Unexpected Match by LadyDaniTar

Dilemma

“So, what you’re telling me is that I can’t adopt Shippou because I’m human?”

The official from Demon Child Welfare squirmed in her seat under the priestess’s intense stare. Clearing her throat, the bird demon replied, “Yes and no, Miss Higurashi.” She took a sip of her tea before continuing. “It’s your mortal lifespan that poses the problem. Fostering him for a short time is one thing, but adoption means Shippou would eventually be placed back into the system after your passing.”

The harsh reality hit Kagome like a punch to the gut. She hadn’t considered this outcome before, and now it hung in the air, thick and suffocating like smog. Tempering her anger, she asked, “Is there no other option? Either keep him for two, three years tops before he’s sent back to the group home, or just take him away now and hope a set of demon parents want to adopt him?”

“Well, there is another possible solution.” The demoness seemed hesitant, but the look of desperation in Kagome’s eyes broke her resolve. “If you were to take a mate—not marry—a full-blooded demon, then yes, you could adopt the kit.”

An extended life meant she and Shippou could stay together. But the only way to achieve that was to find a demon powerful enough to tame her holy lineage. Easier said than done.

With a heavy sigh, Kagome stood and escorted the official to the door. “Thank you for your honesty. I will think about finding a mate.”

Shutting the door, she slid down to the floor, covering her face with her hands. Kagome thought back to the day she met Shippou while volunteering at a children's shelter. His red hair was a matted mess, dirt smeared all over his face and clothes, and he didn’t even have a pair of shoes. After asking around, Kagome learned that he had been living there for about three years after a tragic accident took his parents’ lives. Being so small, Shippou was constantly the target of bullies and struggled to make friends. But the moment he looked up at her with his big green eyes, she was done for. That day, she fast-tracked the foster process using her teaching records and took him home. Being a teacher and having passed so many background checks already was a huge perk.

That had been almost a year ago, and now Kagome wished to adopt Shippou properly. Unfortunately, she hadn’t foreseen her humanity as an issue until now.

Looking up at the clock on the wall, she noted that Shippou would be back from his playdate in an hour. Getting up, Kagome began to prepare dinner. Tomorrow she would worry about finding a ‘mate’; tonight she just wanted to enjoy hearing about her son’s day.