Persistence

Suzuki staid closer to Kazuki for a while after that and stayed clear from Sesshomaru, but despite what happened he refused to stop visiting Nira.

"You know you're really asking for it!" Kazuki huffed at Suzuki one day.

Suzuki remained silent.

On the seventh day Nira finally awoke.

"Nira! How are you feeling?" Amaya exclaimed.

She groaned as she slowly lifted herself from the bed. "Where am I?"

"You've been sick and sleeping for a week."

Niras eyes widened and Suzuki decided to back away and stay on the other side of the room.

"What happened? I can't remember what happened." She moaned and rubbed her aching head.

"Well... you kinda... turned into a giant dog."

Nira looked at Amaya confused.

"You know how your dad, Sesshomaru can turn into a giant dog demon?"

"Yeah."

"Well that sorta happened to you... accept you were black with golden eyes... and you're sick because you're not supposed to be able to transform..."

Nira looked at Amaya shocked. She couldn't believe her ears.

"How did I do that?" She replied.

Amaya hesitated before answering. "Um... Suzuki made you mad and you sorta just... snapped."

Niras gaze searched the room behind Amaya and she saw Suzuki looking like a dog who just got scolded and then she turned away refusing to look at him any longer.

"Are you feeling ok?"

"No... not really." She said sternly.

"Maybe I should go..." Suzuki said quietly and walked out of the room.

"Nira... You know he didn't mean for this to happen... he's also been here every day since you were sick."

The empress's eyes turned to her cousin looking as if she didn't believe her.

"It's true Nira!"

"I don't want to see him." She replied looking towards the distance.

"Oh by the way... Sesshomaru is also here..."

"WHAT!" Nira snapped her head around. "What happened? Is he mad at me? He didn't..." She paused for a moment. "He didn't find out that it was Suzuki who did this did he?"

"Unfortunately...yes he knows it was him... He's not mad at YOU though."

She stared at Amaya with a stern concerned expression. "Father didn't... try to KILL Suzuki did he?"

"... You're worried about Suzuki aren't you?" Amaya asked and Nira turned away and glared angrily at her feet without answering. "And... yes he did TRY but Kazuki stopped him."

Nira remained silent and was deep in thought.

"Are you hungry?" Amaya added. "You haven't eaten anything for a week."

"Starving actually." Nira said enthusiastically just before her stomach grumbled.

"I'll get you something to eat and I'll also go and tell Sesshomaru that you're awake okay."

"Okay." Nira nodded.

Sesshomaru was so relieved that Nira was alright now and scolded her a little for running away in the first place but Amaya could tell that Sesshomaru could never stay mad at his daughter for long. That night Nira was feeling better than ever and even ventured to join everyone at dinner.

"It's so good to have you back Nira!" Yuko cheered happily. "I missed you!"

"Me too. We were so worried about you!" Sen agreed.

Nira was so happy that she was missed and loved by everyone and listened contently to everyone's conversations.

"Did you still want to visit Fathers grave Kazuki?" Sesshomaru asked a few days later.

Kazuki was surprised because this was the first time Sesshomaru had spoken to him since he saved Suzukis life and so he had assumed that he was no longer going to take him to the grave.

"Yeah, sure." Kazuki replied and watched his uncle earnestly.

"Okay, we will have to make preparations before leaving. How soon did you want to go?"

"Whenever you want to go is fine."

"Alright then."

And so the conversation ended just like that. Sesshomaru still seemed a little standoffish even for him.

"I think he's still a bit mad at me for saving Suzukis life a few days ago..." He said to Amaya.

"Yeah he seems... a bit tense..."

"I wonder why he's still willing to take me to the grave though..."

Amaya shrugged her shoulders slightly.

So Kazuki packed some things for the trip including food and water.

"How far is it Sesshomaru."

"It's quite far."

"I'm going too!" Nira demanded.

"No you're NOT coming!" Her father growled.

"Yes I am! I'm not staying behind and sitting around bored! I need to go on a journey."

"I said no, Nira." Sesshomaru said and looked at his daughter intensely.

"You're not going to stop me Father... Remember what happened last time?"

Sesshomaru continued to look at her angrily and then gave in.

When Sesshomaru was out of hearing Kazuki turned to Nira and whispered. "How in the HELL do you bend your Father like that?"

"I'm his daughter." She said smugly. "He has a soft spot for me!"

'Gosh I wish that sorta thing worked on my mother.' Kazuki thought.

"I'm coming too..." Suzuki said to them loud enough for Sesshomaru to hear.

Niras father snapped his head around at this and snarled.

"I made a promise to protect Nira." He said keeping a straight face.

Sesshomaru walked over to Suzuki and grabbed him by the collar and lifted him a foot into the air.

"We don't need you!" He hissed.

"You're going to have to deal with it." Suzuki replied swallowing his fear.

Sesshomaru pulled Suzuki towards him until they were almost nose to nose. "After what you did... I don't think so."

"It WAS an accident." His voice shook slightly. "And I said I would protect her and serve you from now on to make up for my mistake." Suzuki said swallowing his fear.

Sesshomaru put him down slowly. "Persistent aren't you." He said in his usual tone and walked away.

"Does that mean that I can come?" Suzuki said feeling confused.

"I guess..." Kazuki replied equally as confused.

The four of them then set off towards the great dog demons grave.

...