Sesshomaru strode into his father's study where his father sat looking over some official correspondences and writing out replies, brush in hand, not bothering to look up when his son entered.
"Father," the demon lord inclined his head respectfully.
He had approached in silence, had pushed open the door silently, he'd wondered briefly if his father perhaps hadn't heard him enter until he'd spoken.
"Sesshomaru," Taisho replied, eyes focused on what he was writing; kami, kanji gave him a headache, "Haven't you ever heard of knocking?"
Taisho was well aware of the moment Sesshomaru had entered, his sharp ears having heard the whisper of the silk he wore and the soft rustle of his long hair; who did the pup think he was? Did he forget who trained him?
"Consider it retribution," his son returned, "for teaching Inu Yasha that it was unnecessary to knock on my door."
"I assume you are here for a specific purpose," Taisho said, continuing with his work, "Not simply to interrupt me as payback for something that happened years ago."
"The half-breed Naraku," Sesshomaru said by way of answer.
Taisho looked up, his full attention on his older son, then laid his brush aside and rested his elbows on the desk he sat at, fingers intersecting so his head could rest on his hands, looking at his son expectantly.
"I was wondering when you would feel the need to fill me in," he stated before waving a hand for Sesshomaru to continue, "What are you waiting for, a written invitation?"
Without further ado, Sesshomaru proceeded to tell his father all he knew regarding the Shikon Jewel and Naraku, recounting his own encounters with the troublesome half-breed. Predictably, when he'd finished, his father rose from his desk and strode over to the wardrobe standing against the wall, opening the doors to reveal his demon-bone armor. Taisho pulled his haori, which he'd left open showing the red kimono he wore underneath, closed, tying the white sash around his waist before pulling on and fastening his breastplate. Clawed fingers deftly and swiftly tied his red-and-purple sash at his waist.
"I want it understood, Father," Sesshomaru stated as the Dog General donned his gear, "I do not deem your aid necessary," his father paused, his golden eyes glancing over his shoulder at his son, "However, it would make the battle against him easier. He is familiar with Inu Yasha and my techniques, he does not know those of you or your sword."
"From what I understand, Sesshomaru," Taisho declared, swinging his pelt onto his back, "Naraku is no longer merely a nuisance. He is a coward, devious and cunning, but a coward nonetheless. At first, he sent puppets to do his bidding and pull the strings, keeping himself safely tucked away somewhere. Now, as his power grows, he does not hide behind that puppet as much. His ability to manipulate and bend others to his will, as well as his cunning, made him dangerous. Now that is paired with growing power, which makes him a very real threat. You came here for the purpose of keeping me in the loop, knowing that I would give aid without you asking for it. You may wish to believe that you can handle Naraku yourself, but the reality is you know you can't, that's why you've finally come to me."
Tightening the straps keeping his gauntlets and spiked pauldrons in place, he pulled So'unga from its stand by the wardrobe, and slid the fearsome blade into place across his back before turning to face his son, dark silvery ponytail flowing behind him.
Sesshomaru smirked, inclining his head to his father as the larger demon came to stand before him, all but glowing at the impressive sight before him, proud that his father finally remembered himself: the Dog General had returned. It had been many years since Inu Taisho had donned his armor, had been seen in full battle regalia, he'd almost forgotten how imposing a sight he made when he was prepared for battle. He stepped to the side to allow his father to lead the way, relishing in the feeling washing through him, an eagerness at the prospect of fighting at his father's side in battle for the first time since Inu Yasha was born. Stepping out into the open air, Taisho and Sesshomaru took on their true forms and raced to where the young demon lord had left his retainer and his ward to wait for him, the two white dogs running at full-speed side by side. Taisho let out a growling howl as adrenaline rushed through him, as if to announce his return to the world around him or warn this new enemy that he was coming for him. Even so, it was nightfall before the two demons approached Sesshomaru's camp some ways away from the castle, shifting to their human forms before walking into the firelight, Rin standing and greeting her lord with a smile before running to embrace Taisho's leg. While Sesshomaru gave her a brief pat on the head in acknowledgment, Taisho knelt to wrap an arm around her in a one-armed hug before rising and ruffling her hair.
"Sesshomaru," he said, "Go and fetch your brother. The time is come for the two of you to forget your petty feud and unite against a common enemy. Make sure he realizes this is not a request and 'no' is not an option."
Nodding, Sesshomaru turned and strode off into the night to locate Inu Yasha and his pack; for now he followed his father's orders and yielded to him as alpha, but only for now. Once the two brothers were in the same place and working together, he knew the Dog General would yield to Sesshomaru's authority and allow his sons to lead the way since they knew the enemy.
Morning came, Kagome rising shortly before everyone else (except Inu Yasha) to prepare breakfast before Inu Yasha herded them back to the road to look for jewel shards and Naraku. Inu Yasha however was still up in his tree grumbling about the chat with his hated half-brother a few days before, Kagome shaking her head and wondering why her friend obsessed over things for so long. Like she didn't, that math test, for example, coming up in a week... that she didn't study for... yet... crap! She began throwing together breakfast for everyone, blissfully unaware of anything amiss, vaguely aware of her friends rising from their respective places until Inu Yasha leaped down, landing right behind her. Jumping, she turned to snap at him but stopped seeing that Tetsusaiga was out and hearing his growl, before noticing that Sango had her Hiraikotsu in hand, Miroku with his staff, and Shippo snuggled up on her shoulder. Only then did she feel the demonic aura, a shiver going up her spine, and she knew that aura from the many times she'd encountered it before so she wasn't surprised when Sesshomaru stepped into view and stopped, gazing at them with that cold, amber gaze.
"Whaddya want now, Sesshomaru?" Inu Yasha snapped, displeased with seeing his older brother again so soon.
"You are to follow me," Sesshomaru said.
"What?" the half-breed asked, hardly believing what he'd heard.
"All of you are to gather your belongings and come with me," he tried again, sighing irritably, "Now."
"Like hell!" his brother snapped.
"'No' is not an option," he returned.
"I didn't say 'no', I said...!" Inu Yasha began.
"I heard what you said," the Ice Prince interrupted, "This Sesshomaru is not deaf. I also understood your meaning. Unfortunately, this is not optional. I have come to collect you and your pack and I will do so."
"Make me!" the half-breed challenged, smirking.
"I have neither the time nor the patience," Sesshomaru sighed.
"Ha!"
"Do not look so triumphant, little brother, it is not becoming. I have neither the time nor the patience to deal with your insolence, so do not tempt me. For if I must force you, I will. So do not dare me to 'make you' or I will take you up on your invitation and you will not enjoy it."
"I'd like to see you try!"
"Inu Yasha...!" Kagome hissed.
"Relax, wench," her friend assured her, "I've got Tetsusaiga, he won't even touch me."
"Hiding behind Father's fang, as usual," Sesshomaru snidely remarked, brushing his hair off his shoulder.
"I ain't hiding behind the old man's fang!" Inu Yasha snapped, "I could take you without it!"
"Ugh, Inu Yasha!" Kagome groaned, recalling every time her friend had faced his brother without the sword; it never ended well.
"Very well then, little brother," his older brother grinned, baring his claws, "Then put away your blade and I will accept your invitation to 'make you'."
"Fine!" Inu Yasha swung Tetsusaiga to the side, the fang reverting to an old rusty blade, before returning it to its sheath.
Kagome just put her head in her hands; Inu Yasha had just played right into Sesshomaru's hands and he didn't even realize it, how could he be so thick? Miroku and Sango began packing up their meager belongings in anticipation of the outcome as Kagome did the same and hefted her large pack onto her back. The two brothers circled each other briefly before, in a flash of white, Sesshomaru was gone from sight and then pushing Inu Yasha to the ground, one hand at his throat, straddling the hanyou before removing his hand from his throat and pressing an index finger to his brother's head.
"Get up, little brother," he challenged, smirking.
Inu Yasha tried, but his older brother's index finger held him firmly in place even while he struggled to get up and shove him off, a string of obscenities leaving his mouth as he grew frustrated.
"Do you yield?" Sesshomaru asked, entertained by the half-breed's efforts against one finger.
"Never!" Inu Yasha growled, continuing his efforts.
"Accept your loss and yield," the taiyoukai said.
"No!" the younger sibling replied.
"You realize you will never get up."
"Ha! You're only holding me with one finger!"
"And you have yet to rise against it."
"You'll see!"
"Yield, Inu Yasha."
"FINE!"
"You yield?"
"Yes, I yield now get the fuck off me!"
Sesshomaru rose, letting Inu Yasha up, and turned to walk away from the half-breed as it occurred to Kagome that what she just witnessed was Sesshomaru's version of "Say Uncle." As she was about to rise from where she'd been sitting, Inu Yasha charged at Sesshomaru's back, slamming into his older brother and sending the two of them tumbling. Somehow, Sesshomaru ended up on top, pinning his half-brother to the ground, settling his legs on top of Inu Yasha's after Inu Yasha saw fit to try to kick him off.
"A most dishonorable move, little brother," Sesshomaru scolded.
"Honor ain't got nothing to do with this!" Inu Yasha snapped.
"I noticed," his brother returned, "Father taught you better than this."
"Doesn't he ever learn?" Shippo asked from her shoulder.
"If he did, we wouldn't still be sitting here," Kagome replied, "If he keeps it up, I'll just sit him into unconsciousness and let Kirara carry him."
"You really wanna go with him?" her kit looked at her wide-eyed as the brothers continued into another round of "Say Uncle".
"Of course not!" she said, "But obviously we don't have a choice, so I'd rather just get this over with."
"I SAID I YIELD DAMMIT"! Inu Yasha suddenly yelled.
Apparently the brothers' conversation, something similar to the first had continued as Shippo and Kagome had talked without the priestess having noticed and Sesshomaru had yet to let him up despite Inu Yasha having yielded. The full-blooded demon rose and again walked away from his brother as Inu Yasha sat up, arms crossed and a petulant pout on his face, looking like he had no intention of willingly moving. Apparently, Sesshomaru was familiar with that tactic as his Mokomoko wrapped itself around Inu Yasha, who began yelling and kicking before the end covered his mouth, and dragged him along behind the Demon Lord.
"Come," he called to his brother's pack.
They followed along behind him, retracing his steps leading back to, they assumed, his own campsite, a fierce scowl on Inu Yasha's face as he was dragged along behind him, Kagome trying hard not to laugh at the sight.
"Sorry, Inu Yasha," she said after he growled at her, "But you got yourself into this."
Sesshomaru led them on a much more direct path back to where he'd left his own little pack, having had to track them during much of the night before finally locating them and settling himself in a tree to wait for morning. So while his search for them had taken quite awhile, their trek back wouldn't take anywhere near the same amount of time and he was eager to get back so surely the humans could wait until they reached their destination to rest since they'd likely be there awhile.
They walked for a few hours in silence, Sesshomaru preferring the quiet while Inu Yasha's companions remained uneasy in the company of the Western Lord so opted not to say anything, though Kagome was trying desperately to think of some way to break the uncomfortable silence. From what she'd seen before, Sesshomaru wasn't quite as cold-blooded and emotionless as he seemed, Rin was genuinely fond of him and he clearly cared for her and he'd once come to save Inu Yasha from himself. That must mean he cares about his little brother, right? Suddenly, Sango and Miroku stiffened as a shiver swept up Kagome's spine as they felt a powerful demonic aura, one more powerful than even Sesshomaru's. Sesshomaru himself strode forward, barely taking notice of the surge of youki as he'd grown up with it his whole life so it was familiar and even comforting to him, his demon tail snapping forward, sending Inu Yasha rolling forward to sprawl at a pair of familiar blue and black boots. His eyes followed those boots up to the pair of legs clad in white hakama, his glare intensifying as his gaze traveled up to meet the warm, amber orbs of the boots' owner. Growling, he shot to his feet, ignoring the demon before him and turning to face Sesshomaru who stood quite serenely with his arms tucked in his sleeves.
"You brought me to him?!" he snapped.
"You are surprised?" Sesshomaru asked with a tilt of his head, "You think you are here because this Sesshomaru wants you here? I am offended by your presence alone, no, you were brought here under his orders."
"If I'da known that...!" Inu Yasha began.
"Hence why I said nothing of them being his orders," his brother returned, "He made it clear to this one that you were to be brought here and it would not be optional."
"Ooh, big bad Sesshomaru still afraid of Daddy?" the half-breed mocked.
"Afraid? Iie, he does not scare this Sesshomaru," the lord replied, "He has my respect and I know well enough not to go against his wishes. He is still greater than this one and I have no desire to challenge him when defeat at his hands would be a certainty. And if you wish to continue mocking me, then you will suffer your own defeat by my claws."
Stop mocking me or I'll kick your ass! Kagome mentally translated. She was so focused on the two brothers, going at it again apparently, that she had yet to take notice of the figure standing silently behind them until her curiosity about this 'him' and 'he' got the best of her. Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped at the sight of the imposing demon Inu Yasha had his back to, realizing it was the aura of this demon they'd felt as they'd approached.
Clearly male and very masculine, the demon was several inches taller than Sesshomaru, easily towering over the humans before him, his build slightly bulkier than that of the taiyoukai. His dark silver hair was tied back in a ponytail, waving bangs hanging in his face, thick black brows lowered in a glare over warm, expressive golden eyes. Jagged, purple stripes graced his cheeks, a crescent moon of slightly lighter tone marking the center of his forehead, a bright red marking along each eyelid. Spiked pauldrons covered both brawny shoulders, forearms and wrists protected by gauntlets that covered the back of his hands, decorated with a pattern of charcoal and pale blue, the same pattern on boots much like Sesshomaru's. He also wore predominantly white, but where the pattern on Sesshomaru's haori was red, his was a pair of blue stripes, one thicker than the other, that extended to his shoulder, the kimono he wore underneath a dark red. The sash at his waist was a dark red and purple and tied a bit differently and not coming down as far as Sesshomaru's, an off-white pelt over his back unlike the fur wrapped over the older brother's shoulder, with the hilt of a sword visible over his right shoulder. Power radiated from him, his youki flaring to brush against Kagome's own reiki, perhaps in response to her miko powers or perhaps to test them, but it seemed subconscious since the demon seemed wholly focused on the two brothers before him. Kagome took an involuntary step back, now closer to Miroku and Sango, while poor Shippo quivered under her curtain of black hair, still staring wide-eyed and slack-jawed at the imposing and very intimidating inu youkai before them.
Growing frustrated, the demon grabbed Inu Yasha by the back of his fire-rat coat, and threw him to the ground behind him even as he drew Tetsusaiga from his scabbard, the blade instantly transforming, in the same move, the fierce growl rumbling in his chest silencing the protest Inu Yasha had opened his mouth to give. Never had Kagome seen Inu Yasha so quickly and effectively silenced by anyone, human or demon, and she was equally amazed that this strange inu had been able to draw the great fang that had transformed immediately at his touch.
"Enough," he growled, throwing the blade into the ground once he saw that the half-breed yielded to him as alpha.
He'd been content to stand and let his sons go at it and bicker with, even threaten, each other for awhile, but he wasn't going to allow it to go on forever and after more than fifty years, he was quite fed up with his younger son's hostility towards him. He uttered a warning growl, baring his fangs as he did so, both to re-establish himself as alpha and to warn the half-breed against challenging a higher ranking member of the pack. Inu Yasha slowly rose, his head turned to the side, baring his neck in submission, though he glared at the older, larger dog demon from the corner of his eye. He had submitted to his alpha, but that did not mean his anger had abated or that his defiance was quashed and he knew the demon before him was aware of that. Kagome had immediately rushed to her friend's side, hands on his shoulders, as she turned a wary gaze to the very irate-looking inu, unsure of what to make of what just transpired between the two.
"Inu Yasha," she muttered, "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, yeah," he replied with his usual gruffness, shrugging her hands off, "I'm fine, wench."
As she continued gazing up at the demon that the two brothers didn't seem at all disturbed by despite the all-powerful aura he had yet to rein in, it dawned on her that he looked like a combination of both brothers. His features were very masculine, much like Inu Yasha's only older, unlike Sesshomaru's softer, more delicate and almost feminine features, but the resemblance even to the older brother was there nonetheless.
"Inu Yasha, who...?" she began softly.
"What the hell do you want anyway, old man?" he snapped.
"Do NOT call me that!" the older demon growled with a snap of his teeth.
For a brief moment, Inu Yasha recalled the last time he'd said that to his father, having a good chuckle at the old dog's expense, but this was vastly different. This time it was not said in that strange sort of half-whine, it was growled out in anger with no trace of good humor in his tone, with a snap of his teeth for good measure. Though he was no making no attempt at respect and had no intention of it, Inu Yasha hadn't expected such a response from his normally good-humored father, a sure sign that the temper he'd inherited was just below the surface. His sire was quite thoroughly pissed, though that was probably putting it mildly and such degrees of anger in his old man were few and far between and Inu Yasha had always hated it in the past when he was this angry.
"Wait..." Kagome got out after a few moments of looking back and forth between them, "That's your dad?!"
"What of it?" Inu Yasha snapped at her.
"But your dad was the..." she gasped, looking back up at the former lord, who raised his head to look down at her, "Then this is the Inu no Taisho?"
"So?" his ears twitched irritably.
"Everyone said he was dead!" she exclaimed.
"Yeah, well, the rumors of his death were slightly exaggerated," Inu Yasha replied, "As you can see, the old man's still kickin'."
"Watch it, pup!" his sire growled again.
"Yeah, yeah," he grumbled, arms folding in his sleeves as he glanced away, "Whaddya want?"
"To talk," he answered.
"Ain't nothin' to talk about," Inu Yasha said.
"There is much to talk about," Inu Taisho returned.
"Yeah, well I got nothin' to say to you," the half-breed snapped.
"Why?" a voice said, "Why're you mad at Inu-Papa?"
Inu Yasha glanced down, shocked to see a little girl peering from around his father's leg, hands entwined in his silk hakama.
"Who the hell're you?" he asked.
"Inu Yasha," Kagome said from behind him, "I think that's Rin, the little girl that's always with your brother?"
"Rin," Taisho said, the child looking up at him, "I think there's some flowers over there."
He pointed a clawed finger toward the edge of the clearing, the little girl gasping in delight before taking off to find them.
"C'mon, Master Jaken!" she called.
"Rin!" the imp took off after her, "Wait for me, you foolish girl!"
The child didn't need to see what was about to happen between father and son, she wasn't old enough to understand, so hopefully that would keep her busy. Inu Taisho did love small children; they were so easily distracted.
"Inu Yasha," he said slowly, his anger fading, leaving his grief and pain to color his tone, "There is much to discuss between you and I, but you are here to discuss Naraku."
"You bastard!" Inu Yasha whirled on Sesshomaru who sat at the base of a tree, eyes closed, "You actually dragged him into this?!"
"You were warned, half-breed," Sesshomaru muttered.
"Ain't your business, Pops," Inu Yasha growled, turning back to his father.
"Perhaps not," he replied, crossing his arms, "But from where I'm standing and from what I've heard the final battle draws closer each day, and it seems to me you could use the help. If he could've been dealt with sooner, you would have no need of my aid in this, I've no doubt you and yours could have defeated him yourself, but as it is..."
"Oh, so you're sayin' I slacked off, is that it?!" his younger son growled.
"Far from it," he went on, "This kumo made certain that while he was still weak enough to be easily disposed of, he remained safely hidden away. Nothing you could've helped, he was quite thorough in his plans against you, doing all he could to ensure you wouldn't get to him and always with an escape route just in case you did. Yes, Sesshomaru came to me concerning Naraku, now I come to you since you have fought him longer and have more information than your brother."
"Well you ain't getting it from me!" Inu Yasha snapped, crossing his arms and turning his back to him.
An unwise move as he was quickly knocked to the ground by Taisho's fist colliding with his head, the big dog standing over him, his eye twitching.
"Only expose your back to a corpse, pup," he lectured through grit teeth, "And NEVER turn your back to me! You forget your place!"
"Whatever!" his younger son yelled, jumping to his feet, "I ain't telling you nothing!"
"Inu Yasha!" Kagome yelled, "If you won't tell him, then I will!"
"You wouldn't dare!" he challenged.
"Oh wouldn't I?" she asked, hands on her hips, "Why not? We could use all the help we can get and if you father's truly as powerful as everyone says he was... ugh, is!... then we could use that on our side! So what's the problem?"
"Miko," Taisho called.
"Eep!" she turned to look at him, "Yes?"
"What is your name, little miko?" he asked.
"Kagome," she got out, "Are you really the Inu no Taisho?"
Again he raised his head, tilting it slightly, and looked down at her, a proud gleam in his eye, "I am. Taijiya?" he called to Sango, his eyes locked on Kagome, as the huntress bowed, "Your name?"
"I am Sango," she replied, then gestured to the fire-cat in her arm, "And this is..."
"Kirara," he all but purred, a small smile gracing his features, "Yes, I remember her from Midoriko's time. And you, Lord Monk?"
"Miroku, Honorable Dog General," Miroku bowed.
"And who are, little one?" the Dog General turned his golden gaze to the fox hiding under Kagome's hair.
"I'm Shippo," he got out, coming to stand on her shoulder, puffing out his little chest.
"A kitsune," the dog demon chuckled, "Intriguing. How did my half-breed son come by such a pack?"
"It's a long story," Kagome sighed, still on edge around the demon that sired both Inu Yasha and Sesshomaru.
"Not you'll ever hear any of it!" Inu Yasha snapped, drawing his father back into his foul mood.
"Dammit, Inu Yasha..." Kagome began.
His amber eyes dropping to the beads around his son's neck, Taisho tilted his head, "Inu Yasha... what're those?"
"SIT!" she finished as though her friend's father had never interrupted.
WHAM!
He winced as the half-breed went crashing to the ground, "Oh. That's what those are."
"I told you, Inu Yasha," she said, leaning over his prone form, hands on her hips, "If you won't tell him, I will and if you don't like it, then I will say it again."
Although she was still nervous about this new demon, Kagome had seen the hurt in his eyes in the face of his son's continued rejection, heard the pain and grief lacing his voice as he spoke to his younger son. She wasn't yet sure what to make of him and while he was Inu Yasha's father, he was also Sesshomaru's, so he could be just as lethal and cold-blooded as his older son as she had yet to determine what traits the brothers had inherited from their father. Although it was clear where the two got their tempers, she'd also seen when they'd arrived that he might be as haughty and pompous and icy as Sesshomaru, though clearly he was much more expressive about his emotions.
"'Scuse me?" she took a step toward the large demon, his gaze turning to her, "I didn't catch your name."
"That's because I didn't throw it," he replied with the sarcasm both sons showed a propensity for, "I am called Inu Taisho, but Taisho will do."