Chapter Three:

Kurama couldn't take his eyes off of the girl lying next to him. She was beautiful with the way the moonlight shown off of her pale skin. She looked like some kind of fallen angel. It was only nine but it had been an emotionally exhausting day for her. Kurama had insisted she rest as she processed everything she had been told today.

After all the fact that he was a demon had been sprung on her quite quickly. And yes, he knew her secret but he had known for two months. He had two months to adjust to the idea that the two of them really did live in the same world. It was something she needed time to process as the reality of what their life would be like now. Though she had taken to calling him Kurama quite quickly saying that she liked it better. He didn't argue with her after all it was his preferred name.

Running his fingers through her long black hair Kurama couldn't help but think of everything she had told him. It had been a lot of information and she had left nothing out. He now fully understood the relationship between Kagome and InuYasha. Before InuYasha's name had annoyed him, but that was back when he thought InuYasha was just an ex-boyfriend who refused to leave her alone. Now the thought of his name made Kurama's blood boil. InuYasha had almost destroyed his Kagome. Slowly pulling down her self-confidence making her feel like she was worth so much less then she was.

Those were unforgivable sins in Kurama eyes. He just couldn't see how InuYasha could not see what Kagome was worth. How strong and beautiful she was. How she had the ability to befriend anyone she came across. He was sure even Hiei would fall victim to her charms and kind heart once they meat.

He had yet to discuss what Koenma had asked of him with her. He was sure that she would welcome the help but he feared that her opinion of him would change. That side of him was the one who loved to fight. That ruthless unforgiving side that would no doubt be forced to surface once they were in the past. If this Naraku was as powerful as Koenma feared there was no doubt Yoko would be needed. He hopped it didn't come to that but if needed he would use his biggest trump card to protect her. Even if she hated him for it later, her safety was all that mattered.

...

Two days. Two days Kagome had been gone and InuYasha had yet to move from his spot on the tree branch overlooking the well. He had just knowledge would come back the next day like she always did. She always came back even when he had tried to push her away. Even when he tried to get her to stay in her time for her own good the foolish woman came back. It had been his one constant since she woke him from his sleep.

"Feh." He scoffed as he starred at the old well. "If she wants to play it this way that's fine with me! I'll just go get her!" InuYasha said to himself as he jumped into the well. The familiar pink and blue light surrounding him as he made his way to Kagome's home. Taking in a deep breath he could smell Kagome sent was weak.

That meant she hadn't been home in a while. InuYasha growled to himself. 'Where could that girl have gotten off too.' InuYasha thought as he made his way to the house as he always did. Not bothering to knock he slid the door open to find only Kagome's mother in the house.

"Oh, hello InuYasha What brings you here? Is Kagome okay?" she asked the look of concern clear on her face.

"She came home two days ago I came to get her." InuYasha stated as panic began to build in him. Had Kagome not made it to the Well that night. Had someone taken her.

"I see. Well, have a seat I'm pretty sure I know where she is. I'll just go give her a call." Relief washed over InuYasha. If her mother knew where she was then he wouldn't worry just yet. He knew Kagome still had friends in this time.

His ears began to twitch as Kagome mothers voice carried through the walls. "Hello... Yes, is Kagome there... Oh good. This is her mother may I speak with her... Hello dear, I wish you would have told me you were home... No, it's okay you just know I worry... It's my job as your mother... Yes, he's here... He wants to speak to you... Kagome Higurashi I did not raise you to talk like that... It's okay dear. Yes, I'll tell him. I love you too."

InuYasha frowned. From the way it sounded Kagome was still very upset with him. It was a disturbing thought, Kagome had never heard a grudge this long before. Normally she would be over it by now.

"InuYasha." Kagome's mother called as she entered the room. "Kagome said she would see you in three days and not before. "

"We don't have time to wait three days. Where is she I'll go get her." InuYasha stated as he jumped From His seat at the table.

"I'm sorry InuYasha but she just needs some time to calm down. It sounds like the two of you had a pretty big fight this time." She paused as InuYasha averted his gaze. "I see. It will be fine Kagome always comes back." InuYasha took comfort in her words as he made his way from the house. It had been two days since Kagome had been at home and her sent was too weak to track in the city. InuYasha had no choice but to wait three days for Kagome to return. Yes then he would apologize.

...

"You want to what! You can't be serious!" Kagome shouted at Kurama.

"Oh, I am serious." He threw back at her not backing down.

"Absolutely not! You and InuYasha will kill each other!" Kagome stated as she returned to her seat across from him. "Besides the well won't let you through only InuYasha and I can pass through. Not to mention the constants danger that you and your friends will be placed in. No, I just can't let you do it!" It wasn't that she didn't want Kurama to come with her It was just she knew what the outcome would be. InuYasha would run his mouth and Kurama would feel the need to defend her. The fighting would be worse within the group then it was now. Not to mention Naraku would have a field day toying with the new arrivals.

"Preparations to alter the well to allow my friends and I through are already being made. As for the constant danger, that is something my friends and I are quite used to and capable of handling. As for InuYasha as much as I would like to kill the fool for everything ounce of pain he has caused you. I will refrain from it." Kurama smiled as he saw her expression drop. "Next excuse?"

"Still the answer is no." Kagome dug her heals in. She wasn't going to budge. A hard expression set on her face. She just couldn't let him do this. It would simply be too dangerous and if anything were to happen to him. Kagome cringed at the thought of it.

"Do you really think you can stop me." It was a statement not a question. She knew if the portal to the other side was truly being altered to allow him and his other friends passage there was nothing she could do. No matter how much she protested he would still fallow. It was just the kind of man he was and it was one of the many reasons why she loved him so much. But in this moment Kagome wanted to pull her hair out in frustration. 'Why do the Kami have to make my life so hard.' She thought to herself. She had to convince him to stay on this side of the well.

"You don't know what it's like over there." Kagome sighed as she placed her face in her hands. "You don't know Naraku and you don't know the dynamics of our group. We have spent years learning each other and facing down Naraku." Kagome stated. "InuYasha and the others won't just welcome the four of you with open arms. InuYasha will be especially resistant to the idea. He hates outsiders."

"I never said it would be an easy thing to join our two groups as one. Even my group has their own way of doing things Hiei is especially resistant, but it is not impossible for us to work together. It will take some adjusting for all of us." Kagome knew he was right but she still couldn't push down the nerves that were beginning to build in the pit of her stomach. She just knew somehow some way this was all going to blow up in her face. It always did.

Kagome fought the urge to sigh again as she raised her face to look at him. She could see the determination deep within his eyes that wild longing that she had seen so many times before and after learning of his true nature there was a part of her that wanted nothing more than to whisk him back to the past with her. There was no doubt that he was strong enough to take care of himself and she would finally be able to have him by her side. To have his support when things looked hopeless.

Then there was the part of her that just wanted to say "InuYasha be dammed", and forget about the jewel. Forget about the past and all the pain it had caused her, everything it had taken from her. That part of her that simply wanted to live a normal life be a wife and a mother. Kagome wanted to give into that part of herself so badly but she knew she couldn't no matter how much she wanted to.

Kagome knew the guilt that she would feel would simply be too much for her to handle. Guilt over all the people who were suffering because of her mistake, because she shattered the jewel. Guild that she would leave Shippo behind after she had promised to be his mother. Guilt over Miroku's premature death that would accrue as a failure to defeat Naraku. He didn't have much time left as it was, a year maybe two and that was if he stopped using the wind tunnel all together. Guild at Sango's grief for not only her brother but the loss of the love her life. And finally guilt over InuYasha, guilt that she had in the end abandoned him just like ever one else in his life had. That she would be so happy in her life here on this side of the well with Kurama. But was she strong enough to go back on her own this time? No, she knew they couldn't continue as they were or this night mare would never end.

"If you come with me there have to be some ground rules." Kagome left no room for argument in her voice. She knew they had to have rules. It would be the only way that this could work.

"Such as?" Kurama eyed her cautiously. He could see the wheels in her mind turning as she tried to find middle ground. He knew this was hard for her. So much had been thrust upon her shoulders at such a young age. She had struggled for so long and he couldn't blame her for being cautious of this idea.

"First rule is I handle InuYasha. He gets brash and runs off at his mouth more often than not. And I don't need you two trying to kill each other all of the time." She could see from the look in his eyes that he was not happy about her request.

"I can't make that promise Kagome. There is only so much I will listen to him say or watch him do before I will be forced to intervene. I simply cannot sit back at watch him hurt you." Kagome truly did not know how much she was asking of him with her request. He was after all a demon, and demons protected there intended and mate with an intensity only matching that of a female protecting her young.

"Fine but just at least try to hold back for me. I have been dealing with InuYasha for years now. Trust me there is nothing he can do or say that he hasn't already done or said a thousand times before." Kagome eyes were pleading with him to agree.

"I will try to restrain myself." Kurama stated as he grabbed her left hand. He had still not given her a ring, a clear sign that she belonged to someone. He would need to fix that before they left. He wanted it to be known that she belonged to someone that she belonged to him and that he belonged just as much to her.

"Thank you." Kagome smiled as she placed her free hand on top of his. "Now for the part you're really not going to like." Kagome frowned. She was not particularly happy about what she was about to ask of him. It would be hard on them both but it needed to be done in order to keep the peace.

"Oh? Why is that?" He asked as he waited of her to continue.

"Keep in mind I'm not a big fan of this idea either but while we are in the past we have to be just friends." Kagome stated as she looked away from him.

"Pardon?" Kurama asked as he took a deep breath.

"You heard me. I have kept you a secret from everyone in the past except Sango." Kagome confessed and Kurama raised an eye brow as he waited for her to continue. "You have to understand I kept you from InuYasha when I thought you were just a human because I thought I was keeping you safe. He knows I have been with a man he smelled it on me but he thinks it was only a onetime thing and that was enough to send him into a blind rage. If he knew that we were together there would have been nothing short of me pining him to another tree that would have stopped him from hunting you down." Kagome paused as she looked sadly into his eyes.

"I have been very careful since then not to give anything away. InuYasha is the kind that doesn't think his actions through. If he found out you and I were planning on getting married it would be even worse. He wouldn't stop till one of you was dead and I don't want either of you to die." Kagome hung her head. She hated that things needed to be this way. "I know he's hurt me ripped me to shreds even but he's still like my big brother and you. You are the love of my life. It would destroy me if something happened to either of you. So pleas, I'm begging you do this for me. Keep it just between us when we are over there."

Kurama could understand her worry and from what she had told him of the half breed and what spirit world had said, InuYasha would not take the news well. It was something even Koenma had warned him of once he found out exactly who he was engaged too. Still he did not like the idea that he would not be able to touch her as freely as he wished. It was simply in his nature to be affection with those for whom he cared for. It was just as much part of being a Kitsune as it was to breath and the thought of denying that nature did not sit well with him. Then an idea hit him as a devilish smile flashed across his face. Yes, he could make this work to his advantage.

"So, you're just saying we have to be sneaky then?" Kurama skilled as a look of shock spread across her face.

"No, I'm saying we can't do anything. You can't even look at me like you like me. InuYasha will zero in on it in a heartbeat." Kagome scolded him.

"Kagome, I am a Kitsune deception and tricks are my specialty. Also as a Kitsune we are very affectionate with those we hold close to our hearts. The most you can hope for is for me to desecrate." Kagome knew he was right. It was asking a lot of him to keep their relationship a secret. "Beside think of how much fun it will be trying not to get caught."

"Fine just promise me you will be careful. I can't handle all the infighting any more. I just want to get this done as quickly as possible so you and I can start our lives together." Kagome smiled up at him.

"Yes, I wish for the same thing." Kurama said back to her as the phone began to ring. He moved to answer it leaving Kagome alone. The fact that he was going back with her was good. She would feel so much safer with Kurama around. No matter what happened he would always put her safety above all else. But that also worried her. Naraku was known for his elaborate traps and Kurama and his friends would be like new playthings to him. Not to mention if Naraku caught even the tiniest hint of her connection to Kurama he would use it against him. After all it was his favorite ploy.

And with the arrival of so many new members Naraku would no doubt take advantage of the mistrust that the group would be facing as they learned to work together. He would see this as the perfect opportunity to finally isolate her like he had been trying to for the last few years. Kagome could fear once again building in the pit of her stomach. She did not fear Naraku taking her, she feared what it would do to Kurama if that happened. He would only blame himself and possible get himself killed trying to save her.

"Kagome it's your mother she wishes to speak with you." Kurama's voice called her from her thoughts as she made her way to the phone. Kagome groaned it was likely InuYasha was there. It had after all been two days and that was after all his normal sulking period.

...

"Kurama are you sure about this? It's not too soon?" Kagome stammered as he drugged on her hand pulling her up the steps. She didn't want to do this not now. Not when they had so much to process just the day before.

"It will be fine." He smiled back at her and Kagome couldn't help but feel reassured by his smile. No matter how bad things seemed to get his smile always had the power to make it better.

"But what if it's not? What if I make a fool out of myself? What if she disapproves of me?" Kagome squeezed his hand nervously. After all she had every right to be nervous about this.

"Kagome my mother will love you. Although she might go a little overboard. She's very excited to meet you." He reassured her but it did nothing to calm Kagome's fluttering nerves.

"What do you mean overboard?" Kagome gulped. She had never like anyone making a huge fuss over her.

"She gets over excited easily and having to wait so long to meet you hasn't helped matters." Kurama stated as he tugged on her hand again laughing. "She was quite cross with me that I did not bring you home before I asked you to marry me."

"And just what's so funny." Kagome huffed at him. She would never understand how he could laugh in what seemed to be any situation and it only served to annoy her at the moment. He wasn't taking her fears seriously. Yes, he loved her and she loved him his mother's opinion would never change that, but Kagome wanted to get along with her in-laws. She had grown up listing to so many stories from children whose grandmothers hated their mothers. Not to mention that Kagome didn't see what there was for his mother to like about her. Her son was in all reality too good for her. Kurama was successful and moving up in his step fathers company quite quickly. She was a shine maiden who almost failed out of school and had no for seeable future.

"I just find it funny that you fight demons who would rip you to shreds without a second thought But, you are scared of my mother." Kurama teased her laughing once more as he continued to pull her along. Kagome wanted to sigh 'But to demon's I don't look like some good for nothing gold digger.' Kagome thought.

"Yea but I don't plan on marrying those demons' sons. Besides weren't you nervous when you meet my mother?" Kagome asked but before Kurama could answer they were greeted with the creaking of the front door as it flue open. Kagome blinked as she took in the tall slender woman standing in the door way. She looked so proper not a hair out of place that was pulled back into a tight bun. Her simple white button up and black slacks were simple but suited her nicely. The woman flashed them a bright smile as she whipped her hands on the apron she was currently waring.

"Oh, you must be Kagome! I'm so happy to finally meet you! You are just as lovely as my Shuuichi told me you would be! I think even prettier than the picture he showed me. Oh, the two of you will have such beautiful babies. I can't wait to see who they will look like! I can see it now little read heads with big blue eyes." The woman blurted out as she pulled Kagome into a hug.

"Mother I think your smothering her." Kurama laughed out as his mother released her hold on Kagome. The shock from her first encounter with his mother still clear on her face. It was easy to see this was not the reaction that Kagome had been expecting.

"Don't even get me started on you young man! The second you even considered popping the question you should have brought her to meet me." She scolded her son. "Now let me see the ring since I didn't get to help pick it out." Both Kagome and Kurama froze as they looked at each other. Kurama couldn't believe he had forgotten to get her a ring. Had he not just told himself the other day he needed to get her one? That should have been the first thing he had done this morning while Kagome slept. He had already messed up the proposal for her. He had wanted to propose with some romantic flare like he always did everything. But he had just blurted it out that night and after learning where she was really running off to a ring seemed so trivial. He had been more worried about her coming back alive than picking out a small piece of metal.

"Well you see mother I..." Kurama started. He could see the disappointment starting to form in his mother's eyes as she waited for him to formulate an excuse. None of which he was sure would be good enough to satisfy his mother as to why Kagome did not have a ring.

"I told him I didn't want a big expensive ring. Yes, they are nice but having some big rock on my hand is not what makes me committed to your son." Kagome interrupted as she smiled sweetly at the older woman. "It took a lot for me to convince him not to buy one."

"Really now?" His mother asked as she turned her gaze back to her son as if searching for confirmation of Kagome's clam.

"Yes mother. It's true." Kurama smiled sweetly as he latched on to the life line Kagome had just thrown him. His mother's disappointment with him was smoothing he could never handle especially after her illness and he made a mental note to thank Kagome later for saving him.

"Shuuichi I like her. I can already tell she has a good head on her shoulders. Come on in dinner is just about ready." His mother smiled as she ushered them into the house. Kurama's step brother and step father were already seated at the table chatting away. They greeted Kagome with bright smiles as Kurama pulled out her seat.

Dinner had gone better then Kagome could have hoped. There were no embarrassing questions about what her future plans were other than children. Kurama's mother had made it perfectly clear that she wanted as many grandchildren as they were willing to give her and Kagome was more than happy with that idea. Kagome had always wanted to be a mother and have a big noisy family full of love and laughter. Kurama on the other hand seemed to pale a little at the idea of it and Kagome couldn't help but laugh. She was sure in his long-life children was never something that he had really thought about.

"Kagome, Shuuichi will you fallow me please." Kurama's mother asked as they both stood from the table. Kurama falling in step behind his mother and Kagome doping the same. She led them upstairs to a huge master bedroom. Kagome assumed it was her and her husband's. Taking Kurama's hand as she moved close to him. Kagome looked up at him with questioning eyes wondering if he had any idea why his mother had brought them to her personal room.

Kurama simply shook his head as he watched his mother rummage through drawers until she pulled out what looked to be an old beat up wooden jewelry box. It was one he had seen only once before as a small child when they moved from the apartment to the home his mother had bought. He remembered it only because of the small carving of the fox on the front of it. As a child he had noticed how cheap it had looked and asked his mother where it had come from. He would never forget the sad look in her eyes as she told him it was the last thing his father had bought her before he died.

He watched as she slowly and carefully lifted the lid of the box. She then began pulling out pieces of jewelry that he had never seen her wear and he could only assume they had been gifts from his late father. Keepsakes of their time tougher. Finally, he watched as she stopped at a small velvet box.

"Shuuichi it is no secret to you that I was only seventeen when you were borne. I loved your father dearly but I was so scared when I found out about you. I was afraid he would leave runaway forget about me and I would be left alone to raise you. It took me weeks to build up enough courage to finally tell him." His mother paused as she whipped a single tear from her eye before it had the chance to fall. "I wasn't sure what his reaction would be but I knew I couldn't wait any longer. So, I summoned up every ounce of courage I had left. I told him I was pregnant and no sooner had the words left my mouth than he asked me to marry him." She then lifted the velvet lid off the box to revile two rings. The first was an engagement set. Both silver but the engagement ring has a small simple diamond in the center and was surrounded by two smaller diamonds on each side. It was simple but it was beautiful.

"They are beautiful." Kagome whispered as she inspected the rings.

"I want the two of you to have these. I know you said you didn't want a ring Kagome and you were right it is not the ring that makes you committed to one another. However, it serves as a reminder. Every time you are apart you can look at this ring be reminded you're not alone. That somewhere there is someone who cares for you no matter what. Someone who is waiting for you to come home to them. Its what helped me face those girls every day as I walked the halls of my high school. It's what got me through that first tough year of scraping by and Shuuichi's father always working late. " Kagome didn't know what to say. She wanted to cry this gift was so precious. It mint so much to her future mother in-law she didn't know if she could accept it. How could she take such precious memories from her?

"I couldn't take those from you. They mean so much to you, it wouldn't be right." Kagome smiled softly at the woman before her.

"Yes, they mean a lot to me, but it was always my dream to pass them on to my child when the time came. These rings should be worn not tucked away in some box collecting dust." Kagome couldn't help but simply nod he head as she fought the urge to cry herself. She never in her wildest dreams imagined her future mother in-law would be so kind.

"Thank you, mother." Kurama smiled as he took the small box from her taking the engagement ring and sliding in over Kagome finger. It looked so right there like it was always meant to be there. "It's getting late mother and we have a long walk back to the train. Thank you again I'll be sure to bring her back for another visit as soon as I can."

"Yes, thank you so much I'll treasure it." Kagome smiled as she followed Kurama out the door. It was a silent walk back to the train as Kagome thoughts raced a million miles an hour. Kurama could see she was trying to reach a decision on something, but he wasn't sure what. A slight twinge of fear filled him as he hoped she wasn't reconsidering. He knew the road ahead was unclear for both of them especially with what was going on in the past but one thing he was sure about was Kagome. He wasn't sure he would be able to handle it if she reconsidered now.

He didn't know what he would do if she changed her mind. As much as he hated to admit it he needed her. She had become the very air he breathed. She was the sun on his world setting fire to everything making him feel alive and if she left what would he have left? Nothing. The thought scared him as he looked over at the small woman who was leaning on his arm.

"Kagome?" He asked as she didn't move. "Kagome." He called again this time a little louder. It was enough to make her look at him he could see it burning in her eyes a determination that he had never seen before. "Kagome love what's wrong?"

"It's nothing." Kagome smiled as she shook her head. Kurama frowned as he captured her chin between his fingers turning her head to meet his gaze.

"Please, tell me." He begged and watched as she chewed on the bottom corner of her lip. His eyes harden for a moment. That was her tell there was something she wanted to ask him. Something that would no doubt be huge.

"How long will it take spirit world of alter the portal?" Kagome asked as she continued to chew on her lip. Kurama was take back by her odd question. It wasn't really an odd question just out of place for the moment.

"According to Koenma anywhere from a month to two months. Altering a portal is tricky work and can often back fire if not done properly." Kurama answered as he moved his hand away placing it in his pocket.

"Oh, I see. Will anyone be able to pass through while the portal is being altered?" Kagome continued and he raised his brow. He could see she was going somewhere with this line of questioning he however had yet to determined where.

"No, they will not." Kurama was growing more and more nervous with each passing second. Where was she going with this line of questioning? Was she trying to tell him she would be staying in the past while the portal was being altered.

"Kurama." Kagome paused as she took in a deep breath. "Let's get married while the portal is being altered." If Kurama had been anyone else he probably would have been floored from the shock.

"Kagome there is no need to rush this we have time." Kurama assured her. As much as he loved Kagome she did have a history of overreacting and he wanted to give her the wedding that she deserved.

"I know we have time that's not why I want to do this." Kagome assured him.

"Kagome what is going through that head of yours?" Kurama asked.

"Kurama I know we have time. I know we can wait but I don't want too. I have put so much of my life on hold to take care of my responsibilities in the past. To try and clean up the mess I made when I shattered the jewel." Kagome paused as her eyes grew serious. "For once I want to put the past on hold. Just this once I want to be just a little selfish. I want us to live as a normal husband and wife even if it only is for two months." Kurama eyes softened. She was always so unpredictable that's one of the many reasons he loved her so and if that was what she truly wished who was he to deny her.

"If that's what you want then who am I to say no." Kurama smiled as he pulled her into a quick kiss.