InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ His Past, Her Present, Their Future ❯ Transcendence ( Chapter 41 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: EmpyrealFantasy 
Wow...umm....I love you guys? Hah...hah...*runs away, pretending she didn't forget this site*
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Fantasy / Hentai / Adventure | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 04.29.2007 | Pages: 2 | Words: 3.6K | Visits: 1.5K | Status: Work In Progress
Wow...umm....I love you guys? Hah...hah...*runs away, pretending she didn't forget this site*
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Fantasy / Hentai / Adventure | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 04.29.2007 | Pages: 2 | Words: 3.6K | Visits: 1.5K | Status: Work In Progress
Disclaimer: No own InuYasha.
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His Past, Her Present, Their Future
Chapter 41 - Transcendence
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“Kagome,” a voice called. She floated in the darkness, trying to ignore the pull to consciousness. Her dream was so nice… “Kagome! We’re going to be late for class! C’mon!”
“Nggh,” she moaned, turning her face from the afternoon light and yanking the blanket over her head.
“Kagome, come onnnn,” Ayumi screeched, yanking on the blanket. Some mornings, her friend was absolutely hopeless. Finally succeeding in ripping the blanket away she tapped a foot at the little ball of human that laid on the bed in her clothes from the day before, “If you don’t get up, I’ll use all your ice cubes to make ice water to throw on you.”
The dark haired girl shot up from her spot and glared at her friend, “You wouldn’t.”
Ayumi grinned, “Wanna bet?”
Another moan, and Kagome was up and poking around her room. Ayumi left her to her own devices and went about preparing a quick breakfast for the other girl, listening to the shower turn on. She was still a bit in shock from all the revelations of a few days prior, and had left Kagome alone while she sorted through her own thoughts on the matter.
In one day she had had to discard everything she thought she knew about history and present times. Not only did youkai exist in history, but they were alive today. People she bumped into on the sidewalk, friends, co-workers…could be demons in disguise. It was a strange feeling, and left her second guessing pretty much everything she knew.
She had always loved Kagome’s books because of the unreality of them. To hear of a magical world with demons, life threatening situations, sword fighting, and heroic men…it was like a beautiful dream. She had always imagined herself in Kiyoi’s place as she fell in love not once but twice, battled evil, protected her friends…and now she had to deal with the fact that Kiyoi was Kagome. She was not a fictional being made by her friend’s mind…she was her. Clear, pure…she thought it a good pseudonym.
Kagome was the reincarnation of some priestess from days past. Kagome had fallen through a well into Japanese history, saving the world. Kagome had known InuYasha, Sango, Miroku, and all the rest of her characters. It was not a game, it was not a fantasy…it had been her friends’ reality.
It made so much more sense, the pain her friend had been going through these last years. She had lost her own surrogate family in one fell swoop, including the man she loved and was bonded to in a way Ayumi couldn’t comprehend. Her tears beside the ancient graves, her fits against others in their classes over the existence of youkai in history. It all made so much more sense now.
“Alright, I’m ready,” Kagome mumbled from the bedroom door, toweling her hair with one hand and still looking half asleep.
“How late did you stay up?”
“I don’t remember, but it was late. I haven’t seen Shippou since the other day, and we’re going out to dinner tonight…I was thinking about what else I need to ask him. What else I need to know.”
Ayumi nodded and stuck the quickly prepared breakfast out for her friend, “Eat, we have to go. Kouro-sensei would be very disappointed in you if you don’t show for class.”
“Shit!” Kagome swore uncharacteristically, stabbing her food with a scowl, “I never talked to him about writing on a different subject for that report.”
“Why can’t you write on the legend of the village?”
Kagome was quiet, her chopsticks pushing food along her plate with a sad smile, “I…cant write about them like their gone. I could write about their adventures; I could write about Sango’s quest for Naraku. I can’t write about them like some nameless dead figures. Because to me, their not. To me, it was less than three years ago that I spent in that village when it was alive, sitting with Sango in her hut and going to the hot springs. It was not much longer ago than that that all of us were journeying together, risking life and limb to stop Naraku. I can’t…I can’t write a report about them without my feelings showing through.”
Ayumi smiled sadly and took her friend’s hand, “I understand. It would be hard, and I even had a hard time with the report just knowing they were real people.”
Kagome smiled up at her long time friend, grabbing her for a hug, “Thank you Ayumi-chan…for understanding. I wouldn’t have gotten through these last few years without you.”
“How could I not understand? You know how much I put myself in Kiyoi’s shoes…all I had to do was wrap my mind around you being her, and it wasn’t so hard from there. Its still a bit strange to imagine youkai, but after meeting Shippou…I can’t deny it, can I?”
Kagome nodded, then turned bright eyes on her friend, “Hey, in the next few weeks, Shippou-chan wants to take me to some island…I guess Sesshou owns it…that is full of youkai. I mean, not like scary ones, I mean youkai like Shippou and others. Would you come with me when we go?”
Ayumi fidgeted, “I dunno, Kags…I mean, if it’s a youkai island, who’s to say I’d be allowed? And from your stories…they don’t really take so kindly to ningen…”
Kagome shook her head emphatically, “For one thing, that was a long time ago. Things change, and for them to have survived in this age, they have to be willing to put up with humans. For another thing, you’ll be with me, no one will harm you.”
“How…can you be so sure?”
Kagome smirked and pushed away from the table, “For one thing, I am the ‘long-lost’ Lady of the West, mate to the most powerful and feared youkai in history. I doubt anyone ever surpassed Sesshoumaru on the power meter.”
Ayumi blinked, “So, that really means something to them, then?”
“Well, yeah!” she said, grabbing her backpack and tossing books into it, “Imagine being escorted by a queen. In youkai society, as much as I hate it, I am. But, if all else fails…” Kagome grinned and held up a hand, violet light sparking around it, “I’m sure none have forgotten how much purity burns hurt, though its been a few centuries since miko were powerful…”
Her face in an ‘o’, Ayumi ran to Kagome side and poked a finger at the purple light emanating from her friend’s hand. It was warm. She giggled, “That is so cool. I wish I could do that.”
Kagome snickered and lowered her hand, slinging her pack over her shoulder, “Well, shall we get going?”
“Alright, then.”
--
“Higurashi, I would like to speak to you,” her teacher called from his spot at the head of the class. Kagome left her bag at her desk as the other students began to file out of the lecture hall, waiting until the stream of students had passed before walking town the stairs to where the older man sat. His half glasses were perched on his balding head and he wore a calm smile; she smiled at him and took a seat across from him at his desk.
“Kouro-sensei…”
“Kagome-san, class is out. You’ve been taking my class for a year and a half and even slip and call me by my first name in front of other students. Why when you’re apologizing do you use formality again?”
Kagome smiled wryly, “Shin-san, I am sorry I didn’t complete the homework.”
“I am rather disappointed, I always look forward to your reports. I thought this assignment would get you writing, especially since the same legend was used in your books.”
Kagome cringed, “Well…I…”
“I have been teaching this class for twenty years now, and I had never had a student as devoted as you. Even in my generation, believing in youkai is ‘silly’. I have never known someone your age to be so adamant…you know that if there was a reason for your reluctance I would not discard it.”
Her mind raced. If anyone would believe her, it would be Kouro Shin; she had almost told him a dozen times as it were. But, she had always held back. Her own depression coupled with lack of real knowledge always held her hand, keeping her from disclosing the truth…but Ayumi knew. Would it really be so bad?
She smiled at him, and knew. Even if he believed her crazy, he wouldn’t tell a soul. He was a good man, and something…something about him made him easy to trust. Not to mention, she had a sneaking suspicion he already suspected. Her smile grew wider, “Do you just want me to confirm your own beliefs, or are you being nice?”
The older man grinned lopsidedly, “You were always too clever.”
“Then I will do so. My reluctance was founded…I just can’t write about that village. Its complicated…”
“Does it have to do with Miroku and Sango?”
Her head darted up and met with a benevolent smile which made her smile back, “You really have this all figured out already, don’t you?”
“As all people, I merely had a hypothesis. I needed to hear it from you before I would know, though.”
Her voice was hushed, “Hai, it is because of Miroku and Sango. I can’t write about them like some faceless people.”
“Then, I will give you until next class to complete the assignment. Write about them, if you wish to…though their names were ‘lost in history’, I have a friend who knew them. Perhaps you know him as well?”
“K-knew them? Who?” she squeaked out, blinking at her teacher.
“Don’t look at me like I’ve gone crazy, silly girl. For one who’s traveled through time, you certainly are disbelieving.”
She snorted, “But the only person that could be alive today that knew them is my Shippou-chan…”
“Hai, that would be him. I’ve known him since I was starting college, and after about twenty years I noticed his lack of aging. He told me the truth about himself quite some time ago. I take it he’s the same from your stories as well?”
“Well, yeah…” she pursed her lips, “That’s just weird. Ya know, you could have told me you knew him when I first began taking your classes…”
“How was I to know surely? I only realized he knew the Taijiya last week when I was looking into taking a trip there with the class. I told him he should meet one of my students, which is why he was there in the first place.”
Kagome’s smile broadened, “Thank you, Shin. I could never thank you enough for that.”
“Don’t even think about it. I was happy to help. It does me good to be able to prove my hypothesis’ right. It’s also rewarding to see such a beautiful young lady really smile again…when she isn’t off in her own world.”
She smiled softly, “Thank you. It is good to add another person who can understand me. I went so long with no one.”
“You can come to me any time. Now, I do believe there is someone waiting for you.”
She looked around and saw no one, but after a moment she felt the small tingle she associated with detecting youki. It was just a little, but it seemed a purposeful release, as if alerting her to their position. She knew it was Shippou, and smiled, then frowned, “How did you know?”
“Something in my genes, I guess. Spiritual power is not gone, just forgotten. You should know that.”
She smiled and stood, reaching out to shake the older man’s hand, “See you next week, sensei.”
“That you will. Have a good time with your son, Kagome.”
“Mm,” she nodded, running up the stairs to her bag before breezing out the door. Shin smiled after her and pulled a stack of yet un-graded papers to him. That talk had gone better than he imagined. Violet blue eyes shone through his spectacles as he flipped the pages.
--
“Oi, Kagome-mama!” Shippou called as she turned the corner, her eyes alighting on him immediately. He wore slacks and button down shirt, though the sleeves were rolled up and it was untucked. She grinned and ran to him, the two hugging affectionately, “Took ya long enough. I was bored.”
“With all the years you’ve lived, and your patience is so short? I couldn’t have been talking to Shin for more than half an hour.”
“I know, but like I said, InuYasha really did rub off on me,” the fox grinned, winking at his mother as he pulled her to his car.
“You were around InuYasha for four years in your how many century long life?”
He grinned mischievously, “Well, yeah, but he left an impression!”
She laughed and linked her arm through his as they walked, “Where are you taking me, anyway?”
“Just out for an early dinner. I know someone who would like to say hello to you.”
“Who?” she squealed, yanking his arm hard enough to make him wince.
“Ow! Ma! That hurts, ya know.”
“Sorry, but who?”
“Can’t you just wait and see? Jeez…”
“Shippou!” she growled out, narrowing her eyes.
“Nya! Kagome, you’re scaring me! Fine, fine, Kagura owns the restaurant. Come on, now, we have reservations.”
Kagome squealed, “Really? Wow!”
“She doesn’t know you’re coming. I haven’t told anyone yet, so it’ll be a surprise,” he let go of her and jumped into his car, which happened to be a red convertible. Kagome giggled girlishly over it and hopped over the door instead of using it - it had looked like fun. Shippou laughed at her and left the parking lot.
“Why do you want to surprise them so badly?”
“Well, duh! More fun, Kagome! Next week I’m throwing a dinner party with a few old friends, and only my kids know you’re attending. Then, the week after, I’ve already reserved the jet to Iwaku so we can go surprise Kouga. It’ll be great, ne? And, all this exposure, Sesshoumaru is sure to hear about it within a month or two. I am pretty sure he checks in on Iwaku regularly, to make sure everything is running smoothly.”
Kagome glowed, “Thank you, Shippou. For everything.”
“’Course, Kagome. Anything for my favorite mother.”
“Are you insinuating you’ve replaced me over the years?”
The youkai giggled as he stopped at a red light, “Never even tried. No one could compare to you anyway. How many youkai can say their mother is a time traveling human who happens to be one of the most well-known miko of all time and Lady of the West?”
Kagome gave him a deadpan look, “Thanks. I think. Bragging rights?”
Again he laughed, not looking away from the road as he grabbed her hand, “Oh, mom. You know I was joking.”
“Hai, I do. Brat.”
A comfortable silence followed, Kagome still holding the man’s hand. It was so strange, to refer to him as a man even in her head. Sure, she knew that even back then he had been several times her age…but he had still been a child. Now, as she peered at him from the corner of her eye, she could hardly believe it was the same boy. He now looked her age or older, but his carefree and playful personality seemed to of remained. She hoped it always would, no matter the problems he faced.
When he parked the car, it was not at a restaurant at all, but in front of a strip of stores. She quirked an eyebrow at the kitsune, who smiled, “We can’t go in looking like this. Old friends or not, there’s a dress code. So, I am treating my mother to a nice dress. My suit top is in the back, so I’ll be fine.”
“You don’t need to…”
“Shh!” he chided, waving his arms, “Stop that. I’m buying you a nice dress for dinner tonight, and that’s final. Go, woman, and pick something! Our reservations are in half an hour, so make it snappy!” he teased, pointing to his wrist where a watch would be.
She scowled playfully but laughed as she ran into the store they had parked in front of, the youkai following behind her more slowly. After twenty minutes of cooing over several dresses, Shippou once again reminded her of the time and made her choose, and so she did. She wore a long burgundy halter dress, not too low cut, and she loved it. She grinned as the clerk rang her up and she left the store in it, twirling on her new heels he had bought as well, “Thank you, Shippou-chan!”
“Anything for you, Kagome. Its only a few blocks to Kagura’s, lets hurry.”
They hopped back into the car and pulled out, but not before Shippou had pulled out and donned the jacket to his suit and tucked in his shirt. He had no tie, he told her he hated them, but he knew Kagura would be too distracted with her to care that he was ‘breaking policy.’
She awed at the restaurant. She had read about it often enough, it was one of the most prestigious and expensive in Tokyo. The type of place celebrities and officials frequented. She blushed over at her son, “Wow, we’re going here?”
“I told ya, Kagura owns it. She always did shoot for the best, ya know?”
She giggled and followed him in, admiring a painting on the wall in the lobby as Shippou got Kagura to come out. It was a beautiful scene of a forest glade, the likes of which didn’t exist in this time period. She smiled sadly and held herself back from tracing the painting with her finger.
A certain magenta-eyed witch swooped into the room unbeknownst to Kagome, huffing at the kitsune she found. The only concealments she wore were to hide her ears and fangs and let everyone believe she wore contacts to make her eyes so vibrant. She smirked at the younger youkai, “So, what’s so important you had to call me out here, kid? That you actually have a date? I’m a busy woman and I’m really not…” she trailed off as his ‘date’ turned and smiled, tears forming in the woman’s blue eyes.
“K-Kagome!” she squealed, throwing her aristocratic air out the window and ignoring that there were other patrons in the room. She embraced the priestess and laughed, “What are you doing here? You aren’t due to be here yet!”
“I guess the years weren’t as even as I thought,” she said vaguely, still aware of their audience.
“Oh man, its good to see you again! Its been too long,” she said meaningfully, pulling back to look into her eyes, “Come on, let’s get you two situated at my best table, hmm? Hope you don’t mind, kiddo, but I’m joining you guys,” she said to Shippou, who just smiled.
“Why else would I bring her here? I’ve known you long enough to know what you would do, Adeyaka.”
“That you do, Kouchi-san,” the wind witch laughed, motioning for them to follow.
“Those are our names this life, by the way,“ Shippou mumbled to her, and she nodded. She could have figured as much. Fascinatingly elegant and cunning indeed. Kagome was grinning as she followed, lighthearted in her steps. Yet another friend to add on, another person who had lived through the years. It was like she was walking on air, and things could only get better.
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A/N: *cough* Can I pretend that I DIDN'T forget about MediaMiner? Oh my...I'm terribly sorry. Wow. Shoot. >_>
I just noticed. I apologize profusely, and hope you can forgive me. If you want more of the story, head on over to http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1049630/ for the rest. I am SORRY! Wow...
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His Past, Her Present, Their Future
Chapter 41 - Transcendence
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“Kagome,” a voice called. She floated in the darkness, trying to ignore the pull to consciousness. Her dream was so nice… “Kagome! We’re going to be late for class! C’mon!”
“Nggh,” she moaned, turning her face from the afternoon light and yanking the blanket over her head.
“Kagome, come onnnn,” Ayumi screeched, yanking on the blanket. Some mornings, her friend was absolutely hopeless. Finally succeeding in ripping the blanket away she tapped a foot at the little ball of human that laid on the bed in her clothes from the day before, “If you don’t get up, I’ll use all your ice cubes to make ice water to throw on you.”
The dark haired girl shot up from her spot and glared at her friend, “You wouldn’t.”
Ayumi grinned, “Wanna bet?”
Another moan, and Kagome was up and poking around her room. Ayumi left her to her own devices and went about preparing a quick breakfast for the other girl, listening to the shower turn on. She was still a bit in shock from all the revelations of a few days prior, and had left Kagome alone while she sorted through her own thoughts on the matter.
In one day she had had to discard everything she thought she knew about history and present times. Not only did youkai exist in history, but they were alive today. People she bumped into on the sidewalk, friends, co-workers…could be demons in disguise. It was a strange feeling, and left her second guessing pretty much everything she knew.
She had always loved Kagome’s books because of the unreality of them. To hear of a magical world with demons, life threatening situations, sword fighting, and heroic men…it was like a beautiful dream. She had always imagined herself in Kiyoi’s place as she fell in love not once but twice, battled evil, protected her friends…and now she had to deal with the fact that Kiyoi was Kagome. She was not a fictional being made by her friend’s mind…she was her. Clear, pure…she thought it a good pseudonym.
Kagome was the reincarnation of some priestess from days past. Kagome had fallen through a well into Japanese history, saving the world. Kagome had known InuYasha, Sango, Miroku, and all the rest of her characters. It was not a game, it was not a fantasy…it had been her friends’ reality.
It made so much more sense, the pain her friend had been going through these last years. She had lost her own surrogate family in one fell swoop, including the man she loved and was bonded to in a way Ayumi couldn’t comprehend. Her tears beside the ancient graves, her fits against others in their classes over the existence of youkai in history. It all made so much more sense now.
“Alright, I’m ready,” Kagome mumbled from the bedroom door, toweling her hair with one hand and still looking half asleep.
“How late did you stay up?”
“I don’t remember, but it was late. I haven’t seen Shippou since the other day, and we’re going out to dinner tonight…I was thinking about what else I need to ask him. What else I need to know.”
Ayumi nodded and stuck the quickly prepared breakfast out for her friend, “Eat, we have to go. Kouro-sensei would be very disappointed in you if you don’t show for class.”
“Shit!” Kagome swore uncharacteristically, stabbing her food with a scowl, “I never talked to him about writing on a different subject for that report.”
“Why can’t you write on the legend of the village?”
Kagome was quiet, her chopsticks pushing food along her plate with a sad smile, “I…cant write about them like their gone. I could write about their adventures; I could write about Sango’s quest for Naraku. I can’t write about them like some nameless dead figures. Because to me, their not. To me, it was less than three years ago that I spent in that village when it was alive, sitting with Sango in her hut and going to the hot springs. It was not much longer ago than that that all of us were journeying together, risking life and limb to stop Naraku. I can’t…I can’t write a report about them without my feelings showing through.”
Ayumi smiled sadly and took her friend’s hand, “I understand. It would be hard, and I even had a hard time with the report just knowing they were real people.”
Kagome smiled up at her long time friend, grabbing her for a hug, “Thank you Ayumi-chan…for understanding. I wouldn’t have gotten through these last few years without you.”
“How could I not understand? You know how much I put myself in Kiyoi’s shoes…all I had to do was wrap my mind around you being her, and it wasn’t so hard from there. Its still a bit strange to imagine youkai, but after meeting Shippou…I can’t deny it, can I?”
Kagome nodded, then turned bright eyes on her friend, “Hey, in the next few weeks, Shippou-chan wants to take me to some island…I guess Sesshou owns it…that is full of youkai. I mean, not like scary ones, I mean youkai like Shippou and others. Would you come with me when we go?”
Ayumi fidgeted, “I dunno, Kags…I mean, if it’s a youkai island, who’s to say I’d be allowed? And from your stories…they don’t really take so kindly to ningen…”
Kagome shook her head emphatically, “For one thing, that was a long time ago. Things change, and for them to have survived in this age, they have to be willing to put up with humans. For another thing, you’ll be with me, no one will harm you.”
“How…can you be so sure?”
Kagome smirked and pushed away from the table, “For one thing, I am the ‘long-lost’ Lady of the West, mate to the most powerful and feared youkai in history. I doubt anyone ever surpassed Sesshoumaru on the power meter.”
Ayumi blinked, “So, that really means something to them, then?”
“Well, yeah!” she said, grabbing her backpack and tossing books into it, “Imagine being escorted by a queen. In youkai society, as much as I hate it, I am. But, if all else fails…” Kagome grinned and held up a hand, violet light sparking around it, “I’m sure none have forgotten how much purity burns hurt, though its been a few centuries since miko were powerful…”
Her face in an ‘o’, Ayumi ran to Kagome side and poked a finger at the purple light emanating from her friend’s hand. It was warm. She giggled, “That is so cool. I wish I could do that.”
Kagome snickered and lowered her hand, slinging her pack over her shoulder, “Well, shall we get going?”
“Alright, then.”
--
“Higurashi, I would like to speak to you,” her teacher called from his spot at the head of the class. Kagome left her bag at her desk as the other students began to file out of the lecture hall, waiting until the stream of students had passed before walking town the stairs to where the older man sat. His half glasses were perched on his balding head and he wore a calm smile; she smiled at him and took a seat across from him at his desk.
“Kouro-sensei…”
“Kagome-san, class is out. You’ve been taking my class for a year and a half and even slip and call me by my first name in front of other students. Why when you’re apologizing do you use formality again?”
Kagome smiled wryly, “Shin-san, I am sorry I didn’t complete the homework.”
“I am rather disappointed, I always look forward to your reports. I thought this assignment would get you writing, especially since the same legend was used in your books.”
Kagome cringed, “Well…I…”
“I have been teaching this class for twenty years now, and I had never had a student as devoted as you. Even in my generation, believing in youkai is ‘silly’. I have never known someone your age to be so adamant…you know that if there was a reason for your reluctance I would not discard it.”
Her mind raced. If anyone would believe her, it would be Kouro Shin; she had almost told him a dozen times as it were. But, she had always held back. Her own depression coupled with lack of real knowledge always held her hand, keeping her from disclosing the truth…but Ayumi knew. Would it really be so bad?
She smiled at him, and knew. Even if he believed her crazy, he wouldn’t tell a soul. He was a good man, and something…something about him made him easy to trust. Not to mention, she had a sneaking suspicion he already suspected. Her smile grew wider, “Do you just want me to confirm your own beliefs, or are you being nice?”
The older man grinned lopsidedly, “You were always too clever.”
“Then I will do so. My reluctance was founded…I just can’t write about that village. Its complicated…”
“Does it have to do with Miroku and Sango?”
Her head darted up and met with a benevolent smile which made her smile back, “You really have this all figured out already, don’t you?”
“As all people, I merely had a hypothesis. I needed to hear it from you before I would know, though.”
Her voice was hushed, “Hai, it is because of Miroku and Sango. I can’t write about them like some faceless people.”
“Then, I will give you until next class to complete the assignment. Write about them, if you wish to…though their names were ‘lost in history’, I have a friend who knew them. Perhaps you know him as well?”
“K-knew them? Who?” she squeaked out, blinking at her teacher.
“Don’t look at me like I’ve gone crazy, silly girl. For one who’s traveled through time, you certainly are disbelieving.”
She snorted, “But the only person that could be alive today that knew them is my Shippou-chan…”
“Hai, that would be him. I’ve known him since I was starting college, and after about twenty years I noticed his lack of aging. He told me the truth about himself quite some time ago. I take it he’s the same from your stories as well?”
“Well, yeah…” she pursed her lips, “That’s just weird. Ya know, you could have told me you knew him when I first began taking your classes…”
“How was I to know surely? I only realized he knew the Taijiya last week when I was looking into taking a trip there with the class. I told him he should meet one of my students, which is why he was there in the first place.”
Kagome’s smile broadened, “Thank you, Shin. I could never thank you enough for that.”
“Don’t even think about it. I was happy to help. It does me good to be able to prove my hypothesis’ right. It’s also rewarding to see such a beautiful young lady really smile again…when she isn’t off in her own world.”
She smiled softly, “Thank you. It is good to add another person who can understand me. I went so long with no one.”
“You can come to me any time. Now, I do believe there is someone waiting for you.”
She looked around and saw no one, but after a moment she felt the small tingle she associated with detecting youki. It was just a little, but it seemed a purposeful release, as if alerting her to their position. She knew it was Shippou, and smiled, then frowned, “How did you know?”
“Something in my genes, I guess. Spiritual power is not gone, just forgotten. You should know that.”
She smiled and stood, reaching out to shake the older man’s hand, “See you next week, sensei.”
“That you will. Have a good time with your son, Kagome.”
“Mm,” she nodded, running up the stairs to her bag before breezing out the door. Shin smiled after her and pulled a stack of yet un-graded papers to him. That talk had gone better than he imagined. Violet blue eyes shone through his spectacles as he flipped the pages.
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“Oi, Kagome-mama!” Shippou called as she turned the corner, her eyes alighting on him immediately. He wore slacks and button down shirt, though the sleeves were rolled up and it was untucked. She grinned and ran to him, the two hugging affectionately, “Took ya long enough. I was bored.”
“With all the years you’ve lived, and your patience is so short? I couldn’t have been talking to Shin for more than half an hour.”
“I know, but like I said, InuYasha really did rub off on me,” the fox grinned, winking at his mother as he pulled her to his car.
“You were around InuYasha for four years in your how many century long life?”
He grinned mischievously, “Well, yeah, but he left an impression!”
She laughed and linked her arm through his as they walked, “Where are you taking me, anyway?”
“Just out for an early dinner. I know someone who would like to say hello to you.”
“Who?” she squealed, yanking his arm hard enough to make him wince.
“Ow! Ma! That hurts, ya know.”
“Sorry, but who?”
“Can’t you just wait and see? Jeez…”
“Shippou!” she growled out, narrowing her eyes.
“Nya! Kagome, you’re scaring me! Fine, fine, Kagura owns the restaurant. Come on, now, we have reservations.”
Kagome squealed, “Really? Wow!”
“She doesn’t know you’re coming. I haven’t told anyone yet, so it’ll be a surprise,” he let go of her and jumped into his car, which happened to be a red convertible. Kagome giggled girlishly over it and hopped over the door instead of using it - it had looked like fun. Shippou laughed at her and left the parking lot.
“Why do you want to surprise them so badly?”
“Well, duh! More fun, Kagome! Next week I’m throwing a dinner party with a few old friends, and only my kids know you’re attending. Then, the week after, I’ve already reserved the jet to Iwaku so we can go surprise Kouga. It’ll be great, ne? And, all this exposure, Sesshoumaru is sure to hear about it within a month or two. I am pretty sure he checks in on Iwaku regularly, to make sure everything is running smoothly.”
Kagome glowed, “Thank you, Shippou. For everything.”
“’Course, Kagome. Anything for my favorite mother.”
“Are you insinuating you’ve replaced me over the years?”
The youkai giggled as he stopped at a red light, “Never even tried. No one could compare to you anyway. How many youkai can say their mother is a time traveling human who happens to be one of the most well-known miko of all time and Lady of the West?”
Kagome gave him a deadpan look, “Thanks. I think. Bragging rights?”
Again he laughed, not looking away from the road as he grabbed her hand, “Oh, mom. You know I was joking.”
“Hai, I do. Brat.”
A comfortable silence followed, Kagome still holding the man’s hand. It was so strange, to refer to him as a man even in her head. Sure, she knew that even back then he had been several times her age…but he had still been a child. Now, as she peered at him from the corner of her eye, she could hardly believe it was the same boy. He now looked her age or older, but his carefree and playful personality seemed to of remained. She hoped it always would, no matter the problems he faced.
When he parked the car, it was not at a restaurant at all, but in front of a strip of stores. She quirked an eyebrow at the kitsune, who smiled, “We can’t go in looking like this. Old friends or not, there’s a dress code. So, I am treating my mother to a nice dress. My suit top is in the back, so I’ll be fine.”
“You don’t need to…”
“Shh!” he chided, waving his arms, “Stop that. I’m buying you a nice dress for dinner tonight, and that’s final. Go, woman, and pick something! Our reservations are in half an hour, so make it snappy!” he teased, pointing to his wrist where a watch would be.
She scowled playfully but laughed as she ran into the store they had parked in front of, the youkai following behind her more slowly. After twenty minutes of cooing over several dresses, Shippou once again reminded her of the time and made her choose, and so she did. She wore a long burgundy halter dress, not too low cut, and she loved it. She grinned as the clerk rang her up and she left the store in it, twirling on her new heels he had bought as well, “Thank you, Shippou-chan!”
“Anything for you, Kagome. Its only a few blocks to Kagura’s, lets hurry.”
They hopped back into the car and pulled out, but not before Shippou had pulled out and donned the jacket to his suit and tucked in his shirt. He had no tie, he told her he hated them, but he knew Kagura would be too distracted with her to care that he was ‘breaking policy.’
She awed at the restaurant. She had read about it often enough, it was one of the most prestigious and expensive in Tokyo. The type of place celebrities and officials frequented. She blushed over at her son, “Wow, we’re going here?”
“I told ya, Kagura owns it. She always did shoot for the best, ya know?”
She giggled and followed him in, admiring a painting on the wall in the lobby as Shippou got Kagura to come out. It was a beautiful scene of a forest glade, the likes of which didn’t exist in this time period. She smiled sadly and held herself back from tracing the painting with her finger.
A certain magenta-eyed witch swooped into the room unbeknownst to Kagome, huffing at the kitsune she found. The only concealments she wore were to hide her ears and fangs and let everyone believe she wore contacts to make her eyes so vibrant. She smirked at the younger youkai, “So, what’s so important you had to call me out here, kid? That you actually have a date? I’m a busy woman and I’m really not…” she trailed off as his ‘date’ turned and smiled, tears forming in the woman’s blue eyes.
“K-Kagome!” she squealed, throwing her aristocratic air out the window and ignoring that there were other patrons in the room. She embraced the priestess and laughed, “What are you doing here? You aren’t due to be here yet!”
“I guess the years weren’t as even as I thought,” she said vaguely, still aware of their audience.
“Oh man, its good to see you again! Its been too long,” she said meaningfully, pulling back to look into her eyes, “Come on, let’s get you two situated at my best table, hmm? Hope you don’t mind, kiddo, but I’m joining you guys,” she said to Shippou, who just smiled.
“Why else would I bring her here? I’ve known you long enough to know what you would do, Adeyaka.”
“That you do, Kouchi-san,” the wind witch laughed, motioning for them to follow.
“Those are our names this life, by the way,“ Shippou mumbled to her, and she nodded. She could have figured as much. Fascinatingly elegant and cunning indeed. Kagome was grinning as she followed, lighthearted in her steps. Yet another friend to add on, another person who had lived through the years. It was like she was walking on air, and things could only get better.
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A/N: *cough* Can I pretend that I DIDN'T forget about MediaMiner? Oh my...I'm terribly sorry. Wow. Shoot. >_>
I just noticed. I apologize profusely, and hope you can forgive me. If you want more of the story, head on over to http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1049630/ for the rest. I am SORRY! Wow...