Light of My Life
Title: Light of My Life
Author: kazeko
Series: Inuyasha
Rating: R
Archive: Sesshoumaru/Kagome
Characters: Sesshoumaru/Kagome, Inuyasha/Koyama, Sango/Miroku
Summary: A powerful prophecy brings mortal enemies together, but prejudice may well tear them apart and spell the end of all inuyoukai.
Disclaimer: No ownership.
Chapter 23: To Discover a Secret
Shippo smiled as he followed Jinro, his new friend from Seven Petals Tribe, on a patrol into the Eastern Lands. Jinro was the fifth son of the Lord of the Eastern Lands, and a fine commander in his own right. Shippo's commander from the inu army had given him leave to join the kitsune in the East for a few days, knowing that the adopted son of the Western Lord would form a valuable bond with many sons of the Lesser Lords. Those bonds could help Sesshoumaru strengthen his many treaties with the East and perhaps open a few new trade routes. As much as he appreciated Sesshoumaru's guidance and protection over the past ten years, Shippo only wanted to visit Kagome and see Sango and Miroku's pups. He was jealous of Akihiko's many visits over the years, and he was not about to pass up a chance to see his adoptive mother once more.
"Shippo-kun, why do you live with the inuyoukai? I'm certain there is a kitsune family that would have taken you in years ago."
"I'm sure, Jinro-kun, but Mother Kagome asked Sesshoumaru-sama to watch after me, and he would not see passing me off to another family as keeping that promise. I was raised well, I can fight well, and I have an alliance with the Western Lord that few of our kind will ever have. I think I have done well."
"Indeed, you are a fine fighter." The taller youkai, his dark red hair cut short to keep it out of his way in battle, fiddled with his sword as they walked. Eighteen other kitsune youkai walked with them, heading for a coyote village nearby where they would be welcome to stay the night. They had been marching for days from the Western border to meet with Lord Taro and Lady Megumi to offer their report on the border. Jinro had not seen his family in eighteen years, having been on patrol that long, and he knew that he would be pulled off active duty when he returned. It was time for him to mate, his hundredth year, and he was looking forward to a female and kits to raise. Shippo was nearly the same age, though he had prevented himself from reaching adulthood for a few years when he was younger, making it easier to hide from Naraku's minions. Now that he was safe, he was his adult size, his long orange hair pulled into a warrior's ponytail. He knew that he was of age to mate, as well, but he was not sure if he was ready.
One of the warriors walking in the front of the party stopped, calling into the trees. A shrill howl answered him, and the youkai turned back to Jinro. "Sir, we are here. One of the Sisters will greet us."
"Very good." Jinro turned to Shippo and grinned, his eyes full of mischief. "I know that the inuyoukai fight in a direct fashion, with little subtlety or redirection. We are stealthy and try to gauge our enemy or potential ally before they can see us. We will meet with the sisters and enter town, and you will head south through the forest, coming in from a surprise angle. I want you to pick a good moment to frighten the sisters when they least expect it. They have become to expect our antics, and I do not think they will mind."
Shippo smiled and held out his hand, a green fire appearing in his palm as his body faded to transparency. "Not a problem."
Shippo faded into the trees as he heard the coyotes approach. Sniffing the air, he picked his path and headed south, having learned to hide his scent and youki as well as his physical form over the years in the Western Palace. He passed through a few small clearings and over a stream before he turned northeast, knowing already where the village should lie. He froze as a soft sound reached his ears, a young voice singing a gentle tune. He recognized the melody, a song Kagome had once used to lull him to sleep. Curious, keeping his disguise intact, Shippo snuck into the clearing, staring in shock at the child picking flowers by the brook.
She was young, perhaps only nine or ten years, and she had pale silvery blue hair hanging to her knees. Her eyes were sapphire, such a deep brilliant shade that Shippo knew she could not be merely human. When she turned toward him, he could see the pair of blue-silver ears on top of her head, and her gently wagging tail sticking out of her kimono. A hanyou pup, so young and fragile, living near a coyote village. Why was she out, alone, in the clearing? Where was her mother? More importantly, who was her mother, and who was her father? He was upwind from her so he could not catch her scent, but she was certainly an inu hanyou. There had been reports of many over the past few years, most of which had proven false, but he had not heard of one from so far east. There were not many inuyoukai living in the Eastern Lands, and most inu hanyou out so far had been abandoned by their youkai parent. Deciding to drop his disguise, Shippo stepped into the clearing.
The girl was on alert instantly. Her ears flattened against her head as she sniffed the air, determined to discover the identity of the intruder. She had seen many kitsune youkai over the years, so she relaxed a little, but this young male she had never met. "Hello?"
"Hi, little one. I was coming through the forest to visit with the coyote sisters when I heard you singing. Who taught you that song?"
The girl hesitated, biting her lip. "My mother. She lives in the village."
"You look so familiar. I wonder if I know your mother, or your father. Can you tell me their names?"
The girl's eyes brightened at the mention of her father, and it was clear that she had never met him and really wanted to learn about him. However, she was also a cautious child, and she shook her head sadly. "I'm not aloud to tell you. Mother says I can't talk about my father outside of my hut or my aunt's hut." She looked over her shoulder, biting her lip as she took a step back. "I should go before Mother realizes I'm gone and comes looking for me. I just needed to get away from the party for a few minutes."
"Party?" He glanced at the colorful kimono she was wearing and smiled. "Is it a party for you, little one? Is it your birthday today?"
The girl smiled. "Yeah! I'm ten years old today! They got me my favorite foods and my uncle and aunt came to visit earlier, but they had to go home and take care of some pack thing. My brother was supposed to come, but I guess he couldn't this year, either."
Shippo felt a strange jolt of ice pass through him at her words, mention of her youkai family. A pack thing could only be inu youkai related, so her uncle and aunt had to be youkai from the West. All of the large inuyoukai packs lived in the West, and the few inu that lived in the East tended to be mated pairs or small family groups, nothing larger. As for her brother . . . it was clear that she did not know her father, but her brother knew her and visited infrequently. It had to be moderately clandestine, since he could not come for such an important celebration. Her brother had to be young enough to entertain her but not so young that he was not allowed to travel on his own.
And suddenly it hit him. Like a bolt of lightening, realization filled Shippo's body and he sunk to his knees. Ten years. It had been ten years and a little more than seven months since they had last seen Kagome, the night after the Lover's Rights. The night after their powder should have let her get pregnant and save them all. The little girl did not know her father, her father did not know her, but her uncle, aunt, and one of her half-brothers visited her frequently. And her brother was tied up . . . Akihikomaru had insisted that he needed to visit Kagome within three days when Shippo left three days ago. It was very important that he be allowed to go east. Sesshoumaru had denied the request. The boy had wanted to be in Edo for his little sister's tenth birthday. The hanyou . . . her silver hair, ears just like Inuyasha's, eyes the same color as Kagome's . . . the powder they put in Kagome's food had worked, but she had never come back. She was afraid that her daughter would spell the end of the Crescent Moon Pack. Shippo had to tell Kaori as soon as possible, he had to let her know that their plan was successful.
He realized that he had frightened the girl, and he smiled as he stood. "I'm sorry, little one; I just realized that I am very late to an important meeting. Perhaps we could meet again and I could give you a present for your birthday."
"A present? Really?"
Shippo nodded. "I feel bad that your brother couldn't make it. It will take me some time to get your present. Could you come back here, to this clearing, in a week's time? I should have your present by then."
The girl nodded, grinning excitedly. She flashed her fangs at her new friend, vanishing into the trees on her way home. Shippo just stood and stared at the spot where she had been standing, unable to fathom his luck in running across her. If he had not taken the route through the forest, he would never have stumbled across the child who was most likely the daughter of Kagome and Sesshoumaru. Shippo slipped back into the shadows of the forest and resumed his journey to the village.
He appeared out of thin air behind a trio of female coyote youkai who smelled familiar, and he grinned as he called their names. Senmei, Shishi, and Senritsu turned at the voice, eyes widening at the tall youkai standing directly behind them. Shishi glared at him and raised her finger to scold him for sneaking up on them. "I don't appreciate you kitsune getting your fun from scaring us."
"Sorry, I was just trying to say hello. I haven't seen you in ten years."
She stared at him for a moment, then she realized who it must be. "Shippo? The little kitsune kit who lived with the inu pups? You've grown so much!"
"Yeah. It's good to see you again. I don't know if Kagome is around; I was hoping to see her while we're here."
"Oh, she's very busy most of the time, but I know that she'll come to see you. Senmei, why don't you fetch her while we get our guests settled in?"
Shippo fell in beside Jinro as the kitsune were led to the huts the sisters had procured for them. He leaned closer so they could speak without the coyotes hearing them. "Did you send me south on purpose?"
"Perhaps. Sometimes we come from the south and there is always a clearing that feels like the playground of a powerful child, a human-tainted child."
"You never thought to sneak through?"
"None of my men have been good enough to catch the child. I sensed a greater power in you, honed more finely since you delayed your growth. I was sure you would succeed."'
"I did. I think I have some very valuable information, and I must return home as soon as possible. I do not think I can accompany you to meet with your parents."
Jinro nodded. "I suspected as much. Your words confirm a rumor that is floating around the East and has been for about ten years. We brought this rumor to the attention of the lords, but many such rumors were circulating at the time, none of them true. No one believed us then. I hope that they might believe us now."
"This trip with you and your men has been very interesting, Jinro-kun. I am happy that you invited me."
"I am glad to have had your company. I hope you will return in a few weeks for my presentation. You could meet my family then."
Shippo nodded. "I will return."
"Someone to see me? Senmei, I'm busy with Sei's party, and I'm very tired. Could you see if he might come back in a week? I'm free then."
The coyote shrugged. "Whatever you want, Kagome. I think you should come see him, but I understand if you cannot."
"Just tell him I'm sorry but I'll be free next week. Sango wasn't feeling well, so she went to lie down, and Miroku went to take care of her. I have to watch all of the children by myself and it's a little much."
"Alright, I'll tell him. Good luck, Kagome."
The miko nodded and waved, smiling as Seizukiko ran forward and hugged her leg. She soon forgot about the visit entirely.
"She is watching Sango's children as the tajiya is sick. She says that she will gladly see you if you return in a week's time. I did not tell her who was visiting, since you want to surprise her, I'm sure."
"She's watching Sango's children? That's alright, then. I'll come back in a week to see her. Thank you for taking my message, Senmei-san."
"Certainly, Shippo-kun. It is very odd to see you so grown up after such a short time."
"I imagine."
"Shippo-kun? We have a strategy to discuss, if you are finished," Jinro called. Shippo bowed to the sisters and joined the kitsune youkai around their fire.
TBC
