A/N: Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! The week and weekend got a little wild and therefore got away from me! Enjoy!
Miroku stood outside the shrine and stared towards the northern edge of InuYasha's forest. Something kept pulling him in that direction, over and over today. Twice already he had stood in this same spot, had done the same thing, but as the feeling of whatever had unsettled him grew, he calmed his mind and reached out with his powers. Something was brewing just outside what the hanyou considered his borders. Something dark. Something evil.
Pulling his power back, Miroku stumbled and would have fallen had he not gripped the doorway of the little shrine he called his own. Carefully, as his bones felt like noodles, he sank down to sit against the wall and take a second to get his breath back. It was the farthest he had tried to reach today and had tired him more than he had expected. He would stay here a few more minutes before leaving to speak with Kaede. So far the presence was simply stalled at the far edge of the woods, but he would keep an eye out and hopefully whatever it was would leave them be. Just in case, he would inform the miko of what he'd sensed. After all, two watchers were always better than one.
While he rested his head back against the wall, Miroku became aware of the gentle ringing of metal against metal as someone made their way up the shrine stairs. Unconcerned, he continued with his recovery and waited for whomever it was to arrive.
Clearing the top step, Tadao looked around at the immaculately kept grounds of the shrine. The sneer lifted his lip and he wondered if the monk Miroku did it himself or if he had the villagers doing it as part of their offerings to the kami. Continuing to look around, he walked slowly towards the shrine and noticed the monk sitting against the wall. 'Lazy.' Just as he expected. Increasing his pace, he stopped only inches from the man's knee. "Are you the monk here?"
The smile was quick to cross Miroku's face before he opened his indigo eyes to look up at the man who belonged to such a gruff, disapproving voice. The monk that stood there had quite certainly seen better days as the dusty, travel worn state of his robes could attest to. He looked rough. Like he had spent a few long nights in the wilderness and Miroku gestured to the place against the wall beside him. "Sit friend. Take a moment to enjoy the warmth the sun has to offer on this fine day and tell a fellow monk of your travels. You appear to have had a hard journey."
Caught off guard by the kindness Tadao was slow to accept the offer. Eventually, with great reluctance, he set his staff against the wall and sat rigidly a distance away. This was not how he expected this to go. He had expected Miroku to be the same snide, money grubbing man that he had always assumed his father to be. This man seemed genuinely kind. Perhaps this was not the Houshi Miroku but another. "Are you the only monk at this shrine?"
"I am." Miroku studied the man from the corner of his eye and waited to see if there was a reason he had come to his shrine. Some had come before to speak about Naraku, to witness the disappearance of his wind tunnel and know for fact the curse had been broken with the spider hanyou's death. And still others, foolish others, had come to try their prowess against InuYasha. Houshi, samurai, even youkai, had come for the challenge and been soundly, and repeatedly, beaten. While InuYasha didn't lose, he had rarely found them difficult to defeat, he always let them leave with their life and a warning not to return a second time for he would not be so lenient again.
"Hmm." Tadao didn't know what to do now. Clearly, if he was the only monk here, this was Miroku but how could he discover the truth of things. Surly Kohaku would have told the tale of what had occurred in the forest, what his cousin had done, and given up their names. How could he get an honest read on this monk if he gave his name and was run out of town? Clearing his throat, he decided perhaps a small deception was in order. "I have been travelling for quite some time. Would it be too much to ask for a bed in your shrine? I will gladly trade the labour of my hands for the lodging and assist with the prayer needs of your villagers."
The smile remained but Miroku had a feeling. It was not a bad feeling, not the same as InuYasha's itch but it was a feeling all the same and turned his soft monk's smile on the other Houshi. "You are welcome to remain up here, or, if you would like, I am positive one of the villagers would be willing to house you. Perhaps even our miko, Lady Kaede." If it came down to that, he would simply have Rin come stay with them while the monk was in residence. There was something there, a burden, a mark on the man that while not evil, was not all together pleasant either. "What was your name friend?"
"Benkei, and I am content with space here." He allowed himself to relax and settle against the wall letting his eyes drift around the cleared ground and well-kept space of this shrine. "It is a nice space. You are fortunate to have such a home."
The words, though quiet, held an underlying edge to them that set Miroku's hair on end. This one put him on alert and he didn't like it. "Yes, it is my home. One I thank Buddha for every day." Rising to his feet, Miroku retrieved the broom that was resting against the door frame and took it inside to place in the store room at the back of the shrine. 'What does he want?' Perhaps he was being overly suspicious, the price he paid after Naraku, and being friends with InuYasha for so long. The Inu had trust issues and apparently, they were rubbing off on him as well.
Returning outside, he assumed his own mask, the one of the jovial monk and held down his hand to Benkei. "Come, you look hungry. Sango should have some soup leftover from our lunch, enough to fill your belly until dinner."
The man wore better robes than he had ever owned and Tadao had a stabbing shot of jealousy pierce his heart. Here was the excess he expected to find. Here was the spoils of the swindler, the charlatan, the con artist and it disgusted him. Declining the assistance he returned to his feet on his own. "That would be much appreciated. May I inquire, who is Sango?"
His mouth said one thing but his eyes said another. "She is my wife." There, just there, the flash of extreme disapproval and the sneer of disgust the other monk couldn't quite keep from his face. It was enough to have his own mask falling swiftly away. "I will say this only once. Whether you approve, or disprove of a monk who marries, if you should insult my wife in any way, not only will I take your head off your shoulders, but should I miss for some reason, she has a very large weapon she will be most inclined to introduce you to. Sango will not hesitate to send her Hiraikotsu at your head. So if this is going to be a problem tell me now. I will take you to Kaede who will feed you, lodge for the night, and see you safely from the village come morning."
The happy but slightly idiotic expression the man had worn only seconds ago, fell from his face to be replaced by one he knew well. It was the exact expression the hanyou had worn only days ago when InuYasha had pinned him to a tree. The look was one of a battled hardened warrior, someone tested in the fires and heat of the moment, who had forged ahead and come through the other side changed. It was the look of a man who knew just how fast, and how hard, he could wield the staff leaning against the wall. Miroku was a fighter who had rapidly assessed him and found his opponent lacking. If it came down to a fight, Tadao knew, by little more than that look and the set of the shoulders beneath those blue black robes, that he would lose. Swallowing his pride, he slowly shook his head. "While I may not approve, it is not my place to judge you for your choices." The kami would see to that in the end.
"No. It is not." With eyes narrowed, Miroku gave the man a hard stare. "You do not know me monk. Do not presume to understand things you have no knowledge nor understanding of. My choices are my own and whether the Kami approve or not is between them and me." Retrieving his staff where it stood beside Benkei's he tossed the other towards its owner. "Nice weight, but the balance is off. You need to shorten it if you want to wield that with any accuracy." The surprise that registered on the other man's face made him laugh and shake off his annoyance. "Come, friend! Meet my lovely wife and perhaps you will understand better why I chose to break my vow."
He switched from battle ready to grinning fool in an instant and threw Tadao's perceptions off a second time. 'Maybe he's not a swindler. Maybe he's just crazy.' Following Miroku down the path, he wondered if he would have enough time to find out.
The monk fell in behind him and Miroku let his smile falter when Benkei could not see it. Shooting a worried glance back towards the north, he prayed hard to the Kami that what he was feeling would stay up there, for now he had another worry to deal with, and this one was much closer to home.
Shippo and Kohaku riding Kirara, touched down on the edge of Jinenji's field nearest the large hanyou's hut. While Shippo had never met the horse half demon, he knew it was Jinenji's powerful antidotes that had cured his friends on more than one occasion during the shard hunt. He knew from what InuYasha had said in passing that the male was really big and very strong, but when he lumbered from the house, Shippo felt his tail fluff out in fear. 'He's big enough to eat me in one go!' But both Kirara and Kohaku seemed relaxed in his presence and Shippo tried to appear the same. InuYasha would never send him to stay with someone that would hurt him.
"Jinenji! Good to see you again." Kohaku called out as he slid from the neko's back. He had met Jinenji a few times when the taijiya needed antidotes or remedies for this or that. While at first he had been wary of the big male, he had grown to like the soft spirited hanyou.
"Kohaku-san. Kirara. It has been some time." Turning his blue eyes to the fox kit that sat huddled and quivering on the back of the fire neko, he smiled gently. "And you must be Shippo. Kagome and InuYasha told me to expect you. You have arrived on a fortuitous night young kitsune for the village is celebrating and you can come with me to the festival." It would also be the first time he and Ume stepped out together in public and the thought both energized and terrified him. "Will you be joining us Kohaku-san?"
While he would love to, it had been quite some time since he had enjoyed a village celebration, Kohaku sadly shook his head. "Can't. Not this time but I thank you for your offer." Plucking the kit from the back of Kirara, he set Shippo on the ground and watched the fire cat nuzzled him. "You've still got your map?"
Patting his chest where the paper crackled, Shippo nodded and scratched Kirara behind the ear in farewell.
"And you remember your promise to Sango?" If something were to happen to this kit between here and the west it would devastate both Kagome and Sango, and likely InuYasha and Miroku.
"I remember. Geez, what am I a baby? It ain't that far!" He huffed, blushed, and crossed his arms in affront at being treated like a little kid.
Chuckling quietly, for InuYasha's influence could be heard quite clearly in Shippo's speech, Kohaku ruffled the head of red hair and jumped back on board Kirara. "Alright but you be careful Shippo. I'd hate to see you get hurt. Be safe!" Nodding to Jinenji, he gave Kirara a nudge and they were gone.
When it was just the two of them, Jinenji crouched down to be less intimidating to the kit. No matter how he protested, the boy really was only a child in the youkai community. "So, Shippo, how did your trip to fox school go?"
Eyes snapping up into the big kind ones of the horse hanyou, he sputtered in surprise, "But…but… but… how?"
"How did I know?" He asked and chuckled quietly when the kit nodded. "Kagome is very proud of you. She told me all about her kit and his training to be a full-fledged fox demon. Why not come inside, have a snack and tell me all about your tricks."
"Ok!" Jumping up excitedly, Shippo began to chatter as he followed the slow pace of Jinenji.
Gathering together something he thought the kitsune would enjoy, Jinenji listened to the excited banter of the boy as he spoke of other youkai and people that he would likely never meet. He laughed at his own jokes and tricks, giggled when Jinenji chuckled, and added actions to his story that soon had him leaping and dashing, tumbling and jumping around with an energy the big male envied.
It was pleasant to have such a vibrant spirt within his home and the joy and enthusiasm of the kit made him wonder if his own offspring would be such bundles of lightening. A pleased smile travelled his face with that thought. Thanks to Kagome and InuYasha he now had the possibility of having his own children with Ume. He had begun his courtship of her over the last few days and it had been wonderful. She was so sweet and kind, and the constant rush of happiness through the link Kagome created was showing him that he was doing well.
He had heeded InuYasha's advice and that first evening, after Ume's stumble and his confession, and had taken her a bunch of wild flowers. Miwa had teased in that way of hers, reddening both his and Ume's faces, before Ume had taken the initiative and shoved him firmly out the door, inviting him to take a stroll through the forest as the sun set.
While a chaperone would have been proper, Miwa had complained that her hip was acting up and had said that she trusted Jinenji to be a gentleman. She had snuck a sly grin to her granddaughter stating quietly to not do anything that she, Miwa, had not done herself. The comment had flushed Ume into new heights of redness though Jinenji had not understood. Instead, he had found himself being tugged firmly away by Ume. The strength in her smaller frame was quite startling as was the scent of embarrassed arousal that came off the female and piqued his demon's interest.
The encouragement was there from his demon to question her on her reaction but his courage failed him as they walked. Especially when her hand slipped easily into his own. When he asked if Miwa was in need of more ointment Ume had shaken her head stating she has been better today and that this was the first she's mentioned it. From the feel of her, it had been perplexing to his female, but he let it go and drew her down a side trail that led to a small serious of trickling falls.
They had spent the evening speaking in quiet tones and soft glances. Casual touches were exchanged and caused one or both of them to blush and smile. That first night had been a dream come true for Jinenji and they had repeated it twice more.
He knew more about her now than he had ever hoped to and these last days, when she had taken time to come out with a picnic lunch or help him for a few minutes in his fields, had been the best of times. But tonight was the village's festival and he and Ume would be going together.
While she may be unconcerned, he was a muddled mess. This village may accept him as a hanyou, look to him for healing and occasionally help with protection, but that did not mean they would be okay with him courting one of the few eligible women within it. Realizing that the kit had stopped chattering and was simply staring up at him, Jinenji flushed brightly across his cheeks and apologized. "Sorry Shippo, my mind wandered."
Squinting a little as he looked up at the large hanyou Shippo asked, "Is that a grown up thing? Wandering minds? It happens to InuYasha and Miroku, too, when I talk."
The question made him chuckle on his way back to sit near the empty fire pit with a plate full of food. It appeared he was not the only one to tune out the fox's excited chattering. "Yes, it is a grown up thing. Some days one's thoughts can ramble away with them."
An assortment of food sat on the plate and Shippo began to eat with gusto. "Ramble to where?"
"Hm? Oh, just away. Sometimes to chores that needs doing, or towards other things. Depends." He shrugged, hoping the kit would let it go.
Scratching at his ear Shippo studied the big male before him. "What other things?"
Clearly he would not just let the subject drop and it made Jinenji sigh. "To things like prospective mates."
"Oh." Green eyes suddenly lit with understanding. "OH! Well that makes sense. InuYasha's mind wanders to Kagome all the time." Nodding to himself Shippo returned to stuffing his face. He mumbled around a mouthful of food. "Makes him smell funny."
Jinenji chuckled softly. "I bet it does."
In the way of all young people, Shippo's thoughts shifted swiftly. "So, there's a festival tonight? For what?"
The food was disappearing at a startling rate and Jinenji watched in fascination. "It is the Star Festival tonight. When the human's celebrate the meeting of Ori-hime and her husband Hikoboshi."
Shippo had been to such festivals before in his home village. He had gone with Sango and Miroku, the twins, and even InuYasha had come with them. "That's the one where we get to make wishes right?" When Jinenji nodded, the little fox wriggled with his excitement. He had always loved that part. "That's my favorite! But…"
The kit's eyes became confused, his scent muddying with it, and made the big hanyou frown. "But what Shippo?"
Brows pulling together, Shippo peered up into concerned blue eyes. "What do I wish for this year?"
"What did you wish for last year?" Jinenji inquired.
His smile spread wide, green eyes sparkling with his happiness. "Kagome!"
Chuckling, Jinenji nodded. "Tis good to see a wish come true."
"Yeah... but now I don't know what to wish for." Curling his tail into his lap, Shippo stroked the fluffy mass and thought it over. "Maybe…" He shook his head. "No. What about…" His lips twisted into a grimace. "Nah…" Agitated with his inability to think up a decent wish, Shippo pouted. "Darn… I can't think of anything!" His most important wish, the one he'd been wishing for three years, had come true already.
Seeing the kit grow more and more frustrated, Jinenji picked up the empty dish and set it aside to wash later. "Maybe if we take your mind off it, you will find the right wish. How about a story?" He was good with stories after having entertained Jirou. That boy had needed the same kind of distraction on occasion.
Sighing, Shippo nodded. "Alright. If you think it will help." Turning to face Jinenji, he sat with his knees bent, chin resting on top, and his tail wrapped around his feet.
The fox stared up at him with unblinking, disconcerting green eyes, and almost made him stutter. "H-how's about the story that comes from tonight's festival." When the boy nodded, he began. "Long ago there was a beautiful hime that lived in the heavens with her father the sky king. Ori-hime wove wonderful cloth by the bank of the Amanogawa, the star river that fills the night sky. Her father loved the cloth she wove and she worked very hard every day to weave it in hopes of bringing him joy." The weaving hime reminded him of Ume and made Jinenji smile as her face became that of the daughter in the story.
"But Ori-hime was sad, for she worked so hard at weaving that she never had the opportunity to meet anyone and fall in love. Concerned for her, Tentei the sky king, arranged for her to meet a man, Hikoboshi the cow herder, who worked and lived on the other side of the starry river Amanogawa. It was love at first sight when they met and they married shortly after."
"Was there kissing?" Shippo piped up.
The kit's face twisted into an odd combination of curiosity and disgust, and made him chuckle. "I'm sure there was."
"I'm not sure how I feel about kissing…" The little fox muttered.
"I'm sure you'll like it when you're older." Jinenji had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing.
"Feh." He flipped a hand in dismissal. "That's what Miroku says too; the hentai."
It was such an InuYasha thing to do and say he bit his tongue even harder and had to cover his snicker with a cough. "As I was saying, after they were wed, Ori-hime no longer weaved for her father and Hikoboshi let his cows stray all over the Heavens. This made the sky king angry and he separated the two across the Amanogawa, forbidding them from meeting ever again."
"That seems harsh." Shippo murmured. "It wasn't very nice."
Smiling at the soft words, the hanyou could see Kagome's influence in the kind heart of the kit. "No it wasn't. Ori-hime became depressed at the loss of her husband and begged her father to see him again. Tentei, moved by her tears, allowed them to meet once per year as long as she worked hard and finished her weaving. But that first time they tried to meet they couldn't for there was no bridge to cross the starry river. She cried so many tears, her sorrow so great, that a flock of magpies came and promised to use their wings to make a bridge so that she could cross the river."
"And that's why we all pray for a clear night for the Star Festival, right? Cause if it rains the magpies can't make their bridge and then Ori-hime and Hikoboshi can't meet and have to wait a whole 'nother year to see each other." Bouncing to his feet, Shippo stomped an excited little step in place.
Finally allowing the laugh to escape him, Jinenji nodded. "That is correct young fox. Now, have you thought up your wish?"
"Yup!" He giggled and spun a quick circle.
"And?"
"Can't tell or it won't come true!" He beamed in pride at his very clever wish.
"Alright kit." Grinning at the boy's enthusiasm, Jinenji heaved himself up and went to a chest to retrieve a couple of towels.
"What's that for?" Shippo wondered, peering past the hanyou.
"It is for us to use once we are clean." He said as he searched through jars to find the one with the soap he used to wash with. Confusion again rose to cloud his nose and he glanced down at the tiny fox near his feet. He made a careful mental note not to step on Kagome's kit. "One cannot go to a village festival smelling of dirt and sweat."
Shippo's face cleared only to fall again. "I didn't think to bring no fancy clothes with me." In fact he hadn't brought any clothing but those on his back.
"I did not think you would have. Ume, she is the female I am c-c-c-courting," It was still hard to get that sentence out of his throat, as it was hard to believe it was true. "She is a weaver. I thought we could take you to her and see if she or Miwa-obaasan have something that might work."
"Really?" Startled, the kit looked up at this huge male in surprise. The hanyou was so nice for someone so big and rather scary looking. He had kind eyes.
The quiet chuckle rolled from his chest as he led the kit outside. "Really."
Taking a running leap, Shippo landed on Jinenji's back, scrambled up and plopped his butt down on the half demon's shoulder. "Thanks! That's great!"
The kit was a ball of lightening and while they made their way towards the pool of water they could use for a bath, Jinenji wondered if, one, he ever stopped talking, and two, how did Kagome keep up with all this enthusiasm? The powers of that little miko were truly beyond his understanding.
Kagome was once again sitting beneath the large beech tree at the back of the house. The bench was a wonderful spot and after the easy banter, laughter, and teasing that had flown within the walls of her home, it was nice to sit and enjoy the soft sound of the water. The twins had helped ease Kato into the conversation, and once the rabbit realized InuYasha was not going to bite her head off is she said what was on her mind, the bunny had also relaxed enough to be comfortable.
Sesshomaru had slipped away when the food was ready to deal with a few last minute details pertaining to Jaken's return, and would be back soon. Kato had done a quick once through the house, changing the linens and removing the soiled clothing that needed washing before scurrying on her way as well. Somehow, Kato had emptied the bathtub without either herself or InuYasha noticing when, or how, she had managed it.
Now, Kagome sat in the soft, dappled sunlight and breathed out her nerves. They were quiet ones, just enough to create tiny butterflies within her stomach, but they were there. The time was soon approaching when they would leave this haven and venture into the unknown world that was the western court. She had needed a moment alone in the stillness of her garden to help settle herself.
Kemuri sat beside her and she absently stroked her fingers over his head where it rested on her knee.
When the new aura brushed against hers, causing her to turn her head at the cautious request to approach, she reached for InuYasha. "Senchineru is back." Inclining her head, she welcomed him to join her.
He knew, had felt the dark Inu coming long before he should have. "Keh. Do you need me?" InuYasha wasn't sure he was ready to deal with what being Alpha to this Beta would mean. With Miroku it was easy. He was second in the pack, a brother he trusted with not only his life but the life of Kagome. Miroku had had his back more times than InuYasha cared to remember as he'd had the monk's. It wasn't just about pack hierarchy with them. The monk was family. Miroku was his brother first, and his beta second.
"And maybe that's how you need to think of this. Miroku is the beta you chose. He is family and your ties run deep. But Senchineru is yours too, watashi no kokoro, whether you want him or not. He is yours and we will needed him in this fight." She had seen his face on the battle field in the vision from Chiyoko and looked up at it, and into the copper eyes of this Inu. "Commander." Kagome nodded her greeting but couldn't bring herself to smile. "I am good for now koi, but can you keep the puppies inside?" She knew he wasn't totally happy about leaving her alone with Senchineru, but this needed to be done.
He looked them over as both twins sat across from him at the table with the game they were teaching him to play. "Yah, I got this." They were much too preoccupied to even notice the Inu's arrival. There had been so much to see last night that much of who Senchineru was had gotten missed.
"My Lady." Senchineru bowed to the woman that took his breath away. She was beyond lovely in the exquisite clothing and instead of rising from the bow, he settled on his knees at her side, opposite the shadow hound that still watched him warily.
"You don't need to do that." Kagome murmured softly as she returned to peering out across the water. There was so much with him, so much that it hurt her heart to look.
"I do." To find her after so long, it was only right that he treat her with the highest level of respect. Watching the play of emotions across her face he frowned at the signs of stress and unhappiness she was showing. "My Lady?"
Turning her eyes back down to him, she let them wander over the shoulders of the striped blue of his kimono beneath the armor so like Sesshomaru's. Unadorned with patterns or marks of any kind she lifted her eyes back to his and read deep. All he hoped for lay open like a book before her and had a quiet sigh slipping from her lips. Seeing it all, she let her eyes fall away and rested a hand on the swelling of her belly as her petting of Kemuri intensified. "I am not the woman that you think I am commander." He had built his own image of what the woman who belonged to such a soul looked like, would be like, and she was most definitely not what he'd dreamed of for so long.
"You are exactly her." He said with conviction. While she may look different, be more human than he expected, she was the bright heart. There was no doubt that she had the purest soul of any creature he had ever met.
"No. No, commander, I am not and until you realize that, you will get nowhere with InuYasha." The discomfort she was likely to feel with the Beta looking at her with awe and reverence every time they came in contact would upset her mate and keep him from trusting this Inu. Kemuri's tongue took a swift trip over her hand and up her wrist, the whine from him soft with his concern, and she managed a small smile for him before returning her eyes to the water that ran slowly past this spot. It made such wonderful sounds as it trickled over the stones. "I am only me. Only Kagome. Just a girl that came from humble beginnings. I grew up the daughter of a shrine maiden in a place… very different from here. I was tossed into the role of Shikon Miko rather by accident and shattered the jewel unintentionally. We fought for a year to put that jewel back together. Blood, sweat and tears were my companions no different than the rest of my friends." She glanced at him where he continued to kneel at her knee and could see him absorbing all she said but the look of awe was simply growing. Sighing, as he couldn't seem to understand what she was trying to tell him, Kagome turned her alpha enhanced eyes down to his and watched the copper brighten into an intense orange. "I am not some kami for you to worship at my feet commander. I don't like it and don't want that kind of deference. I am just a woman that has been blessed and blessed well. But I am only human, not a deity. Powerful I might be but you do not know me. You do not know what I have been through to get to this point and if you keep expecting me to be that person I can see created in your mind, you are doomed to disappointment."
Her gifts were so strong, so incredibly powerful. Her aura so pure it was blinding. "But… I look at you and I see…" He lifted a dark skinned hand towards her but hesitated before he touched her. It was not his place and he did not have permission. The low growl from the hound reminded him of this.
"See what? My aura, my powers?" She snorted her derision and waved a hand at him turning away. "What I am is no who I am. I am not a youkai that you can judge on the strength of my powers. I am me! I am more than simply your bright heart, more than just Tamashi no Chiyu no Hikari. I will not be judged by you or anyone else by only the titles I have been given." Her reiki was rising with her annoyance and she nudged Kemuri away before she singed him with it. Rising to her feet, she paced towards the water, tucking her hands in her sleeves as she went.
Senchineru watched her aura rise to wrap around her, her hair lifting at the ends with the wind of its passing, and stood to follow her. It was impossible to resist the draw he felt, his demon scrapping at him to fix what he had wrought. He had not meant to anger or upset her but he was drawn to her like a moth to a candle's flame, drawn to that presence, that soul that had been a part of him longer than it had not. "I am… sorry, my lady, that I make you uncomfortable." Standing at her side he could see her point though it was difficult for him. He was holding her up to an imagined image and his perceptions of things were skewed. He may know the feel of her, but she was right, he did not know her. "I will do my best to see you, bright heart, not the soul I have worshiped for so long. I would… know you as you are."
Hesitant, but it was a start. "That's all I ask." Looking up at him, tall like her onii-san, Kagome let the smile pull at her mouth. "I can help with that, if you'd like." Holding out her hand, she waited.
He'd never seen this but had heard the legends and snapped his eyes down to her hand and back up. "But… I…" He did not think he needed her assistance. What wound could he possibly have that needed healing?
"Soul wounds are only one part of what I can heal." Turning her head, Kagome smiled at InuYasha and Sesshomaru where they stood near her little bench. InuYasha's mouth quirked up but the look on Sesshomaru's face was that same cold mask he always wore. "Tell lord fluffy to keep his opinion to himself." It was not for him to decide who she would and would not help.
He glanced the direction she was looking but didn't startle. The approach of InuYasha was as clear for him as if the hanyou was a glowing light in the dark. He would always know where his alpha was, even masked, though Sesshomaru's arrival was not anticipated.
Nudging Sesshomaru, InuYasha muttered, "Keep it to yourself." And gave Senchineru a nod when the beta sought his permission to touch his mate.
Setting his palm gently on hers, Senchineru did startle when her fingers wrapped around him to hold him there, but it was the slow glide of power that washed up his arm that had him sinking back to a knee at her feet. He couldn't help it as her alpha rose over him and her healing wrapped around his mind and his heart. The feeling made him gasp as the perceptions he had made, the ideals he'd held about her, fell away to open his mind to new ones. He understood why she held onto his hand now for had she not, he would not have had the strength to keep it where she obviously wanted it. Her hand let his go and it fell to the ground at his side while he panted for breath before this incredible woman. "Bright heart… I had no idea." She was so much more than he knew and looking up into eyes that had become gold like her mates, he watched the slow smile spread to show her tiny fangs.
Gently, she touched her fingers to his cheek, to the dark mark that flowed from beneath Senchineru's eye and called InuYasha to her. The dark one had a soul that showed a depth of character lacking in many people and an incredible sense of honor that would not allow him to continue to make her uncomfortable. It was enough and she smiled at him. "Welcome to the pack… Senchineru."
She was radiant, a true bright heart, and her easy acceptance of him and all he was showed that. He would do nothing to jeopardize his place in this pack. He would do nothing that would force him from her side. He would learn everything about her she was willing to tell him. "Arigato, bright heart."
"Kagome will do." She relaxed back into InuYasha when his arms wrapped around her and let her fang flash with her grin when the dark one smirked at her. "Now, tell me commander… where do you hide your mokomoko?" Baring her throat to the stroking fangs of her mate, she felt the heavy rumble of laughter come from him at the surprise on Senchineru's face.
Sesshomaru paced back through the front door only to whip his head towards the back when he realized Kagome was alone with Senchineru. "InuYasha!" He growled at his brother who was playing Ippan-sen with the twins.
"Sesshomaru." InuYasha relied calmly as he trounced Shinobu for the third time, destroying a third of his forces in one fell swoop. "Puppy you said this was supposed to be hard." The game was interesting. Played across three boards with different pieces portraying different types of military. Each had its own set of rules and moves that could be accomplished in a turn, but the general idea was to push back your opponent's army and capture either their Lord or fortress. He'd never played before but the game appealed to him and he liked it. It made him think multiple steps ahead, guess what Shinobu would do next, and protect his own forces and the white piece he chose to think of as Kagome, his Lady, not so different from a real battle. It was fun.
When he went to answer, Shinobu snapped his jaws together as Sesshomaru snarled angrily and stalked past them towards the back doors. Exchanging a worried glance with Yuzuki, he said nothing but glanced outside, noticing for the first time that Kagome was not alone. The Commander was with her and he stiffened in surprise. Had InuYasha been aware?
"Bastard…" Without taking his eyes from the board, InuYasha stopped Sesshomaru with the word. "Leave her be." He could hear every word from where he sat just fine thanks to Kagome. Glancing up, he locked eyes with Shinobu and gave a single shake of his head that had the pup relaxing back into his spot. There was no need to worry. Rising, he moved towards his brother.
"Hn." Sesshomaru continued to the doorway and strained to hear the softly spoken words. The conversation had his hands clenching tight into fists and him digging hard for control of his alpha as InuYasha arrived silently at his side. "He is upsetting her."
"Nah. Frustrating yeah, but not upsetting. Maybe I should have took that bet earlier. Could have almost guaranteed he'd rile her with the way he looks at her." She hated it when people stared at her with all that awe, like she was some kind of kami. "She doesn't like the perceptions he's holding on to. He needs to see her for who she is not what she is, and if he can't, then him and I are gonna have problems. She knows it and is trying to make him see sense."
Sesshomaru watched as Kagome stalked from the bench towards the water, her aura rising to flick the ends of her hair around her like the tail of an annoyed cat and frowned when Senchineru rose to follow her. Stepping on air, avoiding the noise he would make should he cross the expanse of gravel, he made his way to the bench she used and landed silently to observe, InuYasha following suit.
They listened as the dark Inu apologized but Sesshomaru stiffened when she made the offer and let the mask of his cold persona slide across his features with his disapproval. Did she really need to do this now? The look on his commander's face showed his shock and his hesitation. It appeased him only slightly. Kagome's smile was brilliant when she turned it on them and he felt the same softening around his heart that always happened when she did that.
Seeing his brother walk across the ground, inches above it and silent, gave InuYasha a new insight into the daiyoukai's methods. He glared daggers at his brother's back before following. No wonder the bastard was able to just appear without sound. Sesshomaru's disapproval was clear to see and scent, and nudging his brother, InuYasha gave him Kagome's warning. "Keep it to yourself." Once Kagome turned her attention back to Senchineru, he nudged him a second time and dropped his voice to a low murmur. "Keep stepping on her toes and it will be you I make my wager against. Like it or not, she's doing what's needed and you're going to piss her off you keep glaring like that."
Exasperated. Never had Sesshomaru been more so and the urge to throw his hands in the air had never been stronger. But he knew his brother was correct. It was simply the fact that he was still annoyed with Senchineru's deceptions that kept his anger boiling over. Kagome's easy trust of people was not something he could emulate no matter what she said.
Her call was a rumble across his senses and InuYasha looked again to his brother. "Will you stay with her? He and I need to talk." A small nodded was Sesshomaru's agreement before he turned to deal with the two pups watching in silent wonder from the doorway.
Heading for Kagome and pressing himself down her back, InuYasha wrapped a hand over his offspring and closed his fangs over her throat to fill her with a slow stream of his youki. The question she was burning to know the answer to made him chuckle when Senchineru looked up at her in amazement.
"I…" Senchineru had to clear his throat to find his voice. "It is with my people." He had not worn the pelt in so many years. Occasionally he would return home where he could don his fur and run with his people but it was like losing an arm all over again when he left it behind.
Kissing Kagome under the ear, InuYasha caught a glimpse of some of what she had seen that the commander had yet to reveal. "Why? Why leave it behind?" He couldn't imagine going back to the way it had been before. The loss of his mokomoko would be like returning to a dark world that only occasionally saw light. His fur was an integral part of him and to be without that constant influx of information, it would be like when he used to become human.
Wobbling a bit as he stood, Senchineru accepted the hand held out to him by InuYasha. The jolt of power that ran up his arm was unexpected and so was the wash of InuYasha's aura over his own. It quelled his, gently, and he let his recede before his alpha. It was an easy, natural reaction. One that gave him an odd sense of peace, of being whole for the first time in his life. "It was the only way to keep my beta hidden. Holding that part of myself separate was less difficult without my mokomoko."
"The fur allows you to access your true-form and your full strength." Kagome murmured, stepping away from InuYasha and returning slowly to her bench. The connection between the two of them was so interesting. She'd only ever been around Sesshomaru, another alpha, and the twins. This was a full grown Inu-youkai, a beta, and the reaction they had to each other was fascinating. "Still ain't no guinea pig, mate." InuYasha huffed at her but it was more to cover his own shock than in annoyance at her observing their interactions. The give and take of their two auras was so unique. InuYasha's rose, Senchineru's gave, and in so doing, gave back to InuYasha's. It settled her mate in a way that, until now, only her submission had been able to accomplish. "Not quite the same." Again his annoyance washed through her but this time it made her snicker. It was all about balance. The give and take of Yin and Yang. Though he still preferred her submission to the betas, as hers led to more pleasurable reactions.
"Yes, Lady Kagome." Senchineru nodded, taking a step towards her until InuYasha held up his hand.
Kagome's quite observations helped him understand his own reactions better. His alpha had risen smoothly with the contact to brush against Senchineru's beta. The beta's had receded, and in turn had his own aura relaxing. It was a weird, but not unwelcome, feeling. "You get to come with me." Looking towards the house, he watched Shinobu and Yuzuki run off. The boy was packing Sesshomaru's gift as his brother made his way to Kagome's side, opposite the hound that looked like he would like to crawl into her lap with how she was scratching at his neck and ear. "You keep doing that and he's liable to get on the bench with you." She just smiled and offered a small shrug.
Returning his attention to the dark Inu, InuYasha gave his head a jerk that had the male following when he headed for the bridge that led back into the garden. When Senchineru continued to follow along behind him, causing his hackles to rise with the twitchy feeling it was creating between his shoulder blades, InuYasha dug for the connection with his beta and gave it a sharp tug. Senchineru gasped, stumbled forwards, and arrived at his side swiftly. "Walking behind me like that's just going to make me jumpy. People at my back tend to try and stick it with sharp implements." He chuckled softly.
A sideways glance had a grin tugging at Senchineru's mouth. "You are quite correct." And very different from his daiyoukai brother. "Will you tell me… InuYasha," It was foreign to him, after so long, to call a lord by his first name without the use of his title. "What is occurring in this court? Something is wrong and it makes me," He snarled out a sound that adequately described his feeling better than words could.
"Keh, we'll get to that." They'd moved away from the stream that ran past the house, back towards the forest, but he could still see Kagome where she sat waiting.
Already on edge, the feel of many youkai moving around the valley and village, going about their business, was something he was going to have to get used to in the next few days. Rolling his shoulders, he glanced towards the weapon his beta was carrying. "You any good with that sword?" InuYasha pointed to the worn hilt of the katana at the commander's waist.
So, he was to be assessed then. Brow rising with his grin, Senchineru flashed very white fangs. "I am." He would not have risen as a commander if he wasn't. "But I am known more for my speed." It was not bragging when it was truth.
"Sesshomaru says that Senchineru is known as Shi no Kage, death's shadow, by those under his command. Apparently, he's so quick on the battle field few ever see him coming, and on a good day can rival your brother for speed." The knowledge had his mouth quirking up. "So you can give Sesshomaru a run for it, huh?"
Startled, Senchineru nodded. "How do you know that?" It was unlikely the daiyoukai had said so and they had not been introduced to any others as far as he was aware. The twins perhaps?
He only grinned a little wider. They'd tell Senchineru all of it… eventually. Holding out his hand, InuYasha requested the other's sword.
Drawing his katana slowly, Senchineru offered it to InuYasha across the palms of his hands. "It is Shēdo no Ken, the Sword of Shades."
Reaching for the weapon, InuYasha could feel the pulse of youki in the blade. It was a demonic weapon and when he grasped the hilt, tendrils of darkness drifted out from the tsuba, sort of like the fur that appeared on his Tetsusaiga. The hada or grain was well forged, folded in true katana fashion, and had an elegant wood grain style of pattern to it but it was the dark color of the steel that caught his eye. It shone a deep grey that darkened to black towards its edge and the tendrils of darkness drifted down to spiral around the blade. The weapon was well made, well cared for, and strong. "Totosai?"
"No. Seikoko. He is of my tribe." A gifted swordsmith that could create magnificent weapons. Letting his gaze drift down, Senchineru eyed the raged hilt of InuYasha's Tetsusaiga. "May I?" He had heard of the swords many techniques and power.
"It wouldn't like you." InuYasha stated as he handed Senchineru's katana back to him. "Don't take that wrong, but the Tetsusaiga was meant for me and doesn't appreciate it when other youkai try and handle it." Still, he drew if from its sheath and rested his hands on the hilt, tip in the ground, while he leaned on it.
The blade shifted forms in a flash of bright light and what had looked like nothing more than an ancient relic became the sword of legend. "Hn, impressive. Seikoko would likely drool." Senchineru chuckled as he crouched to get a closer look. Unable to resist, he reached his hand towards the steel fang only to have a barrier snap at his fingers. Swearing, he wrenched his hand away.
Snickering, InuYasha put the blade away and helped his beta back to his feet. "I did warn you."
Shaking his hand, Senchineru licked at his fingers and grumbled about petulant swords.
"It can be." But InuYasha simply gripped the hilt tighter. "But it has save Kagome's life more times than I can count." Sobering with the thought, InuYasha returned to walking slowly through Kagome's garden. "Breathe koi. Just get it out in the open." Doing as she recommended, InuYasha inhaled deeply the fragrance that was this place. "There's something we need to discuss." He said quietly, unsure how to begin. "How much do you know of us? Of our quest to collect the shikon shards and kill Naraku."
InuYasha's mokomoko was betraying his discomfort as it slipped and slithered along behind his alpha. "Only rumor, speculation. Your brother had us prepared in case the fight ever came this far."
That surprised him enough to have him reaching for Kagome. "Really?" Her affirmation confirmed it for him. "Huh… something else to ask the wisps." InuYasha muttered under his breath. Had Naraku ever come poking around them? Brushing it off as something to do later, he set his hand against his fur to calm it. "And of my pack?"
'Wisps?' The word was unfamiliar to him and he filed it away for later. "Taijiya, Houshi, Kitsune and Miko." Though Kagome was unlike any miko he had ever come across. Not that he had come across many.
"Keh. The Kitsune is Shippo. He should be here," He did a rapid calculation. "Two days. Possibly the day after that. He's my omega."
"You have a fox in your pack?!" The words burst from the commander in amazement. Kitsune didn't run to packs like Inu did.
"Yeah. He's just a kit. Kagome and I kind of rescued him after his father was killed. He's been with us a long time." He felt the wash of concern from Kagome. "He's going to be fine, mate. Don't worry." But she still would. So would he, just a little. "Sango is the Taijiya. Strong, brave, fierce. She's not afraid to step onto the battle field and I would gladly take her over many of the men in my village to guard my back any day."
They started up the gentle slope of another bridge while Senchineru listened in fascination. "She sounds like she has the soul of an Inu."
InuYasha laughed. "I'll be sure to tell her you think so. Might want to duck if you ever meet her in person. She packs a very large weapon she has no qualms about sending at your head if you piss her off."
She sounded even more remarkable. "I will remember."
"And then there is Miroku." InuYasha sighed and paused at the crest of the bridge made of golden wood. He looked down into the water, felt Kagome brush gently in encouragement, and continued. "Miroku and I… we've seen a lot. Been through a lot. He's a Houshi but… he's treated me like more of an equal than any human or youkai ever has. Other than Kagome that is."
"He had the kazana, the wind tunnel in his hand, yes?" Senchineru knew that much at least from the tales.
"Keh." InuYasha turned to face Senchineru. "In every way that counts, Miroku has been my beta for the last four years. I can't, and won't, displace him. He's pack, but more than that, he was the closest thing I had to a brother until recently."
It was clear to see how unsettled this made InuYasha, how torn he was, and Senchineru wasn't sure how to feel about it. "Then why accept me?" How could he hold a place that was already held by another?
"It's not that simple." Scrubbing a hand down his face, InuYasha leaned against the railing of the bridge. "You saw some of what my mate can do, see, last night but what you know about… those bonds, is a drop in a cook pot compared to us." Stretching his aura, he was aware of someone in the far back corner of Kagome's garden, but couldn't sense anyone else near enough to overhear, or any of Enshi's birds. "Sesshomaru says not to worry about the gardener. He's supposed to be back there." Relaxing slightly, InuYasha continued. "Your Inu, what did you know about them? Their abilities I mean."
"The light heart, she could heal a wound in the soul, and often spoke words of prophesy over others. Mainly minor ones about births, accidents, coming raids or fights. Only when the evil ones began to encroach on our territory did she begin to see farther. The end of their lives and the path of yours."
"And her mate?" Just how powerful had the male been?
"He was strong. Stronger than a hanyou should have been. It was said, he could shift the course of dreams through touch." Though he was not sure he believed that to be truth.
The smirk twitched at InuYasha's lip when he asked, "Did he have a true-form?"
"No. Hanyou do not… have…" His eyes shot to the mokomoko that draped InuYasha's shoulder. "No…" It was not possible. "It can't be…"
The smirk became a full blown grin. "It is and I do. I wouldn't be the Inu no Taisho without it."
He felt the desperate need to sit all of a sudden and did so right there, in the middle of the bridge, to InuYasha's apparent amusement. "How?"
"With great difficulty." InuYasha chuckled softly. "The thing is, like me, Kagome's… a lot more than those others. We're different."
He shrugged as if it meant little to the hanyou that he was already so much more than the others. "More than you should be…" The prophecy! "It makes better sense now."
"Keh. And that ain't the half of it. Where your Inu could see minor things, Kagome, she sees all things. Or at least those she's meant to. When you spoke last night, she saw what was done to your light heart. Visions and dreams walk hand and hand for Kagome. Words paint pictures in her mind." InuYasha could see the dawning light of understanding grow in Senchineru's eyes, the horror of what he had brought to her with his story.
He had been about to peel himself from the bridge deck but thought better of it. He would only end up back down here a second time. "She saw…"
"Them, yeah. And it ain't the first time. Kagome was shown a couple of possible futures for us a while back, what's coming for us in thirty or so years. And she saw your face Senchineru. Fighting with us, Sesshomaru and I. That is why I accepted you. When she sees or she feels, we listen. You are my beta, you have a place in this pack and at my side. But so does Miroku." He would not brush off his human beta any more than he could brush off his Inu one.
Rising to his feet, Senchineru gripped tightly the hilt of his sword. "I understand." Perhaps better than InuYasha did. Humans were fragile things and depending on the monk's age, thirty years was a long way off for a ningen.
Holding the copper gaze steadily InuYasha asked quietly, "Do you?"
"Yes." Perhaps he had not given his alpha enough credit. "I will work with Miroku if that is what is required. We will find a way." InuYasha would need someone in the west to watch over his interests here when he returned to the human village. "Besides, I doubt your village would appreciate a second Inu living in it."
Continuing to eye the commander, InuYasha let the smirk pull at his mouth. "You'd be surprised." His was a much more tolerant village than most. Sure they had their share of bigots but they were outweighed by the good people. "I shouldn't have to tell you to keep this all to yourself." The look said the commander knew how to keep things secret. "Good. As for what's happening here, someone's targeting the twins, trying to hurt Yuzuki, beating on Shinobu. Kagome thinks it's aimed at Sesshomaru but we don't know why."
That snapped his spine straight, a displeased snarl building in his chest. One did not target puppies! "Hashira!" He growled, a low, deadly sound. "You must not trust the Lord Commander!" He'd been trying to tell that to Sesshomaru for days.
"We are aware." A sudden sharp gasp, and rush of shock from Kagome had InuYasha racing her direction.
A/N: Thanks to all you wonderful reviewers! R&R as you will! And again sorry for the late update.