Chapter 27: Reunited
Kagome and her comrades went along the road to the Edo village to go to the Bone-eater's well. Kagome knew that she'll have to face Inuyasha, which was something that she really wasn't looking forward to. She knew that Inuyasha won't be happy about Sesshomaru, Koga, and Kanna joining the pack. But, she knew that Sango will finally be reunited with Kohaku and that Hansuke will be glad to see Miroku again. When they were near the entrance, Hansuke stopped and asked Kagome to do a strange request.
"Kagome." Hansuke said with a closed eye smile.
"Hai?" Kagome asked.
"Could you say 'osuwari'?" Hansuke asked.
"Why?" Kagome asked, confused.
"I noticed that you've been feeling a little bit stressed. I thought if you say 'osuwari', you'll feel better. Say it with all the stress that you've been holding in." Hansuke said. Kagome cleared her throat and said in a booming voice,
"OOSSUUWWAARRII!"
Suddenly, they heard a yelp and a huge thud up ahead. They looked to the side of Kagome and saw Inuyasha face down and unconscious in a very deep crater with steam coming out.
"Feel better?" Hansuke asked, smiling.
"Yes, actually." Kagome said, surprised.
"So shall we be on our way?" Akari asked, changing the subject at hand.
"Good idea." Masahiro said as they passed by the unconscious hanyō and walked into the village.
"Kagome! Shippo!"
Kagome and Shippo saw Sango, Kirara, and Miroku coming towards her as they were heading towards Kaede's hut. The first one to hug her was Sango. Kagome could feel her trembling as she held her tightly. Kirara rubbed her head near her ankle.
"It's great to see you again, Lady Kagome, Shippo." Miroku said as he joined the hug.
"Everyone." Kagome said, her sapphire blue eyes softening.
"It turns out that Kikyō put an enchantment on Inuyasha." Miroku said.
"I know, I saw Kikyō's memories when I got the other half of my soul back." Kagome said. Miroku and Sango had guilty looks on their faces.
"Don't worry, everyone. I forgive you all." Kagome said. Sango squeezed her even tighter. Then Shippo jumped off Kagome's shoulder and landed in Miroku's arms. He climbed up and hugged Miroku around his neck. Miroku gave a small smile as he hugged the little kit.
"We missed you two so much." Sango said.
"Sango, can't breathe." Kagome wheezed.
"Sorry." Sango said as she let her go.
"Onee-san." Kohaku said. Sango looked behind Kagome and saw Kohaku standing there.
"Ko-Kohaku?" Sango asked, tears were forming in her eyes.
"Yes." Kohaku said as tears were falling from his eyes. Sango ran forward and embraced Kohaku with all she had. Kohaku returned her hug.
Miroku noticed the group behind Kagome. There were some familiar faces among them. But there were new ones as well. The one he was most peculiar about was the one with golden eyes and long inky black hair that was tied back in a low ponytail. Miroku blinked a couple times until he realized who that person was.
"Ha-Hansuke?" Miroku asked. Hansuke smiled at him.
"It's been awhile, huh Miroku?" Hansuke asked. Suddenly, he found Miroku's arms wrapped around him. He felt Miroku trembling as he held him. He smelt salty tears coming from him as well. It felt like forever since he had last seen Miroku. He had grown up a lot since he left him.
"I missed you so much, Hansuke." Miroku said, tears falling from his eyes.
"I missed you, too Miroku." Hansuke said as he placed his hand on Miroku's back.
"I'm sorry, Hansuke. I'm so sorry." Miroku said.
"It's alright, Miroku." Hansuke said, rubbing Miroku's back. Kagome watched the reunion of Hansuke and Miroku. She was glad that the two have finally made up. She knew that the two of them had been separated for such a long time. Miroku was just upset that he couldn't save his father from his wind tunnel and Hansuke was trying to protect him from getting sucked into his father's wind tunnel. Now Miroku's mind was clear and he was able to apologize for his transactions towards Hansuke. Then Sango's voice broke him from his thoughts.
"Who are these people?" Sango asked when she noticed the group behind Hansuke. Miroku had released Hansuke from his hug and gazed at the individuals of the group.
"Prince Masahiro, the second prince of the Eastern Lands." Masahiro said, giving a small bow.
"Akari, I'm a white tengu." Akari said.
"Tomoe, I'm a hanyō lion cub." Tomoe said.
"I'm Sango and this is Kirara." Sango said, holding Kirara in her arms. Kirara mewed when Sango said her name.
"I'm Miroku and it's a pleasure to meet you all." Miroku said, giving a small bow.
"How did you meet all of them?" Sango asked, curious of how Kagome met all these people. Then Sango and Miroku noticed Sesshomaru's pack, Koga's pack, Ayame, Totosai, Momo, and Kanna. Miroku and Sango were curious to why Kanna was traveling with Kagome. The strange thing was that she didn't have her mirror with her.
"How about we go inside and talk about this?" Kagome asked. All of them went into Kaede's hut and Kagome began to explain everything to Sango, Miroku, and Kaede.
Inuyasha woke up from the deep crater he was in. The last thing he remembered was when he caught a very familiar smell: Kagome! But then he caught familiar smells: Koga, Ginta, Hakkaku, Ayame, Totosai, Momo, and Sesshomaru's pack. He ran towards where their scents lead him to. As he got closer, he picked up another smell: Kanna! Inuyasha didn't know why that child would be with Kagome. Just when he saw her at the entrance to the village, he heard her say 'osuwari' in a loud voice. It reminded him of old times whenever Kagome was angry with him. For some strange reason, he felt that he deserved it. After he got out of the crater, he stormed towards Kaede's hut and saw all the old and new faces.
"Hey wench, who the hell are all these people?!" Inuyasha shouted.
"They're members of the pack, Inuyasha. You will show them some respect." Kagome said in a stern voice. Inuyasha huffed and sat down with his arms in his fire robe sleeves.
"So who are they?" Inuyasha asked.
"I'm Masahiro, the second dragon prince of the Eastern lands." Masahiro said.
"I'm Akari." Akari said.
"I'm Tomoe." Tomoe said.
"And I'm Hansuke." Hansuke said. Inuyasha sensed a strange and yet familiar scent coming from Hansuke.
"Why do you smell like a human and a demon?" Inuyasha asked.
"My mother was a inuyōkai and my father was a powerful priest." Hansuke said.
"So ye have demonic powers combined with spiritual powers." Kaede said.
"Hai, and I'm also Sesshomaru's cousin." Hansuke said.
"What?! If-If-If you're Sesshomaru's cousin, so that makes you my cousin as well?" Inuyasha asked, shocked.
"Hai." Hansuke said, "And that also means that your father was my uncle." Inuyasha had the expression of a fish at Hansuke's words.
"Hansuke, stop it." Kagome said.
"Sorry, couldn't resist." Hansuke said, smiling. Then Inuyasha caught another smell and it was coming from Kagome. Inuyasha scooted closer to Kagome and took a whiff. His amber colored eyes widened.
"Why the hell is that dragon's scent on you?!" Inuyasha yelled, pointing at Kagome.
"Masahiro is courting me." Kagome said.
"WHAT?!" Inuyasha shouted.
"Really?" Sango asked, her eyes widened.
"Hai I am, Sango." Kagome said, smiling as Masahiro wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close to his chest.
"Congratulations, Lady Kagome." Miroku said, smiling.
"Thank you, Miroku." Kagome said.
"She does not belong to you, dragon boy! She belongs to me!" Inuyasha said as he stood up.
"Inuyasha, osuwari!" Kagome said. Inuyasha went face first onto the floor.
"He'll never learn." Shippo said. Then he, Miroku, Sango, and Kaede sighed. Inuyasha was truly an idiot most of the time. There were times when he just couldn't accept the fact that Kagome had never belonged to him.
"Inuyasha, I don't belong you! I never have and I never will belong to you!" Kagome said.
"But…" Inuyasha began to say.
"You lost your chance a long time ago before you let Kikyō join the pack, Inuyasha." Kagome said. Inuyasha's ears dropped at Kagome's statement. She was right. He was foolish enough to fall for Kikyo's enchantment. It was hard for him to believe that Kagome didn't love him anymore. Not only had he lost Kikyō, but Kagome as well.
"By the way, did all of you defeat Naraku?" Miroku asked, curious.
"Hai! Our pack and Lord Sesshomaru defeated him with our combined forces. Naraku didn't stand a chance!" Tomoe said, excitedly.
"I have to admit that I enjoyed watching their swords in action." Totosai said.
"Sesshomaru-sama fought bravely." Rin said.
"But why is Kanna with you? What about Kagura?" Sango asked.
"Kagura died soon after Naraku did. She saved Kanna's heart." Shippo said, sadly as he sat on Miroku's shoulder.
"But at least she's free of Naraku." Kanna said with a small smile.
"Yeah, you're right, Kanna-chan." Sango said with a small smile.
"Ye here for something else here aren't ye, Masahiro-sama?" Kaede asked.
"Hai, I need your help in order to take down my older brother, Shinji." Masahiro said, "If he continues to rule, the people of the Eastern lands will suffer. I can't allow that to happen."
"We shall help you as well, Masahiro-sama." Miroku said, "After all, it's the least we can do for Lady Kagome. As a pack, we work together in any cause."
"I thank you all for joining me in this cause." Masahiro said, a small bow with his head. Then everyone looked towards Inuyasha who was sitting in the corner with his hands stuffed in his kimono sleeves.
"Keh, fine. I'll help as well." Inuyasha said, huffed.
"I have a question, Kagome-chan." Sango said.
"What is it, Sango?" Kagome asked.
"Did you already get rid of the jewel?" Sango asked.
"Unfortunately, I haven't." Kagome said.
"Why, Kagome-chan?" Kaede asked.
"I don't really know what will happen when I get rid of the jewel. I might be sent back to my time or stay in the feudal era. So I'm going to see my family before I complete the jewel." Kagome said.
"I see." Kaede said. It made sense to Kaede. The girl hadn't seen her family since she left Inuyasha's pack. She deserved to see her family one last time before the jewel is gone from existence. She would want to see them before it's all over.
"Well then, I'll escort you to the well, Kagome." Masahiro said as he stood up. He held his hand out for her to grab. Her hand reached his and helped her to her feet. Then he lead her out of the hut and towards the Bone-eater's well.
"I hope that Kagome-chan will stay." Tomoe said.
"I hope so, Tomoe-chan." Kanna said.
"We'll just have to wait and see." Hansuke said.
