Disclaimer: I don't own Inu Yasha, Kagome, Vincent or Catherine.

The Same Side of a Different Coin

A/N – A big thank you to all my reviewers. You guys just inspire me! Big hugs!

Chapter 4 – Education and Time Out

Vincent led the way to Father's library with Catherine at his side. She remained silent, merely pondering the events of the past day. Father walked behind the couple and his thoughts were on Catherine. He wondered how she was doing. She seemed healthy on the outside, but he still wondered about the child within her. Inu Yasha and Kagome walked behind the group, holding hands. Both were very ready to go home. Inu Yasha missed the open air and the feel of grass beneath his feet. The tunnels were stifling to him. Kagome was not bothered by the tunnels themselves, but by the continual cold draft that seemed to come from everywhere. She could also sense Inu Yasha's tension and she needed to feel him relaxed. A stressed hanyou was the last thing she needed. Also, the feeling that something had already happened, still haunted her.

Vincent was as usual not concerned about himself, but with his companions. Catherine seemed confused, but there was not an uncomfortable sensation between them as there had been yesterday. Father seemed to be concerned, which in itself was not unusual. He could also feel the growing unrest in the young man. The feeling was curiously familiar, as if it were instinct or something more feral. The girl, though, surprised him most of all. She seemed very uneasy and even anxious.

They entered the dim light of Father's library at last. Vincent, Catherine, and Father descended the few metal steps to the lower level, while Kagome and Inu Yasha gazed around the chamber.

"Wow, you could fill a whole library with all these books." Kagome turned to a pile near the entrance and began to read the titles.

"Feh." Inu Yasha scoffed and crossed his arms over his chest. 'Kagome seems real impressed with all these books. Truth is, I've never seen so many in my life. Only wimps read all the time, though. I haven't got time for that sort of thing with all the demon and shard hunting.'

Father sat behind his desk and gestured for the others to take a seat. "Please, make yourselves comfortable. I'm sure Jamie will let us know when she has found Mouse."

Inu Yasha's ears twitched at the sound of tapping on pipes. "What's that noise? It kept me up half the night."

Father gave a half smile. "That's Jamie actually." He paused for a moment to hear the rest of the message. "She says she and Mouse are on their way back."

Kagome listened more intently. "Is it like Morris Code or something?"

"Very good, Kagome. It is indeed an alteration of Morris Code. It is our own form of short hand."

'What the heck is mor-ass code?' Inu Yasha grunted and found a place to flop in a large chair. Kagome, meanwhile, continued to snoop around the chamber, gazing at Father's collection of books and other artifacts scavenged from the world above.

Vincent stood behind Catherine's chair. "I am very intrigued by this time traveling. What has become of the world in the next ten years? And how is that you are able to travel through time in the first place? I have read many books on such things, but never expected such a thing to happen."

Kagome walked over to Inu Yasha, abandoning her exploration to sit on the arm of his chair. "Well, there have been a few more wars in the Middle East and quite a few jumps in technology, but overall things aren't so different." Kagome frowned. "As for the time traveling, there isn't much I can tell you about that except that the Sacred Jewel allows me to pass through and," she gave Inu Yasha a quick half smile, "because of Inu Yasha's prayer beads he is able to go wherever I go. We're connected you could say."

Catherine and Vincent exchanged a pained expression. He placed a large furred hand on her shoulder. "We were once connected as well…"

Catherine sighed and squeezed the hand that rested on her. "Our bond will return, Vincent. We just need to give it time. You've been so ill." She frowned and looked away, unable to meet the pain in his azure eyes.

Kagome could feel the sadness in the couple. She felt pity for them, even though she did not fully understand this "bond'. Beside her Inu Yasha stiffened slightly. "Don't tell me that wench put a subduing spell on you too."

"Subduing spell?" Vincent raised his eyes with curiosity now.

Inu Yasha grunted. "Obviously not."

Catherine frowned but decided to explain rather than step in that mess. "Vincent was once able to feel what I feel." She raised her gaze to meet his, a look of pure love in them. "He knew when I was in danger from across the city, from across the continent." She smiled warmly. "He knew when I was happy and when I was sad."

"And when you had nightmares or were in pain. Catherine," he knelt beside her chair, his attention now focused only on her, "I miss knowing what it is you feel. I don't know if this new contentment and peace is worth the exchange."

Catherine took his hand in hers. There was no lie in her eyes as she spoke, only confidence. "It will return. I can feel it."

Father interrupted the moment, ever so tactfully. "I'm not so sure, Catherine. The bond you shared was special and unique, but perhaps it has lived out is usefulness."

Kagome furrowed her brow at the old man. "How can you say something like that? Can't you see they love each other? Isn't that bond enough?"

"You are an outsider. You have no idea what they have gone through, I do. It was a gift, but it is gone and they will have to learn to deal with it."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that." All eyes turned to Inu Yasha with curiosity. "Myoga told me once that when some demons choose their mates that they become linked to them, always knowing where their mate is and if they're in danger. You two are mates, right? And you are carrying his cub?"

Slowly Catherine nodded. "Yes."

"What does that have to with them loosing the bond and being able to get it back?" Father was still very skeptical.

"Well, old Myoga also told me that while the female is baring children, that the link is broken, something about the male not being able to handle the birthing. I wasn't really listening to most of it. But it makes sense if he was right that as soon as the cub is born your 'bond' will return."

Kagome blinked at Inu Yasha in astonishment. 'You mean, he actually learned something useful from Myoga? Who would have guessed?' She chuckled lightly, gaining a glare from her companion.

"What's so funny?"

She giggled again. "Myoga actually came in handy for once." Inu Yasha merely smirked at her.

Across from them Vincent was truly pondering this new information. It certainly made sense. Childbirth was very painful and difficult. Even during the times of pregnancy there would be pain and discomfort. Yes, this information made complete sense.

Father too, was having a difficult time coming up with an argument against this. From a medical point of view, he understood that Catherine's body would be going through numerous changes and uncountable mood swings. 'It's probably the best if he doesn't have go through that with her.'

Catherine smiled and wrapped her arms around Vincent's neck in excitement. He blushed slightly from his kneeling position beside her chair. "Oh, Vincent! Isn't this wonderful! After our child is born, we'll have our bond back!" She sighed and buried her face in his unruly mane. Vincent blushed even deeper. Catherine's voice was soft near his ear. "I'm so happy."

Vincent couldn't resist her now. She was so close, so warm and soft, smelling lightly of her favorite perfume. He wrapped his arms around her, embracing her lovingly. "I'm glad too."

A moment later Mouse bounded into the room with Jamie chasing behind him all the way. "Jamie said Father wanted to see Mouse. Mouse here." The scruffy young man grinned from ear to ear in anticipation.

"Aw, yes, Mouse do you remember where you found this young lady yesterday?" Father gestured to Kagome.

Mouse glanced over at Kagome as if seeing her for the first time. "Pretty girl, yes, Mouse remembers. Mouse was looking for stuff near Maze and girl started talking. Mouse thought voice was in his head. But then she talked again and Mouse found her on ledge." He shook a finger at Kagome. "Very dangerous, should not stand on ledges, could get hurt."

Though the gesture was not truly threatening, Inu Yasha put an arm around Kagome's waist protectively, a small growl escaping him. Father gave the young hanyou a quick glance but returned his attention to Mouse. "Do you think you could lead us there? Our guest would like to leave."

"Leave? How can you leave from there? No way Above from there, just Below." Mouse scratched his head in confusion.

"Don't worry about that, just show us." Inu Yasha growled.

Mouse shrugged. "Okay good, okay fine. Follow Mouse." The others hurried to catch up with Mouse as he began to bound up the steps. Inu Yasha was more careful this time to watch exactly where they were going. He counted the turns and tried to keep his bearings. They crossed the Chamber of Winds again and made their way toward the Maze. At last they came to cliff that over looked a deep cavern. "Mouse found girl here."

"Is this the right place, Inu Yasha?"

The others watched in fascination as he released Kagome's hand to get down on all fours to sniff the ground. Kagome's scent still lingered here. "Yeah, this is it." He glanced over the edge of the cliff to see a broad ledge below. Standing back up, he glanced at Kagome. "Are you ready?"

She nodded. The feeling of uneasy still hadn't left her. Something had already happened. She just couldn't put her finger on it. She quickly removed the borrowed clothes, shivering a bit in the cold, and handed them to Catherine. "Thank you so much for everything."

Catherine gave her a soft smile and then embraced her. "We should be thanking you. You've both done so much for us." She released the girl and Kagome bowed slightly and said farewell to everyone, even Mouse.

Inu Yasha grunted. "Nice to meet you, Vincent. And you too gramps."

"That's Father." Father corrected.

"Whatever." Inu Yasha gave him a fanged grin. "Ready, Kagome?" She nodded and he picked her up in his arms, cradling her against his chest for both warmth and pleasure. Then with a last glance over his shoulder, they jumped over the cliff edge.

Inu Yasha landed just a skillfully and as soft as ever. Kagome gasped. "Inu Yasha?" She looked around. "What happened?" The pair looked up to see not three familiar faces, but five semi-familiar forms watching them.

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A/N – I know this chapter is not as long as my other ones are, but don't worry I'll be updating the next chapter before the weekend is over. I got Friday off and didn't even have to ask for it. Yay! So, be watching. :)