A/N: Yay, a new reviewer! Sorry, momentary lapse in sanity. I think I've been channeling the Lady Mother too often. Anyway, thank you to my reviewers for their wonderful comments: StarStruck4Inu, Esha Napoleon, impulse960, and Taraah36. And of course, thank you to anyone who added this or its author to their lists since the last time I updated. I didn't want anyone hanging off of a cliff for too long, so…enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Inuyasha characters, manga, anime, movies, etc. They belong by copyright laws to Rumiko Takahashi et al.
Father of the Bride
Ch. 10
Hisana swiftly came to her feet, the child in her lap sliding to the floor. Beating her son to Azami's side, she stared with dawning horror at the young woman's eyes. There was no recognition in them at all. Fear filled purple orbs and Azami backed away from her like she was a stranger. Energy from the other in her blood swirled around her in a pale purple cloud, making it impossible to get close to her.
Azami trembled with fear, her mind a blank. She couldn't remember anything. Nothing and no one registered in her mind. It was as if she had never known anything, never been taught anything. A tall, white haired man pushed aside an equally elegant woman and reached out his clawed hand to her. "Azami."
Was that her name? Slowly, words filtered in and she was able to breathe slowly. She did not know this man, this stranger but something called from within that she could trust him. That she belonged with him, maybe even to him. "A ghrà," she whispered before collapsing in a heap.
"What the devil is going on?" Inuyasha demanded, Tetsusaiga drawn and transformed.
"There is nothing any of us can do for her anymore save you, pup," Hisana said, touching the medallion around her neck. "Something has caused the curse to accelerate." She ushered the crowd in the hall away, leaving Sesshoumaru the privacy he needed to say goodbye.
"Stepmother?"
Hisana reseated herself and picked up her tea. "I shall explain what I know. First, has Sesshoumaru recently denied having feelings for Azami?"
The inutachi exchanged glances. The demon lord never explained himself to them. "He said he'd never mate her. She said they weren't betrothed." Inuyasha sheathed his sword, gently sitting down next to his wife.
"Azami said some demons offered to make her their concubine and that you once offered her to Sesshoumaru." Kagome frowned, clearly not happy with her in-law.
"I am not heartless, you know. I did that because I began noticing a pattern. Whenever my son refused to acknowledge his feelings for her or denied that she had any for him, Azami would have a very bad spell. Large chucks of her memory would go missing and she'd have to relearn everything she'd been taught in that span of time. I figured that if at least he took her as a mistress, it might slow the progression of the illness, or curse if you will."
"Except that it didn't."
"Che, the pup was too proud to lay with him even once. I never got to test my theory and she ceased talking to me. Never even let me explain. I wanted their feelings out in the open, at least between each other. She closed herself in her chambers and stopped trusting me. There was nothing more I could think of to do.
"For all of her faults, she loves my son. Once, long ago I know he felt the same. There were times when it seemed those two could read each other's minds. Now, only that love can save her. If he still has any feelings left for her that is."
"But I know he loves her, Obaa-sama. We all saw him give her that present. I'm sure he would have kissed her if someone hadn't sneezed." Rin looked pointedly at her betrothed. Kohaku had the grace to blush.
A sigh came gustily from the demoness settled against the wall, Reiji once more in her arms. "Only time will tell."
Sesshoumaru sat with his back to the partition, his head angled so that she could hold a lock of his hair without pulling on his scalp. "Azami."
"Is that my name?" she asked, her words sounding odd in the foreign language. This was not her native tongue, she was sure.
"It is what Father named you when you could not remember the one you were born with."
"They are calling me," she said, stroking the silky tress. How did he keep it so beautiful?
"Who?" he demanded, willing to fight anyone and anything to keep her by his side. She was not supposed to forget him. Not yet.
"I don't know. My mind is filled with mists and I have glimpses of a lush green land. They are different from you, yet not. They wish for me to come home."
"You promised to stay with me."
"Did I?"
"Over three hundred years ago when you were made a ward of the clan. Father wanted you to grow up with me, teach me that not all humans are bad. I have learned that lesson, but not until recently."
"Then my job here is done. I am dying, aren't I?" When he did not answer her, she took it to mean that she was right. "I have been blessed, to stay with you so long. A human does not live three hundred years without something extraordinary happening."
The quiet lengthened until Sesshoumaru dozed unexpectedly. A dream began to form that would have surprised him had he been awake. Snowflakes floated down upon a lush field of flowers. A young girl stood opposite him, hands on her hips and an important look on her face. Curly silver-white hair flowed down her back as puppy ears twitched on her head. Purple eyes reflected an expression he had often seen Azami wear.
"Finally, Papa! You don't sleep much."
"There's no need."
"Yuki-chan always sees Papa next to Mama in bed." The hanyou pup pursed her lips momentarily. "Maybe you don't sleep when with Mama."
"You are Yuki, I presume." The child sighed in disgust.
"Of course, Papa, you named me. Or will name me."
"Ridiculous, no pup of mine would be named Yuki."
"I am too. You name me Yukitenshi." Yuki stomped her foot to emphasize her point. "See the crescent moon?"
Sesshoumaru moved the little girl's bangs out of the way so he could see her forehead. There sat a mark identical to his own. "Hn."
"See, Papa. I'm yours, or I will be yours when you mate Mama. That's why I'm here. To make sure you do. Cause if you don't, she dies and I don't get born." Her look clearly told him she wanted to be born.
"Impudent pup. Perhaps you ought to learn manners." His answer was another sigh, this time filled with drama.
"I didn't want to have to do this but…" Clasping her hands, she batted her eyes and widened them to the classic "puppy dog" look. "Please, Papa? Pretty please? I promise not to hit Master Jaken for a whole seven days."
The demon lord kneeled, amused at Yuki's performance that included her ears cocking at "cute" angles. "How did you come to be here?"
"This is a dream world, Papa. It's my gift. Like Mama's is the ability to expand her aura outward. I can project myself into anyone's dream any time. Great-great-grandmother Kellan said I had to reach you now or all was lost."
"Kellan?" he tripped over the name.
"She's Mama's real great-grandmother. She's been looking for her for centuries. Her people are kinda like us but not. They live for centuries, even millennia." Yuki yawned and crawled into his arms. That was the last he was going to get out of her. But her actions convinced him as nothing else did that he dreamed of his future daughter. Yuki, like Rin, was not afraid of his armor, deadly claws, or icy demeanor. To both of them, he was simply, "Papa." The taiyoukai realized he wanted the chance to know this cocky and borderline insolent child. "Papa, you have to wake up now."
"And you have got to go to bed." He received a nuzzle right before he jerked awake. Azami was thrashing in her bedding, obviously in the midst of a nightmare. "Azami," the sharp demand in his voice was enough to shock her awake.
Reaching for him, Azami's breath caught on a sob. "Sesshou…" Her mind was chillingly clear, her memories crystalizing one final time before disappearing forever into the abyss.
Having divested himself of his armor and most of his clothing earlier, Sesshoumaru slid under the covers with the only woman he had every truly loved. "Let me tell you about a dream I just had. About an impertinent pup named Yuki-chan." He would not lose Azami to the curse.
"Yuki-chan?" Interested, Azami burrowed into his embrace. She wanted her last minutes to be in the arms of the man—demon—she'd always loved.
No protest left her lips as for the first time in over two hundred years, Sesshoumaru kissed her. "Yes, Yuki-chan, our daughter."
Every adult downstairs held their breath as Hisana returned from checking on the pair. Satisfaction brightened cold gold eyes, warming them. The Lady of the West curved her elegant lips; delight in her features over what was transpiring.
"Lady Taisho?" Kagome touched her step-mother-in-law's arm gently.
"It's nice to know I really didn't help raise a fool." Raking her gaze over the assembled crowd, the demoness smiled. "Pups are to be treasured, Kagome. Did you know that Mitsuaki is the first babe born of inuyoukai blood in over two hundred years?"
"Myoga-jijii said as much. Inuyasha was the last. Are inuyoukai that rare?"
"Ones of any great power. And white inuyoukai more so. All of my castle guards are black inuyoukai. Not to say that they don't make fine creatures themselves." Amusement lit the elder woman's eyes.
"Inuyoukai do make handsome men." Kagome giggled, Inuyasha's ears twitching at the much loved sound.
"Of course they do. And one young man seems to need to go to bed." Mitsuaki was curled around Shippou, both of whom were asleep. Sango's four also slumbered.
"Keh, come on, runts." Inuyasha picked up both and carried them upstairs. Kagome followed, anxious to put her children to bed.
Hisana lifted the slumbering twins, and waited while Miroku picked his boys up. Sango took the silently offered help gratefully and led the way out. Kohaku escorted Rin and Kaede to the miko's hut before joining his sister for the night. He accepted the hug she gave him and more congratulations, retreating quickly to the room they kept for him.
Sango settled next to her husband, tucking Miroku's arms around her. The demon slayer held him tightly. "Anata."
"Koiishi," the houshi returned. He could feel the fine trembles as she thought about what Azami had been through.
"We could have suffered something similar, Miroku."
"But we didn't. And even if we had, we have each other. Our love would have ensured our survival. I thought about what Lady Taisho said. She believed that expressing their love for one another would have put off the episodes of lost memory. But I do not think that it would have made any difference. It might have made it worse. Remember that it was only when Sesshoumaru showed that display of affection that Azami lost the battle. The curse could only be broken if true fidelity and love were given."
"You mean, he had to admit, if only to himself, that he loved her and mate her."
"Yes, something like that."
"I see. You're good for me, you perverted monk."
"I was simply biding my time until I met you. I love you, koiishi." Soft whispers filled the night until eventually sleep over came the whole house.
Kagome and Inuyasha were having a similar discussion as the young miko wept quietly. "She must have been so frightened, Inuyasha."
"Yes, my love. It's all over now. Aniki is mating her as we speak."
"You shouldn't listen!"
"I'm not. I can smell it though without trying. That's probably the reason Stepmother went to Kaede's."
"Lady Taisho is a complicated woman. I thought she had offered Azami to Sesshoumaru to be cruel."
"So did everyone else. I guess that's what happens when she refuses to explain herself. Not to mention the fact that she's nuts." A watery giggle came from his wife.
"Yes, Inuyasha, we know how much can be misunderstood when someone doesn't explain himself or herself, don't we?"
"Keh, go to sleep wench. I've got you now, and I'm not letting you go."
"And I've got you." Soft laughter turned to gentle loving before silence took hold.
A/N: Okay, I mentioned a couple of terms or names you might not be familiar with. The first is an endearment meaning simply "my love" (a ghrà). The other is a name (Kellan) that means "warrior princess." In what language, I'm going to hold off on saying because it all has to do with whom and where Azami came from although you might be able to guess. And Yukitenshi literally means "snow angel" in Japanese.