Disclaimer: I'm poor. How can I own Inuyasha and all the other characters? Not yet anyway.
A/N: Thanks again for all the reviews! I'm updating the chapters as soon as I can, and trying to make them longer. I hope you like the story so far. Now to pay homage to my reviewers.
Mina Ravenclaw - I think the personalities are fitting pretty well with the characters, too. I'll update ASAP.
Ferlooka - I'll plan on putting more of Miroku and Sango in the next few chapters. Thanks for the suggestion!
aya143 - Thanks so much for the 2 reviews! I re-read the chapters so many times and add more detail wherever I can to make it longer and put a better picture in the reader's head. I'm glad it'sworking!
trekker4life - Thanks for the corrections! I'm glad you spotted those. I took the advice and changed Wind Tunnel to Kazaana, and you're right - it does look better. Thanks again!
japanesegirl101 - Yes..very suspenseful. I think it keeps the story interesting. Thanks for the second review!
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Chapter 3 - Kikyou's Return
Kaede threw another stick into the blazing fire. Kagome and Sango were sitting restlessly next to the heat that was warming the entire hut. The absence of Inuyasha perturbed them. Miroku had long gone in search of the hanyou, and had yet to return. They had no notion where the two of them had gone or when they would return.Miroku had made Sango promise to stay and watch over Kagome.
"Sango, I need you to stay and keep an eye on Kagome-sama while I search for Inuyasha. After our ordeal earlier, it wouldn't be wise to leave her alone." The houshi gazed at her with serious eyesThe events that day had left them all exhausted.
"I understand. But hurry back." The taijiya gazed sadly after Miroku, who began walking furtively to the forest.Sango ambled hurriedly to Kaede's hut and found Kagome kneeling with her hands on her lap. She went to sit by her, wrapping her arms around the young miko who began gazing wearily into the growing embers. They sat comfortably together, thoughts whirling in their heads as they waited for the arrival of Inuyasha and Miroku.
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Inuyasha jumped higher into the old tree he had found. He had run for what seemed like forever in the seemingly never ending forest. Upon reaching a sturdy branch, he nestled his back against the trunk. His amber eyes stared off into the distance, in the direction of Kaede's village. Sooner or later, they would come in pursuit of him.Kagome was the only thing he was thinking of the whole time. Thoughts of her raced through his mind - what might happen if Naraku somehow managed...he began shaking his head furiously. "He won't lay a finger on Kagome. I'll make sure of that."
Deep in thought, the hanyou had not noticed that Miroku was standing under the branches of the tree.He was snapped out of his thoughts when a twig cracked. A downwards glance told him that Miroku had made the noise, most likely on purpose to get his attention. Inuyasha growled before lowering himself stealthily to the ground. "Is something wrong?" Inuyasha inquired, rather standoffish.
"Kagome-sama has been wondering of your absence. You disappeared earlier and have yet to return," the houshi remarked.The sun was slowly setting in the horizon as the sky turned into a rainbow of colors.The temperature outside was steadily dropping as well, and everybody at the hut was awaiting their arrival.
"Keh. I'll return whenever I damn well feel like it," Inuyasha muttered as he crossed his arms defiantly over his chest. Amber orbs flicked dangerously at Miroku. He was in one of his moods, and didn't feel like being confronted.
"Whatever you say, Inuyasha. I will inform Kagome-sama you are to return later." With a wave of his hand, Miroku thrashed at the underbrush blocking the path with his staff. The rings were making a light, metallic sound that echoed throughout the trees. The scowling hanyou watched him depart, left behind with his arms crossed.
As soon as Miroku left, Inuyasha sat down in a huff, cross-legged under the towering tree. He closed his eyes and leaned back, the silent wind carrying his silver locks with it. Guilt was growing inside him. The hanyou's growl was sounding deep in his throat. Finally giving in to his instincts, Inuyasha stood up angrily and buried his hands in his kimono. He trudged through the thickets and glanced at the surrounding around him stubbornly. "Dammit, Kagome."
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Kagome stood up indignantly and clenched her fists at her side. "Where is he?" Sango and Miroku looked up at her in questionable surprise. Miroku frowned when he realized when she was talking about Inuyasha, who still had yet to return.
"I'm sure he'll be here soon, Kagome-chan," Sango reassured her. "He has a lot on his mind. What with the fight this morning, and Naraku." The taijiya gazed at her softly, nothing but care and remorse for Kagome.
Miroku put down his tea as Kagome stomped outside. "I believe she's worried about him. It seems she's growing rather impatient..." He sighed heavily, putting his hands unceremoniously in his lap. "If he doesn't hurry, he's going to be buried quite deep in the ground," he said, referring to Kagome's powers of subjugation.
"Can you blame her? Inuyasha just disappears whenever he wants without a word to anybody." Sango shook her head sadly and closed her chocolate brown eyes. "I don't know how she puts up with him."
Shippou climbed onto Sango's lap, looking rather disheveled and tired. "Kagome's going to be furious when he gets back." That was the last thing he said before he began softly snoring in Sango's lap.
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Kagome crossed her arms over her chest as her eyes scanned the area around the village, looking for any sign of Inuyasha. Where is he? Thoughts began to swirl in her mind as she imagined what could've happened to him. She shook her head and bit her lower lip, worry taking over again.Stop that! He's a hanyou, he can take care of himself. Maybe I should just go for a walk. That might help clear my head. Without bothering to speak to Miroku and Sango of her whereabouts for the next few hours, her legs carried her out of the village and towards the forest.
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Inuyasha sauntered into Kaede's hut, sitting cross-legged on the ground. Sango and Miroku turned their heads to look at him, curiosity brimming in their eyes. Growling intolerantly, he turned his head and stared back at the pair of them angrily. "Are you gonna sit there and stare at me or tell me what your problem is?"
"Did you talk to Kagome-sama?" Miroku inquired, sipping his tea once again. His violet eyes locked on Inuyasha, as if trying to read his thoughts.
"Would you stop staring at me, houshi? And no, I haven't talked to her. Where is the wench anyway?" He leaned forward, hands on his knees and a dangerous darkness to his golden eyes. His ears lay flat against his head, sensing the tension in the room. "Well, where is she?"
"You haven't seen her?" Sango asked anxiously, apprehension clouding her eyes. "She left earlier, we thought she went looking for you." Kirara padded over to her, letting out a soft mew as she sat on her hind legs and tilted her blood-red eyes upwards.
Inuyasha slammed his fists into the wooden floor with great acrimony. Without another word, he ran out of the hut, ceasing abruptly only to sniff the air. I can't pick up her scent. Eyes darting, he began sprinting again, towards the only place he could think of. Is she at the well?
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Kagome held her hand furtively to her chest, anxiety clawing at her insides. "Maybe I should've spoke to Sango-chan..." Her head snapped up when she heard a hissing whisper like noise. Glancing far to her side, she caught sight of a greenish-white color of a snake-like yokai that was gliding through the trees. "Does that mean Kikyou's around here?" Curiosity grew inside her. Unable to resist the temptation, she began running silently after the shinidamachu. Curiosity killed the cat. But still... Kagome's breath came in short gasps as she stepped into a clearing, the area where the shinidamachu were wafting in circles around a tree. The sight before her was surprising, but that feeling soon began ebbing away. The physically dead miko and Inuyasha's old lover, Kikyou, was sitting on a low branch of an old oak tree. Her eyes were closed, her mouth set in a thin line. She looks so peaceful...and sad. Kagome took a few instinctive steps forward, but stopped dead in her tracks when Kikyou's eyes unanticipatedly opened.
"Kikyou?" Kagome's voice came out in a whisper, the monotonous word echoing quietly throughout the clearing.Her eyes rapidly blinked, comprehending the fact that Kikyou was laying right in front of her.
A smirk crept to Kikyou's face as she climbed out of the old oak. She cupped Kagome's chin gently in her hand. She was now looking eye-to-eye with the young miko, who was still in a bewildered state.
"W..what are you doing here?" Kagome raised her voice slightly, trying her best not to sound nervous or confused.
Kikyou didn't reply to her feeble question. Instead, she turned her back towards Kagome and let her shinidamachu circle her now outstretched arms. "I should be asking you the same question." Without an explanation, she began walking back into the forest. Her appearance began to fade, as if a dense fog was engulfing her.Soon she had completely disappeared. Kagome sank to her knees on the ground, chocolate eyes widening and staring after the long gone Kikyou.
"What was that all about?" She mumbled the question quietly to herself. She began shaking her head to try and rid herself of all the perplexity. Without another word and head bowed, she walked back into the forest, the path from Kaede's village leading the way.
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Inuyasha came to a halt, once again sniffing the air. Finally. He changed directions and sprinted at top speed, only a red blur in the trees. Kagome had been around here.
When he found her walking on the path, head down, he immediately ran in front of her and blocked her way. She looked up and into his amber eyes, relief spreading through her body. A smile broke on her face and she wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace. "Inuyasha...I was worried...so I went out looking for you."
He growled slightly and held her tight against him, his hands running through her silky raven tresses. "Stupid wench, you should've stayed in the old hag's village."
"I know, I'm sorry." Her apology was sincere, and she suddenly broke the embrace to step back and look him straight in the eyes. "What were you doing anyway?" She demanded, suddenly upset.
"Feh, it's none of your business," Inuyasha replied as he turned away from her, arms crossed.
"What do you mean? I spent half the day worrying about you because you didn't tell me where you were!" Kagome put her hands on her hips as anger flashed in her eyes. I can't believe the nerve of that guy!
"I went out for a few hours. What's the problem?" He had turned completely now, his back to her.
"I give up!" Exasperated, Kagome began trekking her way back to the village, fists clenched at her sides, muttering something about hanyous and stubbornness.
Inuyasha, not about to leave her alone again, began following behind her. He scowled deeply, but found himself staring at her back. How did she come to mean so much to me?
Miroku and Sango, who had quietly followed Inuyasha, stood up now that they were a safe distance away.
"At least she didn't sit him," Sango said nonchalantly. She blinked in confusion after the couple, clearly upset at each other, but equally glad to be in each other's presence.
Miroku sighed and scratched his head. "I don't understand it," he replied as he was calmly stroking Sango's backside. His expression showed innocence equal to a young boy.
"HENTAI!" The yell, and the slap followed afterward, echoed between the trees. "Could you get your mind out of the gutter for one second?" Miroku rubbed his smarting cheek and held his hands up in surrender. "You mistake my intentions! I was merely checking your flawless body for any signs of harm from earlier."
Sango crossed her arms as her mouth twitched in disgust. "Oh please, I know of your intentions. Don't try and pass that off on me." Kirara transformed into her larger form and waited for them to climb on her back. Sango threw her leg over Kirara and sighed. "Hurry up, Miroku. We have to get back to the village before Inuyasha does."
"You're right. If he finds out we were smiling, we would be in for a severe punishment, I'm sure." Saying this, he nestled himself behind Sango and wrapped his arms around her. Before departing, however, Miroku had another red spot on his face in the shape of a hand. "It's this cursed hand!"
Sango muttered something about hentai to herself as Kirara ascended gracefully of the ground. Her muscles stretched as she more or less ran through the air back to Kaede's village.
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A/N: I know, not a great chapter. Kind of short. Forgive me, I'll make the next one longer. I was in such a hurry. It took me forever to post, and I'm sorry for that. I'll try my best to get the next one up faster. Make me happy and review.