Peace is not happenstance. It is a living fire that must be fed constantly. It must be tended with vigilance, lest it die out. - Libba Bray
Kagome is fuming. The sound of the door slamming echoes in the stone staircase. A pair of seventh-year students chatting in the corridor ask if she's alright but she doesn't hear them. The ringing in her ears drowns out all other sounds.
Pieces of her hair lift due to the amount of static electricity Kagome is producing. It crackles angrily as she hastily brushes them down. This is not the time to lose her temper. Kagome has to keep a level head and not let anything that Professor Taisho said get the better of her.
Just thinking about him makes her grip her wand tighter. She almost wishes he would have challenged her to a duel. At least then she could have knocked him off his pedestal. The man is an arrogant, trigger-happy jerk. How could he possibly think she'd work with Naraku?
Kagome shakes her head as she marches toward the training grounds. She intended to spend the night reading through Midoriko's journal. The witch cataloged all of her spells, including the ones she used to craft the wand. If Kagome has any hope of concealing her magic, she needs to know how to make a new one.
Now, that plan is ruined. Her emotions are turbulent. She is in no condition to perform the type of precise magic required for wand construction. What Kagome needs is an outlet, a way to expel her excess energy so she can center herself.
When she couldn't sleep during her seventh year, Kagome would sneak out onto the grounds. She'd complete a few rounds of practice dueling until she was tired. Professor Harris used to keep a set of enhanced dummies in an old shed along the west wall. With any luck, they are still there.
As she approaches the shed, Kagome considers charming the dummy's face to resemble Professor Taisho.
Clearly, the wizard is paranoid. Kagome recognizes the symptoms of an overworked Auror. They usually struggle with trust and have a confrontational personality. Eventually, some become so lost that they can no longer discern friend from foe. They begin to suspect everyone. Though that sort of behavior usually happens later in life and Professor Taisho doesn't seem old enough to have served as an Auror for very long.
She wonders if he lost someone close to him like his partner. Few Aurors are content with desk jobs or teaching positions after they have served time in the field. Kagome has only seen a handful take sedentary positions. Those that do normally accept out of necessity, due to an injury or family complication.
That's when she remembers Rin. The little girl called Professor Taisho 'Papa.'
Kagome worries on her lower lip. It's possible she misjudged the wizard. His suspicions, though wrong, are born of concern for his daughter's safety. Kagome can't be mad at him for that. She knows all too well the lengths a family will go to if it means ensuring their children's safety.
Her fury subsides.
Everything Kagome told Professor Taisho was true, including her fears about Rin. She is glad that the young witch is alive. Rin appears to be a bright and healthy girl. There isn't any indication that she suffers from lycanthropy, which is good considering her father's severe opinion of werewolves.
Kagome is curious about how he would react if he knew how close his daughter came to becoming one. Would he cast her out as mercilessly as he insulted Professor Matsuno? Or would it compel him to have a change of heart?
Guess that depends on if he has one, she thinks bitterly.
"Alohomora," she says, waving her wand across the shed's padlock.
There is a metallic click as the mechanism opens. Kagome removes it from the door and peers inside. Three dummies, covered in scorch marks and rust, are lined up inside.
With a flick of her wand, she moves them out into the yard. Kagome positions them in a triangle around her so that she is cornered from all sides.
She glances around the grounds to check and see if anyone has followed her. There is no sign of another Professor or wayward student. Grinning, she raises her wand.
The dummies mimic her action, preparing to duel.
Kagome closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. On the exhale, she lets go of her frustration and fear. She focuses on her magic. Kagome can feel it flowing through her. It pulses with power, primed for release. Slowly, she opens her eyes. With renewed clarity, she observes each of her opponents.
The one by her right shoulder attacks first.
She side-steps and creates a shield. The jinx bounces off, ricocheting into the night.
Another dummy tries to ensnare her. Kagome deflects the binding spell and retaliates with a blasting curse. It sends the dummy wheeling backward.
A flare of firelight catches her eye. Kagome drops to the ground, tumbling forward before springing up to her feet and aiming a hex at the third dummy.
The first two converge on her. One tries to hit her with a full body-bind curse. She counteracts it with a basic stunning spell. Stalled, the dummy is unable to defend itself against her follow-up attack. Kagome launches an arrow directly into his chest. The projectile flies out of her wand with such force that it pierces the dummy's metal chest plate.
Its partner charges at her from behind. Kagome narrowly avoids a stinging jinx. She pivots around, knocking her attacker away with the exploding charm. The dummy freezes for an instant before flying to pieces.
Kagome ducks as one of the metal arms goes shooting off overhead.
She straightens up, glancing around for the third dummy— the one she and yet to immobilize. It hasn't reappeared since it went rolling off into the dark.
Taking a step back, Kagome uses the brief reprieve to catch her breath. It has been a while since she dueled anyone. There wasn't much opportunity for it when she worked at St. Mungo's. She forgot how much she missed it.
Dueling with her wand always feels like fighting with one hand tied behind her back. She's quicker when she isn't limited by wand movements or verbal commands.
Midoriko insisted that Kagome train with a wand. She believed it would improve Kagome's form. Midoriko wanted her movements to appear natural, even if Kagome was using a false wand.
She remembers fighting about it with her guardian over the summer break.
"But I don't need it," Kagome argues.
"That isn't the point," Midoriko responds.
"How can I learn anything new if you keep making me dumb myself down?"
Midoriko smiles. "You are clever enough to answer your own question."
"No one will care," Kagome says, crossing her arms over her chest. "My professors use wandless magic all the time."
"They are far more experienced than you are," Midoriko points out as she clips a selection of thistle from the garden.
"So?" Kagome grumbles petulantly.
"So," Midoriko begins calmly, "they still require their wands to engage their abilities. Most witches and wizards need a conduit to access magic. They do not possess the skill to control it in its raw form. But you, Kagome," here Midoriko pauses to swipe her hand over the thistle, turning the prickly flowers into a bouquet of daisies, "you are raw power itself."
Those are the words that Kagome holds onto. She thinks about that day in the garden often— about how the flowers smelled, how warm the sun felt on her face, and how Midoriko smiled at her. Her acknowledgment soothed Kagome's pride and helped her to accept that survival required sacrifice. It was Midoriko's most valuable lesson.
A creaking sound alerts Kagome to the dummy's return. Her enchanted opponent rolls across the lawn with his wand up. He doesn't hesitate to throw a fire curse at Kagome. She counters with Augamenti, immediately dousing the flames with a spray of water.
The dummy prepares to strike again but she beats him to it by shrinking her opponent to the size of a snitch. Grinning, Kagome kneels to pluck the tiny dueler out of the grass. He is small enough to squash under the heel of her shoe. She has no intention of destroying school property, so she stuns him and returns him to his normal size.
"Remind me not to get on your bad side," a voice says.
Kagome glances up to find a woman floating several meters above. The witch smirks and slides off her broom. She lands in the grass a few paces away. As she brushes off her robes, her broom lowers until it is floating beside her at hip level.
"Kagura Nogami," the witch introduces herself. "I'm the Flying Instructor and Quidditch Coach here at Hogwarts."
"Kagome Higurashi. I'm the new healer." She rotates her wand, repairing the dummies one at a time. The broken pieces meld together until each one has returned to its original form.
Kagura arches a brow. "Are you sure about that? Because from the looks of those dummies, I'd say you were after the Defense Against the Dark Arts post."
Kagome scoffs. "I want nothing to do with that man."
Kagura laughs. "You'd be the first."
"Excuse me?"
"He's attractive, usually has more than one hopeful student chasing after him each year," Kagura states.
Kagome rolls her eyes and escorts the dueling dummies back into the shed. "Have they met him?"
Smirking, Kagura follows her. "You're not what I was expecting."
"Sorry to disappoint."
The Flying instructor laughs again. "I meant that as a compliment. The current matron never liked me all that much."
"Is that why you haven't had your back treated?" Kagome asks.
Kagura stills.
"I spent the last five years working at St. Mungo's. I can tell when people are in pain," Kagome tells her. She locks the shed and turns to face Kagura. "If I had to guess, I'd say it's a burn— a pretty sizable one."
"How could you possibly know that?"
"Like I said, I've seen things," Kagome answers. "Would you like me to take a look?"
Kagura adjusts her robes, suddenly unable to meet Kagome's eye. "It's an old wound, scarred over. There's nothing you can do." Then, quieter, she adds, "There's nothing anyone can do."
"You don't believe that," Kagome retorts. "If you did, you wouldn't have been spying on me. You want my help. You just don't know how to ask for it."
Once again, her assessment has Kagura speechless. The witch watches Kagome with a wary gaze.
"When you change your mind, you know where to find me." Kagome bows her head then heads up toward the castle.
She has gone exactly seven paces before Kagura appears at her side.
The witch is effortlessly perched on her broom, hovering just far enough above the ground that her boots don't drag. "You really think you can heal me?"
"I do," Kagome confirms.
Indecisiveness paints her face. She purses her lips, debating for a moment before relenting. "Fine, but I'm not going to the Infirmary. Too many prying eyes."
"Alright," Kagome agrees.
They walk in silence through the entryway. Though Kagome finds it odd Kagura doesn't want to go up to the Hospital Wing, she doesn't push the matter. She isn't familiar with the staff dynamics yet. It is possible that the rift between Kaede and Kagura runs deeper than a typical disagreement between co-workers.
"I have a healing balm in my room," Kagome tells her. "It's an old family recipe made with the herbs from my friend's garden."
Kagura doesn't respond but Kagome sees her relax slightly.
"When I lived with my guardian, she and I had a huge garden. It surrounded our entire cottage. Our neighbors used to joke that it was a jungle. We grew everything from vegetables and fruits to spices and herbs— everything we needed. That garden used to be my favorite place in the world."
Kagura tilts her head. "Used to be?"
"After she died, I couldn't stay there. It was just...too sad," Kagome confesses.
The two witches are quiet as they stroll up to the third-floor corridor where the renovated staff wing is located. Kagome navigates down to the fourth room on the left. Her private quarters are through the door and down a spiral stone staircase. Like the Hufflepuff dorm, her rooms are warmly lit and decorated with cherry wood accents.
"You know, if you want to grow something here, you should talk to Professor Egawa. He's got a few extra plots in Greenhouse Three. I'm sure if you asked, he wouldn't mind sharing," Kagura informs her.
"That presents a great opportunity for a cross-class lesson. Healers should know how to grow the necessary ingredients for their healing solutions in case they can't purchase them. Maybe I can speak to Professor Jineji about the idea at breakfast tomorrow," Kagome muses. "Thanks for the idea."
Kagura's eyebrows rise into her hairline before she frowns. "I didn't do anything."
"You helped me figure out a new lesson plan. I wouldn't call that nothing," Kagome replies.
"Whatever," Kagura mutters dismissively. "So where are we doing this?"
"Here," Kagome positions a chair near her fireplace. "Give me a moment to gather the supplies."
She goes to her trunk, digging through the layers of items until she comes across her medi-kit. The small briefcase contains vials of healing potion, dreamless sleep, and there is even a bottle of Skele-Grow for fractures. Kagome brings the collection over to the fireplace.
The hearth has been lit since she dropped off her belongings earlier. A longevity charm keeps it lit. A shielding spell prevents the embers from falling out onto the carpet. Combined they allow her chambers to remain well-lit and inviting.
Kagome gathers the healing salve Midoriko taught her how to make. The yellowish-green goo is a combination of chamomile, arnica, nettle leaf, and goldenrod. A dollop of beeswax stiffens the mixture so it can easily be spread across the skin.
"You'll need to loosen your robes so I can assess the damage," Kagome instructs her guest. Without preamble, Kagura shrugs off her cloak.
Kagome gasps.
"What?" Kagura questions flatly. "I thought you said you've seen everything."
"Yeah, but...," Kagome trails off as her fingertips trace the outline of the scar on Kagura's back.
Her initial assessment was correct. The burn is massive. It extends from just below Kagura's shoulders all the way to the curve of her bottom. What she failed to realize was that the cause wasn't accidental. It was intentional.
That is the only explanation for the mark. The design resembles a spider, with the core of the insect's body centered at the mid-point of Kagura's spine. The scar is layered meaning the mark has been burned into her flesh numerous times. Such treatment is torture, the kind that warrants action.
"Who did this to you?" Kagome asks.
"No one."
"Kagura—."
"Can you heal it or not?" the witch snaps, grabbing for her robes.
"Of course, but—."
"That's all I'm here for," Kagura reminds her. "We aren't friends. I'm not here to swap secrets by firelight. I came because you said you could help. So either treat me or let me go."
Kagome stares at the Flying Instructor. Kagura's gaze is hard and unrelenting. She will not give up any information— at least not tonight. If Kagome wants answers, she will need to be patient.
"Alright. Take a deep breath and try to hold still," Kagome directs her.
Kagura's chest rises as she follows the instructions. Kagome sees her jaw tense in anticipation. The second she places her salve-covered fingers on Kagura's back, the witch hisses.
"Sorry," Kagome apologizes, withdrawing.
"Keep going," Kagura orders through clenched teeth.
"I can give you a draught for the pain," Kagome offers.
"No."
"Um, okay."
Kagome continues applying the healing balm. It is a slow process. She uses her entire container of salve to cover the area in the thick goo. As she works, Kagura's posture grows stiff. Her shoulders shake when Kagome hits a particularly sensitive spot but other than that she gives no further signs of being in pain.
She understands why Kagura was chosen for the post of Quidditch Coach. The witch possesses a high level of determination. Paired with her fearlessness, Kagura is the perfect candidate to teach the students how to fly. Kagome knows the activity must be freeing for her. Taking to her broom gives Kagura control— something she desperately needs to recover from her abuse.
Kagome wonders if Headmaster Bokuseno knows and that's why he offered the position to Kagura. It would explain why he took a risk to hire her sister as the Divination Professor, even though she's only seventeen. He probably wants Kagura to feel safe, protected— the way he did for Kagome. Whether Kagura realizes it or not, they have a lot in common.
"You need to give it several minutes to set," Kagome says as she finishes.
"Thanks," Kagura murmurs.
"One application won't be enough. The layering will require at least three more treatments."
"Fine," Kagura agrees, "but we do them here. And you keep your mouth shut about it."
"Healer-patient confidentiality," Kagome promises.
Kagura makes an unimpressed noise, angling away from her.
Kagome closes up her medi-kit. She knows not to take Kagura's attitude personally. This type of behavior is normal for victims of abuse. Confronting their past is difficult. Many feel as though they are to blame, lamenting that they were too weak to stop it or foolish for getting involved with their abuser in the first place. Sharing the details puts them in an extremely vulnerable state, which requires trust— something Kagome hasn't earned yet.
"Stop by after dinner next Sunday night. I'll have a new batch of salve prepared by then," she tells her guest.
Kagura begins redressing. She keeps her back to Kagome the entire time. When she rises from her seat, Kagura's head is down. Her gaze is on the floor.
"I have a window in my bedroom. It overlooks the Black Lake. If you're worried about anyone seeing you, I can let you in that way," Kagome offers.
Kagura glances up at her.
"I figure the height won't bother you," Kagome adds with a smile.
"No," she replies. "It won't."
"Great. I'll see you then."
Kagura nods and heads for the staircase. She pauses on the second step. "Thank you."
Startled, Kagome starts to respond. "Oh, you're—."
The door slams.
"—welcome," Kagome finishes softly.
With a simple wave of her hand, she reinforces the wards on her chambers. Kagura may not want to admit it but she could use a friend.
That's something else they have in common.
Sesshomaru wakes to the distant sounds of running in the corridor. When he exits his bed-chamber, there is no one waiting to greet him. His suite is empty.
Throughout his career as a professor, he has never spent the night away from Rin. She has always been next door, just one room away. Now, she's underground, nestled within the badger dormitories. Sesshomaru wonders if she said good morning to any of her roommates, perhaps the girl he saw her talking to at dinner.
Hufflepuff is the house of inclusivity. For a shy girl like Rin, the Sorting Hat couldn't have selected a better fit. Hopefully, with time, she finds a like-minded soul to befriend. Sesshomaru doesn't want her to be like him.
Alone.
He brushes his melancholy aside. Wasting time on unpleasant thoughts is unproductive. He has classes to teach and a house to head.
Once dressed, Sesshomaru departs from his private quarters in the dungeons. The dimly lit passageway winds like the body of the serpent his house is named for. He follows the stone path to a staircase that leads up into the sunlight.
The first day of a new term always feels chaotic. Over breakfast, his coworkers make their annual attempts to converse with him. By the end of the week, his single-syllable responses have dissuaded them from continuing. Excited from the night prior, his classes take forever to settle, especially the first years. They aren't acquainted with him yet and are more likely to push boundaries.
Since he joined the Hogwarts staff, a pool has begun. The other professors take bets on how long it will take for Sesshomaru to hand out his first detention. Last year, he only made it to the third day of term. From the looks of things, the odds of this year being any better are slim.
He rounds the corner, proceeding to the Great Hall when a familiar voice sounds from the other end of the corridor.
"Healer Higurashi!"
Sesshomaru sees Rin approach the newest member of the staff. She turns away from her conversation with Jinenji to smile. The Herbology Professor promises to save her a seat and heads inside.
"Good morning, Ms. Taisho. How was your first night in the sett?"
"Okay. Jaken liked it at least," Rin responds with a shrug.
Healer Higurashi tilts her head. "Who is Jaken?"
"My toad," Rin answers happily.
She holds up the creature. The pet has only been in her care a day but he already appears to have grown. His squat body covers both of her hands as she puts him on display.
Healer Higurashi bows her head. "Good morning," she greets the toad. Then to Rin, she says, "I know toads are on the approved pet list but I don't think I've ever seen anyone bring one to Hogwarts."
"No, most people want an owl," Rin replies.
"But not you," Healer Higurashi returns.
"Well, most people have family outside of the castle but the only one I have is Papa and he's already here so there's no need," Rin explains.
Sesshomaru feels a pang of guilt. He brought Rin here for a fresh start. The school offered her the opportunity to recuperate and him with manageable working hours. He had wanted to give Rin a place where she was comfortable, somewhere stable that would allow her to grow.
Now, he fears he may have isolated her. She has been closed off from the world. Rin's life is limited to what she knows of within the castle. Sesshomaru rarely ventures off the grounds which means she doesn't leave either. His efforts to protect her have resulted in a gilded cage. Like an occamy, Rin can only grow as far as he allows.
Berating himself, Sesshomaru hears Healer Higurashi's voice.
"Owls are overrated. I don't have one either," she tells Rin.
"Really? Why not?"
"I'm more of a dog person," Healer Higurashi admits.
Rin giggles.
"What's so funny?" the Healer inquires.
"Nothing, it's just that Papa is an—."
"Rin. Higurashi," Sesshomaru interrupts.
"Morning, Papa."
"Good morning," he greets his daughter. "Hurry on inside and eat so you don't miss your first Transfiguration lesson."
"Okay."
"Come by the Infirmary some time. I can show you how to safely collect secretions from your toad," Healer Higurashi offers.
"I will," Rin agrees excitedly.
She gives Healer Higurashi a bow and darts into the Great Hall.
Without her bubbly presence, the air is cooler.
Sesshomaru does not regret speaking with Bokuseno about Healer Higurashi. He isn't ashamed of what was said, though it is unfortunate she overheard. Sesshomaru suspects the headmaster had something to do with her ill-timed arrival— a matter he intends to discuss with him later.
"Professor Taisho," Higurashi acknowledges him tersely.
"Higurashi."
The air is taut with tension as if the atmosphere is changing in tandem with her mood. She turns on her heel and marches inside. Despite his ire, Sesshomaru can't tear his eyes away from her.
There is something unsettling about the way her magic feels. He recalls the odd occurrence from yesterday. When they ran into each other in Diagon Alley, Sesshomaru was overcome by the strongest burst of power he has ever felt. It was infinite like the heavens and just as humbling. No other has ever felt that way to him, not even Bokuseno.
The strangest thing about her energy signature was how pure it was. If Higurashi truly is Naraku's ally, Sesshomaru would feel darkness in her aura. Yet, all he sensed was light— an endless stream of warmth as brilliant as the sun. The encounter piqued his curiosity.
"It would be in your best interest to stay away from her," a voice cautions.
He glances to his right, finding Kagura leaning against the wall. She straightens up and brushes past him on her way to breakfast.
Whether her advice comes from jealous spite or true concern doesn't matter. What Kagura says is true. Sesshomaru should keep his distance from Healer Higurashi.
It can't be a coincidence that she arrived this year, just when there was a rise in illegal wizarding activity. He may have left the Auror's Office, but Sesshomaru never gave up on his hunt for Naraku. Dark artifacts have gone missing from the Department of Mysteries. Juromaro's attacks have become more frequent. Darkness looms on the horizon.
Sesshomaru has made mistakes in the past, especially where Rin is concerned, but he won't allow another school to fall. He couldn't prevent it last time— couldn't save his father. This time will be different. He is older now, stronger. When Sesshomaru faces Naraku again, he will not fail.
Whatever Healer Higurashi is hiding is tied to the dark wizard. Sesshomaru knows it. One way or another, he will discover why she came to Hogwarts.
"Taisho," Professor Hitomi bids him good morning.
"Hello," he returns smoothly.
The black-haired Potions Master slides past him, gliding down the center aisle toward the head table as silent as a ghost. Sesshomaru watches as the man settles into a seat between the Nogami sisters. The trio sits facing the Slytherin table, which isn't odd. When they attended Hogwarts, Kagura and Kanna were both in Slytherin. Given his nature, Sesshomaru suspects Hitomi was too.
He inquired about Hitomi's past with Bokuseno once before. The headmaster informed him that Hitomi came from a distinguished line of Pureblood wizards native to Japan who had moved to England prior to Naraku's attacks.
Sesshomaru trusts Bokuseno. He doesn't trust Hitomi or his records. They are too clean to be accurate. Sesshomaru believes they've been doctored.
Forgoing breakfast, he strides over to the West Tower. This early in the morning, the Owlery is vacant. Sesshomaru is grateful. It gives him the privacy he requires to pen a letter to the twins.
Agyo and Ungyo work in the Auror's Office. They were colleagues until Sesshomaru retired for Rin. He has maintained contact with them over the years, offering them help on cases in exchange for information on Naraku's movements.
The A-Un twins, as they were dubbed, possess a level of intelligence Sesshomaru has rarely seen matched. Though they are reserved and often do not speak up, their deductive reasoning skills are far superior to anyone else with the Ministry. As Aurors, they have the clearance required to access personnel files, including records pertaining to the Hogwarts staff.
He begins rolling the parchment before stopping himself. Hastily, Sesshomaru adds a second name to the letter before sealing it with a confidential charm.
"Ministry of Magic, the Auror's Office," he says.
A tawny barn owl snatches up the communication in its razor-sharp talons.
Sesshomaru watches the bird take flight.
A patient man would wait, bide his time until the response comes back. Sesshomaru is no such man. Tonight, he plans to follow through on Healer Higurashi's offer.
Mind made up, he proceeds down to the Serpentine Corridor, where Classroom 3C is located.
Sesshomaru enters his first class by charging through the door so forcefully it swings open and slams into the wall behind it. Several of the female students gasp. The rest all watch him with wide eyes and cautious gazes.
"This is Defense Against the Dark Arts. You should have all received the required materials list over the summer. I expect you have acquired the necessary components and are prepared for our first lesson: Hex deflection."
No one utters a word.
Sesshomaru stares at them. "If you are unprepared for my class, get out."
A few students murmur to each other.
"That is not a topic for discussion. Prepared students will remain and learn. Those who failed to adequately prepare, are invited to join me for private instruction this evening in detention."
Instantly, students start to shuffle around, grabbing their books and wands.
Sesshomaru watches them with satisfaction. In this arena, he has no concerns. There is nothing out of order— no unexplainable coincidences, no chance encounters. Everything meets his expectations. It is all carefully controlled, a well-coordinated plan of action.
"We will begin with learning the wand motion," he instructs his class.
Sesshomaru demonstrates the double crescent flow for casting the spell.
His students mimic the gesture.
He observes from the front of the classroom, calling out adjustments to those who are not imitating it flawlessly. As fourth-year students, he expects his class to have a concrete grasp of wand motions. Precision is key— a lesson he strives to give them each year. Yet, each year, there is always one student who doesn't meet his expectations.
This time, it is Shippo Watanabe.
"Mr. Watanabe, are you incapable of following directions or should I discuss your options for attending a remedial class?"
"I'm doing it," the auburn-haired boy insists.
"What you're doing is getting dangerously close to poking out Ms. Mizutani's eye," Sesshomaru retorts.
Souten Mizutani, Mr. Watanabe's deskmate, doesn't say anything but her gaze hardens. The pair have been close since their first year. Ms. Mizutani is extremely protective of her best friend. The same goes for Mr. Watanabe. Sesshomaru suspects in another year or two, their feelings may evolve further.
He's seen it before. Many students who bond at Hogwarts, graduate and get married. They start their adult lives tethered to the same people they clung to as children. Sesshomaru finds the behavior sentimental and foolish. Attachments give dark wizards like Naraku leverage. They give him power.
"Try again, Mr. Watanabe."
This time, the boy completes the gesture without error. Sesshomaru sighs and continues with his lesson.
He isn't sure what bothers him more. The fact that he finds Mr. Watanabe and Ms. Mizutani's relationship foolish or that he is. Because Sesshomaru also has a weakness.
Rin.
Author's Notes: I finished the final chapter earlier today. So bittersweet. Can't wait to share it with you. Ongoing thanks to my beta, originalone73.