Seven Years Later
Kagome walked along the country road, humming a pretty little tune she’d picked up in the last village they’d visited. It was spring. The countryside was in full bloom, a patchwork of shining green grass, glowing blue water and rose-white sakura trees, shedding petals like spring snow in the breeze. Kagome breathed in the fragrance of the wild blossoms, the rich earth, the good clean air. The untainted splendor of this time and place weren’t lost on her, and had never been.
This was where she belonged—where they belonged.
“Kaa-san!” Shin cried from on high, falling like a javelin from the canopy of the trees to land light as feather on the fencepost beside her. His handsome little face split into a sharp-toothed grin, his green eyes alight and black ears pricked. “Look what I’ve got—it’s the King Kong of the paddy!”
Kagome’s eyes went wide at the huge fanged fished he produced from over his shoulder—a fish at least three times as long as Shin was tall. “I’ll say.”
Shin grinned. “Wanna have him for dinner?”
“Want to,” Kagome corrected, smiling. “No, baby—he’s all yours.”
Even if she could purify that demon fish flesh into something edible for a human, it’d be nothing more than a grey, tasteless goop.
“I’ll have him for breakfast, then,” Shin chattered, slinging the massive fiendish fish over his small shoulder like an afterthought. “I like it when they start to go soft, even when I haven’t bitten them.” As Kagome grimaced, he frowned over at her, “And don’t call me ‘baby,’ Kaa-san. I’m not a baby. I’m eight-and-a-half years old.”
Shin’s expression was so cool and imperious as he said this—the haughty tilt of his chin so much like his— that Kagome felt the beginnings of tears prickling in her eyes. Not wanting her son to give her grief over it, she smiled instead.
“You’ll always be my baby,” she said mushily, as Shin made a yuck face at her, and then leapt several posts ahead.
“Where’re we going to next?” he called back to her.
“Hmm, I was thinking—north again?”
“No—we should go east again.”
“We were in the East less than a year ago, baby. And it’s the least likely place for him to be.”
“So?” Shin shot back at her, rather hotly. “We can go through the well to see Baa-chan, and we can go to the movies. The next X-Men’s probably out by now.”
Kagome considered this. “Okay, we can go back to the Modern Era, but you have to promise me two things: one, that you’ll stay human, and two, that you won’t turn into a youkai or hanyou. Can you promise me that?”
“Promise, and double-promise!”
They made camp for the night in a pretty little meadow off the beaten road. Kagome cooked a dinner of rice and pork for them, while Shin waited for his demon fish to get nice and ‘soft’ overnight. They bedded down in their sleeping bags—a modern comfort Kagome simply couldn’t live without. She touched a hand to the moonstone necklace she’d been wearing all the time since she’d left Edo, after placing her old wedding band at the roots of Goshinboku.
And as in all the nights since, she closed her eyes, and she prayed.
Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi
Shin is all grown up! And talking just like his father to boot! Looking for to seeing their reunion!
Omggg they haven’t found him in 7 years 😭😭😭 that’s soooo sad. But also, I’m loving how Shin and Kagome go back and forth between eras still 🥰 X-men hahaha, i can see how future him got his personality. Ahhhh! So good!!!
So I guess it’s official, there’s been a divorce? I wonder what inuyasha is up to? The way they separated seemed so easy given how possessive Inuyasha was even after he found out her infidelity. I guess I figured there would be some type of push back on his part. I’m interested to see how you wrap things up
I’m still confused? Maybe, Kagome should see if Sesshoumaru is alive in the future.
Holy cow! It’s been several years since they saw Sesshoumaru? Poor Shin probably resents his father. He didn’t seem too eager in wanting to find his father. I hope Sesshoumaru will do right by his son and return to his life, if not Kagome’s.
I just reread this and wow, how’d i miss that? Shin does seem to resent his father for abandoning them. Awwwwww 😭
I think Shin hates Sesshoumaru. Or maybe he simply doesn’t care for him. Aww well I don’t blame him 🥲 He was too young and now he doesn’t know his bio father at all. The only one who’s been a true father to him is Inuyasha, even if they were a bit distant after the reveal. Maybe now they’ve grown closer than ever?
It seems we’re going the Yashahime route, Sesshoumaru willfully being estranged from his children. Maybe he also didn’t visit Rin these seven years, because she surely would’ve told him that Kagome’s gone looking for him right?
Yashahime!Sess was so much more brutal to his daughters though. I don’t care WHAT the SessRins say to defend him. There was even an interview with Sumisawa where he tried to excuse Sess’s shit parenting by saying “demons only raise the strongest children”. Like bro?? 😭 Touga dying for Izayoi and Inuyasha?? Sesshoumaru protecting young Rin and Kohaku?? Shippou’s father raising him until he was killed???
But Inuyasha being a true father to Shin reminds me that Souta was a true father to Towa. So I guess this kinda makes Shin the Yashaouji.
Poor Shin, he definitely seems to harbor some resentment for his father. Though, who could blame him? I’m glad his relationship with Kagome seems rock solid. They’re such a cute little traveling duo! I’m looking forward to see where they end up next.
Also, wondering if Sesshomaru knows they’re looking for them, or if he’s just traipsing about doing who knows what lol
It certainly seems like we’re getting close to the end, but I have a feeling we’re still a ways off. 👀
I’m sad but more disappointed in Sesshoumaru for not seeking them out (or at least Shin) in seven years. He missed his son growing up, calling him ‘father’ for the first time, his first flight, his first letters.. 😔
So now I don’t think Shin cares to seek him out either. He’s not even bothering to use his nose for their quest if he’s asking Kagome where they should go next.
I wish Shin a very “Baby 💕”
Seven years. Poor Shin, but I’d rather they let him go if Sesshomaru turns out to be another Mr. Higurashi. A deadbeat makes me more averse to their relationship than Inukag 😖
Shin and Kagome have already found their happiness together, and they could remain happier this way.
It would be better for Kagome if she finds someone else too than hanging on to someone who doesn’t want her or her son anymore. I feel sorry for her. She’s back to waiting on a man who’ll never come back, just like when she was young.
Mr. Higurashi doesn’t deserve Mama Higurashi and their kids, and Sess doesn’t deserve Kagome and Shin. First time that I wish the Sess x Kag isn’t endgame but in this case I feel that they’re the best if they aren’t together. They just don’t work anymore.