A Love Found After Centuries Part 2 by inumaru_rapture

Chapter 1

With the upcoming storm lingering just beyond the tree line, tension and electricity grew in the air. 21 year-old Kagome was hurrying along the sidewalk a ways from the shrine as the first fat droplets of rain melted through her work uniform. Like a faucet had been turned on, fat droplets poured from the sky onto the few people scurrying for cover.

"Just great..." Kagome muttered as she finally made it to the shrine steps. "It would rain like this the only day I forget my umbrella." Her feet numbly ran the steps up to the shrine as thunder shook the skies.

~* *~

Stepping under the rooftop of the porch, Kagome sighed, happy to be out of the rain. She pulled her hair out of its ponytail, straightened her shirt before removing her shoes and going inside her house.

"Souta?" Her voice ran through the loud house. Laughter met her ears as she set her bag and purse by the kitchen door frame and went into the living room. Souta, now about 14, was sitting on the couch with his friend Luzi. Two little boys were laughing on the floor in front of the couch, all 4 watching an American comedy on the television.

"Hello? What happened to my greeting comity?" Kagome tried to sound hurt, but laughed when two little bodies latched onto her legs.

"MAMMA!" One with black hair squealed happily. The other was silent, as usual, but showed the same amount of enthusiasm at seeing their mother.

"'Bout time you got home, Kagome. Luzi and I were getting tired of watching your little brats," Souta said with fake annoyance. The boy with black hair stuck his tongue out at his uncle.

"You know you love us, Unkie Souta," the silent silver hared boy retorted. Souta laughed, then he and Luzi moved to leave.

"Do you guys really have to go so soon?" Kagome asked sadly as her sons moved off to watch the rest of the comedy.

"Yea, Suzuki and I are going out later tonight, so I have to be ready," Luzi said softly, blushing. He was a year older than Souta, and has been around since before Kagome was 15. He knew all about where Kagome had disappeared to a long time ago, and where her kids came from. He also knew Kagome was super sensitive about any kind of relationship talk, so he tried to keep his love for Suzuki quiet. Kagome ruffled his hair with a smile.

"Have fun, you hear?" Kagome tried to shrug off the hurt plaguing her heart once again. She wouldn't let herself still grieve for her lost husband and mate. Thoughts of him and all those she left behind still bothered her and were lately becoming more frequent. 'That's right...it'll be three years on Tuesday...' Kagome sighed, remembering it was Sunday. She smiled again, covering the hurt in her eyes as she bid Luzi and Souta goodbye and then went to make dinner. She had no time to worry. She had a surprise party for two little boys to plan!

~* *~

Monday...

Kagome woke to the loud screams of laughter in the living room, the TV blaring cartoons. With a moan, she rolled over and buried her head in the cotton pillows. Her alarm went off two seconds later, jerking her from her soft haven. With a sigh, and barely any sleep, Kagome rolled out of bed and walked, stretching, into her closet to change.

Gathering up her clothes, she walked into the bathroom and shut the door with a foot, starting the shower with her outstretched hand. She had a matter of 3 minutes before the little monsters watching TV would hear it and run to beg for breakfast. Stripping out of her nightdress, she quickly stepped into the shower, soaked her head and lathered her hair. As she was rinsing her hair, the door burst open, followed by loud yelling of attacking demons.

"Rar! Dinosaur want eat!" Inumaru laughed, running in and putting a toy t-Rex on the toilet seat and running out, after hearing his mother's muttered 'I'm coming, I'm coming!' Turning the shower off, Kagome sighed, realizing she hadn't had a long, warm, shower or bath in three years...all she could do was clean and be done; which was usually in record time.

As she dried off, she heard the front door open and shut, Souta's happy laugh as the twins tackled his legs, and her mother calling hello. Kagome quickly dressed in her work uniform, and pulled her short hair up into a pony tail and paused, looking at her reflection. She never had time anymore. She was always up and moving...

Thoughts drifted back to the Feudal Era... She would never have had to work if she had the chance... 'NO! Don't think of that now, Kagome! You have to feed your children, you have to go to work, get your paycheck, pick up food for this week, and make time to go shopping for the twin's birthday and...so much...so much...stop looking at your stupid reflection...'

Kagome hurried to the kitchen, pushed her pawing mother aside with her hip, grabbed two bowls with one hand, the healthy cereal with the other, put them on the counter, grabbed the milk, and made up their breakfasts. She ignored her mother's lecture on healthy foods for their growing bodies, and made herself some toast. With a sigh, she passed her mother the list of things the twins wanted for their birthday. Souta was keeping the twins occupied as Kagome and her mother conversed thought hand gestures, since the boys could hear if they wanted.

The clock over the stove chimed 8, and Kagome paled. She was going to be late for work if she didn't get the boys dressed soon.

"Boys! Come on!" Kagome said with her mouth full of toast. She went into their room and pulled out some clothes for them as they came tumbling into the room, fighting over a dinosaur toy.

"Give it back!"

"No it's my turn!"

"Give it!!"

"BOYS!! Enough!!" Kagome cried anger above her ears. She didn't need this! Inumaru and Gabriel sheepishly apologized, then got dressed. As soon as their mother was out of the room, the squabble started again.

"Inumaru Hidiko! Gabriel Tsumari! Come here now!" Kagome called from her bedroom as she pulled on her sweater. Inumaru came in her room with his head hanging low. His silver ears were pressed against his head; he knew he was in trouble. Gabriel followed shortly, his face soft with regret. It wasn't his fault. It really was his turn. His black ears flattened against his silver hair at his mother's glare.

"Enough...please. I need to go to work. You two have to be on your best behavior for Grandpa today, okay? No more jumping around the shrine houses, you know he can't keep up. He's very old," Kagome said softly, kneeling and gently brushing Inumaru's bed head black hair out of his face. He nodded slowly, and then gave his mother a hug as Gabriel watched. He didn't like getting in to a huge group thing.

"Sumimasen," Inumaru whispered softly. She kissed his head lightly and smiled.

"Just make me proud, ne?" 'Her smiles never reach her eyes...' Gabriel thought as he went to her and hugged her tightly.

"Okay! Let me go! I have to leave," Kagome laughed softly, got up, and led them into the living room where Souta and her mother were waiting. "Souta, you'll take them to the main dojo, make sure they're good before you go to school. And Domo Arigato! I have to go! I'm late!" Kagome kissed everyone once, then grabbed her coat, her bag, and put her shoes on. She called a final fare well and ran across the shrine to the steps.

She hated to be late, even though Hojo was a kind employer, even if he never held it against her, and he never held any money from her checks. (And if she needed it, gave her a bonus in the check or in cash.) As Kagome just barely made the train, grabbing a hold of the overhead triangle, her thoughts wandered, as they always did on the train.

She thought of the first year with the children, when they were newborns, and Hojo never relented his asking Kagome on a date. When he found out she had been pregnant, he had gotten flustered. He never knew she was that way! With Kagome's insistence, she said it was perfectly ligament, it had been an arranged marriage, and that the man was killed across country in a car accident. Hojo's sympathy never lessened as he paid for a new extension onto the Shrine, which was turned into a one story house for Kagome and her family. How surprised she had been the day she had returned home from grocery shopping. The house was built in about a week, and the foundation had already been laid and some of the woodwork had been started before she got home. Her mother, of course, knew. And her little angels were locked in the dojo from causing mischief and being found out, though they were barely 6 months, their demon blood caused them to grow a bit faster than humans.

The train jarred forward, Kagome noticed that the next stop was hers and shook her head to wake herself up. Thoughts came back of watching her sons grow how surprised they had been when they realized that their mother couldn't jump through the trees, pick up a distinct smell, or hear the rain coming. Their wide eyes of shock had made Kagome smile. How could she ever explain to them why they could never leave their shrine? Her eyes stared lifelessly out the window, watching the rain drip down the glass. It hadn't stopped since yesterday, and the clouds didn't end.

The train stopped, letting Kagome walk with the crowd out of the train and into the station. Within 15 minutes, she had gotten through the busy city streets and into the alley next to the shop. Hojo was already there, the back door was open, and the smells of the medicinal herbs and medicines drifted out to her. Her stomach churned at the smell of it, but sucked in the last bit of polluted air she could, and walked inside.

"Kagome!" Hojo greeted her with a smile as she pulled off her coat and set her things in her locker.

"Gomen nasai I'm late, Hojo!" He had already threatened to fire her if she kept calling him Mr. anything. "My boys were being difficult this morning." He had met the twins once, when it was winter and they had an excuse for wearing big, thick hats to cover their ears.

"Think nothing of it! I've told you, you don't ever need to worry about being late! As long as I know if you're going to be really late, or if you don't show up or something!" Hojo smiled brightly, and then went to help the old lady that had just walked in. At first glance, the old woman looked like Kaede...but Kagome shook herself and realized the woman looked nothing like Kaede. Her hopes were just being crushed into themselves.

~* *~

Kagome was about to kill something. She had borrowed the little grocery dolly from Hojo, but people just didn't seem to see it, and kept running into it. It was over flooding with food and medicine for headaches and heartaches, and toys from Hojo to the boys. Her arms were full of bags and her purse smacked against her thigh as she walked to the shrine from the train station. A poncho covered the bags on the cart, and in her arms, leaving her with nothing covering her head, since she couldn't carry an umbrella too.

As she neared the shrine, she realized she had to lug all the things up the steps and groaned. With a quick glance around, she noticed no one out...no one to help her. She decided to give a call to see if one of her boys heard her...they didn't. So Kagome carried the bags and cart up the steps, slipping on certain steps that were worn by the boy's play.

By the time she reached the top, she had fallen twice and had a little blood trickling from her scraped knee. 'Oh, what a glorious life for the Lady of the West.'

Kagome opened the door to the silent, dark house, and sighed. The boys must still be with their great-grandpa in the dojo. She'd get them later. A shutter ran through the house as thunder started up again. Her mind returned to the thoughts of Sesshoumaru... the night in which they mated... how hard it rained... A tear ran down her cheek before she could stop it. Half-expecting, half-wishing, she thought she felt arms wrap around her...but no...it was just her over-active imagination.

Slowly, mournfully, Kagome went to putting the groceries away, and making dinner. This was to be the last dinner with just herself and her boys, since her mother insisted on making dinner on the anniversary of Sesshoumaru's death, just for one less thing for Kagome to think about. She always took off work on the day as well... and with her mind made up, Kagome asked for the week off work as well. She wanted to see her friends again...she wanted to see Sango and Miroku's baby. She wanted to tell them everything that has happened.

She paused in the sushi preparing as the door opened.

"Kagome! Your demons did it again!" Grandpa's voice came in. The boys laughed. Kagome poked her head out of the modest kitchen.

"Did what?"

"They won! And they're not even three yet!!" Grandpa growled. Kagome stifled a laugh for her grandpa's sake, but noticed the proud gleam in his eye.

"You made me proud?" She asked as Inumaru came into the kitchen to get a hug from his mother.

"Of course!!"

Dinner was a long one. Lots of 'Inumaru, sit down and eat your sushi!', 'Gabriel! Drink your milk, don't put sushi in it!', and 'Kami! Why can't I just have a normal dinner?!' was quoted, like any other dinner, as Inumaru and Gabriel bounced in their seats, threw bits of food at each other, and bubbled in their milk.

"Brush your fangs and get to bed! Ya hear?!" Kagome laughed and gnawed on their hands softly as they squealed in laughter.

~* *~

Kagome laid in her bed and thought. It's been three years since the last time she saw the fresh green of the Feudal trees or the smile of her friends. Sadness clutched her throat as she rolled into her pillow and let out a choked sob. Thunder shook the house, lightning flashed a second time, followed by more thunder. Somehow, it was soothing to the hurricane of emotions swirling around inside the miko's chest.

"Mamma?" A little voice asked from beside her bed. Kagome sat up, startled.

"What is it, baby?" She asked groggily as she moved to look at her black hared son.

"I'm scared..." He whispered, afraid his twin would hear and make fun of him. Kagome smiled lovingly at him and pulled up her covers.

"Come on, Inumaru," she whispered back as a huge grin crossed her son's face and he jumped into bed with her. Wrapping her arms around him, he cuddled into her arms and shut his eyes, falling asleep almost instantly. His little tail curled around his mother's wrist as she stroked his back.

Kagome's eyes studied his face, once again noticing how much he looked like his father. His elegant facial structure was framed with his long black hair that he inherited from his mother's human genes. Unlike his brother, Gabriel, Inumaru was more like Kagome with his big heart and out-of-the-box thinking. Gabriel was more like his father than he knew. He rarely spoke, but he had a kind heart. His face had more features of his uncle and Kagome, but his hair was silver, like his father's. Both sons had dog ears, like their uncle, only Gabriel's were black and Inumaru's white. Both boys had purple crescent marks on their foreheads, a hereditary mark born to the heirs of the Western Lands.

Kagome sighed softly and was about to go back to sleep when another little voice spoke from next to her bed.

"Is there room in there for me too?" Kagome's eyes opened to her eldest twin son and smiled, nodding. He crawled in next to his brother and nuzzled into his mother.

"My boys..." Kagome sighed in content. Though her heart ached for her lost love, she wouldn't let her pain interfere into the raising of her sons. They meant too much to her. They were all she had left of her beloved Sesshoumaru...except the mating mark that was still scared onto her shoulder.

Confusion set in around her again. Sesshoumaru said that if the mate died, the mark would go away...but hers was still there. Kagome resisted the urge to shrug and shut her eyes, sleep descending onto her.

Dream...

Kagome stepped through the tall grasses, happiness felt through out her being. A man stood with light shining behind him, his arms reached out to him. With a happy laugh, Kagome ran to him, arms stretched out. She wanted to be in his arms so badly it hurt. Finally...just only centimeters away...the soft feeling of his silken skin...and a red light tears through the image. Her scream pierces the night as blood black eyes gaze through the red.

Kagome woke with a scream. Sweat dripped down her face onto the white sheets. Her body trembled like mad as she clutched onto the sheets. Tears flooded down her cheeks as she took in shaky breaths. Today was Tuesday...the anniversary of Sesshoumaru's death, and the day before her pup's birthday. She trembled and longed ever deeper for someone to hold her. Suddenly two little bodies clung to her.

"Mamma..."

"Please don't be sad..."

Kagome hugged her sons tightly as her trembling lessened.

"You're right. I shouldn't be sad. I've got you two," She said softly into their hair.