AN: Here we go people. A special Inu-yasha adventure. This isn't part of the Chaos Series, but we hope you'll like it anyway. Once again, all disclaimers apply. We don't own anything. :-)
Family Ties.
Chapter One.
Inu-yasha sat outside of the hut waiting for Kagome to finish cooking inside. Songo was polishing her weapons, Miroku was studying an ancient manuscript, and Shippo was playing with some of the toys Kagome had brought him from the future. It seemed like the day was going to be an uneventful one. There had been no report of jewel shards or Naruaku in days so there wasn't any place to rush off to at the moment. To tell the truth, Inu-yasha was getting kind of bored.
Suddenly, his sensitive ears picked up the fast pounding of hooves on the road. He looked up, and saw three riders cutting through the village. They were coming towards Inu-yasha.
As the three samurai approached, their clothes tattered, and dusty, Kagome came out of the hut with a bowl of Ramen
"You're noodles are ready!" She said to Inu-yasha.
"We've got company," He muttered. Kagome turned, and stood next to him as the obvious leader of the three men came forward. He was tall, gray headed, and very grin looking. Not a very pleasant character at all. Yet he had a very pleased look on his face when he saw Inu-yasha.
"Are you half-demon man named Inu-yasha?" he asked.
"Who wants to know?" Inu-yasha replied. Kagome elbowed him in the gut.
"Be nice!" she hissed at him. "He is, sir. What can we do for you?" At this, Shippo, Miroku, and Songo stuck their heads out of the tent, intrigued.
"What you may do for me is accompany me back to the realm of my lord Katsuro. He anxiously awaits you and your company at his palace." The stranger said, kneeling on the ground before them. Inu-yasha looked at him, wondering if he were stupid or something.
"Katsuro, sounds familiar." He said scratching his head. "Where have I heard that name before?" He asked.
"It is the name of your honorable cousin." The stranger informed him.
"His cousin?" The others all gasped.
"Does Inu-yasha actually have a family?" Miroku asked.
"Oh yeah," Inu-yasha recalled. "I remember now, that little brat that used to run around all over the place calling me names when I was young. He's still alive huh?"
"Yes, my Lord Inu-yasha, and he wishes to see you as soon as it may be possible for you come." Inu-yasha had to think about this for a moment. He hadn't seen any of his mother's kin in a long time. What business could they possibly have with him now, after all these years? He smelled a trap.
"No way, tell him to buzz off." Inu-yasha said sternly. "I haven't the time for family reunions." He turned around to walk away but then the old samurai got down on all fours and pleaded with him.
"Please come back with us! My Lord wishes it, and I have never failed in doing my Lord's wishes." The old samurai said, prostrate. "All he wishes with you is the pleasure of your company." Kagome turned to Inu-yasha and took him by the arm.
"Inu-yasha, these guys seem serious about this. Maybe we should go with them." She told him.
"No way." He replied. "These are the same people who tossed me out on my rear when my mother died and stripped me of everything that I was entitled to. They cast me aside like a mangy dog. They can all rot for all I care. I'm not going." He stated.
"But Inu-yasha, from the sound of it, it would seem that your cousin seeks to make things right between you. Why else would he send for you after all these years? What possible gains could come from sending these men after you if he really felt the way you believe?" Miroku asked him. Inu-yasha sat down on the floor and looked at them all for a moment while he thought it over in his head again. What they said made sense but then why had his family cast him aside all those years ago to begin with? Maybe his cousin had had a change of heart after all that time had passed, but it was doubtful. More than likely he just wanted something from him and that's why he'd sent for him. There was probably some demon that needed killing or a Warlord threatening invasion.
Still, it would be a lark to find out what it was that his cousin wanted and then turn him down to his face. Pay him back for throwing him out all those years ago. That would be priceless as far as Inu-yasha was concerned.
"Okay," He said getting up. "I've got nothing better to do, let's go."
"We'll be happy to accompany you back to your Lord's realm." Kagome told the strangers. They clapped their hands together and praised Inu-yasha for agreeing to come, then they got back on their horses and waited for Inu-yasha and his friends to get their things. They made a particular point to pack all their weapons and camping gear as this was obviously not an over night trip. In fact they would have to travel for many days over the landscape of Japan deep into the west where Inu-yasha had originally come from. It had been long lonely years since Inu-yasha had passed this way. Now he was returning to the land of his birth where only bitter memories resided. It was strange for him to see how villages had changed and people had thrived in that place which had harbored no good intentions for him.
When he was a child he used to play in the woods that they passed through on the third day of their journey. He remembered that he used to play alone because being a half breed, he had no friends. It was not a comforting memory nor one he wished to recall now. Now he had several friends, a good woman, and a home. He suddenly wondered why it was that he'd even agreed to come on this long trek. He didn't owe this cousin of his anything, not even his scorn. That he had saved for others.
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Kagome watched Inu-yasha for a long time as they walked behind the three samurai. He seemed so distant as they came into the realm of Lord Katsuro. He was like a stone, unmoved, at least on the outside. Inside she knew he had to be feeling something. You don't just feel nothing at all when you return home after fifty years. As they drew closer to the Palace of Inu-yasha's cousin's though, his demeanor changed. He suddenly began looking about as if he expected some old ghost from the past to pop up. He even began to walk ahead of the group. Kagome wondered what he was feeling as he beheld his childhood home again. The memories he must have been experiencing, the feelings he must have been having. If only he would open up to her, share what he was feeling, and tell her what this all meant to him to be home again. Kagome wanted so badly to be able to feel and experience this all with him.
---------------------------------------------------
Inu-yasha beheld his childhood home in reverence. Not far from here, behind the palace walls, was the grave of his mother. She'd been laid to rest in this place where he'd dared not go. Inu-yasha suddenly felt ashamed of himself for not returning to this place sooner to see her. Being there now brought all this into mind. He would finally get to visit the grave of his mother again and lay out flowers and burn incense for her. He would finally be able to say goodbye to her in the way he'd always secretly wished to.
"I'm home." He said suddenly as they gates opened before them and they walked into the strong hold of his cousin. Lord Katsuro, the ruler of the province, and the only family he had left who wasn't out to kill him.
"This is where you grew up?" Songo asked Inu-yasha as they looked around the palace grounds. It was a magnificent courtyard with a small huts the servants obviously lived in, and a small shrine. On the outside there was a large earthworks fort built around it to protect it from invaders. In the center there was a huge palace made of stone and wood. They were all impressed, including Inu-yasha. The palace had not been this big when he was last there. But then a lot of things had changed. There used to be a small river which flowed through the courtyard. Now there was just a ditch with a small bridge leading over it.
"What happened to the river?" He asked as they passed over the bridge.
"It was dammed up to provide fresh water for the palace." The old Samurai said Inu-yasha was not surprised. Though he wondered what the servants did for water now that there was no more river to provide them with a means of gathering it fresh. When they came to the palace entrance the three Samurai dismounted and handed their mounts off to three pages who were waiting to take their mounts to the stables. It was late in the day and they had been traveling for days. Everyone of them was tired and ready for a rest bit. Including Inu-yasha who was in no mood to see any relatives that day. He had other things on his mind, like seeing his mother grave, and having a hot meal before bed. He looked over at Kagome who was nursing her sore feet.
"Tired?" He asked her.
"Yeah, really tired, and ready for a rest. I hope you're not going to be rude to your cousin." She told him. "I'd hate it if we walked all the way here just to walk back again." Inu-yasha scowled, he'd gotten the message, no confrontations tonight. Just rest and quiet. He could do with a good bit of that himself. The large wooden doors opened up and two servants brought out a red carpet for them to walk on as they entered into the palace. It was definitely to Kagome and the others' liking. Inu-yasha thought it was a bit much though. The red carpet treatment, come on, how corny could this cousin of his be? He wondered. They followed the carpeting deep into the palace which was quite large. There were many rooms, many doors, and still many more hallways all leading off to different chambers. The one they were heading to though was the main dinning room where they were surprised to fine a huge feast prepared for them.
"Wow!" Kagome exclaimed, "What a spread. You'd better not be rude to someone who went through all this trouble, Inu-yasha." She reminded him.
"Most excellent." Miroku said taking a seat on a blue pillow near the end. There were over a dozen more places set with pillows of all different colors. Some different shades of green, blue, and orange. The long wooden table was piled high with savory meats, rice, vegetables, and sweet cakes. It was truly a feast fit of an Emperor.
"Please, take a seat." The old Samurai said as he sat down across from Miroku. "This is meant for you Lord Inu-yasha. You and your lady may sit here at the end. Your honorable cousin will be here shortly." Inu-yasha looked at the table then at each of his friends.
"Uh, his lady?" Kagome asked.
"Just play along, I don't think that they'd understand the concept of dating the way you've explained it to me." Inu-yasha told her. Besides, he liked the idea of Kagome being his lady. It made him feel a little more close to her. They sat down together while Songo and Shippo took their seats next to Miroku. "So should we just dig in?"
"Sure, why not?" Inu-yasha reasoned. "If this Katsuro is as I remember him, he won't mind. The guy was a total chowhound when he was little. Fat and kind of dumpy." They each took a bowle and started to chow down on the feast when trumpets began to sound in their ears. Servants rushed about throwing flower pedals and spraying incense as two tall men in blue robes with a great following of young girls in pink robes came into the room. One of them was an older man with long gray hairs tied back in a pony tail while the younger man's hair flowed freely about his shoulders.
"Inu-yasha." The older man said as he came near to the han-you. "It is so good to see you again deal cousin." He reached out to Inu-yasha and put his arms around him in quite a strong, manly embrace.
"Uh, Katsuro?" Inu-yasha asked, feeling the power of the man's arms around him.
"My dear cousin, how long has it been since we parted company?" Katsuro asked him, letting go. "It must be over fifty years since we last saw each other. I must have changed a great deal since then. You on the other hand, look absolutely the same. Must be your great heritage at work." The idol flattery was unbelievable.
"My great heritage huh? The last time we saw each other you called me a monster who, how did you put it, oh yeah. Deserved nothing more than to have the dust cover my body when I died a cold and lonely death." Inu-yasha stated quite plainly.
"Words said in anger and in haste. I assure you, I meant them not. My deepest and most heartfelt apologies cousin. I was a brash young man in those days, barely out of my childhood, and I was bitter. Things have changed though since that time. I am no longer the same man you knew then. As you can see." Katsuro said, flexing his muscles. "Gone is the fat, dumpy young upstart. I am now a man worth his salt and ready to restore you to your rightful place in this family."
"Feh, I'll believe it when I see it." Inu-yasha muttered. Kagome just sighed. She had warned him not to be rude but sure enough he was making a spectacle of himself.
"Please don't mind Inu-yasha." Kagome finally spoke up. "He's just a little skeptical of all this good treatment is all. He's not used to having people dote over him." She explained.
"As I expected." Katsuro said. "Being a half demon has always been something of a shamed experience for him. Even when we were both young, he was somewhat ashamed of what he was. That is all over now. Now my cousin, you can be proud of who you are. You are a proud member of a royal clan. One with high aspirations and the means to make real the dreams I'm sure you've had of being a nobleman."
"I don't dream of stuff like that anymore." Inu-yasha informed him. "I've got Kagome and my friends, I don't need nobility. Once I've collected all of the sacred jewel shards I'll become a full blooded demon and then I'll have everything that I want." He boasted. "I came here to see if things really had changed between us. I've found that out now and all that's left is to see the grave of my mother." Katsuro looked down at him for a time. It was hard to gage his response.
"I see." Was all he said. "Well, please stay for dinner at least, and meet my family. Come my lovelies. Come and meet your cousin." He commanded the young girls. They all rushed over to Inu-yasha and huddled around him, giggling, and playing with his ears.
"Hey, what is this?" Inu-yasha demanded.
"These are seven of my eight daughters. All beauties beyond compare and all delighted to meet you." Katsuro said. Miroku looked at all the beautiful young women gathered around Inu-yasha and several dirty thoughts ran through his head all at once. His face went beat red at the thought of all those girls in quite provocative posses. Songo turned to him then and smacked the back of his head.
"Cool it monk, remember, we're here for Inu-yasha. Not to satisfy your sexual appetites."
"Um, yes, of course." Miroku said. Just then though his eyes bulged out of his head as yet another beautiful young woman came running into the room. She was dressed in a green kimono and her long black hair was like a vale about her head. She was absolutely gorgeous. "Oh my." The monk gasped when he saw her. Inu-yasha turned his head and a look of shock and surprise came over his face as he rose to his feet and stuttered.
"M…mother!" He exclaimed as he beheld the young girl. She blushed to see him and was uncertain about drawing any closer. "I can't be." He said.
"You see the resemblance as well." Katsuro said to Inu-yasha as he motioned for the girl to come closer. She obeyed and came to her father's side where he embraced her and held her in his arms like a loving father should. "This is my youngest daughter, Midori. She is my pride and joy. The most beautiful of all my daughters and the kindest, sweetest girl in the world." Inu-yasha beheld the sweet young Midori and a single tear rolled down his cheek.
"She's more beautiful than words can say." He said then. Kagome felt a little hurt by those words because Inu-yasha had never said such things about her. Then of course she didn't resemble his dead mother. She supposed that she would forgive him this time, only because he was taken kind of by surprise, and because this was a pretty unbelievable day. Still, the way he was looking at Midori made Kagome feel uncomfortable. Just then though Miroku got up from his seat and went over to the girl. He took her hand in his and kissed it gently.
"Greetings, I am Miroku, a monk in Lord Inu-yasha's service." He said. "Might I inquire as to…" Inu-yasha ran over to him then and grabbed him up by the robes.
"Don't you touch her!" He growled. "You can have your way with any other woman for all I care but you will not touch this girl!" There was a look of cold merciless anger in Inu-yahsa's eyes and Miroku saw that he had better not pursue the issue any further, lest he unleash the full demon within Inu-yasha.
"Of course." Miroku said "I would never…"
"That's right. You'll never." Inu-yasha took the young Mirdoi aside and whispered something to her. She blushed then looked over at the monk Miroku. "Understand?" He asked her.
"Oh yes." She said and giggled, her sweet innocent, childish voice was like honey, and her smile like a poem that had no end. "Would he really have?" She asked him.
"In a heart beat." He replied. She blushed even brighter and then covered her face with a fan as she took a seat beside Kagome.
"Is this your woman?" Midori inquired.
"Sort of." Inu-yasha replied. Kagome suddenly felt a sort of strange pride welling up inside of her at being known as Inu-yasha's lover.
"She is beautiful, and very strong. I would suppose that she'll bare you many strong sons." Midori said. Kagome blushed then too. Her face turned beat red at the thought of baring any of Inu-yasha's children. Then a strange thought entered into her head. She suddenly thought that being the mother of his children wouldn't be quite so bad. No, could she though? She put the strange ideas out of her mind for the moment and then turned back to Mirdori who was sitting so near to Inu-yasha now. The two of them almost seemed to be flirting with each other the way they were talking and laughing like two old friends. Kagome was getting to be more than a little jealous.
"So who's the strong silent type over there by the door?" Kagome asked suddenly as if trying to turn their attentions away from the ravishing young beauty who seemed to captivate everyone in the room.
"Oh that is my second son Kenji." Katsuro said. "He is my only surviving son and heir to my rule over this province." Kenji came forward and bowed gracefully to Kagome who had noticed him first.
"My lady," He said, "It is a pleasure." He had a deep, thick voice, very handsome and welcoming. His face was kind of sad though, like he was hiding a deep hurt that could not be healed. Kagome felt very sad for him. Once all of the introductions had been made, Inu-yasha and the others all sat back down to eat. He felt more at home now in the familiar surroundings than he had when he'd first arrived. Maybe it was getting to know everyone again, or maybe it was Midori. She sat in between him and Kagome and sipped tea with them. She was so gentle and graceful, and so much like his mother. He began to wonder if maybe she were her reincarnation. That maybe, somehow, she'd been given back to him the way Kikyo had been given back to him in Kagome.
Throughout the evening, things seemed relatively peaceful. Although it was a bit much with seven giggly girls and one particularly doting princess- who went so far as to feed Inu-yasha with her own chopsticks- grabbing everyone's attention.
"Open wide," Midori coaxed her cousin.
"I can eat on my own, you know," Inu-yasah grumbled. But before he could close his mouth, Midori popped the rice and shrimp into his mouth.
"I know," she said with a sugary sweet smile, "but this is more fun."
Kagome gave them a cold stare, then turned to Kenji, and asked, in her most charming voice, "So you're the prince, huh? What's that like?"
"It is a pleasant existence," he said cooly. "I could not wish for better." But even though the way he said it was making Kagome swoon, she detected that this was a bit of a lie. Something must be wrong. His gray eyes seemed so preoccupied. So distant.
Meanwhile, Songo was not a happy camper. The other five of the other seven girls were making eyes at Miroku, while the other two played with Shippo and his fluffy tail. So she also started paying more attention to Kenji. Talking to him, and laughing hap-hazardly at his subtle jokes- which really weren't that funny- but still, it was better than being ignored.
Through all of this, Katsuro remained the gracious, if somewhat stoic, host. Then, as servants took away the empty bowls and platters, Katsuro stood up.
"My children," he said, "I fear our visit with Inu-yasha and his company is over for today."
"Awww" they all sighed. Then, the girls obediently got up, and followed their older brother from the room. Katsuro clapped his hands, and another servant came forth.
"Please, show my cousin and his companions to their rooms. I wish you all a restful, and peaceful night." he said to them before exiting the room himself.
They followed the mindless drone to a hallway that contained three rooms. He directed Songo and Shippo to one room, Miroku to another, and as Kagome was about to follow Songo and Shippo, he said, "And this your room, My lord and lady."
"What?" Inu-yasha and Kagome both asked.
"It is customary for you to share the same bedchamber, is it not? I must confess, I know little about the relations of demons and mortals…" he said quite guardedly. He was acting like a safe was about to drop on his head. Was it Inu-yasha's presence that was scaring him?
"Well, it's just… uh…" Kagome stammered. They went into the room, and looked at the single bed. Behind them, the door closed, and they heard the servant running off.
"So…" Kagome said, at a loss for words. This was beyond awkward for her.
Inu-yasha sighed uncomfortably, and said, "You take the bed. I'll stick to the floor."
"No, that's not fair," she said. "We can share the bed, but just don't expect to get anywhere with me tonight. Not after the way you were carrying on with Midori."
"What are you talking about?" he asked.
"Oh please!" Kagome yelled, scowling, "Letting her feed you, and cling on to you?"
"She was just being nice!" Inu-yasha yelled.
"No one's THAT nice except Miroku!" she yelled back. She threw her back pack on the floor beside the bed, and hopped on, ending the discussion.
Inu-yasha climbed in the bed beside her.
"Okay," Inu-yasha admitted, "So I was getting the royal treatment from them. It doesn't make any difference in the way I feel."
She didn't say anything. She turned over and looked at him.
"It's just hard to see you with that girl, and wonder if maybe…" she said.
"What?" he asked.
"Maybe you're getting tired of me?" she suggested.
"Hey," he said gently, 'No way. You know how I feel about you, Kagome. No one could ever replace you." he kissed her, and all her fears melted away as the two of them lay there together.
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"Songo, I'm thirsty. Get me a glass of water," Shippo whined. It was the middle of the night, and Songo was tired. But she sighed, and got up. She went down many halls, found the kitchens, and was given a glass of water.
Just as she was closing the door to her room, she heard giggling. She handed the glass off to Shippo, and opened the door just a bit, and looked out into the hallway. Her eyes widened in rage as she watched one of the many princesses coming out of Miroku's room, adjusting her kimono over her bare shoulders. Songo gagged.
Shippo looked up at her, and handed her the half empty glass of water. She took it, drained it's contents, and then broke it in her hand. Shippo squeaked, and leaped under his covers. An angry Songo was not a pleasant sight.
AN: Will Miroku ever stop his lechery? Probably not in this lifetime folks. Please, review.
Family Ties.
Chapter One.
Inu-yasha sat outside of the hut waiting for Kagome to finish cooking inside. Songo was polishing her weapons, Miroku was studying an ancient manuscript, and Shippo was playing with some of the toys Kagome had brought him from the future. It seemed like the day was going to be an uneventful one. There had been no report of jewel shards or Naruaku in days so there wasn't any place to rush off to at the moment. To tell the truth, Inu-yasha was getting kind of bored.
Suddenly, his sensitive ears picked up the fast pounding of hooves on the road. He looked up, and saw three riders cutting through the village. They were coming towards Inu-yasha.
As the three samurai approached, their clothes tattered, and dusty, Kagome came out of the hut with a bowl of Ramen
"You're noodles are ready!" She said to Inu-yasha.
"We've got company," He muttered. Kagome turned, and stood next to him as the obvious leader of the three men came forward. He was tall, gray headed, and very grin looking. Not a very pleasant character at all. Yet he had a very pleased look on his face when he saw Inu-yasha.
"Are you half-demon man named Inu-yasha?" he asked.
"Who wants to know?" Inu-yasha replied. Kagome elbowed him in the gut.
"Be nice!" she hissed at him. "He is, sir. What can we do for you?" At this, Shippo, Miroku, and Songo stuck their heads out of the tent, intrigued.
"What you may do for me is accompany me back to the realm of my lord Katsuro. He anxiously awaits you and your company at his palace." The stranger said, kneeling on the ground before them. Inu-yasha looked at him, wondering if he were stupid or something.
"Katsuro, sounds familiar." He said scratching his head. "Where have I heard that name before?" He asked.
"It is the name of your honorable cousin." The stranger informed him.
"His cousin?" The others all gasped.
"Does Inu-yasha actually have a family?" Miroku asked.
"Oh yeah," Inu-yasha recalled. "I remember now, that little brat that used to run around all over the place calling me names when I was young. He's still alive huh?"
"Yes, my Lord Inu-yasha, and he wishes to see you as soon as it may be possible for you come." Inu-yasha had to think about this for a moment. He hadn't seen any of his mother's kin in a long time. What business could they possibly have with him now, after all these years? He smelled a trap.
"No way, tell him to buzz off." Inu-yasha said sternly. "I haven't the time for family reunions." He turned around to walk away but then the old samurai got down on all fours and pleaded with him.
"Please come back with us! My Lord wishes it, and I have never failed in doing my Lord's wishes." The old samurai said, prostrate. "All he wishes with you is the pleasure of your company." Kagome turned to Inu-yasha and took him by the arm.
"Inu-yasha, these guys seem serious about this. Maybe we should go with them." She told him.
"No way." He replied. "These are the same people who tossed me out on my rear when my mother died and stripped me of everything that I was entitled to. They cast me aside like a mangy dog. They can all rot for all I care. I'm not going." He stated.
"But Inu-yasha, from the sound of it, it would seem that your cousin seeks to make things right between you. Why else would he send for you after all these years? What possible gains could come from sending these men after you if he really felt the way you believe?" Miroku asked him. Inu-yasha sat down on the floor and looked at them all for a moment while he thought it over in his head again. What they said made sense but then why had his family cast him aside all those years ago to begin with? Maybe his cousin had had a change of heart after all that time had passed, but it was doubtful. More than likely he just wanted something from him and that's why he'd sent for him. There was probably some demon that needed killing or a Warlord threatening invasion.
Still, it would be a lark to find out what it was that his cousin wanted and then turn him down to his face. Pay him back for throwing him out all those years ago. That would be priceless as far as Inu-yasha was concerned.
"Okay," He said getting up. "I've got nothing better to do, let's go."
"We'll be happy to accompany you back to your Lord's realm." Kagome told the strangers. They clapped their hands together and praised Inu-yasha for agreeing to come, then they got back on their horses and waited for Inu-yasha and his friends to get their things. They made a particular point to pack all their weapons and camping gear as this was obviously not an over night trip. In fact they would have to travel for many days over the landscape of Japan deep into the west where Inu-yasha had originally come from. It had been long lonely years since Inu-yasha had passed this way. Now he was returning to the land of his birth where only bitter memories resided. It was strange for him to see how villages had changed and people had thrived in that place which had harbored no good intentions for him.
When he was a child he used to play in the woods that they passed through on the third day of their journey. He remembered that he used to play alone because being a half breed, he had no friends. It was not a comforting memory nor one he wished to recall now. Now he had several friends, a good woman, and a home. He suddenly wondered why it was that he'd even agreed to come on this long trek. He didn't owe this cousin of his anything, not even his scorn. That he had saved for others.
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Kagome watched Inu-yasha for a long time as they walked behind the three samurai. He seemed so distant as they came into the realm of Lord Katsuro. He was like a stone, unmoved, at least on the outside. Inside she knew he had to be feeling something. You don't just feel nothing at all when you return home after fifty years. As they drew closer to the Palace of Inu-yasha's cousin's though, his demeanor changed. He suddenly began looking about as if he expected some old ghost from the past to pop up. He even began to walk ahead of the group. Kagome wondered what he was feeling as he beheld his childhood home again. The memories he must have been experiencing, the feelings he must have been having. If only he would open up to her, share what he was feeling, and tell her what this all meant to him to be home again. Kagome wanted so badly to be able to feel and experience this all with him.
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Inu-yasha beheld his childhood home in reverence. Not far from here, behind the palace walls, was the grave of his mother. She'd been laid to rest in this place where he'd dared not go. Inu-yasha suddenly felt ashamed of himself for not returning to this place sooner to see her. Being there now brought all this into mind. He would finally get to visit the grave of his mother again and lay out flowers and burn incense for her. He would finally be able to say goodbye to her in the way he'd always secretly wished to.
"I'm home." He said suddenly as they gates opened before them and they walked into the strong hold of his cousin. Lord Katsuro, the ruler of the province, and the only family he had left who wasn't out to kill him.
"This is where you grew up?" Songo asked Inu-yasha as they looked around the palace grounds. It was a magnificent courtyard with a small huts the servants obviously lived in, and a small shrine. On the outside there was a large earthworks fort built around it to protect it from invaders. In the center there was a huge palace made of stone and wood. They were all impressed, including Inu-yasha. The palace had not been this big when he was last there. But then a lot of things had changed. There used to be a small river which flowed through the courtyard. Now there was just a ditch with a small bridge leading over it.
"What happened to the river?" He asked as they passed over the bridge.
"It was dammed up to provide fresh water for the palace." The old Samurai said Inu-yasha was not surprised. Though he wondered what the servants did for water now that there was no more river to provide them with a means of gathering it fresh. When they came to the palace entrance the three Samurai dismounted and handed their mounts off to three pages who were waiting to take their mounts to the stables. It was late in the day and they had been traveling for days. Everyone of them was tired and ready for a rest bit. Including Inu-yasha who was in no mood to see any relatives that day. He had other things on his mind, like seeing his mother grave, and having a hot meal before bed. He looked over at Kagome who was nursing her sore feet.
"Tired?" He asked her.
"Yeah, really tired, and ready for a rest. I hope you're not going to be rude to your cousin." She told him. "I'd hate it if we walked all the way here just to walk back again." Inu-yasha scowled, he'd gotten the message, no confrontations tonight. Just rest and quiet. He could do with a good bit of that himself. The large wooden doors opened up and two servants brought out a red carpet for them to walk on as they entered into the palace. It was definitely to Kagome and the others' liking. Inu-yasha thought it was a bit much though. The red carpet treatment, come on, how corny could this cousin of his be? He wondered. They followed the carpeting deep into the palace which was quite large. There were many rooms, many doors, and still many more hallways all leading off to different chambers. The one they were heading to though was the main dinning room where they were surprised to fine a huge feast prepared for them.
"Wow!" Kagome exclaimed, "What a spread. You'd better not be rude to someone who went through all this trouble, Inu-yasha." She reminded him.
"Most excellent." Miroku said taking a seat on a blue pillow near the end. There were over a dozen more places set with pillows of all different colors. Some different shades of green, blue, and orange. The long wooden table was piled high with savory meats, rice, vegetables, and sweet cakes. It was truly a feast fit of an Emperor.
"Please, take a seat." The old Samurai said as he sat down across from Miroku. "This is meant for you Lord Inu-yasha. You and your lady may sit here at the end. Your honorable cousin will be here shortly." Inu-yasha looked at the table then at each of his friends.
"Uh, his lady?" Kagome asked.
"Just play along, I don't think that they'd understand the concept of dating the way you've explained it to me." Inu-yasha told her. Besides, he liked the idea of Kagome being his lady. It made him feel a little more close to her. They sat down together while Songo and Shippo took their seats next to Miroku. "So should we just dig in?"
"Sure, why not?" Inu-yasha reasoned. "If this Katsuro is as I remember him, he won't mind. The guy was a total chowhound when he was little. Fat and kind of dumpy." They each took a bowle and started to chow down on the feast when trumpets began to sound in their ears. Servants rushed about throwing flower pedals and spraying incense as two tall men in blue robes with a great following of young girls in pink robes came into the room. One of them was an older man with long gray hairs tied back in a pony tail while the younger man's hair flowed freely about his shoulders.
"Inu-yasha." The older man said as he came near to the han-you. "It is so good to see you again deal cousin." He reached out to Inu-yasha and put his arms around him in quite a strong, manly embrace.
"Uh, Katsuro?" Inu-yasha asked, feeling the power of the man's arms around him.
"My dear cousin, how long has it been since we parted company?" Katsuro asked him, letting go. "It must be over fifty years since we last saw each other. I must have changed a great deal since then. You on the other hand, look absolutely the same. Must be your great heritage at work." The idol flattery was unbelievable.
"My great heritage huh? The last time we saw each other you called me a monster who, how did you put it, oh yeah. Deserved nothing more than to have the dust cover my body when I died a cold and lonely death." Inu-yasha stated quite plainly.
"Words said in anger and in haste. I assure you, I meant them not. My deepest and most heartfelt apologies cousin. I was a brash young man in those days, barely out of my childhood, and I was bitter. Things have changed though since that time. I am no longer the same man you knew then. As you can see." Katsuro said, flexing his muscles. "Gone is the fat, dumpy young upstart. I am now a man worth his salt and ready to restore you to your rightful place in this family."
"Feh, I'll believe it when I see it." Inu-yasha muttered. Kagome just sighed. She had warned him not to be rude but sure enough he was making a spectacle of himself.
"Please don't mind Inu-yasha." Kagome finally spoke up. "He's just a little skeptical of all this good treatment is all. He's not used to having people dote over him." She explained.
"As I expected." Katsuro said. "Being a half demon has always been something of a shamed experience for him. Even when we were both young, he was somewhat ashamed of what he was. That is all over now. Now my cousin, you can be proud of who you are. You are a proud member of a royal clan. One with high aspirations and the means to make real the dreams I'm sure you've had of being a nobleman."
"I don't dream of stuff like that anymore." Inu-yasha informed him. "I've got Kagome and my friends, I don't need nobility. Once I've collected all of the sacred jewel shards I'll become a full blooded demon and then I'll have everything that I want." He boasted. "I came here to see if things really had changed between us. I've found that out now and all that's left is to see the grave of my mother." Katsuro looked down at him for a time. It was hard to gage his response.
"I see." Was all he said. "Well, please stay for dinner at least, and meet my family. Come my lovelies. Come and meet your cousin." He commanded the young girls. They all rushed over to Inu-yasha and huddled around him, giggling, and playing with his ears.
"Hey, what is this?" Inu-yasha demanded.
"These are seven of my eight daughters. All beauties beyond compare and all delighted to meet you." Katsuro said. Miroku looked at all the beautiful young women gathered around Inu-yasha and several dirty thoughts ran through his head all at once. His face went beat red at the thought of all those girls in quite provocative posses. Songo turned to him then and smacked the back of his head.
"Cool it monk, remember, we're here for Inu-yasha. Not to satisfy your sexual appetites."
"Um, yes, of course." Miroku said. Just then though his eyes bulged out of his head as yet another beautiful young woman came running into the room. She was dressed in a green kimono and her long black hair was like a vale about her head. She was absolutely gorgeous. "Oh my." The monk gasped when he saw her. Inu-yasha turned his head and a look of shock and surprise came over his face as he rose to his feet and stuttered.
"M…mother!" He exclaimed as he beheld the young girl. She blushed to see him and was uncertain about drawing any closer. "I can't be." He said.
"You see the resemblance as well." Katsuro said to Inu-yasha as he motioned for the girl to come closer. She obeyed and came to her father's side where he embraced her and held her in his arms like a loving father should. "This is my youngest daughter, Midori. She is my pride and joy. The most beautiful of all my daughters and the kindest, sweetest girl in the world." Inu-yasha beheld the sweet young Midori and a single tear rolled down his cheek.
"She's more beautiful than words can say." He said then. Kagome felt a little hurt by those words because Inu-yasha had never said such things about her. Then of course she didn't resemble his dead mother. She supposed that she would forgive him this time, only because he was taken kind of by surprise, and because this was a pretty unbelievable day. Still, the way he was looking at Midori made Kagome feel uncomfortable. Just then though Miroku got up from his seat and went over to the girl. He took her hand in his and kissed it gently.
"Greetings, I am Miroku, a monk in Lord Inu-yasha's service." He said. "Might I inquire as to…" Inu-yasha ran over to him then and grabbed him up by the robes.
"Don't you touch her!" He growled. "You can have your way with any other woman for all I care but you will not touch this girl!" There was a look of cold merciless anger in Inu-yahsa's eyes and Miroku saw that he had better not pursue the issue any further, lest he unleash the full demon within Inu-yasha.
"Of course." Miroku said "I would never…"
"That's right. You'll never." Inu-yasha took the young Mirdoi aside and whispered something to her. She blushed then looked over at the monk Miroku. "Understand?" He asked her.
"Oh yes." She said and giggled, her sweet innocent, childish voice was like honey, and her smile like a poem that had no end. "Would he really have?" She asked him.
"In a heart beat." He replied. She blushed even brighter and then covered her face with a fan as she took a seat beside Kagome.
"Is this your woman?" Midori inquired.
"Sort of." Inu-yasha replied. Kagome suddenly felt a sort of strange pride welling up inside of her at being known as Inu-yasha's lover.
"She is beautiful, and very strong. I would suppose that she'll bare you many strong sons." Midori said. Kagome blushed then too. Her face turned beat red at the thought of baring any of Inu-yasha's children. Then a strange thought entered into her head. She suddenly thought that being the mother of his children wouldn't be quite so bad. No, could she though? She put the strange ideas out of her mind for the moment and then turned back to Mirdori who was sitting so near to Inu-yasha now. The two of them almost seemed to be flirting with each other the way they were talking and laughing like two old friends. Kagome was getting to be more than a little jealous.
"So who's the strong silent type over there by the door?" Kagome asked suddenly as if trying to turn their attentions away from the ravishing young beauty who seemed to captivate everyone in the room.
"Oh that is my second son Kenji." Katsuro said. "He is my only surviving son and heir to my rule over this province." Kenji came forward and bowed gracefully to Kagome who had noticed him first.
"My lady," He said, "It is a pleasure." He had a deep, thick voice, very handsome and welcoming. His face was kind of sad though, like he was hiding a deep hurt that could not be healed. Kagome felt very sad for him. Once all of the introductions had been made, Inu-yasha and the others all sat back down to eat. He felt more at home now in the familiar surroundings than he had when he'd first arrived. Maybe it was getting to know everyone again, or maybe it was Midori. She sat in between him and Kagome and sipped tea with them. She was so gentle and graceful, and so much like his mother. He began to wonder if maybe she were her reincarnation. That maybe, somehow, she'd been given back to him the way Kikyo had been given back to him in Kagome.
Throughout the evening, things seemed relatively peaceful. Although it was a bit much with seven giggly girls and one particularly doting princess- who went so far as to feed Inu-yasha with her own chopsticks- grabbing everyone's attention.
"Open wide," Midori coaxed her cousin.
"I can eat on my own, you know," Inu-yasah grumbled. But before he could close his mouth, Midori popped the rice and shrimp into his mouth.
"I know," she said with a sugary sweet smile, "but this is more fun."
Kagome gave them a cold stare, then turned to Kenji, and asked, in her most charming voice, "So you're the prince, huh? What's that like?"
"It is a pleasant existence," he said cooly. "I could not wish for better." But even though the way he said it was making Kagome swoon, she detected that this was a bit of a lie. Something must be wrong. His gray eyes seemed so preoccupied. So distant.
Meanwhile, Songo was not a happy camper. The other five of the other seven girls were making eyes at Miroku, while the other two played with Shippo and his fluffy tail. So she also started paying more attention to Kenji. Talking to him, and laughing hap-hazardly at his subtle jokes- which really weren't that funny- but still, it was better than being ignored.
Through all of this, Katsuro remained the gracious, if somewhat stoic, host. Then, as servants took away the empty bowls and platters, Katsuro stood up.
"My children," he said, "I fear our visit with Inu-yasha and his company is over for today."
"Awww" they all sighed. Then, the girls obediently got up, and followed their older brother from the room. Katsuro clapped his hands, and another servant came forth.
"Please, show my cousin and his companions to their rooms. I wish you all a restful, and peaceful night." he said to them before exiting the room himself.
They followed the mindless drone to a hallway that contained three rooms. He directed Songo and Shippo to one room, Miroku to another, and as Kagome was about to follow Songo and Shippo, he said, "And this your room, My lord and lady."
"What?" Inu-yasha and Kagome both asked.
"It is customary for you to share the same bedchamber, is it not? I must confess, I know little about the relations of demons and mortals…" he said quite guardedly. He was acting like a safe was about to drop on his head. Was it Inu-yasha's presence that was scaring him?
"Well, it's just… uh…" Kagome stammered. They went into the room, and looked at the single bed. Behind them, the door closed, and they heard the servant running off.
"So…" Kagome said, at a loss for words. This was beyond awkward for her.
Inu-yasha sighed uncomfortably, and said, "You take the bed. I'll stick to the floor."
"No, that's not fair," she said. "We can share the bed, but just don't expect to get anywhere with me tonight. Not after the way you were carrying on with Midori."
"What are you talking about?" he asked.
"Oh please!" Kagome yelled, scowling, "Letting her feed you, and cling on to you?"
"She was just being nice!" Inu-yasha yelled.
"No one's THAT nice except Miroku!" she yelled back. She threw her back pack on the floor beside the bed, and hopped on, ending the discussion.
Inu-yasha climbed in the bed beside her.
"Okay," Inu-yasha admitted, "So I was getting the royal treatment from them. It doesn't make any difference in the way I feel."
She didn't say anything. She turned over and looked at him.
"It's just hard to see you with that girl, and wonder if maybe…" she said.
"What?" he asked.
"Maybe you're getting tired of me?" she suggested.
"Hey," he said gently, 'No way. You know how I feel about you, Kagome. No one could ever replace you." he kissed her, and all her fears melted away as the two of them lay there together.
-------------------------------------------------
"Songo, I'm thirsty. Get me a glass of water," Shippo whined. It was the middle of the night, and Songo was tired. But she sighed, and got up. She went down many halls, found the kitchens, and was given a glass of water.
Just as she was closing the door to her room, she heard giggling. She handed the glass off to Shippo, and opened the door just a bit, and looked out into the hallway. Her eyes widened in rage as she watched one of the many princesses coming out of Miroku's room, adjusting her kimono over her bare shoulders. Songo gagged.
Shippo looked up at her, and handed her the half empty glass of water. She took it, drained it's contents, and then broke it in her hand. Shippo squeaked, and leaped under his covers. An angry Songo was not a pleasant sight.
AN: Will Miroku ever stop his lechery? Probably not in this lifetime folks. Please, review.