Chapter 19 A Dice Throw Towards the Future
When she stopped laughing behind her fan, Inukimi gave him her opinion.
"Indulge this one a summary, purely for clarity. The children wish to be mated. You disapprove, believing they are too young. Yet they are the same ages as your miko from tomorrow, which leaves you unsettled. Even though by our current day culture, they are perfectly acceptable. Based on this, you wish for me to reject their request? Not because they are human and youkai? Simply because you do not wish for them to grow up. Truly, my son, you have the oddest view of the world." She gave him a sidelong look. "Children will grow, whether or not we wish them to stay in their youths. Some must grow up faster than others." She smirked at him from her cushion, hair elegantly coifed, purple silken garb gathered just so.
In contrast, Sesshoumaru almost looked rumpled. His usually impeccable attire was dark gray and slightly mussed. His long, silvery locks pulled starkly back into a low tail. "I had hoped you would have better arguments for me, Mother," Sesshoumaru was not pleased with her veiled commentary, directed pointedly at him.
The door to the chamber quietly slid open.
Inukimi fluttered her lashes in mock modesty. "I? I have no arguments to give you. In point of fact, I am not opposed to this union at all. I get to keep my granddaughter close, gain a grandson, and perhaps more pups in the near future. As for the human mating youkai argument, that is not always such a burden."
Sesshoumaru blinked. This was not the response he had expected from her. "I assumed you would disapprove, due to Father and…."
His comment was interrupted by loud cheers from the doorway. Shippou and Rin stood there, hand in hand. Rin's smile beaming while Shippou bounced in place.
"Enter, young ones, and be seated," invited Inukimi, gesturing to cushions on the opposite end of the low table where they were seated. "We have much to discuss."
The two entered and bowed low before seating themselves. "Thank you, My Lady, for allowing us to…," began Rin.
"Ahhh, not quite yet," admonished Inukimi, a small smile playing at her lips. I said I was not opposed. I did not say I gave permission. There are many details to be discussed before decisions may be made." At that moment, a servant entered with a tray, cups, plates, and a tea pot upon it. At a gesture, she placed everything on the table, bowed and left. "Rin, you may pour the tea."
Once tea had been poured, plates filled, and both had been politely tasted, Inukimi resumed the discussion.
"While understanding you are both old enough to know your minds, there are many things to be considered before such an irrevocable act is permitted. First, we must address the unevenness of a human and youkai mating. Youkai have the potential to live much longer than humans. Shippou, you will risk being alone, without your mate for much of time. Rin, you risk aging while your mate will still be in the bloom of his youth and strength."
At Inukimi's words, Sesshoumaru sat up a bit straighter. Finally, she was understanding some of the reasons he did not approve of this mating. Obviously, she had been teasing and toying with him earlier.
Shippou looked directly at both daiyoukai, took a deep breath and answered. "Lady Inukimi, yes, we have considered the risks and talked about this together. We've decided it basically doesn't matter." In tandem, both sets of silver eyebrows shot up. Shippou continued, with a shrug. "Whether we are mated or not, Rin is going to continue to age. And I will continue on without her when her mortal time is done. I'd rather have a short time mated to her to remember throughout time, than a lifetime of regrets with no memories at all."
Rin then spoke up, an unusually somber mien covering her normal cheerful demeanor. "Rin loves Shippou, Shippou loves Rin. If we are mated, we get to be together." While better about speaking of herself in third person, when she was emotionally invested, she sometimes reverted back to her original mode of speaking. "Maybe we'll have children to continue beyond my time on earth, so he will not be alone. Also, both of us know there are no guarantees of long life, for human or youkai. There are many youkai whose lives are cut short. Sometimes because they are evil, sometimes because they are victims of violence. Humans face the same. We have both lost our birth families. We would like to enjoy the time we are given with each other."
Sesshoumaru was surprised. Rin rarely brought up her life before meeting him. She often seemed oblivious of dangers and of her odd status as a human among a mostly youkai household. Clearly, she observed and thought about it more than he had realized. Maybe she had grown up. His mother was right, he was trying to keep Rin a child. He didn't like to think about the time in the future without her in it.
Then, Rin grinned, her usual happy nature reappearing, like sunlight through the clouds. "Besides, maybe some of the legends are true. The tales say that if a human mates with a youkai, it extends her life to match his."
"Nonsense," snorted Inukimi. "If that was all it took to extend a human lifetime, they would be seeking us out for relationships, not trying to exterminate us. As if such a simple thing would allow any average human to live longer. This is as ridiculous as eating our organs to gain our strength. Although…," she paused looking sharply at Rin, "there may be a slight amount of truth to the mating as a catalyst. It should be fascinating to observe."
Inukimi continued, "Very well, children, assuming there are no other objections, this one proposes that we allow you to become betrothed. My son is correct that you are both still too young to mate, but we may announce the intent to do so, with a time two years hence for the mating to occur. The time from now until then will be spent on your current training and we shall add to that instruction on running a household and your expected roles and conduct as adults. This shall ensure you are properly ready when the time comes to pass. This also prevents other mating matches for either of you. Will you accept this one's judgement on the matter?"
Huge smiles broke out on both Rin and Shippou's faces. They looked at each other happily, and the Shippou answered for both. "Yes, thank you, My Lady, we gratefully accept these terms. Thank you again."
"Very well, you are excused." The two ecstatic teens rose, bowed, and departed with an excited swiftness.
Sesshoumaru said nothing. He just stared at his mother in disbelief. Surely, he must not have heard her correctly. With her history, she had just blithely permitted his daughter permission to mate, a human and youkai pairing. Granted, she did not seem to hate humans anymore, especially Rin. But this was not the outcome he expected, especially so quickly.
"Mother, this was not what.."
"Not what you planned? Not what you expected?" his mother broke in. "You expected this one to object, to deny them based on my history with your father. In ceding the authority of that decision to me, you expected me to take the role of villain in their love story. Instead, I am their benefactress and champion. And now you wish to know why. Very well."
Sipping from her teacup, Inukimi continued. "The young kitsune promises to be very strong, powerful in illusions. He is also extremely comfortable with humans. He has been exposed and partially reared by a human with the insight and mores of the time yet to come. Binding him by marriage and mating to our house can only be beneficial to your ultimate plan, for surely, we shall need his skills in the far future. This also removes Rin as a pawn in dynastic pairings. A position I am sure you did not wish for her to be burdened by.
"In addition, precedent has been established. A pathway to the future forged, which I foresee as necessary. The future is not guaranteed, but one can weight the dice in one's favor. This one suggests you consider both who I am and your own motives and thoughts before you say another word. We shall see you anon. Afterall, tonight is Family Game Night." With that, she rose gracefully from the table and exited the room, sliding the door behind her.
Leaving behind a rather confused and thoughtful inu-daiyoukai.
Author Note: I know I didn't really highlight a game in the last chapter or this chapter. Plot took precedence this time. Games will come back next chapter.