Filial responsibility

He was hella weird.

In hindsight she really doubted Sesshomaru had finally spoken his mind because he didn't like her song. Something else had to trigger his sudden outburst, but for the life of her, Kagome couldn't figure what it had been.

She was glad, though, that he had told her what he thought. She hadn't seen things that way and maybe she had dodged the bullet of insulting and hurting Inuyasha if they found him. And he wasn't holding it against her.

She was thankful. And he had officially been declared a friend.

Of course it wasn't mutual, but Kagome was used to one-sided feelings, and was ok with it. Someday, maybe, he would see her as a friend too.

Maybe, just maybe, he already did… In his own hella weird way.

She could grasp the patterns of the taiyokai's actions, had managed to understand that ever since the defeat of Naraku he didn't speak until he had to and kept nothing if he decided you were worthy of his voice.

And he cared. For whatever reason it was, he cared so much.

About his honor, about his pack, about his responsibilities. Kagome knew better than to interpret his coldness, his harsh words, his months-long disappearances as 'not caring'.

She knew he cared because he was never late and he hadn't left them alone.

Ah-Un had been left to look after Rin, Jaken too after she had been adopted by her friends, but ever since their return to the village, she realized the little imp had been entrusted with her care, too.

After the day they were back she had asked when she would see him again. He didn't answer, and she rephrased. "Would you please be back in a month?"

"Why?"

"So I can check up on you… I know it sounds ridiculous, but you are my family, too, and how am I supposed to be a responsible pack member if I can't make sure you are ok?"

He didn't respond, but he did show up. And, again, she was thankful.

With every waning moon he would come to the village, and she would receive him as family, make her questions, and sing her English lessons. By sunset of the next day he would be gone.

Three months like that. Until the routine changed.

She had her own house, which she shared with Shippo, since Jinenji lived with Kaede now. It would have been where she'd had started a family with Inuyasha, but now, with the kitsune gone to his academic responsibilities for a few weeks, she felt lonely.

He must have noticed her pitiful mood, because he accepted her invitation to dinner.

"Sango's baby's gonna be born soon, she's almost nine months now." She carefully poured the expensive sake that had been her payment for her services for a neighboring castle.

"Hnn." He received the sakazuki with slender clawed fingers of two hands and lifted it to his lips with one.

"Would you stay?" His eyes darted to hers but betrayed nothing. "In case something happens."

With a delicate motion, he emptied his cup.

She received it again and filled it. "I'm being selfish, aren't I? I'm making it sound like I'd only want to use you for Tenseiga…"

When she offered the porcelain his hand stopped her. "Drink."

"M-me? Why?"

"Respect."

"Oh… Sorry."

Sesshomaru blinked lazily as he watched her down her cup, make a face, start coughing, and fighting back bad words no lady should ever say.

She wiped away tears and sniffed. "How can you like this!? Goodness, it was horrible!" His eyes remained locked with hers, and she let out cough and then a giggle. "If I didn't know you I'd say you are trying so hard not to laugh at me."

"Hnn."

"Please don't ever ask me to drink that again."

"It is traditional we share equal amount of cups."

"I-is it? Well, that's one for one."

"Usually they are five."

"Well… we need new traditions anyway… You can have my share."

He sighed the way he did when she had said something really dumb, and she giggled again, angling the tokkuri to pour the crystal clear brewage.

"It's not like I'd ask you to stay just because of Tenseiga," she resumed. "Ever since Hisashi… Well, it would make me feel better to have you around. Nothing would dare to go wrong with you here."

Her infantile trust could be tiring, but still felt honoring. The liquid went down his throat, but he still said nothing.

"You can't get drunk, can you?" A risen eyebrow. "Right, none of my business. More?"

"Hnn."

The morning broke gloriously through clouds and mountains covered in scarce snow patches. His golden eyes swept lazily over the village and their mundane activities from his place up on a tree.

Sometimes he wondered how on earth he had gotten tied down to such a commonplace.

The roar of a familiar youki across the sky answered him. Far from ordinary.

Cat and slayer made their way to their family's hut, waving to a colossal hanyou and a smiling priestess that tended to their crops of medicinal herbs.

With a protective hand over her huge belly, a radiating Sango received her brother.

The boy leaned and kissed her swollen tummy, murmuring his salutations to his unborn nibling. "I'm glad I didn't miss it, little buddy!"

Once inside, Miroku offered his brother-in-law a cup of steaming tea to fight the chill of the winter air. Kirara made her way to rest between the three sleeping daughters of the couple.

"Rin doesn't suck her thumb anymore," the taijiya noticed.

"I think she just needed her mom," Sango's hand caressed her eldest's bangs.

"I saw Sesshomaru-sama outside the village, I thought he wasn't coming back until spring."

"Sesshomaru-sama has encountered… unexpected and more demanding responsibilities," explained the monk.

"Really? What's with that?"

"He's claimed Kagome-chan and is taking care of her," said Sango as if it was nothing. With a finger tapping her chin, she added, "Actually, I would guess she claimed him."

Kohaku almost spitted his tea. "R-really? Woah, that… really is unexpected."

"Kagome-sama is like his little sister now, and she has requested to see him at least once a month. He visits for her sake."

"That's weird, but I guess it makes sense… but how did that happen?"

"Kagome-chan says he saved her life, but mostly avoids the topic."

"I see, and what does Sesshomaru-sama says?"

"Of course, my dearest young brother," retorted the houshi, "we have not dared to ask him."

When night arrived and Sesshomaru remained, Kagome was overjoyed and Sango was curious. When she asked, her friend had simply responded with a "He's just doing me a favor," and shrugged further questions off.

Her interest was piqued, and if her adoptive sister wouldn't give her answers, maybe the taiyoukai would let out one or two.

On Kirara's back, followed by two naughty twin toddlers that chased the demon's tails and joined on the cat by her eldest daughter, she inspected the village's limits until she encountered her prey. "Sesshomaru-sama! Over here!" Turning to Rin, she smiled. "Why don't you and your sisters go say hi?"

Nodding brightly, the three girls went jogging, but where the oldest stood still and respectful, the younger started running around him and playing with his fur as if it too was a tail to chase.

With a hand on his former ward's head, he inquired solemnly, "Rin, are you well?"

"Rin's happier than ever! Will Sesshomaru-sama stay here forever now?"

Before he could answer, the nekomata landed by his side and the taijiya chided her younger children. "It's unusual to see you around past sunset; would you join us for dinner?" Rin's expectant eyes were too much to refuse, so he nodded. "Girls, go tell your father Sesshomaru-sama is coming. I'll catch up."

With hoorays, they retraced their steps back to their home, leaving two youkai and a demon slayer behind.

"So…" she started as soon as the girls were out of earshot. "Kagome-chan asked you to stay for a while?"

"She has requested my presence until the day of the birth."

"So she did… She's grown pretty attached to you lately; she says you saved her life…"

"Hnn."

"Could you please tell me what happened?"

"It is not my place to divulge that she quiets."

"Of course, but… I know it must have been bad… She's been acting weird… That's a wound that isn't closing without some help… She is like a sister to me, and I want nothing but to support her… And I know her, so I can guess what happened, but I keep imagining the worst. Please, permit this, calm my fears and help me help her."

His gelid golden eyes encountered hers, and Kirara's low growl warned him off. He always looked at her like that, and she knew what it meant. Without words, he spoke of how Rin had almost lost her life so she could save her brother; that it might have been forgiven by the girl, but not by him.

That look said he knew the darkest part of her, and that he expected nothing but her most virtuous self.

"Soldiers," he finally conceded, and Sango felt cold sweat in the back of her neck.

After a moment, she found her voice. "How many?"

"Eleven."

She swallowed dryly. "Did they touch her?"

"They did."

A deep breath. "Did they rape her?"

"She did not permit it."

She let out a sigh and almost cried in relief. But her brown eyes steeled, and her fist closed tightly. "Is any of them out there?"

The little miko had managed to defend herself. Wounded, desperate, by foot, she had taken two down. The remaining nine and any that would dare to cross him had been chased down by the taiyoukai and slowly been deprived of their disgusting lives right before Kagome was ready to travel again. Poison and acid could be unhurried.

Lifting his chin, his eyes darkened with pleasure. "She has been avenged."

She smiled and Kirara rubbed her colossal head against his hand, purring. "Thank you."

He solemnly nodded, and she whirled to leave. "Woman," his voice stopped her in her tracks. "Taking human lives, does it burden her?"

With a thoughtful smirk, the taijiya shook her head. "Kagome knows monsters, and when to kill one."

Even the twins' birth had been simple, and although this time had not been the exception, Kagome soon realized she was too nervous to be of any help, so she had been cast outside with the men.

How embarrassing, even Rin is helping!

She started when an enormous clawed hand gently opened in front of her. She blinked at the purple cylindrical flowers.

"Lavander. To make you less nervous."

She smiled at him warmly and took the little bouquet. Jinenji was the gentlest person she had met, and was always paying attention to the needs of the others. "Thank you, you're so sweet."

With flushed cheeks, he nodded and slowly walked away, with the twins playing on his shoulders.

Once in the fields the hanyou took upon the monumental task of instructing the toddlers to pull out weeds without destroying the good plants. It wasn't really going smooth, but someone had to keep them entertained while their parents were busy.

"Half-breed."

The grave voice at his back made him turn slowly, shivering, but he still managed to grab the girls and hide them behind his massive frame.

Sesshomaru was looking at him with ice cold eyes, a completely blank expression as he examined his misshapen features.

Finally, he spoke. "The miko is my responsibility now. You shall consult me before tending to her."

The hanyou felt he was about to cry, but managed to nod.

Both the taiyoukai's chin and eyebrow lifted ever so slightly. "If you intend to claim her you will have to earn the right."

His lips trembled. "I won't."

Dull creature.

"If it is not your goal to formally claim her, keep your distance."

The hybrid's eyes got filled with threatening tears, but managed to hold on.

Walking past his side, he spoke before leaving. "You have done well."

Jinenji sniffed, watching the Lord leave and the girls playing at his feet.

He really didn't understand what had just happened.

A/N: This is me right now:

*writes 7 pages of fanfic in one hour*

*writes one page of university essay during the entire night*

::sigh:: really, I also need to regularize my sleeping patterns _

So we are in big brother-little sister stage right now, I think they could just work like that, too bad in the story they already have a son xD