Sensuke giggled as Fawks tried to dress him.
"Alright you little wriggle monster…"
"No…!" he laughed, struggling as she pulled on his hakamas.
"…you've always been really good with kids…" Miyako remarked.
"I like kids" Fawks shrugged. "I just never thought I'd have any. Not until I fell in love with Sessh-kun"
"I still don't understand it, Fawkeisha. How did you even end up here?"
"I'm not really sure myself" she shrugged. "I…ended up here for the first time one day after dad had beat me something awful"
Miyako flinched.
"You probably remember, I ran out of the house and went missing for a week, it took me awhile to figure out how to come back. All I remember is running out into the rain and wishing I was anywhere else but there"
Miyako studied her sister, from the moment she had found out Fawks was going to come live with her and her father she had been ecstatic. True, her mother did leave once she found out about Fawkeisha, but if she was going to blame anyone about that, it was her father.
She had tried her best to shield the girl from most of their father's wrath but she was still a child herself.
"There you go, little prince" Fawks sighed, as she finished dressing her son. "Oi, Miyako. Watch him while I get changed"
"Uh…! Sure…"
"Now Sen-kun, Auntie Miyako is like Auntie Kagome and Auntie Sango. You have to be gentle with her because she's not as strong as you" Fawks called as she slipped behind the screen in the corner of the room. Miyako looked down that the child warily, he stared back just as curious.
He reached out his arms to her, "Up…"
Miyako hesitated but obliged him, his tiny clawed hands touched her face, playing with strands of her hair.
"…pretty…" he smiled.
"He seems to like you…"
Miyako turned back to her sister and her jaw nearly hit the floor. Fawks was dressed in an elegant formal kimono, looking every bit like the noble lady she was.
"What?"
"Are you…wearing make-up…?"
"So what if I am?" Fawks scoffed, "Let's go before I change my mind…"
"I can't believe you talked me into this…!" Miyako cried.
"What? It's just a palanquin ride" Fawks shrugged.
"A flying palanquin! You know I hate heights!" she said, doing her best not to move.
"For God's sake, Sensuke is more calm then you are" Fawks sighed, shifting the napping toddler to her other shoulder as she lifted the bamboo shade. Miyako chanced a glance out, catching sight of Sessho-maru flying alongside them.
"How long until we get there, Miyako's about to pee her pants…"
"Not long" he replied, casting a withering glance at Fawks sister, who immediately looked away.
"What's his problem anyway?" she snapped as soon as they were alone again.
"Well…he's afraid you're gonna take me away from him"
Miyako blinked, "Nani?"
"…I already told him you couldn't even if you tried. I love him and I'm not going anywhere"
Miyako hesitated but said nothing.
She glanced around nervously as they climbed the steps to Lady Sachiko's palace.
"Oi, calm down, it's not like anyone's going to eat you" Fawks said as she held Sensuke's hand.
"Your fear reeks" Sessho-maru growled.
"And what's that supposed to mean?!" she snapped.
"And you! Don't go starting fights especially with my sister…!"
Miyako saw his jaw clench. Sensuke let go of his mother's hand, running to the gorgeous woman seated on the throne suddenly before them.
"Gramma…!"
"Sensuke-kun, my darling boy…!" she cooed, lifting him into her lap.
"Mother" Sessho-maru said coldly.
"Ah, my son and lovely daughter-in-law, dressing like a woman for once I see…"
"Nice to see you too, Sachiko-san"
Miyako squeezed her sister's arm, "That's her, Fawkeisha-chan…"
"Right…"
Sachiko blinked, "And who is this, dear daughter-in-law?"
"My sister, Miyako. She needs your help to get home"
"Ho?" Sachiko smiled. "And why should I help her?"
"Because we're family and I asked you…nicely…" Fawks smiled back.
"Hmm, what to do…this puts me in quite a predicament…"
"Mother…" Sessho-maru growled.
"…Is she…not going to help us?" Miyako whispered.
"Not without a fight, no" Fawks sighed.
"B…but…I thought she was your mother in law…!"
"Yeah, but she's also a youkai" Fawks sighed, "Oh well, Sen-kun, it's time to go home"
The toddler gazed back at his mother in confusion.
"Gramma won't help us so…"
"Noo…! Gramma…! Don't be mean…!" he whimpered, gazing up at her with big golden green eyes.
"…Of course not, my darling…" Sachiko cooed, meanwhile shooting Fawks a death glare, "Well played, Fawks-chan."