A/n: This chapter will be done in two parts.
Thank you Katgome, Essis, and Fiery demon fox for reviewing.
Changes in Past and Future
Part One
"Kagome wake up, Sango's coming back today" Inu Yasha said as he walked into their room.
"Hmm ok, I'm up I'm up" Kagome whined as she climbed out of bed. She grabbed her bathing supplies.
"I'm going to the hot spring, I hope they don't give you to much trouble while I'm gone" Kagome shouted as she left. Inu Yasha gave thought to the three toddlers that were still asleep in their rooms. Shippo had just turned 2 a week ago and in four months the girls would be two. Because they were hanyou, they were maturing slightly faster than a human baby would. Shippo was talking and running around and making them crazy, the girls were walking and were forming slightly coherent words. No matter how many times he corrected the three of them, they called him Tousan and Kagome Kaasan. Well Shippo called him Tousan, the girls called him oosan and Kagome aasan. Inu Yasha walked out into the den to see Kaiya and Kiyomi crawling after a bug that had made the mistake of wandering into their home. He looked around for Shippo, but couldn't see him anywhere. Immediately he checked in his room. He picked up Shippo's scent and went after it. It didn't take him long to find him, running towards the hot spring where Kagome had gone. He grabbed the toddler by the back of his kimono and brought him back to the hut. Shippo looked up at Inu Yasha completely confused,
"Kaasan" he whimpered.
"Okaasan is busy, you know she hates it when you follow her into the woods like that, you don't want to get scruffed again do you" Inu Yasha said sternly. Shippo immediately stopped whimpering and jumped out of Inu Yasha's lap to see what his sisters were doing. The three of them followed the bug around the ground until Kagome came back.
"Aasan" "Kaasan" they cried happily running up to her. Kagome knelt down in front of them and hugged her babies. They knew that Sango or ango was coming back today and bringing someone named Yasuo or uo with her. The two had finally been mated, and agreed to live here where Sango had rebuilt the taijiya. It was still an odd pair, a youkai exterminator mated to a youkai. Yasuo was so kind and gentle that the taijiya accepted it, as did the villagers. They had become accustomed to the presence of youkai that were not evil in their village. All Kaiya, Kiyomi, and Shippo knew, was that when Sango came back from being gone she brought them presents. The three of them looked up at her in anticipation.
"ango ooday? Kaiya asked.
Kagome giggled at her daughters baby talk, "Yes, Sango is coming back today" she enjoyed it and thought it was cute, but would never repeat back the incorrect way they spoke, because then they would think it was right.
"Bringing Yasuo?" Shippo asked.
"Yes, Sango is bringing Yasuo, he's going to be living here now"
Kaiya and Kiyomi shouted in excitement and toddled over to Inu Yasha,
"Oosan! Oosan! Uo oming tay" Kiyomi babbled.
Inu Yasha ruffled Kiyomi's hair and smiled at her, "Otousan knows already, Okaasan told me that Yasuo was coming to stay"
"eally?" Kaiya asked.
"Really" Inu Yasha answered. Kagome gave Inu Yasha the look that meant, bath time. Kagome picked up Shippo and Inu Yasha picked up Kaiya and Kiyomi. Kagome held Shippo in one arm and grabbed their bath supplies in the other. Shippo saw the bag and began to struggle.
"NO BATH, NO BATH" he cried. Kaiya and Kiyomi heard him and began to struggle also. He wasn't sure why they struggled, they could never get free. The two of them headed down the path to the water. Shippo continued to try and crawl over Kagome's shoulder when they stopped at the water. Inu Yasha always insisted that he bathe them because he was stronger and could hold onto them better. So the morning routine was always the same. Kagome would go and bathe and them come back and they would go to the water. Inu Yasha stripped down to the bathing suit he had brought back with him and waded out into the water with Kiyomi first, mostly because Kiyomi walked better and he didn't feel like chasing her through the village in what looked like underwear again. Kagome sat on the ground with a death grip on Kaiya and Shippo while Inu Yasha bathed Kiyomi. Inu Yasha laughed when as usual Kiyomi stopped fussing and began playing in the water while she sat in her fathers lap and he washed her hair. He wasn't surprised in the least that Kaiya stopped fussing in Kagome's arms when she saw Kiyomi having fun. Instead she tried to get free and go in the water. Kagome looked down at Shippo and noticed that his roots were silver.
"Inu Yasha, Shippo's hair, its turning silver"
"His youki must be getting stronger, her youkai features are showing"
"Kaiya and Kiyomi, will they change? Kagome asked, thinking about how unique they looked. She loved her daughter's hair; it was that same dark brown as Shippo and herself, except that there were subtle silver highlights in it.
"No, most female youkai will not change from the way they are when born"
Kagome had been so shocked by them when they had begun to mature. They had the same tone to their skin as Inu Yasha, the same eye color as Inu Yasha, but the structure of their faces was identical to Kagome, and the hair, the hair was so different.
"Usually inu youkai have the same features when it comes to hair and eyes, silver hair, golden eyes, but you are different you were born human, which makes our pups unique." Inu Yasha replied. Kagome smiled and looked at Kaiya. She prayed he was right.
"Although they are unique so who knows"
"So they could change?" Kagome asked.
"I Suppose"
"Alright, Kiyomi you're all done" Inu Yasha announced and carried her back to shore trading her for an eager Kaiya. Kagome allowed Kiyomi to toddle around next to her but kept a close eye and would warn her if she got to far. An hour later the five of them walked back to the village. Kaiya on Kagome's shoulders and Kiyomi on Inu Yasha's and Shippo toddled next to Kagome his little fist around the strap of her bag. A small inu youkai girl ran up to Shippo, her age the same as his by the difference of a week. Kagome looked up knowing that Satoru had also come to visit with her. The little girl was sort of his younger sister. They had been traveling and found the baby in some brush, her blanket covered in what they assumed was the blood of her parents and taken her in. Kagome and Inu Yasha had not been in the feudal era when they found her, and when they came back and offered to take her. Satoru's family had fallen in love with the girl. She was very adorable; she had silver hair down to her ankles and green eyes and a pink crescent moon on her forehead. Inu Yasha had taught her that the color of the crescent moon determined which clan of Inu youkai you belonged to. They never found out which she was from.
"Shippo!" the little girl said happily grabbing his hand and dragging him away towards her brother.
"Satoru, its so good to see you" Kagome said happily. "You're getting so big" she mused stepping away to get a good look at him. "Your what, 12 years old now? Satoru blushed and nodded his head.
"Hello Midori" Kagome said sweetly.
"Hi Kagome" Midori said happily. Kagome smiled at the little girl and watched as she pulled Shippo away to play. Kagome and Inu Yasha put down Kaiya and Kiyomi and the two went over to their favorite spot to play. Inu Yasha nodded in acknowledgement to Satoru and followed the girls.
"Are you staying long?"
"For a few days. Is my room in Kaede's hut still available."
"Of course, Kaede would never take away your room. I think she'd be happy to have the company."
"Cool"
"You have great timing. Sango is coming back today with her new husband"
"Yasuo Hiroshi right?" Satoru asked
"You know of him?"
"Its big news, a youkai of such nobility mated to a taijiya, I don't there is a single clan of youkai that don't know about it." Satoru explained. Kagome was about to finish the sentence when Midori started crying. Kagome quickly ran towards the two and didn't see Shippo anywhere.
"Midori, where is Shippo?" Kagome asked as calm as she could force. She could easily locate the infant on her own, but she had to make Midori stop crying as well.
Midori sniffled and pointed up, "in tree" Kagome gasped and looked up. Sure enough, Shippo was using his newfound claws to climb up the tree. She watched as he made his way to a branch and sat down on it. Laughing happily at his new trick. 'Great, he can climb trees now, soon he'll be jumping into them like his father….'
"Shippo, stay there, Okaasan is coming up to get you" Kagome called as she jumped onto the branch and sat down next to him. She lifted him into her lap, but didn't jump down.
"Kaasan, I can climb tree" He giggled.
"Yes, but just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should. You scared Midori"
Shippo looked down at Midori, she was standing directly under them and her big green eyes were all watery. Suddenly he didn't feel so good about climbing the tree. He looked up at Kagome, "Kaasan, we go down now?" he whimpered. Kagome picked him up and jumped down from the tree and put him down in front of Midori.
"Shippo sorry" he mumbled staring at his toes.
"Its ok, play" Midori chirped grabbing Shippo's hand. Kagome smiled and walked back over to Satoru.
"The complicated lives of pups" Satoru said, his eyes glittering with nostalgia. Kagome caught the look,
"Memories?"
"Just a few" he answered with a light chuckle.
"You can come back…" Kagome said seriously.
"I can't do that to my parents, even if I want to come back. Issues have been coming up with Midori though. My parents can't seem to handle raising her. That's part of why I'm here. They want Inu Yasha to teach her about who she is. I don't want to leave her though." Satoru whispered so that she wouldn't hear him. Kagome watched Satoru while he spoke.
"You've grown up to fast with them. Your still a pup yourself, but you act with the dignity and intelligence of a man" Kagome said sadly. "You would have had more time to be a kid with us"
"Well Midori caused all of us to grow up. Now they want to throw in the towel, send her to you and Inu Yasha, to have a normal life. Like living with them was so difficult. It really hurts me the most. Because I was a kitsune growing up with basically an inu youkai for a father, and now the sides are turned and they can't do it" he growled.
"We'd gladly take you both in the village. You parents to if they'd like"
"They'd never leave the den. They have been there since the attack from the thunder brothers. They rebuilt everything. To ask them to just leave would insult their hard work."
"So then you and Midori stay. We'll build you two a hut of your own. Stay as long as you need. I'm assuming that's why your parents sent you" Kagome offered.
"Yeah, I'm gonna leave Midori here for the day, go back tell the you accepted and bring our stuff. Can you watch her for me?"
"Of, course, hurry back" Kagome said ushering him towards the direction her came. With a loud popping noise Satoru transformed into his balloon shape and floated away rather quickly. Midori ran over to Kagome and tugged on her kimono.
"Yes Midori?"
"Satoru…" She cried.
"Don't worry, he's coming back" Kagome assured the girl. She watched as the balloon floated out of site and started to cry. Kagome picked up Midori and cradled her. Trying to calm her down. Shippo walked over and looked up at her.
"Why Midori cry?" He asked.
"Because Satoru went away for a little while and she misses him" Kagome explained.
"Shippo play with Midori till Satoru come back" he offered. Midori peered over Kagome's arms down at Shippo and nodded her head in agreement. Kagome put her down and watched as this time Shippo took Midori's hand and walked with her. She turned her attention back to Inu Yasha who had been watching the entire scene. Kagome walked over and sat down with him. Kiyomi and Kaiya were a few feet away picking flowers along the edge of the forest.
"So what do you think?" Kagome asked
"Its about time that kid came back, Midori would not have grown up well with them."
"You sound happy that he's coming back"
"Keh, Shippo likes to play with Midori, it makes our pup happy, which makes you happy. I'm happy" Inu Yasha answered.
"Kiyomi don't eat that" Kagome yelled when she caught her daughter about to eat a flower.
"Hungry" She exclaimed defiantly.
"You wont like that, it won't taste good" Kagome tried to explain. Kiyomi pouted and looked at the flower stuffed it into her mouth. Immediately she began spitting at it and rubbing her fingers on her tongue to get ride of the flower taste. She looked up at Kagome and said one simple thing.
"Yuck"
"I warned you it wouldn't taste good, you should have listened" Kagome reprimanded. Kiyomi sat down with her back to Kagome contemplating the lesson. Kagome rolled her eyes and tried not to laugh. 'Well at least Kaiya wont eat flowers, she saw the reaction Kiyomi had, no way she'll eat one now'
"Sango's here" Inu Yasha announced. Kagome looked up and saw them walking out of the trees. Sango was dressed in an elegant pink kimono; her hair was down, no longer pulled back. All the sadness and pain in her face was gone. She looked completely at peace. Yasuo walked not to far behind her his hands on the reigns of a horse pulling a wagon filled with their belongings. Kagome stood up and walked over to them. Sango ran up to her friend and they hugged. They pulled out of the embrace and Kagome pulled Sango's hair away to see her mark. Unlike her own, which was just two red jagged magenta lines across her shoulder and neck (imagine, when he bit her, four fangs, the line goes from the hole the bottom fang made and the upper fang made. So its two parallel jagged magenta lines on her neck and shoulder) Since Yasuo was not an inu youkai, marking was not the same. The mark still went in the same place, so she knew it would be there. It was exquisite, it was clear he had used his claws to make it. It was two interlocking hearts surrounded by vines of roses. What astounded her even more, were the colors. The outlines of the hearts were red, the roses were pink and the vines and leaves were green.
"Sango, its beautiful" Kagome said. "Did it hurt"
"No, Kohaku even witnessed it"
"How is he?"
"It seems serving Sesshoumaru, has helped him, gives him a purpose. He's become good friends with Rin, Sesshoumaru's ward. Sesshoumaru has given him the task of protecting her, and he enjoys it very much"
Yasuo stopped walking and took in his surroundings. He had passed this village before in his travels less than 10 years ago, and he could not believe that this was the same village. All the huts looked new. They had extended their boundaries to accommodate the growing population. There was a huge building that he knew was the taijiya training school and weapons repair and storage. Along the edge of Inu Yasha's forest, was the largest house in the village. Where he assumed the hanyou and hanyou-miko lived. There were walls similar to those that surrounded the original taijiya village surrounding the boundaries of the village. Except the walls were smoother and there were open gaps where the road went through instead of doors or gates. They had included Inu Yasha's forest within the gate. This had to be one of the largest villages he had ever encountered.
"Yasuo?" Sango repeated.
"Sorry, just admiring the improvements in your lands" Yasuo replied.
"Thank you" Sango said blushing. Inu Yasha walked over with Kaiya and Kiyomi in his arms. Shippo and Midori following behind him. Sango smiled at Kaiya and Kiyomi. They were looking at Yasuo eyes wide trying to determine him. Inu Yasha looked down at them,
"Since when are you two shy?" he asked, stunned by their silence.
"Hi, Kiyomi, Hi Kaiya" Sango said warmly.
"Ango" They both said.
"I have something for you" Sango said reaching into her kimono. They watched her hands move and pull out two finely wrapped packages and hold them out in front of them. Kaiya and Kiyomi looked up at Inu Yasha and he nodded at them. They grabbed the packages from Sango. They were about to rip it open when they heard a light growl from their father.
"ankyou Ango" Kaiya said.
"ea, ankyou" Kiyomi added. Inu Yasha then put them on the ground so they could open it without damaging the contents. Then he walked off with Yasuo to show him around. Kagome watched as the girls pulled out a silk kimono and silver bracelet each.
"Oh, Sango, their beautiful…" Kagome gasped.
"We were walking through a village and I saw them, and Yasuo insisted he buy them for the girls, to show his gratitude for living here" Sango lowered her voice to a whisper, "He also insisted we buy something for Shippo, you, and Inu Yasha."
"Sango… he didn't have to, it's one more person to protect the village"
"I know, I tried to convince him, but he insisted." Sango said as she pulled three bags out of the wagon. "So these are for you, the brown one is Inu Yasha's, the white one is yours, and the green one is Shippo's"
Kagome opened the white bag and looked inside. She pulled out some of the fabric unsure of what she was looking at. It was similar to what Kaede, Kikyo, and most miko's wore, except the pants were clearly slimmer and fastened lower down instead of right below her bust. The shirt looked like the shirt miko's wore, but the sleeve looked tighter.
"We had them specially made, I knew you needed to wear something making it obvious what you were, and wearing the normal one, makes you look like Kikyo. It has the look of miko garb, but it is unique to you. The man who made it, can make more if you like it"
"Oh, thank you Sango, I was wondering about that. Wearing the kimono's makes me look normal, but it's hard for me to move in, and my outfit was easier, but made me stand out horribly. This is perfect"
"What's perfect?" Inu Yasha questioned as he walked back over.
"These…look" Kagome said opening the bag.
"Miko kimono's…but"
"Relax, they are green and will fit differently, Sango and Yasuo had them specially made, there's something here for you as well" Kagome said handing the brown bag to him. Inu Yasha opened it and looked inside.
"This cant be…"
"It is, I spoke with the village elder and Kaede before I left. Its official" Sango said warmly, Yasuo taking his place beside her. Kagome watched as Inu Yasha pulled out what looked like an elegant looking version of his fire rat. She wasn't sure if this meant what it did, in villages like this, only one man wore an outfit that fine, it showing his position in the village. Kagome then noticed as all the villagers approached and bowed to them. Sango and Yasuo doing the same. An elderly man hobbled past them accompanied by Kaede.
"Inu Yasha-Sama, Kagome-Sama." The two said and bowed.
"Kaede-obasan?" Kagome questioned. The two stood and looked at them.
"It has been discussed during Kagome-Sama's pregnancy on your roles in our village. We would be, most honored, if you and Inu Yasha would become Lord and Lady of our village of our lands. Yasuo and Sango will continue their role in the taijiya, but you would control and govern our lands. We would also, if not asking to much, like Kagome to take the role that Kaede has so dutifully held since the fall of Kikyo" The old man explained. Inu Yasha placed his clawed hand on the mans shoulder.
"If it is ok with Kagome, it is ok with me" Inu Yasha replied.
"We accept your offer Sempai, Kaede-obasan, we are, most honored" Kagome answered. The entire village stood from their bows and cheered. Kagome couldn't find words at that moment. These people, had just willingly asked a hanyou, and miko-hanyou, to govern their lands and protect them. It was unheard of for a hanyou to receive such acceptance. The emotions she sensed coming from Inu Yasha were similar to what she felt.
"I will inform our tailor, that we will need, many more of those out fits for you. It wasn't easy to find a man who had the material needed, the fire rat. Both of them are made from it. As we all know from Inu Yasha, it repairs it self, but having more couldn't hurt." Sango said happily clasping Kagome's hands in hers. The moment was interrupted when Shippo tugged on Kagome's kimono. Kagome handed the green bag to Shippo. He opened it up and pulled out an outfit almost identical to Inu Yasha's knew fire rat except Inu Yasha's was more elegant looking. It also held a rosary like the one Inu Yasha chose to keep wearing, even though it could no longer sit him.
"If you want to, you can put a spell on it, but I think it just belongs." Sango explained.
"Now I understand your gifts, the kimono's, bracelets, everything." Kagome said to Sango. 'It was to fit our new positions. We… are royalty.' Kagome lifted the presents from Shippo, Kiyomi, and Kaiya. Putting them into her bag. Kagome and Inu Yasha bowed and walked back to their home. Returning later, all of them changed into their new clothing. She was still shocked that the tailor had made all of their clothes from the fire rat's fur. Mostly because they were not the same colors or texture, the man was very skilled. The villagers had waited for them to return and bowed respectfully and returned to their daily routines.
"Does Satoru know about this?" Kagome asked.
"Of course, we knew he would be coming to live here, so he needed to know what he was coming back to" Sango replied. "By the way, there's a feast in your honor tonight" she shouted as she headed towards her home next to the training school. Yasuo dragged on the reigns of horse and follows her.
"Good day Lady Kagome" Yasuo said gently bowing slightly as he walked away. 'At least I'm being worshipped for me this time, and not being Kikyo's reincarnation'
"Still play with Shippo?" Midori asked, she had been standing with Sango during the commotion and was alone again with Kagome and her family.
"Of course Midori" Kagome answered leaning over and nudging Shippo towards her. Kagome picked up Kaiya and Inu Yasha Kiyomi and followed Shippo and Midori.
Part Two
Eri sat across from Miroku, Katsumi, and Souta. They had been trying to hide Kagome, Inu Yasha, Sango, and the babies' disappearances for close to a month. They had told her that they had gone to visit Inu Yasha's family, but she wasn't buying that only Miroku stayed. So now she sat here, waiting for them to explain it to her.
"You know that shrine that contains the old well" Katsumi began.
"Yes…"
"Well, on Kagome's 15th birthday, she fell down that well, and it took her into the feudal era, 500 years in the past. That's where she met Sango, Miroku, and Inu Yasha."
"Miroku?" Eri said dumbfounded. He nodded his head and looked down at the table. He then looked up and took over the story.
"It began 550 years ago. When Inu Yasha tried to steal the shikon no tama, so he could become a full-blooded youkai, from the miko who protected and purified it, Kikyo. Instead of stealing it however Inu Yasha and Kikyo fell in love. Kikyo wanted to become a normal woman, and could not do so while protecting the jewel, so she asked Inu Yasha to become human with it. Inu Yasha accepted. Kikyo had been taking care of a bandit who had been severely burned and was no longer able to move. His name was Onigumo. Onigumo desired to see the jewel tainted and Kikyo's calm face darkened with hatred. So on the day that Kikyo and Inu Yasha planned to meet to make the wish. Onigumo called youkai forth to feast on his body and thus became the hanyou Naraku. Naraku tricked Inu Yasha and Kikyo to think they had betrayed each other. He disguised himself as Inu Yasha and fatally wounded Kikyo and took the jewel from her. He also disguised himself as Kikyo and made Inu Yasha think that Kikyo wanted to kill him; he returned the shikon no tama to the village. Inu Yasha attacked the village and stole the shikon no tama, Kikyo used her last bit of strength pinned Inu Yasha to a tree with an enchanted arrow. Her dying wish was to have the jewel burned with her body. This is where it gets confusing. The centipede youkai that dragged Kagome through the well came looking for the shikon no tama. Kagome lead the centipede away from the village and came upon Inu Yasha who had awoken. The shikon no tama turned out to be inside Kagome's body, meaning she was Kikyo's reincarnation and tore it from her body. In order to save herself she removed the arrow the sealed Inu Yasha to the tree, and he killed the centipede. He then tried to kill and steal the jewel from Kagome. The old miko Kaede placed a rosary around Inu Yasha's neck that 'subdued' him every time Kagome said osuwari. Over the few days following, Kagome was attacked for jewel by some bandits whose leader was being manipulated by a crow demon. The crow swallowed the jewel and become more powerful. Snatching a child from the village. Inu Yasha attacked the crow and the remains and child fell into the water. Kagome saved the child but didn't retrieve the jewel. So the crow came back together. Kagome shot the crow with an arrow, and shattered the jewel in the process. So Kagome and Inu Yasha had to work together to gather the shards. While traveling they came upon many youkai and evil humans who had jewel shards. They met a young abandoned kitsune named Satoru who had been separated from his parents after being attacked by the youkai, the thunder brothers who Inu Yasha defeated. Satoru joined with them because he couldn't find his parents. The next big thing was when the Witch Urasue stole the ashes and soil from Kikyo's grave. She attempted to resurrect Kikyo to serve her and collect jewel shards. But because Kikyo's soul had already been reincarnated in Kagome it didn't work. Luckily for Urasue Inu Yasha, Kagome, Kaede and Satoru came after her to retrieve the ashes. Urasue captured Kagome and stole the soul from her body. Kikyo came back, and accused Inu Yasha of betraying her; Inu Yasha accused Kikyo of betraying him. Kikyo died hating Inu Yasha and would not rest until she killed him. Kagome called her soul back from Kikyo, but Kikyo held onto the part of it, the hatred. Inu Yasha went after Kikyo when she tried escaping and Kikyo ended up falling off of a cliff and died. Everyone assumed she had died; instead she used the souls of dead maidens to stay in the realm of the living to exact her revenge and take Inu Yasha to hell with her. Inu Yasha had a hard time picking between his love for Kikyo and his love for Kagome. No matter how many times it became clear that Kikyo was evil, or that wanted to kill Kagome, he couldn't see it, and every time she came around he would go after her, leaving Kagome behind. Kagome always forgave him… always. I began traveling with Kagome and Inu Yasha after trying to steal their jewel shards. I too was on a quest; in my right hand I had a void, a curse that had started with my grandfather when Naraku pierced his right hand. The void would pull everything into it, and would continue to grow and spread until it consumed my grandfather, the same thing happened to my father. I was on a quest to kill Naraku to end the curse on my family. When I met Kagome and Inu Yasha I told them what I knew, and they figured out the Inu Yasha and Kikyo were tricked by Naraku, and that Naraku killed Kikyo, not Inu Yasha. Not that it made a difference to Kikyo. The next person to be hurt by the jewels' evil was Sango. Her village, the taijiya were very strong and respected demon exterminators. When they were called to a village to kill a spider youkai that was terrorizing a village. It was a trap, and Naraku manipulated Sango's little brother Kohaku to slay the taijiya there, their father and friends. Sango survived and the Lord of the castle took care of Sango. Naraku was his advisor, the lord not knowing Naraku's true nature. While all the best of the taijiya were gone, Naraku told youkai that the village was defenseless and the people were all slaughtered. Naraku then tricked Sango into believing that Inu Yasha had killed her people looking for the shikon no tama. She tried to kill Inu Yasha but was so badly injured there was no real fight, and Sango joined us in our quest to kill Naraku for his betrayal, Naraku placed a jewel shard in Kohaku's back to keep him alive, and he controlled Kohaku and took away his memories using him as his puppet. He tried to get Sango to kill Kohaku to cause the jewel to become more tainted, but Sango wouldn't kill him."
Eri sat there shocked, it explained so much, it made sense. Kagome's constant absences, the two timing arrogant boyfriend. Why her friends were so different and confused by their time in the time they were here.
"Is…is there more, there must be. What changed everything?" Eri asked quietly. Miroku swallowed and went into everything.
"I was not there when the change happened in Kagome and Inu Yasha's relationship, just that they left to look for shards alone while Sango, Satoru and I stayed behind because Satoru was sick. When they left they were their usual selves, and when they came back they were mated, and Kagome was an inu-hanyou like Kagome. While they were gone Kikyo came looking for Inu Yasha. He wasn't back yet so she trapped me in a barrier while I was out walking with Sango. I confronted her about her actions she got angry and wouldn't let me go. While I was stuck in that barrier Naraku kidnapped Sango. Kikyo was finally about to let me leave when Inu Yasha and Kikyo returned. Kagome pushed me out of the barrier to protect me. I don't know what happened in there, just that Kagome came out with all of her soul back and Kikyo put to rest, Inu Yasha was content with it. We discovered later that Naraku had Sango and began to look for her. I was in love with Sango or thought I was. When we finally found them, Naraku had been torturing and doing horrible things to Sango, we got there…. He was raping her. We stopped it before he…could finish. We had killed Naraku then. Finally ending our quest. Kagome discovered she was pregnant when we came back, and insisted she stay in the feudal era for Sango. We also found Satoru's parents and he left to live with them. After the pup was born. Kagome and Inu Yasha were… careless… and Kagome became pregnant again. This time her mother told Kagome she would stay here, so we all came here. The wedding you went to was their real, first wedding. After the wedding we went to Hawaii for the honeymoon, Sango and I discovered we weren't right for each other. We came back, and Sango went back through the well and Inu Yasha did as well, but he was here more than there. They were making improvements to the village and stuff like that. When Kagome went through the well the jewel for some reason vanished. I was going to go through later, but the well sealed, and I can never go back to my time."
"That's…I don't even know what to…say" Eri said stumbling over her own words.
"Its all true, Kagome was constantly going back and forth, Ji-Chan was always lying and making up excuses for Kagome's absences." Souta added.
"It all makes sense… all of it." Eri mumbled.
"Are you ok?" Miroku asked placing his hand on Eri's.
"Relieved, no more doubting and questions…is this the hand"
"Yes"
Eri turned his hand over and looked at the palm, a small circular scar on each side of his hand. She traced her fingers along it. Katsumi motioned for Souta to leave and they walked out of the kitchen.
"Katsumi has adopted me and has been home schooling me everything I would have learned if I had gone to school here. The money she had for Kagome's education she's going to use on me for when I eventually go to university."
"I'm taking a year off from school to work and help pay for school, I can help teach you what you'll need to know, get your ready for university. I'm starting next year, who knows, maybe we can go together. If your ready" Eri offered.
"That would appreciated" Miroku answered.
"Oh I could help but hear, thank you so much Eri, and I will pay for your help, and don't argue with me. I wont take no for an answer" Katsumi said as she came back into the kitchen.
"But-"
"Eri really…I want you to"
"Higurashi-Sama..."
"I insist, and call me Katsumi"
Eri sighed and nodded her head in agreement. After Katsumi left Eri and Miroku left for a walk around Tokyo. They walked for over 5 hours while Eri began Miroku's first lesson about her time. She talked about the culture, the changes, and new technology. By the time they got back to the shrine, Eri was convinced Miroku would learn everything very fast. She barley had to explain anything completely for him to understand. Katsumi offered to drive Eri home, but she preferred to walk.
It had been 6 months since Miroku had taken that walk with Eri, Katsumi already had him up to a 8th grade level in his schooling with Eri 's help. Eri was waiting for Miroku to be ready before she applied to university, which they assumed to be in another 6 months, right before the dead line for application. Miroku and Eri had been officially dating since he came back from Hawaii 10 months ago. Miroku had completely socially adjusted to this time, and when he did come across something he hadn't encountered before, he kept it together and would ask Eri about it later. Today was his last lesson in 8th grade history. It hurt him slightly to read that his travels with Kagome and the shikon no tama were all myth and legend now. He had yet to bring himself to look through the box that Kagome had left for him. It was separate from the ones she left for her family and he could never get past the letter. He was afraid for what he would find. Katsumi respected his hesitation and never told him what she found in her box, as did Souta and Ji-Chan. He sat at his desk with the box in front of him. He slowly opened it and took out the letter. There were several more letters and what looked like pictures in the box. He took out the next letter after the one he had read.
Miroku,
We miss you; things have been so busy since I last wrote. Kaiya and Kiyomi are growing so fast, so is Shippo. There are pictures of them in here. Sango found Kohaku. Believe it or not, Sesshoumaru brought him back for Rin, he's forcing Kohaku to stay and serve him to atone for his crimes. Both Sango and I think its really helping him recover. He has even become friends with Rin. There have been such amazing changes made to the village. Sango has rebuilt the taijiya. Satoru came back to visit today with Midori, did we tell you about her, Satoru's parents found her in some bushes, she an inu-youkai. Her parents were killed, the blanket she was wrapped him was covered in their blood and we couldn't find any of her clan. She's so cute; she has silver hair to her ankles, a pink crescent moon on her forehead, and brilliant green eyes. Satoru's parents took her in. However it's becoming difficult for them to raise her, so Satoru and Midori are coming to live in the village. Can you believe he's 12 years old? I wonder, if you've ever heard of the youkai no ara tengoku soshite chikyu or tengochikyu. Well Sango has been dating one of them named Yasuo Hiroshi Kisho. A few weeks ago they became mates. They came back today. The village elder and Kaede asked Inu Yasha and I to be Lord and Lady of the village and for me to take Kaede's role as village miko. We accepted, Kiyomi and Kaiya and Shippo are napping right now, and I felt bad because I hadn't written you for a while. There's a feast in our honor in a few hours so I have to go get ready. It's crazy how much things have changes. A hanyou and hanyou-miko Lord and Lady of the village. Well I better go, Kaiya just woke up.
Love,
Kagome
'So their Lord and Lady of the village now. The village must have really grown for them to need an official Lord and Lady.' Miroku took out the stack of pictures that went with that letter. There was one of the entire family standing in front of their new house, it couldn't have been to long after they left due to how big the children were. Miroku couldn't fight the feeling of longing in his heart as he looked at the picture. Next was a picture of Satoru holding a baby with big green eyes. He switched to the next picture and was staring down at Sango standing in front of a huge building holding hiraikotsu on her back. He flipped it over and read the description 'Sango in front of the new training school and weapons building for the taijiya'. The next picture was one of Sango, Kagome, and Kaede in the renovated fields. He flipped through a few pictures of more of the renovations to the village. There was another picture of Kagome and her family in front of their house but it was much bigger as was Shippo, Kaiya, and Kiyomi, Shippo was standing in front of Inu Yasha. Kaiya and Kiyomi sitting next to him. 'Kagome stopped wearing clothes from this time, she's been wearing kimono's'. There were a few pictures after that, that looked a little off. He looked on the back off the pictures. 'The next five or six pictures, Shippo stole the camera from Inu Yasha' they were funny. One was of Inu Yasha jumping for the camera. Another of Kaiya and Kiyomi and his mother, Inu Yasha again trying to get the camera back. The others were of his fingers or feet. The next picture was of Sango and Yasuo with the village elder and Kaede. The picture after was Kagome's family in very elegant clothing. 'Must be after they accepted being the royal family' that was the last picture. Miroku put everything back in the box and closed it pushing it along with his memories back into the drawer.