Earlier that morning, Rin was sitting under the sakura tree, reading a book.
"Rin?"
Glancing up at her husband, she smiled.
"Good morning, Kohaku!"
He smiled back at her and sat down next to her. Closing her book, she turned to study him.
He had stopped aging at 35, yet his hair was streaked with white, and his eyes revealed his age if one bothered to look. Unlike herself, she was still as youthful as she was a century ago. Her ears were slightly pointed at the ends, and her hair was streaked with silver. Gold speckled brown eyes.
"Are you reading that book again?"
The book in question was once titled 'A Little Princess', however due to frequent use, it was well worn making the lettering slightly faded.
"Well, it is my favorite book. Mamma's anniversary is coming in a couple months as well."
Rin laid a gentle hand on her stomach.
"Kohaku, if I carry this pregnancy to term, and it's a girl, may we name her 'Kagome'?"
He smiled gently at her, the memories of her miscarriages still fresh on her heart.
"Of course. Takeshi, Sora, Katsura and Akira would be proud to have a sister bearing that name."
She laughed.
"Speaking of Takeshi, apparently he wants to visit with his children soon. I also received a letter from Sora saying he wants to court someone without her knowing of his family."
"It would be nice to see our grandchildren again."
"And Sora?"
Kohaku sighed.
"He's very much like Inuyasha. His death hit him hard. If he doesn't want this girl he's interested in to know what family he comes from, I suppose we could honor his wishes," he said staring up at the sky his second son was named after. "Do you know if she's human?"
"According to the letter, she's an ayakashi."
He nodded.
"Akira is the only one so far who shows any interest in taking a human wife."
"Katsura's not married, nor is he courting anyone."
"Yes, but he clearly stated youkai women were power hungry gold-diggers, and human women were spineless dolls."
Rin propped her chin on her hand.
"Perhaps he will find someone. Then again, he was raised around youkai and out of our children he's the only one who curses his humanity."
"It can't be helped. Have you heard from Akira?" Kohaku asked.
"I heard from him about a year ago, on his 64th birthday. He was complaining that even though he as older than everyone, they were still treating him as if he were a young man. It made me laugh because he looks like he's 18."
"Rin-sama! Kokahu-sama!"
Both raised their heads at the servant who was approaching them
"The Lord has return with Maemi-sama!"
As Kohaku and Rin made their way around the gardens to the front of the palace, she saw the gathering youkai. Turning to her maid servant, who had joined them, she asked if she could sense anything.
"I can sense Sesshomaru-sama, Maemi-sama and two others. One, an ayakashi, the other a human."
Rin frowned.
It had been many years since her father had brought a human home, not to mention an ayakashi. She stopped at the steps, the youkai already moving aside for her. Then, then scent of sakura drifted on the wind.
Rin froze.
A gentle, comforting aura, similar to a hug, wrapped around her. Tears gathered in her eyes and spilled over. Not wasting a minute she dashed through the crowd, a shout escaping her lips.
"Mamma!"
The last youkai moved out of her way revealing a familiar figure dressed in her favorite kimono. The last shreds of doubt fled, at the sight of the woman standing next to Father.
"Mamma!"
Reaching her arms out, she jumped, clutching at the woman who she thought had died.
"Rin. My sweet little Rin."
Her Mamma had come home.
Yohime smiled at the man who stood in front of her a stunned expression on his much older face.
"Hello, Kohaku. Aren't you going to greet your aunt?"
He laughed softly at the words she used.
"No, in fact I was going to greet my mother-in-law."
"Well, as she's otherwise occupied, I insist you greet your aunt first."
Yohime tightened her arms around Rin and Kohaku.
"I'm so sorry I didn't return sooner," she said, tears beginning to surface, "I wasn't strong enough to stay, so I ran away. I'm so sorry about Sango, Miroku, Inuyasha and Hana. I'm so sorry about their children I never got to know. I'm so sorry," she choked.
"No, Mamma! No! We don't blame you at all! After everything you did, everything you gave up! It's good enough that you came back, Mamma!" Rin sobbed.
As Yohime hugged her children, her former maid servant, Chiyo yelled out.
"To the return of the Great Lady!"
A resounded cheer shook the air as Lords and Ladies, servants and rulers, male and female all cheered for the return of the Great Lady of the West.
Sesshomaru spoke a quick word in Nurarihyon's ear before a powerful youkai swept over the crowd, calling for silence.
It was ignored, however, as Yohime released Rin and Kohaku, stepping back arranging her face into one of composure. Her eyes, other the other hand, sent a message to the younger woman as she did the same.
This time the combined youkai of four swept over the gathering, quieting the people. Standing at the doors of the palace, as if they owned it, stood two females and two males. Their silver hair marked them as Silver inuyoukai, and their back robes complete with hoods marked them as Elders.
The Elders were established a thousand years ago, as the co-rulers of the lands. Their purpose was to step in, when necessary, to correct the mistakes of the Lord. Over the years, greed, pride and arrogance twisted their purpose into one of control and dominance. They were considered on equal ground to the current Lord and were not compelled to comply with his word.
Haughtily, they descended into the courtyard, disgust and contempt seen clearly on their faces.
"Lord Sesshomaru, what is the meaning of this? Your people are raising a shout to a dead woman and you do nothing?"
It was one of the females who spoke, a moon adorning her brow.
"Further more, you have brought another human into this place. Have you no shame?"
The other spoke, two golden stripes resting on her cheeks.
Before the males could speak, Yohime stepped forward.
"How easily you claim my death, Konami, Mayumi. I would advice you to watch your tone when speaking to my brother about our people."
A booming laugh came from the male, the one whose face resembled a woman's.
"You think to fool us? You stupid human! Is this Lord Sesshomaru's attempt to run from a mating? Finding a common whore who resembles our Great Lady to play the part of the Miko no Mae?"
The last Elder stepped forward, his monotone voice ringing out.
"You will be imprisoned and executed for you crimes. If you confess-"
He was cut off up the sword of golden holy energy that was held to the throat of his fellow Elder.
"Why Gin, I never knew you thought of me like that!"
The lady Elders gasped in shock at the speed which the human had used to appear in front of him, the kimono she had always worn fluttering in the wind she had created. She was smiling and laughing, but her eyes spoke of her bloodlust.
"As I recall, you refused to acknowledge me as the 'Great Lady' you now speak so highly of. Perhaps I should kill you for your insult to my person."
His green eyes glared into brown.
"You would not dare!"
She took away the sword, nodding.
"Indeed I shall not, however I find a need to speak with my brother and sister-in-law. Where are they?"
"Sesshomaru is not mated, surely you knew that, Lady?"
Konami sneered.
"Oh, silly me! I should have been clearer. Where," her voiced darkened, "is my brother Inuyasha and his wife, Hana?"
Dead silence.
"Oh? Is he not here? Surely, ones such as yourselves, would know where a simple hanyo is, would you not, Elders?"
The silence stretched on. The Elders staring impassively at her, hate apparent in their eyes. Then, with a screech, the one with the gold on her cheeks, Mayumi, rushed forward raking Yohime's face with her claws.
"You scum! You human bi-"
Her back slammed against the cold, hard tiles of the courtyard, a furious miko hell-bent on drawing blood straddling her, a ball of golden holy energy gathered in her hands as crimson dripped from her cheek.
"I said, where is Inuyasha?"
"My Lady."
She shifted her eyes to Sesshomaru's general, Masaru.
"Speak."
"Approximately 30 years ago, on the night of the new moon, Sesshomaru was absent from the palace. The Elders were present, as they had arrived shortly after his departure. He left with orders to prepare for the arrival of Inuyasha-sama and Hana-sama. Shortly before dawn, Hana-sama stumbled to the gates screaming for help. Inuyasha-sama was being attacked just over the hill, she said. We made ready to send men after him, but Elder Gin, and Elder Daiki ordered us not to open the gates. I repeated the orders my Lord has left, but they ignored them. We were not allowed to open the gates for Hana-sama either, as the Elders conversed between themselves ignoring her screams."
He stopped as the holy energy around Yohime grew to suffocating levels.
"Continue."
Her voice held no room for anything but immediate compliance.
"The Lord returned several hours later, Inuyasha-sama's dead body in his arms. After the gates opened, Hana-sama was sent to the healers where she gave birth to Maemi-sama and shortly after, died."
"I see. Thank you, Masaru."
Turning her attention back to the defiant inuyoukai beneath her, she stared at into the cold grey eyes. Bringing her fingers in front on her mouth, she mouthed several words. Golden kanji appeared and wrapped around Mayumi, who said not a word.
Standing, Yohime shook her clothes and stood back to the haughty Elders.
"You dare attack an Elder with your str-"
"Silence, traitor."
Elder Gin took an involuntary step back at the look on her face and the bloodlust that was pouring from her aura.
"I am sure many of you are wondering at my appearance," she said, her voice carrying easily to those present. "To tell you the truth, the Shikon no Tama was not removed from this world, but returned to my body. I left traveling searching for the correct wish. Fifteen years ago, I made the correct wish and was changed. I am Kagome, Miko no Mae, Shikon no Miko, Mother, Aunt, Grandmother, the Great Lady of the West to those who know me as such. But to others, I am Yohime, the daughter of a nobleman in Kyoto. I answer to both names, I am as I am. When the Jewel was wished away, the gods visited me."
Elder Konami instantly pointed an accusing finger and cried in a loud voice.
"A blasphemer! Has our Great Lady fallen so f-"
"I said, SILENCE TRAITORS."
Yohime's voice never raised it's volume, yet the golden light surrounded her, amplifying her voice. To their credit, they did not cower at the sight.
"I am a child of the gods. My desires are their desires. I speak for them, and they to me. I have only understood this when I threw away my concern for the Jewel, so I have come to punish the traitors of the West."
She stood tall, proud in front of her people, her family. Raising a palm towards the Elders, looking for all the world like kings and queens, she spoke,
"For the crime of murdering Inuyasha, his wife Hana. For bringing suffering to these lands. For abusing the power given to you by the Lord. For my revenge and by the order of This One, she who is the Great Lady, I give you death."
In a pitiful attempt to defend themselves, they raise their youkai and drew their weapons.
And then, they fell to the ground, bound in the golden kanji as Yohime has done to Mayumi.
The golden light faded, and everyone blinked as their Lady turned to Sesshomaru.
"Ah! I'm sorry! I forgot I am no longer the Lady of the West! Therefore I leave their care to you."
She bowed respectfully.
"Though I should warn you, if they ever leaves these lands, they will pain a death so painful I dare not speak of it!"
She said in a scandalous tone, continuing with.
"By the way, may I and my husband be shown our room? I suddenly find myself desiring to rest."
A/N *cough cough* I did it! *falls slowly towards the floor, catching herself on a chair* Here, you go my readers! One chapter. *cough cough*
To Guest Reviewer, Professor: "Which Doctor?" Is that what you said? ... WHICH DOCTOR?! ROSE TO MY DOCTOR AND YOU ASK 'Which Doctor?' OMG NOBODY MOVE, PROFESSOR LOST HER BRAIN! SOMEONE FIND IT, QUICKLY! IT'S THE TENTH DOCTOR, DAVID TENNANT OBVIOUSLY!
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Thank you for reading, reviews are the honey lemon tea to my sore throat.