Of Claws And Fangs
Episode 23


Sango made her way to the kitchen, quietly. Something told her a "girl talk" session was going on there. She missed the long conversations she, Kagome and Akari would have in the hot springs. She pressed herself against the wall, leaning her head in so she could listen and gauge whether or not another woman would be necessary.

Mika whimpered in her sleep. After a few more tosses and turns she sat up. "I never got to tell her I was sorry," she cried miserably.

"Well he seemed to.... I mean he..." Rin frowned at herself, it wasn't like she was a blushing virgin anymore. Not after 6 years of marriage. Taking a deep breath. "He seemed to enjoy it. It wasn't a one sided kiss."

Akisame patted Mika's back, "Come on sweetie." Taking Mika's hand, she took her to the entrance where Midori lay. "Go ahead and tell her. The dead can hear our thoughts."

Mika stepped up to her sister's body and put her hand on top of Midori's. "I'm sorry for getting angry at you all the time Midori," lowering her voice a bit, "I was just jealous." She leaned on tip toe and kissed Midori's cheek. "I'm sorry we weren't closer."

Mika returned to her mother's side. "I feel better now, Hahaoya."

"I'm glad sweetie. Why don't you go back to our room and keep your Chichioya company. You wouldn't want him to have a bad dream with us gone would you?" She watched as Mika shook her head and ran towards the family wing. Turning she headed towards the kitchen, she needed a cup of tea to calm her nerves. As she approached the door she noticed Sango standing against the wall listening. Coming up next to her she whispered, "What's going on?"

"I see." Haya finally replied. "So what are you going to do about it? Tell him it was a mistake and apologize or kiss him again?"

Rin looked at Haya "I know what I want to do... but how will he react is the question."

Sango jumped when Akisame approached but recovered quickly and put her finger to her lips in a gesture of silence. Inclining her head toward the kitchen she invited her friend to listen in as well. She held out her hand to Akisame, indicating that she should share her thoughts and brought the conversation with Inu Yasha the other day to the fore of her mind.

Akisame grinned widely, a girl talk session. She had not had one since before Keikan and Keishou were born. Winking at Sango, she boldly walked into the kitchen. Appearing to have just noticed the two girls, "Hello there girls. What are you two still doing up? Maybe a bit of girl talk? I hope so I haven't had a session of girl talk in ages." She almost laughed at the two faces blushing furiously before her. "Now let me see if I remember the rules.... Anything is permissible as a topic and no telling males. So what should we discuss?"

Rin was the first to regain her composure, "Akisame-mama, does that mean you won't get mad at anything you might hear?"

"For tonight and any future girl talk sessions we may have, I am not your Akisame-mama. I am merely your older and wiser friend Akisame. Would you like to hear something funny about Sesshomaru?" At the twin nods she continued, "It was my first session of girl talk. I had just met Sesshomaru, Leena and Taka. I was telling them about my life before meeting them and thought they would reject me and send me away. I started crying.... we were in a hot spring, and suddenly charging out of the woods Tokijin drawn was Sesshomaru." Haya and Rin began to giggle, "But that's not the funny part.... Taka started telling him to leave and he had the most lost expression on his face. It was priceless."

Sango sighed and followed, smiling just as broadly as she sat, "I'm in too and as Kagome would say, Spill it girl."

"Mother!!!" Haya gasped as her mother walked in.

"Haya, Rin you both are adults, there is no reason for either of us," Akisame indicated Sango, "to treat you as anything else. Since I learned about girl talk sessions second hand. Did I get the rules right?"

She chuckled at her daughter's reaction, then nodded. "Perfectly. Now are we going to talk?"

"So, I believe you two were discussing Rin kissing someone and not knowing what to do next?" Akisame watched as Rin blushed four shades of red. Putting her hand over the girls "Midori, all ready told Sesshomaru that you would find love again. She also made him promise not to be mad. You don't have to give a name tonight."

Rin searched frantically for her voice and finally was able to find it. "After we finished the letters I went and talked to him. Cried on his shoulder actually. I meant it to be just a thank you kiss, but it became a lot more. I think I embarrassed him."

Sango snorted. She knew exactly who Rin was talking about but she wondered if she should reveal it. She was also glad that Midori had foreseen it and had warned Sesshomaru. Deciding not to let the poor girl suffer, besides another of Kagome's favorite sayings was that girls should always stick together, she said, "I've already given him a warning not to be a baka."

Akisame raised an eyebrow but said nothing. 'Who did you warn not to be a baka? I know it wasn't Kenichi, he would be to young for Rin.'

Rin gave a strained laugh, "That's a relief... I think. He's just been so understanding."

Akisame thought of a question Leena had asked her once, taking a deep breath she asked it. "Ok I don't know if I'm going to want to hear Haya's answer BUT I still sense a lot of tension from the two of you. On a scale of 1 to 10 rate his kiss. I'll go first... I'd give Sesshomaru a..... I know he'd demand I say 10 but... honestly a 9." At the questioning looks from everyone, "He is sometimes TOO gentle."

Haya blushed and giggled, "Ummm... I'll have to say the same 9."

Rin became six shades deeper red and spoke "Ok ummmm...9.5?"

Sango laughed at the revelations from her friend and daughter then put her finger to her lips thinking. "I do believe I have to give my houshi a 10," she said dreamy eyed, then looked at Rin, "9.5 really? I wouldn't have thought..."

Akisame laughed, "So I take it you enjoy his early lechery? And no spilling who Rin's mystery man is until she's ready." She finished wiggling her finger at Sango. "But 10 for the Houshi? And 9.5 for your mystery man huh? After one kiss? Too bad I'm an old mated woman." She winked.

Haya blushed, her father a 10? Would she ever look at him the same again? Leaning over to Rin she whispered, "Why don't you tell? Akisame won't be angry."

Sango smiled, mischievously. "I won't tell then. I'll be good but Rin, I think you should tell her. She may be able to help in making Sesshomaru keep his promise to Midori."

Rin was silent for a moment as she listened to the other three bustle around preparing some tea and dumplings. Should she tell?

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