Welcome Home by Kat

Chapter One

This is just an idea that has been floating around in my head for awhile so I thought I would put it to computer file and see what comes of it. Hope you like it. Updates will probably be slow as I am a graduate student with papers due... they come first no matter what plot bunnies may be running around in my messed up mind. Flames will be used to burn my latin textbook at the end of the semester!

Disclaimer: If I owned any this I would not be a broke college student now would I? However if you don't recognize the character as being from Inuyasha or Ranma ½ then it's probably one of my own warped creation... I'm taking characters from both shows and the movie Nihao My Concubine for Ranma as well.

Chapter 1.

The atmosphere surrounding the Sunset Shrine was unusually anticipatory. Normally the shrine exuded a peaceful feeling towards all who set foot upon its grounds. But today it seemed as if the very shrine itself was waiting for something to happen. Something that would change the lives of the small family that called it home in yet another way.

It was almost lunch before the first change showed up at the shrine complex. Its arrival heralded by a sleek black limousine. People stopped their business at the sight of such a highly important vehicle within their neighborhood. While the venerable shrine was not in a poor neighborhood, no one anyone knew drove around in a limousine on an everyday basis. People began to stare even more when a young man of no more then 17 stepped out. The teenage girls in the area, and a few of the older women as well, felt themselves swoon at the sight of him. His long black hair was pulled back in a low ponytail and it was obvious despite his sunglasses that his features were very chiseled and handsome. He was taller then most Japanese men, appearing to be over 6 foot in height. The young man ignored all their stares as he turned to assist a woman who was obviously quite far along in her pregnancy from the limo. The woman's beauty was striking and it was obvious the two bore some sort of relation from how much they looked alike.

"Are you alright Okaa-san?" the young man asked quietly, startling those within the vicinity. That woman did not look old enough to be the teenager's mother!

"I am just fine Yoshiro. Your siblings have decided to acrobatic flips in my stomach that's all." She responded smiling gently. "Perhaps we could take the stairs slowly?"

"Of course, Okaa-san." The teen now identified as Yoshiro responded gallantly after shutting the door behind his mother and offering her his arm. The dark haired woman smiled gratefully before the pair began their ascent to the venerable Sunset Shrine.

Tohru Higurashi sighed quietly as she placed some clean laundry in her absent daughter's room. Kagome had said that she might not be back this time, as they were going to make a wish on the now completed Shikon no Tama, and she wanted to be prepared for the worst case scenario. But the mother of the time-traveling miko could not help but pray that that was not the case. She could not bear to think that she would never see her oldest child again. Her son Souta had not left his room since his sister had left preferring to grieve alone, fearing the worst. And her father-in-law had taken to praying in the shrine all day to the ancestor's for Kagome's safe return. It was amazing how much the family relied on someone who had not been around very much in the last four years to keep them together. But Kagome was the peacekeeper, the joy, the heart of their family... they would not be the same if she did not come home.

Tohru was startled out of her reverie by a knock upon the door of the family home. She was not expecting any visitors, and Jii-chan was in the Shrine so obviously it was not a lost set of tourists or worshipers. Placing her laundry basket on her hip the mother of two quietly made her way to her door. Standing there were two people she didn't know... or at least she didn't know the man, the woman had a feeling of familiarity if only she would turn around. As if her words had been heard by magic, the young woman turned around causing Tohru to drop the laundry basket in shock.

"Kagome?" Tohru gasped out her hand going to her mouth in shock.

"I'm home Mama." Kagome whispered stepping inside to embrace the now crying woman tightly. "I'm home."

"My baby girl. Souta!! Your sister is home! Go and get your grandfather!" Tohru shouted up the stairs before returning to hug her daughter. "You're home... and you're pregnant! You weren't pregnant when you left yesterday. Much less this far along."

"It's been 500 years Mama." Kagome responded as she noticed her brother barreling down the stairs at full tilt towards his sister. "Yoshiro, honey?" she asked turning to her son.

"Hai." The quiet young man responded moving to intercept the boy. "Oof... man you back a punch." Yoshiro said smiling at Souta. "You can't go running into your sister right now, she's in a delicate way."

"Delicate what?" Souta asked confused.

"I'm pregnant Souta." Kagome responded. "Now come give me a hug. Yoshiro would you go to the shrine and tell my grandfather I'm home?"

"Of course. Be back in a flash."

"Kagome who is that boy?" Tohru asked as her son held his sister tightly.

"I'll explain once Jii-chan gets here, it's a long story." Kagome answered.

"Put me down you punk!!" came the wizened voice of the patriarch of the Higurashi family. The three family members who were in the house rushed outside to see Yoshiro carrying Jii-chan over his shoulder kicking and screaming.

"Yoshiro Takahashi! You put him down right now! I know you were raised better then that!" Kagome scolded angrily.

"Sorry, but he didn't believe me." Yoshiro responded setting Jii-chan down gently.

"You are too much like your uncle for your own good I swear." Kagome huffed.

"Kagome you are home?" Jii-chan said quietly.

"Hai Jii-chan. I am home." The miko said hugging her now crying grandfather.

"Come let us all go inside, and then Kagome can introduce us to her young man." Tohru said smiling at Yoshiro.

"Her what?!? Oh ick!" the teen shouted freaking out.

"My... oh dear. I guess I should perform introductions now." Kagome said grinning at her son's face. "Jii-chan, Mama, Souta this is my eldest son Yoshiro."

"Son!" the family exclaimed.

"Yes, son. I was married about a year after the well closed. I have a daughter also, although she is at the library right now, working on a project for school. Then of course there is of course my two adopted children..."

"How far along are you Kagome?" Tohru asked looking at her daughter's belly.

"Seven months. Twins this time. My husband is so excited. He always wanted a large family. That and he has finally figured out when to duck and cover when I get into my mood swings with my pregnancy. It only took three." Kagome responded. "Perhaps we should move this inside? There were more stairs then I remembered to get up here."

"Are you alright Okaa-san?" Yoshiro asked at his mother's side in a flash worry etched upon his features.

"Yes, dear, I'm just a little tired." Kagome responded smiling at her worried son.

"You have a very attentive son." Tohru commented as the boy began to help his mother in the house.

"It's genetic... once I became pregnant my husband would barely let me out of his sight. If he didn't have an emergency arise at the office in Kyoto, he would have been here."

"Office in Kyoto?" Souta asked as he leeched himself to the other side of his sister. Kagome smiled down at the now 15 year old boy, it was hard to believe that it had been five years for him since this all started... he had grown up so well.

"Yes, my husband is quite the entrepreneur." Kagome responded grinning as she sat down on the family's couch.

"Did you marry Inuyasha?" Tohru asked quietly.

"No... it's part of the long story I have to tell you all." Kagome said smiling fondly at her memories. "I suppose you would all like me to begin immediately correct?"

"YES!" the trio all but shouted eager to hear what Kagome had been doing for the last 500 years.

"Let's see... first off, the Jewel is still around... it was reabsorbed by my body following Inuyasha's wish. See there can never be a pure and selfless wish. A wish is a desire a want... even if the wish is pure in its desire for another's happiness it is not selfless because even on a subconscious level you can still benefit from it. Inuyasha's wish was far from pure or selfless. He wished Kikyo back to life, causing the jewel to replace my soul with one more fitting in its eyes. One created by it."

"Are you saying your soul is not your own?" Jii-chan asked.

"No it is, it's confusing, I guess." Kagome responded. "Kikyo received back her original soul, the one I was born housing however, the jewel created for me from my memories and desires a soul that was more suitable and stronger then my previous one. I am no longer a reincarnation but an original soul."

"So its as if you were reborn?" Souta asked curiously.

"You could say it that way, yes." Kagome responded. "Anyway, after Inuyasha's wish the well closed permanently. It seemed I was to remain in the Feudal Era. For about 9 months, things in the village were relatively quiet. I was training to be Kaede's replacement and raising Shippo as best I could. After all as a human I only knew so much about how to raise a demon. Things all changed when Kouga came to the village one afternoon..."

:::Flashback:::

"Oi, how's my woman?" Kouga demanded appearing before a meditating Kagome.

"Annoyed." The woman responded, pulling herself from her trance. "I was meditating, what do you want Kouga?" she asked. The wolf youkai looked at the priestess in shock, she had never spoken to him that way. Little did he know that Kagome had finally gotten tired of the wolf's antics. It had taken a lot of thinking, however, she knew he wasn't the one for her and it was about time he realized it too.

"I came to tell you I have a den all ready and now you can come and be my mate!" Kouga exclaimed happily sure this would cause Kagome to rejoice.

"Kouga I am not nor have I ever been interested in being your mate. Besides you promised to marry Ayame and I will not have you forsake that promise under the delusion that I care for you in that manner."

"You are the woman I want." Kouga growled pulling Kagome up from her sitting position and dragging her into his arms. "I will have no other."

"Kouga you have three seconds to let me go before I decide to forget you're my friend and purify."

"You don't need to count to three Kagome." A male voice growled from the forest. "Let go of Kagome, Kouga. Before I make you." Inuyasha growled stepping into view.

"What do you care dog-boy you have a mate?" Kouga demanded.

"Kagome is my pack and if she has refused you I will uphold her decision." The hanyou growled angrily. Kagome looking between the males and deciding a fight was about to break out, decided to get herself out of the way. Smirking to herself the miko brought her knee up roughly, causing Kouga to let her go as his hands went to his groin. By the time he recovered Kagome was safely behind Inuyasha.

"Give me back my woman!" Kouga growled, his eyes flashing red.

"No, you have no claim here Kouga."

"We'll see about that, I think it's time I go to the Council with this." The wolf growled before running off.

"The Council what does he mean Inuyasha?" Kagome asked worriedly.

"We'd best get back to the village, Kouga's about to cause some big trouble."

:::End Flashback:::

"What is the Council?" Tohru asked interrupting Kagome's story.

"It's a group of demons, the eldest among the living ones, who adjudicate issues that emerge between youkai clans. Whatever decision the Council comes to must be abided by, no matter if you are youkai or ningen." Yoshiro explained coming back into the room after getting his mother a glass of water. "Here you are Mama."

"Thank you Yoshiro." Kagome responded taking a grateful sip. "Boy that hit the spot. Anyway, as it was explained to me, in order to challenge Kouga at the Council, we were going to have to beg Sesshomaru, Inuyasha's brother to stand for our pack at the proceedings. Only a full Lord may appear before the Council to complain or defend those appearing before it. Inuyasha, while Sesshomaru's heir until such time as he had a child of his own, could not do it."

:::Flashback:::

"Kagome are you sure you don't want us to come along?" Miroku asked as he watched the miko place her faithful bow and arrow on her back and pick up the small pack she was going to take with her to the Western Lands.

"I'm positive. You know that if everyone came along, it would just put Sesshomaru in a foul mood. He barely tolerated hanging out with us long enough to destroy Naraku and you know it.

"We just don't feel safe with you going to Sesshomaru's lands by yourself." Sango pointed out.

"But I'm not going alone, I will have Shippo and Kilala with me. Between the three of us I'm sure we can handle any trouble." Kagome retorted smiling down fondly at the two demons at her feet. Kilala meowed in agreement, while Shippo looked just slightly frightened at the prospect of violence. "Besides Sesshomaru's domain is just a four hour flight away, we won't be on the road along for long."

"Very well, I am surprised that Inuyasha is not protesting your going alone." Miroku pointed out casually.

"That's because she has to plead her case alone. I can't help her." Inuyasha grunted from where he and Kikyo sat next to the wall of Kaede's hut. Kikyo patted her annoyed mate on the leg, expressing some sympathy with his plight. The hanyou wanted nothing more then to go with to protect the woman considered alpha bitch in his pack but he knew this was something Kagome had to do on her own. It had amazed everyone that despite Kikyo being Inuyasha's mate, the miko of the future had remained as acting head bitch. But then again she did have better control over the group then even Inuyasha with his status as alpha male.

"You will be safe child?" Kaede asked as Kilala transformed ready to get going.

"I will, don't worry Kaede, I will be back soon." Kagome responded hugging the older woman who had become her surrogate grandmother since she arrived in the feudal era. She next hugged Miroku and Sango assuring them one more time that she would be alright, Inuyasha received an ear tweak and a smile was bestowed upon the formally undead miko before Kagome mounted Kilala with Shippo. The trio took off towards the Western Lands with the hope that the demon lord would be willing to help them out.

:::End Flashback:::

A knock on the door interrupted further conversation as Tohru got up surprised. Today was just a day for visitors. The shrine was usually not so busy.

"Hello Aunt Tohru." Came a familiar male voice.

"Ranma! Oh my dear boy I haven't seen you in years. And who is this lovely young woman with you?" Tohru's voice squealed echoing throughout the house.

"This is my wife, Akane. I brought her over to introduce her to the family." Ranma responded.

"Well come in, come in." Tohru responded. "Jii-chan, Souta, Kagome it's Ranma and he's brought his wife for us to meet!" The whole family stood as the trio entered the room smiling.

"Cousin Ranma!" Souta exclaimed thrilled to see his martial artist cousin. The boy had idolized Ranma prior to his sister being sucked down the well into the feudal era.

"Hey squirt, how's it going?"

"Great! I've been practicing my judo!" he responded. "Maybe I can beat you this time!"

"We'll see." Ranma responded before facing his favorite cousin and best friend. "Hey Kagome."

"Ranma." Kagome responded smiling gently as Yoshiro assisted her from the couch to give her cousin a hug. The normally observant martial artist started when he felt the bulge of his closest cousin's stomach.

"Whoever he is he's gonna have to marry you Kags." Ranma said smiling.

"He already did." Kagome responded. "And you must be Akane. Ran-chan has told me so much about you in his letters, I feel as if I know you already."

"The same here, if there is one thing he can't stop talking about besides martial arts it's the childhood you two spent together." Akane responded smiling teasingly at her husband.

"Yoshiro, come here please." Kagome told her son who was hovering in the background. "Ranma, Akane I would like you to meet my son Yoshiro. Yoshiro, this is your uncle Ranma and aunt Akane."

"It is a pleasure to meet you." The teen said bowing.

"Okay Kagome, I know you are not that old, who did you marry? Some old geezer?" Ranma said shocked.

"No, my husband is not an old geezer." Kagome retorted, "He's just older, I promise to explain everything as soon as I get back from the restroom. The twins just decided to play kickball with my bladder."

"Do you need help up the stairs Mother?" Yoshiro asked.

"I may not be able to see my feet but I think I can climb a few stairs to go to the bathroom." Kagome groused.

"Yes, Mother." Yoshiro responded properly chastised.

"Yoshiro, you are not your father; there is no need for you to be as overprotective as he is." Kagome told him gently.

"Yes Okaa-san." Yoshiro responded smiling as Kagome left the room.

"How does Kagome have a son who is almost as old as her?" Ranma demanded of his aunt and grandfather.

"She will explain it in do course." Tohru responded. "Now then, how is my brother?"

"He'll be by shortly, said something about a surprise for Kagome." Akane answered for her husband who was just rolling his eyes in annoyance. A knock on the door heralded the large martial artist's arrival prior to him just letting himself in, of course.

"Tohru! My dear sister how are you?" Genma Saotome demanded of his sister.

"What do you want Genma?" Tohru asked quirking a brow at her brother's choice of words. He never called her his dear sister unless he wanted something.

"Just your agreement on a little surprise I have arranged for Kagome-chan."

"Forget it, Kagome is an adult perfectly capable of dealing with her own affairs." Tohru responded.

"Father, will you at least back me?" Genma demanded.

"Regarding what oh-no-good-son of mine?" the priest demanded causing Ranma to laugh heartily. His grandfather sure had his father pegged.

"It's a surprise."

"Then no I won't. As your sister said my granddaughter is perfectly capable of making her own choices." The old man answered.

"Who's making my choices for me?" Kagome asked walking into the room. "Hello Uncle Genma. How are you?"

"Kagome, my dear! I have such a wonderful surprise for you!"

"What is it Uncle Genma?"

"Wait her and I shall go and get it." The martial artist responded.

"What do you smell Yoshiro?" Kagome whispered to her son who had come up next to her.

"Three men, one of them smells very monkey like." The boy responded.

"This cannot be good." Kagome commented as Genma came into the room leading three men. One was of regal bearing, despite his youthful appearance. There were two men in armor besides him, one indeed looking very monkey like if his tail was any indication and the other seemed almost dog like in his demeanor... his puppy ears cute to Kagome's mind.

"Kagome, I would like to introduce Prince Tomo of Togenkyo. Your finacee." Genma announced grandly.

"My what?!?" Kagome demanded before passing out to the shouts of those around her.