" Alright. Chocolate chip pancakes for you, and silver dollar pancakes for you." Sango said as she placed the plates in front of Ami and Keitaro, " Can I get you two anything else?"
Keitaro shook his head no while Ami looked up at Sango, " Auntie Sango, where's Jiro?"
" He's at home, baking with his Daddy." Sango said, leaning her hands on the table.
" Oh," Ami looked down for a second, then looked up smiling, " Do you want to know a secret?"
Sango placed her elbows on the counter, resting her chin in her hands, " Sure."
" I saw Mommy kissing Daddy yesterday!" Ami smiled as Sango's eyes widened and her jaw dropped.
" Kagome!" Sango stood up straight and Kagome smiled nervously, " Were you even going to tell me?!?"
" Uhh, yeah?" Kagome tried, then frowned, " Damn it, where are the customers when you need them?"
" Customers can't save you now." Sango crossed her arms over her chesy, " So you're back together with him, huh?"
Kagome hung her head and rubbed her neck, " I don't know. I mean, I'm still not sure if I can trust him."
" Uh, Mommy?" Keitaro joined the conversation, " I hate to break it to you, but I dont think he's after your money."
Kagome's eyes widened as Sango burst out laughing. Kagome smiled and then reached over, tickeling her son, " I can't believe you just said that!"
" Well, its true!" Keitaro giggled, trying to squirm out of his mother's grasp, " Okay, okay. I give up."
Kagome smiled as the bells on the door rang, signaling that someone had entered the diner. Kagome looked up and saw a familiar looking woman. She was dressed in ripped, light blue jeans. She wore white suede boots over them that came to just below her knees. In her hands she held two large, Coach suitcases. She was also wearing a pink, snug fitting shirt under her white, faux fur lined jacket. Her long black hair was pulled back into a low ponytail, the ponytail cascading over her shoulder. The woman took a shakey breath, " I...am in hell."
" No you're just in South Amboy. Same zip code though." Kagome joked as the woman walked to the counter and sat down a chair away from Ami, " Can I get you anything?"
" Just a cup of tea please...and a muffin." The woman said as she opened her purse and pulled out a mirror, letting out a sqeak as she reapplied makeup to her already flawless skin.
Kagome turnd to get her order, raising her eyebrows at Sango, who smirked and cleaned off the counter. Kagome grabbed a freshly baked mufffin and poured a cup of tea. She walked to where the woman was sitting and set them in front of her. The woman snapped the mirror shut and smiled.
The woman hesitantly took a bite and her eyes widened, " Oh my, Gosh! This food is amazing! Did you make it yourself?"
" Yeah, I did. Thanks." Kagome put on her best fake smile.
" Wow, the only things I've ever successfully made in the kitchen are a big mess and a few small fires. You'd think that getting married I would learn but, " The woman let out an airy laugh, " Apparently his ex-wife is a worse cook than I am!"
" Oh, you're getting married?" Kagome asked as she shook her head yes, " Well congratulations."
" Thanks." The woman held out her hand, showing off a large diamond surrounded by smaller, pale yellow jewelw, " Isn't it beautiful?"
" Yeah." Kagome agreed.
" Kagome!" Sango called from the kitchen.
" Excuse me." Kagome went through a swinging door, leaving the mysterious woman and her kids in the diner.
The woman looked around the room before her eyes fell on the kids, " So, was that your Mommy I was talking to?"
" Yep." Keitaro replied, staring at the woman with furrowed eyebrows.
" Oh...so how old are you?" The woman tried to make conversation.
" Seven." Keitaro's eyes never left the strange woman.
The woman looked at Ami, " And you?"
Ami held up four fingers, " I'm this many!"
"Wow, your Mom just pops them out doesn't she?" The woman muttered dryly.
Keitaro looked thoughtful for a moment, " How old are you?"
The woman looked taken aback, then frowned, " How old do you think I am?"
Keitaro tapped his chin thoughtfully, " Ummm...150!"
" Why you little--" The woman's jaw dropped.
" Sorry about that," kagome smiled as she walked out of the kitchen, " Here's your bill."
The woman glanced at the slip of paper before pulling out some money and setting it on the counter. She stood up and pulled her purse over her shoulder.
" Is there anything else I can get you?" Kagome asked as she wiped some syrup of Ami's chin.
The woman frowned, then smiled, " Actually yes. I need directions to my fiancee's house. Perhaps you know him. His name's Inuyasha Takahashi."
Kagome froze and her eyes widened. Behind her, Sango dropped a plate, along with her jaw, while Ami giggled, " Auntie Sango, you mage a mess!"
" Y-Y-You're engaged to I-Inuyasha?" Kagome stuttered.
" Yeah! Do you know him?" Kikyo asked earnestly as Kagome nodded, " Oh, then you must know his ex-wife too huh? What's she like?"
Kagome's mouth had gone dry and Sango furrowed her eyebrows, " Oh,she knows her pretty well. In fact she's-OOF!"
Kagome elbowed Sango in the ribs and smiled politely, " Let me get you those directions okay?"
Inuyasha's parents house
" Uugh. My head is full!" Inuyasha complained as he sat in his parent's living room with his father and Sesshomaru.
" It's called thinking, son." Taisho flipped the page of his newspaper, " Go with it."
Inuyasha growled lightly before Sesshomaru spoke up," It all comes down to who you love more, little brother. Kagome, the woman you've known your whole life, or Kikyo, the woman you just met, but stole your heart. You need to decide. No one else can make that decision for you."
Inuyasha groanes and rubbed his face with his hands, " This is too hard. When I first came down here, I figured I would drive in, get the divorce, then drive out. But after spending time with those kids, I...I don't think I want to leave Ami or Keitaro."
" What about Kagome? Would you be able to leave her?" Taisho asked and Inuyasha sat silently with his eyebrows furrowed.
" Please tell me you're not thinking of asking for joint custody, because I doubt Kagome would agree." Sesshomaru said coldly.
" Well, then I'd--" Inuyahsa was cut off.
" Don't even think about taking that poor girl to court because your case wouldn't hold." Taisho said expertly, having been a lawyer before retiring.
"Wouldn't hold up? Wouldn't hold up?!?!" Inuyasha stood angrily, " That would be depriving me of my kids! Not to mention the fact that she neglected to tell me about Amy!"
Taisho stood up angrily, seeming to tower over his son, despite the slight difference in height, "Don't you dare assume that she never made any attempt to see you let alone speak to you!"
Inuyasha frowned, " What do you mean?" Taisho simply let out a breath and sat back down, " What do you mean, old man?"
" He means that not only did she call you for over two years, even though you never enswered, but she actually went to New York to find you." Izayoi said, entering the room.
" What?" Inuyasha sat back down, shocked, " When?"
" About two years after you left. She went up to New York to see you and tell you about Ami." Izayoi said.
" Well, why didn't she try to find me better?" Inuyasha said blamefully.
" She did, but then she saw you with that homewrecking little--" Izayoi started angrily.
" The point is," Sesshomaru interrupted Izayoi, " That she realized that she would have to conquer the world in order to get you back."
" She's been trying ever since, no matter how many times she tries to deny it." Taisho muttered as the doorbell ran.
" I'll get that, you boys need to talk." Izayoi left.
Inuyasha sighed and buried his head in his hands. He heard another person enter the room, then heard a loud horn. Inuyasha yelped and covered his ears, looking accusingly at the little girl giggling across the room Inuyasha growled, " Rin!"
Rin just continued to giggle as Sesshomaru and Taisho's heartrates returned to normal. Sesshomaru spoke slowly, " Rin why did you do that?"
Rin looked down sheepishly, " Sorry, Daddy. I thought it was air freshner."
All three adults stared at the little girl. There was a moment of silence before Taisho let out a snort. Then a chuckle, then he coubled over laughin. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru joined in while Rind stood smiling, happy that she wasn't in trouble.
" What's so funny?" Izayoi asked from the doorway behind the chair Inuyasha sat in.
" Nothi--" Inuaysha turned around and his eyes widened as he saw the woman accompaning an angry Izayoi, " K-Kikyo?"
Kikyo squealed and dropped her luggage, " Inubaby!" Kikyo ran forward as Inuyasha stood up. She threw her arms around his neck and squealed again, " Ohhh, I've missed you so much. Paris was so boring withought my Inubaby!"
Uhh." Inuyasha stuttered, " What...Wh-What are you doing here?"
" It's Christmas...Duh!" Kikyo giggled, " You siad you would introduce me to your family before the wed--"
Inuyasha clamped a hand over Kikyo's mouth, chuckling nervously as he glanced around the room, " Uhh, I need to talk to my parents, why don't you go wait over there."
Kikyo smiled happily and kissed him on the cheek before walking to the other side of the room, " Okay!"
Sesshomaru and Taisho immediatly stood up and joined Inuyasha and Izayoi by the doorway. They stood silently for a second before Taish spoke up.
" Would you care to explain what's going on?" Taisho said through gritted teeth while Izayoi and Sesshomaru nodded feverently in aggreement.
" Well, you see. I uh...I ...before I came home, I kinda told Kikyo that I would introduce her to you guys. I wasn't expecting her to come this soon, or with such short notice." Inuyasha said nervously.
" Short notice?" Isayoi said in a dangersously low voice, " What do you mean litle notice?!? We had no notice!"
" Yeah, I know. But--HOLY SHIT!!" Inuyasha yelled and covered his ears as the air horn went off again.
Everyone looked at Kikyo, who smiled sheepishly, " Whoops! Sorry, I thought it was air freshener!"
The family stared at the young model in disbelief while Inuyasha rubbed his neck, slightly embarassed. Izayoi sighed and rolled her eyes, " I have more baking to do. If anyone needs me, I won't be in here."
Izayoi turned to walk off but Kikyo stopped her, " Mrs. Takahashi...Izayoi? Would you mind helping me take my bags to whichever room I'm staying in?"
Taisho raised his eyebrows, " Um, excuse me. Staying?"
" Well, yea. I mean, I can't be separated from my Inubaby on Christmas!" Kikyo smiled.
" I'm sorry. There're no extra rooms. They're all filled." Izayoi said through pursed lips.
" Oh, well then I'll just stay in Yashie's room! Come help me, sweetie." Kikyo cooed as she walked past a wide eyes Izayoi and a red faced Taisho.
Inuyasha decided it would be best to let his parents digest this new information, so he darted past them and grabbed Kikyo's two large suitcases. He nodded his head, motioning for Kikyo to follow him to the staircase.
Everyone was silent for a moment before Sesshomaru started chuckling at his brother's luck. He shook his head slowly.
Izayoi hit Sesshomaru across the back of his head, " What are you laughing at? I don't think this is funny!"
" Well I do." Sesshomaru smirked and Izayoi stormed away, " Where ya going Mom?"
" To call Kaori. That little bimbo is going to completely ruin our plans." Izayoi said furiously.
" Uhh, plans?" Sesshomaru asked his father.
" Don't ask me. I choose to live rather than get involved with your mother's plans." Taisho said, staring interestedly at his wife's retreating form.
" Oh." Sesshomaru looked thoughtful for a second before furrowing his eyebrows, " SInce when does Mom say bimbo?"
Taisho chuckled and then walked to Rin, " Hey, you want to go make a snowman?"
" Yay!" Rin cheered and jumped into her Grandpa's arms.
1 Hour (2 Snowmen) Later
Taisho and Rin entered the house quickly, shutting the door behind them as they shook the snow off their coats. As Taisho helped Rin peel off the layers of her snow gear, footsteps could be heard coming towards them. Taisho looked up to see Kikyo clinging to Inuyasha's arm, who was refusing to meet her eye,
" Uncle Yashie! Guess what?" Rin squealed and ran to him, hugging him around the leg while Kikyo cringed at her high pitched voice.
" What?" Inuyasha asked, smiling at his nieve.
" me and Grandpa made snowmen! And now we're gonna have hot chocolate and cookies!" Rin said excitedly.
A low grumbling was heard and everyone looked to Kikyo, whose stomach was grumbling in hunger.
" Did I hear someone say cookies?" Izayoi said from down the gall as she walked towards them, not bothering to hide her dislike for Kikyo.
" Nana, can I have cookies?" Rin asked, " Grandpa said I could."
" Oh, he did, huh? Well maybe after dinner, you're eating here because Daddy had to run to the office really quick." Izayoi explained.
" Speaking of food, " Kikyo interrupted as her stomach grumbled again, " I'm starving. When do we eat here?"
" We eat her later.." Izayoi started, but Taisho interrupted her.
"You eat her never." Taisho ignored the look Inuyasha sent him.
Kikyo narrowed her eyes and looked Taisho up and down, " Looks like you eat here often."
" Well, I nev--" Taisho began angrily.
" Ok, than. It seems like everyone's getting along just fine. Kikyo, we'll eat out somewhere." Inuyasha broke up the potential fight and grabbed Kikyo's elbow, steering her out of the room.
10 Minutes Later
" Ugh, your family hates me." Kikyo complained as she looked out the window of Inuyasha's car while he drove towards the center of town, " They think I'm crazy."
" Well, I'll admit, you are a little crayz," Inuyasha ignored the look of shock on Kikyo's face, " But compared to my mother, you're like a fart in a hurricane. Now, where do you want to eat?"
Kikyo thought for a second, then pointed, " Oh, oh oh. Park there. I know just where to go."
Inuyasha parked and the two got out. Kikyo instructed Inuyasha to close his eyes, to give this the 'surprise' effetc.
Kikyo led Inuyasha to a restaurant and opened the door, the bells rang to signal their entrance. Before Inuyasha could open his eyes, he was surprised by a shriek then something hard collided with his legs screaming, " You're here!"
Inuyasha looked down at Ami, then up to the counter. Keitaro sat in a chair looking between Kikyo and Inuyasha, obviously making the connection. Sango stoop behind the counter, her arms crossed, her lips pursed in a straight line. Inuyasha glanced at Kikyo, who was looking down at Ami curiously.
" Who's here baby?" Kagome entered from the kitchen, holding another customer;s order. When she saw Inuyasha, she froze and dropped her order, letting it crash to the floor.
" Oh, hello Kagome. I brought Inuyasha to taste your amazing food." Kiyko said happily, not noticing the obvious tension in the air.
" Wait...you two know each other?" Inuyasha asked, eyes wide.
" Oh, yea. She gave me directions to your house." Kikyo explained as Ami tugged, unnoticably on Inuyasha's pant leg.
Inuyasha looked back to Kagome, who was standingin the same spot, staring at the two with an unreadable expression.
Ami meanwhile, let out an annoyed sigh, " Daddy, I'm still here you know."
Kikyo gasped as her eyes widened, " Daddy? You have kids?"
Inuyasha watched as a readable emotion appeared on Kagome's face : anger.
" Kagome...I can explain." Inuyasha said hurriedly.
" Kagome? Wait, you two know each other?" Kikyo asked, but was ignored.
" Explain? Oh, please do. Explain to me how you leave your wife and kids to got to the city. Then explain how you can come back mess with my family while pretending you care And finally, ecplain to me why you never told your fucking fiancee that you have kids, let alone that fact that you're STILL MARRIED!!" Kagome yelled, holding back tears as customers turned to look at her, most already knowing the story and wanting to see what happened.
Kikyo looked confused for a second, then something clicked, " Wait a minute. Inuyasha, how can these kids be your kids, yet her kids at the same time, unless--OH MY GOD!!"
" Yeah, Kikyo. Kagome--" Inuyasha started
" Adopted your kids. Oh course you know her." Kikyo smiled and wrapped her arm around Inuyasha's arm, " I understand completely, baby."
" Ami and Keitaro are my kids...biologically." Kagome growled, annoyed.
Kikyo laughed airily, " But then that would mean that you, " Kikyo pointed to Inuyasha, " And you, " Kikyo pointed to Kagome, " Were...were,ha ha,...m-married!"
Kikyo stopped laughing when she sawInuyasha look away from her. Realization hit and Kikyo's eyes widened, " Oh...my...GOD!
" Kikyo, calm down, okay!" Inuyasha tried to calm Kikyo down before she made a scene.
" Don't tell me to calm down! You expect me to believe that you were married to this, this...this WHORE!"
Kagome's eyes widened and she took a menacing step forward. Sango appeared in a flash, restraining her friend.
" How dare you!" kagome yelled, struggling to get free so she could get to Kikyo, " You... knwo NOTHING about me!"
" Kagome, go back to the kitchen and calm down, " Sango muttered, but Kagome didn't let up, " Please set a good expmple for your kids."
Kagopme immediately stopped and gave one last look at Inuyasha before storming into the kitchen, tears streaming down her face as Keitaro followed her hurriedly. Amiy just stood there, confused. Inuyasha took a step forward but Sango stopped him.
" Leave her alond Yash. She needs to calm down." Sango warned.
" I can go after her if I want, Sango! What shouldn't I?" Inuyasha asked furiously.
" Because she is in a kitchen, filled with knives and pans, and all sorts of things. Plus she's pissed at you." Sango said, trying to manage her own anger.
" You big meanie!" Keitaro yelled as he came out of the Kitched, running towards Inuyasha. Keitaro hit Inuyasa hard in the shin.
Sango pulled Keitaro away, " What are you doing, Keitaro?"
" You made Mommy cry again!" Keitaro yelled, " You're a meanie!"
Inuyasha frowned slightly as Keitaro walked back to the kitchen to comfort Kagome, followed by Ami. For the first time in a long time, Inuyasha felt alone.