Author's Note:

Wow, I am so glad to see people are enjoying this fiction so far. There will be plenty more chapters to come I assure you! I think I want to update this story at least every Sunday. Of course if I have the time I'll update whenever but I will promise at least once a week every Sunday.

Takumi let out a heavy sigh, "My legs…I'm not sure if I'll be able to walk again." The aftermath of their little great escape act had his muscles aching in pain. They had never been worked like that though Takumi didn't realize just what type of power he was tapping into.. They sat in a small corner cafe, Rin and himself. It seemed like going back to school would probably not happen today. Takumi cursed softly, and looked at his watch. He promised himself that he would at least make it to tutoring classes later that evening.

Normally he wouldn't make a big deal out of the whole ordeal. He wasn't the sort to be angry about going out of his way for others, but Rin had been taunting him ever since they stopped at the café. Well at least it felt like taunting and it made him wish he had just walked away. In light of trying to be positive, at least he could say Rin wasn't some trashy girl trying to take the opportunity to flirt with him. Rin was probably at least three or four years older than him anyway. She didn't tell him her age but she was a college student majoring in International Business and was here for some orientation into some program for the next spring semester. She only knew a little Korean from the looks of it, but had a cousin that lived in Mokpo. Apparently they were supposed to meet at the park but her cousin was late.

After they ordered some drinks and sat down the awkward conversations had begun. Rin started most of the topics and Takumi responded politely enough but chose not to get to deep into the conversation. He didn't like her choice of topics since they were either about; his family mainly his mom and dad, or super personal questions about himself like what was puberty like for him…if he ever had any strange cravings for food or any instinctual feelings.

Takumi was relieved when their drink numbers were called and Rin volunteered to go get both of theirs from the counter. The teen had very good control and it came naturally. His uncle had always said he might have gotten that from his dad because his mom was too much of an emotional time bomb to pass on any calm and collected features to him.

Rin giggled and patted the young male's shoulder, placing the drinks they ordered on the table. "But in any case thank you for helping me out in that mess."

"What kind of girl wanders around a foreign country without knowing the language or having someone who knows how to get around with her. Hmm, you could have caused me a lot of trouble." Takumi mumbled, taking a sip of his frozen lemonade.

Rin merely chuckled brought her own glass to her lips. "You know, if it was that much trouble for you, you could have let me be. I actually really didn't need your help." She decided to point out, "You're a strong one, but I am defiantly stronger than you."

"I doubt that. I'm not your average guy so I wouldn't doubt me if I were you." Rin's next words actually irritated Takumi.

"Oh, I don't doubt you at all. However, as you are now…you will accomplish so little of perhaps what could be your true destiny." Rin spoke slowly, wanting Takumi to soak in every word she spoke. And Takumi did. He let the words wrap around his mind and strangle him. As he was now? Takumi's keen blue eyes seemed to become clouded as he thought. He didn't really know what "as he was now" was suppose to mean.

"As I am now, is all that there will ever be to me Miss Rin-"

"Hehe, call me Rin-noona*" The young adult woman interrupted.

Takumi's brow twitched but he nodded, "Rin…noona… I am just a high school student. A teenager. The life I have…as I am now is all I want to think about. Besides that, I already have my future. I-I'm not like other kids my age. I am smart and talented; colleges will come to me before I go to them. College, then marriage, working…these are all the things my life will be made up of just lie everyone else."

When he put it like that, it actually made his life seem very meaningless and boring. Of course he had many good times and he sure he would in the future. He liked going to movies and the arcade with his friends or playing catch with Chang-Soon. But the way Rin was looking at him, no she was looking through him. She was looking through his content façade. She wasn't taking anything he said seriously.

"The life you are talking about leading and the way you think, it really will stifle your potential to fulfill your true destiny on this earth."

"Keh…destiny? Let alone my true destiny. Who are you to try and tell me about it. I really hate people who think they are so wise because they have a few years over me. I why do you ask and talk about such weird stuff. This isn't the type of conversation I really want to have with my own mother let alone a stranger."

"Its just don't you think that life as you are…is a bit of a hollow victory?" The Japanese beauty, Rin just smiled that smile again, eyes glistening with amusement as she watched Takumi shift in his seat and look away from her. She had to admit the kid was rather cute, and when he got older he'd be a beauty that would rival his father and mother she was sure of that. What lies under that human mask…it sent chills up her spine. Even without the youkai appearance he had many of Sesshomaru's features. His eyes were that fascinating blue color just as his mother's but the eyes were more narrow and cold almost void looking. If Takumi were to scowl or glare more he'd defiantly be a mini ice prince. But no, despite the misleading eyes his other features were soft and inviting. He had ebony colored hair that framed his face at the sides and stopped just an inch or to below the nape of his neck.

His uniform looked a tad to snug. As Rin observed him with every movement he made she could spot the areas where his muscles would soon begin to develop first on top of his already athletically toned body.

Takumi's eye twitched as he looked at the window, sipping his lemonade through it's straw. He could feel her eyes on him. An annoyed dog like growl surfaced from his throat almost making his choke. When he looked to Rin, she was just sitting calmly, conveniently looking the other way as if she hadn't heard anything making Takumi believe that the sound he thought he made was just imagined. But no it wasn't, and Rin defiantly took note of it.

Before Rin could say anything else to him an annoyingly high pitched cutesy voice wailed through the air. Takumi could only sigh as he felt a sudden weight against his arm.

"Eun-Chan…. you aren't in class?" Takumi asked his classmate and number one annoyance.

The young female shook her head; "Takumi-oppa* wasn't in class today so I didn't feel like going either. But I so happened to find you here."

It was somewhat true. Without Takumi in class to try and impress there was no point for the under achiever to waste her time in class, so as she was leaving school she had heard some gossip about Takumi wandering around town. She did a litter wandering, full out searching, of her own in order to find Takumi.

Eun-Chan as a fairly attractive girl Takumi wouldn't deny that. She had long curly brown hair, light brown eyes, fair skin, and petite at his age Takumi should have been all over her. Especially since the girl had been trying to get him to date her for the last year now. But every time she tried to advance on him his same excuse would be

"I'm sorry I don't think I can be the type of man that you want and deserve. Your love is something that should be given to someone that is capable of returning it ten fold."

It was the same cheesy line he used with every girl. He really just didn't have time for them. He always figured that when the right one came along it would be someone that he would get on his knees roll over and beg for without any hesitance.

He would never beg for Eun-Chan.

"Ne, Takumi-oppa…who is your friend." Eun-Chan asked, smiling sweetly but unable to sugar coat the disdain for the other female in her voice. Before Takumi could answer Rin rose her hands up in defense and just smirked, speaking although the young high school girl did not understand Japanese.

"No one you need to concern yourself with deary. Your dear Takumi was just doing me a favor by keeping my company. But looking at the time you two should really be back in school. Arigato Kumi-chan we will meet again." She said sweetly loving how flustered the high school girl got over the fact that she could not understand Rin's Japanese.

Takumi rolled his eyes, and stood up from his seat haughtily. "Juay song hamnida*, annyeonghi kyeshipsio*" He ended in Korean to be spiteful, yet still bowed polietly.

The poor high school boy was worn out. Not so much physically but mentally. The sun had already set in the sky as he exited the school building; finished with the tutoring sessions for the classes he missed. Takumi's stomach growled, and was cramping terribly. He felt like he hadn't eaten in days. He wasn't normally this hungry, in fact he usually ate like a damn bird but during lunch period he ate three whole trays of food and two candy bars and was still hungry after.

He didn't have the energy to ride his bike anymore for the day, so he just walked and wheeled the machinery next to him as he lazily trudged up the streets to his home. After leaving Rin at the restaurant he was forced to be near and actually listen to Eun-Chan's excessive babble over nothing. Normally he would just tune her out but she was being extra clingy and obnoxious. He could only guess that she felt threatened by Rin.

The girl was an absolutely useless thing to have around. And he didn't appreciate the fact that she kept trying to make him do things for her, as if she was hr boyfriend.

Takumi chose to push his thoughts about that girl aside in favor for Rin. Strange, she was but now he wished they had talked about more interesting and less personal things. Maybe a bit more about her. She was very attractive too. He noticed it after he was back in school and had time to think it over. She wasn't plain and under developed like most of the girls that bothered him in the school.

He liked that she wasn't like a damn board; instead she had an actual body. She filled out nicely with curves in all the right places and yet she had the toned body of a very active person. Active in sports maybe, he would know. She was tall, taller than him, which he was actually fine with. He did have some ideals for his perfect woman, and he did prefer being taller for obvious masculinity reasons, but Rin's height fit her perfectly so it wasn't something he would want to change on her. Her hair was actually kept short. He had an aesthetic respect for it. To many girls acted as if their hair was their defining point aka their life. Rin's brown shoulder length hair was refreshing, and the way she teased it to make it look as if she had just woken up was very cute. But what attracted Takumi most were her eyes. They had a lot of warmth to them that he had only every seen in his mother.

As he was wrapped up in his thoughts, moving from Rin onto the major events of the day he didn't notice how quickly he approached his house until he was already there. Dog House Ramen. The first floor was the restaurant and the second floor was where he and his mother lived. Smiling softly at the thought of seeing his mother's smiling face after a long hard day, Takumi pushed the sliding door open only to come face to face with his baseball captain.

"Jae-Sook hyung?"

"Good evening Takumi." The older boy nodded his head towards him and then brushed past him. The shop was empty and his mother was already cleaning things up.

"Umma*, are you closing early today?" Takumi asked curiously, setting his bag on one of the tables. Kagome looked up from the dishes and smiled brightly at her son nodding her head.

"Yes dear. I kind of felt like we both needed a break from our normal routines. You're so busy with high school now, and the shop is getting so popular. I feel like I don't see or hear a lot of you anymore." Kagome said softly, drying her hands on her apron before opening her arms for her boy.

Grinning, the young teen accepted Kagome's warmth and nuzzled into her embrace. "That was my baseball captain that just left? Has he been here long?"

Kagome shook her head, "No, he'd only been here for maybe a half hour. We talked a little." Lie.

Takumi eyed his mother wearily, a sixth sense nagging at the back of his mind. But he let it pass. "Let me help you close up shop then."

"No, no!" Kagome shook her head and ushered Takumi to sit down at the bar. "You've had a long day. You have to be starving. Eat first my son."

Kagome began laying out an assortment of food for her son. Unknown to him the meat she cooked were only half way cooked…

Today for Takumi the food smelled and tasted much more flavorful and fulling than usual.

Kagome watched Takumi carefully, both love and worry showing in her eyes. Takumi felt her eyes on him and when he looked up and blue eyes met Kagome reached out to caress his cheek softly. "My sweet, sweet little boy. Takumi," She murmured, "I'm sorry I can't make life better for you my little Takumi. I wish I could protect you from all the unfairness of life."

When his mother looked at him like that Takumi felt awkward. He chuckled weakly, and avoided her eyes. "Umma, you make it hard to eat well when you say things like that. You have made my life great. Don't act so strange anymore."

Kagome chuckled softly but nodded, "Alright, no more sappy stuff right?"

Takumi nodded eagerly, "Right."

Kagome moved around her small restaurant, wiping tables and collecting a few stray plates and trash. Takumi sighed, feeling awkward just watching her clean rather than getting up and helping her.

"Mother, wouldn't you like me to help you?" Takumi asked as he set his plate of beef down. He swirled around in the bar stood to look at her, "I've finished eating anyway."

Kagome shook her head. "Takumi how old are you?"

"Fifteen." Takumi spoke wearily, raising one thin curious brow.

Smiling at her son Kagome spoke, "See, you're at an age where all I would like you to do is enjoy your life. When I was that age, a lot of things beyond my control happened, and I suddenly wasn't able to do the things I wanted. It was a lot of responsibility, nothing I really regret because in the end I got you from it, but it makes me want for you to live a free life."

Takumi nodded, though he wanted to ask if she had thought he wasn't doing that now. At that moment the words Rin spoke earlier entered his thoughts. "life as you are…is a bit of a hollow victory." Takumi clenched and unclenched his fist as he meditated on it. His success in life, that girl was assuming that it would be hollow. He would take pride in the life he planned to lead. But pride and happiness were two different things entirely. "Mother, I have some things to think about. I will go to sleep first." The teen spoke stiffly as he dragged his suddenly exhausted body up the stairs to where they lived.

Sighing as Takumi went upstairs, Kagome tilted her head and glanced over at the front door, "You can come in Shippo."

The baseball captain, Kang Jae-Sook entered the humble restaurant, closing and sealing the door behind him with kitsune magic to prevent any accidents from stumbling inside. Smirking playfully, the kitsune revealed his true form. No longer the little boy she once looked after, Shippo easily towered over her. Tears came to Kagome's eyes as she took in her adopted son's full glory. Warm green eyes looked back at her, and without of hint of awkwardness the grown youkai took his mother into his arms. He held her petite form tight as he spoke, "I wanted to do this earlier, so bad."

Kagome ran her hands through his hair. No longer did he keep it in that cute ponytail with the teal bow to hold it up. The back was cut short, ending at the nape of his neck while the front framed his now masculine face and brushed just past his shoulders. Shippo's markings had appeared too. She found out from Sesshomaru years ago that Shippo's breed of kitsune was no common one, and so he was bound to grow into his markings. He bore three gold stars on his forehead, two small ones and the middle a tad bit bigger, along with two teal strips one just under each of his eyes. He had more on his wrists that wrapped around to his forearms like bands.

Lastly, what made Kagome giggle was the fancy tail that brushed against her leg. It resembled an average fox's tail only the fur was a golden color that faded slightly white at the tips.

Her first son had grown up well. "Shippo, I…I missed you so much. I am sorry…so sorry to have left you like I did."

Kagome pulled away for a moment, cupping his face in his hands, searching his eyes for some sort of resentment or anger for her. But she found none. Shippo placed his hands over hers and just smiled. "It is okay mother. I understand why you did what you did. I knew one day I would see you again. I made sure to live to see this day. My little brother…he really is a cute one."

Kagome chuckled softly, "He is." She glanced to the side for a moment, "So Sesshomaru really raised you after I left."

Shippo nodded, "Yes he did, as if he were my biological father. I have to admit I wasn't expecting it. I was expecting him to kick me out as soon as he was sure you were gone for good. But that is why I say you should not feel regret for your actions mother. As a child I was sad but, I really did come to love Sesshomaru as a father."

At that, Kagome raised her brow. Shippo chuckled. "Between him and you, yes things were bad. And after Takumi was born…. and the argument, and then on top of that Sesshomaru not defending his own blood from the counsel." Shippo shook his head. Things would get emotional if he brought that up; they needed to stay quiet about it for now anyway. And plus he didn't want to open old wounds before Sesshomaru had his chance. "I am glad you did what you had to in order to save my little brother."

"After though, Sesshomaru went through a lot of pain. Inu youkai, Ookami youkai, and kitsune youkai are pretty similar when it comes to their mates and when they fail to protect them. It results in a lot of physical pain due to the rebellion of their beasts."

"So Sesshomaru was nice to you because he was in pain?"

"Well, yes sort of. Sesshomaru mated and had a baby. The number one priority of his beast was to protect that. And Sesshomaru didn't. So as a way of providing a temporary fix, I was a substitute. Well, me and Rin to help curb his instinct, and yet it came to the point where he was actually doing it because he cared for us."

"Rin? Is she still alive? How-"

"All that will be explained in time mother. What I want to tell you to night is that father has changed. A lot. Maybe not enough to be the typical sort of lover but he does show kindness now and is in an unexplainable way just different. He has been looking for you."

"Well why hasn't he come, I am sure you are helping him?" Kagome sighed, fearing the peace she tried to give her son was coming to an end.

Shippo sighed as well, "I am helping him. That is why I am here, attending school with Takumi in disguise. The truth is I haven't had contact with him in a year though. After I found you both…I began doubting if I should tell him. You know him; he hasn't changed certain parts of himself. No doubt if I had told him he would already be here trying to rule over everything. Takumi, really is a sweet kid. I was thinking about just protecting him from a far a little while longer…"

"But?"

"But, as I told you when I came earlier…his youkai blood is awakening. I can sense the sealing magic you are using on him and it won't work mother. Takumi is not a half demon like we all thought he would be. He has the blood of Inu, and that cannot be held in. He needs Sesshomaru to be there during this first change. Inu's are the only ones that can handle other inu's. His power is already leaking through…"

"I know…it has been leaking since he was young. I know he just thinks he an extra healthy guy, just blessed with gifts…"

"Hmm." Shippo rubbed the bridge of his nose. There were so many things to try and connect together. The only thing he knew he needed to do was help his younger brother. Sesshomaru and Kagome's relationship was something only they could understand. He had been to naïve to understand back then.

Little did Shippo know that the problems between them did not start when Takumi was born, but before the two were even mated. Their problems are what actually caused them to mate. Sesshomaru was so aloof and random when he suddenly declared that he wanted his mate back…his partial youkai son back.

For the next hour Shippo and Kagome talked about small things, updating each other on what they had been doing and such till finally Shippo needed to take his leave.

"Tomorrow…I will contact him. I don't know when he will show up but if it brings you peace I will come back with him."

Kagome nodded, though she had so many more questions she wanted answered. In time she knew they would all come, so for now she just chose to worry about her son.

"Takumi…I can not deny that you will need your father soon. Forgive me because even I am not so sure sometimes how everything ended up this way. Sesshomaru…I don't know what to expect from him. Shippo said he has been making progress, but I am not so sure how much that really pertains to me…"

Takumi laid on his bed, looking up at the ceiling as he thought. A sense of doom creeping into him.

Shippo, back in his human guise, wandered until he found the small bar Rin had texted him to come to. He met her in the back, she already had two beers set out for him and was drinking on herself.

"Ah, so much trouble we have to go through right?" Rin whined as the kitsune sat down.

Shippo nodded, "You talked to him today right?"

Rin smiled sheepishly, "Yes, like I told you. I so happened to run into him. He's really quiet the stubborn one. But still he is very loveable."

"Rin…you really do look just like her." Shippo murmured, taking in the appearance of Rin's great times whatever amount of generation's granddaughter. Of all the ancestors Rin was closest to that Rin he had once called his sister.

End Note:

So another chapter. Yes, it is supposed to still be a bit scrambled. I don't want everything revealed all at once hehehe. I will get more into Sesshomaru and Kagome a bit later. Along with Rin and Shippo. Takumi won't always be the center focus of all my chapters but since is an original character I wanted to make sure his personality was solid before adding a lot of anything else. More coming soon!

*oppa – like hyung but is used only by females addressing a male that is older than them that they have a close relationship with. Often times girls will use it as sort of a pet name for their boyfriends.

Ex. "Takumi-oppa"

*Juay song hamnida – Excuse me (or pardon me)

*Annyeonghi kyeshipsio- (formal) Goodbye

*Umma- Mom/Mother (trying to spell with English letters vary.)