I just don't know anymore. Moriko had her chin in her hand in thought. Was it a mistake to come here? She didn't think the well would let her go back, Kagome's letter sure didn't think so. "What to do . . ." She murmured.

Judging by their clothes and the rural landscape, she had traveled through time.

But . . . How far?

A rustle disturbed her thoughts. With a bored expression, she said, "Inuyasha, I know you've been following me."

Silence.

"If you've got something to say, say it."

More silence. Then, with a howl of the wind, he flew down from the trees. He stayed about ten feet from her and looked as though he was going stay that way. Stay . . . She looked at his ears.

How befitting, I thought dryly.

"I'm just keeping an eye on you."

His voice was suddenly being memorized by her ears. She never wanted to forget it.

I snorted, "What are you? A watchdog?" I'd regretted it immediately. Discrimination was a big thing in her time after all.

My new ears had flicked distastefully at my own words, reminding me of the fact that I was now a dog too.

Her ears told him everything. It was no surprise that he would be able to understand her even quicker than he had Kagome, as she physically reacted the same ways he himself did. But even as he just realized that fact, he also just noticed that she was uncomfortable with her new powers.

Her hands touched everything so gently as if the world was made of glass and she didn't want to scratch one bit of the beautiful sculpture. Her newfound claws were kept above the bark of the root that her hand rested upon. She breathed through her mouth steadily, so he concluded that she was not out of breath but she was avoiding the overload of senses that flooded her nose.

Though she tried to remain composed and stoic, and she was nearly as good at it as his brother, he noticed her flinch with every faraway chirp of a baby bird, or a snap of a twig.

Her eyes remained closed, as if she were resting, but he knew she just wanted to block out everything.

I opened my eyes to really look at my . . . my father. He was just as he was in my dream. Clad in only red, long white hair and . . . No shoes? Then again, he would look weird in any kind of shoes that I could picture him in with those toenails. Speaking of . . .

I start unrolling my socks. "Whuh, what are you doing?!"

I looked up carefully, slowly, as my eyes were still adjusting. Inuyasha looked taken aback.

"I'm like you right?" I held up my nails as an explanation. The sharp talons glistened the moonlight. It was a statement really, not a question. He looked dumb, to put it simply.

As I rolled off the first sock, I was shocked to find that my toenails were still normal.

"Ehh? They're still normal!"

Inuyasha walked closer and bent down at my toes which I wiggled for emphasis. "Hmm," he said blankly, "guess so."

A trait that didn't get passed down?

"Oh," I sighed in relief, "it doesn't matter anyway, I rather like not wearing shoes."

He looked at me, curious.

I obliged him, "Bare feet have better traction than any other shoes I've ever worn."

I was suddenly happy, happy that I have new freedoms that I didn't have before. I always liked nature, even when it was tough on you. I liked to feel the earth beneath my feet, climb trees, roll down hills.

I smiled at my father. Above, the sacred tree's boughs shook slightly with the wind. Yes, I could live here.

He returned my smile with his own toothy grin, "Let's go back. Kagome likes to worry."

Kagome waited patiently for her turn. She would let her husband handle this. Inuyasha would be able to explain this to Moriko much better than she could. She knew what it was like to be a demon, from what she knew from shippo and other friendlier demons they met on their journey. She could never experience it herself though. Heightened senses, increased endurance . . . A dirty thought came to mind along with an image of her husband . . . Endless stamina. She chuckled to herself, amused.

Sitting in the house that Inuyasha and she had built along with the villagers, she tended the soup, cooking in the center of the room.

A knocking startled her and at her relief, she sensed the familiar demon aura. A smallish hand pushed away the mat curtain. Shippo padded over to her. "Hi Kagome."

She smiled and looked at the soup. Content with her effort she took one of the bowls from beside her and offered it to him after scooping some of the chicken and pig broth, "Want some?"

"I would never turn away food from you, Kagome." He took it graciously. He was a bit taller now. He nearly reached Kagome's hip. When he was sitting with her like this, the top of his orange-brown head was level with her shoulders. He had more tails now. She could tell five from the angle she was at. They had grown a bit longer and more slender. His hair was now donned up in a long ponytail that ended just above his tails.

"So she came back, huh?"

Kagome nodded, smiling. Shippo didn't miss the tinge of sadness in her eyes though.

"Kagome?" She looked at him, "I smell other food."

He abruptly stood and ran over to Moriko's bag. "Shippo, don't go through other people's stuff." He didn't go in her bag but he stood near it, sniffing. He knew his manners by now.

"Inuyasha's gonna be happy."

Kagome crawled over, "Why?"

"Kagome," he looked at her and pointed towards the bag, "She brought back food from the your time."

Well, I am her mom. Do I have the right? I know I got annoyed every time Inuyasha or shippo dug through my stuff. They could've easily noticed other, more private items, back then.

She leaned over his shoulder, "Can you tell what kind of food it is?"

Shippo thought for a moment, sifting through the delicious smells. He always put Kagome's happiness in the forefront of his mind. She'd probably want to know about her mother's cooking first. Shippo could smell Miss Higurashi's handiwork all over those bento boxes.

"Smells like, octopus, tuna, and rice . . ."

"Oh, mama!" Just the reaction he expected. He stood there proudly as Kagome moved past him and dug through her daughter's bag.

Tears leaked from her eyes. "Oh mama," she held a bento box in her arms. She didn't want to say she missed her, Inuyasha could be nearby. She had done with making him feel guilty long ago about her decision. She looked up, as if the Kami would tell her something that she could say. She needed to say something to make up for the tears that her mama would not want her to share. Shippo looked down, regretting his desire for a sense of pride.

"Thank you mama, for taking care of Moriko."

She closed her eyes, a silent prayer through time, "I wish I'd had a choice. I didn't want to burden you with another child to raise, but I know," she sniffles, "I trust you raised her well."

I walked beside him in silent awe. He had a sword slipped through his obi on his right hip. His eyes slightly illuminated gold in the darkness. Speaking of . . .

"Oh my kami! I can see in the dark!"

Inuyasha looked at her bewildered, "But of course, one of the perks of being part-demon."

A . . . Demon?

Stopping, I felt my ears thoughtfully, "I thought I was part dog?"

"Part Dog Demon."

"They're different kinds of demons?"

"Just as there are different kinds of kami."

Something jangled. My eyes shot to the source of the noise. "Beads? Rosary beads?"

I hadn't known I'd said it aloud.

"Hmm, oh yeah," Inuyasha said quietly, glancing down at them, "There's quite a story behind those."

What could they be for? I didn't want to necessarily hear a long story, but I did want to learn more about my parents.

Inuyasha caught a scent in the wind. "Hmm," he crouched ahead of her suddenly, "Get on."

It wasn't a question. Whatever it was, he looked tense. She hurried to him, but slowly, and probably awkwardly, put her arms around his neck. Can he really carry me?

He stood and a gush of wind hit me hard. "Kyaah!" I yelp.

We had launched into the air. Tree branches soared by. My stomach lurched with every leap he made. I got used to it and the rhythm nearly rocked me to sleep. So demons can do stuff like this?

He landed in front of the hut and, after letting me down behind him, was about to barge in before he hesitated, regained composure and flipped aside the mat. He peered in for a second, then walked in, and I followed, worried, but trusting that Inuyasha could handle whatever was going on.

Mama was on the floor, looking at one of grandma's bento boxes. Kagome was written on it.

Inuyasha crouched beside her, "Why were you crying?"

Was he utterly clueless?

"Mama made one for each of us. Even Miroku, Sango, and Shippo . . ."

At the mention of his name, the fox demon looked over at Kagome from what looked like a windowsill.

He looked like he was ten, but his calm green eyes told me he was much older. I noticed his tails, his pointed ears, and his feet. So he was a demon.

Kagome smiled sweetly, as if all the pain in the world couldn't touch her. She said to me, "I'm sorry for going through your stuff-"

"Oh no no," I bent down on my knees, "they were going to go bad anyway if you hadn't noticed them when you did."

Inuyasha crouched over my bag just then and sniffed. Rushing through it he found the potato chips Grandma had packed. "Inuyasha!" I yelled.

He stilled suddenly as if I was going to do more than just berate him. He was silent, frozen with his back to me, as if he were a child caught in a cookie jar and I was fuming. Kagome giggled, "You sound just like me, Moriko."

I looked at her in disbelief, "Really?"

She nodded, "Mhm, see? Watch this. Inu-ya-sha," she called in a song-song voice. He flinched and glared at her in fear, "Kagome, don't say it."

She made a noise as if she were unsatisfied and entertained and then, "Sit."

The beads around his neck glowed and smack! He hit the floor.

I was utterly astounded and intrigued. "Beads of subjugation?"

He recovered quickly enough, probably used to it. "Ah, but there's little fun in it these days." Kagome said.

Inuyasha grumbled, but sat down with his bag of chips, "Kami, I really missed these."

Outside, the sun was rising. Had I really slept almost a whole afternoon and night? Kagome rose. "Let's go get Sango and Miroku," Kagome put her hand in mine. Who?

I fixed my ponytail as Kagome put on her sandals. Shippo decided to speak up, "Kagome I could go get them for you."

"No," she smiled, "Inuyasha got his time with Moriko, it's my turn." What am I? A doll that they're sharing? "And besides, you know I love my morning walks."

Shippo nodded and hopped out the window. "You ready?" I asked.

"Un." She said.

We stepped out of their home. She held my hand, and smiled at me. I realized I was a bit taller than her. My eyes dropped to the ground. I wish I'd known sooner. I guess they missed me too. My eyes wandered, miraculously seeing as my senses were so overwhelmed earlier, and they landed on the well ahead of us. We were turning to walk to I guess her friend's house, and in my mind I imagined the well with grandma next to it, waving. "Mm," I said to myself. Goodbye.

I looked ahead with mama. Somehow without my knowing it, my anger had faded away, forgotten. It was as if I was too happy to finally feel at home. Too happy to care that they had left me in that other world. I'm sure they had a reason, and would tell me, in time.

At the edge of a hill, a village came into view. It was a beautiful landscapes with the houses all surrounded by paddies that reflected the sky.

"Ne."

My thoughts were interrupted. I looked at mom.

"What's your favorite color?"

My favorite color? Seriously? What are we? Ten?

"Oh um," I looked about while gathering my scattered thoughts, "Green."

She shoved at me, "Don't be so shy!"

"I'm just trying to make up for all that I've missed," she babbled, "Gotta start somewhere, right?"

"Hm," I replied, "Well then what's your favorite color, mama?"

As I expected, she smiled at her new title. "Well of course, my favorite color is red."

"Ah." Papa.

Only thinking of it now, I took in what she was wearing. Red pants with a white haori. "You're a priestess?" I asked.

"Oh well, I have spiritual powers, I fight demons, and I help the sick and all that so yeah, I guess I am."

"I didn't think priestesses existed in our time, but then," I thought through my words, "I guess demons don't either."

"No there's a few demons left, even in our time. When I went back, I met some old friends of mine." Her finger pointed into the air before her face, to prove a point.

I wasn't interested in hearing about what I had left behind. All I could do was focus on what kind of life I could have now.

A gentle warm touch at my shoulder told me Kagome could tell I was upset. It wasn't until her hand squeezed that I understood she wanted me to look at her.

"It'll be okay."

I hugged and looked ahead. Nothing was over. I had a new life. "Hai, mama."