Goodbyes
Kagome growled as she hopped over the edge of the well and stared at the least person she wanted to see right now. Hearing InuYasha snarl behind her, he protectively pushed her behind him, but she peeked out from over his shoulders and bared her fangs as an extra threat. Isamu smiled as he held out his hand in a receiving gesture.
"Hand me the jewel willingly and I will make your demise quick." InuYasha snorted as he unsheathed Tetsusaiga.
"Is that a threat?" Looking back at Kagome, he muttered for her to stay near the Well, in case she needed to hop back in. Nodding her head in a silent agreement, she stepped back and sat on the edge of the well. Growling, Isamu held out his piece of the Shikon No Tama, smiling as it crackled and glowed black in his palm.
"See this, once I bath it in my beautiful's daughter blood, then it shall be complete. The never ending war inside of it shall be over, with the youkai victorious, the jewel will be even more powerful than before, and my Hisaki, she will live with me forever, whether it's with the world, or with the rebirth of it." InuYasha watched as he smiled at the jewel with a false hope in his eyes. InuYasha's eyes widened as he looked close into his face. Like a little boy, holding a picture of his father, not grasping the fact that he died in the war, running on false hope. But for him, it was more like he was brainwashed, running by his lifeless body that was given directions for the love of a woman w ho wanted nothing more the the sexual pleasures he gave to her.
"Isamu, you have to understand," Kagome spoke up. "Hisaki, she's gonna kill you. All she wants is Onigumo, you mean nothing to her! You don't want to kill your daughter for nothing." Isamu's eye's flashed with life before they dulled again.
"No foolish wench. You don't know anything. Stay in a woman's place." He growled before looking back at InuYasha. "I'll ask you one more time. Hand over the Shikon No Tama." Before InuYasha could say anything, Kagome shoved him out of the way and stomped over to Isamu, ignoring the way her head pounded as his foul scent infiltrated her senses, feeling herself go lightheaded, she stumbled a bit, but didn't stop until her face was so close to his she could feel his ragged breathing.
"I don't know what's wrong with you, but Hisaki doesn't give a hell what happens to you. You could drop dead right now, and then she'll find someone else to sleep with. She took everything away from you. Ordered the bear youkai to destroy your children, all of it was her plan from the beginning, want to know why, she's just like you. Onigumo didn't care for her, he went out and gotten himself nearly killed, but she's fueled by the love she thinks he has for her, when he was so busy fawning over Kikyou. You'll die if you don't snap out of it." Kagome struck him over the face, grinning when he fell to the ground. She towered over him with a fierceness InuYasha thanked the gods that he wasn't in Isamu's place. "And you watch the way you speak to me got it." Isamu looked at Kagome, and she gasped as the brightness, staggering back as she felt his life fighting for control, but slowly diminishing.
"You have to help me…"A voice pleaded from the man in front of her. Recognizing his spirit was trying to piece himself back together, that he fighting for control, Kagome crouched in front of him. "Please, take this." He threw the jewel at Kagome's chest as she laid back on his stomach and pointed to her sword. "Kill me now. Do it." Kagome gasped. Picking up the jewel, she staggered back and away from Isamu as InuYasha glared over him.
"He's not even human anymore. Once his spirit diminishes, that's it. His fate's been decided." He muttered. "It's best we kill him."
"But InuYasha, we can't. I want to…but we just can't."
"How about this, how about we knock him out, then kill him? Then he won't feel it." Kagome shook her head as she stepped away from InuYasha.
"No, I don't want to watch, I don't want to smell him on you, I don't…" InuYasha walked over and hugged Kagome tight before pulling back.
"Go back to Kaede's. I'll meet you there. Run, and don't look back." Kagome nodded and began to run. Disobeying him, she watched as he kicked Isamu in his stomach, making him go unconscious, before he brought his claws to his throat. Lowering his head, and mumbling a sorry, Kagome turned her head and ran faster as InuYasha slit his throat. Sniffing lightly and tearing her head in the opposite direction, Kagome began running faster.
8:88:888:88:8
Sango raised her tear streaked face from her hands as Kagome walked in. Shippou was on the verge of tears, so was Yutamiki and Miroku, Kohaku looked simply troubled. Shaking her head, she looked at the lifeless figure laying on the floor peacefully. Sinking to her knees, Kagome began crying as she stroked Kaede's cheek with her claw.
"No…"She whispered as InuYasha walked in. Suddenly, she felt something rising up in her throat, and lifting her head, her and InuYasha let out a long melancholy howl. After a while, Shippou joined in too, and everyone watched in wonder as numerous howls all over the land was heard, and the presence of other youkai was felt. Kaede was a part of his pack, and no matter how he always insulted the old woman, he, deep down, held a motherly love for her.
The departure took a toll on him longer than he would have. She had died in her sleep. But there was no time for sorrow, InuYasha had big news to deliver. "We have to live in Kagome's time?" Miroku said puzzled as he explained to everybody in the forest. They decided to camp out there, seeing as it was too painful to live in the hut Kaede used to reside in. The place they were residing, about ten feet away was her grave, covered with flowers and the scent of hundreds of people's tears.
"Yeah, Sesshomaru said there is no way to defeat her. Though we have the whole jewel now, all Kagome has to do is wish for the demise of Hisaki and Naraku together, then after that, everything is done."
"It won't work. It has to be a pure wish doesn't it?" Sango asked, shifting Kazuyu from one shoulder to the other as he slept. Grunting as the baby kicked, she waved off Miroku's concern as she struggled to focus on Kagome.
"Well technically, it will be a pure wish, that the people may live happily without the evil of Naraku and Hisaki. I'll wish that Naraku and Hisaki are banished to hell so that the people of the Warren States Era could live happily. It should work." Shippou scratched his ears and grunted as he rolled over to his side, making Yutamiki giggle.
"Ok, I don't mind."
"Me either." Kohaku piped up. "What's this 'school'?"
"School Kohaku is where you go to learn how to add and do other mathematic skills, as well as how to read and write. It's fun when you don't have loads of work and homework." Snorting, InuYasha jammed his arms into the sleeves of his haori as Kohaku beamed.
"It won't be just me? I was the only kid at Sango's and I 'school'." Clearing her throat, Sango signaled Kagome not to talk about the painful subject, smiling when Kagome caught the hint.
"Where will we live? I mean…we have nothing." InuYasha snorted again.
"Well, it seems the bastard of a brother of mine bought me this huge house, as well as 'cars'," InuYasha said with a sneer. "He has jobs for all of us, everything planned out like we're slaves or something." Kagome sighed as she poked the fire absently with a stick.
"We are if we work for him." This comment was rewarded with chuckles from everyone. "Plus, InuYasha owns everything my family does. But it's more like a win win offer, because mama said that I was next in line for the shrine until Souta was of age." Nodding, InuYasha ignored the stares everyone gave him.
"It seems Musashi was bought, sold, bought, sold, and ended up with Kagome's grandfather's grandfather's, and it was passed down to Kagome's father. Well he died, and Sesshomaru was his best friend, so he left it with his wife, but Sesshy, as they called him, overlooked everything. Or as he says it, held it up for me. But I don't want it." InuYasha pouted as he began biting his nails.
"Oh and that reminds me, do you know your mother had a diary?" Kagome said as she put another log in the fire, smiling as it glowed brighter. "She left it for you, saying she needed to explain some things for you, leave you an understanding. I only read the first page though, I feel it was inappropriate." Smiling, InuYasha nodded.
"Ok, so this is what we are going to do. At the break of dawn, we give each of you a jewel shard. Then, I want you to jump in the well. Once you get there, wait for us. Then Kagome'll put the jewel together, make the wish, and if it vanishes, that means that it worked. Then, I destroy the well, and that's the beginning of our new lives." Sango frowned a little bit.
"But, I won't be able to visit the village." Kagome sighed. "But it doesn't matter. It's not like they here me anyway." Feeling a pang of guilt flow through him, InuYasha smiled as Shippou laid his head in his lap. Yutamiki curled up with Kilala, and Kagome hopped in the branch of a tree after giving her, Kohaku and Miroku her sleeping bag. The three of them, with Kazuyu, snuggled up inside, it wasn't long before they fell asleep. Yutamiki fell into a deep sleep, and it wasn't long before Shippou fell into a slumber. Smiling, InuYasha sat between to roots, pulling Shippou into his haori so that he could be warm, reclining a little so he could be comfortable.
"Goodnight mate." InuYasha muttered.
"Goodnight my beautiful hanyou. I love you."
"I love you too." InuYasha smiled as he closed his eyes and fell into a light sleep.
The next morning, everyone crowded around to watch Kagome purify the Shikon No Tama parts that Hisaki had so that they could use them. Sesshomaru had brought Rin, and he waited anxiously along with everyone else. Smiling as she closed her eyes, Kagome focused her energy on that one object, it being the only thing in her world. Everyone gasped and exclaimed how her and the jewel shards glowed pink, until Kagome's light dimmed and only the Shikon No Tama's fragments glowed.
"All done," She breathed as she wiped the sweat off of her forehead. Stopping and staring at the well, she couldn't help but notice the little grave sight that was beside it. Yutamiki hadn't taken the news of her father very well, but Kagome was glad InuYasha did this, so that she could say goodbye one last time. Passing out a jewel shard to everyone but Yutamiki, she watched as they one by one jumped in, just leaving them two. "Do you want to say goodbye?" Yutamiki wiped a falling tear from her eyes and nodded. Walking over to the grave, she mumbled something, kissed the tombstone, as well as all of the flowers before returning. Smiling at Kagome sadly, she took the Shikon No Kakera, and her and Kagome hopped in the well together. She yelped as the warmness of the time slip enveloped her. But once she reached the other side, she was confronted by sounds and smells she never knew existed. Kagome hopped up with her on her back, smiling at everyone as she did an attendance check.
Shippou hopped on InuYasha's head and began playfully batting at his ears as Kagome put the jewel back together, made it a whole. Closing her eyes, she focused her purifying powers as she made a wish to Midoriko. Please, I pray for the happiness of the people in the Warren States Era. I ask, wish for the demise of the evil Naraku and Hisaki, and that evil no more becomes of them. Gasping as her energy began running out of her like a faucet, Kagome's knees gave as the jewel glowed white. The jewel began to crackling and sizzle, and it raised it and Kagome in the air, with her still holding it to her heart. She was glowing as well as the jewel, and a loud snap was heard, and Kagome fell to the ground in a heap as everyone screamed her name…
8:88:888:88:8
Kagome groaned as she rolled over on her bed to see InuYasha and Shippou sitting there. Jumping to her side, she gave another moan as she tried to sit up.
"You shouldn't be moving…"
"Did it work?" She asked. InuYasha nodded but looked troubled.
"I think that…it backfired. I don't think the jewel was completely purified." Kagome diverted her gaze to lock with Shippou's.
"Are you ok?" Shippou nodded and crawled into her lap as he began purring soothingly. "Where is everyone?"
"Kohaku is with Souta in his room, Miroku is with your psychotic grandfather, Sango with your mother, and Rin and Yutamiki in the living room watching cartoons." InuYasha reported. Kagome smiled and sighed as she laid down, feeling waves of dizziness come over her. "I told you you should be moving. Get some sleep wench. We'll go over everything when your better."
"Stop calling me wench…"She mumbled before she went back to sleep. Grabbing Shippou by the tail and putting him on his head, InuYasha walked out the door, closing it, but almost stepping on Nanashi. She barked in protest as InuYasha growled.
"Shhh! She's trying to sleep!" He hushed her as he walked downstairs. Walking into the kitchen, InuYasha sat down at the table with Sango and Mrs.Higurashi.
"Should you go see Sesshomaru now?" InuYasha shrugged.
"I doesn't matter. I really didn't complete the mission." Mrs. Higurashi shook her head.
"Technically, you did. Just not the way he instructed, your all here, aren't you?" She asked as she picked up her mug and took a quick sip of her coffee. Shrugging again, InuYasha turned to Sango.
"Where's the pup."
"Baby."
"Kitten."
"Pup…Oi!" InuYasha jumped up when he felt Kilala curl into his lap. Glowering down at her small form, he sneered.
"It's amazing how you just show up somewhere. And it's pups."
"Kittens."
"Pups."
"Kittens."
"Ok! Ok I can't take it anymore." Sango said as she laid her head down. Wincing slightly, InuYasha and Kilala mumbled a sorry. "Well, my young child is in the room sleeping with Yutamiki. Why?" InuYasha snorted.
"No reason. Just wanted to make sure the little runt was ok." Smiling as she regarded InuYasha concern, Sango reached over and plucked Kilala from his lap.
"Higurashi-sama. May we take a bath?" Smiling, Mrs.Higurashi stood and led Sango to the bathroom. Standing up, InuYasha decided to pay Kagome's grandfather a visit. Teach him a thing or two about hanyous. InuYasha thought as he cracked his knuckles.
8:88:888:88:8
Miroku sighed as he wiped the sweat beads from his forehead. He was helping Kagome's grandfather clean out the garage, and it was more than he bargained for.
"Ni-chan!" He groaned. "Can we please take a rest?" Kagome grandfather scoffed as he dropped a box in Miroku's arms.
"Ha! Back when I was training, this was considered breaks. Now move it or lose it." Groaning as he opened one flap of the box, he sneezed as dust flew into his face. Quickly walking over and dropping it onto Kagome's father's pile, he walked back over as Ni-chan dropped another box in his arms.
"Training? You had training? I sense no spiritual power from you." Miroku commented as he dropped the box in another pile and returned for another.
"Oi! How dare you? Do you not recognize a great exorcist when you see one?" Hiding his grin, Miroku sat down instead of going over to the old man. Wiping his forehead again, Miroku reclined against another box that stood up behind him. Taking a deep breath, he stared out into the open path, shaking his head as he shivered a little bit. He didn't understand why he wanted to clean out the garage and it was cold outside, but seeing as he claims that there has to be some new rules, Miroku guessed he was looking for something of great importance to him.
He liked the old man, he was something to laugh at, and it seems that Higurashi-sama let him believe he had immense power to keep him out of everyone's hair-except InuYasha. He didn't understand why the two hated each other, but he guessed soon they would learn to get along. Smiling as InuYasha walked into the garage, he held his hands on his hips as he watched the old man scurry around the garage. Frowning at the pile of boxes, he looked at Miroku with a questionable expression. Sighing as he shrugged, the hanyou rolled his eyes as he watched the old man.
"Keh! Old geezer what are you doing?" Ignoring the insult, the old man continued to run around like crazy until Mrs.Higurashi came. Clearing her throat, all three men froze.
"Just what is going on?"
"I had nothing to do with it-"
"He asked me to help. I am a monk and cannot refuse an old man-"
"Nothing." Frowning at the three, she ordered them to come into the house and drink some hot cocoa. Following her orders, Miroku closed and locked the garage door, than ran into the house, closing the door behind him. Sighing as he took a deep breath of the aroma emitting from the cup, he sipped it carefully.
"Ah, " He breathed as InuYasha and Kagome's grandfather did the same. "Where is Sango?"
"In the bath. Kazuyu however is in the living room with the girls." Smiling, Miroku took his cup and exited the kitchen. Mrs.Higurashi cleared her throat.
"I have to go…do something." Ni-chan lied as he stood up and quickly left. Raising his eyebrows at the man's departure, InuYasha couldn't help but to snort.
"Has Kagome shown you the diary?"
"Diary? What diary?"
"Kagome tells me that your mother left you a diary. Sesshomaru and Tsukiko held it for you."
"Oh, yeah she told me already. I haven't read it yet, I don't think I want to." Mrs. Higurashi frowned.
"Why? Don't you love your mother dearly?" InuYasha nodded. "When Kagome's father died, I didn't want to have any memories of him. It just hurt to much, I tried shutting myself up to the world, but then I thought it was unfair, to him, my children, and to myself. He may not live in physical form, but he's always in my heart. See InuYasha, sometimes, something a departed love one cherishes is the one thing you need to keep you going, to get you started and back on track." Mrs. Higurashi placed her hand on his cheek, and kissed his forehead affectionately. Standing up, she gave InuYasha a quick smile as she walked out. Rising emotions fought in InuYasha, that was the same thing his mother did when he used to cry when he was younger about how the people of Musashi hated him. That was before he began living in his father's castle.Getting himself together, InuYasha looked at the brown liquid in his mug.
"You want to read it, don't you?" Shippou asked as he sat on the table.
"Oi! Chair." InuYasha instructed, completely ignoring the question. Locking eyes with Shippou, he sighed. "No, I really don't."
"How about you let Kagome read it for you. If there's something you need to read, then she'll tell you. But if you can't handle it, let her talk to you about it."
"I'm still going to find out one or the other!"
"Yes, but when Kagome delivers news, by the time you finish crying she already set your soul at ease." The kit was right. Kagome had this thing about her that soothed InuYasha whenever he was feeling down. Grabbing the kitsune, InuYasha placed him on his head as he stood up and walked into Souta's room. Sitting on the bed, he watched as the two boys watched anime. Shippou, staring at the screen in amazement, walked up to it and began clawing at it. Smiling, InuYasha grabbed him back.
"Hey! No attacking the weird boxes."
"But, there's people in there!" InuYasha, as well as Souta chuckled as Shippou tried to claw the screen again.
8:88:888:88:8
Hisaki screamed in pure fury as she felt the hold on Isamu completely vanish. Why that little…he got himself killed, and I can't find them! She looked in her orb for hours at a time, until her eyes grew red with fatigue as well as rage. Naraku walked in, seething that he lost his jewel shards by one such as her.
"It's amazing how I have to suffer for your failure!" He bellowed as he struck her across the face, sending her sliding across the room on her back. Cowering in the corner, she began to cry as Naraku advanced towards her. "You stupid, foolish useless wench, if Onigumo didn't care so much for you I would dispose of you." He said as he gave her a good kick to the gut. Crying out in pain, Hisaki crumpled into a fetal position as Naraku walked out of the room. It was too familiar, she didn't like the feeling of being struck and hit over and over again. Since her transformation, she thought she'd never have to deal with this again, but she was wrong. So terribly wrong….
Gasping as she looked at Hisaki, Kanna helped her to her bed. Covering her with the blankets, Kanna stood to leave when Hisaki grabbed her wrist.
"Tell me, being a reincarnation of the hated Naraku. How does it feel, to know that if he dies, you go with him, that his heart is connected to yours as long as he holds power over it. His demise before your freedom is your demise also." Staring at her through grey dull orbs, Kanna said nothing as she yanked away from her and stormed out the room.
"She said this did she?" Kagura said as she pulled her fingers through her hair. Nodding, Kanna sat on the bed next to her sister.
"Sister, I think that she speaks the truth. There is no hope for us."
"I won't die, not before Naraku sets me free. Then me and Sesshomaru can live the life we were supposed to, together." Looking at her sister, Kanna stood up and stomped back into her room.
She doesn't understand. She worries about some youkai who has chosen a mate way before her over death. When will she ever understand? It will be to late before she does. Kanna thought as she sat on her bed and weeped.
8:88:888:88:8
Kagome sat up and swung her legs over the side of her bed. Standing up and falling back on her bed as blood began pounding in her head, she stood up and slowly advanced downstairs. Walking past the room, she couldn't help but smile when InuYasha appeared instantly.
"Wench…"
"Didn't I say stop calling me that? Where's my son?" InuYasha pointed to the sleeping mass of fur that was on the bed. It was almost midnight, and Kagome was human again. InuYasha was also human, but instead of cursing his blood, he was focused on Kagome, who was going to be in a world of hurt since she didn't have her demon blood for the night.
"You should get back to sleep. It's the night of the new moon Kagome, everything is going to be worse." InuYasha gently spun her around. Kagome however, whirled around faster than common sense told her, waving off InuYasha concern as she stumbled and her vision faltered.
"No, I'm ok. See?" Trying to take a step, Kagome almost fell and grabbed her head as InuYasha caught her. Mumbling, he picked her up by the back of her legs and took her back upstairs. Sighing in defeat, she groaned as he put her on the bed, scowling at her weak figure.
"Didn't I say don't get out of bed? Your going to mess around and kill yourself Kagome." He said as he leaned over and kissed both of her cheeks. Out the corner of his eyes, he saw his mother's diary sitting on the nightstand, and he cringed as it practically pulled him to it by magnetic force. Sitting on the head of the bed as he retrieved it, InuYasha waited until Kagome moved over a bit before laying down next to her. Smiling as she laid on his chest, her arms wrapped around his waist, he draped the cover over both of them as he cracked open the book. Reading the first page, he winced as he turned the page and read the next entry.
InuYasha,
I remember when you first met Sesshomaru. He looked down upon you, and scowled with the utmost hate as he said that you were a hanyou. Staring down at you, he bared his fangs, looking a little shocked as you did the same. Looking at his father, he turned and walked away with so much dignity I don't think all of it came from your father's side. But your father did advise me not to leave you alone with Sesshomaru until you were old enough to defend yourself. He said it wasn't unusual for an older pup to kill a younger one in an attempt to regain his attention. But he doubted that would happen, but still enforced the rule nonetheless.
You were a quick learning little boy, constantly into mishcheive, and how I always would have to tweak your nose, not being allowed to give in and offer you sympathy when you would bawl and cry for hours at a time. But your father said it was a way of life, that you would learn not to do it anymore.
I remember one day, your father held us in Goshinboku. We stared at the moon, when your hair changed from the elegant silver to black, your gold eyes changed to that of violet, you became much more lighter and delicate. Shrieking, I held you in your father's nose, screaming at him something was wrong. But there was a secret that I didn't understand, that hanyous are very special on this day.
The midnight marks the beginning, and the break of dawn marks the end. I learned that on this day, if a hanyou, in his human form, mates, that the child will be human. But if done on the night of the full moon, the child will be hanyou. However, if you mate while in your full youkai form on the day of the full moon, the child will be full youkai. It was hard to grasp at first, but I understood what it meant for you. You had a chance, unlike millions of other people, to enjoy pleasuring your partner without the worry of her becoming impregnated, unless on certain time periods. Also, with the first mating, her cycle will change to that of the periods in which she will be able to fertile your sperm. But all in all, everything will be the same.
InuYasha, I must also explain that there are some bodily changes that come with your three forms. With the full youkai, everything is bigger, however, once you lose control, that's it. You only gain it once the youkai's lust have been fulfilled, and sometimes that not until a very long time.
With the hanyou, it's still bigger than a humans, but you have complete control, as well as you will be able to sense what she wants, as well as if you are hurting her. Only downfall with this side, it that with both of you being hanyous, you have to be careful that other demons do not come in an attempt to break the ceremony and take her as their own, feeling that a hanyou like you is not worthy for a woman like her.
With the human form, everything is normal, except she is much more likely to get pregnant. But with the other two forms, you have the human semen, and the youkai semen. Now, if you two are going at it so much that you run out of human semen for the moment, you being letting out demon semen, but she will not become pregnant if it is not the full moon.
InuYasha, never feel that a woman is too 'clean' or 'holy' for the love and affection that you want to give for her. Do not ever think that she doesn't deserve you, or that you're a 'filthy half breed' that you have heard all your life. You are nothing more than a young boy that was born different from the world to prove how unfair they actually are. You may think you are a damnation, but in actuality you are a savior of those who are too blinded to see that you are just like them in your own special way, no matter what your blood may tell them, or the way you look. Your father taught me that, and that's a lesson I'll never forget.
Blinking back tears as he closed the book, InuYasha rested it to the side as he ran his fingers through Kagome's hair. He knew when it was going to be a full moon, and not the new moon. So on this night, the second week of the month, they would have a human child. But on the night of the full moon, if he was a hanyou, they would have a hanyou, but if he was full youkai, they would have a youkai child, so the same thing runs for Kagome. Sighing as she shifted, Kagome's lips turned into a smile as she mumbled the words InuYasha needed to hear.
"Everything's …going to be alright InuYasha…" She muttered. "As long…as I'm…with…you…."
"I know that. But don't you ever leave me Kagome." He muttered as his kissed the top of her head.
8:88:888:88:8
Daichi grunted as he took another pile of papers and set them on his father's desk. Holding the receiver away from his mouth, Sesshomaru looked at his son with a questionable glance.
"This is Honujakia's file. He just sold his car, as well as his mansion, and is now buying another one in eastern Tokyo." Rolling his eyes as he focused on the phone call, Sesshomaru raised his hand in a silent thank you as Daichi strode out of his office. Rolling his eyes as he ducked, his little sister rolled on the floor, pouting as she pounding her little fists against it.
"I just can't do it!" She said angrily as Daichi picked her up. Moving her curly red bangs from her face, he kissed her temple as he set her back on the ground.
"You just need to practice a little bit more." Smiling, she nodded and followed him as he walked into his mother's room. Looking up as her children entered, Tsukiko smiled sadly as she put the picture she was looking at down and let her children sit on both sides of her.
"Who's this?" Hanako asked, waving the picture under her nose. Taking the picture, Daichi frowned at it before handing it to her mother.
"It was…someone Sesshomaru fell in love with before we had gotten married."
"There was someone else?" Hanako asked. Daichi clucked his teeth.
"No. Mother said her and Sesshomaru were supposed to become mates when her power no longer worked during the day, but when she came for him, he had already fallen in love with someone else. But she was the reincarnation of a very evil man who enjoyed nothing but death, and in the end, Kagome killed him with the jewel, but her heart was connected with his, so she perished also." Hanako took the picture and looked at it again.
"She was so pretty. But how did she manage to get a picture if she was dead?"
"That…is a mystery only Sesshomaru knows. I understand…that if he didn't change fate, by warning his brother, than you wouldn't be here. They were together I think, but he went and changed everything, so she died along with Naraku." Smiling sadly, Tsukiko set it back on her bedpost as Hanako began playing with Daichi's ears, licking and swatting at them.
"You should be in bed Hanako." She said after a while. Pouting, Hanako hopped of the bed, and slowly dragged herself to her room. Hugging his mother before he left, Daichi left for some much needed rest for himself.
