Sorry about the late update. I've been having issues with my laptop so I've been able to write a lot of it on my phone but couldn't post it till now. Hope you enjoy! And remember, Reviews = Updates.

Miroku had left to go slay a demon. He took Akane along with him to help instead of Inuyasha. Both his daughters apparently not only needed to learn more about the art of exorcism than what they already knew, but they were going to be on their own soon. I was surprised that in this day and age, they hadn't been married off yet.

"Stubborn monk." Inuyasha snorted, "Ever since those two were born a switch had flipped. Instead of a lecher, he turned into a paranoid psycho overprotective father. I'll be surprised if they ever find a man suitable enough for his expectations."

He had taken his lunch with him, thanking me properly for delivering it from grandma Higurashi. We had eaten our own in Sango's hut after Kagome had read the touching note her mom had put in her bento box.

She ate the food in silence. Papa had a bento too but he just ate the chips and offered it to Kurenai instead.

She accepted it and was amazed at the cooking.

Apparently everyone present was already aware that I was not only from another world, but another time. Sango had rummaged through Miroku's things and grabbed a scroll, "Found it."

Kagome sighed, "Oh good, there was no way I wanted to tell it all myself."

"Tell what?" I asked, chopsticks still in my mouth.

The scroll was handed to me in silence. It was a thick scroll and not as pretty as the last one I'd gotten. On the outside, it read, "Shikon No Tama and the Ten Warriors."

"Cool title." I said, "I know this story, about the priestess who fell in love with a demon and defeated an evil villain who sought the jewel. The priestess and her lover destroyed him and the jewel in the end."

Looks all around. "What?"

Kagome piped up, "That was us."

"Oh wow, really?" I was shocked, "No wonder Grandma went on and on about it. I usually didn't pay it any attention and just played with my cat or did my homework."

"Keh. She's your spitting image Kagome." Inuyasha chuckled.

Before she could reply, I pointed a finger up at him. Coy, I said, "Ah. But I'm good at math."

Uncle Souta had told me Kagome had struggled in math.

"I could've been much better at it if I hadn't had to miss so much school." She sighed.

"Why? were you sick?" I asked.

"I was over here all the time." She stated.

She tugged at inuyasha's ear, "After I met this guy, I accidentally shattered the Shikon no Tama. It wasn't my fault but we had to gather the shards that had scattered across the lands. That's how we met Shippo-chan, Sango-chan, and Miroku-sama. It took two years to complete."

I never knew. This whole time my mother had had an adventure before she'd even entered high school. She'd fallen in love with a man, slain countless enemies, and traveled the country. I'd had no such luck. I was an exchange student in Texas for two years, which was pretty exciting for a normal student, then went to high school and got a job. This whole time, an adventure had been waiting in a small shrine just twenty or so yards away. Sure I wouldn't have been able to return but still.

I stared at the floor boards. "Why wasn't I told sooner?" I whispered.

Kagome sighed sympathetically, "I left instructions for mama to wait till she thought you were ready."

I was silent, my hands balled into fists, then, "I'd been ready for years."

Kagome didn't know what to say, "I guess she wanted you to have a chance at a normal life and, after all, it's safer over there."

I knew what it really was. She had been selfish. She was lonely and didn't want me to go. She'd felt nostalgic as if I were her own daughter. She might not have known that I was basically bored out of my mind with the simple life I had and the simple future I had planned.

But then, she had been lonely, and she still let me go, technically before I'd even graduated. No wonder she'd been so sad those last few weeks. She'd known it was almost over.

Alright. She was forgiven, but I was still mad that I had missed out on such an opportunity. "Oh well," I said quickly, waving it away. "There's no good in brooding over wasted time."

Shippo had popped in the room sometime ago. No one had cared to notice in the moment. Food finished, Shippo chimed, "Incoming."

Inuyasha went outside.

What is it?

"Ah, Sesshomaru." Kagome stood and extended her hand, "Come, meet your uncle."

A lady of high status waited outside the hut. The many silk garments were so long they dragged on the ground. The outermost layer was a gorgeous sunset orange patterned with yellow roses. Her hair was nearly as long as her clothes and a tad unkempt but still radiated beauty.

Beside her was a man. A demon? His stripes, pointed ears, and strange fluffy thing . . . they all suggested just that, even if you were counting the dramatic armor. Long white hair . . .

"Kagome-chan!"

She hustled over and mom reacted immediately, meeting her in the middle in a graceless hug. "Rin-chan! Don't get your clothes dirty, sweetheart. They look expensive."

With a cocked head, I eyed who I'd guessed as Sesshomaru as he did the same. His stance was graceful, proud, effortless, and strong all at once. He must be a full demon.

Papa had appeared at my side, "Ne, Sesshomaru, come over here and say hello before my fist does it for you."

He ignored Inuyasha before he'd even finished and was already striding over while Kagome and this Rin-sama were catching up.

All but two feet away, he looked as though he was studying me and for an excruciatingly long moment. I looked above his head, "No doggy ears, huh?"

Within his eyes, something flickered in response, like a swish of horse's tail swatting away an unreachable fly. I kept silent after that and held his gaze. Was I in the wrong here? Was I supposed to be showing some huge amount of respect like bowing and stuff? Kagome did address Rin with sama, I pointed out to myself. We were related so I figured I shouldn't have to be that formal. I fidgeted, unsure of what to do, but bravely, my eyes never left his.

He looked regal in white. I was intimidated no less, but then there was that fluffy thing. I wanted to touch it. So soft . . .

After all that silence, he looked to Inuyasha, "You should see to it that your offspring are properly dressed."

From his haori he took out a small green bundle with a sky blue sash. A kimono. A clawed magenta-striped pale hand held a rich green kimono with blue swirly lines forming the pattern of what looked like a topography map. It was beautiful. My gaze had obviously left his to look at it and when it returned, he had an impatient look on his face, but stoic as ever. I took it, not knowing what else to do in the silence all around me.

Mama had her jaw open.

Sesshomaru spoke again in his even baritone, "I noticed the scent of your arrival, and figured you would be needing of such clothing." He eyed Kagome knowingly.

I felt the fabric, silk no doubt.

"Thank you." I said evenly.

He said nothing but it was as though his golden gaze said Your welcome.

Rin-sama came over to his side or so I thought she was heading in that direction. Instead she came to me ushering me away, "You must try it on! You'll look beautiful in it."

I went inside the hut at her demands and undressed. Kurenai had realized the situation and handed me a folded black outfit.

My confused look told it all. She said, "Just put it on underneath your kimono," she instructed, "Trust me, if you're going to be traveling around to hot springs and what not, not only do you want to be prepared but it also prevent chafing."

"Oh thank you!" I whispered, treasuring her advice.

As Kagome, Sango, and Rin all gawked and complemented my new outfit, I looked to Sesshomaru with pleading eyes over the starry-eyed women. "Help," I whined, literally almost exactly like a dog. I swear he smirked. It was gone in a moment but his eyes still gleamed in amusement. Had he planned this?

"Inuyasha."

Papa stalked over to his brother, "What?" But he knew. Whatever it was, his face told me he knew.

"Have you decided?"

"Nope. You saw her constitution. It'll be months before she's barely even ready."

Ready for what?

"Hn. You know of Rin's condition."

It wasn't a question.

"Yeah yeah, I know."

I looked at Rin, wondering what they were talking about. That's when I noticed it. The belly bump. Oh.

Rin had taken off some layers and had apparently been wearing a simple kimono underneath. Hearing about a hot spring in Kagome's rambling, we'd welcomed Rin's pleading eyes.

We'd set out at midday.

With Sesshomaru in company, we were all quiet. Even I got the silent memo that no one really knew existed. It was more of a subconscious thing. Sesshomaru liked peace and quiet, and apparently with Rin around, he didn't get that often.

I sympathized. I enjoyed my quiet too. So I took the time to read the scroll that told the tale of my parents.

The contents were interesting to say the least. As I was reaching the part about Kikyo, Kagome asked, "I want to hear more about your life."

I rolled up the scroll and put it back in my bag. "Like what?"

"Well were you into any sports? Clubs?"

I thought for a moment. Oh! My art book.

I dug in my bag. Grasping it I took it out and flipped the pages.

"I draw, paint and stuff."

I showed her a blue and purple Higanbana I had done with marker and pen. Then a green and pink succulent. Then the wolf.

"Uwahh! It's stunning! You're talented."

"Thanks." I said sheepishly. I got a lot of compliments on my art by other students. It didn't feel like talent for some reason, not when everyone envied you.

"Inuyasha, come look at this."

The brothers strode over, as they had been walking beside each other a bit aways behind us, in a hushed conversation.

He looked at the wolf from over my shoulder. It was incomplete but could pass for much more than just a rough sketch.

"Hey, you're really good."

"Thanks." I wanted to say that I'd really just copied off a picture I'd printed out, but the level of copying I did was a skill itself. Not to mention the required level of patience and time, and I'd drawn wolves often enough that I could easily sketch one at any given moment without effort. I knew their anatomy all too well.

Suddenly I felt a pulse. Not this again. I didn't get it. What were these pulses?

The brothers had sensed it before I could and stood guard ahead of us. I stepped forward when I recognized the scent.

Wolf.

My thoughts traveled back to Texas. I had visited a wolf sanctuary and got close enough to touch noses with a wolf dog. The other wolves wouldn't come as close but they definitely liked my presence.

Realizing now that even then I had part dog resting inside me, and they must've known it.

A pack of auburn and white wolves had presented themselves before us. A leader appeared shortly after.

He had brown hair, a bit lighter than my own, in a man bun. His skin was tanner than my white flesh could ever hope to become and he was just the right amount of brawny.

"Hey Kurenai." He called out from over Inuyasha's shoulder, where Kurenai cowered behind.

"You persistent wolves," Inuyasha drew a sleeve of his haori back, his fist balled, "You don't know when to give up do you!" He yelled as he punched the wolf demon right smack in the face.

He took the hit, "Kurenai, I would take a thousand beatings for your hand."

Inuyasha looked defeated. "I give up."

His pale cherry-brown pelt sported a matching tail at his rear. Was it real? Could be nice to have a tail. Instead I got these doggy ears. I'd nearly touched them at the thought. I put my arm back down, shamefully.

Kurenai was shaking, "Hatake, I-"

I stepped from behind Sesshomaru, and blurted at the demon, "How dare you?!"

I strode forward, right up to his face. I growled in a way I didn't know I could. "Who do you think you are?! Quit bothering her!"

He had been stepping back from my yelling, back to his pack of wolves.

Regaining his confidence he stood straight, "I am Hatake, son of Kouga, the leader of the wolf demon tribes."

Well, I had asked, hadn't I?

Suddenly realizing I was female, he picked up my hands in his own, "And would you do me the honor of telling me your name?"

Why- He had some nerve.

Behind me, Kagome looked at Inuyasha funny, "Aren't you going to stop him?"

She could tell he was itching to. Every part of him twitched in agitation, but he waited.

I slipped my hands out of his in anger and as he reached for one of mine again I slapped it away. He was stunned for a moment and I took it. I punched him right in the face, right where dad had left a mark.

"That's my girl!" I heard Inuyasha chuckle at the wolf.

Hatake rubbed at his cheek thoughtfully. "The name's Moriko," I said, "and don't you forget it. Quit coming after Kurenai."

He didn't grab at me again but he said slowly, "Moriko . . ." Tasting it on his lips he looked back at me, "Lucky for you, I like violent women."

I nearly fell over in defeat. This guy just didn't get it. He made a move towards me again but there was a flash of white and surprisingly enough, Sesshomaru was between Hatake and I.

Inuyasha was at my side though, watching his brother curiously.

He simply stared Hatake down. His wolves whimpered and backed away. He didn't.

"You're in the way of our destination. Step aside."

Up until now I hadn't noticed the hand that was blocking Hatake from stepping around him to get to me. What a nice gesture, Uncle Sesshomaru.

Even Inuyasha warned him, "He's gonna kill you man. I'd suggest you'd hurry along."

Hatake backed away, finally defeated.

After the wolves had retreated, Rin-chan fawned all over Sesshomaru affectionately. Wait a minute. Was he . . . Demonstrating something? I looked at her baby bump. Oh.

He was showing an example of his protectiveness for his unborn child. Even I had to admit, it was attractive. Nice one, Sesshy.

Kurenai strode over to me, "Thanks, I owe you."

"Nah, don't worry about it." I crossed my arms. In my kimono sleeves no less. Though it wasn't my intention, I had exactly mimicked my father.

The group laughed after Kagome had pointed it out. Even Sesshomaru hadn't suppressed a smile.