Things were finally beginning to settle into some semblance of a new routine as everyone adjusted as well as they could to the present situation. Everyone with the exception of Jaken, of course. Try as he might, he was just having trouble adjusting to the strangeness of everything that had happened. Following the discussion about living arrangements for Rin, Sesshoumaru had approached him and requested his assistance in locating a dwelling and the necessary documents to allow him to seek employment. The two soon found, however, that in spite of being able to speak the language of the land as the rest of the group could, he was unable to read or write the strange characters and his traditional Japanese was so outdated that finding a temporary job was impossible, leaving him completely at the mercy of the kappa turned human who had agreed to take him in.
His first reaction to the revelation that he had been placed at such a disadvantage was to rage and destroy a portion of the garden in exasperation. He cursed the Kami that had taken everything, including his heritage from him. He no longer had dominance over those around him by virtue of his education and intelligence and he would have to start completely from the bottom and work his way up. Perhaps his strength and intellect had been seen as a threat and now he had truly been reduced to the lowest levels of society as an illiterate vagabond. In spite of his human abilities, more than one piece of Jaken's furniture had now been reduced to splinters and threads as his temper got the better of him. It was something he felt truly ashamed of. His legendary control had snapped and he'd thrown a temper tantrum like a whelp. He mentally added the couch and coffee table to the rapidly growing list of things he would have to pay Jaken back for when he was able to stand on his own two feet.
Jaken had chosen that exact moment to return home from the boarding stable where he worked tending the horses. He glanced around what remained of his living room in shock as his eyes fell upon a dirt-covered Sesshoumaru who was glaring at the remains of the couch cushions with both shame and petulance. As if sensing that he was no longer alone he met Jaken's gaze. He hung his head and without a word, began to clean up the mess. He was still a proud man and refused to admit that he'd lost control by offering an apology. Jaken said nothing, but shook his head in bewilderment and headed for the kitchen to start dinner, still ruminating over the strange twist in fate that left his lord as his attendant.
Once the destruction had been cleared from the living room, Sesshoumaru made his way outside to attempt to undo some of the damage done to the garden. Luckily, there were only a few plants uprooted which he easily replaced before sweeping the dirt and debris from the cobblestone pathways. When his task was complete, he returned to the house. He was filthy and covered in stuffing from the couch cushions, and he was still learning to use the washer and dryer, but he didn't want to leave dirty clothes lying around. He was grateful for the hospitality but he didn't want to be a burden, especially after his fit of anger. He was already going to have to work off the destroyed furniture. He stripped down to a pair of boxer shorts and placed the soiled garments into the washing machine before considering how much detergent to add. He searched the box of powdered soap for picture instructions but there were none. Growling in irritation, he decided to just guess and hope for the best. There had been a lot of soil on the jeans and t-shirt from the plant incident so he concluded that more soap would probably be better as he poured half of the box onto the dirty clothes and pressed the button that Jaken had explained would start the machine.
With his laundry sorted out, he selected a new outfit from among his scant possessions in his small bedroom and made his way to the shower. Hot water would help with the tension he felt and being clean would give him a new perspective to tackle his problems. His relaxing solitude was interrupted by a loud screeching from outside the bathroom door. He dressed hurriedly, not taking time to dry off and threw the door open only to be met with the sight of a hallway full of suds. Jaken was red in the face, covered in soap, and screaming incoherently as he left the laundry room. He spied Sesshoumaru leaving the bathroom, eyes wide at the sight of the mess in the hallway. He was so angry that he didn't think twice.
"You. Out. Now." His voice was chillingly quiet and serious as he pointed to the front door. He wanted to help his lord, but he was tired of having his house destroyed by an ungrateful adult that couldn't stop acting like an overgrown child. Everyone had problems, he wasn't that special and it was time he went out and figured out how to cope without destroying their house!
Sesshoumaru was numb with shock as he made his way to the door, grabbed his coat and slipped his shoes on. He didn't know where he would go, but it would not be wise to provoke the ex-kappa further.
Sighing as the door closed, Jaken began the tedious work of cleaning up the mess. Just how much soap had he used anyway? He went to the utility closet for a mop and a bucket and returned to the hall to start clearing away the remnants of the washing accident. He finally cleared away enough of the lather to reach the laundry room, only to fall through a medium sized hole as the floor gave way beneath his feet. Oh, he was definitely going to kill that dog when he came back. If he let him come back, that is.
The sun was setting quickly and Kagome and Shippo were returning home from their nightly walk. It had become a tradition for them ever since the paperwork was finalized naming Kagome as his mother and granting her full custody. They were only a few doors away from the house when they spied a strange figure sitting on a nearby bench. He was staring off into the distance, his hands in his jacket pockets. He didn't seem to notice them approach until Shippo climbed up into his lap, much to Kagome's distress.
"Good evening, Sesshoumaru. What brings you to our little corner of town?" she greeted him while motioning to Shippo that he needed to return to her side.
He glanced at her dully and returned to staring into space as he spoke dejectedly. To her surprise, he ignored the kit on his lap.
"This Sesshoumaru has...made a mistake. I allowed my discontent to replace my reason and my temper has made me a fool. In my effort to correct the wrongs wrought by my ill temper I made a grave error. As such, I find myself regretfully without lodging so I was merely contemplating my options in this situation. I was unaware that your home was nearby."
"You mean you have nowhere to go? What about Jaken's house? I thought you lived there?" piped up Shippo who had stubbornly refused to leave the man's lap.
He finally drew his attention to the small child and awkwardly lifted him from his position to stand him next to Kagome. He shook his head to the negative as he too raised from his seat.
"I believe I may have, what's the word? 'Screwed the pooch' if you'll forgive the expression. I find I am having difficulties learning to use these new technologies that exist in this time and Jaken has finally had enough of my failings."
She bit back a laugh at his phrasing even as her heart went out to the man. Sure, she still didn't think he liked her much, but here he was standing in the middle of the street admitting that he had messed up and though he didn't come right out and say anything of the sort, it was absolutely a cry for help. She wouldn't be who she was if she didn't try to offer assistance, it would be against her nature.
"I know it's not much, and you didn't actually ask, but how about you come and at least have dinner with us? I'm sure you haven't had anything to eat yet and your hair is wet. You'll catch a cold if you stay out here and I really don't want to see you get sick again so soon after you've recovered. I'm sure you haven't messed things up permanently, and we'll help you come up with a plan to fix it. "
Shippo agreed and though he resisted at first, he eventually had to give in. Rin had him conditioned to succumb to the famed 'puppy dog eyes' look and she had taught the kit well. He startled when the small hand found his and lead him to the door, but managed not to show his surprise, schooling his features into a signature unreadable mask. The child led him through the doorway and dragged him down the hall to his room with glee, promising to show him all of the cool things that Kagome had bought while she made dinner.
They got to the small, but well-supplied bedroom where the kit bounced onto the bed excitedly. He pointed around the room chattering rapidly about the posters on the wall and the myriad number of toys and books scattered about the floor. As he politely tried to keep up with Shippo's animated commentary, he noticed a well-kept shrine in the one pristine corner of the room. Shippo noticed what had caught the taiyoukai's interest and sobered immediately.
"I still remember them. I was really little when they…" he choked up and his eyes started to water, "But I still think about them. I remember their smell and I remember how we all use to sleep curled up in the middle of the floor. I love Kagome. She'll always be my Mama, but sometimes… I really miss them, you know?" he finished, rubbing the tears that threatened to fall. He didn't want Sesshomaru to see him cry.
The older man was in awe. The shrine was beautiful. An incense burner, a number of small trinkets, and a fur pelt he suspected was the only remainder of the kit's father, were all layered over an ornate piece of cloth. There were no pictures, but instead, numerous drawings of foxes clearly done in a child's hand. It was a perfect offering to honor Shippo's deceased parents.
"Did you put this together by yourself?" he asked, awestruck at the sentimental display. This child had obviously lost so much more than he had and yet, he wasn't throwing tantrums. He was handling his grief and loss with grace and honor.
"Mama bought the cloth and she helps me light the incense since I'm not allowed to have matches, but I did all the rest. I know my drawings aren't that good, but they're the only pictures I have."
In a rare fit of sentimentality, he scooped up the child and hugged him close.
"Your parents would be honored, Shippo. This is a great tribute to their memory."
Their touching interlude was interrupted by Kagome's call that dinner was ready and the two silently agreed not to speak of the moment as Shippo lead Sesshoumaru to the dining room. The well-decorated room was an open floor plan with a separate table and chairs adjacent to the kitchen and divided by an island counter complete with stools for kitchen dining. Kagome had set plates piled with steak, rice, and some vegetable of questionable aroma on the counter.
"I thought it would seem a little less formal if we ate in the kitchen. I've always felt it was a little homier." She explained placing a drinking glass and a set of silverware next to each place setting.
Sesshoumaru eyed the utensils warily. He had expected chopsticks. He still had difficulty navigating the western-style cutlery and he was currently praying to every deity he knew that he would not further embarrass himself today. Especially not in front of Kagome.
Mistaking his glare, Kagome snickered and gave him a playful lecture as she placed a pitcher of iced tea and a pitcher of water on the table.
"They're just Brussel sprouts. They're not going to bite you. I'll tell you the same thing I tell Shippo. We follow the two-bite rule in this house. You have to at least try two bites before you decide you don't like them."
"This Sesshoumaru is not afraid of a vegetable." he scoffed and moved to take a seat.
"Oh! Sit by me! Sit by me!" shouted Shippo launching himself into a chair at the end of the row. He knew she would never admit it, but his Mama liked Sesshoumaru and she deserved happiness. Maybe forcing them to sit next to each other would make them both happy even if they stubbornly argued against it.
"Shippo! No running in the house, please!" Kagome chastised him as she took her seat at the opposite end of the table.
Lighthearted conversation flowed easily as they began to eat. That is until she noticed the mess Shippo was making with his food. She was about to correct him when her attention was drawn to Sesshomaru's plate.
"For someone who is not afraid of vegetables, I've yet to see you taste one." She smirked at him. Her smirked soon turned to a look of horror as he raised the offensive orb to his mouth with his fingers, juice dripping everywhere.
"You are just as bad as Shippo! Use your fork! Oh for goodness sake!" She stood quickly, placing her napkin on the table. "That's it you two! You are a mess! Go to the bathroom and wash up, both of you. Shippo, you have rice in your hair! How did you even manage… on second thought, don't answer that. Bath time. Sesshoumaru, you go and make sure he gets his hair washed, I'll take care of the dishes." She began gathering up the discarded plates and silverware. Both males had the decency to look chagrined as they pushed away from the table to follow directions. Shippo was upset because he really hated bath time, while Sesshoumaru was mortified. He should have taken his chances with the fork.
They retreated to the bathroom and Sesshoumaru thanked the lucky stars that he could at least work the spigots of the bathtub. He plugged the basin and ran warm water allowing the kit to test it for his comfort before turning to the mirror above the sink. Shippo handed him a washcloth and showed him where to find the soap. He glanced up at his reflection and flinched. Kagome was right to be disgusted with him, he was a mess. He had the noxious juice of the horror known as Brussel sprouts trailing down his face down to the collar of his shirt. He washed as well as he could before turning to Shippo. He'd never actually bathed a child before.
As if sensing his hesitation, the boy took pity on the ex-dog and decided not to put up a fight like he normally did at bathtime. He explained in low tones how he liked his hair washed and did most of the scrubbing himself. Once clean, he instructed Sesshoumaru on where to find towels and dried off with the procured mass of fluff before leading him back to his bedroom so he could help with the buttons on his jammies.
The contrite pair headed for the living room and sat on the couch to wait for Kagome to finish the dishes. When Shippo looked up at Sesshoumaru and blinked while holding out a storybook he'd snuck out from his room, his stomach dropped. He took the book gingerly from the kit but refused to look at it. Shippo was confused. Maybe he had misunderstood.
"Can you read me a story? Mama usually does it but she's still in the kitchen."
Sesshoumaru studied the small boy beside him before sinking down to kneel on the floor in front of him.
"Kit, you are young, but I know you to be a creature of honor. This Sesshoumaru would entrust you with a secret." the once-fox child nodded and his eyes grew large at the thought of sharing a secret with the powerful man in front of him. Whispering quietly into Shippo's ear, he grudgingly admitted, "I am unable to read. I can understand what is spoken and I can speak the words myself, but I cannot understand the writings of this tongue." He drew back to judge the child's reaction.
Shippo placed a small hand on Sesshoumaru's arm and patted it in sympathy before whispering back, "I will read it to you. I'll go really slowly so you can watch the words. Mama taught me to read and she's an excellent teacher. I won't tell anyone but if you want, I bet Mama could help you too. She won't laugh at you. Mama says that trying to learn new things is never a waste and you should never make fun of someone for wanting to be smarter."
Shortly after, Kagome returned from the kitchen to find Shippo and Sesshoumaru as thick as thieves whispering amongst themselves on the floor of her living room, a book between her son's hands as he rested on the man's lap. She had to do a double-take to assure herself of what she was seeing. Shippo was very obviously and painstakingly reading to him. She smiled a tiny smile to herself before making an unnecessary amount of noise so they would hear her coming. The two looked up at her before quickly scurrying back to the couch to act as though they had been sitting there all along.
"So what are you boys up to now?" she questioned innocently as though she hadn't just caught her kit trying to teach the taiyoukai to read. Sesshoumaru saw right through the act and knew they'd been caught. Mortified did not begin to touch what he was feeling over having his secret found out.
She saw his embarrassed look and held up a hand to stop him from speaking what was on his mind.
"I did not come in here to judge, Sesshoumaru. If you want help learning to read, I will be happy to teach you. I became a teacher for a reason. I will never make fun of you for wanting to expand your knowledge. With that being said, it's almost Shippo's bedtime. I happen to have a guest room if you would like a place to stay for now, and I should be able to find you an oversized t-shirt to wear while I wash the one you're wearing now. We can discuss whatever issues you're having with Jaken tomorrow after a good night's sleep and a nice breakfast."
"Miko, I do not wish to further impede your hospitality. Your company has been pleasant and your offerings of a meal have been gracious. I do not wish to burden you with the misfortunes that follow my presence." he was ashamed to have to rely on others to solve his problems for him. Least of all the woman whose existence tortured his very being. It would not be appropriate for him to take up residence with his brother's woman. Where was the welp anyway? "Besides, I don't believe my brother would appreciate the company of one such as myself upon his return home."
At that, Kagome did laugh which only served to irritate Sesshoumaru. He stood abruptly, making his way to the front door. He would not be made a fool!
"Oh, sit down you overgrown puppy! I'm laughing because you still think Inuyasha and I are somehow involved. Oh, for goodness sake, don't look at me like that! You're going to start catching flies if you don't close your mouth!" She didn't understand why he was acting this way. He very clearly hadn't been happy to see her when she came across him in that forest clearing. She recalled his harsh words perfectly. Could it be that she had misunderstood?
Indeed his mouth was agape. Surely she didn't mean what she was saying? It was obvious that she had been in love with the hanyou when they traveled together in the past. What had changed? He stood dumbfounded but closed his mouth with a snap.
"My apologies for my impertinence. I was not aware that the relationship between yourself and my brother had been diminished. I spoke out of turn." His mind was whirling with a million unfinished thoughts. If she did not belong to his brother, did that mean he had a chance?
"That's enough crazy-talk for one night. I'm going to put Shippo to bed and get you that change of clothes. If you turn down my hospitality I might be cross with you." Her eyes were twinkling and he knew she was teasing him, but this time, he didn't mind. He merely nodded his acceptance and sat back down on the couch to wait. Things were definitely taking a bizarre turn.