Chapter Two: Her Scent in the Wind
Sesshomaru sat on the ledge extending from his cave in the mountain. It overlooked the western lands, and from that position he could see and smell everything in the area.
"Are you longing for your son, My Lord?" Jaken asked. Sesshomaru remained silent.
"We don't know if Sango gave birth to a boy or a girl." Rin pointed out. But she was sure Sesshomaru would only be satisfied with a boy. It was what any prominent father would want, especially if that father was a powerful demon.
"One cannot long for the things unattainable to him." Sesshomaru replied at last.
"But he's your child." Rin protested. "He shouldn't be unattainable to you."
"Rin is actually right." Jaken agreed.
"Why did Sango leave anyway?" Rin asked. Of course she had asked this question numerous times, but Sesshomaru never had an answer for her.
"She is a woman." Sesshomaru said softly. "Women are foolish, incompetent, and emotional."
"Sango was better than that!" Rin shouted abruptly. Sesshomaru glared back at her.
"Find something productive to do, Rin." he said firmly. Rin's lip was trembling. She should never have gave way to her feelings. She dropped to her knees beside Sesshomaru and bowed.
"Forgive me, My Lord." she whispered.
"Go, Rin." Rin got up slowly and took Aun into the sky. Jaken released a heavy sigh.
Inuyasha and Shippo spent another night alone by the fire. Kagome and Miroku had gone off on another one of their late night "walks". Shippo nestled himself in Inuyasha's lap like always, and Inuyasha propped himself up against a sturdy tree.
Deep into the night something startled Inuyasha from sleep. Something pressingly familiar. He gulped heavily. It was the scent he had been longing to smell again. Sango... Inuyasha hadn't caught her scent in the wind in years. He felt completely lost without Sango, and now he could smell her, her scent like a sweet aroma to fill his nostrils. His eyes scanned the sky for Kirara, but he couldn't see her anywhere. Would Sango visit him?
Sesshomaru also noticed Sango's scent in the air. But more importantly, he could smell his own blood in the looming darkness. He would see his child at last. It appears you have not forgotten me after all, my dear Sango.
At last Kirara landed on the ledge where Sesshomaru stood waiting. A little boy climbed off of her back and dropped to his knees. Sango simply approached him, her gaze cold, yet full of sorrow.
"It is a pleasure to at last make your acquaintance, My Lord." the boy said. Sesshomaru was slightly taken aback at the small boy's progress.
"Rise, child." Sesshomaru commanded. The boy stood up, but still did not look his father in the eye.
"What have you chosen to name him?" Sesshomaru asked Sango.
"Shukun," she replied quietly. Even her voice was still as sweet.
"A very fitting choice, Sango." He glanced down at young Shukun. "Do not be afraid to look at me. It is already clear you know your place."
"Yes, My Lord." Shukun said. He seemed awestruck by the majestic, powerful demon before him. He was also pleasantly surprised by the strong resemblance. It then appeared that Shukun had remembered something.
"Mother," he said, turning to her. He removed another flower from his kimono. "This is for you. It's a blossom." Sesshomaru frowned. Sango accepted the flower with a weak smile and tucked it into her kimono.
"Jaken, find Shukun a room." Sesshomaru said.
"Yes, My Lord." he said. "My Lord, please follow me this way." Shukun knew better than to question his father, and followed the humble imp through the cave.
"I don't intend to stay here, Sesshomaru." Sango muttered after Jaken and Shukun vanished into the darkness.
"I don't understand why you've waited so long-"
"I did not want to return." Sango could hardly look at him. Sesshomaru frowned. He approached her and took her hand.
"You promised that you would be loyal to me." he said, quivering. The words were cold enough to pierce Sango's heart.
"I was loyal to you. I have always been loyal to you, Sesshomaru." Sango protested angrily. "I only wanted you to love me." Sesshomaru looked away from her, never letting go of her hand.
"I want to love you, Sango." he muttered. Sango tore her hand from his grasp.
"There's something I would like to do, Sesshomaru." she said. "Please look after Shu."
"You need not ask." Sesshomaru said gently.
"Excuse me, then." Sesshomaru seized her arm once more.
"Sango, you're going to see Inuyasha, aren't you?" Sango nodded.
"As well as Kagome and Shippo." she replied. "I'll be back by morning." Sesshomaru watched Sango ride Kirara off into the distance.
Sango's scent was growing stronger. Inuyasha set Shippo down in the grass beside the fire and wandered into the forest, following the scent. It inspired such ferocious desire in him that he couldn't bear her being so close and yet out of his grasp. He wanted to see her before the others did. He had to.
Sango landed Kirara in a clearing and began to walk the rest of the way. It seemed Inuyasha's scent was isolated from the others. She knew he must have picked up on her scent.
"Sango!" Inuyasha exclaimed in a whisper. He rushed forward and wrapped his arms around Sango's waist, holding her close. Sango gently returned the embrace, gripping the back of Inuyasha's kimono tightly. Inuyasha gently nuzzled her neck before kissing it sweetly.
"I'm so sorry Inuyasha-"
"Where the hell were you? You promised, Sango." Inuyasha suddenly said angrily.
"I couldn't bear to see you or Sesshomaru. I wanted to be there to avenge my family, but I at least knew that you and Sesshomaru would do them justice." Sango replied. "Besides, I had Shukun to take care of."
"Where is he? I know he's not mine, but-"
"He's with his father, Inuyasha."
"Of course." Inuyasha hid his disappointment. He then resumed his task of kissing Sango's neck. Sango pushed him away.
"Inuyasha," she scolded. Inuyasha nodded silently.
"I'm sorry, but I've been waiting all this time for you."
"I'm still married to your brother, Inuyasha."
"I don't want you to be."
"Where are the others?" Inuyasha released a depressing sigh.
"Kagome and Miroku are a lot closer than you may remember." Inuyasha admitted quietly. "They're 'enjoying' each other's company in the forest somewhere. But Shippo will be more than happy to see you." Sango took off running. Inuyasha and Kirara walked together at a slower pace, Inuyasha making sure to scratch behind Kirara's big, black ears. She purred.
"Shippo!" Sango shouted. Shippo was startled out of his sleep. But once he saw Sango, his face lit up.
"Sango!" He leapt into her arms. "I missed you so much!" he announced lovingly. Sango kissed his forehead.
"I've missed you too." she said. Kagome and Miroku at last emerged from the dense forest. They were both shocked to see Sango back.
"Oh my gosh, Sango!" Kagome rushed into Sango's arms. "Where's your baby?"
"He's with his father." Sango replied. "Actually, that's the only reason I came back. He wanted to meet Sesshomaru. I could not deny him that right."
"What is his name?" Miroku asked. He remembered dreaming of having children with Sango and all the names he had thought of.
"His name is Shukun." Sango replied.
"He will be the Inu no Taisho one day." Kagome agreed. "He's probably adorable!"
"Shu actually looks just like his father." Inuyasha fought back the knot building up in his throat. In many ways he felt that Shukun was a huge factor interrupting his potential relationship with Sango.
"I'll bet."
"Are you going to stay this time?" Shippo asked. Everyone grew silent, apprehensive of the answer.
"If I do stay anywhere near here, it will be with Sesshomaru." Sango said, kissing Shippo's forehead again. "I understand that the jewel shards are missing once more, but that is no longer my duty."
"We understand, Sango." Miroku said. "You have your own family now."
"Shukun," Sesshomaru called stoically.
"Yes, Father?" Shukun emerged from the back of the main room and stood waiting attentively.
"Sit beside me." Sesshomaru ordered. Shukun did so.
"Why do you give your mother flowers? It is an awfully foolish thing to do."
"Forgive me, Father, but I disagree." Shukun said cautiously. "I give My Lady a flower everyday as a symbol of my love for her. And each day the flower is always different, unlike any other flower I have given her." Sesshomaru was shocked by the boy's philosophy.
"Why is each flower different?"
"Because that makes the task more difficult." Shukun replied. "Which is also symbolic of the effort she has put into raising me alone." Sesshomaru looked down at his son as a warm feeling resembling joy rushed through him.
"Come, Shukun." Sesshomaru gestured to his lap. Shukun seemed shocked by this, but sat down in his father's lap. The warmth of his mokomoko-sama was relaxing. Shukun began to drift into sleep with the moonlight gently illuminating his pale face. This boy was so astonishing to Sesshomaru.
Sesshomaru looked down at his son and made a resolution. I will find a way to make you feel loved, Sango. You will never walk away from me again.