Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or any of its kiddos...

Reviewer Comments:

SidhePrincessAislinn- Well, I suppose she'd have gone to school in America, as she is returning to Japan for the first time in four years. As for the specific school, I haven't really thought of one. It won't be something I really dwell on in the story. Thanks for the review though! Glad you like it!

ShortPoet- Thank you for the thoughtful review. It means a lot when people take the time to really step back and look at the story. I hope you like the second chapter as well as the first!

black light queen- All explained in this chapter!

priestessmykala- Glad to hear that!

LadyRiyo- Originally I was going to write it as a one-shot, but I ended up deciding against it as I was writing the story.

Thank you also to Mlu, Camigwen, Sarah hates Kikyo, Archangel Rhapsody,and everyone who took the time to read! It means a lot!

Chapter 2

The rest of the day passed quickly for Kagome, but the memory of the two visitors troubled her. She had tried to brush the matter aside, performing chores that had once been a daily routine and helping her mother while preparing dinner. But neither chores nor cooking helped, her thoughts keeping her up well into the night until she found herself standing awkwardly in front of Goshinboku, simply staring up at the God tree in the darkness of midnight while wearing a pair of dragon-embroidered pajamas. Of course, her eyes were only locked on one part of the tree, and she instinctively found herself reaching up towards the eternal scar the tree bore in its trunk. His fingers traced its outline before she sighed and sunk back down to her heels.

"Inuyasha…"

It was comforting to say his name again, but the comfort was soon enough replaced by an emptiness that ate away at her heart. It had been so long since she had seen him, and yet it still felt as though he would appear at any time, yelling and cursing and calling her "bitch" while demanding if she was done with her exams yet. It had once made her so angry when he came barging in upon her life and her work, but now she found herself longing to hear his growling voice in her ear as he carried her off towards the well.

"I'm… I'm sorry… that I've been gone so long from you. I know I said I wouldn't forget you, and I haven't! Believe me! But, I had to get away. I'm sure you understand, better than anyone. I couldn't stand being here: seeing Goshinboku standing here, seeing the well as just some piece of hollowed earth. I think things like that could drive a person crazy," she tried to explain to the wound, laughing bitterly, her hands clenched to her chest while she looked up at that one spot. "It's hard, even now. But I'm here now, see? I'm looking at the same thing you're looking at, and I know you're there somewhere. Inuyasha… I'm still waiting for you. Forever, I'll wait."

She fell to silence and watched the tree with a sheen of hope glazing her eyes. But moments passed, and only the leaves moved as a soothing wind rustled through them. Finally, with a heaving sigh, she turned away and started back towards the house. "I hope you're happy…" As she walked, the tears fell, leaving behind the scent of salt water long after she had retreated to her room and turned out the lights.

It was only then that a lone figure stepped forward from the shadows, sensitive nose catching the smell of drying tears. A scowl crossed powerful features, and for a moment the figure was tempted to burst in through the window it knew so well, but turned away at the last moment, stalking off with a gentle growl rumbling in a red-clad chest.

"Not without you, I'm not."

It was well past dawn by the time Inuyasha returned from his nightly adventures, not bothering to ask Shippou to replace the glamour that he used on a regular basis to hide his appearance. Instead, he stood proudly in his red firerat haori and matching hakama and watched out on of the many windows as the sun beamed in to the vast hallways of a broad, beautiful mansion complete with polished wooden floors and ancient tapestries.

He could not count the years he had been waiting for her return- the time he had watched her as she grew up and eventually discovered the well. Five hundred years, and the only thing he was waiting for had only been alive for a quarter of a century, and further unavailable for all of that time. All there was for him was to watch her. And, truthfully, he guessed that she would not have minded so much if she knew. That was simply Kagome.

"I see you still insist on wearing that abominable outfit, dear brother."

Inuyasha scowled, not bothering to turn while biting out his retort, "Shut it, Sesshoumaru!"

"This Sesshoumaru will speak as he pleases in his own home. You forget you and your kitsune are guests here." Nevertheless, the taller Inuyoukai said nothing more on the matter, simply stepping forward to join in watching the sun move across the sky. With a snort the hanyou threw a skeptical look towards his older half-brother, taking in the sight of the "man" before him.

Like Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru had adopted a human disguise to hide him from the prying eyes of the modern world. The markings on his face and forehead were now gone and his pale, delicate skin replaced by something slightly darker and more realistically human. His ears were rounded and his fangs dulled to abnormally pointed incisors, hair just as black as Inuyasha's had been, though in Sesshoumaru's case he had chosen to keep it long and held it back by a leather tie. Even his bright golden eyes had been muddied into a murky amber-brown and he wore a sophisticated pinstriped business suit. It was peculiar, to say the least, but the proud taiyoukai seemed content enough in the unusual form.

"You are thinking of your miko again?"

"Keh… She's not mine."

"The kit would not stop talking about journeying to see her. It would seem he has other ideas." Inuyasha glanced curiously over at the towering form of his brother, but was met only with that graceful, strong profile. Finally, he scowled and turned away, crossing his arms stubbornly over his haori.

"The 'kit' talks too much. What business is it of yours anyways?"

"This Sesshoumaru cares not what you do concerning the miko. I speak of only what has been said." Typical response. Both brothers had become accustomed to their conversations over the years: Sesshoumaru would make to "address" a matter he had been "informed" about and Inuyasha would either argue or confirm it, always demanding what it had to do with the inuyoukai until he merely brushed it off as curiosity. It was almost tradition. Almost.

"Keh, well don't get any ideas. She doesn't know I'm here and she never will. I think even you could agree that we've all fucked up Kagome's life enough as it is." With that he walked off to find Shippou, only to hear that monotonous voice speak after him.

"One should not assume to know what this Sesshoumaru thinks."

Inuyasha paused with a puzzled blink, glancing over his shoulder at the back of the stoic youkai before shrugging and continuing on.

He knew exactly where to find the kitsune, and hurried down the maze of hallways until he was standing in front of the doors leading out to the courtyards, pushing them open in order to step outside. Sure enough the chipper redhead was sitting on one of the marble benches that adorned the enchanting courtyard, perched beside an elegant, dark-haired woman who looked but a year or two younger than Kagome herself. Her black hair was pulled back into a delicate braid that rested over the shoulder of a fine crimson kimono embroidered with white dog-like silhouettes. The woman smiled broadly at the kitsune, who was happily chattering away, bushy tail waving spastically behind him. He, too, had dropped his normal human disguise and now had donned his clawed hands, fangs, and pointed ears.

As Inuyasha drew closer he could easily hear their conversation, ears twitching and shifting towards the sounds of their voices even as he approached until he was standing directly behind the kitsune.

"-and he said we could go visit her today! I can't wait to see her again. She's looked so much different, but at the same time she was still Kagome. I really miss her, and I know Inuyasha does too, even if he won't admit it. He's so stubborn sometimes- just like Kagome always said: 'ignorant, stupid, arrogant, jealous jerk!' I mean- hey, what's that sme-" Shippou froze in place as he felt angry hanyou eyes boring through his body.

"What was that again, runt?" he asked dangerously, habitually flexing his claws as though ready to spring into battle. Slowly, the kitsune turned, forcing himself to smile nervously up at the towering red-and-white form.

"Eh-heh… Nothing at all, Inuyasha…" The half-breed did not look satisfied, golden eyes glinting dangerously.

"I could have sworn I heard you calling me something- what was it? 'ignorant, stupid, arrogant, jealous jerk'? Yeah, that's about right…" And with a scream the two men were off, the older slashing wildly with his claws while the younger screeched and wailed as he fought to dodge the angry blows. Through it all, the young woman laughed until she cried and even then could not help but hold her stomach in wonderful, elated pain.

"Otouji-san, what's going on?" Inuyasha came to a halt as he heard the small voice from across the courtyard, turning to see the little girl who now stood in the doorway he had left open, rubbing tired young eyes and trying to take in all that she had been watching. She was no older than five or six by way of human years, fine black hair with a streak of vibrant silver falling in waves over small shoulders while curious, sleep-filled golden eyes blinked furiously while a clawed fist wiped away the sleep. Forgetting his intended beating of Shippou, he made his way over to the groggy child and easily hoisted her into his arms and then up onto his shoulders. She laughed gently, the sound musical and sweet, and proceeded to bury small hands in his hair.

"Nothing. Did we wake you?" He felt the movement of her body as she shook her head.

"This Aya was already awake." The response brought laughter from both kitsune and woman, Inuyasha scowling in their direction, particularly at the woman.

"You let him teacher her to talk like that?" Still laughing, the woman shook her head vigorously, calming herself before responding with a girlish grin.

"I've tried, Inuyasha-sama. She picks it up from both of them, especially Sesshoumaru-sama."

With a sigh he glanced up at the little one on his shoulders, meeting her nose-to-nose with that same scowl, which she easily matched. "Ji-san does not like it when this Aya speaks like Chichiue?" More scowling, and a clash of gold against gold.

"You're 'Chichiue' is an arrogant b-"

"Inuyasha!"

"Er-… That is… No, I don't like it when you talk like him." He frowned and looked back at the two adults glaring at him from across the yard, the woman looking strangely happy, yet all too dangerous. "Talk more like your Mom." He threw his head in the direction of the black-haired woman, making the little girl notice for the first time that there were other people in the courtyard. Instantly, her hands had disentangled themselves from Inuyasha's hair and were reaching for the woman.

"Mama! Shippou-onii-san!"

Obeying the will of the eager little girl, Inuyasha lifted the wriggling snake of a child from his shoulders and set her carefully on the ground, watching as she ran happily to embrace her mother and say hello to her "onii-san". He found himself smiling faintly as the woman happily lifted Aya into her arms, holding her close while Shippou teased her.

"Oi, where's that other mutt of yours?" He frowned slightly, the smile disappearing into the scowl he had now been wearing for the better part of five hundred years. The woman looked up at his words and took her time to think about the answer to his rather simple question. He suddenly noticed how little the black-haired girl-child had changed over the centuries. She was the same little girl who had always followed at Sesshoumaru's heels. "I'm in a hurry, wench, so spit it out!" She grinned brightly, infuriating him further and warming his heart all at once. The change was most certainly miniscule.

"Where else would he be, Inuyasha-sama?" His scowl deepened. He knew the answer.

"Keh…" And with that he turned away and re-entered the house, stomping his way through the winding halls until he was once again poised before a paper doorway, the shadows moving swiftly behind this particular door. He wasted no time in barging in, absently shoving aside the door before stepping inside.

He watched in amusement as the dancing shadow kept dancing, oblivious to his presence even after his rude entrance. Silver hair twirled and spun around a lithe, agile body as it bounded gracefully across Sesshoumaru's dojo, sharp, delicate features serene and emotionless as they, too, shifted with that moving form. By human standards it would have been considered lovely, and that was often the term provided by the dark-haired woman when she saw such displays. But to a youkai or hanyou, it was deadly and skillful. It was the same as the father.

Killing Perfection.

"Kotan." The word brought a startled yelp, followed by a crash, Inuyasha habitually flinching as he watched the young hanyou stumble and fall unceremoniously through one of the thin walls of the house, landing in one of the numerous courtyards beyond.

Well, not quite perfection.

Inuyasha watched with a smirk as a very flustered boy popped back into view, frowning fiercely at his uncle while climbing back into the dojo. "You could warn me." Inuyasha shrugged nonchalantly and turned away, starting out the door.

"Shippou and I are going to the Higurashi Shrine. Come if you want to and I'll show you Goshinboku." That was the only prodding the boy needed before he was side-by-side with the older hanyou, face solemn while gold eyes danced excitedly. In all aspects, Kotan was a carbon copy of Inutaisho- or at least that was how Sesshoumaru described him (though not in so many words). Long silver hair was pulled up into a ponytail with sharp golden eyes peering out from amidst strong but beautiful features. Two red streaks adorned his cheeks and fangs and claws shown proudly in his mouth and on his fingers. Kotan was truly without physical flaw, much like his father and sister (save for Sesshoumaru's arm, which was still blamed fervently on Inuyasha himself).

For all the world, Inuyasha had never been able to reason why his brother's children looked so very much like true youkai, but he found himself relieved as both hanyou and uncle to know that they would not face the same criticism he himself had known for too many years. After all, few would go against the children of a taiyoukai, even now. That they looked as full-blooded as their father was simply another prize won in their name.

It was strange, too, how time had changed so much. True, the rift between he and Sesshoumaru had never healed, but they had come to an understanding over the years. They tolerated each other's presence. The fights they had endured in the time of the feudal era had halted long ago, and now they even dared to visit within each other's home when it served them well. Above all else, an unspoken agreement existed between them that allowed Inuyasha to be uncle to both his nephew and niece. It was this final agreement that had sealed the peculiar pact they shared, and even Inuyasha found he could not dispute it. Sesshoumaru's pups were his family, and thus his to protect where and when their father could not. That very knowledge had kept him sane for the better part of five hundred years.

"…Inuyasha-oji-san, why are you finally taking me now?"

"What?"

"To the shrine, I mean. Why now? You've refused for so long and now… Does it have something to do with that miko-," Inuyasha shot a glare in the direction of the boy, causing the pup to hastily shut his mouth and call forth his father's expressionless face. Looking away again, the two hanyous moved on through the house.

"Keh, I just thought it would be a good time. There's no other reason."

But even as he called for Shippou and the young kitsune worked his magic on them, Inuyasha could not shake the mixed feelings of dread and elation that slowly began to cover his body.

AN: Yay! Chapter 2! Sorry about the wait, lots of issues between school and Thanksgiving vacation. Our home computer had to be reset, but we didn't get a chance to reinstall Word yet, so I had to wait to finish typing the chapter. For those who read In Your Eyes, it'll be out as soon as I can write it!

Thanks everyone!

-Sar