Love and War
Disclaimer: I do not own, or make any money from, the stories of Inuyasha.
All Inuyasha characters are the sole property of Rumiko Takahashi, Sunrise and Viz
All original characters belong to me.
Chapter Sixteen
Three Little Demons in the Modern Age
"WHEE!"
"I'M FLYING!"
"THIS IS COOL!"
"DADDY, I'M A BUDDERFLY!"
"I FEEL LIKE A BIRD!"
"AWWWW. IT'S OVER?"
"NOT FAIR!"
"LET'S DO IT AGAIN!"
Heavy sigh. "Kagome?"
"Hmm. The Well House is still here.", said Kagome.
"The Well House was in the other world, too. IT was never in question.", replied Inuyasha.
"It's dark.", said Kai.
"Daddy, where're we?", asked Izayoi.
"This is the future?", queried Shinta.
"Come on.", Inuyasha groaned, as he held onto Kagome and hopped out of the well.
"It's not closed up.", mused Kagome.
"No shit. Really? What gave you your first clue?", Inuyasha commented.
The door to the well house opened and light streamed in. Kagome shielded her eyes from the brightness,
"Mama?", she called out.
"KAGOME!", her mother shouted out, happily, "YOU'RE BACK!", she yelled, as she rushed over to hug her daughter, "Oh, how I've missed you.", she spoke, tears streaming down her face.
"I missed you, too, Mama.", Kagome smiled into her mother's shoulder.
Her mother pulled away, "I thought I heard voices coming from inside the well house. I never expected ... oh my Kagome, it is so good to see you ... and you too, Inuyasha-kun.", she spoke, hugging him, "And, Kagome, are ... are they ..."
"Let's go inside and relax, mama. So you can meet your grandchildren properly.", Kagome told her.
Her mother clasped her hands together, excitedly, "OH! I have grandchildren! How wonderful!", she exclaimed, as she turned and headed back to the house, with Inuyasha, carrying Izayoi, Kagome, carrying Shiori and the two boys following.
The boys spun around looking at the outside world and sniffed,
"OH!", exclaimed Shinta, "Does it STINK!", he said, wrinkling up his nose.
Kai held his nose, "Yea!", he agreed.
Inuyasha heard their comments and choked on a chuckle. He thought that everytime he came here.
They entered the house and got comfortable in the living room. Mama went to the stairs and called out,
"Father. Souta. Come down. You'll never guess who's here."
Souta bounded down first. He saw their guests and shouted out,
"SIS! Inu-Nii-Chan! You've come back!", he greeted them, hugging his sister tightly.
"Did I hear correctly?", the old man said, as he ambled down the stairs,
"GRAMPS! IT'S KAGOME AND INUYASHA!", he shouted out.
"Kagome!", her grandfather came around the furniture to hug her, "My dear granddaughter! Oh, where have you been, child? Why have you never visited?"
"I'm so sorry, grandpa. But, after we had the children, well, ..."
"YOU HAVE CHILDREN?!", old man HIgurashi shouted, "I HAVE GREAT GRANDCHILDREN? Where? Where are they?"
"It seems that the boys and Izayoi followed mama into the kitchen. But,", she said, lifting the baby off the floor, "here's our youngest. She's a year old. Her name is Shiori."
Grandpa took the bubbly, cheeky child and nuzzled her nose with his, "Ahhh. My baby great granddaughter. How beautiful you truly are."
Kohaku came up to the child, "Hey, Gramps. She's got dog-ears like Inu-Nii-Chan.", he commented.
"Why, she sure does, doesn't she?", Grandpa said.
"Hey kid.", Inuyasha remarked to Kohaku from his spot on the couch, "Ya sure have grown since we last saw ya."
"Like a weed.", agreed Kagome.
"Well, I am 14 now. Did you expect me to stay little forever?"
--
In the kitchen, Mama prepared some food and drinks as the three youngsters investigated the strange surroundings. Watching his grandmother open the refrigerator to get out food and drinks, Shinta peered inside,
"It's cold in here."
Mama giggled and opened the freezer, "It's colder here.", she told them.
"There's ice in that box.", spoke Kai, in wonder.
"What's this strange box?", asked Shinta.
"That's called a microwave. It cooks food very very quickly.", answered his grandmother.
"Where's the fire go?", asked Kai.
"It doesn't use fire. It uses lights.", responded grandmother.
"LIGHTS?", Kai and Shinta chorused together.
"Dose're strange candles.", Izayoi said, looking at the lights on the ceiling.
"How do reach them to put'em out?", asked Shinta, "Ya got a ladder around here?"
"Nope.", answered the woman, "I just flip this switch.", she showed them.
The three stood around and gazed in wonder,
"Ooooooooh."
"COOL!"
"WOW!"
"Do it again!"
Their grandmother giggled and pulled a chair over, "Why don't you try it?"
--
Inuyasha leaned his head back, his eyes closed. The soft chatting between Kagome, Souta and the old man filled the air. Every now and then, Shiori chortled and giggled,
'At least her time is back to normal.', he thought.
He didn't know why, but, he felt the urge to suddenly open his eyes. Something was different. Turning his head slightly, he realized what it was. The light in the kitchen was going off, on, off, on, off, on, off, on,
'What the ...?'
He stood up and walked into the kitchen. Standing on a chair was Kai and Izayoi, with Shinta on the floor. The three were taking turns flipping the switch on and off. Kagome's mom was calmly fixing a tray of food,
"Excuse me?", he queried.
Her mother paused and looked up, "Oh. Inuyasha-kun. I didn't see you standing there. Is there something I can do for you or get for you?"
He pointed to his 3 curious pups flipping the light switch off and on before closing his arms together and looking up at the annoying light going off, on, off, on.
Her mother giggled, "Oh, they're fine. It's amazing how something so simple can keep them so occupied. But, then I guess it's simple to the people in this world. Since you don't have electricity in your world, I can see why they're so fascinated.", she smiled.
He looked at her aghast, "It ... doesn't bother you?"
She smiled a broad smile, "They're just children! No, of course not! I can't wait to watch them discover the other marvels of our world.", she clasped her hands together, "Oh, the fun we'll have showing them around!"
Inuyasha shook his head. Her mother continued,
"I made sure to keep lots of ramen on hand, just in case you came to visit.", she said with a smile, as she picked up a couple of ramen bowls.
Inuyasha's mouth started to water and drool at the sight of his favorite food,
"Do you have dried potatoes, too?", he asked.
"Sure do. Which flavor would you prefer to start with?"
"Anything. As long as it's dried potatoes.", he told her.
She smiled, "You're an easy one to please. Go on in and sit down. I'll bring it in."
Inuyasha turned and dreamily walked back to the couch and sat down, his mouth still drooling,
"Inuyasha? What's up with you?", Kagome asked, staring at him.
"She has lots of ramen and dried potatoes. Your mother is fabulous!"
"She remembered your favorites.", Kagome smiled at him, before returning to her conversation.
Soon, Kagome's mom walked in with a tray of drinks followed by Shinta and Kai, who each carried trays of food. Izayoi came last, pulling a small wagon that carried 3 bowls of ramen for her father,
"Where did you find THAT old thing?", Kagome asked, referring to the wagon.
"It was in the store room. I found it one day and decided to clean it up.", her mother explained "It was perfect for her to pull the soup."
"Isn't that your old toy wagon, sis?", Souta asked.
"Yea. I thought it was long gone.", she commented, as she helped with the food and drinks.
As they became settled, Kagome introduced the pups formally. Mama Higurashi hugged each of them and played gently with their ears, much like any other grandmother would pinch a child's cheeks,
"I don't know what toys I have left from when you and Souta were younger.", mama commented, "I may have to go and buy some."
"Oh, I'm sure that won't be necessary, mama.", Kagome told her, "Modern life will be fascinating enough for them."
"Yup. They already discovered light switches.", mumbled Inuyasha.
Inuyasha happily munched on his dried potatoes and ramen,
"Whatcha got there, dad?", asked Shinta.
"The best food on the planet. Dried potatoes and ramen!", he answered.
Shinta and Kai squinted up their noses, "HUH?"
Izayoi toddled over, "Can I dwy some, pweeze?"
Inuyasha let her take some ramen and then handed her a bowl of chips. She rubbed her tummy happily,
"Dat's weally weally weally weally good, daddy!", she said, excitedly.
That brought a duo of "I wanna try some!", as Kai and Shinta scrambled to their father's side.
Watching her kids get a sampling of ramen and potato chips, Kagome sighed,
"Doesn't take much to get kids hooked on junk food does it?"
Her mother placed a hand on her arm, "It's a treat. When you return to your world they'll eat better.", she assured her daughter.
Kagome smiled, "I know.", she replied.
They group proceeded to eat and talk about benign subjects, just catching up on the past. During a short pause, Shinta piped up,
"Dad. Grandma boiled water in a pot on a swirly metal thing that lit up.", he told his father.
Kagome perked up, "You bought an electric stove?"
Her mother nodded, "Yes. The gas one finally stopped working. Souta had been bugging me to switch to electric. He kept insisting that gas was dangerous."
"Hmmm.", Kagome nodded in understanding.
The topic changed again and the adults were engrossed in a conversation about recent Japanese events. No one really paid attention to the three pups, who walked around the room examining objects. Every now and then, Kagome would look over at them, just to make sure they weren't getting into any trouble. She smiled inwardly as the pups discovered some pictures in frames. She soon returned to the conversation at hand. The discussion was interrupted by a loud,
"WOW! HOW'D THEY DO THAT?", from Shinta.
"MAMA! DAD! THERE'S PEOPLE INSIDE THIS BOX!", shouted Kai.
Izayoi walked all around the strange box, "How do dey get in an out, daddy?"
"They've discovered the television, I see.", observed grandpa.
Kagome broke away from the group to sit beside the three amazed youngsters. She began explaining in simple terms about how a television works. Inuyasha found himself gravitating toward her to hear her explanation.
--
After dinner, Kagome took the children upstairs for a bath,
"Where we get the water from, mama?", Kai asked.
"Where's the well and buckets, mama?", asked Shinta.
Kagome smiled, "Here, we don't need buckets and wells.", she told them, as they followed her into the bathroom,
"What is that strange seat thing?", Shinta asked.
"Huh? It's the toilet. Didn't dad show you ...", she broke off her sentence when she realized the three were staring at her blankly, "Where have you three gone to the potty at?", she asked, half afraid to hear the answer.
"In the tree thingys.", said Kai, as Shinta and Izayoi nodded earnestly.
"Yea, we didn't wet our pants, mama.", Shinta insisted, proudly.
Kagome's heart fell, "What tree thingys, exactly?"
"Da ones in da big bamboo pots in da woom down dere.", Izayoi proudly announced.
Kagome's hand hit her forehead, "You mean, my grandfather's prized banzai trees in the den?", she gulped hard, "Oh no.", she breathed.
"So, mama, how do we take a bath?", Shinta changed the subject.
Realizing it was too late to do anything now, Kagome proceeded to show them the running water. The pups "Ooooh." and "Aaahhh." at the so called "magic" she showed them.
After finishing their bath, Kagome took the time to correct them on their potty habits while in this world and fascinated her brood once again by flushing the "peeing pot." as Kai termed it.
After managing to get three curiousity filled demon pups to bed, Kagome settled Shiori down to sleep. Inuyasha removed his hitoe and relaxed on Kagome's bed while Kagome settled herself at her desk in front of a laptop computer.
Turning it on, she proceeded to the internet search engine and typed in what she was looking for. Inuyasha gazed over at her,
"Whaddya doin'?"
"Hm? Oh, I just wanted to look up something, that's all. I won't be long."
"HMPH! Better not. I need to be taken care of here.", he cockily threw his comment at her.
She turned around to look at him and saw that he had removed his pants and was stroking a hard-on. She closed her eyes and shook her head and giggled,
"What's so damn funny, wench?"
"You."
"What about me?"
She shook her head again, "Nothing. Forget about it."
"NO! I won't forget about it. You need to take care of me, wench! That's your job, remember?"
Kagome got off the chair and knelt down. Extending her arms, she bowed,
"Oh, yes, my beloved master. Thank you for maing sure I know what my job is. I will take care of you, oh master."
She moved back to the chair and Inuyasha huffed,
"HMPH! Damn right, woman. At least you know who's in charge here. Oh, and by the way, next time? It's LORD AND MASTER! Remember that bitch!"
Kagome smiled at his feigned attempt at control. She turned back to the computer. Her site hits were up and she clicked on a couple. Pulling out the small parchment scroll, she studied the screen and the scroll. She eventually took a pen and some paper out of the drawer,
"Hmmm. The Chinese calendar year was ..., ok ... and the period started here ... ok, ... and then this when ... ok,", she mumbled to herself as she worked.
"Kagome."
"And then this occurred ... hmhm ... and then ..."
"Kagome."
"Ok, and then this ..."
"KAGOME."
"Alright, now add this ..."
"KAGOME!"
"And ... alright .. and then ... hmhm ...and ..."
"KAGOME!"
She spun around, "Who? What? What's the matter?", she spoke quickly, holding her racing chest.
"What's the matter? WHAT'S THE MATTER?! ME!! THAT'S WHAT'S THE MATTER!", he scolded her, "YOU'RE IGNORING ME!! DAMMIT! I DON'T LIKE BEING IGNORED!"
She sighed heavily, "Geez, is that all?"
Inuyasha's face screwed up, "HUH? Is that all? ISN'T THAT FUCKING ENOUGH, WOMAN!"
"Oh, stop your barking, Inuyasha. I'm nearly done here. Geez, you'da thought the house was on fire!", she groaned, turning back to the computer.
"You'da thought the house was on fire.", Inuyasha mimicked his wife comically, "It had better be worth the goddamn wait, wench!", he huffed.
Kagome moved her pupils to the corners of her eyes to see him as she made a face at his demands. Shutting down the computer, she folded away the scroll and paper she had been working on. Standing up, she walked over to Inuyasha and look down at him,
"Bout time, bitch."
"Stop calling me bitch, will ya."
"Bitch!"
"Inuyasha."
"Bitch!"
Heavy sigh. "Inuyasha ... do I need to say it?"
Inuyasha sat up and grabbed her around the waist, pulling her on top of him, "My bitch!", he whispered in her ear.
Kagome started shaking her head as Inuyasha planted a heavy, heated kiss on her lips.
--
A couple days later, Kagome informed Inuyasha that she had to go somewhere. Naturally, he pushed for more information,
"Where?", he demanded.
"Out.", she replied.
Inuyasha crossed his arms,
"Kagome!"
"Inuyasha, I just need to go somewhere. I won't be that long. I promise."
"Can I go with you?"
"NO! Absolutely not!"
"How come?", he commented sarcastically.
"Uhh, you need to watch the pups ... that's why.", she explained, happy with her excuse.
"Try again."
"Huh?", she looked at him, confused.
"Your mom and Souta took the 4 of them out shopping for clothes and stuff. They left early this morning, right after the meal."
Kagome sighed, "Alright. It has to do with the time portal. Specifically, where we were after we went through the portal."
"That Hogwarts place?"
"Not exactly. I want to find Hideki. You know, see if I can get some information or ... something."
Inuyasha's eyebrows raised, "Or something? What are ya sticking your nose into again for no good reason other than you are extremely nosey!", he said, stressing the one word.
"It's not that ... hey! I am NOT 'extremely nosey.', as you so eloquently put it."
"Pffft Couldn't prove it by me!", he countered, "Besides, why can't I go?"
"Duh! Dog-ears?", she said, pointing to the top of her head with both index fingers.
"DUH! I can wear a cap now, can't I? I always have before! Why is this time any different?"
Kagome sighed heavily, "I give up. You win. You can come."
Inuyasha cockily folded his arms across his chest and stood up straight and tall, "Damn right I win. You need to remember who's in charge here, woman."
Kagome rolled her eyes and began to walk away, thinking,
'Yea, dodo, it's me ... you know, the one with the subjugation command?', but, she ignored his attitude and proceeded to allow him to consider himself king.
--
Kagome and Inuyasha retraced previous steps from a previous time to the alleyways that Hideki had led them through to his home. Rapping on the door, they waited. The door opened,
"May I help you?"
"Hideki.", Kagome said, with relief. She had been afraid he wouldn't be there.
"Do I ... know you?", the young man asked.
Kagome smiled, "No. You don't. And, you shouldn't. My name is Higurashi Kagome and ..."
The man opened the door further,
"THE Higurashi Kagome?"
"HUH?", Kagome looked at him strangely before turning her gaze over to Inuyasha, who just looked back at her and shrugged, "You know me?", she spoke, astonished.
"Professor Dumbledore of the British Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry spoke very highly of you. One of my own professors, Professor Takeda, was a close friend of Dumbledore's. That's how I heard of you.", he began shaking her hand, wildly, "I am SO happy to meet you! Dumbledore was right! He said you would visit us around this time. Wow! To think the famous time-traveling girl is standing right in front of me! I am so impressed.", he gushed.
Kagome blushed 10 shades of red at the commotion he was making,
"Oh. I am SO sorry. Won't you come in, please?", he offered.
Kagome smiled, grateful for the chance to get out of the alleyway, "Alright."
She and Inuyasha entered and Hideki began staring at Inuyasha. Inuyasha looked at him, annoyed,
"Got a problem?", he asked.
"Pardon me for staring, but ... you wouldn't happen to be Inuyasha, now, would you?", the young man gushed again.
Inuyasha and Kagome looked at each other in disbelief. Kagome looked back at Hideki,
"Dumbledore mentioned Inuyasha?"
"Yes. Yes, he did. Are you REALLY a demon?"
"Uhh ... yea ... ", Inuyasha dragged out his response.
"Hmm. Except for the hair and eye color, you look human enough.", Hideki observed.
Inuyasha shook his head and proceeded to bare his teeth and claws. Hideki stared in disbelief. Kagome finished the show by lopping off Inuyasha's cap with a flourish,
"Dog ears.", Hideki cooed in awe.
Kagome replaced Inuyasha's cap, bringing Hideki back down to earth,
"I nearly forgot. Professor Takeda told me that if you did show up ... I was to take you straightaway to the Tokuyama School ..."
"Of Witchcraft and Wizardry.", Kagome finished.
"Exactly.", he spoke in awe of her knowledge, "And you're not even a witch!"
"Why am I to go there?", Kagome asked, her curiosity piqued.
Hideki shrugged, "I don't know. That's just what I was told. Do you want to go right now?"
Kagome looked back at Inuyasha and shrugged, "Sure. Why not?"
"Ok. Then follow me."
Hideki went over to a wall in the back of his tiny apartment. Inuyasha watched curiously as the young man removed a cabinet from in front of the wall, revealing a fireplace,
"HUH?", he spoke, almost imperceptively.
Hideki took a small urn down off a shelf,
"Floo powder.", Kagome realized.
"YES. YES. That's right. Wow. Dumbledore was right. You do know alot about our world."
Kagome shook her head, "I read the Harry Potter books.", she told him, trying to curb his adulation.
"But, still, you can time-travel. Even the strongest wizard hasn't mastered time-travel without a time turner."
"Well, just think of my portal as a different kind of time-turner.", she said, sweetly.
"Oh. Ok. Well, so you know how to use the Floo Powder?", Hideki asked.
"I've never used it. I only read about it.", she told him.
"Well, you take a small handful, step into the fireplace, state clearly where you want to go and then release the Floo Powder. It's easy, really."
"Uhhh ... and where do we want to go exactly?", asked Inuyasha.
"Just call out Tokuyama School and release it.", Hideki told him.
Inuyasha stared at him like one would look at a lunatic, but, Kagome reassured him,
"You can handle the well. This'll be a cake walk."
"I never said I was worried.", he looked at her.
She patted his arm, "Who do you think you're talking to, Inuyasha? You can't fool me."
"Shall we?", Hideki asked, holding out the urn.
Kagome reached in and pulled out a small clump. Standing in the fireplace, she held out her closed fist,
"Tokuyama School.", she stated clear and distinctly as she released the powder and disappeared.
"Inuyasha?", Hideki held the urn out to him.
Inuyasha reluctantly reached in and took some powder. Following Kagome's lead, he recited, "Tokuyama School" and released the powder as he disappeared.
When he landed he practically fell over. Catching himself, he stood up and walked out of the fireplace,
"That was weird.", he commented when he saw Kagome.
"It sure was.", agreed Kagome.
Hideki soon joined them,
"I see you made it here safely.", he said, relieved.
"This is the Japanese school of witchcraft?", Kagome asked no one in particular as she looked around the room where they were.
"Yes. Come with me. I'll introduce you to Professor Takeda. He is the headmaster of the school now."
Inuyasha and Kagome followed Hideki down a long hallway and then up a huge, regal staircase. Walking down another hallway, Hideki stopped in front of a large oak door,
"Pepper Steak.", Hideki called out.
Inuyasha stared at Kagome, "He's ordering food at a time like this?"
"SHHHHHHHHHHH!", Kagome hushed him.
The door slowly opened to reveal a set of marble, spiral steps,
"Follow me.", Hideki urged.
The pair followed their host as he led them up the stairs and into a huge room filled with windows overlooking the majestic Mt. Fuji. Kagome "Aaaahh'ed" at the sight.
Hideki called out, "Professor! Professor Takeda!"
An older man, short, with graying hair and wire-rimmed spectacles came through a side door,
"Hideki! What a pleasure to see you again. Tell me, who are your guests?"
Hideki started to gush like a fan girl all over again, "Professor, this young lady is none other than Higurashi Kagome and her husband Inuyasha!"
The Professor gazed at Kagome and Inuyasha for a long moment before removing his glasses and wiping them with a cloth before putting them away. He reached out his hand to greet them,
"The pleasure is all mine. Dumbledore told me amazing things about you. Please, come. Sit down."
Inuyasha and Kagome sat down with Hideki and the professor following suit. After a good twenty minutes of more fan girl gushing, Takeda stood up,
"I wish this could be on better terms.", he spoke, sadly.
"What do you mean, Professor?", Kagome asked.
Takeda turned to face them, "I know that Albus truly wanted to meet you. He really did. But, I'm afraid to say ..."
"He's dead.", Kagome spoke softly, finishing his words.
Takeda looked a bit taken aback, "You know this from the books, I take it."
She nodded, "Yes. What about Wetherby? The books never mentioned anything about him. Is he still alive?"
"Wetherby?", Takeda looked at her in shock, "JOHN Wetherby?"
"Yes.", Kagome looked at him curiously, "Why?"
"I am truly surprised you know of John Wetherby. Only the people closest to Albus knew of his lover John."
"Lover?", Kagome asked, quizzically.
"Yes. John Wetherby was Albus' true love. After his death in 1860, Albus never loved anyone else, I'm afraid. John's death destroyed Albus on the inside.", Takeda talked softly.
"You said, Wetherby died in 1860. How did he die exactly?", Kagome asked.
"Oh. He never told you how, did he? It was terrible. Truly terrible. It was because of Tennyson Malfoy. His family never was worthy of the title wizard, but, I digress. Malfoy used a stronger version of the Confringo explosive curse. Confringo Maxima. I shudder to think of it. Destroyed most of downtown London, I'm afraid. Poor John was killed when a building collapsed on top of him. Sad ending, really. Tragic."
Kagome swallowed hard and realized Inuyasha was looking at her. He hadn't been able to get through the portal and he knew nothing of what had occurred on the other side. She could tell by the look in his eyes that she would have some explaining to do when they got back to the shrine.
"Anyway,", Takeda spoke again, "Albus requested that I give this to you when you came to visit us."
He handed Kagome a medium sized, blue swirled, crystal ball,
"It's beautiful. What is it?", she asked.
"It's called a Pensive Ball. Very similar to the Pensive Bowl only this is designed to be portable. In case you want someone far away to see what you saw. I believe Albus left a message in there for you as well.", he told her.
"How ... do I use it?", she asked.
"It's simple. Just hold the ball to your forehead and close your eyes. The ball will do the rest."
"Thank you. Very much.", she stood up and bowed to the professor.
He bowed back. They chatted some more before Kagome and Inuyasha took their leave and returned to the regular muggle world and to the Higurashi Shrine.
--
A/N: So much for my prediction. This ISN'T the last chapter. I still had too much story in my head. I thought I could finish it in one more chapter but, nope. Just to be safe, I'm not going to predict that Chapter 17 will be the end. It should be, but, I need to cover a bit more to set the stage for the third installment. Enjoy.