Chapter 2 - Family Reunited

Sesshomaru stood in the clearing next to the old well beside his mate, waiting for Rin. Finally he saw Ah-Uhn speeding throught the clouds toward them. The two headed dragon landed lightly in the clearing and Rin immediatly jumped to the ground, running to him and throwing her arms around his leg. "Sesshomaru-sama!" she squealed in delight, "Rin thought you forgot about Rin."

Jaken slid off the dragon and tottered over to them, scolding Rin for assulating his Sesshomaru-sama. "Jaken, leave the child alone," he scolded gently, causing the toad to immediatly grovel and apologize. Sesshomaru ignored the toad, for the moment focusing his attention on Rin who was happily chattering away about how good she had been while he was away. As he had thought no one had told her the reason for his absence. Suddenly the girl stopped, noticing Akisame for the first time.

"Oh..." she said, hiding behind him a little

Sesshomaru smiled. "Rin, this is Akisame. She is my mate, your new mother."

Akisame had watched the two reunite. She decided immediatly she didn't like the toad. "Hello Rin." she smiled gently at the child. "I've heard so much about you. Do you think we could be friends?" She asked kneeling down to the childs level. She watched as the child nodded her head. Reaching out her hand she waited for the child to take it. After several minutes the girl took the offered hand.

Akisame closed her eyes and let the child's past fill her. The horrible death of her family, the beatings of the villagers, her trying to treat an injured Sesshomaru, the wolf youkai ordering his pack to eat their fill, her death, and finally her happy memories of her time with Sesshomaru. Firmly tamping down her anger she smiled at the girl. "Let's go to the village, Rin. There is someone you should meet. Your new brother Shippo." Standing she kept the childs hand in hers with the other she reached for Sesshomaru's hand.

He took her hand and the three walked back to the village, Jaken hurrying after, begging not to be left behind. Rin chattered the entire way, asking about her new brother and why Akisame's stomach was so round. Sesshomaru chuckled at the girl's antics, he hadn't realized how much he had missed having her around. When they reached the village Miroku met them. "Shall we discuss our plan Sesshomaru-sama?"

Sesshomaru nodded, "In a moment Houshi-sama. First we need to introduce Rin to her brother."

Akisame was totally charmed by her daughter. At the monks inturruption, she frowned slightly. "Yes. Shippo?" she called gently.

The kit ran from the hut and scampered up to her shoulder. "Hai, Akisame-mama?" he said hugging her.

"Shippo, this is Rin. She's your new sister. Why don't you two go play while we adults talk." She had sinced her husbands trust of the toad and turned to him, "Watch the children." turning back to Sesshomaru she whispered, knowing he would hear. "We need to talk about Rin. Akari is not the only one who deserves revenge." She met his eyes her own flashing with anger.

Inu Yasha had watched from his perch on the roof. He didn't understand Akisame's comment but he could smell the anger flowing from her. Leaping to the ground, he stepped inside the hut, waiting. He had learned planning was not his strength, and to allow those who were to do it.

Sesshomaru nodded, sensing his mate's anger, he wondered what she had seen in Rin's mind. After seeing that Rin and Shippo were happily playing, Shippo sharing with RIn something Kagome had given him called candy, Sesshomaru and Akisame moved into Kaede's hut. The old miko decided to give them privacy and went to help Jaken's supervison of the children. When all were gathered in Kaede's hut, Sesshomaru began. "Before I mention my plan...I wish to hear everyone's thoughts. Inu Yasha?"

"Plan?" Inu Yasha asked growing angry, "What's to plan. We go in kidnap the bastard have Akisame read his mind and kill him. Simple. Right Miroku? Sango?" He looked to them to back him up. "It's how we always fought Naraku."

He growled his assent. "Exactly my idea my brother."

Sango gave an exasperated sigh. "Yes Inu Yasha it is how we always fought Naraku but I believe we need a little more...um, tact in this situation. I have a better idea," without waiting for the others to reply she plowed ahead, "Akisame goes in first, to offer the use of her abilities to the Prince. I'm certain he'll want a demonstration, therefore Akisame-chan can touch him. Then Miroku and I will seek audience with him, we'll decide for what along the way. She can let us know somehow if he is the one. Then we can plan to kidnap him."

The taijiya folded her arms across her chest, waiting for her friends responses.

Akisame smiled, "That is an excellent plan Sango. I will go in as a widow, taking Rin with me and my condition, it will not be hard to convince the prince of this fact. I preformed this function for the Shogun before I was cursed. As for informing you of his quilt or innocence it will be as simple as taking your hand. Just as I can read his thoughts, I have learned to send mine to others. Once his quilt, if he is, is established a simple ride out with the taijiya and monk to see the two demons camped near the castle should get him moving. I believe I saw in your mind Inu Yasha that he thinks himself a great slayer of demons."

"Feh, yea he does. I like my plan better." Inu Yasha mumbled

He admitted that the taijiya's plan was most certainly a better one but he couldnt help but feel a little dissappointment in foregoing his brother's plan. "Very well then that is what we shall do. Tomorrow morning we shall set out. Agreed?"

Miroku and Sango nodded their assent and rose to leave and begin preparations.

Once everyone had left the hut, Sesshomaru moved to kneel in front of his mate. He had admitted the taijiya's plan was better but he didnt like it very much. "I don't like this," he said seriously, gazing deep into her emerald eyes. "It's dangerous for you, Rin, and Keikan....but I see no other way."

Sighing he took her hand and placed a light kiss on the palm. "Be careful, love."

At his concern she smiled softly. "I will be. I faced Naraku alone, remember. I think I'll be able to handle a jealous prince." She turned her hand to hold his. "Do not worry about Rin or Keikan. I would face a hundred Narakus before I would let them come to harm." She didn't want to broach this next subject but she wouldn't back down. "When I read Rin, I saw something. She loves you dearly and calls you father to herself. I also saw a wolf demon, his pack is the one who killed her." She sent the image of the wolf youkai telling his pack to eat their fill, holding onto the terror Rin had felt. "Do you know who he is? No one hurts my children."

His happiness at her revelation about Rin calling him father disappeared as Sesshomaru saw the image of the wolf youkai in his mind. The youkai was familiar. Where had he seen it? A deep snarl developed in his throat as he remembered who it was. "Kouga," he spat, rising and leaving the hut.

His brother would know where the wolf was. "Inu Yasha!"

Inu Yasha sat on his favorite branch of the Goshinboku. His thoughts as always lately turned to Kagome. Two times he had the chance to love that soul, both times it had been snatched from him. He was intelligent enough to realize that Sango and Akisame's plan was better. Yet he wanted to rush in and use his claws to tear the heart from the Prince, guilty or not. Sesshomaru's voice broke through his thoughts. He leapt down and met his brother half way. "What?"

Sesshomaru stopped in front of his half brother, barely keeping the anger from his voice. "Where is the wolf? I want his head."

"Wolf? What wolf?" The scent of anger coming off his brother was almost overpowering. "Kouga?"

Sesshomaru nodded as thunder rumbled through his body. They wouldn’t leave for the Prince's castle until tomorrow. Plenty of time for him to take care of the wolf. "Where is he?"

"Usually he finds Kagome. He was always calling 'my woman' and shit like that. Surprised he hasn't shown up yet, after ... well you know." Inu Yasha wondered why Sesshomaru was so visibly angry, "Why are you so interested in the wimpy wolf?"

Akisame had followed Sesshomaru outside, but with her daily increasing size, she was unable to keep up with his long strides. Turning she watched as Shippo and Rin played with the village children. She saw a whirlwind and called the two to her. As the wind settled an all to familiar wolf youkai slid to a stop in the center of the village. She felt Rin's terror as she pushed the child behind her.

"Where are you Inu-koro?" Kouga shouted.

Inu Yasha had scented the wolf and heard the all to familliar challenge. Stepping around his brother he headed back to the village. He found Kouga standing in the center of the village, hands on his hips glaring at him.

"What do you want, ya wimpy wolf?"

Sesshomaru followed Inu Yasha back to the village. It took him about three seconds to add up all the clues that this dark haired stranger was Kouga. The scent of Rin's fear on the wind only served to fuel his rage. In a flash he was in front of the wolf youkai, his hands, with their lengthening claws around his neck, lifting Kouga off his feet, snarling viciously . Red crept into his vision as he gazed into the frightened eyes of the one who had tried to kill Rin. All rational thought was gone from the inu taiyoukai's mind. He couldn’t even form words to tell the wolf what he had done.

Miroku heard the snarls and stepped to the door of the hut. Sesshomaru was holding Kouga in the air, with murder in his eyes. "Sango..." The taijiya was behind him in an instant as the two ran to Kouga's aid.

"SESSHOMARU!" Akisame yelled walking over to her mate. Forcing herself to calm her own rage at the wolves presence she touched his arm, through the now established link she reached passed the inraged beast to his calm logical mind. "You can not kill him. He doesn't even know why you attack him. You are frightening Rin. She has never seen you like this. Go calm your daughter I will deal with the wolf."

He felt Akisame's touch, heard her words. Slowly he pushed back the beast within, letting Kouga drop to the ground. With a last growl of warning, Sesshomaru turned and walked away from the wolf and his mate. When he stood before Rin, he knelt before her. She was frightened. "Sesshomaru-sama?" she asked in a tremulous voice.

Sesshomaru nodded his head once, "I am sorry Rin, please forgive me."

The girl threw herself into his arms in answer. As he held his daughter, he kept his ears trained on his mate and the wolf.

Miroku and Sango watched Akisame calm the raging Sesshomaru, amazed that she had been able to reach him. The stopped a few feet behind Kouga, waiting to see if explanation would be offered.

Kouga took deep ragged breaths. Who ever the human was before him she'd saved him from the Inu Taiyoukai's claws. "Thank..."

"Quiet wolf." Akisame snapped. She watched as he stood with none of his usual cockiness. Reaching out she grabbed his arm. As soon as the connection was made she sent him all Rin's memories of the day she had seen him and her terror. She sent them with the same speed the curse use to force her to see anothers memories.

Inu Yasha watched as Sesshomaru's mate calmed him and then confronted the wolf. He began to see what his brother found in her. She had the same spirit as Akari and Kagome. The same strength to face what needed to face. Then Kouga's screams started.

Sesshomaru saw Akari's hand flash out and covered Rin's ears, her face was still pressed to his chest. He knew what his mate was doing and he derived pleasure from Kouga's screams.

Sango's hands flew up to her own ears as the wolf's cries began. Miroku just stared.

Shippo ran behind Sesshomaru holding his ears from Kouga's screams. He didn't know what had happened but he knew the Akisame-mama's magic was just as strong if different from his Kagome-mama's.

Dropping her hand she watched as the wolf fell to his knees. "You in your quest for jewel shards, ordered the death of how many? I am quite sure that Rin's village was not the first. How would you like to feel that agony every day of your life? I can make that happen. I felt the same agony when I read Rin, so I know exactly what you felt." She glared down at him. "The terror, the desperation, the feel of your wolves teeth on her. All of it can be yours forever."

"Please," Kouga could barely breath, this woman was not like the other two. Kagome had thought him a friend and Akari never thought much of him. But this woman, she terrified him. To be able to place such agony in his head. "No." he turned to where Sesshomaru held the small girl. With trembling steps he walked towards them, kneeling before them he spoke. "I didn't know. I am sorry that I caused you such pain and terror little girl." He met Sesshomaru's eyes "You have the right to demand my death. But I ask you to give me a chance to name a successor or to assist you in getting revenge against your first mate's murder."

He put his free arm around Shippo, comforting the kit as well. When the wolf came to him, he stared him straight in the eye. He knew Kouga had suffered at Akisame's hands and she could make him suffer even more should she want to. His forgiveness was far from earned but he knew the wolf had gotten a punishment worse than what he could ever have done. "If I did not know exactly what my mate had done to you...then I would tear your heart out right now and feed it to your wolves," he whispered, his voice soft and lethal, "If you wish to accompany us...you may."

Sesshomaru rose, lifting both Shippo and Rin with him and went to his mate. He could still feel his own anger burning deep within. When he got there, he realized his dilemma. He had no arms free with which to embrace her. He settled for rubbing his cheek against her head. "Remind me never to make you angry my love."

"You never will." She promised him and at his puzzled look she smiled, "Because you know better." Taking Shippo from him she moved to his side, needing his arm around her.

Inu Yasha looked at Kouga. The wolf hadn't moved, his eyes were haunted and his face was pale. "Oi wolf, what did she do to you?"

"Inu Yasha," Kouga said still dazed, his mind still trying to place the memories that had been thrust upon him. "Who is that woman?"

"Akisame, Sesshomaru's mate that's really all we know about her." Inu Yasha was amazed at the dazed expression the wolf still wore.

"Inu-koro, take my advice, never, ever, even if your life depends on it piss that woman off." He shuddered. "She has things in her mind that would give Naraku nightmares."

Sesshomaru put his arm around Akisame's waist. "Come, we should prepare for our journey."

Miroku took several hesitant steps toward Kouga. "What did you do?"

Kouga was still keeping one eye on the red headed woman beside Sesshomaru. Silently he swore to never get within arms reach of her again. Looking at the monk the freshly added memories rose, causing another shudder to go through him. "Something I wish I'd never done." With that he turned and walked into the forest.

Inu Yasha watched the wolf go. What ever Akisame had done, it had appeased his brother's fury. "All I know is it had something to do with Rin."

"Well," the houshi replied, "I think it might be wise not to bring it up."

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