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Chapter 29: The Coffee House Meet

It had been several days since the well sealed closed, trapping Tamako and Kohaku on the Tokyo side of the well. She willed for it to open, she visited the well just about every day. And the days turned into a week.

Kohaku was learning a lot about this new Tokyo, and he seemed fascinated in the developments of this world. He was also fascinated that demons did not seem to be a problem for the humans of the future. What was a demon slayer to do with no demons to slay?

He found himself sitting outside, staring at the huge buildings around them, listening to the various noises. But they never left the shrine. He'd been told that people with Tamako's ears did not walk around in public, that demons were just fairy tales. And Kohaku thought of how nice it must have been, growing up with no fear of demons, no fear of your life on a daily basis.

Tamako had fashioned herself a concealment bracelet. She'd taken one her grandmother had given her, and used her miko powers to make it. Her mother had taught her the magic, just in case she ever needed it. Putting her bracelet on, looking up in the mirror as she watched her ears slowly fade from the magic, being replaced by normal human ears. Holding up her fingers and watching her claws shrink and her fangs along with them. Letting out a sigh, she hated hiding it, it felt so strange.

Gently pulling her hair up and braiding it, bringing it over one shoulder and dressing in human clothes of this era. They used to belong to her mother. Wearing a pair of jean shorts and tennis shoes, along with a button up pale yellow shirt. She looked at herself in the mirror, she really did look like a human. The only thing her bracelet could not mask was the mark on her neck and the kanji of Kouga's name.

Her fingers slowly moved to the kanji, closing her eyes halfway as she watched herself in the mirror. "Kouga..." she said in a soft voice. She missed him more than she'd ever thought possible. She also thought about her parents, her dad. He must be torn apart by this, she knew it.

A sigh crossed her lips and shook her head. Taking her fingers off the side of her neck, she shifted her shirt to hide the mark there.

Walking out of her room and down the stairs before moving outside. Seeing Kohaku sitting there by the steps, she only smiled a bit. "You wanna go down them?" she asked.

Hearing her voice, he looked up at her, blinking a bit. "Wow...oh-oh um yeah!" he said. He was dressed in normal clothes for the time as well. A pair of jeans and a shirt, things that Mrs. Higurashi had given him to wear.

Smiling a bit to him. She hid away her feelings, wouldn't let anyone see how torn up she was. It was only in her sleep that she couldn't control the cries and sobs. Kohaku had seen it every night, too, and he hated it. "Whats the matter? Don't like the 'new' me?" Tamako asked.

"Oh no, no I love it. You're gorgeous." Kohaku said, blushing deeply and shaking his head. "Come on. I hope we won't get lost."

"Ohh we'll be fine. I'm a half demon, remember?" she asked. Moving to start walking down the steps slowly. She had also left her sword in her room, which felt strange to her. She'd never gone anywhere without her sword since she'd gotten it, it was keeping a lock on her demonic powers. But she figured that this world was safe enough that she didn't need it.

They walked down the steps and she led him down the street slowly. Kohaku wondered at all of the things he was seeing, all of the people. "Wow...theres so many people...this is a huge village."

Giggling a little, Tamako shook her head. "Its not a village, Kohaku. Its a city. Cities are bigger than villages." she said, glancing at him. "I don't much remember things from this time. Little bits and pieces is all. The feudal era is my home, where I belong. My kind have to hide in this time...hide who and what we are. And I hate it. I was never looking forward to that part of my future, as I knew I'd live until this time again...but apparently its happened sooner than I thought." she said with a sigh.

Listening to her, Kohaku moved to take ahold of her hand, gripping it a little. "We'll get back home. I promise." he said, looking up at her.

Smiling to him, shaking her head. "I hope so." she said. Gripping his hand back just a little, being careful of his human bones. Looking back forward and sighing a little.

They walked in almost silence for a while. Kohaku asking questions, and Tamako attempting to answer all of them.

She slowed to a stop as they passed by a coffee shop, taking in a breath and glancing into the window.

Kohaku took a few steps forward before looking back at her. "Hey. Whats up?" he asked, looking into the window of the coffee shop. Hearing the door open, the smells drifting out to meet his nose. "Mmm, whatever that is...it smells nice." he said.

But, she wasn't paying attention. Her eyes stared into the coffee shop intently, her mouth dropping open a little. Slowly she moved to open the door, walking inside and letting the door close behind her.

Realizing she was gone, Kohaku blinked, looking where she should be. "Tamako?" he asked. Seeing her through the window, he stepped up and opened the door, walking in after her. The smells of the shop hitting his nose instantly. It smelled so good in the shop. In his time they did not have coffee yet, but it smelled great.

Looking up to Tamako, he watched her.

Walking slowly, her fingers reached up. Gently grabbing ahold of a mans arm, bringing him to turn around and look at her.

She was met with the cerulean eyes she'd gotten to know so well, Kouga's eyes. But it was different. He was dressed in a suit, with no tail, and his ears were more rounded then normal, he had no claws, or fangs. But his scent was the same. His long black hair was still tied into a high pony tail and he wore a pair of black dress pants, a button up white dress shirt with no tie and no suit jacket. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up, and he held a set of keys in one hand. The only jewelry he wore was a golden wedding band on his left hand.

Looking down at her, Kouga blinked. "Tamako, koi, what on earth are you doing here? I thought you had a meeting this afternoon? Decided to meet me for lunch after all? And when did you change?" he asked.

Tilting her head to one side, she shook her head. "Kouga..." she said. Quickly moving and lunging into his arms, wrapping her arms around his waist tightly and resting her cheek against his chest, closing her eyes tightly. "Oh Kouga!" she cried softly. Breathing in deeply that familiar scent she loved so much, her fingers clutching his white shirt.

"Woah woah calm down babe. What happened? Are you okay?" he asked, resting his hands on her shoulders. "Lets have a seat, huh? I'll get you a cup of mint tea and you can calm down.."

"No." she stated, refusing to let go of his shirt. Her mind hadn't processed his words before that. This wasn't a dream, it was broad daylight. And he was right there in her arms, she refused to let that go.

Standing with her for a moment, Kouga rubbed her shoulders, looking down at her head slowly. "Tell me whats the matter, babe. I can't help if I don't know." he said. Shifting with her to bring her to a table. Moving to sit down, she followed him to sit on his lap. The only movement to let go she made was to wrap her arms around his neck, hiding her face into his shoulder.

She breathed in his scent, causing herself to relax and calm down a little bit. She never let this show in her waking hours before, but when she smelled the traces of his scent, and saw his face...it just made her let go.

Kohaku just watched them, looking at Kouga curiously. How had he gotten here? And he looked...different. Staying off to one side as he watched, glancing away. He did like Tamako...a lot. And, part of him sort of wanted the well to stay closed, so maybe he had a chance. But, that was selfish, he knew it. Though seeing Kouga here now, he new he didn't have a chance at all.

Gently Kouga looked at Tamako, slowly shifting to bring her chin up, his fingers resting underneath it. His thumb moved to wipe her tears, smiling. She hadn't been crying hard, just letting tears move down her cheeks. "Hey, no more tears on that beautiful face, babe. Tell me whats wrong. Did the meeting go bad?"

Shaking her head as she looked at him, taking in a breath. "Meeting? What...meeting? What are you talking about?" she asked. Looking down at him, slowly she moved her fingers over his shoulders and down his chest. "Woah...and since when did you start wearing things like these?"

Looking at her, confused, he blinked. "Uhh since the world war. Babe, wheres your ring? I'm confused. Are you ill or something? Maybe I should get you home." he asked.

"Oh I'd love to go home Kouga-kun. I've missed you so much. But I don't understand...how'd you get here? And in a coffee shop at that?"

"Uhh I always come to this shop when you don't meet me for lunch? You missed me? Well, I missed you too. But its only been a couple of hours. Thats it, come on, I'm getting you home. Something is wrong." he said. Reaching to take a cellphone from his pocket and opening it.

"Whats that?" Tamako asked when she saw the phone. Tilting her head to one side in curiosity as she reached to take it from him, blinking. "It looks like a phone.."

"Yeah, its my phone. Who else could it belong to? I'll call the guys and say I can't make it in after lunch. They can handle it without me. Besides, you're more important." he said, taking his phone back from her and making a call. She heard him talking to someone on the other end.

"Hey, Ginta. I'm not going to be able to come in for the rest of the day. Yeah, Tamako isn't feeling well I don't think..." he said, chuckling a little. "No I didn't knock her up again, seesh. I think she's just over worked. Yeah I'll tell her, thanks Ginta." he said, hanging up the phone and putting it back in his pocket.

She looked at him, blinking. "Knock me up again? Nice Kouga." she said, pouting a bit. "And what do you mean again? We haven't had a pup yet..."

Tilting his head to one side, reaching to feel her forehead. "Maybe I did knock you up again. Come on...lets get you home." he said. Standing up and bringing her to her feet. Moving one arm around her shoulders as he walked out of the coffee house with her, holding his keys in one hand.

Seeing them leaving, Kohaku stood up, reaching to grab Kouga's wrist. "Hey, wait. You mean back to the shrine?"

Kouga stopped, looking at Kohaku and a growl raising up in his throat. "Well, if it isn't the son of a bitch that wanted in my girls pants. How the hell are you here? You died...a long, long time ago. Though, I have to say, I always wanted a chance to kick your ass. Tamako didn't tell me about those times you kissed her until after you were dead. Lucky you."

"Well, I'm not dead." Kohaku said.

"Died? Wait wait..." she said, leaning back. Suddenly becoming well aware of people around them, she pouted. "Kouga, Kohaku lets go somewhere to talk, okay?"

"Fine." Kouga growled. "But he sits in the back seat." he said. Walking out of the cafe and down the street. Pressing the button on his key ring, the lights on one of the cars parked there blinking. He walked up and opened the door, taking Tamako's hand and helping her slide into the front seat before closing the door. Letting Kohaku get into the back on his own, it was almost awkward for Kohaku to figure out what he was doing.

Kouga rolled his eyes a bit. Walking around to the drivers seat and getting in, starting up his car and pulling out of the parking spot.

The car was nice. It was a black Nissan Maxima sport edition with black leather seats on the inside. It was one of the newest models, complete with a navigation system built into the console.

Tamako slowly looked around the inside of the car. "Wow..." she said slowly, her fingers moving over the smooth leather.

Kouga grinned, glancing at her before looking forward. "Wow what? You helped me pick out the car. You've got good taste, my dear."

"I do? I did? Kouga I have no idea what you're talking about." Tamako said, looking up at him. "When I last saw you was a week ago. Kyora attacked us and I fell down the well...it sealed and now I'm here."

Kouga's face became more serious as he looked forward. "The well? That old bone eaters well..?" he asked, thinking. "Oh! Oh I remember what you're talking about. Babe, thats been five hundred years." he said, gripping the wheel a little as he looked forward. "The most painful month of my life...I remember it now. But...why are you reliving that? Its been hundreds of years..."

"No, no it hasn't. Its been a week." she said, looking up at his face. "So...so you mean I make it back to you? I really do?" she asked, a smile spreading across her lips.

Pulling into an empty parking lot, Kouga parked the car, leaving it running before looking at her, blinking. "Kami...so...oh kami..." he said, shaking his head, a lightbulb almost going off. "Oh, okay, yeah I get it now. Okay so...Tamako, I am Kouga, yes...but...I'm not that Kouga anymore. Its been five hundred years. You came back like a month after you were gone. It was the worst month of my entire life. I'd never felt so much pain before. And when you came back, I vowed never to feel that again." he said, looking at her.

They both looked at him as he spoke, but Tamako blinked. "So...so you're the future? Like this place? I made it back?" she asked, a smile spreading across her lips. "I had pups, we had a life..." she said. Moving to quickly hug him, kissing him slowly and closing her eyes.

Startled by her suddenness, Kouga rested one hand on her side as he kissed her. It wasn't really cheating, right? It was his mate after all.

Slowly he leaned back a little from the kiss, chuckling and looking at her face. "Yes, you did. Seesh, I'm glad its past-you and I didn't get you pregnant again. You're not always nice when those hormones hit. I hid your sword the last time because you threatened to kill some poor human with it."

Giggling, she rested one hand over her lips. "Oh I did? Wow.." she said, looking up at his face. "So...so this is real? This is you? This is our life?" she asked.

Nodding slowly, he took his phone out and looked through it. Finding a picture, he showed it to her. It was a picture of the two of them in selfie style. Tamako was holding the camera, and they weren't wearing their concealment items. Her cheek was pressed against his and she was smiling. They both seemed to be dressed casually, she was wearing one of Kouga's shirt that was too big on her, and he wore pajama pants.

"Wow.." she said slowly as she looked at the picture, looking up at him.

"Yeah. I don't want to tell you too much, I mean...nobody should know their future so detailed." he said, putting his phone down on his lap, looking at her. "You know...come to think of it, I heard you babble about meeting me in the future in Tokyo once. I thought you'd lost your mind. It makes sense now. But, if you say its only been a week, you have a few more before you make it back to me. Listen to me, the well will open. You can open it. You need to open it. You're powerful, thats all I can tell you."

"Thats all you can tell me? Come on Kouga. How is my mom and dad? Or how many pups do we have? Did we beat Kyora?" she asked.

He shook his head, smiling. "No. I cannot tell you. Its too much that you know this. But, I will drive you back to the shrine." he said. Putting the car in drive, he started to drive from the parking lot and towards the shrine.

Looking at him, Tamako was smiling happily. "I can't wait to get home. I've missed you so much." She said. Moving to take Kouga's hand as he drove with his other one, holding onto it tightly.

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Kouga's words rang deeply in her mind all night. She wished he didn't leave her there, but she knew he had to go. She spent a lot of that night sitting in the well house, staring at the well.

"How am I supposed to make the well open for me? I wish I had the answer..." she said, closing her eyes just halfway.

Feeling his hand on her shoulder, Tamako sighed. "Hi Kohaku..." she said.

"Hey..." he said. Moving to sit next to her and looking at her face. "So...I already think I know what you're thinking. He said you're strong, Tamako...we all know that. You can do this. You just need to figure out how. But...on the bright side, we do make it back eventually." he said with a smile.

"Yeah I know. I just wish I knew how. I wish I could make it work now." she said, sighing. Moving to stand up and walk to the well, resting her fingers against the edge and leaning against it slowly. Closing her eyes, she gripped the wood. "Please, Kami, show me how..."

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A/N: Hey guys, I hope you're enjoying it! :-). I also started another story called "Parenthood" that I'm also going to feature Tamako in. She's become a character I love, and I can foresee myself using her in more than just this story, in different scenarios.

So, check out the beginnings of my other story, and let me know what you think!