Co-written with NeutronStarChild

We wanted to provide an alternate ending for the story, we hope you all enjoy it!


Chapter 21: Toward (a Better) Tomorrow

"Congratulations, Higurashi-san, on Kagome's graduation.
Yes, it has been a long road, hasn't it.
Yes.
Yes, he was waiting for her on the other side.
The well does not reopen Higurashi-san.
Stranger things have happened, Higurashi-san.
Thank you for letting me know.
Yes, I am aware you have an event at the shrine today, my family has been looking forward to it.
I understand, and I will ensure you are given private time without any interference.
Thank you Higurashi-san."

Sesshomaru lowered his phone with a sigh. His eyes drifted out the window as he thought back over the last four years as the scenery flew past the car.

The ring of his phone pulled him from his thoughts, and a faint smile ghosted over his face as he saw the number. The smile turned into a pained grimace the moment the person on the other line began to speak.

"Impatient as always.
Yes, I do know what day it is, I am quite aware thank you.
Yes, I did speak with them, everything was fine.
You know why it was necessary.
I will be there soon."

The car drew to a stop outside a private air strip with a single plane on the tarmac, its two passengers standing beside it waiting for their luggage. Sesshomaru stepped out of the back of the car, watching the pair as they took their bags and made their way toward the car.

"I still don't get why we had to move away for five years." The male passenger grumbled, silver ears twitching at the noises around him.

"Inuyasha, we've been over this. We couldn't risk doing anything that could futz with the timeline." The small dark haired woman next to him reminded him, her hand reaching out to rest on his wrist.

"Like we would have messed anything up." Inuyasha responded with a huff, capturing his wife's hand as they walked towards his brother, their mate tattoos in the shape of the Kotodama visible on the inside of both of their wrists.

"Are you saying you wouldn't have tried to beat some sense into your past self about your tendency to leave Kagome for Kikyo?" Sesshomaru interjected, an eyebrow raising as he stared down his brother. He certainly had thought about beating some sense into Inuyasha's younger self…

"Keh," Inuyasha scoffed, but his ears lowering against his head gave him away. He pulled Kagome closer to him, which made her giggle and Sesshomaru roll his eyes.

At least 500 years had been long enough for Inuyasha to develop some iota of sense.

"Everything is arranged, is anyone else joining us today at the reunion?" Sesshomaru asked as the driver loaded the luggage into the trunk of the car.

"Only Shippo and Koga, the children will join us another day. We don't want to spring too much on my family at once." Kagome replied as she slid into the back of the car, waiting for Inuyasha to join her. "They will be shocked enough to see us." Kagome then looked tentatively at Sesshomaru, "How… how were we?"

"One of you was quite straightforward," Sesshomaru said, then shot a look at Inuyasha. "The other?"

"You know, the only bad thing about being home is having to see you everyday again, asshole." Inuyasha glared at his brother as he slid into the car beside his wife.

Sesshomaru lowered himself into the car and pulled out his phone.

"Hello Higurashi-san?
Are you and Mrs. Higurashi both at the shrine?
I ask because I have a delivery for you, Mrs. Higurashi and Souta-san.
Someone was quite insistent that you receive it at the right time."

A smile teased the edge of his lips.

"I will see you soon then Higurashi-san."

Sesshomaru smiled, his eyes turning to look at his brother and sister-in-law in the mirror. It was the last call he would have to make as part of this journey.