((AN: Probably about time for another chapter. ^.^ I'd meant to get this one finished a few days ago, but I kept getting distracted. x3 But I got it done! Now we have a break from the fluff for another bit with the family. :3 So this is definitely after Yashahime's events, but there's no particular point in time compared to the other stories in that bit of the timeline.
I'd had an idea for a moment when the girls would get to see Sesshomaru in his full dog-demon form, and as I wrote, it also turned into a bonding moment, musing about how to control their own inner demon blood, and whether it was worth it to do so. I also inserted a head-canon into mine about injuries sustained while in that form, as I don't think I've seen it addressed anywhere on how Sesshomaru couldn't just heal his arm back in the show, if demon healing factors are usually so strong otherwise. Do correct me if I'm wrong and it HAS been addressed somewhere though. x3
Also had a bit of fun with a fact about the folklore in the show, in that it was probably inspired quite a bit by the Journey to the West (the nods to folklore in the whole of the series is honestly amazing, IMO). I like to think the demon character I made could probably be a faraway relative of the Bull/Ox Demon King. x3 At any rate, do enjoy!))
Control
The sounds of violent crashing echoed across the countryside at the foot of a stony mountain, all of a sudden one day starting about mid-afternoon. Not only were they loud, they were continuous and random, which made everyone who heard the commotion within the neighboring villages around its feet want to hide or evacuate, fearing the thought of an earthquake or volcano coming to fruition.
It would seem, to the three demon slayers who were approaching the site by air, that many of the people had already evacuated. As another tremor threatened to rock the earth, they could hear the scattered villagers below them crying out in surprise or loudly voicing concerns, families holding each other as they watched the mountain with trepidation.
"Moroha, are you sure that you don't have any more information to go on?" Towa called over to her cousin from the back of Kirara, with Setsuna holding on behind her.
The quarter-demon gritted her teeth as she shielded herself from the dusty wind atop a transformed Takechiyo. "Not a damn thing; just word that a couple of huge demons are having some kind of…" another resounding crash rocked from the mountain. "Well, I almost called it a 'spat', but this might be some kinda full-on argument."
"It's a full-on battle; don't be cute," Setsuna sighed. "At any rate, we should be able to see what's going on once we get over to that plateau on the other side."
It was at least an easy flight around into the rocky fissures that made up the sides of the mountain, natural barriers for villages that lay safely inside huge insets of rock...but the increasingly-loud sounds were making it hard to navigate as the echoes seemed to hop back and forth between the fissures. They knew now, at least, that the noises weren't of the earth, but the by-product of something hard slamming into the sides of the stone hills and causing avalanches that carried the echoes further.
"From what I hear tell, this mountain belongs to a guardian spirit, a demon who takes the form of a giant bull," Takechiyo explained as they came closer. "Could be something might be trying to take the territory from him."
"Should we really be butting in, if that's the case?" Towa inquired. "Demon territorial disputes don't really sound like our business."
"It's our business if it affects the safety of any humans living nearby," Setsuna reminded her, brandishing her naginata as they came closer to a specific overlook of one village. "We might have to intercept someone who's running and see what's going on."
"Besides, I wanna see this guardian bull demon and what could possibly challenge it," Moroha grinned. "Could net us some nice rewards if we can help."
The village that came into view was a rather beautiful one for being nestled in a pocket of almost complete stone. The buildings were surrounded by lush greenery, fed by a sparkling waterfall and snaking river that emptied to another waterfall further down; atop the rocks of the first waterfall, there looked to be a shrine built to honor the guardian. Looking around, the half- and quarter-demon princesses expected to see people still milling around the village…
However, upon reaching the overlook high above it, they were surprised to see some familiar faces: Jaken and Rin were astride A-Un, the Lady clad in her travel armor as her eyes were narrowed and focused on the mountain, while Miroku and his daughters were standing staunchly in front of them, also watching the same direction. Despite his wife and followers being there, Sesshomaru was oddly nowhere to be seen.
"Mother!" Towa called out as they approached and landed on the lip of the plateau. "What are you guys doing here?"
The young woman's head whipped around to them, her smile wide. "Oh! Girls, what a wonderful surprise! Though, it probably shouldn't be, word of this fight would get around to you…"
"Mother, what's going on here?" Setsuna inquired as the other two gave friendly waves back to her, approaching as Takechiyo returned to his smaller size. "All we heard was that there was a nasty demon fight causing avalanches. The villagers had to evacuate."
"Oh, yes," she waved her hand dismissively, "We told them to, once we met the monks and they told us everything. You remember Kin'u and Gyokuto, right?"
On cue, the older set of twin girls turned and waved brightly with a simultaneous "hiii!"
"The monks were here first?" Moroha blinked and crossed her arms. "What for? I think we could take whatever's trying to fight the bull guardian."
"That wouldn't be wise," Miroku said as he turned his head, giving the entourage a smile of his own in greeting. "This isn't a fight to the death. The fight is to try to subdue the bull guardian."
Taken aback, the girls quickly exchanged confused glances between each other, before facing Rin. "You might want to start from the beginning of the story," Towa requested for the group.
The young mother laughed. "Oh, yes, of course. Would one of you care to start? You were here first," she glanced over to the trio of monks.
It was Kin'u who obliged, as another rumble from the mountain rocked the earth and forced the attention of the other two back up. "Well, as you guys know, the mountain and the villages are guarded over by the bull demon Shotooru; normally he's fairly benevolent, but lately he's been going crazy; he's already ran through and trampled one of the villages!"
"Oh, crap," Moroha grimaced. "Anyone know why?"
"Nobody does," Miroku jumped in. "The villagers have sent out for help, but are hesitant to have Shotooru killed; he's been watching over them for generations. Every harvest, in return, people from each village give him a portion of their crops. We're thinking he may be possessed or cursed by something; it's happened before, when a good spirit or demon suddenly goes rogue."
"That's why we're here," Gyokuto finished with a grin, "To purify him. But he's huge, so it's hard to pin him down long enough to do it."
"That's when we happened upon this place," Rin continued. "Lord Sesshomaru could hear the crashing on the mountain, and we all could feel the earth moving. The villagers told us what happened, then we met the monks, and so our help was volunteered."
"'Volunteered', peh," Jaken snorted. "They practically begged for my master's help."
"Is that why Father's not here with you?" Setsuna asked as she looked around.
"Huh, shit, no bounty this time," Moroha sighed.
"Well, I bet we still get to watch a cool fight, if Father's involved," Towa pointed out with a smirk. Her eyebrows then drew together in a bit of confusion. "Though, how can he subdue a huge bull demon? His sword would only kill it, as would his other attacks, probably."
That's when Jaken let out a cackle, a wide grin on his maw. "Oho, that's right, you girls haven't seen Lord Sesshomaru this way! You're in for a show, my princesses!"
"What do you…?"
CRACK!
The entire group gave a yelp as another close avalanche rocketed down, huge boulders kicking up dust in their wake. Two massive shadowy figures appeared through the debris higher up on the mountain, and as it slowly cleared, the gathering of humans and demons gaped at the sight.
A grand dog demon, white as a cloud with red marks on its face (and a familiar crescent on its brow) and just about as big, kicked itself away into the air and flipped around to face the other creature, a glowing green-eyed black bull with two gouging horns, his flanks and the edges of those bony points marred from countless years of battles, and a mane of what appeared to be gray fog curling around his ankles and neck. Shotooru's battle call was a bellow that echoed as dauntingly as the avalanches, and he pawed in midair with one massive hoof, facing the dog and getting ready to charge again. Sesshomaru, undaunted, let out a challenging bark that was more of a roar, baring a horrifying set of sharp teeth and blood-red eyes.
"Incredible…!" Towa exclaimed as she gaped up at the massive dog. "That's Father?"
"It's his full demon form!" Setsuna's eyes were wide. "What a sight!"
"Daaang!" Moroha said as she fell backward on the ground in shock, with Takechiyo hiding behind her, "I wish I could do that!"
At the sound of another growling roar, the bull bellowed back in kind and charged forward through the air, only for the dog to swiftly dodge and grab a hold of a horn, easily swinging the beast around to crash again into the mountain, making the world shake and the rocks crumble; thankfully away from the village. The larger demon's hide appeared to be quite thick, for it sustained barely any scratches against the rough mountainside...but as it shook its head, it seemed to sag a little more. Despite being slightly bigger than Sesshomaru, the Great Demon's controlled strength was more formidable than one who was charging blindly.
"Finally, I think Shotooru is starting to weaken!" Miroku exclaimed. "If Sesshomaru can keep running him ragged…"
"Lord Sesshomaru isn't even winded!" Jaken crowed. "He'll have no problem!"
His daughters, meanwhile, still kept their eyes on him as he effortlessly ran through the sky to face his opponent at each turn and charge. They'd had rudimentary knowledge of Great Demons and others of higher rank having a humanoid form, which they used to be more inconspicuous, and a full demon form which showed off their true nature...oftentimes a form more brutal, much stronger physically, and more driven by animalistic instincts.
It made them think back on the times that they were forced into their demon forms...the undeniable rush it gave them when fighting...but with a driven fury and lust for tearing everything in front of them to shreds (though Setsuna had envied Towa her own sense of control; she didn't need a seal to keep back her demon power). The creature that they were looking at now, with every growling bark that it let loose, seemed to call to their very spirits and blood. This is you, it seemed to say, this is your legacy. Embrace it. Control it.
The young half-demons both knew that they needed to learn how to control that side of themselves...it was a large part of their quests to grow stronger, so that their own demon natures would not consume their human minds. Yet...they were hesitant to face that side, knowing what it was capable of, the danger it could be to others.
"This is so exciting," Jaken continued to laugh with glee, "Lord Sesshomaru rarely ever uses his full demon form!"
"Why is that?" Setsuna inquired, with Towa also turning her head to regard the imp. "I would think most demons revel in the form that gives them the most power."
The smaller demon hummed thoughtfully, turning back to watch the fight as he answered. "Yes, that is often true...but even before he ascended into a Great Demon, milord preferred to use that form as a last resort, relying on the more controlled skills of swordplay and the conjuring of other weapons...as acting like a mindless animal was beneath him."
"I don't think he's being mindless now," Towa pointed out as another SLAM rocked through the mountain, this time with Sesshomaru barely missing being gouged by a horn as he leaped out of the way. "He has to match Shotooru's strength without killing him, so this is a pretty fair way to do it, and he's using his size against him, so that's pretty smart."
"I do wonder still, if he does have full control of himself in that form," Setsuna mused with furrowed eyebrows, remembering what she could of how she acted as a brief full demon.
Jaken gave her a few blinks. "I would surely think he does. He's been unwieldy with it before, and often careless, but he has never gone after us in that form."
"Trust in your father, girls," Rin piped up with a reassuring smile, "He knows what he's doing, and knows when it's appropriate to use his power. He's had to learn some harsh lessons with it, after all."
The twins shared an interested glance; it was rare that they ever heard much about their father's past...but from the snippets they've heard, it wasn't too pretty. "What were the lessons?" Towa asked, curious.
"This isn't the time for a long story," their mother shook her head, "All that I'll tell you for now is that there is one more reason that he least prefers this form."
"Well, it's still pretty impressive," Moroha commented with a wide grin. "I can feel his demon energy from here, it's invigorating! Makes me wanna join the party as Beniyasha."
"Oh please don't," Takechiyo sighed and covered his eyes, "I can barely watch this."
Both of the princesses couldn't voice it right then, as they couldn't quite describe it...but they too felt as if their demon blood was calling, howling like that of a dog, in response to the fierce fight that their father put on. It was taking a small amount of restraint to keep their focus...but strangely, unlike the other times they felt their demon sides calling, it was not out of fury, but of exhilaration...not out of anger, but of mirth.
Father's calling, said the energy within.
"I think Sesshomaru definitely has it well in hand," Miroku stated in reply to everyone. "Or paw, rather. Look."
His maw open wide in what looked like a taunting grin, Sesshomaru let loose another growling bark, and the possessed Shotooru was swaying on his hooves, looking like he was seconds away from dropping. But whatever had taken his right mind, it looked like it didn't know the limit of his body, as he lowered his head, getting ready for one more charge. The dog's back was to the mountain, and he wouldn't have much time to dodge and grab a horn as he'd been doing.
The spectators on the plateau held their breaths, and Rin clapped her hands together in a silent plea that her husband would come out unscathed.
With a strained bellow, the bull charged...and the dog, at the last second, dove out of the way as the beast above him SLAMMED head-first into the rock. One last avalanche was released, one that Sesshomaru nimbly dodged (for the most part; he was getting pelted quite a bit with smaller boulders, though to the relief of the others, not enough to take him out of the air), and the guardian demon fell alongside the rocks, to come to land with a cloud of dust on the rocky foothill just near the village.
Shaking his head free of the debris, Sesshomaru flew over to where the bull lay, a low and angry growl making his long white mane of fur ripple as he stood over the beast.
At first, the others were ready to charge down, afraid that he would land a killing blow on the unconscious demon. But instead, he simply stomped a large paw on his flank and raised his head, releasing a long and plaintive howl; not so much in victory as it was a signal call, but the sentiment still reached his family on the plateau, and his daughters and niece couldn't help but cheer along. Rin let out a breath of relief, and Jaken raised his staff in the air. "Another sure victory for Lord Sesshomaru!"
"I do believe that's our cue," Miroku smiled to his daughters. "Master Takechiyo, may we borrow you to get down there?"
"Well, since you asked so nicely," said the young tanuki demon primly as he transformed again into his larger form.
As the monks went down to inspect the prone form of the guardian, the small family left behind suddenly noticed that the dog's eyes were now on them. He promptly leaped into the air (whether he jumped or flew, it was hard to tell), landing gracefully in front of the others and making them back up a little in surprise...up close, he was gigantic, his own steps making the earth shake a little beneath their feet. He turned and faced the group, looking down on them with narrowed red eyes.
The twin half-demons were both a little uneasy at the sight, crouching into their defensive postures. "W-why isn't he turning back yet?" Towa asked, looking at Jaken.
"He is in control, right?" Setsuna added, slowly raising her naginata.
"H-he should be…" Jaken stammered. "Great Demons have an impeccable sense of control, even in bestial form."
Rin took in a breath and stepped down from A-Un. "It's okay...he must have a reason." She stepped forward, between her children, and then in front of them.
"Mother…" Towa reached out, concerned.
She raised her own hand to halt her as she moved closer to the creature. "Don't worry...he won't hurt me."
Her family looked on with bated breath as she walked up to Sesshomaru with a short gulp (even after all this time, she hadn't seen him in his demon form this closely), stopping just between his front paws, and reaching her hand up to him. "You are in there still, aren't you, my lord?"
After a beat, he lowered his head down to her level, his mouth closing around his massive teeth as he allowed her to place her hand atop his nose. As she ran her palm in wonder across the soft fur, the beast's eyes closed in what seemed like content, to the surprise of the onlookers before them.
"I swear upon everything, that only Rin could be able to do that," Jaken sighed with a smile, shaking his head, and the sight could only make their children exchange light smiles as well.
After a moment of him letting his wife indulge herself in running her fingers through the soft fur on his chin, Sesshomaru lifted his head and focused back on the girls, making them stand at attention in wonder and caution.
"Come over here, you three," the Lady brightly waved them forward, "I think Lord Sesshomaru has a lesson to teach you, while he has the opportunity."
"A lesson?" Towa echoed, and was the first to step up close, instantly curious.
Moroha followed quickly after. "Lesson or not, ain't no way I'm gonna miss the chance to pet a giant dog," she grinned.
The only one left was Setsuna, whose caution was ringing alarm bells in her head, along with the feeling of her demon blood still responding to the massive aura of energy in front of her. She remembered all too well the last time she'd felt the call wanting to overpower her...Towa had ended up injured, and a lot around her had gotten destroyed. She wasn't sure that she was ready to face that side of herself again...
Looking up at Sesshomaru's beastly visage, it was really as if the demon side of herself was standing there looking at her. She saw his eyes narrow again, as if out of impatience. And then, she heard his voice in her head.
Leave your weapon. Come.
The alarm in her nerves rang louder. But...the seal is on my weapon...if I leave it, while I'm feeling like this…
And still, she saw a comforting smile on her mother's face as she came up and squeezed her shoulder. "You'll be fine, I know you will," she whispered.
Setsuna grimaced, but she took a deep breath and willed herself to calm, slowly lowering the yukari no tachikiri to the ground and walking forward with her mother's guiding hand on her back. I said I wanted to be stronger...I refuse to be afraid of a lesson.
I refuse...to be afraid of myself.
The dog beast watched as the youngsters approached and reached up to touch the fur on his flank, breathing sighs of wonder and reverence at this glimpse of their true legacy through their father, and reveling in the feel of the power that seemed to flow out and surround him like the eye of a storm.
They closed their eyes, and their blood responded.
Rin stood a little further away, back by A-Un's side, watching her daughters' transformations. She'd caught terrifying glimpses of their demon forms before, mostly through Setsuna's dreams...this was the first time that she really saw them come out in front of her, and despite the circumstances that had brought them to the surface before, they now seemed meditative, hands still on the fur, concentrating on feeling the energy run...with, it seemed, Sesshomaru's guidance.
Moroha's change in appearance was more subtle, but she still felt it, as she and her uncle and cousins all shared blood with the Great Dog. She was also the one most familiar and practiced with that form, as she'd often used it to power up her own abilities...her journey to control was reckless, but she'd learned...and now, the power came like a welcoming embrace.
Hi, Grandpa.
Towa had no trouble letting go. Her innate control was strong; before, the only catalyst to the release of the demon was any threat to her sister. Here, there was no threat...so she could explore the feel of it, the strength coursing through her limbs, the potential she held, that her own sense of protection could become a mighty force...should she need to use it.
Setsuna...she was having trouble letting it in. The demon wanted to rise up, and she wanted to suppress it…she also feared the thought of failing, in front of her parents, her family.
Let it take over. Face it.
Her father's stern, but calm voice in her head was the push she seemed to need. With a growling sigh, her teeth gritted together as she felt her fangs grow, the demon pushing to the forefront.
She expected to feel blood-lust, the need to kill creeping in. Instead, something kept it at bay and sedated...she could move of her own accord, think more clearly, even though the energy howled feebly in her mind. Now, she could more take in the feel of the power she wielded, and make more sense of it.
Control is possible. Find what anchors you.
Setsuna took those words and thought back, fighting through the fog of the demon's mind. My anchor...last time...that was Towa, calling to me. I cannot always rely on my sister, though. I must think of...everyone around me. My friends and family...my mother. If I remember...that may become my anchor.
She felt a brief shudder through her body, as if the demon were still struggling...or, was it still her human side, trying to force the demon back down?
Tame yourself, and your strength will know no limit.
The young slayer took a deep breath and let it out, letting the demon free completely, and her eyes opened to see the others in a similar state...but like her, calmer, watching her and looking between each other, recognizing friends, not foes.
She still felt resistance, her two sides trying to clash due to her own hesitance...Setsuna knew that she wouldn't gain complete control yet, not so easily...but now, now, she knew what to practice. And she could actually see a day when she would no longer need the seal.
Good.
Rin could see, through their faces, the differences in her daughters' abilities to deal with their demon sides, and even the confident acceptance in Moroha. She smiled and even felt herself tear up, her heart swelling with pride for them...surely, she knew, her husband felt the same.
It was only a moment more before Sesshomaru let his aura calm. The girls all let their hands fall from the dog's fur, shifting back to their normal selves...except for Setsuna, whose demon marks and longer claws still lingered.
The others watched her warily, to see what she would do. But, she continued to breathe, and she turned to walk towards where her naginata lay, heart racing as she tried to keep her focus, teeth gritting. Have to hold it back...have to get the seal. Inside, she felt frustration at not easily being able to return to herself like the others...frustration that translated to her demon side as failure, against which it wanted to fight.
But then she saw Rin in front of her, who picked up the weapon and held it out...looking at the turned half-demon in front of her with all the love in the world, and not a trace of fear.
Anchor. Focus.
Her hand shaking, Setsuna reached out. Feeling like time was going all too slowly, her clawed fingers finally clenched around the pole-arm.
The seal responded once more, and she took a breath as she felt herself return, the demon energy drawn back into her, muscles relaxed.
After a second, she could feel the others walking up to her, and she turned to face them. "I still can't hold it back myself," she admitted.
"Hey, it takes practice," Moroha assured with a friendly shrug. "I can tell you're a lot better already."
"Yeah, you still faced it," Towa grinned. "I'm proud of you."
"We all are," Rin confirmed as she rested a comforting hand on her back. "I'm absolutely certain you'll be fine."
Setsuna couldn't help but smile as well, taking their encouragement to heart. Though she couldn't quite tell anything from the visage of Sesshomaru (much like when he was in his normal form), Setsuna could still feel something akin to acceptance from him as well, and her confidence was all the more bolstered.
A short while later, as the evening waned, the group stood a little further up the mountain, in a spot that still overlooked the green village. On a platform made of stone in front of them sat Shotooru, now in a smaller form than that of a giant bestial bull; he reminded Towa of a minotaur, with a rounded humanoid body and a black bovine head, and horns that still curved wickedly from the top of his skull. To the side of his platform stood an ornate war-hammer against the rock, and he wore an almost crude set of golden pauldrons on his shoulders for armor, something that was probably more ornamental than practical.
"Lord Shotooru, how do you feel now?" Miroku addressed. He and his daughters stood at the front of the group, while Sesshomaru and his family were a little off to the side. Though the Great Demon stood at their lead, watching with an always-impassable expression, his eyes were attentive on the guardian beast.
"Quite better," he answered in a slow and booming voice with a nod. "It was the right decision to send individuals with Buddhist powers, it would seem. I do not know what had come over me. One moment I was enjoying my share of a fine harvest...the next, I had purged this from my throat." He offered out his fist and opened it, revealing a rather large shard of what looked like sharp adamant, and it pulsed with a vile demonic energy to anyone who could sense it.
Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed, and picking up on it, Jaken shuddered as he commented. "Ooh...we've felt that power before."
"I've seen something like that," Rin nodded, her fingers thoughtfully tapping her chin. "The dragon with the spines that damaged Lord Sesshomaru."
"You've seen this?" Towa inquired, looking at her mother. "And felt it?"
"Yes...it was quite a while ago, not terribly long before I was carrying you two." Her eyes rolled upward as she recalled. "We were crossing into a forest in demon territory when we got into a fight. When your father healed, he advised that we leave...there seemed to be a curse that affected the demon he fought. Similar perhaps to that," she gestured to the shard. "Something that made the creature go insane."
"A cursed forest…" Setsuna hummed with thought. "This sounds like something worth investigating; if something like that could make a high-ranked demon like Shotooru lose his mind, would it do the same to others?"
"And how'd it get here, I wonder?" Jaken again put forward. "The forest is, if I recall, several days' northwest of this mountain."
"Well, whatever it is and wherever it is from, it is now no longer my concern," the bull demon dismissed as the shard was handed over to the monks. "But, I do offer my thanks. The villagers may be summoned back to their homes, and they shall offer the lot of you accommodations, should you need them before traveling on."
"How very kind," Miroku assented with a bow, as did his daughters. "We shall take them up on it and travel on tomorrow."
"Heck, I could use the short vacation," Moroha commented, raising her arms comfortably behind her head.
"When are you not on vacation?" Takechiyo muttered. "Without a debt to pay, you're getting lazy."
"Watch it," the quarter-demon growled.
Shotooru then turned his head to regard the patriarch of the Dog Clan. "And Lord Sesshomaru...an unprecedented assistance. Your reputation precedes you; but that you would choose to help, instead of kill me, speaks volumes of your noble character. Let it be known that I, Shotooru, am indebted, and shall offer aid to you…" he seemed to pause as he took in the sight of a human woman and half-demon girls in his entourage that shared the scent of his blood, only to blink with interested acceptance, "...and yours, if it is ever needed."
Ever silent in his replies, the Great Demon only gave a short incline of his head as acceptance, before turning his back and taking a leap into the air, floating towards the village (where, his family assumed, they all would indeed be staying).
Jaken stepped up to the bull's platform with a low bow. "My Master is one of few words; but I am at liberty to speak for him, and we are appreciative of your alliance, Lord Shotooru."
"Indeed, it is good to have more strong demons on our side," Rin smiled with a bow of her own, her daughters following suit. "Do keep yourself well."
"I shall certainly watch what I eat, at least," the bull demon laughed heartily.
That night, as the villagers were returning and assessing work to be done on damaged homes, Rin and her daughters and niece were resting around the warm fire pit of a guest house (albeit a large one above the rest of the huts), making small talk and enjoying some family time. Sesshomaru was sitting atop the roof, as always more inclined to take watch than participate in much conversation in an enclosed space unless needed, but he could still hear all that was said inside. Jaken had sat inside the doorway for a bit, before being invited over to the fire as well.
The talk soon got around to how amazing the youngsters had found their father's dog form, with Jaken regaling tales of the past from when he'd used it...which, it turned out, really wasn't all that often.
"Mother," Setsuna turned towards Rin as she set down her tea cup, "I remember you saying up on the mountain that there is one other reason that Father does not often make use of his full demon form. Is that something you can divulge? I am merely curious."
There was a pause as she looked down into her own cup, before taking a sip. "To be honest, I've always kept that a secret, even though it probably wasn't meant to be one; everyone might even have guessed it for all I know. Still...if you girls want to know, I want you to keep it to yourselves as well. So that no weakness of Lord Sesshomaru's be exploited."
"You can trust us, Mother," Towa softly insisted, placing her hand on her arm. "We're both very fond of Father; he's only ever done what he believes is best for all of us. We wouldn't do anything to put him in harm's way, even if he could always win a fight."
When the twins looked at Moroha for her confirmation, she nodded in agreement, her face falling into thought as she rested her head on her arms and raised knees. "I owe it to my uncle. He kept my parents safe, and gave me the black pearl so I could see them again."
Rin smiled, her heart ever warmed around her young family members; and she was ever more relieved that none of them had held resentment for her husband. Only she knew that his spirit had taken enough wounds.
"I would say your family is very trustworthy, milady," Jaken confirmed with a short bow of his head.
She nodded, her eyes setting back into the fire, the light making the glaze in them deeper as she looked into the past. "I found this out a long time ago, when I was still a child, traveling with him and Master Jaken. This was before he'd gotten Bakusaiga, and was missing his left arm. I'd seen him in several fights, sometimes coming back with wounds which would always heal quickly. One day I became curious, and I asked why he couldn't just regain his arm so easily. He told me that he'd lost it in his full demon form. You see...while that form is often much stronger, using it comes with a high cost. Life-altering wounds and scars sustained while transformed are permanent ones. So he couldn't heal his arm; not until he earned it back. And it's also...why your grandfather couldn't have simply healed his wounds after battle."
The girls all let out short gasps, looking between one another. It rather made sense, they thought.
"Lord Sesshomaru is a very proud demon," Jaken added solemnly. "Not only can he defeat any foe that comes to cross his sword...but he has worked to make sure that he surpassed the Great Dog in many ways, including in his weaknesses. His full demon form is a last resort, in most cases, and what you have seen is his mastery over it. And that is why he wants you children to know to control yours. For it is a great asset as well as a curse. To master it is to master yourselves."
"We can but try," Setsuna sighed, her face falling into a troubled frown. "It's harder for half-demons."
"You've come this far," Rin encouraged, placing her hand on her daughter's. "I have faith in you, and you very well know that your father does too."
"Yeah, we know," Towa nodded, smiling and raising her eyes to the ceiling, above which she knew he was sitting and listening. There were many things that were different about Sesshomaru as a father, she thought...but his actions had come from a place of love, all the same.
"Welp, enough of this touchy-feely stuff, it's bedtime," Moroha announced around a loud yawn. "Gotta find out where I'm sleeping."
"Well, that's easy, you're staying here with us," Towa blinked. "Mother said you could."
"Indeed, you're always welcome with us, Moroha," Rin confirmed.
The younger girl couldn't help but blush slightly, her eyes averted elsewhere. "Aw, you sure, auntie? I mean, I'm fine with finding a tree limb or somethin', you guys are the ones who were given this place…"
"Just stay," Setsuna sighed loudly. "Don't make us be insistent."
"Yeah, we won't hear a word of 'no' from you, and that's final," Towa declared, crossing her arms.
A beat passed where Moroha couldn't control the smile on her face. Then she let out a snort.
"Well dang, you guys don't have to beg, I'll stay," The quarter-demon teased, earning her a crushing hug from her cousins and a mirthful laugh from her aunt, and though Jaken was irritated at having to scramble away from the playful children, the imp too couldn't deny the happiness he felt around this family that his Master had made.
Outside, anyone observing Sesshomaru would have only seen a stoic and watchful Great Demon keeping his place on the roof, still as a statue with his senses trained everywhere around him; though inside, he felt warm, listening to the banter of his family and as always appreciating their existence, how close it was to have been taken away from him once.
Later in the night, once he had observed every lantern going out in the village and the sounds of the humans silenced in favor of sleep, he raised his nose to the wind coming from the mountain and sensed that Shotooru had regained his watchful, though invisible, presence. Once he felt sure that his eyes were no longer needed, he leaped from the roof and to the front of the door, quiet as the air itself as he stepped inside among his sleeping family.
Fleeting but soft, he bent and ran his claws through the hair on the brow of each slumbering girl as he passed them, before settling in a spot in the corner next to Rin. As if feeling his presence there, she turned on her side towards him with a soft sigh, her lips briefly curling up, and he answered with letting the mokomoko tail wrap around and rest against her back.
He watched his daughters and niece as they dreamed peacefully. There were times that he would still feel concern for how they would fare against the dangers of this world...they were still so young, but already so very skilled, and he took pride in knowing that he had been a big part of that. The rest was them, the victories that they had earned, and how they'd grown used to their own natures without losing themselves in the process.
Time will tell if that will continue to be the case, he thought, for they had growing to do still...and yet he hoped they knew, he wouldn't dare lose faith in them.