Three years have gone by. Kagome graduated from high school She got to see Souta go from elementary school to middle school, even met Mama's new boyfriend (that took the whole family by surprise, even Gramps didn't know that his daughter was interested in someone new). In those three years, she even managed to pull her grades up and get accepted into a nursing program at her mother's suggestion. Since the well had closed up with no sign of ever reopening, she needed a life plan and healthcare seemed like a promising field given her unique background of helping patch up her friends after battles. It wasn't ideal but Kagome knew that she would thrive.

Of course she had spent most of her time in the modern age thinking about what may have changed without her presence- the health of her friends, how the world reacted to the end of Naraku's terror, if a certain fuzzy eared hanyou would still be interested in her… Kagome knew that they had had something going on during their adventures, she'd constantly catch his honeycomb eyes watching her before they darted away once he knew that he'd been caught. They talked and hung out more similarly to any couple she had ever seen than friends. Hell, they've both seen each other naked and even though they never talked about it, it did still happen. They'd even talked and agreed that there was some semblance of something there, nothing like he had had with Kikyo. But how would one year of some-unnamed-probably-unrequited-romance compete against three years of total separation? It wasn't even as if she could've sent him a text. She thought of him each visit she took to the more neglected part of Higurashi shrine. Closing her eyes and swallowing, she let herself fall from the wall of the well. Her heart raced as she felt cool air flowing around her. The pit in her stomach gnawed at her as it did each time she tried again after the growing pile of failed attempts broke her heart a little more. She only opened her eyes once she felt herself back on solid ground

Looking up from the bottom of the well, hands now shielding her eyes from the bright midday sun, she could barely believe what she was seeing- she was finally back. Gone was her family's old well house that would've blocked the light from blinding her, the ladder replaced by long, thick had tried to come back every single day only to get met with the hard bottom of the dried up earth for half a year after she was thrust back to her own there it become weekly and grew to every couple weeks which drew further apart into special occasions. Each time she fell, collecting bruises, scrapes, sprains, and a fractured toe once in her senior year, but her pain was meaningless. Her birthdays proved unfruitful as did her graduation, but oddly enough the final day of her break before her first semester began at Utokyo Nursing was the day that she'd be sent five hundred years into the past. Kagome crossed her fingers as she thought, For good this time.

Fate was funny that way. All of her tears and grief meant nothing to the forces that allowed her to overcome time, they had their own plan in mind. Or Buyo's presence was the missing piece of the puzzle. The lazy cat had followed her to the well house this time, jumping onto the cavern's lip and peering down only to run out after a few sniffs.

Using the entirety of the strength she still had left from her demon fighting days, she climbed out of the well, feet touching the long, soft grass that had long been gone from the Tokyo she grew up in. Taking in the view, it truly seemed as nothing had changed. The forest hummed with the daily life of its residents. The spring breeze carried the soft scent of fresh rainfall that must've occurred before she arrived. Inuyasha wasn't by the well waiting for her, but she hadn't expected him to be. Three years was a long time to be sitting around, even after what had to be the busiest year of her life. She heard some noises from the village, but didn't sense any demonic energy from there or the forest behind her. Kagome was halfway to the small collection of huts when she heard quick footsteps and was tackled by a small force from behind her. Without thinking, both figures were engulfed in a pink light before Kagome's panic was cut off by the sound of giggles. Finally looking at the force that pushed her down, she saw a familiar girl with dark hair up in a small ponytail and a pale orange kimono.

"Kagome! You're finally back! This Rin missed you." Even with both of them laying on the field, Kagome could see how much the younger girl had grown. She was half a foot shorter than the former Shikon Priestess now and her proportions were now that of a tween girl than a wide eyed child.

"I missed you too, Rin. Look at you! You're so tall now!" The miko stood up, holding out one hand to aide her long lost friend while brushing away the dirt that now stuck to her blue skirt. Getting a better look, she could see that while Rin was obviously older, she still held a childlike gleam of wonder in her chestnut colored eyes. "What are you doing all the way out here by the way? Where's Sesshoumaru?"

Rin giggled again. "Oh yeah, you weren't there for that, but Lord Sesshoumaru has sent me here to work under Lady Kaede and get familiar with humans. Lord Sesshoumaru is in the Western Lands."

The two young women walked, finishing the bit of distance they had before being back in town. "Working with Kaede, huh? How are you liking that?"

Rin's smile flickered for half a second before catching herself. "I really enjoy it, but I was really scared at first. I do not enjoy being around people… I wasn't used to it. Lord Sesshoumaru and Rin saw you so infrequently. I saw the imp and A-Un much more often."

"I understand that, you were so used to being around demons, and after what humans have done to you, being scared is a natural reaction. Is everything going better now?"

She nodded with her smile reaching her eyes again. "Much. I helped Mrs. Sango with her babies. Just wait until you see them, they are so cute! Two little girls that look just like Mrs. Sango." Kagome hummed but went silent at the thought of her best friend already having a baby, let alone two babies Though the demon slayer would be twenty by now, and even in her time that wasn't unheard of. Finally someone bore Miroku his children though, she thought, That perv wouldn't stop asking until it finally happened. "If only you had seen Lord Sesshoumaru's face when I told him I wanted one of my own!"

Kagome cracked up. The demon lord most definitely did not go beet red and have steam flying out his pointed ears like an old cartoon, but she bet his reaction was priceless. If only she had been there to see it. She elbowed Rin's ribs a little bit, still laughing. "Any boys he's scared of that might make that happen one day?" Rin turned red, giving Kagome her answer. "Ooh, who is it? I promise I won't tell. Not a soul."

"I know he doesn't like me back, but I think Kohaku is cute. He's so much taller now than he was when we first met. And so strong." She looked down bashfully. "I think Lord Sesshoumaru knows I think that. Last time Kohaku came to see Mrs. Sango, Lord Sesshoumaru took him away and when they came back, he kept running away from me."

Kagome's heart broke a bit hearing of their young love being kept apart. Sure Kagome never got to interact with her tweenage crush, but Rin's situation was different: Kagome had daydreamed about a young actor in a show that Mama watched and while Kohaku, while too old for her now, would be a good choice for a future boyfriend. Sesshoumaru had no business butting into his little girl's love life, even if the idea made him uncomfortable. Just as she was about to speak her mind on the subject, she was interrupted by a familiar voice.

"Kagome!"

She immediately took off running. She got looks from some of the villagers that were out, but she didn't care. The red flats she had on were a terrible choice for today with the ground hard under her feet, but that's what happens when fate is in control. Before she knew it, she was in InuYasha's arms, strong hands holding her up, her brown eyes staring deep into his amber ones. He looked just as she remembered. His ears were pointed high with his full attention on her and his long silvery hair remained long down his back. The two stood silent, just taking the moment in. Kagome had dreamt of this moment for so long now- once the shock wore off he would kiss her, and not like the kisses they shared previously. His would be passionate, an attempt to catch up on the years of each other's presences that they had missed. He would spin her around before setting her down on the ground and pulling her close until they were chest to chest, taking in her scent to make sure he would never forget it.

Instead, he continued holding her, staring at her, taking in all of her features. "You look different."

Kagome pushed his hands off from around her rib cage causing her to fall to her feet. "Well yeah! It's been three years since you've seen me!"

"Keh! I haven't changed much."

Of all the moments she reminisced, none were his cranky ones. As plentiful as those had been. "I can tell." She turned her head and went to walk back towards Rin when his hand grasped her bicep.

"I didn't mean it like that, I'm sorry. I've missed you so much, and I guess my brain just conjured up some weird idea of how this would go down. I still remember the first day I saw you, that's how I was picturing you. I think." And without another word, he pulled her into the hug she had dreamed of. A clawed hand combed through her hair. "Your hair is longer. You're taller than you used to be. You look so much more confident."

Kagome nuzzled deeper into his chest, letting his warmth surround her entirely. "I hit a late growth spurt and catching up on all that school made me too busy to get my hair cut." She pulled away to take in the teen boy again- and he truly was still the same sixteen-ish year old she had been forced to leave behind. Wild bangs dipping into his eyes, his stark white hair still reaching the small of his back, his cheeks still a bit round with baby fat that Kagome was already starting to lose. She looked to see if there were any changes she may have missed, the broadness of his shoulders, the girth of his arms, the take of his waist, but it was as if no day had gone by since she had seen him. "You look good, InuYasha."

A heat rose from his chest and she didn't even have to look back up to know that he was giving her a fangy smile. "Say my name again,"

She giggled, forgetting entirely about the young girl standing not too far behind them. "InuYasha."

And with that she was back up in his arms, looking down at his sweet face. His eyes crinkled a bit from how hard he was smiling. "I've missed you so much, Kagome. You look good now." The distance between them dwindled. She was finally going to get that kiss that made up so many of her dreams and so many of her thoughts late at night after everyone else was asleep. It was cut off as soon as the boy opened his mouth again. "Not that you looked bad before. I mean, I would've told you if you looked bad, but the three years look good on you."

"Are you saying I look old?"

"No, I'm saying you look older." InuYasha retorted with extra emphasis on the second syllable of his final word.

Kagome knew she couldn't fight that, but she still felt embarrassed that it was so obvious to him. She didn't know quite what changed, but ever since she turned seventeen last year, she just looked different than she had before. It wasn't just her face slimming, but something else. She just no longer looked like the middle school girl that she was when she was drawn into the well. Trying to shake off the uncomfortable feeling that had started to settle in her gut, she wiggled until the boy set her back down. "Where's everyone else? I've missed them too."

InuYasha swallowed and a flash of something flew through those honey eyes that she used to spend so much time staring at. He gently set her down, pulling her under his arm. He signalled for Rin to follow them as they went deeper into the small village. "Shippou's been keeping Miroku and Sango's brats entertained. They're already expecting another one, so they've been trying to get some alone time until their whole world is shattered again. Sango and Kohaku have started training some of the kids and young adults in surrounding villages how to fight demons to restart their old village. Rin's been training with Kaede, and I've been keeping everyone safe.

"For a while, it was just like the last time that Naraku had disappeared. Demons coming out left and right, attacking people to try to get what power they can. It took a bit for a time of peace to start, but the past two years have been really quiet. My asshole brother even stopped travelling and started doing his job."

That shocked Kagome. For the time she had known him, the daiyoukai never seemed to stay put in one area. Even when her group had traveled through the Kyoto region, they had rarely seen him. She didn't know if that lead to him neglecting his duties as lord, but she would't be surprised, especially after he took Rin under his wing."Does he come to see Rin very often?"

"Maybe once a month. More if there's a holiday going on, but he typically doesn't stay long." InuYasha turned to look at her. "Of all the people, you ask about him? What's up with that?"

Dozens of questions swirled throughout Kagome's mind. So much had happened, so much change now that they didn't have to save the world. She knew better than to ask about Kouga, even if it was to find out how his engagement was going with Ayame. And she was saving all her Sango related questions for the woman herself who was apparently not only a mom, but about to be a mom again. Miroku was the biggest wildcard of them all, but she had faith that Sango would be keeping him in check. Plus with her working to restart her old village, the monk would be the one to get the brunt of the childrearing. Jinenji also crossed her mind, but Kagome doubted InuYasha was keeping up with the horse hanyou. But her mind didn't know how to voice all this to the hanyou. Three years had gone by and both dog demons had fought side by side against Naraku, and still their relationship wasn't the best. "I was just curious, I guess."

He gave her a side eye, but responded, "Yeah, he is a weird dude. Who knows why he's like that?"

Though she had already been in Kaede's village for a few minutes, it finally hit her that she was really back to where her old adventure had begun. She took it all in, not a thing seemed to have changed since she last saw the place. She had been so scared the first time she came here, it was all so foreign, so traditional, so unlike the metropolis that Kagome had never left prior to her fifteenth birthday. Technically still, she hadn't left. She considered briefly travelling to see what was still standing after five hundred years, but gave up on that idea. It would've just been a tragedy- a reminder that she may never see any of her friends again and that none of them were still alive. Seeing the old fashioned huts ignited the joy she had locked away deep in her heart- the feudal era had come with its fair share of unfamiliar problems, but the modern day couldn't compare. The villagers were out and about, talking to each other. Some of the children were running about, enjoying the midday sun and wide open spaces that the former priestess knew would one day be gone. Looking closer, she realized that she recognized one of the kids.

Shippou looked so cute dressed in his usual teal attire, little tail sticking up as he pounced around a baby that had to be no older than two with another close behind them laying on the ground to stare at the sky. She didn't need to be told who the babies were related to: the violet eyes she could make out from the distance told her enough. She let go of InuYasha's hand and took off towards the kitsune. "Shippou! I'm back!"

The redhead turned and when he realized his eyes weren't playing tricks he ran over, little fox feet going much faster than Kagome ever could. "Are you real? Are you trying to play a trick on me? Because that would be mean!" The glare he was giving his adopted older brother would've been deadly if looks could kill. Shippou jumped onto Kagome's shoulder and started sniffing, cuddling closer to the neck he used as a pillow more times than she could count. "You are real! Oh, Kagome!"

Her hand went out to scratch the young boy's hair. He hadn't grown as much as Rin had (which makes sense considering how fast humans age compared to demons), but she could tell he was a fraction of an inch taller and his feet had grown as well, showing his growth spurt wasn't entirely over yet. "I missed you too, Shippou. Have you been behaving for InuYasha?" The miko felt his little body tense as she asked that, even though it had been a joke.

"He's been meaner than his usual. He never wants to play or tell stories. He'd get mad if I mentioned you." Shippou took a deep breath and relaxed before hugging his sister tighter. "Now that you're back though, he'll be back to normal. I hope he's nicer this time though!"

"Oh Shippou, I'm sure he will be." Footsteps approached from behind them and the two glanced to see the white haired hanyou. "So are you two gonna introduce me to these little girls?"

The little girls in question had already started toddling away to get into some undiscovered treasure. "Gyokuto, Kin'u, no! No shovels for you!" The kitsune was quick to follow them causing the dark eyed girl to shriek in a fit of giggles.

"Shippou, are those two getting into trouble again?" A deeper voice joined the trio. Miroku looked almost the same from when he had faced off against the man who had cursed his family aside from the addition of heavy bags under his eyes. Behind him stood Sango, put together and proper as ever, her typical kimono worn looser to make room from the moderate swell of her belly. The two looked closer at the scene and gasped. "Is it-"

"It can't be! Kagome?" The slayer's almond eyes were wide in disbelief. Kagome saw her eyes darting up and down to see if it was a trick of the light or a demon coming to cause chaos. But no one else would be what Kagome had on in this time- a buttoned up sweater and a skirt that showed more leg than her old uniform skirt the gang was familiar with. Kagome watched as her friend's face changed through several emotions before the dark shadow over her modelesque face was replaced with a smile. "How did you get back to us?"

The pink cardigan started to pull down due to a pair of little hands that started investigating it. Picking up the girl, Kagome lept to give Sango a hug. "I kept trying and trying to come back, but the well just wouldn't open. I guess the last time finally stuck or some kind of god got frustrated with me and just let me go." A tear slid down her ivory face. She was back home with most of her lost friends with her. "I missed all of you so much. You'll need to catch me up on everything that I missed though. Plus I have to get to know these cuties." She bounced the toddler as she said the last part.

Sango hummed in agreement, a hand going to her stomach. "The one you're holding is Kin'u. She's typically a lot less shy than her sister. Gyokuto is the one with the little curl in her hair. She's more calculating and takes her time creating a plan. She takes after my father in that way. And in four months, you'll get to meet this guy. I'm hoping for just a singular baby this time."

"You're telling me, I did most of the work with the girls." The monk stopped watching Shippou and Gyokuto's attempts to climb the tall tree they had set their sights on. "I don't know if I could handle four by my lonesome." Kin'u squirmed in Kagome's hug, reaching for her father. "Tired of your Aunt Kagome already huh?"

The little girl just giggled, content to be back in the man's arms.

Kagome, having let go of her side hug with Sango, caressed Kin'u's face. "Daddy's girl, huh? Miroku is so lucky to have you and your sister be so beautiful, he'll be chasing off boys like him for years."

Miroku nodded, his gaze shifting from his baby to Sango. "With their mother's beauty, I fear I'll have to kill any man who comes near them. At least until they're thirty."

It was nice to see the man act in such a way. He seemed calmer than even his previously peaceful self, and certainly kept his tongue in check more. The way he looked at his baby girls made Kagome's heart go soft; it only seemed fair that fate would give such a lecherous man two beautiful daughters. Seeing the scene before her of two of her best friends cradling each other with their child while the second girl was reaching up to join made Kagome think about what she would want in the future. During her absence she had thought about it. Giving birth during the warring states period frightened her- so much bloodshed would come before the era would end with a united Japan, and she was terrified of how that would impact her family. InuYasha was strong and could protect them all, but knowing that guns would become commonplace in just a few decades sent a shiver down her spine. Plus the whole lack of modern medicine didn't make her feel any easier about the idea. But seeing the family in front of her made Kagome crave her own. She wanted to be like Sango someday, with InuYasha carrying a fluffy eared child as she played with another. She wanted her own sweet moments as they all cuddled on cold nights, a baby in her arms and the man she loved cradling her. She had already waited three years to reunite with her love, she could wait a few more before they had their own little ones to worry about.

"Just letting you know, Rin is probably telling the old lady about you right now. Want to go visit her or what?" InuYasha had moved off to the side, jaw clenched and body tense with impatience.

"I just have one more question," Kagome smiled at the teen trying to get his temper to settle down a bit. His expression softened and he shot her back a small smile. "Where's Kilala at? I figured she'd be around here with you guys."

Sango laughed in such a relaxed and melodic way that the priestess never got to hear during their travels: the battle that loomed ahead of them and the grief that shadowed Sango's past had weighed her down too much to be so free. "She's at my former village with Kohaku at the moment. I was supposed to be joining them for training in three days' time, but with your arrival I'll move it back by a week."

"Maybe when you go, I can go with! Help out with anything that needs to get done."

The taller woman nodded before her attention went back to her husband and now crying daughter. A wave of insecurity hit Kagome as she walked toward Kaede's hut- she wanted to see how Sango's village was faring and see just what her friends have been up to these past few years, but with Naraku defeated and the Shikon Jewel out of existence, what could she even do? What good could her help be? Before the feeling could grow any stronger though, she brushed it off. There was still work to do here in Kaede's village. The old priestess had faced three additional years as well and she was sure any help would be appreciated. InuYasha took her hand in his, his claws lightly skimming the back of her hand. His smile barely met his sunshine eyes, but the way her squeezed her hand showed that he still cared for her. That he still wanted her by his side. That she was more than just a jewel detector to him.