DISCLAIMER: I do not own Inu Yasha or the Yu Yu Hakusho the Anime/Manga or their characters.

Meanings:

`Thought'

"Speech"

Beast

When you see something like this: "Oh come on… " (Its a word drawn out: Like soooooo)

Chapter 16

Moments Like This

Yanagi's home was a beautiful traditional Japanese palace on a smaller scale hidden in the crevice of a mountain there was nothing normal about her home. Kagome could sense the ancient magic shielding the land and within the home. Looking out the huge wall of glass Kagome instantly fell in love with the waterfalls that fell into a pool, which breached small creeks allowing the fresh water to flow across the land. Kagome smiled as she spotted yokai elk roaming freely, it amazed her how they never stepped beyond the zen rock gardens as if they knew it was wrong to do so.

"Impressive is it not Kagome." Hearing her name Kagome turned around huge smile on her face nodding her head before she spoke.

"It is, I've never seen anything like this in real life. This out does the best artists imaginations that paint such beautiful scenery. Your home is one of a kind, Yanagi and I'm honored to be here. Thank you." Kagome bowed giving her host the respect she deserves for helping her out and allowing her to view her home. Yanagi smiled telling her she'd have none of that bowing. After another bow she smiled sheepishly.

Yanagi led Kagome to a huge room in the back of the estate. Kagome thought this looked similar to a family dining room. The center of the room was a traditional low table for six with cushions. Towards the left side of the room a small table for two faced a garden that the Imperial Gardeners would be envy. Several bird baths set in the backdrop being replenish by one of the servants. What caught Kagome's attention as she looked to the right side of the room, she expected decorated rice paper sliding doors. To her surprise the rice paper was replaced with something similar to what France would call French doors.

Yanagi offered Kagome a chance to look at her personal study. With a bright smile Kagome followed her in. The first thing she views is a painting of Yanagi and what must have been her mate had transfixed Kagome unknowingly walked over to it, a tender smile on her face. Tears fell from her eyes at the loving way Yanagi's mate looked and held her close. Whoever the painter was captured a moment so precious it caused a sob to escape without Kagome even noticing.

"A part of you remembers this old painting." Kagome could only nod turning to look at Yanagi who handed her a handkerchief to wipe her eyes.

"Who was the artist? Whoever, they were did a remarkable job. This painting is beyond what words can describe." Wiping her eyes dry, Kagome looked on as Yanagi began to smile then she giggled in childish glee.

"I thought it would have been oblivious." Kagome gave her an odd look then pointed at herself knowing she was reincarnated from Yanagi's best friend Sukaidansa.

"Why I find myself stunned. Wow, just wow. So Sukaidansa was a painter. Did she do other paintings as well?" Yanagi laughed a heart warming laugh she recalled her own grandmother's laughing in a similar way.

"Indeed she did. Sukaidansa was beyond her time the way she captured the subjects, was as if she was bringing them to life. Lords and ladies from across the land commissioned her to paint their family or heir some even had her paint their gardens or what they called beauty." Yanagi touched the painting a smile upon her face as she spoke.

"It had been such a whirlwind of opportunity for Sukaidansa to travel abroad. She loved every minute of it. She wrote me letters of each place she visited. I am so proud of her." Yanagi showed Kagome another wall with several more paintings, she gasped as she viewed this particular painting. The scenery of the mountain waterfall and its pool, where two inu females playfully splashed water at one another all the while laughing.

"Oh my, this is so beautiful, you and Sukaidansa are gorgeous. Look at the both of you laughing, your so happy here. It seems you both were having so much fun that she wanted to remember that precious day, by making last forever by painting it." Yanagi gasped at hearing what Kagome said. It was true, Sukadansa wanted their days together to last a life time and to keep the precious few memories alive she painted them. Yanagi wiped her eyes watching Kagome do the same.

"We did have fun that day, my mate was away scouting the land and Suka's brother Masato was out hunting. So we took advantage of the pool while we could. It was a much needed day for us female inu to share our bond of friendship, we even acted like young pups, playing and splashing in the water it is something we've always done when we were apart for too long." Kagome's smile widen and nodded her head vigorously witnessing the joy in Yanagi's eyes before a growl was heard. Kagome tried to hide it but Yanagi laughed.

"Well, I do believe food is in order. You must continue to eat breastfeeding takes up all your nourishment leaving you hungry again. Come my dear let us go have lunch shall we." Kagome looked sheepish hearing what Yanagi said about breastfeeding.

She never knew, her stomach grumbled again and the both of them laughed. Kagome followed behind taking another look at the painting as she left the room a smile on her face for witnessing something truly beautiful. The gurgle of her stomach had her wincing if she didn't know better her body was doing this on purpose to get her attention. Yanagi pointed to the new addition to the room as she walked over to it. Watching Yanagi bend over and coo had Kagome looking over her shoulder. Here Kagome found her son and the cub nestled in a bassinet fit for a prince.

Viewing the table set up for two with the most lavish of pillows, Kagome ever did get to see or feel. Boy oh boy, they were so comfortable that she immediately sighed in bliss. Yanagi laughed enjoying moments like this was rare and she relished in the miko's happiness over something silly as a comfortable pillow. Ringing the little humming bird bell on the table Kagome watched as servants brought in food and drink. They ate enjoying the delicious food, while they chatted about Kagome's adventure.

With Shippo

He was in trouble now, he was only trying to help the humans from being eaten by that lizard yokai. He tried his best using his jizu statue. Shippo knew it would only last so long due to a crack in it so he told the humans to run before the lizard breaks free. But, what did the humans do... Instead of running away like he told them. They began stabbing at it with spears and a pitchfork, a heavyset lady took a cooking pot hitting the lizard on the head. He screamed at the humans to stop trying to kill it that those feeble weapons wouldn't work.

Then Shippo warned them that the statue was going to break, couldn't they see the cracks. For all his effort to help save them, what did he get for trying to help. One man through a spear at him calling him a devil in kids clothes. Soon the others began chasing him so he turned tail and ran. He was going to transform when the lizard yokai broke free, the screams from the humans startled him from his transformation freezing him in place. It was then he saw the lizard running towards him. It took a second for him to snap out of his fear.

Shippo ran tossing his mushrooms, using fox magic bringing them to life, throwing his top at the yokai. He yelped running on all fours to get away. Shippo jumped onto trees then using the momentum to jump across to another tree he kept this up until he began to get tired. Using foxfire on the snow to cover his tracks while hiding his scent to confuse the lizard. Shippo climbed the next closest tree to its highest branch. Wiping the tears from his eyes he checked his pockets for anything he could use. All he had was a few acorns, his leaf was torn so he couldn't use it to transform to fly away. So he did the next best thing he could think of. He yelled at the top of his lungs.

"Kagome-mama I need you, where are you?" Shippo huddled at the tip top of the tree hoping beyond hope, his mama heard him. What Shippo didn't know was that another yokai did hear his call and came to investigate. He knew of only one that would call the miko mother. The young fox kit Shippo.

Wiping his sword from the blood of his kill, Sesshomaru sheathed Tokijin in place at his side. The silver haired golden eyed lord of the west sniffed the air understanding why the kit called for his mother. Shippo's scent held fear and hope. One step Sesshomaru blurred before the trees, a ghost within the wind to any who may have been around. Sesshomaru ran scenarios of the why the kit was alone and in danger. Why was he without the monk and taijiya. He saw the lizard yokai begin climbing the tree the kit was in.

A frown upon his face Sesshomaru jumped into the air called forth his hikari no muchi slashing the head of the lizard clean from his shoulders another slash tore through its body cleaving it in half as it fell to the ground. Using his momentum he floated to the top of the tree snatching the kit before he could fall from the branch. His arm held the young kit to his armored chest plate. Sesshomaru informed Shippo that he is safe that the lizard had been dispatched. Not believing his eyes at who saved him, Shippo choked back a sob. Sesshomaru had surprised him.

Never in a million years, would he have believed Sesshomaru to be the one to save him. But he just did, throwing him for a loop as Kagome-mama often worded strange things that happened. Shippo finally got enough courage to say something when he just couldn't get it to fall from his mouth. Sesshomaru narrowed his eye at the kit understanding what he was trying to say. For his part Sesshomaru sniffed the kit making sure he was not harmed. It wouldn't do to piss of the miko just yet. No he'd savor that for later. Landing far enough away from the lizard carcass Sesshomaru began his inquiry.

"Kit why are you alone? Have the monk and taijiya abandoned..." Shippo cut him off before he could say anything further.

"No, no its not like that. I left them so, I could go find my mother Kagome. You know the miko." Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at Shippo for being cut off.

"You dare cut this one from speaking kit?" Shippo looked ashamed and apologized to Sesshomaru for cutting him off. Its just that he didn't want Sesshomaru to think Sango and Miroku abandoned him or lost him when it was his own fault and told him.

"Hn. You believed to find your mother Kagome the miko before or after danger found you?" Shippo gulped, he didn't think that far ahead, but he tried his best and he was on his own for almost half a moon that had to count for something right. So Shippo began his tale when Toran arrived at their camp.

"Then the baka told Kagome that she was better off dead. That with Kikyo having her complete soul back she can protect the Shikon no Tama better than a copy ever could." Shippo took a couple of breaths before continuing.

"Inu baka knows it upsets Kagome, so he says it all the time, just to see the hurt in her eyes. Somehow baka inu found a way to make Kagome compliant to anything he demands. Kagome used to fight back all the time, she used to sit him anytime he was in the wrong so he would learn. But one day, I don't remember when but something bad happened. Kagome just stopped talking, she was quiet, she didn't get to eat much because when baka said he was still hungry and all the food was dished out. She'd give him her food just to shut him up." Sesshomaru knew of the unrest in the group but he never knew it was to this extent.

"Day by day Kagome seemed to lose a little bit of herself as the weeks turned to months. I don't know what Inu baka told Kagome, but whatever it was made her give in to his demands. It was like her soul was being drained. The last straw was when Inu baka forbade Kagome from visiting her family. Its been over six months and she is so sad, believing her family thinks she's dead for not coming home." Shippo growled out.

"Hn... So the half breed abused his authority over the miko to the point of endangering her." Shippo nodded in agreement.

"This one informed Toran of the direction your group camped. The miko having agreed to help Toran set a chain reaction in motion." Shippo gasped hearing this.

"Time will tell if the reaction is received well. All things considered the next few years should prove eventful." Shippo doesn't quite understand what Sesshomaru means but nods anyways.

"Uh... Sesshomaru-Sama where are we going?" Looking down at the kit in his arm he told him deep in the north to a yokai village called Tenbun Oka, where he knew Toran ventured to with the miko, gathering warmer clothes to continue her journey to save the child.

It took two days to reach Tenbun Oka, everyone bowed to Sesshomaru or said his name with reverence happy to see him. Walking to where his second great grandmother's stalls are located Sesshomaru stopped in his tracks noticing it was void of wares and presence. What he and the kit picked up were faint traces of the miko. She was here with his grandmother. His mind came with several conclusions however, he needed more information. Briskly he made his way to the blacksmith.

"Iwatani" Sesshomaru called the blacksmith. Iwatani knew who it was plunging the sword into water to cool, he took it out inspecting it before placing it down on the table.

"What can this blacksmith do for you Sesshomaru-Sama?" The panther bowed to his lord.

"Tell this one of the miko who visited your stall." Before Sesshomaru could finish Shippo jumped on the table looking up at the black panther sniffing around for his mother's scent before he was picked up from the scruff of neck then placed back onto his shoulders.

"Stay, not a word kit." Sesshomaru left no room for arguments when he himself began asking questions about the miko, her purchases and over all appearance. Sesshomaru finally introduced the panther as to who the kit is and the reason for locating the miko.

"The kit you see is the miko's adopted son Shippo, he left the safety of his betters to pursue his mother until trouble struck. This one found him before death could claim him." Iwatani sighed man no one would believe him should he say the lord of the west spoke more than ten words to him. They would believe he hit his head on something before the lord of the west speaking to him.

"The miko purchased weapons and hunting knives, a kettle a few odds and ends to help feed the babes she carried." Iwantani answered a few questions the kit had before settling down, satisfied his mother was fine just tired and hungry.

Sesshomaru asked another question since his grandmother's stall was empty. The blacksmith was kind enough to close shop for the time being to ask his mate if she had anything warm for a young kit knee high to wear. When it was all taken care of Shippo was happy to have a warm set of clothes thanks to the blacksmiths mate Koike who gave him an extra winter outfit along with a fur cloak that wrapped around him keeping him extra toasty. In return Shippo gave her the three rabbits furs he skinned hoping it would be a good trade.

On his way out Sesshomaru set four gold pieces on the table. No sense of having the kit notice he paid for his winter wear. Now it was time to reunite the kit with the miko Kagome. Pulling the kit and placing him between his armored chest plate and chest he told the kit to hang on they were going to use a faster mode of transportation. When asked how, Sesshomaru told him they would teleport using his energy forcing them into a barrier of light in the shape of a ball to get to places far away.

Shippo couldn't wait to go, he wanted to see what Sesshomaru could do using his own energy to transport them faraway. It would be something to share with the others one day. Once Shippo was settled behind the armor, he could see out through a small section of where the armor curved. Hanging on to Sesshomaru's outer haori Shippo waited. Hearing Sesshomaru ask if he was prepared. Shippo responded with a yes. With that Sesshomaru gathered his energy within seconds Shippo gaped at how much power he held.

He could barely breathe let alone hold on, due to Sesshomaru's immense power he gathered when a thought hit him. 'Just how much power did he have?' A second later, they shot off from the ground like lightening speeding across the land Shippo couldn't see anything except a glow of bright white.

End Chapter

I hope you enjoyed this chapter if you find any mistakes please let me know, I do my best to fix them. Please leave a word or two about the chapter encouraging thoughts always leaves a smile.

What do you think about the up coming meeting of Kagome and Sesshomaru? How will she react to him having Shippo? Let's find out on the next chapter.

Japanese Meanings:

Iwatani-san: Boulder valley

Koike: Small pond

Domo Aragato: Formal Thank you.

Fukiya and Datsu – Blowgun and needle-fish (darts).

Kasui/Supaiku: Spike: also used with the fukiya

Gosunkugi: Long nail: also used with the fukiya

Manriki-kusari: Sometimes called fundo-kusari or weighted chain it gained fame as a ninja weapon.

Rei to karada wa futatabi ketsugoo shimasu: Basically meaning spirit returning to meet with the body once again.

Tenbun Oka: Destiny Hill

Yanagi: Iris

Koorime Island: The land of ice and snow in Makai (Demon World, Yu Yu Hakusho) where only ice maidens live.

Koorime: Ice Maidens that live on Koorime Island (Yu Yu Hakusho)

Hiei: Flying Shadow

Yukina: Snow of Emotions (also Snow Vegetables) I thought Snow of Emotions was a better name than snow vegetables... lol

Rui: Kind (The name is pronounced Ree.)

Yareyare: This has several meanings from "No way", "Oh, goodness" or "Sheesh." We say yare two or three times under our breaths when we hear something unbelievable, and want to roll our eyes and shake our heads.

Arashi: Stormy also Storm.

Jinbei: Is a summertime two piece kimono outfit for babies and kids made from cotton.

Food:

Tamagoyaki: Japanese-style omelet

Tsukemono: Pickled vegetables

Takoyaki: Octopus Balls

Onigiri: Rice Balls