Chapter 13:

Reunions

The next morning came and Anya was awoken by the sound of her father snoring. She didn't mind though, she'd missed this. waking to her father's snoring and wondering how her mother hadn't been woken by it. Like she normally did, she got up and went down to the river, where she drank in the beauty of her era. The feudal era, though filled with war and pain was also very beautiful. Anya took in the sweet scent of the honey suckle flowers that grew by the river. She loved the way they replaced the nasty future scents.

After her drink, Anya walked along the path until she spotted Rin on the hill, carrying a basket of something. She hurried up to her cousin with a bright smile. "Rin!" She called, the girl turned and waved as Anya reached her.

"Anya! Welcome home!" She said and hugged the young child. "You had everyone so worried you'd never return." She said Anya nodded

"I know, I'm sorry for causing such worry." Rin shook her head.

"The thing is you're back and that's all that matters and will matter to everyone." Anya smiled. She loved her cousin, she was so nice and so very pretty. Most of the village boys were already trying to whoo her, but they never could build up the courage to ask the permission of Sesshomaru, the great dog demon lord, and Rin's guardian.

"So...any luck with any of the village boys?" Anya asked and her cousin sighed and shook her head.

"No, though if they're so afraid to ask him, then they wouldn't do well protecting me and a family from demons. So I'm alright with that. Besides..." Rin stopped as the two spotted Shippo not far off, with two kids. One about 12 and the other about the same age as Anya, just a bit older. "I think it'd be best if the person I 'like' is strong and courageous and can and has already stood up to him, course he was tremling when he did so, but that's alright. he accomplished his goal..." Anya noticed the gaze Rin was giving Shippo and gasped.

"You and Shippo!" Rin sighed

"Can't hide anything from you, can I? You've always been a wise girl. Hey, I think that's Kyo and Koji over there." Rin said and saw Anya's excited expression. "Go ahead, I'll be right behind you." Anya nodded and bolted for where she saw her big brother Kyo and her best friend Koji.

"KOJI! KYO!" Anya exclaimed as she quickly approached the three guys. Koji, hearing her voice thought he was dreaming, that is until Shippo waved.

"Huh?" Shippo looked at the wolf pup and winked. That was all it took and Koji was up the hill racing to meet Anya, however Kyo made it there first. Koji could never figure out why it was that these quarter demon kids were so much faster than him, a full demon. Not really caring, he met with Anya and Kyo as the siblings hugged.

"What the hell were you thinking Anya? You know mom and dad didn't want us up near the well! Now you know why!" Kyo scolded his little sister, who just frowned.

"Well, if this is what I get for coming back, maybe I'll go back and spend more time with grandmother and uncle Sota!" Anya said and noticed the look in her brother's eyes.

"Now, now you two. Don't be mean. Kyo, thought mom had already explained to you about the well. Anya had no control over being drawn into the well." Shippo said and Kyo sighed and nodded.

"I know, but she shouldn't have been up there in the first place. Mom and dad have told us many times to stay away from..."

"Kyo, isn't it best to be thankful your sister was able to come back? Rather than scold her?" Rin asked, getting there. Kyo nodded and turned to Anya, who'd become monopilized by Koji.

"Koji! I'm so sorry! It must have been horrible having to watch that happen and not being able to stop it." Anya said as Koji sighed.

"Anya...I..."

"Anya," Kyo said and she turned, Koji glared slightly. He didn't like being interupted. "I'm sorry for being harsh...I just missed you is all. You are my first little sister after all." Anya understood and hugged her brother.

"I missed you too big brother." Anya said as she felt Koji's grip on her hand. "Oh, ah later Kyo, Rin, Shippo." She said as the wolf pulled her along with him.

"Koji? Where are we..." They stopped by the river and sat there together, like they normally did before Anya had been taken down the well.

"Anya...you remember when that small demon attackjed us back when we were really little?" Anya nodded, course she knew that day. That was the day she and Koji had first became friends. "Well, when I scared it away and you...ah called me your hero...I..." Koji was once again interupted as a certain scent came to Anya's small nose. She lept up and ran towards it. "Anya...ha..."

Anya ran fast as she spotted who she was running to, Rin noticed her and waved. The person Anya was running to turned in time to reach down slightly and catch the child in both their strong arms. "Uncle Sesshomaru!" Anya eclaimed ahppily. She'd hoped he'd be visiting Rin today, so that she might be able to see him.

Now normally, seeing such an act that was not normally in his nature, Shippo, Rin and no one were ever in shock anymore at how the demon lord seemed to treat Anya with the utmost care and respect. This strong bond that had been formed ahd happened shortly after Anya had been born.

Flashback

The demon had come to visit Rin, who had was with Kagome in the fields, Anya playing gently with Kyo. Who still wasn't sure a sister was what he'd wanted. Kagome of course hadn't been surprised at the arrival of the demon, however she had been a bit wary when Anya, the curious baby she was, crawled over to her demon uncle. She'd been distracted from playing with Kyo, by the fluffy fur the demon lord wore, so much so, that she started to play with it. Now of course, the feel of the fur being played with was enough for Sesshomaru to look down at the babe wrapped in the said fur. Kagome was trying to keep a straight face, but wasn't succeeding. The slight giggle, had the man looking right at her, with no threatening aura though. Kagome smiled and shrugged apologetically.

Looking down again, Sesshomaru realized that the child playing in his fur had fallen fast asleep. Kagome couldn't help but smile. The scene looked so cute. The small infant curled up in the strong demon lord's fluffy fur, fast asleep. Now what surprised the mother was when Sesshomaru ever so gently knelt and gathered the small child in his newly returned arm. Again, Kagome couldn't believe the adorable scene before her as her infant daughter slept soundly in the crook of her uncle's muscular arm.

After that day it didn't take long, before Anya had seemed to completely wrap herself around the usaully cold demon's heart. Whenever he'd visit Rin, he never seemed to miss a chance to visit with his new niece. Inuyasha had come home one day to find his daughter asleep in the demon's arms. This had needless to say completely floored the hanyou father, seeing as how Sesshomaru had acted when he was young. He shrugged it off though, with the help of Kagome, who reassured him things were fine.

Now the niece and uncle had formed a strong bond, stronger than that of the power of the shikon jewel. It was her uncle who had taught her the ways of demons, while her parents taught her the ways of humans and hanyou. She knew what she needed as a quarter demon, even how to use her own demonic powers. Yes, their relationship was that of a loving uncle and cherished niece.

End Flashback

"Didn't take long for you to get here, Sesshomaru." Inuyasha said as he and Kagome reached the little group. Kagome lightly touched her husband's shoulder and he took the hint to shut up or eat dirt and grass.