First Meeting

Kaede looked with great fondness at the three little faces looking back at her. They were open and happy children,'pups' Inuyasha called them and indeed with their puppy ears always alert and their noses often wrinkling because of new scents, they did look like puppies at times. Kaede was grateful to see them so easy going because they were true hanyou; Kagome's miko abilities had strengthened her blood and the resulting offspring were more than quarter youkai.

These pups had friends in the village too, and not only Miroku and Sango's children, the village had also accepted the parents fully, which had been the deciding factor to have pups as far as Inuyasha was concerned. Besides which, Lord Sesshoumaru had solemnly pledged his guardianship of the village and his brother's family, therefore Inuyasha's little ones would never know the harshness of their father's life.

All this passed in an instant through Kaede's mind as the twins and their younger sister settled down for a story; this too was familiar she had told stories to them before, but never about her personal relationship with Inuyasha. She had an idea that Kagome would like to know all this as well and a wicked smile graced her lips as she thought about how Inuyasha would be so embarrassed. But maybe, just maybe, it would help them both to understand him more.

After all Kaede was in a unique position where Inuyasha was concerned, she had known him since he was a young pup, really even younger than he was now. In a village such as theirs and with the fame and general history of their parents being so widely known, the pups already knew the characters of Kikyou and Naraku without the painful details. So Kaede knew she could introduce the names without constant questioning and she would be discreet, after all she had no wish to bring painful memories to her two adult listeners.

"Once a long time ago when I was younger than you twins, my older sister and I lived together. She was a very kind girl and looked after me well, considering that our parents had died because of a sickness. Kikyou was the village Miko and nursed us all with her knowledge of herbs, but only I survived and she became as a mother to me.

But she was so often busy with the rest of the villagers and her Miko duties that I was often without her and left to my own devices. Now you all know what happens when children are allowed to go unsupervised, they get into all sorts of trouble and I was no different. Kikyou warned me about going past the tree line of the forest, but I wanted to surprise her by collecting her herbs.

So off I went with my basket and all morning I picked herbs and sang, then I ate some sweetened rice balls that I had packed. I needed then to have some privacy but when I got back I found someone eating the rest of my lunch. Can you guess who it was pups? I'll show you how he acted to give you a clue."

With that Kaede sat and put her hands in her sleeves, turned her head to the side and stuck her nose in the air and said 'Feh!' The pups squealed with laughter as she mimicked their Papa and Kagome too said that the similarities were remarkable, and Inuyasha assumed the same pose and said 'Keh!' but he was smiling and not offended. Kaede continued;

"Your Papa immediately jumped into a tree and told me I was far too careless in the woods. All sorts of things were hidden and could all hurt me, he had already killed many who had wanted to eat me. I have to admit I screamed when Inuyasha pointed out to me the trail of strange creatures as he took me back towards the village. I was so scared at the time that I forgot to tell him off about eating my lunch. From then on he became my secret and I thought of him as a sort of secret pet, often taking him some food which I left on the rock inside the forest.

"I didn't tell Kikyou about my adventure straight away, but somehow she found out, I suspect now that she too went to the woods and found out; I still don't know if she met Inuyasha then. Did Kikyou know about you then Inuyasha?"

"She knew, she came to thank me for saving your life brat; and she left you the extra food to give to me." Inuyasha replied and Kaede blushed.

"It's been many years since you called me a brat Inuyasha."

"Yeah? Well, you ain't changed much." That made Kagome and the pups smile as well as Kaede;

"One day I was busy complaining to my new friend because Kikyou scolded me for something and I felt it was unfair, but your Papa put me right; he said that it was hard enough for Kikyou to be a Miko and healer without juggling being my mother as well, and I should be grateful that she did. At least I would not grow up a lonely orphan who nobody cared about.

"He told me to stop being a whiney girl and to listen to my sister. I had to admit I'd never seen it in that light before and it did make me respect Kikyou more and helped me to be obedient if I could. I was one of the lucky ones to have a sister to care and shelter me.

"It's strange Inuyasha, I don't think I have ever thanked you for that pearl of wisdom before, but I do now."

"Feh! You were being a whiney brat and I can't stick that; although Shippou is bad enough. Is it dinner time yet Kagome?"

"Yes Inuyasha and Shippou will be here soon for dinner too, so stop whining yourself and get some more wood please." Kagome laughed.

Community lj Thirty Shards.#2 Juggling