Surprise! -cue Mushu- I LIIIIIIIVE!

I know it's been a while (A few years I know) and some of you may have given up hope, but fear not! I have returned!

School really kicked my ass the past few years but I'm proud to say that after four years of college I FINALLY completed my Bachelor's degree!

Now to continue with the story! - Iskra

Disclaimer! All characters from Inuyasha mentioned in this story belong fully to Rumiko Takahashi and are being used solely for the purpose of entertainment and I am not receiving any form of payment or currency for my writing besides the enjoyment from those reading.

Chapter Four

The following morning found Kagome pacing in front of Kaede's hut. The Miko was debating whether or not she should go home and grab some more supplies, Kagome knew that she should since she wasn't sure how long it would be until she was able to come back, but the main problem she was having was how she was going to explain it to Kōga. The three wolves hardly let Kagome out of their sight, last night when Kagome had settled into a corner of Kaede's hut, Shippō and Kirara tucked in next to her in her sleeping bag, and Kōga made himself comfortable just to her side, much like Inuyasha used to do. When she woke Kōga was gone but Ginta and Hakkaku were waiting with a full breakfast for her. In the few hours that passed from waking to this moment one of the three was almost always attached to her side. Even now she could feel Kōga's eyes watching her pace with an odd expression on his face, stuck from wanting to know what was bothering her and afraid that she would snap and yell at him. Kaede stepped from her hut, glanced once at the sight before her and gave Kagome a knowing smile.

"Give me a moment with Kagome," Kagome could tell that Kōga was about to protest but when Kaede narrowed her eye at him he thought better of testing the older Miko and stepped away, when he was out of eyesight Kade turned back to Kagome, "Tell me what's bothering ye."

"I need to go home and get some more supplies, explain to my mother what's going on and that I might not be home for a while," Kagome pulled at the hem of her sleeve, "I can't exactly jump down the well with three wolves watching my every move, I don't even know how I would explain it to Kōga."

"Looks as if ye have a dilemma on ye hands," Kaede paused for a moment, "but have ye thought of bringing the young wolf with you?" Kagome froze, she actually hadn't thought of it, to be honest, she just assumed the well wouldn't let him through.

"I couldn't… could I?" Sure Kagome trusted Kōga, she knew that he wouldn't do anything to harm her family, Inuyasha seemed to fit in why wouldn't Kōga, "How would I even explain it to him, it's not like I can just walk up and say 'Hey, Kōga, you know all those times that I would disappear? Well, guess what, I'm actually from the future where Yōkai are no longer around and I travel back and forth through time using Bone-Eaters Well!" Kaede only laughed at the girl.

"Why don't ye think about it for a time, he seems a little more level-headed than Inuyasha and even he seemed to handle it?" Kaede patted Kagome on the back as the younger girl started to look a little less panicked, "For now how about ye slip off home and I'll handle the others." Unbeknown to the two Mikos but their conversation was overheard by one who was just returning to the hut.

Kagome was grateful that Kaede was willing to help her, the young girl probably should have just asked her at the very beginning before almost having a panic attack, if anyone would have been able to handle a group of Yōkai it would be Kaede. Kagome went inside to grab her bag and told Shippō where she was going, the kit nodded and bounced over to her side.

"When you come back, can you bring some more crayons and some candy?" Kagome chuckled as he gave her the biggest puppy eyes he could muster, Kirara came bounding over with an excited chirp, "Kirara wants some more of those fishy treats too."

"Of course," Kagome gave the Nekomata a loving scratch, making a mental checklist of what to pick up while she was home, "I shouldn't be gone too long, just be careful and help Kaede as much as you can." the two nodded and gave Kagome their word before running off to play. Kagome grabbed her bag and slipped off, she couldn't hear the three wolves so she assumed that Kaede had them running errands. When Kagome passed Goshinboku she couldn't help but reminisce about when she first met Inuyasha, a feeling that would be invoked every time she saw the tree, a memory that forever changed her life. Kagome smiled fondly before pressing on, reaching the well and preparing herself for the travel, jumping down she felt the pull - a tickling sensation in her stomach before reaching the other side. Taking a deep breath she went over what she was going to tell her mother before climbing out of the well.

"Hey, where'd Kagome go?" Kōga dropped the armful of wood he was carrying in front of Kaede's hut, he looked around for the Miko but it was as if she vanished when he couldn't catch her scent he started to panic.

"Calm ye-self, young wolf, Kagome went home to gather her things and say her goodbyes, it will be a while before ye will return here, it was important for her family to know she was safe" Kōga paused for a moment, Kagome often disappears around here but the wolf had never come across another village around these parts.

"There is no other village around here, even if there was it doesn't explain why her scent just vanishes" Kōga narrowed his eyes at the older Miko, and she only stared blankly at him as he continued to ask questions, Kaede knew she would need to make a solid excuse to satisfy Kōga, It was Kagome's secret to tell "Nothing about this makes sense and you know the truth."

"Kagome's village is protected by a barrier just beyond the bone-eaters well" Kaede turned her startled attention Setsukō who was perched on a log just to her right, the old woman hadn't even noticed the girl had been there, she gave a light smile at the older woman who nodded warily.

"Indeed, to protect the jewel and those who guard it, no demon can pass through without Kagome's approval, so ye just need to be patient." Kōga thought it over and seemed to accept the answers, the words made sense to him and he shrugged his shoulders and went to gather more wood. Kaede turned her focus back to the strange woman with narrowed eyes, "How did ye know?"

"I saw Kagome jump through the well," Setsukō spoke with a tone that piqued Kaede's interest, the younger turned to the older woman, "I know about that Well, I was taught about it by someone very special to me… I cannot remember who they were but I know that they are a part of me and that they need me a great deal." Kaede stroked her chin in thought.

"Well, the young prince believes that ye were once yōkai and I am inclined to believe it as well - if ye were human ye would have to be a very powerful witch to warrant such bindings but I sense no darkness that normally follows a witch," Kaede watched her frown, "Do ye really remember nothing?" Setsukō looked sadly at Kaede and shook her head slowly.

"Only fragments, there are times where the shadows clear and I get a glimpse of them but then there's pain and it's gone and I lose the thought" Setsukō looked down at her hands that were folded in her lap but then looked up at the older woman with a hardened glint in her eyes, "the only thing clear to me is that I need to be with Kagome - A feeling, an instinct, I was meant to be found by her." Kaede nodded knowingly. The Kami were fickle but rarely did they let things happen without a purpose.

Kagome walked into her home with a cheerful call, pausing to remove her shoes by the door she could hear her mother in the kitchen, "Kaasan, I'm home!" Yúriko peeked around the corner with a warm smile.

"Welcome back, Kagome-chan," Kagome dropped her backpack with a heavy 'thud' and sighed, Yúriko tilted her head and gave her daughter a loving smile and opened her arms that were quickly filled, Kagome relished the feeling of being in her mothers arms - the stress of the past few weeks washing away from the seemingly small moment. Yúriko always made Kagome feel safe and comforted no matter what the situation was, the only downside to travelling with Inuyasha was that her mother wasn't there. Yúriko moved to hold Kagome at arm's length and looked her daughter over and her knowing eyes narrowed slightly, "Now, you go upstairs and take a bath and relax for a moment, you made it just in time for dinner" Yúriko ushered Kagome up to her room against her daughter's protests and laughter.

"Ne - Okaasan! I need to hurry, I don't have a lot of time-" Yúriko waved her hand dismissively and pointed upstairs.

"Aya! You have time for a bath while I gather your things," placing a hand on her hip Kagome knew better than to argue, "and you will not leave this house without me seeing you eat. I need to know you will get at least one decent meal since I can't be there with you making sure you are properly fed - and before you start, instant ramen is not a balanced meal." Kagome raised her hands in submission and headed upstairs with a smile on her face.

Over the years Kagome struggled with having to split her time between her life in the present and the life she created in the past. School wasn't much of a problem anymore, her grandfather had gotten ahold Mr Kiyabu, an old friend that was once a physician that resided in a Shrine in Osaka, a single note from him to the school put her on independent study, where she would get packets of work from her teachers that would be roughly a months worth of school work.

Kagome always struggled with school when she was younger, not that she was stupid or anything but she was average at best, however, with her new form of schooling she seemed to understand the subjects so much better, well her mother always said she was a visual learner.

Her room was the same as she left it, but it was obvious that her mother would come in and dust and change the bedding simply because the room looked as if she wasn't gone for weeks at a time. Kagome pulled a fresh set of clothes out of her closet, her old uniform had been the only clean set of clothes to wear at the time - having probably packed them out of habit more than anything, but now that she was home she would pack more appropriate clothing. Grabbing her change of clothes she headed to the bathroom.

As Kagome soaked in the water, enjoying the smell of her rose petal bath oil, tapping her chin in thought as she looked over at the clothes she had and she frowned slightly. A simple t-shirt and a pair of jeans, If she was spending more time in the Feudal Era perhaps it would be wise to purchase more period-accurate clothes, so she wouldn't stand out as much. Kagome crossed her arms over the rim of the tub, she had a few kimono from festivals and when the shrine would have visitors but they were more modern. Perhaps she would ask her mother, Kagome knew that ojiisan would know shops in the area that specialize in a traditional older style. Maybe Kaede would have a spare Miko outfit she could wear. After her collision with Kikyō, she felt inadequate as a Miko - Kaede tried to teach her but being on the move constantly only allowed for small lessons every time they made their way back to the village.

Kagome sighed and reached to drain the water and step out of the tub, the distant call of her name downstairs notifying her of dinner being ready gave her an idea, maybe her mother could help her sort it all out.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! As usual please leave a review!

- Iskra