A Fine Mess

Sesshoumaru went to the market with Inuyasha. Inuyasha found some toys for the kids, a beautiful fan with cranes and lilies on it for Sango, and a new kettle for Kaede. He even bought some ribbons for Rin’s hair and a small dagger for Shippo.

Inuyasha went to the tailor with Sesshoumaru. The man had several kimonos premade in many colors that were just waiting for Inuyasha. Sesshoumaru had ordered them early on and one for Rin.

“These are beautiful Sesshoumaru. Too beautiful for me... I will just mess them up.”

Inuyasha stated and then he started to tear up. Sesshoumaru could sense it was a mood swing Inuyasha was suffering from due to the pregnancy.

“You will not mess them up and if you do I can order more for you. This is nothing to cry over.”

Inuyasha couldn’t help it as more tears came.

“I am not crying. It is just dust in my eyes.”

Sesshoumaru would have laughed, but that would just make Inuyasha go into another fit.

“It is time to go Inuyasha.”

Inuyasha nodded.

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Kamarasui was nervous and confused about what she was doing here in this village awaiting her death. Perhaps she was going insane, but she had this urgent need to set things right with Lord Sesshoumaru. If she failed then he would simply kill her, but Sango said that the Lord of the West had changed. Perhaps she would be lucky enough to benefit from this change.

“Pacing will not do ye any good child. Your future is up to the fates now.”

Kaede stated softly.

“Lady Kaede, do you really believe that I have a chance? Lord Sesshoumaru is not known to be patient or kind to those who betray him.”

Kaede kept stirring the soup she had made for supper not looking up.

“Ye tried to get out of the bargain with the cat demons and ye were threatened by them. I am sure if you tell the truth if nothing else, your conscious will be saved. We will not hold ye here against your will however so if ye still wish to flee Kohaku will take you to the demon village where you can sail back to your homeland.”

Kamarasui nodded and sat down feeling a large weight on her shoulders.

“Is there anything I can do to help you? I feel so useless here.”

Kaede smiled.

“Ye may help young Sango with the children while she does the wash.”


Kamarasui left the hut and headed over to where Sango was washing clothes.

“Kaede stated you could possibly use some help. Do you wish for me to watch the children or help you wash?”

Sango did not trust the demon woman.

“Why are you being so helpful? What is it you are after?”

Kamarasui frowned.

“I just want to help. I am bored and besides it is the least I can do while staying here in your village.”

Sango stood up wiping her hands on her apron.

“You may help wash if you so desire. Rin helps me with the children.”

Sango was tired and it would be nice to have a break.

“So where is your husband?”

Kamarasui asked politely.

“He died. Miroku was a great monk, but not powerful enough to overcome the demons that attacked him.”

Sango watched Kamarasui’s reaction. Kamarasui held pity in her eyes.

“I am sorry for your loss.”

Sango started hanging up the clothes and sheets she had washed.

“We lost many to demon attacks here at this village. Even our protector, Lord Inuyasha, lost his wife on that same day.”

Kamarasui nodded.

“This is why you despise demons?”

Sango frowned.

“I do not despise all demons. Our baby fox demon Shippo is one and I love him as if he were my own son. We have great love for some demons and great hate for others. You are still a very young demon. It would be tragic to die at such a young age. You really should flee.”

Kamarasui was surprised at the concern that this woman had over her.

“I was a fool. I made a mistake and I am going to face it. I wanted money so that when I went back to China I would not have to live in poverty any longer. Instead I made a powerful enemy and lost everything in the process except for these.”

Kamarasui pulled out a small bag of jewels in her pocket.

“It is not much, but it will get me back home. I don’t want to go back there, but it is where I belong.”

Sango was now curious.

“Why would you want to evade going back to your homeland?”

Kamarasui sighed.

“I am lonely there and if I go back I will be alone again. I would rather die than live in solitude or have to beg to survive. I have been used often enough and here I would not be.”

Sango shrugged.

“You allowed the cat demons to use you.”

Kamarasui shook her head no.

“I chose to associate myself with them and I even got to choose how much I would receive from my work. It is not the same as being forced to do the bidding of demons. Even in the end when Chise threatened me, it was still my choice to stay. I made a bad decision, but I did get my revenge in the end. I purposely reduced the power of my spell so Lord Sesshoumaru could break free and kill Chise. I did not agree with what the cats did to the Inus. They killed so many needlessly and all for profit. I have learned that greed is an ugly thing.”

Sango nodded.

“Still you stayed with them. You were threatened and therefore you were forced into doing things you would not have done.”

Kamarasui never thought of things that way.

“You are right. Still I must face my problems and not run from them. I will not be so dishonorable again.”

Sango smiled.

“You are a good person Kamarasui. I just hope that Lord Sesshoumaru will show you some compassion. He is unpredictable so I am unsure how he will react. I would prefer it if you left our village to go back home where you would be safe for at least a few years.”

Kamarasui went back to washing and nothing more was said for a long time.