Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or any of its characters.
Chapter Fifty-Eight: Try
That day, as Inuyasha brought their oldest to his meeting with the Commander, their youngest son accompanied his mother to his aunt.
It wasn't easy to describe Rin those days. Her loss was still fresh, and in no way did Kagome delude herself into thinking that she could be already right; the young woman was still suffering. But the way she showed her pain left her perplexed.
She couldn't know how she acted alone with her mate in the sanctity of their bedroom, but it was easy to see that her demeanour in front of everyone else was completely different from what she would expect from the happy-go-lucky girl she had known all these years.
On the one hand, it seemed like Rin had understood what the priestess had explained to her – that is, she didn't need to feel guilty for something she couldn't control. On the other hand, when she thought no one could see her, an emotion that resembled remorse crossed her eyes. Then, just as it had appeared, it was gone within the second. Finally, a smile graced her lips, but it never reached her eyes.
Somehow, it was as if Rin was trying to follow Sesshomaru's lead and learn how to school her face, especially now; she lived in the West and didn't know which wolf was waiting around the corner for her and her insecurities. She diligently wore her mask even when she was with Kagome and her family, ignoring her own more serene nature.
Her reaction had caught Kagome off-guard. It became even more evident while Inuyasha had been away because the two had spent a lot of time together. The priestess was happy Rin tried to overcome the pain without forgetting about her new duty as Lady of the West and letting life have its course. But, at the same time, she was afraid the young girl's newfound behaviour could harm her in the long run.
It was difficult to imagine young happy Rin like that; Rin had always been enthusiastic, smiling, and giddy. Rin had always been sweet and warm, so much she had managed to melt Sesshomaru's cold heart. It was that side of her character that had made the dai-youkai fell in love with her, wasn't it? The two of them had met, and later, they had found they were perfectly compatible. What one had in abundance compensated for the lack of the other and vice versa, right?
Kagome was unsure and felt powerless confronted with her friend's pain. She could only offer her support and company, but it never seemed enough. Then, if Rin had really decided not to approach the past, but when Kagome was checking on her – even then, they only talk about medical-related stuff – she couldn't insist. She didn't want to cause her friend more pain.
A couple of times during those few days, she had been tempted to tell her she didn't need to pretend when they were together, but Kimi had stopped her. According to the demoness, it was good Rin was reacting that way and showing others she was fearless. Now that she wasn't living in the village anymore, Rin had to toughen up; the faster she learnt, the better. At that moment, she was straightening her character, Kimi had added; it was better this way. If Rin tried to make a difference between her family and the people surrounding her, she would slip her mask, eventually. That had to be avoided at all costs, the older woman had remarked as she fixed Kagome with beady eyes.
Kagome understood Kimi's point of view; she really did – she herself had been forced to wear the mask more than once since their introduction at court years ago. But she was always worried about the long-term effects, especially given what she knew and what the demon did not. Yet, she didn't dare to illustrate her concerns to the dai-youkai, knowing she would never understand. A demoness, especially one with Kimi's temperament, would never truly understand the term emotion from a certain point of view and would probably even call those thoughts silly. It was also normal for Kimi if Rin acted that way and let go of feelings that no longer suited her as the Lady of the West.
In the end, she resigned herself. She knew the best she could do was make Rin understand that no one held her guilty. As for the rest, she would let destiny take its course. After all, at the end of the day, Rin would stay living at court with Sesshomaru and Kimi as her pillars, and Kagome would return to the village. She couldn't blame the demoness for that; Rin had to harden her character – especially given what was coming soon. Kagome could only hope that her light-heartedness wouldn't be entirely buried by harsher feelings.
Thus, it was with her heart heavy that she made her way to her friend's private chambers that morning with her son in her arms.
Though Toga had pouted when he had realized he wasn't going to join his father and brother and had even made threw a temper tantrum, he eventually adjusted without too much trouble. He was still a bit of a mama's boy and, since they had been separated, now he clung tightly to her.
The image the two of them gave together certainly inspired tenderness, and Rin had always been the first to look at the pup's public displays of affection with sparkling eyes. But this time, Kagome was afraid of what reaction they would elicit in her. Toga was currently proof of what the girl could not yet have, proof of what she had lost, and she might not react well to him. On the other hand, the child could not have known that; if he sensed any reluctance in her aunt, he could probably voice his displeasure quite insistently as well. As much as Kagome had tried to educate her son, she also knew that she could not expect great things from a five-year-old child; there wasn't much she could do about it.
Maybe hers were unnecessary concerns and Rin would respond in a totally opposite way; she might even pour all of her attention onto her nephews and sought comfort in them. Kagome would certainly not object and would definitely prefer that option. She was sure that in that case, the children would be the only ones Rin would show her genuine smile to and would help her keep that side of her character that had been put aside for the moment.
When they reached her rooms, Rin was calmly brushing her long hair in preparation for the walk the priestess had promised her at breakfast that day. She hated being confined within four walls and hated it when her mate tried to hide her from prying eyes.
Their relationship had changed since she had moved into the palace and become his mate. It wasn't the one they had when she was a carefree child who followed him around, spent her days picking flowers or the one they had established as she grew up in the human village. Sure, Rin had never had any illusions; she had known things would take a big turn the moment she became Lady of the West. However, it didn't mean being treated like a delicate flower bothered her any less.
No matter what anyone said and despite the appearances, Rin was not weak. She had seen how Kagome and Sango stood out from the other women in the village, how they related to their husbands; in her heart, she saw them as figures to imitate and take inspiration from. Even Kaede, although unmarried, was an example of an independent and strong woman. She also knew they were not the norm, that, in that society of theirs, a woman always had to follow her husband, even more so if the said husband was a strong demon and Lord of the West. But she would never be a submissive and silent woman; that was not how she had been raised, nor how she wanted to appear.
Thus, it was with that idea in mind that, though the pain was still fresh and the confusion that had been their lives since they had mated, Rin had spoken face to face with the dai-youkai one of those days. She had made it clear to him that she would not stand to be locked up or overprotected by what was out there. She didn't want demons to think she was frail o always in need of her mate, nor did she want to change her rhythms that way; she needed air for both her mental and physical health. She would be careful, her guards would always follow her, but she would not compromise on that.
Sesshomaru's response had been a stern glare and lips curved into a tight line. They'd been looking at each other for a few seconds in a staring contest, but in the end – though not happy at all –, the dai-youkai had given in to her request. Then again, he knew her mate had always cherished her time outside, and he didn't want in any way to affect her being even more.
Thus, when at breakfast Kagome had left word she was planning to spend some time in the gardens, Sesshomaru had grunted a little unhappily, but he hadn't said anything. He had headed towards the offices where he would his brother and the commanders. Of course, he had first threatened Rin's personal guards both with and without words if even a scratch was found over her body upon his return.
Mentally Rin had huffed; she wouldn't have minded having some private time with Kagome, but she realized that Sesshomaru wouldn't compromise on that. Thus, she settled for some fresh air and light talks with her friend – talks that would be eavesdropped by not one, not two, but four personal guards, including those of the priestess.
Yet, that morning Rin felt a little more serene, and she hoped the pain in her heart would fade a little and her smile would be less false. In fact, for the first time since that night – so she had called it in her head – she would see the pups again. Although a small part of her, one that she had carefully hidden and buried, felt envious at the thought of two healthy, living sons with a full head of silver hair, the other felt ashamed of those feelings.
She had no right to be jealous of Inuyasha and Kagome or resent them because their children were alive and in good health, while hers hadn't even had a chance to see the world. They were the same pups she had seen being born, crying, laughing; they were the same ones she had changed their diapers, given their first meals or encouraged when they took their first steps. Over the years, the half-demon and the priestess had willingly shared important stages of their children's lives with her and welcomed her into their family even without Sesshomaru. And though, at the time, she had seen another little face framed in silver curls, one the fruit of her love, she could not throw away the couple's affection for a feeling as petty as jealousy.
Children would come, and what had happened to her would in no way hinder her desire to be a mother. But her relationship with the two would never be the same if, at that moment, she showed resentment toward two innocent children. Not to mention that she would never be able to resist those puppy eyes and pouts that always sent her into a swoon.
She had no illusions either, she knew that seeing them would inevitably make her feel pangs in her heart, but she vowed to banish such thoughts to a dark corner of her mind and heart.
When Rin heard knocks at the door, and Kagome appeared on the doorstep with Toga hugging his mother like a Koala, she turned to them, pulling her lips into a smile as sincere as she could and ignoring the vivid image her traitorous mind was trying to show her.
The image of a woman with brown hair hugging a pup, perhaps littler, with equally shining and silky hair.
"Good morning Rin," Kagome exclaimed, noticing the girl's attempt to smile more sincerely – and partially succeeded. Internally, she breathed a sigh of relief and returning it had seemed natural as she recognized the action for what it was: the result of Rin's willpower. "I hope you won't mind a third participant for our walk. I tried to dissuade him, but this young gentleman was very insistent since, according to him, he has many interesting things to tell his aunt." As she spoke, she tickled her son near the navel; in turn, Toga pouted as soon as he heard his mother tease him.
"Oh, really?" Rin asked with mock disappointment as she set the brush down on the dresser. She watched with amused eyes as the pup's lower lip protruded dramatically as he untied his arms from his mother's neck to cross them. He then assumed a defiant position that replicated his father's to perfection. Kagome, whose hands now supported the child's back, watched the scene with anxiety mixed with joy. "So, the third participant must have taken part in some great adventures since he has so much to tell."
Toga immediately brightened accordingly. Of course, he had! He had managed to survive days without his mom and dad and had learned a powerful new attack that was uniquely his own. If that wasn't adventure, he didn't know what the word adventure really meant!
He puffed out his chest just as he had seen his daddy and Shippo do so many times whenever they had done something heroic and nodded vigorously to prove his point.
He would show both his mom and aunt how strong he had become since they had left him in the village!
"Oh, I wouldn't talk about adventures," his mother continued jokingly, "but more about getting into trouble. He looks every bit like his father in that."
"No!" Toga protested; he felt partly betrayed by his mother, who should instead be proud of his exploits. "I caused no trouble," he pouted again. "I learned a new attack, and papa told me I was a prodigy!" he exclaimed, almost shouting. Whatever a prodigy was must have been good because his daddy had seemed pleased when he told him. He completely ignored the fact that his dad had also seemed angry and tense when Uncle Miroku had told him about the discovery. He hadn't been angry with Toga, so he had no reason to believe he had caused trouble. So, he tried to make his mom understand so that she and his aunt could be equally proud of him.
"Ah, really?" Kagome feigned surprise – after all, she already knew how the whole thing had gone – and, turning to her son, showed him that she had his full attention. "Well, then you really must tell me everything too, Toga, not just your aunt. It seems your daddy hadn't told me things right. I want to know how brave you and your brother were this time."
With that done, no longer worried about Rin's reaction, Kagome headed towards the private gardens, ready to listen to the partly ungrammatical, partly gesticulating conversations of a five-year-old.
It would have been best to keep the guards away from the pup, though; they didn't want Toga to rehears his new formidable attack on them.
Following the meeting with Haruki, and after Inuyasha had assured himself the fox demon would keep his promise as soon as possible because he had no intention of seeing his youngest son cry again, Sesshomaru wasted no time and arranged a meeting with the council.
Hayato was summoned immediately, and while Inuyasha spent some time with his family to repay the children for their lost time, Sesshomaru informed the hawk of their intentions.
They could no longer let the cat demon act undisturbed in the council; the actions of recent times had been enough. Both brothers wanted to get rid of him as soon as possible; Goro seemed fully intent on convincing as many people as possible about the need for a pure-blooded heir.
And in all honesty, the problems in the West were already too many to worry about that as well.
There was Rin, whose health was still not so good. Although physically she was recovering day by day thanks to Kagome and the other healers' attention, mentally she was still far from healed. Now, there was a dark halo around her aura that intensified whenever she thought of the child they had lost – and anyone could recognize those moments by the grimace on her face. It would only clear up when people who distracted her and, above all, showed her love surrounded her. At least, it was what that few hours spent together as the men were busy with the meeting had shown.
During their time together, Kagome recognized some signs of psychic fatigue on the younger girl's face, but for the most part, Rin maintained a genuine smile; she even interrupted Toga's monologue regarding his great adventures in the village here and there. The priestess had breathed a sigh of relief, but she knew there was still a long way to go. At least, she would be able to count on the help of her children and not be afraid of the interaction between the three of them.
Sesshomaru had done the same when he and his half-brother had joined them. He had seen his mate interact with his brother's children with joy he hadn't seen in days. Without knowing it, he shared the same fears of his sister-in-law; he had thought the pups' presence would do her no good. What if they send her to the brink of despair? He watched the exchange with anxiety he didn't remember ever feeling – after all, he couldn't kick his nephews out of the castle just because they'd lost their pup. But the fear that had gripped his heart had just lasted a nanosecond. Shortly after, he saw the smile return to Rin's lips, even if it was not the one she had once worn.
Now, Kagome had told him privately it was essential to get through the first stage of grief. And, if the children could help her, she and Inuyasha would stay as long as necessary. Then again, the half-demon had added, they too had their own problems to deal with at the palace while Kagome took care of Rin.
Sesshomaru did not intend to add to his mate's pain the mindless chatter of Goro and those who listened to him. He was not a fool; he knew that although many at court now appreciated Inuyasha, there were always those who would prefer a pure-blooded heir and if there was a chance to have him outside the bond, why not? Sesshomaru clenched his jaw at the very thought. No, it wouldn't come to that; it was bad enough that the idiot Katashi and his brothers had suggested it.
Once Goro was removed from his seat, he would no longer have any influence. The cat could shove his ideas about the pure race and the continuation of the bloodline up in that place – as Inuyasha had kindly said.
And then, there was Noboru; the threat was still very real. He couldn't be kept locked up in his chambers forever, and, despite the decidedly smaller, if not meagre, circle, he still remained a calculating and cold person. His mother was convinced that once he was free, Noburu would be quiet for a while, hoping to catch them off guard again. It only meant that he had to be kept under control all day, and wasn't that a problem itself? An attack? Forcing the enemy to be on his toes, always looking over their shoulders and being suspicious of anyone and anything was even worse and more deteriorating than an attack.
Sesshomaru refused to become that kind of person because of one like his uncle. The more he could be kept under control, the better.
His release was not imminent. In order to prolong his uncle's confinement in his private rooms even when Inuyasha and his family were not present, Sesshomaru had made the excuse that his mate was still new to life in the castle and with a possible threat on the loose, they could put her in danger.
Tsubasa and her associates gritted their teeth – and the two brothers could imagine Noboru doing the same whenever he was told he couldn't get out yet. Inuyasha wondered how much longer that solution would hold up.
And that was why they needed to move as soon as possible and Sesshomaru had requested a council meeting for the following morning. Getting rid of Goro and having an extra friendly face in the council would make it easier to solve the remaining, more overwhelming problems.
However, Sesshomaru was under no illusions; he knew that approaching the meeting calmly would be extremely difficult. The reasons for Goro's removal were there – of that, he did not worry –, and the other members knew Sesshomaru had only postponed Goro's judgment and not at all forgotten the last affronts. It was his right to request the expulsion of one in such cases.
How could he forget that Goro had gone back on his word when he had refused to offer his help in a situation as desperate as that of the past weeks? Would his aid have changed anything in the overall picture? Not much. Would it have helped save innocent lives? Definitely. It was enough for Sesshomaru to hold him accountable.
Add to that the constant disrespect, the insults to his deceased father and the offensive requests... No, there was no shortage of accusations.
The dai-youkai was sure, however, that the news would upset everyone. He only hoped Haruki's immediate presence would calm the spirits. Of course, maybe Kosuke wouldn't be happy about it because he was probably the only one not in favour, but he was still a polite demon, unlike Goro, and as long as he was alone in his objections...
Sesshomaru took a deep breath and finally started to walk towards his rooms, breathing in his mate's scent that would surely calm his nerves.
At least, he could be sure that, within a day, he would no longer have to listen to that annoying cat's complaints that for too many years had claimed too many rights. Maybe it was worth putting up with a few more cries the following day.
And how would Shou and his family react? A devilish grin stretched across Sesshomaru's lips and his eyes twinkled with malice. Would he have to endure their shouts as well? Maybe, but maybe Sesshomaru could start to see it from Inuyasha's point of view and think that their complaints really did offer first-class entertainment.
A concubine? He snorted. He would show them what he thought of a concubine.
That night, Inuyasha lay bare chest on their futon, one hand behind his head and the other tracing his mate's shoulders; Kagome's eyes were closed, but her breathing told him she was still awake.
They enjoyed the silence for a while before one of them decided to speak. Eventually, they did so almost simultaneously.
"Tomorrow, we will remove Goro from the council; Muteki has confirmed the commander's goodwill to us."
"With Rin, it went much better than I had hoped; Toga has been very helpful."
The half-demon lowered his gaze to meet hers. She gave him a half-smile that almost looked like a grimace, her eyes also conveying the anxiety she was trying to hide.
He sighed. "It's been a while since we had a few quiet days, hasn't it?"
"Uh-uh," she nodded. "We'll have a few more like these, I guess."
He sighed again, and the hand his head was resting on slipped into his long silver hair in an almost automatic gesture that reflected his unease.
"Do you think you'll have trouble tomorrow?" she asked, hearing the sighs increase.
"I think? Keh, I know there will be trouble. We're talking about Goro; he won't leave his post without giving us more trouble. I just hope I don't get held up the whole morning. Councils with him are always interminable, but it is necessary to do it as soon as possible... it's become even more unbearable, and we can't risk it right now," he replied, making a clear reference to Rin's miscarriage.
"You have it all planned, though, don't you?"
His hand went back up and down on her shoulder; his touch gave her goosebumps. "Yes, in theory, yes, but Goro's reactions are always unpredictable. Or rather, they're unpredictable in their predictability."
"It will go your way anyway. Your and Sesshomaru's anger is too much, and the conditions are all there. He has taken far too much advantage of his elderly rights and reached the breakpoint."
"Is it too much to ask for some time with my children in peace?" he sighed. "Sesshomaru owes me that. I want one of those things you guys do in the future...what was it called? Like the one after we got married."
"A honeymoon?" Kagome tried. "But you don't take the kids there. I thought you missed them."
"Yeah, one of those things there but between families," he nodded.
"A vacation then. Yes, we definitely need one. But as I told you before, it won't happen. Going back and forth between here and the village, we always have someone requesting our services. When we're here, it's like we use our days off in the village and vice versa."
"I don't give a damn," Inuyasha interrupted her, looking up at the ceiling, contemplative. "As soon as Rin is better and we can leave this den of hungry wolves, I have no intention of returning to the village right away. As soon as you set foot there, you'll be overwhelmed by a horde of women and men with non-existent scratches breathing down your neck and trying to devour you piece by piece. Not to mention the ones who exploit me to move any bullshit."
Kagome turned on her side to get a better look at him and then patted his chest; quick as lightning Inuyasha caught her wrist to keep her hand steady in that position. "Come on, they're not that terrible."
"Keh," he huffed, "over the years they've started to take advantage of us, Kagome. They seem to be no longer able to fend for themselves over the smallest things. They regress instead of improving. And it's a good thing I keep the men in line; if something happened, they couldn't defend themselves, and we're not always there for them."
It was Kagome's turn to sigh. "And what are the plans then? Where would you like to take two hyperactive children who constantly need to be washed and fed? Do you remember what Shippo was like when we used to travel? Your kids are three points worse because they take after you!"
"I'm not the one with the personal hygiene craze."
"I wouldn't brag about it so much, you know? I'm not even going to start lecturing you about it again."
"We would be gone a day anyway, two at the most. Just once, I'd like my only problem to be the grains of rice that end up in my ears every time Toga eats." He elicited a laugh from his mate; he looked at her mischievously. "Besides, since we have to take the brat with us, he'll have a chance to pay me back for all the whining I had to endure when we were still travelling," he began as his lips slowly reached her earlobe and nibbled on it. His warm breath gave her chills, and she couldn't hold back a shiver. "As he keeps the pups at bay, I'm going to let off some steam with their hot mama."
And as Inuyasha's gravelly voice told her how he would like their well-deserved vacation away from the intrigues of the court – accompanying gestures with words –, the worries and anxieties disappeared for a few hours.
The morning would come even too soon, and they intended to enjoy a few moments of peace.
At that moment, in the same castle, but in a different room, another silver-haired demon held his mate close to him. The two stayed embraced, trying to express with gestures what words could not.
Without knowing it, Sesshomaru was replicating the same movements of his brother: gaze turned towards the ceiling, hand tracing Rin's bare arm, sighs that despite himself escaped. Instead, his mate was snuggled against his chest, getting closer and closer almost as if she was trying to merge with him.
Emotions and concerns were very clear to both of them, even without demonic senses. He was obsessed with making Rin feel safe, eliminating the threat of Goro that could have undermined the serenity of his mate and the doubts about her health. Instead, she believed she had failed him despite all the reassurances she had received from both him and Kagome. Yet, Sesshomaru had done his part. Why hadn't she been able to complete hers? Why hadn't she been given her chance?
Those bitter traces that began to contaminate Rin's usually pure scent shook the dai-youkai from his thoughts. He wished he could lose himself in physical pleasure, even if only for an hour and distract her from such dark ideas. Knowing it was not possible, he contented himself with kissing her lips greedily, catching her off guard and partially achieving the desired effect.
Sliding his hands down her small body, he pulled her even closer, deepening the kiss and making it clear he would not allow such doubts to creep in between them and undermine the foundations of their relationship.
Rin surrendered to that implicit order, once again reading her mate's soul as no one else had ever done.
That night, in another room of the castle, in another way, another woman sought refuge in the arms of her beloved.
The following morning, the sense of security that both couples had felt during the night was gone. By breakfast, the auras were particularly unstable and ended up affecting even those who were unaware of what was about to happen – namely the guards and children, for one.
Although Kagome knew that only Sesshomaru and Inuyasha would be attending the meeting, anxiety knotted her up inside; to keep herself busy, she made sure that her children ate without getting too dirty. On the other hand, she did not touch a single grain of rice, ignoring her mate's glares and the bowls of food he insisted on putting under her nose in the hope that, for once, she would listen to him. Sesshomaru didn't have this kind of problem: as soon as Rin showed she wanted to follow Kagome's lead, he only had to pronounce her name decisively to change her mind; she swallowed everything Sesshomaru put in front of her.
Kimi watched the scene shaking her head and laughing slightly up in her sleeve. She wasn't worried; she knew that most of it was done and, no matter how Goro objected, nothing would work. She didn't understand why someone would ruin their appetite with a feeling such as anxiety, nor why her own son had become a victim of it, though definitely to a lesser extent than the others.
In general, the whole breakfast seemed to last much longer than usual. In the end, between snorts and grunts, Inuyasha stood up, and more rudely than usual, he exclaimed, "So, are we leaving? The sooner this meeting ends, the sooner I'll be able to kick that shitty cat's ass."
So great was his irritation that he didn't even bother to censor his language for his children's sake, who looked at him with big round eyes, expecting the usual reaction from their mother. Kagome, however, didn't sit him – something she rarely did now – because she was well aware that the last thing Inuyasha needed at the moment was to be sent face down to the ground. Nevertheless, she looked at him sideways, clenched her fists and counted to ten, telling herself that her mate was just nervous. Then she turned to her children, and with that look of her, she made them understand what awaited them if they dared to repeat such words.
Sesshomaru only sighed, standing up with his usual grace after kissing his mate lightly and instructing the guards. He was of the same opinion; there was no point in staying there any longer, considering he wasn't even eating. He waited for Inuyasha to greet his family, and together, they walked towards the main exit of the royal wing.
Only then did he speak. "I'm aware your nerves are on edge, little brother, but for the sake of this meeting, remember to speak appropriately."
For his part, Inuyasha did not even articulate a response longer than a Keh.
When they were about to enter the council rooms, the half-demon thought he had experienced a similar scene far too many times since he had set foot in his father's valley. Anxiety always gripped his heart when he crossed the threshold as if he expected to be judged, and he had to take into account who knows what. Yet, that day he realized the feeling was different: he was not the one who would be judged, but the judge, and he intended to enjoy every second of it.
On his face, he wore the tried and tested mask, glacial eyes and a devilish smile. Although he had learned that look from his brother, Sesshomaru's mask remained always indifferent, while Inuyasha betrayed impatience and excitement. And yes, after all, the hanyou was dying to throw Goro out despite the many things that could go wrong.
Inuyasha had had to endure Goro's useless complaints for years, and at times it had seemed as if he might go deaf, but now the time had come for well-deserved revenge. The transformation in him happened in a second, his aura quieted down and even Jaken, who had accompanied them as usual, shuddered to see that grin sprouting on the hanyou's lips.
Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow, but didn't look at him, just felt his aura. Finally, he sighed. What a fool he had been to think Inuyasha could act like an adult on certain occasions. It was obvious he would do anything to irritate Goro and make the situation worse. At this point, he just hoped that the meeting would end as soon as possible, and at least one of the main threats to Rin and her safety would disappear.
For Goro, the meeting shouldn't have come as a surprise, especially considering recent events. Not only had Sesshomaru warned him more than once, but not content, the cat had continued to demand without any rights. They had also already foreshadowed the possibility that the dai-youkai might request an audience just to discuss his behaviour.
However, that morning, Goro was far from worried when Inuyasha and Sesshomaru entered the meeting room. Perhaps, the half-demon mused, his complacency and continued settling into old rules continued to make him delusional. Only a fool, on the other hand, couldn't have noticed that resounding crack that Sesshomaru's patience had made when it had broken during their last meeting.
In fact, had it been for Inuyasha, Goro would have lost his position years ago. It was only because his brother kept insisting there was no valid reason for the expulsion that he had endured for so long. But at last, ignorance and, more importantly, his bigotry, had driven the cat to take a few missteps at such short notice. All to the delight of the two silver-haired brothers.
Seeing the usual frown on the demon's face but noting the absence of concern, Inuyasha's grin could only grow wider. It would be even more fun if Goro had no idea why he had been called that day. The other six council members wore partly bored and partly curious expressions; only in Hayato and Minato's eyes was a distinguishable mischievous spark. No doubt the two remembered how the last few councils had gone and Inuyasha's promise to call one back soon and for a particular reason.
"Good morning, everyone," Sesshomaru began. "I am pleased you have all given us your time despite the short notice. However, the urgency of the problem we will be addressing left no other alternative. I would appreciate it if we could resolve it as soon as possible."
A few eyebrows rose accordingly as Inuyasha continued to keep his amused, devilish gaze on the cat demon, who instead, as was his wont, had poorly digested his breakfast if the sullen expression on his face meant anything.
"Has anything else happened that we don't know about?" Toru inquired in a neutral tone.
"Nothing new, Toru-sama, rather... at this sensitive time for our lands, it is necessary to protect ourselves and resolve all possible problems at birth. There is one that is of particular concern to me, and my brother and I felt it only right to act now before it is too late."
"Quite a commendable attitude and also in line with your character, Sesshomaru," Sayaka interjected. "What is the problem you speak of? If not new, it will surely have come to our ears at some point in the past."
"Oh, you may rest assured that news has reached you before, Sayaka-sama," Inuyasha laughed mockingly with his eyes still glued to Goro. "Allow me to remind you that in the last few meetings an issue has been set aside that, as far as I'm concerned, should have been eliminated years ago. But as they say? Better late than never, right?"
Sesshomaru shot him an icy look that suggested he get moving and leave the theatrics aside if he still wanted to have the honour of breaking the news, otherwise, he would beat him to it; Inuyasha rolled his eyes and continued, this time addressing the cat demon directly, "Yeah, I mean... Goro, do you want to say your last words as an elder of the council? Apparently, today is your last day."
A/N: Hello, there, I hope everyone had a good week and is safe. I also hope you liked the chapter after the long break.
Since in two weeks is Christmas (yes, already) and here we'll be celebrating from the 24th to the 26th, I won't be posting a new chapter that weekend; I'm not sure I'll have the time. So, I'll do my best to post it a few days earlier.
Leave some love behind if you want and be safe. Until next time!