AN: I'm so sorry this is late! I could not get this chapter to work out how I wanted it. I re-wrote it at least three times and rage quit a dozen more. Finally, I offered my muse hot chocolate and cookies and apparently it's happy now. As always, I don't own InuYasha, that's Rumiko Takahashi. I just own my story idea and any OC's!

He had known it wouldn't be long before the Miko called him. Her insatiable need to know the reason behind anything and everything was unlikely to be changed. Still, he was angry at himself. He shouldn't have tempted everything he had built by approaching them yesterday. If she had proven too fragile, he had no backup plan. Luckily, her phone call calmed him considerably; Kagome's quick wit was refreshing after its five hundred year lack.

In just a few hours, she would be here, in his home. While not the feudal palace he once lorded over, it still pleased him that she would see he lacked for nothing. It pleased his beast, also, to be able to show his chosen female that he could provide for her in her world. He had planned a simple but elegant dinner, served in his penthouse. It would be intimate - once his chef finished setting the meal, anyway. Kami knows he paid the man enough, even providing a specially designed apartment below his own that housed his chef and assistant, and offered a restaurant-sized kitchen with anything the man wished to outfit the kitchen with. Surveying his domain once more, he noted nothing out of place, everything was ready. Opting to kill some time, and to settle his nerves, he headed towards the gym. A long workout and shower later, Sesshomaru was seated in the backseat of his town car, heading towards the Miko's home. He had told her the car would pick her up, but not that he would greet her at the door.

"Sir, we're arriving," his driver advised, pulling up in front of a well kept shrine, set atop a high staircase. He exited the vehicle and opened the door, allowing Sesshomaru to exit before closing the door. "I will await your return."

Sesshomaru nodded and began to ascend the staircase. He recognized the shrine, having kept an eye on the area thanks to the Goshinboku located there. He had donated to the shrine over the years, determined that, in some small way, he would contribute to the family he would one day be indebted to. Crossing onto the neatly kept grounds, he felt the tingle of Kagome's reiki wash over his skin. He paused momentarily to gather himself; he had not expected THAT reaction and admonished his beast to control himself before continuing on to the door of the house and knocking.

The door opened to reveal an old man who immediately narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "Well? What do you want?"

"I am here to pick up Kagome," Sesshomaru began. He had forgotten the grandfather. InuYasha had told him of the old man's habit of useless sutra's and false demon artifacts.

"Kagome!" the old man yelled, having turned from the door. "Someone's here to see you!"

Aiko's form suddenly filled the doorway. "Grandpa, you ask a guest in, not yell across the house! Please, come in Taisho-san," she said, beckoning him to enter. "Kagome will be down shortly. Please, have a seat. Can I get you some tea?"

Appreciating the woman's nervousness, Sesshomaru nodded, moving to sit down in the well-kept kitchen. "Yes, thank you. I did not expect such a welcome into your home. I'm sure Kagome has told you of our past."

"She has, yes." Aiko returned. "But she has also told me of how you had changed, how you protected her and tried to teach InuYasha how to wield his sword to protect her when you were unable to. How you saved a little human girl and chose to raise her as your own, even though your own upbringing was not one a child should have." Aiko smiled softly at the young-looking man sitting at her kitchen table, noting the faintest of color dusting his face. "We've also discussed that the news you bring her may not be the happiest."

"You would be correct, Higurashi-san. She wishes to know, however, and I owe her too much to deny her knowledge of her family away from here. I will be mindful of her. If she seems too overcome, I will cease," Sesshomaru attempted to put her mind at ease, which appeared to be the correct course, as Aiko's stance relaxed noticeably as she set a cup of tea in front of him.

"Thank you, Sesshomaru-sama," Aiko said. "And please, call me Aiko. I trust you to protect her now, as you did then. InuYasha was a little too brash for me to not worry when she would return to the past. He had a good heart, but was also young. I worried less when she told me you and your group allied with hers."

"We had the same goal," Sesshomaru attempted to reason, sipping his tea. "It made sense. Over time, she became a mother to my ward. Something I have never adequately thanked her for."

"Thanked me for what?" Kagome's voice had a playful ring to it from behind him - so intent had he been in allaying her mothers fears that he had not heard her approach. Immediately standing and turning, his breath caught momentarily when his gaze lit on her. Her dark hair was half-up and carefully curled, framing her porcelain skinned face fetchingly, making her blue eyes stand out. She wore a crème-colored long-sleeved shirt with a scooped neckline that was a little more daring than he remembered her wearing before (even with that scandalous school uniform), with a pair of dark jeans and camel-colored half boots. Over one shoulder was a padded satchel that matched her boots.

"For taking care of my Rin," he recovered. "You gave her the motherly support she desperately needed, but would not get from mine."

Kagome smiled warmly at him. "Just as much as I cared for your Rin, you cared for my Shippo. You helped fix so many mistakes that he was learning from InuYasha, just in being a youkai, not to mention defending himself, so I think we're even."

Aiko's glance flitted from her daughter's face to Sesshomaru's. Despite his well-placed mask, she could see he couldn't quite hide his emotions entirely from his eyes. Well, this will be interesting, she thought. Maybe I will get those grandbabies with puppy ears after all!

"Perhaps so. Are you ready? Do you require more time?" While Sesshomaru was impatient, he was not willing to rush her goodbyes.

"No, no, I'm ready," she smiled at him again, turning to Aiko. "Momma, I don't know when I'll be home, alright? But I'll be with Sesshomaru, so you've nothing to worry about."

Laughing softly, Aiko nodded. "We'll be fine, Kagome. I trust you both. You have your medicine, just in case, right?"

"Yes, it's in my overnight bag," Kagome glanced at Sesshomaru. "I, uh…thought if it took a while to discuss, it might be better if I had a change of clothes and such. I hope that's ok?"

"It's fine," he assured her. "It is a wise course. You are correct that our discussion will involve many hours."

"Well, then, I'm ready. Oh! Would you mind writing down the address for Momma, Sesshomaru? I'll tell Grandpa I'm leaving," Kagome said, moving towards the living room.

Sesshomaru drew a paper from his pocket, having already written that information down for her mother, as well as the direct number to his penthouse and his buildings security passcodes, and handed it to Aiko. Taking the paper from him, she briefly read it and then stood to place it in a book near the phone.

"I appreciate the thoughtfulness you put in that," she said. "You prove my trust in you with every move, Sesshomaru. You're welcome here anytime."

Slightly taken aback, Sesshomaru bowed deeply to her. "The honor is mine, Aiko-sama. I will not allow your trust to be abused."

Teasingly, Aiko shook a finger at him, before lightly laughing. "See that you don't!"

Seeing where Kagome got her spunk firsthand was definitely refreshing. Sesshomaru believed now that most of her true personality came from her mother, tempered as she was by maturity and the sorrow of losing her husband and mother-in-law. Her mothering was definitely inspired by the woman before him.

Hearing Kagome's footfalls this time, he turned to take her coat from her, assisting her into it. She stepped across the kitchen, kissing her mother goodbye, while cheerily telling a "Buyo" to behave for her mother, slinging her satchel back over her shoulder. He assumed "Buyo" to be the fat feline creature that followed her from the living room that eyed him with heavy disgust. Well, he was a dog demon, after all, and you certainly can not expect to please everyone all the time.

Tucking a hand carefully at the small of her back, they exited the house. No new snow had fallen, but the temperatures were definitely brisk, risking the little snow melt to freezing ice. As they approached the street level, Kagome noticed an understated town car parked in front of the shrine, and suddenly a driver was opening a door. Pausing slightly to look at Sesshomaru, she moved when he gently nudged her to the open door.

"Thank you, Unten," Sesshomaru directed to the driver, as he followed Kagome into the backseat. "The penthouse, if you please."

"Very good, Taisho-sama," Unten replied, shutting the door and moving to his normal position, carefully easing the town car into traffic towards the residence of Taisho-sama.

Since entering the town car, Kagome had been oddly quiet. He could easily scent the nervousness coming off her, and while it slightly took away from her usual pleasant scent, it was not unbearable. He wondered how he should begin, even if he should attempt it in the town car, and opted to wait until they arrived. Luckily, the drive to his home did not take long, the hour of the day leaving very little traffic and the weather keeping most others at home.

"We're arriving, sir," Unten said, deftly pulling in front of Hana Tower. "Shall I return at an appointed hour?"

"No, thank you, Unten," Sesshomaru replied, looking at Kagome, who seemed to be gazing at the building in awe. "If I have a need for a driver, I will undertake the task myself."

"Understood, sir," was the reply, as Unten opened the door. "Enjoy your evening, sir, my lady."

Stepping out of the town car, Sesshomaru turned to offer his hand to Kagome, who took it as she elegantly stepped out of the car. Letting her hand drop to tuck his back at the small of her back, he moved towards the entrance, Hana Tower's doorman opened the door for them as they approached.

"Good afternoon, Taisho-sama. I hope your day has been well!" said the man, as they passed through the door.

"Tolerable, Akete, thank you," came the response.

"Excellent!" Akete bowed. "Enjoy your evening, sir!"

"Hnn," was the reply as Kagome and Sesshomaru moved to the elevator, his hand still tucked securely at her back. Once inside, he pressed the button for the top floor, entering a four-digit code immediately after. The car began to climb to its destination.

"Oh, wow, Taisho-sama," Kagome began, looking at him. "I knew you had done well for yourself, but I honestly didn't expect all this!"

His warm baritone laugh filled the elevator car, causing Kagome to blush a becoming pink. "Little Miko, from you, that is a high compliment!" The elevator suddenly halted, opening to a small foyer. "Come, the day is just beginning!" he said, opening the door.

Hesitating slightly, Kagome surveyed the door in front of her. Could she do this? Did she dare? Was she strong enough to handle the answers she had sought for so many years? Her hands clutched the satchels strap, as if to anchor herself to reality. She was tempted to pinch herself, still unable to believe what was happening. That she was about to learn everything she needed to know from Sesshomaru.

"Miko?" a pause. "Kagome, are you alright?"

Startled, she jerked her eyes to his. She…was not expecting that - he rarely ever used her name in the past. Staring into his face, she had expected his usual aloof stare, cold and distant. All she saw was golden amber, filled with warmth, understanding and…something she didn't quite recognize, but it made her heart twist oddly in her chest. She drew a deep breath and exhaled softly.

"Yes," she replied, smiling softly at him, trying to ease him as much as herself. "I'm alright."

And with those words, she took the few steps separating her from her past and crossed the threshold into Sesshomaru's private domain.