Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho or Inuyasha

Summary so far: So, Sesshoumaru's evil and killed Rin a long time ago. He kidnapped Keiko who was one of Rin's descendants and used her blood to free a chamber where his swords had been sealed. Kagome and her friends proceeded to get their asses summarily kicked and Sesshoumaru lets them go after seeing that Kagome lied and still has the Shikon no Tama.

Now, to something with a slightly lighter tone.

Chapter 5 - Aftermath

Kagome had stared at the ceiling of her room for a long time after she was left alone in the room given to her by Genkai. Most of the time she was obsessing over Kurama's cold statement. Oddly enough her thoughts kept turning to fretting over her mother when she wasn't thinking of those words. I had been almost six months since she had seen her. Her friends were injured, Sesshoumaru was going to go one a killing rampage for all they knew, and she wanted to see her mother.

Her thoughts turned to the shrine, its calming aura, and her mother's welcoming, forgiving smile. She sat up in bed and went to look for some paper. Minutes later there was a note attached to the door and Kagome had a jacket on over the shirt and jeans. She had more clothes at home, yet more at Sesshoumaru's castle. Obviously she wasn't going to the latter. In her head, she used the clothes as an excuse to the former Detectives. To her own family - and this included Kuronue and Shippo - they would know where she had gone when they saw her.

She was surprised that it was already late afternoon when she started out. As she paused in the doorway, Yusuke appeared from the room where all of the injured were being kept and paused himself with narrowed eyes, watching as she disappeared. He glanced back at the quiet sickroom, then to the door and grabbed his jacket, grumbling under his breath.

He caught up to her as she boarded a bus to Tokyo and took the seat next to her, smirking smugly when she jumped. She glared back at him, and pursed her lips. "I would have been back in a few hours. I left a note."

"Didn't see it," He said cheerfully, still congratulating himself on getting close to her without her even sensing him, never mind seeing him.

"Suddenly wishing my powers recovered faster," She muttered, swiftly deflating his ego. For a little while.

"That's what you get for sneaking off without telling anyone. So, Kurama filled us in on his bit, and Kuronue gave us some pieces from when he was awake before he passed out for the third time, but we still don't know what happened to Keiko, exactly. She isn't waking up. And your kitsune isn't being very talkative. Where are we going anyway?" Yusuke didn't bother hiding his grin as he glanced past her annoyed face to the passing landscape.

"I don't know, I wasn't there. If she's not awake, maybe she stepped on Rin's memories. And we are going nowhere. I'm going to visit someone." Kagome glared at him and shifted as far away from him as the limited space of the seats would allow.

"What's a rin? Who are we visiting?" His eyes lost a bit of their playfulness. He didn't trust them enough t let her go anywhere after that stunt last night. By all accounts if Kurama hadn't followed them, they would have died and he and his friends would never have been able to prepare for the major threat this demon was turning out to be.

"Rin is a who. Kuronue didn't explain about her? She's Keiko's ancestor." Kagome ignored the last question. She didn't want to answer. He wouldn't understand the sudden need she had to go and see her mother. Or perhaps it wasn't so sudden. It had just it had become a tad desperate at the close calls the night before.

"He didn't mention a name, or these memory things." More intent on finding out what was wrong with Keiko, he let the other matter drop. He would find out eventually anyway.

"Rin had been into blood magic. Actually, I guess you could say it was her specialty. Her power was with that kind of magic. So when her blood was spilled on Sesshoumaru's floor near the door... Well, the memories of her last moments were put into it, I guess. None of us know how she did it, or even if it was on purpose. Only a few can actually feel them. Keiko probably got it worse because she's blood." Kagome glanced out the window and willed Yusuke to be quiet for once. Her memories had turned to a little brown haired girl. She didn't even know what Rin had looked like when she was older, not really. Shippo's descriptions were never enough.

Yusuke, for once didn't press on. He couldn't think of another question to ask her. She had explained it all, and she hadn't arrived before Kuronue did. There was nothing left to ask, and she looked tense enough to start yelling and make a scene if he pushed anymore.

The bus ride stretched on for what seemed like forever to Kagome, but was in reality, only a couple of hours. Yusuke fidgeted after the first ten minutes of silence and continued fidgeting the whole two hours to Tokyo. Kagome was never so glad to get off of a bus.

She proceeded walking while Yusuke was still looking around curiously. It was a familiar part of Tokyo. Her feet even took her part of the way to school before she realized there was a shortcut to her home. She ignored Yusuke's looks and her pace quickened as more familiar sites came into view and the outskirts of Tokyo came closer. She didn't know how long she had walked, and she didn't care. She stopped in front of familiar steps and stared upwards.

Yusuke stared at her, then up the steps. He didn't see anything special about this place. "So? Is this it?"

"Yeah. This is it." She climbed the steps slowly, savoring the familiar feel of them beneath her feet. Then she lost her composure and bolted the last few steps and stopped long enough to drink in the sight of her house, standing unchanged, and the well house, old and dusty, and the top of the God Tree that she could see rising up.

"That's one big tree," Yusuke remarked from beside her. Kagome didn't pay any attention. Two people had appeared in the doorway and she saw her mother's hand go up to her mouth, those warm eyes blinking back joyful tears.

Kagome had crossed the space between them before her brain told her she was moving. Right now, her heart controlled her every move. She flung herself into her mother's ever welcoming arms. "Mama," She whispered in relief, in love, in apology. She said a thousand things with that one words, and her mother hugged her tighter.

"Kagome," She murmured back, and everything was forgiven. Kagome's grandfather looked on a few moments before Kagome disentangled herself and brought her grandfather in a much more gentle hug. It was much less needy, but every bit as loving.

Yusuke was studiously studying the tree he had earlier commented on, feeling like coming had been a very bad idea. She wasn't checking up on anything battle related. She wasn't even planning something. She had come to visit her family. Yusuke felt like a bit of a jerk, especially since he could see Kagome brushing away a few of those tears he knew she needed to let out.

"Why don't you come over here?" A friendly voice called, and he looked over to see the middle aged mother smiling at him. He stared, listening for Kagome's rebuttal to her mother's invitation. When it didn't come he turned confused eyes toward Kagome. He lips were quirked into an amused smile and he was only more confused by the relaxed aura she was giving off. She was never relaxed. But she tilted her head toward her home - her true home - in an invitation of her own, and he found that he was stepping toward them.

It was not a few hours before Kagome returned home. In fact it was only late in the morning, after Yusuke had slept on an oddly comfortable couch and had a very nice home cooked breakfast that Kagome's mother saw them off, a funny look in her eyes as she saw watched Kagome step out ahead of him. He paused to identify it as worry. He ducked his head and left and wondered how Kagome could have left that to go fight demons.

He hadn't even realized they'd been convinced to stay the night until he was halfway unconscious on their couch anyway. He had managed a peek into Kagome's bedroom before they left and had stared at it until Kagome had, blushing furiously at his gaping, shut the door in his face. Only then had he burst out laughing.

She was holding a bag full of clothes. He was carrying a few pounds of food. He looked sidelong at the miko at his side and decided she was looking peaceful enough to tease. "I'm going to savor that memory and use it for blackmail at a later date."

"There's nothing wrong with my room," She said, pointedly staring away from him. "Pink is a perfectly nice color."

"No, really, you could use it as a confusion technique. Present them with your kicking ass attitude and then proudly show them your 'nice' room with its lovely pink and cream coloring." He grinned at her.

"Shut up. I happen to like my room." She paused for a moment. "Mention it to Kuronue and I'll lace Mama's cooking with poison."

He faked a horrified look. "Evil woman."

He leaned forward a bit and quietly congratulated himself on a victory at the smile she was attempting to hide. She looked... better with this visit. He hadn't even realized that the depressed, angry girl he had been seeing was the normal her. This was better. This fit her.

"You know, at least I left a note. You've been gone over half a day and aren't even in the closest city to that shrine." She was more serious now and he could see her reflecting on those they were probably making worry.

"They're used to me wandering off once in awhile. They won't be too worried. Forget about it." He paused a moment. "What was with that tree? It feels odd. And you spent over two hours out by it before you went to sleep."

She gave him a startled look and he rolled his eyes. He wasn't unobservant. He did notice when someone spent an unhealthy amount of time snuggled up next to a tree during a cold evening. Plus her grandfather had spent all of those two hours questioning him relentlessly. For a powerless old man, he was certainly fearless about demons. It was a good thing those wards didn't work.

"It's a bit of a special tree. Many powerful souls have been buried within its roots and it has been soaked in a line of mikos and monks. The line skipped a couple of generations to Souta." She had a small wistful smile on her face as she spoke and he almost missed the turn into the bus station as he observed the change in her.

"And you," He reminded. She seemed to be hesitating about something.

"Well... Technically it's not just genetics with me. My soul once belonged to another miko." She turned her head away from his searching gaze when her tone darkened with other emotions.

"But if it works in genetics, could that soul have still been yours if your parents hadn't already passed on the ability?" Yusuke honestly had little to no idea about genetics, reincarnation, or anything else. But he didn't like that tone of voice and would rather have her being silent and thoughtful than talking and depressed. She was a bit crazy when she was depressed.

He hadn't been far off. For the first hour of the bus ride she was quiet. But he didn't fidget this time. Instead he munched on the food they had been given, until Kagome looked up and noticed him gobbling it down and snatched it from his fingers.

A few sulky moments later he was startled to notice she was licking her fingers to catch the crumbs from one of the desserts in the small plastic containers. Her look back was a mix between defensive and sheepish, and the last hour had them stealing the food from each other every few minutes until the driver hissed at them to keep it down and no rough housing. Kagome shocked Yusuke by sticking her tongue out at him.

"What? I can act childish too." But she did look embarrassed. He would have found some way to tease her about it, but it was their stop and Kagome was scurrying off. He laughed softly and followed her.

They both stopped and glanced at each other when they came close to the shrine. Kagome wondered why no one else could feel the angry and frantic emanations from the shrine. She opened her both, saying inanely, "I think Shippo and Kuronue woke up."

"I think everyone is pretty awake," He grumbled as they came to the steps and he heard a high-pitched shriek of anger. "Including Keiko."

Kagome laughed at his expression. "Regretting that she woke up before you were back? I'd say this is perfect punishment for following me." She tried to joke her way to the door, but hesitated before opening it. The decision was taken out of their hands.

"So what's yours?" Shippo growled as he tugged her inside. She gulped at the three pairs of eyes glaring at her, one brown, one blue, and one green. Yusuke was already being screamed at by both Botan and the girl who Kagome reminded herself must be a fully recovered Keiko. Kurama was adding comments and Kuwabara was glaring at him disapprovingly. Then she lost sight of them as she was pulled into the kitchen for a little privacy.

"Where were you?" Shippo growled out first. They all looked prepared to keep going no matter what she said.

"Home," She answered immediately. Kuronue opened his mouth, then looked confused and shut it again. Kagome continued, "I needed clothes. Yusuke followed me onto the bus. Mama invited him in," As had she, though she carefully left that part out. They wouldn't understand how her heart had gone out to the young man when he had stood there, looking for all the world as if he didn't even know what "family" meant.

"I know it was silly, and I shouldn't be wandering off at a time like this... but I needed this. I've been so... I can't explain it. I needed to see Mama, and sit near the tree, and be home. Sesshoumaru doesn't know where we are, so I thought it was safe. I just... needed a break. I needed a little recovery time." I don't want to be a weapon, part of her cried. Weapons didn't have mothers or grandfathers, or awkward almost-friends who laughed themselves silly at the color of her room or looked as if he'd never tasted food before her Mama's cooking fell on his taste buds. People had these things, and she had needed to remind herself of her past and why she was doing these, and of the world she was protecting.

The jewel, while powerful, was just a jewel. She could control it, sure. But she would decide when and where, not anyone else. She wouldn't be used, not by her friends, and not by Kurama.

The three males were staring at her and Kagome felt a little smug at their speechless state. She waited and Shippo finally managed to look annoyed. "Damn it, Kagome. You aren't supposed to just explain yourself like that without us working ourselves up first."

Kagome stared at him in astonishment. They all did. Then, slowly, she began to giggle. They all followed her. If the laughter was a bit hysterical, no one would blame them. Laughter was as good as tears, and easier to recover from. When they finally stopped, focussing on the floor and telling themselves not to look at each other, there was silence in the other room and were on the floor.

Souta recovered first, ignoring the stunned silence of the next room. "I don't suppose you brought home any food?"

Kagome rolled her eyes, but smiled, cherishing this relaxed time before they would have to return to being fearful and panicked. "Males. Always thinking with their stomachs. We ate some of it, but Yusuke has the rest."

Souta's eyes almost glowed as he sprung to his feet and out the door. The cry of "Food!" was heard before an unmanly yelp was heard from Yusuke and a Souta zoomed back into the kitchen, closing the door behind him and glaring at the other three occupants. "Do you know how long it has been since I've tasted Mama's cooking?"

"You know, I've not tasted it for over five hundred years," Shippo said, edging forward.

"Wow. Must be good," Kuronue said, staring at the kitsune and human circle each other.

"I guess so. I mean, it is good, better than most homemade cooking, but I'm not sure it's the taste itself. Mama makes things oddly sometimes. I still think its just males. I've never responded to it this way," Kagome said proudly, ignoring the memories of the bus ride.

"Says the girl who kicked me in the shin to steal some of it back," Yusuke muttered in amusement from the doorway. There was a crowd of shocked humans, demons, and one grim reaper behind him.

"What are you doing?" Keiko asked of a frozen Shippo as he finally snagged one container from Souta. The rest were on the table. In Shippo's were a number of desserts, though only half filled now.

"Um," Shippo said elegantly. Souta suddenly lunged for it, backing away smugly, only to have it liberated by a shameless toushin. Kagome had edged closer to the doorway and promptly took it from him. Kuronue, in exasperation, took it from her and then quickly put it into the refrigerator nearby. He glared firmly at the rest of them.

"Save them for later. When you can split it evenly," Kuronue stated, looking threatening.

"Yusuke and I should get more since we brought it here and Mama gave it to us," Kagome said, deciding it was better to be sharing it - or stealing it - from one person than many. Yusuke caught the hint but didn't get to say anything.

"Hey! I'm her son, I deserve at least as much as people unrelated to me," Souta protested.

"I'm related by adoption! I'm her grandson and everyone knows grandmother's spoil their grandchildren!" Shippo exclaimed triumphantly.

There was a sudden pause as three pairs of eyes glared at Shippo and Yusuke and his friends switched their gazes between Souta, Kagome, and Shippo with confused eyes. Kurama's were narrowed.

"You know, there are some pretty far fetched legends about a hanyou, a monk, a taijya, a kitsune child, and a girl who claimed she was from the future," Kurama told the room, watching Kagome's suddenly frozen expression.

"Are there now?" Kuronue asked neutrally, but his eyes were boring into Kurama's. Kurama bared teeth that certainly weren't supposed to be pointed. After Kuronue's recent adventure he didn't see why he owed the bat anything.

"Time travel? Really, that's just stupid," Souta scoffed believably. Kagome swiveled to stare at him before wiping the surprise from her face. She didn't need this now. She didn't need her whole past flung out for a bunch of near-strangers to see.

"I'm sure you thought that telling anyone Keiko was at the dog's castle was stupid too," Kurama said sharply. Souta froze. Shippo growled low in his throat, and Kagome wasn't sure whether it was at Souta or Kurama. Her own eyes narrowed.

Enough was enough. "Come on," She said suddenly, sharply, and gripped the back of Kuronue's shirt as he opened his mouth rebelliously. She tugged him out of the room, and felt Shippo and Souta follow.

"Is there anything you can fight anymore? Or will you just run away from everything?" Kurama taunted, pressing his advantage.

"Kurama," Yusuke spoke sharply, glaring at the startled kitsune. "Shut up."

Kurama raised a curious eyebrow, but backed away from the subject, instead simply staring at the four retreating backs with calculating green eyes.

Sesshoumaru was the only one standing at Kagura's grave. There were others nearby, warily paying respect in hopes he wouldn't destroy them. But only he stood directly near it, his eyes contemplating the mound of dirt that were now piled on top of the wind youkai. The last tie had been set adrift. Sesshoumaru looked up.

There were children of two others who had been there, who had known her, but those two were not here themselves. There was no one left who tied him to Rin. Nothing but the swords at his side. Tenseiga was dark and cold. Tokijin screamed for blood. Tetsusaiga waited, rusted and cracked and a sharp reminder of two hanyous he couldn't beat but had been perfectly content to decimate each other.

His brother had been his to kill, if he had wished it. In the end, he had cared little about killing Inuyasha or receiving Tetsusaiga, but he still claimed the privilege of ending his life if he had wanted. But Naraku had cared little about his right to the hanyou's life.

And then he had Tetsusaiga, the sword that was useless to him, but was permanently his. The hanyou had left behind no progeny to give it to. Sesshoumaru was the last of his line. In his most clear-headed moments he knew he would probably always be the last of his line. Especially now. There was no dog demon that was worthy of him. There was no dog demon that would willingly have him. He had given the sword to Rin. She had once said she thought she knew how to unlock it for him. Tempting as it was, it was his brother's sword. He told her to do with it what she would.

She had locked it away. And then later, when Kagura had urged him to take care of some demons that had been talking of rebellion, she had stolen the last two swords. She had told him he was becoming cold. "I want my Sesshoumaru-sama back," she had said so long ago.

She had locked the other two swords away as well, locked with blood magic. That had been the end of that discussion - and the end of her. She had dared too much, and his claws had ripped her to shreds before he could control himself. The one time he had lost control and regretted it.

"This is your fault too," A voice said from the shadows. He raised his eyes from the grave of his last tie to her and the last tie to then and saw one he thought was dead.

"I would say it is the miko's," He returned. Black eyes glared into his. He was faintly surprised. He had thought her long dead. He had thought she had died with her father. Instead she had... grown up. Not much, but she looked like an adult and not a child.

"I would say Kagome gave her the true freedom she desired. You had put a cage on her. Too demanding and too aggressive. In return, she changed you. You were such fools," The dry voice held anger and contempt, despite the cold, blank face.

"I suggest you leave. You are her sister, so I give you one day to leave my land before I hunt you down, along with everything else." Sesshoumaru turned away and ignored the rest of what she said.

"There's no point to this destruction. Destroying all traces? It won't get rid of the memories." The female said it slowly, evenly, no emotion tainting her voice now.

"Kanna, come away. We should run. Get away from here before it begins." The new voice took a moment to register. Sesshoumaru turned regally to give the new woman a scrutinizing look. They were both gone when he turned, as were most of the wolves. Even the most loyal to him were fading into the forest. His lips twitched into a faint smile. It didn't matter. Nothing mattered now.

He caressed Tetsusaiga at his side, no longer crackling like it had done the day before. Rin had certainly done her research. One sword that thirsted for demon blood, another for human, and the last that would protect him from harm. He would only need to use one at a time, so his lack of two arms would not matter. He could always borrow one.

End Chapter 5.

Thank you to:

Ryokotsusei, VB, GreatestAnimeFreak, tbiris, and Kawaii Craziness for reviewing! Please do so again!

Winged Knight: At this point, whether Yusuke could wield Tetsusaiga in its original state is a bit of a moot point. It is an interesting concept, and I've thought it over before, but I'm still not sure. I need to see/read the explanation episodes again I think, to properly figure out the web of Yusuke's blood. I mean, he has a nucleus now, so he seems more demon that human, but he still thinks like a human... Anyway, I'm glad you liked it, and I hope the slightly lighter tone of this chapter wasn't disappointing.

Jem46: I don't think you did review before, but I'm glad you did now. I tried to make it as original as I could, and it is hard with so many ideas already used out there. Thank you for noticing.

FoxylilRaven: No, I think I'm basically off my kick of pairing Kurama with Keiko most of the time.