuyasha's name. He scrambled backwards a bit, knowing he had bit off more than he could chew with his last comment.

"N-n-now Kagome, I was just kidding, don't do anything rash that you'll just regret la..."

"SIT!" Kagome's spell breaking command cut Inuyasha's words short as the rosary flared to life with remarkable speed and pulled Inuyasha down to the ground by his neck with a satisfying 'thud' as he met the frozen dirt below.

Kagome knelt by the dirt-bound hanyou and although he couldn't see her sadistic smile, he knew it was plainly written across her features and her tone of voice just further confirmed his suspicions.

"You should learn to be a little nicer after being reunited with a friend who's been away for such a long while." Kagome giggled in his ear as he grumbled into the earth.

"I assume you find this funny?" Inuyasha retorted from under a mess of silver hair.

"Now who's the ass?" Kagome retorted with another laugh.

"Kagome, you can be so cruel at times." Miroku defended He quickly shut his mouth when Kagome and Sango turned on him with glares that promised death if he opened his mouth again.

"It's not proper to call a lady such names." Sango said as she crossed her arms and looked down to Inuyasha who stupidly replied with, "who said she was a lady?".

Kagome huffed and crossed her arms and turned on the hanyou, who was slowly recovering from the subduing spell. "Inuyasha, why do you have to be such a jerk at the most inappropriate times!" She spat as she stalked off towards the village with Sango in toe.

They walked a bit down the path in silence. Kagome was cooling off while Sango contemplated how to break the uncomfortable quietness.

"You're not really mad at him, are you? After all the time that's past between us, you're not going to hold a grudge so soon after your arrival?" Sango asked as she walked alongside her best friend to the village.

"Of course not. I just wish he'd be a little nicer after I've returned from a long absence." Kagome replied.

"You know he was just worried, right?" Sango asked.

"Yea, I suppose. I did get a little frustrated too. I mean, I've missed you all terribly and I feel guilty enough for not setting aside any time to let you all know I'm okay and everything, but school has been so hard and demanding that I just haven't found any personal time and trust me, it's a real drag." Kagome replied, her pace slowing as she thought of the turmoil that must have consumed Inuyasha and her friends during her absence.

Sango, Miroku and Shippo were use to not seeing Kagome once she departed for her world, but it was still a new sensation for Inuyasha not being able to cross the time portal and check up with Kagome, which made his worrying all the more worse. If she had died, how would they find out? There would be no way for a message to cross over to them to let them know of her demise and that thought made Kagome's heart hurt with guilt.

"Ok, from now on, I'll try not to stay away for so long without future warning." Kagome told Sango.

"That would be nice. By the way, I love how your hair looks put up like that with my comb decorating your beautiful locks." Sango commented, suddenly wanting a change in topic.

"Why thank you! I think this thing is gorgeous, but it looks so much better in your hair." Kagome said as she took it out of her hair and handed it to Sango.

"Actually, I've always believed it was too beautiful and have never had the heart to wear it myself. I'm always afraid it would fall out of my hair during a battle or a hunt and break. I'm glad you got some use out of it, but I'm happier that it managed to stay intact." Sango admitted.

"Actually, I never had the heart to wear it till now, myself. I was also afraid it would be broken or stolen, so I left it at home and only admired it when I got the chance." Kagome said and laughed as did Sango.

They arrived to the village within a matter of minutes and Kagome couldn't help smile as the local villagers welcomed her back as they went on with their daily chores to prepare for the inevitable snow that threatened to fall.

Kagome entered Kaede's hut and before she had a chance to utter a greeting, her ears were met with the unmistakable cheer of her favorite kitsune, Shippo. "Kagome! You're back. Yay!" In a flash, the young kit was attached to Kagome's leg in a hug. Kagome lifted him up like a small child so she could give him a return hug.

"Ah, Kagome, ye has been gone a while, I hope every thing is going well for ye on the other side of the well." Kaede greeted from her cooking pit.

"Hello Kaede. I'm happy to see you doing well. And yes, every thing is okay, my school work is hard and my job is hectic to, I work a lot of hours and hardly get time to myself at all." Kagome explained.

"Well I'm glad to see ye in good health. I am making some vegetable soup, would ye care for some?" Kaede asked, lifting a ladle of the sweet smelling soup.

"It smells wonderful, it really does, but my mother stuffed me full before I left." Kagome replied.

"That's fine. I understand thy mother's concern for ye." Kaede said as she looked up at Kagome with her one good eye, underlying meaning making Kagome flush with guilt.

"You know Shippo, pretty soon I won't be able to pick you up at all." Kagome said as she noticed the difference in Shippo's size from the last time she saw him. "You know, I think you're on a growing spurt." Kagome said as she put him back on the ground.

"Yea? Well I am growing up and pretty soon I'll be a man and then I'll be able to protect you the same way Inuyasha does." Shippo beamed with pride. He of course didn't mean it the same way Inuyasha meant to protect Kagome, with Shippo it was a total set of emotional value behind their relationship, kinda of like how a son loves a mother.

"Hmm, well one day you'll have a woman of your own to protect." Inuyasha stated as he entered the hut, his front covered in dirt. "Kagome'll be fine under my protection even long after you've become a man."

"Hehe, at least I won't have a woman who'll 'sit' me for being a jerk, not that'll be an issue anyway." Shippo retorted as he looked Inuyasha up and down and smiled at his current state.

"That's right Shippo, if Inuyasha has one thing of value to teach, it's how not to act." Kagome said as she patted Inuyasha on the head.

Inuyasha huffed and crossed his arms and stuffing his hands into his sleeves. "Feh, well I wouldn't be so grumpy if you hadn't had us so worried." Inuyasha retorted with a scowl.

"He's right, you did have us pretty worried, but I told him not to worry that you always come back. I knew you wouldn't abandon us." Shippo said. "And if you couldn't ever come back, you'd at least tell us first and say goodbye, right?" His voice cracked as he turned glistening eyes to Kagome, making her heart tighten a bit at his expression. The poor thing had probably felt some-what abandoned in her absence.

"Of course I would. But there's nothing that'll keep me from coming back to you guys. Not even a smart-mouthed hanyou." Kagome stated, turning accusing eyes towards Inuyasha.

"What?" Was all he responded with.

"Any way, I came back with a real fun idea. In my time, there's a western holiday we like to celebrate called Christmas, and I wanted to share this tradition with you guys this year. It's a holiday that comes around once a year. We celebrate it with loved ones as we eat lots of goodies, read Christmas stories and even sing songs. And there's lots of decorating, we hang lights and ornaments on a tree and put presents under it for each other, but they're wrapped so you don't know what they are until Christmas day." Kagome explained.

"Huh, that sounds like a pretty nice holiday. I personally think it sounds like a lot of fun. Not to mention, it is something to lift the spirits around here. It's been so cold and grey, I feel like it'll never end." Sango said.

"Yea, plus there are presents too!" Shippo exclaimed.

"Oh, I would love to see this old hut decorated for celebration, it has been a while." Kaede mused as she looked around her old hut.

"The stories sound like fun to me. I'd love to hear stories from your time, Kagome." Miroku stated.

"I just can't wait for the food. Hmmm, is ramen a Christmas tradition too?" Inuyasha asked. Kagome sighed with frustration and rolled her eyes at her silver haired hanyou.

"You're impossible." Kagome huffed. "Well, I'm spending the weekend here, so I can start with some preparations, like getting a tree to decorate. I think this is going to be so much fun!" Kagome squealed with delight.

"Well, I for one can not wait until Christmas." Sango said with a smile.

"Oh, that reminds me, I brought back some treats from my time. I really do feel bad about being gone so long." Kagome said as she started to dig in her knapsack. She pulled out a bar of chocolate for Shippo, who cheered in delight upon receiving his favorite treat. She handed Miroku a book from her time about Buddha and his journeys. Kagome handed a bottle of shampoo and conditioner to Sango who sighed with relief, Sango had always loved using Kagome's products for bathing, but had long since ran out and was more than happy that Kagome had brought more to her. "I really don't think you deserve this, but this is for you, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha looked down just in time to see an object tossed his way and caught it gracefully. He gave Kagome a confused look on his face, then looked down to see that he was grasping a cup of uncooked ramen. A bright smile spread across his face and he looked back to Kagome. "Thank you. How did you know?" He asked sarcastically, yet sincerely, as he sat down next to Kagome with his prize in his hand.

"Because, unlike you, I'm observant." Kagome teased as she tweaked his ear. She was satisfied when he responded with a flushed face and an irritated look on his face. "Just like how I've observed that you're ears are extremely sensitive." She giggled.

"That's not fair. I notice stuff too." Inuyasha replied, flustered.

"Oh yea? Like what for example? I know, what was I wearing in my hair today?" Kagome asked.

"Uh." Inuyasha's faced scrunched up as he recalled earlier this afternoon and tried to piece what was different about Kagome now than when he met up with her earlier.

"See, I knew it. You are unobservant, but that's ok, I didn't expect you to remember anyway." Kagome retorted, slightly pouting.

Inuyasha sighed, but when she turned to leave the hut, Inuyasha then noticed something different. "Hey, wait!" Inuyasha barked.

"We're done with this conversation. Sango, would you care to join me for a bath?" Kagome said as she waved her bag at Sango, signifying that she had brought her other fine bathing products as well. Sango instantly jumped up and hurried over to her friend.

"Yea, let's go!" Sango cried happily.

"You ladies have a good time." Miroku said, a little too cheerful.

Kagome and Sango looked at each other, then back at Miroku with suspicious stares. "Shippo, keep an eye on him incase he get's any lecherous thoughts." Sango commanded.

"Not a problem." Shippo replied, giving Miroku his own suspicious glares. Miroku only waved a hand at the ladies and smiled sheepishly.

And without another word, the girls left. Inuyasha sat and fumed with his arms crossed and his hands in his sleeve. His posture and lack of conversation said that he was definitely bothered by more than was obvious. Kaede sighed as she watched the hanyou stew in silence.

"Inuyasha, stop pouting, what's going on." Kaede asked after a minute or two after the girls left.

"If Kagome had turned from me earlier, I would have noticed then that she took that demonbone comb out of her hair. But she didn't let me explain." Inuyasha snorted out.

"In that case I think ye should go after her and tell her before ye give her more time to stew herself." Kaede reasoned. Inuyasha looked at her and saw that she was serious.

Well, if he was going to go apologize, he'd better hurry up after her before she started bathing, then she'd 'sit' him till his back broke if he happened upon her in such a compromising state. Like a flash, he got up an bolted through the flap of the hut and hurried down the path the two females took to the spring.

He caught up with them pretty quickly as they walked down the path. Kagome was going on about how hard her life on the other side, explaining how she picked up more hours at her job so she'd have more money for college. Inuyasha sighed, he knew her life wasn't a piece of cake, but it didn't change the fact that he worried endlessly when she was gone more than two weeks without any word.

"Kagome, wait up! Please, I want to talk to you." Inuyasha pleaded as he strode up to the girls. Kagome sighed and stopped while Sango stopped a short distance ahead of her.

"Sango, go on ahead, I'll catch up with you." Kagome said as she waived her friend on. Sango shrugged and decided to walk ahead. Once Sango was out of sight, Kagome turned back to Inuyasha and sighed. "Look, I'm really sorry about getting mad, it's just that things are really hectic on the other side, and it's not like I enjoyed not being able to come back. Inuyasha, I'm really sorry for worrying you too." Kagome said with a small smile.

"Hey, it's okay. You know, though, if you had given me a chance to see both sides of your face, I would have noticed that you took that demonbone comb out of your hair." Inuyasha said as he brought his hand up to the side of Kagome's head that had the comb in it.

"So you did notice?" Kagome asked.

"Feh, I'm not blind. And I take a point in paying attention to things like that." Inuyasha said as he folded his arms in a superior way. A small smile on his lips when Kagome found herself speechless.

"Thank you, Inuyasha. Again, I'm sorry." Kagome said as she reached forward and gave him a hug.

"Nah, no skin off my nose. Nuttin' to be sorry for." Inuyasha stated as he patted Kagome's back. He also felt bad for over reacting, but felt justified for all the worrying she mad him go through.

"Ah!" Kagome cried out, making Inuyasha jump and almost loose his footing. He glared at Kagome as she reached behind her and plucked a scrambling Shippo from her back.

"Kagome! Inuyasha! Miroku's up to old tricks and is going to get himself killed!" Shippo cried out. Suddenly a resounding scream and familiar slap echoed through the woods, making Shippo bristle slightly.

"Well, let's go assess the damage." Inuyasha simply stated and stomped towards the springs, clearly agitated that Kagome could have possibly been victim to Miroku's lecherousness.

:.End of Chappy.:

A/N, well I hope you liked the second installment of my fic. Please review for me, and I'm hoping that I can have the last chapter out on Christmas eve at the latest or maybe Christmas day, but I'm hopping for the first option.

Thank you animeobsessed3191 for your words of encouragement, I agree with you and I'll try my best to get this one finished up so I can work on my others. Good luck on your BB/Rae holiday-timed oneshot.

Take care, and until next time,

Sunny