Sesshoumaru’s Imouto-chan, part 6

Disclaimer:  Inu-Yasha and Ranma 1/2 do not belong to me, nor do any of 
the scenes, characters, etc.  Give credit to the infamous Rumiko 
Takahashi for those wonders. 

====================

*It’s Christmas night, and the house is packed with people.  After an 
afternoon of preparation, a rather large party is ensuing, and wall-to-
wall miniature battles (as usual) rage.  But, largely thanks to special 
wall reinforcements, the house miraculously stays in one piece.  Inu-
Yasha, dressed in his new leather jacket and a loose pair of acid-
washed jeans, finds himself with a few female companions, to 
Kagome’s - and his - dismay.  Kodachi laughs her wild, irritating laugh, 
causing him to wish he had a second bandana over his ears.  He 
attempts to scoot away, but you know Kodachi...  She follows.*

Kodachi:  Ohohohoho!!!  Ranma-darling surely invited you to entertain me, 
knowing he would be busy getting rid of those other hussies...  So 
what is your name, my handsome pirate?

Inu-Yasha:  *ducks around to the other side of the table and serves himself 
some hot cocoa*  Eh... (what does this wench think she is doing?  And 
why won’t she just go away?)

Kodachi:  *Promptly plucks the drink from Inu-Yasha’s hands*  Why, thank 
you!  Such chivalry!

Inu-Yasha:  Oi!  (How did she do that?  I didn’t even see it... then again, I 
was looking for a way out, instead of at her...)  *sighs in defeat*

Kuno:  *passes by*  Sister dear, have you seen the pig-tailed girl?  ... Oh, 
who is your new boyfriend?

Inu-Yasha:  *snaps*  I’m not her boyfriend!

Kodachi:  I haven’t seen her, brother dear, and be nice.  My new darling is 
very shy.

Inu-Yasha: Feh! I’m not shy, either! Oi! Get off me!  *Kodachi has slunk 
beneath his arm.  He tries desperately to push her away, but she 
sticks like glue... not even youkai strength can match the power of 
Kodachi’s insanity.*

Kagome:  *irked*  Hey, get away from Inu-Yasha!

Kodachi:  *looks up*  Oh?  And you are...?

Kagome:  *seethes at Kodachi’s arrogant tone* I’m Kagome, and Inu-Yasha 
came here with ~me~!

Kodachi:  *Waves Kagome off and turns to Inu-Yasha* I’m sorry you had to 
come in the company of such a hussy, darling.  But now you can leave 
with me...

Inu-Yasha: *simultaneously disgusted and angered* Feh! I’m not going 
anywhere with you!  And don’t you call Kagome-

Kodachi: Don’t tell me you like that thing!  Has she laid a spell on you?

Akane:  *Before either Inu-Yasha or Kagome can cream the Black Rose*  
Kodachi!  The invitation said that you could come ~only~ if you didn’t 
cause trouble!  Don’t make me get Nabiki to bring out her ledger!  
*Kodachi gulps and disappears, and everyone breathes a sigh of relief*  

Kagome: Arigato, Akane-chan.

Akane:  *waves thanks off*  It’s nothing.  She gets on my nerves, too.

Inu-Yasha:  *quietly to Kagome, as Akane walks off*  Can’t I just kill her a 
~little~, if she shows up again?  

Kagome:  *Shakes her head*  Remember the rules, Inu-Yasha.  The minute 
you cause undo trouble, you go home.  *he sighs regretfully.*  
(Although, ~I~ might just do a little throttling myself...)

*Eventually, Inu-Yasha, Kagome, Ranma, and Akane all end up on the roof, 
in a group effort to get away from... well, everyone else.  Akane has 
bribed Nabiki into making sure no one finds them.  The sky is clear, 
and the air cold yet fresh.  They watch in comfortable silence as the 
stars meander by in their yearly circle.  The boisterous noise below is 
muffled by the thick roof; cats and dogs yowl and bay to the moon, 
but still the effect of quiet is achieved.*

Kagome: *with a contented sigh*  This is much better than a party.

Inu-Yasha:  *nods* hai.  Not nearly so loud.  *touches absently his 
bandana*

Ranma:  And no annoying people trying to kill me.

Akane:  And no one trying to flirt, either.

Inu-Yasha:  Who was that wench, anyway?  The crazy one that-

Ranma:  Crazy?  That would be Kodachi.  Her older brother is Kuno.  
Kodachi is in love with me, and Kuno is nuts over my female half.  
Neither have caught on that I’m the same person. *He grimaces*  
Although both have seen me change several times.

Inu-Yasha: I didn’t think such stupidity existed.  *everyone else grins in 
agreement*  

Ranma:  That’s not even the least of it.  Their old man is the Principal.  
You’d hate him, too.

Kagome: Wow, I didn’t know everything was ~this~ nuts in Nerima... 
Makes my life almost... well, normal.

Inu-Yasha: ... 

*The night wears on, and as it approaches midnight, people begin to leave.  
The gang goes in through Ranma’s window to avoid being found by 
roof-hoppers.  They do, however, find Cologne sitting by the door.*

Ranma:  Hey, what’s the mummy doing here?

Cologne:  *eye twitches a little, and she thwacks Ranma over the head with 
her cane*  Have more respect for your elders, Son-in-law!

Akane: *cautiously polite* So, what are you doing in here, Cologne-san?  
The party’s over.

Cologne:  Why, I’ve come to speak to my prospective son-in-law, of course.

Ranma:  What, I’m only a prospect now!  *silently cheers*  That means 
you’ll leave me alone if I say no, right?

Cologne: *grins her mysterious grin*  Not likely.  *Ranma sighs in 
disappointment*  But I didn’t come to talk to you.

Ranma:  Huh?  But you just said...

Cologne:  I came to talk to ~him~.  *points at Inu-Yasha*

Inu-Yasha:  Eh?

*five minutes later, everyone is sitting around the downstairs table.  Well, 
everyone minus Soun and Genma and Happosai, all of whom decided 
to go sleep off their drunken stupor instead of sit around and listen to 
the young people talk.  Kasumi is in the kitchen, making tea, as 
Nabiki, Ranma, Inu-Yasha, Kagome, and Akane wait for Cologne to 
start talking.  She says nothing until Kasumi brings in the tea and 
serves everyone, before taking a seat at the other end of the table*

Cologne:  *To Kasumi*  Thank you, child.  *sips tea*

Kasumi: *smiles vaguely*  You’re welcome, grandmother.

Inu-Yasha: *bored, sits with his head resting on one hand, elbow on the 
table* So are you going to tell us what you’re talking about, baba?

Cologne:  Perhaps.  *grins as everyone facefaults*  I’m only kidding.  
*sighs*  Nabiki-chan, you have your Amazon law-book with you, do 
you not?  *Nabiki nods and holds up the touristy pamphlet, which lists 
the laws of the Amazon tribe*  Would you read law 102?

Nabiki: *reads*  In event that an outsider male defeats an Amazon woman, 
she must bestow upon him the kiss of marriage.  

Cologne:  And now the next two corollaries.

Nabiki: *reads*  If two men defeat an Amazon women, they must challenge 
each other to a duel.  The winner then receives the Kiss of Marriage; 
the loser either receives the Kiss of Death, or, if another Amazon 
desires him, she may challenge him.  If he wins, she must give him 
the Kiss of Marriage.  *she takes a deep breath* Next law:  In event of 
magic or other nonstandard circumstances, an elder of the tribe may 
decide what course to take.  *she pauses, then rereads the line*  
Awfully vague, isn’t it?

Cologne:  *Nods wisely*  Would you have us print tribal secrets for the 
world to read?  *Nabiki “oh”s softly*  In any case, this seems to be the 
circumstance.  Being the only tribal elder present, that leaves the 
decision up to me.

Inu-Yasha:  *still affecting boredom, although his ears have perked into 
alertness as Nabiki read*  So what does this have to do with me?

Cologne:  *a little harshly*  I assume your memory can recall yesterday?

Inu-Yasha:  *scowls at her tone, replies caustically*  Hai, ~baba~.

Cologne: *narrows eyes*  (So, he’s a proud one, isn’t he?)  Well, then you 
must remember a lovely purple-haired young woman.  I understand 
you defeated her.

Inu-Yasha:  *suddenly catching on*  Defeat nothing!  She was threatening 
Kagome, is all!  

Cologne: *slightly dangerously, levels her cane at Kagome* Is she your 
mate, then, youkai?

Inu-Yasha:  *backpedals, waving hands in reflexive denial*  Eh... Feh!  Like 
I’d ever take that wench as a mate!  I just need her to find the Shikon 
shards!

Kagome:  *growls*  Inu-Yasha!  SIT!!!  

*THUD*

*Growl*

*cursing*

*more SITs*

*THUDTHUDTHUDTHUDTHUD*

“Oh my!”

Cologne:  *Small eye-twitch*  SILENCE!!!  *shocked silence ensues, then 
she clears her throat.*  Thank you.  Then you would have no objection 
to following the Amazonian law, now would you?

Inu-Yasha:  *painfully sitting up, scowls*  Feh.  No way, baba.

Cologne:  *raises eyebrow*  Why not?

Inu-Yasha:  *risks a glance at Kagome from the corner of his eye*  I- don’t 
feel like it.

Cologne:  (It seems, although he denies it, that he has already formed a 
strong attachment to the girl.  But it might just be arrogance...  
Anyway, I have yet to establish just how good he is.)  *smoothly*  
Well, we can argue over that later.  *Inu-Yasha breathes a sigh of 
relief*  In the meantime, what proof do you offer that you are youkai?

Inu-Yasha:  *taken aback*  Eh? (Well, I suppose that girl must have told 
her about that...)  Well, my father was youkai.

Cologne:  Can you prove it?

Inu-Yasha:  Why should I prove anything to you?  *Kagome rolls her eyes 
and plucks Inu-Yasha’s bandana off his head*  Kagome!

Kagome:  *mutters to him*  If she doesn’t believe you, she might just do 
something dangerous, like make you fight Ranma.  *Inu-Yasha rolls 
his eyes and mutters under his breath*

Cologne: Thank you, child.  Unfortunately, though, appearances alone are 
not proof enough of heritage.  Do you assume any particular battle 
form?

Inu-Yasha: *cockily* Yeah. Myself.  What more I need?

Cologne: In other words, no.  I suppose that comes from being hanyou.  
*Inu-Yasha glares murderously at her upon that last word, so she 
hurries on*  However, there is another test that I could perform...

Kagome: What sort of test?

Cologne:  It requires a few scant drops of blood-

Inu-Yasha: No.  *stands up*  Come on, Kagome, it’s time for bed.

Kagome: *blushes angrily at this*  And since ~when~ do you tell me when 
to go to bed, Inu-Yasha?  

Inu-Yasha: It’s for your own good, wench.  You’re an idiot when you’re 
tired.

Kagome: Inu-Yasha, SIT!!! 

*Thud*

Kagome: *turning back to Cologne* You were saying, Cologne-san?

Cologne: I need only a few drops of blood.  With such, I could easily divine 
Inu-Yasha’s heritage.

Ranma:  And whatcha need to know that for, anyway, mummy?

Cologne: *whacking him in the head for call her such with her pogo-staff* 
For the record, of course, prospective son-in-law.

Inu-Yasha: No.  *He sits sulkily, staring defiantly at Cologne.  She stares 
back at him.  He stares at her.  She stares at him.  He stares at her.  
She stares at him.  He stares at her.  She stares at him...*

Akane: *Whispers to Ranma*  How long can they do that for?

Nabiki: *leaning over the table towards the others and taking out her 
ledger*  Odds, anyone?

Ryouga:  *appearing from nowhere*  ¥1000 on the dog-boy.

Kuno: *also appearing from nowhere*  ¥10000 on the mummy.

Nabiki: *takes the money* Right.

*Meanwhile, Inu-Yasha stares at Cologne.  She stares back at him.  He 
stares at her.  She stares at him.  He stares at her.  She stares at 
him...*

*Eventually, the clock strikes midnight, and Kagome gets tired of waiting.  
So she leans her face on one hand, elbow on the table, other arm 
tugging gently on one of Inu-Yasha’s ears.*

Kagome: Inu-Yasha, cut it out and just let her take her samples.  You’ve 
been hurt enough times before, I’d think you wouldn’t be so afraid of 
just a couple of drops of-

Inu-Yasha: *leaps away from Kagome and scowls at her*  Afraid?!?  Who 
said I’m afraid? *Cologne smiles happily, knowing she’s won, then 
wipes the expression from her face as Inu-Yasha turns to her*  How 
much do you need, baba?

Cologne: *frowns at Inu-Yasha’s language, but otherwise ignores it*  Not 
much.  Just enough to half-fill a thimble.  *So Inu-Yasha grabs a 
thimble (from poor Kasumi, who must put down her mending to find a 
new one) and pricks his own finger, letting just enough blood spill to 
fill the thimble.*

Inu-Yasha: *brandishing thimble*  The extra is so that, when you mess up, 
you don’t bother me with more “tests.”  *Cologne refuses the bait, and 
accepts the thimble*

Cologne: Thank you.  I shall return shortly with results.  *She collects 
Shampoo and heads out the door into the cool of the night.  The 
streets seem unusually dark and empty, despite the dusky light from 
the occasional street light, in that time between the end of all sane 
parties and the drunken sluggishness of the till-dawn ruckuses.  And 
even the noise from those parties still in full swing seems muted from 
the black river of tar that winds through the city.  Shampoo, despite 
years of slamming even the toughest opponents (besides Ranma and 
co.) into the ground, finds a shiver trace through her spine at the 
oppressive night.  She places a hand on the handle of her bonbouri.*

Shampoo: [Great-grandmother...]  *She tries to find the words for her 
uneasiness, but fails*

Cologne: *merely nods* [I know, child.  It has been the same the last 
several nights, when all sleep like death knocks at their doors.  It will 
dissipate in the hour before the sun.  Fear not, for it is merely a 
warning of an approaching climax.]

Shampoo:  [An... approaching climax?]

Cologne: *nods sagely* [Once in every great while, the world approaches a 
decision which will change the fate of the planet as a whole.  There is 
something great afoot, something which I fear may involve that boy 
who claims to be youkai.  And worse, perhaps - it will, most likely, 
draw in everyone near to him, you and I included.  Be prepared, 
Great-granddaughter; you are about to witness history, no, legends, in 
the making.]  *Shampoo feels a spear of ice graze her spine, and 
shivers, though a dragon of excitement crawls in her belly.*

Shampoo: *eagerly* [Great-grandmother, will I play a part?]

Cologne: *rebuking* [Do not be so eager, child - legends rarely have happy 
endings for those involved.]

Shampoo: *still a little excited, but in a subdued tone* [Yes, great-
grandmother.]

Cologne: ([I hope, for your sake, child, that you take no part in the 
approaching struggle.  But, as with all youth, you will not realize until 
too late what you seek to rush into - I do not wish to lose you yet, 
child of my daughter’s daughter.])  *she sighs, the sigh of wisdom 
acknowledging the recklessness of youth.  Soon, the Cat Café comes 
into view, and the two women enter, one old, one perilously young.*

*Back at the Tendo’s*

*Inu-Yasha refuses to talk to Kagome, realizing he’s been tricked, and so 
sits in a corner like a rebuked child, much to everyone else’s 
amusement.  Kagome giggles a bit with Akane over things that are 
only humorous in night-gone-morning, and Ranma sits, half-dozing, 
with one cheek in his hand.  Nabiki exchanges glances with Kasumi, 
then stands up*

Nabiki: Well, that was amusing enough.  I’m going to bed.

Kasumi: Excellent idea, Nabiki-chan.  I shall retire, too. *also stands up*

Ranma:  *stirs a little* Uhn?  *yawns* Oh, well, guess I’ll make Pop scoot 
over some.  Ya wanna come, Inu-Yasha?  *Inu-Yasha throws one last 
dirty look at Kagome before silently getting up and preceding Ranma 
up the stairs.  Both Akane and Kagome giggle, semi-drunk by the 
hour, then reel slowly upstairs after the boys.  And so, as Akane flips 
off the light, the table sits alone in the darkness, finally allowed a 
respite from the abuse it suffers daily.  To a table, an “oppressive 
silence” means merely some peace.*

*Mid-morning the next day*

*Kasumi wanders around downstairs, absently picking up the trash left over 
from the night before.  Only she and Inu-Yasha are awake at the 
moment, the other members of the household still sleeping off their 
late night.  Inu-Yasha sits at the table, brooding, as Kasumi calmly 
retrieves trash from all around him, even plucking an abandoned cup 
from his fidgeting claws.  He merely sighs and starts absently plucking 
at the edge of the cushion he sits on, still in deep thought.  Finally, 
Kasumi finishes cleaning the house, and sits down, at a comfortable 
distance, beside Inu-Yasha.*

Kasumi: Is something bothering you, Inu-Yasha-san?

Inu-Yasha: Iie.  Nothing.

Kasumi: Oh, all right.  *pours some tea (plucked from hammerspace) into 
two cups (also plucked from hammerspace), then hands one to Inu-
Yasha, who sips at the hot liquid absently.  The two sit without words 
for a few long moments*

Inu-Yasha: *suddenly* Why does it matter who my parents were?  I mean, 
I’m not them, am I?  So why does she need to know?  That old crone 
has no business prying into my life.  I ought to have just cast her out 
like an old rag.  I would have, too, but Kagome-  *he blushes a deep 
red, realizing what he just said.  He sneaks a glance at Kasumi, but 
she merely makes an absent “mmm-hmm” as she sips at her tea, 
neither judging nor offering advise, merely listening.  He takes another 
few sips of tea before continuing*  Kagome said she’d send me home if 
I was rude.  But there’s nothing for me there.  And worse, Sesshomaru 
is probably waiting to make my life miserable...  He-he’s my brother, 
my half-brother, I mean.  He cursed me; made me a girl.  *pauses, 
glancing at Kasumi again, wondering if he’s offended her, but she just 
pours some more tea into his cup, making that acknowledging hum 
again*  Well, I mean, there’s nothing wrong with girls, or at least with 
women... (Kagome would make a horrible man) but I’m not one.  And 
then, he- he just- the *****! *One hand clenches into a fist so tight 
that a trickle of blood runs down Inu-Yasha’s wrist.  Embarrassed, he 
opens the fist and wipes the blood off from the wound where his own 
claw dug into the palm of his hand.  Slightly subdued, he takes 
another sip of tea and continues.*  It’s not fair.  The ***** gets 
everything, I mean everything, of father’s, just because ~his~ mother 
was youkai, too, and he’s never had to ~struggle~ to be strong.  
Father left ~me~ an inheritance, too - but all I’ve ever gotten of it was 
the Tetsusaiga. And that because Sesshoumaru just can’t touch it!  
He’s taken everything from me - everything.  And I can’t offer Kagome 
anything now... *His voice wanes a little, rising in pitch until it sounds 
like a beaten puppy’s whimper, and then waxes again when anger 
coats his voice into a rasping bark.  Some inside part of his tries to 
stop himself, but the words, once started, refuse to stop.  Kasumi, for 
her part, remains cat-silent, both aloof and ~there~, letting Inu-Yasha 
speak* I ought to be able to buy her anything... Wrap her in silk 
kimonos, cover her walls in exotic artwork, give her anything she ever 
wanted - I can’t even afford to get her dumb ~cat~ a gift!  I should be 
a lord by right; all I really am is some glorified peasant-boy, rolled in 
dirt and covered with scars!  I- I don’t know why she stays...  All she 
came for was the Shikon shards... but she doesn’t need them.  And 
even without her, even though lots of people would get hurt, they’d 
get hurt in the wars, anyway.  So why doesn’t she leave? I know she 
sees some boy called “Hojo” when she goes home, but she doesn’t like 
him.  *A questioning note drives away both the bark and the whimper 
for a bit, as things he’s wondered surface*  And he’s got more than I 
do, I ~know~ that.  But her face doesn’t shine when she says his 
name.  She doesn’t really love him.  Does she spend time with him out 
of pity?  Perhaps he’s ill... I think her little brother mentioned illness 
once with his name.  She’d do that, too.   It seems like she cares 
about everyone.  Even the people that don’t deserve it.  Is that why 
she stays with me?  *a little tone of despair creeps into his voice, and 
Kasumi, for the first time, speaks*

Kasumi:  Kagome-chan has always been a very sweet girl.  But something 
about her - she refuses to stay with people who have a bad heart.  She 
can sense such things, somehow.  When she was little, she always 
seemed to know which “strangers” she could talk to, although that 
judgment faded as she grew up.  But she always seems able to find 
the good in a person, no matter how old she gets. So if she stays with 
someone, it’s because she thinks that person is worth staying with, 
because their good is greater than their bad.  *Inu-Yasha, though 
startled at first by Kasumi’s voice, listens carefully.  Her words soothe 
him, soothe some fear that had started to roil him inside.  A weight he 
didn’t know he had also disappeared, easing his heart.*

Inu-Yasha: (So I guess... If Kagome is willing to stay with me, I guess I 
can’t be evil.  I’ll never be like Sesshoumaru!)  *a smile of relief 
crosses his lips, and he finishes his tea, then stands up, and - 
hesitates a little, before doing something he hasn’t done for a stranger 
in a long time.*  Arigato, Kasumi-san.  *He goes outside to do some 
morning exercises, awaiting everyone else’s waking up.  Inside, 
Kasumi takes two cups into the kitchen for cleaning, smiling a little at 
Inu-Yasha’s happiness.  A small black tape, of Nabiki origin, disappears 
into her apron pocket, to be added to an ever-growing pile of “important 
conversations not for blackmail” somewhere in the safe confines of 
Kasumi’s room.*