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A gaggle of small children ran in circles around the playground, smiles brighter than the afternoon sun mixed in with their screams of delight. A few broke away from the crowd, small hands grabbing onto chains before their feet lifted off the ground. Little legs weren't enough to take them higher, but it was enough to keep them going, the swings alternating in a strange game of tag.
Sango looked on fondly from her mat. It really was the best view. Her workout schedule called for yoga today, but the four walls of the house had felt extra confining, so she'd decided to do the stretches outside. It was warm enough that she didn't require additional layers; the loose shorts and tank top covered enough without constricting.
Extending her legs out in front of her, she folded herself in half, took a deep breath, then wrapped her arms around her feet. The muscles on the back of her thighs burned in that oh so familiar way, and she waited until the pain ebbed before releasing the pose.
The children continued to play, oblivious to stress or strife, and she eventually got to her feet, rotating her wrists a few times to loosen the muscles around her shoulders.
"Wow, you look really strong!" a small voice said from behind her.
Sango chuckled, keeping her eyes closed as she lunged forward, toes flexing against the mat for balance. "That's because I practice every day," she replied.
Small feet puttered around her. "If I stretch like that, will I get strong too?" the child asked.
She hummed in agreement. "It's not all about stretching, though. Sometimes you have to run really fast." She switched legs. "And sometimes you have to lift really heavy things."
The child paused, then clapped her hands together. "I have a new baby brother! I could lift him."
Chuckling, Sango finally opened her eyes. "I don't know if your mommy would like that." She turned to the child, blood draining from her face. The little girl stared up at her with innocent, soulful eyes, the top of her short, dark hair tied back into a ribbon that matched her dress.
She giggled, attempting the same pose. "I think I could do it. He can hold his head up now. Mama says that's really important."
Struggling to breathe, Sango sat back down on the mat, placing her feet together and pretending to stretch out her hips. "If he's already doing that, you must both be really strong," she said, heart aching.
The girl flashed her a smile, blue eyes twinkling. "Papa says I'm going to be a superhero when I grow up!" She plopped down onto the ground, brow crinkling in concentration as she tried to copy the pose, but ended up twisting in the wrong direction. "I don't have a cape, though."
Steeling herself, Sango gave her a warm smile. "Not all heroes wear capes." She looked around, then leaned closer and whispered loudly, "Sometimes, our powers are hidden."
The girl's eyes widened in awe before she rolled onto her knees. Looking around as well, she clapped her hands together. "My powers are hidden," she replied. Nothing happened, so she clapped her hands again, and a few pink sparks flew from her fingers. "See?"
Unable to help herself, Sango patted her head. "Your secret is safe with me."
Giggling, the girl did it again, pouting when there weren't as many sparks as before. "Gramps says I have to practice if I want to be a superhero. Superheroes don't practice. They're just awesoming already."
Shaking her head, Sango got onto her knees in front of her. "Do you want to know another secret?" she asked. The girl nodded enthusiastically, hands now clasped in her lap. "Most heroes are born just regular people. I couldn't even lift my brother when I was little, and now I can lift two people at the same time."
Her little mouth fell open, and Sango swore she could see stars in her eyes. "Really?" she asked.
Sango nodded, then flexed her arms, showing off her muscles. "See these? I had to work really hard for these. That's why I'm out here today. I have to practice every day, or they'll disappear." The girl reached out, tracing the lines with her fingers.
"Do you think I'll be awesoming like you someday?"
Sango's smile was genuine, though she was now blinking back tears. "I think you'll be even amazinger."
She erupted into giggles. "That's not a word!"
The ex-slayer flipped the end of her ponytail over her shoulder. "Totally a word." Their gazes met momentarily before they dissolved into more giggles, and she let her tears flow freely.
A few of the children called the girl over, wanting to restart their game, and she jumped to her feet, her bow flapping in the wind. "I'm Kagome, by the way."
"I know." She cocked her head to the side, and Sango shook hers before bowing. "I'm Sango. It's nice to meet you, Kagome-chan." She leaned in again. "Don't worry, I won't give away your secret identity. Even when you become famous." She winked at her, which Kagome tried to reciprocate, but ended up with an emphatic blink instead.
"Keep practicing so you don't lose your muscles!" she called over her shoulder, waving as she returned to her friends.
Sango returned the gesture, then yelled, "Wait! How old are you?"
Kagome stopped, then did a twirl. "I'm five now! See my new dress? I got it for my birthday!" She waved again, then disappeared into the throng of enthusiastic children. Pressing a hand against her heart, Sango took a moment to collect herself, then gathered up her mat and water bottle. She never brought her phone with her on these outings, as she wanted to enjoy the sounds around her, so she hurried back to her bike.
She needed to get home.
"I found her!" she yelled as soon as she crossed the threshold. The door slammed behind her, alerting the other residents to her arrival. Not bothering with her slippers, she ran through the house barefoot, skidding to a stop in the kitchen.
Miroku looked up from his paper, a pair of purple-rimmed glasses perched on the edge of his nose. Even with the advances in technology over the years, he still preferred the feel of the newsprint in his hands.
A frying pan clinked against the stove as Inuyasha flipped a pancake over. Silver hair was piled high on his head, ears twitching without turning around. Glamours were required the moment they stepped out of the house, so they made sure all of their windows were tinted, giving him the freedom to be himself within the walls of their home.
"Found who?" he asked, sliding the pancake onto a plate next to the stove.
"Her," she emphasized, still breathing hard. "Kagome." Both men stilled, the soft sizzling of the frying pan the only sound.
"How long?" Miroku murmured.
"Ten years," she said. She leaned against the doorway, not trusting her legs to carry her all the way to the table. "She just turned five."
Inuyasha clicked the stove off even though he still had a bowl full of batter. "That's better than nothing."
"It'll give us time to prepare." Miroku folded his paper and set it on the table.
"Will we have to sell the house?" Sango asked. They could always build another, but the plot of land they'd chosen gave them a really nice view of the water.
Inuyasha shook his head, placing the plate of pancakes on the table. "Nah, Sesshoumaru already said he'd housesit when the time came." He grabbed the top pancake. "He's always been better at hiding than the rest of us."
The plan had always been to stay in the area until they found her. They couldn't just show up at the shrine, as they didn't want to do anything to upset the timeline. Even the slightest thing could interfere with Kagome falling down the well, and although she was the catalyst for the jewel shattering, she was also the solution.
They needed her.
"So," Miroku said, taking the second pancake for himself, "we aim for another nine years."
Sango nodded, finally slumping into a chair. Adrenaline was still pounding through her veins, but the initial shock of seeing her best friend had begun to wear off. "Just in case." As much as she wanted to befriend Kagome now, they all knew that eventually the Inuyasha from the past would show up in the modern era. If he scented any of them, especially himself, there would be long-lasting consequences.
They would continue with their lives for nine years, and then they would go into hiding. It would be tiresome and frustrating, especially with all the knowledge they had, but they couldn't chance it. The past had to unfold the way it had, or they might not have a future.
"How was she?" Inuyasha asked, handing her a plate.
"Innocent," Sango replied with a smile. "But the same. She wants to be strong like me when she grows up." The men shared her smile, then lapsed into silence as they ate. She was glad they'd caught her early and didn't have to scramble, but now everything felt tight and anxious.
Miroku covered her hand at the same time Inuyasha did, and she blushed. "Am I that obvious?" she asked.
"Only to us," Miroku replied.
"And when you're tryin' not to be," Inuyasha added.
She squeezed them back. As short as it seemed, they still had time. And then they'd be able to reunite with their long-lost companion. Knowing she survived would get them through the lonely years of isolation while Kagome battled it out with Naraku and their past selves.
The countdown had begun.