I will only say this once as I seem to see it on everyone's story – I don't own InuYasha! There, I said it. Now, and doubts that I do, simply return here to the first chapter to see that yes, I do not own InuYasha! LOL… In any case, I start my story after InuYasha & Naraku had it out…..and Sesshoumaru has both his arms. Rin is long gone as she's only human. So Sesshoumaru is all alone in his castle, keeping his lands safe for all the villagers and his subjects. But of course, that changes – because without change, there would be nothing story-worthy! My first fan-fic, so be gentle!

Sakura

"Mama…please, I don't like this stuff anymore!" she whined and pouted. Her mother liberally applied a sticky cream over her forehead. Then placed a triangular shroud over it. She clipped it gently into her hair, ignoring her young child's complaints as this was a daily routine for her.

"Why mama? Why do you put this stuff on me all the time…I hate it!" she said dipping her finger in the messy cream in disgust….watching it change to match her skin colour. It was a strange substance…sticky at first, then would dry and feel a bit like an extra skin. She made a disgusted look before trying to wipe it off on her clothing.

"Sakura! Don't do that, you'll make a mess of your pretty kimono!" she lightly scolded her daughter. Then smiled at her to stop her from pouting. She could never really be mad at her; she was almost always well behaved. "I don't want to take you to market with a dirty kimono young one!" she smiled.

Sakura giggled, she loved going with her mother into the market…all the smells of the different foods & spices. Especially since her mother usually got her a treat or trinket she could take home.

Mizuki closed up the little container of cream and took the brush from her dresser to brush her daughters light coloured hair. Surprising that it never really got very tangled despite her daughter's energetic nature. Both her & her daughter had very light-white hair. Very common for their demon race. Their village had a lot of their kind living here, she was glad she moved to this side of the village. Not really for that reason. Only that, the human children was never overly kind to her daughter. Not really their fault, it was in their nature to ridicule what was different. There were more demon children in this village that Sakura could play with, that put her mother at ease.

"Mama…" her daughter asked in a questioning tone. "…can we get some sweet buns today?" she fidgeted with her clothes as she looked up to her mother.

Her mother looked down at her daughter. She was only 4 years old, but she had that look down pat that she just couldn't say no. "Yes little one, I suppose we can pick up some sweet buns. Now go put your sandals on"

Sakura jumped up & down in childish glee before taking off for her sandals, almost forgetting to pull back the door to her mother's bedroom.

She had so much more energy than herself, it really made her wonder how she could just keep going and going without so much as a breather.

Xxxx-xxxXXXxxx-xxxX

Satsuki lay in her bed in her quarters trying to catch her breath. Her visions still pouring over her in violent flashes. She sat up quickly placing her hands over her temples trying to calm the visions down that were coming at her in what seemed like every direction. They were almost painful. Coming to her with such an urgency that brought tears to her eyes. She hadn't had visions this strong since the times when Naraku still walked these lands. She quickly dismissed the name in her head of having even brought the thought forward. After all, it had been well over 50 years ago.

She took a deep breath as she slid her legs over the side of her bed. Visions starting to settle in the back of her mind as she focused on containing them. She walked over to her chair and took the robe lying upon it. She hastily wrapped it around her and quickly walked out of her quarters and through the halls heading for her Master's study.

She would have gotten dressed in proper attire before doing so, but she had to speak with him right away while the visions were still fresh. She was glad of all days that he was actually in the castle as he was almost always out checking over his territory to make sure that there was nothing amiss. He was a very protective ruler; almost nothing escaped his knowing about it.

She made her way down the many halls and finally came to his wing. The early morning sun shone through the grand hall leading down to his study. She had a few glances from the regular servants going about their daily routine. Probably due to her attire. That couldn't be helped at that moment. She paused outside his study; the door of course was shut. She was trying to formulate how to tell him what she knew she must, as she hesitantly knocked upon his door.

"Enter" his reply.

She opened the door and gingerly stepped in. Closing the door behind her and approached his desk. He had scrolls upon scrolls on his desk that he was going through. The part of his job he found to be rather boring and unexciting. He looked up at her and raised an eyebrow at her appearance.

Seeing this, she bowed…"I apologize for my appearance Sesshoumaru-sama, but I couldn't wait a moment longer, I had to see you while my visions were still fresh in my mind."

"What has upset you so?" he questioned, putting the scroll he was opening down onto his desk.

She realized he meant the tears that still lightly flowed down her cheeks. "Oh…" she quickly wiped them away with her hands. "Sorry my lord, the visions are rather painful and many, that I am having trouble keeping them at bay"

He waited for her to continue.

"There is a new presence in the world. Growing in power. He seeks to overthrow you my lord. He's found something to use against you I'm afraid. Something you haven't known existed. Well, until now that is." She looked down at the floor waiting for anything he may have to say.

"What is it that I have that can possibly be used against me, who would dare to challenge me." He stated more than questioned.

"My lord, I do not know how to possibly say this, but, you have a child." She shrank slightly expecting him to become angry with her.

"Impossible. I'm always careful with any mistresses I have ever been with. Explain" he looked at her, not believing but knowing better as she was his best seer.

"My lord" she said bowing in apology, "I know that you have been careful, but my sight tells me that you indeed have a child. She resides in one of the villages on your land. Her exact location I am not sure on as someone seems to be putting up some sort of barrier to keep me from seeing the child and mother. This new presence is aware of this child of yours and has already dispatched his men to take the child. To use the child against you." She looked up at him, pleadingly.

He thought over her words. If this is true, he will have to find this child she speaks of before they do, whoever "they" are. This is going to be a challenge as he has many villages on his land. He would also have to make sure his men were out patrolling on a daily basis to spot any intruders.

"Is there anything that you can tell me of the child that may help me in my search?" he asked her.

She looked down, trying to feel through all of her visions, searching them very meticulously for clues. Bringing more tears to her eyes only from the pain of letting loose the hold she was trying to keep on them.

Sesshoumaru watched how her eyes would glow when she went to her visions. Satsuki was his best seer, which is why she was aloud to reside with him in his castle. She had been with him for two centuries, and trusted her visions as they always came to pass.

"I feel, …I feel your child is a female…..still very young. Not an infant anymore though. She bears your mark my lord. That much I am sure of. But somehow…" she fell silent.

'Surely if she bears my mark, someone in the village would have noticed this' he thought to himself. "Satsuki" he said, trying to make her continue.

"Sorry, Sesshoumaru-sama. My thoughts are many. It is challenging to sort through them for something more helpful to you. All I can tell you is, these men that are coming to take the child, they are not far from here. Possibly a little over a days travel from here. I pray, you do not have much time to work with. My only wish was to have had these visions sooner to have been of more help to you my lord." She said looking down at the floor again.

"No apology necessary, that cannot be helped Satsuki. Please, tell the servants to send Takeshi to my study immediately" he said as he stood up. Satsuki bowed in compliance, and left his study with urgent purpose.

'Well…' he thought to himself. Starting to pace in his study. Absorbing the whole conversation he had with his seer. 'I guess things are going to start to get interesting after all.'

He mentally went over any of the mistresses he'd recently had in the past few years. It wasn't terribly many. He was sure that he was careful, and didn't take any women that were in heat. How could he have been so careless? He shook the thought from his mind.

A few minutes later, another knock was heard at his study's door. "Enter" he stated.

Takeshi entered. He was always up around the same time that Sesshoumaru was, before the sun rose. He was fully dressed in his armor. His sword securely tied to his waist. His hair tied back in a low ponytail.

"You needed to see me my lord?" he bowed politely, before standing upright again.

"You will have your men out on the lands patrolling for anything that looks suspicious. I have reason to believe that we may have unwanted visitors entering into the western territory within the next day or so." He said rather matter-of-factly. His soldier looked at him with a questioned look.

"My lord? The lands have been in such a peaceful state these many long years, who could possibly dare to trespass?" he held a hand up at his lord's look towards him. "I don't mean to question you, I'm just surprised by it is all. Of course my lord, as you wish."

"You will leave the usual guard around the estate, but anyone you can spare to keep an eye out would be helpful." Sesshoumaru continued, "I will be searching the villages in the meantime" he said, putting away the scrolls on his desk for further inspection later.

"The villages my lord?" his soldier questioned. 'It's not often he goes to the villages other than the open lands.' He wondered to himself.

Sesshoumaru nodded, not adding anything further.

Takeshi took that as a signal that he could leave and be on his way to carry out the order. He wouldn't question his lord further for fear of angering him. They got along so well, he'd hate to see that happen.

Sesshoumaru went to retrieve his armor and securely tied his swords to his waist. He almost never left his castle without them out of habit. While he walked from his castle, he pondered being a father. It never really entered into his mind since Rin's passing a decade ago. He really missed Rin as if she were his daughter. Now the thought of being a father again, left him feeling rather indifferent. He wasn't sure of what he wanted anymore.

He couldn't let that bother him, as he knew the threat of having a child, and being a ruler of a land, would put that child in danger to those that seek to take it over. This child was part of him, and would do everything in his power to protect that child, and his lands.