Chap 18
Special thanks to Nikki for proof reading and her words of wisdom. I am grateful.
Prejudice, part 3: Epilogue
During the next two months while Rin healed Kenichi remained at her side. The university understood and his duties were switched to online only. Graduate students lead his lectures. At some point however, the students complained to the administration that most had taken this course because they had heard Professor Takahashi was extraordinary but they had yet to have heard one lecture from him. The day before the university contacted Kenichi, Sesshomaru and Inuyasha had checked Rin over with a series of tests and had determined she was healed. The evening conversation had all the children assured that Rin was fine and Kenichi had already started thinking about returning to his teaching post.
During Rin's recovery time she had been cuddled by everyone in the house especially Inuyasha and Kenichi. The second she cried Kenichi was there. If she wanted a toy he gave it to her. He changed his place at the table to sit near her so he could feed her. She was never alone. When she slept he kept watch. As her hair grew back in he gently brushed her head and massaged her scalp to help with the itching from the healing wound.
One day toward the end of the time he was home watching Rin, Kenichi talked to their dad while Rin napped.
"Dad? I was wondering about whether my love for Rin is brotherly or maybe something else."
Inuyasha paused. Realizing this was a longer conversation than a "hallway consult", he made tea and invited Kenichi into Sesshomaru and his office.
"That is a good question Kenichi. Tell me what you're thinking."
Inuyasha sat back in his chair and looked directly at Kenichi. Inuyasha had watched all his children for any indication that they would fight with each other like he and Sesshomaru had in their younger years. He wanted to ensure that animosity and hatred didn't happen to their progeny. He had been pleasantly surprised, because instead of hostility he noticed their great affection for each other.
Keiko loved Steven and Steven adored Keiko. That relationship had happened gradually and it was two-way. Then the twins were born and it was clear to everyone except Yuki that Kyo worshipped the ground she walked on. It was also clear to everyone except Kyo that Yuki loved him. Barbie and Bobby were the closest of all their children. It was as though they were born mated. Sesshomaru had suggested once that perhaps they shared the same spirit and just divided in utero because that was too much for one body. Regardless they would undoubtedly mate in the future. As for the other children Inuyasha did not see clear matches; Affection and brotherly love, sure, but not necessarily anything else. Definitely no hostility, a relief he shared with his mate.
Kenichi leaned forward as he talked to his dad. He had been thinking about this for quite a while. It was true that he adored Rin; that she brought joy to everyone especially him but after caring for her for the last two months he wasn't as sure that the feeling he felt wasn't just infatuation because he was getting tired of waiting on her hand and foot.
Inuyasha listened attentively, his ears swiveling to follow his son's words.
"Maybe I am just tired," Kenichi sat back and sank into the overstuffed chair. "I miss the college students too. There's an excitement on the campus; the thrum of students, activities, campus shenanigans… I miss it."
Inuyasha took a sip from his tea cup. He was making sure Kenichi had no further last words before he spoke. Savoring the fruit tea, he swallowed and allowed the flavor to permeate his mouth. He sat the cup down.
"Kenichi, Rin is a baby still. There are many years before she can begin to verbalize her feelings for you. This is a situation where waiting and observing is the best medicine. You can keep your options open, date if you want. You can even marry a human like your father and I did. That has some disadvantages though. Your father and I had many discussions about that through the years. We don't regret marrying our wives. Their time with us was too short. Humans age much faster than demons or half demons do. It's painful to lose them. You don't have to answer this but Son, have you ever been in love?"
Kenichi didn't answer immediately. He changed his focus to the floor.
"Kenichi, you don't have to answer. Just hear me out. Your father had no interest in sexuality for the first nine hundred years of his life. I thought I only loved the opposite sex. We think of ourselves as lovers now, not homosexual or pansexual or bisexual. Don't force yourself to fit into a label. Just be yourself. We love you as you are."
Kenichi looked to his dad and a faint smile appeared on his lips.
"You really are the best, Dad. I love you guys. I'm the luckiest guy in the world to have parents like you. By the way, you promised you'd let me cook for you—"
Inuyasha rose from his chair and walked toward the door. Giving Kenichi a lopsided grin he teased, "I had hoped you forgot. Cumin/Cinnamon—just can't seem to forget that one."
Kenichi threw an armchair pillow at his dad.
"DAD! That's not fair!"
And the two raced to the kitchen.
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Kenichi left the morning after Rin had been given a clean bill of health. He packed his bags, gave everyone a hug and a kiss and then told them he would call when he got to school. Suzy, Barbie and Bobby went to school next leaving Rin alone with Inuyasha.
The day went by smoothly as Inuyasha had many errands to run and Rin travelled with him in her infant carrier. She absorbed everything. She cooed at the birds and jabbered at the people in the shopping stores. At some point he feed her and she took a nap. When she awoke she looked around. Not seeing anyone she cried.
Inuyasha popped into her room and took her from her crib.
"Hey, Rin. What's that noise for? Let's go and get Suzy from school."
Inuyasha checked her diaper and tickled her nose and she stared happily at her dad.
Suzy and Rin chatted baby speak nonstop in the SUV from the school to home. Suzy took her backpack to her room and then returned to the kitchen to have an afterschool snack with Rin and Inuyasha. After they cleaned up the girls were taken to the recreation room while Inuyasha did some chores about the house.
Rin looked about her and started pouting and crying.
Suzy tried to share her toys with Rin but Rin threw them to the side. She looked expectantly at the doorway but no one came to her cry.
She rolled over and started to crawl to the kitchen where she heard noise, crying all the way.
Suzy tried to help but Rin was inconsolable.
Just then Barbie and Bobby returned. Barbie ran to Rin's side.
"Hey Rin! Are you okay?"
Rin stopped crying to look at the newcomer. It wasn't Kenichi so she started crying again. Barbie picked her up and bounced her in her arms.
"Now, now," she cooed. "It's all right. I have you. You are okay."
Rin sobbed quietly and sucked her thumb, a habit she had never done previous to her head injury.
Barbie walked through the house looking for their Dad.
Inuyasha was sorting laundry in the laundry area. There was a large pile that needed separated. The men had gotten large laundry machines to cope with the massive amounts of laundry for the family. It was a necessity in Canada because they didn't have a castle staff to help with the chores.
As soon as Rin saw Inuyasha she nearly leaped out of Barbie's arms.
"Hey squirt! I thought you and Suzy were playing. I've got to get this done or we'll all be wearing dirty clothes."
But Rin wouldn't have anything to do with that. She fussed and squirmed to get out of Barbie's arm and to her Dad.
Inuyasha was amused.
"Okay, already. You can play in that stack of clothes. Barbie, just sit her down there." He shook his head in disbelief. "Crazy kid."
Barbie sat her down and left to do her homework.
Rin sat on the stack of clothes and then rolled over and crawled over to Inuyasha's feet. Once there she grabbed his pants and pulled herself up.
Inuyasha's eyebrows rose as he felt his pant leg being pulled. He turned to look down at his daughter who was looking at him with a large toothy grin.
"Well, how about that? You managed to use your Dad as a way to stand up. Guess I'll have to pick you up after all. That's your reward for standing. But Rin, I've got to get this done and then cook dinner. I can't entertain you."
Rin gurgled and made baby noises.
Inuyasha shrugged and continued to sort and start a load of laundry with one arm while holding Rin in the other. When the washer and dryer were going he walked back to the kitchen and started pulling out ingredients from the pantry and refrigerator. As he did he spoke to Rin.
"Guess we'll have hamburger casserole tonight. I'll need to cut the vegetables though, Sweetheart. I'll put you down so I can do that."
Inuyasha sat Rin down in the infant chair and gave her a measuring spoon and a glass of juice. Rin pounded the spoon on the tray and lifted the juice glass for a drink.
"That's right Rin. We're going to have to measure some spices in a minute. Let's cut the vegetables first."
Rin was quiet and played along until Inuyasha had his hands free again. Then she started crying.
Bobby entered the kitchen.
"Bobby, can you entertain your sister while I finish dinner, please? She's a bit needy today. Maybe she's missing Kenichi."
"Sure Dad. Let me get a drink of water first," Bobby filled a glass of water and guzzled it in one gulp.
"Hey Rin, how about you and I go play with Dolly, huh?" Bobby pulled Rin from the infant seat and carried her off to the recreation room.
Quiet lasted ten minutes and then Rin was fussing again. Ten minutes later Bobby, Barbie, and Suzy brought a crying Rin back to Inuyasha. Dolly trailed close behind.
"Dad, We can't get her to stop crying and fussing. Is she tired or something?"
Just then the front door opened and a disembodied voice called out, "Inuyasha, I'm home."
Inuyasha returned the greeting.
"Welcome home Sesshomaru. We're all in the kitchen."
Dolly barked happily and wagged her tail.
Sesshomaru entered the kitchen to see the group surrounding a red faced Rin.
"She's had a fussy day. She wants me to hold her and she keeps looking to the door as if waiting for someone."
Sesshomaru observed Rin's fussing and crying and listened to Bobby and Barbie and Suzy describe how they tried to play with her but she wasn't happy. After hearing their role in trying to calm their sister while Rin was crying nonstop in the background, Sesshomaru looked directly at Rin and said,
"Enough!"
Inuyasha's eyes enlarged.
Barbie and Bobby held their breaths.
Suzy covered her mouth.
Dolly hid under the table.
Rin stopped crying and looked at her father.
The kitchen clock ticked loudly in the background.
Suddenly Rin started giggling.
"What's for dinner?" Sesshomaru asked Inuyasha as he grabbed a glass for water.
"Hamburger casserole," Inuyasha said as he blinked several times. "How did you…Nevermind. How was work?"
And that's how life returned to normal at the Takahashi household.
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Six months later Fifi walked into the clinic with a much thinner and healthier lady. The dame brought in a rainbow bouquet with her. After she apologized to the front desk personnel she asked if she could have one minute of either of Dr. Takahashis' time. When Sesshomaru walked to the front desk the lady curtsied.
"Doctor Takahashi, I would like to apologize for my horrible behavior when I was here previously. I have had time to consider my words and actions and am horrified by my dreadful behavior. I am very sorry. I am not here to dispute my dismissal. You were correct in your actions. I only wanted to apologize and thank you for your doctor's orders. I have lost 50 pounds."
Fifi barked happily. She told Sesshomaru that the lady really did mean it. Fifi also thanked Sesshomaru for helping her lady. Fifi rubbed lovingly up against the dame.
Sesshomaru observed the two silently and then said, "If you have need of second opinion again our clinic is open to you. We will not take our colleagues' patients from them. As I reviewed your paperwork I noted you had many excellent clinicians take care of you. I recommend you stick with one of them. Thank you for the flowers. Take care of yourself and your faithful dog Fifi."
He nodded once to the lady and made a soft "grrr" sound to Fifi who returned the farewell, turned and led her mistress to the door. He looked at the bouquet and noticed a rainbow card. On the card was written, "Thank you".
