Disclaimer: Still waiting….-telephone rings- Hello? Nope, not her. Oh well, still waiting…
A/N: -laughs hysterically- You guys are soooo funny! Your reviews make my rough days soooo much better! Thank you! Thank you! THANK YOU! –draws back curtain- Now on with the show!
Chapter 21- Questions and Answers
Kagome traced the mark on Inu Yasha's shoulder. "Where did this come from?"
He glanced at the mark. "When my demon half realized I took a mate, it formed there."
"Oh." Kagome turned to face the bathroom mirror. She traced her own mark. "I like it."
He smirked as he brushed a kiss over her forehead. "You'd better, its permanent." He turned and climbed into the running shower.
Kagome smiled as she continued to examine her reflection in the mirror. Her smile faded as she caught sight of her bruised cheek. The bruise looked at least two days old and was turning green and yellow in places. "Kami, I look terrible." She mumbled.
Inu Yasha poked his head around the curtain. "You couldn't look terrible, if you wanted to."
"But look at my face. I look like I went ten rounds with Mike Tyson."
Inu Yasha blinked in confusion at the name and then snorted. "Forget it, Kagome. It'll be gone by this afternoon."
She turned to look at him. "Really?"
"Yep, it's part of being mates. You also get some of my healing abilities."
Kagome smiled. "I like being your mate, even if this wasn't part of it."
He smirked and ducked back into the shower. "Get out, wench, so I can shower."
"You can shower with me in here. I'm not bothering you."
"Oh, yes, you are. Your scent is driving me crazy. So, unless you plan on not leaving the bedroom for the rest of this reunion…"
Kagome turned three shades of red, though he couldn't see her. "You're so bad!" She half squealed as she forced herself to the door. Half of her wanted to stay to find out exactly what he meant by that, but she kept reminding herself that her grandmother wanted to see her. "I'll wait in the bedroom." She pulled the door closed as a soft chuckle came from behind it.
Inu Yasha showered and dressed before heading back into the bedroom. Kagome pecked his cheek before brushing past him into the bathroom to take her own shower. The heady scent of their mating still hung in the room and it made his senses, not to mention his body, reel. He forced himself to the balcony door and pushed it open. The salty sea breeze seemed to calm the reactions his body was having. He leaned against the rail and looked out across the water. He stood for a long time watching the birds dive here and there, latch onto something and launch themselves back into the sky.
His ears and eyes were kept wide in case someone decided to come out there too. He didn't want to face Kagome's mother without her. His mate's warm aura wrapped around him moments before her arms did. Kagome rested her head on his shoulder from behind. "Don't worry. Mom will understand if we explain it to her. I just hope Gramps and Sota react a little better."
"They ain't here. She sent them off to breakfast or something. And I ain't worried. You're my mate and she can't keep you from me." He turned and embraced her. "And I won't let her."
Kagome sighed but hugged him back, trying to reassure him. "I don't think she'd do something like that. And I won't let her do it either." With one last squeeze, she stepped away from him and took his hand. She squared her shoulders and set her jaw firmly. "Come on, we might as well get this over with."
Iki heard Kagome's door open and set down her dish towel to turn to face her daughter. She blinked in surprise. She hadn't got a good look at Kagome in the bed. She'd only been able to see the top of her head, an eye and the bare shoulder with the strange mark. Now that she got a better look at her, she could see the remainders of a fading bruise on her cheek. The strange thing was that the bruise looked about two days old, when Iki knew for a fact that Kagome hadn't had that mark the day before.
Iki marched toward her daughter with a scowl, which in turn caused a low growl to issue from the hanyou who stood directly behind her. Iki ignored him and took her daughter's chin in her hand and tilted her face. "Kagome, where did you get this? You didn't have such a nasty looking bruise yesterday." Iki glared over her daughter at Inu Yasha.
His eyes widened and then narrowed. "I'd never-!"
Kagome had caught onto the look as well. "Mama! Inu Yasha would never hurt me!"
Iki relented with a sigh. "I suppose I know that. But then where did you get it? Inu Yasha has been the only one with you."
Kagome looked away unable to meet her mother's questioning gaze. Inu Yasha growled behind her. "Tell her, Kagome." He ordered flatly.
Iki nodded. "I see, so you have been keeping secrets."
Kagome sighed and took her mother's hand. "It's not like that." She led Iki to the sofa where she prepared to tell her mother everything. Inu Yasha came and sat at her feet, letting his aura wrap around her in support, protection, and comfort. Kagome gave him a quick smile before she began her tale.
Iki listened with interest and a touch of shock as her daughter relayed the events of the past. Now and then she nodded, pieces of the puzzle fitting together. When Kagome came to the festival she frowned. "After Taro hit me a few times and kicked me in the stomach, I think maybe he kicked me in the head because I blacked out. When I came to, Inu Yasha was there and he brought me back here." She smiled down at her mate, who continued frowning while reliving the events in his mind.
"So, what happened to Taro?" Iki asked hesitantly. She wasn't sure she wanted to know.
"I didn't kill the bastard, though I should have." Inu Yasha cracked his knuckles, trying to reign in the desire to go back and do just that. "Let's just say he won't ever lay a hand on Kagome ever again."
Iki nodded and turned her attention back to Kagome. "And what about that?" Iki shot a thumb at Kagome's bedroom.
Kagome blushed furiously and wrung her hands in her lap. "Well, we're mates."
"Mates?" Iki echoed, slight confusion in her voice.
Inu Yasha stood, fighting down his own blush. "It's like being married in human terms, except it's a lot more binding. Mates are forever."
Iki frowned as she stood and squared off with the hanyou. "Was that part of your plan, Inu Yasha! Did you want to come with us so you could take advantage of my daughter!"
Inu Yasha took a half step back in shock, hurt filtering into his golden eyes. "W-what!"
"Mom!" Kagome cried jumping to her feet.
"Kagome, you still have a year of school left! Have you forgotten that!" Iki blazed at her daughter. She turned fiery brown eyes back to the hanyou, who stood gapping at her. "And as for you, Inu Yasha, I can't believe you! This isn't something-!"
"Stop it!" Kagome screeched as she stepped between the two. Iki paused at the angry tears that streamed down Kagome's cheeks. "Don't you dare blame him! This was as much my decision as it was his!" She jerked down the collar of the sundress to show Inu Yasha's mark. "This means forever! And that is exactly what I plan on giving him! He is my mate in demon terms and my husband in human! And this mark means that too!" Iki took a step back from the vehemence and conviction in her daughter's words, as Kagome turned and buried her face in Inu Yasha's chest, wrapping her arms fiercely around his waist.
He wrapped his arms around her protectively, while staring down at her. He rumbled softly in his chest and he could feel her begin to relax. Her soft, choked sobs subsiding.
After a long silence, while Iki watched the exchange, she sighed. "I'm sorry, Inu Yasha." He looked up at her. "Kagome's right, this was both your decisions. Kagome is a grown woman. And whether I like it or not, she can make her own choices. Forgive me, it was just a bit of a shock." He nodded slowly, the pained look fading a bit. She sighed again. "What about school, Kagome?"
Kagome finally looked up, though she didn't release her hold on Inu Yasha's waist. "I've been thinking about that too. My grades have gone up quite a bit this last year. They're almost straight A's now. If they'll let me, I'll just take the exit exams and be done with it."
"Don't you want to graduate with your friends?" Iki pressed.
Kagome shook her head. "I don't even know if I'll be here for that. The jewel is almost complete. There are only three shards left. Two of which, we know where they are. Once we find the last shard, we'll have to purify the jewel. When we do, the well will likely close."
"You mean, you'll be stuck there?"
"Not stuck." Kagome smiled up at her mate. "It's where I belong. I think I realized that a long time ago." She reached up and began rubbing his ears. "When I first saw these."
"Hey!" Inu Yasha grumbled, though he smiled and didn't pull away.
Iki finally smiled too, visions of grandchildren with the adorable ears danced through her head. "All right, all right, I'll contact the school and make the arrangements. You had better study hard for those exams though. I'm sure they won't give you but one shot at them."
"Feh, she'll study. Won't you, wench?"
Kagome giggled. "Yeah, but you've got to give me the time."
"It will mean her staying a few more weeks, Inu Yasha." Iki remarked.
Inu Yasha folded his arms. "Feh, fine. We'll stay."
"We?" Kagome lifted an eyebrow.
"Of course, wench, you're not staying here without me."
Kagome giggled again. Iki poured herself another cup of tea, though the stuff didn't seem to be calming her nerves like it normally did. "Kagome, your grandmother is still waiting on you."
"Oh, yeah, I forgot. What room is she in?"
"922. But before you go, you might as well eat some breakfast." Iki set two plates of barely warm food on the table. The two sat and gobbled down their food before hurrying out the door. They walked hand in hand to the elevator, and Inu Yasha adjusted the baseball cap while they waited for it.
"What do you suppose your grandmother wants to talk to you about?"
Kagome shrugged. "I don't know. When I was little we were very close, but it seems forever since I spent any real time with her." The car arrived and the two stepped inside. "I hope it isn't anything bad." Panic suddenly engulfed her. "Oh, no, you don't suppose she knows about last night at the festival, do you?" She gripped the front of his shirt in tight handfuls.
"Feh, it'd serve that bunch of bastards right if she did." He slipped a comforting arm around her waist. "So, calm down."
Kagome relaxed a little until she caught her reflection in the mirrored wall of the elevator. "Oh, no! I forgot about my face! I should've borrowed Mom's makeup!" Kagome reached for the elevator buttons to return to their floor, but Inu Yasha caught her hands.
"Wench, leave it. You're fine." His eyes softened as he reached up to trace the greenish bruise that had already faded some from when they had woke this morning. "Does it hurt?"
The concern in his eyes made her pause and calm a bit for his sake. She caught his hand and offered him a warm smile. "No, it's alright." He looked unconvinced and she turned her head to kiss his palm. "I promise, I'm fine."
He smiled at her as the doors opened. Taking her hand again, he led the way down the hall to the appropriate room. Kagome regarded the door a moment before knocking with her free hand. Inu Yasha squeezed the one he still held, offering her his support. She gave him another soft smile.
A moment later the door opened and the withered visage of Kagome's grandmother appeared. "Kagome, dear, I was beginning to wonder if your mother forgot to tell you I wanted to see you."
"Sorry grandmother. We had a few things to discuss with Mom before we came." Kagome gave her elder a small bow.
"It's all right, dear. Come and sit down, we have things to discuss ourselves." The older woman eyed them critically as they stepped past her into the suite. "There is something different about you two."
Inu Yasha looked away while Kagome blushed lightly. "What do you mean?"
The older woman closed the door and stepped back into the room to sit at a small table. She gestured to the two chairs across from her. "Your auras' have merged. I would say you have mated."
Kagome froze half way into her chair and Inu Yasha stopped behind her. "What did you…?"
"How did you…?"
Grandmother Higurashi chuckled. "I may be old, but I am not blind. You see, the spiritual powers of a priestess and priest have been passed down in our family for generation upon generation. One in each generation inherits these powers. Your grandfather possessed these powers, as do I. However, every once in a while it skips a generation as it did your father's. Though the power wanes with age, I can still see things and sometimes even sense them. This is also how I knew there was much more to your relationship, than what you were willing to say."
"So, you know…"
The woman nodded. "You may remove the cap. You're in no danger here." Inu Yasha blinked and gave Kagome a questioning look. She nodded and with a sigh he removed it. The old woman's brown eyes sparkled and she grinned at her granddaughter. "Those are simply adorable, it's a shame you have to hide them. You chose well, Kagome."
Kagome glanced at Inu Yasha as he finally sat beside her. "We chose each other." He twitched an ear at her and squeezed her hand under the table.
Kagome's grandmother smiled. "There has been a tale passed down from generation to generation for many centuries. It is the tale of the Shikon no Tama." The pair turned to stare at the old woman. She smiled broadly. "It seems, though, I do not need to relay this tale to you, for you no doubt are living the story even now."
Kagome nodded. "Yes, it's the reason I've been gone so much."
"There's no need to explain. I understood the moment you appeared with Inu Yasha at your side. But enough of the past, we must look toward the future." The woman turned and lifted a leather bound notebook from a side table. "Kagome, I have lived a long life, yet even now I know my time is growing short. I must ensure that the things our family has strived so hard to maintain, such as honor, dignity, and generosity does not die with me. These things are lost on the youth of today. I watched my children grow and found them to be more interested in money and possessions than what is truly important in life, like love and kindness. Your father was the only one who showed and cherished these qualities."
The woman sighed and shook her head. "Your grandfather was a fool. He frowned upon your father's marriage to your mother. He thought it scandalous for him to marry beneath him. But I didn't see it as such and so we argued. No heir was declared by your grandfather and so in default I won." She shot Kagome a small smile. "It seems the women in our family have a knack for such things." Kagome blushed and Inu Yasha snorted his disapproval. Kagome's grandmother continued. "In any case, I had decided upon your father, but unfortunately he died shortly after your grandfather. Again I was left without an heir."
She smiled then. "But I had kept an eye on you, Kagome. From the time you were born I knew there was something different about you, and as you grew I began to understand that you possessed the same powers of a miko as I did; though yours seemed much stronger than mine, even as a small child. Do you remember your father bringing you to me as a little girl? Do you remember working in our small garden?"
Kagome nodded. "I haven't thought of that in years." Sudden realization flashed in her chocolate eyes and she gasped. "You were training me!"
Her grandmother nodded. "Your grandfather and I thought it best to do so. But you were so young, I doubt that any of it really stuck with you. But the compassion and kindness I saw in you was enough to make my decision." She slid the leather bound notebook across the table.
Kagome eyed it warily, as though it was an evil demon ready to strike. Inu Yasha squeezed her hand once more, and with a sigh he opened the book. He flipped through the pages for a moment trying to figure out what the documents were. "What is all this?"
"It is the Higurashi holdings." The woman smiled kindly. "Everything that is mine shall pass to you, Kagome, upon my death."
"But, Grandmother, wouldn't one of my aunts or uncles be better suited for this. I wasn't raised in that world. I wouldn't know what to do with these things."
"That is precisely why it must be you. My children are greedy. My daughters seek power through marriage, while my sons seek it through money. Even now, my granddaughter marries for the same reason as her mother. Your father and mother chose to shield you from this world. Now that you are grown, you'll be able to filter your choices with strong values."
Kagome shook her head in befuddlement. "But, Grandmother, I may not even be here. I've already chosen to go with Inu Yasha into the past. I don't know if I'll be able to come back."
Inu Yasha had been idly flipping through the rather large book, when he suddenly stopped. "Kagome, look at this." Kagome looked down to see what had drawn his interest. There on the page was the deed to her family's shrine and Inu Yasha's forest that grew beside it. That did not truly surprise her, what did was the signature above her great-grandfather's.
"Grandmother, this deed to the shrine…"
"Mmm, yes, that is an interesting story. It seems a young man gave the property to your great-grandfather. But he made him swear to never sale the shrine or the forest, or great catastrophe would befall our family. He said the land was sacred, blessed by a powerful miko."
Inu Yasha looked up. "What did this man look like?"
The old woman thought for a long moment. "The only thing I was told was that he had brilliant green eyes." Kagome and Inu Yasha exchanged a knowing look and both nodded. "Kagome, at least consider what I have told you here today. But as you have found out the hard way," she touched Kagome's bruised cheek gently, "it would be wiser to keep this to ourselves. There are those in this family that would argue their positions or worse threaten you."
Inu Yasha began to snarl. "I'll never let them lay another filthy hand on her again!"
Kagome's grandmother smiled. "I know you won't. Even so, these are the official copies, you must guard them carefully. Take them with you and tuck them away somewhere safe."
Kagome nodded slowly. "All right, but-"
"No, child, no buts. I've given you my reasons. Think of your mother and," she made a slight face of amusement, "your grandfather. The shrine is a part of my holdings. Would you trust any other in this family with your family's home?"
Kagome shook her head. "No, I wouldn't."
"Good. Now go and enjoy yourselves. Young people your age should be doing that as much as possible." Grandmother Higurashi smiled and patted Kagome's hand while squeezing Inu Yasha's. This surprised the hanyou and he blushed feverishly. He stumbled to his feet to try and escape his embarrassment.
Kagome however hesitated, the leather bound notebook clutched to her chest. "Grandmother, um, you don't seem very upset that Inu Yasha and I are mates, but not 'legally' married."
The woman chuckled, the little crow's feet around her eyes becoming more defined. "I take it your mother didn't approve. Well, I understand better than most that youkai mating is a much more binding force than human marriage per say, but I dare say it would be a good idea to get the union legalized. It would protect both of you, if there ever came a need for it."
Kagome nodded as she rose, understanding the seriousness of the statement. "Yes, that probably is a good idea." Kagome bent and kissed her grandmother's cheek. "I love you, Grandmother."
The old woman smiled. "I love you, too, dear. Now, go on and be careful."
Inu Yasha slipped an arm around his mate's waist. "Don't worry. I'll always protect Kagome." The woman merely smiled as the couple left.
They paused outside the door and Kagome took a deep breath. "Well, I'd say the last twenty-four hours have been rather eventful, wouldn't you?"
Inu Yasha snorted. "Feh."
Kagome giggled and then frowned thoughtfully as she gazed at the notebook. "What do you suppose it means?"
Inu Yasha guided her toward the elevator. "I don't know. But I know someone who does."
Kagome pushed the button to call the car. "Yeah, but the question is, will he tell us?"
Inu Yasha cracked his knuckles as they stepped into the empty elevator. "I'll make sure he wants to tell us."
"Inu Yasha, be nice. You can't just pound on him like you used to. He's a grown man now."
"Feh." The doors opened and he stomped down the hall to stop at the suite's door. Kagome watched him curiously as he sniffed and then smirked. "Speaking of the demon…." He pushed open the door and stepped inside with a confused Kagome behind him. "What're you doing here, runt?"
Shippo looked up from his spot on the sofa with a grin. "Nice to see you too, Inu Yasha."
Iki stood up from her place beside him and greeted them with a smile. "Kagome, why didn't you bring Shippo by earlier? He's such a sweet young man. But I thought you said he was little."
Kagome rolled her eyes. "He is little in the past, Mom."
"And I thought you said he was demon and had a fluffy tail and…"
Kagome blinked and then turned to Shippo. "I've been meaning to ask you, why everyone seems to see you as human."
"A camouflaging spell." Shippo replied nonchalantly.
"And who placed the spell on you?" Kagome asked lifting an eyebrow.
Shippo chuckled at the expression. "You did, of course."
Everyone stared in bafflement at him. "Huh?"
Shippo shrugged. "Never mind."
"Well, since you're here, Shippo. Kagome and I have a few questions for you." Inu Yasha approached the kitsune, his arms crossed and determined set to his jaw.
Shippo cocked an eyebrow. "Huh? What'd I do?"
Inu Yasha motioned for Kagome to show him the deed. Kagome opened the leather notebook and flipped to appropriate page. Inu Yasha took the book and shoved it under the fox's nose. "What the hell is that about?"
Shippo gawked at the page and turned three shades paler. "Um, well, you see, I, um…Damn!" Everyone stared at him expectantly. He sighed. "We better take a walk." He rose and handed Iki his cup of tea. "Thank you, Mrs. Higurashi, the tea was wonderful. And it was great to finally meet you. I've heard so much about you."
"We've heard a lot about you too, dear. I hope to get to see you again." Iki patted his cheek.
"Oh, I'm sure you will." Shippo turned to the others. "Are we ready?"
"Yeah, Kagome…" Inu Yasha looked around him. Kagome wasn't there. Then just as suddenly as she disappeared, she reappeared with her beach bag. He rolled his eyes. "Women."
"Ready!" Kagome announced as she took her mate's hand.
Shippo chuckled as he led the way from the suite. He smirked as Inu Yasha closed the door behind them. "So, I don't guess I have to ask what happened last night." He made a show of sniffing them.
"Feh." Inu Yasha hurried off toward the elevator with Kagome in tow, both furiously trying to fight the blush that crept into their cheeks.
They made their way out and onto the beach, pausing shortly to get a snack from a vender before finding a place in the sand to settle down. It was already late afternoon and the sun was dipping toward the horizon.
"So, do you want to explain this?" Inu Yasha waved the notebook before Shippo once more.
"You guys are not making this easy. Look, you told me to do that. Or more precisely, Kagome told me to do it. It was your only option at the time. Kagome didn't want her family to know about you or her, so I was the one who did it."
Kagome sighed as the sun began to sink into the horizon. "So, I gave myself the shrine?"
Shippo lit a small fire. "Uh, yeah, I guess that's one way of putting it. You guys made sure the forest and the shrine was safe, until Tokyo began to build up into a modern city. Then you made sure it got passed to the Higurashi family for safe keeping."
Kagome leaned her head on Inu Yasha's shoulder as she watched the last rays of the sun disappear. He snorted. "You talk as if we're still around."
Shippo frowned. "You are." He laughed as the couple turned shocked faces on him. "You don't believe me, do you?" He reached for his cell phone. "I'll prove it to you." He stopped before he dialed anything and turned his head into the wind.
Inu Yasha did the same. "What the hell…?"
Shippo stood. "Damn it, what's he doing here?"
Inu Yasha stood as well. "Shippo, what's going on?"
Kagome stood beside him. "Inu Yasha?" He gently pushed her behind him. He wasn't certain what to make of what or rather who was approaching.
"Shippo! There you are!" Out of the growing darkness a young man appeared, striding gracefully over the sand. Long silver hair danced in the dim light and golden eyes reflected in the fire light. Tiny white dog ears rotated atop his head, surveying the area.
Shippo growled. "What do you think your doing out here, Kan?"
The boy, who looked only about sixteen, stared right past the kitsune at the couple. "Oh, kami…"
Inu Yasha stared right back at the boy. Kagome peeked around his shoulder and gasped. She gripped at her mate's arm as the world began to spin. A moment later she found herself wrapped in a cocoon of warmth she knew all to well. She opened her eyes and stared up into the concerned face of her mate. She rubbed her eyes. "Inu Yasha, what happened?"
His brow furrowed. "You okay?"
She nodded as she sat up further in his lap. "I just had the strangest vision. There were two of you."
He snorted. "Feh, not hardly. There can't be two of me, wench." He smirked. "You can barely handle one." He nodded across the fire and she followed his gaze.
She gasped once more and tightened her grip on Inu Yasha's shirt, though thankfully she didn't faint this time. "What on earth?" She stared across the fire at the spitting image of her hanyou, only this one seemed slightly younger.
Shippo sighed dramatically and turned to glare at the boy. "I told you not to come down here, Kan. Why don't you ever listen?"
Kagome interrupted before the boy could answer. "Who… Who are you?"
The boy gave Shippo a quick glance. Shippo snorted. "You're on your own. You might've already screwed up history, and it would serve you right if your scrawny butt is never born."
"Feh, as if that could ever happen." The boy gave Shippo one last glare before turning back to the couple that watched him unflinchingly. "I'm Kanayesai. As you can probably guess by now, I'm one of yours."
"Ours?" Kagome echoed, still not sure her eyes weren't deceiving her.
"He means one of our pups." Inu Yasha clarified.
"Oh." Kagome slowly smiled. She crawled out of Inu Yasha's lap to get a better look at the boy. Her mate growled a warning when he thought she was close enough. She stopped and tilted her head to the side regarding her future son. She grinned when he smiled at her. She clapped her hands. "Inu Yasha, he looks just like you!"
"Feh, I could've told you that."
Kanayesai blushed a little at his 'mother's' enthusiasm. "Actually, all the males look like the old man, but the girls all look like my mother, er, you." Kagome squealed and crawled back to Inu Yasha and took his hand. She was about to launch into a round of questions, when Shippo's cell phone rang.
He glanced at the caller ID and laughed. "That's for you." He tossed the phone to Kan, who caught it easily.
He looked at the ID as well and groaned. "Can't you tell them, I'm not here or something?"
Shippo snorted and pointed across the fire at the couple. "I'm pretty sure they already know, baka."
Kan groaned again but flipped the phone open. "Hello, Mom…No, Mom…Yes, Mom….No, I haven't but…No don't do that…Mom, don't!" The boy's ears flattened. "Yes, sir…No, I wasn't yelling at mother….No, I did not, I mean I haven't…ah, shit…" He glanced at Kagome across the fire. "Sorry, I know…"
Kagome nudged Inu Yasha with her elbow. "You better not teach our children to talk that way!"
"Feh."
Kagome opened her mouth to rebuke her mate again, but was cut off by Kan clearing his throat. "He wants to talk to you." Kan tossed the phone over the fire to Inu Yasha, who caught it just as easily.
He scowled at the device, from which he could already hear his own voice coming. "This is weird." He muttered before bringing the phone to his head.
"Get off me, wench! Wait your turn!"
"Um?" Inu Yasha spoke into the phone.
"Hey, do me a favor and thump our son on the head."
"Huh?" Inu Yasha stared at the cell phone for a moment.
"That baka hasn't told Shippo why he's there yet, has he?"
"Uh, no."
"Well, you'll know why you should thump him, when he does. You can tell him, he'll get the rest of it, when I get my hands on him!" There was a small scuffle on the other end of the line. "Wench!"
Suddenly the voice on the other end changed. Inu Yasha did a double-take when Kagome's voice came over the line. "You'll do no such thing Inu Yasha! You'll let us handle him, or I'll s-i-t you from here!"
In the background a very irate Inu Yasha cursed loudly. "You can't do that, wench!"
"I can and I will if you two don't cooperate." There was silence in the background. "You can pout all you want. When Kanayesai gets back here, we'll take care of it. I swear that boy acts more like you every day!" A distant "Feh," was heard and then Kagome let out a heavy sigh. "Inu Yasha, let me talk to, um, Kagome."
Inu Yasha blinked at the woman beside him. "Um, okay." He held the phone out to the baffled beauty beside him. "She, uh, wants to talk to you."
Kagome blinked at him for a moment and then slowly took the cell phone. "Hello?"
"Hi, Kagome. Yeah, that felt just as weird as it did hearing it. Have you decided what to do with Grandmother Higurashi's documents? No, I didn't think so. Well, I was thinking-"
"Oh, yeah, that's a great idea!"
"Oh, good, then you know what to do. And by the way don't let Inu Yasha thump Kan. I'll handle that little ruffian when he gets home. Inu Yasha! Don't let her chew on that!"
Inu Yasha's voice came from the background. "She's growing her fangs, wench! It hurts!"
"I know it does, but that's precisely why she shouldn't be chewing on the furniture!"
The reply came in the distance. "She likes it!"
Kagome sighed. "I'd better go rescue my couch, not that there's much left of it at this point, but maybe it'll last a couple of more months. Tell Shippo to bring Kan straight home. And give that baka mate of ours a kiss. I have a feeling he's rather confused at the moment. Bye." The line went dead as another battle broke out in the background.
Kagome held the phone away from her and scowled at it. "That was the single weirdest thing I think I've ever experienced." She smiled up at her mate, who'd heard most of the conversation. "And I've experienced a lot of weird things since I met you." She placed a quick kiss on his lips.
The hanyou smirked and turned his attention to his future son. "So, what did you do anyway?"
Kan ran a worried hand through his hair and paused to scratch behind one fuzzy ear. "Um, well, I sort of wrecked my car."
"You what!" The three chorused.
Kan snorted. "Well, it wasn't my fault. This stupid driver plowed into the back of me."
"It's never your fault, is it? What were you doing, checking out girls?" Shippo goaded.
"Feh, no!" Kan blushed slightly. "But Ryo was and…"
"He was right, I should thump you!" Inu Yasha stood angrily.
Kan scooted back a half an inch. But Kagome was faster. She grabbed Inu Yasha's arm and pulled him back down. "Inu Yasha calm down. They said they'd handle it and so let them. Besides, I promised her if you tried anything I'd s-i-t you." The hanyou folded his arms and went into his infamous pout.
Shippo laughed. "Ah, come on. Do it for me, Kagome. It's been a really long time since you made him eat dirt."
Inu Yasha shook a fist at the kitsune. "Shut up, Shippo!"
Kan blinked at them. "Huh? What are you all talking about?"
Shippo waved a hand at him. "You wouldn't know about it. The last time Kagome sat Inu Yasha was when I was still a pup. Gosh, how I miss that. Anyways, I think she removed the spell from the prayer beads your old man wears. But these are still active." He grinned. "Come on, Kagome. Do it for old time's sake."
Kagome frowned at him. "No, I don't like doing that to begin with, so I'm not doing it just so you can get a kick out of it. And if you keep it up, Shippo, I will let him thump you." Her mate triumphantly smirked at the proposition.
Shippo snorted. "Feh, fine." He turned back to his adoptive brother, intent on getting the heat off himself. "How do you plan on digging yourself out of this one? This'll be quite the trick, considering you just dug yourself out the whole getting arrested thing…"
"Arrested!" This time Kagome shot to her feet.
Kan visibly paled and his ears flattened. "It wasn't like that! Shippo made it sound bad!"
"And how is getting arrested a good thing!" Kagome demanded.
"Um, well, the other guy started it…" Kan grumbled.
"He got arrested for fighting." Shippo interjected.
Kagome shot him a warning glare, before turning back to her future son. "And why were you fighting?" Kagome crossed her arms and tapped her foot.
"I can't tell you…" Kan muttered even softer.
Shippo sat up a little straighter. "Come to think of it, you never even told me why the guy deserved the pounding you gave him."
Kan's gaze shifted nervously from Kagome to Inu Yasha. "Later, Shippo." He growled.
Kagome sighed, giving up, and reached for the leather notebook. "It's getting late. Your Kagome says to take Kan straight home and you need to take this with you." She passed him the book.
Shippo frowned at the book. "You want me to take this with me?"
"Yeah, the safest place it can be right now is with your Kagome."
Shippo nodded. "Guard that with your life, runt." Inu Yasha warned.
"I know, I know. See you around." He paused and gave them a weak smile. "Then again, maybe not. Bye." He kicked some sand at Kan. "Come on, kid. At least I'll get a show and meal out of this trip."
Kan frowned at his adoptive brother and waved at his 'parents'. "See you in about twenty minutes." He called over his shoulder as he hurried after Shippo.
&&&&
A/N: Phew, that was a loooong chapter. I couldn't stop laughing while I was writing that last part where they were talking to each other on the phone! Otherwise I probably would have posted yesterday! I just couldn't stop laughing long enough to edit! LMAO! Anyways, I bet your wondering why Kanayesai got arrested. Well, sorry that'll be left a mystery -for now.
Kanayesai – means zealous son
