Of Claws And Fangs
Episode 9


Haya awoke to the suns light, her head resting on a strong shoulder. Blushing she sat up, she pushed her bangs away and smiled shyly at him. "I'm sorry Keishou, I didn't mean to use you as a pillow."

Keishou did not look at her but he smiled. "It is alright, Haya...I didn't mind," he was about to say more but his brother and uncle entered the courtyard, then bound away on the morning run. A heavy sigh escaped him.

Keikan once again met his Uncle in the courtyard nodding to his brother and Haya the two leapt the wall.

Inside Akisame streched a soft sigh escaping her lips. He truly could make her not think, even after all these years. Bending she softly kissed his parted lips.

Sesshomaru's eyes slid open as lips touched his own. He smiled up at his mate. It was a new day...hopefully they had left the hateful events of last night behind for at least awhile. He snuggled against her warmth wanting nothing more than to spend the day in bed. "Do we have to get up?" he grumbled.

Akisame smiled, "Well... not yet at least."

Haya looked at him. Did he still see her as the child he'd played with? At his sigh she frowned, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing...it's nothing," he turned to her, giving her a smile, "Really....Haya, would you walk with me?"

'Oh to give you the answer I want too.' She thought smiling at him, "I would like nothing more." Then remembering her promise to be there for Rin she added, "But not to far." She saw his smile falter slightly, "I have promised to aid in guarding Rin." She explained.

He nodded and they began walking through the gardens surrounding the castle. "Why does Rin need guarding?" he asked, taking the subject away from himself, "What happened last night?"

Haya almost groaned aloud. A beautiful garden, a gorgeous sunrise and he wants to talk about his sister. She almost wished he was more like her brother. At fifteen he was trying desperatly to imitate their father's at the same age. "Her husband came. He tried to force her to leave. Rin's miko abilities awoke and he left, threatening revenge for 'stealing his wife'. I was there all she did was try to make him see her family. He said and I quote here They're demons, Rin. They are evil and filthy animals." Stopping she quickly stepped in front of him, "You know I don't feel that way don't you?"

Keishou was startled by her stepping in front of him and almost ran her over. He caught her with on arm, automatically pulling her closer, their faces inches apart. Close enough to kiss, he thought. The hanyou felt a rush of heat in his cheeks as he released Haya, stepping back a bit. "I..of...of course I know that, Haya," he stammered.

She all ready missed the feel of his arm around her. She saw the color rush to his cheeks miss reading his actions she took a step back. "I...I ... I have to get back." Turning she fled back to the castle. Tears ran down her cheeks as she closed the door to the room she'd been given.

Shippo left his perch in the tree and landed lightly behind Keishou, who had turned watching Haya run from him. He had been to young when Kagome and Inu Yasha did this foolishness. He smacked the back of the young hanyou's head. "Is this family stupid or something?"

"Ow!" Keishou rubbed his head where Shippo had hit him. "What was that for niisan?"

"Maybe the rumors are right and hanyous are stupid." He looked at his little brother, "Hello, anyone home? Does your nose work? If it doesn't what about your eyes? Damn and I thought Keikan acted like Inu Yasha. But you and Haya could have been him and Kagome. Minus the yelling and the Osuwaris. Think Keishou think."

Keishou thought about what Shippo was saying. Understanding slowly crept into his face, as he remembered the spike in the girl, no woman's scent. "You mean...she...Oh." He had to admit that he wasn't annoyed or displeased by the revelation of Haya's feelings. He kind of liked the idea. "Do you think I should go talk to her?"

"No, not right now. You've hurt her" At the pups striken expression, Shippo softened his tone. "If I read her reaction she thinks you don't like her." He held up his hand for silence and continued, "She knows you like her as a friend, but she wants more. She's like her mother. Strong, independent, a good fighter and someone who has parents willing to accept a hanyou as a son-in-law. Do you know how she got that scar above her right eye?"

He had hurt her? The thought that he had caused her any kind of pain hurt him. His ears dropped a bit. "No... how?"

Shippo motioned for the boy to sit. "I don't know if you remember when Kaede died. You and Keikan were ten. After you left one of the village boys made some comment about youkais and hanyous. The type boys make to hurt. Haya heard his comment. She nicely asked him to apologize, he refused. So she hit him. He had several of his buddies try and hold her so he could beat her up. She got tossed around pretty good and ended up with a black eye and a cut from a twig one of them tried to use as a sword. Don't worry the boys were in worse shape. Look I know you want to go apologize right now, but let her calm down some. Talk to her at lunch." Patting the boys shoulder Shippo walked away leaving the boy to think.

Rin woke to the soft sobs of Haya. Moving to the younger girls futon she patted her back. "Keishou?" The girl only sobbed harder. Patting the girls back Rin shook her head. "I'll be back in a minute, ok?" Haya just nodded into the pillow. Quickly Rin grabbed a kimono and wrapped it around herself. She went to the room Sango and Miroku always used when visiting. Knocking she called softly, "Aunt Sango?"

Keishou remained seated where Shippo left him. Haya had gotten the scar defending him and his family. He wondered exactly when the girl had developed feelings for him and when he began to reciprocate those feelings. Sighing, he returned to his tree to think of what to say to Haya when they met for lunch so he wouldnt hurt her again.

Sango opened the door to see Rin, immediatly on the alert. "What is wrong?"

"It's Haya. She's in our room crying. I think it has something to Keishou, but she won't talk to me. Maybe she'll talk to you."

Inu Yasha returned alone from the morning run. Keikan had changed forms shortly after they had left the cliff to return, saying he wanted to check the borders. Sliding to a stop in the center of the courtyard he gave a discrete sniff. A woman's tears, an upset hanyou all very familiar scents. He could venture a guess, Haya to often asked him about his life and the problems he faced being hanyou. Walking to the tree Keishou always rested in. "So, you want to talk to someone who's been there?"

Keishou tore his gaze from the sky, which was quickly becoming clouded and gloomy. The scent of rain was in the air. He looked down at his Uncle. "She thinks I don't like her," he said with a pained expression. He was discovering that was far from the truth.

Sango nodded. She remembered the conversation she had with her daughter about her godson. "I'll talk to her," she replied, putting a comforting hand on RIn's shoulder. She padded her way down the hall to Rin's room and knocked softly on the door before opening it. "Haya...sweetie...what happened?"

Inu Yasha smiled, he remembered to well that feeling. "Let me guess, somehow or another she ended up in your arms. You let go of her and she ran off. Am I right?" He watched the pup nod. "That seemed to happen with Kagome and me about every other week. Do something I never did. Apologize. Trust me Keishou, if you care anything about Haya, don't waste the precious moments you have. Life is to short."

Haya sniffed and turned to her mother. "Oh mama, he hates me."

Keishou considered his uncle's words. "You are right Uncle...Shippo said I should wait until lunch...do you think that would be wise?"

Sango gave her daughter a wide eyed look. "Haya...I honestly doubt that he hates you," she opened her arms, "Come here."

Haya ran to her mother's arms. "Why does it hurt so much?"

Inu Yasha motioned for the pup to move over. When Keishou moved, he leapt to the branch and settled himself beside the boy. "That was sound advice. Shippo is excellent at advise, always has been. He advised me many times to apologize to Kagome. Never took his advice though. Let me ask you a question, because if I know Shippo he did most of the talking. When she was in your arms what did you want to do?"

Sango stroked Haya's hair. "Because you care....I was the same way with your father. Have you talked to him?"

"Kiss her," he responded immediately. A small blush rose on his face.

Inu Yasha smiled "Same reaction I had everytime. At least you aren't carting her across Japan on your back. That, nephew, is torture. Next time... go with your instincts. It worked for that perverted monk." Leaping down Inu Yasha went to find a quiet space to remember the girl he loved.

"No mama, I haven't" Haya said between sniffs.

She gave her daughter a patient smile. "Then darling child, I think you should."

Keishou returned his gaze to the sky. A chill wind had began to blow as the storm approached. He supposed he should go inside before it rained. At lunch he would apologize to Haya and hopefully begin something that would make both of them happy.

Keikan stopped at a clearing near the castle, shaking the water from his pelt. Sniffing the air to be sure no one was near he retook his human form. Walking towards the castle he wondered what the Northern Taiyoukai would have said if he had seen that. A sly smirk covered his face as he entered, for once through the gate.

Haya smiled at her mother. "Your the best. I'll talk to him at lunch."

Sesshomaru was dismissing the last of his advisors. The morning had been long and dull full of advisor meetings and hearings of complaints between lesser lords in his domain. Keikan as promised was in attendance today and he could tell the boy was as bored and ready for a break as he was. He had made certain that his spies were keeping their eyes on the Northern Lands for any hint of danger. "Well my son...how did you enjoy-" his words were cut off as Jaken tottered quickly into the room.

"Me lord! Me lord!"

Sesshomaru heaved a sigh, kami the toad was annoying but Sesshomaru never could find a reason to get rid of his faithful servant. "What is it Jaken?"

Jaken groveled, prostrating himself to the ground as he delivered his message. "There is a human to see you lord. He claims to be king."

The morning of complaints and advisors had bored the normally active Keikan to tears. He seriously doubted he would ever be able to do it. As Jaken rushed in he perked up. This could be interesting. He looked to his sire waiting to see what would happen.

"Very well let him in."

They waited as the guards escorted the human king in with his own retinue of guards surrounding him. Sesshomaru could not hide his disgust at seeing Makoto standing beside the king, looking smug. "What is your business here king of men?"

The man was young and looked very much like the fool Iroke. He glared at Sesshomaru with unhidden malice. "My business is to discuss your removal from my lands."

Mika sped through the halls looking for her Uncle. Finally she found him. "Uncle....chichioya...he needs you."

Inu Yasha looked at the child. "Go get Keishou, he should be near his tree if not check with Haya." Leaving the girl behind he ran toward the castle. Catching his brother scent in the audience chamber he went around to come in behind the dias he knew his brother would be on. He barely choked back the growl at seeing Makoto beside them.

Keikan stiffled his growl at the site of Rin's mate beside this baka ningen. First the Northern Taiyoukai and now this fool. He heard his Uncle enter through the door behind him and was grateful for the presence of the elder hanyou. He noticed a change in his fathers scent as well....

Mika ran outside and found Keishou. He headed for the audience chamber, not realizing that Mika was hot on his heels.

"Your lands?" Sesshomaru asked, trying to keep his voice calm, despite everything he was feeling inside. "These lands were in the ownership of my family long before you humans decided to place claim on them...I believe that means you are in MY lands."

For a moment the baka looked at a loss for words but soon recovered. "Your evil deeds will no longer be tolerated. If you will not leave now, I will remove you by force."

Sesshomaru almost laughed. "What evil deeds might you be talking about?" He sensed Inu Yasha and Keishou enter behind him, as well as Mika and he wondered how to remove the girl with out a scene.

"The deaths of my brother and father, as well as the corruption of innocent people."

"The death of your brother may well be on my hands but it was a justified death. I am not responsible for any of the other things you claim."

Keikan motioned Mika to him and whispered in her ear, "Go get Hahayou and tell her to come. Then go find Rin and stay with her." He cleared his throat forcing all attention to himself. "I know nothing of the deaths of which you speak. Yet if my Chichioya says that they were justified then they were. As for that mans claims," he pointed at Makoto, "let him prove their validity in combat."

Inu Yasha wanted to ring the supposed King's neck. "I don't know about your father's death boy, nor do I care. But your brother's death was his own fault. The moment he ordered their deaths he signed his own death warrant." He was glad Tetsusaiga was at his side. The pain of Kagome's death was fresh today, maybe it was talking with Keishou.

Keishou listened with interest. What deaths were they all talking about? Who was this man, dressed as royalty? He watched wary should he be needed.

Sesshomaru saw Mika scamper away from the corner of his eye, relieved. Even if his daughter didnt always listen to him, she always listed to her niisan. His attention once again on those before him. Why was the past returning to haunt them? Makoto was stepping forward now.

"Are you challenging me you insolent half breed?"

"Hahaoya..." Mika skid to a stop in her mother's room, "Keikan wants you to come to the audience room." Then she dashed off to fulfill the rest of her brother's commands.

Keikan sneered at the man who once was his brother-in-law. "Challenge you? Why would I waste my time with you? But you claim deceit in a family that welcomed you as one of its own. Protected the village where you lived. Provided the dowry that allowed you to by the farm you own. You disgust me."

"KEIKAN!" Akisame's voice boomed from behind the entourage. She recognized the crest, even if it had been eighteen and a half years ago. She watched as they parted as she made her way towards the dias. Stopping in the center of the room she turned facing Makoto. Her hand flew catching him across his cheek. Not waiting for a reaction she turned to head towards her family.

Sesshomaru watched with smug satisfaction, delighting in the sound of his mate's hand connecting with Makoto's face. He lost all mirth however as the human made a move toward Akisame. To his surprise it was Keishou who grabbed Makoto's hand as it reached out to strike the retreating woman. Sesshomaru blinked for he had not seen his son move.

Keishou saw Makoto begin to come after his mother and with speed he didn't know he had, the hanyou caught the hand that tried to strike. He looked his sister's ex mate in the eye, growling softly. "I do not wish to quarrel with you, Makoto...you were once my sister's mate. But," he said, his voice low and deadly, a tone none had heard him use before, "If you try that again, I will kill you."

"Enough!" The king cried, as Keishou released Makoto and returned to his father's side. "My brother ordered no one's death. You decieved and killed him, my father died grieving him...now will you remove yourself or will I have to use force?"

The pompous human, crossed his arms over his chest, as Makoto retreated to his side, glaring now at Keishou.

Sesshomaru gave the human a cool look. "You bore me with your empty threats.. thus far I have been very patient with you and your subjects. I have protected these lands and those in them. Now you will leave before I change my mind."

"No." Akisame for the first time contradicted Sesshomaru. Her eyes flashing emerald fire. "They will not leave." She advanced on the human who had dared call her mate a liar. "Repeat yourself."

Keishou looked at his mother, startled. She had never contradicted his father before. The human king looked at Akisame as if she had grown another head. "Who is this woman? Why does she speak out of turn?" Keishou exchanged a glance with Sesshomaru. This human was treading on dangerous ground.

"Who I am is none of your concern at this moment. Your brother most certainly ordered a death. Nineteen years ago," her voice becoming dangerously soft, a voice even Sesshomaru had never heard from her. "Your brother traveled the land you claim as your kingdom. In the village of Edo he came across two women, one a Miko with black hair and blue eyes. Her name was Kagome. The other with brown hair and green eyes. Her name was Akari. Kagome was promised to Inu Yasha. Akari was mated to Sesshomaru. Your brother would not accept that she would not turn from her mate. He swore if he could not have her no one would. With an advisor he hired the assassin that killed both women." She heard her sons gasp, they had never known their father had a mate before her. "Youkai justice demands that the one who orders the death of a mate forfeit his life. After vengeance is done, most Inu Youkai die of greif. Had not Midoriko-sama interfered my mate would have died of greif."

Keikan looked to his father. A mate before his mother. He didn't understand. He sat down trying to process everything he had heard. He felt a cold wind and saw a figure of a woman standing near his mother. Her hair was silver and in her hand a scythe. He was so intriqued by the woman he didn't see Makoto move.

Akisame gasped as Makoto's blade entered her chest. Grabbing hold of the hilt she fell back holding the dagger in place.

This time Keishou hadn't moved swift enough to prevent Makoto from striking at his mother. The appearance of the strange woman made him pause. An earsplitting howl shook the very walls of the castle as Sesshomaru caught his mate as she fell. He watched his father, fall to his knees, cradling her in his arms. Tears were beginning to roll from the taiyoukai's eyes as tortured sounds fell from his lips.

Mika's head snapped up, jolting from the nap she had been taking. Sango looked at the girl who was trembling. "Mika? What is it?" A howl, filled with pain and sorrow blasted through the room as Mika began to cry. She had heard that sound once before and it made her blood run cold to hear it again. "Rin....keep the girls here."

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