With Love

A/N: I'd like to thank everyone that reviewed. Since a second part was asked for I've come up with one. Not really what some have asked for but hope you enjoy it. I just started working on it so posting might take a bit. I also didn't like making it take back up again in a few months would work out with the pairing of Kagome/Yusuke/Hiei. When I originally started the first half my outline was different, it kind of changed on me as I wrote. So to make the final pairing that of a threesome this half does take place a little ways into the future. Plus, please keep in mind that this is an AU so things like Kurama living his thousand plus years as Youko didn't happen, Youko has never existed (so far). Thanks much = )! Please read and review.

Chapter Thirty-two: Going Home

“Hand me one of the large boxes please.” Kagome placed the tape down on the carpet. The black marker was used to scribble on the top, “toys.” When the hell had she bought all these dolls? Most likely half of them had been brought home by Aunt Natsumi alone. A twinge of sadness penetrated in her chest. Only two months had passed since the woman’s death. How long had the woman taken them in and treated them like the children she never had? Six years and some months if she were remembering correctly. Yes, because Midoriko would be six in two months. Her little girl was growing up fast. That summer they had all came with the intention of enjoying themselves before worrying over real life. The woman had noticed Kagome’s condition in a week’s time. Then the law had been laid done after learning the facts. With or without the father’s consent Kagome wasn’t going anywhere. She’d stay right where she was. Aunt Natsumi had paid for the medical expenses of them both. The woman had been thrilled to have someone tiny in the house. Things had worked out so well, her and Sango went to night school to get degrees in business. “Think Spidey will fit in here?”


“Not sure, we can bend him.” Sango grabbed Shippou’s favorite doll while Kagome got the box ready for stuffing. The toy went up to her waist when it was standing upright. “Could break the fucker’s legs off.” Then her son would have a fit and scream like she’d maimed him instead. She loved him dearly, her own little momma’s boy. It was the one that was now screaming that was sure to give her grey hair. “Youko, stop teasing your brother, I told you to put your clothes in the suitcases. Do it or I’ll have you running around naked.” Although twins they looked as different as night and day as well acted. The truck would be here in the morning and they still had so much to do. Shippou came running into the room with tears streaming down his face. She reached for him putting down Spidey who was finding he was very flexible. There wasn’t anything about either of her children that resembled her. They’d gone down the middle mostly. Shippou had auburn hair, a deeper shade than his father’s bright red. She’d never seen Kurama in his demonic form but could only guess what he’d look like. The fuzzy tail was swishing really fast in agitation. His ears were a tad pointy and he’d tend to get claws if she didn’t keep them down. The same went for Youko but he’d turned out to be a silver color. The long flowing hair and tail were that of a silver fox not red. He was her oldest by ten minutes and had inherited the hanyou ears along with the tail.


The next kid to come in the door was Midoriko. The little girl was the splitting image of Kagome except for the attitude. And her overwhelming need to set shit on fire. They’d shared the same OB during their pregnancies. He informed them that cases of having hanyou’s could go any way. It was always that way with breeding the two species together. Despite a few characteristics Sango’s children looked human but retained their demon abilities. While Kagome’s had turned out almost all human in looks, no one would look at the little girl and think demon. The doctor told Kagome that it might happen that way since she was a miko. That was unless the little girl got upset and set you on fire. The said girl walked up to her mother with a huge grin. “Mommy, Youko said that we are going to own a boozer house. What’s that?”


“Well, I wouldn’t exactly put it like that.” She turned to give Sango a look that screamed, ‘Talk to your son!’. She was opening a bar but she wouldn’t call it that. After the death of Aunt Natsumi her and Sango had gone back home for the burial along with Botan’s family. She’d talked to her mother and Sango had seen her parents. That same evening they’d ran into Yukina while out having dinner. The little koorime had informed them of her trying to buy a business but wasn’t sure about having the money to get it started or knowing how to run it. Of course, the woman had wanted to open up a diner since Kaede had passed away some years ago. Sango had jumped into the ideas with the other girl. Shockingly they hear of the two empty spaces up for grabs in the same building center as Onigumo’s had been. Rumor was that the place was still going strong. Sango had told Yukina she’d call her and maybe they could go into business together. Sango could see about the financial part and Yukina could do the actual running and dealing with customers. Kagome had liked the idea of owning a business of her own. It’d be easier to deal with Midoriko that way instead of working for someone. But cooking had never been her thing. She’d told Botan about her wanting to open something also. Her and the other woman had agreed upon a bar. Kagome knew Botan’s reasons for wanting to open up a bar next to Onigumo’s were more for vengeful purposes.


“Youko!” Sango called to her oldest with a frown. She had to wonder where he was coming up with color phrases. No doubt he was sitting up watching television when he was supposed to be sleeping. She’d have to make sure the privilege of having his own set was taken away from him. She heard him before she saw him, grumbling under his breath about girls not being able to keep things to themselves. She’d never had to really worry about discipline for either of her boys. Except when Midoriko and Youko got together and decided to be bad. The two needed to be separated at times. It was amazing how he did dwarf his younger brother by three inches already. The doctor said he probably took after someone in Kurama’s family. Youko took mostly after his father while Shippou had gone down the middle more. “Please, take your brother back into my room and finish packing. Mommy has lots to do tonight before we pack up tomorrow. Remember you both get rooms of your own. You’ll like that right.” She had already seen to them getting a place to stay. Her and Kagome had driven through town to find that a new subdivision had gone up. Several houses had been up for sale. Nothing fancy or too large but enough for them. Her and Kagome had both purchased one. It was better than the apartment idea they’d went with. This way the children would have yards to play with. And they’d be next door to each other.


“Oh yes, we’ve been good packing and all. Does this mean we can still have our puppy? Youko wants a big one but I don’t like big dogs. Can I have my own puppy Mommy? I want to take care of it all on my own.” Shippou wanted to have his own puppy. His brother always took things over when they shared. Just like Midoriko, their cousin liked playing with his brother more than him. Not that he really cared, he liked to play alone most of the time.


“We’ll see once we have settled in. Remember Mommy will be busy trying to get you two settled and her job going. We need to make money to eat. The same goes for Aunt Kagome so no bugging her either to go buy it for you.” She let go so they could run back out of the room. Hopefully with the thought of moving in somewhere they could get an animal of their own they’d be more excited about the move. It felt strange going back home after so long. Aunt Natsumi had left them all with something in her will. The woman had no legal heirs and had put the three of them in her will. Most of her estate had gone to Botan which couldn’t be debated since Natsumi had no children and Botan was her niece. She’d been kind enough to leave Sango and Kagome both a million to do as they saw fit. Some of that money had been used to purchase their new businesses and a down payment on their homes. Not to mention a very tiny amount had gone on the children’s new rooms and belongings. Still they had enough put aside that they could make a go of things.


None of them had known just how financially set the older woman had been. After her death they’d all been shocked to learn she’d made several wise investments in her younger years. What they’d thought was her job had been nothing but a passion. The woman had been obsessed with history but had been a very successful woman. All that belonged to Botan now. It was a good damn thing Botan had gotten her divorce a year earlier or Koenma would have been trying to get his share. The man had already called his exwife asking for some quick cash. Of course he had given his condolences for Botan’s loss. Their friend would never have to work a day in her life, nor her kids if she ever had any. Instead of the two had seemed happy to dote themselves to the three little ones already there.


Kagome gave Midoriko a quick kiss on the forehead, “Yes, it means you might get your kitten. Now go and finish getting your suitcase together for tomorrow. I’ll be in there soon to finish getting the rest of your toys.” She laughed turning to see Sango folding Spidey’s legs past his shoulders, “Wow, he’d make some man happy. If I could bend that way I might be able to keep a man.” The doll was placed sideways in the large box. If she could find a man her daughter liked then she might not stay single. After a couple of dates they tended not to call again. At least Midoriko was subtle about running her male friends off. If one didn’t count the one time she’d invited one guy over for dinner and her daughter had been under the table. Kagome hadn’t known the child was there until the man got up screaming about his pants being on fire.


“I know what you mean.” Sango had given up on dating two years ago. She’d gotten remarried at one time. Her boys had only been two at the time and he’d been a very sweet older man. Love had never entered into the relationship on her part but she’d felt like her kids needed a father. There had been no way she’d go running back to Kurama and ask him to be a part of their lives. The marriage had lasted less than a year. Her oldest had seen to that. She wasn’t sure how to handle that part of their lives. Natsumi had said some males wouldn’t accept anyone but their natural parents, especially demon males. She also knew that it was Youko putting ideas in Midoriko’s head about how to get rid of the men in Kagome’s life. That one was more than a handful. She thanked her lucky stars that Shippou had a very calm personality.


“How are we going to get the rest in? Spidey’s balls are taking up half of the box. Dammit, can’t he just hold it or something.” Kagome started throwing toys around the empty spaces under the doll’s ass. “Who bought him this fucking thing? What happened to soft squishy dolls that wouldn’t knock a grown man senseless? It was almost as worse as that talking pony that she’d tossed out last week. That damn thing talked every time someone walked in the room being motion activated. ‘Will you be my friend?’ Hell no, she didn’t want to be friends with it. She wanted to pull the fucking voice box out. “Good thing we rented the largest truck they had with all this crap.”


“How do you think I feel? I have twice the toys to pack.” Sango tossed a block set on top of Spidey’s head. Most of the toys they’d packed so far were Shippou’s. Youko’s were still in the toy box. The kids were in her bedroom packing their clothes, giving them something to do. She’d done laundry for them all. Clothes she’d felt they could wear for the next few days until they got settled into their new place. Her boy’s had shared a room with a set of bunk beds. The houses were almost the same, each with three bedrooms and two baths and a nice piece of fenced in yard. Not that the three foot chainlink would keep either of her boys in. “I should probably throw some of those guns and little men in here to fill in the space under his ass. Can you get em for me? I’ll just have to separate them later, got to pack wisely. So let’s just shove the fuckers in here.”


“Good idea. I guess us packing up our stuff earlier this week was a good idea after all.” Kagome placed some of the little green men inside. “Um, was this supposed to be an ex of yours?” She held up the decapitated little man for her friend to inspect. There was no secret that the silver haired boy didn’t like a male figure around his mother. When Sango had confronted him one time about his behavior all he’d shouted in return was that the man hadn’t been his daddy. Then they’d both seen the looks all three children were giving them. It made them feel bad having kept the existence of their father’s unknown. How could they explain how things had been to them without hurting them in the process. “Think they are still around? We are taking a big chance of it.”


“Hm, doubt it. We could of have asked Yukina you know if you are worried about it. You shouldn’t be you know, you can always lie I can’t. Look at mine! Obvious who their father is and their age. I mean Shippou is a little short for his age but Youko isn’t. Midoriko took after you both and is extremely small. Hell most people think she’s only about three not five and she doesn’t look like Hiei. I’m fucked if Kurama is still there but I’m not going to worry about it. I think we got to accept that one day they’ll have to know. We probably shouldn’t have kept it hidden this long. I see it every time I look at my oldest. Maybe if they were all human it wouldn’t matter but they aren’t. We know Yusuke is still around but the others are a mystery.”
Sango picked up the tape as Kagome applied her weight to keep the top down and closed.


“Hah! Don’t make me laugh. You can lie about it. I mean it will be apparent that I lied about it and kept it from Hiei. I was pregnant when I left but you’d just found out a few days before. You could always say you didn’t know until you were gone, I can’t. Actually it was a good thing we didn’t wait. You were showing by your fourth month big time. I told you all that puking was a sign. Even I felt sorry for you, hacking all the times. At least mine only came when I first got up usually.” Kagome smiled at her friend that had turned out to be seven weeks behind her in their pregnancy. Most people had assumed Sango was a lot further when she started to show. Concern had the OB doing an early ultrasound. They’d listened to the heartbeat for them both already and Kagome had one ultrasound. But Sango looked further and they’d only heard one heartbeat. “Couldn’t imagine carrying two. Weird you ended up with twins when it ran in Hiei’s family.”


“I’m blessed,” Or cursed on some days. She reached for another box. Now to tackle Youko’s toys. As soon as they got this done she’d have to see about dinner. She was starving having forgone lunch. “Want to see if the kids want to order some pizza? Doubt either of us will feel like cooking and Botan won’t be home until later tonight. Wonder what Koenma is spilling to her? A bunch of bullshit. Oh, please take me back, I’ll be different this time around. Especially since you’re filthy fucking rich. If only I’d have gone down on you in our many years of marriage.”


“Gross! Please, don’t go there. You continue packing and I think pizza is a good idea. I’ll go see what the kids want and place the order.” Kagome got up to stretch knowing they’d be wanting cinnamon sticks to go with their meal. Her eyes went to the many boxes already stacked against the wall ready to be shipped. It felt strange going back after all this time. Had it been so long since she’d packed up her meager belongings and left her childhood behind? Now she was going home to make another fresh start. Would she find happiness this time around? Either way she was going home.

“Please, it’s not like I didn’t try.” Koenma reached across the table to grab the pale hand. He’d been a fool to leave her and not work things out. She’d just been so demanding. He’d accepted her after finding that she’d done the unthinkable and slept with another man before him. She’d come to their marriage bed impure and used but he’d forgiven her for it. Then he’d worked and tried to keep her happy through their few years of marriage. What else did she want from him? He’d go to counseling if that was what she wanted. The divorce was already final, had been for too long. That had been her doing. He’d walked out saying he needed time to think about things and she’d filed for a divorce. “Botan, I love you.”


Sure he did. She pulled her fingers from the unwanted touch. He suddenly wanted her back after he’d been more than happy when the divorce went through. She wasn’t a moron, he knew of her inheritance. Was probably kicking his own ass for walking out. That was fine with her, she’d been ready to kick his ass to the curb anyways. He’d been there when she’d needed someone that was all. She hadn’t been in love with him then and she still wasn’t. She’d been distraught over what had happened to her and had latched onto what felt safe. He was completely safe from breaking a girl’s heart. Natsumi had been right but had accepted it when her niece had married someone that she didn’t love. Botan missed her aunt dearly and didn’t feel like putting up with her ex that wanted her back for the money left to her. Funny, he hadn’t come back around until after he’d heard of her fortune. “I don’t think it would work out.”


Nope because she was closing up the house and going with Sango and Kagome. She hadn’t told him of her plans yet because they weren’t any of his business. She didn’t have a home of her own yet but there was an office in the bar. Large enough where she could set up a room to stay in. Also Kagome had offered to let her use the extra room in their new home. Or she could just buy her own. But she wasn’t sure what she wanted yet so was holding off. She just knew that she couldn’t remain here and her Aunt was gone. The older woman had been found dead in her office at work. The cause of death was still a mystery, unknown. Her aunt had just suddenly stopped living, it shouldn’t have happened. She wasn’t going to sell the house that Natsumi had loved so much. Instead she was going to close it down until she felt ready to come back. Until then she had a bar to run with Kagome. She knew every drink there was to make. Plus, she’d like to go back and let Naraku know she was worth more than five hundred.


The bitterness was still there after all this time. The man had never pressed charges either. Probably didn’t want his wife to know that his lover had been the one to bust up the car. Okay, so she was still a little upset over the ordeal after all these years. He’d been her first love and he’d used her. A bet, how insulting could he get? Her first time had been defiled and ruined by him. Instead of giving herself to the man she loved on her wedding night. She got used and told that he’d used her then went on to her wedding night only to have Koenma blow a gasket when she didn’t bleed. She’d gotten so pissed she’d given him the blood he so desired by stabbing his hand with the bottle screw. He’d never asked to make sure she was a virgin. Just because he had been didn’t mean she had waited. She should have but it was something she couldn’t change no matter how much she wanted.


“Look Koenma, I appreciate the nice dinner and the pretty words but we both know better. We weren’t happy the first time together and I’m not willing to try again.” She held her hand up when he would have tried to speak. “Don’t, it’s not going to work. We didn’t work together socially or mentally and we sure weren’t compatible sexually. Think what you want. You can leave here thinking I’ve turned lesbian or that I’ve already replaced you or had a lover the whole time we were together. I really don’t care. Our divorce was final before all this happened and you aren’t getting anything from me but a smile and a wish of good luck. As soon as I get my affairs straightened here in the next few days I plan on leaving. Yes, leaving. I’m going back home with Sango and Kagome. They are leaving in the morning and I’ll be right behind them. I don’t know what I’ll find back there, if anything. I’m not sure where I’ll end up but it won’t be with you.”


She grabbed her purse and stood up. He was gapping at her with a shocked expression. Good, she was tired of all this. It was time to start over once again. This little journey hadn’t ended the way she wanted. Perhaps this time around she’d find her place and what made her happy. Koenma was part of her past, he could stay there where he belonged. She was very excited about running a bar even if she didn’t need the money. Not to mention it would surely draw some of the business away from Onigumo’s. She snickered as she gave the waitress a bill to cover her share of the meal and tip. She had some things to get done tomorrow. Time to get some sleep so she wouldn’t be tired. She’d probably sit up half the night tossing and turning. Excitement and dread filled her, she was going home.

The room was silent as the young girl got up from the soaked bed. What was wrong with her? Long blonde hair hung in clumps around her shoulders. What had happened last night? This was one hell of a hangover she was sporting. She could remember going to the party then nothing. Wait she’d been dancing with some guy. Had she gotten that drunk she couldn’t remember going home with him? Kaneishi sighed as she threw her legs over the edge. She really felt like shit but managed to find the light switch. The light filled the room making her flinch. That was the last time she mixed drinks. Her stomach was killing her but not with the urge to puke. It was more like menstrual cramps, was she about to start early?


She got up from the drenched sheets that reeked of heavy sweating. Damn, she must have gotten really drunk and sweated all night long. It was rather humid in the apartment. Her skin felt clammy and she was still sweating. The clock in the living room chimed as the hour hit six in the morning. Time to get ready for work also. Fuck, she didn’t feel like going in today. Next time her friend suggested she go out on a Sunday night she was going to kill someone. Kids tended to look at you strange while trying to teach English with blood shot eyes reeking of booze. At this rate she’d loose her job soon. Her trek led her to the thermostat, it was reading sixty-nine degrees in the place. So why did she feel so fucking horrible?


Too many late nights partying for her. The slip she had on was clinging to her like a second skin. Maybe a cold shower would do her some good. Was there a case of the flu going around? Figures, one fucking kid sneezed and she’d catch whatever they had. It was just some cramps and she was really hot. The flu could make your muscles ache, though all her others felt just fine. Besides the pain in her abdomen she had no problem walking to the bathroom. She looked at herself in the mirror. The reflection staring back at her made her scream. That couldn’t be her! A large clump of hair was missing near her left temple. Who the fuck had shaved her while she’d been passed out?


Black painted nails ran through the empty area. Dismay filled her as more hair easily sprang free from her scalp under the pressure. Was it breaking off? What was wrong with her? She stumbled forward and watched the tangled strands off in the sink. Looking clearly she could see a few other places where her hair had knotted and come out. She had to call someone, call in sick and go to the doctor. What kind of flu made your hair fall out? She took a step back and hit the wall as her gut pinched in anger. It was so intense she finally felt the need to retch. She moaned as her throat constricted around the left over beverages from the night before. The liquid hit the floor the same time as her knees.


“Fuck!” More spew came out with the word. Her stomach felt hot along with her lower section. She had to make it to the phone and call for help. The pain was continuous now instead of throbbing. Her palm slipped in the vomit as she attempted to crawl back into the bedroom. The smell and feel of it went ignored as she moved towards her night stand. Something warm was making it’s way down her inner thigh. It seemed to take forever to make it the few feet needed. Her fingers wrapped around the cord as her stomach pitched again. It fell with a thud onto the floor, the receiver rolling away.


She groaned as she placed the phone up to her ear after dialing out. It only rang twice before someone picked up. The operator asked her emergency, “I need an ambulance. I don’t know, I’m in pain.” She felt a warm gush of heat between her legs. A shaking hand reached down to find her panties drenched with blood. “Oh god, I’m bleeding. I don’t know, I don’t fucking know. No, I’m not pregnant.” No, she couldn’t be. She always wore protection and her steady boyfriend had been fixed after his first marriage. The phone fell from her hand as tears sprang at the next pain took her breath away. Why was she hurting so bad? She could hear the woman’s voice calling for her but all she managed was a whimper. The hard feel of being severed ripped through her center all the way to her spine. Would help come in time? There was no longer any strength in her to move her arms or legs to check to see how bad the bleeding was. Darkness was calling to her as the wail of sirens echoed in the distance.


“Wow, nothing has changed has it. A few things but not that much.” Kagome peered out of the window. They’d come on the quick visit but it hadn’t really sank in. They were back home. What would it feel like to see the high school again? Her mother knew she was coming back but her father had moved out to live with his mistress. Her parents were still married, just living their own lives. Then again her mother had come up several times to visit and spend time with her grandchild. So had Sango’s parents after they accepted that Sango wasn’t going to inform the father. They had their suspicions but had stuck by their daughter in the end. “Oh my is that who I think it is?” They were pulling along Main Street and she’d be damned if that wasn’t him. Dressed in a black uniform with a gun hanging from his side. An elderly lady seemed to be bickering with him.


“No fucking way, he’s a cop?” Sango laughed seeing the elderly lady pointing a finger into the toushin’s chest. Even she could see the no parking sign next to the woman’s car. Her language slipped out seeing the old face from their past come to life. He turned hearing the vehicle coming to a stop next to them. She smiled and waved at him. The ticket pad fell from his fingers as she started to pull away. “Maybe I should have ran him over for targeting the little old lady. He still looks the same, maybe a little older. So we know he hasn’t left. Guess he wouldn’t since his brother is still here. Bet he knows where Hiei is.”


“Then I’m happy for him.” Kagome shrugged at the blunt statement. She didn’t want to think about Hiei now. What were the chances that she’d run into him? That’s if he hadn’t moved on or gotten married. She was sure he would some day, when he found the one he wanted to settle down with. It just hadn’t been her. Even if she’d gotten a child out of the bargain. He’d gotten off free to do as he pleased. “Wish we could have went to the center to check out what’s been done on the reconstruction.” Kagome looked behind her seeing the moving van was still following them at a close distance. Her car was being dragged behind on a trailer. She hadn’t felt like riding alone for so long and had ridden with Sango in the mini-van. Plus, it gave the kids a chance to enjoy the move together. “Hope it doesn’t take them long getting everything out and moved in. I really need to eat something. Any chance you’d handle the unloading while I run into town to fetch some food?”

Yusuke fumbled to pick up the pad and glanced back at the retreating moving van. Could it be possible? He hadn’t been seeing things. “I’ll give you a warning this time Mrs. Takanaka.” He didn’t wait for the old woman to thank him. He ran to his patrol car and climbed in. It jerked out into traffic as the moving van turned the corner. That had to been the two girls sitting in that mini-van. Were they moving back? If it was them that was the only reason he could conclude why the moving truck was with them. He stayed a great distance behind to see them pull into the new subdivision that had went up last year. The same neighborhood Kurama and Hiei were staying in. If he were correct the two were staying a few streets over.


The moving van stopped in a driveway in front of a light blue house and the mini-van pulled into the one next to
it that was a dark green color. His eyes went glued to the driver side as the driver side opened. Her hair was shorter but she almost looked the same. He was sure that was Sango climbing out of the van. Then the side door opened and a kid jumped out. Shock filled him seeing the silver ears standing on his head. It had to be a boy child, he even had a tail. No fucking way! The woman walked up and placed a hand on his shoulder. She reached over to slide the door shut and then the reverse lights started to come on. The van was leaving, Kagome had to be leaving. Was Sango just moving back?


His gut twisted seeing the child look up at the woman with a huge grin on his face. He wasn’t the best at reading lips but he was sure the boy had just called her Mother. When had Sango had a child? The kid had to be at least five. Had she really moved on with Inuyasha like Kurama had suggested? The child he was looking at confirmed that belief. Is that why she’d left? Strange the hanyou had left like two months later as well. How would his friends take knowing that the girls were back in town? He hadn’t heard from Hiei since last week but he’d had breakfast with Kurama just this morning. “Well, I’ll be damned.” The mini-van came back by speeding. He looked up to see the miko glaring at him with a middle finger extended out the window.


Next Chapter: Yusuke makes a house call and Yukina spills the beans...Please read and review.