Clash of Alphas by sarhea

Tail

Minor edits March 29.

~ooO Tail Ooo~

Sesshoumaru watched the miko fuss over the kit, grooming his hair and tail fur like a youkai mother, paying particular attention to the base of each strand. She coddled the kit too much and at one point in time he would have said she was weakening him. But now… after all he had seen and done, now he wasn’t so sure. He had seen the kit in battle. He was weak yes, but it was due to inexperience, incomplete skill sets, and limited power, not unwillingness or fear. The kit did not fool hardily charge into battle like the hanyou but he did not avoid all fights like a coward either.

The daiyoukai watched as the little miko settled the kit on the grass and patted him on the head and watched him run off before turning to his own ward and waving her over. Without a prompting word Rin darted over to take the kit’s place at the miko’s feet and submitted to the miko’s grooming, detangling knots and then pulling Rin’s hair back to tie in two tails on either side of her head. Then she wiped the dirt smudges from Rin’s face using a moist cloth and sent her off to join the kit.

She was the most maternal being he’d met in all his years. She fought and defended her young in battle, and she nurtured and taught them in quiet times. Sesshoumaru’s own dam was a fierce fighter but she was disinclined to the gentler day-to-day aspects of raising young. Sesshoumaru had been mostly brought up by a series of nurses until he was old enough for teachers. He could not ever being similarly groomed by InuKimi.

He resisted the urge to frown. He was too old to be groomed like a pup. At his age such intimacies were reserved for a mate only. He did not want anyone who was not his mate or pup touching his tail. He shuddered slightly at the memories of the last onna to make such a trespass. He had been young, just beginning sexual maturity… he had slaughtered her.

“Rin! Shippo! Get started on your homework!”

“Kaa-san!” “Nee-san!” came the joint chorus of protests but the miko remained firm.

“No buts! You two do your homework or I won’t bring back any candy.”

She did prefer to use the carrot than the stick, to get her own way. The daiyoukai preferred to use the stick but such rigidness did not suit her character.

He watched her help the children unpack their books, remove the pencils and crayons she had brought back from her time, and begin practicing their letters and sums. Once she was satisfied she walked towards the fire to prepare the evening meal.

TBC...