Author's Note: SeruleanOrbs wants to meet Satoshi's girlfriend, at least once. And I take reader requests seriously.
A Distant Promise - Mini-Chapter # 47
"I'm an uncle?"
As the ex-hanyou voiced his shock, the rest of the group responded, each in their own way. Naturally, Sesshoumaru remained calm and unaffected. He was a master at conveying information, while seeming not to care about its effect on one's mentality. Satoshi smiled hopefully at him. Apparently, he was rather excited about being a 'nephew' for the first time. Shippo snickered. Makoto blushed, happy on Inuyasha's behalf even if he could not show it.
And Kagome? Well, she felt sympathetic. Without a doubt, her poor friend was having a very stressful summer. He had not been expecting so many visitors, at once, this early in the morning. And he was certainly overwhelmed by the fact that Sesshoumaru had actually returned to the hotel to make good on his promise.
Breaking up with Inuyasha, it had been easier and harder than Kagome expected, all because of Sesshoumaru's presence. The taiyoukai had kept her focused and encouraged her when she needed it. Yet he had also thrown a new loop into the lines threading around their situation. As she officially severed her relationship with Inuyasha, the elder brother extended a friendly hand, calling Inuyasha 'brother' instead of 'half-brother' for the first time. It was subtle, but one word had built a huge difference into their relationship, like a bridge over a gully that before they had never been able to cross.
And when Satoshi returned for summer break, Sesshoumaru remembered his promise to Inuyasha. In an effort to include his younger sibling into the family, everyone had traveled to the inn where he worked. The ex-hanyou had emerged from his room, rubbing his eyes, still half-asleep to greet Kagome. Makoto-chan had followed closely on his heels. While Kagome had stammered, trying to ignore the fact that both of them emerged from the same room, Sesshoumaru had bluntly introduced everyone in the group.
And obviously, without a few minutes to wake up, this information was shocking. Inuyasha stared at his nephew in disbelief. Satoshi quivered slightly in excitement. "I'm older than you are," the young inu-youkai added exultantly.
Inuyasha blinked, then mouthed an artificial smile. "Oh?" he replied, "What does that have to do with anything?"
At this, Satoshi became slightly disappointed. There were no shortcuts to becoming Inuyasha's friend. Teasing or acting mischievous, like Shippo always had taught him, would not endear this particular uncle to him. So, he switched his approach. After all, Satoshi was familiar with his father's moods as well. When dealing with a grumpy man in the morning, before his first cup of coffee, the best method was not silliness or smiles, but serious vows concerning caffeine and its imminent approach.
"And if you want," Satoshi said, glancing at his father over one shoulder for approval, "We can buy you breakfast."
The eldest dog-demon did not agree or disagree. Instead, he noted blankly, "If you truly wish to spend time together, then Inuyasha is more than welcome to escort you to the airport tomorrow."
"Ah?" protested the pup, "But you said that you wanted to meet her?"
The taiyoukai's face crumpled into a slight grimace. In the background, Shippo tried very, very hard to bite his lips hard enough to avoid laughing aloud. Kagome wondered what she had missed.
"Indeed," continued Sesshoumaru haughtily, "It seems that I must finance the girl's trip to Japan, as well."
At last, Kagome understood. Satoshi liked a human girl in Europe, and Sesshoumaru needed to meet her before making a decisions about whether he liked her. And evidently, the girl was visiting soon! The taiyoukai had not mentioned it to Kagome, since he was not excited about this encounter. But this was good news, right?
With a smile, she turned toward Sesshoumaru, taking his hand. He could delay the meeting a bit, but not forever.
