I do not own Inuyasha.
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Sesshomaru sat watching his beautiful woman in the firelight. She was playing with a spider, making it run in circles with a stick. Whenever it stopped she would gently poke it to make it run again. Occasionally she would smack the ground in front of it with the stick to spook it into going where she wanted. She was bored.
Suddenly the spider decided it had had enough of being toyed with, and when she poked it it turned and attacked the stick. She squeaked in surprise, dropping the stick and the spider made a break for it. It was heading straight for Jaken, who was too busy muttering to himself to notice.
Both daiyoukai and human decided not to warn the little kappa but to watch what happened instead. Melissa expected the tiny creature to scamper across Jaken's foot and give him a brief scare. Instead it decided to run up his hakama leg.
There was a moment of silence as Jaken frozen in confusion, then he began screaming and smacking at his hakama. "What is that!? getitoffgetitoffgetitofff!" He squealed jumping around shaking his legs in a vain attempt to dislodge the intruder.
Suddenly he screamed in pain and grabbed his backside! Then he ripped off his hakama (turns out he was indeed a guy) and ran from camp. As he disappeared into the darkness a terrified arachnid held onto his left butt cheek for dear life!
Melissa burst out laughing so hard she had difficulty catching her breath. Even Sesshomaru gave a brief chuckle of amusement as he watched his vassal disappear.
He turned his eyes to his beautiful bride. This was their last night alone together as single people. The next day they would arrive at his mother's palace, the day after their guests would arrive. In just a few days time Melissa would be his wife.
He stood and went to her side. He ran his hand down her hair and back as he sat down then pulled her into his lap. Jaken crept back to camp, pulling his kimono low over his front and turning the odd color you get when you mix bright red with olive green. Melissa giggled at the absurd thought that he should be in a martini.
Once Jaken had fallen asleep they stole away for a night of passion then returned to the camp to curl together. Melissa fell asleep almost immediately, Sesshomaru stayed up a while licking her forehead and cheeks.
They could see his mother's palace when they woke the next morning, but they were in no hurry to get there. Sesshomaru walked with her while she foraged. Only after she'd gathered her food did she start her fire. She took her time eating breakfast, prolonging their time alone. (Jaken didn't count)
Finally they had no more excuses to put it off. What's more, the smoke would have been visible, his mother knew how close they were. He picked her up in his arms and waited a moment for Jaken to grab his mokomoko then leaped into the sky.
They were greeted by his mother and Kumiko then went to their room to change out of their traveling clothes. Granny showed up moments later, after a warm greeting to the pair she gave Melissa a critical once over and rounded on Sesshomaru. "Haven't you bothered to make sure she was eating? And just when I'd gotten some weight on her! This girl is skin and bones!"
"Nonsense. Melissa has lost no weight." He retorted. He really should have kept his mouth shut, now both women were glaring at him.
"I'll go down to the kitchen and have them send something up for you, you just relax." Granny told her
"I just eat big breakfast." Melissa told her. But Granny wouldn't listen and soon Melissa found herself tempted with an assortment a sweets she didn't really need. It was impossible not to give in.
Once they had bathed and changed out of their travel clothes Kimiko met with them for some last minute wedding planning. Then they went to the gardens before Sesshomaru hunted down Kin for some sparring while Melissa played with Kiyoshi. All in all it was a nice day, but Melissa caught people looking at her with pitying gazes throughout the day.
"Granny, why do people look sad for me?" She asked that night as the old mama bear helped her undress.
"What do you mean, my little lady?" She asked putting away the layers of silk and pulling out a sleeping yukata.
"People look sad for me. Why?"
Granny was silent for a moment. "Do not worry about it. Some rumors have started, but that's normal, don't let it bother you."
"What rumor?"
"Well... It's no secret that you and Maruchan have been intimate for months now, and yet..." Her voice trailed off, but her eyes traveled to Melissa's flat belly. "Sometimes these things just take time. Don't let it worry you. Why I bet you just need a few good meals. After all how can you create a body for a child when your own is barely there?"
Melissa remained quiet, choosing not to tell Granny that there was some truth to the rumors. That she couldn't have a baby. That she made herself temporarily barren to avoid the pain of losing another child. She told Granny she was tired and went to bed before Sesshomaru returned from wherever he went with Kin.
Sesshomaru and Melissa were playing a board game when a messenger announced the guests were approaching. They went to meet them at the gate. Kilala landed first, Kagome had the baby strapped to her back and Inuyasha rode behind her to make sure the baby was ok through the flight. Shippo transformed and landed on Inuyasha's shoulder as he dismounted.
Ah'Un landed next and Kohaku jumped down. Though she did not need it he insisted on helping Rin down. He placed his hands around her waist and held her steady as she slid from the dragon's back. He held her waist a moment longer than necessary, smiling down at her.
"If you wish to live to see your own wedding day you will remove your hands from her now." Sesshomaru warned Kohaku who dropped his hands immediately and turned scarlet. As he turned from the two teens Sesshomaru couldn't help but wonder how long they had been in love and why it took him so long to see it.
He led them into the throne room where his mother waited to be introduced. after ascending only a few steps Sesshomaru realized one set of feet had stopped moving and turned around. Inuyasha stood motionless at the bottom of the steps staring up as though he we looking at a ghost. "You! You're real!"
"Indeed I am." Kimiko replied standing and beginning to descend the stairs.
"I thought I dreamed you up because of the fever."
"Understandable, you were a very sick little boy. I was glad that the liver potion worked so well, I thought with you having human blood it might be to strong."
"Mother got that recipe from you?"
"Where else would a human have gotten such a recipe? She wrote me about the fever, that her healers claimed to be unable to help you. The truth is they were unwilling. I told Izayoi to make an example of them but she was too kind hearted." She told him, coming to a stop a few steps above the group. Inuyasha didn't know quite what to say so stayed silent. Sesshomaru broke the uneasy silence by introducing Kagome, Shippo, and the baby.
"Kumiko, show my step-son's wife and the children to their rooms." She instructed, causing everyone's eyes to pop out of their heads. "You seem surprised, Inuyasha."
"Y-you just called me your step-son."
"My husband was your father. What else would you be to me?" He nodded, thoroughly confused and began to follow Kumiko out with Kagome.
"Inuyasha, stay. Sesshomaru, you and Melissa may go as well." Sesshomaru nodded and strode from the room, Melissa walked beside Kagome, chattering excitedly. Inuyasha hesitated, but Sesshomaru wouldn't let anything happen with Melissa there.
Once the door had closed Kimiko turned and walked back up the stairs to her throne. Inuyasha didn't know what else to do so he followed her. "Just what the hell is going on here?" He demanded, getting irritated.
"Be calm, Inuyasha. Your wife and children are in no danger here and Kumiko will return to take you to them momentarily." She replied sinking into her throne.
"Yeah? So what the hell do you want from me?"
"Such a temper. I really don't know where either of you boys get it from, Touga was always very cool headed." She replied as she surveyed him with cool gold eyes. She sat with her chin in her hand looking at him for a moment the sighed softly. "I should have looked for you."
"What?" He asked, taken aback.
"When I heard she had died I sent someone to collect you, to bring you home to me. They told me Izayoi had died weeks ago and that you had been run out of town. Alone in the wild for so long, I believed you had perished. I did not wish to see your dead form lain before me so I did not search for you.
"It must have been terrible for you. To be alone in the world, with no mother to feed you, no shelter, believing no one wanted you. By the time Sesshomaru told me you still lived you were a man. A man who had no need for a step-mother who had abandoned him."
"Feh, Don't go feeling sorry for me! You thought I was dead, anyone would have. I have a good life now so drop it."
"Very well. But going forward you are always welcome here. If you ever need anything do not hesitate to ask. Sesshomaru can tell you how to find me."
"He won't tell me shit about finding you, but thanks anyway."
"I will make him. He has two weaknesses now, two human women he loves. I am not above using that against him. Oh, I won't hurt them. I could never harm Melissa, but I can use her to my advantage."
Inuyasha stared at her, unsure whether that was ok or not. Kagome wouldn't think so, but Kimiko was a youkai and Melissa a mere human. They were not on equal footing in Kimiko's world.
"Well I imagine Kumiko is waiting outside the door to take you to your wife and children by now. And I am sure you'd like to freshen up. You are excused." Without another word she stood and left leaving poor Inuyasha standing there gaping. The wheel in his head was turning but the hamster had been thrown off!
A few moments Kumiko entered the room. "You look as though you may like to lay down for a moment or so." She replied with a kind smile, "Please follow me. Our lady has a good heart, but I know she can be bit much to deal with at first."
When she slid the door to the room back it was quite crowded as Everyone was visiting. Melissa, Kagome, and the kids were talking animatedly while Sesshomaru sat off to the side observing. He looked at Inuyasha's face and rose to his feet, announcing that they should allow everyone to settle in.
Kumiko said she'd show the children to their rooms but when Shippo jumped up Inuyasha grabbed him by the tail. "You're staying with me and Kagome. Sesshomaru may be a decent person now, but I don't know any of these other youkai."
"What did she want?" Kagome asked softly once Shippo was occupied playing with the baby.
"She told me she sent someone to get me when mother died, but they said I was dead. I think she was apologizing for not looking for me." He replied, mind still blown.