A1969: I'm back

A1969: I'm back! And that means updates!
Sango: about time.

A1969: heh, as you know I have other stories I have to update.

Sango: true…anyone seen Miroku?
A1969: I haven't…but I think he went to that stripper's club a few blocks away…

Sango: NANI! –leaves- you're a dead man, Miroku!

A1969: heh, I don't own the show, mind you!

Chapter Twenty-seven: An Explanation

XoXoXo

"Eh? Sesshoumaru-sama, where's Kagura-san?" Rin asked as soon as she and Jaken saw her lord coming through the trees and towards them. "She said she had something important to tell you…"

Sesshoumaru looked down at his charge and saw satisfaction in her eyes. "She has left, Rin."

Rin and Jaken's eyes widened. "You mean…Kagura left, milord?" Jaken asked, hardly daring to believe what he had just heard.

"Kagura-san left? Why?" Rin prodded.

"But she has left, milord? She won't be back?" Jaken asked, rubbing his hands gleefully together.

"Yes, she has left and has no intention of returning."

Rin and Jaken looked at each other and then…

"YAY!" both Rin and Jaken squealed. Much to Sesshoumaru's amusement, they clasped hands and began circling their lord, laughing and shrieking like a bunch of children.

A moment later, Jaken remembered his sanity, let go of Rin's hand and bowed before his lord. "Forgive me, milord!" Jaken squeaked. "I didn't mean-!"

"Get up, Jaken," Sesshoumaru said as he turned to leave. "And look after Rin."

"Lord Sesshoumaru, where are you going?" Rin called out after her lord's retreating back.

Sesshoumaru glanced back at her and didn't bother to answer as he left them.

XoXoXo

"Do you have anymore of that brown, sweet stuff, Kagome?" Shippou asked, browsing through Kagome's backpack in search of his chocolate. Kagome stopped walking, put down her backpack and began browsing through it.

"What's the hold up?" Inuyasha asked gruffly, noticing that Kagome had stopped walking.

"Shippou just wants some chocolate." The priestess pulled out a bar of the treat and gave it to Shippou who thanked her and began peeling back the aluminum wrapper.

"Well…I guess we could rest for a bit," Kagome muttered. She indicated to a spot beneath a tree and immediately, Miroku and Sango sat down. Kohaku sat down next to his sister who smiled comfortingly at him. Kagome smiled to herself as well. It seemed that Kohaku finally remembered who he was.

"Do you think that Naraku rests?" Inuyasha asked with disbelief. "Get back up! We have a jewel to find, Naraku to kill, and who knows what else!"

"We've been traveling non-stop for almost a day, Inuyasha," Sango said, trying to make the hanyou see the light.

"Keh!"

"Inuyasha," said Shippou. "It'd do us all some good if we rest. They're not demons, you know." There were chocolate stains all over his mouth.

Inuyasha started muttering but sat down, nonetheless. Kagome, to ease his spirits, gave him a bowl of steaming ramen. Inuyasha hesitated to show that he was angry with her. "C'mon, you know you want it," Kagome coaxed. Everyone looked at each other and grinned.

"I don't want it," the hanyou said, pushing away the ramen.

Kagome gingerly held on to the bowl as the hot soup started swishing around. "Hey! It's hot!" she warned as she pushed it back towards Inuyasha.

"I told you, I don't want it!" the hanyou insisted.

Kagome glared at him. "Then what do you want?"

"Get your butts off the ground and come on! Don't you realize that there's only one shard left-and that's with Kohaku!" Sango was silent as Inuyasha said his words. "We gotta find a way to take it out of Kohaku without killing him."

Kagome glanced at Kohaku who was looking at Inuyasha with wide, startled eyes, glared at Inuyasha and said, "Sit boy!"

Inuyasha crashed to the ground. "What was that for, woman?!" the hanyou roared with rage.

Sango and the others chuckled. "You were scaring Kohaku!" Kagome snapped. "And will you please stop complaining that we're resting? It's mid-afternoon and we haven't rested before that! Don't you think we're all tired?"

"Bah!" Inuyasha said.

Kagome looked at him. "Maybe you've forgotten that we're human?"

"What do you think I am, a fool?" Inuyasha snapped.

"Your stupidity knows no bounds, Inuyasha," a cold voice remarked. Nearly everyone jumped out of their skins; neither one of them sensed Sesshoumaru approaching. He had sealed his scent and aura and had hidden in the shadows, silently watching them.

"What're ya doin' here?!" Inuyasha snarled, quickly standing up and drawing out Tessaiga at the same time. Kagome and the others quickly stood up and eyed Sesshoumaru wearily wondering what he wanted when, in truth, he had no business being there.

Sesshoumaru cocked an eyebrow at him. "I came here because I have business with the miko."

Inuyasha glared at him and stepped protectively in front of Kagome. "What kind of business?"

"Are you the miko, Inuyasha?"

The hanyou glared at his brother, gritting his teeth. Kagome placed a hand on his shoulder. She knew exactly what Sesshoumaru wanted to talk to her about. "I'll be fine, Inuyasha," Kagome assured him, giving him a smile.

"Oh no," Inuyasha said. "I've given into this idiot more than a number of times I would've normally done, so back off, Kagome!"

"Sit."

Kagome gingerly moved past him and walked over to his brother who, Kagome noted, looked amused at seeing Inuyasha lying on the ground, spewing curses, complaining loudly, and asking aloud whether or not, Sesshoumaru had managed to place a spell on Kagome.

"You sound like a fool, Inuyasha." Sesshoumaru looked down at his brother who glared up at him. Sesshoumaru turned his attention to Kagome. "Lady Shinsuke wishes me to bring back her daughter," he said bluntly.

Lady Shinsuke wants you to take back Helen or you want to take her back? The question formed itself in Kagome's mind but she didn't dare voice it aloud. She shook her head. "I told you before, didn't I? Once she's gone, there's no way for you to reach her…It's not like America is just a stone's throw away…it's practically an entire continent away." Kagome paused for a moment.

"Then, how did she leave? Walked?" Sesshoumaru said sarcastically.

"No…" Kagome said, rubbing her shoulder. "Flight. In the future, humans have created airplanes that allow us to travel very long distances in a shorter amount of time…when we were at the airport, I think you might have seen those giant metal birds? Those were airplanes."

"You think that I am not capable of flight?"

Kagome had a fleeting vision of Sesshoumaru flying over continents. She banished the vision from her mind and shook her head. "It's not that simple…as I've said, America is so far away…" she pursed her lips. "If only I had a world map…I could show you how far away it truly is."

Miroku and Sango looked at Sesshoumaru. "Sango," Miroku said in an extremely tiny whisper. "Don't you think that Sesshoumaru has changed?"

Sango nodded. "He seems to care about Helen but…at the same time, he hurts her…kind of like…Inuyasha and Kagome…ne?"

"It seems to run in the family," said Shippou knowingly.

"World map?" Sesshoumaru asked.

"It's a map that shows you all the countries in the world, how far they are, their location in latitude and longitude and…" her voice trailed off. Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow at her. He had no idea what she was talking about. What was latitude anyway? Maybe the priestess wasn't as stupid as she looked since she knew so many things that he didn't.

"Then get one."

Kagome looked at him. "E-eh? Get one? But…that's in my time…I have to go to the well and-"

Sesshoumaru gave her a look that stopped her in mid-sentence. "Uhm…if it's okay with Inuyasha…" she said sheepishly.

"NO! It is not okay!" Inuyasha hollered, grabbing Kagome's shoulders and pulling her back. "We've had too many delays already! I'm not about to let you head back!"

"Step away from the miko," Sesshoumaru ordered.

"Sheesh," said Shippou. "It looks as if they're fighting over Kagome." Sango and Miroku nodded their heads in agreement.

Kagome turned to Inuyasha. She wanted to help Sesshoumaru because she wanted to see Helen happy. "Inuyasha…I'll just be a while," she assured the hanyou.

"No way in hell!" Inuyasha snapped. "Why does he always get what he wants? What about me, hm? What about Naraku? Why does it always have to be Sesshoumaru? Has he placed some sort of spell on you-"

He was cut off when Kagome gave him a kiss on the cheek. Inuyasha's eyebrows shot up and his mouth opened wide. "Ill be back!" Kagome called out as she and Sesshoumaru left them.

Inuyasha snapped out of his stupor. "Wait here, you lot," he said to Sango and Miroku. "Kagome! Wait up!" he shouted as he ran after them.

XoXoXo

Night had fallen in America. Helen was lying on her stomach on the fluffy white rug in her room, reading a book in hopes of diverting her thoughts elsewhere. She sighed and flipped a page. Nothing could really stop her thoughts from returning to Feudal Japan and to…

She sighed again, sat up and put the book back on its shelf. She stretched and looked around, as if hardly daring to believe that she was really back here and not in Feudal Japan where-now that she realized it-she properly belonged.

She also had to tell her human mother about her being a demoness and hoped that, maybe her mother would spill something she didn't know.

"Helen!" her mother called. "Dinner."

"Be right down!" she called out. Her gaze strayed to her violin sitting innocently at her desk. It made her remember Sesshoumaru. She remembered that it was her playing that called him to her in the first place. She felt a pang of sadness take hold of her. She sighed, turned her back on her violin and left the room.

XoXoXo

"You've been very quiet lately," Hsia remarked, watching her daughter stare blankly into her bowl of cream of mushroom soup.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Helen looked up at her mother.

"I mean…do you have a problem of some sort? Ever since you arrived, you've been very quiet lately," Hsia said. "Did something happen in Japan to make you leave early? Did you fight with Kagome? Get into trouble with your aunt?"

Helen shook her head. "No…it's just that…" How am I gonna tell you, mom? Would you even believe me if I told you that…I'm not human?

"Helen…you know you can always tell me anything," her mother said soothingly.

Helen stared into her soup and sighed. She looked back at her mother with determination in her eyes. "Mom…I'm not really…your daughter, am I?" she said quietly.

Hsia's eyebrows shot up in surprise. She didn't expect her daughter to tell her those words. She hadn't been expecting them. She had thought that Helen had the same problem that all teenagers had-either problems involving school, family, friends or-most commonly-boys.

"How did you…" Hsia eyed her daughter.

"While I was in Japan…I…fell into the well…" Helen's voice trailed off. "Mom…I'm going to tell you why I left and please…don't interrupt. If you don't believe in what I'm about to say…then…that's up to you…but what I'll say…will be nothing but the truth."

Hsia nodded, a sign that Helen should go on. "As I've said…I fell down the well in the Well Shrine…I went there because I followed Inuyasha and Kagome."

"Who?"

"Inuyasha…Kagome's…you can call him her boyfriend," said Helen. "Anyway…I followed them in and when I did, they weren't there. I was puzzled and approached the well. But then, Buyo brushed against my jeans. Startled, I fell into the well and when I climbed out…I was in…Feudal Japan."

She watched as her mother's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Nani?"

"Mom…please, let me finish," Helen said, cutting her mom off. "As I've said…while in the well…I met…a dog demon…" her voce trailed off. "Named…Sesshoumaru he's Inuyasha's elder half-brother and yes, Inuyasha is half-demon. Anyway, Sesshoumaru kidnapped me and took me to Lady Shinsuke…my…demoness mother."

By now, Hsia had such an expression on her face that Helen wondered whether or not to continue; her mother made a sign that she should. "So…Lady Shinsuke told me that I was her daughter…Like her I'm…a dog demoness, sealed inside a human's body for my own protection. She also sent me to the future…this time…for my well being…and we…Sesshoumaru is…my betrothed…oh, mom! I thought I'd hate him! But I…I…" She stopped as a tear trickled down her face.

She felt her mother stand up and lovingly wrap her arms around her. "Oh, Helen," her mother said softly. "I always knew that you were different."

"E-eh?" Helen said. "You mean…you believe me? You…you know that I'm not…human?"

"No, I didn't know that you were…a demoness…I just knew you were special…from the moment, I first laid eyes on you," Hsia said.

"Mom…tell me…about the day you found me."

Hsia gave her a small smile, drew up a chair and sat down beside her child. She gently wiped Helen's tears. "When Kagome was two months old," her mother began. "Your father and I…longed for a child. We tried everything, but still we couldn't have one. We went to a doctor and he told us that…I couldn't have a child." She paused. "After two months of longing, your grandfather-who was then a wise priest-told us to pray to the Sacred Tree.

"You can imagine, Helen, how incredulous I felt. Pray to a tree? I almost didn't give it a shot. But, your father, who was willing to try anything, suggested that we try it. And so, we did. After we prayed, your father went inside, leaving me to brood. After a moment-or it might have been several moments-I heard crying coming from within the Well Shrine. I was frightened, not knowing what exactly it was that I would find. I had heard stories about the well from your grandfather, and naturally, I didn't want to go in.

"However, the crying became persistent and so, overcoming my fears, I went into the shrine. It was dark but the moonlight filtering through the door guided my way. The crying grew stronger and it came from the well, I was frightened now, thinking that your grandfather's stories about demons were true. I dispelled such a thought from my mind and peered into the well…

"To my surprise, I found you! I climbed into the well and lifted you into my arms. I couldn't believe it! You were wrapped up in purest silk and you seemed so different…I realized then, the Sacred Tree must have granted my prayers."

Hsia finished and looked at her daughter, drawing her closer. "I knew you were different…but I didn't realize that you were a demon!"

Helen managed a weak smile. "And you used to tell me that demons were evil!"

Hsia chuckled. "Well…not all of them, then." Her expression grew serious. She sighed. "Why did you leave, though? You left your real mother behind…" her voice trailed off and Helen could see that Hsia was saddened to know that her daughter had found her real mother.

She hugged her. "Oh, mom," Helen said. "I just had to leave and you know what? I'm the luckiest girl alive!"

Hsia gave her a puzzled look. "Because I have two mothers!" Helen hugged her and Hsia smiled, glad that her daughter wouldn't act indifferently towards her.

"But, Helen," Hisa said. "You should go back to your real mother."

Helen lowered her head. She would have readily gone back to Lady Shinsuke had it not been for Sesshoumaru. She shook her head. "No, mom," she said with a forced smile as an image of Sesshoumaru came unwanted to her mind. "I belong here, with you, my mother understands that and besides…" I don't want to see Sesshoumaru ever again. At this very moment, he's probably married to Kagura by now…

"Helen," her mother said, gently cupping her face. "You should face your problems instead of running away from them."

Helen smiled. "I know, mom…"

Hsia stood up and began clearing the plates from the table. Helen looked at her and sighed. I know you shouldn't run away from your problems but…I'm not brave, mom. I've never felt this much pain before and I know if I go back, it'll hurt even more…

XoXoXo

Kagome spread a map before Sesshoumaru. They were sitting underneath the Sacred Tree, Inuyasha perched high above them in the branches. The hanyou stared wearily down at them as Kagome began explaining to Sesshoumaru.

"We're here, in Japan," Kagome said, pointing to the country. She trailed her slender finger over the map until it reached America. "And this is where Helen is. This America. Right now, it's known as the world's superpower. That means it's a very powerful country."

"Much more powerful than our own?" Sesshoumaru sounded disbelieving.

"Maybe," Kagome said. "Anyway, as you can see, it's very far away. It may not look far on the map but it really is. You'll just have tell Lady Shinsuke that there's no way for you to reach her."

"Why don't you try calling her on that weird machine of yours?" Inuyasha asked Kagome from high above. He had had several experiences with the telephone including one that involved him telling Houjo to stop calling and or seeing Kagome ever again and that he was going to cut him up if he did.

Kagome was silent. She hadn't thought of that before. "I don't think that Helen would like to talk to you, though," Kagome said to the demon lord.

"Why not?"

Kagome shrugged. "I should know…she's very…I don't know, upset and I don't think it'd be a good idea for you to talk to her."

Sesshoumaru gave her a look. "Or…we can call her and hope that she talks to you!" Kagome said sheepishly. Sesshoumaru inwardly smirked. He loved it when he could intimidate people.

XoXoXo

Helen flipped over another page, not really looking at the words. The young woman was sprawled on the rug again, eyes roaming over the book that she was reading. Nothing, it seemed, could distract her thoughts. Not even "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows".

She slammed the book shut and rolled over on her back. I wonder how he's doing…

She shook her head. Forget him, Helen! Forget Inu baka! Pretend that you've never met him! But…Can I…? Can I pretend that I've never met him? Pretend that I've never…loved him…?

At that moment, the phone rang.

XoXoXo

A1969: alright, I'm done!
A1969: it seems that Sango isn't here yet, oh well!
A1969: I'd like to thank those who reviewed and I hope that you'll review again as reviews really stimulate an author, you know.