I own nothing but my own fictional characters.
"talking"
'thinking'
"Regret is insight that comes a day too late"
Author unknown
Regrets Chapter 7
Sesshomaru ran his clawed fingers through the soft silver hair of the slumbering child laying fast asleep in his lap. The paper they were working on lay forgotten on the desk. Inuyasha did well with his first meeting with the dowager lady of the western lands. Their first meeting happened nearly 5 hours ago at dinner.
Inuyasha and he arrived in the dining hall just after Sesshomaru's mother. She had settled herself into a cushion when they walked in. her eyes immediately went to the small figure by his side. Inuyasha tried his best to hide his nervousness.
'Okay remember all the rules from the dinners with uncle and mother be on best behavior.'
Inuyasha grabbed the back of his clothes, out of the dowager ladies sight. He heard him take a deep breath and let go steeling himself for a possible fight. Sesshomaru reached down and took his hand leading him to their seats. Sesshomaru made sure that Inuyasha was seated next to him away from the dowager lady. Sesshomaru nodded to a servant indicating to start bringing out the meal.
The meal began with a bowel of miso soup. Inuyasha slowly ate his soup savoring the taste. The lady dowager coldly watched the hanyou child over the top of her soup bowel.
'So this is the bastard child my mate had with that human princess. He does look remarkably like him. And he seems to have good manners for being raised by a mortal. Oh well nothing can be done now he is here and he is innocent in his father's wrong doing. But Sesshomaru seems to already be protective of the child if the seating arrangement is any indication.'
Inuyasha seemed oblivious to this scrutiny from the older female. This cold scrutiny unsettled Sesshomaru, his thoughts were so consumed with trying to figure out what was going on in her head and what her thoughts were toward the innocent child. The next course of the meal was a spicy curry. The kitchen staff had made it especially for the dowager lady for it was her favorite. Inuyasha crinkled his nose at the spicy smell and pushed the bowl away slightly to lessen the irritating smell.
'Dang it I can't handle spicy food. Oh well I hope the next course is something I will like and can eat.'
Sesshomaru noticed he wasn't eating.
"Do you dislike curry Inuyasha?"
Inuyasha quickly glanced out of the corner of his eyes to the dowager lady.
'uoh I was hoping neither would notice me pushing it away. What do I say to not upset Onii-san.
then replied.
"No I like curry just not spicy foods it hurts my tongue."
Sesshomaru quirked an eyebrow at realizing how much he truly didn't know about the boy. There short trip together lessened the gap, he learned on that trip he couldn't have raw meat and liked sweet things. The dowager lady spoke in a soft yet cold as ice tone.
"Children that are picky don't deserve to eat at all. If you cannot appreciate the food your lord provides for you then you shall not eat anymore tonight you are dismissed from the table."
Inuyasha quickly looked to Sesshomaru then stood to bow and leave. Inuyasha's eyes began to water with unshed tears.
'oh no don't cry you stupid. Now you have done you embarrassed onii-san and been disrespectful too.'
"Inuyasha stop. Dismissing Inuyasha from a meal is not your job or responsibility, Mother. If those who are picky shouldn't eat then everyone at this table should be dismissed. This one knows for a fact that you dislike shrimp with a passion. Shall we have tempura shrimp for dinner tomorrow, Mother? Inuyasha sit down you will finish your meal just push the curry to the side. Do you want more miso instead?"
Inuyasha quickly knelt back on his cushion.
"No I don't want any more miso, though it was very good"
'I really want more miso but I need to show onii-san that I am not disrespectful and I can behave at a meal.'
The Dowager lady was irritated that her own son had scolded her. She finished her curry in silence. Smiling to herself she thought.
'well that suspicion was confirmed. His father never was fond of spicy foods either.'
Once she was finished she debated of calling a servant over to ask for more of the curry. She didn't realize she was staring at the uneaten dish of Inuyasha's curry when Inuyasha's small voice awoke her from her internal thought.
"um madam do you want my curry? I didn't touch any of it if you still want more."
'oh no you dummy you broke the golden rule don't speak unless spoken to.'
The dowager glowered at the boy wondering if he was trying to fool her or was making fun of her. She finally looked into his eyes and saw complete childlike innocence in his eyes and question.
"Yes I would like more if you are sure you don't want any."
The lady never lost her cold eyes or voice but realized and admitted to herself that this small child reminded her of her late mate so much that she couldn't really hate him. She also vowed then and there that she would not hurt the child but to make her son who had never shown and care or concern for another being had not only chewed her out but had also stuck up for Inuyasha against her. She wouldn't harm the child or purposely be mean but cause some trouble to make her stupid arrogant son squirm some. Inuyasha beamed at her and slide the plate to her.
Sesshomaru had a bad feeling developing. What was that woman plotting?
"I might have to steal your cook Sesshomaru she makes some of the best curry I have ever tasted."
The lady said as she slide another portion of curry in her mouth. She had finished half the curry when the next and second to last course arrived. Once the lid was removed Inuyasha's shoulders slumped in disappointment. Tataki beef was the next meal which was Inuyasha's favorite but it was raw in accordance to the pallet of a full demon. Inuyasha had the stomach more of a human than a demon and couldn't eat the raw meat. Sesshomaru noticed at once that Inuyasha couldn't eat the meal and motioned a servant over.
"YYYYes my lord? Is there something wrong with the meal?"
"Send the cook out to me immediately"
The servant nodded and left for the kitchen.
The dowager lady saw an opportunity to see more emotions from her emotionless son.
"Do you not like Tataki beef either?"
Inuyasha flinched from her hard cruel voice. He thought that since he had given her more of her favorite food that she might like him more.
"nnno I like it. It's just that I can't eat raw meat like you and Onii-sama."
Sesshomaru was very proud of Inuyasha to remember his manners around his mother she could and would be a stickler for manners. Before any more could be said the cook arrived. She was a short plump female raccoon who smelled nothing but food.
She bowed deeply to each person.
"Is there something wrong with your meals my Lord? "
Sesshomaru nodded
"Yes Inuyasha and I will have to come up of a list of his likes and dislikes and what he can and can't eat. For this meal Inuyasha doesn't like spicy curry and he can't eat raw meat. So if you could please cook up some meat for him?"
The cook bowed deeply to Inuyasha.
"I am very sorry my lord and young master if I had known I would have made him non spicy curry and coked his meat. I will do as you have asked immediately."
She quickly left with Inuyasha's plate to the kitchen.
Inuyasha looked down in embarrassment he never had anyone bow to him before. He quickly mumbled to Sesshomaru.
"You didn't need to do that Onii-sama."
"Yes I did you live here now the kitchen staff need to learn what you can and can't eat end of discussion. We will start your list for foods later tonight."
The lady was stunned to see such a change in her son and so quickly. The boy he been in his custody what 3 days? And already the boy had broken the ice wall that always surrounds her son.
"Well how unfortunate that you won't know the taste of raw beef, Child it is very delicious."
Inuyasha turned to the lady no knowing if he should say anything or remain silent as he was taught with his uncle. Sesshomaru was growing more and more mad and concerned of his mother's behavior towards the child first she is cruel then semi civilized with towards him, what was that woman up too?
"I tried raw beef once that is how mamma figured out I couldn't eat raw meats. It was kind of slimy feeling to me."
Inuyasha replied in a small timid voice.
"That is the texture it is supposed to have."
Before anyone could comment again Inuyasha's meal was being brought to him.
"Here you are young master and the cook prepared and extra bowl of miso soup for she hear you say you liked it and as an apology."
Inuyasha's face lite up in excitement.
"Thank you"
Inuyasha dug into his meal like it was going to be stole from him any minute.
'He probably has had his meals taken from him too often in the past by those stupid human relatives of his.' Sesshomaru thought sadly.
"My lord shall we serve dessert now?"
Sesshomaru was diverted from his internal thought by the servant's question.
"Yes that will be fine."
The servant nodded and headed for the kitchen to fetch the dessert item for the night.
Inuyasha paused in his rush to eat.
"We get dessert too, onii-sama?"
Sesshomaru chuckled at his childish innocents.
"I take it you never got sweets with your human mother did you?"
The dowager lady interrupted rudely.
"That is none of your business mother."
Sesshomaru glared at his mother coldly before turning his attention to Inuyasha. Inuyasha was growing more and more worried that something bad was going to happen. Sesshomaru could tell by the look in the boy's eyes.
"Yes we get dessert too. Humans usually only serve sweets on holidays don't they?"
Inuyasha nodded in the affinitive.
The male servant arrived back quickly with the Dango for dessert. Inuyasha set his aside to eat after he finished the last little bit of his dinner.
"Here Inuyasha have mine as wall this Sesshomaru doesn't care for sweets."
Sesshomaru pointedly looked to his mother.
"Are you sure onii-sama?"
Sesshomaru nodded and handed the food to him. Once everyone was done the servant returned.
"Do you wish for the after dinner tea to be served now my lord?"
Sesshomaru looked to Inuyasha noticing that he was getting drowsy from the big dinner and long day.
"No I will take my tea and Inuyasha's to our room. Mother do you want yours sent to your room?"
The lady was shocked to hear that the child was staying in Sesshomaru's room. He was an intensely private person and loved his personal answering
"Yes I would like my tea in my room as well I am very tired after today's journey."
The lady got up to leave while walking to the door to occupied her rooms for the night, commented over her shoulder.
"I want to have a nice long visit with you and Inuyasha on the garden Engawa tomorrow afternoon, after your morning meetings of course. Good night."
The lady quickly left for her rooms before Sesshomaru could decline the demand.
Sesshomaru picked up the drowsy Inuyasha to head to their rooms.
"But I am not done with my dessert yet he groggily stated."
Sesshomaru turned and picked up the small dish with the treat on it and took it with them.
"You can finish it in the room."
"mmk"
Once in the room Sesshomaru began the nightly routine of getting Inuyasha into his sleep yukata. Once dressed for bed Sesshomaru set him on his bed.
"Inuyasha do you want to sleep in here with me or in your own bed tonight?"
Inuyasha kept nodding off in sleep while trying to finish the last piece of his dessert.
"In here with you if it's okay onii-san?"
Sesshomaru took the plate from him and set it on the table and picked him up and tucked him into bed.
"It is fine or I wouldn't have asked. So you like sweets and beef then?"
"Yeah I really like noodle dishes too."
Sesshomaru to some paper and ink from the drawer and started the list that they would finish later.
knock knock
"I have your tea my lord"
Sesshomaru slide the door open and accepted the tray and returned to the bed. Sesshomaru sat up half the night reading over reports, brooding over what his mother was up too and drinking the tea. And how proud he was of Inuyasha of how he handled dinner. At some point in the night the boy began to toss and turn and moan in fright. Sesshomaru began stroking his hair murmuring to the frightened child.
"It's okay Inuyasha nothing will harm you"
He settled down once his head was in the older demons lap. He nuzzled his way closer and settled down back to sleep.
'I will not let mother or any other harm him in any way I am finally able to make up for my mistake and regrets.'
