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It had started out as curious looks aimed at him. One or two here and there, nothing out of the ordinary. But when the muted whispers tickled his ears, he couldn’t help but let his eyes track the room. This demon-owned restaurant was filled with demons of all kinds-full, half, quarter. It was a comforting thing to see most days but today, it seemed to be a nuisance. The older demons in the room weren’t the ones whispering either, it was mostly the juveniles that kept looking and whispering, motioning to him when they thought he wasn’t looking.
“Are you wondering what they’re whispering about?” the half-demon sitting across from him asked.
Sesshoumaru’s eyes narrowed slightly at his nephew.
“I guess I can see it since our glamours aren’t activated in here.”
“See what?”
Hazel eyes twinkled at him. “Now that I think about it, you could be him.”
“Him who?”
“The awesome swordsman in the newest novel that came out. Uncle, have you really not read the series A Rift In Time? The first two books were best-sellers for the last two years. The third one came out and you resemble the male swordsman quite a bit.”
“I’ve never heard of it.”
Gin, Inuyasha’s second son, shook his head in disbelief. “Uncle, you need to read it. It’s so similar to yours and dad’s story. Dad hasn’t told me much about grandpa but from what he has told me, this book sounds like it’s his story.”
“Impossible. Anyone who knew of your grandfather is long dead by now.” Gin shrugged his shoulders and continued eating. But the thought nagged at him. A few other demons had mentioned something similar about a book that seemed very close to his relationship with Inuyasha and their swords. Inuyasha nor his wife would ever write a book of fiction like that.
Lunch was otherwise a quiet affair. Gin updated his uncle on his siblings and his own schooling. This time, he was studying environmental sciences and once finished, he would be able to add it to his architecture, archaeology, and horticulture degrees. What the pup would do with those, he would never guess. His mind and desires changed like the wind.
Before parting ways, Gin urged his uncle to buy the books and read them. He might find them interesting. As Sesshoumaru drove home, he knew he would not walk into a bookstore and purchase them. If so many demons had already read it and thought he was one of the characters, perhaps it would be best to find out exactly what he might have to suffer because of it. No, he would not visit a bookstore. Especially not after finding out that the author sold digital copies online. As much as Sesshoumaru despised reading material on digital devices, he would not be caught with a fictional book in hand.
Without the need to sleep, Sesshoumaru had finished the entire three novels in one day. It was a good thing it was the weekend. After some light research into the author and finding only a penname, he knew he needed to find this person and speak to them. There were details about his family that paralleled that of the characters in this rather fantastical story and the fact that the whole second book was dedicated to the majority of the hunt for that accursed jewel could not be coincidence. Yet, he still didn’t believe it was his brother who could have written it. There was always the fox kit but Sesshoumaru had lost track of him nearly eighty years ago.
Sesshoumaru knew how to find out more information easily. He opened his messaging app on his phone and created a new text between him and Gin.
Suspicious.
If the boy inherited any part of his mother’s brain, he would know exactly what the single word meant. Sure enough, a few moments later, his phone chimed with Gin’s response.
You read all three? Already?
Gin couldn’t wait the minute it would take Sesshoumaru to respond because the pup was ringing him now.
“I need information on the author.”
“Uncle, what did you think?”
Sesshoumaru wanted to snarl. “I think that for someone who is not pack, they have quite a lot of personal information published.”
“But wasn’t it so good?” Gin preened. “Was all of that true about grandfather? Dad refuses to read it and you’re the only other person that can tell me. You’re the only one who remembers him.”
It was rather apparent by the three novels that Sesshoumaru was not, in fact, the only person that remembered his father. Who was this author and how did he know his family so well?
“Gin. I need information on the author. This might be a matter of safety.”
If Sesshoumaru were to have favorites, Gin would be his favorite pup of Inuyasha’s. He was carefree but respectful, innocent, but hard-working. A very amicable pup.
He could hear the smile in Gin’s breath intake. “It just so happens that my friend scored me two tickets to the book signing tomorrow. Would you like to come with me?”
Accompanying his nephew would be the easiest route to take aside from the pain of waiting in a long line for hours. But if that’s what he had to do to find this author and grill them, he would do it.
“Don’t worry, Uncle. I have tickets forty and forty-one. We’ll get to the table fast. We just have to show up by nine o’clock tomorrow morning in order to keep our place in line.
That didn’t sound so bad-having numbered positions. After cementing plans with Gin, Sesshoumaru flipped back to his ebook reader and looked at the author’s name once more:
Lost Vixen .
They were in line by eight forty-five am, fifteen minutes to spare to secure their numbered spots in line and Gin was bubbling with excitement. Relatively. His eyes sparkled with more life than Sesshoumaru had seen since he was a small pup and discovering the world. Inuyasha’s son was bubbly without being overbearing and quite social, if the way he easily conversed with others in the line was any indication. It was that easy-going, sweet-tempered personality of his that made getting along with Sesshoumaru quite easy. Sesshoumaru had a lot of affection for his brother’s pups but Gin was the only one he could spend large amounts of time with without wanting to test if the ability to fly had passed on through Toga’s bloodline.
The crowd came alive at two minutes to nine as a small woman was escorted to her seat by a male he assumed was Kagome’s manager and a wolf demon? No, half demon but in a smaller wolf form. Sesshoumaru wanted to lift his lip and snarl at the arrogance of keeping a demon of any kind on a leash until he looked closer. It wasn’t a leash but a harness and over the wolf’s back was a red vest with the title “Service Animal - Do Not Approach” on its sides. The woman wore thick glasses and was smartly dressed but her gaze did not flit over the amassed crowd as one’s eyes and attention naturally would. She did a general sweep leading with her ears as though she were canine and listening for clues of her surroundings.
The manager led her to her chair and sat on her right where Gin said he would receive any gifts that the fans brought as well as hand her what was to be signed. The pup had read a post one of this author’s followers had written. She was very sweet and listened well to her fans but did not like posing for pictures most likely because of her disability. There were even signs posted in the line that no selfies would be granted.
Before the first person was invited to approach the table, the manager stood to welcome everyone to the event.
“We thank you all for coming out today to meet the Lost Vixen-” He droned on for a while regarding the rules of the signing and at the very end, made an announcement. “As a part of this signing, The Lost Vixen is releasing a new book, which you will find down the walkway. We have signed and unsigned copies for purchase and you will also find the digital copy available for purchase as of nine o’clock this morning. Thank you all again for coming to support her and let us begin!”
Loud voices made Sesshoumaru want to cringe and by the looks of it, several other demon folk in line as well. Now that he looked, there were just as many demon-kind in line as there were humans. A human author able to draw crowds from both species? An incredible feat for certain.
It was nearly ten by the time they made it to the front of the line and Sesshoumaru had to admit his curiosity had him tight in its grip. Long, thick black hair was bound in a loose braid that trailed down her back. It wasn’t common for a woman to wear her hair so long that it touched the floor but he could not deny it was a pleasant sight.
The person in front of Gin had just made it to the author’s table and his nephew turned around and pushed things into his hand. “Oh, here’s a book for her to sign for me and a small gift you can leave for her. I put your name on the card, I hope you don’t mind.”
Sesshoumaru nodded. “Thank you. I did not think of bringing anything.” Gin chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck.
“I know, that was kind of my fault. I bum-rushed you into coming here but that’s why I came prepared.”
The daiyoukai’s lips quirked upward. “And that is the very reason you will not tell your littermates that you are my favorite.”
Gin beamed at his uncle’s words and was about to say something back but he was interrupted by the line monitor. “Next!”
Sesshoumaru did not find himself in crowded public settings too often. It wreaked havoc on all his senses and had to dial them down, which was not pleasant in the least. As he approached the table with items in hand, the grating noise and barrage of scents melted away, which meant one thing. He had just walked into a barrier. A completely undetectable barrier, which could only be made a powerful being.
After handing his things over to the manager, Sesshoumaru stepped in front of the author and asked her about it. The woman’s eyes went wide. She had startled enough to rouse her half-demon service wolf.
“My companion is very special and it’s for his comfort,” a comment that could easily be read into and was. And then it was his turn to be surprised. “I know you,” she claimed, and then with a watery voice she repeated, “I know you.”
“Which I find very suspicious seeing as the content of your books can only be known by a select few, most of which are dead.”
It was his angry, condescending tone and roil of youki that had the woman stiffening.
“Sesshoumaru?” His name had not been uttered as a token of hope in centuries and the memory of a small human child shook him free of his anger.
“Who are you?”
“That man that came before you. He said you were his uncle. Is that-was that Inuyasha’s son?” Her weak gaze turned to the area where previous attendees walked away.
“Woman, I will not ask again-”
“Please wait for me,” she begged, clinging to the table cloth under her hands. “I have a break at ten thirty. Can you stay until then so we can talk?”
Sesshoumaru wanted to deny her and walk away at being denied information but something niggled in the back of his mind. A hazy memory of long black, wild hair-
“We will.”
The author was visibly shaken and with his senses dulled, he could not pinpoint the details of her reaction to him.
“There’s a lounge for Special Events guests. If you meet me at the bottom of the ramp, you both can come with me and we can talk for a bit.”
For a being that had lived centuries, a half hour should have been a blink of an eye but it was more excruciating than anything. He had to chuckle to himself. When was the last time the fires of anticipation had him sitting at the edge of his seat? Sesshoumaru allowed Gin to lead him to the food court. With his half-demon heritage, the human food was something he enjoyed and to Gin’s surprise, Sesshoumaru had picked out a salmon onigiri and an apple juice to take away.
Gin had only taken a couple of bites from his food before Sesshoumaru told him they needed to leave. True to his sweet nature, Gin wordlessly obeyed his uncle and followed him back to the signing area exit.
“Uncle, we can’t go back up there.”
“I am aware.”
The manager’s voice was heard over the loud speaker again, announcing that The Lost Vixen would be taking a twenty minute break, thanking the attendees for their continued patience.
The manager led the author off the stage and around to where Sesshoumaru and Gin stood.
“If you will follow us, sir-”
Gin’s head snapped up to look at his uncle. The pup wisely held his tongue as they were led to an employees only door and then into a receiving room with furniture and small necessities, as well as snacks.
“Thank you, Eiji. You may come and get me in fifteen minutes.”
Gin was shaking with excitement at Sesshoumaru’s side and they both sat when Kagome motioned to the couch adjacent to her chair.
They hadn’t even been sitting for ten seconds before Sesshoumaru growled, “out with it, human.”
Gin hissed. “Uncle!”
“No, it’s alright, Gin,” the woman placated. “He has a very good reason for being upset.” Both males watched as the woman slid rings with pearl clusters off of each hand and the result would have been disastrous if the room had not been previously warded.
At first, Sesshoumaru sensed nothing, like all his senses had been stripped, and then as if it were a tsunami, the woman’s scent nearly bowled him over. Holy energy poured out and overflowed, stunning the younger demon until the room was filled with the scent of fear.
Sesshoumaru clamped his hand over his nephew’s wrist to keep him safe from any ill effects of the miko’s reiki and out of sheer disbelief that the woman he had intended on taking as a mate all those centuries ago had appeared before him.
Tears streamed down her eyes and his youki burst from him and threatened to swallow the room.
Gin was terrified. He had never seen his uncle shift for anything but play before and he didn’t know what to do in this situation. His claws were lengthening, his face was being distorted and the author he admired so much was bawling into her hands.
“Uncle, you’re scaring her,” but Sesshoumaru’s grip remained tight.
“N-no, he’s not,” the woman said as she continued to cry into her hands. But to prove it, she wiped her face and looked up at them. “I-I-”
The wolf sat up and lay his head against her side and Kagome wrapped her arms around him. “I had no choice. I was pulled away into the jewel. It had its own wish. Inuyasha got to me in time but the jewel wanted me wish on it and trap me in the jewel to fight with it like Midoriko had for all those years. I had to wish for it to disappear forever but I never got to tell you I was sorry and that I-I loved you.”
Those words stopped the rage in his heart, the worry, the loneliness. The miko hadn’t tried to leave him and Inuyasha hadn’t lied about what had taken place out of his range of protection.
Claws retracted, his face shifted back and his youki was reigned back in but not really settled. Could he believe that his miko had been tossed around by fate once again?
“Why here?” he asked. “Why now?”
It took Kagome a few moments to process the question. Through her tears and hiccups she told him this was the era she was originally born in. The well had been her portal between her time and his and so many more things made sense now.
Their interest in each other had grown after Sesshoumaru had saved Kagome from Mukotsu but with Naraku on their heels, there hadn’t been much room for getting to know each other. Just enough to know that they wanted to be together.
Sesshoumaru wondered if his little miko was still the insecure creature he had come to know and adore in the past.
“Come,” was all it took for Kagome to launch herself into his arms and bury her face against his neck. Strong arms wrapped around her and she melted into his warmth.
Gin watched in amazement as his uncle softened in a way he had never seen. Youki was soothed and rumbles of contentment filled the room.
“Today is an interesting day,” Sesshoumaru whispered. “Gin, make sure you are ready to take over your family’s care because I will kill my brother after we leave here.”
His nephew looked horrified, unable to tell if his uncle was joking or not. He decided his uncle was joking when the woman in his arms began to laugh. “Don’t scare your nephew. You can’t kill Inuyasha.”
Sesshoumaru grunted. “Why not?”
The cutest growl escaped the miko. “Because I’m going to kill him. Why didn’t he ever come for me?”
“I have learned how to compromise over the years. I will kill him and present his head to you as a courting gift.”
Kagome laughed again, lightening the mood in the room. “No! Nothing has changed, Sesshoumaru. I still don’t like severed heads. In fact, if you kill him, I might have to deny your claims. He was my best friend. Best friends don’t kill each other. Only maim.”
Sesshoumaru caught Gin’s confusion and decided he would not enlighten the pup. He was sure Inuyasha had filled his mind with enough stories about the jewel hunt and this miko’s role in it and their family. No, he would not tell Gin, but Sesshoumaru would enjoy him being unsettled for a while. So little amused him these days.
A knock at the door came before the manager walked in. “This is your five-minute call.”
“Thank you,” Kagome said. “I’ll make my way to the restroom and meet you in the hall.”
Sesshoumaru, Gin, and the wolf-mix stood with Kagome. “It’s going to be a long afternoon yet but will I see you-”
“I will be back when your event is nearly over to pick you up. Gin will stay and keep you company. He would like to volunteer to be at your table with you.”
“I would? Oh! I would!” His enthusiasm for spending time with his favorite author was still strong.
“Thank you.” Kagome nuzzled Sesshoumaru before she and Tamotsu walked out of the room to the restroom. They had walked her back to her booth and retrieved an extra chair for Gin. Sesshoumaru promised he would be back for the both of them. He had many things to do while she finished up her signing event. He needed to pay his brother a visit, kill him, wake Tenseiga out of his slumber and then resurrect Inuyasha with it so he could help Sesshoumaru prepare his home for his incoming mate.
Yes, he needed to get started immediately. With one last, lingering look at his miko, Sesshoumaru began the arduous task of making phone calls to prepare for the rest of his life.