CHAPTER 7:Sunday Brunch

Sundays. Kagome loved Sundays. She did not want to open her eyes just yet even though the sun was doing its best to convince her otherwise. Instead, she just lay with her eyes closed, taking in the smells of her room. Something wasn't right though. This room didn't smell like her perfume or lingering incense aroma. Great, now she would have to open her eyes to see what was going on.

Blue eyes slowly peeked from under their hoods. The first thing Kagome saw was an indigo canopy draped over a dark stained, mahogany frame. Where am I? As soon as the question came, memories filled her foggy mind of a hospital and flying and Shippo and long, impossibly long silver hair.

Kagome shot straight up and groaned as she fell back to the bed. That was way too fast. And why was she so weak? Oh yeah, she and Tessaiga two-stepped last night. Or was it last night? These things usually took her a while to recover from, maybe it was…when did she and Sesshoumaru go to the hospital? There was a light knocking at the door followed by a creaking sound as a small servant made her way into the room Kagome slept in.

"Good morning, madam, my name is Akiko. Lord Sesshoumaru requests that you join him for brunch when you are ready. You will find everything you need in this room and the adjoining bathroom. I am here to assist you if you would like."

Kagome held onto her head, in fear that it would explode with all the talking. She got morning, Sesshoumaru, brunch, bathroom out of that little monologue. Hmm, she must be at his house. A few more blinks and Kagome saw a small demoness in a yukata bowing to her at the foot of her bed.

"What time is it?" she managed to mutter.

"It is ten forty-three, Sunday morning. My lord informed me you were awake."

"Do you guys have hot cocoa?"

The maid smiled and straightened. "We have many kinds of cocoa from all over the world-"

"Can you bring me the strongest one? Thanks."

"Um," Akiko fidgeted, "of course. Any in particular?"

"The strongest you have, add a lot of cream and sugar. Please." Minding her manners was a strain this morning.

"As you wish, lady."

Kagome didn't notice Akiko leave as she stumbled to the bathroom in search of the shower. There was no way she would survive this day, come hell or high water if she didn't accomplish two things: showering to wake the body and cocoa to wake the mind. There was the bathroom door, only a few steps away.

A shaky hand reached for the doorknob and twisted it open. "Damnit." That was the closet door. Please let this not be a sign of the day to come. The handle next to the closet door ended up being the bathroom and Kagome stumbled in to start her morning ritual.

Fifteen minutes later, an open-eyed Kagome stepped out of her steam session, squeaky clean and feeling half awake. There on a small dining table near the window was a steaming cup of hot chocolate. The scent of the liquid goodness had her nose in the air like a dog. The first sip slid down her throat and she was in heaven. I have to tell Sesshoumaru that the servant really knows how to take care of her people!

Next to the steaming mug was a small hand-written note.

Tanaka-san and his family will join us for brunch. They arrive at 11:30.

Sesshoumaru

Tanaka…Tanaka…

Why did that name sound so familiar? After closing her eyes and rewinding back a few conversations, Kagome remembered that she had met him at the museum and he had invited her to his family's home for brunch. Eleven thirty huh? Kagome looked at the clock on the bedside table and shrieked.

Akiko entered the room. "What is wrong, madam?"

"It's eleven seventeen!"

Akiko smiled. This woman that her master insisted be taken care of was acting in a way she was familiar with now. "Don't worry. Lord Sesshoumaru has arranged for clothing to be sent. I laid it out on the bed for you. At this home, Lord Sesshoumaru prefers the more traditional clothing."

Kagome walked to the bed and saw a beautiful cream-colored yukata sparsely decorated with pink and red sakura blossoms. "He has really good taste."

"Indeed," Akiko answered as she pushed Kagome towards a vanity near the closet. "Let me help you so you can be on time."

By the time Kagome had slipped her yukata on, It was three minutes till the time Tanaka-san was due to arrive with his family. "I can't believe how fast you are. You're amazing."

"Thank you, madam. And you are beautiful."

Kagome turned to look in the full length mirror and suddenly she was back in the past, looking at a smiling Sango as she donned a new yukata Miroku had bought her in one of the villages they had passed through. As the memory faded, Kagome did appreciate her appearance. Akiko was truly amazing to have put her together in a mere ten minutes.

"I wish I could take you home with me," Kagome wished out loud, only making Akiko laugh.

"That would be wonderful," Akiko agreed. "Two minutes! Hurry, you know what Lord Sesshoumaru's like."

You have no idea, Kagome replied silently. No idea.

Sesshoumaru met Kagome in the hall outside of her temporary room and extended an elbow for her. "You look very nice."

Kagome stared at the elbow near her as if it were a puzzle she had to figure out. Memories of a missing arm and green acid came to her and suddenly she was afraid.

"What do you have to fear in an extended arm?" Sesshoumaru said as gentle as he could manage.

Kagome shivered, took a calming breath, and reached out to place her smaller hand on his forearm. "I used to have a lot to fear of your arm in particular."

Sesshoumaru led the way down the hall and towards the garden in the back of the mansion where their guests were gathering. "I deeply regret the way I treated you when we were younger. I can only say that I am more able to enjoy life since we are no longer fighting for our lives and I wish to do everything in my power to replace old memories with new ones."

Kagome fidgeted on Sesshoumaru's arm. "I'm really sorry, I'm having one hell of a time trying to remember what era I'm in and it's bad enough that this all feels like a dream." She took another breath, her thoughts were still a jumble and her free arm fidgeted with the sash at her waist. "Have you ever felt like you were trapped in a dream but it was so real and wonderful that you wished it was your reality?"

Sesshoumaru pushed the French doors in the kitchen open, again leading her to the backyard. Yesterday, Kagome hadn't taken everything in. She had come out to clear her mind from shock at seeing her feudal family still alive. Today, in the early afternoon sun, Kagome could see just how immaculate everything was. Grass, those bush sculpture things, fountains, everything except for a slight depression of grass and dirt to the far right where Seiichi once lay.

"How did you know that I made an appointment with Tanaka?" Kagome was being led to a small garden in the corner of the well-kept grass yard. It was quite a walk but with the tall plants and trees in the garden, it gave the impression of solitude.

"He called your phone to confirm. Shippo recognized the number and answered for you. We invited him here since I was not sure how long it would take you to recover."

Kagome's lips quirked up. "Thank you for being so thoughtful."

Sesshoumaru smiled back, erasing all traces of intelligent thought from Kagome's mind. "It is my pleasure to do so."

The garden retreat was beautiful. The perimeter was drowned in wildflowers and tall trees that gave the correct impression of solitude. Sesshoumaru led her down the stone path where the sound of children laughing filtered to them.

"Over the years, as time passed and villages became cities, Inuyasha traveled far to find a quiet place to call his own. He rarely asked for anything and one day asked for a small corner to build a shrine. I agreed, my brother needed to keep busy to stay out of trouble, so together he and Seiichi built this shrine or garden retreat."

Kagome concentrated on her history lessons and asked, "was the shrine built for a specific purpose?"

Sesshoumaru nodded once but did not answer. Instead at the end of the path he brought her attention to a large stone with writing carved into its face.

To Kagome, the bringer of a brighter future, hope, friendship, and for finding worth in everyone, including a worthless hanyou.

"He built this for me?" Tears welled up, threatening to fall down a flushed face. "Did he know I would come?"

"No," Sesshoumaru answered. "He did not build this with the knowledge of you ever stepping foot here. He confided in me that you were the first to show him what peace was and he wished to share that with whom ever sought refuge from the world. He intended it to be a meditation garden but we have also found it useful to house the bodies of those we love who have passed on."

Sesshoumaru nodded to a circular clearing beyond a row of trees. "My brother rests here as well as other members of our family who died throughout the years."

Kagome did not miss the longing she heard in her escort's voice. How could she? It was just a few years ago that he was spitting out threats on her life but she would have to remember just how long it had been for Sesshoumaru. Five hundred years of change to her ten. She wanted to go and see Inuyasha's grave but two little voices behind her broke her train of thought.

"Grandma, Papa. You guys took so long! We're hungry…" Moriko took Sesshoumaru's hand and Hotaru-Kagome's. They were being dragged to a larger clearing where she saw Shippo, Rin, and who she guessed to be Tanaka and family. Sesshoumaru sat on the large mat and signaled her to join him on his right.

"Here's our little hero," Tanaka said standing and bowing as Kagome and Sesshoumaru came into view. "Thank you, Sesshoumaru, for inviting us to your lovely home. This is my mate, Aiko.

"Good day, Aiko," Sesshoumaru nodded. "I am not so old that I would forget Mrs. Tanaka."

Kichizo Tanaka laughed and waved a hand. "I wouldn't be too sure about that now, son." Then turning his attention to Kagome, Kichizo introduced his wife to her as well. "This is the charming girl who seems to know of things of the past my dear."

"Oh never mind that," Aiko Tanaka shushed her husband. "How are you feeling dear? Shippo told us about your ordeal last night and I was surprised that you're even up and about so early. It was very kind of you, Sesshoumaru, to invite us here."

Sesshoumaru lowered his tea cup. "The servants here love having company. Too often they complain about not having anything to do. I wanted Kagome to get as much rest as she could."

"Yes," Kichizo said, remembering the previous topic. "How were you able to wield Tessaiga my dear? That sword only worked for two people, one of which sits with us today."

Cocoa was not a magic drink but it did wake her up a bit. Unfortunately not to the point that she could keep up with the fast-talking demons. Kagome did not know how to answer that so she looked to Sesshoumaru for help or guidance, grateful for which ever he felt like giving. When she saw a slight nod from him, he had given her a sort of permission to share her story. These people could be trusted. Her long pause had Tanaka speaking again.

"I'm sorry. I did not tell you that I am in close business with our Sesshoumaru, here." This was only the second time Kagome had met with him after all. "I am an architect of demon and human buildings and I helped the boy here build that hospital and more like it around the world. I know of Tessaiga's history. I was also around when it was forged."

Kagome again, looked at Sesshoumaru for confirmation and he gave another nearly imperceptible nod. "Do you know the story of Sesshoumaru's father's grave?"

"Shippo divulged what details some time ago, saying that he wasn't a part of Inuyasha's pack until later. The kit merely mentioned that you and Inuyasha traveled to his father's grave and found it there."

Kagome nodded. "We did travel to his grave. That's where I met Tessaiga for the first time, embedded in a bone platform. I wasn't even the first to see it though. Sesshoumaru got there first and tried pulling it out, but it wouldn't budge. Not even for Inuyasha."

"Now this sounds like an interesting story," Tanaka commented while he made himself comfortable and piled more finger foods on his plate.

Kagome took another sip of her tea. "It was. This was where all my adventures would begin. Well, since neither brother could pull out the sword, Sesshoumaru got mad and started beating on Inuyasha."

"On your brother?" Aiko Tanaka asked, not believing that the Sesshoumaru who sat across from her was capable...okay, yes he was.

"I would rather think of it as early training for him."

"Hmph, you would."

Hearing the way Kagome sassed Sesshoumaru had Kichizo's eyebrows lifting. No one talked to the Western Lord in such a fashion. No one except Inuyasha that is. Not even Sesshoumaru's own son Seiichi, who was not present strangely enough.

"Anyways, they started fighting and Inuyasha had taken a particularly hard hit. I got mad and reached for anything that I could beat Sesshoumaru with-"

This time it was Kichizo to interrupt the story. "You beat up Sesshoumaru? I don't believe it!"

Kagome gave a sardonic laugh. "That's because I didn't. The only thing that was near me other than skeletal parts was Tessaiga so I pulled him out and pointed it at Sesshoumaru and yelled something at him."

"That's rich, Sesshoumaru! I'm surprised you let her live."

Before Sesshoumaru could tell his side of the story, Kagome butted back in. "Oh, he tried to kill me with his acid-"

"Wait now," A snort, followed by raucous laughter rang across the yard. "Are you telling me that I sit across from the only person that has ever survived Lord Sesshoumaru's acid?" Seeing Sesshoumaru sigh was enough of a sign. Kichizo burst into laughter again.

"I don't see what's so funny, my dear. That must have been horrifying for poor Kagome."

Tanaka could not stop laughing for another minute and even then, a few guffaws escaped between words. "We have a jewel of the past in our presence! If Kagome were an object, she would be placed in the very museum we built! I knew I liked you the moment you stepped into the meeting room. What happened next? I must know!"

Kagome turned to Sesshoumaru for the next part. "From what I can remember, he looked pretty pissed and confused after I came up from the melted mess around me. He ended up transforming into the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life. His transformed state took up most of the room in the grave. Inuyasha stayed down to fight against Sesshoumaru while I climbed up and out. Once we were out of the grave, Sesshoumaru came for Tessaiga again and that's when Inuyasha cut off his arm."

"Now it all makes sense," Tanaka said, nodding. Then he sat still for a minute.

Aiko looked at Kagome with a twinkle in her blue-green eyes. "I wonder what that sly dog had in mind to let you pull his sword out. We were born around the same time as Sesshoumaru's father was. Now I don't know if Sesshoumaru ever told anyone this but his father used to get into so much mischief when he was younger. That is why he was a great tactician. He used to practice on the boys as we grew up."

"Really? Your father was a trouble-maker? I wonder how come you didn't inherit some of those genes." When Sesshoumaru did nothing but lift an eyebrow at her questioning, Kagome turned her attention to the Tanakas who were filling plates of grandchildren who came for second and third helpings. "I have a question for you Mrs. Tanaka. What was Sesshoumaru like when he was younger?"

Aiko's eyes scanned the powerful lord across from her. "Well, he was shorter."

"Shorter? Oh you've got to have juicier stuff than that. You were close friends of the family, you must have had children that played with him."

"Oh yes!" Aiko looked around before looking at her wristwatch, "and he will be here soon. His name is Toshiyuki, Toshi we call him. I guess he was the equivalent of a playmate for your Sesshoumaru."

"Those two would always get into trouble when Sesshoumaru's mother and I weren't watching. He did inherit those trouble-making genes. I remember one time they were trying to be spies for Junior-"

"Wait...who's Junior?" Kagome interrupted.

Kichizo answered saying, "That was Sesshoumaru's father's name. Well, not his real name but he didn't want to be reminded of his father, a powerful and harsh demon."

"We called him Junior instead," Aiko added with a smile.

"Well, amongst other things, but yes. We agreed that Junior would serve the purpose of telling his name and status and he didn't actually have to hear his given name in the process."

Kagome was stumped. "Well, that's completely anti-climatic isn't it?"

"Indeed. I guess Junior's father had a weak name and made up for it with brute strength. There was no love lost in that family when he died. But back to the story.

"Sesshoumaru and our son Toshi were being spies for Junior one day and hopped onto the carts of a caravan of dye makers. Sesshoumaru saw one of the men steal something from the market of the town's seamstress and went aboard to investigate.

"In some of the barrels were goods that had no business being in barrels. Come to find out, our sons had stumbled onto the band of thieves that had been pillaging towns along the road. When the thieves came back to their wagons and carts, Sesshoumaru and Toshi hid in two of the empty barrels that were partially filled with liquids. And as the men drove off I guess they hit a few too many bumps in the road and the boys were soaking wet.

Tanaka smiled, remembering what happened. He told this story every chance he got. "Well, that night, the boys didn't return home. We were all convinced that they were fine, the ties between mother and child remained strong but Junior...he was always a worrier and he had every right to be I guess. In his day, trouble found Junior. It didn't matter where he was and Junior thought that perhaps the same could be said for his son.

"Junior and I ran out and searched for the boys all through the night and just as the morning chill set in, we found them in a cave behind a waterfall, naked as the day they were born. Sesshoumaru had deep purple marks all over his body and my son Toshi had dark red. Junior was furious and demanded to know what happened and why they looked that way, neglecting the fact that his son's hair was just as purple as his skin." Tanaka paused, waiting for Kagome to make the connection and he was not disappointed.

Kagome lifted a hand to cover the smile that stretched across her face. "They hid in dye barrels? That's rich!" A healthy full laugh left Kagome's body followed by Kichizo's and Aiko's.

"Yes," Aiko agreed. "But at first Junior was livid. He thought something bad had befallen his son until the boys explained what happened. Sesshoumaru was so ashamed of his purple hair so Junior suggested he just cut it, which is unheard of in the higher ranks of demon royalty. Now what was it you told your mother when she asked about it when you finally came home, Sesshoumaru?"

"I do not recall this particular tale."

"Aww, Sesshy, now don't be like that." Kagome pouted and lifted sad puppy eyes to him while tugging on the sleeve closest to her. "It's not often I get to hear about the Great Lord of the West when he was a child."

The whole time the Tanakas weaved their story, Sesshoumaru had a distracted gaze in the open field where the children played. He sighed and turned his head towards Kagome at his side. "I fell asleep too close to the camp fire and Toshiyuki cut the charred ends off for me the next morning."

"Your mother believed that her awesome son slept too close to the fire?" Kagome asked incredulously.

"My mother was an understanding woman. My father told her the story later no doubt."

The Tanakas were in the middle of their second tale when the children's voices grew louder.

"Toshi! Toshi is here!"

"Oh, our son is here!" Aiko chirped and smiled. A tall man, slightly shorter than Sesshoumaru, walked towards the picnicking group. He wore khaki pants and a sky blue polo with matching eyes, black shoes and belt, with knee-length caramel-colored hair tied into a ponytail at the nape of his neck. His stride was an easy one, both hands in his pockets and a grin that suggested he did not grow up with a certain serious demon lord.

"Toshi, my boy. Welcome back, son. How was America?" Kichizo pat the empty space next to him and waited for his son to sit down.

"It was good, father. Mother, you're looking robust." Toshi bent to kiss his mother's cheek before sitting. "Sessh, thanks for the invite."

Sesshoumaru nodded. "You never need one. How fares your American branches?"

"Oh, Americans...they're a special kind of people."

"Indeed," Sesshoumaru agreed. "That is why I sent Jaken there. I figured he would thrive in that kind of an environment. My American branches are overseen by my grandchildren who have come into the company. I travel only for Regional Conferences when it is necessary for me to be there. But that is enough talk about work. Toshiyuki, this is an old friend of my brother, Kagome Higurashi. Kagome, Toshiyuki Tanaka, Kichizo's third son."

Kagome bowed her head. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Toshiyu-"

"Just call me Toshi. All my friends do," Toshi said with a smile that bordered on a little too friendly. "And I do hope we become good friends."

A nervous chuckle escaped Kagome. "Yes, that would be...nice." She leaned towards Sesshoumaru without noticing. "Toshiyuki Tanaka," Kagome let the name roll off her tongue.

"Yes?"

"Your name sounds very familiar, I'm trying to remember from where..."

Toshi wasted no time in serving himself some food. "I am the founder of YukiNaka Security. We deal in security for homes, businesses, computers, whatever you need secured, we take care of it."

"No," Kagome shook her head. "That's not it. I know you or your name from something else. Toshiyuki, Toshiyuki," Kagome chanted, hoping to pull it out of the recesses of her mind. "Oh well. It will come to me one day."

"One day," the newest arrival agreed. "So, you say you're an old friend of Inuyasha's huh?"

This was by far the most fruit Kagome had eaten in one sitting in a very long time. She put her plate down in front of her. If it weren't for the company, she would have loosened up her pants a bit. "We used to travel together a long time ago. How did you know Inuyasha?"

Toshi took a bite of another strawberry. "I met him after Seiichi was born, several times throughout the years as mine and Sessh's paths began to cross more and more often through business."

"Oh, I was already gone by then."

"You're human. I'm not mistaken, am I?" Toshi looked to Sesshoumaru for confirmation, which he got.

"She is human but apparently the gods had designs for her and she ended up on a journey with my brother several hundred years ago. Did I not tell you about the shikon miko, the priestess who destroyed Naraku alongside my brother?"

"Don't pull my leg, Sess. That was over five hundred years ago." The smile left Toshi's face.

"Believe what you will. I have no reason to lie."

Toshi's eyes shot over to Kagome's blue ones. "You are the Shikon Miko? The great fabled one that beat that hanyou all those years ago?"

Kagome gave a sheepish smile.

Toshi was shocked. For years he had hounded Sesshoumaru for information on that particular battle but his friend honestly had no information at the time recently following Naraku's destruction. He wasn't to learn more about the strange woman until later as his relationship with Inuyasha's pack grew. "You said she was peculiar and wore strange clothing. Her speech was the same but different and her outlook on all she encountered could not have been cultivated there." Then to Kagome, Toshi asked "did you somehow travel through time?"

Kagome nodded. "I did but that way had been closed to me when my mission ended with Naraku's destruction. No matter what I tried, I couldn't get back."

"Wow."

"You're telling me."

The late morning turned into late afternoon and the servants changed the dishes on the table to accommodate everyone for an early dinner. Throughout the conversations, Kagome had learned much about the Tanaka's history with Sesshoumaru's family and vice versa. It proved to be very educational.

"And that brings us to our hand in the museum," Kichizo said. "Sesshoumaru footed the bill and I created the specialized needs for some of the demonic and holy powers that would be housed within the walls of the building. And then there are some items that we had to make replicas of because they were unsafe to keep in public reach, isn't that so, Sesshoumaru?"

Sesshoumaru settled a bored gaze on Kichizo Tanaka. "My swords have no business leaving the mansion. They would be too much a temptation for the weaklings of this world. I spare myself the trouble of tracking down a troublesome sword and the fool who would think to take it."

"Always the realist, eh Sess?" Toshi said.

Dinner was a light affair. Questions had been asked and answers shared as the Tanakas came to know the unsung hero of their past, Kagome, the shikon miko. Sesshoumaru sensed Kagome growing weary and told his guests as much and thanked them for coming. Tomorrow, Sesshoumaru would drive Kagome back into town and she would start another week.

"Maybe I can stop by the hospital while you're there and check up on the little guy," Kagome suggested as they retired to their rooms for the night.

A glow entered Sesshoumaru's eyes, warming his overall appearance. "We would enjoy your presence there. Your energy is very soothing."

Kagome smiled as she said goodnight to Sesshoumaru, now a friend and her link to the past. Things were finally starting to look up.

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Author's Note:

Well now, isn't that an interesting turn of events? Sorry it's taken me so long to get this out. Life happened I guess. This chapter is about twice as long as previous chapters so hopefully that will feed the readers for a while.

And yes, I'm still working on Alpha and Omega. I haven't forgotten that one.

Just to let you all know, my friend FairDrea has started another one of her fabulous stories called "The Way It Should Be." Here's the link to that story:

.net/s/4939388/1/The_Way_It_Should_Be

It's a Ninja Turtles fic, Donatello's story about traveling through time into the future. It's some of her best work yet. Give it a shot. You won't be disappointed.

Echo Huntress