LOOONG! That is because it is very similar to Lord of the West, just a different point of view, well anyway, enjoy. Still no Kagome, but it is coming.

One girl, one pack

Yamazaki looked up at the stars as if contemplating their worth. It was the only power out there that made him feel somewhat small. He was only distracted when his kit pulled on his trouser leg and he scooped the little kit in his arms, holding him to his heart. Yes, Shippou truly was his light in the world, he helped to soothe the hurt he felt when Higurashi left him. But it was not as if she left him exactly, she left everyone, and she had to. It was strange... what was it about that girl that left such a hole in his heart. There had not been anything missing in his life before her, but when she suddenly gone, he felt so empty.

He stroked the orange hair lovingly, he could tell by his shivering that he had had another dream about Kagome. He had met with Inuyasha who seemed to have most dreams about the girl and they had come to a conclusion about what the 'other' had been. He was proud that the girl he had grown to love very deeply had become a mother to his kit. She was a motherly type of girl; he remembered she had even been motherly towards Sesshoumaru in a way, she had always been what everyone had needed, it came naturally to her, although she'd always been more of a friend than anything else – everyone's best friend.

Kagome was the one who cracked his silence, he was not silent because he had suffered trauma of any kind. Truly, he did not think that he had ever had a harsh moment in his life – no the fates had been very good to him considering. Even when his death at the hands of two thunder brothers became imminent, the Kamis had sent him his saviour in the form of that girl Kagome who warned them all about the 'other' and he had trained. Though it was curious, the reason he did not talk was the same reason that Kagome never stopped.

He saw no reason to talk so he did not, choosing not to cloud the mind with too many words that do not need to be said. Although, as Kagome had been a child at least in his eyes, despite her mature figure, maybe that was why she chose to talk when she found there was no reason, ad children do. He saw the silence as a friend, a peaceful void that should be embraced and cherished as everything else in the world. Children though, like Shippou found silence to be overbearing, more so, it seemed than unending chatter. She saw no reason to be silent when it could be filled with the sharing of the day's events with one another.

His wife, his dear mate had passed away some months ago, she had contracted an illness that he still did not know the name of, all he knew was that it made her very weak and even the West could not help her. Yamazaki felt overwhelming sadness for a time it is true, he felt such loss and he found more than ever that he wanted Kagome. He felt sadder for his son to never know the love of a mother, just like Sesshoumaru, his dearest friend, had never known the love of a mother. Well that was not quite true, he had it for a century, but that was hardly any time at all, but he had to smile, what a century it had been...

After time though he figured that perhaps it was the best. Shippou had so many dreams of Kagome and after a while he started to refer to her as mother instead anyway. He figured that this is what their relationship was in the 'other', and he was glad it was so. He just wished that when the time was right, he would still love Kagome as he did, but not lose himself to what might have been – not that he'd mind having an excuse to keep Kagome around him. it seemed so right to be in love with the girl, she was the only one he felt he could truly bond with, he was the best choice for her and she was the mother to his only child and heir.

He felt a hand lay on his shoulder and he registered Hiro and Sesshoumaru behind him, but he did not turn to face them. They were his closest friends; he considered them the famous trio, the three that knew Kagome for who she truly was. They were her closest friends and saw every side of her during her stay in their time. He set down his son and Sesshoumaru set down the little girl Rin he had found not long ago. He had saved her from a village where she was abused and since then the girl had not stopped following him around. He guessed she had become part of their incredibly large pack, they already three human members after all.

The two children were practically inseparable and they too had been having dreams, not just of Kagome, but of the half breed Naraku – a foe Sesshoumaru had killed when he was still a human bandit about 50 years ago now. They had dreams about Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru himself, and the humans in the pack, even the swords of the dog king, in fact the only one in the pack who did not get dreams was himself and Inutaisho, further proving that they died before the other even came about. The idea was decidedly unsettling, but it just made them all that gladder that Kagome had come to save them, and they loved her even more.

"How fairs Inuyasha my friend?" Yamazaki asked Sesshoumaru, still not turning to regard the Taiyoukai, opting to still examine the sky, wondering again which one was Sakura smiling down upon them, she had wanted to meet Kagome too, she could watch from the heavens. Shippou and Inuyasha had formed an immediate bond of elder siblings, again courtesy of the 'other'. They had journeyed together the two of them to find the slayer, her fire cat, and the monk that plagued their dreams. They were not difficult to find, it seemed they were looking for them too, their dreams bonded them, Kagome bonded them, made then one pack.

"He has finally mated the miko of his dreams, Kikyou. He felt the need to wait for Kagome, feeling as though he was betraying her. He has realized though that they only existed as a romantic couple in the 'other' and no longer mean to be. They are expecting their first pup soon, I have seen her swelling womb, I think she is pregnant with twins. Sango and Miroku mated as soon as they saw each other practically and are living in peace. Sango has had two children already and her brother Kohaku is battling with Shippou over the hand of my little Rin, even though she is so young, they are but children now, but humans grow so fast."

Yamazaki took all the information in with a nod, as was his silent character. It was Hiro that brought his gaze from the sky momentarily. "I see you still gaze at the stars Yamazaki," he said gently with a smile, knowing he owed Kagome the most. While they all missed her, he owed the girl his life, though it was Sesshoumaru who changed the future the most by killing the bandit and forming a much needed bond with his brother.

"She always found the stars so interesting," Yamazaki said, briefly gracing his closest friends with a glance. "I have found her fascination rather understandable as of late, the sky has changed over time, but she overcame time once, and she shall do so again." He turned back to the night sky with a thoughtful expression, "she always loved the night, and I think it is she who has made foxes nocturnal with her amazement."

"Everyone has been assembled," cut in a new voice. They all turned to see Kouga, the wolf prince, ever with his smirk in place. "Inuyasha has gone to collect his mate, Keade, Miroku and Sango and their children and Myouga. I sent Ginta and Hakkaku to go and collect Totosai and anyone else may want to give Kagome her warm welcome. I do expect your father to attend Sesshoumaru," he added at the end, everyone knew of the Inutaisho and his detachment from pretty much everyone after Kagome left.

He lived again briefly when he met Izayoi, but she turned out not to be the wonderful person he originally thought she was. He took her to the Western Palace as soon as she got pregnant and then he went after Ryuukotsusie with his son, his teacher and Yamazaki at his side, the dragon was felled quickly. But Izayoi became the Lady of the West too quickly and his love faded quickly as it became clear she loved pearls and riches more than him or even his new son. He realized he would never truly love after Kagome, and his new human mate died when her quest for more power sent her to try and seduce another Lord, who killed her for her impudence.

"We will all be together on the 'morrow," Sesshoumaru confirmed with a nod, "all of us, from the now and the 'other'."

"Are you certain she will know us?" This was Shippou, the little child who talked far more than his father, more like his mama – Kagome?

"Yes, of course," Sesshoumaru assured, picking up the kit and cradling him to his chest. The fox cub had always been afraid of him as Kagome was in the 'other'. But as Inuyasha had gotten over the fear his counterpart in the 'other' had of him, so did the fox cub, and they were all like one pack. There was the trio who knew Kagome first and foremost. Then there was Shippou, Rin, Inuyasha, Kikyou, Keade, Inutaisho, Miroku, Sango, Kirara, Kohaku, Myouga, Kouga and his pack, even Jaken – they were all one. And it was all because of, and it was all for Kagome.

"How do you know?" Shippou questioned.

"Because she is our Kagome, son," Yamazaki answered as he picked up Rin who had grown tired and had practically fallen asleep on her feet. "Do not doubt her, and do not doubt us. She will remember, because she is Kagome." No more needed to be said, he would understand when he saw his mama again – or for the first time. Sesshoumaru turned to him and they both looked back to the sky, in companionship and trust.

They were holding each other's pups, but this was yet another sign of closeness and trust. Yamazaki and Sesshoumaru were so close they were practically brothers. They were both Taiyoukai's of separate lands and had stood by each other in battle before. They had worn matching suits at Inuyasha's wedding with Hiro. Nothing would destroy the bond they had and they were glad that Kagome's appearance destroyed the 'other's' existence in reality and gave them this chance to be together – it was all for the girl they all loved.

"I would say I would meet you at dawn by the bone eater's well," Yamazaki told his friend, "but dawn is only a few hours away." He sat down on the hillside and continued to view the sky. "He took her back in the evening though didn't he, so we should not expect her until the evening. I still want to wait where she will be."

"We all do my friend," Sesshoumaru said, sitting down beside him, being careful not to wake the sleeping children. "How long was she with us? 6 months? 7? I am not even sure, though my father could tell you the answer in minutes."

"I realized I've stopped thinking about the 'other' recently," Yamazaki mentioned. "I am always thinking of her though; she brought speech back into my life. The wolf prince says it harshly but he makes a valid point. I expect to see your father there, she brought kindness back into his life, so changed him for the better so much. I do not know whether he wishes to be there or not, but responsibility lies to you to bring him."

"He will come."

"Good."

"Dawn is but an hour away," Hiro said, joining them. "I suggest we journey to the well, it will take all of that to get there. Sesshoumaru, I suggest you leave now to collect your father, we will meet you at the well by the evening, and you know that you must arrive no later than that."

"I know," he nodded before summoning his spirit orb and speeding off back to the West.

They were all one pack, and they were journeying to welcome their pack sister back to them after being apart for so long. They would all be together again at last, one huge pack, uniting practically all the kingdoms. There was the Western Pack – Inutaisho, his beta Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha, with Hiro as an honorary member. Brought into that pack as a sub pack was Kikyou, Sango, Miroku, their children, Kohaku and Kirara.

There was Yamazaki and Shippou from the Southern and Eastern Lands, Yamazaki's territory grew when he defeated the thunder brothers who attacked him. From the Northern Land was the two Kouga's though it was the younger Kouga who mainly pulled the strings and was alpha. He still referred to Kagome as a pack sister – which she was, but not just to him and his wolves – but to everyone, she was the one that formed their pack.

He was glad Inutaisho would be there, he wanted to see the look on the dog's face when he realized he had lost.