Disclaimer: I don’t own InuYasha or related characters.

This chapter is dedicated to my friends, RaaiSesshyFan and Lord Leon, for…uh…something. But I forgot what. I also dedicate it to Kurama from Yu Yu Hakusho. If it had not been for seeing an AMV about him, I’d probably still have writer’s block.

It seemed like it had been forever since Kagome had been home. A month, at least. How old was she now? 22, yet she seemed as if she’d never aged. Maybe she never did. A soft breeze tickled the back of her neck, and her long black hair drifted lazily in the wind. Rin was now 12, and she looked so adorable. Kagome knew that Rin would grow up to be a beautiful young woman, and reminisced about when she’d first started traveling with Sesshoumaru, to pay off her life debt. Well, at first it was just to pay off her debt. However, the more she traveled with Sesshoumaru, the more attached to him she grew. One could easily say that Higurashi Kagome was truly, honestly in love with this cold demon, but yet, she herself wasn’t for certain.

“Sesshoumaru.” Kagome said. The youkai lord didn’t stop walking, but Kagome knew that she had his attention. “I need to go home soon, to let my family know that I’m okay. It needn’t be a long visit, but…” She trailed off. What else could she say?

“Hm.” Sesshoumaru replied, turning to glance at her. “What of your life debt, Kagome?”
Kagome gave pause – had he just said her name? Gah! “Um, I will return to you when I come back from my home.” She told him.

Sesshoumaru thought about it, and decided that to let her visit her home would work in his favor…somehow.

“Very well.” Sesshoumaru gave a three-syllabic reply.

“Thank you.” Kagome smiled at him warmly. “I owe you more, now, Sesshoumaru.”

They had not been all that far away from the well when she’d asked, and Sesshoumaru only walked far enough to ensure that no demon would kill her, as per her request, though he was slightly puzzled on how someone could fit a home in a well. He didn’t ask, as that would be rather out-of-character for him, and Kami forbid that he ever is out-of-character, deciding to watch from afar as she hopped down the well. When she was gone, Sesshoumaru turned and began walking.

Kagome climbed out of the well, and left the well house.

“I’m home!” Kagome yelled. Her mother stopped sweeping, and looked at Kagome.

“Kagome, welcome home.” Mrs. Higurashi smiled, but looked rather sad.

“What’s wrong, Mom?” Kagome asked.

“Your father…has returned. From his trip.” Mrs. Higurashi’s answer was rather vague. “Oh, Kagome…I never wanted you to know.” Tears fell from her mother’s eyes, and the hands holding the broom were shaking. “I wanted you to be able to go on living as you have been, but…your father says that it is time for you to learn. Go, he is waiting inside.”

Kagome’s memories of her father were vague, as he had been gone for quite some time. However, he still looked the same, as young as ever, while she had noticed her mother’s own subtle aging.

“Why have you chosen now to come back?” She asked, tears coming to her own eyes. “What right do you have to cause Mama this pain?”

Mr. Higurashi said nothing, but looked thoughtful. “Kagome, I have a gift for you. Its meaning is not predetermined, it is for you to decide.” Mr. Higurashi dug in his pockets and pulled out a necklace, which he put around Kagome’s neck. It was a silver chain that held a silver ball, with a single sapphire resting on its front. “When the time comes, I hope that you can find the right answer.”
Kagome said nothing in response, but held the ball of the necklace gingerly. Beside the Shikon no Tama shards she had, it sparkled almost deviously.

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It ends here. Why? Because I wanted to let you know that I’m alive, and I haven’t forgotten the fic. Most of this stuff will be answered next chapter, I promise.