Alrighty then! Another fanfiction! It's my first multi-chapter though, so be kind. I've done two chapters before, but never this many. Some of them are pretty darned short, so I'm sowwy. ^.^ (=^._.^=) Enjoy, review, no flames! And my birthday's tomorrow! Seventeen! lol P.S. I don't own anything (she says with tears in her eyes) except for my own ideas running around like little crazies in my head. Hehe, those are fun... Read on!

Sunlight bounced off glossy evergreen leaves as they danced in the warm summer breeze against a background of a clear cerulean sky. The long blades of grass swayed and birds sang their sweet songs to welcome the Summer months. Villagers went about their daily routines, dressed in light clothing with few layers to allow comfort under the heat of the sun against their backs. A lonely hanyou watched the humans mill about from the protection of a shaded tree branch in the distance. His topaz gaze was settled on a certain young family.

A monk dressed in purple robes and a demon slayer in a soft green kimono as they played with their children, twin girls and a newborn son. A fox demon, a kit, ran in circles around the children, his innocent and raucous laughter echoing through the village. It brought smiles to the faces of all that heard. Even the lonely hanyou cracked a smile as he leaned back against the trunk of his tree. His dog demon ears twitched atop his snow white head of hair.

The kit eventually looked up and waved to the lonely hanyou. With a sigh, he stood on his branch and leaped to the ground, several feet below. He made his way to the kit and human family, hands tucked into the sleeves of his blood red fire rat robes.

"InuYasha!" cried the twin girls in unison and ran full force towards him. They collided with his legs and clung to his robe as he continued to walk with a smirk. He approached the monk and slayer and lifted the twins from his legs to his shoulders. With a hand on each girl's back, he let them sit balanced across his shoulders on their stomachs as they stretched out and pretended to fly.

"Your kids are just as hyper as ever, Miroku," InuYasha commented and the monk shrugged with a smile.

"They are young. It's a phase," was his response. The slayer gave him a look.

"Like your cursed hand was a phase?" she teased. Miroku grinned.

"But, my dear Sango, how am I to resist your beauty?" he asked and the said cursed hand itched towards her.

InuYasha expected the resounding slap Miroku was granted by his wife and their children giggled along with the kit.

"InuYasha, I gained another level!" the kit cried and displayed with pride a small sheet of white parchment with writing confirming that the fox demon had, indeed, increased in level.

"You've still got a way to go before you can take me on, kid," InuYasha replied and the kit pouted.

"Be nice to Shippo, InuYasha. He's progressing extremely well," came a voice weathered from time as an elderly woman approached the group.

"Kaede," InuYasha greeted, respect for the aged miko evident in his greeting. "Any change?" he asked. She shook her head, sadness reflected in her gaze.

"No change, I'm afraid."

Sango glanced between the two. "Change?" she asked. InuYasha just frowned and glanced towards the forest that was his namesake.

"I've been watching the well and surrounding area for any spiritual energy that might resemble our young Kagome in any way," Kaede explained. Silence fell among the group, excluding the twins and gurgling infant in Sango's arms, at the thought of their lost comrade and friend.

"I'm gonna go for a walk," InuYasha mumbled and gently dropped the twins next to Shippo before wandering off, topaz eyes glazed over.

A young raven haired beauty straddled the edge of a dilapidated wooden well within the well house located on the grounds of the Higurashi shrine. A goodbye fell from her lips, tears welling in her chocolate eyes. She was well aware of the fact that this would be the last time she would see her doting mother's kind smile and her younger brother's shining eyes and her grandfather's wise and strange demeanor. But they had prepared themselves for this day, should it arrive. She'd had her time in this world, a modern day Japan. But this world ceased to be home many years ago. Her education was complete. She'd said her goodbyes. She was ready to return.

To see him again.

She smiled, the tears of sorrow and joy flowing freely now.

"I love you," she whispered and swung her right leg over the lip of the well, sliding off the edge and falling down into its depths.

She landed gently on the balls of her feet, her flats touching dirt and moss at the bottom of the well as a bright blue light faded to surrounding darkness. The walls around her were covered with creeping vines and moss. She reached for a vine and, after testing the stability of the stones lining the walls, she began to climb.

InuYasha sat with his back against the worn surface of the well, eyes closed as he listened to the world around him. His thoughts were focused on the girl who'd been taken from him so suddenly. He focused on her laugh and her smile, his own smile widening slightly. He found that if he tried hard enough, he could even conjure up her scent in his reminiscence. It was almost as if she were standing right in front of him. He could imagine her touch as her fingers brushed against his cheek, her warmth as she leaned over him, the feel of her lips against his in a warm and loving kiss...

Topaz eyes shot open as he gazed upon the object of his affections that had been lost to him for three long and agonizing years.

"Kagome," he whispered and wiped away tears that were drifting down her cheeks. He tucked a strand of raven hair behind her left ear and pulled her in for another kiss.

When she pulled away to meet his eyes, his heart skipped a beat. Chocolate orbs full of love and kindness and passion gazed upon him and she smiled a breathtaking smile.

"I'm sorry I took so long. Were you waiting for me, InuYasha?" she asked. Her voice was melodic, a song that he'd been deprived of for far too long.

"What were you doing, baka?" he whispered and she giggled.

"Waiting for you to come get me, you stubborn man," she teased and he grinned.

"Not my fault you decided to go home, wench," he replied. She sighed an exasperated sigh and sat back on her heels.

"Well, if you're going to be like that," she said and stood, stretching her arms above her head. InuYasha couldn't help but notice how her white sundress accentuated her curves and advertised all her assets. She's blossomed over the three year time period. Her raven waves cascaded down her back and her eyes shone with maturity. She turned on her heel, breaking InuYasha out of his admiration, and began to walk away, towards the village.

He was on his feet in seconds and scooped her up in his arms.

She squeaked and he chuckled as she blushed.

"What are you doing?" she asked, surprised. He laughed.

"Embarrassed, Kagome?" he teased. She huffed.

"Of course not."

He smirked at her defiance and continued to carry her to the village.

"But I would like to walk," she whispered and he laughed again. He set her down gently, keeping a firm grasp on her small hand.

"I'm not letting go of you. The last time I did, you disappeared on me," he murmured and her blush deepened as he leaned down and kissed her softly. She sighed and he took the opportunity to deepen their kiss. Once he released her, for lack of oxygen, they made their way to the village together, hand in hand.