Chapter 5
Day Before the Festival: In Sesshomaru's Study
"Hello Sesshomaru. How have you been?" Kagome asked as she and Inuyasha sat in front of his desk.
"This Sesshomaru has been well. How have you and your pack fared? I see that you have yet to make your wish," Sesshomaru replied.
"We've been good. The only real problem is that I have no idea what to wish for. I still have no idea what purpose Midoriko intended for the blasted thing. So, what is it you wished to talk to Inuyasha about?" she asked as Inuyasha started to fidget.
"This Sesshomaru will explain in a moment, there is one more person that must be present at this meeting and will be here shortly," Sesshomaru said. A few minutes later there was another knock on the door and Jovan entered the room. Inuyasha didn't even bother to turn and look at the person who entered until Kagome gasped. After a few seconds of shock Inuyasha looked back over at Sesshomaru.
"WHAT THE HELL! Where did she come from? What is going on here, Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha demanded as he jumped to his feet. Kagome snapped out of her daze and grabbed his arm.
"Inuyasha, that's enough. Take a seat and I'm sure that Sesshomaru will explain, remember you promised to listen to what he had to say," she reminded him as she pulled on his arm. "Now, Inuyasha or I'll say the magic word."
"Keh, fine, but this had better be one hell of a good explanation," he grudgingly replied as he sat back down.
"Inuyasha, this is Jovan. She is your older twin sister," Sesshomaru started. "Jovan, this is our otōto, Inuyasha and the Miko Kagome. Come sit while this Sesshomaru will explains."
With that Sesshomaru spent the next couple of hours telling Kagome and Inuyasha how everything came about. He admitted that he wasn't very accepting of their father's decision to be with Izayoi, but that he had tried to do the right thing anyway. He told them everything that he had told Jovan, including how he would look after Inuyasha in secret. When he finished talking both Inuyasha and Kagome were shocked at first, mostly because he had talked so much.
"Ya know, I had figured out that you were helping me," Inuyasha admitted after the shock wore off. "When you were traveling with us and I saw how you took care of that kid of yours and even looked out for the runt, I figured out that you had been the one to help me out when I was a kid. Didn't wanna admit it at first, but when we were fighting Naraku I saw three times when you stopped him from attacking my back. After the battle you just left and that gave me time to think about everything. I realized that if you had really wanted me dead you would have just killed me. I also had to admit that when we fought you were going easy on me. I can also understand why you never told me about Jovan. At first we were both too angry and I wouldn't have listened. Then there was Naraku, who would have tried to use her against us if he knew about her."
"What say you, Inuyasha, shall we forgive our past and try to be the family Father wanted us to be?" Sesshomaru asked. Though he didn't look it he was amazed that Inuyasha hadn't blown up at him more than once.
"Yeah, I think we could do that. I just have one question for you," he replied in a calm voice. "Why the hell does our sister smell like that mangy wolf, Kouga?"
"Otōto, it is not nice to call my intended mangy," Jovan said with a slightly mischievous smile. She found it funny when Inuyasha's jaw dropped at her answer. It only took a few seconds before he exploded.
"Hell, no! You can't be serious. Sesshomaru you're giving our sister to the wolf? How the hell could you let that happen…?" Inuyasha ranted for a few minutes until Kagome decided that enough was enough.
"Sit boy," she said as she rolled her eyes. "Jovan it is very nice to meet you. Please forgive Inuyasha, I'm sure that you and Kouga will be happy, though you might want to make him build you a house instead of living in that cave that he lives in."
"Oh, don't worry, the cave was only what they used for protection from the birds of paradise. When the birds started preying on his people he decided that living in wooden building that could be broken into or set on fire was impractical. Once you helped him get rid of those pests they started rebuilding their village by the waterfall, though they plan to use the caves if there is another emergency," Jovan explained before looking over at Inuyasha. "As for your questions my dear otōto, Aniki gave me his word that I could choose my own mate. He doesn't want me to go through an arranged mating like Lady Mother and our father did. Besides, Kouga is a very nice male and he has told me all about the issues between the two of you. He's given me his word that if you are civil to him he will not start anything with you."
"Keh, fine. You're a grown woman, so there's not much I can say, but why the wolf and when did he stop chasing Kagome?" Inuyasha asked with a resigned sigh.
"Well, Kouga saved my life and looked out for me until Aniki came to get me. You're going to have to ask Kouga about his chasing Kagome, I promised I'd let him explain about that. But that is something that can wait. What I'd like is to spend a while getting to know you. I've only known about you for about six moons. So, otōto, will you escort me to the festival tomorrow?" Jovan asked.
"Yeah, I'd like that, but can we leave the wolf out of it. I'd rather get to know you without him around if you don't mind," he replied with a soft smile.
"Sure, I look forward to it," she answered with a bright smile of her own.
"Well, Sesshomaru, I'm sure you have other things you have to do and Kagome and I have to go get ready for dinner so we're gonna head back to our rooms," Inuyasha stated as he stood up. Kagome, Jovan and Sesshomaru stood up as well.
"Very well, otōto," Sesshomaru replied as he offered his hand to Inuyasha. At first Inuyasha was hesitant to take his hand, but then he shrugged and clasped Sesshomaru's hand in brotherhood. Kagome watched with tears in her eyes as they took the first step towards fixing their relationship.
"Oh, I just wish your father was alive. He would be so proud of both of you," Kagome said without thinking. Suddenly there was a bright flash of pink light that made everyone cover their eyes. When the light disappeared and they all uncovered their eyes they all stared for a few minutes, because there in Sesshomaru's study stood a gorgeous inu youkai. He was a few inches taller than Sesshomaru with bright gold eyes, long silver hair that would have reached his feet if it hadn't been pulled up into a top knot, his long bangs that reached down passed his eyebrows, his skin was paler than Inuyasha's, but tanner than Sesshomaru's, he had one jagged dark blue lining each cheek bone and the same magenta streak above his eyes as Sesshomaru had. He was wearing a white haori with a thick dark blue stripe and a narrow dark blue stripe going down his left shoulder, a white hakama, heavy spiked armor with a diamond shaped ruby embedded in the center of the breast plate, dark blue arm guards with a grey design on them, and a dark red sash with a dark blue stripe at the two ends. He had two tails that he had arranged to look as though he was wearing a silver fur cape. He had a slightly puzzled look on his face as he looked around the room. His massive youki flooded the room and slightly clashed with Kagome's spiritual powers for a few seconds before he suppressed it. Then, as his eyes focused on Sesshomaru and Inuyasha he took a step toward them.
"Sesshomaru, Inuyasha, my sons, it is good to see you, but I did not think I would see you again until you crossed over. How is it I am in the living world again?" the male inquired.
"Maybe we should all take a seat," Kagome suggested, "this might take a while to explain and we might as well be comfortable while we talk." As they all sat down Sesshomaru introduced Kagome and Jovan.
"Father, this is the Miko Kagome, and this is your daughter Jovan," Sesshomaru said "Jovan, Kagome, this is our father, the Inu No Taisho, Lord Takehiko (A.N. Takehiko means Hero Prince). He then briefly told him about Jovan's past and explained how Takehiko didn't know about the second child. After that Sesshomaru explained about Midoriko's death and how she created the Shikon Jewel. With everyone's help Takehiko learned what had gone on with his sons for the last two hundred years and about Kagome's wish.
"Well, that explains it. Midoriko was a good friend when I was alive. I'm sorry to hear of her passing, but I'm sure her daughter will be relieved to know that her mother is finally at peace," Takehiko said.
"I didn't know Midoriko had a child. I wonder why her daughter wasn't entrusted with the jewel after she died," Kagome commented.
"Oh, not many beings knew about Midoriko's daughter," Takehiko replied with a laugh. "After all if other people learned that she had mated with a youkai and given him a full blood child they would not have trusted her as much as they did."
"I wonder if her daughter is still alive. If so we should find her and let her know that her mother is now free," Kagome said.
"Well, I think Sesshomaru would know whether she is or not. After all he and Yoake are childhood friends," he answered. Sesshomaru's eyes widened in surprise at hearing that Yoake was Midoriko's daughter.
"I see. That makes the search easy, since Lady Yoake and her otōto, Lord Kouga, are here at the palace for the duration of the harvest festival," Sesshomaru said after taking a few seconds to collect himself. "Since dinner will be served soon I suggest we all retire to our rooms to prepare. Father, I will escort you to your room and have a servant bring you some clothes for you. Will you be reclaiming your title as lord of the west father?"
"No, my son, my time as Lord ended when I died. I will be enjoying the freedom that comes from not being a Lord. I will have to see Totosai about forging a new sword for me as well. I will not be reclaiming Tessaiga or Tenseiga either, they are no longer mine," Takehiko replied as he stood up. "Perhaps you, Inuyasha, and Jovan would attend the festival with me."
"This Sesshomaru will be escorting Lady Yoake, but I am sure that we will see you at the festival," Sesshomaru replied. "Perhaps, Inuyasha, you and your pack would be willing to stay longer. There will be plenty of time to get reacquainted after the festival."
"I will have to ask the others but I wouldn't mind staying longer," Inuyasha said. "Father, if it's alright with Jovan I wouldn't mind having you tag along with us."
"It's fine with me. I never expected to be able to meet you, Father. Oh, Sesshomaru, what are you going to tell Lady Mother? She's going to be here tomorrow," Jovan added. By this time everyone was standing and heading for the door.
"Kamiko is coming? It's good to see that you are starting to get along with your mother, son," Takehiko said as they all head toward the family wing. Sesshomaru stopped a passing servant and sent her to gather a few changes of clothes for Takehiko.
"It is Jovan that mother is coming to see. Since Jovan has moved to the Western Palace Mother has been lonely. I will tell Mother the truth about how Father is alive again," Sesshomaru responded. By this time they had all reached the family wing and Sesshomaru gave Takehiko the last room on the right since the room next to Sango's was already prepared for Kamiko (A.N. Kamiko means Superior Child). Everyone but Sesshomaru and Takehiko went to their own rooms to get dress for dinner.
"Once the festival is over I will have to see about getting suitable rooms set up of you Father. We may have to add onto the family wing if Inuyasha and his pack decided to stay," Sesshomaru informed Takehiko as he turned and walked to his room. "I will see you at dinner Father. I'm sure many of our guests will be surprised to see you."
"I'm sure you're right, Sesshomaru. Though the really smart ones will already know through servant gossip and would have surely felt my youki when I was brought back."
"Not necessarily, Father. I have a barrier up around the study. It's a rather interesting one inspired by the Miko Kagome. She told me of this thing in her time called a two way mirror. It is a mirror from one side while a window from the other. I used the same principle to create a new barrier that allows me to know what is going on outside the study without anyone else knowing what takes place inside the study. As such no one outside the study felt your youki before you suppressed it. The new barrier makes it much harder for my enemies to spy on me. Best of all, the new barrier completely closes off the room once I leave it and there are only a few people who are able to enter the room when I am not present." Sesshomaru informed Takehiko in a smug tone of voice.
"Good, dinner will be most entertaining then. Who took over the Northern Lands after I sealed Ryūkotsusei? And is Hideki still the Southern Lord?"
"Lord Satoshi, a water dragon youkai is now the Northern Lord. Lord Hideki is indeed still the Southern Lord. I believe you and I are the only ones who have ever been able to outwit that old kitsune. His daughter died about 60 years ago; no one has seen her mate or her son since then. I heard that her daughter has been searching for them since she returned from the continent. She was traveling and hadn't even known that her mother had taken a mate until she returned 50 years ago," Sesshomaru replied.
"I remember her, Lady Itazura. She was born a little over two hundred years after I was. So I guess we would be about the same age now. Huh, I guess she was right when she used to tell me that she would catch up to me in age. Well, we best get ready for dinner," Takehiko said as a servant arrived with a couple changes of clothes. With that he and Sesshomaru headed into their rooms.
Just as Sesshomaru thought, when his father entered the dining room the entire room went silent, a few beings fainted and the servants, who had already been informed by the gossip grape vine, all struggled not to laugh at the looks of shock, joy, or in some cases terror, on the faces of the guests. A few beings that had once been on bad terms with Takehiko actually fled from the palace, which caused the rest of the guests to laugh. Lord Hideki and Lord Satoshi both kept their composer and welcomed Takehiko back. It was a dinner that no one would forget.
