Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha (at any age), his mother, brother, or travelling companions. Jaken and Toutousai do not belong to me either. I do own his cousin, Nekoyasha, her immediate family, and Tiro.
The title of this chapter is also a Jim Croce song. I don't own it either. Good song, kind of sad.
"Spoken"
Thoughts
::Action::
Chapter 23: Photographs and Memories
Shortly after Inuyasha left, Sango went over to Miroku. "Why do you think he was in such a hurry to get out here?"
Miroku pondered for a moment. It was the new moon after all. But not wanting to say that with Sesshomaru in hearing range, he simply said, "Well, you know how he gets when Kagome is not here."
Sango nodded. "He was probably worried about her. He wasn't happy that she wanted to go home."
"Actually, he probably didn't want me to see him in his human form. Even though I did live in the same castle with him for much of his childhood," came Sesshomaru's cool voice.
The couple turned their heads to look at him with shocked expressions. He gave them a questioning look. "There is no moon tonight, if I am not mistaken."
Miroku was the first to regain his composure. "Um excuse me, but if you know when his transformation is, why haven't you tried to kill him on those nights?"
Even though he knew he shouldn't give them an answer, Sesshomaru knew it would make their heads spin. "Where would be the challenge in that?" He walked away from the confused looking couple and into the house.
Miroku and Sango looked at each other. "Challenge?" they said together. Then they chased after the demon lord into the house.
*****
The shocks were not over for Miroku and Sango though. Everyone had settled down for dinner. Nekoyasha and Lotus brought it out. Miroku looked up at the women and gasped. He did not realize that the new moon had the same effect on Nekoyasha as well. In their human form, the cousins looked almost identical (except that Nekoyasha was much more beautiful than Inuyasha). It was easy to see how she could be royalty. Her constantly braided hair was midnight black. About the only difference Miroku could see was the eye color. Nekoyasha did not have Inuyasha's violet eyes. If her eye color in demon form was a beautiful clear sky, then that sky became stormy in her human form. It fit her though.
Miroku's thoughts were interrupted by a small voice asking, "Where are your ears?"
Nekoyasha laughed at Rin's question. Her own daughter had asked her that as had her grandchildren. "I don't have them tonight. Tonight I am just like you." She tapped Rin's nose with her finger.
Rin giggled. Then grew concerned. "Will you get them back?"
Nekoyasha kept her smile. "Don't worry. They'll be back the first thing tomorrow morning."
*****
After dinner, Sango went around looking at all the paintings. She came across Sesshomaru staring intently at one. She soundlessly stood next to him and looked at it as well.
It was the painting of the two boys. The younger one in red looking like he wanted to run toward something. But he was being held back the older boy who had a pained expression in his eyes.
Sango glanced at the inuyoukai. There was something in his eyes. Is that pain in his eyes? Sadness? Regret? Sango came to a realization. The boys in the painting were Sesshomaru and Inuyasha! There was a part of her that really wanted to ask him about it, but Sango valued her life. She wordless drew away and went in search of Miroku. I think Miroku has had enough time to meditate.
Sesshomaru was grateful that the demon slayer had not said anything. He didn't want to explain anything. Especially how this painting seemed to be affecting him. However a new presence came up beside him.
"It's not your fault," the soft voice said. Sesshomaru turned to her. The humans hadn't been the only ones shocked when Nekoyasha came in earlier. It had been a long time since he had seen either hanyou in their human form. While Nekoyasha grew into a beautiful cat hanyou, she also was beautiful as a human. She looked even more like her mother, which in turn meant she looked even more like his stepmother. He turned back to the painting. He remembered that day too well.
~+~+~Flashback~+~+~
Sesshomaru sat in the garden attempting to read his scroll. He could hear the children as they played. His friends had teased him about having to baby-sit. Well, Tiro didn't, but then Tiro also like children. In actuality, Sesshomaru didn't mind so much looking after his little brother and their cousin. But he couldn't let that be known, for he would be teased even worse.
Suddenly a cry rang across the garden. "Sessho no niichan!" Sesshomaru shook his head as he went in the direction of the voice.
He found Inuyasha standing at the base of a tree looking up in it. He looked up as well. Sitting in some of the upper branches was Nekoyasha.
She waved at him. "Sessho-kun, I climbed too high. I can't get down."
"And I can't jump that high," Inuyasha protested.
Sesshomaru smiled. This was not the first time it happened. He figured that it was Nekoyasha's way of trying to get him to play with them. He effortlessly bounded up in the tree. He grabbed the little girl and jumped back down.
"Neko-chan, one of these days I am not going to jump up and save you." He set her down. She giggled.
Then she tapped his leg and said, "Tag, you're it, Sessho-kun!" She and Inuyasha quickly ran away, laughing.
Sesshomaru was not going to fall for it. He went back over to the garden pond and went back to his scrolls. After a while, both children came out of hiding. They came up and sat down by him.
"What are you looking at, Sessho no niichan?"
"Star charts." Both of them looked on to his scroll. He started explaining some of them. Then when he had their full attention
He tapped Inuyasha's shoulder. "Tag you're it!" And ran off.
Inuyasha looked at Nekoyasha. "Let's get him!" They ran off after the older boy. They both caught him and brought him to the ground. When they got him to the ground they started tickling him. Sesshomaru was having some trouble fighting against two little kids. That was how they were when Tiro ran into the garden.
"Sesshomaru, come quickly! They're back! My father, the Lord of the Southern Lands, everyone!"
Sesshomaru rose and dusted himself off. "Did you see my father?"
"Ummm no. But I'm sure that he is there somewhere. Come on!"
"I can't carry both of them. Can you take Nekoyasha?"
Tiro nodded. He picked up the little girl. Sesshomaru picked up Inuyasha and together they ran through the castle to the grand hall. The whole castle must have been in there.
He saw his stepmother talking to a messenger. He put Inuyasha down and held on to his hand. Tiro did the same with Nekoyasha. They waited to be recognized.
All through the conversation, the Lady of the Western Lands' face grew darker and more worried. Then she fell to her knees sobbing. Her sister ran to her side and tried to console her. It suddenly hit Sesshomaru what was going on. His father was dead.
Of course Inuyasha did not know this. All he saw was his mother crying and tried to run to her. Sesshomaru put his arms around the boy effectively keeping him from going anywhere.
"Sessho no niichan, I want to go to mama!" Inuyasha cried.
Sesshomaru slightly tighten his hold. He shook his head. "Not right now, Inuyasha."
The Lady of the Southern Lands picked her sister up and started walking out of the grand hall. She stopped in front of Sesshomaru. "I am taking my sister to her rooms. Please look after your brother and my daughter."
Sesshomaru nodded and they left. Then the Southern Lord came up to him. The Neko youkai bowed low to him.
"Lord Sesshomaru, as you may have guessed, your father is dead." Sesshomaru numbly nodded. "May you rule wisely and fairly. You have much to do. I will take your brother. He needs to have a nap. I will join you as soon as that is done."
Sesshomaru nodded. He was still numb with shock. His father was dead. That meant that he he he was the Lord of the Western Lands.
The cat picked Inuyasha up and headed out of the grand hall. Sesshomaru notice that Tiro's father, a monk and Toutousai were with him. Toutousai? Why is he here? he thought for a moment. He was pulled from his thoughts by a small hand pulling on his robes. He looked down to find one of his father's vassals.
"What do you want?" he asked the vassal ruffly.
"Forgive me, my Lord. I am Jaken. I am to serve you now. Your fa- your advisors are waiting for you."
Sesshomaru nodded. He started to follow the toad like thing. Suddenly he stopped and turned around. "Neko-chan -"
"Don't worry. I'll look after her, my lord," Tiro said.
The words sunk into Sesshomaru's head. His best friend had just called him "my lord." This was going to take some getting use to.
"If you take her to the garden, don't let her climb any trees. She likes to climb too high." It sounded like his voice was coming from somewhere else.
As he was walking toward the council of advisors, he vaguely heard Nekoyasha say, "I want to go with Sessho-kun, Tiro-kun. Or Inuyasha. Where did they take him?"
"You will see both of them later, kitten. Come on, let's go."
~+~+~End Flashback~+~+~
"That was the day that I received Tensaiga and Jaken. That also must have been the day that the black pearl was put in Inuyasha's eye," Sesshomaru mumbled. Nekoyasha nodded.
"Let me make you a cup of tea. It is not good to dwell in the past." Nekoyasha placed her hand on his arm and guided him to the table.
"Then why did you paint it?" Sesshomaru asked gruffly.
The black-haired woman turned to him. "Because that image burned itself into my mind. It was one of the few times you showed that you cared."
*****
A/N: Muhaha. Not only do I leave you with a semi-cliffie last chapter, but I go to the other time frame and play there.
Sweetdaeth - Inuyasha: ::reads review:: When did I have kids to have grandkids? Kagome: You're male. You can't have kids. Inuyasha: Fine. When did you have kids? Kagome: Ummm... ummm... I'm supposed to be sleeping right now. And aren't you in a five-year-old mentality right now? ::runs away:: Inuyasha: Kagome!!! Yoshi: ::watches the fighting couple with interest:: No, I am not Inuyasha's grandson. Sorry.
Pori-Pori - I try to write fluff for them... but Inuyasha won't let me. There be some soon, I hope. But Miroku and Sango have some more coming.
Tiro: Hey, how come I did not get a description of what I look like?
Catleana: ::shrug::
Tiro: ::points at Yoshi:: He gets a description in the next chapter!
Catleana: You were in a flashback. Besides Nekoyasha, Lotus and Shinta didn't get descriptions until chapter six. Don't worry, I'll describe you. ::Gives him a big hug:: You're really cute.
Tiro: ::shakes his head:: I think there is a party somewhere ::Wanders off::
Catleana: Next chapter: We get to meet Yoshi and see Nekoyasha as an actor. Next time on The Healer.
