Authors Note: Alright I decided to make this story a minimum of 15 chapters or maybe 10 who knows.
Chapter Two: Unexpected encounters
5 years later…
"Hiroko! Reika! Shippo! Time for breakfast." Kagome called out as she stood by the door, a towel in hand.
"Coming momma!" She heard her little girl's voice laugh out as she ran around with her two brothers. Kagome smiled at the little scene before beckoning the youngsters inside the house.
"Alright guys come on, let's go wash our hands." Shippo said as he took his two younger siblings by the hand.
"Okay Aniki!" They both said in unison as they walked along side their older brother. Kagome closed the door before looking up at her three children. Time seemed to go by fast; Shippo was already in to his preteen years, turning 13 in a couple days while his two younger siblings finished turning five. A smile graced her face as she remembered the day they were born, two little bundles of joy wrapped up in blue and pink blankets.
'I wish….he was there.' She thought to her self as she walked back in to the kitchen.
"Momma we're done!" She heard the little girl call out once more before the sound of footsteps rushing down the stairs greeted her ears. Turning around Kagome set down a stack of pancakes before turning back again to wash the dishes.
"Pancakes!" She heard Shippo say excitement evident in his voice.
"Yay, yay pancakes!" She heard Reika mimic. Hiroko stayed silent as always, content etched in to his small face as he stared down at the book in front of him.
"Here you go Reika, Hiroko." Shippo said as he served each of the twin's two pancakes.
"Domo arigatou aniki!" Reika called out.
"Domo arigatou aniki." Hiroko said softly as he began to munch on his breakfast. It was amazing how the two were similar yet different at the same time. Reika held more of her mother's features while Hiroko held more of his father's, which made Kagome uneasy at times as she flashbacked to memories of the past.
"Mommy mommy spider!" Reika yelled out causing Kagome to turn around swiftly. Shippo took his shoe off immediately and squished the creature that dared scare his younger sister. Kagome smiled as Reika flung her arms around Shippo and kissed him on the cheek. Hiroko smiled a small smile as well as he watched his two playful siblings. Kagome couldn't resist it as she walked towards all three and kissed them on the forehead.
"Good morning." She heard her mother's cheery voice call out.
"Obachan!" Reika called out as she jumped out of her seat and hugged her grandmother around the waist. The older woman laughed as she returned the little fireball's embrace.
"Morning mom." Kagome greeted as she set another plate down for her. "Would you mind keeping an eye on them until I'm done taking a shower? I have an important meeting with somebody today and I have to get ready."
"Go ahead dear." Her mother replied as she kissed each of her grandchildren on the head.
"Thanks mom!" Kagome called out as she raced upstairs.
"Bachan I'm full may I please go play now?" Reika questioned as she stared up at her grandmother with the most irresistible blue eyes ever. The older woman had to close her own eyes for a moment before nodding.
"Go ahead sweetheart go play." She said causing squeals of delight to erupt from the eccentric five year old.
"Come on come on!" She urged her two older brothers. Rolling his eyes Shippo complied with her wishes before grabbing Hiroko by the hand.
"Aniki I don't wanna!" Hiroko whined as he grabbed his brother's hand. The older woman watched the three, amusement dancing in her worn eyes. The sound of ringing caused her to snap out of her daze as she turned towards the phone and answered it.
[Upstairs]
Kagome stepped out of the shower with a satisfied grin on her face. Wiping away the mist from the mirror she began to apply her usual cream and lotion before walking out and setting her things for the upcoming day. A ruffled stretch poplin sleeveless white blouse with a simple mid thigh black pencil skirt topped off with a pair of size 5, 4 inch white open toed pumps. Throwing her clothes on, she stepped up to the mirror and applied a light amount of make-up on before stepping in to her heels, she sprayed her self with CoCo Mademoiselle by Chanel before checking her reflection once more and grabbing her purse.
"MOMMMYYYYYYYYYY!" She heard her daughter yell out followed by a loud boom. Instinct kicked in as Kagome dropped her things and ran towards the sound.
"SHIPPO! REIKA! HIROKO!" She yelled out in a frenzy as she searched for her children. Another boom sounded off by the well house causing Kagome to high tail it over there. Kagome's worst fears came true as she watched both of her children fall in to the concealed well.
'How did they break the concealment spell?' She thought to her self as she lunged forward and grabbed both of them in to her arms.
"Mother!" She heard Shippo call out before feeling slender arms wrap around her waist. A familiar blue mist surrounded the small family as they floated through time. Kagome braced her self for what was to come next as she landed on the soft ground of the past.
'No no no!' She thought to her self as she looked up and saw nothing but clear blue sky and fluffy white clouds.
"Okaasan…." Shippo trailed off as he sniffed around the area. "We're back."
"No….Shippo this can't be how did they break the spell?" Kagome questioned as she set her two children down and turned to her eldest.
"I don't know okaasan….the last thing I saw was Reika touching the sutras and it being opened, than a sucking feeling spread through and you came along." Shippo exclaimed to the best of his ability. Kagome nodded in understanding before wrapping her arms around her children protectively.
"Did you hear that?" She heard an oddly familiar voice question. Shippo looked up and twitched his human ears around before turning back to his mother. Kagome saw the look in his eyes and let out a deep sigh before nodding her head. With the approval of his mother Shippo let his disguise fall as he reverted back to his original form. He grew in the past couple of years but not enough to surpass Kagome, just enough to make it to her chest. His hair reached his waist, and was tied back in to a low ponytail. Reika and Hiroko watched in amazement as their older brother changed from human to demon in a matter of seconds.
"Shippo I'm going to climb up there. You carry Hiroko and Reika on your back and jump up. Okay?" Kagome stated, Shippo nodded as he crouched down and beckoned for his two frightened siblings to hop on.
"Hiroko, Reika, I promise I will explain everything. But for now, I want you two to jump up on you're older brother's back. Okay?" The twins nodded hesitantly before doing as their mother asked. In one swift movement Shippo jumped up and left his mother to climb up.
[At the top of the well.]
Shippo's ears twitched as he set his two younger siblings down. Worry washed over him as he sensed people approaching them.
"Aniki, where are we?" Reika questioned timidly as she pulled on her older brother's shirt. Shippo looked down at her and patted her head before focusing his gaze once more on the edge of the clearing.
"Don't worry Reika. Big brother is here." He stated as he pulled Hiroko behind him as well. The two younger kids held on to their older brother as a couple of oddly dressed people showed up on the other side of the clearing. Shippo didn't make a move as he kept the two children behind him. Reika felt her brother's uneasiness as she intertwined her tiny fingers together with her twins and closed her eyes. The eldest of the two looked down at the youngest before wrapping an arm around her small form and closing his own eyes.
"Shippo, is everything okay?" they heard their mother question as she climbed over the side of the well.
'It must be some kind of sport for a woman to be able to climb along side a wall with heels and a skirt on.' She thought to her self as she tried to regain her balance on the ground. It was pretty hard considering the fact that her heels were digging in to the soft dirt. Blowing at some bangs on her face as she finally found some support to keep her steady. Looking up how ever made her wish she didn't as she stared in to the eyes of the last person she wanted to see.
"Shippo, Reika, Hiroko, get behind me." She demanded in a stern voice, the younger children looked at each other before complying with their mother's wishes.
"Mom, I have to protect you guys I'm the oldest." Shippo protested as he stayed still.
"Baby its okay. Momma's got this." Kagome stated as she put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. Looking back at his mother Shippo nodded before taking his place in-between the twins.
"Aniki, who are they and why do they look like that?" Hiroko questioned his older brother. Shippo looked down at him with a sad look in his eyes before contemplating on what words to use on the innocent kids.
"I….I don't know how to explain it Hiroko, but momma will when she gets a chance." Shippo said finally as he held his brother closer to him. Reika buried her face in to his side causing Shippo to tighten his hold on her. He would do everything in his power to protect his mother and siblings. Kagome stared them down, giving each one a cold look as she flared her aura up and extended her arm towards them.
"Come any closer and I promise I won't hesitate sending you back where you belong." She stated bitterly as she let her energy soar to levels unknown. She would never admit to it but she was secretly training every night when her children fell asleep, at times she would even try teaching Shippo a thing or two about his powers. She even enrolled him in to a kung fu class. Shippo had been training and working his very best at perfecting the lessons and by the time his second year rolled in he was the top student in his class. After that Kagome entered him in to karate along with his siblings. They won every competition thrown at them and even learned a few things about boxing, Brazilian and Japanese jujitsu as well as judo. To say Shippo was weak was like saying water wasn't liquid or that cows didn't have milk.
"Pathetic little wench, why did you have to come back?" The feminine male whined as he fanned himself. Kagome pointed her index finger towards his direction and let a spark of her energy fly towards him before letting a smile grace her features at his reaction to the painful sting.
"You'll regret that!" He said as he unsheathed his sword.
"Noooo! Don't hurt my mommy!" Reika practically shrieked as she ran in front of her mother. Kagome didn't know what to do at the moment as Reika wrapped her tiny arms around her long leg. Hiroko followed after his sister earning a disbelieving look to fall on the male's face.
"What do you want with my mommy you meanie?" He yelled as he stuck his tongue out at the bewildered male.
"Why….they both….it can't be…" He stuttered as he took a few steps back making sure to study the two children's faces before high tailing it and running away.
"Well that was easy." Shippo said as he walked from behind his mother.
"Aniki! Pick me up please?" Reika pleaded as she stared up at the older male. Shippo couldn't resist as he wrapped his slender arms around her tiny body and picked her up. Hiroko blushed a bit before tugging on his mother's skirt and asking the same question, Kagome didn't hesitate as she picked him up, letting his head fall at the crook of her neck where he inhaled her scent and smiled.
"Aishiteru okaasan." He whispered in her ear. Kagome smiled a content smile before turning her gaze to her right side where a few familiar auras were gaining in on them. A few profanities were heard before a loud bang, Kagome laughed on the inside as she continued to stare as the figures came closer and closer until finally the small family was staring in to the surprised eyes of their old friends.
"Is…..is that really you?" Sango questioned first as she took a step towards her, Kagome didn't say a word as she offered the older girl a smile. Kikyo stood beside Inuyasha as tears welled up in her expressive chocolate orbs.
"Imouto!" She stated happily as her and Sango ran towards the younger girl. Their eyes got even bigger as they noticed Shippo and the two other children staring up at them.
"Are they?" Sango started but stopped as soon as Kagome nodded her head. Kikyo looked in to their expressive blue eyes and fell in love instantly.
"Their beautiful Kagome." She exclaimed as she reached her arms out for Hiroko who simply hid his face in his mother's neck.
"Hiroko, this is your Obasan." Kagome explained to the two children. Hiroko breathed in his mother's scent once more before lifting his head up and looking in to her sapphire eyes. Trust and love were clear in her shining orbs ensuring him that these people meant no harm. Turning his body towards the woman who resembled his beloved mother, he climbed in to her arms and hugged her around the neck. Kikyo couldn't stop the tears from flowing as she pressed the boy closer to her being. She had wanted children with Inuyasha but sad as it was she was made of nothing but dirt and graveyard soil which meant she could not house a living and breathing child.
"Reika, they are your obasans as well." Kagome stated as she took a look at her daughter. Reika had a funny look on her face before tilting her head to the side. This caused a fit of giggles to erupt from an overly excited Sango as she pulled both Reika and Shippo in to her arms.
"I missed you Shippo!" She exclaimed as she hugged the slender fox kit tightly.
"Too….tight….." He said in gasps causing Sango to blush and reluctantly let him go for the time being. She had missed them so much that she forgot to contain her excitement. Looking at him up and down as he carried his younger sister made Sango feel a bit sad that she didn't take part in helping raise the three kids. But she was proud of Kagome who took on the challenge of playing mom and dad, as well as raising three kids at her age, woo if only there was a reward for something like that.
"Auntie Sango?" Reika questioned softly snapping Sango out of her thoughts.
"Yes honey?" The older woman replied as she bent down at eye level with the young girl.
"What is that thing strapped to your back? Is it a big kite?" She questioned eagerly as she beckoned for her brother to put her back down. Shippo let out a sigh before setting his untamable sister on Sango who welcomed the energetic bouncing girl with loving arms.
"PUPPYYYYY!" She yelled out as she saw Inuyasha's ears.
"Whoa whoa kid wait!" Inuyasha shouted as the little girl closed in on him, in a flash Inuyasha had Reika perched on his shoulders petting his twitching ears.
"Ojiisan!" She squealed in delight as she rubbed the two triangular objects down. Miroku tried his best to keep cool under all the excitement.
"Still trying to play the roll of a humble monk aye Miroku?" Kagome questioned as she walked towards him, shoes in hand. Miroku tilted his head a bit as he stared at the peculiar form of footwear in her possession.
"Their called heels." Kagome informed him before wrapping her arms around his body and hugging him. Miroku returned the hug, happy that he got to see his friend again.
"It's been five years Lady Kagome, you had us worried sick, but Lady Kikyo explained everything. I apologize for the trouble he has put you through." Miroku stated as he looked down at her. Kagome waved it off before hugging him once more and turning her attention on the currently relaxed hanyou next to him.
"Momma he likes it when I pet his ears!" Reika told her mother as she sat on Inuyasha's shoulders.
"Inuyasha…" Kagome said as she looked up at his amber gaze.
"Feh…" He replied as he looked away. Kagome felt sadness wash over her instantly. "Don't worry about it Kags, just a word of advice for next time you run away for five years, don't put a concealment on the well. It makes it harder on us when we think we aren't going to see you any more."
"You're not mad?" Kagome questioned, a bit hesitant to the fact that he was so forgiving.
"Of course I was, but after Kikyo and I got to talkin' about it, I realized you did the right thing." Inuyasha replied as he looked in to her eyes. "Besides, you're my best friend and your like my sister, you really think I would shun you forever?"
"I kind of figured you'd be, angry." Kagome admitted as she turned her eyes to the ground. She heard Inuyasha sigh before taking a hand and lifting her chin back up.
"No, I was but I'm not any more. I'm just happy your back." He said as he let her go and turned to look at the child currently perched on his shoulders.
"Are you my ojiisan too?" Reika questioned innocently as she tried to braid his hair.
"Yeah kid I am." He replied as he turned from the group and walked back towards the village. Kagome called out to everyone else before following after them.
"Uncle Inuyasha, do you know who my daddy is?" Reika questioned the silent male as they strolled through the forest. Inuyasha gritted his teeth as he thought about what to tell the impressionable child.
"Well I actually do kid."
"Reika."
"Huh?"
"My name is Reika. Re-aye-ka" The five year old stated finally as she mouthed it out to him. Kagome had to hold back a laugh at her child's antics; she was so much like her.
"You're just like your mom you know that?" He finally said as he remembered the day he first met the petite spitfire.
"Really? I love my mommy, she's the best." Reika stated in delight as she hugged her uncle around the head. "Now can you tell me who my daddy is?"
"Come on Reika, I'll show you the places I use to play at." Shippo said in an attempt to distract the small child.
"Yay, okay aniki." She replied happily as she jumped towards her older brother. Kagome mentally wiped her forehead as Shippo grabbed Reika and ran ahead with her. Kikyo put a hand on her shoulder causing Kagome to look up.
"Don't worry imouto, we'll do our best to keep everything a secret until you're ready to tell them your self." Kagome nodded before turning her gaze towards the Hiroko who was currently dozing off on the older woman's shoulder.
[Somewhere close to the village.]
"You can't be serious Jakotsu, you say you saw the girl again and this time she brought along children?" Renkotsu questioned in disbelief as he sat up against a tree.
"Yes yes yes! Were you not listening when I was explaining it to you?" The feminine male questioned as he stood in front of his skeptical comrade.
"I was but I find it all a bit, much. If she has indeed returned what business is it of ours? She's nothing more than one of Inuyasha's lackeys."
"Who is?" A voice questioned snapping both of them out of their conversation. His nerves took a turn for the worst as the rest of their small group returned.
"Ohhh nothing aniki, we were just talking about that odd female who travels with Inuyasha." Jakotsu covered up quickly as he offered his leader a smile. The thought of the small group caused his calm demeanor to instantly turn sour as he remembered a certain little female.
"Well than if you two are done gossiping I believe its time for you to get started on dinner." He finally stated after a pregnant silence.
"Okay aniki but where are you going?" Jakotsu questioned as he made a move to follow the irritated male.
"For a walk. Alone." He replied as he continued down a path.
"Fine." Jakotsu replied as he stuck his lips out and pouted. The stoic male continued to ignore his feminine comrade as he made his way down a familiar route.
'She use to love walking down here.' He thought to himself as he let the memories consume his mind once more.
"Reika, I'll be right back. Don't move okay?" He looked up immediately as his ears picked up the familiar voice.
'Could it be?' He thought to himself as he took a few steps and hid behind some bushes. His eyes fell upon a little girl that looked strikingly familiar; she was currently by her self picking flowers and other frilly things. A smile adorned her small face as she hummed a familiar song.
'Kagome use to sing that to me whenever we were alone.' He thought as he continued to watch the young girl.
"I hope momma likes these." She said to her self as she looked up. Awe struck his senses as he took a look at her striking blue eyes.
'Just like Kagome.' He thought once again as he made a move to go to the small girl.
"Reika look, momma gave me this for you to use." A familiar red head stated.
'Can't be.' He still thought unable to believe the turn of events.
"Oh snap, I gotta go get something again, be good okay?" The oldest of them repeated.
"Okay aniki." The little girl replied as she looked up at her older brother. The older sibling kissed her on the forehead before running off to retrieve his belongings.
'This is my chance.' He thought as he walked in to the small clearing. Something pulled at his insides as he watched the girl look up at him with a smile on her face.
"Hello." She greeted innocently unaware of the fact that she could be killed at any moment.
"Hi." He replied as he crouched down next to her. The little girl was unfazed by his movements as she got up and stuck a flower in his hair.
"My momma told me not to talk to strangers, but I feel warm around you." She said as she pulled her small hand away. She looked so beautiful to him as she stood there with an angelic smile on her face.
"Reika, Reika, baby come on its time to come in."
"It can't be." He told himself as he looked up.
"That's my mommy." The little girl informed him as she turned away and ran towards the weirdly dressed female.
'Damn it.' He thought as he quickly made his escape.
"Mommy what's wrong?" Reika questioned as she looked up at her mother. Kagome didn't reply as she grabbed her daughter and walked away from the small clearing.
"Next time your brother goes back to the village I want you to go with him okay?" She said as she held the girl close to her. Reika didn't understand it but she nodded in reply as she wrapped her arms around her mother's neck. A smile graced her features as she waved goodbye to the stranger she met today.
