Of Claws and Fangs
Episode 52

Mika buried her head in Keikan's neck, sobbing. "Make them stop, please, someone make them stop." The pain from both her parents were cutting through her like knives. She felt the soothing hand of Shakaku on her back as she stood uncertainly beside Keikan.

Keikan handed Mika to Shakaku, "I'll try Mika. I'll try."

Inari watched the emotional scene playing out before him. How things so quickly went from good to bad.

Far above eyes shifting from yellow to green to blue and on up the spectrum watched gleefully as the inu family below her was torn apart. She had not caused such pain in quite a while and she feasted on it gleefully. Yes, this Sesshomaru was certainly one to play with, she thought. Planting the seeds of doubt was so easy. Now she could work on the sons.

Akisame flinched at the roar, but it did not stop her. They would reach Edo before nightfall at the pace they were setting. It didn't matter, nothing mattered. When they finally stopped to rest she moved away from the rest. She wasn't hungry. Feeling a hand on her shoulder she turned to find Inu Yasha, smiling at her softly. With a sob she threw herself into his arms. "Why? Inu Yasha, why? Aren't I enough? What spell does Akari hold on him? Did I not give him something he needed?" Raising tear stained eyes to him she voiced her greatest fear, "Was he with me only because my scent is like hers?"

Inu Yasha's heart broke to see his brother's wife this way. He had done this to Kagome, but she had hid it from him. "I don't know, I don't know. But I do know he loves you. We can turn around now, I'll take you back. You two can settle this." He tried.

Akisame's eyes narrowed. "No. I am always the one to make peace. The first to apologize. The first to push aside my fears. This time he must come to me." Turning away she said, "Thank you for trying Inu Yasha, but I have given him four children and carry the fifth. If I have any worth to him, he will come to me." Seeing Keishou standing silently with Haya, "Oh my sweet baby, Mika. I forgot all about you."

Inari turned to Yamakaji, Sesshomaru's cries echoing off the walls of the castle. "I think Yamakaji, it is time for us to take our leave. This is a family matter, they do not need an audience."

Yamakaji nodded and motioned to Okubiri, "Let us leave now. You can return the clothes at another time." Smiling apologetically at Shakaku and the small child crying in her arms, the southern lord and his heir exited the castle.

Shakaku held the trembling child, cooing gently as she stroked the fiery hair. "Shh, Mika, everything's going to be all right," she whispered. 'I hope.'

"No it's not, Hahaoya hates Chichioya now. Why did that dumb lady have to come and ruin everything!"

He stared down at his bleeding hands. How could this have happened? Was what Akisame said true? No, no it wasn't. Akisame filled a part of him that Akari never touched. But how to convince of that? How could he now? He buried his face in his hands, the scent of his own blood, drowning out all others.

Keikan made his way through the destroyed gardens. Trees uprooted lay across the paths. Flower beds once cultivated carefully were nothing more than mounds of dirt. Finally he made his way to the form of his father. "Chichioya?" He questioned softly.

Sesshomaru looked up slowly at his son. Small streaks of blood marred the porcelain features, darkened the silver bangs. He looked up at his heir with the eyes of one who had just lost a part of his soul. "She'll come back, won't she Keikan?" The voice was that of a small child, pleading with his parents to tell him that everything was going to turn out right.

"Hai, Chichioya, hasn't she always?" Keikan didn't know what to say and that sounded comforting. He'd never seen his father so lost. "Come on Chichioya, you have injured yourself. Let's get you cleaned up, then we can start planing what to do about this mess. Hahaoya won't be happy to see the gardens in this state." He didn't know why he was now treating his father as he did Mika when she was upset. But it seemed to be reaching him.

Sesshomaru stood up and looked around. "She hates them...why should I rebuild them? Why should she care for something I built for someone else?"

Keikan studied his father's face for a moment. "You know that isn't true. Hahaoya loves tending the herb garden and the flowers you brought from grandmother's garden. Just rebuild it for Hahaoya. Create something new just for her. You know she loves herbs and her peach blossom tea is wonderful. If you designed what was for one woman create something new for Hahaoya."

Sesshomaru stared at his son for a few moments. He was right. "Hai Keikan. I will do that." He turned to look at his castle. "Then when she comes back she will see and she will know."

Shakaku nodded at the Southern Lord. Inari approached and rested one hand on her shoulder, while stroking Mika's hair gently. Slowly the girl's sobs quiet and her breathing turned to the even rhythm of sleep. Shakaku gave the Kitsune a questioning look. "It's better that she sleeps. She feels both her parents pain."

"Thank you my Lord."

Inari turned and left. Shakaku decided to take Mika and put her to bed. She was slightly confused as to what exactly had happened but would soon find out.

Soon enough the companions entered Edo. Akisame started to follow Miroku and Sango, but was stopped by Inu Yasha. "You'll stay with me in Kaede's old hut. I'll be starting a new hut for Rin and me in the morning. Then you can have this one, until you and Sesshomaru settle things."

Keishou led Haya to their new hut. It only had a main room and two sleeping areas. "It's small for now," he said in way of explanation, "But...I can add on..." He trailed off. Worry for his parents filling his mind.

Akisame sat in the back room of the old hut. The room Kaede had used to store her herbs, their potent smell still permeated the walls. Normally the smell of medicinal and cooking herbs would comfort her, but now they only reminded her of the distance between her and her heart. Looking out into the dark skies she whispered "Come get me soon." Curling into a tight ball, the woman described as strong cried herself to sleep for the first time in many years.

Haya cuddled next to Keishou in their own hut. "Oh Keishou, your parents. What does fate have against your family?" Slowly she relaxed into a deep sleep.

Suki stood in the doorway, her silver hair reflecting the light of the full moon. Crooking her finger she motioned the future Weapons Master to her side.

Keishou slipped his arm from around Haya, placing a soft kiss on her temple before following the Maiden outside. "What is it?"

"I am Suki." Smiling sadly she explained her reasons for appearing, "Your Chichioya and Hahaoya, their hearts are so full of pain and sadness. What has happened, Weapons Master? Their love was enough to cross realities. Why now are they separate?"

"I know not exactly. I know that my Chichioya had a mate before my Hahaoya. This woman, Fate showed up today to prevent my brother from taking the one he loves and she mentioned Akari. It hurt Hahaoya...she said Chichioya didn't care for her as much as he does that other one. That isn't true is it?" Keishou looked at her pleading.

"No, Weapons Master, your Chichioya doesn't or didn't love Akari more than your Hahaoya. Just as he loves each of his children equally and differently. So too does he love Akari and Akisame differently." Kneeling gracefully on a cushion she motioned Keishou to do the same. "Your Chichioya loved and loves Akari with the love of his first love. That special one that opens your heart to the wonders I bestow. He will never forget her or cease loving her. Your Hahaoya, he loves with the passion of a man for the woman he is to spend his life with. His love has grown and matured over the years they have spent together. It has grown far beyond what it was in the beginning. But too many hurts too quickly, can make even the strongest love tremble." She sighed. "This is the work of Nanshokagai. She delights in feeding off the distress of others. You must warn your family. My sisters and I can do nothing. The only way to defeat her is to stand strong in your convictions." Her silver eyes clouded for a moment as her thoughts raced. Turning them back to him she spoke softly and sadly. "The road back to each other will be difficult for both Sesshomaru and Akisame. Both are proud, and though they love each other neither will give on this issue of who returns to whom first. Do not interfere young one."

Keishou looked down at his hands. "Can I tell them about Nanshokagai? Tell them that she was trying to trick them? Or must I keep that from them too?"

Rin made her way silently to the shrine Sesshomaru had built so long ago. Kneeling before the painting of Midoriko she spoke. "Midoriko-sama. Thank you for making Inu Yasha give up his quest for vengeance and turning to me. But, Sesshomaru-sama and Akisame-mama... they are hurting so, why does Fate hate Sesshomaru-sama so?"

As the painted figure of the ancient priestess stepped forth Rin gasped. "Fate? Why say you that Fate hate's Sesshomaru?"

"She came and forbade Shakaku and Keikan's love. As she left she made a comment about Akari. Now, Akisame has gone to Edo and Sesshomaru-sama has destroyed the gardens." Rin explained.

"Daughter this woman calling herself fate, did she have hair and eyes that seemed to change colors?" Midoriko asked.

"H...Hai." Rin answered.

"Nanshokagai, she is not Fate. Merely a spirit that feeds off of the distress of others."

Mika slowly came awake. Her eyes were swollen from her crying. She wondered exactly how she had fallen asleep. Rising she went in search of her Chichioya. She found him in his study, brush in bandaged hands, drawing something on parchment. He looked up as she opened the door, she could see sorrow and pain in his golden eyes. He put down the brush. "Chichioya?"

"Mika," he said, holding his arms out to her. She went to him, trying to restrain her tears.

"Where's Hahaoya? Did she really leave?" She felt his breath catch in his throat.

"Hai Mika."

"She'll come back won't she?"

"I hope so, Mika, I hope so."

Next Episode
Home