Inuyasha must convince Sesshomaru that Inari, his father's General and Inuyasha's childhood hero, is in modern Japan living next door to Kagome of all places.
Inuyasha was in luck, Sesshomaru was close to Kaede's village for Rin's birthday. There had been no need to track him down very far.
Sesshomaru had left Rin in the village two years ago to learn to live among humans with the promise that he would return when she was of age. At that time she could choose to remain among humans or continue her travels with him.
Staying to explain the situation to Sesshomaru now was certainly more convenient than coming back in two days. It did mean he would have to be gone longer than he planned but as long as he stayed near the well there was no real danger. And he was sure Kagome was fine. He had given her make work by telling her he needed her to keep a discrete watch from a distance on the woman next door.
Using the system of signal fires they had set up to summon one another it was not long before he could see the monk approaching with a wide smile on his face.
"Hey Miroku, you seen Sesshomaru around here lately?" he asked by way of greeting.
"I am fine, so are Sango and the children, thank you for asking." Miroku said pointedly.
"Yeah, yeah, just answer the question Monk." Inuyasha snapped.
"He is in the village, or did you forget Rin's birthday?" Actually, Inuyasha had forgotten, he left those details to Kagome.
"Well can you go get him? It's important. Tell him… no, don't tell him anything. Just tell him it was important enough to leave my wife and son."
Miroku as usual was annoyingly inquisitive about why Inuyasha needed his brother immediately, and what was so important that he would risk leaving his wife and son in the other era.
"While you stand here asking me stupid questions, Monk, I could be back with Kagome and Atsutsune" he reminded Miroku who finally relented and left to get Sesshomaru.
Miroku meant well, but his curiosity, much like his woman's butt groping hands, had a mind of its own.
Inuyasha rubbed his face with both hands. Shit. How was he going to do this? Convince his brother when he wasn't 100% certain himself? And if he was wrong…? Sesshomaru would gut him like a carp.
And he would deserve it.
But he could not be certain beyond a doubt. He had been too young when Inari had… had what?
Some said she left. Some said she died in some great battle. Some said she killed herself in shame over his father's death.
Just as many others said Sesshomaru had killed her himself.
All he remembered was the beautiful Daiyokai Fox general who would tell him stories about his father to keep his memory alive for a little shunned half breed.
If it was her, why did she treat him like a stranger? Had he grown so much she could not recognize him?
But she should have been able to smell him, right? Did his scent change when he got here? He would have to find someone to tell him.
Only one person could get to the bottom of this. Sesshomaru wouldn't put up with any nonsense of pretending not to know who he was. Sesshomaru was nothing if not consistently arrogant.
When he pulled his hands from his face he was startled to see Sesshomaru inches from his face. So startled he fell backwards in to the well.
He heard little Rin gasp with a combination of shock and… amusement? "Inuyasha are you alright?" she asked, peering down at him.
He grumbled as he pulled himself up from the well "You did that on purpose."
"You are making the assumption that you hold a position of enough importance in my life to wish to see you embarrassed. You do not. You asked to meet with me." Sesshomaru looked at him with his usual haughty blank stare.
"You have your nerve demanding that Lord Sesshomaru come to you half breed" Jaken said stomping up and down 'Lord Sesshomaru is not to be summoned like a servant, he does the summoning and furthermore…"
"Silence Jaken" Sesshomaru said with a hint of amusement.
"Come Master Jaken, it is my birthday and I want to go fishing!" Rin said in her usual sing-song voice laughing and running through the field.
"Wait up you silly girl. Lord Sesshomaru is here especially for your birthday and yet you run off you disrespectful creature!" Jaken called running after her. "We need to stay with Lord Sesshomaru until he gives his permission for us to leave you infuriating ningen! Come back here this instant!"
Sesshomaru stared at Inuyasha with his usual cold detachment. "You called me here. What was your purpose?"
Inuyasha had no idea where to start. Blurting it out seemed like a really good idea to get his throat ripped out in a very real and literal way. "Kagome lives next door to a dojo… a shrine sort of place. They teach some modern form of kenjutsu there called kendo. It is called the Kitsune Kendo Dojo."
Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow "Why are you babbling at me Inuyasha? Get to the point or return to your wife and son. This is unimportant."
"I am getting to the important part. The instructor, she looks… well, damned familiar. Like someone we know." Inuyasha started pacing.
"And why would I be interested in the acquaintances of you and your wife from her home era?" Sesshomaru asked more annoyed than ever.
"Not Kagome and me, YOU and me. WE know her." Inuyasha clarified.
"And just how would I be familiar with someone from Kagome's home?" Sesshomaru did not even look angry, he actually looked amused.
Inuyasha knew this would change quickly.
"She looked… she looked like Inari…" he had not even seen Sesshomaru move before he felt the claws at his throat. Sesshomaru's eyes were red. He was holding on to his control by a thread.
"If this is your idea of a prank" the Daiyokai said in a deadly growl "it may be the last prank you ever pull."
Inuyasha growled and jumped back, trying to hold on to his control, his hand dropping to tessaiga "It is no prank. She looks and sounds exactly like Inari. She is teaching sword play to children and her Dojo mascot is a nine tailed white fox. The name she uses is Kita Ohimesama. She is calling herself the Princess of the North, Sesshomaru, what else am I supposed to think?!"
Sesshomaru stopped just watching him, his eyes slowly going from red to pink. His breathing slowed to nearly normal and his claws retracted slightly.
"It cannot be her. It must be a reincarnation. Like Kagome with Kikyo" he finally said slowly.
"Maybe." Frowned Inuyasha, "But Kagome does not look and sound exactly like Kikyo and she didn't call herself 'Pearl Guardian'. This is just… weird. I told her you had a ward you wanted to get kendo lessons for. Just… come and take a look. If I am wrong…"
"If you are wrong and you have dragged this all up again I will end you." Sesshomaru glared at him.
"Yeah, yeah, of course. Let's just go." Inuyasha rolled his eyes at the threat.