Chapter 7

Meanwhile, at the village, Kagome and gang toward over Hachi puzzled Jaken. "Why?" asked puzzled Sango. Hachi had no way to convince them that he really did not know and that it was all Sesshomaru's plan. Apart from this, another major problem he faced was Miroku's wrath for leaving his precious twin daughters. Finally under all those pressure Hachi blurted out "Don't believe me then! But I need to carry out Lord Sesshomaru's orders! The mother is there too, as if one demon isn't enough!" This stuck Inuyasha. The Empress Dowager was there and it probably meant that his stupid brother was in some kind of a fix. "If that's the case then I'll be going" Kagome, naturally was quick to agree with Inuyasha. Sango and Miroku then tagged along. With that, Hachi set of with Jaken and the two couples. God knows what troubles they shall foresee.

Back at Sesshomaru's palace, Shippo's plan was already in action. The furious Empress Dowager howled in rage as she swore to kill whoever who played the prank on her. Apparently someone had poured mud onto her. She smelled so bad that all the people kept their distance from her. As if smelling bad wasn't bad enough, she looked horrible. With her clothes and hair ruined she looked no better than an ugly freak. From somewhere around the corner, Shippo was already ready with the next trap. However, only one thing was missing and that was a distraction. According to Sesshomaru's plan, Jaken should have been the distraction to get the Empress Dowager's attention. However, because of some delay, Jaken was still no where in sight.

"This can't go on. If any further delay in this plan, I'm afraid we might be discovered." Shippo signaled to the twin girls using the secret sign language that Rin, the twins and Shippo came up with. The twins then signaled back "It's alright. You go ahead as planned. We'll do our best as a distraction." This time Shippo waved her hands furiously and signaled back "No! It's far too dangerous. Who knows what she would do to you tow? Besides, if anything happens to you two what would your parents say?"

In this entire dilemma, the timely hero arrives. "There he is!" signaled Shippo to the twins and Jaken, Hachi, Inuyasha, Sango, Kagome and Miroku arrived. "What is father and mother doing here?" signaled the twins in alarm. Shippo shrugged, clueless. Jaken then saw the Empress Dowager who glared at the uninvited group. Jaken then began to fumble "Oh great mother of Lord Sesshomaru. What a surprise to see you here, oh my…"

The very instant Jaken began to speak; Shippo threw out for fire and smokescreen at the same time, causing Jaken and the Empress Dowager to be charcoal black. Then Shippo and the twins made a timely escape, Inuyasha, Kagome, Sango and Miroku run with them as Hachi urged them along a long stretch of corridors.

The twins then parted at the junction telling their parents not to worry as they headed to the room with all nine finalists waiting. Shippo sprinted off to find Rin. Then Inuyasha caught Sesshomaru's scent. "He's here". He told Kagome who nodded. Miroku and Sango meanwhile bombarded Hachi with questions.

Soon, Inuyasha caught Sesshomaru who appeared to be in great hurry. "Wait up! What's going on?" asked Inuyasha. Sesshomaru tried to walk away but Kagome blocked his way. She told him firmly "You're not getting away without telling us anything." Sesshomaru sighed. He knew he could not win such an obstinate person. Reluctantly but quickly and briefly Sesshomaru explained about the current situation and plan that he had come up with and what Shippo and the twins are doing.

All of them listened intently to Sesshomaru until he finished. Then, Miroku snapped "You used my daughters as a demon crowd controller? Do you have any idea how dangerous it is? They could have been killed!" Sango had a hard time pacifying Miroku afterwards. Kagome shook her head. "How can we help Shippo-chan?"

Inuyasha grunted. "That old hag is one hell of a hard time. No offence, I mean she is your mother after all but I can't help but feel that my mom would never have objected me marrying a human or a demon whichever I preferred. She would just want me to be happy.

Sesshomaru nodded in agreement "I agree with you. However, my mother used to be a much nicer person while father was still around. She had never once blamed or hated your mother either. She wasn't too enthusiastic about the idea of father marrying your mother, a human as he was a great demon general. After all she has her reasons for doing things. When she found out about father's death she never cried. She just turned cold and became nasty. I don't really blame her but I wont let her get into my way with Rin either. I don't mean to sound so cruel but the only way that I can get to be with Rin is to embarrass the hell out of her and hope that she never come back to disturb us again."

"So that's why you are making Shippo-chan play all the pranks on her and how you got the twins to become the facilitators to bring the other demon bride candidates around and let them see the ugly side of your mother compared with Rin. You also deliberately picked these "candidates" right? Most of them were your friends or your father's friends." said Kagome.

Sesshomaru did not really like the priestess girl much but he had to admit one thing. She was smart. Sango then suggested "If that the case then why don't we try my method? Right now, the problem is the hurt in Lord Sesshomaru's mother. In my point of view as woman if I were her, I would probably do the same and not let my son marry a human because my husband would probably still be alive if he did not love the human. She only has one son and she wants to protect him as he is the only ting that is left in this world that she as. I say, embarrassing her would not work. It would make her angrier and more determined in breaking up your relationship with Rin."

Sesshomaru thought for a while before asking "Then what do you suggest, demon slayer." Sango smiled "Hatred only begets more hatred. For a flower, if you put it out in the sun for too long, it will dry up and die. If you remove the sunlight it will also die. If you add too much water it will rot. For this flower to comeback to life, you must give it the right conditions. Like your mother who has too much grief and hate, you must show her love, care and concern. You have to give her time."

Sesshomaru got frustrated "Look, time is something I do not have. My mother is not going to change her mind. I'm going to proceed as planned whether it works or not. You guys can just go. I don't need your help." So saying, Sesshomaru stalked off. "Fine!" shouted Miroku "but you return my daughters!" Sesshomaru shouted back "Go ahead and take them back. I don't need them anyway!" with that, he stormed off.