After the Battle

Chapter 17

Disclaimer: I still don't own Inuyasha... -.-

Kei awoke, still rather rattled by Hiroki's sudden appearance that night and his talk of marriage. She wanted nothing more then to talk to Kagome that morning to ask her about these strange feudal times. When she awoke, it was nearly midday and she couldn't find Kagome anywhere. Instead Sango and Miroku were talking softly to each other near a small fire. Sango saw her wake and immediately went to her side.

"Kei, Kagome and Inuyasha had to take care of something. They'll be back shortly. Miroku and I are going to go pick up our children in the village so we will return shortly. Will you be okay alone?" she said brightly, smiling upon her best friend's daughter. Kei thought uneasily of Kikyou and Hiroki, but nodded her head. She didn't want to stand in the way of Sango and Miroku getting their children, and being alone with Hiroki couldn't really be that bad.

A few hours later she was sitting alone in the clearing, looking through one of her mother's books she had brought along. It was a sort of diary that had things from when she was 15 or 16.

October 16th

Today I came back to the feudal times. Inuyasha seemed very anxious to have me back for some reason because he came back to my time and pulled me back. You can imagine my mother's surprise. One minute I was eating dinner, the next I was being pulled through the door by an overprotective hanyou. I'll have to explain it all to her when I get back. As of now, nothing really exciting has happened. Inuyasha is being his usual grumpy self. Some times I really think he hates me. That really wouldn't be good because I think I'm starting to like me... I just can't tell Sango or anyone because they'll make fun of me... 

Speaking of Sango, she has been growing really close to Miroku lately. I can tell she likes him! Oh, I have to go, Shippou is calling me! Bye!

Kei quickly tired of this section which was filled mostly of "Inuyasha looked at me funny today... I think he likes me" and "Oh my gosh, Inuyasha kissed me today!" She guessed her mother and father and only been friends until the time when they separated because Kagome thought Inuyasha was dead. She wondered how it was for her mother to think this of the person she cherished openly and felt tears well in her amber eyes she definitely got from Inuyasha. If anyone close to her died Kei was sure that she would be in a terrible place. Her mother didn't have much time to recover though, for after fate ripped her from the one she loved she had a child of his. A child that was a constant reminder of the father who was no longer living that needed attention, loving and caring when all Kagome probably wanted to do was grieve. A horrible thought crept in Kei's mind. What if Kagome had hated her and wished her never born? What if she wanted to forget everything about feudal Japan and try living a normal life? Had Kei been only an unwanted souvenir from a time she wished to forget?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a movement at her right. She looked up to see none other than Hiroki standing over her, a joyful smile on his face.

"Kei, is something troubling you? If they are hurting you feel free to run away with me. Together we'll hide, shunned from society, and maybe even marry later on. What do you say?" He called merrily, and the twinkling in his eyes told Kei he was only joking, but would carry out his actions if they were ever needed. She felt an uncomfortable lump in her throat. Back in Tokyo she never even had a boyfriend, but here Hiroki was crawling all over her like she was his goddess. She had any reason to be a cynic though, so the thought lifted easily and instead she laughed lightly.

"I was wondering when you'd be back." She said smiling and sinking gratefully into his open arms as he sat next to her. They sat in silence for a while, Hiroki watching the sky lazily.

"You know I couldn't stay away from you for long." He smiled, sending a shiver up her spine. She giggled again, basking in the warm sunlight happily, and placed her hand on his long sleeved suit coat. Wait… suit coat?

"Hey Hiroki, where'd ya get those clothes?" she asked, suddenly noticing Hiroki was dressed in a very modern day style of suit. He winked at her playfully.

"I was wondering when you'd notice. Actually, it's a very long story. One that Kikyou doesn't want you to know, but one I feel will help you get to know me better. You see, I can travel to your time. It's amazing actually. After my father died I heard rumors about a bone eating well and traveling, so being without a father and naturally curious I decided to try and find it. I didn't believe it, but thought it might be worth the look." He paused to let the words sink in to Kei.

"You… you mean to say you've actually traveled to my time period… to my grandmother's house? Have you seen me before?" She asked quickly, unable to hide the surprise in her voice. He nodded, and her eyes widened in shock.

"I actually made friends with a little boy. He showed me around and things and I got the hang of your time period. You were a very small girl then. I remember seeing you in little yellow sundresses in the lawn. The boy told me you were his cousin and you were at your grandmother's home." Hiroki reminisced, a warm smile lighting his face. He looked at Kei to see how she was taking this and wasn't surprised to see that her face was still full of disbelief.

"That's amazing… why didn't I ever realize it?" She inquired suspiciously. Hiroki caught a snatch of doubt in her eyes.

"You were young. You probably just thought I was one of the neighborhood kids or something. I don't know. All I know is that I grew up and started making more regular visits without your cousin. I'm now one of Milady Kikyou's underlings for the purpose of being able to use the well. I don't even know why I can use the well. It's really a mystery to me." He ended, the smile fading from his face slightly. He looked very thoughtful but the mood changed when he wrapped his arms around Kei very suddenly.

"Say you'll come back to Tokyo with me. We'll live in the city together, away from these times and everyone else. We'll start anew." He stated. This time Kei could tell he was completely serious. Before she could reply he pressed his lips against hers, lightly at first, but when she offered no resistance he pushed her lightly on the grass and began to kiss her harder and harder. They were locked in a passionate kiss when Kei heard voices from the clearing.

"Kei, what are you doing?" She heard Miroku's stern fatherly voice call. She heard Sango gasp and felt Hiroki pull himself off her and take a seat next to her in the grass. He looked at Sango and Miroku suspiciously, but when Kei nodded that it was okay he smiled brightly at them.

"Good afternoon!" He called merrily to them, standing up to bow low, "I'm Hiroki, son of Jyn-Xian. Pleased to make your acquaintance." At those words, Miroku's eyes narrowed and Sango sent a death glare at Kei.

"What are you doing with this man Kei?" Sango practically shouted, and Kei saw her face flush with rage. What was her problem anyway? Just because Inuyasha and Hiroki's father had been enemies didn't mean they couldn't be friends… did it?

"Hiroki's my friend." She replied stubbornly, looking to Hiroki for support. He only smiled and grabbed her hand to help her up.

"Kei, do you know who Hiroki is?" Miroku asked calmly, not as pissed off as Sango was. Kei shook her head slowly.

"I don't know him very well. I only know that he's my friend." She said again hoping they would back off. Sango shot her another glare before grabbing her daughters' hands.

"Talk to her Miroku. Her parents are going to hear about this."

a.n: Ah, I made a horrible mistake! I updated the wrong chapter! I wrote 2 chapters called seventeen and threw the earlier one out because it sucked. I meant to update it with this one but had like 2 minutes online so I couldn't check. Now I've gone and made a terrible mess of things… I'm so stupid! I hope no one reads the update. It sucked! Blah! Okay... also, if you liked the old one better tell me so I can delete this or the old one..

Sorry the update took so long! I'm a bad lazy slacker. I should get deadlines or something… honestly. I'm sorry for everyone who was waiting for something amazing… -.-

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