Okay, it's super short so I'll post another chapter too, happy?

This one isn't of very much significance, other than Kagome bonding with the children.

And I give up tryign to write shit in foreign languages! I always do it wrong, confound it. So I'll stick to good old English… and maybe some Krazzie. I'll never screw that up, considering it's my own language!

Disclaimer: I am loathe to admit that Inuyasha, as well as all characters incorporated with it, are not mine to claim.

Ties of Motherhood

"Mommy!" Shippou exclaimed jubilantly as she entered the gardens.

Opening her arms as the young kit flew at her, Kagome grunted as his weight sent her tumbling backwards.

"Oops," Shippou mumbled in an embarrassed manner, "I guess I'm not as small as I once was."

Laughing and taking Yumi into her arms, Kagome replied, "I guess not." Eyes swiveling to the young brunette, Kagome lifted an inquisitive brow and queried, "What's the matter, Rin?"

The young, chocolate eyed girl stepped forward, fingers twined together in front of her as she asked quietly, "Are you and Sesshomaru-sama going to leave us?"

Lips parting slightly, Kagome answered uncertainly, "Only for a short time. It will be like any other time, I promise. We'll come back." In the back of her mind, she hated saying those words, knowing that she very well might not return. But what was she to do in such a position, tell the girl they were leaving and that there was a good chance they would never see one another again? She hated giving Rin such an unsure answer, but it was the only thing she could do for now, other than hope she was right.

"Rin heard the soldiers talking about the war. Is Kagome-chan going to die?" the young human girl asked, a tear streaming down dirt smudged face.

Brows creasing, Kagome knelt and opened her arms to Rin and Shippou as well, hugging them all tightly when they came to her. "I'll do what I can," she told them honestly, trying to think how to word this. "In wars, people die, and I can't say it won't happen to me. I will, however, try as hard as I can, so that I can come back and see all of you again."

Looking to each one of them, from Shippou, to Yumi, to Rin, the beauteous young priestess assured them, "No matter what happens to me… you never have to worry about being alone. I'll always be with you… I love you, you're my children. Shippou," she whispered, smiling brightly at the sprouting young kit, "you've been such an important part of my life for so long." Brushing his reddish bangs from his eyes, she gave him a wink and turned her eyes to the small, crimson haired demoness. "Yumi," she went on, tapping the youth on the nose before continuing, "though I've only just met you, I've grown so attached to you."

Chocolate orbs fell to the moist soil; a small, sandaled toe digging a small groove into the dirt as the young, human girl sniffled quietly to her self. She had always had Sesshomaru to protect and care for her; yet watching the closely knit relationship that Yumi, Kagome, and Shippou shared caused feelings of jealousy and neglect to well within her. She had always looked upon Kagome as a mother figure, and had made it a habit to pray that, some day, the young miko would see her as a daughter.

Shifting her eyes to Rin, who was staring at the floor in a sorrowful manner, the miko finished, "And Rin, you too are my child. I know I haven't been there for you as long as Sesshomaru-sama, but I'd be honored if you would call me mother."

Bursting out into tears, the two young girls wrapped their small, fragile arms around the young priestess, sobbing loudly and burying their reddened faces into her clothing.

Shippou tightened his features and attempted to look tough, crossing his arms and muttering, "Yuck, mushy stuff."

Jade eyes regarded the trio of females carefully, and the maturing young kit could do naught but pray to the gods that they would watch over his mother. She was the world to him, and he didn't know how well he would be able to hold together should he lose her again.

He could only hold his act for so long before he too broke down and embraced his adoptive mother. "Mommy, I don't want you to go! I've lost you once already, please don't leave me again!"

When Inuyasha had visited them all those years ago, bearing the terrible news, he had been crushed. His parents had been taken from him as a baby, and then, just as he had grown to love Kagome as he had his biologic mother, she had been torn from him as well.

After having felt the pain first hand, losing her was not something he wanted to go through again. He needed her. Yumi needed her. Rin needed her. She was loved by far too many to die.

Hearing the young man's beseeching tone, Kagome turned to him and replied, "I have to, baby. You know I'll always love you, and that I'll never leave you. Even if you can't see me, I'm still there. As the man in this family," she whispered, "I want you to promise me that you'll take care of these two no matter what."

Wiping the tears from his face, Shippou nodded and whispered, "I promise, mommy, no matter what happens."

Cupping his cheek, she praised, "That's my boy. You're growing into a fine young man, Shippou, and I'll be watching over you every step of the way."

Rising, the blue eyed priestess suggested, "Why don't we just forget about that for now and have some fun?"

The remainder of the afternoon she spent playing with the children, frolicking in the luscious gardens that speckled the lawn. Evening found them near the pond, dirt and grass stains smeared across their clothes.

"I've got one!" Kagome announced triumphantly, lifting her cupped hands in the air. When the children scurried over to scrutinize her catch, she moved her thumbs slightly so the lot of them could peek in.

"Wow," Yumi exclaimed admiringly, "that's a big one!"

"Yeah," Rin agreed.

Kagome chuckled and peered through the crack in her fingers to admire the frog she had caught. Indeed it was a fine specimen, and was almost too big to fit in her closed hands.

"Kagome, what are you doing?"

The young, filthy miko turned her head to look up at Sesshomaru, who was standing over her with a questioning look on his face.

Beaming like a child, she stood up and lifted her hands. "Look what we caught!" she chimed excitedly. Opening her hands, she revealed her big catch to the stoic demon Lord.

Looking down into her palms, Sesshomaru lifted a quizzical brow when he spotted the speckled green blob sitting comfortably in her hands. Large yellow orbs regarded him in a blank manner, and the creature croaked; a deep, gravely sound that caused its chest to puff out like a ball.

The frog blinked once before promptly leaping out of her hands, landing right on the tall demon's head.

The young miko couldn't stop the laughter that bubbled in her chest, and soon the lot of them was bursting at the seams… well, not including Sesshomaru.

Eyes lifting, the regal youkai sighed and lifted his own hand, a single finger sliding beneath the amphibian and lifting it from its perch atop his crown. Placing it back in Kagome's palms, he informed her, "Dinner will be served shortly."

His gaze roved her body once before he added, "You had best wash up, koi." Removing a leaf from her tangled black locks, he kissed her once on the lips and turned to go and prepare himself for the meal.

Sighing, Kagome ambled to the side of the pond and placed the fat old frog near the waters edge. Watching as it leapt from her palms into the murky water, she turned and instructed, "Time to clean you scamps up!"

Awe, how cute. Can you imagine how silly Sesshomaru-sama would look with a fat, green frog on his head? He'd probably squash the creature for 'assaulting his person'. I love it when he says shit like that! Mmm… I'd love to assault his person… if you know what I mean. (HENTAI GRIN)

I would be most thrilled if you would all assess my work. It would mean a great deal to me.