A/N: Well, and again we are here! Argh…I need a list of Naruto people…too many of them to remember…Asuka? No wait, isn't that from Evangelion? ARGH! I've read and watched too much anime or manga, and now I'm all confused. Well, there is an Asuka in Naruto, isn't there? Isn't he that jounin, the one that always hangs out with Kurenai? Yes, I believe so…but anyway, if I'm wrong, then uh…just pick a random character and pretend it is.

Asuka: Aki doesn't own Inuyasha or Naruto. But then again, she's not even sure if I exist. But oh well. I'm just some figment of Aki's disorganized mind.
Me: Thank you, and yes, it's all very true! Reviews!

Dragon Man, lol, that's ok. I'm broke. I haven't done Christmas shopping at all. Except for like 1 person. That's all I could afford. Yes, he's back! That is a good idea…hmmm…I'll keep that in mind… (Suddenly another great idea hits me in the head) Why is it that I always get the greatest ideas whenever I'm talking with you? You seriously have some sort of weird Author-Idea-Inspiration Thing on you don't you? You literally gave me the title of this fic. I was reviewing your last chapter…and then the title just hit me. Lol…and now, I have another idea that just hit me. Which I refuse to tell to anyone! (Evil laugh) Yes, it's true. Harukichi is up to something very nasty…

Angie, Guess who's back? Back again? Guess who's back? Guess who's back? Ok, no, I am NOT Eminem. So therefore, I do NOT own that song. Anyway, yes, he's back!

Riku, for your thoughts about Ch. 1, yeah, I guess so…but in reality, I really need to post more. I've already started Ch. 5…and this is only, what, Ch. 3? And you see, since I'm on vacation from school, I have nothing to do, and so I only just spend about 5-6 hours typing…If anyone's ranting it's me. Oh really? What other KH elements or phrases did you happen to notice? I read through it earlier, but I don't think I really caught on…but then again, I was half-dead too…lol…ouch…work sucks…it's ok, I don't mind… (Nervous Laugh) Um…it was only Ch. 2…I was trying to get it to work properly…I removed it, re-posted it, did a test chapter, which would be considered Ch. 3 in this site's system, when it really wasn't, and I was just pissed beyond reason yesterday, trying to get Ch. 2 to work…the drop down bar to display the next chapter that is supposed to be on Ch. 1, isn't there. The site knows I have a second chapter, but the story doesn't seem to recognize it, so there's no drop-down bar thing or button to click for the next chapter. See, it's not a problem for people who have me on Author Alert, because you just get a direct link to the chapter, while people who don't are all, like 'Wtf? Where is it?' So…um…yeah…Hopefully you can read Ch. 2…it's a good one. My personal favorite is Ch. 4…even though it's the absolute longest one so far.

Everyone else, I need to catch up in posts, I've got too many un-posted chapters that I've been finished with for what seems like eternity.

And now, let's go!!!


Chapter Three: Preparations

"Mei-chan, daijoubu?" Kagome asked, standing by the girl, holding an umbrella.

"Hai…daijoubu…" Mei Lhi replied, brushing away tears from her eyes.

"Mei-chan…it's ok…I cried too…"

The girl nodded, and broke out into a fresh wave, the young miko there by her side to help ease her pain.

"I just…can't get over it…and now, I've got even more to worry about…Kyoshi-kun's own clan doesn't seem to approve of me all that much, and…Kagome-chan! It's just so typical of him to leave when I needed him so much!"

"Hai, I know…come, let's go inside now…or else we'll get sick for sure…"

The two of them made their way back into the main house, never noticing the figure clad in red standing in the doorway of the entrance into the well house.

-

Kyo's head suddenly snapped upward.

"He's here."

The Ryuuyoukai became the wind and traveled down to the ground, right in front of the well house where he reappeared.

"Oi…Inuyasha…" He said.

The hanyou looked up.

"Feh…Kyo…"

"You know…I was wondering when you were going to get here…"

"Nani?!"

"For a while now…something's been telling me that you'd be back…and now that you are, there's a bit of a problem that we've got…"

And so Kyo quickly explained everything that had happened while Inuyasha was gone, and the conversation he had had with Harukichi. When he had finished, the hanyou was smirking.

"Keh! This guy…Harukichi…I don't like him…it's been awhile since Tetsusaiga's tasted blood…"

"Iie, Inuyasha! Seriously, if you really value your life you don't want to cross Harukichi."

"Feh! I could kick his sorry ass any day!"

"Damare! He'll hear you, and I'll get into even more trouble than I already am! Besides, one thing you should know, and you'll be the first one I'll tell this to, but earlier, Megumi warned me that the male youkai have learned about Mei…"

Inuyasha winced and paled considerably.

"Nani?! You don't mean that they plan on-!"

"Hai, they will hunt her down, and try to gain power over the Western Lands by marriage."

"Looks like Sesshoumaru's going to have a problem if that happens…"

"Nah…he's got himself, Hana, Rin, and two lovely little children, all of them quite capable of defending themselves."

"Keh…whatever…"

Crash!

Both Inuyasha and Kyo turned around to see Kagome standing before them. She had her bike with her, but it appeared that as she glanced at the well house, her grip on it went slack and she dropped it and fell off the seat and hit the ground.

"Inu…ya…sha…" She breathed.

"Kagome…"

The miko girl found that Kyo had gone, she suddenly leapt onto him and started to cry.

"Inuyasha! I missed you so much! And you're back now! Oh Inuyasha, I went as much as I could to your shrine and I told you everything about anything, and I just hope you could hear me! I left gifts for you each time I went, and I always prayed for you! I had dreamed that this would happen, but I never figured it would come true!" She sobbed into his chest.

"I did hear you…everyday I waited and hoped that it would be that day you would visit me…now, don't cry Kagome…" He said quietly, embracing her. "Don't tell Imouto-chan that I'm back yet…"

"Inuyasha…Mei-chan has been Ningen these past two and a half years. I'm worried she won't transform back to her normal self…"

"Two and a half years…? Is that how long it's been, Kagome?"

Kagome nodded.

"You remember what Hana-chan told us…that if Mei-chan becomes Ningen because of emotional trauma or pain, and if she stays that way too long, she can be stuck that way right?"

"Nani? You don't think she's stuck as a Ningen forever, do you?"

"Ma…it's been this long, so I'm thinking that…"

"I guess I'll have to hide out somewhere…"

"You can stay at my mother's house…" Kyo said, reappearing, watching as the hanyou and miko disentangled themselves from one another's arms.

"Nani? Your Okaa-san isn't dead?"

"No…my Kato-san…well, he's kind of unknown right now…nobody knows where he went…my mother was with me all along…"

"So…who is she?"

"You're going to laugh, Inuyasha…"

"Keh!"

"Alright, it's Megumi…"

Instantly the hanyou keeled over and started laughing.

"Wow, Kyo, you're stupider than I thought! You really are a baka kusotare aren't you?!"

Kyo growled and his brows narrowed in annoyance.

"Well, it's either here in this time with my Okaa-san, or you go back to the Sengoku Jidai."

"Fine! Where is it?"

"A few blocks south of here. It'll be the house with the big gates around it…but not the one with stairs…that, unfortunately, is Harukichi's place…and you had better not go over…because I'll be going with you…because I know you have little to no sense of direction."

"Thanks a lot…"

"Anno…Inuyasha…Mei-chan is going to be in a play…she's been cast as the main character, and if you want to go and see her…well, maybe then you both can meet up again…" Kagome interrupted the two youkai.

"Hai…I will look forward to that…Ja, Kagome!"

"Ja…Inuyasha…"

The two youkai left, Kagome was now alone; the girl's mind had gone blank, now wondering why she had been riding her bicycle in the rain in the first place.

"Oh right…Mama wanted me to go to the convenience store to pick up some cold medicine…Mei-chan's been out in the rain too much today, so it's catching up on her…"

She picked up her bike and deciding not to mount until she reached the bottom of the stairs, she made her way to the store, her heart unable to help itself from feeling happier.

He had come back. He came back for her and everyone he had left behind.

-

Mei Lhi was once again inside, only now laying on the couch, wrapped in blankets to keep warm, her body burning with fever.

Tenshi Miyazawa sighed at her friend's stupidity as she watched over the girl, replacing the damp cloth on her forehead.

"You are such an idiot…and who the hell's that Inuyasha guy you were yelling about?" She thought aloud.

-

The rainfall had lightened up a bit, finally showing signs of a light-falling snow. Mei Lhi still lay curled up in blankets on the couch. Tenshi had been long gone now. It was very late at night.

The window slid open, Inuyasha slipping through, closing it quickly, following his sister's scent in the darkness. He stopped before the couch where she lay and sat with his back resting against the front side of the furniture, stuffing his fists into his haori sleeves.

"Imouto-chan…please, forgive me…I didn't mean to leave you like that…please, understand…" He whispered into the night.

"…why did you leave like that…? I needed you…I was scared…and so lost…why did you have to leave us like that…?" She mumbled in her sleep.

"I made that promise to Kikyou to go with her a long time ago…I had to keep my promise…because, well, you know me, I never like to eat my words, or break promises with people I care about…"

"But…you didn't love Kikyou…like you loved Kagome…I don't understand why you went with Kikyou…"

"I was just as confused and scared too, Imouto-chan…I didn't know what to do either…I never really had any plans to do anything after Naraku was defeated. Except go with Kikyou…I figured that Kagome and the others would understand why, but I never planned on seeing you again…and you started to change my mind about what I should do…and when the time came for me to make that choice, I just…wasn't ready to make it, and…I made a mistake, I guess…"

"…It's ok…Nii-chan…I understand now…"

Inuyasha breathed a sigh of relief.

"Are you coming back now…?"

"Hai…I will see you again soon…good night Imouto-chan…"

"Good night, Nii-chan…"

-

Sleep took the hanyou boy, not what he had intended, but he felt more at ease to be here, in the Higurashi household, in a way guarding everyone, protecting them, as they rested through the rest of the night.

-

The sun rose, and streams of light filtered through the window, one of which shining on the hanyou boy's face, rousing him awake. Another sunbeam rested on Mei Lhi's face.

Slowly, the girl opened her eyes a crack, seeing a familiar pair of dog ears and silver hair.

"Inuyasha…?" She wondered, now rubbing the sleep from her eyes with her hands.

The hanyou's eyes suddenly took in the fact that morning had arrived, and that he had fallen asleep. Quickly he scrambled to his feet, opened the window and jumped out onto the roof.

Mei Lhi looked around, seeing nothing.

"Damn…must've been seeing things…again…" She muttered.

She yawned and stretched, feeling a little better than she had been the previous day.

Kagome came downstairs a few minutes later.

"Ohayo Mei-chan. Do you feel any better now?"

"Hai, arigatou Kagome-chan."

"Don't you have to go to the rehearsal practice today?"

"Hai…don't remind me…"

"Gomen…well, it's getting colder out there since winter's coming, so take your winter uniform, ok?"

"Yeah…can you go get it for me…?"

"Hai, hang on…"

Kagome went back upstairs and retrieved the uniform and handed it to her 'cousin'.

The girl hastily put it on, and ate a quick breakfast before rushing out the door with her nearly-forgotten book bag, and into the lightly falling snow.

-

Inuyasha silently and stealthily followed her, and after a few minutes of following, Kyo appeared next to Mei Lhi, obviously catching up with her by turning into wind.

"Why are you coming? You don't have school today…" The hanyou heard his sister ask the Ryuuyoukai boy.

"Well, I just want to support you that's all." Kyo replied.

"What you're going to do is embarrass me…"

"Oh come on, Mei! You won't even know I'm there!"

"Haha…I highly doubt that…but yeah, you can watch me screw up my lines…"

The girl and Ryuuyoukai reached the school, Inuyasha doubling back to go back to the shrine, knowing that his sister was safe and that Kyo would take care of her if anything happened.

-

"Alright, who's here?" The director asked, taking out a roll sheet.

He glanced at the sheet for each name, and then looked for the actual person to whom the named belonged. In a few minutes, he was finished.

"Is Miyazawa not here today?" He asked.

As if on cue, the theatre door flew opened.

"Sorry I'm late! But I'm here! Like I say, better late than never, right?" Tenshi said.

"Alright…everyone is here…let's begin…"

Long hours of practice, acting, rehearsing, and getting fitted for the costumes wore out everyone, but when it was all over, all who were there we very happy.

"Please come back tomorrow." The director said.

Everyone groaned and sighed, nodding to say that they would return.

So they all left the theatre and returned home.

-

Many days continued that way. In fact, two weeks of it continued that way, along with normal school days. Everyone in the play was starting to feel the strain. Especially Mei, who thought she was having hallucinations of seeing her brother due to lack of sleep, food, energy, or sanity. Yes, sanity. All of the work was driving her insane.

Kyo was being very supportive, which truly helped Mei in the long-run. But all the work had turned out to be worth it. Because after those two weeks of misery, the play was ready to be publicly performed. And the best part, they were all way ahead of schedule, meaning they would have no more work for some time.

-

"Inuyasha, the play will be tonight. You are still going, aren't you?" Kyo asked.

"Keh! Of course I'm still going!" The hanyou replied irritably.

"Kyo!" Kagome called from upstairs.

"Yeah?" Kyo replied.

"Can you take Mei-chan to the theatre? I'm not quite ready to leave yet…"

"Hai!"

"What the hell is Kagome talking about?" Inuyasha inquired.

"She's talking about you. She has to get you ready for the play. Probably get you a hat or something…anyway…oh shimatta, Mei's coming downstairs…hurry, get in the closet!"

"Nani?! Wait, don't stuff me in!"

Kyo had already shoved the hanyou into the closet and had closed the door; Inuyasha's muffled protests still heard from behind the door.

A few seconds later, Mei Lhi did indeed come downstairs.

"So we're going now?" She asked.

"Hai…let me get our coats…" He replied.

He opened the closet door again.

"Inuyasha…can you get me Mei's coat and mine?"

"…which ones are they…?" The hanyou grumbled.

"The small black one is Mei's, and mine's the one right above your head."

The hanyou grabbed them and shoved them into the Ryuuyoukai's hands.

"I promise you can come out once Mei and I have left."

"Yeah, fine…just get out of here…"

Kyo shut the closet door again and handed Mei her coat and put on his, the girl putting on hers as well.

"So…let's get going…don't want to be late, do we?" Kyo said to the girl with a small smile.

Mei Lhi nodded; the two of them put on their shoes and walked out the door.

The moment they had gone, Inuyasha burst out of the closet.

Kagome had come downstairs to see what the noise had been and started to laugh, seeing the fallen coats on the floor and the open closet door that looked near breaking.

"He stuffed you in there didn't he?" She asked.

Inuyasha nodded, not finding it very funny.

"I have your hat…we can fix the coats later, so don't worry about it…let's go…we need good seats…"

The two left the shrine and quickly made their way to the school, Kagome riding on Inuyasha's back just like how she did a long time ago.

'Just like old times…' She thought with a sigh.


A/N: Ok, bad ending point, kill me later. Anyway…Chapter Four will be long. But it will have some actual action…no more of this dragging slow-ness! Now, do we really need a dictionary for my Japanese words? I dunno…anyway, 'Ohayo' means 'good morning'. Anyway…expect Ch. 4's arrival.