Chapter 27
Explanations
The tension in the room could be cut with a spoon. Sesshomaru and Rin sat on the couch, Kagome in one of the chairs. All three waited for one of the other's to speak first. Inu Yasha's eyes darted from one face to another, his temper flaring, as he perched on the edge of the chair he occupied. The only inhabitant of the room not effected by the tension was Kenmaru, who lay calmly on the floor, his feet kicking as he colored. Finally, Inu Yasha's tightly coiled patience snapped, "Would someone mind explaining to me, why I am positive that necklace is mine, Kenmaru is certain it's his father's, and why it's around Kagome's neck?." He growled.
Sesshomaru and Kagome exchanged glances, then she began to speak. "Well, Inu Yasha, on my fifteenth birthday I was..."
"I don't care about your fifteenth birthday right now, Kagome. As fascinating as that might be right now, I want to know about that necklace," Inu Yasha interrupted.
"Perhaps I should explain," Sesshomaru began. "To begin with, you were encased in a crystal, and buried in a lava flow for five hundred years..."
"Look, I don't want some long drawn out explaination. Simple and direct works just fine for me." Inu Yasha said. He watched as once again Sesshomaru and Kagome exchanged looks. "Is there anyone in this room that can give me a simple, direct answer to a simple, direct question or not?"
Rin smiled, "It's easy, Inu Yasha. That is your necklace. Kenmaru is your son. Kagome's wearing it because you gave it to her to give to your child if it was a girl."
Inu Yasha leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his hands clasped together, the knuckles whitening. "If, as Sesshomaru says, I was encased in a crystal and buried in a lava flow for five hundred years, then how can I have a seven year old son? According to all the paperwork that you've handed over, my name is Inuyasha Kagemusha. Kenmaru's last name is Shinwa."
"Well, actually... you don't have a last name. For that matter, neither does Sesshomaru." Rin explained, "You see during the Sengoku Jidai, very few people had last names. Well, youkai certainly didn't. But to function in today's society, a sur, or last, name is necessary. Sesshomaru chose Kagemusha from a story. It means "shadow warrior". Fits him, don't you think? Well, when Kenmaru was born, Kagome was unaware of the chosen family name or that an identity of Inuyasha Kagemusha had been created for you and your pup. As soon as we learned Kenmaru had been born we went to the hospital. Which, there is a whole other story there. Can you imagine the doctors wanting to ...." at the frown on Inu Yasha's face, she returned to the main subject, "Well, imagine our surprise, when we arrived to discover that she had given you the last name Shinwa, or "myth". So, lots of money and red tape later, Inuyasha Shinwa existed. A plane crash was invented to explain your or rather his disappearance. Inuyasha Shinwa has been listed as missing. Sesshomaru even has documents prepared saying that either Inuyasha Kagemusha changed his name to Shinwa, or the other way around, whichever you prefer, naturally."
The room was silent as Inu Yasha thought over what he had just learned. "OK," he said after a few minutes. "Got the name part, think I understand that. Now, how did I sire a child seven years ago if I was encased in a crystal?"
"That's why my fifteenth birthday is so important." Kagome said meekly.
Kenmaru had gotten up and moved to stand beside Kagome, "Mommy?"
Resting his head in his hands Inu Yasha sighed, "Let's hear it. Why is your fifteenth birthday so important?"
"Because that was the day I discovered that the old dry well was a portal to the past. Five hundred years in the past, to be exact. To The Warring States Era."
"Mommy?" Kenmaru chimed again a little louder.
"Say what?" Inu Yasha said incredulously.
"So you see, little brother," Sesshomaru summarized, "It is quite possible for you to have sired a child who is seven years old, and still be encased in a crystal and buried in a lava flow for five hundred years."
"MOMMY!" Kenmaru yelled. "Yes baby?" Kagome asked. "Is Inu Yasha really my Daddy?"
With a smile, she nodded, "Yes baby, Inu Yasha is really your Daddy."
A bright smile lit the boys face. Running over to the very confused hanyou, Kenmaru threw his arms around Inu Yasha's neck. "Daddy." He said as if his declaration would make it more official.
Inu Yasha hugged Kenmaru close to him, then the words finally sank in. He straightened pulling Kenmaru onto his lap, a hand going to stroke the silver white hair, "My pup?" he questioned softly, his eyes meeting Kagome's.
"Hai, Inu Yasha, your pup. Kenmaru looks just like his father, only he has my eyes." She watched as Inu Yasha rose and moved down the hall towards his room never releasing his hold on Kenmaru. She followed watching, as Inu Yasha sat the boy down before the full length mirror on the closet door. Watched as both of them looked in the mirror, gold eyes comparing them, tracing the line of the cheek bones, the set of the jaw, the shape of their noses.
"My pup." Inu Yasha finally said, pulling Kenmaru into a fierce hug. All the comments made during the many shopping trips by so many different people. How well behaved his son was. What a sweet boy he had. What a handsome son he had. All that time, others had seen what he couldn't. Then one thought over rode the others, he no longer had to worry about someone coming to take the boy away from him. "My pup." He whispered choking back a sob.
With a smile, Kagome leaned against the door frame and watched them. Father and son, for the first time realizing their relationship. She listened as Inu Yasha repeated the only phrase he seemed capable of at the moment, "My pup." Only to be answered by Kenmaru's sweet voice saying "Daddy."