InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Bitter Blood ❯ Final Chapter ( Chapter 23 )

Bitter Blood

Chapter 23

"My lord!" Jakken burst through the front doors of the castle. "We're under siege!"

Rin remained curled up in a ball on the nursery floor. It felt as if Dokumi's blood was eating away at her own.

"I can give you something for the pain," Dokumi said. "Though it's better if you tough it out for yourself."

"No," she shook her head. "I heard something."

Sesshomaru appeared in the nursery door, in full armor, his two swords at his hip. "We are besieged," he said. "You will not leave this room." He looked down at Daichi, then at Rin. "Why are you on the floor?" he asked her.

"Dokumi's cure," she said.

He nodded his understanding.

"My lord! My lord! They're at the gates!"

He looked at them one last time. "You will stay here," he slammed the door shut.

"Dokumi . . ."

"My lady?"

"Go with them," she said. "If any of our men falls, I ask that you pick him up. Help my lord as best you can."

She stood and nodded. "I will do my best." She picked up her bag and walked over to the door.

"Dokumi?"

"Yes, my lady?"

"How many times have you done this for someone?" she asked.

"In all my years," she said, "I've only stumbled across three women with your condition. And out of those three, I only helped two. The third refused to trust me," she said. "She died, eventually, of some minor wound. And the other two lived."

"Only women?" she asked.

"It's not cross-gender compatible," she said. "The infusion process. A female must have the blood of a female, and the male must have a male. Otherwise you run the risk of rejection and cellular breakdown."

"Hmm?"

Dokumi smiled. "There are certain healing properties that only female bog demons carry. Unfortunately for human males, some of the female's properties are harmful to their genes. They start to break down from the inside out. And the same is true if a male bog demon would try to infuse the blood of a human female-his cells would eat away at hers. They confuse healthy cells of the opposite sex as disease."

"I see," Rin nodded. "I thank you, Dokumi."

She shook her head. "It isn't necessary."

"It makes the world a better place when we all say please and thank you."

She smiled and nodded. "Be well, my lady." She closed the door behind her.

As soon as she had gone, Rin pushed herself up to her knees and crawled over to the screen. She then took a warding from her sleeve and pasted it on the door. "Now, don't go near the door, dearest. It'll give you a big ouchie," she said.

"Ouchie," Daichi repeated.

"Yes," she doubled over again. "Ouchie."

She passed out in front of the door.

* * * * *

"My lord," Jakken said, "there seems to be some type of warding on the other side of the screen."

"Rin," he called out to her. "If you can hear me, remove the parchment scroll."

"Mama," Daichi crawled on top of her. "Mama, Dada."

She slowly began to stir.

"Rin, open the door."

She forced herself upright, and pushed her hair back from her face. How long had she been out? Were they still fighting outside? Had their side won?

"Rin!" her lord called. "If you don't remove the scroll . . ."

She peeled the parchment loose and slid the screen open. "My lord," she said, "you are well."

He entered the nursery. "You are peaked."

She drew in a couple of deep breaths. "It's her blood," she said. "At first I was on fire, and now I'm freezing."

He sat down in the chair in the corner of the room. "Come here," he extended his hand to her.

She wandered over to the chair and took his hand.

"Sit," he said.

She smiled weakly and took a seat. Once settled, he wrapped the fur of his stole around her and held her close. She rested her head against his chest and closed her eyes. "How went the battle, my lord? Were our forces victorious?"

"There was no battle," he said.

"No battle?" she said. "Jakken said they were at the gates; we were under siege."

"They were at the gates," he said. "But they did not come to battle with us."

"Then why did they come?" she asked. "Lord Kita, Lord Minamiyori and Lord Touganzoini?"

"How do you know their names?" he asked.

"Dokumi told me," she said. "They were her co-conspirators."

"Yes," he stroked the top of her head.

"Where is Dokumi, my lord?"

He was slow to answer. "She is not with us."

She stared up at him. "What do you mean, 'She's not with us?'"

"They weren't interested in us," he said. "They only wanted her. She'd cost them much in the way of men, property and expenses."

Her heart pounded loudly in her eardrums. "I don't understand," she said.

"It was much like with my mother. She'd promised the Chinese an easy victory over all our territories . . . After their defeat, they made several attempts on her life, before the other lords decided it was best if they took care of her themselves--especially after all she'd cost them . . . There are few things worse than a traitorous woman," he said.

She squeezed her eyes shut. "What are you saying? You just let them TAKE her? The other lords TOOK Dokumi?"

"She went with them willingly," he said.

"And you let her go?"

"Not at first," he said. "I told her I couldn't allow anyone under my roof to come to harm."

"And what did she say?"

"'Would you really risk your mate and child for my sake, and my sake alone? Is my service worth that much to you?'"

She sniffed back tears.

"She said she would go willingly for your sake. And for Daichi's sake. She said she didn't wish for either of you to come to harm."

She gripped at his stole, fighting back the tears.

"If you need to weep, you may," he said.

"I . . . I . . ."

He pulled her head to his chest. "This was the way she wanted things," he said.

"But things were going to be okay," she cried. "We were all going to be okay . . . She made everything be okay."

He stroked the back of her head.

"Will they kill her?" she asked.

"I do not know."

"They killed your mother, though."

"The war with China, though a victory, was a great loss to many of us. And the Lords of the North, South, East and West do not like to lose."

She drew in a deep breath and pushed it out. "I suppose it's pointless crying over her," she said. "She brought it upon herself, after all."

"Yes," he said.

"And she was your mistress, and she tried to run me off, then she tried to kill me, and she wanted to take our son . . . And she plotted against you with the other lords. You were nearly killed . . ."

"Yes," he said.

"But she didn't kill me," she said. "And she took perfect care of Daichi. And then she saved you, and cured me . . . And it was really silly of me to be so harsh with her for being with you. I mean, it wasn't HER idea, after all . . . And all the aristocrats have mistresses," she said.

"I do not want a mistress," he said.

"Some of them have dozens," she added. "And some care for their mistresses more than they ever cared for their mates."

He shook his head. "That it is not the case here."

She reached up and stroked the side of his face. "I know it's not," she said. "She said you called her by my name."

He laughed to himself. "Force of habit," he said.

She pressed her head to his chest.

"Are you well?" he asked. "Did her treatment take?"

"It's still working," she said. "I can feel it working its way through my veins."

He smiled to himself. "All will be well, then."

"Is that why you really brought her here, instead of her father?" she asked. "Did you know about blood infusions?"

He nodded. "Yes," he said. "My mother was a bog demon, after all. I should know something of their ways."

"Did you really hate her?" she asked. "Dokumi?"

"She was nothing to me," he said. "A means to an end. I have no feelings towards her one way or the other."

She looked up at him. "She bore your father a son," she said. "Surely, that must mean something to you?"

He looked down at her. "What would you have me do?" he asked. "Cry for him?"

She held his gaze, then laughed uneasily to herself. "No," she said. "I would not like to see tears in my lord's eyes."

"We should make a proper marker for him, though. That much would be appropriate."

"But we don't even know his name," she said.

"Toshi," he said. "She said his name was Toshi."

* * * * *

They were all gathered together in the great hall again. InuYasha, Kisho and Masa, sitting on one side of the room on the velvet settee; Sesshomaru and Jakken positioned on the other side. Sesshomaru was in his throne and Jakken stood by his side, the Staff of Heads firmly in hand. Daichi toddled around the room.

"So," InuYasha said, "no more trouble with the other lords?"

"No," Sesshomaru said. "Everything between has been settled."

"Good," he said. "Bored as I am, I'd hate to have war on our front doorstep." He patted the top of Kisho's head and bounced Masa on his knee.

"How old are they now?" Sesshomaru asked. "Your boys?"

InuYasha looked utterly shocked.

"I'm seven!" Kisho said. "Wanna make somethin' out of it?"

Sesshomaru hid a grin. "And the younger one?" he asked. "What's his name again?"

"Masa," InuYasha said. "Kagome named him."

"'Good and straightforward,'" he mused. "You should put him down and let him play with Daichi. He doesn't often have the chance to interact with other children."

His half-brother gave him an odd look, then put Masa down on the floor. The two boys immediately gravitated towards each other. "Well, whatta you know about that?" InuYasha said.

"And how old is he?" he asked.

"Nineteen months," he replied.

"A strong boy," he said. "Daichi just turned one not long ago."

"He's fourteen months," Jakken said.

Sesshomaru glanced down at him.

"I beg your pardon, my lord."

He laughed to himself. "Yes, I suppose he is fourteen months."

InuYasha's eyes narrowed. "What's gotten into you, Sesshomaru? Why so buddy/buddy all of a sudden?"

He smiled thoughtfully. "I have my reasons, and let's simply leave it at that."

A loud cry ripped through the great hall.

"Mama," Daichi cried.

Sesshomaru stood and scooped up his son. "Mama is fine," he said.

InuYasha snickered. "'Mama?'"

"What?" he said. "What do they call your woman?"

"She is my mommy," Kisho said. "Wanna make somethin' out of it?"

This time the lord could not repress his laughter. It was loud, it was deep, and it was genuinely happy.

"My lord . . ." Jakken gasped.

InuYasha eyed him closely then sniffed the air in front of him. "Have you been drinking, Sesshomaru?"

He journeyed back to his throne, sitting Daichi down on his lap. "Not at all," he said.

"Daddy!" Daichi squealed.

"Yes," he said. "I am."

Jakken and InuYasha exchanged glances.

Rin screamed again.

"Mama," Daichi whined.

Sesshomaru stroked the top of his head. "Mama is fine," he said. "Trust Daddy."

"Daddy!" he squealed again. "Daddy fun." He blew a barrage of spit bubbles.

Sesshomaru chuckled.

"I can do that, too," Kisho said. He began blowing spit bubbles.

"Kisho," InuYasha scolded, "you're too old for that."

He stopped immediately.

Masa blew a few bubbles and toddled toward's Sesshomaru's throne. InuYasha sighed. "Kagome's gonna kill me."

Daichi reached down and slapped Masa's head, laughing.

"Owww!" Masa whined.

InuYasha stood. "Stop lettin' your kid beat up on my kid."

"InuYasha," he scoffed, "they're children. Let them play." He put Daichi on the floor again. "Besides, Daichi is at an obvious disadvantage. He's smaller and he's younger. How could he possibly compare against your Masa?"

Daichi hit Masa on the hit again and laughed.

Masa ran crying to InuYasha. "Daddy!"

"Dammit, Sesshomaru, put a leash on your kid." He scooped Masa into his lap and comforted him.

Sesshomaru laughed to himself. "Good boy, Daichi."

He blew more bubbles. "Masa!" he toddled over to InuYasha's side of the room.

"Leave my brother alone," Kisho said. "Nobody picks on him but me!"

He sat back in his throne and smiled thoughtfully. Wasn't that how InuYasha had behaved when they were younger?

"Get away from him," Kisho pushed Daichi over.

"Don't do that," his father warned. "He's smaller than you."

"He's messing with Masa," he said. "He shouldn't mess with Masa. Masa's my little brother. And you said big brothers are supposed to look after their little brothers, didn't you, dad? Isn't that what you said?"

InuYasha pretended not to hear him.

"Is that so?" Sesshomaru asked. "Big brothers are supposed to look after their little brothers?"

"Shut up," he said.

He chuckled to himself.

Rin cried out for the third time.

"Mama," Daichi scampered to Sesshomaru's side.

"Mama is fine," he insisted.

Another cry issued, louder than the first.

Daichi began to cry. Sesshomaru stooped over and picked him up. "Why do you weep, small one? Have I not told you all is well?"

Rin cried out for the fifth and final time. A baby's cry was heard immediately afterward.

Sesshomaru smiled. "You are a brother, Daichi."

"Congratulations," InuYasha muttered.

"Yeah, congratulations," Kisho said. "You wanna make somethin' out of it?"

"No," he smiled. "I do not wish to make something out of it."

Kagome came downstairs. Sesshomaru stood.

"Well," she sighed, "I must say I'm impressed with her previous nursemaid. Whatever she did, cured her problem completely."

He nodded.

"She's perfectly fine," she said. "There were no complications, no excessive bleeding. Everything went exactly as it should."

"Good . . . Is it a boy, or is it a girl?" he asked.

Kagome smiled. "It's a girl," she said.

"You have a sister, Daichi. You must be especially watchful over her."

"Girl," he said.

"Yes," his father agreed.

"You can go up and see her, now," Kagome said. "There wasn't so big of a mess this time."

He nodded his regards and started upstairs. He stopped as he reached the bottom of the staircase. "Will you be leaving right away?" he asked.

InuYasha and Kagome exchanged glances, then looked over at him. "We really should be getting back," Kagome said. "I do have other responsibilities."

"Very well," he nodded. "Perhaps another time." He disappeared upstairs with Daichi.

The three remaining adults regarded each other. "Did he just say, 'Perhaps another time?'"

He pushed the screen open to his chamber. Rin seemed to be settled, quite comfortably on a large stack of pillows on the right side of the bed. Her face was flushed, and her eyes were a little puffy, but aside from that . . . she looked perfectly fine. The baby was bundled up snuggly in her arms.

"How is my lady?" he sat down with Daichi on the edge of the bed.

"Grateful," she smiled.

He sat Daichi down and reached for his new daughter. "Is this our Mame?" he asked. She had his hair and his eyes, but the face surely belonged to Rin.

"No," she said. "She is our Nozomi."

He looked down at her. "'Hope?'" he said.

She nodded. "I think we could all use a little hope," she said. "To wash away all this bitter blood between us."

He held Nozomi above his head. "Yes," he said. "It is a fitting name."

"I'd like Kagome to come around more often," she said. "Our children should play together... They are related, after all."

He nodded his assent. "Nozomi," he repeated.

"NoNo," Daichi said.

To Rin, "NoNo" sounded suspiciously like "DoDo."

Her husband took immediate notice of her. "Why do you weep?" he asked.

"I weep for those without hope," she said simply.

He smiled down at her. "Will show such a sour face to our daughter?" He handed Nozomi back to her.

She took her and forced a smile. "Not for all the world," Rin said.

Daichi crawled up the bed and stared down at the new addition. "NoNo," he said.

"Yes," Rin nodded. "NoNo is your little sister."

"Sis . . . Sis . . ." He seemed unable to make the "ter" sound.

"Sister," Rin repeated.

"NoNo," he beamed.

Sesshomaru knelt by her bedside and took her hand.

"What're you doing?" she asked.

He pulled her hand to his mouth and kissed it.

"You're in an odd mood," she said. "What do you think you're doing?"

He bowed his head and closed his eyes, pressing her hand to his forehead.

"My lord? Sesshomaru?"

"I am giving thanks," he said simply. "I am giving thanks that you are well, and you are with me."

She smiled to herself. "Silly."

He kissed her hand again.

"Stop that," she giggled.

He stood, then sat down by her. "Are you well?"

"You already asked me that," she said. "Is my lord well?"

"If you are well, then all is well."

"Then all is well," she said.

They smiled at each other then at their two children.

All is truly well that ends well, Rin thought.

"Are you tired?" he asked. "Shall I leave you to rest?"

"No," she yawned and let her eyes drift closed. "Do not leave."

He smiled to himself, then stood and walked over the chair in the corner. He picked it up and set it down by her bedside. "Very well," he said. "I shall watch over you as you sleep."

"Mama sleepy," Daichi said.

"Yes," his father said.

"Pretty," he smiled at his mother.

"Very," his father said.

"NoNo," he poked at her forehead.

"No," he scooped him up. "We mustn't poke our sister on the forehead. Big brothers are supposed to look after their little sisters."

"Look," Daichi said.

"Yes, look," he said. "We must look after one another from now on."

"Now," he giggled.

"Yes, now," he said. "We must all look after each other, so no one gets left behind."

"NoNo!"

"That's right. You must look after Nozomi. Mama must look after you. And I must look after you all."

Daichi stared at him. "Daddy sad . . ."

"No," he said. "Your father is quite pleased. He just doesn't always know how to show it."

"Smile," Daichi said.

"Yes, I do try to smile more," he said. "It's hard not to with you two around . . . And now there's another one."

He smiled wide, bearing his fangs.

"That is terrible," his father said. "You'll scare people."

He laughed and grabbed his cheeks.

"What do you think you are doing, my young lord?"

Daichi kissed the tip of his nose. "Love you," he smiled.

He took a moment and blinked at him, then he put his son down and walked to the back of the room to stare out the windows. Daichi followed and stared up at him.

"Daddy sad," he said.

He crouched down beside him. "Shhh," he said. "Daddy is not sad. Sometimes people weep when they are happy," he whispered.

Daichi smiled again.

He smiled in return. "My son . . ." he ruffled his silver hair. "My beloved Daichi."

"Daddy silly . . ."

THE END