Dearly Beloved by Aviel
Therapy
Disclaimer: Though it saddens me to say it, I don’t own anything relating to Takahashi-sensei’s Inuyasha. However, the plot and/or ideas of this drabble series do belong to me.
A/N: None. :) Update 2 of 2.
Chapter 66: Therapy
During the rest of the evening, Sesshoumaru’s father had been strangely subdued and sulky, his movements slow and lethargic. Kagome had been worried and just a tad frightened when he had shuffled away after dinner like a zombie, eyes slightly glazed over with an unknown emotion. Unaware of what had transpired between the two Taishou males, the woman had confronted her standoffish husband about it when they retired to one of the designated guest rooms in the compound. She was determined to get to the bottom of Touga’s weird behavior and would not leave Sesshoumaru alone until she knew the truth.
“Did you bully him again?” she asked, sitting cross-legged on the luxurious bed behind him. She took his long hair and allowed it to pool into her lap as she began to brush it, starting from the ends of the silky strands.
“Perhaps,” he said. “He deserved it, however, and deserves it still.”
Kagome hummed thoughtfully, sliding the brush down from his scalp. She smiled at Sesshoumaru’s soft sigh, knowing he only indulged in these grooming sessions because he thoroughly enjoyed her gentle ministrations. Her hands on his person were another bonus, of course.
“But do you have to remind him of his shortcomings every time we drop by? It must be terrible on his heart.”
“It is nothing compared to the scarring of mine.”
Leaning forward, the female placed a kiss on the back of his neck, calming him and hoping to soothe a wound that did not bleed. She pulled back and asked, “So, this is about getting revenge then?”
“Not for me. For Mother.”
“Isn’t that the same thing though?” When he failed to answer, Kagome continued, “A person can’t help who they fall in love with, Maru-kun. You dad isn’t an exception. People make mistakes all the time.”
“This was the only one he made.”
Her hands expertly divided his hair into three sections. Her tongue clicked against the roof of her mouth when he made a displeased sound at the back of his throat. He didn’t like that she was going to braid his hair? Well, too bad.
“Since you insist on being so stubborn, let me put it this way: Was Inuyasha a mistake? Were you a mistake?”
“No.”
“To…?” she prompted.
“Both.”
Though he couldn’t see it, Kagome nodded her head approvingly. “That’s what I thought. Your dad should have handled the situation differently, but you can’t change the past, no matter how much you might think about it. The present and the future are what you should be focusing on.”
“…Inuyasha had mentioned something similar,” Sesshoumaru admitted. “His words had held merit.”
Securing the end of Sesshoumaru’s braid with one of her hair ties, Kagome gave it a light pat and leaned back into the mound of pillows behind her. She watched as he rolled his shoulders and turned around, glowering at her because of his new hairstyle.
A Cheshire grin curled at the ends of her lips. “What?” she quipped. “Don’t like it?”
The male huffed and crawled over to her side, nestling closely behind her. His arms snaked around her middle, and his chin rested against the top of her head, preventing her from wriggling around as she usually did before going to sleep. Taking a long whiff of her floral scent, he relaxed, his right hand splayed flat against her stomach.
“Maru-kun?” Receiving a low grumble in response, Kagome ventured, “You’re not mad?”
“Hn.”
She exhaled in relief. “I just… I didn’t want you to keep being angry at your dad.”
“I know, Kagome.”
She probably hadn’t realized it then, but their discussion that night had opened up Sesshoumaru’s eyes and forced him to realize the error of his ways. No, he wouldn’t apologize to his father for his callousness for all of those years, but he would put an end to the immature manner in which he had dealt with the elder’s…lapse in judgment.
Since his caring wife and his brother had both lectured him about it, Sesshoumaru would graciously honor their wishes.
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Original Posting Date: February 4, 2013
Prompt: For see03’s “Superior Sense of Smell” Challenge, Caring
Words: 700