InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Of Gods and Monsters ❯ Chapter 18: The Shadow of Doubt ( Chapter 18 )

Much thanks to Merith and Chri for the betas and to Everstar for the soothing pats to the head when I'd start tearing my hair out.

Chapter 18: The Shadow of Doubt

Rin sat quietly in the grass, morosely watching the stream flow by. She was aware of the monk a short distance behind her. He was leaning serenely against a tree. Rin glanced over her shoulder; the monk's eyes were closed, but she doubted that he was asleep. A small frown formed on her brow and she pushed herself to her feet, padding over to where he rested. She knew that Sesshoumaru-sama's brother and his friends had been spending a great deal of time watching over Teles-sama. Once Teles-sama had woken, Rin had been allowed in to see her -- but only for a little while. She didn't look as hurt as when Inuyasha-sama brought her to the den, but Rin was still worried -- Teles-sama didn't get hurt. What happened?

Tilting her head to the side, she looked intently at the monk's face. Of Inuyasha-sama's friends, she liked Houshi-sama the best. He didn't seem to talk very much -- or maybe he just knew when Rin didn't feel like talking. Something about that reminded her of Sesshoumaru-sama. With a soft sigh, she dropped down to the grass next to him, leaning back against the tree.

One violet eye opened lazily and regarded the small child. "Is everything all right, Rin?"

The girl glanced up at him, offering a brief smile before turning her attention back to the middle distance. "Nobody's telling me anything," she said, her voice soft. "Is Teles-sama going to be okay, Houshi-sama?"

Miroku sighed deeply, resting his left hand on top of her head. "Some very strong magics were used against her, Rin. She appears to be getting stronger, but she is going to require time to recover."

"Then why did Sesshoumaru-sama have to leave again? And why hasn't he come back yet?"

Regarding the girl with sympathetic eyes, he ran his fingers lightly through the smooth, dark hair. "He believes that he can help her -- he only wishes to speed her recovery. Remember, he had a great distance to travel. His return will not be a quick one."

Rin picked up a thin blade of grass and twirled it absently in her fingers. "So he's trying to get Teles-sama fixed?"

Miroku nodded once. "That's correct, Rin." Even if it is, at this point, impossible. Soon after Teles had awoken, Inuyasha and Kagome had told Miroku and Sango about the former goddess' condition, the spell that had rendered her mortal, and the fact that it was not reversible.

She was quiet for a moment, her small fingers tearing the blade of grass into two thin strips. "Okay. That's a good reason."

His eyebrows quirking together, he regarded the girl, puzzlement in his eyes. "A good reason? I'm sorry?"

Rin looked up at the monk, her dark eyes serious. "The last time Sesshoumaru-sama went away, it was to find Teles-sama, because she was lost, only she wasn't lost -- she said she was hiding. And when Sesshoumaru-sama came back with Teles-sama, I asked if he was going to be leaving again, and she said, 'Not without excellent reason, I am sure of it.' If he had to go away to get Teles-sama fixed, then that is a good reason." She was quiet for a moment. "I just wish he'd come back."

"I'm sure he will, Rin." I never believed I would see the day when Sesshoumaru's return would be something anyone ever anticipated. One look at the young girl's face kept Miroku from expressing that sentiment out loud.

"And when he does come back, it will mean that Teles-sama is all better, right?" She grinned at him expectantly.

Miroku frowned. Not exactly... He opened his mouth to reply when the words were cut off.

"Because Sesshoumaru-sama can fix anything, Houshi-sama."

***

"Ouch!"

Kagome frowned, running her fingers lightly over the slowly healing welts on Teles' back. She winced sympathetically when the former goddess flinched at her touch. "I'm sorry," she murmured. "Just trying to see--"

"How I'm healing," Teles supplied tiredly. "I know, but..."

"Things aren't looking too bad back here," Kagome said, an attempt at brightness. Most of the red streaks had started to scab over with no trouble. There was only one particularly ugly weal on the left shoulder blade that seemed determined to continue oozing blood. She sighed. "This might sting a little bit." Chewing thoughtfully on her bottom lip, Kagome dabbed the wound with more antiseptic.

Teles sat cross-legged on the bedding, miko robes clutched to her naked chest, eyes clenched tightly shut. She still ached, but not quite as badly as when she had first woken up. She slept a great deal -- something she wasn't used to and fought against -- but she was finding that she could stay awake for longer periods of time. During these hours of lucidity, she usually took the opportunity to get to know the tightly-knit group. When Kagome had come in telling her she wanted to take a look at her wounds, Teles hadn't thought much of it -- she usually quite liked it when Kagome came in to sit with her. But right now, whatever the girl was putting on her back was only causing more pain -- the stinging sensation made her clench her jaw until her eyes watered. Air hissed through her teeth. "Great Gaia, what in all the gods names are you doing?"

"Sorry," Kagome replied. The wound on Teles' shoulder blade glared angrily at her. It didn't look like it was going to stop bleeding anytime soon. "I think you're going to need stitches for this one," she said softly.

"Stitches?" Teles asked, straining to look over her shoulder at Kagome, puzzlement evident on her features. "Whatever for?"

"Sometimes the human body needs a little help in the healing process. This wound on your back needs to be closed. That's all. Stitches will bring the skin together and help it heal."

Teles was quiet for a moment. "Stitches... as in sewing?"

"Right."

"My... skin needs to be... sewn together?" she asked, her voice small.

Kagome swallowed hard. "It's not really anywhere nearly as bad as it sounds," she said gently. "It's actually pretty common where I come from. Besides, you're in very good hands; Sango has had a lot of experience patching up wounds like this one."

"It sounds as if it will hurt." Teles thought about this for a moment before adding, "More."

Kagome was quiet for a second. "Well, it doesn't really feel good, but..."

"But it will... help me."

"That's right," the younger girl said. "The bleeding will stop, and the cut will heal. If we leave it the way it is, you'll leave yourself open to infections, and the cut may not heal properly. At least with stitches, you'll cut down on the chance that you'll scar."

All of the moisture leeched out of Teles' mouth at that final word. Scar. She had seen scars on mortals before -- the lifeless bodies of mariners draped over jagged rocks or clinging to ship's debris in a desperate death-grip. Teles and the rest of her Sirens had often stared in unabashed fascination at the shiny, discolored lines, amazed that creatures whose bodies could undergo such punishment could be so easily drawn in by a simple song. She glanced at Kagome again. "Are you sure it's necessary?"

Pursing her lips, Kagome nodded. "I'll go get Sango." Offering Teles a reassuring smile, the young miko stood. "You'll be fine -- I'm sure of it."

The woman's green eyes followed Kagome as she left the room. Once she was alone, Teles swallowed hard and felt her body break out into a gelid sweat. Stitches. Scars. A needle drawing thread through her skin. Her skin. The very idea made Teles' flesh prickle uncomfortably. She had scarce little experience with sewing, but had a basic grasp of the concept. And she was not comfortable with the idea of that being done to her. I had no idea mortals had such barbaric healing methods.

She rested her hand on the lower part of her stomach, letting it drift in slow circles. The motion always seemed to calm her, particularly when the pup was in one of his more active moods. Unfortunately, it didn't seem to be working now. Rubbing her hands over her face, Teles tried to calm the frantic thumping in her chest as well as the icy, prickling sensation that was crawling down her back -- she'd never had any idea that humans felt everything so deeply. She found it exhausting -- another foreign sensation to which she had to adapt. Fear left her drained; the sadness, loneliness, and melancholy she experienced as a result of her mate's absence squeezed her chest like a physical ache, and when she was able to eschew sorrow for anger -- and she was still quite angry with him for leaving -- she found herself only temporarily rejuvenated. Anger, too, left her weary. The others seemed confident that she would adapt to her human state and all that it entailed; Teles hoped they were correct.

There was a faint rustling by the doorway; Teles pulled her hands away from her face in time to see Sango and Kagome come in, both of them with identical expressions. Teles smothered her sigh. This was going to hurt. Swallowing hard, Teles said, "So... this is... truly required?"

Sango sighed, regarding the woman on the bed. "I'm sorry. I had hoped it wouldn't be necessary." Sitting down on the edge of the futon, Sango set down a small kit and unwrapped the needle roll.

Teles stared at the needles, her eyes widening slightly. "P-perhaps... the wound needs more time to heal?"

Sango laid a warm, gentle hand on Teles' shoulder. "If it were going to heal, it would have drawn together by now. I simply need to help it." She noticed that the woman's eyes had focused on the collection of needles. Without another word, Sango picked up the kit and moved behind her. "Hold her hand, Kagome."

Kagome nodded and, perching on the edge of the bed, held Teles' hand tightly. "Squeeze my hand if it hurts, okay?" She felt a tiny flicker of uncertainty as she said the words -- one good squeeze could do serious damage under the right circumstances. On the other hand, she's barely strong enough to stand up for more than a few minutes at a time. Somehow I don't see her being able to grind my bones into a pulp.

Teles nodded, licking her lips and swallowing hard. "I think you can be assured of that." After a second or two of silence, she cleared her throat again, addressing Sango. "Yes, Kagome said as much -- that the wound needed some assistance. I... I had simply thought... perhaps... this body, being so newly human... maybe it requires more time to heal."

Sango was quiet for a moment, her tongue peeking through her lips as she threaded the needle. "Everything else seems to be healing normally. The bleeding has stopped on all of them but this one." She poured some of Kagome's 'disinfectant' over the needle and wiped Teles' back lightly. This task was so much easier with Kagome's first-aid kit. She had stitched up wounds before, but with the materials from her friend's time, Sango was nearly positive that the procedure was less painful. Of course, you wouldn't know it the way Houshi-sama complains anytime I've had to dress his wounds...

Teles shivered at the cold, moist pad dragging across her back. The air chilled it further. She could feel Sango behind her, but the young woman hadn't done anything... yet. She hated this -- the anticipation, knowing that something unpleasant was coming, but unable to avoid it. "It... it's going to hurt, isn't it?"

Kagome watched as Teles closed her eyes tightly, waiting for Sango to close the cut. She felt a momentary stab of sympathy for the woman -- she'd only needed stitches once in her life, but knew the process wasn't a pleasant one. To be someone who had never needed any sort of medical attention before... It certainly had to be strange. She gave what she hoped was a reassuring smile. "Sango's had lots of practice doing this -- on those in her village as well as on the rest of us. You're in good hands, I promise."

Sango allowed herself a small smile at her friend's praise. She drew the wound together gently and began to sew, carefully but as quickly as she could manage. She could feel the woman's body tense under her hands. "Please, Teles, try to relax," she murmured. Miraculously, the muscles under the skin stopped bunching frantically. Sango frowned as she worked steadily, knotting the thread carefully when the wound was closed. "There," she said, relaxing.

"You're... done?" Teles panted, craning her neck to look at Sango.

Sango nodded, cutting off the thread. "Finished."

The former goddess' head dropped forward. "Thank the gods," she breathed.

Kagome smiled and gave the woman's hand a squeeze. "See? It hardly took any time at all. I told you, you're in good hands."

"Still, it is not something I would look forward to having done to me," she said, glancing over her shoulder again.

Sango smiled apologetically as she cleaned the wound quickly. "I'm sorry I had to do that." She turned her attention to the needle and cleaned that as well. "But, at least if there's any scarring, it will be minimal."

Teles nodded, somewhat comforted by this. "And... what of the thread?" That part of her back felt sore and strangely tight. She didn't like the sensation, but chose to believe that neither Sango nor Kagome would lie to her about this being a necessary procedure.

"It gets cut and pulled out when the wound has had a chance to draw together," Kagome answered.

The former goddess winced. "That sounds horrible."

Sango grinned wryly. "It's not nearly as bad as putting it in." She moved around to sit next to Teles, pushing up her sleeve. "See... this one I had stitched, and you can't really see it. This one," she said, pointing to a larger scar, further up her forearm, "I didn't."

Staring, fascinated, Teles lifted her hand hesitantly. "May I?"

Shrugging, Sango replied, "Sure."

Teles carefully traced the scar with a fingertip. "And this is what a human body does when it is not given the chance to heal correctly?"

Sango nodded. "It's the body's way of making sure the wound is protected. It's just a thicker kind of skin."

"But... it mars you," Teles said softly.

Kagome was quiet as she watched Teles contemplate this. She'd never given much thought about scarring, one way or the other. She herself had a few scars from some childhood accidents -- taking the occasional spill from her bicycle or even banging into furniture in the middle of the night. Scars were a part of being human, which, of course, Teles had very little experience with. Suddenly the former goddess' preoccupation made a whole lot more sense.

Sango grinned faintly at Teles' words. "Yes, I guess it does. But it's kind of unavoidable in my line of work."

Teles nodded thoughtfully. "Ah, yes. A taji-ya. I suppose it would be..."

The young woman's smile faded a bit. "My little brother didn't have many scars, but he wasn't very old..."

Teles frowned, a small pit of discomfort settling in her stomach. "You speak of him in the past tense..." Given the way the sadness seemed to pass over Sango's brow, Teles knew the explanation, even as she asked the question and almost cringed at her apparent inability to keep her mouth shut. She'd never had such troubles before.

"He's...." Sango trailed off, her voice soft. "It is a... complex situation."

The discomfort in Teles' stomach intensified, tightening into a heavy ball. She sat very still for a moment, struggling with the words. "I... I'm sorry, I did not intend to..."

Sango shook her head quickly, her hair moving gently with the motion. "It's all right. I'm still getting... used to it."

The other woman nodded slowly. "I always... admired the way mortals were able to... adapt."

Kagome smiled gently. "You'll probably find yourself with the same ability."

"I find myself unable to avoid it," Teles answered wryly.

"Well, it's all part of being human," Sango agreed. She regarded Teles for a moment. "I'm sorry if I hurt you. I've sewn Miroku up a few times and he always chides me for being ungentle."

"It did not hurt any more than... a needle pulling thread through flesh should hurt." She paused, her brow wrinkling in thought. "I think. At any rate, I would not listen to the monk if I were you."

Sango grinned. "I don't listen to him most of the time anyway."

"Miroku would probably say that most of us don't listen to him," Kagome mused, likewise grinning.

"I would say that is a very wise decision on your parts," the woman responded. A comfortable silence settled over the room and Teles carefully slid her arms into the white linen robes. The miko robes they had brought her were incredibly comfortable, the red pants loose enough to accommodate her growing stomach. When she looked up, Teles saw Sango eyeing her abdomen curiously. "Sango?"

"Yes?"

"Is something... troubling you?"

Sango hesitated before answering. "...No." She swallowed. "I... wondered what it felt like," she said, nodding at the woman's stomach.

Teles shifted and settled back, resting against the cushions. "Ah." She nodded once. "Before... I didn't really feel very much. I didn't feel him at all, really. He was a ... presence. Now..." she pursed her lips wryly. "Now he makes his presence known." Sango nodded once and Teles offered a dry grin. "And he does not appreciate being ignored." Pausing thoughtfully, she mused aloud, "I suppose that might run in the family."

Sango and Kagome both chuckled. "Astute observation," Sango said, a twinkle in her eye.

"And you haven't even seen Inuyasha at his most impatient," Kagome mused.

"When he is... displeased or restless, his movements reflect it. He has been both of those things continuously it seems."

Sango nodded. "That's definitely a family trait." The taji-ya grinned impishly. "I think you should make Miroku sit with you when he's feeling especially lively..."

"Why is that?" Teles asked.

Her grin widened. "He's in the habit of asking young women in every village to bear his child. I thought he should get a preview."

"To give him some sort of idea of what he'd be putting them through?" Kagome asked, a similar grin forming.

"I think you see my point," Sango replied, eyes flashing with humor.

Kagome's lips curled into an amused grin. "I don't think he could handle it for more than five minutes, you know."

Teles chuckled softly. "Of course, as I've scarce little experience with pregnancy of any kind, much less human, youkai, or hanyou... it would not surprise me if my little warrior were not more... active than a full human child would be. It may not be quite fair to subject the monk to such a display."

Sango was quiet for a moment. "Do you know if Inuyasha has any insight into hanyou pregnancies, Kagome?"

The young miko sighed. "I asked him once, but he just asked me if he was supposed to remember what it was like in his mother's womb."

"No, I suppose he wouldn't," Sango said, frowning in thought. "Would Sesshoumaru know? Was he there?"

"I... I don't know if he was there. But maybe he knows about youkai or hanyou pregnancies in general," Kagome answered.

"I wonder if he does," she said softly. Sango shook her head, her eyes alight. "This is really... fascinating. I feel I should take notes."

"Notes?" Teles asked, puzzled. "Whatever for?"

"My family specialized in..." She stopped, blushing a bit. "My family hunted youkai. We were all taji-ya. It wasn't just me. And... and we had quite a bit of information on various types." She watched Teles' face for a moment. Yes, the former goddess knew what Sango was, but she didn't seem to be registering what that meant until right now. Something tightened inside of Sango as she saw the woman's eyes look down. "I am in the habit of only killing those who attack humans," she supplied, hoping to ease the worry out of the former goddess' eyes.

Teles nodded slowly. "And," she glanced down at her stomach, "he has only caused one human discomfort, and I daresay she doesn't really mind that much."

"I wouldn't kill your child," Sango said, her voice almost inaudible. She smiled faintly. "After all, I've killed neither Inuyasha nor Shippo."

A small smile formed at Teles' lips. "And if you have known Inuyasha for any period of time and have not killed him, I believe that speaks volumes of your self-control..." She grew thoughtful for a moment. "But, in truth, he's been kind to me. He does have a kind heart, for all of his efforts to conceal it."

Sango nodded solemnly. "He forgave me for trying to kill him."

Teles blinked. "You tried to..."

"Long story," Kagome supplied. "Very long, convoluted story..."

Sango sighed, nodding. "I was.... well. Yes, it's a long story."

Teles tilted her head, regarding the two younger women. "You know, I've noticed you all say that quite frequently..."

"Not without cause," Sango murmured enigmatically. Kagome nodded in tacit agreement.

Suddenly, a wide yawn cracked Teles' jaw. She stretched, trying not to irritate her newly sore shoulder. "Gods, why does this body insist on rest when I'm least ready to appease it? I've no interest in sleeping."

"Well, you did have a bit of a shock just now," Sango said, standing and picking up the kit.

"And injuries require a lot of rest -- your body needs time to heal and recuperate. You're not going to spring back immediately. Between the fall and the spell, your body's dealing with a lot right now." Kagome stood and watched as Teles settled on her side, pulling the blankets up over her shoulder. "Rest well. We'll be in to check up on you in a little while, okay?" She caught Teles' tired nod and, nodding at Sango, headed for the door.

Neither girl spoke until they were in the main hall. "Hard to believe, isn't it?" Kagome asked, turning to face Sango.

"What is?" the demon exterminator asked.

Kagome shrugged. "Well... take your pick. That Sesshoumaru mated at all, that his heir's a hanyou..."

"That his mate is a former goddess-turned-mortal," Sango added, arching an eyebrow delicately.

"That too," Kagome murmured, pursing her lips.

Sango gave a soft sigh. "Makes our lives seem less complicated, almost."

Kagome chewed her lip thoughtfully. "Almost," she sighed. "I just hope... when he returns..." She glanced worriedly behind her. "I know Inuyasha said Sesshoumaru wouldn't harm the child, but he's got his doubts, and I've got to admit, I think I do too..."

Sango's frown was immediate. The thought had certainly crossed her mind, and apparently she hadn't been the only one. "Does Inuyasha intend to protect the child from Sesshoumaru at all costs?"

Nodding, Kagome sighed. "I think that's his plan. I think... seeing her like that... I think it might remind him a little bit of his own mother. And knowing how Sesshoumaru feels about humans..."

Sango's eyes softened. "You're worried about him. About them." When Kagome nodded again, Sango paused before nodding decisively. "Then I will help," she said. A rueful grin lit Sango's lips. "My father would have been quite proud of me for taking down the Lord of the Western Lands." She slid an arm around Kagome's shoulder. "We'll take care of it."

Kagome smiled sadly. "I... I want to believe he wouldn't hurt his mate or his child. I really want to believe that. But..."

Sango's eyebrows drew together in a frown as she nodded. "Does Miroku know what we might need to do?"

Kagome pursed her lips. "I don't know -- I don't think so."

"I'll... talk to him."

"That's a good idea," Kagome said. "I think he's taken Rin outside for some air." When Sango's expression turned to one of disbelief, Kagome only shrugged. "I know, but she seems to... like him."

Clapping a hand to her forehead, Sango muttered, "Sweet gods, it's endemic."

***

Sango's trip out into the brilliant autumn afternoon found Miroku leaning comfortably against a tree, his eyes closed peacefully. Rin, Sesshoumaru's charge, leaned against him, her head in his lap, napping. Both of them looked completely at ease and -- even Sango had to admit -- adorable.

It was enough to bring her to a screeching halt.

I did not just think that. She took a few more steps forward. And I think I may really need to kill something later.

The exterminator had taken only a few more steps when Miroku heard the movement. Though he opened his eyes slowly, his hand had tightened on the staff, his body ready to spring into action had that sound precipitated some sort of threat. Once Miroku saw that it was only Sango, his body relaxed just as quickly, and his expression brightened.

Sango felt a traitorous flutter in her chest at his expression -- the way his lips turned ever so slightly upward whenever he saw her. She closed her eyes in annoyance. I am so... what is that phrase Kagome likes? Ah, yes. Screwed.

Miroku opened his mouth to say something, but was suddenly aware of Rin still napping peacefully against him and snapped his mouth shut. He watched silently as Sango dropped down in a crouch next to him and whispered in his ear. "I need to speak with you, Houshi-sama."

Humor glinted deep in his eyes. "I'm afraid I'm otherwise occupied at the moment with a lovely -- if exhausted -- female companion," he whispered back.

Sango arched an eyebrow at him. "When you're finished, then, Houshi," she whispered dryly.

Miroku sighed slightly and turned to Rin, gently disentangling her from his robes. He shifted away silently and pushed himself to his feet. "We shouldn't go far. I would rather not be required to explain to the Youkai Lord of the Western Lands that his charge wandered off on my watch."

Sango nodded, glancing down at the little girl. She felt a slight twinge in her chest for a moment. Without really thinking about it, she shrugged out of her yukata, revealing her black bodysuit, and draped it over Rin.

"Especially in light of the recent..." Miroku paused, a half-smile on his lips as he watched her cover the small girl's sleeping figure.

"Recent what?" Sango glanced up at him and caught the look. A flush warmed her face. "I... didn't want her to get cold," she whispered.

Miroku nodded. "Ah, the recent... truce. Tentative though it may prove to be."

Sighing, Sango straightened and walked further away from Rin. "Everybody's worried about that..."

"I think it is a valid concern."

Sango nodded once. "Kagome tells me Inuyasha is concerned that Sesshoumaru's new-found tolerance may not extend to a human mate and a hanyou child..."

Giving a heavy sigh, Miroku shook his head slowly. "That had occurred to me as well." He paused for a moment. "Though that child follows him around everywhere..."

Sango glanced back at Rin, a small smile playing at her lips. "Yes."

"But, I suppose that the instance of a single child is somewhat different than a demon lord's mate and heir not being of pure youkai blood -- or divine blood."

She shook her head slowly. "It's at times like this I wish my family had put less study into how to kill them and more about how they live." She turned her hands up helplessly. "If I knew more..."

"Yes, but every creature can venture away from its habit occasionally. There are no absolute rules, Sango. Even with youkai. We have no insight to what's going on inside Sesshoumaru's mind right now. He could return and continue on with that new-found tolerance, or he could come back determined to kill his mate and heir. There is no way to tell for sure, at this early date."

"I know," she nodded, shifting a bit, looking somewhat uncomfortable. She directed her gaze back at Rin, this time frowning faintly. "I wish she didn't like you quite so well..." She paused for a moment. "If he does return and... attempts to kill Teles and the child, Inuyasha is determined to stop him."

Miroku let his gaze follow Sango's before he replied softly, "I would not have doubted that."

Sango swallowed. "And I said I would help."

"I would not have doubted that either," he murmured.

She caught him with a level gaze. "Where do you stand, Houshi-sama?"

He met her gaze with one of his own. Instead of answering her, he asked, "Tell me, Sango, why do you wish Rin did not like my company quite so much?"

She looked away, uncomfortable. "If you agree to help us... if we have to kill Sesshoumaru..." Sango looked up at him, her dark eyes clear. "I don't like the idea of breaking her trust in you."

"Ah, I see." He was quiet for a moment. "I cannot in good conscience stand by and allow the senseless slaughter of a mother and her child."

"I didn't doubt that."

Miroku glanced again at the slumbering Rin. "However, I sincerely hope it does not come to that."

Nodding slowly, a strange expression crossed Sango's face and she gave a soft half-laugh, shaking her head almost ruefully.

"Does something amuse you, Sango?" Miroku asked.

"It has been strange enough traveling with Inuyasha. But now...I find myself actively reluctant to kill Sesshoumaru. It's strange."

Miroku gave a soft sigh. "It is indeed a unique situation. But then, we're in a situation where learning more about a creature -- human, hanyou, youkai -- often removes the mystery that may be associated with it. Learning about it makes you relate to it somehow, sometimes rendering it less frightening -- less intimidating. Less... puzzling, I suppose." It was easy to hate what one didn't understand. Providing understanding had the potential to remove blind hate. I just hope we all haven't grossly misjudged the situation.

Sango nodded silently, stepping back a bit. "That was all, really. I thought you'd help, but I felt I should ask."

Miroku offered her a small, reassuring smile. "If it comes to that, I will help, Sango. You can count on it."

Sango nodded, smiling faintly as a slight blush colored her cheeks. "Oh, there was one other thing."

"What was that?"

"I thought you should go and keep Teles company the next time the child is restless."

His eyebrows quirked together in puzzlement. "And why is that?"

"It's only fair that you witness what you keep asking those poor women to go through, don't you think?" she tossed over her shoulder, walking back towards Rin.

Miroku stood in silence, watching her walk, the gentle way her hips swayed in the snug jumpsuit. His eyes slid downward as she bent down gracefully to retrieve her yukata. With a grin, he followed behind her, reaching down and letting his hand graze the curve of her backside. Her reaction was lightning quick; she spun around, stopping when her hand was only an inch away from his face. He backed away quickly, his hands up in a placating gesture. "You wouldn't hit me in the company of a child, would you?"

Sango's eyes narrowed. "No." How dare he pull a stunt like that and then use a child as an excuse? Miroku had only begun to exhale a sigh of relief when Sango spoke again. "So I'll hit you later. Twice as hard."

His eyes lit up as a lecherous grin curled his lips. "Promise?"

In an instant, Sango's eyes crackled. Without any other change in expression, she dropped down and swept her leg out, knocking Miroku's feet out from under him, sending him landing unceremoniously on his rear end. She stood, a small, satisfied smile curling her lips as she placed her sandal at his neck. "Ah. I feel better."

Miroku cleared his throat carefully. "Ah... Sango...?"

She arched an eyebrow at him by way of answer.

His eyes darted over to the still-sleeping Rin. "Perhaps such a display of violence might not be appropriate so near someone so young?"

Sango blinked innocently. "That wasn't violence."

"It... wasn't?"

She leaned over and smiled sweetly. "No."

Miroku blinked, confused. "I... see. So, what was it?"

"An accident," she replied, taking her foot off of his neck. She slid into her yukata, without tying it shut. "See you," she said, giving him a little wave before walking back towards the cave, swinging her hips a bit, for no good reason.

Miroku sat up, rubbing the back of his head as he watched Sango saunter back to the den. After moving back to his original spot against the tree and maneuvering Rin's head into his lap, he sighed softly and shook his head, still watching her, committing the sway of her hips to memory. A small grin lit his lips. I really am a glutton for punishment.

***

Inuyasha sat quietly on the high tree limb, letting his back rest against the thick trunk. The wind gently rustled through his hair and clothes and he felt yet another distant sliver of memory tug at a far part of his mind. The few days they'd been at the den, Inuyasha hadn't been able to ignore the frequent familiar sensations. They came so unexpectedly, catching him even when he would be in the middle of the most mundane task, or -- like he was at present -- doing absolutely nothing at all.

Sango and Kagome were watching over Teles and the pup, Miroku was making sure that kid didn't wander off and do something stupid, and he had taken it upon himself to do a quick sweep of the perimeter, making sure there were no present threats. He'd found a few unfriendly youkai and had taken care of them in fairly good speed -- nothing he couldn't handle.

The only problem was, now he didn't have anything to occupy him, leaving him to sit and stare into the middle distance, his mind turning over recent events. He had pretty much come to the point where the idea of Sesshoumaru being a father didn't send wave after wave of stupefying disbelief over him. And it was quite clear that, regardless of the circumstances, Sesshoumaru's trip to Olympus was not a successful one.

To be honest, Inuyasha wasn't sure how he felt about that.

If bein' half god puts the pup in danger, I don't get why Sesshoumaru's so fuckin' determined to restore his mate -- reversing the spell means killing the kid.

Was it really as simple as Sesshoumaru not willing to live with a human mate? Didn't he get it? And if Sesshoumaru doesn't get it, then why the fuck do I seem to? Inuyasha scowled, shaking his head. He was the one who told me I was an idiot for not claiming Kagome. If he knew Teles was his match when she was a goddess, then she's still gonna be his match. Dumbass. He needs to be fuckin' thankful that that damned stunt didn't kill her instead of running around fuck-knows-where trying to turn her back into something that'd get his damn pup killed. Gods, he's supposed to be the methodical one here...

It was that kind of behavior that made Inuyasha scratch his head in confusion. Why hadn't Sesshoumaru simply stayed with his mate? Granted, the spell had done a job on her, and she spent most of her time sleeping, but she seemed to be adjusting to her newly acquired humanity. It was Inuyasha's opinion that she could have taken it a whole lot worse. Instead, it was Sesshoumaru who was taking it badly. The spell was performed on Teles, it was Teles who had her immortality stolen from her, it was Teles who fell out of the fucking air, it's Teles who's faced with the shortened life span...

Suddenly, Inuyasha realized that wasn't entirely true. She wasn't the only one who was going to be forced to deal with her mortality. And if Inuyasha knew Sesshoumaru like he thought he did, the hanyou was fairly sure that the Great Lord of the Western Lands wasn't going to take this kind of news very well: that there were some things in this world that not even a powerful youkai could change. The pure bloodlines he was so obsessed with wouldn't help him now. In fact, none of Sesshoumaru's previous obsessions would help him.

Hell, I could hand him Tetsusaiga, gift-wrapped, and it wouldn't help him. For all of the power he's tried to get over the years, none of it matters. Tenseiga can't help him. Not even that evil-ass Toukijin can help him fix this. For the first time in his life, he's not powerful enough, and no sword can fix it. Hell, nothin' he could acquire -- or steal -- would fix it.

Privately, Inuyasha wondered how Sesshoumaru was going to deal with this news in the long run. He also wondered about his half-brother's ability to accept the circumstances he was given and found himself growing more and more concerned for the as yet nameless, unborn pup.

A/N: Thanks for your patience, guys. I know this update was a long time coming, but for some reason, this chapter just would NOT form. (And then there were ff.net technical difficulties that were kinda beyond everyone's power!) I'd just like to take the opportunity to thank everyone for the reviews -- I'm glad you're enjoying OG&M -- it really gives me the warm fuzzies. Thanks!!