I do not own any of the characters from Inuyasha they belong to the "Master"
Chapter 28
The Honeymoon is Over
As nice as most of the trip was Catherine was glad to arrive home. As they flew over the Palace she could see Rin run to the courtyard to greet them. Jaken and Lady Yoko were not too far behind. Sesshomaru was stoic as ever but Catherine exchanged hugs and kisses with all including Jaken. There were wonderful tales to tell about what they saw on the trip. Of course the biggest tales were those not told. Sesshomaru would tell no one not even Jaken, not even Catherine about Dark Side and what had happened there. Catherine decided to keep her meeting with Peach and Plum to herself for the time being.
Catherine was not used to keeping secrets and it did not sit well with her. Sesshomaru seemed relaxed and content but that unspoken thing that was obviously going on hung there like a viable presence, like an elephant in the room. He behaved like nothing had happened yet, she noticed, spent more and more time by himself. He had an old scroll that he seemed to be studying continually. She caught a quick glimpse of the scroll and saw that it was a map of some kind. What was going on what was he plotting? He was certainly affectionate at night but she could detect a quiet desperation in his embraces.
Rin was the one who actually shed some light on Sesshomaru's actions. She had been with him longer than Catherine, she knew his moods. Catherine saw her one afternoon sitting on the little bridge over the coi pond in the interior garden. She sat dangling her feet over the pond looking down at the water.
"What are you doing Rin," asked Catherine?
"Watching the fish," replied Rin. "I like the way they dart about the water and the way the sun reflects on the bottom."
Next to Rin were brushes, paper her ink and brushes. Catherine picked up a piece of paper. On it was a beautiful painting of the fish done in simple elegant strokes and subtle shading. She was stunned by the simple elegant beauty of the painting. It seemed impossible that one as young as Rin could have produced such a sophisticated beautiful work. Down the side of the paper was written a Haiku.
In a world of only water,
Who knows if goldfish weep?
"Did you paint this Rin?" asked Catherine.
"Yes," said Rin never taking her eyes from the fish. "Lady Yoko says I have talent. She is going to get me some pigment for water colors."
"Well she is certainly correct."
Catherine had sat down next to Rin. Little Pywacket joined them settling herself in Catherine's lap purring contentedly.
"Sesshomaru must be planning something, a battle or something," said Rin.
"How can you tell" asked Catherine?
"I just can, I've been with him long enough to know."
"I wish he would confide in me," said Catherine. "After all I'm his wife now."
Rin looked back down at the fish. "He won't, it isn't his way. It's like the fish here. You see how they all dart about except for that one, the big white one with the red markings. He just seems to sit there. When I feed the fish they all come swimming up except him. He is stronger and faster than the others. When he moves, it's like lightning and when he decides to eat he comes up like others aren't there. He just lives differently from them. Sesshomaru is like that, you cannot expect him to act like any other man. He just lives differently. I think he carefully considers most things he does. He will tell you what he thinks you need to know. It's just his way. If you love him, you need to accept that.
"Rin, you are wise beyond your years!' laughed Catherine.
Rin gave her a big smile, "I just notice things," she said turning her attention once again to the pond.
Catherine sat with her awhile enjoying afternoon. A child who followed a Demon, who became a demon's daughter was bound to be special. Well whatever Sesshomaru was planning he needed both his arms. Catherine got up taking Pywacket in her arms; she had better get started on that.
Catherine had all the ingredients she needed for the tonic Sesshomaru would have to drink. His arm would grow back naturally in about fifty years or so. What she needed to do was stimulate the growth and speed it up. The tonic would simply strengthen him since to build the arm he would be drawing from his body. Sesshomaru was very powerful. Whatever he lost he would soon build back. Catherine served the first dose that evening. Sesshomaru downed it dispassionately but then surprised her by asking if the process could be speeded even more.
"No," said Catherine, "the preparation cannot be accelerated, it would weaken your body and it would take longer to build your strength back also. The arm might not grow back properly.
Sesshomaru endured the treatments patiently for two weeks. Catherine thought of how nice it was to have him around. Would their life together be like this or would it just be a series of brief interludes between trips away.
Finally came the night of the final treatment. This was when she would accelerate the growth. Catherine had carefully chosen a night with a full moon. Sesshomaru was strongest then. She left instruction that once the process began they must not be disturbed, no matter what. She gave an order to Jaken, Lady Yoko and Rin that once they entered their chamber they were not to be disturbed no matter what.
"I don't care if fire falls from the sky or a dragon attacks or a high wave! Save yourselves but leave us be. Don't worry, she added, "I'll take care of things in here!"
Catherine turned to see Sesshomaru smiling at her as close to laughing as she had seen him in a long time.
"You are very fierce great Demoness of the Far West!" he said.
"Yes," she said, "I am. Now take your robe off and lie down.'
"That sounds like fun!" he said still smiling.
"Yes, well, I may enjoy it but you'll be unconscious."
"I will?"
"You must not move during the procedure, also it may be unpleasant. I'm going to put you to sleep, when you wake up you wile have your arm back."
There was almost a sadness Catherine felt from Sesshomaru. He took off his robe and lay down on the mat his head and back on the fur that was always with him. Catherine checked the jar containing the infusion, more than enough was still sparkling within. Putting her hand over Sesshomaru's eyes she summoned power from the air around them and put him gently into a deep sleep. Once again she was surprised at how young he looked when asleep. She went quickly to work. Using her wand she drew the life force from the infusion and directed it to his shoulder and back and the stump of his arm. Immediately she saw the growth begin. She had to carefully monitor the growth through the night so that the growth remained even and properly focused. It was going to be a long night! She had to remain awake and vigilant. Sesshomaru would draw from his body to build the arm. When he awoke he would be very hungry. She had managed to locate those who made leather and was able to purchase some fresh red meat. Of course no one in the kitchen would touch it so she had it in a closed container with directions to keep it cool. The night wore on; she had done this several times with her mother twice on her own. It never failed to amaze her how the arm or limb which ever would proceed through the night. In Sesshomaru's case she needed to keep the process from proceeding too quickly putting strain on his body.
Far into the night there was a commotion outside. Catherine could hear people shouting and running around. Sesshomaru's eyelids began to flicker. Catherine put her hand over his face and sent him back into deep sleep. This was where discipline came into play. As much as she wanted to check that all was well, as worried as she was she knew she must stay on her task.
As daybreak came Catherine could see that the arm was fully grown. She checked it against the other arm to be sure the length dimensions, finger, wrist were symmetrical. She checked the arm thoroughly making sure all was in place. She then stopped the growth. The new arm was a little thinner than the right arm but would soon build up.
Sesshomaru looked thinner also; he would need to build up too.
Carefully she brought him out of his sleep. He opened his eyes and looked up at her. As he tried to get up she pressed him gently down.
"Not yet, you have a new arm. You well need a couple of hours at least to get used to it. How do you feel?"
"Hungry," he replied, he carefully lifted his new left arm opening and closing his hand.
"I'll help you get up so you don't put weight on your new arm," said Catherine but Sesshomaru was already up."
"You forget I am used to doing things with my right arm only, on my right side."
He quickly dressed as he always did. The new arm made him feel a little awkward and; unbalanced. It was similar to the way he had felt when he had first lost his arm. Of course there was no pain and this time it was a happy occasion. He examined the wrist and fingers of his new arm.
"The poison glands are in your wrist same as your right hand,"
said Catherine quietly.
Sesshomaru looked over at her darkly, she had read his mind.
Catherine left the room to go to the kitchen. Soon she returned with a tray on which was a white covered bowl. Sesshomaru's eyes flashed red when he saw it.
"You need this to build your strength quickly,
said Catherine.
"Turn around," said Sesshomaru.
Catherine turned her back to him. She heard nothing but the clink of the ceramic lid being lifted. The bowl was full of fresh red meat. It did not sound as if he was eating, she didn't really know what she expected to hear. At his word she turned. The bowl was absolutely clean, not a sign of meat, not a drop of blood anywhere. Sesshomaru looked better, not as thin and drawn. He rose and walked to the door.
"Let us see what the cook has prepared," he said.
They entered the dining room to find Lady Yoko, Rin and Pywacket there. Rin was feeding Pywacket fish from her plate.
"Oh!" said Lady Yoko I surprise. "My Lord we did not expect you1'
Sesshomaru sat at the head of the table, Catherine at his side.
"Don't be formal on my account," He said smiling. "Was there a disturbance last night?"
"Yes," said Catherine, "What was going on last night?"
"Oh nothing," giggled Lady Yoko, "Just some large wasps, I have never seen any like them. We thought they were after the honey bees but this morning the hives were untouched."
Sesshomaruwas silent. Catherine see something was wrong. Even Rin looked down obviously shaken.
"Was anyone stung?" asked Sesshomaru.
"Oh no, they seemed to be looking for something," said Lady Yoko.
"Something they did not find," thought Sesshomaru to himself.
There was nothing to be done. His arm was weak. He would need time to strengthen it. At least he would be here in case of an attack.
