When Kagome was sucked into this strange forest she had been so scared and that might have explained why everything seemed so upsetting and disgusting to her. Now as she walked with Inuyasha and the others she felt safe - the extraordinary plants and beings felt much more friendly. After walking a while she almost fell over somekind of leaf bundle, in the proggress kicking it slightly with her foot. That made the bundle open and from inside of it stepped out at least four tiny and furry ball-like creatures whose feet Kagome was barely able so see. She thought them as adorable creatures, even though they had only one eye, and she even dared touch one of them. The creatures were frozen in place and their fur felt like expensive satin against her fingertip. Miroku called them as "pilosa".

"By day they sleep under small leaves and come out to fly around the forest when the night has fallen," he told her.

"They look scared," Kagome looked at the tiny creatures which didn't seem able to move.

"No, only startled because you woke them up," Miroku corrected. "Let's keep moving so they may go back to sleep."

"Good idea, monk," Inuyasha's voice was annoyed. "We have no time to stare every bug that comes across."

"Monk?" Kagome asked.

"I do remember that I was a monk when I lived," Miroku explained to her.

"That's wonderful," Kagome exclaimed. "A spiritual human like a priestess."

"Well, he's that now at least," Shippo said, close to Kagome's shoulder. It had quickly become a habbit for him to stay close to her which made her feel warm inside. "Ghost is as spi-spiritaul as you can be."

"Spiritual, Shippo," Sango corrected the boy.

"That's what I said."

"Could you keep your mouths shut for a damn minute," Inuyasha growled out.

"I think it's nice to hear mild conversation in a tense situation like this," Kagome pointed out.

"Didn't ask from you, wench."

"Kagome!" she shot back.

"Inuyasha is right, we should keep quiet," Sango sighed.

They walked ahead and Kagome wondered if Inuyasha remembered correctly where he had find her. On the other hand this forest was his home and he had lived there all his life so why wouldn't he know the forest completely.

Kagome herself was sure she would recognize the tree once she saw it. The tree had to be a portal that connected their worlds. She couldn't help but wonder if her sister knew about it. Kikyou kept silent about many things and it wouldn't be a surprise if the portal was familiar to her. But if her people knew about the portal wouldn't they have shut it? Or maybe they weren't able to. Still, Kagome thought it would be for the best and glanced at Inuyasha's back in front of her. Humans were afraid of the creatures of this world and for a reason, but also this world was deep down afraid of them and that too was for a reason. Kagome thought about the priestess called Midoriko and tried to picture Inuyasha and his kind as tame and friendly. She felt anger towards the events that had made these dog-eared demons so bitter and full of hate. She found this particular one, Inuyasha, very interesting but it was hard to get closer to someone who was only ready to claw your heart out. But it was in her nature to keep trying.

"Inuyasha," she walked faster until she was not behind but beside him. He looked larger than life and strong compared to her but she found the fact only calming. "You don't frighten me."

"What," he glanced at her, scoffing. "Then you're even more stupid than I thougth."

"But how could you since you have done nothing but saved me over and over again?"

He stopped and was suddenly very close to her. "You shouldn't push me," his voice was hoarse. "I could kill you right now if I wanted to."

She swalloved. "I know. And I am not trying to push you. I'm simply trying to thank you," she kept her courage and moved closer to him until she could see every bit of his eyes and smell the forest in his scent.

Miroku, Sango and Shippo were very quiet and keeping an eye on them.

Something in Inuyasha's expression seemed to, not quite soften, but settle down.

Inuyasha lowered his eyes. He took in Kagome's still dirty clothes and her small but feminine figure. She looked fragile but her expression seemed always strong and her bright eyes made him uneasy. Her scent that he could smell more clearly now that she was this close was better after her bath and under all the filth his nose found her natural aroma. It made his heart beat slightly quicker. "Stop," he commanded and wasn't sure if he was talking to her or himself. He put his hands on her shoulders and pushed her away before starting to walk through the trees again.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome asked but since he gave her nothing but a growl she chose to walk after him, Miroku and Sango, also Shippo glancing at each other before going too.

It was after a short while when Inuyasha suddenly smelt Tomoki's scent in the air.

"Let's hurry, he isn't far," he told others.

Kagome did her best to keep up with them but Inuyasha was fast and she got yelled by him many times about not running.

"I am running!" she argued. "But it's impossible for me run as fast as you. I am a filthy human like you've said many times so I have human legs and human speed!" She huffed and tried not to care about her calves that were pleading her to slow down.

"We could carry you again," Sango offered but then they saw Inuyasha stop.

"You don't have to bother," he said. "I found the place."

Kagome saw him look at his right and there was a small open place. She saw a familiar big tree and even from this distance she spotted a small glint on its trunk. "He's right," she confirmed quietly and quickly ran to it.

Inuyasha was of course faster and just when she was about to touch it, he grabbed her shoulder. "So you touched it and that's how you came here?"

"Yes," she nodded.

"Then before you go, you have to promise to never come back."

"What?" Shippo gasped out and was instantly by Kagome's side. "But I like Kagome!"

"I wasn't talking to you, brat!" Inuyasha reached out his hand on a reflex but naturally it went through Shippo.

Shippo smirked. "Ha! You can't decide what others do and don't do! And I want to see Kagome again!"

"You can't decide that either, Shippo-chan," Kagome gave him a small smile and the boy looked crest-fallen. She hoped she could touch his hair.

"Aren't you coming back then?" he asked.

"You saw what I almost did. Maybe it's for the best."

"But it is indeed a shame," Miroku sighed. "But I understand. You would be in danger while being here."

"And ruining everything," Inuyasha nodded.

"Can't you be civil at least in time of goodbyes?" Sango frowned at the demon.

"I've seen what being civil means for humans. I have no interest being like that," he muttered.

"You do know what I meant," Sango scoffed, then turned to Kagome. "I'm sorry that we won't see again. It would have been nice to have a lady as a friend," her smile was very pretty and Kagome felt sorry that such a beautiful woman was dead.

"I wouldn't say I'm a lady but thank you, Sango-chan."

Sango noticed the nickname and smiled again. "Kagome-chan," she answered. Inuyasha huffed.

"I'm not mad at you, Kagome," Shippo told her, his lips pouting. "About what you did. It was an accident. And I'm sad you're going away."

Kagome didn't have time to answer since Inuyasha groaned and pushed her towards the tree. "Enough, okay! She has to go."

Kagome glared at him then waved at her ghost-friends before facing the tree. She saw the jewel, pink and shining dimly. She wasn't all so sure if it would work but still she pressed her two fingers against the tree, digging into its' bark until she could feel the solid skin of the jewel under her nails. She closed her eyes and breathed out slowly, then she could feel an energy around her fingers, surrounding her whole hand before entering into her. She opened her eyes and could see the jewel shine more brightly like someone had lightened up a candle.

As she felt herself start to shake, she reached out on her left side and Inuyasha was there. She grabbed his hand because she felt she couldn't speak, not even open her mouth. She hoped the squeeze from her fingers around his big palm was enough for him to understand her final thanks.

Then she let go and after that quickly felt like she was falling into a deep hole.

She couldn't believe them. Others must have thought she was dumb.

They had promised to look for Kagome, Shun himself had told her they would go deeper into the forest after a rest. But nothing had happened and they still had made her stay with the injured man this long. She was a healer at heart of course but no one's health came before her own sister.

She wasn't sure how far she had walked at this point.

Exhaustion and worry took control of Kikyou and she supported herself against a tree before slowly collapsing on the ground and burying her face into her palms. She wasn't a woman who gave up and stopped when everything seemed hopeless, she was nevertheless the village's priestess. Still, the fear of losing Kagome made her almost feeble and she knew that she needed this small moment to gather her strenght and calm down, or else she would break down completely in front of the others.

Kagome had to be unharmed. There simply couldn't be any other option - Kikyou repeated those words in her head over and over again till she completely believed in them again. Her sister wasn't very experienced but she was strong and could surprise people when it came to surviving.

Kikyo sighed softly before standing up and once again continued looking for Kagome in the thick forest. She didn't have time to walk very long though until she had to stop and narrow her eyes at what she was seeing.

A woman was coming towards her. Her kimono seemed dirty but Kikyou didn't pay much of attention to it - the woman was her sister, her black hair swinging in the wind.

"Kagome?" Kikyou called out and started walking again, this time faster. She could now see her face more clearly. Unharmed. "Kagome!"

"Onee-san!" Kagome yelled back but when they met the relieved smile disappeared from her face as Kikyou grabbed her shoulders and shook her.

"You fool! You brat! Where have you been?! Do you have any idea how worried... " but she had to stop and bite her lip so that she wouldn't start to cry. "Kagome."

"Onee-san. I am so sorry," Kagome said softly and wrapped her hands around Kikyou's neck, giving her a long hug. "You don't know how good it feels to see you," she whispered into her ear. Kikyou only stayed quiet and squeezed her sister's kimono. She just couldn't answer nor be mad at her at that moment. She let out a soft hiccup, like a sob but without any tears. "Please don't cry," Kagome pleaded.

"I'm not crying, Kagome," Kikyou held her sister more fiercely, feeling her pulse against her face.

"Of course," Kagome's tone was gentle but playful and Kikyou just then realized how scared she had been of never hearing that voice again. "Are we going home or do you want stay like this for a while?"

"Let's be here for a while," Kikyou managed to say. Her feet felt weak and her arms were like iron around her sister. She knew she wouldn't be able to move immediately.

"Let's," she felt Kagome nod and stroke her hair.

AN:

I'm in a roller coaster of emotions right now, you have no idea. This is a new chapter after ages and how should I describe it? Maybe like this: I feel like my head has changed places with my butt and I'm in a freak show and you are the audience. You know? You don't?! Okay then.

I have read some reviews. I have, for the longest time hated my stories and that is probably the biggest reason why I haven't been able to write Inuyasha fics anymore. But like I said, I read some reviews. And I realized that every shitty word and letter that I have written, made in chapters and published here, is a lesson and a gift for me. And if you have enjoyed them then that's a miracle that I've been blessed to have.

Stupid to ramble these things since no one is probably going to read them but I don't want to write it on my profile because it's full of shit. My profile that is, not these ramblings, because they came from the bottom of my heart.

THANK YOU.

And thanks also if you choose to review. THAT is a miracle too.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.