*no one belongs to me except Émigré. =^.^= okies?

Keep On Dancing

"I-It's you! Fluffy!" Rin ran to Sesshomaru and hugged his legs together as Kagome, Shippou, and Kaede looked up. Sesshomaru patted the tiny girl affectionately, purposely avoiding the gazes of Kagome and Kaede. "Where have ya been? Y'know Émi is looking for you?"

Kagome stood, brushing the dirt from her skirt. Sesshomaru sensed the anger pouring from her skin, noticed the fine trembling in which her entire body moved. "Rin-chan, go play with Shippou and Lady Kaede, I wish to speak to Kagome." Rin nodded and released him, skipping happily to Shippou. Kagome waited until Rin was out of hearing range, then glared at Sesshomaru. With all her strength, she slapped him. He turned his head and stared at the ground as she fumed.

"Who do you think you are, you bastard? You think after all this time, you can just waltz back into their lives?!? Where were you when Émigré cried for days- where were you when Mars was born? You made sure we heard you in your drunken stupor, the way you bad mouthed each one of us before leaving Émigré..." Sesshomaru could hear the slight quiver in her voice and the restraint she employed was steadily draining away. His cheeks flushed as he recanted the memories of his pointless anger... He had left the village and heard Émigré not to far behind, trying to catch up. He also tried to shove his retrospection back to the deep recesses in which they had retired. Shards of recollection in which he surrended to the hunger that overcame him when Émigré kissed him. He faced Kagome slowly, watching Kagome's anger replace itself with grief. "Émigré left us and there was no way I could let go without assurance of her safety, s-so I asked Inu Yasha to watch over her..." She was crying silently, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably. Sesshomaru pulled the weeping girl to him, hugging her tightly as she studdered. "I tried to stop her, but she said she had to search for you... Inu Yasha is gone... It's your fault! Inu Yasha is gone and it's your fault!" He held her as she cried. He wondered- was this the way Émigré felt when he left? This girl, Kagome, she usually kept a smile on her face and a temper that flared like the fires of Hell whenever Inu Yasha unintentionally angered her. Poor girl, did he force her to mature so suddenly?

Kagome pushed him away and sniffled. "It's been about four months since they both disappeared... I know Inu Yasha won't let anything happen to Émigré, that he's still alive... I can feel it..." She turned, motioning to him before walking. "Would you like to see Mars?" Sesshomaru nodded, following her to the house. They wandered past Kaede and Sesshomaru briefly paused and kneeled.

"Arigatou Kaede-san... Thank you for taking care of my family in my absense." She nodded in acceptance as her vision returned to the youngsters playing in the grass and Sesshomaru stood, following Kagome into the house.

Miroko acknowledged Kagome and Sesshomaru with a slight nod as Sango sang a soft lullaby to the cooing bundle in her arms. She paused and met Sesshomaru's inquiring eyes. "May I-?" he asked meekly. He knelt beside her and she carefully handed him Mars. He shifted his body until he was sitting cross-legged with the baby nestled in his lap. His hand touched the silky softness of Mars's cheek and he listened as the baby cooed in wonder. Mars grabbed his hand with tiny fists and tugged on Sesshomaru's hand with a strong grip.

"Has he been much trou-" Sesshomaru realized that he was alone with Mars, that they slipped out as soon as he held his son for the first time.

'My son...'

Mars... In mythology, Mars was the God of War, strong and powerful... He watched Mars in fascination, watched as he looked up to him with golden eyes so much like his own, but with the wisdom of his mother's. Mars had his mother's features, but were colored in his favour. Thick silver locks and golden eyes... his ears, however, were much like his half-brother's, Mars was half youkai, like Inu Yasha.

'Did my father feel this way about Inu Yasha? Did he love Inu Yasha's human mother as much as I love Émigré? He must have if he created the Tetsaiga... probably even more...'

"Ye know that evil known as Naraku still wanders, " Kaede's voice murmured in the quiet calm of the room. Sesshomaru nodded, his eyes never looking up. "Ye believe that 'Maru' should search there first..." Sesshomaru's ears perked.

That was Émigré's pet name for him, Maru...

"What do you know-" he looked up and sighed. Again, the room was empty. "Hn, everyone's a magician..." He looked at Mars again, his chest bursting with pride for this beautiful child was his... This is what Émigré wanted to share... but the feeling was nothing if she could not share it with him... Damn it...

Is she alright???