Chapter Twenty-One: Home

When morning came, everyone packed up the few things they got from the modern era and were ready to go. The goodbyes were harder than anyone expected. Kohaku and Sota had become good friends in those days and worried they wouldn't see each other again. Ms. Higurashi admitted to Sango that she felt like a second daughter and wanted her to come back if she could. Shippo and Rin both cried having to say goodbye to their new great grandpa. Grandpa handed them a big bag of candies and toys and told them to be good.

Grandpa and Ms. Higurashi ended up taking Sesshomaru to the side for a private conversation. From what the rest of the group could tell, it was a civil conversation, but it worried Kagome nonetheless. When the talk between them ended, Sesshomaru bowed to them both and returned to the rest with a pensive expression. He noticed everyone's worry and reassured them that nothing was wrong; there were a few things he was going to have to think about.

Finally returning to the Feudal Era, they got to the topside of the well and found Kikyo, Kaede, and Inuyasha sitting in silence, each of them distraught.

"Is everything okay?" Miroku asked.

"The village has fallen." Kaede replied sadly, an old toy firmly clenched in a trembling hand.

"Naraku attacked while we were gone." Inuyasha said, his eyes lowered to the floor. "Everyone is dead."

Obviously, the group believed the news they were given, but they had to see it for themselves. Kagome, Sango, Shippo, and Miroku rushed through the forest and back to the village and stopped as it came into view. Everyone looked on in horror. Bodies had fallen everywhere. Kagome ran over to one of them and turned them over. It was a young girl she had seen in the village many times. Though Kagome practically called this place her home, she never took the time to ask this little girl her name and that bothered her. People she saw every day, neighbors with families and children, just gone.

"How did this happen?" Kagome asked.

"Naraku must have sent his miasma through the village." Sesshomaru explained.

"You're right. None of them look injured. It doesn't even look like a battle occurred." Miroku added as he checked another body.

"This is a lot tamer than Naraku normally is. Are we sure it was him?" Sango asked.

"His scent is everywhere." Sesshomaru confirmed.

Soon, Inuyasha, Kikyo, and Kaede all made their way back to the village. Everyone began gathering the bodies together and lining them up next to each other. They tried to keep families they recognized close, using Kaede's knowledge of them to do so. It was silent. No one felt like talking. They all felt guilty. If they hadn't chosen to go to Kagome's time, this never would have happened. They would have been able to save the villagers.

When Kagome entered one of the huts, she was met with a sight that terrified her. It was one of the women from her village holding her baby, trying to shield what she could with her own body. Kagome recognized the woman and child since she was there to help deliver the baby. While Sango did most of it, she still helped bring that child into the world. They were like statues now, frozen in time. She couldn't help but tear up at the sight.

Sesshomaru saw Kagome standing still and walked over. He looked over her shoulder at what she was looking at and knew that had to be really upsetting for Kagome to see. He set a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him and wiped the tears from her eyes.

"Sorry. It's just…" Kagome sighed.

"Do not apologize. Just go rest." Sesshomaru guided her out of the hut and went back in to care for the bodies.

It took three hours to find everyone. Some people had fallen in the fields, near the river, on the road, and in their homes. Once everyone was found, it felt like all the energy they had was syphoned from their bodies. There was so much death around them right now and since it was people they knew, it only made things worse. Inuyasha counted up eighty-four graves to dig.

"It's gonna take a couple of days to get this done." Sango said.

"I hate to say it, but should we just bu-…" Miroku was cut off.

"NO." Kikyo shouted angrily and then lowered her head in shame. "Each one of them deserves a proper grave."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend." Miroku said.

"We'll deal with everyone properly, honoring everyone as they deserve." Sango put a hand on Miroku's shoulder and smiled at him.

"Naraku will pay for this." Miroku said sternly and Sango nodded in agreement.

"He will. We'll make sure of it." Sango leaned in and rested her head on Miroku's chest as he wrapped an arm around her waist.

The group stood around in silence, waiting to figure out their next move. A strange feeling came over Sesshomaru as he sensed a shift in the sword his Father left him. He looked down to Tenseiga, the sword glowing with white energy, and shaking as if it wanted out. Sesshomaru grabbed the swords hilt and looked around at the bodies of fallen humans. He could see hundreds of the little underworld demons around the bodies and the village itself. They were still guiding souls to their resting place. He turned around and saw more. Tenseiga shuddered again and he unsheathed the blade.

"Sesshomaru?" Kagome said, the group watched him curiously.

The demon lord took in a deep breath and readied the swing of the sword. The blade glowed brighter and brighter with every passing moment. With the grace of a masterful swordman, Sesshomaru swung Tenseiga in a full three-hundred-and-sixty-degree circle. The blade released energy outwards, the wind blowing as it washed over the land around them. The little demons that only Sesshomaru could see were all slain, sent back to the underworld.

"That was odd." Kikyo asked.

Sesshomaru looked over to the bodies nearby. It took a few seconds, but everyone who died began moving again. Sesshomaru sighed in relief. He hadn't ever used that ability before and wasn't sure whether it would work. Tenseiga was meant to be the opposite of Tetsusaiga by reviving a hundred people with one sweep. On his first try, he succeeded in bringing them back.

Kaede, whose heart was breaking by the minute, suddenly had a burst of pure joy wash over her as she watched men, women, and children she thought lost forever rise again. The group began helping people back up, explaining to them that they had all died.

"If we died, then… how?" One of the village men asked.

"Lord Sesshomaru brought you back." Kikyo told them all and motioned toward the demon lord. "He used his power to give everyone a second chance."

"Thank you so much." A mountain's worth of gratitude was being thrown Sesshomaru's direction. First the children ran over to him and gave hugs that he did not feel comfortable returning or even accepting. He began backing up as more came his direction to shake hands and offer their gratitude. With apprehension in his eyes, he glanced toward Kagome, as if asking her for help. He kept backing away from them, but they continued to approach.

"Excuse me, everyone!" Kagome called out loudly in order to be heard over their many thanks and caught their attention. "While Lord Sesshomaru is glad you're all okay, a simple bow and thank you is all that he needs. Please, do not crowd him or make him feel uncomfortable among us."

They all took Kagome's advice and respected Sesshomaru's personal space. They offered their thanks through bowing and left the man alone.

"Thank you." Sesshomaru said to Kagome.

"You're welcome." Kagome said and chuckled. "You looked terrified. I couldn't just let that happen."

"I know it's only the afternoon, but after all of that… I think I need some rest." Kikyo told the group and then realized how large their group now was. "We're not all going to be able to fit in one hut anymore. We should start work on building everyone their own home here. I think an expecting mother deserves her own house."

"You think so?" Kagome said, placing her hands on her belly and smiling. "To be honest, I think your hut could use an upgrade too."

"I was thinking the same thing. I saw a lot of smart changes in the architecture in your time." Kikyo said as she looked at the huts around them.

"We could use some of those ideas to make life more comfortable for everyone here." Sango added.

"For now, let's just make sure everyone is okay and get some rest." Kagome suggested and the group agreed.

Even though Naraku attacked the village, the stress levels around the group decreased. They all chose to take time to rebuild. They weren't just rebuilding the village, though that is a big part of it, but they were rebuilding their relationships and trust with each other. With so many changes and additions to the group dynamic, there were desires to get to know each other. The main two were Kagome and Kikyo. The two of them used to always be at odds and that changed very quickly. They chose to interact over a lot of the days to talk, cook dinner together, and were learning how to be friends.

Kohaku and Sango had some making up to do as well. While Sango did not blame her brother for anything, Kohaku was heartbroken by his memories. The boy needed time to accept that he had been brainwashed and used for years. With the support and love from those around him, Kohaku was learning to smile and heal as time went on. Rin and Shippo were becoming close and were always playing together, with Kohaku, or with the children of the village. Shippo even taught Rin how to swim, something Kagome taught him. Sango merely enjoyed having her brother back in her life.

Inuyasha, Miroku, and Sesshomaru all found themselves put to work. While Miroku got tired of it, Inuyasha and Sesshomaru were in an unspoken competition about who would help the villagers more. They chopped down trees and sawed logs. They did the heavy lifting and built up new and improved buildings all around the village. Once new homes were put up, older homes were taken down, parts of them salvaged if they could be. Inuyasha didn't want to be outdone by his brother, but their competition was a friendly one. Sesshomaru thought it entertaining to see Inuyasha work hard in order to pass him by. The harder his brother and the others worked, the more Sesshomaru decided to work as well. Not once did he even break a sweat.

The days turned into weeks and the weeks turned into months. The village came together perfectly. With the help of two strong demons, it was an easy and swift task to build the place up to something new and improved. Using ideas from Kagome's time, they were able to make things so much more comfortable for everyone. People now had bedrooms with sliding doors. Beds were built up on frames to prevent bugs and other critters from slithering into bed with unsuspecting people. They even added storage closets for seasonal items, like thicker clothing and blankets in the winter. Due to the lack of technology, there was obviously a lot they couldn't do, such as glass windows, but the villagers were grateful for the upgrades that were made.

In the end, everyone ended up with their own place to stay. Kikyo and Inuyasha built their own house, the equivalent to a two-bedroom, and put it about twenty feet from Kaede's hut. Kagome and Sesshomaru did the same, but intentionally built far enough away from everyone else that they wouldn't be bothered. They ended up with a two-bedroom house as well, but intentionally built it so they could extend when they needed to. Once the baby was born, they would need to. Sango and Miroku did the same thing, but wanted their home in the middle of the village.

[Six Months since the incident]

There long and well-deserved vacation was coming to an end. It wasn't due to their choices, however, but when a pack of approaching demons woke the village up, everyone was on the move. They all rushed to the south of the village, where the demons were spotted. As they approached, Sesshomaru calmed everyone down. Inuyasha realized a moment later what was actually going on.

"It's just Koga's pack." Inuyasha said.

The group went out to meet Koga near one of the farms. He had his entire clan with him.

"Koga, what are you all doing here?" Kagome called out to him.

"We were chased out of our land." Koga said angrily as he stepped up to the group. "A pack of bat demons swooped in and began carrying us off one by one, just like those damn Birds of Paradise. There were to many and without my jewel shards, we couldn't put up a fight. We lost half the clan!"

"Oh, no." Kagome replied sadly.

"Is everyone here alright? Any injured?" Kikyo asked.

"We have a few that could use some help, but we're mostly starving. We haven't eaten in days." Koga said and then looked to Kagome. "Please, you shared some of those strange chips before. Is there any way you could help us out with some of that?"

"Koga, those are a very special thing, but we will provide you with some meals." Kagome said and turned around to see that some villagers were also there listening. "Alright. Koga and his clan need help. We are going to provide medical attention and food for them. If anyone is willing, we could use some volunteers to cook up things like rice and meat." Kagome turned to Sesshomaru and Inuyasha then. "Could you guys maybe hunt up some boar or deer?"

"Of course." Inuyasha nodded and looked to his brother. The two ran off instantly, their brotherly competition quickly taking hold.

"Sango, we should get started on the cooking." Kagome said and the three of them were off.

"Koga, you guys rest. We'll bring food as soon as we can." Kagome waved back at them as she hurried back to her own home.

The women all separated, planning to cook their own stuff in their own homes. Kikyo was the first to return with a basket of fruit and a bag of medical supplies. It didn't take too long for the cooks to throw something together. Kagome brought rice and grilled meat. Sango brought a large pot of stew with carrots and potatoes in it. Once everyone was medically attended to, they all began passing out food with bowls that Kagome brought from her time. She made it a habit to return for things like cups, bowls, pots, and pans. She just made sure only her friends used them. She had a minor fear of what would happen if people from the feudal era got a hold of modern-day equipment. She could only mess up the timeline so much, right?

Koga and his clan were taken good care of and fed just as well. They were all thankful to Kagome and her friends. There were villagers that helped with providing them food and drink, but the fear of strange demons did keep them at bay. After giving them time to rest, Kagome spoke up.

"So, what exactly happened, Koga?" Kagome asked him.

"It's as I said, a big group of bat demons came down and slaughtered many of us." Koga explained, his expression angered as he thought back on losing his clansman like he had with Naraku. "I couldn't do anything besides get these guys out. We lost so many men…"

"Ayame wasn't with you, was she?" Kagome asked in concern.

"She was, but she went with a different group." Koga said, his head lowering. "I hope she's okay."

"I'm sure she's safe." Kagome reassured him.

"Lord Sesshomaru." Koga suddenly got serious. "Where is he?"

"He's off hunting with Inuyasha. Why?" Kagome asked.

"I am going to hold him to our deal." Koga crossed his arms. "He owes me one for the jewel shards I gave him to save the girl. Did he get her back?"

"Yes, he did. She's somewhere around here." Kagome looked around, but couldn't see Rin.

"She went to visit Jaken." Sango said sadly.

"O-Oh. Again?" Kagome asked and then sighed.

"Jaken? The loud little imp?" Koga asked and Kagome nodded. "Where's he at? Doesn't he usually follow Sesshomaru?"

"Jaken was killed a few months ago in an attack led by Naraku." Kagome explained and Koga just stayed silent. "We were all gone. We left him behind and from what we could tell, he tried to protect everyone as Naraku's miasma blew over the village. Unfortunately, he couldn't and his life was taken."

"In fact, everyone's life was taken that day." Kikyo added. "But Lord Sesshomaru gave them all a second chance."

"What? What does that mean?" Koga asked.

"Sesshomaru has the power to bring the recently departed back to life, but he can only do it once." Sango explained. "Apparently, Jaken had been killed before, by the evil swordsmith that forged Tōkijin. Since he brought him back to life then, once he was slain again, he was gone."

"And now Rin visits his grave every now and then to tell him everything that has been happening." Kagome explained.

"Poor kid." Koga sighed. "I'm sorry for your loss."

"Thank you, Koga." Kagome smiled at him.

Soon, Inuyasha and Sesshomaru made it back to the village with two boars, a deer, and about thirty fish. They dropped their catch near one of the village houses and began comparing. Inuyasha caught the two boar and Sesshomaru caught the deer and fish. The deer was much larger than the boar, so once again, Sesshomaru won the hunting competition. However, he did admit that Inuyasha would have won if his deer hadn't been as large as it was.

"Hey, Sesshomaru." Koga stood up and called out to the dog demon. "I need your help. You owe me one, remember?"

"Koga! He's probably more than willing to help you!" Kagome scolded the wolf by flicking him on the ear. "Be polite."

"Right, sorry." Koga said, rubbing the place she flicked.

"What is it you need help with?" Sesshomaru asked as he came over.

"I'd like some help ridding my mountain range of those bat demons." Koga explained, obviously desperate. "My clans have called those mountains home for generations. I can't just abandon it. The only reason we fled was because they outnumbered us ten to one. If you can help me reclaim the mountains as my home, I'll consider your debt paid in full and you can consider the Wolf Demon Tribe a permanent ally."

"Hm." Sesshomaru was quickly intrigued by the idea of an ally like the Wolf Demon Tribe. "Is this something your clan agrees with?"

"I'm their leader. They'll listen." Koga said, crossing his arms.

"One leader to another, it may be best to discuss these terms with them first." Sesshomaru suggested politely. "While right now you're angry and more desperate than you're used to being, a year from now you may think differently about allying yourself with the Western Lands. I will honor our agreement by aiding you, but only if your clan has decided these terms are acceptable as a whole. You won't be around forever and betrayal will not be tolerated from future leaders of your clan. Do you understand what I am getting at, Koga?"

"Yeah. I get it." Koga nodded and walked back to his resting friends. "Hey guys, listen up."

Koga went on a spiel about their traditions, homeland, and honor. He explained the previous deal with Sesshomaru and the terms he wanted to set now. At first, a lot of the Wolf Demons were hesitant on being allied with the Western Lands, but when two easily recognized loud mouths spoke up in favor of allying with Sesshomaru, people were more easily swayed. Ginta and Hakkaku spoke highly of Sesshomaru and even higher of Koga's judgement. He had protected them for years and it would be insane not to trust him and anyone he considers trustworthy. The clan came to an agreement.

"Alright, good." Koga smirked, nodded and turned back to Sesshomaru with a thumbs up. "Can we leave in the morning?"

"No." Sesshomaru disagreed immediately. "Many of your men are injured. Let's let them rest for a few days. Once they're healthy and have eaten enough, we'll head out. The mountains won't go anywhere, but if we move too quickly, more of you will perish and we'd prefer that not happen."

"What are we supposed to do until then?" Koga asked and looked around at the wary villagers. "I don't think we can stay here."

"They're a little frightened now, but as long as you don't hurt anyone, they'll treat you like you belong here." Kagome explained and then went to go talk to the villagers about them staying. Even if they didn't trust the wolf demons, with a little talk from Kagome, they'd accept their presence.

"You can stay." Sesshomaru said. "We have a few open huts because the village was recently built up. Your men can rest there."

"Thank you, Lord Sesshomaru." Koga bowed politely.

The wolf demons were shown to the open huts they'd be staying in. There was enough room for all of them. It was just luck that all of the old huts weren't torn down. Most of them had been to salvage wood and other materials for the new buildings. For the most part, the wolves just rested. They left everyone alone and kept to themselves, only coming out if asked or needing a little air. Even then, they stayed close to their shelters.

When the night came, everyone was settled in at home. Kagome was cleaning up after dinner while the kids were using their new crayons. Sesshomaru was sitting quietly, leaning against the wall, thinking to himself. As Kagome got done cleaning, she walked over and sat next to the children.

"I feel bad for Koga." Kagome said as she laid down and stared and the ceiling.

"Losing one's home can be devastating." Sesshomaru said with a tone that caught Kagome's attention.

"Yeah. I'm glad you're going to help them get it back." Kagome said, almost proud of him.

"If this is how he wishes for me to hold my end of the deal, it will be done." Sesshomaru said with a curt nod.

"Daddy, do you miss home sometimes?" Rin looked up from her drawing and asked.

Sesshomaru looked to Rin and saw a sadness in her eyes. She missed home. There, she had her own room and bed, so it wasn't surprising that she'd miss it a little. She also had a nice bath area, a large dinner table, and a garden to play in.

"Yes, I do. Sometimes." Sesshomaru closed his eyes and laid his head back against the wall.

"What do you miss most about it?" Kagome asked.

"My bed, my study, the training area…" Sesshomaru said, eyes still closed as he thought back. "My mother cut a notch in the wood of my bedroom wall for every time the day of my birth went by. It was her way of keeping track of my growth. My Father built a large stone garden with his own hands and planted a large apple tree inside it. Even with Naraku's attack, that tree was still growing when we left."

"I miss home." Rin said sadly. "Koga lost his home too, right?"

"Yeah, he did, but Sesshomaru's gonna get it back for him." Shippo said excitedly.

"Hey, you two. It's time for bed." Kagome said. They whined at first, but a fatherly glare from Sesshomaru sent them right off to get ready for bed. Kagome looked over to Sesshomaru and tilted her head curiously. "You can't call this place home, can you?"

"What do you mean?" Sesshomaru asked, an eyebrow raised.

"It's the place where you live, but it's not your home." Kagome explained. "You miss the castle, don't you?"

"I do and more than I thought I would." Sesshomaru sighed.

"Would you like to go back?" Kagome asked.

"I can't leave when you're here." Sesshomaru said.

"I didn't say I'd be staying." Kagome smiled and Sesshomaru blinked in surprise at her. "Why don't we figure out a way to reclaim your home once Naraku has been dealt with and everything else is settled? I love this village, but it's not home and I'm sure Shippo wouldn't mind living in a castle. We can rebuild it like you remember, maybe add a few upgrades here or there to make things a bit more comfortable for me, but I promise it won't be much."

"You're doing it again." Sesshomaru reprimanded her.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Kagome replied.

"You're acting like this is a forever situation. Have you given up on removing the mark?" Sesshomaru asked.

"Oh, I… Uh…" Kagome looked off and thought for a moment. "I don't know. We stopped looking for a few months now, so I figured that you either gave up or accepted things the way they are. And… Well, I… Never mind."

"What is it?" Sesshomaru asked, but Kagome shook her head and stood up. "Kagome, what?"

"Nothing…" Kagome walked over to her bedroom door and then looked over her shoulder at him. "I guess you were starting to feel like home."