"…and so I told Master Jaken that I would follow Sesshomaru-sama forever too!" Rin applauded her own story. "Master Jaken was very grumpy that day though. Even Sesshomaru-sama thought that he was annoying."
"I'm annoying?" Jaken snorted. "Don't you hear yourself speak girl?"
Listening to those two bicker for so long is going to be enough to make me insane, Miroku sighed to himself. The pair had refused to be silent for any length of time at all in the hours since they had begun following Sesshomaru-sama anew. The proud taiyoukai continued to silently walk several yards ahead of the group. Not once had he glanced back to see if they were still following his privileged self.
How can he stand it? For someone with as little tolerance for chattering humans as he, I would have never thought that this is what he puts up with.
"Is that so, Rin?" Sango answered politely. Even the taijiya beside him was growing impatient.
Where are we headed, anyway? Sesshomaru seemed to be following some sense of direction, though Miroku could not discern their ultimate destination. They were certainly headed north. But where? I sense no corruption, no sense of the Sacred Jewel, no youkai.
Ahead, Inuyasha walked with Miyuki at his heels beside Kagome, who still refused to meet Miroku's eyes. Kagome and he were engaged in some low-spoken conversation that involved the woman being nearly connected to his hip. Their connection could not have been more obvious. His abrasive friend's blatancy had finally won out and the pair's advancing relationship was now known to both himself and Sango. It was a fact that he was not about to allow either of them to forget.
Although, Inuyasha may decide to beat me silent at some point.
"Look at them, Houshi-sama," Sango whispered to him. "Inuyasha's holding her hand."
"Indeed." His eyes could appreciate the differences between Inuyasha ignoring his affections for the miko and this...new attention. The difference was subtle. While Sango was enraptured with the sight of public affection from Inuyasha of all creatures Miroku switched his shakujou to his other hand so that he could interlace his fingers with Sango's calluses.
Sango's feet immediately stopped. "What do you think you're doing?!"
Miroku clenched his hand to prevent her attempts at freeing her own. "Is this not what you were insinuating? You must not tease me, Sango." Perhaps she did not explicitly ask me to touch her, but then again, when does she ever ask with her mouth? Her delicate behind is always calling to me. The woman is a minx.
"You…" Sango's cheeks were heated. "You know very well what I was talking about baka!"
"You do not wish to hold my hand?" Miroku carefully lowered his voice so that Sango alone would hear. What had begun as a juvenile attempt to rile the taijiya was becoming something more serious. Is it possible that Sango is offended by such an innocent gesture? Offended by me?
"…That is not the point!" Sango seemed to remember that their hands were still locked together. Sango retrieved her hand before fisting it at her side. Affronted, Miroku continued to appreciate the seductiveness of her heavy hair and her dark eyes. Within kissing distance, even.
"Then what is the point?" Miroku heard the hint of anger in his own voice. Why must she always behave as if I am some rake come to defile her? Even with the most innocent of gestures I am beleaguered. "It is impossible to even show you the smallest of affections, taijiya. You, a grown woman! You are afraid to admit that you desire—
"It's impossible to show me affection?" Sango repeated, eyes narrowing. "When you continue to insist on flirting with every woman that you see, asking them to bear your child? How dare you, monk! If anyone is afraid, it is you! You womanizing—"
"HEY!" Inuyasha's voice silenced them both. The hanyou was glaring at them, arms folded, in front of the group that had ceased walking to stare at the two lingering humans. "What the hell are you two doing?"
"Don't speak to me, Houshi-sama," Sango threatened, marching ahead. It was obvious to he who commonly watched the taijiya's strut that she was shame-faced at having an audience. Miroku's anger more than countered the shame he felt himself for embarrassing Sango.
"I have no desire to." Miroku strode past his stunned hanyou friend.
That night, Inuyasha sat amidst a very uncomfortable group. Miyuki continued to ignore Sesshomaru obstinately, not that he blamed her. The Asshole had yet to apologize. Jaken and Shippo were pissed at each other for receiving "more food" than the other. Most noticeably Sango and Miroku sat on opposite ends of the camp ignoring the existence of the other.
For once, Kagome and Inuyasha were the only ones on friendly terms.
"Noooo!" Miyuki let out the smallest of growls. He turned his head to see both Rin and the pup with their hands on a small…something. What the hell was that thing? "It's mine!"
"Miss Kagome said that I could play with it Miyuki!" Rin was having difficulty removing the toy from Miyuki's grasp. "It's not nice to be greedy!"
"Girls!" Kagome was as tired as he was of everyone fighting. "Miyuki…let Rin have the boxing-man pen, ok? I have a million like it." Miyuki released it unhappily. Rin smiled triumphantly as she returned to drawing on some of Kagome's paper things. The pup pouted, crossing her arms across her chest.
A small sound echoed around the deathly quiet camp lightly. The…gentle growl came from Sesshomaru himself. The taiyoukai's eyes were focused on Miyuki's newly astonished face.
Peace, Inuyasha interpreted.
Miyuki closed her mouth, nodding slowly.
Something about Sesshomaru's deep growl eased the tension in the air—even Inuyasha could feel his shoulders relax. It took him several heartbeats longer to realize that the bastard was actually adjusting his own heavy aura to mitigate the angry atmosphere.
Damn, that's a good move, he admitted grudgingly. How the hell is he doing that?
"Come," Sesshomaru ordered quietly. Several pairs of eyes immediately adjusted to Miyuki's searching gaze. The two inuyoukai watched each other.
"Why?" Miyuki countered. Sesshomaru's eyebrow rose minimally. Without responding they watched as Sesshomaru slipped his hand inside his armor, removing something pink and reflective—cloth. Miyuki's eyes widened. The pup didn't waste time in rising to her feet.
"The slayer will assist you." Miyuki had sunk to her knees beside the taiyoukai to finger the cloth spilling from Sesshomaru's hand.
"Um…uh, yes, of course, Sesshomaru-sama." Sango stood up, running her hands over her skirt.
"Come Sango," Miyuki took the cloth. "Hurry!"
"I'm coming," Sango walked faster as Miyuki sped away into the bushes nearby. "Wait!"
"You bought her a kimono?" Kagome seemed as dumbstruck as he. The bastard did something nice? "That is rather…kind of you, Sesshomaru-sama."
"It is not kindness." Sesshomaru's eyes did a swift survey of Kagome's exposed legs.
Kagome blushed red.
"Oi, you bastard, you'd better fucking—"
"Sesshomaru-sama commissioned the kimono to be made in Kaede's village, Inuyasha." Miroku was forced to raise his voice over Inuyasha's soon-to-be rage.
"Look!" Miyuki's speed was dizzying. The pup ran to his side to show him the light rose coloring of the fabric decorated with vivid white roses. A white kosode was visible as the fabric shifted. "Isn't it prity Yaya? Tall man brought it for me!"
"Yeah…" Inuyasha could clearly see the excitement in her face.
"Miyuki loves that color." Sango stepped out from the trees once more to sit closer to the fire. "She wouldn't even stand still."
"Ank you!" Miyuki sprinted over to Sesshomaru's side once more. "I never seen pink cloth before! I like it very much." The girl shifted so that the fabric swung around her knees again; she giggled. Miyuki threw her arms around Sesshomaru's neck in a firm squeeze. Inuyasha watched. Sesshomaru's face hardened incrementally at the shock of the girl's contact. But before he could chase it away, an odd look crossed over the bastard's eyes.
"Enough," Sesshomaru spoke shortly. Miyuki released his neck happily seconds later as she returned to the ground. The pup's face was lit up with happiness.
Kagome giggled, clapping her hands softly. "Come on sweetie, you have to finish your dinner now ok?" Miyuki marched over to where she had abandoned her food beside Rin. Comically, she gathered up her things to teeter over to Sesshomaru's side. "I guess that works too."
"Come sit Yaya," Miyuki patted the ground beside her. "Aft dinner Yaya help make pic-tures." Inuyasha couldn't help looking over the squirt's head to Sesshomaru's withering eyes. His ears flattened.
Definitely not.
"I think that's an excellent idea Inuyasha." Miroku's eyes were twinkling as he tried his best to appear sincere.
"You wouldn't want to disappoint her," Sango chimed in. The monk met eyes with her for the first time in hours as they both suppressed grins.
"Shut up. Idiots."
"I'll help you draw pictures, Miyuki." Shippo's tail twitched uncontrollably as he darted over to the girl's side.
Unwittingly the inutaichi continued to grow more comfortable. The taiyoukai's powerful influence was soothing as the children were the first to bed, followed not long after by the humans and the hanyou cajoled by Sesshomaru's prodding aura.
Silence.
Sesshomaru ran his eyes over Inuyasha's humans—the group never ceased making trouble for themselves. The lover's quarrel between the taijiya and her pathetic excuse for a mate confirmed his earlier observations. It had presented him with an undignified show of commonness. The woman had presented good judgement and manners befitting her station. Yet, she tolerated the monk.
It would seem that not even the taijiya can overcome the disease of her kind. Humans have no logic.
Sesshomaru refocused his attention on Miyuki. Inuyasha had made a considerable impression on the girl. After watching his daughter's interactions with the other he could easily conclude that she preferred his sibling. Miyuki ran to him with every thought.
"Hn." His eyes shifted slowly upwards to Inuyasha's face. The hanyou had fallen asleep almost against his will. It was disturbing to be forced to witness the half-breed in a position that made him seem years younger. Inuyasha was an adult, not some pup. He should never look so like the child that he used to be.
Miyuki yawned suddenly, blinking her eyes open. The pup shook her hair as she gently removed herself from Inuyasha's lap to step into the woods.
Sesshomaru inhaled—there were no signs of danger.
Miyuki returned. She stopped when she saw him. After several moments she glanced towards Inuyasha's lax figure. "Hi tall man," she yawned. "You no sleep? Why?" Miyuki kneeled beside him. "Need sleep," she patted his arm.
"Do not disrespect me." This must be Inuyasha's influence. I will not tolerate being called such a name.
"Ok," Miyuki nodded, yawning again. The girl's eyes were drooping closed. "No…what you said."
She is barely conscious. Sesshomaru acted without thought. He allowed the voluminous white fur wrapped around his shoulder to unwind and fall around the girl. Miyuki's eyes opened to a sea of fur.
"Sleep." He allowed a small rumble to leave his throat. The girl nodded absently as she lay down amidst the white, encircling herself in warm fur. The pup's face was half-hidden by his side; her position prompted a similar memory, except that Father had been in his place, and he in Miyuki's.
Father…
Miyuki woke several hours later. Inuyasha and the humans slumbered still as the golden-eyed girl stretched lazily. She was surprised to find that the fur surrounding her seemed to have a solid core. A second pair of golden eyes scrutinized her carefully. "Tall man?"
I will not respond to that name.
"Good morning tall man," a smile spread over her face. "You 'ave good sleep?"
"Hn." He removed the fur from Miyuki as he rewound his cloak around his shoulder. He held the girl as he left the human camp.
"Where we going?" Miyuki blinked her eyes. The pup squirmed to observe the forest as he strode past the scenery. It did not take long to reach the small body of water nearby. Sesshomaru placed the girl onto her own feet.
"What we doing now?" Miyuki's hand gripped his hakama along the back of his knee. "We going to swim? We catch fish? It's fun to catch them."
"Wash." The order was simple. She continued to gaze up at him blankly. "I do not repeat myself."
Silence.
"I'm hungry," Miyuki tilted her head. "We going 'ave break-fast?" Sesshomaru kneeled. Dampening a white cloth he slowly began to run the fabric over Miyuki's cheeks. The pup's eyes never left his face.
"Wha' I call you?" she asked quietly.
Sesshomaru's hand lowered to rest on his knee.
"Di' Yaya tell the truth?" Miyuki's serious tone continued. "You my dad?"
"I am." She lowered her eyes suddenly. He inhaled deeply to gauge what his eyes would not tell him: confusion, excitement, water, Inuyasha's scent, his own, as well as the taijiya's. He did not know how to mitigate the girl's swirling emotions.
"You resemble your mother." The words came on their own.
Miyuki flushed pink.
Space filled the air as she continued to study her claws. Sesshomaru studied the girl. Miyuki's parentage was evident in the planes of her face. It was easy to see her mother's features in the shape of her hands, her brow, her chin. The girl's eyes were his own. Sesshomaru was startled to see tears drop from those eyes.
"I miss her," she mumbled. Miyuki rubbed at her cheeks defiantly as she noticed him watching. "We go back now? Want 'Ome."
Damn that woman. If she had not disobeyed me she would not have been killed.
"Oi," the sound came softly. His hanyou sibling stood watching. Inuyasha's ears lay flat. Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes.
"Hi Yaya," Miyuki sniffed.
Inuyasha came forward to lift Miyuki onto his hip; the pup buried her face into his shoulder. Sesshomaru rose to tower once again over the half-breed looking at him with that infuriating look. As if it was he, Sesshomaru, who required assistance from anyone.
"Breakfast is ready," Inuyasha snorted softly, turning. "Are you hungry squirt? Kagome's cooking those weird things you like, remember those?"
"Yeah." Miyuki used his suikan to wipe her nose. "I 'member. They were good."
"Not that you need 'em," Inuyasha adjusted her weight. "The way Kagome's feeding you kids you'll be fat in no time."
"No I not!" Miyuki forgot her sadness. "I'm not fat!"
"Are you sure?" Inuyasha chuckled.
Miyuki swatted his shoulder.
"Here you go, Houshi-sama." Sango blushed as Miroku's fingers brushed against hers.
"Tea, Inuyasha?" Kagome turned towards the hanyou.
"Yeah, thanks wench. Hurry up squirt," Inuyasha hastily ordered her.
"Yes Yaya," Miyuki scrambled over to receive her cup of tea. "Thank you 'Ome." The miko affectionately ruffled the girl's hair. She stood there cradling the cup in her hands.
"I must say, there has been a marked decrease in the amount of attacks lately," Miroku's voice carried softly to those around him. "I can only speculate as to why, especially considering that we have recently acquired more jewel shards."
"You're right." Sango nodded.
Inuyasha watched silently as Miyuki walked slowly towards Sesshomaru. She tugged on his empty left sleeve gently to attract his attention. His impassive eyes swiftly surveyed the vision of his daughter offering him a cup of sweet-smelling herbal tea.
Fuck, squirt. That bastard will never—
Sesshomaru's fingers closed slowly over the top.
Miyuki beamed as she returned to garnish a second cupful from Kagome. The pup happily returned to Sesshomaru's side for the duration of breakfast.