So, the formatting might be off like it was in the first chapter, because, frankly, I'm writing this on my phone in my spare time. I don't really have much of a plan, just sort of going where I go and making notes where information is relevant for continuity. I have no planned length or anything in mind. , we're in this car together, babes.

Sort of a fillery chapter but it gets us to our next destination. You're about to notice a theme.

Thanks for the follows and the review so far. They'll keep me from forgetting that I'm writing this, so keep 'em coming.
As usual, I don't own Inuyasha or related stuffs, just the plot. Concrit welcome, flames summarily ignored.

Second Rotation

The interior of Kaede's hut was what one would imagine. It seemed Sango and Miroku were successful in at least convincing the herbalist to expand a bit. When they had returned from their last excursion, having found a shard to the northeast a ways, her domicile seemed to have doubled.

Kagome slipped off her shoes and placed them to the side of the entrance. Her toes could feel the grit of the packed earth through her socks and she suppressed a grimace. 'Still no mats, though.'

She followed the excited voice of her kit to an adjoining space, separated by a thin fabric. No sooner had her hands grasped the linen and she found herself on her back, arms full of adolescent fox demon.

"Shippo!" She giggled, "It's only been three days!" Kagome's nimble fingers made quick work of Shippo's sides, tickling him into breathlessness.

As he regained his breath, she stood, dusting herself off. Picking up the young fox, she greeted everyone else.

A slap. "Hentai!" Shippo glowered at Miroku and turned to stare at his mother.

"Three days was so long, though, mama, and Inubaka was a real jerk!" His small ears folded and twitched in irritation, and whiskered cheeks huffed.

Miroku hummed in agreement and Kagome met his eyes with a questioning gaze. His violet gaze slid to the sky and she understood.

"Well, honey, the new moon is coming up, and you know Inuyasha hates to feel that way." Kagome ran her fingers through the soft tufts of fur on her sons head. The little one sighed and began to fidget.

"But momma, you weren't there!" There was a squeak of whining punctuating his anxiety. Something else had happened, then.

"Shippo, I need to collect a few herbs before the sun sets today, and some are quite hard to reach," Kagome began, eyeing Sango for support. Realization lit the older woman's eyes, and she smiled.

"You did say that, Kagome. I was supposed to remind you, I'm sorry. The hentai here had distracted me." Miroku's hands flew up placatingly as he caught onto the ploy.

"It's a curse! Completely out of my control! I can only hope to contain it!" The room burst into laughter, some tension relieved at the monk's antics.

"But, seriously, Shippo, why don't you come with Sango and I." His grass green eyes lit up and he clapped his claws.

"Can we get those berries again?" Excited wiggling had her settling him down to dance before her.

"If we have time, honey. You also need to be practicing your kitsune magic, so it won't all be fun." Kagome, Sango, and Miroku noticed some of the joy literally seep away from the small kit. 'Of course,' Kagome thought, 'Mention school and it's like pulling teeth, now.'

She leveled a stare at her son, the same, she was sure, her mother had leveled at her in her youth. Kagome's heart panged with remembrance and sadness.

"In any case, baby, go get cleaned up from breakfast. I want to talk to Sango and the pervert and make up a bag." Her son rolled his eyes until he caught her looking. Chagrin decorated his little face and he scampered through the curtain to find Kaede-baa and complain while he washed up. The old woman would patiently listen and impart a riddle or fable for him to ponder, smiling all the while.

"Momma?" His little head liked back through.

"Yes, my heart?" That always brought a special twinkle to his eyes. It warmed her and she smiled wider.

"Kaede-baa says I did good with morning chores and ate all my food and said I could have a handful of candied nuts if you said it was okay so is it okay?" It took a moment for Kagome to process the rapid succession of words which had erupted from Shippo, eyes lifting to the sky and a mock exasperation painting her features.

"I gueeesssssss," she groaned out, pretending to be put out by the request. She smiled and straightened back up, reaching out to touch her sons cheek. "Of course, Shippo, but only one handful. And no magic to make your hands bigger!" She called out after his racing form.

The occupants of the room waited a moment before speaking. Finally, Miroku broke the silence.

"You're a very good mother, Kagome." He left the sentence hanging, obviously unsure whether he should end it there or continue his thoughts.

"But?" Sango pressed. She knew Kagome's mind would be a whirlwind of possible comprehensions behind that statement. Might as well clarify now before there were hurt feelings.

"Not 'but', more like 'however'."

Kagome snorted. "Same difference."

The monk's forehead furrowed trying to comprehend that. 'If it was the same, how was it-' He shook his head. "However, sometimes being a good mom means letting go."

"What?!" Kagome hissed. "Just what do you mean by that?" Sango rose and rushed to her side, grasping her hands.

"Nothing so bad, Kagome-sama. Please calm down." Once again, the lecherous monk moved his hands, palms facing outward. "I heard of a school, for kitsune."

At this, Kagome visibly relaxed. "Oh! Oh... He could-"

"He could go there and learn everything that fox demons are supposed to be capable of." Miroku's calming voice soothed her frayed nerves. What he said now, though, had her tensing with anxiety and spluttering.

"Are you saying I can't-"

"He's not developing as he should, Kagome." He worried his ponytail nervously, waiting for her impending explosion.

"WHAT?! That's bullshit and you know it! He's just a kid, Miroku! And how would YOU know anyway?" Kagome paced in the small space around her, pointing a finger in his face every so often. Her face was flushed and she felt nauseous. 'This can't be happening.'

"It wasn't Miroku who noticed, Kagome," Sango began. "Two days ago, Sesshomaru-sama was here with Rin-chan, and the kids were playing, and it was just something he said. But," the demon slayer grabbed Kagome's hands, pleading with her eyes that the young priestess understand. "What he said, it wasn't without reason."

The younger woman heaved a sigh and dropped into the nearest cushion. "What happened? I'm assuming this also has to do with Inuyasha and Shippo?" She rubbed her forehead, a headache beginning to thrum behind her eyes.

"Aah," the male of the room replied, and sat across from her. "Rin and Shippo had been playing Hide-and-Go-Seek, and Rin hid in a particularly, hmm, verdant bush. At his age, Shippo should have still been able to scent her above the green of the new buds, but he couldn't seem to find her. To provide him a clue, Lord Sesshomaru offered Rin's favorite hairpin. Still, he could not find her."

Once again, Kagome sighed. It wasn't nearly as serious as her over analytical mind had convinced her. "So where does Inuyasha fit in?"

Sango took up the conversation once more, pouring Kagome a cup of still-warm tea. Pouring her own, she stated, "Inuyasha found Rin. Shippo was becoming frustrated and, honestly, he seemed kind of embarrassed that Sesshomaru-sama was witness to it. He and Inuyasha had words, and, in the end, told Inuyasha that, if he was so good at scenting, find Rin himself. Inuyasha walked right over to the bush and out popped Rin-chan." They shared a heartfelt look, sad for the kit's embarrassment.

Mind made up, Kagome nodded to Miroku. "I'll ask him if he wants to attend. Do you... Do you know anything more about it?" She worried her lip, concerned that she was going to lose her son.

The monk shook his head and shrugged. With one final, and hopefully last, sigh, Kagome stood and began assembling a travel bag.

"I guess we'll just have to find out, hmm?" She exclaimed overly brightly, determined to accept what she was handed. As she spun back around to search for more supplies, she mumbled, "It is as it is meant to be."

Sango and Miroku shared a look behind her back.