It had been almost three hours since Kouga had left Kagome to watch over their frostbitten patient. Knowing how headstrong his friend was, Inuyasha decided it would be prudent to go and assess the situation whether she asked for help or not. He approached the temporary recovery room and quietly pushed the door open. He bit back a growl in his throat at the scene before him. Kagome was passed out completely with her head against his brother's shoulder and her hand resting on his arm as he ran his fingers through her hair. The demon lord lifted his eyes lazily to the source of the sound but did not cease his.
"Hello, little brother." He whispered hoarsely, his throat still sore from disuse. "Miss me?"
Inuyasha smirked darkly focusing on the girl at the side of the bed and avoiding his brother's teasing look.
"How can I miss you if you won't stay gone? I'm only gonna say this once, Sesshoumaru. I know you don't like humans, but I'm sure you've realized by now, that's all there are. Like it or not, we're all human so you better learn to get along and so help me if you hurt Kagome, you're gonna wish you'd stayed an ice cube." He gathered his fingers into a fist, subtly threatening.
Sesshoumaru glowered at the once hanyou and he bared his human teeth at him.
"You have no cause to worry over my intentions half-breed. This Sesshoumaru is not without honor. I am not our sire and I have no designs on your miko. Her determination saved my life and I am forever in her debt. She will not come to harm by my hand. The state of my being is irrelevant."
Inuyasha almost laughed out loud, shaking his head amusedly at his older half-sibling.
"You just don't get it, do you? Ain't nobody here you can call a half-breed or miko anymore. We're all powerless here. No priests, no demons, this is it! The only magic left is what they call technology. You have nothing to hold over anyone anymore. We're equals. I suggest you figure out how you're gonna deal with that because I meant what I said. You make her cry and I'm gonna wipe the floor with you, family or no family."
Before the ex-taiyoukai could respond, the infuriating man turned and left the room.
"That went well," whispered Kagome sarcastically, yawning and stretching from her reclined position, "he's always so loud, brash, and overprotective."
Slightly startled, his body stiffened as she removed herself from his grasp. He hadn't realized the girl had awakened. Concern lit his face as he questioned how much of the argument she had heard.
Her face was unreadable as she pulled away from him to stand, turning to the door. She placed her hand against the wood before turning to look over her shoulder.
"Just know that you don't owe me anything. I didn't do it for you, but for a little girl out there who would be devastated by the loss of her father."
With that, she left the room, leaving him to his thoughts. He had little time to process her harsh words because at that moment, the doors were flung nearly off their hinges as a strange blonde haired man and a very familiar little girl rushed into his temporary dwelling.
"Lord Sesshoumaru!" came the strange cry from the blonde. It was a hauntingly familiar squall. His eyes widened as they fell on the lord, whose blankets had slipped to his waist exposing his bare chest. He snatched the girl out of the air and put his arm across her face, blocking her view of the former demon. "Rin, cover your eyes! We must preserve his lordship's modesty!"
Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes and pulled the sheets back over his form.
"Jaken, cease this inane babble over my perceived indecency and let me have my pup. It is my understanding that she has suffered the most from my absence."
Rin cried out in joy as she pushed past the stunned ex-kappa and jumped up onto the stool next to the bed. She threw her arms around his neck in a death-grip and held on with all of her might. Sesshoumaru's stare softened and he uncharacteristically brought his arms up to wrap around the tiny child. It was as though a piece of him was missing without his notice and they were suddenly reunited. He buried his face in the hair at the crown of her head and inhaled her warm human smell as he murmured nonsense words of comfort to her.
She grinned up at him with an adorable gap-toothed smile as tears gathered in the corners of her eyes. Her face grew abruptly solemn and she looked away.
"Rin, what is the matter?" He nearly got whiplash from the rapid change in her mood.
"Lord Sesshoumaru," she started out shyly, "Rin would very much like to call you papa, but Rin does not want you to be upset."
He studied her small face lovingly before pulling her back to his chest and hugging her tightly.
"Rin, this Sesshoumaru would be honored to be called whatever you would like."
Their forgotten observer, Jaken, watched the tender moment before him with tears in his eyes as he sniffled piteously into a handkerchief. Sesshoumaru, recalling his presence, chose to address his retainer.
"Jaken, it seems my belongings are not on my person. Should you choose to remain in my employ, I will require your assistance to acquire an adequate wardrobe and lodgings. Your obligations to me have been fulfilled as I no longer hold the title of lord, but," he paused, "I should be eternally grateful for your voluntary aid."
In the waiting room, Kagome snuggled with Shippo in a similar position. It seemed things were falling into place, but at the same time, things were now more complicated. In this time, she couldn't just take Shippo home to care for him even though they both considered her to be his mother. He was already legally and on paper the child of Sango. She had no reservations that her friend would do what needed to be done to allow her to keep her kit, but she had no idea what being pulled away from Sesshoumaru was going to do to Rin. Additionally, the apathetic man had been found wandering in the woods during a massive thunderstorm. She highly doubted he had a home for himself, let alone the means to raise a child. For all she knew, he wasn't even documented! Then there was the issue of what losing both of the children Sango had been raising as her own would do to her friend. True, she had been reunited with the love of her life, but there were just so many transformations occurring around them rapidly, and not all of the important ones were physical. Finding a new normal was going to be hard for everyone. Discovering her friends had merely been the beginning of their trials.
Kouga broke through her depressing thoughts as he made his way into the waiting area to sit next to her on the couch.
"It seems that our wanderer wasn't as exposed to the elements as we initially feared. He has already made a substantial amount of progress and with a bit of rest and a few good meals, he should be as good as new."
"That's wonderful, Kouga! Rin will be so happy to hear that!" acknowledged Sango, but the false smile on her face didn't reach her eyes. Kagome noticed her friend's turmoil, surmising that she'd been correct to consider the effect the loss would have on her friend.
"Sango, you're still her mom. She's not going anywhere without your say-so." She reassured, pleased when she saw the woman relax her tense shoulders.
"What you say is true, Kagome," Miroku addressed to her while rubbing his lover's back, "but we must also consider who it is we are dealing with. Do you truly think he's going to let her go without a fight? We will need to discuss this like rational people."
"It seems there are those among you that have retained some semblance of sense and decency." came the low baritone rumble from the room's entrance. The being in question stood before them adjusting the buttons on the cuff of his long-sleeved dress shirt before making his way to the unoccupied easy chair.
Instantly, the air was sucked from the room as the group turned to look at the interloper sitting casually in their midst. He settled comfortably into the plush cream-colored vinyl and placed his arms on the armrests before crossing a leg to rest his ankle on his opposite knee.
"This Sesshoumaru is not so arrogant as to waltz into your lives and begin tearing families apart for my own amusement. I have come to offer a deal." He studied each of them intently before nodding as though agreeing with himself. "My only interest at this time is in making sure my ward receives the highest quality of care until such a time as I am able to provide a stable household and take over. Therefore I believe it would be most advantageous that she remain under the supervision of her current family with the understanding that she will return where she belongs when the time is right."
"Now hold on just a minute!" Inuyasha interjected, having only caught the tail end of the one-sided conversation, "I don't know who you think died and made you king, but that's not how we do things around here. What makes you think anyone has to agree to your stupid deal? Sango is Rin's mom now so you don't get to just show up, thank her for her services, and dismiss her when you feel like it! Real people have emotions and feelings and they don't just turn them off on your say-so!"
He knew that this wasn't going to be simple, but he had hoped he could appeal to the logic of the situation. He had to remain civil if he wanted to achieve his goals, even if he wanted nothing more at that moment than to rip his bothersome brother limb from limb. He grit his teeth and tried to remain calm.
"Thank you for your enlightening input, brother," he replied with heavily veiled sarcasm, "however I am aware of the delicate nature of the relationship. I do not intend to remove the girl entirely from their influence. She would not be prevented from having a continuing relationship with her caretakers. I am merely addressing the status of her dwelling arrangements when the outcomes are more in my favor. Like it or not, the child should be allowed an equal association with her father. Since you are so concerned with her family ties, I suggest you not let it escape your notice that the pup holds this one in such an esteem."
The atmosphere was practically frigid as the two siblings sized each other up. An unspoken 'bite me' hung in the air between them.
Sango broke the tension, and though her heart was sore, she had to admit that the great dog had a good point. She looked to Miroku for support before speaking.
"Lord Sesshomaru, I am touched by your concern for my feelings in this matter. I agree with you that it would be cruel to keep the girl who I have only ever known as a daughter from having a relationship with the one she looks up to as her father. Therefore, I am agreeable to your suggestions, but I request that we take each day as it comes before we decide on anything permanent. We will evaluate the situation based on your ability to provide an appropriate home and adequate financial stability for her. This era is not like what you are used to in the past, and children have standards of care that must be met according to the law and of course morality. Please understand that I don't say this to upset you, but you must know that our measure of you is somewhat tainted by past experiences. We have all been through a great deal of change and I look forward to seeing how you embrace yours."
Her words, though thoughtfully meant, struck a nerve and he struggled to keep his temper under control. How dare she use their past against him? Were they not all being given a second chance to correct the wrongs of their history? The very existence of her kind was by their nature in opposition to his and yet he did not throw her natural inclination to the extermination of hundreds of beings like himself back in her face as she'd done to him.
Forcing himself to stand as non-threateningly as possible, he extended his hand in front of him in offering with an unstated agreement to her terms. If he wanted his pup back where she belonged, he'd have to be willing to play by their rules. He would not allow these humans to outsmart and outmaneuver him.
Kagome sat stunned watching the exchange. She had not let Shippo out of her sight or off of her lap through the whole tense debate and he began to squirm from the tightness of her hold. She numbly released him and he took off to the other room to go find Jaken and Rin and tell them what had just happened. Kagome remained seated on the couch lost in disbelief over the actions and words of the man standing in the center of the room. What happened to the Sesshoumaru she knew? Surely this was not the same man who'd been so hateful to her in the pouring rain? The old Sesshoumaru would have snapped her friend's neck for keeping what he saw as his property from him, but here he was allowing a handshake and retreating calmly from their presence. Something about this entire situation was entirely wrong.