After showing Koga where he could stay for the night, Rapunzel returned to her other guests. "So Sesshomaru, did you want to talk to me about something?"
"No."
"Okay. Then why are you still here? Not that I don't want you here. It's just that you must have a lot of things to do, being a lord and all." She asked curiously.
"You just woke up from a coma. I will stay with you until this one is sure you are well." He said in a very professional voice.
Rapunzel got a big cheesy smile on her face. "You could'a just said you were worried." She walked over to the couch he was now sitting on and gave him a tight hug around the neck. "Well, dinner is going to be very interesting tonight." She said sitting back up from the hug.
"Are you going to cook?" Jack asked as he walked in.
"Of course not, Jack. I won't be joining you guys for dinner, but I'll ask Damien to make something since we have guests." She quickly walked to the door.
Jack walked over to Rin and Jaken who were quietly 'playing' in the corner. "Hey. You want me to show you where you'll be staying." He held out his hand to her.
Rin scooted away from him little. "Jack, she's afraid of wolves." Rapunzel called on her way out.
"Oh."
"That's right so just back up, you stupid child." Jaken squawked while poking him with his two-headed staff. Jack grabbed the staff and lifted it up to eye level, taking Jaken off his feet with it.
"What is this supposed to be?" he asked curiously.
"You put me down right now, insolent wolf." He said while still hanging from the staff.
"Sorry, Imp." Jack put him gently back on his feet. Jaken was about to protest, but changed his mind and got all teary-eyed.
"You're the first one to get that right in years." He said as he started blubbering. "Finally a child with some respect and manners. I could cry."
"Master Jaken, you're already crying." Rin said as she relaxed a bit.
"Is he alright?" Jack asked a little off put by Jaken's crying.
"He… does this often." Rin replied cautiously. "You don't eat humans, do you?"
"Eww. Of course not. Do you eat wolves?"
"No!" She said in disgust.
"It's the same thing. I know this guy and he eats pig meat."
"What's so weird about that?" Rin asked curiously.
"He's a pig-demon."
"What! Really?" she was completely relaxed now and no longer fearful of the little wolf boy.
Sesshomaru looked on the two kids calmly. He was impressed to say the least. Instead of leaving her alone like any other gentleman would have done this boy set out to correct the problem and become friends. He is a good kid. That was for sure.
In the other room
"Damien?"
"Hey. You need something?" Damien said while looking over some papers in an office. Rapunzel came all the way in the door and stood in front of the desk.
"Can you cook dinner tonight? Enough for 12 people at least?" Damien looked up from the papers.
"Are some of the guests staying the night?" he asked hoping 'Brother Fluffy' wasn't one of them.
"Yeah. A wolf demon named Kouga, Brother Fluffy, his human ward, an imp, and Bob is also here."
'Goddammit.' Damien thought as he sighed. "I guess I'll cook. Did you say Bob is here?"
"Yeah. He's been staying with Brother Fluffy this whole time."
"I hate that dragon."
"Yeah, he hates you too. You guys have so much in common." Rapunzel giggled.
Back with Jack
The two kids had hit it off since Rapunzel left, and Jaken seemed to like have another child around to distract the first one. Sesshomaru was still sitting quietly on the couch supervising.
"That's so weird!" Rin said as she laughed at something Jack had said while Jack chuckled along with her. "Jack?"
"Yeah?"
"Why is there a Fox on your head?"
"What are you-" Jack absent-mindedly reached his hand to his head only to quickly snatch it away in pain. "Ow! That burns!"
"No one told you to touch me."
"Krystal? When did you get back up there?" Jack asked surprised he didn't feel her hop back on.
"I've been up here for a while listening to you two shamelessly flirt. It was disturbing to say the least." Krystal said with a fake shudder.
"Why didn't you leave then?"
"So you don't deny you were flirting with her." Rin blushed and started stuttering denials.
Sesshomaru was wondering when they would notice the small animal listening to their conversation. He wasn't too worried about the flirting. The boy is too nice to try anything, at least right away, and Rin is too innocent. She is not ready for any relationship yet, not in his eyes.
He refocused his attention back on the one called Krystal. Before he had come to this place he had no idea Rapunzel had children. She sometimes called Ah-Un her eldest sons, but that was it.
Sesshomaru couldn't help but think of who the father of those children most likely was. 'It's probably the 'Damien' she is asking to make dinner.' For an obvious reason that seemed to escape the demon lord, the fact that she had some other male's seed bothered him.
He unconsciously sniffed his mokomoko which her scent still lingered on it. One particular spot smell sweeter than the rest and for the life of him, he couldn't figure out why. Unknown to him, he was sniffing the part of it that had been between her legs very recently.
Krystal POV
People are weird, but fun to mess with. I continue teasing the two little ones. To be honest the wolf child is my favorite out of all the children in this madhouse. Well, not favorite. More like least hated, but I'm sure I'll hate him plenty when he gets older. Like Damien. Stupid lovesick man-whore.
I look over to the dog-demon on the couch and give him a once over. Strong with a slim build, the face of someone who doesn't like to play or speak much. He looks like a cliché villain. Bone white skin, Bright intelligent eyes of a mass murderer, I swear every time she makes a new friend they are either insane or evil.
Whatever. Mother sure knows how to keep things interesting here. I've missed her.
"Krystal, if you live so close why does it feel like I haven't seen you in years?" The little one's voice pulled me from my thoughts.
"I've been napping for the past 5 years. You woke me when you came in. You should knock more often; I was getting ready to kill you for intruding." I said nonchalantly.
"Oh… I'm sorry." Jack said cautiously a little afraid.
"That can't be healthy. What would make you sleep so long?" Rin asked curiously. I turn fully to look at the girl properly. Young with ordinary dark brown hair. She had this awkward ponytail on the side of her head and her clothing was a traditional Japanese kimono with white and orange checkered pattern.
"Girl, what is your name?" I never give info without knowing who I am talking to.
"Rin, I am Rin." She is annoyingly polite. People are really creepy when they are excessively kind and polite. It's just not natural.
"Well Rin, boredom is nature's sleeping potion. There is no point in waking up if nothing is happening." I explained. "Why are you here?"
"Lord Sesshomaru's friend led us here, and I think we are staying for a while." She said excitedly.
"That's nice. Then Jack can show you around during your stay."
"I thought Jack was leaving for the Eastern Wolf Tribe in the morning." I used to like this kid. He used to be a good kid. I was right when he got older (3 minutes older) I'd hate him plenty.
"You ungrateful little snot." I said as I slowly extend my claws on his head. I let them slowly heat up as I continue talking. "She not back for 24 hours and you're already leaving her."
"Krystal… your claws… their burning my head!" Jack said as suddenly started feeling the burn. "She said she was ok with it." I increase the heat but make sure not to leave burns. Can't leave behind evidence now, can I?
"I thought you were the smart one. She probably also said she was ok with living alone with Damien or letting some idiots into her home knowing they don't like her or even-" The damn dragon cut me off. Bob picked me up in one of his jaws and took me off of Jack. "What's your problem? Let me go! I want to kill the kid!"
Bob roared at me and set me down on the opposite side of his body. "Why can't I?" more roars "So what if it scares her? She's young she'll get over it."
"I should get going. I have chores to do before I leave." I heard Jack's voice before the sound of the front opening.
I growled before lunging back over the damn dragon to get to the stupid kid. Before I could get to him the stupid dog-demon knocked me back to Bob. Men ruin everything.
Apparently when I went after Jack I heated up quite a bit and slightly burned the girl. Bob held me down and started licking me to put out the flames. "Eww! What are you doing? Let me go!" As this is going on I can here Jack closing the door behind him.
The flames were out and he was still licking with both heads. I think he's just trying to annoy me now.
"Stop it!" I finally got out of his grasp and tried shaking the slobber off. "I never liked you."
He growled meaning he felt the same about me. I huffed before turner to the girl. She looked scared of me. All I want is to look at the burn on her leg, but as soon as I start moving toward her the big guy slashes his sword in front of me.
I ignore him and continue forward and then he tries a kill strike. If I were a normal fox it would have killed me, but instead it went right through and I quickly sat next to Rin. He growled.
"Oh shut up. I need to see her burn."
Rin looked to her 'lord' for approval. Didn't seem like much of a lord to me. She showed me her leg and there a medium sized, not so serious burn in the shin area. Serious or not it was going to hurt real bad for a long while if she didn't heal it.
I put one of my paws on her burn and watch her flinch while hearing the other release a low growl. I focus on removing the heat from that paw only, then I let it light up and spread to surround Rin's leg.
With Rapunzel
She was currently going through all her stuff looking for materials. She felt like making a special box for Jack to keep the heirlooms she was going to give him, safe. She was going to give him his mother's necklace, his father's bracelet, and his uncle's necklace, even though he never got to know either male. Then in the box will be a bracelet and key specially made for him.
'I can't believe he's leaving.' She thought sadly. 'I always thought he would stay and help run this place. I guess a lot can change over the years.'
Flashback (a few decades ago)
"Hey Auntie?" a young version of Jack asked Rapunzel as he watched her mingle at a party they were having.
"Yes Jack Jack?" she answered between polite greetings.
"When I grow up can you teach me to do what you do?" she looked down at his young face. He reminded her much of his uncle, but she'd never tell him that. He wouldn't have understood who she was talking about.
"I'll teach you my job if you promise me something." Rapunzel crouched down to the small wolf's side.
"Really? You will? You're the best Auntie!" She calmed the excited little boy and told him to shush. "Oh. What do I have to do?" he asked now whispering.
"I'll teach you everything I know if you promise not to be like me. This will be our little secret don't tell mommy ok?" Rapunzel whispered with a finger over her lips.
"Ok Auntie. I'll try my best. Our little secret."
With Damien
'I can't believe I'm making dinner for that mutt. I guess I could think of it as a celebratory dinner for Rapunzel's return.' Damien thought as he mixed a big pot of stew over a fire. 'We need to announce her return somehow. This is just what those people need, another reason to get drunk.' He smiled to himself as he heard the door open and the clicking of claws quickly headed his way.
Pup jumped on the stool next to him and sniffed wildly. She always acts like a begging dog when she's hungry. "Smells good right?"
"Is that lunch? Why are you cooking? Did I miss a holiday? Can I try some?" She spoke quickly while also stretching her neck trying to look in the tall pot.
"This is dinner. If you want something to eat there is meat over there for you." Damien pointed over to the table in the middle of the kitchen.
"For me?" Pup looked up at him like he had just given her the world. She wasn't that hard to get along with if you fed her regularly. Sometimes she acts more like a dog than a demon.
"Yes, for you. There's plenty for you and your sister's, so eat as much as you want." She took that to heart and hopped onto the table and started eating all the different meats laid out.
"You're so simple." Damien chuckled.
Some Place
"Kagura." A male voice called to an empty room. A door slid open to reveal a kneeling woman.
"Yes Naraku?" she answered.
"Has the woman delivered any more information?" The spider demon asked.
"Yes. The girl is not only close to Sesshomaru but also another highly desired male name Damien. Both men seem to desire her as a mate it seems."
"This girl, tell me about her." He demanded.
"Ugly little thing. She is part human, fox, dog, and cat, covered in scars. Sesshomaru and she are childhood friends. She cares for seven children. 3 are hers, and 3 more are her grandchildren. The last is a wolf, but Koga is taking him away in the morning."
"I see. Is she strong?"
"She used to teach several combat and survival lessons to hundreds of students from many different lands. She is equipped to take care of herself to say the least." Naraku was silent for a moment in thought.
"Why does she not continue those lessons?"
"She has just awoken from a 10 year coma and has yet to take time to rest since. She will be weakened right now."
"I see. Go capture the young wolf as soon as he leaves the building in the morning. Now leave me"
"Yes Naraku." Kagura motioned to close the door.
"And Kagura, fail me again and the punishment will be worse than last time." The woman closed the door and put her hand to her shoulder where there was still a dull pain from the last time she failed Naraku. Kagura quickly got up and left the door never looking back.
(A few hours later) With Inuyasha's group
Kagome and the boys rode Kirara to the well, so by the time the others caught up Kagome would be on her way back. They made it in record time and jumped down the well to Kagome's home.
"Momma! Grandpa! Souta! I'm home!" Kagome called as she opened her front door.
"Kagome! You're back. Welcome home, dear. We have some very special guests." Kagome's mom said as she came from the living room. "Oh it seems you also have guests. Well, everyone come in. No need to stay out in the cold."
She motioned for Kagome and the boys to go in the living room.
"Hey Kagome!"
Kagome stared at the people sitting in her living room. One boy had orange hair in a ponytail and striking green eyes, and the other boy had tan skin brown hair and bright brown eyes. "Do I know you?"
"We came to personally explain to your family your acceptance into Atlantis University." The orange haired one said.
"Yes and how much we look forward to having you there." The other one added.
"Atlantis University? Why does that sound familiar?"
"We were just there." Sako (Wolf's real name) said.
"How could you forget so quickly?" Kasca (Fox's real name) asked incredulously. "We were there for almost 2 days, and she gave us a map to find the place here." He added as he held up said map.
"Yes. We are also here to pick up the two boys. They were also accepted and we've already talked to their families." The orange haired man said.
"They were very happy to hear you got into such a nice school." The brown haired man added.
"Hey, they look like those two kids from that place in that thing!" Sako said.
"You mean Shippo and Jack?" Kasca looked at him like he was so stupid for the way he phrased that.
"Yeah. Rapunzel did say the well we came out of was a 'time-thingy', and they were demons or something. If Dracula can last for centuries so can they." He got excited as he thought about all the stories he heard as a kid actually being real.
"You sound especially stupid today. I want to go home and not with strange men who mysteriously appeared at a shrine we learned about a few days ago!" Kasca sounded tired and he was tired of all the weird things that have happened in the past few days. He would have started walking home right then and there but it was already dark out. "Kagome, can we go tomorrow? It's really late, and my sister is probably home by now worrying."
"Yeah that sounds like it would be best." Sako may sound like a complete idiot sometimes, but even he knows better than to mess with strangers. So he agreed to go home too.
Kagome excused herself and quickly drove both boys home. When she returned the guests seemed to be on their way out.
"It was nice to meet you. Kagome will be attending as soon as she is ready." She heard her mom say as she had just come up the stairs.
The men said their goodbyes and waved to Kagome as they passed.
"Mom, what was that about?"
"Oh Kagome! It's wonderful! You will be going to a FREE high school AND university. All you have to do is take a test and Souta also gets to go. You two can living on campus and have free meals. The test results show what classes you are eligible to take and the only requirement besides keeping up your grades is helping out in local shops, stores, and other businesses that are associated with the school."
"Wow! That sounds amazing and all, but Momma, I still needed to collect the jewel shards." 'And I might stay with Inuyasha.' she added silently in her head.
"I know. that's why I said you would join them when you're ready. They said it was okay and the offer stands for up to a year and a half. You have time to think about that or maybe even complete the jewel hopefully." Kagome's mom gave a sad smile. "It's just a good option to have if things don't work out on the other side. You don't have to go. It's your choice."
Kagome hugged her mother lovingly. "Thanks momma. For you, I'll think about it."
"That's all I ask. Go upstairs and rest. I'll cook you a big breakfast in morning." Both women went back in the house and went straight to bed. It was a long day for everyone.
At Rapunzel's house
It was now dinner time and everyone was washing up and getting ready to eat. "I wonder what we're having for dinner." Lily asked as she came from the bathroom in a towel, drying her hair.
"Stew and other things. Wear something decent. We have guests tonight." Pup answered twisting her hair into a bun.
"You're one to talk. Look at what you're wearing." Lily said before walking into her closet for clothes. She had a point. Pup was wearing nothing but a sports bra and knee length shorts. "You could put on a shirt." Lily called from the closet.
"It's too hot for that."
In Puss's room
"Patricia, are you going to dinner?" Kitten asked while idly playing with a yarn ball. 'Best birthday present ever!' she thought as she pounced on it. She ended up rolling with it across the room.
"You are such a cat." Puss said catching the ball with her foot. "Of course I'm going. I sure don't feel like cooking." Patricia lightly kicked the yarn ball and continued going through her closet looking for her pajamas. "I think Lily still has my pajamas. I'm going to borrow some of the clothes in Jack's room."
"Just go get your clothes from Lily."
"If she still has them, then they're probably still dirty. I'll be back soon, and I'll be expecting you to be clean and dressed." Patricia walked out the door still in a bathrobe from her recent shower.'
"She's no fun." Kitten said getting off the floor and changing back to her human-like form.
In the Hallway
"I never thought I would get along so well with a filthy human. Oh! Not you of course. You seem to be quite clean." Jaken walked the halls talking with Freya. They seem to have a lot in common. Both had to deal with overly energetic people on a daily basis and babysit people who give new meaning to headaches.
"I know what you mean. I never thought I could get along with an imp, on account that they are known to have exceptionally high voices."
"Really! How is my voice?" He asked genuinely curious.
"I honestly think all the yelling Lily and Patricia have done over the years has left me partially deaf. You sound like everyone else to me." Freya said with a smile.
The door to Puss's room opened in front of them and they we're shocked at what they saw. At least Jaken was, with him being so short he was afraid to look up at Puss after the first glimpse.
"Patricia Maryellen DeLockheart! What do you think you're doing?" Puss shouted in surprise at the sudden outburst.
"Freya, don't scare me like that! You nearly gave me a heart attack." She said fixing her towel.
"I'll ask one more time. What are you wearing?" Freya asked angrily.
10 minutes later
Freya had dragged Puss back into her room and forcibly dressed her. Then she dragged her to the dinner table where they started to argue.
"Control Freak."
"Whore."
"No name-calling in the dining room!" they heard from above. A hatch opened on the ceiling to reveal Rapunzel with dirty hair and a handful of papers. "Some people are trying to work up here."
"Are you joining us for dinner?" Rapunzel disappeared back up above but left the hatch open.
"No, but because we have guests I will leave this open to make sure you don't kill each other." She called as they heard a lot of shuffling noises. "You might hear some weird sounds but don't worry unless you hear serious screaming."
For the next few minutes everyone slowly started trickling in and taking their seats. Everyone started talking and that's when it all went downhill.
"So Jav, you know how he is, came in trying to calm everybody down, but Don kept shouting, and Ashish was being… well Ashish. Jeez! Men can be real stupid sometimes."
"And what were you doing the whole time?" Patricia asked when Lily finished telling her story.
"Cheering them on like a normal person. Who doesn't like a good fight? Jav hates fun. I swear." She answered pouting.
"Don and Ashish? That would have been a fight to see. Don is top in the karate class isn't he?" Pup asked.
"Yeah. He beat everyone in my class. He made so proud that day; He could still work on that terrible personality problem though." Kitten added.
"Who we talking about?" Krystal asked confused as she nibbled on her raw steak.
"Don Klein and Ashish Jacoba." Rin answered. She was listening very closely to the interesting conversation they were having. Young Innocent Rin may not have understood a lot of it, but it was still interesting to her.
"Did you know Leo finally proposed?" Freya asked.
"What?"
"Crap! We missed it I thought we had at least another month. I'm proud of that little wuss. Good for him." Lily said downing her wine.
"She turned him down." Pup said.
"Slightly less proud."
"He probably half-assed it." Rapunzel shouted down for Patricia to watch her language around kids. "I mean if you're going to waste 5 goddamn years with someone before proposing you better do it right. A good sized ring, super romantic settings, and kickass 'celebration' plan."
"Patricia Maryellen DeLockheart! Do I need to repeat myself?" Rapunzel called again.
"Sorry Nana." She called back.
"You're such a gold-digger, Patricia." Krystal commented sleepily.
"I see your pills are finally taking affect." Damien said from the other end of the table.
"And I see you got the good stuff you… cheap… bastard." Krystal curled in on herself and soon was knocked out.
"Pills? I didn't know she needed pills." Lily commented.
"Is she alright?" Pup asked after walking over to Krystal's plate and poking her limp body with a paw. "Sister?" she whined.
"She's fine. Krystal will be up in the morning and back to her slightly less violent, homicidal self."
"Will she still set random fires for no reason? Because I actually find that very entertaining." Kitten asked. Damien ignored her and put on some gloves that were on the table.
"I'm going to put her to bed." The moment he picked her up a growl was heard as she was engulfed in blue flames. No one asked about the gloves as he walked out. They were obviously for that specific purpose.
"I'm so glad I'm adopted." Freya said starring down at her plate.
"I don't blame you. Having something like that for your birth mother would be-" Jaken was cut off by two growls from Kitten and Pup, and a deadly glare from Freya.
"I can say that, not you." Jaken cringed and apologized profusely.
Sesshomaru just sat there calmly, wondering what kind of work Rapunzel was doing. 'She's probably fixing up room. It is covered in cobwebs.'
"Aww! Look at everyone bonding, Bob."
