This is a cute one – read and review and enjoy. It is a bit confusing, but questions will be answered in later chapters, I promise you.
Chapter 36 – Good to be back
They felt the pulse of intense magic that radiated throughout the forest like a sonic boom before they heard the faint feminine grunt as she landed at the bottom of the well. They'd waited years for this moment and now it was suddenly upon them they were all stuck as how to proceed. This was all except Inuyasha of course, he'd never done this before of course, but at the same time in the 'other' there were too many times to count. Nobody did anything until she had almost climbed all of the way out of the well and her head and shoulders peered over the rim.
It felt so natural for him to just reach out his hand for her to heave herself the last foot of the journey, and that was it, she was in the feudal era once more. She did not say anything, awestruck at how everybody had gathered to see her come home, for this was home. She took in everything at once, taking a leaf out of Yamazaki's book and not verbalizing all of her sights, and her thoughts as she saw them. People, demons especially were a lot more intuitive than people thought; they knew what she was thinking, and understood.
She noticed that Inuyasha was standing next to his brother, and that Sesshoumaru had his fingers entwined in Inuyasha's long locks. So they got along now – and that movement was so natural, they had always gotten along. This was good; all she did in response to the two Inus was nod her head gratefully in a silent phrase that only Sesshoumaru would understand. Thank you for keeping your promise... he had done her will well and had looked after his family. Sesshoumaru cocked his head ever so slightly in answer that was only noticed by Yamazaki; the fox that let nothing around him evade his keen green eyes.
He was standing there, looking no more than a couple of years older than when she'd left him, but foxes age slowly, and the years were kind to him. How long had it been – 200 years, maybe more – that is four years for Yamazaki – perhaps more to the Inus. He smiled at her, which was all that was needed, she was back, and he was silent, but the speech was there if needed. He was alive, and that was all that mattered to her for now.
He gaze flicked to his smiling face to his arms, there resting on his shoulder was Shippou. He face broke into a huge smile at the sight of the dear little loyal kitsune who followed her everywhere and was always on her side. The kit that started calling her mama one day and was so nervous and sorry about it even though she considered the dear little boy as her own already anyway and was glad he felt the corresponding way. He had his father now – yet she realized that there was no female Kitsune by Yamazaki's side...
Yamazaki and Sesshoumaru were standing shoulder to shoulder and in between them were two figures she would never forget. They were stark opposites, yet always together and seemed to always bicker yet get along well at the same time. One of them was like an energetic ray of sunshine... and wore her black hair in a ponytail at the side of her head, and wore her trademark orange and white chequered kimono... the dear little Rin, Sesshoumaru's ward. By this point it was obvious to Kagome she had changed the future a lot, but some things remained the same – so he had found her.
Next to the young girl, with a rare smile on his green face was the loyal retainer Jaken, she had never seen him do anything other than scowl before and grovel. He was smiling at her a faint smile like the Jaken she'd left behind held his staff proudly like always. Yes it was true, some things did remain the same, but she had changed some vital things for the better – like his dislike and disrespect for humans. Maybe this was because Sesshoumaru no longer hated them, for with a small glance back at him Kagome saw that he was wearing a small smile too, and it was for once not a frightening smirk that meant death – but a warm genuine smile.
Standing behind the adult kitsune and Sesshoumaru was her friend Hiro, the neko demon who had always been there for her. He was like an older brother that you thought did not like you, but was always there for you. He always seemed to be disinterested in her but the moment she was hurt he was right there for her. He never seemed to be paying attention but the second Sesshoumaru became too rough when training her, he stepped in and put a stop to it. He was the one that always found her – like a light to guide her home.
She had always believed he thought her to be a nuisance and wished he was not laden with her seeming as she practically draped off his tutee when she was staying with them. However, it seemed that she was wrong, well she might have been right to begin with, but he did not stay like that. After all, everyone changes, Jaken and Sesshoumaru, two human hating demons, even without her appearance earlier in the past, grew to love Rin. She had always been slightly held back around him, refraining from calling him '–kun' affectionately, always aware that he might not want to be as familiar with her as she wanted him to be. Then when it came for her to say goodbye, he had pulled her into a tight embrace.
Ah-Un was nuzzling him lovingly, prodding his shoulder with his snouts and rubbing his heads over his hair. Hiro, Kagome recalled Sesshoumaru had told her, had always had an affinity with beasts, and his pet dragon was no exception. Hiro casually reached behind him to pet the dragons' necks to quieten him down, and Kagome thought it strange not to just seeing a two headed dragon in the first place, but seeing a beast obviously bred to be dangerous or at least intimidating be calmed and tamed so easily.
From the dragon, her gaze slipped to Kouga and Ginta and Hakkaku who stood there smiling at her. Kouga of course instantly strode over and grasped her hands in his and said the first words to her upon her return. To her surprise they were not whispers of his undying love, but then she had changed that hadn't she, although he had had a child crush on her when he was young. "Welcome back, sis," was all he said, and no one made a move to contradict him. His father was standing behind him and nodded an affirmative at her. She guessed she was pack, she had agreed after all, and she did love Kouga, not in the way he had once loved her – for she realized that future no longer existed, but he was a dear friend of hers.
Ayame was standing next to him, as a friend if not as a mate and the two girls shared a smile. They were not good friends, no more than acquaintances really and not particularly friendly ones at that. But this was early days, she was back home now after all, and they could grow to become good friends, she was pack after all. Behind the wolves stood Totosai astride his flying cow and he too shot her a smile, on his shoulder was Myouga, the flea demon who never could resist sinking his sharp nose into anyone's neck.
Eventually her gaze flicked to a particular monk and demon slayer who stood cemented to one another's side. Sango had a swelling stomach, and had two young children already, so they had married with Miroku without his wind tunnel. Kagome wondered how they had found each other – how had everyone found each other? Perhaps the two humans were just destined to be, and it warmed her heart to see a very much alive Kohaku holding a fire cat she knew only too well – another dear friend of hers – Kirara. She wanted to run to them and hug them and cry tears of joy and reunited, but there was someone she wanted to find first.
Most of her friends were gathered by the well, but standing a little ways off the person she had been looking for. The Inutaisho stood leaning against a tree, looking at her, but not smiling, just looking at her, glad she was back, but remaining stoic. He had mated Izayoi obviously because he had had Inuyasha – but did he still love her, or even care for her? He had come of course to see her, as had everyone else, and Kagome didn't care whether or not he still even liked her, because Ryuukotsusie was dead, and he was alive.
Her gaze flicked once more to Inuyasha who was mated to Kikyou, and her stomach swelled with their first child. So she was alive, as was Keade who stood next to Sango and Miroku, did that mean that Onigumo and therefore Naraku were dead. There was one way to check that, he hand fell to her side to feel her hip, and sure enough there was no scar, she was the Shikon miko once more, and the Shikon jewel was whole inside her. The quest was complete; it was complete without it even having to begin. But then, if she was here and there was no scar made by mistress centipede – then why was she here at all?
All answers would be given she decided, as she caught up with her friends over the past centuries. Her gaze once again fell to Inuyasha and his father, not sure who she wanted to go to first; she still had yet to say her first words. It was Inuyasha who walked over to her and enveloped her in a hug, the first hug he'd given her outside of the dreams. "Took your time getting back to us wench," he murmured in her ear.
Kagome wanted to sit him for that comment so badly, but he had no rosary around his neck so she could not do that as much as she wanted to. It was an insensitive thing for the first thing to say to someone, but it fit so well with his character, the one she remembered, her Inuyasha. All she could do was grasp him tightly as everyone started to laugh, and she laughed too. She laughed so hard tears came out her eyes and she held Inuyasha for all she was worth and just laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed.
Sesshoumaru, Yamazaki and Hiro, the three who knew her the best came forwards and wrapped their arms around her too in a group hug. Not wanting to be left out, the children came forward, Shippou darting off his father's shoulders and finding his way into Kagome's arms just like old times. Rin jumped onto Sesshoumaru's back and he positioned her so she was inside the huddle and closer to the girl she had dreamt about loving just like an older sister. Even Jaken joined him, dropping his staff and making his way in between numerous legs to stand beside Kagome, coming up no further than her knee but grasping her leg as affectionately as someone so small can hug.
Sango and Miroku joined in next, practically throwing themselves at her and Hiro stood back graciously to allow them to have closer contact with their sister and they held onto her like no tomorrow as if afraid she would leave them again so soon. Kirara jumped out of Kohaku's arms to land on her shoulder, and even her, who barely knew her came to hug the girl his sister referred to as a sister, which made her his sister too in his mind.
Keade was never one to hug, but she had her sister came to hug the young miko they both had fond dreams of. Kagome faintly heard Kikyou apologising to her – everyone was apologising, especially Sesshoumaru and Kikyou who did her most wrong. They did know that they had nothing to apologise for, because the wrong they did her had never come to pass. Kouga and Kouga hugged her too as did his pack mates, and Totosai hugged the girl, and Myouga did not even try to feed off her. "You're such a jerk Inuyasha," Kagome muttered as she hugged her friends tightly, not wanting to let anyone go again. It was good to finally be back home with everyone.
After several minutes of course everyone had to step back to allow Kagome to have some air. Once everyone had stepped back from her, Inutaisho strode forward and picked her up bridal style. "It is indeed good to have you back Kagome, you have been missed greatly," he said quietly in her ear. Kagome huddled in silent agreement against the demon Lord's chest, he was right of course, it was indeed good to be back.