While Kagome was taking a bath the men gathered up everything and took it downstairs then changed into their normal attire. While Kouga had begun to like the ‘sweatsuit’ and had packed a couple of them, Sesshomaru was grateful to get back into his normal clothes.
While Kagome dressed and did a last minute check to make sure she had everything she needed Sesshomaru went downstairs to get her medicine and instructions for it.
Giving the Western Lord a watch with the alarm set and instructions on how to use it so her medicines were on time, Kagome’s mother then handed over the two bottles of medicine and explained when to take them and other things he needed to know. Thinking that was all, he was about to go back upstairs when he saw her pierce him with a stare that told him to stay.
Pulling out a flat, plastic box, she handed it to him.
Puzzled, he quirked an eyebrow and looked at her, “Are these new?”
Fixing him with a stare that only mothers and wives could give effectively, making him want to flinch and step back, she said, “She needs to take those once a day. It doesn’t matter what time but she should try to take them at the same time each day.”
Nodding, he looked at her, “These are for?” he asked.
“They are birth control pills.” she said, tone firm.
He recognized the look in her eyes; it was the same kind animals had when they were protecting their young. Warning bells went off in his head and he fought the urge to not back away. Instead, he asked, calm and in his normal, neutral tone, “What are they for?”
“So she doesn’t get pregnant,” came the calm reply.
This time he did take a step back and his eyes widened a bit but said nothing.
“They will also stop her monthly cycle,” she said softly. Straightening up, she looked at him, a calm expression on her face but her eyes intense, “I want to be a grandmother and will accept any children she has but I would prefer that she be ‘mated’, I think that’s the word you use, before she gets pregnant. I also think it would be wise to wait until after the being you are all hunting is gone before you consider children. So I took it upon myself to get her a prescription for them.” Her tone was quiet but firm, the kind that told you there was no arguing because you wouldn’t win.
Nodding, he looked at her. “Yes, that’s a reasoning I can understand and can agree with,” he said, calmly. He had seen that kind of look before and knew better to argue.
Nodding, she smiled and her expression returned to normal. “Well, I think everything should be ready to go. Why don’t you hurry Kagome along?”
Happy to remove himself from her presence, he went back upstairs thinking he would rather deal with anything the spider hanyou threw at him than her when she had that look again.
An hour later they had everything they needed and had said their goodbyes. Taking each of their hands, she hopped into the well with them.
Their feet had barely touched the dirt at the bottom of the well in the feudal era when she was lifted out. Landing on the grass by the well both youkai shut their eyes and took a deep breath, glad to be back and once again be able to breathe clean, fresh air.
After a quick kiss from both demons she was hoisted on Sesshomaru’s back. Kouga shouldered her new, bigger, waterproof pack then they were off to Edo.
Just as they stepped into the outskirts of the village an orange ball of fur flew their direction and landed right in front of them. “Kagome! You’re back!” Shippo screamed, hopping up and down excitedly.
“I sure am,” she said, grinning. Sliding off Sesshomaru’s back, she picked up the kitsune and gave him a big hug.
Putting him down, he led the way to Kaede’s hut, talking the whole way, telling them everything that had gone on in her absence.
Once they reached the small hut Sango and Miroku both pulled her into a big bear hug to let her know how much they missed her. Miroku even forgot to give her ass a grope in the excitement.
Inuyasha stood off to the side and watched but had a smile on his face and was obviously happy to see her.
“Miss me, Inuyasha?” she asked teasingly.
“Keh… It’s about time you showed up woman,” he said with his usual bluster but his eyes twinkled, showing he was glad to see her. “We’re ready to go whenever you are.”
Looking back over her shoulder at Kouga and Sesshomaru, she then looked back at him. “Before we go can you and I have a talk? Please? Alone,” she asked softly.
With a sinking feeling he nodded, “Yeah, we can talk.”
“OK, hang on and we’ll go somewhere a bit private.” Turning around, she walked back over to Kouga and Sesshomaru. Smiling at the ookami, she asked, “Could you give Shippo the stuff I brought for him please? I’ll be back in a bit then we can go.”
“Sure thing, Kagome,” Kouga said, nodding then he gave her a hug, looking over her shoulder at Inuyasha. He gave the hanyou a look that warned him against upsetting her.
Sesshomaru put a hand on her back and rubbed it a bit then leaned down and told her softly, trying to make sure Inuyasha didn’t hear, “Try just going to the outskirts of the village. That way if he gives you a problem we can hear and put a stop to it.”
Giving the big taiyoukai a hug, she nodded then replied quietly, “Okay. Will do.” Breaking away she walked back over to Inuyasha. Smiling, she said, “Let’s go!” and then headed to the opposite side of the village.
Finding a tree, they sat down. Kagome was trying to formulate the best way to start when Inuyasha said, “I’m sorry for what I said to you, Kagome. I didn’t mean any of it. I was just angry and upset about what happened is all. I should never have taken it out on you.”
Putting a hand on his shoulder, she gave it a gentle squeeze. “Thanks, Inuyasha. But I knew you didn’t mean it.”
Sighing, he shook his head and looked down. “I should have known better. I feel like I caused…”
She didn’t let him finish. “No Inuyasha, you aren’t the reason why I tried to kill myself. Nor is what you said. I was just feeling so overwhelmed that I didn’t know how to make the hurt stop.”
Shaking his head, he said, “I will try to not say things like that again. If I do, sit me into a crater, Okay?”
Grinning, she gave his shoulder another squeeze, “Oh, I think I can do that.”
Sitting there, quiet, she tried to find a way to segue into what she needed to say.
Looking at her, Inuyasha frowned a bit at the expression on her face. Sighing, he looked down and asked, “Are you going to leave us now, Kagome?”
Puzzled, she looked at him, “Leave? What makes you think I’m going to leave?”
When he caught the first whiff of her in Edo he knew that things had changed dramatically. Sure, there was a change in her scent from the medicine but there was more than that. The smell of her innocence was gone; it was blatantly obvious that she wasn’t a virgin any more. Her scent was also entwined with both his baka half-brother’s and that mangy wolf’s. Although he wasn’t a youkai he knew quite well that both had claimed her as their future mate. “Well, Lord Asshole and that flea-bitten wolf are going to take you as a mate so I assumed that they wouldn’t want you to be in any kind of danger.”
Shaking her head, she replied, “No Inuyasha, I won’t be leaving. They’ll be going with us is all.” Looking over at him, she asked softly, “Are you upset that I’m going to be their mate?”
Sighing, he shook his head, “Not really. I think both of us realized a long time ago that romance and that part of our relationship wasn’t ever going to happen. I don’t think it was meant to be. I’m not sure when I realized that but I’ve known for a while now. Just like I’m sure you have.”
“Yes, I’ve known for a long time,” she said. “But you, Miroku, Sango, Shippo and Kaede are my family just as much as Mom, Grandpa and Sota are. And that won’t change or make me stop loving any of you just because I become their mate.”
Smiling, he looked over at her. Yes, it hurt a bit hearing what he already knew but he was also elated. By mating with Kouga and Sesshomaru she couldn’t go back to her time and never come back. She would always have to return. She would always be here. Leaning his head over, he rested it against hers then asked, “You love them both a lot, don’t you?”
“With all my heart and soul, Inuyasha,” she replied, smiling.
“Good. They’ll make you happy, Kagome,” he told her. Sitting up straight, he looked at her, grinning, “Just make sure that both that flea-bitten wolf and my bastard brother both know that if they hurt you in any way I will give them a beating they’ll never forget.”
Grinning, she reached up and rubbed his ears a bit, “I’ll tell him.” Standing up, she brushed off the seat of her jeans and looked down at him. “I’m going to head back. Coming with me?”
Shaking his head, he looked up at her, “Let me have a few minutes alone, then I’ll join you. Then we can get going, OK?”
Both Sango and Miroku watched the two demons cautiously after Kagome left. The wolf demon paced around nervously and kept glancing the direction the pair had walked.
While the taiyoukai had his emotionless mask in place there did seem to be a nervous tick in his jaw that seemed to show a bit of anxiety. But not long after that both men exchanged looks and relaxed. That was followed soon after by Kouga grinning like an idiot. Glancing at the Western Lord both humans felt a twinge of fear. He was actually grinning! They had heard enough tales about what happened to people when Sesshomaru smiled that they weren’t sure what to do.
When Kagome came back into view, walking their direction, both youkai were standing together, watching her, obviously happy. She stopped and quietly asked Miroku to go check on Inuyasha then walked over to the two men in her life.
Keeping with his normal exuberant personality, Kouga swept her off her feet, twirled her around, making her giggle and said, “I love you too, Kagome!”
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she giggled then kissed him.
When he was done he passed the still grinning woman to Sesshomaru. Gathering her in his arms, her chest pressed to his, he put his forehead to hers and looked in her eyes then said something so softly no one could hear it, making her grin bigger and hug him tightly.