Later 19 Calming the Storm
Inuyasha came slowly out of his deep sleep warm and comfortable; his blanket snugly wrapped round him and his head in his mother's lap, her hands stroking his hair and teasing his ears. Her arm weighed quite heavily down on his back in a reassuring and possessive manner as her long nails scratched pleasantly at his ears' base and he whined petulantly when she stopped for a while.
"Mama, more ears. " He mumbled and the sound of his own voice brought him out of his sleep completely. Sesshoumaru kept on petting his brother in order to soothe him; it was obvious to him as to why Inuyasha had regressed in his sleep, although the boy would surely be embarrassed if his brother said anything. Of course Inuyasha being who he was had to make a fuss and tried to sit up, but his brother just added pressure to the arm holding him down.
"Inuyasha rest; you have eaten well and are weary from the turmoil of the last few weeks."
"Feh! I'm no weakling."
"No one is suggesting that you are Little Brother, but many things are changed now for the better, not the least in your youkai settling down for the first time since you were safe as a pup, with your mother. However it has taken its toll on your body and you require some few hours rest if you wish to be refreshed enough to meet your mate and friends with equilibrium."
"A few hours…"
"You have already slept for two Inuyasha, since you ate your fill. The guards have gone to tell your mate you will be back later." In fact they were back and on guard again, but far enough away to give the semblance of privacy to their Lords.
"Two hours? I'm sorry Sesshoumaru."
"It was no problem, you do not inconvenience me; now rest some more, you are perfectly safe, I am keeping watch." With that he started to stroke Inuyasha's hair and ears again in effort to lull his brother back to sleep. But Inuyasha couldn't sleep, even as he lay quietly and listened to his brother's firm and steady heartbeat above him. He remembered with nostalgia the feeling of his blanket which was really Sesshoumaru's tail and it was his brother's claws not his mother's nails which had been blissfully scratching his ears.
Sesshoumaru was oddly content while he sat allowing his little brother to rest and recover from his emotional and physical exhaustion. He found the rhythmic petting of Inuyasha's hair was relaxing, almost soporific, and the slight contented growling that the hanyou was making added to the effect. One day he would be doing this for his own pups, determined as he was to emulate his own father in his care for his offspring.
That brought him round to thinking once more about Rin and how she was unafraid of him and always had been. The thought pleased him greatly; he did not want his mate afraid of him, no scared glances every time he looked at her the wrong way. Rin was no such shrinking violet, she had always approached him with smiles and chatter, recognising his great strength but confident it would never be used against her. Yet too she could stand up to him and he admired her for that, the girl who loved him ferociously and yet could call him a fool was the one for him.
He remembered her eyes sparking in anger and although he had been in the wrong and had made her cry in her anger and disappointment in him, she had stood up for what she knew was right and had admonished him for his behaviour towards Inuyasha. She would make a marvellous mother to their pups; they would always find a safe haven in her care. The idea of his own pups was intriguing to him, but Sesshoumaru came out of his interesting musings to a feeling of warm dampness on his leg and realised that Inuyasha was silently weeping again; his tears soaking into the silk hakama beneath his head.
"You think of your Mother Inuyasha?" Sesshoumaru asked quietly as he gave his brother his full attention again. But Inuyasha indicated 'no' by turning his head side to side slowly. "Tell me what ails you pup; I would know what caused your upset."
"It's nothing; I'm O.K." Inuyasha's voice was muffled and thick.
"I think not Inuyasha, now come tell me, allow me to help you." Sesshoumaru waited patiently however Inuyasha knew he was inflexible, but he didn't feel like telling his brother or anyone else what seemed such a childish thing that had made him cry yet again that day. He sighed and tried to pull himself together then he remembered a ruse Kagome used with the pups.
"It's just a story I know that's sad, I was feeling a bit low and it made me a right wimp. Nothing for you to be concerned about."
"Let me be the judge of that pup; tell me this story." Sesshoumaru helped his brother to sit up and pulled him close to his side, holding him in place with a strong arm. Inuyasha sighed but there was no escape, and so he used Kagome's story telling rituals to start his story. He felt a bit silly but he couldn't think of how to say it in any other way and fortunately he didn't see Sesshoumaru's eyebrows rise as he started to speak.
"Once upon a time there was a little boy; he had no Mama or Papa and no friends except one small one who visited him sometimes. The little boy was… he was…he was very ugly and he was chased from place to place if he went near any body and lots of people wanted to kill him. He was often beaten, usually starving, frequently cold and never had anyone say a kind word to him. In fact he had to hide always and sometimes months would go by without him having anyone to talk to.
"He was very lonely and afraid; especially when it was pitch dark and I…I mean he, couldn't see or hear or scent anything at night. Life was hard for him and he didn't know how he survived sometimes, but after many, many years he grew up and found happiness and lived happily ever after. It's one of the stories Kagome tells the pups if they complain about not having something they want. It just came to mind when I felt so warm and cared for. I was thinking of how much the little boy would have welcomed your tail curled round him and your concern when he had nothing and was cold and hungry…well you know…I told you it was silly."
Sesshoumaru tightened his arm around Inuyasha and wished, not for the first time, that he could change the past; the character in the story being obvious to him of course. It was however the first time he had considered all of his brother's history, put into a nutshell as such, and he could hear the anguish that still crept in to Inuyasha's voice as he recalled many of the real life nightmares of his childhood.
"Inuyasha, I know it is no consolation now, but if that child's brother had been as mature as he has become, the boy would have known no hunger, nor want of any kind. In all my life I have only been ashamed of one thing, that is the way I treated you; yet I cannot change what has been done and can only regret the harm I've caused you."
"Feh, I told you it's over, nothing to worry about."
"It will only be over when you can stop the tears that the memories bring forth."
"I told you, it's because I'm feeling too soft today."
"Be that as it may…" Sesshoumaru started to speak but Inuyasha rounded on him quickly;
"Look Sesshoumaru, I don't want to dwell on it, I try to forget; it was the most awful time and I often wished to never wake up when I went to sleep because every day I woke, would be another day of struggle and fighting to survive. Times I nearly died anyway because I was ill for days with no one who cared a shit to help or comfort me, or I was poisoned by something; only Myouga knew how truly bad it was for me and he weren't always there…but it's past now, just a story for the pups… because I can't bear to remember."
"How can you forgive me Puppy?" Sesshoumaru whispered horrified; he was stricken and his throat constricted with emotion at the endearment. Inuyasha's tears flowed once more because of the love and sorrow he heard in his brother's words, but he didn't notice them as he answered in a tired voice;
"I dunno, because you're my brother, because you asked and you don't lie, so you must mean it when you say you're sorry and because I want a brother and family to love and besides, what good would it do any of us to carry on a stupid feud?"
"Generous and wise Puppy; Father would be so proud of you." With that Sesshoumaru held Inuyasha close until they were both more composed. Inuyasha felt complete at last, never before had he had this sense of belonging even when his mother lived and he knew he had been loved, nor when he mated Kagome, and neither woman he doubted.
It was because never before had his youkai been accepted by its own family, its own kind; it too belonged and to pack which it craved. Certainly Inuyasha had been accepted as a hanyou by some youkai but the youkai side was unstable and needed balance and someone stronger to be its Alpha, to calm and train it. Sesshoumaru was the only one who could fill this role and now he was doing so, Inuyasha's youkai could rest easier inside the hanyou just as the human did.
It had the effect however of Inuyasha needing his brother's presence, but Sesshoumaru was expecting this and promised that this time Inuyasha's needs would be met; the Daiyoukai would make sure he was either around the village or that Inuyasha and family were in the Western Palace. It was time for the two sons of the father to be allies as well as brothers and Sesshoumaru found he was looking forward to a bright future with a mate and his brother.
After freshening up, the two walked back together to the hut where their females waited and their appearance was anticipated as the pups had been on look-out duty. The girls came out together and waited while Inuyasha bent to pick up his toddling daughter who had come to meet them. She though stared at her Papa and sniffed loudly at his collar, and then promptly burst into sympathetic tears wailing;
"Daddy been crying, daddy sad." She refused to be consoled and wouldn't let Kagome take her and she clung to Inuyasha sobbing into his shoulder. Sesshoumaru would have been amused except for the identical looks of anger directed towards him that spoke quite clearly in asking him what he had done to upset the hanyou, which came from both Kagome and Rin. Not that he was concerned about Kagome's anger; but Rin, she deserved to know that the elder brother had not harmed the pup. It was Inuyasha who defused the tension as he spoke to his daughter.
"Hey, it's alright squirt; daddy's fine, see." And he smiled and pulled funny faces at her until she grinned back at him. Then Sesshoumaru reached up to tweak one of Inuyasha's furry ears and the hanyou leaned into the touch, a look of contentment on his face. It was the first time in many days that Kagome had seen her mate so relaxed and she smiled at both brothers, willing to forgive the Daiyoukai for his previous behaviour.
Kagome went to her mate and pup and kissed him; she knew his face so well that she could see the traces of his sorrows, but that they were resolved was obvious in the light in his golden eyes. She told him once again that she loved him and drew him into his family, where he fairly graciously put up with his pups examinations and play. Meanwhile Sesshoumaru was approached by Rin, who was smiling at him and he felt his heart lift.
When there was no one to observe them, Sesshoumaru placed his hands on Rin's shoulders and smiled at her, careful not to show his fangs in a predatory grimace that would not convey the message he wanted. Rin of course understood, but he was rewarded by her own unguarded smile back, she had no need to worry that he would misunderstand her.
"You are well My Rin, you and Kagome did not suffer in Inuyasha's absence today?"
"No, My…Sesshoumaru? Rin waited until she got a brief nod. "Kagome was concerned but only because she always worries about Inuyasha's feelings. He covers a lot of by his surly attitude and bad language but he is quite sensitive and…"
"And she thought I might not realise my brother's coping skills by now."
"Purely based on your previous relationship which Inuyasha had thought was returning; he has been so defensive recently. I am glad that you are both reconciled; you both deserve to be happy and you need each other. I too love both of you and your dissention hurt, I was always upset when I saw you fighting, Inuyasha's pain was tangible and so was yours. I know that you despised your actions even if you never stopped."
"How would you know that, Rin?"
"Because your demeanour changed, you were always so calm and serene until you fought with Inuyasha. Even after you had parted it took a long time for your aura to calm which was different with your other fights. You never killed him, it always seemed like punishment to me and he hadn't done anything to deserve such treatment. You knew it was beneath you to do what you did and it did not sit well with you."
"You felt all this Rin, yet you stayed with me?" He sounded slightly affronted at her words but Rin was not bothered; if they were to be mates, better that he knew now that she would always speak respectfully, but that she would speak her mind. She was more mature now than the child and could see the faults more clearly, but with understanding too, her love for her Lord had grown up as well. His mother too had told her not to let him intimidate her; he was still a bit of a pup himself, and they had laughed together in fondness for him.
"I did not always understand then Sesshoumaru; but understanding comes with maturity, doesn't it?" She smiled and he felt his heart flip; he would never be bored with this female, she could give as well as receive and for the first time he silently acknowledged that he loved her as a male loves a female. As he came to that conclusion, he drew her in for a kiss and tasted her for the first time; she eagerly responded and he could tell she was untried but unafraid, and he suspected that Kagome had spoken with her.
This was confirmed when she smiled at him with a knowing smile when his body reacted to her closeness, even as it took him by surprise. Instead of pulling away in horror or maidenly confusion, Rin pressed herself closer and asked for another kiss. They indulged for quite a while until Inuyasha came out and told them to come in for tea before they got carried away. He was sure Sesshoumaru's mother would not be pleased if they didn't wait until their mating feast.
The bonk on his head from his brother's fist, similar to ones Inuyasha gave Shippou, was worth it to the hanyou on seeing the blush that suffused Sesshoumaru's face. Rin was not blushing, she was grinning and looking thoroughly satisfied with herself as she shared a conspiratorial grin with her soon to be brother-in-law. They all entered the hut where the evening meal was being prepared and refreshing tea awaited them.
Sesshoumaru was surprised at how happy he felt deep inside now that he was back with his family and surrounded by the pups; he had missed all of this while he had been at the Palace and sundered from them all because of his own erratic behaviour. The pups meantime were very excited about the fact they were to gain a new auntie in Rin, and even more so when they found out they were to go to the Palace for the ceremony. New horizons were always a welcome distraction for adventurous pups.
Once again later that evening, Sesshoumaru walked Rin back to Kaede's hut and took his leave of both females and he then went for a walk. On finding his way back to Inuyasha and Kagome's home he had a final drink and word with his brother and then left to stand guard over the village where his precious belongings slept.
In the morning, two unknown and full liveried Inu youkai were waiting in the village for the Lady Rin to receive them. With deepest respects, they were not answerable to Lord Sesshoumaru when he tried to ascertain what they wanted and he too had to wait for Rin to come to the door of the hut. The girl thankfully was an early riser and she was surprised when one of the youkai approached her slowly so as not to alarm her.
Rin as usual was unafraid, she knew Sesshoumaru was around and anyway, the pair gave off no threat in their auras. Kagome and Kaede were teaching the girl how to recognise what her Miko powers were telling her and she was adept and naturally gifted. She welcomed both strangers to her by holding out her hands openly and her stunning smile was radiant, the two youkai fully understood how the Lord could have protected the child.
They bowed to Rin and handed over a scroll richly decorated with silk ribbons in rainbow hues, then turned away so that she might read in private. Rin looked to Sesshoumaru before she unfurled the scroll and only then did he come to her to read over her shoulder as she moved it to the side so that he might see clearly. His eyebrows rose to his fringe and a flicker of exasperation crossed his eyes, even though he was also vaguely amused. How typical of his mother for the theatrical flourish.
The scroll was an invitation for the Lady Rin to visit the Dowager Lady of the West and to bring with her any of her friends that she would like to present. It was very formal at first, but then it lightened up and was almost chatty as his mother indicated she would be pleased to see everyone she'd met in the village again and her own mother was looking forward to being introduced to the rest of the family. Her post script said that Rin could even bring Sesshoumaru if she wanted.
"How absolutely typical of my mother to invite me so graciously to my own home." Sesshoumaru said, making Rin smile; "And my grandmother too, what a prospect of a warm welcome." At that Rin positively laughed and he couldn't resist her; leaning his head down, he gave her a quick kiss while no one was looking.
TBC