Chapter 17: Evolving
One little white lie
One white lie surrounds us
One white lie won't stop the love
That I feel around us
Darlin'
Do you think about me?
What I feel for you
Don't you ever doubt me
You see the lock on the door
Of this heart, but you hold the key
I need the trust you can give
Is there something that you need from me?
One little white lie
One white lie surrounds us
One white lie won't stop the love
That I feel around us
Secrets
And the way we keep them
But between you and me
Promise we'll never need them
I can see something so true
No one else could ever see
And I'll never chance losing you
I believe my heart, I hear what it's telling me
One little white lie
One white lie surrounds us
One white lie won't stop the love
That I feel around us
One little white lie
One white lie tears us apart
One white lie won't stop the love
That's waiting in this heart
That's waiting in this heart
Temptation leave us alone
'Cause I know you're always there
But white lies can weigh like a stone
And in this world, I hear them everywhere
– "White Lie" by Foreigner
When Inukimi spied the moving truck pull up at the end of the driveway, she sighed in resignation.
The quiet days of living with her son were now over.
She made her way out the front door and stood on the engawa, her eyes roving from Touga, who hopped out of the driver's side of the truck, to Sesshoumaru, who loped over from the garage and headed straight for the compact car that trailed behind the moving van. Sesshoumaru knocked on the window of the car, and it opened, but he blocked her view of the driver.
Still, Inukimi caught snippets of their conversation from down the drive.
"Sesshoumaru…is that who I think it is?" a soft, feminine voice asked with a thread of apprehension that made a smirk tug at Inukimi's lips. She did so enjoy inspiring fear.
"Yes, that is my mother."
"Sesshoumaru, be honest with me. Does she hate me? I wouldn't doubt it if she did. She probably thinks I trapped you into this—"
"Rin, do not fret," Sesshoumaru replied. "My mother and I are…very alike. Just as you have made me open to you, I trust you will one day do the same to her. And no one thinks you trapped me into anything. I gave you the mating mark. Everyone is aware of what that means."
That was true enough. Inukimi had not once blamed the girl. She had watched her son stand as steadfast as a mountain against the gale of womanly wiles thrown his way over the centuries. She knew he would not succumb to such paltry tactics. What she didn't understand was exactly how this human had gotten under his skin. Sesshoumaru would not be swayed by beauty or brains but only by power. So how had a powerless mortal ensnared him?
"W-What's her name?"
"Inukimi. But you should call her 'Mother.'"
Inukimi bristled.
"Oh no, I couldn't. I haven't earned that right," the girl protested.
At least she knows her place. Though Inukimi herself was not familiar with true humility, she could appreciate it in this instance.
"How have you not earned the right?" Sesshoumaru countered. "You are my mate and the mother of my children. Besides, she needs to get used to hearing you say it, so that it will sink into her stubborn mind."
Inukimi tsked as the girl laughed. What an ungrateful son. Maligning his own mother before bringing his…mate to meet her.
Just the thought of her son having a human mate made her skin crawl. She had had two weeks of forced solitude to reconcile herself with it, but it still hadn't been long enough.
"Yes…alright. I suppose you know your mother best," the girl conceded.
"Perhaps. Now come. Let us get this over with."
Sesshoumaru finally stepped aside, offering a hand to help the girl out of the car. Inukimi's eyes narrowed as soon as she saw her son's chosen. She was barely taller than a child, coming only to Sesshoumaru's chest, and her hair looked like a rat's nest of flyaways. Pregnancy had done her no favors, distending her petite form into an awkward shape, where she appeared to have swallowed a beach ball. Granted, these modern fashions didn't help. Pregnancies were meant to be hidden, not shown off with skin-tight clothing. Honestly, what was the world coming to?
Sesshoumaru walked the girl up the driveway. Inukimi noticed that Touga had elected to stay behind, rooting through the trailer.
When the couple finally stopped before her, the girl bowed as low as she could—which really wasn't all that low, given her girth. In formal Japanese, she said, "Greetings, M-Mother. My name is Rin Higurashi. It is a pleasure to meet you."
"Tch." Inukimi suppressed a shudder as the word "mother" escaped the girl's mouth. Where did her humility go? Well, let's see if she really has the spine she's affecting or if it's all just an act.
She purposely didn't answer, making sure to look the girl up and down more closely, now that she was in front of her. After several tense seconds, the child finally looked up, but Inukimi ignored her and turned towards her son. "Really, Sesshoumaru, I expected more of you. If you had to inherit your father's proclivities, I assumed you would have inherited his tastes as well. At least I understood what drew Touga to Izayoi—she's beautiful, for a human. But this one? Quite average—and so small too. Well, stature-wise, at least. But I hear twins do distort one's figure so."
Inukimi scented the saline immediately. So she is a sensitive one. But then she remembered that pregnancy wreaked havoc upon a mother's emotions. Even she had not been immune. So perhaps this was not the perfect test it should have been.
Surprisingly, the girl did not let her tears fall, though they shimmered in her eyes.
Sesshoumaru's hands tightened on Rin's shoulders, and he growled, "Mother, enough. Apologize to Rin. She does not deserve your ire."
"Doesn't she? She seduced my son and got herself with child—something so easily preventable nowadays. That is called entrapment, Sesshoumaru. Or am I wrong?" she asked, turning to Rin with a haughty glare.
Show me what you're like under pressure, girl. This is what you think I believe. How will you try to argue the point?
The girl straightened, and her voice came out tense but steady. "If you think Sesshoumaru could fall for any trap I set, then I think you greatly underestimate your son."
Inukimi's brows rose in surprise. So she knows that much about him, does she?
"It's true that we were not careful, and I accepted the consequences for that. But make no mistake: I want these children, and I was determined from the start to have them, whether Sesshoumaru was there or not. I did not ask him to mate me. I did not ask him for money or a mansion to live in or even his love. I asked him if he wanted to be in our daughters' lives, and he said yes. Whatever he has done since has been entirely his decision."
Inukimi held her gaze. So this one does have a spine after all. Good. She will need it.
Inukimi blinked slowly to break the trance. "As Sesshoumaru has not denied it, I must take your words for the truth. However, if you believe you have no influence over my son's behavior, you are either very dense or putting on a show of modesty. And I do so detest false modesty."
"I never said I didn't. I only said Sesshoumaru makes his own decisions."
They held another staring contest—longer this time—and while Inukimi could have easily come away the winner and asserted her dominance, she found no pleasure in defeating a human. Besides, the girl already knew who was in charge here. She was just testing out how far she could push Inukimi before she snapped.
So Inukimi just sighed and closed her eyes. "You have a backbone—I'll give you that." She then looked at Sesshoumaru. "Her room has been set up next to yours, as you requested, son. At least you have spared me the knowledge that you will be sharing quarters."
Inukimi swore the girl's face twitched before she bowed again. "Thank you for going to so much trouble…Mother."
Now it was Inukimi's turn to twitch. But she would not show just how much that moniker bothered her coming from this human's mouth. "Hm. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be—"
"Hey Rin, do you want these inside or outside?" Inuyasha barked, walking up towards them with a plastic bin full of plants.
Inukimi's eyes widened as she took in the tote. "Did she bring a whole greenhouse?"
"This isn't even all of it. Dad's bringing the other tub," Inuyasha answered. He turned back to Rin. "So?"
"Umm, I don't…I mean, I haven't even gone inside yet to know—"
"Put them in front of the window in the living room, Inuyasha," Sesshoumaru cut in.
Inukimi frowned. "They are not staying there." She might have had no choice but to let the girl live with them, but she'd be damned if the child cluttered her house with an assortment of junk.
"These plants are precious to Rin, and she tends them well. To leave them outside would invite pests." Then Sesshoumaru glared at his mother, as if he could read her mind. "She will place them inside wherever she wishes, Mother. This is her home now too." Inukimi glared right back.
"I-I can just keep them in my room, provided there's a window with decent sunlight," the girl added meekly.
"The living room receives the best light. Put them there, Inuyasha," Sesshoumaru commanded.
"You hear that, Dad?" Inuyasha threw over his shoulder as he stomped past them and into the house.
"Yes, son," Touga answered quietly as he came by carrying Rin's next load of plants. He briefly met Inukimi's eyes and dipped his head. "Good afternoon, Inukimi."
Her traitorous heart fluttered as he acknowledged her. It had been a fortnight since she had seen him or heard his voice. Strange how she had once gone months—even years—at a time before without doing either, and it had never bothered her as much as it did now.
But that was a past life, the karma with which she was contending in this present one. They had left things on such a sour note, she had been by turns dreading and hoping for his quick return.
Not to mention, he had left her like a used tissue, and she was still rather cross about that.
"Is it?" she scoffed. "I was rather enjoying the utter silence of the past two weeks with everyone but Izayoi gone."
A dimple appeared between Sesshoumaru's brows. "Where were you, Father?"
"Just seeing to some things at the Sanctuary while you were away, son. That's all," he murmured, brushing past them and into the house just as Inuyasha walked out.
"Hey, are you just gonna stand around there and yap all day? This is your mate's stuff we're haulin'," Inuyasha griped at his brother.
Sesshoumaru sneered back at him. "I need to see Rin settled first."
Just then, Jaken wailed, "Sesshoumaru-samaaaaa!"
The girl yelped in surprise, and Inukimi fought back a groan as the little demon tore down the hallway and out the front door.
The imp latched onto Sesshoumaru's leg and looked up at him with tears streaming down his eyes. "Milord, where have you been?! You left two weeks ago with nary a word, and I have not heard from you since! I was afraid you had gone and gotten lost again! It did not help that every time I asked your lady mother if she had news of you, she only turned away."
Inukimi tsked. Insolent little toad.
"And your lord father vanished as well! Why do you do this to me, milord? Why?"
"Jaken, enough," Sesshoumaru said.
Like turning off a faucet, the waterworks ceased, and Jaken leapt off Sesshoumaru, bowing his head. "Apologies, milord. My emotions overcame me." Jaken glanced over at the human girl then and looked up, his eyes darting back and forth between her belly, her face, and the arm Sesshoumaru had wrapped around her. "Um…milord…who's this?"
"This is Rin. She is my mate and the new lady of the house," Sesshoumaru answered calmly. Inukimi's lip curled at that last remark, and the girl spoke up to protest it, but Jaken's words cut her off.
Jaken smiled and nodded sagely. "Oh, yes, of course, your mate." His eyes popped wide open a second later, and he recoiled so hard, Inukimi was surprised he didn't trip and fall. "Y-Y-Your whaaat?! B-B-But how? When? Who? …She's human, my lord! And pregnant, at that!"
Sesshoumaru glared at him. "What of it?"
"C-Con…gratu…lations….?"
Sesshoumaru nodded. "Lead her to the Peony Room, Jaken."
"Oh, is that why that room's been opened up?" In a lower, grumblier voice, he added, "Why doesn't anyone tell me these things?"
"Jaken."
"Y-Yes?"
"Take her now. She needs to rest." He turned to the girl then and reached over, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear and letting his thumb trail across her cheek as he did. Inukimi's eyes widened. What on earth was this display? Her son was acting like a lovestruck fool. "We will bring in your things in the meantime."
"No, Sesshoumaru, I should at least be here to tell you what goes and what stays."
He shook his head. "I remember what is what, and even if I did not, you labeled everything well. If you get to your room and see a need for furniture, you may tell us. However, you are not to lift a thing. If you want something moved, tell Jaken to do so."
Inukimi couldn't believe what she was hearing. Sesshoumaru was the epitome of self-reliance. He did not believe in altruism. Yet he was telling this girl to sit back and lift her feet while he waited upon her like a servant?
The girl smiled wryly at him. "I won't strain myself by lifting boxes, but I'm perfectly capable of unpacking them, Sesshoumaru."
"That may be so, but as the lady of the house, you need not do so."
A muscle in Inukimi's jaw twitched. He's really trying to rub that in, isn't it?
With that, Sesshoumaru returned to the truck. Jaken bowed to the girl and said, "R-Right this way…milady," leading her past Inukimi.
As there was nothing more for her to do, Inukimi took a seat on the bench outside and decided to watch what, exactly, was being brought into her home.
The men were efficient with their task, and eventually, Sesshoumaru went inside but did not come back out. When Touga and Inuyasha reappeared, the former said, "Run along back home. I know your mother is anxious to see you again. I'll put the rest of Rin's things in storage and return the truck."
"Are you sure?" Inuyasha asked. When Touga nodded, Inuyasha shrugged and ran off.
But instead of going back to the truck, Touga approached Inukimi. "Meet me at the storage house. We need to talk."
Inukimi looked up at him in surprise. Certainly we do. But the way he was avoiding eye contact earlier, I didn't think he'd have the guts to speak up first. So while Touga climbed back into the truck and drove it towards the garage, Inukimi walked her way over. There was a separate building behind the garage that stored everything from yard equipment to old furniture and knickknacks that were no longer in fashion but might be again, come a few decades. Inukimi dismissed any servants she passed, freeing the area of any prying ears. She entered the storage shed, and a moment later, Touga came in behind her, shutting the door.
"You need to lay off Rin, Inukimi. That poor girl has had her whole life turned upside down in a matter of months. I know you're still angry, but if you don't treat her with respect, I'll—"
"You'll what? Force me into submission again?" Inukimi asked, brows rising. "I'd like that, actually. So maybe I should just continue as I was."
"Damn it, Kimi, would you take this seriously?" Touga snapped.
"I am taking it seriously, Touga. I've made my feelings perfectly clear on both of these matters—the girl and you."
Touga closed his eyes and clenched his fists, taking a deep breath. "Inukimi…that night, we got carried away in anger. Both aggressive and sexual behavior activate our fight-or-flight response," he recited, "which triggers the release of adrenaline and blood flow throughout the body—"
"Oh, spare me, Touga. Did you go and read a biology book while you were gone to make yourself feel better about the fact that you rutted me again and liked it?"
"Psychology, actually," Touga grumbled. "The point is, it was a purely physical reaction, and it changes nothing about our situation, Inukimi. Whatever you wanted to come out of that…encounter…I can't give it to you." He looked away from her.
Suddenly, she snatched his jaw and forced his eyes to hers. He snarled, an automatic response to being ensnared so, but Inukimi just held him there and stared him down.
This time, she would not be the first to look away.
"Look me in the eyes and say that again in precise terms so I understand it," she growled. "What do I want? And what can't you give to me?" she bit out.
He set his features into a stern stare. "You want me to be your husband again."
"Fool," Inukimi hissed. "I already have a husband, whether he behaves as one or not. I want more than that."
Uncertainty came into Touga's eyes. "What…do you want then?"
Inukimi's heart cracked once more. Seven hundred years I waited to tell him…and when I finally did, did it not even register? She shoved him away in disgust. "If you truly don't know the answer to that question, then you are beyond hope, Touga."
Hurt crossed his features. "And you're like a child, Inukimi. Assuming it is, in fact, my love you want, you had it for the longest time, but you didn't take it. Now that you can't have it, you suddenly want it."
Inukimi recoiled, stung. "Suddenly? You think this is some recent whim? I told you how long I've felt this way—since even before you brought her home!"
"It doesn't change anything, Inukimi! Izayoi is still my mate, and I love her. I'm not leaving her—I can't leave her just because you finally decided to return my feelings."
Though the first part of his statement stung, the second part made her pause. "Return your feelings? Do you mean to say you still love me then?"
Touga sighed. "Kimi, I never stopped. But…that love has evolved over time. It's had to. It's not what it once was…or what I once offered you." He reached out and took her hand, and she froze as he sandwiched her palm between his large ones. "You were my first wife and the mother of my firstborn. You will always have a place in my heart. But our time as a couple has passed. It ended centuries ago. When are you going to accept that?"
Inukimi pulled her hand away. "Why must I accept it? You admit you still love me, and I still love you. Why can our relationship not evolve too?" Touga opened his mouth, but Inukimi cut in with, "And don't say it's because you're mated. Because you and I both know I could mate you just as much as you've mated Izayoi. Whatever relationship you are in, Touga, it will always be incomplete."
Touga stiffened. "Would you tell these words to Sesshoumaru? That because he is mated to a human, he should keep himself open to having a demoness mate him too?"
"If he loved her too, then I don't see why not," Inukimi answered. "At least then our line might not be finished. But the difference, Touga, is that Sesshoumaru is not you."
Whatever Zero had said about Sesshoumaru being faithless, Inukimi knew it to be false. Sesshoumaru had never shown any sort of faith in Zero. His heart had always been with the human girl. That much was obvious now.
She continued, "Sesshoumaru has loved only once, and however much I might wish it otherwise, I know he will love only the once. That is the sort of demon he is. Ask me how I know this, Touga."
Touga swallowed thickly. "How do you know this, Inukimi? Did you…see it?"
She scoffed. He thinks Akuru showed me this too? Hardly. "I know this because he is my son, Touga. He may have inherited his…tastes…from you…but he inherited his heart from me."
She did not wait for him to respond, for as far as she was concerned, that was her final word on the matter. Inukimi turned and left the storehouse.
Touga was still optimistic that he could go back to Izayoi and resume life as he always had with her. But Inukimi knew the pain of betrayal well, and forgiving as Izayoi might be, she suspected the couple would not reconcile just yet.
Which meant that, despite what Touga claimed, she still had every opportunity to win him back. She just had to take it.
However, instead of the relief she expected that thought to engender, she just felt a sense of dread. And it gave her a realization.
I'm tired. I'm the only one who's been trying to make this relationship something more than it is for decades. I'm tired of watching and waiting and planning while he galivants around enjoying life.
She deserved to enjoy her life as well.
But how was she supposed to do that when the only way she could see herself enjoying it was with him?
Izayoi had kept herself as busy as she could for the past two weeks. She cherished every text from her son and daughter-in-law as they updated her on their honeymoon travels in Hawaii. But she couldn't wait for them to return so she could finally have some company again.
Of course, no sooner had they flown back in than Inuyasha had to set out with his father to go help Rin move to the estate. Izayoi took that time to instead help Kagome settle into her new home, and the sweet girl regaled her nonstop with stories of their trip, promising to share all the photos with the family later that night when they were all together again. (Apparently, she was suffering through social media withdrawal, since she wasn't allowed to post pictures of Inuyasha online and share news of her honeymoon with the internet world, so the family would have to serve as her captive audience.)
Izayoi felt strange about not welcoming Rin right away when the convoy of cars and moving truck arrived, but she decided to leave her be. After all, the poor girl had yet to meet Inukimi, and curious as Izayoi was, she did not want to intrude on that particular acquaintance.
That afternoon, Inuyasha trudged back into the house, collapsing on the couch and groaning something about Rin's insane amount of plants. Kagome took that as her cue to go see her sister while Inuyasha napped, tired from both jet lag and moving Rin in. Izayoi would have gone with her to say hi, but at that moment, Touga returned.
His eyes immediately flew to Izayoi's. There was still pain in them but also the wary joy of homecoming. It infused her lungs, making her sit straighter. It wasn't the first time she had been without him for so long, but they had never parted on such horrible terms before. Their combined gloominess had rested over her shoulders like a yoke this last fortnight, and as it lightened with his emotions, she felt she could breathe a little easier. Her traitorous heart even skipped a beat upon seeing him again, and she wondered if he heard that.
She nodded, letting him know that he was welcome inside. He had to be, otherwise Inuyasha and Kagome would ask questions. But she didn't move to kiss him as she normally would have. Instead, she crooked her finger at him and walked upstairs to their room. Even though Inuyasha appeared to be asleep, they needed some soundproofing between them and their son's ears.
A cautious hope fluttered through the bond as Izayoi led Touga upstairs, and she quickly compartmentalized it, as she had long learned to do with his emotions. She didn't need them clouding her judgment right now.
She walked inside and kept her back to him as he closed the door. But she didn't say anything. She didn't know what to say. Though she had asked him here, in her heart, she felt he needed to speak first.
"I missed you," he murmured.
Her eyes misted over, and her heart jerked. "I missed you too," she answered.
"May I hug you?"
She craved his touch. Even now, she could imagine the warmth of his body wrapping around her, banishing the chill creeping over her skin. And yet…the last person he had embraced was Inukimi.
"I'm not ready for that yet," she whispered.
"I see." The following silence dragged its claws over her. She yearned to take back the words and throw herself into his arms and let everything be just as it had been.
But he had been the liar and cheat. If she let him back in after two weeks when it had taken Inukimi 700 years…she would look pitiful, wouldn't she?
Or maybe too softhearted? I suppose it's true what they say: you always think it'll be different for you. But he cheated on someone else to be with me, so it just goes to show…once a cheater, always a cheater.
Am I being too harsh? I mean, it was one slip in seven hundred years—and with someone who's technically still his wife.
No. No. He mated me. I have a mark of loyalty on my shoulder. That should mean something. So I need to keep him at arm's length for a while.
But will that just make him run back to Inukimi, or will he try to earn my trust again?
She hated even thinking that he could betray her again like that, and yet…he had already done so, hadn't he? So what was one test in the face of 700 years of lying?
"So what are you going to do about Inukimi?"
A sliver of confusion flowed from him. "I've spoken with her. I've told her that the future she wants for us is impossible. I'm yours, Izayoi. Whenever…if ever you decide to take me back."
"And if I don't?" some devil prompted her to ask.
She caught the aftershocks of the pain her words caused him. "Then an eternity of loneliness is nothing more than I deserve."
Izayoi shook her head. "Maybe so. But telling her off isn't enough. She's stubborn. She's not going to give up on you now that you've shown interest."
"Interest? That's not how it was—"
Izayoi spun around and snapped, "Don't lie to me, Touga! I saw what you two did. It looked like a bomb had gone off in her room. I…I know you've always had to hold back with me during…intimacy, but I suppose I never realized just how much." Tears sprang to her eyes, and she refrained from blinking, trying not to let them fall. "Obviously, she can give you something I can't: that wild, demonic abandon. And a part of you still wants that."
Touga looked ready to protest but then stopped. "I…forgot that part of me existed. I thought that Touga had died when…well, when I nearly did."
"So what now? Are you taking her back?"
Touga frowned. "No. I told you—"
"Then are you sending her away?"
Now he looked confused. "No."
"Why not? If you really want to repent, why are you keeping temptation in front of you?"
He frowned. "You know what this world is like for us, Izayoi—I can't just kick her out. But I know now to be on my guard."
"Why should you have to? We have a million other properties in this country where she can stay—as long as it's not here with you."
Touga's jaw tensed. "Izayoi, I've told you before: I'm responsible for her."
"Why? Because she's still your wife?"
Touga's eyebrow twitched. "No, because I am her alpha, and I have a duty to protect those in my clan."
Izayoi laughed. "I think Inukimi can protect herself just fine." For some reason, those words created a twinge of pain in her mate. Of course. Alpha males always want to protect their bitches. Typical. Her anger got the better of her, and before she could rethink it, she added, "Besides, are you really the alpha in this relationship—or is she? Because it seems to me that you're wrapped around her finger."
Touga's eyes flashed. "That's not fair—"
"Isn't it? This is why she keeps trying, Touga: because you can't give her up! Even if all you give her is a centimeter, she's going to take a kilometer."
Touga sighed, rubbing his hands over his face. His frustration mirrored her own. "I hate fighting with you, Izayoi. Tell me what it'll take for us to get back what we had."
"I don't know if we can get back what we had. You trampled on it."
Her answer sent a lance of pain through his heart—which rebounded on her own. "Can't we try? What if…what if we went to marriage therapy?"
Izayoi hesitated. "W-Where did you come up with that idea?" It wasn't a bad idea or novel—just unexpected. The Japanese hadn't really embraced counseling culture. Much of it was still stigmatized. After all, seeking counseling meant there was weakness in the family, and the family unit needed to be perceived from outside as strong.
And if humans viewed therapy so poorly, imagine how demons did. Their vanity knew no bounds. Was there even a demonic counselor out there? Because they certainly could not go to a human one.
"I've been…reading a lot of psychology books lately. And given Sesshoumaru's own issues lately, it's made me more open to the idea of needing…outside help."
Izayoi didn't know how she felt about airing all their marital dirty laundry to a counselor, but…if he was willing to try to repair their marriage, perhaps she needed to meet him halfway.
"I…suppose that could work."
Touga swallowed. "Actually…I think the three of us could benefit from it."
Izayoi bristled. "You want marriage counseling with both your wives? Together? In the same room?"
Touga winced. "Don't say it like that—"
"Then how should I say it? Maybe, instead of us getting counseling, you should be the one getting your head looked at. It seems to me that you're the one who doesn't know what he wants."
Touga froze and blinked at her in shock. But after a moment, his shoulders relaxed. "Yes. Maybe you're right." He put his hand on the doorknob.
Her heart fluttered. Were they done already? She was both sick of this conversation and yet didn't want him to leave just yet. "Where are you going?"
"The den. I'll stay in there for now…if that's alright with you."
She nodded slowly. "Yes. You should stay in the house so the kids don't think anything's amiss. I don't want to take Inuyasha down from his wedding high, and Sesshoumaru has enough to worry about right now." Touga nodded in agreement. "Though you might need an excuse if Inuyasha finds you in your office night after night."
Because even though Touga didn't need sleep as often as she did, he often lay beside her just to be with her.
"That will not be an issue. I have plenty of work to do. Finding Naraku's sanctuary has proven difficult. I may need to come up with a new strategy."
Izayoi had forgotten all about Naraku in light of recent events. "Alright. Well…Kagome wants to show us pictures when she gets back. You should be there for that."
He nodded. "I will." His gaze never left her as he opened the door and stepped out—not until it closed him off from her sight.
Kagome didn't return until late that evening, having spent the day catching up with her sister and helping Rin get adjusted. Izayoi was washing dishes when her daughter-in-law returned. Kagome made a beeline for Inuyasha as soon as she walked in the door.
"Inuyasha, you're not going to believe this. Sesshoumaru made a sex joke."
Inuyasha spat out his drink and coughed. "He what?"
Touga also looked on with interest from his armchair.
"I know, right? He even sat and had dinner with us!" Kagome prattled on. "I mean, not that he ate anything, but you know…he was there. And then Inukimi came and made things awkward. But the point is—"
"What did she do?" Touga cut in, his eyes narrowing.
Izayoi tried to temper the jealousy that flared up. Though the current of unease flowing from Touga told her he wasn't asking after Inukimi because he wanted to, it still irked her that his attention seemed to be focused on her.
"Nothing beyond playing her usual game of Twenty Questions," Kagome sighed. "She found out Rin was adopted, and I don't think she liked that very much…but then she asked how she and Sesshoumaru met, so I thought that was progress…until she tried picking that apart as well."
Touga sighed. "That woman doesn't listen. I see I'll need to speak with her again about her treatment of Rin."
Izayoi frowned. Why must you speak with her at all? She pitied Rin, certainly. But why did it have to be Touga's business to make sure Inukimi watched her mouth? He might have been her husband on paper, but he certainly hadn't acted like it in centuries.
Not until now, at least.
Izayoi shook her head. She needed to get her mind off these events. So she plastered on a smile and turned around. "Kagome, didn't you want to show us your pictures of Hawaii?"
"Oh, yes! Let me cast them to the TV," she said, hopping onto the sofa next to her husband and snuggling into his embrace. As Inuyasha's arm wrapped around his wife, Izayoi's heart warmed at the sight of them.
Even if her own marriage was going to pieces, at least her little boy had found love.
Even so, a prickle of sadness came over her as she sat down on the cold, empty side of the couch—as far away as possible from Touga in his chair.
Kagome proceeded to narrate their honeymoon trip day-by-day, with Inuyasha inserting his own commentary here and there. Izayoi smiled and laughed and was anxious to see every picture—even of the places Touga had taken her to before. Those dredged up bittersweet memories of her own romantic, lazy nights on the beach with Touga.
She chanced a glance at him and found her mate staring at her with the same loving expression he had worn from their own trip—and during all centuries before that. Was he recalling those carefree days as well, wishing they could just rewind time to before the incident? Her lips twitched up in the barest hint of a smile, but you would have thought she'd jumped his bones with the resulting fountain of relief and joy that erupted through their bond.
He didn't love her any less. She could sense that. But the pain of betrayal was still there, and it would take some work to move past it. Even so, she knew she couldn't hold out forever. As long as he still loved her, she would welcome him back. Eventually.
For the first time since the girl had come to live with them, Sesshoumaru left her alone in the house with Inukimi while he went to work at the Sanctuary.
The girl had only been living there for a matter of days, but she was already making her mark on the home. Her tubs of plants still sat in front of the living room window. No doubt, Inukimi would start finding plants everywhere she looked soon. Her home was turning into a veritable greenhouse.
But what bothered her more were the obvious marks the girl had left on her Sesshoumaru. Soft touches, gentle gazes, sitting with her while she ate, and making innuendos? He was no longer the son she knew. It was too much change for Inukimi to handle all at once.
Luckily, the girl seemed to avoid her whenever possible, so she tried to keep to her daily routine, where she could find some semblance of peace. Inukimi sat on her divan that morning, reading through the news on her tablet and pretending that the girl's human stench did not linger in the air.
But as if Inukimi's thoughts had summoned her, the girl appeared.
"Good morning, Mother," she said upon entering.
Inukimi glanced at her without lifting her head, huffed in response, and then resumed reading. The girl continued over to the entertainment center. "Do you mind if I pop in a DVD? The TV in my room doesn't have a player, and there's something I'd like to watch…."
Inukimi waved her off. Wonderful. Now my quiet serenity will be ruined with that noise.
But to her surprise, not one sound echoed out of the speakers as the girl inserted her DVD. Inukimi couldn't help but glance over to see what she was watching. The black and white shapes moved in abstract patterns, and the girl's information appeared at the top of the screen. It took a few seconds for Inukimi to understand what she was seeing.
Ah. This is an ultrasound.
She knew about them in theory, but she had never had one, of course, nor been around anyone who had.
The girl casually darted looks over her shoulder at Inukimi, and the demoness rolled her eyes. Does she think she's being clever? "I know what you're doing."
The girl affected a look of innocence as she turned to face her, though Inukimi moved her eyes back to her tablet. "Well, I would say it's pretty obvious. I wanted to see my babies again, so I'm watching the ultrasound from yesterday." She smiled in what appeared to be a genuine manner. "They're very active. Did you know Sesshoumaru uses his demonic energy to play with them? They respond to it, and it made for such an engaging ultrasound! Would you like to see?"
Inukimi glanced up. "They react to him?"
"Yes! Hmm, let me speed up a bit, because you can really see it happen on the other one." She fast-forwarded. "Okay. So you see how calm she is? And then…there! He's started reaching out to her, and she's gotten all excited. Can you see those little arms of hers flying?" she squealed. She got up and walked to the TV, pointing them out like a doctor to a patient.
Inukimi watched silently for several seconds. "And what of the other one?"
"Sesshoumaru says she's shy, so she doesn't respond quite as much, but I can show you when she did. She was at the start. Hold on." She rewound the ultrasound back to the beginning and then let it play. "Aaaaand…there. Did you see her fist pump? That's when Sesshoumaru prodded her."
"Hm."
"Did you ever play with Sesshoumaru like that when you were pregnant?" Rin asked.
Flashes of memory stabbed at her: sitting on her throne, caressing her stomach as she let her little Sesshoumaru explore a tendril of her energy, familiarizing himself with it. Touga laying his forehead against her belly with an intense look on his face…and his expression lighting with joy as soon as Sesshoumaru responded to his playful prodding and kicked him in the head.
She had not thought about those moments in a long time. "Certainly."
"Would you like to meet the twins that way?"
Inukimi finally lifted her head to look straight on at Rin. "So that was your plan."
"What plan?"
"Do not play coy. I detest falseness."
The girl sighed in defeat. "Okay, yes, that was my plan. But I'm a little upset that I had to resort to something like that to even get you to consider the idea. I mean, they're your grandchildren, after all. Don't you want to get to know them?"
Inukimi closed her eyes and huffed once as she lay back against her divan. "Did you know that Sesshoumaru detested Inuyasha for centuries merely because he was a half-blood? Despite being his brother, he refused to accept him. Even now, he only tolerates him."
"I've gathered as much, and I don't expect them to suddenly start hanging out at ball games together or something. There's centuries of a…rough relationship to work through first. But Sesshoumaru would not live on the same property as someone whom he detests, and his feelings on humans and half-demons have obviously changed. Otherwise, the girls and I wouldn't be here."
"Yes, well, unlike my son, I do not have some human lover to change all my ideals overnight." I do not have any lover at all.
"No, but you do have half-demon granddaughters. In some ways, I can understand Sesshoumaru's continued grievances towards Inuyasha. He's the son of another woman, even though that isn't his fault." Inukimi bristled. She dares speak so openly to me about this? But before she could cut her off, the girl continued. "And I think Sesshoumaru understands now that he shouldn't blame Inuyasha for that. But these girls are your own flesh-and-blood. How can you hold any part of themselves against them?"
Inukimi sighed. "What is it that you want? If you are waiting for me to say that I accept them, do not hold your breath. My son was supposed to continue our line for the good of demonkind. We are dying out, and he is a pureblooded demon. If you were in the same situation, what would you wish for your child?"
"I understand, but you cannot change what's happened. And I may not be a mother quite yet, but aren't mothers supposed to want their children's happiness above all else, even if it doesn't follow our own desires?"
Inukimi's nose crinkled. "Mothers also want what's best for their children."
"I agree. But sometimes, what's best doesn't make them happy. In this case, however, I think what's made Sesshoumaru happy has also been what's best for him."
"Oh? And how would you know? You've spent, what, a grand total of a month in his company?"
"I have. And I've noticed that the Sesshoumaru I know is completely different from the Sesshoumaru everyone else knows. When Kagome spoke to me about 'Inuyasha's brother,' she was always frustrated about trying to get through to him or about how unwelcoming he seemed. Now, she's trying to plan double dates for us because he's finally showing others the side that he's shown me, and she wants to get to know him better now."
"If you're trying to convince me that wearing his heart on his sleeve is for the better, you're doing a poor job."
"I'm not saying he wears his heart on his sleeve; on the contrary, he's still frustratingly closed when expressing himself sometimes. But it is better for him emotionally. He's been carrying so many burdens within himself for—dare I say it?—centuries, and by letting them out, he's starting to let them go. It's not healthy to keep things locked inside. Trust me. I kept so much inside when I was a child, I just stopped talking altogether."
Inukimi turned away from her. The girl was making a sound argument, and she didn't like that. It hit too close to home. How long had she kept everything bottled up before exploding? And it ruined everything. Certainly, revealing my feelings didn't help me let them go. "I tire of this conversation. Leave, before I get truly irritated."
"No."
Inukimi turned back to her, her eyes widening in surprise. She had sensed the spine this girl had the first day she came to live with them, and yet she hadn't thought the human would actually stand up to her. Given the girl's erratic upbringing, she could sense her desire to belong. "So impudent. I thought a girl like you would do everything you could to respect your…mother-in-law." She said the words as if they were rancid meat coating her tongue.
"Respect goes both ways, Mother. I may not be a lady like you, but I am your son's chosen mate. If you cannot respect that and you cannot respect your grandchildren…I'm afraid I'll have no choice but to keep them out of your life. I will not subject them to a family member who derides their very existence. Children deserve to be loved, not hated for something they could not control."
"Hard to keep them out of my life if you are living here."
"Then we won't live here. Sesshoumaru has offered to have us move out already. I need only say the word, and he will make it happen."
Inukimi sucked in a minute breath. What? He's never mentioned this to me.
It was the paradox of all mothers: she wanted her child to be able to fly free, but she also never wanted him to leave the nest. Inukimi had enjoyed having Sesshoumaru back home with her these last several decades. She finally felt like she had a family again—like someone, at least, cared about her, since Touga's love only seemed to go so far.
But this girl—Rin—had the power to take it all away.
A grudging part of Inukimi had to applaud her. Touché, Rin. It seems you are not afraid to exploit others' weaknesses. You are stronger than I thought.
After several tense seconds, Inukimi said, "If I meet them now, will you finally leave me be, so that I may continue my reading in peace?"
"Yes. Just once is all I ask."
"So be it. Come here, and let us make this quick."
Rin's heart thundered in Inukimi's ears as she approached the divan. Inukimi stared at Rin's bulging stomach with a mask of boredom, head propped up on her hand.
In truth, she was rather surprised just how powerful the little ones' auras were for half-demon fetuses. Curious, Inukimi sought out one of the auras and poked it. She heard the child's little kick against the walls of her home.
Rin gasped and grabbed Inukimi's propped-up hand before she could stop her, pressing it against the spot on her belly. "Do it again!" she commanded.
Inukimi's eyes widened in affront. "The nerve! I did not permit you to—" But just then, the babies kicked once more against her hand.
A surge of physical memories welled up inside her—the weight of that child in her belly—and she tore away her hand, as if she had been electrocuted, not nudged by her grandchildren.
She had been so physically miserable during her pregnancy, yes, but now through the lens of centuries, she recalled more the feelings of love and affection that had surrounded her—both from her husband and her unborn son.
I'm never going to feel such happiness ever again, am I?
Rin's smile was a little more forced this time. No doubt she took offense to Inukimi's reaction. "See? They like you. That's exactly how they react when Sesshoumaru touches them. Maybe they can sense you're also family. I don't know much about demonic auras, but Tsukuyomaru-san noted that the barrier can recognize the auras of family members, so maybe the twins can too." She smiled.
"Perhaps," Inukimi grunted, trying to regain her composure. She refused to cry again. She had done enough of that a few weeks ago to last for a millennium. "Well, I've done as you've asked. You may leave now." She gave one last look at Rin's belly—one last experimental stroke of the other twin's aura—before returning to her tablet.
"Okay. Thank you," Rin answered. She turned the TV off and left the room. But Inukimi noticed she didn't take the ultrasound DVD with her.
The girl still had a lot to learn about the art of subtly. And yet…Inukimi could not deny the effectiveness of her plan. For as much as she tried to ignore it, the DVD seemed to give off this irresistible aura, and it wasn't until Inukimi realized she had read the same paragraph five times and still didn't retain it that she finally set aside her tablet and walked over to the television to scratch the itch.
She could sense Rin was back in her own room, so she took the opportunity to secretly watch the ultrasound from start to finish. A mix of emotions swirled in Inukimi's gut. She wasn't sure she had each twin's demonic signatures pegged quite yet, but she had felt the difference in the brief time Rin had forced their introduction. And their excitement had been…infectious.
It was a lot easier to dislike the half-breeds when she hadn't been able to feel them…or see them. But now, she was starting to feel…curious.
The realization left a strange taste in her mouth. While the bitterness of losing this game to a human girl made her tongue curl, there was also a lingering sweetness—like she had won something from this encounter.
Inukimi watched Rin more closely over the next several days—and only partly so that she could start to distinguish the twins' auras from a distance. But in doing so, she noticed all the familiar symptoms of pregnancy taking over her daughter-in-law, and she couldn't help but sympathize. Rin's moods were mercurial, resulting in an astonishing fight with Sesshoumaru that lasted for days. But that only made the girl dive into nesting more, and with Sesshoumaru's permission, she tore into Inukimi's tastefully decorated Iris Room with gusto, beginning its transformation into a nursery (and Inukimi was far less sympathetic here). The demoness struggled to keep a calm head with so many changes happening around her.
And perhaps Rin did too, for Inukimi couldn't help but notice that even after tensions between her son and his mate died down, the girl's blood continued to thrum in her veins like an anxious rabbit's.
And then one night, Rin collapsed.