Chapter 20. The Reunion
"How the hell are you still alive?!" Inuyasha exclaimed as his eyes were on his older brother.
Aya's eyes followed Sesshomaru as he walked towards them. It was difficult seeing him dressed in modern clothes. The last time she saw this proud lord, he wore a silk-woven white kimono, decorated with an intricate red honeycomb pattern. Now, he wore what seemed to be tailor-fit grey dress pants, leather dress shoes and a crisp white long sleeve shirt. The sleeves were rolled up to his elbow, displaying his bare forearms. There were no magenta stripes or the crescent moon decorating his body. His ears were rounded and his poisonous claws were replaced by human nails. He appeared as a human man and yet he didn't. His silver hair was still the same length just neatly tied into a low ponytail. He removed his dark sunglasses, only to reveal the familiar golden hues.
"Hello little brother," Sesshomaru greeted with a calm voice.
"Hisashiburi Aya,"he added as his gaze ventured towards the young woman.
Aya swallowed nervously as she met his gaze. There he was standing in front of her, the man, no the youkai she said goodbye to a mere week ago, expecting to never see him again. Her heart began to race. She was speechless. She was completely lost in those golden hues that she failed to notice Kagome's arrival. The young woman stood next to her husband, stunned to see a former foe.
"Sesshomaru? How is this possible?" Kagome said out loud.
"Hello sister-in-law," Sesshomaru greeted.
"What about me? Are you not glad to see me?"
Aya's eyes shifted towards the second luxury vehicle. A man stood next to it with a large grin on his face.
"Isamu?"
"Yoshihara Isamu at your service," he grinned as he patted Inuyasha on the shoulder.
"You're alive?" Kagome stated in disbelief.
"Of course I am alive. What a silly question. Now come, come let us all catch up," Isamu said and he ushered towards the pavilions.
The five of them made their way into the grand hall, where they met Chiyo only a week ago. They sat down behind the large round dining table. Aya sat across from Sesshomaru, her gaze as if it were magnetic as she couldn't take her eyes of him. It felt surreal. Kagome sat down next to her husband while Isamu sat down next to his old friend.
"It's good to see you all again," Isamu stated as he sat down.
"Keh! I saw you a week ago," Inuyasha replied as he leaned into his chair.
"Inuyasha be polite!" Kagome said sternly as she took a seat.
"Well I haven't seen you all in five hundred years. How's your kid?" Isamu questioned.
"He's doing alright. My mother is doting on him right now," Kagome replied happily.
"Good," Isamu added with a smile.
Aya was still transfixed on the man — youkai that was sitting across from her.
"So you're Nomura-san," Aya finally spoke up.
Sesshomaru's eyes never left hers. He was poised, calm, and his deep baritone oozed comfort.
"Correct," he replied simply.
"You are awfully polite and I don't like it. What are you planning Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha asked suddenly as he turned to his brother.
Sesshomaru averted his gaze and looked at his hanyo sibling.
"Little brother I am a much different youkai than you remember," Sesshomaru stated calmly.
"You still look like an asshole to me," Inuyasha quipped.
"Inuyasha!" Don't make me say it!" Kagome said sternly.
"Little brother time has changed since we last saw each other. I am sure you are quite aware on just how much you've missed. With that in mind, I will help you so that you may take care of your family,"
"Since when do you care about family?"
"As I said, I have changed. I hope you will too," Sesshomaru replied calmly.
"Fine," Inuyasha muttered under his breath.
"Inuyasha is already taking history lessons with Kagome's grandfather, to catch him up on what he's missed," Aya offered.
"That's good. I will organize for him to receive other lessons as well such as proper etiquette. Perhaps kendo training will also be useful," Isamu suggested.
"Fine," Inuyasha grumbled as he crossed his arms across his chest.
"What about my mother?" Aya asked.
"We have a lead. It appears she is still in Japan according to our contacts. We located her cell phone, not far from Tateyama in Chiba prefecture," Sesshomaru stated.
"South?" Aya asked.
"It would appear so. Our contacts are searching the nearby area right now. There should be an update sometime tomorrow," Isamu added.
Aya nodded, unsure what to think of the situation. Why south? There was nothing past Tateyama. Nothing except the Pacific ocean and smaller islands. Sesshomaru looked at Aya as he pulled out his cell phone.
"This is the last contact I have had with your mother," Sesshomaru said.
He turned on his phone and opened his voicemail, setting it on a speakerphone.
"Sesshomaru …. you must return …. they know … they know who she is… she went back home … and now they know… she's in danger…"
"Mama," Aya whispered.
Sesshomaru turned off the voicemail and put his phone aside.
"We'll find her. You have my word," Sesshomaru stated.
Later.
The sun was setting as Aya watched Sesshomaru and Inuyasha practice kendo in the stone courtyard between the pavilions. They were both changed out of their attire, now donning a kendo uniform. Inuyasha's appeared to be completely navy blue while Sesshomaru's upper portion — the kendogi, appeared white. Inuyasha seemed content, spending his time with something familiar such as sword play. Isamu stood nearby, watching the brothers swing the bamboo swords at each other.
"Your stance is too wide," Sesshomaru said as he hit Inuyasha with the bamboo sword on the back of his right leg.
"Grr… hit me again. I dare you," Inuyasha replied as he gripped the sword tighter in his hand and readied a strike.
" Not fast enough little brother," Sesshomaru replied as he hit him two more times bringing the hanyo down.
"Asshole," Inuyasha muttered as he peeled himself off the ground.
Aya sighed as she decided that she's seen enough and she headed off in another direction, needing time to be alone or at least away from the sanctuary.
"Isamu, take over. I'm sure you have plenty to teach my little brother," Sesshomaru said as he retracted the bamboo sword.
"Sure, come Inuyasha. I have a few tricks up my sleeve I'd like to teach you," Isamu stated as he took the bamboo sword from Sesshomaru.
"Whatever! Let's go!" Inuyasha stated as he readied his stance.
She made her way towards the forest. She needed a moment to herself. A moment to disappear, just for a little while. There was too much to process and there was still so much left to do. And then there were her feelings. Certain feelings that made her heart flutter at the thought or sight of the prideful lord or not so prideful anymore it seemed. In five hundred years Sesshomaru has changed.
"It's not safe to venture out on your own," Sesshomaru said as he appeared beside her.
"I'm not going far. I just need a minute to breathe," Aya replied as she kept walking towards the forest.
She came to a halt as she felt him take a hold of her hand, clasping it firmly with his. He pulled her closer to him, letting the distance between them disappear as she was pressed against his chest. He wrapped his other arm around her waist as she placed her free hand onto his chest. Aya's heart began to race once more. It felt like infinity since they were in such close proximity with one another.
"I'll show you a place you might like."
Aya nodded and the pair disappeared in a ball of light that flew deep into the wood.