A/N: Here's another time skip. Only 1 and half more chapters!

The Other Side

Chapter 52

300 years later, the Festival

300 years later

Every year on the night of the new moon in the fall, a festival would be held for both humans and demons. Since it was Kagome's idea for this, she would always be the first one there to help with the preparations. Currently, she was ordering Elder Hijitaka and Elder Iwasaki in moving certain boxes to their booths.

Neither inu were all that happy but they seemed to enjoy that Lady Kagome was having a ball. When Elder Ichiyama came to them with the idea, they thought he was crazy but then when he explained to them that Kagome was the mind behind it, they didn't put up much of a fight. They wanted to see how this festival would play out.

Turns out, that three-hundred years later, they would still be going at this.

"Where do you want these, Lady Kagome?" asked Hijitaka as he held onto two boxes in each arm. He felt absolutely ridiculous butKagome didn't seem to notice. Iwasaki did and he had a small smile on his face. He glared at the other inu.

Kagome pointed to her right and said, "Over there, those are for the mini-games that I'm going to set up soon." He walked over to where she had pointed. "Elder Iwasaki, I need you to stop what you're doing and go and find Miroku if you would be so kind." She smiled at him; he nodded and left. Both of them heard Hijitaka whine at being left alone with her highness.

Iwasaki's laugh echoed around them. "And these, milady?" He showed the box that said, 'indregients' on the side. Kagome then pointed to the booth behind him as Hikari came over to her mother.

"Hi sweetie, what can I do you for?"

Hikari giggled as she handed her mother a rose. "Dad says that this is for you," she told her as Kagome took the rose and placed it in her hair. "Yay, now you are pretty!"

"I wasn't pretty before?" Her daughter looked like she had been cornered as Akira tackled her to the ground. Kagome chuckled at the two. "Elder Hijitaka, I see you trying to escape," she addressed as Hijitaka sighed deeply then cursed.

Miroku walked up to Kagome with a gentle smile. "How can I be of service?"

"Excellent timing, you can help Hijitaka and take that pile of boxes and bring them to Sesshomaru. He'll tell you what to do next." The monk shook his head as he went to work while Hijitaka grumbled his entire way over to the lord of the West. "Akira, Hikari, I shouldn't have to tell you two to behave," she chided.

Both pups deflated and mumbled, "Sorry mom."

She giggled at the two of them as they kicked the dirt on the ground around. "Would you two like to help me set up the mini-games?"

"Would we ever!"

The three of them headed over to one of the booths that held the first mini-game. "All right, you two are going to get ahold of these buckets and fill them up with water. Bring them back when they are filled," she explained as she handed them both two sets of buckets and watched them head over to the small pond on the grounds.

"I see that you're still as beautiful as ever," came a familiar voice yet it still made Kagome's heart drop. She slowly turned to her left to see Kouga standing there as if he owned the place. "You'd make a wonderful mother to my pups," he added with a sly smirk.

Kagome growled at him, making him pause in his steps towards her. "You better leave while you still have your life," she advised as he chuckled. She growled louder at him when he didn't seem to take the hint. "I'm warning you Kouga."

"I love it when you say my name."

Was this guy serious? Sesshomaru was only a few meters away; surely Kouga wasn't that stupid. Right? "Look, no one wants your bullshit today, so please leave."

"I have only come to take what is rightfully mine."

She felt her lip twitch. "And what is rightfully yours?"

"You, of course," he replied as if that explained everything.

Kagome narrowed her eyes on him as he snarled at her. She knew that kind of snarl; it was the one that told her to submit. She wouldn't submit to anyone but Sesshomaru, so Kouga was wasting his time. "You are a couple hundred years late, Kouga. I am mated and have a family. You can leave the same way you came in."

"It is very easy to replace your mating mark with mine. I merely have to bite you," he nodded, mostly to himself as Kagome felt the need to angrily lash out at him.

Akira and Hikari came back at that moment, stumbling over their buckets of water. "We finished mama!" Akira exclaimed happily with a smile but it soon fell off his face when he saw the wolf in front of his mother. He placed his buckets down on the ground as he gently pushed his sister behind himself before growling at the man.

Kouga glanced down at the small pups then did a double take. Did that brat just say mama? "You already have pups?" he growled out.

"You clearly don't listen. I have a mate and a family," she repeated, walking over to her pups as she stood in front of them, a glare set on her face. "I will not ask you again."

Akira looked around his mother on her right side while Hikari took the left. The man looked ready to throttle their mother. They shared a look together as they whimpered out and within seconds, their father was standing next to Kagome. "Wolf," he greeted sternly, his eyes narrowing on the male that clearly had upset his mate.

Kouga eyed him for a second. "Sesshomaru," he said just as sternly. "I would like it if you moved though, I am trying to make that woman next to you my mate. So go away."

"You are trying to go after my mate? By default, I have the right to kill you here and now for even suggesting that you try and take my mate away from me," he argued as Kagome wrapped her arms around his waist. Kouga narrowed his eyes on that.

"Bitch, back away from him."

Kagome closed her eyes and concentrated for a moment before several people suddenly appeared around Kouga, encircling him. "You have been warned multiple times, Kouga. I am not sorry for what happens to you." She turned away from the male and bent down to her children. "Come my dears, let's let your father and my elements handled this wolf. We shall go play elsewhere."

Akira and Hikari grabbed ahold of their mother, sending their auras around her to try and calm her down as they made their way away from the men. Kagome brought them to the booth that held Inuyasha and Shiori in it. Inuyasha was entangled with something similar to string while Shiori tried to resist her giggles.

"Uncle Inu looks ridiculous," Hikari giggled.

"I think he looks like he could rival string cheese," Kagome added, her angered mood gone now that she saw this.

"Damnit, you taught your brats to gang up on me!"

"Damn straight I did!"

Inuyasha glared at her or tried to since the string covered most of his face. "Oh, my dear, what am I going to do with you?" Shiori shook her head. "How are things going with you Kagome?"

Kagome sighed. "It was going great until Kouga decided to ruin my day," she answered.

"Where's the wolf? I would like a piece of that action!" Inuyasha called.

"Your brother and my battle elements got to him first. What they do now to him is not my problem."

Inuyasha winced. "Oh you're pissed." She grunted. "Well, you have come to the right booth! We're the fun side!"

"Oh yeah?"

"Yep! We are doing karaoke!"

"Mama, what's karrote?" Akira asked as Shiori and Kagome awed at him. He crossed his arms over his small chest and looked away with a blush on his cheeks.

"It's kara-oke, my love. It's where you get on stage and sing to the lyrics that are provided," Kagome explained as Akira suddenly looked interested in his uncle's booth. She laughed as he wandered into the booth.

Sesshomaru and her elements chose that moment to come over to her. "Did ya kill Kouga?" Inuyasha asked with a grin.

"Well, he's definitely not of this Earth anymore," Zhou-Mao told him. "Good riddance; he was starting to annoy me."

"Everything annoys you," Kagome pointed out as he rolled his eyes.

"That's beside the point."

"I'm sure it is."

"Shut up."

"Make me."

"Woman—"

"Yes?"

"Christ, how does Sesshomaru put up with you? I can't even handle you for a few moments!"

"It's a gift," Sesshomaru chimed in.

"It's a curse!" He looked away from the girl as Draicia, stepped up next to him. "Thank god, I have you. You're not annoying whatsoever."

"She's just your second-in-command though. She has to put up with you all the time; that, my dear element, is a gift," Kagome said with a smirk.

"She's my mate," Zhou-Mao said flatly.

Kagome choked on her own spit at hearing that then started doing a coughing fit. Inuyasha burst out into chuckles. "What?! When did that happen? Why didn't you tell me?!"

"We did not think it was necessary," Draicia admitted. "Plus, it was such a long time ago—going on two millenniums I believe."

"Holy crap! I thought going after a lord was good. You went after a god! How do I complete with that?" she whined.

"We were in a race, milady?" she asked, cocking her head to the side, giving everyone the ability to see her bright red eye. "I did not realize that. I should have said something then."

"It was a joke."

"Oh. Forgive me milady, I have not been able to joke with anyone in—never."

"You poor thing!"

"Getting back to the topic at hand, where has Kouga gone to?" Inuyasha questioned, rolling his eyes to the women.

"Zhou-Mao here has sent Kouga into another dimension, I believe," his brother answered, looking down to the ground before glancing at the god of time.

Kagome blinked. "Oh, so you didn't kill him?"

Keida stepped up, attention suddenly on him. "We know how kind-hearted you are, milady. We didn't want to stress you out anymore than need be."

"That's thoughtful of you all; thank you." She smiled to them all.

x

They worked all morning and finished up the last touches around late afternoon. By the time night hit, the glows from the lanterns lit up the entire place. Kagome had ordered everyone to get a move on to get ready for when everyone joins.

This festival was the one time that demons didn't have to hide from everyone around and were they could be themselves without the humans being afraid of them. Kagome felt move alive when her markings were on; she would always have to hide them when she was out and about in Tokyo.

Kagome stuck her son in a dark blue yukata with white circles. He was pouting; he didn't like getting dressed up but his mother said he made him look handsome, so he let it slide, plus his father was wearing one too. She had messed his hair up, making it stick in every which way—here his pout deepen—and took off his illusion.

His sister was standing next to him in a white kimino with sakura blossom scattered all over the place. Her short white hair was up in two pigtails, pulling her hair out of her face. She was giggling and actually happy to be dressing up. Akira didn't understand that whatsoever. Their mother dropped her illusion as well.

She, herself was wearing a magenta kimino with white star-like shapes all over the fabric with a dark blue obi. A long white bow was trailing behind.

She told them they were ready and walked out of their room to go to the room that Sesshomaru was more than likely waiting for them in. She was surprised when he wasn't there but he came down the stairs minutes later. "I arrived faster then you? What is the world coming to?" she muttered as their children laugh.

"Shut up. I couldn't find my hair tie."

"I arrived earlier than you over a hair tie?"

"Shut up."

She barked with laughter. "Oh this night is going to be good if it starts out like that." He rolled his eyes at her as she stuck her tongue out at him. They met up with Rin, who had been sitting on a bench at the end of their house. "Rin!" Kagome hugged the young woman with all her might. "I haven't seen you in forever!"

"I know!" She giggled as she eyed Sesshomaru. "Don't you look good," she said as he glared at her. She looked back over to Kagome. "Did you stick him in that? Or did Inuyasha dare him? What's going on?"

Kagome glanced at her then turned her attention to what her mate was wearing. He was in a royal blue yukata that faded into white at his sleeves as his obi was white. His hair was in a high ponytail, reminding her of his father a little bit. Nothing really looked to be out of place; still she asked, "Babe, what are you wearing?"

"What? Is it that bad?"

"Perhaps it's the way that his hair is tied up?" Rin tried to help out but only made Kagome snort loudly. "I have never seen you with your hair up. I'm a bit at awe."

"I'm going to change," he stated, turning around to walk away but Kagome grabbed him and walked in the other direction, towards the festival. Rin grabbed ahold of Akira's and Hikari's hands while giggling at the couple. Those two were perfect for each other.

Then they met up with Shippo, he was a little closer to where the festival was being held. It only took a ten minute walk to get to him. "Shippo!" Kagome called out, using her speed to latch herself onto the male, who caught her with ease and twirled her around in a hug. "God, I've missed you!"

"I've missed you too, mama," he told her as he let her go and moved to stand next to Rin, who smiled at him. Kagome stared at him. "What?"

"You only call me mama when you're scared."

Shippo frowned playfully as he half-shouted, half-mumbled, "I have to walk near Sesshomaru—of course I'm scared!"

"Sesshomaru's a big, fluffy puppy! He won't hurt you; he'd have to answer to me," she grinned as her mate huffed while looking away. Shippo nervously laughed as Rin smiled widely. They began walking with Shippo and Rin, and the kids traveling behind them.

"They're perfect for each other," Rin whispered to Shippo softly as he nodded. He couldn't agree more.

When they got there, Inuyasha and Shiori came over to them with matching yukatas; they were both in white as if they just came from a wedding. Inuyasha's black hair was a nice touch, still though, Kagome couldn't help but giggle. "Kagome, you have outdone yourself once again," Shiori complimented as Kagome blushed.

"Thank you!"

"I mean, look at this place! I have never seen the castle look more alive than I do now."

"I guess the western castle was a good place," Kagome said.

Inuyasha chuckled. "It's the only place that would have worked for this festival. I think you've done wonderfully." He looked to the other companions that were with Kagome and gaped. "Shippo! I haven't seen you in a couple hundred years! What the hell have you been doing?"

"Yeah," he started. "I've been busy..." He laughed.

"Busy? With what?"

"You know, with this and t-that."

"You didn't knock someone up, did you?" Inuyasha smirked as Shippo blushed.

"No!"

"Are you sure?"

"I've spent the last couple hundred years with Rin!"

"You knocked up Rin?!" Inuyasha shouted as heads turned to them at the sudden loud voice. Kagome hit Inuyasha upside his head with a glare.

Shippo gaped at him. "Are you—did you seriously—I can't believe you just said that!"

"You didn't deny it!"

"How am I supposed to react to that?!"

"Little brother, Rin is not knocked up. We all know that you lose your sense of smell with the night of the new moon, but really, that's your first thought?" Sesshomaru asked, slightly amused at his brother's antics.

Inuyasha flushed and mumbled, "Don't remind me of that."

Kagome clapped her hands together to get their attention. "All right, enough. We are here to have fun and we are going to have fun. Now, I'll be taking the kids with Rin and Sesshomaru, you're on your own." To which, she grabbed Rin's bicep since she was still holding the children's hands.

She led them to the mini-games and watched with Rin as her children played with everything, having the time of their lives. "How are you and Shippo doing? I rarely get to see you two anymore and I miss you two very much."

Rin smiled. "We're doing great actually. Shippo's managed to make a living out of being a fox breeder. And we miss you too, you should come visit us more."

"So Inuyasha was right on some aspect; Shippo's been knocking people up!"

"Kagome!" she chided as the woman laughed. "No, he breeds actual foxes."

"Oh, that was not what I thought at all. Aw, I was looking forward to having grandbabies!" Kagome whined. "Make me some grandbabies Rin! Or get Shippo to do it!"

"No, I'm not interested in anyone and Shippo's love life is his work."

"I'll make you interested!"

Rin playfully threw her arms in the air. "I give up!" Kagome giggled at her. "Tell me about your love life with Sesshomaru then." The older woman gawked at her. "Yeah, it's different now, isn't it, when it's about you?"

"Okay, fair play." She gave up on her questions.

They wandered about the grounds of the festival, joining in on some games, eating the delicious food—Kagome's food—and running into friends and family.

Everyone was practically hanging near the booth that Inuyasha and Shiori ran, singing and dancing. Kagome, Rin, and the kids made their way over to the booth, faces red from their laughing.

Kagome passed her kids off to Sesshomaru, who she found watching his brother making a fool out of himself. He looked at her as she joined in on the fun, singing happily with Inuyasha. He shook his head at her.

They were on stage for three songs and as Kagome was coming down the stairs from the small stage, she heard someone very familiar call to her, "Kagome?!"

Her family and friends watched her turn to the direction of the call, her eyes widened as she finally saw who called her.

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