The Bow that Breaks

I don't own Inuyasha

Chapter 6

They shifted and settled into a dry cavern waiting for the snow storm to pass. Her jaws throbbed, she was sore and her body ached from pushing the pace to get them out of the storm. Satomi rested herself as Sesshoumaru stayed close, tucked underneath her. It wasn't long before she felt the weight of him on her lap. Satomi sighed as she sat him next to her.

"Sesshoumaru I can't, I just need to rest."

Despite her actions, Sesshoumaru pushed himself back onto her lap. She wasn't sure whether to be surprised by the child's actions or more annoyed. Sesshoumaru was persistent when it came to something that he wanted but never when it came to being close to her. As she tried to move him again he growled at the offending hand snapping for good measure as she pulled back. Satomi suppressed her anger as Sesshoumaru rested his head against her chest, one of his hands fisting into the material of her dress as if he were attempting to hang onto her. Satomi allowed her annoyance to subside realizing that what Sesshoumaru wanted right now was just to feel safe and she was all he had.

Satomi could tell he was watching the snow against the darkness. His eyes started to fall before he tensed and opened them wide again to a howling gust of wind, his claws digging into sore muscles causing her to wince. Satomi hesitated but lifted her hand. As expected, Sesshoumaru's growls came once again but she continued the motion slowly until she was able to rest her hand on his back. Rubbing gently he quieted, his grasp loosening to her touch as his body relaxed. He yawned and she noted those deadly sharp little fangs that he loved to use against her so often. For now though he seemed to be content and stopped fighting the sleep that he'd wanted so badly.

…

Satomi opened her eyes as the morning sun greeted her. She stretched, smiling satisfied with the recovery of her body. Sesshoumaru continued to sleep soundly, tucked in her arm against the fur. For a moment she allowed herself to smile at his peacefulness. She found herself in adoration of this child that she would not call her own but she knew that the feeling would end as soon as he was awake. She shook her head realizing that the inevitable had to occur. She would have to wake him and she knew what new hell that would bring.

"Sesshoumaru…wake up."

Sesshoumaru peaked up at her through lazy eyes and he caught a hint of a smile before it disappeared. Satomi was hopeful as he stretched his limbs but immediately disappointed as he turned and found a more comfortable position. Satomi bit her lip and looked up. Calming herself she looked at Sesshoumaru again only to be puzzled as he immediately closed one eye that he'd opened to watch her. She waited for a while to see if Sesshoumaru would try to spy on her again and she was rewarded as he cracked both eyes but immediately shut them again and pretended to be sleeping when she was watching. A smile pulled at her again and she wondered what she'd done to prompt play from him. Still, if it would get him up she figured she'd play along.

"Sesshoumaru…" She sang his name as she tilted him backwards and brought him back up quickly. He giggled as she repeated the motion a few times before finally bringing him back up and kissing him on the nose.

Sesshoumaru looked up to see his mother smiling again as her hair fell across her face. He'd never seen her smile directly at him or play. It was only something he'd experienced with his father. Up until now his mother always seemed frustrated, tired, sad or angry, never a source of comfort or happiness.

"Pretty momma."

Satomi sat back surprised by the compliment. She knew her expression must've changed as Sesshoumaru started to show confusion as he moved toward her.

"Everything's okay Sesshoumaru, thank-you." She softened again which seemed to satisfy Sesshoumaru. She got to her feet, thankful that the snow storm had come to it's end but it'd left a few new feet of snow to traverse. She felt hunger pains striking and she new Sesshoumaru must be hungry too.

"Sesshoumaru I have to hunt. You'll be safe as long as you stay hidden here until I return."

"No."

"We must eat to keep our strength. I cannot take you with me."

"No…!"

Satomi frowned seeing him struggle. Only a moment ago he'd been happy with their state and less than a few seconds later he was angry but he was holding it in. This was strange to her. Sesshoumaru had more of a habit of simply exploding and directing his frustration toward her but this time he was attempting to control it. Satomi cautioned herself to stay calm and choose her next words wisely.

"Sesshoumaru it's not that I don't think you won't be quiet or that you'd cause trouble. The snow is deeper than it was yesterday…"

"I can..."

"Just stay here."

Satomi saw the beginning of tears and she wasn't really sure what was prompting them. She hated the crying. She never knew what to do to make the tears stop other than to give him his way and that wasn't always the most feasible option just like now. Taking Sesshoumaru with her where it would be hard for him to keep up not to mention keep him within her sight and within her scent range wouldn't be easy. She never knew how far a hunt would take her and as much as she could try to make short work of it there was no guarantee.

"I go!"

"Sesshoumaru, I'll be back. I promise."

"No!"

Satomi hadn't managed to walk more than a few feet before he clung to her. She fought to free her legs from desperate claws.

"Sesshoumaru! I will come back."

"Daddy…!"

Satomi's resolve sank knowing that the weeks Taisho had been gone felt like an eternity for Sesshoumaru especially when his father promised that he would stay for a while. Instead, Taisho made short work of his promise and hadn't returned since. If Sesshoumaru couldn't trust his father, the person he loved and respected to return, how could he trust her?

"You have to be quiet and you have to keep up. No whining, no crying. If we separate you must keep to the woods, stay in one place. Do not fly. Do not call out for me less you will be some other demon's meal or their captive. I will find you if we get separated. Understood?"

Sesshoumaru wiped away the tears quickly and nodded as he took hold of her outstretched hand.

"Come on."

Sesshoumaru blended against his mother's hind legs as they trekked through the snow, quietly coming upon a group of wild horses. Their scent aroused a deeper hunger than he'd thought he'd had. He mimicked his mother as she crouched lower, he could see the muscles in her arms tensing and becoming more defined. Satomi turned to him giving a low growl to stay put. Sesshoumaru ducked down watching intently as his mother crept closer to the herd. Her tail low as she moved stealthily through the remaining trees to get a closer vantage. Sesshoumaru focused intently on the hunt as he inched a little closer to keep his mother in sight. He'd never been able to see her hunt. He looked up startled as she took off into a direct sprint without so much as a jog before hand. His mother's hunting style was vastly different from his father's. On their hunts together, his father would intimidate the herd, rounding them in wide births getting closer each time before finally being able to pick off his prey while avoiding much of a physical sprint. His mother's hunt would be much shorter. Just from watching her though, he could tell his mother was much faster than his father. The distressed whinny of one of the horses alerted him to the fact that his mother had been successful but as quickly as she took down one she took down another. Sesshoumaru crept closer along the line of the trees watching excitedly as she carried the ample kills back toward his hiding place. Sesshoumaru's excitement faded as his mother slowed, her bite slacking as she looked up to listen. She took another cautious step, dropping their mealsin an instant. The hackles on her neck rose, her teeth bared, she tensed and her stance was shifted to fight.

A/N: Hope you're enjoying it! Peace, love and happiness :)