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Strangled Time
Chapter 52
He smelled like her.
If Togashimaru needed any more damning evidence, that was it. The boy was the child of Izayoi.
Inuyasha.
That name, the name he chose, it was the name of the forest where he and his sweet brazen princess had met. Now it was the name of a boy who would carry on a much greater legacy.
His mother's legacy.
Unlike Togashimaru's elder son, this little one hefted the weight of two different worlds. It was his humanity that would set him apart from the rest, and with that he would grow and evolve and exist as something greater—as the last remaining fragment of the human woman Togashimaru had loved.
No, not a fragment. Inuyasha was so much more than simple pieces left over from another person. He was an entity all his own; a work of art crafted from passion, perseverance, and grief that would forge a new path, defying all rules set against him. But he held the echoes of his mother, the whispers of her love and her touch, and he would continue on with those memories in his heart.
So long as Inuyasha lived, so too would Izayoi's spirit. Of that Togashimaru was certain.
As a child his son stood before him, and thanks to the priestess by his side, the demon Lord knew the young man that he would grow to become. He knew the brash, hot-headed fool and the sweet, broken adolescent. He knew that eventually, with the aid of his full demon brother and the mixed motley of his allies and friends, Inuyasha would stand against and ultimately vanquish one of the darkest evils and threats to humanity that the land would ever face.
Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru, and Kagome. Together they would stand tall and united—a force with no equal.
What would lay beyond for them after their final battle with Naraku, Togashimaru did not know. But what he did know, beyond the barest sliver of a doubt, was that they would be victorious. The three of them were going to save the world: his two sons and that tempestuous woman that had become the glue that binds.
For that, Togashimaru could not have been more proud.
Proud of his demon son, who would learn to see beyond prejudice.
Proud of his hybrid son, who would come to embrace the uniqueness of his identity.
And, of course, proud of the young human priestess, who continued to carry hope and persist forward, even when she could clearly see the pain that sprawled in the glade ahead.
"…Thank you." Togashimaru said once he realized that he was standing in silence after Kagome's illustrious introduction. Then he offered as best a bow he could to that child of his, taking care not to use names meant to be unknown. "It is a pleasure to meet you, young man. Truly a pleasure, indeed."
…
Inuyasha kept staring at him.
Not that he minded as they found a bare spot along the street to call their own before the procession could start. Although the boy was clinging to Kagome's side and there was so much energy bustling about in the streets around them, Togashimaru found himself to be the subject of Inuyasha's gaze more than anything else.
Perhaps it was the hair.
The color was a close match to the half demon's own locks, after all, on every other night aside from that one.
Once they were settled into their spot and isolated by their own little bubble of security, Inuyasha found the courage to ask the strange, large man the question that had been squirming on the tip of his tongue.
"…Are you a dog?"
Hovering at the boy's other side, Kagome tried not to spook.
Perhaps it was the mask.
The mask was canine, after all, and surely his mother had told the boy stories.
Acknowledging his son with a slight nod, the demon responded truthfully. "I am."
Behind his too-big fox mask, Inuyasha's eyes lit up. He stared, unabashed and enamored. "…Me too." He whispered, the sound nearly silent and breathy with awe.
"Oh?"
The little half demon nodded twice. "Uh-huh. Mother says…" He started before tapering away to look down at his toes.
Ignoring the pull of his stitches, the old demon knelt to better communicate with the small boy. His words were a gentle hum when he prompted, "What did your mother say?"
Inuyasha squared his feet and raised his chin to look up at Togashimaru. Unconsciously, the boy straightened with pride. "Mother said that my father was the biggest, greatest dog there was. So that means I've got to be a dog too. A great one."
Togashimaru closed his eyes and for a second he simply bathed in warmth.
Perhaps it was the light from the lanterns that heated his skin so.
There were, after all, lots of lanterns.
"Yes, you are." He replied smoothly. "But know that it you who defines your greatness; not the blood of a sire that flows thorough your veins."
…
The sound of drums and whistling flutes filled the air around them. It grew stronger with every pulsing step as the floats began to travel down the streets from the central shrine. A patchwork of lights hung along the side of each districts' formidable wooden structure, basking the onlookers in a glow like vermillion daylight.
Because of how heavy the floats were, each one needed nearly twenty five men to pull it along. These human men, all dressed in simple matching uniforms, became Inuyasha's next source of fascination. Instead of the elegantly garbed religious figures or the vibrant performers, the boy was ensorcelled by the workers displaying their greater feats of strength and unyielding stamina.
He was absorbed and early on in the parade Inuyasha even took off his kitsune mask to make sure that he had the best view.
Kagome saw Toga's reaction when he did.
While Inuyasha's gaze was velcroed to the floatmen like a kitten spotting a moth on the ceiling by the light for the very first time, Toga's eyes were just as transfixed on the boy.
The General was hypnotized.
Leaning in close to whisper to the dog demon, Kagome asked, "Does he look like her?"
Without hesitation, Toga nodded.
His response was a woody perfume beneath the loud of the festival furor.
"Indescribably so."
…
People began to leave as soon as the parade crossed the bridge to the other side of the city. Like droplets of food coloring in a glass of water, the dense crowd gradually dispersed into the wider expanse of Chichibu's spider-webbing streets. A few likely returned to their homes and inns to retire, but for most the night was just beginning. It was time for the next best thing on their festival itineraries: food, games, and shopping.
Kagome led them down winding, vendor lined back road streets and it wasn't long before she spotted the familiar face of the kind merchant woman who had instructed her to go first to the shrine. The lady was tending her wares with a robust vigor and the priestess offered her a genial smile. She would have offered her more, like a wave or a bow, but at that moment it seemed that both of her arms were already spoken for. On her right was Inuyasha, tucked close and gripping tight, and on her left was Toga, her fingers resting at his forearm to offer support and stability. The two were oddly quiet since the end of the procession, and Kagome peeked to check on them as she headed over to a table covered in little carved figurines.
Inuyasha was easy to read with his eyes pinched shut and nose high in the air. He was trying his hardest to decipher the mess of smells with his human nose; grills burned, casting smoke and wafting scents of food both savory and sweet, and incense hung thick from perfumed pedestrians.
When the little boy licked his lips, Kagome took that to mean that he was once again hungry.
Big shocker there.
On her other side, Toga was in a similar state—eyes also nearly closed with silver brows knit low enough to be visible through the holes of the mask.
His squinchwasn't from hunger, though.
He was tired.
Really, she shouldn't have been dragging the injured demon around in the first place, but when Inuyasha seemed curious to explore, Toga had insisted. He was pushing himself beyond his limits; both she and Saburo saw that. Kagome wasn't all that likely to say no to Toga wanting to spend time with his son… but doubling back again for something to eat? Wandering around in aimless circles to follow Inuyasha's nose? The dog was going to drop where he stood.
So how was she going to do it? How could she get Toga to rest for a hot second while at the same time keeping Inuyasha fed and happy? They were already too far from the restaurant district for a sit down meal and the last food stall she'd seen was nearly a block behind them. Other than cross her fingers and hope that there was a griddle set up around the next corner, what could she do that didn't involve straight up splitting the party?
Huh. Splitting the party.
Splitting the party. Leaving Toga and…
Maybe that wouldn't be such a bad idea, after all. Actually...
Kagome peeked down at Inuyasha's hand clutching hers.
Oh yeah.
She knew exactly what needed to be done.
Committing to her new plan, Kagome spoke up. "Hey, do you two mind staying here for a bit while I go find us some snacks?"
"Could Saburo not—" Toga started dryly, but then halted when Kagome slipped her fingers to his palm to lift his hand. She placed something warm and small against it, and curled his long fingers down to hold firm.
"Save my spot for when I get back, okay?"
"Y—yes. Of course." The mighty demon Lord stuttered.
The look! Oh the look he gave her as she scuttled away! So shocked, so bashful!
The priestess might not have been able to see much from behind that mask, but his body language had it all out on display. He was as rigid as a middle schooler going to his first homecoming dance, and it was probably the best reaction she'd gotten out of him all week!
Kagome took one last glance at the pair before she disappeared into the crowd. She saw as the tall, ancient dog demon turned down to get a better look at the back of his knuckles.
In disbelief he stared at the hand of his son, held safely in his own grasp.
…
After placing her order, Kagome turned her back to lean against one of the booth's supports, smug as a bug in a conniving little rug and glad that operation 'hold my hand' turned out to be such a success. Unfortunately her triumphant mood could only last so long.
"This is shit." A low voice practically growled.
She jumped, then turned to glare at the one who so rudely ruined her moment.
"Excuse me?"
Saburo huffed and crossed his arms over his barrel chest before settling in beside her. The vendor eyed his flaming grill as it shifted under the man's weight.
"Seein' them be cute like that. Bein' happy. It sucks." The blacksmith complained. Anger laced his words, maybe even disgust, until it all fizzled down flat with the extinguishing blow of the sentence that followed. "Knowin' what's gonna happen next—to th' big guy…"
Like a soda left open in a hot car, Kagome's carbonation deflated right alongside him.
She couldn't find the words to respond.
So Saburo trudged forward.
"That kid, he shouldn't have ta grow up all alone like that without his dad. It ain't fair. Not fer none of us."
Somehow the slang of his accent only got worse as his temper turned to sorrow.
Yet Kagome never understood him more.
"Yeah, you're right." She said, showing the ground a tight-lipped smile. "It's not."
…
Togashimaru stared down at the tiny hand in his. It was just as small, just as warm, and just as delicate as that baby bird had been in the forest.
He couldn't remember the last time he held the hand of a child so young—couldn't remember the last time he'd shown any sort of physical affection toward his own flesh and blood.
How long had it been since he'd been as close to Sesshoumaru? It had to have been nearly one hundred and fifty years since their last tentative embrace. Perhaps even longer.
When Inuyasha fidgeted, Togashimaru stiffened. The little boy inspected their hands out of the corner of his eye, his posture tight and uncomfortable. The grown demon looked coyly away when the child peeked up at his mask, a blotchy flush covering the better part of Inuyasha's round face.
Shifting nervously when the silence stretched, Inuyasha turned back to the ground, trying his darndest to avoid looking again at the bear trap that held his hand captive.
Togashimaru frowned.
The boy didn't seem to have such problems clinging to Kagome. He held onto her as if she were his very life raft. That and he seemed comfortable enough with Togashimaru before she left, as well. He'd assumed that the boy had taken to him quickly. Yet that no longer seemed to be the case. There was one major factor that he hadn't taken into account, however: this was a child unused to paternal contact. Unaccustomed to a masculine presence.
Inuyasha was a child that had never before known a father's touch, and so to him the strangely massive male hand was more a prison than a haven.
Letting out a soft, accepting sigh, Togashimaru released his grip, freeing the boy from further discomfort.
In reaction to that—a reaction that the General hadn't expected—Inuyasha spun. He gawked at his loose, wiggling fingers hanging awkwardly in the air, then narrowed his dark eyes incredulously up at the much larger dog. His pout tangled embarrassment with a scowl that looked damn near reproachful, taken straight from Izayoi's own repertoire of expressions.
"The priestess lady said we need to save her spot." He said up to the silver haired demon, not quite scolding, but close.
Taken aback by the boy's sudden shift and rule abiding attitude, Togashimaru blinked before having to hide a smile. "Ah, yes, of course. I do apologize." He said and then offered out his open hand for the boy to reclaim on his own accord. "Please continue to ensure that she has a place to return to."
Inuyasha nodded, determined, but when he looked to Togashimaru's palm—to his long claws—hesitation once more stained his confidence. His tiny face twisted with consideration, and then, instead of wrapping his hand again in the intimidating paw of his elder, he grabbed a single digit.
His entire hand fit perfectly around his dad's pinky.
And so he held that.
More than satisfied with the boy's choice, Togashimaru nodded. He turned away, barely managing a straight face as Inuyasha settled into a more comfortable closeness.
Kagome was a lucky young woman.
She could rest assured that, in the hands of the child Inuyasha, her spot was safely guarded.
…
Inuyasha stared at the weird, warm lump in his hands.
"What is it?" He asked.
"It's food." Kagome prompted. "Try it!"
The little boy looked up at her, unconvinced. "It's purple."
Kagome snickered. "It's a sweet potato."
"If that is the case, why is it… fluffy?"
The priestess blinked up at Toga. The dog demon was inspecting his own paper wrapped purple lump, his look of confusion made her smile.
"You've never had a baked potato from a street vendor before?"
"I cannot say that I have."
Smile pulling wider, she turned to their third. "Saburo?"
The blacksmith looked up from his handful of hot potato, cheeks stuffed and red. "Yeah?" He asked, eyes wide.
"You've had these before, right?"
"Well, 'course." He gumbled around his mouthful.
"You are avoiding the question, Kagome. Why is it fluffy?" Toga tried again.
Kagome waved her hand. "The guy cut it in half, scooped some out to mash, and then put it back in the skin. I can't believe you've never had this before. Stop looking at me like that and just try it already."
Giving her one last withering glance, the demon turned back to his food. He tilted his head down and lifted his mask just enough to take a bite.
Before his second bite in, Toga choked.
"It is sweet." He complained.
"No duh, Sherlock!" Kagome retorted, placing her hands on her hips. "It's a sweet potato. I just said that."
"You did not warn me to the extent of its sweetness." Toga continued as if she hadn't spoken. "The sweet is almost overpowering. It is very nearly a dessert."
"It's not that strong. You're exaggerating."
"I can assure you that I am not, Kagome."
"Are too."
"Am certainly not."
Ugh! He was such a kid sometimes!
The priestess scowled before looking over at Inuyasha. He was watching them like a puppy engrossed in a table tennis match, his own potato forgotten near his lips. As soon as he caught her eyes, the little half demon quickly turned back to his treat, expression even more dubious now that the older dog had expressed distaste.
With a huff, Kagome twisted back to Toga. Her glare bit him with accusation and singed the resulting wound with annoyance.
He held her stare, ready to defend his taste buds and his honor. Then she gestured to his son with her chin.
Toga cringed.
Then he caved.
The dog demon humbled himself into taking another bite. This one slower, more deliberate, and much, much smaller.
A chew, a swallow, and a weak smile later, Toga turned to the boy.
"It is a good sweetness." He announced, enunciating each word carefully. "You may like it."
Under the scrutiny of the adults, Inuyasha gulped. Each and every one of them got a hesitant, searching stare before he once more acknowledged his sweet potato.
Closing his eyes tight and wishing for the best, the little boy took a bite.
Kagome held her breath.
Toga surreptitiously deposed his remaining potato into Saburo's outstretched hand.
And then Inuyasha's eyes shot open with surprise.
"It's sweet." He repeated as if surprised by that fact.
"And?" The priestess prodded.
Inuyasha swallowed. "It's good." He said and smiled shyly.
Both Kagome and Toga breathed sighs of relief as the pup set to devouring the rest of his purple spud. The moment he became totally engrossed in the food, Kagome rounded for an attack.
"Watch it!" She hissed at the ancient dog demon, quietly so that only his ears could hear.
"I forgot how impressionable they are at this age." He admitted, also whispering low. "When he was this size, I once convinced Sesshoumaru to believe that green onions were hot enough to burn holes in his tongue. To this day he still will not eat them."
Easily distracted by this Sesshoumaru fact of the day, Kagome grinned. "No way, seriously?"
"Seriously." Amused, he raised his shoulders in a shrug. "Although, I am unsure if that remains to be the case. He has long stopped taking the things that I tell him to heart… Possibly since the time I tricked him into eating an entire wasabi root. The lesson it taught him about accepting unfamiliar food was well worth his temporary lack of trust and the weeks of sleeping outside."
Her mouth fell open.
"You're evil. You know that, right? You're, like, really evil."
"I can be." He replied, eyes aglitter. Then he cupped a hand around her upper arm. Beneath the mask she knew that his smile had gone soft. "But tonight I will be on my best behavior."
…
Laughter drew her gaze. The laughter of a child, small and meek.
Familiar.
The woman lurched to a sudden stop, immobilized by the sight of them. The boy. The priestess.
Her pretty face contorted to a look of starched fury.
"Meddlesome twit." She cursed beneath her breath.
"Ma'am?"
Spinning on her heel, the woman stalked back in the opposite direction, much to the confusion of her small entourage.
"Ma'am?" The younger girl tried again.
However, the woman did not respond or acknowledge her presence. She continued forward, a veritable force of nature capable of parting the passing pedestrians with the power of an empirical procession. Her eyes shadowed to ice and determination.
That boy.
He was supposed to have disappeared into the wood, never to return. The danger culled from her garden before it could blossom into an invasive and deadly bramble. That was what she'd been promised.
Yet there he was.
Smiling.
Thriving.
Hidden behind her delicate festival mask, the woman's mouth twisted to a snarl.
She should have known better; one does not simply trust the stalks of a knotweed to be scared off by trimming the main plant.
The only true way to ensure its removal is by eliminating the roots.
Chapter End