Gwen observed from the sidelines as not only his second son, but a whole bunch of his children, grandchildren, as well as Sesshōmaru's brood surrounded him – even though the Ice King was nowhere in sight. All range of ages were represented, from a toddler – the newest addition to InuYasha's grandchildren – to probably sixty years old. Given what she knew, Gwen surmised she couldn't possibly trust any laugh lines to guess an approximate date of birth. InuYasha himself was younger than his full-blooded brother, but looked around fifty something.
What a mess.
They spoke a mixture of Spanish – with an accent – to Japanese, all voices jumbled and excited. Once more, Gwen felt like she was losing her footing; her whole world was tipping again with this new unconventional family. Tōga had such a line of descendants; were they expected to keep track of them all ? Some sported puppy ears, others didn't. But overall, none of them possessed the very distinctive stripes that adorned their sire's cheekbones. Perhaps, too, that the absence of demonic traits on Tōga's skin threw some of those half-demons off.
His golden eyes twinkled at one of InuYasha's stories, and she smiled from her spot in the corner of the room. Yes, he wasn't the Great Dog General he'd once been, but she had no doubt his charm would win over the insane amount of descendants that had massed around him.
"It is so strange," someone mused in English by her side. Gwen almost started – she'd been so engrossed in the contemplation of that lovely scene that she failed at hearing the young woman who'd approached her. Short white hair with a streak of red, wide eyes and an approachable smile caused her to reciprocate.
"One of the greatest yōkai turned humans ?" she sassed, looking into the new friendly face to assess the amount of yōkai blood that ran through her veins… and failing miserably. Bright eyes with an uncanny flicker of pink laughed back at her.
"No. My grandsire back from the dead. He was my sister's hero for so long, we lived for the tales of his great deeds, and now he's just…there."
Strangely, her lilts were more reminiscent of South America rather than the typical Japanese chopped accent.
"Yeah," she eventually nodded. "That ought to be weird."
Gwen couldn't help but feel a pang of regret for those she'd lost and had not returned. Her maternal grandmother and grandfather whom she'd never known, and most of all, her mother. Once more, she wondered if everyone ran through the wheel of reincarnation, or if those spirits of the earth earned a special treatment. Somehow, she was glad Tōga had found his way back to the living; her life would certainly be dull without him.
"Weird, yes. It is also a privilege to meet him."
Gwen processed what the youth just revealed to her. Grandsire. And given the shape of her eyes, she surmised she belonged to the elder brother rather than the youngest one.
"You're Sesshomaru-sama's daughter ?"
"Aye. I'm Towa."
Towa, right. Sesshomaru mentioned her on the jet.
"Gwen, nice to meet you."
The young woman returned her handshake with such a grip that Gwen winced.
"Sorry, I forget my strength sometimes. I would take you to Setsuna but my twin doesn't look too happy at the moment. Typical of her."
Gwen frowned, looking into the crowd of people in hopes of catching the twin sister. So far, no other moonlight head stuck out. Sensing her confusion, the young woman pointed to a dark-haired woman that stood aside from the crowd, looking nonplussed in a perfect impersonation of her father.
"That grumpy old woman over there."
Gwen's eyebrow rose. Beside the furious scowl that hardened her features, Setsuna looked to be in her sixties at least. Several explanations bounded in her head, only to disintegrate on the spot. Half demons aged faster than full-blooded demons, so it would make sense that a five-hundred-year-old Setsuna would look older than her father. But then, what of her twin ?
"I… uh. I don't understand."
"She's got mother's hair… and I mated a full-blooded demon in my prime, a friend of Kagome. I age like him."
Kagome ?
Gwen decided to forgo that particular question in favour of sorting the rest.
"That's convenient," she mulled, wondering at the insane amount of people who had sought immortality in the occidental world only to fail. Was a human mind suited to remain forever ? To handle the wheel of seasons, years, decades without changing ?
"Yeah, it ensures one doesn't stay behind," she said. Her tone was sad, her eyes distant as she watched her sister from the other side of the room. Setsuna seemed to feel that Towa's attention had shifted to her, for she gave her an inquisitive look.
Twins. Forever bound.
Except that one was now immortal, and the other…
Seeking to lift the sadness that dwelt on her new companion's shoulders, Gwen decided to change the subject. If Towa and Setsuna were half demons, it meant their mother had been human like the lady Izayoi.
"So that mean your mother is immortal ?"
Towa's smile froze upon her lips, and the blanket of sadness seemed to swallow her whole.
Shit. Foot in mouth, second instance.
"No," she responded with a gentle voice. "It doesn't work on humans. I bet my father has tried everything in his power to keep her, and his yōki sustained her far longer than any other. You see, ningen cannot take a mating."
"I'm sorry."
And she really was. But when Towa's energy settled around her in a comforting blanket, Gwen saw the woman who had once been her mother. A petite woman, with a gentle disposition, sunny smiles, a heart of gold and a spine of steel. Soulful brown eyes, with the universe dancing within. She recognised her instantly – Rin - and kicked herself for not putting two and two together. No wonder Sesshōmaru had reacted so strongly to her invading his privacy; she'd asked about his deceased wife.
"She lived more than two hundred years, enough to see us to adulthood. A long and happy life. She was weary when she died, we just had to learn to let her go, you know ?"
Letting go. It had been so difficult to accept her mother's death; her life had been cut short so brutally, they never saw it coming. Perhaps, if she's withered of old age, the pulsing hole in her chest wouldn't be so deep.
Towa sighed beside her. "I wish 'ma was here to guide 'Pa through this. He's always closed off. She was magical with him."
Funny, how a five-hundred-year-old Japanese woman called her parents with a western name. Affection rolled out of her so easily; Towa was a ball of sunshine, just like her mother was. But Gwen couldn't possibly tell her she'd just delved into her memories.
"Setsuna is like him," she complained. "They just can't deal with feelings."
Harsh truth, but delivered without an ounce of exasperation.
"He saved our lives," Gwen confessed.
Towa brushed the feat aside as if it was as common as drinking tea for breakfast.
"I'm not surprised. 'Pa doesn't acknowledge how many people he's helped. Says it's his duty, as pack leader."
If Tōga had been there… the weight would certainly be easier to bear.
"Anyway," Towa chimed. "You must feel a little excluded with all those demons."
Did she, really ? Gwen shrugged; she always was more at ease with observation than action. To watch Tōga reunite with his family was a treat, and she didn't mind staying on the sidelines.
"It's alright. Tōga deserves to have time with you all. He was getting lonely with his slow ageing."
Towa nodded; given she didn't look a day older than twenty, she could probably relate.
"And I'm sure I'll find some friends in the lot," Gwen added with a grin.
Sparkling eyes turned to her with glee. "Great, then I can be the first !"
The twin's enthusiasm was infectious, and Gwen slightly bowed.
"It would be my honour."
Two strong arms circled her shoulders for a quick hug, stealing the breath from her lungs.
"Oh ! None of that !" Towa exclaimed. "You can be as formal as you want with 'Pa, but I'm not cut off the same wood. I like shopping, and girl stuff too, I'll take you out."
Gwen raised an eyebrow, assessing the half millennia old half demon that had just offered her friendship. Towa's open arms were a present, so she decided to give a bit of herself in return.
"You know, I wish my mum was still alive to see Tōga. She would have liked him, I think."
Towa registered the information, but didn't linger upon it as she waggled her eyebrows.
"Well, what's not to like ?"
Gwen's lips quirked and her eyes returned to her man. Sure, he still looked tired, but the grumpiness was gone now among that pack of youngsters that asked about his modern and past adventures. For sure, Grandpa was about to be called upon for late night stories.
Indeed, what's not to like ?
"Nothing. He's perfect for me."
Golden eyes caught hers, and Gwen couldn't help but smile and address Tōga a silent, "I love you." Given how his lips quirked, she knew the message had gone across.