InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Worthy ❯ Chapter 19

Morgan had known Mariko would be late. The plans rarely arrived on time and Tokyo traffic wouldn't allow her daughter to rush; if her daughter ever decided to rush. That was why she had told her daughter than the reunion would be at three when it was actually at six. That way her daughter would get an earlier flight. It wasn't that Mariko had no desire to come see her family. She actually had a close bond with her family but like her father, she put every available minute into her work.

 

So when Mariko arrived at three thirty, Morgan was justly surprised. Her eyes widened at seeing her oldest child coming through the door as quietly and as gracefully as a summer breeze and the concealment spell that protected her from the world lifted away. She looked beautiful. After not seeing her for over a year, Morgan hadn't been sure what her daughter would look like. Part of her would be afraid she would pick up the fashion traits of the New York youths despite knowing that her daughter's choice in carrier wouldn't allow it. Her red hair, redder than her mothers, had been pleasantly curled from its normally straight form, and cut below the shoulder, softening her face. She didn't have the golden skin tone she had before she left for America, her skin was paler but not sickly so. The result of working in doors all day, something her Morgan's youngest daughter would quickly fix. Mariko looked just like her mother but had her father's eyes. The golden eyes and red hair should have clashed but instead, it gave her an exotic look that demanded attention. She also had her father's brow, Morgan noticed. Her daughter had perfected it for years in the courtroom and used it like her father, intimidating suspects and witnesses. It was no wonder her daughter only lost one case.

 

Morgan smiled at seeing her but frowned when she saw the briefcase her daughter had tried to hide between her jacket and luggage.

 

“I thought we agreed no work?” she accused as she set her glass down on the counter. As Mariko set her things aside she approached her and embraced her as best she could in her current state.

 

“I won't look at it until everyone has retired to bed,” Mariko ensured her mother as she tucked her face into her neck and breathed in her scent. Tears began to fill her eyes as she relished the feel of her mother's arms around her. Despite the harsh exterior she had put up in the office and on the streets of New York, she had missed her family and for the first time in a year, she relaxed.

 

“I promised Sam that I at least stay updated.”

 

Sam was her boss and had tried to keep Mariko from going on this vacation but had obviously failed. She had after all, earned it.

 

“Sam's an ass,” Morgan proclaimed as she finally released her daughter but was still scowling.

Mariko sighed, “How can I make it up to you?”

 

Morgan thought for a moment.

 

“Complement her sister's new dress.”

 

Mariko groaned.

 

“She always has a new dress.”

 

“I know.”

 

Mariko couldn't help but smile at her mother. Despite the dark circles under her eyes, her mother still looked radiant with her motherly glow. Mariko looked down at her mother's protruding belly and kept herself from laughing at how big her mother looked.

 

“You didn't tell me you where this far along.”

 

“I still got two month to go,” Morgan bristled.

 

“Then I think your having another set of twins.”

 

“Oh god I hope not.”

 

Mariko laughed as she gathered her things.

 

“You go sit down,” she ordered, “I'll be down in a moment.”

 

Her mother was in no condition to argue and after giving her daughter's cheek an affectionate pat, she returned to the kitchen and snuck out the back to join the others. Mariko watched her go, smiling at her mothers waddle before making her way to her old room. Despite being gone for ten years, Morgan had saved the bed and dresser in her room in case she ever needed a place to stay. It would be that way for her other two that were getting ready to leave the nest. Seeing the bed and smelling the familiar scent brought its own comfort to Mariko and she breathed it in deeply. It was fading but her childhood scent was still here and she couldn't help but smile. It was funny. In New York she rarely smiled but being back in her parents' home, she hadn't stopped.

 

Throwing her things on the bed, she began to unpack; putting things neatly in the dresser and closet and the luggage on the small desk. When she entered the bathroom that connected her room to her sisters, she paused. It was clean, she was relieved to see but there were more mirrors and her sister's makeup crowded the large counter. If Akina didn't have as sensitive a nose as the rest of them the room would have been over powered with perfumed scents.

 

With her toiletry bag, Mariko approached the shower as if it were a predator. Sliding the door open slowly she was relieved to see that her sister had given up her habit of collecting every bath gel, and hair shampoo made by man and youkai. Instead there was only one set. Sighing with relief, Morgan put her own bottle on her original shelf that her sister had kept bare. She left the rest in the bag that she put in the wall cabinet that held her sisters hair dryer and curling iron. With the chore complete, Mariko returned to her room to change. As much as she loved dressing professionally, there was no need for that here. So she removed the professional skirt, matching jacket, and white blouse and in its place, tan slacks and a green blouse. It was more comfortable but without making her look like a slob in her opinion.

 

The task completed, she went down stairs to greet the rest of her family.

 

 

 

Sesshoumaru helped his mate into her seat nest to Kagome and Akina. She sighed in relief and squeezed his hand in gratitude before looking at her friend. Kagome was currently nursing her youngest child. Saniiro had been a surprise for Inuyasha and Kagome, the result of too many drinks at their second son's college graduation. With Kagome's history of difficult pregnancies and one miscarriage, the realization that she would be going through one more, left both Inuyasha and Kagome, excited and scared at the same time. The pregnancy had been different that her past four. It seemed to be easier, as if her body finally figured out how to carry and nurture a fetus but her labor had been another story. It might have been easy if the baby hadn't decided he didn't want to turn.

 

The cesarean was easy but Kagome wouldn't stop bleeding and a hysterectomy had to be preformed to save her life. Kagome may not be able to have any more children but her youngest had to be the healthiest of her children to be born. The other three had been tiny, the biggest only being seven pounds. But Saniiro had been nine pounds which made them all wonder why he had been so much easier. Not even Izayoi, her smallest of babies, had been easy. But Saniiro was a big, bouncy, baby boy that was determined to put on more weight judging by the way Kagome flinched as the boy bit down.

 

Morgan rubbed her own belly, feeling the life moving inside her. His movements were lazy right now. In a few more minutes they would stop as they always did around this time. Unlike Kagome's youngest, this baby had been planed. With Mariko moving to America, and the twins graduating from college in a few months, Morgan was starting feel the effects of an empty nest and craved to have another baby in her arms. Surprisingly, Sesshoumaru had been suffering the same feelings. Despite his cold exterior, he adored his children and in fact, craved more. He never even put of a fight but instead, ravished her when she went into heat. Seven months later, here she was and she couldn't imagine herself happier.

 

Kagome's sigh of relief brought Morgan back to herself and she looked to her friend to see her tucking her shirt down.

 

“I didn't think he'd ever finish.”

 

Morgan chuckled as she watched Saniiro curl against his mother. He wasn't at all tired but Saniiro always liked to cuddle after feeding. In a few minutes, he be struggling to get down and toddling over to his father or siblings. A few seconds letter, he did just that. Kagome and Mariko watched him go, toddle across the grass to be scooped up by Kaori, both boys laughing as Kaori fell to the ground, lightly tossing the baby in the air. Izayoi, Jomei, their brother, and Morgan's son, Ken'ichi joined them.

 

“It scared me every time they do that with the babies,” Kagome stated as she watched her children play.

 

 

“Why,” Akina asked, “they know not to get too rough and the pups are tougher than human babies.”

 

“I can't help but worry.”

 

Izayoi squealed as Jomei started tickling her.

 

“I see the fun has started without me.” Mariko joked as she exited the house.

 

Akina squealed her own high pitch squeal as she launched herself out of her chair and into her sister's arms. Mariko laughed as she embraced her little sister, letting her breath in her scent. Morgan smiled as she watched her daughters. They were as different as night and day but the girls loved each other more than anything. It reminded Morgan of her own relationship with her brother. As much as they fought, they would always be there fore each other.

 

“You look beautiful,” Mariko told her sister when they finally released each other. She looked at her mother out of the corner of her eye, secretly telling her that she more than fulfilled her promise.

 

“So do you, look at your hair. I love it.”

 

Mariko smiled at her sister. Without the concealment, Akina's raven hair transformed back to its natural silver, and her charcoal eyes returned to the family gold. Akina was a sticking young woman. She had all her father's elegant looks without any of her mother's ruggedness. Sesshoumaru claimed that Akina looked like his mother. The only thing that Akina had from her mother was her markings that went all the way down her back. A single leaf showed on her front shoulder, near her neck. It was the only thing Akina let the world see, even with the concealment. She was after all, proud of her mother's Irish blood, she just couldn't show it off but a little bit never hurt anyone. The only thing she lacked from her father was her height. Her brother and sister towered over her and she was just slightly taller than her mother.

 

Mariko squeezed her mother's shoulder when she walked by to meet her aunt. Kagome got up just in time to receive Mariko's hug.

 

“It is good to see you, Kagome.”

 

“And you, Firefly.”

 

Mariko cracked a smile at the nickname and gave Kagome one last squeeze before heading to the pit where Inuyasha was cooking while conversing with his brother. Sesshoumaru had stopped talking when he caught scent of his eldest child exiting the house. He was surprised by the hair and her pale color but neither looked displeasing on her. Beside, if he could live with his son changing his hair color every week, he could live with this more moderate change of his daughter's hair.

 

Mariko was still smiling when she approached him.

 

“Father,” she greeted.

 

“Daughter,” he replied before opening his arms for her.

 

Mariko embraced him more tightly than she did her mother since she didn't have to worry about an unborn pup. Sesshoumaru held his daughter just as tight, closing his eyes when she buried her face into his neck and breathing deep. He barely heard her quite bark of greeting. When he pulled away, there were tears in her eyes but she was smiling up at him.

 

“How is New York?” He asked.

 

“Busy.”

 

Sesshoumaru nodded then looked to his brother as Inuyasha pulled Mariko into his own arms.

 

“Long time no see, you little brat,” Inuyasha growled as he tousled her hair.

 

“I've called,” she protested.

 

“Not enough.”

 

Mariko laughed but before she could protest, she was lifted into the hair from behind and tossed to the ground. She screamed as her brother and cousins began piling onto her. She was almost pinned, being tickled by Izayoi's little hands but she was Sesshoumaru's daughter, princess of the western lands. She had fought in two wars beside her parents, against both youkai and humans. They couldn't keep her pinned long. Ken'ichi found himself flying through the air to land on his back at the other end of the lawn from a kick to his stomach. He coughed a bit but he was still laughing as he watched Jomei get tossed next to him. Izayoi wisely ran to her father while Kaori and Mariko battled a century old battle.

 

They were both standing when Kaori managed to throw Mariko over his shoulder. She landed on her back but without missing a beat, she kicked Kaori's feet from out from under him. His landing almost knocked the wind out of him but got to his feet right after Mariko did. They both faced each other as their siblings crowded around each other, shouting at the two. Both being encouraged to “kick ass.”

 

“God's I'm having a flash back,” Kagome complained, “the only difference is their not trying to kill each other.”

 

Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru looked at her then at each other. Eventually, Inuyasha shrugged and they both returned their attention to the fight.

 

“Still think you can take me, mutt.” Mariko taunted as she began circling her cousin.

 

“I know I can.” Kaori smiled as he watched her, looking more like his father with his cocky smirk.

 

“Oh really, what makes you think that?”

 

“I'm not the one whose been sitting on my ass for ten years.”

 

Mariko growled but didn't attack.

 

“And what have you've been doing other than digging in the dirt?”

 

“You be surprised what ancient tombs hide.” Then he attacked.

 

She hadn't expected the lunge. She expected Inuyasha's moves. Just run in swinging. But Kaori's moves had completely changed. Still, Mariko managed to grab his shirt and throw him over her. What she didn't expect was for him to grab her and to roll her with him. A move that was impossible for humans but with Kaori's youkai blood, agility, and strength, he pulled her with him. He landed on his back but he threw her, right into her brother.

 

Both landed in a heap of limbs and the wind was knocked out of her.

 

“Owe.” Ken'ichi proclaimed after he got some sense back, “what was that for?”

 

“I saw you flirting with Katherine before she left.” Kaori stated as he stood.

 

“And why throw me?” Mariko asked as she slowly got up. Maybe she was out of practice.

 

Kaori shrugged, “Closes thing at hand.”

 

Mariko humph but gave him a hug before turning to her brother. She cocked an eyebrow when she saw his hair.

 

“Green?”

 

Ken'ichi shrugged but pulled her into his arms. The spiting image of his father he was anything but. He was more like his mother's brother, Alban and he enjoyed irritating his father. All of them remember when he first came home with died hair. He father had demanded he die it back or cut it off. When he refused, he ran as his father chased after him claiming he would do the deed. Morgan had been the one to stop it all. She had whispered to Sesshoumaru that their son would out grow of this faze and to ignore it. A week later, she was the one chasing him when he came home with an earring. Fortunately for Ken'ichi, he was faster than both his parents. He still had the earring and he continued to dye his hair.

 

“It's good to see you.”

“You, too.”

 

“Hey, is the food done yet, I'm starving?” Morgan yelled from the comforts of the patio.

 

 

 

Mariko sat on the comfort of her bed, looking over her latest clients file. It was the same story, wife catches husband cheating, words fly, papers are filled out, and now husband wants sole custody of the kids. It was getting rather dull. Mariko remembered she enjoyed the training of becoming a lawyer but a divorce lawyer had always been the last from her mind. She had always dreamed of being a prosecutor and perform in another variation of a hunt. There was more money in divorce court but more excitement in criminal court. At least she was able to choose her clients

.

It was almost midnight when she smelled her mother, cookies, and milk at the door just before it opened.

“Hi,” her mother whispered as she entered, carrying a glass of milk and a small plate of cookies.

 

“Hi, does Father know you're up?” Mariko asked as she began moving files so her mother could stretch her legs out.

 

Morgan sat next to her daughter who wasted no time at grabbing the pillow from behind her and putting it under her Morgan's feet. Morgan sighed with relief.

 

“How did you know to do that?” she asked as she set the plate between them. Morgan kept the milk since Mariko had no real liking for it.

 

“I watched Inuyasha enough times with Kagome when she was pregnant with Jomei and Izayoi. And I faintly remember Father doing the same with you with the twins.”

 

“You were just ten, a tiny little pup.”

 

“With a good memory.” Mariko smiled as she took a cookie.

 

Morgan watched her daughter eat the cookie, her golden eyes lost in thought. Funny how all her children had gold eyes like their father but at the same time different. All her children had very emotional eyes. Mariko also looked a little thin. She wondered why she didn't notice it before. The only time Mariko had seen her daughter look this sad was when Rin had died of old age though she did recover quickly with the help of her family and Rin's children. Thinking of them Mariko mentally made a note to call her cousin just to catch up. She still found it funny that Cory had managed to actually fall in love with the girl and that she had won him from the tiger. She still wondered how he did that. Clearing her head, she focused her attention to the problem at hand.

 

“Are you happy baby?”

 

Mariko looked surprised that her mother spoke and that she asked that question. She put what was left of the cookie on the plate and began gathering the paperwork and putting it neatly into the case.

 

“I'm content.”

 

“I'm not asking if you're content. I'm asking if you're happy.”

 

Mariko sighed but she answered honestly.

 

“I don't know. New York is not what I was expecting but I do enjoy parts of it. And though I am bored with my job, I am good at it.”

 

Morgan smiled as she leaned back against her pillow.

 

“You're father told me once that two jobs; being a lord and being husband, and a father. He told me that he thought being a lord was all he would ever want. Then he fell in love with me. Then we had you. You had him wrapped around your finger the moment you were born. He told me the jobs he loved most, was being a husband a father. Maybe you just haven't found the job you want.”

 

“I know what I want,” she whispered. “But it has sacrifices.”

 

“Everything has sacrifices.”

 

Mariko smiled as and she leaned back against the head board.

 

“I meant a man, Mama.” She admitted.

 

“What?”

 

“He's a hanyou, his mother is Inu. He's an architect.”

 

Morgan smiled at her daughter's blush but she knew there was more.

 

“I want to become a prosecutor for New York but I see so little of him as it is. He says he doesn't mind but I know he does.” Mariko could feel the tears in her eyes but she refused to let them fall. “I don't know what to decide.”

 

Morgan sighed and setting the milk on the night stand, she pulled her daughter to her. “You will decide what is best for you.”

 

Mariko gave her a sobbing laugh.

 

“You, who've been getting on my case about finding a man and your not just at the chance to tell me to go to him.”

 

Morgan smiled, “I'm biting my tongue.”

 

Mariko laughed and sat up.

 

“We both should go to bed. We both have a lot to do tomorrow.”

 

“Yes, our family reunions never seem to end.”

 

“Good. Wait, I'll help you up.”

 

Mariko rose and gently lifted her mother to her feet, gently touching her mother's stomach to feel the life within.

 

“No kick?”

 

“No thank god, the little mutt is finally asleep.”

 

Mariko gave her mother's arm a reassuring squeeze and led her to the door where she paused. Gently, she touched her daughter's cheek.

 

“I'm proud of you, my daughter, and I will forever be proud of you. Just be happy.”

 

“I will be.”

 

Mariko watched her mother walked down the hall to disappear around the corner. She quietly closed the door, not wanting to wake her sister and glanced at the phone on the desk. She wondered if it would be wrong to call him and bring up her parents long distant phone bill. Not that they would notice since her father was always doing business long distance. Sighing at her silliness, Mariko put her things away and finished the cookies. She poured the milk into the potted plant her mother had put on the dresser before retreating to the bathroom to cleanup. Five minutes later, she rushed to the phone, and dialed some numbers.

 

“Hi, it's me.”

 

 

 

“Checking on the pups?” Sesshoumaru asked as Morgan shrugged off her robe. His eyes lingered on her swollen breast and stomach. She was always beautiful to him but pregnant, she was radiant.

 

“I can't help it,” she admitted as she slid into the covers beside him. A moment later the covers flew off as it had been for a week. She could only tolerate the sheet on her and it would probably be that way through out the remaining pregnancy.

 

“Have you discovered what was wrong?”

 

Morgan curled around him as best she could and sighed when he wrapped an arm around her.

 

“She's worried.”

 

“About what?”

 

Morgan smiled and shook her head.

 

“Relax. Our pups will be fine. The twins will graduate in a few months. Ken'ichi's paintings are selling, Akina's is showing the promise a wonderful movie carrier, and Mariko is in love. Now go to sleep.” She ordered as she kissed his neck.

 

Sesshoumaru growled in contentment before looking down at his mate.

 

“In love? With who?”

 

 

Down the hall, Mariko smiled as she hung up the phone. Her mind made up, she went to bed, already feeling better. Though she did wonder how her father would handle meeting Mariko's American mate-to-be.

 

 

 

 

 

AN: I am so very sorry about how long it took to get this out. Life just got in the way. Worthy has now been completed with a slight cliff-hanger in case I decide to continue with the story but the likely hood of that happening is slim. Just think of it as complete and leave their lives to your imagination. I did enjoy writing the Courtship series though they did get bigger than I ever thought they would be. Courtship itself was just supposed to be five chapters. And though worthy was harder to write, I did fall in love with my original characters. I never expected Taka to get as much attention as she did from my readers. Was she really that scary? I thank you all for the reviews and support and I wish all writers luck with their writing and to never suffer from writers block. Again I thank all of you.

 

Goodbye

 

Whitewavereborn