A/N: Reading all the current popular Fruits Basket and Inuyasha crossovers, this popped into my head and I wanted to try my hand in something unique. Posts will probably be sparse, which is one of the reasons I've only done one shots so far… Spoilers GALORE by the way. No pairs planned so far. Enjoy!
She decided to stick to the future side of the well.
After the final battle with Naraku, things were just too messy on all sides of her life to stay. Inuyasha, the pain that he was, still pursued Kikyo in all her clay, portion-of-a-soul glory. Kagome continued to live with her soul incomplete, but she figured it was nicer to the majority this way. Besides, the Shikon no Tama, which had conveniently returned into her body once completed, made up for the missing portion in a sense. There were multiple souls residing in there.
Sesshoumaru had simply scoffed at her reasoning, making it clear he thought her foolish and too kind. He remained an ally either way, saying he would look into her shrine when the time came. He also confirmed a place for Shippo in his court, which gave some peace to her motherly side.
The fox kit was aghast to see her go, but quick to understand and promised to see her the moment she came up from the well. He knew the feudal era was the best environment to grow up and learn his heritage in, if his adopted mother's descriptions of her time were any indication.
Her human friends were disappointed, but they had trouble tolerating the hanyou and the undead miko as well. They wished her the best in all sincerity, looking forward to rebuilding both village and family together. The fact that Sango had Kohaku back was a bonus.
Finished her goodbyes, with the present date in the mind of her youkai relations, she slipped into the well. As she landed upon solid ground, she felt the structure's aura fade, confirming her inability to return, if she were to ever ponder it. Walking outside with all her supplies, Kagome was enveloped in a bone-crushing hug. Dropping weapons and backpack, she returned it with equal ferocity, familiar with the youki surrounding her.
"I'm here, Kaa-san." She heard whispered in a deeper, yet light tenor voice. As they finally drew back from one another, she took in her son's height, longer tied back hair, and multiple tails fanning around his person. She smiled lovingly at him. "I'm home. Thanks for waiting for me."
Shippo grinned back at her. "I have to admit it wasn't easy, but I can't wait to show you everything I've learned. And tell you about the pranks I did while in court." He added, a mischievous glint developing in his eyes.
"I hope you didn't anger Sesshoumaru-sama too much." Kagome said as she ruffled his hair fondly. He gave a small laugh in reply as they headed into her house.
In the days that followed, Shippo became an integrated part of her household (to the slight disgruntlement of her grandfather), and Sesshoumaru came to visit. Kagome learned that the daiyoukai currently owned a museum that specialized in Nippon's feudal era, as well as several parcels of land, some public, most of it private, for the preservation of the environment. His power and wealth, as it could no longer come from just strength and title, had accumulated through investment and rent collected from human and youkai alike living in the districts on his land.
Kagome was grateful when he arranged for tutors to help her finish up to high school level education. Her situation with school was abysmal due to the numerous absences. Having tutors also gave her time to continue training as a miko, something encouraged by both son and ally.
In the years that followed, she finished her education, getting a degree in nursing to supplement her knowledge in healing. Kagome was primarily the miko of her shrine, but also provided services for ill or injured youkai, hanyou, and humans. While neither normally would have paid enough to sustain her and the family, due to the Goshinboku's history the shrine was partnered with Sesshoumaru's museum and her clients were grateful to the only person who could heal them due to various reasons.
o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o
Today was one of those days where Kagome was called upon for her skills. Arriving at Kaibara high school, she inquired the main office for a visitor's pass and directions to the nurse's office. Upon entering, she found a boy in his second year, observing things beyond the window pane.
"Ahh, Jin-kun, what trouble did you get into today? And when the school year just started no less."
The hanyou turned, having heard her arrival. "I 'fell' from the third floor," he admitted with a sheepish smile. "Touya-kun and I were having a little too much fun. I claimed that a tree broke my landing though."
"Hmm, good cover. Let me take a look then I'll wrap your arm for you." Kagome extended her reiki, ghosting along his arm. She healed the sprain but kept the bruises. "To make it look like you're still healing," she explained at Jin's inquisitive look. "We'll pretend you got a small fracture, so you'll have to wear either a cast or brace for at least a couple weeks."
"Heh, thanks Kagome-sama."
"It was my pleasure," she replied as they made their way out the door. "Tell Touya-kun to remember to hold back at least on school grounds."
"Will do, bye!" he gave a short bow of his head before running off to his friends. Kagome gave a smile before spotting the nurse and informing her of Jin's condition¹.
Walking out of the grounds, her mind became preoccupied with visiting one of Sesshoumaru's "conservations" the next day. She brushed by a group on the sidewalk, and before she could properly react her healer's instinct flared her aura in response to a virus.
Immediately the smallest member of the group turned towards her. "You, what did you just do?"
She paused, turned, and cocked her head in false inquiry. "If I bumped into you too hard, my apologies. My mind was elsewhere." Inside Kagome was mildly cringing, but it wasn't as if she'd done something bad.
One of the men beside the young woman tried to placate her. "Akito-san, she didn't mean any harm."
"Not that, she did something else. Why do I no longer feel ill? What did you do?" The woman named Akito continued looking intently at Kagome. The latter gave a small sigh. How much should she reveal?
"Forgive me, but I felt a virus in your body and got rid of it. I did not mean to, but as I mentioned before, my mind was elsewhere."
"Excuse me, but how were you able to do such a thing?" Interrupted the man on Akito's other side.
"…I am a miko. Healing is part of my repertoire," Kagome said, taking stock of their expressions. Now that she was focused on them…"I don't mean to be rude, but I sense a curse within you²."
That brought about curious reactions. The woman scowled, while the first man stiffened and his counterpart developed a small smirk, his interest piqued.
"Hmm, this one is rather complicated too. Variations of form and selective descendants, seeing how you don't look closely related."
"Enough," growled Akito. "Hatori."
Said man looked startled, looking at her in hesitation before taking a step forward. The other quickly put out his arm, blocking him and by extension their shorter member in the process. "Akito-san, we don't want to cause a disturbance in public. Regardless of what we do she could always detect the curse again. Besides, couldn't her skills be put to use for your health?" He gave Kagome a wink before turning back to his apparent superior.
Akito glared at the miko over the arm blocking her. "…Fine. Hatori, you arrange things. Shigure, back to the car with me." She then turned away towards a black vehicle. Shigure gave a quick smile to Kagome, calling out, "I'm Shigure Sohma, nice to meet you!" before quickly escorting the woman.
Kagome gave a quick wave in amusement before turning to the remaining man. "What just happened?"
He gave a sigh. "Sorry for the abruptness. Yes we're cursed. Since you know this and seem to specialize in healing, it would be ideal if you could attend to our head of the clan's health, as he has a weak body. We are the Sohma clan by the way, I am Hatori Sohma." He gave a short bow, which she returned. "You've met our clan head, Akito Sohma, and my cousin, Shigure."
"My name is Kagome Higurashi, nice to meet you. I'm afraid I'll have to ask my employer about this first though. I won't tell him about your curse, but he is the type to figure these things out for himself." Kagome said, quick to reassure him that their secret was safe with her. "By the way, why do you refer to your clan head as 'he'?"
Hatori stared at her, slight frown on his face. "How…? Right, miko. Akito-san was raised as male, and we would prefer you keep silent on that, even to other members of the household."
She nodded on that, storing her questions for another time.
"Okay then, here is my card." He handed it to her, which she accepted with both hands and a polite bow³. Stashing it safely away, she brought out her own paper with her number on it. After the exchange and a promise to confirm within a week, they parted ways.
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"I'm home!"
"Welcome home Kagome-chan, dinner will be ready in a bit. Could you call your brother and Shippo-kun down?"
"Sure Kaa-san." The shrine maiden made her way to her brother's room to find the two playing games. "Hey, dinner's ready. What were you up to today?" She returned Shippo's quick hug before he returned to the board.
"The usual. School. Tryouts for the soccer team are happening next week. Hiroki-kun's gonna try for captain." Souta shared, rising slowly so as to not disturb the pieces. "Remember it's my turn next," he added, glaring playfully at his mythical nephew, who grinned in return.
"Eh, your friend is gonna try for the position but not you?"
He shook his head as they made their way downstairs. "Too much trouble to lead teammates. And deal with the fangirls."
Shippo gave a slight shudder at the word. "I feel you there."
"Since when have you had to deal with fangirls, dear son of mine?" Kagome asked, bemused.
"One word. Court."
"Help me set up the table if you're just going to stand there," said the matriarch, eyes crinkled at her children's conversation. She then proceeded to call out the door, "Jii-san, dinner!"
Once everyone was seated and eating, Kagome recounted her day to her family. "I've heard of the Sohmas before," her son commented thoughtfully. "They've been around for a while. I think their land is next to one of Sesshoumaru-sama's places. The main family seems rather closed off."
"Ah, well I'll be checking with Sesshoumaru-sama tomorrow anyways. I'm doing a checkup and getting to know the residents in one of his areas." She said before slyly grabbing a piece of his tonkatsu.
¹Overall, since the Sohma kids get a personal physician (Hatori), I'm pretty sure other students can have one too *coughwealthyyoukaicough*. Besides, it's the perfect cover for a durable non-human.
²Unlike Miroku's curse, this one is pretty spiritual in nature (affects the personality and so forth), even with transforming into animals. With Kagome's power she could sense any spirit, including the ones 'possessing' the Sohmas. To me she can also sense the sex of a person (as opposed to gender) 'cause she did take nursing and can heal…but let's ghost over that.
³In Japanese culture the exchanging of business cards is a formal matter. Exchanged cards should be treated as you would treat the person. Agreements have been known to go sideways because one person mistreated the card they received.