Trouble Averted
A day long awaited had finally arrived and the birth of a new heir to the West was upon them; although Kasaigin was fed up of the waiting for obvious reasons, youkai and human women alike deplored the last month of pregnancy. Excitement though was infectious and there was a lot of bustle since the morning, when the Lady had gone into labour. The pups had been over the top and been sent out of the way so that they didn't add to the frenzy that the Palace was under; they were quite happy to go with Jaken as long as he could reassure them that Grandmamma was going to be fine.
Sesshoumaru's mother too was there; organising everything so it all was running smoothly in the household and Kasaigin hadn't had to worry about anything for over a month now while the Lady was in charge. His mother was amazing, Sesshoumaru thought; she'd adapted straight away but then he thought perhaps it wasn't quite so surprising, it had used to be her home after all with her servants.
At present the Lord of the West was waiting in the adjoining chamber to the birthing room along with Inuyasha who was keeping his father's mind a little diverted by his nervous antics of pacing and sighing. It amused Sesshoumaru to think that Inuyasha had already been through this five times for himself and his mate and yet he was acting as if this was the first time he'd known a woman to give birth.
Mind you it was working; Sesshoumaru would have been far more worried, although never admitting it, had Inuyasha not been there. Tenseiga anyway was strapped to his hip just in case; normally he didn't need to wear it in the Palace unless he was greeting visitors. Inuyasha was so agitated that he needed his father to calm him down; his nose sniffing the air every few seconds and his puppy ears swivelling to take in any sounds from the next room, but it was still the early stages yet and Sesshoumaru prepared for a long wait.
He was taken by surprise however, for only a couple of hours later he was the proud father of two new sons and a daughter; all of which were carbon copies of him, except for their rounder faces and slightly wider mouths. It was at present impossible to tell the difference between any of the three apart from the obvious gender and the fact that the eldest boy had a corded bracelet put on to show that he was the Western heir. It was too soon to be certain of the pup's personal scent, confused as it was in the process of birth.
Inuyasha was almost as delighted in the pups as his father; in fact it was difficult for anyone to get near them he was so protective and Sesshoumaru was proud of him. There was no scent of deception nor underlying jealousy in his eldest son; both of which, more than one counsellor had warned about. The advice to send Inuyasha away had been tactfully but with increasing force, put each time, but still it had angered Sesshoumaru; especially when his son had overheard the last of the heated debates concerning the safety of the true heir.
The boy had offered to leave if it would ease his parents' minds about their forthcoming pups but Kasaigin had been the one to reassure this time, saying that all her children should still be under the same roof. But Inuyasha, who personally knew the love and value of pups besides understanding what it meant to be a persecuted child; had been thoroughly shaken that anyone could possibly think that he would harm any pup or conspire against one, let alone his own siblings and he was shattered and hurt to his core.
Sesshoumaru had been vastly angered by their insinuations that had now hurt his pup; his golden eyes turned ruby as he dared anyone to repeat the slur cast on his son's honour and integrity. Quickly the advisors had submitted to their Lord's authority, and indeed no one could doubt how upset Inuyasha had been made by their allegations; it was obvious that he was not plotting against the unborn heir.
Rather it was difficult for some of them to believe that the bawling pup before them was the same fierce hanyou who had brought down Naraku; not fully realising that Inuyasha had for a long time now felt safe to be the pup he truly was. He no longer had to hide behind a crass exterior and the hard shell of his heart had been chiselled away ever since he knew that Kagome accepted him as a hanyou and taught him that it was alright to have friends and trust them with his feelings.
But a surprising and touching good came from the incident; Kasaigin spent her time soothing Inuyasha and telling him that both she and his father knew that he was no danger to the pups in her belly. She too was angry that he was distraught and even growled a warning at Sesshoumaru when he approached; protecting the pup from further disturbance. It was she who caressed the hanyou that time and she who wiped his tears; and it was she whose heart soared as he murmured 'Mama' in the same form of acceptance he had done his father.
Sesshoumaru had enfolded both of them in his aura and his arms when he heard his son's whisper; he was overjoyed to think that his family would be absolutely united with Inuyasha not being even slightly on the outside or any different to his other pups. Finally all the time that they had spent together over the years as teacher and mentor, had transcended friendship into a feeling of belonging for both of them, into that of parent and child.
That was several months ago and no more disparaging remarks had been heard; at least not publicly. Now the new pups were the topic of conversation and congratulations; and were eagerly inspected by their nieces and nephews, who were in turn stared at and scented by their new uncles and aunt. Soon all the new scents and identities were worked out and recorded and the triplet litter were so much a part of the life of the Western Palace that it was as if they had always been.
Inuyasha and his pups were often the centre of the new pups' lives; there was no shortage of care for the babies and soon they were able to find their ways all over the Palace. At just under a year old they were helping each other walk and were starting to talk, which was hardly surprising with the amount of attention they got; although they were not going to be spoiled and had to learn to share early.
At two they were all quite articulate and already both the boys were protective of their sister who was the middle child and often got fed up with the pair of them bossing her around. She was already an imperial little girl, very prim and proper and Inuyasha used to smother a laugh at thinking how like Sesshoumaru she was; only she was of course feminine. It was her natural way though; she was far too young yet to start any of the formal disciplines, the eldest son too was very similar whereas their younger brother was more like Inuyasha.
When the pups were three they were adorable and Sesshoumaru watched his serious little heir walk across the courtyard towards him with no trace of his inner smile on his face, until he noticed the tears on the pup's cheeks and the shudder of the tiny shoulders. Swallowing the immediate murderous impulse to disembowel whatever had caused the child's upset Sesshoumaru went to him and scooped him into his safe arms.
"Calm down Pup and explain to Papa what is the matter."
"Inyassa cross wiv me and him run away."
"What did you do Kanmaru?"
"This Kanmaru not know; but him smell like cross and near crying." Sesshoumaru thought quickly, this personal formality was a new way of speaking for any of the pups; perhaps…
"Papa is sure Inuyasha is not cross with you Pup; but I will go and make sure he is alright. Will that make you happy?"
"Yes Papa."
"Go and find Mama then and get washed up for dinner; fret no more, I shall find your brother." In fact now that he put his mind to it, he knew exactly where Inuyasha was; he could hear trees being demolished in the forest outside the Palace. What had made Inuyasha so angry? It had been many years since the pup had taken refuge in that sort of destructive behaviour to rid him of his bad humour.
After watching his pup toddle off to the waiting Kasaigin who had come after scenting her pup's tears, Sesshoumaru set off in the general direction of his older pup. He was not difficult to find but before he confronted Inuyasha, the Daiyoukai took stock; Inuyasha was upset certainly, but the saline scent was only slight indicting the boy was angrily frustrated, rather than just miserable. He was also muttering under his breath but Sesshoumaru couldn't make out what he was saying which was probably just as well. Waiting until Inuyasha noticed him, he watched his son as he decimated another tree into nothing more than firewood.
"It has been a long time since you were this angry Inuyasha." Sesshoumaru said neutrally.
"Feh!" Inuyasha spat out, hiding his face behind his fringe, a warning for Sesshoumaru to tread carefully.
"Kanmaru feels he made you angry, causing you to leave him?"
"Keh! Pup did nothing wrong."
"He weeps because you were upset with him and he doesn't know what to do or say as apology."
"He owes me nothing silly pup; he didn't do anything wrong, leave me and I'll tell him I'm sorry when I come back, O.K."
"I will not leave you while you are distressed Inuyasha, I want you to tell me what has you destroying trees…something from our past haunts you?"
"How?…Never mind it's nothing…I haven't the words; it's just silly…look just go back and stop Kanmaru wailing, tell him I'm not cross with him, never." Inuyasha was stressed; his whole body screamed stress at Sesshoumaru and there was no way that the father was going to leave his son to work this out. It did have to do with their past, Inuyasha had all but admitted it and too often Sesshoumaru had left the pup to deal with it on his own back then.
"Start from the beginning Inuyasha; I'm not leaving you until you tell me what has happened." Sesshoumaru pulled Inuyasha over to him and sat down with the boy held tightly across his lap. Once again his strength proved too much for the pent up Inuyasha, who had no choice but to stay where he was put. "Start with what Kanmaru said or did."
"He did nothing and I can't 'just say', I barely understand it myself let alone try and explain something that is probably due to being part human to a full youkai." Inuyasha replied petulantly.
"It's a nice day and I have nothing pressing to do with the rest of it, so we can stay like this for as long as it takes Inuyasha." Sesshoumaru smiled as he listened to Inuyasha, huffing his annoyance at not being able to get free. But the hanyou also knew that Sesshoumaru meant what he said, he would wait until he got an answer.
"It was muddled and happened so quickly…and I got scared."
"Go on." Sesshoumaru was firm and Inuyasha took a deep breath and tried to explain.
"My… brother Sesshoumaru hated me; he hated my mixed blood, my existence, even the sight of me and yet I still craved his attention and for some reason I loved him. But you gave me something better in return, you gave me my Papa and then when the pups were born I got my full youkai brother back and more; and they all love me, it's still incredible to me.
"Today I was just thinking of all that again when Kanmaru came up to me, he wanted to be picked up… what he actually said was 'This Kanmaru wants you to carry him Inuyasha.' I'd never heard him refer to himself like that before, and he sounded so like you used to and his face was just like yours that…I just stared at him. I remembered doing that to you; coming with my arms outstretched, wanting to be held and you knocked me into a tree; I couldn't stop the memories.
"It all got jumbled up in my mind…I got very angry at the memory and scared that one day Kanmaru will turn into Sesshoumaru and hate me and it will all start again. I had to get out." By now the tears were evident on Inuyasha's face and then he laughed at the same time as he cried causing hiccups, which surprised Sesshoumaru. "The silliest thing is though, that I miss Sesshoumaru, even though he hated me; I still miss him, how stupid is that? I never got to say goodbye."
No wonder Inuyasha doubted his father's ability to understand his mixed up thoughts, when the explanation was also almost incoherent; thought Sesshoumaru, as he sifted through the messages and put them in some sort of order. He had an idea that might lay a few of Inuyasha's ghosts to rest, although he hoped his son realised what he was about to do and why; he didn't want to undo years of trust, to have Inuyasha wondering at hidden meanings again.
Schooling his features into their impassive stoicism was not difficult, it had been his normal look for centuries; but now he had to get rid of the warmer eyes that had thawed since he'd accepted Inuyasha as his son. Inuyasha might have reconsidered his position in his father's lap if he could have seen Sesshoumaru's face now as it gazed down upon him; a familiar smirk in place on the beautiful but ice cold visage.
"You would waste your tears and destroy This Sesshoumaru's forest for such puerile reasons brother? Your humanity does you no favours in giving you such an active imagination."
"Ses..Sesshoumaru?" Inuyasha whispered and turned to look into his brother's face, marvelling that he could actually see the difference between his father and brother.
"It is I Little Brother and you will remain silent while I speak, for this is the last time I shall do so. You bewail the fact that I am gone, even though we did not get along; and you fear that my non-existent influence will somehow change a child's regard for you into hatred, based on the fact he looks like me. How ridiculous your human sensibilities can be; granted your experiences when you were a small pup excuse your anger and it is better it was taken out on the trees than on breaking the relationship you have with Kanmaru.
"You are such a fool sometimes, but I would not have you repeat my mistakes brother; I also can tell you, you are mistaken. This Sesshoumaru did not hate you all of the time; I was confused and although I truly was as your brother until I accepted differently, it was not always hate."
"Sesshoumaru…"
"I said speak not, whelp; you would do well to forget me and build on your new life with no doubts of your place in the hearts of those who love you. I can give you nothing else, I am too set in my ways to really change and there is no further room in my heart to grow the love you need. Your father loves you far more than I ever could, so take your place with him and let me go; Farewell brother."
"Good-bye Sesshoumaru." Inuyasha sobbed, and his father held him close as he mourned the passing of his older youkai brother, but gratefully accepted his reasoning. Sesshoumaru was surprised at the amount of grief his son held for the persona of his brother and he felt sad that he could only convince Inuyasha of the stability of his present life, by adopting the older harsh ways. It was as if the pup only understood the truth if it was with the use of cruel words. But perhaps it was not so strange; Inuyasha had always believed his brother Sesshoumaru even if he didn't like what he said, hopefully that would change.
"I'm sorry Papa; you must think me an idiot but thank you for what you said."
"You are not an idiot my son, you are entitled to get confused; I understand that your emotions are different to a full youkai but all of us need to be settled in our hearts to be happy. I would do anything to make you happy now, except keep going back to the bad ways; you will have to learn to trust me as your father and not your former brother. Do I make myself understood properly Inuyasha?"
"Yes Papa."
"I certainly hope so Inuyasha, because any more of this sort of display and I shall forget you are a father and you will only be seen as my naughty pup when I tan your backside. We will now return if you are composed."
"I'm ready and I understand; I do trust you Papa, it was just…"
"Listen carefully My Pup, the past is gone and will never return; Sesshoumaru didn't treat you as he did because all youkai see you as something to despise. He had his own selfish reasons and I can tell you truthfully that he is just as pleased to see the back of himself as I am; there is a special place deep in my being that only you fill Inuyasha; not even my full blooded pups can reach it. It is much the same as the place Rin occupies that can never be Kasaigin's.
"Our past has left scars upon me too; mainly of my own making but I am so proud of you and having your love heals me as no other could possibly do, I only hope to be able to give you the love back you deserve from me, but it can only be as your father." This was more of a confession than Sesshoumaru had ever hoped to make, but it seemed appropriate; he needed to diffuse any situation that could develop harmfully between his children, he would not have any sort of history repeating itself.
"Come on Inuyasha; you told me you were composed, now dry your eyes and let's go home." He waited for Inuyasha and together they left the new clearing, and Sesshoumaru made a mental note to get his grounds men to tidy up. When they reached the Palace, Kasaigin welcomed them home with an understanding smile and Kanmaru leapt into Inuyasha's arms and snuggled into his neck; tears coming readily as he stumbled out his apologies.
Kanmaru didn't stop until Inuyasha told him he was not cross and the child had done no wrong and he had returned the hug, needing it just as much as the pup. That was the sign for all the other pups, siblings and offspring to swamp Inuyasha as they too wanted his attention and wouldn't let Kanmaru have him alone. Sesshoumaru smiled at his eldest pup as he tried to accommodate all of the smaller ones at once;
"Make the most of it my son; there will be more come the spring." Then he actually laughed as his message got through and Inuyasha's eyes grew rounder in surprise, as Sesshoumaru put his arm round Kasaigin's waist and went inside.
TBC