A/N: Just wanted to drop in ahead of the chapter and thank you for reading. It probably feels like the millionth time, but knowing people at least like this enough to continue reading it is motivation to make more. Enjoy the show.

MUQFF

True to Shigehiro's word, the path they travelled down soon took them back into Edo, where Kagome, Kaede and the others were waiting for them. Sango, Miroku and their children weren't far behind, and, bringing up the rear and doing his very best to seem indifferent, Inu-Yasha was there as well. Rin was glad to see Kaede on the mend so rapidly, and relayed the old priest's well-wishing to her. The elder priestess was surprised he was still alive and well. Inu-Yasha came to Shippo first. "The Hell took you so long?" the half-demon asked. "Go there, get the sword and come home. Seriously, it couldn't have been easier."

"Totosai needed fresh ingredients," Shippo said, pointing at his fang, which, by now, had grown back in. "And he wasn't very nice about getting them!"

"That's Totosai for you," the half-demon growled. "He could have just told me it was gonna take some time. Maybe then, I wouldn't have been so damn worried. Did you even look at the damn thing before you left?"

"I... No. No, I did not."

"Keh. Better late than never. Come on, draw it!"

Shippo did as instructed, carefully removing Nenshoga from its sheath. By all measures, it was a fine blade, with a clear, distinct hamon, a gentle curve, and a balance like nothing else Shippo had ever held. On inspecting the edge, he could tell simply by looking that it was sharp, more than fine enough to cut most anything he would have to fight. The hilt was just right for his hands, and could fit one or both, capped with a circular guard and wrapped in cloth dyed to match his hair and the sheath. Nenshoga was far from ornate, but all the more beautiful for it, form following function perfectly.

"It looks good, kid. You look good. Guess you're a man now."

Kagome scoffed. "Shippo is still a kid!"

"Yeah, maybe back in your weird era!"

"I know," she sighed. "It's just hard to remember that little things like that are so different here, even after this long."

Yukifusa's eyes lit up. "Then the rumors are true. We have a time traveller in our midst! I hardly believed Shippo when he said he knew a woman from the future. I must learn more."

"She's married," Miroku pointed out. For his trouble, everyone was treated to the sound of Sango's almighty backhand slap making contact. Shippo, not even looking, declared it a clean, solid hit.

"He's... Going to live, right?" Yukifusa asked.

"He's just being dramatic," Rin said. "You'll get used to that."

"If I stick around, I suppose. Lord Sesshomaru's orders were to get you back here safe and sound. But then, he didn't tell me to return immediately afterwards, and I don't really have any assigned tasks. First thing he's ever told me to do is this. I'll be here at least a little while, making double-sure that you're actually safe, but after that, I plan to return home."

Rin nodded. "Shippo and I were glad to have the company."

"I was glad to provide it."

Kagome tapped his shoulder. "Did you say you wanted to learn more about my era?"

"I definitely did. But not too far from Rin, or Lord Sesshomaru might start to take offense to my existence. Nobody wants to be a thing that offends Lord Sessshomaru."

"Don't I know it!"

Yukifusa went to take a seat with Kagome (well within the view of a watchful, protective Inu-Yasha, of course) to glean what he could about the strange future she came from. Rin went to sit just outside her little home and watch Shippo take his first test swings with Nenshoga. As far as she could tell, he was doing fine, chalking up the nagging feeling something was wrong with his form or technique to nothing, since she couldn't tell what it might be, but knew for sure that she liked watching him and wouldn't interrupt it for the whole world.

Shippo stood there and practiced until it was very nearly sunset, at which point he stopped for a moment and began to realize something important- his muscles were awfully tired now. So much time had gone by and yet Rin was still sitting there. "Were you watching this whole time?"

"I was," the young priestess said. "I didn't want to leave you alone."

Shippo could have sworn he felt his ears and face get warm, but chose to dismiss it as the exercise finally getting to him. "Thanks... I should probably have stopped for supper or something, but I guess I'll just eat something small and go to bed. You should rest, too. I get the feeling tomorrow is going to be long."

MUQFF

The next day, most found that they woke rather late, but Inu-Yasha was up bright and early, courtesy of being literally kicked off of the sleeping mat by his loving wife, who he would never, ever admit he was afraid to wake up and scold over it. Unable to return to sleep, he decided it was prime time to go for a walk, past Kikyo's grave, where he briefly stopped to pay his respects, and into the woods, perhaps to pay the well and the sacred tree a visit, wishing to be away from the noise of the village rising in the morning for once. And it was there, at the well, that his brother landed before him, graceful and cold as always, with a significantly less graceful imp trailing behind. Sesshomaru looked down his nose at his half-brother and, without so much as a greeting, asked his brusque question. "Where are Rin and Yukifusa?"

"Well, hello to you too. Pretty sure they're still asleep. Rin's in her happy little home with Kaede, and I think your lackey set up his tent behind that."

"I see," Sesshomaru said, and then, with a bit of hesitation, "thank you."

"Are you alright?"

"I am fine," Sesshomaru said as he walked off.

Inu-Yasha stared at Sesshomaru's back, now extremely worried about what might be going on in his haughty brother's head to make him polite. Of all the things he'd seen and heard Sesshomaru do and say over the years, this was among the most concerning. Jaken, too, seemed worried, but dared not voice such an opinion.

When he arrived in the village, Sesshomaru first went to the recently awakened Kaede, who confirmed Inu-Yasha's guess at Rin's whereabouts, as well as Yukifusa's. "Go and fetch my fox for me," he commanded. "I must stay with Rin." Kaede responded with a snort as Sesshomaru walked into her home, but went to get Yukifusa anyway, preferring not to invite the wrath of a demon lord. Strong as she was, she had her limits, particularly in her advanced age, and Sesshomaru was well outside of them. She made the mistake of not announcing herself, and wound up walking in on the fox demon crouched under the fabric of his tent, in his loincloth, eating an entire radish. He froze as she entered, looking up at her with an open mouth, holding the root a few inches away from his mouth. She, too, froze, more a matter of trying to process what, exactly, she was looking at than being startled. It took her a few moments to speak up. "The longer this goes on, the more bizarre ye seem."

Yukifusa responded only by inching the radish closer to his mouth, which a frustrated and bewildered Kaede swatted out of his hand. "That... Was perfectly good daikon."

"Nevermind ye radishes! Ye lord has come seeking ye and he is in my home. Clothe yeself and come to him!"

Those words seemed to light a fire under Yukifusa as he scrambled to make himself decent, and was inside with a newly awakened Rin and his ever-intimidating lord, before whom he bowed. "Lord Sesshomaru."

"Yukifusa. Your role as Rin's guard is now permanent. You have proven your competence. Do not prove me wrong."

"I won't disappoint, my lord. I'm honored to be assigned something so important."

"As you should be," Jaken huffed. "Lord Sesshomaru briefly considered replacing you with your sister, but decided against it. I trust there won't be another Kanazawa Incident?"

"The Kanazawa Incident was a one-time thing, Jaken."

"Because you were barred from the city!" the imp retorted.

"Yeah, bit of a harsh response. It was just a pig."

"It was three pigs! And the farmer's daughter! Not to mention that chicken!"

"I'd forgotten about the chicken. The whole bird, just... Gone," Yukifusa said, beginning to get a far-off look in his eyes. "Just like that..."

"Yes, and I trust nothing like it will ever... Lord Sesshomaru? Lord Sesshomaru, wait for me!" Jaken shouted, chasing after Sesshomaru, who had left almost immediately when Yukifusa accepted his assignment, leaving only Yukifusa, who seemed to be daydreaming, and a thoroughly mystified pair or priestesses, who were left wondering what Yukifusa could have possibly done in Kanazawa.

MUQFF

After giving Yukifusa his new orders, Sesshomaru went to find Shippo. He had words for the boy, who he caught practicing with Nenshoga once more. "Fox child. You will do Rin no harm."

Shippo froze in place and managed to say "yes" without soiling himself.

"And you will learn to swing your blade properly. Your preparatory motions give everything away and you do not fully commit to your strikes. You will fix this. You will become worthy to travel with Rin," Sesshomaru said, calm as ever, before proceeding to walk off with no further words or explanation, leaving Shippo confused. Sesshomaru visited Rin often but rarely spoke with anyone else, let alone offered advice. He wondered if there might not be something wrong with the mighty demon, but dared not tug on the thread. He valued his life too much. Still, he took the advice to heart, and found that his blade felt much better in motion afterwards.

He continued to practice his swings for some time before heading back in for a morning meal, which he ate with Rin, Yukifusa, and those he'd traveled with in pursuit of the Shikon Jewel. Afterwards, he went with Inu-Yasha and the villagers to work the fields, aiding them with his fox magic and making a joint endeavor of protecting them from potential threats with the half-demon, while Rin, Kagome and Kaede went to gather herbs, now with Yukifusa's watchful eye helping Rin, and the others by extension, to stay safe. The fox demon made it a point to learn what he could while he was there, and was already settling into planning his routine around Rin's. He wondered why Sesshomaru would assign Rin extra protection, but decided not to pursue the line of questioning to avoid worrying overmuch, now that he finally had an excuse to be away from the castle and out in the world where he felt he would be doing better things. He quite liked this peaceful new life. But alas, peace was not meant to last.