A Breeder's World

~~~Shippo’s P.O.V.~~~

For all I knew I had flown through the air and into my mothers arms. I had been worried when I first entered that it wasn’t her. I quickly took a deep breath and came away with her unforgettable scent. I scanned the store and when I saw her I was gone.

She was here. She was real. It wasn’t a dream. Home. Comfort. Happiness. Acceptance. Love.

Over and over I could only feel and think these things. My heart felt like to was about to explode. For the first time since she left I felt at peace. My hearts longing had stopped and had filled with joy. Here, here was the woman who loved me, took care of me, and taught me. here was my heart’s mother.

The gratitude I felt for her safe return poured out of me. That my hope all this time had just been justified floored me. That she was in my arms was priceless.

When I finally let her go she held my face in her hands. She looked at me closely and then she ruffled my hair like she had done when I was a kit.

“My you turned out so handsome Shippo. I hear you had a large family. I already met Joanne so when do I get to meet the rest of my grand children?” I didn’t think my heart could warm anymore but it did to know that she considered my children her grand children.

“Keh! He told them so many stories we might have to leave the city before they come pounding on the western office’s doors.” I was slightly offended because I knew my kits had better manners than that.

“Never Inuyasha! I want to meet them! You had all this time to get to know them and I have only been here three days! So hush up before I S-I-T you.” My mind flashed back to when she had done the same thing when she had wanted to go home. I smiled and relaxed even more knowing that she was here to stay. I spoke up hoping to avoid an argument and keep her attention awhile longer.

“Well we could have a get together next week. It will take a little while to gather my way ward children back to Japan.” I quickly tried to think of all the ones that weren’t in the country.

“That’s fine though we might take longer then that Shippo. I still have the presentation to do.” I frowned in remembrance. I had hopes that she would mate him and then they could adopt me like I always thought they would.

“That reminds me Kagome. I know this isn’t any of my business but I thought you loved Inuyasha. Why didn’t you just become his mate instead of house breeder?” I was entirely confused. I knew it was too personal when I heard her gasp and saw Inuyasha lift me by the neck. It was hard to breath but he wasn’t choking me so I held perfectly still.

“Damn straight it ain’t your business twerp. I should beat you for that.” he was growling hard and low. He hadn’t done that to me in a long time and I grew afraid.

“Inuyasha put him down! He knew how we were before. It wouldn’t make sense to him. Hell I had to explain it to you remember?” Slowly the growling faded and so did the massive amounts of youki. I was never so thankful that she could calm him as I was right now.

“Shippo do you remember what I told you of my time?” She came back over to me and looked at my neck.

“Nearly everything why?”

“Shippo this isn’t my original timeline. I was born almost 400 years ago the first time. My wish changed everything. Youkai had all but died out before. There was no cohabiting in peace. As far as any average human knew demons had never existed. But this time my wish allowed you all to survive.” It was hard to believe but I continued to listen.

“In my original time there was no breeder program no wide spread manipulation of the gene pools. I would have married and had my husband’s children only. I was never raised with the knowledge I would give birth to others children and be forced to give them up. When I awoke on my 20 birthday I had those values and I still do. I couldn’t be a regular breeder. If I had become Inuyasha’s mate then I would still have had to serve my time as a regular breeder. This way I keep all children I bear. Like I would have kept you even though I didn’t birth you, I would have finished raising you as my own.” It started to make sense and I kicked myself for forgetting the rules of breeders. Of course my mom wouldn’t be able to give up a child she had carried it wasn’t in her nature.

“I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t carry a child and not be the one to raise it. It would eventually kill me Shippo. That's why I choose this. The jewel gave me a life where I never fell behind in school, never disappointed my mom, let me keep a future, allowed you all to survive, but no wish is perfect. I had to give up becoming Inuyasha’s mate to stay by his side. Ironic no? Before it was a undead priestess and now its the rules of the city.” her eyes had filled up with tears again. So I did the only think I could and I hugged her again. I berried my nose in her neck taking in as much of her scent as I was able.

~~~Kagome’s P.O.V.~~~

When Shippo ran into my arms I had a hard time recognizing my little son in the handsome man. After a hug and some tears I looked at him closely noting his new looks and features before I messed up his hair. The following confrontation about his question was unneeded but Shippo hadn’t remembered something important about me. He couldn’t have understood at that age the meaning of everything and then after I was gone there was no one to explain. He took it rather well though and now giving him another hug I just couldn’t immediately get over the differences.

Reluctantly letting go I finally noticed he hadn’t come alone. Turning I saw another female again with the bright red hair but brown eyes like mine. She was a little taller then me and the look on her face was hard to describe. It was like she swallowed something wrong.

“Shippo who is this?” I looked back at the woman. “Are you alright?”

The woman looked at me and nodded hastily while Shippo came up beside her and lead her to me.

“This is Aiko one of my youngest daughters mom. She was the one in trouble before I got back.”

Aiko ducked her head and seemed ashamed. So I held out a hand which she blindly took.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you Aiko.” I smiled at her hoping she would look at me but she didn’t. Frowning at her lack of response I shrugged it off. Not everyone liked me and maybe she didn’t or maybe she was shy.

“Anyway Shippo I need some weapons for any challengers and so I can train. I hear you learned from old Totosai, I’m so proud Shippo. I never thought you would be a black smith.”

I watched as his cheeks turned a little red and I giggled. He was still adorable.

“um..er..I mean yeah I can make you something but I have some things in the back that I had made with you in mind. Do you want to look at them?” I was pleased he had made something for me and nodded my head. We all followed him to the back where a large furnace was and other black smithing supplies were. Since I didn’t know what the somethings were called I just admired the tools and things.

He took down a few boxes and one was rather large. Opening a small box were a couple of throwing daggers and two knives. I picked one of the knives up and looked at it. The craftsmanship was astounding. The hilt had a replica of my face done in steel. I placed the blade point down on the table and let go. It stayed upright being sharp enough to pierce the table and perfectly balanced that it didn’t fall. I carefully placed it back in the box.

The next was almost a foot and a half long and inside were two sais.(Think of the movie Electra. The weapons almost are duplicates of hers.) She picked both up and crossed them in front of her. Almost immediately a shield went up around her. Impressed she uncrossed them and placed them back in the box. The last was almost 3 feet long and it was really wide. Opening the box she gasped. Inside was the most beautiful bow she had ever seen. Taking it out she set herself on a draw position. The pull was stronger then what she was used to but in time she could handle it. With reverence of putting a scared item away she carefully shut the box with tears stinging her eyes again.

“Its all beautiful Shippo. It’s more then I could have ever asked for. How much?” my voice wavered because these pieces were not cheap. The materials alone must have cost and arm and a leg. unfortunately I fell in love with everything the moment I saw it. To know that he had made it for me or at least with me in mind was humbling.

“Mama.” he voice was soft and made me look up at him. “These are for you. I will not take money for art. I made them to protect you like you did me. I know I wasn’t the easiest kit and this is my thanks. Do not dishonor me by paying for them.”

That was when more tears fell. I had to accept them now for I couldn’t bear to dishonor his gift. He had grown into a wonderful man. Shyly I nodded and he sighed and just like that all was right between us.

Time had separated us before but we were reunionited. The hurt was laid to rest and we were now free to reestablish our relationship. It lifted a thousand worries from my shoulders.

“She needs practice weapons also Shippo. those we will pay for.” said Inuyasha. I had to agree because this was expensive even if it was an honor.

“Very well I make a pair of blunt sais and find some throw worthy daggers for her to practice with. The knives are for close defense only if she gets unarmed but I will find a not so noticeable pair for practice.” Shippo said as he turned and looked through several bins of blades.

In under and hour after that we had our purchases and the designs for the kimonos made. A tearful farewell was given and I gave Shippo Sesshoumaru’s house number for him to call me. Inuyasha and I set off but not before I remembered.

“Ah ha... You are now going to take me to the drum concert right?” He groaned and rubbed his head.

“I was so hoping you forgot.”

“Nope. Not on your life!” I smiled like a mad man.

“Okay but before we go I want food and to drop off this stuff okay?” A little disappointed but also hungry I agreed. It made sense since I wasn’t going to eat at moms. My heart was light with happiness of seeing Shippo again and I was trilled with all the grand kids to spoil. Life was good.

End of Chapter 25