After All This Time

Ch.16 The Void Gets Filled In

The wolf appeared again, this time late to their afternoon walks. He walks over to the stone bench and sat down next to Inuyasha.

"For someone who's supposed to be so fast, you sure took your sweet time getting here." Inuyasha didn't look at Kouga he kept on staring at the pond as the little ripples of water spread further and further away.

"I have also have work to do. I don't just sit around waiting for someone."

Inuyasha scooted over to make room for Kouga.
"Is that so? It makes me wonder. Who kept coming back to who?" Inuyasha said with a sarcastic undertone.

"I wasn't the one that said 'I'm glad you're here with me'." Kouga sat down next to him.

"I was just stating my feelings, am I not allowed to do so?"

"I never said you couldn't, but just admit you're mad I came late."

"Yes, I am mad."

Kouga scoffed since he was winning the argument."What, did you miss me?"

"I did miss you." Inuyasha spoke with a straight face. No hint of embarrassment.

"..." Kouga didn't know how to exactly react when faced with such blunt honesty. "Well, I did too." 

Then unexpectedly they both found themselves with flushed faces. Kouga was embarrassed at his own response and Inuyasha was a bit embarrassed hearing it. But Inuyasha just couldn't tell why he did feel that way.

"Do you want to listen to the rest of my story?"

"Yeah."

———

After Inuyasha figured out that they knew he was a demon he went to confront the Daimyo who hired him. He didn't want to risk his daughter's safety in a place where they could potentially ambush him. Inuyasha could remember how he cursed himself for not noticing it earlier, it had already been months. They probably had a plan ready for him. Would he have to leave again?

He knocked on the door for the Daimyo's study.

Inuyasha patiently waited.

"Come in."

He slide open the door and walked in. The half demon didn't bow or say anything just approached the table were the man sat. The man in question, watched. He didn't panic, yell, or even seem surprised. Inuyasha looked down on the man meeting his eyes.

The Daimyo kept eye contact waiting to hear what he had to say.

"You knew."

He sighed putting down his brush. "I did."

Inuyasha clenched his fists.

The way the Daimyo had no fear whatsoever. He was planning something, he must feel like he has the upper hand on Inuyasha, he must think that Inuyasha wouldn't do anything because they had his only weakness, his daughter. Inuyasha could feel the rage seep in. If Inuyasha wanted to he could kill everyone here before they could even think about laying a finger on his daughter.

"Listen to what I have to say first." The Daimyo said then gestured to the seat in front of him. "Sit down, please."

Inuyasha tried to cool himself down and take a seat. For some reason Inuyasha wanted to give the man a chance.

"Talk." Inuyasha commanded.

"It wasn't that hard to figure out you're a demon with your appearance. After all a new person entering my Province, how would I not know?"

Inuyasha didn't have anything to say yet.

"But I watched and approached the situation with caution with the lives of my people at stake. I couldn't risk anything. If I could avoid bloodshed then that would be my best option. So I watched." The man smiled at Inuyasha while talking.