Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha or any other characters from the series. I just wish I did!

WARNING: This story will contain chapters with violence, mature subject matter and dark themes. If you are underage or if any of this kind of content may offend you then please leave now.

Chapter TWENTY ONE Answers

Miroku and Sango stood in Kagome's living room watching as Kagome's family sat and talked with the strange demons that had unexpectedly shown up early that morning before they had found Kagome and InuYasha. Souta had been sent to his room but Kagome's mother and grandfather were sitting on the couch listening intently.

Not long after Kagome had disappeared into the woods a loud commotion broke out somewhere in the forest. Miroku was about to go and investigate when the demon who had introduced himself later as Sesshomaru had shown up at the shrine. Sesshomaru had asked Miroku where Kagome had gone and warned him that she was in danger.

Even from as far away as the mansion outside of the city Sesshomaru had felt the sudden appearance of Naraku's demonic aura. He had feared that Naraku was finally making his move to extinguish Kagome and InuYasha and finally take the jewel for himself. Sesshomaru had arrived at the shrine in no time and all and gone into the woods to find them. He was followed closely by Miroku but when they arrived at the on battle ground they had found they were too late to help. Kagome had been hurt but she was going to be fine. InuYasha however had been fatally wounded and killed.

The arrival of Sesshomaru and shortly thereafter the smaller demon named Myoga as well as InuYasha's body when they carried him from the woods had prompted several questions from Kagome's mother. Sesshomaru had hoped to allow Kagome to break the new to her family herself but in light of everything that had happened and Kagome's mother insisting on taking her to the hospital he had decided to tell them about the baby. Kagome's mother had nearly fainted as the rest of the story slowly came out. Miroku and Sango tried their best to help but the more Kagome's mother learned of their involvement the angrier she became. After a while she couldn't even talk to them.

Miroku and Sango themselves were still reeling from the news that Kagome was pregnant on top of having to come to terms with the fact that InuYasha was dead. So many emotions had been stirred up inside them in such a short time, it was all just too over whelming to deal with. And yet they both knew that despite all the confusion and sadness they felt, Kagome was feeling far worse.

Miroku stole a quick glance towards the kitchen. He could just see Kagome sitting alone at the table with a glass of water sitting in front of her. Her face was red and puffy from crying but for the moment her tears had stopped. She didn't move or say a word as she starred off into space as if in a daze.

Kagome kept replaying the last moments she had seen InuYasha over and over in her mind. The last words he had said, the last kiss, the last time she would ever see his eyes or feel his touch. Looking back she realized now InuYasha had been saying good bye to her. Holding on to those last few moments was all she could do to cope with what was happening to her. Subconsciously her hand moved over her stomach. When she had learned she was pregnant the very notion had been terrifying, but as she had come to terms with the idea the thought that InuYasha would be there with her had made it all bearable. Now she was faced with the prospect of raising this child alone. Despite the fact that Naraku was now destroyed, Sesshomaru had still offered Kagome the choice to live under his protection. There she would be able to raise this child without the threat social fanatics hunting them down. In the eyes of those who hated hanyous and feared what they represented, this child would be especially hated. It would not only be a hanyou but a second generation hanyou, possibly the first ever. Kagome knew that if their child had any chance in this world it would be with Sesshomaru away from those who would harm it.

Still the very idea that murderous monsters such as Hojo still existed out there who wanted her baby dead filled Kagome with fear and anger. Kagome's mind suddenly switched gears as she remembered Hojo's terrified face as Naraku had stood over him and then again as he had fled from InuYasha before the battle was over. The more she thought about how much she wanted Hojo's suffering to continued, how much she wanted him to live in that terror for the rest of his life, the less afraid Kagome became. Rage surged through her as she looked towards the counter top where her mother kept the knife block. It would be so easy to find Hojo and administer her own brand of justice. No one else was going to fight for InuYasha and all the injustices that had taken place.

Miroku slumped to the floor in the corner as he continued to watch Kagome's mother and grandfather talk with Sesshomaru. They were speaking quietly and he could barely make out what they were saying but he assumed it was about InuYasha and Kagome and what was going to happen to her now.

Sango suddenly appeared from the bathroom carrying a wet towel and walked back towards Miroku. She sat down on the floor next to him and silently offered him the towel. Miroku looked at it questioningly as he slowly reached for it.

"It's for your hands …" Sango said in a quiet voice. Miroku paused and looked at his outstretched hand, suddenly remembering they were still covered with InuYasha's blood. Without a word he gently took the towel and pulled it into his lap where he slowly began to rub and his fingers and palms. Sango watched him for a moment before she spoke,

"There was nothing you could have done." She said in a quiet voice. Miroku stopped scrubbing at his skin.

"I know …" he answered in a solemn tone.

"I still should have gone with Kagome last night … I shouldn't have let her go off on her own! I suppose even if I had tried to stop her from getting involved in all this mess … she'd have just found away to get around me and got into trouble anyways. She's just always been so stubborn! And that idiot InuYasha … what the hell was going through his head?" Miroku said as he clenched the towel tightly between his fists to try and relieve some of the frustration he felt. Sango didn't say anything in response she simply slid herself closer to Miroku and gently rested her head against his shoulder. The feel of her weight against him made Miroku feel a little better. He was glad he had someone as special and understanding as Sango for support.

As much as he wanted to be angry at Kagome and InuYasha for being so irresponsible he just couldn't. He couldn't change what had happened but he could influence what the future would hold for Kagome. Miroku knew that setting aside the significant detail that Kagome was unmarried and still only a teenager in high school, her family would never accept the fact that the baby she was carrying was part demon. They would do everything in their power to prevent Kagome from having the baby or force her to give it up after it was born. He knew Kagome would never allow that to happen and she would leave with Sesshomaru and probably never come back. He couldn't let that happen.

"I have to talk to Kagome …" Miroku said quietly as he slowly got back to his feet. Sango lifted her head and watched him curiously as he made his way towards the kitchen.

Miroku needed to make sure Kagome knew he still supported her no matter what the rest of her family did. That he would be there for her every step of the way no matter what happened or what she chose to do. He needed to make sure she knew she still wasn't alone!

"Kagome …" Miroku said in a quiet voice from outside the kitchen,

"Do you mind if I come in?" Miroku asked. Kagome didn't answer. Miroku hesitated a moment before leaning around the corner into the kitchen. He opened his mouth to say something but as he scanned the room he realized Kagome wasn't there. Slowly he backed out of the kitchen and looked around the living room.

"What's wrong?" Sango asked seeing the worried expression on Miroku's face.

"Did Kagome go upstairs?" He asked. Sango shook her head,

"I don't think she did … or at least I didn't see her go." Sango answered as she moved towards Miroku but he suddenly turned and headed for the stairs.

"Kagome?" Miroku said as he pushed open Kagome's bedroom door but she wasn't there either.

"Souta … Have you seen Kagome up here?" Miroku asked as he barged into Souta's room. The younger boy looked startled but shook his head 'no'.

A horrible feeling started flooding through Miroku's stomach as he moved to Souta's bedroom window and threw the curtains back. He looked out over the shrine grounds and almost instantly spotted a figure running towards the stairs that led down to the street. Even from so far away Miroku recognized Kagome,

"Dimmit Kagome!" Miroku shouted as he turned and bolted out of the room towards the stairwell and back down to the living room. He didn't even stop as he raced past everyone and went straight down the hall and out the front door. Sango watched him go and after a quick glance at the worried faced of Kagome's mother and grandfather she chased after Miroku. She caught up to him at the top of the long stairway.

"What's wrong?" Sango asked as she tried to catch her breath.

"Kagome's gone again! What the hell is she trying to do now?" Miroku answered in a panicked voice. In Kagome's current state of mind there was no telling what she was planning to do. Miroku scanned the streets in all directions but even from their high vantage point neither he nor Sango could make out which direction Kagome could have gone in.

"Where would she be going?" Miroku asked.

"I dunno … maybe to your house to get her dad's things." Sango offered. Miroku shook his head,

"She didn't want us to know she was gone … she wouldn't have had to keep that a secret." Miroku added.

"I …. I have no idea … school maybe?" Sango suggested just throwing out the first thing that came to her mind. Miroku looked up at her with a thoughtful look on his face.

"Come on Miroku why would she be going to school?" Sango argued reading his mind.

"What if she's looking for Hojo?" Miroku proposed. Sango's eyes suddenly went wide as she realized what Miroku was suggesting.

"You're not saying she going to get revenge? You really think she would try something that stupid?" Sango asked in disbelief. Miroku didn't answer but he turned his gaze in the direction of the school.

Kagome ran the whole way to the school. When she finally came to a stop in front of the building she looked around before calmly moving forwards. It was still early in the morning and school wasn't starting yet but the grounds were still full of students hanging out and talking before the school day started. She needed to find Hojo quickly before she started to draw attention.

It was a cold morning and Kagome had not grabbed her jacket when she left her house. She shivered as the cold air moved through her thin sweater. Her hair was a mess and her face was still flushed and blotchy from crying. She still hadn't changed her clothes since the day before and she was covered in dirt and blood. With her rather startling appearance it wouldn't take long for her friends and fellow students to take notice and that would make confronting Hojo that much more difficult. But in her mind there was nothing that was going to stop her. He needed to pay for what he had done.

As Kagome walked slowly towards the school, scanning the grounds for her target, her fist tightened around the wooden handle of the knife she had hidden up the sleeve of her sweater. Feeling her heart pound in her chest she scanned the walls of the school where Hojo's gang liked to hang out. Finally she spotted a guy she knew was a friend of Hojo's and marched straight towards him. As she got closer she realized there was a small group of them all together and she knew Hojo was hiding behind his friends like the coward that her was.

Kagome was about twenty some aught feet away from them when she yelled Hojo's name. Everyone in the group jumped and turned to see her coming. They all seemed to be on edge. Hojo must have told them what happened the night before and now they were all wondering if they would be next on Naraku's hit list.

"Where the hell is he!" Kagome continued to yell angrily as she got closer.

Hojo recognized Kagome's voice and stepped forwards. He looked at her as if she were a ghost. Not in his wildest dreams had he ever expected to see Kagome again. He almost wondered if she wasn't a trick of some kind sent by Naraku.

When Kagome's eyes landed on Hojo's face, every muscle in her body became tense, the blood rushed in her ears as she felt her anger boiling inside her. The knife discretely slipped down from her sleeve and she gripped it tight ready to push it straight through Hojo's chest!

Kagome was maybe ten feet from him when someone grabbed her arm and brought her to an immediate stop.

"Get off me." Kagome screamed as she continued trying to get to Hojo but the person grabbed her other arm as well and wouldn't let her go.

"Don't do this Kagome." A familiar voice said in a firm tone. Kagome stopped and turned curiously. She found herself starring into one of the last faces she ever thought she would see.

"Sammy?" Kagome asked as he pushed her back and moved to stand between her and Hojo.

"Give me the knife!" Sammy ordered in a quiet voice looking Kagome straight in the eyes. Kagome's surprise faded and she tried to push past him again without a word. Sammy stopped her again.

"I'm not kidding Kagome. Give me the knife!" he said again trying to keep his voice low so the others wouldn't hear him.

"No! Get out of my way this doesn't concern you! I have to do this!" Kagome yelled.

"I'm not letting you go!" Sammy insisted as he held Kagome firmly against her will.

"He's nothing but a monster! He killed him … He killed him!" Kagome said her voice sounding as if she were on the verge of tears again.

"Let her go kid! She'll get what's coming to her!" Hojo said in steady voice as he watched the scene unfold. Sammy ignored Hojo but hearing his smug voice only fueled Kagome's rage more.

"I will make you pay for killing InuYasha!" Kagome screamed at Hojo. Hojo smiled as he watched a steady crowd of students gathering around and he knew this would be the perfect opportunity to completely disgrace Kagome in front of anyone who would have ever stood up for her.

"What's wrong Kagome?" Hojo taunted,

"Are you upset that your filthy half-breed lover is dead … or do you finally see how inferior that bastard creature growing inside of you really is?" Hojo said in a loud voice. He wanted everyone to hear and to know what Kagome had done. His tactic seemed to have at least sparked curiosity as whispers and chattering suddenly irrupted from the crowd. Kagome didn't care. She didn't care about what the people around her would think, she didn't care what would happen to her … she just wanted Hojo or someone, anyone to pay for all the pain and fear InuYasha and every hanyou like him had been forced to endure in their lives.

Sammy's hand moved to Kagome's which was still gripped firmly around the handle of the knife and he spoke to her in a calm voice,

"I'm sorry Kagome! I'm sorry for what happened … but InuYasha wouldn't want you to do this." He said. Kagome turned her head and looked at him. She suddenly found herself wondering why Sammy was standing by her. Even if at first he had just seen the knife and was trying to stop her from doing something stupid, after Hojo's comment he should have backed off out of disgust. Instead he was still helping her, protecting her, even using InuYasha to try and make her see that what she was trying to do was insane. None of what was happening seemed to be surprising to him at all.

Perhaps it was a mixture of shock and fatigue finally getting the better of her but as Kagome looked up at Sammy's concerned expression she felt her anger slowly being replaced with loneliness and emptiness again. She just didn't have the energy anymore to keep fighting. Tears streamed steadily but quietly down her face once more as she finally released her fingers from the knife and Sammy slowly took it from her. Kagome's legs felt numb and she collapsed onto her knees. Sammy quickly wrapped his arm around her and slowly helped her to the ground.

"It's ok Kagome! … I'm gonna help you! Just trust me …" Sammy whispered in a reassuring voice.

"Why are you helping her? Don't you realize she's just a whore who invites animals to sleep with her!" Hojo said as he approached Kagome. Kagome didn't say anything. As Hojo got closer suddenly Sammy stood and without warning turned and slammed his fist into Hojo's face sending him reeling backwards onto the ground. A loud gasp went up from the crowd as they watched it happen. Kagome watched with a wide eyed expression as Hojo groaned in pain and slowly rolled back to his knees. His hand gripped his shoulder where Naraku had wounded him with the knife the night before, while blood dripped from his mouth as he spat out a tooth.

"You're going to pay for that!" Hojo said in a strained voice as he starred up at Sammy with a vicious look in his eye.

"You're going to stay right where you are or I'm going to kill you myself!" Sammy ordered in a commanding tone. Hojo looked around at the crowd and his friends weighing his options carefully. He still needed to keep his good reputation after all. He could do just about anything to Kagome now that people could see who she really was but Sammy was just an innocent kid so he had to be careful.

Sammy turned back to Kagome and knelt down next to her. Kagome looked at him carefully,

"Why are you helping me …?" She asked as he offered her his hand to help her up.

"It's complicated …" Sammy answered. He gave her a gentle smile and slowly took her hands and pulled her back to her feet.

Hojo also got to his feet with some difficulty. As he watched Sammy helping Kagome he saw something slip from under her sweater. It was a small pick gem hanging on a fine chain. He remembered Naraku speaking of a Jewel that would make him more powerful than any demon that had ever lived. Had that been what he wanted from Kagome? If so and if it was that powerful and valuable, Hojo could only imagine what it could hold in store for himself. The longer Hojo starred into the small pink orb the more he wanted it.

Sammy started to turn Kagome to leading her back towards the main entrance of the school when suddenly he felt something coming from behind. He turned suddenly to see one of Miroku's friends attacking with his fist. Sammy dodged out of the way but he realized his mistake a second too late as he stepped away from Kagome. Out of the corner of his eye Sammy saw Hojo lunge at Kagome and grab her neck. The kid attacking him was only a diversion to get him away from Kagome. Thinking quickly he grabbed his attacker and threw him off balance so he tumbled to the side. He moved back towards Kagome just in time to see the necklace around her neck snap as Hojo yanked it away. Everything happened so fast Kagome barely had a second to register what was happening. She felt the chain break and her heart jumped in her chest. She grabbed at Hojo's hand but he was too fast and he jumped back with the Jewel securely in his fingers.

"Are you ok?" Sammy asked Kagome.

"I have to get that back … Hojo can't get away with it!" Kagome said in a panic. Sammy didn't hesitate. He advanced quickly towards Hojo who laughed at him,

"Come on kid don't do something stupid!" Hojo said brandishing his hand towards his gang indicating he was out numbered. Sammy ignored him. He knew Hojo's shoulder was injured and moved straight for it. It all happened so fast no one was quite sure how Sammy did it but all of a sudden Hojo was down on one knee his arm wrench around his back. His hand flinched opened as pain shot up his arm and injured shoulder. Sammy quickly retrieved the necklace and backed off before Hojo's friends even had a chance to react.

Sammy took three maybe four steps when suddenly something started to happen. The Jewel started to glow an intense purple and white. The bright light quickly spread outwards engulfing Sammy entirely. Sammy's girlfriend watched helplessly from the crowd unsure of what was happening. The light became so bright it was almost painful to look at. The air around them began to move in a swirling torrent. Kagome shielded her eyes as she watched the scene unfold in front of her. She could feel Sammy's week human aura begin to bend and twist and start to disintegrate almost as if it were being shed. Underneath something much stronger and defined was growing. As the reaction finally slowed and stopped Kagome couldn't believe what she was feeling. As the last of the light finally faded away and she could finally make out Sammy's form again she realized it was true.

Standing in front of everyone was Sammy, but he had changed. His finger nails were now elongated claws, fangs were just visible in his mouth as he stood there breathing deeply, and on the top of his head sat two triangular dog ears just like Kagome had seen in her vision. He was a hanyou. Everyone in the crowd including Hojo and his gang stood in complete silence.

Kagome moved quickly towards him,

"Are you ok?" Kagome asked. Sammy looked up at her and opened his eyes. They were now the intense eyes of a predator like InuYasha's had been. He looked from Kagome to the crowd of people starring at him. There was one face he wanted to see and when he found it he felt his heart sink a little. Lauren was staring at him with a look of confusion. He wanted to talk to her but first he had to get Kagome somewhere safer.

"Let's go …" Sammy said as he handed Kagome the Jewel and took her arm and led her off the school grounds. Kagome didn't say anything and followed Sammy's lead. They went all the way to Kagome's house, sticking to the residential streets and staying off the main road so they could avoid as many people as possible. They finally stopped at the top of the tall stairway in front of Kagome's home. Kagome watched as Sammy slowly turned towards her. There was a thousand questions she wanted to ask him but the only one she could managed to get out was,

"How? …" she asked. He smiled at her and looked towards the jewel which she still held tightly in her fingers. Finally he let out a deep sigh and spoke,

"A while back there was a small group of people who wanted to help hanyous and their families. Sometimes they sought us out other time we sought them out. My family lived overseas and when I was just a baby they heard about this way that I could grow up human so I could actually have a chance at living a "normal" life! They decided I was worth the risks and traveled here to seek out these people. They helped my parents, giving my father and I new identities and everything. My mother is a dog demon so she's too obvious to actually live with us but I see her all the time. They used some powerful form of magic I guess to hide who I really was. To the whole world I was a human but to me and my parents I was still a hanyou. I had the strength, skills … everything … just not the look." Sammy said as he slowly began to pace back and forth.

"I never thought it was actually true …" Kagome whispered almost to herself.

"Please tell me who it was that helped you!" Kagome asked as she took a step towards Sammy. Sammy paused,

"I was too young to remember …" he answered.

"You must have some idea? You're parents must have said something?" Kagome urged.

"There was one name they used to say … Higurashi." He answered in a quiet voice.

"So that is what he was doing …" Kagome said in a quiet voice.

"He was using the jewel's power to hide hanyous … so they could live without the fear of being persecuted." Kagome continued. Sammy nodded his head in agreement with her theory.

"Do you know how InuYasha and his parents fit into all this?" Kagome asked. This time a wide smile spread across Sammy's face.

"I grew up hearing stories about InuYasha's father. Like I said my mother is a dog demon and she knew all sorts of legends about him … but one story that's not so readily known is that he had two sons and one was a hanyou. Because of how great and powerful he was most people tend to ignore that bit of info but in our house for obvious reasons it wasn't.

My mother told me that it was actually InuYasha's father that found the jewel. He wanted a way to keep his wife and future son safe so he came up with the idea of using it to protect not only them but as many hanyous as he could … but unfortunately it didn't work out the way he planned. He was killed and the knowledge that he fathered a hanyou son spread too fast. There were too many people who found out about InuYasha's mother and it would have been suspicious if they used the jewels power to conceal him. It would risk revealing their secret and put every other hanyou they could help at risk. After that InuYasha's mother and I'm pretty sure your father worked together to hide as many hanyous as they could … unfortunately that ended in tragedy as well from what I've heard." As Sammy finished his voice became low. Kagome just stared at him. She couldn't believe everything they had thought was impossible was really true. She looked down at the jewel in her hand as she slowly unfurled her fingers from around it. Her father had been working with InuYasha's parents to use this powerful jewel to do something good in the world and keep it from being used by evil demons and men. Kagome held in her tears as she felt a rush of pride mixed with sadness at the memory of her father. She only wished InuYasha had lived long enough to know what his parents had done and tried to do for him.

Sammy cleared his throat and looked as if he wanted to ask Kagome a question. Kagome looked at him expectantly waiting,

"Um … I know you and InuYasha have been at the very least friends for a little while … but I was wondering if what Hojo said back there was true … I mean not the words he said but what he was implying …. Are you really? …" Sammy's voice trailed off as he hoped the rest of his sentence would be implied. Kagome blushed and instinctively drew her hands over her stomach. She slowly nodded her head feeling too embarrassed to actually speak. Sammy smiled at her again and starred at her hands for a moment.

"I guess congratulation then! … and I'm really sorry for what happened to InuYasha." Sammy said. Again Kagome couldn't bring herself to actually say anything in response and simply nodded her head in acknowledgment.

"What are you going to do?" Sammy asked curiously.

"I'm gonna hide … I'm not going to let any of the things that happened to InuYasha happen to this child." Kagome answered. Then she looked up at Sammy taking in his striking new appearance again. He clearly couldn't go back to being human now that everyone knew what he was.

"What are you going to do now?" Kagome asked him. Sammy turned and looked around at the view from the top of the stairs then he turned back to Kagome,

"I'm going to fight!" He answered. Kagome looked at him curiously.

"Out there are possibly hundreds of hanyous just like me … hiding because of what we are." He answered,

"After seeing what InuYasha went through when it was really because of him and his family that our freedom was even possible … after his father and mother and your father sacrificed their lived to protect the people they loved as well as complete strangers like me … I think it's time we fought back and showed the world we're not as insignificant as they've been led to believe! And also maybe help make the future a little better for the next generation!" Sammy finished with a smile as he looked back down at Kagome stomach. This time Kagome couldn't help but smile to.

The sound of heavy breathing and footsteps came up behind Kagome and she turned to see Miroku and Sango running up the stairs towards them. As they came over the top they both stopped and put their hands on their knees as they caught their breath.

"You …. Have … to stop … running off!" Miroku scolded as he gasped loudly. Kagome tried not to laugh at him. Miroku was not amused however and when he was finally able, he stood up straight and pointed his finger at Kagome ready give her a piece of his mind but at that moment he noticed the tall skinny kid with reddish hair and dog ears standing next to her.

"Who are you?" Miroku asked redirecting his questioning.

"Don't you recognize him?" Kagome asked. Both Sango and Miroku looked at him curiously,

"This is Sammy!" Kagome informed them as if it should have been obvious. Miroku and Sango looked closely for a moment and then identical expressions of surprise spread across their faces.

"Kagome … what is going on?" Sango asked.

"Maybe we should go inside and talk where it's warmer …" Kagome answered.

OK so this one was short but I hope it was ok.
I can't believe this story is almost done! Just one or two more chaps to go :D

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