Of Claws And Fangs
Episode 2
Keikan crept stealthily up behind the ningen female. Her dark hair cascading down her back she was totally involved with what ever she was doing. With the cunning his father and uncle had taught him he grabbed the female and pulled him to his chest. "Got cha, Neesan." He laughed into her ear softly.
Rin slapped at the clawed hands holding her. "Let me go, Keikan." As he released her she turned to see her little brother. He and his twin looked so much like their father, yet the emerald eyes that sparkled at her with laughter were complete their mother's. "How is Akisame? and Keishou? The girls? and Sesshomaru?" She whispered the last. It still hurt that her husband would not accept her father. Her brothers, her stepmother he accepted, but, he couldn't or rather wouldn't accept the fact she was Sesshomaru's daughter.
"Everyone is healthy and happy. But, we all miss you neesan. Come home with me. Chichioya will be thrilled to see you. It's been to long." He gave her his best puppy look, she had never been able to resist. Then he caught a familiar scent. "KEISHOU! I found her!."
Keishou turned in the direction he'd heard his brother's voice and sprinted toward him. A smile lit his face when he saw Rin. He practically knocked her to the ground in a hug. "Did you ask her?" he asked his brother. At the nod, he turned to his sister. "Well??" He saw the girl's face darken and gave her the same puppy dog look that Keikan had given her a moment ago. "Please???"
"I can't." She explained at the double sad puppy faces she was given she sighed. "You know my husband doesn't wish me to..."
"He's a jerk. You are our neesan. Chichioya never says it but he misses you." Keikan angrily stated. "He knew you were his daughter when you married. What's his problem? Stupid ningen."
"Hey, I'm ningen too. So is your Hahaoya." Rin scolded.
"Keh." he said crossing his arms and turning away from her.
"Keikan...." she watched his ears twitch. "Keikan... how would you feel if your mate went against your wishes?"
He spun back to her, "She wouldn't have to. Cause I wouldn't keep her from her family." His eyes flashed with anger, "Brother you try and talk sense to her. I'm leaving." He took off into the forest at full speed. It hurt, that she could turn her back on them so easily. She was going to ruin everything. 'Not that your anger is helping anything.' he scolded himself. He started to turn back, then stopped. She couldn't miss their coming of age ceremony. She just couldn't. He sat waiting for his brother and hopefully his neesan.
Keishou watched his brother go and shook his head. Sometimes he thought his brother spent too much time in the company of their uncle. His own ears drooped in disappointment. He turned back to Rin and took her hand in his and squeezed it gently. "Please Nee-san...we need you to come. Something special is happening and we need you there," he paused seeing the woman worry her lower lip with her teeth. "Keikan is right...he shouldn't keep you from your family."
Rin looked up at her little brother, gently she cupped her hand to his cheek. "He's a good man Keishou. I will ask, but I offer no promises."
"Ask about what?" A man's gruff voice interrupted. He had seen the two silver haired males approach his wife. He hated his wife's family, damn demons all of them. He didn't let her know his true feelings, he could hide it well enough about her brothers they at least were only half.
"My brother's they wish me to return home for some reason. Would it be all right?" She did truly want to go, it seemed so important to both Keikan and Keishou.
"No. I don't want you around.... you know my feelings on the subject."
Nodding sadly she looked at Keishou. "I'm sorry. Tell Chi... Sesshomaru-sama I miss him." She turned and headed into the small hut that was her home now.
Keishou had stifled his growl when he scented the man's approach but now that they were gone he let it rumble in his chest. He wanted to just steal neesan away, take her home by force...but then she'd probably hate him and there would be more problems with her mate. Chichioya would be very upset when he heard the news. As suddenly as his anger had come it was replaced by sadness. He turned with sagging shoulders and dropping ears and trudged in the direction his brother had gone. The hanyou found his brother and at the hopeful look, shook his head. "She's not coming," he said sadly.
Akisame watched her sons enter the courtyard. So similar and so different. Keikan so like his uncle his first reaction to any disappointment was usually anger, but he had a gentle heart. Keishou so like his father always thinking, everything held so tightly inside. Rin wasn't coming. She had hoped she was wrong all those years ago, and that Makoto would come to at least accept the family. It had been too long since she had seen her eldest daughter. Her decision made she turned and went into the castle. "Jaken!"
Soon the toad youkai appeared before her, "Yes, milady."
"Tell my husband I have gone to fetch my eldest daughter home." She hadn't stopped moving and only smiled at her sons as she passed them heading towards the gate. It had been a long time since she'd walked any distance further than the halls of the castle.
"Hahaoya!" She turned to see her two daughters running to her, their red hair flying behind them. Two sets of golden eyes looked up at her full of curiosity. "Where are you going?"
Kneeling she smiled, "To get Rin for your niisan's party. Now run along, your tutors are awaiting you. Shoo." She saw her son's moving quickly towards her, a frown froze them in their tracks. Rising she continued out of the castle silently fuming. So Makoto thought he could keep Rin away did he? He was scared of Sesshomaru she had always known that. Unfortunately, the fool had paid no heed to the danger she posed. He should have heeded the warning Kouga gave him on his wedding day. She had not gone far from the castle when a familiar presence neared. "You can stop hiding, I know you're there."
Keishou watched his mother leave the castle. He shook his head. "Hahaoya is not happy...I almost feel sorry for him."
The hanyou turned his attention to his sisters, who were now barreling their way towards them in another attempt to get out of their studies.
At his mates call Sesshomaru stepped from behind the tree. He had seen the looks on his sons' faces. He knew that their mission to bring their neesan home had failed and he was furious. From the look on Akisame's face she was as upset as he. "I'm going with you," he said, his voice low and deadly, "He will not keep my daughter from me any longer."
Akisame saw the determination in his eyes. "You may come husband." She saw his eyes widen at her granting permission. "But, husband you will allow me to handle this. I long ago told you his feelings towards you. He has not ill treated Rin, only kept her from our home. Until I'm certain of her happiness, no matter what he says you will not attack him. Agreed? or you can turn right around and go home now."
He had long ago learned not to make his mate angry and thus agreed to her terms. Sesshomaru feel into step beside her, wishing this walk through the forest was not under these circumstances.
No one was paying attention to her at the moment. Midori had everyone occupied. Mika slowly began to edge away from her sister and brothers. She wanted to know where Hahaoya and Chichioya were going.
"Where are you going?" Shippo asked Mika lifting her off the ground easily.
Mika struggled against the firm grip of her niisan. "Shippo," she whined, "Put me down. I just want to go with Hahaoya." She looked up at him pleading with golden eyes. No one ever let her have any fun.
Looking up from preparing the evening meal Rin listened to the warnings echoing in her mind. Akisame was coming and so was Sesshomaru. Moving the stew off the heat she stepped outside, just in time to see Sesshomaru move a branch out of Akisame's way.
Makoto hearing the motion walked around the house to find his wife's adopted parents on his land. "What are you doing here?" He asked in a barely civil tone. Surprised he watched as the demon was quelled by the small hand of his wife on his arm.
"We came to bring Rin home." Akisame said. Her eyes never leaving his. She didn't like the way he held the ax, but had no fear for her safety.
"My wife is home." He said gruffly.
"I misspoke. To take Rin to our home." Akisame inclined her head slightly. "Rin go pack some clothes. We will return your wife in a few days. It is ..."
"Rin isn't going anywhere with you."
"Come now Makoto, Rin has every right to visit her Chichioya's home."
Rin noted the tone Akisame was using. It was the voice that warned of her impending fury. "Husband, it would only be..."
"I said no Rin. You aren't going anywhere with..." He broke off his statement quickly.
Akisame smiled, the smile her mate had learned to hate. "Finish your sentence Makoto."
"Fine." His anger gaining control. The day had been to much. The brothers this morning and now
them. "Rin, you are not going anywhere with this demon and his whore."
Sesshomaru blinked. Had he heard the man properly? Did Makoto say what Sesshomaru thought he had said. The Taiyoukai took several steps toward the ningen, glaring at him through narrowed lids, red beginning to tinge the amber. It was all he could do to keep his hands at his sides but he had promised his mate not to do anything. "What did you say?"
Rin couldn't believe it. He had never said anything like that before. Tears started streaming down her face. "How could you?" she whispered before running to Sesshomaru, her arms latching around his waist.
Akisame watched. She saw Rin run to her Chichioya. Turning her eyes back to Makoto, she saw the realization of what he'd said dawn on him. The ax fell from his now numb fingers.
"Rin," Makoto began softly. How had she done it? How had this red head that looked the same age as his wife, get him to say what he'd vowed never to say. "Rin, you know I ..."
"QUIET." Akisame had waited for his attention to be off her and had quickly stepped forward. Now standing inches from him she glared up at him. "You know nothing of me, or Youkai customs. You dare to call me a whore? Of course I never thought you would say it aloud." She smirked at his puzzled expression, "Oh yes, I've known since the first time I shook your hand exactly what your feelings were. Towards me, towards my children, towards my mate. If it hadn't been for the fact Rin loved you, I would have forbidden you to enter my home. Did you not wonder why this village has been spared demon attacks for the past six years? That reason stands there." She pointed at her mate. "Holding the daughter he raised. You blame youkai for every evil, ningen have just as much if not more evil in their hearts. Your wife suffered under ningen evil." She hadn't been going to do it. The mere idea of touching him made her skin crawl, but she would not stand by and do nothing. Grasping his hand she showed him Rin's life before Sesshomaru, omitting the wolf attack. Releasing the hand she watched in satisfaction as he crumpled to the ground. "We are leaving now. You will not follow. If Rin wishes to return, we will not stop her."
Sesshomaru put his arm around his daughter, stroking her hair soothingly. "It's all right Rin," he whispered in her ear. He was sad that things had turned out this way but glad that he could see his Rin again.
He watched his mate "handle" the foolish ningen, inwardly swelling with pride that he had such a strong and confident woman for a mate. When she finished showing the man Rin's past, he held out one hand to her. "Let us go home."
Taking her mates hand she smiled at him and answered. "Yes, let's take our daughter home." She wrapped her arm around his waist taking strength from him as always.
As they entered the forest Rin finally spoke. "Hahaoya, I'm so sorry. I didn't know. I thought it was only..." looking up at Sesshomaru tears running silently down her face, "Sesshomaru-sama, how can you ever forgive me?"
Sesshomaru looked down at her and smiled, gently. "Yes Rin...I forgive you. All that matters is that you are coming home now," he cleared his throat, "And I think we should return as quickly as possible before Keikan knocks down anymore of my trees."
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