Kagome recognized the cherub laughter outside, "mama?" Was she home? Her head hurt and her heart felt empty as she came around from unconsciousness.
"Ye lost more power than I thought." A weathered hand against her cheek gave her more clarity.
"Can we come in yet, Lady Kaede?"
Embarrassing. She bounced up, shaking off the unsettling way she managed to feel the earth swirling through space.
Miroku was already up. His hair was tangled and the skin beneath his eyes was grey with exhaustion, but his smile was bright as ever as he wolfed down some stew.
"Miss your family?"
"I just...thought I heard my brother's voice."
Kaede moved to open the curtain, the sounds of squealing continuing, "Sesshomaru-nii san! I don't want to go home! I want to be a dog demon and chase squirrels!"
That was definitely Sota, there was no one else so innocent in their attempts to be savagely murdered. He was dangling from Sesshomaru's sure grip when the trio entered.
"I'm afraid you must be born this way, little human."
"InuYasha has been replaced with Sota." Sango told her easily, she dipped into the stew and handed the bowl to Kagome, "Sesshomaru," her demon slaying friend threw him one of her less than amused looks, "shouldn't you be entertaining Sota with the other children?"
"Absolutely not. This Sesshomaru is not affected by the residual spiritual energy."
"You're breaking out as we speak."
He flung the boy at Kagome and sat nearest to the door as if to demand that Sango hurry in her explanations.
"Someone's being clingy," Miroku chuckled conversationally, "although I suppose it's no real surprise that Sesshomaru changes with the moonless night as well."
"At least my time of the month is not so boring as InuYasha's," Kagome noted how his eyes followed something through the boards of the wood.
"There's a squirrel that's been challenging him for an hour now." Sota told her with a giggle, "but Sango refuses to let him hunt it down."
"Because it isn't doing anything!" Sango scrambled up. The demon stood by the door now, growling lightly as the sounds of the wildlife drove him feral, "Gods, Sesshomaru, leave the little guy alone!"
He darted out with Sango hot on his trail, yelling, "over my dead body," as he went.
"So," Kagome grabbed her stew from its place on the ground, "why are you here?" She only got a few bites in before he cried about how he was starving and how he hadn't had lunch because his friends had wanted to play Pokémon instead.
It was only after he realized it was rabbit stew- Sota did not eat strange meats- that he decided to tell his tale without a bribe, "an onikumo came from the well," he said easily. His exposure to her group of demons already desensitizing him in a place where it was necessary to be afraid, "he said I was going to be a replacement for Kohaku, but don't worry-!"
She didn't know what horrors crossed her face at that moment. It wasn't impossible for demons to cross over, she'd seen that with Yura's hair, but she'd believed that her world was safe regardless. She'd run off with InuYasha, risking her life and fighting great evils, but what of her own family?
They were defenseless against the weakest of demons.
"Are mama and gramps alright?"
"Don't worry," he insisted again, "Sesshomaru-nii san says that he's going to kill Naraku! I asked him why he couldn't just give him over to the police, but then he asked what a police was so I just kind of moved on."
"It's not alright!"
His face drained of all color and the enthusiasm faded, "why not? He's the strongest daiyoukai, isn't he? You and InuYasha-nii san said he was unbeatable!"
"It's not that he's not strong," Kagome rubbed her face, "he's plenty strong, but he's also got walnuts for brains, just like his stupid brother. Naraku is crafty and he hides his heart so it's not so simple as stabbing him. We have to find his pieces all while trying to keep everyone alive. Mom and grandpa are in real danger, but I'm powerless on my own."
"Now Kagome, there's no need to be humble. You are not powerless," Miroku patted her hand, "if demons can pass through the well then take InuYasha and Sesshomaru and ward the home. Your mother and grandfather will be able to guide you better than we can."
"What are they supposed to do?" She asked miserably, "they don't know anything about this world and if Sesshomaru and Sango hadn't been there I-," she didn't want to cry in front of Sota, didn't want to scare him anymore than he'd already been scared, but she was tired.
She was tired and she was drained and all she wanted was one useless, scrap of security, one place where a bad feeling meant a lecture and not the massacre of an entire village.
"I wouldn't have a brother anymore," she gasped out uselessly. Her crying only led to Sota crying and then they were both a mess, hugging one another and trying to find comfort in a situation that seemed hopeless.
"We will find a solution, Kagome," Miroku flexed the fingers of his cursed hand, understanding her feelings of helplessness, "but first we need to know what your family is willing to risk. Alright?"
She brushed at her cheeks, "you're right. I'll take them tonight, if they'll go. Sesshomaru can be so difficult about being ordered around."
"Go and sit," Sango shouted breathlessly, "go on." Sesshomaru had twigs in his hair and she noted that he looked more demonic than usual. His eyes were more serpentine and his fangs poked delicately into his lower lip. Everything about him crackled with boundless energy and instinct.
Maybe he wouldn't be so difficult to order around, after all.
"This is why I have a cat." Sango griped, then her expression softened, "i'm sorry, I had to go and wrangle Sesshomaru, but what's the plan?"
"I was hoping that Sesshomaru and InuYasha could help me protect the house, but I completely forgot it was the new moon."
"How? It was mentioned."
"There's a lot on my mind, alright!"
He scowled at her, but said nothing more in favor of butting his head against Sango's jaw. She scratched the crown of his head and a rhythmic thumping beat against the wooden floor.
"We can still go to your time, Kagome," Sango couldn't move to comfort her, "Sesshomaru is still a useful guardian, so- even if we can't get anything done- your family will be safe."
Kagome was just surprised he wasn't panting. His fur pelt and armor had been abandoned someplace else and he looked about ready to shred his top.
"I wish there were another choice, but there isn't. Is there?" She shifted Sota away from her and stacked her empty bowl nearest to Miroku's, "you've got to come as well. I can't ward the place by myself and Sango has no spiritual power."
"I'd be honored to help."
"Now we just need to find InuYasha," Kagome had successfully ignored the heartbreak that flooded her at his mention and she would continue to, there was no time for hurt feelings. Not when her family was on the line, "it's not like him to run off on the night of the new moon."
"I can find him," Sesshomaru was dragging Sango along before she could offer a word otherwise.
oOo
Sesshomaru wanted to go home. This place was loud and the smells were overwhelming, but Sango insisted that it was for the greater good.
So he didn't make too much fuss.
With the moon's absence went what was left of his self control. He was held in place by the ribbon she'd offered in order to give him something to focus upon.
Meeting new people was a wreck. He was hardly a friendly beast and so it turned into Sango wrangling him to the ground as the priestess tried to explain his helpfulness.
The mother won him over with dehydrated meat.
"So the man you've been hunting is now after us?"
Miroku had taken over the explanations as Kagome had proven herself wildly incapable. The idea of anyone targeting her family seemed to hit much more viciously as she was forced to face them.
"That's what we believe. Naraku is known for mind games. He torments uninvolved parties for the thrill of it. Because he can manipulate the well, we fear that -even if we can protect young Sota back in our time- you and your father may be in grave danger."
Mrs. Higurashi stared at her fists, torn between thoughts, "so what do you suggest, monk? We can't just act as though our lives aren't in danger now that we know this. And we have no tools to fight basic evils, let alone greater ones."
"That's where you come in, my Lady. Once we know what you're comfortable with we can proceed."
Her answer came instantly, "anything. If we can be better protected in the feudal era then we'll pick up and we'll leave. Tonight if we have to."
"We brought Sesshomaru along for this very reason. You won't need to uproot within the hour, he is perfectly capable and perfectly willing to protect us until we can all come to a decision. But before we go any further...I must make it very clear that I cannot promise you your lives." Kagome was ruining the pleats of her skirt within her hands, "we will do whatever we can to keep you safe, but Naraku has killed a great priestess, he slaughtered Sango's entire village and used her dead brother as a slave. He cursed my grandfather with the tunnel in my hand…"
The horror on her face-. He wished he could take it away, but it was imperative that she understood the likelihood of her own survival.
"There is a chance that not even Sesshomaru will come out alive against him." There was a desolate silence as they were all faced with the weight of that statement.
Sango found that she hadn't liked the way they'd mentioned Sesshomaru's death so nonchalantly. He was too spiteful to die, she knew that, but still. The unease she felt was surprising. His finger ran over the back of her palm, one swipe was all he offered, but she understood his intentions.
"Kagome, dear, order a few pizzas? Your grandfather and I need time to think things over."
It was then that Sesshomaru's control snapped, "I'm gonna end your goddamn bloodline." He was running into the night before anyone could truly think to stop him.
Kagome's mother went pale, her fears returning without a moment's reprieve, and Sango cursed the timing of the new moon.
Sesshomaru couldn't help his transition anymore than InuYasha could, but his lack of self control was making things infinitely more difficult, "he's got a thing with squirrels." She sighed, "it's probably been outside minding its own business for longer than he considers acceptable."
That knowledge made the older woman's lips twitch.
"So more than a few seconds?" Miroku asked, he hated how his competitor's antics brought laughter from his gut.
"Precisely. I'll go get him, there's got to be a way to calm him down." Even if neither of them knew what it was.
She left after her feral comrad, the sounds of her ordering him to drop the squirrel were echoing through the shrine.
"Is there any place for him to bathe?"
Sesshomaru was splattered in guts and brown tufts of fur, "got him."
Kagome ran her hand over her face, "Sota? Can you take care of Sesshomaru and InuYasha please?" The chance to be useful was enough for the kid, he grabbed the two of them and led them up the stairs without a word of complaint.
The last they heard of him was, "maybe we can watch a movie after this!"
Sango leaned against the table, groaning as she did, "he's too energetic. There's no way he's going to stay put tonight."
"I have every intention of knocking him out. Too much bread will put anything to sleep." Kagome motioned for her friends to follow her upstairs, preferring to spend as much time in her bedroom as possible. She'd missed the luxuries of home.
She'd only just settled onto her bed when the screaming began, "not the whip, Sesshomaru wait!"
Miroku went to investigate, ensuring Sango that she was free to relax while he handled everything. He could be too kind. The bathroom was filled with steam and both brother's were red from the heat, "just let me wash your hair, Sesshomaru-nii san! It's not that hot."
"Not on your life."
"Sango, isn't going to pet you if you don't get clean." Miroku told him sagely.
The rebuttal was silent. Water, molten in every regard, sprayed across his face and he was suddenly backpedaling.
"Not so tough now are you, Miroku." InuYasha's dark hair was dripping down his chest and back, already having been a victim of Sota's merciless assault.
"You might as well bathe as well," Sesshomaru added, "face the assault of your own kind's ingenuity." And there was no denying his strength.
Kagome and Sango, however, did not concern themselves with the dramatic cries coming from the bath. They were too busy digging through Kagome's father's old things.
Sesshomaru's clothes were covered in blood and would need washing before he could put them on again.
They'd already stolen their garments from the floor without their notice, throwing them in the wash with little regard for their feelings.
Sango tossed the drawstring shorts into the bathroom, disregarding InuYasha and Miroku's cries of outrage.
"I'm a holy man and these are indecent."
But there wasn't much they could do. Kagome's father had been slight and so his old clothing was bound to fit a bit snuggly. However she found herself covering her eyes when she realized just how snug the fit was.
"Keep your thoughts decent and you should be fine, monk." Sesshomaru's hair dripped down his chest, but he was oblivious to the fact, focusing solely on the kid who insisted upon blow drying his tail.
Kagome motioned towards the bathroom, "would you like to go next? I can fill the tub for you and I can use mom's?"
oOo
Sesshomaru watched Kagome's filthy feline lumber up the stairs, unaware of its impending demise. The only thing second to squirrels were cats and Gods did he hate cats.
It was Sango, however, who doomed the overweight beast. She'd scooped it up, kissing its head and cooing about how good of a boy he was.
He was absolved of all responsibilities of his actions.
"Kagome will murder you if you kill her cat," InuYasha warned, "she's always yelling at me for just playing with the dumb thing."
"She won't know it was me."
"I assure you, she will." InuYasha watched Sango place the cat on the stairs, helping Kagome to collect her bounty from the man at the door. His job was to keep Sesshomaru out of sight.
"There's nothing she can do about it once it's already done."
He wondered if this was how all dogs thought. How much of Sesshomaru was still within him? And how much would he remember when the sun rose?
"Sango wouldn't be very happy with you."
He shrugged, "she's already paying me no attention. What more can she do?"
"She's a creative young woman. She'll find a way to make you pay." Miroku added, "maybe if you stop stressing her out she'll pay more attention to you."
InuYasha couldn't imagine why Miroku would help Sesshomaru, he'd been making a fuss a day or so ago about how he would rather die than give up on Sango.
"Maybe if she let me do what I wanted then we wouldn't have this problem."
His eyes were still on the cat, his bad intentions exposed by the stiffness in his long bushy tail.
"Sesshomaru, leave the cat alone." InuYasha grabbed his shoulders, trying to hold him in place, but only succeeding in being dragged.
"I will not. It's challenging me." His thoughts beat through the air like thunder, 'how dare she call him a good boy' and 'there can be only one, bitch'.
As a last resort, InuYasha flicked his brother's nose and was instantly consumed with guilt. Betrayal shined in his bright eyes and for a moment he seemed genuinely confused- but then that innocence was gone and Sesshomaru was scurrying after the cat.
"You're next, InuYasha. Count your moments."
Sango thrust the boxes within InuYasha's arms, "help Kagome," and took the stairs two at a time. He'd cornered the cat.
"Any last words, fiend?"
"Mraoow."
"Sesshomaru, what are you doing to Buyo?"
He lowered his claws and pouted at her, all puppy eyes and innocence- all of a SUDDEN. She was losing her patience with him.
"Ridding you of distractions," was his matter of fact reply, "there will be no good boys in this house since you cannot seem to overcome your fondness for temperamental beasts."
"Jealousy is cute on you." She sighed finally, Buyo made a mad dash for the stairs as Sango knelt before him. "honestly, I'd have thought you'd hate to be talked to that way. You do make a point of saying that you're no common mongrel. Daily."
He shrugged, a lame reply, "tonight is the time when it's alright."
"You're wonderful, Sesshomaru, but can't you be calm for me? Us humans are exhausted."
"I can do anything you'd ask for a price." He pulled her closer to him, "my first condition is that you forsake that feline in his entirety. Otherwise I'll have to kill him." At her exasperation he chuckled into her neck, relishing in the pleasant shudder that possessed her, "I don't make the rules."
He was making it hard to think, as if his ability to comprehend personal space had gone straight to hell, right along with his common sense.
His tongue ran along her neck and her jaw, "maybe it was a mistake for you to get so close?" As if it hadn't been him who had advanced on her.
"Then release me." She murmured. Kagome or -worse- Sota could come trotting after them at any minute now. The last thing she needed was for someone to find her at Sesshomaru's animalistic mercy.
"The mistake was made. It is far too late now." Another long, wet line along her neck made her pulse jump.
"I agree to leave Buyo-
"-the feline-"
"I will agree to leave the feline alone. What else do you want, demon?"
But it was a silly question, he'd already tipped his head back, "how many times must I repeat myself? I crave your proximity." His mouth on hers was not as clumsy as it was the first time, she could feel an uninvited heat pooling between her thighs.
He pulled backwards, his eyes following the nervous swell of her chest, "you'd better go."
"And you'd better behave now," she was trying to be stern, but they both knew she had no more will to fight than he did.
"Yes ma'am."
oOo
They were supposed to be stocking up on supplies; bandages, disinfectant, and the like. But Kagome hadn't been able to help herself.
She took their little group to get frothy lattes and sweets, snapping photos at every turn, "if everything goes south...I'm going to know that I enjoyed these moments."
Sango hated that somber tone. Kagome was not born to worry, she was delicate and selfless and if there was one thing she deserved- it was to smile. So Sango had taken the second camera and helped her capture those precious moments.
"If you-," snap, "Sango, I swear-," snap. Sesshomaru wrenched the camera from her hands. He was still grouchy from the crushing humiliation his own actions had afforded him. Chasing squirrels, plotting the murder of a house cat, sleeping with his tail? He'd have to murder Naraku with his fists to rebuild his reputation.
"It was all very cute," she assured him, "now give me back the camera. I'm helping Kagome build memories."
"I'll give it back if you keep it out of my face."
She agreed, flouncing ahead of him with a delicate noise of disdain, "I don't care for your attitude."
And he didn't care for this headache inducing sinkhole. He wanted to go home. Now.
"Are you so selfish that you will ruin this moment for Sango?" The last thing he wanted to hear was the monk's grating voice, but he was too busy sulking to speak, "the fight will be coming to a fever pitch soon and these moments of peace will be all she has to hold onto."
"I've done nothing to her," but he could see that her smile had dimmed. He hadn't told her how pretty she looked in those silly modern clothes and he hadn't bothered to leave his own web of embarrassment.
"Begone, monk."
"I'm just trying to help-,"
"And you've helped. Now waste your breath in another direction."
He sighed, "is being unpleasant a family trait."
Sesshomaru shook his head, smiling a bit to himself. Sango had insisted upon tying his hair up, 'you look nice no matter what you do, but I'd like to see you like this today'. She knew the power of her praise.
He looked even girlier than usual, but there was only one woman he wanted to impress. So it didn't matter much.
"Father was very...smiley. He was the only man who could make mother laugh." He shrugged off gazes of violet and honey, disliking being stared at, "I haven't heard her ugly snort in hundreds of years, because," he pitched his voice higher, " 'my darling, you were made to be gazed upon, not to make jokes'."
Miroku didn't know what to say to that. He hadn't expected an answer at all, let alone any bit of backstory.
"What are your intentions with Sango?" Since he seemed to be so lucky today, he'd keep pushing.
Sesshomaru shrugged, "currently trying not to anything stupid. We're friends." That didn't seem to be the extent of it and Miroku said so, "she's special to me. That's all I know."
"That's all? Yet you pout for her attention and sleep on the floor at her bedside like a loyal guard? You took her guard shift so she could sleep and you expect me to believe-,"
"I don't care what you believe. I have told you what I know."
"Well, I know how I feel about her." He didn't know where his boldness came from, but he could see the miscalculation as clearly as he saw Sesshomaru's frown.
"It would be best for your health if you forgot."
oOo
A.N./ I hope you enjoyed puppy!Sesshomaru. He's got too much power in the OG series. If we aren't humbling him then what are we doing ?