Chapter 2-Movement of the Tachi

Up and down, left and right. Kagome sighed as she watched InuYasha's ears twitch every which way. Shippou was on her shoulder watching his momma watch the hanyou and glared at him.

'Stupid mutt, wish he knew what he'd done to my momma, too bad Kouga left for Ayame, he'd show him what's right.'

"Hey momma?" Shippou asked in a whisper.

"Yes son?"

"Are you SURE you're ok with Ayame now? She didn't like you before…"

"Yes, I and Ayame are good friends now. All for the better that Kouga has finally decided to act on his promise."

Both son and mother fell silent remembering that day. They'd been high in the northern mountains trying to locate another Shikon shard when they'd "run into" Kouga. After an hour or so of him and InuYasha arguing as to whose woman Kagome was, Ayame the wolf princess had run in and beat both men til they were unconscious. Kagome had thanked Ayame and they talked until the boys groaned and sat up. After Ayame took Kouga off to talk he'd returned and apologized to Kagome but stated he'd loved Ayame and she'd always be his Sister.

Shippou sighed wishing for the millionth time that Kouga hadn't come to his senses, even though he knew it was for the best of all wolves of the north as well as the Northern Lands.

Kagome, after coming out of her memory, turned her head slightly so she could watch Sango and Miroku. Kirara was sitting in Sango's arms as she and the monk passed a green notebook back and forth. Assuming she'd be filled in at the next hot spring stop she ignored them and looked back at the hanyou.

As if sensing her eyes he stood straighter.

'I still can't believe that she wants to run off with Shippou… At least I'd have Kikyo in the group finally. Wonder what Sango and Miroku will do…. Probably take off too. Damn. I need Kikyo here to help.'

~Later~

They'd stopped near a hot spring as Kagome had predicted. What none of them knew, or, in InuYasha's case, remembered that they'd crossed into Sesshomaru's territory. The hanyou and monk were currently hunting and setting up the fire while the taijiya and miko were off bathing.

"So what were you two writing on the way here?" Kagome said rinsing her hair out.

"Just when we should leave, we both think that early tomorrow morning or late tonight would be best. Also what about your pack? That'd slow us down some but we could still take it if you need to." Sango said rinsing off her arms.

"We'll leave it; it's mostly stocked with ramen now since I've let schooling for the shard hunt. I even have a smaller black bag for medicinal supplies, as well as the miko and slayers garb you and Miroku gave me."

"What about the candy?" Shippou asked hesitantly from where he was floating in the water.

"There's room for that too." Kagome responded.

"Ok, so we leave tonight or tomorrow and the bag stays as do your old clothes so he can't track us." Sango said after getting out and beginning to put on her slayer outfit and kimono.

"Sounds good." Shippou said as Kagome nodded.

Sango nodded and took the bathing supplies with her as she walked towards camp. She knew that the miko and fox kit needed some time alone.

"So we're really leaving the baka?" Shippou asked hopefully.

"Yes my son we are." She said as she donned her clothing.

"You know it's gonna be weird to see you in normal clothes and not the future ones." Shippou said hopping into her arms.

"You'll get used to it, besides my mom knew I may not come back so there's no real reason for me to see the future for now."

"Won't you miss it though?"

"Won't she miss what?" came a gruff question from the trees.

"Nothing InuYasha." Kagome said sitting by the fire.

Sango and Miroku nodded to her and she immediately knew that they'd discussed what had been talked about at the hot springs.

After dinner InuYasha mentioned that he'd check the perimeter for demons, but after an hour and no hanyou the others knew it was time. Sango and Miroku transferred what they needed to from the yellow pack to the black one as Shippou and Kirara stood watch as Kagome changed. Stepping out from behind the trees Sango had gasped at seeing her sister.

"Kag… You look good." She said straightening herself after closing the black pack.

"Lady Kagome, I hardly recognized you." Miroku nodded his assent.

"Cool momma!" Was Shippou's response.

Kagome looked down at herself after placing her old clothes in the yellow pack and closing it. She was in a slayer outfit not unlike Sango's but instead of pink and black hers was silver and black. Outside of that she wore a Miko outfit with a dark blue haori and black hakama. The haori had a silver moon print around the collar and sleeves. She also had on black slayer boots lined in silver fur for warmth and comfort.

"Well, let's get going." She said.

Kirara immediately turned into her larger cat form and the others got on and rode her deeper into the land of the west.

~A few hours later~

A very content hanyou returned to camp to find no one but a dying fire and Kagome's yellow bag. He didn't think anything of it until dawn when there was still no one in sight.

"Kuso, they ALL left. At least I still have Kikyo." He said to no one.

Even though he turned and ran off to find the undead miko, he was still sad at the loss of his friends.

Little did everyone know, they weren't the only ones to know of or discover the leaving of the tachi.