Mother

Kagome bounced home. She had just aced a test and she was expecting Inu- Yasha to come back soon. It had been exactly two years ago when she had fallen in to the well and a year to this day that she had finished her quest and restored the Jewel of Four Souls. Inu-Yasha had promised to return, to wait for her. That seemed like it had been yesterday instead of a whole year.

Kagome had no idea she was being watched. Just the site of her made the dog demon smile. Soon she would know and they would be together.

When Kagome arrived home her best friend Hisu was waiting for her. She had known him for a while at least two years and maybe longer. When she had seen Inu-Yasha she had thought Hisu was a reincarnation except Inu- Yasha's a demon and won't die. Recently she had a feeling that Hisu wanted more then a friendship from her and that worried her a bit.

"Hey Hisu."

"Umh" Hisu turned around and flashes a smile, "Hi Kagome! Wanna go out and get a bite to eat?"

Kagome hesitated... Inu-Yasha where are you?

Seeing Kagome hesitate he flashed another smile, fangs gleamed brightly, "Please?"

Kagome gasped. That smile... so familiar... but not on his face. The thought struck Kagome that Hisu never showed his teeth when he smiled and that he never took off his hat or hood. "Hisu, take off your hood."

Slowly Hisu drew back his hood to reveal to (cute and furry) dog-ears and a mass of long white hair.

Kagome's heart leapt. "Inu-Yasha!" she yelled and leapt to his arms.

"How 'bout dinner now?" asked he asked mischievously.

Kagome drew back, "This is for leaving me for so long. SIT! And this is for coming back." she knelt beside the crumpled dog demon and pulled him up to her lap and kissed him. "Lets go for dinner now," she suggested feeling much better.

Kagome had no idea why Inu-Yasha wanted to go to such a fancy restaurant but allowed him to pull her after the waiter. She stared at the table they were heading for and stopped dead. 3 people were already sitting at the table. She squinted to get a better look but didn't need to. Sango and Mirku looked just like they had a year ago but that was impossible. It had been decades to them. She didn't know the third person. Feeling her stop Inu-Yasha bent down and whispered "Kaede did a spell using the blood of Shippo and I to lengthen their life. Their married now. The third persons Shippo."

Kagome nodded numbly and followed Inu-Yasha to the table.

Kagome was glad for the hood. She felt like a stranger. Inu-Yasha on the other hand wanted to tell them the good news but was going to wait till Kagome was ready.

"Inu-Yasha, you jerk." Shippo didn't wait for an explanation, "Have you dismissed Kagome? Is she not worth the time to search for." Shippo leapt up and stalked out.

Inu-Yasha was about to retort but Kagome shook her head and ran after Shippo. While she was running her hood slipped off, Sango and Miroku got a glimpse of long raven hair before she disappaerd out the door.

"Then thats... she's.... is it true...?" Sango asked.

Inu-Yasha nodded.

Shippo felt the stupid human follow him. He hated this girl. Kagome had been like a mother to him and he had never imagined her with anyone but Inu-Yasha. The bastered dog-demon had blown it. He turned into a back ally and leaped onto the roof. Kagome slowed to a walk, the Jewel of Four Souls (which hung on her neck) gleamed brightly lighting her way (it also gave Kagome the gift of immortality), and pulled up her hood. When she rounded the corner a gang of men jumped her. One snatched her necklace others ripped at her clothing.

Shippo was about to leave but considering this was his fault turned to help instead. He jumped down and killed her attackers. As he walked away a weird glow coming from the hand of a dead guy attracted his attention. He turned to steal whatever it was and when he pryed it out of a cold hand he stared. The jewel... The jewel of Four Souls... but... only Kagome... NO... can it be...? Shippo whirled around and ran to her uncounsious form. He knelt cradling her head as he pulled back the hood. Hugging her on his lap he cried broken-heartedly. NO! He couldn't of felt worse if he had killed his own mother. She was a mother to him, the only mother he had only known. Watching her through teary eyes he thought he saw her chest move. Yes! He saw it again. He felt her pulse preying she would have one. There it was slow but steady. Shippo got up and holding Kagome as if she were a doll walked back to the restaurant thinking up excuses the whole way.