Disclaimer: Inuyasha & One Piece and their characters are properties of Rumiko Takahashi & Eichiirou Oda, Shogakukan, Sunrise, Shueisha, Production I.G., etc. Not mine. I don't make any money out of this. This is written for pure fan entertainment and to the fans all around the world!

Characters: Kagome, Shippou, the Higurashis and The Straw Hat crew (Pairing: past Ace x Kagome)

Rating: K+

Category: short fic, drama, general, slight tragedy, crossover, AU

Fiction note: Takes its place after the two years' time jump. Let's pretend that at one point, the Straw Hat crew sailed off elsewhere after rescuing the merpeople – and before they continued with their adventure.

Luffy and his crew sailed their way to an island. At its docks, they were greeted by mysterious woman.

An Inuyasha & One Piece Short Fic

"Him, We Cherished"

Written by k-tiraam © 2016

Kagome gasped from her sleep, panting hard as if she had run for miles! She held onto her blanket, seeking for its comfort. 'That dream again. Why now after so long time?'

Kagome let the back of her hand rest over the forehead, to calm down her mind. Minutes passed by as she lied down in her bed; it was already a bit past morning – she had overslept. She could hear the birds outside, as well as her mother's humming a random tune in the kitchen. 'Better start the day and not think about the dream any further.'

With a quick visit at the shower and dressing into her choice of clothes for the day, Kagome made her way to the kitchen. "Morning, mom!"

Kagome's mother turned to look at her, smiling. "Morning, Kagome-chan! I couldn't wake you up, so I let you sleep a bit." She offered her some breakfast as Kagome sat down by the table.

"I see. Where are the others?" Kagome took a bite of her breakfast.

"Souta went to his friend's place. Grandfather Higurashi is at the market. As for Shippou-chan and…"

"PIRATES! PIRATES ARE HERE!"

Both Higurashi women gasped.

Kagome stood up rapidly and ran to outside, taking along her bow and arrows! 'Was the dream a warning for this?! Ever since Edward the Whitebeard's death, pirates have tried to invade our town!' Kagome rushed forward, adding some of the spiritual powers to her aid. 'However, they make the same mistake, over and over! This town may not have the Whitebeard's protection anymore, but that doesn't mean it's defenseless!'

"Woaaah! New island!" a bruised Luffy cheered, munching on his meat – which he managed to steal from Sanji's kitchen. Sanji knew he stole it, and he kicked him for it.

Nami sighed at their captain's never ending happiness. "Might as well, this thing needs to be recharged, anyways." Nami tapped on their new Log Pose.

Zoro pointed at their happy-go-lucky captain. "He's not listening."

"Let's go! Let's go!" Luffy cheered, along with Usopp and Chopper. Franky made one of his poses behind him.

Nami's eyebrow twitched.

Kagome ran her way to the docks, seeing others to defend their hometown from the pirates. She was out of breath, so she calmed herself before speaking out. "Have you identified who they are?"

"About to," a man with telescope said, "I haven't seen such flag before."

"Describe it for me." Kagome requested; although she didn't have all the knowledge which flag belong to which – some yes. But not all. New groups of pirates always appeared, baring unfamiliar flags. Still, thanks to the Whitebeards, she learned to recognize some of the well-known pirate ships.

"Hold on," the man took a better look at the ship. "The ship itself is something I haven't seen before. It got a silly looking lion's head…? As for the flag, I can see a print of skull wearing… straw hat?"

Kagome blinked in surprise. "Anything else?"

"Well," he began, "looks like there is a pirate who wears a straw hat to match with the flag's…"

Kagome gasped, remembering something she heard in the past!

"I've a younger brother," he said, leaning a bit back as they sat on a hill. "He has a scar below his left eye and wears a straw hat all the time." He chuckled. "The hat is his treasure. He got it from a man he admires more than anything."

Kagome giggled. "More than you?" She teased him. Kagome heard him grumble annoyed of the fact. "So, what's his name, your little brother's?"

He lied down, looking at the sky. "Luffy."

"Luffy..." Kagome whispered softly. She stared at the approaching ship, until she looked at the people who came to her aid. "There's no danger from them. That's the Straw Hat Pirates' ship."

"But, Kagome-sama, how do you know that for sure?" One of the men asked.

Kagome inhaled deeply before releasing it. "For starters, their flag is the obvious proof. They are fairly a new crew – until they vanished for two years. But now it seems they have returned as a crew again." Kagome smiled, closing her eyes for a second. "If you're unsure, you can stay on guard, but do not attack them."

She turned her attention to the ship again, waiting for it. Some of the men backed away, trusting her words, but only few stayed with her in case if they meant to harm their homes.

The Straw Hat crew didn't know what to think of this – except for Sanji, who was all star-eyed because of the beautiful woman waiting for them at the docks. A woman, who was armed and had some of the men as her back up. Zoro tch'ed, ready to draw one of his swords until…

"Welcome, Straw Hat Pirates!" The woman's voice was heard.

"You've heard of us?" Luffy blinked in puzzlement, looking down at the woman.

"Some. Still, let this be a warning to you." Kagome rose up her spiritual energy, which made all of them shiver. "Do not harm any of people here."

Luffy couldn't understand it, first she welcomed them and then she threatened them? Strange woman! And what was this feeling he just felt? This was something else than haki. Heck, all of them felt it! (The love-fool Sanji pretty much ignored the threat.)

"Don't believe it." Zoro began, gapping at the woman. "She's a priestess."

"Eh?!" Usopp exclaimed.

"Priestess?! One of those who are at the shrines?" Nami asked.

"Yeah. But, she's no ordinary priestess. She's one of the legendaries my old master once told me. Nowadays, priestesses may not have such power as she does. She's one person you don't want to mess with." Zoro eased his hold on his sword.

"Ooh~! A priestess~! Hey, Ms. priestess! Wanna join my crew?" Luffy smiled widely.

Kagome blinked at the request while the men behind her gapped at the pirates! How dared the pirate ask a person with pure soul, such as Kagome-sama, to be part of a pirate crew?!

"I'm sorry, but I can't." Kagome chuckled, eyes half-closed. "I got responsibilities here." Luffy pouted hearing this. "Anyway, you wouldn't be Luffy?"

"Eh? Yeah, that's me. But how do you know that?" Luffy pointed at himself, wondering how did she know about him?

"Your brother, Ace, once told me about you." Kagome smiled knowingly.

Luffy's eyes widened in surprise. Other crew members were the same once they heard what she said!

"As I said, you're welcome here. As long as you don't have ill intentions forward our town."

Hours later, Luffy and the crew were at town's restaurant Shikon no Tama, feasting and drinking. Brook was performing one of his songs to the crowd while Sanji was giving the cook some tips how to make food taste more delicious. Zoro was taking a nap against the wall, while Usopp was fooling around with Chopper. Robin and Nami took a look at their map, as to see where to go next – and Franky was showing off himself to kids, who were fascinated about him.

Luffy kept on munching on the meat that was brought to him. Kagome stared at the mount of meat he managed to eat – and yet managed to stay so slender from it.

"You and Ace were much alike. Both of you can eat this much. Could it be because of the Devil's Fruit?" Kagome wondered, laughed nervously.

"Oh yeah… How did you know Ace? Were you friends?" Luffy asked between his bites.

Kagome was quiet for a moment, sighing deeply. "Ace arrived here one day, with the rest of the Whitebeard Pirates, to refill their ships with food and drinks. You see, Edward the Whitebeard made a deal with the major. He would "claim" this town as one of theirs and the town would be protected from other pirates. For an exchange, the townsfolk would provide the necessary things they needed."

Luffy kept listening while he ate. Nami and Robin also joined in, to listen Kagome's story.

Kagome groaned. "Ace sure was a pain in the ass! Ever since we met, he just couldn't leave me be! Teasing, showing off his fire power! Then he made me worried whenever he fell asleep in the middle of dinner or whenever we talked! Then he woke up, continued on as if nothing happened."

Luffy laughed. It felt good to laugh at the story Kagome told them. Especially when it was about his brother, Ace. Luffy held onto the x-shaped scar over his chest, it pains him still, but the pain was numb compared to the one he felt two years ago.

"You cared for him, didn't you?" Nami asked, letting her head rest on her hands.

Kagome nodded her eyes a bit teary. "More than anything."

"Kagome?" Ace asked.

"What?" Was her reply for him.

"Why won't you come with me, to see what is out there?" Ace pointed at the sea, holding her closer. "Together we could see the world, live on adventure!"

Kagome chuckled, but then looked sorrowfully at him. "I'm sorry, but I can't. I can't leave from here. I can't leave from my responsibilities."

Ace hummed, not pleased of her answer. But he could understand her. He had his responsibilities too, to capture that traitor. "Okay. I get it." Ace hugged her again.

"Ace," she said. "Please, be careful. I-I got a bad feeling about this. You chasing after that man…"

"I will be fine, you'll see." Ace kissed her forehead, then below her right eye – and then on her lips.

After two days' rest, refilling their stocks, the Straw Hat Pirates were off to sail again. Some of the villagers, and the Higurashis with Shippou were there to bid them farewells. Only Kagome was missing. Luffy pouted, he hadn't gone to the ship yet, hoping he would see her and possibly hug her before they leave. Then he took few steps to their ship, once and while watching over his shoulder.

"Bye~! Hopefully we get to see you again!" Souta waved. Shippou jumped up and down in cheer.

"Yeah, you can count on that!" Luffy shouted back, grinning.

"Can't see Kagome-chan anywhere~!" Sanji exclaimed, heartbroken.

"Tch. Perverted cook." Zoro scoulded at the blonde, which only caused them to fight each other.

"Ah! I see her!" Chopper pointed his hoof at the approaching woman – who had something in her arms.

"I'm glad we made it in time!" Kagome panted, smiling a little. "I haven't introduced you to all my family members. Luffy-kun, I would like you to meet Chase. Ace's and mine son." The toddler clanged onto his mother, hiding his face from others, feeling a bit shy. "I'm sorry I hadn't mentioned about him, he just recovered from an allergy."

They thought they wouldn't be surprised anymore – after learning the relationship Kagome had with Ace. But this, this was a mother of all surprises! Ace's child!

"A-Ace's… son?!" Usopp exclaimed, slapping his hands against his face. Sanji cried for another reason, to the fact that lovely Kagome was a single mother, who had dedicated her life for her son. (Then again, she got her family to help her out, so she was not alone.)

"Chase-chan, don't be shy," Kagome cooed at her son. "This is your uncle Luffy and his friends."

From the sound of his mother's soft voice and encouragement, the toddler finally turned to look at Luffy. There was no doubt about it: he was Ace's son. He looked like him, with freckles over his face, sharp eyes – only difference was that he had Kagome's eye color.

"At first, I thought not to say a thing about him, for his protection. But then I felt bad about keeping a secret from you, Ace's brother." Kagome spoke softly, holding on her son. Chase giggled at her.

Luffy had lowered his hat over his eyes, feeling the tears threatened to fall from his eyes. 'Ace… did you know? Did you know about him? Your son?' A flashback of his brother came to mind, grinning at him. 'Don't worry, I'll protect him. I won't let anyone come near to him!' Luffy's hand that held onto his hat trembled.

Minutes passed, until Luffy exhaled and lifted his hat away from the eyes, grinning widely.

"I see! I got a nephew! So cool!" He leaned closer to the child. "Hi! I'm Luffy, I'm your uncle!"

The child blinked at him, his eyes a bit teary. Luffy noticed this, and he stretched his cheeks to make a silly face. From the sight of this, Chase began to laugh, clapping his hands together. Kagome smiled at the sight; so did the rest of Straw Hat crew. Their captain got another treasure to hold close and to protect.

Ace's legacy.

End of story.

First draft: February the 2nd, 2016

Author's note: I cried. I really did cry while writing the flashbacks and the last part of this fic. It shows that I still get emotional of Ace's death. He was one of my favorite One Piece characters, and his death was devastating!

Sighs. I've always wanted to write a fic of Ace x Kagome, especially after his death. At last I got to write this off my system. ;_; Maybe someday, I will write more about them – a prologue for this one. Now I can focus on those long waited sequels!