A/n, sorry for they extremely long lack of updates, Senior year was insane, so now I've got a few weeks till I'm off to college, and gonna update and hopefully finish up this story before I leave.

'Had it really been so many years' Kagome dully thought to herself. The sour look returned to her face as she glanced at the equally sour looking plant she was now collecting. After Kaede passed, some of the less appealing duties of being the village miko were now her duties. Of course she had helped Kaede in the past with these things…

'But this is just disgusting' Kagome mentally moaned as a questionable liquid oozed from said plant. Kagome gathered up her "spoils" and walked back towards the village. It had been by sheer luck that Kagome had discovered the regenerative effects on memory the foul little plant had.

"Sango, grab that plant over there, it's the only one that I have left, and then we can head back to village, you must be getting tired"

"Yes miko-sama" Sango replied

"…Sango… we've been friends for years, please… call me Kagome" 'Kaede was miko-sama, Kikyo was miko-sama…I am just Kagome'

Sango nodded as she began pulling the plants from the ground, mimicking Kagome's methods avoiding any extra strain that could damage the roots. Unfortunately, one tore, and a strange liquid oozed onto Sango's hands, Sango had cried out about the odor and how disgusting it was. She wiped the liquid off onto her shirt and handed Kagome the plants. Kagome and Sango started to walk back to the village, a routine they had begun to follow almost religiously since Kaede had been buried, at first just to provide a semblance of stability and normalcy to a very shaken Kagome, who's mood was beginning to alarm the villagers. However, Sango abruptly stopped and looked around.

"I…I know this place" She murmured

"Of course you do Sango, we come through here every morning"

"No, I was here…with you, and Inu Yasha-sama, and… Houshi-sama" his named slipped from her lips barley louder than a whisper. Tears started to shine in Sango's eyes.

"You…you can remember?"

"…Everything…"

"We have to hurry back, Yasuo will be so pleased..." Kagome paused for a moment "Why did you remember so suddenly, we've been walking through here everyday for several moons… what was diff- the plant!"

"Perhaps, I'm glad I remember, but if you would understand, I would really like to go apologize to Yasuo, I don't suppose he appreciated being treated like a stranger by his own mate…"

Kagome felt the effects of that damned plant as she walked back, all the memories she had so conveniently stuffed away, her mom, grandfather, Souta… her thoughts halted at her old friend Miroku. How was he she wondered, did he make a good life, did he still live at the shrine. Kagome wished she had listened to Inu Yasha a little more, by the time Shippo was 17 she had run out of film. Luckily there were lots of pictures from before them, Sango and her children, Rin and Kohaku's wedding, Kagome grinned at how Miroku would react to that. Every time there was a new baby, Kagome would get camera happy as Inu Yasha started to call it. First was Sango's first child, a boy they had named in Miroku's memory, followed 2 years later by another boy named Jiro, a year later Kagome and Inu Yasha had their fourth child, a girl, Mika, who was a good 6 years younger than her brother. A year after Mika, Rin and Kohaku had their first daughter, Mai. 3 years after Mai, Sango gave birth to twin boys (she was beginning to wonder if she'd ever have a girl), and much to Kagome's surprise a year after the twins, Akina and Jin, they received word that Kagura had given birth to triplets, all boys, Kisho, Taro, and Yukio, she had also added, there would not be anymore children after those three. Four years after Kagura's triplets, Sango finally had her baby girl, Takara. Two years after Takara, Kagome had their second son, Kin. Rin followed days later with another daughter, Yori. Kagome still found it hard to believe her baby boy Shippo, was already 18. Kagome was sad for Rin, because the poor girl had so much difficulty conceiving and carrying a child full term, that it was clear for her age, that Yori and Mai would be their only children, and Rin had always spoken of having many children. Sango felt guilty, knowing that she was pregnant with her sixth child, and Rin had barley survived her second child.

Kagome had other things on her mind, especially her eldest son and Midori, she was worried the two were doing far more than the innocent kissing and holding hands that Shippo claimed they were doing. It didn't help when Inu Yasha pointed out how old they had been when they mated, barley a few years older than Shippo. It was hard for Kagome to adjust to how much faster children grew up in the feudal era, at 16, females were expected to be married and pregnant, however, Kagome had managed to find a way around a lot of the age expectations due to her children being hanyou, and having much longer life-spans. It still didn't make her feel any better that she had managed to slip on a few more years to their childhoods because her eldest son was still on the verge of mating to Midori. Mating would lead to children, and she could not fathom being a grandmother, when she had a baby just turned one. Inu Yasha would just rant on about how his first born son would be mating an inu youkai, and that Sesshoumaru could shove everything he said about tradition and how a hanyou and youkai could never be together, because it was wrong right up his ass. Of course any chance to use the children to prove Sesshoumaru had been wrong about something was pointed out to the taiyoukai as soon as Inu Yasha had the chance. Kagome grinned to herself, she had caught Yukio only 7 years old, having his "first kiss" with a human girl in the village while visiting. That had been an interesting conversation between Yukio, Kagome, and Kagura, about how Daddy couldn't know and why. Kagome still envisioned that poor little girl staring down Sesshoumaru's poison whip for "tainting his son".

'I wonder if Miroku ever got married, or had children'

"Oi! Kagome, hurry up" Inu Yasha shouted as Kagome walked towards the house.

'For Kami's sake, I've been out of the forest for less than two seconds'

"I'm coming, I'm coming" Kagome yelled back, her pitch easily matching his. Inu Yasha blushed as his mate kissed his cheek and walked into the house in front of him.

"You're the one who wants to start trying for another baby, and we barley get any time alone-" Inu Yasha glowered as best he could, unsuccessfully. Kagome smiled sweetly as she walked over to their bed, followed by her Inu Yasha.

Kagome and Inu Yasha had just finished cleaning up after their night alone, when the sound of Mika yelling caught their ears.

"She's fighting him again, isn't she" Kagome sighed.

"I wish she wouldn't pick on him so much, she's starting to look like a bully, my daughter shouldn't be a bully," Inu Yasha groaned.

"Inu Yasha, she's not being a bully, she likes him"

"She's 12, she isn't allowed to like boys yet" Inu Yasha roared, "I'll kill him, what's his name again…"

"His name is Jiro, you know, Sango's son" Kagome reminded him.

"…So I won't kill him, just teach him a lesson or two about causing my daughter to like him"

"Inu Yasha… you so much as scare that boy, and Sango will have your head, you should be happy she doesn't get involved in the matter with the way Mika picks on Jiro"

"Mika is a girl, Jiro is a boy, there's a huge difference" Inu Yasha defended.

"Let them figure it out themselves, I don't think you need to worry about Mika coming home to tell you she's mated to Jiro, in the worst they'll hold hands, hug, or kiss"

"Mika will not be kissing boys!" Inu Yasha growled through clenched teeth.

"Of course Inu Yasha, just like the twins would never kiss boys, and that Shippo would never do anything with Midori before they mated"

"They were just kissing!"

"Exactly"

'Wench… always does that'

"Mika is still to young to be kissing boys, just like the twins, and I'll kill any boy they kiss-"

"Just like your going to kill Jiro…"

"Feh"

"I'm going to go pick up Kin from Kohaku and Rin, he was playing with Yori today"

"Whatever…"

"Inu Yasha…"

"All right! All right! I won't kill any boys for looking at our daughters…"

"Thank You"

"…Today…"

"I HEARD THAT INU YASHA, if Kin wasn't waiting…"

"Exactly, Kin is waiting" Inu Yasha shoved back in Kagome's face, she glared at him for a second before running off.

'Kami, I hate that look' Inu Yasha shuddered.

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"Yasuo, we are not going to bet on the sex of the pup or how many pups there are" Sango laughed.

"I bet Takara would love to have a sister, for a pup her age, she's very clear, if it's another boy she's going to go live with Kagome and Inu Yasha."

"Well the odds are against her, she's one girl after four boys, it's probably going to be another boy"

"So you think it'll be a boy…?"

"Yasuo, we're not betting"

"But you still think it will be a boy?"

"YASUO!"

"Your not mad, I can tell by the way your trying to not laugh"

"We shouldn't be taking bets on our baby"

"I know, but I think it will be a boy too" Yasuo replied through grinning teeth. Sango rolled her eyes and looked down at her protruding belly.

"I'll still always hate the physical parts of pregnancy…"

"Oh I love your belly, especially when there's a baby in it"

"I can't see my feet…"

"Well I can, and yes, they are still there, and just the same as they were since the last time you saw them"

"OH…!"

"Just be relieved you don't have a normal human pregnancy, women barley survive those, they last entirely too long" Yasuo murmured

"I know, I always feel weird around Kohaku now, I know he's jealous, they always talk about trying for a third, just to have one son, but I don't think Rin would survive it, she was lucky with Yori, if it wasn't for Kagome, she may have gone into labor early again, and I don't think she would survive mentally if she were to lose another baby, she's conceived at least ten times, and only four of them made it even close to full term, and of those four, only Yori and Mai, survived, the rest she lost within the first half, and they didn't even have a body to bury."

"I know, it was especially hard on Kohaku, because the pup they lost before Yori, would have been a boy, when Rin carried Yori to term, Kohaku was so sure she would be the son they were hoping for." Yasuo pointed out

"Of course he doesn't love the girls any less, but in these times, its necessary to have at least one son to carry on the family name, even I know the importance of Kohaku having a son, I'd be lying to his face if I told him it wasn't important, but I still think it is more important that Yori and Mai have a mother, instead of one brother and no mother for all three of them."

"But Kohaku knows… that the value of him having one surviving male child…"

"Would mean continuing our family name and heritage, I know, but at the cost of Rin… one of our sons…"

"You and I both know, that no matter how much we wish it could be different, the son must have a son, the family name, is with the son, not the daughter."

"I remember when I was a little girl, Mama and Father were always talking about how they still had to try for a son, I always felt if I tried to be a better slayer, a better daughter, they wouldn't have to try for another baby, because Mama kept losing the babies, and every time, she seemed less alive."

"But your Mother survived birthing Kohaku"

"Yes, but she died a few years later"

"Not because of Kohaku, and who's to say that the same would happen to Rin?

"I know, I just hope that the third is a boy, and that they can stop trying so hard"

"It would help a lot if the villagers didn't comment on how quaint their little family is" Yasuo sighed

"Yeah.."

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"Kagome-sama!" Rin called

"Rin-chan, did Kin behave himself?"

"Of course, he was an angel, even when Yori chewed on his hair, its amazing how much he looks like Inu Yasha-sama."

"We almost named him Inuichi, but I didn't think Shippo would be to fond of it."

"Kohaku and I hope that when we finally have a son, he'll look just like him"

"Rin-chan, did you ever think about maybe not trying for more children?"

"Of course not, I know its dangerous to keep trying, but I couldn't imagine only have two children"

"Just, think about what I said earlier, please Rin"

"I will, but in the mean time, Kin is very tired, and I'm sure would love to go home and take a nap" Rin hastily replied.

"Of course" Kagome gave in as she took a sleeping Kin from Rin.

"I better get back inside, Mai is almost done with her lessons with Sango and Kohaku, and I need to start dinner"

"Have a good night Rin-chan"

"You too Kagome-sama"

Kagome sighed as she watched Rin disappear back into her hut.

'She'll never survive a third child, I wish she wasn't so stubborn, she must get it from Sesshoumaru, I'll have to have a talk with Kagura or Sesshoumaru about this, if she does get pregnant, Sesshoumaru should be near by with tensaiga. Kami only knows what another full term pregnancy would do to her'

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"PAPA!" a small girl shouted. "PAPA!" the shout echoed through the shrine.

"Miroku, Hana is calling you"

"Isn't Taku supposed to be watching her"

"Yes, but just go, see what's wrong, Taku may have her tied up while he plays video games, again."

"How come we never had these problems between Norie and Taku?"

"Who knows-"

"PAPA"

"Miroku, go!"

Miroku smiled at his wife as he walked from the kitchen, he wondered silently if Kagome and Souta got along any better than Taku and Hana. Miroku sighed as sure enough, Hana was sitting in a chair, firmly tied down, and Taku playing a game.

"Hey Dad"

"Taku…why is your sister tied to that chair"

"Hi Papa"

"Hi Hana"

"Well, she wanted to play, and I said no, and she would shut up and kept trying to take the control, so I figured I'd tie her to the chair until it was her turn"

Miroku groaned and began untying Hana.

"Taku, tie up your sister one more time, and I won't let you go with Grandma and Uncle Souta to the beach next weekend"

"Dad… that's not fair, she's so annoying"

"She's four, you have any idea how annoying you were, when you were four?"

"Norie never said anything about me bugging her"

"Norie was two, she doesn't remember, and I doubt you remember what you were like when you were four"

"Do you remember what you were like when you were four?"

"Don't go there Taku, my life was very different then yours, your sisters, and your Moms"

Taku cringed; he knew about his fathers' life, knew all about the well, it was the thing that made his Dad different and cool.

"Sorry Dad, I'll stop tying up Hana"

Miroku smiled and left the playroom and went back into the kitchen.

"So was Hana tied to a chair?" Eri asked without looking up from the salmon she was currently preparing for dinner.

"Yeah, but Taku wont do it again, I threatened his beach trip and he caved."

"That's all it took?"

"Well, he groaned about how its unfair, and I told him he was just as bad when he was four, and then he asked about what I was like when I was four, that pretty much ended the conversation"

"Everything from before you got trapped here tends to do that for Taku"

"Yeah, its just, I hate when all it takes is to remind him that I've killed youkai, traveled with inu-hanyou, miko, and taijiya. I want him to listen to me because I'm his father."

"Miroku, that's who you are, if you were in the feudal era still, those would be the things that would make your son honor and respect you. I think that means a lot that those things are true even now" Eri paused as she slid the salmon on the grill, "Katsumi should be home soon with the rest of dinner, I'd at least like the salmon to be ready, she hardly ever lets me help with cooking lately"

Miroku grinned and wrapped his arms around his wife's belly "As long as you are pregnant, Katsumi will never let you help anymore than grilling a salmon"

Eri removed the fish from the heat and placed it on the counter and turned to face Miroku, "I've done this three times, and without a single complication all three times, I think I can handle cooking dinner."

Miroku laughed and lifted Eri into his arms, Eri squealed and clung to Miroku.

"If Katsumi catches you, she'll make sure to keep fifty feet between us till I give birth" Eri laughed. Miroku grinned and stole a quick kiss before placing Eri back onto her feet.

Over the past few years, Miroku and Eri had many chances to move out of the shrine, but the memory of the well and Kagome lived at the shrine. Pictures of the past from Kagome's memory box lined the walls. After Miroku started his career teaching history, and Eri became a veterinarian, they made renovations to the shrine, so that there would be a bedroom for everyone, without having to change Kagome's room. Miroku wondered if they would ever see them again, he knew there were friends he would never see again, there were letters in the box from after their funerals, but in all the letters he had read through, there was no mention of any deaths that weren't human, he had a lot of letters to get through. He prayed every night that Katsumi would get to see her daughter again it was possible after all. He was slightly angry, that if Kagome had lived till now, why hadn't she come to see her mother, to see him, or her brother? It wasn't fair of Kagome to wait so many years; she could have been waiting down on the street by the shrine for her younger self to go through that well if she had wanted. He had a feeling that she lived, there were times, important moments in his life, where he swore he could sense her, but she was never there, or at least never let them know she was there. When he and Eri were married, her grandfather's funeral, Souta's high school and college graduation, each of his child's births. If she was physically alive, why hadn't she come to see them?

'I think I deserve to see my old friends, to know things that those letters couldn't possibly say…'