Unbeknownst to literally anyone else, the tension in the shrine had escalated to naeusating degrees. Inuyasha simply couldn't bring himself to be anything other than irritated with literally everyone and everything. While…interesting to learn his mother apparently had this whole other life he knew nothing about, it bothered him more than words could ever express that she had never told him. Not even a hint. Was it to protect him? Was her silence part of him not going to jail after he lost control and murdered someone? Who knew? Not him apparently. The one and only person who ever gave a shit about him lied about…about everything it would seem. Okay, that was an exaggeration but it was…

"I didn't realize she kept them," Kagome's mother murmured from far, far too close, "That's one of the originals. Probably worth something now."

Setting his jaw, Inuyasha closed his hand around the heavily weathered keychain and glared.

"Why would something stupid like this be worth a damn thing?" he huffed defensively, "It's a cheap plastic…"

"Well…yes that's mostly true," Mama laughed softly as she sat down next to him on the overly stuffed couch, "But the first ones we made were quartz from the Shikon region. A lot of people would pay a pretty penny for them."

"It's a rock," Inuyasha sighed heavily as he allowed his fingers to unfurl and stared at the flawed bauble, "Why…"

"Quartz is a gemstone actually but that's not important. Technopaths need quartz to make most of the technology around us. Quartz from the Shikon region is a better conductor. Holds information better," Mama hummed before holding her hand out, "Can I see it?"

Hesitating for a moment, Inuyasha nodded once and dumped the trinket in her palm.

"We had to 'sell' our entire stock to the government a few years ago," Mama continued thoughtfully – using her free hand to make air quotes, "We use scraps now. Pieces that aren't good for making the world go 'round."

"But…" Inuyasha began slowly – unable to look at the woman who knew his mother better than he ever would, "If it was so valuable, why put them on keychains? Why give them to Mother?"

"Well it wasn't that valuable back then but they're pretty and people bought them," Mama laughed, "You were very cute and asked for one every time you visited. You must have had a dozen at one point. Maybe more."

Inuyasha's scowl became more pronounced.

"I don't remember that."

"You wouldn't. You were very, very small," Mama offered by way of explanation before handing the trinket back, "If its any consolation, I know your mother loved you very much. Never doubt that. Every single thing she did was for you and your benefit."

"That's bullshit. She just needed…" Inuyasha began bitterly before catching himself and amending, "It just bothers me. You knew her better than I ever did."

"That's usually how parents go. We don't share everything with our children," Mama offered softly before wrinkling her brow and adding, "I'd keep that close if I were you. Like I said, it's very valuable and I'd hate for someone to take that from you," she paused, "You know, it's possible your mother put a message in it for you. An explanation. Maybe Sango could look into it."

Inspecting the bauble, Inuyasha grunted but didn't comment.

"Well, dinner will be soon and then we'll need to go shopping for back to school tomorrow," Mama concluded with a soft sigh, "But I'm always here if you have questions or if you need a place to go. You're always welcome."

With that Mama left Inuyasha alone in the living room, the others had made it somewhat clear they expected him to reject their offer because, in so many actions, he had. There had been no practice sessions. No real conversations. He'd kept to himself and they'd minded their own business. Weird thing was he did actually want to join them. Didn't make any sense to him and he certainly had been doing a piss poor job at letting anyone know but…but for whatever reason these assholes wanted him. At first anyway. Having friends – even weak pathetic completely out of control friends – might be nice. They knew his dirty laundry and still seemed interested too which…which was not unwelcome. Still…

"Have Sango look at it," Inuyasha mimicked sarcastically under his breath, "Let her tell you if there's a message in there for…"

Shaking his head, Inuyasha held the bauble tightly between his forefinger and thumb and focused. If, in theory, his mother had left a message, it probably would''t have required him to go to a third party. She could've made it protected so only he could read it. Why else would she send it by mail? The government looked at…

Closing his eyes, Inuyasha focused and waited.

And waited.

And…

"Of course," Inuyasha snorted derisively as he shook his head, "Of course. I'm stupid. So stupid. This..."

Letting out a steadying breath, he almost almost chucked the damn thing – having come to the conclusion that it was just a stupid keychain when a warm powerful pulse rippled down his hand.

"The fuck was that," Inuyasha breathed as his eyes flew open and he stared at the small bauble which now was glowing – the internal purple flaw swirling in a graceful figure eight faster and faster and faster until…

'Run. Run now.'

Many things happened in immediate and short succession. A loud bang, several screams, someone grabbing his collar and the sounds of a very intense skirmish in the distance. All of this happening while his mind struggled to compute what was happening. His mother's voice reverberating through his head until it was the only thing he could hear and sense.

"Inuyasha we need to go," Kagome's voice somehow trickled through as she tugged on his collar again, "We gotta go. Now."

"W-what?"

Skin clammy, eyes dilated, he sat with the pulsing bauble still between his fingers.

"We've gotta run. Someone's coming," she hissed, "Come on. They're waiting for us."

When Inuyasha simply blinked stupidly at her, Kagome groaned and gripped his face between her hands.

"We. Need. To. Go," she ground out firmly - shaking his cheeks a little with each word to emphasize her point, "It's not…"

"Shippo," Inuyasha suddenly breathed in mild panic – effortlessly breaking Kagome's hold as he stood and began looking around for a sign of the little boy, "We can't leave. They're coming for…"

"I don't think its about Shippo. It's that thing," Kagome tried to explain as she gestured toward the small glowing sphere, "But he's outside with Mama, okay? We need to go."

"You…you have him?" Inuyasha's delayed response finally came – his trembling fingers still firmly holding the bauble in front of him.

"Oh my god yes. Yes I have him. Come on," Kagome hissed, "We don't…"

A scream. A tear in the universe blooming into existence before his eyes. Several hands touching him, toussling him this way and that and then Inuyasha knew no more.

Wiping the blood off his sword and sending a withering glare down at the bodies on the ground, Naraku was less than pleased.. He had been very clear. About the protocols. About his suspicions. About the importance of the endeavor. And yet…

"Kagura," Naraku ordered in far too calm a tone and the wind sorceress took a step forward – her eyes flicking down to the bodies before looking back up at her adoptive father, "You understand the assignment?"

A single nod and a slight flash of defeat behind a pair of crimson eyes.

"Then go. Take your sister with you."