A Sister's Gift

Chapter 50 – Return to The House of the Moon

The trip to The House of the Moon was fairly uneventful. A few straggling youkai made an attempt to gain possession of the Shikon jewel, but were easily dispatched. The group had traveled for sixteen sunrises before Sesshomaru held up his hand to stop them.

“Look around you. We are entering the Western Lands,” Sesshomaru stated from atop his white steed.

Kagome looked around in amazement. They were standing amongst a forest of trees with an opening overlooking a valley that was surrounded by mountains and cliffs. The mist that was settled over the land below gave it a surreal quality. Sesshomaru drew his mount up beside of her, and pointed one clawed finger down to the right. “Do you see? That is your new home. That is The House of the Moon.”

Everyone gasped at the lovely sight before them. The palace of the moon was literally carved into the mountainside. It was beautiful and vast.

Inuyasha sat back and grunted, “Well let’s get this party moving. I’m ready to get off of this fucking mule.”

Kikyo giggled, “Now Inuyasha, you know that a great Lord such as yourself would never be caught riding a mule.”

Inuyasha turned a little red with embarrassment over Kikyo’s words, “Feh! Just move your ass woman. Let’s go.”

Everyone fell in behind Sesshomaru and Kagome as they made their way to the palace. When they finally arrived at the gates, they all realized how really huge the place was. The stone walls surrounding the castle stood eighteen feet tall. The enormous wooden gates were closed, and Sesshomaru was about to dismount, when Inuyasha stopped him. “Allow me, brother.” Inuyasha jumped off of his horse and leaned into the heavy wood, which slowly gave way to allow them entrance.

Rin squealed in delight. “It is so beautiful Sesshomaru-sama! Is this really where we live?”

Sesshomaru nodded to his young ward, riding behind Kagome, “Welcome home Rin.” He raised his eyes to Kagome. “Are you pleased my mate?”

Kagome was speechless. Pleased? He asked if she was pleased? That was an understatement. She was astounded! It was enormous and so lovely. It was an ancient place that seemed to call to her very soul. She felt comforted just by being here. She smiled at Sesshomaru, “I feel like I have come home.”

Everyone was so happy to finally arrive at their destination. They wasted no time dismounting and leading the horses to the stables. Sesshomaru was taking in the state of the castle. It appeared that the structure itself was still sound, but the years of un-use had begun to wear down many of the wooden structures, and these things would require repair. Once they arrived at the stables, Sesshomaru noticed something unusual. There was fresh hay and clean water. Someone has been here recently.

Sesshomaru looked to Inuyasha and Tooru, who both noticed this at the same time as he. They all three went back to the women. Sesshomaru said, “I want you all to remain here, while we search the grounds for intruders.”

Kagome was about to protest, but they had already taken their leave, so she, and the other’s walked over and had a seat beneath the sakura trees to wait for their return.

Sesshomaru could not describe the feelings washing over him as he first stepped into the main hall of his ancestral home. He had thought to never see this place again. Although the walls were bare and most of the furnishings stolen long ago, it was still home. He no longer had to feel shamed that he had lost it, and his freedom. It was a wonderful feeling.

Inuyasha could not even remember this place. It was all fairly new to him. It was so huge. Even the halls were wide enough for a platoon of soldiers to march down.

The three of them were being as quiet as possible, as they moved stealthily through the palace. Their noses would not lie. Someone was in the kitchen. Inuyasha’s stomach growled at the smell of cooking food. Sesshomaru shot him a look, which he replied to by shrugging his shoulders. He couldn’t help it if he was starved.

Sesshomaru stepped into the dining hall and called out, “Show yourself!”

They all braced themselves for a confrontation, but what scurried out of the kitchen door surprised them all, especially Sesshomaru. “Jaken?”

“Oh Sesshomaru-sama, Sesshomaru-sama! You have returned to your rightful place! Those lowly ningen’s could never destroy one as great as you, my lord! Welcome home!” yelled the little kappa youkai.

Inuyasha had never seen such an ugly creature in his life, and he couldn’t help curling his nose up at the first sight of the toad. The short oni’s head was not even as tall as his hip, and he had huge piss yellow eyes. “Ugh, Sesshomaru, what in the hell is that?”

Sesshomaru chuckled at Inuyasha’s reaction, “That, Inuyasha, is Jaken. Obviously, my most dedicated vassal.” He turned to Jaken, “Jaken, how is it that you came to be here?”

“Well, my lord, when the palace was raided and you were thought dead, I barely escaped with my life through the secret passages into the mountains. I lived a wretched life for years, until the filthy ningen’s abandoned your magnificent home. I came back here and awaited your return. I refused to believe that a dirty rotten human could have killed the Great Sesshomaru-sama! I knew you would come back, and here you are!” Jaken squealed in delight.

“Hey, toad, watch what you say about human’s, you got that?” Inuyasha snarled.

Jaken turned on Inuyasha, “Who are you to tell the vassal of the Great Lord Sesshomaru, what to do, half-breed?!”

“Jaken, hold your tongue. This is Inuyasha, and next to him is our companion, Tooru.” Sesshomaru chastised before introducing his vassal to the others.

“Inu... Inuyasha? Sesshomaru-sama, you don’t mean THE Inuyasha?” Jaken squawked.
“Yes.” Sesshomaru answered with a glare. “You will treat him and the other’s with respect, or you will pay dearly.”

“Y...yes master.” Jaken complied.

“Inuyasha, go and fetch our women,” Sesshomaru ordered.

After the half-breed took off, Jaken’s curiosity got the better of him. “Sesshomaru-sama, did you say women? Have you taken a mate?”

“I have, and she is human, so do not breathe a word of disrespect on that matter. I also have a young human ward, Rin, who you will also treat kindly. Is that understood Jaken?” Sesshomaru threatened.

“Yes master,” Jaken replied with a bow. He felt a little let down that his great and powerful master would take a lowly ningen for a mate. Things had certainly changed since Sesshomaru-sama had disappeared.

A few minutes later Inuyasha appeared with the women, and Jaken fell down as he ran for cover. “MIKO’S!!! EEKKKK! Sesshomaru-sama save this lowly servant from purification!”

Everyone laughed at the shrieking toad, and Rin said, “Sesshomaru-sama, who is the funny little man?”

“Rin, this Jaken.” He turned to Jaken then back to Kagome, “Jaken, meet the new lady of this house, Kagome. Next to her is Kikyo, Inuyasha’s mate, and this is Tokie, Tooru’s mistress.”

Tokie blushed profusely and took a step forward, “Um... Tooru is actually my mate.”

Everyone turned astonished eyes on the couple who both had suddenly found the cracks in the stone floor very interesting.

Kagome and Kikyo took each of Tokie’s hands. Kagome said, “Tokie, you could have told us. There was no need to hide it from us.”

Tokie smiled slightly, and looked down again, “I was... I guess I was just afraid. I was so used to keeping it a secret, you know?”

The girls all hugged each other and soon Jaken served everyone up a bowl of miso soup, which was very welcomed indeed, especially by a practically starving Inuyasha.