ELEVEN

The food is ready by the time they finished freshening up and they all gathered at the dining table to finally eat. Ren sat at the head seat with his sister on his left and Inuyasha on the right. Shippo is seated beside his mother and Rin sat next to him. As everybody expected, Sesshoumaru occupied the seat opposite the man of the house, on his left sat Miroku and then Sango.

Kurenai observed her friends around the table they gave them cotton shirts and sweatpants to wear but their discomfort with modern clothing is still evident especially with the dog demons. She can't help but wince as she looked at the Great Demon Lord of the Western Lands, dreading the day when he tries some jeans on, having been used to wearing the finest silk in the land, 'This is going to be painful' she thought. Well, she can bet the Inuyasha's gonna give them an equally hard time.

The spread of food at the table are as Ren promised, chicken macaroni soup, crunchy fried pork chops, green leafy salad and steaming rice along with a pot of coffee and green tea and a pitcher of orange juice and it got their mouths watering.

"C'mon guys, help yourselves!" Kurenai said and they didn't have to be told twice, they all began to feast on the meal Ren prepared for them.

"Zewishus!" Shippo attempted to say delicious through mouthful of food.

"Shippo, don't speak with your mouth full remember?" Kurenai reminded the kit.

"He's right though, they taste great." Miroku told Ren.

Ren stabbed through his salad, "I'm glad to hear that, even mediocre food have a tendency to taste great when you're starving." He joked and his sister almost choked on her porkchop from the urge to laugh.

Sango smiled at Ren, "No honestly, it's really good."

"That's good then." Ren smiled back.

"Are you okay now mama?" the kitsune's worried eyes looked up at her.

She gave the kit a gentle pat on the head, "I'm fine sweetie, a little tired is all. C'mon eat up." she said before taking a sip of coffee.

"I'll give Dr. Keller a call to check on your foot and give you a brace so you can start moving around better. I can already feel you getting irritated from asking me to do stuff." the olive-eyed brother said, a hint of laughter in his voice.

"You know I'm not used to not doing anything, brother."

"Hah! Don't I know it and I also know that you plan on working despite your condition."

"Of course I do. You know how important this period is for us."

"Lady Kurenai..." Miroku slipped into the conversation.

"Please Miroku, stop calling me lady in here. I don't have such title." she insisted firmly, "What is it?"

"What is your work exactly? The only thing you've told us is that you and your brother work together and you travel a lot." the monk voiced the question that everyone from the Feudal era are itching to ask.

"Yeah! What type of work do you have to afford all of this?" Inuyasha blurted with food in his mouth.

"Didn't you hear what I just said to Shippo not to talk with food in your mouth Inuyasha?" Kurenai scolded before answering, "We're musicians." Their guests stared at them, dumbfounded.

"Musicians earn this much in this time?" Sango asked.

"Well yeah, the entertainment industry is one of the highest paying business in this era, IF you're famous enough." Ren answered.

"So, you guys are famous?" the hanyou sputtered.

Ren pointed a fork at his sister with olive eyes twinkling in amusement, "Ahh, so that's why you didn't tell them." His sister kept focus on her plate but a hint of red flushed her cheeks and he turned to their guests, "Let's just say that there are people who appreciate our music."

Their guests switched fascinated stares between the siblings.

"Well that's intriguing. We sure are looking forward to see what you do. You must be very good at it." Miroku commented.

"You won't have to wait long, we're scheduled to perform three days from now." Ren told them.

"Oh yeah, I remember Kurenai telling Inuyasha that she needs to come home around that day." Sango said before reaching for a glass of water, "I know this is a useless question considering how stubborn you are... but will you be alright performing in that condition?"

"Yup. My injuries should be better by that time." Kurenai answered casually with a wave of her fork.

"Kurenai loves music and performing so much to let a sprained foot stop her." Ren looked at his sister with pride but with a hint of concern.

Kurenai looked at him fondly, "You love it as much as I do."

Ren's grinned, "Of course."

"It seems that the two of you have built quite a well-established life for yourselves." Sesshoumaru said in what the others consider a praise and then he added, "Where are your parents in all of this? Do they live in a different residence?" the clinking of the utensils stopped and the table got quiet, much to his bewilderment.

"Geez, way to ruin the mood bro." the hanyou shook his head and the daiyoukai glared daggers at him.

"It's a normal question, Inuyasha. He didn't mean anything bad by it." Miroku pointed.

"He's right, Lord Sesshoumaru just doesn't know." Sango agreed.

"Did this Sesshoumaru's question offend you?" he asked the siblings and saw the sister shake her head gently.

"No, just like what Miroku said, you have no ill intentions." she looked at him and for a second, he saw fleeting sadness in her eyes, "Our parents died when we were very young. I was nine and my brother was eleven. So it's basically just me and my brother."

Sesshoumaru is shocked by the revelation. Now he understands why Ren held on to the memory of him almost killing Kurenai; she's the only family he has and he almost took her away. The daiyoukai felt his stomach clench remembering what he's almost done.

"Just like Rin." he muttered.

"Yes, just like Rin." she nodded slowly.

Kurenai saw Rin's face morph into sadness, "Oh, don't be sad Rin. You know why? My brother and I always had each other. And you... You're very lucky to have Sesshoumaru look after you. Am I correct?" Rin smiled and looked at Sesshoumaru before nodding furiously. If the emotional conversation had any effect on the daiyoukai, he didn't show it on his face.

Ding Dong!

A high-pitched sound echoed throughout the house.

"Oh. That should be Ryan, I'll get it. Please excuse me." Ren got up and went to the main door along with their furry sons to greet the guest.

"Mama! What was that sound?" Shippo asked.

"That's called the doorbell. It's a signal that there's a visitor outside of the house." Kurenai explained, "C'mon, eat up."