Of Claws and Fangs
Episode 57

Akisame held Kaiya cooing softly to her. As her children gathered around her she spoke. "Shippo, Rin, Keikan, Keishou, Mika, Haya and Shakaku, I'd like you to meet your little sister Kaiya. You are her niisans and neesans. That is such a big job. You have to help Sesshomaru and I raise and protect her. Think you can do that?"

Keikan looked at the small bundle in his mothers arms, he remembered the same request made when Mika and Midori were born. "Hai Hahaoya." Bending he kissed first his mother's cheek then Kaiya's. "I'm your big brother Keikan, Kaiya, I promise to protect you and be there for you." Stepping back he watched Shippo step up.

"Hai Hahaoya, as I promised with Keikan, Keishou, Mika and Midori. Hello Kaiya, I'm Shippo."

Rin stepped forward next taking the baby from Akisame, "I am your sister and hopefully soon your Aunt Rin. Welcome Kaiya." Kissing the child she handed her back to Akisame.

Keishou stepped up, reaching out and stroking his new sister's cheek gently. "Hello Kaiya. I am Keishou."

Mika was the next to introduce herself to the new child along with a whispered promise to teach her how to sneak mushrooms when everyone's back was turned. The girl looked over at Shakaku, "You're turn, joudama."

Shakaku moved a little self consciously to kneel beside Akisame. She had never been around a cub before. "I am Shakaku, little one, hopefully I will be your sister soon."

At Shakaku's comment Akisame shot a glare at Keikan, who quickly found the floorboards fascinating.

Haya was the last to come forward. "Welcome Kaiya. Your coming has brought laughter and smiles back to your Chichioya and Hahaoya. I wish you a life full of the same, and as your sister will do everything I can to make sure you have it."

Leaning to whisper in Sesshomaru's ear Akisame asked, "I am assuming that the god parents will be Inu Yasha and Sango?"

"Of course," he whispered to her, then louder said, "Inu Yasha, Sango will you do this pup the honor of being her god parents as well?"

Sango folded her arms and smiled. "How could I say no?"

Inu Yasha had entered the hut just as Sesshomaru finished his question, "Hai." Walking up to Rin he wrapped an arm around her waist. "Excuse us for a moment." Steering the puzzled girl out of the hut he moved to stand before her, "Rin, before I go in there and make an even bigger fool of myself, will you be my mate?" Rin couldn't speak, her heart had lodged itself in her throat. She settled for nodding. Taking her back in his arms Inu Yasha kissed her softly. Then lead her back into the hut. Meeting his brother's eyes nervously, "Sesshomaru-sama. I, Inu Yasha youngest son of Inutashio. I have defeated of Naraku. I am the wielder of the Tetsusaiga and I ask for you permission to take your daughter as my mate."

He gave his brother a cool glance. He toyed with the notion of saying no just to rile the hanyou but decided not to chance his joke being taken the wrong way. Not now, not when all was happy again. "You not only have my permission brother but wishes for happiness as well," Sesshomaru said with a smile.

A snort came from the taijiya, "It's about damn time. I swear you inu take your sweet time about everything."

Akisame smiled at the new couple then leaned back to whisper in her mate's ear. "Even if you would have said it to tease, if you had said no...." She let the threat hang on the air. "Sango, where is your husband? He needs to bless this child."

The taijiya nearly choked on the water she had just begun to drink. She recovered quickly and looked around. "Oh he isn't here? Well then," Sango got up and started for the door, "I guess my houshi is still asleep. I'll get him."

Akisame watched her friend carefully, then noticed the missing warmth of Sesshomaru at her back. "Hold it, Sango. Miroku's not in the village at all is he?" Her eyes narrowed as she turned to look at her mate. "I have a feeling you were the last one to see him."

Sango stopped and turned around, seeing that Sesshomaru had moved out of contact with his mate. "Hai I was," was the only reply the Taiyoukai would give.

Akisame turned and handed Kaiya to the first set of arms her eyes lighted on, Shakaku. "Hold her." Turning back to Sesshomaru "You came here because the monk told you too, didn't you?" Once again anger and pain held her heart, yet this time a small flicker of hope flared within it.

Sesshomaru met her eyes. "No, I came because I wanted my mate back."

Shakaku looked down at the small life in her arms, expecting an argument, she rose. "Come little one, would you like to see the stars?" she asked the child in a whisper.

Keikan motioned quickly for all his siblings to follow.

Akisame met his gaze, "Why didn't you come before?" She asked quietly.

"You always came to me, I was waiting for you," he replied just as softly, "I was too much of a fool to realize you were waiting for me."

Akisame smiled, "I was a fool too. I knew you were expecting me, but I was being selfish and wanted you to come to me." Wrapping her arms around his neck, "How much time we wasted both thinking the other didn't want us. So what did you do with all your spare time? Keikan would never tell me."

Sesshomaru put his own arms around her waist and smiled, brushing his lips across her forehead. "Fixing a mess I made the day you left," he looked down at her.

Snuggling into him she smiled, "Must have been a very big mess."

Sesshomaru chuckled. "Oh it was. You will see what I have done when you return. It is a surprise."

Haya watched as Shakaku held Kaiya a soft smile playing on her lips. Leaning back into her own mate she unknowingly whispered, "I want one."

Keishou kissed her hair, smiling into the raven locks. "Then I suppose we should start trying," he whispered.

Shakaku looked up at Keikan, as Kaiya fell asleep in her arms. "I don't hear any yelling."

Keikan looked at the door, "Well that is a good sign."

As dawn broke Kiarara landed in the center of the village. Walking towards the hut he was surprised to find everyone outside until he noticed the small bundle in the tora's arms. Walking up to Sango he whispered, "How dead am I?"

Sango gave him a wry grin. "Well, we all cleared out once she discovered that you went to get him and...it's been quiet since then." She kissed him, then gave him a shove toward the hut. "As Kagome would say, go face the music."

Miroku nodded and walked into the hut, moving to the room Akisame used he knocked on the door frame.

Sesshomaru's ears twitched slightly beneath his hair as he heard the footsteps approaching. He knew who was coming. When the knock on the frame came he looked at his mate. "It's Miroku," he said softly.

Haya smiled at the assembled family, "Shakaku, Rin, Mika why don't the three of us go fix some breakfast. Mother? Would you watch Kaiya?"

Keikan felt the morning bring about the change. "Uncle? Our morning run?"

With a quick kiss to Rin, Inu Yasha nodded. The two took off.

Seeing that everyone was occupied Keishou decided that now was a good time to visit his new quiet spot. He walked the path toward the well. The introspective hanyou had found that the well and it's clearing were a good replacement for his tree. He thought about all that had happened over the last year, all the hardships his family had endured. Finally it seemed as though everything was settling down. Hahaoya would be going home with Chichioya soon, he had a new sister and Haya wanted pups of her own. Keishou sat on the side of the well, looking down into shaft. Suddenly he felt something like the stinging of an insect on the back of his neck. "Ow," he muttered reaching a hand up only to feel that it was no insect but a small dart of some kind. "What the hell?"

Then he saw the ningen creeping cautiously toward him from the bushes. How had they hidden their scent from him? How had they hidden the sounds of their approach? Keishou knew he had not been that lost in his thoughts. As he stood up, his vision began to swim, as he swayed on his feet. He tried to call for help but the dart's poison acted too quickly. Keishou was asleep before he hit the ground.

One of the human's moved over to the now unconscious hanyou, prodding him with a toe to make sure he was out. Looking over the features he made certain that this was the one they were looking for. Silver hair, furry ears, blue crescent marking on the forehead. This was the one. "All right boys, tie him up with that rope the miko gave us. This one has much to answer for."

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