The Taisho fire

Yokai sake

Another image from Len, that I really adore :)

Apology, or forgiveness ?

Sesshōmaru said nothing, choosing to take another gulp of sake. Tōga let him be, understanding the need for him to process the information. But InuYasha had never heard the story of his death in full, and he had no qualms asking his former father to recount the story. After all, the few minutes before his demise had been the only ones where he had gazed upon his second born, and named him; they held a particular significance for both males.

But it wasn't an easy story to tell. Despite his sincere love for the Hime who had borne him a son, there were deep sorrows embedded in both the quickening and InuYasha's first days into the world. By the end of the story, the hanyō was shamelessly wiping tears from his eyes.

"I killed him," he eventually choked. "That dragon bastard, I killed him."

Stunned, Tōga regarded his son with renewed awe. To think InuYasha had managed where he'd failed was both humbling and bittersweet.

"You did ?"

A grin crept up InuYasha's face.

"Hell, yeah. I wiped the floor with his scaly ass."

Tōga's heart leapt with joyful revenge, and he felt his chest inflate with pride.

"Tell me," he begged.

Sesshōmaru snorted in his cup, and thus started the tale of how InuYasha mastered the Bakuryūha – the backlash wave, killing Ryūkotsusei in the process. Or, as his son put it, blowing him to tiny bits. It was not a tale for the faint-hearted, neither for intoxicated reincarnated generals that couldn't hold yōkai liquor.

Less than an hour later, a barely dressed Gwen was surprised to greet her beloved, completely drunk and crying his eyes out, between a dog demon and a hanyō.

Eyes wide, she only had time for a generic exclamation before InuYasha dumped his former father unceremoniously over their unrolled futon. Tōga's massive form sprawled over Gwen. Had Sesshōmaru not reached out to stabilise them both, the young woman would have toppled over. Overwhelmed, she settled upon the bedding, dragging her future husband in her lap.

"I am a pitiful creature," Tōga rasped, hiding in her neck to take a whiff of her calming scent.

Brushing damp bangs over his forehead, Gwen kissed his brow and whispered in his ear.

"No, my love, you are king of my heart."

InuYasha snorted at the comment, but Sesshōmaru sported the ghost of a smile. Gwen narrowed her eyes, none too pleased by the outcome of their yōkai liquor. InuYasha seemed fine, except for the slight sway in his gait, and there was an unusual redness over the ice prince's cheeks. The young woman softened; men ! The three of them in partial states of inebriation. Tōga was sliding down her body now in his best impersonation of a puddle.

Gwen's pointed stare told Sesshōmaru she expected better of him; his usual mask slipped into place with more difficulty than usual. Somehow, to see his father, the great Inu no Taisho, completely wasted and crying in his ningen's arms stirred something in the confines of his cold heart. Eventually, though, the persona closed both his emotions and his yōki to Gwen's perusal.

"I recommend a cup of tea before he falls asleep."

A warm arm locked around her waist, a slight purr coming from Tōga's chest. His eyes were closed, his hair a mess falling over the collar of a formal kimono as he nestled against her. Gwen watched him, fascinated by the tear tracks that marred his cheekbones. What could have happened to make him so emotional ? Had the sake unlocked the safety of his heart ? Her fingers caressed his long mane of silver hair, smoothing it gently. The purr intensified and her heart swelled with love.