As per usual, I don't own any of the characters of Inuyasha. I only use them for my own twisted pleasure on plot lines. And reviews are greatly appreciated!

"Hey, Inuyasha?" Sango asked as she approached the half-demon currently residing in her house. "We need to talk to you."

"Sango dear, please don't make that mistake. You're the only one who wants to talk to him. I personally think we'd be better off trying to find her."

The demon slayer sighed. They'd gone over it for the last several days. "Inuyasha, you need to go back to Kag-"

"Don't you DARE say her name!" Inuyasha jumped up, claws released, and ready to pounce on anything that moved. Miroku stood in front of his wife.

"Fine. You have to go to the time beyond the well. Her family must be worried - she didn't tell them where she was going. As a last favor to them, We," Miroku glared at her, "I think you should tell them. We don't know where she is right now and you're the only one who can cross the well."

Inuyasha shook his head. "I can't."

"Can't or won't?" The three friends turned to the little fox demon who just entered. "You're a coward, you know that Inuyasha? I heard from the villagers what happened. So what if she's mated to your brother? You love her, don't you? And her family's never done anything to you. In fact, they acted like the family you never had. And this is how you repay them? By not telling them of their daughter's happiness? That's a new low even for you."

Miroku, and after a moment, Sango, followed Shippo out of the hut. Inuyasha sat in the corner until nightfall, when he snuck out of the village and jumped into the well.

Three years later...

Kagome let the furs slip down from her body as she stretched in the early morning sunlight. Jaken had taken Rin to a nearby village for "educational purposes". Sesshomaru just wanted some alone time with his mate. He groaned. "Come back to bed. It's too early. Jaken and Rin won't be back for several more hours."

Her joints creaked as she gathered her clothes, contrary to what Sesshomaru was telling her to do. "Sorry. There's somewhere we need to go, but I need to gather some supplies before we can leave."

This bold declaration caused him to sit up. "What? You haven't told me anything about this? Where are we going?"

She didn't respond. She didn't know how to. The silence dragged on until Sesshomaru stood and wrapped his arms around his mate. His warm breath rustled her hair and she sighed. "We need to visit my family. It's been three years since I left."

He nodded and absentmindedly rubbed her slightly swollen belly. "Alright. But will the well be open?"

She sighed. It was a long shot, but it was one she needed to take. Although she loved Sesshomaru and Rin dearly, (and Jaken wasn't that bad) her family would be worried sick as it was. They needed to know she had chosen the Feudal Era and loved it with all her heart. She had no regrets.

Except one.

Her mind flashed back to that day and her hands clenched Sesshomaru's as she remembered. It was only one fight it the hundreds they'd had, but it was their last one. Inuyasha hadn't been seen since, and not even Sesshomaru's expert tracking had yielded any results.

The hope that she still held that her once best friend was okay still burned. Barely, but it was still there. She hoped that by visiting her family that hole might be filled, even if it wasn't by him.

Kagome pulled herself from the loving embrace of her mate and started packing. They wouldn't need much, but she wanted the important stuff, like the antique clay jar she had found in an abandoned shrine a couple months ago. Her grandfather would love it.

With everything ready to go, Kagome grabbed Sesshomaru's hand and they started off towards Kaede's village.

Sango was startled awake by a tapping on the hut's wall, and Kagome walked in after a moment. "Hey Sango. I'm sorry if I woke you. Miroku said it was okay for me to come in."

The demon slayer shook her head. Even after the occasional visits spanning three years, she still couldn't get over the changes in Kagome. It was more than just her appearance; there was a sense of elegance deeply rooted into her now. "It's fine. I needed to get up anyway. What's up?"

The twenty year old girl just took a deep breath. "I'm...worried. It's been three years. The well should be open for the next two weeks, right?" Sango nodded. That was the theory anyway. "But what if it isn't? What if we do cross over but can't get back? Rin and Jaken know we left, but I told them we'd only be gone for a few days, a week at most."

There was nothing Sango could say that could make her friend feel better. "You knew this already. It's a risk you have to be willing to take. You want to see your family again, don't you?" Kagome nodded. "The well will stay open. And if it doesn't, Miroku and I will take in Rin. Takeshi could use a friend."

Kagome nodded and smiled slightly. Takeshi, Sango's son, was a bursting ball of energy. The girl would probably be used as a babysitter more than anything else. "You're right. It's something I need to do." She stood and took a deep breath. "Thank you for everything." The two friends hugged before parting.

Her mate was waiting for her outside the hut. He silently held out his hand and they walked to Inuyasha's Forest.

It had been kept it pretty good condition, mostly thanks to the work of Sango and Miroku. Unlike the first time she had come through the well, all those years ago, the ancient wood was free of ivy. Grass surrounding it was trimmed, probably by Kilala's endless munching. It really touched Kagome that her friends worked so hard for her. When they got back, Kagome would make sure repaid their kindness. Maybe babysit sometimes. And it would be nice to see them on a regular basis...

Sesshomaru squeezed her hand. "Are you ready for this?" She nodded and took a steadying breath as her mate tossed her into his arms. Without waiting for encouragement he jumped into the endless darkness of the Bone Eater's Well.