AUTHOR'S NOTE: So I messed up and posted the 7th chapter as the 6th and totally skipped this one because I'm tired and haven't slept all night. My B, folks. Please read swings before panic!

Kagome followed Sesshou back to his car and the two drove a couple blocks away to a residential park. The distance from the launch site granted Sesshou safety from hearing damage, and Kagome a view of the display.

He led her to the swing set at the far end, and took a seat on one. The visual was odd to her, but she shook off the awkwardness and sat beside him on the next swing. A human Sesshomaru sitting on a swing set is something she never thought she would see.

Yet here we are, she thought.

"I'd like to begin by telling you of myself." Sesshou gripped the chain links and rocked himself forward and back with his feet in the dirt. Kagome nodded in acknowledgment, silently agreeing to listen. "I run the company we met at, with the garden out front. We are called YANA, or Youkai Allegiance to Ningen Affairs." Kagome tilted her head in curiosity. "Or to the public, YANA Corporation, which is a multitude of operations, such as automobiles, stocks, marketing, and even pharmaceuticals."

"Oh, that's right. I've heard of YANA pharm!" Kagome chirped in realization.

"Yes, now be quiet." Sesshou didn't bite her head off for the intrusion, having come to terms in his long life, especially in this time, that not everyone respected his wishes or authority. "YANA protects demons in modern society and assists the turnover of identity and relocation for demons that have been discovered. We handle the press, we have private schools, concealment spellbound accessories," He listed off the most popular uses, "And much more." Kagome nodded in acknowledgment, wondering what else YANA managed. In truth, she was intrigued by the Sesshou's selfless foundation to help demon-kind. She made a mental note to find out more later. "Now, I can tell you of your friends, to a certain extent. I did not keep track of their progeny as the centuries went on." Kagome nodded mutely, almost relieved. "And I can tell you of my half brother." Hope and fear shot through her. Would she be able to handle it? "To an extent."

"Okay," Kagome gulped. Her fingers were shaking and she had to grip the edge of her skirt to prevent Sesshou from seeing her nervousness. "Tell me about Sango and Miroku."

"The slayer and monk married, producing many children. Twin girls first, then a son. After another decade, they nearly had a litter." He sardonically rolled his eyes. Kagome gave him wide eyes, curious and afraid all at once, her emotions an open book to him. "Their oldest girl of the twins was very fond of the fox kit, whom I trained and became a ward of mine for some decades." He could recall many training sessions ruined by the teen spying on them, all in hopes of catching the fox's eye.

"You trained Shippou?" Tears bubbled in her eyes, threatening to fall in endless streams. Even uttering her young friend's name was refreshing.

"He was a quick study, and graduated from the kit school with highest honors. I believe he and his mate ran the school for the next few centuries." Sesshou nodded, continuing, "Your friends' children became the next line of slayers. Their youngest daughter became the next high priestess of Edo."

"They really did well, huh?" Kagome sniffled, wiping her tears away on the sleeve of her cardigan.

"They lived long, fulfilling lives." He agreed. For humans, they seemed happy, strong, and healthy. He had a feeling Kagome's knowledge of illnesses and medicinal remedies played a part in their survival for many winters.

"What about Rin?" She asked, taking a deep breath to calm her nerves. Sesshou had a feeling she was purposely avoiding the fate of his half brother.

"She and Kohaku married." He paused his rocking, allowing himself to remember his last memory of her. She had stayed in Edo and married the young slayer who on numerous occasions had tried to save and kill her. Funny how he could judge her for that and sit beside a female he once swore he'd kill, too. "They had one child, a girl. The three of them were happy as well."

"Was it hard to let her go?" Kagome's voice was a whisper in the night. Her heart went out to his, knowing all too well what it was like to let someone go.

"Yes." He admitted. "She was my ward; mine to care for," He looked to the sky where he knew the first firework was about to launch. He could smell the powder chemical reacting to fire. "And then she was not."

The screech of a firework shooting upwards brought both their attention to the night sky. Together their eyes trailed the smoky line as it rose, then exploded in a brilliant green. The glow was still bright, even from this distance, and it lit their surroundings for a scant few seconds before fizzing out. Before it had glittered out of existence, many more shot up.

Sesshou turned to view Kagome's profile and watched as her eyes took in the display. She was glowing with the colors of the fireworks, and her normally deep blue eyes reflected the sky, making each orb look like the galaxy was bursting in each one. He had to admit to himself she was different. A time traveling priestess, returned to the modern era, and lost within her own madness.

He wondered, why did she ever come back?