Recap- Sesshomaru glanced at him, but remained silent the whole ride to the mall. He handed over his credit card. "I will return for you in an hour and a half."

Takehiko didn't even speak. He snatched the card, hugged his father, and ran. "Later!" 'Now, to find mommy.'

*X*X*X*X*X*X*X

Poem:

You make the sun shine on a cloudy day

When I'm sick you kiss the pain away

Your tender voice took away my fears

Your hand that wiped away my tears

The love you give so honest and pure

Keeping me forever safe and secure

You make flowers bloom in the spring

It was you who fixed my broken wing

Mom because of you I now know love

My guardian angel from above

- Christopher G. Parham.

*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*

Kagome sighed for the third time since she'd arrived near the fountain. Smelling the flowers again, she grimaced in annoyance and growled. "Stupid Sesshomaru."

Takehiko smiled and approached her. "What did dad do this time?"

Her eyes snapped up and looked into golden ones. "Takehiko, hey. Oh, um, your father...I just have to work with him. That's stressful. But forget that. Sit." She smiled warmly, patting the bench beside her. "Or we could sit on the fountain."

"On." His face lit with delight. He took her hand and nearly dragged her to the fountain. "Pretty flowers. Who gave them to you?"

"Hm?" She blushed. "Oh, these. No one important really. Um, so let's talk. Any questions for me?"

Takehiko rocked slowly, back and forth. "Um, what's your favorite color?"

Kagome waved a hand through his hair. 'He has such a cute purr.' "Silver, actually." Grinning, she held up a finger, "And emerald of course. They're espevially wonderful together."

"What do you think about daddy?"

"Your father? I think he's annoying, arrogant, hard headed, and cold." Her eyes softened and drifted away from a him, a smile she never realized she'd had on her face. "But he has his compassionate moments, I suppose. And his eyes are so warm when he looks...He's hurt because your mommy is gone. And he misses and loves her very much."

"Daddy likes you."

Kagome nodded grimly. "Because I resemble her."

Takehiko looked at her curiously. "Why are you marrying Tsubasa?"

"Well, that was spontaneous."

"Spon-tane-ee-us?"

"It's when something is sudden, random."

"Oh."

She crossed her arms and inhaled. "I like him very much."

"But you don't love Tsubasa-oji, do you?" No answer. "Do you love me?"

Kagome gulped. "Uhhhh, I, um, I do."

Takehiko embraced her, face nuzzling against her neck. "I love you too, mommy."

Kagome whimpered. "Kagome. Please, call me Kagome."

"That is disrespectful, mommy. Daddy said so." He laughed a bit.

"I am not her, Hiko."

"You always used to call me, Hiko." He whispered, holding her tighter.

Kagome sighed. "She called you that. I'm not her. You shouldn't call me 'mommy'."

Takehiko glared at her. "But you are my mommy. So that's just what I'll call you!" He growled loudly at the staring passerbys. "What are you looking at?!"

"Calm down, sweetheart." She cooed soothingly; Then she slid closer and held him. "Calm down, pup. Just relax."

"Why?" He sniffed. "Why can't you see that you're my mom. Everyone else knows it. I even think Tsubasa knows it."

"I jsut don't see any possibility." Taking a deep breath, she growled lowly to sooth him.

Takehiko sighed against her neck. "Daddy's the reason you can growl and stuff. Before, you were a human miko, then a kind of demon miko."

Kagome stiffend. She had wondered aout that. 'But my reasons are different. He didn't change me. I was simply born this way.'

He yawned. "Daddy wants you to love him again." He wondered if he would hurt her if he nibbled on ear like in the past. 'Probably.'

"Takehiko...why do you act as though you are five? Especially when you look 15." She released him from her hug.

"Why?" He shrugged, waving his fingers through the water. "When you died, I was only five. And I saw it. It hurt so much mommy. And I dreamt about it for fays. I decided that I wanted you to see me grow up. I wanted you to be there for all of my moments. So I had to stay the same, at least until you came back. I love you more than anyone, mom, even more that dad."

Kagome blnked back the tears that threatened to spill over. "I-I think it's time for me to go, Takehiko."

He frowned, confused. "Why, mommy?"

"I'm not her." She told him, her voice teary.

"Mommy."

Kagome rose quickly. "I am my own person. I'm sorry, sweetie, but I'm not your mother. Forgive me, I just can't be."

Takehiko grabbed her hand. "Please don't leave me again." A few tears rolled down his face. "I'm begging you, mommy. Pease don't."

"I'm so, so sorry, Takehiko-kun." Kissing his forehead, she snatched up her purse and ran off, not realizing that she'd dropped her PDA.

Tearful, the boy reached down and pocked it up. "Mom." Pocketing it, he scented the air and began to follow the aroma to the parking lot. Eyes closed, he concentrated. 'Where are you?' He turned suddenly when he heard a horn and saw a car coming at him. Frozen by fear, he looked away.

Sesshomaru felt panic come to him as he saw that hsi son was about to be hit. Leaping out of the car, he raced to him, snatching to boy into his arms, then heading back to the car. "Takehiko! What the hell were you thinking?!"

He didn't answer his father. Instead, he stared at the ground.

Sesshomaru was going to yell again, when he saw his son shedding tears. "Were you that afraid, son?"

"No." He wiped his eyes.

"Then what happened? Why the tears? Did someone inside harm you?"

Takehiko shrugged and took his father's hand in his. "Mom. I was thinking about her. She must have been there, but I didn't see her. I found this." He handed the PDA to his father.

Sesshomaru sighed. 'Two lies in one day.' He looked at the PDA. "Shall we give it to her tomorrow? You will be joining me for lunch, won't you?"

"Uh-huh."

Sesshomaru petted his head. "Do you wish to see her, my pup?"

The child/pup nodded vigorously. "Hai, obou." Smiling, he thought, 'I can find out what to do to make her remember.'

"Your sisters will join us. So do not tell them that Kagome will as well. I wish to surprise them. Now come, we will be late."

"Late for what, papa?" He slid into the passenger's seat.

"Rin and Shippo's baby shower." Sesshomaru offered a small smile despite the fact that he did not wish for his little girl to grow up and have pups.

*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*

Poem:

I remember the day we met

I remember it all too well

I remember how we started

And I remember how we ended

I remember how it feels with

Your lips touching mine

I remember what it's like in your arms

I remember what you told me

I remember what I promised

I remember that day we spent together

I remember all my tears

-Section by Amber Arnold

*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*

Rin glared at ehr father, obviously annoyed. "Tell me already. What's the surprise, dad?!"

Shippo nodded in agreement. "Spill it."

Inutaisho began, "Well, your father things-"

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes. "Her father knows-"

"That mom is back!" The three pups yelled jubilantly.

The couple of the hour's faces fell. "That's not funny, guys."

Takako frowned in return. "Why would we lie about mom?"

"It's true. I saw dearest Lady Kagome with my own eyes. Miroku grinned. "And I felt her firm as ever- Ow! Inuyasha you wound me!" The lecherous monk stroked his abused head.

"YOU stupid lech! YOU felt her up?! The first thing you do when you realize she's alive is grope her! You're lucky that stupid jewel made you live so long!"

Sango sighed, shook her head, and looked over at the two. "Shut up." Such a deathly cold voice frightened the pair.

"Hey." Inuyasha whispered. "You finally got her pregnant?"

"Hm. I hope so. That jewel affected us terribly. I thought we were cursed."

"So," Rin's voice shook, "m-mom is really alive? How?"

Takara shrugged. "We don't know. I'm starting to wonder if it's really her."

Takehiko stretched and yawned. "It is. Somewhere deep down, she remembers us. She even told me she loved me."

Everything was quiet for a moment. Sesshomaru cocked a brow. "And when was this?"

'Umm....I shouldn't have said anything.' Blushing, he scratched his head.

"On the porch that day?" Inuyasha asked.

"Ummm, well...."

"Out with it!"

"No! It's my alone time with my mom! YOu're going to ruin it, Inu-baka!"

Rin snarled, hormones raging. "She's our mom too! And if you don't tell us, I'll kill you!"

He snorted. "Whatever! You won't touch me, or mom will be angry with you! So there!"

She lunged at him and growled when he moved. "Get back here, you prick!"

"No!"

"Takehiko! Come ba-" She skidded to a stop when she heard a ring. "Where is that coming from?"

Sesshomaru pulled the device out of his pocket. "Kagome's PDA."

"Oooh, where is she supposed to be?!"

'Dinner at Saigon.' He read aloud.

"Then what are we waiting around here for?" Rin snatched up her coat and left the house for the restaurant, everyone else in tow.

Shippo grinned, emerald eyes shining as he spotted Kagome. "She is alive." He was going to stand to go to her, when Tsubasa approached her table. "Tsubasa? What is he doing here?"

Kagome looked over at her fiance as he sat down. "Hey."

Tsubasa smiled. "Hey. You look like something's on your mind."

"Oh, just Sesshomaru and the pups."

"Oh, Kagome. Forget it."

"I can't. I mean, I work with him. And...ugh." Shaking her head, she took a sip of wine.

"Where were you? Today, after work?"

"Oh, then, with Takehiko. I think I may have hurt him." Tears filled her eyes, a few trickling down. Urgently, she wiped them.

Tsubasa sighed. "Stop worrying." Brushing her tears away with his finger tips, he pulled her to him and kissed her firmly. 'I could almost swear I just heard a few growls.' "He's a strong boy."

Kagome smiled a little. "He sure is." Wiping her eyes again, she rose, giving Sesshomaru's party a view of the strapless, emerald dress she was wearing. Grabbing her forest green shawl, she pecked his forehead. "I'm going to get some fresh air. Be back by the time the food is here."

Sesshomaru's party filed out after her, watching her lean tiredly against the wall. Sesshomaru took a silent step toward her, and Kagome's head shot up.

"You really are stalking me, aren't you, Sesshomaru." She teased.

"Hn."

"And you got your whole family in on it."

A male who had been walking up the sidewalk stopped when he spotted Kagome. "My, my dear, you are simply delectable." He traced a finger along her jaw, yelping when Kagome forced him against the wall, his arm pent behind his back. "Jeez, wench, let go!"

Kagome bared her fangs at him. "You reak of wenches. Tell your poor wife," she spat, tapping his ring, "that I send my sincerest apologies. Get out of my sight," Sneering as he ran, she remarked, "Coward."

"Some one is not in the best of moods." Sesshomaru stated with a cocked brow, amusement in his eyes.

"I'm stressed, and I lost my PDA." She muttered.

"This PDA?" Sesshomaru showed her, then snatched back when she reached for it.

Kagome giggled in disbelief. "You found it!" She reached again, but to no avail. "Sesshomaru-san?"

"I expect," he drawled, "something in return." He smirked at her. When Kagome glared defiantly, he chuckled. "You haven't changed a bit, dear." he cupped her cheek in his left hand.

And though she leaned into his touch unknowingly, she snapped, "You can not say that. You have not known be for long."

Rin interrupted. "He's known you forever, mom."

"How many children did you to have?" Kaogme asked Sesshomaru.

"YOU and I had these three. Rin and her kitsune mate, Shippo, are adopted."

Wearily, Kagome shied away from him, sluping against the wall. "How did you get my PDA?"

Sesshomaru handed it to her. "Takehiko."

"Takehiko?"

"I found it in the mall, mom." He pointedly gave her a look that said not to tell.

"Mom?" She groaned. "I'm going to die of stress. This joke is getting tired, Sesshomaru."

"There is no joke, miko."

Kagome tensed. "How do you know I'm a miko?"

Haughty, he pulled her against him. "Because you are mine. I know everything about you."

"For example?" She bit. "And let me go. I have to get back."

"Once I have you, you will never go back." Sesshomaru held her close, his face buried in her hair.

"Comfy, Kag?"

Kagome jumped and whipped around. "Tsubasa, I was just coming back." She hugged his waist.

Tsubasa nodded, glaring over her head at Sesshomaru. "You're taking things too far, Sesshomaru. I told ya. This is mine, to love, to mate, to be with. Yours died ages ago."

"Mutt, you are mistaken." Sesshomaru growled back.

Tsubasa's upper lip curled. "Fine then. Let's battle. Right here, right now, for her."

"Tsu, we're in the middle of the city. Just let it go."

"No. It's a youkai custom, Kagome. Now, step aside. I couldn't live with myself if you got hurt." Pushing her away, he stared ahead. "We lesser," he used air quotes, "demons go first."

'I can't let him hurt Sesshomaru, or vice versa.' Kagome thought. So when she saw him knick Sesshomaru's chin, something inside her snapped and she whimpered. Before he could strike again, she tossed a barrier around Sesshomaru, clutching her abdomen.

Tsubasa frowned. "What's wrong, Kag? Don't want your 'mate' to get hurt?"

Kagome took a deep breath and released her stomach, only to see her blood seeping through her dress.

"Y-you're bleeding."

Head pounding, Kagome clutched at it, whimpering. "I know." She whined.

"Oh man." he wrapped his arms around her to keep ehr from collapsing. "Kag, are you okay?"

"It hurts." She whined lounder.

Panicked, he hugged her to him, glaring and growling when Sesshomaru reached for her. "I han handle it!" He lifted Kagome into his arms, bridle style and carried her to the car.

Kagome glanced over his shoulder and whispered, "Sesshomaru." She felt her brain working as she remembered. 'My mate. My pups. SESSHOMARUUUUU!' But before she could call him aloud, seh was out.

Takako found herself chuckling, then giggling, then laughing.

Takehiko glared. "What are you laughing at?! SHe's hurt!"

"She remembers! I jsut read her thoughts, and she remember!"

"R-really?"

"I swear! She rememebed us! She said, 'my mate, my pups!' And she called for you, dad. Do you think it was because she protected you?"

"Perhaps." There was a smile of disbelief on his face as Tsubasa drove away. "Hopefully."

*X*X*X*X*X*X*

Tsubasa snarled as the phone rang for the fifteenth time. 'Pick up!' Five rings later, as he planned to hang up, he heard the phone be answered. "Hello?"

A sigh, "What is it, Tsubasa?"

"It's Kagome. She put up a barrier around Sesshomaru to protect him. Then that wound started to bleed. And I swear she remembers, master. She is resting now."

"Repeat the other part."

"She remembers!"

"That's what I thought you said." Calm as jsut before the storm. Then furious as the storm itself. "You idiot! How could you let this happen?!"

Tsubasa shook his head. 'I don't know. It was an accident. I foolishly stood up to Sesshomaru when he tried to claim her."

An annoyed, exasperated sigh, "I told you not to get attached. This is a charade. I'd never let someone so important to me mate the likes of you."

"Yeah, master, I know."

"Good, now do as I say. Touch her head."

Tsubasa reentered the bedroom and ran his hand from Kagome's waist to her head. "Alright."

"Okay. Now, concentrate and summon the memories away."

"Hai, master." He closed his eyes and imagined himself dismissing her memories. His hand glowed a soft blue and did son. "Done."

Another sigh, "God. Now, hang up the phone and wake her up. If she still remembers...knock her out and bring her to me. But I swear to Kami, I love her and if you hurt her..."

"I won't. Promise. De wa mata, master." Hanging up, Tsubasa shook Kaogme awake. "Kag, baby, are you feeling better?"

Kagome looked up at him ans smiled tiredly. "Hay, sweetheart. What happened?"

Tsubasa brushed hsi nose to hers. "Fainted. I was worried."

She blushed. "No need to be." Kagome arched her back in pain. "Ugh."

"You need anything? Water? Ice?"

"You. Lay with me." She pulled him down and snuggle dcloser. "Why do we have to wait so long to marry and mate? Why not now?"

"Why not now?" God knew he wanted to. Just to take her and have her forever. But no, he couldn't. "Be patient. It will be well worth the wait." he lied instead.

Kagome kissed him passionately. "I bet it will."

Tsubasa shuddered. 'Gods help me. Help me! Stop her from tempting me!' He felt his pants tighten. 'Shit!' "Um, I'm gonna, um, get you something to eat. Excuse me." He darted out.

She laughed loudly, pressing her nose to his pillow. "Sweet, Tsu." She frowned upon spotting her PDA. "Oh yeh, Sesshomaru gave it back to me. I should invite him to lunch, as a thank you." Smiling to herself, she sank back beneath the covers and slept.

*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*

"So," Ken started, eager for an answer, "what did Kagome say?"

Sesshomaru observed the man across from him. "She did not give me permission. Nor did she deny it." When he'd asked, she'd been angry with him and had ignored him.

Ken nodded. 'So there is hope.' "Oh."

"Tell me, Kagome seems upset with you. She says that you are dead."

Ken swallowed. "I was. But then I woke up and began searching for her."

"She says you were killed by the family of the woman you killed."

"How does she know? I made sure that...I planned..."

Sesshomaru cut him off. "Why did you murder her? How do I not know that you will not kill my Kagome?"

Ken narrowed his eyes. "I murdered noone."

"Kagome seems confused."

"That woman died on the operation table. I told them she did not need the surgery. They pled despite the consequences. And then killed me when she did the inevitable and died!"

"Lower your voice, Higurashi-san. The pups are sleeping. I was only repeating what Kaogme stated. SHe did not get the full knowledge. She believes you killed someone purposely."

"How could she? She loved me. She knew me."

"She was seven." Sesshomaru answered.

Ken exhaled. "How long have you known my baby?"

"Closely or simply known?"

"Both."

"Simply known, since she was 15. Closely known, since she was 16 1/2."

The father nodded. "C-could you tell me everything you know about her? Tell me how much she has grown, her personality, her intelligence. I want to know all you know of my daughter."

Sesshomaru inclined his head. "When there is time, I will. But there is on thing you must know."

"Oh? What?"

"Kagome was killed."

"Y-you strung me along?"

Sesshomaru shook his head. "You missunderstand. She, as you and my own father were, was ressurrected. She does nto recall much, but I am working towards that. I will take a picture of her as often as I can. But in return, i require a favor."

"Yes. Of course."

"Tell me. Why are you alive?"

"I woke up. A man mumbled something about perfection and kicked me out. But I don't care. I'm here, and Kagome will allow me to be in her life eventually. Anything else?"

Sesshomaru looked off. "No. You may go."So, a male ressurected her and set her free. "Why?" He didn't know...and that was a terrible thing. 'Who could want to bring so many people back. What is the connection? Father, Ken, Kagome. Does it have anything to do with me." He snarled. "Damnit!"