Chapter Four: Trees are Good for Troubled Sleep
"Inuyasha! Inuyasha!" Small voices rang out jofully as the hanyou made his way down towards the village. In a mood, he had spent the night out in the forest. The twin girls Aiko and Aimi, who belonged to Sango and Miroku, were still young enough to pull on his sleeves excitedly as he made his way to the village. Their little brother Katsu hopped right up onto Inuyasha's back and reached for his ears.
"Oi," Inuyasha grunted as he lifted one arm, which held a giggle Aimi, to swat at Katsu.
"Children!" Miroku's calm voice broke the giggling as the monk stode up the hill to meet his friend. "Leave Inuyasha alone. Why don't you all go play in the stream? I believe your mother was planning on doing some washing this morning."
Inuyasha sighed gratefully as the young ones squealed in glee and set off towards the stream. He raked a clawed hand through his thick hair distractedly.
"Fourth night," The monk said amiably as he turned to join Inuyasha as he walked down the hill.
"What?" Inuyasha asked.
"You've spent four nights in the trees. You haven't slept in the trees since Kagome was around. Anything bothering you?"
"Keh, nothing's bothering me." Inuyasha growled, "Cut it out Miroku."
"Alright," Miroky responded evenly. "But if you ever—"
"Wait," Inuyasha stopped in his tracks, nose twitching, "Do you smell that?"
"Inuyasha...I am human, remember?"
"I smell the bastard."
"Your brother is coming?"
"My half-brother." Inuyasha corrected.
A moment later Sesshoumaru could be seen cresting the hill, with Jaken, Rin, and Ah-Un in tow.
"Oi!" Inuyasha called out as the group neared them, "I thought you said you weren't coming back."
"Apprently I was mistaken," Sesshoumaru responded smoothly. "Rin, go find those children. Perhaps they would enjoy picking flowers with you."
"My children, Aiko, Aimi, and Katsu," Miroku cut in with a little bit of a bite to his voice, "Are playing in the stream with Sango. I'm sure they would be happy to see you, Rin."
"My Lord," Rin began, looking upset.
"Go." Was the only response. With an angry huff Rin set off in the direction of the stream, casting dark looks over her shoulder.
"What did you do that for?" Inuyasha asked. "She looks mad."
"What she looks like is of no concern to you," Sesshoumaru replied. "I have something I need to discuss with you and the monk, in private."
