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Ever Us -- Reflections	By : DaddysSpecialRequest Category: InuYasha > General Views: 1332 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
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Chapter 10 Uncle Jaken

Date 1566

After the meteor shower Sesshomaru visited even more frequently. Inuyasha found that he looked forward to it. One could even say he became younger in spirit, more playful and lighthearted when Sesshomaru was around.

One time during a break in their sparring practice Sesshomaru decided it was time to tell Inuyasha of his intentions. Sesshomaru looked at his brother and hoped he was prepared for this news.

“Inuyasha, Our wives have been gone for over two years now. I’d like you to consider me as a potential mate. We are a good match. We are both strong and handsome. We are both independent.” Sesshomaru sped up. “Demons can mate their own family members unlike humans. They can mate whomever they deem. With your permission I would like to court you.   As you haven seen, I am able to feed you, keep you warm, protect you from harm.   I have sufficient wealth to allow you to have a—“Sesshomaru’s speech was at full speed, spieling off all his thoughts from the last three years when Inuyasha interrupted.

“Wait!   You want to court me?”   Inuyasha stared. Tessaiga dropped to the ground with a ka-thunk sound.

“Yes,” Sesshomaru responded.

“Um…You want to court me?” Inuyasha repeated this time exaggerating every word.

“Yes,” Sesshomaru confirmed, tilting his head and smelling to see if there was something amiss.

“Yeh. Interesting,” Inuyasha bent down and picked up his sword and sheathed it.

“I am uncertain of your response, Inuyasha.” Sesshomaru asked softly.

“Make that two of us,” Inuyasha replied.   “Can you give me a minute or two to put my thoughts in order?”

“Of course, brother.”

Inuyasha blinked his eyes as if to clear them of dust. Eventually he asked, “Sesshomaru, I know very little of the way of the Inu.   I was raised by humans.   They frown upon familial relationships and they don’t like same sex situations either. If I say yes now am I committed to mating you?     I mean I like you a lot and I love you as a brother but you want ME as a mate—like a forever mate?!”

“Yes, I want you as a forever mate,” Sesshomaru confirmed, still more than an arm’s reach from Inuyasha.

Inuyasha continued to stare at him as though he had two heads.

“If you require proof of my affections, I would be happy to oblige,” Sesshomaru took a step forward.

Inuyasha took a step backward.

Sesshomaru stopped.

“Are there still things from our past impeding your perception of me? I would gladly apologize for them and attempt some type of compensation…”

“No, no, no, NO, STOP!   That’s not it. And I have told you before; I forgave you for all of that stuff! It was on Rin’s birthday so many years ago.   She wanted specific gifts from us. You were to ask me to forgive you. And I was to forgive you for your behavior in the past. She wanted us to be friends. How could I ever refuse her! What kind of present would it be if I didn’t keep my word?”

Inuyasha had started to raise his voice from frustration and anger but as he reached the end of his rant his mind’s eye flashed to the look of joy and gratitude on Rin’s face. His speech ended softly.

Sesshomaru remained quiet as he thought of the time leading up to Rin’s 60^th birthday.   Shortly after the frostbite incident, Rin had started talking to him about how he and Inuyasha would be lonely after she and Kagome were gone and they should mate. When he seemed to drag his feet on the issue, she suggested he start by apologizing to his brother for all the hurtful things he had said in the past.   Sesshomaru listened, but it wasn’t that simple in his mind. Demons were long lived and had even long memories. It wasn’t unusual for a feud to continue for six generations! However, she was persistent and reminded him that his brother was part human and had been with humans the most, and that humans forgave each other.

Apparently she was working on Inuyasha at the same time.

“You are a man of your word. Forgive me Inuyasha. She did say that was her best birthday ever.”

The two stood in silence while the crickets chirped and the birds sang. Neither heard nature’s chorus though. They were lost in their own thoughts.

Final Inuyasha sighed and said, “If you want to court me, then do it in the old fashion way of the Inu clan and teach me the ways of our ancestors. Tell me stories of our father and those before him.   Now, can we get back to sparring?”

Sesshomaru nodded and they resumed their practice.    However they both were distracted.

Sesshomaru’s mind was on Inuyasha’s request about stories of Father. While their wives were alive Inuyasha had asked Sesshomaru for stories of their father. Sesshomaru typically found some other topic to discuss and ignored Inuyasha’s request.   Now it was to be part of their courting process. Could Sesshomaru talk about their father without hurting? He had forced that part of him in the back part of his mind because the loss of their father was the most painful thing that had ever happened to him.   Would it tear him apart?

On the other side of the practice field Inuyasha was smirking. He really didn’t have any hang ups with same sex or familial mating. He thought Sesshomaru was sexy. He knew of demon mating, but he wasn’t going to make it easy for Sesshomaru.   He wanted to know about their family. He wanted to know their father.

The sparring matches went in favor of Inuyasha to such an extent that he finally called it a day.

As they walked off the practice field to get some water Inuyasha asked, “So what does courting entail, anyway?”

Stopping Sesshomaru looked at Inuyasha. “There are three phases. Ordinarily I would have had to ask a relative for permission to court you. As Father and Lady Kaede are gone, I will have to research that part and get back with you.”

“Well, if it matters any, I give you my permission,” Inuyasha blushed and scratched his head nervously.

“That matters the most,” Sesshomaru said. And in a quick move grabbed Inuyasha hand and kissed his knuckles.

The hanyou was even more flustered at that.

Sesshomaru smirked. ‘This was going to be fun.’

--------------

Later that evening Sesshomaru returned to Castletown. Jaken greeted him at the castle gates.

“My Lord! My Lord! You have returned! My Lord!”

Sighing heavily Sesshomaru commented, “Jaken, you act as if I will never return to my home. Get us some tea and join me in my study.”

“Right away milord!” Jaken raced off to the kitchen.

Sesshomaru went directly to his study and started reading the mating scrolls that were there.   All of them mentioned the importance of familial support.

‘Well, I see no reason to talk to woman who birthed me.   There is no other.   What shall I do?’

Just then Jaken tottered into the room with a tea tray. Sesshomaru appraised the small imp.

Here stood a demon that had followed him for decades unquestionably.   He wasn’t particularly brave or courageous but he was loyal.   He had conveyed Sesshomaru’s wishes back and forth to the Castle while he stayed with Rin.   ‘Jaken had confronted the advisors when they were not doing what I asked.   He is more of a family member to me than my own. Hum. I wonder.’

“Jaken,” Sesshomaru began, “How long have you followed me?” Sesshomaru took the tray from the imp and sat it down.

“It has been many decades of proud service, My Lord,” squawked the imp. “They have been the best years of my life.”   Jaken paused and glanced at his Lord.   “My Lord, why do you ask?   Have I failed you? Please tell me you are not going to release me.   Your servant lives to please you.” The imp started sweating and panicking.

Sesshomaru waved a hand to silence the prattle.

Jaken shut up.

“Sit, Jaken.   I would like to converse with you.” Sesshomaru sat at the tea table and pointed to a seat near him.

The teapot was too far for Jaken to reach sitting. He struggled to reach it.

Sesshomaru noticed the movement and commanded, “Sit, Jaken.   I will pour the tea.”

“I couldn’t allow such,” Jaken squawked.   His arms waved about franticly. “I am but a lowly servant.”

“Would you sit if you were with Lady Rin? Or if you were with family?” Sesshomaru queried as he lifted the pot and started to pour the hot liquid in two cups.   He kept an eye on Jaken to see how he would respond.

Jaken stopped moving.   “Yes, Lady Rin and I had tea often. And I would sit with family.”

“Very good,” Sesshomaru said as he finished filling the cups and sat the pot down.

The two cups poured and untouched in front of them Sesshomaru continued.   “I owe you a great deal of gratitude, Jaken.   You have been by my side faithfully, watching over my lands, but most importantly watching over my dear Rin.”

“Oh precious Rin,” Jaken cooed, tears welling in his eyes. “It was such a sad day when she perished. Nature mourned for her.    I miss her.” Jaken wiped the tears from his eyes with the sleeve of his kimono.

“I know you do, Jaken.   As do I.   I would like to take a few moments and reflect about her. Would you join me, and share memories?”

“I would,” Jaken looked at Sesshomaru with happy tears pouring down his cheeks.

“I am not sure she mentioned it to you but she wished me to mate Inuyasha when she and Kagome were gone. Were you aware of her wishes?” Sesshomaru carefully watched Jaken for his response.

“Yes, Milord, She asked me to remind you of that every so often as well.   She spoke to me about it every time we saw each other in her last ten years of life.”

“My,” said Sesshomaru, “I didn’t realize it was so often. Did she ever mention why she felt that way.”

“Oh yes my Lord,” Jaken was getting into the conversation.   His Lord was listening to him and he was basking in the attention. “Kagome had confided in Rin that she was worried about Inuyasha being lonely again. Apparently your brother was very lonely after his mother died. He didn’t have any friends. Being a hanyou Inuyasha really didn’t fit in the human or demon world. Kagome, Miroku and Sango were his first true friends. Kagome shared that with Rin.   Rin understood being alone. In the time between the death of her parents and when we met her, Rin was alone. For you and me two or three years aren’t very long but for Rin it left a lasting impression.”

Sesshomaru nodded.

Jaken continued. “Rin didn’t want anyone to be alone. She was worried about you too.”

Sesshomaru’s eyebrows rose.   “Hnnn?”

“Yes, Milord. She felt that you and your brother belonged together. You wouldn’t out live each other. You are both dog demons. Your personalities complement each other. And you need each other, she said.”

“Hmmm,” Sesshomaru paused to contemplate Jaken’s words. “That’s what she told me too.   I think she might be right.   How do you feel about it, Jaken?”

“Lord Inuyasha and I are compatriots. In the past we were mean to each other.   But after you left Lady Rin in the village and I saw that he watched over her like a big brother I realized we were kindred spirits.”

Sesshomaru had to school his face. ‘Kindred spirits—I wonder if that’s what Inuyasha thinks.’

Jaken didn’t notice. His Lord was listening to him.   He continued, “I believe Lord Inuyasha should come to the Castle.   It is his home too, is it not Milord?”

Sesshomaru nodded and sipped from his tea cup which was cold now.

“I approached Inuyasha about allowing me to court him. He said I could court him if I did it in the old fashion way of the Inu clan and teach him the ways of our ancestors.”

“Congratulations, Milord!” Jaken squawked excitedly.

“There is a small problem, Jaken,” Sesshomaru sat his cup down and looked at his retainer.
“In the way of the Inu I must get permission from a relative.   We have none.”

Jaken’s chest sagged. He knew not to ask about the Lady Mother. Finally he said, “Lady Rin would be so sad.”

“Jaken, how would you describe your relationship with Lady Rin?” Sesshomaru queried.

“Milord, I always felt close to her.   When you left us, I watched over her.   I cried when she died. I always thought of myself as her favorite uncle.”

Sesshomaru smiled.

Jaken’s eyes opened even wider.

“That’s it! Jaken, you gave me the answer to the problem!   You were an uncle to Lady Rin and that makes you an Uncle to me by marriage.   Uncle Jaken, will you can give me permission to court Inuyasha?”

Jaken stuttered and then fainted.

Sesshomaru could help chuckle a bit before he splashed the cold tea on Jaken’s face.

Jaken roused.    “Lord Sesshomaru? I could have sworn you just called me Uncle Jaken.”

“I did.”

Jaken bowed his head to the floor. From that position he said, “My Lord, I know you don’t like to repeat yourself, but for the sake of this old imp would you say it again?”

“Rise Uncle Jaken.”

Jaken lifted his head slowly from the tatami mat and looked to Sesshomaru.

Sesshomaru made eye contact. “Jaken, uncle of my late wife and uncle of this Sesshomaru by marriage, will you give me permission to court Lord Inuyasha?”

Jaken’s eyes twinkled and his mouth smiled.   “I give you my blessing, nephew.”

“Very good.   I will be in the library researching ideas for my gifts to my future mate.” Sesshomaru stood to leave.

“My Lord? May I suggest some portraits of your great father?   I am sure Lord Inuyasha would treasure that.”

Sesshomaru looked to Jaken and nodded. “Thank you”

Jaken fainted again.

Soft laughter floated down the quiet castle hall.

-----------------------------------posted 1 April 2020 --GN
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