Chapter Four:

Sesshomaru flinched as his father's deep rumbling voice echoed angrily through the Grand Hall, "You have never been allowed to leave before your lessons were finished! And you haven not ever been able to exit the palace walls without notifying someone, like me or your mother. It has been this way since you were a newborn pup!" Inu no Taisho's golden eyes flashed as he approached his youngest son. "So what in the name of Almighty Kami were you thinking!?"

InuYasha stared at the ground pretending to find something of interest by his bare toes. His father touched his shoulder and InuYasha glanced up into the angry face of The King. InuYasha's shoulders slumped and he looked to where his mother sat. Izayoi's hair was down and loose around her face, which blocked it from InuYasha's eyes. He could feel her disappointment rolling off of her from where he stood.

"Pup, I know that you have never lived beyond these walls, and that you feel stuck having to learn the stories of your lineage, swordplay and battle tactics. But you and your brother have a duty, a responsibility." Inu no Tashio pause searching for his next words. Sesshomaru sneered at the word brother but refused to both correct and interrupt. InuYasha, however did not have half the brain Sesshomaru did, and mutter, "You mean half-brother Father." Sesshomaru's eyes widened, and he heard Izayoi suck in a breath. She had always been disappointed in the behavior between the two boys. She especially hated it when one or the other brought up the half-brother statement.

Toga heard his second wife gasp and chose to breeze over InuYasha's rude attitude. But instead continued ranting, "And Kami forbid it, but your brother may die, and you will inherit the throne." The Great King sighed knowing his youngest would not learn so easily. "InuYasha you are not to leave the palace without two guards and without asking me. I will pick your two guards and they will be yours only. And because we need your every move watched they will be with you even in the palace walls. Also you are receiving a new tutor." InuYasha groaned, rolling his eyes. As if he needed another one of those. "And furthermore-" Toga words died in his mouth as Sesshomaru moved from behind his mother throne to put a hand on his father's shoulder. Toga glanced at his eldest son, his surprise evident.

"Father, I think that InuYasha and you can continue this after the evening meal. I am sure he has learned his lesson for now. And if not…" Sesshomaru smirked dropping his hand. "But Mother and Izayoi grow restless. And I am getting hungry."

Inu no Tashio nodded slightly, "I forgot myself. Forgive me, I did not intend for my anger to get away from me. You boys simply mean the world to me." He motioned for the women to stand. "InuYasha we will speak later, in the study, after dinner." Toga offered his arm to Izayoi, who took it solemnly and looked to her son to follow the couple. "For now, we eat as a family."

Sesshomaru gave a small smile to his mother as she took his proffered arm. Sesshomaru glanced at his mother from the corner of his eye as they follow behind everyone else. Mira held herself to the seemingly impossible standard of perfection. Which she maintained with ease. Mira's white hair was brushed back and pinned into two twin tails on either side of her head; that even while tied up reach beyond her waist. She never had a single hair out of place. Her pale skin, smooth and flawless. Her clothing matched her skin, even with the seven layers of kimono on. They were never wrinkled or disheveled in anyway.

So unlike that noble's child he'd seen earlier that day.

Mira noticed her son's eyes studying. Sesshomaru never had relied on his parents for long. He had grown up far too quickly for that. Mira missed the days when she heard his pleas for help as he ran around the palace, bare foot. Or his squeals of delight when he had discovered something new.

"What is it my son?" she asked, brushing away the memories. She could reminisce later. Sesshomaru's startled face lead her to believe there was something he wished to speak about. Something that was unsettling him. "Sesshomaru, what is wrong?"

"How did you know there is something wrong, Mother?" Sesshomaru asked softly.

"Sesshomaru, I am your mother. I held you as a babe, I picked you up and comforted you when you were scared. I have raised you and known you your whole life. No matter how hard you try and hide your emotions, I can always and will always be able to read you my son."

Sesshomaru nodded, "Today at the square—"

"So you were there!" Izayoi said from beside them suddenly, "I had thought that you were. I am glad that you returned your brother to the palace Sesshomaru." The black-haired queen smiled at the prince she'd adopted as her own. "I understand that you and InuYasha have your differences and I am appreciate that you are willing to overcome them for the sake of this family."

Mira and Izayoi shared a look they both knew the stress of trying please everyone in the family. Mira and Toga married for the situation, for the treaties and maintaining peace. However not long after Mira and he married, Toga met Izayoi. Being a king with an illegitimate son is frowned upon so Inu no Taisho married Izayoi to improve the life she and the unborn child had. No one seemed to have ever been the wiser about the whole situation.

"Mother, Izayoi you both knew the Higurashi Lord and Lady yes?" Sesshomaru began pausing to watch as both nodded. "I met their children today..."

"Mira, the girl and boy. The hanyous... The ones that used to attend before Lord Higurashi remarried after Lady Jomei's death." Izayoi gasped she remembered them well. Mira nodded she had been close to Lady Jomei.

"What about them Sesshomaru?" Mira asked.

Sesshomaru took a deep breath, "Mother, I saw them in the market looking worse off than slaves. Do you know anything about this?"

Mira hissed and stopped walking. She glared daggers at him. "What are you saying? That their stepmother is forcing them into work?" Mira huffed, and her pretty face contorted into rage. "I've long know Lady Kagura to be a kind and gentle soul. However, those children... If she really is forcing them into slavery… By Kami, I strike her down with my own hand."

Izayoi looked shocked by the youkai's outburst, "Sesshomaru, your mother and I were close with Jomei, and we often sat together during council meetings." Sesshomaru nodded. He could remember the angel faced girl with white ear atop her head giggling and playing with InuYasha. "You must find out what in the seven hells is going."

"What are you three going on about now?" Toga smiled at the trio. His smile disappeared quickly as he noticed Mira's face. "Mira? What's happened?"

"Sesshomaru saw the Higurashi children." She hissed.

"Oh! And how is Miroku and Kagome?"

"They were dressed as slaves, Father." InuYasha said. "Kagome was in the market and I bumped into her. She's terrible at hiding her aura from people. I knew she was," he paused searching for the right words. "Like me in seconds. She looked piss poor and had bruising on her face."

Toga looked stunned as the words set in. He had abolished slavery with the end of the Great Wars. And to hear that a woman was treating people who were supposed to be her children in such a way. He growled, now understand the look on Mira's face. He too had adored those two halflings.

"Sesshomaru. You will tell me more over dinner and after we will figure out what is to be done."

"With no solid proof we cannot step in." Mira reminded him.

"I know. But this will be figured out." Toga snarled before entering the dining hall.