This one isn't a song-fic, since I couldn't find a song to go with it. The rest from here-on-out is just going to be writing. If you know of a song that fits with this, go ahead and play it while reading. Then it can be your own personal song-fic. So enjoy!

Part 3: A Hard Goodbye

Annoying Little Twit

The months sped by, and Kagome grew bigger and bigger. Telling her friends had been hard, but she had lived through it, but had yet to introduce her friends to her lover. She was going to - eventually - but for now, it was probably safer for Inuyasha to not know. He would get jealous.

Currently she was at least 8 ½ months pregnant, and she was sitting by the river where she first met Youko. Today was the day she was going to introduce her friends to him. She knew she had been putting it off for quite some time now, and she wanted him there for the birth of the baby. Kaede and Sango were going to be the midwives for the delivery, since she didn't know what the baby would look like, so she couldn't have it in her time. It would probably scare the doctors if she gave birth to a fox demon. Hearing a rustling, she turned around just in time to see Youko come out of the underbrush, looking as magnificent as the day they first met.

"Youko," she said, smiling.

"Kagome, and baby," he replied, sitting down next to her and resting one clawed hand on her bulging stomach.

"The baby is fine, but I wanted to ask you something," Kagome started then hesitated. She then rushed on before she lost the courage. "I was wondering if I could introduce you to my friends. They have yet to meet the father of my baby and my mate." Youko looked down at her, then giving her a swift kiss, helped her to her feet.

"Thank you Youko," She said, leaning against him as she caught her balance.

---

Inuyasha caught Kagome's scent as she headed back, but this time, there was someone else with her. A demon.

Pulling out his sword was the first sign of warning for the rest of the group. Sango stood, as did Miroku, and Shippo looked up from his toys.

"Oh, Mama's coming back," Shippo stated, and then grinned. "And she's finally bringing him!"

"Bringing who?" Miroku asked, looking at Shippo, then Inuyasha.

"A demon," Inuyasha stated, while at the same time Shippo said "Her lover."

At that time, Kagome stepped into view, with... Sesshoumaru? No, it didn't smell like him, but it sure looked a lot like him. Then he noticed the ears on top of the demons head. They were longer then his, and shaped more like a... A fox?

'Dammit' He thought, a snarl coming onto his face. He knew fox demons had big egos, and didn't want to deal with two of the damn things. Taking a glance at Shippo, he didn't seem that surprised to see the demon, or that it was another fox.

'Damn Shippo, he knew all this time who it was!' He thought, as Shippo deemed her close enough to run towards.

Shippo remembered at the last moment that he couldn't jump up on Kagome anymore, so he stopped in front of her, tail quivering in excitement and joy.

"Mama, is this...?" He started, and receiving a nod from Kagome, jumped up on the older fox, and started sniffing, confirming that yes, this was the scent that was always on his mama.

"Shippo, I would like you to meet Youko, Youko, this is Shippo, my son I told you about." Kagome said, watching the exchange. Youko already knew of Shippo, and how she had taken him in as one of her own. The rest of the group showed up at around this time, and Sango was the first to recognize the name.

"You mean the father is... The Youko Kurama?" Sango said, with slight fear and awe in her voice. Being a demon slayer, she knew of his legend and his ruthlessness. Miroku looked at his wife questionably.

"The Youko Kurama?" Sango looked at him, and gave him the look for 'Later'.

"Youko, this is Sango the Demon Slayer and her husband Miroku the Monk. The scowling one over there is Inuyasha, and the two-tailed cat demon is Kirara." Youko, recognizing the names from the tales she had told him of their journeys, gave a bow, while still keeping a hold on his mate. The others, except Inuyasha gave a bow back, and Inuyasha gave a small growl, his hand going dangerously close to the hilt of his blade.

"Inuyasha... Don't even think of it." Kagome said, and he snorted, letting his hand fall to his side again, grumbling.

Kagome led Youko to Kaede's hut, and introduced the aging priestess to the fox demon. They eventually started talking about different kind of herbs that could be found, and Youko gave her a few seeds of exotic herbs.

Kagome had been feeling slight pains for the last few hours, but thought nothing of it, at least, until now. She winced outwardly as a sharp contraction ran through her body.

"Kagome?" Youko said, looking confused.

"I think... The baby is coming..."

---

Kagome, sweaty and tired, leaned against Youko, holding the young girl in her arms. She looked like a good mixture of both of them; fuzzy silver ears, tiny silver tail, baby blue eyes, and black hair. Her claws were already forming, and when she yawned, two tiny razor sharp teeth were starting to poke out of her gums.

Shippo came in cautiously, and crept up to the small mat where they laid, and hesitated. Youko, giving the kid a nod, motioned for him to join them on the mat, and the young fox readily agreed. Climbing next to Youko, but able to lean against his mama, he snuggled into her.

"Mama, what's her name?"

"Suki," She said softly, looking at Shippo and planting a kiss on his head. "Youko Suki,"

---3 months later---

Suki was a fast growing girl, her hair hanging around her head in a messy halo. Her eyes had darkened to match her mama's eyes, and her fangs had completely grown in.

She and Shippo were sitting in a field of flowers, under the keen eye of Kagome. Youko was currently out on a job, and she had a bad feeling in her heart. Night was falling, and he was overdue to be back. Sango had noticed her worry, and tried her best to comfort her.

"Maybe it's longer then he thought it would be," Sango said, "don't worry, he'll be back tonight, or tomorrow at the latest."

Kagome sighed, and twisted a strand of hair around her hand. But the uneasiness never left.

---

Rumors were spreading the next day, and when they reached the small village, Kagome was in shock.

The Youko Kurama has fallen.

No one could console Kagome, who had been crying since she had heard the news from a wandering caravan. Everyone else seemed happy about it, except their little village, where they had grown to know Kagome's mate and children.

Later, after packing up everything she owned in that small village, she grabbed her children's hands, and saying a farewell to her second family, left the Feudal Era for good. The memories were too hard to bear, and she had to get away.

Reaching the old well, Kagome motioned for Shippo to jump onto her back, and cradling the small infant in her arms, slid into the well, the familiar blue glow surrounding her and bringing her back to her original time, and family.

Getting out of the well was hard with the baby in her arms, but she finally managed to do so. Glad that it was late at night, so there were no visitors, she rushed into the house, tears streaming down her face. Her mother, who just happened to be in the living room at this time, saw Kagome, holding a baby and covered with dirt, rushed over and started to fret.

"What happened?"

"He... He's dead..." she choked out between sobs, and tears filled her eyes.

"Let me take the baby, and you go take a shower. Shippo and I will keep an eye on..."

"Suki," Kagome said, looking at her little girl, then at Shippo, who gave a nod.

"...on Suki. You go clean yourself up." Her mother finished, and Kagome slowly handed over the little Suki, then headed upstairs, grabbing a change of modern clothes (for she was wearing garb of that time) and heading into the bathroom. Filling the tub, she stripped of her clothing, and sank into the hot water, leaning back so that only her face and knees were sticking out of the water. There she cried some more, for the loss of her lover and mate.

---

Shippo watched Kagome's mother tend to the young fox baby, all the while smelling the salty tears of his own mother. He knew Suki could smell it too, since she would sniff and then whine a little. Shippo went over to her, where she was sitting on the floor - while Kagome's mother got her some warm milk - and hugged her, sitting down next to her.

He had been happy when he found out that his mama had found a lover, someone who could - and would - love her back as much as she loved them. Then when she had Suki, he was even happier. He finally had a family again. Now his new daddy was taken away from him. He sniffed, and tried to hold back the tears. He had to be strong for Mama and Suki. He was the man of the family now, and had to take care of them.

Kagome's mother came back out with a bottle, and looked at the two. She could see Shippo's body trembling, and Suki was leaking tears and whining. She had missed the raising of Kagome's children, so she didn't know what to say to them. She didn't know Suki's paternal - and Shippo's adopted - father besides what Kagome had told her, so she didn't know how to comfort the two children.

Shippo, noticing that she was there, looked at her, then at the bottle, confusion crossing his face at the sight of it.

"You want to feed her?" She asked, and Shippo, getting the idea that that must be food, nodded. Handing the bottle over, he looked at it for a moment, then back at her.

"What do I do with it?" He asked, and she giggled softly.

"See the squishy end? You give her that, and she sucks on it. The milk comes out in small enough amounts that it won't overwhelm her." She explained, and Shippo looked surprised.

"Oh, okay!" Giving the bottle to Suki, he watched her latch onto the rubber end, and start to suck on it. He watched as the milk got lower and lower, and finally, Suki let go, a drowsy look on her face. Kagome's mother picked her up, and started to pat her back softly. Shippo watched in curiosity until Suki gave a small burp, and she fell asleep.

Not long after Kagome's mother put the baby in a small quickly assembled bed, Kagome came downstairs, looking a lot cleaner, but not much happier. Shippo went quickly to his mother's side, and latched onto her hand.

"Mama, Grandma took Suki this way," Shippo said, leading Kagome to her mother's room. Reaching it, Kagome saw her mother watching over Suki. Shippo led her into the room, and Kagome stood beside her mother, watching her daughter sleep.

"Kagome, I want you to sleep in here tonight. Shippo too," Her mother said, looking at her.

"But--" Kagome started, but her mother cut her off.

"No buts, you need sleep, and Suki is already fed and asleep in here. Besides, your bed isn't big enough for the both of you."

"Alright Mother. Shippo, say goodnight to Grandma," Kagome said, deciding to not argue. She did need the sleep, and she didn't have the willpower to argue about it. Shippo jumped up onto her mother, and giving her a kiss on the cheek and a hug, said goodnight, then crawled into bed. Her mother left, and Kagome, already changed into pajamas, slid into bed, almost forgetting to flip the switch before closing her eyes.

---

Shippo opened his eyes, noticing one thing right from the start.

'It's so dark... Where am I?'

Then, through the darkness, he could faintly hear a voice...

"Shippo..."

"W-who's there?" He sits up and looks around, only seeing the darkness around him.

"Have you forgotten me already?" The voice said, stronger this time, and a silvery figure started to fade into view.

"Daddy?! IS that really you? I thought you were--"

"I was dead, but now I have been reborn." Youko, now clearly visible, sat down, beckoning his son over to sit with him. Shippo did so, crawling onto the lap of the glowing image of his father.

"Reborn?" Shippo asks, confused. He had heard of reincarnation, since his mama was a reincarnation of Inuyasha's lover, but why didn't his daddy just say that?

"I used an unborn human baby for a body, but before it received its soul, I placed mine in it."

"So you're alive?!"

"Yes, and the human body is 19 years old." Shippo thought for a moment... That would place his daddy one year older then his mama was now. But...

"Why are you telling me all this, and not Mama?"

"Her mind is too distressed to communicate with her in this fashion."

"Oh." Youko gave Shippo a tight hug, then set Shippo to the side of him, standing up.

"I must go now; it's time for you to wake up." Youko started to fade away, like the way he had come.

"Wait, Daddy! How will I know its you?" What should I tell Mama?"

"Tell your mother I am coming back, and you will know it's me when you see me..." Youko faded away, and Shippo felt the world fading around him also...

---

Kagome shook Shippo once more, and Shippo groggily opened his eyes, taking a look around the unfamiliar surroundings. Sitting up, he looked at his mother confused, before the night before came rushing back to him... Which then reminded him of his dream.

"Mama! I had a dream of Daddy. He said he was coming back, and that I would know when I see him." The reaction Shippo got wasn't what he had been expecting. Kagome had started to cry.

"Shippo, are you sure it wasn't just that, a dream?" Kagome said, tears falling from her eyes.

"I'm sure Mama, it was real." Suki woke up at this time, and started to cry, announcing that she needed her diaper changed and wanted to be fed. Kagome went to go take care of her, wiping the tears from her face. Picking up Suki, she took her out into the hall and down to the bathroom, so she could wash the cloth diaper. She didn't use disposable diapers, since they didn't have any back then, and her mother hadn't thought she would be coming home so soon. Shaking the thought from her mind, she washed the diaper, then grabbed another one, and put it on her. She then headed back to the bedroom and sitting in the rocker her mother always had in there, started to feed Suki.

Shippo decided to explore the house, since he didn't want to upset his mother anymore. He first went to the kitchen. No one was there, and the things in there looked scary. Next room.

In there was furniture, though it looked strange to Shippo. Why did it need to be so high up off the ground? Wouldn't they be afraid that they would fall? No one was there either, so he decided to go to the next room.

This next room smelled like his mama's, though all that was in it now was a bed, a dresser (though he didn't know what that was), and another door. Crossing the room, he looked in the door, and saw tons of strange looking clothes, one that looked like the clothing his mama use to wear, before she had Suki. So this had been Mama's room... Next room!

In the next room, something caught Shippo off guard. Breathing. So someone was in this room... Creeping further into it, he traveled through the mess of clothes and papers on the floor and to the bed. Peeking over the top, he saw a mess of short black hair, and the face was facing away from him. Deciding he didn't want to wake the unknown person up, he left the room quietly, and decided to take on the next room.

Someone was in this room too! This room was a lot cleaner, so not much sneaking was required, but when he got to the bed, all he saw was tufts of grey hair, and a wrinkled face of an old man. Being bored, he left the room quietly. Time for the next room!

The next room wouldn't open. He tried opening the door, but the handle wouldn't turn. He could hear water running in the room, but didn't understand how water could be running inside a house. So he decided to keep exploring.

The next room was vacant of people, though unlike his mama's old room, didn't look like a sleeping room. Inside this room there were tons of boxes made out of thick papery material, and stacked on top of each other. It was full of dust, and he sneezed before closing the door. There were no more rooms to explore, so he decided to head back downstairs.

On his way back down, he saw Grandma walking down the stairs in a robe. Finally! Something he was familiar with! Though the robe did look thicker and made of a different material then the ones back home.

"Grandma!" Shippo called out as she reached the bottom, and she jumped slightly, before turning around.

"Shippo, what are you doing up there?"

"Exploring... I was bored, and this place is so big! Lots of rooms. It's kind of like the big mansions we would see while exploring the countryside looking for shards." Shippo then realized he had said something to upset her, since a sad look came across her face. Shippo climbed down the stairs, and his grandma picked him up and hugged him tightly, and whispered.

"You shouldn't have had to do that, at your age."

"Mama took good care of me when my real Mama and Papa died. She tried her best to keep me safe. I even helped protect Mama sometimes."

"Still, you're so little; you should be having fun and playing without a care. Instead, you were put in danger a lot."

"It wasn't like that back then, Mama, there was no time to play. You had to be on your guard every moment of every day, or you would be killed." Kagome said as she came around the corner carrying Suki. Her eyes were distant, as though she weren't there with them.

"Then why did you go back so much, if you knew the danger?" Her mother asked, and Kagome gave a wry smile.

"Because I was the cause of a huge uproar in the Feudal Era. I broke the jewel. I had to fix what I had wrought. I had to go back."

Kagome's mother watched the expressions on Kagome's and Shippo's face, then let out a sigh, and let Shippo down.

"I'm going to go make breakfast. Why don't you get your two kids washed up, and go wake up your brother and your grandfather."

"Yes Mama."

Owari

Okay, this is it for now; I made it a good 6 pages in my typing font. Which is smaller then the default font. Anyways, I have the story almost completely lined out. I've finally decided how I wanted Kagome and Kurama to meet, and I have to say... I am kind of proud of how it turned out. So until next time!