Disclaimer: this is the last chapter. The story is mine, but the characters belong to Takahashi-sensei and Yoshihiro-sensei, not me.
Chapter 11
New Family Additions
Souta woke to a darkened room. Faint moonlight filtered through the window. Where was he? He could hear two other people besides himself in the room. Slowly he pulled himself up.
What had happened?
He slid off the bed, intent on exploring his surroundings. It was familiar, very familiar. Quickly he realized where he was. He was home, in his room. Kagome was asleep leaning on his bed and there was another person on the bed. Souta didn't know how he could tell all of this but he could, and he was certain.
Creeping to the door and into the hall he was surprised to find someone sitting in the hall.
"Hello," the stranger said softly. Souta stared at him. The hall was dark but the stranger seemed to glow, his silver hair and white clothing picking up every scrap of light.
"Who are you?" he asked.
"Yoko. And you are Souta. Kagome is very worried about you," Yoko said, "Do you know what happened?"
"No," Souta said. "Something happened?"
Yoko was silent for a few moments, gathering his thoughts. "You were taken, kidnapped, by a youkai sorcerer. Kagome gathered several friends and we got you back, as well as the other boy in your room. You have been back in the human world for all of twelve hours,"
"What happened to me? I feel different,"
"I don't know if I'm the right person to tell you this," Yoko hesitated.
"What?"
"You…that is…you are no longer fully human. You have been turned into a youkai,"
Souta was shocked. He fell to his knees, blinking stupidly into the darkness. "A…youkai? How?"
"We don't know as of yet,"
Souta sat down against the wall and stared at his hands. He had claws, sharp, pointy claws.
"But… I was going to be trained as a priest. Kagome promised," he said, no little bewildered.
"I promise that Kagome will do anything and everything in her power to help you in any way possible," Yoko vowed, "She loves you very much,"
"But… how can I, I mean, what do I do now that I'm, well, youkai?"
"There are spells,"
"Spells?"
"Concealment spells to hide the youkai features. I'm sure Kagome could make something for you,"
"What about you? Do you wear a concealment spell?"
Yoko chuckled, "No, I don't have to. I'm a kitsune, and we are renowned for our transformation skills,"
"You're a kitsune? Like the kid Kagome adopted?" Souta leaned forward.
"Like Shippou? Yes, a different kind but kitsune nonetheless, although he is no longer a child even by youkai standards," Yoko explained, "He has, after all, lived all of the five hundred years between the time when Kagome sealed the well just after you were taken and now,"
"He's over five hundred? Wow, that's old!"
"For a human," Yoko sniffed, "For a youkai it is barely into adulthood,"
"Really? Then how old are you?" Souta asked.
"Over a thousand and I am still young," was his bland and so-unamused-that-it-had-to-be-true reply.
"Wow," the child was properly awed.
"You did not wake Kagome on your way out?"
"No," Souta shook his head, "Why?"
"She has been waiting for you to wake. I suppose, though, that she needs her rest. She has done quite a bit today and has a lot of healing to do," he said quietly. A rush of guilt clenched his heart, guilt that he had not protected her sooner, before she could get herself injured.
"What's she done that would make her so tired? She's passed high school already so it can't be studying,"
"Oh, just a battle and an exorcism," Yoko shrugged a little sarcastically.
"Exorcism? What needed exorcising?"
"Me. And I needed a body of my own. Sesshoumaru-sama was kind enough to help me out with that,"
"You were a ghost? How'd you die?" Souta, like any little boy, was enthralled. Yoko pursed his lips in displeasure.
"A bounty hunter managed to get me,"
"A bounty hunter? Why was a bounty hunter after you?"
"Because I am the greatest thief in all of the Three Worlds, of course,"
"You're a thief? Cool! Can you teach me some stuff?"
Yoko grinned, but hesitated in answering, "I don't know if Kagome would approve of that,"
"She wouldn't," Souta admitted, "But could you anyways?"
"We'll see. Meanwhile, are you hungry? Kagome made some pasta for dinner and I think that there should be some leftovers in the kitchen,"
"What kind?"
"Some linguini with a swiss cheese sauce,"
"I'll be back in a few minutes," Souta scurried downstairs.
Yoko smiled a little to himself. Kagome's little brother seemed like a nice enough boy. He hoped that he would take to the change in species well, not that he would blame the boy if he went to pieces. Yoko himself almost went to pieces when he stuffed himself in a human's body to hide out. How utterly humiliating and humbling. Next time he did a job like that he would remember to wear a bullet proof vest.
That is, of course, if he ever decided to go back to thieving. He could do other things. One of the pluses of being a millennia old youkai is that you have had time to study.
But first problems first, he had to find a way to get back to the Makai and arrange a meeting with Sesshoumaru. There was something he wanted to ask.
Kagome woke slowly, her senses telling her something was off, but not in a dangerous way, so they let her wake at leisure. She tried to life her head, but thought better of it when her neck screamed in protest. Alright, so sleeping like that probably hadn't been the smartest decision she had ever made in her life. She sat up, massaging her neck with one hand, the other being used for balance.
Wait. Were was Souta?
Quickly she checked the other boy over. No change, he was still unconscious. With that done she rushed out of the room, tripping over Yoko's legs.
"Yoko! What are you doing sitting in the hall?" she asked, picking herself up. Yoko pulled his legs in and helped her back to her feet.
"Waiting,"
"Waiting for what?"
"You to wake up. Souta woke earlier this morning. He's in the living room playing video games. He's fine, taking the change very well, all things considered. You should see him, and get some breakfast," he said, escorting her downstairs. Kagome followed, somewhat bemused.
"Momma! You're up!" Shippou called, bouncing across the living room and scooping her into a crushing hug.
"Shippou!" she gasped, "Air!" chastised, he put her down, away from Yoko.
"Souta-ji-chan is up and he's doing okay, like Yoko no doubt told you. From what I can tell he's going to need some training in controlling fire but I'm not sure if he still has any houriki left or if that's been converted to youki to keep him alive through the changing process,"
"I'll test him for it later," Kagome promised. She smiled at her two kitsune before accosting Souta. "Souta!"
"Kagome!" he gasped, trying to pause his game, "You're up!"
"Same to you. You gave me quite the scare when you didn't wake up. We're still waiting on that other boy we nabbed from that lab," she sat down beside him and tossed an arm around his shoulders, "So how are you holding up?"
"I'll get used to it. Shippou says that I'll be able to get a lot faster now. That'll help my soccer career," he grinned. Kagome rolled her eyes.
"I'm sure it will. Meanwhile I'm going to whip you up a concealment spell so that you can get back to school. For once you are the one with the strange diseases," she teased. Souta scowled.
"What do you tell the school?"
"Me? Nothing. But bet you anything Jii-chan bullied mom into telling the school some outrageous lie to cover up your disappearance," Souta groaned, dropping his head into his hands.
"Just let me kill myself. I don't need everyone at school thinking I'm dieing of some disease like you,"
"Hey!" Kagome protested, pulling away, "I'm not diseased! They just think I am,"
"Exactly,"
"Brat," She huffed, "I need breakfast. Have you eaten?"
"Yeah. Finished off the leftovers from dinner,"
"Good. Get back to your game, we'll talk about training later,"
"Good morning everyone," Kurama greeted, stumbling gracefully down the stairs. Kagome repressed the urge to glare. His hair was perfect. "My head is quiet. Yoko's not talking to me for some reason," he complained. Obviously he was still half asleep. Yoko grinned.
"Now, Kurama," he said, appearing behind the boy and making him jump out of his skin, "Why would I not talk to you?"
"Yoko! It wasn't some weird dream!" he gasped. Yoko grinned.
"Weird? Maybe. A dream? Not a chance. I refuse to let a blessing like this be nothing more than a dream,"
Kagome giggled and blushed when he tossed her a sultry wink. Shippou glowered but almost died of coronary failure when Kagome returned the wink with a thrown kiss.
"Momma!"
"What?" Kagome defended, "You think I'm going to be the world's youngest virgin grandma? I'm not going to let you start having kids before I do. The moment Yoko asks me to marry him is the moment I kiss my single life goodbye!" she vowed. Shippou almost died again. Yoko, of course, grinned. And why not? The woman he had been chasing after had all but agreed to his face to marry him. Of course, he still had to gain the approval of Sesshoumaru and Shippou, them being her closest youkai family. After that, he only had to ask her mother.
So many hoops to jump through.
"You're serious?" Shippou looked crestfallen. Kagome smiled, gave him a hug and patted his back.
"Don't worry Shippou-chan. You know that I would not choose anyone who was anything but the best. I can't start breaking my record now, it just wouldn't look good," she joked. Shippou frowned.
"Well, I'll try to get along with him if it would make you happy,"
"Thank you Shippou-chan," she stood on her tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek, "You're the best, you know that?"
"Yeah, I do," he said with all meekness.
"You're also terrible," she amended, pursing her lips in mock disapproval. "But hey! You're over five hundred, so why aren't I the world's youngest virgin grandma?"
"Hey! You can't rush a kitsune!" he protested.
"The kit's right, Kagome-chan!" Yoko agreed, "You can't rush a kitsune who hasn't found his Love,"
"Well," she sighed to herself, "I suppose that I should be glad that I'm going to get married before my son,"
Yoko had gotten permission from Sesshoumaru. It had taken a while and several 'sparring sessions' in which Yoko got his butt handed to him on a silver platter with gold inlay. Nevertheless, somehow, even though he lost every match, he passed. He must have, because Sesshoumaru gave him his permission.
Shippou had also agreed, grumbling that he could not stop his mother even if he wanted to. Yoko had to hold in his triumphant grin until he was back in the human world. Then he laughed aloud at Shippou's attitude.
Kagome's mother had been hesitant at first. She had never even met Yoko until she had brought Jii-chan home from the hospital and found him waiting in the kitchen with Kagome, making tea. Kagome had vacated when Yoko asked to talk to her mother alone. Mrs. Higurashi had agreed that if Kagome wished to marry him then Yoko could ask.
Well, with that in the bag Yoko wasted little time in proposing. He wanted Kagome to be his as soon as humanly – or inhumanly – possible.
The wedding took place a month later. With the permission of Enma-sama all of Kagome's youkai friends were allowed to attend the small affair in the Ningenkai. Sesshoumaru gave his sister away. Kurama played the part of Best Man. Ayame was the Maid of Honour – even though she was no way still a 'maid' what with all those children – and Yuka, Eri and Ayumi were Bridesmaids. Mrs. Higurashi cried and Kagome looked beautiful in a white western-style wedding dress.
Yoko stared into Kagome's eyes as they made their vows. Kagome was spellbound, lost in the golden depths of the man who had just vowed to protect and love her for the rest of his days.
Yoko settled into the Shrine with the Higurashi family, content in letting his little wife and Mate live the peaceful life of Head Miko. Kagome had tested Souta for any traces of houriki. To his joy and her confusion, he tested positive. So now he was being trained under two masters: Kagome and Hiei. Hiei had the mornings to work on training up Souta's newfound youki which seemed quite particular to fire. He had almost set fire to the wellhouse before Kagome could contain him. Thankfully, no one was hurt. Kagome had him in the afternoons for lessons in houriki control and manipulation as well as traditional Priest duties. Miroku helped out as well whenever they could pry him away from Souta's video games.
The other boy they had rescued also trained under Kagome and Miroku. He also was offered to be taught by Genkai since he exhibited the same toushin qualities as Yuusuke. Soon he had moved away from the Shrine and into the temple.
Kurama slowly adjusted to having a very quiet mind. He said it was strange, he had grown up with Yoko in the back of his mind and now that he was absent the silence was disconcerting.
Hiei seemed to enjoy the fact the Yoko and Kurama were now separate beings. He could be found at the shrine at any time of any given day, sitting in the goshinboku just waiting to be able to toss in a barb at something the kitsune said or did. Kagome finally had to shock him with a small blast of mikoki before he let up.
Shippou returned to the Makai after the wedding. He had a job to do, after all, and intrigue never sleeps, as he put it. Kagome made him promise to visit before she let him slip through the Barrier. He, in turn, made Yoko promise that nothing would happen to Kagome. Yoko, of course, was insulted at the lack of faith Shippou had in him.
So, in the end everything worked out the way it should. The bad guys had been defeated in a battle that was almost disappointingly brief, Souta rescued and brought safely home, and Kagome married off. Yoko and Kurama were separated to pursue their separate lives and loving it. Kagome even remembered to write herself a little letter and give it Sesshoumaru in the past to give to her in his future. So everything worked out and now she understood why she wrote such a naughty directive at the end of her letter.
Kagome smiled as she snuck up behind Yoko. She suppressed her aura, scent and was extra careful to be as silent as she had been taught. Reaching up she covered her husbands eyes.
"Guess who," she giggled. Yoko grinned.
"Hamasaki Ayumi?"
"Nope,"
"That chick from Snow in the Cedars?"
"Try again,"
"My one and only love?"
"And your baby,"
Yoko spun around. His eyes were wide as he searched her face for any deception. Kagome could only grin up at him.
"Hello, daddy,"
AN: You know, by the time the end of this came aroundI was so frustratedI just threw up my hands and declared it done and over with. There's nothing that can make me rewrite the ending.I know it's kinda a let down and somewhat disapointing but after all the timeI spent on thisI refuse to work on it some more. Just a note for anyone how's interested this fic (family ties) was actually started BEFORE the first fic (forgotten legends) and one reson I'm so fed up with this one is becauseI had to got over it like a million times to make sure that my uber-cool idea for a preleude worked with it. So enjoy book two! And watch for book three: Blood and Circumstance
