CHAPTER 2 - Revised 11/12/18

She landed at the bottom of the well and looked up to see clear blue sky. She was back. Bracing herself along the wall of the well, she made her way out. As she neared the top, a shadow peered over the edge. The sun was blinding. She could not make out the person's face, but suddenly a clawed hand reached for her.

It was nostalgic. Memories of Inuyasha helping her out of the well flashed before her eyes and instinctively, she grasped the hand and allowed the gentle pull.

She plopped her bag on the grass beside the well and as she looked up, she was met with green eyes. The boy before her had long red hair tied back into a high ponytail. He wore a hakama like Inuyasha except it was blue and slimmer in design. He wore armor that reminded her of Sesshomaru.

At the corner of her eye, she noticed something move behind him. A reddish brown tail…fox youkai.

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He was on his way back to the slayer village, running in full stride when he caught a scent coming from the east. Changing his direction, he headed to the location of the strange scent and arrived at the clearing overlooking the old well. Breathing in, he tried to search for the owner when a scraping sound resounded from the well.

He bound towards the old well and peered inside. The scent was much stronger. Something was moving down in the dark depths. As it was climbing out and that's when he saw black tresses. A woman in strange clothes…'That's…'

She neared the top and looked up. Her bright blue eyes stared up into the sunlight. She looked like her and he immediately leaned into the well and reached for her. Taking his hand, he lifted her out of the well being careful of his claws. She braced herself on the lip and dropped her large yellow backpack onto the grass. He knew that bag from all the past adventures that they had been on. It had always carried snacks for him and always had plenty of ramen for Inuyasha.

When she looked at him, this time her familiar blue eyes meeting his..

Her hair was so much longer then he remembered. It almost rivaled Sango's. She no longer wore her school uniform, as she called it. She wore a yellow shirt and skin tight light blue pants that looked to be cut short showing her thighs just as her skirt had before.

This was not the young girl he remembered. She had grown into a woman.

"Kagome…"

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"Kagome…" He muttered. He looked to be thirteen or fourteen years old. He was slim yet fit for a young boy.

It had to be...It was him. "Shippo?!" Part of her just couldn't believe it until he returned her revelation with a nostalgic toothy grin.

He chuckled, just like Inuyasha, and pulled her to him in a tight embrace. She wrapped her arms around his neck. He was as tall as her now. She felt him press his nose into her hair and breathed in. "It is you." He pulled back and looked her over again. "You're back!"

They couldn't contain the laughter that bubbled up from their excitement. "You're so big." She reached up and ruffled his bangs.

He blushed at her comment. "Of course. I'm not going to stay small for six years.." He grabbed her backpack and slung it over his shoulder. "Let's go! I'm sure you miss everyone!" He took her hand and tugged her behind him. "Sango will be so glad to see you...and Miroku!" Before she could ask, he turned to her and smiled. "And of course Inuyasha! So much has happened since the well closed."

Kagome felt her heart flutter in her chest. She was excited and nervous to see the changes in her friends. Would they be able to be as close as they were before. What about Inuyasha? "How is everyone?"

Shippo looked over his shoulder as he pulled her along. Still smiling. "Sango and Miroku are married. They have two girls, twins. Ume and Sayuri. They are five years old. Kazuki, their son is three years old. The girls are a handful. Very free spirited like Sango. Kazuki is strong like his mother and has holy abilities like his father." The fox chuckled and she laughed with him. She couldn't wait to see them.

"Inuyasha predicts he will better his father and mother." Every time he mentioned the dog demon, he heart raced. She found herself hoping nothing had changed with him.

As if he could sense her worry, he smiled reassuringly. "After you left, Sesshomaru collected Inuyasha to train with him. Sesshomaru said it was his way of showing gratitude for taking in Rin but really Sesshomaru and everyone worried for him after you vanished. He had been keeping Inuyasha busy with monitoring the West. Inuyasha had taken over the East including Inuyasha's forest and the Slayer Village. Kaede's village. After the fall of Naraku, Inuyasha, Sango, and Miroku have been training the villagers to protect themselves. Inuyasha has his own palace as well. Sesshomaru had convinced him that it was best for demons to live among demons. After the battle, many demons had been annihilated. Thus Inuyasha lives in his palace. I stay with him for the most part. Feels like we are royalty with all the servants and guards around."

She could not picture the Inuyasha she knew as dignified. He was to fiery and wild. He loved doing things on his own. He had grown up without her. The boy she remembered would now be a man.

"I have been training as well." Shippo chimed pulling her from her thoughts. "Once I finished training in the fox village, I joined Inuyasha in training with Sesshomaru. Soon after that Sesshomaru made sure of Inuyasha's new home. Then Inuyasha found me a new teacher named Joichiro. He's old but very wise. He can predict parts of the future but Inuyasha says he's just senile. But after today…"

Before he could finish, they had arrived at the village. It was bigger then she remembered. There were more houses. In the distant she could see villagers in training. Around the village, large wood pillars almost surrounded the land.

"They are almost done with the wall!" Shippo exclaimed. He waved at some of the young boys working on it. The boys waved back greeting his return.

Shippo lead her to a large house in the center of the village. It was almost like a nice traditional Japanese house from her time. Like a small palace or shrine. "Who lives here? Kaede?"

Shippo winced. "Kaede...she passed away a few years back. But...uh this Miroku and Sango's home!" He said as if not wanting to dwell on the death of their friend. He pulled her up the steps, kicked off his shoes, and yanked her inside. Kagome struggled with her ballet flats almost fell as she was dragged into the house.