Shikuro: A Caribbean Fairy Tale

by Inuma Asahi De

Inuyasha was as bad as pirates came, according to his legend. Kagome was a woman of propriety, destined to marry for her family's honor when all she wanted was to live on the sea. What happens when their eyes meet by chance or perhaps by daring fate?

72. The Story of Three Men

Blanket Disclaimer: The writer does not own any characters created by Rumiko Takahashi but like everyone else wishes she did. All original characters or concepts are the author's Inuma Asahi De's (with the exception of historical figures).

Chapter Seventy Two

The Story of Three Men

Sango, Miroku, and Kagome all watched in a complete daze as Inuyasha hugged the man he had just called grandfather in Irish. "He's—but—." Kagome tried to speak but her voice completely failed her as she watched the Captain rub the side of his head against the other man's cheek, a gesture he had often done to her but she never understood the significance of.

"Not even a home port," Sango whispered the words as she slumped down in her chair, dazed and confused. "Not even—a home and now—he's—." She couldn't even begin to speak the rest of her sentence, her tongue failing her.

"He's got a grandfather." Miroku finished for Sango as he watched his father let go of the violinist and move towards one of the other men, the drummer. He watched as the peppered haired demon swatted at his father, hitting him in the side of the head while Inuyasha laughed. "He never told me." Miroku thought as he watched Inuyasha duck his head down, bumping the top of his head against the drummer's chin in a way Miroku knew was a sign of affection. "All these years and he never once mentioned he had a real family." A sickened feeling began to build in Miroku's gut that he couldn't ignore as he watched the last man, the lute player ruffle Inuyasha's hair as if he were still a child.

"I can't believe it." Kagome suddenly spoke as she came to stand beside Miroku grabbing for the man's arm with her fingertips. "He never mentioned it, not once."

"I know," Miroku shook his head back and forth, his expression sad and almost pained. "I mean, I heard about his father once," He recalled the conversation that had happened nearly five months before on the Mississippi. "We all heard about his mother but—," He brought a hand up to run through his hair. "I never knew he had—that there was—," He pointed towards the violinist his pointer finger actually shaking. "A living relative."

"My head hurts." Sango whispered as she brought her pointer and her thumb to her temple and began to rub.

"Mine too." Kagome agreed as she watched the three strange men and Inuyasha talk from across the room, the gossiping around them much too loud for Kagome to actually hear a word they were saying. "I just can't—believe this is happening." She blinked slowly as she resisted the urge to make her way towards the small familial gathering. "All this time he had a family and we didn't even know it."

Suddenly, the violinist turned back to the people, swinging his arm around Inuyasha's shoulders as he did so. "Tá brón orainn, a dhaoine uaisle." He called out to the crowd apologizing to them as he held Inuyasha close to his side, looking as if he never wanted to let the boy go. "Tá eagla orm ní mór dúinn a ghearradh ar fheidhmíocht na hoíche anocht ghearr." He spoke calmly even as the crowd showed some great distain for what he had just said. Looking exasperated, he pulled his hand from Inuyasha's shoulders holding them up in front of the crowd, silently asking for quiet. "Ní fhaca mé mo garmhac in aon cheann déag bliana," His words seemed to go over much better with the crowd this time, the men and women nodding as if they suddenly understood his reasoning for whatever he had said before. "D'aois agus ní mór dúinn i bhfad chun teacht suas ar."

The crowd yelled their acceptance as the man Inuyasha called grandfather finished his sentence hands still held high in the air. The hooting and hollering of the crowd continued for some time until one of the other men, the lute player stepped forward. Without evening having to raise a single hand, the crowd instantly quieted as if they weren't used to seeing this man speak at all. The lute player looked out across the crowd slowly, a stern look on his face, and his silver eyes gleaming brightly.

"Mar sin féin," His deep bass voice echoed throughout the perfectly silent tavern. Every human in the building, including Sango, Miroku, and Kagome, leaned forward listening to the man as if what he was about to say was law. "Dar saor chun fanacht agus a ithe agus ól gach oíche ar fad."

The tavern exploded into a loud chorus of happy voices. Kagome blinked from the sheer intensity of the sound, bringing her hands up to cover her ears. "Whatever he said must have been good." She yelled over the din as Sango and Miroku mirrored her look and nodded in agreement.

"You can say that again." Sango agreed as she finally forced herself to stand from her chair and move so that she was standing next to Kagome. "This is ridiculous, what could he have said?"

"Who knows." Miroku grumbled as he looked towards his father watching as the older man laughed loudly. The only indication that the noise bothered the man was the sight of his ears pressed down hard to his skull. It was a sight that not only Miroku noticed but the lute player as well. Miroku watched as the lute player reached up and playfully tugged on one of the ears forcing it upright.

Inuyasha glared at him from the action and pulled away, only to have the drummer perform the same action on his other ear. The dog demon quickly turned towards the other man, pushing him lightly even as the drummer let out a deafening laugh. Looking only slightly disgruntled, Inuyasha shook his head before turning towards Sango, Miroku, and Kagome smiling brightly as his eyes came in contact with them. His fangs shown as his smile widened and he raised his hands waving to catch their attention before motioning for them to come over.

Stunned, all three hesitated, something about the situation making their feet stay glued to the ground. It was Kagome who managed to move first, her steps small and delicate as her heart began to race in her chest. "These people," She thought to herself as she began walking through the chaos of the tavern, not even noticing the ruckus as she negotiated through it. "His family," She felt her face grow hot, not with embarrassment per say but with gnawing uncertainty. "I'm about to meet his family."

Behind her Miroku took Sango's arm as any proper gentlemen would and began following Kagome. "I can't believe—he has a family, a real family." Miroku gulped slightly as feelings of anxiety washed over him. "Why didn't he tell me?" He wondered as his stomach began to knot, nerves settling deep in his abdomen. "Did he not want me to know?" He asked himself the question unwittingly tensing his body as he did.

"Are you okay?" Sango whispered as she felt him tense, wrapping her arm a little tighter around him his own.

"I don't know." Miroku responded honestly as he continued walking through the crowd. His eyes watched Inuyasha carefully as the man helped the band pick up their instruments and the giant jar of money. "I guess they're packing up for the night." He chewed on his lower lip biting into the flesh as he tried to take his mind off of his own unnerving thoughts.

In front of him, Kagome reached the table placing her hands in front of herself awkwardly as she listened to the four men talking excitedly in Irish. The words flew around her, scary and unknown as she watched the Captain laugh while talking to the man he had called his grandfather. "His grandfather—," The thought circled in her mind as she watched the three men take off towards a door, her mind not even acknowledging that Inuyasha hadn't joined them and was thus, now approaching her. "I can't even—it seems so unreal. He has a grandfather."

"Kagome."

Inuyasha's voice suddenly calling her name awoke her from her stupor making her jump. "Um—yes?" She stuttered and shifted back and forth awkwardly.

"Come on—," He motioned for her to follow, his eyes lifting away and behind her as he saw Miroku and Sango approach as well. "We're gonna go eat dinner." He told them all before turning away once more, heading towards a small wooden door located down a series of four steps.

Turning to look back at Sango and Miroku, Kagome opened her mouth about to say something but her voice failed her once more. "Um—," The sound came out instead and Kagome snapped her mouth shut.

"I completely understand." Miroku told her not having to hear her words to recognize the way she was currently feeling. "This is just—."

"Bizarre." Sango replied for him as she watched Inuyasha walk down the little steps towards the door. Hand on the handle, he opened it, the hinges groaning from the action, revealing a darkened hallway that made her grimace. "Am I dreaming?"

"If you're dreamin' I'm dreaming." Miroku mumbled just as his father turned back to look at them expectantly. "We should go—," The Captain's son told them as he took his free hand and placed it on Kagome's shoulder directing her with one hand while he directed Sango with the other. "That's the only way were gonna figure out what the hell is going on."

"This time," Kagome thought but didn't bother voicing as they made their way towards the Captain. "I'm not sure I want to know."

Inuyasha didn't say a word as they reached him, simply held the door opened motioning them through. All three entered the bleak hallway hesitantly, their eyes drawn to the bricked walls and a tiny painting of a field landscape standing atop a piece of truly antique furniture. The wooden floor creaked against their heels loudly, the sound of an old house greeting their ears. A threadbare rug protected their feet from making direct contact with the wood but still allowed it to squeak with each step they took. As the door clicked back into place behind them, the world grew astonishingly quiet in the small hallway adding to the eerie ambiance.

"Well," Miroku finally gained the courage to speak as they stood there unmoving in the dark hallway. "Um—," He cleared his throat and turned towards his father, the shinning eyes of his demanity haunting in the vague light. "What's going on?"

Inuyasha gave the boy a halfhearted, apologetic smile that was barely seen in the dark corridor. "Well um—," He motioned absently at the little painting and the antique dresser. "This is—this is where I grew up."

The words hung in the air for some minutes before Sango suddenly cleared her throat as loud as she possibly could. "You mean," Her voice came across as tight as she held onto Miroku's arm, squeezing it to give the man reassurance. "All this time, you had a home and never told us." She flinched as Miroku tensed even more underneath her fingertips.

The Captain hesitated for only a moment, his eyes turning towards Kagome unconsciously. The woman was standing with her hands in front of her, no longer holding onto Miroku for support. Her face was lowered, impossible for him to see, but the way her fingers laced together tightly, told him a great deal about her current mood. "I—." The word sorry refused to come and Inuyasha for a moment cursed himself and his own stubbornness. "Yes, I did."

"And those three men?" Sango pressed even though they pretty much already knew.

"They're my grandfathers." Inuyasha answered simply not really wanting to get into detail while standing in the hallway.

"Your grandfathers," Kagome finally spoke, the sound of her voice drawing her companions attention to her instantly. "The one playing the violin like that?" She raised her head looking at the Captain, her words a question but her voice telling him not to dare answer it. "The drummer," She looked directly into his eyes as a slight irritation began to build in her. "He tells me everything—I know things about him Miroku doesn't even know and—." She cut off the thought, shaking her head. "And the lute player too."

Shifting uncomfortably Inuyasha said the only thing he could really think to say. "Actually that's not a lute."

Kagome's whole demeanor tensed unnaturally, something within her snapping from perhaps the stress of the day (more than likely, the stress of the past eight months) or the current situation at hand. Whatever it was, for one brief moment, Kagome Dresmont lost it. "Who cares what it is." She yelled with frustration and ripped her hands away from each other, using one of them to point at the Captain instead. "You lied to us, us," She motioned between herself and the two other humans in the hall. "I thought we meant something to you—that you trusted us!" She voiced the exact thoughts of Sango and Miroku beside her unwittingly. "I thought at the very least—," Her voice faltered and she looked away from him, staring at the floor. "You trusted m—."

Suddenly a man peaked his head out from behind what had, up until a moment before, been a perfectly closed door. "It's very impolite to yell in your host's house." He told her as the other two men seemed to appear from out of nowhere behind her.

Kagome nearly jumped ten feet in the air as the drummer's voice seemed to explode in her head. "I'm so sorry," She spoke quickly, blushing bright red as she turned to look at him. "I—I wasn't—I was just—I'm ssss—I—um—I apologize." She finally settled on as she ducked her head down completely mortified. "Oh my god—in front of his grandfather—I had to lose it in front of his grandfather! How humiliating."

The drummer promptly laughed as she stuttered and reached out a hand to touch her chin much to Kagome's surprise. "Don't worry little 'um." He nodded his chin towards Inuyasha promptly. "You're with my pup, yes?"

Kagome blinked at the use of the term pup. She knew the Captain often called Miroku pup, using the term as a means of expressing affection, but hearing someone use that same term in that same ways towards the Captain felt wrong. "Um—yes." She answered the man's question and nodded, the feel of his surprisingly gentle fingers on her chin making her relax in a way she couldn't understand. "He's so gentle." She thought as she looked into the man's silver eyes. They were old and wise beyond years even the Captain knew and filled with a gentleness Kagome could honestly say she had never seen before in her life.

"Then you nothing to worry about from me—or any of us." He gave her a wink as he let go of her chin. "Me names Aengus." He told her with a smile on his handsome face. "I'm his great-grandfather." He told her and promptly turned around walking back inside the room, leaving Kagome more stunned than before.

"Great—?" Sango mumbled for behind her, her voice completely astonished.

"Aengus," The lute player chastised as he watched the man disappear. "You're gonna send the poor dears into fits." He frowned darkly and turned towards Kagome himself, a soft expression crossing his own handsome features. "I'm Paedar," He introduced himself, turning his attention to an equally stunned Sango and Miroku as well. "Welcome to our home." He bowed slightly before motioning to the opened door. "Now—before any other introductions are made, I think it best we all go sit down before someone faints."

"Good idea." Inuyasha nodded as he watched his pale companions seem to grow paler with each second.

"Have you eaten dinner?" Eoin, the violinist and Inuyasha's grandfather, asked as he looked over at Inuyasha.

"No—," He shook his head as he turned back towards his grandfather. "I figured you'd want to eat together."

"Great idea, we made a stew tonight, should be enough for all of us." Eoin smiled and motioned for everyone to follow. "Aengus is probably already eating." The man laughed as he entered the small room.

Kagome blinked as she entered the small room, which turned out to be a combined kitchen and dining room. Backed against the wall to her right next to another closed door was an old cupboard. It appeared that at one time the cupboard must have been painted white however, the paint was chipping now and the old bronze handles looked as if they were prepared to fall at anytime. Beside it an old long faced clock ticked in the corner, its long face appearing tired and almost sad. On the back wall, directly across from where they stood in the doorway, a remarkably new looking wood burning stove stood, heat radiating from the front of its vents. On top a pot sat, the sound of boiling from within it hitting her ears just as the heat hit her body. Finally, sitting against the left hand wall of the room, a rather large oak wood table sat, filling up the whole of the wall with its presence.

"I wasn't eating." Aengus huffed bringing Kagome back to reality as she looked towards him. Aengus was sitting at the head of that rectangular wooden table, his back to the wood burning stove. "I was waiting." He told them as he raised a mug to his lips, which appeared to be filled with the same ale from the bar.

"Inuyasha," Paedar motioned for the Captain who responded to his words quickly, head practically snapping to attention. "Stews on the stove," He tilted his chin towards the pot bubbling rhythmically on top of the stove. "You know where the bowls are."

Without complaint, Inuyasha nodded and stepped towards the right hand side of the room to a small cupboard that stood just beside the stove. "Did you bake any bread today?" He asked as he opened the cupboard up revealing a mishmash of bowls, mugs, tea cups both new and chipping, as well as plates, bowls, and baking pans in varying states of ware.

"Naw, we weren't planning on company." Paedar's voice came across as almost chastising, the sound of it making Inuyasha's ears actually pull back to his head. "Good." He smirked as he spoke before turning back towards the completely stunned humans in the room. "Where are my manners, now?" The man laughed, his eyes seeming to sparkle slightly as he did so but only ever so slightly. "Please, sit," He motioned to three available chairs that backed up almost uncomfortably close to the wall. "Make yerself comfortable."

Just like the humans in the other room, the three found themselves unable to disobey the command and promptly sat down the best they could. The limited space between their backs and the wall was so uncomfortably tight however, that they found it an almost impossible task.

"Here." Aengus mumbled and stood from his chair, pulling on the table until there was plenty of room for the humans to sit contentedly. "Sorry 'bout that, we're not too used to comp'ny." He clicked his tongue when he was done speaking and sent a teasing eye in Inuyasha's direction.

The dog demon didn't rise to the bait however, and merely continued rummaging in the cabinet pulling out a series of oddly shaped bowls of varying colors. "You think by now you'd have a matching set." He mumbled as he pulled them down, counting them absently to ensure he had enough.

"Why bother," Aengus told him with a shrug as he sat back down in his chair once more, enjoying the heat from the stove on his back. "None of them leak."

Chuckling, the younger Eoin grabbed a chair from beside the cupboard and sat across from the humans just to Aengus' left. "So," He addressed them carefully as his eyes shown with curiosity. "I suppose introductions are in order then?"

"Yes." Miroku nodded sharply, his own curiosity overwhelming his sense of fear at the possibilities this conversation might bring.

"Alright, you first," Aengus pointed at Miroku quickly with one clawed finger. "Who are you—where you from—how you know our pup?" He spoke so quickly Miroku nearly couldn't make out a word the man was saying. "Wait," He held up a hand. "Don't tell me I can smell it."

"Let the boy talk Aengus." Paedar groused as he sat down at the other head of the table across from Aengus. "He's just a little pup, give him a break." His voice was exasperated as he spoke, one hand actually coming up to rub at his head gingerly.

"You're no fun." Aengus threw back as he slumped down in his chair and looked towards Inuyasha. "Hurry up pup." He called towards the man just as Inuyasha opened the pot and began stirring the stew.

"If I go any faster I'll burn my hands." Inuyasha fired back as he continued stirring the thick stew.

Turning around to glare at Inuyasha's back, Aengus growled. "And this concerns me, why?" He posed the question, Inuyasha actually turning around and matching his glare as he spoke.

Eoin laughed lightly as he watched the exchange. "Something's never change." He shook his head and looked towards Miroku with a gentle smile. "We can smell it on you—," His voice was kind as he spoke. "Our pup adopted you, yes?"

Miroku felt the bridge of his nose instantly heat up. "Yeah—," He answered the man even as he shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. "He did."

"Well, well," Eoin leaned back in his chair and smiled brightly. "What's your name?"

"Miroku." He answered almost hesitantly as he watched the man named Paedar eye him from his spot at the head of the table. "What are they up to?" He wondered just to himself. "Do they actually care? But why would they? I'm just some kid their grandson picked up."

"Well then," Eoin looked over to the other two men before allowing his gaze to drift to Inuyasha who was still standing by the stove, ladling stew into bowls. "He yours?"

"He is." Inuyasha responded without even having to turn around.

"I guess, I only have one thing to say then." Eoin turned back to Miroku, his face drawn into a tight and intimidating line. "Welcome to our family." He smiled brightly, his eyes sparkling with love that seemed to have appeared out of almost nowhere. "You and your mate." He nodded towards Sango, who was staring practically opened mouth. "You both may call me grandfather if you like—or Eoin, which ever works."

"Thank you." Miroku and Sango both barely managed to say as Inuyasha headed back towards the table, placing a bowl in front of each person. He paused just a second longer than he needed to beside Miroku, bringing a free hand up to squeeze at the boys shoulder.

Miroku felt his heart relax from the gesture, his earlier misgivings and anger with his father dissipating. "They took me in," He blinked slowly as Inuyasha moved away from him, going back to the stove for the rest of the bowls. "Just like Otou-san did—without a single thought or bias." He felt Sango's hand touch his thigh underneath the table, squeezing it reassuringly. "What a family—."

Sitting the rest of the bowls down in front of everyone Inuyasha returned back to the cupboard to grab a few spoons. The clatter of silverware filled the small warm kitchen as he dug until he finally found seven spoons of varying styles, metals and woods. Shaking his head, he returned to the table, carefully laying a spoon next to each person until he found himself beside Kagome. The grey eyed girl had refused to look at anyone since her outburst in the hall and thus, had been staring at the old wood table as if it was a prized painting. "Ka—." He started to say only to be interrupted by his grandfather across from them.

"And this young lady," Eoin turned slowly towards Inuyasha, a strange look on his face that caused the young dog demon pause. "Who is she then?"

Kagome blushed as Eoin pointed towards her with one clawed hand. "Oh god, please don't ask about me." She begged as her embarrassment from earlier outweighed her need to be identified by Inuyasha's family.

"Yes," Paedar leaned back in his chair, looking at Inuyasha with firm, critical eyes. "Who is she?"

"Um—," Inuyasha looked away from his grandfathers and licked his lips slowly. "Well—," He motioned towards Kagome slowly. "This is Kagome Dresmont."

"Nice name." Eoin shrugged, the sound of his voice causing Kagome to raise her head finally. Eoin looked directly at her as she did, his silver eyes shining as he watched her, the corners of his lips actually curving into a barely contained smile.

"Lovely name." Aengus agreed from his spot across from Paedar, his own eyes shifting towards Kagome just as the girl looked towards him. He nodded at her gently, trying to convey a sense of ease in the currently tense environment.

"But not what we're asking." Paedar spoke suddenly, his lips drawn in a thin line as he too turned towards Kagome.

Looking into his eyes Kagome found herself almost hypnotized. "They know." She realized instantly as his silver depths sparkled with all the knowledge he had gained in his life time. "They can smell it," She raised her hand unconsciously towards her shoulder where the mark laid. "Maybe even feel it." Her fingers brushed against her tattooed flesh, causing a shiver to run up and down her skin.

"Well," Inuyasha began to speak, his voice actually coming across as anxious and unnerved. "She's a—."

"I'm his intended." Kagome spoke up bravely, causing everyone in the room to turn and look at her with amazed eyes. "But I suppose," She dropped her hand from the mark on her shoulder, blushing slightly. "You already knew that."

"We did." Eoin replied his facial expression changing from gentle and kind to dark for just the barest of seconds. Carefully, the man turned towards the other two men in the room, the three seeming to silently agree on something the humans and even Inuyasha were not privy to.

"So," Sango interrupted the uncomfortable silence as she looked between the family members, somehow sensing that whatever was going on needed to be stopped quickly. "You're Inuyasha's grandfathers then?" She spoke the words even as the oddness of them tickled the back of her mind. "Can't you only have one grandfather?" She wondered as she looked between the three men. "Especially since they're all demons, only one should be his demon grandfather."

"Well," Eoin pulled his eyes away from the other two full demons and turned towards Sango. "I'm his grandfather," He pointed at himself before turning towards his musician counterparts. "They're his—well—great grandfathers," He cleared his throat before mumbling under his breath. "Sort of."

"I see." The young girl shifted in her seat uncomfortably. "But—that still doesn't make sense, you can't be half demon and have two demon great grandfathers." Before she could contemplate her own thoughts any further her eyes fell to her stew and her stomach reacted by releasing growl of hunger.

The demon ears in the room, hearing the gnawing sound, all laughed the mood seeming to become instantly lightened. "We should eat." Paedar told everyone at the table as he picked up his spoon. "No sense letting it go cold."

"Best idea you've had all day." Aengus told him as he grabbed his spoon and quickly dug into his bowl, eating as if he hadn't seen food since he was a child himself.

"So," Miroku continued on the conversation thoughtfully, after swallowing a bite of the surprisingly tender stew. "I guess you're dog demons then?"

"No—," Paedar answered for the rest of the group as he took a bite of his own stew chewing it absently. "We're wolves."

"Okay, I'm confused." Sango sat down her own spoon and looked at the table with no nonsense eyes. "You're Inuyasha's grandfathers, right?" She asked not actually pausing long enough for a response. "And he's a dog demon, so shouldn't you be dog demons at the very least?" She posed the question as she narrowed her eyes darkly. "That's the logical thing, right?"

"What is logic anyway?" Aengus asked as he picked up his bowl and tilted it back for easier access.

"So you're not his grandfathers?" Kagome deduced as she knitted her eyebrow with confusion.

"No—," Eoin corrected gingerly as he reached into his bowl and picked up a little morsel of meat, passing it towards Aengus who grabbed it happily. "We're his grandfathers—just on his mother's side."

"But she was human!" Sango argued before turning her head towards Inuyasha with fury in her eyes. "What the fuck is going on here?"

"I like her." Aengus mumbled in Eoin's ear loud enough for everyone to hear.

"I agree." Eoin mumbled back as he held in his own laughter.

"Okay, seriously—," Miroku raised his hands up and closed his eyes as if asking for patience. "I don't understand." He opened his eyes looking between the three demon men before turning his gaze towards his father. "How are you related to them?"

"Well, first of all, we're related to them, you and me." Inuyasha stressed the words as he spoke, watching relieved when Miroku smiled faintly from the inclusion. "And they're my mother's family."

"But how?" Sango interrupted before Inuyasha could finish.

"It's not by blood my girl." Paedar interrupted this time with a patient smile on his face. "Inuyasha's mother, Izayoi—," He spoke the name, the sound of it echoing loudly in the hall, bursting in everyone's ears as if it was forbidden that they should have ever heard it. "We found her when she was but a summer old and took her in."

"What?" Kagome asked softly as Paedar's explanation settled in the room. "She was adopted?"

"It's a long story." Eoin spoke thoughtfully as he ate a piece of meat from his stew.

"Please tell it." Kagome asked softly, the very nature of her words catching Eoin off guard. Slowly the man raised his head to look at her, ignoring his stew in favor of studying the strange girl his grandson had brought home with him.

Licking his lips, he turned towards the other two men, the three of them conversing silently for just a second. "You really want to know?" He asked Kagome, carefully, his words filled with both curiosity and disbelief.

"I do," Kagome nodded briskly, glancing at Inuyasha who was sitting across from her next to his grandfather. "I want to know everything."

Eoin took her words in thoughtfully, sitting his bowl aside as he tried to think. "Where to start?" He asked himself as he looked into the tiny bowl of stew.

Beside him, Aengus too sat his bowl down and inhaled a soft, almost tragic breath. "It was summer when we found her." He started for him as he leaned back in his chair solemnly. "We were wandering, playing minstrel to any village that would listen." He lifted his head away from the bowl, his silver eyes shining as he looked at all the people at the table with soft eyes. "And we had just somehow made out way to Ireland—."

-break-

Three men walked slowly through the heavily wooded forest on a tiny path that seemed to be carved into the underbrush. Leaves crunched under their feet as they moved, none of them all that concerned with staying quiet as they walked. In the hand of what appeared to be the youngest, a square shaped fiddle rested, perched upon the crook of his elbow as he lightly plucked a modest melody. The sound of one of the three strings seemed to vibrate throughout the forest, an oddly soothing sensation. Little birds perched upon branches high above their heads, hoped back and forth, dancing to the tune as they chirped along assuming the fiddle was one of their own kind and not inanimate.

"Flower's of sping-g-g." Eoin, the youngest, began to sing gently as he walked. His caretakers, a man by the name of Peadar and another named Aengus, walked in front of him in silence. "Of winter and fall-l-l." The tune floated all around them as the fiddle offered a sweet backdrop to the sound. "Fit in my hands: gentle and small-l-l." He smiled slightly as one of the men in front of him suddenly moved his own instrument to rest in front of himself. Instantly, the soft sound of his oud joined in as the plectrum in his hand gently strummed. "A field of dais-i-i-es, tiny, askew-w." He chuckled slightly as he stared at the back of the other man waiting for him to grab his own tabor that hung around his waist and join in; however, the man stubbornly never did. Smiling softly even as he and the oldest man, Peadar, continued to play by themselves, he continued. "Will take me back-k-k," He held the note out and tilted his chin upwards as a few stray rays of light touched his face from the canopy above. "To you."

Both Eoin and Peadar allowed their instruments to hang onto the last note for only a second before bringing the song completely to a close. "You really should play with us." Eoin called towards Aengus good naturedly.

"I'm not in the mood." The man replied instantly as he continued down the path bringing one hand up to rub at his head. "I have a horrid headache."

"When don't you have a headache?" Peadar muttered next to him a vague smirk on his face.

Behind him Eoin laughed and with one great jump landed between the two men. It was apparent the second he landed that he was much younger than both of them, the top of his head reaching barely to either man's shoulder despite being the same breed of demon. "I agree." He laughed lightly and stuck out his tongue playfully.

"Put yer tongue in yer mouth or I'll catch it and slice it off." Aengus replied instantly with a tight frown on his face.

"Okay," Eoin immediately backed down the ears on the side of his head actually lowering a little bit in disappointment. "Not in a playing mood today."

"I'm sorry kid." Aengus halfheartedly apologized as he reached a hand out and ruffled the younger man's hair. "It's just my head's splitting and—."

Before Aengus could finish his sentence a god awful howl resounded in the forest causing every bird to stop tweeting and every small animal to run away and hide. The three men froze in their places not moving as cold chills ran through their bodies slowly.

"What the hell is that awful sound?" Aengus asked as he covered his ears with his hands in horrible pain as the screeching sound seemed to penetrate from his eardrums all the way to the back of his skull.

Peadar tilted his head to the side listening closely as the screeching continued followed closely by a low almost guttural growl. "Sounds like a banshee to me." He mumbled while stretching his arms above his head nonchalantly, clearly unaffected by the loud yell.

"Why would a banshee be out this time a day?" Aengus muttered as the screeching began to die down turning into a soft sob, of sorts. Beside him, the youngest of the trio's face contorted into an odd look of concentration. "What is it Eoin?"

"That's no banshee." Eoin whispered as he turned and looked in the direction of the sound. The woods were thick and dark, menacing. "It sounds a lot more," He paused trying to search for the right words. "I don't know—intelligent?"

"Whatcha mean?" Peadar grumbled with a loud yawn as he leaned his shoulder against a nearby tree and scratched at his chin. "Banshee's are plenty intelligent."

"That's not what I meant." Eoin shook his head quickly as he turned towards his older brother. "Banshee's don't use human language, right?"

"No they refuse," Peadar answered automatically with a frown building on his face. "They still prefer their mother tongue."

"They're behind the times if you ask me." Aengus mumbled as he lowered his hands from his ears, twitching them slightly to see if the noise had become bearable: it had. "Human's are everywhere nowadays. I mean just take this island—it's all humans now; like a colony."

"True." Eoin agreed even as he concentrated on the sound in the distance, it was almost like it was becoming fainter and fainter. "Crying—," He whispered suddenly and closed his eyes as if to confirm. "It sounds like crying." His eyes instantly popped opened awareness seeming to overcome him as he took a slow step forward into the dark foreboding woods. "Like a pup." The words fell from his lips right before he darted forward into the unknown.

"Eoin!" Both men yelled in a panic as they watched the young boy take off without another word. Their own feet jumped in and made them follow despite the way the hair stood on the backs of their necks and the way their instincts told them to turn back and flee.

"I knew that kid would be a pain!" Aegnus yelled as he ducked out of the way of a low hanging branch his expression tight and pained.

"Too bad." Peadar replied as he too ducked and dodged the thick undergrowth of the forest floor. "He's my brother!"

"Why'd we adopt your brother!" Aengus fired back even as he felt his heart beat hard against his ribcage in utter fear of losing the boy that ran ahead of them. Jumping over a large tree trunk he followed Peadar, the scent of death beginning to form all around them leading them somewhere.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity they found themselves standing in a large clearing their mutual charge standing in the middle of it, stark still. The scent of fresh blood washed over both of them and an instinctual satisfaction filled them before a sickening sensation took over. Laying in the middle of the clearing was a fresh kill but not a kill for food. Two bodies, separated by mere feet, torn apart by great force. An arm here, a leg there, pieces of a dress and of a head scarf hanging from a bush. Blood trailing in all directions as if a pack had lead the attack.

Standing already in the middle of it Eoin sank to his knees, as a boy whose human age was roughly seventeen almost eighteen, he should have known horrors such as this but didn't. He had never seen the mutilated bodies of humanoid creatures laying dead in pools of their own blood upon the ground. The two men who had raised him from the time he was but a little whelp had done well to shield him from such things as long as they were able.

"We're too late." Eoin whispered as he looked at the ripped apart body of what appeared to be a man; or really, what had once been a man. "They're dead."

"Ew—," Aengus whispered and scrunched up his face as he dared to sniff the fresh kill. "Even I wouldn't eat that." He snorted trying to get the scent out of his nose as he took a step towards the poor creatures. Every instinct in him frowned at his own actions not for lack of sympathy but for self preservation. Both humans had been gutted literally, leaving the meat tainted and virtually poisonous; a substance his demon body wouldn't let him near.

Coming to stand in the clearing, Peadar frowned darkly as he looked down at the crumpled bodies. "They're humans." He whispered as he scented the air, the smell of a woman filling his nose. Carefully, he crossed the clearing coming to stand in front of the body of what might have at one time been a woman. "It looks like they were hunted for fun." He sighed as he extended his hand to touch the bloody cheek of the now dead woman, her eyes still opened and terrified. "Poor things—," He mumbled as he reached for her eyelids bringing them down so she might find some peace. "They're still warm."

Watching the only slightly older man Aengus frowned, turning back towards the mostly decimated human before him. He was missing his left arm and his stomach had been slit open to reveal shinny guts that had been lacerated by sharp claws. "Such a painful dea—." He started to say but stopped when he noticed something strange. "Um—." He gulped as his eyes went completely wide with disgust. "His stomach's moving." He told Eoin who looked up at him skeptically.

"What do you—?" The boy started to ask but the sound of the 'dead' man inhaling sharply stopped his words dead in his throat.

"Le—do."

"Ah!" Aengus jumped backwards falling straight to his butt. His fingernails dug violently into the dirt yanking himself backwards as his heart raced violently in his chest.

Also scared by the sudden resurrection Eoin jumped back slightly, his hands falling behind him holding him up by means of his palms. "He's alive." He managed to whisper in shock as he watched with fascination as the man inhaled over and over again, blood flowing freely from him with every heartbeat.

"Le—d-d-o," The man's mouth moved blood running from lacerations in his lips. "—th-o-o-il."

Calm as ever Peadar made his way from the diffidently deceased wife to the barely alive man. Stepping beside Aengus who had successfully backed up far enough to find comfort against a tree, he inhaled sharply. The scent of death clung to the air like a disease and he frowned wondering how this poor creature was able to even attempt to talk. "Poor soul." He thought just to himself as he started to make his way across the short distance to the dying human. Before he could knell down next to the man to comfort him however, Eoin caught him off guard.

The young boy pushed himself back forward off his hands, his silver eyes staring at the man with utter sympathy. "Hello." He whispered in English not realizing the man couldn't possibly understand him. Carefully, he reached forward and touched the human's fingertips on its remaining hand trying to convey that he meant no harm. "The spirits of death," His voice was shaky at first and filled with barely concealed fear. "Have been kind enough to send me here in your last minutes." He told the man as he finally took his only existing hand, holding it reassuringly. "Is there anything you wish for me to do," His voice cracked slightly but he continued on as if the brief sign of his youth had never happened. "To ease your passing?"

As if by some unknown force the man's once closed eyes opened slowly, red with blood that had flowed into them. "Le do tho—il." He just managed to say as he squeezed Eoin's hand tightly. "Leanbh." The word slipped from his tongue, choppy and hard to understand.

Eoin narrowed his eyes in response before repeating the phrase slowly. "Leanbh." He repeated the word feeling tiny and insignificant as it left his tongue. "I'm sorry—I don't speak—." He started to say but the man turned his head away from Eoin and looked towards the woman laying mutilated some feet away.

"Leanbh." He said again, the word surprisingly clear, as if he had somehow managed to find just enough strength to do one last deed in his lifetime.

"Your mate?" He felt a sinking feeling in his stomach, how do you tell a dying man his wife is already dead when he doesn't even understand a word you're saying. "I'm sorry—."

"Aon." The man barely said, his voice so soft that human ears never would have heard him. "La—enb-b-h." He gurgled on the last word, blood turning in his throat and running down the corners of his mouth as tears shown in his eyes. "Le do—." He let go of Eoin's hand and reached forward his finger's shaking so violently that it almost looked like a humming bird attempting to fly. "La-e-e-n-b—h." The word died in his throat even as he managed to grab hold of Eoin's sleeve and tug just once before his eyes seemed to go blank, the life literally slipping out of them.

The hand that held onto Eoin's shirt dropped hitting the ground with a loud thud no longer supported by life. The young wolf demon leaned back on his heels ignoring the blood on his shirt and the scent of death that would remain in his nostrils for days. He had seen someone die in his life, his mother many years ago from an unknown illness, but he had never seen someone struggle to breath, gurgle up blood, while tears pricked in their eyes. It all felt unreal, even as a wolf, it didn't feel right.

Behind Eoin, standing with a sad look crossing his normally stoic features, Paedar inhaled deeply. "Laenbh." He repeated the man's dying words, his mind processing the information quickly. "If I remember right, that means—baby."

Confused by the word, Eoin turned towards his brother, his eyes looking both curious and traumatized. "What's—a baby?" He asked, the word not part of a demon vocabulary.

Looking at Eoin's haunted eyes, Paedar resisted the urge to comfort the teenager who had just witnessed his first ever bloody death and instead answered the question. "It's what humans call pups." He mumbled and looked around the entirety of the clearing. "But I don't see a baby anywhere."

Sitting against the tree still, Aengus looked around as well, his ears twitching and his nose sniffing the air. "The scent of blood," He commented as he pushed himself back up into a stand slowly. "Makes it too damn hard to tell if there's anybody else here."

"I know." Peadar agreed as he took a step backwards as if to see the clearing better. The sudden sound of rustling in the bushes made all three men jump and come to attention, prepared for a fight. "Come out now!" Peadar commanded as he stared straight at the bush, hands already raised as he waited for whatever group of demons who had committed such an act to appear once more.

"Don't encourage it." Aengus whispered harshly as he scooted away from the bush slowly, positioning himself behind the older man.

"Are you a wolf or a human?" Peadar chastised and glared back at Aengus his expression clearly exasperated.

"Neither," The slightly younger man retorted with a low growl. "I'm a mouse."

"Dear lord," Peadar groaned low in his throat as he spread his feet out a little farther ready to pounce at any moment. He knew from experience that he was the alpha of this group and thus responsible for keeping them alive. "Give me strength."

Aengus took just a second to frown darkly at the other man. "Why I—."

"Wait." Eoin interrupted as he came to stand between the two men his eyes focused on the bush.

A petite hand splattered only with a little bit of blood peeked out from behind a branch. Tiny fingers clutched the branch tightly pulling forward and up. Leaves obscured everything except that hand for just a moment before a little grunt filled the air and suddenly they saw a miniature human face. Big brown eyes, warm and the same color as the branches themselves blinked slowly, spackles of blood marring fair skin. Thick black hair, already to her ears and stark straight crowned her head, strands of it catching on branches as the tiny face watched them.

Moving slowly so as not to startle her, Eoin stepped forward, looking at the little creature's tear and blood stained face. "Hello?" He called out towards the tiny thing his expression full of curiosity as he knelt down gradually so as to look less intimidating. "It's okay," He whispered to the small child who blinked large chestnut eyes towards him in response. "We won't hurt you." He reassured watching as her sweet red lips pursed into a frown before she tilted her head to the side.

Slowly, the tiny child took a wobbly step forward out of the bush, her petite body appearing not used to walking. "Ba." She said and stuck her fist in her mouth as her little eyes looked around the clearing with sharp inquisitiveness. "Bababa." She mumbled around her fist as she took each one of them in slowly, her fingers still clutching at the branch holding herself steady.

First, she carefully looked Eoin over, watching him with just a tiny bit of unease flashing across her face. Movement behind him from Peadar startled her before she could study him too much however, and chestnut eyes came to rest on the oldest man. For several seconds, she stared at him, a weary expression crossing her face as she took in the tall intimidating demon. Fear passed over her every feature and her hand that held the branch tightly, tightened just a little more if it were at all possible. Only then did she send a look towards Aengus, her eyes untrusting and even more apprehensive as she saw another older male.

"Mamama." She babbled slowly as if testing the waters, the sound muffled by her hand. "Bababa."

"What is she saying?" Aengus grumbled and glanced over at Peadar who shrugged slightly as he watched the cute little girl.

"It's just gibberish." He told the other man honestly as he lowered himself to the ground in an attempt to look less intimidating. "Lower down."

"Why?" Aengus snorted rhetorically as he knelt to the ground ignoring the little satisfied snicker that sounded almost immediately behind him.

"Wa." The girl spoke suddenly and pulled the fist from her mouth. She looked between Peadar and Aengus slowly as if appraising them while her grip on the branch loosened just a little. "Dada—wa." She mumbled her gibberish before a slight smile formed on her face that neither of the three men could explain. Perhaps their kneeling down had actually worked setting her more at ease. "Baba!" She yelled excitedly and let go of the branch so as to throw her hands in the air. Instantly, the precious balance she had gained disappeared and a distressed look crossed her face right before she fell flat on her butt. Surprised and scared by the experience instant tears formed in her large eyes and a wail greater than any banshee left her tiny mouth.

All three wolves instantly covered their ears in response, the sound actually causing them to feel nauseous. But at least they all knew exactly what they had heard earlier now.

"Make it stop." Aengus practically cried as he allowed himself to fully sink to the forest floor laying his head against the cool earth as his headache from earlier came back ten times stronger than it had been before.

"How?" Peadar responded surprisingly, the man had practically raised Eoin since the boy had been about five but this girl was literally an infant and not a toddler. Besides even that, he couldn't recall ever having heard any child make a sound remotely like this one.

Eoin looked at the two completely incapacitated men with a large frown on his face. "They're not gonna be any help, are they?" He asked himself even as he knew the answer. Rising to his feet, hands still on his ears, the young man searched his mind for anything that might make the little girl stop crying. "Come on." He told himself as his mind began to practically split in pain. "What do mother's do to make pups calm—?" He groaned as the sound grew louder and louder. "Damn it, my mother died." He sent a glare in the direction of the two older men. "Those two should know their mother's were alive until they were adults."

He closed his eyes and tried to think of anytime he had seen a mother with a child. He could just recall pups he had seen in their mother's arms, happy and content as the woman hummed and rocked.

"That's it!" He told himself as his eyes snapped back opened, carefully he took a deep breath. "Flower's of spring." He began to sing softly as he inched his way towards the crying infant slowly, not wanting to startle her. "Of summer and fall-l-l." His voice actually wavered for a moment as her cries grew more distressed. "Fit in my hand," He paused for a second as her little cries seemed to waver and her tear streaked face turned towards him as she sniffled and hiccupped. "Gentle and small-l-l." He brought his hands away from his ears slowly as if afraid the child would relapse. "A field of daisi-i-es." He sang softly as he knelt down before her watching as those bright brown eyes seemed to shine captivated as she looked at him. "Tiny, askew." He smiled and she returned the look, the tears gone and replaced by a toothy smile. "Will lead me back to you."

He finished the song softly and reached forward to wipe the extra tears from the girl's pudgy cheek. She giggled in response and reached for his hand, chubby fingers barely managing to wrap around two of his much larger ones. "Bawa." She spoke and laughed as if she had been telling him some great joke.

"Is that so?" He agreed as warmth filled his whole heart while he watched those tiny fingers pull on his own as if she was trying to pull herself back to her feet. "Do you want up?" He asked and for a moment he was sure she understood as she nodded her head and laughed.

Behind him, Peadar and Aengus both watched in amazement as the young man reached forward and placed his hands underneath her arms, pulling her back to her feet. The girl giggled and reached for his face, grabbing for his long hair. Eoin laughed in return pulling her up against his side as he stood and turned back towards the other two.

"Well," He smiled and pulled the tiny child a little closer towards himself. "They had a pup."

"Sure looks that way." Peadar agreed as he stood up slowly his eyes staring at the little girl. "She doesn't look more than a summer old." He commented as he took a step towards the younger man and the child. The little girl instantly bubbled in response laughing happily and continuing to babble. "She has to be—only a pup that small," He turned and looked towards the bloody chaos on the ground. "Would be able to ignore this."

Holding the little girl tightly in his arms, Eoin frowned before chewing on his lip. "They must've hidden her before they were attacked." His voice was even but his words were anything but mellow in nature. "And now she's all alone." He turned his eyes towards Peadar the idea in his head already showing on his face. "We can't just leave her."

"Oh god no—," Aengus groaned as he finally rose back to his feet and made his way towards the other two men. "You did not just say that." He growled and banged his hand into his head. "We can't take a human child."

"But look," Eoin turned around showing the little girls face to the other two. The baby smiled at them happily, her little baby teeth slightly crooked in her mouth. The girl began to babble as she reached for one of Eoin's fingers yanking at them as she jibber jabbered. "She's so sweet."

"Eoin." Peadar started to speak slowly even as he took in the precious face in front of him, his heart warming from the sight of her. "We can't take care of a human child," He frowned as Eoin's whole face started to fall and an argument started to form on his tongue. "It's impossible." Peadar attempted to quail the argument. "She needs a teat."

Eoin's face completely sunk at the older man's words. "Oh." He whispered as he pulled the little human child closer to his chest. She babbled in response, random sounds with no meaning floating out of her mouth.

"Well," Aengus cleared his throat loudly actually feeling bad for the young man. "We can at least take her to a wet nurse." He offered the suggestion watching as Eoin's face grew little lighter from the proposition. "I'm sure some human will take her."

"That's the nicest thing you've said all day Aengus." Peadar smirked as he spoke looking at the other man with slight affection marking his features.

Not rising to the bait, Aengus merely shrugged his shoulders completely nonchalant. "Every once in a while I slip up." He admitted gingerly while Eoin smiled in excitement.

"You know," The young man interrupted the conversation. "She does have teeth." He pointed towards the tiny crooked pearls as the baby continued to babble. "So, maybe she doesn't need the teat."

"Hm?" Aengus grunted as he looked at the tiny babe apprehensively. "Do human's nurse after they get teeth?"

"Maybe they're milk teeth." Peadar commented offhandedly as he leaned towards the little human sniffing her lightly. "She does kind of smell like milk." He offered and leaned backwards right before the child could grab for his hair. "Only faintly though, like she's not on it all the time."

"Maybe she has both." Aengus offered as he too sniffed the air around the baby thoughtfully. "I wonder what human's eat?" He questioned as the little girl managed to grab a fistful of his hair. "Ow." He complained as the baby laughed and quickly untangled himself while sending the child a chilling death glare that only caused her to giggle

Giving the other man a disapproving look Peadar sighed before answering the question with all the sarcasm he could muster in his voice. "They eat what we eat." He grumbled dryly as Aengus frowned darkly. "Just with more green things."

"Oh shut up." He growled before his back suddenly went ridged, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. "I have a bad feeling." He whispered as his eyes rushed across the clearing. Years of being terrified of fighting had given the man one great quality, he always knew when danger was afoot. "We really should get out of here." He spoke softly as his ears twitched to attention at the side of his head. "It's dangerous to stay so close to death."

As if waking up from a dream, the other two demon's in the party also became immediately alert. "Good call." Peader whispered and nodded his head towards the direction that they had come from. "Let's get moving before the scavengers show up."

Holding onto the tiny bundle, Eoin was the first to head towards the makeshift path they had created during their hasty run through the forest. To the untrained eye, it looked as if not a soul had walked it but to the skilled hunter, it was easy to see the little broken twigs and hastily made foot prints. Moving quietly so as not to attract too much attention, the trio (now upgraded to a quartet) made their way through the wood. The only sounds coming from them, their own footsteps and the playful babbling of the little baby.

Finally back on their original trail and feeling much safer farther away from the bodies, the three men began to relax.

"So," Aengus finally broke the silence as his survival instincts began to weaken telling him it was safe once more. "I guess we should head towards the nearest human village."

"Sounds good." Peadar agreed as he stretched his arms above his head before yawning slightly. "We should be out of the forest soon," He told them as he reached up to scratch the back of his head. "There's always a human village near the forest edge."

Barely listening to the conversation, Eoin looked down at the little girl who rested in his arms. Her tiny hands were gripping his shirt as they walked, the motion of each of his steps seeming to lull her, causing her huge eyes to flicker open and shut. "We should name her." He spoke without thought as those eyes finally closed.

"No," Aengus grunted as he came to an immediate stop in front of the younger male. "If you name her," He spoke hastily as he swung his head around, only lowering his voice when he noticed the closed eyes of the tiny being. "Your gonna wanna keep her," He spoke in a hushed whisper as he pointed an accusing finger at Eoin. "And we don't have the time nor the space for that."

"But look at her," Eoin smiled gently down at the tiny sleeping face. "She's so—sweet and gentle." He reached his free hand for her hair, moving the already thick head of dark tresses out of the way of her precious sleeping face. "She's beautiful." He smiled fondly at the little human running a clawed finger against her cheek. "She looks like an Izayoi—don't you think?"

"Oh damn it." Aengus said abruptly and groaned as he turned away from the younger man while throwing his hands in the air. "He's named it, now we gotta keep it."

"Come on," Eoin pleaded quietly. "What's so bad about that?"

"She's a human!" Aengus argued back throwing his hands in her direction to reiterate his point. "We should just take her to the village and drop her with some human wench."

"We can't do that!" Eoin argued back his voice raising ever so slightly as his heart clenched just a little in his chest.

"And why not?" Aengus fired back as he threw his hands to his hips.

"What if they don't take her?" Eoin spoke firmly as he pulled the sleeping bundle closer to himself. "Or toss her aside and leave her for dead? You know how human's are." He licked his lips hastily as he watched Aengus' hard face become just a little less stern at the prospect of what the human's really might do to her. "You couldn't do that to this face." The baby continued to sleep, soft mumbles drifting from her mouth in a tongue that not even her parents could have known as she slumbered on unaware of the conversation. "Say no to that."

"Oh shit—," Aengus whined slightly to himself as he looked at the little sleeping face. "She is—cute." He begrudgingly agreed while crossing his arms over his chest.

"See!" Eoin's face broke out into a smile before he turned towards the silent Peadar. "Come on Peadar," He asked as he turned the sleeping face towards the other man. "You too, please?"

"Pup," The man spoke carefully, the inclusion of such a word making Eoin's heart sink into his stomach. "This isn't that simple," He shook his head slowly. "We're not equipped to raise a child."

"You raised me." Eoin offered up, his voice coming across as pleading.

"That's different," Peadar spoke gently as he watched the expression of his younger brother. "You're a boy, that's a girl," He pointed at the tiny pup refusing to look at her, knowing that if he did he'd fall in love too. "She'll need things that girl's need."

"We'll give 'em to her." Eoin spoke the words even though he didn't quite believe them. There were many things she would need in life that three wayward souls couldn't possibly give. She would need a dowry, someone to teach her to be a woman and a wife, someone to teach her about womanhood and other things men knew nothing about. She would need clothes that they didn't wear and stability that they didn't have. "I know we can't give her the life she needs." He spoke softly as the truth of their predicament began to haunt him. "But—at least promise me that I can keep her," He paused for just a second as the little girl whimpered in her sleep before snuggling even closer to him. "Until we find a proper home, a good one that will love her and take care of her."

Aengus and Peadar exchanged a look over Eoin's head as his words sank in. Both men already knew it was hopeless to fulfill such a wish. Human's rarely took in orphans, they always had too many mouths to feed and there were no monasteries in the area that would take a girl. "This would all be easier if it was a boy." Aengus mumbled while giving Peadar a slight nod of approval.

Peadar grunted in response to the other man's words and looked back at Eoin with a sigh. "Alright," He told the boy watching as a smile formed on his face. "But the first one who wants her—."

"I'll give her away." Eoin insured as he held the baby close and smiled brightly at the two older men. "I promise."

"Let's get going then." Peadar commanded gently as he turned back around to start on their path once more.

Rolling his eyes behind him, Aengus glanced at Eoin and pursed his lips dramatically. "Another mouth to feed." He tisk'd as he continued down the path.

"You eat too much as it is." Eoin told him jokingly as he carefully moved forward, his precious cargo tucked into his arms snuggling.

"I agree." Peadar called over his shoulder thoughtfully. "From now on she can have Aengus' share of the food."

"What?!" Aengus immediately jumped on the other man, attacking him blindly while Eoin laughed and held the small Izayoi just a little tighter against his chest.

-break-

"So, you never found a village, did you?" Kagome inferred as the plates were cleared away by Inuyasha, their dinner having long since been eaten.

"Yes." Paedar shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. "And overnight we became a family—well a larger family." His voice came across as nostalgic as he motioned for Inuyasha to get a few mugs from the cabinet. "Pour some ale fer us." He ordered the younger man, who did nothing in the way of arguing before turning his attention back to the subject at hand. "Eoin became her father, while myself and Aengus became her grandfathers."

"I'm just curious," Kagome began slowly as she looked at the oldest man of the three. "If you're his brother, then why did you become her grandfather and not an uncle?"

"Well, it's just one of those things. I raised Eoin, with Aengus' help that is." Paedar spoke softly as he always did, his expression calm and collected. "And when Eoin found Inuyasha's mother it just seemed fitting that I wasn't really an Uncle but more of a grandfather figure." He chuckled slightly nodding his thanks as Inuyasha handed the man a tall mug of ale. "It just happened that way. I really don't even remember an instance of discussing it."

"It was almost like it was just—how it had to be." Aengus interjected for the other man as he sat back down in his chair a cup of tea in his hands. "We raised Eoin from the time he was five," He snorted softly as if some inside joke had just been said. "At the time, the only reason he didn't call either of us father was because it would have made us feel real old."

"I never really knew my father anyway." Eoin spoke up suddenly causing everyone at the table to turn towards the middle aged man. "Honestly, whenever I think of a father the only faces I see are Aengus and Paedar's. They're the only father figures I've ever known." He sent the two men a lopsided smile before tilting his head towards Miroku. "You can understand that can't you Miroku?"

Miroku blinked slightly having not expected to be addressed by his just discovered grandfather. "Yeah—I mean, I can't picture my real father, I never knew him but—," He looked over at Inuyasha who was just finishing serving everyone their ale, his face tinted with red perhaps from the drinks or more than likely, embarrassment. "Inuyasha's my father, and that's just—that."

"See, he gets it." Aengus nodded firmly as he leaned back in his chair throwing one arm over the back of it absently. "A father ain't yer blood and it sure as hell don't have to be the bloody fool your mother rutted with—."

Kagome and Sango both felt their eyes practically pop out of their head as they studied the old man speaking so rudely.

"A father's the man who raised you, who taught you to walk, talk, drink," He raised his glace of what Kagome had at first assumed was 'tea' but now highly doubted was really anything other than alcohol. "Who comforted you when you were scared, sang to you when you were sick, and nurtured you until you could do all that on your own."

"I'll drink to that." Eoin agreed as he raised his glass up in the air before bringing it back to his lips and taking a large swig. The other two men, plus Inuyasha quickly followed suit leaving a slightly confused Miroku, Sango and Kagome staring at the four men in amazement.

"Was that a toast?" Sango questioned out loud causing the three wolf demons to laugh loudly.

"Yes, yes," Paedar smiled slightly as he sat his mug down gingerly on the table. "I suppose you wouldn't be hearing that outside of this country." He paused in thought for just a second before continuing. "It's a—an Irish thing."

"Oh. Well," Kagome smiled slightly as she looked at the three men surprising them as she raised her glass of barely touched beer up just as they had. "I'll drink to it too then." She acknowledged before tilting her glass back and gulping some of it down. Instantly her face scrunched up and she closed her eyes in slight disgust. "Oh that's awful."

"Ah, you found yourself a good one there." Eoin laughed as he nudged Inuyasha playfully. The dog demon in response held back his own laughter as Kagome glared.

"How can you drink this?" She questioned as she continued to make a face. "It's so thick—its like liquid bread."

"That's half the fun." Aengus chuckled as he took another swig of his own 'tea.' "Eoin grab me another." He commanded, the younger man automatically moving without a word, just as his grandson had when commanded by the older men.

Inuyasha laughed loudly along with the rest of the table even as he stood from his spot, reaching across the table to grab Kagome's mug out of her hand. "Here, I'll drink the rest of this." He told her even as he brought her mug to his lips and took a swig. The action itself wasn't scandalous at all but the fact that he had just drank after her made Kagome blush brightly. It was one thing to do so in his room (their room) back on the ship, it was another thing to do it in front of his grandfather and great grandfathers. Luckily, none of the three men seemed to question the move at all. "Would you like me to get you something else instead?"

"Oh," Kagome's head snapped towards his own and she shifted awkwardly. "I don't want to be a bother."

"Don't worry." Inuyasha told her with a charming smile. "These three have enough wine, beer and spirits here to last until I die." He spoke seriously as he glanced at the three men all of who looked away from him pretending to drink. "Anything you want."

"Um well—." She hesitated really not sure what she actually wanted, her knowledge of wines, spirits, and beers far too limited to really answer such a question.

"You know what," Inuyasha waved a hand and started towards the door. "I'll get you something you'll like, don't worry."

"But—!" She called after him but he ignored her grabbing for the handle quickly.

"No use álainn." Eoin stopped her as he watched his grandson disappear out the door without another word. "He's far too stubborn to stop once he goes."

"I've noticed." Kagome grumbled dryly as she sat back in her chair looking at the mug of ale he had confiscated from her.

"How long do you think it'll take him?" Paedar asked as soon as the door closed behind his great grandson.

"Knowing him," Eoin tilted his head right and left in thought before looking towards his older brother. "We only have a minute or two."

"That's not much time." Paedar pursed his lips unhappily.

"Damn quick little thing, he is." Aengus spoke up as he sipped from his 'tea' cup gingerly. "Always has been too."

"Hm—," Paedar hummed for just a second before turning his attention towards the other two completely. "We need to make this quick then."

"What's going on?" Miroku asked slowly as he looked between the three men.

"Well, we have a few questions." Aengus spoke, his expression tight and no longer as light hearted as it had been before. "For you." His eyes turned towards Kagome as she sat looking every bit the tender age of seventeen in her chair.

"Okay?" She spoke slowly not liking how the atmosphere had changed in the least.

"Now, don't worry." Eoin's voice chimed in right before he took a slow drink from his own ale before setting it down gently on the table in front of him. "You just have to understand, we—." He looked at the other two men casually, watching as both of them nodded, agreeing to his words before he said them. "That pup is our world, we love him more than our own lives." He spoke firmly and carefully as he looked at the three humans sitting across from him. "We just want to make sure that you—."

"You want to make sure," Kagome cut him off her voice soft and her head lowered down so no one at the table could see her face. "That I won't hurt him?" Before either of the three demons could say a word, she raised her head, her gray eyes swirling in a beautiful pattern like storm clouds building around a stark blackened moon. "That would never happen," Her voice was honest and full of conviction as she spoke, the mark on her shoulder seeming to warm with her words. "I—," She hesitated, the word she wanted to use stalling on her tongue, hanging in her mouth just a breath away from being spoken. "I care—," It died, changing to a word far less threatening. "About him just like you."

"You care about him?" Aengus challenged her words, making Kagome blush bright red under his scrutiny. "Are you sure it's that simple, girl?"

Kagome gulped as the sound of his voice rung in her head. She could feel the power of five pairs of eyes staring into her, waiting for her answer and yet she couldn't bring herself to admit what she was feeling. Those emotions were private, personal, and sacred to her and her alone. No one deserved to hear of them or know about them except: "Inuyasha." His name was gentle in her head, making her smile slightly as a wave of reassurance ran throughout her body. "He saved me from a life I despised and gave me one I love." Her voice was so soft the humans in the room could barely hear her.

But heard they did. As they sat beside her watching her as she spoke, watching the strange calmness that seemed to sweep her body, they felt as if something very important was happening in that moment. Miroku brought his hand up to touch Sango's thigh, gently running his fingers along the hem of her pant's fabric. Something in Kagome's words compelled him and filled him with the need to connect with her.

"Inuyasha was the first person to ever see me for myself, not even my mother saw that." She admitted, the three demon men feeling matching twinges in their chest from her admittance. "He's the only person whose ever just let me—be me and never asked me to be any different." She raised her head and looked directed at Eoin, then at Aengus, and finally at Paedar. "I—I care about him." She bit her lip, and tightened her hands into fist as she spoke. "I care about him more than anyone or anything." Her hands began to shake on the table, causing the mug of ale to rattle. "He's—I—." Her voice failed her but not for lack of words. Tilting her head down in embarrassment, she opened her mouth to speak again but found she couldn't even if she tried.

Eoin glanced at his older brother, studying the man slowly as if for approval. Paedar shrugged absently before turning his attention back towards the door where soft footsteps could be heard approaching. It was only a second later that the door handle rattled and Inuyasha appeared as if out of nowhere.

"Where did you get this?" He asked without preamble as he showed the group a bottle of white wine. "It's from the Rhine."

"Paedar and Aengus went there a few years back and brought some bottles of it back with them." Eoin explained easily as he leaned back in his chair, appearing as if nothing had happened whilst his grandson had been gone. "It's got a fruity finish I think your mate'll like it."

Kagome instantly flamed red at the use of the word even as Inuyasha came to a stark stand still. "What?" He questioned as he looked at his grandfather with complete surprise.

"I think she will." Eoin shrugged and turned away from his grandson trying not to appear amused by the man's reaction.

"You," Inuyasha sat the wine down on the table slowly, the three humans in the room watching his movements confused. "Called her my mate?"

Kagome blushed brightly at the use of the word, her mind racing with the implications of it. "He—a mate—a mate to a demon," She felt her whole face grow hot as a bead of sweat actually ran from her brow to her cheek. "That's like saying we're married—really married." She gulped unable to even think what they were implying.

Beside her, Sango and Miroku looked at each other completely confused by the course the conversation was taking. Glancing at his own wife, Miroku narrowed his eyes and blinked, gesturing towards the surprised Captain and the three men. "What's going on?" He tried to convey the question with his eyes but Sango merely shrugged just as in the dark as her husband.

"Well," Aengus yawned as he spoke, trying to appear nonchalant as he sipped at his special tea. "You're courting her, right, so that means she's eventually gonna be your mate."

Inuyasha nodded his head slightly while studying his great grandfather. "But," He started to say, pausing just long enough to think of the proper words to use. "You're acknowledging it?"

"I think she's a good match." Paedar spoke up suddenly as he leaned back in his chair and looked straight at Kagome.

The girl in question blinked as silver eyes stared at her, soft, warm and reassuring. She thought to open her mouth and say something to the man but snapped it shut quickly because she really couldn't think of anything to say. "What's going on?" She thought as she pulled her eyes away from the man and turned towards her intended who looked just as confused as herself. "It's almost like—they're giving us their blessing." Her eyes widened as the thought exploded in her mind. "They're giving us their blessing."

Unaware of Kagome's own realization Inuyasha stared at the alpha of his family, Paedar, with opened confusion. "But—bu—?" Inuyasha's mouth hung open in disbelief, he had never thought that his family would approve of any match so easily. They were always so protective of him that he had figured they would never approve of anyone: human, demon, or even half demon. "You're not mad?"

"Why would he be mad?" Kagome suddenly spoke up in complete surprise her mind not able to comprehend why the men could possibly be mad. "Am I not—?" She cut of the sentence before old insecurities made their way into her mind.

Chuckling to himself, Eoin looked at Kagome with soft and loving eyes: the eyes of a father. "I think your mate was worried," He told Kagome, watching the girl as she lifted her head up to look at him expectantly. "We wouldn't approve."

"And why wouldn't you?" Sango suddenly made herself known at the table once more. Standing up to defend the girl, the expression on her face one of downright insult.

"Don't get your knickers in a twist." Aengus groaned even as Sango practically swallowed her tongue at the insult. "It's nothing to do with her," He looked directly at Kagome and smiled good naturedly " You're lovely dear, a beautiful example of womanhood." He looked her up and down once before glancing at Inuyasha who growled low in his throat. "It's because he's," He jabbed a finger at Inuyasha stopping the growl dead in his throat. "Too young."

"Let it go." Inuyasha groaned and finally crossed the room stopping only long enough at the cupboard to grab a wine glass and a bottle opener. "I'm not too young."

"You're not even twenty!" Eoin argued with the much younger man not even noticing when Miroku practically choked on his ale from the realization.

"He's not even twenty?" The already nineteen year old man whispered as his wife also sputtered beside him, not even able to form words. "How old are you?" He managed to ask as Kagome tried to look nonchalant beside him so as not to draw attention to herself.

If Inuyasha heard him, however, he didn't show as he expertly ignored him without problem. "Come on, we're no different, you and I." Inuyasha fired back as he made his way back to the wind bottle, setting the glass down as he prepared to open it. "You raised my mother when you were barely eighteen too." He motioned towards Miroku absently as if to include him in the sentence.

"Raising a pup is different than mating." Eoin crossed his arms over his chest, his eyes watching the wine bottle as Inuyasha preceded to pull out the cork with ease.

"How?" Inuyasha snorted as he pulled the cork out with a firm popping sound. "I thought you were supposed to find a mate before pups?" He sat the wine bottle down with a thud, a little of it splashing from the action. "I mean, there is an order to these things—or is there a life lesson you've neglected to teach me?" He made the words sound as sarcastic as possible as he brought one hand up to tap at his chin. "Seems like it's high time I found a mate if I already got the pup."

"Inuyasha." Paedar finally spoke up as he glared at his grandson, the intensity of his gaze making everyone in the room instantly stop moving. "Stop being insolent."

Miroku felt his heart lodge in his throat as he looked at his father, watching as the man stared openly at Paedar, eyes wide. "Oh shit." He thought as he waited for the Captain's reaction, his fingers twitching nervously. He felt Sango's hands snake onto his sleeve, holding onto the fabric of his shirt. Hastily, he glanced at her, watching as she looked on with trepidation in her beautiful brown eyes.

On his other side, Kagome felt her stomach knot with worry as she eyed the Captain's unmoving face. "I've never heard anyone speak to him," She thought as she bit her lip and carefully looked between the demons at the table. "Like he was a child—a small child in trouble." She licked her lips waiting for the response to come, and come it did but it was not the response she nor Miroku and Sango were at all expecting.

Inuyasha looked down, his gold eyes trying to find anything to look at that wasn't Paedar. "Um—," He cleared his throat looking distinctly uncomfortable as he shifted from foot to foot. "Sorry Seanathair." He told Eoin adding in a slight whine from the back of his throat that none of the humans in the room understood.

Paedar nodded in approval as he leaned back in his chair and picked up his mug to take a drink. "You should be thankful I approved so easily," He continued on as Inuyasha looked at the floor still refusing to make eye contact, his shoulders tense and defiant. "You can thank your girl for that."

Inuyasha raised his head up looking at his great grandfather with narrowed eyes. "What?"

"She seems like the kind of girl that can deal with a defiant," Everyone in the room watched Inuyasha grit his teeth at the word. "Head strong," They listened as Inuyasha growled at the next one. "Arrogant, pup like you" Inuyasha' mouth dropped open as if he was about to protest but Paedar raised his hand stopping him. "Please don't prove my point."

Inuyasha snapped his mouth closed and crossed his arms over his chest. "Baka yarou." He spoke the words under his breath his great grandfather narrowing his eyes before turning towards Kagome deliberately.

"You'll need the patience of a saint to deal with this one." Paedar told her and Kagome couldn't resist the urge to giggle and nod her head in agreement.

"Kagome?" Inuyasha growled as he turned towards her causing the girl to purse her lips in order to hold in her laughter.

Tension now leaving the room, Sango leaned back and crossed her feet in a very unladylike way. "I for one agree with your grandfather." She spoke bluntly even as Inuyasha glared at her darkly. "Poor Kagome." She shook her head slowly while Miroku and Kagome both laughed at Inuyasha's expense on either side of her.

"It will be quite the task." Eoin added to the conversation as he grabbed the wine glass Inuyasha had abandoned and the bottle, pouring some for Kagome. "You'll need a drink." He told her as he handed her the wine, Kagome thanking him with a light blush.

"Ain't that the truth—and just think," Aengus spoke up as he motioned for his grandson to take a seat at the table once more. Huffing, Inuyasha begrudgingly followed the motion. "Making him settle down is going to be a nightmare compared to that."

"Oh not this again." Inuyasha groaned loudly as he grabbed for his long ago forgotten ale and took a swig. Across from him, Kagome took a tentative sip of her wine, smiling at the light fruity flavor that greeter her taste buds.

"That's good." She commented mainly to herself but her eyes didn't miss the pleased smile Inuyasha sent her before his attention was once again drawn by his grandfather.

"Gallivanting across the sea, as a pirate." Eoin shook his head back and forth slowly looking completely forlorn. "Good lord, I thought I raised you better."

"My mother raised me." Inuyasha mumbled causing Paedar to shake his head and glare playfully.

"We helped," He nodded his head sharply as Aengus looked away from Inuyasha feigning hurt. "We were the male figures in your life."

"And I guess my father's not worth mentioning." Inuyasha threw the words out without really thinking. It was only when Eoin's face grew dark that he realized his big mistake.

"Oh that father of yours, that's an influence." The man took off with the words before anyone in the room could even blink. "Gallivanting around, stealing people's daughters." He growled his whole body tensing with years of anger.

"He was nice though." Aengus shrugged and took a sip of his drink appearing unaffected by the whole conversation. "I thought they were a good match."

"Of course you did." Paedar glared at the other man as he too growled from the thought of Inuyasha's father. "You're the reason we let her go off with that man, and look what happened, she came back with him!" He shoved his hands towards Inuyasha.

"And we like him." Aengus argued as he sent Inuyasha an affectionate smile. "He's our pup."

"I know that," Paedar argued with Aengus, his expression taunt and haughty. "That's not the point, that bastard got her pregnant!"

"They were married." Aengus interjected as he defended his granddaughter and her mate.

"She was a little pup!" Paedar argued back as he crossed his arms over his chest in a huff.

Aengus sighed loudly and brought a hand up to rub at his temple. "She was twenty."

All the while, the other five people at the table watched the exchange as if they were witnessing a game of verbal chest. Leaning towards his grandfather Inuyasha lowered his voice to a conspirator whisper. "Wanna make a bet?" He asked, watching as his grandfather turned towards him and grinned.

"Sure." Eoin tilted his head to the side and reached into his pocket, producing a hand full of change he sifted through absently. "I got five gold on fifteen minutes."

"Okay," The younger man reached into his pocket and produced the same amount of gold coins laying them on the table. "I say five gold on ten."

"Shake." Eoin commanded and Inuyasha readily obliged, reaching out his own hand to connect with his elder's firmly.

"What are you betting on?" Kagome whispered as she leaned across the table towards Inuyasha while her eyes stayed on the still arguing duo.

"We're betting how long they'll argue." He told her as he looked towards the old long faced clock which rested against the opposite wall from the stove. "Three," He counted off as he read the old face while the pendulum continued to sway.

Watching the ongoing battle of wills across from her, Sango shook her head before turning to Miroku jokingly. "They argue like an old married couple."

"Funny you should say that." Inuyasha laughed openly as he took a swig of his ale, his eyes never really leaving the clock as it continued to click.

"Why?" Miroku questioned as he turned back towards his father and away from the two men.

"'Cause they are." Eoin shrugged and took a swig of his own drink.

"What?" Three collective voices said in perfect unison as they turned towards Inuyasha's grandfather.

"They're mollies." Eoin clarified as he studied the clock hands expertly. "Five." He smiled as he turned and looked back at his brother and his brother's significant other. "And still going strong. I think they'll make it to twenty easy."

"They're—," Miroku's mouth opened and he turned to look at the two men as they continued arguing about topics unknown at this point. Looking at the two men he never would have guessed in a million years that the two were mollies. They didn't look like mollies or at the very least what he expected mollies to look like. "No way."

"That's why they chose to stay in Ireland," Inuyasha licked his lips as he looked at the clock, his hand thumping the table anxiously. "Come on." He thought as he watched the time tick closer and closer to ten. "Since there's no demons to smell it and beat the shit out of 'em, they're pretty safe." He bit his lip as the seven minute marker ticked by. "The human's don't really seem to care all too much or they just think they're old friends. Either way, by looking at 'em you'd never known. They're good at hiding it."

"That explains so much about you." Miroku whispered as he thought back on all the times his father had made jokes about the subject or tried to make him feel uncomfortable. He even remembered a few times when they had encounter a real molly and his father had simply ignored the fact rather bluntly, as if it hadn't mattered to him in the least. "At least now I know why."

"Fine!" The loud yell and the slamming of hands on the table by Aengus signaled the end of the rather loud argument.

"Ha!" Inuyasha yelled as he lunged for his grandfather's coins, pulling them towards himself along with his own joyfully. "Under ten, I win!"

"Damn." Eoin growled slightly and huffed before turning towards the other two men. "You couldn't just make it another four minutes?" He slammed his head down on the table, the old wood creaking from the sound. "Was that too much to ask?"

"You were betting on us again." It was a statement, not a question coming from Aengus as the man glared at both the younger demons.

"You can't really blame them." Paedar cut off any further impending argument as he completely regained his composure. His face turned completely somber once again, his expression calm and collected as it naturally seemed to stay. "So, Inuyasha," He turned back towards his great-grandson in an attempt to appear unaffected by the entire yelling match. "I know you, why are you really here?"

Inuyasha's eyes went wide for just a second and he shifted in his seat. "What do you mean," He snorted slightly and leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. "I can't just come for a visit?"

Paedar raised an eyebrow but didn't rise to the slight bait in Inuyasha's voice. "There's something on your mind."

"Look," Inuyasha glanced at Sango, Miroku, and Kagome his eyes looking only slightly uneasy to those who knew him well. "I was just coming to introduce you to—."

"Don't patronize us pup." Eoin sent his grandson a stern glare as he joined his brother's side in the argument. "There's something else going on here—," He tapped his fingers against the table as he spoke, narrowing his eyes. "I've know you for almost four hundred years, I can tell when something's on your mind."

Inuyasha glanced at his friends out of the corner of his eye and said nothing for several seconds. "I really didn't want to have this conversation in front of them." He thought to himself, his natural urge to keep his life a compelling secret gnawing at his gut. "But—." The image of Miroku's hurt face, of Sango's anger, and of Kagome yelling at him entered his mind and he knew it wasn't far to them. They were right, he had known them long enough to let them know himself. Taking a deep breath, he turned his eyes towards Paedar and exhaled slowly. "There is."

It wasn't news to the three humans that there was a reason for their journey to Inuyasha's home. However, it was strange that he had fought so hard not to say anything while deliberately glancing at them every few seconds. Something was 'rotten in the state of Denmark' and they deserved to know exactly what that something was.

"Go on." Aengus pressed gently as he studied his grandson with apparently practiced eyes.

Inuyasha inhaled deeply at his grandfather's words and reached a hand up to rub at the back of his head. "Sesshoumaru contacted me."

Instantly, the three humans in the room snapped all their attention towards Inuyasha. They knew that name, all three of them recalled the moment from so long ago when Inuyasha had practically snapped and destroyed Kaede's bar. The incident had occurred entirely because of that name and the hatred Inuyasha seemed to process for it.

"He wants me to go to Nippon," Inuyasha continued even as he brought his hands in front of himself and gripped at his pants legs, anger for Sesshoumaru welling in him. "Something involving the Shikon no Tama," He raised his head and looked directly at Eoin, before moving his eyes for a second to Aengus and them to the other end of the table at Paedar. "My mother and my father."

The room grew so quiet that the faintest sound would have seemed like cannon fire. Sitting beside Inuyasha, Kagome felt her whole body begin to tremble. "Is this what Kagura told him?" She asked herself as the words hung in the air loudly. "That man, Sesshoumaru—the Shikon shard." She thought as her shaking hands absently reached for the jewel resting underneath her clothes, grasping it between her fingers for reassurance. "His mother and father—how are they connected?"

Kagome didn't have long to dwell on her words as Eoin suddenly reached forward for his ale. The sound of his clothes rustling in the quiet filled the room and then the scraping of the mug on the wood filled it even more. He took a long drink of the ale before sitting it back down, revealing tired and for the first time, truly old eyes. "We knew this day would come." He spoke slowly as he brought a finger up to touch the rim of his glass, running it along the suds that remained from his drink.

"But so soon." Paedar's voice came out as no longer calm but instead subdued as if the whole mood of the evening had shifted. It was almost as if someone had died and they were mourning that death. "Tell me Inuyasha," The oldest man in the group lifted his head, wrinkles that seemed to have just now appeared, highlighting his silver eyes with their presence. "What do you know about your mother?"

Inuyasha's ears pinned back against his skull, not from the question but from the look of absolute sorrow on their faces. "I know she was an orphan," He answered them softly, trying his best not to disturb them with too loud of a voice. "I know she was a mi—," He paused, licked his lips and then continued. "She was a priestess, and she had a piece of the Shikon no Tama, which she left to me."

Aengus nodded from the answer and inhaled deeply. "He knows a lot more than I thought." He spoke as if Inuyasha and the humans were not there.

"But," Eoin looked towards the elder two demons with pleading eyes. "Do you think he's old enough?"

Paedar smiled reassuringly, even though his old and wrinkled eyes looked anything but reassured. "Will he ever be?"

Eoin chuckled at the words and sighed heavily just to himself. "This is a hard story to tell." He was honest as he spoke. "But I guess—we can't hold the truth back any longer." He reached a hand up and scratched at the back of his head. "His mother did want him to know eventually—even if his father didn't." He gulped and finally turned to look at Inuyasha, staring the man in the face darkly. "It wouldn't be right not to tell you." His voice was tight as he spoke, sounding almost as if he felt himself a hypocrite. "After all, it effects the purpose of your very life."

Inuyasha tensed as he listened to his grandfather, part of him not liking the sound of the words but the other part wondering what they could possibly mean. "The purpose of my life?"

"Yes," Paedar spoke in Eoin's place as he looked at his great grandchild with those same pained eyes as his own brother. "The legacy your father and mother left you, Inuyasha." He paused for just a second, trying to determine how to word what he was about to say. "We thought maybe with luck you'd never know of it." He chuckled slightly as if his own words had been some sick joke. "Your father wished you wouldn't, anyway."

"But here we are." Aengus took over as he watched his lifelong companion with his own subdued and pained eyes. "It's time to tell the truth, isn't it Eoin?" He looked towards the pup he had helped raise, watching as the man closed his eyes, going quiet.

After several seconds, Eoin finally opened them again, the silver shimmering beautifully as it reflected the combination of candle and firelight from the stove. "Stubborn pup." Affection budded in his voice as he looked at his grandson. "Even if I dismissed you now, you wouldn't let it go. Your curiosity's been peaked, right?"

The question was rhetorical in nature but Inuyasha still found himself nodding as if to answer.

"Inuyasha," Eoin started slowly, his voice almost shaking it seemed. "There's much about your mother we never told you," His expression was apologetic as he raised his hands and motioned towards the ceiling strangely. "More than her being a priestess, or the Shikon no Tama she wore around her neck." His hands moved towards the table, planting firmly against the old wood. For a moment, he rubbed his fingers against it as if thinking to himself. "We never told you about your father—," He looked at the table as he spoke intently, as if he was seeing the man himself in its wooden surface. "Your mother—," He raised his eyes and looked directly at the man he called grandson. He could see in that man, in the shape of his chin and cheekbones the remnants of a daughter he had loved more than life itself. He could see it in the shape of his eyes, in the tilt of his eyebrows, in the slight dimple of his left cheek. "Izayoi." He thought as he watched his grandson, seeing his daughter in every part of his face. "We never told you the reason why she left us and went with him before you were born."

End of Chapter

Please Review

A/N: I hope everyone liked this chapter. Inuyasha's back story is really about to come to fruition. It has taken a long time to get here but it is happening and it is happening now. For those of you curious about Japan at this point, don't worry all in good time.

Bonus Point:

I know it's easy but—what kind of demon is Kouga?

Last Chapter's Bonus Point:

Well depending on how you look at it, Sesshoumaru's most beloved servant is either Jaken or Rin. Jacken in a very sarcastic sense and Rin in a throughly loving sense. I mean when she died the second time...man...if Sesshoumaru could physically cry he would have. Congrats to the winners!

FlowingSilverDreams, scorpioprincess18, FluffysShai, SilverMoonLite, Team D0bby, 14 inu-kag, Glon Morski, Aozora12, kan78, AnimeNerd1, TaoGrace, Nyeh, KyaraMarri, IkutoTsukiyomi'sGirl, TachiMakoto, Cagome, AiydanWarrior, Saria Forest14, KaUiA, Nur Nur, TheRealInuyasha

Translations:

Tá brón orainn, a dhaoine uaisle. Tá eagla orm ní mór dúinn a ghearradh ar fheidhmíocht na hoíche anocht ghearr. Ní fhaca mé mo garmhac in aon cheann déag bliana d'aois agus ní mór dúinn i bhfad chun teacht suas ar. - Sorry, ladies and gentlemen. I'm afraid we must cut tonight's performance short. I haven't seen my grandson in eleven years and we have much to catch up on.

Mar sin féin dar saor chun fanacht agus a ithe agus ól gach oíche ar fad. – However feel free to stay and eat and drink all night long.

Le do thoil – Please

Leanbh – Baby

Aon – No

Álainn - Beautiful

Baka yarou – Kind of like fuck you but not nearly as harsh as the English use of the term. More like 'Jerk.'

Notes:

Names – Paedar is the original spelling of Peter. Aengus is a popular name in Irish and English, sometimes it is written Engus. Eoin is an old variation of Ian from the 11th century; modernly two different names are derived from it Ian and Owen.

Long Faced Clock – Modernly known as a grandfather clock.

Tabor - refers to a portable snare drum played with one hand. The word "tabor" is simply an English variant of a Latin-derived word meaning "drum." A tabor has a cylindrical wood shell, two skin heads tightened by rope tension, a leather strap, and an adjustable gut snare. Each tabor has a pitch range of about an octave: the larger the tabor, the lower the pitch. It is played by just one stick, which usually strikes the snare head.

Oud - is a pear-shaped stringed instrument commonly used in Arabic, Hebrew/Jewish, Greek, Turkish, Byzantine, North African, Somali and Middle Eastern music. Construction of the oud is similar to that of the lute. The modern oud and the European lute both descend from a common ancestor via diverging paths. The oud is readily distinguished by its lack of frets and smaller neck. It is considered an ancestor of the guitar.

Fiddle - The medieval fiddle emerged in 10th century Europe, deriving from the Byzantine lira, a bowed string instrument of the Byzantine Empire and ancestor of most European bowed instruments. It differs from a violin only in that it originally had only three strings and was much bigger and rounder. They were quite popular in Dublin and it was estimated they have been around since at least the 11th century but possibly even farther back in the 9th century.

Banshee – "woman of the sídhe" or "woman of the fairy mounds." A female spirit in Irish mythology, usually seen as an omen of death and a messenger from the Otherworld.

Next Chapter:

Izayoi

See you then!

UNEDITED

POSTED

4/16/2013