Chapter 55

Arriving back in Tokyo, Sesshoumaru and Kagome were driven back to Sesshoumaru's estate. Sesshoumaru spoke with his wife before the two sat down with Kagome. Ai spoke first,

"I understand you want to try to change history."

"Yes, I have to stop this whole thing from happening."

"Kagome, you are a demon ninja witch. You trained me as one."

"I did?"

"Yes. As a demon ninja witch, you have the power to control time. You just haven't learned it yet. I can teach you who to control time."

"If I don't know how to yet, how do you?"

"It's confusing, I'll admit. But, see, once I teach you, then once you return to the past, you will have the knowledge and you will teach me."

As Kagome's head spun from the time travel idea, Ai continued,

"We need to decide when to send you back to, however."

"When did these men first appear, Kagome?", Sesshoumaru asked.

"At the first spring marketplace in 1566. Just before the chickenpox epidemic."

"That's it!", Ai exclaimed, "History was changed there in Japan. In the original history, there was no chickenpox outbreak in that part of Japan. It occurred near the capitol, Kyoto. I will send you back to about two weeks before the market opened. You will need to waylay them in Kyoto. It took about two weeks to travel between Kyoto and the castle town. I send you back, you stop them from coming to the town and that prevents that entire situation from happening!", Ai said with glee.

"That's all? Sesshoumaru said it was dangerous."

"Oh, it can be. Should anything happen to you, this you, your kids will be without a mother and a father. And you need to make sure you don't come anywhere near anybody back then who knew you. The history you are changing is the fates of these two men and that is all. That will start the snowball effect and change all the events. But, it is history you are messing with. Interact with the wrong person or persons could be catastrophic."

"Ok, now you're scaring me."

"You'll be on your own Kagome. The children cannot go with you.", Sesshoumaru warned.

"Not even Yasha?"

"No one. Only a demon witch can manipulate time. To try to take any of them back with you would destroy them. And there would be no recovery. Not even with the Tenseiga.", Ai told her.

"I have to do it. I understand why you didn't tell me this before. It's a very risky procedure. But, I have to try."

"I dislike you trying. If you fail, then my world will probably be destroyed as well.", Sesshoumaru told her, icily.

"I won't fail. I promise. Both of you."

Ai took Kagome into a room and began teaching her what she needed to know for the time manipulation. It took a few days for Kagome to learn all she needed, but Ai finally decided she was ready.

"Kagome, if this works, it will be strange, but you will know because you will sort of morph into the Kagome in the past. All your memories of this time here will be remembered. Now, I urge you to go back to the shrine and say goodbye to your children. Just in case."

"I will. Thanks Ai."

"Oh, and one more thing Kagome,"

"What's that?"

Ai whispered in Kagome's ear the spell to remove her necklace.

"After you are finished, go ahead and remove the necklace. But only if you promise to free Inuyasha as well. Kaede can assist you with that."

Hugging Ai, Kagome said, "I will. Thanks for everything."

Returning to the shrine, Kagome happily greeted her children and family. After all was settled, Kagome sat down and explained basically what she was going to do.

Kaori said, "Isn't that something like what they did in Harry Potter, Mama?", recalling the books that her mother had read to them.

"I don't know, sweetie. I don't remember."

"Yea,", Yasha added, "They turned back time with a magic hourglass to rescue the hippogriff and Sirius Black.", then he added, "I hope it works, Mama."

"Well, if it doesn't, I need you all to be strong. But, I have a feeling you won't be fatherless. Like I told you, I met your father in London. If this doesn't work and history doesn't change, he may come here looking for me and you guys. If that happens, be easy on him. But, I think if that does happen, all will be fine.", she smiled at her children.

She made plans to return to the past the next day.