InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Duty Of Blood ❯ Rewards and Reunions ( Chapter 9 )

Um… a very sweet person offered to beta this for me.. But I..er.. Lost her email addy. If it was you, can you check this over and email me the finished product? I'll post it as soon as I get it. ~Caliko

Once again, if you want to read my older stuff, go to http://www.geocities.com/caliko_girl
and, forgive me ahead of time for the DBZ stuff. Eventually, i'll get around to rewriting all of them... lol

I own NOTHING! ^_^ I'm just obsessed. On a different note, I'm not sure how old Shippo was when he joined Kagome and Inu Yasha. For the sake of my story, I'm making him six, which would make him thirteen in this fic.

The Duty of Blood - Chapter 9
By Caliko

***Interlude***

Near the edge of Inu Yasha's Forest, close to the battlefield where the inu hanyou destroyed the body of his enemy, there was a tree, withered and near death. Beneath that tree, there was a hollow that housed something evil. It had no body, and existed on hatred alone.

No animals made this hole a home for it reeked of deadly miasma. Surrounding this tree, there was silence, as if the forest dwellers were afraid to even make a sound.

Originally, a family of mice lived there, but soon after the new inhabitant moved in, the skeletons of the family were found, stripped of all meat and muscle, and scattered in front of the tree like the jacks a child would throw down to play with.

The hole was now lined with thick cobwebs, spun into a tornado-like pattern. It trapped the insects foolish enough to get too close, and allowed the miasma to change the poor things into pure energy to feed what was left of a certain spider hanyou.

Naraku's goal this day was to continue to exist - ultimately, he hoped to acquire a new body in which to exact his revenge. But, this was nearly a hopeless cause when the larger animals and youkai stayed away from his trap. He knew that eventually, he would have to leave his hole and travel on the wind until a he could possess a large enough youkai to kill the royal Inu family.

***End Interlude ***

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Miroku stood in front of Sesshoumaru, waiting for the Taiyoukai to dismiss him. When it came, he bowed low, then hurriedly backed away from the throne. When he was far enough away, he turned, and hurried after his irate wife, leaving Shippou with his adopted uncle.

Sumi was awaiting her charge outside the room. She bowed her head as he approached, and gestured to the screens. Without delay, he pushed them aside and entered, closing them before he faced his wife.

"Miroku! Tell me that your not going to listen to him!" She snarled, her eyes flashing at how strict the court was so far. She couldn't help but feel that Kagome-chan had to be miserable here!

"Sango, my love, it is his court. Sesshoumaru holds all of the power, and it is within his right to deny us. If we wish to be near Kagome, we have no choice but to obey him. At least we know that it won't be forever, since Inu Yasha is trying to get back to us."

"Do you think he was telling the truth? That Inu Yasha is coming back?"

"Sesshoumaru is too proud to lie, and he has no reason to, anyway. If he says that it is so, then it is so." Her husband reassured her. "Until then, my Mistress, keep up your delightful act. The youkai here would not understand a man enjoying a strong woman as a wife, and they may take it upon themselves to teach you a lesson. What's more, a woman telling her husband what to do would be offensive to them, and it would embarrass Sesshoumaru in his court. You and I both know that you make your own decisions, and that I'm only too happy to comply with them. Until everything is back to normal, we have to play by their rules."

"You're enjoying this too much, Monk." Sango accused, smiling despite herself.

"Meh, just a bit, Mistress. Just a bit. It's not everyday that I can make you my slave." He smirked a hentai smile. "Perhaps later, we can continue this game into our bedroom? I can tie you up with some silk scarves and torment you with a thousand kisses all over your body? Perhaps I can make you scream for me as you com, beg me to take your luscious body to new heights?"

Sango smacked him upside his head, glaring. "Don't push it!" Yet, as she left, she smiled an interested smile and wiggled her hips just a tad more than normal.

Miroku grinned, knowing that tonight was going to be fun!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kagome walked into the reception room, and nearly squealed when she saw Shippou. He stood on Sesshoumaru's left, slightly back and behind the throne. Her heart went out to him when she realized how nervous he was. Little sweat drops rolled down his face, and he looked as if he had just swallowed something nasty.

In front of Sesshoumaru stood a youkai that greatly resembled Hiten of the thunder brothers. He was angrily shouting that the Taiyoukai owed him for his nephews' deaths. Kagome became nervous, knowing that Sesshoumaru was not about to stand for that.

"Silence!" He thundered. "I owe you nothing!"

"Your brother killed them in cold blood!" The thunder youkai countered, too foolish to realize that his death was imminent.

Sesshoumaru stood, and then deliberately came down from the dais where his throne was placed. Within moments, he towered over the claimant, his tone calm and his face expressionless. "My nephew was there - and he says that your relatives were trying to kill them for the Shikon shards that his mother now protects. Since your relatives had slain the boy's real parents before my brother and his mate met the child, I do not hesitate to believe him. Your clan had attacked the Prince of the Western Lands and has paid the price."

"You believe that kitsune when they are well known for their tricks?"

"The kitsune has been formally adopted into my family. In the seven years that I have known him, he has never lied to me. You, however, are well known for your greed and your ambition. Leave now or I shall be forced to kill you and evict your remaining clan from my lands."

Kagome watched as the thunder youkai hesitated, as if he were weighing his options. Then, he bowed, anger radiating off of his body as he left the court.

"Sister." Sesshoumaru hadn't even turned to look at her. "Take your son to the nursery to see his sisters. The Monk and his woman will be in to see you shortly." Without another word, he stalked out of the court, leaving his retainers to dismiss the nobles.

"Kagome!" Shippo ran forward, stopping short just before her. Then, he hugged her, stilling when he noticed the change in her scent. "You're going to have another baby?"

"Hmm.. Or two, if the Shikon shards do the same thing they did when I was pregnant the last time. Are you alright?" She knew it must have been hard to face the thunder lord. He had only been six when he faced the thunder brothers.

"Oh, him? Sesshoumaru shoved me behind him as soon as Lord Gufuu came forward. The idiot was bragging about how he had the Inu clan in his debt, and Sesshoumaru was pissed enough to investigate the idiots claim. He asked for my story as soon as Gufuu arrived in the hall."

The Miko nodded, relieved. Sesshoumaru had publicly acknowledged Shippo as his nephew, and in turn, would protect him as if he were born into the clan. "Come, let's go see your sisters."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Inu Yasha, come here." Inu Taisho called, impatiently waiting as the ankle-high dog pranced over to him. "I want you to try to go back to your human form, but this time, concentrate on looking me in the eye."

"Woof!" The now rested dog demon wagged his tail, signaling that he was more than ready.

"Now, remember - getting to your human form will mean nothing if your still smaller than a cat. You have to make it to your normal height."

"Grrrr…"

The Taiyoukai snickered at his son's grumbling, then stepped back to observe the pup's energy. "Begin."

Inuyasha stilled and let his conscience wander as he gathered his energy. Then, feeling that he had enough, he concentrated his power into his mind, then out to his limbs. Little by little, he imagined his body being sculpted - Head to neck, to hands, then arms; Torso, to legs, to feet, to toes. When he was sure of the form, he concentrated on his size, imagining, as his father instructed, to look into his eyes. Then, he imagined the very air to fill in the form, pulling matter from the world around him until he knew that he was solid. Letting the power subside, he opened his eyes to await inspection.

Inu Taisho frowned, then walked closer, growling. "You just had to have this form back, didn't you?"

"Hmm?" Yasha looked at his fingers, noticing the missing stripes. Then, smiling, he raised his hand to the top of his head, confirming what he already knew. Two triangle-shaped ears stuck out of his hair. "YES! I don't look like that prissy ass-hole anymore!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tai ran through the kata, making small mistakes here and there, and finished with a crouch. Without her sensei telling her, she centered herself on the mat and began again. Concentration furrowed her brow, her eyes squinted with determination as she worked to perfect the movements that would gain her teachers praise.

Near the screened doorway, a wolf-youkai stood watching her young student. Every mistake made was noted, as well as her young charges determination to get it right. Smiling slightly, she leaned back against the wall, making sharp comments to her student on the best way to fix her form.

"She is doing well, for a beginner." Sesshoumaru murmured into her ear. His voice was close, startling her. She didn't sense him coming in.

"My Lord! Yes. Tai is coming along nicely. In a few weeks, I hope to begin teaching her weapons."

"Don't rush her, Sensei. She has time, and she is not the type to move onto something new until all of her lessons are perfect. For now, work on her hand-to-hand."

"And her sister? When do I start to teach Lady Aika?" Silver eyes met gold, asking though she knew what he would say.

"She is too human. Let her learn what human ladies do. Anything else will make her life unhappy when she grows up."

"My Lord - I believe that is a mistake. Aika's ki is more powerful than humans. She may appear to be naught else, she may even smell like a human. But, I do not believe that she is human enough to be happy in that life."

"And you would know this how?" His voice growled, refusing to admit that she might sense something he didn't.

"I've watched them play, My Lord. Tai teaches Aika everything she learns, and Aika learns it faster than Tai did. She has more power in her kicks than her sister, her punches are about equal. She flies like her Inu ancestors, and shows much the same aptitude as Tai in everything else. She is not a mere mortal, My Lord. To think so would be underestimating her youkai blood."

"So you think you know better than I?" Sesshoumaru's voice was cold, as he faced her. He acknowledged what she had said, and noted to himself to test the child himself. Still, this was a mere wolf youkai with no standing other than military rank.

"In this instance, Sir, yes. For the last twenty years, I have taught every child in this castle how to fight. I know what to look for, My Lord, and I know what to encourage. Both of your nieces show talent, and at this age they learn it easier." The Sensei hesitated before speaking, but said it anyway. "I can't help feeling that if you forced Rin-chan to learn to defend herself, that maybe she could have bought enough time for help to arrive."

Sesshoumaru broke, slamming the teacher against the wall with his nails wrapped around her throat. The warrior winced, but kept her hands to her side as she submitted to his vengeance. "She was attacked by Naraku, you stupid woman! What could Rin have done against him?"

"I'm sorry, My Lord! You are right! She couldn't have done anything! I just… I hate to think how helpless she must have felt!"

The Taiyoukai loosened his fingers, the fight gone. He, too, had thought of how she must have panicked. He had been far away, and Jaken wouldn't have been able to help her. Perhaps, if she fought back, she would have been too busy to acknowledge her helplessness. The teacher was right in one instance, however. If Aika had shown promise, then he owed it to his brother's daughter to have her taught.

Sesshoumaru suddenly smirked, thinking that it might even give her an outlet for all of her excess energy.

"Tai." He called out, waiting for his niece to finish her dance. Behind him, the wolf-bitch rubbed her throat, gasping for air. "Do you think that your sister would want to learn how to protect herself?"

Tai nodded, "Yes, Uncle! I've been showing her what Sensei teaches me, and she always wants to learn more."

Sesshoumaru nodded. "Tomorrow, Sensei, you will have two students. Niece, come with Aika to my rooms to learn meditation before breakfast. Then bring her here with you to learn how to fight."

The young Inu shouted out, happy. "Thank you, Uncle Sesshoumaru. My sister will appreciate it."

"We will see if you are correct tomorrow. Now, go get cleaned up. Your brother is here, and he wants to see you."

Without another word, Sesshoumaru left the dojo, his thoughts dwelling on what the Sensei had said. Could she be right, that Aika was more youkai than anyone had thought? He entered his study, vowing to see to the matter himself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Mama! Mama!" Tai squealed, running into the nursery. Her normally sedate pace gone once she realized that her older brother had arrived. "Uncle Sesshoumaru said that Shippo is here?" She skidded on the floor, her socks gliding over the polished wood before her mother.

Kagome, seated on a cushion in front of a low table, groaned, waiting for impact. It seemed that just when Shippo outgrew the tendency to pounce her, her daughters picked it up. Thankfully, the Kitsune caught the child before she knocked her mother onto her back.

Laughing, he picking Aika up by the back of her silver training outfit. "Careful, Brat! You don't want to hurt the little one!"

"SHIPPO!" She shrieked, as she latched onto his neck. "When did you come?"

"Just now. Sango-san and Miroku-san are here, too. You should see them soon."

"Don't care! I missed YOU!"

Kagome smiled slightly, even as she admonished the child. Tai had always worshipped Shippo, imitating him as he ate, spoke, and even walked once. With her father gone, and Shippo with Kaede, the girl had placed herself into the role of protector. Now, with Shippo here to watch over them, she could go back to being a normal child.

"Tai, I'm sure that Uncle Miroku and Aunt Sango would be upset to hear that you didn't miss them."

She blinked, confused. "I did miss them Mama! I just missed Shippo-chan more!"

"Kagome-chan, I'm sure that Tai didn't mean anything by it. I, for one, am glad that she's happy." Miroku smiled calmly. "Isn't that right, Sango?"

"Yes, Kagome. Miroku and I know all too well how much she loves Shippo. Now.. Where's Aika?"

"Sango! Miroku!" Kagome hugged them both, steering clear of Miroku's hand. "It's good to see you! Thank you for bringing Shippo to me! As for Aika, she's taking a nap. Nari and I had to dose her to sleep after she had a run in with a bee's nest. Poor girl couldn't stop screaming from all of the stings."

"Oh my! Will she be all right?" Sango asked, worried.

"She'll be fine. She managed to inherit Inu Yasha's healing abilities. She'll be ok when she wakes up in a little while. Until then, Sango, tell me how your village is coming along?"

The two women settled down for a long discussion, allowing the priest and the kitsune to occupy the inu-pup. In the next room, Aika slept on with Nari mending clothes beside her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That night, Sesshoumaru went to sleep, and found himself almost immediately in his father's courtyard. In front of him stood the most disgusting sight he had ever seen. His brother, in his hanyou form. Gone were the facial markings, gone were the more humanoid ears, and gone was the tail. In their place stood the form that he had grown to hate over the years.

"You couldn't even return to your true form, could you? Instead, you chose the substandard form that you were used to." He said, his face looking as if he had been sucking lemons.

"Feh! I chose the one that let me look like a guy! Or, haven't you noticed that you and Pop look a bit - girly?"

"You are a disgrace!" He turned away from Inu Yasha, only to clench his fists and turn back. "Your mate is pregnant again. Hurry, and get your body back so that I don't have to hear infants caterwauling in my castle!"

Sesshoumaru watched as his brother's face went slack, then rolled his eyes at the mindless grin that followed. Inu Taisho jogged up from behind him, waving his hand in front of his younger son's face.

"What's wrong with him?" He asked Sesshoumaru, his face two inches from Inu Yasha's.

"I just told him that his mate is pregnant again. He froze up, then got that stupid look."

"Pregnant?"

"Hmmm. More half-breeds mucking up the blood-line." He shook his head, then asked, "How soon until we can perform the resurrections?"

"As soon as Kagome can learn the incantations. I will send you back tonight with the scrolls she will need." His father replied, ignoring the doubtful look Sesshoumaru sent him.

"Father, will the scrolls materialize in the living world?"

"Hmm? Oh yes. Just hold them in your hand, and they should be fine."

The younger Taiyoukai was silent, not quite able to pinpoint what was bothering him. Then, Inu Yasha spoke up behind him.

"Pop, if he can bring scrolls back from this plane, why can't he bring one of us?"

:::That is what was bothering him! Dammit, why did the idiot have to say it before he did?::::

Inu Taisho just smacked the former hanyou upside the head. "Stupid. You would be stuck wandering that plane as a ghost! The scrolls themselves won't last more than an hour or so in that world, so Sesshoumaru will have to copy them immediately upon awaking! Don't you think that I had thought of that before? The Lord of Death was the one that pointed out the flaw in that plan, and who would know better than he?"

::::Thank the Gods that I didn't ask. I would hate to have Father think I'm as stupid as the brat!::: Sesshoumaru thought, smirking. "Well, Father, are you going to teach the idiot how to walk in Kagome's dreams, or are you going to make him wait?"

Inu Taisho grinned, "I'll teach him. It would be cruel to make him wait until he was alive again, especially now that you told him that he is going to be a father again." Then, in a quiet aside to the older son, "I'm looking forward to the first bit of quiet I'll have since he came."

Sesshoumaru smirked, then nodded. "I'll meet you inside. I'll pour the sake and we'll celebrate the idiots impending fatherhood while the idiot is in the dream realm."

"Shouldn't take too long. I'll have to get the boy meditating, but it shouldn't be hard getting him to empty his head."

"Hmm.. It's already halfway there."

"Exactly."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TBC

A/N - YEAH!!! I finally managed to hit my normal minimum of pages! Now, here is the challenge I made myself. My son goes back to school on Aug. 3, I go back to school on Aug. 18th. That gives me PLENTY of free time to get some serious writing done. I want to finish either this fic, or my GW fic by then, since I won't have a chance to do much writing once classes start. I know that many authors would put up a poll at this point, asking which one they want done.. But I'm not most authors. I've been writing fan fiction for over three years, and in that time, I've learned that I will only write when I'm in the mood to write, and only the fandom I'm in the mood for at that moment. Kinda makes it hard, when you have about six different ideas for 6 different fandoms, and your not in the mood to write any of them.

SO - wish me luck, and send me some good vibes via reviews. Hopefully, I'll stay in the groove for this fic!

~Caliko, the over-worked kitty…..