InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Mark ❯ A Trip Back to the Future ( Chapter 9 )

Kagome sat on the edge of the well and took a deep breath. She wasn't sure how her mother was going to react to all this. Shippou gave her a light squeeze and she smiled. She was nervous.

-I just don't know how my family will react.-

Sesshomaru squeezed her shoulder gently. -It will be fine. They love you and will want you to be happy.-

-I can't leave them defenseless, though. I was the protection payment on the shrine. My…my innocence was supposed to guarantee their safety. If something happens and a new yakuza boss comes to power, they will be helpless.-

Sesshomaru bit down on a growl. -We will deal with that, when and if it happens.-

She nodded and jumped in. He was right behind her. Blue light engulfed them and slowed their fall. They landed gently in the well house. Kagome reached for the ladder to climb out, but Sesshomaru wrapped an arm around her waist and jumped. They landed and Kagome gave him a smile of thanks.

“Um, the smells here and the sounds are going to be…intense. You two might want to prepare yourself for that.”

Shippou covered his nose and nodded. Sesshomaru, his nose already wrinkled from the stench, made a point to breath through his mouth. They climbed the steps and Kagome slid the door open. Shippou made a gagging noise, and Sesshomaru looked equally unhappy. She led them to the house and opened the door.

“Mom, Souta, I'm home!”

She closed the door. There was a crashing noise then Souta dove down the steps and plastered himself to her. She laughed softly.

“Hey kid! What's up?”

He grinned up at her. “Mom! Grandpa! Kagome's home and she brought friends!”

He grabbed her hand and dragged toward the kitchen. Her mother emerged, a towel in hand. She smiled at Kagome then turned that smile on Sesshomaru.

“You look beautiful in that kimono, dear. Where did you get it?”

“Sesshomaru gave it to me. I'm afraid I ruined my school uniform.”

“Again? Oh well, I'll pick you up another tomorrow.”

Kagome blushed and looked down at her feet. “Actually, you don't have to.”

“Oh?” Her gaze shifted from her daughter to the tall youkai at her side and a smile touched her lips. “Well it's about time.”

She jumped. “Nani?”

She put the towel down and hugged her daughter gently. “I've been waiting for you to fall in love since you were fifteen. I guess deep down I always knew you belonged there. I'm going to miss you.”

She released Kagome and smiled at Sesshomaru. He inclined his head. “I am Sesshomaru, Taiyoukai of the West.”

“Are you the one that finally managed to turn her heart?”

“I have asked her to be my mate and she has agreed.”

Her smiled brightened as she gazed at Shippou. “And you must be her pup, Shippou. I've heard a great deal about you. You must both stay for dinner. For the night if you can.”

Kagome glanced at Sesshomaru and he nodded. “I would enjoy being here.”

She smiled and set Shippou down. “Shippou, this is my brother Souta. Do you think you can take care of each other for a while? And please, Souta, keep him out back. Imagine what might happen if people saw that he was youkai.”

Souta nodded. “No problem.”

He held out his hand to Shippou and the kitsune took it. Kagome had had a long talk with him about the future and he had agreed to stay out of sight. He grinned at her, she had never said anything about being able to play with her little brother. Kagome did not doubt that it would take less than a breath for him to start showing off his magic. Sesshomaru was looking around the house in silent awe. On his short trip to this structure he had seen many others in the far distance that had easily rivaled this one and yet this was far greater than his own palace. It was not bigger, but there was a splendidness about it that his palace could not rival. Kagome blushed as she noticed his scrutiny.

“I know it's not near as grand as your palace, but this is my home.”

“It is…unique.”

She smiled at his sudden surge of curiosity so she took his hand and began to show him all the wonders and oddities of living in the twenty-first century. The television and the stereo were dismissed as annoyances he could do without. The running water on the other hand was something he liked a great deal, as well as the temperature regulators on the stove and oven. The microwave fascinated him to no end.

“How does it heat the food?”

She frowned slightly, trying to remember. “The machine produces energy that heats water inside the food. The energy can't penetrate metal so we can't put cans or aluminum foil.”

“How is the energy produced?”

“I honestly don't know.”

He snorted softly. “Could you find out?”

“Sure, come on.”

She took his hand and guided him up a set of stairs to a room that smelled so much like her it could only be her chamber. There was a bed much higher than the futons he was used to. She sat in front of a thing that look suspiciously like the television from earlier. It spent several minutes humming and making strange chiming noises before she started looking busy. She moved a small piece of metal and made a clicking noise. After several minutes of moving her fingers over a strange board she pushed her chair back and gestured for him to come closer. On the screen was a detailed explanation along with several diagrams. She showed him how to scroll the screen down and gave him the seat. He sat reading for long minutes. At last he sat back.

“What is this thing?”

“A computer. Not near as worthless as a television, huh?”

“Can you show me how to work it?”

The two hours before dinner were taken up with typing lessons and the wonders of the internet. She showed him history sites and news sites so that he could understand the world she had suddenly thrust him into. After a while he sat back rubbing his eyes. He turned to find her sitting on her bed. She smiled at him as he rose.

“Find everything you need?”

He reached out and touched her face. “I found that a while ago, but I have learned a great deal about what is to come. We will be better prepared and the Western Lands will survive.”

She smiled at the conviction in his voice. “Yes, come hell or high water or nuclear bombs, we will survive.”

She leaned forward, resting her head against his stomach. His fingers ran through her hair and she sighed as her whole body began to relax. She was so tired and she hadn't even realized it.

-You should get some sleep.-

-Not right now. I'll go to bed early after dinner. Deal?-

-Fair enough.- He inhaled deeply. -Speaking of which, we should get going. I think your mother has finished preparing dinner.-

She sighed again and rose. There was a soft knock and her mother looked into the room. She smiled when she saw them. “Kagome, why don't you get some sleep, Sesshomaru can join us for dinner and you can eat after your nap.”

Sesshomaru arched an eyebrow at Kagome. “You see, you are overruled, now get some sleep.”

She put her hands on her hips, her lips sticking out in an adorable fake pout. “You're both bullies, you know that?”

“Yes, I know.” He pinched her lower lip gently and she stuck out her tongue at him. “Don't stick that out unless you plan to use it.”

Her face colored a lovely shade of pink and her mother laughed softly. “Oh, I like you, Sesshomaru-sama. He won't take any of your nonsense, now get some rest.”

Sesshomaru laid a gentle kiss on her forehead before stepping out of the room. Her mother closed the door then took Sesshomaru's arm and guided him down the stairs. They sat around the table and dinner was served. Shippou looked around, tears threatening.

“Otousan, where is Okaasan?”

“She is asleep. Between dealing with Inuyasha and the journey here, she is exhausted.”

He snorted softly. “Dealing with Inuaysha is enough to exhaust anyone.”

“She should be up in a few hours, you can play with her then.”

He nodded and turned his attention back to the very serious matter of eating his dinner. Sesshomaru watched the pup for a moment before beginning his own meal. He couldn't help but notice that Kagome's grandfather was watching him carefully throughout the meal. At last dinner was over and the old man cleared his throat. Sesshomaru followed him as he stepped outside. Silently he walked over to the shrine.

“I understand that you have asked Kagome to be your wife. She will never come back when she leaves with you tomorrow.”

“She can return whenever she wishes.”

The old man looked at him, and Sesshomaru recognized something powerful in those dark eyes. “Kagome thinks me an old fool, and to be honest that is what I want her to think. I could seal the well at any time I wanted. I will seal the well after you leave with her.”

“Why?”

“She must remain there, for her own good. She cannot cling to a future that might never come to be.” He sighed softly and looked up into the sky. “I am old, Sesshomaru-sama, older than anyone seems to think. I have learned something that I wish to pass on to you, especially considering who your bride will be. Time is fluid, the future, even this future is unknown. This is but one possibility, there are infinite others that can come to be simply because you turn left instead of right, or inhale when you should have exhaled. There are so many factors that nothing can really be known for sure about what is to come.”

Sesshomaru regarded the man beside him. “How old are you?”

“About two hundred years old. Kagome will come to learn it in time, but one of her ancestors was a youkai. I could not tell you what kind of youkai he was, but I do know that I will live to see many hundreds of years more. I don't know how to tell Souta or Kagome, I suppose I will have to do it before you leave.”

“You will do it tonight.”

He jumped at Sesshomaru's authoritative tone. “Do not think you can order me…”

His words were cut off by the cold fire burning behind Sesshomaru's eyes. “I cannot and will not keep this from her. You will tell her tonight, or I will, either way, she will know.”

“Very well…but tell me, why do you act this way toward her? Youkai mates are rarely affectionate and yet I can see that you are toward her.”

“She is special.” Sesshomaru turned to walk back to the house. “Do not forget. She knows my mind, even if I tried to hide it, she would learn soon enough.”

The old man watched the taiyoukai walk back to the house. “Knows your mind? How can any being know your mind, Sesshomaru-sama?”

The answer came to him suddenly and he sucked in his breath. Did they have a bond? It was the only answer. That meant that she bore his mark. Rage built up within him. Kagome would never have allowed herself to be compromised which meant that the only way Sesshomaru could have marked her, was if he had forced her. Was all this an act? A way to set their minds at ease? He growled softly. He would fight for his granddaughter, even if it meant his life.

Back in the house Shippou and Souta were playing a video game under Sesshomaru's watchful eye. Kagome came down the steps and smiled when she saw them. She gave her grandfather a wink before going into the kitchen and getting the plate her mother had saved for her. She sat down on the couch and ate as she watched them. Sesshomaru shot her a look that told him his opinion of this game and she giggled. The gaze he shot toward her grandfather was loaded and when Shippou groaned as his character died, Sesshomaru plucked him up and carried him up the stairs. He could hear her grandfather begin as he shut the door to her room.

“Why'd you do that, Otousan?”

“Kagome's Ojisan had something very important to tell her.”

Shippou bounced on her bed and gave a yip of surprise. He laughed softly as he started to go higher. Sesshomaru sat and watched the child. After a moment he stopped and looked at him.

“She's crying.”

“Yes, I know. I can smell it too.”

“Aren't you going to go do something about it?”

“I can't right now. This is something she must do on her own.”

“Oh.” He sat on the bed and watched him for a moment. “When I was a baby, my parents used to let me sleep with them.”

“You are not a baby anymore, but you can sleep with us if you want. I will not keep you away.”

Shippou slipped under the covers and curled up, his face buried in her pillow. “Thank you, Otousan. I have bad dreams sometimes.”

He sat on the edge of the bed and gently stroke the kitsune's hair. “What about?”

“Naraku. I dream that he hurts Kagome.”

“I will never let that happen.”

He sighed softly and closed his eyes. “I know…you love her.”