Chapter 3: Getting to know you

The next day the group set out on their journey. They traveled non stop through the day when they stopped to make camp the girls went to go bathe. The boys sat around the fire and were having light conversation. Suddenly Inuyasha's ears started to twitch.

"What is it son?" Inutashio asked looking at his son waiting to hear what dangers were coming. He didn't sense any powerful demons near.

"Nothing...I...I'll be back…" That's when Miroku saw the soul stealer.

Inuyasha was out of ears reach or he was far enough way that he wasn't interested in what he was saying.

"Oh no...she came back." Miroku admitted out loud.

"Who?" Inutashio was curious to what would make his son suddenly leave without a word.

"Kikyo." Shippo said with a defeated voice. "I hope Kagome doesn't find out. I don't want her sad again."

"Who is this Kikyo?" The boys looked at each other then looked back but stopped before speaking.

"Kikyo is the woman your son loves." Kagome had returned to the fire with Sango and Izayoi. She had a sad look on her face. "Naraku many years ago pinned the two against each other. Naraku killed Kikyo disguised as Inuyasha and Kikyo pinned him to a tree for 50 years."

Inutashio could hear the hurt in every word she spoke. This was a sensitive subject. He always sympathized with humans for their capacity to love but she was tortured in her voice.

"How did Inuyasha become unpinned from the tree?" Izayoi asked.

"That's when Kagome comes into the picture." Shippo said. Kagome had turned her back to the group and starred in the direction Inuyasha had gone. She could feel her. She was near. She did that on purpose, she wanted her to feel her and know he was with her.

"How?" Inutashio was curious about this woman. In all the time he had spent with her and his son she was the one that held his heart. Why was he going to another? Why leave this woman in this state. He knew his son could feel her heartbreak.

"My family lives by the shrine that holds the bone eaters well. One day a centipede demon pulled me from my time because I held the sacred jewel in my body. I am the reincarnation of Kikyo." Kagome didn't miss a beat. She was swift with turning around and looking at Sango.

"Sango will you take me to the well. We are only a half and hour from Kaeda's village. I have a test I just remembered. And by the feeling of that meeting he won't want me around.

"Yes, but are you sure. He doesn't like you going home without him knowing." Kagome looked at her and simply said, "Well he'll have to get over it. Izayoi and Inutashio, it has been a pleasure meeting you. I hope to travel with you when I return."

She climbed on Kiara and they were off. Izayio looked at her mate and sighed. 'What is happening with couple?' She thought.

Hours passed and Inuyasha returned to the group. He didn't look at anyone. He went to the tree and sat up there sulking. It was 20 minutes when he noticed a scent was missing. He looked down and she wasn't there. He jumped down.

"Where is she?"

Miroku looked up at him and refused to tell him. Why should he. He ran off with the dead miko all the time and expected Kagome to wait and be ok with it.

"Son, who is this woman you went to see?" Inutashio asked looking at his son.

"YOU TOLD HIM!" Inuyasha was furious. 'How dare he tell them that!' He thought.

"I did not tell him anything….Kagome did." Miroku said calmly.

"How did she know?" Inuyasha was now panic if she knew he went to go see her it was was going to be hard to get her back.

"Inuyasha it wasn't hard to feel her presence. It was rather strong." Miroku said in a matter fact tone.

"Shit! Did she go back home?" Inuyasha was now upset enough you could see it.

"Dear she did. She said she would return in a couple of days. She said you wouldn't want to see her for a couple of days. Why would she say that?" Izayoi moved to her son. He draped his bangs over his eyes. He was upset, angry and lonely when she was gone.

"Before Kagome...Kikyo was the only person who cared. When she died it was because of me." Inuyasha went through his history with Kikyo and the Naraku. His parents listened to every word.

"So this...Kikyo is not human? Correct?" Inutashio asked looking at his son with understanding eyes.

"Yes. She is in a clay body. But it was my fault she died. It's my fault she still roams this Earth. I am responsible for her and I owe her my life. I am to return to hell with her." Inuyasha didn't want to look at his parents when he said that last bit.

"No." Izayoi sternly replied.

"Mate?" Inutashio had never heard that tone out of his mate.

"No. You do not owe her anything. She was killed, and that is tragic but you are alive she is not. If she wants to make a self request it is not your responsibility to oblige. No." Izayoi moved for Inuyasha's hand.

"If she was to return right now, how would your heart feel?" Inuyasha pondered his mother's question.

Well he wouldn't feel any joy with Kikyo, just loneliness and regrets. His ears flattened to his head.

"Son, if she doesn't bring joy why be with her? You mother is my heart. The thought of her hurting like your young miko just did when you left would have killed me. That woman has a heart of gold and was thinking of you the entire time. She left because she thought YOU could not stand seeing her. I didn't know what she meant until she told me she was Kikyo's reincarnation. Obviously the soul that was Kikyo but is now Kagome is the soul that is destined for you." Inuyasha looked at his father who was right. Kagome had become his world. He had thought of her on a different level of intimacy for a while now. He couldn't get enough of her body and her mind. She was home. He knew that. But how could he condemn that wonderful woman to a life with a half demon.

"Now you are not going to tell me no. We are going to go get that young woman. 1. Because you need to go get her back and 2. I want to know her better since she is your destined mate." Izayoi started to walk in the direction Sango and Kagome flew off.

"Mom!?"

"No….Son…..Don't argue. When she has her mind set you just go with it. Plus she's not wrong. I knew she was your destined mate on the mountain. She is very powerful miko even if she doesn't know her power yet, and she has you." Inutashio patted Inuyasha on his shoulder and began to walk towards his wife.

Miroku and Shippo silently followed just happy someone was able to talk some sense into Inuyasha.

500 years in the future.

Kagome looked at her well. It had been 2 days like promised she was about to go back. But she couldn't just yet. She couldn't face that sad look on his face of his guilt with being with her. 'NO!' She thought, 'I won't let him have that look.' She felt something wet hit her hands that were leaning against the rim of well. She didn't realize she was crying. Five years with him and he was still making her cry. Nineteen years old and he was making her feel like that same high schooler that was always upset and betrayed by his action. Kagome wiped her face and took a deep breath in. 'Ok.' She thought, then jumped into the well.

As she got out of the well she noticed the bloom was hitting early this year. She took a moment to take in the peace of the wind blowing the wonderful wildflower scent around her. But the peace was taken away in a split second.

"Kagome? Can….can we talk?" Inuyasha moved closer to her and she looked down. 'Do I want to?' Kagome thought.