Seven Days: Modern Era
SesshoMaru held the reins of Ah-Uh, the dragon steed, flying in the air with Kagome sitting in front of him. Their kimono flapped in the cool wind as they passed the forest below. InuYasha was also on Kirara, flying alongside. The children remained behind at the palace with Miroku and Sango.
They've discussed and agreed that InuYasha would take Kagome to her time and stay with her until she returned, to watch over her. SesshoMaru knew that he could not pass through and InuYasha was the only one. He inwardly wished he was able to go with Kagome, he had discovered, in little as one week, he could not accept Kagome not being by his side.
He knew there would be time when he would be separated from Kagome to do his duty. He had spent the time during Kagome's nap in his office, sending Huro to prepare for the trip and worked on his schedule, rearranging everything around to fit Kagome in his life. He had taken bite out of his patrolling time to remain at the palace to be with Kagome. He had arranged few trusted persons to patrol for him; he had assigned InuYasha to patrol the western part of the Western Land. InuYasha was dumbfounded when he was informed and accepted after some long thinking.
It was nearly twilight when they approached the well. The Ah-Un and Kirara landed before the well and InuYasha nodded to Kirara to go into the village to stay with Kaede. He turned to SesshoMaru and Kagome, "Well, we're here." He crossed his arms and leaned against the well.
Kagome sighed and leaned her head onto SesshoMaru's chest, careful to not poke herself with his armor. He tilted her chin up and stared into her blue eyes, "Kagome, I will be here when you return. I do wish to join you to your time but I do not think it will be possible."
She frowned, "I would like you to come too, maybe you can… after all, InuYasha was able to because he is bonded to me through the rosary and you are my mate."
"There is wisdom in your words. Perhaps we could try." SesshoMaru said.
InuYasha rolled his eyes, "Feh! Come on, you guys go ahead first." He stepped away from the well and watched as Kagome and SesshoMaru approached the well. The stoic lord peered into the dark depth. "It's not going to bite you!"
SesshoMaru gave blasé look to InuYasha. "I am very aware of that, you idiot." He said coolly.
Kagome giggled and took SesshoMaru's hand and sat on the lip of the well. "Hold on to me." She said and gasped as SesshoMaru picked her up and held her bridal style. "Oh well."
He leaped into the well and the light glowed blue. He looked in surprise and felt the cool wash of the magic kiss his skin and suddenly, he was on the bottom of the well and it was dark. His nose tickled with old dirt and musty smell. He looked up to find a roof over the well.
"Oh, we're in my time." Kagome said with happiness in her voice. She yelped and held on as SesshoMaru jumped out of the well to land beside it, glancing around the well house. She saw his curious look and answered, "We are in the well house, sometime over the time, and my ancestor built the shrine over the well."
"Interesting." SesshoMaru said and turned to find InuYasha appearing by their side.
"You will want to cover your nose." InuYasha warned and walked toward the door, opening it.
SesshoMaru frowned and followed his brother, his hand still holding Kagome's. As the evening light glowed, SesshoMaru stepped out of the house and his eyes went wide and watered, he slapped his nose and stifled a groan. InuYasha grinned gleefully at him, "Stink, eh?" SesshoMaru nodded, glaring at Kagome, asking for explanation.
Kagome shook her head. "I'm sorry. The human pretty much took over the world in this era, they made wonderful things, yet it came with a price, they polluted the world. I didn't know it stank so much until I first went to Sengoku Jidai, your era."
"So much scents, I wonder how the youkai bears with it." SesshoMaru said as he looked around, taking in the sight. He stared toward Tokyo, the tall buildings, now starting to light up as the sun went down. "What are those?" He asked and his ears picked up roaring sounds outside the wall of the shrine. He noticed the shrine had a shield bubble around it.
"Building, that's Tokyo. This is what Edo will become." Kagome said. "I don't know about youkai in this era. They've either disappeared over the years or went into hiding. Like I said, humans took over."
SesshoMaru frowned, not liking the predicament of the future. He turned as he heard a female voice calling for Kagome. He was greeted by a woman in her thirties; her hair short and she bore a striking resemblance to Kagome and realized it was her mother.
"Kagome! You're back! Oh, InuYasha came and told me what had happened, I was worried!" Ariko took Kagome into a hug and stepped back, to give Kagome a look over; "Are you all right?" she looked and blinked, finally noticing SesshoMaru and InuYasha. "InuYasha! And, you must be SesshoMaru-sama." She said and bowed to him, giving respect.
SesshoMaru bowed his head, appreciated that Kagome's mother had enough sense to give him respect and proper title.
Ariko smiled and gestured to the house, "Please, come in. Have you had dinner?" She asked.
Kagome shook her head, "No mother, we left before sundown. What do you have? Is that oden I smell?"
Ariko laughed and nodded, "Yes, good thing I made enough for everyone." She turned and went into the house.
Kagome took SesshoMaru's hand once again and led him to her house. InuYasha had already bounded off and disappeared into the house. Kagome heard Souta's delight and knew he had dragged InuYasha to play video games for a bit before dinner.
As they entered, SesshoMaru couldn't help but look around with rapt curiosity. There were so many strange things. He found the box flashing images fascinating as Souta and InuYasha sat before it, holding some kind of handheld device. He figured InuYasha had come to this era enough time to get used to the things around him.
Kagome noticed his wandering eyes and smirked, she went about explaining things and how they worked in simple senses. He would point something out and she would explain, he asked questions and the purpose of the things. He was amazed by how far the humans had come in the last five hundred years. He suspected youkai had some hands into it as well.
Kagome took him into the kitchen and showed him where to sit for dinner. SesshoMaru was surprised to see high table and chairs and learned it was western style. Kagome explained western style was becoming popular in the last hundred years to Japan. SesshoMaru told her that he liked the concept and thought about having his palace furnished with such fashions. Kagome agreed to it and asked if he would have his bed westernized and he became curious. She showed him her bedroom and he saw her bed also raised from the ground. He found the mattress very comfortable and soft. He kept in mind to have his bed remade, he liked the westernized style.
As the tour of the house was done, they returned to the kitchen and her grandfather was there. Kagome's eyes went wide as she forgot to warn SesshoMaru about her grandfather and vice versa.
Jiji-san had seen InuYasha in the living room when he came down from his room. He didn't think of it and assumed Kagome was home from her trip. He had no idea of what was going on since Ariko did not tell him anything. Ariko didn't want to tell him anything to worry her father.
He entered the kitchen and helped his daughter to set up the plates. Ariko had asked him to add one more plate. Being senile, he didn't ask but added a plate to the table for the mystery guest. As he heard the door open to the kitchen, he turned to greet his granddaughter. His eyes went wide as he saw the tall stranger with silver hair and demon marking; he was also dressed in armors and had two swords at hips. He screamed and whipped out his o-fuda, "Demon! Be gone!" on pure instinct and the papers flew to the tall stranger.
Kagome groaned and rolled her eyes. Her grandfather was odd at times like this. She winced as she turned to find SesshoMaru standing there, staring blankly with several o-fudas stuck to his face and hair. She could hear his low growl since she was standing next to him. She whipped to her grandfather and shouted, "Grandfather! Show some respect!" Then she turned to her mate, "I'm so sorry, I forgot to warn you about him." She placed her hand on his arm and felt the tension leave his body and sighed in relief. She saw his face contorted in annoyance and was thankful that he had some patience. She helped to peel the o-fuda from SesshoMaru's person.
SesshoMaru took the one off his forehead and glared at the short elderly man and said with even tone, "If it were not for my mate's family, I would have killed you on the spot." He flicked the paper to the old man. "By the way, this thing is a fake."
Jiji-san started to bawl right there, "What! These papers are from my ancestors, the holy monks and mikos! How dare you!"
Kagome sighed and looked to her mother to quiet him down. "Grandfather. I've told you many times, they do not work. Come on now." She led SesshoMaru to the table and by then, the entire family joined in the kitchen for dinner.
InuYasha took one glance at SesshoMaru and stifled a giggle. "He got to you too?" SesshoMaru gave a questioning glance to InuYasha and the hanyou shrugged his shoulders, "He did the same thing the first time to me."
When Ariko had calmed her father down, Kagome started to introduce SesshoMaru to her family. "This is SesshoMaru-sama, Lord of Western Land in Sengoku Jidai. He is also InuYasha's half brother."
Souta gaped in awe, "Cool! You mean he was the one who tried to kill you before? Won't he kill us?"
SesshoMaru looked to the boy, "Hai, I did attempt so, but no more. I do not kill anyone who is Kagome's family for they are also my family."
Souta gave a puzzled look, "We're your family too?"
Kagome gave a weak chuckle, "Yes. He is my mate."
Ariko gasped, "Kagome, already? InuYasha told me something about this but I didn't really think it would happen. Are you sure?"
"Yes, mama. I love him and he loves me, I am staying with him." Kagome said, she took his hand into her own and he did not object. They all sat down at the table, wanting to hear Kagome's explanation.
"InuYasha told me that you were taken to his palace and can't leave for a while. I want to know the whole story." Aniko said, her voice gave hint to be told the whole story or else.
"When I returned the last time, I was kidnapped by the Silver Inu Clan elders, they took me to SesshoMaru, demanding him to…" She blushed at this and sighed.
SesshoMaru saw Kagome's discomfort and spoke, "It is required for the Silver Inu Clan to mate with a Miko in order to breed and keep the lineage going without mixing the blood. I was given the deadline by the same elders that took Kagome and honestly, I forgot about it." He growled at his own mistake and continued, "They brought Kagome to me because she is the most powerful Miko in the area, and possibly the entire kingdom. They put a curse upon both of us, we could not separate until we were mated and she is pupped."
"Pupped?" Aniko asked, unfamiliar with the term.
"Pregnant, mama. Yes, I am pregnant now, with twins." Kagome said and Aniko gasped, staring wide-eyes at Kagome. Kagome lowered her head in shame, fiddling with her hands on her lap.
SesshoMaru noticed this and frowned, "Is it shameful for a woman to be pupped at her age this day?" He asked.
Aniko sighed and explained, "Nowaday and your time are different, in your time, it is normal for woman to be married and have children at the age of twelve or thirteen. But in this time, since humans live longer, women are given privilege to receive education and persuade career of their own desire, earn money and positions in the world. Men and women are considered equal in this time and it is not normal for a woman to marry until she is past age of eighteen. It is considered too young for one to have children before the age. Kagome is seventeen, she is about the age but she is not married, and it is dishonor to the family if she is pregnant before she is married."
SesshoMaru reached in and pulled out a bag from his haori, "Since our culture differs, I must apologize. She was in my time, therefore under my era's culture and demon standard. Kagome is mated to me, and that is considered marriage, we had a ceremony before several other lords and her friends, whom she considered family. I do not see any dishonor in this, and I will do according to the culture that human lords do for their wife's family," He placed the bag on the table and it landed with loud clinks. "This is the dowry for Kagome's hand in marriage."
Aniko's eyes went wide. "Oh my…" She took the bag and opened it to find several gold coins and bars. "This is too much; this is more than a king's ransom in this time."
SesshoMaru frowned, "It is equal amount for a dowry, the portion of my wealth as it is required by standards."
Kagome placed her hand onto SesshoMaru's arm and he turned to her. "SesshoMaru, what Mama mean, just one coin will bring more value than it is in this time, since five hundreds of years had passed, they had became rare and our currency changed. One coin could equal ten or hundred times more it's value now. What you just gave us is beyond the amount the emperor has now day, or perhaps the entire world. One coin could bring Japan under her rule."
SesshoMaru nodded. "Very well, Aniko-sama, I trust your wisdom for the correct amount of dowry you desire for Kagome."
Aniko nodded and took two coins and handed the rest back to SesshoMaru. "This is more than enough, it will be placed to the shrine's care, after all, the shrine was supposed to go into Kagome's name."
"Mama, I decided to stay with SesshoMaru, I had only come back to tell you and say good bye, the well will stop working after I return to Sengoku Jidai." Kagome explained, her eyes welled up with tears.
"Oh, Kagome…" Aniko whispered, realizing it was going to be the last time she would see her daughter.
"Kagome's life is tied to mine; she will live through the next five hundred years and see you all again one day." SesshoMaru explained and Kagome turned to him, gasping in surprise. "I am aware that it will be a long wait for you, Kagome, but you have your family, our children will help you with your wait through the time."
Kagome nodded, "I understand. I suppose I will have to accept that." She gave a teary smile and turned to her mother, "So, about that dinner?" she smiled as Aniko gave a soft laugh.
Dinner came and went without a hitch and Aniko gave InuYasha and SesshoMaru pair of pajamas to sleep in. InuYasha declined and went out to sleep in Goshinboku tree and SesshoMaru stayed the night in Kagome's room. He slept soundly through the night, surrounded with Kagome's scent and by morning, SesshoMaru asked Kagome to show her little bit of her world and he was given some clothes to wear.
As he came out of the bathroom, he found Kagome dressed in simple jean skirt that fell to her knees and a soft lilac shirt that hugged her body. She pulled on a white light jacket and tied her hair up in pony tail. She smiled at him, liking how he looked in jeans, which had fit him just perfectly and blue buttoned shirt.
She noticed he had tied his hair back in low pony tail and his marking was gone, "Your marking…" She asked as she touched his face. "They're gone, how?"
"A simple masking spell. You told me there were no youkai in this era; I assumed it would be strange to the humans. I am aware that they would not see me as a lord but as a commoner and since, I may be a fabled myth to them." He explained.
"You guessed right. I didn't think demons were real, I grew up thinking they were just fairy tales and when I met InuYasha, everything changed for me. Thank you." She gave him a hug and he held her in his embrace until InuYasha came into the window, scowling at them.
"Come on, are we going or not?" He asked, balancing perilously on Kagome's window still.
SesshoMaru glanced at him and asked, "You are not going to change into the clothes Aniko-san had provided?"
"Feh! Don't have to. I got this." InuYasha held up a baseball hat and plopped it on his head. "I've gone around here before like this."
Kagome rolled her eyes, "And he got enough attentions. InuYasha, for once, at least change into the clothes Mama gave you!"
"No!"
"InuYasha…" InuYasha knew what was coming and his ears flattened on his skull. "Sit!" He slammed right into the floor and sulked there.
"We're going to be outside, if you're not ready in five minutes, we're leaving without you." Kagome said and placed the clothes on her bed for InuYasha to dress in. "Don't forget the shoes." She said and left the room, hearing InuYasha curse behind her.
Several minutes later found Kagome walking down the street with SesshoMaru and scowling InuYasha in tow, he was wearing a loose carpenter jeans and red hooded sweater. She took them around her district. SesshoMaru found the area familiar and was surprised that the ancient shrines and holy ground was well maintained over the time and yet, the forest he knew was gone, replaced with paved roads and stone buildings. He found the era too noisy and smelly and at the same time, busy. He was fascinated but preferred his own era, where it was peaceful and things were much simpler then.
"Can we go to Wacdonald's?" InuYasha asked.
Kagome sighed, "I suppose if you guys are hungry." She said, leading them toward the market district. They entered Wacdonald's and InuYasha turned to Kagome, "I want those meats with the bread, you know?"
Kagome laughed at him, "Sure. I'll get you some hamburger. SesshoMaru, the food here are from America, a country in the far west, beyond China and Roma."
SesshoMaru knew of the land beyond Japan but was surprised to find there were more. "Intriguing. The smell is interesting."
"Go and sit somewhere and I will bring the foods to you." She said and went up to the counter to order. SesshoMaru followed InuYasha to a corner booth and they both sat down. SesshoMaru watched through the window, glancing at the people that passed them by. InuYasha amused himself with some straws.
Kagome had ordered a large quantity of food, asking for the to-go in case she wanted to bring something home. She paid for it and waited by the counter for them to bring it up to her. She hummed as she looked into her purse, ruffling around to see what was in there. It had been a long time she used her purse since she was traveling in Feudal Japan.
"Kagome!" She looked up to find Ayumi, Eri and Yuka coming toward her and almost groaned. "You're here! Your mother said you went out of town and wasn't sure you'd be back. Are you all right?" Yuta asked.
Kagome chuckled weakly, "Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just back for a bit. Visiting for a day to see my family."
Ayumi frowned, "You're visiting? You don't live here anymore?"
Kagome shook her head. "No, I'm living with my husband…" She looked up to find SesshoMaru walking toward them with curious look on his face. She smiled as she felt her heart swell watching him walk toward her, no matter what he wear or do, he always does it with perfect grace, even in Wacdonald's, his presence demanded respect.
"Husband!?" the three girls shrieked and she winced.
"What is going on? InuYasha said it does not usually take so long for the food." SesshoMaru asked as he stood by Kagome's side, he looked to the three girls with indifference, only Kagome saw curious look in his eyes.
Kagome saw that their food was ready in bags, sitting on the counter. She turned to the girls, "Ah, I must be going." She grabbed the bags but saw that her words were lost on deaf ears.
Yuka stared wide eyed at SesshoMaru, "Ooh…"
Eri nodded as she nudged Yuka, "He's hot."
Ayumi frowned, "You married him after all the two timing he did to you?" She accused, pointing a finger at Kagome. SesshoMaru growled softly, only Kagome heard him and placed her hand on his arm to calm him down.
"What do you mean?" SesshoMaru asked his voice cold as he glared at the disrespectful girl.
Ayumi stood straighter, staring hard at him. "Yeah! How could you drag poor Kagome around, going back and forth between her and the other girl?"
Kagome sweat-dropped right there, "Uhm, Ayumi…" But she was ignored.
SesshoMaru understood immediately. "You dare to insult me? I am not the half-breed fool you take me for."
"SesshoMaru…" Kagome tried again.
InuYasha came up to them; he was sporting couple of straws in his nostril and whipped them out as he saw the three familiar girls. "Oi! What's going on?"
Ayumi gasped as she turned to InuYasha, "Oh! Kagome! You didn't tell us! Now you got two of them, are you two… no, three timing? What about Hojo?"
Kagome gave up at the point and rolled her eyes, "Sheesh. I don't have time for this. Come on." She grabbed SesshoMaru's arm and pulled him to the door, InuYasha took one more glance at the girls and left, leaving them behind, gaping at them.
As they exited the store, Kagome sighed. They made their way to the park and sat down on a bench. InuYasha grabbed a bag and opened it to find a hamburger and helped himself. SesshoMaru asked, "Who are they?" He did not like the girls, accusing Kagome of such folly.
"They used to be my friends when I went to school." She explained, digging out French fries for herself.
"School?" He inquired as he was handed a hamburger.
"Place of education, where I learned things like writing, reading and math."
"Interesting." He took a bite into the hamburger and his eyes went wide, finding it was delicious. They ate in silence, between SesshoMaru and InuYasha; they finished everything Kagome had bought for them. SesshoMaru found the soda rather sweet and fuzzy; he kept sneezing every time the bubbles tickled his nose.
As they dumped their litters, they headed back to the Shrine, to Kagome's dismay; the three girls were already there. They caught sight of Kagome and they came to her, shouting they were sorry and chattering about how they felt guilty and bad for making Kagome angry and leaving.
"Higurashi?" Kagome turned to find Hojo coming up the stairs of the Shrine. She groaned out loud by then.
"Oh no, Hojo." She said as she watched the said boy approach them.
InuYasha's eyes went wide. "Hobo? That's Hobo? What do you see in him? He look like a wimp!" He said as he eyed Hojo.
Kagome growled warningly, "InuYasha…."
"Have you returned from your vacation?" Hojo asked.
Kagome stared at him with confusion and then realized, her mother had must told the others she was off on a vacation, having run out of diseases to come up with. She shrugged and answered, "Not really."
"Kagome! We're sorry!" Yuka said, interrupting.
SesshoMaru noticed Kagome's distress with the four teenagers and asked, "What is going on?"
Kagome held her hands up and everyone seemed to silence and waited on baited breath for her to speak. "Let me explain. I am here to visit my family before I return with my husband to her home."
Hojo looked shocked, "Husband? You got married?"
Kagome slapped her face, forgetting that Hojo had not been told the news. "Oy, how am I going to explain…" She muttered.
To her rescue, her mother showed up, smiling at everyone, "Hello girls, Hojo-kun. I see you had caught Kagome before she returns with her husband."
The girls rounded onto her, saying at the same time, "How did you let her get married so young!?"
Ariko laughed. "It was an arranged marriage between InuMaru Seisho and Kagome. Our families had arranged this before she was born. I know it's rather old fashioned but it's still practiced nowadays. I think you girls might want to ask your parents to see if any one of you is betrothed, I wouldn't be surprised if you are." Kagome gaped at her mother's smooth lies and creativity of names on the spot. She continued as if everything was just dandy, "I had been sending Kagome to visit his family in the past few months when she got better from all the illness she had been having. It happened that the hospital in Kyoto was really good and close to his house. She's been staying with them to get to know them. I thought she'd marry InuYasha, but I was wrong, InuYasha had another girlfriend and it didn't work out between both of them." She smiled and turned to the two Inu brothers.
SesshoMaru caught on the charade and joined in. "That's true." He started coolly and stepped by Kagome's side, wrapping his arm around her waist. "I decided to step in and honor the duty that was bestowed upon the InuMaru sons. I did not want InuYasha to sully the family name, so I offered myself to Kagome." He looked down to Kagome and gave a tiny smile, "I am glad it had worked out very well, she has been a wonderful wife."
Kagome turned horribly red and sighed. Hojo directed his attention to her and asked, "Is that true, Higuashi?" She nodded, unable to utter a word.
"Do you love him?" He asked again.
"Yes. He's been wonderful to me." She replied at last, looking up to meet SesshoMaru's eyes.
Hojo frowned and rounded onto SesshoMaru, "Do you love Kagome?"
SesshoMaru became annoyed by the human youth. "Truly."
InuYasha rolled his eyes and muttered, "Come on, we gotta get going…"
Aniko gasped softly, "Oh, that's right. They will miss their train back to Kyoto."
"No." Hojo declared, standing tall and stiff. "I cannot allow this. I challenge you for Kagome's hand."
Kagome gaped at him, "What?"
"What, Hojo-kun, you can't do that, they're already married."
SesshoMaru's eyebrow rose, "Hojo is that your family name?"
"Yes, I come from a long line of Hojo clan, going back five hundred years." Hojo said proudly.
"I know of your clan." SesshoMaru said. "Your family is one of the nobility," he turned to Ariko. "Ariko-san, it is permissible for one lord to challenge another lord for hand of marriage of a desired female, before or after the ceremony. I accept your challenge; name the place, time and weapon." He turned back to Hojo, looking serious and almost godly.
Hojo nearly cracked under SesshoMaru's glare. "Here, now and with swords, or rather, bokkens." He turned his head to Ariko, "Do you have any bokkens?"
"Yes." Ariko said and left to find some.
Kagome huffed, blowing her hair out of her eyes, "Unbelievable. SesshoMaru, don't hurt him."
"He challenged me and desire to dishonor my name." He replied.
"But, he's human and you know what I mean." Kagome said with harsh whisper.
SesshoMaru smirked, "Only his pride will be hurt." He leaned down and kissed her head, taking a deep whiff of her hair. "Remember this, any male challenges me for you, they forfeit their lives. But this one time, I'll let this one go."
Kagome gave a soft sigh, she understood what he had meant and he was serious. It was the youkai thing and she could not change that and respected SesshoMaru for being who he is. She had been rather very impressed with him, his patience with her and his respect for her era. He had not gone out and acted his instinct, killing everyone for their disrespect toward him. "Thank you for being patient here in my era…" She whispered as she leaned into his embrace, waiting for her mother to come back with couple of bokkens.
He nodded on her head, "It is strange world for me. I have five hundred of years to learn and change. From what I've seen, I know I will have to adapt. I do not like it; it goes against my being of who I am."
"I know." She looked up to him and stepped out of his embrace as she heard her mother approaching and whispered, "Aishiteru, SesshoMaru-sama." She bowed her head and moved away to the outside area of where he and Hojo would fight against each other.
InuYasha was standing by the tree, leaning against it, watching on in silence. He had retreated and changed his clothing back into his normal fire rat haori and hakama. He still wore the baseball cap because there were still other humans present.
Kagome joined the other girls' sides, watching on. She smiled, knowing the outcome but worried more for Hojo's being, she knew he would be pretty much flattered.
"Ooh, Kagome, did you know Hojo's on the Kendo team for school?" Eri asked.
"No. when did he join?"
"He's always been on it, Kagome, geesh, you've been missing so much school that you're behind." Yuka answered.
Ayumi nodded, "That's right, I'm surprised Hojo still want you after all the time you've been sick. You're so lucky to have hot men after you. You get all the good looking guys!"
Kagome rolled her eyes. "Guys, whatever. I'm not going back to school anymore, so it doesn't matter. Once Seisho is finished with Hojo, we're leaving."
"You really love this Seisho?" Ayumi asked.
"Yeah. He's really wonderful. He has a different sense of honor but I love him for all he is worth."
"Wow… Seisho seem like an old fashioned kind of person. Is he?" Eri asked once again as they saw SesshoMaru and Hojo face each other in the traditional stance of facing off in Kendo. Hojo's posture seemed tense while SesshoMaru appeared nonchalant, relaxed and confident.
"Very. He is a lord where he came from." Kagome said, "I love it where he live, I also have friends and family there. I won't be lonely. I will miss you guys." She smiled at her friends and they started to bawl, hugging Kagome.
"You got to keep in touch with us!" Ayumi said.
Seisho watched Hojo, studying his stance. The young human man seemed very tense and inexperienced. From what he understood, the skill of using swords were used for sport in this era and no one really fight any more by the swords but by the laws and strange weapons that could kill instantly. There was no honor in the new weapons, he had decided.
SesshoMaru had seen ten lifetime of battle-field worth of a human, killed thousands upon thousands and bathed in blood from time to time. Humans and youkai alike feared upon his name alone. This Hojo had never seen what he had seen, never tasted blood upon cold steel or taken a life, thus he was inexperienced compared to SesshoMaru.
He saw Hojo's foot twitch and knew which move Hojo would make. He watched as the young human's body move in slow motion, making the predicable move. With speed like lightening, he swept his bokken low, knocking the oncoming bokken out of Hojo's hand sharply and with his crescent moon move, he swept his bokken underside of Hojo, knocking him to his back on the ground and suddenly, Hojo had the tip of SesshoMaru's bokken to his neck.
Hojo stared wide eyed at the older man before him. He was good, extremely good. He realized if it were a real sword, his head would have been detached from his body by now. "All right, I surrender." He held his hands up, admitting defeat. SesshoMaru stepped away and he got himself up from the ground, dusting his clothes off. "What was that move?" He asked, "I've never seen it before."
SesshoMaru handed the bokken to Ariko. "It's my family move, handed down from generation to generations." He said simply. "Kagome is mine." He bowed cordially and Hojo blinked for a second before bowing.
"All right. But one thing, please keep her happy."
"There is no need to tell me that. She is and will always be." SesshoMaru said and held his hand out to Kagome who came up to him and took it. He tugged her closer to wrap his arm around her waist. "Shall we depart soon?"
"Yes. Go on in and change your clothes, I'll be there." She said and he gave a nod and pivoted, entering the house. Kagome turned to her friends. "Guys, it's nice to see you all again. I'll miss you. I gotta get ready to go." She said.
The girls crowded around her and hugged her before leaving the shrine ground. Hojo waited and stepped up to her, his head bowed, "You take care. Make sure he doesn't hurt you."
Kagome smiled, "I know. Thanks."
"Good bye." Hojo said and left the shrine ground.
Sighing, Kagome went into her house, changed her clothes and gave good byes to her family. Her mother was trying hard to not cry as they reached the well house.
"Kagome, I had this made for you." Her mother said as she handed something to her. She took it and looked at it. It was a picture of her with her family and it was laminated in heavy plastic, on the back was the today date. "I understand the next time you will see us would be five hundred years. I don't know how long this will last, but I hope you will never forget us."
Kagome started to cry, "Mama, I will never forget you guys. You are my family, first and foremost in my heart." She hugged her mother for a long while. Finally, she broke away and stepped to the well where SesshoMaru waited. InuYasha had gone ahead.
"I will see you soon, Mama." Kagome said as she tucked the photo in her kimono and allowed SesshoMaru pick her up bridal style. Holding onto him, she watched as her family stood in the door way. "I love you all." She finally said and SesshoMaru leapt into the well, going back into his era. The blue light washed over them and faded away as they landed on the bottom.
As SesshoMaru leapt out of the well to the nature before them, he set Kagome down on her feet. She looked around and wiped her face dry from the tears. She had felt the well's power fade and diminish, becoming a simple dry well. She knew, in five hundred years, it will flare to life again, transporting her young self. She found it strange, time was truly a paradox. Shaking her head and turning to SesshoMaru, "shall we go home now?"
"We shall." He said as he took Ah-Un's rein and helped her onto the dragon steed. InuYasha was waiting with Kirara.
"Let's go! I wanna get back before dark." InuYasha grumbled.
SesshoMaru glared at him and Kagome laughed, "You just want to see Shiroginko again." She teased. InuYasha gave his customary 'Feh' and nudged Kirara into the air, red dusting his face.
As SesshoMaru and Kagome took to air, the cool wind whipping in their face and blowing their hairs together, he leaned forward to whisper in her ear, "He had asked Shiroginko to court her." She gasped in delight. "She had accepted. I approve of the union, do you?"
Kagome smiled as she turned to look at him. "Yes, I do. I am happy that he is able to move on so soon, it would do him good. Shiroginko is simply perfect for him." She giggled.
They reached the palace well before sundown and they were ambushed by their friends and family. Kagome smiled, feeling happy and realized, they would keep her company and busy, not giving her any chance to feel sorrow or missing her family in the future too badly. She held her two children to her, looking forward to the future of more children and life with SesshoMaru. She smiled as she noticed InuYasha was greeted by an oncoming pink and silver blur attaching herself to him. He blushed and shyly hugged Shiroginko back.
It had come to a full circle now, her life started when she first came to Sengoku Jidai, searching for the shards of Shikon no Tama, battling with evil and it came to end, giving her a new circle to start, with SesshoMaru and her children.
It's not the end yet.
Chapter 11 – Lady of the Western Land
Chapter 12 – The North and the South
Chapter 13 - The Union of the Hanyous
Chapter 14 – The Children of the West
Chapter 15 – Reunion
Sorry! Had not been able to get around to updating because my MSWord kind of frazzled out and I cna't do anything on it and I've been waiting over a week for my husband to fix it! And he has not yet fixed it so, I had to check and edit it in a different program to get some English errors fixed... Grr.
Thanks to Crystal for editing.
Thank you all for your wonderful support and keep reviewing! (Even I got 13 reviews for the last chapter and I was getting used to having average of 35 per chapters before the previous one... pouts.) I love you all! I really am enjoying writing this fan fiction. I will return to Fire and Water once I am finished with this fic, I could not work on two or more fics at the same time, it's rather overwhelming. After Water and Fire, I will start on 'A Night with the Daiyoukai' and after that, 'The Heir'. I'm still not sure about 'Seisho' and 'Child of West' yet… I haven't really finished the outline of the story yet. I still need to return to 'Road to Damascus' and 'Final Quest' soon.
Ja Ne, until then.
Thank you all and I look forward to your wonderful reviews. I love to hear how you like this story and which is your favorite parts and what amuses you from this story. I also accept criticism.
I forgot to add – Aishiteru mean I love you, usually for deep personal level of relationship.
Until next time, Ja Ne!