Okay, the next chapter will contain something that you've all been waiting for. But I'm still not so sure. So…I am asking for opinions—not votes—if I should depict a lime in the next chapter or simply skip it and say that they did. A simple yes or no would be good.
Sess: must I be the one to introduce this new segment, wench?
Warm-Ice: Don't call me wench! I'm the one who created your daughter. Now go and do what I told you to do.
Sess: this Sesshoumaru shall not.
Kag: what if I do it with you, will that be better?
Sess:…perhaps.
Kag: great. Here's a new segment where we will answer your questions with chaotic dialogues!
Sess: hn.
Warm-Ice: Alright, let's start shall we?
Liltay-don't worry about it, darling. There was no offense taken. Besides, I'm glad to hear your thoughts. It just proves that my story is thought provoking and that's one of the things I'd like my stories to be.
Sess: and yes,this Sesshoumaruheard that.
sessyqueen9205- thank you for the suggestion! I'll bear that in mind.
Sess: my daughter will not be touched by a mangy wolf! I will not allow it!
Warm-Ice: pipe down, it's my story.
Anime Lady PIMP- I wish I could help you achieve your goal and not go to the military. Sadly, I can only give you my support. Good luck!
Sess: I will give you my support as well. For I know what you are experiencing. Take care of yourself.
Kag: thank you to everyone who reviewed and supported this story! We deeply appreciate it!
Shippou: to those who support ShippouxHaruko, thank you! Bwahahahahahaha!
Kouga: and for you people who supported KougaxHaruko, yeah! Take that, Shippou! In your face!
Shippou: what did you say!
Haruko: STOOOPPP! Can we just go on with the story please?
Warm-Ice: good idea.
Chapter 26: Smile
After wrapping her blanket around her body and checking that what she wore was decent enough, she looked outside to peer at Kouga who hung their wet clothes up a tree branch to dry. His face had an expression of annoyance since Arashi was beside him, no doubt talking about the earlier happenings. She brought her finger to her lips instinctively.
Earlier, that was not a revelation. It was not a whole new side of Kouga. But still…it felt so new… why was that? She couldn't understand. A small smile came unto her face at the memory of earlier. That moment would surely be in her memory for a long time. She was playing around with someone other than children. But perhaps that was why; because Kouga was a childish man.
A childish man…yes, that was what he was. He was older than her but he felt and acted younger than her. That was what he was; a man full of mirth and humor, a man with a zest for life. How come he has such a zest? He was poor, shunned by society. Yet…he still manages a good joke. While here she was; she had anything and everything a girl could ever want but…she was so hollow.
"Inu-hime!" she blinked back to reality and looked up at him who turned to her. "You're staring at me again." he smirked seductively.
Haruko blushed, "Silence, you—you baka!" with that she went inside the hut and settled herself in her bed—er—his bed—er...
Kouga laughed mischievously and turned back to his work. Arashi shook his head ruefully. When Kouga saw the look on his friend, he said, "What?"
"You're flirting with her. You know that, don't you?"
"Flirting? I wouldn't call it flirting. We're just playing around."
Arashi sighed, "But you do know that she's not really your woman, right?"
Kouga faltered just a little. But smiled again, "O' course!"
"Oh my lord…" he said.
"WHAT?" Kouga said, loosing patience.
"You actually like her?" he said incredulously. Before Kouga could make his defense, Arashi had already started his lecture. "Kouga, Kouga, Kouga! She's an inu! To top it off, she has the royal markings which mean she's probably a baroness or something."
"So what?" Kouga tried to act indifferent.
"She's outa' your league. No offense, my lord. But just think about it. What'll happen when you give her back to her family, hm? Do you think they'll just accept you because you saved their daughter? Of course they'll reward you but after that things will just go back to normal. Can't you see, Kouga?" Arashi stood, putting a hand on his lord's shoulder with a reasoning tone. "Nothing will happen between the two of you. It's how it should be and it's how it will be. After this, you'll meet other women and she'll most probably marry some rich mommy's boy."
Kouga shook his head and smiled still at his friend. "Y-Yeah, I know that. Haha! I just thought she was cute, that's all." With that he left his friend to go back to the hut. The moment he turned was the moment his smile turned into a deep frown. Upon entering the hut, his expression softened. She looked up at him, the Plumeria flower tucked behind her ear. She was so beautiful. At the sight of him, she smiled.
"I forgot to thank you…for the flower, I mean…"
Kouga grinned wide, "It's no big deal." With that, he went inside. He'd do anything to see her smile.
Mila sipped on the cup of soup that Kagome had given him earlier after he woke up. "Thank you…" he said to Kagome.
"You're welcome. So…what were you doing out here? Shouldn't you be back at your village?" Kagome asked.
"Um—I-I had to give something to you. I-i-it's for Haruko-san—when you guys find her." He untied the parchment from his body and offered it to Kagome who served as the representative of the group.
"What's this?" Kagome asked, taking the parchment with curiosity.
"I-It's something I made for her. I-I, I think she'll like it."
"Can we see?" Sango asked.
Mila blushed and looked down, "H-Hai…"
Slowly, Kagome unrolled the parchment and everyone leaned in to look. When they got a good look, their eyes widened in amazement.
It was Haruko, sleeping in a bed of autumn leaves, curled up in a ball. Her hair was spread above her and rays of sunlight seeping from autumn leaves cast shadows upon her form. Covering her face was a mask; it was a beautiful white mask with intricate designs and a beautiful smile. Her eyes looked to the viewer of the painting, showing such painfully beautiful, lonely eyes. But if one looked even closer, they'd see that at the edge of the mask where her chin peeked out ever so slightly, was a tear. She was crying inside her mask.
Miroku was the first to snap out of it and say, "I-It's beautiful, Mila-kun!" he said.
"It's amazing!" Sango added.
"When did you do this?" Shippou asked.
"I-I, I had a dream of her right after you left. I started painting it after I woke up and I was finished in no time. I just…I just wanted her to have it. T-to remember me by." Suddenly, arms engulfed him into a tight embrace. He blushed when he realized that Kagome had hugged him. "M-ma'am?"
"Thank you, Mila-kun." She smiled. "Thank you…"
Mila didn't understand why Kagome was thanking him and he decided he shouldn't even try to. He didn't know how wonderful it was for Kagome to see her daughter's image or something akin to her again. He looked up at the one who Haruko looked most like, Sesshoumaru. He looked at Mila with an appraising look. He sighed of relief. He was a bit worried that Sesshoumaru would be offended and try to kill him but…thankfully, he wasn't.
"I can't believe you traveled all this way just to give us this painting." Sango said, staring at the painting again.
"You have a real talent here, Mila-kun!" Shippou said with a bright smile.
"T-Thank you, Shippou-chan." He blushed but appreciated the compliment. "Oh, and this is from my brother, Shinta. He wanted her to have this as well." He took out a silver necklace with a sapphire gem dangling from it. "He said it would bring out the color of her eyes."
"Oh, thank you, Mila-kun, that's very sweet of the two of you. I'm sure, if Haruko were here, she'd be so happy." Kagome said, taking the petite necklace.
Mila smiled at that. "Thank you for your time. Ja ne." with that he stood and started leaving.
Kagome looked up at Sesshoumaru for a sign of approval and as if knowing what she was thinking, Sesshoumaru looked back at her. "Ah—Mila-kun!" she called.
Mila turned back to look at her and was surprised to hear what he heard, "What if we escort you to the nearest village? That way, we'd know you'll be safe on your trip home?"
Mila thought of it and smiled, nodding. "Thank you. That's very kind of you."
"HENTAI!" SMACK!
"Poor Miroku…" Shippou said. Everybody shook their heads.
When they arrived to the nearest village, they were a bit surprised to see that it was a very tribal-like village. Large tents built close to each other served as homes and everyone seemed to be busy with their daily routines.
"Welcome, welcome!" came an old, fat man. If Kagome were to describe him in her mind, she would call him a Japanese Santa Clause in colorful robes. Introductions were made and they were thankful that the jolly old man was kind enough to insist for them to spend the night there. They were going to have a large party to celebrate the rising of the crescent moon along with their arrival. It seemed that it was their village's tradition to celebrate the rising of the crescent moon because it was the night when their ancestors settled down where the village presently stood.
Kagome entered the tent and was surprised to see that only Sesshoumaru was there, leaning against a bamboo table with arms crossed in front of him. "Sesshoumaru? Where's everyone else?"
"In a separate tent." He answered coolly.
Her eyebrows knitted together. "Why?"
Sesshoumaru shrugged and said nothing.
She looked at him strangely but shrugged it off. "Well, I'm gonna go around the village okay?" she said.
"Why?" he asked suddenly, looking straight at her.
She smiled, "The chief's gonna give us a tour of the place." But the smile went away, "If that's okay with you?"
He averted his gaze and said, "Fine."
She raised a curious brow. She came closer to him. "What's the matter, Sesshoumaru? You seem moody today? Well—a lot moodier than usual, that is."
"Nothing." He said, raising a brow at her. "And I am not moody…"
"Oh, come on, Sesshoumaru." She said, putting her hands gently on his chest as a sign of affection. She came closer until she had to crane her neck to look up at him. "Tell me what's bothering you."
Sesshoumaru looked down at her after checking if no one was listening from outside. Then he whispered, "I feel something anomalous. I keep thinking of our daughter and how this Sesshoumaru wants her presence."
Kagome chuckled at that, finding her husband-to-be quite the adorable one. "Oh, Sesshoumaru, that's called missing someone."
He raised a brow at her. "Missing?"
"Yes, that's what it's called when you've been away from someone you love for a long time." She explained with a smile.
Instinctively, his arms wrapped around her. "Then…this Sesshoumaru misses our daughter?" it was more of a statement than a question.
"Hai." She nodded.
"And if this Sesshoumaru is separated from you…then I would miss you?"
"Well…would you?" she playfully asked. He just frowned at that. She laughed, "Don't be so worried, Sesshoumaru. You won't be missing me coz I won't ever leave. Besides, we're gonna get our daughter back real soon!"
After a moment, she leaned up, caressing her lips to his. As if he was suddenly energized, Sesshoumaru quickly pressed his lips down on hers. She welcomed the kiss. But then she gasped and pulled away ever so slightly when she felt his index finger's claw graze her thigh. "Sesshoumaru!" she blushed.
He only answered her with a seductive smirk. Then he kissed her again, savoring the taste of her. He pulled her closer, their bodies forming an embodiment of Yin and Yang. She moaned, her hands tightening on the clothes on his chest.
"Interesting."
Kagome gasped and quickly turned around, jumping out of Sesshoumaru's arms. Sesshoumaru hid his disappointment well and looked up at the one that dared to intrude.
"Monk." He said with venom dripping in his tone. And there Miroku was, sporting the big lump on top of his head from earlier, smiling at them mischievously.
"M-Miroku! W-we were just—"
"Tell me, Kagome-sama, how long has this been going on? The sexually active side of you, I mean." Miroku asked with a raised brow and a sly smile. Kagome blushed even more and decided she didn't want to handle this.
"W-Well—I have to go, ja ne!" with that she left the two men.
Sesshoumaru glared at Miroku who chuckled heartily, "I despise you."
Yuujin entered the hut and smiled at Haruko who nodded her acknowledgement. "I brought you some wild berries I picked earlier. Want some?" she said, taking out her bag of wild berries and sitting beside her on her bed.
"Hai, arigatou." Haruko said, smiling and eating some along with her. She was glad to have met Yuujin. She seemed to genuinely want to be her friend. Yuujin was her first real girl friend.
Yuujin smiled, "Delicious, ne?"
"Hai."
"You know, I was actually glad my cousin brought you home to us."
"Hm?"
"Yeah." She said with a soft smile. "Though I do admit, I was a bit skeptical when I saw you. But I guess you proved me wrong. I'm glad though. That way," she flipped her hair arrogantly, "I won't be the only beautiful woman in this clan!"
Haruko sweat-dropped while Yuujin laughed, "OHOHOHOHOHOHO! But seriously, do you even know how hot you are? Practically as hot as me!"
"Uh—hot?
"Yeah, hot. Sexy? Cool? Attractive?"
She blushed. "U-uhm—I—"
"Oh, and you're modest too!" Yuujin laughed. "Oh, how did Kouga ever get someone like you?"
"E-excuse me?"
"OHOHOHOHOHO! Well don't worry darling. If ever anything wrong happens between you two, just come to me and I'll knock some sense into that Kouga's head. He can be a little dense sometimes but then again all men are."
Haruko smiled at that. There was just a charm in Yuujin that made her feel very comfortable. Perhaps it was because Yuujin was confident of herself. Yes, maybe that was it. The fact that she's confident of herself reassured Haruko that Yuujin would never feel insecure or jealous around her.
"Yuujin-san."
"Hm?"
Haruko smiled warmly, "Thank you for being my friend."
Yuujin was surprised to hear that from her but soon smiled her confident smile again, "Of course, darling!" Haruko laughed, covering her mouth with her hand, when Yuujin called her darling, it was just so cute the way she said it. It reminded her of her mother. Yuujin smiled, Haruko had a beautiful laugh. "Don't hurt him, okay?"
Haruko blinked, her eyebrows rising.
Yuujin continued, "Don't hurt Kouga. I know he's not the type to be serious, but when he is…he'll stay loyal. And I think...that this time, he's serious. So…don't hurt him, alright?"
Haruko couldn't say anything. She couldn't think. She couldn't move. She was rendered immobile. Don't hurt Kouga, she says. He's serious, she says. But…how can she not hurt Kouga? It seemed that everyone who has ever proclaimed their love for her ended up either broken hearted or insane. How can she not hurt him? There was no way of avoiding it. She had a fiancé. She had a responsibility. She can't just throw that away.
So now the question is…
How can I keep him from hurting?
What is love? Is it a blessing? Or is it a curse? Is it something to be treasured? Or feared? I don't understand. How do you know? How can you tell if it is love or simply infatuation? What makes it special?
Why do people love? For what purpose?
If love is pain, why suffer it?
I can't understand.
"Be patient, Haruko… You will know when the time has come."
"But Mother…how will I know?"
"Why must you look for a pattern in everything, Haruko?"
"Because…I don't want to be wrong when I finally fall."
"Hahaha…nothing goes perfectly when the subject is love, darling. Everyone get almost everything wrong."
"So why do something so imperfect? So…flawed…"
"Because the flaws it has is what makes it perfect. Every wrong has a purpose. After all, how can you see the light without first seeing the darkness?"
"If so…then I'll never fall in love."
"Why say that, darling?"
"Because…I'm the light. Father said so himself. He said I serve as the light for my country."
"Haha…Oh, Haruko, darling. You are the light for other people. But who will be the light for you?"
"Aren't I good enough to be my own light?"
"No, darling. Being your own light…it's tiring and heartbreaking. It uses up every bit of your energy until there's none left. I don't want to see you become empty, Haruko."
Empty? How can she be empty? She wondered what empty was. Was she empty? At that exact moment, was she empty?
"Oh! Look at the time. It's time for your history lessons, darling."
"Hai." She quickly got to her feet, excusing herself with a low bow and left her mother's quarters. At the sight of her, Akito and Touya stepped from the door and followed her down the halls toward the library. When they were a staircase away, Haruko stopped. They stopped as well.
"Akito? Touya?" she whispered softly.
"Yes, m'lady?" Akito asked for them.
"Do you…do you think I'm empty?" she didn't turn to them, not wanting them to see her confusion.
"Why would you ask that, Lady Haruko?" Touya asked.
She was just about to answer when the sound of an opening door came from behind them. They all turned and quickly became alert when they saw Sesshoumaru walk out gracefully with Shippou right behind him. Shippou looked surprised to see her.
Quickly, Touya and Akito were on one knee, giving respect to their youngest general, the teenaged Shippou, and their Master. Haruko bowed out of politeness then averted her gaze, not wanting to see her Father at that moment.
"Lady Haruko." Shippou called.
She turned to him with her indifference and he came forward, bowing then smiling. She was surprised when he came closer to whisper something to her ear. Instinctively, she put her hands on his chest armor to keep their distance. "Sesshoumaru-sama isn't going to war anymore."
Her eyes widened and she looked up at her father disbelievingly. She didn't have time to ask for questions. All she thought of was that her father wasn't going to go to war. A small smile crept onto her face as she looked at her father's proud form.
She smiled to Shippou and said, "Arigatou, Shippou-sama." She smiled at her father brightly, "W-Well, I have a history class to attend." She bowed her leave as Akito and Touya stood.
Sesshoumaru nodded in understanding. He was inwardly a bit disappointed, hoping to attain more than simply a smile from his daughter. But he supposed it would be against everything he had taught her and a smile was better than nothing.
She turned to leave but stopped before taking a step. She turned her head to look back at him, "I—I'll cook dinner tonight, alright?"
Sesshoumaru raised his brow curiously.
She smiled brighter at the thought of cooking her father's favorite food. "I'll make a chocolate cake. So…don't be late." With that she ran to her lesson, Touya and Akito at her tail.
Shippou smiled up at Sesshoumaru who had an uncontrollable urge to smile. He turned to Shippou and said, "You have my gratitude."
Shippou turned to walk away, "I never wanted your gratitude, Sesshoumaru-sama. With all due respect. I just wanted her smile back."
Sesshoumaru watched Shippou walk away and whispered, "I know."