Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha and its characters.

Chapter Eight: The young Half-demon

It was Sunday morning, and her grandfather was still upset with them, but at least he was speaking with them again. Her mother thought that he would get over it soon, and then he would start squealing with joy about the new family addition. Inuyasha had scoffed, not really visualizing her grandfather squealing, but Kaori had assured him that it was what he had done the day Kagome and Souta were born. She was sure it would be the same for their pup.

After that, they went to the past and gave the good news to the others. Everyone was happy, even if Kagome had told them that it was still too soon for her and she would need time to get used to the idea of being a mother in eight months. Kaede reassured her, telling her that she would have their support and didn't have anything to worry about, much like her mother had done the previous morning. Sango was excited because they were having a baby together. Instead, Miroku said that if they were to have a son and Inuyasha a daughter, they could marry in the future; Inuyasha had knocked him out.

"I told you he's gonna raise his kid like a pervert," he told Kagome, crossing his arms and pouting. "Sango, if I were you, I'd watch him."

Now they were getting ready to go to Sesshomaru, and Kagome was very curious about what the demon had said yesterday regarding his son wanting to meet them.

"Aren't you excited, Inuyasha? You're not the only half-demon in the family anymore," Kagome said. Inuyasha grunted in reply. "I wonder why they only had a son. I mean, in 500 years, you'll think they had time enough for more." Inuyasha shrugged, not caring about what his bastard of a brother did with his human mate, let alone in their bedroom. "Oh, come on! Don't tell him you're gonna hold your grudge with his father against him. It's not his fault his father was an ass when younger. Besides, things got better for you in the end."

He reached her from behind, and looked at her through the mirror, resting his head on the crook of her neck, sighing. "You're right, my adolescence may have been bad, but at least then I met you." He kissed her on the spot where the neck met the shoulder before he spoke again, "However, it doesn't mean I'm ready to forgive him. I don't care if for him 500 years had already passed. When I look at him, he is still the same bastard who abandoned me when I was a kid and my mother died."

She put her own hand on his in a comforting way. "Well, it seems you will need time to differentiate between the two of them indeed. Since we don't see the younger one much, it could be easier than you think. I just ask you not to be too difficult today and try to be nice to his son; he's your nephew, after all. Don't make the same mistake Sesshomaru did. He shunned you because he was angry at your father for marrying your mother. Are you gonna be angry at him for something his father did too?"

"Keh, I get the idea," he gave in, resigned at the idea o having to spend a whole day with his brother being civil – or at least try to.

Just as Sesshomaru had said, at 11.30 a.m. sharp, a limousine was waiting for them at the bottom of the shrine's stairs. Inuyasha eyed the car strangely, and Kagome had to convince him it wasn't anything too dangerous – it was the first time he used one – even if she had already explained what they were for. The hanyou had still some difficulties getting used to future comforts, and certainly, his youkai abilities didn't help either. It could be hard to trust a car if you could hear a little beast growling on the front. He had growled back in what should have been an intimidating manner before he finally went inside and let the driver bring them to his brother's.

When they arrived at Sesshomaru's, Kagome was shocked at the size of his mansion. The car stopped in front of two huge metal gates that didn't hide what was behind. Huge gardens were full of lush grass divided by a straight and long path made of gravel, which led directly to the main building of the zone. When the gates opened, the car started moving again and the driver left them beside a nice large porch. Looking at it so close, Kagome realized Sesshomaru's house was even bigger. Even if she wanted to, so close, she couldn't even make out the boundaries. What could a family of three possibly do with a house that big? It was only two-story, but considering the size, she could only imagine how many rooms it offered.

"And I thought your house was huge," Inuyasha commented.

"This is what you call huge in my era. Ours is nothing uncommon."

They reached the veranda, and a really small and old butler welcomed at the door. He looked at them without speaking; they looked back.

Sesshomaru approached from behind. "Jaken. You should let them in, not holding them at the door."

"JAKEN?!"

"Hn." was Sesshomaru's response.

"Well, unfortunately, the charm did little to hide your hideous appearance toad," Inuyasha exclaimed. Jaken was still too small, and his face held the same scrunched expression. Kagome hit Inuyasha in the ribs, Sesshomaru smirked.

"Why, you..." Jaken gritted his teeth before saying something his master would have made him regret later.

"Come, little brother, Kagome," Sesshomaru encouraged them to follow him. "They are waiting for us in the living room."

"They?"

"Hn."

When they reached said room, they were greeted by Rin, a teenage boy with silver hair and brown eyes and a family of four with startling auburn hair. They all seemed void of the charms at the moment. Looking better, Kagome recognized the man. "Shippo?! Is that you?"

He grew up a lot in 500 years, apparently, because he was much taller than her. His hair was much longer than before and tied in a neat, low ponytail minus the green bow he used to wear as a kit. He also wore a smirk that reminded her terribly of Inuyasha. Apparently, the half-demon wouldn't be the only one to have some problems distinguishing between past and future.

The fox demon got up and gathered both of them tightly in an embrace.

"Yes, it's me. Kagome, Inuyasha, it's so good to see you." He turned to Inuyasha. "You can't call me runt anymore. I'm older than you right now."

"I don't care. You're still the same runt who I used to bump on the head for me." He smirked back, still having some hard time trying to understand that the loud little kit was a grown-up now.

Shippo humphed and raised his hands in the air, "I give up," then laughed. "Well, it seems a good time to introduce you to my family. Shall we?" He pointed to the fox demoness next to him, "This is Sora, my mate. We have been together for 200 years circa." She was a beauty with her short hair slightly redder than Shippo's, her blue eyes and slim build. She was also just a little shorter than him. He then pointed to the twin girls that were sitting next to Rin.

"Our girls Hikari and Hinata," he smiled proudly as he introduced them. They appeared to be twenty years old, but one couldn't really tell with demons. They looked almost identical; the only thing to distinguish them was the colour of the eyes. Hikari's were green like her father, and Hinata's blue like her mother. They had long wavy red hair and a heart-shaped face. Seeing the question in Kagome's eyes, he explained, "They are 73 years old but still looked like the beauty they were at 20," he winked. "I usually have to shoo unwanted suitors away with a stick." The girls rolled their eyes.

"It's so good to meet you all. You all are beautiful; it's clear you take after your mother." Kagome offered a smile.

Shippo was older than Inuyasha and had two grown-up daughters. That was unexpected.

"Oi," Shippo said in a very Inuyasha-like manner, "are you saying I'm not handsome enough?"

"You grew up too cocky, Shippo," she laughed. "You clearly spent too much time with Inuyasha in the past."

"About that, Kagome. I'll be worried about that pup of yours. You don't want a mini-Inuyasha," he told her, still smirking at the half-demon.

"You're right. One is enough," Kagome agreed before kissing her mate lightly on his cheek. "Where is the star of the day?" she asked, referring to Sesshomaru's son; he still had to be introduced.

"I'm touched you considered me so, Aunt Kagome," the boy on Rin's left finally said, a hand on his heart. "I'm Nibori, the only son and heir of my father." He got up and took one of her hands, kissing it.

Looking at him better, Kagome noticed that the only feature that could have classified him as non-human was his silver hair. Compared to Inuyasha, who had dog ears and golden eyes, Nibori could easily have been mistaken for a human; he could have probably survived in the feudal era without any racial problems or prejudice from humans. His eyes were brown like his mother, had short hair, had a calmer demeanour than Sesshomaru and still wore some boyish looks that made him appear younger than the twins. How much younger Kagome couldn't tell. She wondered why Sesshomaru and Rin had waited so long to have a son, especially if Sesshomaru required an heir as the current Inu-no-Taisho.

Overall she much preferred Inuyasha's dog ears over Nibori's human ones.

"Did he fell too many times as a pup, or did a descendent of Miroku raise him?" Inuyasha asked his brother.

Rin laughed, "No, we lost count of Miroku and Sango's descendent a couple of centuries ago, too many."

"Well, you can keep your charming ways for your own woman, pup," Inuyasha said then.

"Oh, come on, uncle Yash. It's not like I would have tried anything with my own aunt."

"Keh. It's not my fault you remind me too much of Miroku. Maybe you're even his reincarnation," he then seemed to realize how Nibori had called him, "and don't distort my name!"

"Ah... Unfortunately, I don't have spiritual powers. It's highly improbable I'm his reincarnation. And what's wrong with Yash?" Nibori inquired.

"Hmpf, I prefer the name my father gave to me, thank you!" He grunted, his arms crossed and scowling at his nephew.

"Now, now, do not fret over inane things," Sesshomaru interrupted. "The housemaid informed me they are going to serve lunch. Please, take a seat."

"Kagome, as I said yesterday, I took an appointment for you next Friday at 3.00 p.m. sharp. I can pick both you and Inuyasha when you finish school. It will be just a routine control, and you can make some analysis since it's your first pregnancy. You'll be surprised by who my doctor is," Rin told her and smiled.

"Now you got me curious. Are you sure you can't give me some clues?"

"She asked me not to."

"She? Mmm? I do not know so many female demonesses. It'll be hard to wait. Talking about something else. I have a question for you, but I don't know if it's included in the list of questions that cannot be answered..." She looked at Sesshomaru straight in the eyes.

"You can try," Sesshomaru answered cooly, "We will tell you what we can."

"If full-demons can survive this long, what about half-demons? How long can they live?" the implied question was very clear to everyone. Inuyasha tensed, waiting for the answer.

Sesshomaru seemed torn; he didn't expect this question evidently.

"If you are asking me about your future selves..." he hesitated, "I cannot tell you much. You, more than everyone else, can understand that. However, I will tell you that your family won't have to say goodbye. Draw your own conclusions and do not ask anything more on the subject." He waved his hand, dismissing the matter.

"Once a pompous ass, always a pompous ass," Inuyasha thought.

"He practically told me that we're still very much alive, and our future selves will contact mom as soon as the well closes. They probably are not in Tokyo to avoid unpleasant encounters or cause a mess. The birth certificates and bank accounts are probably theirs too. Rin said that the money was ours, after all. I wonder if our child is still alive too. Well, I guess this will be only the only answer we'll get and, considered Sesshomaru, we're lucky we even got one," Kagome thought.

"Why did you wait so much to have a son, Sesshomaru? Nibori seems still very young, and I can't see you wait so much for an heir..." Inuyasha asked, trying to change the subject, but evidently, it was the wrong question because everyone in the room got tense. "What the hell?" "Forget 'bout that. I can see I asked the wrong question."

Rin took one of Sesshomaru's hands and answered for him, "No, it's ok. It's just a painful argument, and we don't want to talk about it a lot. We will have to at some point before you leave for good, so why not pull off the band-aid now?" She looked at her mate, "Are you ok with this, Sesshomaru?"

"Hn."

"The short version is that I had problems in bringing to term every pregnancy. I had several miscarriages, and the one time I reached the final term, the baby was stillborn. I could have died, but you saved me, Kagome, with your future knowledge. Since Tenseiga already revived me once, and you figured that I could also not be so lucky next time we would have tried, you suggested that Sesshomaru and I stopped trying." A few tears escaped her, and Sesshomaru, who had been silent until now, took her place, even if he was still very tense.

"You told us that if we waited a few centuries, we could try later when it was surer, and the doctor would have more instruments to help us understand what gone wrong. You tried your best to make us feel better and offered us comfort. Thinking about it now, I know that I have been a bastard." He looked Inuyasha straight in the eyes. "I refused everything you told me, Kagome, and I got so angry that I tried to attack you." Inuyasha tensed, and Sesshomaru held his hands to make him understand that he still had something to say. "What I am trying to say is that I am sorry, you saved my mate's life more than once, you saved her when you told us to stop trying, and I took my anger on you."

"But why are you telling us this now? It may be the past for you, but it's still the future for us..." Kagome was perplexed.

"I told you, Kagome, you saved Rin with future knowledge. You knew everything on the subject as you had studied it with a specific purpose in mind. Maybe you knew something like this could happen, seeing how things in the past are much more complicated, and you wanted to be prepared. Do you understand what I am saying to you?"

"Well, talk about temporal paradox," she said, scratching the back of her head. "Am I suddenly the main character of some time-travelling fiction?"

"I cannot say, Kagome. However, I do know that one of the answers to the several paradoxes that had been studied is that you can do anything that did happen and cannot do anything that did not happen to avoid contradiction or alternative futures," Sesshomaru answered, smirking.

"Perfect answer, cadet," Kagome replied.

"Hullo? Are we still talking about the same thing? What about this pa-ra-docsi? You're gonna give me a headache..." Inuyasha said, bringing a hand to his temple.

"Don't worry, Inuyasha, you'll understand in due time. Anyway, going back to the matter in hand, yes, I understand. You're basically warning me to study all I can about the birthing process. Well, sure, it's something I would have studied no matter how, if I'm going to live in the past. A lot of things can go wrong, and one must be prepared," she reasoned. Better be informed than risk death. After all, being a priestess meant also being the healer most of the time in the past.

"Hn... Thank you, Kagome," Sesshomaru told her sincerely.

"It seems that after a few centuries, he also learnt how to properly thank someone," Inuyasha thought, stunned.

"So... Nibori, how old are you?"

"I'm 49, auntie and currently the youngest of the family. I'm enjoying the status."

"And this is the reason why you are still immature, son. One would think you are your uncle's son instead of mine."

"And I don't see anything bad in that. Uncle Yash is cooler than you, father..." he said, putting an arm around Inuyasha's shoulder, who glared at him.

"What did I see ya about that surname, pup?" he grunted.

"Well, he is when he is not so obnoxious like you," Nibori snorted. Everyone laughed.

"He will be the end of me," Sesshomaru thought.

They came back to the past the day after lunch at Sesshomaru's, and they discovered how difficult it was to separate the past from the future. Even if Shippo was still a kit in their current era, Kagome couldn't avoid sneaking glances at him every other minute, thinking about how small he was now and how much he would eventually grow up. More than once, Inuyasha had to nudge her to make her stop because they were starting to get suspicious, and she was making Shippo uncomfortable. When he finally asked her why was she looking at him like that, she didn't have the faintest idea of what to tell him. It was Inuyasha who, seeing how she was sweating looking for an answer, dodged the bullet.

"It is because she is thinking about our pup, Shippo," he explained. "You're the only kid she knows, and, after all, she had been taking care of you since after your father's death. In a certain way, she views you as her own son, and she hopes she'll be a good mother." He mentally patted himself on the shoulder for the perfect answer. He tried not to look too smug, but it wasn't easy.

"Really, Kagome?" tears were welling up in Shippo's eyes, and his bottom lip was trembling. Kagome nodded seriously; even if Inuyasha had kinda made that up, Shippo was still part of their big family. Suddenly, she found herself caught in a tight embrace, a fluffy orange tail dangerously close to her mouth and her neck covered with Shippo tears. "Oh Kagome, that's the best thing you could have told me. You'll be the best mother this pup could ask for. You don't have to worry." Now Inuyasha felt a little bit guilty. "Without you all, I'd be dead. I mean, what are the chances of a little orphaned kit surviving on his own?" Kagome patted him on his back and hugged him tightly.

"Now, now, Shippo, you don't have to say anything. I could never have left you on your own, you know. You'll also be part of our family, our big family, with Sango, Miroku and Kirara too. But I'm afraid your status will change from the youngest of us to the best big brother these babies will have," she said, referring to both hers and Sango's child.

He laughed while drying his tears, "To think that in the beginning, I wanted to steal your shards."

"You also got her kidnapped, runt, don't forget that..." Inuyasha harrumphed and then crossed his arms.

"Ye shouldn't speak, boy," Kaede, who was watching them amused, interrupted.

"What are you talking about, Kaede-obaa-chan?" Shippo asked curiously, still in Kagome's lap.

"I'm talking about the fact that Inuyasha here tried to kill Kagome when they met. She freed him from sister Kikyo's spell, and then he tried to kill her."

"Keh! That's history, just like you old hag," the half-demon scoffed.

"Inuyasha, when you'll learn to be respectful of Kaede-obaa-chan?" Kagome scolded him.

"Why should I? She is not my elder, and I knew her since she was a runt just like Shippo."

"I'm sure you couldn't even be respectful of your elders, Inuyasha. Look at the way you treat Totosai," Miroku chipped in.

"Keh, he doesn't count," he justified himself.

"Well, I think we should speak about more important subjects now," Kagome suddenly said. "Kaede-obaa-chan, Miroku, I think I need your help with this idea of mine."

"Speak freely, child," the old priestess encouraged.

"We only miss like three shards to complete the jewel, and it already attracts a lot of demons when I am in this era. At the same time, even if we find the missing shards right now, I couldn't wish it away yet, because the well would stop working. I promised my mother I wouldn't leave before the end of my duty there, meaning school. However, it's still dangerous. Its aura will surely increase once it's whole again."

"I know what ye speak of, child," Kaede said. "I remember when sister Kikyo used to guard it. And even when Inuyasha started helping her slaying the demons who sought the jewel, they were still a lot."

"Now that you make me think about it. I always remember a lot of demons coming after Kikyo. Sure, we encountered a bunch of them since Naraku's death, but the number is insignificant," contemplated Inuyasha. "Maybe because it isn't completed, but still..."

"Maybe it's because they know that the same priestess who now guards the jewel is the one who defeated Naraku. A few demons will have the nerve to face her now that a lot of stories are spreading. It's funny what I've been hearing," Miroku said while scratching his chin. "It's like we never existed either."

"What do you mean, Miroku?" Sango asked.

"Well, according to the stories villagers around us are saying, Kagome-sama now is the only one who fought with Naraku. She is becoming quite the walking miracle, and this could both bring good and bad news."

"And why is that monk?" Inuyasha growled.

"I see we are ye going, Miroku. If demons start thinking of Kagome as a threat to their very existence, they could also decide to gather and try to kill her," Kaede interrupted.

"The hell they will! They will have to face my Tessaiga!" Inuyasha got closer to Kagome and hugged her tightly, starting to watch around them suspiciously, almost like there were already demons outside looking for his mate.

"Calm down now, Inuyasha; it was just a theory. Besides, every story I heard about mentions the fierce protector of the celestial priestess. Not all of them hint at your demon blood but almost everyone speaks about the lethal blade he wields, capable to kill a hundred demons in one stroke," Miroku said.

"Well, why didn't you say that early?" he growled, "it ain't funny, monk." He was about to thump him on his head when Kagome stopped him.

"Please, Inuyasha. Between you and Sango knocking him continuously off, he may lose the only common sense he has," she reasoned.

"Keh. You're right," Inuyasha agreed.

"You wound me, Kagome-sama," Miroku spoke, holding a hand to his heart, much like Nibori had done the day before at Sesshomaru's.

"Yeah, yeah. I know, Miroku. Going back to the main problem, how can we diminish the jewel aura? If demons stop sensing its aura and we start spreading rumours about its disappearance, we could avoid every problem. We won't have to worry about demons coming to the village, and everyone will believe we destroyed the jewel," she illustrated her idea. "But how do you do it? Is there a way to accomplish that?"

"It could be a good idea. What do you think, Kaede-sama? Is there something you know of that could work?" Miroku asked.

"Mmm... it requires a certain amount of spiritual powers, but it could work. Besides, if we work together, we shouldn't deplete our energy. How long are ye talking about, child?" Kaede inquired.

"Two years, more or less," Kagome replied.

"It's a long time, child, but if we repeat the ritual once a month, we could manage to last that long," she pondered.

"What are we talking about, Kaede-obaa-chan? What do we need to do?"

"If we seal the jewel inside a box made of sacred wood and charge the ofuda with the right amount of spiritual power, we could successfully hide its aura. There should be something like that in the shrine, and Miroku could procure the ofuda we will need to charge," she explained. "But we can do it only once, that means that we can't forget to recharge the ofuda periodically, and we will need the jewel completed before we do it."

"The more reasons to get on and find the last shards. We can't afford too much time anyhow; I don't want the girls to slay demons and travel like we used to do in their condition. It's dangerous," Inuyasha stated with an air of importance.

"What do you suggest, then, Inuyasha? We still need Kagome to locate the shards, and I don't want to leave them unprotected in the village while we travel together," Miroku spoke up. That was still a delicate matter, and there was no way they could endanger the girls.

"What do you mean, monk? I'm more capable of looking after myself. Or must I remind you that I'm stronger than you in battle?" Sango threatened. She was already tired of being treated with kid gloves at this stage of her pregnancy. She wouldn't sit still for all those months with an overprotective husband beside her who didn't give her any room to breathe.

"Now, now, Sango, my dear. I'm not implying anything, you know. I'm just saying that I'm always calmer when I'm with you." Miroku was holding his hands in front of him; it sure was difficult to deal with pregnant women.

She narrowed her eyes and scoffed, "Do you hear that Kagome-Chan? They think just because we are pregnant, we are useless. They have forgotten our role during the shard hunt."

"Oi! I didn't say anything. I just meant that you'll be far along; you won't be able to travel like we used to," Inuyasha tried to explain.

"And why is that Inuyasha?" Kagome asked menacingly, "Are you implying that we will be too fat to move?"

"No, no, I wouldn't think of, koishii," he answered hastily.

Shippo snickered while the boys were cornered by their wives. "It's so good to be little sometimes."

A/N:

Nibori: Powerful

Sora: Sky

Hikari: Light

Hinata: Sunny Place

Sacred wood, charged ofuda, yeah, obviously I made that up but I need a way to keep the well opened without the jewel that gets in their way since it won't be a great issue in this story.

I also introduced Sesshomaru and Rin's problem that will be dealt with later on in the story (still very far from happening) but I liked the idea of Sesshomaru breaking this timeline rule to assure that Rin's life will be saved no matter what.