The figure stepped out of the blue white light. She had long white hair exactly like Sesshomaru's, but part of it had been done up into two ponytails, with two small free trails of hair hanging down on either side. A silver half moon, exactly like Sesshomaru's was on her forehead. She wore carefully applied makeup and was dressed a long dress with bright fancy decorations, she had a long fur of her own that was wrapped around both her shoulders. Sesshomaru stood up as this familiar woman came closer to him.
"Hello, Mother."
She smiled then. "My son."
"Mother…what a pleasant surprise. What brings you here?"
"I heard about your vision, my Dear. I thought I might be able to help you…if you'll let me."
"How did you know I had a vision, Mother?"
She grinned slyly. "A Mother always knows."
"Thank you, Mother, but Sango has helped out quite a bit." he gestured to where Sango lay sleeping.
She raised her eyebrows. "She did? "
"Yes," he looked around the room and gestured to the couch. "Would you like to sit down, Mother?"
"Thank you," she sat down upon the sofa. "If you are certain I'm not intruding."
"Of course not, Mother. I'm glad to see you."
"You are? Well, now it's my turn to be surprised. This is certainly different from the previous ways you have greeted me."
"I know, Mother…and I am sorry for that," he walked over to the bathroom. "Would you like some water, Mother?"
"Thank you, my Dear." He walked toward the bathroom and came back with a glass of water, which he passed to his mother. He walked back in, filled another glass for himself, and came back to sit next to her.
"How did you get here, Mother?"
"I have my own shicagami spells of my own that I can use. I've time traveled before."
"You have, Mother?"
"Yes," she got up then and walked over to the balcony then, looking out on the land. "Beautiful!" she turned toward her son. "I never thought you would willingly travel into the human world," she teased, turning back to him.
"I have surprised even myself, Mother. I not only have traveled here, to where humans live..I like it. There is so much to see and discover here."
"Somehow, I thought you might." She grinned wickedly. "Although, I must confess, this isn't the first time you've been here!"
"What do you mean, Mother?"
She came back into the room. "I mean, one time your Father and I decided to take a little time traveling vacation of our own three years after we were married. We took the disguise of humans, just like you did, we traveled a bit earlier in time than this…about fifty years before this time. We were there.." she put her hand on her stomach. "You were HERE."
"You were carrying me, Mother?"
"I was about four months along with you, yes. You seemed to enjoy yourself, you moved around a lot in there," she grinned and sat back down on the sofa.
"Tell me, Mother, did you visit the Higurashi Shrine?"
"Higurashi…Hisgurashi…why yes, I think we did. Yes, we did go into a shrine…and we met the Priest in charge…Heroshi Higuraski, I believe his name was. He was a very nice man. His son had become a Captain in the Police Force and he had just gotten married."
"His son?"
"Oh, yes. He couldn't stop bragging about that, showing us photos from the wedding, talking non stop with pride about his son. Your father truly impressed him when he took a couple of the swords that he had on display at the Shrine and started doing some moves with them. When he found out I was pregnant with you, he blessed you in my womb."
"I'll have to thank him for that," Sesshomaru said. "Did I tell you that I know his granddaughter personally?"
"No, you did not."
Sesshomaru walked over to Sango's bag and took out her bag. Taking out her photo album he opened it to the right page andf showed it to her. "Here," he said, pointing. "This is Kagome Higurashi…I believe she is his granddaughter."
His mother gasped. "Oh…she looks just like her mother in that wedding portrait. She does come from a very handsome family. And…this other girl with her..would that be Sango which you just spoke of?"
"Yes, Mother. This is Sango, who's asleep in that bed over there. This is Miroku and Shippo."
"Aw, such a cute little fox demon."
"Yes..and you know Inuyasha," she nodded.
"Soooo, my Son….I see that you are not only walking amongst the humans, but you seem to have taken quite a liking to them!"
Sesshomaru paused and looked at the album again. "You're right, Mother," Sesshomaru said to her. "You've…been right all this time."
"You would ever doubt your Mother?"
"I DON'T hate humans..maybe deep down inside I never did. In fact…I DO like humans."
She smiled. "I knew it. A Parent always knows."
"Would you like some more water, Mother?"
"What brings about THIS show of respect and formality all of a sudden?" she gave her cup to Sesshomaru, who promptly filled it up and gave it back to her.
"What do you mean, Mother?"
"I mean, you haven't been this nice to me in years. For the longest time you've been so cold to me whenever I tried to approach you or to help you, or in the few times you've seen me. Do you have any idea how much that hurt? That my own boy didn't wat to have anything to do with me? I only carried you in me for nine months!"
Sesshomaru bowed his head. "Mother….I'm sorry. You're right..it was horrible, my behavior toward you."
"Why did you DO such things, my Son?"
"I…don't really know…I guess I was mad and confused when you and Father separated…and when he got remarried to Iziyoi, it dashed all hope of the two of you reconciling…"
"Is THAT what that was all about? Sesshomaru, why didn't you tell me you were feeling like this? I would have told you the truth then if I knew our separation would have affected you so much."
"The truth, Mother?"
"About the marriage. My Son, your father and I didn't separate because things went wrong in our marriage. We separated because it was the right thing to do for both of us."
"How so?"
"The marriage was ARRANGED, Sesshomaru. Your father and I had no say in it."
Sesshomaru's eyes grew wide at this revelation. "Arranged?"
"Yes. Both of our Fathers owned shares of the Western lands…you remember your Grandfathers?"
"How could I not, Mother? They helped to teach me their fighting secrets before they died."
"Well, they both owned shares of the Western Lands and they were very good friends. They decided to unite their Lands and rule together…and what better way, according to them, then to marry off their children? In fact, the very first time I ever met your father was three days before our wedding, at a special engagement party our fathers threw to celebrate. I mean, don't get me wrong, your father was kind, respectful, gentile, yet fearless, brave, strong…and he always treated me well during our marriage. We tried to make it work..we did. We were married for over 500 years..but I don't think we were ever really in love."
"Like the kind of love Inuyasha and Kagome share?"
"Yes…OR," she started hard at her son. "The love your father and IZIYOI shared! The kind of love that feels special. Like you want to be near that person forever and your heart will break if you don't. The connection that you feel the moment you know this person is the one. I never felt that with your Father. We became the best of friends, but we couldn't get past that. I mean, it wasn't bad at all, married to him. Not at all. Besides, two years after the wedding, we received the most blessed gift we ever had," she touched her son's cheek tenderly. Sesshomaru smiled a tiny half smile. "Believe me, Sesshomaru, even though your father and I never loved each other…we both loved YOU. I can still remember when you were born, and he held his firstborn son for the first time. His eyes glowed with love and pride. I'd never seen him look like that before, like for a few moments, he felt nothing could go wrong in the world. I felt the same way as well. A few days later we threw a formal feast to celebrate…and your father wouldn't let you go. He couldn't stop showing you off, and I was the same way. I wouldn't trade my years with your father for anything,…and I wouldn't give YOU up for anything in the world. Even though you made me crazy a lot…and I DO mean a LOT…" Sesshomaru lowered his head a bit. "you're what I'm most grateful for than anything."
"As are you, Mother. Both you and Father. But…why DID you both finally separate?"
"If you will recall it happened just one year after my own father died. Inio's father died a year before than. Both your Father and I were raised to be obedient to our elders, so we were obliged to stay in the marriage. When our parents died we realised that we didn't have to live a lie anymore and we can free ourselves to find REAL love. Don't you think it would be better for us to do that than stay in a lie forever?"
"Yes, Mother. To stay would have been hippocritical, seeing as how you have raised me to always be honest. But, Mother, why didn't you ever tell me this?"
"I didn't want you to feel like you were born in a loveless marriage.."
"But I was."
"True, but I was worried how that would have made you feel, and I didn't want to put you through that. I didn't want you to feel that we were obligated to have you, that your grandfather forced us to have you. True, he wanted us to provide an heir, but he never nagged or forced us, and in a way you WERE unexpected…but you were the most important thing to us, and we wanted you to know that even though we didn't love each other, we loved YOU. I was worried you wouldn't feel that way if you knew the truth."
"Mother, I would have understood. I know you and Father loved me. I loved both of you as well."
"Believe me, I didn't love your Father…but he became my very dearest friend. Remember the weeping willow tree that was planted in my castle? The one your Father gave to me on our 30th wedding anniversary?"
"Yes, of course. I loved to sit under that tree. You would give me my lessons under there if the weather was nice."
"If your father and I had parted on unfriendly terms, do you think I would have kept that tree in the backyard?"
"No, Mother. You would have pulled it out of the ground and more than likely destroyed it."
"But I didn't. That tree was very special to me, and when your father died, I took good care of the tree and preserved it as a memory to my dearest friend. We were friends if nothing more, and as his friend, don't you think it would have been very wrong to keep him in something we were both in a sense trapped in? Wouldn't that be more selfish than anything else?"
"It would, Mother. I agree with you."
"I'm glad, even though I know at first you didn't. It did hurt me when you chose to live with your father, even though I can certainly understand why you did it. You always idolized your father, even when you were little." Her eyes got a faraway look at them. "I can still remember you as a small child, watching your father practice so intently…following his every move. It was so sweet to observe. No wonder you wanted to live with him. But we kept in touch all the time, sending messages back and forth to each other..mainly about you." she stopped to shake her head at him. "And the MANY stunts you pulled. Stunts due mainly to your unjust prejudice of humans! I never knew where you got this from! I liked humans, so did your Father, obviously. Sesshomaru, you drove that man to distraction! We didn't know what to DO with you! We yelled at you until we were blue in the face, your Father struck you several times, even I did…and I hated to do that, nothing worked. Nothing got through to you. That performance you gave at your own Father's wedding, when you couldn't even bother to show up for it…THAT was just lovely for him. You DO remember that day?"
"How could I not, Mother? I am still ashamed of that."
"Well as you should be! I can't forget that day, either. I had no problem with him marrying Iziyoi, not at all! From his messages describing her, I had never seen him so happy! So in love…I was HAPPY for him, I gave him my blessing…and you couldn't be bothered to! Where WERE you on that day, Sesshomaru? He wanted you. He was waiting by the door of his castle for you, Sesshomaru. Hoping against hope that you, you, his SON, his firstborn, could put aside this prejudice and unjust anger and be there for him on the most important day of his life as his Best Man. He delayed the wedding for an HOUR waiting for you. Even Myoga told him to give up, and he wasn't too fond of Iziyoi either.."
"Beastly little insect..."
"Don't change the subject! He sent a message to me, asking if I knew where you were. Imagine my embarressment when I had to tell him no, I didn't know where you were. Finally your father had to give up, and with a heavy heart, on what was to have been the happiest and proudest day of his life, he had to ask one of his closest friends to take the place of his own SON as his Best Man. Do you have any idea how that made him feel?"
"Hurt. Embarressed. Angry beyond belief. I know, Mother. I remember. When I finally came back, he was just about to leave for his honeymoon, and he growled at me….that..was the first time he had ever done so. He ordered me into my chambers and forbid me to come out until he had come back. He said he had already told the servents to leave my food outside the door for me and not to speak a word to me until he had returned. It was two weeks after he had returned that he did start to talk to me again."
"And your treatment of Iziyoi after that…don't think your father wasn't aware of the looks you gave her behind his back."
"I know, Mother. When I think of what I did to Iziyoi…how I disappointed my father…the horrid thing I did to my own brother…my little brother…I have this pain in my chest when I consider how I treated him..I am so sorry for all I have done. Mother, I was trying to make it up to him before this unspeakable act happened to him."
"We all do things in which we regret, my Son. None of us are perfect, including Demons. I know I haven't always been perfect, especially when it came to raising you.."
"What do you mean, Mother?"
"Well, like your Father I came from a wealthy family, and they indulged me heavily…maybe that's why your father and I couldn't make it work. Maybe I was just too spoiled to be a good enough mother."
"You have been a wonderful Mother. No one is to blame for this but myself. You tried to tell me about humans. You tried to educate me as best as you could, both you and Father did. You both tried to tell me…and I wouldn't listen."
"Maybe this wouldn't have happened if I had only told you the truth about your father and I. I was wrong not to, I'm sorry. But you ARE my firstborn, you didn't come with a set of instructions. I did what I felt was best. All parents do.." she paused at the moment to glance at the sleeping Rin. "You'll learn about that in a few more years."
"I don't know how I would have reacted to Iziyoi if I HAD known the truth, Mother. I'm so sorry I did all of that to her, and to Inuyasha. I DON'T want him to die, Mother. I don't want that vision to ever come true."
"It doesn't have to, My Dear. You don't have to let it. That vision was merely a warning to you. You KNOW what's happened, and you KNOW what went wrong, so fix it. You CAN fix it, I know you can. There's still time, you can make it right."
"I have started to, Mother. It's like I said earlier. You WERE right…what you tried to tell me about humans. A lot of them AREN'T weak…and they DON'T have to have powers to be strong. Sango and Kagome are proof of that. Mother…I like humans."
His mother beamed at this and her gaze went toward Rin again. "I KNEW you did, deep down inside. It just took SOMETHING to bring it out! I'm glad I found it…" she looked at Rin even longer, and her smile grew even wider. "It worked…I'm so glad it worked.."
"What worked, Mother?" he followed her gaze. "Why do you keep looking at Rin…like you know her already?"
"How do you think that little girl found her way over to you?"
Sesshomaru's eyes grew wide as he put two and two together. "Mother….YOU lead Rin to me?!"
"I guided her toward you, yes. It was my last ditch effort to try to get my point across to you. After all, yelling at you until I was blue in the face didn't work, giving you a couple of slaps didn't work, lecturing you and lecturing you didn't work! I stil remember when that day happened…."
Sesshomoaru's Mother was enjoying tea in her parlor with her duck like retainer, Ying- Ying, when there was a knock on the door. Setting her teacup dow, she turned to her retainer. "See who that is, Ying-Ying."
Ying-Ying got up to leave the room. When she came back a familar looking man was with her. The female Demon smiled as she recognized her old friend and stood up to greet him. "Good day, Totosai."
Totosai bowed low. "Good day, Lady Kumiko."
"Have you been traveling far?"
"Oh yes, quite far on my cow. I felt I must see you."
"Splended! I always like chatting with you, old friend. Come…sit.. Ying-Ying, put him a cup of tea."
"Yes, Mi Lady," she grabbed the teapot.
"So, Totosai, it's been so long since we have last seen each other. Come, tell me of your travels. How has the sword business been?"
"Quite well. I have been commissioned to make quite a few swords."
"Have you really?"
"Oh yes. A champion Samurai has just commissioned one to be made for his Son. He's coming of age and wishes to follow in his father's footsteps."
"Indeed. Very noble of him."
"Oh yes. Another wishes to commission a sword as a wedding present for his daughter who is to be married soon."
"Well, if anyone can make a sword beautiful and strong it is you, old friend. Anyone else make a request?"
"Well…ah…there was one more…but I refused.."
"Oh? Why?"
"Well, he didn't so much request as demand. He threatened to kill me if I didn't make him a sword as strong and as powerful as your husband's sword, the Tetsusaiga."
"Indeed?"
"Yes, and when I refused, this person attacked Inuyasha himself to try to get the Tetsusaiga, and when he saw I ran to him for help, he threatened me again with death," Ying-Ying cringed at this, she knew already who he was talking about. As it was Kumiko's body was growing stiff.
"Well…I do hope Inuyasha is well, cause it would be a shame if this man was able to defeat him.."
"He is, he used the Wind Scar to defeat his oponent, but ….well, Mi Lady…ah..I do regret to say.."
"Cause Inuyasha is a smart and powerful demon in and of itself, even though he's only a half demon. Being Inyo's son, he IS very smart, and very strong."
"I can assure you Mi Lady, that he's alrght, no thanks though to.."
"I'm glad he is, it would be a shame if Inio's youngest weren't able to defend himself against his attacker, when I now full we he can, and whoever did.."
"Mi Lady.."
"Totosai, do you realise I am interrupting what you're trying to tell me? That's because I believe I know Inuyasha's attacker and why you have come to me, and I am in no mood to have my suspicions…"
"Your own son was his attacker, Mi Lady."
"ARRRGH!!" Kumiko growled angrily, smashing her saucer on the table and standing up angrily. "Sesshomaru…NOT AGAIN!! How many times do I HAVE to lecture him, how many screaming matches does it take?! How many times must I slap him upside the head to get the message across?! First his father and I, now just me…honestly, he can't even listen to his own MOTHER," She turned to Totosai. "Totosai, I apologize for his behavior…again." She looked to to Heaven. "Ino, are you hearing this?! Ever since you died, ever since you did. Oh God, what am I gonna DO with him?"
"His fur would make a very nice throw rug, Mi Lady," her retainer said, trying to make a joke. "And just think, when you get angry you can take him outside and BEAT him!" She suddenly realized her joke was greeted by stony silence. She slowly turned around to see Kumiko glaring at her menacingly. "Oh, Mi Lady, I was only joking, honest! I didn't mean anything by it, I swear, I was hoping to cheer you..."
WHAP!
"Ying- Ying! That's my SON you speak of!"
"Yes, Mi Lady," Ying- Ying said, rubbing her painful lump.
Kumiko sighed a bit and sat down upon the chair, resting her head in her hands.
"I'm truly sorry to have had to tel you this, Kumiko."
"It's not your fault, Totosai." She sighed again. "You know, this whole thing is my fault. I was indulged greatly as a child, and I raised my son the same way. I gave him everything he could possibly want…so its only natural that when he decided he wanted the Tetsusaiga, he would try to get it no matter what and when he decided he wanted more power, he was going to have it no matter what. I take full responsibility for this.."
"Mi Lady, it's not your fault," Ying-Ying said. "You can't blame yourself for this."
"You're right…it's my Mother's fault," Kumiko stood up. "Thank you, Ying-Ying I feel a little better now. See that Totosai takes more refreshment. I'm going out for a walk to calm myself down and try to think of what to do." She turned toward the door of the castle, but turned back. "And if you hear screaming, that means Ive found my son and I'm YELLING at him at the top of my LUNGS, so ignore it. Ignore any slaps you may hear, too."
"He was hit with the Wind Scar, Mi Lady. He's badly injured because of it.."
"Is he alive?"
"When last I heard he was."
"Good…but I hope he doesn't think this is gonna make him immune to ME!":
Totosai sighed as Kumiko left. "Maybe I shouldn't have told her about this…"
"He's her son, she had a right to know, Totosai, Ying-Ying said, pouring him another cup of tea. "Don't tell the Madam, but I never cared that much for him myself. But hes an adult, she can't tell him what to do anymore."
Kumiko walked through the woods angrily trying to get her anger and embarressment out, at the same time wondering wether or not to just give up trying to get through to him at all. After walking for quite some time, she get hold of the aura of her Son. She could tell exactly where he lay in the woods and was about to confront him, when she suddenly stopped as a very poignant stench entered into her nose. From her years of fighting demons that attacked her castle she knew the stench very well…blood. Her curiosity overcame her and she followed the stench into what was left of a village. What she saw there made her almost sick, it was obvious that an attack had taken place there. The ground was crimson and wet with blood, there were bodies everywhere, and homes where trashed. Just then she became aware of another scent. Someone was alive in this village! By some miracle someone had survived this massacre…someone who was obviously scared, and crying. Kumiko followed the sound until she came upon a small hut. She made herself invisible and snuck inside to check. Huddled against a wall, near a murdered body of a woman, sat a small girl of about six. Her knees were drawn up to her chest, her arms were wrapped around then and her head lay upon them as she sobbed. Kumiko's motherly instincts took over and she gazed upon this small child with pity. Making herself visible she walked over to the little girl and knelt down next to her. "Hello, my child."
The little girl looked up and gasped at the sight of Kumiko. "There is no need to fear, my Dear. I will not hurt you at all. My name is Kumiko, and I wish to help you. What has happened here?" The girl gave no answer, just pointed to the dead body near her. Kumiko came to it and knelt down to examine it. "This was your Mother, wasn't it?' she nodded. "I see. I can tell, I'm a Mother myself, although my son is grown up." She came over to the girl again. "What's YOUR name?" Without saying anything, she girl picked up a stick, walked outside, and wrote some letters in the dirt. R. I. N. "Oh, Rin?' she nodded. "That's a lovely name, but will you not speak?" She sadly shook her head. "Oh…the massacre that you had to witness has rendered your ability to speak?" she nodded. "So, you have no home, and no family anymore?" She nodded with tears in her eyes. Just then an idea came into her mind, a last ditch effort to TRY to teach her son about humans. "Rin," she knelt down beside her. "like I have said, I came to help you. You must listen to me, my Dear, and do as I say, and I promise you'll have a roof over your head, plenty of food to eat, and someone to take care of you." Rin looked up, curiously. "Not only will you have a new home, it will be a HUGE home, and you'll want for nothing ever ever again. Would you like that?" Rin nodded. Kumiko stretched out her hand, and Rin placed hers inside it. "Listen now, and do as I say. My son has been injured in a fierce battle. I'll show you where he's laying under a tree. He's so injured he can't move, and he needs someone to care for him. If you bring him food and water, and help to clean him up, he will give you food and a home to live in, and he will take care of you. Will you do that?" Rin nodded eagerly. Kumiko smiled. "Very well. Come with me, and I will show you where he is laying. Remember, he is gravely injured, so he might not be friendly at first. But that's his pain talking. don't take it personally. If you are good to him, when he feels better, he will be good to you."
Rin eagerly follwed Kumiko to where Sesshomaru was laying under a tree. She made herself invisible and hid behind another tree several yards away. When Rin tried to approach Sesshomaru, he growled fiercely, startling her. When she ran away, she saw Kumiko, who nodded encouragingly, and pointed to the stream nearby, indicating she should catch fish.
"You WERE the one that sent Rin, Mother!"
"Yes. And it was a good thing I did, too. To tell you the truth I was all ready to just give up and stop lecturing you or screaming. Everything I said just went in one ear and out the other anyway. It was a blessing from God that I came upon that little and gotten the idea. Maybe you feel that way about humans because you don't really NOW them. Perhaps if you were made to take care of one, you would learn more about them!"
"You always were wise, Mother."
"Tell me something I don't know," she teased, making him give his half smile. "Of course, like I warned her, she came across you in the woods, in pain and growling to her. But I told her not to be scared of you, and to her credit she wasn't. She came back to me and I told her what to do. Someone that sweet and with such a good heart…I knew eventually she would win you over. Of course thwn those vilagers decided to play tyrial by jury with her.."
"The villagers?"
"Didn't she ever tell you?"
"No, Mother. What happened with the vilagers?"
"Well, it turns out that in order to get the fish to try to feed you, she took them from a pond in another village, and apparently those peope never learned how to share. They caught her and beat her, which is how she got those scars." Seeing the look on her son's face she quickly added, "But don't worry, I took good care of them."
Rin raced as fast as she could through the trees and long grass, trying hard to get away from the angry villagers that had already beat her up and were coming for more. In one hand she held a bunch of fish she had taken from the ponds nearby, some for her and some for Sesshomaru. But she had gotten caught this time, and far from willing to share, the villagers had proceeded to slap and hit her. She managed to get away, but they had come after her even faster. Suddenly she stopped as a familiar shape appeared in front of her.
"Where are you going, my Dear?" Scared to death, Rin pointed to where the angry villagers were coming. With her Demon vision, Kumiko could see them from miles away, and she could clearly hear them curisng out the child. "Ah, that's it." Rin laid the fish at Kumiko's feet. "Why, what are you doing?" Rin made a sign that she was going to run away, but Kumiko knelt down and stopped her gentily. "My Dear? Am I not here? Are you not under my protection?" She stroked her cheek. "I said someone would take care of you. Believe me. You take that fish to my Son. I'll take care of those villagers." She stood up and watched Rin until she was safely out of sight, then turned and waited. Soon the villagers began to rush over in Rin's direction. Kumiko grew bigger and stood in front of them. "So," she began angrily. "You all think it's all right to harm innocent children?!"
"Back off, Lady. That brat stole our fish!"
"Brat?" Kumiko said, getting angry. "Did it ever occur to any of you that that "brat", as you all called her may have been as hungry as you, or maybe known someone who was and was trying to care for that person?"
"If that were true, why did she not ask us?"
"Maybe because she might have lost her voice, but you were so quick to rush to judgement that you never even considered THAT?"
"Who are YOU to judge us?! That child has committed a crime, and as such she must be punished!"
"By hitting her and slapping her to the point that she cannot even open her EYES?! THIS is how you punish an innocent child?!"
"Move yourself out of our way! That child MUST pay for taking from our village that we need!"
"That which she ALSO needs!"
"If she cannot ask she must be beaten!"
At this Kumiko began to growl noisily, causing the incensed villagers to pull back. Suddenly her eyes began to glow bright red and she extended one of her claws, which began to turn green.
"Holy Smoke, she's a Demon!!"
"Yes, a Demon who HAPPENS to be a Mother herself! And do you want to KNOW what I'd do if anyone thinks to do that to MY child?!" Before any of the villagers could react Kumiko swished her claws at the nearest one, causing the poison to get him in the leg. Immidiately the villagers picked up their rakes and pitchforks, intending to go after her. She sprang up and sailed over their heads, extruding her Demon Whip in the process. The moment she landed behind them she swished the whip, eliminating another villager before any of them could even turn around. A third villager tried to sneak up behind Kumiko, but her Demon instincts were too strong, and she twirled around, swishing her whip in the process, getting him across his body. By now the remaining villagers had thrown down their weapons and ran away as fast as they could. Kumiko jumped up again and called out, " IN THE FUTURE NERVER LAY YOUR HANDS UPON A SMALL DEFENSELESS CHILD AGAIN!!" Satisfied that those villagers had learned their lesson, she went in the direction that Rin had gone off to to watch over her.
"And that was how I guided that child to you," Kumiko finished. "It was all part of my plan. My last-ditch effort to TRY to get you to listen to me! To TRY to show you that deep down inside you DON'T hate humans! Like I was teling you, look in your heart of hearts. Your father and I both loved humans. I knew deep down you did too…you HAD to…but before you could realise that you HAD to stop that senseless killing for no reason! I thought you MIGHT stop if you had someone to look out for and protect, like your Father wanted you to have."
"But, you said that was your last ditch effort? Mother…what would you have done if it hadn't worked? Would you have given up on me?"
"A Mother never gives up on her child, Sesshomaru. I would have never stopped praying for your salvation and hoping you would see the light.…but I would have stopped yelling at you or lecturing you. I could see it wasn't going anywhere. If THIS didn't work, I would have had no choice but to stop trying to convince you and just hoped and prayed you would find out on your own."
"Mother…I'm so glad you did think to give me Rin. She...is the most wonderful gift you could have ever given me, aside from my own life. I never knew that I could feel like this about someone..."
"When someone becomes a parent themselves, Sesshomaru, that's the feeling they end up having. it's like the entire world just revolves around that one person and nothing else matters. Your Father was the same way with you," she smiled. "And when I found out that you yourself had used Tenseiga to bring that girl back to life after those wolves had killed her…I was never more proud of you! NOW do you understand why your father left THAT sword to you?"
"Yes, I do, Mother," Sesshomaru said. "The sword has worked for me several times already."
"But you understand why it does now? You finally understand WHY your Father left you that sword instead of the Tetsusaiga?"
"Yes, I understand now."
"That was kinda of your Father's way of trying to get the message to you. You notice that you couldn't use the sword at all until you learned to feel kindness for someone OTHER than yourself. In a way it was a punishment for your disgraceful and murderous behavior, which you were not brought up to act like, and a way to get his message through to you. I'm glad to see THAT worked as well."
"Father.." Sesshomaru bowed his head. "Dear Father..if only you where here now….I could tell you how sorry I am for everything. I know what I have done with my life is shameful and embarrassing to our family name, but I am trying to change, Father. I know I wanted to defeat you in order to rove myself….the one who gave me all I had…and should have been so grateful to you.."
"Yes, you should have. He was so proud of you, Sesshomaru, almost from the moment you were born. He loved to hold you in his arms as a baby, he took you out into the hills and trained you to be as good as he was. He was ever happier than when the two of you were defending your lands together. Defeating horrid demons, protecting his territory with his son at his side."
"And I nearly spoiled it all with my foolish pride. If only I could tell him this in person."
"Who says you can't?"
"It's too late now, Mother."
"My Son," Kumiko smiled and reached into her dress. "Don't you know it's never too late to correct a mistake?" She pulled out a long silver necklace with a large bright blue stone right in the center of it. Sesshomaru immediately recognized it.
"The Mideou Stone! You bought it with you, Mother?"
"Of course, Dear. I never go anywhere without it. You now this was a special gift from your Father, he gave this to me on our 200th wedding anniversary, and I've kept it ever since. Now, do you think I would have kept this if the separation was bad?"
"No, Mother, you would have probably either given it back to him or you would have thrown it into the ocean."
"But I didn't. This is one of my most priceless treasures. You remember how it works?"
"Of course, Mother."
"Very well, then. Put your hand on top of it, and let's pay your father a visit," he put his hand on top of the blue stone, and Kumiko put her hand on top of his. They both concentrated hard and felt themselves floating on air. As soon as they opened their eyes they were surrounded by clouds and beautiful buildings made of gold and silk. Hundreds of people and demons were passing by them and a bright warm light was shining down upon the two of them, making them both feel comforted. A familiar voice cut through the silence, causing both of them to turn their heads to the right.
"Kumiko?"
Kumiko's eyes lit up as she saw who the voice belonged to. She stood up. "Hello, my Dear friend." For before her eyes was Inio-Yo-Taisho himself, arm-in-arm with Iziyoi. They hugged each other gentily and she bowed to Iziyoi "Kumiko, this is a pleasant surprise. To what do I owe this visit?"
She smiled and gestured to Sesshomaru. "Your son craves a word with you." Sesshomaru stood up as his father stared.
"Sesshomaru!"
"Hello, Father. Greetings, Iziyoi."
"Sesshomaru. What brings you here tonight, my Son?"
"Father, I must tell you something important…about the path I have now chosen."
"I'm listening, my Son."
"Father..I know that in the last years of your life, I have not made you proud in my lack of acceptance and overall treatment of Iziyoi. I have let my pride and my envy over Inuyasha getting Tetsusaiga cloud my better judgment. I have behaved horribly and I know that so many times I have not been worthy to be called your son. My various murders of people simply for the crimes of being human or being in my way no doubt has shamed you greatly. But the biggest thing I'm guilty of is my treatment of Inuyasha..my little brother…and your son. I have not been a brother to him at all, and I have no doubt that embarrassed you the most. Father, I have seen the error of my ways, and I have already begun to make up for all of my sins. I'm just getting started in my resolve to make amends, especially to my treatment of Inuyasha. Father, I now understand what it was you were telling me. The sword you gave me, it now works for me..and I have learned what a gift it is. I know I have been too filled with pride to thank you…but I thank you now for this. Father, if it takes me until the end of my days, I will make up for all of my sins and every murder I have committed. But most of all, Father, I wish to make amends to you, for the last few years of your life." he knelt down in front of his Father. "Father, forgive me all the wrongs I have done. Truly, I am sorry for my behavior, and I know I am not worthy to be called your son, but I pray for another chance. I promise with all my heart I will not let you down and I will be a true brother to Inuyasha. The only ones I will kill now shall be the ones that threaten my family, this I promise on my life. Father..please forgive me."
Ino-Yo-Taisho gazed upon him. "Sesshomaru, you are my son. I love you dearly, even though you have not pleased me at all in these past years. But this act of repentance now has truly shown me you have learned the lesson your Mother and I struggled to teach you " he helped him up. "I forgive you, my son. I know you will do penance for your sins, you have always meant what you said before, and I know you do now. I was never more pleased and proud of you then I was when I saw you having tea and talking with Inuyasha like brothers three days ago. Like you should."
"I love Inuyasha, Father. I now understand what you meant about true power comes from the heart. It comes from friendship and love. I know that is true now."
"You have learned well. I am truly proud of you. This is how it should be. You have pleased me greatly, Sesshomaru."
Sesshomaru then turned to Izyioi and knelt down in front of her. "Izyioi, I owe you a huge apology as well. The way I treated you when Father courted you, then married you, it was unforgivable. You were very special to my Father, and as such, you should have been very special to me as well. All I could see was a replacement for my Mother. It was absolutely despicable how I treated you and my newborn baby brother after Father died. I should have taken you in and taken care of you like he would have wanted me too. I truly am sorry for all of that, and I hope you can find it in your heart to please forgive me."
Izyioi came forward just then. "Why didn't you just tell me you felt like this from the start? Sesshomaru, I ever wanted to replace your Mother, nor did I even want to try. I know I couldn't. I just wanted to be your friend. That's all I've ever truly wanted to be all along."
"I know that. I do regret that it's too late."
"Sesshomaru, it's never too late to correct a mistake…or to be friends," she bent down, smoothed back the bangs on Sesshomaru's forehead, and kissed his moon on his forehead. Slowly he stood up.
"I'm sorry, Iziyoi, for everything."
"I forgive you. Thank you."
"I promise you, Iziyoi, I will be the brother that your son deserves to have. He will never be alone again and the next person who DARES to call him anything BUT his name, reguardless of who they are, I will NOT hesitate to put my fist all the way through his body and spray them with my venom. No one will ever mock him again, I vow it. As soon as Inuyasha is well again I also promise I will single handedly rip apart the neck of Kikyo.."
"Yes?" came a voice and before Sesshomaru's eye Kikyo herself appeared next to his parents. She was dressed in a pure white kimono and she was transparent. Sesshomaru could see clear through her body to the clouds and various souls on the other side…but he immediately recognized the all too familiar face.
He growled menacingly. "You.." he spat out, about to retract his venom from his claws. "Why are you perpetrating this sacred place you horrid sinner?!"
He prepared to charge her, when Ini-Yo-Taisho stopped him. "No, Sesshomaru!"
"Out of my way, Father, this evil wetch was the one who poisoned Inuyasha! Your son is dieing now because of her!"
"Wait, please!" Kikyo said, putting her hands up. "It's me. Please wait, let me explain, that's not ME down there! THIS is the REAL me! I'M the real Kikyo, NOT that clay imposter down there! Please, let me explain."
"Let her explain, Sesshomaru," Ini-Yo-Taisho said. Sesshomaru stopped and sniffed the air.
"You're not the Kikyo that's on Earth. You don't smell like her," he sniffed again. "You smell like vinella and flowers..the scent my brother said you had when you were living."
Kikyo smiled. "That's because I am Kikyo. The REAL Kikyo. The reason why I look like THIS," she indicated her transparet body, "is because I only have about a quarter of my soul left. This is all I have. I gave the rest of my soul away."
"To Kagome?"
"Yes. I don't blame you for confusing me with that imposter down there. But believe me, she only has my body..and little else. Kagome has the most of my soul. THIS is the rest."
"Please, let her explain," Iziyoi said.
"Very well."
"Well, when I first died and finally came up here to Heaven..I figured out what Naroku did. Naturally I felt really bad about it. I mean, I put your brother in a coma without giving him a chance to explain himself. Lucky thing I only put him in a coma, I couldn't find it in my heart to actually kill him. Despite what I thought he did…I still loved him. I still do, which is why I made the sacrifice I made."
"Sacrifice?"
"Yes. Of course I felt terrible over what I did, which would explain why I was sent to Purgatory for a while. By the time I got out of Purgatory, I knew I couldn't atone fully for what I did to him, but with all my heart I wanted to try. When I had a chance to look upon poor Inuyasha for the first time in at least ten years, I knew that no one there would think to pull out the arrow because of how Iniyasha had taken the jewel, and I couldn't go down and explain it to them. The spell was going to wear off in 40 more years, but he would still be pinned. I don't even think Kaede could pull it out, by that time she would be old and probably unable to pull out the arrow. There had to be another way to free him and also to make it up to him. I still loved him, I just couldn't stop loving him..I still wanted to be with him, I just couldn't figure out how. Then it dawned on me…if I couldn't be with him…maybe another part of me could! I managed to use my spiritual powers, which naturally increased when I got here, to look ahead in time. 500 years in the future I saw a shrine go up in that place, and a couple lived in the house in back. This couple was about to have a baby….so I decided to sacrifice my soul. Using my powers I took ¾ of my soul and reincarnated it into the baby girl.."
"Kagome."
"Yes, and I put the Shokin Jewel into her body so she'd be able to time travel into the well in her fifteenth year- which is when I became a Priestess. SHE could pull out the arrow and free Inuyasha, and also because she WAS me, I was hoping and praying he'd fall in love with HER, that way we COULD be together, like we wanted to be. If I couldn't be with him, another part of me could. This was all part of my plan! I WANTED them to fall in love and eventually marry with all my love and blessings. All I want is for him to be happy."
"But then that witch resurrected your body.."
"My BODY, but not MYSELF! This wicked fiend walking the Earth is NOT me! She's ruining my plans, she's ruining everything! She's giving me a bad reputation, confusing and manipulating Inuyasha, fueled only by the hate I felt when I was mistaken, not by the love I still have. They would have been married by now if it weren't for this imposter!" Tears formed in her eyes. "Believe me, that IS NOT ME!!"
"We believe you," Kumiko said.
"Yes," Sesshomaru agreed. "I do as well. I promise you I shall tell this message to Inuyasha, and single handedly kill this imposter down there with your body."
"Please do. Tell him I'm sorry for all of this, and he has my blessings to marry Kagome. I wish him happiness, that's all that I want for him."
"I shall. Thank you, Kikyo." He turned to his father. "Father/? Iziyoi? Thank you both too. I'm glad we could make amends."
"As am I, my Son. I'm truly proud of you…and I'm glad I have a son like you."
"I am always proud to have you for a Father."
"And Sesshomaru?"
"Yes, Iziyoi?"
"Can you give a message to my Little Red Prince?"
"Who?"
"Inuyasha. When he was six he loved to pay ball and he wore his father's firecat robe."
"He still wears it."
"He looked so darling in it, that was the nickname I had for him, my Little Red Prince."
"What would you like me to tell him?"
"Tell him….I love him, and I'm proud of him."
"I will, Iziyoi."
"Sesshomaru? Are you ready to go back?"
"Yes. Farewell, Father. I love you."
"I love you, my Son. Kumiko, thank you for bringing him." He did the Demon Sign of Affection to Sesshomaru and hugged Kumiko gentily. Sesshomaru moved over to Iziyoi and did the Demon Sign of Affection toward her.
"Goodbye, Sesshomaru. Please take care of my son."
"I promise you, I will, Iziyoi. Thank you..my friend. I promse you too, Kikyo, your plan will be carried out."
"Thank you."
Sesshomaru bowed to her and went back to his mother, sitting back down on the couch with her. Soon they returned to the hotel room. "Thank you, Mother. I feel much better now."
Kumiko looked at Sesshomaru. "I hope that that visit with your Father and Iziyoi had given you added incentive. You KNOW why you had that vision. You KNOW what went wrong, so fix it..you can.."
"And I will, I promise, Mother."
That's good, My Son. I think you WILL earn the right to join your Father up in Heaven someday. As long as you have Faith, God will forgive you.
"Thank you, Mother."
"Sesshomaru, there is something else I must inform you of as well.."
"Yes, Mother?"
"This imposter that calls herself Kikyo..I found out she wasn't alone."
"Wasn't alone? Who was working with her, Mother? Naroku?"
"Naro…oh…oh no! No, not at all, not him."
"Who was it, Mother?"
"Listen, Dear Son. As I was gathering herbs to use for my Shikagami spell to bring me here, I saw that witch coming up the hill I was on carrying a basketfull of flowers. My first impulse was to kill he, but I knew you would more than likely want that honor. But I was curious about the flowers so I made myself invisible and followed her quietly up the hill. On the top of it was a huge campfire with several more Demons around it. One of them stood up and began to move toward her. As he came ito light I saw he was a wolf demon."
Sesshomaru bristled at that. "Wolf demon?"
"Yes, I think she said his name was…Koga."
Sesshomaru growled angrily. "Koga…" he muttered. "I might have KNOWN it was him!"
"I take it you've crossed paths with him before?"
"Unfortunately yes. He's a manipulative wolf who can charm ordinary humans into making himself into a victem. He tricked Kagome several times. You see, Mother, he has a rivalry with Inuyasha. He thinks he loves Kagome too and is forever trying to coerce Kagome into marrying him. So far she has refused but he's charmed her into making himself the victem when he fights Inuyasha, and he sometimes teams up with Inuyasha to fight huge enemy demons, but that's only to make himself look good in front of Kagome, and far too often it's worked. Kagome has used the control collar on my brother a number of times when that wolf provoked him into wanting to fight, and Koga's seen that as funny. He will not accept the fact that Kagome loves Inuyasha and not him. I've warned him to leave my brother alone…but now that beast has gone too far! I am going to MASSACRE him for this! As soon as Inuyasha is well we will expose his internal organs and spill them on the GROUND!"
Just then Sango stirred in her bed and sat up. "Sesshomaru? Who are you talking to..Oh!" She quickly got out of bed. "Hello, I didn't know we had company." Kirara jumped down lightly to stand with Sango.
Sesshomaru turned to her. "Sango, this is my mother, Lady Kumiko. Mother, this is my friend, Sango."
Sango bowed before her. "A pleasure to meet you, Lady Kumiko."
"Mew," Kirara agreed.
Kumiko stood up and shook Sango's hand. "It's my pleasure, Sango, and thank you for putting up with my son. I know he isn't the easiest person to be around…"
"Actually, I've been having a good time getting to know him a lot better, Lady Kumiko. Especially since he's truly repented for al he's done. He's actually very nice now, and it's been rather enjoyable to talk to him."
"Rerlly? Well, that IS extrrdonary. Oh, who is this?" she bent down to pet Kirara.
"That's my pet, Kiara."
"Oh, a firecat demon! So adorable." Kirara rolled over on her stomach as Kumiko knelt down to rub it. "Oh, I remember I used to have a firecat like this when I was a very little girl."
"You did, Mother?"
"Oh yes, but that was a VERY long time ago..back when I was only 4 or 5. She was JUST as adorable as this one."
"Sango smiled. "I had Kirara ever since I was a little girl, too. My father gave her to me when I was three."
"Sango, my Mother has just told me some dire news."
"Yes?"
Kumiko looked at Sango. "Yes, as I've just told my Son, I've found out that Kikyo wasn't alone in her doings."
"Who was it, Lady Kumiko?"
"It was Koga, that wolf demon."
Sango's face got extremely pale "Koga?!"
"Yes, I saw him give Kikyo a trunk of fresh human souls and thank her for helping her get his bride in two days. He went on and said…his words, not mine…that that half-breed is gonna be put out of his misery and they're doing him a favor by getting rid of him."
"WHAT?!"
"But that's not all. He also said….again, all his words…that as soon as he's dead and Kikyo rebuilds the well he'll wait for Kagome and the moment she comes he'll take her to his cave quick and….how can I put this…show her what a "real man" is like…give her so much joy she'll forget all about the freak and live happily with him.." she stopped as Sango stared, pale faced in shock, but her eyes blazing with anger.
"Disgusting," Sesshomaru said. "For someone who is calling himself King of the Wolves he is one of the most repulsive beats I have ever seen or heard.."
"That's not all about him, my Son.."
"There's more, Mother?"
"Yes. I couldn't help but notice that he smelled rather familiar to me. Then it dawned on me.
Remember when you first were able to use the Tenseiga? When you brought Rin back to life
After those wolves devoured her?"
"You saw that, Mother?"
"You were so preoccupied I guess you didn't sense me there. But yes, I was there and I saw everything. I was never more proud of you than I was at that moment. But that scent of the wolf that was talking to Kikyo….he had the same smell as the body of Rin before you used the sword."
Sesshmaru's eyes glowed menacingly. "You mean…."
"Koga was the one who had massacred Rin's village and first killed her."
"That BEAST….I am going to tear him apart into such small pieces he will NOT be able to be found at all!!" His eyes glowed an even brighter red. "Curse…HIM…" His eyes fell upon Sango, who was a mixture of anger and grief.
In a choked voice she turned to Kumiko. "Excuse me.." she whispered tightly before she ran outside onto the balcony. Sesshomaru looked after her concerned and glanced at his mother.
"Pardon me, Mother," Kumiko nodded and Sesshomaru followed Sango outside. She was sitting upon one of the balcony chairs. One cushion was on her lap and she was clutching it tightly with her head upon it crying hysterically as she thought of all the times Koga had come to help them out. All the times he had fought with them against shared enemies, shared info with them, showed up a lot of them times to help them,…all the times he was mean to Inuyasha. Calling him names such as 'freak', 'dog-boy'….and she and Miroku had just let it happen! They had thought Inuyasha was just acting like a jealous little boy…when Inuyasha was right the entire time! He had been able to see that Koga was no good! They had thought Koga was trying to be their friend…..when he had been fooling them from the start!
And Inuyasha had suffered for it…sometimes even getting face planted when he was trying to defend himself against Koga's name calling..…Inuyasha had been branded as an immature jealous rival..
And HE was right!
Inuyasha…
The one who had saved her life..
The one who had saved Kiara's life..
The one who was dieing right now…
Dieing due to her taking Koga's side..
Always taking Koga's side!
"DAMN HIM!!!" Sango cried angrily, sobbing from guilt and shame. "GOD DAMN YOU, KOGA!!!! GOD DAMN YOU!!!" She cried again, lowering her head onto her knees. "It's all my fault…it's all my fault!!" What was it Kagome had told her once? That Koga HAD said he would kill Inuyasha…but she thought that was a lot of talk! A LOT OF TALK?! He was DOING it now!! What was wrong with her?! Koga hadn't saved her life, Koga could care less about Kirara…Kirara..she never liked Koga either…now she knew why. She picked up Kirara from her lap. "Kirara…you knew..didn't you? You were trying to tell us this whole time, weren't you?" She held her cat up to her cheek. "Kirara…I'm sorry…I'm so sorry for not listening…oh, Inuyasha…you were always so good to me..how could I not have appreciated it..taking sides against you..hurting you like that? I'm so sorry…I'm so sorry…"
Sesshomaru sat down next to Sango. "What do you mean, Sango?"
"All my fault….it's all my fault…I should have seen it from the start! Inuyasha…he was trying to warn us about Koga…he was trying to tell us he was really no good…I wouldn't listen to him! I wouldn't, I didn't…oh God,…Inuyasha was the one who saved my life…he helped me…he helped Kirara…I of all people should have been the one to listen to him..and I thought he was just immature and jealous…IMMATURE?! He's immature…HE'S immature?!?! HE'S stupid?! HE is?! Koga has this awful plan, he teams up with Kikyo…and INUYASHA'S IMMATURE?!" she cried again, "Oh God, why didn't I hear him…why didn't I listen?!" She lowered her head to her knee and cried harder. "Why didn't Kikyo shoot me instead?" she whispered tightly. "It should have been me!"
"Sango, do not blame yourself for what happened to Inuyasha. You tried to save him, remember?"
Sango turned to look at Sesshomaru, and she said, "Why...why didn't I move faster? I should've killed that bitch Kikyo when I had the chance so many times before, but I never took it...and now Inuyasha's dying, all because I was too slow. I wasn't much better with Koga either...Ibelieved him all those times. Sesshomaru, I thought he was our friend…HE was our friend?! HE was?! Him?! All the while...he was trying to win Kagome away from Inuyasha...he doesn't deserve her...doesn't love her like Inuyasha does. I didn't help any...I kept getting suckered by that lousy bastard. I..I was deceived…I was fooled…I thought Inuyasha was immature…INUYASHA is immature?! He tried to tell us…he was trying to warn us! Why didn't I BELIEVE him?! Sesshomaru, I'm a Demon Slayer...I should've known...I'mtrained to be able to detect the aura of a demon...but I didn't see Koga's true intent until now...and it's going to end up costing Inuyasha his life...and…and it's all my fault! I…I'll never forgive myself! Never ever!!"
Sesshomaru gently placed his hands on Sango's shoulders, and he said, "Sango, listen to me. You are NOT at fault here...you did your best to stop that arrow from hitting Inuyasha. You have been there for him many times, do you not remember? He has told me about the time yousaved him from being drowned by the fake water god, and how you aided him in killing it. You also helped him during the battle against the Sounga-reanimated Takemaru and his zombie army, and during the fight with the demon war gods, you and Miroku performed beautifully. Sango, Inuyasha is very lucky to have you for a friend."
Sango wiped tears from her eyes, and she said, "How can he be lucky to call me a friend? I've called him names, I've poked fun at him, I've even questioned his intelligence. Sesshomaru, I've caused him so much pain..and I believed that murderous beast over him! ...I don't know how I'll live with myself."
Sesshomaru replied, "Sango...what you've done to him is child's play compared to all of the hatred and misery I subjected him to. You have, to the best of my knowledge, only attacked him ONCE, am I correct?" Sango nodded, and then Sesshomaru continued, "When you attacked him, you did so because Naraku tricked you. I did so COUNTLESS times, formany years, and I did it willingly. Sango, the only injury you inflicted on him was a stab wound from your sword in the shoulder. I have punched holes in his gut, blinded him with my poison, broken several of his bones, sprayed my poison into his arm, and even used the Windscar on him. I was surprised that he even THOUGHT of giving me an opportunity to make ammends...but he has forgiven me, Sango. We talked at length about various things before he was poisoned. One of those was his plans to marry Kagome. I was the first to know aboutthis...the one that almost killed him so many times, and he came to tell me before speaking to the rest of you. Sango, he spoke quite highly of you during our talk."
Sango looked up, astonished. "He did?"
Sesshomaru smiled his tiny half-smile, and he said, "Yes. He said that amongst all of hiscompanions, you are the one that he trusts most, aside from Kagome and Kirara. He values your strength in battle, your knowledge of different kinds of demons...and he also enjoys having someone that he can spar with and actually work up a sweat."
Sango smiled, and she said, "He's the ONLY one that can make me work up a sweat too...he fights like some full demons that I've fought."
Sesshomaru smiled his half smile again, and he said, "Inuyasha is strong...perhaps as strong as I am. Father's blood runs strong in him, and I am glad that I have put our shameful past behind us. Sango, there is something else that he said about you. Would you like to hear it?"
Sango said, "Please, Sesshomaru. What is it?"
Clearing his throat, Sesshomaru said, "Sango, he said that if he was ever stranded on a deserted island, or in the wilderness, and he could not have either myself or Kagome with him, there is only one other human he would choose...and that is you, Sango."
Sango was astonished...she said, "M-me?! I-I don't believe it...even after all the times I called him names or took Kouga's side?"
Sesshomaru replied, "Sango, he has forgiven you...he told me so himself. Inuyasha may not be perfect….neither am I…neither are you...but he is no liar. He truly does value your friendship, Sango...and now, he needs your help. You must be strong, for his sake. If you want him to recover, then help me find Kagome...she is the only one that can save his life...and she is his destined true love. I have a great deal that I wish to be able to say to my brother as well, and I promised that I would save his life. Sango...help me keep my promise. I do not want to lose my only brother...especially now that I have finally found out just how much I truly do wish to have a family. Will you help me, Sango?"
Standing up, Sango replied, "Yes, I will. Sesshomaru...thank you. Just you wait, Kikyo...when I get my hands on you, I'm going to smash your ugly clay hide to pieces."
Sesshomaru said, "Save some for Kirara and Kagome...I don't think you'll be able to keep either of them away from her. Just remember...Koga is mine. I am going to rip him apart limb from limb."
Sango smiled, and she said, "Kagome's probably going to give him a good slap...among several other things. He'll be lucky if she doesn't pincushion him with her arrows...that is if Kirara doesn't shred him first. I want a piece or two of him as well. I'm sure Inuyasha's going to want to help too. Thanks again, Sesshomaru."
The Demon Lord replied, "Think nothing of it, Sango...after all...what are friends for?"
"The first thing I'm gonna do oince Inuyasha is well again…I'm gonna fall on my knees and beg for his forgiveness. I'm also telling Miroku he BETTER not even consider doing anything like the things he's done to Inuyasha ever again or else I'M gonna personally come after him!"
When they entered the bedroom again Kumiko stood up to meet them. "Are you alrght, Sango?"
"Yes…yes I am, thank you If you'll excuase me, I'm going to go and wash my face." she went into the bathroom as Sesshomaru sat down next to his mother again.
"Mother?"
"Yes?"
"What..what is this feeling that I'm having just now? I've had it since I helped Sango feel better and walked back in here."
"What does it feel like?"
"It's…warm…and pleasant. It's unlike anything I have ever had. It's not that strong feeling that I know is love…it's not that strong, it's something else.."
Kumiko smiled. "That, my son..is the warmth of friendship!"
"Friendship, Mother?"
"Yes! You just helped Sango feel much better about herself..you were a FRIEND to her, a TRUE friend, and as a result you began to feel comfort in your heart. The comfort that only a friend can bring."
"Is THIS what friendship feels like?"
"Do you like it?"
"Mother..it's one of the best feelings I have ever had."
"Now do you see? Friendship is not something that slows you down…it's something that can make you even more powerful than any sword or spell."
"I see, Mother. Now I do understand."
Sango came out of the bathroom just then, wiping her face with a towel. "Are you alright, Sango?" Kumiko asked.
"Yes, I'm fine, thank you."
"There's one more thing I must tell you before I depart, Sesshomaru."
"What is it, Mother?"
"I need to warn you…don't go back to the castle your normal way. Find another way to get to the castle."
"Why, Mother?"
"That's another thing Koga is doing, He's framed you for Inuyasha's poisoning…"
"What?"
"And right now he's stirring up about 550 villagers into purifying their weapons and going after YOU! They think YOU were the one that hurt Inuyasha andf they're out for revenge…a DEADLY one!"
"What?" Sanmgo cried.
"That beast has gone too far," Sesshomaru growled.
"Yes, but the villagers are serious. They're getting weapons purified and nothing is holding them back. My Son, I'm really scared of what they might do if they lay their eyes on you!"
"I'll be alright Mother. Just to be shire I'll teleport a different way back to the castle."
"I'll set up obsticles along the way, but be extra careful…like I said they're planning to purify their weapons, and that's the only way to hurt, and even kill us."
"I know, Mother. I'll be careful, I promise."
A clock in the park gonged the hour. Kumiko stood up "Now I must go, my Son. The Shicigami spell I used to being myself only lasts for about an hour."
Sesshomaru stood up. "Thank you for coming, Mother, it has been a pleasant visit."
"For me as well, My Son. Remember, you have the power to change that dream."
"And so I will."
"Remmeber, do not go back to the castle the usdual way, there are murderous vengeful people goaded on by Koga."
"I'll be careful, Mother."
"Ad I can be certain of srring you and my granddaughter more often?"
"Of course. I love you, Mother."
"I love you, My Dear Son. Never forget that." They did the Demon sign of affection toward one another. "It was very nice to meet you, Sango."
"It was an honor to meet you as well, Lady Kumiko." Smiling Kumiko vanished into a ball of blus white light.
Sango stared at the place she had been. "Your mother's really nice."
"Yes," he agreed "She was always a wonderful mother." He turned toward Sango. "Are you alright now, Sango?"
"Yes, I am. Are you?"
"Yes, I am feeling much better. I think we should both go back to sleep now. You go back to the bed, Sango, I'll lay on the couch." Sango went back to the bed as Sesshomaru laid upon the couch. "Pleasant dreams, Sango."
"Pleasant dreams."
Heroshi the Head samurai of Kaede's village stood on the top of a great high mountain, where he had been since very early that morning, watching the sun rise and waiting for anyone to come join him. He had already said his farewells to his family and gathered up his strongest and mightiest sword. If no one would join him he was going to the Priest alone to purify the sword, then from there, straight to Inio castle. Enough was enough! He never thought he would ever see himself agreeing with a demon but he knew now that Koga was right, dead right! Far too long they had laid in fear of Sesshomaru but had been too scared to do anything about it! And now their friend had paid the painful price. He started at the rising sun…
The beginning of the last day of Inuyasha's life! After the sun went down….so would his eyes close upon this earth for the last time. He bowed his head sadly. Inuyasha had had to live such a hard, cold life, while Sesshomaru got to live in a castle and Lord it over the Western Lands with servants and the best of everything! It wasn't fair!
"That is ALL going to end TONIGHT!" Herishi promised. "You monster.. You will soon keep your brother company in death, and then we'll BURN DOWN that castle! If Inuyasha can't be a Lord of those Lands…than YOU won't be a Lord if it, either!" He closed his eyes, trying to form a plan in his mind if he truly was going to have to go at this alone. Suddenly he opened up his eyes as familiar shapes began to appear in the distance. Slowly they began to take the form of his fellow villagers, all coming up the hill slowly but surely.
All having weapons with them!
"My friends," he greeted them. "You've all come."
"Believe us, Herishi, we would NOT miss this for the world. For far too long we've let this beast dominae us and give Inuyasha hell, for absolutely NO good reason at all! Well, no more!"
"Too long we've turned out backs or run away like cowards while Inuyasha has suffered, and now he's paid the ultimate price. If for his sake than for nothing else, Sesshomaru will breathe his last!"
"YEAH!" the crowd exclaimed.
"Let's go!"
"Come on!"
"For Inuyasha!!"
A young man raised his hand uncertainly. "Excuse me…uh, excuse me?"
"Yes, yes?" Herishi said.
"Well, I now this is far from my place, but maybe we should ask for help for this…after all, what we're about to do is dangerous and we're ot sure how many…if any…of us are going to come out of this alive. Maybe we need some help with this quest…maybe someone with experience like Sango?"
"Hah, Sango? A lot of good SHE does!" came an all-too familiar voice as Koga appeared from behind a tree.
"Ah, Koga," Heroshi greeted. "What did you mean by that?"
"You mean..you don't know?"
"Certainly we don't now, what did you mean? Sango IS a demon slayer and she DOES have the most experience of all of us.."
"THAT'S a load of bull!"
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean, Sango could care less about Inuyasha!"
"What are ya talking about, Koga?"
"I mean, Sango doesn't care about Inuyasha at all! For that matter nether does Miroku. All they're ever concerned about is wether or not Kagome is happy! Yeah, ya heard me right, it's all about Kagome with them!"
"What do you mean, Koga?"
"They travel together with Inuyasha all the time!"
"Inuyasha is their FRIEND!"
"WRONG! They're Kagome's friends, no more, no less. Let me tell you, Sango has REPEATEDLY denounced Inuyasha and called him a lot of names!"
"What?!"
"That's not true!"
"Oh, is it? Then tell me, if Sango is sooo buddy buddy with Inuyahsa, why did she call him things like 'Warped' and said he would never check and make sure Kagome is alright!"
"What?!"
"He would!"
"Inuyasha loves Kagome!"
"Well, not according to Sango or Miroku! They just st back and let Kagome ad Inuyasha argue, and if Inuyasha gets sat…it's automatically HIS fault, even if they don't listen to his side of it."
"But….but that's not fair!"
"It takes TWO people to have a fight!"
"Oh ho, but those weren't just two PEOPLE," Koga pointed out, "They happened to be a person and a half-demon! In fact, I wonder if Sango and Miroku personally didn't listen to his side of it BECAUSE he was half demon! I wonder if, in fact, those two LOVELY people are PREJUDICED against him!"
"Ptrejudiced?"
"Them?"
"Well think about it…all of you, think! Have any of you, ANY of you seen Miroku OR Sango charge in and help Inuyasha at all with his fights against Sesshomaru..ESPECIALLY Sango, who's a demon slayer?"
The villagers slowly shook their heads
"In fact, they've often taken off for a safe place, away from the action…ESPECIALLY Sango..also true?" They nodded. "Them pray tell, WHAT makes you think they'll just waltz over and help you get rid of Sesshmaru now? " The villagers looked at each other angrily. "Think, think, do YOU expect that Slayer to LEAD you, when she's guilty of laughing at Inuyasha and even calling him stupid?!"
"She WHAT?!"
"He tells the truth," came another voice and Jenenji came forward. "He does tell the truth about that, for I saw and heard with my own eyes."
"Do tell, brother Demon!"
"A while ago, Inuyasha ad Kagome came back to see me, and they brought their friends. I told them about a girl who came to my Mother's hut and needed our help to find a flower. This little girl looked very much like Kagome, and like her, had a golden and beautiful heart, and accepted half demons as well. Or at least I THOUGHT Kagome had a kind and beautiful heart. She got into an argument with Inuyasha and sat him. Just seeing it I knew he was in pain, but not satisfied with that she proceeded to sit him 5 times in a row." The villagers flinched at this. "Just then Shippo the full fox demon sad Inuyasha was stupid,….and he said it right in front of me…and Miroku ad Sango agreed with him. I saw, I heard, it happened right in front of me."
"Why those.." another villager said.
"I am going to give Sango an EARFULL for this!" came a woman.
"Both of us will!"
"I'm tempted to bring that Monk before the temple and have him excommunicated!"
"First things first," Koga said. "take care of that murderous beast in the Western Lands! But I thinkw e can all agree we cannot rely on Sango or Miroku, ight?"
"Right!"
"You should do this yourselves in his honor, right?"
"Yeah!"
Heroshi turned to Jenenji. "Come with us, Jenenji! Brother Hsf Demon, we shall never turn YOUR kind away again! You and yur strength can help us defeat this murderer!"
"I am afraid I am but a pacifist and do not have a lot of fighting skills, but I do have plenty of herbs. I can go with you ad rovide you fast healing herbs that will cure your wounds faster and help you to keep fighting."
"But you CAN hold him down if it came up, right?"
"I can"
"We might need you then, come!"
"Yeah, you can all do it yourselves!" Koga cheered. He held Heroshi's hand up. "Heroshi shall be the leader!" They all cheered.
"Where is the nearest priest?" a woman asked.
"That way!" a man pointed to the left. They all took off, wavig their weapons around.
"Yeah, go, go, go!!! Charge!!" Koga cried out. When the mob was gone, Kikyo came out from another tree.
"Did it work?"
"Like a charm! I tell ya, these humans, they can be fooled like that!" he snapped his fingers "All it takes is the right words and the right manipolation."
Kikyo had to laugh. "It's almost too easy."
"Yep, by tomorrow BOTH brothers will be long gone! " he held out his arm to Kikyo. "Shall we go my friend?"
KOGA: I tell you, Kikyo, humans are SUCH patsies.
KIKYO: I have to admit, Koga, you DO impress me. Now we have almost no worries at all!
GINTA: Uh, boss?
KOGA: Oh, what is it?
GINTA: I gotta admit, I'm getting worried , I have a bad feeling about things.
KOGA: You had a bad feeling about breakfast this morning, we got nothing to worry about! Next chapter: DETERIOUATION. Man, this is DEFINITELY a red letter week! .