-The Families All Here-
Rin looks up when Aya enters the hut followed by Sesshomaru, she grins running over to her, Aya bends down as Rin hugs her.
"Lady Ay!"
Aya closes her eyes saying: I've missed you, Rin nods saying: and I've missed you, Mio rushes over saying: Ay I'm so happy you're feeling better. Aya nods looking around the room now, Lana stood against a wall with her arms folded, Aya sighs looking away when she notices the tears in her eyes.
"What's wrong with you," she mutters glancing at her from the corner of her eyes, Lana shakes her head walking into the kitchen, Aya stands pushing Rin gently aside before following Lana into the kitchen. She closes her eyes letting out a sigh when she sees Lana viciously scrubbing a large metal sheet, she walks over sitting on the counter, Lana sighs saying: Aya I tell even Mio not to do that, Aya rolls her eyes looking aside.
"I missed you as well Lana."
Lana nods saying: mm hm, Aya looks at her saying: what's wrong just tell me, Lana tosses the metal sheet aside saying: you always do this. Aya frowns looking at the sheet now.
"You go and get yourself hurt or into trouble, worry everyone to death and then bounce back like nothing ever happened."
Aya cocks her head when Lana glares at her, she puts her hands to her hips saying: I'm tired of it Aya…why can't you understand that we love you too. Aya folds her hands on her lap looking down, her expression resembling that of a guilty child.
"I want to help…I want you to be able to tell me about these things…but all you do is treat us like…worthless human's."
Aya turns to her saying: that isn't true, Lana nods saying: but it is…I may be human Ay but I'm no weakling, Aya raises a brow saying: so what are you saying. Lana growls clenching her fists at Aya, Aya raises a brow leaning back slightly, Lana gives her an exasperated smile.
"Why do you always manage to do this?"
Aya shrugs and Lana grabs her by the arms saying: listen to me…I will not stay here and allow this to go on anymore…you either take us with you or after you leave we will try our best to follow you and if we die it'll be on you.
Aya glares at her saying: take you with me…that's not happening…have fun freezing, she stands stretching her arms.
"The part that hurts the most…is that you've replaced us."
Aya frowns saying: what, Lana folds her arms saying: you've started a new life and we're no longer a part of it, Lana turns away saying: it hurts. Aya grimaces.
I never meant to make her feel that way….
"You've found love and a new way of life…what about us Ay…we were here first."
Aya sighs, the girl had a point. She couldn't just leave them behind, they were her…they were something to her.
"Hold that thought."
Aya leaves the kitchen to find Sesshomaru who leaned against a wall with his eyes closed; Inukimi sat on the floor watching him with a sly grin. Aya walks around her saying: Sesshomaru, he opens his eyes and she smiles saying: we need to talk, his brows furrow when she grabs his wrist pulling him outside. He stands at the side as she pulls the door closed, she moans holding her head when a wave of pain runs through it, Sesshomaru frowns saying: lay down we'll talk later, she shakes her head saying: I will but we need to talk now.
"I don't want to leave Mio and Lana behind."
Sesshomaru frowns even deeper and she smiles, he looks ahead saying: it's your choice, she cocks her head.
My choice!?
Since when!?
She grins evilly.
Since I've become his mate to be…ha-ha-ha.
She nods saying: then their coming with…to the castle only, Sesshomaru turns ready to go back inside but he pauses when Aya leans over.
"Let's get something to eat hmm?"
He turns to her saying: you are hungry, she nods saying: yes, she grabs his hand now pulling him down the road.
"Ooh Lady Ay! Lord Sesshomaru where are you going!?"
Rin and Mio run over with smiles on their faces, Aya looks up at Sesshomaru saying: you two will not want to come…we're going to eat. Mio grimaces saying: well we don't want to watch but…we do want to come with to go watch the Smews their leaving soon, Aya sighs saying: the Smews huh.
And I wanted to seduce the man…ok children let's go.
Rin gasps when Mio runs ahead saying: come on Rin, she grins chasing after her, Aya looks up at Sesshomaru saying: you've been so quiet,he closes his eyes saying: what is there to say.
She frowns saying: I don't know…you could steadily pronounce your undying love for me…I'd never get tired of that.
"I don't need words for that."
She gasps when he walks past her following the children into the woods, she folds her arms saying: well…I still want to hear it. She drops her arms walking slowly behind him.
"Oh-oh-oh there they are!"
Mio points to a group of the birds flying through the air, she pouts saying: are they leaving now?
Aya licks her lips saying: not sure but-, Mio nudges her and she sighs saying: sad it's so sad. She turns to Sesshomaru saying: I'm going up, she walks over to a tree jumping into it, Sesshomaru glares up at her before following.
"What are you doing," he asks as she jumps higher into the trees, she glances down at him saying: catching a meal, he frowns saying: you're not supposed to be pushing yourself. She sighs pausing on a branch.
"I'm not a baby Sesshomaru…so what if I'm a little sick."
"A little."
"Yes, a little."
She climbs higher until she was above the fog, Sesshomaru looks at the children who were now playing in the bushes trying to find animals. He jumps higher until he and Aya stood on the same branch, she smiles at him saying: you're like a leech that just won't come off no matter how many times I burn it. He scowls and she smiles saying: in a good way, she drags him close saying: I like you enough to allow it. Aya kisses him on the jaw whispering: at this point I'd allow you anything, Sesshomaru shakes his head saying: not in the woods, she pouts saying: does it matter. He nods looking aside, she sighs saying: Sesshomaru I'm confused…it takes a couple of days away from me and a fight for you to realize these feelings that you have for me…seems a bit strange. He looks down at her saying: I've known for some time, she goes to speak but he jumps away from her climbing to the very top of the tree.
"Here."
She looks up to see a Crow Demon in his hand, it's body still twitched but he'd twisted it's neck, Aya puts her hands on her hips saying: show off.
"You don't want it?"
She frowns.
Maybe….
"I don't know anymore," she says folding her arms, he shrugs turning away, she shakes her head saying: alright I'll take it, he doesn't budge. Aya sighs jumping onto the branch he stood on but he hops away into another tree, Aya smirks following him but once she reaches him he jumps away again. Aya frowns looking for him again but he'd disappeared.
What the-.
Damnit!
Aya tries to dodge his attack but he manages to kick her out of the tree, Aya catches a branch mid-fall and manages to pull herself back up.
"You want to play rough," she yells up at him, he smirks nearly disarming her, Aya jumps for him but he jumps away again this time to the top of the tree. She smirks leaning against it while looking up at him.
"Scared puppy?"
He glares down at her now and she jumps higher but this time he holds his place, she lunges for the bird but he back flips into another tree, she follows crashing into him. They both fall into a branch, he grabs her as the branch bends backward and snaps, Aya pulls away from Sesshomaru falling onto another branch and he does the same in a tree across from her. She holds her hand out for the Crow Demon saying: well. He tosses the Crow into the air and Aya frowns saying: you fetch, he nods lunging for her, she screams falling backward.
Mio looks up saying: where are they, Rin shakes her head saying: I hear them but…I can't see them, Mio frowns stepping forward.
"Aya where are you!?"
She cups her hands to her mouth once again shouting for Aya.
Aya laughs when Sesshomaru pushes her roughly against the tree, she pushes back sending them out of the tree.
"Mio look out!"
Mio screeches when she looks up to see Aya and Sesshomaru falling toward her, she scrambles away just in time. Mio moves next to Rin who gasps saying: are they fighting, Aya pins Sesshomaru below her whispering: got you, he growls flipping them over, Aya laughs when he gets between her legs holding her wrists to the ground.
"You're done."
Aya nods when he lets go of her arms, she scoots back before pouncing on him again, and the wrestling match continues. Rin grabs her face saying: Lady Ay…Lord Sesshomaru please stop, Aya pauses saying: Rin we-, Sesshomaru grabs her by the back of her head pulling her down, she smiles avoiding his attempt at kissing her, she places her hands on his shoulders saying: down. He bucks into her and she loses her balance, he takes this chance to stand and throw her against a tree, she yelps but he covers her body with his own again, she moans saying: you're playing a dangerous game.
"Rin…I don't think their hurting each other," Mio mutters scratching her cheek, Rin looks at her saying: but their really…-, Aya squeals when Sesshomaru mock bites her neck.
Playing this way is sort of strange…Kize, Mio and I would do it. Sometimes even my father joined in.
But those bites were innocent, this feels…nice.
Sesshomaru licks her neck before going in to suck on it, Aya holds him closer saying: what are you doing, he growls pushing into her and she smirks closing her eyes.
"Uh…Ay?"
Aya gasps pushing Sesshomaru away, he narrows his eyes saying: send them back, Aya smiles saying: uh Mio…Rin…time to go home.
Mio pouts saying: come on Ay, Aya looks at her saying: Mio, Mio places her hands together saying: Aya.
"Children come, let these two get acquainted with one another."
Aya blushes when she sees Inukimi standing in the bushes with Jaken, she folds her arms saying: this is normal for young ones, Sesshomaru glares at her and she shrugs saying: why the anger. Mio and Rin walk over to Inukimi who smiles at Aya saying: carry on…, she grabs the girl's hands pulling them away. Jaken glares at her before following them.
Aya bites her lip turning to Sesshomaru.
"Almost got carried away there…."
He grunts turning away from her, she looks up to see a large red stain on the back of his shirt, she gasps saying: you're bleeding. He looks at her over his shoulder as she gently touches his back, she looks up at him saying: I'm sorry if-.
"That's been there."
She nods saying: but it was me wasn't it, he looks ahead and she walks around him saying: sit down…let me redress your wounds. He looks away from her and she glares at him saying: when I get back you'd better be shirtless. Sesshomaru sighs when he feels her presence leave him, but almost just as soon as she'd left she was beside him again.
"Ugh, you never listen!"
She pushes his armor away and it hits the ground with a series of loud clangs, she undoes his shirt before walking around him and taking it off.
"Sit down," she mutters taking a ball of bandages from her side, he hesitantly sits before her, she gets behind him undoing the bloodied bandages at his back, she grimaces when she sees that the wound wasn't at his back but the blood had traveled there.
"You should have told me," she mutters moving to his front again, she looks up at him through her bangs.
"This protect and support thing goes two ways now."
She sighs saying: this should have been stitched closed, he frowns saying: we were only doing it for the time being, she glowers saying: or until you were dead.
"No use now, it's healing."
She takes her ball of bandages to his stomach wrapping them around his torso, she grunts saying: how do you think I'd feel if you died hm.
He glares down at the top of her head, she laughs gently saying: I'd be free and happy you know…free to do whatever and whoever I want. He growls lightly at her and she smiles up at him saying: not funny, she shrugs going back to her job.
"If you died…I would be very…very hurt."
She shakes her head saying: you…in your very strange way taught me some lessons…and even healed me of my guilt. She shrugs now saying: my family is gone…I know this now, Sesshomaru frowns saying: who-, she sighs saying: it's clear to see…mother…, she laughs saying: mother told me of my being tainted…it messed with my mind.
"But back to us. To lose you would be to lose something that I've searched for…for a very long time…even before my family was killed. I've found…love…in the most downhearted of times. With you…some man I met in the woods. It's strange and scary and wonderful. I can finally be free of this…downtrodden thing I've become. That shadow that held me back is gone. And I'm free to be me."
She finishes bandaging saying: and it's all thanks to you, she wipes at her eyes trying to hold in tears.
"So what now?"
"We find a way to destroy Uryen…and his…fake Mio. Then we take it to them. And then…go home and make wild passionate love."
She shrugs beginning to help him back into his clothes and armor, she crawls close to him laying her head on his chest.
"Could you tell me…what did you think of me when we first met…has it changed?"
He shakes his head, she sits up saying: really, Sesshomaru sighs as if this was the last thing he'd want to talk about right now.
"You are the same. The same talkative…annoying woman."
She gasps and he pulls her closer saying: but you're beautiful and smart…and-, she immediately begins to gush.
"The same as when we met, nothing has changed."
"Oh you."
She lays against him again saying: keep talking like that and I'll rip your clothes off right here, he drags his hand across her stomach saying:we will wait. She frowns saying: but why, he leans close to her ear saying: the walls of my bedroom don't talk. She blushes saying: innuendo…I like it.
She sits up looking at him, she smiles lightly when he sits up stroking her face gently.
A year ago…I wouldn't have thought this possible.
"I'm still sorry," she whispers bringing her hand to his chest, he stands saying: don't be, she gets to her feet saying: why didn't you stop me? He sighs walking ahead of her, she rubs her arm saying: hey.
"I didn't want to hurt you."
She frowns saying: but I hurt you.
I shouldn't have been so violent.
Not towards him.
She runs to catch up to him, as they walk together she looks up at the side of his face.
Mother…you were right.
Not something that I would admit to you if you were here.
"Once we're home we will rest for two days and then we go to Kaede to discuss Uryen."
"Rest?"
Aya elbows him while winking her eye, he looks down at her saying: what have I told you about biting off more than you chew. Aya shrugs saying: the thing is…I don't think that I have…have you ever been with a Succubus, he sneers saying: no.
She nods saying: well Sesshomaru until you have…which uh now you never will…you don't know what biting off more than you can chew really means.
"The Inucubus Demons is always reared to go…anywhere…at anytime-"
She stops cold when she notices his hardened gaze on her.
"Their so horrible. I hate them…," she mutters smiling up at him. He looks ahead saying: you've never been with your own kind, she shakes her head saying: there are not a lot of us to have and besides that was what my parent's wanted and back then following their advice was unheard of.
Aya shrugs saying: maybe if things were different…we would have met anyway.
Sesshomaru nods.
"Our father's knew each other. It's sort of surprising that we hadn't met sooner, but then again…I never went to those get togethers that my parent's went to. The balls and socials were just not my cup of tea."
"As a noble I was expected to attend all of them," Sesshomaru says.
"Do Demon's still hold them?"
Sesshomaru nods saying: there are not as many, she nods saying: ok.
She smiles up at him saying: I'll go to the next one, he looks down at her and she smiles saying: I have to…it's been 400 years since I've been to one. Sesshomaru looks ahead again as Aya drifts off into another conversation.
Once back in Yurime, Aya immediately goes to the kitchen to find Lana who sat atop the counter staring up at the ceiling.
"Mm, and I thought that we weren't supposed to do that?"
"My mother used to-…, she sighs shaking her head not bothering to finish her sentence.
Aya walks over to her saying: get your things together…you're coming with us, Lana gasps saying: what.
Aya folds her arms nodding.
"You convinced me, and since I'm going to be Sesshomaru's mate I have that sort of say so."
Lana gasps saying: isn't that like…marriage, Aya shrugs saying: but much deeper, she smiles looking aside.
"We'll be bonded forever."
Lana stands saying: that's wonderful, she clears her throat before leaning toward Aya.
"Don't you owe me a thanks or something."
Aya frowns saying: for what, Lana smiles saying: for bringing the two of you together, Aya sighs shaking her head and Lana laughs.
"We would have met again along the way anyway-."
She raises a brow when Lana purses her lips.
"Ugh, if not for your expert matchmaking skills I would still be a lonely old spinster…happy?"
Lana squeals hugging her, Aya holds her close.
It feels like things are coming together…finally.
Aya pushes her away gently saying: get Mio ready, Lana nods running into the front room, Aya sighs leaning against the counter.
Inukimi walks into the kitchen saying: I think it's about time that we spoke; Aya cocks her head when Inukimi closes the kitchen door behind her.
"About?"
Inukimi smiles saying: you look just like Mai, Aya quirks a brow saying: you knew my mother, Inukimi nods saying: of course…a long time ago…our father's placed us in the same Etiquette School. Aya smiles remembering her days there, she didn't see much of the classroom but she always wooed the teachers.
"Last I saw you…you were 5."
Aya nods saying: long time ago, Inukimi nods.
"And now you've made my son fall for you…you must be some woman."
Aya shrugs saying: it surprises me as well, Inukimi sniggers and Aya shrugs again.
"What are your plans?"
Aya sighs saying: get Uryen…that's the base of it all.
Inukimi turns her head to the window saying: how did you get tainted before the stone was given to you, Aya shakes her head saying: I
don't know…I didn't even realize it.
"Yes because it was such a scant amount. But something in you blocked the influence from completely destroying you. It did mess with your body and memories. Did you notice the eye color change?"
Aya shakes her head.
"It destroyed your ability to recall things and it's probably the very reason you could not see that shadow for what it truly was."
Aya sighs saying: it wasn't just that…I really wanted to believe.
"Nothing wrong with that."
Inukimi holds up the Meido Stone saying: your brother is in Hell with you family, Aya grimaces saying: Hell, Inukimi shakes her head saying: their in no pain…if fact their probably happy.
"Hell is what you make it dear."
Aya looks at the Meido stone saying: how do you know, Inukimi smiles down at the stone saying: this allows me to see. Aya's face drains of color and she reaches for the stone saying: let me-.
"Ah-uh not yet," Inukimi says shaking her head, Aya glares at her now.
"Why not?"
"It's not the time, it would do nothing for you now but slow you down."
Aya shakes her head saying: no…it won't…let me see, she rushes for it but Inukimi moves away saying: no.
Then why would you tell me?
Inukimi smiles saying: when you have done what you need to do you will see and maybe even speak to them, Aya looks away angrily.
If this woman thinks that she's going to keep me away from them…she's mistaken…badly mistaken.
Aya rushes toward her again but she blocked by Sesshomaru who grabs her by the hips holding her in place, she glares past him at Inukimi who looked sad now.
"You don't understand now Aya, but you will."
Damn your "lesson".
Just one minute.
"Calm down."
Aya looks up at Sesshomaru saying: did you hear, he nods saying: yes, she looks at his chest saying: I want to see. Sesshomaru shakes his head saying: if she does not wish to show you that is something you have to accept, Aya growls but he pulls her head into his chest. Aya pulls away leaving the kitchen in a rush, Sesshomaru turns to Inukimi saying: why would you tell her that. Inukimi sighs saying: so that she wouldn't get comfortable in this happy moment…she has a job to finish, Sesshomaru glares at her and she shrugs saying: you know why I did it…it upset her but maybe she needs that.
Sesshomaru turns away leaving the kitchen, Inukimi looks down at the Meido Stone.
"Well…she's perfect for him.