Chapter 19

Four Years Later

"Mama's home, Yasha!", Kagome called as she entered the house, "Come give me a big kiss!"

A sturdy little boy, with shoulder-length, silvery-white hair, two puppy ears atop his head, and huge amber eyes came barging out of the kitchen.

"MAMA! MAMA!", he called as he ran into his mother's waiting arms and she picked him and hugged him.

"How was my little demon today?"

"Good day, Mama!", he said to her, as his grandmother came out of the kitchen.

"Hi, sweetie. How was school today?", she asked.

"Oh Mama. A killer! I have so much homework! By the time I get home from work tonight and get my homework done it will be time to go back to class in the morning. Was he good for you today?", she asked, as she patted the child's butt.

"I was good, Mama.", Yasha announced proudly.

"Yes he was. We went to the park ..."

"Da park.", the little boy repeated.

"And we rode the Merry-Go-Round ..."

"Merry ground.", he said.

"You rode on the Merry-Go-Round? What did you ride?"

"A horsy that go up an' down.", he proudly informed his mother, raising his hands high above his head.

Kagome hugged her son again, and putting him back on the floor, she said, "Let's go upstairs, sweetheart. I need to get changed for work."

Her mother informed her, as she headed back to the kitchen, "Dinner is almost ready."

"Ok, Mama. Thanks!", she said as she bounded up the stairs after her son.

Yasha played on her bed while Kagome took a shower. She needed that hot water to soothe her muscles. Shortly after Yasha was born she went to Cram School and prepared to take her college entrance exams. She passed and entered her freshman year that fall, when Yasha was 5 months old. She was now a senior with plans to continue on to medical school. She had decided to move ahead with her life, figuring that since Inuyasha hadn't come back for her, the old witch must be right. She assumed him dead. Dead by the hands of Kikyou. So she went to college and took a job. But she still refused to date. She hardly every removed her ring. The reason she did was a totally different story.

She stepped out of the shower and dried off, blow-drying her hair and applying her make-up. Then she took out her work uniform. The one she hated with a passion. She took a job in the touristy downtown district, on the seedier side of town. It was a nightclub, geared toward American businessmen. Businessmen who wanted nothing more than to get drunk and try to get some young Japanese ass. All the girls that worked there were under the age of 21 and the closer to 18 the better, because by 21 they were usually hold and haggard looking. But, because of the spell on Kagome, she always looked young and fresh-faced, a sweet, innocent, child. Fraternizing with the customers was discouraged, but alot of the girls did it for the extra money. Not Kagome. She was the hard to get one. Many men tried and they all failed. Some even had to be restrained by the bouncer when she left for the night.

And her costume didn't help. A tight black dress with a slit to the belly-button and mini-skirt, fishnet stockings, and 5 inch stiletto heels. And most of the time, she had a tray in her hands, filled with drinks, so she had to put up with the pinches, pats, and squeezes. She hated the job. But the tips were the best. Because of her looks, her constant little girl face, the men liked her best. She easily pocketed 50,000 Japanese Yen a night (about $430 US Dollars), just for flirting and shaking her butt. This was the one time she would slip off her ring. Married women would never work here. Oh, how Inuyasha would spit if he saw her job!

After dressing, she went over to her son on her bed. He had out a photo album and was looking at the photos. Photos she had taken in the feudal era.

"Who's this?", Kagome asked.

"Aunt Sango.", he replied.

"And this?"

"Uncle Miroku."

"And who's this?", she said, turning the page.

"SHIPPOU!", he cheered gleefully, and then, Yasha pointed and said, "Papa!"

"Yup! That's your papa.", Kagome agreed.

"When Papa come home, mama?"

She looked at her son, not knowing how to answer him, for she didn't know an answer. Was Inuyasha alive or dead? Would he ever return? Not knowing what to say, she simply answered, "I don't know, baby, I don't know.", as she closed the photo album, she said, "Let's go down to dinner. sweetie.", as she took his hand and they headed down to dinner.

In the Feudal Era

Inuyasha lazed in the late afternoon sun, high up in the tree. His work done for the day, he decided to be by himself. Kikyou still had chores to do, so it would be a while until she made dinner. In the 5 years he was here, most of the old people had died off. There were a few left, but mostly it was the orphaned children, many of whom were now strong, teenage, young adults, capable of pulling more than their fair share of weight in the village. Kikyou had left it up to Inuyasha to teach them and he reluctantly agreed. None of this was what he intended, when he came here 5 years ago. Back then he wanted to die, his world was gone. But Kikyou no longer desired his life and so he continued in his self-imposed exile. He never forgave himself for the argument that ended with the loss of his child.

And the reason for that argument was here in the village. Kikyou. He mistook Kikyou for Kagome in his mating season induced fog. And started to lick the marking spot, his saliva burning the skin enough to leave a mark. A mark that did eventually fade over time, but nonetheless, had been seen by Kagome and that started their argument.

He hated his wretched existence now, and wanted nothing more than to leave this world. He had lived this way for 5 years now. It was about damn time he did something about it.

After Kikyou fixed dinner, he ate his full, fully figuring it would be his last meal. Then he embraced Kikyou and kissed her softly, but never said goodbye. He just said he had to go. And he left. Something told Kikyou that this would be the last time she would see Inuyasha.

Inuyasha went to the hillside, sat down and contemplated. Dying here would be the perfect idea because no one would ever find his remains. At least, not for a while. Inuyasha pulled out Tessaiga, fully preparing to perform the ritual suicide of Seppuku. He couldn't bear living his life the way he had been living - No, he wasn't living. He was existing.

In the Modern Era

"Child, I really wish you'd get a job that is more respectable. That outfit is shameless.", her grandfather said, avoiding looking at her.

"I know, gramps, we've been over this, like, 100 times. But the tips are good. I make more per night here than I could at any "respectable job", as you put it"

"Father, she promised to quit this job after she got her degree. Didn't you dear?", her mother said.

"Yes, I did. Only one more year of this, ok?"

"That's still too much.", her grandfather said, angrily.

Getting up from the table, Kagome looked at her watch, "I gotta get going or I'll miss my train." Kissing Yasha and giving him a hug, she said, I'll see you tomorrow morning sweetheart."

She headed out the door, but before she went down the stairs, she went over to the sacred tree. Stepping over the little fence, she put her hand up to the spot where the bark had stopped growing because of Inuyasha's entrapment. Softly, she whispered,

"I miss you, Inuyasha. And I'll always love you.", then she left.

Back in the Feudal Era

Inuyasha prepared to thrust the sword into his chest and await his death. Suddenly, he hesitated and then stopped. Something was calling him. Or someone.

"Kagome?", he said out loud, but no answer, "Must have been the wind.", he muttered, then he heard it again. He got up and followed the sound. Whatever it was, it was calling him, calling TO him, taking him to the sacred tree. He arrived at the tree and stood under it's branches, Then he felt it. A warm wind passing through him like a ghost, a specter. Urging him on, urging him to touch, to feel. He placed his hand on the tree and was shocked, shocked at the warmth that radiated from it. It was then, he realized.

"Kagome,", he breathed out her name, 'She was here, Her aura is here. That's what's passing through me. I can smell her scent. This is impossible. She can't get through the well. Or can she?'

He headed to the well and realized that the barrier was gone. Did Kaede lift it? Miroku? Kagome? But her scent wasn't here. She hadn't come through the well. He ran back to the tree. This was the only spot where her scent radiated. Could it be her scent was drifting back to the past from her time? Was that even possible? One thing was certain, she had been at the tree and the tree was trying to communicate with him. Was she hurt? In trouble? He had to find out. Why was the tree radiating her scent? He ran back to the well and jumped in as the bluish-purple light radiated around him.

In the Modern Era

As his feet landed softly on the bottom of the well, quick as lightning he was out of the well. Opening the well doors, he walked towards the house. At the tree, he picked up her scent, but it didn't head into the house, but rather down the stairs and into the city.

'Where the hell is she?', he thought.

Following her scent, he ended up at loud, brightly-lit building. He started to walk in when a man said to him,

"Yo, buddy, that's 4,000 yen to get in."

"What?"

"Can't you hear with those funny looking ears of yours? I said it's 4,000 yen to enter the building."

"My wife is in there. I can just go in."

"No you can't buddy, now get outta here before I call the cops, hear?"

"HMPH!", Inuyasha said as he landed a right-hook in the guy's face and knocked him out. Pushing his way into the bar, he sniffed for Kagome's scent. He spotted her near the bar, with two men pinching and pawing her as she tried to move away.

"HEY YOU!", he yelled as everyone within earshot turned to face him. Including Kagome, who dropped her tray full of beers in shock.

"GET YOUR FUCKING PAWS OFF MY WIFE!"