InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Lessons of the Father ❯ Unclaimed Baggage ( Chapter 4 )

AN: Thank you guys for reading and for your reviews. Sorry this update took so long, it's the holiday and I work in retail so it gets all kinds of nutty.

 

For those of you reading The best kind of friend as well it will be updated soon with the next 2 chapters. Its just taking awhile.

 

Very important thing id like to state… I got a beta! So yes this has been betaed! Beta Katie meet readers. Readers meet beta Katie. Yes, her name is Katie. Truly there is no end to my vanity.

 

Another cool thing, a couple of my baby fics got nominated for the IYFG this last quarter. Thanks for the nom and the second and thanks for the votes.

 

Swish, was nominated for bed Vignette and I came in forth. There is no award fro forth but I am pretty freekin proud.

 

The other was Alike on my Lj Katie24h. It was for a fic contest and I placed in that (I got a banner) and then it got nominated for best characterization, Sessmom. It totally bombed, no votes. But I cant say shit because I didn't even vote for it. The competition was too good. Come on! Forthrightly… Impersonable… I didn't stand a snow balls chance in hell.

 

 

Anyway on with the story

 

 

Chapter 4: Unclaimed Baggage

 

From the main room in the small hut Sesshoumaru heard the softly spoken words from mother to son. He was … surprised… that she intended to raise the pup on her own. Surely she had friends or someone who could take them in.

 

Winter was coming soon and he knew all too well how humans had to struggle through the months, relying solely on food stored during the previous year to sustain themselves. He could tell by her complexion and her scent that she wasn't a farmer, and therefore probably didn't have any food stored. Mikos were usually sustained by the village as a whole during the winter and in exchange for food they offered their services, but one could hardly call the mother of a half-demon a priestess anymore.

 

A small part of him sincerely hoped that his brother was not dead. She would be hard pressed to find a husband other wise.

 

 

 

Rin was the first to enter the hut. She looked utterly exhausted. She let out a long exaggerated sigh, followed by a dramatic yawn and the slumping of her shoulders. Sesshoumaru knew what her angle was.

 

“Oh, Sesshoumaru-sama, I am sooooo tired. The nice lady said that we could stay here for the night. It certainly has been a long time since we have slept indoors and I wouldn't mind it at all.” Yes, Sesshoumaru knew her angle.

 

“Very well Rin, you will stay here.” He had no intention of staying there any longer than necessary, but he had answers to seek and he couldn't take Rin where he was going, so it was best for her to stay as long as necessary.

 

Rin nodded obediently and made her way to the back of the hut to retire for the evening.

 

The woman entered the hut shortly after. “She is a wonderful child, that Rin, her mother must be very proud.”

 

“Surely, even with your inferior human senses, you can tell that for Rin to be the miko's daughter that the miko herself would have been little more than a child when she had her.” Sesshoumaru regarded the woman coldly, he was sure that Rin had tried to tell her a number of times that she was not the miko's daughter but the woman wouldn't heed her.

 

“Oh, I suppose you are right.” The woman laughed heartily, “Sister then?”

 

“No.”

 

“Cousin?”

 

“Woman, they are of no relation. The girl is mine. She will stay here until I return; she feeds and cares for herself so she will be no burden on you.”

 

The woman cocked her head to the side as if she was trying to wrap her mind around what she had just been told. It just didn't make sense that a youkai would have a human daughter.

 

“Forgive me for my boldness Youkai-sama, I was under the impression that the girl was related to your wife, it just doesn't seem possible that she is your daughter.” The woman had turned her back to him and began making a pot of tea. Obviously she didn't realize how dangerous the situation she was in was. It was a deadly mistake to turn ones back on a predator.

 

“You are very close to meeting your death, woman. Rin is not my daughter, she is my ward. And that woman is not my wife, nor is that child mi…”

 

The woman simply smiled at him and patted a seat near the hearth signaling for him to sit down while she poured him a cup of tea before cutting him off.

 

“May I tell you a story Youkai-sama?”

 

“I have no interest…” Sesshoumaru growled out through gritted teeth as he was again rudely cut off.

 

“My eldest son, Kai, is not the son of my husband. You see, when I was young I met and fell in love with a young man from my village. We were married and soon I became pregnant. Before the baby was born my husband was called away to war. He was no samurai; he was the son of a humble farmer, and so he died before he could even see our son.” The woman drank her tea and ignored the growling Inuyoukai standing a few feet away from her with a deadly gleam in his eyes.

 

“Do you know what the world is like for a woman alone, with a child? My parents wouldn't have me back, they couldn't support us. The village, even though my husband died an honorable death, offered no help either. I have no trade; I am no artisan or dress maker. I was offered a job at a tea house until they found out that I had a child. No man would want a woman whose breasts and body have been changed by having a child.

 

“My husband's best friend, Jiro, heard of our plight and invited us to live with him. If it wasn't for him my son wouldn't have survived a year. I owe him everything and love him more than anything. My son … my son knows him as `father' and no other.” The woman finished her story with a sad smile directed at Sesshoumaru.

 

Sesshoumaru digested the woman's story. He knew what she was trying to say, but he had no intention of helping the girl. He was not in the position to help her even if he was so inclined. The best, and the only thing, he could do was to discover Inuyasha's whereabouts and inform her.

 

“It is of no consequence. The girl will stay here until I return. My retainer and- “

 

“Lord Sesshoumaru, Lord Sesshoumaru, thank goodness I found you! That horrible girl, I told her to stay put but she never listens! She is stubborn as an ass I tell you! Sometimes I think she is an ass, but I have yet to see her tail!” Jaken stumbled into the hut to fall at his lord's feet, in hopes that he would forgive him for once again losing track of Rin.

 

“Enough.” Sesshoumaru gritted out, kicking the toad so that he was a respectful distance away from his shoes. “Rin will be staying here.”

 

“Oh thank the Kami Milord! It is high time that she be left with some humans, she does nothing but eat and talk and get in the way of our-“

 

“Jaken, you will remain here as well. If any harm comes to anyone in this home your life will end.” With that all cleared up, Sesshoumaru took his leave. He needed to find more about Inuyasha's whereabouts; he only hoped that the one he was intending to see would cooperate.

 

Jaken stared, stunned, at his master's retreating form, then turned to the woman who was staring, equally stunned, at him.

 

“What is it human? What are you staring at!?” Jaken squawked indignantly.

 

“Are you a frog, or a bird, maybe? You have a beak.” She dismissed herself with a wave of her hands, “Oh, either way it doesn't matter I suppose. I am sure that there are plenty of bugs for you to eat outside, where you will be sleeping.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sesshoumaru always had felt rather inconvenienced coming to Toutousai's mountain. First, it was quite a long distance up to the summit. Secondly, the abundance of sulfur in the air dampened his sense of smell making it almost impossible to identify anything specific through the overwhelming scent. Finally, it meant that he would have to deal with Toutousai. He couldn't even fathom the amount of patience his father must have had to be able to deal with the old coot.

 

“Toutousai.” The old demon jumped and spun around, abandoning his current project, upon hearing his name. Sesshoumaru gave himself a mental pat on the back for still being able to incite some fear in the old man. It always pleased him immensely when people directed a healthy amount of fear towards him.

 

“Oh, Sesshoumaru! Don't sneak up on an old man like that! What are you doing here?” Toutousai relaxed a bit, but still held a defensive pose against the taiyoukai. There hadn't been much hostility directed toward him from the taiyoukai since he regained his arm and the Bakusaiga, but one can never be too careful.

 

“I am here for information and you will tell me what you know.” Sesshoumaru stated simply.

 

“Information, eh? I can't think of anything I know that would concern you.” The old man scratched his balding head while he pondered the request.

 

“Where is Inuyasha?”

 

At this Toutousai cringed then his demeanor changed, mimicking that of a senile old man. A senile old man that both he and Sesshoumaru knew he was not “Uh, Inuyasha, Inuyasha, the name sounds familiar...”

 

Sesshoumaru let the poison in his claws come to the surface; a silent threat.

 

“Ok, ok, calm down pup! He was here, but he left.”

 

“Where did he go?” Sesshoumaru all but growled out. This was troublesome indeed.

 

“Er, I don't know where he went. And before you think to get angry, it is his quest he had to decide where to go on his own.”

 

“Speak plainly, old man; you are severely trying my patience.” Sesshoumaru cracked his knuckles, promising pain should his request be denied.

 

This time Toutousai took the offensive. He blew a cloud of hell fire hot enough to melt steel; unfortunately Sesshoumaru was able to move fast enough that the attack missed him completely. Part of the desired effect was achieved though, and Sesshoumaru was forced to move back putting enough distance between the two so that Toutousai knew he was safe for the time being.

 

“Why the sudden interest in the dealings of your brother? You never cared before.” The question was one, that to anyone else would have insured death, but given the distance and his defenses Toutousai was feeling rather brave. Or perhaps he really was senile and had completely forgotten who he was dealing with.

 

Sesshoumaru weighed his options and in the end decided to answer the question. His priority and reason for coming here, only to endure both the ranting of this old man as well as the rancid stench, were more important than killing him for his brazenness.

 

“This Sesshoumaru has unfortunately and unwillingly acquired a rather troublesome burden that I should like to return to the half-breed as soon as possible.” He drawled out, sounding as bored as possible.

 

“Burden eh? What sort of burden?”

 

“His woman and their son.”

 

“Ah, the young Kagome! That reminds me...” Toutousai trailed off for a moment then hopped to Sesshoumaru with the speed that someone that old should not possess. “Let me see that new arm of yours boy.”

 

Toutousai examined the arm, mainly focusing on his hand, for a long moment. Sesshoumaru took that moment to look else where around the cave in hopes that Toutousai was creating something worth his interest. He realized, as he felt a pinch followed by a searing pain in his finger; he should have been paying attention to the old man. He was trickier than he had anticipated; he had somehow managed to pull one of Sesshoumaru's claws with out his noticing until it was too late.

 

“Toutousai!” Sesshoumaru all but yelled at the old demon's retreating back.

 

“Patience, patience this will only take a minute. Surely a big strong thing like you won't even notice that the claw is missing. It will grow back by morning.” Toutousai yelled back.

 

No, Sesshoumaru couldn't kill him because it would seem like he was killing him because he pulled a nail; which would come off as rather silly should anyone find out about it.

 

After a series of loud bangs and blasts of fire, that Sesshoumaru could feel searing the fine hairs on his face, even though he was in another room, Toutousai returned.

 

“Here you go. Next time you see Kagome give this to her.” Toutousai said, handing Sesshoumaru a small sheathed blade.

 

“I am not a messenger.” Sesshoumaru replied, half-heatedly, as he turned the blade over in his hand, checking its weight and balance.

 

It truly was a beautiful piece. It was somewhere between a dagger and a short sword, only as long as the distance from his hand to his elbow. The handle was beautifully caved and embellished with an inlay of flowers made out of jade and mother-of-pearl. The hum of the power coming from it enticed Sesshoumaru to pull it out of its sheath. The blade was a unique design, both edges were rigged and the dips and curved went both forward and backwards so that if the blade were to pierce someone it would do as much damage coming out as going in, if not more. But, what really caught his attention was the slight green tint to the metal.

 

His arched eyebrow was all the question the sword smith needed. “Inuyasha commissioned a weapon. Something lightweight that would only be used in emergencies. It came out rather nicely. One of my better works I must say.”

 

“And my claw?” Sesshoumaru did agree; it was rather well made.

 

“Every little bit helps. Your Dokatsu was the perfect addition.”

 

Sesshoumaru found that answer acceptable. Although, he was a little apprehensive about giving the girl a weapon made out of his and his brother's claws. It was a bit too personal to him. Regardless, he tucked the blade safely away behind his chest plate.

 

“And Inuyasha.” Sesshoumaru knew he let the conversation digress too far and if he didn't get it back on track he was never going to get any answers.

 

“Oh yes, hmmm… you said he never returned?”

 

“Yes”

 

“And that was quite some time ago that he left on his quest then?”

 

“Yes”

 

“Well then… I suppose he is dead.” Toutousai stated simply. A little too simply.

 

“The quest was treacherous?” Sesshoumaru asked in hopes of getting a more solid lead.

 

“If he wanted it to be,” was the old man's only reply. “Now if you will excuse yourself, I have much work to do. Tell Kagome I said hello and congratulations in regards to the pup.”

 

“Where did he go?” Sesshoumaru's composure was slipping and he was dangerously close to losing his temper.

 

“I already told you, impudent pup, that I don't know. He needed to find a way to make the blade stronger so I sent him off to do just that. Where he chose to go and the battles he chose to fight were exactly that; his choice. That is all I know, so I bid you farewell Lord Sesshoumaru.” The sword smith grit out as if he were explaining something as simple as why day becomes night to a five year old.

 

Sesshoumaru turned on his heel and vacated the old sword smith's forge. If the old man didn't know where he went then there were few who would. Obviously nothing happened to the Tessaiga to either aid or hinder the sword; if it had Toutousai would have known. He always did have a kind of clairvoyance when it came to the condition of his creations.

 

There was one other person who might be able to give him some useful information, even if that information was only whether the whelp was dead or not. Unfortunately, asking her would mean seeing her, and seeing her would mean having some kind of conversation with her.

 

So, resigned to his fate, as soon as Sesshoumaru reached the summit of Toutousai's mountain he transformed into his true form and bound off into the sky in search of the last bitch he wanted to see at the moment.

 

 

 

 

 

She met him at the gates of her sky borne castle as she always did. And as always she was the epitome of grace and majesty. She was dressed in a multi-layer kimono comprised of silk made and blessed by the Goddess of the Moon. Her hair was decorated with gold and gemstones that alone were worth more than anything in the treasury of the richest human royals. This was her idea of casual day wear.

 

“Mother.” Sesshoumaru greeted with a slight inclination of his head.

 

“Sesshoumaru.” She reciprocated with as much malice in tone as was in his. She did not incline her head as he did; she simply looked at him with a knowing smirk playing upon her lips.

 

“Well my son, another human? I should like to know how you attract them so easily so that next time I am in need of a snack I can employ your methods.” She was toying with him and he knew it. That didn't stop his temper from rising or the contempt that he already had for her from growing.

 

“Disgusting.” Sesshoumaru ground out.

 

Her sardonic laughter spilled into the air traveling through every room in the palace. “So you have said before my son, so you have said. Although, I would not dismiss the idea all together as they can be quite tasty.”

 

It never failed. Every time he saw her she made some crack or comment about eating humans. It was not rare for youkai to enjoy the taste of human flesh, but Sesshoumaru had never been inclined to partake in the disgusting ritual. At a very young age he was unfortunate enough to see his mother eat a human male, right after she was done using him for her pleasure. As soon as the man had peaked she had ripped his throat out with her teeth. It was rather despicable, and he found it disturbing in ways that he could not even mention.

It was one of many childhood memories he would rather forget. Unfortunately she would never let him.

 

“You came here to ask me the whereabouts of the pathetic creature you call a brother.” Sesshoumaru knew it was not a question, rather a statement. It was eerie how she always knew things. He had the ability as well, although much less advanced than his mother's or father's.

 

Sesshoumaru gave her a blank expression. It was the same one he gave his enemies, never giving anything away; any emotion or show of care could have fatal results.

 

She sighed, “I don't know where he is Sesshoumaru. I don't sense his presence in hell or on earth. It is the same as the last time you came here looking for him.” She hated to give her son such disappointing news, but she had no answers for him.

 

The last time Sesshoumaru came to her to seek out his brother she couldn't find him either. It was years later that Sesshoumaru found out that he had been sealed to a tree by the priestess Kikyo.

 

Sesshoumaru only nodded at her. If she had no information for him then he had no reason to remain in this place.

 

“What do you intend to do about the girl and the baby Sesshoumaru? I know that you will not abandon them, just as you did not abandon that other little mortal. Your sense of honor borders on stupidity, my son.”

 

Sesshoumaru contemplated her words. It really didn't seem like he had a choice anymore. She was alone in the world with the newborn, and despite her strong will and confidence, she would not survive alone. It was a normal practice when one's brother died for the other to take in the family of the deceased.

 

His mother sighed again, shaking her head. “What do you know about taking care of a baby? Nothing. Should your father's clan or my own find out about this they will try to kill her and the pup. You have nowhere to go and you most assuredly cannot bring them here.” She attempted to reason.

 

She was right, family duty or not, taking her in would be disastrous. She had friends. He could take her to them. First he would have to insure that they had enough food stores for the coming winter. If he found it adequate then she and the pup would remain there. He could keep an eye on her from a distance until Inuyasha returned. It was an acceptable plan. It was the only plan.

 

Sesshoumaru's mother watched the emotions pass through her son's eyes. If anyone was able to read him, it was her. She may not have known him all that well, considering that he was raised mostly by a nurse, but those eyes were so much like her own. Unfortunately he got her eyes and his father's sense of responsibility.

 

“Taking care of the bastard son of your father's bastard son. My, how things seem to come full circle for you,” she muttered to herself, just barely loud enough for him to hear.

 

Sesshoumaru had no intention of divulging any of his plans to her. Her opinion on the matter was inconsequential.

 

“Your father's estate on the shore has been vacant for years. No one even seems to remember that it exists,” were the parting words she uttered to her son's retreating back.