A/N: WOW - Can you believe the last 20 chapters took place in all of about 8 months? Our heroes have been busy! Anyway - onto a new chapter in our heroes lives.

Chapter 67

The nasty winter of 1566 turned into a late arriving spring of 1567. As the sakura trees began to blossom, Inuyasha and Miroku began their yearly task of preparing their fields for planting. This year was different for Miroku and Sango, however, as they were now grandparents to a bouncing baby boy born to their daughter Aya during the winter months. Having not been able to see their new grandson because of the fierce winter, they anxiously awaited their daughter and son-in-law to arrive soon with the bundle.

Inuyasha had spent the winter months making sure Yasha knew everything about hunting ... especially tracking in the winter. Yasha had vowed protection to Shiori, placing her as his future bride. He now had to prove to her he could provide for her. Everything he had caught so far, she had accepted and cooked for them. The future looked bright for the young lovers.

Kaori had spent the winter practicing her magic, getting used to the power she possessed. She also daydreamed of Jiro whenever she had the chance.

Kagome kept the children busy over the winter months. She would purchase supplies from the modern era, such as chalk and small handheld chalkboard, paper, pencils and books and teach the children how to read and write. She had always read to the children and now she would have Kaori and Yasha read to the other children. The children also learned about modern music, as Kagome purchased instruments for them and the children played her modern cd player with all different kinds of cds. When they could, Miroku's children were also included in the lessons, when the weather wasn't too bitter.

Over the winter, Kagome managed to talk Inuyasha into them having another child (it wasn't really that difficult.). So the spring found Kagome about 3 months pregnant.

This day found Yasha, Hiroshi and Kazuo playing on the floor, Yasha and Hiroshi trying to wrestle while Kazuo rolled over top of them yelling,

" 'Roshi! 'Roshi! Yasha! Yasha!" and giggling as the boys would tumble around him.

The almost 3-year-old adored his older brothers and it showed. The girls were busy doing handicrafts - 6-year-old Jasmine was working on a simple needlepoint, 7-year-old Kohana was working on a quilt and 12-year-old Kaori was sewing a kimono together out of a soft, satiny material. Shiori was helping Kagome with washing and hanging the clothes to dry. Inuyasha, having finished his work for the day, decided to laze in the warm spring sun in the hammock. Pretty soon, Kazuo tired of playing with his brothers and ran over to his papa. Kazuo loved his brothers but, he loved the hammock more.

Kagome and Shiori finished washing and hanging out the clothes, so Kaori went in to start dinner as Kagome joined Inuyasha and Kazuo in the hammock.

"You know, my love, we need to make a trip to my world. We need to pick up supplies and food. Your children can sure pile away the food during the long winter months.", Kagome said, as she snuggled into Inuyasha's chest.

"HmHm,", he agreed, "We're out of ramen and dried potatoes."

"Yes, it seems that Yasha has your love for ramen and Hiroshi has your love of dried potatoes. Especially sour cream and onion flavored."

"Yea, well, knock off that 'Vietnamese flavor' shit of that ramen, would ya?"

"Well, Shippou likes it."

"Speaking of Shippou, where is he? I haven't seen his furry butt for a few days."

"He went to visit Kaede for a while. She needed some help planting her herb garden. She is getting old, after all.", Kagome said.

"Getting old? She was old 20 years ago. She's ancient now."

"Inuyasha! Stop it!"

"What, I'm only stating the truth. The old cow needs to retire and let someone else take over her duties."

"I agree she needs to take it easy. But she's active and that keeps her mind young. So leave her be.", Kagome sighed, anxious to get that topic of conversation over with, and, changing the subject, said, "So when are we going to go? Souta's wife was due a month ago and I'm anxious to learn if I have a niece or a nephew."

"We can go tomorrow. I can finish tilling in the morning and Shiori and Sango can handle the few guests that we have."

"Tomorrow sounds perfect.", Kagome smiled as she kissed her husband. Kazuo crawled over his father to get a kiss from his mother.

"Kazuo, we're going to go see Grandmama tomorrow. Whaddya think?", Kagome asked her toddler son.

"Grammy! Grammy! I wanna see grammy!", the little boy excitedly replied as Kagome laughed at his enthusiasm.

That night, Kagome announced that they would be traveling through the well tomorrow. Shiori had seen this once already and knew, that as of right now, she couldn't travel through the well. She had tried but only landed hard at the bottom. Her back and pride hurt for days.

"I wish I could travel with you to your world, Mama Kagome.", Shiori said, wistfully.

"I know, sweetie. But, maybe after you are mated to Yasha you will be able to, if that is what fate will allow.", Kagome said, as she hugged the half-bat demon girl.

The next day, after Inuyasha finished tilling and took a quick dip in the stream to clean off, they went through the well and came out in modern day Tokyo. They headed into the house to greet Kagome's mom.

"Grandmama! Grandmama!", six voices chorused, as they barged into the house. Kagome's mom was excited to see her "little" grand-demons, as she called them. Greeting Kagome and Inuyasha, she said,

"Oh My! I wasn't expecting a visit. I'll need to go buy more food.", she said, with a smile.

Looking around, Kagome said, "So, where's grandpa?"

"Oh darling, he is getting very old. He's in the hospital. I had to rush him in the other day. The doctors think he doesn't have much time left, I'm afraid. He's got the will and the spirit, but the heart and body is weak.", Kagome's mom replied, sadly.

"Oh! I'll have to go see him before I go home.", Kagome said, quietly, obviously worried about her grandfather, then, perking up, asked, "So what did Hana have? A boy or a girl?", she asked, referring to Souta's wife.

"She had a healthy baby boy. They named him Kanaye. He is such a good baby!", the grandmother gushed.

The pups quickly tired of the reunion. Now back in their mother's world, they got to enjoy the funny box their mother called a TV and play with Souta's old video games. Kazuo liked to play with Yasha's old toys, like the cars and trucks.

As the family settled in, Kagome, worried about her grandfather, decided to go to the hospital to pay him a visit. Since the younger children weren't allowed in, she left Inuyasha behind with them.

"I'll be back in a few hours. If Mama gets home and makes dinner before I get back, just eat without me. I'll grab some food out somewhere.", she said as she kissed everybody goodbye and left for the train.

Arriving at the hospital, she asked the front clerk what room her grandfather was in and was told floor 6, room 612 bed 2. Heading up on the elevator, she arrived at his room.

"Grandpa!", she called out cheerfully as she entered the room.

"My girl! How are you, my sweet girl?"

"I'm fine gramps and so are the children and Inuyasha. We came back to get supplies and Mama told me you were in here. C'mon, we need you back at the shrine, so you'd better get well!", Kagome said, as she hugged her grandfather. Then she heard a voice behind her,

"No need to worry about the shrine. I'll be back to take care of it.", said a masculine voice.

Kagome turned around and stared wide-eyed and with her jaw open. Was it? No! Could it be? No way! What the hell would he be doing here now? What did he want?

"You probably don't remember me, do you Kagome? You were barely 8 when I left so abruptly."

"I remember you, although I'd rather not.", Kagome huffed.

"C'mon now. Is that anyway to treat your dad?"