Chap 16 on space station

The first week of July 2299

Tsume, Kohaku, and Yoshiko were sitting around the space station dinner table when Yoshiko spoke up.

"Kohaku, I really don't like you. Your ears annoy me." She sat back in her chair, her arms across her chest and waited for his response.

Through the years Kohaku had had people say mean things or ask him about his ears. He reflected on his memories. As a toddler he had asked, "Daddy, why do people pick on us for having puppy ears?"

Then Inuyasha had answered, "They are jealous and wish that had them."

As time flew by he would ask again. "Dad, why do they pick on me for my ears?"

And Inuyasha would respond, "They are uncomfortable with different things."

There were other answers through the years but this is the one that stuck with him the most.

"Dad,- Do you like your ears?"

"Now I do, but years ago I didn't."

"What changed?"

"Your Father. He told me that he loved my ears."

"Why?"

"Maybe you should ask him."

Kohaku turned and ran in search of the Alpha. "Father!"

Inuyasha rubbed his mark. 'Your turn, Koi.'

Sesshomaru relaxed back in his chair and sipped his water. 'Kohaku was old enough. Time to step off the idol pedestal.' As he sat down the glass, Kohaku appeared at the door.

"Father? May I ask you a question?"

"Just one?" Sesshomaru smirked. After eleven other children he was still amused by their curiosity.

Undeterred the preteen pressed, "Why do you like Dad's ears?"

Sesshomaru adopted a more serious, sincere posture.

"Not only do I like them but I love them, Kohaku. It's not just his ears that I love. It's his whole being. When I was young I was foolish and told him that I despised them."

Kohaku's eyes opened wide and he gasped in shock. "No one has ever said that to me."

Sesshomaru took a breath to center. "Of that I am relieved. Kohaku, I was selfish and foolish and power hungry. I focused on physical appearance. I had some crazy idea that those ears made your Daddy less than perfect. All I saw when I looked at him were those ears. I didn't look any further. If I had, I would have seen his huge loving heart, his compassion for all of those he was around, his vast ability to make strong and valuable friends, his courage in the face of adversity and his wisdom. He was so much more than just a pair of ears."

"What make you change your mind?"

"It took getting injured, by your Dad. Even when he was young he was the only one who could fight and hurt me."

"Hurt you?"

"Yes he severed this arm. I was about to kill him and his friend. It was the only thing he could do to stop me. He cut it off."

Kohaku's eyes were huge. "But it's there now."

"I had to learn several tough lessons first. I did so many mean things to your Dad just because I was jealous. I was battling with Magatsuhi when I felt into his trap. But your Dad put his life at risk to save me. I know your brother Kenichi has told you that I saved your Dad and all his friends but in truth your Dad was willing to die to save me. I heard him battling and fighting for me. I just had to let go of my anger and resentment and be the big brother I was supposed to be. Then I busted out of the trap holding Bakusaiga in my regenerated left arm."

"Shortly after that we all banded together and defeated Naraku. But that evil spider had one last trick and he took Kagome into the well. Your Dad just barged into the well after her. I no longer saw only his ears. When I looked at him I saw my courageous little brother. It still took a while for me to see him clearly as I do today but when I did, I knew I needed to be with him forever."

"I love him, Kohaku. He is my world. And I love his ears. I cried for joy when Sango and you were born because you have his ears. In my eyes you bear the greatest gift your father could give me. They are more than just fuzzy triangles perched on your head. They are symbols of the greatest man on the planet. Don't forget it. Be proud of them."

Kohaku blinked his eyes and tilted his head at the female astronaut. He recalled a comment Steven had once told him.

"When people criticize you they may have a deep emotional need. Take a breath and reply, "Sounds like that something important to you. Tell me about it." Or something like that. You never know you may just help someone that way."

With thoughts of Father and Steven in his mind, Kohaku replied, "Yoshiko, It real doesn't matter what you think of my ears. They are mine and I like them! For some reason though, it sounds like this is really important to you. Could you explain why it is so important that you bring it up now two hundred fifty miles above the surface of the earth?" The ears turned to give her their complete attention.

Yoshiko had been waiting for an angry or defensive argument. She had figured it would pass the time by picking on the youngest astronaut. She never anticipated the well thought response. Angered that Kohaku had gotten under her skin instead she stood from the table and stomped off.

"Hey, Kohaku. What's her beef with you?"

"Don't know Tsume." Kohaku scratched his head behind his ear.

The two male astronauts stared after Yoshiko for a moment and then turned to each other.

"I don't have any beef with your ears. Makes you look like a mutt. Hey, You can be called Mutt-Face!"

Kohaku laughed. "Funny man! What shall I call you? Stinky wolf?"

Tsume lifted his arm to smell his pits. "Fits. I could use a shower." His shoulders drooped in defeat.

Seeing his colleague down, he offered another nickname. "Wolf-cub it is," Kohaku nodded once in affirmation.

"Hey, I'm older than you." Tsume appeared momentarily indignant and pushed Kohaku. Kohaku shoved back. The two young men mock battled for several minutes then Tsume asked, "Rock, Paper, Scissors for the afternoon research duties?"

"Sure."

The victory was decisive for Tsume so Kohaku grabbed the tricorder and started collecting data.

Yoshiko sat in her space bubble looking out into the deep vastness of space. That kid had gotten on her nerves. How dare he think his ears were important to her? So conceited. So cocky, so sure of himself. What a Brat! She had just wanted to get on his nerves, not the opposite.

She contemplated the first time she had seen puppy ears. It was centuries ago on that brat of the woman who stole her husband.

She studied her nails and looked out on to the Earth again. As they orbited the oceans she noticed one of the clouds looked like her deceased husband's flying form. It had been some time since she thought of him mostly because it made her feel crushed and overwhelmed. However, it was on the forefront of her mind because of that brat's question.

Her husband was magnificent, a god among demons. Their romance was whirlwind and exhilarating. Her pregnancy was even better. Never had she felt so happy. Then she bore him a child, an amazingly powerful child that would be able to carry on. It took a lot from her. It was the start of what now they would call that postpartum depression. After the child was born she lost interest in things. She experienced feelings of extreme sadness, anxiety, and exhaustion. She lost her ability to care for herself or for others. But her husband got wet nurses and took over the lion's share of the raising of their beautiful boy. After that she had had a steady, albeit a boring life with her husband. Her husband enjoyed traveling but she didn't. She preferred reading a good book in front of a warm fire. She serviced him when he asked. He always seemed satisfied, but disappointed that she didn't share the high with him. As the years passed they grew apart. She wasn't surprised when she heard of his death from a battle, but she was surprised it was in defense of his new love. She mourned in her own way.

Years later Yoshiko had gone outside for the first time in decades. There she was, the woman that stole her husband. Yoshiko had considered just killing her when a small boy of three came running to her. Yoshiko's breath escaped. The boy looked like her husband, except for two triangles atop his white head.

'It just wasn't fair.'

Yoshiko had flown home and hadn't left her castle again for a hundred years. The pain and disappointment soon were hidden in callous comments and sharp wit. Sesshomaru did not visit. No one did.

On an impulse she flew out to search for Sesshomaru. She found him. He followed her to her home. He brought two children with him. She even saved the young girl for him.

'Odd. Wasn't the male child called Kohaku?' She paused as she tried to remember. Not able to recall the boy's face she shrugged. 'Guess it's a common name.'

'Sesshomaru visited again asking for some vial of elixir of immortality for two human women and Inuyasha. That was the first time I heard the name of my husband's bastard son.

I'd die before giving you that!

That's what I said. Maybe I was too sarcastic but I really didn't have anything like that anyway. Sesshomaru turned his back on me and I have never seen him again.'

Yoshiko watched the blue oceans of the earth rotate by under her. 'I like it here at the space station. It's quiet and private. I can look down on everyone. It wasn't hard to fool that human astronaut selection committee. Even the tasks and training was easy. Now they send up that conceited brat and that smelly red head. If I didn't know better I'd think he was a wolf. What parents call their son "Claws"! '

Yoshiko looked to the deep space again. 'Where are the fields of Elysian anyway? Is that where you are, Husband?'

A tear fell.

Time passed.

Eventually Yoshiko got motivated.

'I suppose I had better do my afternoon research.'

She uncurled from her resting place and grabbed her tricorder only to find that the data for the afternoon had already been collected.

'Hnnn.' Yoshiko felt conflicted. The Brat collected the data and filed it with perfect accuracy. She huffed. 'He's still a brat.'

Grabbing her favorite book from the cabinet Yoshiko settled back down until mandatory exercise time.