by P.Rico
Sesshoumaru looked sidelong at the human female beside him and suppressed a sigh.
<Why am I here?> he asked himself, although he already knew the answer. <Because Father requested it. He said I should get to know her better.> He glanced again at his father's human wife, Miyae. <Disgraceful. How could father have sunk so low as to mate with a human? And now she is carrying his child? Poor child. He'll have to live the disgrace of being a hanyou.> This time he failed to suppress a sigh.
"Are you alright, Sesshoumaru-kun?" Miyae asked.
Sesshoumaru greeted her with an icy glare.
Miyae cleared her throat and tried again. "I'm glad you were able to come on this picnic with your father and I."
<Picnic,> Sesshourmaru mused. <What a ridiculous human concept. Where is father, anyway?>
"We really haven't had very much time to get to know each other," Miyae continued. "But I know you'll be a good older brother to my little Inu Yasha." Miyae's hand went to her swelling belly.
"Inu Yasha?"
Miyae nodded. "That's the name your father and I picked out for our child."
"Hm," was all Sesshoumaru said and turned away from Miyae.
There was a long, tense silence. After awhile, Miyae turned to look at her young stepson. She noticed a strand of his long, white hair had fallen into his face. Instinctively, she raised her hand to brush it away.
Sesshoumaru jumped to his feet when he felt Miyae's fingers brush against his skin. "Don't touch me, bitch!" he yelled furiously. Then he froze when he heard a low growl behind him.
Sesshoumaru had been so irritated at the entire situation, he didn't notice his father, Kenaruji, had come up behind him. Before he could turn around, Sesshoumaru felt a sharp pain run through his right arm as Kenaruji's claws dug into it. He heard Miyae's startled gasp as he was flung roughly to the ground. He was still, expecting further punishment. When it didn't come, he rose to his feet and walked toward the forest, not even bothering to look back.
---
When Sesshoumaru was out of sight, Miyae released her angry husbands arm.
"After he insulted you, why did you hold me back?" Kenaruji asked.
Miyae frowned slightly. "That was enough. There was really no harm done. I shouldn't have startled him like that."
"Don't defend him, Miyae," Kenaruji replied. "He should show more respect to his father's wife."
"This whole situation must be very difficult for him, Anata," Miyae said softly. "It's not easy for any child to accept his father's new mother."
Kenaruji sighed. "Perhaps your right. I guess I should go find him."
"I'll go," Miyae volunteered.
"Are you sure that's wise?"
Miyae nodded. "I'll be careful. And you won't be too far away. Besides, Sesshoumaru is an intelligent young man. I'm sure he wouldn't want to risk your wrath again."
Kenaruji was still skeptical about it, but agreed. He watched his wife disappear into the forest, all his senses alert for any trouble.
---
"Kuso! Damn bitch!" Sesshoumaru muttered as he knelt down by the river. <This is all her fault,> he thought as he looked at his blood stained sleeve. <A new kimono, and now it's ruined.>
He pulled down the right shoulder, wincing slightly as some of the fabric clung to the injuries. He bent over to take some water in his hands when the wind changed. He immediately picked up her sent.
<What does she want now? Hasn't she ruined my life enough, already?>
Miyae emerged from the forest. "Sesshoumaru-kun?"
There was no response.
"Sesshoumaru-kun, are you alright?"
Sesshoumaru tried his best to be polite. "Please, leave."
Miyae stood still for a while, then slowly approached him.
"PLEASE, leave," Sesshoumaru repeated. His patience was starting to wear thin.
"Let me help you with that," Miyae urged as she knelt beside him. She pulled a cloth out of the sleeve of her kimono and dipped it in the water. She held it up to his arm, but didn't touch him. Instead, she looked at him as if waiting for his approval.