Of Claws And Fangs
Episode 37
Looking up he saw the roof of the old well house. Inu Yasha leapt up to the rim of the well. Making his way silently up the stairs he sniffed the air. No visitors and her mother's scent was still present. Cautiously he made his way to the house and knocked. "Gomen kudasai?" The door opened, the woman before him was older, grey had replaced the black he remembered, but her scent was the same. "Higurashi-sama, may I speak with you?"
"Inu Yasha?" she asked smiling, "Hai come in. I haven't seen you since..." her voice trailed off.
"Hai, since I brought Kagome home for the last time." He suddenly found the pattern of the flooring extremely fascinating. "Gomen nasi, for not visiting you more. I..."
"It was hard for all of us. Come, come I'll fix you some ramen."
"Arigato. Higurashi-sama, I need your advice." He said following her through the still familiar house.
The sun was setting as he left the well a pack full of ramen and a weight lifted from his shoulders.
He watched Inu Yasha go, then after a long moment he padded softly over to Rin. Sesshomaru knelt beside her. "I'm sorry Rin."
Rin lifted tear stained eyes, "Sesshomaru-sama? Chichioya?" Throwing her arms around his neck, Rin's tears began again. Between sobs she questioned, "I didn't mean to fall in love with him. He just understood. He will come back, won't he?"
Miroku smiled at the young tora. "Shakaku, if they can get past some of the events of their past enough for Sesshomaru to name Inu Yasha, Kyoufu to the boys. They will get passed this. For once no blood was spilt between them just words of anger. Keishou and Haya, Sango and I have decided to return to Edo for a while in the morning." Nodding to the three youngsters the monk placed his arm around his wife's shoulders and whispered, "Truthfully I'm more worried about Akisame and Sesshomaru than Inu Yasha and Sesshomaru. I have never seen her so angry yet in control."
Akisame finished the lullaby and looked at her daughter, who slept easily. She looked to the door of the room for a moment. Then with a shake of her head she lay down, curling herself around Mika. She couldn't face him tonight; her anger was too strong, too deep.
Sango nodded. "I think they too will be fine but I don't want to be him when he comes back."
Sesshomaru returned her embrace. "Even if he does not forgive me, he will come back for you. That much I am certain of. He will not make the same mistake I did." He turned his head in the direction of his home. His mate was angry...very angry. "I will make certain that at the least you are with him. You're Hahaoya is angry with me...I do not want to know what she would do to me if he did not come back."
Sniffing Rin pulled slightly away from Sesshomaru. "He said he'd be back and he has never broken his promise. Let's go home and wait for him. Akisame will forgive you. She always has."
After her father's announcement, Haya had watched stunned as her parents walked off. Turning to Keishou, she wrapped her arms around his waist, holding him tightly she didn't want to leave him.
Keishou looked down at the woman in his arms. He lifted one hand and put a finger under her chin, tilting her head up. "If you go with them I will go with you...your father has given his blessing."
Sesshomaru stood. "I have no doubt that she will forgive me eventually," he replied. "It's the journey to forgiveness that is difficult."
Shakaku suddenly yawned widely. Her own exhaustion had finally caught up with her.
Placing her hand in his, Rin started back towards the castle. "I think she's more hurt than angry." Seeing the sun rise she changed the subject. "East, do you think he will help?" At his surprised look she smiled, "I'm not six any more. Besides we need to" a yawn inturrupted her. "Excuse me."
Haya smiled up at her future mate. "I am still amazed. Three months ago I came here to witness your Coming of Age. A silly village girl in love with the Lord's son. Now I am to be his mate. Keishou.... before the battle with the North forces... I want us to be mated. I don't want to risk loosing you, before I am yours."
"I believe he will," Sesshomaru smiled at his daughter. "Shall I carry you Rin?" At her look, he continued, "Once more...for old time's sake?"
Keishou bent his head to nuzzle her neck. "Hai love," he yawned, "Let's get some sleep."
Shakaku was tired but she wanted even more to think. She wanted her little lake, with its fish jumping in the morning and beautiful song birds. She slipped away from the others and moved deeper into the castle gardens, until she found a small pond. She smiled sadly. It wasn't her lake but it would have to do. She turned her face to the rising sun and watched the sky change colors.
A smile lit her face. "Hai, Sesshomaru-sama."
Sesshomaru lifted Rin in his arms and set off at a slow run for home.
Back at the castle, Keishou lifted Haya in his own arms and made for the privacy of his tree.
Keikan stepped out of his room in time to see his mother exit Mika's. 'Something is very wrong.' Deciding not to ask "Morning."
"Morning, Keikan. You look like you rested well."
Keikan suppressed the shudder at his mother's forced cheerfulness. He wasn't too sure he wanted to know what had happened while he slept. "Hai, I did. I was just going to go find Shakaku and get some breakfast."
Akisame smiled and started towards the courtyard. She exited the castle as Sesshomaru arrived with a sleeping Rin in his arms.
Sesshomaru did not like the look on Akisame's face when he arrived home. He met her gaze. "Let me put her to bed," he said softly, "Then we'll talk."
Shakaku watched the sky as it changed from black to purple, then to orange. A bird flew across her line of sight and rested in the branches of a nearby tree, singing a song of welcome to the sun. Her tail twitched with slight motion as she wondered if Keikan had yet awaken.
Akisame nodded moving to the side she let him pass. "I'll be in your study." She managed.
Keikan exited through the kitchen, with a few slaps from the cook for snatching a handful of sweet dumplings. Following his nose he found Shakaku looking out at the small lake at the garden's center. "This is my favorite spot."
Shakaku turned her head to look at him, "It is beautiful, yet I miss my lake," she said, smiling gently, "Are you feeling better?"
Sesshomaru took Rin to her room, tucking her into bed as he had not done is so long. It brought memories of a more lonely time. He placed a soft kiss on her forehead and then made his way to his study. It was time to face his mate. As he entered, he could almost feel her emotions crackling in the room and decided that it might be better to keep his distance. Sesshomaru waited for her to begin.
"Strange that both of us have a similar favorite spot." Keikan smiled back. Holding out his hand "Dumpling? Yea I do feel better. How did the girl talk go?"
Shakaku took the offered food, her fingers brushed his as she did, causing her cheeks to redden slightly. "Not so strange at all," she replied, turning away to hide her coloration. "The girl talk...it was interesting but I'm not allowed to tell you about it, now am I?" she asked playfully.
"No, you're not. I really don't want to know. Just wanted to know if you had a good time." Keikan smiled at the back of her head. "Another dumpling?" He asked wanting to feel her fingers brushing his again.
Shakaku nodded, turning back to him and taking another dumpling. This time when her fingers touched his hand she looked him in the eye. "I did...it was interesting. Arigatou Keikan."
Shakaku sighed at the beauty of this mornings sunrise. "About this time the guards would come looking for me," she said finishing her third dumpling, "I like you family, Keikan."
"My family likes you too, Shakaku." Keikan said to her. "I... I like you a lot too." He looked down to see that the girl had fallen asleep resting against his shoulder.
Akisame turned at the sound of his entrance. "I have told Jaken, to keep everyone out of this wing today." She told him. "Inu Yasha didn't return with you I see. Is he coming back at all?"
Warning bells sounded in his mind, his mate was beyond angry. "He said he would," was all he managed.
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