The Taisho fire

Genitor

Jet lag and exhaustion battled fiercely until the former won, and Gwen found herself rousing. The slight surge of panic settled when she found Tōga slumbering by her side, his skin still black and blue but healing. The young woman laid on her side, drowned in sheets that probably cost more than their rent. For a long time, she just took in the steady rise and fall of her man's chest; the cracked and broken ribs caused it to hitch, sometimes. Pain medication would be necessary as soon as he regained consciousness.

For the moment, though, she was happy to see him resting.

Another quarter hour passed until someone slid a paper under their western-style door stating that breakfast was ready. Gwen arose as silently as possible to fetch the tray from the corridor. The subtle notes of green tea rose from the pot, and she smiled; was it a Japanese thing to serve, or did they know what Toga enjoyed ? At any rate, she would be happy to share the fresh brew with him.

As she retreated to their bed, tray in hand, Gwen found a set of sleepy golden eyes observing her.

"Sorry, did I wake you ?"

"No. The woman in the corridor did."

Eyebrows climbing, Gwen almost whistled. Would she ever get used to Tōga's sharp senses ? Panic replaced wonder the instant he started to fumble to sit.

"Wait !" she cried, setting the tray upon a table.

Tōga scowled, the first words of a scolding mumbled under his breath. The pain interrupted his rant as swiftly as a crack of thunder when his ribs cried in agony. Gwen's arms were around his shoulders at once, a frown marring her lovely face.

"You shouldn't do that yet !" she hissed, arranging cushions to support his back before she helped him settle in a semi seated position. Tōga sighed; she was stronger than she looked, in both body and mind. Fighting would be setting down the field for a defeat. Thoroughly chastised, the former general winced and found a position where his body didn't scream bloody murder. A soon as he had settled, a cup of soothing tea appeared before his nose.

"There. A cup of tea, and pain medication will do wonders to your mood."

"Gomen, Gwen."

The frown eased up a little, but a line remained in between her grey eyes.

"Never mind. I understand."

And she did, for sure. But he still wished she didn't have to care for an invalid. An invalid that should have popped the question instead of being beaten to an inch of his death. Gwen should now be drowning in the happiness of a newly engaged woman, not fearing to see him in pain. Mulling over his sombre thoughts, Tōga did not realise he'd zoned out until a kiss landed upon his brow.

"Hey, I love you", she breathed, warmth spreading along his cheek. "Will you have breakfast with me ?"

Those three little words felt so natural; they swelled in his chest like a soothing balm and the former general managed to muster a smile. At loss of words, he grunted his approval and grabbed a pair of chopsticks. The tamagoyaki tasted so good, his tongue remembering the exact same flavours from his childhood visits to Japan.

They ate in companionable silence and he thanked the Kami that Gwen wasn't the type to chat his ear off just to fill the void. Of course, a music lover would know the great importance of silence. For the same reason darkness only enhanced light, those moments of pause could count a whole new tale on their own.

Hence, he did not expect the swift knock on the door and the irruption of his eldest son. Sesshōmaru looked like he had just swallowed something sour – not that he usually radiated warmth. Behind him trailed a youth with the characteristic hair of his bloodline, and a sheepish expression that bordered on terrified. A pronounced limp caused Tōga to set his bowl of miso soup down and lift interrogative eyes to Sesshōmaru. The head of the Taishō clan loomed dangerously over the youth, breathing down his neck with the ire of a dragon.