A/N – The premise of this fic is a little silly, but once the idea popped into my brain it wouldn't stop rattling around until it was written. Enjoy a little Feudal Era fluff and demon drama on my behalf in the form of a short, three-chaptered mini-fic.

Judging by the size of the mess, the evening can easily be declared an unparalleled success.

Kagome has outdone herself this time. Empty ramen cartons are strewn about the hut, and the various side dishes she had prepared had long since been scooped clean and are stacked near the fire pit with the other dirty plates and bowls. She had brought containers for leftovers, but obviously they would remain empty. As she leans back to survey the scene, a stray candy wrapper crinkles under her hand.

Clean-up tomorrow was not going to be fun, but it was well worth it. All around her, her dearest friends lounge contentedly around Kaede's hut, bellies full and minds pleasantly hazy from a good meal. To her left, Sango and Miroku cuddle their youngest as the twins play a quiet game of dominoes that Souta had offered to pass along. To her right, Inuyasha sprawls across the floor, occasionally flicking Shippo's tail when he thinks Kagome isn't looking. Too full to fight back, Shippo swats a lazy hand in his direction and shifts the lollipop stick in his mouth from one side to the other.

It's a lot of work preparing for these quarterly dinners, but she wouldn't trade them for the world. It's rare these days that they can all gather together in the same place to enjoy each other's company. She smiles fondly as she regards the people she has come to think of as a second family: aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, kids and spouses. It was truly a blessing to have not one but two loving families to call her own.

Of course, like any other family, there's a few oddballs.

From across the fire, Rin tosses her cards onto the floorboards with a smirk. "I win again, Master Jaken! That's six in a row!"

Shippo musters enough energy to clap his hands. "Way to go, Rin!"

Jaken shoots him a glare and then shakes the playing cards in Rin's face. "Don't look so pleased with yourself, insolent girl! There's little triumph in winning a simplistic human game."

Rin crosses her arms. "If it's so simplistic, how come a clearly superior demon can't seem to master it?"

Jaken's eyes bulge and he sputters. "How dare you! Why, your feeble mind couldn't even begin to comprehend the complexities of the games to which I am accustomed. It would be no trouble at all to beat you if I so desired."

Rin is unimpressed. "Really."

"Of course! I - I was merely trying not to injure your delicate human feelings!"

Rin gives him a flat look and shakes her head, the corner of her mouth twitching upward. "You're such a sore loser, Master Jaken."

Kagome hides her laughter behind her sleeve. She's been watching this scene play out for the past ten years, but somehow it never seems to get old. Kagome remembers how strange it was strange at first having Rin around, but now she has a hard time picturing the village without her. Rin had blossomed under Kaede's tutelage and the villagers love her warm hugs and bright smile. The young woman is like the little sister that Kagome never had, and she can't help but cheer her on as she pummels the toad imp in yet another game. If she had to stretch the analogy to fit, Jaken might be the cranky uncle whose visits she endures with a forced smile as she tries her best to ignore his constant complaining.

And then there's Sesshomaru.

He doesn't really fit the family analogy; he doesn't really fit at all. She might have tried to call him 'big brother' after her return to the Feudal Era, but in truth he's still little more than an acquaintance. Like a distant third cousin that married into the family and visits only on holidays. Even with the passing of time, it's still a bit bizarre to see him seated so calmly at the edge of the room. He never eats any of the food she offers, but he comes without fail to every event she plans and tolerates the evenings in mostly patient silence, disengaged and aloof to the happenings around him. His very presence should be a sign that they've made progress over the years, but there's the niggling sense that he just doesn't belong there.

He's not the only demon in the room, but he may as well be. Even under these circumstances he exudes a quiet kind of menace, a power that seems to thrum through the very floorboards of the hut. Intellectually she knows that he doesn't pose a threat to them anymore, but there are still times when it's difficult to reconcile the demon before her with the one who was intent on adding them to his long list of vanquished enemies. Though he has a little more personality than she gave him credit for when they first met, he isn't exactly warm. If it weren't for Rin's presence, she doubts that he would ever acquiesce to these meetings at all.

And yet Kagome is neither frightened nor deterred. She's positive that all it will take is the right circumstance, the right topic or event to finally crack through that icy shell. She feels certain that while he might be lethal, he's harmless to everyone present. Inuyasha might roll his eyes when she tries to explain this to him, but she refuses to deny her instincts on the matter. After all, even distant third cousins could be friends with enough effort, right? The fact that he's trailed after a human girl for all this time gives her hope.

The sole recipient of Sesshomaru's muted attentions spreads another winning hand across the floor while Jaken tries unsuccessfully to stifle a groan. Rin's voice drips with mock sympathy. "Are you sure you understand the rules of the game, Master Jaken? The point is to try to win."

He tosses his cards in her direction. "Don't patronize me, foolish child! The outcome of these games means nothing to me. As I said, I merely wish to protect your fragile human ego by going easy on you."

Rin gathers the cards and starts to shuffle them. Her tone is clearly teasing, but Jaken never could take a joke. And she knows just how to get him going. "Hmm. It seems to me that demon egos must be a lot more fragile than human ones if you're anything to go by."

Jaken draws a sharp breath. "Lord Sesshomaru! Did you hear what Rin just said? Even after all these years she still refuses to learn her place and acknowledge the superior senses and intellect of - "

"Jaken."

All eyes turn to the demon lord, who has scare said a word all night. Though Sesshomaru's expression betrays nothing, Jaken cringes.

"Yes, milord?"

"Be silent."

"Of course, but – "

"Rin has no obligation to acknowledge superiority that has not been earned. Until you can defeat her, know your place."

Rin's cheeks flush as she bites her lip, and Kagome barely suppresses a laugh at the way Jaken's jaw drops. Before he can respond, Kagome rises to her feet and places a hand on the girl's shoulder. "Rin, would you like a new partner? I can even teach you a new game, if you like."

Rin nods enthusiastically. "Yes, please!" She spares a teasing glance for Jaken. "Finally, someone who might provide a challenge!"

Jaken mumbles under his breath. "Finally, someone more suited to engage in this stupidity."

"Jaken."

The toad snaps to attention. "Yes, milord! I'll just – milord?"

Rin stops shuffling the cards, concern etched onto her face. Kagome turns and sees Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed to slits, the barest curl of disgust on his lips. Without a word he swiftly rises and ducks under the mat that covers the door.

The group exchanges a wary glance. "What was that about?" Shippo asks.

Inuyasha gets to his feet. "No, I sense something too. Jaken, stay here and protect Rin and the kids."

They all exit the hut to find Sesshomaru staring in the direction of the forest. Bakusaiga slides free of its sheath, glinting in the moonlight as Sesshomaru holds it at the ready. "Prepare yourself," is all he says before striding away from the shrine, disappearing down the stairs. The others look to one another in confusion, but Inuyasha straightens his spine and mimics his brother's actions, unsheathing Tetsusaiga.

What emerges from the trees a moment later is almost funny: a skunk demon about the size of a large dog, complete with a comically oversized bushy tail. Kagome is reminded of an old Disney film from her childhood and almost coos as it wobbles clumsily away from the tree line. Beside her Inuyasha relaxes.

"Prepare yourself?" He mocks. "Is that what the bastard was gettin' so worked up over? That thing's pathetic."

They all nod in agreement and are about to head back inside when suddenly the demon's aura flares. The power of it brings false daylight to the clearing for just a moment as its vortex swirls upward and out. Sesshomaru stands his ground, his head craning just a bit as he takes in the scene.

What remains after the power dissipates is not so funny: a beast that towers above the tree tops even on all fours, its blazing red eyes glowering from above a mouth filled with jagged fangs. Curved claws churn the earth at its feet and the grass underfoot withers and blackens. A deep purple mist clings to its body, concentrated at its feet and tail.

The group collectively blinks in surprise. Miroku gives Sango a look. "Does he look familiar to you?"

Before she can respond it hits them. Sleeves automatically come up to cover noses and mouths as a powerful stench rolls in from across the field and assaults their senses. Full bellies roil in protest.

Sango removes her hand long enough to slide her mask into place, tying the knots with practiced fingers. "Kagome, you should stay back. Its venom may be toxic."

Kagome nods. Tentatively she lowers her sleeve and blinks watering eyes. The stench is awful, but at this proximity is it tolerable. She nods. "Right. I can fight from a distance if I have to." Kagome ducks inside and retrieves her bow and quiver, and by the time she returns the rest of the group has made it halfway across the clearing and Sesshomaru has approached the intruder. He looks comically small in comparison, but his voice rings out confidently in the open field.

"You have no business here. Leave now and keep your life."

The skunk demon rises to its haunches, unintimidated. "Stand aside, Western Lord. My quarrel is not with you, but with them." His crimson glare turns to Miroku and Sango, who have jogged up to stand by Sesshomaru's side. "Two moons ago you murdered my brother! You will pay for this crime with your lives!"

Kagome knocks an arrow and rolls her eyes – did all demons have to be so dramatic? Gaze trained on the spot between the skunks eyes, Kagome draws back her arrow, but before she can release the skunk surges forward to attack.

"Oh no you don't!" Inuyasha jumps in between the demon and his human comrades, Tetsusaiga poised. Kagome curses under her breath and lowers her bow. "You'll have to go through me first, and trust me, the odds aren't in your favor. Do as my brother says and take your stink somewhere else."

"Brother?" The skunk demon laughs and looks between them. "You must be the disgraceful half-demon Inuyasha! To see you fighting side by side; how far the West has fallen, indeed!"

Sesshomaru's growl is both heard and felt. "Enough! I will not repeat myself!"

The vapors swirl and pulse as the demon smiles with a mouth full of ragged teeth. "You won't have to! You'll all be dead for standing in the way of my vengeance!" The skunk lunges for Sango and Miroku. Hirikotes whistles through the air but the skunk is too fast; it deflects the boomerang and it spins off into the dark of the forest. Miroku's sutras fizzle and dissolve upon contact with the purple mist.

Inuyasha cringes at the failed attempts and shouts over his shoulder as he charges forward. "Get out of here! I've got this!" As they turn and sprint toward the forest he leaps up and over the demon, somersaulting in the air and landing a clean blow across the skunk's back. Thick black blood erupts from the wound, spraying across Inuyasha's face. The skunk howls in pain.

"Stop interfering, you damn brat!"

Inuyasha barely pauses to swipe a sleeve across his eyes before going in for another attack, but the brief distraction is all the skunk demon needs. It spins on his heels and flexes its tail, dousing Inuyasha to the waist with a foul-smelling black ooze. Time slows as Kagome watches the skunk turn, claws raised and eyes blazing. She waits for Inuyasha to fight back, but he doesn't move. Instead, he wavers for just an instant, and then Tetsusaiga drops from his hand as he topples backward.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome doesn't even think; she drops her bow and bolts in his direction. The action is futile; she knows that she can't hope to match the demon's speed, and a scream builds in her throat as the skunk goes in for the kill.

A flash of white appears from the left, and Kagome watches in relief as Sesshomaru's blade deflects the powerful claws. The skunk shakes its paw and strikes again, pressing his advantage as Sesshomaru blocks with Bakusaiga, gripping it over his head with both hands like a shield. The demon lord is forced to one knee and for one horrifying instant Kagome thinks that he might be overcome. But then he surges forward in a flurry of singing steel. Sesshomaru strikes fast and furious, driving the battle farther afield.

Kagome keeps her pace, her lungs burning as she tries to reach Inuyasha. When she is within a few yards of him Sango's earlier warning becomes obvious: the stench from the ooze is overpowering. Her eyes water and her stomach clenches. But she is not to be deterred. The grass is slippery where she kneels down next to him and she ignores how her skin stings where it makes contact. From the corner of her eye she can see Miroku and Sango jogging toward them from the direction of the forest, Hirikotes retrieved and riding at its proper place on Sango's shoulder.

"What happened? Is he alright?"

Kagome quickly wipes the substance from Inuyasha's face and leans an ear close to his mouth. She sits back in relief and runs a gentle hand across his brow. The toxic goo covers his hair and shoulders; if it weren't for the black stained ears poking out from his hair she might think it was the new moon. "He's breathing."

Miroku casts a glance over his shoulder. "We might not be for long if we don't find a way to wake him up."

Kagome shakes her head. "This is just like the time with the ink demon. His nose is just so sensitive, it knocked him out."

Sango watches the battle behind them. "Sesshomaru doesn't seem to be affected."

If it hadn't been for tireless observation of the demon lord over the past decade, Kagome might have agreed. But little clues give him away: she can see the shallow rise and fall of his chest and the slight sway of his stance. His strength protected him, but he wasn't completely immune. She gasps as he narrowly avoids the swipe of the skunk demon's powerful claws, flipping to the side and catching the skunk across the wrist. More black blood oozes out, corroding the grass beneath their feet. The next time he isn't so lucky: the skunk feigns an attack with his claws but pivots at the last second, smashing into the demon lord with broad side of his tail. Sesshomaru is thrown to the side, skidding to a stop a distance away. A shimmer of red flashes across his eyes as he finds his feet, gripping his sword and crouching into an offensive stance.

Kagome can barely keep track of the action as the demons clash. The humans are powerless to intervene, reduced to watching from the sidelines. Kagome worries her lip between her teeth; normally it would take no effort for Sesshomaru to defeat such a foe, but the skunk demon's open wounds are steadily polluting the air. Beside her, Miroku gags.

"Come on," he chokes. "We have to get out of here. Sango, help me." He grabs Inuyasha under the arms to heft him onto his back, but before he can get him into position golden eyes blink open.

"Inuyasha!"

Inuyasha runs a hand over his head, only to have his fingers come away sticky and black. He grimaces. "Ugh, this is nasty." His hand gropes for Tetsusaiga. "Is it dead?"

Miroku shakes his head. "Not yet. Lord Sesshomaru is taking care of it as we speak."

He shrugs off Miroku's arm and unsteadily gains his feet. With characteristic bluntness, he voices what the rest of them had been thinking. "What's taking him so long?"

Diplomatic as always, Miroku speaks up. "I'm sure he's doing his best. It won't be much longer now."

Inuyasha assesses the situation. "We can't wait around for that. The toxins might reach the village if we don't do somethin' fast." He grins. "I guess I'd better go show the bastard how it's done."

Sango shakes her head. "Inuyasha, you should rest. You shouldn't exert yourself so soon."

"Keh. Who says I need to exert myself? Watch this."

"Inuyasha, no!"

Kagome tries to grab the trailing edge of his sleeve to stop him, but he evades her neatly. With stealth and speed only afforded to a half-demon, he circles around the ongoing battle, crouching between the bushes and flitting across tree limbs. When he is positioned behind the skunk demon he emerges from the tree line, his hand riding on Tetsusaiga's hilt. Distracted by the fight with Sesshomaru, the skunk demon doesn't even see him coming. The demon doesn't know it, but he's pinned between the brothers, and as he dodges Sesshomaru's blows Kagome can see flashes of fire-rat as Inuyasha creeps closer. A bit of pride blooms in Kagome's chest at Inuyasha's uncharacteristic use of stealth and strategy over brawn, and she is certain that with their combined strength and the element of surprise this fight will be over soon. But just as he is about to draw his sword Kagome sees Sesshomaru take a familiar stance and an ominous glow begins to swirl around his blade. Oh no. He's going to -

"SIT BOY!"

Inuyasha's face hits the dirt just as a green web of light slices through the skunk demon and arcs over his head. Bakusaiga's attack rings true and suddenly the half-demon is buried under a mountain of gunk and goo as the skunk blasts apart, disintegrated in the corrosive assault.

Sesshomaru eyes the scene for a moment, and, seemingly satisfied, rolls his shoulders and casually wipes his blade before returning it to its rightful place at his hip. Despite the exertions of the battle, the demon lord is pristine as ever, glowing soft white in the dark of moonlight. In a sweep of hair and silk he turns back and casually strides back toward the village.

Kagome tries to rush in to help Inuyasha, but Sango holds her back. "Be careful, Kagome. You shouldn't touch the ooze any more than you already have. We don't know the effects on humans." Kagome almost wrenches her arm away in protest, but before she can the mountain of ichor trembles and two blackened ears emerge. Inuyasha pushes up dizzily from the muck and wretches. He crawls from the pile and takes deep, shuddering breaths. As soon as it seems that he has cleared his lungs his head snaps up, swiveling as he scans the area. His eyes narrow and he scrambles onto shaking feet, gaining steadiness and momentum as he storms toward his target.

He outpaces his brother's unhurried gait and stops in front of him, blocking his path. Inuyasha leans in, eyes blazing; Sesshomaru maintains his cool reserve, but Kagome can see him recoil ever so slightly.

"Just what do you think you were doing?"

Sesshomaru's expression remains flat. "Step aside, Inuyasha."

"Are you blind or somethin'? I was right there! You could've killed me with that attack!"

For a long moment Sesshomaru doesn't respond, his face an impassive mask as he holds Inuyasha's seething gaze. Then his eyes narrow dangerously. "A missed opportunity, then." He shoulders his way past Inuyasha, careful not to make contact with him, and continues on his way. His voice floats back to them from across the field. "Visit the hot spring before returning, little brother. You are revolting."

"What?" Inuyasha spins to face the rest of them, jabbing a finger in the direction of his brother's retreating form. "Did you all see that? That asshole almost killed me!"

Miroku takes a subtle step back as Inuyasha comes closer. "Well, he is right about one thing. That demon's stench is all over you. I don't think you want to go home like that."

Sango elbows him and then turns her troubled expression toward Inuyasha. "Are you okay? I didn't think that Sesshomaru wanted to hurt you anymore. Why would he do such a thing?"

Inuyasha rings the ooze from his hair; the excess splats in the grass as he flicks it off his fingers. "You heard him, he's an opportunist. Don't let the domestic act fool you, he still hates me."

Kagome refuses to believe it. "I don't think so, Inuyasha. You didn't see it, but he protected you when you were unconscious."

Sango and Miroku blink in surprise, but Inuyasha snorts. "So? All that means is that he prefers to kill me himself. He's said as much before."

Her hand finds her hip. "That was a long time ago."

Inuyasha rolls his eyes. "Once a bastard, always a bastard."

"People can change!"

He gives her a long look. "Well if it wasn't on purpose, what's the alternative?"

Miroku rubs his chin thoughtfully. "Perhaps Sesshomaru made a mistake."

Inuyasha waves an ooze covered hand. "Keh. Don't be stupid. That bastard doesn't make mistakes. He's Sesshomaru." He ticks his points off on his fingers. "He's calculating, crazy strong, ridiculously fast, super powerful… " He trails off at the blank stares his friends are giving him. "What?"

Miroku covers a smile behind his sleeve. "A bit crude, but I think Jaken would be proud, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha blanches but recovers quickly. He stuffs his hands in his sleeves and grumbles, "You're missing the point. You all know I'm right."

Sango considers this. "He is very precise. He doesn't do anything without purpose..."

Kagome has heard enough. She crosses her arms over her chest. "You guys are blowing this out of proportion. He protected Inuyasha! And it's been years since he's threatened any of us. There has to be another explanation."

Miroku shrugs. "Then it had to be an accident. That's the only alternative."

Sango blinks at him. "We just established that he doesn't make mistakes."

"And yet he did, if what Kagome says it true." Miroku frowns. "This may be more serious than we thought. We all know Lord Sesshomaru to be peerless in battle. What if he's losing his edge?"

The group looks at one another, struggling to consider the possibility. Sango speaks up in a hesitant voice. "It did take him a long time to kill that demon…"

Kagome thinks of him skidding across the grass. "…And it actually struck him. It's rare that anyone can land a blow on him."

"To be fair to Lord Sesshomaru, that demon was extremely toxic," Miroku points out. "Even Inuyasha was temporarily incapacitated by it. Could it be an isolated incident?"

Inuyasha balks. "He's poisonous. He's immune to that kind of stuff."

Sango jumps in. "Maybe it wasn't the toxic nature of the vapor, but the smell itself. That might have been affecting him."

Inuyasha seems to think it over but shakes his head. "No way. I'll admit that his nose is way more sensitive than mine and that might have been throwing off his game, but he didn't need his nose to tell I was there. I was right there in front of him! You all saw me, right?"

Reluctantly they all nod. Inuyasha had been right there, clear as day. The collective mood shifts. She knows what they are all thinking. While the idea of Sesshomaru trying to kill Inuyasha after a decade of peace is upsetting, at least it was in character. In contrast, the idea that Sesshomaru was fallible, susceptible to making careless mistakes or faltering in combat was irreconcilable with the image they had all carried so long. To say that Sesshomaru had made a mistake was as believable as thinking that the sky was green or that the moon was made of cheese. Impossible.

Miroku looks determined. "We have to be sure. If Sesshomaru's power is declining, it could spell trouble. Not just for us, but for the entire Western lands."

"What are you suggesting?"

"A series of tests. He doesn't have to know, and if he passes them we can all rest assured that we are safe. Well, everyone except Inuyasha I suppose."

Inuyasha sniffs. "No way. Count me out. All you're going to do is piss him off and prove my point: he tried to kill me. I don't need any tests to prove what I already know."

Kagome knows that it's a terrible idea, she can feel it in her gut. It's a lose-lose situation: either conclusion is disappointing at best, or dangerous at worst. And yet she feels the need to know the answer just like the rest of them. She wants so badly to trust him and prove once and for all that he can fit into their odd little family, even if it's just a little. She sighs and lays a comforting hand on Inuyasha's shoulder and tries not to cringe as the black ooze squishes beneath her fingers. "Inuyasha, I really don't think your brother wants to hurt you. Let's just hear what Miroku has to say."

Inuyasha gives her a long look and then averts his eyes. "Fine. If that's what you think is best. But I still don't like it."

Kagome smiles. "Thank you, Inuyasha."

He shrugs her hand away. "Keh. Whatever. Don't say I didn't warn you." He looks down at his clothes and grimaces. "You guys should get back to the shrine. I'll meet you after I wash this crap out of my hair."

As they make their way back to Kaede's hut, Miroku lays out his plans and Kagome sends out a prayer that this whole thing doesn't backfire on them spectacularly.