• Italicized= thoughts •*within asterisks= sound effects* •^^Within these= flashback^^

•"-sama"= confers great respect; like "Lord/Lady" •"-chan"= used to express endearment, mostly toward girls. Also used for little boys, pets, even lovers; sense of childish cuteness; like English "-y/-ie" •"-san"= common all-purpose honorific equivalent to Mr., Miss, Ms., Mrs.

• Chichi-ue= archaic polite form of "Father" • Oyaji= informal form of "father" like saying "old man"
• Otō-sama= Very respectful form of "Father" • "Anmaa"= Okinawan dialect form of "Mother"
• "-nii"= "Big brother" i.e. Onii-chan, Nii-sama, Name-nii, etc
• Oba-chan= Affectionate form of "Aunt"
• "Bōcchama"= Young master; "chama" is from "-sama" •Ojō-sama= Very respectful way to address a young lady, like "Miss" like in the way of a master

After Tomorrow- Chapter 6: Muuchi

~~Night~~

"Where's Sesshōmaru-sama now?"
"I heard he's at the other side of The Estate."
"But why does he hate that woman so much?"
"It's something to do with his father…"
"Apparently, he refused to even leave that room until she was gone!"
"—Bōcchama was practically ready to tear that door down himself!"
"That would've been a sight…"
"—What kind of sight is that for two blood brothers to fight each other?"
"I heard that the Izayoi-woman didn't know Sesshōmaru-sama even existed."
"—Oh, Mikazuki-sama woulda yanked 'em by the hair if they did try an' fight!"
"You mean she didn't know he had another son?"
"—He almost ripped Roshi-sama trying to get an answer from him!"
"—Didn't they have to drag him away?"
"There's just so much hot blood in this family…!"
"Where are the Masters now?"
"I think they're in their secret room having a meeting…"
"D'you think anyone's gonna get killed?"
"Either the brothers go at it or Grandpa's losin' it."
"—Or maybe Sesshōmaru'll go straight for the woman-!"

"Ah-hem! Everyone!"

The servants disband gasping, "Muōka-san!"
"We were just-"

"Quiet."

They hush.

The Head Servant stands there with his back straight, arms crossed and expression firm, "What manner of ignoble and menial behavior? – Gossiping like indolent mollycoddled women! That's unacceptable for those who serve this mighty household, least of all under such circumstances!"

"Muōka-san, we're sorry! It's just that-"

"I don't want to hear it," he lowers his arms, "We have our orders. Lord Sesshōmaru bids that those who serve him will not serve the older human woman Izayoi; and that those who serve her, or those who are in frequent contact with her, will not even so much as approach him unless they have rid her scent from their person. It also appears that Inuyasha-Bōcchama doesn't want to catch many whiffs of his brother.
"Lord Sesshōmaru also asks that none of you lay neither a harmful finger nor speak a disrespectful word to the little human girl-child Rin or else. As you should know, mi'lord is far from a merciful and compassionate soul. Do you understand?"

"Yessir!" they bow.

Muōka turns to leave but stops and looks back, "Right, one more thing…" he raises his eyebrows, "When in our Dear Masters' presence," he narrows his eyes, "Do not bring up anything about their problems. Do not ask them what they are or for details – nothing if it serves your mere curiosity!" he hisses.

Baring his fangs, "And don't let them catch you gossiping! And don't breathe a word to the humans about any of this. The only words you will tell them regarding the family are ones that will allow them to understand their place in comparison to them," he walks away.

"Muōka-san, but what about the wives? Don't they have-?"

"It doesn't matter if they're spreading their legs for our Masters-!"

*gasp!*
"Sir!"

"That should be of no importance…"

He lowers his eyes, "You have to be beyond blind to not see that things are falling apart here… Don't make things worse; it's our job to keep things stable. Besides, things will get far worse before they get better… Have some decency."

~~In the secret room beneath The Estate~~

The spacious room's floors are made from a spotlessly polished black wood. The shōji doors are made with the same but with intricately carved designs, and with clean white paper. The door handles gold in the shape of a fallen crescent, with diamond-shaped chains hanging from them ending in round bells. A door adjacent to it, a closet, is of the fusuma variety, and on it painted an image of a green island surrounded by clear ocean and painted flying in the skies a white dog.

In the alcove, a fine transparent colored vase filled with red flowers, seemingly frosted over to keep them in bloom forever, or maybe they're made of glass…?

*ting* the vase wobbles.

"Otō-sama, I promise, I'll take care of this. You don't have to-"

"The hell I don't!"

Taishō's been backed against the wall by his own father who stands there with his wavy hair spilled across his face and shoulders in a wild mess. His eyes are the color of the seas and spread open wide, "Roshi, what the hell did you – what kind of damn mess did you leave behind when you died!"

Taishō turns away closing his eyes, "He was… he got upset about Izayoi – I don't know why, at least I'd like to think it wasn't only because…" He opens his eyes, "But that fact that after all this time… I thought he would've moved past this after my tests but he hasn't-"

*Kah!* grabbed by the collar, he's slammed into the wall! *Kree—esh!* the vase tips over and breaks.

"You lying brat!"

"Mika!" his wife cries.

"…Otō-sama–"

"You're lying you're lying! Or at least you're not telling me the whole truth…"

"It's best that you don't know everything Father. Too much drives a man mad."

Everyone looks to Akiyo whose sitting against the closet door with his sword leaning on his shoulder. He looks calm, "Don't fret so much; Rosh'll take care of it."

Grandpa lets go, "You know… don't you?"

Grandma, her hair down as well now, "Aki, please, it's just us here… What do you know?"

He looks at her, "Anmaa…" He looks down, "Just leave it. It's going to be taken care of…" he eyes his brother, "Right?"

Taishō nods.

"No… you're not anymore sure of this being resolved than he is…."

Akiyo looks away.

"We weren't brought back, from whatever the hell did this, to be broken family. Whatever you both know… fix it."

Taishō barely has a chance to catch his breath before his heart jumps at the sound of his father stomping a foot to the ground, "What're you waiting for!"
He swings his arm pointing at the door, "Go FIX THIS!" he roars.

Both men leave, the bells chime, leaving only the parents in the room.

Grandpa slumps to his knees despairingly. "…Harm isn't supposed to enter this estate," he says in a quiet raspy voice.

Grandma sits by him placing a hand on his shoulder but he keeps staring ahead, "You know the barrier can't expel harm once it's inside…" She tries to give a reassuring smile, "Thing are going to get better Mika."

"I don't believe you…" Her smile fades. Only his eyes turn toward her, "but you can keep telling yourself that if you want."

~~Outside~~

Taishō and Akiyo have gone through the halls and doors and now walk on the verandas outside. They say nothing for awhile.

While carrying his sword with his right, "What're you going to do about Sesshōmaru?"

*sigh* "I need to him to explain why-"

Akiyo turns his head sharply, his near perpetually calm and sleepy face having given way to anger, "You didn't fix things back then did you?"

"Things didn't get any simpler after you died…"

Akiyo grabs him with his left, "That boy worshipped the ground you walked on!" He lets go roughly, "I tried to make you see, and now you're showing me that you haven't? I better not have died for nothing!"

"…Forgive me, uh–" He shakes his head, "I tried to arrange some things for the better in case of my death and I was hoping that…" his shoulders slump, "but I guess not."

"I think he knows."

"Sesshōmaru? Wait, then…"

"You have to take care of this. Now."

"If Sesshōmaru knows then Otō-sama–"

"He's going to find out anyway! It doesn't matter what we do – you know how he is…! The only thing that's going to stop him from finding everything out is if he dies. And you know how he'll react… But if you mend things with Sesshōmaru, then maybe the fallout won't be as bad…"

*nod*

Akiyo shuts his eyes, "Damn it!"

"Akiyo?"

He grabs the bridge of his nose, "The entire estate is gossiping! Your kids are at each others throats and…" he exhales and drops his arm, "and you didn't deserve to die."

"Aki-nii…" he puts a firm hand on his shoulder, "I'm sorry, about everything."

~~At the Northern edge of The Estate~~

"Lord Sesshōmaru used that Kuroshin* didn't he? I've only seen it once before," says Rin.
(*Black Shield)

"Sesshōmaru-sama has been fine-tuning his mastery of his swords these past three years. Don't think he's just been sitting idly by all this time!" responds Jaken.
He figured out how to summon Tenseiga's shield according to his will for you. Lord Sesshōmaru said it's the same shield that Tenseiga used to protect him of its own will that time he was struck by the Wind Scar, which was the same moment when Tenseiga transported him to the very forest where he met Rin.

"Jaken-sama, why is Sesshōmaru-sama so upset?"

Jaken begins to sweat, and trying not to worry Rin, "Oh that? Well~ he was just a bit stunned, but he's not as upset anymore-"

Outside the door, where Sesshōmaru had stepped out to earlier, they hear a retching sound.

"Eh…?"

Sesshōmaru's leaning over the railings. He wipes his mouth with his sleeve- Damn, this hasn't happened since Father died…!

"My lord?"

He turns around to find Jaken and Rin standing there.

"It's nothing," he looks away.

Jaken, "Mi'lord, did you just…?" Oh! 'Vomit' is such an ugly word…!

"It's nothing," he says more sternly as he enters the room.

The two give each other worried looks.

~~Meanwhile, around the Southern area of The Estate~~

Inuyasha is alone with his mother.

"Why didn't your father tell me he had a son?"

"Ofukuro, don't you remember how he spoke to you awhile ago?"

"Yes, but…"

"You probably would've wanted to meet him to be nice, but I bet Sesshōmaru would've tried to kill you as soon as Oyaji turned his back! Heh," he lies on his side, head supported by an arm, "I can't blame him for not wanting to introduce you to him."

"…Is he really that bad?"

"He's hated humans for as long as I've known him, and just as big of a jerk too."

"Inuyasha… how long have you known Sesshōmaru?"

"Nnn…" he scratches his cheek, "since I was little I think…"

Izayoi stares at him confused.

Inuyasha sits up again, "He… he'd visit… sometimes. When you weren't there to see him."

"Someone was visiting you…"

"Huh?"

She smiles gently, "When you were very small, once or twice, you told me that a boy in white visited you, and you simply referred to him as Se."

"Oh… Well he didn't visit as much anymore after he told me he was my brother..."

Izayoi looks up at him.

"He wasn't… caring either. After you died, he didn't…"
^^ A little Inuyasha reached up crying but he was pushed away, but he kept trying to grab hold until he was finally smacked to the ground ^^

"I'd rather not talk about it," he looks away.

~~Back in the room where Sesshōmaru's staying~~

*knock knock* "Sesshōmaru?"

Sesshōmaru stares at the door thinking about whether he wants to answer, "…What is it?"

Behind the door, Taishō smiles relieved, "Can you come out for a moment?"

Another pause.

"I'll be right back," he tells Rin and Jaken. He leaves the room and looks at Taishō for a moment. They walk into another room.

"You look a little sick."

"It's nothing."

"When you are sick, it is not 'nothing.' You should get treatment for that soon… and calm down."

"Hmph, after being reminded of what happened back then, how can I?"

Taishō narrows his eyes, "You know, don't you?"

Sesshōmaru turns around, "Is that all you came for? To tell me to be quiet?"

"…Are you going to tell?"

"I'll leave that to someone else."

END OF DAY 2

DAY 3
~~Morning~~

The gang (minus Inuyasha), Myōga and Tōtōsai are gathered in the room.

Miroku, "We've been away from the children for quite some time…"
Sango, "Should we return to the village?"
Kohaku, "Maybe we could bring them here?"
Kagome, "Considering what's happening here… Ugh, I don't know if we should stay or leave!"

Myōga, with crossed arms and closed eyes, says "You should probably stay."

"Hn?"

"Although they are his family, the only people Master Inuyasha knows are his mother and Sesshōmaru. If things go wrong… it'd be better if he had people who he trusted here with him."

Shippō, "But then don't we still have to go back to get the kids?"

Tōtōsai, "Or the servants could bring them."

"But how do we call them?"

Myōga shrugs, "Whistle."

One of the gang tries it and like that the door opens and there's the Head Servant, "Yes?"

"Would it be okay if Sango-chan's and Miroku-sama's children were brought here?"

"…" Muōka calmly smiles, "Yes, that would be fine. I'll get someone on that." He tries to leave but—

"Wait! We need to tell you where the village is!"
"I could show the way."

He turns around, "There's no need. I'll have swift and sturdy transportation sent to the land of Musashi for Akiko, Houko, and Kouji* I'll even have motherly women to hold them."

Sango, "…Wh-what?"
Miroku, "How do you know that? How do you know their names?"

Everyone stares on in surprise except the two old demons.

The servant keeps smiling, "It is our duty to investigate where little Inuyasha-Bōcchama currently resides to ensure that it is… in his favor. That it's good for his well-being~!"

"You… you've been spying on the village?"

"Oh no, we wouldn't call it 'spying'! We're just keeping an eye on things~ There are eyes all across the lands that The Family owns – actually, there are also eyes outside the property, in those other lands owned by those other lords, so that way we know what they're up to and can always be a step ahead," and he keeps smiling a dead doll smile.

"Well… we may need one of you to accompany them. We need that old woman Kaede to know that they're with Bōcchama." *nod*

~~In Kaede's village~~

Kaede watches the children play with the other children when suddenly there's a chill down her spine. She looks back at the torii gate but there's nothing there.

She squints at it. No, nothing. No aura. She walks off following the children.

There, looking out over the village, standing at the top of the torii gate, one dressed in a black cloak and hood with a blue jewel set within a gold plate buttoning it. A bird like the one that brought the message to Sesshōmaru sits at their shoulder. Although their face is covered by the hood's shadow, a grin shines through nonetheless, "Hnf."

The wind blows and the person and bird fade away in what looks like streaks.

Shippō, "H-how much do you guys kn-know?"

*smile* "We know the old priestess Kaede was younger sister to the miko Kikyō who was guardian to that pesky Shikon Jewel before she died, and that she sealed dear Bōcchama to a sacred tree for 50 years until Kikyō's reincarnation – you, Higurashi Kagome – set him free."

"The Bone Eater's Well is apparently a portal between eras, which is what the reincarnation used to come here and Bōcchama can use it too can't he? *tilts head* then you destroyed the jewel and then some things about Naraku… we're still gathering information about that fellow~"
He waves it off, then points to everyone, "Sango, Demon-slayer, whole village destroyed by Naraku – well, all of you have ties to him I think… You're the little brother, Kohaku, something about being brought back with a shard… Miroku, some manner of cursed whole…? Shippō, attending Kitsune Inn right?"

Everyone stares on in horror, their faces pale.

They haven't even been there 48 hours yet and already… And he's just standing there, like it's the most natural thing in the world, smiling.

"I'll get things ready," he turns.

"What happened to Inuyasha? I haven't seen him since they went to see Sesshōmaru."

His smile fades as he looks back, "That is none of your business."

"What? Why-?"

"The family's situation is not for you to take part. You have no authority here except to not get eaten. Unless they allow it, you'll be told nothing. Understand, Reincarnation?"

Shippō nervously asks, "H-h-hey… what happened to that smile? Hehe…"

"Be quiet."

"Yessir!"

One of the gang's about to open their mouth to protest but- *kl-kl-klak* The opposite door opens, "Dandelion~!" cries Auntie.

She runs past the group toward the servant stopping in front of him and presenting a yellow dandelion.

"Ah, Ojō-sama, how have you been?" with a genuine smile he accepts the gift, "Thank you very much." *bows*

She smiles wide enough to show all her teeth.

"Oba-chan, what's going on with everyone?"

Auntie turns around dramatically, petrifies with mouth open in horror, and the other flower she had in her hand drops to the ground with a plop- *Gaaasp!* "Aiyeenaa!"**
"Don't say that!" She starts flailing her arms, "If you see Anmaa don't bring it up! If you see Aki-nii or Roshi-nii don't bring it up! If you see Setchan really don't bring it up! Or to Inuyo-chan!
*GAA-AASP* If you see Otō-sama…. *twitch* Whatever you do… Don't. Bring. It. Up." She brings her arms into her chest, "If you see me, especially don't bring it up!"

"Is it really that bad?"

*POINT* "Not your concern!" She spins around putting her hands on her hips, "Let's go Tampopo! The humans ask too much!"

"Yes, Madame," and they both leave.

"They really don't want us to know, do they?"

Myōga, "Absolutely not. They don't think you're worth the trouble."

Tōtōsai, "But they've probably started a file on each one of you, drawings included."

Kagome, gripping her knees, "What's up with this place…?"

"This is The Estate of the Agekkōki's, that's what it is…" Shippō says, "We shouldn't be here…"

Besides, it's not like the family knows the full situation themselves.

~~Outside~~

Muōka and Auntie walk on the grass for a while but eventually he stops, "What is it?"
They should've kept their mouths shut!

Auntie's looking down, a frown on her face, "When did things go so wrong, Tampopo?"

"…I, I couldn't really say. My apologies."

"…when I was little, I found a shirogekka* in one of the trees and I…"
(*white moon flower)

"The one they say… grants a wish? But I thought those didn't actually..."

"They do," she tries to smile, "and I, I made a wish on it like you're supposed to…" She closes her eyes, "I wished… that if ever we got separated suddenly, that one day we'd all be together again. I thought that it came true when Father brought m– but now I think that this is what it did instead…" and then the tears she was holding back rolled down her face.

He kneels down and she hugs him, "I'm sure that's not-"

"But after I died that time everyone—it wasn't even 50 years before everyone died too! *gasp* Not even 50 years…"

He hugs her back, "I know…"

She sobs, "I meant for us to see each other on the other side… not this! …w-what, what did Setchan do after everyone…?"

"He…" he looks down, "Sesshō-sama… he ran away for a little while." He inhales, "He hardly comes here anymore and… and I haven't seen him happy since."

"…Why are things going wrong like this?"

"I wish I knew," he continues to hold her as she cries, "Ojō-sama… there's a girl with Sesshō-sama. She's about your age right now. Maybe… you could ask her some things?"

"…"

"That's not what I meant!"

Akiyo walks toward Taishō, "If you want there to be actual peace in this family then you have to deal with the ugly parts first."

"But I don't know what to deal with first."

"You've always been insightful. You can figure it out."

"How do we fix what happened between us then? That can't be undone."

"That's a whole other matter altogether. Take care of Sesshōmaru first; he began acting like that even before what happened between us took place. Find out the reason behind that."

In a different part of the estate, Grandma sits hugging her knees next to an older woman.

"Hakujoō… things are going to get worse aren't they?"

The other woman has light gray hair much in the style of the dark priestess Tsubaki, black eyes, and green scales on her cheeks that curve under cheekbones. She looks old and wears a gray kimono with some scale designs tied by a dark green sash.

"What makes you say that?"

"Mika has a gut-feeling that something's terribly wrong *sigh* and he's usually right about these things…"

"What is it that people say in your home island again…? Hmm… right, nan-ku-ru-na-i-sa? 'Things will turn out alright' isn't it?"

She smiles a little, "Yeah. Nankurunaisa."

"Sesshōmaru."

"What do you want now?" asks Sesshōmaru with his back to his father.

"I want… to ask what's wrong."

"I see…" he responds with his back still toward him. "You want to know what's wrong?" he clenches his fist, "You put that woman before me."

Taishō scoffs, "You're just jealous?"

Sesshōmaru turns around, "It wasn't even a normal change in attention – you outright forgot I existed!"

"Eh-?"

"Chichi-ue, answer me this: in your final moments, did you think of me?"

Taishō, "Sesshōmaru, what kind of-!"

"Did you? Or did you only think of that half-breed and his mother?" Sesshōmaru's voice strains, "Did you even remember anyone else! How… how can some human woman who you only knew for a year or two – how can some bitch so easily replace the son who you raised for almost two hundred years? Was it all so easy to forget!"

Rin sits alone under a leafless black tree hugging her knees, her face buried in her arms. She feels a small hand on her shoulder.

"Haitai, Rin-chan."

Rin looks up to see Auntie's face. "Are you okay?" she smiles, but Rin can see that she's been crying too.

Because My Lord cannot shed tears, I shall in his place… so that he doesn't have to.

*I have extreme difficulty with creating names, often taking forever to decide and agonizing over the meaning and how it sounds. It's even worse if it's for a cannon character… so I had an idea for the names of the Kids, one that put me much more at ease because it felt… "more correct"
Japanese voice actor for Miroku: Kouji Tsujitani
Japanese voice actress for Sango: Houko Kuwashima
Japanese voice actress for Kohaku: Akiko Yajima

**Aiyeenaa= Okinawan expression of sorrow or surprise. Oh! Dear me! Good heavens!
**"Haitai"= Okinawan causal "hello" used by females

Sorry if this seems... fragmented to you but I guess this chapter is supposed to be like this...? I'll re-focus in the next chapter. Thank you very much for the reviews and faves ^-^

To be continued...