A/N: A couple of people got in a review or two since my last update: kokoronagomu and Aldana ruth, so thank you. Only one more chapter after this. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Inuyasha characters, manga, anime, movies, etc. They belong by copyright laws to Rumiko Takahashi et al.
One Hanyou Too Many
Mama's Got Style
Inuyasha was back to perching on the castle wall when morning came. He was restless, still unable to fully believe that Naraku was dead. It was more than a little embarrassing that Sesshoumaru's mother had done in one afternoon what they couldn't in months. Then again, it sounds like she'd been planning this whole thing from the start. Including somehow getting he and his half-brother to do something besides fight when they were in the same place.
"Perching like a cat again, I see."
"Careful, Kirara's taken sentry somewhere nearby. I don't think she'd like your tone." The nekomata was a little upset that she hadn't had much time to spend with Byakko. Apparently the two knew each other from way back.
"Your feline companion does not scare me," Sesshoumaru stated. A hiss from said companion reached his ears.
"Is there a reason you're out here this early?"
"I thought perhaps your miko would want this," the demon lord said, holding out a crock of something. Inuyasha gave a discreet sniff has he jumped down, the scent of berries filling his nostrils.
"Keh, she's going to be over the moon. You're really putting yourself out there."
"Mother deserves a little of her own medicine. This is a harmless enough prank."
"That's what Byakko said. We're leaving as soon as she takes that rosary off of Miroku."
"I would advise you to do so. The further you get away from here, the better your chances. She will track you down."
"She'll come for you too. Maybe force you to go through that wedding she seemed so keen on."
"Hn, she knows better than to push in that direction." Sesshoumaru turned to leave, intent on rounding up his entourage. "By the by, your slayer's brother wishes to travel with me. He does not feel comfortable facing his sister just yet."
"Kinda figured. Don't worry, we'll come find you when we have the answer for his shard. Just take care of it, and him in the meantime."
"It will be as you say," his brother replied and left the half demon to go find his priestess.
"Well, looks like you and Sango will have to do without Kohaku for little while longer, Kirara. Wanna come with me to give this to Kagome?" The nekomata jumped down and over to him, taking a perch on his shoulder. Inuyasha wandered through the castle, amazed that he didn't feel threatened.
Sango answered the door to their room, lifting Kirara off of his shoulder and giving her a hug. "Is he really going with Sesshoumaru?"
"Yeah, but you don't have to worry. Sesshoumaru may be a first-class jerk but if he says he'll take care of him, he will. It might be good for him to be around Rin. She's got a lot of life in her; maybe some of it will rub off."
"True." It was hard to trust another with her beloved sibling, especially Sesshoumaru. Until recently he'd been an enemy just as much as Naraku had been.
"Now then, where's the wench?"
"Right here," Kagome cut in, pushing him out of the way as she came back from the bathing chamber. "Will you quick calling me wench already?"
"Keh, maybe. Here you go, gift from Sesshoumaru."
"Really?" she asked, dropping her things onto the vanity so that she could take the crock. Lifting the lid, Kagome went over to the window so that she could see its contents. Giving it a cautious sniff, she giggled when she realized what it was. "I have just enough conditioner left too. Remind me to thank him."
Her friends look at her while she got things out to mix the berry paste in with the conditioner. Sango let Kirara go, picking up her own things. "What are the others doing?"
"Don't know. Miroku was sleeping when I left, and the runt went to beg in the kitchen. How the monk can still sleep after all this…"
"He's emotionally exhausted," Kagome interjected, carefully adding the paste to the bottle. "Finally getting rid of the curse must be something he'd only dreamed about. It can really put stress on you mentally dealing with something like that. He's not in pain either. Miroku has never told us exactly what it felt like to have that in his hand."
"Sucking poison in nearly killed him each time," Sango mused.
"Plus all the negative energy he picked up. He'll never be a pure holy man, but he is human. Guess I'll let him sleep awhile longer. It'll give the half demon body he still has one last chance to heal any damage." Inuyasha went to leave, nearly jumping out of his skin when Kagome gave a squeal of delight. "What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing! Smell this," she demanded, shoving it under his nose. "It's not too strong, is it?"
Beautyberry filled his nose, along with hints of futuristic conditioner. "It's strong, but I doubt it'll make her suspicious."
"Excellent. Sango, would you take it with you?"
"Sure." The slayer left the two alone, carrying the bottle of conditioner carefully. The last thing they wanted was for a spill to happen.
"Exactly how does that work?" Inuyasha asked, watching her throw a thin chopstick out of the window. Beneath their room was a rocky cliff so it wasn't like anyone would find the evidence anytime soon. And it would rot naturally, leaving nothing behind.
"Conditioner is put into the hair after you wash it. It stays for several minutes before you rinse it out. This will give the stain time to really sink into her hair, fur, or both. It's a quick way to dye your hair if you're just looking for a change or for a costume. Japanese don't really approve of dying your hair for the most part, but people in other countries do it a lot."
"Is that why your friends think I'm a foreigner?"
"Well, that, and a delinquent." Kagome blushed and looked back at the crock. She placed the lid back on carefully and made a mental note to take it to breakfast. Maybe the staff would have something they could eat it with so that they could destroy the evidence.
"Keh. You need help packing?"
"Nope. Here, take this to breakfast. We'll try to eat the rest of it."
"That schooling does come in handy once in a while," he commented absently.
"Does that mean I can go home now without you complaining?" Kagome asked hopefully.
"Don't be stupid," he shot back.
"Didn't think so."
The Honorable Mother sat amongst her family eating breakfast. The children were quiet, and no one seemed to be inclined to speak. Her fellow generals had left a dawn, taking a small pack to eat on their way home. "I have an announcement to make," she declared suddenly. Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha's heads shot up, the brothers exchanging looks of horror. The demon had not been able to make a quick escape.
"Who are you planning to kill this time?" her son asked.
"No one. I just wanted to let you know that I intend to go on holiday. As you were all here, I thought it best to let both of you brothers know."
"Will I be going too, Mother?" Yukari asked.
"Nay, child. There is much you have to learn. Your teacher will not let you go with me, unfortunately. Besides, you must stay and guard the Wheel of Time."
"The what now?" Inuyasha asked.
"The Wheel of Time. Only dog demons can see it, along with its wielder, a spirit. It has taken up residence in my front yard and I cannot let it go unwatched. This is the perfect opportunity to test Yukari's skills."
"Her skills," Inuyasha said dubiously. "Hope those don't include her sense of direction because it sucks."
"I could have found my way," Yukari protested. The rest of the group looked at her pointedly. "Eventually."
"As she will not be going anywhere, no," the Honorable Mother answered. She'd have to get the teacher to go over the basics again.
"You must get someone new to teach her to fight. Rin would have bested her had I not stepped in," Sesshoumaru remarked.
"She would not have!" his sister denied loudly.
"Have to agree with Sesshoumaru," Inuyasha said, as much as he hated to. "You didn't use any of your powers."
"Oh. I forgot."
"Keh. Had it been Kohaku or one of us, you wouldn't have stood a chance. Are you sure you want to leave things in her hands?"
"For only a brief time. I must rest and rejuvenate myself. There is another battle on the horizon I'm afraid."
"Someone else after the Shikon no Tama?" Miroku asked.
"Possibly, but if my calculations are correct, they will be far more interested in the Wheel of Time."
"Kirinmaru and his sister," Sesshoumaru guessed. His mother's frown was a giveaway.
"Yes. Shinkō brought me whispers from the north. Zero has hidden herself away there for now but the moment she knows that you are awake, Inuyasha, she may come for you. She despised your mother and blames her for Toga's death. By extension, she blames you. Her brother Kirinmaru hates half demons even more than Sesshoumaru did. One killed his only child."
"I guess we should speed up looking for the rest of the shards," Kagome mused. "At least now we shouldn't have any problems finding them." She gazed at the bauble around her neck. "There can't be any more than three or four, including Kohaku's."
"What would happen if they got the Wheel of Time?"
"They would open it, and go either back in time to save Rion, Kirinmaru's child, or to the future to take it over."
"We can't let that happen," Kagome announced. "Humans in the future don't know how to defeat demons. At least I've never encountered any that do."
"Perhaps we should make preparations, Kagome," Sango said. "Kohaku and I can search for people who would make good slayers while we travel. Hopefully by the time these demons make their move, we'll have some trained back-up. Miroku needs to focus on his spiritual powers now that the wind tunnel is gone."
"Indeed." Miroku, once more human, flexed his right hand. The Honorable Mother had yanked the rosary off when he came to breakfast, the change back to normal swift.
"That is why I need to rest. I cannot expend myself twice in so little time. Sesshoumaru, I want you to keep your ear to the ground while you wander. At the first sign that either of those demons are back, return here at once."
"As you wish, Mother."
"Oh, speaking of self-care," Kagome started. "I left partial bottles of shampoo and conditioner in the bathing chamber. You should use them to relax with before you start your vacation. The conditioner smells of beautyberries so I'm sure you'll enjoy it."
"That is kind of you, my dear."
"Just make sure you leave the conditioner in for at least five minutes. Your hair is a lot tougher than a human's so it might take a little longer to sink in."
"I will do as you advise." The dog demoness smiled at the priestess, glad that they hadn't started to worry about new adversaries too much. She doubted Kirinmaru or Zero would appear in the next few years, but it was better safe than sorry. "Now then, you'd best finish eating. It is a long way from your village and I'm sure there are people worried about you."
"Lady Kaede will wish to know of Naraku's demise," Sango said, the others nodding in agreement. "You should probably tell your mother too, Kagome."
"That's right. She's going to have a very special dinner guest soon." The Lady of the Moon smiled meaningfully at the humans.
"I'd hoped you'd forgotten."
"Nonsense, dear. Naraku's dead, there's nothing to worry about now."
Kagome smiled, hoping that the worry was out of her scent. The Honorable Mother thought there wasn't anything to worry about now and she was right. However, the moment Mama was told that she'd put dye in the demoness conditioner… Well, that was another story.
She was fish food then.
The inutachi parted with the others after breakfast, and slowly made their way off the mountain with Kirara's help. They put as much distance as they could between the Castle in the Sky and them, knowing that they would be in for it the moment the Honorable Mother found out what had happened to her hair.
Inuyasha carried Kagome as long as he could, both he and Kirara not stopping until they had no choice. That night they waited, wondering just how long it would be before they were found out. The campfire that night was kept lit, each taking a turn to keep watch.
One never knew what lurked in the dark.
The Honorable Mother used the shampoo and conditioner that night, delighting in the scent, even if it was a bit strong for her nose. She followed Kagome's instructions carefully, adding a few moments due to the length of her hair as well as the toughness. The demoness didn't pay any attention to what was happening and rinsed it out without bother to look in a mirror or at her hands.
It wasn't until she was readying herself for bed that she discovered what had happened to her pure white locks. A maid had just given her a note from Byakko, something the other woman had been told not to give her until she'd bathed for the evening. Intrigued, the inuyoukai opened the rice paper note and snarled after reading,
They say a cat's revenge takes seven lifetimes, but really, we just wait until the right idea comes along. You might want to check your hair.
Pulling off the towel, she nearly shrieked by what she saw. Various shades of purple had replaced the white, and she couldn't stop the whine that came out when she noticed that some of her fur had gotten dyed too.
"Those naughty, naughty children." She knew darn well who the mastermind of this was. Kagome had been far too interested in what type of berries she'd used on Byakko's tail. It should have tipped her off. "Clever, miko. Well, my dear, I'll just have to have a word with your mother, now won't I?"
That was after she gave them all a fright.
A giant inuyoukai attacked them about midday the following afternoon. Inuyasha was the first to sense the danger, Kirara catching on swiftly. They took up battle positions and waited until his stepmother appeared. She struck hard, nearly landing on Inuyasha paws first. The inutachi stared, the purple fur with a white streak making it hard to concentrate. "Eh… Honorable Mother?" the half demon questioned, not sure what to say. Sesshoumaru's mother snarled, foam starting to form around her teeth.
"Oh, dear," Kagome said. The dye had worked better than she could have imagined. Her hair and fur had not only changed to purple, but it had also changed to more than one shade of purple. "Whatever happen to you?" she asked, trying to sound concerned.
Shippou didn't bother hiding his amusement, the fox cub rolling on the ground laughing. Tears poured down his cheeks and he was having a hard time catching his breath. "Someone got you good," he said, at least remembering not to admit guilt.
"My lady," Miroku began. "Perhaps you should return to your humanoid form so that we can speak. I'm afraid most of us do not understand inuyoukai."
"She's pissed, Miroku, I don't think that needs to be translated," Inuyasha called over his shoulder, jumping out of the way of some poisonous acid.
"Yes, well, wouldn't you be?" Kagome asked, still trying for innocence. Gold eyes narrowed on the priestess and the schoolgirl gulped. The jig was clearly up.
The Honorable Mother did as Miroku suggested and returned to her normal form. "Enough is enough. I know who's responsible for this. Was Sesshoumaru in on it too?"
"Yes," Inuyasha said, throwing his sibling into the fray without a second thought.
"I see. Just how long can I expect this little change to last?" his stepmother asked through gritted teeth. She'd think up a fitting punishment for the older boy later.
"Umm… I don't know. By the looks of it, maybe two or three weeks," Kagome guessed. She hadn't thought the paste would work so well.
"I see," she said again.
"On the bright side, you're all set for vacation. I hear people sometimes try out a different style while on a vacation. This could be a whole new look for you," the priestess tried.
"I have always been stylish," she informed them.
"Of course," Kagome agreed weakly.
"Hn. We shall discuss this later, young one. I am off to rid myself of this mishap and will think of something fitting for punishment while I am gone. Prepare yourself." Her warning delivered, the demoness left, leaving fear in her wake.
Kagome looked after her retreating back before slumping to the ground. "I'm so dead," the miko whispered.
Sango, who had wisely kept her mouth shut through the whole thing, knelt beside her friend. "I don't think she'll try to harm you," the slayer reassured.
"I'm not worried about Sesshoumaru's mother, I'm worried about mine. Mama likes a good joke, but I don't think this will be one of those times. If the Honorable Mother shows up before I get home, you'll know what'll happen, don't you?"
"No," the others echoed.
"I'll get grounded. Lose my privileges. Even if she doesn't stop me from coming here for a while, she'll make sure I can't bring things back."
"Things?" Shippou asked. Maybe now wasn't the time to mention that he had gotten a picture of the Honorable Mother with that little camera thing Kagome carried.
"Things like candy," the priestess began.
"No!" he responded in horror.
"Or potato chips," she continued.
"I would mourn the loss," Miroku admitted.
"Or magazines," Kagome mused, knowing several of her friends liked those even if they couldn't always read the words. "Or worse yet…"
"Worse than no candy?" Shippou squeaked.
"No ramen," his caregiver sighed.
"What?" Inuyasha shouted. "Let's go, wench. We gotta get you home so you can explain things before that woman shows up. I'm sure your mom won't punish you once she knows the whole story." The half demon picked her up, bag and all and ran ahead of the others. They had to return to the future before the Honorable Mother made it to the shrine.
He couldn't survive without ramen.