The Taisho fire

Big Ben

The great clock was just a blur in the distance, smothered by the typical Londonian fog but Gwen couldn't take her eyes off it. Restless, she had left the bedroom to allow Tōga to heal and rest. Her mind was in a sorry state, thoughts circling around, telling her that the future was just a jumble of uncertainty now.

They were in danger. Would they be able to spent Christmas in her family ? Would Tōga recover without consequences ? She was but a human, flying away from her home to be dumped into the yōkai tank with, as back up, one of the most powerful and cold yōkai in existence. At least, their ally was strong... but his motives remained to be determined.

To think that, a few days prior, she would have been worrying that she didn't speak Japanese enough to spend vacations in the country.

Gwen sighed, watching the top of the tower as it slowly disappeared under the wing of the plane.

Goodbye, old lady.

"Why did you call him Taishō ?"

Sesshomaru's voice was smooth and deep, a different baritone from his father's, but no less agreeable. Gwen blinked, surprised to find genuine curiosity in his eyes – even though his face betrayed none of it. Only then did she realise that his pupils were akin to a cat's. Little wonder humans called him a demon – the sight of those vertical slits was pretty unsettling. For a moment, she remained enthralled, searching what he meant until the light bulb burst to life in her memory.

"Oh, you mean, at the station ?"

Sesshōmaru nodded, and she felt a little stupid for asking confirmation. After all, he'd only heard the word once, so where else could it be ? A pang of nervousness unsettled her as she recalled Jolyne's previous visit, would she ever see her friend again ?

Jolyne was gaping like a fish out of water, her expression transfixed. Gwen sighed; she didn't have to turn around to know why her friend's gaze was fixedly set over her shoulder. Even though Sesshōmaru walked more silently than a ninja, she could feel the power of his yōki brush with her senses... and he was standing right behind her.

Why he was looming like an angel of death on Tōga threshold commended his determination to keep her safe, but Gwen couldn't quell the irritation; she had just told him, less than a minute earlier, that Jolyne was a trusted friend. It seemed like ignoring instructions was a family trait.

"Jolyne," she called. "Taishō was in an accident. His family is here to retrieve him. We're going to Japan."

Blue eyes snapped to her face, forgetting the very unsettling figure that surveilled both ladies.

"Is he going to be alright ? What happened ?"

Gwen shuddered involuntarily, the image of Tōga's broken body carved in her memories.

"Eventually, yes."

"We must make haste," Sesshōmaru rumbled, making a point of staring Jolyne down.

His imposing presence and blatant rudeness worked in her favour; Jolyne didn't insist on knowing the details of their predicament. Instead, she grabbed Gwen in her arms and squeezed hard. For a moment, the young woman felt the daiyōkai stiffen. She sent him a warning look, watching his greenish yōki swirl around him.

'Don't strike her down,' her eyes pleaded as she shed a tear upon Jolyne's shoulder. This was all so sudden, and she couldn't even talk about it. Eventually, the tall woman released her and cupped her cheeks.

"You take care of him, and keep me posted."

Gwen nodded and rested her weary body on the doorjamb, watching her friend disappear down the stairs. In a few minutes, she would leave this place forever. Their memories, their first time, their quiet conversations on Tōga's sofa, their tryst on the kitchen counter. All those carefree moments, swept away.

"He was the great dog general, was he not ? In this station, he was our commander. Taishō seemed like a fitting title."

Sesshōmaru actually snorted, and she watched that expressionless face with attention, only to be rewarded by the faintest of quirks at the corner of his lips. He was amused.

"What ?" she snarked.

"You will understand, in time."

Right. Defeated, Gwen returned to her quiet contemplation of the Londonian sky. The private jet was an efficient machine, and the sea was already in view. And then... Asia. Should she call her father ? Perhaps she ought to wait to be in a more stable mood to do so. Perhaps, as well, that Sesshōmaru – or whomever handled diplomatic affairs - would want to elaborate a scenario for them to spread on the situation.

"He is awake."

Gwen titled in her seat to watch the newcomer, but Sesshōmaru didn't move an inch; he had probably heard him coming. Smelt him coming...

Whatever.

Haru smiled down at her and gestured for the open door.

"Healing is going well. The ribs are almost mended already, although the leg will need some physical therapy."

"But it will heal ?"

"I'm pretty confident, yes."

A wave of relief surged inside of her, and Gwen unfolded her limbs slowly. If, at least, Tōga could recuperate without consequences, then they were blessed.

"Domo arigatō, Haru-san," she said, bowing awkwardly.

The middle-aged yōkai nodded back gently, and stepped aside to give her access to the bedroom. As soon as she passed the threshold, Tōga's eyes trapped hers. It took all his willpower not to move; in the end, he failed miserably as he tried to lift his upper body to offer his outstretched arm. Gwen nearly teleported onto the bed, pushing his shoulder so that it rested on the mattress.

"You must not move, beloved."

Tōga groaned pitifully, and she instantly dropped a kiss on his cheek.

"I'm going to go crazy."

Gwen settled in the space between his ribcage and outstretched arm, considering the issue at hand. His perpetual energy was one of the reasons she had fallen in love with him in the first place, but he needed to understand that every minute he lay still would grant him more leeway in the long term.

"I know it is difficult for someone like you. How about you consider it payback for the sheer amount of energy you've been displacing for the past fifty years or so ? Or a reserve for the next ones ?"

"You say that if it was easy."

Gwen had to refrain not to grin at the adorable, doglike whine.

"I know it is not. I've seen my mother stuck to her bed for three months at the end of her pregnancy, and the toll it took upon her. Your health is our top priority at the moment, and it requires sacrifice. My mum did it for my brother, and you do it for me, it you can't do it for yourself."

Tōga blinked, taken aback by Gwen's plea. Then his hand reached out timidly - impaired by the bandages on his dislocated shoulder. She grabbed it halfway and settled their intertwined fingers upon his chest. His heart gently beat under their palm, the steady pace its own lullaby.

"Let's hope you'll handle it better, then."

"Uh ?"

A gentle smile spread his lips, but Tōga did not elaborate; Gwen was too fearful to ask, and kept her mouth shut. For a moment, they just breathed together, suspended in the European sky as his heart gently hammered their joined hands.

Alive.