Of Claws And Fangs
Episode 64

"I know," she said, watching father and son, run off into the woods. Shakaku turned to the Western Lady. It was good to see her happy again. Sango, however was giving her friend a wary look.

"I know that look," the taijiya said, "What are you planning?"

"Nothing..." Akisame said turning to head back to her old hut, "yet. Just wondering if maybe it's about time the Western Lands had a new Lord and Lady."

Shakaku smiled at the Western Lady’s back. Keikan had been talking of letting his father and mother take a break from the running of the lands after they worked out their problem. She thought of the days the two of them had spent in audience and the nights they had spent going over petitions and requests. Her own mother had not had such a part in the ruling of the lands, she was only present when her presence was required by etiquette. The sting of the lash she had intercepted was almost gone. The tora looked up at the crystal blue sky and decided to take a walk through the woods of her own. Shifting to her youkai form she loped off into the forest.

Akisame sat on the porch and watched as her newest daughter in law loped into the forest. Patting the porch beside her, "Sango sit, lets old women talk for a bit. As sad as these last five months have been, they reminded me of my childhood. Simple life, working in a garden, keeping a house. No servants underfoot. No demands to see the Lord and Lady. Maybe I'm getting to sentimental in what would be my old age. Is it wrong to want some years that are Sesshomaru, Mika, Kaiya and I? The boys are grown now with mates of their own."

Sango sat beside her friend and stared off into the blue expanse that was the sky. "No, my friend. I think even Sesshomaru wishes sometimes to be rid of the responsibility that comes with his title. Keikan's ready for it. I heard him telling Shakaku that he would like to retain all the duties that he took up the day you left. Times have been so difficult for us all. You deserve some simplicity."

"I know it's silly, but I worry that it would hurt Mika. She has lived her life in a castle with servants. I've tried to keep my girls grounded. Which is why I taught them to cook." Akisame smiled at the memory of some of Taka and Leena's meals. "But that is nothing like living in a small hut. Airing out your futon, bartering for supplies, and the hundreds of other annoying task."

Keikan held the usagi (rabbit) he had caught watching as his father cleaned his own kill. "Think this will be enough?"

The taijiya nodded. "She's a lot like her mother. She'll learn. She's grown a lot too in the last few months." Sango poked Akisame in the arm. "If she's too much of a spoiled brat you can give her to me for a few months."

Sesshomaru finished with his wild buta (pig) and looked up. "Hai. I think this will make a perfect celebratory meal."

Akisame chuckled, "Hai, that I could. Actually I was wondering at her chance for finding a mate. Though both of my sons did fine. As did my eldest daughter... well the second time." She said smiling at the newly mated Rin and Inu Yasha. The two were lost in their own world. "I miss that sometimes." She said pointing at them. "The wonder of discovering each other."

"Chichioya, I know a lot has happened in the last couple of days. What with that oban causing trouble. Then Kikyou showing up. I just wanted to remind you, that I'm willing to continue as acting Lord. You and Hahaoya deserve some time to get to know each other again."

Father and son started the walk back. "I would love to accept your offer my son...though I do feel bad doing such. It was wrong of me to ignore my duties as I did."

Sango looked at the two love birds and sighed. "Hai, me too. I wouldn't worry about Mika though. She is the eldest daughter of the Lord of the Western Lands. There will be plenty of suitors for her to choose from when she comes of age."

"Chichioya, I wouldn't offer if I didn't want to. As far as the other Lords know, Hahaoya has had a difficult time. It would be nothing to let them think that now you are caring for her." He chuckled, "Besides, Shakaku helps me, it's nice sitting there for hours going through the petitions. I understand now what you meant about Hahaoya being your escape."

"But if Sesshomaru steps aside for Keikan, she won't be." Akisame explained. A soft mewling from the cabin caught her attention. "Seems someone wants her Haha (Mom)."

Sesshomaru smiled, catching a glimpse of something golden in the trees above them. Without a word he took the usagi from Keikan, moments before Shakaku, in tora form, leapt from the tree, tackling him to the ground.

Mika looked up as her mother entered the hut. She smiled as Akisame picked up Kaiya. "Hahaoya...you don't have to worry about me."

"Chichioya, seems my mate wishes to play. We'll catch up with you in a bit." Looking up at the golden tora Keikan smiled, "Did you miss me?"

Kneeling Akisame adjusted her Kimono and place the hungry infant to her chest. "You are my baby too, Mika I will always worry about you. Just like I will always worry about Keikan and Keishou."

Mika shook her head. "That's not what I mean Hahaoya. I heard what you and Aunt Sango were talking about. I will find a mate. Don't worry about that at least."

Sesshomaru chuckled and sped his step towards the village. Shakaku twitched her tail once and rubbed her head against his hand, purring loudly in answer.

"I only want the best for you and Kaiya. If your Chichioya, steps down as West, then Keikan will be West. It will be his castle, not ours. Would you be happy living the life of a simple village girl?" Akisame asked.

"It's rather hard to hold you in that form, Shakaku." Keikan complained softly.

Shakaku transformed with a laugh, green-gold eyes sparkling and put her arms around Keikan's neck. "Is this better?"

"Hai, Hahaoya. I would," Mika responded, then wrinkled her nose, "At least there would be no one trying to make me put my hair up in that stupid bun anymore."

"Much." He said pulling her too him.

Akisame chuckled, "Is that the only reason? You would have to clean your own room and have chores."

Mika considered thoughtfully for a moment. She had not thought of that but then she never had a problem helping out with dinner and once or twice she had helped Shizuka with some chores. "I can do that. With me gone, Shizuka and Jaken won't have to work so hard."

"Ah, but without Jaken and Shizuka you will have to work harder." Akisame turned the girls words on her. "It is a big change, and if your Chichioya and I decide that we want to then we will see how you feel too."

Sesshomaru entered the hut as Akisame finished her last sentence. "Decide what?"

For the first time Akisame noticed he wasn't wearing any finery, just a simple gi and hakama, his hair pulled back in a low tail held with a leather tie. "You look good like that." She said. "Mika and I were discussing a silly idea I had." Finally full Kaiya yawned and snuggled in for another nap. "Kaiya has a very healthy appetite."

Sesshomaru came to kneel beside his mate and children, smiling at her compliment. "What silly idea?"

Mika chewed her lip thoughtfully, not listening to her parents conversation. How would she know if she liked living simply without first experiencing it? She could tell all the servants at home to stop doing things for her but maybe they wouldn't like that. Or maybe they wouldn't listen to her? So what other options were available to her?

"Just living here for these past five months, has made me remember my childhood. I was just thinking wouldn't it be nice, if it was just us and the two girls. No servants, no demands on the Lord of the Western Lands and his lady. Just a small family, living in a modest hut." She smiled sadly, "But I'm just being silly. I can't ask you to turn from your responsibilities."

Sesshomaru laughed softly. "Silly you may be but our eldest pup has offered us an opportunity to do just that."

Her eyes widened, "Really? You would want to do that? Just Mika, Kaiya, you and me living in this hut. No servants underfoot? You would want to do this?" Then she realized he might not mean exactly what she did. "For how long?"

Finally understanding what she had meant from the start, he shook his head. "Keikan did not specify any length of time. We should talk with him and Shakaku. I think I would like to live simply for a change. It would be like when we first met."

Mika jumped up, having found an answer to her dilemma. "I know! I can stay with Aunt Sango when you go home."

"Are you sure? Once it is official, you can't decide you don't like it. Maybe we should try it for a year first."

He studied his mate. This was something she truly wanted but was reluctant to force. He leaned over and brushed his lips against her forehead. "Very well...we shall try it first but we should still inform Keikan."

"Arigato, Shujin (my husband)" Akisame hugged him then looked at Mika, "Why not stay here with your Chichioya and I?"

Sesshomaru nuzzled her ear. "Anything for you Kanai,(my wife)" he whispered. He looked at Mika, who had come over to settle in his lap. "Is that satisfactory Mika?"

"Hai, Chichioya." She replied leaning back against him.

He suddenly remembered something from the mornings events. "That was an excellent shot earlier. You've been practicing."

Akisame shivered at his whispered words. She knew he would have stepped down if she had asked. After being the Western Lord for over seventy years, she feared being a simple villager would not sit well. At least they had a year. She would enjoy the year and then they would see how things went.

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