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In those early hours of the morning during which he was returning home, Toga couldn't control the smile that lit up his face at the idea of finally seeing his beloved and his newborn son again.
The majestic figure that flew over the lands of the West and had just thwarted a few demonic attacks and ensured peace between the lands of men and the lands of demons for a while longer didn’t have an evil or frightening face, rather the eager and excited expression of a child as he thought back to those waiting for him at his castle.
Who knew how much Inuyasha had grown and what peculiarities he had already developed, whether he looked more like him or if, despite the clear colours he had inherited from him, he had some traits that would remind him of his beloved Izayoi and which would consequently make Toga love the little one even more – which seemed impossible, because from the first moment he had laid his golden eyes on Inuyasha's identical ones, Toga had realised that he loved him beyond all capacity.
He had recognised that feeling because it was the same as the one that had overwhelmed his heart at Sesshomaru's birth, but at the same time, it was not.
It was a new love, therefore different and yet to be discovered, and he was looking forward to it, to leave behind those weeks of absence and dive into his new reality.
Yet, although he knew there were many new things awaiting him and others to learn, nothing could have prepared him for what he saw as soon as he crossed the threshold of their room.
In front of him, in a light night yukata and with her long hair loose on her shoulders, Izayoi was cradling a newborn baby who had traces of fresh tears on his face, a newborn who wore the same red robe he had gifted to Inuyasha but shared the same dark colours as his mate.
With a long leap, he made to approach so that he could ascertain what was wrong with Inuyasha and then find a cure as soon as possible; later, he would ask Izayoi why a messenger had not been sent to inform him, but he froze when he saw the welcoming smile Izayoi gave him as soon as she noticed him.
It couldn't have been anything serious if she was smiling at him like that.
“Izayoi,” he murmured in the lowest tone he could so as not to frighten Inuyasha even more.
“Quickly, Anata, come here,” she beckoned to him as Inuyasha's dark little head turned in his direction and his eyes tried to focus on the figure he had only seen a couple of times since he was born.
The demon did as she asked, albeit hesitantly, without taking his eyes off Inuyasha who, likewise, was trying to follow his movements with his little hands – devoid of claws – clinging to his mother's robe.
Everything about him, from his appearance to his smell, revealed to Toga that the child was human, yet he was sure that before he left, he had held a half-demon with silver hair and peculiar dog ears.
Izayoi's crystalline laughter roused them both from their study of each other.
“We seem to have forgotten something very important when we embarked on this adventure,” she began, referring to their decision to have a baby, even though they knew it would have been a half-demon, the union of their very different worlds and, most of all, the testament of their forbidden love.
She reached for him, sensing his residual uncertainty, and let him embrace her.
She heard his sigh of relief, felt his body trembling before it relaxed completely as soon as he had her in his arms and admired his smile as he rested one hand on Inuyasha’s head to comfort him when he tensed at being forced between the two of them.
Izayoi smiled as well as she watched father and son resume their study of each other, the curious twin expressions and the reverence with which Toga was stroking his hair in an attempt to grasp the secret behind that change still without explanation for him.
“I was equally frightened last month when Inuyasha started crying for no reason as soon as the sun disappeared, and even more so when I noticed the way he was changing. And, I'm afraid, I indulged in mannerisms not befitting a princess, almost drawing your frightened guards here. Luckily for me, Myoga was still here, just as you had asked him, and he reassured me and at the same time offered a solution.”
“Last month?” asked Toga, alarmed again and startling even Inuyasha, who had almost convinced himself to accept his father's open-armed invitation.
“There, there,” Izayoi consoled him before pushing him towards her mate and whispering sweet words in a tone of voice Toga had only ever heard her use with the little one. Then she looked back at him before nodding. “And it will happen the following month and the one after that for the rest of his life. Our Inuyasha becomes a human with each new moon night,” she explained to him.
This time Toga was able to control his reaction and apart from widening his eyes, he only clutched Inuyasha more tightly, who had finally rested peacefully against his chest as if seeking shelter. And Toga, who after the last revelation would have liked to hide him from the world and protect him forever, welcomed the request.
“It is normal for any half-demon to have hours of weakness, but luckily for each of them it is different, and if no one learns of this night, Inuyasha will remain safe.”
“Are you sure no one here at the castle has found out anything?” he asked her again, failing to calm himself and shifting his gaze to the infant again.
Izayoi placed a hand on his arm for comfort. “I knew right away it would be dangerous and Myoga stood by me. He was here a while ago, but he left as soon as he sensed you approaching.”
“He was probably afraid of what I might have done to him for not warning me right away,” he hissed, yet grateful for his little vassal’s presence, who had helped his mate when he could not, especially at a time of such uncertainty.
“Myoga is not to blame, Anata; I asked him not to tell you.” Toga raised his head sharply towards her, but before he could admonish her Izayoi continued, “If you had rushed to us while your mission was still in progress, we would have aroused suspicion and I could not allow that. I was safe here and in your absence, it was my duty as a mother to make sure you did your part as well and protect Inuyasha.”
He shook his head before encircling her waist with his free arm and kissing her hair. “I don't think I would have been able to show the same lucidity as you. You are truly wonderful, Izayoi, and you prove to me with every passing second what a strong mother – and first and foremost, what a strong woman – you are.”
No matter what else everyone else who was still trying to hinder their relationship said.
“You are more so than I am, Toga, and I have no doubt that if the opportunity had presented itself you would have acted the same way,” she reassured him, surrendering herself to him just as Inuyasha had done. “And our son senses it too, which is why he fell asleep as soon as you picked him up. You were out there to make sure we have a future and that Inuyasha can live peacefully despite being different from any of us.”
“I may be the warrior that many in those lands celebrate, but in this room, for this new family of ours, I still have much to learn, much more than I thought possible. I have so many mistakes to atone for as a father, and sadly, I know I will make more with Inuyasha, but I promise you – again – that I will do my best to take care of you and not let you down.”
As he said this, his face was devoid of the worry that had plagued him until a short while before and was replaced by the serious expression that Izayoi had only seen on a few occasions. She understood the importance of those words, even though he had already made a similar promise to her when they had given themselves to each other for the first time and when they had promised to spend their lives together despite their differences.
So she answered as she had always done, “You will, Anata, and I will stay by your side to help and love you the same way.” Then they sealed their promise with a short but meaningful kiss.
Their life together would never be easy, but they both knew that the choice they had made when they met and fell in love had been the right one and that they would never regret it despite the difficulties.
Little Inuyasha, safe in their arms, was just another proof of that.