"Where are my shoes?" Kagome was frazzled as she went from the front door to where her loafers were supposed to be only to find the spot empty.
"Mama should put her stuff in a safe spot." Hanna chided from her seat in the dining room.
"Hanna, leave your mother be and eat your breakfast. After we have to apply your glamour." Sesshomaru stated cooly.
Remembering what her grandmother had told her about not having to change her appearance if she didn't want too she slumped in her chair.
"I don't wanna papa." Poking at her rice with her fingers she pouted.
"Neither do I but we do what we must to fit in." He replied as he watched Kagome flit from one room to another anxiously.
"Zumu said that I don't have too."
"Your grandmother says many things Hanna however it is not her decision on how we live." He said.
"Found my shoes! Now where's my school satchel?" Kagome yelled out from somewhere in the house.
"But papa don't you wish you didn't have to hide?" Hanna appealed.
"Regardless of my hair color or if I don't show my markings this form is still hiding my true form Hanna." Sesshomaru mused.
"Then, what are you really like?" Curiously Hanna sat up straighter.
"Your papa's a big, fluffy puppy dog." Kagome said coming into the dining room finally put all together for school. Ruffling Sesshomarus short hair she kissed his cheek. "Gotta go."
"Good luck. Try not to overexert yourself." He said nuzzling against her side.
"It's mostly just finding my classes today and meeting the professors. Compared to my first pregnancy this one will be a breeze." Moving over to Hanna she knelt down wrapping her arms around her shoulders. "Have a good day at school sweetie."
"You too mama." Hugging her mother tightly she was struck with a thought. "Mama, do I have to look different?"
"Hanna, other people are already used to seeing you with dark hair and without your moon. I'm sorry honey but yeah, you do. For now." Kagome said kissing the tip of her nose. "I'll see you guys later. Love you."
Hearing the door shut as Kagome made her way out onto the street Sesshomaru saw the defiant look in his daughters eye. He knew that look. It was going to be a long morning.
"Okay so, west building room four three five. Anatomy and physiology." Staring down at her schedule as she held it in both of her hands she didn't see the person standing in front of her.
Bumping into them she gasped. "I am so sorry…"
"Kagome?" The familiar voice questioned. Looking up at the face of the man she had hit she gasped again.
"Hojo!" Kagome felt her jaw slacken as her mouth fell open slightly.
"Long time no see." He smiled warmly at her. "How have you been? I heard you had married young and became a mother."
"That's right. I was still able to get all of my high school credits though to attend university here." She said with pride
"Good for you. You always were the best student you could be despite your medical problems."
"My medical problems…right." She nodded with a smile.
"Hopefully they don't cause you too many issues to interfere with your attendance now."
"I don't think they'll be a problem."
"Which way you heading? My first class is in the west wing."
"Mine too. Wanna walk together. It'll be like old times."
"Absolutely. I have always enjoyed your company Kagome." With that the two former classmates made their way through the crowds of other students.
Grabbing Hanna by the back of her shirt and lifting her up to his eye level Sesshomaru stared at her.
"I have faced adversaries over the centuries far more fearsome than you pup." Sesshomaru stated. "You will get ready for school and that includes applying your glamour."
Sniffling she tearfully looked at him pouting. "It will not work on me today Hanna. I have far too much to do to waste time fighting with you."
Baring her teeth and changing her attitude nearly instantly he saw the storm forming in her glacial depths. "Your intimidation technique needs work little one."
Getting her to settle long enough to at least get her hair brushed he took a step back waiting for her to darken her hair and hide her crescent mark.
"I don't know how." She said with a shrug.
"Hanna, if you not do it yourself then you will force my hand and I do not want to have to bind your powers." Sesshomaru admonished.
Looking up at him fearfully she lowered her head and bit at her lower lip. "Fine." Watching her silvery hair turn dark from the roots down as black bled hiding her real color.
Raising her gaze back to his he saw her marking was effectively hidden. Letting out a sigh he smoothed down her hair affixing her ribbon into place.
Helping her to get her small autumn jacket on along with her backpack and shoes they left with Sesshomaru doing a mental check to make sure he had all of his belongings.
Normally he and Kagome took Hanna to school together before he returned home for work. In the last few months he decided to retire his current practice to be able to spend more time with them.
Today was the day to make sure everything was signed and in place for his replacement to take over the business.
As it was he currently had been living under this assumed identity for well over fifteen years, he didn't like to stay in the public eye for very long.
Humans were so short lived it was easy to assimilate back into society after twenty or so years with a new identity without being too noticeable.
Granted now with Kagome and Hanna it may be more of a challenge but it was one he was more than up to facing. He had waited for his wife and daughter for centuries to come through the well.
Once he had gotten over his initial grief of losing them both to the time stream he sought out every means necessary he could think of to provide for them comfortably when they arrived.
Holding his daughters small hand in his as they made their way past the gates of their stately home he still felt as if it were unreal.
There were times he would wake in a cold sweat terrified that the last four years had only been a dream, that they were still away from him only to have Kagome sleeping peacefully beside him.
"Mama will pick you up from school on her way home." Sesshomaru said glancing down at her. He received no response. "I was thinking we could go out later for dinner, is there anywhere you would like to go?"
"Kiwis." She muttered.
"Alright, we can go to Kiwi Kitchen." Unsurprised that she would pick a restaurant that boasted a small indoor playground he looked to his watch. "Don't tell your mother, we can make it a surprise."
Waiting in line at the school gate with the other parents he began to notice some of the odder looks he was receiving from the other parents, some of which had been patients of his to deliver his daughters classmates.
"Ishida sensei." One of the mothers he knew greeted formerly.
"Tanaka san." He replied.
"Your hair is white and is that paint on your face?" She asked curiously.
In his haste to get Hanna ready with everything else on his mind he had forgotten to apply his own glamour. Glancing down at Hanna who only snaked her eyes up at him in a knowing look.
"Why yes." He said not missing a beat. "Hanna has recently discovered a penchant for painting and I was her canvas this morning."
"You hair though it's…"
"I stripped the color from it to dye it."
"Oh." The woman said with a smile easily placated with his explanation. The humans really were quite easy to hide amongst with a few choice words to put them at ease if anything were out of place.
Swiping a hand on the side of his head he sighed. At least his ears were not extended and pointed, that would have caused a little more effort on his part to explain away.
As the school bell chimed and the line began to move Sesshomaru muttered under his breath so only Hanna could hear him. "We will have words later on pup."
Bringing his attention down to her as they entered the building he saw the small triumphant grin that crossed her lips for only a moment and couldn't help but smirk to himself in a similar way.
"Oh man. I feel like I ran a marathon today." Kagome sighed out as she exited the school grounds. Checking her phone she knew she had more than enough time to make it her daughters school.
"Hey Kagome." She heard Hojo from behind her as he jogged close to her. "Want me to walk you home?"
"I'm not going home. I have to pick up my daughter besides I don't live at the shrine anymore."
"I know. You live in that big estate that we all always thought was haunted." He replied with a smile.
"How…do you know that?" Kagome asked feeling uneasy.
"Ayumi had mentioned it once. She said that she, Eri, and Yuka visited with you from time to time."
"Right." Kagome said at ease again. "They did until recently. They all decided to go abroad for school. I miss them."
"Do you regret it Kagome? I mean, I can't imagine at our age having the type of responsibility that you have."
"No. I'm very lucky you know. My husband is wonderful and loves us very much. I can't imagine my life without my daughter in it. By next year we'll have another baby and I just can't wait."
"Your pregnant?" Hojos eyes went wide as he nearly gasped.
"Yeah, I am. Just don't say anything okay? Everyone in my circle knows but the whole world doesn't have to yet."
"Your secret is safe with me." He said. "You really are amazing Kagome, you know that?"
"I don't know about that." She said blushing slightly at the compliment.
"Don't sell yourself short. You're a strong woman."
"Well thank you Hojo." Approaching the school Kagome stood outside waiting for the school bell to release the younger children from their class.
Standing with the other parents Kagome nodded to a few others who gave her a somewhat odd look as she stood beside Hojo.
"Ishida san." One of the mothers approached her. Kagome hated this woman. She was a busy body, nosey, and she suspected she had a crush on Sesshomaru the way the woman carried on about what a brilliant doctor he was.
"Tanaka san." Kagome said with a smile. She didn't mind playing a little dumb to throw the other woman off and to just kill her with kindness.
"Forgive me but I forgot how young you are. Look at how adorable you are in your school uniform and is this one of your classmates?"
"Why yes, he is. This is a long time friend of mine from school. Hojo."
"Pleased to meet you Tanaka san." Hojo greeted respectfully.
"You as well Hojo san." As the school bell chimed Kagome inwardly sighed relief. Only a few more minutes before she could get Hanna and get the hell away from this woman.
Of course Hanna was one of the last children to exit that day simply because Kagome wanted to bolt, that was how it normally worked.
"Ishida san." Hannas teacher came up to her walking along side Hanna.
"Kato sensei."
"I would like to talk with you about Hannas day. It was, eventful." The teacher stated.
"Of course." Turning to Hojo she bid her goodbyes and waited until he had left before looking back to her daughters teacher.
"Please don't misunderstand. Hanna is not in trouble however she does have a very unique imagination." The teacher said.
"Don't all small children have an imagination?" Kagome questioned glancing down at her daughter.
"Of course they do but Hanna is different. Ishida san, your daughter is extremely intelligent and at times I feel as if she is trying too hard to fit in with the other children. We had an assignment today in class where I asked the children to tell everyone what their families are like."
'Oh god.' Kagome thought to herself managing to keep a straight face.
"Hanna replied that you are a time traveling priestess and her father is a demon that can turn into a large dog."
'Breathe Kagome. You can think of something to explain this.'
"Of course I know that it obviously isn't true but I'm just curious as to where she would get something like that."
"Oh well," Clearing her throat before continuing, "I am a priestess. I grew up in a shrine here in the city. In recent years I haven't been practicing however much to my grandfathers dismay."
"I think Hanna said that about her father because sometimes I refer to him as a big puppy, like how people say a big teddy bear when describing someone." Tapping her finger to her lips in mock thought.
"I see. It was really quite amusing and I am one to foster a child's creativity not put it out. There is however a time and a place for it."
"I completely understand. We will definitely be having a little chat." Kagome said taking her daughters hand in hers.
Walking out of the school grounds she looked down at her daughter. "Well, at least you left out the part where you're a goddess. That may have been a phone call home."
"Mama, papa said he was gonna tie my power." Hanna said.
"Bind?"
"Yes, tied."
"Why? Why did papa say that?"
"Cause I didn't change."
"I see." Clenching her teeth slightly she decided that when she saw Sesshomaru later they would have words.
"Papa said we're going to Kiwi today but you don't know. Be surprised." Hanna said. For all of her knowledge and abilities the little girl couldn't keep a secret between her parents if her life depended on it.
"I will sweet girl."
"Who was the man with you?" Feeling her daughters eyes on her she glanced down. Seeing an intensity behind them that mirrored her fathers Kagome smiled at her to quell her worry.
"He is an old friend of mine. We grew up together. We have some classes together again."
"He likes you. Too much." Hanna stated.
"I know but don't worry. I know how to handle him. I've been doing it since before you were even thought of."
"Okay mama." Hanna said as they approached their home. "Wanna see my picture I drew today?"
"Definitely." Kagome said with a nod as they made the trek up the long drive to their front door.
A/N: Some things I have neglected to mention within this universe.
Zumu is common mandarin for grandmother. As Sesshomarus mother shares similarities with the Chinese goddess of the western sky, and for the sake of these stories she is one in the same, I thought perhaps she would have her granddaughter call her something akin to this.
Any mention of a store or restaurant is a real place in Tokyo that I have looked up just because I want to get something accurate in these far fetched non canon stories. Anyone interested look up most popular child friendly restaurants in Tokyo, there are some very cool places.
Again, I don't know where I'm going with this story totally so lets see how the shapes up. Happy reading, until next time.