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I don't own Inuyasha, wish I did though!
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-From the Ashes-
The tension in the air was thick. Inuyasha and Sesshōmaru kept staring and growling lowly at one another with deadly intent and Rin armed herself with a different knife from her kitchen as she stared at Sesshōmaru; just waiting for him to give her an excuse to use her chefs knife. And Kagome, she just wants to keep the peace long enough until Kaede arrives. She thought the first step to calm everyone down was to lay her quiver and bow on top of Rins' kitchen island but she doubt anyone noticed or cared what she did, they just kept staring at each other. Fed up with how things are right now Kagome went through Rins' kitchen cupboards to make some tea. As quickly as she found it she boiled enough water for everyone and poured everyone a cup; she went to Rin first. Kagome grabbed her wrist holding the knife and snatched the sharp item right out of her hand, Rin turned to her with a face full of protest and confusion and opened her mouth to complain, but as she met Kagomes' serious eyes she silenced herself and felt a warm cup of tea taking the place of her knife.
Rin watched Kagome go over to the brothers with tea cups in hand, at first neither of them noticed her as they kept focus on each other. Kagome placed the cups on top of a near by table, Rin watched her in amazement as Kagome slammed her palm on her coffee table so hard it broke both of their concentration on each other and gave her their full attention; she'll admit, what Kagome did made her jump a little.
"Listen," she looked in Inyashas' direction first, "to me." then over at Sesshōmaru as she enunciated the last word with purpose. "Like it or not, the two of you ARE family and you're all that's left of your bloodline. The both of you are GROWN MEN, but instead of acting with some amount of decorum to each other you instead fight each other and make a mess out of someone else's property." she turned to Sesshōmaru with her index finger pointed right in his face. " I will apologize to you for firing my arrow at your face but, you, you're the OLDER brother. I expected more from you, I don't see how the actions of your father affects your relationship with Inuyasha so 'punishing' him for just breathing is unbecoming." Kagome could hear a smug grin grow on Inuyashas' face; she immediately grabbed one of his ears and started pinching it without breaking eye contact from Sesshōmaru, earning a painful whine from him. "As for you, there was no call for you to come in the way you did."
Kagome looked over at Inuyasha and was greeted with his attempt at making puppy eyes at her; she's not so easily daunted.
"None of that Inuaysha, YOU started the whole fight, YOU broke Rins' glass sliding doors, and let's not forget you are part to blame for the destruction of Rins' garden." She continued to stare back at Inuyasha and he stared back at her with his 'puppy dog' eyes and a low purr in the back of his throat with a tone that begs her for forgiveness. Kagome inhales trying to keep her composure and keep her head leveled. "I, I, know you were trying to protect me Inuyasha and I appreciate you for doing just that. But, the way you went about it was unnecessary." She lets go of his ear and watched it twitch as it throbbed. Kagome then reached for the now luke warm tea and handed it to the two brothers. "Drink up, it'll warm your bones." They both took the tea without protest and started drinking. She went back to join a very impressed Rin and poured herself some tea and prepared another cup for Kaede when she arrives. As Kagome drinks her tea she felt Rin come to her side.
"You handled that really well. It's like they couldn't talk back to you once you showed them who's in charge."
"Well, they needed to know they can't pick a fight with each other after both of them have been sealed away for thousands of years. No matter how old or what species the man is there will always be that line of immaturity."
They both heard the brothers choke a little on their tea.
"Kagome," she motions her head in Sesshōmarus' direction, "where is he going to stay?"
Before she could answer her everyone heard the door slam inside after one knock, Inuyasha and Sesshōmaru abandoned their cups and went to Kagome and Rins' side and immediately got into position to protect and attack when needed. Inuyasha sniffed the air and relaxed his position, he walked over to the entrance to the house, Kagome grabbed the tea pot and started pouring the fresh brew into the cup she put aside; Sesshōmaru watched on curiously as Rin stepped away from his side in favor of Kagomes' instead. The three of them saw Inuyasha return to the kitchen with an elderly woman dressed in a clear raincoat using his arm for support as she walked.
"Kaede," Kagome gave her a welcoming and grateful smile, "thanks for braving the storm and coming out to help."
"Of course Kagome," Inuyasha guided her to the living rooms couch, took her raincoat, and eased her onto the couch, "from the way thou sounded over the phone I knew ye needed my help." Everyone watched as Inuyasha left to go back outside and come back with a large box and a medium sized suit case.
"We do," Kagome gave her the freshly poured tea, "as you can see."
As she drank, Kaede looked over to see Sesshōmaru observing her from the kitchen island. She can tell he was sizing her up and trying to figure out how an elderly woman can make Inuyasha obedient enough to help her inside and gather her things from the rain outside. His expression was serious and cold; but his demeanor unfazed her.
"I see we have another pup to deal with."
Inuyasha couldn't help but snicker at her comment about his brother.
"You dare call me such a name old woman?"
Sesshōmaru strode over to where she sat only to be blocked by Inuyasha; as he growled dangerously at his brother, warning him to rethink his actions. Kaede cleared her throat and beckoned Kagome and Rin to sit across from her. As they did this Kaede opened the box to reveal two kimonos. One was an ornate white kimono with a yellow sash with purply streaks and the other was a simple red one; both show some wear from over the years. As the girls were confused as to what they were looking at they noticed Inuyasha and Sesshōmaru stare at the articles of clothing.
"I have been doing further research after learning about Inuyasha and his family and came across these at a museum, the curator told me he had these in his possession for quite some time and was going to simply put them in storage."
Kagome leaned in to get a better look, as so did Rin.
"How," Kagome gingerly touched the red kimono and can feel it's a heavy fabric but at the same time it's surprisingly soft, "how did you get a hold of them?"
"Simple, I told the curator my name. As it turns out I helped his grandfather many years ago with an evil spirit that terrorized his whole family, the spirit was a lover scorned as it just so happens and refused to leave; until I forced her into eternal rest."
Rin looked at Kaede with amazement.
"So, because you helped with an ex-girlfriend the curator just gave you the kimonos?"
"Yes." She took another sip of her tea.
Rin just continued to stare at her. Kaede has got to be the most badass old woman she's ever met. Kagome looked over to the brothers and saw that they continued to stare at the clothes.
"Kaede, do these kimonos belong to them?"
"Yes, I was trying to uncover more about their father; but finding more of his history is a daunting task. There isn't much I could find on my own, but I did find out the kimonos existed. I was unsure as to where they were taken, the fact they were stored in the museum I visited was pure luck."
She carefully unwrapped the sash from the white kimono and recited a chant with a whisper, the sash glowed white as she chanted then faded away. She looked over in Sesshōmarus' direction and beckoned him to her. As he came to her side she took the edge of the sash and yanked it forward, an exact copy drapes in her hand; only this one much smaller and looks more like a ribbon. Kaede placed the sash back on top of the kimono and handed him the ribbon, looking him in the eyes.
"Give this to your intended pup. I have given it properties through my chant that can protect the young lady when ye are not present; as for your sash, it is linked to this ribbon. So long as she wears it thou can sense wether she is in danger or safe."
He gently takes the ribbon out of Kaedes' hand and walks around the couch to Rins' side, leans over and presents her with the enchanted item. Kagome can see the reluctancies in Rin, she's not sure if she should take the ribbon from him or not, even though Kaede enchanted it with protection and she made it. After all, it is Sesshōmaru that's trying to give her the new accessory. Kagome and Kaede continued to watch Rin weigh the pros and cons of taking the ribbon, but, in the end she took it from him. Kagome and Rin heard a low soft growl of approval coming from Sesshōmaru, Rin just ignored it as her cheeks tinted pink. Kagomes' attention focused back on Kaede and Inuyasha and saw that Inuyasha was carefully inspecting the red kimono with his hands and scanned over it with eyes. She watched as he lifted it to his nose and took a long whiff, his eyes went wide and they started to water over. Kagome attached herself to him immediately, cautiously putting her hands on his bicep and upper back respectively.
"Inu-"
"Mother," Kagomes' eyes widened. "Her...s...ce...n..t. H...er...blood."
Everyone watched on as he let the tears drop in a silent cry.
"I thought Inuyashas' mother died of illness?" Kagome turned to Kaede for further answers.
"In recorded history that's how she officially died. I believe Sesshōmaru knows more."
Inuyashas' head snapped in his brothers direction as he continued to stand near Rins' side. His expression was indifferent but he spoke anyway.
"There was a fire at the home you were born in, a mansion I believe it was. I was talking to father when he felt something was wrong, he left me where I stood. I followed him afterwards and I saw a woman holding a baby with his scent escaping the fire into the forest. She had blood on her yukata and it spread onto the Robe of the Fire-Rat she had cloaked over her. I watched her look back to see the mansion collapse with our father inside, only a few soldiers still loyal to your mother made it out. "
He left Rins' side to look at the white kimono as his hand ghosted over the material.
"Your mother died the night you were born. Father saved her by using his Tenseiga to bring her back. Father knew by going to the two of you meant his death, he was gravely injured from his confrontation with Ryūkotsusei and was well aware that one of your mothers guards disapproved of their union. But he went regardless, when it comes to us, Inuyasha to him his life does not matter; that was proven even more so when he fell in love with your mother and left mine."
Kagome looked up in his direction, "You know there was no love loss between your parents. Their union was arranged and they were forced together."
"You talk as if I don't know this. It's not a matter of losing love it was a matter of losing face. But even that couldn't have been helped, as you plainly know our instincts drive us towards who we are meant to be with. It is a deep want no human can truly understand."
Inuyasha continued to allow the tears stream down his face, Kagome could only think of comforting him with small circles on his upper back and leaning her forehead against his temple, she heard him give a soft but sad purr from deep in his throat. Rin got up and walked over to her coffee table to get a better look at the clothes and turned to Kaede.
"What do I do now?"
Kaede looked at her calmly.
"Sesshōmaru must stay here child."
"What?! Why here?!"
"Ye are his intended, he is honor bound to protect you at any means necessary. Also, he cannot stay with Kagome or Inuyasha, both pups have calmed themselves but as from what I can see from the damages they do not get along well enough to be in the same room without supervision."
"You have a point." Rin straightens herself and looks in Sesshōmarus' direction giving him a very stern look. "Since there's no other choice he can stay," she walks up to him and puts her hands on her hips in a very demanding way, "but you're staying in the guest bedroom. If you don't like that option feel free to sleep here on the couch."
Kaede hands her the suitcase and told her it's filled with clothes for him to wear and a USB flash drive, confused, Rin asked what it was for to which Kaede explained it has information about Sesshōmaru and his family. She also mentioned it contains information about him that she must learn about, Rin takes the USB flash drive and gives her a smile as thanks. Rin then proceeds to head upstairs with Sesshōmaru following after her. Kagome looks over at Kaede and smiles.
"When did you have time to put information from the scrolls into a flash drive?"
"When one is retired ye have plenty of times on their hands." Kaede attempts to get up from the couch on her own but Inuyasha intervened and helped her.
He escorted her to the entry way and assisted with putting her shoes and raincoat back on. Rin came back downstairs with her new ribbon and flash drive in her hand.
"Thanks again for coming by Kaede, hopefully this will get a little easier when I read what's in here."
With her clear raincoat on she turned to Rin with a smile on her face.
"It will young one," she turns to Kagome and Inuyasha, "I'll see ye at home."
And with that, the three of them watched her drive away in the rain; which by now has lightened up. Before leaving Kagome asked Rin if she will be alright, confident in herself to keep Sesshōmaru in line she assured Kagome that she will have everything under control. With that, Kagome grabbed her archery equipment and watched Inuyasha collect the robe from the coffee table. Rin ran to the kitchen and back with a plastic bag for him to put it in.
"I'd figure you wouldn't want to get it wet; you don't want to lose your moms' scent."
He nodded at her as a thank you and carefully put the robe in the strange flimsy bag, before leaving Kagome gave Rin a deep hug and told her they'll see each other at work.
Rin watched Kagome and Inuyasha leave her drive way and into the rain, she scratched her head and wondered how she can possibly pick up her heavy door and put it back into place when Sesshōmarus' figure walked past her and propped the door in place one handed. Rin looked on in amazement but quickly noticed he was only wearing a towel around his waist and she can see every definition of his muscles from his chest to his stomach; even the wet fluffy thing on his shoulder makes him look like a model. Rin felt her face heat up and quickly went to get a broom and dustpan to clean up the glass of her now shattered sliding glass door. Rin can practically feel him smirk from behind her.
-Three days later-
Kagome and Rin worked at the bakery since early in the morning. Kagura decided to change the bakeries store hours that way the whole staff can enjoy the rest of their day, luckily for all of them no ones pay was reduced. Kagome noticed Rin wore the ribbon Kaede made in her hair and made a small smile, when Rin noticed the smirk she explained that Sesshōmaru wouldn't let her leave the house if she didn't wear it. Kagome changed the subject and asked about the damages done to her house and when she's going to get them repaired, Rin said she got lucky; one of her neighbors happen to be carpenters and offered to repair both of her doors for half of what they would charge their regular clients.
"It's thanks for watching over their kids when they went out on one of their date nights."
They heard the chime of the bakery door open and they noticed a white dog enter inside of the bakery. Kagura was the first to approach the dog but he gave a low growl warning her to back away. The dog was beautiful and strange looking at the same time. He was a fairly large dog with shining amber eyes and a shiny white fur coat, he also had a purple cresent moon on his forehead.
Wait.
Then, Kagome noticed the yellow and purple sash around his neck, she called Rin over to look at their latest customer. She can tell Rin was beyond embarrassed and slightly panicked, she quickly apologized to Kagura and told her she just adopted the dog and he has abandonment issues.
"It's fine Rin, so long as he doesn't come behind the counter and takes his business outside I'm fine with him. What's his name anyway?"
Rin looked at Sesshōmaru and formed a wicked grin.
"Fluffy, because of his tail. He's also VERY good with children," she pets his head with a gentle rub, "aren't 'cha boy?"
Kaogme heard him snort and couldn't help but laugh a little.
Before the day ended Kagome was in the middle of pulling a tray of cupcakes out of the oven to store away in the refrigerator for tomorrow, when her cellphone buzzed in her back pocket. She kept it on vibrate when she worked; her ringtone would compete with the rest of the music that played inside of the bakery. She put the tray down on a nearby counter and escaped into the back of the bakery away from the eyes of the customers.
The area code is from the hospital.
The hospital? Why is the hospital calling her? Kagome took a deep breath and rationalized the situation, if anything had happened to any of her friends and family they would call her right away not the hospital.
"Hello?"
"Yes, Ms. Higurashi?"
"Speaking."
"My name is Tora miss, I'm calling from Sacred Jewel Hospital. This concerns your neighbor Kaede."
She felt her heart sink and her body turn cold.
"Ms. Kaede was found in her home with a serious wound to her right eye. Police informed me that an animal broke into her apartment just as she was entering and attacked her."
Kagome isn't sure when but she's on the floor as tears welled up in her eyes.
"Since she has no next of kin she put you down as her emergency contact. You should come see her when you can."
"T-th-thank you."
She hung up before Tora can give her further information. What attacked her? And where was Inuyasha during the attack?
Alright!
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