Title Family Time
Author landofthekwt
Rating M
Prompt Dream (IY Besides)
Word Count 5009
Pairing Inuyasha/Rin Sesshoumaru/Kagome
Warning none
Summary Sesshoumaru and co return home
Sesshoumaru was glad to be home. It had been frustrating being unable to fight the wyvern or save Rin or Toga. Instead he had been forced to watch while his worthless brother killed himself but saved Rin and Toga. Worse yet he had been forced to bring Inuyasha back from the dead at Rin's insistence while she wept and held Inuyasha's head in her lap.
He had seen something in Rin's eyes. Was it love? It couldn't be. Rin's love was reserved only for him. She had brought food and water to him when he was near death. Followed him to hell and back. The only person he had ever cried for he saw her dead in hell. The only person who had made him happy until Kagome came along.
He was not prepared to share her with Inuysaha. Somehow, they must be separated. He was so busy spinning plots in his head that he failed to note the approach of his wife and child. Somehow in the confusion of the homecoming he had failed to note that she had finished her laying in.
Kagome was beaming at him as Toga tugged at her kimono. The sight of his family together again drove all thoughts of Inuyasha and Rin from his mind. Mindful of his armor he bent down to kiss her. He would have liked to take her in his arms, but that would have to wait until he had discarded his armor.
Instead, he meekly walked beside her as she found a place to sit down. As much he wanted to take her right here, right now, he knew that she had just been released from confinement. He looked at the feast spread before him. One of her picnics no doubt. How long had she been planning this little adventure?
Kasumi had been born as a result of sakura viewing when they had strayed from his Mother's hanami party. He did not recall much of the food and wine or the sakura, but Kagome had been unforgettable that day. The resulting child was beautiful. He would have difficulties fending suitors from her when she came of age.
Kagome had not brought the nurse which presented a problem to Sesshoumaru. It would be hard to do and say the things he felt in his heart. Toga was also being clingy. Not surprising for one who had been kidnapped and threatened with death. He missed his mother. Toga had been quite and subdued in his company. Now he released all of his pent up tears.
It was hard for Sesshoumaru to watch his son cry. No one cried in his family. Kagome said it was OK for men and boys to cry. He was not about to gainsay her in the area of child rearing. Once Toga passed the tender years, it would his job to make him a man capable of ruling the West. Until then he would defer to her in these matters. Child rearing was not a task he wished to take on himself.
"Should I send for the nanny to take the children?"
Kagome smiled " I think not. You haven't spent much time with Kasumi. I haven't seen Toga in a month. We need some family time to bond and heal after what we have gone through"
Sesshoumaru was torn. He wanted Kagome so much. After everything he had been through he needed the warmth of their touch. Their bond while strong required a physical touch to reinforce its spiritual underpinnings.
Kagome's confinement prevented them from joining for over a month. Before that Kagome's pregnancy had restricted their intimacy. They had been together only once since the birth of Kasumi as a result of Toga's kidnapping.
Sesshoumaru would put aside his need for now. Kagome needed this time with family. She had left her own family behind in that other world and joined him in his. They were now a family.
It was her need that first brought about his desire for a family. She had a hunger for such things that he had never felt. He had never been part of a real family. His mother was distant. His father a god. When his father died, all it sparked in him was a desire for his father's power.
Kagome had brought something different into his life. Kagura made him care about someone other than himself. Rin made him realize that her life was more important than any sword.
Kagome made him want to have a family for the first time in his life. Rin would always be his, but not in the same way as Kagome. Kagome was his mate while Rin he treated more like a daughter.
Rin had been hurt when she realized this fact. She thought that Sesshoumaru wanted her as a mate. When he left her behind for Kagome, she had been deeply hurt. It was only now that she was moving on.
Unfortunately, the person she was moving on to was Inuyasha. Until he saw Rin sleeping in Inuyasha's room, it had never occurred to him that Rin might have feelings for Rin.
When he punched Inuyasha in the stomach, he had been trying to tell Inuyasha to stay away from Rin. Instead it had driven Rin to Inuyasha. Since Inuyasha's death and resurrection. they had become inseparable.
Frankly, he was at a loss. Everything he did seemed to push them together. He was hesitant to ask Kagome for help. She tended to be overly romantic about such entanglements without concern about the long term consequences.
He was lucky that she was a romantic. Otherwise she would have not fallen in love with him and he would have missed the chance to discover love of mate and family. Tomorrow he would think about Kagome and their children. If he played his cards right, he might get lucky.
Inuyasha was unsure what to do with himself upon return to the Western Shiro. Newly returned from the dead, he felt that he had been given a new lease on life, but was not sure what to do with himself.
The threat to the village which had been motivating him for some time had been removed. He felt guilty that so many people had died because a misguided person decided to take revenge on him.
He would have preferred if the boy had simply challenged him. There was no glory in what had happened. He had not killed the revenant merely prevented him from escaping and leaving Rin and Toga trapped.
The dragons had set the boy on him and in the end had disposed of him. He felt used. They simply hoped that Inuyasha would kill Ryukotssei's son and rid them of their problem.
Sesshoumaru was a problem. By making him Toga's champion and Rin's protector he became Sesshoumaru's man. Sesshoumaru had the gall to order him to save Rin and Toga as if he was some kind of servant he could
Inuyasha did not need Sesshoumaru's command or consent to go after Rin. She had stayed by his side after Sesshoumaru had tried to keep them apart. Inuyasha was eager to learn where this relationship might lead.
For now he was Rin's friend. He owed her a life debt. She had been the one to beg Sesshoumaru for his life. Nothing was too good for her. The idea that he owed his life to Rin made him feel better. He would rather be dead than berg Sesshoumaru to bring him back to life.
Rin did not see it that way. She saw Inuyasha as the hero who had saved her and died in the process. In her eyes, Lord Sesshoumaru had done the right thing in bringing back the savior of his ward and son just as he always had. She would not have asked him to bring Inuyasha back to life if she did not think he would do so.
She clung obstinately to Inuyasha. Everywhere he went, she went also. It was almost as if she thought that she would lose him if she let go of him. Her behavior had been reported to Lord Sesshoumaru, but at the moment she was preoccupied.
Both of them were unsure about what should happen next. Inuyasha was eager to leave the Western Shiro behind. Rin still had ties to Lord Sesshoumaru that tugged at her, but she knew if Inuyasha departed she would leave also.
For the moment Inuyasha was willing to content himself with Rin's dogged pursuit. She made the Western Shiro bearable. After so much action, it was good to relax. He felt no pressure from Rin unlike his relationships with Kagome and Kikyou. She made no demands on him.
For Rin's part she was glad to back where she felt safe. She knew that Inuyasha had already died and been eviscerated on her account and was determined to make it up to him. For the moment with no demands on either of them they could simply enjoy some well deserved downtime together.
Hana could not believe that they had done this to her. After all she had done for them, they put her back in their prison when she returned. She had begged Kohaku not to bring her back here.
The torture she had endured at Sesshoumaru 's hand had been excruciating.
If he had only taken her back to the temple or even the village, she could have disappeared, but Kohaku was loyal to his Lord Sesshoumaru. His damned loyal little puppy.
When she had attached herself to the boy, she had hoped that she could manipulate him. The boy was single mindedly wiping out every youkai he met. Just the kind of man she needed for the job.
His weak will, however, frustrated her. She wanted a strong man who could fight the things that she could not, but was willing to kill what she wanted to kill. He had seemed so perfect when he met her.
Young and bendable. Yet as fanatical about youkai extermination as she was. Although she was paroled to him, she did not feel like his prisoner rather his partner. Together they had brought down some mighty youkai.
Even in the valley they had worked well together. They had brought down two dragons. Until that day she had never even seen a dragon. He made her invincible like she could conquer the world.
Yet when he was in front of Lord Sesshoumaru, he was like a little boy. All "yes sir" "no sir".
He had come at Lord Sesshoumaru's call. Meekly allowed Sesshoumaru to torture her.
Then when Lord Sesshoumaru was done he meekly went to do his Lord's bidding. When they were done killing their dragons, he followed his master home and they took her into custody again as if nothing had happened.
Now she was manacled to a wall Fed slop three times a day. Kohaku came to visit as often as he could, but his presence was painful to Hana. He chatted about everything from Kirara to the food at the mess tent was she stood before him clad only in a yukata unable to move.
She supposed that she should be grateful to Sesshoumaru for not killing her, but she was not. Beasts like Sesshoumaru were the reason she had started her youkai extermination campaign in the first place.
Vain, arrogant. Monsters. Heedless of the thousands of human beings they killed. Not out of the blood lust of the lesser youkai, but simply people who happened to be in their way. They were the true enemy.
Someday she would be in a position to get even with Sesshoumaru. One that day, she would remember each and every thing that had been done to her by Sesshoumaru. The kami could not be so cruel that they allowed youkai to live like kings while punishing their servants
Toga was eager to tell his mother about his big adventure. While he had been terrified, it had been thrilling. He had never been in danger before and the kidnapping slaked his appetite for more.
Kagome was shocked at what he had gone through. She did not find it thrilling at all. The idea that someone could take her baby away from her and threaten to kill him did not sit well with her
She was glad that the wyvern and all of his associates were dead. The security at the Western Shiro was too lax if one lone ninja could penetrate it and make off with the Western heir.
Kagome resolved that it would never happen again. If she had to Toga in a locked trunk to make him safe, she would do so. Nothing could replace her son in her eyes. Security would have to be tightened around the family.
For Sesshoumaru's part, the matter was ended. The perpetrators had gotten what they deserved.
Toga and Rin had returned. The matter was at an end. With the wyvern dead, all need for revenge vanished.
He did find that he enjoyed being in the presence of his family. Maybe it was because he had been deprived of family time when he was growing. His father was always campaigning and his mother had gone off to her Castle in the Air.
Watching Kagome nurse Kasumi made him realize what was really important to him. The reason he had gone off after the wyvern. To return his son and heir to his place in their home.
Now that he was back, he would make sure Kagome realized how important she and their children were to him. Today he was glad for the family time, but tonight he wanted to show Kagome just what she meant to him.
He needed someone to care for the children while he took care of their mother. The nursemaid
had been assisting Kagome with Kasumi. Toga seemed to like Rin. Perhaps Rin could be persuaded to look after Toga. They had already been through so much together.
The problem was Inuyasha. Wherever Rin went, Inuyasha now followed her like a little puppy never letting her out of his sight. Sesshoumaru understood, but did not approve. They had nearly lost Rin. Neither Inuyasha nor Sesshoumaru wanted to risk her life again.
Rin too was a problem. After Inuyasha's death, she clung to him as if she thought he would disappear if he were out of her sight. The upshot was that the two of them were spending every waking moment together.
They were scandalizing the castle. Inuyasha was sleeping in Rin's room. Albeit he was propped up against the wall holding Tessaiga while Rin slept on her futon, but unmated women did not permit men to sleep in their rooms.
A solution presented itself when his mother came up to them to say goodbye. She had stayed with Kagome to help her through the confinement period. Now she was eager to go home to her Castle in the Air. The problem was that Sesshoumaru who was usually eager to get rid of her needed her now. As she hugged Kasumi and Toga, Sesshoumaru decided to invite her to stay.
"Mother would you like to stay longer?"
His mother looked with surprise at him " Usually you are glad to see me go."
He persisted " I noticed how attached you have become to Kasumi"
"I am not a nursemaid."
"No, but you are a grandmother. Who knows how many more chances you will have to pamper a granddaughter."
She knew that she was being conned. Sesshoumaru never wanted her here. He must have an ulterior motive for asking her. She suspected that it had something with the fact that he and Kagome had not been intimate for over a month, but he had the nursemaid and the household staff and Rin. That was it. He wanted her to serve watch over Rin too. The boy would pay for this. She had half a mind to stay for as long as she wanted.
:"You will owe me for this."
"Right. Rin, the nursemaid and the household staff are all available to you. Rin should be able to take care of Toga, but I want you to keep an eye on Rin. Toga is very fond of her. I would not want her abducted again."
"You just want me to chaperon Rin and Inuyasha. Otherwise, you would have the nursemaid take care of Kasumi and Rin take care of Toga. I may never leave. My granddaughter obviously needs someone to spoil her since you will not."
Sesshoumaru was glad to see her take the children and go. With the children gone and Rin taken care of he had time to concentrate on the person he missed the most Kagome. Kagome gave Sesshoumaru a questioning look. Before she had time to say anything, he had claimed his her lips.
She questioned why here why now, but as his kisses and touches became more fervent all her questions faded away. Somehow in the rush of pregnancy, labor, child birth and confinement she had forgotten how much she missed. As she reached her zenith, she vowed never to put off her passion with him for so long again. Kami, she missed this so much.
When Rin received the summons to Toga's room, she decided that if she had to go Inuyasha should be there also. Inuyasha did not mind being dragged along by Rin. In fact he refused to let her out of his sight. When they reached Toga's room they found the wet nurse was feeding the Lady watched Toga was looking bored.
Toga ran to Rin. "Let's play."
Rin looked at the Lady who said " Why don't you try out your new bokken on your Uncle Inuyasha. I know how boys love to play with their swords"
Inuyasha bowed to the Lady and he and Toga left the room for the dojo. The Lady motioned for Rin to sit beside her. She noticed how fascinated Rin was with everything about the baby. Very amusing. She decided to find out where the girl's heart lay. When the wet nurse was done, the Lady took Kasumi from her and dismissed her.
"You want to hold her ,don't you?"
" Holding Lord Sesshoumaru's child is the greatest honor in the world., Honored Mother."
The Lady continued to watch Rin rock Kasumi " You wish she was yours."
Rin shook her head. The Lady was persistent. " You hold her as if you did"
Rin sighed "Can you keep a secret?' The Lady nodded
"Once I wished more than anything in the world that Lord Sesshoumaru would choose me to bear his child. It hurt to watch him choose Lady Kagome while I was left behind in the human village.
Lord Sesshoumaru left me in the human village so that I could choose when the time came, but the time never came. As I waited all the human boys in the village chose human girls. Nothing of them even considered me because I was the youkai's woman. I had a chance to marry Kohaku the boy who accompanied Lord Sesshoumaru to your castle, but Lord Sesshoumaru broke it up. I respect Lord Sesshoumaru's wishes. I wish that he had married me and I could have borne his child, but that cannot be. Even though it hurts to admit it, I have to move on. I cannot live forever moping over the fact that Lord Sesshoumaru did not choose me and that I will never bear his child."
The Lady looked at Rin " You have shared a secret with me. Now I will share one with you. Whenever I see Inuyasha I wish that he was my son. My mate chose Princess Izayoi to bear his child instead of me."
"At least he chose you to bear Lord Sesshoumaru for him. I will never get that chance with Lord Sesshoumaru.. You never moved on after he chose Lady Izayoi to bear his child?"
"He died saving Princess Izayoi and Inuaysha, but I would have stayed with him anyway because he was my mate. Why do you ask? Are you thinking of moving on from Lord Sesshoumaru? Be very careful. My son can very vengeful if he does not approve of your choice"
"I know. He eviscerated Inuyasha earlier because Inuyasha had dared to touch me."
"I see. My son asked me to stay with Kasumi, but I think that he had something more in mind. I think he wants me to chaperone the two of you to prevent a relationship with Inuyasha. What exactly is your relationship with Inuyasha I notice that you now call Inuyasha by his given name without honorifics it is a sign of closeness between the two of you."
Rin blushed " I like Inuyasha. We grew close when Lord Sesshoumaru and Lady Kagome left us behind in the village and came here to the Western Shiro to be mated. We went through a rough patch when Inuyasha at Lord Sesshoumaru's command broke up my engagement to Kohaku. Our friendship was rekindled when I went back to the Sunset Village to care for the village miko who had ben injured in youkai attack. He rescued me from humans who kidnapped me and from the wyvern. Even though these attacks were aimed at Inuyasha, they brought me closer to Inuyasha.
When he was injured by Lord Sesshoumaru, I stayed by his side until he recovered. After he died saving me and Lord Sesshoumaru brought him back to life, I feel like I never want to leave his side. It is as if he would disappear if I did."
"Do you love him?"
Rin thought for a moment. " I am not sure if I love him. He is not Lord Sesshoumaru. All I know is that I never want to leave his side."
The Lady nodded " That is why I never left my mate even after Princess Izyaou bore his child. He was mine and only death could part us. All I ask is that you be careful I will cover for you, but if you openly proclaim your relationship with Inuyasha, I am not sure what he will do."
Rin nodded. The Lady had given her a lot to think about. She had finally admitted that she had wanted to bear Lord Sesshoumaru's child. Had she really moved onto Inuyasha? She knew that she could never forget her feelings for Lord Sesshoumaru, but she could no longer deny her feelings whatever they were for Inuyasha
Just then Inuyasha and Toga returned from the dojo. Inuyasha was carrying Toga in his arms. The boy was obviously worn out. The Lady helped Inuyasha put Toga to bed while the nursemaid prepared to take Kasumi to the nursery for the night. When Toga was in bed, the Lady turned to Inuyasha and Rin.
"I watch Kasumi tonight. I will have a futon brought in for Rin. Take care of her, Inuyasha. Don't let her leave your side again."
Inuyasha gave her a puzzled look. Rin smiled and took his arm. They settled on the floor next to Toga. Inuyasha looked at Rin " What was that all about?"
"Never mind. I think the Lady si going to be a valuable ally" When Inuyasha continued to be puzzled. Rin patted him on the arm " How did it go with Toga?" Inuyasha instantly brightened as he described teaching his star-struck nephew how to spar.
Rin realized that now was a good time to get closer to Inuyasha while they were babysitting Toga. It gave them something in common and a chance to move on. They talked all night until Rin finally fell asleep on Inuyasha's shoulder. She remained there until the servant finally arrived with the futon. Inuyasha gently placed her on the futon and stood guard her all night until the maid came to get them for breakfast in the morning.
The next morning when Sesshoumaru held court. He had been away for a long time. Today he had brought Kagome with him to court. There was a murmur in the crowd. Neither Kagome nor Sesshoumaru had been seen at the court for some time. While they were away, the Lady had ruled the court. Today without any notice they both returned. The suitors adjusted their presentations accordingly. What might please the Lady would certainly not please Sesshoumaru
The heralds were just about to announce the first suitor where someone burst through the lines. The guards immediately rushed to halt the progress of whoever had the audacity to breach the peace of the court. When they finally had the upstart in custody, Kagome was shocked to see that it was Kohaku.
"Why in the world are you here, Kohaku. I assumed that you were slaying youkai?"
Those words caused a stir. The guards tightened their hold on him until Sesshoumaru raised a hand " Let the boy speak."
Kohaku shook off the guards. " Lord Sesshoumaru, I would beseech you to release the Lady Hana from your dungeon so that we can be on our way"
"And why would I do that, Kohaku?"
"The Lady Miko and I have been about your work for some time. We traced the wyvern and his allies to the Valley of Ryukotsusei and killed two dragons who were assisting the person who kidnapped Rin and Toga."
Sesshoumaru ordered the court cleared. When the noisy crowd finally dispersed. Sesshoumaru spoke. " You should have come to me in private. This is not the kind of information which should be publicly disseminated."
Kohaku looked surprised but continued " I was told that you were unavailable."
Kagome reddened, but Sesshoumaru retained his composure. "Why should I release the miko? She kidnapped Rin. No punishment is too good for her."
Kohaku bowed " I understand. I thought that she was paroled to my custody so that we could hunt down the youkai responsible for the attacks on taiyia village and the Sunset Village. Later we were sent out to help fight the kidnappers of Rin and Toga. I assumed that she had been pardoned for her part in kidnapping Rin."
"You assumed wrongly. I do not forgive or forget."
Kagome butted in " Who is this Hana and why is she in prison?"
When Sesshoumaru did not respond, Kohaku forged ahead. "She is a miko from a temple in the mountains north of Edo. When the Sunset Village was destroyed by Youkai, she came at the request of Kaede who was injured in the attack who asked her to take over her duties in the village until Kaede could resume her duties."
Kagome responded " I remember the attack. Sesshoumaru took Rin to assist Kaede. I was not aware that a miko had been asked to help."
Kohaku replied " Apparently she was a Hojo spy sent to seek out miko candidates to help stem the flow of low level youkai produced by the battles in Musashi. Han recognized Rin's potential and tried to talk Rin, Kaede and Sesshoumaru into allowing him to go with her. When those efforts failed, she summoned Hojo ninja to kidnap Rin. Inuyasha went to rescue her, but the castellan paroled her to my custody due the good offices of a friend of yours, Hojo Akitoki."
Kagome persisted " How did she come to put in our dungeon?"
"When we returned after tracing the youkai to the Valley of Ryukotsusei, Hana was taken into custody and tortured. She was only released when Rin and Toga were taken to assist Lord Sesshoumaru in tracing and fighting their abductors. We returned here after the battle to report to Lord Sesshoumaru since he, Lord Inuyasha, Rin and Toga all disappeared from the Valley of Ryukotssei. When we arrived Hana was again imprisoned. I have been trying to obtain her release ever since."
Kagome gave Sesshoumaru the evil eye. "We do not torture and imprison women who are helping retrieve our son and ward, do we."
Sesshoumaru started to say something but he knew that he was wasting his time Just thing Jaken rushed into the court room " Lord Sesshoumaru, you must go at once to the Sunset Village. The Miko Kaede has taken ill and is asking for Kagome, Rin and Hana."
Sesshoumaru groaned. Just what he needed. He had just returned from saving Rin and Toga. Now he had to fly back to Musashi to take care of some sick miko. He would have to swallow his pride and release Hana. Rin was sure to bring Inuyasha. That left his mother and the household staff to care for Toga and Kasumi.
Worse yet, his mother would continue to run his court and rule his Shiro. He would have to come. No way, he would permit Kagome to leave the Western Shiro without him. Guards on the family would have to be increased so that the kidanpping of Toga would not be repeated.
Worse yet his reputation would suffer. People would begin to think that he was not strong enough to protect his own. They would whisper that he neglected the affairs of state to visit sick mikos for his wife. At present there were no challengers, but if this continued he would have his hands full.
He had hoped to make an example of Hana, but instead he was forced to release her to Kohaku's custody. Kagome would surely not going to let him put her put in prison when this was over. He would just have to hope that the miko had an accident so that he never had to see her again.
Again they went north. Sesshoumaru and Kagome flying together. Kohaku and Hana on Kirara and Rin, Inuyasha and Jaken on Ah-Un. Sesshoumaru directed them to make haste. The sooner that this was over the better. Hopefully, the old miko would die quickly so he and Kagome did not have to stay in that kami forsaken more minute than absolutely necessary for all of them to say their goodbyes.