I know this chapter is super late, but I have things going on with my life and all I can do is apologize.

I hope you like this chapter and ignore the grammar, it has not been edited...

Chapter Twenty-One: Recogniction

Three days arrived faster than anyone else thought it would. After the first day passed, Kagome was feeling better. Even though she almost died, her health was surprisingly great, but worry ate at her. Sesshomaru knew her thoughts, her feelings. She really did want to forgive Inuyasha for what he had done to her. That made something in his heart clinch.

Sesshomaru remembered the way that his half-brother use to fight for Kagome. For the longest time, he thought of her as belonging to Inuyasha. When he found her in that hot spring that night, everything changed. His beast fought with him for her. He felt compelled to be near her. When she kissed him, his whole body was fire.

The mystery of his brothers miko erupted then. Somewhere in the back of his mind he knew he had claimed her for his own. Everything that went on between them melded them closer to one another.

When Kagome told Sesshomaru the story of how she came to be and her fears, he wanted to kill Inuyasha for what he had done. Now his sibling was close at hand and he had to solve more things before he could take action.

Sesshomaru had found a village not to far from where Kagome and him were resting and bought her some clothing that she would need before they traveled back home.

"Sesshomaru. I'm ready." Kagome voice was shaking slightly, but he saw the determination in her eyes.

He was proud of her.

His mate had gone through a lot of things that most wouldn't have survived, but she came through on top. And she was pupped. He wouldn't tell her, not after he had spoken to Totosai, but he would not wait long for it. Something like that should not be kept a secret. Walking over to her, Sesshomaru kissed her on her forehead, formed his cloud from the cave in the side of the mountain, and started towards Totosai's home. They would make it there within the hour, he just hoped there was not going to be a lot of things going on. He wanted this thing over with so that he could finally enjoy him mate. He had not bedded her since the mating two days before and his body was feeling it.

When everything was over, he would have her all to himself. He could be happy with his mate, his pup Aiko, and his pup on the way. Just because he was feeling guilty for almost forgetting his ward and retainer, he added to his thoughts... Rin and Jaken also...

The ride to Totosai's home was short and Sesshomaru knew something was wrong with all the familiar scents on the air. Kagome felt Sesshomaru tense up.

"What's wrong?"

"It seems like we have company. Do you wish to continue?"

Kagome sighed, "If I don't do this now, then I'll never have another opportunity like this. I need to get this out-of-the-way so that I can move on." Sesshomaru took that as confirmation. Dropping down to the ground, smells assaulted Sesshomaru. It was the rest of his half brothers pack. Before he could warn Kagome, the fire cat ran from the house and towards Kagome.

Surprise showed in her eyes before a smile broke across her face and tears slid down her cheeks. Kirara jumped into Kagome's awaiting arms and snuggled her face into her neck, catching her scent. Next out of Totosai's home was Miroku who stopped dead in his tracks and Sango who followed suit.

"Hey guys, what's going..." Shippo stared into the eyes of Kagome and his breathing stopped. She was standing there in front of him and he wasn't dreaming. Before anyone could get a word out, Sango ran towards her long forgotten friend, threw herself at her, and starting crying her heart out.

Sesshomaru released a growl that Miroku and Shippo heard immediately.

When Sango had thrown herself at Kagome, she had flinched. He knew that she was still experiencing a deal of pain that she didn't want to express but he knew better. Her mind was at war with Kagome's heart. The bond between them both had been completed upon Sesshomaru giving his blood to her and now they could read each others thoughts just as clear speaking.

Miroku walked up to Sango and pried her off of Kagome and Sango was about to yell at him for separating them, but then she looked up into Lord Sesshomaru's red tinted eyes and went still from shock.

The question that was running through all of their minds was, 'What was Sesshomaru doing there?'

They all stood back and together, all but Kirara who was still in Kagome's hand.

Sesshomaru stepped towards Kagome and lay a protective hand on her back. 'We will leave if you wish it.'

'No. I'll stay. I don't know what to say to them though. Look how they're looking at us.'

Straightening up her stance after the pain of Sango hugging her body, Kagome said the only thing that came to mind.

"Hi."

"Hello, Kagome. Hello Lord Sesshomaru. I would embrace you in a hug to Kagome, but..." His words trailed off as he looked over at Sesshomaru and his still red tinted eyes. "I'm not sure If Lord Sesshomaru would like that." Miroku spoke up.

"KAGOME!" Totosai's loud booming bounce spoke up. "How are you faring on this day?"

"Good Totosai. Thank you."

"Lord Sesshomaru, It is time."

Sesshomaru pulled Kagome closer to him and nodded at Totosai. He would keep her and their pup safe. He did not trust his brother and even worse, the clay woman that he was in the barrier with.

Totosai snapped two of his fingers together. The others not knowing what he was doing simply looked, still not knowing how to act in this strange situation.

A smell hit Shippo so hard that he took a step back. "Inuyasha!" As he spoke the name, There he came walking out of the surrounding forest with something slung over his shoulder. Sesshomaru filled Kagome in on everything that happened when they were in the cave. She knew that something was up, but neither of them could name what it was.

Shippo wanted to run towards Inuyasha and tell him how much he missed him and all the other things that happened over the years, but he held steady. He knew that the other smell was Kikyo and still didn't know the situation around them. Sesshomaru with Kagome. Inuyasha and Kikyo arriving. It seemed as if they arrived just in time for something bad to happen.

Shippo looked over at Kagome and almost broke into tears. he had missed her the hardest when she didn't come back to the village that day. He had cried for at least a week and starved himself for a month. To make matters worse, Inuyasha didn't return either. They both just simply vanished. It took for Miroku hitting him over his head just like Inuyasha would do when Shippo was annoying him, for Shippo to start his life again without Kagome and Inuyasha. Now, suddenly, it was a big family reunion again, but the atmosphere was strained.

Inuyasha walked up to the group but stopped yards away. A low growl in his throat as he looked around at all of its occupants. He knew that even after three days passing, she still had a hold of him. Even when she was sleeping he still could not remember. As he looked into the faces of human and demon's alike, he could only remember the two demons before, although, the one human that the one called Sesshomaru was holding someone who looked like Kikyo, he still did not remember her, although she looked familiar, it could have been because of Kikyo.

How he hated her! He just wanted to break her neck and let it be over with, but he didn't know the consequences of what would happen if he did do it. His forgotten memories were worth more to him at this moment than taking her pathetic life.

"Who the hell are all of these other people old man?" Inuyasha finally spoke up.

That brought confused looks from everyone, but Sesshomaru and Totosai. "Are you sure that you do not remember anyone of them Inuyasha?" The old dragon spoke up.

"Didn't you just hear me! I asked you who the hell they were. Why are they so important?" No one spoke up.

Miroku had looked at Inuyasha strangely along with Kagome. Something was off about him and they both whispered it at the same time.

"There's a block on his mind." Kagome and Miroku's eye's locked and she smiled as tears gathered in her eyes.

'I'm going to my friends Sesshomaru. Something in me still trusts them.'

With that she walked away from her mate and into the waiting arms of the monk, and the slayer wrapped her arms around them, then the young kitsune squeezed between them all and they all hugged, only Kagome and Sango openly showed their tears. It would have been a heartfelt moment if Inuyasha hadn't spoken up.

"If you all hadn't noticed, I have a uncoscious female asshole across my shoulder and not to mention, how in the hell do you say some shit like that and just walk over and hug each other? All of you are just as crazy as I am!"

At that. Shippo jumped up and did the only thing he could think of.

He hit Inuyasha on the top of his head. Hard. Then ran away.

Inuyasha dropped Kikyo on the ground, forgotten, as he chased behind the little demon who hit him. "Come back here you little runt! I'll teach you to hit me!" As Inuyasha chased behind him, something hit him in his chest and took his breath away. Something was trying to come to him. Something blocked.

It didn't hit him until The young kitsune jumped into the arms of the woman who looked like Kikyo.

Recognition sparked in his eyes and he stopped short.

"Shippo?"

I know your mad at me, especially after all of this time and I left you on a cliffie... I hope you enjoyed this chapter... I will try to update everything one at a time, but it is going to be irregular...

R&R

~_~^-^~_~ Ditto Princess