Chapter 3

Kagome pulled herself out of the well once back on her side. She was in such a

hurry to get here and talk to her mother she had completely forgotten to look for her other

hanyou features. She noticed the claws as she climbed out of the well and decided to

investigate further. Her first destination was the top of her head. Sure enough her now

clawed fingers found fuzzy dog ears. Kagome closed her eyes as she ran her tongue over

her teeth. "Yep, fangs too." She stated bluntly as she ascended the stairs and left the well

house, heading straight for the door of her house. Which didn't take her long with her

new youkai speed. "I probably have heightened senses too!" As if on cue the twirl of a

mixer could be heard from the kitchen and the smell of oden hit her nose long before it

would have a normal human.

Kagome entered the house, kicked off her shoes and stalked toward the kitchen,

ignoring the questioning glances she was receiving from her grandfather and little

brother.

"Mother we need to talk!" Kagome stood in the doorway, arms crossed in a

typical 'Inuyasha' fashion.

"Oh, Kagome you're back early. Happy Birthday!" She turned around to greet her

daughter and was surprised at the sight before her. She dropped the spatula on the floor as

her hands instinctively went to cover her mouth. Eyes wide, she looked at her daughter.

'The 17th year, how could I have forgotten.'

"Answer me one question, and answer it honestly. Who is my father?" Kagome

looked at her mother through slitted eyes, waiting for her answer.

She slowly made her way to a chair as she kept an eye on her obviously upset

daughter. "Did he appear to you?" She focused her gaze at a spot on the table.

"Yes he did. Why didn't you tell me, especially with me going to the feudal era

and all?" Kagome's face started to soften as she watched her mother's shock condition.

She spoke to her daughter in a gentle tone. "I wasn't sure if the spell was going to

work or not and for how long....So what did he tell you?" She then questioned Kagome

with a far off look in her eyes.

Kagome noticed that look. It was the same look she would get when she thought

about Inuyasha. Kagome let out a heavy sigh and took a seat across from her mother. "He

told me about you two meeting and falling in live. Him being a lord, me being his heir.

About the attack and sealing my blood and rigging the well. That he still loves you!"

Kagome watched her mother's face light up with joy and it tore at her heart. 'All these

years, they still love each other.' Kagome let out another sigh then she remembered

something else her father had said. "Oh ya......something else......what's this about me

being betrothed?"

She gulped at the glare she was receiving from her daughter. "Oh well, you see,

your both hanyou's and since your birth's you've shared some kind of link, we're not sure

how, but you two seemed to calm each other, even when you did fight, it wouldn't last

long. You two were literally born for each other, but....now....I don't even know where to

look, all I can remember is his father was a lord of the Western Lands." She fidgeted with

her hands on the table.

Kagome had her head down, shielding her eyes under her bangs. She started

laughing at what her mother confirmed. "You remember my 'dog-eared friend' as you call

him?" She looked up at her mother's bewildered expression. "Guess who his father is?"

"Inu.....yasha!" Her eyes widened and her hands flew to her mouth again. "So he's

the son of the Great Youkai of the West. Why didn't I see it before? Come with me." She

stood and grabbed Kagome by the wrist as she led her up stairs to her bedroom.

Once inside, Kagome sat on the bed and watched as her mother dug through her

closet.

"Ah...here it is!" She pulled an old shoe box out and sat down beside her

daughter. She opened the box and sifted through the contents. She soon held up a picture

and handed it to Kagome.

Kagome took the picture and looked at it. There was a boy in the picture standing

next to a little girl. The boy looked like a young Inuyasha, about 6 years old, and the girl

had black hair and a black tail. 'It's me and Inuyasha, when we were children.' Her heart

ached as she looked at the photo. "Inuyasha....I'm betrothed to Inuyasha!" The thought

struck her like a ton of bricks. "But what if he denies it, what if......what if he rejects me?"

"He won't. I've seen the way he looks at you, he couldn't reject you. Now that I

think about it. That poor boy's been attracted to you from the start and he probably

doesn't know why." She giggled a little bit before she realized her daughter's confused

face. "Because of your link! Because your soul mates! He can't stand to be too far from

you, that's why he follows you through the well. I wonder how he managed all these

years." She started to ponder over the possibilities.

"A lot of distractions mother, a lot." Kagome sighed as she thought about

Inuyasha and Kikyo. Saddened, yet relieved that she isn't Kikyo's reincarnation. "Mom

can I keep this photo, in case I need proof."

"Sure!.....Oh dear, what am I going to tell Souta. He's a hanyou also."

"I think he'll take it pretty well, considering the way he fawns over Inuyasha."

Kagome paused as she remembered something her father said. "Mom, what am I gonna

do about school. I can't go looking like this, Souta will have no problem since his only

youkai features will be his eyes and fangs, but I have a tail and dog ears," Kagome played

with her tail as she spoke.

"If it will make you feel better, I'll talk to the school about home schooling you,"

Before she could say anything else Kagome had her in a tight hug, thanking her. "Your

welcome, now long do we have before your "fiancé" shows up to get you?" She giggled

quietly at her daughter's shocked yet blushing reaction.

"Um....a few hours. It's his human night tonight and he wants me to be there."

Kagome stroked her soft tail nervously. 'Great is this going to become a nervous habit?'

"Why don't you go get cleaned up while I go and talk to your brother and

grandfather." She ushered Kagome to her room and walked downstairs.

Kagome stood with her back against the door, staring at the picture. 'No wonder I

had a feeling of "Deja vu" when I met him. But how am I going to explain it? Will he even

listen? Will he even remember?' With determination on her mind, she decided now would

be a good time to take a bath. "In the silence of the bathroom I can think up a plan."

Kagome emerged from the bathroom almost an hour later, feeling refreshed and

clean. The moment she stepped out, she ran into Souta.

"EWWWW......it smells like wet dog in here." Souta teased her as he pinched his

nose shut. Seeing the flames in her amber eyes made him realize he had made a bad

choice in joking with her.

"SOUTA! You're going to pay for that." Kagome lunged at him as if he was her

prey, and he was. She missed him, but just barely, as he turned and bolted downstairs to

hide behind their mother, followed closely by his enraged hanyou sister.

"Mama......she's going to kill me!" Souta coward behind their mother looking in

front of them at Kagome.

"I heard your remark Souta, and I think I should let her have you, but today is her

birthday and we only have a few hours with her. So let's enjoy our time." She patted

Souta on the head and walked over and did the same to Kagome. "Now who wants

cake?"

Kagome sweat dropped at her mother's peace keeping tactics then followed her

into the kitchen to salvage what was left of her birthday.

~******~