Disclaimer : - Comes out all cut and bruised - Don't worry guys, the fight's not over yet ! The Government can't get rid of me that easily ! - faints -

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Inuyasha winced as he tipped over the hot steaming cup of tea. Despite the fact of the klutz he was, handling a cup was not exactly his thing as for it is for the people in this world. He was about to wipe it with his sleeve when a hand caught him.An old woman looked at him kindly and dabbed the table with a rag, " Don't worry about it, I can take care of that. "

Inuyasha muttered his apologies and tried to concentrate his gaze on his claws. But he found himself automatically looking back up at the old woman in front of him.

Inuyasha stiffened. This old woman is Kagome. But not the same Kagome he wanted.

Inuyasha had longed for this moment when Naraku was dead, Kikyou laid in peace, the Shikon Jewel was complete, and that he would be sitting here, so peacefully with Kagome.

But not like this.

Inuyasha didn't want to be a hypocrite, or whatever, but he couldn't help it.

The woman he so dearly loved could be his grandmother.

Inuyasha winced as Kagome stopped wiping the spilt tea. Did she know what he was thinking ?

" I'm sorry, " she whispered and dropped the rag, burying her face into her hands.

" What ? Why you sorry for ? " Inuyasha slowly said, hoping his voice didn't betray his emotions.

" I'm sorry, I wish I was fifteen again, Inuyasha. " Kagome whispered into her hands.

Inuyasha stiffened, but no way would he let Kagome see. " Why .. why do you say that ? "

" I know why you've come back, to see me again right ? I wasn't supposed to remember you, but I guess when I made the wish, it wasn't my deepest desire, that's why it didn't grant fully. "

" What did you even wish ? That you wouldn't remember me ?! " Inuyasha immediately demanded. He couldn't hide the anger in his voice.

Kagome wearily looked at him, making him look away in shame. " You were pinned to the tree Inuyasha, I knew I couldn't live that life anymore. So I decided I should forget you .. "

Inuyasha opened his mouth, and Kagome knew this was going to lead to an argument. Quickly she held up her hand and spoke quietly, " Where has the others gone ? "

Inuyasha closed his mouth, turning his head away. " I dunno. "

Kagome closed her eyes. She felt like crying again. " They must've .. left. "

" I wouldn't know, I was pinned to the damn tree ! " Inuyasha shouted and slammed his fist down at the table, causing Kagome to wince.

" What's wrong, Inuyasha ? " Kagome whispered and started to lay her hand on his shoulder, which use to calm Inuyasha whenever he was mad.

Inuyasha, to his own disgust, flinched when Kagome made contact with his arm. This time, Kagome noticed. Things were no longer going to be same and the way it use to.

Quickly, she drew away and looked at her feet. " I-I'm so sorry .. "

" Why you even sorry for, when .. " Inuyasha cut himself off and turned his back to her.

Inuyasha furrowed his brows. I'm sorry Kagome. I didn't mean it like that. It's just .. I have so many doubts of being with you now, knowing you will leave me sooner than I want you to. Maybe it's best if I just .. return ..

Before Inuyasha could voice his decision, he heard somebody walk into the kitchen. The scent of vanilla and cinnamon rushed up into his nostrils, causing that hanyou to turn to look.

At the doorway, Inuyasha swore he saw a Kagome back when she was young. But then, when he looked closer, she looked different. More fiery and sharp. " Grandma, who was th .. " The girl at the doorway's eyes widened and pointed her finger at the amused hanyou. " YOU ! "

" Kumiko, " Kagome said sharply, causing Inuyasha to look at her in surprised. When did she get so strict ?

Inuyasha watched as the girl at the doorway, called Kumiko lowered her head. Kagome looked stern and continued, " You will not treat other guests like they are .. they are .. "

Kagome stopped when she noticed Inuyasha had stiffened. She put her hand over her mouth and looked at her granddaughter with wide eyes. Kumiko stared back,confused. " I'm not treating him like whatever you wanna say, grandma. I'm just saying, he has, he has .. " In a quiet voice and slightly amused, she finished. " Doggyears. "

" Yeah, it's all about the ears isn't it ?! " Inuyasha snapped as he pushed his chair back, causing it to topple over. He got that a lot; it's always about the dog ears. Every single time.

" No, Inuyasha ! Um .. SIT ! "

All three occupants in the room widened their eyes, especially the shocked hanyou who had recently just plummeted to the ground. " Wha .. "

" Inuyasha ! I'm so sorry ! " Kagome quickly ran to his side and tried to help him up. " It was a, a, reflex thing. I didn't know you still had the necklace. "

" Dontcha remember YOU are the only one who can take of this stupid thing ?! " Inuyasha sputtered, as he pushed himself up.

When the two had gotten up, they found the young girl at the door staring with her mouth wide open. Quickly, her grandmother pushed her upstairs. " Go to bed Kumiko. "

" But .. "

" Now. "

Inuyasha was still fuming when Kagome had come back. She had an apologetic look on her face, and for an instant, she looked like she was fifteen again.

Inuyasha's angry features immediately softened, and something warm tickled his heart.

It was love.

But a moment after, Inuyasha cringed.

He knew he was judging people. But loving a old grandmother ?

That just sounded wrong.

NO ! Inuyasha silently yelled at himself. This is KAGOME ! You LOVE Kagome, no matter how old she is ! It would've been the same if you and her chose to be with each other anyway ! She would've turned old the same way ! But who was that girl ..

" Inuyasha ? " Kagome's voice broke into his thoughts.

Inuyasha bristled, " Yeah ? "

" Are you okay ? "

" Yeah .. " But by the look on his face, Kagome could tell there was something troubling him.

As if she could read his mind, she spoke, " That girl we just encountered his my granddaughter. She looks like me, doesn't she ? " Inuyasha swore he heard a bit of sadness in her voice.

Before he could reply, a little flag went up in his head. Almost desperately, Inuyasha asked, " Granddaughter ? "

For a moment, Kagome looked alarmed, but then she relaxed. She looked almost sad. " Yes. My granddaughter. "

" But that means .. " Kagome's eyes widened as she watched the hanyou pale up.

Inuyasha was jumping into conclusions again, but also coming up with questions. Would Kagome actually do such a thing behind his back ? When he was left pinned to atree ? She wouldn't because he knew she didn't take things for granted. He wasn't precise with his knowledge. But of all that, god only knows. He waited for her reply…

" I had a daughter, I did. But it was an accident. " Kagome's eyes widened more when she realized Inuyasha was turning blue.

" I wasn't drunk or anything, Inuyasha. I never loved the man I .. made my daughter with ! "

Inuyasha didn't buy it. " Then what was it then ?! That you just suddenly got her out of .. "

" I was raped. " Kagome interrupted softly.

Inuyasha bit his tongue and drew back, shocked. In a slow and careful voice, he spoke, " You were .. raped ? "

The old woman in front of him suddenly turned ten years older. He could tell, that she was thinking of something that happened, a long time ago. " Yes I was. The day, I came out of the well, I believe. My heart was aching, and I remember I didn't know why, and had stumbled out in the streets, crying. I had blindly ran into an alley, and .. "

" Yeah, I get the point. "

" Inuyasha .. "

Inuyasha ignored Kagome and crossed his arms, talking gruffly. " Got a spare room ? "

Inuyasha could feel Kagome smile at his back and stand up. " Yes, take Souta's room. We can talk in the morning. "

" Right. " Inuyasha mumbled as he began to ascend up the stairs. He sighed. At least Kagome understood that he needed some ' alone time ' to think. And that Kumiko girl ..

As Inuyasha trudged down the hall, wrapped around his thoughts, a familiar vanilla and cinnamon scent caught his nose. Stopping immediately, Inuyasha found himself outside of Kagome's old room, probably Kagome's granddaughter's room now. Without thinking, the curious hanyou peeked inside, kind of hoping to see the 15-year-old. Maybe it was because she reminded him of Kagome so much ..

Inuyasha raised an eyebrow. He had expected to see pink, and frills, and lots of girly stuff, like Kagome's old room. But when he looked inside, the room was dark. The blinds were closed, and the walls were a dark red, the color somewhat like his kimono. It looked like a parent's room, except for the fact that there were Hello Kitty stickers glued on in corners of everything in the room. Inuyasha could see that some were half peeled off, probably because the girl had gotten tired of that.

Then something caught his eye.

In the small white bed, a figure was curled up inside. Immediately, Inuyasha knew who it was. It was Kumiko.

His features immediately softened. She looks just like Kagome when she was young. Vulnerable and fragile. Or so he thought.

He was about to walk in and take a look at her when he decided against it. Turning around, he was about to walk away when ..

" What do you think you're doin' ?! " A voice demanded sharply behind him.

Oh. He's busted.

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A/N : Credits to Red-Rain69, my editor.