After the Battle

Chapter 7: Explanations

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

A/N: 0.0 I got about 30 something reviews... HOO HAH! –Dances- I love you all. All of you. h00t! That is the single most amount of reviews I've ever gotten. Ever... -faints-

Don't get out your chainsaws yet, folks, the person may not be who you expected...

I was thinking about Kikyou but I'm one of the few people in this world who actually likes Kikyou, so if I were to put her in I would probably have to write a bit of Kikyou bashing, and I don't know if I could bring myself to do that. Sue me.

It was actually a hard decision for me to try and think of a female (besides Kikyou) that the voice could be. After hours of long mind debating (-cough- watching Azumanga Daioh –cough-) I went over my reviews, and got a really great idea from one of my lovely reviewers, so thank you to K. Nighthawk for helping me out of a rather bottomless hole I put myself into! w00t for reviewers!

(Wow that was a long note... on to the story before you all kill me from anticipation)

A young face peered out from behind the straw mat door, and Kagome's eyes narrowed in confusion.

"What? Rin?" Kagome said, puzzled.

Kei looked from face to face during the awkward silence that followed. Why was her father with another woman? Especially one that Kagome seemed to know...

Maybe it wasn't "like that" though. Kei shrugged to herself. For all she knew, anything could happen because she had no idea where she was.

"Erm... ahem." stuttered Miroku in a weak attempt to break the silence.

Kagome looked down at the ground, a tearful expression crossing her once so happy face.

Rin looked from Kagome to Inuyasha, then back at Kagome. Something seemed to click in her mind, because her eyes lightened slightly.

"Kagome, it's not what you think..." whispered Rin gently. Even though she was about 10 years younger than everyone else, she seemed very mature.

"Sesshomaru and I were passing by and have been staying with Inuyasha for a few days..."

Kagome nodded, and a smile began to form on her face.

"You mean they actually get along now?"

Rin nodded.

"Ever since they joined up and defeated Naraku together, they've actually been on speaking terms. I wouldn't say they are friends, but it's a start."

Kagome's eyes widened.

"You defeated Naraku while I was gone?"

The group nodded enthusiastically, and Sango smiled.

"I forgot you didn't know about that. We also got the whole sacred jewel."

Kei was lost again. Naraku? Defeating? Sacred jewel? There were really more mysteries here then she could figure out in one day, and by the looks of it her mother wasn't going anywhere soon...

Dusk was beginning to set in while the group sat around a bright crackling campfire. Inuyasha had agreed to spend the night outside with his old friends. Rin and Sesshoumaru were invited too, but due to the fact they were to be leaving the next morning they decided to stay in the hut to pack their things together. Everyone agreed they probably just wanted some alone time. Kei was sitting slightly out of the group and staring at the stars which were so much more beautiful then back home, when her mother called to her.

"Kei, why don't you come over here to sit by your father and me? I'll answer any questions that you might have." Kagome smiled warmly, and motioned for her daughter.

Finally, thought Kei to herself. Maybe she would even get to know Inuyasha a bit better...

Once she found her place on the log next to Kagome she looked expectantly at her. Kagome took this as a hint to begin, so she started off.

"Well, first off, I bet you want to know where you are. You probably won't believe me, but this is Feudal Japan. I don't know why there is a well in the shrine that takes people back and forth, but it's rather handy, wouldn't you agree?"

Kei giggled, a little nervous because of how stiff Inuyasha sat when he was next to her.

"How did you ever find this place?" she asked, wondering what had led her mother to jump down a well when she was 15.

Kagome smiled.

"I had a feeling you would ask that. Actually, I was trying to get my cat because your uncle Souta was too afraid. A centipede demon came out of the well and pulled me down."

Kei eyed Inuyasha, and then turned to Kagome for her second question.

"Are there really demons here?" she asked, wondering about Inuyasha's ears, silver hair and his golden eyes.

"Yes, there are. Inuyasha is a great example of one. Some aren't as cute and loveable as him though." Kagome teased, and then leaned over Kei to kiss him on the cheek.

Feh was Inuyasha's only reply, although a red blush hinted on his cheeks.

Everyone was lying on mats staring up at the stars, trying to fall asleep. Kei sighed. It had been a really odd day. It had just stared off as a regular birthday party. She had never thought she would ever be lying under the stars in Feudal Japan next to a retired demon slayer, a monk and a demon who was her father.

Father. The word was so new to her. She was happy she had found out who her father was and all, but she had always envisioned him as a totally different person. Kei's dream father was happy and smiling and would love to play baseball with her in the front yard.

Now that she met who he actually was all thoughts of baseball left her mind. Her father was from Feudal Japan... Did they even have baseball here?

Her stomach twisted uncomfortably. Inuyasha also didn't seem like the type to smile or laugh. So far, he was quiet and nervous, mostly keeping to himself except to kiss her mother on the cheek before going to bed.

Maybe he was just as nervous as she was about meeting someone she had never met, but was connected to in countless ways.

She fell into deep sleep with these thoughts circling around in her head.

A/N: Okay, I really liked writing that chapter. I don't know why, but it all seemed to flow together so nicely. Again, thank you to K. Nighthawk for giving me the idea of putting Rin in, and thank you to all my reviewers.

This is the longest chapter I've written for this story, and it's all thanks to the amount of reviews I've gotten, so the moral is REVIW! (Still...)

Also, school just started today, so I don't have all day to sit around anymore. –sob-

Eek, I hate the format on this. I had it written out really nice, and then this stupid thing goes and RUINS IT! X.X