Disclaimer: Once again, officer, the hanyou with the cute ears isn't mine. Neither are his companions! They just happened to be around when I was writing the stories!

From Chapter 3:

"I do not want to continue to live with the shard in me. A week will be more than enough time if we are going to find something. If not, then we will have time to say our goodbyes. Either way, something needs to be done quickly, this is not meant to be drawn out any longer." Kohaku replied, but he avoided his sisters eyes while he spoke, knowing that she would not approve.

"Oh Kohaku!" Sango said, pulling him close in an embrace. Then, they turned and began to gather with the others in the center of the clearing.

Inuyasha was the last to join the group as that he was just not standing back up as the rosary's spell wore off.

"Shall we?" Miroku asked the group. And with those words, the remaining fighters turned and began their journey back to the village.

Chapter 4: Tying up loose ends

It was well after dark by the time the group saw the lights of the village come into view. They had walked quite a distance into the forests following Naraku's scent, but hadn't noticed it at the time. It wasn't until they were walking back, anxious to let Kaede know of Naraku's defeat and to ask her if she knew any way to save Kohaku that the journey seemed too long and tiring to them – Kagome and Sango especially.

"Inuyasha, how much longer is it going to take to get to the village? Can you smell the fires and the people yet?" Kagome questioned. She was walking instead of riding on Inuyasha's back because she was still a bit miffed that he had gone off with Kikyou and then agreed with her about Kohaku. But, she would deal with him and Kikyou later, right now, she just wanted to get back to the village, have some dinner, and talk to Kaede then sleep. While walking back Kagome heard her stomach growling out of hunger and she suddenly realized how hungry she had been. She hadn't really eaten in several days, just bites here and there when she could sneak away from the battle to eat some chips of something like that out of her bag. And those times got rarer and rarer as the battle became more intense.

The same went for sleep; Kagome knew that the moment she lay down at Kaede's that no one would be able to convince her to move for at least twelve hours. None of them had slept more than a few minutes at a time in days. They were all exhausted. Even Kirara lay curled up asleep in Sango's arms, leaving Sango, Kohaku and Miroku traveling by foot with the rest of the group.

"Kagome, you just asked me that not 5 minutes ago! I told you, I can smell the village, but we still have a ways to go. But there, you see that little yellow spot in the distance? That's a fire from the village." Inuyasha was getting more irritable with Kagome's continual questions. 'Did it really matter all that much if how close they were? They weren't going to get there any faster...'

Kagome squinted, trying to see the light that Inuyasha was seeing but still unable to see much of anything in the dark forest. "Gomen, Inuyasha...I just want to get back to the village as soon as we can..." Kagome quietly apologized; she didn't need Inuyasha biting her head off again today.

"I know, Kagome, but we all want to get back right now. We are all tired and hungry. And asking me how close we are to the village isn't going to get us there any faster, so would you just quit asking?!" Inuyasha was taking out the last of his irritability on Kagome, but she didn't seem to upset by it. She was still trying to see the light that he had pointed out moments earlier. So, he dropped the subject completely and the group went back to walking in silence.

Not more than 5 more minutes had passed when Kagome started to speak again. "Inu..." But before she could finish even the first work, Inuyasha cut her off again.

"YES, I CAN SMELL THE VILLAGE! NO! WE ARE NOT THAT MUCH CLOSER! JUST STOP ASKING!" He shouted angrily. He was exhausted from fighting as the others were, but he didn't want them to know that. Despite, Kagome's continual questioning was wearing down the last of his remaining patience.

Kagome stopped dead in her tracks, too stunned by Inuyasha's sudden outburst to move for a moment. Then, her own anger and annoyance rose. "THERE'S NO NEED TO BITE MY HEAD OFF! THAT WASN'T EVEN WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY ANYWAY! MAYBE IF YOU'D LISTEN FIRST BEFORE JUST JUMPING TO CONCLUSIONS..." But before she finished her sentence Kagome burst into tears and slumped on the floor.

Everyone knew how exhausting the last few days had been for them – both physically and emotionally, but seeing Kagome finally break down tore at Inuyasha's heart. He instantly felt guilty for being so harsh just moments earlier.

"Listen...I'm sorry, Kagome..." He began, but she just sobbed harder at his words. When he saw that his apology had no affect, he slowly walked over to the weeping girl and picked her up off the forest floor. He then turned to the others and began walking back toward the village. As he walked, he could feel Kikyou's eyes burning into his back, but he said nothing. He would talk to her later. Right now, he had to focus on getting them all back to the village. And if carrying Kagome was the best way to get her there, then so be it.

Kagome continued to sob into his shoulder as they walked. After a few minutes though, her crying slowed some. And she began taking deep breaths again. She looked up at Inuyasha through pieces of hair that had fallen into her face as she cried. 'He looks just as tired as the rest of us, yet despite that, he still didn't hesitate to pick me up and carry me, even with Kikyou here...' She didn't know what to think about what had just taken place.

"Inuyasha..." She began, her voice still ragged from crying. Then she laid her head on his shoulder. 'I'll just rest for a minute, then I will tell him that I want to leave to go back to my time tomorrow.' She thought, closing her eyes. But by the time Inuyasha looked down at the tiny body he held in his arms, her breathing was once again deep and even. She had fallen asleep.

The moon was just rising as the group of exhausted fighters entered the village. Kaede was there at the edge of town to greet them. She had sensed their presence from yards off as they neared the village and came to meet them with hot miso soup and healing herbs for any wounds that may need tending. However, she was surprised to find not only Sango's younger brother among the group, but her sister.

"Kikyou..." Kaede softly stammered, "You returned with Inuyasha and Kagome." The old woman was at a loss for words. She had seen her sister so rarely since her resurrection, and every time the Miko had appeared, the following events had rarely been good. If nothing else, the mere mention of her name usually caused a fight between Inuyasha and Kagome.

"Yes, Kaede, I've returned with them." Kikyou replied simply. It was obvious to the old woman that the entire group was exhausted. As she looked over the group, she discovered Kagome, asleep in Inuyasha's arms. Shippo and Kirara curled up in Sango's arms, and Sango looking as though it was all she could do not to collapse against Miroku in her own exhaustion. During her survey of the group, Kaede also noticed the slight look of agitation that crossed her sister's face as her eyes passed Kagome.

Kaede was well aware of the conflict between the two women over the hanyou, and she wondered what kind of situations would take place now that the two had been brought together like this. But, before she had time really to begin to ponder the situation, she was drawn away by the sound of Shippo's voice.

"Kaede...?" He said sleepily, "Are we back in the village? I'm hungry!" He slowly opened an eye to peek out over Sango's arms.

"Shippo-chan! Are you awake? I thought you were sound asleep." Sango replied sounding slight surprised.

"I was...I smelled food. So hungry..." Shippo replied whining slightly.

"Come all of you, I brought miso soup. Eat!" Kaede lead the group into the village and began arranging them in a circle.

"Wait, Kaede, before we sit, can we get all the way back to the hut?" Miroku stopped her before they had all been arranged too comfortably. "I doubt that I could get back up if I sat down, so better to sit someplace where I don't have to move again."

The entire group nodded their agreement with Miroku's statement. Kaede quickly gathered back up her supplies and the pot of soup, and then led the group back towards the hut.

Inuyasha set Kagome down softly inside the hut once they had gotten all the way back to the village and then turned to Kaede in hopes of food. Kaede, however, had set the food down the in the center of the room then turned to Miroku and Sango and begun to tend their wounds. Kikyou had chosen to remain outside the hut, choosing to go the garden to retrieve more medicinal herbs, and Kagome was still fast asleep where Inuyasha had laid her.

"Kaede-baba, where's the food?" Inuyasha growled grumpily.

"It's in the center of the room. You know where the bowls are Inuyasha, you can help yourself." Kaede responded distractedly.

"Keh." Inuyasha replied, annoyed, but he slowly walked over to the shelf on the side of the room and took two bowls and two spoons then went to the pot in the center of the room and filled each bowl to the brim with soup. Then, carefully walking over to Kagome, he set the bowls down on the floor beside her and shook her gently. "Kagome..."

"No, Mama! I can't go to school yet; I'm not ready for the test!" Kagome muttered in her sleep. Then she rolled over on her side, facing away from Inuyasha.

Inuyasha just crouched on the ground, a perplexed look on his face, then grabbed Kagome's arm and said loudly, "Kagome! Food!"

Instantly, Kagome was awake. "Food? Nani? Where are we?"

Kagome looked around the hut, her eyes slowly coming in to focus and realization that she was in Kaede's hut finally dawning on her. "Inuyasha? How long was I asleep?" Inuyasha shrugged. "Not too long. I carried you back, there's soup in front of you. Eat!"

Kagome looked down at the bowl of soup in front of her for a few seconds, then grabbed it and quickly started shoving spoonfuls down her throat without another word. Inuyasha looked at her, astounded, for a few moments, then turned to his own bowl and after the first bite was downing the soup just as quickly as the girl beside him. He hadn't realized how hungry he had been until he had tasted the first bite of food. As they ate, Kaede finished tending to their wounds and soon the entire group - minus Kikyou, who had yet to return from the garden - was leaning against the walls of the hut, drowsy from full stomachs and the warmth radiating off the fire.

"Inuyasha, I want to go home tomorrow." Kagome said sleepily.

"Go home? To your own time? Why?" Inuyasha questioned. He sounded tired as well, but Kagome's statement gave him a jolt of energy.

"Yes, I need to go back to my own time. I want to go for a couple days to try and find out if there is anything in the future that could save Kohaku's life, not to mention the tests that I've been missing!" Kagome voice rose with the last statement, the panic of all her missed exams ringing fresh in her mind again.

"You're coming back quickly, though. Only a week." Inuyasha said resolutely.

"I don't see why I should hurry; we have all the shards now. And..." Kagome finished with a touch of bitterness in her voice, "you have Kikyou here now, so you don't really need me, right?"

Inuyasha tried to think of a response to Kagome's last statement. He was so angry with her, but he was too tired to think of any good responses. However, he was saved by Kikyou's presence in the doorway of the hut. She glided into the room, followed by her shikigami and sat on the other side of Inuyasha.

"Inuyasha, let Kagome go back to her own time. She is no longer needed here." Kikyou said, coldly.

Kagome could feel her face heat up with anger, but didn't say anything. Kikyou was right, she wasn't really needed here, and hopefully Kikyou's words would persuade Inuyasha not to fight her on the issue any longer.

Inuyasha remained silent. He was torn. He would normally argue with Kagome concerning her departure, but with Kikyou arguing for Kagome's side, he couldn't really argue with both of them.

"Fine," Inuyasha growled, a moment later, "but I want you back within a week. If you don't find anything, we still need to worry about Kohaku's shard."

Kagome looked like she was going to argue more, but if she had something to say, she kept it to herself. "Alright, I'll leave tomorrow morning. Sango- chan, will you and Kohaku drop me off at the well on Kirara on your way in the morning?"

Sango looked up; she hadn't been paying attention to Inuyasha and Kagome's conversation. She was distracted by Kohaku. The two of them had been making plans for their journey in the morning. How long would it take them to get to the demon slayers' village from here? How long should they stay? Their father and other companions were still buried near the place where Naraku's castle had stood. Sango had promised her father's spirit that she would move his body back to their village after the battle with Naraku was finished. Did she and Kohaku have time to do this in a week? They had been deep in discussion of these matters when she heard Kagome say her name.

"Huh?" Sango had a slightly perplexed look on her face, "What was that, Kagome?"

"Would you and Kohaku take me with you on Kirara tomorrow when you leave and drop me off at the bone-eater's well? I need to go home, remember?" Kagome answered.

"Oh! Yeah, sure!" Sango replied, then got a slightly mischievous smile on her face, "We're getting up early though, Kagome. Sure you can get up?"

Kagome was already a bit irritated from the discussion between Inuyasha, Kikyou, and herself that had just taken place. But, she managed a grin as she threw her empty bowl and spoon across the room at Sango, who deftly ducked out of the way.

"Haha!" Sango laughed, for the first time that day. "I'll take that as a yes!"

"Yeah," Miroku's voice came from the other side of Sango, "I think we might be able to get Kagome out of bed if we get to bed soon." He hoped the others would get the hint and call it a night.

"Good idea, Miroku." Inuyasha said, "Let's get to bed, guys."

Looking around the room, he noticed that Sango and Kohaku were already back in quiet discussion. Shippo and Kirara were curled up asleep together near the fire, an empty soup bowl laying near Shippo's feet and his head propped up on Kirara like a pillow. Kaede, Miroku, and Kagome leaned lazily against the hut's walls, Kagome's eyes drifting slowly shut in the warmth of the fire. Even Kikyou's perfect posture wavered a bit as exhaustion overwhelmed her resurrected body.

After they were all comfortable in sleeping bags or blankets, it took mere seconds and everyone in the group was sound asleep. Morning just around the corner, and more adventures to begin for all as the sun rose.

The morning came only too quickly for Kagome. It seemed as though she had barely shut her eyes when Sango was shaking her, threatening to go get a bucket of water to dump over her head if she didn't wake up soon.

"Huh? What?" Kagome stuttered sleepily, "Okay, okay, I'm awake. I'm awake."

"Then get up!" Sango said quickly as she stood up from her crouched position next to Kagome and walked back over to where Kohaku kneeled, packing the remainder of their belongings to take back to the village.

Kagome slowly sat up and looked around, waiting for her vision to come into focus. 'How did it get to be morning so fast? It can't be morning already!" She thought. Then the thought of going back to her own time and having good food, a hot bath, and her own bed popped into her mind. Sango didn't think she could remember the last time Kagome had gotten her stuff packed so quickly. In less than 10 minutes, Kagome stood near the door of the hut, quietly urging Sango and Kohaku to hurry up. The others, except for Inuyasha, who was missing from the hut entirely, were still fast asleep in various places on the hut floor.

The group of four, Sango, Kagome, Kohaku, and Kirara, quietly climbed down the hut steps and out into the village. It was then that Kagome saw where Inuyasha had gone. Sound asleep in a large tree near Kaede's hut sat the hanyou, one leg draped lazily over a branch on which he sat. Kagome smiled up at him, she loved the way he looked when he slept. It was the only time when he looked truly peaceful, and she so rarely saw it. Sango quickly pulled her out of her reverie, as she finished loading their bags on to Kirara, now grown to her giant size. From there, the three passengers climbed onto her back and away they flew to the well.

Kagome jumped down from Kirara's back with ease, and Sango and Kohaku descended as well to help Kagome unload her bags. Then Kagome pulled her backpack and walked over to the well. Sango and Kohaku remounted the fire cat as Kagome swung her legs over the side of the well, and as they flew off, they saw a burst of light come from the bone-eaters well indicating that Kagome had returned to her own time.

A/N: Sorry the story is going so slowly right now, I have ideas for two more stories that are going to go with this one, so I'm setting up the beginnings for them as well as writing the story. Rin next chapter though! And, as always, more action to come just around the corner! Just don't forget! R/R! You remember that little button! .

Stripe – Rin is coming up next chapter. I just wanted to build this storyline a bit more before I skip over to her, but it will all come together in the end. Also, as I said above, I'm trying to set up for a couple other stories that will come off of this one, so that's why there's so much time spent on people at the beginning. About Kohaku's character, thanks, I tried to think about how I would feel if I were him and I think I did a pretty good job, well see...

Rushyuo - .

Evil-Zukin – Thanks! And, here ya go! Updating!