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 Seventeen
A Final Farewell
Inuyasha and Kagome walked up the stairs to the shrine,
"So. That went well.", Inuyasha commented sarcastically, changing the previous topic of discussion.
"Yea.", agreed Kagome, "If you like being treated like a manga character."
"Manga ... character? What the hell's that?", Inuyasha looked at her.
"Oh nothing. Nevermind.", Kagome waved him off.
"Speaking of nothing,", Inuyasha stopped at the top of the stars and crossed his arms, "Wanna fill me in on what happened on the other side of the portal?"
"That wouldn't be my first choice, no.", Kagome replied.
Inuyasha opened his mouth to make a smart assed remark, when the air became filled with shouts of "Mama! Daddy! You're back! Guess what?"
Inuyasha turned to face the three running pups, as Kagome sighed, "Saved by the kids. Thank goodness.", she sighed.
The kids began rapidly trying to tell their parents about all that they had seen on their trip out that day. Inuyasha hushed them up as they walked inside,
"Slow down. One at a time. Please!"
Kagome and Inuyasha sat on the couch. The pups stood around them, waiting impatiently to talk. Kagome's mom brought a tired and cranky Shiori to Kagome,
"She's absolutely exhausted but, she refuses to go to sleep.", her mother informed her.
Inuyasha took the little girl from Kagome and cuddled her, speaking softly to her,
"I forgot to tell you, mama. Shiori really tries to stay awake until Inuyasha is home. He has to hold her and talk to her for her to sleep. It was very rough in the beginning if Inuyasha had to leave home to battle a demon. As she's gotten older, she seems to know when daddy won't be able to hold her before bedtime and when he will. I guess this was one of those times that she knew he should be here."
"That's incredible.", her mother mentioned, as she watched the little girl nod off in Inuyasha's arms.
"MAAAAAA-MAAAA!", Shinta whined anxiously.
Kagome smiled at her son, "Ok. We're all ears. Tell us what you saw today."
The kids had difficulties awaiting their turns as they told their parents about trucks and cars and grocery stores and phones and planes and video game arcades and Souta's video games and trains and WacDonald's and all the people and ice cream - especially ice cream. That topic took nearly an hour to share. The kids were breathless by the end and Inuyasha was speechless. Kagome looked at her mother,
"I thought you were buying clothes?"
"Oh, we did. I also picked up some nice clothes for Inuyasha-kun to wear while he's here. I hope I picked the right size. He looks like your father's size, Kagome.", she spoke quickly.
"Uhh. Sure.", Kagome agreed.
"I'm sure you both are hungry. Let me go and start dinner.", her mother said, standing up and going into the kitchen.
Souta yelled in for the pups to come outside and they ran after him. Inuyasha picked up the sleeping Shiori and went upstairs to tuck her into bed. Kagome reached inside her bag and felt the crystal ball that Takeda had given to her. She really wanted to use it, but, decided now was not the time. She stood up and went into the kitchen to talk to her mother.
--
Kagome and her mother chatted as her mother cooked dinner. Mama looked up and gasped,
"Inuyasha-kun."
Kagome whirled her head around,
"What's up with you?", she asked, increduously, "You're totally soaked."
"Your brother introduced the pups to something called a Master Blaster.", he spoke through gritted teeth.
Kagome's mother covered her mouth with her hand and began to giggle. Kagome wasn't that discreet. She ended up in a full blown belly laugh at Inuyasha's drowned rat appearance. Her mother spoke,
"I'm sorry. I purchased them for the kids. I thought, since it's not electronic, it was something they could take back to your world to play with.", she explained.
It was Kagome's turn to look shell-shocked. Her mind raced with images she didn't care for,
'Three young, mischievious demons, running around Feudal Age Japan, with giant water guns and freezing cold mountain stream water.', she covered her eyes with her hands to try to block out what she imagined, 'The villagers are gonna love me! NOT!'
--
After dinner, Kagome went outside, alone. Inuyasha went looking for her and found her underneath the go-shin-boku. She was staring at the tree trunk,
"Kagome?"
She turned toward him and smiled. The descending sun's rays glinted off her raven hair that fluttered in the breeze. He was sure he had never seen such a beautiful sight before in his life,
"Are ... you alright?", he asked her, softly.
"Yes. I'm alright.", she replied back, her voice barely above a whisper, "I'm ... just ... remembering."
He gazed into her eyes, losing his soul into their chocolate depths. For all his false machoism, his cocky bravado, his lack of tact, his naivete ... he could never be accused of not being able to read Kagome's soul when it truly mattered. He smiled warmly back at her, signaling to her his comprehension of what she was saying in those chocolate brown orbs. He came close, laying his hand on her arm, and kissed her gently on the forehead,
"I'll be inside should you need me.", he whispered to her.
Kagome's smile never faded as she watched him turn and return to the family home. She turned her attention back to the ancient tree. After gazing at "Inuyasha's spot" on the wood for a while, she took a deep breath and sat down on the bench. She pulled on the pretty, blue-swirled ball and stared at it, examining it carefully,
"Now is as good a time as ever.", she said to herself.
She placed the orb against her forehead and closed her eyes. She understood immediately why you needed to close your eyes as the world began to spin. As the spinning eased off, she opened her eyes. Gone was the go-shin-boku and the shrine altogether. Instead, she was in a regal looking room with many ancient items. Looking around, she realized from the items present that she was in Dumbledore's office. This was confirmed when Dumbledore entered and walked over to the Pensive Bowl. Holding his wand to his temple, he began to speak,
"My dear, sweet Kagome. If you are seeing this Pensive Ball, then you know I am dead. I am very sorry I never had the chance to met you again in this modern era. I wanted you to know how impressed John and I were at your's, and Miroku's, astounding bravery.
I felt you should see what occurred that dreadful April night that we defeated Tennyson Malfoy. After this message, you will be taken there.
You are probably wondering ... why you remember the incident when others do not and you should not. It is simple. I used a memory charm on you before the portal was destroyed. It affects only you, fully, and then proceeds to branch out to the people closest to you who fought against Tennyson Malfoy yet, only extends enough to those able to time travel like you for they are the ones who need to remember. While you carry the memories of the horrors, you also carry within you the power to prevent another event like this from occurring again.
Now that you have returned the world to how it should be, an owl will be arriving shortly bearing something for you. Use it well.
Dear Kagome, that is all I have to tell you. You made a profound impact on my life in our short time together. And, for that, I am forever grateful.
My love to you,
Albus Dumbledore
Headmaster, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
She watched Dumbledore pull his wand away from his temple and place the silvery strand into the bowl. Approaching the bowl, she peered inside, as she recalled Harry doing in the book. She felt herself being drawn inside the bowl.
As her vision cleared, she realized where she was. It was London, England in 1860 ... the night Nishimura/Malfoy was destroyed forever. She felt strange as people walked right through her, as she stood at the top of the alleyway. She looked down the alley and saw Miroku waiting and behind him ... was herself ... feet askance, right arm raised, hand extended. She saw the energy swirling around her hand.
Nishimura/Malfoy turned the corner and ran right into Miroku and Kagome.
"It's the end for you, Nishimura!", Miroku stated, smiling a wicked smile, "You're going where you belong!"
"YOU FOOL!", Nishimura/Malfoy screamed, "IT'S NOT OVER YET, MONK!"
Malfoy grabbed his wand and screamed out, "CONFRINGO MAXIMA!"
Nishimura/Malfoy grinned at them when he yelled those words. The ground began to shake violently all around them, knocking Miroku and Kagome off their feet. Screams were heard from the streets as buildings collapsed, horses reared and neighed in fear, loud explosions rang throughtout the town and people ran for their lives,
"AN EARTHQUAKE?", Miroku yelled.
"NO!", screamed Kagome, "A CURSE!"
Nishimura/Malfoy laughed as he began to float over the two. Miroku reached up and grabbed the man's pants and yanked him back down to earth,
"OH NO YOU DON'T!", Miroku screamed.
Nishimura/Malfoy tried to aim his wand at Miroku,
"AVADA ..."
Kagome managed to get on her knees with her arm raised and hand extended,
"NOOOOOO!", she screamed, as she sent off a burst of energy towards Nishimura/Malfoy.
The quaking earth knocked her off balance, sending the spell off kilter but, still managing to dislodge his wand,
"WENCH!", he screamed at her, his eyes bugged out wide.
Miroku took his chance and slugged Nishimura/Malfoy knocking him aside.
Kagome found herself nearly in tears. She watched as Dumbledore rounded the corner and the sky turned black. It was the dementors. Hordes of them began swooping down towards them She watched Miroku pass out. Dementers landed all around Nishimura/Malfoy and proceeded to apply the Dementor's Kiss. The man's screams of anguish chilled her as they did when it had occurred. She realized then that the Kagome in this image had already passed out.
She watched the portal image in the wall begin to shake and hiss ... almost as if alive. She began to wonder how she and Miroku had escaped, alive, when she saw it. A giant, black circle floated through the portal doorway,
"The Meidou!", she whispered to herself.
The Meidou began sucking in dementors and, eventually, Malfoy's lifeless body. As the chaos continued around Dumbledore, he seemed fascinated by the black hole that had appeared. She watched as Dumbledore raised his wand and saw his lips move softly. She witnessed her lifeless body glow with an unknown light,
"The memory charm, I presume?", she spoke, again to herself.
She stared at the Meidou, curiously, wondering why it didn't suck in her, Miroku or, even Dumbledore. She even found herself fascinated at the length of the curse and the destruction it caused. It was then she saw what she wished she didn't have to. The buildings on each side of the alleyway began to crumble. From some unseen place, Wetherby shot forward and proceeded to push, first Miroku's, and then her body through the portal, saving their lives but, losing his in the process. As the chaos subsided, and the Meidou disappeared, she cried uncontrollably as she watched Dumbledore start frantically searching through the debris, calling out John's name is horror.
The image began to fade from view and Kagome found herself back in modern era Japan, sitting beneath the go-shin-boku. She looked at the orb in her hand,
"Thank you, Wetherby, for saving us. And, Dumbledore, I feel saddened for you and your sacrifice. Thank you for everything. Goodbye, old friend."
She wiped away the tears from her eyes and cheeks as best she could. Returning the orb to her pocket, she stood up and gazed again at the tree before re-entering the house.
Inuyasha watched her quietly as she prepared the pups for bed. He sensed a sereneness about her but, also, extreme sadness. Even the pups seemed to realize that their mama was different at the moment and quietly complied with all her requests. His eyes followed her movements until she started taking the children upstairs to bed. Standing up to follow, he heard, for the first time, her family's soft murmers of curiousity about her behavior. As he walked up the stairs, his mind decided that her demeanor must have something to do with the orb she received at the magic school.
He waited on the bed in her bedroom. He inhaled deeply, smelling the sweet scents of both his wife and infant daughter. He closed his eyes just as Kagome entered with Shiori. He listened to her talk quietly with the baby. He had already said his goodnights to the child and Shiori gurgled for a bit then fell quiet. He could tell by her fragrance and breathing that she was fast asleep. He opened his eyes and watched Kagome undress. She came over to the bed, nude, and stared at him, a soft smile gracing her sweet features,
"Is that how you are going to bed, Inuyasha?", she spoke softly, but, her eyes had a lustful glint in them.
He looked down at his fire-rat outfit and back into her eyes,
"Help me?", he teasingly begged her.
She readily complied and, after taking off his last piece of clothing, she wrapped herself around him, kissing him deeply, fully, hungrily on the mouth. Breaking apart for air, she gazed deep into his golden orbs,
"Thank you. Inuyasha.", she whispered to him.
He looked taken aback, "Well, you're welcome. But, what are you thanking me for?"
"I just am.", she replied softly, as she proceeded to kiss him lustfully again.
Inuyasha leaned back on the bed, his arms, heart, and mind filled with his Kagome. That night's lovemaking played out like a quiet, religious epiphany. If he hadn't believed in something, anything, before, he surely believed now.
--
The next morning found Kagome sitting at the table with her grandfather and mother eating a large meal,
"I didn't realize I had slept so late.", she commented between bites, "I'll have to have a talk with Inuyasha about that."
"Now, dear. A mother is usually grateful when the father cares for the children and allows the mother to sleep in. I would think you would have enjoyed the extra rest. You must have needed it.", her mother scolded her, gently.
Kagome stopped eating and absorbed what her mother said, "You're absolutely right, mama. I guess it's my Feudal Era ethic. I usually have so many chores that sleeping in isn't an option."
"Doesn't that demon assist you with that? Or is he just lazy?", her grandfather chimed in.
Kagome got huffy, "No. Grandpa. His lazy butt is usually fighting a demon for payment, or hunting for food, or working the fields, or repairing the house. I'm sure he would be most interested in also cleaning the house, washing the clothes, making the meals, making new clothes for the children ..."
"I get the point.", Grandpa mumbled.
Kagome watched her mother's gaze revert to the doorway and her body begin quivering with giggles. Following her mother's gaze, she saw what made her laugh. Inuyasha stood in the doorway, growling, covered head to toe,
"MAMA? SILLY STRING?", she bit back her giggles.
"They ambushed me.", Inuyasha growled out through gritted teeth.
"I figured they would enjoy it. I know it really is a waste of money ... but, I enjoyed it so much as a child.", her mother smiled.
Still attempting to surpress the urge to giggle, Kagome asked,
"Why not buy them marbles or dominoes, or chinese checkers, or jump ropes or, for that matter, even a bicycle?"
Her mother simply smiled her motherly smile and began clearing the breakfast dishes. Kagome stood up and took Inuyasha by the hand,
"Let's get you cleaned up."
In the bathroom, as Kagome picked off strand after strand, she told Inuyasha something she had learned from the Pensive Ball,
"The wizard, Dumbledore, used a memory charm on me. That's why I remember the whole incident. And, since you are close to me and can use the well, plus you also fought against Nishimura, it has extended to you. It is so we can make sure it doesn't happen again."
"Great!", he groaned, "Do ya think I'll ever get to live a normal life where I ain't responsible for the well-being of the entire friggin' world?"
"Nope!", she replied, confidently, "All hopes of that ever happening disappeared when I awoke you from the spell.", she smiled, deviously.
"So, you're saying that you are to blame for all my misfortunes.", he teased back, with a perfectly straight face.
She glared at him, her fists on her hips, "WELL! Remind me never to come to your rescue again, you ungrateful dog!"
Inuyasha couldn't control his grin at her "anger." Kagome shook her head at him, as she smiled back and playfully slapped him.
They headed back downstairs and walked into the living room. A few, small, female grunts filled the room,
"Izayoi?", Kagome asked.
The little girl came out of another room. The reason for her grunts became clear,
"BUYO!", Kagome said, "I've been wondering where you've been hiding."
Inuyasha giggled at her attempts to carry the huge cat,
"Ugh ... bi..ig kitty.', Izayoi huffed out.
Inuyasha took the cat from her, "Buyo. I think you gained some weight.", he commented.
"I wanna kitty.", Izayoi announced.
"You have a kitty.", Inuyasha said to her.
"No, I don't", she replied back with a pout.
"Yea, ya do. Kirara.", he replied.
"Dat's Auntie Sango's kitty. Not mine."
"We don't need a kitty. There are plenty in the village for you to feed and care for.", Inuyasha stated with an air of finality in his statement.
Izayoi crossed her arms and pouted. Inuyasha ignored her attempts at sympathy. Kagome wondered just how long his resolve would hold out, knowing that the girls had him wrapped so tightly around their little fingers he couldn't breathe. She almost made a comment when Shinta walked in,
"Mama? Dad?"
"Yes, Shinta? What is it?", Kagome responded.
"Uhhm ... can you come outside. You gotta see this."
Kagome and Inuyasha exchanged curious glances before following the boy outside,
"Where's Souta?", Kagome asked him.
"He said he was going to see his girlfriend.", Shinta told them in his small voice, "It's just me and Kai outside."
He led them to a tree at the edge of the shrine. Kai was staring up into the branches. Shinta pointed to a branch. Inuyasha squinted to see,
"Yea. So. It's an owl. Big deal. We have owls in our world.", he told the boys.
"But ... its got a letter.", Kai informed him.
Kagome had been staring in disbelief at the owl from the moment she saw it. Dumbledore had mentioned she would be receiving an owl soon. But, it still surprised her,
"It's for me.", she told them.
"You?", Inuyasha asked, increduously.
The owl flew down and landed on the grass in front of her. She reached down and removed the envelope. The owl seemed to bow to her before it flew away,
"I've seen alot of strange things in my world, but, this one has all of them beat.", Inuyasha commented, in awe.
"It's from Gringott's Bank.", she mumbled softly.
Inuyasha stared at her, "From where?"
"When Miroku and I went through the portal, we had no money to eat, because Japanese Feudal coins couldn't be used in 19th Century England. But, I found a shop that dealt in antiquities and, well, what was new to us was old to them. I sold the shopkeeper what I had for 1000 pounds sterling - British money. After we ate, we realized just how much money we really had. Well, to shorten the story, when we visited Hogwarts, Dumbledore and I spoke briefly about money. I mentioned the British money I had and offered to donate it to the school since I wouldn't need it once I returned through the portal. He said he would take it to Gringott's - the wizarding world's bank. I thought he intended to use it for the school, but ..."
"That's money from the bank, then?"
"Yes.", she said, opening it. She pulled out a letter and proceeded to read,
"Dear Miss Higurashi,
We thank you for investing your British pounds into our bank. As per the request of Mr. Albus Dumbledore, we have sold your investments and liquidated your money as soon as we received an owl announcing that you had returned. Enclosed you will find a check converted from Galleons to Japanese Yen. The current exchange rate was very favorable to this conversion. Again, thank you for being a loyal Gringott's customer and we look forward to servicing your needs in the future.
Sincerely,
Mr. Henbeddestyr Aphowell
Senior Investment Consultant
Gringott's Bank of England.
Kagome pulled out the check and looked at it. Her eyes grew as wide as saucers and she gasped. Her mouth moved, but nothing came out,
"Kagome? What's wrong?", asked Inuyasha, concerned.
She gulped hard, "I ... I ...OH MY GOODNESS!"
Inuyasha took the check and looked at it,
"7,909,500,000 yen.", he read the numbers off, "Big number. Is that alot of money?"
She nodded, her eyes still wide. The boys just stared at her. Suddenly, Kagome grabbed the check and ran into the house, Inuyasha and the boys on her heels,
"MAMA! GRANDPA!", she screamed at the top of her lungs.
"Calm down, girl.", her grandfather scolded, "What has you so worked up?"
"Kagome?", her mother queried, entering the room.
Kagome was out of breath as she held up the check,
"WE'RE RICH!"
Grandpa and mama just stared at her like she was a lunatic, "WHAT?", they chorused together.
She waved the check, "LOOK AT THIS!"
Her mother took the check and both she and grandpa looked at it. Both were speechless,
"This must be fake.", her grandfather stated.
"Kagome, how would come across this kind of money?", her mother asked her.
"It's a long story.", she gasped out.
"Well, we have plenty of time.", her grandfather admonished her.
Kagome, realizing she could not get out of explaining, gave a slightly different account of the story. She told them about Nishimura, the time portal, 1860's England, and selling the Japanese coins. She left out anything related to the wizarding world or the time shift. She finished with saying that someone she had met in England decided to invest it for her,
"And this is the proceeds.", she finished.
Her mom continued to stare at the check,
"Hmmm. This says all taxes were taken out. I think I'll take this down to the bank and see if it's real.", she decided.
"Mama?", Kagome looked at her.
"It's not that I don't believe you, Kagome. But, do you realize just how much money that is? We just should make sure it's not a fraud.", she took the check from grandpa and folded it into her purse, "I'll return soon.", she said, walking out the door.
Grandpa continued to stare at his granddaughter,
"What is it grandpa?", she asked.
He cleared his throat, "Kagome. Could you, please, do me a favor?"
"Sure."
"Please go up to my bedroom. I need something and my old bones just don't work like they used to."
"Where is it, grandpa?"
"It's on the dresser beside the statue of Buddha."
"Ok. What is it I'm looking for?"
"Oh. I think you'll know when you see it.", he answered her.
Kagome's mind registered confusion, but, she chalked it up to his age. She walked upstairs and into her grandfather's bedroom. Walking to the dresser, she scanned the top. Laying beside a small statuette of Buddha was a piece of cloth. She picked it up,
"A hair band.", she mused.
At first, she thought nothing of it until her demon senses picked it up. She lifted the hair band to her nose and sniffed deeply,
"HUH?", she began to question her nose.
Inuyasha walked in,
"What's taking you so long, Kagome?"
"Inuyasha ... look at this ...", she showed him the cloth.
He shrugged, "Yea. So what? A hair band."
"Sniff it."
Inuyasha looked at her curiously before doing as she asked. He sniffed once and backed off, staring at the piece of cloth like it was a rattlesnake about to attack. Unsure if he had smelled it correctly, he sniffed again,
"There's no mistaking her scent.", he spoke, softly.
They heard a throat-clearing cough and turned around,
"Grandpa?", Kagome looked at him with an unreadable look on her face.
Grandpa walked into the room and took the hair band from Kagome's hands,
"I keep this to remember her by, since I know I can never see her again.", he said, sadly.
"You ... remember?", Kagome whispered.
"Feudal Japan? The insane asylum? Yup, every bit of it. I was thrilled when I woke up and found myself back in the world I knew so well. But, I still miss her.", his eyes watered.
"You ... fell for her?", Inuyasha found himself disbelieving what he was saying.
"Yes. I found her quite refreshing, actually. Even though I knew nothing could ever come of it.", he gripped the hair band tighter, "When you return to the past, even though I know she won't remember me, please just tell Kaede that ... oh, I don't know."
He laid the band down on the dresser and walked out. Kagome watched him leave before looking at Inuyasha. She was surprised to see his face in a scowl,
"Inuyasha?"
"Oh, please, tell me he did not just say he was in love with old Kaede!"
"Why?", she said, half laughing.
He shuddered, "They're OLD ... old people don't do that ..."
Kagome giggled, "Do what? Fall in love? Yes, they do, Inuyasha. And, alot of times, it's the sweetest thing. And, you know what?" They even have sex, too."
Inuyasha stared at her, his face full of fear and disgust, "Oh. You did not just tell me that. OLD people? Doing THAT to each other? EW EW EW EW EW EW EW.", he shook his head and wagged his tongue like he was trying to get rid of a bad taste in his mouth.
Kagome snickered at his reaction, "Gee. I'll remember that when YOU get old!"
"Pffft! That ain't happenin' I ain't gettin' old. I'm immortal, remember?"
"No, you're not, tough guy!"
--
Kagome's mother returned home and excitedly told everybody the check was real. Souta heard the news for the first time and nearly fainted,
"The bank did have a slight difficulty in contacting the issuing bank of the check, though, but, they finally did.", her mother informed them.
Souta looked confused, "Who was the issuing bank?"
"Hm? Oh, some bank in England ... Gringo's, Grindott's, Gringott's ... I don't remember the name. I just know I have never heard of it before."
Kagome stayed quiet as she observed the wheels turning in her brother's head, "That name sounds familiar. I wonder why?", he mused to himself.
Kagome gulped her food down and said, "I dunno. I've never heard of it. Must be a new bank."
The subject was soon changed by Izayoi, who repeated her "I wanna get a kitty.", plea. Inuyasha continued to say no. The boys looked at her and then at each other. Then it started,
"We want a puppy!", they chorused.
"WHAT?", shouted Inuyasha.
"We want a PUPPY!", the boys emphasized.
"I want a kitty!", Izayoi pouted.
"Why won't you let them have a pet, Inu -nii -chan?", Souta asked.
"There are plenty of dogs and cats in the village. Let them care for one of those.", he complained.
"But, it's not the same, Inuyasha-kun.", grandmother stood up for them, "I think all children should own a pet and boys and dogs go together."
Kagome choked a bit on the irony of her mother's comment, "Uhh, mama? The boys ARE dogs."
"A dog owning a dog. I'd like to see that.", said Souta.
"Well, you never will.", insisted Inuyasha.
--
The next couple days found Kagome's mom spoiling the pups more than ever. Souta seemed more than happy to teach the pups various ways to annoy Inuyasha. If it wasn't trying to mold Play-Doh over Inuyasha's sleeping face, it was attacking him with Nerf guns while hiding amongst the trees when he walked outside. Inuyasha was getting ready to Meidou Zangetsuha Souta to hell,
"Shippou is easier to deal with than your bratty little brother.", he complained to Kagome one night.
"That's only because you feel that you can whack Shippou a hundred times on the head with no retribution and, you know, that if you did that to my little brother, I'd dig a hole to the United States with your face and those beads!", she stated emphatically.
She received no response. She realized he was pretending to be asleep,
'Smart move, brainiac!', she congratulated him in her mind.
--
A/N: This chapter ended up LOOOOOONG! So, I split it up. I found what seemed like the best place to stop. Final Chapter, Chapter 18, is up for your reading pleasure. Oh, and 7,909,500,000 yen converts to about 75 million dollars. Yea, they're rich! Cya!