Disclaimer- uh-huh. You know the drill.

Kagome's Return!!

Kagome lay sprawled out on her bed, shifting some serious gears in her head. For two hours she had done nothing but laze around like a zombie, consumed in her thoughts. She wanted to go back, no. She needed to go back, but there was one little problem. She was fifteen. Her birthday was only a few months away, but that didn't matter. She was fifteen and in the eyes of the law eye roll it was illegal for her to be on the road. Crap.

Her mother was at work, and she didn't trust her grandpa…….well, she trusted him, just not his sanity or his ability to drive. Wait, could he even drive!? Oh well, that wasn't the point anyway. She had to find someone to drive her back home……and just like that Kagome shot off her bed and dashed for the phone. She knew who could take her!! Oooooh!!! Things were looking up! ………….aaand then they crashed to the ground.

Kagome wanted to call Senshozsu and ask him if he could take her back to her old home, but there were a few tiny problems with that. First, he didn't know where she lived before, and since she slept most of the way to her new house, she didn't know either. Not that she would remember, but…….oh wait! A roadmap! Problem one: solved. Second problem: why would he want to take her back there? No, more importantly, wouldn't he wonder why she wanted to go back? I mean, she could visit her friends over vacation, and she hadn't forgotten anything of significance, so if Senshozsu got suspicious she was doomed. She couldn't tell him she wanted to see one of her old male friends! That might not go over too well, seeing as how he was the one taking her……..

Kagome sighed. 'Well, if I just ask and he says yes without suspicion I'm in the clear. But if he asks why I want to go back, I don't have any logical excuses that will save me from feeling guilty for lying! Darn it…' Then she shrugged and picked up the phone. She could at least try, right? Or maybe not. You see, she just remembered problem number three: she didn't even know Senshozsu's phone number. Well, even if she had to call the wrong number six times she would get through! I mean, when using the phone book there's always more than one person with the same last name, which kinda sucked. And, Kagome would just have to guess because she never did find out what Senshozsu's dads name was. Well, ten minutes and three embarrassing phone calls later she finally got through to Senshozsu.

"Hi, this is Kagome Higurashi. May I speak to Senshozsu please?"

"Hey Kagome, this is Senshozsu!"

"Oh hi! Hey, I was wondering if you'd like to go on……a little road trip today?"

"Sure, where to?"

"I kinda wanted to visit my old house. Are you up for it?"

"Yeah, but just one thing, do you know the way?"

"No, but I do have a map. I slept most of the way here…."

"Okay. But why do you want to go so early? It's only seven thirty."

"Well, it takes about two hours to get there, and I don't know how long I'm going to stay. I want to see my old friends, and I'm a bit curious about our old shrine. It bugs me not knowing what kind of people moved in."

"Alright, when do you want me to come out and pick you up?"

"Now would be good, if that's okay with you."

"Sure, no problem! I'll be there soon, bye!"

"Thanks Senshozsu, see ya soon!"

Kagome set the phone back down on the hook and punched the air with her fist. She was going home!! And best of all, Senshozsu hadn't even asked why! It's a good thing he was only a few months away from his seventeenth birthday. 'Now that I'm thinking about it, I wonder why he's older than everyone else. I mean, he doesn't seem like the kind of person who would get held back for failing….in fact; he's one of the smartest people I know! Hmmm, I'll just have to ask him when he gets here.' Kagome hurried back up to her room and grabbed a purse that she never used off of her dresser. Her mother had gotten it for her when they first moved here not too long ago, but it was a bit big for her liking. And now she was grateful to her mother for getting it. It was perfect for carrying all the stuff she was taking with her!

Kagome bustled about her room, grabbing the jewel shards out of her dresser drawer, some stashed chocolate off the top of her desk, a bottle of aspirin (Lord knows she would need it if she got back to the Feudal Era and Inuyasha had been waiting just to chew her to pieces!), her wallet, and a picture of Kyana, Rhea, and her standing in front of the school with silly smiles on their faces (just so her old friends wouldn't think that she was a social outcast here). Kagome double checked to make sure she had everything in her purse just as she heard a car honking outside.

"That must be Senshozsu, I better get going!" Kagome raced down the stairs and was passing the kitchen when she thought of something. She dashed in, flung open the cupboard doors and glanced around until she spotted what she came for. Maybe Inuyasha would be easier on her if she had some Ramen. She stuffed that into her purse and raced out the door, and ran into Senshozsu in the process.

"Oh hey Kagome! I was just coming to get you incase you didn't hear the horn." He smiled down at her and glanced at the purse. "Are you planning on taking your house with you? I mean, it looks like you packed enough!" he laughed.

"Yeah, I just wanted to take some stuff to show my old friends. I think they'll want to leech as much information out of me as possible, and it'll be easier to explain if I have some 'memoirs' to go along with it." Kagome smiled back at Senshozsu and ran her hand through her hair.

"So, are we ready to go?" she gestured to the car parked in her driveway.

"I am if you are!" Senshozsu shrugged and turned to the stairs. "Oh, and did you remember the map? We can't get along without it!" He looked back at Kagome over his shoulder.

"Oops! I almost forgot about that, thanks for reminding me!" Kagome headed back into the house and tracked down a map that her mother had used to get to her new house.

Kagome reappeared at the door and laughed. "Onward, James!" Senshozsu grinned and got in the car.

"Where to, milady?" He chuckled and gestured to the map in Kagomes hands.

"I'm headed home!" She opened the map and smiled when she saw that her mother had highlighted the roads that had brought them here.

This was going to be fabulous! She was going to see Inuyasha again, her old shrine, her friends in from the past and present, Inuyasha……uh-oh. What if the well still wouldn't let her through? What would happen then? Would she be forced to live with the fact that Inuyasha probably hated her for leaving without an explanation or without giving him the jewel shards? A shiver of dread pulsed through Kagomes' body and she squeezed her eyes shut against the thought. No, the well would open! She would get through and see her feudal friends again! And she would tell them what had happened and how she tried to come back but the well wouldn't let her through and….oh. What was she going to do with Senshozsu? Hold that thought…

"Hey Kagome, where to now?"

"Take a left here and keep going straight for about…six miles. Heh, it's a good thing my mom wrote verbal directions on the back! Hmmm….doesn 't really look like her hand writing though….oh my god!"

"What!? What's wrong Kagome?"

At the bottom of the map, it says: 'hope to see you soon Koari, drive safely! Love Jamie."

"Who's Jamie? I didn't know you had a father."

"No….I don't. My dad was killed by a drunk driver…." Kagome stared at the little note, her mind flooded with questions. Who was this Jamie guy? How was he in relation to her mother? And what kind of relationship did he have with her? Were they gulp ……dating? Kagome winced at the thought, hurt filling her chest. If her mother was 'with' this guy, then why didn't she know? Why would her mother keep something like this from her? Kagome stared at the paper, confusion marring her features. But she was snapped out of her trance when Senshozsu spoke.

"Hey, Kagome? Where do I go now?" His voice was soft and careful, void of its previous joy.

"Take a right…..and…go for…about eight miles…" Kagome was in a haze.

She was upset, maybe even a little angry with her mom because she hadn't been told about this guy. Yeah, she might have been a little hurt that her mom had chosen another man, but it wouldn't be utterly devastating or anything like that! She was only four when her dad as killed, so she really didn't remember him. And besides, Kagome was sure that she could learn to live with the man her mother had chosen. Seeing how her mother had chosen him, he definitely couldn't be bad! What was happening to her? Kagome had gone from happily busy with her double life and handling the temper tantrums of a hanyou that had stolen her heart, to privately sulking about her lost lifestyle and friends, along with the separation from her secret love. And now she had fond that her own mother was keeping secrets from her!

"Agh! My life couldn't get any worse!" Kagome dropped her head down on the dashboard of the car, and it landed with an audible 'thud'.

"Now Kagome, don't say such a thing! It will provoke bad luck. You know how it goes in the movies!" Senshozsu scolded.

"Yeah, like I care if it suddenly starts to rain. I would prefer it to this perfect sunny day! It makes me feel even worse." She turned her head so she was looking at Senshozsu, and when he glanced at her he couldn't help but laugh.

"What? What's so funny?" Kagome furrowed her brow in annoyance and confusion.

"Nothing! Nothing….." Senshozsu stifled his laughter, but his eyes were still dancing in his silence.

Kagome glared at him for a brief second before she picked her head up and flipped down the visor. As always, a girls first thought is that there is something on their face, or perhaps in their teeth. And indeed, there was something marring her features. A large red spot, right smack dab in the middle of her forehead. Kagome narrowed her eyes and stared at it in the small mirror for a few seconds, and then she noticed how stupid she looked. She was sitting there, leaned forwards so she could see in the dinky mirror, her eyes all but crossed in an attempt to see the spot for herself with a scowl planted on her face.

In an instant Kagome was laughing, and for the time being she had forgotten her troubles. Ah, how the simple quirks in ones life could brighten a dull day. The rest of the drive to the shrine was cheery, and the two travelers conversed about simple things. Even though Kagome was happy, her recent misfortunes never really left her mind. So, whenever silence enveloped the car, she would mull over them until Senshozsu broke the silence. Finally, their drive was almost at its end, and Senshozsu chose to use this time to ask Kagome his first serious question since they discovered the name of a mystery man on the back of the map.

"Kagome, why did you really want to come here? And don't say it's because you want to see what kind of people live at the shrine now, because I'm not buying it. You could have easily found out by asking the realtor. And, if your next excuse was to visit old friends, that's just as easily done over the summer, when school is of no concern. Now spill it." Senshozsu pulled up next to a familiar set of stairs and parked the car.

Kagome was taken by surprise. She had come to know Senshozsu as a lighthearted, carefree kind of guy. He wasn't one to be suspicious of other peoples' actions. Kagome locked gazes with him for a few moments, and then she spoke.

"Senshozsu, I was lying a bit when I said I wanted to know who was living at the shrine, because I have already met them. They're an elderly couple who are good friends with my grandpa. But, I didn't lie to you when I said I wanted to see my friends again. I really must, because I never got to say goodbye. They…..they didn't even know I was leaving." Kagome didn't look away from Senshozsu once.

She was telling the truth, and there was no reason for her to feel guilty about it, but she still did. In the pit of her stomach she felt the knot of guilt twinge ever so slightly. Yes, she had told him the truth, but it was very vague at that. Her friends of the present time had been given short warning before she left, but the ones that resided on the other side of the well were still in the dark about her disappearance. She needed to go back and explain to them, to make things right. And even if Inuyasha refused to speak to her again, she would feel much better knowing that he had heard her apology for taking such an abrupt leave.

Senshozsu furrowed his brow and stared deeply at Kagome for minutes on end, searching her face, searching the very depths of her eyes for any sign of deceit. The tension that had built in those few moments flooded away like the release of breath held much too long. Senshozsu sighed and smiled, a content shimmer gracing his eyes.

"Very well then, Kagome. Should we be going now? I'm sure you would like to have a look around your old house, eh?" He chuckled and got out of the car.

Kagome grinned and nodded as she too left the confines of the vehicle. As soon as she was out she stared up the steps to her old home, taking in a deep, satisfied draught of air. It made her giddy, finally returning to the shrine after bearing that aching homesickness that wouldn't go away. In a mad dash she raced up the steps, Senshozsu quick in pursuit. When Kagome finally topped the last step and hit even ground she cursed herself for being so rash. Never, never again would she attempt a full barrel run up those thrice accursed steps!! Senshozsu, as short of breath as he was managed a hearty laugh.

"Now what on Earth possessed you to do such a thing? Sure, it must be nice to be home, but was that necessary? I haven't run like that in….a while, let alone up a devilishly huge set of stairs! I swear…." He shook his head, a grin spread across his face.

After the two caught their breath, Kagome led the way to her old home. She knocked politely, waiting for an answer. Senshozsu let his gaze wander from one thing to the next, taking in the sight of the shrine. When he spotted the well house he nudged Kagome.

"Hey, what's in there?" He eyed it curiously, waiting for Kagome to reply.

"Oh that? That's the Bone Eaters Well. I know, I know, it's a really weird name, but that's what it's called. I'll show it to you once Mr. and Mrs. Idai know we're here."

Not long after the door opened to them and Mrs. Idai squinted out at them through thick lenses.

"Oh! Kagome dear! Come in, come in! It's such a nice surprise to see you. How's the old bugger doing? I'm sure he's missing the shrine quite terribly, isn't he?" She smiled and winked at Kagome as she wandered into the house.

Kagome nodded. "He complains every once and a while, but he'll get over it. I was just wondering, what did you use my old room for?" She cocked her head slightly and glanced at the stairs.

"Oh, it's the same as you left it. We're too old and rickety to get up and down those stairs, so the rooms above are untouched." Mrs. Idai said. "So, who is this fine young lad? Have you finally found yourself a good boyfriend?" The elderly lady nudged Kagome in the ribs slightly with her elbow.

Kagome blushed furiously, as did Senshozsu, but not nearly as much. Once her face cooled she explained why she was here with him.

"Ah, so you want to have a look around, do you? Go right ahead! If you plan on staying, I'll make dinner."

Kagome smiled. "That would be wonderful, thanks Mrs. Idai!"

After she showed Senshozsu her room and nearly every other bit of the house she dragged him out to the well house. She dashed ahead of him, eager to be inside. In a matter of moments she would be back with her old friends! Oh wait. There was that little problem again. What to do with Senshozsu. Surely he would have a fit if Kagome were to jump into the well and disappear, in a blue light no less! He'd have the police notified before Kagome could even reach Kaedes place. And then everything would pretty much suck after that.

"Hey Kagome, I'll be right back, okay? I haven't seen a bathroom since I got up this morning, and drinking so much water on our little trip over here has got nature calling!" Senshozsu laughed and scratched the back of his head.

"Alright, I'll wait here till you get back then." Kagome couldn't believe her luck! This was perfect timing, she could get through the well without being seen! There was still the matter of Senshozsu finding her gone when he came back, but that was the furthest thought from her mind at the time being.

With a giggle of unbound joy Kagome leaned over the edge of the well. 'Here I come Inuyasha! I promised to help get rid of Naraku, and I'm not about to go back on my word!' With that brief pause done and over with Kagome couldn't contain her excitement any longer and she jumped over the edge down into the well.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Haha!! I am so evil to you guys, aren't I? I just couldn't help myself. I was going to add the rest on, but then it would've taken me longer to update, and I really don't need people beating down my door so they can yell at me for being a lazy bum. I'll try to update more frequently, and I'm really sorry for taking so long, but school is taking up my time. Grr, I wish it would just go away! Oh well, life goes on! But anywho, my next chapter won't take as long as this one to get up, because my writers block plagues me no more! And I promise the next chapter will be longer. By a page at least. Until then, later days my readers!

Mistoffelees Shadow