A/N: Alright I have had most of this typed up for a while, but with the help of my betas trying to put the finishing touches on it, I hope you all enjoy and are prepared!

Kagome-Chan753

Chapter 9

"Kikyo, are you sure you want to sell your house. I mean I understand why, but it was also the house that you picked out and wanted to start a family in." Rin said as she pushed the shirts on the clearance rack aside as she looked through them, making funny faces to the ones that made no sense at all. Kikyo looked at her face and gave a small laugh and shook her head. It was a light laugh, for the past few days she had started getting a little better. Kagome had taken her into her home, where she helped watch Kisa, which she absolutely loved doing. She also would talk with Rin on the phone or even go hang out with her during the day; she was using her vacation time at work. She had called and told them she needed some time and under the circumstances they understood.

"I just can't even picture a family there. Plus it just brings back nightmares of the life I had with Naraku. I still don't fully understand how subjected I came with the whole thing. I should have told Sesshomaru about the beatings when he asked me, maybe I wouldn't be in this situation." She said solemnly. Rin noticed the change in her voice and looked up at her, she saw the tears brim her eyes. She quickly reach down for what she would assume is a shirt and held it up.

It was a crisscross shirt (the ones you get lost in…lol) she held it by the one side and looked through one of the hole at Kikyo getting her attention, "Do you think this is a shirt or a tent of some sort?" She said trying to hold back her giggle, Kikyo let out a laugh. "Really though! I can't find where the pole goes and I think there bathroom is right her," She said sticking her hand through what looked to be an arm hole. Kikyo was laughing hard now and Rin started in, and then they noticed a lady with a name tag on and vest cough at them. They both immediately stopped laughing and Rin hung up the shirt and they walked over to the dresses section laughing the whole way there.

Kagome was finishing up dinner when Kikyo and Rin came walking into the house laughing, Kagome turned around and smile.

"Well you two clearly had a good time?" She asked while she set plates on the table, Rin smiled at her, "We did, but can we talk about how good it smells in here! Kagome what did you make?!" Kikyo nodded, "It does smell wonderful, and I didn't know how hungry I was." Kagome laughed. "I made oden, I thought it would be enough for everyone. Plus it is Kisa's favorite." "Oh I love oden!" Rin said running over to the stove to sneak a peek. Kagome shook her head.

Then there were small steps heard coming from the stairs, "Aunt Kikyo! What did you get me at the store! What did you get me!?" She said jumping up and down in front of her, Kagome's eyes grew wide at her daughter. "Kisa! You don't need something every time someone goes somewhere!" She said, just as she did Sesshomaru walked in.

"Now now Kagome I normally would agree but, I myself brought something for the little one." Kisa squealed and ran over to Sesshomaru and threw her arms in the air, asking for him to lift her up. He smiled and put his bag down at the door and picked her up and then tossed her in the air, causing her to erupt with giggles. Kagome shook her head, and looked over at Rin, "When you have that baby you will understand." She said with a laugh, Rin shook her head. "Oh please Kagome, we love to spoil our niece."

Sesshomaru put Kisa down and reached into his briefcase and took out a few coloring books and a pack of colored pencils. Kisa had a huge smile plastered to her face, "Come on Kikyo let's go color before dinner!" She said grabbing her hand and dragging her into the living room. Rin walked over to Sesshomaru and kissed him on the check, he hugged his wife.

"So your mother tells me that Kouta, Kyo, and Shiouri's are hers to watch tonight." Kagome asked looking at Sesshomaru, Rin looked up at him and then over to Kagome. "Is that why they aren't here? Is Sango going somewhere?" Kagome nodded, "Mhmm, Miroku got the night off a few days ago so they are having a date night. I told her the boys could come here but your mother fought me for them." She said with a giggle looking at Sesshomaru, "I mean metaphorically of course!" She then said laughing harder.

Sesshomaru rolled her eyes at her comment and shook his head, "Speaking of my family, where is my little brother? I heard he was invited?" Kagome was still setting the table with wine glasses and shook her head. "I don't know, I was nice and invited him. Last time we tried to have a civil gathering together he has slept through most of it. So I am unsure."

Inuyasha sat on his bike outside Kagome's duplex apartment building and watched as Sesshomaru walked up to the door and just walked in. He knew he was late already, he looked down at his watch and it was 7:20 pm he sighed and set his helmet on the back seat of the bike. Reached into his backpack and grabbed out the bottle of wine he bought, he thought it was a nice touch to bring. He left his back pack on the bike and started up to the door.

As he got to the door he heard Kagome finish her sentence. "Last time we tried to have a civil gathering together he had slept through most of it. So I am unsure." He walked into the house because the door wasn't fully close, "Which is why I brought wine to make up for that." Everyone turned and looked over to him, Rin smiled and went to hug him. "So glad you could come Inuyasha!" He hesitated at the touch and then hugged back.

Kagome walked over to him and gave a small smile, "Yes glad you could make it, and I can take that and put it in the cooler to chill before dinner." He handed her the wine and she looked down at the label, looked back at Inuyasha and said. "When did you find this? I can't get it anywhere?" "There is a small liquor store downtown that carries it. I know it is your favorite." Kagome looked at him for a long moment, while everyone stood there. "Ahem" Sesshomaru cleared his throat which snapped Kagome out of her zone. "D-dinner will be ready in about 10 minutes. Do you guys want something to drink?" Rin looked at Inuyasha and then over to Kagome and gave a small giggle, she grabbed Kagome's hand and took her into the kitchen. "Sesshy I'll grab you guys a beer, why don't you go join Kikyo and Kisa in the living room while I help Kagome finish up." Sesshomaru nodded and headed that way, with Inuyasha following suite.

"So what was that about?" Rin asked as she grabbed two bottles of beer from the fridge, Kagome put the wine in the wine cooler near the fridge and looked at her. "I haven't had this wine since Inuyasha and I were together. It's my favorite, but I couldn't find it anywhere after they closed that corner store on Main Street." Rin stood up and gave a big smile, "Well that was very sweet of him." Kagome raised an eyebrow, "Rin it is a bottle of wine, not an engagement ring, calm down." Rin backed up, "I didn't say anything." She was quiet for a moment, "What's that honey, I'll be there in a second." She called and walked out the kitchen, Kagome shook her head, "He didn't even call you," she said to herself as she checked to food.

"Inu-yaaasha you wanna see my room?" Kisa said jumping up and down in front of him as he sat on the couch, Rin just walked into the living room and went to hand him the beer. He took it and set it on the table next to him and got up, "Sure thing munchkin, lead the way." Kisa lit up and grabbed his hand and lead him to the stairs.

"That is an interesting sight huh?" Kikyo spoke up as she got up from the floor where she was coloring with Kisa. Rin looked at her and smiled, "It is very sweet. She is such a sweet girl. Kids always see the best in everyone no matter what." She said as she sat down next to Sesshomaru, who then placed a hand on her thigh. "You know Sango said something about him seeming very bothered lately. You should have heard what she walked into the other day at his house." Rin said drinking her water, Kikyo shook her head, "She didn't tell me and we just spoke yesterday. Is there something wrong with him?" She asked taking the seat on the loveseat adjacent to the couch where Sesshomaru and Rin sat.

"PTSD" Sesshomaru said quietly. Both girls were quiet and looked at him, Rin looked up with sad eyes. "Who has PTSD?" Kagome said coming into the room holding a glass of wine, they all looked over to her. "Oh we were just talking about In-" Kikyo started to say before Rin interjected, "Institutions." Kagome looked at Rin funny, then Rin finished. "The new institution they are building downtown. They specialize with PTSD." Kagome nodded and sat down, "I heard that won't be open for a while though," she added and Sesshomaru nodded. "Not for a few years." Rin sighed in relief and looked at Kikyo with warning eyes.

As the night went on and the dinner was over, the adults chatted while Kisa interjected every now and then. "Mommy, Inuyasha said that you guys went to school together when you were little." Kagome took another sip of wine and smiled, "That's right baby." "And he said I look just like you. He said I was pretty momma, like a princess." Everyone gave a laugh. Kikyo who was sitting next to Kisa leaned over, "That's because you are, and your momma over there is the queen." Kisa giggled with glee, "Mommy we need a carriage! And we need a King!" She said happily, Kagome slightly choked as she took a drink. Everyone stared at her, Inuyasha looked up and without thinking said, "Yeah Kagome what happened to the previous King?"

Sesshomaru shot daggers at Inuyasha, which he ignored. "E-Excuse me?" Kagome said as she set her glass down, giving Inuyasha a look warning him to back down. "I asked you what happened to Kisa's dad. I don't think I stuttered." Kikyo looked from Inuyasha to Kagome and looked at Kisa. "Sweetie I think it is time for your bath. You can tell me what your first official plans are as princess." She said grabbing Kisa from the chair and taking her hand to lead her upstairs. Rin took it upon herself to clear the table and start cleaning the kitchen, while Sesshomaru sat there staring at his brother. Wondering if the knife near Kagome needed to be taken as Kagome made a fist, starting to get angry.

"I don't see how that's any of your concern Inuyasha." She said sternly, He gave a small laugh, "Just asking a question Kagome. I find it odd that you have a 4 year old daughter and no man to be found." He sweeps his arms out and makes a show of looking around the room. "Inuyasha." Sesshomaru said in warning and was again ignored. "Are you implying I couldn't take care of my child alone?" Kagome asked getting fumed, clearly a few too many glasses of wine.

"I am implying the time frame. What did you just drink too much one night and meet some random guy and - " There was a loud thud, making Kagome flinch and Rin intake a breath, she turned around to see that Sesshomaru had slammed his fists on the table. Inuyasha reacted to the noise as well, thrown back in a memory of his past life of violence; the noise familiar to that of bombings. "You need to stop Inuyasha." Sesshomaru said in a low voice, Inuyasha stood up and turned on his brother with an intense glare on his face, Sesshomaru stood up as well.

"No" Kagome said also standing up now, "Sesshomaru let him finish; he has all the answers right?" She said walking over to Inuyasha and grabbing his shoulder turning him around. Inuyasha looked down at her as she continued, "You think I went to some random club or something, got drunk, and slept with some guy and got knocked up right?!" At the sound of her voice, slightly cracking with hurt, Inuyasha came back to reality and his anger toward Sesshomaru simmered a bit. "Kagome." He said in a low tone, Kagome put up her hand to stop him from continuing.

Meanwhile, in the hall way to the kitchen Kisa was standing there watching the scene unfold holding her stuff dog, Kikyo slowly came down the stairs to grab her as Kagome continued, "But it would make sense huh?!" Her voice now raising, "You left me and I was heartbroken. So to drown the pain, I pushed my feeling onto someone else and just happened to get pregnant!" She finished yelling, he stared at her for a moment not saying anything, but with the raise in her tone he was consumed with the anger again and lost control of his emotions. "So it is trued then!" Kagome let out a sarcastic laugh moving closer to him now in his face; Inuyasha's hands tightened into fists. Sesshomaru noticed the change in his statue, "I don't think you want to continue this conversation little brother." He said in a stern voice.

Inuyasha turned around roughly, staggering a bit from the alcohol. "And I think you need to back off!" He said with a small shove towards Sesshomaru. "This is not about you, you never slept with Kagome. Or is that why you are protecting her?!" Sesshomaru's glared intensified, he grabbed Inuyasha shirt and threw him against the wall and pinned him with his forearm against his throat. "I am protecting her from you and your stupidity." He said almost in a growl, Inuyasha's eyes glazed over with anger, he grabbed Sesshomaru's free arm and threw all his weight into him and twisted his arm hard behind him throwing Sesshomaru to the ground with a grunt.

Rin had gasped and started to make her way towards the men, Kagome grabbed her, "Rin, don't." Kagome watched in silence and let a few tears fall. Just then Kisa walked in and past Kagome, before she could grab her she was near Inuyasha's face.

"Inuyasha." She said in her small voice and looked at him with concern, he broke his trance and realized what he was doing and slowly released Sesshomaru. He looked around the room and saw the scared faces of Kagome and Rin and then looked back down at Kisa. She was looking at him with worry on her face, it broke his heart; before anything else could be said he was out the door. The revving of his motorcycle engine could be heard before it slowly faded away.

Sesshomaru got up from the floor and Rin ran over to him, "Are you okay?" He looked down and her and nodded, Kagome was just standing there trying to process everything that had just happened. "Kisa come on we need to get you into bed." Kikyo said from behind Kagome, Kisa nodded and went with her aunt. After Kikyo and Kisa left, Rin turned to look at Kagome, "Are you okay Kagome?" Kagome looked at Rin and then Sesshomaru and let a few more tears fall, she slowly shook her head. "Wh-what happened to him?" She said so quiet it was almost not audible. Sesshomaru moved around Rin and walked up to Kagome and hugged her while whispering in her ear. "He needs you. You know he didn't mean any of those things." She nodded, as he pulled away. "We are going to leave, will you be okay." She nodded, Rin came over and hugged her as well; with that they both left.

She gave a long sigh and walked upstairs to Kisa's room. She slowly opened the door and Kisa was lying in bed playing with her stuffed dog Kara. Kagome smiled and walked over and squeezed in the bed next to her and ran her fingers through Kisa's black hair.

"Momma why was everyone yelling?"

Kagome sighed and pulled Kisa closer to her, "Sometimes adults get loud when we talk and sometimes we say things at the wrong times. Inuyasha and I just have some disagreements, that's all." Kisa pulled away from her mom. "Well you two will just have to say sorry and make up."

"Baby it isn't that simple; and it is well past your bedtime. So no more questions. Time for lights out." She said as she slowly got up and tucked the covers around Kisa. She bent down and kissed her forehead, "Sweet dreams my love." "Night momma. I love you!" Kagome smiled, "I love you too." She said as she walked towards the bedroom door and turned off the light, closing the door behind her as she left.

Kagome was laying in her bed thinking about the argument with Inuyasha. "What happened to you Inuyasha? That anger and pained look is not you." She thought to herself when there was a knock at her door.

She sat up in bed as Kikyo walked in, her hair was in a ponytail and she was wearing a t-shirt and shorts. "I hope I'm not bothering you; I just wanted to make sure you were okay from earlier." Kagome gave a small smile, and pulled the blankets back on her bed and motioned Kikyo to come sit. Once Kikyo sat down next to her Kagome said, "I'm fine. I think the alcohol was a bit much for some of us. Me being one of them. How are you, I'm sure that wasn't what you needed to hear or see not after – "Kikyo grabbed her hand, "It's fine. It is hard though." She was quiet for a minute before she started to continue, "It just brings a lot back. The banging and the yelling. Maybe it was a good thing though." Kagome looked over to her with a surprised look on her face.

"I mean it makes me realize where my life was. I need to move past it." Kagome looked over at her cousin and pulled her into a hug, "I can't imagine what you went through or even what you are going through now. I put this dinner together for you, and majorly failed and for that I am sorry. But things will get better, I know they will Kiki." She finished with calling Kikyo her old kid nickname.

Kikyo smiled and pulled away, "Thanks Kaggie. As long as you are okay though, I am gonna head to bed and try and get some sleep." Kagome nodded as Kikyo got off the bed and headed towards the door, "Night Kaggie." Kagome laughed, "Night Kiki"

A/N: Alright I tried to tie that up best I could. As you can see things are getting heated and interesting in the group. Sometime you just want to smack Inuyasha for being dumb though! Please leave a review or a comment on what you thought! I always love to hear from you guys!

Much Love,
Kagome-Chan753