Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
Chapter 25: Exceptional Hearing
(A/N: If I haven't clearly described Jaken, let me elaborate. You know how Shippou can turn himself into that pink blob thing that can fly/float? Well he's transformed Jaken into a slimy green version of that. Got it? Fabulous.)
Everyone in the room froze except for Rin and Shippou, the former was still cheering on the latter who was beating Jaken as if he were a punching bag.
"What did you say Rin?" Sesshoumaru asked in a deadly calm voice.
Kagome, sensing the threat to her kit, leapt from Micah's arms, dove across the room, and scooped Shippou protectively into her arms. Mia, ever the helpful grandmother, was flittering about using her miko power to 'heal' the scorch marks from the room as she had done in her own home countless times throughout the years.
"You asked what was going on Otou-san, and I said that Shippou-chan was giving Jaken-sama an ass-whooping," Rin smiled.
Behind her Kohaku dropped his gaze and shook his head, slapping himself on the forehead.
"And where, pray tell, did you hear such a phrase?" the taiyoukai asked, looking at the kit who in turn was currently sending murderous glares at the balloon-Jaken that was bouncing around the room squawking in pain.
"From Shippou-chan. He told Jaken-sama that if Jaken-sama wouldn't, ah, 'cut it out'," she struggled over the foreign phrase, "then he would give Jaken-sama an ass-whooping and make him cry for his mommy like he wouldn't believe. But, Jaken-sama did not stop, and when Shippou-chan started to beat him he did cry, but not for his mommy, he cried for you Otou-san!" she rattled delightedly.
Kohaku cringed again. This was the end for poor Shippou. The kit might have survived if he'd only maimed that stupid toad, but Sesshoumaru-sama did not take kindly to those who spoke crudely in front of Rin.
"You will feel the great Sesshoumaru-sama's wrath soon kitsune! No one attacks me and gets away with it!" the Jaken blob called from the chandelier he'd gotten a hold of.
Shippou, who'd been very still, took advantage of his mother's now slackened grip to get in one last shot. He disappeared from her arms only to reappear seconds later on her head. "You deserved it, you stinking piece of foul-mouthed slime! TAKE THAT!"
Before Kagome could grab him he managed to hurl a leaf which stuck to Jaken's head, immediately turning into a foot tall stone statue which caused the toad to come crashing to the ground. He landed with the statue on top oh him and it squished his shape so that he let out a sound like deflating balloon before turning into a kind of icky green pancake the size of a manhole cover on the floor.
"Ewww," Sango muttered in distaste.
Kagome snatched her son from her head, and looking around the room decided on the safest route of retreat. A second later she was looking apologetically at Sesshoumaru as she stood from behind her own mother. "Uh, sorry about that," she mumbled, trying to make her grey eyes look large and contrite.
"Rin," Sesshoumaru questioned as he resisted the urge to taunt Kagome about cowering behind her mommy. "What did Jaken say?"
Rin's face fell a little. "Jaken-sama said not nice things about Kagome-chan."
The taiyoukai narrowed his eyes at the green pancake on the floor. "I see. Rin, go get ready for dinner."
"Do I have to?" she asked, jutting her lower lip out. The look on her otou's face made it clear that she did. "Hai, Otou-san, I will be waiting." She turned and left the room, a small smile gracing her face. 'It doesn't matter,' she consoled herself. 'Shippou-chan will tell me everything that happens anyway.'
"Jaken," Sesshoumaru said, not making any move to alleviate his steward's predicament. "What did you say about Hando?"
"This humble servant merely commented on the irresponsibility that miko has displayed…"
"LIAR!" bellowed Shippou. Kagome quickly placed a blue hand over his head and his eyes immediately began to droop. If Sesshoumaru was being fair enough to try and get to the bottom of the matter she wasn't going to let Shippou dig a hole for himself by being irritatingly loud.
Sesshoumaru looked to Kohaku, asking him silently for what really occurred.
Kohaku looked a little red faced as he stole at glance at Kagome, but he spoke up anyways. After all, one did not refuse the Western Lord's request.
"I believe the words he used were 'cheating, thieving, ignorant miko scum who delights in disrupting my honored Lord's life,' Sesshoumaru-sama." He looked at the ground, half hoping they'd want to hear the rest, half dreading he'd have to repeat it.
"And?" Sesshoumaru prompted.
"He said she was a good-for-nothing trouble maker without an ounce of respect for discipline, and that he'd like to see drawn and quartered."
Sesshoumaru could feel his poison gathering down his arm and traveling towards his hand.
"Shippou defended his mother, and demanded Jaken-san rescind his comments, but the latter simply refused by issuing another bout of insults, one of which I believe was that she was a grey-eyed, midget freak." He was trying so hard to hold back his grin; not because he thought the toad's remark funny, but because he knew death was about to be dealt to the offending green pancake.
"Jerk," Shippou muttered sleepily from his mother's arms.
The poison was in his hands, he was walking towards the flattened form of his steward ready to melt him into the afterlife when the sound of Micah and Kagome's laughter stopped him. "This Sesshoumaru fails to see what you two find so humorous."
"I'm sorry, really, it's just…" Kagome panted, unable to finish as she caught Micah's gaze and began laughing again.
"It's just that it's not the first time Kags here has been referred to as a grey-eyed, midget freak. In fact, she's been called that quite a bit," he grinned.
"Yeah, but they loved me in the end," Kagome smiled and winked.
"They always do," Micah said rolling his eyes.
"Doesn't anyone else here note the irony of Jaken calling Kagome a midget?" Miroku asked.
Mia, Sango, Kikyou, and Inuyasha all laughed, the last few comments having effectively released the tension in the room.
"Anyway," Kagome began, "I apologize for my son's behavior Sesshoumaru. In the future he will remember not to use bad language and foxfire in other people's homes, won't you Shippou?" she asked giving said kit a stern glare.
"Uh huh, yeah. Sorry Sesshoumaru-sama," he muttered sleepily, burrowing into his mother's embrace.
"Do not concern yourselves, his actions were provoked, and I will deal with my steward accordingly."
"Oh let me Sesshoumaru," Inuyasha interrupted. "Can I? I've been dying to have a go at this punk for quite a while."
"No Sesshoumaru-sama, have mercy on your humble servant!" the green pancake begged. "Do not let that wretched hanyou disrespect you so!"
All three inuyoukai growled.
"You will not refer to the son of my father in that manner. No matter what he was, or is, he will forever be your superior," the taiyoukai snarled.
The entire room was amazed. They had all frozen in their spots, including Sesshoumaru. However, as he was frequently still and impossible to read, nobody really noticed how surprised he was at his own outburst. Inuyasha stared at him, unsure weather or not he should believe his own ears. After all, they weren't where they used to be, and perhaps he hadn't mastered these new ones yet.
To divert attention away form what he had just done, Sesshoumaru nodded Inuyasha in the direction of the pancake.
"Heh, heh, heh," Inuyasha laughed in a sinister manner. "Your warty ass is mine, toad!"
He approached the screeching mass, unaware of the smirk that took up residence on both Kagome's and Shippou's faces.
"I think the first thing to do is pound you a little flatter with this rock!" he said jovially. However, when he tried to lift the statue, it wouldn't budge. "What the hell?" he said growling. He tugged hard, then tried pushing it off, pulling Jaken out from underneath, and in the end he even resorted to biting the statues head. It didn't move a centimeter. "Hey kid, get this thing outta here!"
"What's the matter Inuyasha?" Kagome asked sweetly. "Can't you lift that little old piece of rock?"
"He's done something to it!" Inuyasha whined back.
"Wanna see what else I can make it do?" Shippou asked through half open eyes. Not waiting for an answer, and without any sign of effort the rock started glowing red, a hissing sound of burning toad youkai accompanying the change.
"Wow, that's pretty impressive Shippou-can," Kikyou said.
"Thanks Aunt Kikyou, but I'm not done yet," the kit replied as the statue began to grow in height and girth.
"Alright love," Kagome admonished over the loud screams of Jaken. "You've had your fun and made you point. Let your uncle have his turn now, I'm sure he's been waiting longer than you have."
"Damn straight I have!" the inuyoukai replied as he picked up the now freed, and newly reshaped toad. "Besides, I think a pair of toad-skinned boots will be a perfect gift for Jakotsu."
"You forget Inuyasha, he won't wear green because he says that's Suikotsu's color," Miroku added.
"Oh, yeah. Well that's okay, now I won't have to worry about not putting any holes his worthless hide!" he replied glibly as he headed out of the room, Jaken's pleas for mercy intermingled with his insults as he was hauled further away from the room.
With that situation finally taken care of Sesshoumaru was ready to get back to business. But as usual, Kagome cut him off.
"Well, thank you very much, everyone, for your care and assistance. I will change and then Shippou and I will see you tomorrow," Kagome announced as she turned to leave, but not before holding her hand out for Micah to take.
In a flash Sesshoumaru was standing in front of her. "Where do you think you're going, Hando?"
"Why, I'm going to retrieve my clothing and then go home Sesshoumaru," Kagome said with a false sense of innocence.
"What makes you think I will allow it?" the taiyoukai asked.
Micah rolled his eyes as the other occupants in the room cringed, excepting Mia who seemed to be entertained.
"What makes you think you have any say in the matter?" Kagome said, her voice rapidly becoming cold and stiff. The two men around her noticed her left ring finger had begun to glow, not the angry red of before, just a darker pink.
Sesshoumaru immediately switched tactics, knowing that if she felt cornered it would only end in half his home being destroyed. 'I shall just have to convince her,' he thought. "You are not well enough."
"On the contrary, I am feeling much better, and whether I am here or in my own home, my health will be the same."
"You will just have to return tomorrow anyways. It makes sense to remain here and save the trip."
"I do not have any of my, or Shippou's, clothes or other necessities."
"I will send a servant to collect them."
"As long as someone is making the trip it might as well be me, and if I go home, I might as well stay. Besides which, I wanted to spend time with Shippou and Micah tonight."
Fighting the urge to kill the two male obstacles (particularly the elder one), he decided to try and compromise. "Is the lighting of my home insufficient? Could you not see them as clearly here as at your apartment? Peters was already planning on spending the evening here, why do not I just have someone collect not only your things, but Mia and Kikyou's as well? I will also invite your grandfather and brother."
She looked as if she still wanted to argue, but was unable to deny that it was a good offer. "As we do not yet know who our enemies are, it would be foolish to separate," Sesshoumaru added.
Kagome narrowed her eyes. Micah muttered, "Idiot, one step forward followed by two steps back."
Sesshoumaru wondered what he was referring to, but Mia's comment enlightened him. "I do not think Sesshoumaru's remark was meant to insult you or question your abilities to defend yourself Kagome. I think he was merely pointing out that it may be beneficial for us to remain close together as someone seems to be targeting our two families."
'Confound it, can I not say a single logical thing without causing her to raise her hackles?' the frustrated taiyoukai thought. He glanced at her finger to see that, while it was not as bright as a moment ago, the scar was still lightly glowing. If he wanted her to stay it was time to swallow his pride and retreat.
Stepping back a few feet so that he was no longer blocking her path, he tried the last thing he could think of out of sheer desperation. He asked politely.
"I will of course make no efforts to hinder your leaving, but it is my wish that you and your family stay the evening with me."
Well, as politely as he could.
Kagome still looked a little angry, so Micah used the hand she held to squeeze hers, and the other he placed on her shoulder. He leaned forward and whispered something in her ear that even the demon lord could not hear. She smiled. Sesshoumaru frowned.
"Thank you for your offer, Sesshoumaru, I am grateful, and I accept. But, it would not be wise to send one of your servants to retrieve anything from my apartment," she grinned.
"Do you think them incompetent?" Sesshoumaru asked.
"Not at all I assure you, but only a miko or a houshi would be able to get through any of the doors or windows without grievous injury due to all the booby traps I've got set up," she smirked.
"More flour?" he asked.
"Worse."
"Hn."
"Ah, I believe I have the solution," Mia said. "I will have your ji-san and Souta stop on their way over. He shouldn't have a problem."
"Souta should be able to get past the things himself. I'll just give him a call and tell him the right incantation for removing and setting everything back up," she said as she headed for a phone on a table nearby. "Seriously, now that I'm thinking about it I don't know why you don't start training him Mother. If you leave it be then Grandpa will try to do it and we all know, or rather fear, where that could lead."
"Kagome…" her mother said breathlessly, her eyes wide.
"What?" she asked, turning around. "I mean, you don't have to do anything, but I thought he'd probably like learning soon, same with Rin."
If only a few people were staring before, everyone was now.
"What?" Kagome asked again. The tears in her mother's eyes and the calculating stare of Sesshoumaru were unnerving. "What? I'm not trying to tell you how to raise them, honestly! I was just saying…" Understanding dawned. "You didn't know, did you?"
They shook their heads.
"So that means they probably don't know either?" Kagome wondered aloud.
More head shaking.
"Oh, well... Maybe I'll just be calling Grandpa then." She picked up the phone and called, giving him a few details about the situation, instructions on how to get past her security measures, and a list of things she need along with where to find them. With the reassurance that he'd be there in an hour, along with Mia's clothes for tomorrow as well, she hung up.
People were still staring.
"So when's dinner?" she asked nervously.
-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-
At dinner Inuyasha showed up looking immensely pleased with himself, informing Sesshoumaru not to expect the toad to appear for a few days.
Kagome managed to escape further questioning thanks to Micah's help, and Rin cheerfully kept the conversation going.
After the children were excused, and Gin (the eldest Higurashi) arrived, all the adults were caught up on what was going on. Sesshoumaru had already explained his and Kagome's experiences to the others, so Mia and Kikyou already knew of Tsubaki's role. That left Gin to be told about the refiner's fire, and Kagome to hear of the first few hours of Kikyou and Inuyasha's demonhood (which included a very humorous story of Inuyasha trying and failing several times to get his demonic cloud to last longer than thirty seconds... "And then the next time it disappeared poor Inu fell straight into this massive briar patch," Kikyou giggled.).
They went over plans for the morrow, and what changes would have to be made due to the current situation. Kagome wanted to know more about why Inuyasha and Kikyou were out doing recon in the first place.
Sesshoumaru refused to comment.
A minute later when he started asking more about her alchemy studies and what else she had been doing, her response was easily predicted.
She refused to comment.
Using the excuse that she was tired of walking around in pajamas and wanted to change, she left the dinning room, all the while conscious of Sesshoumaru's eyes boring into her back as she went.
"You should consider the risks of being alone when your state is uncertain," the taiyoukai called to her, observing how she still moved as if in great pain.
"Kami Sesshoumaru, I'm in a house surrounded by powerful beings. If something happens Mother, Kikyou, or Micah will sense it. I can change my clothes without having my hand held!" she snapped.
'Why is everything I say taken as an offence or a challenge by her?' a very disgruntled demon seethed.
"If you change your mind about that last part you know who to ask for help, don't you Kagome?" Miroku called, defiantly ignoring the glares from all male demons present.
-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-
Coming back from her room dressed in a training outfit, she heard the soft tones of the piano and felt Rin's aura. Smiling, she entered the room to see Rin seated at the instrument, a gentle breeze floating through the open windows nearby. She sat next to the young girl on the bench. "You play quite well, Rin."
Rin beamed at her. "I love to play. I know my hands are small, and I have much to learn, but I like how the music feels to me, I like what I think and what I see when I hear it. Do you know what I mean Kagome-chan?" She looked expectantly and the other woman, yearning for her to understand and agree.
"Hai, I know exactly what you mean. Sometimes a song can be very visual, and sometimes when I play it's almost as if the notes are words that I cannot speak, and they tell things I'm too scared or too shy, or too uncertain to say myself." Her expression was wistful as she gazed at the piano she had been wanting for years.
"Kagome-chan?"
"Go ahead and ask your questions, Rin-chan," Kagome sighed, but still with a smile on her face.
"Why are you scared to play for other people? You're a brave warrior, so what's so bad about letting others hear you?" Rin had been wondering this since the dinner on Sunday, and she was desperately hoping for an answer.
"Can you keep a secret, Rin?"
"Hai!"
Kagome looked around and felt for auras who would be close enough to overhear. Sesshoumaru was down the hall, but surely he couldn't hear that well could he?
"Well there's two reasons really. One is that no matter how hard I try, I can't always make the song sound the way I hear it in my head. I'm really picky about sound, which is why I wanted to buy a new piano, because there was one that sounded exactly like how I think pianos should sound."
"What did it sound like?" Rin asked, not knowing that her beloved new piano was the one Kagome had coveted for so long.
"Well, the upper octaves were clear, almost bell-like, and the lower were warm, deep, and rich. Its tone was never reedy, and had the darker European lilt to it, not like the brighter tone of Asian pianos," she explained.
"Ne, Kagome-chan," Rin looked excited. "This piano is just like that!"
"I'll bet," Kagome muttered.
"So you can play this piano and not worry!" Rin continued without noticing.
"Well remember I said there were two reasons," Kagome replied with a guarded manner.
"What's the other one?"
"Well…" she hesitated. Unfortunately, Rin pulled out the big guns: the ultimate pleading puppy eyes. "Fine, fine, fine! Jeez, it's no wonder Sesshoumaru loves you, you're too cute for anyone else's good!"
"Kagome-chan is trying to distract me and delay her answer," Rin teased. "Otou-san used to try and do that too, but I am very smart, and it does not work!"
"Apparently not. Anyway, the other reason is that playing is very personal for me. I play how I feel, and I play to express things. If people do not understand, or do not like what I play, it hurts. It feels likes they've rejected me, or like I've failed, both of which are bad feelings. Sometimes I worry that I do not do the music or the composer justice, too. Silly isn't it?" Kagome asked with a tired smile.
Rin patted her hand. "I know what you mean. But Kagome-chan," she said brightening. "I will try to understand, and will not make you feel bad. Plus, playing will make you happy! Will you please play for me? Puh-lease? If you don't play for me I'll be so sad I just might develop a stu-stu-stutter."
"Really Rin you are so comical you should perform in the town square. Besides, I'm the one that taught Shippou that stutter trick so you can't use it on me," Kagome laughed. "If you are going to try and guilt me into doing something try an original line."
"Kagome-chan you are being sneaky again," Rin waggled her finger jovially. "Plus, you just quoted Emma so you cannot tease Rin about not being original."
Kagome was taken aback. "How did you know that quote was from Emma?"
"Because Otou-san is reading it to me at bedtime. He read me Pride and Prejudice before, but we finished it so now he reads me Emma."
Now Kagome was completely floored. When she told Sesshoumaru in the bar that first night in Tokyo to read Rin Jane Austen's Emma next she had no idea he would actually take her advice. She was touched he'd remembered…scratch that; she was amazed he was even listening!
'I wonder if this means that on some level the old tyrant actually respects me,' she wondered. Feeling inordinately pleased she found herself willing to indulge Rin. Like the latter had said, playing would make her feel happy anyway.
"Okay Rin, I'll play. However, why don't we make a kind of game out of it? I like to think that people have a kind of theme song. So I'll play a song, and you try and guess who you think it fits with. Does that sound like fun?"
"Hai!" Rin chirped.
"Alright then, here we go!"
Kagome played a delightful and winsome song. It was full of playful beats, and brought to mind images of summer adventures through fields and woods.
"That's Shippou!" Rin cried.
"Very good! You're a natural at this game. That was Children's March, by Percy Granger. Do you want to play again?"
"Hai, hit me big time!" Rin laughed.
"Rin, do me a favor and don't repeat phrases you learn from Shippou in front of Sesshoumaru, okay?" Kagome begged. Rin nodded.
For the next hour they sat playing the game. After listening to the song Rin would try to guess who it matched up with, and the Kagome would explain why she chose it.
Kikyou's song was Claire de Lune, by Debussy, "beautiful, elegant, ethereal, but with complex rhythms," Kagome explained. Mia's was from Mozart's The Magic Flute, "genius, but playful and fun." Jaken's was Grandfather from 'Peter and the Wolf', "stuffy and overbearing." Inuyasha's was the Olympic theme, "brave and very dramatic."
Funnily enough, Rin's song was Emma by Rachel Portman. Kagome told her it made her picture twirling in a meadow full of flowers on a sunny afternoon. "Which makes it perfect for you," she explained.
Gin's was The Sorcerer's Apprentice, because "it's so blustery, just like Grandpa when he goes off on all his tales of ancient times." Miroku's was I Wanna Hold Your Hand, by the Beatles; although Kagome didn't mention how she personally would alter the lyrics to "I wanna grope your ass," to make it apply to him even more.
Sango was Rachmaninoff's "beautiful but powerfully moving," Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini. Micah was Take Five, by Dave Burbeck, "Loads of fun but with quite a bit of technicality driving it."
Kohaku was Hook's "Sonatina in G Major; playful, but with some pomp and circumstance in there too." Finally, Souta's was Court of Miracles, by Alan Menken, as nothing else quite conveyed the whole "rotten, sneaky little brother," aspect as Kagome phrased it.
Rin laughed at Kagome's explanations, and was usually able to guess who Kagome was trying to portray. "Play Otou-san's song!" she begged.
"Sesshoumaru's song?" Kagome arched and eyebrow. "I haven't ever considered what his would be. I don't really know you're otou that well. What do you think, Liszt?"
Rin shook her head.
"Why not? His music is pretty intense, very serious sounding. I would think that fits your otou fairly well," Kagome mused.
"But it sounds too angry for Otou-san. He needs something more special," Rin smiled.
Kagome didn't say anything, but in her mind she was thinking that Sesshoumaru's temper wasn't anything to be downplayed. "The Phantom of the Opera?"
The two looked at each other and shook their heads.
"Nah, too much emotional torment, not enough inner complexity," the elder said. "How about Inferno, or Mars? Have you heard those pieces before?"
Rin shook her head, and listened as Kagome proceeded to play sections of both. "No, those aren't right either. They sounded like war and destruction to me, and Otou-san isn't always going into battle you know. We need to think of something that is everything all at once," Rin philosophized.
"Everything all at once, eh? That's as good a way of describing Sesshoumaru as I've ever heard."
After a few more minutes of silence the proverbial light bulb went off. "I've got it!" Kagome exclaimed. "Sonata quasi una fantasia!"
(A/N: Major brownie points –and an honorable mention in the upcoming chapter- to whoever can name the song's common English name, the literal translation, or the composer.)
"Huh?" Rin looked perplexed.
"I'm sure you've heard it, it's more commonly known as…"
Before she could explain further, a ringing "HENTAI!" shortly followed by a long, and very loud, battle cry sounded through the open window. Leaping up they raced to see what was happening.
Down the hall, a tall figure darted out of a darkened room and headed for the outdoors as well.
-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-
Out on the grounds of Sesshoumaru's mansion, 5 minutes earlier.
"Can't you smell him Shippou? Isn't that what being youkai is all about, heightened senses and all?" Kohaku teased. They'd been trying to hunt down Jaken and see what Inuyasha had done to the toad.
The stubby-legged pony Kohaku and Souta were riding turned to glare and snort at its riders. "Do you wanna walk back?" Shippou asked.
"I was only joking!" the oldest boy protested. "Some noble steed you are. I'm sure samurai's never have to put up with their horses back talking."
"Well technically I'm not a horse baka, I'm a fox," he said arrogantly.
"Yes, and you have all the puffed up pride of one too," Souta grinned
"I thought you just said you didn't wanna walk back, and is that any way to talk to your uncle?" the horse growled, making Kohaku and Souta laugh.
"You know it's pretty funny to see a pony growl," the former chuckled.
"I'm not a pony!"
"Well you're awfully short to be a horse, Shippou," Souta reminded him.
"Well I didn't want to risk being larger in case you fell off," the kitsune replied airily. "You guys are pretty delicate compared to me after all."
"Hey!" the indignant pair cried.
Shippou paused for a moment. "I think we need to head back now, I can hear your big sister calling for you, Kohaku."
"We can always pretend we didn't hear her," Kohaku volunteered.
"No thanks, I've seen her angry and I ain't too eager to have her come after me. I'm only seven and I've got too much to live for," he shuddered.
The three made their way back to the house, and as they broke the tree-line they found themselves watching an all too familiar scene. Miroku had snuck his hand up behind Sango and was groping her.
"HENTAI!" Sango bellowed.
"Dude he's groping your older sister, that is so wrong!" Shippou said disgustedly. Usually he spoke much less colloquially, but when caught off guard his slang would creep back in.
"Shippou, you said you get bigger, right?" The horse nodded. "Well my sister's honor has been questioned; I believe it's time to challenge the filth that assaults her. Think you can get me a weapon?"
In response the 'horse' pulled a leaf between it's teeth and tossed it up into the air. A lance materialized out of nowhere. Kohaku caught it, and Souta helped him to steady it. "You're really good at this," Kohaku noted appreciatively.
"Hold on!" Shippou warned as he transformed into a giant, eighteen-hand horse (A/N: That makes it about 6 ft at the withers/top of the shoulders), which nevertheless had Shippou's bushy fox tail.
"CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRGE!" Kohaku sounded as Shippou took off towards the soon to be speared monk.
Kikyou, Inuyasha and Micah, having run to investigate the shouting, all made it outside in time to see Miroku barely dodge the lance. A few strides later Shippou slid into a turn and stopped, nostrils flaring.
"Oh this is gonna be great!" Kagome hooted from the window. "Micah, catch me!" she called before leaping out, despite the startled cries of her sister and Inuyasha.
"Shippou, I need a shorter weapon, I can't swing this thing!" Kohaku pled as he stared at his quandary.
Mia, Gin, and Sesshoumaru made it out onto the grounds in time to see the lance transformed into a short club.
"Better?" the equine fox asked.
"Make it a little longer so he can reach him, will you?" Souta advised. The club grew about six inches.
"Perfect!" Kohaku grinned.
Now that his rider was suitably equipped the threesome charged a fleeing Miroku again.
"Kohaku, no!" the monk pled. "You like me, remember?"
"I'll teach you to dishonor my one-san, you vile excuse for a housi!" the young boy shouted with all the bravado of a court knight.
"That's right!" Shippou added. "Death to the dirty old lecher!"
"I'M NOT OLD!" Miroku protested vehemently as he dove into a shrub to avoid the swinging club.
"Shippou is amazing, Kags," Micah whispered to the woman in his arms. "His transformations are really coming along."
"I'm very proud of him," Kagome smiled, trying to watch her son through the tears of pain that had sprung to her eyes from the force of her impact. Micah had caught her as gently as he could, but it still hurt quite a bit in her current state.
The crowd cheered as Kohaku brought Miroku down at his third pass. By using Souta as a counter balance, he was able to lean far enough off of Shippou's back to land a blow to the back of Miroku's legs while he'd been running from the bush back towards the house.
"Good aim shetai!" Sango called out.
Sesshoumaru stood gazing back and forth between the three boys and Kagome. He could tell she was hurting, but he was also quite interested in the fight.
At the current moment 'horse' Shippou had picked a flailing Miroku up by the belt from behind and was trotting over to the lake.
"Prepare to drown, filthy cur!" Kohaku pronounced as they rode out onto the dock.
"Shippou don't do it!" Miroku plead fervently. "I'll buy you a year supply of chocolate if you only AAAAAH!"
His bribe hadn't worked, and Shippou flung him mercilessly a good twenty feet out into the water.
"And let that be a lesson to you!" Souta called to the sputtering man out in the water.
Shippou de-transformed and gave his companions a high-five. The three walked back to the adults and were proudly received and fawned over by the women.
"My brother, the defender of honor!" Sango giggled.
"What about my grandson," Mia interjected. "That was quite a show my dear! And Souta, I didn't even know you could ride." She smiled as she scooped the kit up, hugged him, and then ruffled her son's hair.
"The weaponry was quite impressive," Gin grinned.
"Will you take me for a ride like that Shippou-chan?" Rin called from the window.
"Rin, bedtime," Sesshoumaru's voice interjected. Rin opened her mouth. "No, to all three questions," he cut her off, knowing that she would ask if she could stay up another fifteen, ten, or even five minutes.
"Hai, Otou-san," Rin sighed. "Are you…"
"Hai," Sesshoumaru interjected; once again perfectly aware that she was about to ask if he was going to read to her.
Rin smiled at her father warmly, then promptly said goodnight to each individual, even Miroku, and closed the window.
Sango too said good night and hauled Miroku and Kohaku with her as well, continuing to congratulate her brother on a job well done.
When her mother, brother, and grandfather had gone inside still laughing over the incident, Kagome turned to her son. "Well Shippou my love, after using all the magic you did today, and no doubt staying up all night yesterday, are you ready for bed?"
"Do I have any choice in the matter?" he replied grinning.
"None whatsoever," Kagome laughed. "Although, if you go to bed now without a fight I promise Micah and I will fix you an early breakfast of toast."
"YAY!" the kit whooped.
'Why would a kitsune be so excited to be served toast?' Sesshoumaru wondered.
"So, bed for you, and then a nice hot soak for me," Kagome grinned. Oddly enough it was a somewhat evil looking grin, as was the answering smirk that soon covered Micah's face.
-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-
Rin had just fallen asleep and Sesshoumaru was now sitting by her bed watching her, a closed book in his clawed hands.
It was amazing to him how his understanding of his love for Rin had grown in the past thirty-six hours. Having felt the amount of love Kagome exuded in her transformation of Kikyou and Inuyasha made it seem as if his own heart had been expanded, maybe even strengthened.
Kagome…
As frustrating, annoying, and confusing as she was he could not deny that she was truly extraordinary. Her power was incredible, her understanding keen and creative, and her influence unmatched. She had caused more stress in his life than anything else, but she'd given him more than anything either.
His father's line would continue on full-blooded. His brother need no longer suffer his monthly nights of weakness or the ill-informed and prejudicial ridicule of youkai society. And, his little daughter was somehow closer to him than ever before.
A few years ago he never would have guessed how much he would come to love this human child, but now he knew he'd search the entire earth to find her, and give his blood and life to save her.
It was odd, as he generally considered no life to be more valuable than his own; certainly there was no other who could equal him in strength, wit, or cunning. However, this little girl had something he had not come across in centuries: a truly free and happy spirit. She was pure, without guile, and she had him hook, line and sinker.
Add to that, as he had surprisingly learned a few hours ago, she was miko. When Kagome had mentioned it he had immediately probed her aura and sure enough, deeply embedded amongst her being was a budding holy power, one that was only waiting to be opened up and let loose. Having spent time in her company each day, he guessed that its presence eluded him because the change was so gradual that it was as of yet not a big enough difference to alert him.
He would have to arrange training for her. Perhaps Mia could be persuaded. There was no other he trusted with such a commission. Plus, the woman had raised and trained two of the most powerful mikos he had ever encountered.
'If she can handle Kagome then she will have no difficulties with my Rin,' he thought as he brushed her bangs away from her face, causing the girl to snuggle into his touch.
'Speak of the devil…'
He could hear soft voices, which once he tuned his hearing into them, he really did have exceptional hearing, were easily identified as belonging to Kagome and Shippou. Without leaving his daughter's side he decided to listen.
In a room down the hall…
"You were unconscious a long time Mum," the kit murmured.
"I know, certainly longer than ever before. Were you really worried?" she asked concernedly.
"Well, it was strange to feel you so far away from me, but you kept our connection up the whole time, so I knew you'd come back to me."
"I will always come back to you, Shippou, you're my boy."
"Mum?"
"Hm?"
"I can't breath."
"Oh, sorry."
There was a moment of silence.
"Mum?"
"Yes love?"
"What did it feel like, to use that much power?"
"Well, it felt scary, and wonderful at the same time. It was scary that there was so much, and I was afraid for your aunt and uncle. I was also still pretty angry from seeing that miko who'd hurt your grandma. Add to that the fact that I thought Sesshoumaru was sure to skin me alive once he was capable of being up again and I had a pretty good case of nerves, but like I said it was wonderful too. I felt like I was part of the earth. It wasn't just me, it was Gaea too, like she was there helping me. I was so sure I could tell she was present that I even spoke to her. I asked her to help me finish so that they could all go home, and that's when my body began to change."
"That's when it began to hurt?" Shippou asked very quietly.
"Well, it hurt before that, but that's when it got really intense."
"Is it going to keep hurting for a long time?"
"I don't know. I think from speaking with Sesshoumaru that I'm going to have to do something really big to finish whatever this change is. He said it probably has something to do with my lifespan."
Sesshoumaru could hear the hesitation in her voice, but he was definitely surprised that kit caught on as well.
"Are you scared to live a long time Mum?"
"Well, yes and no. I think I will enjoy seeing you grow up, get married, and have your own family…"
"Ewwww, Mum!"
"And it will be nice to be with Kikyou and Inu as well…"
"But?"
"But I don't know what I'm going to do with myself Shippou. There are a lot of questions for me now that I've never had to face before; and before I can even begin to figure them out I need to find out who is after our family and stop them."
"Won't Sesshoumaru help? I mean, his pack has been attacked, he's not going to just let that one slide you know."
A big sigh, probably from Kagome.
"I'm sure he isn't going to overlook it, and he'll do everything in his power, which we both know is a lot, to deal with it, but I doubt we will work much together."
"Why not?"
'Yeah, why not?' wondered a somewhat irate Sesshoumaru.
"I do not think the taiyoukai of the west likes me very much. I seem to make him angry a lot, and he does have a nasty habit of pushing my buttons as well. I think he just doesn't like the way I do things, or see things, or judge things. It's very hard to be around someone who doesn't trust you and thinks that everything about you is ridiculous. If I did everything the way he wanted me to I couldn't be myself."
'So that is what she thinks of me,' Sesshoumaru pondered, his eyebrows furrowing. 'This coupled with what I heard in the music room earlier leads me to believe that she looks upon me with less than a favorable eye. How odd.'
When Sesshoumaru heard Kagome tell Rin she hadn't ever thought to think of a song for him, he'd been inclined to believe she merely hadn't found one suitable. However, now it seemed possible that she hadn't done so because she simply did not like him.
It was an alarming thought. Oh sure, he was perfectly aware that she didn't like some of his actions, but it was quite a different matter to not like him personally. Perhaps Kikyou was mistaken when she assured him that Kagome only started prank wars with people she respected or was interested in.
Having never worried about what anyone thought of him before, other than his own mother and father that is, this new line of reasoning greatly disturbed him.
A worried muttering pulled him back to the conversation between Kagome and Shippou.
"Sesshoumaru isn't Stanton, Mum," the kit whispered.
"Were you talking to Micah while I was still knocked out?" she asked with pretend sharpness.
"I'm serious Mum!"
"Who are you and what have you done with my seven year old son? You obviously are much older than…ACK! Now I can't breathe Shippou! Stop squeezing so hard or I'll pass out!"
"Mum, you're the strongest person I know, so what's so scary about Sesshoumaru that you can't handle it like you do everyone else?"
"You have been talking to Micah, haven't you!"
"Mum…"
"Shippou need I remind you that I am the parent here, not you?"
"Oh I'm sorry, did I just start asking some of those questions that you didn't want to have to answer?"
"That's it! You're going to bed right now you little stinker, and I'm not going to let you have any more private conversations with Micah until you're twenty, maybe thirty."
'Kagome never answers all the questions,' Sesshoumaru though morosely. Just once he wished she'd be completely forthright.
Down the hall he heard sounds of a struggle along with lots of giggling and a thwap or two of pillows hitting bodies.
"Alright, alright. Enough, before Sesshoumaru hears us and comes in to remove our appendages for having the audacity to have a pillow fight in his home."
More giggling.
"Goodnight Mum, I love you!"
"I love you too, Shippou."
"You'll wake me for toast?"
"If I haven't killed Micah first, yes."
Sesshoumaru decided it was high time he had a private discussion with Kagome. There were, concerns, that needed to be addressed; and now that he knew what she thought of him he felt he could more easily navigate the conversation without incurring her wrath. He was just about to open Rin's door when heard a most unwelcome voice.
"Hello Kags," it murmured.
"Hello Micah, just the demon I was looking for," she replied with a sickeningly sweet voice. "Mind telling me what you and my son talked about whilst I was unconscious?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about," came an offended reply.
"You're lying," she accused. "It's all over your aura."
"You can't do a thing about it though," he teased.
"Oh can't I?" she asked.
Sesshoumaru felt a sudden flare in miko energy. He smirked, the young upstart American was going to get roasted.
"Now now, why waste your time with me here when I know you are heading for a…what did you say, a hot soak?"
Sesshoumaru didn't appreciate the smirk he could hear lacing Micah's voice.
"And what if I am?" she asked airily.
'What is he getting at?' Sesshoumaru wondered.
"I know what you're planning Kagome," he teased.
"And what if you do?"
"I was wondering if you'd like some company," he replied simply.
'I am going to kill him!' Sesshoumaru inwardly snarled.
"And what makes you think I would?"
'Take that Peters! She doesn't want your distasteful excuse for company!' Sesshoumaru silently sneered.
"Oh come off it Kags!" Micah snorted in exasperation. "We both know that you are quite capable of doing things solo, but we also know that you much prefer a partner in your crimes."
"Wipe that grin off your face angel boy, my crimes are nothing to yours and this is certainly not an act of indiscretion I'm about to commit."
'This Sesshoumaru is most disturbed by this conversation,' the inu demon thought, going a little red in the eyes.
"True, but that doesn't change the fact that I'm right. C'mon love, we haven't been able to do something like this together in months, and who knows when our next opportunity will be. I'm heading back to the states day after tomorrow, so we've only got tonight to take care of whatever you have planned." Micah's voice had softened considerably. "I did come halfway across the world to see you, you know. The least you could do for a guy is…"
"Alright, alright, alright!" she giggled. "Whiner. We've got to slip away quick though, Sesshoumaru's around and he's feeling quite murderous about something."
"You can't tell why?" Micah inquired incredulously.
"No, do you know?"
"Yes, I mean it's pretty obvious!"
'That fool, correction, soon to be tortured and burned alive fool, thinks he can perceive this Sesshoumaru's thoughts?' Sesshoumaru was working very hard to not burst out into the hall and murder Peters. He was restraining himself because he knew the noise would wake Rin.
"Well then you're going to explain to me once we're finished. Now hurry, into my room and follow me through to the bathroom. Sesshoumaru's aura alone feels like it could skin us live and I don't want an encounter!"
-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-
Sesshoumaru was sitting on the floor of Rin's room, leaning against the door. He didn't trust himself to leave her, as her presence was the only thing keeping him from going ballistic and hunting down Micah to kill him.
About two hours ago he'd heard the pair go into her bathroom and draw a bath. He'd heard giggling, soft exclamations from Micah, some shuffling around, and even smelt Kagome's strawberry-mint scent drift down the hall, carried by the dissipating hot steam.
Listening to Rin's breathing and heartbeat helped to settle his temper. After a few more minutes he felt he could safely walk downstairs to his study and finalize any preparations for tomorrow.
And, if walking past Kagome's room meant he was taking the long way, then so be it. After sitting in one position for so long he could do with stretching his legs a bit.
He quietly raised himself, schooled his features, and made his way down the hall.
And, if he strained his hearing in passing her door, he told himself it was only a routine check of his surroundings. Fortunately, or unfortunately, he didn't hear anything.
He was halfway down the stairs when a sudden realization caused him to fly with inhuman speed back to Kagome's door.
He hadn't heard anything!
No breaths, no heartbeats, no sound of water splashing…nothing! He pressed his ear to the door just to make sure. Again, nothing. They weren't in her room.
Then again, he could smell her and sense their auras.
But he couldn't smell Peters.
Setting caution aside he broke open the locked doors, strode through to the bathroom and kicked it open as well.
Kagome and Peters were nowhere to be seen. The bath was drawn, he found an open bottle of strawberry bubblebath on the sink, there were torn mint leaves in the water as well, and two objects were glowing on the floor – Kagome had somehow charged the items with her and Micah's auras. And…the window was open.
They had snuck out.
-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-
There you m'dears, the long awaited Chapter 25. Sorry it took forever, I'll try and be quicker with 26, which is outlined in good old fashioned pen an ink, and almost completely typed up. Now, you may have caught more errors in this chapter, but that's because my beta is taking a well earned vacation and doesn't have a computer nearby. Me, being the impatient little stinker I am, am posting this anyways because Angel will come back and edit it later if need be and in the meantime I get feedback (coughreviewscough).
RIGHT!
So, without further ado, here are the spoilers (which may or may not be an exact match to what will actually end up in up the story) for chapter 26.
-"You want to smoooooch him, you want to huuuug him, you want to daaate him…" he taunted.
"This is your final warning Micah," Kagome hissed. "I'm serious, one more word and…"
"Kaggy and Sesshy sittin' in a tree, K-I-S-S-I…"
POW!-
-As Mia sat pondering the marriage of her elder daughter she began to think about the kind of partner her youngest was in need of. Kagome needed someone powerful, but capable of being gentle; someone intensely loyal, someone who wouldn't be intimidated by her abilities or destiny, someone who could keep up with her, someone who could both stand up to her and give in when need be, someone who…
A loud and abrupt banging on her door interrupted her thought, and before she could even make a move to answer is Sesshoumaru swept into the room and seated himself directly opposite her looking distinctly disgruntled.
"She snuck out," he growled.-