I got way too distracted this week, and had some trouble writing this chapter. But here it goes. Enjoy! Rumiko Takahashi owns all of Inuyasha and I am but a humble fan.

Though much time had passed since she had been to the future, Kagome could remember it with ease. At least the important aspects of it. Like the first day of school, and how her mother waited for her to go into her classroom, with tears in her eyes, before leaving Kagome with teachers. And how her brother Sota used to have the best birthdays because he was such a positive and enthusiastic boy, always the social butterfly, with friends to celebrate each moment together. Or how grandpa used to give Kagome the oddest presents, like a lizards tail or some fake jewel.

She could even remember special moments, like when her mother's friend was having a baby and they all celebrated by having a grand party, with all of their friends. Her mother had helped find a venue to host the party. Caterers and waiters were there, giving service to her esteemed guests. Kagome remembered thinking that everything seemed rather much for a baby who hadn't even been born yet. She thought now that she would maybe do such a thing if she had been in the future with her family. In fact, she knew her mother would have wanted to celebrate such a glorious moment with Kagome the same way.

She would've wanted to know.

Tears glistened in Kagome's eyes for a moment before she wiped them clean. She truly missed her family and desired nothing more than to see them again. When she had returned to Inuyasha's time, the well closed up and she was not allowed to head back home anymore. Hard as it was, this is the life she chose. Her mother knew it as soon as the well showed a setting of the past to them both. Kagome remembered saying goodbye to them. Mother held Kagome tight. Sota held back his tears, tightening his jaw so that a torrent of water would not be released. And grandpa. Dear grandpa wished her off with a few, eccentric gifts.

A dried up toad. Another lizard's tail. And a small frame with grandpa, mother, Kagome and Sota pictured together. It was one of Kagome's most cherished possessions, and it sat atop her bureau, safe and protected. Right next to a picture of Inuyasha lovingly holding Kagome in the air.

Kagome reminisced with a wistful smile as she and Inuyasha walked to Sango's home. The two remained quiet despite their earlier snippet of camaraderie. Kagome didn't mind really. She wanted to give Inuyasha space and time to acclimate to his situation, and she found that when she was most patient with him, the half demon behaved his best. If she continued this way, perhaps he would behave with the gang as well. She hoped.

Besides, it also gave her some time to think about her past.

They ambled through the village while the sun was beginning to set. Multi-hued rays blanketed the area with streaks of gold and pink. The river where locals caught fish, reflected the sky, heaven meeting earth. When they came to Sango's home, Kagome could hear Sango's children laughing and singing. Someone was playing a shamisen, an instrument which resembled a guitar. Another, more likely Sango's son, played a taiko drum. Inuyasha winced at the sound since the children were fairly inexperienced when it came to music. Regardless, Kagome was delighted to hear it because it would drown out the silence that would surely cover the group when Inuyasha arrived.

The first one to catch Kagome was the monk Miroku. He smiled with glee and ran over to the couple. Without asking, he gave her a hug, and when he released her, he looked to Inuyasha and beamed. "Hello, Inuyasha. How are you today?"

Inuyasha gestured toward the man with a nod. "Been better."

"I see." He clapped his hands, then placed one hand behind the small of Kagome's back. "Let's head inside, shall we? Sango has prepared a feast!" His gaze met Kagome's. "Have you any idea why she would do this?"

She shrugged. "Maybe she's in a good mood today."

Miroku arched a brow. "Oh, really now? And why would she be?"

Kagome chuckled. "Are you implying that she should not be in a good mood?"

Miroku's gait faltered. "No! Haha. That's not what I mean. I, uh..." He waved a hand. "Oh, forget it. Perhaps she's simply happy because I love her so well."

Kagome sputtered. "You're such a perve."

With a lift to his nose, he humphed. "Well," he said; "Sango does not complain."

"Not anymore," Kagome muttered. "Not anymore."

Though Miroku failed to hear her, Inuyasha was keenly aware of all that Kagome did. He was behind her as she walked with the monk and his eyes focused on the man's hand. He glared at the spot, uneasy with how close it was to Kagome's posterior. Made Inuyasha feel rather agitated, though for what reason, he had no clue.

Or maybe he did, since the thought of that man's touch going anywhere near Kagome-who was supposed to be his wife, was she not?-made him grit his teeth and nearly growl.

Possessive, aren't ya?

Inuyasha scowled. He hated to admit it, but yes he did feel somewhat possessive of the female. During these past few days, he had grown accustomed to her presence, even if it was silent and sad sometimes. They shared a house together, and when she was near, it calmed him to a certain degree.

While he wondered whether that was because he was getting attached to her or simply because she could heal him at whim, the trio finally approached the front door and stepped inside the small home. No one was inside of it as they walked through the wooden halls, but Inuyasha could continue to hear that God awful music play from the backyard. Everyone must have been there.

They passed through another hall until they reached the back door. Inuyasha could see unlit candles all around, waiting for the sun to finally set so they could blanket the wooded area with an ethereal glow. The monk's kids were sitting away from a fire pit, playing instruments which emitted sounds which chafed the skin. Clearly, the monk's family was musically inept, and Inuyasha found himself wanting nothing more than to take each instrument and throw it to the wind. He did not, because even though he did not exactly wish to be in this get-together, he decided he would make the best of it after his talk with Kagome a few hours past.

She managed to tell him a lot about his and his brothers' sword, and even mentioned a few battles he had taken part in long ago. When she went in depth about certain fights, Inuyasha imagined himself doing so, and the thought of it made him graze his teeth with relish.

The monk's wife caught sight of Kagome and Miroku. She squealed when she saw Kagome and ran to her with her arms wide. The monk finally took his hands away from Kagome's back and Inuyasha humphed with satisfaction.

That's better.

Sango then turned to Inuyasha and smiled kindly. "Hello, Inuyasha."

He waved slightly, feeling like a complete outcast.

"My name is Sango." She also introduced him to her children; three little black haired runts whom Inuyasha could admit were kind of cute. The twins quickly lost interest in him, and returned to their instruments, but the little boy looked at Inuyasha as if he were insane, so maybe he wasn't that cute.

The boy turned to his mother and said, "He acts like he doesn't know me."

Sango scowled. "What did I tell you earlier?"

The boy made an o-shape with his mouth and then pursed his lips. "Okay. Can I stop playing that drum now? It hurts my ears." With a nod from his mother, the boy turned away and began to play with his mock-weapons. Inuyasha was more interested in those toys than he was with this gathering.

The group sat next to the fire, and Kagome spent time talking with her friends about things Inuyasha honestly didn't give a fig about. He expected that this would continue until the food was finished. A pot was sitting at the center of the fire, cackling and popping with sensual delight. Inuyasha could smell the meat from inside and his mouth watered. Surely, these people wouldn't talk lengthily enough to make Inuyasha starve.

Just when he thought they would end their conversations, he smelled some more people entering the home. He didn't feel any evil presence from them, yet his guard remained high. When they approached, Inuyasha was quickly introduced to a girl named Rin, a lad named Kohaku and a small fox demon named Shippo. The group were a lively bunch and managed to talk for what seemed like hours.

Finally, the food was ready to be served. Inuyasha didn't want to seem completely ravenous, so when Sango gave Kagome first dibs, he took his place by her side instead of in front. Though he was more than capable of serving himself, Kagome asked Inuyasha if he wanted her to serve him his meal. He nodded slightly as if it were an impulse. She then picked up two brown bowls, and filled them to the brim with varied meats and some rice. Inuyasha thought she'd service herself first, but she instead gave the meal to him. He took the morsel in his hand and sat alone. She then served herself and sat next to him. They ate in silence, though the rest of the group continued to talk.

Inuyasha enjoyed the food; the meat was tender and the spices fairly seasoned. But he found that he much preferred Kagome's cooking. He looked at her through the sides of his eyes, ever watchful and muttered, "Thank you."

She had a chopstick on hand ready to place its contents into her mouth, but it remained suspended, close to her pink lips. He could see a fair blush fill her cheeks and he caught himself biting his lips to stem the desire that came racing to his chest.

God, when did I become such a perv?

Kagome waved his thoughts away when she said, "You're welcome, Inuyasha. But you shouldn't thank me. Sango is the one who cooked this amazing meal."

He couldn't help himself. Before he thought of what to say, he said, "I like your cooking better."

Kagome stared at him, speechless, but the tint on her cheeks spread throughout her face. He rubbed the nape of his neck, knowing he should not have said such a thing. He wondered if his face was as red as hers, and just as embarrassed. Luckily no one had heard what he said, but still, he knew the setting was wrong.

"Sorry," he mumbled. "Didn't mean to be rude."

One side of Kagome's lips curved into a half smile. "Don't worry, Inuyasha. I'll take it as a compliment."

"Good." He crossed his arms over his chest. "I meant it."

Kagome's half smile turned into a full beam, and Inuyasha was compelled by some inner force to stare at it; like a painting on a canvas, it beguiled him. His eyes lingered over the tempting curve of her lower lip. When he continued to stare, Kagome cleared her throat to bring him out of his reverie.

He blinked. "I don't know why I do that. I..." He paused. "Is this normal? I mean, did I used to do this often?"

Kagome bent her head, lending him an affirmative.

"I see."

She placed her hand at his thigh and suddenly he felt himself at war with his mind. One side wanted to slap her hand away; the other wanted it to stay there and do what only she could magically do to his head. Understanding dawned on Kagome, when his breath caught, and without him having to voice his dilemma, she moved her hand away and placed it on her lap.

Inuyasha sighed.

This was going to be a long night.

Though he hid it fairly well, Shippo was constantly worried about Inuyasha. And not just him either; he worried over Kagome, as well. After all, she was sleeping near a half demon who knew next to nothing about her. It made Shippo stay up at night sometimes, that it did. But whenever he found that he could not rest unless he knew the couple were safe, he would check up on them through their windows. Kagome and Inuyasha slept separately, which he was very happy to find since the two were more like strangers. Still, he felt rather heartbroken over this whole matter. The two were like ink and scrolls; you couldn't keep them away from one another. Seeing them act so distant tore him in two.

Additionally, Inuyasha had become like a brother to him. With time he had even become more mature and hardly ever scolded Shippo like he used to.

Shippo missed him. He missed him so much his heart hurt sometimes.

He sighed heavily from where he sat across from the fire and the couple.

While Inuyasha was devouring his food, occasionally throwing a glance toward his wife, Shippo wondered if the half breed was attracted to Kagome. His face must have shown a smidgen of curiosity because Kohaku shouldered him slightly.

"What's up?" the human asked. "You okay, Shippo?"

Shippo had become good friends with Kohaku, and though the human was aging into a young man, their friendship still held strong. Once Inuyasha had gotten married to Kagome, he didn't exactly like to hang with the couple for too long; instead focusing his time on fox demon training. But he had finished schooling long ago, acing nearly all of his tests, thanks to Kagome and Inuyasha's tutelage. He chose to live in the village with his friends, whom he now considered family, and when the couples would head home, he remained with lady Kaede and Rin sometimes. Occasionally, Kohaku would come visit, since he was fairly close to Rin. The human enjoyed seeing her. While doing so, he managed to get close with Shippo, as well.

Shippo bit his lip and scratched the left side of his ear. "I'm okay," he said somewhat softly so as not to be heard. The fire raged with a cackle and a snap, and Inuyasha was pretty engrossed in his food. Perhaps he couldn't hear. Or maybe he just didn't care to. "I'm just worried about 'em."

Kohaku did not turn to the couple. Instead he said, "Me too."

"I check on them once in a while. To make sure they're okay."

Kohaku placed his bowl on the grass and leaned on his hand. "They seem to be doing pretty well. I mean, even though he doesn't remember her, he's chosen to stay in the same house."

Shippo agreed. But... "The necklace is probably what's keeping him there. Sometimes he looks like a caged animal. I catch him prowling around the village sometimes."

"You sure 'prowling' is the right word?"

Shippo rolled his eyes heavenward. "He looks as though he's policing the area. I catch him high on trees, looking around the village, as if he's making sure no one intends to bring harm."

"He could also be searching for someone," Kohaku added.

Shippo slouched his back and held back a groan. He had not thought of that. Could Inuyasha have been scavenging the village for a scent of Lady Kikyou? He grimaced at such a thought. Inuyasha needed to get his act together. He belonged to Kagome; Shippo had once heard the half demon say it openly once, when Kagome had returned from the future and he was in an extremely emotional mood.

"What do you think will happen if he doesn't regain his memories? Think she'll keep him with the necklace?"

Shippo shook his head. "She isn't like that. She's a fighter." He knew that above all else, Kagome was definitely a fighter. She tried her best with whatever task lay before her. If she had to make Inuyasha love her again, she would be able to. He just knew it.

"By the way he looks at her sometimes, I think he even likes her."

Kohaku nodded, appearing to agree with his statement.

He sure hoped he was right.

The day had given in to darkness, and the adults helped Sango light up the candles she held around her fence. When they were done, and the place resembled the sky from above, they returned to the pit. Sango and Miroku stepped away to put the children to sleep. While this happened, Kagome spoke with the others, while Inuyasha lay across the grass, staring at the embers that rose to the heavens; shooting stars returning skyward.

The air was breezy, but not chilly, as the summer air filled the village with warmth. Inuyasha found some calm in this moment, reveling in the freshness that came with this time of the year. He flexed his muscles in his back and shoulders, and stretched the aches that came from being inactive for too long. Though he reveled in the thrill and the chase that came with the unpredictable life he once lived, he took advantage of this respite. He felt the lump on his head and was satisfied to know that it had gotten even smaller. Soon he would be completely healed; no longer needing the medicine that Kagome supplied day and night.

But even if the bump disappeared, and even if his pain went away, would he really be healed? After all, he was someone else before his fall and now he had no recollection of that man. Would he ever? The thought made him freeze as a chill swept through his spine. If he never remembered who he was, what would he do? What could he do?

He raked his fingers through his hair and grit his teeth.

Inuyasha glanced at Kagome. When she was with him, there would often be taut lines around her eyes, the stress of this ordeal plaguing her as well as he. But when he looked at her, the lines were gone, relaxed now thanks to the reprieve that came from her close friends. His close friends, too. A sense of longing tugged at something within him, and he wanted to know what it must have felt like to be close to someone. Anyone.

The last person he had been close to...

He shook his head. There was no use in thinking about her. She was gone, if what the monk said could be taken as fact. Kaede didn't even visit him to speak of her sister; not since the last time she saw him. He wanted to speak to her, if only for a moment, and find out what truly transpired with the aged priestess and her sibling. He never got romantically involved, but he thought he would for a glimmer of time. He was willing to trust her above all else. To give her what she had always wanted; something which he in turn learned to want: normalcy.

He had that here, he realized swiftly. His mind was empty of a portion of his past, and he was surrounded by folk he could not recall. Yet their conversations were standard; mundane chatter about the typical, if not average, life of regular people. It did not include the buzz that coursed through him whenever he slew a demon at random. It did not come with the uncertainty of a day's meal. Instead, it came with the side glances of a wife who missed her husband. Of a father who loved his children; of a friend who cared for her family.

He didn't mind it.

While he thought of these things, a slight breeze drifted through the clearing. A scent blew in with that movement, and Inuyasha hastily came to his feet. The group must have noticed him for they stopped talking and watched.

From behind, Sesshomaru approached them, the fire casting a hazy glow to his crescent moon. Inuyasha glared at the demon, but Sesshomaru made no eye contact with him, instead focusing his vision on the girl whose name was Rin.

He said her name, almost like a whisper. She stood up slowly, a surprised grin pasted on her lips. But when Sesshomaru did not react to her smile, his face a mask of stone, she frowned.

"Sesshomaru?"

"Come, Rin," he beckoned. "We must talk."

She looked to Kagome and Kohaku with a chagrined smile and followed Sesshomaru when he walked into the woods. Inuyasha came to Kagome and said, "Am I supposed to leave her alone with him, or do we follow them?"

Kagome shook her head. "You can trust that he'll never hurt her, Inuyasha. He saved the girl a number of times since she was eight."

At Inuyasha's startled expression, Kagome turned away from him and stared at the patch of darkness the two walked into. But while the humans there could not hear a word, Inuyasha's ears perked at the ready. He listened in.

When Rin returned, her eyes were red and her face was ashen, as if she'd seen a ghost. Kagome rushed to her, wondering what had gone wrong. When asked, Rin chose not to answer, her words somewhere lodged in her throat. When she could find her voice, she whispered, her voice tremulous and hoarse, that she wanted to go home now. "I do not feel well," was her explanation.

Kohaku was already standing close to her, his hand on her shoulder. He took her away from the group and told them he would walk her home. Kagome watched them leave, and rubbed the skin at her temple. Sango then returned and asked what had happened. Kagome managed to explain all she could, but most of them were simply clueless. With a sigh, Sango told them it was okay for them to head home since the hour was late. Kagome hugged her friend and thanked her for the day.

The path back to their place was dark and somewhat eerie. Someone had snuffed out the lamps which guided them through the village road, casting black shadows to every thing which stood near. Kagome remained close to Inuyasha, feeling safe.

He went down the winding road, confused and somewhat frustrated, while a frown laced his lips. She saw that look and bumped his shoulder with her own.

"What are you thinking?"

He didn't fail to respond. "Sesshomaru told Rin he was leaving her."

Confusion knit her brow. "He came just to tell her that?"

"No. He came to tell her that he would be gone longer than usual. The girl asked him why but he could not say."

"I wonder why."

"You and me both. She was really shocked about it. But the girl is strong. She never cried in front of him. Her eyes were pretty bloodshot, but she didn't shed a tear."

Kagome nodded. "She has gone through a lot."

"I don't know what she expects from him. He's always been the type to walk away."

"I think she hopes one day he'll settle down."

Inuyasha snorted. "Fat chance."

"He's changed a lot since you last saw him, Inuyasha. I think he cares for her."

He shook his head. "I understand what you're saying but I just can't imagine it. It's too weird."

Kagome laughed. "Yeah, it still is for me, too. But he's grown on me."

Inuyasha looked down at her, the crown of her black hair lit up by the night sky, and muttered, "What's that supposed to mean?"

She tapped his arm lightly, in a jovial manner. "Nothing, really. He's just different now. More docile."

Inuyasha's eyes bulged. "Docile? I feel like I'm in another dimension! I cant even recognize Sesshomaru, a demon who has been the same asshole since I was born."

"People change," she told him. "Even Sesshomaru."

Inuyasha crossed his arms over his chest and met her eyes. "You think you can tell me some more about Sesshomaru and this girl when we get to the house?"

Kagome lifted her gaze and smiled with her face painted by nothing except the moonlight. There was a singular sense of beauty that stopped him in his tracks whenever he looked at her. The way her lips lifted playfully, arousing in him a feeling of gaiety.

He found that he preferred this kind of Kagome to the one which tended to snap at him at nearly every turn. He hoped she would remain this way. Perhaps she had learned to speak to him more calmly, with the respect he deserved. Or maybe she was in a good mood because he was less distant and withdrawn than before.

He would enjoy it nonetheless.

Her smile remained when she told him, "Of course, Inuyasha."

When they entered their home, Kagome walked Inuyasha to the living room. While she went away to freshen up, he sat, knees bent, on some pillows laid out before him, then sought to find comfort in their soft folds.

He had never really looked into this room, always choosing to walk past it while he explored the village at night. It was compact, like the rest of the house, with room enough to house a few guests. At the corner of the room, he caught a glimpse of something black, shaped almost like a square. Two objects, rather, sat close to each other; the pieces small and delicate. He crawled toward them, and his eyes widened when he saw images of Kagome and three people he had never seen in the village. He gently tapped on the glass and looked behind the image to find that it was confined, unable to move. He wondered who those people in the image were. They must have been family, since the older woman standing behind Kagome looked like her with shortened locks, and the young boy held the same deep, brown eyes.

Inuyasha then picked up the other image, and his breath stopped. Kagome was inside this piece, with clothes that revealed a bit too much for any conservative Japanese woman; especially a priestess. But what truly took his breath away was that she was held aloft by Inuyasha. He examined the picture, amazed by its colors and light. The location was familiar, centered by the bone eaters well.

He tilted his head to the side, looking at himself closely. The half demon holding Kagome truly adored her. His smile was wide, his eyes alight, focused solely on the woman he held.

It was too pure an image for Inuyasha to look at so he turned away.

In that moment, Kagome returned looking as if she had forgotten something. When she saw him with the photo, she paused. He turned to her while holding it close.

"Is this a magic trick made from some kind of spell?"

She chuckled, the sound pure and gentle. "No, Inuyasha. Where I'm from, this is called a 'photograph.' It's completely normal."

"You know," he told Kagome, turning back to the image; "had you shown me this photograph, I may have believed you earlier."

Kagome rolled her eyes. "Sure, Inuyasha. I'm sure you wouldn't have made up an excuse."

He shrugged having nothing further to say. She was right.

She left the room again, telling him she'd return with his herbs. He found that he could not move from where he was, but instead remained, sequestered in that little nook where her pictures sat. He saw himself again, holding onto Kagome- his wife. The love in that half demon's eyes made him ache in a way he could not presently comprehend.

He wanted to know what it must have been like loving someone so deeply. He could not fathom ever feeling so immensely for another, and he wondered then what it meant to love another. He did not know how to do it. What did it require? What would it take from him? Could he see himself loving Kagome the way he appeared to in that colorful, yet heavy laden image? Did he even like her?

His eyes widened at the thought, since the answer came to him swiftly.

Yes. He did.