IY P.O.V
We stood amidst the greenery, panting out of exhaustion as we watched the flames lick the scene before us.
We've done it.
I couldn't believe my own thoughts. I cast a glance to Miroku who gave me a reassuring grin.
"Not to worry Inuyasha," He started as he looked at his right palm. He held it up so I could take a good look at it. He revealed a palm…a palm that was there, not deadly and could be seen. My mouth hung slightly open as I got over the shock.
"It's gone. He's gone." This was answered by an overjoyed Sango who ran up to the monk to give him a surprising kiss.
I simply slumped to the ground as Tetsusaiga morphed back into the worn out piece of metal it really was. Then, I smiled to myself.
We did do it. It's over.
I looked up at the soon to be night sky.
"If only you were here with me, Kagome…" I said out loud to myself.
Sess P.O.V
As I was about to show the tailor to her room, she grabbed me from behind.
"Sess-shou-ma-ru…I-I-I" I tried to make sense of her blabbering while she tried to catch her breath.
"What is it koi?"
"I…Look who I found in the woods!" Her hair was in a beautiful tangle as her face was painted with an all-too wide grin. Then, I realized that there was a foreign figure standing next to her. He looked around his fifties, he didn't produce any strange aura so that took care of my heavily-guarded suspicion. His clothes were tattered and he smelled human. My assessment: Not a threat.
"Sesshoumaru-sama, what a great honor this is to be standing in your presence!" The man professed as his knees and hands found their way to the ground.
"Otou-san!" Kagome scolded as she grabbed his arm and brought him to his feet.
The whole time I remained before them, stunned.
"Kagome, who is this?" She giggled and gave a hug to the odd man.
"This man here Sesshoumaru, is my father."
-While she was being measured by the tailor-
"So Kagome let me get this straight. You found a strange man, walking in the woods and he tells you that he is Kyoukou Higurashi and you think that this man, is the same Kyoukou Higurashi you knew from ten years ago."
"Yes Sesshoumaru, I do." She said between 'ouches' from the needle prodding.
"Do you have a problem with that Sesshy-kun?" She asked cheekily. I could sense the maids in the room trying to stifle a giggle when she called me that absurd nickname.
"Koi…he could be anyone with the same name as your father who wants to freeload off the Lord of the Western land."
"Sesshoumaru he is my father! I know he is! He…He looks like him and…and I just know he is ok?" She started getting frustrated and started to fidget. This was answered by the death glares from the tailor who was trying to make her a kimono by the next day.
"And to add to that Sesshy, he told me that he was from the future and the reason he left was to come and find the Sacred Jewel. Ha! Beat that." She gave me her 'I am right and you are wrong' look.
"Alright, I just wanted to make sure he is the right Kyoukou Higurashi…"
"Don't look so sad Sesshy, I know you are not used to being in the wrong so I'm gonna tell you that it is normal." She grinned evily as one maid could not help but utter a tiny laugh. This human was really something. She makes everyone she meets like her and she made me melt into a pool of mush in her hands. She was really something.
-In Sesshoumaru's study-
After the tailor finished up, Kagome took her father to his room while I retreated into my study to do some final paper work before we left the next day for the ball. While I was answering a letter from the North, I saw mother sitting in the seat in front of me.
"Yes mother?" I said monotonously without turning away from the paper.
"Still the same Sesshoumaru I raised: Always concentrating at the task at hand."
I placed my brush down and looked at her.
"Yes, mother?" She gave a small laugh and rested her head in her hands as her elbows were propped on the table.
"You should trust her more koishii…"
"I'm just making sure he's not someone who is trying to hurt her. She has been through a lot." Then, mother began laughing.
"Did I say something amusing mother?"
"Who are you and what have you done with my koishii?" She said while toning down.
"I don't think I grasp your meaning." She stood up and walked behind my and placed her hands on my shoulders.
"You were never like this with anyone before. Not even with that sweet little child of yours." I turned around to see her gazing down at me.
"I really need to thank her for that." She finished with a smile and left.
Kag P.O.V
"So Otou-san, are you comfortable in this room?"
"Yes very much Kagome…" He seemed so much older than I remembered. The young face I recalled was now infested with wrinkles.
"Well then, good night Koishii." He smiled as he gave me a hug.
"Good night to you too Papa…" As he began closing the door I remembered something.
"Oh yes! Tomorrow Sesshoumaru and I are going to this ball type thing ok? So just make yourself comfortable here and we'll be back soon."
"Alright dear. See you in the morning." I smiled and began my walk to my room. As I shuffled across the corridor I realized that it had been an amazing day. The morning was wonderful and it had been so until now. And then I found Papa. I sighed as I skipped down the hall but was stopped in front of Rin's room. I poked my head into the room and saw Sesshoumaru standing next to Rin's bed as the little girl snored away happily. He bended down to her level and looked at her sleeping form. He gave a small smile as he stroked her hair lovingly. He looked so unarmed at that moment that I just had to join in. I walked into the room and wrapped my arms around him from the back. He stood up and gave me a small peck on the cheek before taking me back to my room.
