Happiness
"...How long has he been like this?"
"Oh a little while now."
"And ya didn't think to come and get me?"
"I find watching him far more entertaining than I should."
Inuyasha and Miroku stood in the clearing, watching Sesshoumaru perform various feats, somersaulting and twisting his body mid-air. Miroku had never seen such an extreme reaction to meditation before. Sesshoumaru seemed completely lucid, a frown marring his features.
"Lord Sesshoumaru?" Miroku called as the Daiyoukai backflipped and landed perfectly. "Have you been able to make contact with Kagome again?"
"No. I cannot see nor hear her, just various muddled chatterings that oddly sound like Jaken," he muttered, calm voice wrapped in steel. He loathed his body betraying him and moving of its own accord. Crying had been one thing but this felt like a new low.
"Ohh so amazing, Lord Sesshoumaru!" A familiar voice called with awe.
Mercifully he landed from another twist in the air, relief filling his lungs in the form of Rin's gentle scent. The inclination to jump in the air left him at once, and the Daiyoukai instead found himself blurring through the clearing to scoop Rin up in one arm.
He blinked, wondering at the burst of fondness in his chest. "Rin," he greeted. This was quite unorthodox, he did not usually allow himself to pick her up like a pup, letting her sit in the crook of his elbow.
Rin however, burst into a wide, if confused grin. "H-hello! You seem to be in a good mood today, my Lord! Would you like tea? I could make you some."
More words escaped his lips that Sesshoumaru would never say, on account of them being shamefully indulgent. "Yes, but first you may make a flower crown."
It felt a little surreal when Rin's weight knocked into her legs. Kagome automatically smiled and leaned to steady her, slightly perplexed. In the real world, Rin had shot up in height and now wore finer yukatas or kimonos if the occasion called for it. But this Rin seemed smaller, cheeks rounder with youth and dirt caked onto her bare feet.
"Good to see you, sweetie," Fantasy reached down, ruffling Rin's hair.
"Now there's TWO Kagomes," Rin gaped, looking between them. "Lord Sesshoumaru will be so happy!"
Kagome smiled a little awkwardly, fixing Rin's sloppy side ponytail out of habit. The other emotions were already greeting Happiness and explaining the situation. "We need…to go to your mansion," Sadness rasped. "It's urgent."
"The real miko has need to leave," Vanity hummed, loosely folding his arms and observing him with narrow eyes. "So go carry her off now. We will wait here."
Happiness tilted his head slightly, "Rin and I are in the middle of a picnic," he stated bluntly. "Besides that, I do not feel very charitable toward you. Was it not your group that destroyed a good portion of Rin's flower fields?" He smiled serenely. "If you wish for my help, you will wait."
"Yes and sit with us!" With a tug, Kagome stumbled after Rin towards a blanket that had been spread out over the flowers. The second they passed Sesshoumaru's double however- an arm snaked around Kagome's slim waist, tugging her back.
Blue eyes widened as that arm was joined by another, enclosing the miko in warmth. Various noises ranging from scoffs, snorts or sharp, annoyed tuts rang out around them while Happiness held her close. Kagome tilted her chin up slightly from where her cheek smooshed against a built chest, bewildered. The Daiyoukai tilted his head down, resting a striped cheek against the crown of her head and dragging it back and forth.
Kagome inwardly screamed. The Killing Perfection chose that moment to inhale her hair and nuzzle into her dark locks, exhaling in a long, contented sigh. Sloth must have followed them and taken up drumming instead of the koto, because she could certainly hear it. Or that was likely just her traitorous heart. He really wasn't doing a good job of disproving Fantasy's words.
Patting a warm, sturdy back, Kagome attempted to pry herself out of the hug- only to feel herself be plastered against him anew.
"This one missed you," light, easy words crooned into her ear.
It elicited a shiver and she tried not to sink into his oddly comforting presence. "I-I'm the real Kagome, you might have me mixed up with-"
"There is no mix up," he hummed, gathering her closer so that her feet practically slid onto his boots.
Ah, maybe a happy Sesshoumaru is the clingy type?
Vanity huffed somewhere beside them, "selfish as always, Happiness," he snipped.
Happiness let out a sharp noise, body jolting. He then snarled with a grin playing about his lips, releasing Kagome so that she dropped onto the blanket and whirling on Vanity, who had obviously jabbed him under the ribs with his fan. They transformed and started to scuffle, Happiness biting at his ears and letting out yips. The other inuyoukai seemed less enthused, trying to knock the other to the ground.
Kagome and the emotions exchanged pensive looks, hesitating.
Rin knelt on the blanket, opening the picnic basket in an unruffled, calm manner and taking a bite out of a riceball. Apparently she was used to this. "Would you like anything to eat?"
"No, thank you," Kagome said awkwardly, fixing her hair. If they all kept holding her like that she'd start expecting the real Sesshoumaru to hug her. From their seated positions she finally got a good look at the area, noting with a pleasantly surprised smile that Ah-Un and Jaken appeared to be dozing a little ways away under the shade of a tree. Even more perplexing, Kohaku appeared to be making a rabbit trap of some kind, sitting beside the dragon. He looked younger too, from what she could tell.
I guess Sesshoumaru bonded with him more than I thought. Though, Rin did tell me Sesshoumaru got his arm impaled while trying to save Kohaku. He must care about him. It's nice he's here, she mused.
Soon enough the two 'mature' inuyoukai's transformed back, Vanity very put out, hair a little puffed up like an angry cat until he smoothed the frazzled locks.
The more chipper of the two sat next to Kagome, eyes bright.
"I just want to remind you that we do need to leave as soon as possible since Repression is searching for me, but…" she eyed Happiness. He was still a part of Sesshoumaru and therefore held firm onto the things he valued. "We can spare a few minutes, to be respectful to you both as our hosts," she forced a smile, trying to be diplomatic. Miroku usually took care of negotiations. Impossibly warm eyes found hers and Happiness reached out, closing a hand over her own.
"You may stay as long as you wish, Kagome," he said in a quiet, reverent tone. Glancing away, her cheeks heated for the thousandth time. She kind of disliked that he could affect her so easily but the flutter in her stomach was undeniable.
Rin hurried over to Innocence, grabbed his arm while the other emotions sat down gracefully. The children chatted and Rin almost bossily insisted he play, dashing through the flowers. With a smirk, Innocence transformed into a smaller version of his usual true form, running after her.
Happiness chuckled, eyes dancing.
"I don't tend to visit your domain much," Lust hummed, lazing with Fantasy against his side. "It is nice, but a little sparse."
"Far preferable to mine," Sadness muttered while Vanity helped himself to opening up the picnic basket at the centre of the blanket.
Kagome turned to Sadness, "Ah, I remember you were in Repression's realm when we met. What's your place like?"
"It is a grey, ashen land…filled with marshes and blackened, fallen houses and armies."
Happiness poured Kagome a cup of tea. "How sullen. You should just stay with Rin and this one."
Kagome's eyes widened, a hand curling in his trailing sleeve. "Could he really stay? Innocence too?" She watched the little Sesshoumaru chase and play with Rin, giving small, excited yips. "I feel like I could breathe a little easier if I were leaving them somewhere like this."
Knuckles brushed against her cheek and Happiness hummed, lips curving. "Would that please you?"
"... Yes."
"Then it is done."
Kagome couldn't seem to stop blushing, wondering if someone had powdered rouge to her cheeks. This Sesshoumaru appeared so gentle and warm, practically the total opposite to Vanity, who loudly cleared his throat. "The contents of this basket are unacceptable. We do not eat human food."
Happiness rose a brow, tilting his head slightly. "That is true. We were not expecting guests. This one will go catch something. Kagome, it would please me to have you observe."
Kagome blinked owlishly. "Yeah? Okay, I'll watch."
Standing, Happiness lifted Kagome to her feet and turned, transforming into a bear-sized version of his true form and lowering himself, gesturing with his muzzle to climb on.
"Guess that means I'm coming with," she giggled nervously, glancing at the other emotions before lifting herself onto his silky back.
"Do not tarry too long," Sadness murmured, glancing at the skies with worry.
Kagome didn't exactly have much of a say- Happiness bounding into the air and clearing a good chunk of the fields with a single leap. Landing, he kicked up flowers behind them, running with short jumps that felt like playful bursts of energy. Kagome rocked back, grasping his fur quickly and finding her balance, hair whipping behind her. Despite Repression lingering in the back of her mind and the dizzying revelation of Sesshoumaru's feelings, she found herself giggling. When he leapt again, ears flying in the breeze, Kagome outright laughed. Happiness soon skidded to a stop, scenting the air. He then looked sharply in the direction of a grazing deer. Kagome noted a few rabbits in the glade but he didn't seem to notice them.
Sliding off his back, she patted his side. "Uh…do your thing."
With a soft noise, he sprang into action, racing over the fields and sending prey scattering. Kagome's eyes widened slightly. It looked chaotic. A flurry of action, violence and predatory instincts. Sesshoumaru's replica chased the terrified deer, muscles coiling and springing free. He sank glistening teeth into the deers hide with a vicious smile painting his face, claws scraping and body tossing the carcass beneath it. Kagome hugged her arms, swallowing. He enjoyed killing. That much appeared evident. Happinesses tail wagged as his jaws clamped around the deer's neck and twisted harshly, creating a sickening snap.
For her, killing remained unpleasant. A necessity considering the feudal era times. Feeling a little sick, she nonetheless forced herself to keep watching. Because this was just another part of Sesshoumaru. And if he felt that way, she wouldn't begrudge him for it even if she didn't understand. When everything finally lay still, Happiness lifted his head, maw bloodied from the hunt. Red eyes shone bright, ears perked and tail wagging.
'It would please me to have you observe.' Kagome clicked then.
Maybe, he didn't enjoy killing per se but hunting. Ethier way, Happiness wanted her to see and know he could do this. Wanted the acknowledgement.
Kagome raised her arm and waved. "That was really great!" She yelled, at a loss of what else to say but putting her heart into it. If it was important to him, it was important to her.
The inuyoukai tossed his head, proudly trotting around his prey and ignoring her now, but she could tell he'd liked the response. She shook her head, smiling slightly. "Murderous dork," she mumbled.
After he'd dragged the kill back, the Sesshoumaru's had briefly argued about the best way to eat it. Some had suggested that cutting the venison free into strips and eating from a bowl would be more civilized, others had wanted to eat it raw. Sadness expressed a desire to consume it away from Kagome's slightly horrified eyes. Finally, she'd waved her hands. "You just do your demon thing and I'll...go see what Rin is up to before we leave," she said, trying to hint again at their departure. Fantasy stood and joined her in their getaway.
Hurriedly walking through the fields of wildflowers, they noticed the children had stopped near Kohaku, all three children squatting to look at something in the grass.
"Wonder what they're up to," Fantasy hummed.
"No idea. Hey guys, what's going on?" Kagome peered over them, squinting.
"Ah, I was just showing Innocence another emotion. I'm in charge of keeping him out of trouble, so I put him in a box for safekeeping," Rin said proudly, picking the thing up and presenting it on her open palm.
Kagome gaped, letting out a long, gooey coo and clasping her hands close to her melting heart. A Sesshoumaru clone stood on her palm, glaring between the two of them and standing at about 10 inches tall. He's so cute and small and precious!
He then opened his mouth. "I hate you," the tiny Daiyoukai hissed in a small, angry voice. "This one hates all humans. You are vile, weak creatures and I would not hold back my sword for the sake of you if such vile worms were in my way."
Blinking, Kagome's eyes narrowed and she dropped her hands. "Is this hatred?" She asked flatly.
"Mmn...he's more like a different part of hatred. After Sesshoumaru started looking after me, this little one's been getting smaller and smaller!" Rin chirped. "I think Happiness called him Bigotry, whatever that means. He's cute though, is he not?" The child prodded him in the head with her finger, trying to pet him. She succeeded in knocking him a few times, making small growling noises ring out. Kagome noted his crest appeared to be a sickly, almost baby vomit inspired colour. Fitting.
"He is quite obsolete now." Kohaku observed, straightening.
"Totally. I like to think that Sesshoumaru subconsciously puts Bigotry under Rin's control because, well..." Fantasy grinned, watching while the small replica attempted to fly away, only for Rin to hug him tight. "Who can entirely hate humans when one of them is an adorable human girl?" She mused softly.
Wrinkling his nose, Innocence looked down at the ground. "It is true that we grew up hearing tell of human's powerlessness and greed. We were led to believe that Father and Mother felt the same, so we did not like humans. More often than not they were pests getting in the way. Only, Father then took a human woman as his..." he trailed off. "Well, as his. Things were thrown out of order. Father even perished for a human woman and Inuyasha."
"Yes, and so this one grew!" Bigotry snarled, red eyes glowing and trying to push against Rin's chubby cheek. She only snuggled him, harder. "This one stood as tall as the other emotions! Maybe taller. Now Lord Sesshoumaru has disgraced our kind by fraternising with, protecting and...caring for you humans," he sneered.
Kagome frowned and held out a hand toward Rin, who smiled and placed the prejudiced little demon onto her open palm. The miko then held him up to eye-level, "but now you're this small. Did you shrink because he stopped feeding you?" She smiled slightly. "I bet that's what it is. Like Rin said, you're this size because he started caring for her and other humans. He saved me, Kohaku, Miroku and Sango, even Inuyasha. He's not the same guy anymore."
He tossed his head, expression dark. If he were his usual size Kagome knew she'd wilt under such a withering gaze, but as it was, he looked too comical. "And yet I exist within him. So long as I do, this one hopes to dissuade him from any fanciful idea's or inclinations he may harbour against your kind. My presence should also deter any mortal women from wanting him as a mate." Bigoty sent her a pointed look.
Kagome gave a hum, thinking to herself. She then leaned down and kissed his cheek with an over-exaggerated 'mwah' noise. Letting out a hateful hiss, the demon shrank just a little more, vague panic flashing over his pale features.
"I don't like you," she stated flatly. "But, I'm going to talk to Sesshoumaru about all this, and...if...if something comes of it, I'd never be dissuaded from him just for his past beliefs. Maybe you'll always exist in him because you're such a part of his teachings and past, but so long as you don't control his thoughts or actions, I'm pretty much over acknowledging you when there's other, far more relevant and wonderful emotions going on inside him."
Bigotry opened and closed his mouth, lurching when Kagome passed him back to Rin and took Innocence's hand. "Come on, let's go bully those guys into taking us to Happinesses mansion."
Giggling, Rin turned and placed Bigotry back in his sleek wooden box despite his protests. Kohaku bid them goodbye while scratching Ah-Un behind the ears.
It was while they were walking back across the fields however, that Fantasy paused.
Blinking, Kagome glanced back to her. "Hey, are you al- Oh my God!"
Fantasy held a very, very pregnant stomach, looking down at it with barely any surprise. If anything she only looked awkward because of Kagome's horror. "Yeah- this happens sometimes when I'm inside Happinesses realm," she winced. "It's no big deal."
"No big deal?!"
"Ohh are they kicking?" Rin asked, also serenely unbothered by this magic two-second pregnancy.
"Not at the moment," Kagome's clone gave a little laugh, sobering. "Listen, Kagome...he just...daydreams about you like this sometimes. Haven't you imagined kids with Inuyasha or marrying him? It's kind of like that. Demons are just pretty enthusiastic about that stuff."
Kagome rubbed her forehead. "Maybe once I imagined it but not since we broke up obviously. And it's one thing to have random thoughts and another to see them so vividly like this."
It was kind of sweet if she held onto the fact that the bizarre situation had been caused by Sesshoumaru's impromptu daydream but nonetheless the imagery felt jarring. On top of the love reveal this felt like too much. Another thought occurred to her then and Kagome dropped her hand. "Wait, does he ever imagine what our kids could possibly look like?" She asked thinly.
Fantasy waved it off, "never mind that. Did you just say that you and Inuyasha broke up?"
Kagome messily tried to scramble together her muddled thoughts. "Of course we did. I told Lust that but he didn't believe me. I don't exactly know why Sesshoumaru thinks I'm still with him. Guess he didn't get the memo," she joked weakly.
Something squeezed her hand and Kagome jumped, looking down at Innocence. She'd forgotten he were even with them.
His brows were drawn together slightly, face otherwise a calm mask. Kagome squeezed back.
"This is big news," Fantasy was muttering. "Y-you need to tell Sesshoumaru right away!" She burst, eyes wide.
Before Kagome could answer, a violent gust of wind collapsed into her back, knocking the air from her lungs. She stumbled with Innocence, the boy grabbing her around her waist to try and steady them. The small group turned, looking up at the sky, Kagome's stomach dropped.
A huge inuyoukai plunged down from the clouds, bellowing out a deep, guttural roar from the depths of his chest. Immediately those searching eyes strayed over the emotions in the fields and locked on the two mikos.
Repression sneered, youki coiling around him as large jaws opened wide, soaring down towards them with single-minded intent.
Distractions could cause irreparable damage. Sesshoumaru knew this. Izayoi had been Father's distraction when facing Ryūkotsusei. This was why, when he found himself reclined against a tree and watching Rin dutifully make him a flower crown, ignoring Inuyasha's complaints, he'd allowed himself a brief flight of fancy; Kagome, a hand on her stomach, expecting their child. He could not say why. They were random imaginings, he told himself. The same as thinking about what house he'd build for her, what her body would feel like under his. It was becoming difficult and tiring trying to manage his thoughts and emotions in order to keep from exposing himself to her. Every fibre of Sesshoumaru's being wanted to tune into her.
But as stated, distractions could be fatal. Which was why the sting of complacency hurt him more than anything else when a swam of incensed sprites and demons clamoured over the hill to the East, heading straight for the village.
"What the hell?!" Inuyasha barked, eyes widening. "What are they- Shippo?"
Sure enough, what the swarm actually seemed to be doing was snarling and swiping for the little fox kit, who ran as fast as his legs would carry him. Sesshoumaru smoothly stood and turned to Miroku, "protect Rin," he said sternly, flying into the air without another word.
"Hey!" Inuyasha leapt up beside him, gliding in a graceful fall. "You're in no shape to fight! What if you start acting weird again because of Kagome messing around inside your head?"
Sesshoumaru sneered but the whelp had a point.
If the miko only served to be a distraction, he would simply have to block her out completely. Closing his eyes briefly, Sesshoumaru fed the desire to shut her away until this business was settled. Repression reigned supreme within his being, acting as a fine suppressant. The Daiyoukai barely paid it any mind, nor thought of the consequences of his actions while he drew his sword. Yes, he hated having no control. This way restored order.
Despite the familiar peace and quiet now softening his hearing however, Sesshoumaru couldn't help but feel a slight twinge of something unnamed within his chest.