"Family" Dinner
“Where is Kagome!” Shippo cried for the millionth time in three days. Ever since he woke up and found only Sango by his side, attempting to fix the Hirakotsu, he has not stopped crying for Kagome. “What if they’re eaten by big, scary youkai?”

“They won’t, Shippo.” Sango sighed. Without even Kirara to keep her company, she’s close to being driven to insanity by the kitsune’s constant complains. Three days are almost up, if the crew doesn’t return by tonight, then the portal will be closed.

“Don’t worry, Shippo-chan, Sesshomaru-sama is with them.” Rin patted Shippo’s head. She took a whiff of a daisy she picked earlier that morning. “Sesshomaru-sama is big and strong, and he won’t let anything happen to the nice onee-san.”

But this only made Shippo cry more. “But what if Sesshomaru decides to kill Inuyasha and Kagome?”

“Why would Sesshomaru-sama do that?” Rin asked innocently.

Before Shippo can reply, Sango cut in and asked a question that she’s been holding back for three days. “Rin-chan, how come Sesshomaru allows you to travel with him?”

Rin blinked her big, childish eyes. “Because Sesshomaru-sama is nice!”

Okay… so that doesn’t help. Sango sighed again. The damage on the Hiraikotsu is beyond her ability to repair. Not that she hasn’t tried. She remembers Sesshomaru’s promise to fix it for her when he returns, but judging from their history together, there won’t be much chance of that. Rin ran around Kaede’s hut while Shippo cried louder and louder. How long is this going to last?!?

“Damn it, Shippo, stop crying,” Inuyasha’s annoying voice came through the door, behind him followed Kagome. “I can hear you all the way from the forest.” The rest of the crew were waiting outside, the hut was too small to fit all of them.

“Kagome!!!” Shippo dived into Kagome’s arm as soon as she entered. “You’re still here!!! You didn’t get eaten!!!”

“Shippo-chan, of course I’m still alive.” Sango ran to Kagome as well. “Sango-chan, we’re back… and Miroku is outside with Kirara.” Kagome winked at her.

“Why would I want to see that bouzo?” Sango crossed her arms, “The last three days were the most peaceful days I’ve had ever since I met that guy.” But she walked out anyway, “I’m just going out to see Kirara.”

Kagome giggled. Shippo began to blab away about how much he’s missed her. But Kagome’s attention was directed at Rin, who’s now standing next to Inuyasha, looking up as if Inuyasha was a statue.

“You’re tall,” Rin exclaimed, “Just like Sesshomaru-sama!”

Inuyasha looked down, “Oi, Kagome, isn’t this the runt that always follows Sesshomaru around?”

“Inuyasha, be polite!” Kagome bent down to speak with Rin. She heard the whole story of Sesshomaru’s involvement from Miroku on their way out. “Konnichiwa, my name is Higurashi Kagome. You are Rin, right?”

Rin gave Kagome a big smile and nodded. “Is Sesshomaru-sama back yet?”

“Un huh.” Kagome smiled back, “he’s right outside.”

Rin cheered happily and ran out immediately. “Sesshomaru-sama” Kagome can hear her calling out in joy. She led Inuyasha and Shippo out to reunite with everyone, the whole time Shippo did not stop talking.

Inuyasha went to Kirara to help Kaede down. Before they returned, they already woke up the two young miko and Jaken sent them home, on Sesshomaru’s orders. Kaede woke as well, but was still having difficulty with her movements. After Inuyasha carried her back into her hut, and allowed her to fall into slumber, he came out once again.

“Sango-chan, look what I bought you.” Miroku unloaded the treasure he grabbed and untied it. He showed Sango two pink coral earrings. “They’re made from the best coral reefs in Western Japan, perfect for you, and matches your name perfectly.” Miroku smiled widely.

“How does he know where those are from?” Kagome whispered to Inuyasha, the hanyou simply smirked.

Sango blushed like a ripe tomato. Shakily she took the earrings. “May I help you put them on?” Miroku offered with a charming smile. When Sango didn’t refuse, Miroku took the earrings and gently placed them into Sango’s ears. Then, to nobody’s surprise, he moved his hands down south again, and this time, Sango was pissed off enough to ram his head toward the ground, the Houshi fainted from both exhaustion and Sango’s attack.

“Stupid bouzo.” Sango cursed, still blushing, she ran to stand next to Kirara.

Miroku’s pathetic attempt to impress Sango reminded Inuyasha and Sesshomaru their own gifts. Inuyasha took out the box with Kagome’s jewels and handed it to her roughly.

“Here, Kagome.” Kagome squealed in delight. She opened the box and showed them to Sango, who replied with awe. Haruko, who didn’t see the jewels before, joined them and gasped in envy.

“Kagome-chan, where did you guys get all of this stuff?” Sango surveyed Miroku’s treasures that are spread out on the ground.

“Oh, Sango-chan, we have so much to tell you!” Kagome grabbed Sango and Haruko and the three girls and Shippo set down their weapons and started out for a walk along the river.

“Rin.” At the mention of her name the little girl stood up straight and looked at Sesshomaru eagerly. “Here.” Sesshomaru handed Rin the roll of silk he took from his treasure stack. The little girl touched it with shaking fingers, as if she has never seen anything so beautiful and delicate.

“Demo, Sesshomaru-sama,” Rin’s eyes suddenly saddened, “I don’t know how to make a kimono out of it.”

Sesshomaru realized the problem as well, for neither he nor Jaken can sew either. He saw the sad look in Rin’s eyes, and so, pushing out all his dignity, he turned to Inuyasha, and asked him for a favor for the first time in their entire lives.

“Can your miko sew a kimono for Rin?” Inuyasha cocked his eyebrow toward Sesshomaru. Something is definitely not right with his brother. Although Sesshomaru turned his back toward him, and his tone remained high and mighty, Inuyasha knew that this moment was killing him.

But since Sesshomaru helped them out earlier that day, Inuyasha decided not to torment him…yet. “Eh... Kagome can’t sew, neither can Sango, and Kaede-baba is injured. So…”

“What about the new one?” Sesshomaru turned half-way, sounding somewhat desperate.

“Haruko?” Inuyasha crossed his arms. “I don’t know, gotta ask her when she comes back.” He stepped on Miroku, “Oi, Miroku, wake up.” When Miroku didn’t stir, Inuyasha grabbed the Houshi by the collar and lifted the Houshi up with one hand. Without looking back at his brother, Inuyasha lifted Miroku into the hut, and then came back out to clean up the treasures that were lying on the floor.

“Sesshomaru-sama, what will we eat for dinner?” Rin tugged on Sesshomaru’s sleeve, since Haruko cut off the other one. She saw the expression on Sesshomaru’s face when he asked the inu-oniisan for someone to sew the kimono, so she decided to take his mind off of it for the moment. Her eyes lingered on the cloth for another second, it’s really beautiful, she has never worn anything that look and felt so perfect.

Sesshomaru looked at Rin’s little face again. Obviously the youkai exterminator cleaned her up during her stay here. Rin’s usually dirty little face is now clean and brimming with energy.

“Sango’s a good cook.” Inuyasha suddenly spoke up. He lifted up the treasures and was about to go back into Kaede’s hut. Why the hell am I being nice to my bastard of a brother? Shit, I’m getting soft.

“Can we stay here then, Sesshomaru-sama,” Rin squealed happily, “can we, can we?”

Sesshomaru stood still for a long time. I’m only staying for Rin. He put on a more disdain face than before, trying to show that he’s not very into the idea. And this will make it easy for Jaken to find us. And with that, he nodded. Rin danced happily around him, singing incoherently.

Inuyasha raised an eyebrow at the little girl’s craziness, but couldn’t help but smile.

“Usoo!!!” The guys heard Sango’s exclamation. But they knew the girls were back from their smell. “Oh kami-sama, you mean I missed all those adventures?!?”

Kagome giggled at Sango’s disappointed face. Haruko also allowed herself to laugh a little as well. Well, if I’m gonna spend the next two months with them, might as well loosen up a little. Haruko thought to herself, relaxing a little bit more. And what a life these people have! In just a few days, I’ve had more adventure in my entire life!

“Oi, hurry up, Kagome, Sango, go make dinner. I’m starving!” Inuyasha quickly put them to work as they came back from the riverbank.

“You can’t boss Kagome like that after such an exhausting day she just had.” Shippo jumped in to defend his favorite guardian. “Why don’t you go…”

Before Shippo can start, Inuyasha punched the poor kitsune’s head. But with his own injured arm, Inuyasha flinched a little bit, just enough for Kagome to notice.

“I’m not cooking, Inuyasha,” Inuyasha stared at Kagome, surprised at her direct defiance of his “orders”. And even more to his surprise, Kagome grabbed his arm and started for the hut. “I’m going to bandage you up.” Like a prayer answered by Kami-sama himself, Inuyasha didn’t protest, instead he just followed Kagome obediently. Sango giggled, “Guess I’ll go work on the dinner.” She said to the rest of the people/youkai. Rin chased after Sango, “I’ll go with you, Sango-oneesan!”

With everyone gone except Haruko, Sesshomaru decided to suppress his dignity once more and ask her. Although he already knows that he’s not exactly her favorite person in the word.

“You,” Haruko turned to look at him, and also to give him the evil eye for not calling her by her name. “Can you sew?” Sesshomaru’s voice of indifference and the question both irritated and surprised the miko-in-training. Taking it as another chance to show off her skills, Haruko nodded proudly.

Sesshomaru let out a small sigh. He didn’t attempt to walk to Haruko, just lifted up the silk. “Can you make a kimono using this?”

Now this triggered Haruko’s curiosity. “For you?” She raised an eyebrow. Though the answer was obvious, she thought it’d be funny to see the youkai’s reaction.

Sesshomaru isn’t stupid either. As soon as he detected the sarcasm in her voice, he growled and tucked away the material without a word. But before he turned to walk away, Haruko stopped him.

“Matte,” whatever made her stop him, she’s not sure. Just earlier that day, she thought she hated him with all his heart, hated him for being a full-blood youkai with a hanyou borther; hated him for being Lord of the Western Lands and not doing anything for the human and hanyou under his control; hated him like how she hated the youkai that hanged her father. But now, Sesshomaru intrigued her. Haruko can’t explain it either, but his care for the human girl Rin can certainly be categorized as love. And Haruko remembered something her mother said to her while she was little. That evil spirits can’t love, and those who love are not evil. “I… I need to measure her first.”

For a short while, the youkai and miko stared at each other, with newly found respect and insuppressible curiosity. “I’ll get Rin.” Sesshomaru finally broke the ice. And with that expressionless face, he turned and sought out Rin by her smell. And with it, smelled Sango’s delicious cooking.

~~~~~*****~~~~~

A few moths ago, when Inuyasha heard from Kagome about how her family always ate together, he yelped in surprise, and imagined how horrible it would be if he and Sesshomaru sat across from each other for a meal. But now, a few months later, it came true. Damn, this is weird.

Kaede’s hut has become way too small for such a big crowd, so everyone gathered outside sitting around a fire. After Kagome bandaged Inuyasha, she did the same with Kaede and helped the old miko go to sleep, while Shippo complained a lot for the lack of attention. Miroku eventually woke up, with bruises all over his face, and a huge bump on his head. He requested Kagome to put something on those bruises, but fearing his touch, Kagome rejected. Kagome also wanted to offer Sesshomaru some herbs for his wounds, but by the time she asked, he has already healed. Sango worked tirelessly in the kitchen, to cook dinner for an unusually large group of people. It was like life back in the village again. And all the while, Haruko got most of the stares when she was measuring Rin, most of the stares came from Sesshomaru.

“Can you stop?” A few times Haruko caught Sesshomaru from the side of her eye, and requested him to look somewhere else. Sesshomaru said nothing to her accusation, and ventured out a few times, only to come back moments later, with the same old expression and the same old stare.

By the time dinner started, Haruko has already managed to cut up the parts needed for the main kimono. The obi wouldn’t be hard to make, and the sewing can be done in merely days if there are no distractions.

But dinner was quiet due to the awkwardness of Sesshomaru’s presence. Although he tried to sit as far away as possible from everyone, no one dared to say anything.

Seeing how dinner is just as boring as algebra class, Kagome’s thoughts began to wonder, and after a few minutes of thinking, she almost dropped her plate when she yelled: “Oh no! My midterm starts the day after tomorrow!”

Everyone turned to look. Haruko and Sesshomaru were the truly confused ones. Inuyasha couldn’t help but laugh at Kagome. “Baka, it took you this long to realize it?”

“Osouwari!” Kagome yelled. Inuyasha held his bowl high up in the air when the rest of his body slammed into the ground.

“Damn it, wench, why did you do that?!” He growled angrily.

“You mean you knew and you didn’t remind me!?!” Kagome is now on fire. “If I fail, Inuyasha, I promise you I’ll say the ‘word’ three days straight!!!”

Inuyasha shuddered at the thought, while everyone else except for Sesshomaru laughed. “Oh, alright, alright, Kagome, I’ll take you back first thing tomorrow morning.”

“I can go back by myself.” Kagome set down her bowl and crossed her arms in dignity.

Inuyasha finally managed to pull himself up. He walked over to Kagome and said. “Tomorrow night is the new moon, Kagome, I’ll stay over in your time.”

Everyone heard him loud and clear, including Sesshomaru. They all went “ah” in acknowledgement. “So, little brother, the new moon.”

Oh crap! Inuyasha cursed at himself for being so careless. None of his enemies were suppose to know about the time when he turns full human. Even if Sesshomaru was sitting down with them for one meal doesn’t change the fact they tried to kill each other before. If Sesshomaru decides to attack on a new moon, then they’re all doomed.

Inuyasha extracted his claws, “What about it, Sesshomaru?”

“Nothing,” Sesshomaru continued to eat, “looks like some things will never change.”

“What do you mean?” Inuyasha hissed. “Don’t think you can use that new found knowledge against me.”

“New found?” Sesshomaru asked rhetorically. “I thought your suppressed memories came back today? Then how can you not remember that I know about what the new moon would do to you.”

Well, that’s certainly a shocker. “Wha…you… knew?” Inuyasha’s jaw dropped. His threatening tone changed into a confused one.

“I’m not surprised,” Miroku whispered to Sango, “how can he not know, they are brothers after all.” Sango nodded in agreement while Inuyasha turned to stare at them.

Inuyasha retracted his long claws and sat back down, scratching his head. “Then how come you never tried to kill me when I’m full human?”

Sesshomaru said with apathy, “there would be no honor in that.”

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