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Chapter Nineteen
Sesshomaru stood at the entrance to the castle grounds with Diaroku by his side as their party approached. Sesshomaru was feeling quite reflective, and noted to Diaroku how much the group had grown over the years. Miroku and Sango now had three children, Inuyasha and Kagome had their three, and the young Shippo had started spending an awe full of of time with a human girl from the village, who was also accompanying them. Bringing the group of five up to twelve. Sesshomaru's heart fluttered when he realized that he too was adding to his own little traveling party. Always the loner, he'd been almost four hundred when Jaken began following him. Five hundred by the time Rin came along. But, oh, did she expedite the process of warming his hardened heart. He would have never thought that a mere thirteen years later, he would be mates and expecting an heir with the same girl who saw him hurt and, instead of running away screaming, cared for him. Ultimately it was the Tenseiga who decided to save her.
"Diaroku...seeing as we're alone...may I speak with you about father?"
"Y-yes," he stammered, taken aback. Sesshomaru had only asked to speak of his father twice since he died. Once, a few months later when he was still racked with grief, as any son would be. The second time was shortly after Izayois death. He'd hated Inuyasha but at the same time, felt a duty to protect his fathers son until he was at least a man and could defend himself. So he'd lurked in the shadows as Inuyasha roamed through the forest, slaying the more dangerous demons but leaving the smaller ones to toughen him up, at Diaroku's urging of his fathers wishes. "What is it, son?," he asked.
"I told you how Rin fell into my lap, how the Tenseiga bid me to resurrect her?," he cocked an eyebrow and turned to look at his elder for the first time.
"Yes, you've told me. What does that have to do with your father?"
"Well, the reason I kept her with me and didn't set her up in a village somewhere like everyone told me to do," he narrowed his eyes at the old man. "Was because I had this nagging feeling that father somehow...I don't know...his spirit maybe...lives in the Tenseiga and the Tetsusaiga?"
"That's one theory...now back it up," he encouraged.
"I thought it was ridiculous. But I just couldn't shake that feeling. So I kept her close. But then a little while later when Inuyasha and I sent the Sounga to hell, father appeared."
"Wha-" Diaroku's full attention snapped to him, eyes wide. They rarely spoke of him, Diaroku could hardly bear it. So Sesshomaru never even told him about the sounga, much less his father coming back from the dead.
"He spoke to us. But anyways. My point is. If he could do that...he could bid the Tenseiga to save Rin...and sway me to keep her close by...right?"
"I suppose you are right. So I guess your father saw something special in Rin," Diaroku gave him a small smile.
"He must have. There are so many special things to see in her eyes...in her whole outlook on life. It's fascinating."
"I'll bet. Oh, here they are," he turned back to the road and the quickly approaching travel party.
"Uncle Sesshuuuuuuuuu," Amari came out of nowhere, crashing into her favorite uncle and wrapping him in a vise grip.
"Amari...it hasn't been long since I visited you," he laughed and ruffled the girls hair.
"I know. I just miss you that's all. Mom and dad are such a drag...and I guess now there's some demon in the woods so I can't even go hunting by myself anymore!"
"Well you're in luck because this whole castle and it's grounds are a very safe place for a young girl to run free. I'll talk to your father about turning you loose in the woods. During the daylight of course. It's heavily guarded so there should be no problem."
"Oh thank you, Uncle Sesshu! You're the best!," she wrapped her arms around his neck again and he returned her embrace. Diaroku stood back and balked at his nephew, never seeing him be so...wordy and familiar with a child before.
"I know I am," he smirked as his brother descended on them.
"Inuyasha, nice of you to join us," he teased.
"Shut up, you're the one that taught her how to move so damn fast, who's this?," he looked to Diaroku cautiously.
"Inuyasha, our uncle, Diaroku. Our fathers little brother," he clarified and Inuyasha nodded.
"Nice to meet you,"
"You too," he answered stiffly and clapped him on the shoulder as he'd done to Sesshomaru thousands of times.
"Uh, this is Kagome, my wife. Our kids, Amari, Izayoi, and Hikaru. Over there is Miroku and Sango, they're just nosy. Their boys, Ichiro, Hitoshi and Niroku. And here is Shippo and his girlfriend, Kaiya."
"So good to meet you all. I'm sure you're exhausted. Let's get you settled in, we can get acquainted in the morning."
"Yeah...we've been traveling for hours now...Inuyasha doesn't like to take breaks," Kagome teased.
"Hey uncle Sesshu? Where's Rin?," Izayoi asked timidly and Inuyasha raised an eyebrow at his brother.
"She's already sleeping...but you can visit with her all you want in the morning," he promised.
"Oh...alright then."
"Diaroku, Ill show Inuyasha and his family to their rooms, would you get the others settled in?"
"Yes, of course, come with me. Goodnight Inuyasha, Sesshomaru," he nodded before leading the small group away.
"So that's our uncle?," Inuyasha inquired as he fell into step with his older brother.
"Yes...one and the same. You'll be staying in your mother's old chambers...they've been vacant ever since father...I never had the heart to give them away."
"Thank you Sesshomaru," Kagome offered and he nodded.
"Thank Diaroku. In the years I've spent traveling, he's always managed the castle with great care in my absence."
"Hey Sesshomaru...can I ask you something?," inuyasha stopped his older brother from leaving after Kagome and the kids had ducked inside their door.
"Make it quick...I must get back to Rin," he answered, assuming he would face an interrogation from Inuyasha.
"If Diaroku knew about me all this time...why did he never reach out? I couldn't have been that hard to find. And even though you and I weren't exactly on the best terms until recently...you seem to have a good relationship with him. You'd have passed the message right?"
"Yes, Inuyasha. I would have. Rest assured that even at our lowest, I've always been honest with you."
"So...why didn't he?..." Inuyasha's eyes were like that of a child. Confused and hurt, searching for the answers.
"That is something you'll have to ask him yourself. I'll see you in the morning, little brother."
"Yeah...Goodnight. Tell Rin I said hey."
"I will," he nodded and walked away.
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Okayyyyyyy another shortie I'm sorry but at least I'm updating fast right? :) please review. Reviews give me life :)
