Disclaimer - I don't own InuYasha or any of the other characters from this series or from the Arthurian legend.

A/N - Thanks to my sisters for the help correcting this story. I took the request of CrescentMelody into consideration when I wrote this chapter. I hope she likes it. Thanks to the people that took the time to review, I appreciate it! If you have a request let me know and I will consider using it in this story.

Chapter 10 Magic

Kagome had just seen them together and only heard the last part of their conversation. At first she was stunned and angry. Standing there watching InuYasha trying to comfort someone else. She realized that this was why InuYasha was acting so strange. Watching him comfort someone else, something that he had rarely if never done for her, she realized that he would forever love someone else. She loved him, but she refused to be the other woman again. She was hurt and she felt jealous about the attentions he gave to this unknown woman and not her.

Somewhere down deep inside she had known he would never be hers completely. She had known and accepted that she would never be his first love. It had helped that his first love was dead and not walking the earth as the undead now. She knew and hated what that said about her. The only thing keeping her from completely hating herself was the fact that Kikyo was resting in peace now.

Standing there watching her love hug someone else broke her heart. The life she had envisioned for herself and InuYasha seemed like a joke now. Stopping the hysterical laughter she felt coming she promised herself that this time she would not become the other women. Even if that meant saying goodbye to the love she felt for InuYasha.

Stepping forward she asked the question that would change the future she had envisioned.

"Tell who what InuYasha?" She was proud of how calm her voice sounded.

"K-Kagome I…can explain."

Kagome couldn't help herself, she laughed. She was sure InuYasha had just joined the club of men using that famous line. What's next, "It's not what you think!"

She stopped when she noticed two pairs of eyes watching her like she had lost it. Still chuckling, she waived dismissing their reaction to her semi-hysterical laugh. Getting closer to them she looked briefly at the unknown woman and then looked straight at InuYasha.

"InuYasha you don't have to explain, I understand, you moved on with your life."

Looking at the other woman she said, "InuYasha is my friend, I hope you two are happy." She finished and looked back at InuYasha's eyes, "I am happy for you…both." Looking back at the other woman she smiled and said, "I hope we can be friends, my name is Higurashi Kagome, but you can call me Kagome if you like."

"I am Yuka, InuYasha's mate," Yuka said smiling nervously at Kagome. "I too hope we can become good friends Kagome-sama. InuYasha has spoken often of you and your kindness toward him."

Smiling Kagome signaled for Yuka to follow her back to the village, "Come, you must tell me everything!" Kagome said still smiling even if all she wanted to do was go somewhere and nurse her wounded heart until it felt better.

InuYasha was expecting a bigger confrontation and was a bit disappointed that it didn't happen, which didn't make any sense to him. He should be happy that Kagome accepted it like she did, not disappointed. Deciding to think on it some other time he followed them quietly.

Deciding she had picked up enough medicinal herbs for the day she started heading back to the hut she shared with Kaede, Shippo, and Rin.

It had been some time since she came back. She loved everyone, but at times it became hard to tolerate their looks of sympathy. She knew they meant well which only made it harder. She looked for any excuse to be by herself. It was hard to pretend around her friends that she was okay with InuYasha's new relationship every time she looked at them together. She knew she would always love him, but when she learned how depressed InuYasha had become when she was sealed in the future. How he met Yuka and how Yuka had accepted InuYasha and had later offered him comfort when she wasn't around; She couldn't hate Yuka, so she forced herself to accept that she wasn't meant to be with InuYasha. She only hoped it would be easier with time.

She was becoming melancholy. One of her fears now was that of becoming a bitter person. All her plans for her and InuYasha were for nothing. Sango and Miroku were enjoying the happiness their babies brought them. She understood that they couldn't spend the same amount of time together like before. Understanding it didn't make it any easier. The only thing making her happy now was her son, Shippo. At first he didn't leave her side, afraid she would leave him again; he refused to have her out of his sight.

She was pleasantly surprise by the fact that Sesshomaru had decided to leave Rin in the village with Kaede. She loved the little girl. She got to hear different kinds of stories about Sesshomaru. That had become one of her favorite pastimes. Today she couldn't talk to her because she was off with Sesshomaru. She missed the little girl, hopefully Sesshomaru will bring her back soon.

"Oka-san!" Shippo cried rushing toward Kagome and jumping in her arms.

"Shippo what's wrong?"

"Nothing, I just missed you," he said while cuddling to his mother.

"I missed you too Shippo!" Kagome said smiling at her son's antics. "Did you have fun playing with your friends?" She was happy that he was less scared to be away from her and enjoying his time playing with his friends now.

"Yes, but its getting hard to play with them," he said sighing sadly in her arms.

"Oh…why?"

"I am faster and I can smell them better."

"I see…playing tag or hide and seek would be out," she said sadly. "Maybe you can play new games?"

"Yes I guess, but…never mind."

"But what?"

"Nothing."

"Shippo, baby what's wrong?"

"I am not a baby!" He said jumping out of her arms and started to march away in front of her, with his back straight.

Following him she said wanting to calm him down, "I know you're not a baby Shippo." Stepping in front of him forcing him to stop she asked, "Are your friends treating you like a baby?"

"…No, not really…" Stopping, he looked down not wanting to see her reaction. "I am a full demon."

Kagome was sure that there was more to that simple statement. "Yes, you are."

"Full demons age differently than half demons and humans," he said looking up at her with teary eyes.

Finally it made sense to her. Her son had figured out that humans grow old faster then demons. Kneeling down to his level she took him in her arms in a hug and in a calm voice she wisped to him words full of her love for him, while he cried his little heart out until he was all spend. Finally when he was more calm she said, "Shippo, no matter what the future brings our way, I will forever love you." Kissing him on his forehead she continued, "Yes you are a full demon and will outlive me." Here she had to stop and give him a tight hug. "All we can do is live our life now, be happy now, together."

"Together?"

"Yes together, you and me." Not sure if she should continue she said, "That is how it should be."

"What?"

"A mother should never outlive her children."

"But…"

"I know it happens and it sounds selfish of me, but I could not live with the pain of losing you Shippo. If I could live my life with you Shippo, I would die happily knowing I have spend my time with someone I love so much." Looking down at his upturn face she smiled and said, "All I can do is teach you the skills I know to help you survive in this world and love you with all my heart."

"Promise."

"I promise Shippo." She knew there wasn't a lot she could do to take away the worry he carried with him, but she hoped she helped alleviate it. She had all the intentions of keeping her promise.

Right when she was going to get up and continue to the village she felt a strong presence near. She relaxed when she noticed it was Sesshomaru, thinking he was only bringing Rin back from one of his little trips - 'More like his father and daughter time.' She couldn't help, but think to herself with a little smile.

When she felt Shippo stiffen, she became curious. "What's wrong Shippo."

"I smell a kitsune," he said while breathing deeply.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes…but it smells funny."

"Funny?"

"Yea…it kind of smells a little like you used to smell when ever you came through the well, and…something else."

"Come, lets check it out."

"What if it's dangerous?…shouldn't we tell InuYasha and the others?" Shippo asked worried. Unlike his mother, he was more familiar with kitsunes and their ways.

"InuYasha left with Sango this morning to investigate about a snake demon attacking a fishing village a few days' journey from here," she said wondering why even Shippo didn't have confidence in her ability to defend and protect him. "If they kill it fast, they will be back in two to three days tops."

"Ok…hey I can smell Sesshomaru too!" he said exited. Now he didn't have to worry for his mother's safety.

"Yes I know, he is near by." She couldn't help, but roll her eyes a little at the calm expression on Shippos face.

With that, both of them made their way towards where they felt the power signatures. When they suddenly felt the power escalate. They were pushed back from the power of what ever attack they were using.

"Sesshomaru is fighting the Kitsune!" Kagome exclaimed in surprise. Knowing that what ever they were fighting about wasn't going to end good. She decided to hurry. Maybe she could help stop this or help him out if he needed help, which she doubted he would appreciate.

Shippo could only hop on Kagome's shoulder and hang on when Kagome started running faster. Suddenly they felt all the energy recede and disappear like it wasn't even there a minute ago.

"What's going on?" Kagome asked not really expecting an answerer.

"That was a really strong Kitsune spell," Shippo said in a surprised tone of voice.

"Spell?" Before Shippo could answer, they cleared through the trees and bushes. She stopped in her tracks, mouth hanging open.

Right in front of her was a man wearing modern clothing, rolling around on the ground laughing his head off.

"I think he lost his marbles," Kagome managed to say after a while of watching him roll around.

"Wouldn't he be crying if that happened?" Shippo asked, confused.

Smiling at her son's innocent comment she said, "It's a saying Shippo, it means he is crazy or not all there in the head."

"Oh…yea I think you're right."

Looking at the Kitsune who was starting to calm down, she started to wonder many things about this weird situation. On the top of her many worries was where was Sesshomaru? Why was this demon wearing modern clothes? And what was that explosion of power? She also wanted to know why he was laughing like a crazy person?

Merlin, after enjoying a good laugh started to calm down enough to notice two new presences near the clearing. Sitting up and looking around, he spotted a young woman with a kid perched on her shoulder. At first he thought nothing of it, until he felt the power radiating from her. It wasn't much, but he had the feeling that she was controlling the amount she gave out.

Getting up and dusting himself off, he started to walk toward the young woman and kid. Coming closer, he noticed the power signature coming off the kid. Stopping in his tracks in surprise of encountering a kit, undisguised and completely vulnerable near a human. 'Is it because he is a kit? Not yet trained in our ways? Where are his parents?' he thought to himself. A shiver went down his back. His instincts were screaming to get away again when he felt the power energy that was coming from the young woman increase, after she had noticed his attention on them. His curiosity took over, but he decided he was going to be more serious with this little lady then with the dog demon. After all, it wasn't wise to ignore one's instincts too many times.

Kagome concentrated her powers outwards to locate Sesshomaru, but came back with nothing. Sesshomaru had disappeared, all she could detect was the Kitsune staring curiously at her.

"Good morning young Lady. I am a traveler that seems to have become a bit lost," he said bowing low in her direction.

"Good morning," she said automatically looking him over. "You are a time traveler?" She blurted out the question, but it came out more like a statement.

Raising an eyebrow in complete surprise he asked, "What makes you say that?"

"Your clothes."

Looking down, he became aware that he hadn't had a chance to change clothes since he came to this land from the twenty first century.

Deciding to see how this young lady knew about time travel he asked, "Could it be that I come from a very far land?"

"Yes it could," Kagome said slowly. "With the only exception that business suits don't come into fashion for a while yet."

"Touché, I'll give you that," he said smiling.

"So?"

"So, what?"

"What time are you from?"

"What time are you from?"

"I asked you first."

"So you admit you are from another time?"

"I didn't say that!"

"You implied it."

"I did not!"

"You did."

Watching his mother argue with a complete stranger Shippo decided to interrupt them.

"Oka-san?"

Stopping in her argument with the Kitsune, she turned to Shippo, "Yes?"

"Do you know him?" he said looking at the Kitsune, staring at them with his mouth slightly open.

'Oka-san?' Was all Merlin could think about after the little kit spoke up.

"No I don't, why?"

"You are arguing like you know him," Shippo said simply.

"Oh. Sorry I got caught up in the moment," She said blushing slightly. Looking over at the Kitsune, she vowed. "I apologize, my name is Higurashi, Kagome." Looking up she waited for a response, deciding to handle this calmly instead of charging in like InuYahsa likes to do. She always thought that they wouldn't have to fight most of the time if they took the time to talk to one another instead of just attacking. Hopefully it would work this time.

"Apologies accepted, Higurashi," he said with a little bow of his own. "I am Ambrosius, Merlin."

'Merlin?' She knew she had heard that name before. The more she thought about it the harder it became to remember. Putting it aside for the moment she decided to continue talking with this Kitsune.

"Please call me Kagome."

"Only if you call me Merlin," he said smiling at her.

"Merlin then, you are from the future, right?"

"No," he said deciding to be honest with her, that way she would be honest with him too.

"No?…then…what about your clothes?"

"My clothes are from the future, but I am not." Seeing her frustration, he decided to explain, "I am from the past."

"What?" she exclaimed, somewhat louder than she intended making Shippo flinch.

Getting ready to explain, he was interrupted by a meowing coming from his back. Looking back he started to walk slowly back without a backward glance.

Confused about Merlin's sudden dismissal, she was getting irritated by his rudeness. Suddenly Shippo perked up a bit.

"What's wrong Shippo?"

"I heard a meowing coming from that direction," he said pointing toward the direction the Kitsune was walking to.

Wanting to know what was going on, she walked forward quickly. Getting to the point were the Kitsune was looking down. She looked down too and felt her heart melt. Blinking multiple times to make sure she was actually seeing the cutest kitten in the world. She dropped down to her knees, reaching toward the kitten.

Merlin watched all this with amusement. He could just picture the reaction the proud dog demon would have to be treated like a little kitten by a human woman. He had to turn away to hide his amusement.

Shippo was looking down at the little kitten wondering why Kagome was going all crazy about it. It looked like a ball of white fur to him. It was young too, it hadn't even opened its eyes yet. He knew some animals didn't open their eyes right away when they were born, which he thought was kind of stupid, how else were they going to see where the food was? He also wondered why the Kitsune had a kitten with him. Deciding to wait and see what would happen now, he just stared at his mother. Glad that she looked happy at least.

Kagome had picked the Kitten up and cuddled him to her chest, stroking his soft fur. While exclaiming at what a cute and adorable little kitten he was. Hearing him meow softly again and smelling her hand she lowered her head and rubbed her cheek softly on the top of his head murmuring softly to it. Never wanting to let it go.