"You asked to see me, Lord Third?" Tōga greeted the Hokage with a smile and a bow, perhaps he had been too hasty to retire after his failure to protect his team.

"I did," the Hokage smiled and stood, moving around his desk to deliver a paper. "I was hoping with your connections you might consider coming out of retirement for the day for this."

Golden eyes drifted over the mission, an occasional grunt would escape the man, his brows furrowing before dropping his arm to his side. The paper crinkled against the fabric of his pants, smile giving way to a frown, "I see he hasn't learned and is continuing to kidnap."

"So it appears, I'm asking a lot of you to question one old friend and bring another in—"

"No," Tōga's mouth drew a tight line, nodding absently, "it should be me… after what he tried to do to Izayoi after all… it should be me."

Old eyes softened at Tōga's declaration, he had never truly forgiven his friend for what he did, no matter what he said otherwise. "Can you leave today?"

"Yes sir," Tōga turned and paused, slowly retreating back to his former position as he regarded the older man curiously, "may I bring a partner?"

A dramatic sigh filled the quiet of the room, Kagome glancing up from her desk before turning her full attention back to the task at hand. Another sigh had her turning a glare in the direction, head tilting with a frown, "I'm sorry is my working in my office too much for you, Kaede?"

"I'm bored."

"I'm not here for your entertainment, go find a clown for that."

"I would but Naruto's gone."

Kagome released her own sigh and rubbed her forehead, her siblings were exhausting. Kaede shifted to lie on the couch at the other end of the room, her legs dangling over the arm as she stared at the ceiling, "Kakashi moving in or something? It's been a few weeks and he stays over a few nights," her head turned to peer at the side of Kagome's face, "is it getting serious?"

"Please go somewhere else," she responded evenly.

Kaede wrinkled her nose and rolled to her side, propping her head in her hand. "You're dressing nicer too, is that what happens when you start dating?"

Kagome pinched the bridge of her nose and resisted the urge to throw her out of the room. "Speaking of dressing differently," she dragged her eyes to meet her sisters and smirked, "did you see what mom was wearing today?"

"Um… yeah!" Kaede shot up from her position to sit cross-legged on the sofa, "what was up with those shoes?"

"I was more concerned over the color shirt she decided on," a thoughtful look crept over Kagome's face before twisting into a grimace, "and what did she do to her hair?"

Kaede made a mock gagging noise to show her disapproval over their mother's choices, "you think she's seeing someone?"

"Wh—what?!"

"She's made a lot of changes to her clothes lately… and that new haircut…"

Kagome pondered her sister's question, her work abandoned and forgotten as she titled her chair back and crossed her arms. From what she remembered, her father's death hadn't been easy for her to get over, she remembered many a night where she would creep out of bed for water to find her mother in the silent kitchen with silent tears streaming down her face. "I guess it's… possible?"

Both girls turned as Souta stormed into the room, his anger engulfing the light energy they had developed as he paced the length and back before tossing himself onto the couch beside his sister. Kaede delivered a tight smile at Kagome's inquiring gaze, she knew but clearly wasn't going to divulge what had her twin in such a mood.

"Problem?" Kagome arched a brow with her question.

"Sesshoumaru is picking Kohaku for jōnin over us, he refuses to submit all three of us and picks him."

Kagome hummed and sighed, "it's an ocoverrated rank, you're not missing anything. Cant you just be happy for your friend? You'll get promoted in no time."

"Sure I'll be happy for him," Souta scoffed, sinking into the seat miserably, "when you're happy for Sango."

"I am happy for her."

"That's not what we heard," Kaede mumbled.

"I can disagree with her decision and still be happy for her… but until I see proof that she can deliver a healthy baby with no damage to her then I'm keeping it to myself."

Souta rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, "you're stubborn."

"Thank you."

"I don't think that was supposed to be a compliment." Kaede smiled.

"Hello."

"Uncle Tōga!" The twins fumbled off the couch and shot towards the door, shoving each other to be the first to greet him before shooting around the corner.

Dark hair swayed as Kagome shook her head, 'I wonder if they greeted Sesshoumaru too enthusiastically that's why he didn't promote them.' She stood with a smile as her old sensei walked through the door, one twin on each arm and his trademark smile in place before shaking them free, "my favorite nieces and nephew, I'm happy to see you're as well as ever."

"How are you?" Kagome greeted, allowing him to pull her in for a hug and kissing his cheek in return, "you're house quiet?"

"Not since the arrival of that little girl, she's warming up so well but shows no traces of chakra."

"That's not a bad thing," the kunoichi commented.

Tōga inclined his head knowingly, "no, that it is not."

Kagome tucked her leg under her body, kicking her free one absently as the kids flanked him on the couch. Kaede shifted and propped her head in her hand, "what brings you by Uncle?"

"I've been granted a mission and I need a partner, I've requested your sister."

"No thanks," she turned and presented her back to him, hearing Souta mumble something angrily under his breath.

"I'll do it!" He volunteered quickly, hope shining in his eyes at the chance to prove that he should have been promoted alongside his teammate.

Tōga ruffled his head and shook his own, "your sister is the one going, her name is already on the paper after all, signed by Lord Third himself."

Kagome begrudgingly turned to face him and shook her head in disbelief, fighting back the smile at his proud smirk. "Fine, I'll go… but I won't like it."

"I don't expect you to." He laughed.

"So, what kind of mission is this exactly?" Kagome's ponytail swung as she turned her head, "I didn't even have to pack a bag."

"Not this time, we're going to visit Ryūkotsei."

Kagome blinked in surprise and stumbled to a stop, "the… the feudal lord?"

"The very same."

"Why?"

Tōga dipped his fingers into the pouch of his vest and produced a folded paper, holding it to her with a sigh. "I couldn't refuse Lord Third's request."

Kagome unfolded the paper slowly, unaccustomed to seeing her sensei so serious. Even as her teacher he always held a bit of humor in every mission they took, "who's this guy?" she tilted the paper one way and tilted her head the other, from that angle he kind of looked familiar.

"That guy is Takemaru; he kidnapped Izayoi while she was pregnant on her trip home from her mothers," Tōga's jaw clenched reliving the memory with a frown, "and before that he, Ryūkotsei and I were old friends… I thought after sending him to prison the first time it would be alright but it seems he's been released on good behavior, kidnapped and killed a high profile actor, and was spotted near Ryūkotsei's lands."

"Kill on sight or bringing him in alive?" Kagome stared a little longer at his picture before folding the paper and tucking it away.

Toga stared openly at her question, brow arching when she lifted hers in silent question with a frown, "problem sensei?"

"I don't think I've ever heard you ask that question before," he answered finally. "Perhaps you were too hasty to turn down the position of jōnin."

"I've been hearing that a lot lately."

"That is because you had the most potential out of every single one of my students; my last team, you three worked marvelously together, the world was open to the three of you before that day… but you… the least hurt, I thought you'd want to gain revenge for your comrades, not hide away."

Kagome stopped walking with a sharp inhale, "I wanted to." Her foot scuffed as though her admittance disappointed herself, "I never wanted to be a shinobi, but it was fun… at first I wanted to find Naraku and kill him for what he did but then I got scared." She shrugged and raked a hand through her hair, "I got scared that I'd fail again because you taught us better than that and if I failed you again, I don't think I could have lived with myself."

Tōga lifted her chin slightly to better see her face, his eyes soft as he regarded her carefully. "You never failed me, my dear, I have lived every day knowing I failed you all. You have your father's natural ability as a shinobi and I've no doubts if you were to fully emerge yourself you could be amazing."

"Yeah?" her lips twitched slightly, if she imagined hard enough she could almost see her father in the similarities of her uncle. "Thanks, Uncle Tōga."

"I haven't heard you call me uncle in years," he chuckled, wrapping her in his arms tightly. Releasing her, they turned for the path, the castle visible just through the trees as they approached. Kagome made a noise of awe as they drew closer, ignoring the steps as they climbed and she continued to gawke to the amusement of the man at her side.

"He's modest compared to others."

"Modest?" she exclaimed, spinning in circles as they moved forward. "This place is amazing!"

"Thank you, I'm not used to such kind compliments."

Tōga's lips twitched in amusement at Kagome's jump, presenting his back to her as he turned. "Your roses look well, old friend."

Ryūkotsei grunted and stood, dusting his hands on his pants and making his way closer, "I've got to occupy my mind somehow. What brings you by?"

Kagome fumbled with her pocket and pulled forth the paper, "Takemaru was last seen around here… have you seen him?"

"This fool knows better than to show his face here after what he did," Ryūkotsei spat, handing the paper back. "How is Izayoi? I feel it's been ages since we've last visited."

"It has been," Tōga agreed softly, "and she passed… when Inuyasha was four."

"I'm so sorry," Ryūkotsei lay a hand on Tōga's shoulder, his eyes sliding to Kagome, "forgive me, I'm being so rude. Whom are you, my dear?"

"Kagome Higurashi, my lord." Her cheeks stung at the realization she too was being rude, thanking the gods her mother wasn't around to chastise her over her lack of manners.

"Banko's daughter."

"Yes, sir."

Ryūkotsei's silvery, shimmery eyes seemed to light up as he grunted, sweeping his arm to his castle, "let me get you both some tea."

"I'm afraid I have to decline for the both is us, Ryūkotsei; we're on a mission." Tōga was quick to respond, gripping Kagome's arm and pulling her back with him, "if Takemaru does show—"

"I'll inform you immediately."

Waiting until they were half way down the stairs, Kagome chanced a glance at her semsei's hand as it began to ease from her arm. "Sensei?"

"Stay vigilant, your father's death has changed everything…"

"Is this about that pebble—"

"Not here!" His face contorted angrily, golden eyes taking on a hint of pink before steering her away from the path. "There's a river just this way, we'll be able to come up with a plan."

Kagome nodded and followed silently, easing onto a rock beside the river and bending to remove her sandals and dip her feet in the water, "do I need to stop telling people who my father is?"

"No, that's your pride for him, don't ever lose that." Tōga paced with his answer, mind working to determine the next course of action. "Alright…"

"Alright?"

"Get your shoes back on," he turned and glanced around, turning slowly to face the direction they had come, "we go back."

Kagome lifted her eyes nervously, brow furrowing as she straightened. "Sensei?"

Tōga spared her a glance, "I suspect Ryūkotsei has been in contact with Takemaru… you can go back, I'm the one assigned fully to this."

"But you brought me," she argued back, "and I'm not leaving until it's finished."