My Daughter

Chapter 3:

They all sat together around the crackling fire, Haruko had just finished explaining to Sesshoumaru everything. They were now waiting for his reaction. But he was just staring down into the fire, his eyebrows drawn together in concentration. Beside him, Haruko and Kagome both sat, nervous about his reaction.

"How do I—" Sesshoumaru started, turning to Haruko. Haruko looked up at him with anxiety. Looking down at her silvery hair and royal markings he knew she couldn't have been lying. He turned back to the fire and stared deep in thought again.

It was then that Inu-yasha noticed that both Haruko and Kagome were nibbling on their lower lips; the same way and with the same look in their eyes. They really did look like mother and daughter! But no! How could they! Sesshoumaru would never want Kagome! Never! Feeling the irritation, he scratched his head violently and said, "Arrrrg! How long dopes this have to take! Can we just go on our way now!"

"Sit!" he was subdued instantly.

He quickly retaliated and yelled, "What the hell! Don't you sit me, you damn wench—" but before he could say anything else, he already had a glowing green clawed hand threatening to melt his whole face.

"Silence yourself or I will do it for you, half breed." Sesshoumaru threatened. Kagome noticed the slightly hurt look on Haruko's face, seeing as she was a hanyou as well. Her eyebrows furrowed in concern and she turned to Sesshoumaru.

"Sesshoumaru, do you really think that's an appropriate thing to say in front of Haruko?" Kagome asked.

"Why do her feelings concern you?" Sesshoumaru asked, turning his blazingly icy eyes down at her. She cowered before him but soon found her courage at the sight of Haruko.

"She is our daughter after all!" she stood defiantly staring him in the eyes.

"She is no daughter of mine!" Sesshoumaru finalized, silencing everyone. Kagome's heart suddenly ached; something in her had been seriously hurt by what he just said. Her expression showed pain, confusion and question. Seeing her face, Sesshoumaru faltered, easing his angered and confused self. He turned his eyes to Haruko.

She had hung her head low, her earlier vibrant self gone and replaced by this hollow princess. He felt a pain in his chest, something he never felt before. What was it? Guilt? No, it couldn't have been guilt. He never before had been guilty about anything. Never!

And yet as he gazed down upon her, he realized, he had clearly hurt this girl who claimed she was his daughter. Kagome turned to her, "Haruko-chan, why don't you go and take Shippou to bed. I'll just have a word with Sesshoumaru."

"Mama," Haruko looked up at her with an neutral expression; something that reminded everyone of her father. "I am 18 years old and am damn well mature enough to listen to your discussion!" she straightened her back and held her chin up defiantly. She had Kagome's spunk and Sesshoumaru's pride. That wasn't a very good combination.

Before Kagome could say anything more, Sesshoumaru barked out his orders. "Take the kit and go to bed!" he couldn't describe what he was feeling right now. If what this girl was saying would really come true, what had become of him! Will he truly grow so weak as to mate a human! Inu-yasha's wench, no less! He was sick and tired of all this confusion! He felt powerless now that he didn't know what to do, what to say, what to feel, what to think. He couldn't understand and thatw as what aggravated him the most.

Surprisingly, to everyone, Haruko stood and bowed. "Hai. Good evening." She whispered icily, all the while keeping her eyes closed. Kagome knew Haruko was hiding her unshed tears. She was clerly hurt by what Sesshoumaru said and yet she still showed respect for him. She couldn't understand Haruko, not at all.

She turned to Shippou, who looked fearful of the Taiyoukai and doubtful of leaving Kagome. "Shippou-chan." Her voice was surprisingly softer than when she spoke to Sesshoumaru. "Shippou-chan, come with me. I'll tuck you in." Shippou remembered that Kagome always said that to him. Slowly, he felt himself warm up to her. She was nicer than what he thought she would be. Without a second thought, Shippou bounced to Haruko and took the hand she offered him.

Haruko smiled down at him, it was a small smile that didn't bare her beautiful white teeth. Somehow, Shippou thought, she couldn't feel Kagome's warmth radiating through her like before. She must have been saddened cause of what the Taiyoukai said. He turned to Kagome and Sesshoumaru before leaving with the now quiet Haruko.

As Kagome watched Haruko's retreating form, she felt the impulse of a mother to go to her child and comfort her. But before she could take another step, Sesshoumaru had already blocked her path. "Go to her now and you will spoil her."

Inu-yasha heard that one and his dog-ears perked up. Was Sesshoumaru just saying what he thought he was saying? He was worried about spoiling her? "For someone who denies that she's his daughter, you're being a very concerned parent, Sesshoumaru." Inu-yasha mocked.

"Silence, you mutt!" Sesshoumaru barked calmly yet intensely.

"Sesshoumaru," he turned to Kagome and stared down at her big blue eyes. The sea of sorrow colored her eyes and her frown didn't help the sinking feeling she and Haruko made him feel. "You really shouldn't have said that." She finished, looking up at him.

"Do not tell this Sesshoumaru that you believe all of her lies?" Seshoumaru asked.

"Of course not!" Kagome defended, "I would never let myself be with you! I don't even feel anything for you! It's just that—she must've been through a lot and she must be seeing us as replacement for her real parents. Don't you feel any pity for her?"

"If she truly is who she says she is," Sesshoumaru said, "She would—as you humans say it—Get over it!"

"But don't you think she needs guidance! She must have been through a lot of pain and she's in her late teens! She needs guidance; someone to lead her in the right direction." Kagome reasoned.

"Her life story does not concern me."

"Well it concerns me!" Kagome declared, putting her hands on her hips. "And as long as you're journeying with us, you're gonna have to accept her!"

"And why is that?" Inu-yasha asked heatedly and suspiciously.

"Coz I've decided that She's coming with us!" Kagome declared, not looking away from Sesshoumaru's burning gaze.

"What! No way! No freagin' way is that freak—"

"Sit!" and he was subdued again.

Inu-yasha raised a finger in the air, not able to lift his face from the ground. "She's coming" he said as if drunk, "With us"

Kagome smirked triumphantly up at the seething Sesshoumaru, glaring ice daggers her way. She would have her day!

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