Kitsunehime: The thing about summer is, logically, one has plenty of time to do things. Realistically, one is hit with the summer laziness, lethargy and whatnot. TTTT

Shippou: The reason this chapter's so late is a long story, starting with finals.

Kirara: Mrrreow. (translation: And then she forgot all about it afterwards. TTTT;;)

Kitsunehime: Gomen ne . . . Xx

To Rule the Darkness

ch. 39: Of Explanations and Friendships

"Princes Inutaishou, Sesshoumaru, and Koryu. Did you know of this situation beforehand?" Rin, the Queen, demanded.

"Yes," Inutaishou answered. Koryu nodded.

"You also, Prince Sesshoumaru?"

"I was not aware of it until now, but even if I had known, I would not have reported it."

"Explain," she said icily.

"Even if it was Lady Kikyo's fault entirely, there would still be suspicion directed at Prince Inuyasha. Perhaps even from Lady Kagome."

Rin's eyes narrowed. "I would have explained it to her."

"But would words have sufficed?" Inutaishou intervened. "I have seen this kind of suspicion tear apart many strong relationships."

All was silent for a moment.

"Additionally," he added. "It's not mere coincidence Kikyo went after only Inuyasha."

"Simple. She liked his looks."

He shook his head. "No. If it were looks alone, Sesshoumaru, Koryu, and I would have been targeted too. And, depending on the btch's tastes, possibly even Fahleing. No, there are deeper connections than that."

Everyone looked at Inutaishou curiously. "How so?"

"How shall I put this . . . Kikyo's had past connections with Prince Youko. He served in her court seven or eight years ago."

"What has that got to do with anything?" Rin demanded.

"The similarities in appearance," Koryu realized.

"If it were that, then how do you explain all the other look-alikes here?" she retorted scathingly.

Sesshoumaru winced. "My Lady, not quite. It must be the ears, which only Inuyasha has."

"So Fahleing is chopped liver?"

"Ah . . . no. If Kikyo hasn't gone after Fahleing, then we know where her tastes lie."

" . . . And the point of this is?"

" . . . My Lady, I believe that is the point."

Rin turned her back to them all and stared out the window for a bit. "You are dismissed," she said abruptly. "Except for Prince Sesshoumaru."

"What was that about idiots' balls?" Fahleing sputtered at Miroku. "What collection?"

Miroku whistle innocently as if he hadn't said anything.

Sango rolled her eyes. "Stupid."

Kagome laughed, then sobered. "What happened in there before we came in?" she asked quietly.

All four of them were currently walking in one of the courtyards, just to get away from the dining room.

Sango shrugged, while Miroku suddenly found the dirt under his feet extremely absorbing.

Fahleing just glared at them both. "Sure, leave the dirty work to me, will you . . . Bunch of morons."

Miroku found the dirt so fascinating, that he threw off his shoes and began to wiggle his toes in it. "Ah, the feel of fresh dirt!"

Sango gave him a dirty look. "You're overdoing it."

"I am? Aha ha ha ha ha ha . . . . Overdoing what? What ever are you talking about my dear?"

" . . . Babbling fool."

"Well?"

"Ehh," Fahleing began hesitantly."Ano . . . Kikyo's a bitch, is basically it."

"Very detailed explanation. We all knew that already."

"Etoo . . . well, Kikyo decided she wanted to bleep Inuyasha, so she started chasing him all over the place . . . So he finally snapped and tried to kill her?" Fahleing finished sheepishly.

"Look, sorry you weren't informed earlier, but Inuyasha didn't want a fuss," Miroku finally said. "He tried to take care of it himself, but . . . . "

"Take care of it how?"

"By telling her to f off," Fahleing stated bluntly. "Look, sugar, this is why we didn't want to tell you. He wanted to take care of it quietly so you wouldn't get upset. He has absolutely no intention of complying with the btch, so relax."

"Erm, he even said he'd commit suicide before sleeping with her," Sango offered.

"Kagome, please. Just don't rip into him too badly when you talk to him," Miroku said. "I suspect that Rin's already taken a huge chunk out of his ego."

"Run! I'll hold them off!"

"I'm not leaving you behind!" she screamed.

"You can't fight right now! Just take him and run!"

Too late, neither had a chance to flee.

An hour later, the forest meadow and surrounding trees were bathed in blood and bits of bone.

In the garden, Rin shivered. Sesshoumaru put an arm around her.

"What's wrong?"

"It's nothing. Felt a chill all of a sudden, that's all."

"If you say so, love," he replied.

"It's the first time you've called me that."

"Is it?"

She was silent for a spell. "I'm sorry for yelling earlier," she said quietly.

"I believe Inuyasha and Inutaishou need that apology more than I do."

". . . . Sorry . . . "

"I'm not mad. Why were you so angry though?"

"Because . . . . "

Sesshoumaru waited patiently.

"Because . . . because he could have been hurt! Because he should have reported it! Because — "

"But he didn't get hurt. We already explained why we didn't report it."

He held her while she cried for a while.

"Rin, perhaps you should have Kikyo leave," he suggested.

"She is here on business," she mumbled. "But yes, I'll put a limit on her time here. Until next week sound good to you?"

"Right now wouldn't be too soon," he grumbled as he nuzzled her neck. "But, we shall abide by your wishes, love."

Kaede was hiding in the library after the incident with Kikyo. Not that she had anything to hide for, but being Kikyo's sister, she thought it might be best if she stayed out of sight for a bit.

'They have such a large collection,' she thought, wandering among the shelves and picking up a book or three to read. 'Unlike ours, at home.'

The collection at Kaede's home, in Belden Mor, Chaillot, was actually Kikyo's. Over the years, as the rumors of Taint and general mistrust spread, the books had disappeared one by one. Creeping down to the kitchen for a midnight snack one night, Kaede overheard Kikyo talking to a bookseller. It was discovered that she had been selling the books for money to keep her throne, when challengers began appearing.

"Hi, looking for something?" A voice called out.

Kaede spun around in surprise. Two young boys stood in front of one of the glass shelves.

"Need help?" The freckled one asked. "I'm Kohaku, and he's Souta."

"Uhm . . . I'm Kaede. I'm just looking around, but thanks."

"If you want something to read, I can get you something," the one called Souta offered eagerly. "I'll be right back!"

"Ah . . . but you don't have to . . . " Kaede said weakly.

"But he wants to," Kohaku said. "We can look at them together."

"But . . . "

"What's the matter?"

"Well . . . We've only just met . . . and you're already so friendly . . . " Kaede hesitated.

"So you don't want to be friends?" he sounded disappointed.

"No! I mean, yes, of course I want to be friends! It's just that . . . Back at home, no one's nice . . . And anyone who is, they might be mean and in disguise . . . "

"It's not like that here!" Souta exclaimed, having run back from the farther shelves with an armload of books. "You can trust us, cross my heart and hope to die."

A few hours later, Inutaishou was going out to put a few books back on the library shelves, and came across the young trio asleep at one of the tables, with a pile of open picture books before them. He smiled quietly to himself, and brought them a blanket.

"I really do wish us adults could get along as well as you children do," he said softly, and then slipped outside.

Some fluff, some sweetness, and (I hope) some humor. That wasn't so bad . . . Now if only I can keep on task. TTTT Once again, I apologize profusely. bow I've decided, for now anyways, that art is more important to me. After this fic is finished, I'll be taking a bit of a break from fanfic writing and concentrating more on art and web design/programming. Thanks so much to all my readers and reviewers, I luff you all! hugs

Until next time, Ja!