Satoru picks up his drink and pauses. He angles his head towards his father and raises a brow. "Yes?" The old man will not stop staring at him. Seriously, what is his deal?

"Are you two going to give an explanation?"

"No."

"Satoru," Kagome sighs as she squeezes his thigh in warning.

"I mean, I could give an explanation, but everyone in here will need to take a binding vow." Satoru sets his cup down and throws his arm over the back of Kagome's chair. "Not you, Himari, since you can't do one, anyway. But everyone else will have to vow to keep what I'm about to say to limited to the people in this room." And Himari is the only one not fazed by Shippo's appearance, so it's safe to assume she knows about demons.

"Fine." His father leans back in the chair across from Satoru and crosses his arms. Satoru waits for everyone to nod.

"Shippo is a demon."

"WHAT?" Ryu shouts.

"I already knew that," Himari says, right before taking a sip of her tea. "But Shippo, I thought you had red hair and a tail." She sets her cup down and pouts. "Never mind that, I'm sorry. How are you doing with the change? I'm sure it must be a bit of a shock to be in this time period."

Satoru closes his eyes and squeezes the bridge of his nose. "Add that to the binding vow, too."

"YOU TIME TRAVELED?"

"Papa, why is this man so loud?" Shippo asks, munching on ice cream instead of actual food. Shippo drops his spoon in the bowl and shivers. "Oh, that's sooooo cold!"

"I ask myself that every time I have to deal with him," Satoru says. "And don't eat it so fast or you'll give yourself a brain freeze."

Shippo's large green eyes widen. "My brain can freeze?" Shippo grabs his head.

"No, Shippo. Your brain won't actually freeze, but eating ice cream too fast could make your body feel like there's a... shock?"

"How?" The old man leans forward now, bringing the conversation back around to time travel. "Since when can you time travel?"

"It was all Kagome." Satoru strokes Kagome's arm. "Got the strongest wife."

"I'm not—"

"Yeah! Mama is the strongest." Shippo talks with his hands. "She even survived without half her soul for like months."

"Shippo." Kagome makes a point to not look at Satoru, so he grabs her chair and turns her to face him. "It was a long time ago, and it isn't relevant."

Satoru squints. "How do you survive with only half of a soul and how did that happen?" What does she mean this isn't relevant? Does she not understand that the notion of surviving without your full soul is preposterous?

"InuYasha's ex got raised from the dead and needed a soul so she could stay in this world."

Satoru's right eye twitches. "You have all of your soul now, right?" He grips her thighs, more so for his comfort. "And do I need you in order to travel to the past or—"

"Yes," Kagome sighs.

Damnit. Satoru runs his tongue over his teeth. So, he can't sneak out tonight and kick InuYasha's ass again.

"Now just wait a minute," Himari exclaims. "Kagome! What do you mean, you only had half a soul?"

Kagome shrinks in the chair. Koushi bounces between looking at his mom and looking at his grandma. "You guys are making this a way bigger deal than it was. It didn't hurt or anything." Kagome worries her bottom lip between her teeth. "I could have called the rest of it back at any time, but Kikyo wanted to get revenge on Naraku for what he did." She sits up and shrugs. "Can you move my chair back?"

Satoru frowns and does as she asks. Koushi yawns and snuggles closer to Kagome, so Satoru shoots Ryu a look to keep his voice down. Why his uncle always has to yell is a mystery to him.

Ryu rolls his eyes and then clears his throat. "So, if you're a demon, prove it. You just look like Satoru's kid."

Shippo looks over at Kagome and Satoru for confirmation. He slides out of the chair and takes a couple of steps back. A burst of blue flames erupts, and left is Shippo in his original form. Ryu's mouth drops.

"Do not," Satoru warns.

"I'm not going to yell," Ryu mutters. "What exactly can a demon do?"

"Are you volunteering?" Shippo's tail swishes behind him. Satoru inhales. Now, he's just met Shippo and all, but something about the way Shippo's tail is moving puts Satoru a little on edge. In the corner of his eye, Megumi scoots his chair further away. Satoru snorts.

"Megumi volunteers," Satoru answers, smiling at Megumi's strangled noise of indignation. "Go on Megumi, play nice with your younger brother."

Megumi glares at Satoru and walks over to Shippo. He stands awkwardly with his hands clenched into tight fists.

"Not to be a nitpicker, but I'm the older brother," Shippo says.

Megumi quirks a brow. "You look five."

"I'm in my 60s."

"What?" Satoru looks at Kagome, who doesn't seem fazed by the response. "He's not..." Satoru holds out his arms for Koushi.

"Yeah, Shippo is older than us, but not mentally." Kagome gently places the now sleeping Koushi in Satoru's arms. "I'd put him around six or seven in human years... I think six would be a good age." Kagome tugs on her bottom lip. "Shippo, don't go overboard, please. Something quiet and not messy. Koushi's sleeping."

Shippo frowns. "Can I turn Megumi into a baby?"

"What?"

Kagome hums. "Megumi, do you think you would be able to keep your cries to yourself?"

"Now hold on," Megumi starts, but Shippo pulls out some kind of paper and jumps up to stick the paper on Megumi's forehead. For a second Megumi stands there frozen and then with a poof, his body shrinks and on the floor is...baby Megumi. Satoru stands, holding Koushi close to his chest. Is he seeing this right now?

Megumi's bottom lip wobbles and right before he lets out a cry, he stuffs his mouth with his fist, getting baby drool all over it.

"Pretty cute, huh?" Shippo scratches his nose. His eyes glitter with mischief and Satoru still isn't over seeing Megumi as a baby. Kagome stands and goes to pick up Megumi. She coos and rocks him. "That's some of the things I can do," Shippo says. "I am a fox, so I can shapeshift into anything or anyone."

"Even this glass?" The old man asks, holding up his cup.

Shippo scoffs and transforms into a glass that is identical to the cup in Syouma's hand. He jumps around and then changes back into his normal form. "There's nothing I can't transform into."

"The other clans are always trying to infiltrate," Ryu says, turning to face Syouma. "Shippo could be a plant, and no one would be the wiser."

"Shippo is not doing espionage," Kagome says, rocking Megumi. "He is a child."

Ryu frowns and looks at him for help. Satoru puts a hand up and shakes his head. "Wifey said no. Though I want to take him on some missions, so he knows how to defend himself."

Shippo rolls his eyes. "I know how to defend myself. I even guest taught at the kitsune school occasionally."

Satoru rolls his eyes, mimicking Shippo. "Okay, but that was there, and you don't know how to navigate here."

"Shippo, Satoru..." Kagome pauses. "Daddy just wants to spend time with you and get to know you."

His brain short circuits. Did she just call him Daddy?

"Okay, but if you hit me, I'm telling Mom."

Satoru sighs. "Why would I hit you?" Does Shippo not like him? Maybe he's pissed that Satoru beat InuYasha's ass?

Shippo shrugs. "InuYasha hit me all the time when he got annoyed, though he stopped doing it as much, but I also spent a lot of time at the school or with Sesshomaru."

"I have yet to hear one good thing about that guy." His phone vibrates. Satoru readjusts Koushi and fishes his phone out of his pocket. "Shippo, can you change Megumi back? We gotta go." Satoru slides his phone back in his pocket after sending a reply text to Yuji. He'll address Shippo's comments later. Seems Kagome isn't the only one that he needs to be extra careful with.

"Everything okay?" Kagome asks as she gently places Megumi on the floor. Shippo taps Megumi's forehead to change him back.

"It will be," Satoru says, not wanting to worry her. From the text, Yuji must have run into that cursed womb painting that got away in Shibuya. He eases Koushi into Kagome's arms and then kisses her. "Don't cook tonight. We can order pizza and watch a movie when I get home." He glances at Shippo for a moment and then pulls out his wallet. "Take this. Shippo will need some clothes and whatever else he wants. Like a game system." He hands out the black card for her to take and then pulls out some yen.

"Satoru, this is far too much."

"Oh, right...you wanted the details to the account." He pulls his phone out again and texts her the information. "There ya go. I'll see you guys when I get home." Satoru kisses the top of Koushi's head. "But if you need me, just call. I'll always pick up for you."

"You sure you don't want me to cook?"

"Nah, I want you to take it easy." Satoru smiles and then looks over at Ryu and his father. "Go with them to get Shippo some clothes and stuff. Kagome shouldn't be carrying any of the bags."

"And what's the story with Shippo?" His father asks.

Satoru shrugs. "Kagome and I were secret lovers, and we kept Shippo hidden because we were worried about assassination attempts or..." He pauses. "Or Suguru and his family trying anything. We would have kept Koushi hidden too, but he didn't like that. We keep it simple. And since it's all out in the open now, Kagome and I will get married next year," he says, watching the blush spread across Kagome's face.

Damn, she's cute.

But he needs to get going and see what kind of mess Yuji is in now.

Himari gasps, startling Satoru. "You're serious?" she asks. "About getting married. Like an actual ceremony, here."

"... Well, I don't know if it will be here at the shrine, but..." Satoru trails off. Okay, Himari is no longer listening to him. She turns to his father and engages in conversation with him instead. "Was I dismissed?" Satoru muses out loud.

"No, you just set her off," Kagome answers. "Now she's planning a wedding."

"Ah, glad to have been of service then." He makes eye contact with Megumi, who takes another step away from Shippo. "Let's go Megumi."

"Wait," Shippo says. "I wanna go to."

"That's up to your mom." Satoru crosses his arms. "We'll be going after that death painting. It's with Yuji right now. Could be dangerous."

"I'm strong."

Kagome readjusts Koushi and rubs his back. "No tricks. No turning invisible. No dropping a bunch of fox statues on people. No running off. And no making people fly away. I think that covers it."

"He can turn invisible?"

"I can also turn you invisible, but Mama wants me to behave." Shippo pouts. "I'll be good. I just want to observe and see what this world is like."

Kagome holds out a hand. "Give me a mushroom in case I need to get to you." Shippo pouts and pulls out a funny-looking mushroom. Satoru squints. Is he going senile or does that mushroom have eyes? Kagome takes the mushroom from Shippo and flashes a smile. "Thank you."

"We'll pick up pizzas on the way home," he says, before kissing her cheek. "Okay, you two, we really need to get moving now."

"DON'T WORRY WE'LL TAKE KAGOME SHOPPING AND GET EVERYTHING SHIPPO NEEDS!"

Koushi stirs and then cries. Satoru raises a fist at Ryu, who laughs sheepishly, which only makes Koushi stir more. Koushi turns his head, his eyes still droopy from sleep, and holds a palm out. Ryu blinks and then he's gone.

"Oh dear," Himari says, not sounding even remotely concerned about Ryu. "I'll have to get this kitchen remodeled again." She stands and shakes her head at the hole in the wall. Ryu groans from the ground and sits up, dusting the debris off him.

"THAT'S MY—"

Satoru glares.

"That's my nephew."

"You can't stay here while that is getting fixed," the old man says. "You can come out to the estate."

"Oh? That's very kind of you."

"Ahem." Gramps clears his throat. "And what about me?"

"... You can come too," Syouma says, reluctance dripping from every word.

Satoru gags and retches. Disgusting. Himari doesn't need to stay at the freaking estate. Ryu should be paying for her and Gramps to stay at a luxury hotel. This is his fault for waking Koushi up.

"Please tell me you and Kagome-san aren't having any more children," Megumi says. Satoru laughs and throws an arm around him. He motions for Shippo, who changes back into his disguise and holds out his hands. Satoru grabs him and puts him on his shoulders. Satoru winks at Kagome before warping him, Megumi, and Shippo away.

When they warp near Yuji, the first thing that hits Satoru is that Yuji is not in a fight, at least not anymore. Sure, Yuji is a bit beat up and his right eye is swollen, but Yuji is also snacking on some takoyaki with the cursed painting while they sit on a bench in the park.

"Gojo-sensei!" Yuji exclaims, handing the rest of the takoyaki to the cursed painting. "This is Choso..." Yuji falters. "You have another kid?"

"Shippo," Satoru answers. "Something you want to tell me?" He motions to Choso, who keeps his expression blank.

"Choso thinks we're brothers," Yuji says.

"We are brothers," Choso corrects. "That man was not Geto, but Kamo Noritoshi, my father, and... your parent as well." He moves the food to his lap and holds up his hands. "I knew when I could feel death upon you, as I did with our siblings."

"... Right," Yuji says, nodding. "Anyway, he doesn't want to hurt people."

Satoru slides one hand into his pocket while the other hand holds on to Shippo's leg. "He's half curse." So that thing has been alive for centuries? Satoru grits his teeth. Had it not been in Suguru's body, he would have tortured it and got some answers.

"So?" Shippo chimes. "What's wrong with that?"

What's wrong with that?

Satoru opens his mouth and then closes it at the look on Choso's face. "Go out to the countryside and lie low."

Choso's eyes widen. "You aren't going to kill me?"

"Not today," he answers. "Don't give me a reason to." He smiles outwardly, though inside his brain is going into overdrive. The higher-ups will go into a fit if they catch wind of this. Hell, they'll lose it if they ever find out what Shippo is.

"I knew Gojo-sensei would know what to do!" Yuji beams. "Ah, but we gotta sneak you out of the city somehow."

Shippo jumps down and pulls out a sutra. "Leave it to me!"

"Shippo—"

Satoru exhales and drags a hand down his face. Where Choso was, a backpack eerily similar to the one Kagome has, lays innocently against the bench. The backpack shakes.

"Calm down. This is just to transport you somewhere." Shippo pats the backpack and shushes Choso. "Can I have more ice cream?" Shippo turns toward him.

"Uh... Gojo-sensei... this is another kid of yours or..."

"He's my son."

"Wow, really is Kagome-san—"

"Yes."

"Megumi!" Shippo coos, walking towards Megumi with arms wide open. "I want a hug!"

"NO!" Megumi backs up, which only spurs Shippo on, so Megumi takes off, with Shippo hot on his heels.

Satoru closes his eyes. What happened to not running off? "Uh, Yuji, just take care of your brother."

"Wait! How do we turn him back?"

Satoru shrugs. "I don't know. Figure it out." He waves goodbye and jogs down the sidewalk after Megumi and Shippo. "You two get back here!"

Shippo stops, looks at him, and then resumes chasing after Megumi.

When Kagome asks, Satoru will stress to her he had everything under control, because he totally has everything under control right now.

A/N: Okay, you see this update lol. I was gonna update on Thursday and then remembered that Thursday will probably bring pain.

I don't think anyone will be looking down on Shippo, though Satoru will probably have a talk with him about keeping some of those abilities under wraps.

Wish I Could and How To Tame will update next week. I might update Stranded (why did I write such a long title) this weekend.

Oh yeah, and the Morning Glory book is by C.M. Nascosta. I'm almost done reading it. I read pretty slow these days since I spend more time writing.

Take care! Hope you are having a great week. Stay safe. Make sure to get plenty of rest!