Forgive me Father

Inuno hoped that sneaking back into town would be as easy as sneaking out of it. He quietly passed the guards that were on duty to make sure that no youkai got into the village. He walked quickly towards the hut that he was spending the night. Unfortunately for him, someone else was awake. Sitting next to a small fire Sango sat alone, but she had looked up at him as he approached.
‘so much for getting away tonight scott-free.’ Inuno thought to himself as he walked towards her and the fire.
“Where have you been?” Sango asked as she looked up at Inuno. In the firelight she could see scratches and what she could only perceive as bite marks. “What happened? Hang on I’ll get some bandages.” Sango quickly stood up and ran to get Kagome’s first-aid kit from the future. Inuno sighed. And looked down at himself. Was Sesshoumaru that rough? Or was it just that visible… He took a seat next to where Sango was and massaged his neck where Sesshoumaru had bit him. He wondered if the mark would be gone by morning.
“Now while I patch you up you are going to tell me what happened. Take off your shirt.”
Inuno sighed again and complied.
“I ran into an old friend,” Inuno started but he could feel Sango glare at his back as she put some cream into the scratches on his back.
“Try again”
“well it is the truth…I ran into someone that I’ve known for a long time…”
Holding some of Inuno’s still damp hair Sango added “while taking a midnight bath?”
Inuno was about to say that the bath was after… but decided that it was best to not say that.
“Something like that”
“Turn around”
Inuno turned to face Sango, taking a moment to look up at her face. When he did he realized it was in shock.
“What’s wrong Sango?” Inuno asked hesitantly. Sango slowly pointed to Sesshoumaru’s mark over his heart.
“Inuno, you… you’ve got a demon mate?” Sango said slowly.
Inuno sighed. “I had hoped you wouldn’t know what that meant. Yes Sango I have been claimed by a demon as their mate.”
“But what about Kagome?”
“Don’t worry, It’s not until a long, long time after Kagome. Actually Kagome has met him in the future. It… was a bit of a shock to her, but I think that she likes him.
“Inuno” Sango paused “did you say him?”
“Yes. My mate is a guy.”
“Was it him who u seen tonight?”
Inuno was shocked, and it showed on his face. Sango pointed to the bite on his neck and then to another one on his nipple.
“Those are not the bite marks of an angry youkai. They are the marks of a lustful one.”
Inuno was at a loss for words. How was he going to keep from telling Sango from who it was he had seen. She is going to want to know his name now…
“I feel like I’ve been caught red handed” Inuno pouted as Sango started to put cream and bandages on the scratches and bite marks on his chest and neck.
“Well you have” Sango stated flatly as she put a bandage on Inuno’s neck bite mark. “Will you tell me who he is?”
“I don’t think that you would believe me even if I did tell you. Kagome didn’t until he showed up. I honestly don’t think that my mate can cross the well of the souls to show him to you. His present self and past selves really are nothing alike. Tonight for example he figured out who my past self was. So yea… it was rather rough. Else it would have been like the time before when I had met him. When no one had realized that I had.”
“I thought when youkai mate their smell lingers.” Sango asked as she placed one final bandage on near Inuno’s hip.
“It does… Hence the bath.”
“Oh.”
“I can’t have my past self finding out about my mate. It would ruin how things turn out. That is something that I do not want. So no matter what Inuyasha must NOT find out about my late night meetings.”
“You think that it might interfere with how he thinks about Kagome?”
“I do. He and Kagome must get together. Or my past is ruined.”
“You really do love her don’t you”
“More than you know Sango” Inuno couldn’t help but smile remembering Kagome’s life with him on the shrine. There was a few moments of silence before Inuno stood up.
“Thank you Sango for the help. I think that I’ll try and sleep now.” He bent down and picked up his shirt and put it on as he walked towards the hut that he was sharing with Miroku, Inuyasha and Shippo.

Morning came all too quickly he could sense Inuyasha above him. Inuno opened one eye to look at Inuyasha who was just about to jab him awake.
“Sorry to disappoint you.” he muttered pulling himself into a sitting position. His body protested the movement. It was still sore from Sesshoumaru’s rough lovemaking the night before. Inuno wasn’t surprised that he was the last one awake. He still wanted to be asleep. Inuyasha wasn’t about to let him go back to bed.
“Kaede says that it is time for breakfast” Inuyasha huffed, his fun spoiled. “what is that?” he asked pointing to the bandage that was on Inuno’s neck.
“I went out for a walk last night and was cut by a tree branch. Nothing to be concerned about I just put a bandage on it and went to bed.”
“You really act like a human too much you know that” Inuyasha shook his head and headed out of the hut. Inuno sighed. He knew that it was true though, his time called for him to act human. That wasn’t something he could just turn off even if he was in the feudal era.
‘One more day then I will be back enjoying Seshou’s cooking.’ Inuno thought to himself as got up.
Before Inuno had a chance to get to Kaede’s hut Sango pulled Inuyasha aside.
“Inuyasha does Inuno smell like another youkai?”
“Sesshoumaru, but he told me why” Inuyasha stated like it didn’t matter and walked towards Kaede for some food. Sango had to use the side of the door for support from the shock. Inuno walked in a few moments later stopped by Sango.
“Are you alright?”
“Sessh-” Sango started to speak but Inuno interrupted her
“How did you figure that out?” it was Inuno’s turn to be shocked.
“I asked what your other smell was.”
“…You really do know too much about youkai you know that. Yes it is him. Like I said before they really are very different from each other.” Inuno said in a hushed voice so Sango would be the only one to hear. Still in shock Sango followed Inuno over to Kaede.

Inuno and Inuyasha were back in the same clearing that they had used the day before to train. Mainly thanks to the fact that Inuno was only blocking Inuyasha there was little damage to the forest. The fact that Inuno wasn’t attacking or that he didn’t even have Tetsaiga with him puzzled Inuyasha.
“Why didn’t you bring Tetsaiga with you from the future?” Inuyasha looked up at Inuno and asked rather suddenly.
Inuno paused before answering. “Mainly I guess because I knew I wouldn’t need it this time. I don’t need to use it against you, I’ve been doing more than fine by using human defensive techniques that I’ve picked up over the years against you. Besides my Tetsaiga is a bit different form yours as it is now and bringing it out needlessly might alert Naraku. You see I’m sort of your guy’s secret weapon.”
“How is it different?”
“Well for starters… it’s older, but because you haven’t gotten and mastered that technique yet you wouldn’t understand that. Basically mine has more experience than yours.” Inuno added at the quizzical look on Inuyasha’s face, not that his last comment cleared it for him.
“Experience hmm”
“Yeah, so lets get star- ”Inuno paused mid sentence. He smelt Sesshoumaru. By now so did Inuyasha
“What the hell is he doing here?”
“I was thinking the same thing. Shall we go and find out?” Inuno asked knowing that his past self was going to agree.
“Yeah”
“Besides we need him to side with us to beat Naraku. Now is as good a time as ever to talk to him about it.”
Inuyasha ‘kehed’ a response and the two of them headed off in search of Sesshoumaru, who wasn’t all that hard to find. He was sitting on a rock waiting for Inuno, the fact that Inuyasha was with him almost made him twitch visually.
“Sesshoumaru what the hell are you doing here!” Inuyasha bellowed as he landed a few feet from Sesshoumaru. Inuno landed a little closer to Sesshoumaru, and sniffed a couple of times in hopes to give Sesshoumaru a hint as to an excuse to give Inuyasha.
“I was wondering what the extra smell was. Obviously it is this person.” he said glaring at Inuno.
“You would be correct. My name is Inuno, I come from the future to help defeat Naraku”
“I don’t need any help” Sesshoumaru said bluntly.
“Right now even if you did team up with Inuyasha you wouldn’t be able to defeat Naraku. You need my help. I’m not asking you to get along with him. I’m just asking that you don’t try and kill him as well as Naraku when you are fighting him.”
“Why should I help you?” Sesshoumaru glared harder this time at Inuyasha. Inuno paused knowing that he was supposed to go over and whisper something into Sesshoumaru’s ear that convinced him to help them but what. What would Sesshoumaru want enough that he was willing to overlook the fact that he didn’t care if he hurt his brother. In an instant he had it. A wicked grin spread across Inuno’s face, thankfully Inuyasha couldn’t see this. Inuno leaped from where he was over next to Sesshoumaru and whispered into his ear.
“If you help us, I’ll dress up as my old self for you”
If Inuyasha hadn’t seen the look of shock that crossed Sesshoumaru’s face himself he would have sworn that it was a lie. Sesshoumaru covered it so quickly that it barely registered to Inuyasha. Sesshoumaru was now glaring at Inuno. A good thing that he was looking right at Inuno, so Inuyasha couldn’t see the hint of lust that was behind the glare.
“A deal then?” Inuno asked smiling at Sesshoumaru.
Sesshoumaru got up and nodded before walking off.
Inuyasha was in shock. What did his future self say to Sesshoumaru to get him to agree? What had made him look so shocked?
“H-how did you do that!?” Inuyasha asked as Inuno walked back to him.
“I am not without my own means of persuasion” he grinned then he added “knowing what happens in the future has it’s perks too”
Inuno and Inuyasha went back to the clearing and Inuyasha worked on hanging onto his youkai blood for longer periods of time. After lunch Inuno decided that they would take a break today. He didn’t want to strain Inuyasha too much with this training and that a break would do him good. This break was partly for Inuno himself. He wanted to take a nap and the mid afternoon was the best time for that. He hoped that once he woke that he would be all healed.

Kagome was happy. She was sure that she had passed her test thanks to the amount of study that she was aloud to do while in her time. She stretched as she walked out of the school with her friends chatting idly. Silver hair caught her eye and she stopped. Sesshou was at her school.
“One minute guys.” she said calmly then walked over to Sesshou. Who smiled at her as she came over to him.
“Hi Kagome-chan I was wondering if you were going back to the feudal era today or tomorrow? Inuno said that he wasn‘t coming back for 4 days and he had said that your test was today so I was wondering.”
“Are you worried about him?” Kagome asked as his smile faded to that of concern.
“Yes. I had expected him to bring Tetsaiga with him, but he left it at our apartment. I knew better than to come to you with this before your test was done because you would worry as well. I know that he can handle himself quite well but it still bothers me that he went without it.”
“You really do love him don’t you” it just came out without her thinking. “I-I can tell by the way you stare into space when you think about him.” she added quickly. Sesshou smiled at her gently, he was so unlike his past self that she was used to. His face markings were gone, his ears were like a human and his hair was cut short. This Sesshoumaru also had both arms. Kagome wondered when he got a replacement.
“We both do Kagome. You are part of the reason that Inuno and I end up together.”
“I am?”
“In the past we both take human mates. Getting over those mates is what eventual brings us together.”
Kagome suddenly had butterflies. ‘I’m Inuyasha’s human mate, does that mean that Rin is Sesshoumaru’s?’ she thought to herself.
“So you want me to go back to check on him?”
“Actually I want you to help me cook a bento first. Then I want you to go and check up on him”
“You can cook?”
“You think Inuno does the cooking?” Sesshou laughed. “In my last life I was a chef. Oh this way you can come and see Kirara’s kitten” he added.
“Kirara’s alive?!” Kagome was happy to hear that a little shocked to hear that she had a kitten.
“Yeah, with everyone else gone she ended up staying with Inuno. We’ve been looking after her and her kittens when she has them.”
“I would like to see that. I have to let my mom know that I’ll be late getting home though.”
“Here use my phone” Sesshou handed her his cell phone. Kagome quickly dialled her home phone number and told her mother that she was going over to a friend’s house for a bit and would be back a little bit later. She then ran back over to her friend who had waited for her told them that the guy was he boyfriends boy that was with her boyfriend from the other day, and that he was going to teach her some cooking tips and tricks. They all asked for her to share them later before she ran back to Sesshou and they walked to Sesshou’s apartment.
The apartment was larger than Kagome thought that it would be. They were on the top floor of a newer building, which couldn’t have been cheap. Sesshou got her a pair of slippers to wear. As she explored the front entry. She was soon greeted by a familiar mew and she bent down to pick up Kirara. Who was just as excited to see her as she was. Kirara licked her and cuddled her until Sesshou got back with the slippers.
“I see Kirara has found you” He said as he put the slippers down at Kagome’s feet. Kagome put the slippers on and nodded with a grin on her face as she clutched Kirara in her arms. Sesshou motioned Kagome to follow him into the living room. Where she discovered a small kitten was sleeping on the chair.
“We named this one Hana” Sesshou said as he pet the kitten’s head who looked up at him showing the strangely flowerlike marking on it’s head.
“I see why. She is so cute Kirara” Kagome cuddled Kirara as she commented on the kitten. Kirara mewed in response. Sesshou smiled and walked into the kitchen leaving Kagome with the kitten and Kirara. He began to take out the ingredients that they would need for the bento that he had planned for the group of them in the feudal era. It was a large bento. He also took out the two frying pans, cutting boards, knives and several bowls for mixing ingredients. He was almost done getting the kitchen ready when Kagome walked in, Kirara not far behind her.
“Well we should wash our hands so we can begin” he smiled at her.
She nodded and walked over to the sink.

Inuno tipped his fedora up allowing the sun to shine on his face. His nap was pleasant. All his scratches and bites were probably healed thanks to his youkai blood by now. He yawned and scratched his ears.
“mmm I miss Sesshou.” he mumbled to himself as he got up. He smiled to himself knowing that Kagome was coming with a snack for him. With a slight bounce in his step he headed for the well of souls to greet her and her delicious package from Sesshou. He didn’t have to wait long before he reached out his hand to help Kagome out of the well.
“You knew I was coming didn’t you?”
“Guilty” he smiled at her. “Did you have fun with Sesshou?”
“I did. He really does know a lot about cooking!”
“Mmm I know…I’m glad I only come back for short stints. I don’t think I could survive on feudal cooking for long lengths of time after Sesshou’s cooking.”
Kagome laughed. A sound that almost made Inuno’s heart break. He missed her so much but this Kagome wasn’t his.
“I’ve made a deal with him that on times that I go back I go and get cooking lessons from him”
“ooh good for you. He’ll have you naming off herbs in no time. That’ll do wonders for feudal cooking. Maybe I’ll have to come around more often” he winked at Kagome. “For now what should we say about who helped you cook? They will not believe you if you say your mom, because it is so different. I think we should say it is from my mate… but we can’t call him Sesshou. It’s too obvious.”
“Yea. What about call him Matou. That is the last name that he is using.”
“That will work.” Inuno picked up Kagome’s bag and swung it over his shoulder so that she only had to carry the large bento back to the village.
Inuyasha was the first to notice Kagome’s return. Also that she came with food. Guessing from his reaction Miroku, Sango and Shippo followed him to where they met up with Inuno and Kagome.
“Well under this tree is as good a place as any for a pick-nick. I’m sure Matou packed a blanket Kagome.”
“Yeah.” Kagome set down the bento and unwrapped it. Inside the cloth there was a blanket for them all to sit on. Spreading that out they all sat down.
“Who is Matou” Miroku was the first to ask.
“My partner in the future.” Inuno smiled as he took a seat beside Kagome with Inuyasha on the other side of her. Inuyasha look shocked at hearing this news.
“Kagome you’ve met them?” Inuyasha looked at her shocked.
“Yes. I helped Matou cook the bento. I got to meet Hana! She is so cute!” Kagome turned to Inuno. Inuyasha twitched. Wondering who the hell this Hana was.
“You should have been around when Kirara had a litter of 9. We had to watch where we stepped.” Inuno laughed. The reaction was immediate everyone looked at Kirara, who just mewed.
“Kirara is with you in the future?” Sango asked finally. Inuno nodded taking a few pieces of fried egg from the platter that was now set before everyone. Sango scratched Kirara’s head n fed her a piece of meat from the tray. Happy to hear that Kirara makes it through the battle with Naraku.
“Kagome this is delicious!” Inuno smiled at her. Kagome blushed. It was like it was in her fantasy only better. ‘Now if only the past Inuyasha would say that’ she thought to herself. The past Inuyasha was content in eating the food and not thinking about thanking or complimenting the person who had cooked, or helped cook it. Kagome’s heart sank a little.
“this is really good Kagome!” Shippo chimed in as he reached for more. Inuyasha who was going to go for the piece that Shippo was going for was blocked by Inuno. There was a mild chopstick war while Shippo made off with his piece, and Inuno left Inuyasha to get a different piece. Soon everyone was full and Inuno was sitting back making content almost purring noises.
“Oh Inuno.”
“Mm-hm”
“Matou told me to tell you something”
“Mm-hm”
Kagome tried her best to impersonate Sessho as she said it; “Don’t purr like a cat you stupid dog!” everyone burst into laughter including Inuno and Kagome.
“Does Matou really sound like that?” asked Miroku?
“Only when I do something annoying. Normally Matou is soft spoken and kind”
“Sounds like a wonderful woman” Miroku smiled at Inuno. Sango and Kagome couldn’t help but giggle.
“Oh Kagome, Sango figured out who Matou is, AND she promises not to tell anyone.” he said looking directly at Sango. Both Inuyasha and Miroku looked a little shocked. Sango nodded and Kagome smiled.
“Great now I have someone I can talk about Matou with!” Kagome smiled and clapped her hands together.
Inuno twitched and fell to the ground. Everyone laughed. Strange how after all this time things remained the same. Inuno smiled to himself as he looked up at the stars.