Troubled Waters

The bright, early morning sun had already begun to shine through the long, dark drapes that covered the windows in Sesshomaru’s bedroom. He slowly opened his eyes and smiled as he ran his fingers through Zimorah’s hair. She was sleeping so soundly, he had no idea that she has had a rough couple of nights, worrying about him. She moved slightly when he gently brushed against her skin. He sat up staring at her, almost lost in beauty of her chocolate tone.
Sesshomaru’s eyes widened as an all to familiar scent hit his nose. A look of annoyance was all over his face, he sniffed once more to be certain of his instincts. He jumped from the futon and threw on his cloths. Sesshomaru took a long breath before leaving his room.
‘Thai......just what is it that she wants?’ He thought while closing the door.

He finally reached the outside door. He stood there, observing the guards as they refused this woman entry. Her attire was very similar to his, white, flowing kimono with red markings. Her tie was all blue and her had more armor then he did. The Saimiri-style helmet she wore, only reviled her eyes.
“Show yourself wench!” The guard yelled.
The woman let out a powerful laugh, it reminded the young youkai of Sesshomaru’s
haunting laugh. Still, the man held his ground. She walked towards him, her hands never leaving her sides.
“I’m warning you wench!”. He reached for his sword, before his hands ever touched the weapon, her claws were almost in his throat. The youkai gasped for air like a fish out of water.

“And I’m warning you pup, you better learn to fear me.” She hissed out, he watched her eyes turn from a golden-grey to crimson red. Her voice was icy. She laughed again as she tossed him like a rag doll. The man landed on his face.

She approached the other guards. Her gaze dared them to make a move. The older man who exactly who she was. He smiled and graciously lead her in. The woman walked passed the whispering cluster of servants and other inuyoukai. They all left at the sound of Sesshomaru’s hiss.
“Now, now. Is that the way you treat the help?” She asked as she removed her helmet. He watched her while she ran her fingers through her short, silver hair.

“What?” She asked.

“What have you done to yourself?” He frowned at her.

“I desired a change, so I cut my hair”. A smile crept across her full lips.

“You look terrible!” He hissed out at her, his arms were folded.

“Ah, you were always the pretty one.” She teased while playfully pinching his cheeks.

“Enough!” He growled at her while turning his face away.

“So it is true.” She sighed. She pulled up a chair from his desk and sat down.

“What is true?” He asked, with one eyebrow raised.

“ You have become so icy, frozen. Your little nose is so far in the air that you cannot smell your own waste!”

“I do not need or desire your presence nor am I in the mood for your common remarks so-“

“Oh stop already! Father always said you were the uptight one, just like mother.” Her voice was had a bitter tone.

Sesshomaru grew angry with his little sister and her comments about their mother. He did love her, but he loved her more when she was away. He slammed his hands on his desk and glared at her.

“You ungrateful little brat, you leave mother out of this!”

“Are we going back on mother again?”

“You speak of her as if you do not miss her. You were the one who abandoned her when she was ill....and for who, father, he left all of us for that whore of a mortal, Izayoi!”

“I did not abandon her, she wasn’t even ill then. Father did not leave us-“

“Oh, no we can never speak ill of the great and terrible InuTaisho can we?...Its always mother, why not him, he was unfaithful to mother remember?” Sesshomaru was slowly, losing his cool.

“Mother just wanted someone to feel sorry for her. Maybe if she wasn’t so frigid and mean, father would not have left her....and another thing, calling Izayoi a whore will not change the fact that shes InuYasha’s mother and he is OUR brother!”

“She knew of father’s commitment to our mother, she knew that inuyoukai mate for life!”

“Come on Sessh, you knew how mother was...I bet the only time they mated physically, was to create us.....face it, mother was cold. Father might as well had went to bed with a block of ice!”

“You little bitch!” He was yelling at her. No one could bring his anger like Thai, she always knew what to say.

“Yes, well that is a trait I got from mother.” She spit out with a smile. “Besides, she didn’t want me. It was always you....her Sesshomaru, her boy...her little pet!”

“Silence! She gave you life, that alone should have been enough for you to stay at her side.”

“Well you know something Sessh, if she was going to treat me the way she did, I’d rather she had not given me life.”

“Hmph...that is the first thing we have agreed on since you darkened my land with your presence.”

“Ha, your land?...Oh no my dear Sessy, you mean our land. This place belongs to the three of us” Thai paused to check his expression. “Yes, thats you, me and InuYasha. Of course because of you, he wants no parts of the inuyoukai !”

Sesshomaru said nothing to his sister’s remarks.

“And since you brought up abandonment, let us speak about it.”

“I have no time for this Thai.”

“Oh, no...no. Let us talk about how after father died, you had Jaken set Izayoi up, then preceded
to have her and InuYasha thrown out of here”

“Shut up Thai.” His growl was low and threatening as he dug his claws into the desk.

“No, I’m not finished. Let us talk of how she begged you to take InuYasha and you said no! No to a SIX MONTH OLD INFANT! Looked her straight in the eyes and said you didn’t care if InuYasha died in the cold, winter air! You knew the hellish life he would have.” Thai was growing angrier as she spoke. “The poor human was in tears, my little brother could have avoided all the hardships he had but no....Lord Sesshomaru could have no hanyou for a brother...no fucking way!”

“Close your damn mouth girl.” His wanted to strike Thai with all he had. His hand was itching for a blow to her face.

“And to top that, when I came back from my travels, you lied and told me that he was dead! All because you didn’t want us to bond with each other....you cold, heartless bastard!”

Before he knew it, the back of his hand hit her face with a fire he never felt before. She turned her face towards him and unleashed a wicked laugh. With one blow from her fist, she knocked the demon lord off of his feet. Thai walked over to him, she reached out her hand to help him up. As he stood up, she whispered in his ear.

“Afraid Zimorah will find out all your dirty little secrets?”

“She already knows, her heart is mine regardless.”

“Hmm.” Thai wondered as she took her seat. “Does she know everything?”

“All that she needs to know right now.” He said cooly.

“So, she knows of InuTaisho.” Her voice was soft, caring as she spoke of her fallen nephew.

Sesshomaru just shook his head, while looking outside watching his guards. He didn’t want Thai to see his face but she already knew his son’s death pained him in ways he couldn’t even begin to say. She had to take over his ruling for quite some time after InuTaisho died. Thai walked over to the window and placed her head on his shoulder.

“I f you do not tell her, she will put it all together. Uncle Toshio informed me that Zimorah has the gift of sight.”

“Yes, I know. I can feel it when she holds me close at night. I am unable to block my thoughts in my sleep.”

“Sessh, you must tell Zimorah everything.

He turned away. The idea of letting all those painful memories resurface, all he images he blocked out of his mind was enough to make him shiver. It was a dark place in his life, one he did not care to visit again. While his face was without expression, Thai knew of the thoughts rushing in and out of his head. She reached out and hugged her brother. He slowly returned her embrace. After the yelling and fighting, deep down, he was happy to see her. She always seemed to pop up when he needed her most. Little did InuYasha know, she watched him also. Thai was the one who really took Kikyo’s life after she locked him in a slumber for fifty years. She never thought the crazed wench who steal souls to walk among the living.
Thai seemed to always keep tabs on her brothers. Although she has more of a free spirited personality, she inherited some traits from her brothers. Her cool demeanor, of course she got from Sesshomaru but the second she is ready to fight, like InuYasha, she fights to kill. Perhaps since shes older, InuYasha picked that up from her. Like no other inuyoukai female around, shes a fierce warrior. Her beauty did tend to be a bit of a bother. Men never wanted to take her seriously, her father was guilty of that as well. It was only until he witnessed her in battle did he realize, Thai was a force to be reckoned with.

Sesshomaru, still holding his sister, playfully pulled at her hair. He smiled.
“Well, I suppose I can get used to this.”

“Thanks, I think. I just grew tired of men thinking they can just place their hands on me, my hair. They think because I am a female that all I have to do is sit and look pretty. I have always loathed that, even when father treated me like that.” She pouted.

“Yes, I know.” He was humoring her. “But, it is just so short, does not even cover your ears.”

“Yeah, well, it got I the way......besides, the ladies love it” Thai’s voice was low and seductive. Sesshomaru gently pushed her away.


“Gods, give me strength.” He rolled his eyes.

“What?....You know I love the ladies, youkai, human, hanyou....doesn’t matter to me.” She laughed as she plopped on his lap, just like she did when she was little. He couldn’t help but laugh as well.

“Yes, well, I think you got that from our father.”

Thai looked up and noticed Zimorah standing in the door way. “Mmm.. And speaking of women, this must be Zimorah.” Thai noticed that the woman was vexed, seeing some female she didn’t know sitting on Sesshomaru’s lap. Zimorah was only standing there for a few secods, she did not even notice their resemblance. Thai was unable to hold in her laughter. ‘Surly she cannot be jealous of me, I’m his sister.’ She thought. Her laugh however, was cut short once she caught the Haitian’s cold glare. She said nothing while moving her dreds from her face. Sesshomaru didn’t notice the expression on her face. Thai finally broke the silence.
“Seriously, I know you are not jealous.”

Zimorah looked her up and down. “Of what?” She spat out. Sesshomaru raised his head, picking up on the attitude in her voice. Thai nudged him with her elbow.

“Are you not going to school her?”

“School me, did you say?” Zimorah strolled up to her with fire in her eyes. Sesshomaru held up his hand.

“Zimorah, everything is fine, this is my sister Thai.” He smiled at his sister. That was his signal for her to “be nice”.

“Hello.” Thai smiled.

Zimorah stopped and really took the time to look at them. She felt so silly, acting like a jealous, evil wench. Her face grew warm from embarrassment. “Oh...oh no. Thai, I’m so sorry. You know, its just that since I moved here, those inuyoukai women had been so disrespectful. They just go out of their way to flirt with your brother....right in front of me.”

“Oh, I know....bunch stuck up bitches.” Thai laughed. “They hate me to, do not feel left out. I’ll tell you what, the next time one of them pulls something crass like that, just stick your foot out as when they walk passed you.” She had an evil grin on her face. Sesshomaru shot her a look.
“What? It works for me.” Thai added.

Thai studied Zimorah as she walked over to Sesshomaru. Her eyes fallowed her figure, her curves. She noticed how soft and full her lips were. Thai loved her exotic skin tone, went so well with her long dreds. She even had the nerve to cock her head to the side to better admire Zimorah’s round, firm ass. Her brother glared at her once he realized what she was looking at.

“Well, well Sessy, you have great taste that’s for sure.”
A cold chill went up Zimorah’s back. She knew Thai was checking her out, the same way Yoshirah was. ‘Gods, what is it with this family?’ She thought.

“You know Thai, I nearly chocked the life from Yoshi for-“

“Yes, I know. The arrogant pup deserved it”. She smiled, letting him know that she had no intention of violating the relationship he had with his mate.

“It is good you feel that way. I hate having to strike a lady” He hissed at her sister placing her feet on his table. “ However, with you, I should use that term loosely”.

“Cute. I do have my eye on someone though.” Thai offered, knowing he didn’t want to know.
“She has long, thick dark hair, big, brown eyes I could get lost in and a body like a goddess. “

“Gods, why me?” Sesshomaru let out an exasperated sigh.

“Ooh, she is fiery also. I had to quarrel with her a little. She got all defensive when I asked her questions about Zimorah. Before I knew, the girl ripped off her dress and she had on some type of slayer outfit on.”

Zimorah’s ears perked up.

“I didn’t want to fight, I wanted to make love”.

“Oh, no”. Sesshomaru sighed again. ‘This is way my mate doesn’t know my family’. He thought.

“I’ll tell you Sessh, it’s a good thing I got that damn boomerang she hurled at me”. She finished. Thai laughed while playing with her hair.

“Not the Exterminator.” He said under his breath.

“S-Sango!” Zimorah chimed in.

“Sango! Yeah thats her name. I won’t let her kill me but I’d sure like to part her-“

“THAI!” Sesshomaru cut her off, knowing exactly where she was going with that comment. “You sound common, like Yoshi and those damn guards”

“Sorry, its been a long walk between drinks for me”.

Zimorah laughed. Thai was a spit-fire, just like her. She noticed how embarrassed Sesshomaru was, he wanted to hide under the desk or somewhere. Only his family could get to him this way. Still, Zimorah was snickering.

“She doesn’t desire the company of women anyway. When I pinned her down, I gave her a nice little kiss and told her not to be so mean next time. The poor girl flipped out.” Thai smiled at the feel of Sango’s lips. “However, the monk was loving it.”

“Are you quite finished?” Sesshomaru was annoyed. The youkai never had an issue with homosexuality . The fact that Thai fancied women didn’t bother him either. He just wished that she wouldn’t share her escapades with him. The last image he needed, was his sister rutting some wench.
Thai laughed as she messed up his hair. He growled at her, she knew how he hated that. The only person he wanted in his hair, was Zimorah. He soon called for one of his servants to take Thai to her room.

“Well, hello. Sessh didn’t tell me had such enchanting servants.” Thai said as she kissed the girl’s hand. The young girl blushed as she brushed her black hair from her face. She was prettier then Thai thought. She took Thai’s hand and lead her out into the hallway. Thai gave her brother a mile wide grin. He knew her she’d be busy few a few hours.

Zimorah walked over towards Sesshomaru and grabbed his hand. She knew he was stressed out. He gave her a smile. “Now you know why I keep you from my family. It is not you I’m ashamed of. “

“Sessh, there is nothing for you to be ashamed of. This experience has taught me that to spite all the different powers that youkai carry, when it comes to family, you all are just as crazy as mortals.” She laughed. She knew that made him feel better. There was defiantly something else on his mind and Zimorah knew what it was.

“I needed that.” He said whiling leaning in to kiss her.

“There is a cut on your lip, what happened!” She was concerned.

“Oh, Thai hit me.” He was so nonchalant about it.

“She hit you? Why?” Her hand gently caressed his face.

“I slapped her.”

“Okay...I’m going to leave that one alone.”

Sesshomaru let out a low laugh as he pulled her closer to him. “Hmmm, you’re stuck with me now. There is no way out of this family.”

Yes, I know.....no place I’d rather be.’ Her smile calmed him, always did.

“Lets hope you always feel that way.”

“Why wouldn’t I?” Zimorah noticed his eyes looking away from. He did that whenever he was attempting to hide his feelings from her. She touched his cheek, just as she suspected, thoughts of his son flooded his mind once more.

“Sessh, tell me what is really wrong.” Zimorah pleaded.

He shook his head. His eyes stared at the floor while his hair cover his face. Zimorah brushed his hair from his face. She saw tears. She only saw him tear up once or twice but never like this. His tears were uncontrollable, it broke her heart to see him cry. Suddenly, he felt shamed for his emotional display as he wiped his face with his sleeve. He tried to walk away but Zimorah would not let him. She knew he was still crying. He sat down, she was still standing, he sighed at the feel of her delicate hands on his face.

“Sesshomaru, whats wrong, what is it?” Her voice was almost in a whisper. He looked up at her, his golden eyes filled with tears, his perfect face was red from crying. His spirit seemed broken, he was almost helpless. Tears fell from Zimorah’s eyes. Her concern, her undying love for him never meant as much as it did at that moment.

“I am so sorry, Zimorah.” His deep voice was weak with pain. “You have no idea how fucked up I am.”

“Ssh, Sessh don’t say that.” Her voice was now in a whisper. “You don’t have to say a thing, I know why you’re crying”.

“But, Zimorah, my son.....It was my fault.....I ruin everything I touch.” Sesshomaru was breaking down. Years of bottled up hurt and distress he had locked away was pouring out. The steel, rock hard, emotional armor the demon lord placed around his heart, crumbled in a pile at Zimorah’s feet. Neither Jaken, Rin or the other inuyoukai would know this broken man as their lord.

Tears from her eyes fell as he held him close, her clothing was soaked with Sesshomaru’s tears. Zimorah started to feel light-headed, the visions were clearer then ever. Sightings of InuTaisho wandering through the forest, crying for his mother and father, flashed in and out of her head. Still, she cradled him as he cried. She took a deep breath, knelt down and wiped the tears from his face. He still did not want to return her gaze.

“Sessh,” She turned his face to hers. “Sesshomaru, look at me.” She whispered. He finally returned her gaze. His eyes were slightly swollen.

“You are not fucked up. You cope with your pain the only way you know how.”

“Maybe I deserved it...all the hatred I harbored for InuYasha and his mother...” His voice trailed off.

“Regardless of the unsettled issue or the way you treated Izayoi in the past, you know that InuYasha would never wish death to your son or any other child.” She assured him.

Sesshomaru tried to calm himself as she ran her fingers threw his silver hair. He knew he had business to take care of with other lords. He could not show up looking the way he did. Zimorah stood up, she reached out her hand.

“I’ll be the one to pull you up when you’re down. I love you.....ride or die.” She smiled. He took her hand and stood up.

“ And I love you.....ride or die huh?” He grinned back at her, amazed by her love, her strength.

“You like that don’t you...I picked it up from Kagome.”

He couldn’t help but laugh. He always thought that mortal girl was crazy to put up with InuYasha. That is, until he met Zimorah, now he was thinking she was crazy for sticking with him. Her embrace made him want to dissolve, all it took, was one touch from her. The two stood still, just holding one another. The only sound was their breathing. Zimorah knew the road they were traveling was not an easy one but she was determined to ride out this storm with him. No words were needed, Sesshomaru was indeed afraid of breaking down but he knew, deep down, to spite his insecurities, Zimorah loved him as he loved her.