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 Nine: Pomp and Circumstance
Finals went off without a hitch. Kagome and Megami passed with flying colors. The night before the graduation ceremony, Mrs. Higurashi received a phone call from Senkotsuke inviting everyone to dinner. "My father would be inviting you, but he just called to say that he and Tensuke will be delayed and won't arrive until morning. He told me to take you all out and show you a good time on his behalf. Consider it a graduation gift to Kagome."
"I wouldn't think of refusing your family's generosity. Shall we meet you there?"
"Oh no, Mrs. Higurashi. Megami and I will be there shortly to pick all of you up."
"Is there room in your vehicle for nine of us?"
"Yes, Mrs. Higurashi. Now I'll let you go so everyone can get ready. We will be there in a little over an hour."
"Thank you, Senkotsuke."
The Higurashi household erupted into excitement. Everyone ran to and fro wringing their hands and tugging at their hair trying to find something suitable to wear; except Sesshomaru and Shippo. They had recently acquired a small modern wardrobe and simply donned their finest. Shippo performed a small illusion to conceal his demonic appearance rather than use Megami's sutra. He and Sesshomaru sat on the couch looking rather bored while everyone else scurried about. Shippo wore a nice pair of khakis, a bottle green sweater (it brought out his eyes), and black dress shoes. Sesshomaru wore black slacks, a royal purple buttoned shirt, a black dress jacket, and freshly polished black dress shoes sat by his feet (for he needed Megami to apply the sutra). He drummed his fingers on the arm of the couch, waiting for the evening to begin. Grandpa and Sota were the first to finish dressing. Sota wore khakis as well with a blue buttoned shirt. Grandpa wore a navy blue suit with a crisp white shirt. Chiaki was the next to enter the living room. She wore a lovely burgundy dress cut with an empire waist, a below-the-knee skirt, and slightly belled sleeves. The light bead work beneath her bust and around the cuffs of the sleeves glimmered slightly as they caught the light.
As they sat in the living room they chuckled as Kagome and Sango growled while fighting with their hair. "Ah!" Kagome shrieked, "My hair never does what I want it to! Sango, please hand me the bobbi pins."
"I'm tempted just to shave mine off! Oh, I hate times like this," Sango handed Kagome the small box of bobbi pins, "But you know some things never change."
"What do you mean?" Kagome asked while twisting a piece of her hair back.
"Even in the feudal era, in times of peace we'd fuss over looking our best for a festival or something. We have much to celebrate tonight: Megami and Senkotsuke have filled in the holes of our story and we're getting back on track, you've graduated or will officially tomorrow, and you're going to be a mother," Sango answered while giving up on her hair and pulling it up high.
"I understand," Kagome said as she pinned the twisty back and started another, "Have you noticed how much Senkotsuke looks like Miroku?"
Sango began to braid her pony tail, "I have. It's eerie, but he is more gentlemanly than Miroku." She tied off her braid and sighed heavily. "Is it wrong of me to already feel attracted to someone else? I know that it has not progressed beyond flirting but part of me feels guilty."
"Miroku would want you to be happy. Do what makes you happy, Sango. No one would begrudge you that," Kagome said as she continued with her twisties. "If you like Senkotsuke, then pursue him, but don't just do it because he resembles Miroku. Do it because you like him and because you turn into a tomato when he's around." Kagome finished pinning up her hair and began to curl it with a large curling-iron and hair spray.
Sango looked at her hair in the mirror, wrinkled her nose at it, and let it down. "Thank you for the advice, Kagome. We'll see how things go tonight." Sango ran a comb through her hair until it was sleek and shiny. "That'll have to do because I'm tired of fighting with it." Sango began to help Kagome finish her hair.
Ten minutes later the girls finally descended the stairs. Kagome wore a baby blue spaghetti-strap dress with an empire waist as well. The skirt came to her knees and she wore a light, white sweater over her shoulders. She carried a pair of white Salt-Water sandals down the stairs with her. Sango wore black flare cut pants, a bottle green, velvet, gothic top with belled sleeves and laces on her sides, and platform ankle boots. Within moments of their feet clearing the last step they heard the Suburban pull up. Kagome quickly slipped her sandals on.
"It's a good thing you girls didn't take any longer!" Grandpa whined, "We wouldn't want to keep them waiting!"
A knock came as expected. Grandpa opened the door and welcomed Senkotsuke and Megami into the house. Senkotsuke wore black slacks, a deep red shirt, shoes similar to Sesshomaru's, and a nice leather coat (not biker style, but not snobby, yet classy). Megami wore a purple velvet dress with a knee-to-calf cut skirt, scoop neck, lavishly belled sleeves, and embroidered richly with green dragons. She also wore purple platform heels that the straps wound up her leg to her calf. Her hair was pulled up into one large, highly bound pony tail. They greeted everyone politely. Megami complimented Sango on her shirt. "I absolutely love it! And the color compliments you so well." Megami glanced at Sesshomaru and saw that he needed the sutra applied. "Ooh, sorry to cut this short, Sango, but Sesshomaru needs his sutra painted on." She winked at Sango.
Sango playfully poked her in the ribs.
"Lord Sesshomaru, if you'll come with me into the kitchen I'll apply the sutra for you," Megami said in an innocent tone. She met Kagome's eye and winked as well. Kagome mouthed the word "Hentai" at her. Sesshomaru walked into the kitchen with Megami behind him. Kagome and Sango looked at each other and just shook their heads. Soon after Sesshomaru once again had black hair and mesmerizing green eyes, and Megami had a mischievous and satisfied smirk plastered on her face. Sesshomaru sat on the couch again to put on his shoes. Once he'd finished tying them he stood again and slipped on his jacket.
"Is everyone ready?" Senkotsuke asked. Everyone nodded and they proceeded out of the house into a brisk, early summer evening. Senkotsuke unlocked the vehicle and Kagome, Sango, Sota, and Shippo squeezed into the very back seat. This allowed Mom, Grandpa, and Sesshomaru into the middle seat. Megami and her brother climbed into the front and they were off. The Suburban rolled to a stop thirty minutes later outside of a sophisticated establishment. Young valets in red jackets approached Senkotsuke as he exited the Tank.
"Good evening, sir," one greeted him as the others held the doors open for those still climbing out of the car. Senkotsuke handed the young man the keys to their Chevy and said, "Take good care of her, my boy." He then turned and held his arm out to Chiaki, "I hope Miss Sango can forgive me for filling in for my father in his absence. May I escort you in, Mrs. Higurashi?"
Chiaki smiled at him, "Thank you, Senkotsuke, but I'm sure that Grandpa or Sota would be happy to escort me inside. Sango, dear, why don't you come join Senkotsuke?" She took Grandpa's arm as Sango stepped forward, blushing as usual, to take Senkotsuke's arm. Megami looked to Sesshomaru and then rolled her eyes in hopelessness. Deciding to take the playful route instead, she looped her arm through Kagome's.
"Well my friend, it is our graduation. Let us not enter alone," Megami said.
They all walked for the entrance. They entered the quiet, beautifully decorated restaurant and the Maitre'D approached them.
"Welcome, Kodotai. Your private booth has been prepared," the Maitre'D looked around the party, "Will your father not be joining us tonight?"
"Unfortunately so. He is delayed but nine of us are still here."
"Splendid, sir," he gathered nine menus, "Right this way, please."
As they followed the young Maitre'D to their booth, Kagome gently tapped Megami to gain her attention. She whispered, "What was that all about?"
Megami answered in a hushed voice, "The friend we went to for the passports and such owns this place. He has known my father for a long time."
"Oh, I get it."
They followed the Maitre'D to a VIP lounge that led to the private booths. He pulled back a curtain to reveal six lavish crescent shaped booths. One had candles lit all about it with two graduation caps on the table. The young man led them to this booth and waited for everyone to be seated. He handed everyone a menu as he said, "Yoshino will wait on you tonight. He should be out shortly with tea and water. Enjoy your meal." He bowed and left them. Within moments Yoshino arrived with a cart bearing three pots of tea, tea cups, and nine glasses of water.
"Would any of you care for anything else to drink?" he asked. Chiaki requested a glass of white wine and Shippo asked for a soda. Yoshino bowed and left as well as everyone opened their menus and began to peruse.
The service was excellent and the food was exquisite. They sat for some time after dinner, laughing and joking. Even Sesshomaru relaxed and enjoyed himself. Megami was halfway through a comical story about one of her many Halloweens in America when Yoshino approached their table again. Two waiters followed him pushing a cart.
"Compliments of the owner on this special occasion," Yoshino said as they saw a cake decked out with party favors and multi-colored sparklers. The bright blue frosting spelled the headline:
Congratulations
Megami and Kagome!
Class of 2005
Megami's eyes watered up. "That clever old fox," she whispered.
Yoshino and the others bowed out again gracefully. Senkotsuke elbowed his emotional sister playfully, "You didn't think he'd forget your graduation, did you?"
"Who?" Kagome asked.
Megami wiped away a few tears. "My godfather, Lord Moriko."
Shippo perked up, "Lord Moriko still lives?"
The entire party jumped as they heard a resounding "POP!" and a burly, jovial fox demon appeared where a large vase had stood only moments before. "Of course, my dear lad! I wouldn't miss the little one's graduation for all the world!" Moriko said with a booming laugh. His strawberry blonde hair flowed down to his knees and his emerald eyes twinkled with fox mischief as he held his arms out to hug his god-daughter.
"Uncle Moriko!" Megami shouted as she leaped over the table and threw herself into her Godfather's bear hug (or should I say "fox hug"?). Moriko hugged the girl tightly and swung her around. "They said you'd be out of the country!"
"I couldn't miss my favorite god-daughter's graduation."
"I'm your only god-daughter," Megami said in a stern voice, but still hugged the fox affectionately.
"Ah, yes, child. But you were named after my dearly departed mate. So that makes you my favorite." Everyone looked confused except Senkotsuke. He got out of his seat and approached Moriko and Megami. Moriko finally set the girl down and she was glowing. He turned to Senkotsuke, "What's this now? Are you too old to hug your Godfather?"
Senkotsuke was the next to be grappled into an enormous fox hug. "Hi, Uncle Moriko," he gasped for air.
Moriko patted the boy on the back, beaming with joy, "That's more like it!" he boomed as he released the now ruffled looking Senkotsuke. "Well now little ones, who are your friends?"
Megami happily introduced everyone. "Everyone this is Lord Moriko, my Godfather. We just call him 'uncle,' though." And she pointed around the table, telling Moriko everyone's names. "That's Higurashi Chiaki, her son Sota, her father-in-law whom we all affectionately call 'Grandpa,' Higurashi Kagome, Shippo, Sango, and uncle," as she came to the last, "this is Lord Sesshomaru."
The fox's eyes nearly popped out of his skull. "Kami above!" He bowed respectfully, "I am honored by your presence, Lord Sesshomaru. Megami said that she had a surprise, but this is surely unexpected!"
"Uncle, surely you saw the name when Senkotsuke brought the pictures and information by for the ID's and passports."
"No, no, I don't do that anymore. I passed that responsibility on to Yukiko, it's his turn to carry the torch."
Megami grinned her ornery grin, "That's not all, Uncle Moriko." She looked at Shippo, "It's okay. You can show him."
There was another "POP!" and Shippo appeared his usual fox demon self. "I am honored to meet you, Lord Moriko. I am Shippo, son of Lord Taro."
Moriko seemed truly confused, "I don't understand. Lord Taro died over five hundred years ago, but this young pup can be no more than eight! Megami, dear, what is going on?"
"Well, uncle, they came through the Bone Eater's well. It sent them to this time. Lord Sesshomaru hasn't been dead or missing for these past five centuries, he has been here for roughly two and a half months; Shippo and Sango, too. The well brought them from the Feudal Era to just a few weeks ago. Uncle Moriko," she sighed, "You had better sit down. We'll explain everything."
Moriko slumped into the booth and Megami laid out the whole tale, asking for supporting details from the others where appropriate. When Megami finished, Lord Moriko had his head resting in his hands. He sighed, "That's quite a bombshell, kiddo." He leaned back in his seat, absorbing all the information that had been thrown at him, "This is why Senkotsuke wanted a rush on those documents, and why Jinkaru is leaving again so soon." He rubbed his temples, "Wow … after all this time, Naraku's reign of terror will end. I want you all to be careful. Lord Sesshomaru, please watch over these two for me," he motioned to Megami and Senkotsuke, "They are my best friend's pups. I love them like they were my own. If you need reinforcements, do not hesitate to call. The boys and I will be there in a flash. And you, young lady," Moriko turned to Kagome and reached for her hand, "If you ever need anything for that little one you are carrying, whether it's diapers, a car seat, or even college tuition, you just come see me. I would be honored to be of service to the grandson of Lord Inutaisho."
The graduation ceremony was as they all are: long and boring. Yet, it meant a lot to Kagome for she had worked through so much to still achieve this. At one point in time she had considered forgetting school and remaining in the Feudal Era. She was glad that something kept her going. Fate can be strange, yet all happens for a purpose. She walked up the ramp to where the school's administrators were waiting with her diploma, shook the administrator's hand, turned to smile for the camera, and then returned to her seat. I'm finished. At long last. And now I have to prepare for the ultimate battle. We're leaving the day after tomorrow. But hopefully, this will be for the last time. After this, I can settle down and raise my son, like InuYasha would have wanted. When the tears began to roll down her face, her classmates thought they were from joy.
Megami knew better when they met up after the graduates were released for photos with their family. She hugged Kagome tightly. "It's all right. I know what you're thinking about. It will be okay."
"Kagome!" someone to Megami's right shouted.
The girls turned to see the Higurashi clan waving as they worked their way through the crowd. Even Shippo and Sesshomaru ventured out of the house for this event (even though Sesshomaru tried every excuse in the book). Mrs. Higurashi pulled her camera from her purse as they came within photo distance of the girls. "Okay girls! Big smiles!"
FLASH!
Megami blinked a few times. "No matter how often that happens … I never get used to it …" They all took turns posing and letting their eyes adjust after the flash. Chiaki even managed to guilt trip Sesshomaru into a few photos.
"Megami! Over here!" they heard a familiar voice shout.
Senkotsuke was making his way through the crowd with two other men following him. The two unknown gentlemen had Megami's tell-tale red streaks at the temples, and they resembled each other strongly. Megami jumped up and down waving, "Father! Tensuke! You're here!" When the path was clear to them, Megami tackled her father with a huge hug. "I was almost afraid you wouldn't make it."
Jinkaru hugged his daughter tightly, "I made sure I would be back for this." He released her from the hug and kissed her forehead. Jinkaru now faced the Higurashi family and their newest additions. "Hello. I am Jinkaru, Megami's father," he stepped forward with his hand out in greeting.
Grandpa, being closest, stepped forward and shook Jinkaru's hand. "Pleasure to meet you, sir. I am Higurashi Akimistu, Kagome's Grandfather." He then bowed.
Jinkaru bowed in return. Chiaki then stepped forward to introduce herself, followed by Sota, Kagome, and Sango. Shippo bashfully came forward and introduced himself, and Jinkaru replied, "Ah, yes, Moriko told me about you. You are the son of Lord Taro. It's an honor."
Finally, Sesshomaru stepped forward, "Greetings Jinkaru, I am Sesshomaru." Jinkaru bowed as low as he dared in public.
"Forgive me, my lord," he said in a low voice, "I would fully kneel, but that would draw unwanted attention."
"You are forgiven, Jinkaru," Sesshomaru returned the bow politely.
Tensuke finally spoke, "Hey Megami!" he held up his digital camera, "Smile!"
CLICK!
Both Megami and Sesshomaru were blinded by the flash. Each family went on snapping pictures until Chiaki ran out of film. At this time Chiaki approached Jinkaru. "Kodotai," she began.
"Please, Higurashi-san, call me Jinkaru." He added in an undertone, "The last name is a fake."
"Jinkaru, I would be honored if you and your children would join us for a farewell dinner tomorrow night at our home."
He smiled at her, "We would be honored to attend. When should we arrive?"
"Around six should be fine. We will be expecting you."
"Thank you. We will see you tomorrow then."
Megami gave Kagome one more big hug before turning to leave. Senkotsuke lifted Sango's hand and kissed it, causing her to blush furiously.
