Love by the sea by mystical lady
Chapter 1
I apologize for gramer and spelling. sill trying to get back into writing.
The day began as always. Sun rising, wind blowing a soft breeze, bird chirping greeting the day. But for one individual the day was an unwanted thief of the night he had had. Sesshomaru looked out his window of his little beach side cottage looking for any remaining evidence of what he had experienced the night before. The sun rose higher and higher but the evidence never showed. He stood looking and thinking of the ocean and what had taken place under the light of the full moon. Eventually he moved to the back porch and sat on the deck chair he had used last night when the amazing happened.
What happened you might ask? He wouldn’t tell you. But dear reader he saw them. Mermaids. He had seen mermaids come ashore and dance in the light of the full moon. He had joined them in the sweet dance and frivolity that oozed from them. He could say that he fell in love with one but mermaids weren’t real or were they?
“Yo, how was your first night here?” A voice came from off the breeze.
“Inuyasha I take it you had your morning run?” Sesshomaru responding
“Yup and Kikyo had breakfast going, so if you want to join, you're more than welcome.”
“I will pass, but thanks anyway.”
“What’s wrong?” Inuyasha said gruffly “you're not yourself this morning? It’s like your still dreaming”
“I could be. How much did I drink last night? I don’t remember making it back home”
“Hardly any. You had one beer at the pub and went stone still when the old sailor that sits in the same spot in the corner started going on with a warning to stay out of the water and away from the beaches.”
“I now remember the beer, it was disgusting. The sailor what did he say why we should avoid the water and beaches”
“Some lame myth about mermaids dancing. That they come this time a year but no one has had proof”
“Well off you go. I am going to do my run now”
Inuyasha nodded and went off down the beach a way and to another cottage. Sesshomaru took one last look out to sea and went to change. He came back outside, tied his long silver hair up, stretched, put headphones on and picked a playlist on his phone then began his run.
His run took him down the beach, through a small forest and into the little village that he and his brother called home. The village was a fishing town and was quiet for most of the year. The village was noisy during the months of July and August when it was warm and people came for the beaches. The only other time it got a little crazy was when spring came and people came for the mermaid’s mythical dance. The shops in the village had everything mermaid or siren to sell. From shirts that had a print of mermaid scales to full synthetic fins to swim like a mermaid. Sesshomaru stopped at one of the farmers' stands and picked up some fruit and veggies before he finished his run back to his cottage. He arrived back at the front of his cottage to see his ex-girlfriend sitting by her car.
“I can see why you moved here. So insignificant to be called a town” she said
“What do you want Sara?” Sesshomaru asked as he performed a few relaxing stretches after putting his purchases on the porch
“I was in the area and wanted to see if you were still alive and wanted to come back to me”
“I ask again what do you want? You broke up with me and I sure as hell am not getting back with you. Also, I highly doubt that you were this far out from any major city”
“Can’t we still be friends?”
“That would be a no because I know what “friends” mean to you and I’m not going to go down that whole ever again”
“And what’s that supposed to mean?” Sara yelled
“That I am through with being there for when “you” want me and you not being there for me. So just go and never come back.” Sesshomaru picked up his bags and went inside.
That woman was one of the reasons he moved so far away from the cities. He was done with the false girls like her that only wanted to have fun and not settle down. Sesshomaru had come to this little village for a change and a fresh start. His brother had already been living there since his marriage but even since he moved there he hadn’t found what he had truly been looking for.
The day continued by and Sesshomaru found himself staring out to the ocean once again. Why was the ocean so mesmerizing? Inuyasha stopped by with his wife for dinner. Afterward the two brothers sat on the beach drinking beer watching the sun set.
“So, what’s on your mind?” Inuyasha asked.
“Just trying to figure out how to be as relaxed as you are here”
“You think I’m relaxed; I’m not relaxed but I am at peace. Kikyo says that I have changed into a calmer me but I wouldn’t say that I’m relaxed”
“How long did it take to get to that point?”
“Months. You have been here only a few weeks, give it time. How about tomorrow you and I go out on my boat and I start teaching you the art of fishing.”
“That would be appreciated. Though I might not have my sea legs back yet. It has been a long time since I was on the water”
“Yeah but did you ever have sea legs.” Inuyasha joked “I still remember the time that you fell overboard on that last trip with dad and gramps.”
“Between you and me, I still say that you pushed me over.”
The sun by this point was only a sliver on the horizon. Inuyasha picked up the beer bottles “you heading in?”
“Not yet. I have been watching the moon rise and listening to the ocean every night which helps relax me enough to fall asleep”
“Then I wish you good night and sweet dreams!” Inuyasha left, leaving Sesshomaru on the beach. He walked down the beach to his home and got ready for bed.
Sesshomaru on the other hand stayed on the beach for hours after the sun had set. He listened to the crashing of the waves and the song of the night, which lulled him into a trance which blocked his mind to the potential dangers that came with said trance.
Sesshomaru awoke yet again in the morning back in his room unaware of how he got there. His body felt slightly heavy but he took it as fatigue from a restless night. He sat up and looked around the room and found it was all as it was the day before but what happened to last night's memory. He opened the curtains and again he stared out the window to the ocean, unmoving. He didn’t know how long he stood there but a knock at the door brought him back to reality.
“Did you not want to run with me today?” Inuyasha asked as Sesshomaru opened the door.
“Wait what?”
“I asked you last night if you wanted to do our morning run together and you said sure and to come get you when I was up and ready”
The memory on the beach came back to Sesshomaru in a blink of an eye, “Yeah I forgot. I don’t know what happened last night but everything was gone. The last thing I remember now is you leaving for the night.”
“Interesting, and you didn’t even drink that much last night”
“It’s not a hangover memory lost, it's like a memory wipe. The memory has come back but until you said something it just wasn’t there. Let me go get changed then we can talk while on the run”
Inuyasha nodded and Sesshomaru went to get ready. They started their run and stopped at a local cafe for some breakfasts.
“So had any more of last night come back to you?” Inuyasha asked
“Still blank. It’s like I had a brain injury or something” Sesshomaru replied
“How long has this been happening? I don’t remember you having these when we were young”
“I think within the last week? I don’t know” Sesshomaru said as he grabbed the sides of his head
“Relax, you had a rough time with the move here. You also had a tough break up as well so maybe it’s your mind trying to help”
“I don’t think so but…man why can’t I remember” he screamed. The owner of the cafe came over after hearing Sesshomaru scream
“Everything alright gentlemen?” The owner asked
“My brother here is having memory problems all of a sudden.” Inuyasha relied. This made the cafe owner raise an eyebrow
“Inuyasha I don’t think she needs to know my problems” Sesshomaru responded
“How sporadic are these memory blackouts?” The cafe owner asked
“He says he can’t be sure but every night is a blank to him” Inuyasha replied
“Oh dear, I would take him home and don’t let him be alone.” She replied
“I don’t believe in fairy tales or myths if this is about they mermaid crap” Sesshomaru said as she cleaned the table
“I don’t either but my brother had the same thing happen to him when he was little and he was drawn to the beaches at night. I believe there is something in the air that caused it but here it’s all about mermaids.”
“Finally, someone not crazy.” Sesshomaru smiled, “The only problem I have is we both live near the beach. But did your brother come out of it alright?”
“Oh yes, expect he still can’t remember those nights”
Inuyasha and Sesshomaru thanked the cafe owner for the information then ran off. They finished their run and sat on the beach and talked.
“Do you want to stay with Kikyo and I until we figure out what’s going on with your memory?”
“Do you think I should? You know I don’t believe in myths. I think it’s more the fact that I have finally found a piece of rest that is just so satisfying it blocks out what I remember”
“I would be cautious though. I have seen strange things here and I wouldn’t put it past the village to actually be right about mermaids.”
The next few weeks passed the same. Sesshomaru would wake and stare out the window until Inuyasha came to start their run, they’d grab a bite to eat then run back to the beach where they would just talk. Some days they would take calls on the beach from the people who were running their company. That was the best thing about their job, was that they had left competent people in place that ran the company how they wanted and that meant that they were free to do as they pleased. A couple times they had someone come and bring papers for them to sign but other than that they did very little with it.
Sesshomaru’s memory on the other hand didn’t clear up. As a matter of fact, it went from just memory’s being erased but also to having some minor muscle aches. He thought it was from the running he had been doing with Inuyasha but even when we didn’t run he still would wake with the aches.
“Hey Kikyo, you have lived here or around here for a long time right?” Sesshomaru asked one night while having dinner with his brother and sister-in-law
“I have all my life. Only leaving for a few years to go to college”
“Then you can tell me what’s beyond the rocks next to my home?”
“We don’t let people go beyond those rocks. Mostly because of the sharp jagged ones. The other reason you don’t believe in so I won’t bring it up”
“Mermaids again?”
“Yes. We believe that is where they spawn. Men and sailors have said that they are drawn to that area every few years. I myself have never seen them but the mayors just use it as a gimmick to lure tourists here.”
“You told me you didn’t know what was behind those rocks.” Inuyasha brought up.
“Here is the myth, men who are single and or have not loyalty to someone at such time of spawning are lured at night and basically have a giant orgy then they are released back with no memory of the night” Kikyo explained “This goes on for a few weeks then dies down and the men are never lured again.”
“So, if this is true then Sesshomaru has been lured and had sex with fish?” Inuyasha said as he started laughing
“Why did you marry him?” Sesshomaru asked
“I’m good. Just wondering how that works? Did he have to stick it in the tale or human part” Inuyasha burst out laughing
“Real mature. Now I am seriously wondering why I married you” Kikyo responded. “If the myth is true then we should see an end soon to his memory blanks”
Sesshomaru was still in disbelief of the myth about mermaids but knowing that it could end soon was a wonderful feeling. He spent another hour with the couple before leaving to go hit the hay. He fell right into a deep sleep that was relaxing and peaceful only to be awoken a few hours later by a sweet-sounding voice in the breeze. It was soft like a lullaby but not too soft to put him to sleep.
He got up from his bed and not caring that he was only in his boxers, he followed where the musical voice was coming from. It led him out of his house and towards the area Kikyo had said had sharp rocks. He didn’t care but continued to follow the voice down an unknown path that led to a hidden cove where other men and women were dancing naked around in the moonlight. As he entered the light of the cove, all the memories that weren’t there came flooding back and he started looking for the one woman that he had taken a liking to.
“Over here Sesshomaru” the sweet voice said. He turned to see a girl with black hair waving to him.
“Little fish there you are. I have more questions for you” Sesshomaru responded as we walked up to her
“I won’t answer until we are alone. And I told you my name is Kagome, not little fish” the woman now known as Kagome said. She led him to the private beach where as soon as they turned the corner, she jumped on him and put a fat kiss on his lips “Miss my mighty shark?”
“How can I miss you, when I can’t remember you in the morning?”
“Man, I keep forgetting that part. Well will you miss me when I am gone then?”
“What do you mean? Won’t I forget you come in the morning?”
“You took longer tonight coming with my song so you might have memories of tonight. So will you miss me?”
“Of course. When I have my memories, these nights are the most enjoyable time I have had here in this village then I have had since I was little.” Sesshomaru said as he leaned in for a kiss.
“And I will miss you. Hopefully this isn’t the last time we shall see each other”
“What do you mean isn’t the last time? Won’t you be back next year?”
“You don’t know the cycle of mermaids? We only spawn once in our lifetime. Unless we get permission to come up we will never journey here again.” Kagome said
“Wait, you are a mermaid? Where's your tail? I have been dancing and talking to mermaids?”
“Among other things.” Kagome said as she placed her hands on his chest.
“Where is your tail? Don’t mermaids have tails?”
“When we spawn we shed the tail to make it earlier, to you know”
“Let’s change the direction of the conversation. Do you have to stay in this cove or can we go outside the cove?” Sesshomaru asked
“As long as I can get to the water before sunrise then I can go anywhere.”
The two walked back to Sesshomaru little cottage. As they entered the home, things started heating up. As the only clothes either of them were wearing was Sesshomaru boxers, Sesshomaru lost them quickly. He led his angel to his room and tossed her on the bed.
Kagome quietly left the house just before the first light came to the sky. She made her way back to the cove to see all the other mermaids leaving into the ocean. She turned one last time towards where her heart was before sitting by the water, as to allow her tail to reform. Her tail was that of silver with Persian blue scales dotted around.
As the waves took her towards the deep waters, another mermaid came up to her “so you think this year's men were good looking? I myself had at least three of them”
“I think I found my match. He matched my tail and was very considerate to my needs. I hope my time with him was fruit full” Kagome said as she places her hand on my stomach just above the start of her tail
“You know that’s just as rare as male mermaids. I would just forget about him and just worry about whether you will be carrying the next generation.” Kagome nodded
Sesshomaru awoke the next morning feeling well rested. He stretched after he got up, found his boxers and opened the window. For the first time since this whole memory loss began, when he looked out to the sea he didn’t feel lost but sad. It was liked a piece of himself had been taken away and was unsure if it would ever be returned.
Sesshomaru became a shell of what he had been. Inuyasha tried getting him to leave the house but he could get him to the door before the tears started falling for no known reason. Sesshomaru got images of a black-haired angel and a hot night of passion.
As the days past the images started fading but the black-haired angel was the only piece that never faded. Soon summer passed to fall and then into winter before Sesshomaru had moved on and was somewhat better than when the whole fiasco began.
“It’s nice seeing you back to your normal self” Inuyasha said one day as they ate at the village cafe.
“I wouldn’t say that I'm back to normal but close to it.”
“Have you tried hypnotism? Maybe that can unlock the mystery”
“I don’t believe that works. I will be fine as time goes on and it becomes nothing more than a memory” Sesshomaru laughed
“Well in other news, Kikyo may be pregnant. We have a doctor's appointment in a couple of days.”
“Then have my early congratulations. You two will make great parents”
“Any plans for yourself?”
“I might go back to the city for a while. Change of scenery. I’m not sure though.”
“And why’s that?”
“I have tried multiple times in the past weeks just to visit the company and get some stuff you can’t get out this way. But each time I go to do it I get as far as the highway and then get this feeling like I left someone behind and have to instantly return.”
The cafe owner overheard the conversation as they dropped off some drinks, “Sounds like the mermaids stuck you bad. Same thing happened to my brother. He eventually was able to leave but it wasn’t for at least a year if this old brain remembers correctly.”
“Does he still live in the area? I wouldn’t mind asking him for some help” Sesshomaru asked
“Sorry dear he passed away about six years ago.” She left the brothers to continue.
“So how long has it been since the last blackout?”
“About six months.”
“So, if that’s the case try in six months then stay away for a year. Kikyo and I will watch your house and make sure nothing happens”
Sesshomaru nodded and they continued their meal. The following months were very relaxing and calming. He was able to put the missing time back behind him and move on though dating was still not in the cards for him. That was the one thing he couldn’t do once he returned to the city. He just couldn’t get the black-haired angel out of his mind. He tried with all his might to move on but it was no use. He finished what he wanted in the city and went back to his beach side cottage.
He pulled into the driveway of the cottage and felt calm and relaxed. He looked around and noticed some of the things he had left unfinished when he just upped and left a year and a half ago. There was his art work of his angel and all the crumpled-up pages of messed up or unsatisfactory work. He had some wood carvings in another section of the house and in another was a section of baby toys. Inuyasha and Kikyo ended up having a little girl who they named after a family member on her side, Kaede. She was the sweetest little thing and he guessed that when Kikyo came by to clean the house toys had been left behind.
He brought in his bags and unpacked them, then he cleaned up the messes of the hobbies that he was never going to complete. The house felt empty and too quiet, like what should be there wasn’t. Sesshomaru knew what was missing but he told himself if he couldn’t have his angel then no other would replace her even if she was a dream.
When Sesshomaru was finally over the whole thing, which happened to be five years since he last saw his angel, things began to happen to him that wasn’t expecting. First was, he heard the sweet song again but he didn’t feel the pull to find it as he did before. The second was that he had very erotic dreams of when he was with his angel. And the last thing would turn his world upside down.
It began with a morning run with Inuyasha one spring morning “How’s little Kaede doing?” Sesshomaru asked
“Growing like a weed. She is to start kindergarten this fall and Kikyo has started to talk about wanting another kid.”
“Are you looking to give it to her? You said a year ago you wanted to try for a son”
“I think so but let’s see what happens when her cousin gives birth in a couple months and see if she will want another. What about you? Are you going to try and find a lovely lady?”
“I don’t know. The dreams have come back but I am not having memory black outs as I did. I think I might but that would mean I would have to go back to the city and I feel most comfortable here.” Sesshomaru said as they walked the beach heading towards their homes. It was then that the crying of babies took hold of their attention. “Do you hear that?”
“Sure, do and I know for a fact that none of the neighbors are pregnant or are looking to adopt. Come one there might be someone in trouble”
The two brothers started running in the direction of the cries and found it led to Sesshomaru’s back porch. There on the porch in a basket lay two crying babies wrapped in what looked to be seaweed blankets. One was a little boy with hair of the deepest black and a girl with silver like Sesshomaru. In the basket lay a note addressed to him.
My mighty shark
I am sorry that I couldn’t bring our children to you but had to send them with someone else. I did not receive permission to return but I am working on it. I think of you every moment we are apart. I know you probably don’t remember me as I remember you but know I long for you. These two children were the ones conceived on our last night and I have given them names. The girl is named Rin and the boy is Shippo. Protect them with all your strength as twins are rare in my world and even rarer is a male.
I hope to return to you as quickly as I can and unlock your memory of me. Until that day, love for our children double for me.
Your little fish.
Sesshomaru read the letter multiple times before he actually picked up one of the babies. Inuyasha helped carry them inside and removed the seaweed blankets and found that they needed a change of diapers. As Sesshomaru held his children he heard in his mind a sweet voice singing a melody and started humming it. The babies, who had been crying even after having diapers changed, calmed down when he had started humming.
Inuyasha called Kikyo and had her bring over some clothes and blankets. He told her that he would explain when she got there but he said it was all in the good things. The children fell asleep shortly after the humming finished, though Sesshomaru refused to put them down. He felt like these little bundles were what the house was missing. It still felt weird as he didn’t know who their mother was or when they had been conceived as he hadn’t been with a woman in years.
“When did you have a girlfriend?” Inuyasha asked as he and Kikyo prepared a light dinner
“Five years ago, just at the end of the whole memory fiasco. I have never slept naked but that last day I woke up in my birthday suit. I also have dreams of a black-haired angel and I, being very intimate.” Sesshomaru replied
“So, was she a dream or real?” Kikyo asked from the kitchen
“I don’t know, but if she was real why did I get these children five years after? I mean they look like newborns.”
“How about this, I will call my doctor’s office in the morning and we can get a paternity test done. Then afterward we shall go and get everything you will need to care for these little angels. I can give you hand-me-downs for Rin, and we can get little boy clothes for Shippo.”
“Thanks, but I don't want my little girl to have hand-me-downs. I want them to have the very best of what I can give them. I think the test is un-needed as even if they aren’t in the last hour of having them here, I have felt almost complete. I will get what they need and more. I will probably need help for the first few months until I get a schedule going.”
“We are family, we will help, always. And now Kaede will grow up with cousins and I can care for little one again without them being mine.”
“I can give you one of our own and if it’s a boy, he can grow with little Shippo”
“We will talk later about this. But first, run back and get the pack n’ play from the attic so these little ones can have somewhere to sleep for the night until we can get a room set up and beds for them.” Kikyo replied.
Inuyasha nodded and turned to Sesshomaru for his response. He was just staring at the two new lives that had entered his life. Inuyasha left and returned in a matter of a half hour with the pack n’ play, along with more clothes and some other supplies that would be needed. He then took Kaede and went to pick up some necessary items to hold them over for the night.
Kikyo meanwhile helped Sesshomaru clean an area of his bedroom to make room for the crib and got the babies to sleep. She then helped pick out a room that would be suited best for the nursery which was close to Sesshomaru’s room. The two went back to the living room and chatted until Inuyasha returned.
“Are you going to be alright raising two children by yourself?” Kikyo asked
“I will be fine. I will raise them and as I have the means I won’t miss a moment of their growth.”
“What about when they ask where their mother is?”
“I will deal with it as it comes. I won’t say it will be easy but I will get through it. Maybe by then I will have found a woman that can be a mother to them.” Sesshomaru said as Inuyasha entered the house.
“So how are they?” Inuyasha asked as he brought a sleeping child into the house.
“Asleep, why don’t you all stay the night and we shall deal with everything in the morning.
In no time the twins had turned ten years old. They didn't seem to grow as quickly as a normal child did. By all counts, they should be teenagers but they looked to be no more than four-year-old. Because of this, Sesshomaru and Inuyasha both agreed that they needed to keep them hidden as it was becoming clear that these twin children weren’t normal. Sesshomaru bought an island off the coast from the village and built a house where he and the children lived. Inuyasha and his family came once a week to bring groceries and take any trash back to the mainland.
The children developed different personalities that complemented each other. Shippo was a wild boy and would play jokes whenever he could. Rin on the other was one of a quiet somber child but also very smart and wise. Sesshomaru loved his children so much that he didn’t care that he had hidden them away. He liked it that way as they were his treasures.
“Rin, Shippo come inside, it’s time to eat” Sesshomaru called
“Race you Rin” Shippo yelled
“No faire your faster than me” Rin called as she raced after her brother
“Well then the last one in gets the first pick of desert tonight” Sesshomaru laughed. The two children made it to the table at the same time. Dinner was a fun time as it ended with a miniature food fight. Bath time was followed and as the little family refused to be apart the three soaked in the tub together.
“Daddy, why do we have to live here on this island? Not that we don’t like it here but Uncle Inuyasha and Aunt Kikyo say we could move back to the mainland” Rin asked
“And have to share you two with others? I think not, your mine” Sesshomaru jokes
“What about Kaede, she doesn't even come with Uncle anymore? Is she alright”
“She’s fine. Look children, I love you and your mother loves you but you're not normal children. I am not saying it’s a bad thing but it could cause trouble. That is why I moved us here. I would do anything to make sure you both are safe.”
“When will you tell us where our mother is? You know we are smart and can handle it if you were to tell us that she was dead or something” Shippo asked
“I guess if you must know, I honestly don’t know where or who your mother was. I will say nothing more than that at the moment.”
“If you don't know who she was, how do you know we are your children anyway?” Rin asked
“She left you at our old home in a basket with a note. There is also the fact that you Rin have the same-colored hair as myself and your uncle. Shippo, you take after her as my memory has it that she had the deep raven black hair. I know she loved you two and wanted you protected. She said in the letter that she would try to come back to us as soon as she could.”
“Do you think she would be able to find us if we moved?” Shippo asked
“I hope that some way she finds her way back to us.”
Not far away, a young woman with raven black hair walked the beach looking for a particular place. As she got closer her heart began to pick up in anticipation. She had been waiting for this day since the moment she had to depart leaving only a memory. She had been taken from this place and now that she was here she planned never to leave again.
She walked up to the hidden patch from the hidden cove, towards the closest house only to see it all boarded up and long abandoned. She ran up to a non-boarded window and didn't see a single piece of furniture. What had happened in the last ten years that the place she wanted to return to had changed so much.
“Can I help you with something?” A voice came from behind
“I am looking for an old friend and I thought that he lived here.” She replied as she turned around to see an old woman
“Well, no one has lived there in some time though I think his brother still lives down the way. It’s the one with the boat docked.” The old woman pointed in the direction she had just mentioned. The young woman tanked her and took off towards the house. On her way she saw a woman bringing a giant box from the house to the boat and a man haul it onto the boat. The young woman approached with bated breath in hopes for answers about where her heart was. Her heart beat faster when she saw that the man on the boat had silver hair like the one she was searching for.
“Excuse me, but did you have a brother that used to live in the old abandoned house by the rocks?” She asked
“Yeah but what’s it to ya? He ain’t coming back so if you want to buy it, see the realtor” The man on the boat asked without looking up
“Well, I am looking for him. I am an old friend and wanted to see how he is as I have been away for a long time”
“My brother has told me of all his friends and he has never…”the man turned and stopped talking when he saw who he was talking to “Rin?” He asked
“I’m sorry but who is Rin? My name is Kagome and can you please tell me where he is?” Kagome replied while smiling inside.
“I’m Inuyasha and you look like my niece. My brother moved not far about eight years ago. May I ask how you two met? He is very cautious at the moment about me giving out his location”
“I can’t tell you. He would vouch for me. Please I have fought to come back here and I don’t want to be apart from him a moment longer.”
“Look Kagome, if you can’t give me anything then give me something that he would only know and then come back tomorrow. I will be here at this dock at sunrise. Does that work? If you give me anything like a nickname you gave him or a song you guys listened to then when I see him later I will ask it and if he agrees then we will meet you here at dawn.”
Kagome took a breath in and recalled the nicknames they had for each other, “I called him my mighty shark and I was his little fish. Promise to be here?”
“I promise now I got to go.” Inuyasha went to the top of the boat and the sound of an engine starting brought Kagome a slight tear. She didn’t know if he was lying or if her message would be remembered but she had to wait only one day more and she would find out.
Inuyasha waited on the dock the next morning with his brother for the mystery woman from yesterday.
“So do you think that this is your mystery dream girl?” Inuyasha asked
“Not sure but if she is I hope she has an explanation about everything.”
“Well, I said to meet here at dawn and we can go from there.” No sooner then he said that a woman came walking down the beach with nothing but a small bag over her shoulder.
Once she was next to the boat her face lit up with such a smile. “My mighty shark I knew you would remember me. Oh, how I have missed you?”
“I know the nickname but I’m sorry I don’t remember you. Where did you learn those names?” Sesshomaru asked
“Oh right, the forget me spell is still in place. If I come up and give you a hug I can unlock the memories for you. My name is Kagome by the way.”
“What forget-me spell? What are you talking about? I won’t let you on my boat unless I have answers” Inuyasha said
“Look I can answer it only after the spell is broken in which I have to have physical contact via a hug or more strongly a kiss. If I can’t come up, Sesshomaru, come down and I will awaken your memories.”
Sesshomaru jumped down after looking at his brother. With a sigh he opened his arms and accepted the hug from Kagome.
At that moment, long locked memories came flooding back. Memories of her sweet voice calling him to her and the nights spent talking under the full moon. He saw the night swimming in the ocean and not having to surface for air like fish. He saw her dance in the glow of fire light with other women while men watched. But the memory that was really important to Kagome was the nights they battled each other in the dance of love. Naked and sweating on the beach, not caring that others were watching as they made love. All the forgotten feelings he had for Kagome came back tenfold and he leaned down and kissed her.
“Little fish, what took so long to come back to me?” Sesshomaru asked after he broke the kiss for air
“Not here my shark. It’s not for open areas to hear. Where are our children?”
“I moved to an island off the coast and they are there with his wife” Sesshomaru pointed to Inuyasha over the shoulder “Come let’s be off and you can tell me everything.” Kagome nodded. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru cast off and headed towards the island. Sesshomaru brought Kagome below deck and just held her gaining more memories back.
After a couple of hours, they finally made it to the island and docked the boat. Inuyasha tied off the boat and then helped Kagome ashore. “Not too bad. I would say you are a natural on the water. Sesshomaru vomited the first time out”
“I only vomited because you went too fast and were zigzagging everywhere. Now let’s go find the children and Kikyo, I’m sure they can’t wait to meet you.” Sesshomaru takes Kagome’s hand and starts off towards the house. At first glance, Kagome didn’t think much of the house as it was small and looked to be just a little hut but as she got closer it was the top floor of the house. The rest of the house was built into a Clift of a hidden bay of the island.
The house had a second staircase that went along the side of the house to the beach below where Kagome saw two children playing in the shallow waters near a couple of tide pools. She saw that they had thrived and that they weren’t afraid of the water. Sesshomaru let go of her and called the children. They turned to see him and ran towards him, jumping into his arms knocking him down. All three laughed as they rolled in the sand.
“Welcome back daddy!” Shippo yelled
“Did you bring us candy?” Rin asked
“I didn’t bring you candy as you are already too sweet” Sesshomaru said as he nuzzled into Rin’s face, “I did bring back someone that has wanted to meet you”
“Who?” the two children asked
“Your mother. She has finally returned to us and will tell us why she had to go away later” He turned the children to face Kagome.
She was in tears as she watched the interaction between the children and their father. Once they turned to her, she fell to her knees holding her arms out hoping that they would come to her. They did. The two children left their fathers arms and raced to their mothers and knocked her back. “My children, do you remember me?”
“Bits and pieces, I remember your voice but why did you go away?” Rin asked
“I remember a pretty garden but other than that nothing” Shippo replied.
“I forgot both your faces; I am so sorry. I kept a picture of the two of you in a book but that book has since been lost and I wanted to keep you two protected.”
“We understand or at least I do,” Rin replied, “Are you going to go away again?”
“No sweetheart. I’m here to stay if your father will have me” Kagome said as she wiped tears from her eyes and looked up to Sesshomaru.
“Who am I to keep my children’s mother away from them? Though we will discuss the fine details later”
“Yeah” the children exclaimed “mommy’s here to stay”
Kikyo laughed “Inuyasha, I think we should leave them alone. I want to get back to the mainland before lunch”
“Sure, do you need anything for the next trip other than the usual?” Inuyasha asked
“None that I can think of. I call you if I need anything.” Sesshomaru replied
Inuyasha nodded, then turned and left with Kikyo. The children grabbed Kagome’ hands, dragged her inside to show her their rooms and show everything that they had made for her. Most of the stuff were cards and paper flowers as they were still young and needed supervision. Sesshomaru showed pictures he had taken of the children as they grew and the children told Kagome of what they liked and of their different talents. Kagome wasn't too thrilled that Shippo was a prankster but was overjoyed when she learned that they both were excellent divers.
For dinner that night they had grilled fish and for the first time Kagome put her children to bed. She came down to the kitchen after and Sesshomaru handed her a glass of wine.
“So, can mermaids even drink wine?”
“Of course. We have our own kind of wine but nothing compared to land wine.”
“That’s good to know. I am sorry that they were a handful. I have tried to raise them with the knowledge I had of you but it is different when you can see someone for yourself.”
“What do you mean by knowledge? You shouldn’t have been able to have any memory of me after that last night”
“I think because that last night we were together, I was asleep when you called which caused my body to react differently. I have had dreams of you and sometimes heard your voice but it was always out of context. I could see your face but it was like I was seeing someone else’s memories. I used those pieces of knowledge to form a picture of what you could look like to the children.”
“I see. Well, I'm here now and I will be in their lives from now on.”
“Care to tell me why it took you so long to come back, little fish?”
“Well first I must say that male mermaids are rare as I wrote in the letter. So, to spawn a new generation we have to come to land and mate with human men. When we mate we can hold their sperm for a very long time and have multiple clutches of eggs. And to protect ourselves we are only allowed to the surface one time only. That is unless we find someone that we truly want to be with. If that happens then we can petition the mermaid queen to allow us to return.”
“So, we have more little girls back where you come from? Where do you come from anyway?” Sesshomaru asked
“We live on the sea floor in a beautiful city. It used to be a great city that was above the waves before it sank and we don’t have any children other than Rin and Shippo. Part of the petition is to show your devotion to the man by having a pregnancy similar to that on land. I will explain” Kagome answered as they went outside to the beach where the moon was coming over the cliff tops. “Mermaids can be born by laying fertile eggs like fish, which is the most common method and results in no bond between mother and daughters. The other way is for our bodies to conceive internally and give birth like land women. This method is tricky because it doesn’t always work. I was lucky in that I conceived in a matter of months”
“If you carry and give birth as a human, then why did they look like newborns after five years?”
“That is because we carry for so long. We don't carry the same and when I did give birth I had carried them for five years. When a mermaid carries internally it is different for each pregnancy. So back to the petition, once we carry and give birth, we can send them to the father and see how he does with them all the while we show our loyalty to them by not conceiving and showing that the rest of the sperm has died out.
With my case, I sent Rin and Shippo to you with a young mermaid who said she would take the children to you. I am glad you hadn’t moved in the five years I carried them. Once she delivered them to you, I showed my loyalty by staying in isolation for the next seven years having only contact with my mother. I was granted permission to return to you with the next spawning cycle and well that is how I came to be here.”
Sesshomaru took her wine glass and set it aside, “So how rare are male mermaids? I want to know if I have to teach him to fend off mermaids?”
“Very and in fact the last one born went mad. He tried to take over the mermaid kingdom and for that the queen took his tail away. Before you ask, mermaids have a spell that allows us to dissolve the tail into legs but the Queen has the power to make it permanent. Well, this male was captured before he got anywhere near the queen. He had his tail taken and sent up to the land.”
“So, I have nothing to worry about with Shippo?”
“No, the only thing that might happen is that he might “Love Women” a little too much”
While the two lovers got acquainted with each other, a couple hours away on the far side of the village where this story began, a man was pouring over charts and graphs trying to figure out weather patterns for an uncertain purpose.
A man was sitting at a computer trying to get tide records for a long period of time but was getting rejected once again. He had been doing this for years and each time he was rejected. His research would never be completed without those records. He was looking for a certain location and because it was hidden with magic it was difficult to spot.
“Sir, we can’t give you what you requested as it would break confidential records that the government has put in place. If you request these or anything like this again, we will have to arrest you. Goodbye” The voice on the voice message had said.
“There has to be a way to get back what was taken from me” the man said aloud
“Naraku, you aren’t trying to get restricted documents on duty again are you?” a woman asked
“No ma’am. I wasn’t this time” the man now known as Naraku said as he closed out of some screens
“That means you have at one point in time” the woman said, “can you just do your work for once, I am tired of covering for you”
The woman left and Naraku got back to his real work. He finished the day and drove the couple hours to the beach where he went to think and tried to remember his past. He walked the beach and tried to remember where he came from the ocean. He remembered parts of his past but when it came to the finer details he was coming up blank.
He remembered a time where he had the blackest tail to swim the deepest seas. He remembered the smells and tastes of the water which now was just salty and smelly. He tried to remember the reason why he now couldn’t hold his breath for long or why he was forced to live on the land. But this particular day he heard a clue that would change his thought process. He heard a couple talking and dashed under the dock to hear better.
“She didn’t say that, I think you heard wrong” A woman said
“No, I heard it correctly, that male mermaids are rare otherwise my brother wouldn't have had those months of memory black outs” a man replied
“Well, let's keep the fact that she is Mermaid a secret for now. At least we now know that the tales of the town are not false. Can you believe it, mermaids are real, any little girl's dream” the woman said as the two walked down the dock from a boat and into a small cottage.
Naraku smiled as his plan to return to the sea began to change. He would need to change his plans and figure out who this mermaid was to see if she would have the power to get him back to the sea.
The next few weeks Naraku would try and get more information for the couple who talked openly about mermaids. He never received any more information as to how old or where the mermaid was being held. He only got information about her likes and that she was the kindest woman on the planet. This made him angrier and angrier. It made Naraku even angrier that he took a loan out and bought a boat to follow them.
Inuyasha and Kikyo were heading to Sesshomaru’s island one cold blismal day when things started going downhill. At first, every time that they went out they felt followed. They started taking different routes or going out at different times. Then they noticed that the same boat watch how long they were on the island and wouldn’t leave until they left.
“Whoever it is they are still there” Kikyo said one day as she came down from the upper floor where she could look out
“This is insane. How long are they going to be there and what they are after” Inuyasha replied
“Was there ever a time that you mentioned anything about this island or my origins?” Kagome asked
“May be once but it was at night and we made sure we didn’t see anyone when we docked” Kikyo replied
“That is probably what happened. It has happened many a time and when it did we would move the mating grounds. It was how we found those grounds in the hidden cove. It is harder to call men but it was safer.” Kagome said
“So, who could be looking in on us? I mean most people don’t believe in mermaids other than children.” Sesshomaru questioned
“Well, I am telling you that this is going to have to stop because this is stalking at its worse. When we get back to the mainland, we are going to have to go to the police. It is getting uncomfortable coming here every few days.” Kikyo responded
“Could it be someone looking for you Sesshomaru? Someone from the city like an old girlfriend or an angry lover?” Kagome asked
“I have neither of those and I don’t have any enemies that I know of. After meeting you Kagome, you were the only one for me and I somehow knew that you were the only one for me.” Sesshomaru said as he kissed Kagome’s head.
“ Whatever happened to that male mermaid?” Kikyo asked “Could he have anything to do with this?”
“He shouldn’t. He was given the same memory spell that we give all men one land. It basically wipes away any memory of mermaids and time with us. But we could check with the queen if it could be possible. I will go now and use the underwater path that I found to get there.”
Sesshomaru nodded, “I would also feel comfortable telling the cops on the mainland about it as they have patrol boats that go through these waters as well. I see them every once in a while”
“Sure. I can say that this is my second house as we did put both our names on the deed for it.” Inuyasha responded.
“And I will make sure that nothing accidentally gets mentioned other then we get a feeling of a stalker” Kikyo added
“Thank you. I know this must be hard for you keeping my secret and going back and forth from the mainland for us. Would it be better for you to come live here with us?” Kagome asked
“It’s fine Kagome, at first we asked why he had to buy the island the furthest from the land but once we saw this hidden paradise we decided it’s fine.”
The four talked about a plan and then set it in motion. Kagome excused herself and left the house to go to the water. Sesshomaru followed and watched as she dived into the water and disappeared into the darkness of the depths. Inuyasha went to the upper door and noticed that the stalker was gone. He quickly grabbed Kikyo and they took off to make sure the Stalker was gone and did not see them leave.
The next day Inuyasha called Sesshomaru and talked about the stalker. Inuyasha was able to get the police involved with the stalker on the land and that he was going to take a few weeks off from bringing anything to hopefully get the Stalker off their back. Sesshomaru said that was fine as he could use a delivery service if they needed anything. The brothers talked a few more minutes than disconnected trying to stop any conversations being overheard unknowingly.
A couple days went by and Sesshomaru hadn’t heard anything from Kagome. He wondered how far underwater did mermaids live and how fast could she swim there and back. He also wondered how quickly she could get an audience with the queen. But whatever the case he was missing her. The children even missed her and they hadn’t even been with her for long.
A full two weeks since Kagome left went by before things turned sour. Inuyasha had been walking by the nearby aquarium and what he saw caused his stomach to drop. Posters of a new attraction were all over the place, with MERMAID all over it. Inuyasha quickly bought a ticket and entered the run-down building. Inside he saw sad looking tanks and unhealthy-looking animals. Tanks looked dirty and poorly maintained and with very few fish swimming around.
He followed the rest of the small crowd towards a second room with a large glass wall that was a total opposite of the other room. The tank was well kept and well maintained with crystal clear water surrounded by screens telling of what was in the tanks and one with a person telling everyone about something. In the tank, there were healthy fish swimming around and at the bottom of the tank was a sad figure. The room was filled with people taking pictures and as Inuyasha got closer he found he didn't like what he saw.
The bottom of the tank held Kagome. She looked to be held in a smaller cage holding her to the front of the tank but with little room to move around. She looked as if she was crying but it was hard to tell in the water. She looked thinner and her hair was flatter. She wasn't healthy at all and that made Inuyasha angry. He quickly pushed through to the tank and quickly took a picture of her and sent it to Sesshomaru.
“Sir, I am going to have to ask you to leave.” A security guard asked
“Why, did I do something wrong?” Inuyasha asked
“You pushed through the line to see the mermaid. Now we aren’t against taking pictures but pushing and cutting the line is something we are strongly against. So please kindly leave the building and you are welcome to come back in a week.”
“I am so sorry. I thought the mermaid looked like my brother's wife so I wanted to get a picture so bad that I didn’t think. I saw the mermaid and I shall be off.” The security guard nodded and walked Inuyasha out. Inuyasha calmly walked until he was out of sight of the aquarium before breaking into a run. He ran home and called Sesshomaru who then asked to be taken to see her at night.
Inuyasha collected Sesshomaru leaving Kikyo with the children. They waited a week then went to the aquarium and bought an entire hour alone in the building. They entered and saw Kagome still in the same small cage and even thinner. Sesshomaru put his hand on the window and She responded weakly.
“Isn’t it amazing. Mermaids are so fragile that not being free will kill them. But once they die, they are able to return to where they were born.” A voice said behind them
“And who are you?” Sesshomaru asked as he turned to see a man standing there
“I’m a male mermaid that was cast out of the sea because the queen wouldn’t bow to me” the man asked
“You're a male mermaid? I don't think they exist?” Inuyasha asked
“Yes I’m a male mermaid and we do exist. Why won't anyone believe me?” the man said
“Look, you should release the mermaid as she is dying. If you are a male mermaid then you should be aware about when a female mermaid mates with a one on land. They can’t be away from them for long. Did you remember that?” Sesshomaru screamed as he told a white lie.
“That is a lie. Males are rare and when we are born we are far superior to that of females. We are to rule the seas and have all the mermaids come to us and only us for breeding. Eventually us male mermaids will rule the seas. Until that day I am restored to the sea, females must breed with scum like you on land.” the man responded
“Who are you, I ask again? You are clearly not normal in the head?” Sesshomaru asked
“Who am I? Who am I? I am Naraku, King of the sea and that little beauty I have will be mine.” Naraku screamed followed by a maniacal laugh.
Sesshomaru and Inuyasha jumped in anger and fought with Naraku. The three threw punches and wrestled for dominance knocking into the tank. The three men tumbled and tumbled cracking the glass in multiple places. Kagome watched as the men crashed into the glass until the cracking sound finally became too much.
Sesshomaru threw a punch at Naraku, who ducked and caused the punch to hit the glass and shatter it. Water poured out all over the men and pushed them towards the walls and started filling the room. Inuyasha was the first to get his footing and swam towards Kagome to check to see how she was doing. Once he found her safe and sound, he swam to Sesshomaru who wasn’t moving at the bottom of the room. Kagome swam over and pointed to an open pipe before she started to lift Sesshomaru off the floor.
The pipe led out to the sea where Inuyasha had left his boat. Kagome threw Sesshomaru aboard and jumped up herself. Inuyasha climbed aboard when he saw a stab wound to Sesshomaru’s chest. He also saw that Kagome was freaking out over it. He quickly threw a first aid kit to Kagome and then drove the boat out towards Sesshomaru’s island.
“How’s he doing?” Inuyasha asked
“Not sure, I think he was hit with glass which is the cause of the bleeding?”
“How bad is the bleeding? I need to know whether to continue or turn around and take him to the hospital”
“Keep going, I don't have much magic left in me right now with messing with the security tapes.”
“What do you mean?”
“He had security cams all over the room to make sure I wasn’t taken or magically disappeared. As we entered the pipe I changed the tapes so to appear that Naraku had led you and him on a private tour and that he was the one to throw the first punch. I also made it look like he stabbed me and threw me down the pipe.”
“So that's good to know but you didn't answer about the bleeding”
“It's slowing down and where I have tended to it’s not as deep as it looks.”
“That's good. We can stitch him up at his house and then you can tell us how Naraku got a hold of you.”
Inuyasha drove the boat straight to the island and got Sesshomaru down to the kitchen and onto the table. Kikyo and Kagome worked to get the blood cleaned up and to stitch the wound up. Once he was all bandaged up and resting on the couch, Kagome told her story about how the queen had known everything from the beginning. The queen had known that Kagome would fall in love with Sesshomaru and that she would have the two beautiful children. She had known that someone would stalk her and her family and that there were two outcomes that could take place.
The first outcome was what had happened and the second was that everyone would have drowned when the tank ruptured. Kagome also said that the stalker would never stop until he had a mermaid show him the way back to the sea. Inuyasha was glad that the first outcome was the one that took place.
“So, is there any way to stop Naraku now that we know he is the stalker?” Kikyo asked
“The Queen gave me only one way but you aren’t going to like it.”
“And how’s that?” Inuyasha asked
“I was hoping to talk with Sesshomaru before I told anyone else.” Kagome replied as she stroked Sesshomaru’s head
“Go ahead Kagome, I have been listening in” Sesshomaru respond
“That our family move to the mermaid city and never come up to the surface ever again. There is a prophecy of a man coming below the waves and spawning male mermaids like Naraku had claimed.”
“Would the whole family or just our little group? I mean are Inuyasha and Kikyo allowed?” Sesshomaru asked
“Thanks for thinking of us but we will stay on land” Kikyo said, “I would not beagle to leave my family and don’t forget Kaede is going to be finishing high school and going off and starting college. She has a life here and has not been here on the island in years. Yes we have told her about Kagome and she has no problem with her being a mermaid but we need to think about her as well”
“She does have a point and what about the house here and on the main land or the company. We can't just disappear or all our hard work will be for nothing. If you go, we will keep this house in the family and make it a new spawning ground for mermaids if they wish. Also, I will remove you from the company slowly saying that you are traveling more and after a few years I will make an announcement that you have passed away.” Inuyasha said
“Also don’t forget you can come back here whenever you want to see them, I wouldn't keep you from the family you love Sesshomaru” Kagome added
“Will we take Rin and Shippo?” Sesshomaru asked
“Of course. They are too sweet to be left behind and I have noticed that they are aging like mermaids so it would be best to bring them to a safe place to grow and learn.”
That decided the fate of mermaids. Sesshomaru, Rin and Shippo joined Kagome the next full moon in the ocean and swam deep into the ocean and never returned to the land again. Inuyasha and Kikyo lived well into their old age keeping the secret of mermaids to themselves. Naraku was taken into custody and sent far inland to a mental hospital and the aquarium had been shut down and destroyed. Mermaids were never seen on land and the weird blackouts men had every five years had stopped happening. The village still believed in mermaids and faded into history once Naraku was taken away. As for Kagome and Sesshomaru, they lived peacefully and it was actually Shippo that would go forward and fulfill the mermaid's prophecy.