Chapter 4: Meetings – Part 2

Once they made it to WacDonalds, the group, once getting their meals and such were joined by a few more of their friends.

Some of them weren't from online or their classes, so Kagome didn't know them.

After some time, a beautiful young onna with cat shaped black eyes strolled through the door. She had long hair, a nice figure, and walked over towards them with what Kagome considered a cat like grace.

Her voice, when she spoke, was even cat like.

"Kei…hi….hello everyone."

"Mai…how lovely you look."

Mai grinned at Shukke, but side stepped him when he came closer, to slide into the seat next to Kei, stealing his place. When he saw that he merely rolled his eyes at her.

She laughed.

Mai looked at Kagome and said, "Hi…I'm Mai…Kei's cousin."

"Nice to meet you…I'm Kagome."

Mai nodded.

Something about Mai seemed very familiar to Kagome, but she just couldn't place her.

"Come on my little fire cat, give me at least one hug?" Shukke said to Mai, trying to persuade her to give him at least one hug.

"Only if Kei holds both of your hands…I've learned my lesson," was Mai's reply.

The gang laughed while Kagome tried to process why Shukke's nickname struck a chord with her.

Stealing a glance at Masurao/Inuyasha, she watched as he, without giving anyone else a clue that he was paying attention to her, nodded slightly at her.

She knew something was different about Mai…was she a demon or a reincarnation? She guessed Inuyasha would tell her if he got a chance to.

She settled in for getting to know her and was pleased and how nice and friendly Mai was.

Thirty minutes later, after they had finished a good deal of their homework and were having an afternoon meal, two young onna walked in the door.

Kagome took one look and knew exactly who the taller and more mature one was.

There was no denying that stance.

Even while the looks were slightly different…there was still a type of maturity that hung around the girl's aura like a cloak.

Scanning the WacDonald's crowd and coming to rest on their table, the girls made their way over to them.

Every one slid over to make room for them.

"Hey Masu."

"Hi Koi," Masurao/Inuyasha said, pulling into his arms for a hug.

Kagome was surprised that the jealousy she had once felt was virtually gone. She wasn't annoyed that this onna had the guy she had once loved and still loved, but only as a sister would. Nor was she very bothered by them…she thought they were cute together.

'Am I feeling okay?' she asked herself.

She really wasn't sure.

Once Inuyasha had released the onna, he introduced Kagome to both Akarui & her sister Otome.

Akarui looked very much as Kikyo once had and at the same time, she didn't. Her eyes, gray in color this time, were much softer and friendlier, although her features still had that sharp kind of feature to them. She was still taller than Kagome and much more rounded out, but then again…she was older.

For her part, Akarui looked over at Kagome, eyes widening briefly as she watched the new girl's aura with something akin to awe.

'Hmm…there is more to her then meets the eye,' she thought, but she greeted her nicely… as did Otome.

Kagome didn't have much of a comparison to make with this reincarnation of Kaede. By the time she knew her, Kaede was Kaede obaasan…and she had never seen what she looked like as a young woman, so she just couldn't make comparisons.

As she was just getting used to this new group, a handsome young gentleman strolled over to their table.

He slid into the open seat next to her and said to the group,

"Alright little ones…the college group is here…or will be…so move along, move along."

"Shut up Kin…you're such an ass," Masurao/Inuyasha stated.

"Bite me" Raidon told him.

The rest of them, minus Kagome, muttered likewise statements, although some were not as rude, before practically ignoring Kin completely.

All except for Kagome, who was staring at the new guy who was like a carbon copy of the bandit, Bankotsu.

'Oh Kami, are all these old friends and foes going to end up being reincarnated right in front of me…and most reincarnations are not exact copies…I mean…look at Kei, or Akarui…no…that's not right. Shukke-kun looks exactly like Miroku…and acts ten times worse…how is it possible to get that much lecherous behavior in one person, I'll never know.'

She looked again at the Bankotsu-look-alike who was actually looking at her this time.

"Hi gorgeous…you're new to our table…what's your name?"

'Bankotsu is hitting on me…tell me my life isn't strange.'

"Kagome"

"Oh, from the chat room…I remember you…I'm Kin…would you do me the honor of bearing my child?"

Kagome's mouth dropped open and she said the first thing that popped into her mind,

"Are you related to Mir…I mean, Shukke-kun?"

Kei, Mai, & Masu burst out laughing.

Kei & Mai ignoring the first part, because they weren't sure of the name she was about to utter, Masurao/Inuyasha, because he knew exactly that she meant both Miroku & Shukke.

Kin shrugged.

"If I am, I don't like to remember."

"You are and you know it. They're like 3rd or 5th cousins or something like that."

"Far enough away so that it doesn't matter," Kin muttered.

"Like we'd want some bandits ruining our family standings," Shukke said with a glare.

"As if your line being full of lecherous monks doesn't bring its own shame," Masu stated, making the rest of the table laugh.

Shukke just rolled his eyes at Masu and ignored the sly look on Kin's face.

The group laughed once more.

As they finished up their meals, they were all deciding if they were ready to leave or go somewhere else, when three younger children ran up to their table.

A young raven haired onna with most of her long hair flowing down her back, but one small awkward ponytail sticking up on top of her head, bounded over to lean over the edge of the table, peering up at Masu/Inuyasha she said,

"Masu onii-chan!"

"Hey baby girl…how are you?"

Kagome couldn't shake how much the little girl looked like Rin…and she was so adorable.

"Karen's not a baby…Karen's gonna tell Kachuu-sama you're being mean to Karen."

"I'm not being mean to you…just a little tough. Funuke is meaner to you than I am…calls you a brat and everything, way more than I do…and you always play with him."

"Kachuu-sama tells Karen to…and Funuke-sama let's Karen put flowers on him."

Kagome's heart skipped a couple of beats as the thought of how Kachuu would look at her and how he might greet her.

"That's cause Funuke's a cowardly wimp and he's scared of Kachuu…I, however am not…speaking of which…you're never without aniki, what are you doing here by yourself, Karen?"

"Silly Masu…Karen's not alone. Karen's two friends are here."

She said pointing over to two other children, who eerily resembled Kanna & Hakudoshi to Kagome.

'Now that's just freaky,' Kagome thought to herself.

Both Kanna & Hakudoshi had the same facial features as before, although there were differences.

The Kanna-look-alike's eyes were still black, they weren't completely black as before…and although her hair was still white. But the expression was the same; she wondered if the child resembled the void demon she had once been in emotions or whether she was now like any other child, but just with odd coloring.

The Hakudoshi-look-alike's eyes were not the odd color they had once been, but were now deep brown in color. His hair was also white…and the bored expression on his face gave her too many memories of encounters with his former demon self.

However, there were also differences.

One, their aura's didn't seem to be evil, laced with oddness that was palatable, for sure, but not evil and they were both dressed in modern western style clothes.

You could tell all three had just gotten out of school though, because they all still had their backpacks on.

"I see your friends, but what I asked you is where aniki is?" Masu told Karen.
"He's coming…Kachuu-sama told us to come with Kisho-san, Hoshi-san, & Tomo-san," Karen said, pointing to the two older males who were leaning against the counter, ordering them their child's meal.

When the two older males turned around, giving Kagome a view of their faces, her heart almost stopped once again.

There in front of her, stood Naraku, Jakotsu & Muso.

"Hmm…and what have we here?" Jakotsu said, loudly.

"I'm betting this lovely thing is Kagome, aren't you?" Naraku's reincarnation said.

Kagome felt her skin crawl.

But she didn't let it show as she nodded and said with a steady, calm voice,

"Yes I am…you are?"

'Something about this one is definitely off…not exactly evil, but…,' she thought.

As she caught a look of recognition in his eyes she realized what it was.

'He knows about his past life. Oh dear Kami, he actually remembers me.'

Kagome wanted to flee.

The smirk on his lips and in his eyes told her that he was very much aware of his effect on her and even though he may not be as evil as he once was, he was still wicked enough to enjoy her reaction.

Naraku's reincarnation said, "I'm Makai Kisho. Hajimemashite"

"Higurashi, Kagome. Pleased to meet you as well"

Kisho nodded and bowed and then glanced back at the two children and waved them forward, introducing them,

"These two are my twin brother and sister, Kyoko & Ronin."

"Nice to meet you," both Kyoko & Ronin replied together, bowing respectfully.

She smiled and bowed to both of them in reply.

They were polite, but she wasn't sure if they quite were fond of their older brother the way they kept slightly out of his reach.

It was something for Kagome to ask Inuyasha about later.

Hoshi & Tomo had been quiet up to this point, but both approached her and greeted her friendly, to which she responded in kind.

Hoshi, Kisho, Tomo & the children, including Karen, sat down at a table nearby afterwards, but Kisho sat where he could watch Kagome.

'She is lovely…as lovely as I remember. Pity I can't make her mine like I wanted to do before…well…before I wanted to kill her and that only, but Kachuu-sama would tear me limb from limb if I even attempt to get near her now. Damn dog demon…if only I was as I was before…but alas…that beautiful jewel is no longer of this earth or world…guess that means I need to settle down and become normal…what a boring thought' Kisho reflected, his gaze wandering over Kagome lazily.

Kagome could feel his gaze on her and wasn't sure how much longer she was going to be able to sit there without feeling like she needed to take a shower.

True he was handsome, same dark looks as before; dark brown eyes that you could melt in, instead of crimson ones; longish dark hair that any girl would be jealous of; nice tall frame, etc. If it wasn't for her memory of his previous form and his own lingering memories of the same, Kagome would have loved to drool over him, however, he was just sort of freaky to her.

Akarui, Otome, & Inuyasha stood up.

"We have to be going," Akarui said, "Nice to see you all."

"Bye everyone," Otome said softly.

Everyone bowed and waved as Masurao/Inuyasha sat back down in his seat.

"Why didn't you go with them?" Kin asked him.

"Karen's here."

"But Hoshi, Tomo, and Kisho are watching her."

"But she's my sister, so my responsibility…so I'll stay."

"Whatever man…I'm just saying."

Masurao rolled his eyes.

"If I didn't have my brother and sister and your lovely younger sister with me, I'd love to escort your precious Akarui and her lovely sister home for you, Masurao," Kisho stated, determined to make Masurao loose his temper.

Masurao narrowed his eyes and damn near growled.

'If that bastard thinks I won't try to kill him if he dares to lay a finger on any of MY girls, I'll kill him.' Masu thought, eyes narrowing further as his invisible to human ears laid down low in attack position.

'Oh how my life has been reduced to picking on this hanyou…such a tragedy' he thought with a brief sadness, which turned to wicked pleasure as he saw how much he had crawled underneath Masurao/Inuyasha's skin with his last comment.

As if aware of Masurao/Inuyasha's thoughts and invisible actions, Kisho merely grinned wickedly.

"Don't let him get to you, Masu," Shukke said calmly.

"You know he likes to act all evil but he's really nothing but a fluffy bunny inside," Hoshi said, who had come over to their table to borrow the bottle of ketchup.

Their table laughed at his comment and the mood was lightened a bit.

"Well guys, I think I've had my fill of this day…and I have to get home," Kagome said standing up and stretching briefly.

"You have to go already," Masurao/Inuyasha, Kei, and Shukke said together causing the rest of the table to laugh.

"Yeah…but it's been fun. Besides…I'll see you tomorrow, right?"

They nodded

"Well, see, there you go."

"Goodbye my lovely," Shukke said, but was stopped by Masu, Kei, & Raidon from giving her a goodbye hug.

"What is wrong with a hug goodbye, I'd like to know?" Shukke complained.

"Nothing…however a simple hug is something you could never do. You'd have to grope her butt and I'm not going to stand here and let you do it."

"Jeez Masu…why do you care so much? I haven't groped you're lovely Akarui in like weeks and now you're guarding me from getting a quick one in on…oh…no Kei…I didn't mean it like that."

A loud thump was heard throughout the restaurant and soon the unlucky lecherous man was lying on the floor, unconscious.

Most of their friends burst out laughing.

Taking the opportunity of a quick chance at a grope-free getaway, Kagome wished them goodbye and headed towards the door.

Hearing her name, she turned back, seeing Karen wave enthusiastically at her.

"Bye Kagome-oneesan…Karen will see you later."

"Bye Karen, Oyasumi nasai" she said, while still moving toward the door and bumped into a hard surface.

Head whipping back around, as she prayed internally, to all Kami that would listen to her, that she didn't just walk into a door, she found that she had not. Instead she had run into a well muscled chest.

'Better than a door' she thought, 'but still almost as embarrassing' she bowed apologetically.

Straightening up, and looking up at said chest's owner, she found herself face-to-chest with Sesshomaru.

A/N: You guys are the best…thank you so much for your reviews. They make me feel all warm and fuzzy…oh wait…that's the sweater…but you guys do that for my insides. -

Spunkles