The Future Looks Brighter by Mirei Nochi

Chapter One

A/N: Okay if this is your first time reading this story then you might not notice the difference but a few names in this story were fixed so that the confusion would cease. Uri is the little girl and Yuri was Kagome's old friend and the mother of Uri. Thanks to my dear friend Joanna aka Parsnip who is the coolest person ever

The Future Looks Brighter

Chapter One

Kagome stretched out in her large bed and then curled up once more. She could smell her mother's pancakes from downstairs. As much as her hunger pains cried out, she didn't want to leave the comfort of her bed's embrace. Her father could be found just outside in the shrine setting up for visitors. The sound of his sandals hitting the stony pavement caught her attention much like it did every morning. She tried to fall back asleep but was soon under attack by a three year old.

"Mommy, grandma says it's time to wake up." The little girl jumped on the bed and sat on her mother's stomach.

"Mommy wants to sleep." She said looking at the girl with half opened eyes.

"But grandma made pancakes, and you are supposed to spend time with me while you're home." The girl had a point. She remembered how she had been given this little girl. Her best friend Yuri had been raped by an older man, she had passed away during the birth and she had asked Kagome to take the little girl and raise her as her own. At first she hesitated, but when the doctor placed the little girl in her arms, she fell in love with the child. Shortly after that she adopted the child and her parents supported her financially for the nine months of high school she had left. She had left for Tokyo University two years before and was home for vacation. Her school was much like the American schools. Classes began in August and ended in May. Most schools in Japan started on April 1 and ended on March 31. The university was four hours away. Though that wasn't very far it would cost her a great deal of money to go home each day. So she only visited on the weekends or her parents would bring up Uri on Saturday. They usually went to see family on the weekends and so they'd stop by the campus and leave Uri with Kagome. This did cause a problem for Kagome. So her friends would help her out by watching the child while she went to run errands or get food. She planned on getting a place of her own down the street from her parents once she finished school because her teacher had lined up a job just for her at a computer software company.

"Okay Uri I'm up." Yes, she named the child after her best friend. The little girl ran out of the room and down the stairs. Kagome picked herself up from her bed and took a shower. Her father must have replaced the shower head. Inside the shower she found a shower head with a dial that changed the settings of the water pressure. She put it on the normal setting and cleansed herself.

Downstairs thirty minutes later she found Souta, her mother and father and Uri all at the table. She kissed the little girl's head and took her seat.

"So Kagome what do you have planned today?" her father asked her while stuffing a pancake in his mouth and chewing.

"I planned on taking Uri out for the day, go buy her a new doll and take her to the park. Whatever she wants."

"That's good to hear honey. I believe your father went to pick up you car before you woke this morning."

"Thanks dad."

"Anytime kiddo."

She looked over at her brother who was now fourteen and looking quite unhappy at the moment.

"What's the matter bro?" He looked up from his stabbed pancakes confused. He hadn't thought anyone would notice his unhappy interior.

"My girlfriend's going out of town for vacation."

"Don't worry okay, she'll be back."

"I know but we were supposed to hang out during break."

"There's always your friend. It won't be all bad. You could always come with me and Uri."

"Um that's okay sis. I'll go call Suko. I'm sure he'll find something for us to do, thanks." He stood and left the room.

"That always works." Kagome said with a laugh in her voice.

"He'd rather hang with his friends than his sister. It's normal for a boy his age to resent older people."

"I wasn't that way was I mom?"

"No dear, you were such a happy child"

"You grew up quite nicely Kagome; I'm very proud of you. I also became the proudest when you brought Uri home." He gave her a smile.

"I don't know what I'd do without you two. I don't know what I would have done if it weren't for your support." She gave them each a kiss then took Uri by the hand and led her to the car.

The sun was moving fast towards the middle of the sky. Uri covered her eyes and climbed into her car seat. She looked around the floor of the car and saw that her hat and shovel were there. Her face lit up with glee because she had realized that her mother had planned on taking her to the park. Before Kagome buckled her in she grabbed her hat and placed it on her head. Kagome buckled up and pulled out from the driveway. Uri was looking out of the window as the leaves fell from the trees. Fall was definitely upon them. The young child giggled when she saw a man get tangled in some of the leaves being blown around by the wind. Kagome smiled to herself and turned on the radio.

"Hey mommy where are we going first?" Kagome looked through the rear view mirror at the child sitting in the back on the passenger side.

"We are going to get me some coffee and then walk on down and get you a few new dolls."

"Really mommy?" The young girl's mother gave her a nod. Uri squealed with joy. "Are you sure mommy?"

"I got paid before I came home, and I got more then I expected."

"What does 'expected' mean mommy?"

"It means that I didn't think I was going to make much but I did."

"Oh, okay mommy." Uri went back to watching the world from her window. Kagome couldn't help but sigh to herself. Her young daughter was so spirited and happy. Her deep blue eyes were always wide and adventurous. She had long black hair much like Yuri did, which was good because she looked much like Kagome did at her age. Kagome wasn't sure how she would tell Uri once she was old enough. Should she even tell her? No one outside of their family knew of how Uri came to be Kagome's. In fact no one knew of her at all, except for close friends of Kagome. Kagome never told the child of her real mother. Her best friend had requested before she died that Kagome never speak of the truth to Uri, that it was best for the child to grow up happy.

She pulled into the mall that most of the students from school hung out at during vacations. Most of the people at TU lived in a five mile radius to her. She could have gone anywhere but Uri loved going to this particular mall. To be honest she didn't like going to this mall during break. She would usually bring Uri on weekends so as to not draw attention to her or Uri. When people saw them together they just assumed that Uri was Kagome's little sister. She took Uri's hand and led her into Mocha Heaven, the coffee shop that was three stores away from Doll's Emporium. Uri became fascinated with her surrounding and accidentally ran into a tall man. He looked down at the child, and she looked up.

"Hi mister I'm sorry for running into your leg." She bowed her head and ran to her mother who was standing in line to order. He looked over at the woman that the little girl was currently attached to. He found himself in a trance for a moment, but shook his head. The little girl looked up at him and smiled. She ran over to him, which caught her mother's attention.

"Uri, leave that man alone." She went over to her daughter and picked her up. "I'm sorry that she's bothering you, but she's too friendly for her own good."

"My name's Uri, nice to meet you sir." Uri said holding out her tiny hand. He took her small hand in his large finger and shook it.

"I'm InuYasha. I didn't get your name." He directed his attention to Kagome. She eyed him for a moment and then felt that he wasn't a danger to them. She noticed that his hair was very long, but tied up in a loose ponytail. Its dark tresses trailed down to his waist and his bangs shaded his dark eyes so only bits of their odd shade were showing. She found it strange that though his eyes looked brown there were small tints of amber and gold in his deep pools.

"I'm Kagome, I'm terribly sorry if she disturbed you. I thought I taught her better."

"You're Kagome?"

"Yes, how do you know me?" She raised an eyebrow at him.

"You went out with a friend of mine a year or so ago. Hojo."

"Oh really? So then you go to Tokyo University?"

"Yeah."

"What's your major?" she placed Uri down and engaged herself in their conversation.

"I'm actually still sifting through a few things, but I'm taking more literature classes. I'm hoping to become a teacher at another university."

"That's cool; I'm taking mostly business law. But my main goal is to major in web design."

"I've seen you in my English lit class a few times; you have a class with my brother too. I think you two have Business and Computer Applications."

"Oh really? Do I know him?"

"I think so, do you know Sesshomaru?" Kagome almost fell down. She gaped at him in disbelief. "What? Did I say something wrong?"

"I can't stand him." She covered her mouth. "Oh I'm sorry. He's your brother. I shouldn't say such things. It's just that well we have a pretty um...interesting history. The basics are that we can stand each other" He gave her a small smile.

"Feh, I hear it all the time. The guy just needs to get a life, or a girlfriend. During vacation he sits in our study and reads. What kind of person stays home and reads?" Kagome blushes a little.

"I do actually." She laughed a little.

"Oh sorry I didn't mean it in a bad way, but it's just that my brother's sort of boring. He needs to get out of the house. He seems to mope a lot though like he's lost someone or something."

"I'm sure that it's just a faze that he's going through."

"Well, I should be going. I have to go meet that ice cube in an hour. Just be careful because he's around here somewhere."

"See you at school." Kagome said as he moved toward the door.

"Um actually you will see me; I'm your new roommate. Later." He turned around to look at her for a moment and then turned back toward the door. Kagome watched as he dashed out. She looked a bit confused by what he had said, but Uri's voice broke through her thoughts.

"He was pretty mommy." The little girl told her mother. Kagome laughed at what her child had said. But something about him seemed familiar as if she knew him. She shook her head thinking that she was losing all sense. She got a latte and headed out with Uri to Dolls Emporium. Uri ran from her mother to her favorite part of the store while Kagome went to talk with her friend from school, Yuki, who knew about how Uri came to be Kagome's child. She didn't just go around telling the world that she was a mother to a three year old. Most would think that she was easy or something when in truth she'd never even kissed a boy before.

"So how's she doing?" Yuki asked leaning on the counter.

"She's her usual happy self. She's been looking forward to my vacation. But sadly, it's almost over, and I'll have to return to school."

"To bad she's not a little older then she could come and live with you."

"I know, but there isn't anything I can do about that. Hey I just met this guy at the coffee shop."

"Did you scare him away as usual?"

"No, we talked for a bit, and guess what he told me?"

"That he's Johnny Depp and he came to whisk you away on his pirate ship?"

"Hey get your head out of the clouds, that's your fantasy anyway. He told me that he's going to be me and Akina's new roommate."

"Whatever happened to that other guy?"

"He left; I didn't really like him anyway."

"The only reason you didn't like he was because he had the hots for you."

"No he didn't, and I wasn't interested anyway. We were supposed to get two roommates though remember? Sonia left before finals."

"You never are. I wouldn't worry too much about this guy. I'm sure that he'll try not to grab your ass to much. And maybe Sesshomaru will be you and Akina's other roommate, wouldn't that be fun?" Yuki grinned when Kagome gave her a glare. She looked over where Uri was and found her clinging to a doll. It had stringy blond hair and a sunhat made of straw. It had a yellow sun dress on and black school shoes.

"If that jerk were to become our new roommate I'll run naked through halls of the school."

"I'll hold you to that." Yuki smiled at her friend who obviously couldn't stand the thought of sharing a living space with Sesshomaru. Uri came over to her mother with the choice doll in hand.

"I want this one mommy." Kagome took the doll and handed it to Yuki who rang it up and handed it back to Uri.

"Here you go sweetie." Said Yuki bending down to the child.

"Thank you auntie Yuki." She gave the older woman a smile and went to her mother.

"I guess we should be going I'll see you in a few days. Don't forget to be at my place at nine, otherwise I'll leave you behind." She said making her way to the door.

"Would that be so bad?" Kagome sent Yuki a look, but only got a laugh in response. Kagome took Uri's available hand and began to walk deeper into the mall.

"Hey mommy, are we going to the park?"

"I was thinking about taking you for ice cream, but you can't tell grandma okay? She'll kill me for it."

"I won't tell her. I promise."

She entered Scoop of Shire Bliss. Uri loved to go there with her even at the age of one. It was traditional that they go whenever Kagome had time. Kagome lifted the little girl up into her arms so that she could see over the counter. Uri's face lit up when she saw the delectable ice cream flavors before her.

"Oh...mommy I want that one." She pointed to a rainbow colored ice cream.

"Are you sure? You don't even know what it is."

"Yeah huh, it's ice cream and it pretty." The little girl huffed. Her mother laughed.

"Alright, can we please get two scoops of the rainbow and one scoop of the cookie dough?" The woman behind the counter grabbed two small foam bowls and placed two scoops of rainbow ice cream in one and one scoop of cookie dough in another. She then handed the rainbow to the little girl. Kagome placed the child down so that she could enjoy her ice cream.

"She's such a darling child. Is she your little sister?" The elderly woman asked. Kagome hesitated for a moment.

"Um, no ma'am she's my daughter." The woman looked shocked by this. "It's a rather complicated thing to comprehend, but her real mother died while giving birth. She was my best friend and only seventeen."

"Oh I'm terribly sorry dear; it's just that you two have been coming in here for quite a few years, and I just assumed that she was your sister."

"It's quite alright. We should be going, her grandmother told me not to get her ice cream. But what she knows won't kill me right?"

"Yes that's true dear, have a nice day."

Kagome left the ice cream parlor and headed for the book store. She had to pick up something for English lit. Her teacher required that each student bring a copy of the Sound and the Fury and the cliff notes. As she walked into the store a thought struck her that she needed to get Uri a new story book for bedtime. Uri loved books, which pleased Kagome. Kagome grew up loving to read. The first book that Kagome had ever read was Little House on the Prairie. Now she was hooked to them. Uri pulled her mother over to the children's section.

"Can we get this one?" She said after searching through the books and then seeing how big it was. She pulled it out and looked at the cover; the only words that caught her attention were 'fairy tales'. One the front cover there was woman dressed in white with long wavy blond hair. She lay there asleep and to the corner of the picture she could see the back of the prince. She registered this as sleeping beauty.

"Grimm's Complete Fairy Tales? Are you sure that's what you want?" Kagome wondered for a moment if it had every fairy tale. If so then she wouldn't have to run down to the book store every weekend to get a new book for her.

"Yeah, I love fairy tales." The little girl smiled up at her mother.

"Alright then if it's what you want. Mommy needs to go and get a book for school." The little girl gave a nod and followed. Kagome headed for the Literary Fiction section. But before she could make it to the book she needed she saw someone she couldn't stand and she felt a chill run it's hands down her spine. InuYasha's brother had tormented her since they were in middle school. She had transferred to a different school during eighth grade but met up with him again in high school. She had never known InuYasha; it might have been because he and Sesshomaru didn't like the idea of being in the same school. Sometimes she'd run into him in the halls and he'd give her this look that would send her soul on a trip. They had a few classes together; he seemed to be interested in the business world as well. But then he also attended the English honors class that she had after English lit. She held onto Uri's hand and pulled her along to the book shelf, pretending that she hadn't noticed him standing there; she grabbed the book and was about to leave when his voice called to her.

"Higurashi, I'm surprised that you're here purchasing the book." She turned around and gave him a glare which only made him smirk.

"What I do isn't any of your business." She couldn't stand him. He was about 6 inches taller than her, his hair was much like InuYasha's. His hair was the same shade as InuYasha's except that his was much longer and he kept it in a braid. His eyes were more gold than InuYasha's also and his jaw line was more elegantly defined. The only thing that kept her from drooling all over the floor was two things; one she couldn't stand him and two he was not her type.

She could see the differences in them. Sesshomaru was a little older, but not by much. He was in his final year while she still had one more year to finish.

"Look what I got." Uri said to him holding up the book that she had chosen. Uri stepped at a little more from her mother and looked up at Sesshomaru. He raised an eyebrow at Kagome.

"Is this child a relative of yours?" Uri came out a little more when she found that he was talking about her.

"He looks like that guy from the coffee place. He's pretty too mommy?" The little girl said looking up at her mother. Kagome rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"Uri why don't you go pick out a book for your Uncle Souta huh?"

"But I want to stay and talk to the pretty man." She pouted. Kagome gave her a stern look. "Fine but I'm not happy about leaving." She handed Kagome her book and went off to look through the comic books.

"So you're a mother. You must have finally realized that sex isn't what MTV makes it out to be." She continued to glare at him.

"You don't know what you're talking about. I don't have to stand here and be insulted by you; I don't even know what I'm doing here now." She began to walk away when his voice floated over to her.

"Higurashi, don't forget that we have that little story to work on for English honors." She sent him a glare, which only caused him to smirk.

"Whatever just be over tomorrow and we can finish it." She said with difficulty. He knew exactly where she lived because of past school projects. But that was before Yuri died. She didn't have any classes with him her. His response was to turn back to the bookshelf while watching her from the corner of his eye. She and the child went to pay for their books and then left the store. He on the other hand had to meet with his brother for their lunch hour before he went home to start reading over the rough draft of their story.

InuYasha looked up when Sesshomaru approached.

"What took you so long?" InuYasha said this but wasn't looking at Sesshomaru anymore. His attention was on Kagome who was headed for her car. She had just passed their table.

"That girl you're gawking at and I were in the back room of a bookstore doing ungodly things." InuYasha looked from Kagome who was at least ten feet away to his brother. "I was just kidding little brother, no need to get all bent out of shape."

"Hell must have frozen over; you actually have a sense of humor, though it is a sick one."

"I aim to please." He said sarcastically.

"I know that you have a class with her, but how do you know her so well?" Sesshomaru gave his brother a bored look.

"If you must know we went to high school together, and I had the misfortune of working a few projects with her."

"You make it sound like a bad thing."

"You shouldn't involve yourself with her." Sesshomaru warned.

"Why? She's attractive and friendly and she has a little sister who likes me." InuYasha sent his brother a suspicious look.

"That child is her daughter; I don't ever remember seeing the child. But then I stopped all contact with Higurashi in my junior year of high school."

"Her ex-boyfriend Hojo was a friend of mine; he said that she wasn't the same after something happened during their high school days. He wouldn't tell me what but she was really depressed. Did you notice anything?"

"Not really, but then again we were never friends in the first place. The teachers all figured that we both actually knew what we were doing so they always paired us together in our elective classes."

"I'd have to say that you were insane. You have a hot girl alone, and you didn't make a move."

"I don't 'make a move' as you so plainly put it. If I were to ever become interested in a woman then I'd be myself. I don't change for anyone brother."

"So then I can count on you being at home for the next two days?"

"Tonight yes, but tomorrow I have to go to Higurashi's to finish an assignment."

"What? You're going to her house?" He looked surprised by how calm his brother was acting.

"It's not like I haven't been there before."

"Where the hell was I?"

"You my brother were at that private school while I got stuck with all of those stupid people. Higurashi might have been just as miserable there. She got straight As and seemed to not even try."

"So why didn't you ever tell me about her?"

"I didn't think that it mattered much since I don't really know her at all."

"But you've known her for a few years."

"That doesn't mean that we had sleepovers and did each others hair. I got stuck with her as a partner and had to spend hours at her house working on yearbook assignments and nonsense like that. She avoided me for the last two weeks so now I have to venture over to her home tomorrow before I forget about this stupid story."

"What's it about anyway?"

"I haven't really read it, but Higurashi seems to enjoy it. I don't understand her interest in demons and priestesses."

"Is that what it's about?"

"Yes. She said she had a dream then woke up and started to write everything down. She's crazy, well at least I think she is." He looked over his shoulder and saw her and the child reach the car. The child ran to the door while Kagome went to the trunk and placed their items in it. Then the young girl went to Kagome while she was closing the trunk and pulled on her shirt. Kagome bent down to the child's level and then the child began to point to someone. Kagome looked up as someone approached. She automatically pulled him into a hug. The little girl ran to him also, and he picked her up. For some reason the guy looked familiar, but he couldn't place how. InuYasha looked on with a tint of jealousy, but he didn't show it. "That guy looks familiar."

"Who is that guy?" asked InuYasha glaring daggers at the guy who stood talking with Kagome at her car.

"Maybe he's the father of the child." He then heard InuYasha growl a little. He looked over at his brother and couldn't believe how he was acting. He had never seen his brother act so protective over a girl that he didn't even know. He looked back but found that Kagome was entering her car and the guy was walking away.

She couldn't believe that of all people in the world she ran into him. It had been so long since she'd seen Tojin and he seemed a lot better since he'd left for America. Tojin was Yuri's older brother; he had been in America for a few years. He came back once before when he heard that his sister was pregnant. But shortly after her death he returned to America to finish school. He always treated Kagome as his own sister because she helped out their family so much. He finished with his schooling and then moved back down so that he could spend time with his niece. He called Kagome before he left America to explain this to her. After their chat he told her that he'd come by sometime to visit her at the university. But when he'd mentioned that he'd visit her at school he had this look in his eyes as if he were keeping a secret. She was just so happy to see him that she forgot that she was still at the mall. Uri seemed happy to see her uncle, but for some reason Kagome could feel something inside her, like a rise of energy. She ignored it and left the parking lot.

Kagome took Uri to the park so that she could play in the sand box. It would have been simpler if they had just gone home and Uri could have played in her own sandbox, but then she wouldn't get to see her little friends. There were two kids the same age as Uri who were currently both sitting in the sandbox with her. Two young children soon joined in her fun. One was named Milo a short dark haired boy and the other a young girl named Soshi who had dark red hair.

"Hey Kagome, it's nice to see you." Said Kay, Milo's mother.

"Hey I thought that I'd bring her out today because I'm going to have to go back to school in two days."

"It's always nice to see you though; our kids really seem to get along." Said Ty, Sochi's father.

"I'll be around more in another year and a half. Next year is my last year."

"That's good, and then we can start setting up play dates." Said Kay.

"That would be nice."

Uri and Milo were digging holes while Sochi kept filling them up. Soon they grew bored with the sandbox and decided to play tag. Milo chased both the girls around until they both ran in different directions. He looked confused for a moment and then a shower of leaves fell from above him. Sochi and Uri stood on either side of him laughing, he joined in.

They stayed there for about an hour or so and then both parents took their children and left. Uri came over to Kagome and was rubbing her eyes. Kagome lifted the child up and carried her off to the car. She hadn't realized that the sun was slowly setting over the horizon.

"Hey kiddo can you stay awake long enough for your bath?" Uri's eyes were half opened but she gave a nod.

After her bath Kagome tucked in Uri and prepared to read to her.

"Which one would you like me to read?" Kagome asked sitting on the bed with Uri.

"Um..."she looked through the table of contents until her finger landed on 'A Riddling Tale'.

"You do know that this is a riddle right?"

"Yep." The little girl smiled.

"Okay." Kagome turned the pages until she landed on the riddle. "Three women were turned into flowers which grew in a field, but one of them was allowed to be in her own home at night. Then once when day was drawing near, and she was forced to go back to her companions in the field and become a flower again. She said to her husband, 'If you will come this afternoon and gather me I shall be set free and henceforth stay with you.' And he did so. Now the question is, how did her husband know her, for the flowers were exactly alike, and without any difference?" Kagome looked at her daughter to see that she was thinking about it.

"I give up."

"Since she got to stay home at night no dew could fall on her. By this alone her husband was able to find her."

"Wow that was fun mommy."

"Okay young lady, it's time for bed." Uri groaned but crawled underneath her blankets and fell asleep. Kagome exited the room and went to hers. The day had been so long, yet felt as if it had passed on by so fast. Within a year or two Uri would be starting Kindergarten and she would be starting at the computer company. So much would be changing in such a short time. She climbed into bed and allowed the lavender incense in her room to carry her away to dream land with the remembrance that not only did she have practice with her father in the morning but that Sesshomaru was due to arrive at her house sometime in the day.