Chapter Three

The elders weren't looking for Inuyasha. Sesshomaru knew this. Logically they couldn't be; Inuyasha had only just arrived. It hadn't been even a full day since he'd broken into the castle and as all-knowing as they liked to portray themselves as the council couldn't have come across news of him just yet. Especially after Sesshomaru had groomed through the servants, drawing out their deepest loyalties (and fears) so that they would remain quiet or be ushered into banishment. This meant, of course, that there was another reason. The last time they graced his castle was when his father had passed and he'd been proclaimed Lord of the western lands. Even when they thought it was time for him to procure heirs did they only send a letter by carrier. Sesshomaru hadn't seen any one elder in person for going on one hundred years, and here was the entire council unannounced. This did not ease him.

"Stay," He said to Inuyasha who squawked behind him as he walked past Aika.

"Do not let him leave," He said to her as she bowed deeply. Sesshomaru suspected that the motion was moreover to avoid his gaze and not out of respect. He let her indiscretion go unpunished.

Inuyasha let out something that had Aika gasping but Sesshomaru did not slow. He made his way out of his rooms, directing himself toward the central palace. The elders would not wait at the gate, obviously. He did not run; remaining calm. He paid no attention to the servants that prostrated themselves on the ground when he passed or his soldiers who saluted almost painfully upon sight of him.

He could smell them.

He turned a corner and caught sight of Fuyuki who was leaned up against the wall. His arms crossed and head tilted. Fuyuki pealed himself off the marble as Sesshomaru nodded at him and matched his steps.

"You smell of them," He commented as the guards drew the doors open.

Sesshomaru fluffed his furs, his scent permeating the air.

"Better."

"Do you know why they are here?" Sesshomaru asked as they spotted the cluster of white robes standing before his thrown.

"No," He replied readily. He fell back behind Sesshomaru and leaned close, whispering into his hair, "The servants whisper that they bring about dark tidings."

"If that fucker actually thinks I'm staying cooped up in here-" Inuyasha grumbled as he hefts the pup on his hip. He looks around trying to see where he'd placed Tesiaga, it was disconcerting that he could lose sight of it so easily after years of having it plastered to his side.

"M-My Lord…"

He lifts an ivory blanket off the ground and sees nothing but a variation of garments that he doesn't remember hoarding. He throws the blanket off to the side, mindful of his pup's squawk. He peeks down at the bundle; his pup doesn't appear afraid of the movement. In fact, by the way his eyes seem to zoom back and forth from Inuyasha and the garments, Inuyasha thinks he might be attracted to violence. Which would make sense as he was part of Sesshomaru after all. Still he roots through the pile with more care. He lifts something white, lined with jade floral markings and lifts it to his face - he breathes in Sesshomaru. He throws that away too. His pup makes an excited yelp that time and Inuyasha reaches over to tickle his stomach. Inuyasha feels his chest fill with warmth when the pup the squawks and bats at him.

"A little war monger in the making, eh? Pops is gonna love that."

And then he spots it. He snatches it and swings it over his shoulder, careful not to jar his pup who was currently mouthing at Inuyasha's hair in a way that made it look like he was attempting to train himself how to destroy.

"Ok squirt, time to go show your dad that he can't keep us tied down."

"My Lord!"

Inuyasha startles and looks down. The little cat demon barely reached his shoulders. She's trembling but the determined look in her eyes keeps him from pushing past her if only because it reminds him of Kagome.

"Eh?"

"You shouldn't go out like that."

Inuyasha bristled, "If you think I'm staying in here like a good little bitch just because that asshole said so-"

"No! Of course your highness can go where ever he wishes, however…"

And her expression morphs, a wicked gleam sparkles in her eye making Inuyasha regret not rushing past her.

"If you want to make a point to Lord Sesshomaru you might like to meet him on his own playing field."

"What?"

They stopped feet away from the entourage. Dressed in white robes that dragged along the floor with only their tribal marked sashes separating them the Council presented a united if not peculiar group. Four in total and elders they may be not all appeared to be at all old. In fact, Haito, the Cat demon representing the Eastern Lands was not much older than Sesshomaru. He took over the position after his father, who had previously claimed the title, died. And, subsequently, all his uncles and older cousins were found to have died in mysterious ways over the years. Sesshomaru liked to think he was not biased against this elder just because he was a cat demon and the enemy but justifiably so because he was surrounded by death and treachery on all sides. Mojai represented the Northern Lands. He was a loud boisterous demon that clearly represented every stereotype bequeathed to the Bear Clans. Other than his loudly voiced opinions and taste for war and women Sesshomaru had no gripes with him. Elder Shiro of the Southern lands was a quiet fox demoness. Who was often thought mute - this was a misconception, she did speak. But only in tragedy. She had a seer's power and foretold every great tragedy in the last five-hundred years. Because of this others often veered away from her when she opened her mouth so instead she stayed silent. Daisaske, the only elder to resemble an elder was a hunted over old demoness. One of the last dragons to grace the world. She represented Sesshomaru's own lands and even-so he felt the most wary in her presence.

Elder Daisaske broke the group when they strode into the middle of the room. "Lord Sesshomaru." She greeted.

"Elder," He prompted.

"You look… well." She commented.

Sesshomaru fought the urge to stiffen. This Elder had always known things. Things she had no right to know. He, once in his youth, accused her of witchcraft. The humiliation of her laughter still stung even at the sight of her today.

"As do you, Elder."

"There is no need to mutter about," The bear demon, Elder Mojai, clapped where he loomed over them. "Another mate is dead. You have no heir. The lands are… restless."

"You suspect war?" Sesshomaru said blandly.

"We suspect much more than that." The beautiful cat demon, Elder Haito, said. He drew his claws through his long black hair. "The remaining Inu clans seek reassurance. The canine clans have been heard to be making promises."

"If they tried to overtake my castle they would all die."

"Undoubtedly," Elder Daisaske replied. "But death should be kept as a last resource, no? An heir would do more than a war. Or, perhaps, a bonding with promise of heirs."

Sesshomaru opened his mouth, ready to tell her (again) that he had no intention of taking a mate.

"If an heir is what you need, you got one right here!"

Sesshomaru turned around, the calm disposition he had managed disappeared as if it had never been.

Inuyasha swept inside. The sight of him struck Sesshomaru. His hair was half tied up and flowed over his shoulders. It shown brightly. He was dressed in jade robes, that was bond at his waste in an elaborate golden ribbon. They split as he walked, revealing creamy thigh and leg. His face bore his yokai markings, his eyes tinted red and his ears were hidden though his tail dragged behind. He did not look at all like a half demon. Nothing like the mangy half-breed that Sesshomaru was subjected to.

In the crook of his robe, tucked inside, was Sesshomaru's pup. His face was mused and upset as he seemed to glare daggers at everyone present. He was dressed in white. Not any old robes, though, the ones that Sesshomaru had put aside. The ones he himself wore as a young pup. Only Aika knew of their placement in his rooms and instantly Sesshomaru knew what was happening. He had to force down the laughter that bubbled at his throat. Inuyasha could not know the significance of what he was doing to come out here before the council dressed as he was with Sesshomaru's pup on his hip.

But Sesshomaru could not break the illusion. The Council was not one to play games with. He could not hold his ire completely though.

"Inuyasha." Sesshomaru bit out.

Inuyasha, if anything, seemed to turn his chin at him. Not fazed at all with the warning in his tone.

"Oh," Elder Diasuske said. Her tone held not a note of surprise. She didn't call their bluff though. Sesshomaru couldn't cull his yokai instinct however and he drew closer to Inuyasha. Loomed over him like a guardian statue as he watched the elders through slits, daring them to get any closer.

"Aren't you a doll?" Elder Haito cooed. He raised an eyebrow at Sesshomaru and his voice was tinged with ice. "And the pup at your breast? Who would that be?"

Inuyasha turned furthered into Sesshomaru. His instincts didn't like the closeness to someone that was normally an enemy. But he also disliked the thought of his pup being front and center - like this he was mostly shielded from their gazes. His pup could be been through the sliver of his robes and watched the elders intently. Maybe he sensed their strength. He did not cry though. Did not show discomfort or fear. Inuyasha couldn't help but puff up a bit in pride.

He looked at the cat demon elder, cut him a sharp once-over. "You remind me of someone I once knew." The tension hung in the air and Inuyasha split it open. "He was a creep and I killed him for it."

Silence fell over the crowd like a blanket of snow. So much so that Sesshomaru felt his claws cut from his fingertips in preparation. Elder Haito kept eye contact with Sesshomaru and seemed completely unfazed except for his tail that peeked from it's robes. The hair stood on end and demonic aura bled from him like waves against the shore. It was broken by the loud bellowing laugh of Elder Mojai.

"A feisty one you have Sesshomaru. You did not alert us of another mate."

"Nor a living heir." Daisaske said.

"You didn't exactly give him time, did you." Inuyasha said. He stroked the tuff of his pup's hair when he squawked at being ignored. "Kiddo is only two days old."

Elder Daisaske looked at Inuyasha, she seemed to see right into his mind. Inuyasha was used to this though, having lived with Kikyo and Kaedae for years, and stared back unblinkingly. She smiled.

"A good one this one is Sesshomaru." She reached over. Inuyasha stiffened as her aged claws drew within touching distance of the pup. Sesshomaru wrapped a hand around Inuyasha's waist and pulled him flush against his frame.

She paused but did not retreat. "May I touch the pup?"

Inuyasha readied himself to tell her exactly where she could touch when Sesshomaru drew close to his ear.

"Let her."

Inuyasha brought his foot down on Sesshomaru's clothed foot to let him know exactly what he thought of that suggestion. In retribution Sesshomaru tightened his hold hard enough that Inuyasha began to feel an ache under his ribs. He ignored this. To the dragon he nodded. He watched with razor-sharp eyes as she continued and gently drew her claws through the pups hair. His pup stared at her with a strange expression Inuyasha didn't think pups could manage so young. He didn't bite her though. He would hold that over Sesshomaru later.

"He'll be a sight for sore eyes. A calming to the tension in these lands. What is his name?"

"Shinjiro," Sesshomaru said from behind him.

"Well then, Lord Sesshomaru." She straightened. "We'll be taking our leave - not too far. Am I assured into assuming we may take up in the castle walls? There is still much to discuss, even with such great news."

"Of course, The Council is always welcomed here."

She nodded. "Good, good. I trust Healer Fuyuki will be kind enough to lead us to our rooms."

The healer that Inuyasha had completely gazed over broke from the shadows and bowed deeply. "Of course, Elder Daisaske."

"Well we'll leave you all for the moment. It must strain on your instincts having strangers so close to your newest member." The Council drew together and began to follow the healer to the grand doors. The Dragon demoness turned just as the guards held the doors open.

"It was nice meeting you Prince Inuyasha, you do remind me much of your father."

When the doors slammed behind their retreating backs Inuyasha tore away from Sesshomaru.

"You almost broke a rib, asshole."

"And you," Sesshomaru spat furiously. "Have just signed us to a very interesting millennium together hanyou."

"Eh?"