Chap 13 Meeting Grandma

Castletown castle court yard

Spring 2020


A nervous Inuyasha paced back and forth at the base of the castle stairs with ten sets of eyes following his every step.

"I can't believe him," Inuyasha muttered to himself as he completed another lap of his endless pacing.

On the steps Keiko distracted Barbie and Suzy from their dad's antics with an etiquette lesson. She was telling them how princesses properly greet newcomers to the kingdom. Had Inuyasha been listening he would have been amazed and proud that Keiko still remembered his lessons from her childhood. Barbie nodded understanding but Suzy scratched her head.

"That's sounds silly. Why don't we just shake their hands or even given them a hug? That's what we do in Canada with the people from Daddy and Father's clinic."

Ryuu laughed and grabbed his little sister around the waist. Hoisting her up the sky and twirling her around to hear her giggle, he affectively ended the etiquette lesson.

"Really, Ryuu?" Steven stepped between Ryuu and Keiko who was getting ready to give Ryuu a piece of her mind. "Keiko's just trying to help since Dad is clearly distracted." Steven pointed at their pacing parent. "Whatever is going on in his head must be a maelstrom. I imagine we'll all hear him yelling at Father tonight. Anyone game to go out so they can "bang" it out." Steven snickered at his own remark.

Keiko batted him on the arm, while Ryuu quickly covered Suzy's ears with one hand and his shoulder. Kenichi looked startled as he looked up from Rin's gaze to Steven. Yuki and Kyo blushed.

"Have you lost it?" Ryuu whispered.

"Marriage has sure changed you," Kenichi stated matter-of-factly.

"Steven! I can't believe you," Keiko muttered.

Barbie and Bobby looked at each other. Turning to their brother Steven, Bobby spoke for both of them.

"We're game. Where do you suggest? Is that pub on the square any good?"

Keiko, Kenichi, Yuki and Ryuu's mouths dropped wide open in shock. Kyo's face was permanently bright red.

Suzy rolled her head back and forth to free it from Ryuu's gentle grip.

"I want to go with you. Ryuu, Can I go too? Please." She batted her eyes just like she had seen Keiko do and smiled.

Ryuu melted.

Steven laughed.

"Whipped," he whispered.

"Takes one to know one," Ryuu sighed.

Another light slap to Steven's arm from his wife and the Takahashi kids started working out evening plans. They huddled in a tight circle on the steps of the castle.

When the plans were settled, Suzy asked Ryuu who was the person that were they going to meet.

"Well, Daddy and Father were both married to humans before they mated." Ryuu wasn't sure how much of his parents' past Suzy knew.

"Yes, Rin is the 'incar—'carnation of Father's human but she's not married to Father. Daddy is." Suzy stumbled on the big words but ended her statement confidently. "Isn't a 'carnation' a pretty flower? I don't get that." She scratched her head and gave the cutest expression that had all her older siblings smiling.

"Okay," Ryuu cleared his throat determined to move the explanation forward. "Well, Daddy's human was named Kagome. We're going to meet her mother."

"How is she still alive?" Suzy's eyes opened wide. "Is she a ghost? She's got to be really old!"

Ryuu looked to his siblings for help. Bobbie took mercy on his older brother and cleared his throat to get Suzy's attention.

"Remember the time machine movie?"

"Yes." Suzy bounced excitedly.

"Well, in Edo there was an old empty well that was just like a time machine. Only Daddy and Kagome could use it. And now it's closed forever."

"Oh, okay." Suzy nodded her head in understanding.

Bobby gave a sly look to Ryuu and squeezed Barbie's hand. "And that is why they call us, "the smart ones"!" The twins smiled diabolically at their older siblings.

Moans and groans were heard from their older siblings. Rin babbled baby speak.

Suddenly her mood changed and she let out a loud cry.

The cry broke Inuyasha's pacing and he raced over and picked up the baby.

"Now, now Rin. What's wrong, baby?"

Rin heard her Daddy's voice and grabbed at his tunic.

"Oh, My sweet baby, you're hungry, aren't you?" Inuyasha slipped his shirt up and allowed Rin to latch on. Rin snuffled happily as she nursed, occasionally kicking her feet and pulling on her daddy's hair.

And that's when Sesshomaru and Mrs Higurashi arrived.


"You just had to bring her as I was feeding Rin. Probably the most unusual thing that poor human woman had ever seen, a man breastfeeding an infant." Inuyasha stomped around the master bedroom avoiding his mate's attempts to hold and calm him. Inuyasha's voice quivered in his anger.

"You had to answer the phone. You had to fly her here without giving me advanced notice. Kami! Sesshomaru, did you even think to ask me what I wanted to do! Maybe I wanted to meet her privately first so I could test the waters. But, ooh no, King perfect had to do it all his way because "I'm always right."

As he snarled out the last words Inuyasha pointed his finger at Sesshomaru.

The greeting and tour had gone perfectly as far as Sesshomaru was concerned. 'We toured the castle and grounds and ate in the dining hall. Oh it was such a magnificent meal. I must tell the chef. We kept her so late, she agreed to stay overnight. Mrs. Higurashi thought traveling with me had been fun even. Why on earth was Inuyasha so upset?' Sesshomaru did the one thing Inuyasha least expected, he bowed low and apologized.

The inuhanyou prince was flabbergasted. All the steam he had worked up for a "good mad" evaporated in a microsecond. He stood there speechless.

Sesshomaru remained in the bowed position.

Inuyasha started to say something, anything but couldn't find the words.

Sesshomaru remained motionless.

"Would you stop that! It looks weird. Just stand up, will you? You don't bow." Inuyasha stuttered and his arms flapped around as he tried to talk. He found an interesting spot on the floor and kept his eyes on it.

Sesshomaru returned to his upright position and attempted to catch his mate's eye.

"Inuyasha." His voice was soft and gentle.

"Yeh," Inuyasha glanced up from the floor. His shoulders were slumped forward and his ears drooped.

They locked eyes.

"I am sorry. I understand that you are mad. I just don't know why. And don't repeat your previous reasons. I heard them. So did all the staff and half the town."

Inuyasha just slumped in a nearby chair and lowered his head almost to his knees.

"It's stupid and selfish," Inuyasha muttered.

"Well, try me," Sesshomaru grabbed a chair and pulled it in front of his mate. Then he reached out a hand and took Inuyasha's hand in his.

"I just wanted to be alone with her and mourn with her, just once before I showed her that life had continued for me. I didn't want her to think that as soon as Kagome died I just jumped in bed with you. I loved Kagome! She was my wife and Mama's daughter! I didn't want her to feel that I didn't appreciate the sacrifice she made either. Can you imagine letting one of our children travel back in time 500 years and never see them again!"

Inuyasha took a deep breath as he struggled with his emotions.

"Kagome taught me how to love just as Rin taught you. How would you feel if you had the chance to meet Rin's mother from the feudal times, not the reincarnated one we met? Would you want the kids and me to just stand there while you talked about your wife? It's just awkward. How do we explain it to Suzy? I'm just glad Rin is a baby. At least the others are old enough to try and understand. Hell, I don't even really understand." By the time he finished talking he was emotionally exhausted.

Sesshomaru rubbed his thumbs over his brother's hands.

"I understand now, Inuyasha. I'm sorry."

"Perhaps tomorrow I can take you and her back to the shrine and leave the two of you to chat for a little while. I could find some way to keep myself busy while I waited for you."

"I'll think about it."


The following morning Inuyasha woke to the pleasant smell of coffee. He sat up and looked around. There was a steaming mug of coffee at his bedside. Sesshomaru was just walking out the shoji door.

"Thank you for the morning coffee," Inuyasha gave his brother a goofy "I'm–still–half-asleep" look.

Sesshomaru returned the smile.

"Get out of bed, sleepyhead. Our company is waiting for you."

That statement, more than the coffee, woke Inuyasha up completely. He bounced out of bed.

"I'm on my way."

Morning ablutions completed the inu prince walked into the great dining hall to find several of the children and Mama chatting amicably over a light breakfast.

As Inuyasha walked to the right side of the head of the table and was about to take his seat, Shippo and Usagi ran into the room in a frenzy.

All the eyes at the table turned to the entrance of the dining hall.

"Usagi, I swear I am going crazy," the six tailed fox was shaking his head. "I smell my mom. But that's not possible. Help me get to Dad. I may need medical care. I know I'm old. I'm afraid I've finally lost it."

Inuyasha turned from the table and walked toward Shippo just as Mama Higurashi turned to see a fox and a rabbit demon.

She squealed in joy.

"You have to be Shippo!"

Shippo blinked his eyes.

The woman in front of him looked like Kagome.

"Ma-ma?" he asked hesitantly and with trepidation.

Mama Higurashi smiled. "No honey, but I imagine "Grandma" would be just fine."

Shippo transformed to a younger version of himself and flew into her arms crying.

Sesshomaru stood and pulled his mate into a side hug. He leaned and whispered in Inuyasha's ear.

"It appears there are others that need to mourn too. We can delay our return to Canada. Let us take care of our family first."

Inuyasha's large wet eyes turned from his brother to his heart son, then back. His arms tightened around his brother as he sobbed quietly as he put his face in Sesshomaru's chest.

Watching the hugs from the table Suzy got up and walked to Keiko.

"Big sister?"

"Yes, Suzy?" Keiko's eyes were moist.

"Did big brother Shippo say, "Grandma"?" Suzy tilted her head as she asked.

"Mm-hmm," She uttered being careful not to interrupt the scene in front of her.

Suzy bent her head and worried her bottom lip as she thought. A small fang was visible for a second then she squealed in joy.

"I have a GRANDMA!"

The family blinked as they all turned to look at the jubilant child. Shippo and Mama Higurashi's hug opened as they turned to look at the curly haired cherub who was now jumping up and down in joy.

Mama Higurashi's smile radiated like a sun.

"I would be happy if you called me "Grandma". But let's ask your Father first, though. Is it okay, Sesshomaru?"

"It would be this family's greatest honor," the great dog nodded as he hugged his sobbing mate even closer.

Suzy flew from her sister's side into the open arms of Mama Higurashi.

It took some time for the hugging and crying to settle down. It probably would have gone on for much longer if it hadn't been for a hungry Rin.

The baby cried and Inuyasha went to her side. She pulled at his tunic to indicate what she wanted. Now Inuyasha was uncertain of what to do. But Mama took care of that too.

"Inuyasha, it's okay. Feed her. I'm so happy you can. I loved holding my little ones tight to my chest. There is such a satisfying feeling, isn't there." She smiled. Then turning to Rin, she cooed, "Be patient sweetheart. Daddy's going to feed you. It'll be just fine."

Rin stopped crying to look at the human talking to her. She blew bubbles and showed several small teeth.

"Oh dear," she pointed to Inuyasha. "Be careful of their teeth. I had to thunk Kagome lightly on the head so she wouldn't think I was a chew toy. Ouch, those baby teeth are sharp."

Sesshomaru turned his head as the self-satisfied smile filled his face. 'I love being right.'