"This life is filled with hurt
When happiness doesn't work
Trust me and take my hand
And I when the lights go out you will understand
Pain, without love
Pain, I can't get enough
Pain, I like it rough

'Cause I'd rather feel pain than nothing at all"

-Three Days Grace; Pain


The whole house had fallen into an uneasy silence, all eyes on Kagome and Koga. Kyoko stood behind the wolf leader and beside Kumo and his mother, carefully watching everyone. Anything could happen right now, and there was no way anything was going to get out of hand if she could help it.

But in a split second there was plenty of noise once again when all the wolves bombarded their leader in an array of varying questions, a few of the women tackling him down to the ground while the men crowded around and tried to let themselves be heard. Kyoko, unable to do anything because of her laughter, just sat back at watched. Kumo took his mother a few feet away from the area of quickly moving wolves, rejecting anyone who came near him and his mother with a cold stare. Koga might be able to survive through a small bombardment of friends while nursing some injuries, but his mother would not be able to do such. He didn't dare tell Sesshomaru off when he approached though.

"Miko," Sesshomaru addressed her coldly, "Come with me."

Kumo looked down at his mother and when she nodded he put her down, sharing a slight glance with Sesshomaru. If anything happened to her he would kill the former taiyokai without hesitation, or, at least, he would try.

A few moments later Kagome found herself standing outside with a silent Sesshomaru, his golden eyes looking over what there was to see.

"...You wished to speak to me Sesshomaru?" she asked after a few moments of silence, the racket in the house undying.

"You haven't aged." It wasn't a question, but rather, a statement.

"No... I haven't."

"Explain."

She hesitated, but knew it would be stupid to refuse him an answer. She was well aware he wouldn't hesitate to kill her if she pissed him off.

"There's a well at the Higurashi shrine, my family's shrine, which transports me between times. As the reincarnation of Kikyo, I was born with the Shikon No Tama in my body, and its powers allowed me to cross over to the feudal time period when I fell in the well. My first day there was the day that InuYasha was released from his seal."

"Hn." His reply was simple as he continued to look at everything but her, his thoughts not readable on his stone cold face.

"Is there anything else you wish to speak to me of?" she asked after another few awkward moments.

"...I have Tetsusaiga in my possession." He said, "It still refuses this Sesshomaru. If you wish, you may have it. You have more use for it than I do."

"I am only a human, Sesshomaru. I can't use Tetsusaiga either." She said, "What use would I have for it? It is your family's possession."

"InuYasha," he began, the word rolling off his tongue with a sort of pain, "was the man you would have mated if you had been given the choice. I have no use for a sword I cannot wield. I no longer crave the sword now that I have one of my own. My Father's Fang may be useable by your son as well. It will be delivered to your family's shrine."

Kagome was surprised at how smoothly this awkward conversation was going, but said only what she felt safe saying.

"Thank you, Sesshomaru..." she paused, thinking her next words carefully, "...How did Rin die?"

Sesshomaru didn't answer her right away, and the pause made Kagome think she crossed a line. But seconds later he answered.

"She married and had her children. She died giving birth to her youngest son after she had seen at least thirty winters." A hint of sadness could be detected in his otherwise calm voice, "I have watched over her family line carefully ever since." He paused momentarily, "You are in her line of direct descendants."

Kagome froze, "So... you knew it was me all along?"

"I had my suspicions."

"Why didn't you come to see me?"

"This Sesshomaru is not one to tamper with time. Seeing me may have changed your course of actions and changed the outcomes of many things."

"It could have changed for the better if I knew what was coming."

"Again, this Sesshomaru is not one to tamper with time." He turned then, returning to the house, "It would be best to return inside. I would guess that your kit is eager to see you once more."

"Shippo is here?" she asked quietly, following him in the house.

"This Sesshomaru does not state the obvious."

Then he walked away from her, returning to his spot on the wall, the mob that had attacked Koga having long since dispersed as they listened to Kyoko, whom was explaining what had happened. Kagome took her place beside her son once more.

"What did he want?" the boy asked in a whisper, his arms folded across his chest.

"An explanation."

"Hm."

"So," Kyoko's voice was the only one heard as Kagome and Kumo ceased speaking, "Koga's back in charge and Kagome's back with him. That's the end of that. Now, has anyone run across any rumors of Naraku's whereabouts?"

The room was silent.

Kyoko sighed, "All right. I guess this meeting thing is over. Go do whatever the hell you want."

Then everyone was suddenly bursting out into conversation, crowding around their leader and others. And, before she could blink, a red haired man had pushed his way through the crowd, standing in front of her.

"Kagome!" the tall man was staring at her with his green eyes, a bit shocked, but suddenly she found herself in his hug, "Kagome! I knew you got away!"

Kagome smiled softly, her arms wrapping around him gently, "Shippo."

In second she found herself at arm length, his strong hands still holding onto her, "I couldn't tell them – I wasn't sure if I should! But I knew you didn't die. You couldn't have died! Even when Naraku said you had, I didn't believe him! God… I'm just so happy to see you again!"

"…Wait," Kumo's voice was cold and even, "You knew about this the whole time and didn't say anything, kitsune?!"

"No, Kumo," Kagome said quietly, turning to look over her shoulder at her son, "He was right not to tell you guys. It was better to think I was dead than know the information Naraku could have pulled from you. It was safer that way. You can't blame him."

"Hn."

Kagome managed to pull away from Shippo, Koga coming over to stand near her when he finally escaped the mob of his pack members.

"What do we do now?" he asked Kumo, "Live our lives until we find Naraku?"

"Pretty much."

"…How long has it been since he last paid you a visit?"

"He usually comes around every century or so. The last couple times he's waited until I'm alone to show up." Kumo answered, "It's been about a century in a half since we last saw him, so he could show up any day."

"Interesting."

"So, where are you guys staying?" Shippo asked, joining into the small circle they had created.

"At my Mother's House," Kagome answered, "To us, it's only been about a day since we fought Naraku."

"Well, I'm going with you." Kumo announced, "It'll be better than staying at my place."

"Then let's go." Koga announced, "Kagome needs her rest."

"So do you." Kagome interjected, not willing to be seen as the weakest of the group.


Kumo held out his hand towards the young boy, a small smile on his face, "Sorry for scaring you earlier."

"No problem," Souta said with an awkward smile, shaking the man's hand, "I'm good now."

"Still," Kumo said with a smile on his face, "I didn't make a good first impression on my uncle."

Souta, dropping the man's hand, stared up at him in confusion, "What do you mean, uncle?"

Kagome smiled awkwardly in Koga's arms as she and the wolf entered the room behind her son.

"Souta, meet my son, Kumo," Kagome's voice was quiet and slightly awkward, "You're his Uncle."

If Souta had been any more girly he probably would have fainted. But, instead, he spoke his confusion.

"How is he my… nephew? You weren't pregnant… you weren't…" the boy gave up on guessing, "What's going on?"

"Go get Mama and Grandpa and I'll tell you guys, ok?"

Souta was quick to react, going to round up his mother and grandfather from the Shrine grounds. In the mean time Koga lay Kagome on the couch they had given him as a quick bed, making her comfortable as he changed any bandages that need it, taking the material from the first aid kit that was left out. Kumo made himself comfortable on one end of the couch, his mother's head coming to rest on his lap when Koga was satisfied with her bandages. Koga sat on the floor, leaning up against the couch, one arm folded up so his hand could hold hers. Moments later both Mrs. Higurashi and her Grandfather showed up, standing opposite her with Souta sitting down in front of them.

"You wanted to tell us something?" Mrs. Higurashi asked as calm as possible.

"I'd like you all to meet Kumo," she said, Kumo motioning to himself as she talked, "He's my son."

Her family's responses were the same as Souta's.

"What do you mean… he's your son?"

Before Kagome could speak, Kumo started to explain, "Did my Mother ever tell you about how the people like Kagura and Byakuya were created?"

Mrs. Higurashi's confusion only deepened, "No."

"Well," Kumo continued, "They were detachments of Naraku, made from his flesh and bone. Technically, that is what I am. But when my mother was… 'kidnapped,' Naraku – my father – took some of her blood. When a detachment like me is created, our physical heart is in his possession, meaning that not only would we have no choice but to follow him and obey him, but he could also kill us at any time. But just as he can keep our hearts from us, he can also give us our hearts back and free us from him. My Mother's blood was put into my physical heart, making her biologically connected to me like any other mother would be. And then my Father gave me back my heart, freeing me from him, and I was delivered to my Mother. I've only seen him a few times since then.

"No, my Mother was no pregnant with me and she did not carry me, but she's treated me like she would any of her 'real' children and like any other mother would care for her child. She was there when I was young and scared, not knowing anything about the world around me, and she held me while I cried and slept even though she was lost in her own sorrows and her own darkness. It doesn't matter that we didn't go through the same process like a mother and baby usually do. She's still my mother. And if you're her family, I accept you as family too."

Kagome smiled, using her free hand to cup her son's face.

"You are my real child, Kumo." She said quietly, his ruby red eyes meeting her brown ones, "Nothing can change that."

"I know." He muttered quietly, looking up at his family once more, his mother's hand dropping from his face.

"Well," Mrs. Higurashi said after a moment of silence, shifting slightly in her standing position, "Welcome to the family, Kumo."

Souta stood up then, looking at his nephew with nervous eyes.

"So…" he asked quietly, his eyes on the ground, "Do you play video games?"


Kagome had been carried up to her room after that, Koga lying down in the bed alongside her as Kumo play games with his uncle downstairs.

"You should get some rest," he said, cradling her close to his chest, his armor a pile on the floor, "You've got plenty of wounds that need to heal… You've had a pretty long day too."

She didn't answer him, just cuddled as close to him as she could. Reality was finally settling down her, the day's excitements finally over. The people she had known had died fighting around her and she hadn't been able to do a thing. All her friends, her second family, were dead. She couldn't jump back down the well and see them ever again. They weren't part of this world any more. They were unreachable… unattainable. Yes, she was reunited with some of them, but that didn't help. The man she had loved once was long gone. The monk that she had respected – and been groped by – wasn't there to give her advice anymore. Her sister, the demon slayer, wasn't going to be there to talk to and she wasn't going to come ask her for any advice any more. Even little Kirara was gone as well. And Ginta, the one who had made her laugh when he had Hakkaku and done something not so bright again, wasn't there to make her smile anymore. Kyo, the son of one of her best friends, had fallen, his sly remarks and smart comments never to be heard again. They were all dead… out of reach.

It made her feel so alone.

And so she cried silently into Koga's chest, clinging to him for dear life. And he held her the way he always did – his warmth flowing over her and his strong arms protecting her, shielding her from the world around her. His embrace was as welcome as ever, his arms around her and one of his hands entangled in her black locks, his nose buried gently into her hair.

He was hurting too, and his own tears fell into her hair the way hers fell onto his chest. But he didn't shake with his tears, he just held her a bit closer, the liquid streaming down his face in absolute silence. As long as he was with her he knew he had a reason to be strong, so he was. And as long as she was with him and her son she knew she had a reason to continue on, so she did. Somewhere in both of their hearts they understood what the other was feeling, and that was their bond that made them so strong. They understood the other's pain and the other's joy and that was what made them keep on going.

"Sleep Kagome," Koga's voice was quiet as he slipped into fatigue.

"…Be here when I wake up." She said quietly, closing her eyes.

"Of course," he hugged her closer, "I'll always be here if you want me to be."

And she silently fell into her world of dreams, something telling her she might be able to sleep without her nightmares.


The doorbell rang in the early hours of morning, while everyone slept. Kumo, always a light sleeper, woke to it, climbing off the couch gracefully as he yawned, making his way towards the door. With little effort he opened the door, one of his hands scratching at his scalp. His red eyes were met with golden ones, the inuyokai in front of him silently staring him down.

"Sesshomaru." Kumo didn't bother with formalities, "What do you need?"

"She's still asleep." Yet another statement, since Sesshomaru was never the one to ask questions.

"Yeah. She is. So is Koga. They've had a couple hard days."

"Deliver this to your mother." Sesshomaru handed him a brown paper wrapped item, expressionless as ever when Kumo took it into his possession.

"What is it?" Kumo was just as emotionless as Sesshomaru, his voice calm and even.

Sesshomaru turned without answering, beginning to walk away. Kumo slid the door closed in return, turning his back on the former taiyokai. He walked back into the main room with the package, lounging on the couch as he slid the paper off of the item. He slid the sword out of its cover to have it lay in his hand, his ruby red eyes scanning over it. This sword was probably the oldest piece of shit he had ever seen, and the reason that his mother would need something like this or why Sesshomaru would want her to have it was far beyond his knowledge. He was quite ready to toss the sword in the trash, but Sesshomaru had delivered it personally, so it had to be important by some standards. And, before he could try to figure out the secret of the sword on his own, it pulsed in his hands, the force sending it out of his grasp to land on the floor. With surprised look he reached down to pick it up, but before he could do so, someone else's hand was on it.

"It's been a while, Kumo," the man's voice was cold as he picked the sword up and out of the boy's reach.

Kumo froze. Slowly, he managed to sit back up as calmly as possible, one hand resting on his leg and the other held out in front of him.

"Hand it over." He tried to keep his voice as even as possible, but no one except Sesshomaru could possible pull that off with perfection.

"Do you think I'm going to steal it?" Blood red eyes stared down into ruby, a small smirk crossing the man's face, "Why would I have any interest in this?"

Kumo took a deep breath. Now was the time to pick his words very carefully. One wrong phrase could send everything spiraling down hill.

"…I wouldn't know."

"Of course you wouldn't… But tell me, how did you come upon something like this? I haven't seen it since the day I killed its true wielder."

"This shrine comes across many artifacts from the past…" Kumo knew better than to even mention Sesshomaru's name, "…I would suspect that the owners came across it."

"Do you know these owners?"

"Not very well."

"Then why are you here, sitting comfortably on their couch with one of their possessions in hand?"

Kumo thought fast, "Their son. I've been tutoring him."

"Do not lie to your Father, Kumo. You know better than that."

Kumo stood then, taking another deep and calming breath as he glared into the man's eyes.

"I don't have a reason to explain myself to the monster that is Naraku." Kumo spat out, snatching the sword away from the man, feeling the blade's readiness sweep through him on contact.

"Then I assume your answer has been the same as it has always been?" Naraku asked, ignoring the fact that something had just been snatched from him, "Has this visit been yet another waste?"

"All your visits are wasteful," Kumo spat out, taking something of a defensive stance, his knuckles turning white around the sheathed Tetsusaiga.

"One day you will come to me, son, when the wolves betray you."

"The wolves raised me! They would never betray me!"

"That's what you think now. That Kagome girl is probably the only woman in the world who would accept you for who you are, but she's not here anymore, is she?" Kumo felt like launching himself at the hanyo, but knew that would be the dumbest thing he could possibly do, "Soon those wolves will realize that you're the monster that you claim I am as well. They'll turn their back on you and then every demon around the globe will come to hunt you down with your little wolf pack gone. You'll die if you don't come to me first."

"I'd rather die than be accepted by you!" Kumo was enraged, the ruby in his eyes lighting fire as the sword pulsed in his hand once again.

"Oh really?" Kumo could feel the danger radiating from the man in front of him, "Well, what if I take you by force?"

In seconds Kumo found himself smashed against a wall, cold tentacles wrapped around his neck and torso.

"I've been generous, boy," Naraku continued, "I've given you a choice. But what if I stop being so generous? What if I take you by force and tear you away from the pack you call your family? All I have to do is break through that little chest of yours and take your heart out for you to belong to me again!"

Naraku advanced then, coming to rest his hand on Kumo's chest, "What if I took away your freedom right now?"

Through his adrenaline he could feel the sword pulse even stronger in his grasp, begging to be let out. So Kumo took that chance.

"What if I chopped off your fucking head right now?!"

The sword burst into life as he drew it, elongating and enlarging to a point where it dug itself into Naraku's stomach.

"Well? What if I kill you now?" Kumo asked as the tentacles dropped him, Naraku falling back to remove the sword from himself, "What if I take this sword and shove it through your brain?!"

Naraku opened his mouth to speak, but an earsplitting shriek echoed through the house from the upstairs room, stopping all movement. A moment of silence followed, the blood red and ruby unflinchingly staring into the other's soul, each ready to pounce through the sudden tension that had filled the air.

"…She's here?" Naraku's voice was calm and curious as he righted himself into a standing position, the large wound mending itself as he spoke.

Kumo cursed under his breath.

"So my dear Kagome managed to make it to this time?" Naraku wasn't speaking to anyone in particular as a smirk painted itself across his face, his wound long since healed, "…I guess this visit wasn't a complete waste, was it then Kumo? I've gained quite a bit of information…"

"Leave." Kumo ordered, knowing that he would have to fight if Naraku didn't listen, "Get out of here."

The dark spider hanyo looked at him with emotion in his eyes that the boy couldn't read, and a second later disappeared to leave only wisps of black smoke behind. The moment he could bring himself to move he dashed up to the next story of the house, opening his mother's door without knocking, Tetsusaiga still held fully transformed in his hands.

Koga's eyes met his, Kagome buried deep in his embrace.

"…Does he know?"

Kumo collapsed to his knees, defeated in everyway as he dropped Tetsusaiga behind him.

"Yes."


A/N: Damn. Update after update after update! I should be getting millions of reviews for this!

Just kidding, but whatever.

So read, review, and enjoy!