cherry fantasy: I'm glad you liked my fic and this idea may be new but Kiotsu and Katanna are the first characters I ever made up related to the Inuyasha show! You'll have to wait and see what happens! Hm. I haven't given a lot of thought about that but I think I might write a little side story about what happened to Inu during the time Kagome and Kiotsu were in the future after I finish this one! Inuyasha wasn't completely alone! He did have Kaedae, Shippo, Miroku, Sango, and there
kid(s)! (I mentioned they were having a kid(s) in earlier chap!) I'm glad you like it and i'm trying to update soon!

fire-tiger-c: I'm glad you like the chaps! I love it when they're called descriptive! I like it when an author puts description where you can actually imagine you're there! I'm glad you think i'm a great writer and that you can't get enough!

x.FAR.cry.x: I know it was short but i'm glad you think it was sweet! I don't know how many times you've said that. I haven't really been keeping count, though I don't remember you saying it. has thoughtful look for a few moments. shakes head and snaps out of it. Anyways! I'm glad you found no grammatical errors! I always read the chap to my dad first because he wants to hear it and it helps me catch any errors I may have made! So that helps! I checked out the drawing of Yumiko! It's good! My favorite character in the story is Soren! Why does it seem I always fall for that kind of type? ...Wait! That didn't sound right! I mean, that makes it seem I am insituating something else...Anyways! I can't wait for the picture of Kyoko! I'll try to update soon!

Taijiya-Hatake: Thank you for forgiving me! It's killing you? Nooooo! I'm not ready to be accused of murder! LOL! They should be meeting Inuyasha in either this chapter, the next chapter, or the chapter after this! I'm not sure which yet. You'll find out what Kiotsu dresses up in this chap. Katanna's going to be just fine! ... I think. Please be patient! I'm trying my best!

whassit2ya: I'm one of the only 2 fanfics you keep coming back to for updates? wow. I really am getting better! Don't worry! I won't let it get to my head! LOL! I'm glad you think i'm a great writer and you think my work's good! Thanks!

cocoke5: I'm glad you liked it and i'll be sure to keep up the good work!

szaugglaughs: You forgot to check on it for a little while and there were a gazillion chapters? LOL! I'm sorry that's just seems funny to me the way you said or maybe I should say typed it! I'm glad you think it's neat! Thank you! I'm glad you're having lots of fun! I thought a beta was someone who like looked over the chap before you posted it or something! You know like an editor because in stories people keep talking about how so and so is their beta or something. I don't know. I read your story! It's hilarious! I hope to post the chap soon!

A/N: Hey Guys! Sorry I haven't updated in a while! I got in trouble and I had "restrictions" put on my computer use! That means that I can only go on for 90 minutes a day! Nooooooooooooo! I'm usually on it 7 hours a day! Or something like that! Yeah I know that's a lot of time to spend on a computer but hey! What can I say? I'm a computer nerd, I guess you'd say! I have glasses too so that only emphasizes the idea! Anyways, I'm sorry guys if I don't update as often! Please forgive me!

Disclaimer: I do not own anyone from the Inuyasha show. They belong to Rumiko Takahashi. Blah, blah, blah! How many times to I have to say this? It's not like lawyers are going to come to this site to see if we put it or not! So... I own Inuyasha! Mwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Lawyers bust through door. Aaaaaaahhhhhhhh! Lawyers circle around and come closer. Okay! Okay! I don't own Inuyasha! I don't Inuyasha! Please don't hurt me! Lawyers leave and put door back. Phew! That was close! Here's the chap!

Chapter 15

Kiotsu walked home from school after dropping Katanna off. He walked up the steps and on to the grounds of the Higurashi shrine. He looked around at the place he had called home for as long as he could remember. He walked up to the ancient tree in the middle of the shrine grounds and sat on the bench underneath. He closed his eyesand let his chin rest on his hands, just listening. For some reason, this tree always made him feel... calm, like he had no cares in the world. It was strange but Kiotsu didn't really think anything of it.

Kiotsu caught the noise of birds chirping in the branches above. He heard the sound of the wind rustling the leaves in the branches. He heard the distant sound of the hustle and bustle in Tokoyo.

Suddenly, a flash of a memory went through his mind. It was of a stone with black kanji at the edge of a lake. Kiotsu shook it from his head and listened again. He got another flash memory. The man from the pictures was looking sadly at the stone. Kiotsu shook his head once again and it left his mind. Another flash came again.

The stone lay under a sakura (cherry blossom for those who don't know) tree and was covered in cherry blossoms. The man was holding Kiotsu's hand and Kiotsu couldn't have been just barely older than two. Kiotsu looked up at the man. His golden orbs were glazed over as if remembering something and filled with sadness but there was also a trace of happiness as well as he looked at the stone. Kiotsu opened his eyes and shook his head.

He touched his hand to his head as he gave a mental sigh,' Yet another strange... you can't call it a dream because I wasn't asleep... vision? Okay. Now that just sounds like i'm a pshycic(not sure if that's spelled right.) or something.' Kiotsu gave another mental sigh as he stood up and walked towards the house. He went inside and looked around for his mom. He found her in the kitchen humming to herself.

"Hey mom", he said as he walked into the kitchen.

She turned around and gave him a bright smile but it still wasn't anywhere near as genuine as in the picture. Her smile had looked so... real and her eyes had held just happiness unlike the barely concealed sadness they now held. What had happened?

"Your home", she said, keeping the smile on her face though not quite as bright," How was your day?"

"Good", Kiotsu said," Hey mom."

"What?", she asked.

"I could use some help", Kiotsu replied.

"What do you need help with?", she asked.

"Well", Kiotsu said," the Feudal Festival is this Friday and I was hoping you'd have something laying around the shrine I could wear. I have to wear Feudal style clothing."

His mother's smile seemed to falter slightly but dissapeared quickly.

"Alright", she said, walking over," Let me think."

She thought for a moment and then smiled.

"Come with me", she said, walking outside and towards one of the shrines on the grounds.

Kiotsu followed behind her and they walked past the sacred tree, past the well house, and to a small building at the other end of the shrine where they kept a lot of their old things. Kagome opened the door and stepped inside. Kiotsu followed behind her and helped his mother search among the boxes. He passed a lot of boxes. A lot of the ones near the front were boxes of Nemaru and Kiotsu's old school work and stuff like that. As he delved deeper, he came to boxes of their old toys and clothing. He went deeper still. As he came closer, to the back of the building, he saw stuff like family photo albums until he spotted something that caught his intreast. It was a cheast at the very far wall of the room, laying alone.

'What could be in there?', he thought.

He acknowledged the sound of his mother digging around somewhere in the boxes and walked closer to the cheast. He kneeled in front of it and lifted the lid. Inside, there were some sheets of paper witha child'sdrawings of what seemed to be like a girl in a pink cat outfit, a boy in a red dog outfit, and a boy in a gray wolf outfit. They were all signed with the name Shippo and were titled Shippo's slide show. He dug around and found a lot of other things. Pictures like the ones in the photo album. He dug deeper. More drawings. He dug around some more until he felt cloth. He felt it a little and found it was cloth and that it felt, not soft but it wasn't completely stiff and it also had a tough texture to it in a way. It was a strange material. He grabbed it, pulled it out, and held it up so he could see it.

It seemed to be a red haroi with a creme colored undershirt. He looked it over and found that it was just the kind of thing required for the feudal festival. He looked back at the cheast and saw some more red material sticking out and pulled it out as well, revealing red hakama pants. He stood up and held up both of the pieces of clothing. He then held it against himself. He looked at himself in a cracked mirror leaning against the wall. His eyes widened as he thought back to the photo album. He looked just like the man in the picture, give or take a few details. The man... his father... He locked eyes with himself in the mirror as he stood there thoughfuly.

'What happened?', he thought,' Why... why does mom cry at every mention of him? In the pictures, he seemed to love her very much. He couldn't have just left... could he? Maybe he's...'

Kiotsu felt a strange feeling in his stomach and a lump seemed to fill his throat as the thought crossed his mind. He tried to swallow the painfully large lump and managed to make it go down, as he finished the thought.

'... dead.'

Kiotsu closed his eyes as he saddened at that possibility. It would explain a lot of things. Why mom would cry at the mention of him. Why he had never really known him. If he had died before Nemaru was born, that would explain why Nemaru didn't know him. Although Kiotsu couldn't remember a lot of his father, he still felt a deep sadness that maybe he'd lost the chance to ever really meet his father but he had this strange little voice that was at the very back of his head that kept telling him his dad wasn't dead. Could it just be wishful thinking? But then why did he have this feeling that his father really wasn't dead.

"Kiotsu?"

Kiotsu came out his thoughts and turned around. His mother was standing there and as she looked at what he held in his hands, her face saddened but she masked it quickly with a smile though her eyes still held a little bit of sadness and... pain? He hadn't noticed that emotion before.

"You found something to wear", said his mother," Good. That will be a great outfit for you to wear."

She turned around and said," Why don't we go back inside? We've been out here for quite a while."

She walked off and Kiotsu folded up the clothing, before walking off after her.

--------------------

Kiotsu walked home with Katanna the thursday before the Feudal Festival. They walked in silence as they journeyed their way to their homes. Kiotsu glanced over at Katanna nervously. He opened his mouth to speak but shut it quickly.

He cleared his throat and said," K-Katanna?"

She looked at him and said," Yeah?"

Kiotsu fidgeted nervously under her gaze.

'Just say it.'

'But what if she says no?'

'So what? It's just a no.'

'But...'

'Just say," Hey Katanna! You want to go to the Feudal Festival with me?" It's simple! It's not like you're asking her on a date.'

'I guess you're right...'

'Of course i'm right! Now ask!'

"Kiotsu?"

Kiotsu looked at Katanna, one slender black eyebrow raised. Green eyes concerned.

"Are you okay?", she asked," You sort of spaced out on me."

"Sorry", Kiotsu replied.

"So what is it you wanted to say?", asked Katanna.

"Well...", said Kiotsu," I was wondering... would you like to go to the Feudal Festival... togeather?"

He hastily added," You know, as friends."

She smiled and said," Alright. As friends then."

He looked at her eyes wide, as he felt hope blossom in his cheast.

'Maybe I do have a chance with her.'

'Now don't let it get to your head. It's not a date, remember? You're going as friends..."

He looked ahead as a frown fell upon his face.

'Great way to burst a person's bubble.'

'Thank you.'

Kiotsu mentally rolled his eyes before he caught himself.

'Did I just roll my eyes... at myself?'

'Yep! Wait to go! You're going insane!'

'Oh just, Shut up.'

' Hmph.'

A/N: Well! There you go! I know it's really not that much but i'm not exactly sure what's going to happen at the festival! I already know what happens afterwards but i'm not sure about during it! Does anyone have any ideas? I need help! Please help me!

Don't forget to tell me about any fanfics you have and don't forget to check out my other ones!

Don't forget to review!

And is a beta like an editor who looks over chaps before you post them? szaugglaughs told me what they thought it was but i'm not really sure that's it. Does anybody know? If somebody doesn't tell me i'm not going to update soon! (Heh! Heh! Heh! Blackmail. You've got to love it.)