InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Kagome's Return (sequel to Kagome! Where are you!? ❯ Sesshomaru meets Kagome's mother ( Chapter 4 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Kagome return's chapter 4

Sesshomaru meets Kagome's mother . . .



‘The pilot just said that we'll take off in an hour.' She thinks
as she looks out the window.

‘Too much time.' She thinks. ‘With nothing to do, but think.'

She looks down at her hand. She makes a fist and squeezes it.
‘What will I say to my mother about Sesshomaru? In all the plans
that Sesshomaru and I made, we never talked about that.'

She takes a deep breath and sighs. ‘And what will I say to Inu-
yasha? Every time I try to think about that conversation . . . I
can't. I just can't see Inu-yasha stopping and talking. He'll try
to kill Sesshomaru and I can stop him with the necklace. And then
. . . nothing. I can't think of anything to say next . . . '

In the cargo compartment.

Sesshomaru lays down and puts his head on his paws. ‘What do I
say to her mother? And why am I just now thinking about that? Did
I believe that we'd never return home?'

He growls. ‘And exactly what do I say to Inu-yasha? He'll never
stop attacking and listen to me. I must think of something . . .
'

Sesshomaru glances over at the other dog in the baggage
compartment. ‘I can still smell the bitch that he mated with
before he was placed on this plane.' He growls, lowly, ‘I will
not allow myself to be affected by that smell.'

The other dog, a large pit bull, barks at Sesshomaru.

Sesshomaru glances at him and growls.

The pit bull puts his tail between his legs and whines, his belly
scraping the bottom of his kennel.

Sesshomaru looks away. ‘He will not bother me, again.'

Later . . .

Kagome enters the baggage compartment. "Thank you, ma'am," she
bows to the stewardess behind her.

"Thank you," the woman says as she closes the door.

Kagome walks over to the kennel. She glances at the lock on the kennel. She frowns, "They
added a lock on the kennel, Sesshomaru. I'm not going to be able to let you out."

Sesshomaru places his paws on the screen on the kennel. His claws begin to dig in.
"Sesshomaru! Please! If you destroy the kennel, that'll cause problems. And cause more delays."
She begs as he starts to rip off apart the kennel.

Sesshomaru releases the screen. "Hate delay." He says in his rough gravelly voice.

Kagome nods. She sits down next to the kennel and, after some wiggling she manages to get her
hand into the kennel. Sesshomaru moves, so he can sit next to her hand. She rubs him. He purrs.

Time passes . . .

Kagome whispers, "What do I say to my mother?" She continues in a very fast voice. "She's
liked, if not loved Inu-yasha, especially his ears, from first glance, and I'm sure that she always
thought that he and I would . . . " her voice trails off.

Sesshomaru looks at her. He can smell her suppressed tears, and he can sense her tension. ‘What
do I say?' he thinks. ‘Any lie would be found out . . . and her mother would dislike that, I'm
sure. So. If we're not going to lie, then you have to tell the truth.'

"Truth." He growls out.

Kagome swallows. "I always thought that we'd meet Inu-yasha first, and have." She grimaces,
"and have our relationship issues resolved before meeting my mother."

She sighs, "now. We'll meet her, before Inu-yasha."

"Lie no good." Sesshomaru growls out.

Kagome grimaces and nods. "I know. I've always hated lying, especially to my mother. Even
before I broke down and told her everything about Inu-yasha and the search for the jewel, I just
leave things out. So, I don't actually lie to her."

Sesshomaru looks at her. "Your mother. Your decision."

Kagome looks at him. "My mother . . . how will she react?" she whispers. "If we try to evade
the truth about us." She pauses, and snarls at herself. "No. Nothing good will happen."

"Consort?" He growls out.

Kagome nods. "We can't lie. We can't evade the truth about us. So, that leaves, telling my
mother." She grimaces, "of course, we can approach that in stages. I can tell her about the times
that you've saved my life. You can tell her about your paintings." She nods. "And then, slowly
tell her what happened step-by-step."

"Good plan. Direct. Simple."

Kagome nods. "Yes. Let's try it, ok?"

Sesshomaru nods.

Kagome smiles, "Since you can't leave the kennel. I won't leave you. I'll just stay here." Her
hand continues to rub Sesshomaru. She leans against the kennel, resting.

Sesshomaru purrs as she caresses him. Her hand slows and it finally stops. He looks at her.
Kagome has fallen asleep as she leans against the kennel. ‘I thought so. It's been a long time
since she's slept, and she's been using her powers a lot.' He thinks. ‘I'll stay awake and protect
her.'

Elsewhere . . .

In the main FBI office at JFK. A man, an older somewhat heavyset man, turns off a mini-
cassette player and glares at the two men in the room with him.

"What were you two thinking?" He growls out.

The two FBI agents that talked with Kagome, (the tape recorder was concealed on one of them)
look at each other and then concentrate looking at the carpet. The one that they are being
dragged on and through . . .

"That was supposed to be an interview. Instead, you two agreed to everything she said. She led
you two around by the nose. I've never heard of such a sorry excuse for an interview. What was
she doing?"

"Sir." One of the agents says. He clears his throat. "No excuse, sir."

The head FBI agent looks at the other agent.

"Sir." The other one begins, "you weren't there. She." He pauses, trying to come up with the
words. "There was something about her. Charisma, something, I just felt like I could trust her . . .
"

"That is unacceptable." The head FBI agent growls. "Next, you'll be telling me that she was
using that JEDI mind trick from the Star Wars movies on you. It certainly sounded like it."

Both agents look at the carpet, memorizing the patterns.

The head FBI agent sighs. "I want to know everything about her. I want all the surveillance
cameras checked. I want pictures. She filled out those customs forms. I want fingerprints. I want
DNA."

"Yes, sir." They chorus.

"And I want it yesterday." Their boss growls. "Get out. The next time I see you two, you had
better be able to tell me everything that I want to know about her."

The head FBI agent picks up the phone. "Get me Tokyo international airport. I need to talk to
their head of security. There is a woman on plane to Tokyo that I want detained and questioned."

‘For real, this time.' He thinks to himself.

"Yes, sir." His secretary replies.


Later, back on the airplane


‘My ears are hearing people beginning to look for Kagome.' Sesshomaru thinks. ‘Whither or not
she's rested enough, is not a luxury any more.'

Sesshomaru bends down and nips Kagome's fingers, waking her up.

"What!" Kagome says as she pulls back her hand. She looks around in surprise. She slumps, "It
wasn't a dream." She whispers.

"Dream?" Sesshomaru growls.

Kagome flashes a smile, "I was afraid that this was a dream and we were still bouncing between
worlds." She grimaces, "lost in space and time." She frowns. ‘That reminds of something, I can't
thank of what though.' She thinks.

"People looking." Sesshomaru growls as he points his head to the baggage compartment
entrance. Kagome, looks at her watch, (she picked it up at the airport, earlier), "I've been asleep
most of the flight, Sesshomaru. They must be getting ready to land. I've got to go." She says in a
rush.

Sesshomaru growls, but nods.

Kagome gets up and starts to walk out, but, she stops and turns around. She says to Sesshomaru,
"Sesshomaru, lord of the western lands, I'm sure that it will take time to go through all of the
customs checks. And, I'll probably have another conversation with more customs agents, so,
please be patient and don't break out of the kennel. Please."

Sesshomaru nods, but doesn't say anything.

Kagome sighs, turns and opens the baggage compartment door.


Later, after landing...


Kagome is deplaning. A couple of men, in dark suits, one Japanese, and one American, approach
her. "Miss Sango Takahashi?" the American asks.

Kagome nods. She looks at the Japanese man. He sighs. "Miss Takahashi Sango, if you could
please follow us." He says, "Due to the nature of the purchase of your ticket, there are a few
questions that we are required to ask of you."

Kagome sighs and nods. "Thank you, sir." She flashes a smile, "I'll be happy to explain."


In the baggage compartment.

The kennel with Sesshomaru in it is thrown onto a truck for transport. He bounces off the side of
the kennel. He sniffs. ‘I will remember, you human.' He glares at the human.

"Stupid mutt." The man slaps the side of the kennel.

Sesshomaru is brought to an area that is set aside for guaranteeing animals. Once he enters the
large room, all of the various pets and animals in the room, quiets down.

Sesshomaru releases a low growl. He looks around. ‘Hmm. A lot of animals, more than I
thought. Several humans, too,' He looks at them, ‘Hmm, they actually are treating the animals
with respect. Good.' He scans the large room again, ‘The walls don't seem strong, and there are
windows set in the ceiling, so, in case I need to leave. It will be easy.'

Later . . .

Kagome closes a door behind her. ‘That was difficult. Unlike the first two, they were really
suspicious of me. I had to use my powers on them a lot more than the others.' She grimaces,
‘and, I think that whoever ordered them to ask me questions is not going to be happy with them.
I'd better get Sesshomaru and leave, now, before they bring in a new team.'

She glances at the paperwork in her hand. ‘At least they stamped it, ok. So, there shouldn't be
any problems. I hope.'

Inside the room. It is a comfortable room, with several chairs, a small table, even a TV.

The two agents are on their cell phones to their bosses. They are playing the recording of
Kagome's ‘interview' to them.


"Who is this woman?" comes from the cell phone of the American agent. (It is on a speaker
phone attachment.) The voice is the same as the head of JFK airports. "That's almost identical to
what I heard over here." He growls.

"Sorry, sir." The American agent says, "It was just so hard to disagree with her."

The Japanese agent on the phone (also on a speaker phone attachment) to his boss says, "the
same here, sir. While she was talking, it just seemed right and proper to follow her suggestions."

"I want her detained." The FBI head from JFK demands over the speaker phone.


"You can't order that." The boss of the Japanese agent replies, over his speaker phone, "But, she
is something odd and unusual and I want her brought in and questioned. This time, however,
instead of a personal interview, I want the questions to be asked by an agent via a phone. In the
interests of the common good, I will allow an American agent to listen, and he can suggest
questions. However she is a Japanese citizen, and without something more definite than ‘she's
really persuasive,' I am not going to do much more."

A pause. "Good enough." The FBI head replies.


In the quarantine area of the airport.

"Miss." The female quarantine clerk is talking to Kagome. "It is highly recommended that when
transporting pets, that you give us at least a week's warning to prepare. Your pet is a special
request, and arrived without some of the proper paperwork. As such, I am sorry, but there will be
some delay."

Kagome hunches her shoulders together. ‘I just had a shiver run up my spine. I don't think I've
got a lot of time.'

"Miss" Kagome looks hard at the clerk, her eyes catch hers and hold them. "There is no harm in
letting me visit pet."

"There is no harm in letting you visit your pet." The clerk monotones.

"You will lead me to my pet."

"I will lead you to your pet."

The clerk opens up a door behind her, and Kagome follows her into the quarantine area.

The clerk lead her to Sessohmaru's kennel.

"Thank you, miss." Kagome says. "It is ok for me to leave with my pet."

"It is ok for you to leave with your pet." She monotones.

Kagome bends down and picks up the kennel and places it on a wheeled platform, so she can roll
him along.

The manager of the quarantine area, looks up from his paperwork. "Hey! That animal isn't
cleared!" He stands up from behind his desk and shouts.


The security door to the quarantine area opens and about half-a-dozen uniformed Japanese
security agents, and a couple of plains clothes ones, enters the room. "Miss Takahashi Sango!"
one of them shouts. "Please come with us!" they begin to jog across and between the crates in
the area toward her.

Kagome looks around. ‘I don't think that they will listen this time.' She looks up. The ceiling
has several skylights in it.


Sesshomaru growls as the men approach Kagome.

Kagome looks at Sesshomaru. She bites her lips. ‘If I go with them, I'm sure that it will take
hours, at least, before I can talk me way out of it. Can I waste those hours, knowing that Rin and
Shippo are hurt? Especially knowing that I'm so close to home. And since I know that inu-yasha,
since he has never popped back on this side of the well, has to be trouble?'

Kagome takes a deep breath and whispers, "Sesshomaru, if we stay, we'll be trapped here for
hours. Change size and fly us out of here."

Sesshomaru looks at the security agents. They are slowing and spreading out, surrounding
Kagome. One of the plain clothes agent's says, "Miss, I am sorry, but, after reviewing your
interview, it's been decided that more information is needed. If you could, please follow us."

He frowns at Sesshomaru. "We'll see that your pet is well cared for."

Sesshomaru growls. He grows, splinting the kennel. "Run. Humans." He orders in his most
horrific voice. All the other animals in the quarantine area, which had been very silent out of
respect/fear of Sesshomaru begin to bark, tweet, rush around in panic.

Kagome slides onto Sesshomaru's back as he grows into the size of a horse. She yells, "Freeze."
With the JEDI mind trick powers backing that order.

Between the surprise of Sesshomaru's size change and Kagome's ‘freeze' order, none of the
security agents fire any weapon before Sesshomaru smashes through the skylight and out into
the open.

"Move fast, Sesshomaru." Kagome screams in her ear as she hugs his neck and squeezes his
body with her legs. "Don't fly high, stay just above the buildings."

Sesshomaru, flying right off the ground, quickly leaves the airport behind. Some people do see
him, but . . . ‘who's going to believe me when I mention a flying horse sized white dog?' they
think and quickly go about their business.


In the security offices...

"Well. That explains that." The Japanese agent says as he looks over the security camera tape of
the quarantine area.

"Explains what?" comes from the speaker phone. It is the FBI agent in JFK. "What you've said
makes no sense."

"Yes, I know." The agent says. "But, you haven't been to Nerima, have you?"

"Nerima?"

"A year ago, we had a problem with a Chinese visitor. He turned into a flying minotaur with
octopus tentacles coming out of his back." The agent replies. "I'll check with some friends, but
I'm sure that she's connected to Nerima, somehow, someway."

"So, when are you going to bring her in for questioning?" FBI agent demands.

"Never." The Japanese agent replies, "Not unless your willing to lend us an armored division or
two. Going into Nerima with anything less than that is a waste of time. The army will lose."

The FBI agent hangs up.

The Japanese agent sighs. ‘And now, his report of this incident will force us to write up, yet
another, report on Nerima. And, it'll be ignored just like all the others. Too fantastic to be
believed.' He thinks.

At JFK...

‘When I'm finished with this incident report, heads will roll.' The head FBI agent thinks as he
begins to write. ‘Whoever this Sango Takahashi is, she will be found, and she will be asked to
explain what happened over the last twenty-four hours.'

Back to Kagome and Sesshomaru, flying over Tokyo...


Kagome is riding Sesshomaru, like a horse. Her legs are squeezing his chest. Her arms are
around his neck, hugging him. She is whispering directions to her house, as he flies.

‘What to do?' Kagome thinks. ‘Sooner or later, my fingerprints will be found. And, I know that
they are in the police database. My mother had Sota and myself fingerprinted, in case something
went wrong, years ago.'

She shivers, ‘Are those stories about agents like the ‘men in black' real?' she thinks, ‘My life
and adventures are real, so why aren't they? Yes. I have to assume that. So, sooner or later, men
will show up at home, and they'll want me to go with them.'

She shivers again. ‘And if Sesshomaru, Inu-yasha or Shippo is home? We'll all be taken into
some secret testing place. Or they'll fight some battle in the middle of Tokyo. And then things
will get even worse.'

Kagome nods. ‘I have to assume that my life, here on this side of the well, will be changed
because of this. Before, my adventures were only local disturbances, and could be ignored, or
explained away as aberrations. But, this won't be.'

She sighs and hugs Sesshomaru's neck tighter. ‘Another reason to live on the other side of the
well.' She pauses, ‘I wonder . . . whatever god is testing Sesshomaru and myself, getting me to
live on that side of the well, seems to be one of his goals. Which makes it even more likely that
my life on this side of the well will be changed, and not for the better.'

She looks ahead. She smiles, as she spots the top of the God Tree. "Soon." She whispers. "Soon,
I will have some answers."

She points to her school as they fly near it. "That is my school, Sesshomaru." She glances at the
sun. "And, since today is a school day, my friends will be in school. So, I won't have to talk to
them, today." She sighs, "healing Shippo and Rin, talking to my mother, Sota and getting
through the well will be hard enough, without them asking questions."

Sesshomaru grunts. ‘I can feel the power of the well growing. It seems to be much stronger on
this side. Or, is that because,' he looks at the God tree. ‘He is weaker on this side? Hmmm. Stop
thinking about that. Start thinking about her mother. No. Don't think about her. Think about
Rin.'

Kagome points. "That is my house, Sesshomaru. Land beside it, please."

Sesshomaru lands next to it. Kagome swings off him. He changes into his human shape.

Kagome bows to him. "Thank you, Sesshomaru."

He nods. He points to the well house. "The well is in that building, correct."

Kagome nods. "As soon as I heal Shippo and Rin." She bites her lips, "And talk to my mother,
we'll see about getting you through it."

Sesshomaru nods.

Kagome looks at her house. She looks at Sesshomaru. He is not moving toward it. She looks at
his face and eyes. ‘Frightened? No. but, he is very unsure of himself.' She thinks. ‘Not that I'm
in better shape. Talking to my mother about him . . . Short of talking to Inu-yasha, I can't think
of anything else worse to do . . . ' Her thought's trail off.

She reaches out and grabs his hand. "Walk with me." She whispers.

They walk, hands together, up to the front door.

Kagome looks at Sesshomaru, takes a deep breath, and whispers, "ready?"

Sesshomaru looks at her and sighs. "Of course."

He thinks, ‘what other answer can I give?'

Kagome opens the front door and yells, "Mother! Sota! Grandfather! I'm home!"

Sota jumps up from the couch. He was watching TV, and runs to the door. "Kagome!"

Kagome spreads her arms, bends down and hugs him, tight, then lets him go. "Sota! Where's
mom?"

"Kagome!" Mrs. H calls from the top of the stairs.

Kagome looks up. She smiles. "Mother!"

She runs to the stairs and up them. "Where are they?" she asks as she runs.

"Shippo's in Sota's room. Rin is in your room." Kagome's mother says.

Kagome, once she hits the top of the stairs, hugs her mother, quickly. "Rin, first. She is hurt the
worse, right?" she asks.

Mrs. H nods. Kagome runs down the hallway. Mrs. H looks down the stairs and at Sesshomaru.

Sesshomaru is still standing in the doorway. He is dressed in his traditional clothes. A backpack
is on his back. His two swords are at his waist.

He is looking at Mrs. H.

Their eyes catch.

A pause . . .

Sesshomaru, inclines his head, slightly, to her.

Kagome's mother nods, a sharp crisp nod, then spins on her toes. She runs down the hallway to
catch up with her daughter.

"Who are you?" Sota asks, as he stands in front of Sesshomaru.

Sesshomaru directs his attention to Sota. "This person is Sesshomaru, Lord of the Western lands,
human. You are Sota, Kagome's younger brother."

Sota replies, "yes." He frowns, "How did you know that? My smell. I smell like her."

"No. She called you, Sota."

"Sesshomaru? Inu-yasha's brother. The one that's tried to kill Kagome at least three times."
Sota's eyes are wide as he backs away from Sesshomaru.

"I've tried to kill her more times than that." Sesshomaru replies. "And I've killed her more times
than that."

"But . . . " Sota looks at the stairs. "But . . . she's alive."

"Yes. And she will remain alive."

Sota swallows hard. "Are you going to kill me?" blurts out of his mouth. He covers his mouth
and backs away.

Sesshomaru's eyebrow raise. "No. Killing you would upset your sister." He growls. His lips thin,
the tips of his fangs show, "However, I will be treated with respect, boy."

Sota nods, "yes. Yes. Sir."

"Sesshomaru!" Rin yells from the top of the stairs. In an instant, somehow, she is hugging
Sesshomaru's leg. "You're home."

Sota's mouth drops. "How? She's been in a coma . . . "

Sesshomaru places his hand on Rin's head. "Your sister is very powerful."

"Rin happy!" Rin buries her face in Sesshomaru's robes.

Sesshomaru looks around. "This Sesshomaru smells some flowers over there." He points.

Sota, looking in that direction, "Yeah, Mom got some flowers. She thought that the smell of
flowers might be good for Shippo."

"Get them, human boy."

Sota looks at Sesshomaru. He nods, runs, and brings the bouquet of flowers to Sesshomaru.
Sesshomaru hands them to Rin. "Here, Rin."

Rin's face brightens. She grabs the flowers. "Pretty!" She starts to run around the house putting
the flowers all over the place.


"Sesshomaru!" Shippo hisses from the top of the stairs. He is in Kagome's arms.

Kagome, and her mother are also at the top of the stairs. Kagome is a bit pale from healing both
of them, but she's otherwise in fine shape.

"Kitsune." Sesshomaru replies. He pauses, then, after a glance into Kagome's eyes, he says
"Shippo."

Shippo's eyes widen in surprise.

Sota moves to the bottom of the stairs. As soon as his mother is at the bottom, he moves next to
her.

Sesshomaru's eyebrow raises as he watches' Kagome walk over to him.

Rin, with a rose in her hair, finishes decorated in the room, and she goes over to Sesshomaru and
hugs his leg, as she watches the room.


Kagome clears her throat. "Between Inu-yasha's and." She pauses, "my stories, Sesshomaru, I'm
afraid that your reputation has preceded you."

He nods. He looks at Kagome's mother. He inclines his head, "Madam, you have the promise of
Sesshomaru, lord of the western lands, that I will not harm your family."

Mrs. H looks at Kagome. She nods. "He won't break that promise."

Mrs. H's eyebrows rise. She bends down and says to Sota, "Go downstairs and get your
grandfather. He needs to know what is happening." She is watching Sesshomaru and Kagome as
she does this.

She frowns as she notices Shippo sniffing Kagome, and then Sesshomaru. Shippo turns white.

Sesshomaru looks at Shippo, and raises an eyebrow.

"Kagome?" Shippo says in a strangled voice.

Kagome, who had been trying to catch Rin's eye, to calm her down, looks at Shippo. She looks
at Sesshomaru. She catches her breath, pales, and whispers, "Please, Shippo. I'll explain, but let
me do it my way, please?"

Shippo looks at Sesshomaru.

A pause . . .

Mrs. H is looking back forth from Sesshomaru to Shippo watching . . .

Shippo wiggles out of Kagome's arms and jumps on the ground between her and Sesshomaru.
"He hurt you. Took you by force, didn't he."

Mrs. H gasp is audible in the room.

"No. Shippo. He did not." Kagome's voice, though under a great deal of stress, is calm. She is
looking at her mother.

Kagome and her mother's eye catch each other and they stare into each other's eyes.

"Please, Shippo, you're making this harder than it should be. I'll explain, but, please let me do it,
my way." She begs.

Shippo looks at Kagome. He can see and smell tears begin to from in her eyes. He bites his lips.
He spins to look at Sesshomaru. His mouth opens. Then, he closes it with a snap, as Kagome's
hand grips his shoulder.

"Please, Shippo. I promise." She whispers.

Shippo stares into Sesshomaru's eyes.

Sesshomaru, after a flick to watch Kagome's mother, says, "Shippo. Kagome and this
Sesshomaru have been on a long and dangerous journey. During which, I've made promises to
her. Promises that I will keep."

Shippo opens his mouth. Kagome squeezes his shoulder. "Please, Shippo. I would like to
introduce you and Sesshomaru to my family. And, then, later, I'll explain. I promise."

Shippo looks at Kagome. He can see a tear begin to fall down one of her cheeks.

He can hear Sesshomaru barely concealed growl of pain. He looks up at Sesshomaru.

Shippo growls. He jumps and hugs Kagome around the neck, hanging onto her. "I won't let him
hurt you." He whispers into her ear.

"He won't," Kagome whispers back, as she stands up. She gathers him in her arms, holding him
tight.

She takes a deep breath and turns to her mother.

Mrs. H, still standing at the base of the stairs, stares at her daughter.

Kagome opens her mouth to speak, but, the front door slams open as Sota and Kagome's
grandfather enter the house.

"Kagome!" her grandfather says in surprise.

His eyes narrow. He whips out a spell scroll. "Demon begone!" he screams as he charges
Sesshomaru.

Sesshomaru stands there, all he does is move Rin around, so she isn't in front of him.

Kagome's grandfather slaps his spell scroll on Sesshomaru's stomach.


Shippo gasps. "He did it . . . And he is still alive . . . "


Sesshomaru peals off the spell scroll. "Human, you don't have the mystic power of your
granddaughter, or even your daughter. This is a waste of time, paper and energy." He hands the
scroll back to Kagome's grandfather, who, his eyes wide in fright, back away from Sesshomaru
and toward his daughter.

"I warned you." Kagome allows a semi-smile on her face.

Sesshomaru nods. "You did. I didn't quite believe you, but you did."

"You warned him?" Shippo asks.

"Yes, Shippo. I told him that my grandfather would probably do that." Kagome's mouth twitches
again.

"He took it better than I expected." She whispers to Shippo. "He didn't even insult him."

Mrs. H clears her throat, loudly.

Kagome looks at her mother. She takes a deep breath and begins to speak, "Grandfather
Higurashi, my mother Higurashi Kimiko, and my brother Sota," She waves to Sesshomaru.
"May I present, Sesshomaru, lord of the Western lands and his ward Rin?"

Sesshomaru inclines his head to Kagome's family. Rin peaks around him and quickly bows to
them.

Sota and his grandfather glance at Kagome's mother. She slowly inclines her head toward
Sesshomaru. Sota and his grandfather quickly give small bows to Sesshomaru and Rin.

Kagome moves Shippo around, so she can see his face. Kagome takes another deep breath.
"And, in my arms, may I present Shippo." She stares into Shippo's eyes, as she finishes, "my
son."

Silence . . .

"You mean that?" Shippo whispers into the silence.

Kagome eyes fill with tears. She hugs Shippo close, her cheek rubs against his, as she whispers,
also into the silence. "Yes."

"The well." Shippo whispers.

"Even if it separates us, I will find a way to get us together." Kagome replies, her voice
strengthening as she speaks, "I promise you. I will not leave you."

Silence.

Mrs. H clears her throat. "So. Kagome." She pauses, "the journey you just finished." She pauses
again as she searches for words.

Kagome looks at her mother. "Mother." She glances at her Grandfather and Sota. Then at
Sesshomaru and Rin. And finally at Shippo. "Everyone. I."

She glances at Sesshomaru. "We." Sesshomaru inclines his head. "Will have announcements to
make. But." She looks at her mother. "I'd like to do it in my way, at the time of my choosing."

Kagome's mother slowly nods. "That's fine, Kagome. I'm not going to force you to say
everything right now." Her mouth twitches, "so, what do you wish to do now?"

Kagome smiles, "Mother. Thank you." She puts Shippo down. "What I'd like to do, now?" Her
eyes tear up. "I'd like to get a hug from my mother."

Mrs. H smiles widely.

She and Kagome walk toward each other and hug. Sota and his grandfather also move and hug
Kagome. They begin to talk between themselves. Kagome's family starts to catch her up on
what has happened on this side of the well.

Shippo moves next to Sesshomaru. In a whisper, so low that only Sesshomaru can hear him, he
whispers, "I hate you. Whatever happened, you've hurt her."

Sesshomaru replies, also in a whisper that only Shippo can hear, "And, Kitsune son of Kagome,
your mother wants your help and support, not a temper tantrum of a spoiled son."

Shippo growls, loud enough that Rin notices, but, no one else.

Sesshomaru continues, "I would say more, but she's made it plain that she wishes to explain
what happened." His lips curl into a semi-smile, "And you should be thanking me, Shippo, I
helped to convince Kagome that she needs to formally adopt you."

"Why?" Shippo whispers.


"Because . . . " Sesshomaru begins. "That would make her happy. And that is important."

Shippo releases a low whistle . . .

"Shippo! Rin!" Kagome calls to them. "Come over here, I want you two to get to know my
brother, Sota." She smiles, "I'm sure that you three will become great friends."

Shippo and Rin look at each other. They walk to Kagome and Sota. Kagome, Sota, Shippo and
Rin, begin to talk. Kagome leads them up to Sota's room, so they can play and get to know each
other up there.

Mrs. H walks over to Sesshomaru. Kagome's grandfather stands alone, watching the stairs and
then watching Sesshomaru.

Mrs. H clears her throat.

Sesshomaru nods to her.

"How shall I address you?" Mrs. H asks.

A pause. "Sesshomaru is acceptable. You don't have to use my full title."

Mrs. H nods. Her eyes flick to the stairs. "My daughter will be up there for a while, I believe.
She, I'm sure, wants them to be distracted so the children won't interrupt her explanation."

Sesshomaru nods. "That is reasonable."

A pause, as they both stare at the stairs, as they stand side by side.

The pause lengthens . . . and the tension between them increases . . .

"Aren't you going to ask me questions?" Sesshomaru asks, as the tension finally gets to him.

"No. I trust my daughter." Mrs. H replies. She glances at Sesshomaru.

He looks at her. He nods. "Your daughter holds my trust as well."

Kagome's mother nods, sharply.

They return to staring at the stairs, waiting for Kagome to appear.

After a few minutes . . .

Kagome appears at the top of the stairs. The noise of a TV follows her from Sota's room.

Kagome shakes her head as she walks down the stairs. "Mother? How much chocolate do we
have?"

Mrs. H smiles, "a far amount. I'll make a tray and give it to them."

A few minutes later . . .

Kagome's grandfather and Kagome's mother are seated on a couch in the living.

Sesshomaru is standing off to one side, in full view of Kagome's mother and grandfather.

Kagome is standing between them.

She begins to pace.

"Kagome?" her mother asks.

Kagome sighs, "ok. Here it goes, Mother."

She begins her tale . . .

The end chapter 4.


Authors' note: I did take some liberties with the FBI & Japanese airport sequences, so they are
not totally correct. (Trying to get rationalizing Ranma and it's oddness, and caused problems.
The character mentioned is Pantyhose Taro, BTW.) So, readers, please accept that on this world,
things might be different from in the real world.



Thank you for reading
jeff shelton