Inuyasha had been calculating for this moment. He had watched each of his other two children file out of the house and back and listened for them to return to sleep before he made his move. He was not to be interupted. Normally, when he and his wife traveled alone he was able to make use of some remote corner of the forest or meadow to suit his purposes but Kagome had decided it would be fun to go as a group with Sango, a troublesome monk, and that smart ass young fox.

For "Old Time's Sake" she said. She seemed completely oblivious to the fact that he, with no provocation or nesessity suggested a trip to a fairly random distant location to "get herbs and stuff."

He was really hoping that some sort of challenge would unfold along the way, give him a chance to slice something in half and that he could have some precious alone time with his mate to get a little feral, but now, he was willing to settle for 10 uninterupted minutes. She was starting to wake up to his subtle attentions to her neck. When she mumbled 'good morning' his hands were finding the buttons to her nightgown.

A jangling staff knocked at the door while an overly cheerful familiar voice rang out: "Ohayo gozaimasu!"

Inuyasha's eyes darkened and a murderous look crossed his face as the twins each emerged from their rooms to see what Miroku-uji-san wanted at this hour.

Kagome got up and swiftly put on a pink fuzzy bathrobe before parting the door and inviting Miroku inside.

"Mah mah, I could have slept the day away today! Excuse the mess, we're not awake yet! What brings you here? everything allright I hope? Tea?" Kagome was already in the kitchen measuring out tea to boil for her family's breakfast. An action so practiced, she could very well still be asleep.

"Tea would be wonderful Kagome-sama, if you are already at work, but do not trouble yourself for my sake. I've been up since an hour before sun up myself." Miroku seated himself on the floor across from Inuyasha and seemingly produced a tea cup from nowhere.

"Good morning friend. Make yourself at home" Inuyasha muttered a bit poisonously.

"There are no formalities amongst friends" Miroku smiled beatifically. Kagome appeared briefly and handed Miroku the tea jar to serve himself.

"I will be forthright. One of the farming families lost livestock in the night. My house was roused from sweet slumber, I was deprived of the soft warm embrace of my marriage bed and..."

Inuyasha propped himself up on his elbow and cracked his claws menacingly.

"... we investigated and tracked the culprit and we think it best to turn him over to you."

"For punishment?" The man of youkai blood raised an eyebrow.

"no, to your custody. I think you will be most amused when you see him. And I believe only you can confirm or deny the identity of the perpetrator... ah... many thanks Kagome-sama." The Priestess had returned with hot water and was passing the morning tea out to her family while sausages were beginning to sizzle in the kitchen behind her.

Inuyasha sat all the way up and finished his entire cup of tea in one gulp, ignoring how it scalded his esophogas on the way down before wiping his mouth on his shirt sleeve.

"I truly, and completely hate you bozue."

"I know my friend. I know" Miroku replied sympatheticaly as he slowly sipped his tea.

When the Inu family arrived at the taijiya compound, a small spectacle had evolved. The child was still bound from the morning with the ofuda across his mouth. Shina was standing nearby chatting with one of her peers while Teijo was standing over the smaller bound boy, chanting sutras.

Miroku jangled his way over to the scene and said in his speaking-patiently-to-small-children-and-animals-voice: "Teijo-kun, the little youkai boy is not posessed, he is merely agitated."

Teijo slowly swivelled his head in his father's direction, cross as being interupted. "I know that. I am 'merely' trying to relax him."

"Ah..." The monk sought to turn his attention elsewhere. "Ne, Inuyasha, what do you think of what we pulled out of a tree this morning for stealing cows?"

"I could tell a league away. It's his whelp alright."

"Yes, such a distinctive birthmark that crescent on his head. But we needed to hear from you to be sure."

Inuyasha sniffed once again.

"What the??? no... hell no... that can't be right. Theres no way he would..."

"It seems he did Otosan." Masuhiro, the eldest twin spoke up.

"You too Inuko?" Inuyasha queried.

The silver haired daughter nodded.

Inuyasha shook his head in amazement. "Take the seal off."

"Who did what?" Kagome inquired as her teenaged twins glanced at her knowingly.

Inuyasha leaned close and whispered something into her ear and her eyes widened, the child heard it, but had never heard the word the one they refered to as Inuyasha used before. He craned his neck to hear more until Sango unceremoniously pulled the ofuda off of his mouth.

"OW!!!!"

"Did that hurt? I am sorry little one."

"HOW DARE YOU TREAT ME IN THIS MANNER! I DEMAND YOU RELEASE ME AT ONCE! I AM ON A MISSION! I-"

"I changed my mind, put it back. he talks just like him too."

"Inuyasha!!" Kagome jabbed her husband in the ribs.

"Mah mah, no one here will hurt you. We just want to talk with you and help you go back to your family" the miko soothed.

"Do not address This Engetsutaro so informally Ningen. I carry the blood of great youkai rulers. Furthermore you will not be permitted to delay my mission." The child crossed his arms and looked away from them.

Inuyasha stifled a chuckle. Kagome patiently tried again.

"There there... I bet I know who your Oyaji is..."

"Chichi-ue would have nothing to do with the likes of you people."

"I wouldn't say nothing" Inuyasha piped in.

"What is your Haha-ue's name little boy? I bet she misses you..."

Engetsutaro thought for a moment. "My Haha-ue's name is Haha-ue."

Inuyasha rested his chin in his hand as he studied the boy. "I'm amazed he made it this far unharmed. A boy the way he is... But I guess we keep the lands out here a lot cleaner than they were when I was young."

"Yes, to be sure" Sango agreed. "Sesshomaru must keep his land swept clean of upstart youkai as well for him to arrive with nothing more serious than an empty stomach."

"And we can all clearly see why." Inuyasha added with finality.

"DON'T TALK ABOUT ME SO CASUALLY AS THOUGH I'M NOT HERE!!!!!"

Mikiko let go of her sister's hand and shuffled over to the Engetsutaro and popped the sucker she was eating into his mouth. "Please stop yelling little boy, we're all talking with 'inside voices' now."

His eyes glowed dangerously as Inuyasha broke out in a guffaw.

He was laughing so hard that the children were starting to think he'd lost his senses. After a few moments Inuyasha rubbed his eyes and composed himself.

"So, " he chuckled again. "What is the plan?"

"I've taken the liberty of trying to get word to the father" Sango answered.

Inuyasha nodded. "Who did you send?"

"Shippo-san went." Inuko piped in. "Shina and I were talking" she finished lamely as all eyes were on her.

"He has the best connections" Miroku stated. "And he has speed on his side. Word is much more likely to get through by way of him than any medium one of our taijya could procure."

"Agreed." Inuyasha stated, "So we will just wait for Sesshomaru to come collect his property." Inuyasha crossed his arms and put his hands in his red sleeves. "I'm so glad that's settled. I'm going home and going back to sleep now..."

As Inuyasha turned to leave, Miroku blocked his way with his staff.

"Matee, matee Inuyasha. I believe it is your duty, nay, your privalege to escort your guest home with you."

"With me??"

"Yes, with you. We all discussed it and find you to be a very aptly suited foster parent for the boy."

"You're not terribly fond of your ability to reproduce are you?"

"My hair is already coming out.. do you think I cherish more worries?"

Engetsutaro had never been so insulted.

He had been dragged around the human village like a bound up game animal. His blood flared and riled under his bonds but he could not break the binding enchantment on them no matter how much he struggled or cursed to himself. The worst of it was that no matter how ferocious he intended to appear, halfwit human children and women kept cooing about how adorable he was. Imagine! him CUTE! As though he were a stray puppy or something. Completion of his self imposed mission would be all the sweeter. Executing said mission however, was proving more difficult than he anticipated.

"Jaken, it is true that my honored father notices strength. Who is the strongest opponent Chichi-ue has encountered?"

"Well, that would most undoubtedly be Naraku, who earned the Master's ire by seeking to use the great Lord Sesshomaru as his pawn."

"But Naraku is now dead, you have said. Who now remains as father's greatest living enemy?"

The imp lord seemed lost in thought

"I suppose, that would be Inuyasha."