Act 2 Scene 4 Father and Daughter

Setting: Sesshomaru and Abby walking through the forest.

Sesshomaru stops slowly and lets out a breath.

Sesshomaru: We still have four days, Abigail. We couldn't make it on foot but I could carry you… we could go see your mother.

Abby: You know I can't. It's bad enough I'm spending time with you. But to see her… before I'm born… it would dangerous. And besides… (Hurries to his side) would you want her to know I'll be taken from her? And raised in a different time?

Sesshomaru: It might make it easier on her when you are taken.

Abby: Yeah… as she'll stop me being taken, and then this conversation will never happen. It's called a paradox and I have to avoid them as much as I can. And that means you too. You have to promise me you won't use the information I've told you.

Sesshomaru: You mean I have let you go?

Abby: Yes. I have to go to the future.

(Sesshomaru stands for a moment then moves to a large tree, sitting down with one knee raised and his eyes closed. Abby looks at him for a moment then walks over, sitting next to him and leaning her head on his Mokomoko.

Both are still for a moment then Sesshomaru holds her right hand in his and rests his head on her hair and his left hand on her shoulder.)

Sesshomaru: Abigail, how old are you?

Abby: I'm just over twenty years old.

Sesshomaru: (moves a little) You look it.

Abby: yes. I appear to be ageing as a human. But it's possible I'll slow down like InuYasha once I reach a certain age… but I don't know. It's not certain.

Sesshomaru: I see. (Silence for a while. His claw closes on her shoulder.) You're older than your mother.

Abby: (laughs) That's time travel for you.

(Silence falls as they sit in the green forest)

Sesshomaru: Abigail… when you first arrived here… you both looked and had the scent of a full blooded human. Yet now you are half demon. How was it possible?

Abby: (lifts her wrist and taps at it for a moment. Her body shimmers and she returns to being a blonde woman with human ears) It's called a 'micro cellular visual disturber' but we called them shimmers. It's used to disguise who I am.

Sesshomaru: (looks down at her) Change back. Now.

Abby: (turns simmer off) You sound angry. Is there something wrong?

Sesshomaru: You deliberately hide who you are. You hide your blood, your heritage. Are you ashamed of it?

Abby: (pauses) I won't lie. I was. But not because of who I am. I have always been proud to be your and Rin's child. But before I got the shimmer… I was always treated differently. There aren't any demons where I come from. No one looks like me or thinks like I do… no one understands me. So I had the shimmer programed to the appearance of my full human side. And people started treating me like a normal human. But since I have it active almost all the time, longer than any other of its kind but because of that I'm sometimes shorts out of me which can be very annoying.

Sesshomaru: hm.

Abby: You didn't understand most of what I just said, did you?

Sesshomaru: No, not really.

(Both fall silent)

Abby: Ok, what's wrong?

Sesshomaru: (shifts and pulls her closer.) Whatever your motive… you hide who you are.

Abby: (turns suddenly and wraps her arms around his neck.) I hid who I was, yes, I won't deny that. But I'm not ashamed. Don't think I am. I never denied I was half demon… I was just lonely. Please understand. I promise, lonely or not, from now on, I won't hide who I am.

(Pushing her back, Sesshomaru reaches out to her face and runs a finger down the mark on her cheek. Silent for a moment before nodding.)

Abby: (smiling) We still have a few hours of sunlight and you promised to give me some training. (Jumps to her feet effortlessly and raises a tensed hand.) Let's see what you can do old man.

End of Scene 4