Chapter Eleven:

Reunions

The twins were now five months old. Sesshomaru had a hut built near Kaede's in the village, telling his mate, "We will stay here until I can find Rin and Jaken. We will decide where to go from there." Sesshomaru remained home the first month of his children's lives, and then began the search for Rin and Jaken. For four months he searched.Every morning he would leave, and scour the countryside, searching far and wide. Every evening he would race home to his family having found nothing.

This evening, Sesshomaru walked to his home where his mate and children awaited him. He heard an extra voice inside. Ah, Kagome came to visit Madeline and the children. She is their aunt after all, and I'm glad she does stop by. Madeline and the children love having her over. Sesshomaru pulled the hanging door aside to see Madeline holding InuTaisho and Kagome holding Yume. Both children smiled at the sight of their father, and he returned the smiles to them.

"Any luck today, my love?" Madeline asked.

"None, little one," he sat on the floor near Madeline, and saw Yume lean away from Kagome, her little arms reaching out for her father. Kagome sat Yume on the floor and let her crawl to her father.

"I don't know why I bothered reading all those child development books! My children are half demon! None of it applies!" Madeline laughed.

InuTaisho turned in his mother's arms to look at his father. "Dada!" he babbled and little InuTaisho also crawled into his father's lap.

Kagome chuckled, "I won't know what to expect when InuYasha and I have a child. They learn so much faster than human children."

"I'll be grateful if they can be potty-trained a hell of a lot sooner than human children. The sooner I don't have to wash diapers, the better!"

The girls laughed at the thought while Sesshomaru held and played with his children. But their laughter was cut short by an earth-shaking "BOOM!" followed by screams.

Yume began to cry and InuTaisho growled and his hair stood on end. "Madeline! Kagome! Take the twins and head for Kaede's hut! Now!"

They grabbed the children from his lap and ran for the door. They neared Kaede's hut with Sesshomaru hot on their heels, "Get inside and stay there no matter what you hear! I mean it!" He had already drawn Tokijin. Sesshomaru ran towards the commotion, dodging fleeing villagers. A large demon stood near the outskirts of town, shouting, "Give me the priestess who can see the shards of the Sacred Jewel!" The villagers brave enough to stand against the demon fired a volley of arrows but they glanced off his foul, leathery hide like toothpicks.

Sesshomaru landed in front of the villagers, facing the demon, and calmly stated, "Begone, weakling! You disrupt my home with your petty whining."

"Pest!" the demon spat, "I shall crush you for standing in my way!"

Sesshomaru leaped at the demon, and with one swing of Tokijin, he cut the demon's left leg off. "Die!" The demon fell to the ground, howling in agony. The demon's cries were halted by the voice of a newcomer, "Feel the power of the staff of skulls!" and the demon was engulfed in flame.

Rin, trailed closely by Ah and Un, came running to Sesshomaru. He had been so focused on killing that demon before it could harm his family that he didn't smell Rin and Jaken coming.

"Lord Sesshomaru! We found you!" Rin shouted happily. She had grown a lot since the last time Sesshomaru saw her. Jaken came running shortly after, screeching, "Milord! You have returned from the well unscathed!"

"I have been in this village for nearly seven months. There is much I need to tell you both."

"What did you find in the well, my lord?" Rin asked.

"That is what I have to show you, Rin, now come along." He led them to Kaede's hut.

"Sesshomaru? Is that you? Is it safe to come out now?" Madeline shouted.

"Yes, little one. It is safe now. Jaken and Rin have found me and came to my aid."

Jaken could not help but ask, "Lord Sesshomaru, who was that?"

Before Sesshomaru could answer him, Madeline came out of the hut holding the twins. Yume immediately reached for her father and Sesshomaru took Yume into the grasp of his arm.

"She always wants you after she's been frightened. She's a daddy's girl," Madeline sighed.

Rin's eyes were as big as saucers and Jaken's jaw dropped.

"Rin. Jaken. This is Madeline, my mate. She is holding our son, InuTaisho, and I am holding our daughter, Yume."

Rin was overjoyed, "Lord Sesshomaru! You have a wife!" She walked over and bowed to Madeline, "Pleased to meet you, Lady Madeline."

Sesshomaru led them all back to their dwelling and told Rin and Jaken the full story.

Jaken was at first quite distraught by his lord taking a human mate, but once hearing the tale and seeing the change it had brought to his lord, he accepted it gladly hoping to no longer suffer abuse and further sword experimentation. "My lord, it is an honor to be blessed with such a mate and two fine children. It would be my honor to carry out my duties and serve your family," he bowed to Madeline, "My lady."

Rin suddenly became a little downtrodden. "What will become of me, Lord Sesshomaru?"

"Madeline and I have discussed this many times. Rin, I have taken care of you since the Wolf Demon Tribe attacked you. I will not turn my back on you now. I have come to think of you as a daughter. Would you accept Madeline and I as your parents, and the twins as your brother and sister?"

Rin almost exploded with happiness.

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That night there was much to celebrate. Sesshomaru and Madeline had a gathering to announce and honor the newest member of their family. InuYasha and Kagome embraced Rin as their niece. Miroku and Sango welcomed Rin and let her know to call on them if she ever needed them. Myoga appeared and acknowledged her (and tried to bite her, but Sesshomaru's reflexes were too good).

Halfway through the festivities, all conversation was interrupted by InuYasha shouting, "What did you say?"

Kagome whispered in his ear again, and InuYasha smiled then fainted.

"Kagome, what's the matter?" Madeline asked.

Kagome blushed and smiled. "I'm pregnant."