Disclaimer: I do not own any of the copyrighted/licensed/trademarked materials mentioned in this fanfiction (from InuYasha to my references to Nine Inch Nails or Harry Potter). They are the properties of their respective copyright holders and I in no way am insinuating that I own them. (Consider it free advertising.) I only own the storyline and any new characters that may crop up.


Chapter Eight: Issues with Appearances

Megami sat on the couch in Kagome's living room glaring at the clock as her leg bounced nervously. Sesshomaru sat on the other side of the couch from Megami with his arms folded over his chest. He also glared at the clock.

"Fucking Senkotsuke," Megami grumbled. He still had not arrived.

Sesshomaru looked to Megami. She didn't bother to replace the sutra and so her white and red hair spilled down her back. Her amber eyes nervously glanced between Sesshomaru and the clock. She twiddled her clawed fingers and smoothed her skirt repeatedly, showing her skittish nerves. Sesshomaru watched her, in awe of another of demonic blood in this age.

"Are you frightened of me?" he asked.

"Yes, my lord."

"Why?"

She took a deep breath, "I have only seen three full demons for a century: My father and my grandparents."

"That still does not explain your unrest."

"You have been a thing of legend to me all my life. It's a bit shocking to see a fairy tale come to life," Megami honestly admitted.

"I can imagine." He looked to the clock again, "How long has it been since you called your brother?"

"Over an hour," she sighed. "He's probably debating on what to wear and is going to bring me the rattiest thing I own. I swear, he'll be late for his own funeral."

Sesshomaru nodded, "Megami?"

"Yes, my lord?"

"Tell me what it has been like since I've been gone. For demons, I mean."

She got a dull, lifeless look in her eyes; much like Sesshomaru did when he thought of Rin. "It has been dangerous and unstable since we have to move from place to place. We're forced to be secretive and paranoid. It has been lonely … so very lonely. There are so few of us left. When Kagome recognized my sutra for what it was, for a second I thought I was done for; that I would be fodder for a government research lab. But I found two more of our kind, and managed to keep the only friend I dared to make. It has been hard, Lord Sesshomaru. We cling to the hope of finding and destroying Naraku. We even more desperately cling to the hope of finding mates …" she looked solemn, "We are that few."

"But some have mated with humans, like your father."

Megami shook her head softly. "Father met Mother when some still believed that we existed; that we weren't just scary stories to tell children so they'll behave. My mother has been dead for well over a century. To find a mate amongst a population that doesn't believe you exist or even finding another of demonic blood … The odds are against us, my lord. I said we were forced to be secretive, that means even from each other. Kami only knows who has joined Him …"

"To Naraku!"

"Yes. Some went for power. Others went to ensure their lives as well as their family's welfare. Join or die. We retaliated and ran."

"What happens when you come across a traitor?"

She looked to him critically, "What do you think, my lord? Do you think me a mere prep school brat? What would you do to a demon that has dishonored their blood by aiding Naraku?"

"I would kill them."

Megami looked Sesshomaru square in the eye, no longer afraid, "Exactly."

Before Sesshomaru could answer they heard the hum of the Suburban's engine. "It's about time," Megami muttered. Kagome and Sango emerged from the kitchen where they had begun dinner.

"Do I hear the Tank?" Kagome asked.

"Yeah, Senkotsuke's here."

Soon there was a knock at the door and Sango wiped her hands on her apron to answer it. Senkotsuke stood there, freshly showered and dressed in pressed jeans and a crisp black t-shirt. He held a bouquet of flowers and a duffle bag. "Hello, Miss Sango," he bowed to her.

She blushed, "Please come in, Senkotsuke."

He came in and held the flowers out to her, "I hope you are not too upset with my and Megami's little secret. Please accept them."

Despite the revelation, she was still flattered and accepted his token. Senkotsuke removed his shoes and stepped inside a little further. "Please come into the living room. Sesshomaru is waiting."

He wiped his palms on his jeans and whispered to Sango, "I can't believe he's here!"

Sango escorted Senkotsuke into the living room where Sesshomaru and Megami sat patiently waiting. Sesshomaru stood to meet Senkotsuke. The younger half-demon stopped and eyed Sesshomaru with utter reverence. He knelt down on one knee and bowed his head, as if swearing fealty. "I am Senkotsuke, son of Jinkaru. I am your servant to command, Lord Sesshomaru."

"Rise, Senkotsuke, and allow me to see you without this mortal façade," Sesshomaru welcomed Megami's brother.

Kagome, right on cue, handed Senkotsuke a soapy washcloth. He pulled up the back of his shirt, revealing the sutra and a slit cut into his jeans (presumably for his tail). He took the washcloth from Kagome and scrubbed the sutra off as his sister did earlier. His transformation was similar. He winced from the discomfort as his claws, fangs, and tail sprouted. His eyes were gold, but his cheeks and temples bore electric blue markings. His hair was white with red streaking through it unlike Megami's two distinct streaks.

"Megami tells me that your father is the grandson of the great Tensuke," Sesshomaru said once Senkotsuke finished his metamorphosis.

"Yes, my lord. Tensuke was our great-grandfather. Our eldest brother is named after him. Kintotsuke, the second eldest, is in America with our grandparents."

"Where is your brother Tensuke?"

"He is in the Northern Prefectures with our father looking to buy property for another compound to be built here." Senkotsuke hesitated before asking, "What are your plans if I may ask, my lord?"

Sesshomaru looked around. Kagome peeked out of the kitchen. Sango still stood beside Senkotsuke. Shippo peered out from behind Sango's ankles. He looked back to Kagome and thought of the child she carries. His mind's eye then focused on a memory of Rin running in the grass with her arms out singing her "Ode to Sesshomaru." He bit back a low growl and clenched his fist. "Senkotsuke, Megami, the plan is to destroy Naraku. He has much to answer for."

Megami stood next to her brother. The siblings looked each other in the eye and nodded. They both bowed in unison and said, "How may we be of service, my lord?"

Sesshomaru cracked a chilling smile, "We need to go to Oregon. Once we find the missing Shikon Jewel shard, Naraku is sure to come out of hiding."

"My lord," Megami said in a respectful tone, not wanting to correct him, "there are three missing shards."

"Ah, yes. You see, Naraku may be missing three shards," Sesshomaru looked to Kagome, "But we have two."

Megami's jaw dropped and Senkotsuke lifted his sister with a triumphant howl. "This is it Megami! Naraku will finally answer for five-hundred years worth of deception and suspicion!"

Kagome walked in, "I'm sorry to break up the celebration, but dinner is ready. We can iron out the fine details after we eat. Sango, would you and Shippo go tell Mom, Sota, and Grandpa that dinner is ready?"

"I'll be in momentarily," Megami said as she picked up the duffle bag that Senkotsuke brought for her, "I need to change." She left the bathroom as everyone was coming in for dinner. She was now wearing her Tripp pants (with some minor alterations for her tail) and a black tank top with a black fishnet over shirt.

Kagome sat two extra places at the table and cooked for an army for Megami and Senkotsuke ate like one. Udon, rice balls, hand rolls, tempura fried and fresh vegetables, and slices of fruit. Sesshomaru ate lightly as usual while the mortals exhibited healthy appetites. However Shippo, Megami, and Senkotsuke ate as if they had been starved for weeks. Sota asked Sesshomaru to pass him a rice ball for fear of losing a limb. When every morsel of food was ingested, Megami, Senkotsuke, and Shippo leaned back in their seats. Their pants were considerably tighter. Senkotsuke rubbed his belly and said, "Sango and Kagome that was the best home cooked meal I have had since Mother died."

The girls nodded and voiced their thanks. Sango rose and began to clear the table, but Kagome stood and gently took the dishes from her hands. "Don't worry about this, Sango. I've got it. Would you please take our guests, Sesshomaru, and Shippo into the living room? I need to speak to Grandpa, Mom, and Sota privately."

Sango nodded. Megami caught Kagome's eye and understood. I'd want a little privacy for this moment, too. "Come on, you guys," Megami said and began to usher the others from the dining room.

Kagome continued to clear the table. Chiaki joined her daughter and soon the table was cleared and wiped down. Chiaki took a seat between Grandpa and Sota as Kagome sat across from her family. She heard Megami tell Senkotsuke to take Sango to the market and buy some ice cream for later, followed by the sound of the pair leaving. They ate enough to feed a small country and still want ice cream … typical half-demon appetite. What else did I expect? I wish I'd asked one of them to stay for emotional support, but I need to do this on my own … She took a deep breath and began, "I know that you heard at the memorial that InuYasha was my mate; my husband in its own respect. This has made the past few weeks extremely hard on me to say the least, and I really appreciate all the support that you all have given me. As you found out tonight, Megami and her brothers are half-demons," she looked at her family, "But this wasn't the only news we received tonight. At first I did not take this news lightly, but now I think of it as a blessing." She took another deep breath, keeping her anxiety under control, "You all may not find this to be good news, but I need you to keep an open mind about this. I will especially need your support, okay?"

They all nodded silently, awaiting the bomb to drop.

Tears leaked down her face as she confessed in a soft whisper, "I'm pregnant."

Sota and Grandpa gasped while Chiaki looked to her daughter with love and sympathy. She saw this coming … "This means that my son, yes son, will be one quarter demon. I know it will be hard for me raising this child alone, but he will be all that I have left of his father. I'm happy that I'm pregnant, and I won't get rid of it."

"Oh, my dear," Grandpa said softly, "We would never ask that of you. I will love this child regardless. And you won't be alone, either."

Sota piped up, his voice cracking, "No you won't, sis. We'll all help. I'll be the best uncle that I can."

She lastly looked to her mother. Chiaki was crying. "My daughter … is having a baby," she wiped away some tears. "We will always help you, Kagome. Always. You will never have to be alone." She left her seat and walked around the table to her daughter. She sat next to Kagome and hugged her child tightly. "You won't have to be alone, I promise. Nor will my grandson. Those who have been touched by this world have found each other."

Kagome nuzzled into her mother and returned the embrace.


Sango and Senkotsuke excused themselves to run their errand, leaving Megami at the house with Shippo and Sesshomaru. Shippo and Megami soon became bored and fired up Guilty Gear X2. Sesshomaru watched the young demons battle on the screen as the wheels in his head began to turn.

The remaining shards are more than likely in America. How do we get there? I'm sure once Naraku catches wind that we have resurfaced with the last three shards his greed and lust for the jewel will force him to challenge us. But how will Shippo and I move about the mortal population undetected? How will we blend in with them?

"Megami," Sesshomaru spoke, "I have some more questions."

She paused the game and Shippo whined. "I'll finish mopping the floor with you when I am good and ready to!" She turned to Sesshomaru and said, "What do you wish to know, my lord?"

"How would we get to America?"

"Flying would be optimal. A boat would take too long. Before we do that we will have to secure you and Shippo some modern clothing, and obtain passports and proper identification for both of you."

"What are passports and what kind of identification?"

"Official documentation of your identity."

"I thought humans didn't believe that we existed."

"Oh the ID's are completely forged. The only real thing usually is the first name and picture. But they are required to blend in to society today. We have contacts to obtain them. It won't be a big deal."

"Very well. How will Shippo and I blend in?" he questioned further.

"Since Shippo is a fox demon he can use an illusion. You will need to use the sutra."

"So," he said, "I will need to become mortal." He sounded thoroughly disgusted.

"My lord, the sutra does not inhibit our demonic abilities. It merely makes you look and smell human."

"Oh," he rubbed his chin in thought. "What would it do to me?"

"It is different for everyone," Megami set her controller down, "Would you like to see for yourself, my lord?"

Sesshomaru was taken by surprise, "Now?"

"There's no time like the present."

"Yes. I daresay that I am vaguely curious."

"Shippo, would you be a dear and please grab my purse from the hall. Lord Sesshomaru, please un-tuck your haori." Shippo went to the hall and Sesshomaru arose from his seat. He removed his pelt and laid it gently over the armchair. It was soon joined by all of his armor. Shippo brought Megami's purse and she dug through it until she found the inkwell and the calligraphy brush. She turned to face her lord again only to have her face turn as red as her hair. Sesshomaru had removed his haori and was folding it carefully to set next to his armor. Oh, Kami … I mustn't drool … Control yourself, Megami. With great discipline Megami sat on the couch and Sesshomaru stood in front of her. He turned his back to her. "Would you please hold your hair to the side, my lord?" she asked. As he moved his hair, her eyes instinctively wandered south. Oh my … she mustered the rest of her will power and dipped the brush into the waterproof ink. She artfully painted the sutra on his back while fighting the primal urge to undress him with her eyes. "And I'm," she made the final mark, "finished."

Sesshomaru gritted his teeth as his fangs receded, claws retracted, and markings vanished. He turned to face Megami and his hair became darker than the blackest night. She caught his eyes and they were the most vivid, eerie jade green.

"Oh!" she gasped.

"Is something wrong?"

"No. Not at all, my lord. It is just that your eyes are the most striking shade of green I have ever seen."

In a flash Sesshomaru strode to the mirror that hung at the foot of the stairwell. Sesshomaru stared at himself in shock. He covered his face with his de-clawed hands.

Megami approached him slowly, "My lord?"

"Don't look at me!" he growled.

She stepped closer and gently laid her hand on his shoulder. "Lord Sesshomaru, don't be so hard on yourself. It is only skin deep. It is an illusion; a disguise. My grandfather had the same reaction when he first wore the sutra," she bravely reached up and pulled his hands away from his face with care. "You are still a demon, my lord. No sutra can change that."

"It is such a drastic change. I used to mock my brother for this weakness."

"It is a shock the first few times."

Silence swept over them as jade green eyes locked onto glimmering gold. They stood together, understanding each other completely in that single moment. Megami saw in the pools of pale green the pain that fate forced him to absorb in a short few weeks, and she feared all that he had yet to discover. Sesshomaru saw the isolation, suspicion, and fear that she had known all her life. He felt the compulsion to put her soul at ease.

"Sesshomaru?" rang a startled voice. Kagome and her mother had exited the dining room and saw a mortal-looking Sesshomaru (minus shirt) and Megami still unknowingly hand-in-hand. The two came to their senses and saw that they were caught, quite literally, red handed. They withdrew their hands and averted their eyes. Kagome came closer and asked, "Is this the work of the sutra?"

"Yes," Sesshomaru answered, "I will have to get used to it if we are to mix with mortals."

"It's so thorough. Amazing," Kagome lifted a strand of his jet black hair and let it slide through her fingers. She smiled at the simple action, "This will sound completely silly, but I do hope that my son gets your family's hair. It is always so gorgeous." She sighed and turned to Megami, "Mom and I are going to the attic to look through some baby things until everyone gets back. Care to join us?"

"Sure," she turned to Sesshomaru, "I'll be with them if you need anything, my lord."

The three women then headed up the stairs as Sesshomaru returned to his seat. Shippo continued to pout and swapped games so he could play alone. About a half an hour had passed when Sango poked her head into the attic. "Hello! I'm back!"

"We're over here!" Kagome called back to her.

Sango weaved her way through boxes and holiday decorations until she was standing beside Megami. Chiaki held up a holiday kimono that she had made for Sota when he was a toddler.

"Oh! I remember that one, Mom. It's so beautiful," Kagome reminisced.

Sango smiled, "Everything is okay, then?"

"Everything is fine," Chiaki said, "We thought we'd keep busy until you and Senkotsuke returned by seeing what was left from their baby days."

"I'm glad. By the way Megami, how hard did you have to twist Sesshomaru's arm to get that sutra on him?"

"Actually he asked me to do it."

"Really? Who'd have thought that he'd have green eyes, though?"

Megami sighed amorously, "Such mesmerizing green eyes."

Kagome smirked and quirked her eyebrow at her friend as Sango gave Megami a mischievous grin.

"Someone's been looking," Sango teased.

"Mr. Ice? Are you serious, Megami?" Kagome asked.

Megami flashed a wolfish grin and blushed softly, "He may be icy, but he has a red hot bod. Rar!"

They all giggled; even Chiaki.

"Why Megami, I have never heard you like this," Kagome said with a laugh.

"Well that was before I was face to face with the sexiest demon I've ever seen! I almost lost it when he had me apply that sutra. What a sweetly sculpted ass!" Megami made a biting motion in the air.

"Hentai!" Sango laughed.

"Oh come on now, Sango. Who blushes like a coy school girl whenever my brother is mentioned?"

Sango blushed on cue, "True, but I'm not talking about his perfect, muscular arms and chest."

"You are now," Kagome observed.

Sango's face turned as red as a tomato.


The girls left the attic and entered the living room to see Shippo still playing video games while Senkotsuke and Sesshomaru discussed travel arrangements.

"My lord, we would leave tomorrow if we could, but it will take at least five days to obtain passports and identification cards for you, Shippo, and Miss Sango. It's impossible to leave so soon."

"Who will you contact for these documents?" Sesshomaru interrogated.

"He is an old friend of our father's. He is completely trustworthy. Father has known him since before Naraku was spawned."

"When is the soonest we could leave Tokyo then?"

Senkotsuke thought out loud for a few moments, "Let's see, Father will be home the day before graduation. Refuel the jet, arrange for vehicles … Three days after Megami's graduation."

"Very well. What will be needed for the documents?"

Megami interrupted this time, "Just a few pictures. I can send Senkotsuke by here tomorrow with our digital camera."

"Anything else?" Sesshomaru asked.

Kagome piped up, "You and Shippo need clothes."

Megami raised a hand, "I'll handle that." She turned to Sesshomaru and Shippo, "Be ready tomorrow when I'm done with my test."

"No, you need to study," Chiaki said, "I'll take them. Sesshomaru, you'll need to leave that sutra on overnight."

Senkotsuke stretched, "It's getting late. I'll come by tomorrow and get pictures of Sango and these two looking mortal. Then I'll get to work on the passports and other arrangements. We'll discuss this more later. Come on, Megami, it's time to go home."

"Oh all right," Megami got her ink and brush out again. She excused herself to apply her sutra.

Senkotsuke stood and bowed to everyone. "Thank you for being so hospitable, and for the great meal," he smiled. "I'll see you all tomorrow."

Megami came out of the bathroom, looking human again, and hugged Kagome, "Get some rest. See you at school."

After many good-bye's and good-night's, Senkotsuke and Megami were on their way home. Sango and Kagome yawned and headed upstairs for bed. Sesshomaru looked quite grumpy about leaving the sutra on for that long. But Chiaki, in a true mother's fashion, simply said, "Aren't they just so polite?"