Of Claws And Fangs
Episode 67



Miroku doubled over laughing at the Taiyoukai's last statement. He wondered if the poor man would make it through a year without servants. Picking up the hammer that was sitting on the porch he held it up. "This is a hammer," he managed before being overcome by laughter again.

Inu Yasha had been expecting Sesshomaru's answer but not Miroku's response. When the monk had held up the hammer, he lost control of his own laughter.

Keikan stepped out seeing his Uncle and Miroku doubled over, one hand on the nearest post or section of wall laughing. "Did I miss something.... Again?"

Sesshomaru frowned at his brother and friend before turning to his son. "It seems that I am becoming the butt of many jokes lately. I think" he said, jokingly, looking back at the cackling duo, "I liked you better when I was trying to kill you all the time. At least I had some respect."

Inu Yasha sobered quickly, "Speaking of that... I always wondered something... were you afraid of Kagome? I mean you were always telling me to 'Make her stop.'"

Sesshomaru chuckled. "You're damn right I was afraid of her. She could have purified me three times over if I made her angry enough."

Inu Yasha and Miroku, leaned heavily against a post. Finally Inu Yasha gasped out... "She was terrified you were going to spray your poison in her face again. After every fight with you she shook for a good hour."

The inu Taiyoukai huffed, "Well she certainly hid it well enough," he sighed, "I never did get to apologize for that. I was a bastard wasn't I?"

Inu Yasha and Miroku looked at each other and turned back to face the Taiyoukai. In unison they answered, "Yes."

Sesshomaru glared at them. "You were not supposed to agree with me," he said, turning away to go back into the hut. "I think I would be better appreciated inside. "

Inu Yasha watched as Sesshomaru turned towards the door, "Pay up monk. Told you he had no sense of humor."

Miroku frowned but reached into his robes and handed over a well worn coin. "So what's the next bet?"

He just sniffed as he reentered the hut. Keishou looked up at his father's entrance. "Back so soon?"

"You're Uncle and the houshi seem to think I am a source of great amusement," Sesshomaru replied, looking to his mate. "Are you feeling well enough to go back to the castle? I must make the announcement."

Akisame frowned slightly at his tone. "Hai, we can leave in the morning. While we are there we should stay a while to do Kaiya's naming ceremony." She also wanted to get a few cuttings of the herbs in the garden and a few from the peach tree. "Besides there are a few things I need if we are going to stay here a year."

"Hai," Sesshomaru smiled, he wondered what Akisame would say when she saw the gardens he had built for her. He looked to Shakaku, who was still watching Kaiya. "You are certain that you and Keikan want to do this?"

The tora looked up and smiled warmly, "Of course, have no worries Sesshomaru-sama," suddenly she frowned. "Will we have to invite my father to the banquet?"

Akisame's eyes narrowed catching her mates eyes she hissed. "I don't care if he is a cardinal lord. I do not want that murdering baka in my house." At the raised eyebrow she continued, "It's my house until you officially turn the position of Western Lord over to Keikan, then Shakaku can make any decisions she wishes. BUT until that time it is my house."

Shakaku breathed a sigh of relief. “Good. Even when it does become my house, I would not willingly invite one who orders the murder of innocents into my home. As far as I am concerned…you and Sesshomaru-sama…you are my parents now.”

"And you our daughter." Akisame answered, "Just as Haya is. I would normally say that with his mateing to Rin, Inu Yasha became our son...." Seeing the look on her mate's face she smiled, "But that is just a bit too strange. So in that instance, Rin has become our sister."

Haya had been silent after Keishou's promise. "If we are returning to the castle in the morning, we should all get some sleep." She said rising and moving to the door. "I'm going to check the shrine." she said to Keishou before rushing out.

Miroku watched his daughter brush past him and run up the stairs to the shrine. A frowned crossed his face, something was bothering her. Sticking his head in the hut, "Sango, Keishou, May I speak with you two for a moment."

Keishou watched as his mate rushed out the door. She was troubled by their lack of a pup but he did not know the words to comfort her. When Miroku's request came he rose and followed his father and mother in law outside.

"Sango, Haya is at the temple. I will speak with Keishou, you need to go to her." He watched as his wife followed the path his daughter had taken. As she started climbing the steps he turned back to the hanyou at his side. "A few years ago, Haya was very ill. Her fever raged for days, we thought we would loose her. Have you not noticed she never has her woman's time?"

Keishou felt cold wash over him as he nodded. "Hai but...what does that have to do with anything?" He had a feeling he knew but he didn't want to admit it.

Sango climbed the stairs to the shrine. She paused at the top, listening for sounds that would indicate where her daughter was. Finally the taijiya found her eldest, sitting in a corner and moved to sit beside her. "Haya?"

Placing a hand on Keishou's shoulder, "It means, Keishou, that no matter how much she may want it, Haya will never bear your child."

Haya turned to look at her mother, "Why? Why me? He will hate me when he finds out. I should have told him."

Keishou sank to the ground as his legs refused to hold him any longer. "Why...why didn't she tell me?"

Sango's heart ached for her daughter. She reached out and took Haya's hand. "Hai, you should have told him but I do not believe that he will hate you. He loves you too much. You heard him when the Maiden's brought him home. His first and only concern is you."

Miroku knelt beside the boy, "That I can not answer. I do know that she has loved you from the first moment she realized the difference between boys and girls. Perhaps she feared you wouldn't love her if you knew. Perhaps she didn't want to believe it. But only Haya knows the real answer." Turning his gaze to the stars above the hut, he continued, "I have only one question for you Keishou. Will you turn from her now that you know?"

Haya said nothing only threw herself into her mother's arms. Her whole body shaking with the force of her sobs.

Keishou looked up at Miroku in disbelief at his words. "Iie! Never. I love her. I don't care about having pups as long as we can be together and happy." He turned his eyes toward the entrance to the shrine and rose. "And I will do what ever it takes to make her believe that," he finished starting up the steps.

Sango just held her daughter. Stroking her hair soothingly, letting the young woman cry out her fears.

Miroku smiled at Keishou's back watching him climb the stairs. He had never doubted the young mans answer. Luckily his first flare of anger had been towards him, rather than Haya.

Sango saw silver flash above the rise of the stairs and seconds later Keishou appeared, looking concerned. She smiled at him and gently pushed her daughter from her, with a kiss to her forehead. Without a word the taijiya left the shrine. In one quick movement Keishou was beside her, pulling her close.

Haya hung her head and tried to pull from Keishou's embrace. Not looking at him she spoke, her voice breaking with sadness, "I can't... I can't have a child. I ... I should have told you. It was unfair of me. I wanted you so badly... but I've denied you the joy of holding your own son."

The sadness in her voice hurt his heart. Keishou did not allow her to pull away from him. He took her chin gently in his hand and tilted her head up, forcing her to look up at him. "You think that I would not have loved you had you told me?" He laughed softly, "Haya, having children or not having children is not important to me. You are important to me."

"You are a Prince of sorts, you could take a concubine." Haya said softly, refusing to meet his eyes. It was his right most men and youkai of his rank would have concubines. "Then you could have a child."

He looked at her aghast, his shoulders sagging. "Koishi...could you live with that? I know I could not. If we...you and I can not have a pup...I don't want one."

"No... No..." she answered, "I just ... I don't want you to ... I thought you wanted a pup... Inu Yasha, Rin, Shippo, Keikan, Mika, even Kaiya... all will have children of their own to hold but never you. I just want you to be happy... to have everything... even if I can't give it to you." Her head hung in defeat.

"Oh Haya, I do have everything I need to make me happy. I admit, I never even thought about having children until you said you wanted one," he told her truthfully, now taking her head in both hands, ducking his head so that she looked him in the eye. "Don't do this. Don't let this hurt you anymore."

She smiled weakly at him and nodded. She knew it would hurt her, every time she saw him hold one of his nieces or nephews. A knife would go through her at what he was denied for loving her. She leaned into him, wrapping her arms around his neck. Sniffling, she asked, "Can we stay here for a while? I don't want the others to see me and pity me." 'Or you.' She added silently.

Keishou held her, pouring all his caring for her into that single embrace. He knew from the tone of her voice that he had not completely convinced her. 'I'll just have to keep trying.'

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