InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Cinderella Stroy ❯ Okaasan ( Chapter 11 )

Shippou watched the Taiyoukai as he ran. The woods blurred past them though neither noticed, each too lost in their thoughts. Shippou was not a fool, he was young but that didn't mean he didn't understand certain things. It was almost twenty minutes before he found the courage to speak.

“Are you going to be my Otousan?”

Sesshomaru's sharp eyes darted to the kit before concentrating on their path. “I cannot answer that.”

“She was lonely before. When she was with you she was sad, but she wasn't lonely.”

“You know her scent well if you could tell all that.”

“She is my Okaasan.”

The simple statement was enough for him to stop. He looked down at the child in his arms. “Your Okaasan was a kitsune as was your Otousan.”

“Yes, but now Kagome is my Okaasan.”

No frown marred his face though it was a hard fight. He turned to look back the way he came. “How do you know she is your Okaasan?”

“I don't know, I just sort of do.”

His gaze returned to the child. Could his parents have sent her? It was possible for recently dead youkai spirits to manipulate those among the living, but only if their intentions and nature were in accord with what the youkai wanted. His eyes captured Shippou's and held his gaze.

“Tell me about when you first knew of this.”

Shippou squirmed slightly under that harsh gaze, but nodded slightly. “The Thunder Brothers slew my parents. They were trying to protect me, but they weren't strong enough. They were coming for me when Kagome arrived. She just burst into the clearing. She had this angry horrified look on her face and she purified them both out of existence. Then she helped me bury my parents. She told me that she would be my Okaasan from now on.”

“Did she say how she knew where to find you, or that you were in danger?”

Shippou shook his head, becoming slightly more comfortable though his instincts screamed that this was a dangerous youkai. “She never said anything to me.”

Sesshomaru continued their interrupted journey, more than a few suspicions drifting through his head. Shippou's parents had called to Kagome, there was no doubt, but how had they known she would make a good mother to their pup? Giving over a child was not something any youkai, living or dead, did easily. They must have been able to sense something of what she was. Perhaps a Dreaming was needed. He would certainly be able to gain a better sense of what her powers were and she might learn from the experience as well. It was something to consider.

 

 

Sesshomaru sat in his study and listened with half an ear to the children in the garden. It had been a good idea to bring Shippou here. Not only could he sense Kagome's calmness, but Rin now had a playmate. Jaken's screams of surrender rebounded off the garden walls as the two children captured him and began whatever torture they thought most appropriate. There was a soft knock and Inuyasha let himself in. With a sigh he dropped onto a cushion across from his older brother.

“Shippou-chan is certainly a handful. I don't know if Jaken will survive.”

Sesshomaru caught the gleam of affection in his brother's eyes. It was strange and utterly human that Inuyasha would like the child. From the very moment Shippou had entered the palace the two had been at odds. Shippou was still a baby, even by youkai standards, and Inuyasha insisted on treating him like an adult. Perhaps it would be good for the kitsune to have someone like Inuyasha around.

“If he does not I will revive him with the Tenseiga.”

“How did Kagome take it?”

If it was possible his brother became more stiff than before. “She was distraught, but now she is…not so much happy as content with the knowledge of his safety.”

“She cried…I can scent it on you.”

Sesshomaru gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head. “Almost, but it was a hard fight. I do not think she wanted to disturb the child with the sight of her tears.”

“I smell tears, Sesshomaru, and I doubt they were over Shippou.” Inuyasha leaned forward his eyes intense. “Listen to me, Sesshomaru. Kagome is not youkai. Things that are instinctual for youkai do not come naturally to her. She won't understand about the mating bond, or the marking. She is innocent.”

“I know this.”

“You know it but you aren't aware of it. Her body might do things; respond in ways she won't understand. You cannot take such cues as consent.”

Sesshomaru's eyes flashed with carefully controlled rage. “You tread a dangerous path, Inuyasha.”

“Well someone has to. She is not youkai, you can't treat her as one. I can scent her arousal on you. What else did you scent from her? Let me guess, fear, panic, confusion? She is innocent. You must go slowly. We are well educated in this, ever since we were considered adult every available female was throwing herself at us. Kagome may be the toughest woman either of us has ever met, but in this, she is ignorant.”

He leaned back and awaited the attack that would surely end his life, but it never came. Sessshomaru sat looking at his brother for long minutes before finally nodding. “I think I understand and…I thank you.”

“I…um…you're welcome.”

Sesshomaru turned back to his papers. “You will accompany Asano on his visit to Yuka. I will not have it said that my people are less than honorable.”

“Why me?”

Sesshomaru fought a sigh and sent a prayer to the gods to give him patience. “She will be there. She tries to keep things from me. I believe that more than once Yoshi has attempted to kill her, rape her, or both.”

Inuyasha's soft growl was all the answer Sesshomaru needed. The pup was entirely too emotional, but sometimes that was an asset.