InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Patchwork Family ❯ Campfire Treats, Irish Prayers, and Good Cognac ( Chapter 22 )

A/N: All Inuyasha characters and references belong to the creator of Inuyasha, Rumiko Takahashi and published by Shogakukan. Any other characters are more than likely my own creation. If I borrow from another story I will do my best to make sure I give credit where credit is due. I will also be pulling some material (ideas and inspirations mostly, rather than exact material) from Burn Notice, the Greywalker series, Supernatural, and Lockwood & Co.

The prayer used in this chapter is a variation on an old Irish prayer, and the song is an old Irish song. I’ve always felt they were both beautiful. Some of my heritage

A recording that sounds something like I imagine Rosalind’s voice would sound can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2xnPSRSSzU. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve listened to this over the years. When I have kids, I plan on making it one of the collection of lullabies I’ll sing them when they’re little.

***

Some looked up when they got back, but mostly no one met their eyes- aside from Koga, who looked smugly pleased with himself. Kagome was surprised when, as soon as Inuyasha was looking the other way, the wolf demon caught her eye again and raised a brow, his expression clearly asking if she was alright. She was taken aback for a moment, then gave him a curt nod, walking over to stand next to Sango, close to the warmth of the grill where the smell of sizzling beef and wood smoke filled her nose.

Sango looked up from where she sat in a blue camp chair and gave her a reassuring smile. “Everything ok? Did you hit him? I might have hit him, just a little bit.”

Kagome shrugged and gave her a halfhearted smile in return, “no, I didn’t hit him. Everything’s fine.” She was startled when a small, cat-like creature, a demon of some kind, jumped onto the table. The animal picked her way over to Sango on dainty paws and made a trilling sound, brushing Sango’s hand with her double tail. Sango smiled and scratched her neck. “Hey there Kirara.”

The cat strolled another two feet and stood in front of Kagome, cocking her head to the side and looking at her curiously. Kagome looked at Sango, who smiled and said, “this is Kirara, she lives with us normally. I was a little concerned, but I think her and Axel seem to be getting along ok. I think she scared him once when he was a puppy so now he knows better than to bother her. Go ahead, give her a rub. She’s friendly, as long as you aren’t an overly curious dog.”

Kagome held out her hand and the small creature trilled, purred, and rubbed her soft face against her palm. She smiled and scratched Kirara’s ears. “You’re a beautiful little thing aren’t you?” Kirara gave her an extra sniff and seemed thoughtful as she looked up at Kagome as if she was trying to figure something out. Kagome pulled her hand back and bit her lip, giving them a nervous smile and crossing her arms over her chest.

Rosalind and tossed Kirara a gobbet of hamburger. “She has a second form; gets as almost as big as a Clydesdale and can fly.”

Kagome’s brows lifted in surprise. The cat had chewed and swallowed the meat, made a trilling noise again, and jumped off the table to run over to the kids. Sesshomaru, Koga, Kohaku, and Inuyasha were helping them haul drift wood together in a stone-lined fire pit. Inuyasha was nudging a large rock into place around the pit with one foot when Kirara paused near him. He pointed at a large dead tree that had washed onto the beach a half dozen yards away. Kagome gasped a little as the cat glowed with a fiery brilliance and seemed to expand until she was indeed as big as a horse. With a delicate sniff she took the dried up tree trunk in her mouth and dragged it over to give it to Inuyasha, who put one end on the rock and began breaking it easily into pieces.

Kagome turned back to Sango, murmuring, “impressive.” Sango laughed agreeably, handing her a can of coke. “That she is. She and I have been friends since I was a kid. She’s been a companion to my family for generations; no one is sure how long. She came home with my dad when I was six and she’s stuck to me like glue ever since. Kirara’s a good friend.”

“I used to have a cat,” Kagome volunteered. She smiled a little at the memory of her own pet, long gone now. “He was a fat calico named Buyo. His super power was managing to sleep on my face no matter what I did to stop him.”

Sango giggled and sipped her own can of soda. Rosalind was beginning to take the first burgers and fries off the grill and the smell was glorious. She lifted an arm and waved, letting the motley collection of demons, humans, kids and animals know that dinner was ready. Shippo was the first to make it to them in what had evidently turned into a race. In his enthusiasm he ran into Kagome, hugging her around the middle in his excitement and letting loose a cry of triumph. Inuyasha saw her go white as a sheet and grimace in surprise and what could only be pain. The expression was there and gone as she pulled her mouth into a tense smile. She gave Shippo a hug back, offering her hand for a high five. “Hey Shippo, great job. You’re pretty fast hugh?”

Inuyasha frowned down at the little fox demon and the boy’s proud smile faded a little. “Don’t do that kid. She’s still healing.” Shippo’s eyes went wide and he looked back up at Kagome. “I’m sorry, did I hurt you? I didn’t mean to. I won’t do it again.”

Kagome’s smile warmed and she shook her head. “It’s okay Shippo. I’m alright.” The kit still looked unsure and she ruffled his hair. “Really, I promise. How about you help me set out the pickles and stuff? Show me how you guys like to put it.”

“Don’t worry Kagome, I’ll do it!” he said, jumping over to the box Rosalind had yet to empty. As soon as Shippo’s attention was fully diverted Kagome let out a long breath and held a hand to her ribs, which were still covered in dark brown and yellow bruises. Inuyasha nudged her shoulder very gently, asking in a low voice, “you ok?”

She nodded and gave him a reassuring look that was similar to the one she’d summoned for Shippo, a smile that was a little over-bright. “Yeah, I’m fine; just a little sore.”

Inuyasha frowned. “I thought you might pass out for a second. That’s more than just sore. I’ll take a look later.”

Kagome blushed at the thought of him seeing anything under her shirt, despite the fact that she knew at some point he had likely already seen most of her.

She shook her head. “It’s fine Inuyasha.” He didn’t look like he believed her and she gave up, refusing to continue the conversation. Everyone began to file through a line, assembling plates of food around the grill and taking seats at the table. Before long everyone was eating and the group was quiet for a few minutes.

Koga bit into his half-raw hamburger and released a happy sigh. “This is totally the way to make a burger. Top marks Rose.”

Sango raised an eyebrow when Shippo, who was sitting next to her, grinned toothily and turned his own burger so they could see the mostly pink inside. She nearly choked on her own food. “That can’t be a good idea.”

Inuyasha snorted and said, “it ain’t gonna hurt him. We’re built of tougher stuff.”

Shippo positively beamed with pride at Inuyasha’s inclusion of him in the demon race. Ayame smiled and held up her own burger, which, while not as pink as Shippo’s, was still far rawer than the one Sango held. “He comes from a long line of carnivores,” she assured them. “It’s pretty good, hugh Shippo? What do you say to Rosie?”

Shippo grinned again and popped a french fry in his mouth as he said, “thank you Rosie.” Automatically Rin followed suit. “Thanks Rosie, mine’s really good too, even though it’s cooked all the way.” Sesshomaru looked a little amused at Rin’s thoughtful expression. Rosalind blushed a little under the praise and told her, “I thought, all things considered, you’d better play it safe with the rare meat sweetheart. I’m glad you guys like them.”

Miroku was sitting next to Sango with little Shiori again in his lap as he handed her pieces of a burger he’d cut up into quarters. When Sango gave her a pointed look Shiori swallowed and looked over Miroku’s arm at Rosalind with big brown eyes. “Thank you Rosie.”

Rosalind smiled at the ketchup smeared little girl. “You’re very welcome Shiori. You’re such a big girl now, you have your own burger and everything. Next year you’ll be in kindergarten. Are you excited?”

Shiori looked a little bashful and nodded. “My friend- my friend Miyu, she’s going to be in the same class as me and we’re gonna play on the monkey bars like the big kids.”

Miroku winced. “She’s really looking forward to those monkey bars every day. Whenever we go to the park it’s all I can do to pry her back down to the ground.”

Sango shared his worried expression a little, “I know. You’re a good climber honey but I wish you would stick to swinging from the bottom instead of climbing around on top. I don’t want you to fall and break something.”

“I can’t fall mommy… I’m a monkey.” Shiori informed her, in the same manner as one might observe that the sky was blue…duh….

Ayame laughed and said, “yeah Mom, don’t worry so much. She’s a monkey girl after all.”

Sango smiled ruefully and sighed, leaning over and kissing her daughter’s cheek. Shiori giggled and munched a french fry. Kagome couldn’t help but feel better as she listened to the banter back and forth. This truly was a patch-worked family. It reminded her of an animated movie she enjoyed. A prehistoric sloth had told a mammoth, a human baby, and a saber tooth lion that they were the weirdest herd he’d ever seen. She almost giggled to herself at the memory… but this was exactly the same. Never had she heard of a group of humans and demons living together like this. It was a little mind blowing.

It had been so long since she’d felt this normal, even for a second. And there’d been some days recently when she’d thought she would never experience something like a cheeseburger ever again. After a certain number of days being hungry, she’d forgotten what it felt like to be satisfied. On the heels of that thought she remembered the cold pit of worry that seemed to have taken up residence in her stomach and set her hamburger down, leaning back to let her food settle a bit. Ayame noticed her change in mood and asked, “how’s your throat? Feeling any better?”

Kagome nodded once. “It’s getting there, thanks. I should be able to get back into running opera scales by next week at this rate.” Everybody blinked at her for a moment before Sango snorted out a laugh. Well at least one person had realized she’d made a joke. Her lips twitched in a smile and gradually the others started cracking up as well. She had to grin when she noticed she even got a small chuckle out of Sesshomaru.

Everyone had finished eating and casual conversation took over. The kids had finished their food and gone back to building their sand castle, trying to coax sea water into the moat they’d carved. Kagome laughed quietly as Shiori proudly took the clip out of her hair and stuck it in the top of the sand tower, the blue ribbon waving like a flag. Sango sighed and leaned back, putting her feet up on Miroku’s lap. “That will be the last we see of that clip. Good thing she has a hundred of them.”

Rosalind stood up and began to gather the dirty utensils and trash into the box. Kagome stood automatically to help her with some clean up. Rosalind thanked her and pulled the box into her arms. “Go sit back down and relax. I’ll be right back. I have a surprise for everyone.”

Inuyasha gave her a curious look. “What kind of surprise?”

She laughed and gave him a wink. “You’ll see. I got it for the kids but everyone will enjoy it. Go start the fire.”

Inuyasha stood and stretched. “Yeah yeah. I got it.” Kagome watched him scrape some of the still smoldering wood and ash into a metal bucket from the lower compartment of the grill. Without a word she stood as well and grabbed the stack of newspapers someone had brought down. They walked to the fire pit and Kagome went to work, twisting newspapers and tucking them in under the stacked wood. “You guys are pretty good at this. Every time I’ve ever had to build a fire it was never this perfect.”

Inuyasha snorted. “We’ve had a lot of years to practice. Electric stoves and stuff weren’t that common until the 1920s. And I never cared much for gas appliances. They smell weird.” He dumped the hot ashes and glowing embers among the newspaper and within seconds, small flames began licking the smaller sticks and logs. Kagome sat back, stretching out her stiff leg with a contented sigh. The heat that was beginning to come from the small blaze felt good rolling over her. The sun was almost completely gone and the air had taken on a chill, reminding everyone that summer wasn’t in control of the merry little breezes just yet.

Before long Rosalind was striding back down to the beach with a large brown sack in one hand and an arm full of sweaters in the other. The rest of the adults still seated at the table joined her as she made her way to where they sat by the fire. Inuyasha peeked into the bag and a large grin spread on his face. “Alright! Good call. We haven’t done this in a while.”

Rosalind took the box of graham crackers back from him, smiled sweetly, and said, “I’m so glad you feel that way. You can be the stick hunter.” She turned in place, counting to herself. “We’ll need eleven marshmallow sticks.”

Koga crossed his arms and laughed. “You shoulda’ known there was a catch mutt face.”

Rosalind looked at him and arched a brow. Ayame crossed her own arms and gave him a light kick in the backside. “You can join him. Go on…”

Koga snorted in disdain but at the look his mate gave him he took off after Inuyasha. Kagome couldn’t help but be amused at the similarity between the wolf demon and a household cat. He strode away casually, as if to make sure they knew he was going only because it was his own decision, and not because Rosalind and Ayame had bullied him into it. She smiled in amusement as the two women fist bumped each other.

Sango took three of the smaller sweaters. “I better go grab the kids before they’re in the water again. Chocolate and marshmallow should be a reasonably powerful bribe.”

Rosalind smiled and saluted her friend. “That’s me, always thinkin’ ahead.” While Rosalind began to spread the s’more making supplies out behind her, away from the fire’s heat, Ayame dropped down next to her. The she wolf sat on her knees to hold her hands up to the warmth of the flames. She eyed Kagome for a moment before asking, “you’re really ok? A blood exchange is kind of a big deal. I don’t know any demon besides Sesshomaru who’s ever made one with a human.”

Kagome shrugged and repeated what she’d told Inuyasha. “Yes. He explained what happened and it’s definitely better than the alternative.” She swallowed hard and said, “I have too many things I have to do before I’m allowed to sign off on this circus.”

When the other women’s eyes flicked to her she gave them a reassuring smile to let them know the comment was in jest. Sango came back and took sat down with them. “Sesshomaru’s watching the kids so they should be along in a minute.”

After a pause she continued, as if she’d been a part of the conversation all along. “I’m going to be the horrible person and ask so I can tell everyone else to keep their noses out if it’s not the case but, um… do you and Inuyasha like each other… that way? I’ve never seen him like he is with you. He’s been… I don’t know, different; good different… I think.”

Rosalind and Sango both looked at her curiously, waiting for her answer. Ayame had the grace to at least be watching the fire, but she too was listening carefully.

Kagome cleared her throat and shook her head. “No. We’re… friends. Though I owe him my life twice over, and I’m not ungrateful for that, we’ve only known each other a few days. Besides- I thought demons weren’t interested in humans like that.”

Ayame’s eyes shone, reflecting the fire light in a way that was completely unlike human eyes, and more like those of a night hunting predator. It was beautiful, but a little eerie. “Has Inuyasha told you much about himself?”

Kagome shrugged. “A little. He told me about the blood exchange, and a little about his parents.” She felt her cheeks flush a little as Inuyasha’s words played through her head again. ‘As long as we don’t do anything else, it should fade.’ She quickly shuttered her imagination before she could consider what ‘anything else’ could consist of. She didn’t want to think about it for various reasons.

Slowly Ayame said, “demons don’t usually choose to mate a human, it’s true. But Inuyasha is half human himself, though his demon blood has grown dominant enough over the years that he’s stronger than many full blooded demons, depending on the circumstances. And he’s always had an awful lot of determination on his side to makeup for any shortcomings. Sometimes that’s good… and sometimes…” she laughed a little and shook her head. “Sometimes it just gets him into trouble.”

Rosalind pulled one of the sweaters around her shoulders and offered, “Rhiannon was human. It’s not unprecedented. In fact, one could say a bond with human women seems to run in their family.” She bit her lip a moment, looking at Ayame and Sango nervously. “I wouldn’t say that to their faces though, not sure how they would take it. Demons can be a little funny about that kind of thing, no offense Ayame.”

Ayame shrugged and sighed. “No, you’re right, on both counts.”

Rosalind nodded agreement. “I wondered if he was interested in you on that level, given that their father mated a human woman, and then Sesshomaru, despite hundreds of years of conditioning against it, mated Rhiannon; and I know he loved her.”

Kagome’s blush deepened and she shook her head again. “It’s not like that. I don’t know that it ever could be.” In response to the looks the girls gave her she added by way of explanation. “There’s too much going on for me. I have to figure out which way is up, and then…” she trailed of thoughtfully.

And then what? And then she would go after the jewel again. She wondered briefly if Inuyasha had told the rest of them about the Shikon no Tama, or much about her. He must have told them something, or at least told Sesshomaru. Tugging Sango’s sweater tightly around herself she finished, “then I have a job I need to see through to the end, and some other work that makes being with anyone a little difficult.” She forced a smile back onto her mouth, adopting a light, teasing tone. “Besides,” and her eyes flicked to Rosalind as she playfully repeated the red head’s words. “I don’t date.”

Rosalind watched the girl carefully and thought she looked very lonely, curled into herself like she was. “Inuyasha’s an honorable demon,” she said. “And a good man, though he’d scoff if you told him so. He likes to think he’s a real scoundrel, and I think might have been a bit rougher when he was younger.”

Kagome smiled for real then, just a little, remembering the way he’d held her on the bathroom floor while she’d puked her guts up and then cried herself to sleep. She remembered his fingers gently washing her hair in the sink. She remembered waking up to find him with her in the back of the jeep at Sango’s grandfather’s garage, and the way he’d whispered to her, letting her know what was going on around her so she wouldn’t be afraid. “I know,” she said. “I don’t think I can ever repay him for everything he’s done for me. I owe him big time, Sesshomaru too I guess.”

Rosalind smirked and said, “I don’t know, he was pretty thrilled with those improvised bugs.”

When Sango and Ayame looked confused, Rosalind told them what had happened that afternoon in the living room, making a point to overview Kagome’s story, prompting her now and then for details. Sango looked impressed and Ayame just blinked in surprise. The she-wolf looked the small woman up and down and grinned. “You are full of surprises, aren’t you?”

The guys came back with a small pile of long skinny sticks they’d tracked down from the brush nearer to the house. They didn’t look at each other and Koga had a red mark on his jaw that suggested it might be a bruise before long. Inuyasha dropped down to sit next to Kagome and she could see a small split in his lip that was already closing up, nearly gone. She frowned but nobody said a word and Kagome wondered if, considering how well everyone seemed to know each other, perhaps Rosalind and Ayame had sent the two men off together on purpose to get their friction worked out by themselves.

The kids came running, Sesshomaru looming up out of the darkness as he followed behind them, hands in his pockets, gold eyes glinting in the fire light the same way Ayame’s had, only brighter. Shiori nearly tripped on the hem of a sweatshirt that was about three sizes too big for her. There was a little fussing and a lot of excitement as sticks were handed out and marshmallows were passed around. All in all it was a sticky, wonderful mess.

Kagome wrinkled her nose as Inuyasha stuck a fifth, thoroughly blackened marshmallow in his mouth. “Can you taste anything but burnt sugar?”

He grinned. “Yeah, they’re great that way.” Kagome shook her head, cautiously holding her stick out over a patch of glowing embers and letting her treat turn an even golden brown. It was only her second marshmallow but she gave her stick to Shiori. The littler girl was feeling left out because the other kids were roasting their own and Miroku was helping her roast hers. She was still young enough that having her own stick was kind of in the experimental phase.

Rosalind held out the bag of marshmallows. “Are you sure? That’s all you want?”

Kagome held up a hand, smiled and shook her head. “Thanks, they were good, but I haven’t had sugar like that in a long time. Two is enough I think.” Inuyasha put two more graham crackers in her hand. “Those probably would be easier. They’re good on their own; they have cinnamon.”

She almost argued, but found there was still a little room in her stomach, and so she munched silently, watching the others argue over the proper method of preparing a s’more. Rin tried to coerce Sesshomaru into eating one she’d messily prepared and everybody just about broke down laughing at the pained expression on his face as he continued to resist the little girl. Finally Rosalind took pity on him and said, “I think your dad’s full from dinner, how about you let Koga try it? He looks like he has room.”

Rin considered this a moment and then handed the treat off to Koga, who made a great show of enjoying it, declaring it one of the best he’d ever had. Rin was thrilled and Sesshomaru shot Rosalind a grateful look. Before long the s’mores were gone and the kids started looking sleepy. Between all the running around, the late night the day before, and the sugar crash, Shiori had fallen asleep already in Sango’s arms. Rosalind reached over and brushed some hair out of the little girl’s face. “She is completely conked out. I think it might be time to call it a night.”

Sango smiled down at her daughter and looked over at Shippo, who was making a valiant attempt to keep his eyes open. “I think you’re right. I know I’m ready for bed.” They stood and gathered their things. As the group started trailing into the dark in the direction of the porch light, Koga gave Rosalind a one armed hug and said, “Ayame and I are gonna hang out on the beach tonight, keep an eye on things.”

Ayame smiled and nodded. “Why waste a good fire?”

Sesshomaru waited for Rosalind, slinging the last few camp chairs over one shoulder while she said good night. When she turned back, she saw everyone else was already disappearing through the front door and hurried to catch up. She walked with Sesshomaru to the path and after a moment he said, “dinner was very good. Thank you.”

Rosalind flushed a little and shrugged, “No problem. It was fun, and I think everyone needed a little fun.”

Sesshomaru nodded his agreement. He held the front door open for her and then followed into the kitchen. As he opened the closet to put the chairs away he said, “the man who normally comes to cook would be coming tomorrow. If it’s agreeable to you, I will be letting him go.”

Rosalind started the sink filling with hot soapy water and frowned a little. “I don’t want to cost someone their job.”

The demon watched her carefully as he explained, “I don’t care to have him in the house any longer, and you’re a much better cook. I was considering replacing him in any case. I’ll be paying him a severance fee to allow for the lack of notice. There’s no need for you to feel guilty.”

She gave a small nod, looking unconvinced, but turned to the sink to begin scrubbing the few dishes. Without a word between them, Sesshomaru approached with a dish towel and dried the pans, putting them away afterward.

As they worked the only sounds were the sloshing of water and the clinking of dishes. Then Sesshomaru paused when his ears picked up a quiet rustling noise. He paused, listening carefully. It took him a moment to realize the faint whistling was coming from Rosalind and he let his eyes rest on her as he ran the towel over a large mixing bowl. “Are you well?” he asked.

Rosalind looked up at him in surprise. “Hm? Yes, I’m fine. Why?”

He studied her, but she didn’t seem distressed. Carefully he said, “your breath sounds different.”

She blinked at him for a moment, then busied her hands again in the sink, unconcerned. “I think it was just the chill and the smoke from the fire. I’ll make some tea in a bit. That should help.”

When they were done Rosalind turned to him and arched a brow. “Not that I mind, but why are you helping me like this? I never got the impression you enjoyed kitchen chores.”

Her tone wasn’t accusatory, just curious, and confused. Sesshomaru considered her question, folding the dish towel and hanging it on a drawer. Finally he said simply, “because it pleases me to do so.”

Rosalind only had a moment to wonder what that was about before Rin came around the corner, wearing her pajamas and clutching her stuffed dog. She looked tired. Sesshomaru swept her up in his arms and spoke in a quiet, warm tone reserved only for Rin and his late wife. “Bed time pup.”

Rin laid her head on her dad’s shoulder with a weary sigh. Rosalind leaned against the counter, marveling for a moment at how fast kids grow. Rin’s legs seemed to get longer every week. She made a mental note to check and see if the girl needed new pants or if her old ones were still long enough. She gave her a smile and said quietly, “sweet dreams Rin. See you in the morning.”

Rin waved at her as Sesshomaru turned into the hallway. Inuyasha and Kagome met them coming in the opposite direction and Inuyasha ruffled Rin’s hair, “night, Little Bit.” The girl leaned over in her dad’s arms to give Inuyasha a one armed hug, “night Uncle Yasha, night Kagome.”

Kagome smiled at the little girl and repeated Rosalind’s sentiment, “sweet dreams.” As Sesshomaru headed to the back of the house with his daughter, Inuyasha explained, “I’m going to run to Walmart with Kagome. Need anything?”

Rosalind thought for a moment and shook her head. “Nope. I’m pretty well covered. Be careful out there.” She looked at the clock with concern and Inuyasha reassured her. “Don’t worry about us. If anyone’s around that shouldn’t be, I’ll notice them a lot easier with less people around. That’s why we’re going at this late.”

Ten minutes after Kagome and Inuyasha headed out the door, Rosalind had finished putting away the few leftovers and had turned to open her box of jars when she saw Rin standing in the doorway again. She gave the girl a kind but stern look and said, “I thought Dad said it was bed time.”

Rin hugged her dog to her and asked, “could you come say prayers with me?”

Rosalind couldn’t believe she’d forgotten. She’d started saying a bedtime prayer with Rin almost every night when the little girl was tiny. When she’d lived here before as a teenager, she’d often been the one to give Rin her baths and put her to bed. Even after she moved to Arcata to work, on the occasions that she was there at Rin’s bedtime, she always said prayers with her. So much else was out of the ordinary right now that she’d gotten side-tracked. Rosalind came over to take the girl’s hand. “Of course. Lead the way.”

When they got to Rin’s bedroom the girl climbed into her blankets and Rosalind sat down next to her, leaning against the pillows and wrapping an arm around her. Sesshomaru’s bedroom light had been on when they walked through the sitting room and she’d heard water running in his bathroom. Rin asked her, “is Kagome going to stay with us like Shippo and Sango and them?”

Rosalind squeezed the girl gently and said, “I don’t know. She’ll be here for a little while and I guess when she feels better she’ll decide. Do you want her to stay?”

Rin didn’t answer right away. After a moment she said, “Uncle Yash likes her and he’s happy now. He needs a friend so he’s not by himself all the time. I hope she stays. She seems nice. She said the card I made helped her feel better.”

Rosalind smiled, “I bet it did. Making something for someone with your own two hands is a nice thing to do. It means a lot, especially when someone might be lonely. Uncle Yash was happy before though too. He’s not alone; he has you, and all of us.”

Rin shrugged her small shoulders and said, “yeah but it’s not the same. He and Daddy were the same kind of happy. He’s a different happy now, and it’s better I think.”

Rosalind thought about this and smiled a little. She’d always known kids, especially Rin, were more perceptive than adults liked to give them credit for. She’d remembered reading her first spy mystery story when she was in middle school and realizing that to be a kid was essentially the same thing as being a spy. Kid’s have to be spies, otherwise they would never know anything because adults were either too busy or to afraid to tell them things.

Then she came back to reality with a small bump as Rin said, “I wish Daddy could be that kind of happy too.” Rosalind didn’t know what to say to that. She too wished Sesshomaru didn’t have to be alone, but she couldn’t imagine him with anyone besides Rhiannon. She remembered the way he’d been when his mate had been alive, and knew what Rin meant by ‘that kind of happy.’

But some, small measure of years had past, and though he wasn’t the same, he was warming up again, or so she thought after spending the afternoon with him. She smiled a little at the thought that none of them were truly alone, because the small, inner group of the Wardens at least had each other, and that was nothing to toss aside. She knew it made a big difference in her life.

“Are you staying home now?” Rin asked. “Or are you going to leave again?” The little girl looked up at her anxiously and Rosalind felt a little guilty.

“We’ll see. I’m staying for now and I’ll be here for a while.” She knew the coming and going everyone did to some extent was hard on the little girl. This was the only home Rin had ever known, where the rest of them had moved from one temporary situation to another most of their lives and somehow all landed here together. Rin alone was living in a stationary world, so all the moving pieces to their lives were harder for her to relate to. She kissed the top of the Rin’s head and ran her fingers through the long brown tresses. “You know I love you to the moon and back right?”

Rin snuggled against her side, tucking her head into the young woman’s shoulder. “Yeah, love you too Rosie, to the stars and farther.”

Sesshomaru finished rinsing his long silver hair and shut the water off. As he toweled himself dry and dressed in lounge pants, he heard Rosalind’s voice, and then Rin’s. Frowning a little, he silently turned off the bathroom light. The small, rose colored lamp was turned on in his daughter’s room and he paused to listen just outside the doorway. He leaned one shoulder against the wall, hearing Rin’s loneliness and insecurity as she asked if Rosalind was home to stay. He wondered that himself.

Inuyasha had said she was reluctant to leave her apartment permanently and he’d seen for himself how important her independence was to her. But hearing Rin’s relief at the fact that Rosalind was staying for a while seemed to warm his heart and break it at the same time. He’d heard Rosalind tell Rin she loved her on many occasions but this particular exchange was new to him. The endearment was familiar to both, he could tell. There was the sound of years of habit and it made both of them smell and sound as if they were warm, safe, and settled. Now he wondered how he could have possibly missed noticing this ritual. Rin must have gotten up again and gone to Rosalind after he’d tucked her in and jumped in the shower.

Rosalind sighed and asked, “ready to say prayers?” Rin nodded and began the prayer she knew by heart while Rosalind spoke with her:

Bless this house, o Lord, we pray.
Make it safe by night and day.
Bless these walls so firm and stout,
Keeping want and trouble out.
Bless the roof and chimney tall,
Let thy peace lie over all.
Bless the doors that they may prove
Ever open to joy and love.
Bless the windows shining bright,
Letting in God's heavenly light.
Bless the hearth a-blazing there,
With smoke ascending like a prayer.
Bless the people here within...
Keep them pure and free from sin.
Bless us all, that one day, we
May be fit to sail heaven’s sea.

Sesshomaru listened as the girls recited the prayer together. He’d never wondered if his daughter believed in a God or gods. It was never really something he thought about, or discussed much. When one had seemingly endless years stretching behind and before them, thoughts of an afterlife were distant and vague. But he could tell this meant a lot to Rin and something in him was glad she had this with Rosalind. He took a moment to thank whatever spirits were listening that Rosalind was with them.

The woman’s quiet voice murmured, “bed time now. Are you warm enough?”

Rin made a sound in the affirmative and asked, “can you sing before we turn the light off?”

There was a pause and then Rosalind asked, “which one do you want?”

“The looley song,” Rin said. “I think Otosan will like that one.”

There was silence for a moment and Sesshomaru realized he’d been found out. His daughter looked mostly human, but she had some of the heightened senses of her heritage. Unashamed, he stepped into the doorway. Rosalind looked up at him in surprise and a guilty expression spread through her features. “Sorry, I know you put her to bed already.”

He waved a hand dismissively and walked around the bed to sit on the other side, twisting to face them. Rosalind sat against the headboard with Rin tucked under one arm against her. Sesshomaru lay a hand on the girl’s small feet. “You couldn’t sleep?” Rin shook her head and looked back up at Rosalind. “Can you sing looley? Please?”

Rosalind’s cheeks were bright scarlet. She looked Sesshomaru over a little apprehensively. He wore no shirt; and his hair and skin were damp from the shower. A musky, humid scent that was pure, clean, masculine presence had come into the room with him; and it filled her head somehow. She couldn’t understand why it was stalling her brain in such a way.

This was Sesshomaru for crying out loud. The fact that her eyes involuntarily drifted over the lines of his strongly muscled shoulders and abs only made her blush deepen. Compiled on all this were the awkward feelings of being caught doing something with his child that he might not whole heartedly approve of, and the fact that Rin wanted her to sing to him too. She’d never sung for anyone but Rin, at least knowingly.

When Sesshomaru met her eyes and saw her uncertainty he gave her a nod. “Proceed, if you don’t mind.”

She let out a breath and licked dry lips. “Alright… I guess.” She cleared her throat a little and hummed a few bars to find her pitch before she began to sing in a soft, full, second soprano tone, running her fingers through the Rin’s hair.

Lay down your head and I'll sing you a lullaby
Back to the years of loo-li lai-lay
And I'll sing you to sleep and I'll sing you tomorrow
Bless you with love for the road that you go

May you sail fair to the far fields of fortune
With diamonds and pearls at your head and your feet
And may you need never to banish misfortune
May you find kindness in all that you meet
May there always be angels to watch over you
To guide you each step of the way
To guard you and keep you safe from all harm
Loo-li, loo-li, lai-lay
May you bring love and may you bring happiness
Be loved in return to the end of your days
Now fall off to sleep, I'm not meaning to keep you
I'll just sit for a while and sing loo-li, lai-lay

May there always be angels to watch over you
To guide you each step of the way
To guard you and keep you safe from all harm
Loo-li, loo-li, lai-lay

Sesshomaru puzzled through his surprise. The way her voice, her lullaby, washed over his skin, seemed to move through him like the sea tide- was completely unexpected. He’d never felt anything like it. The only feeling he could compare it to was the way he used to feel whenever Rhiannon laughed. Various conflicted emotions resulted, but he pushed them to the background for now and let himself relax with his daughter.

While she sang, Rosalind trained her gaze on the place where Sesshomaru’s hand rested on Rin’s feet. She couldn’t make herself look him in the eye more than once or twice. Something about his being there, his intent gaze as he listened, made her nervous. As long as she didn’t meet his eyes, her voice didn’t waver. When she ran out of lyrics, she hummed the melody softly all the way through one more time until Rin’s breathing evened out and she was asleep.

Rosalind sighed softly, resting her cheek on the girl’s head for a moment before carefully sliding out from under her. Sesshomaru had gotten to his feet and helped her shift the child, pulling the blankets up around her and turning off the lamp. Rosalind stood with her arms crossed and looked down at Rin one more time, making sure she was asleep before she turned and walked into the sitting room. The large leather couch and chairs situated around an oval coffee table were softly illuminated by a small brass lamp to one side, on the small bar. The light played attractively over the crystal decanter of amber cognac that sat on a tray of matching glasses.

Sesshomaru gently pulled the bedroom door nearly closed. He let his eyes run over Rosalind. Her posture was stiff and he could smell her nerves, though her breathing once again sounded normal. That hot metal smell of her discomfort was prevalent and her eyes wouldn’t meet his. He frowned a little and asked, “what troubles you?”

Rosalind took a deep breath and said, “I should apologize. I’m sorry.”

Again Sesshomaru was surprised… and a little confused. “You haven’t done anything that requires apology, quite the contrary.”

She looked up, and now she was the one confused. Sesshomaru gestured for her to take a seat on the couch and went to the bar. “Do you enjoy cognac?”

Rosalind’s eyebrows raised a little and she said, “Um… I don’t know. I’ve never had it.”

Sesshomaru considered her a moment. “Have you tasted brandy?”

Rosalind nodded once, slowly. “Yes, I liked it alright.”

He turned back to the bar and said, “then you may like cognac.” He fixed her a small portion with a few ice cubes, leaving his own undiluted, and set both glasses on the coffee table. He slid hers closer to her, advising, “let the ice melt a little before you try it.”

She took the glass and turned it a little to move the liquid around as she murmured, “thank you.”

Sesshomaru took a seat in the chair next to the couch and sipped his drink before setting it carefully on the wide arm of the chair. After a silent moment he asked, “how long have you said this prayer with Rin?”

Rosalind worried her lip a moment, thinking back. “Oh… I think I’ve said it with her since she was a baby. As she got older and started to talk, she started saying it with me.”

He considered this, astounded that he could have missed such a regular occurrence. Perhaps he did spend too much time working. It was easy to do when managing assets personally in markets located in both hemispheres and a myriad of different time zones. “And the song?” he asked. “I’ve heard her hum it to herself before.”

Rosalind nodded and explained, “it’s one of several she always liked when she was younger. Whenever she got tired or fussy singing usually helped. If she was hungry- all bets were off.” Rosalind smiled at the memory of Rin, red faced and frustrated in her highchair. She was generally pretty even tempered but she had a scowl that looked remarkably like Inuyasha’s. Sesshomaru smiled too and nodded once. “Yes, I remember.” Rosalind had constantly been watchful to see if Rin was hungry.

He also remembered that before Rin had come along, when Rosalind was much younger and had just come to live with them, she used to hide dinner rolls and whatever else she could stick in her pockets at the dinner table. He’d explained to Rhiannon that this likely meant she’d been fearful there would be no more food available to her when she needed it later, and that it should be let go without mention for a while. It was behavior he recognized easily after hundreds of years watching the world, both in times of plenty and of starvation. He wondered briefly if her love of cooking and feeding people stemmed from this childhood insecurity.

He watched her as she took a small sip of the cognac and closed her eyes, rolling it around her mouth a little before swallowing. With a soft sigh she hummed a contented sound. “That’s smooth. It tastes expensive,” she said with a rueful smile. She inhaled and took another sip before observing the different flavors found in the luxurious drink. Slowly she said, “coffee… and chocolate… and some kind of woody edge.”

He smiled faintly, took another sip, and nodded with approval before explaining. “Very good. It isn’t terribly expensive, relatively speaking, but generates some decent capitol. I own a distillery in where it’s made. This decanter contains a recipe that sells for around $13,000 per bottle. It’s known as Hardy Perfection, in the English language.”

Rosalind nearly choked as she looked at the bottle on the bar. She decided she would have to just consider the cognac the same way she knew art to be valued, or she’d never be able to rationalize it. Sesshomaru’s smile grew a little, and because he enjoyed watching her eyes widen in surprise, he added, “this is moderately priced. My distillery’s more expensive recipe, Black Pearl, sells for 55 grand per bottle. This is a good business for the long lived, you see. It takes 100 years and more for it to properly mature.”

Rosalind rolled another sip around, closing her eyes, feeling the alcohol warm her face and fingers pleasantly, and trying to imagine what the world was like when the liquid in her glass had originally been made so long ago. “I’d bet this goes into certain desserts very nicely,” she said with a small, considering smile.

Sesshomaru nodded his head once in agreement. “It’s occasionally used for such a purpose. You are welcome to some if you wish to experiment with it in the kitchen.”

After a moment of quiet settled comfortably around them, she admitted, “I was afraid you’d be upset.”

He cocked his head slightly, inviting her to continue, and so she did. “Rin is your daughter. I don’t know what you believe in, spiritually, or what you want to raise her to believe in. Someone else introducing prayer their child like that, it would make most parents upset.”

Sesshomaru transferred his eyes to the surface of the coffee table and didn’t say anything for a long time. Then finally he told her, “I’ve never talked with Rin about such things. I confess I don’t consider them much. But I like both the prayer and the song. They are elegant, in their way, and send a good message. I used to read to her some nights, usually Japanese poetry and stories, but it has been a long time.”

Rosalind seemed to relax a little more now. Sesshomaru watched her sit back into the couch pillows, placing her elbow on the arm and leaning her head on one hand to look at him, her drink balanced on her knees. Sesshomaru asked, “are these pieces, the prayer and song, significant in some way?”

She nodded, thoughtfully, grateful now for the soothing effects of the drink. Generally she would dodge a question like this. She didn’t talk about her childhood, her family, not with anyone. She tried not to think about it most of the time; it had been such a wreck before Sesshomaru and Rhiannon had come along and changed everything.

But with the warmth of the cognac burning inside her, somehow it wasn’t as painful to think about this part, at least. The sharp edges of the memories were smoother. “They’re old, and very Irish, just like my great aunt,” she said, with a small smile. “She used to say prayers with me every night before bed. And she sang to me when I had bad dreams. She was a good woman.”

“Do you have bad dreams still?” he asked carefully, finding that he really did want to know.

Rosalind shrugged, her smile fading, and said dismissively, “everyone has bad dreams.”

Now it was her that watched his face, several emotions seemed to move through his eyes now and he looked deep in thought. Quietly she told him, “you shouldn’t worry. Rhiannon would be proud of you, and Rin.”

Golden eyes flicked up to hers, and she didn’t flinch. Normally she would never have brought up his late wife, but with the conversation they’d had earlier and the mood of the current setting, she felt it was safe enough. Sesshomaru leaned forward and placed his empty glass on the table, bracing his elbows on his knees. “Perhaps,” he said, simply. After a moment he said, “I believe she would be proud of you, and grateful.”

He looked over at her again to say, “You’ve been, in some part, a mother to Rin almost consistently since she was born. I value that very much, but…” he paused, trying to figure out the most tactful way to ask his question. “Forgive me if what I ask is offensive- but you are of the age now, do you not wish for a mate and pups of your own?”

Rosalind seemed to stiffen and she dropped her gaze. When she didn’t answer, Sesshomaru sat back in his chair again. “My apologies, this is too intrusive a question.”

Slowly, she shook her head and took another sip of her drink before she curled her knees up under her tighter. “No. It’s not.”

She carefully ordered her feelings as best she could, so she might express them in a way that made sense outside her own head. “I would love a mate, and children, but I can’t imagine anyone I would feel safe enough with to take those kinds of leaps. Add that to the fact that the pool of guys who would be able to deal with this lot and the kinds of things we do for a living, and it shrinks the prospects to just about nothing.”

Sesshomaru frowned. This was an angle it had never occurred to him to consider. “The Wardens complicate your ability to move forward with your life.”

Rosalind shrugged and smiled a little wryly. “In some ways, but that’s what family does. They complicate life, both in good ways and bad. I wouldn’t give you all up for the world. I’ll be a part of this until you’re tired of me.”

Sesshomaru shook his head. “We depend on you in many ways, and you have a place in this home as long as you wish to stay. It is your home also. I know Rin is glad to have you back.”

Rosalind nodded and her smile warmed. “I know. I missed her too, and you. I missed everything here. I just didn’t realize how much until I unpacked my suitcase.” Their eyes met for a long moment and Sesshomaru opened his mouth, as if to say something, but closed it again. He looked unsure. It wasn’t an expression she’d ever seen on him. Happy, upset, amused, brooding, sure- but never, never, unsure of anything. He was the very definition of confidence and conviction.

“Penny for your thoughts…” she murmured softly.

His eyes met hers again and he inhaled deeply before shaking his head. “It’s nothing.” He stood and strode to his darkened bedroom door. Just before he disappeared into the shadows he paused and said, “good night Rosalind.”

She smiled a little. He was the only one who ever used her full name like that and hearing it made something in her relax, soothed for the moment.

“Good night Sesshomaru.”