Last Time:
The long awaited, yet familiar, feeling of floating through the Era's hit her and her tears picked up. She had missed this.

Will this return be the same as the last one? Will the same circumstances arise?

Now:
The fresh air of the Feudal Era and the bright sunlight as it beat down were the first things that Kagome registered as the God's magic faded. The humming under her skin told her that the well wasn't closed this time and she jumped for joy. She did a small dance of victory before she found the familiar rope that led up.

She grabbed on and began to climb but realized something felt different. She paused mid climb to look at her hand. There, on the back of her hand was a fresh wound that she did not have earlier. In fact, she had not had this wound in…

She hurried up and out of the well.

"Oi! There you are!" Inuyasha called out. He dropped down from a tree and kicked at Miroku and Sango who were asleep on opposite sides of the trunk – unusual since they normally leaned against one another to sleep sitting up. "Wake up, she's back!"

"Inuyasha!" Kagome dropped her bag and rushed forward. She jumped into his arms as she got closer, but he froze at the contact.

"Hey wench, get off me!" He screeched. She laughed as she stepped back.

She ran a hand through her hair and paused. "I think I need a mirror." She mumbled. Her hair was shorter than she remembered.

She ran back to her bag as Inuyasha continued to rouse the rest of the group. She dug in it and pulled out a mirror. She gasped as she caught her reflection. The mirror slipped through her numb fingers.

"Kagome?" Sango approached.

Kagome lifted her head and turned back to the group.

"How long have I been gone?" She asked.

"Kirara dropped you off around midnight, so, almost ten hours."

Miroku dashed forward and caught Kagome as she collapsed. He sat with her and pulled her into his lap. Inuyasha gave him a look but didn't dispute it.

"Kagome?"

"I was gone… for ten years…" Her voice was soft, she surprised herself that she could hear it. She had not meant to let that slip.

"Explain yourself!" Inuyasha demanded as he dropped down to all fours before her.

She looked up and Miroku tightened his hold on her when he saw the broken girl in front of him.

"Can you give us some space, Inuyasha?" He glanced at his friend, but his look broke no arguments. Inuyasha shivered at the cold look in Miroku's eyes.

"Tch, fine. I'll be back later."

"You too, Sango. Take Shippo and Kirara. Something's wrong and I think she needs time to process."

"Wouldn't I be better at help-"

"No." His tone matched his eyes as he turned them on her, and she understood why Inuyasha took off as fast as he did. She opened her mouth to argue but he no longer looked at her. He had dropped his cold gaze back to the girl in his arms. His eyes warmed as they settled on the young girl in his arms.

"Something happened between you two, didn't it?" She kneeled down next to him.

He shook his head, "No. But something happened between you and I. That's why I need to speak with her alone."

She snatched her outreached hand back as if burnt. She stood and moved away without another word. Kirara and Shippo hesitated before they followed the Taijiya from the well's clearing.

He waited and listened before he nudged her.

"They are gone, Kagome." His voice was gentle and warm with her, the malice he held toward Inuyasha and Sango no longer present in his voice. She stirred at his words and sighed.

"I'm sorry, I seem to have lost myself…"

"No worries. Here, sit up and let me see your arm."

He assisted her in moving from his lap then took her dominant arm in his bigger hand. She watched him for a moment as she gathered her thoughts.

"Before I do, there's something you aren't telling me. If I confide in you, I need you to confide in me."

He startled. He looked around to see if any of their companions had skipped his notice. He jolted in shock as he felt her aura expand from her and surround them in a small intimate barrier.

"They won't be able to hear us." She smiled up at him. She had forgotten how much taller he was.

"I really don't want to tell you though. I know how… fond of Inuyasha you are."

The downcast expression paused her immediate response. He looked away from her. She placed a hand to his cheek. He startled again and his eyes flew to hers.

"Ka… Kagome?"

"Miroku, it's ok. I will be ok."

He hesitated, "I found out that… Sango…" His dark eyes filled with tears and he choked on a sob. She stroked his cheek with her thumb. He doubled over and she pulled his head to her chest as she embraced the sobbing man. Her heart ached at the implication but more so at the broken man in her arms. They sat for a while after he had stopped sobbing.

When he sat up he wiped his eyes. He smiled and she watched as his mask slid back over his face.

"Miroku, don't hide from me."

He blinked then looked away. His shoulders slumped.

"I never could hide from you."