Sesshomaru's Untold Secret

Sesshomaru didn't look at the others as they entered the peaceful village. It was the same village that Kikyo and Kaede had grown up in, and where the doomed lovers met. Though Sesshomaru and Inuyasha were on opposing forces, they had agreed to travel with one another. Aerith, discovering that Sesshomaru had housed a kodomo and appalled at the news, had left them that same night. After he retrieved Rin, and planned to search for the secret eh had housed for so many years, but Kagome had insisted that they help, pitying the demon despite all that had happened. Kaede's village was closest to where they had been, and they had decided to stop and rest there. Kaede walked over to them calmly.

"Kagome, Inuyasha! Sesshomaru!"

"It's alright," said Kagome quickly, stepping forward. "We're helping him to find someone. But for now, can we stay with you? It will only be for a night or two."

"Of course. Follow me."

That night, Sesshomaru paid little attention to the beautiful landscape that stretched out before him. Instead he looked down at the tiny village in the light of the stars, standing in the very spot that Kikyo had awaited his brother with the Sacred Jewel of Four Souls some fifty years ago.

His pointed ears twitched at the soft sound of footsteps behind him. he swerved sharply to his left, but not in time to escape the edge of a sword against his right arm. Baring his teeth, he faced his opponent. It was the demon Kazuhito. Beside him stood Kikyo, whom had an arrow notched and aimed at his heart. Kikyo's voice lacked emotion as she spoke.

"There you are," she snarled in disgust. "Sesshomaru, I have been searching for you…"

"And now you're going to kill me?" said a slightly amused Sesshomaru with a chuckle. "I'd like to see yo try. I have bewitched my sword to only obey me. you cannot use it to bring yourself back, only those of my blood can. Even if I do die, you cannot use it, Kikyo, and Inuyasha will not use it on you either, so your only choice is to let me live."

Kikyo lowered her bow, and Sesshomaru relaxed a little. This was a mistake, as he knew suddenly, because when Kikyo turned back from her departure, raising her bow and notching the arrow. He felt a terrible pain in his shoulder, and everything slowly went black.

Everything around him was dark. He could make out varies sounds, but he couldn't recognize where he was. Sesshomaru's eyes fluttered open, but he squinted at the sudden nausea that filled him. he turned his head to take in his surroundings, unsure if moving his body was a safe action. He was lying on a futon in the room of a small cabin. He was propped up by pillows, and covered in a thick blanket. Next to the bed was a stand, and there was a bookcase near the shoji door, dust gathering on its shelves. He looked to his wounded shoulder, and was surprised to see a bishouji was tending to it with delicate fingers.

The beautiful young girl's hair was flowing, and dark, tied back by a ribbon at her hips, with some poking out at the end, swaying together as she moved. She wore a white kimono with flowers all up and down one side. A silver, half-crescent moon earring caught his attention as she brushed her hair behind her left ear. She didn't look up at him as she spoke, her voice light and melodic.

"So you have awoken, I was worried that they arrow really had pierced you heart." She sounded relieved by this.

She finished bandaging his shoulder, and smiled as she looked up at him, her hands in her lap. He gasped softly in complete astonishment as he looked into her eyes. They were a soft, peach color! The same as his daughter's!

"Tell me what your name is!" he said urgently, clasping her hands in his. He let out a soft grunt as his shoulder moved suddenly, but his face was sure.

"Me?" she said softly, surprised. "My name is Momo, sir. It means peach. My mother named me that because of my eyes. Who may you be?"

"You can call me Sesshomaru," he said, tensing up a little more. "Do you live here?" There was a certain pleading in his voice, and Momo answered a little hesitantly.

"Yes," she replied slowly. "But it's not my house. It is the Lady Kaede's. I found you, out there on the cliff out looking the village, and brought you here to tend to your wounds. The others are still asleep. I did not want to wake them. Tell me, what happened?"

"It was nothing," he said flatly, lowering his hands. She looked at him with those pleading eyes, and he gave a sigh. "Don't worry about it. Does, your mother live here also?" She hesitated and frowned at this, adverting her eyes to her fiddling hands in her lap.

"I am afraid not. She died when I was one. Kaede raised me. Pray, tell me, why do you want to know?"

"No reason. And…your father?" She looked up at him sadly.

"My mom said he was a great warrior, who died protecting us and our village. But it was too late fur village, so she came here, with me."

"I see…" Sesshomaru gave a deep sigh.

"You should get some sleep."

She got up to leave, graceful as her delicate hands gathered her kimono skirts, stepping lightly to the shoji door. But she stopped to look at him at the door, and gave a curious tilt of her head at his words.

"Why did you help me?"

"You were hurt," she put simply, nodding. "I couldn't just leave you."

"Even though I am a demon?" he persisted.

"Why should that matter? You were hurt, and could do me no harm. Good night, Sir Sesshomaru." She left, closing the door behind her.

"Good night, my peach."

The next day, the demon lord found that the young girl, Momo, was busy cooking in the kitchen, scrambling something around in a pan. She looked up with a smile as he entered.

"How are you feeling this morning, Lord Sesshomaru?"

"fine," he said flatly with a nod.

"Good:" she said cheerfully. "The others are with Kaede in the sitting room. The food will be ready soon, if you would like to go on ahead."

He nodded, and she promptly went back to cooking, more vigorous now. He halted a moment as he watched her, slightly amused. Her tongue pointed out of the side of her mouth, and her face determined. She gave a sneeze, and he watched as her nose twitched. He gave a slight chuckle before continuing on into the next room.

Sliding the shoji door open into the sitting room, he was surprised to find that they were all there. It was rather early, but the thought only remained for a moment. They all sat on large pillows in a circle, sipping tea calmly. The younger brother looked up as Sesshomaru entered.

"What happened to you?" he snapped.

"Not of your business, dear brother," he retorted sharply. As if catching himself, he shook his head. "Kaede, may I speak with you?" He looked around at the surprised faces. "Alone," he added flatly.

"It's alright," said Kaede, turning to the others.

With little mumbles, the group got up one by one, and filed into the kitchen, Miroku closing the sliding door shut slowly behind him. as it closed, Sesshomaru turned back to the elderly priestess. He sat down on the pillow across from her.

"I supposed that you know that I am Momo's father," he pt simply.

"Indeed, I do," she replied in her calm voice, nodding. "Have you told her the truth?" Sesshomaru shook his head slowly.

"You told her that I died defending her and Hinoki, and the village we lived in. I will leave it at that, at least for the moment."

"So what are you planning to do?"

"She doesn't know she is a half-demon, does she?"

"No," said Kaede flatly in a form voice. "Her mother asked me not to tell her. she looks human, so let her think that she is."

"What about the full moon? Does it affect her, like it does Inuyasha?"

"Yes, but I put sleeping powder in her tea, and then lay her in her room for the night. I do not want her to see what she looks like as a demon, nor do I push anyone else to…"

"The full moon…it is tonight?"

"Yes," she said with a nod. "She is happy, Sesshomaru. She is happy not knowing. Please, allow her to remain this way, and be gone with you."

"I cannot do that," he said simply, closing his eyes as he rose to leave. He didn't look at Kaede as he strode by her. "You cannot hide the truth from her forever, Kaede."

Momo watched the sun set from the pond's edge, where she crouched, waiting patiently. She looked over her shoulder, and stopped drifting her finger in that water as she saw who was smiling, a smile breaking out on her face.

"Lord Sesshomaru!"

Getting quickly to her feet, she gracefully walked over to him, and gave him a deep bow. Her voice was light, and cheerful, despite the fact that it was getting late, and it was doubtful that Kaede wasn't worried.

"You don't have to do that, Momo. There is something I feel you should know."

"What could it be, Lord Sesshomaru?" she asked innocently as she straightened.

"I am your father, Momo."

The young girl's eyes went wide with fear and shock. But then the young girl chuckled, as of it were a joke. She didn't believe him. But Sesshomaru knew this would happen.

"Don't kid around, Lord Sesshomaru."

"I am not kidding," he said flatly. she stopped chuckling and stared at him hard.

"No," she uttered softly as if the words stung her lips. She shook her head. "Kaede said that my father had tried to save me and my mother, and our village…no way are you—"

"The demon didn't except you Momo," said Sesshomaru softly. "You and Hinoki had to leave, else…"

"You lie!" she bellowed at him.

she pushed pat him, heading for the stairs up to the house, but Sesshomaru grabbed her by the arm before she could get far, and swung her around to face him. Momo struggled, but was unable to free herself. Sesshomaru looked to where clouds parted to reveal the moon. He looked back at her, and Momo's eyes went wide in her fear. The demon lord could hear her heart pounding fiercely in her chest, threatening to emerge at any moment.

"What are you going to do?" she asked fearfully, dreading the worst.

"Something I should have done fifteen years ago…"

Raising the first two fingers of his right hand, he lashed out suddenly at the young girl's forehead. There was a startling light and pain coursed through her head. She let out a painful, high-pitched yell as she forced her eyes closed.

Next moment, Momo was on the ground, clutching her forehead as the bright light peered through her fingers, lighting the area around her, and making her skin appear almost white. She began to change. Her ears became pointy and long, her fingernails became long and red like the shade of blood, and a silver crescent moon appeared where Sesshomaru had lashed out at her. she no longer wore the kimono that the villagers had given her when she had become a priestess. Instead, she wore a black shit with yellow bordering, a red belt, and puffy, white pants that gathered at her knees. Her hair had become loose, and silver, and the moon on her earring was upside down. Around her wrists were strange wristbands, with long, thin, shiny blades running along that backs of her hands, and pointing out past her middle fingers.

She shook horribly as she pried her hands away from her face. She gulped nervously as she saw her hands, and then recovered her eyes. She began to shake even more.

"No! I am not a demon! I am a human! A human!"

"Momo…"

Grabbing her by her forearm, Sesshomaru dragged her over to the pond. She resisted at first, pulling back and struggling to get to her feet vainly. He forced her to her knees at the water's edge, so she could see her reflection.

"There. see, you are my daughter."

FIN