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Ever Us -- The Blessing; Keiko	By : DaddysSpecialRequest Category: InuYasha > Yaoi - Male/Male > InuYasha/Sessh?maru > InuYasha/Sessh?maru Views: 4018 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, nor do I make any money from it.

Chapter List
- 13
- 14
- 15
Chap 14
The 3^rd week from the bug infestation

“We still haven’t figured out where the insects came from Milords,” Captain Kenichi reported to the brothers and the advisors at the private advisors’ meeting.   “We have reports of bug damage from the castle to the fox forest but no other clues besides the dying words of a cockroach—she lied. No one can shed any light on it”
“Keep searching,” Sesshomaru commanded.
Another advisor gave a financial report.   All in all the refugees were not tapping the castle funds too severely but it would be good to have the festival as soon as possible.
Jinenji was required to attend the advisor meeting now that he was the castle healer.   He sat to Inuyasha’s right.   He watched the advisors.   They had accepted him without scorn for his half demon status. He gave his report about the number of people seeking care. He mentioned that he could use some land to plant his herbs and possibly some assistance in farming them. One advisor told Jinenji that he had met some farmers during the census and would gladly introduce them to the gentle giant. Jaken added that the castle staff could be increased by a number if the farmers were satisfactory to him.
Jinenji stared at the advisors and gulped. He had never been so welcomed and accommodated in his life. “Thank you so much, kind sirs,” he bowed.
“Nonsense, lad.   We are grateful to you. You are the castle healer. All you have to do is just say something and it’ll be yours.”
Jinenji’s eyes were open to their fullest with the realization of his value to the Takahashi brothers and advisors. His heart raced and skipped beats. His face flushed.   Fortunately no one was watching him at this point and he had a chance to get his breathing and heart rate slowed down.
Finally Inuyasha took the list that the advisors and Jaken had compiled and read it to the group.
“Brother, Advisors.   The dairy man asked for milk but then crossed it off after meeting the goat demon.   The tailor asked for cloth but crossed that off after meeting the silk worms.   The baker asked for flour and eggs but crossed that off after meeting the woman with sweet potatoes.   I see that trend continued down the entire list.   That was my hope that we could find the things we needed if we only looked in a different place.”
“Next we need construction workers to build the new castle town. I see there are laborers on the census. Can they be taught the construction techniques that will be required to renovate and build our city?   I imagine they can.   Since we don’t need supplies and we have manpower we don’t need to use that for entrance fee to the festival.   Now we just need to settle on an acceptable entrance fee to our festival.”
“As for Participants, they can be singers, drummers, and dancers. They can play folk music. The monk can do chants. We can have bon dancing. The shamisen can be played solo or with other shamisen, in ensembles with other instruments, with singing, or as an accompaniment to drama.”
Jaken piped up. “Hope someone plays the flute. I like the flute.”
Inuyasha nodded.   “The flute does make a pleasant sound.   Let’s make sure to look for one. Let’s avoid former princesses named Sara though, ok, Jaken?” The two shared a private laugh as Sesshomaru shook his head.
“We will have food stands including our baker’s festival special, noodle stands and a pickle stand. I’d like to see flower arrangers that do ikebana and florists that use Hanakatoba, the language of flowers. The tailor, the doll makers, the kite and fan makers will make money for themselves.   The umbrella and lantern merchants should be able to sell their goods. Wood block prints would be nice.”
An advisor added, “We can ask 1-5% of their profits as the fee for setting up a booth. We can explain it is for the rebuilding of Castle town and the addition of housing for the refugees.   I think the percentage would be better than a flat fee.   Some booths will make more than others and we can employ castle personnel to assist each stand. They can help the merchant and assure we get the amount we wish.”
The oldest advisor nodded in agreement.
“The Cream Ice stand will undoubtedly attract a lot of customers so we should allot them adequate space.”
All the members in the room agreed.
“There must be a trough for watering the beast of burden. Drinks of tea, milk, sake, and beer will be available for the attendees”
“Food should be accompanied by drink. It helps with digestion,” Jinenji contributed.
“Wisely noted, Healer,” the crackly voiced advisor croaked. “Perhaps the food and drink should be in a different section of the festival so people don’t spill on the merchandise.”
A few nodded in agreement.
Inuyasha resumed. “As for entertainment, there can be kites to fly, a go tournament, a dramatic re-enactment of our defeat of Naraku, the musical events and story tellers.   Initially I suggested a warrior demonstration but I believe a Sumo competition amongst the samurai and ronin would attract even more attention.   We could even offer the winner a position in the castle guard if Captain Kenichi approves.”
Captain Kenichi scratched his chin. “I still like to battle them personally to ascertain their skill. How about saying the top three winners will be allowed an interview for the castle guard.   All the guards have been vetted and are devoted to you my lords. I fear we may open the castle to an unknown. The guards have access to the entire castle.    I have serious reservations.”
“Well thought out, Captain. Your concerns are sound.”   Turning to Inuyasha he continued, “I do like the sumo competition, Inuyasha. This could be very entertaining.   There is undoubtedly a different prize that would be satisfying to the victor yet not jeopardize the security of the castle.”
“Choice in housing location?”
“Food?”
“a medal?”
“a monetary reward?”
Sesshomaru listened as ideas popped about him. “We will have to come back to this.   What else did you have Inuyasha?”
“Shippo told me he could perform some fox magic. That will be a big attraction. I did mention he couldn’t prank the people.   But some of them may want to be fooled.   I admit to laughing about his tricks after the fact.”
The oldest advisor crossed his arms.   “I don’t want to be fooled.   The last pranks that fox pulled on me …”
Inuyasha cut him off and changed subjects. “Perhaps the Shinto priests and Buddhist priests would bless the temple.”
“Excellent idea, milord! There are more humans in the town. That would be important to them.”
Sesshomaru nodded. “Jaken, let’s get the word out and plan for this festival next week.   That should give us enough time. Right, advisors! We will charge one mon or its equivalent in rice. You are adjourned. Get to work.”
The advisors rose to leave. Inuyasha reached out to Jinenji. “Jinenji, I want you to visit the kitchen with me. The chef made a kitchen herb garden in a very small area.   You might find some ideas from the way he constructed it.”
The two hanyous walked through the castle to the kitchen.   They had gotten half way there when Jinenji asked Inuyasha if he could talk to him.
“Of course, old friend.   What can I do for you?”
The horse hanyou cleared his throat and a soft whiney escaped. “I---I—I’m tongue tied in front of your brother. I can feel my heart pounding in my chest and my ears ring.”
“Hey! You got a crush on my demon?” Inuyasha frowned disapprovingly.
“OH NO!” Jinenji pulled back. “He scares me to death.   He almost killed me once when I woke him from a nap.”
Inuyasha started chuckling. “Just for your knowledge, he makes my heart pound and my ears ring too. And never wake a sleeping dog. That’s just a bad idea.”
He patted Jinenji on the arm and then stepped back so he could look at Jinenji eye to eye.   “You were the one he wanted to talk to first about the healer job,” Inuyasha confided.
Jinenji blinked. “Why me?”
“Dunno.”
“Huh.”
“Well, whatever his reason, he wanted you, so you are going to have to get over your fear of him and that’s that.”
“Will you be there when he wants to talk to me?”
“Yeah, sure, but don’t be surprised if I laugh at you for being afraid of the “big bad doggie” though.”
“Thanks Inuyasha.”
Inuyasha shook his mane of hair and laughed again.   The two resumed their stroll to the kitchen.
As they entered the ever busy kitchen they heard singing, dishes clanking and the chef yelling out instructions to different subordinates. However, all noise stopped and all heads turned to see their favorite inuhanyou.
“Lord Inuyasha!   Just the guy I was looking for!” the chef called out as he strode across the big kitchen.
Inuyasha greeted the chef with an elbow bump. They had developed their own greeting a century previous when the chef had dough on his hands.   Inuyasha laughed then and said, “elbow bump” and it had stuck.   Now neither had their hands full but it was their greeting.
“I brought Jinenji down to see the kitchen herb garden.   Let’s show it to him so he can get some ideas about growing herbs in smaller areas and then you can tell me what’s on your mind.”
The chef opened the shoji doors that led to the small inner courtyard.   In the center of the courtyard was the well that provided water for the kitchen.   On one side of the well bamboo closed troughs led water into the kitchen. On the other side a series of long thin boxes were hanging from the wall. From a distance it looked like a wide ladder but on closer inspection each step was actually a plant box with seedlings.   The chef smiled proudly as he pointed out the different herbs.   Jinenji’s eyes opened wide and he leaned in to look closer.
“Brilliant.   I never thought about using a small space like this.   How do you get enough sunlight for them?”
“The ones that need the most sun are on top. The bottom level has the herbs that prefer shade.” The two herbalists shared notes for several more minutes.   Then after assuring the healer he could visit anytime he wished, the chef turned to Inuyasha.
“Lord Inuyasha, I want to know what the kitchen staff can do for the festival.   The staff is excited and ready to help.” The chef rubbed his hands together and bounced on his toes.
“Wonderful!   I want you to share “cheesy bites” with the world! I know they will be a Big Hit!!” Inuyasha crossed his arms in front of him and adopted a cocky smile.
The chef swallowed a couple of times. His eagerness faded. “Are you sure my Lord?   They are for royalty.”
Inuyasha’s eye sparkled and he smiled the reassuring smile they had grown to know and love.
“Yes Chef. I am sure. I want the world to know the joy of “Cheesy Bites”.   Sesshomaru and I have discussed this and we feel strongly about this.   Everyone should have the privilege of trying those delightful morsels.   You, Chef, are the creator of this marvelous food.   Enjoy the attention.    It will bring in money for the reconstruction. Be proud. You will be doing something significant!”
With that Inuyasha walked out of the kitchen and chased down his grand kits.
****
In the guard quarters Kenichi found Usagi sitting and staring at the wall. ‘Oh no, not again,’ he thought. Then quickly he called out to Usagi, “Son? Usagi?”   He started to his side to shake his shoulder but Usagi looked up just then.   Usagi wore a sad expression.   “Son? What’s wrong?”
“Dad, I know you said it’s ok, but I ….” Tears began building in his eyes.
Kenichi reached out a hand to the rabbit. “It’s ok to mourn for those we love.   How about coming with me?”   He pulled him to his side and they walked out doors in to the sunlight.
“Let’s walk for a little while.” Kenichi motioned to a nearby guard. “We’re going to the temple. Keep an eye on the Lords for me.”
“Yes Sir,” came the quick reply.
Kenichi and Usagi walked through the town to the temple on the out skirts of the village.   In the temple they could hear several human monks chanting.   Small children were playing ball to the side of the temple.   In a small circle on the front yard four young men were practicing their writing.   A number of hanyou, demon and humans mingled on the porch and pointed toward the roof and then inside the temple in the corresponding place.
“Usagi, this is a human temple but here in Castle town all of us can use it.   Have you ever been to a temple before?”
“No. We had a shrine to our ancestors but that was in our home.”
“I see.   When I was young we had a shrine in our home too but then everything was gone when Mother and Father and the rest of my family were murdered. I was the only one left.   I couldn’t stay there.   I had resorted to using my demon dog form to stay alive. I wandered aimlessly until a human man took me in.   He named me Shippeitaro. He didn’t know I was a dog demon. He just thought I was just a smart dog so he talked to me all the time.
One time he took me to the temple and started talking to his kami.   I heard him tell his kami everything. Thanks for food and friends, sorrow for missing family, wishes for the harvest, everything. He even told his kami he was grateful for me.   When he walked out of the temple he walked lighter. I looked all around to see what was in the temple, but I didn’t smell anything.   We would go there frequently and every time he felt better after spending time in the temple.
One time while I waited I copied everything he said.   I felt silly at first but then when he walked out I realized I felt better too.”
Kenichi walked the two of them to the zen garden and sat down.
Kenichi told Usagi how he had met Inuyasha and the story of the cat demons in the temple and how they had beaten them.     He explained that he had stayed with the old human until he passed and then he went in search of Inuyasha.   By that time Inuyasha had just mated with Sesshomaru and they had begun living in the castle at castle town.   Inuyasha had greeted Kenichi with open arms and introduced him to Sesshomaru.   Sesshomaru had been very jealous that Inuyasha greeted Kenichi with a hug and demanded a duel.   Immediately Inuyasha started screaming at the two of them not to fight.   However Sesshomaru had demanded and both men were stubborn prideful demons. Inuyasha had used a variety of colorful words and threats to try and stop the battle. Sesshomaru won, of course, but Kenichi gave him a couple of wounds in the process.   In hindsight Kenichi saw that Sesshomaru was so jealous he wasn’t careful and that’s how Kenichi hit him.   But finally the Kenichi fell from exhaustion.   Sesshomaru had calmed down considerably by that time and put his sword away.   Sesshomaru demanded Kenichi start his job as captain of the guard first thing in the am after breakfast and then turned and grabbed Inuyasha and flew away to their room in the castle.
After a couple of decades Kenichi asked Inuyasha if there was magic in temples. The inuhanyou snorted and said no and then he proceeded to tell Kenichi a great deal about temples from what he had learned from his very good friend Miroku the monk.   Inuyasha didn’t know how it worked either but he knew humans always felt better when they talked to their kami about stuff.
“Usagi, I still really don’t know how it works but talking to the kami helps demons too.   Maybe it’s the quiet and peace in the main temple, or maybe it’s just getting the stuff off your chest. Maybe there is a great kami.   I’d like to think so.”
“Some demons like to go to graves and talk to their loved ones there. Others have a shrine in their home.   You and I don’t have graves to visit. Our home is in the guard quarters with all the other guards. But we do have this temple. Let’s talk to the kami, ok?”
So father and son sat in the Zen garden talking to the kami.   They shared their sorrows, their thanks, their wishes for the future, and their best wishes for a fruitful festival. When they walked away from the temple, Kenichi noticed Usagi was bouncing slightly. He smiled.
As they returned to the castle Kenichi told Usagi they would start training the next day.   The leash of kits was playing hide and seek in the courtyard. They saw Usagi and begged him to join them. Shippo’s preteen daughter Suyuki blushed prettily as she saw Usagi bounce through the gate.
Kenichi smiled.   ‘Wonder if I need to discuss the birds and the bees too?’ He waved to his son as he went back to work.
****
Sesshomaru had grabbed the Ougai book and had wandered through the castle to find a quiet place to read.   Finding a quiet warm spot he sat down and started reading.   This particular section of Ougai’s book was very technical and dry and soon Sesshomaru fell asleep.   His dreams returned him to visions of white fluffy balls of fur, yipping and nipping at his heels. There in the midst was a female pup with Inuyasha’s eyes.   She barked to him.   He watched as his mate called the pups to his side and taught them something that he couldn’t hear. He stood guard over his family. It was his duty. It was his responsibility. He also felt another emotion but could not describe it, but it made him feel warm.
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Ever Us -- The Blessing; Keiko