To Love From Dusk 'Til Dawn by Drosselmeyer

Chapter 2

To Love From Dusk 'Til Dawn

By: Drosselmeyer

~*~*~*~*~

“Are all the pups inside? Good.”

Miyu, mentally preparing herself, watched the rest of her family finish their dinner at the tables that had been set up earlier that day. She drummed her claws impatiently from her seat, sipping at ice water as she ran over her speech in her head. Once a year, as many of them as possible gathered to celebrate their parents’ anniversary, and she and her siblings enjoyed an evening of terrorizing each other in the kitchen as they cooked a huge meal in honor of their parents before embarrassing them after with stories and pictures from their past.

But this year was a bit different.

“Got something good for us this year?”

Next to her, Nozomi pulled out a chair and sat, an excited but mischievous grin on her face. The dark-haired human was far older than she looked, having been one of the first humans their parents had adopted. Mating an inuyoukai centuries before had granted her a long life.

Miyu smirked and absently smoothed her napkin. “I like to think I do.”

“Think you can irritate Papa better than Naoki’s video?” Nozomi stole a sip of her wine, eyes widening a bit when she tasted it. “Oh, I need to get some of that. Chris!” She stood to chase down their brother but shot Miyu one more look before scuttling off. “Knock ‘em dead.”

She watched her sister run off in search of alcohol and sighed. “If Papa doesn’t knock me dead first.” With a long draw on her water, she pulled her chair out and stood. No use putting it off any longer.

Chatter continued on around her, the cool night air washing over her and soothing her nerves as she tapped her claws against her water glass to get everyone’s attention. She hated speeches. “All right, troublemakers, listen up!”

The sound of voices, dulled somewhat now that the minors had retreated inside for a movie, didn’t quiet any further. “You all done yet? Hey!”

Nothing.

Chris popped the cork on another wine bottle and ignored his sister’s glare. “Who needs more?”

Satoshi, a snake youkai, laughed behind his glass and pointed at her. “Mama and Papa if Miyu’s doing the talking.”

Jerk.

“Ah, yeah, good point.”

“Excuse me,” Miyu ground out, eyes shooting daggers at her brothers. She tapped the glass again impatiently as she did. Getting everyone to behave at the same time was pretty much impossible. “Do you mind?”

The green-eyed snake threw up his hands. “I’m done.”

Everyone else was quiet and waiting, and Miyu cleared her throat. She hated giving speeches, but with the vow renewal and trip to America coming up, the siblings decided they wanted to save their traditional embarrassing slide show for that event. Upon that decision, everyone came to the same consensus that Miyu and her mouth could do the most damage without their usual arsenal. Never mind that she hated speaking.

Once again lamenting getting stuck with the job, she glanced at her twin for a second and saw Maya flash an encouraging thumbs up her way.

“You have no idea what’s about to hit,” she mumbled to herself, giving a half-hearted thumbs up back. Poor Maya. Always so encouraging and rarely aware of what her other half was truly capable of pulling.

With an attempted smile that probably looked more like a demented, contorted version of one at her twin, Miyu avoided making eye contact with Sesshoumaru and Kagome and said a prayer to the kami that she wouldn’t be struck down where she stood.  Here goes nothing.

She took a deep breath. “Everyone here tonight is family because those two”—she motioned to her parents—“were once friends with benefits.”

It was—to her immense satisfaction—enough to kill her father’s chill. Wine spewed straight out of his mouth onto the table, and she mentally patted herself on the back for a job well done. Meanwhile, Kagome was caught between choking on her own wine and slapping her mate on the back to help him clear the rest of what he had apparently aspirated.

Everyone else, including her grandmother, howled with laughter.

I’m going to hell, but it’ll be worth it. She ignored the flare of youki followed by burning amber eyes being narrowed in her direction and sent a smug look Sesshoumaru’s way. “Will someone get Papa a glass of water? And Mama a fan before she passes out?”

She took a sip of her own water, a quick glance at Maya showing her own face giving her a look. She’d be getting an earful later.

Oh well.

Miyu tapped her glass again to quiet everyone still laughing. “All teasing aside, once, a miko and a youkai were left with a heartbreaking, impossible situation, and they made the most of it. We all know the history.” She paused to sip her water again, trying not to laugh at the sight of Naoki with his face still buried in a tablecloth, shoulders shaking.

“We know there were good times and hard times.” The joking disappeared, and she smiled genuinely at her parents then. “But, most importantly, there was a lot of love. Friendship turned into something deeper.” She locked eyes with her mother, trying to send encouragement as she spoke, and she could feel the waves of anxiety coming from the older woman start to ebb somewhat. “Something fought for. And the sheer number of us, even though some are no longer with us, attests to both Mama and Papa’s devotion to building a life with each other.”

Any remaining snickers and giggles stopped. Some things—past pain and loss—would always be hard to speak about. Miyu didn’t miss the tears on Kagome’s cheeks or the way her father’s arm wrapped protectively around her. She didn’t miss the melancholy on his face.

Trying to smile despite the heavy subject matter, she continued. “Mama and Papa have dealt with a lot of crap that no one ever should have to. But they pushed though, loved each other, and loved us.” She took a moment to look over all her siblings. "And I think I can fairly speak for us all when I say that none of us ever questioned that we were brothers and sisters.”

There were murmurs of agreement and then more laughter when Hanako smacked Hotaru on the back of the head for making a snide remark that sounded suspiciously like except for Akimichi.

Miyu stifled her own laugh and then winked at her parents. “You two take in kids like an old woman does cats. Hell, you’ve even got a couple cats of your own.”

From a table in the back, Shimeko whooped.

“Technically a snow leopard and panther,” Jiro mumbled.

“The bottom line”—Miyu shook her head at the felines—“is that in everything you both always made one thing clear: love is a choice. And whether blood or adopted, you’ve always chosen to stick with us.”

Her eyes filled with a bittersweet memory as she focused back on her parents. “You stuck with each other.”

It was suddenly hard to speak, and Miyu pretended to have a dry throat, sipping long at her water while she gathered herself back together. Some things were too difficult to speak about, but she was determined to push through. “Your perseverance is something we all respect. Mama, you never, ever give up, and Papa”—she fought through a watery smile—“gods, you’re so fucking stubborn. And it’s held things together when everything else was falling apart.”

Both her parents were smiling gently at her now, and Miyu found herself once again in her water glass, blinking back tears.

“You both have a sense of humor—even if Papa’s is weird as fuck. By the way, some of us are still in therapy after what you pulled at Obon last year, Sesshoumaru.” She laughed when he glared at the use of his given name—something they all regularly did to irritate him. “Mama, thank you for being the normal one.”

Her mother’s grin was cheeky as she poked the demon lord in his side.

Miyu swallowed then, her voice quieting. “You’ve both survived the worst kinds of loss, and you became stronger through it rather than letting it defeat you, even when perseverance seemed impossible.”

Soft murmurs erupted then, and more than one set of hands found their way to their parents’ shoulders and backs.

Miyu sniffled but tried to hide it. Time to wrap things up. “Now, while we’ve decided to hold off on our slideshow until you all recommit to your crazy love story next week—because for some reason Mama and Papa think a trans-Atlantic flight with all our insanity is a good idea—we do want you to know we love you. And we like to think we love you as much as we know you love us.”

She paused then, struggling to choke back her own emotion before grabbing her wine. “Lift your glass with me to Mama and Papa.”

Everyone raised their wine glasses.

One more for the road. Mischief cracked through her features as she locked eyes with her parents “Happy Fuck-Your-Friend Day, you two. And here’s to many more!”

Her siblings erupted into a symphony of laughter, clapping, and cheers, Kagome groaned, and Sesshoumaru pinched the bridge of his nose.

Who needs a slide show? Miyu snickered to herself, glad the hard part was over. And she hadn’t been knocked back for her cheek either. “We’re not quite done yet. Enmei?”

The moth disappeared briefly to retrieve a screen, and she tried to contain her glee. “Now, while we don’t have a slide show, we do have a bit of entertainment.”

She waited while her brother quickly set up a projector and laptop and signed onto YouTube.

Naoki paled while everyone else started laughing.

Miyu grinned. “So, Papa, guess what your heir did?”

______________________________________________

Kagome wanted five minutes without someone needing her.

She had spent the last half hour refereeing Sesshoumaru and Naoki after their son’s riveting rendition of the living room scene from Risky Business started Ragnarök. As soon as Naoki had gone sliding out onto the screen in tighty-whities and a mostly-open dress shirt with his father’s stripes painted on every visible part of his body, Sesshoumaru was up out of his seat after the hanyou while Naoki made a beeline for the house and the safety of the pups’ movie night.

He had gone sliding through the backdoors, barely avoiding his father’s claws.

“Still not letting it go?”

Looking up as her mother joined her in putting away dishes, Kagome glowered in her mate’s direction where he sat outside with most of their daughters. “No, he’s not. I’m pretty sure Naoki is going to have sleep with one eye open after that one.” She loved her son, but there was no doubt that he was a handful.

Satomi took a plate from her hands and put it away in a cabinet, a fond look on her face. “Those two are a pair. Naoki’s expressive face always throws me off a little bit. Sometimes I think I’m looking at a Sesshoumaru who finally cracked. If it weren’t for those ears and the shorter hair, I’d spend life confused around them both.”

Kagome smiled then. Satomi and Sesshoumaru had developed a close relationship over the years, and she had to admit her mother knew her mate quite well, noticing the little things others may not more often than not. And when the steadfastly reserved youkai was tight-lipped about one thing or another or struggling with something he tried to squelch down, it was Satomi who could pull it out of him.

“No doubt they’re different.” She handed her mother a fresh towel to replace the soaked one she had. “It probably disturbs Sesshoumaru on some level to see Naoki’s levity on his face. But they share more traits than they like to admit too.” Leaning on the counter, she let her eyes drift over to her son, her look thoughtful. “Naoki’s a force to be reckoned with, even if it doesn’t show it most of the time.”

She didn’t say more, but she recognized to herself the understatement of her observation. Naoki was something else entirely. Kagome felt her heart lighten somewhat as she watched him laugh and wrestle with his rambunctious nieces and nephews, despite the fact that movie time was supposed to be winding them down for the night. Much like his father had been, Naoki had no interest in taking a mate at his age—though it wasn’t for lack of interest from females—and was happy dedicating his time and energy to his family.

He must have noticed her scrutiny because he looked up then and met her gaze, the mirth disappearing too quickly from his face. For a moment they simply stared at each other in silence, Kagome noting not for the first time how her son had the uncanny ability to stare through someone. She didn’t have to explain anything to him; she knew he somehow saw everything that had been tearing at her heart. And so much like his father, she watched his eyes soften in understanding.

Then, out of the blue and unlike his father, he shoved his fingers in his mouth, stretched his lips wide, and tipped his head to the side as he crossed his eyes.

A snort of laughter escaped, and Kagome slapped a hand over her mouth.

There’s my boy. That face, so like and then not like Sesshoumaru’s, could undo her gloom even at the worst times. Unable to stop his own grin at her reaction, Naoki finally straightened and turned back to the pups.

“You’re a nut,” she whispered, just low enough for him to still hear it. He looked up long enough to throw a quick wink her way.

“Kagome?”

Attention snapping back to her mother, Kagome apologized. “Sorry, Mama.” She shrugged with a grin. “Naoki. Though I think all my children are equally capable of distraction.” She watched as Chris knocked his hanyou brother over and sat on him so the pups could more easily win the wrestling match. Then, Enmei sat on them both.

She shook her head. They also didn’t play fair.

Satomi followed her line of sight. “I think you’re right.” She cleared her throat and sent Kagome a sly look as she continued to help put away dishes. “Miyu’s speech was certainly entertaining. That brought back some memories.”

Groaning as her mother laughed, Kagome leaned against the counter. “Let’s not take a walk down that memory lane, please.” Flashbacks to the inordinate amount of embarrassment she had suffered right after she and Sesshoumaru had come through the well centuries before brought fresh color to her face. “It’s a miracle I could look anyone in the eye back then.”

“Oh, you didn’t always.”

Kagome slapped a dishcloth down on the counter and glared at her mother. “Yes, thank you, Mama.”

With another laugh, Satomi tweaked her nose. “You’re welcome, my Dear.”

Shaking her head, Kagome shifted some leftovers from the counter to the fridge. Five years before, in her mother’s timeline, it had been hard for Satomi to adjust to both the loss of her younger self and sudden appearance of her as she was now after that fateful night against the panthers at the shrine. She had understood; it would have been confusing for her as well to lose and gain the same daughter in the span of literally minutes.

Though I do kind of know what that’s like.

Brushing the thought aside, Kagome set a kettle on for tea. “Want some?”

Satomi nodded, hanging her dish towel to dry. “Please.”

Pulling out an assortment of loose leaf, she handed her mother an empty muslin bag and mug and joined her at the kitchen island. “How are you doing, really?”

It took only seconds for tears to spring into Satomi’s eyes, but she pushed them back with a shake of her head. “It’s hard. Grandpa was old, and it wasn’t unexpected, but I miss having him around all the time. Souta’s gone most of the time at university now, so it’s a bit too quiet around the shrine.”

Kagome reached for her mother’s hand. “We miss him too.” She swallowed around the emotion rising in her throat. “I hate that we only had five more years with him once we could, you know, finally show ourselves to you all again.”

It had been a point of tension in the beginning when everything was new and chaotic, but Satomi understood now and squeezed her hand. “I know. And he did very much love getting to have such large family in his final years.”

The memory of her children all sitting around the Goshinboku listening to Grandpa’s stories and throwing in bits and pieces of the history they lived as he talked popped into her head, and Kagome her eyes shone with her attachment as she poured hot water over their tea. “Everyone loved having him in their lives.” Her voice dropped. “I’ve never seen Sesshoumaru so upset with Tenseiga. Not since everything that happened with Naraku.”

Satomi’s own expression was tight, remembering the first time she saw what the sword could do. “I can’t imagine.”

Though he didn’t show much outwardly, Sesshoumaru had grown fond of her grandfather. He was as much a link to the past for Sesshoumaru as Sesshoumaru was for him, and they had enjoyed many quiet nights together, reviewing artifacts and sharing stories. His anger at the sword when nothing could be done to bring the old man back a second time had been chilling to witness.

Clearing her throat, Satomi focused awkwardly on her tea. “Speaking of swords, Souta said Tessaiga is singing again.”

A chill ran down Kagome’s spine. With concerted effort, she picked up her own tea and took a sip, refusing to meet her mother’s eyes and stalling to get a grasp of her pounding heart and emotions. The warm liquid slid down her throat and pushed out some of the nervous energy gathering in her chest. With a strained smile, she set the cup back on the table. “Oh? It hasn’t done that in a while.”

Satomi regarded her skeptically before sighing and setting down her own tea. “Listen, Kagome. I know things have been different than they were before you returned through the well. And I do understand that—there’s a lot of years I wasn’t able to be there for.” Her voice grew quiet, her upset becoming more apparent. “I’ve missed so many of the big events in your life. And things are, well, strained at times.”

Guilt sank straight to the pit of Kagome’s stomach as her mother spoke. She wasn’t wrong. While things were nowhere near as tense as they were in the beginning, things were different. Sesshoumaru was probably closer to her mother now than she was.

“I don’t mean to pry or be invasive, but it feels like there’s something you’re hiding from me. Something you feel like you can’t tell me.” Satomi looked away. “I don’t know what to do with that.”

It was too much. Kagome squashed down the sinking feeling in her chest. This—all this right now—was the hard part of life she had been dreading since arriving on the heels of her past self. And the last thing she wanted was her mother feeling like she was hiding stuff from her.

Even if I am.

With a forced smile, Kagome sipped her tea. “Sounds like you and Souta should talk to Sesshoumaru.”

Satomi, though strained, returned her smile and patted her hand. “Tomorrow. Souta will bring the sword by after his class.” She drained the rest of her tea and gave Kagome a wink. “I think you two deserve some time to yourselves tonight.”

Before she could respond to her mother, five-year-old Umeko came into the kitchen tangled up in her pajamas and needing them straightened out, grandpups started shouting about popcorn and another movie, and Sho started screaming from somewhere in the backyard.

Kagome sighed and finished her own tea before standing. “Mama, would you help Umeko, please?” She leaned around the kitchen entryway and looked into the chaos that was the pups. “Enmei, Naoki, Chris, can you take care of the snacks and the movie?”

Naoki carefully picked his way between piles of kids as he headed for the kitchen. “I’ll take care of popcorn.”

Chris followed after his brother. “I’ve got drinks.”

From the living room, Enmei glared at the bailers. “Guess I get to settle the movie fight.” He picked up the remote and started flicking through the streaming service. “Okay, what do you monsters want to watch?”

About seventeen different opinions were shouted all at once.

Confident that everyone else had things handled for the moment and ignoring Enmei’s sullen expression, Kagome stepped outside to get Sho.

The temperature had dropped since dinner, and she found most of her daughters lounging around the firepit with Sesshoumaru. Hanako, Minoko, Sayuri, Miyu, and Yuna were all doing their best to stay warm together in the mokomoko. It was a tight squeeze with all of them, but they were smiling and chatting. Nozomi and Mariko sat closest to the fire wrapped in blankets. Maya sat next to her father, chatting quietly with a now sleeping Sho. Shimeko and Akari were huddled under a shared blanket by Sesshoumaru’s feet with another bottle of wine.

“Hi, Babe.” Kagome leaned down to kiss Sesshoumaru, ignoring his sour look at the nickname and then took one look at the baby and shook her head. “Looks like I ran out here too soon.”

Maya smiled softly and tucked him closer. “I think he just startled awake.”

“Do you want me to take him?”

“I’m good unless you really want him right now.”

With a shake of her head, Kagome approached Shimeko and Akari. “Enjoy those baby snuggles. Alright girls, make room.”

The snow leopard and fox let her wedge in the middle so she could rest against Sesshoumaru’s legs. Once tucked under the blanket, she let her head fall back and rest on his knees, keeping a moan to herself when claws automatically began to run through the short strands of her hair. Sweet, blessed relaxation. If he kept that up, she was going to fall asleep.

Akari took one look at her parents and smirked. “You know, we can handle the little ones tonight. Why don’t you two take some time for yourselves?”

Taking a long drink of her wine, Shimeko nodded her agreement. “Seriously, Akari’s right. Are there anymore bottles pumped? Maya and I can handle Sho for the night.”

Kagome frowned, looking over at the tiny infant. “I don’t know…Sesshoumaru, what do you think?”

The youkai in question shifted behind her. His hands moved down to her shoulders, kneading the tense muscles there. He was silent for a long moment before he spoke. “Sho is fine, and I think there is something else on your mind.”

Each of the girls quickly turned their heads to look at her, startled but expectant looks on their faces.

Kagome glanced back at Sesshoumaru, her fatigue showing on her face as she did, and she reached a hand up to rub her temple. “Mama said Tessaiga is singing again.”

She didn’t miss how his hands stilled on her shoulders and reached up to cover them with her own.

“Now?” Maya’s voice shook with her whisper. “This soon?”

Akari, tension etched into her sharp features, threw back the rest of her glass of wine and stood, pulling Sesshoumaru’s arm out to tuck into his side as best as she could with the chair between them as Shimeko did the same to Kagome beside her. “We knew this would happen. We shouldn’t be surprised.”

“But this soon?” Shimeko was shaking her head, clinging more tightly to Kagome than was comfortable. “This seems much faster than expected.”

Sesshoumaru squeezed Akari and reached down to tip Kagome’s chin back up. She looked into his face and frowned when she noticed the tightness at the corners of his eyes and firm set of his lips. Centuries hadn’t aged him the way that single bit of news had in the space of a breath. Unspoken words and understanding passed between the two of them as they looked at one another in silence.

Too much silence.

Sesshoumaru exhaled and closed his eyes, leaning down to press his forehead to hers. “It is only singing?”

His breath whispered across her lips, and Kagome allowed her own eyes to slide shut as she just felt with him amidst their shared turmoil. “For now.”