Lullaby by VS

Lullaby

A/N: This one shot was inspired by Sayuri’s art “Lullaby”. [ www. devianart. com / sayuri 94 watanabe / art / Lullaby – 769126024 ] This background story just stuck me while gazing at her work and I decided to write it down. Enjoy!

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Inukimi was enjoying a hot cup of tea. She had retreated to her chambers, eager to have a moment of peace. Life in court wasn’t easy. There were so many rules, so many expectations which were placed upon her. But mind you, there was nothing she couldn’t handle. To live this life; a life with her mate and her son was worth every hardship.

The shoji door slid slowly open and her only son entered her chambers. Sesshoumaru was her joy and pride. She loved her little puppy with all of her heart and she would kill merciless whoever dared to hurt him. But as much as she liked to spend time with him, now was not the right time. It was too late for Sesshoumaru to be up.

“Okaa-san?” Sesshoumaru rubbed his eye with one chubby, little hand.

“What is it, Sesshoumaru? You know better than to walk the halls at this time of the night,” Inukimi scolded him.

“But okaa-san, I couldn’t sleep. You didn’t tell me a bedtime story,” Sesshoumaru whined.

The demoness scoffed. Her little boy was sometimes too adorable for his own good. Well, he was his father’s son after all. “I remember that you specifically asked your father for a bedtime story, did you not?” Inukimi didn’t like it when people tried to take her for a fool. Her son wouldn’t be an exception.

“Otou-san did. But his story was not good,” he grumbled.

“Oh?” one delicate eyebrow rose, “And why is that? You praised his ability to tell stories just a few days ago.”

“Yes, but that was before he included so much blood and other gross stuff.”

“Blood?”

“Yes. Otou-san told the story of the evil monk Benkei who joined the Yamabushi to collect 1000 swords.” (*)

Inukimi couldn’t believe her ears. That stupid, old dog! How dare he tell such a story to her little boy! And as a bedtime story. Clearly, he doesn’t know what the purpose of a bedtime story was. Inukimi was not a woman who showed her affection openly. Even, if she loved with all of her heart. But she couldn’t send her little boy back to bed like that. So, she opened her arms and pulled Sesshoumaru in a warm embrace. Holding him as near to her body as possible. As long as she was able to protect him, she would gladly do it. Even, if the enemy was a nightmare.

And her lovely voice echoed through the halls of the palace and out to the fortress, soothing every distressed child.

The forest owl said

I am the guardian of the forest

Fearsome wolves and kitsune and the like

won’t be allowed to come near,

so, sleep sleep

gorosuke hoo hoo

gorosuke hoo (**)

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Golden eyes darted open widely. He hadn’t thought about his mother in a while. And he just recalled a long forgotten memory. Even, if it was only a memory it still had the same effect on him as it had on the pup. He felt an inner peace and his muscles relaxed. He felt loved and protected. It was the only time that his mother had sung for him. The rules in court were strict and it was declared unfit for a lady to sing. Nevertheless, his mother broke this rule. For him.

Why was it, that he remembered clearly every disapproving glance she sent him? Every time she scolded him openly, even raised her hand against him? Yet, he forgot all about this tender moment. The way she lulled him with her lovely, feminine voice into sleep and protected him from those nightmares.

The relationship to his mother had been a tense one since he reached adulthood. It wasn’t his father he tried to impress. It wasn’t the praise of his father he wanted to hear. It had always been his mother. But he wasn’t good enough. His mother never praised him. She was cold in her behavior towards him. And Sesshoumaru had come to the conclusion that she probably didn’t love him. Why else would she act this way?

Had he been wrong? The more he thought about it, the more memories of tender moments seemed to find the way into his consciousness. And hope filled his aching heart. Could it be that his mother loved him? Could it be that he kept his distance from her unnecessarily? Maybe it was time to pay her a visit. He had neglected his duties as a son for far too long now.

But the question remained. Why did this particular memory resurface now? A pitiful moan reached his ears then. And his eyes fell on the small girl that so trustfully followed him everywhere. She had a nightmare. Again.

He hated those nights when the girl was obviously in such discomfort. He hated even more the odor of terror that clung to her body. It was something he never wanted to smell on her. Did his mother have the same feeling when he entered her chamber that night? Had she too felt this anger deep inside of her to tear everything apart that even dared to think about harming those she cared for?

She obviously must have felt something. Otherwise she wouldn’t go so far as to break a rule to soothe him. Would Rin react the same way as he did? Would she too fell into a peaceful sleep, knowing that there was someone here to protect her? He hoped so. Sesshoumaru wanted her to rely on him. He wanted to protect her. Even, if the enemy was a nightmare.

And so he sang the only lullaby he knew.

Mori no fukuro ga iimashita

watashi wa mori no mihari yaku

kowai okami, kitsune nado

kosasenai kara ne ne shina

gorosuke ho ho

gorosuke ho

The wind carried his deep voice far through the forest. And it was not only Rin that fell into a peaceful slumber, but also a raven-haired miko. If asked, both girls would admit that this had been the best sleep they had in their life so far. They felt protected and loved.

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Her painted lips formed a small smile. It was good to hear her son’s voice. And it seemed that he found someone to protect. His father would be proud of him. She definitely was. Hearing his deep, melodious voice Inukimi couldn’t stop herself from being rebellious one more time. And so she joined him.

And for the first time mother and son sang together.

Mori no fukuro ga iimashita

…

“Rest well, son.” His mother’s soft spoken words reached his pointed ears. And Sesshoumaru closed his eyes and sighed in contentment.

I love you.

Thank you so much for reading!

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(*) Long legend short: Saito Musashibo Benkei was born 1155 and should have been two meters tall. His mother died in childbirth after a pregnancy of 18 months. Due to his behavior Benkei was given the name “child of the devil”. He was sent from monastery to monastery because no one wanted to keep him. Young Benkei decided to join a group of warrior monks, the Yamabushi. After the temple of his hometown was destroyed by Taira (a clan), Benkei decided to collect 1000 swords and donate it this temple as help them to rebuid it. After he collected 999 he met the Samurai Minamoto-no-Yoshitsune. They fought and Yoshitune beat him. Afterwards Benkei swear his allegiance to him. Together they fought big battles until both were killed.

(**) I kind of cheated here. “Mori no Fukuro” is technically not a lullaby but a folk song. Lullabies used to be sung by girls of poor families who were babysitting the children of rich families. They often sung about their desire to leave this place and reunite with their families again. I didn’t find those songs appropriate for my purpose.