Shippo sat on the edge of the well. Just a few hours had passed since the other passed through into the past. Kikyo, Sesshomaru and Koga sat in silence as his mind became a flurry of irrelevant thoughts. As the irony of being stuck in the present while the others were in the past, the exact opposite of how it used to be…

He suddenly felt dizzy, and nearly lost his balance. His claws dug into the edge of the well slightly to keep from falling.

"The barrier is failing," Kikyo announced quietly.

"The rest is up to them…" Koga said, his voice breaking slightly. Sesshomaru stood slowly, shakily. Kikyo helped steady him.

"As we are, the three of us couldn't possibly hope to pass through the gateway into the past. Being as you're only a child in the past, you can go back without devastating effects if you encounter your past self." He began. Shippo looked at him carefully.

"What makes you think the well will let me through?"

"Because Hiroshi and Aiki were let through as well." Sesshomaru said.

Shippo felt his heart hammer in his chest. The thought of seeing all his old friends again after so long was too much to dare to hope for. Sesshomaru stepped up to him. Shippo felt another wave of dizziness wash over him. His eyes locked onto the arrow wedged into the doorway. The light from it was waning.

"You have a chance to fight for the present alongside them for a change." Koga added, before Shippo saw him start to fade out. Panic surged through him.

"InuYasha and Kagome will need your help," Kikyo said, smiling sadly. Shippo swung his legs over the edge of the well, and peered down into the dark.

"I'll see you guys soon," he said, dropping down just as the arrow failed, and the wall was pulled into the black void of nothingness. He kept his eyes open as a brilliant light caught him, and pulled him along a riptide through time. Was this what it was like when Kagome traveled back and forth to her world? He was on his feet now, once again on the bottom of the well. That felt weird to say the least. He looked up, and saw blue sky greet him. The smell was what sent a thrill through him. A smell so familiar yet so lost to him over time.

He jumped up, feeling the warm sunlight on his face as he breeched the well, and came to rest on the soft grass beside it. The smell was what overwhelmed him. He was frozen in place, unsure of what to do. He could hear voices in the distance, ones he recalled from memory. He stared down the familiar trail that led to the village, slightly amused at how he was used to how this area looked now in modern times.

Rin went to get some fresh water for Sango to clean Miroku's wounds. She hurried with the bucket, trying not to trip. It was dusk, and the fading light made it slightly harder to see the trail that led to the river. She pushed through some of the bushes, and nearly tripped. Something off to the side caught her eye and she froze mid step, her eyes widening.

Standing in a small clearing, was a yokai. She knew it to be a yokai because human men were rarely as beautiful as this one was. Vibrant red hair cascaded down his back to his waist, and brilliant green eyes peered at her through the growing shadows. Hey glowed back at her, and her heart hammered in her chest. His clothing was unusual, but the haori half coat he wore was familiar somehow. A tail that matched the color of his hair shifted slightly.

He was a fox yokai.

He smiled at her, turning to completely face her, his expression quite unlike the unreadable mask her Sesshomaru Sama always had. Darkness fell as she stared, rudely actually, and she felt flustered as her path was now obscured.

As if picking up on her distress, three glowing orbs of blue fire illuminated the area, and she watched them in awe. Hey hovered in the air, surrounding him.

She smiled, as he raised his hand, and one of the glowing balls of fire swirled around in the air.

"I never liked being stuck in the dark either." He spoke up. She blinked at him. His voice was deep, but very gentle.

"Were you scared of the dark when you were a kid" she asked. He nodded.

"I was, but I got past that fear over time." He replied. He noticed the bucket in her hand.

"You were heading to the river for water," he noted aloud. She nodded.

"A friend was hurt…" she began quietly.

"I'm here to help you." He said.

Sango walked out of Kaede's hut as she heard Rins rapid footfalls. She had been getting worried that it had taken her so long to get water, then darkness had fallen. Rin was running, but was bucket less. Behind her on the path was a man, carrying the bucket, and Sango inhaled sharply as their eyes met. He was followed by three floating orbs of blue yokai fire, illuminating his path. Sango felt herself taking a step forward, glad the others had all fallen asleep.

"You're a sight for sore eyes," he spoke up as he walked up to her, extending his hand holding the bucket. Sango found herself looking up into vivid green eyes that were so so familiar, yet strange at the same time.

"It can't be," she whispered.

"Sesshomaru sent me here to help InuYasha and the others. I was the only one that made it through before the time I come from was wiped from existence," he replied lowly. Sango gasped.

"Because of those two yokai…"

"If they aren't stopped, everything ceases to exist." He replied quietly. Sango looked up at him.

"It's hard to believe you're the same kit sleeping in the hut." She murmured quietly.

"We all have to grow up someday. Speaking of which he can't know who I am." He said. She nodded slowly.

"He might not believe you anyways. I know this isn't how I pictured you. I'd think you'd turn out wilder like a wolf…"

Shippo scoffed, then burst out laughing.

"No way! Even Koga grew out of that!" he exclaimed.

"What should I call you while you're here then" Sango asked. Shippo's face took on a thoughtful expression before his eyes lit up.

"Call me Kurama!"

Sango arched a brow at him.

"Kurama Sama,"

"Eww, no just Kurama." He replied quickly.

"Alright then! Are you heading straight for InuYasha and the others" she asked.

Shippo nodded, folding his arms in his sleeves.

"I'll wait until morning. You could all use some sleep."

InuYasha stared at the fire that Hiroshi had started for Kagome. Several impaled fish he caught sizzled over the flames. Koga was asleep leaning against one of the many trees that filled their chosen campsite. Sesshomaru was surveying the area, on first watch. Kagome was close by, washing up at the small stream that ran near the campsite. He was mentally kicking himself.

"You're making that face again," Hiroshi murmured.

"Shut up…" he grumbled.

"We both made asses of ourselves. I think I got the worst end of it…you didn't throw that punch ya know."

"You'd do the same for me," InuYasha replied with a scowl. Hiroshi smirked.

"I like Kagome's method better."

InuYasha sighed, letting his forehead rest on his knees that he hugged to his chest. Why did it bother him so much that she did that, it's not like it was out of anger or anything, she did it trying to help him.

He got up, tired of waiting for her to come back.

"I'll keep an eye on dinner, can't promise I won't eat yours," he teased.

"yeah yeah," InuYasha called over his shoulder. He broke out into a run after leaving the immediate area of the fire, dashing through a small section of brush before he landed at the river. When he landed, he didn't expect the foliage to be slick and at an angle. He yelped as his feet out went from under him, and he fell into the river.

He came up sputtering, coughing on water.

"InuYasha" Kagome squeaked. He glanced carefully over his shoulder to find a surprised Kagome standing waist deep in the water, covering her front as best as she could. And he couldn't help but stare for a second too long. He turned away quickly.

"I got tired of waiting," he said.

"Sorry…I was kind of stalling," she murmured. He looked at her again, she had ducked down into the water.

"Why?" he asked. He began to yank his haori off, thing was soaked and weighing him down anyways. He tossed in on shore before sinking back into the water.

"Because I broke my promise," she said quietly. He looked at her, slightly alarmed.

"It's bothering you that bad? It's alright Kagome, I know why you did it." He waded over to her in the shallower water.

"I know but still. That's the second time I broke my promise."

"Then amend it, promise you won't do it unless it's a method of trying to help me out in extraordinary circumstances," he said. Her eyes were red, had she been crying over it? Sure he felt bothered too, but he knew why. He didn't stop to think how she might have felt seeing as she was the one that said the words.

"Alright then, only then will I say the word."

He leaned forward, resting his forehead against hers.

"I'm lucky I have you," he murmured. She met his gaze. He held his breath. How many times had they looked in each other's eyes? Hundred? More?

This time it felt so very different.

He had often thought about it, wondered what it would be like. Wondering how she would react, and often spoke himself out of doing it for one reason or another. This time he just didn't think. He leaned forward, closing the distance, and kissed her. Her lips were as every bit as soft as he imagined they would be. He knew he had surprised her, but only a heartbeat passed before she was kissing him back, wrapping her arms around his neck. He was very much aware of her body pressing against his. He smiled against her lips.

"I suppose I have bad timing," he spoke up

"InuYasha?" Hiroshi's voice called from a distance. InuYasha groaned. Kagome laughed quietly.

"I take that back…"

"What's keeping you, did you fall in?"

"I pretty much did but don't tell him that, I'll never hear the end of it."

He turned to the side, averting his eyes so she could hurry out, and get dressed. InuYasha looked up at the moon.

No more regrets, he was going to live in each moment and have no regrets.

"InuYasha," Kagome spoke up quietly. He turned to look at her. She held her hand out to him.

"Let's head back to the others," she said, smiling. InuYasha waded out of the water, and picked up his haori before taking her hand.

No more regrets.