Chapter 28: Christmas Eve: Death Strikes the Family
Christmas time came again and Kaori got Sesshomaru to catch snowflakes on his tongue on Christmas Eve. They both went out to buy presents for each other and were each very secretive with the presents. Sesshomaru couldn't wait to give Kaori her present.
It seemed Kaori's parents had given the house to Kaori and Sesshomaru and moved into a different house. Kaori's parents were planning on visiting for Christmas that year and Kaori couldn't wait. She was about to go upstairs to get ready when the phone rang. Sesshomaru picked it up almost immediately and told Kaori it was her mother. Kaori got the phone and greeted her mother.
"Dear, we need you to come down to the hospital now. It's your father. He's been in an accident," Kaori's mother said. Kaori hung up and hurried to her room to get some clothes. She told the news to Sesshomaru who got her out of there almost immediately. Sesshomaru remembered the way to the hospital and was there in no time.
Kaori's mother was pacing back and forth in the waiting room.
"Mom, what's going on?" Kaori asked.
"They've taken him into surgery," Kaori's mother said, embracing her daughter and crying on her shoulder. "They don't think he's going to make it."
Kaori gasped and rubbed her mother's back. Sesshomaru held Kaori's shoulders.
They waited in the waiting room for hours, but there was no information yet. Kaori and her mother fell asleep and were resting when the doctor walked in. Sesshomaru shook them awake and the doctor was stuttering. Kaori's mother burst into tears before he finished.
"We had some trouble with his lungs. They kept collapsing and we continuously had to keep him breathing off of the machine. He has approximately three hours to live," the doctor said. Kaori hung her head, but didn't let any tears fall.
"May we see him?" Sesshomaru asked since the women were not in shape to asked.
"Yes, but he might not respond much," the doctor said and Sesshomaru helped Kaori to the room. Kaori's father laid in a bed, his eyes slightly closed.
"Dear, Kaori," Kaori's father coughed.
"Don't speak, dear," Kaori's mother said, taking one of his hands. Kaori took the other. Both were now crying.
"I've had a wonderful life, dear. No need to cry. It's my time," Kaori's father said.
"But why?" Kaori asked. Sesshomaru rubbed her shoulder.
"It's just my time. I need to move on," Kaori's father coughed. "I just want to say I love you two so much."
Kaori held his hand tighter and let tears hit his bed. Sesshomaru was also experiencing sadness.
"Sesshomaru, take care of them. I believe you were like a son to me. Protect Kaori, all right?" Kaori's father asked. Sesshomaru nodded. He kept trying not to cry.
"Kaori, my sweet Kaori. We had a beautiful daughter and even got to see her marry a wonderful man. I've had a wonderful life with my family and I will always be watching over you," Kaori's father said, looking at Kaori's mother.
"And my little Kaori. Have a wonderful life with this young man. I'll be watching over you and your kids," Kaori's father said and coughed. He coughed again and again. The machine next to him went dead and his hands went limp.
"Daddy!" Kaori cried.
Kaori's mother was too sad too cry out. She just let the tears fall. Kaori cried as hard as her mother. Sesshomaru shook his head and quickly wiped his eyes. He had to be strong for them.
"Mrs Uzuha, you have to leave," a nurse said, placing delicate hands around Kaori's mother's shoulders. Kaori's mother nodded and Sesshomaru helped Kaori get up. They parted outside of the hospital. Kaori hugged her mother and they shared a few more tears. Sesshomaru patted Kaori's shoulders and watched Kaori's mother enter her car.
Sesshomaru carried Kaori home and found she fell asleep crying in his arms. He laid her in bed and covered her up. While passing her desk, he saw a small teddy bear. Reading a small note attached to the ear, it said, "from your daddy."
Sesshomaru smiled and put the teddy bear in Kaori's arms. He saw her squeeze it greatly and left the room and sat on the couch. A sad time for them. It brought back the memory when he found out his father had died. He wasn't there to see his father die or hear his last words and remembering he had told his father to give him swords for more power, he felt stupid. He brought Tenseiga and its sheathe out and looked over it. He rested his eyes, sitting on the couch with Tenseiga to his chest.
Kaori woke up with the precious teddy bear her father had given her for her birthday in hand. She smiled and rubbed her face into the fake fur. She hugged it while getting out of bed and heading downstairs. She found Sesshomaru holding Tenseiga with his eyes closed.
"You all right?" Kaori asked, sitting down next to him. His eyes snapped open and smiled.
"Yeah. Will you be?" He asked. He remembered being devastated when he found the news and needed to take a break from Jaken. That day, he had trashed a place he stayed at often. He broke bottles and glasses and plates.
"Yeah. Just need some time," she told him. He brought her in for a hug and took in her scent. She really just needed someone there and he was going to be there for her.
Sesshomaru put Tenseiga back on his belt and hugged Kaori tighter.
"Can we go somewhere? Everything here reminds me of him," Kaori told Sesshomaru.
"Yeah, sure," he told her.
She was already dressed somewhat warmly and Sesshomaru went upstairs to get dressed into the clothes he wore when he went to the past. Kaori followed him and watched him get changed. She just didn't want to be alone. He understood that and held her in his arms while he travelled to the past. He decided it would be nice to take her to some close friends and kept her in the village. She talked to some friends while he checked up on Rin and Jaken. While he stayed in Kaori's time, Rin and Jaken would spend their time in the village. Jaken hated that he would miss out on all the fun that would happen in the future, but when Sesshomaru helped Kaori into the village, he was happy he didn't follow.
Jaken knew not to make one comment this time, seeing that Kaori was upset, causing Sesshomaru to be upset. If he made one wrong comment, he would be absolutely a goner. Rin sat in the corner pulling at petals of flowers that she had kept over the winter. She was overjoyed when Sesshomaru returned, but he didn't look joyful or angry. To Rin, he looked sad, but Jaken opened his mouth and said Sesshomaru did not have any feelings. He was just glad Sesshomaru was preoccupied with Kaori and didn't catch it.
Rin gave Kaori some roses and hoped she felt better. Kaori thanked Rin, but later cried into Sesshomaru shoulder. She cried most of the day and it was mostly while Sesshomaru was with her. Rin thought maybe something Sesshomaru did made her sad, but Jaken told her that Sesshomaru loved Kaori and would not make Kaori sad. That was a good comment and Sesshomaru did nothing but rub Kaori's back.
Near nightfall, Sesshomaru told Kaori he was going out to get something to eat. She was fine with that, just as long as she wasn't alone. Jaken and Rin weren't the best of company compared to Sesshomaru, but it was still nice to have someone around.
"Lady Kaori, why do you cry?" Rin asked.
"Rin, don't be nosey!" Jaken yelled.
"It's ok, Jaken. My daddy died yesterday," Kaori said.
"My mommy and daddy died on the same day. I had no one until Lord Sesshomaru came around," Rin said. "You're lucky to have Lord Sesshomaru and your mommy."
"Rin, thank you," Kaori said, ruffling her hair.
"What for?" Rin asked.
"You're always positive," Kaori complimented.
"Oh, boo hoo. You both lost your parents. My parents have been dead for quiet some time," Jaken sighed, crossing his arms and leaning back with his eyes closed. "You don't see me upset about them."
Jaken opened his eyes to sobbing and "shh"ing. Sesshomaru had returned and was trying to calm Kaori down. Jaken saw that Sesshomaru was glaring at him.
"My lord, I really-" Jaken started.
"Master Jaken, be quiet before you regret it," Rin said, crawling into her furs to sleep.
Jaken was silent, but he already knew he had said too much. Just from the look in Sesshomaru's eyes, he knew that Sesshomaru had heard what Jaken had said about their parents. With the fact that it made Kaori cry again didn't make matters any better.
Kaori fell asleep later that night, but Sesshomaru made no attack. It made Jaken that more scared. Kaori cried in her sleep as well, but it was more tears than sobs. The sobs broke Sesshomaru's heart, but she had to go through it. It was part of life. He had to go through it as well with his father.
The next day, Kaori was feeling a lot better and even wanted to do some travelling. Sesshomaru wasn't sure she was ready, but she was nearly pulling him out of the hut.
"Come on! Let's go have some fun!" Kaori told him, pulling at his sleeve. He wanted to make an excuse so they could stay one more day, just to make sure she was all right, but he had nothing. He just barely got her bag and followed her outside.
"So, where are you planning on going?" Sesshomaru asked.
"I don't know. You know everywhere in Japan, as you said a year ago. Where's a romantic, quiet, secret place that's beautiful?" Kaori asked.
He had the perfect place in mind. He gathered her in his arms and headed north. She always went east or west, but never north. She sighed as she enjoyed the scenery.
He landed almost immediately in a place that made Kaori gasp. She was lowered to the ground and she was in awe at the place. A huge waterfall was in front of her that led to a hot spring. A bed of beautiful daisies were to the side and trees and bushes kept the place hidden.
"This is magnificent!" Kaori exclaimed. She turned and saw Sesshomaru rubbing her hand. This is the place he had stayed when his father was killed. He had since redone the cave that was located behind the waterfall and cleaned up the glass, but that was many years ago. He hadn't returned since his father's death of fear that it would resurface the memory.
"We'll stay here for a while, if you want to," he told her, leading her to the waterfall. She was curious to why Sesshomaru would want to walk through a waterfall unless he wanted to get wet. "We'll being staying in the cave behind here."
Kaori smiled and Sesshomaru showed her a small passage that allowed them to stay dry while passing through to the cave. She looked around the cave and found it somewhat homely. She found one set of furs to the side and smiled. Guess they were sharing a bed while they stayed there.
"Make yourself at home... To an extent," he told her, walking ahead of her.
"May I go out and gather some flowers?" Kaori asked.
"Why would you want to get flowers?" Sesshomaru asked, looked at her while he got a box out from under a wooden table. He regretted it instantly. "Do as you wish."
Kaori tried to get through the small passage, but failed miserably. She sighed and shook her hair a little bit while heading over to the bed of daisies. She found beautiful yellow and white ones and sniffed them in. They were her favourite flowers, unless they were blood red ones. It was rumoured they killed anyone who picked them in a day. She touched the petal of one and smiled at how silky it was. She decided not to pick any and rested under a tree. She let a few tears fall at the thought of her father.
A man hid in the bushes, watching her. He had saw her at the flowers and caught an instant attraction to her. He finally got the courage to walk up to her when someone called out a name. The woman (Kaori) looked to the source of the sound and smiled, standing up and hurrying that way. The man sighed and headed back to his village. It wouldn't be wise to be staying out in the forest after dark.
Kaori went running towards Sesshomaru who was calling out her name.
"What's the matter?" Kaori asked.
"There was someone nearby. I don't want you to wander too far, understood?" He asked. She nodded and took his arm as he took her back to the cave. Kaori found some armour laid out in the middle of the cave.
"What's this for?" Kaori asked.
"I was just looking through to see if anything was missing," he told her, kneeling down to inspect it. Kaori followed next to him.
"Is anything?" Kaori asked.
"Not that I can see," he told her, gathering the armour and putting it back into the box. "Now, did you get any flowers?"
"No. I didn't want to pick them and ruin them," Kaori said, leaning back onto her hands.
"I see. What should we do then? There isn't much to do around here unless demons are foolish enough to come near here," he told her.
Kaori smiled and lightly raised Sesshomaru's sleeve. She ran her fingertips down his arm slowly and delicately.
"I have ideas," she said.
"I'd like to hear them," he told her.
"Well, we could train," Kaori said while her hand touched Sesshomaru's wrist. It stopped to rest on his hand. "Or what you like to do the most."
"Attack Inuyasha?" Sesshomaru asked.
Kaori laughed and moved to sit behind him. He looked at her from the corner of his eye. She wrapped her hands around his waist and rested her hands on his sash.
"No, you can do that without me. But what can't you do without me?" Kaori asked.
Sesshomaru smiled and allowed her to have her fun with him. He barely had to move most of that night, but had to in the morning. He sat up, exposing Kaori. He smelt a human that had come closer than normal. He dressed quickly and wrapped Kaori in some furs to keep her warm. He left the cave just as Kaori awoke. She smiled, but frowned when she saw she was alone. She saw the waterfall and thought a quick wash would be good. She didn't care to dress, but stood under the waterfall with her face up to it. She kept her eyes closed as the power of the waterfall cleaned off her face and body. She sensed a familiar demon nearby and turned to see where he was coming from. Once his face was shown, she saw he was glaring at her.
"What's your problem?" Kaori asked. She saw him draw his sword slowly. And then disappeared and appeared in front of her.
"I must kill you for such a foolish act," Sesshomaru said, raising Tokijin.
"Bathing?" Kaori asked.
"Not you. Him," Sesshomaru said. Kaori looked behind her and saw a man directly behind her. Kaori shrieked and latched onto Sesshomaru's wet shirt.
"Who the hell are you?" Kaori asked, trying her best to keep covered with no clothing.
"Yenkin, at your service," the man said, bowing lowly.
"You-" Sesshomaru started, but Kaori held up a hand. She was fascinated that he would bow so lowly to her. Sesshomaru never did that. He was always too proud.
"It's so nice of you to bow, but I'm not royalty," Kaori said, turning slightly. She saw him look up and look straight at her chest. She turned almost immediately to cover herself. "Let him off with a warning this time. Let him go without any scars."
"Excuse me!" Sesshomaru growled.
Kaori patted his chest and carefully entered the cave to get dressed. The kimono got wet because she didn't dry off, but she was sure it wouldn't go see-through.
The man bowed again before giving Sesshomaru a smiled and walking away. Sesshomaru glared at the man and then at Kaori.
"Why would you let him off? He saw you unclothed," He growled at her.
"You see me all the time," she told him, making the furs presentable.
"That's not the issue, Kaori," he told her. "I should have killed him where he stood."
"But you didn't and I thank you. Now go fetch me some food. I'm starving," Kaori said. Her stomach turned. "Maybe just some berries."
"Get it yourself. I'm going out!" Sesshomaru growled and walked through the waterfall.
Kaori got a bag and went out to pick some berries.
Kaori returned after dark to find Sesshomaru standing at the edge of the cave, looking at the passageway she was coming up. He gave her his hand and helped her up. He took the bag and started cooking for something to eat.
"You just got berries?" Sesshomaru asked, looking through the bag.
"Yeah," Kaori said dully, looking at the waterfall.
He looked up at her. She didn't seem mad at him anymore, but she wasn't normal. He sat back and sighed. She was going to be sharing her feelings again.
"A problem?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Uh, not really. Just something has had me wondering," Kaori said, looking at Sesshomaru.
"What?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Well, I was passing by a village nearby and saw a family playing in the water and was wondering what you thought of kids," Kaori said slowly and quietly.
"I'm not fond of them. I've had to raise Rin on my own for a few years. But if you mean with us, I haven't thought of it," he told her.
"Me neither. But there is a slight possibility that I could be... maybe?" Kaori asked, sitting next to Sesshomaru.
"We will talk about this later. Any ways, when you have to raise them from babies, all they do is cry," he told her, going through the berries. "It can become a nuisance."
"Dear, I'm hungry," Kaori said, holding onto his arm.
"I know. But there isn't much to-" he felt a delicate finger touch his lips.
"Not for food, dummy," Kaori said, leaning back on her hands.
"I really wonder how you can do this so often," he said placing a kiss on her lips.
"I guess I just have good stamina," Kaori said. She smiled and he laid her down softly on the pile of furs. Another night well spent.