Chapter 3

The pair stepped out of the taxi, hauling their luggage onto the pavement below the grand steps of the Higurashi Shrine. "So this is your home huh? If you'd warned me there were this many stairs then I am almost one hundred percent certain that I would not have agreed to this!" Kazue joked, throwing her his usual smirk and wink as she nudged him playfully. "C'mon, best get going". Kagome started ahead of him, dragging one of their bags slowly up the seemingly endless steps. Pausing briefly, she turned to look at him. "Are you nervous?" She asked. "I've been so focused on my own feelings about returning that I forgot that you haven't even met my family yet!" Seeing her growing look of concern he chuckled, reaching up a couple of steps and grabbing her hand in reassurance. "Don't go worrying about me Kagome, I'm fine. Or at least I will be as long as they don't hate me! Now let's go". Simultaneously frowning at her fiancé and letting out a concerned mumble, she nevertheless turned and continued up the steps.

Once they'd reached the top, Kagome's grip on her bag loosened, letting it fall onto the stone floor. Being here…it was like a strong gust of wind had just crashed into her chest, leaving her vulnerable, weak, and prone to reliving her past heartbreak. The breath caught in her throat as she took in the all too familiar surroundings of the shrine. It wasn't even the well house that had drawn her attention most however. It was the Goshinboku; the sacred tree. The tree at which all those years ago, her younger self had found herself intertwined with a beautiful, sleeping half-demon. The half-demon that would become the love of her life.

'No!' The woman gasped, taking a sharp intake of breath. 'Not anymore. We just weren't meant to be'. But still, the thought could not stop her from slowly approaching the tree, ignoring the confused calls of her partner in the distance. Once close enough, she tentatively placed a shaking hand on the body of the tree, immediately feeling a barrage of powerful emotions hitting her all at once, making her knees weak. 'Oh gods, I'm not ready for this! This is too much!' she let out a weak sob as her legs gave way and she hit the ground beneath the sacred tree. 'Oh Inuyasha, are you there? Can you feel me here?' Her sobs continued as she felt her hands dig into the soil, a meagre attempt to reach him.

Unbeknownst to Kagome in her somewhat distraught state, hearing the commotion Mrs Higurashi had stepped out to investigate its source. "Oh, Kagome!" Worry washed across her defined features as she spotted her strong-willed daughter sobbing at the base of a tree. Her vision then turned to the young man, who looked just as confused as she felt. "You must be Kazue" she approached him quickly. "Did something happen?" she turned her eyes back to her daughter, whose cries had now hushed somewhat. "N-no, not that I saw? She just reached the top of the steps and just kind of…I don't know how to explain it she just, got like this" he gestured to the girl, now sitting silently by the tree, arms wrapped around herself. Mrs Higurashi nodded and sighed. "I feared this may happen, it's been so long since she's been here" she trailed off, Kazue nodding in understanding, despite the confusion evident in his eyes. The worried mother walked swiftly towards her daughter, kneeling down before her to make eye contact. "Kagome? My sweet girl, come here". The older woman pulled her into a tight embrace, making up for the time that they had been apart. Kagome looked up slowly into her mother's warm eyes. "Mom" her voice wavered, "oh mom I've missed you so much!" She held her mother tightly, feeling the woman run a hand gently through her hair. Kissing her lightly on the forehead, the woman rose. "Come on, let's get you inside. We have a lot of catching up to do".

'Well that was definitely not how I wanted to start this trip', Kagome sighed, head in her hands as she sat on her old bed. 'I don't know what came over me. I'm stronger than that…and I don't live in the past anymore'. She rose, the usual look of determination returning to her face. 'Okay, at least it's out of my system now. Might as well go downstairs – can't get any worse I suppose!'.

Heading into the corridor and down the stairs she glimpsed Kazue sitting at the table with her mother, gramps and brother. She let out a breath of relief that she didn't know she was holding – thank the gods they were getting along. All heads turned as she entered the room, followed by cries of "Kagome!" and "sis!". Kazue stood, grabbing her hand as he gently pulled her down to sit next to him.

"Are you all right Kagome?" the question echoed, repeated by both her mother and fiancé. Nodding to both, she took a sip of the water placed before her and somewhat relaxed. "I'm fine now, thank you. Sorry about that. How is everyone? What's been going on?" Her voice became more excited as she realised that she was finally here with her family, finally able to hear what was going on in their lives. After some recounts of gramps' hospital trips and Souta's school life she had become more relaxed, giggling at some of their stupid stories and comments. Mrs Higurashi sighed happily; it was good to have her daughter home.

After her family had run out of stories, Kagome decided to move on to tell them about her life. "So you all met Kazue when I was upstairs right? Did he tell you much about us?" he took a glance her way and gave her a small smile, shaking his head. Kagome's mother spoke, "only that you two met during your time in University – we'd be happy to hear more if you'll tell us!" She exclaimed, smiling at the pair. "Okay, so we met when…"

"Well, it certainly sounds like you two have had a wonderful time together! I wish we had some kind of excitement around here!" Kagome's mom chuckled. "Yep, it's certainly been something", the girl laughed. She glanced questioningly at Kazue, wondering with her eyes whether now was the right time to tell them about their news, and was greeted with a nod and gentle hand squeeze.

"Okay, so actually, there was a reason we came here", Kagome paused briefly, waiting for everyone's attention. "What is it dear? Is everything okay?" Her mother's eyes turned worried again, searching her daughter for information. "Everything's fine mom, it's just…" she held out her hand before she continued, hoping the gleaming ring on her finger would clue them in. "We're engaged!"

"Oh Kagome! That's wonderful!" Her mother stood and pulled them both into a tight hug. "Congratulations you two, I'm so happy for you both!"

"Yeah, congrats sis! That's awesome!" Souta added, patting them both on the back and smiling. "Yes, yes congratulations both", gramps stood, stretching, "but can we leave the celebrations until morning? It's way past my bedtime!"

"Now are you sure you're okay?" Kazue leaned over her as they lay in her old bed, planting soft kisses around her face and making her giggle softly. "I'm fine, sorry for worrying you". Kagome kissed him back, pushing him off her gently. "But I am extremely worn out. Let's get some sleep". He nodded his agreement, kissing her goodnight before rolling over and soon falling into a deep slumber.

As much as Kagome wished she could follow him, she knew she could not. She lay on her back staring at the ceiling, her eyes wandering sadly between the desk where she used to keep the Shikon Jewel shards as she studied, and the window where she would often get a half-demon visitor to keep her company.

Propping herself up on her elbows she sighed, giving Kazue a quick kiss on the forehead as she rolled carefully over him to get out of the bed. Throwing a quick glance out of the window, she undressed and put her green dress back on, along with a baggy, fur-lined denim jacket for warmth. Tiptoeing downstairs she quietly put on her light brown lace-up boots and unlocked the front door as quietly as she could, creeping outside quickly.

Sighing as she left the house, she felt herself wandering to the place where it had both begun and ended so suddenly. Gently prising open the door of the well house, she felt her heartbeat quicken as millions of thoughts flooded through her mind. 'This is stupid'. Gathering her courage she slowly entered the building where the sacred well was housed. Seeing it made her heart stop, yet her breathing quicken. 'What am I doing here…' she trailed one hand slowly over the edge of the sacred well, knowing in her heart that she already knew the answer to that question. 'Of course…it's you, that's why I'm here. That's why I've always been here'. Guilt flowed through her just at that thought. 'I'm sorry Kazue…I really do love you, but…' her hand tensed and gripped the side of the well hard. 'I want, I need to see you Inuyasha…please!'

And as though someone had heard her prayer, she felt it. Immediately she felt it, the sudden jolt of energy rising from deep within the well, and she knew that for some reason, at this exact moment, she could go – she could see him. Without a second thought she climbed, only stopping to whisper a guilt-burdened 'I'm sorry Kazue' before turning, once again jumping into the void for no other reason but to once again see his smouldering amber eyes.

'Inuyasha'.

Inu will FINALLY be in the next chapter. Thank god!