Truth Be Told

Annoying Little Twit

Kagome looked between Shippo and Shuichi, a look of confused concern on her face.

"Shippo, that isn't Daddy," She said softly, watching Shuichi to see what his reaction to the young child's question.

"Yes it is! His 'oora' feels funny, like it's been humanized, but that's Daddy."

Kagome blinked rapidly, and without thinking automatically corrected her son. "It's 'Aura', dear."

Shuichi started to laugh, and Kagome looked back at him, remembering what Shippo had just said.

"I'm sorry, but Shippo has a wild imagination, and he misses his father dearly."

"Kagome, Shippo... is right."

---

"Kagome, Shippo... is right," Kurama said. He had stopped laughing, and watched as Kagome furrowed her brows.

"But... Then why... How... When... But... This can't be! Youko is dead! He can't come back!"

Kagome looked like she was about to cry again, so Kurama wrapped her up in his arms. Suki had quieted down much, though she was starting to get hungry again.

"Kagome, I waited for you. When the Ferries of Death came to collect my soul, I eluded them, until 19 years ago. There was no way I knew I reached the right time, I only had instinct to follow. When I heard you were alive, and that you brought our children... I was afraid."

"But... How?! How are you alive?!"

Kurama and Kagome stopped talking when they heard Shippo mumble something aloud.

"...you will know it's me when you see me..."

Kurama remembered a dream he had a while ago, where he said those exact words.

"Mama, that is Daddy! Remember the dream I told you about? That Daddy came to me, and told me he was alive?! He told me he was 'reborn' in a human body! Shuichi is Youko, Mama!"

Kagome looked lost, and Kurama knelt down.

"I'm sorry, my love. I never meant to hurt you this much. I was afraid. I thought if I came to you too soon, I would hurt you. Apparently, my fear almost killed you."

"If... if you are Youko, then where did we first... first make love?"

"By the creek where we met. It was spring, and you had a fight with that idiot Inuyasha. I thought that you could use some comfort, but it lead further then we both planned."

"Yo...ko.." With that, Kagome burst into tears again, and Kurama looked startled, before Kagome lunged at him, and pressed her lips to his. They were both cautious of the fact that Suki was still between them, but it didn't stop them from showing each other how much they missed each other.

"So... Do you go by Shuichi now, or do you still go by Youko?"

"My friends, and your cousin, call me Kurama. I've gotten use to it."

"Kurama... I like it. I may still call you Youko most of the time, though. I got use to calling you by your first name..."

"You can call me whatever you wish to. As long as you don't leave me."

"Never."

They sealed that with a kiss, and Shippo smiled. Things were right in the world again.

---

---

Epilogue

---

---

Kagome and Kurama walked out of the room, Yusuke having fell asleep waiting for them.

"Yusuke, cousin, time to wake up," Kagome said, pushing him over onto the floor. He jumped awake, and then noticed Kagome's hand in Kurama's.

"Aww man, now I don't get to set both of you up on that blind date."

"Seeing the circumstances, I don't think that would have been wise," Kurama said, giving Yusuke a weak glare. It was mostly teasing, but seeing as Kagome wasn't in the best of shape, it probably wouldn't have been very smart.

"I'm hungry, and I bet the kids are too. I need to feed Suki again."

"Here, I'll feed her, you get something to eat."

Kagome handed Suki over to her father, and led them downstairs. Kagome's mother had fallen asleep at the table, and they quietly worked around her preparing a bottle and some rice with egg and fish.

"I'll wake her up after you leave; I've caused her too much worry to wake her up now when she finally got some sleep."

They ate their meal, and letting Kurama and Yusuke out the door, got Kurama's home and cell number, before giving him hers.

"Call me in the morning, alright?"

"Of course."

After they left, Kagome woke up her mother, and shared the good news with her. Her mother was a little worried she was imagining things, but Shippo also declared Youko's existence, and she believed them. After a tearful happy hug, they both went to their beds, Kagome sleeping peacefully for the first night in many.

Owari

Wow, it ended a lot faster then I thought it would! But this means I can focus on my other stories now. I am kind of happy this has ended, I've been working on it way too long.

Happy Readings!

ALT