InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Tale of Sesshoumaru ❯ Settling Down ( Chapter 39 )

 

Disclaimer: I do not own copyright to any of the Inuyasha characters. Wish I did. I make no profit off of my fan fiction. Wish I did.

 

Disclaimer #2: I do own the characters of Akanesuji/Akane, Smart Ass, Hizumeha, Kuza and Manatsu. If you would like to borrow them, please contact me at skycladstrega@yahoo.com for permission.

 

Disclaimer #3: This fan fiction is rated R for violence, sex, gore and supernatural yummy goodness. If you are under the age of 17, I suggest getting your parents permission to read this. I am not responsible for any psychological damage my rantings might bring you :^P

 

******

 

 

Rain drizzled down on the stable roof, puddling into giant lakes outside of mud. The stuck dog demon knew that if she went out there now, she would have dirt in her fur for days, much worse than what she already had now.

 

Sesshoumaru had not come to see her, only Rin. She had brought all of her farm animals along and played house in a pile of old stinky hay. Hay that had sat there to rot for years. Since his lordship had not rebuilt his father's garrisons of soldiers, there were no need for horses. Seeing the terrible shape of the place, Hizumeha had sent his own coach back home. He would not make his own lesser horse demons suffer miserably in stalls without fresh water or food and no stable hands to attend them.

 

“When are you going to repair all of this my lady?” he asked her, sitting on a wall ledge while his wives set about cleaning the place up, careful not to disturb Rin. He was particularly cheerful about it all, his black long hair tied back in a single pony tail perched high on his head. The horse demon was so happy to see her in person after so long. Long lanky legs dangled down onto bare feet. Boots had been taken off immediately after arrival and thrown somewhere into a pile. He kicked them back and forth gently, banging them against the wall.

 

“I had planned on doing it all this winter, but I don't think I am going to get very far now.” The daiyoukai sighed, crossing her large front paws in front of her as she lay down with head erect. “I was going to work on the roads too, but now I can't do anything.”

 

“You were going to do it yourself?”

 

“I have to have something to do or I get bored. The tanuki was going to help me.”

 

“What about his lordship?”

 

Akanesuji gave him the eye. The one with the raised eyebrow that could never match Sesshoumaru's but did a darned good try. “Do you really think his lordship would ever do menial labor?”

 

Hizumeha's face broke out into a big grin. “He started repairing the wall this morning.”

 

She was shocked. “You're kidding?” Ears perked up straight and little eyebrow hairs tweaked.

 

“Nope. For a man with only one arm, he is out there right now lifting up those cut blocks like they were nothing. His strength is good, but his masonry skills need help. It will probably come down in two or three hundred years.”

 

“That's wonderful!” she squealed. “I don't care if they look like something a little kid did. I can always get a crew in here later to redo it.”

 

Rin gave her the evil eye. Funny, Akanesuji thought, their little girl was picking up that arched eyebrow like a pro. Now all she had to do was stand up, act like a porcelain statue then walk away and she would have him down pat.

 

“You could go out there and help him,” she added. “Instead of sitting in here with me.”

 

“I didn't come here to see him, my lady.” the horse replied. “I came here to see you.”

 

Akanesuji rolled her eyes. She didn't feel like getting into that discussion. “I want out of here,” she told Hizumeha, glancing out to the mud puddled courtyard. “I can't stay like this.”

 

Kuza walked over, a shovel in her hands and smelling like good compost. Not the stinky kind, but the stuff that has been sitting around for decades and has a fresh, wonderful smell. “My lady, you could start shrinking yourself down slowly and force him to shrink too. He will probably get smaller just to make himself more comfortable.”

 

“How long do you think that would take?”

 

“A week? Maybe two. It would depend on his temperament.”

 

The dog perked her ears again and wagged her tail. “Kuza, that is the best thing anybody could have told me today. It's a done deal. I am going to get my body back whether this little pup likes it or not.”

 

“I wouldn't tell Sesshoumaru though,” Hizumeha added, getting closer to her ear. “I think he plans on expanding the estate all for you. He has been inspecting the rafters and masonry all morning.”

 

Akanesuji gave a big doggy smile, as big as a dog could give with soft drooping lips and little whiskers. “Oh I think I can keep it to myself for just a few days longer.”

 

Rin gave her the eyebrow...again. The dog just giggled and Rin followed suit, joined by everyone else in the stable.

 

Meanwhile outside, Sesshoumaru was struggling with cut rock in the rain. He was bound and determined to fortify everything. If this was going to be his wife and children's home, then it was going to have to be rebuilt better, bigger, stronger. Maybe if it were defensive enough, he might just be able to leave it every once in a while and not worry about their safety while he was gone. You see, Sesshoumaru just couldn't give up on being himself. He was determined to find a way to continue on his escapes. He needed them like the air he breathed.

 

Twice he had slipped in the mud and fallen while carrying blocks. He was dirty from head to toe, his green shinobi garb soaked and disgusting. Better to wear it than court clothing. When he had chosen it this morning, he realized he had nothing to wear that was practical. Everything had flowing sleeves, or full belled hakama pants. This was the only clothing he had that would not impede working.

 

Needless to say, he never worked. Heaven forbid this Sesshoumaru get dirt under his claws or be caught looking like a peasant.

 

Grumbling to himself, but keeping that ever stoic face, he stacked the blocks back up as best he could, and when he had run out of whole blocks, he had to resort to the half broken ones. The smaller chunks of broken rock he discarded over same wall all the other castle trash got thrown. Maybe the rocks would crush Akanesuji's mother's bones, he laughed to himself. Kami he was glad that bitch had committed suppuku like his wife had suggested. He would not have survived winter court with her hanging around to make Akanesuji's life miserable. She would have wound up dead by his hands and not hers.

 

And that was another thing that made him grumble to himself. Akanesuji had planned a small winter court, but a court none the less. Sure it would only be a handful of her closest friends and family, but that was still about fifteen people too many for his liking. He loved her and Rin, but could barely tolerate Jaken most days, hated the horse, didn't care much for his wives other than the fact that the could give a really mean massage and Inuyasha...well everyone knew how he felt about that brat. Sango and Kagome he liked well enough, but so what. The kitsune Shippo he could forget all together. The monk...he couldn't even remember his name anymore. This winter court was going to be a disaster.

 

And the thing that really hurt his feelings the most this dreary wet morning was thinking about Kagura, the woman who detained him while her master Naraku attacked the estate. He was in a bind. She had slept with him, gotten a jewel shard from him, knew he was traveling into the buffer lands and killing lesser demons. Naraku probably knew all that too. Something had to be done. He would have to strike out and kill him.

 

InuYasha and his party walked through the front gates in the rain. The hanyou and the miko were side by side under a pink domed thing that shed the rain off them. The demon slayer and the monk had a black one and were not far behind. It was a strange sight to see, the fabric domes made with some sort of metal frame and the couples smiling quietly. Were they smiling at each other or were they smiling at him covered in mud? Sesshoumaru chose to believe the first one, because believing the second one meant he looked like a peasant.

 

“Hey Sesshoumaru-sama! How are you?” Kagome called out, waving with her free hand. InuYasha had his ears flat and Sesshoumaru got the distinct impression that he didn't want to be here either.

 

“Her ladyship is the barn. I suggest you go attend her,” was all the youkai said before going back to work. Having something to do now was welcoming. It would keep him busy and away from InuYasha.

 

“Warm welcome,” InuYasha spat, turning his back on his brother as Kagome shrugged her shoulders and followed. The group entered the barn to find it filled with business and one very large red and white dog.

 

“Shippo!” Rin yelled, dropping all of her toys and running for the little kitsune who was soaked to the bone wet. The fox was just as happy to see her and did not hesitate to jump up into her arms into a big hug. Everyone watched them carefully and when the two stopped to notice they were the center of attention, Rin was quick to drop him to the ground and blush, straightening her kimono with nervous hands. Shippo bowed his head to cover up his own blushes. It had been six months or so since they had seen each other last and the two were changing. Rin was growing externally while Shippo changing internally.

 

Kagome was fast to pick him up, a small blush on her own face on his behalf. It was so sweet how the two were getting along. Rin may not have been his first childhood sweetheart and crush, but she was definitely his favorite. With the way they acted, it was pretty obvious that Rin felt the same way. The little girl was beginning to twiddle her fingers together and stare at her feet.

 

“Kagome, Sango, it is so good of you to come!” Akanesuji said noticing everyone's looks go from Rin and Shippo up to her talking mouth.

 

InuYasha only folded his arms over his chest and pushed out his chin. The miko elbowed him and gave him a face saying “be nice”, but that didn't seem to help any. “Thanks for inviting us,” she replied. “We were really surprised by your invitation.”

 

“Yes, I'm sure you were. As I recall, the last time you were here was because my husband wanted your help in finding me,” the dog looked to the monk, who was about to rub the slayers ass and grinned.

 

“I'm glad this time it is not an emergency, though I am curious why you are...so large?” the monk said, pulling his hand away before it ever reached the girls curves. Naraku was hoping to rub on her in this situation where she would not turn and slap him. He thought he was being sneaky, but the inuyoukai had caught him.

 

The dog sighed. “I'm afraid I am stuck this way for a while. I grew large to battle Naraku and my son grew large with me. Now he won't go back and here I am. Full sized.”

 

“You saw that villain Naraku!?” InuYasha's demeanor changed when he yelled. He stood up straight and put his hand to his sword. “Which way did he go?” He would happily leave the castle and go chase the monster. Anything to get away from his brother.

 

Akanesuji shook her head no. “He escaped last night. He's long gone by now. Why don't you all go clean up and we shall eat dinner out here together? I would really like to catch up on things. Oh, and this is my lord Hizumeha and his wives, the ladies Kuza, Hiza, Hin and Hina. They have come down from my own lands to join us.” She pointed her nose in the horses direction with a nod. Miroku got all wide eyed then his face melted into a grin. Sango slapped him then. She knew what he was thinking. If the horse could have lots of wives, then why couldn't he? He could have lots of women bear his children then.

 

Everyone bowed politely, except of course for InuYasha who was devoid of all social graces. When everyone went to leave for the main hall and it's adjoining rooms, Akanesuji asked him to stay. She dismissed even Hizumeha and his wives, who were no where near done cleaning.

 

“What do you want?” he asked her drawing his arms up again to fold them across his chest. His foot tapped on the ground impatiently. He did not like being alone with her in this form. She was so tall and intimidating this way, even if she was laying down and obviously on the fat and pregnant side. Anything that stood twelve feet taller than himself gave him the notion to cut it down.

 

“I want to know your intentions, brother,” she said. “It is time you settled down.”

 

“Brother?”

 

“Yes, Inuyasha. I am your brother's wife and thus your sister-in-law. Do you not want me as your sister kin?”

 

InuYasha shut his mouth up tight and knitted his eyebrows together. The concept of family always frustrated him and he missed having one of his own. He had no mother or father now, and his brother was useless to him. Now that a sister was being offered to him freely, he was not sure what to think of it.

 

Akanesuji could see the confusion in him and decided to retreat a little. “You do not have to answer me just yet. I will understand if you don't want me as kin, but I do want to know what your intentions are.”

 

“Intentions about what?” the hanyou asked, wrinkling his nose in confusion.

 

“Kagome.” she stated flatly. “I have heard that you have traveled to her parents home and you have slept there. Have you given her father and mother mochi also?”

 

InuYasha sputtered and flapped his arms about wildly. He had never thought of it before until it was presented to him in such a neat package. He had all but declared betrothal to Kagome already. It was custom to go to the bride's house and stay several nights, eating dinner with them and getting to know the family. Then the groom would present the parents with special rice cakes called mochi to declare his intentions. Next came the yui-no, the exchange of gifts between the two families and then presto! They would be engaged. By staying in the modern world with Kagome in her mothers home, he was half way there!

 

The poor boy practically sat himself in bewilderment. What were his intentions with Kagome really and could he back out of this situation with his pride intact? What about Kikyo? He had never stayed in her parents home, or given them mochi. They had a silent agreement of love. He would have courted her properly once he was changed over...but now he had openly started this courtship custom with Kagome! AKKK! No wonder Kikyo was always so angry with him!

 

And no wonder Kagome was always so angry with him too. He was in love with Kikyo, yet sending her signals that he loved her too. Oh dammit, this was a mess!

 

He put his hand into his bangs and covered his eyes, shaking his head “no”.

 

“Don't worry about a thing,” Akanesuji said to comfort him. “As lady of this land, I will be your Nakodo, your go-between. We will get this all arranged properly. I am sure the miko will make you a lovely first wife.”

 

“First wife?” he bleated out like a scared sheep.

 

“Why yes, Inuyasha.” she said, looking at him with curiosity. “You are still Inu No Taisho's son and a lord of this land. You may take as many wives as you can support, as well as concubines. Haven't you thought of that?”

 

The boy swallowed hard. He could tell this little trip was going to be a disaster. A big, huge, crap pile disaster.