(whoDisclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, or it's characters; that right belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. Nor do I own Naruto or it's characters, that right belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.

Author's Notes: This story contains certain tropes - IE: Kagome in the role of Big sister/mother to Shippo, damsel in distress, etc., then I don't fucking care. So if you do not like that, I politely ask you to turn around and leave now, because I don't see the point in you wasting your time and mine.

Author's Notes 2: Age Notices: Kagome: 16, Shippo: 5, Sango: 21, Miroku: 23, Kakashi 26, Ibiki: 27, Itachi: 18, Rookie 9: 12-13, Team Gai: 14, Gai: 27.

Kagome narrowed her eyes as she looked at the shopkeeper before letting a small smile slowly appear on her face. The way the woman seemed to blink as her eyes before flinching. It was not the first time in the two and a half weeks. And it was starting to get really annoying how the people of this Village didn't seem to adapt.

"Well, then let me put all my items back on your shelves, and I will take my business elsewhere," Kagome said softly in a very polite tone of voice. "And I will not come here again as I do not take kindly to Shippo being insulted like that."

With deliberate care, she made her way back through the small shop and put each item back on the shelf, making sure it was placed just right. Making sure the labels were facing forward before making her way back to the front of the eerily silent store. Once her basket was stacked back with the others, she pulled out a small notebook and wrote the name of the store in it. Which contained a growing list of establishments that had said they didn't allow Shippo into them or said nasty things about her where she could hear of her taking care of her little kit.

Not bothering to look back at the woman, Kagome stepped out into the mid-afternoon sun and took a calming breath. A part of her could sympathize with everyone who had survived the catastrophe that demolished half the Village and killed so many. But to blame Naruto for something he didn't directly have involvement in? Or to take their prejudice out on Shippo, who was a child. Yes, a Demon child who looked to be between five and seven years old, but so much older. It had her livid on the inside.

"Kagome?"

Looking down at the plaintive tone being used, she smiled and bent over easily, scooping Shippo into her arms.

"It is okay," she whispered to him when he buried his face into her neck. "I love you, Shippo."

The soft whine that came from him was all the answer she needed. With her nerves now frayed, Kagome made her way towards the outer edges of the Village. The people there had yet to be rude, like those in the central area. Kagome looked longingly in the direction of the Main Gate and knew trying to leave would meet with resistance. But then again, it was to be expected.

So, starting towards the Western wall, Kagome hummed softly to soothe Shippo, while occasionally waving to those who called out hello. Her mind reflected on the past sixteen days since the little tete-a-tete in the Hokage's Stateroom. Twice she had been approached by messengers from the Uchiha clan. The Elders had the audacity the first time to demand she present herself. She promptly reminded the poor messenger that she was considered a foreign guest of the Village under the Hokage's protection. That they would demand her to appear before them as if she was a member of the Clan they could go sit and spin. Something that had confused the poor guy who was just delivering the message.

The second time, well, she had been asked politely by Fugaku to come to the Hokage's office. When she got there, she had stiffened and frowned. There was the feel of a curse in the air, and it happened to be radiating from his son. After meeting Naruto (who was a bundle of energy like Shippo and just as naughty), she had learned that Sasuke Uchiha was one of his Team Seven members. Then there was Mikoto, whom she personally found delightful, the Hokage, Team Seven's Jonin Kakashi Hatake (whom she was familiar with already) and a woman who also radiated that same dark feeling of a curse similar to the boys.

From there, things had unfolded and devolved swiftly. Fugaku had been very polite in asking if she would remove the curse seal on his son. Kagome had asked for Miroku to be brought because she didn't trust herself to try on her own to remove such a strong seal. Though she had talked to Sasuke, who seemed to withdraw, the more they talked about removing it. Finally, she had asked the boy himself if he was okay with this, only to have Fugaku open his mouth and state he didn't have a choice.

Miroku had swiftly moved everyone but Fugaku away from her. Kagome wondered where her increase in temper had come from as she had verbally ripped the clan leader apart. All it took was reading Sasuke's aura to know he wanted that seal left there. That he felt inferior, and Kagome took the man down a few pegs (again). Explaining that it would be painful to remove, to begin with, but if the bearer of it didn't want it removed, it would damn near kill him. She should know after having Tsubaki in her head for two days, tinkering around.

Then she proceeded to tell Fugaku to take a hike because he was a deplorable father. Yes, she had heard the talk from the gossip mill about how Itachi was a prodigy and their cousin Shisui. And that they were pushing Sasuke to be his brother's level of excellence. It upset her greatly that Fugaku only cared about prestige and power. Personally, Kagome felt sickened by that. Telling him to accept that Sasuke wasn't his brother and would never be. And him clinging to the false power the curse was giving him was Fugaku's fault. And then being very loud in stating that if Sasuke used that false power, he'd become sterile due it to taking over his body and making him a mindless slave to the person who placed it.

The anger and then horrified shock on Fugaku's face was worth it. But it was Mikoto who spoke up and soothed things over, yup. That has started Kagome on the road to being friends with that woman. She could only respect all Mikoto had done and gave up to be a Clan heads wife. Though since Sasuke had tried to escape the Village twice to go to the person who placed it. Which had resulted in an epic battle between him and Naruto? The latter was upset and sad, but Sasuke had been retrieved and was confined to the interrogation tower.

As for the woman, Anko, she had willingly had the seal removed. All the present witnessed the process. It had taken almost two hours between her and Miroku due to her having it for over a decade. Anko was also an interesting woman who had a mouth on her. Smiling and giving a small shake of her head, Kagome pulled herself from her thoughts. Looking around, she saw that they had arrived and people were greeting her and Shippo heartily.

"Kagome, can I go grow plants?"

Giving a wide smile, Kagome let Shippo jump from her arms and dash off. These people were the most affected by that attack. And yet, they were the ones who had accepted Shippo the easiest. His gift to grow plants and amuse the children had endeared him. Now for some grocery shopping, she was going to make Chicken Stir Fry for dinner. Kagome looked over her shoulder and up at the nearest rooftop and smiled at the silent guard that followed her around. Knowing it would bother them that she knew exactly where they were at.

Ibiki gave a soft sigh as he got his report from the Anbu that was set to watch Kagome today. He knew exactly how the man was spotted, and it was amusing to hear each person set to watch her sound disturbed or mystified. The young woman was definitely different. But he was glad she wasn't trying to leave the Village. It had caused an uproar the two times she had tried, and he did believe her that she wasn't running away. That she just wanted to go out and explore, collect herbs (if there were any) and see what animals were up for hunting.

That last part had been a shocker before Miroku stated Kagome was fairly proficient with a bow. To which his wife added, Kagome was more accurate while she was moving, and the target was moving. That seemed a bit counter-intuitive. The whole thing had led to Kagome, proving she was good with such an archaic weapon. The moving target and her moving as well was shown when she asked Genma to carry her piggyback. From there, she nailed each target that was tossed or being carried. Not once did she hit anything but the target.

Though, Ibiki had been amazed by how hard Kagome could hit when Genma got friendly and felt her up. Miroku had just chuckled until his wife smacked the back of his head and said he was no better back in the day. However, Ibiki had gotten rather used to coming home to a home-cooked meal, even if it was at all hours. His house was clean all the time with his guest living there. And Kagome was making one of his favorite dishes tonight, Chicken Stir Fry.

Smiling as he picked up one of his sharper implements, Ibiki went back to interrogating one of the Grass Ninja that had been caught during the attack from Orochimaru.

He watched as Kagome talked with each person who approached her. Taking the time to select vegetables for whatever she was cooking. And if he had to guess, it would be stir fry of some kind based on what she had purchased so far. It was hard to believe that she had a temper, but he didn't doubt it after hearing from those attending that meeting after Tsunade had returned all exclaimed about it. Then again, he had avoided Danzo taking his damn eyes when Itachi and himself had chosen to help prevent the Clan from staging a coupe.

It was strange that she would always know where anyone who was set to watch her was hiding. And now, having experienced it, Shisui wanted to test it. Already he found the girl fascinating after stumbling upon her having a rather interesting conversation with Sakura Haruno a week ago after Sasuke had escaped the Village a second time. There was no denying the pain and hurt that Kagome carried around.

Yet as she talked to the pink-haired girl, explaining carefully that she understood what Sakura was feeling towards Sasuke. Breaking it down and asking very pointed questions of the girl. It had been at that point Sasuke had found him to spar and listened as Kagome told Sakura to give up on Sasuke. That even after all this time as his teammate, he hadn't acknowledged her as a person or Kunoichi, let alone a love interest that he would never do so.

It had been rather enlightening as Kagome tore the girl down to make her realize the reality. Just because the Uchiha were an old and powerful clan didn't mean that they should be desirable. It was a person's traits and personality that should define what one finds attractive, not their looks or prestige before building the girl back up. Telling her that there was a difference between being intelligent and wise. And only the truly smart (which Kagome had claimed Sakura was) used them both in conjunction.

Then asked Sakura how she felt being on a team with two very promising ninjas. Only to have the pinkette say she felt like she was always staring at their back and was a dead weight to the point that their Sensei Kakashi didn't really want to work with her. From there, Kagome poked and prodded until Sakura realized that while she was the weakest on the team, she had the best Chakra control, and Genjutsu didn't really work on her. And from there, Kagome set Sakura a task to think about what she could do with those strengths, for that was what they were.

Shisui had to agree; those were great strengths. Not many could see through Genjutsu fairly easily, and that, coupled with Chakra control, meant there were very specific jobs. One of which was being a Medic Ninja, a thing that was sorely needed as most teams didn't have one when they needed them for missions. Though Shisui had to admit seeing the way Sakura's green eyes lit up as it dawned on her as she laughed, Sakura was actually going to be very beautiful when she grew up.

Shaking his head, Shisui noted that Kagome had gathered up Shippo and was leaving. Her basket was full of produce and what looked to be a few spices and soy sauce. Which confirmed his theory she was making stir fry. He went still when her eyes met his, and she smiled warmly before continuing. There was a knowing look in the depths of those blue eyes. He'd report to Ibiki again after returning home; then, he would make a note of this to brag to Itachi about.

She did her best not to flinch under the hard stare being directed at her. It had been just over a week since she had talked with Kagome on that same bench Sasuke had left her unconscious on. It was heartbreaking hearing Kagome tell her to give up on Sasuke. That if he had not acknowledged her yet, he probably wouldn't. Of course, Sakura had yelled back and accused her of not understanding only to be silenced when Kagome explained her own situation.

Kagome was warning her not to give up on herself and let her desire for Sasuke to make her background noise. Then the talk afterward had built her back up. Sakura would give Naruto a few points (even if he was now gone for three years to train) for being right about Kagome. Taking a deep breath, Sakura stood straighter, feeling more confident than she thought was possible, given what she had just demanded of their new Hokage.

"You are serious about this. Fine, be here at four am tomorrow morning, I will test your chakra skill and knowledge of what you know medically," Tsunade barked at her. "Now, get out of my office brat."

Bowing at the waist, Sakura spun and marched out, smiling widely. She would always be a member of Team Seven, and those two were always getting hurt. And thanks to Kagome, Sakura realized she had potential in an area that would make her valuable in the future. And even when she decided to retire from being a Kunoichi who served her Village, she'd have a stable job to fall back on. Though she knew she would still yearn for Sasuke, her love was true; there were many other possibilities in Konoha and other villages if she decided to marry.

He stared towards the East. It was in that direction he felt the need to travel. It had been centuries since leaving the place that he'd made home after arriving in this strange world. Yet his instincts were telling him that things were going to start moving forward again. Whether for good or ill, he had no clue, but he was sure that the girl had appeared yet again. Meaning that there would be war once more, and he owed a debt to her for protecting what was his.

TBC!