InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Bitter Blood ❯ Chapter 14

Bitter Blood

Chapter 14

The next few months passed without event. Daichi grew older; he learned to stand and walk on his own. His claws and fangs grew longer and stronger. He was weaned from the breast and moved on to more solid food. He even began to utter a few intelligible words--mama, dada, Dodo (for Dokumi), and Jakken. He could also say sword, chair, dolly, food, and no, which seemed to be his favorite word. Rin was proud to have such a bright, happy and intelligent child; he was only nine months old.

Sesshomaru, though present, was increasingly away from the castle. Sometimes for days at a time. Sometimes taking Jakken with him. When they returned, they never spoke of what they had done, but Rin had a feeling it was dark and ominous. Daichi sometimes refused to go to either one of them once they returned from their excursion. She figured he smelled something on them he didn't like.

"It's war," Dokumi had said. "Something similar to this happened before. It began at the borders and slowly worked its way into our territories . . . I suppose your lord and the council are trying to contain it."

But that was just Dokumi's opinion, voiced after Sesshomaru had taken Jakken with him for the second time, and they had stayed away for three days. When they'd returned, they had three men with them--the lords from the East, North and South, according to Dokumi. They'd retired to the study, and Rin had gone to bed upstairs before she could see them leave. They'd made no noise, but she'd felt quite disturbed at their presence. And for the first time, she'd felt grateful that Kagome had given her those wardings.

She didn't have to use them that night, or any night thereafter, but she felt more secure, knowing that she had them, and she could use them if the need arose . . .

"My lady?" Dokumi called for her attention.

Sesshomaru and Jakken were once again away. She, Dokumi and Daichi were gathered around the fire in the great hall. She sat in her chair, Daichi played on the floor, and Dokumi was seated on her cushion. With her lord and Jakken gone, she was in charge of the castle. "What is it, Dokumi?"

"Should I prepare the evening meal, my lady?"

Rin nodded. "Yes," she said. "Please."

Dokumi rose to her feet and disappeared into the dining room. It had been nearly a week now since her lord and Jakken had last been seen. They left without word, as usual, but this time they'd taken Ah-Un and some of the male servants from the castle . . .

She didn't like to think about it, but perhaps Dokumi was right. Perhaps there was a war going on.

"Dada," Daichi said.

She glanced down at her son. "Dada is away," she said calmly. "But he'll be back any time, now. Dada and uncle Jakken."

"Jakken," Daichi smiled widely, exposing all his fangs.

Rin laughed. She supposed that's why demons didn't laugh too often. It was a somewhat fearsome sight--all teeth and fangs. Even though Daichi was obviously happy, his grin had a certain wickedness to it . . . But that was because of his teeth, not because of what was going on in his mind.

"Dada," he said again.

"No, Daichi. Dada is away. I know you miss him, but try to be strong for your lord father. He won't be away much longer." She knelt down on the floor beside him. "How can he stay away from such a wonderful family?"

"Dodo," he said.

"Yes, Dokumi is in the kitchen. She's making our dinner."

"Food!" he laughed loudly.

"Yes," Rin nodded. "Food. The kitchen is where we prepare our food." She smiled to herself. "You know, when I was small, I had to get my OWN food," she said. "I'd steal from the fields and catch fish from the streams. And it was simply the most amount of fun I could have."

"Fun," he repeated.

"Yes," Rin clapped. "Fun. You've learned a new word."

"Fun," he said again.

She nodded and smiled. "Such a clever boy," she patted the top of his head. "Yes, fun. Mommy had fun, gathering her own food . . . I don't think your father and Jakken knew much about humans in those days, and it was easier for them to let me go my own way, then to ask me which way they should go. But as I got older, and they were around me more, I think they got accustomed to my 'strange' eating habits, so they started bringing food back to the castle, instead of having me go out and get it." She smiled thoughtfully. "I also think they did it in fear of something 'unnecessary' happening to me. They both kept quite a watchful eye on me . . . I think they were afraid someone might steal me while I was trying to steal their food. The gods only know what they would've done if that had happened."

"Food," Daichi cheered.

"You smell the food being cooked?"

"Food," he repeated.

"Well, I can't smell anything yet. So, I think we'll just wait in here a little longer. Whatta you say?"

"Food," he smiled.

She sat back and admired him. "You men and your one-track minds."

* * * *

Another day passed without word from her lord. Then another and another. Nine days with no word from her lord.

"My lady," Dokumi stood in the entrance of the dining room, "dinner is ready."

Rin grabbed Daichi's hand and led him to the dinner table. "Come, young lord, our meal is ready."

"Dada," he tottered along beside her.

"No, Daichi. No Dada."

"Dada," he said again.

She wiped at her brow. "Now, Daichi, I know you don't really know what you're saying. You're just experimenting with words and sounds, but . . ."

"Dada!"

"No!" she crouched down and faced the child. "No Dada, no Jakken . . . just 'no,' okay?"

"No?" he repeated.

She stood and nodded, continuing their way to the dinner table. "That's right. No."

"My lady seems distressed."

Rin sat Daichi down at the table. "He's never been gone this long before, Dokumi. Before, he always returned within a day. But now it's two days, three days, NINE days . . ."

Dokumi stood off to the side of the table, watching as they ate. "I'm sure everything's fine, my lady."

"Before you said it was a war," she reminded her.

"Even in war, things can be fine. He is the Lord of the Western Lands, is he not?"

Rin nodded.

"Dada!" Daichi called out.

"No, Daichi. No Dada."

Dokumi turned her attention to the great hall. "I'm not so sure he's wrong."

The front doors burst open. "Lady Rin!"

She sprang to her feet and ran towards Jakken's voice-through the great hall and to the front entrance. It had been so long. She'd been so worried. She felt so relieved.

And then she saw them. Jakken, supporting himself with the Staff of Heads and her lord slumped awkwardly over his shoulders, his body splayed on the ground.