Chapter 21

My heart was pounding in my chest. Was it them? My grandparents. With the amount of excitement I had, I felt like a child. I could see the look in their eyes. They held the same uncertainty that I felt. I opened my mouth to speak. Before I could get a word out, something strange had happened. They hugged me. It all happened so fast, I did not know how to react.

"Please forgive us," she said into my hair.

"It is our first time seeing you. We simply cannot help ourselves." he finished for her.

I couldn't help myself either. I found myself hugging them back. They felt so warm. It was as if I could feel the love. They rubbed circles on my back. I felt like a child in their arms as if I had finally found a piece of me that had been missing. They smelled like honey. I was melting into them. They pulled away after a while and I missed the warmth of them. She cupped my cheeks.

"Come here, let me look at you. You are just so beautiful," she said and dropped her hands.

He cleared his throat. "Where are our manners? I am Takaharu Ryu, and this is Sora Ryu. We are your-"

"Grandparents." I finished for him.

He smiled at me and nodded his head. I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself down. Despite being a complete mess on the inside. I did not want them to see that. I did not know what to do or what to say to them. All the questions I'd had merely disappeared.

"Please excuse my empty-headed behavior. This is all just so surreal."

He took my hand. "There is no need to apologize. You are our family, Himiko,"

Family. Hearing him say that word, left a warm feeling in the pit of my stomach.

The word shook me to my very core. I tried to swallow them. My tears, but they forced their way out. Before I had time to react. My tears were already rolling down my cheeks. I desperately tried to wipe them away. I did not want to ruin my first impression. They each took one of my hands into their own; wiping my tears away with the other. They both smiled at me.

"It is okay Himiko." She said. "You do not have to be perfect for us. We are just so happy that you are here. We are happy that you wanted to meet us."

I hugged them again, desperately clinging to them. At that moment I needed them as much as I needed oxygen. I was not sure how long we stayed that way.

My grandfather pulled away. "Come, let us sit and talk."

I smiled and nodded. I followed them into the dining hall. It was impressive. As everything had been thus far. We all sat, their eyes on me. I fidgeted with my hands under the table.

"I am sorry for staring," she said. "The resemblance is still so... unreal."

I nodded. "Many have said that to me."

"However, you are nothing like her," he chimed in. "So similar, yet so different."

"Many people have said that to me as well. Different in what way?" I asked; my curiosity getting the better of me.

He grinned. I could see him reminiscing about my mother.

"Zarina..." he began. "Was a very spirited child."

Spirited. People often used that word to describe her. A kind way of saying she was a bit much, I've learned.

My grandmother smiled. "Your grandfather is being kind. Your mother found every chance that she had to claw her way under our skin. More rambunctious than we'd ever seen any other child. She behaved perfectly for her people and while guests were present. However, when it was just us. Or, if you were someone she trusted. She made it her mission to drive you mad. Still, we loved her for it. I miss it now more than ever. She was exactly what this castle needed. She took any moment to fill these emptied halls with life."

She was smiling, but she had a sad look in her eyes.

"You two never to try for other children?"

They looked at one another, before turning back to me.

He sighed. "The thought has crossed our mind. We have more than enough time, but..." she trailed off."

"The wounds are still too fresh." he finished for her. "Twenty-something years is still too short of a time for us. Zarina may be gone, but she left us you."

My grandmother nodded. "I am sorry, we have been talking about Zarina all this time. We have not asked about you at all. You must deal with that often."

I nodded. "I do. However, it does not bother me. I take the comparisons as a compliment. My mother was exceptional, and so am I in my own right. Insecurity for such a reason would be foolish."

She let out a small sigh. "That is your father talking." she'd said.

What she had said had caught me off guard.

"I take it that you are not a fan of him," I said.

She gave me small a smile. "Neither of us are is it seems. I can tell by the look on your face. At the simple mention of his; you went rigid."

"Then our dislike of my father is something we have in common. I understand my disdain for him, but why do you two hate him?"

"He took our daughter from us and kept us out of his kingdom. I do not fault Zarina for that. She made her own family and she chose them. She kept in touch through letters. After she left this world, he kept you from us. That is something I could never forgive. Zarina was someone who did everything with her entire heart. She loved just as hard if not harder, but she changed herself so much for Kenji. She cut piece's of herself to fit into his world. There is no doubt in my mind that Kenji loved her, but not taking her as she was, came at too great a cost. " he said.

"I could not imagine leaving my family behind for a man."

My grandmother smiled. "Not a man, but for love. For the love of her husband and the love of her child, and eventually, for the love of her kingdom. So no, not a man. You say you cannot fathom the idea, but sitting here now. Would you not do the same for Sesshomaru?"

"Sesshomaru would never let me do such a thing."

She smirked. "That is not what I asked. Would you turn your back on everything for him?"

I would turn my back on the world for him if he asked, but I could not bring myself to say those words. I could tell by the look in her eyes, she knew that I would; just how far I would go for him.

"However, you are right. Sesshomaru would never let you do such a thing; forsake your family. That is what makes him a far better man than your father."

"How did you come to know Sesshomaru?" I asked changing the subject.

There was a glance between the two. They were hiding something.

What reason would they have to hide that from me?

"Please do not lie to me," I said.

"You are very straightforward. Something else you have inherited from your father."

My grandfather cleared his throat. "You see, we came across Sesshomaru shortly after his father's-"

The doors opened. My grandfather cut himself short, as we turned our head in the same direction. Inuyasha, Sesshomaru, and his mother stood there with Rin on her hip.

My grandfather smiled. "Lovely, now we are all here. Himiko had a very interesting question."

"What question would that be?" Sesshomaru asked sitting beside me.

"She would like to know how we have all come to know one another."

In the midst of everyone having a seat. I could see the two exchange a glance.

"If you would do the honors to explain that to her." my grandfather said.

Kimi grinned. "Coward."

Kimi knew their secret as well. It seemed the only oblivious ones in this room, were myself, Inuyasha, and Rin.

I turned to look at Sesshomaru.

"What is it that you are not telling me?" I pushed.

He put his hand on top of mine. I could see that he was trying to get his words in order before he said them.

"The reason your family and I have come across one another is because of Ryūkotsusei."

I could feel Inuyasha's eyes on us.

Ryūkotsusei. Why did that name sound so familiar?

Then the realization hit me. "The demon who inflicted wounds so great, causing your father to perish? What does he have to do with this?"

"Ryūkotsusei was your grandfather."