Kagura stirred a pot of stew as the sun began to set. Around the table, everyone waited for dinner to be finished so they could eat. Rin sat next to Shippou. Neither were very talkative tonight. Shippou had stopped talking much since he found out what happened to his Mama… After that, he stopped playing like a child should. He mostly stays quiet now. Rin does the same. It's just not the same since Uncle Inu doesn't talk to anyone.
"Dinner," Kagura says and lays out the rice for everyone. She takes everyone's bowls and one at a time, she fills them with soup. Finally she takes her seat on Sesshoumaru's right. Everyone eats quietly.
Just then, Kikyou steps into the room without a word. She makes a dish of food and everyone stops eating to watch her. As she finishes, she leaves the room and Sesshoumaru watches her leave. "I don't like having her here," Kagura says.
"Why?" Rin asks. She doesn't get an answer.
"Jaken," Sesshoumaru commands. The toad snaps up and at once is ushering the children out of the room with their food. It's time for adults to speak.
Once out, Kagura says, "I want her out."
"She won't leave willingly," Miroku says.
"It's my home! She will leave! She is destroying my family. How can she stay up there and fake like she's happy! The man is dying," Kagura says.
"Kagura," Sesshoumaru says to quiet his mate. "I know you are just voicing your opinion. I know that my brother is not in the best of health, but I will deal with it."
"How? You only talk to him! He's not listening! The man is in shock and is killing himself! I can't sit here and watch his waste away!" Kagura says and storms out of the room. Sesshoumaru sighs and tries to push away the headache threatening to form. Not only was his mate constantly upset, his charge a shell of her former self, and his brother an emotionless sac, but he also had what looked like a war on his hands. The panther demons were moving in on his territory and he had to strike back.
"I think he's sleeping. Please keep it quiet and try not to wake him up," Kikyou said in a clipped voice and left the bowl of food on the table. It was the exact same amount she had taken.
Sango watched the bowl and said, "The only good to come out of this is that not even she can get through to him."
~:~
Sesshoumaru opened the door to his brother's room and stepped in. he approached the bed and had to hold his breath. The hanyou spelled awful. Yanking the covers off of him, Sesshoumaru grabbed his brother by the ankles and dragged him out of the room. Fortunately, Inuyasha was too weak to put up much of a fight. That, or he didn't care. Others opened their doors to see Sesshoumaru dragging Inuyasha down the stairs and out of the lodge, the whole way Inuyasha was letting out small whines.
Stopping at a nearby lake, Sesshoumaru swung his arms briskly and tossed his brother into the cold water. A few seconds later, Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes when the hanyou didn't resurface. He was about to go in after him, when Inuyasha jumped up while gasping for air. Slowly, the hanyou crawled onto the shore and laid in a wet heap. Inuyasha glared up at Sesshoumaru. "Save you ire for someone who needs it, Inuyasha."
"Leave me alone, Sesshoumaru," Inuyasha said. His voice was slightly cracking, either from disuse or a lack of water.
"No. You are to clean yourself up now. You are giving my home a distasteful smell. If you want to kill yourself, do it in a less offensive way. May I suggest a quick death? I'd be more than happy to be your executioner," Sesshoumaru said.
"Fuck you."
"That is what you want, isn't it? You do not eat our drink. You refuse to talk or interact with your pup. It shames me. It would shame your ningen mother as well." Sesshoumaru said. At this, he had Inuyasha's attention. "She lost our father, yet she did not neglect her duties to you. Yet, you neglect your pup. You shame me, father, and your mother," Sesshoumaru continued. Inuyasha watched Sesshoumaru with hard eyes before looking away. "If you are not clean and do not wish to live, then I would suggest you not come back. Stay here and die if that is what you want." Sesshoumaru said this and left his brother alone in the clearing.
~:~
Around noon, Everyone sat at the table again for lunch. It was quiet as usual among them. Just then, a creak was heard. Everyone looked up from their plates to see none other than Inuyasha walk in and take a seat at the table. No one said anything to him, though for a fear of scaring him off. Kagura made him a dish and gave it to him with a sympathetic look. He took it and began eating. When he did, the tension let up and everyone began eating again.
"I met with Rae today. She told me that her pups are as energetic as ever," Kagura said to no one in particular.
"Mama, are you gonna have pups too?," Rin asked and looked up at the wind demon with a look only a child could pull off.
"Ask your Papa," Kagura said. Rin looked to the Taiyoukai with a questioning glance.
"They can't have pups," Shippou said.
"How come?" Rin said with a pout.
"Cause you can only get pups from the stork," Shippou says as though it's common knowledge. "And everybody knows there ain't no storks in the West."
Rin pouted and her face turned a bright red. She wanted to ask what a stork was, but didn't want to seem stupid for not knowing. "Who told you that kit?" Sesshoumaru asked.
Shippou turned to the dog demon and froze. In a small voice he muttered, "Kagome."
Everyone stopped. They tried not to look at Inuyasha. The last thing they wanted to happen happened. They could only hope the hanyou didn't revert back to his old ways and block off the rest of the world. "Well, she's an educated woman. So, she must be right," Sesshoumaru said and continued eating. He had faith in his brother.
"But, Papa. Where can we find a stork?" Rin asked anxiously.
"You can't just find one. They come to you when they're ready. You have to wait for it," Shippou said and ate some more rice.
"That's dumb," Rin said and crossed her arms.
"Nuh-uh. I bet you don't even know what a stork is," Shippou said.
"Do to!"
"Do not!"
"Do to!"
"Do not!"
"Do to!"
"Do- ow!" Shippou said and rubbed his cheek. Someone had flung an uncooked rice grain at him. He turned to see Inuyasha's glare. Cut it out. Picking up his chopsticks, Shippou went back to eating. Kagura and Sango held back their smiles and Miroku smirked. Rin was sticking out her tongue at the fox while Shippou pouted. Sesshoumaru watched the series of events with a blank stare. There was hope for his brother yet.
~::~
That night, Sesshoumaru was outside of Inuyasha's room. The Taiyoukai opened the door and looked inside. Kikyou was sitting next to the futon with her hands on her lap and a hard look on her face. Inuyasha was sitting up and leaning against the wall with Tetsuiga across his front.
"What?" Inuyasha barked.
"I must speak with you," Sesshoumaru said and turned to Kikyou, "alone."
Kikyou glared back at Sesshoumaru and held her spot. Slowly, Inuyasha opened his eyes and said, "Kikyou, leave us." With a stunned look, Kikyou got up and left the two brothers alone. "What now? I cleaned up and ate. What more do you want?"
"You must watch Rin tomorrow. I have much to do. I am leaving Jaken here, but Kagura will go with me," Sesshoumaru said.
"I ain't no damn babysitter, Sesshoumaru," Inuyasha said. Confused by his brother's words, Sesshoumaru remained quiet. I do not request that he sit on my charge…
"Do not allow Rin to stay up late. She is to be in bed as soon as she finishes her dinner," Sesshoumaru said.
"I ain't watching her."
"Also, do not allow her to get near any jasmine plants. She is highly allergic," Sesshoumaru continued.
"What part of 'I ain't no damn babysitter' don't you understand?" Inuyasha said and glared at his brother.
"I am allowing you and your pack to stay here and eat from my table. You will watch your niece," Sesshoumaru said and left. Inuyasha growls lowly and leans back. What an arrogant asshole…
~:~
Moi-Moi: There we go! Inuyasha's making progress. Who knew Sesshoumaru cared so much? As you can tell, Sesshoumaru's going to play a big role in this story. Especially in getting Inuyasha back on his feet and other things. A little brotherly love is necessary, right? Review you guys!
P.S. The Story is labeled as Kagome & Kikyou because i feel that this story will mainly revolve around them. Inuyasha will be there(obviously) but Kikyou and Kagome play much larger roles. even though we won't see Kagome for several chapters...