Ever Us—A slice of Life

Chap Tales of Kohaku

Date: 2100

Location: Ibiza

"DADDY! Tell me a story! Tell me a story about me!" The five year old Takahashi jumped up and down and around his Dad who just set down a folded load of laundry.

For Inuyasha the day had already been long. He had gone to work at the med school clinic at seven in the morning, seen twelve or more patients complete with medical recordings, come home to relieve the babysitter, made lunch for Sango, Kohaku, Sesshomaru and himself, and then started on the laundry. All he wanted to do was relax in the pool. But one look at the eager energized pup recharged him and he grabbed the youngster, tickling him and locking him under his arm. Then walking out on the deck he dropped the boy and himself into the pool.

"Daddy! That's not fair! I have water in my ears now!" Kohaku tilted his head left and right and hit his head trying to drain the water. The pup's pouty face nearly brought Inuyasha to laughter but he forced a straight face.

"Sorry Kohaku. Slow down Super hero. I'll get it for you." Inuyasha grabbed the five year old and dabbed the water from his ears. "What do you say we play in the water while I tell you a story?"

The pouting disappeared quickly, replaced by a star struck happy boy.

The two dog-paddled around to the edge and sat on the pool steps.

Inuyasha stared affectionately at his five year old.

Reflecting back on the earlier trouble life of feudal Kohaku to his lifelong attempt to find redemption, Inuyasha made a quick prayer of thanks to the kami for allowing Sesshomaru and him a chance to give the boy a happy life.

Kohaku splashed the water with his hands and feet.

"Do I have to wait for Father to switch to my dog demon form?" Kohaku asked.

"Yep. Sorry Super hero. I can't switch, so I can't help you if you need it."

"Why not, Daddy?" The young boy tilted his head back and forth as he looked at his daddy.

"I am a hanyou, Kohaku. That means my father was a demon and my mother was a human."

"Oh," Kohaku replied. "Am I a hanyou too?"

"No. You are a demon."

"Why do I have your ears?"

"Just lucky, I guess. Ready for a story?"

"Yay! Story! Story! Story!" Kohaku splashed happily.

"Once upon a time when you were a baby you cried all night because you had colic."

"No Daddy! Not that story! Something fun and exciting like my super hero stories."

Inuyasha smiled. "How about the story about how you got into Suzy and Rin's makeup and painted your eyelids, so you would look pretty like Father?"

Kohaku looked indignant. "I was pretty! And I did look like Father!"

Inuyasha smirked. "Yes, you were pretty like Father." An image of a Kohaku's childlike attempt at eyeshade and Sesshomaru's regal speechless face popped into Inuyasha's mind. He had to turn his head in order to avoid laughing in Kohaku's face. 'Kami! That was hilarious! Their little boy had flown down the stairs when he heard his father announce he was home. The four year old was wearing a tea towel around his neck, his super hero underwear and purple eye shadow on his cheeks and eyelids. Nice jagged marks, I might add. Looked more like my demon marks. Kami forbid the children ever see that guy.'

Sesshomaru had surgically imbedded a small fragment of the might Tessaiga in Inuyasha's forearm, where it was always visible. Inuyasha gently touched the scar. 'I'll have to thank him again for that.' Inuyasha smirked as he thought of some creative loving for his mate.

"Daddy? Daddy?"

Inuyasha looked back at Kohaku. "Sorry Kohaku. Was just thinking of something I wanted to give to your Father."

"Daddy, Tell me an old story like Rin's stories!"

That request caught Inuyasha off guard. A sad face was quickly covered up as the puppy-eared parent hemmed and hawed trying to think of something innocent to tell his baby.

Kohaku watched his Daddy's face. "Daddy? Was I a bad boy like Naraku?"

"Oh no, Sweet boy. It's just that you followed your Father a lot and I didn't get as much time with you as he did."

Realizing his Daddy was hiding something Kohaku decided to ask about the future instead.

Relieved, Inuyasha made up a story about Kohaku flying a jet pack and touching the sky and bringing back a star. It was a wonderful, happy, exciting story and Kohaku forgot about his previous question. That day Kohaku asked a million more questions, some that Inuyasha could answer and others he had to defer to his mate.

Some examples were:

"Can we see the aurora?"

"Can I stay up to see it?"

"I want to see the meteor shower, please?"

"Can I go to space camp?"

"Can I fly a balloon?"

"Why is the sky blue?"

"What's a solar wind?"

"How high can Father fly?"

"How tall are the clouds?"

"Why is the night sky called the Milky Way?"

"What's a Blue Moon?"

And

"Are there aliens?"

And then the subjects changed

"Why do I have a Daddy and a Father but no Mother?"

"Daddy, is it a bad thing when Father says you've been wicked and need punished?"

"Daddy, why did you hit Father? He says he's perfect."

"Daddy, what does bastard mean?"

"Daddy, where did I come from?"

"What's the moon made of?"

"Daddy, who can jump higher? You or Father?"

"Daddy, why do you make so much noise at night?"

"Where do we go when we die? Is that where Grandpa Toga and Grandma Izayoi are?"

As the afternoon progressed they played more in the water and then climbed into the two person lounge chair. The sun caressed the duo and drowsiness crept up on them. Kohaku curled into his Dad on the lounge chair. Mumbling one last set of questions he asked,

"Daddy? Did I know Rin?"

"Yes, you did." Inuyasha petted his son's head and hugged him closer to his body.

"Maybe she can be mine this time. I really like her. She's fun and pretty and nice to me."

Inuyasha startled and looked at his son to confirm what he heard only to find the little boy sound asleep.