Chapter 4:

Jonathan spoke to Kirsten that evening about his conversation with Kagome.

"So – Inuyasha's interested in my offer, is he?" Kirsten looked pensive. "And Kagome wants me to offer his brother a bribe in the form of a new arm?"

"Well – she didn't say 'bribe'. But you can follow her reasoning. I couldn't get the whole story from her – language barrier, and all that."

"Hmmm. There's one meeting I have to attend tomorrow morning, but other than that, I'm free. I'll come over afterwards and see if I can get the story in its entirety. I can't agree to a commitment to make an arm for someone who may not want it, so we will have to get in contact with this Sesshomaru fella. Oh! Jon – I just realized what his name means!"

"Huh?"

"Well, it translates to something close to 'Perfect Killer'. Lord, I'll bet he's interesting if he lives up to his name."

"If I understood Kagome correctly, I'd say he probably does. " Jonathan shuddered. "Not sure I want to meet him, though."

Kirsten laughed. "Oh come on, Jon. If Inuyasha doesn't scare you, then there's no reason to be afraid of meeting his brother."

"My love, Inuyasha is a kid, as demons go. My understanding is that the brother is a mature adult and a full demon, not to mention a superlative warrior. And with a name like his, if you aren't scared, maybe you should be!"

The next day, true to her word, Kirsten sat down with Kagome and got the whole story from her.

"I have no problem with training your friend," Kirsten said immediately. "If that's what he wants.

"But I cannot commit to building an arm for his brother without at least speaking to him first. Bionic limbs aren't built in a day, Kagome. It can take months. And my lab and my staff are in Canada, not here. Sesshomaru would have to indicate that he wants the arm and is willing to come across to this era for an extended period of time. He would have to come home with us and stay with us until the arm is built and tested. From your description of him, he'd rather go without the arm than pass any amount of time with humans.

"Then, there's the cost of the limb. Sesshomaru would have to pay for it in some manner. Or I'd have to present a very good argument to my boss for swallowing the cost.

"And then there's the problem of documentation for him and Inuyasha. It can be managed, of course, or… Well, since Jonathan already told you about the aliens, I could arrange for a pick-up and transport to Canada. But they'd have to go on their own. Mavis, Jon and I will have to go back on the corporate jet, since I flew it here."

Kagome lowered her head. "Lots of problems, no?"

"Well, they're not insurmountable. I take it that if Inuyasha wants to come with me to be trained, you would be coming as well?"

The young girl blushed. "I'd like that… if Mom says I can."

"You love that young pup, do you?"

Kagome raised her hands to her flaming cheeks. "Is it that obvious?"

"Oh, yeah." Kirsten smiled gently. "Not to worry, dear. I won't say a word."

"So you'll train Inuyasha?"

"If he asks me to. " Kirsten frowned. "His brother is a different matter altogether."

In a short period of time, Kirsten had arranged everything to her satisfaction. She spent some time in the Feudal era, speaking to Inuyasha about what he hoped to gain from training with her. When she outlined what she planned to teach him, his eyes had widened with eagerness and he had bounced about, wanting to start immediately. His other friends, Miroku and Sango, had stopped him from agreeing to her terms right away. Their concerns were easily dealt with and a commitment was agreed upon.

Kirsten was much impressed with Sango and asked her demonstrate her skills. The entire village turned out to watch the demon slayer take on the strange warrior from Kagome's time. Kirsten told Sango to come at her with everything she had, and the slayer had obliged. However, it took less than two minutes for the pretty slayer to be defeated, and Kirsten was not even breathing hard!

"Well – it would be very easy to make a Weaponsmaster out of you, Sango," Kirsten said. "You're about half-way there already. I'd like to take you and Miroku with us as well, but I will be spending a great deal of time with Inuyasha, and will need to concentrate mostly on him. It would not be fair to you. And my colleague, Tamisé, can't commit to training another Weaponsmaster, as he's busy with Dragon right now."

"What about me?" Shippo cried. "I'm gonna miss Kagome real bad. Can't I come?"

Kirsten stared down at the crying fox-demon. "Oh dear."

"Kagome is going to be very busy too, Shippo," Miroku said, coming over and picking up the small demon. "Neither she nor Inuyasha will have much time for you. But since Mavis can move others through the Well, perhaps we could come visit?"

"She'll be staying here for a while with Kaede so she can study the Well. I think it's possible to arrange a visit at the very least," Kirsten said, throwing Miroku a grateful look.

"That would be wonderful!" Sango said. "I've always wanted to see Kagome's era. I'd love to ride in a … a car. And see the shops!"

"In the meantime, I would appreciate your help in getting a message to Sesshomaru."

"That may take some time," Miroku said. "He moves around a lot, but then, so do we. I couldn't say when we would run into him again."

"Well… just deliver the message when you see him next, or find someone who can deliver it for you. If he responds, Mavis will contact me."

"You sure are brave," Sango said admiringly. "That demon lord scares me right down to the bone."

"He's certainly formidable," Miroku agreed.

"He's not met me yet," Kirsten said.

In the end, it was decided that Inuyasha and Kagome would fly to Canada with Jonathan and Kirsten. Mavis had gotten her visitor's visa extended so she could continue to study the Well. When she was ready, she would take a commercial flight home.

Documentation had been obtained for Inuyasha, but Kirsten would not say how, other than someone in a high place had owed her a favour. She had even managed to rush through a passport for Kagome.

They had gone on a quick shopping trip to get Inuyasha modern clothes to wear, so he would not attract too much attention. It had been a good thing that Jonathan had been with them, since Inuyasha had a great deal of difficulty at first managing modern fastenings.

Two weeks after the 'tourists' had followed Kagome through the Well, they were ready to leave.