Nine months later.
Kagome had indeed given birth to another girl. Her name was Tsuyoi after her grandmother. Tsuyoi had surprised her mother when she came along looking like Kagome, as human and demon. Her hair was as black as a night without its natural light. Her markings were the same as Kagome's, black. Her eyes surprised everyone who saw her. They were Kagome's human color; a cerulean blue. What surprised everyone even more was that she did not gain the crescent moon across her brow. All of their children had the symbol of their heritage but little Tsuyoi.
The answer to her youngest daughter's appearance came rather quickly to Kagome. All of her children had gained the symbol of their lineage across their brow because they were all in line for the title of Taiyoukai of the Western Lands. Clearly, little Tsuyoi will not be in that line. Her job would be better than that Kagome assumed because her Miko power seemed a lot stronger than Kasheru's or the twins', maybe even her own. So just what was Tsuyoi supposed to do?
Kagome pushed that question aside for later times and moved on to Kasheru. As the years went by, Kasheru buckled down and accepted more responsibilities then needed. The girl really showed promise in being the next ruler of this land. Sesshoumaru even said it himself. Kagome was amazed. Her daughter had learned the meaning of responsibility so quickly. Most of the day, if she were not with her siblings or her uncle Inuyasha, she would be found in her father's study, alone or with him. She was eager to learn about their lands and how it came to be theirs. Sesshoumaru couldn't have been more proud and taught his daughter all he knew.
At this Kagome moved to her sons. She wished that the twins would show promise instead of causing mischief everywhere. Everyday, her boys were up to something new. 'I would kill them if they weren't my children.' Kagome thought and then smiled. She could never do that. They may be bad at times but most of time, they were very sweet pups. Kagome remembered the flowers they pick for her when she told them about Mother's Day. Kagome had instantly forgiven them of their wrongful deeds that morning. They tied Jaken to a tree by the edge of the castle walls. It turned out that not only had they tied him, but they glued him as well. 'That poor toad.' Kagome thought with a grimace. 'The things he suffered. I can't imagine how he survived all of the children, especially my twins.' One day Kagome said that if they continued their rotten streak they were going to be sorry in the end.
Sesshoumaru took the twins every afternoon to the dojo when they were seven, where he 'trained' them. At least that is what he called it. This training went on for years and every time he was finished, Ryuzo and Sota came out with bumps, bruises and scrapes. Of course, they would be healed by the next afternoon to get new ones. Before then he would just confine them to their rooms or have caretakers watch their every move. She knew Sesshoumaru enjoyed his little game with them by the way he would smile at her as if he held a secret when they came back to castle. He got to punish them while training them. However, they soon realized that the less they did, the easier the training. Alas, all good things come to an end.
Sesshoumaru put them in the Western army as temporary soldiers when they turn thirteen. The day filled with endless training from dawn to sunset, continuous patrolling and no young maidens to gaze upon. They were beginning to think that training with their father had been easier. The life of a soldier was brutal torture.
'Shippo thought the same thing.' She laughed out loud as she remembered when he came home. Shippo came back one day saying that his training was finished and took a spot as Lieutenant General in Sesshoumaru's army after sparring with the Taiyoukai for it. Sesshoumaru had promised him that if he had fought well enough than he would have the spot. Shippo knew he couldn't beat him but he had him on the defensive a few times. In other words, Shippo had to lay in bed for day before Sesshoumaru came to him and said, "Report to me in the morning." Shippo had been none to pleased when he heard that he would be looking over not only the lands all that go with it, but his trouble making brothers as well. He knew Sesshoumaru wouldn't hear of his argument, so he settled in to overseer his brothers.
Rin married a human villager inside of Kaede's village. The wedding took place in Rin's favorite garden in palace. Sesshoumaru granted her every wish, whim, thought, want in that one event. After all, it's not everyday that you give your first daughter away. Rin wore a white dress that Kagome brought from her time along with her mother, brother and Ji-chan. Sesshoumaru gave her a tiara with a topaz in the middle that hung down to the middle of her forehead. Around her neck, Rin wore a locket that Kagome gave her for a birthday she had years ago. She refused to remove it for the wedding. The locket contained a picture of Sesshoumaru and Kagome with baby Tsuyoi on one side and on the other Rin took a picture with her brothers, Shippo, Ryuzo and Sota and her sister, Kasheru during one of their many visits to the future. Kasheru and Tsuyoi were the flower girls and Ryuzo and Sota as the ring bearers.
Tsuyoi blossomed with love and care. She grew into a beautiful young lady of fourteen. It was then she made the news that she would have to make trip to see a powerful priestess. She said that she had something she had to do and that she could not explain more than that. She said that she was born to be a protector, nothing more. Kagome relented, knowing that if she didn't it would happen anyway. Sesshoumaru was not as giving. He demanded answers as to how she would know all of this and why did she have to go see a priestess when one was in the palace itself. Tsuyoi said that she knew because that is what her grandmother whispered to her in her passing to the next world. Sesshoumaru relented as well, realizing how much of a role his mother had played in their children's lives. He sent Shippo and a hand full of guards to keep her safe on the journey. She returned every few months.
Their lives seem to be easier now, even with their growing family, now numbering in eight. The last had just been born two years after Tsuyoi's leaving. Hajime and Hikari were born three years apart. Hikari was born just before Tsuyoi's announcement sported black hair with silver streaks and gold eyes. She had two black stripes on each side of her face and a blue crescent moon on her forehead. Hajime sported white hair with black streaks. His eyes swirled with silver and gold. His markings were black, stripes and all.
Now here they were five hundred years in the making. Except one. Rin. Kagome wiped the tears that were falling from her eyes. Even after all this time, it pained her to think of the girl she loved as her oldest daughter. Rin wanted to die as a mortal would even after that had figured a way to slow her aging to that of a youkai. They buried her over four hundred years ago next to Kaede-baba, Tamoko, Miroku and Koharu.
All her children were grown up. They had taken jobs in the business Sesshoumaru started a century ago, with Kasheru being CEO. Kasheru started her own business a decade ago dealing with diseases in the world. Her business was thriving and made more progress than any other like it.
"Mommy, come in here. Daddy's going to be on in a few minutes." Hikari told her mother.
As she gazed upon her youngest daughter, she smiled. Hikari still called her mommy even after all these centuries. 'No matter how old you get, Kashe, you'll always be my little girl and the true heiress to the throne.' Kagome walked out of the garden and into their palace.
Owari.
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Ah, it's over but don't forget to review. Time to break out the champagne. It's been some crazy months. Things just wouldn't work out until they absolutely had to. I have enjoyed writing this story and I hope you have enjoyed reading it. All my stories have put me through hell and I'm sorry it took so long to write these chapters. Now I figured since I was ending one story with the other not too far behind, I could start another. It's called:
Saving me
Summary: Sesshoumaru sat by for many years watching as the bright girl slowly turned to quiet, somber young lady. Now he decides that he cannot allow her to lose herself completely but in saving her, would he ultimately end up saving himself?
Here's a little preview of the first chapter:
Chapter 1: In the past…
"Come on, Sesshou-kun." Five-year-old Kagome cried happily to eight-year-old Sesshoumaru as they ran through the park. "Let's get the good swings before anyone else does."
"I'm coming Kagome. We have to wait for Inuyasha." Sesshoumaru said as he looked back for his half brother, who would be turning five in a few days. "Come on Inuyasha. You're so slow."
"I'm coming already. " Inuyasha replied as he ran as fast as he could with his small legs.
Unnoticed by the children, their parents looked on smiling. Kagome's mother looked laughed as she watched Inuyasha struggle to keep up with the two other bouncing children and laid a hand on her ever-growing stomach. "In a few more months, there's going to be an addition to this little picnic tradition. "
Three years ago, Mika Higurashi literally ran into Taki Takeda. Rushing out the store to find her ever-adventurous two-year-old daughter, Kagome. One minute she was there and the next, call security. It just so happens that Taki was on her way to the security's office to look for her ever-walking-away-and-getting-lost son, Sesshoumaru. They decided to go there together and on the way, Mika heard a "Mommy!" come from the courtyard on the right of her. Right there sitting in the chairs, were her black haired daughter, Kagome and Taki's five-year-old, silver haired son, Sesshoumaru.
The women scolded their children in what seemed like the eightieth time for them each. They planned a picnic for Saturday afternoon so the whole family could meet since Kagome and Sesshoumaru seem to be hitting it off so well. Thus it began. The weekend picnics no matter what the others had to do. The men would rather spend a week in the cold than object so they were brought into it as well.
"Kagome is going to run those boys into the ground if she keeps this up." Inutaisho Takeda said chuckling. "Where does that girl get so much energy?" He added as he looked over at Daisuke Higurashi.
"Oh, you're not asking me. It is a wonder how a girl can keep up so much energy while the boys are trailing behind her." The group broke out in laughter.
"Leave her alone. She's practicing for later times when she has to run from the boys asking for her hand." Taki Takeda commented smiling.
"Let's not bring that up again." Daisuke said mock horror. The last time they did, the women ended up talking about whom to betroth Kagome to. He was not ready for that kind of talk yet.
On the swings, Kagome sat between Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha without a care in the world. They had a race seeing who go the highest and the fastest. Sesshoumaru was the winner as usual but Kagome swore that was only because he was older. Poor Inuyasha came in last behind Kagome as usual.
"Sesshou-kun, what does 'betrothed' mean?" Kagome looked up at him curiously.