Kikyō met Kagome's stunned glare with a steady gaze. The kitchen was quiet save for the ticking of the clock on one of the walls and the static noise of electricity coming from the ceiling light.

Calmly, as though she was going through a recipe for a favoured dish, Kikyō explained, "We've found the technique to be particularly successful if performed during the early stages of the pregnancy. Right now, it's critical that—"

Kagome took a step back, her posture defensive and alert. "What makes you think I would ever allow you, or anyone, to do something like that to my baby?"

The long-suffering sigh from the other woman made Kagome bristle.

"You are a reiki user, Kagome," Kikyō reminded, her voice oozing authority and smugness, which rankled Kagome even more. "You have a duty to continue the fight against yōkai. You are also my reincarnation, the bearer of my soul. In that regard, you are even more responsible for continuing this mission."

Fury flashed in Kagome's eyes as she clenched her fists, the joints of her fingers creaking under the strain. Her voice was icy cold as she spoke with finality. "It has never been clearer to me how different we are." She pressed a hand firmly against her chest, and her voice shook slightly from her rage. "If I truly did bear your soul, it must've been altered beyond recognition, because I find your way of thinking utterly repugnant."

Kikyō's dark eyes flared, and her mouth pinched into a thin line. "I see," she said, keeping her voice tight and emotionless. She clasped her hands in front of her and exhaled slowly. "The choice to mate with a full demon was yours, Kagome, but think of the future. Your offspring should be human and be a champion for humankind, even if you wouldn't."

Anger arose in Kagome's chest, her heart pounding fiercely. "I am defending my kind," Kagome said, her chin lifted high and her gaze steady despite her fury. "Sesshōmaru and I are striving for peace — for both humans and yōkai."

Kikyō's eyes flashed with irritation as she shook her head in disbelief. She gestured wildly, her voice jagged and sharp. "Can you truly be this naïve, Kagome?" When she laughed, it was short and full of scorn. "Sesshōmaru is a politician with grand ambitions for a utopian world and a way with words, but one look at him and you can see that his loyalty lies with his own kind, not us humans."

Kagome shook her head and held her gaze with unwavering confidence. "Then, you don't know him at all."

The other woman rolled her eyes; the condescension in every gesture made Kagome fist her hands.

"Inuyasha is okay with all this?" Kagome asked, her voice cracking a little. "He's okay with you trying to obliterate yōkai traits in unborn children, not to mention what you are doing to your own — forcing them to wear those yōki-suppression beads?" She shook her head, her expression incredulous as she looked upon the other woman. "I don't understand… Inuyasha has yōkai blood running inside him. Why would you eliminate such an integral part from himself, and from your children?"

Kikyō straightened her back, her mouth a thin, tight line. "Inuyasha wants the best for his children," she replied in a low, warning tone. "In this, he and I are in agreement."

Kagome recoiled at the other woman's words, her expression stunned. "I don't believe you. I can't believe he'd agree with you giving them harmful reiki therapy like this! Kikyō, our power isn't supposed to be used for hurting others!"

The air between them crackled with tension as Kikyō leaned forward. She scoffed, her voice cutting through the air like a sharp blade. "Hurt?" she snapped. "This will save them. Being fully human will save them. It will give them a chance at a real future. A human's future."

"We no longer live in an era where hanyō or anyone with yōkai blood is routinely hunted, killed, or ostracized. There are discriminations, but we are fighting daily to create a better world." Kagome looked at the other woman beseechingly, her voice softened as she continued, "Kikyō. You are a mother, and I know you love your children and fear for their safety. If you want to fight for their future, then join us. But not this." She held up her hand with the pamphlet clenched in her grasp before Kikyō's face. "Not like this."

Kikyō glowered at Kagome for several long moments before her expression smoothed into a blank mask. "I can see you disagree," she said with a placid voice that belied the storm in her eyes. "It is your choice and your baby, but when the consequences come, remember I tried to help you."

Kagome could feel her anger simmering inside her, but she managed to keep her emotions in check. She forced a stiff smile onto her lips and lifted her chin. "It's not the kind of help I want or need, but thank you."

Kikyō adjusted her posture slightly, turning away toward the kitchen door as she spoke again. Her voice still carried its previous edge, even if it was a little less hostile. "Could you ask Sesshōmaru to wear glamour when he visits our home? He is making the children uncomfortable."

Kagome still felt uneasy from their recent conversation, and Kikyō's latest request made her stomach churn with renewed turmoil. She felt her jaw clenching and fought to keep her expression neutral. "You mean— he's making you uncomfortable."

Kikyō raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms over her chest. "No. I mean, the children are."

Kagome swallowed hard, trying to find the words to express herself without crossing the line, but what came out was firm and unwavering. "The children are fine. They are having fun with their uncle, whom they had not seen in… months, because you refuse to have them near any yōkai influence. The children want to know their heritage, especially Ichirō—"

Kikyō's eyes widened, and she leaned forward, her hands knotting into tight fists. "My children have chosen to be human and must be away from yōkai influences. They are better off without it."

Kagome shook her head sadly. "Your children did not choose this; you chose this for them. They are quarter yōkai — their father's blood runs within them, no matter how much you may wish it is otherwise. It is a wonderful thing for them to—"

"No!" Kikyō shouted, cutting Kagome off mid-sentence.

Kagome's eyes widened, and her heart raced as she battled to keep her composure. "You can't keep them from their heritage," she persisted. "It's like denying them their parent."

"This conversation is over," Kikyō hissed. Her lips pursed, and her eyes narrowed when she turned her head to the side and added, "Any more of this, and I'd be forced to no longer welcome you in our home."

Kagome was unsure what hurt more: Kikyō's harsh treatment toward her and Sesshōmaru or the idea of not being allowed to continue visiting the children. She bit her lip, fighting the urge to cry.

"I think you might want to reconsider," Kagome said quietly. "The children are so happy tonight. They need more people to love them just as unconditionally as they love you."

"I love my children," Kikyō said. "I love them more than anything in this world." Though her expression became slightly softer, the hard glint in her eyes did not entirely disappear. "But, more than anything, I need to safeguard their future."

Kagome shook her head, fingers wiping the angry tears that gathered beneath her eyes. In no uncertain terms, she told Kikyō, "If you want Sesshōmaru to wear glamour inside your house, you'll have to ask him yourself. I will not do your dirty work for you."

Kikyō fixed Kagome with a piercing glare, her mouth tightening into a thin line. Then, without a word, she spun on her heel and strode from the room, leaving Kagome no choice but to trail along in her wake — if only to stop Sesshōmaru from clawing the woman's face if she truly dared to force the use of glamour.

Outside, Sesshōmaru was still sitting with Inuyasha and the children at the dinner table. An open bottle of sake and four cups waited beside them. Sesshomaru and Inuyasha seemed unperturbed, which led Kagome to believe that Kikyo must have put up a barrier that muffled the sounds of conversations in the kitchen, enough for them to remain private.

The moment Kagome emerged from the kitchen, Sesshōmaru's gaze immediately darted to her, concern flashing in his eyes as he noticed the tension in her posture.

As their eyes locked, electricity seemed to pass between them. His gaze was intense, searching as if he were attempting to decipher her unspoken thoughts. She could almost sense his questions, and at that moment, they seemed to develop a telepathic ability, allowing them to communicate with only stares and subtle gestures alone.

'Is everything alright?' Sesshōmaru silently asked.

Kagome tilted her head, rolling her eyes ever so slightly. 'Later,' she mouthed inwardly.

His glance shifted to the door, and he subtly gestured toward it. 'Would you like to leave?'

To this, Kagome shook her head surreptitiously, a determinate expression on her face. 'Not yet. I still have a bone to pick with them.'

"Sesshōmaru," Kikyō said aloud, breaking their connection. "I need you to do something for us."

Sesshōmaru did not comment on her commanding tone, but his fair brow arched expectantly as he met her gaze. "And— what is that, Kikyō?"

"I'd like you to wear glamour whenever you come to our home."

Silence dropped into the room as Kikyō's words seemed to echo off the walls; each syllable sounded more ridiculous and offensive to Kagome's ears. Sesshōmaru sat still, expression unchanged; even the slightest twitch of his lips seemed magnified in the quiet.

Inuyasha finally stirred from his chair and crossed the room to approach his wife, his expression tense. "Oy, oy, Kikyō. Asking Sesshōmaru to wear glamour in our house — that's a bit much, isn't it?"

Kikyō inhaled sharply and spun to face her husband, her voice terse. "Is it? Didn't we commit to raising our children as humans? That includes cutting out unnecessary yōkai influences. We must do everything possible to make them comfortable and safe here."

Inuyasha's forehead creased as he furrowed his brows, still not convinced. "But he's my brother, and he rarely visits as it is—"

"No," Sesshōmaru said from his spot at the table. He straightened in his seat, and his golden eyes were set firm on Kikyō as he spoke the word with unyielding authority.

Droplets of anger seemed to drip from Kikyō's eyes as she gaped at him in disbelief. "No?"

Unperturbed, Sesshōmaru repeated firmly, "No."

Kikyō's posture stiffened as her chest heaved with indignation. Inuyasha shot her a warning glance, but the woman held her ground. Then, finally, she asked, "Why not?"

"I came here not for myself, but for my mate, for our unborn pup, and for the values she believes a family hold in a child's life," Sesshōmaru said, returning Kikyō's glare unflinchingly. "Whether we like it or not, you are our family and, by extension, the pup's family. I have come to understand that although we cannot choose who they are, we can attempt to understand them, and —" His eyes narrowed as he paused. "— accept them as they are, if we decide to do so."

Sesshōmaru stepped away from his chair to stand beside Kagome. "If we invite you to our home, we will not ask you to wear any charm to alter yourself." He smirked and continued with a quieter voice. "Though I doubt there's a charm that would rid you of your waspish nature."

"Easy there, Brother," Inuyasha said in warning. "She's still my wife."

Sesshōmaru shot Inuyasha a slightly apologetic gaze, though he continued, "Kagome and I would never ask it of you. When we welcome you to our home, we do so with the understanding that you'd come as you are. I expect the same courtesy from you: no yōki-suppression aid, no glamour."

As Kagome watched the scene unfold before her, she felt a tremendous sense of pride welling inside her. The corners of her lips lifted into a slight smile as she reached for Sesshōmaru's hand. His fingers curled around hers, and she felt the warmth that radiated from his touch. She squeezed his hand lightly as she returned her gaze to Kikyō.

"This dinner is supposed to be a chance for us to become a family," she reminded the woman. "But instead, you've insulted my mate with your demand, not to mention the offer you made me in the kitchen."

Sesshōmaru slowly shifted his gaze to her; his eyebrows raised, a hint of suspicion in his eyes. Then, finally, he asked, "What offer?"

His voice betrayed no emotion, but the air between them seemed to hum with dangerous energy. Kagome hesitated before reaching into her pocket and handing him the pamphlet. "Read it yourself."

Sesshōmaru scanned the texts printed on the paper, his brows creasing as his eyes moved swiftly across the page. His grip on the pamphlet tightened as he read, and when he finished, his jaw was clenched, and his eyes had hardened.

The air in the dining room became even heavier with tension as Sesshōmaru's piercing gaze locked onto the woman. His voice, low and dangerously quiet, reverberated through the stillness as he spoke. "Kikyō. How long have you been performing this… treatment?"

Kikyō straightened her back; her chin raised in defiance. "We had just perfected the method three months ago. It is our newest program."

Sesshōmaru continued to press forward, his words like a whip crack in the tense silence of the room. "Do the fathers consent to what you do to their unborn children? Are they even informed?"

In response, Kikyō's eyes narrowed, and she held his gaze. "Why should their consent be required? The women are the ones carrying the babies."

At that moment, Kikyō had done the near impossible: she had rendered Sesshōmaru speechless. Inuyasha stood beside her as he shifted uneasily, his lips pressed into a thin line as he watched his wife and brother with guarded eyes. He had a tightness to his stance, as though disturbed, which made Kagome wonder how much of Kikyō's plan he knew.

At this point, Kagome felt so removed from Inuyasha that the answer could be everything or nothing at all.

Kagome stepped forward, her tone strong and clear as she spoke with conviction. "Kikyō. What you are doing... it's not right. Stripping those babies of their heritage is not right. That cannot be justified, even if their mothers have allowed it."

Kikyō's eyebrows drew down in disapproval. "Kagome." Her voice was cool, and the sound of her name on Kikyō's lips made Kagome's chest burn with ire. "I must say I'm disappointed in you. I thought you'd understand."

"My child is Sesshōmaru's child," Kagome snapped. "Unlike you, or your patients, I want my child to have Sesshōmaru's blood, Sesshōmaru's traits. I dream of young pups with silver hair and golden eyes. I want my children to look like their father, to have even a smidgeon of his character. Is it so difficult for you to believe that others do not despise yōkai as you do?"

Kikyō's eyes burned with a wave of fierce anger as she declared, "I do not despise yōkai."

A little laughter came from Sesshōmaru as he regarded her coolly; his lips curved in a slight smirk. "Even if you do not despise yōkai, you certainly prefer that we do not exist."

Kikyō hesitated, taken aback by his statement. She tried to meet his gaze, but her eyes faltered before the frigidity of his stare. "Did you not have the same view of us humans, Sesshōmaru?"

Sesshōmaru tilted his chin upward, a gesture of acceptance. "Yes, I'd not deny it," he calmly replied. "But, unlike you, I have changed."

Kikyō glanced away as she snorted in disbelief. "Taking care of one orphan girl for three years back in Sengoku Jidai doesn't mean you've become a champion for humanity."

"That is merely the start," Kagome intercepted, her hand gently gripping Sesshōmaru's arm. "And it was not only three years. Sesshōmaru remained in Rin's life until the day she died. Afterwards, he kept an eye on her children and grandchildren. Rin even trusted him with one of her grandsons, Rinshō, whom Sesshōmaru had adopted and treated like his own son. It's a lifelong commitment —"

Kikyō's unexpected outburst shocked the rest. She was visibly angry; her face flushed, and her eyes were blazing. "One girl! One boy! One family. Even with your political career and all your promises for a peaceful coexistence, where were you when—"

The crash of Inuyasha's fist striking the table cut through her tirade. His entire body shook with unexplainable strain, so much that he had to take a few moments to regulate his breathing.

Then, he looked at her, voice shaking as he spoke, "Kikyō. That is enough."

Kikyō blanched, and she glanced away.

Sesshōmaru kept quiet, not breaking his gaze between the husband and wife as he repeated the question. "Where was I when—? When what?"

Inuyasha and Kikyō both refused to look at Sesshōmaru. The pressure in the air was palpable, and the children seemed to be feeling it, too. Ichiro had his arm protectively around the two youngest boys, Saburo and Kenjiro. His eyes were wide with worry and confusion.

Kagome saw the fear and concern on their little faces, and, without a word, she knelt beside them and ran her fingers through their hair in a calming gesture. The clacking of beads as their hands moved nervously drew her eyes to their bracelets, and she looked up at Kikyō in desperation.

"Will you at least reconsider the children's yōki-suppression beads?" Kagome asked pleadingly. "I cannot imagine these beads are healthy for them."

Another palpable tension filled the room as Inuyasha and Kikyō surveyed their offspring. Finally, Inuyasha broke the quiet, clearing his throat and looking carefully at his wife. "Perhaps, once in a while, the kids can take off their beads. The weekends, maybe? Seems like a good compromise."

Kikyō's face twisted into a grimace and she shook her head, her eyes watering as she spoke to him in a hushed voice. "Inuyasha, no. You promised me."

The adults in the room froze when Ichiro spoke up, his voice small but seemingly amplified in the silence. Tears brimmed in his eyes as his hands gently fiddled with the beads around his wrist.

"But, Mom… you're the only one in this house who doesn't wear these beads. You don't know what it does to us, how it makes us feel inside."

Kagome reached out for Ichirō's hands and squeezed them gently, fervently wishing there was something else she could do for the young boy. Then, kindly, she asked, "How does it make you feel inside, Ichirō? Can you please tell us?"

Ichirō hesitated, but he drew a deep breath as if to bolster his courage. "I don't know… how to say it. But… there hasn't been a day in my life… that I feel like I'm myself," the boy said, his voice cracking.

Kagome looked at the two younger children and gently touched their shoulders. They averted their eyes but shifted slightly closer to her. Kagome kept her voice as gentle and as light as possible. "Kenjiro. Saburo. Do you both feel the same way?"

The two kids slowly nodded, their eyes nervously peering up at her.

Inuyasha stepped forward, looking stricken. His glazed eyes were fixated on his eldest son. "Ichirō. Why haven't you ever said so before?"

Ichirō swallowed hard and tried to blink away the tears threatening to fall. He looked up into his father's face.

"I tried to tell you, Dad," he said, his quiet voice nearly breaking. "But you never listen."