“Sure I’ll calm down...”  Kagome said sweetly.  Hojo smiled, and took a step toward her, away from the Bone-Eater’s Well behind him.  Kagome’s smile turned to ice. “Just after I get rid of you!”  She hissed, and shot.  She had not been aiming to kill.  Her plan was to pin him to the well, and give Sesshomaru her full permission to maul him for hurting Rin.  Unfortunately, she miscalculated.

Instead of pinning Hojo to the well, the arrow knocked him backwards into the well, slamming his head into the wooden frame on his way down.  Hojo fell unconscious the second his head hit.  The small group of people stared at the well as bluish light flared, signaling that the time slip had activated.  Kagome sighed, and brushed her hair out of her face tiredly, and walked over to Rin and Sesshomaru.  Rin squealed with delight, and hugged her frantically, with her right arm.

“Thank you, Mo- Rin means, Lady Kagome!”  She said, beaming up at her.  Kagome smiled back as Shippo slid from her neck to get to Rin’s level.

“You know, you could call her Mommy.  She lets me call her that now, and she says you’re my sister.”  Shippo told Rin conversationally, and the little girl’s eyes went wide.

“Really?  Rin can call you Mommy, Lady Kagome?”  She asked in awe.  Kagome laughed.

“Of course!  I said you were my daughter, didn’t I?”  The next second, Kagome found herself tackled by Rin, who was careful not to jostle her arm.  Shippo watched for a moment, then yelled.

“Hey!  Rin doesn’t get to have all the fun!”  And aided his sister in tackling their mother, who just kept laughing.

“Rin.”  The cool voice of Sesshomaru broke into the family moment, and Rin got up off Kagome, and walked to the demon lord with her smile still on her face.

“Lord Sesshomaru, if Rin can call Lady Kagome ‘Mommy’, does that mean Rin can call you ‘Daddy’?”  Stunned silence filled the clearing.  InuYasha silently prepared to go save his Kagome’s daughter if his brother was not happy about this question.

He won’t be unhappy, you idiot.  Sesshomaru adores Rin.  If anyone freaks out, it will be that stupid toad-thingy!  And thinking of her as your Kagome, are you?  The voice asked in a sugar sweet tone.

Yes, I am.  Got a problem with that?  InuYasha snapped at it.

Not at all. You might want to talk to Kagome about that before saying she’s yours in public.  She REALLY doesn’t appreciate it when people make life-altering choices for her...  InuYasha shuddered, remembering what Kagome had done to him when he tried to block the well. Exactly.  She isn’t too happy when Kouga calls her that either.

Sesshomaru was in shock after Rin’s question.  He had never thought that this human girl would ask to call him her father.

You know you want to.  Said a mental voice, one totally different from the one that had been hounding Kagome, InuYasha, and crew.  This one had been hanging around Sesshomaru, Rin, and Jaken for a few months, edging towards this moment. You know you want to say yes, if only to give yourself an excuse to protect her.  Besides, if you say yes, you can use it to torment InuYasha....  That settled it.

“Yes, Rin.  You may call this Sesshomaru ‘Daddy’, if you wish.”  Rin smile was positively angelic, as she hugged her father with her good arm.  Very hesitantly, Sesshomaru hugged her back.  Kagome resisted the urge to squeal at the cuteness of the long overdue family moment.  InuYasha’s jaw dropped, not absolutely certain that this was happening.  Meanwhile, Kouga was slowly processing something he remembered from the first time he had found out Sesshomaru had a human girl traveling with him.  He had vaguely remembered her scent from somewhere, like he had smelled her before.  He kept his face blank as he tried to remember where he had smelled her before.  InuYasha noticed the difference.

What’s wrong with him?  He asked his voice.  The voice snickered.

He’s trying to remember where he first smelled Rin’s scent.  Wonder how he’ll react when he realizes that it was when he let his wolves decimate the village where you met him?

You mean it was Kouga who killed Rin?  InuYasha asked, a bit stunned.

Well, a group of his wolves, but he holds responsibility for turning them loose.  Let’s hope Sesshomaru decides to kill him, shall we?

Nah, if Sesshomaru hasn’t killed him by now, he’s going to let him live.  Kagome might, except she’s too nice.  I think....

You think?!?!  When did this happen?  The voice mocked.  InuYasha resisted the urge to growl.

A long time ago.  Anyway, AS I WAS SAYING, I think we need to get Ayame down here.  Kagome will probably side with her, especially if someone lets slip that it was Kouga that killed Rin...  The voice cackled with glee.

Brilliant, InuYasha!  And what do you know, Ayame is not too far away, chasing after a certain wolf-demon!  She should be here by this evening.  I’ll make sure Kagome hears about Rin.  Don’t you worry.

I wasn’t gonna!  InuYasha protested.

Riiight.

Now the happy family moment was interrupted by Rin looking up at Sesshomaru and saying quietly.

“Daddy?  My arm hurts...” Sesshomaru inwardly cursed himself.

“Of course, Rin.  InuYasha, Kagome,” Kagome jumped slightly.  Sesshomaru had always called her ‘girl’ or ‘miko’, but never by her name.  InuYasha sighed mentally.

Let the mockery begin.  The voice agreed.

“Rin needs someone to set her arm.”  Sesshomaru stated coolly.  Kagome nodded.

“I’m afraid I don’t know how to do that.  We’ll need to take Rin to the village so my mentor, Kaede, can help her.”  Sesshomaru nodded once, his eyes blank.  “If you’d like,” Kagome continued slowly, choosing her words with care, “I could take Rin to see her myself, and bring her back to you when Kaede has set her arm.  We know you don’t like most humans...”  Sesshomaru shook his head.

“No.  This Sesshomaru will take her.”  Kagome nodded.

“Alright, then.  Follow me...”  Slowly, Kagome walked over to Kirara, who had conveniently placed herself next to InuYasha.  Once the miko was standing with her kit next to the cat demon, InuYasha gently picked her up and set her on Kirara’s back, followed by Shippo.  She beamed at him.  “Thank you, InuYasha.”

“Keh.”  InuYasha replied, tucking his hands into his sleeves and choosing to suppress his elation that she was smiling at him.  Or rather, that she was smiling a smile that did not promise death or a sitting.

“Kouga?  I suppose you’re welcome to stay for a while... but there’s not really any more room at Kaede’s, and we’ll be staying here for a bit.”  Kagome informed the wolf-demon, hoping he would take the hint for once and go away.

This is Kouga we’re talking about.  The idiot who killed Rin?  The voice pointed out dryly.  Kagome sighed internally.  She had forgotten about that.  It just confirmed her belief that she would never marry Kouga.  She could never marry someone who had harmed her child, even unintentionally.

Kaede was a little startled by her patient’s stony eyed father and the fact that the child was calling her student ‘Mommy’, but she quickly set Rin’s arm, and gave her firm instructions regarding what she was and was not allowed to do while her arm is in her cast.  Something told the old priestess that between her demon lord father and her miko mother, Rin would be forced to follow her orders.

Meanwhile, Sesshomaru was having a great deal of evil amusement tormenting InuYasha, and unintentionally Kouga, by hanging around Kagome.  It had not taken long for Kagome to figure out what was going on, and she spent the afternoon suppressing giggles at the looks on InuYasha and Kouga’s faces as Sesshomaru sat next to her, or stood behind her while she was holding Rin, looking like a menacing mate protecting his wife and child.  This also amused Sango and Miroku.  The monk developed a tendency to sit beside InuYasha and Kouga during one of these episodes, and sigh loudly, stating that Kagome and Sesshomaru made such a lovely couple, with two such beautiful children.  More than once, Sango, Kirara, or Shippo had to come and save his neck from the infuriated demon and half-demon.

Around sunset, Kagome and Sango began making dinner, with Rin following them around like a puppy, wanting to help however she could.  They were serving bowls to everyone when Kouga stiffened.  InuYasha concealed a grin: Kouga had caught the scent of a red headed female wolf demon.

“What’s wrong, Kouga?”  Kagome asked, curious.

“Uhhhh...”  Kouga did not really have an answer.

“Keh.  He can smell Ayame.  She’s just outside the village.”  InuYasha supplied, hiding his glee.

Kagome smiled.

“That’s nice.  I hope she comes to see us.  We haven’t heard from her in a while.”  Kouga shuddered.

“I don’t.”  Unfortunately, it was a little too late for Kouga.  Someone knocked on the door.  Shippo opened it to reveal a red-haired female wolf demon, flanked by two white wolves.

“Oh, hi Ayame!”  He said cheerfully.  Kouga glared stonily at her, as she smiled back.

“Hello Shippo.  Can I speak to Kouga?”  Shippo nodded

“Sure!  Oh Kooooooougaaaaaa!”  He called, and received a growl in response.  Ayame’s eyes narrowed to slits, and her fists clenched.

“KOUGA!”  Kouga stared at Ayame, vaguely stunned.  He had seen a look resembling the glare on Ayame’s face earlier that day... when Kagome had found out that Hojo had hurt Rin.  He did not think that Ayame could make not doing as she wished as painful as Kagome could, but it would probably be safer not to find out.

“Alright, alright, I’m coming!”  Kouga and Ayame stepped outside for a moment.  Everyone inside the house stayed absolutely silent, the humans straining to hear the conversation, the demons and half demon courteously staying quiet for their benefit, as they could hear the conversation loud and clear.  It was Ayame’s typical pitch to get Kouga to go with her to the Northern Mountains so they could be mated.  Kouga, as usual refused.

Generally, this would have been the end of it; Kouga would continue following Kagome, and Ayame would follow him for a while, hoping to change his mind, but eventually going back to her grandfather.  This time, it was different.

“Kouga....” Ayame said, sounding like someone preparing to follow orders. “My grandfather told me that I HAD to bring you back, this time.  Our pack is suffering, and we need you to come help us.  To be quite frank, your pack isn’t doing too well either.  This is the only way he sees us all surviving...”

“Damn it, Ayame, I don’t care!  I’m sorry if you get in trouble with the Elder, but I won’t leave Kagome!  You really aught to do what YOU want for a change, not what the Elder wants.”  Ayame’s eyes flashed.

“THIS IS WHAT I WANT!”  She screamed at him.

Back in the house, everyone jumped.  Sesshomaru, InuYasha, and Shippo covered their ears and Kirara yowled, wincing in pain at the high pitch of Ayame’s shriek.  The humans were alarmed by the sudden clarity of Ayame’s voice.

Ayame was furious.  She knew Kouga loved Kagome.  She was not happy about that, but she could accept it, especially because she knew Kagome did not love him back.  She also knew that Kouga was refusing to do what was best for all of them. That was what really infuriated her.  How could Kouga be a leader if he did not do what was best for his people?  She sighed to herself.  It did not really matter to her.  She needed Kouga, both because she loved him, and her grandfather had instructed her to get him.  There was only one possible solution for this.  She slowly picked up a heavy rock from the ground next to her.

“Kouga, I’m sorry.” And she threw it, not giving Kouga time to react.  It connected solidly with his skull, knocking him unconscious.  Very calmly, she turned to her entourage of wolves.  “Make sure he doesn’t wake up.  I need to ask Kagome something.”  They nodded, and she reentered the house, smiling sweetly, to the stares of five humans, a half-demon, and four full demons.  Ayame blushed, guessing that the demons had informed the humans what had happened outside.  “Uhhhh.. Kagome?  Do you have anything I could use to keep Kouga asleep until we get back to the Northern Mountains?”  Kagome and Kaede glanced at each other, and got to their feet.

“Well, yes.  We do. But... you do realize he’s going to be furious with you once you get there, right?”  Kagome asked as Kaede gathered some herbs, and began grinding them into a powder.

“Of course I do.  It’s pretty obvious.  But once my wolves and I get him to the Northern Mountains, my grandfather will deal with him.  Believe me, NO ONE gets on his bad side.  It’s just safer that way.”  Kagome smiled.

“If you’re sure....”  She went over to a shelf, and picked up a small pouch with a small spoon inside it, which she handed to Kaede.  The old miko smiled at her protégée in thanks, and poured the powdered herbs into it.  Kagome took it, and fastened it tightly shut.  Then she handed it to Ayame.  “Here.  It doesn’t take a lot to work on a human, in fact, we would only brush a bit under someone’s nose and let them inhale it, but it’s going to take a lot more to knock out a demon.  I suggest mixing about a spoonful of herbs with a cup of water, and making him drink it.  One dose should knock him out for about eight hours.”  Kagome then did something impulsive.  She quickly hugged the female demon, and whispered “Good luck.”  Ayame was startled, but smiled.

“Thanks.  Dealing with Kouga, I’m going to need it!”  Ayame flew out the door, and enlisted the help of her wolves to drag Kouga off.

After Kouga was out of the picture, the atmosphere lightened a bit.  Rin and Shippo played together under the watchful eyes of their mother and Sesshomaru, and Shippo showed off some of his fox illusions to his little sister.  Rin adored his tricks, especially his top.  Eventually, though, Kagome announced that it was time for them to go to bed.   The two children grumbled, but snuggled together in Kagome’s sleeping bag, and fell asleep pretty quickly.  Kagome watched them fondly for a few moments, then got to her feet.

“Oy, Kagome, where are you going?”  InuYasha asked as she collected her bow and quiver.

“Just out for a bit.”  She said vaguely.  “I’ll be back in about an hour.”  She left.

“Keh.  She’ll probably get herself killed.  I better go make sure she doesn’t do something stupid.”  InuYasha followed Kagome into the night.

He found her sitting on the edge of the well, getting ready to slide down into it.  She looked up as she heard him approach, and smiled as she saw him.

“I was wondering how long it would take you to come after me.”  She said wryly.

“Keh.  What made you think that I would?  I don’t always come after you!”  InuYasha snapped, knowing as he said it that he was lying.

Of course you’re lying, you idiot.  You promised her that you would always protect her, and you can’t really do that if you don’t follow her.  The voice informed him tiredly, as if he could not believe he was having to remind InuYasha of this again.  Kagome laughed.

“You do, and you know it.  It’s alright, I don’t mind.  I won’t be gone long this time- probably less than a day.  I just need to make sure Hojo-” InuYasha could not believe that Kagome wanted to see that stupid idiot she had been dating.  He had thought she was past it, and something in him snapped.

“No.”  He snarled.  Kagome, who had been turning towards the well stopped.  Then she slowly turned her head to meet his eyes.  InuYasha nearly backed down when he saw the anger in them.

“What was that?”  She asked in a low, icy cold, slow voice.    InuYasha’s eyes locked with hers, his anger matching hers.

“You heard me.  No.  I won’t let you go back to that idiot boyfriend of yours.”

“Wha-” Kagome said, startled.

“I don’t care if you sit me into oblivion, I’m not  going to back down on this!”

“InuYasha, I-” Kagome tried to interject.

“I’m not going to let you-”

“INUYASHA, SIT!!”  Kagome screamed, sick of trying to get a word in edgewise.  InuYasha sat.

“Why, you...”  He snarled.

“Save it InuYasha.  Let me talk for a second, instead of trying to second guess what I’m going to say!”  Kagome snapped.  InuYasha shut up.  Kagome smiled.  “Alright.  First of all, I was trying to say that I needed to go see if Hojo was going to talk, or if he even remembers this.  He did take a nasty blow to the head.  Second... DON’T YOU EVER TRY TO TELL ME I CAN’T GO HOME AGAIN!!!!”  InuYasha gulped, and nodded.  Kagome smiled sweetly. “Good.  Now, one more thing... Why would you care if I did go back to Hojo?  I mean, you’re in love with Kikyo!”

Now might be a good time to let her know about the fact that you love her, and not Kikyo...  The voice observed sagely.

You think?  InuYasha replied snidely.  Then he took a deep breath, and asked softly

“Why do you think I’m in love with that clay pot?”  Kagome froze.

“What did you- did you just- huh?”  She started in a jumble, extremely confused, and feeling a surge of hope go through her.  InuYasha smirked.

“Why would I love a pile of dried mud when I have a real, beautiful, breathing girl, who is actually, you know, alive right in front of me?”

  And who can actually produce children?  The voice added innocently.

Shut it.  InuYasha snapped, conveniently forgetting that he had thought the same thing.  Suddenly, InuYasha felt two arms being flung around his middle.  He looked down to see Kagome hugging him frantically.  With a smile, he hugged her back.  Kagome mumbled something into his chest, and he looked down at her.

“What was that?”  Kagome looked up at him and smiled, tears of happiness streaming down her face.

“I said ‘I love you too.’” she explained, blushing slightly.  InuYasha smiled back, and kissed her.

My work here is done.  The voice said, ringing in their heads with positive glee. Try not to miss me too much.  I’ll be back before you know it!

Why does that scare me?  Kagome and InuYasha asked it dryly.

So, this is the thanks I get for getting you two together?  Ungrateful ingrates!  The voice departed, leaving dark muttering in its wake.  Kagome shook her head to clear it, then smiled up sadly at InuYasha.

“Unfortunately, I still have to go see about Hojo.  I’ll be back as soon as I can, alright?  If I’m lucky, I’ll be back by tomorrow afternoon.”  InuYasha sighed, and nodded.

“If you’re not back by tomorrow, I will go get you, got that?”  Kagome laughed and nodded.  She leapt nimbly into the well, and vanished in a blaze of blue light.

Hours earlier, Hojo had woken up with a start on the ground of a dirt lined pit, and a splitting headache.

What the- he wondered, and began to climb out of the hole.  When he got out, he found himself in a small wooden hut.  It was vaguely familiar.  As quickly as he could, he ran outside, and found himself at Higurashi’s place?  What the heck am I doing here?  I know I like her, but it’s not like I’m dating her or anything....  Hojo shook his head, and started to walk home.

The next day at school, Hojo was surprised to see Higurashi, who looked a bit sick, walking with her friends.

“Hey Higurashi!”  Hojo said cheerfully, regretting that he did not have something to give her.  Higurashi looked a bit startled, and her friends looked downright stunned.  One of them was even slack jawed.  Then Higurashi smiled, and said cheerfully.

“Hi Hojo!  How are you?”

“I’m fine, you?”  Hojo asked eagerly.  Her smile faltered.

“Oh, not so well.  My doctor says my blood work came in showing that I have an acute case of anemia, so I’m not allowed to do much.  I have to leave after lunch, actually.”  Hojo sighed.  So much for asking her out, then.

“Well, get better, ok?”  He said lamely.  Kagome smiled.

“I’ll do my best.  See you around!”  Higurashi turned, and started to walk to her next class, followed by her friends.

“Gee, Kagome, you weren’t kidding when you said he hit his head!”  One of her friends said, sounding shocked.

“Yeah, I think he has amnesia!”

“Aren’t you going to tell him that you’re his girlfriend?”

“I don’t know... Things were getting a little... off for the two of us.  Besides, I don’t think he even realizes that he’s forgotten anything.  I don’t want to look like I’m telling a lie.”

“But you wouldn’t be!”

“I know.... but all the same, I don’t think I will.”  Kagome said with a smile.  “C’mon, let’s get to class.”

Kagome raced home after lunch, said a quick goodbye to her mother and grandfather (Souta was still at school), grabbed some medical supplies and ramen, and was down the well without a backwards glance.

InuYasha, Shippo, and Rin were waiting by the well for Kagome to come back.  Rin was a little awed that her mother could travel to a different time, and wanted confirmation that it was true, despite the fact that both InuYasha and Shippo had warned her that it might be a while.

Around noon, a flash of blue light shown from the well, signaling Kagome’s return.  It took her a moment to climb out, but once she did, she was mobbed by two children, both of whom were yelling “Mommy!”  at the top of their lungs.  She laughed and hugged them, and then looked at InuYasha with a smile.

Her half-demon was hanging back, waiting for the children to finish their greetings, with a smile as he watched his miko being a mother.  As he watched her, he felt something in him relax.   Kagome walked over to him, and hugged him.

“You came back.”  He murmured into her hair, hugging her back.  Kagome nodded.

“I always will.”  She said softly.

“AHHHH!!! Mommy and InuYasha are being mushy!!!!”  Shippo screamed in fear.  Rin also looked vaguely disturbed, as she traded looks with her brother.

“RUN FOR IT!!!”  They screamed in unison, and followed their own advice.  Kagome and InuYasha laughed.

“What do you want to bet Rin tells Sesshomaru, and Shippo tells Sango and Miroku?”  Kagome said wryly.

“Keh.  There’s a chance they won’t?”  InuYasha replied.  Kagome laughed, tucking her hand into his, and leaning her head on his shoulder.

“We may as well go try to do damage control with Miroku’s perverted mind.”  She said, tugging on his hand, leading him back to their friends.