((AN: Gaaaaah I'm so sorry for the long wait on this, I've been so unpredictably inconsistent with this! . BUT, the ideas are still flowing, and now I have a new chapter for you guys to tide you over, a shorter one for the time being, but it's a part of an idea that I've decided to split into two or three parts.
I remember that I'd gotten a sort of prompt from someone else to cover Sesshomaru's thoughts throughout the events of Yashahime as his daughters grow. At first I didn't think there was much to include, but as I re-watched the series again, I noticed there's quite a bit of missing moment material that would be perfect to make into a fanfic. xP And I do love capturing Sesshomaru's state of mind, especially what he must be having to feel during these events, having to basically play 3D Chess with Kirinmaru just to keep his family safe.
Mind, I probably won't be covering ALL of the missing moments from the anime; just what I'd have liked to see from our favorite Great Demon and his interactions with his family. Plus also perhaps giving my speculations on certain events that don't seem to make much sense, at least to me.
Also, I've pre-ordered volume 4 of the manga. I absolutely love it so far, I'm dedicated to collecting the whole dang story as it unfolds; I HAVE QUESTIONS, DANGIT. xP But for now, you still get me working on the anime moments.
Thank you to everyone that has commented and has still been with me, I love hearing your opinions and I'm still floored that people enjoy the stories as much as I enjoy coming up with them...especially the scenarios that nobody else seems to hit on! x3 But with that, do enjoy this one, and while I may not be back too soon, I WILL be working on more! I just have to juggle my time between this, my commissioned story, and the original story I wanna publish. x3))
The Dog and the Princesses, Act 1
So very small.
As Jaken proceeded to call forth a barrier to cover a large portion of the forest around them, Sesshomaru took a moment to finally look over the newborn half-demons that he had gingerly set at the base of a tree. Rin's daughters...his daughters.
The Great Demon couldn't recall ever seeing newborn humans or half-demons...not since long ago when he'd first spied on his infant half-brother. His children didn't seem to inherit any bestial features of their demon sides (a fortunate thing, he figured, as it would be easier for them to traverse among humans). One seemed to have his hair, while the other would have Rin's, both with a tiny lock of red...and they were slumbering quietly and peacefully, despite having been carried for a distance and slightly jostled away from the grasping hands of Zero's lackey.
So small, so new to the world, and yet, he could already see strength in them...strength that they would surely need.
His thoughts went back to Rin when Jaken announced that he would bring her, too, when she recovered from having given birth. He was certain that the way her smile fell, the concern he saw in her eyes when he took the babies from her side, the confusion...the hurt...would haunt his memory. She really had been excited about being a mother to their twins...she'd endured much for them already.
In a more ideal time, one where a vindictive demon wasn't breathing down their necks for their choices, she would have now been holding them, feeding them, and would be caring for them until they came of an age where they could train their skills; and he would be watching and protecting them as a father should...and even trying to refine things where he felt his own father had failed.
But, he also knew how easily plans could go awry. His daughters would have to face their trials sooner than even he'd wished them to, if they were going to grow and survive to fight for their place in the world…and he would have to keep his distance from his own family for a time, to make sure that none of Kirinmaru's allies could find them.
He wouldn't be seen...but he would be watching...and he would only interfere if he knew his children couldn't overcome what came in their way. His wife would be fully capable of guiding them in their early years...but it burned his heart to know he'd have to keep far from her sight...all for her protection.
Keep your faith in me, Rin, he thought as he regarded the captured Rainbow Pearls in his hand, and bent down to bestow one to each infant, you will know everything soon enough.
The children hadn't even stirred as the pearls settled into their eyes...an extra measure of protection in case it was needed. As he turned his head to inspect the approaching comet, a bloody streak of red crossing the night sky, his eyes narrowed. There are things that need to be taken care of first.
"...Jaken," he hummed after a moment of contemplation, and the imp stood at attention in the corner of his vision. "Has Rin given you their names?"
"Ah! Yes indeed, Master, I had asked it of the Lady," the smaller demon bowed, and gestured with his staff. "The first-born is Towa, and the second-born is Setsuna...Towa is the one who has inherited your white crown, fittingly."
An eternity and a moment...my life and hers, Sesshomaru smiled inwardly, looking down at his daughters again. Rather poetic.
He wanted to allow himself another moment with them while he could, and carefully ran one clawed finger through the fine hair on their brows. Setsuna still slept, but Towa seemed tickled, wriggling a little in response and blinking open a rather striking pair of red eyes, before falling asleep again with a tiny sigh as Jaken also comfortingly patted her head.
"I must say that the young princesses are quite perfect," the imp chuckled. "As milord's children would be. They will be well taken care of...as will the Madam."
"They will need to be fed soon enough," he stated as he stood up again, turning his back to watch the sky, but letting the end of his fur drape against the babies. He could feel a tiny hand—Setsuna's, this time—reflexively grasping it. "Until Rin is here, have the priestesses help gather her milk for them."
"I have thought of that and have suggested it to them," Jaken agreed, already falling back into his role as a caretaker and taking the liberty to tuck the children together in warmth. "It shall be done."
With any luck, the demon lord thought to himself with renewed determination, we can wait this out. Zero will NOT have her way, nor will Kirinmaru, if this is all of his desire.
Sesshomaru had fiercely underestimated Zero's determination. He'd thought that bringing the children into a safe place would be enough...that he would continue to be a few steps ahead of her.
But the depths of her depravity had surprised him, and had given him something he rarely felt before: helplessness. Fear. It burned in his heart and churned in his stomach, and rattled his blood to a boiling point.
The audacity...to go after Rin as well...
And now he stood looking up at his wife, as she gently floated in a timeless space, in the glowing internal part of the Tree of Ages. There her body was sealed, and kept stable through the curse now taking over her.
Jaken could very well feel his Master's silent anguish; indeed he had to be a roiling mess on the inside. The way this proud demon stood, staunch and stone-faced while watching over the human that he'd given up the right to his kingdom for...the imp couldn't even dare to offer hollow words of encouragement...it wouldn't have helped. What was needed was action, and answers, all of which were floating out of their grasp at the moment, and he was just as frustrated.
"I shall give you a moment, milord," the smaller creature murmured with a bow of his head as he stepped away and in the direction that would lead him out of the trunk, his mind already wracking itself with how next to proceed to help his Master, and most definitely Rin.
For Sesshomaru, it was jarring how used to her presence he had become. He'd never really stopped to comprehend loneliness before the first time she was taken from his side. Now he was going to have to see her like this, for however long it took for Zero to break her curse. No smile just for him, no soft laughter or consistent chatting, no kind countenance to balance him.
He wouldn't let this stand.
Nor will I allow Zero to force me to choose between you and the children, he silently vowed, raising a hand to rest his palm against the trunk. How he wished that he could smooth the hair from her brow in her sleep again. As it is your solemn wish, they will be kept alive. But nor will I let you die.
...Does your courage know no bounds? He thought, remembering the look in her tear-ridden eyes, the strength in her hands when they grasped his, a hair's breadth from Bakusaiga. She was ready to cast herself onto his blade if it meant saving their daughters. Can your heart be more pure?
"The pure and courageous heart of a mother," said a soft and ethereal voice then, materializing all around him. "And, from the human that has taught a Great Demon such as you to love."
As the voice coalesced into one spot behind him, Sesshomaru turned and glanced sidelong at the form taken by the spirit of the Tree of Ages, very much like the priestess who had sealed his brother to the trunk long ago.
The spirit didn't sound mocking in her statement; rather observant and curious, perhaps even a little in awe.
Sesshomaru's hand dropped from the trunk, his eyes still kept curiously on the being behind him. "This will keep her stable?"
"Yes. Her bodily functions are essentially frozen in time...she will sleep, but will barely perceive the world."
"And the curse?"
"It will be slowed; but it cannot be stopped," said the spirit. "I am however preparing a way for it to slow significantly, as well as provide her with dreams of the world outside. Meanwhile she will be safe from anyone's sight. None shall be able to pass to see her but you, and anyone you trust." Her incorporeal head inclined, eyes closing. "Now, however, as you must have surmised...the use of my power comes with a price."
"As do all things," he muttered, but turned to face the spirit fully, his brow furrowed. "State it then."
"You will find that our goals may align quite well," she gave the illusion of a smile back. "Lord Kirinmaru does not just desire to eradicate any half-demons that may pose him a challenge. His goal was always to rule this land...and now he also wishes to bend time itself to his will...and I will not have that happen. You will have to keep your enemy close. To learn of his and Lady Zero's plans, and stop them."
His eyes narrowed. "You would use me to protect that which you watch over?"
"I cannot fight," she stated in a gently obvious manner, almost apologetic. "I can but watch. And by keeping a close vigil on your enemy, you may discern from them a way to save your Rin as well. I can even see, mayhap, that your daughters will be of great help in that regard."
"You can see the future now?"
"I can see the strongest possibilities," she smiled, "So long as this tree also still stands five-hundred years in the future, I can see the span of it through the rings and the roots, and every event that it has seen. I cannot predict how your daughters will do...but I can quite easily speculate that if any half-demons have the power to overcome, it is those with the powerful blood of the Dog Clan...but of course, it is up to them to grow into it."
Briefly, Sesshomaru cast his gaze away from the spirit, back to his peaceful Rin, who had faced death far too many times. Thoughts went back toward their twin daughters, still infants yet, but already with enemies...and hidden potential.
I will do what I can for them, Rin. In turn, they must show me that they can rise to this. For the first time since my father...I must place my faith in something else...in someONE else.
"You should go now, Lord Sesshomaru," the spirit quietly advised, breaking the silence of the otherworldly space, "Kirinmaru has already awoken once more, and will be directed to the next target. Your brother and his wife and daughter."
With one last, longing look to his wife, a promise that he will never leave her for long, he turned and staunchly walked back out into the real world. The tree admitted him through to a waning day, a soft wind, the smell of the woods...things that he no longer had time to admire.
Jaken, having been deep in thought himself, leaped up quickly and turned upon the reappearance of the demon lord. "Master," he bowed, "What is the plan now?"
He looked to the sky. "The Tree of Ages has told me to keep a close watch on the movements of Kirinmaru and Zero. To do so...we may have to ally with them."
Jaken's eyes widened at this turn of events, but he thoughtfully ran a clawed hand under his chin. "I see...a ploy to gain their trust...and buy time for Rin and the twins...er, where are you going?" he asked as he saw him starting to walk forward.
He didn't answer right away, as most often happened. As the Great Demon started to fly off, Jaken quickly grabbed the end of his fur trail. I suppose he must have a plan. I do hope so. These are very trying times now...it's likely he may do something rash.
"...Lord Sesshomaru...at the risk of harm to my person, I-I must humbly inquire of the possibility that...Inuyasha may be able to help with this endeavor?"
Jaken's grip tightened on the fur, ready for the possibility that he was to be flung off for such a request. Instead, Sesshomaru kept flying smoothly onward...and when he answered, it was in a calm manner.
"It is too late. Inuyasha has been targeted." And if left alone, he may intend to go after them himself...and Zero may enter the crossfire. "He and Kagome must be taken out of the way first."
"O-out of the way?!" Jaken sputtered. "Y-you can't possibly mean to…?"
Sesshomaru's intent silence was, as always, deafening and heavy as they flew on. The imp could only groan and hold tight, looking ahead past his Lord. I must trust that he has a plan.
Sesshomaru had always considered wolf demons somewhat uncouth; a proud people that lived like wild animals...and to think they even looked down on dog demons…
And yet, he couldn't help but appreciate their sense of camaraderie, their strong bonds with their families and friends; especially now as he stood facing almost the entire pack of them, with Koga glaring at him from front and center, his mate watching carefully from his left. On his right, there stood another older wolf woman with a stern face, who was holding Inuyasha's daughter—his niece—in her arms.
Once he had made sure that Inuyasha and Kagome were dealt with (and he'd somewhat convinced Kirinmaru that he would be cooperative), he'd soon enough followed the scent of the tanuki that had fled the scene to the home of the tribe...who, it seemed, had been told of the events, as they all stood against him with wary glares.
With a flick of his wrist, the hideously sharp claw extensions of the Goraishi appeared on Koga's right hand. "You have some nerve appearing before us, you cur. Especially as we've been told you're actually working with Kirinmaru and his minions."
Seemingly undeterred, Sesshomaru's gaze flicked briefly to the apparent informant, Hatchi, who was now cowering behind the legs of several of the other wolf demons.
"And here I thought you wolves would rather have eaten a raccoon-dog than listen to one."
"Shut up!" Koga growled, raising his metallic set of claws. "Kagome wouldn't have entrusted her daughter to us if something wasn't going on. Sure as hell the mutt wouldn't have...but we had an arrangement. She was to be brought to us in case those bastards were to come after them. And here she is, and here you are. Well, you ain't laying a finger on the pup; you're gonna tell me what the hell you did with Kagome, and Inuyasha!"
"How dare you accuse Lord Sesshomaru!" Jaken snarled back. "You are lucky he doesn't tear you to ribbons for being so insolent! The half-demon and his bride are safe."
Koga's brow rose a fraction, but he still kept up his glare. "Safe how?"
Briefly dipping his claws into his sleeve, the Great Demon revealed the black pearl he'd recovered from his brother's eye. "They are in the space between the worlds of the dead and the living; the site of our father's grave. They are alive, but will have to stay there." He replaced the pearl in its hiding spot, not once having taken his eyes off of the wolf leader. "I had intended that Moroha go with them."
"A gravesite is hardly a place for a pup to be reared," said the older wolf woman as she shifted Moroha in her arms. "We were deemed the safest option for hiding her. And I volunteered to watch over and mentor her as she grows."
"And you are?" Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed at her.
"Yawaragi," she smirked. "Nice to meet you."
"Koga," Ayame hummed to get his attention, "I think we should hear him out. You can feel that power he has too, right? If he'd wanted to, he could have decimated all of us."
Koga growled for a moment, but then sighed and straightened up, quite clearly hesitant to recall his weapon...yet he did so. "So why team up with the bad guys if you'd meant to keep your brother and his family safe?"
"I have my reasons," Sesshomaru hummed. "None of which are your concern. And if it was Inuyasha and Kagome's intent to leave their child with you, then I will not interfere...though I question how well it was thought out. Kirinmaru is a Great Demon with power having rivaled that of my father's. If he is truly bent on finding Moroha, he will eradicate whomever protects her."
"Don't underestimate the wolf tribe," Koga huffed, crossing his arms. "We fight for our own to the death. Kagome is an honorary Sister, thus Moroha is one of us. We ain't backing down."
There was a heavy pause in the air, before Sesshomaru inclined his head. "Very well. Then I leave her in your hands."
"I would hope you at least visit her in her parents' stead," Yawaragi pointed out with a quirked eyebrow. "If they are safe and waiting to return for her, then she should know who they are."
"No question," Koga nodded. "She should know her family."
"I will have to be distant," Sesshomaru argued, and Koga could swear that in his tone of voice, somewhere, was a hint of regret. "Lest Moroha be found."
"If I may, Lord Sesshomaru," Jaken then piped up, "Does the Staff of Two Heads not have a connection to your father's gravesite? Mayhap there is a way to at least keep Inuyasha and Kagome informed of Moroha's progress."
"Yes...the lake of the staff," he nodded. "You will do so then, whenever we pass by."
The little demon took the new task in stride, raising his chin confidently. "Leave it to me, sire."
There was a moment as Jaken was allowed to step forward and inspect Moroha, and Sesshomaru could finally catch a glimpse of his niece. He could sense in her a mingling of two different powers, something just as unprecedented as the existence of a quarter-demon in the first place. Though her blood was more diluted with the scent of humans, it seemed that she still had enough potential to be powerful in her own right; a testament to the Great Dog's bloodline. The infant looked around her with plentiful curiosity, and not a trace of fear, as she clutched something in her tiny hands.
Though Inuyasha's existence is still an annoyance to me some days, he thought, his daughter is too innocent to inherit that ire.
"Hey. Sesshomaru."
The lord's attention returned to Koga as he spoke. The wolf leader still seemed guarded, but now there was a trace of soft contemplation in his fearsome gaze. "Are all these plans of yours related to your girl and pups? Somethin' happen to 'em?"
His answer was silence for a heavy beat, his expression unchanged...but somehow, Koga knew that he might have hit the mark.
"Rin has told me that you had offered the Dog Clan the assistance of the Wolf Tribe if needed, correct?" Sesshomaru inquired calmly of the wolf.
"That stands, yeah," he nodded. "Why?"
"I would only ask, then, that none of you try to face Kirinmaru or his minions. You will only be destroyed, and your determined protection of Inuyasha's offspring will be for naught."
If there was one thing Koga hated, it was being ordered around by a dog...especially one too stubborn to accept help from anyone else. But, his instincts were telling him that things may be deeper than what he was seeing...and he did promise.
Dammit, I'm getting soft. "Alright, fine, you got it. No interfering."
"Very well." Sesshomaru then lifted his gaze back over to Jaken as he scuttled back to his side. "Moroha is unharmed?"
"Indeed," the imp confirmed with a nod. "And quite an energetic thing, too. She may do well here, even among these wolves."
The Great Demon looked up to the wolf called Yawaragi, her stare on him intense and attentive. "If you are to be her mentor then, I hope you keep in mind that she is a quarter-demon. She may not have the strength of a full demon such as yourselves, or even of a half-demon; her training will have to be altered to reflect that."
"We'll see," the demoness smirked. "We can sense her powers and potential, too." The little one squirmed in her arms, cooing as she started to gnaw on her blanket, and blinking at all the faces around her. Yawaragi wagged her a finger near her nose for her to grab onto. "I won't break her, but I will make sure she can fight and survive, you can mark my words."
"Like I said, pooch," Koga smirked. "Don't underestimate the wolf tribe. Moroha's in good hands."
"Let us hope then that Inuyasha's trust is not misplaced," Sesshomaru confirmed with a quick nod before turning his back, prompting Jaken to leap back onto his fur as he once again took to the air, heedless of the entire tribe's cautious eyes on him.
His family were all safe...the pieces were in place. He just had to hope that Kirinmaru and Zero, and their minions, would remain predictable as he juggled his time.
And now...to wait.