Hey all! This is the twelfth chapter of the story! Thanks for reviewing and reading it. Now, on with the chapter! D.N.A.

Kikyo's Return

After the Nekomaru event in the small village, everyone went walking into the forest to find the shards of the Shikon Jewel. Inuyasha was leading up front while everyone was behind him. He stopped and asked, "Kagome, do you sense any shards around here?" She stopped and answered, "No, I can't sense any shards here." He went silent and started to walk again while this raised eyebrows for the others.

"Inuyasha seems pretty weird today." Kagome whispered to Kaname with her hand covering her mouth. "Yeah, he must be pretty down that we only got one shard for entire day." Kaname whispered back hand covering her mouth. "But still, one shard is better than nothing." Sango whispered joining the conversation. "You know Inuyasha; he won't stop until he gets more than one shard in one day." Miroku whispered also joining in. Inuyasha unexpected turned around and angrily shouted, "What are you talking about behind my back?!" "Nothing!" they immediately chorused looking away whistling innocently. He glared at them before he turned around and continued to walk.

They continued to trail him while Kagome muttered, "Phew, that was close." They all nodded silently trying not to speak. They traveled into the deep parts of the woods until the four of them except Inuyasha and Shippo felt something wet drop on their face and ran down their cheeks. They stopped and looked up to see heavy black clouds brewing above their heads covering the entire sky. "Uh-oh." Kaname said staring up at the sky. "It looks like a storm is brewing." Sango said watching the clouds shift around. "We should find shelter quickly before it starts raining." Miroku said to everyone before they nodded and ran after Inuyasha, who was 20 feet away.

"Hey, Inuyasha, wait up!" Kagome called running after him. He stopped and turned towards them. "What is it now?" he asked irritated by the stop. "There's a storm coming this way. We got to find shelter fast!" she explained quickly wanting to get out of the rain. "What? You're scared of a little rain?" he shouted crossing his arms seriously. "A little rain? There's a storm coming and you're saying a little rain?!" she argued loudly holding on to her bike. "Yes, I am!" he argued back shouting loudly.

"Instead of arguing, we should find shelter before the storm hits." Miroku interrupted stopping the fight. "He's right; we should find someplace to take for a while." Kaname agreed nodding to his suggestion. "Fine, be scared of a little drizzle!" Inuyasha shouted irritated. "Fine, we're going to find some cover without you, Inuyasha!" Kagome yelled at him furiously getting on her bike and started to pedal past Inuyasha.

"Come on, let's go!" she called out riding into the forest. They all looked at each other before Miroku and Sango ran off after her. Kaname walked up before she turned to him and grabbed his hands pleading, "Let's go, Inuyasha." He looked away before he ran off with Kaname. They all ran through the forest getting away from the upcoming storm and went into a huge clearing to see a big old shrine standing along the road. "Look, a shrine!" Kaname exclaimed pointing towards the temple. "Yes, let's go inside before it starts." Sango said dashing towards it with everyone.

They got to the temple while Kagome picked up Shippo from the bike basket and put her bike under the temple. They slid the door open to see the whole room empty. "There's no one here." Sango said walking around the room. "It must have been abandoned a long time ago." Miroku said sitting near the fire pit. Inuyasha sat down in corner laying his head against the wall. Shippo was lying on the floor sprawled out from exhaustion with Kirara lying beside him. Kaname sat beside the pit and saw old logs in there forgotten. "There's some firewood in the pit. We could use it for a fire." She said before she whipped up a small Shikigami at the tip of her finger and threw it at the aged firewood. A big flame kindled from the wood warming everyone up in the room.

Kagome went into the kitchen and found some unused pots and antique knives near the stove. She walked out and said, "The kitchen's good to cook food with, but they don't have any food or ingredients." "Do you think we can get some provisions before the storm hits here?" Kaname asked their opinion. Sango slid open the door and looked outside to see the clouds haven't reached the area. "The storm isn't going to hit the area yet. We should get some things before the downpour starts." She informed still looking outside. "Kaname and I will go get some food and be back before it rains." She told them before walking outside with Kaname. "Okay, let's go." Kaname said before she and Sango dashed towards the forest. "Be back!" Kagome called waving outside. She saw them disappear into the forest and walked back inside.

She looked and saw Inuyasha being silent the whole time. "Could you stop pouting for a minute, Inuyasha?!" she shouted annoyed by his sulking behavior. He stood up quickly and shouted angrily glaring at her, "I'm not pouting!" "Yes, you are! You don't see it, but everyone else does. Now, stop being in a bad mood!" she shouted back before stomping off towards the kitchen and slamming the door shut. "What does that suppose to mean?!" he yelled at her through the door. "…What's going on?" Shippo yawned rolling over before standing on his own two feet. "They're fighting again." Miroku explained simply. "Oh, can't those two get along?" he asked curiously sitting beside him. "Unfortunately, no." he said letting out a big sigh.

Meanwhile, Kaname and Sango were searching through the forest for food. "What should we get?" Sango asked not knowing what to get. "Well, we should get some fish from a nearby river and fruits from an orchard around here." She suggested looking around. "Good idea. Let's go find some fruits first. If we get fish first, then they'll probably rot by the time we go back." Sango told her plan getting a nod from her. "Yes, let's go." She agreed running off with Sango. They explored the forest until they came upon an orchard that has many various kinds of fruit-bearing trees. "Wow, they got all kinds of fruits!" Kaname exclaimed looking through the trees. "Yes, they got apples, oranges, grapefruits, lemons, and much other fruits." Sango said looking at the different.

Kaname turned to her and suggested, "Maybe, this orchard belongs to someone." "Hmmm, it might belong to the people who used to live at the shrine. There's not many people around here." She said trying to remember. "Anyway, we should get the fruit and find a river to fish in." Kaname said before Sango nodded. "Agree. We can use your backpack to store the fruits we'll gather." She told her pointing at the backpack. "Good idea." She replied before they started to gather the many different fruits.

After a while, they were walking towards a river with Kaname carrying her big, heavy backpack full of fruits. "Okay, we got the fruits, time to fish." Kaname said putting her bag down before kneeling down beside the river. Sango kneeled down also and they both tried to catch the fish with their hands. "Got you!" Kaname said cheerfully thrusting her hands at the fish's shadow. The fish dodged the hands and swam downstream scared. "Ahhh, I lost it." She said disappointed looking at the scattered fish. "I lost one too." Sango said lifting her hands to show them empty. Kaname looked down to see a big fish's shadow sitting in the river beneath her. "You're not swimming away this time!" she muttered to herself readying to catch it.

She waited until she shot her hands into the water and caught the fish's body. "I got it! I caught a fish!" she exclaimed cheerfully while Sango watched with amusement. She lifted it out of the water and gasped in shock at the fish. The fish was a foot and a half tall, gray body with white on its belly, huge fantails, long whiskers from its face, and a pair of huge lips. She snapped out of shock and asked to the astonished Sango, "Hey, Sango, could you get a camera out of my backpack?" She nodded and grabbed a small camera out of a backpack's pocket. "What do you want with the camera for?" she asked curious about the whole thing. "Well, this is the biggest fish we ever seen, right? So, if told everyone and they want evidence, then the picture will give them enough proof." She explained holding the fish while it shook its fantail. "Oh, I get it. Okay, I'll ready it." She said understanding it readying the camera.

The fish looked at Kaname with adoration while it shook its fantails. Sango saw this and said, "That fish looks like it's in love with you." "Really?" she said looking to see the fish wink at her. "It's flirting with me." She said getting creped out by the smiling fish. "Alright, the camera's ready. One, two, three…cheese!" Sango said holding up to look through the camera's window. The fish quickly leaned over and unexpectedly kissed Kaname's cheek while her eyes widened big and she let out a surprised yell before the camera flashed. The fish jumped out of her hands and dive underwater back to safety. Kaname sat there bewildered and still as a rock while Sango saw the whole thing and asked the unmoving girl worried, "Are you okay?" Kaname let out a sigh and said, "I can't believe that I got kissed by a fish."

Back at the shrine, Kagome and Miroku were talking near the fire pit while Shippo and Kirara were sleeping next to each other and Inuyasha sitting in the corner all by himself. He was lying back with his eyes closed and with a serious expression on his face. They both looked at him before they turned to each other. "Something's wrong with him. I've never seen him like this before." Kagome whispered concerned for the half-demon. "Yes, he's been acting strange, but I think he'll get better when he gets rest." He whispered back also concerned for him. The door slid opened to reveal Sango holding a stick that carried six good sized fish and Kaname carrying her backpack in her hands. "We're back!" she called out walking inside. "Welcome back." Miroku greeted standing up to welcome them. "We got fish and fruit!" Kaname informed walking inside as well. A lightening strike was heard outside and later they heard the rain started to pour furiously outside. "There it goes." Sango said looking outside to see the fast pouring rain.

Kagome stood up and said, "Great! Let's go in the kitchen and prepare lunch!" The girls walked inside the kitchen closing the door while Miroku sat and lay on the ground exhausted from today. Kagome looked through the fruits smiling at the various kinds of fruits. "Perfect! This should make great ingredients for the boxed lunches I'll make!" she said excitedly while Kaname lit the logs with her Shikigami and Sango placing the fish on the chopping board. "We also got some herbal tea leaves." Kaname told her looking over towards her. "Good. I'll make lunch while you can make tea." She said smiling joyfully before she started to chop the apples. "Okay." She replied starting to make the herbal tea.

They finished cooking lunch and came out carrying boxed lunches and cups of tea with them. "Hmmm. Something's smells good that for sure." Miroku said enthusiastically smiling smelling that boxed lunches' alluring aroma. Shippo sat up slowly and asked, "What's that smell? It smells mighty good." He walked over to the pit while Kirara got up and stretched before walking over with him. Inuyasha sniffed the scent and opened his eyes to see the girls holding lunch. He let out a big smile before he jumped and landed beside Miroku saying eagerly, "Alright, food!" Kaname and Sango giggled at his eagerness while Kagome frowned and said, "No, Inuyasha, you're not getting any food." "What?! Why not?!" he asked appalled. "You've been behaving very badly ever since we left the village and that's why you're not getting any." She explained calmly before she gave Shippo and Miroku their boxed lunches. They all gaped at her while she sat down and started to eat.

Inuyasha fumed and pouted mad at her while everyone else dug in chewing fast. Sango gave a piece of fish to Kirara while she sniffed it and started to nibble on it a little. Miroku ate politely while Shippo ate like a horse. Kagome smiled while chewing and gave a smirk towards the enraged Inuyasha. Kaname hasn't touched hers yet and she sometimes glanced at Kagome and Inuyasha. 'Kagome's must be really mad at him if she doesn't let him eat anything.' She stared at her fish before she took a bite out of the papaya. "Oh, I forgot about the desert!" Kagome gasped forgetting the apple pie she was cooking and ran towards the kitchen worried. Kaname stabbed her large piece of fish with her fork and handed to Inuyasha while everyone else was doing the same. He blinked confused for a while until he grinned and said, "Thanks." He took all of the fish pieces and started to eat them quickly before she came back. She came back carrying a hot apple pie and saw them still eating with Inuyasha looking away innocently.

She set the pie and everyone ate it except for Inuyasha, of course. Kaname kept the last piece of pie since everyone except Kagome told her to give it to Inuyasha later. The pie was wrapped in a tin foil and hidden in her backpack. Everyone started to talk during the rain while Inuyasha sat back at his usual corner. After a while, everyone was getting really tired and exhausted. Kaname let out a small yawn while Kagome rubbed her eyes sleepily. "We should rest. The storm's not going to loosen up anytime soon." Miroku suggested reasonably. "I agree." Sango agreed lying down on her bed she set up. They all nodded and went to bed listening to the heavy rain outside.

3 hours later, the storm passed without any more lightening strikes and drizzling rain forming outside. They were all sleepy peacefully inside calmed by the sound of the rain. Kaname shifted in her bed before she slowly sat up drowsily from the nap. "What a sleep." She muttered rubbing her eyes before standing unfocusedly. She started to walk towards the door until she heard Inuyasha asked, "Kaname, where are you going?" She looked over her shoulder to see Inuyasha still sitting down looking at her. "I think that could go out for a stroll. I want to move a little before we set out again." She answered smiling while rubbing her hair. He sat there silent until he said, "Okay, but be careful." "I will." She said before she walked outside of the shrine.

She descended down the steps before she stretched her arms up into the sky. 'I heard that there's a big lake around here. Maybe I could visit there.' She nodded to her thought before sprinting off towards the said lake. She jogged into the forest feeling the summer breeze blowing towards her way while the trees swayed to the wind. She continued to jog until she stopped panting for a little air. She looked up to see a big, crystal lake that has flowers surrounding the lake on its bank and a huge old tree sitting in the middle of the lake forming its roots into the water. The fireflies glowed white flying around the lake like little stars in the sky. "Wow, it's beautiful." She said amazed the lake's beauty. "It is isn't it?" a female voice said startling the unknowing girl. "Huh?" she turned around to see Kikyo walking out of the forest. "Oh, Kikyo, it's good to see you again!" she said happily while Kikyo walked over to her. "It's been a while, Kaname." She greeted too.

Inuyasha was sitting outside waiting for Kaname to return from her stroll in the forest. "Where is she?" he asked himself eyeing every part of the woods. "What's wrong, Inuyasha?" Kagome asked walking up behind the troubled half-demon. "Nothing." He replied not looking at her. "Come on, something's wrong and you're not telling me!" she argued holding her closed fists at her chest. "Like I said, it's nothing!" he yelled back irritated trying not to tell her anything. "It's Kaname, isn't it?" she asked lowering her hands down. He didn't say anything instead he stood up and started to run off. "Where are you going?" she asked watching him run off. He stopped and turned around answering her question, "I'm going to find Kaname." He turned around while Kagome said, "Hold on! I'm coming with you!" She ran after him and they both rushed off into the woods.

Kaname and Kikyo were sitting on a broken log watching the lake shine while talking along. Her soul collectors flew around the lake carrying the shining souls with them. "They say that this lake is a romantic spot for all couples and some say it holds water that can purify anything even demons." Kikyo said lying her bow and arrows near her. "Really?" she said amazed at the fact. They kept staring at the lake until Kikyo stood up from the log and walked towards the lake. "What are you doing, Kikyo?" she asked curiously standing up from the log and walking towards her to watch. "I'm collecting some water from this lake. The water could purify everyone, but it also has the power to heal serious illnesses." She explained carrying out a jar and dipped it into the water. "Wow, I've never anything like that." She said kneeling down beside Kikyo. She pulled it out and seeing it full of crystal blue water moving inside. "Maybe, I should collect some, too. Who knows what will happen on our journey." She said collecting the water inside of her jar as well.

Inuyasha and Kagome were running inside the forest trying to find Kaname. They both stopped before they looked around. "Kaname!" Kagome called out throughout the forest. She called again while Inuyasha tried to sniff out her scent. He sniffed a few times before he said, "I found her." "Really?" Kagome asked relieved. "Yes, and she's with someone, but who?" he said trying to sniff out the other scent. "Never mind that! Let's go follow her scent!" Kagome said changing the subject. He nodded before he ran off with her trailing behind him.

Kikyo sat beside the bank silently while Kaname placed her jar of lake water inside of her backpack. She walked back towards Kikyo and looked up at the sky. The stars were shining brightly until a small star shooting through the sky. "Oh, a wishing star!" she exclaimed happily at seeing the star. She closed her eyes and thought of her wish aloud in her head. She looked to see Kikyo not wishing her wish. "Kikyo, why aren't you thinking of your wish?" she asked sitting down beside her. "My wish will never become true." She said in her usual tone. "What wish is that?" she asked curious about the priestess's wish. "To be with Inuyasha, but except that he's with my reincarnation." She answered simply.

"Oh." Kaname was stumped by that. A moment of silence passed until Kaname said, "Well, you couldn't wish for that since it already came true." Kikyo looked at her weirdly and asked, "What?" "You see you wish that you could be with Inuyasha, but you can't do that since he's with Kagome. You're always with him buried deep in his heart. He still remembers you and loves you back, Kikyo even if he's in love with Kagome." She explained wisely. Kikyo looked weird before she smiled and said, "You're right, I'm still with him, deep in his heart. And he's with me buried in my heart. You're not half-bad, Kaname." They stayed like that until they heard something burst through the forest behind them.

"Oh, brother, so this is where you were!" Inuyasha said jumping out of the forest and landing behind them. Kagome ran out of the forest before she stood beside him asking worriedly, "Kaname, are you okay?" "I'm fine." She answered standing beside Kikyo. "What? Kikyo?" Inuyasha asked stunned by his dead friend. "It's been a while, Inuyasha." She greeted pulling her long bow in her hand. "Kikyo, what are you doing here?" he asked unnoticing the hurt Kagome. "I'm doing some business." She replied before she started to walk away. "Kikyo, where are you going?" he asked. "We'll meet again." She simply replied. "Kikyo." He whispered sadly before she disappeared into the forest again. Kagome was tearing up from watching Inuyasha and Kikyo together and Kaname didn't say anything at all. He started to leave while the two of them followed him back to the shrine.

When they got back, they were met up by their worried group. "Inuyasha, Kagome, Kaname, where have you've been?" Shippo asked worried for his comrades. "You've been gone for two hours, we've been worried." Sango told them with a concerned face. "Yes, what happened?" Miroku asked them. "Well…" Kaname started to say. "It's nothing." Inuyasha interrupted irritated by their questions. Kagome stayed silent while the others asked questions. "It's nothing! Now, let's get some rest! We have to travel tomorrow!" Inuyasha shouted angrily stomping and sat down to sleep. "What? Rest? We've already rested today?" Shippo exclaimed while Miroku covered his mouth and shook his head. "He's right, let's get some sleep." Miroku said lying down again with Sango and Shippo. Kagome walked over to her bed and went under the covers to sleep. Kaname looked at her and thought sadly, 'I hope Kagome's okay, Inuyasha really didn't mean to hurt her though. Maybe tomorrow, she'll be back to her old self in no time.' She slid under the covers and went to sleep.

TBC

That's the end of this chapter. What do you think? Send your thoughts on a review.