Disclaimer: Still have no REAL rights to Inuyasha….wish I did…but I do not. I have no money….(have to feed my family and all) so please don't sue.

Inuyasha: That kid can starve…go ahead and sue her.

He most certainly cannot starve. I happen to take my parenting responsibilities very seriously…unlike someone I know.

Inuyasha: Keh! I don't have any kids so I know you're not talking about me.

Really, I always thought you were technically Shippo's guardian, making him your son.

Inuyasha: (laughing hysterically) ME? Shippo's dad?

Then who is?

Inuyasha: (thinking hard before falling in shock) OH SHIT!

Great father figure with that mouth

Inuyasha: Fuck off bitch! I am pissed at you! KAGOME!! (Runs off to yell at Kagome for taking care of the kit)

Chapter 5

She could not breathe, the pain cutting her lungs like a knife through butter. The only ability to breathe obtained in shallow gasps between sobs. She felt as her heart slowly shattered within her chest as she read the words. "It isn't true." She whispered to herself. "Fate would never be this cruel."

It had to have been a lie; they had not wanted to let her know how happy he had been to fulfill his promise to go to hell with Kikyo. Her friends had known how much she cared about him, even if he had not. He would never have picked her above Kikyo. Following Kikyo to hell had been what he had decided from the beginning. He never loved me. I know he would have never picked me in the end.

She couldn't help but read the words again. He informed her that he would not be going with her; he wanted to live. The miko understood; he had fallen in love with Kagome. She had known from the beginning that she did not stand a chance against the young miko from the future. Kagome had done something that Kikyo would never have been able to do, no matter how hard she had tried. She had healed his heart and soul completely. There was no possible way that he would have done that. He had been prepared to go to hell with Kikyo; Kagome had mentally prepared herself for that decision. Why would he have changed his mind now?

A little voice inside Kagome kept insisting, because he fell in love with you. She tried to ignore the voice as best as she could.

She continued to read Miroku's words, laughing at his eventual grabbing of Sango. Her friend's typical response to the action took Kagome's mind off what she still had trouble coming to terms with. Tears ran down her face as she continued to read about her friends' journey to Kaede's village after Naraku's defeat, without her.

A knock sounded on the door, accompanied by her mother's soft voice saying, "Kagome? Yuka, Ayumi, and Eri are here to see you. Do you want to see them?"

She groaned; she most certainly did not want to see them. She knew she could not avoid them forever though. She had been at school today and ignored them completely. She was not ready to talk with anyone yet, but knew her friends were worried. She knew they were only curious about how she was feeling. She really did not want to put down the book, but it was dinnertime. She could quick grab a bite to eat with them and still come back to read the book some more after she ate. "I will be right down. Thanks mom." Kagome checked her mirror; there was a small picture in the corner from when she had taken her camera through the well one day.

A photo Kaede had taken of the five of them right before they had left to go shard hunting one day. Strangely, the picture that was supposed to be a still shot had become a candid. Two things had happened to make that happen. First Shippo had opened his mouth to Inuyasha about being nice to Kagome, angering the hanyou. Inuyasha had strangled the kitsune, which earned him an osuwari from Kagome. Second, Miroku had grabbed Sango's butt. Naturally, she had responded by the wrath of Hiraikotsu. They snapped the photo right as both Sango and Kagome had instilled their revenge.

Both the monk and hanyou had not hit the ground from the attacks yet, and Inuyasha still had a hand on Shippo on the way down. Kagome was screaming at Inuyasha and Sango had obviously hit Miroku in the picture. It was her second favorite photo she had. The first was of only Inuyasha and her sitting in a tree, talking. Miroku had snapped that one; she did not know he had until she had developed the film. He had admitted later that it had been a scene that he could not resist recording for her. She had doubles made of it and carried the second one in her backpack at all times, a reminder for when she got real angry at him of why she cared.

Her backpack? It was still back on the other side of the well! They all knew how important it had been to dispose of anything relevant to her era and would take care of it she was sure. Too bad, she had kept a couple of books there. She didn't have time to think about it all, she needed to get down and deal with her friends first.

She went with her friends to the local WacDnalds for some burgers and fries for dinner. As soon as she sat down with them, they attacked. "You look like crap, Kagome." Yuka informed her, looking at all of her bruises and scrapes.

"You look as if you haven't slept in days." Ayumi added.

"You aren't still seeing that two-timing possessive jerk are you?" Eri said with an expression of disgust on her face.

Kagome sighed, she had known this would not be easy but this was ridiculous. How she prevented herself from breaking out in sobs, she would never know. She looked at her friends' faces; reminding her, they just cared for her and said, "No, things are finally over between us." No matter weather, we want them to be or not, she added to herself.

"He didn't do any of that to you did he?" Yuka demanded, pointing to the scratches and bruises.

"No! He would never hurt me." Well except when he first saw me, she silently added. "Inuyasha protects me with his life at all times. Listen, can we please stop talking about Inuyasha? I really don't want to talk about him."

"You are still in love with him aren't you?" Eri accused her. "That is why you have been moping around at school today."

"Eri, you do not know what you are talking about. Yes, I still love him. I will always love him. Maybe soon I will talk about what has happened, but right now, I am not ready. It hurts too much."

"Did he finally leave you for his other girlfriend?" Ayumi asked.

Kagome wanted to scream at them to drop it. Instead, she truthfully said, "Supposedly, he surprisingly did not. Listen, I think I am going to go home and get some rest. I will see in you school tomorrow." She picked up her half eaten dinner and left the table and friends behind.

She ran home and climbed the stairs to her room, wanting to read more of Miroku's book. She grabbed it and began to read where she had stopped. As we walked, we filled Kohaku in on all the adventures we had experienced together. The good and the bad, from watching Inuyasha turn into a full demon, to Kagome saving Kikyo without a second thought. I even told him how Inuyasha had prevented Sango from killing him, and herself. I told him, Inuyasha had brought Sango hope to bring him back to her. If not for Inuyasha forgiving Kohaku for attempting to murder Kagome and realizing that he had rebelled against Naraku, we would not have Sango or Kohaku today. We even told him about Inuyasha's trips to the future, and how confusing a place he found it.

Slowly the lifeless eyes began to get a sparkle of light; I had worried about the boy and his guilt for what he had done under Naraku. I only hope that he can forgive himself. When he is ready, Sango and I will make a trip to the Demon Slayer village to help him ask his forgiveness and speak with the spirits of their people. We only want him to live and be happy. It will be a long road ahead of us with the boy, but I have faith.

Our trip went well until we were about a half mile from the village. The noise we heard caused both Sango and I to stop and tell Kohaku to take Shippo and Kirara back to the village to get Kaede. We would be needing reinforcements, and quickly. Sango buried her face in my shoulder crying when we heard the noise again. Tears sprung to my eyes and began to fall. We knew what the sound was; it came from the well.

A heartbroken hanyou.

Kagome: You just had to tell him about Shippo didn't you?

Why? Is he causing problems now?

Kagome: He just informed the kitsune that if he doesn't listen to him he would kick him out without a dime. He told him he couldn't date until he was 345 years old. He keeps saying things like 'it is my way or the highway' and 'no son of mine will wear a stupid blue ribbon in their hair'.

Hee hee. I always wondered about that blue ribbon. Is he still swearing?

Kagome: Of course he is, more than usual. Remind me; never actually have kids with the guy. I am terrified to find out what Shippo will turn out when he gets older.

I understand…his male role models are a show off and a pervert. He also has Sango and you to get the feminine aspects of his life though.

Kagome: He has the ability to manipulate us already though. I am scared to see what happens to a kid who can manipulate girls, is a pervert and a show off. He will have kids before both Inuyasha AND Miroku.

EEEK! You are right. Lord help us all.