Chapter 13

The Son and a Long Gone Friend

Sesshomaru ran alongside his son and InuYasha. It had been two days since Kagome had woken up screaming and, for the first time, he had felt fear. He hadn't had any idea what was going on with his miko, and he hadn't been able to help in any way.

Then, learning all that she had experienced just continued to beat down his ego. Knowing that he hadn't been there for her, even when she had called for him, had seriously wounded his pride. It didn't matter that he wouldn't have been able to go against the Kami.

He wanted to protect her.

From everything.

Now, she had this great responsibility on her shoulders, and while she seemed fine now, he knew, eventually, it would get to her. Sure, she could handle it, but that didn't mean he wanted her to pull her hair out in the process.

He liked her hair, and he wanted to run his fingers through it again… and he would.

Glancing towards the miko of his dreams, he regretted it instantly. Seeing her so close to his brother was doing mean things to him. He was having to hold back too much of himself to keep from ripping InuYasha to pieces, all for touching his female.

He knew Kagome chose InuYasha because they needed to travel quickly. Also, if Sesshomaru had been the one to hold her, it would have caused too many problems. His control was slipping and he wasn't sure just how much longer it would last.

Before, it wasn't as hard because he didn't think she loved him in return, but now, he knows. And that knowledge just wouldn't leave him alone. His beast was always whining, trying to break free. It would send him dreams of mating the miko over and over again, always resulting in him waking up panting and wanting what he couldn't have. He was just glad he chose to sleep away from the camp. His brother's snores were, surprisingly, his saving grace. He would never hear the end of it if InuYasha or Daichi found out he woke in such a way, painfully hard and out of breath.

He could only imagine the blush flowing through Kagome's cheeks if she were to find out the indecent things his beast dreamed of doing to her. He smirked at that thought before scowling. His thoughts were leading to some unwanted growth and he needed to stop it quickly.

Luckily for him, InuYasha called to a halt. Sesshomaru watched as Kagome climbed from his back and ran into the bushes, hidden from sight, a blush on her cheeks the entire way. It appeared she needed to relieve herself.

"How much longer, Squirt?" InuYasha asked, stretching his back.

"A day, two at most if we run into trouble." Daichi answered.

Before anyone else could say anything, a giant transparent skeleton appeared before the three males, a loud screech roaring through the trees, hurting all of their ears.

Both Daichi and InuYasha screamed and jumped back, landing on their backsides, while Sesshomaru glared at the illusion. He knew who this magic belonged to, and he would have to scold the kit for trying to include him. As if he would fall for such a thing.

"Shippo!" Kagome yelled, stomping out from the bushes.

"Hey, Momma. You called?" Shippo replied before dropping from his leaf and landing before a playfully-mad mother.

Forgetting about his little trick, she hugged his taller form to her and he complied. Seeing this male hugging his female did not bother Sesshomaru. He knew the kit would only see the miko as a mother, and because of this, he did not feel threatened.

"Shippo?" InuYasha sputtered, looking up at the kit with awe from his position on the ground.

"In the flesh. Kitsunes grow up, too, ya know. Though I do wonder if a certain inu hanyou has matured or not." Shippo teased, holding out his hands for the two males he had scared.

"Keh." InuYasha mumbled, grabbing his outstretched hand along with Daichi.

"Who are you?" Daichi asked, running behind the kitsune and beginning to count his tails. Shippo managed to pull his many tails away from him, just for his mother to grab ahold of them and begin counting as well. His shoulders sagged and he sighed. It seems he would never escape this.

"Obviously, the name is Shippo. I'm Kagome's adopted son." Shippo answered, finally having enough and pulling his tails away from his mother.

"How many, Kagome?" Sesshomaru asked, just as curious but not willing to lower himself to actually count.

"Eight." She replied, looking just as surprised as the flash that flickered in Sesshomaru's eyes.

"You will do well in the upcoming war. It is good that you did not learn from this one's half-brother, for you would not have grown as you have." Sesshomaru stated, ignoring InuYasha's grumbling and threats.

"War?" Shippo repeated. He had no idea things were getting that bad around here.

"It will be explained as we travel." Sesshomaru ordered, turning from the group.

"Fucking prick." InuYasha mumbled before leaning down for Kagome.

"Mutt." Sesshomaru countered.

Kagome, watching the two, knew exactly how to get back at both brothers for acting so childishly, and she would enjoy every moment of it. She walked past InuYasha, who looked offended, and stood before her son.

"Can I ride with you on your leaf?" She asked, not missing the amusement in her son's eyes. He knew exactly what she was doing.

"Of course, Momma." Shippo chuckled, grabbing his leaf again and calling it to size. He climbed on and let his mother sit in front of him.

"Oh, Sesshomaru. Calling InuYasha, 'Mutt,' 'Hanyou,' or 'Half-breed' is kind of hypocritical, don't ya think? After all," she started in an innocent voice as Shippo rose to the skies, Daichi floating on his cloud beside them. "If I am to fulfill my promise, it is safe to assume that we would have children. Those children would be hanyous just as much as your brother is."

She watched as Sesshomaru's eyes went wide and he stiffened. Knowing that her point had been made, she ordered for them to take off, and they did, leaving behind a frozen Sesshomaru.

Of course, he wasn't frozen because he had been called out. The moment the word 'children' left her mouth, his beast sent him images of a very swollen Kagome…and the two of them making the pups. He growled, cursing his beast, and forced himself to think of Jaken. It would not do to run or fly after the pack with a raging hard-on.

Finally, the growing group reached the place that housed Miroku's father's shrine. It was silent as they all looked down into the crater. Two monks' staffs were placed deep in the ground, and that puzzled the onlookers.

They expected one to be present, not two. This was a shrine for one being. It was also clear that no one had been around to care for it recently…or in many years. The grass had grown up to their knees and the temple just behind them had fallen.

Its roof was now the floor, and with one strong push, the thing would fall over. All of this was noticed by everyone…except Kagome. She was focused on something else, something no one could see.

Without a word, she stepped forward, ignoring the yells of the demons behind her as she fell into the crater. When they tried to reach her, she blocked them with her reiki, escaping their grasps. Something was calling to her, and she would not allow anyone to stop her.

Sesshomaru watched as his female refused his help once again and continued walking to the staffs. When she reached them, hesitantly, she reached out before wrapping her fingers around one and pulling it from the ground.

The moment she did, she was surrounded by a bright light, and Sesshomaru was forced to look away for a moment. When it faded, he saw that it had been replaced by a soft purple light and wind was being sucked in towards Kagome.

He heard InuYasha yell in fear and try to get to her, but he was, once again, blocked. It was then that Sesshomaru remembered what Miroku's Wind Tunnel had looked like and, as before, fear flooded his veins. Once again, he was useless and could do nothing to help the woman he wanted to call mate.

He could only watch as her eyes suddenly turned pure white, her hair blowing wildly around her face from the force of the winds. Her feet began to float from the ground, lifting higher and higher until they were all looking up at her.

The wind was strong enough now that the males were forced to brace themselves as they watched in silent horror. Shippo pointed at something and yelled, but Sesshomaru didn't hear a word. Not that he needed to. He had realized, just before the kitsune did, what was happening.

Part of her reiki was being sucked from inside of her and into the staff. All yokai and holy humans knew that if too much reiki was taken, it would equal death. Kagome's back arched and the amount of spiritual energy flowing from her tripled, and just like that, everyone was yelling and ramming themselves against the barrier.

InuYasha had pulled Tessaiga, and was even attempting to break the barrier with Red Tessaiga, but nothing worked. They could only watch as more and more of her reiki was stolen, and for a reason that they didn't even know.

What seemed like hours, but was actually mere minutes, passed and the wind began to die down. The reiki finally stopped flowing and Kagome began to slowly descend to the earth once more, the staff floating beside her.

When her feet touched the ground, an explosion of power flew out from her, sending all of the demons flying back, including Sesshomaru. They groaned as they pushed themselves up and ran to the crater that was no longer under a barrier but froze at what they saw.

Kagome was moaning and holding her head as she pushed herself up. But it wasn't her that had caught their attention. It was the male beside her that they were looking at. He was waking up in a similar fashion to Kagome, and when her eyes met his, her mouth literally dropped.

"Miroku?!" She questioned, unable to think of what just happened.

She jumped to her feet and instantly regretted it as a wave of dizziness overcame her. Sesshomaru was by her side instantly, holding her up as Shippo and InuYasha ran to the now-undead Miroku.

"How is it that I am alive once more?" He asked, looking around at the odd group before him.

"Hell if I know, Lecher, but you are. And it ain't that undead shit that Kikyou was. You're the real deal." InuYasha answered before turning to Kagome. "Start explaining, Wench."

"I don't know. The staff was calling me so I went to it. I don't remember what happened after that." She replied, not realizing that she was holding on to Sesshomaru, her hand resting over his heart above his armor. He wouldn't tell her either.

"If the Kami wanted him back, then he's here for a reason." Shippo surmised, not wanting to question what he shouldn't. Sure, he was curious, but this was the Kami they were talking about.

"The Kami? What is going on? How long have I been dead? Is Sango back as well?" Miroku shot off as Shippo and InuYasha jumped out of the crater, leaving Daichi to grab the monk's staff and follow, along with Sesshomaru and Kagome.

"Long story short: there is a war. The monks and mikos are trying to annihilate yokai. We are building an army to fight them. The Kami sent a message to Kagome, and apparently, she is supposed to change the future. Pops gave her some fucked up riddle that led to you…" InuYasha trailed off, thinking of what else to say when an evil thought crossed his mind. "Oh yea, Sesshomaru and Kagome fell in love, but they can't even be together because Sesshomaru mated a different bitch."

The low growl was a warning, but it just caused InuYasha and Shippo to laugh. Kagome, finally realizing the way she was leaning on Sesshomaru, instantly pulled away, causing the daiyokai to growl again. Daichi stayed silent, too awestruck at meeting one of his favorite heroes. Monk or not, no one could not admire that cursed hand of his.

Daichi could only imagine how many backsides he had been able to grope.

"Well, well, My Kagome. You forgot about the younger and went for the older. Is that what you consider upgrading?" Miroku teased, causing Shippo to let go of him so he could laugh.

"Hey!" InuYasha yelled once he caught on, and he promptly dropped Miroku back on the ground. His plan had thoroughly backfired on him. "I'll go find some shelter for the night. There is no way I'm letting the two idiots travel with what they just went through."

Chuckles was all that was heard as a mumbling InuYasha disappeared. Well, all expect for a still-growling, and pouting, Sesshomaru. That was when the realization hit Kagome.

She was the only female…surrounded by five males.

She gulped.

-sSs-

Yay! Miroku is back. Now I get to write in some pervertedness. Lol. The next chapter will go on more about how Miroku feels to be back. After all, he was resting peacefully with his wife when he was yanked back to the living, and they had always said what is dead should stay that way. He might not take his resurrection that well once he realizes that he was actually brought back. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Shout outs:

Slvrphoenx: I always liked to picture Sesshomaru and InuYasha's father as a mix of the two sons. I don't know why, but that's just how it was. The reunion wasn't much between everyone, but there will be some instances when Kagome feels like she needs to pull out her hair. After all, she is one female surrounded by five males. Lol.

Wren210: It was supposed to be confusing. The kami never speak in truths, just riddles. Though I tried to make it somewhat easy to follow….it seems I failed. I'm sorry. Basically, the pond was filled with the bones of demons. Later Kagome will learn that the battle were the final war will be held, was in the same spot that pond was, only a few hundred years younger. The bones of the demons found at the bottom of the pond would be all that fell during that battle. Then, the opposite with bunnies and butterfly's (lol.) would be what the world would be like if Kagome succeeds. Basically, she now has a lot of weight on her shoulders. The next time I have to do a dream like that, I will try to make it more understandable.

DarkAngel8605: Thank you for your review. I am glad that you liked it so much.

I do not own InuYasha.