InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Cornerstone ❯ Chapter 20: Show you’re strong ( Chapter 20 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Title: Cornerstone
Author: DeityOfDeath
Archive: Yes please...
Pairings: Inu Yasha/Sesshomaru, Inu Yasha / Kouga mentions of Inu Yasha/Kagome and Inu Yasha/ Kikyo
Category: Drama, romance, slash, Mpreg,
rating: NC-17/R
Spoilers: Most likely.
Warnings: Yaoi, Lemon, Non-con, Mpreg, Incest, SPOILERS!
Disclaimers: I never have nor will I ever own Inu Yasha or its chars. They are property of Rumiko Takashi and major companies.

Note from Author: Thank You for reading and supporting fan fiction! Enjoy and please review!

The chapter titles are lyrics from the song "Cornerstone" by Day of Fire

Chapter 20: Show you're strong

I had won over my beloved mate and soon to be mother of my heirs by having a “talk” with my younger brother Hagashouri and I further impressed him when Hagashouri appeared before my brother the next day and begged his forgiveness for having distressed him and having said anything hurtful.

I myself had a talk with my ward and adoptive daughter Rin the very next day and gave her a bit of advice. I advised her to make Hagashouri work for her favor and to make sure to mention my name and our connection should he do or say anything to upset her. No one said anything hurtful or pushed the two other than our initial talks and by the end of the week the two were once again seen hand in hand as if nothing had divided them in the first place.

As I stood watching the falling snow glistening in the morning light I felt a presence come up behind me.

“I have come to ask permission to court Rin with the intention to make her my mate,” Hagashouri's confident voice declared.

I turned to him and gave him a serious stare, “I accept your courting and would like to set a date for your bonding within the month.”

He gave a small smile which I returned, “Best to have you two bonded officially before she grows too big to comfortably have a ceremony. You should discuss with her the details and have her decide who she would like to invite. It is best to have a small affair; too much stress on her at this time is unwise.”

“Will do brother. We will discuss it tonight and should have the details for you by the end of the week,” he said confidently.

“I want you to know that I want nothing but happiness for you and Rin but I also want you to know I understand how hard this will be for the both of you. You and Rin are always welcome in our home and you need not search out another. I have the servants working on making you larger quarters for when the two of you are officially bonded.”

“We thank you brother. Your kindness and wisdom has been most invaluable,” he responded happily.

“Good, now go and tell Rin the good news and I shall inform mother and uncle so that we may begin preparations,” He gave a quick nod and went off on his way.

I didn't have to search my mother or uncle out for they came to me in my library both wearing somewhat pleasant smiles.

“So the gossip is rampant saying you have given your blessing on Hagashouri and Rin's bonding,” my mother in her sweet honeyed tone.

My mothers smile faded and she sighed, which was the first in a long time she had made such a sound.

“I understand your feelings mother; I believe that everything you are worried about has already crossed my mind. I know this will end in heartbreak for Hagashouri. He, much like you will hold the burden of having loved and lost. To separate them now would achieve nothing and will just lead to more unhappiness and sorrow on both sides. Let's just hope that their happiness can outshine the sorrow and many possible outcomes we can all think of.”

“You are wise my nephew, your father would be proud,” my uncle responded smiling at me with pride.

“Who do you think taught me such valuable lessons? He and Inu Yasha have been great teachers in my life.”

“So…if we are to move forward I must ask what you would like to do for this bonding ceremony,” my mother asked resigned to her youngest son's fate.

“We will have the ceremony here since it is winter and it is unwise to move two expectant `mothers'. We will hold it a few weeks from now when the snow begins to let up.”

“A small affair,” my mother asked.

“Those who inhabit the palace and anyone Rin and Hagashouri would like to invite. I am positive Rin would like to invite those she lived with in Inu Yasha's old village. I assume the old Priestess Kaede; if she is up for travel, the bounty hunter and her husband the monk along with their brood of children, the kitsune cub and the fire cat.”

“Hagashouri has always been a quiet child and has little to no friends that I know of,” my mother stated softly.

That would explain why Hagashouri seemed so shy and quiet. Little socialization often caused shyness and awkwardness and it didn't help his companions were often my mothers and her crowd was a little less than diversified.

“Well he is here among family, creating one of his own so I believe through Rin he shall make many friends, whether he wants to or not. She has always had a way of befriending and beguiling even the most unexpected individual.”

“I cannot deny she has been good for him, I only worry about his future,”…my mother was doting with her last child, I would give her that.

“Let the future unravel in its own time mother. Worrying about what is to be will only give you wrinkles and frown lines.”

Her eyes rose into her delicate eyebrows momentarily before she collected herself, “I shall let that go for now…”

“Very wise mother,” I responded as I made a list things that would need to be done to make the castle ready for the small ceremony.

I was left in peace as she and uncle left the room. I stayed myself only a moment more before I sought my mate. I was not surprised to find him snuggled under the blankets in our quarters with the twins, napping as he often did lately. He looked quite peaceful and angelic with a son on each side of him and his pale moonlight hair spread out around him like some princess in a fairytale.

As I moved closer to the bed I watched as his nose twitched before his eyes slowly opened and he looked over in my direction and confusion was replaced with a small smile.

“Hey, Sessh”, he said in a soft half asleep tone.

“Have you been napping long,” I asked as I softly sat on the overly large bed, carefully trying not to wake the two smaller inhabitants.

“If I had to guess I'd say I've only been asleep for less than an hour. The twins were being overly fussy so I figured a nap was in order,” he responded sounding more awake.

“Fussy,” I asked as I lay down next to Keimei on the left side of the bed.

“When they're tired they whine and fight over the silliest thing. They fought over a pillow and even when I gave up my own pillow they continued to cry and fight so I informed them that a nap was necessary.”

“That easy,” I asked genuinely surprised.

“Of course not, I had to feign feeling bad and they lay down with me to keep me company,” he said grinning.

“I have quite the cunning mate,” I said carefully leaning over and giving him a gentle kiss. As I moved back Keimei stirred and rolled so that he was facing my chest and then nuzzled against me, stilling once more as he continued sleeping.

I smiled briefly down at him before looking back at Yasha's gently smiling face, his eyes filled with happiness and love.

“So how is your mother handling the news,” he asked as his hands gently trailed through Reimei's hair as he snuggled against his side, fast asleep.

“She is ever the doting mother when it comes to her youngest. I have informed her that it will do no good to worry and to just be there when needed. Things were going to happen heedless of her worrying.”

Yasha looked contemplative but nodded, “I can only hope that he will lead the long life of a demon so that when Rin passes their child will have him as a constant. Even should the worst happen I will help when and however I can.”

“I'd expect no less,” I said as I lifted my hand and caressed his cheek.

He closed eyes and leaned in close as I allowed my thumb to caress his silky soft cheek, leaning in once more for a kiss that was gentle but became a bit needier as he returned my kiss. We were lost in soft lips and probing tongues until a loud giggle had us pulling away and looking down at our sons who sat up looking into our faces with smiles plastered on their innocent mugs.

“Gross…,” Keimei said pulling the cutest look of disgust I had yet to see while his brother just smiled shyly at us.

Yasha laughed and ruffled Keimei's hair, “That's right squirt! It's gross which means I'd better not see you kissing anyone other than your Too-san and Too-chan until you're well over one hundred.”

“That's old…” said Reimei frowning.

“Yes it is,” I said as I tickled his stomach causing him to giggle and laugh and flail around the bed kicking his small feet.

Happy moments like these were a blessing I had never expected and the thought that it could all end made a deep pain inside my chest. As I thought it I watched Inu Yasha take turns tickling the boys and knew he was the center of my world. He was the one who had expanded my horizon. Naraku was dead so there were no foreseeable threats but why is it that fear follows no reason where the heart is concerned?

Days came and went and Rin's belly was almost visible through her thick winter kimono. The snow had let up and the servants worked tirelessly preparing spare rooms for our guests, preparing the food that would be the celebratory feast and making the palace as cheerful and decorative as one could in the winter.

Rin was cheerful and exuberant and it seemed to infect the whole castle. I cannot even fathom some frowning in her presence and I can say I have not noted any frowns or sad faces throughout the whole castle. Rin seemed to always have that personality that drew you in and made you feel the joy she embodied.

Kouakajou had become my willing chauffer as he picked up the old priestess Kaede on Ah Un's chariot with the demon slayer and her monk husband along with their three children and the priestess and Inu Yasha's friend Kagome.

My home became a noise filled hive much like the home of bees, so much talk and activity that I found it hard to concentrate in the middle of all it. Inu Yasha advised that I just commit myself to the chaos and just go with the flow if it.

Today was Rin's joyous day, one of many I had shared with her and as I thought back on our pas together I watched as she gobbled down her breakfast.

Once her plate was empty she was ushered out of the room by the womenfolk while the rest of us sat around the table briefly before we were shooed from that refuge by the servants ridding the table of its contents in preparation of filling it with more for after the ceremony. We ambled our way into the sitting room where sake was served along with tea for those who preferred to refrain from drinking so early in the day.

Under normal circumstances I would have waved away the spirited beverage but today I was watching as my younger brother became bonded to my young ward that I had raised almost like a daughter. As I took the offered cup I felt Inu Yasha's hand land on my shoulder. He leaned in and pecked me on the cheek and then stood up straight making his way to the doorway.

“Keimei, Reimei…follow me boys. Uncle, please make sure my mate stays somewhat sober,” he said with placating grin.

“Do you not trust me Inu Yasha,” Kouakajou asked with his typical overly-large grin in place.

Inu Yasha rolled his eyes, “The day you become the beacon for morality and all that is right is the day I sprout wings.”

“My poor heart,” Kouakajou fake pouted.

“I believe you will heal and live another day,” Yasha shot back as he left the room with the boys in hand.

The sake' burned as it went down my throat but it warmed my chest and belly and allowed the conversation around me to sink in a bit more than it should have. My cup was filled just once more after I had emptied it and I slowly sipped from it until we were called into what I suppose passed as a decent banquet room which had been decently made into the room where the bonding would take place. We knelt or sat among rows of cushions on either side of an aisle scattered with dried flower petals from the previous fall seasons flowers. The ladies filed into the room and then my younger brother entered with my mother.

She adjusted his hakama which was the deepest shade of blue causing his pale complexion, hair and contrasting markings to stand out like blood on snow. He came to the front of the room and stood there stiff and nervous once again the young man who I knew and then Inu Yasha entered followed by our sons and after him entered a woman.

She wore a kimono I had picked out with my mothers help. A bright tangerine kimono embroidered with white cranes with black tipped wings and crimson beaks for luck with contrasting gold, silver and green.

Her long dark brown tresses the color of moist earth were pulled up and out of her face for the first time in my presence allowing me a full view of her womanly face with her bow like lips painted crimson, her deep brown eyes lined in coal making them more almond shaped than the round-eyed youth I had raised. Her eyebrows were shaped and thin, outlined in coal as well. Her cheekbones were now high and tinged pink but not due to blush, just her natural hue. A face fresh, bright and radiating happiness was bare for all to see.

She walked slowly up through the aisle at an adults pace and as she did so the ornate sticks in her hair swung to and fro; the amber jewels and crystals reflecting off the light and looking almost like a golden halo atop or head.

She reached the end and took Hagashouri's hand and my Uncle began the same speech Inu Yasha and I was given when we were mated.

The words melded as I watched the two of them stare into each others eyes, lost in one another and the moment and all too soon it ended and their lips met in a kiss no longer chaste but passionate. I looked away and felt an arm wrap around my middle. I knew Inu Yasha was comforting me and humoring my discomfort for he knew me best when it came to matters of the heart like this.

The finally parted and I looked back up as Rin laughed out loud as she used her dainty fingers to wipe away the crimson left on Hagashouri's lips from her own.

We adjourned to feast and the drinks flowed once more and Yasha handed me a cup. I sipped from it without thinking much of it and was stunned when the taste of sake' filled my mouth. He leaned in close and kissed my cheek and then my jaw.

“Even you shouldn't suffer your `daughters' mating sober.”

I squeezed his body against mine glad to have him as my own.

“Enjoy the festivities while I put the boys down for the night.”

He left me with my relatives and his friends and thankfully a full sake' bottle.

The night became a blur and Inu Yasha returned to my side not a moment too soon as we both watched Rin and Hagashouri vanish to their new quarters together.

Inu Yasha escorted my drunken body up the stairs with my Uncle's help. I was helped out of my outer kimono and then tucked into bed like a helpless pup. I was kissed atop my head and the lamp blown out as I felt my mates warmth snuggle against my side.

“Aishiteru….” I muttered drunkenly.

“Aishiteru, Sesshomaru,” he responded in a tired voice.

TO BE CONTINUED….

So close to the end….so close...

A few more chapters and I should be done…

Now for bed…

Thank you for reading and reviewing~!!

Kat