A.N. Inuyasha is property of Rumiko Takahashi. Please read, review, and enjoy!

Kagome's eyes gazed up at the dim stars, the wind rushing through her hair. I don't belong in this world. Inuyasha... Why did you force me back here?

"Kagome-chan? Kagome come down from the roof, dear, dinner in ready."

Silver blue eyes flicked down to the middle aged woman as the miko gave a sigh. "Coming Okaa-san."

Shippou's large blue green eyes lit up as he spotted Kagome entering the dining room. "Okaa-san, come sit by me!"

The elderly Higurashi nodded his head in agreement, concern for his granddaughter in his warm hazelnut brown eyes. "Hai. Sit with us Kagome."

She did her best to smile at her son and the rest of her family as she sat next to her eager kit. "Dinner looks great Okaa-san."

"Arigatou Kagome-chan. Let's all dig in! Itadekimasu!"

Everyone began to eat eagerly though Kagome couldn't help but feel a little out of place.

Souta grinned at his nee-chan warmly. "So what are you planning on doing now Kagome-chan? Are you going to try and go back to school?"

"Obaa-san says that I need to go to school too!" Shippou interupted proudly.

Mrs. Higurashi eyed her daughter and grandson with worry. It will take so much for them to get into the normal swing of things here.

"Hai. You do need to start school soon. As for me, that ship has sailed. High school was hard enough with everything I missed. I'm going to find a job and try to earn enough so Shippou and I can move out."

"Well good for you! Though I do hope you will still be returning to train and carry on the Higurashi family tradition of tending the shrine."

"Hai. I will Jii-chan. I'd never abandon my duty to the shrine." Or the well.

"Good! I'm glad one of my grandchildren will continue the line without complaint," the old man chimed, directing a pointed look in his grandson's direction.

"Aw, Jii-chan! C'mon, you know I want to be a football (soccer, we're the only country that calls it soccer though) star!"

"I want to be a martial artist, so I can be as strong as my okaa-san!"

Kagome smiled and ruffled her son's hair in an affectionate manner. "That would be cool Shippou-chan, but maybe you should wait to decide. You might want to be a doctor, or a teacher, or something completely different when you are older!"

Mrs. Higurashi smiled softly at her eldest child. "So what kind of job are you considering? I could probably get you a job at my friend's restaurant."

"I'd prefer to look for myself if that's alright."

"It's perfectly fine."

Kagome took several deep breaths, her eyes remaining glued to the door of the office that she knew contained mainly youkai. C'mon Kags! You've done harder things than applying for a job! Besides, these guys will know where to place someone like you with... unique abilities.

The door swung open suddenly. "Come in Higurashi-san," came a soft feminine voice.

She sighed to herself before entering the office with a bow.

A beautiful neko youkai with golden hair and violet eyes returned the bow. "Onegai, sit down. My name is Watanabe Hinako, you spoke with my secretary Maname over the phone."

She dropped into the chair, knowing that the names were false yet she did not comment. No youkai uses their true name anymore. "Hai. She was quite helpful."

Hinako nodded. "Good. Now let's get down to business. Normally, we would circulate your resume within groups of people who could find use of your talents and abilities. However, your name holds a certain celebrity-esque quality to it in our world and so we already have an offer."

"Really? What, may I ask, is the position?"

Crimson lips tilted into a slight smile at her eagerness. "You would be the sensei, body guard, and nanny to the children of Takanaka Natsumi. This position would require you to move in to her home on a fairly permanent basis."

Her face became slightly pale at the word permanent. "I have a son. And I am ningen."

Violet eyes narrowed dangerously at the miko. "You are the embodiment of the Shinkon no Tama, and a powerful miko. You have applied for a position at a youkai agency that handles ningen employment rarely. Do not use that as an excuse. You will live longer than many youkai so permanent should not be a problem for you. As for your son, Takanaka-sama is aware and would expect you to bring him as well."

Silver blue irises met hers for a moment. "Gomen nasai. I did not mean to come off as disrespectful, but I was unaware of the old practices still being in use."

Surprise flashed in the neko's eyes before she began to laugh softly. "I forget that youkai you knew were products of the sengoku jidai. On some level the old practices stand-There are many servants who have remained with their Lord or Lady for many centuries. However you would not be a mere servant Kagome and I'm sure Takanaka-sama would be very understanding towards you in respect to your family."

Color stained her cheeks at her own ignorance.

"Don't beat yourself up about it. It happens when you have been absent from the community for five centuries. You do not have to accept if you do not wish to work for her. I do suggest that you meet with her at the very least however. The pay would be very generous from what I hear."

Pale pink lips stretched into a soft smile as the miko rose and bowed to the neko. "Arigatou gozaimasu, Watanabe-san."

"I'll call you to tell you when the meeting is."

Mrs. Higurashi smiled warmly at her daughter as she walked in. "How did it go? Was the agency helpful with your situation?"

Kagome plopped down into a chair in the kitchen with a smile. "They already received a job offer for me, though it would require me to move."

"That fast? Wow, that's impressive considering that you barely finished high school."

The miko winced slightly, knowing that her okaa-san really had wanted her to get an education. "Well, there are certain doors that are opened for someone with my history. In the ningen community I'm a bum. In the youkai community I'm apparently fairly well known."

She winced, much like her daughter had, at the mention of the separate standards and communities. "Would you really prefer to work for youkai? I mean, I love Shippou and I supported your journeys to the past wholeheartedly... But, I thought now that you are home for good, you would want a normal life."

Small yet strong arms encircled her okaa-san's shoulders as she felt tears sting her eyes. "Gomen ne Okaa-san. I know I am not what you wanted in a daughter. But, I can't just be normal. There is a part of me that will never be able to fit into this time or the ningen community. Don't you understand?"

Tears streamed down Mrs. Higurashi's cheeks as she turned to fully embrace her daughter. "My baby... My poor, brave baby... Of course I don't understand, how could I understand? But, I love you and I would never ridicule you for that. Any one of my friends with their college-educated, huge paycheck making, little brats, would be green with envy if they could know what MY daughter has done!"

She nearly fell over at that proclamation. This is about bragging rights?

"But, I just hate to see you struggling Kagome. You are so young and you've already been through so much."

Riiing! Riiing!

"I got it! Moshi moshi Higurashi Shrine, Higurashi Souta speaking, how may I help you?

"Kags! Phone for you!"

Kagome shook her head with a smile and went to pick up the abandoned receiver. "Higurashi Kagome, who may I ask is calling?"

"Konnichiwa Higurashi-san, this is Saito Maname. I am calling to inform you that the meeting is set for tomorrow. Bring your son. A car will be sent to pick you up."

"Arigatou gozaimasu Saito-san."

Shippou fidgeted slightly in his emerald T-shirt, jeans, and black sneakers. "Are you sure the illusion is working completely?"

She nodded reassuringly as she sat down next to him at the foot of the shrine steps. "Hai. You're doing a very good job Shippou-chan, and I'm pretty sure you will be able to release the illusion when we get there. It is a youkai household."

He nodded. "Okaa-san? If you take this job, will I still be able to go to school like Uncle Souta like Obaa-san said I would?"

One small hand came down to ruffle his rust colored hair affectionately. "Hai. I'll make sure you get an education."

A sleek black limousine pulled up in front of them, an elderly woman getting out to bow. "Konnichiwa Higurashi-sama. My name is Yamamoto Haruna and I have been instructed to drive you to the estate."

Kagome returned the bow calmly, her senses telling her that the old woman was indeed a youkai rather than the ningen she pretended to be. "Arigatou."

The kit grabbed his okaa-san's hand and pulled her into the limo where they rode in silence to a more upscale, yet heavily forested area just outside the city.

Haruna opened the door for them and led them to the door where an elderly youkai greeted them.

Shippou tightened his grip on his okaa-san's hand as they were led into a tastefully decorated sitting room, complete with pricey looking furniture and several pieces of art that had to be from the sengoku jidai period.

"Make yourselves comfortable. The Lady's representatives shall be in to speak with you shortly."

She nodded and dropped onto an expensive looking leather couch, suddenly feeling self conscious in her plain black slacks and pale blue button down long sleeved shirt in such ornate settings. "Arigatou."

He merely nodded and disappeared.

Blue green eyes darted about nervously as the little kit crawled up to sit next to her, his little claw tipped hands holding one of his okaa-san's. "The scents here are familiar."

"I'm sensing familiar youki as well. Don't worry Shippou-chan."

Suddenly the door slid open an two slightly older but overall the same ookami stepped through.

Kagome jumped up to embrace the two warmly. "Ginta! Hakaku! Oh wow, I'm so glad to see you two!"

Ginta grinned and returned her hug. "It's great to see you too Onee-chan!"

"What he said," Hakaku added stretching out his arms for the miko as well.

She grinned at them warmly. "So can I stick to calling you Ginta and Hakaku or should I try and remember your ningen names?"

Hakaku shook his head. "When we're in our natural state Ginta and Hakaku will be fine. When we look more ningen, I'm Takanaka Hiiro."

"And I'm Takanaka Kenji."

"So if you guys are here, that must mean Kouga is too, ne?" Shippou broke in excitedly.

Both ookami visibly drooped.

Kagome placed a careful hand on each of their shoulders and steered them to sit down. "What happened? And don't either of you dare lie to me."

Ginta let out a soft sigh. "Kouga died fifty years ago tomorrow. Ayame has been broken up ever since."

His counterpart gave a saddened nod. "Poor thing. She hasn't been out of her room in months and she barely speaks since it happened. That's why we need you. Her children are suffering with out her and you are the best person for the job."

Shippou looked up at his okaa-san with worry, his eyes betraying his insecurity at sharing her with the ookami children. "Why haven't you tried to find someone before this?"

"Well-"

"I would like to meet the children before I make a decision," Kagome interrupted calmly.

Hakaku grinned and went to the foot of the stairs. "Kazeji, Akimi, Etsuko! I want you to come down to meet someone!"

Kazeji was the first to make an entrance. His jade green eyes-the only sign of his okaa-san in the fourteen year old Kouga look alike-narrowed at her. "Who is she?"

"I think she's pretty!" Etsuko squealed as she appeared, her orangey red pigtails slightly askew from the run.

"Whatever."

Ginta let out a slow sigh at the sight of Akimi's choice of outfit. "I believe we've had this discussion before young lady. You are not to wear clothes that reveal... So much."

Akimi's sharp violet eyes narrowed as she tossed her bleach blond hair, sticking her large chest out defiantly in her black fishnet shirt worn with nothing but a black bra beneath. "You aren't my father!"

Kagome took one sweep over the group and looked down at Shippou in question.

The rusty haired kitsune looked at the group he could already sense was in need of his okaa-san's help and gave a slight nod.

"I'll take the job."