A/N: Getting closer to the end. :D
I enjoyed this chapter, a lot.
Enjoy~
The Other Side
Chapter 42
A Week's Worth
Day 1
In the morning, she wandered around the house to get a feel to it, especially if she was going to be staying here for the next two weeks. She eventually found what she was looking for; the kitchen.
She started to cook breakfast; if there was only thing that she didn't want to be, it was being a burden. As she cooked all different kinds of food, she heard and ignored the footsteps that walked into the kitchen. "Oh god, never leave," came Inuyasha's voice as she whirled around, startled. She gave him a questioning look. "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Other you can't cook to save her life when she's pregnant, which is sad cause I always look forward to your cooking."
Kagome laughed out loud at that statement as Inuyasha grinned. She handed him a plate and a fork as he piled what he could see around him. Inuyasha dug into the food with multiple moans of pleasure. "Good morning," she mumbled as she went back to cooking up some french toast.
"Morning!" he chirped happily. "So, since you have no ties to this Sesshomaru, here—since you know you don't the ability to shut him up at a single touch—I think that this is a perfect chance for the two of us to get to know one another. Sesshomaru never allows other you near other males so I'm always at the sidelines when it comes to things that are related to you." Kagome blinked rapidly at his explanation. "So I have finally found myself a loophole and I plan on using it every moment I have while you're here, by the way."
In which, he stood up from his chair, rounding the table that was in the way and hugged Kagome from behind. It made her squeak and caused him to chuckle. There was a pure moment of happiness then someone—someone that wasn't the two of them—cleared their throat. Inuyasha furrowed his brows to the dish that she was making before slowly turning his head to the noise that was to his right.
Sesshomaru stood there with an annoyed look on his face. Inuyasha briefly wondered if his brother had heard about his loophole... Kagome wiggled herself out of Inuyasha's grasp; he pouted as she smiled at his brother. "Morning!" she said as she handed him utensils. He took them, his eyes looking to Inuyasha for some sort of explanation. Inuyasha merely shrugged back as his answer.
"What are you doing up?" he questioned.
Kagome for a moment, looked like she didn't know whether or not she should say what was on her mind. Then it didn't seem like it mattered when she told him, "Well, I don't want to be a bother while I'm staying here so I thought I would get up early to make breakfast as a thank you for letting me stay regardless since it seemed like it was out of your hand."
The brothers shared a look with each other as if to say, 'was she serious?' They both turned back to her but she had turned her back on them in order to finish the dish she was making. "You would never be a bother to us," Inuyasha confirmed as she gave him a side-glance. "You're Kagome; you're our best friend—well you're my best friend. I can't entirely say what you are to Sesshomaru since I honestly don't know aside from being his mate."
"Have you always been this talkative?" Kagome wondered as Inuyasha flushed brightly. He glared at Sesshomaru when he chuckled at him. "I mean, you have always had a loud mouth...I just don't remember you being so—informative." That sounded like it was more of an afterthought.
Inuyasha huffed before grabbing another slice of french toast, after Kagome had placed the plate of it down in front of them. "Inuyasha's mouth has never actually found an off button," Sesshomaru concurred. It had Kagome resisting the urge to smile as well as holding off a laugh.
"God damnit! You're a couple of hundred years younger and you two still gang up on me! I can't win!" Inuyasha whined.
"You're easy to rile," she pointed out with a nod. Inuyasha scoffed.
"As are you but you don't see me ganging up on you, now do you?"
"Well...do you want me to be honest?"
"No, I really don't."
Kagome shook her head as she stared at him. "So, what's the plan for today?"
"You, me, and Shiori will be heading and spending the day at the mall. Sesshomaru can take care of his brats which leaves us with the fun part." Inuyasha looked pleased when Sesshomaru gave a grunt in displeasure. "And, like I said, Sesshomaru doesn't really feel the need to protect you like other you so it's you and me, baby!"
"And Shiori," Kagome added.
"Yeah, her too."
Sesshomaru suddenly looked put out before he started growling at his brother, who for a moment thought that he was in for it but then Sesshomaru didn't do anything to confirm this. His brother stuck his tongue out at him and smirked.
XXX
Day 2
Kagome got to see Naraku the next day; she was thoroughly surprised with this. It was late in the afternoon and she had just finished her late lunch. The only one besides her that was in the house was Inuyasha and he was currently in one of his I-must-have-a-nap moments, or so says Shiori when she had asked what he was sleeping so early.
There was a single quick knock on the front door that caused Kagome to pause before she walked over to it and answered it. When the door opened; two things happened. One; Kagome could only stare at the male and two; Naraku took a moment that to her seemed like he was staring at an entirely different woman. "Kagome?" he asked slowly as if he was testing out her name.
"Um yes?"
Naraku blinked. "Weren't you pregnant the last time I saw you? And I just saw you last week." He blinked some more, obviously not all that sure what he was looking at; not that Kagome blamed him. "What am I staring at?"
"Wanna come in? Although, I'm not sure I'm allowed to allow anyone in," she said quickly, that Naraku wasn't all that sure what she said. Regardless, he walked on into the room and sat himself down in the living room with Kagome slowly coming up behind him. She sat down in a single fluffy chair across from where Naraku was.
"So, what am I staring at? You're obviously not the Kagome I now nowadays. She's got more of an air to her and she's pregnant," he chuckled as Kagome rubbed the back of her neck in nerves. Naraku saw this and narrowed his eyes on that. Kagome wondered if he was recalling on certain memories. "How old are you?"
"Uh...twenty?"
He gave her a blank look then laughed. "Oh, you really had me going there for a second. Now, seriously, how old are you?" Kagome gave him her own look as he slowly realized that she was in fact telling the truth. "You're shitting me, right?" She shook her head. "Holy shit! But the Kagome I know is at least five-hundred and twenty—oh, my, god. You're five-hundred years younger?!"
Nice, at least that gave her, her age when she's in this time. Although, she probably would've been able to figure that out sooner or later; later, knowing her. "Well that solves one question." Kagome bit her lip as she watched as Naraku leaned against his legs, moving his body to lean towards her.
"This is priceless," he said with a smirk. "So, how'd it happened? Did Sesshomaru finally manage to make you age backwards? Or did one of Inuyasha's prank backfire? Hell, did Kenichi finally decide to experiment on you?" Kagome's eyes widened on his rapid fire of questions. "But then again, if any of that did happen, you'd still be pregnant since I can't imagine that Sesshomaru would allow anyone to fiddle with his brats."
"Whoa, slow down! I can't keep up with your questions." Naraku leaned back against the couch with a thoughtful expression on his face. "Whatever you're thinking; you're wrong, on more than one account."
"Oh yeah? I don't know if you've noticed or not, but you're family is one big joke. I can see everything that I just asked about, happening since it has happened on more than one account." Kagome gaped at him.
"Oh my god, what? When?"
Naraku grinned as he ranted, "Well, the thing about Sesshomaru aging you backwards, didn't happen but I look forward to when it does. I'd love to see him take care of a baby of yourself." He grinned to himself. "Inuyasha has always had this thing with pranks; I think he mostly got it from Shippo since the two of them are a nightmare together. Point is, is that Inuyasha—as of three weeks ago—pulled a prank on you that involved something akin to a lust potion…I think.
"It certainly seemed like that in any case. It was hilarious, considering you are the mate to Sesshomaru and you were lusting after his best friend; poor Kenichi. And Kenichi experimenting on you; well, let's just say that that is a taboo subject in the house of the West."
Kagome could only gawk. Oh god, did she actually have to go through that, down the line in her life? She sure hoped not. "Oh christ; why am I still alive?" she muttered to herself as Naraku chuckled at her. She glared at him.
The door opened, bringing in Shiori, Sesshomaru, and the two brats as everyone calls them. They took one look to the scene in the living room and sighed. "Naraku, give me one good reason as to why I should not throw you out of my house?" Sesshomaru asked with a growl.
"Kagome told me to come by; said something about helping her with time-travel," was his response as Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed. Naraku held his arms up in surrender. "Granted—I probably shouldn't have said that."
"So, you are in on her plan as well?"
"Of cour—wait, what plan?" Naraku turned to him. "Does it have to do with the fact that her younger self is in your living room?"
Sesshomaru glanced to Kagome, who suddenly felt that she wanted to hide. "I didn't tell him anything!" She felt the need to say something; although, judging by his stare, she could tell that what she said did not help in this situation.
"I see." Kagome couldn't actually see how he saw but she didn't say anything else. "And where did Kagome perform this ritual?"
"Oh that's easy; at Kenichi's place with the help of myself, Zhou-Mao, Jasper, and Sebastian," Naraku helped out.
"Again with the experimenting!" Sesshomaru snarled. Naraku moved from the couch to hide behind the chair that Kagome was sitting in. "Why doesn't she seem to learn?!" He stormed off out of the room, the two children running after their father as Shiori shook her head with a gentle smile.
XXX
Day 3
After the incident with Naraku and Sesshomaru finding out about Kenichi's experiments; Kagome was seeing a lot more of Kenichi and—what Inuyasha calls them, his boy toys—Jasper and Sebastian. Right now Sesshomaru and his friend were fighting it out as Kagome had taken to her guest room to avoid the tension.
Jasper came into her room with a look of pure panic and as soon as he saw her, his eyes lit up. "Ah, Kagome! How nice to see you! Well, younger you but same thing! It is amazing that the time-travel thing actually managed to work!"
Well he was certainly pleased that whatever this was happened. Kagome didn't know what to think about that though. She just wanted to go back to being in the feudal era, where she didn't feel as trapped as she did here.
Since Jasper was the one to kidnap her; she wasn't entirely sure how to response with the male in her room at the moment and he seemed to understand that too. "Um..."
"Hey, if it's any consolation, I am sorry that I kidnapped you. Honestly, my brother and I were not in the right mind when our lord threw that idea to us."
"I suppose that's better than nothing but if and when I see your younger selves, you'll be meeting my fists," she threatened since it made her feel better. Jasper chuckled at this.
"I would not put it pass you, so no worries there. I do have to wonder how exactly our plan this time around, actually worked? We certainly were not expecting it to," he said. Kagome blinked.
"I honestly don't know either. I would very much like to go back but at the same time..." She paused here as Jasper watched her expression turn sad as well as her aura—no doubt that the others felt that too. "At the same time, I'm scared. Sesshomaru absolutely hates me. I don't know if I'm up to going back to that."
Jasper gave her a worried look, one that Kagome saw and flinched. They both heard the sudden silence, followed by a knock on her door, then Sesshomaru, Kenichi, and Sebastian walked through. Jasper grinned slowly as Kagome glared at him. "What troubles you, Kagome?" Kenichi asked as he sat down on her bed.
All of them heard Sesshomaru's growl but Kenichi purposely ignored it and focused on Kagome, who said, "It doesn't matter. My thoughts don't matter when I'm here."
"Who the hell told you that?" Sebastian demanded. It made Kagome be reminded of Inuyasha; it also brought a smile to her face.
"It's just how I see it, I suppose."
"Then think differently," Kenichi told her. "You're still you, even if it means that you're a bit younger. Now, tell me what troubles you?"
He was really worried from what Kagome could tell. She sighed. "What am I going to do about Sesshomaru? He thinks that I betrayed him through the means of Zhou-Mao and no matter what I say, he refuses to listen."
"Ah, right," he started as she watched him think it over for what he wanted to say next. "I'm trying to remember what happened next after the idiots kidnapped you." There was a grunt that he heard and turned to Sesshomaru.
"I will give you some insight on how to speed up the process to make me see it your way," Sesshomaru started, giving Kagome a little bit of hope. He moved around the room and came to the dresser that was to the far right of Kagome, closer to the window. He opened the first drawer, moved some things around before pulling out something. Sesshomaru walked over to Kagome, ignoring the confused looks he was getting and put the thing on her neck. "This is a necklace that only myself knows. The necklace itself is not important but my youki is. Zhou-Mao helped infuse my youki into it a few hundred years back since we all know how much trouble you attract."
Ignoring the jab at her, Kagome looked down to her neck and grabbed the necklace; it was simple with an sapphire oval jewel with a silver chain. Still though; that was a really pretty necklace. She could feel the demonic presence it was giving off but at the same time, it gave off a sense of security. "Why did he help you? I thought you two don't like each other?"
Sesshomaru scoffed as he moved to go back to his original spot near the door. "Oh, we don't. If I could kill him, I would." Kagome looked ready to laugh as he added, "As to why he helped me; you were in an accident. I can't entirely tell you what happens, but know this, it is life or death."
"But I obviously live," she broke in as he smiled at her.
"You do; yes, but I can't tell you what exactly happens to you."
"You sound just like Zhou-Mao."
He growled and chided, "Don't compare me to him."
Kagome merely smiled in response.
XXX
Day 4
Today she got to re-meet Rin and Shippo and boy was that a surprise that in of itself. She knew that Rin would grow up eventually but she never thought that she would live to see this time. So when Rin walked into the kitchen with Shippo following behind her, she tilted her head in confusion. What?
Shippo suddenly turned to her and growled. Kagome blinked and jumped back when her Shippo went after her like she was an enemy. "What are you doing?!" she yelled, alerting the others in the house that something was wrong.
He didn't seem to hear her as he swiped at her. She reared back to avoid the claws as Sesshomaru practically flew in front of her and snarled at the fox. "Stand, down," he growled, glaring at Shippo, who glared back with just as much intent behind the command.
"You allowed some person that looks like mother into your house? Are you mental?!" Kagome made a circle with her mouth, blinking rapidly.
Rin, who was watching from the sidelines, inched closer to Kagome. When she was finally near the woman, they both shared a look with each other before Rin slowly smiled. "Oh, my god," she whispered as she then wrapped her arms around Kagome, who squeaked, making the males momentarily forgot their fight to look at the women. Rin turned to Shippo, jumping with joy. "Shippo! It's mom!"
He gave a look that clearly questioned her sanity. "Are you in your right mind? That woman is clearly not mother!"
"Focus on your bond with her!" Rin glared at her adoptive brother. Shippo gaped at her before sneering at Kagome, who took a step back out of fear. Sesshomaru glowered at Shippo but waited until the fox found what Rin was talking about.
It took several of minutes but Shippo's eyes widened as his jaw dropped. "B-But how? I don't understand. This can't possibly be mother; she's not pregnant and she's younger—wait," he ranted then paused, which then followed a loud groan. "Oh god, please tell me mother didn't succeed?!"
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes on Shippo, who suddenly found the ground to be the most interesting thing he found in the world. "Don't tell me you were in on it as well because if you were, so help me your head will roll." Shippo paled and hide behind Rin, who was snickering at the sight. Kagome didn't entirely understand the situation but refused to laugh since—from what she's seen—Sesshomaru doesn't like the idea that his Kagome went back to her time-traveling days.
"I wasn't in on it! She only bounced ideas at me but I told her that you would be mad if she went along with this. I told her to back out but she refused! You know how stubborn mother is!" Shippo explained or tried to since Sesshomaru didn't seem to having any of this.
"Yes, she rivals me," he said as Rin giggled, knowing that that was true. "But that doesn't explain why everyone went behind my back in order to allow this to happen."
"Whoa, aside from mother, who else went behind your back?" Shippo asked, eyes still wide, even wider knowing that others actually allowed this to progress.
"Kenichi, Jasper, Sebastian, Naraku, Zhou-mao; would you like me to continue?" he listed with a question.
"Holy shit." Shippo rubbed his face with another groan. "So mother succeeded and switched places with this one?" He pointed to Kagome as Sesshomaru nodded. "Well damn! Mother royally dug her own grave!"
"That she did," Sesshomaru agreed.
"Gonna kill your mate?" Shippo mocked with a laugh but seemed to notice the glint in Sesshomaru's eyes and paled. "I was kidding!"
"Well, I've had five-hundred years with her. I think that suits me just fine. Plus I wouldn't mind hurting her."
He seemed serious as Rin and Shippo merely stared at him for even suggesting what he wanted to do. Twins stares looked to Kagome before they both encouraged her to calm him down. Kagome turned to them and scowled. She turned to Sesshomaru, walking over to him as he leaned against the table in the kitchen.
"You know, considering that you're talking about me in my near future, I don't approve of this death," Kagome pointed out as he stared down at her.
"Well then, it's a good thing that you don't have a say in the matter."
Kagome huffed then poked him in the chest. He looked offended that she even touched him but she didn't care nor saw this look. "So you're going to kill me because you don't like that I can time-travel?"
"No, I'm going to kill her because she shouldn't have done this while she's pregnant and because she did this behind my back!"
"Probably because I knew that you would say no."
"That's beside the point."
"Not really; I think that explains a lot."
Shippo and Rin looked between the two of them like a game of ping pong. Kagome still fought with him, regardless of what time she was in. This was hilarious.
"Well, it's a good thing no one asked you then."
"Argh, no wonder she did this behind your back! You're impossible." Kagome turned and left the room, mumbling all the way back to her guest room.
XXX
Day 5
Shiori, Inuyasha, and Kagome were sitting in a little tea shop in downtown chatting. Well, more like Kagome ranted about impossible demons and Shiori and Inuyasha were amused.
"Even still, you two fight like cats and dogs," Shiori quietly said as her mate chuckled. "He has more experience than you do but regardless, it's like you never left."
"Oh good, you noticed that too." Inuyasha laughed as Kagome pouted.
"Still, he's insufferable."
"Well, you would see it like that but believe me, Sesshomaru has mellowed out and then some," he said with a smile. Then he smirked and added, "But then again, you are the reason for this mellow and older you just screwed it all up!"
"Inuyasha!" He ignored his mate's small shout and continued to watch Kagome, who was not all that pleased.
Kagome sighed as she sipped on her tea. "Can I ask you two something?" When she received the nods, she continued, "How old are Akira and Hikari?"
Shiori smiled at her. "Akira is five-hundred and little Hikari is almost three-hundred."
"Wait what?" She seemed to pale a little. "If Akira is actually five-hundred, then wouldn't that mean I'm pregnant now?"
Inuyasha had just taken a sip of tea, choked, then spit it out and onto Shiori. He profusely apologized as soon as it happened then tried to dry off his mate. Shiori twitched. "Figured that out, did ya?" His voice was hoarse from his fit as Kagome stared, motionless.
"Inuyasha!"
"What?" He turned to his mate as he tried not to laugh at Shiori's dampened look.
Shiori shook her head as she looked to Kagome. "Kagome?" she asked then tried again, then tried waving her hand in front of Kagome's face. All her attempts were useless; Kagome didn't blink, move, nothing. "Kagome?"
Inuyasha snickered into his shoulder, bringing Kagome out of her trance. "Eh, Kagome, it's not like it's a bad thing. Akira is the one thing that actually manages to get Sesshomaru off your butt with his anger. Once he finds out that you're pregnant, all anger vanishes."
"So you're saying that he only stays with me because he gets an heir?" Kagome's face was devoid of emotion; Shiori didn't like that look and sent her a worried one her way.
He gaped at her. "That is not what I was saying whatsoever, so stop twisting my words around. You and Sesshomaru have been through a lot together and he almost lost you and the baby to an attack. Don't you dare think otherwise."
"He said that we was going to kill my other self though."
"He says a lot of things he doesn't mean. If I know him the way I know him, he'll probably give other you a silent treatment, make you fend for yourself when it comes to food, and treat you like you don't exist for a little while but he would never kill the one thing that has brought joy to his world," Inuyasha boasted as Kagome felt tears make their way to her eyes. "Plus, what other you did, is pretty bad. Other you is pregnant—heavily pregnant actually—in the feudal era with other Sesshomaru, who is a complete jackass."
Both girls giggled at this as Shiori wrapped her arm around Kagome, bringing her closer to herself in comfort. Kagome smiled to the two of them, feeling a bit better.
XXX
Day 6
Kagome took a day off from interacting with the others around the house. She stayed for the most part in the guest room that she was allowed. After yesterday and the reveal that she was pregnant made her want to hide.
Which is exactly what she did.
She stayed in her room for the whole day actually. Kagome had placed a barrier around the door and windows to prevent anyone from trying to get into her room. She didn't want to be bothered.
Slowly, she placed her hands on her stomach and concentrated on finding out if she really was pregnant—not that she didn't trust Inuyasha's nose...or his words.
There was a moment of silence and then her powers flared. It wasn't enough to hurt her or whatever was in her stomach though but enough that it allowed her to feel the presence of something.
She gasped; there was a very small aura pulsing back at her, letting her know that it was alive. It felt like a mixture of her and Sesshomaru.
Tears gathered in her eyes and were uncontrollable. They fled her eyes, rolling down her cheeks like a waterfall. She really was pregnant.
Would Sesshomaru's anger really disappear because she was going to have a baby? She didn't think it would; he felt betrayed like Kenichi said he would. Well not in those words exactly but still...
What was going to happen when she returned home? Would she be accepted or disowned by both mate and friends? Kagome choked back a sob at thinking that. She wanted to go home now; damn, she was homesick.
While she did love everyone that was around now, it wasn't the same. Although, if anything, she was happy that she managed to grab a glimspe of her future.
"Please, whatever god is listening, find some way to send me home soon."
XXX
Day 7
Her prayers were answered in the morning the next day but she didn't think that they would answer like this. She had just walked into the living room, sitting down on the couch next to Inuyasha, who smiled at her.
Everyone was in the room with her. Sesshomaru was seeing to his brats—she finally gave into calling them that. Inuyasha was sitting in between herself and Shiori. Kenichi was on another couch with Jasper sitting on the floor with his back to the couch next to Kenichi's knee and Sebastian was on the right side of Kenichi. Shippo and Rin were playing with Akira and Hikari with some toys on the ground.
This is such an odd thing to watch, Kagome mused. It was a peaceful morning or was until a portal opened and closed in the midle of the room; out stepped Zhou-Mao and her other self.
"Oh god, it feels so much better to be here!" she sighed and squeaked when Sesshomaru wrapped his arms around her. "Sess! Not so tight!"
"You are in big trouble," Zhou-Mao commented dryly as she glared at him from her position.
"This is not weird at all but now there's two Kagomes in the same room," Inuyasha laughed as eyes looked to both Kagomes.
Both blushed at the same time and said, "It would be weird if there were two Inuyashas"
"Whoa; surround sound!" Jasper smirked but was slapped by his brother. Jasper glared at him.
Zhou-Mao looked on with a bored expression before saying, "All right, here's what's foing to happen. You." He pointed to the Kagome in Sesshomaru's arms. "Are now officially Kag. And you." He then pointed to the other Kagome near Inuyasha. "Are now Gome. Got it? I would hate to be confused."
The girls nodded to that; that would be confusing. "So, now there are two Kagomes in the same timeline, that shouldn't be a thing," Shippo chimed in, others nodding at this. "How do we get Gome back?"
Kag looked thoughtful for a moment then Sesshomaru scolded her. She slowly turned while glaring at him. Then she ignored him altogether and said, "Okay, so Gome, you're going to have to call out your own Zhou-Mao." She twitched at that and Kag only laughed. "Well go on."
Gome sighed but listened and when Zhou-Mao materialized next to her, he stared at himself. "Christ; what did I step into now?" Kag laughed.
"Just like with both Kagomes; you and I will spilt our names. I will be Mao," he said calmly or as calmly as he could get. Gome's Zhou-Mao looked offended.
"Oh whatever. Why am I out?"
Kag wiggled herself out of her mate's arm ignoring the growl that came with it when she got out and clapped her hands together. "Mao will be opening a portal with the help of Zhou while we watch and wait. We should do it in the backyard though since I'm not all that sure what will happen with two gods of time..."
So they moved to the backyard where all hell broke loose or in other words, where two bulls clashed horns. Zhou and Mao were not happy to be working together.
"So, this is how it will work—" Mao started then glared when he got cut off.
"Oh no you don't. I am not listening to the likes of you."
"The likes of you, you know, since we are the same person."
"Tch, yeah right. If we're going to do anything; you will listen to me."
"Oh hell no. I have more experience than you so you will be listening to me."
"Fuck that—"
"Zhou, so help me, I will castrate you if you don't listen to Mao," Gome snarled as both of them paled, causing everyone else to chuckle at the threat. "For once in your life, learn to work together, jackass."
"How dare you talk to me like that you bitch," Zhou sneered at her. "Do you have any idea who I am?"
"You could be the king of the world and I would still talk that way to you. Just get along with it, will you? I wanna go home!"
"Heh, you have another thing coming if you think I'm working with him, let alone listening to him."
Gome glowed for a second, her eyes white suddenly as she stalked to Zhou, who despite his own words, took a step back. "You listen to me or I'll be forced to use all the elements on you while I listen to your screams."
Kag was at awe at her younger self but then memories started to flow back to her. She warned, "Careful of the baby, Gome. You never know what'll happen if you use your powers like that to the baby."
Time stilled for Gome in that moment. Her power was there one second then the next, gone. Zhou actually looked happy that she didn't fry him. "Get to work Zhou," she snarled as Zhou nodded rapidly and went over to Mao, who smirked knowingly.
They worked together; one willing, the other not so much but it was enough to open the portal. Mao combined his powers to the time that he was currently in as Zhou combined his to the time that Gome came from, back in the feudal era.
"Well, I guess this is goodbye," Inuyasha said with a frown. Gome hugged him. "The one time I actually get to hug you willingly without Sesshomaru breathing down my neck." All except Sesshomaru, laughed. He didn't entirely look all that happy that his brother was talking about him.
"It's not goodbye; we're still together even after all this time," she beamed as he smiled at her.
"In our short time together," Kenichi started. "I have enjoyed more so than normal. So I thank you for the fun." Jasper and Sebastian chirped behind him in agreement. Gome hugged them all.
"It's been nice to see you Kagome," Shiori cheer quietly, hugging the woman that ran into her arms. "A little word in advance, we will be seeing each other soon enough." Gome looked entirely confused but Kag and Sesshomaru both had a look of horror on their face. As did Kenichi for that matter. That worried her more then she was willing to let on. "But it turns out all right in the end, like it always does."
Gome only nodded before moving to Shippo and Rin. They were the two people that she didn't get to spend all that much time with but she was still grateful to see that they lived to this age. They grouped hugged, tears flowing down the girls face. Shippo tried to be strong for them both.
She bowed to Sesshomaru, who was impressed. "Thank you for showing me your hospitality even though this was entirely Kag's fault."
"Hey!" She was ignored.
"You're welcome," he answered. "Regardless, it's been nice having you around."
"You're still impossible."
"You're still a nut case."
"Oh, so we're still on the same page then!" Gome laughed as Sesshomaru shook his head but wrapped her arms around him for a hug. She let go and moved over to Zhou. Mao nodded to her with a smile. She assumed that he too mellowed out. "Well, I guess I'll be here in five-hundred years."
"Damn straight you will!" Inuyasha nodded.
Akira and Hikari bounced after Kagome, throwing themselves at her legs, mumbling that they will miss her. She patted them on their head and said, "I'm much closer than you think."
She looked to Zhou, who nodded then disappeared as Kagome waved her goodbyes and stepped through the portal.
"Babe, why did you come home a week earlier?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Oh, I went into labor," was her answer.
"What?!" was everyone else's answer.
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