I FINALLY BEAT MINESWEEPER! Granted it was only the beginner level. And I only beat it once. ; Oh well, on with the story!

Anything italicized is a thought.

Disclaimer: I have none ownership of Inuyasha or the original characters and storyline.

Chapter Two: An Eventful Reunion

Inuyasha was waiting with Shippo for Kagome and Sango to return from the hot springs. Miroku was currently gathering firewood, but when Inuyasha heard screaming and a slapping sounds he hazarded a guess that Miroku had been watching the girls bathe and been caught. It was not long afterwards that the two girls returned with Miroku following after, a red handprint gracing each cheek.

"It was completely worth it." Miroku informed them all as he plopped a load of firewood down on the ground, following it a moment later as Sango chucked her giant boomerang at him. Both girls sat down hmphing at their badly abused companion. Inuyasha watched Kagome from the corner of his eye, enjoying the graceful way she moved and the way her hair tumbled to her shoulders.

She's so cute when she's all wet. He was thinking when his thoughts were interrupted by Sango and Kagome's conversation.

"Kagome, what do you think was up with that demon at the hot springs?"

"I don't know. She didn't seem like she wanted to hurt us. She had her power masked, but I get the feeling she's really strong. She left to fast to really tell." Sango nodded in agreement.

"WHAT DEMON AT THE HOT SPRINGS! YOU COULD HAVE BEEN ATTACKED AND WE MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SAVE YOUR SORRY ASSES! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU!" Inuyahsa jumped up screaming and waving his hands around to emphasize his point. The truth was the possibility of Kagome being hurt had made his heart stop for a long painful moment. He didn't know what he'd do with himself if she ever died. Not that she's ever noticed how you feel, the little voice in his head told him bitterly, Might as well give it up.

"It's not like we planned for her to be there! She just was! And she didn't do anything so I don't know what the deal is!" Kagome jumped up just as mad. Conceited bastard! Like he even really cares!

"Kagome, Inuyasha calm down. Ladies, why don't you tell us about this demon?" Miroku tried desperately to restore peace to the group.

"I don't know. She disappeared so fast. Long hair, sort of like Inuyasha's." Sango started.

"No it was more of a silver color." Kagome corrected.

"Actually it was more between silver and white."

"Yeah that sounds right. Really dark blue eyes too." Kagome glanced at Sango who nodded at her in agreement. Inuyahsa shot up straight at the girls description. It couldn't be!

"What about her voice? Did you hear her talk?" He demanded, barely managing to croak out the question around the lump in his throat. Both girls thought for a moment.

"Yeah. Her voice was, it was like listening to someone singing. I didn't notice it before. Hey where are you going?" But Sango's shout was unheard as Inuyasha had jumped up and run away before she had even finished speaking.

Dammit! They were gone for an hour maybe. If it really is her…She was always such a fast runner. I might not be able to find her! I've got to try though. He needs her so much more than he thinks. Inuyasha arrived at the hot springs and sniffed around. I don't smell-Wait! There it is! I'd know that smell anywhere!

It was a distinct odor, a curious blend of blossoming wild roses, blended with that after rain smell. It was headed west of the springs. He followed it, not paying attention to where he was going. It wasn't until he stumbled upon a clearing that contained a small house that he realized he had stumbled into Sesshomaru's territory. The house was one his brother stayed in when he traveled his territory.

I must've been gone for two or three hours now. The others are probably worried, and I'll never be able to catch up to her at this rate. He was so lost in his musings he didn't notice his brother until he was sent flying across the clearing into a tree.

"Inuyasha. What are you doing here? You're not welcome here!"

"Fluffy stop! Beat me if you want, but take a good whiff first, and tell me you don't smell that."

"Stop playing games. And don't call me Fluffy!"

"You always let Miori call you that!"

His brother stopped in shocked silence for a moment. Miori had not been discussed for seventy five years, although she had rarely left his thoughts. No matter what he did, she hid somewhere in the back of his mind. Unfortunately for Inuyasha, Sesshomaru was not stunned long.

"DON'T TALK ABOUT HER!"

"Why? Am I to be forgotten from history, and banished from memory since I left you?" a cool sing song voice asked. Both brothers instantly recognized that voice.

"M…M…Miori?" Sesshomaru barely managed to stutter out her name. It was a shock to his senses to have her return so suddenly and out of the blue. She had changed since he last saw her. Her eyes still retained that amusement that he had loved so much. Rarely had Miori been seen without her trademark mischief filled smile. Her face had matured slightly making her even more beautiful than she had been. It wasn't just her face that had changed either. Miori had matured in all the right places. Not that he was looking. Miori was his best friend after all. He wasn't interested in her like that! All this passed through his head in a millisecond, and Inuyasha took that same amount of time to scream, "I knew it!" and glomp Miori, causing her to fall neatly on her ass.

"I'm happy to see you too, but wow. I wasn't quite expecting that." Miori remarked from her position from the ground, "Would you like to let me breathe now?" Miori had gotten the wind knocked out of her when she landed, and Inuyasha currently had a death grip on her ribs, most likely already having cracked a few, all the while telling her with a child's enthusiasm how much he had missed her, and asking where she had been. When Inuyasha either didn't hear her request to let go, or simply ignored it, she attempted to pry him off, but gave up after her efforts proved futile.

"Fluffy? A little help with the runt here please?" Sesshomaru walked over and grabbed his half brother by the scruff of his collar.

"Return to your friends."

"B…But-"

"Actually Inuyasha I think that would be best for now. Fluffy and I have some stuff we need to talk about. I'll find you tomorrow." She sent one of her radiant reassuring smiles at his worthless half brother, and without further protest he broke free from Sesshomaru and left.

"It's been awhile." She grinned at him from her position on the ground. She tapped the ground next to her indicating that he should sit. He did so, and she leaned against him, her back on his chest. They always talked like this, "You never sent anyone after me."

"I freed you a long time ago. You know I had no legal claim on you." Unknown to anyone but themselves Sesshomaru had freed Miori from slavery when they were very young. She had been maybe five when Jaken had bought her, despite Inuyasha's notion she had been in slavery over ten years, Kami knows where he came up with that idea. Sesshomaru was two years older, and he had been what nine or ten when he freed her. It was a very long time ago nonetheless. Miori had simply stayed with him out of their friendship.

"I always wondered why you did that." She looked down at the ground, crossing her arms across her stomach, and stretching out her long legs, crossing those as well. Sesshomaru's eyes traveled across her slender well formed legs, up to her mid thigh before answering, and he leaned back onto his hands.

"You were my best friend. It was strange knowing I controlled your entire life."

She shrugged, "That's beside the point. You could have sent out people saying I was of great emotional significance to you. Or you could have just sent people to find me, oh almighty Lord of the Western Lands." Her voice was mocking but not condescending. She had teased him as a child about his position as well. He decided the only suitable way to retaliate was to tickle her.

"Stop…that! Cheater! This is…isn't fair!" her tiny hands beat helplessly on his well muscled chest, and he rolled her onto the ground on her back. She grabbed his arms, in an attempt to stop his "malicious torturous abuse" as she was at this moment calling it, but all she succeeded in doing was forcing him to roll with her. He ended up straddling her hips causing both of them to turn a bright shade of red.

"Well if this isn't a little awkward…" Miori muttered trying to wriggle out from under her friend, "Fluffy get off!" she yelled in exasperation as she hit him hard on the shoulder. By Kami, he weighs a ton! He's changed so much though. Miori admired the sculpted muscles her friend had achieved since she had been away.

"Bitch." Sesshomaru growled as he rubbed his shoulder. "I'll get you for that."

Miori laughed at him, "Fluffy you couldn't 'get' a half dead butterfly with no wings, and you know it! But since you seem so bound and determined to punish me. What did you have in mind?" She smirked at him, daring him to try something, but it was very possible from her small 'eep' of surprise that she was expecting it less then Sesshomaru was himself when he leaned forward and trapped her lips with his own.

Sesshomaru was in a small piece of heaven as he kissed Miori. Her mouth was soft and she melded her lips to his. She reached up and tangled her hands within his long hair, pulling herself closer to her best friend. He used his hand (because he only has one now) to hold her head up closer to his mouth. He ran his tongue along her lower lip asking for entrance which she gave. He explored her mouth eagerly, and she returned the favor, both battling for supremacy, Miori eventually winning. They separated for a breath of air when Miori noticed Sesshomaru's missing arm.

"Holy shit Fluffy. What happened?" Sesshomaru was vaguely annoyed at the sudden interruption and it took a while along with Miori poking at his lack of arm, for him to comprehend what she was talking about.

"Inuyasha cut if off." She pushed him off of her, and examined his missing limb, one eyebrow arched at his statement. It was starting to grow back, thanks to his fast healing abilities, but it would still be at least another five years before it was whole again. She wrapped her hands around the new growth, her look changing quickly to intense concentration. After a moment her hands glowed white, the light quickly becoming so bright Sesshomaru was forced to look away. When his gaze returned his arm was whole.

"What…How…" he stammered and stared at her shocked. She was a healer granted, but she had never been this strong before.

"A lot's changed in the past seventy five years Fluffy." she murmured in his ear as she leaned in for a chaste kiss.

"I noticed." He watched as Miori lazily lay on the ground falling quickly into a light doze. He shook his head. That hadn't changed. She had always slept away most of the day. A good deal of the night too. He had never understood how she slept so much. He examined his arm intensely as he lay on the ground next to his friend. He wondered what other tricks his friend had learned in her absence. He grinned to himself. He would have to find out, and he had an idea that he might enjoy it too.

Inuyasha watched from the tree top he had chosen to sit in, silently cheering. He had known finding Miori would return his brother to the way he was before. In the past ten minutes she had gotten more words from his mouth-and much more than that-than most had in the past year. He grinned excitedly, his smile disappearing when he noticed the sun setting.

Oh shit! Kagome's gonna "sit" me for sure! And he scrambled off to return to his friends, leaving the two demons, currently sleeping on the grass. He couldn't resist one final look as he left and he grinned as he saw Fluffy pull Miori to him so the two were spooning, wrapping his arm around her waist tightly. A moment later he was gone.

Well, it's done! Read it please! And then review!