Feeling more relaxed after her shower, Kagome sat down on her bed to dry her hair. Dr. Aki's friend, Kito, seemed really nice and not to mention he was good looking too. She giggled at the thought of telling her friends about Kito. They would most likely start to form their own conclusions about his relationship with Dr. Aki and Kagome's possibility of getting together with him. Although she had to admit, he was a pretty good looking guy. Red hair tied back into a pony tail and startling green eyes, it was obvious that he was not completely Japanese descend. But come to think of it, Dr. Aki did not look as if she was completely Japanese either. But really that was beside the point. As her hair dried, Kagome wondered as to why shaking the young man's hand would conjure up the image of her adopted son. Kagome smiled at the happy memories that they had together, but when she reached to the night where she last saw him, the pain came.
Kagome wrapped her arms about her stomach as her chest clenched from the onslaught of her emotions. Silent tears fell as guilt came flooding into her heart. There was no denying it, she had abandoned her son. After all that she had taught him about being responsible, she became the most irresponsible one. She had left him in the care of others without any explanation and never turned back. It was something a mother should never do, although she never doubted that her son would grow up and leave her eventually. But this was different, Kagome had broken a vow to someone who had depended on her and loved her, an innocent child who had his family torn apart by violence once already. The only consolation she offered herself was that her wish would have made him happy in other ways.
Kagome calmed down after awhile and washed the remains of tears from her face before heading down to dinner. In the comforting light of the kitchen and the aroma of comfort food made Kagome feel a little better. She sat down to dinner and joined in the conversation around the dinner table. After her dinner, Kagome aimlessly wandered on the shrine grounds and found herself standing under the Goshinboku. She let out a sigh and looked up at the age tree. How much memories does it hold? Would it be willing to share them with her to give her consolation that the choice she made was the right one? She laid a hand on the trunk and leaned her forehead against the bark. She closed her eyes remembering the very last time that she had done this. She turned when she sensed a presence behind her, and was surprised that it was her mother who had followed her out. She was surprised that her mother would follow her out when usually she would just allow her to solitude.
"You cannot hide forever you know." Her mother's soft voice floated into the night as she walked towards her daughter. Kagome kept her eyes trained on the ground, she would not cry, she would not cry in front of her mother. Kagome felt her mother's arms wrapped around her pulling her into her embrace. "No one ever blamed you for making the choice. You did the best that you possibly can for them. I am certain that they would all be grateful, especially Inuyasha."
Upon hearing the name of her love, Kagome burst into tears sobbing onto her mother's shoulder while Mrs. Higurashi gently stroked her hair. "I don't even know what would happen when I made that wish. I only wished to give them all something they ought to have and certainly deserved. Now that is no way that I could find out the consequences of the wish, whether it worked or not, what if it didn't?" Kagome sobbed out. "I broke a promise, okaa-san, I abandoned Shippou. I abandoned my son and I promised that I would never leave him like that. I left without even saying good bye because I was afraid I won't be able to make the wish if I did. I'm such a terrible person, but I really loved them, with all my heart and soul. I just missed them so much, if I could I would want to be by their side always." Kagome cried.
Mrs. Higurashi just continued stroking her daughter's hair while Kagome continued to sob her heart out. "Oh Kagome…." Was all she could say. She knew her daughter had a strong sense of responsibility or else she would not have risked her life and heart time after time to return to the Sengoku Jedai. Even though Kagome had sever all physical ties with a time that was never hers in the first place, the emotional ties remained and it was those that were eating her daughter alive. She realized that her daughter's way of coping with it was to push all those memories back into the recess of her mind by keeping busy. But obviously it was not working and when something triggers those memories, her emotional barrier collapsed.
When Kagome calm down enough to notice her surroundings, she realized that she was back in her room and tucked in bed. All that Kagome could remember was that her mother came out after her in the shrine grounds and taking her into her arms letting her sob her heart out. She gingerly rubbed her eyes that were sore from crying. She was always a cause of worry for everyone around her. In the past it was her friends, and now it was her family. Inuyasha was right, she was weak. A meow caught her attention. She bended over the side of the bed, picked up Buyo and held him close. The cat snuggled into her arms and fell asleep. Kagome gently stroked her cat's back as her mother had done and decided that she would follow her cat's example and head to sleep as well.
Kilala heard the door of her clinic open and close, immediately she sensed the depression in Kagome's aura. She frowned, the depression was the most intense she had ever sensed from her assistant. What had happened that caused her to be so down?
This cannot be good, Shippou will go nuts. She sighed, there was no way that she could hide this from Shippou, she had promised to keep him informed of Kagome's condition.
Kagome was lost in her own thoughts as her hands automatically went through the daily tasks. She looked up when she heard footsteps coming from the surgery. She quickly put on a bright smile for Dr. Aki. "Good morning Dr. Aki. How was your date last night" she teased.
Kilala blushed at the question and looked at her assistant. It looked like that Kagome was adept at covering her feelings behind that sunny façade of hers. The depression that was in her aura earlier had all but completely disappear. "For your information, Kagome, it was not a date. Kito just happens to be a good friend. I had a great time, thank you for asking." Kilala replied stiffly but her eyes twinkling at her assistant. Kagome stifled back a laugh as Dr. Aki made her way back into the surgery to finish preparing for the day.
Kilala's cheeks were red with embarrassment as she made her way back into her surgery. Surely it cannot be that obvious? But then Kagome had always been more perceptive than majority of human beings when it came to feelings. Shippou had called her this morning telling her that he would be coming by again this afternoon to pick her up after going to Sesshoumaru's office. It would seem that he needs some help moving into his apartment. Kilala let out a very unladylike snort, the kitsune was shameless where Kagome was concerned. He would use every excuse available to meet with her again. But Kilala had to admit, she had never seen Shippou so happy or take so much initiative since his charges died and she wasn't about to stop him if this was what would make him put away his grief.
Shippou whistled a tune as he strolled into the lobby of Sesshoumaru's office building. He stopped at the reception desk and asked the receptionist to buzz him through to Sesshoumaru while giving her his most charming smile. Shippou chuckled inwardly, Miroku was right when it came to women, a charming manner can get them to do almost anything for you, for the receptionist couldn't contact Sesshoumaru's office fast enough. He gave her a wave and another of his dazzling smiles when she told him to go right ahead as he headed for the elevators.
When the elevator reached Sesshoumaru's floor, Shippou nearly gagged at the smell. He had forgotten how smelly Jaken was, fifty years later the hiki demon's scent still showed no improvements. But much to his surprise, it was Myoga that he found there. Shippou grinned at the youkai making sure to say hello. He always liked the cowardly youkai, even though he lacked courage, certainly there was no lacking in his loyalty to Sesshoumaru's family, but that could just probably have been the fact that Sesshoumaru's family could keep him from harm. "Myoga, what are you doing here? I thought Jaken was supposed to handle the business affairs while you handled the domestic or have you decided to be courageous finally and venture into the dangerous water of business?"
The flea demon waved aside the comment that the kitsune made about his courage and indicated that Sesshoumaru was waiting inside for him. Shippou grinned and shrugged his shoulders as he made his way to the door of Sesshoumaru's office. Much like their previous meeting at his house, Shippou found Sesshoumaru sitting behind his desk, except in a business suit rather than a haori and hakamas. The kitsune made his way to the desk and sat down right in front of his mentor waiting for him to open his mouth.
"You will refrain from charming my employees in the future, kit." Sesshoumaru's voice cut through the air. "It is unbecoming, you will not act like a womanizer in the vicinity of my office building."
Shippou fought the urge to roll his eyes at Sesshoumaru's comment. The lord of the western lands was not only an ice prince, but a complete stick in the mud. "Sesshoumaru, I doubted I would have been able to get through to Myoga if I didn't charm your receptionist. I'm pretty certain that you trained her to be wary of anyone who requests an audience with you." Shippou scoffed. "Besides, I am a PR expert and being sociable and charming is part of my job description. Jaken certainly isn't winning any points on that score." Shippou leaned back with a satisfied look on his face. He knows that Sesshoumaru needed for him to deal with the public aspect of the company. During his absence, Shippou was not completely cut off from the public relations and advertising company which he owns even though Sesshoumaru helped him handled the business affairs during his time of depression.
Sesshoumaru growled at the arrogant upstart who sat in his office calling him a conservative. He, Sesshoumaru, taiyoukai and lord of the western lands would not be dictated by a youngling whom he sheltered even though his expertise was his front line defense in the business world. "Very well, you will have the same position you held prior to your self induced exile within my company. I am also giving you back full control of your company as of today." Sesshoumaru decided. "Jaken will also be relieved of his duties in public relations and you will report directly to me."
The kitsune grinned. It was clear that something had distracted Sesshoumaru, for it was rare that he would not be threatening death upon a person who disrespected him. But when he gloated him, Shippou did not meant for Sesshoumaru to turn over all the business dealings back to him. "Sesshoumaru-sama, forgive my earlier impertinence. But as you well know I have been away from Japan for many years and it was you who helped me handle my business during my absence. I would like you to continue to do so, for my western influence might not be beneficial to the company. Also due to my long absence, I am unfamiliar with the current business trends and would require time to reacquaint myself with them. Therefore it would be most beneficial to both your company and mine's if you continue to administer the business dealings." Shippou said respectfully hoping that Sesshoumaru would not doubt the sincerity in his words. Shippou breathed a sigh of relief when Sesshoumaru nodded his head and called in Myoga to finalize the details of Shippou's return and had him inform his business associates about the change. There was no doubt that Kouga would not be the only one who would be glad that Jaken was no longer the liaison for his company.
Kouga looked at the missive that Ginta had given him, looked at Ginta who nodded, and let out a whoop of joy, hitting Ginta on the back. Finally his prayers have been answered, he would no longer be dealing with Jaken for business deals. It was high time that the toad be taught a lesson in public relations. Both Ginta and him were still grinning like idiots when Ayame walked into the office. "What are you guys so happy about?" asked Ayame as she walked up to her mate and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Kouga, continued grinning handed the missive which he was reading. Ayame quickly scanned the letter, her eyes widening in surprise. "Shippou's back? And from now on would be responsible for inter company communications." Looking at her mate and his second in command for confirmation, both wolves nodded and Ayame immediately let out a squeal and hugged Kouga. "Thank you, thank you, thank you, Kami, you have answered my prayers. Finally someone I can actually work with. I swear Jaken was the main reason why grandpa made me the liaison for his company. The toad really has a natural talent in offending people by his stench alone, not to mention his manner." Ayame wrinkled her nose at the mention of the toad demon.
Kouga chuckled at his mate's antics and hugged her to his side. Five hundred years of being together had only intensify their love for each other. Even though she looked a little older, Ayame now has a mature beauty to her face. Her battle toned body had soften to a womanly grace. Despite what Sesshoumaru had said about having illicit affairs with other females in his office and his mate's fiery temper. She was the only one whom he desired physically and her fiery temper just adds zest to their relationship both in the bedroom and out. Kouga could never imagine or want to think about life without Ayame by his side.
Ayame stuck her tongue at Kouga for laughing at her reaction to having Shippou back. She turned to her mate asked "Do you where is Shippou staying right now? We should give him a house warming party."
Kouga motioned for Ginta to answer her. "Well Shippou came back a few days ago, and when he called me to help him look for some digs, I offered one of mine's to him for now."
Ayame clapped her hands in delight, at least her friend would have a decent place to live while staying in Japan. Now that the question of her friend's accommodation is solved, the demoness was curious as to why the kitsune came back all of a sudden. From what she knew, Shippou couldn't leave Japan fast enough fifty years ago.
As if sensing what was on his mate's mind, Kouga took his mate's arm drawing her to a chair, this was going to take some time, while Ginta gave him a look that clearly said 'You never told her about it'. Kouga waved off the look that Ginta gave him. There were some things which Kouga kept hidden for a reason, and Kagome's time traveling activities was one of them. He had loved Kagome like a sister, although he was mated to Ayame, he knew that Kagome would not appreciate other people talking about her rather unique abilities.
"Ayame," Kouga began gently, "why don't we all grab some lunch and take the rest of the day off? There is something I would like to tell you." Ayame nodded knowing that when her mate spoke like that it was important. Kouga looked over at Ginta who nodded in agreement and the three headed out of the office and into the bustling city below.The trio arrived at Kouga's house after a leisurely lunch at Ayame's favorite restaurant. Kouga ushered his mate into the family room where they could talk comfortably for he anticipated that explaining would take a long time.
Kouga was right in the time it took to explain everything he knew about Kagome to Ayame with occasional input from Ginta. He had been worried that Ayame might be angry with him for hiding something like that from her, but his mate surprised him again with her understanding.
Out of all the scenarios that she had imagined about Kagome, she would have never thought that the time traveling was possible. Although she had never personally met Kagome during the Sengoku jedai, Ayame sensed that she was a wonderful and inspiring person to the people around her. Shippou was a prime example of her influence. Ayame had become friends with Shippou when her grandpa brought her into his company to teach her how business was ran in modern times. Shippou was a great friend because he was able to explain to her many things about business that her mate or grandpa was unable to. She felt a sense of loss when Shippou told her that he would be leaving Japan for good. After all both she and Kouga regarded the kitsune to be part of their family even though he was under Sesshoumaru. Now she realize how hard it must be to wait for someone to come back and not knowing whether or not they would know you. Ayame shook her head, that would have drove anyone to leave to preserve their sanity. Ayame decided that a talk with the kitsune was in order and whether her mate liked it or not, they would help Shippou in any way they can.