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CHAPTER 21 ; ; Lessons From a Dog and a Toad
Angel opened the red and white fan and held it high. She waited for Jaken to nod. At the little toad's signal she waved the fan and yelled. "Dance of Blades." Three blades of air cut across the clearing and hit a tree. The blades of wind left behind three deep groves in the old tree.
"Very good." Kagome and Sango clapped their hands.
"Go sis."
"Feh, you didn't knock down the tree." He laughed. Angel would never be a good fighter but at least he wouldn't have to waste time saving her.
"Inuyasha!" The honyou flattened his ears and whimpered. Kagome frowned but didn't sit him. The clever inu-honyou hid his smile. If he acted sorry then young miko wouldn't sit him. The night that they had almost made love had soften the modern girl and Kagome was reluctant to sit her almost lover.
Miroku leaned close to Inuyasha and whispered. "It's good that she learns how to use that fan. If Naraku or one of his minions were to attack then she will be able to defend herself."
Inuyasha nodded. Naraku's minions tended to attack Shippo and Kagome. Shippo was just a pup and Kagome was skilled with a bow and arrow but didn't carry a sword. Most demons thought them to be the weakest in the group and tried to kill them. Pagan and Angel were now the weakest members in their pack. The inu-honyou hated to admit it but if both the sisters and Kagome were in danger then he would save Kagome. 'Nothing will ever hurt her. Nothing!'
"Very good but you still need to focus your demon energy." Jaken's pride grew with each lesson. The winged honyou would NEVER be as skilled or as powerful as Kagura but she was HIS student and he took great satisfaction in her abilities. Sesshomaru travel around too much for Jaken to find any other servants. He alone was in charge of everything and even though the little demon knew that both Sesshomaru and Rin appreciated and relied on him, Jaken had nothing to show for it. Rin was a human and too young to learn how to fight and so Jaken's skills or knowledge wouldn't be needed…but now they were.
Shippo watched Angel learn how to use the demon fan and was fill with joy and sadness. He was happy because Angel was happy and would be safe but the fox cub was reminded of something from his past.
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The wind blew threw the trees and kicked up fallen leaves. Shippo watched his father sharpen his sword. The cub walked closer to the strong fox demon. "Papa will you teach me how to fight today?"
The fox demon laid down his sword and picked up his son. "When your older I'll have a sword made for you. It's very important for you to learn how to defend yourself. The wolf demons are greedy for land and we need to be ready in case they come here." Seeing his son's worried expression, he quickly sought to claim the cub. "Don't worry Shippo I won't let anything happen to you. No demon is as strong as me."
"Hai. You are the strongest demon ever. No one could ever defeat you." Shippo's eyes glowed as he thought of training to be a great demon, just like his father.
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His father was dead and no one would ever teach him how to fight. Tears filled his light brown eyes and Shippo hopped away from the group. Inuyasha saw the fox cub run away and smelled his tears. The inu-honyou quietly followed the fox cub. No one but Pagan saw them leave and her nosey nature made her grab her binoculars and follow.
Tears ran down Shippo's small face and he rubbed his little eyes. "Papa, I miss you." A hand on the top of his head startled him and the sad cub look up.
"Oi pup." Inuyasha sat down beside him and without thinking, Shippo jumped onto his lap. The inu-honyou looked down at the fox cub holding tightly onto his hoari and crying. He had no idea what to do. Kagome always looked after Shippo and tended the cub when he cried. Unable to stand the sound of Shippo's tears, Inuyasha wrapped his arms around the crying boy and rocked him.
After what seemed like hours, Shippo's tears dried and with a hiccup he faced Inuyasha. "What's wrong?"
"You wouldn't understand." The inu-honyou growled and with a sigh Shippo told him. "After papa died I swore to become a great fighter and avenge his dead. I stole a sword from a village and tried to learn how to use it but it was too big. I couldn't use it…I'll…I'll never learn now." The fox cub buried his face in Inuyasha's red hoari and let the inu-honyou comfort him.
'Poor pup.' An idea struck Inuyasha and he grinned. "Don't cry Shippo. One day you will learn how to fight and be a great swordsman. Not as good a fighter as me."
The fox cub looked up and grin at the older boy. "I could beat you."
"Feh, a puny thing like you. Never." Inuyasha stood up and carried the fox cub back to the manor house. He had a plan but the honyou needed to speak with Kirara and Sango first.
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"I wonder where Inuyasha went?" Kagome looked up from her schoolbooks. The inu-honyou had disappeared yesterday afternoon. Sango looked away and hope that no one noticed that Kirara was missing as well. The slayer had promised not to tell anyone about the inu-honyou's secret mission.
The slayer shrugged and changed the subject. "Rin and Shippo are getting alone." The adults looked over at the two children. Shippo had filled a basket full of flowers and given them to Rin. The human girl was teaching the fox cub how to weave the flowers into a crown. A crown of pink wildflowers sat on top of Kagome's head and Rin was making a crown of blue flowers for Sango. "He will be lonely when she leaves. Perhaps Sesshomaru will let Rin stay with us. He has been gone for three days."
"Lord Sesshomaru would never leave Rin with weak humans." Jaken growled. His student had left just this morning to 'sight-see.' Angel ow knew how to use her fan and felt strong enough to travel on her own. Both Pagan and Jaken were aggravated. Angel wouldn't listen to their warnings. Her attacks were weak and she wouldn't stand a chance in a fight.
Jaken had lost his student and there was no one around to praise and look up to the little demon. He took his unhappiness out on everyone in the room by complaining. Pagan and Angel hadn't been separated sins coming to Fudeal Japan and she worried that something would happen to her little sister. She dealt with her worry but pestering Miroku. She winked at the monk and licked her lips. The henti scooted closer to Sango.
'HA HA HA PLAN # 28; HENTI vs. HENTI (Chapter 10) is working perfectly.' It was the longest the only plan so far that had worked. Pagan's attempts to paw the monk keep him near Sango's side. Also it showed the monk what it felt like to be treated like a sex toy. The wise monk found it highly insulting. Plan # 28 wasn't the only thing that had helped to bring Miroku and Sango closer together. Shippo's plan to scar away the village girls had worked perfectly. No female would dare come near the monk. Sango didn't see him flitting with other girls and was being nicer to Miroku.
Kagome was also helping out Sango but she didn't know it. The henti had overhear the Miko telling the sisters about the lord that had proposed to Sango and promise to wait for her to return and become his wife. The modern girl also told them about the two young lords who had kidnapped them. Lord Seto kept trying to kiss Sango. Miroku's hand's clenched at the thought of another man touching Sango. The watchful sister had noticed this and told Shippo.
Pagan glanced over at the monk and slayer. They were talking about defeating Naraku and what would be the beat way to do it. Miroku said that he had a plan to defeat Kanna. Sango gasped and turned to demand that he explain his but stopped. The henti had reached out to brush some of her hair behind her ear.
"Your skin is as soft as silk." The 19 year old demon slayer blushed. "We have been in this house for days. Come walk with me."
The two walked along the path toward the village. Sango was glad to get away form Shippo and Kagome. They kept wondering where Inuyasha had gone off to and asking questions. The demon slayer had promised to keep the honyou's secret. A walk to the village with Miroku was the perfect way to hide from there questioning looks.
"It's a very lovely day." Miroku stepped closer the beautiful young woman and reached for her bottom. Sango flinched and struck the monk as hard as she could. Always she had refused to confront him about his behavior but today the slayer took a stand. She was tried of his flitting with other women while he claimed to love her. Everything that she and the sisters did didn't seem to work. Miroku would always be a henti.
"How could you? Don't you…I'm just another female body to you." Sango looked at the bright red handprint on his cheek. Tears of anger gathered in her brown eyes.
Miroku dropped his staff and grabbed her shoulder. "How can you say that." He shook her. "Can you not see that you mean more to me then my own life?"
Her lip trembled and she held back her tears. "You say you care but then I see you with another woman. You are ALWAYS touching and flitting with women. You just don't love me Miroku…you love ALL women. I want someone to love me. Only me. It is my duty to keep alive the customs of my family and I need a man who I can rely to be there with ME and not be out chasing women." She shoved out of his arms and ran toward the manor house and her sisters.
Miroku watched her run from him and thought of her words. He liked women. The way they spoke and the graceful way they moved. The gentleness of their nature and a woman's desire to care for others. Yes, he liked women but Miroku loved Sango and wanted her for his wife. Moishi had told him that a man only falls in love once.
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"Did he love my mother?" A ten year old Miroku asked Moishi. A girl refill the old monk's cup. Miroku's guardian nodded.
"Yes, Miroku. Your father loved your mother with all his heart. My boy, when a man fall in love it is forever and no other woman will do. Your father was the same way. He may have teased some of the young girls but he was never cheated on your mother. Even years after her death he still thought of her."
Moishi took a drink and hiccuped. He reached over and patted the boy on to of his head. "Just because a man's eyes stray doesn't mean that his heart dose. When a man is in love he surrenders his heart but not his…desire. When you're older you will understand. Ah, look at how many beautiful women there are. No rush to fall in love and find a wife. You're…hiccup… just a kid."
"One day I will break the curse and marry a beautiful lady."
"Ha ha, you sound just like you father. Pretty lady, come pour me another drink."
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"In my whole life no other woman has made me feel like this. I love Sango but she doesn't believe that. She doubts what I feel." Miroku reached down and picked up his staff. "Can I stop being what I am. Angel warned me that my henti ways would chase Sango away." Once again he looked toward the path she had taken. "What if I have already chase her away?"
Miroku felt as if a sword had been thrust through his heart. She had become his life, his entire world. "NO! I can't lose her. I need her. Forgive me, Sango. I don't know if I can change. You're the only woman I would change for. I will try. To have you as my wife I will change."
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"Inuyasha can't kill you now, Sesshomaru. From everything I've hear You're the one who starts the fights." Angel defended her say-brother. The lovers were lying in a field of wildflowers. The honyou's human days had passed and she had gone looking for her reluctant lover. Once again she had found him bathing. Their mating had been slow and sweet but afterwards Sesshomaru had become quiet and with drawn. Starting to bring the brothers closer together was the wrong subject to pick.
"He is to weak to fight me and win." The demon closed his eyes and let the wind cool his sweaty body. He hated to admit it but he like her. Angel had brought him great pleasure. She was a honyou and her blood was more human then demon but he enjoy speaking with her. Her mind was quick and she was very loyal. Yes, he like her.
"That's not why he can't kill you. It's because of what Miyoga told him. The flea told Inuyasha that you look just like your father. You are Inuyasha's only link to his dad. I know my little brother and he could never kill you. Oh, he might try but I don't think that he could go through with it. Miyoga also told us that your father was brave, strong, compassionate and did what he thought was right. That sounds a lot like YOUR little brother. Does Inuyasha remind you of your father?"
Upset, Sesshomaru stood up. He ignored the truth in her words and started to dress. "Do not think that you know what is in my mind because we have been together." He walked away.
"Hey, where are you going? Sesshomaru! Sesshomaru!" Tears filled her eyes. He stopped but didn't look at her. He was as still and cold as a statue. "You are my lover but Inuyasha is my brother. Family comes first. I'm sorry."
The demon lord walked away, wondering how a lowly honyou could inspier such loyality when a demon as powerful as he was alone. Sesshomaru felt as lonely and lost as he had after his father had died. 'I'm not alone. I have Rin and Jaken. They are my family.' The demon quickly shook off his weak feeling.
"This Sesshomaru needs no one."
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Kirara touched down outside the manor house. Inuyasha and the fire cat had been gone for five days. The honyou sniffed the air. 'Everyone is here. Fuck, Sesshomaru's back.' Inuyasha opened the open and let Kirara enter the house.
"Inuyasha, where have you been?" Kagome was pissed. He had disappeared without telling anyone where he was going. To make matters worst the inu-honyou took Kirara with him. 'He knew that I had a test and needed to go. He is so inconsiderate. At least Pagan was able to take me home.'
"Don't yell at me. Oi Shippo, here." Inuyasha held out a small sword. "Totosi made you a sword."
"You had Totosi make me a sword." Shippo's eyes widened and his bottom lip trembled. Everyone was staring at Inuyasha and the honyou felt uncomfortable. Kagome's eyes were soft and tender. Miroku and Sango was smiling. The sisters looked like they were going to cry. Rin clapped her hands together and Sesshomaru didn't react.
"You kept complaining that you didn't have one. Well do you want it?" The honyou waited for the fox cub to take the sword. Instead of taking the sword Shippo hugged him.
"Thank you Inuyasha." Shippo stepped back and took the sword from Inuyasha. "Will you teach me how to fight?"
"If I don't teach you then you might cut off your toe and Kagome will 'sit' me." The inu-honyou looked toward the miko to see how she would react to his statement. Kagome smiled up at him. Inuyasha loved it when she looked at him like that, her brown eyes glowing with love, it made him feel as if he could defeat Naraku. "Come on pup."
Inuyasha grabbed the fox cub by his tail and carried him outside. "Sesshomaru-sama can I go outside and watch them?"
"No."
"Go outside in this cold. Where is your brain girl?" Jaken sat down sat to the human child and looked at her half-eaten plate of food. Jaken knew that without the fox cub to play with, Rin would wonder over to Sesshomaru. The moment the girl walked over to demon lord Jaken gobbled down the child's food.
"Sesshomaru-sama can I learn to fight too?"
""You're a human Rin. Humans are very weak. There is no point in teaching you how to fight." A gasp from a pissed off slayer lightened Sesshomaru's mood. Sango's hands tingled with the desire to show the arrogant demon how well a human could fight.
"There is no need for you to learn how. You are under Lord Sesshomaru's protection." Jaken hoped up and down at the thought of little Rin waving a sword about. The delicate child could hurt herself.
"If I knew how to fight then I could protect you and Sesshomaru-sama." The girls in the room were touched by Rin's words. Jaken was insulted. He did not need a human to protect him.
"That is so cute. She wants to be a great swordsman, just like her father." Pagan pulled a napkin out of a pocket and blew her nose. Angel nodded and Kagome couldn't contain her smile. The miko could just how Inuyasha's brother felt about being called Rin's father.
'Nana? Sesshomaru has never denied it. When Pagan or Angel says that he is Rin's dad, he just sits there and says nothing. Why dose he allow Rin to travel with him. Rin told me about when she first met Sesshomaru. He was injured and she brought him food. Dose he feel in her debt? No saving her life would have paid it back. Right! I don't know. Miroku might know. I should ask him. Inuyasha is so torn up over Sesshomaru's care for a human child. Poor Inuyasha.'
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"Baka, be careful. That sword is sharp." Inuyasha frowned at Shippo. "Keep both hands on the sword's hilt." The honyou withdrew his sword and stepped in front of the fox cub. "See. Follow my movements. Very good. Try to cut down this bush in one try. Put more muscle in it."
The little fox cub was unskilled and waved the sword around like a flag. Inuyasha grinned at Shippo's attempts to cut the bush. The pack had wondered outside to watch the honyou teach the cub how the wield a sword. Miroku wondered if anyone else noticed that Inuyasha was missing one of his fangs.
"Lunch is ready." No one moved. Pagan frowned. 'Ok my cooking isn't as good as Kagome's Or Angels but they better eat it. Everyone loves tacos. Don't they?' The winged honyou waved her winds and the gust of air knocked everyone over. "Like I said before, Lunch is ready."
Everyone filed into the manor house except for Shippo and Inuyasha. The fox cub hopped in front of the inu-honyou. "Thank you Inuyasha."
Uncomfortable with praise, the honyou shrugged. "Feh, you don't have a dad to and…come on. I'm hungry." Shippo didn't move. Just because Inuyasha and Kagome weren't together didn't mean that they couldn't be his parents.
"Did you ever want to have kids, Inuyasha?"
"Honyous don't have pups."
"Angel and Pagan are honyous. Their mother was a honyou. ALL of their grandparents were honyous." Shippo kept his eyes cast down.
"What are you saying?"
"I don't have a dad anymore and little kids need a dad so…would you…well…Ah…can I…" The demon cub's little fox foot kicked a rock.
The hungry honyou could smell the food and grew impatient. "Spit it out already."
"Will you be my dad, Inuyasha? PLEASE?" Shippo's bright eyes stared up and the shocked inu-honyou. Inuyasha didn't know what to say or do. Tears gathered in the cub's eyes as teenage honyou remained silent. "Forget it." Shippo ran off into the forest but Inuyasha was quicker and caught the cub.
Inuyasha sat down with the little cub in his lap. The honyou wiped away the little fox's tears. "So you want me to be your dad." Shippo's bottom lip trembled but he didn't say anything. "Shippo, answer me." After a moment the orphan cub nodded.
The first time Inuyasha had thought of becoming a father was when Kikyou spoke of becoming his wife. Never before had he dreamt of pups. The lonely honyou had spent most of his life alone and he had eagerly jumped at the opportunity to become a husband and a father. Things were different now. Kikyou was dead and wanted to drag him into hell and the shard was in pieces. Maybe, just maybe he could still have want he wanted. A place where he belonged and a family of his very own. The orphan honyou would start his family backwards, first a pup and then a mate. Shippo would be his son.
"O.k."
Shocked eyes stared into happy eyes. "Dad." Shippo wrapped his arms around Inuyasha's neck and hugged him. "Dad." A sound caused the new father to look up. Kagome stood several feet away watching them. Her brown eyes were thoughtful and wet.