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"talking"

'thinking'

"Memory"

"Never look back unless you are planning to go that way."

― Henry David Thoreau

Chapter 9

Sesshomaru could tell Inuyasha was nervous from the anger rolling off himself in heavy waves.

'He probably thinks that I am angry with him for leaving my living quarters without permission and going to the library alone. I am merely upset with him and furious at my mother and Zurui about the incident in the library but it is understandable he is curious about his new home, I need to find an appropriate companion for him. Jaken will not be suitable.'

Inuyasha fidgeted more and more as the uncomfortable silence continued.

'I am in so much trouble now why couldn't you just listen to Onii-san he said he would show me around once his meetings where done for the day. Now he will never trust you to be by yourself that you will need a babysitter at all times. He better not put that ugly green toad thingy in charge of me. His voice alone was irritating.'

Sesshomaru sighed rubbing his forehead in agitation before turning to address Inuyasha.

"Inuyasha you need to be more careful when you adventure out into the palace. I have yet to set the palace staff and nobles in place that you are my brother and will be treated with respect."

Inuyasha attempted to make himself even smaller than what he already was.

"You are not in trouble I just want you to be safe in our home. Now will you please relax and talk to me about what happened in the library?"

Inuyasha uncurled slightly and shifted to faces his Onii-san.

"I left your room to explore, well the first room I discovered was the library. I was never allowed in the library at Ojii-san's home. A book on herbs caught my eye so I sat on a cushion near the window. I am not sure how long I read before Zurui arrived with my breakfast."

Sesshomaru's eyes widened as he reached for Inuyasha.

"Did you eat any of the food she served you?"

Inuyasha slowly nodded yes.

"How do you feel?"

'She could have hidden poison in the food as well if he ingested any of it I will need to call the healer immediately.'

Sesshomaru asked as he placed his hand on Inuyasha's Forehead to check for a temperature. Inuyasha grabbed his hand and pulled it away from his head.

"I only smelled the poison in the tea. I have had to learn to detect poison in my food and drinks, the maids at Ojii-sans were constantly trying to poison Oka-san and I."

Sesshomaru slowly pulled his hands from Inuyasha's grasp. Sesshomaru quickly pushed the pity and sorrow for Inuyasha aside. It would do him no good only make him feel bad.

'He will have a better life here I will make sure of it'

Inuyasha looked down into his lap.

"My Oka-san learned from an old healer in the local village about some herbal remedies and other things just in case because the palace healers wouldn't heal my Oka-san or myself because of what I am. So she learned some basic herb ology to heal herself but also me. She thought it best if she taught me as well she started with poisonous plants and their antidotes. I saw that book and felt closer to her and wanted to continue her lessons I got so caught up in reading and remembering my lesson with Oka-san. Zurui caught me off guard, I let my guard down it won't happen again.

'I forget often of where he last lived. Those humans were fools as I once was towards this child.'

Sesshomaru sat next to Inuyasha one the bed and pulled him into his lap.

"No Inuyasha you should be able to let your guard down in your own home. Please be patient I will ensure that everyone here will respect you and not harm you or they will be dismissed from their post."

Inuyasha looked up into Sesshomaru's face as he looked down.

"You would do all that for me? Why?"

Sesshomaru's eyes glazed over, remembering of how they once were sort of enemies.

"Kagome"

Kagome curled in on herself holding the Tessaiga in front of herself.

"Inuyasha help me"

"So fragile don't you think little brother? Not just humans half breeds as well."

Inuyasha growled angrily and lunged to attack Sesshomaru in retaliation of killing kagome. After being thrown around by Sesshomaru Inuyasha lands in front of were kagome was melted by the poison. Gaining straight and anger Inuyasha again lunges for Sesshomaru.

"This is for my mother and this is for Kagome."

Inuyasha had managed to land both hits and break his armor. Sesshomaru remembers that incident very well and later after adopting Rin and Kagura's death he greatly regretted his actions. Inuyasha would have felt the great loss of his first friend and second love.

Sesshomaru shook his head from the memory and answered Inuyasha.

"Yes I would. I have already let a bond slip through my fingers because of my pride and my Prejudice."

Inuyasha opened his mouth to question who he was talking about. Sesshomaru shook his head.

"No it doesn't matter now I have lost that chance long ago, I have a chance to make things right by you so I am grabbing this chance and not letting go. Now please tell me the rest of what happened this morning?"

Inuyasha turned sideways in Sesshomaru's lap curling up into his warmth.

"Well she acted real cheerful and friendly but as soon as I confronted her about the poison in the tea she grew angry and stated she would have to rid of me the hard way. She also said that after she killed me and freed your mind from your blindness her and her mate would be promoted for saving you. She slapped me across the face her claws got me as well. As she raised her arm to stab me another arm appeared and stopped her from harming me."

Inuyasha turned slightly to see Sesshomaru's reaction to the next little bit of information.

"It was your Oka-san she had the guards escort her out for you to deal with and turned to me to tend to my wound. She tended to my wounds then reminded me that our lunch with her would be soon and that I should get back to your room to prepare."

Sesshomaru stood and placed Inuyasha on the bed and knelt in front of him looking into his eyes that so reminded him of their father. Gently grabbing the younger demons shoulders he pleaded.

"Inuyasha you need to tell me what she said, I need to know if she means harm towards you."

Inuyasha grabbed his Onii-sans elbows, he was still too little to reach his shoulders.

"She doesn't mean me any harm I know that for sure. Last night I think she was just upset of seeing the child of the lover that stole her mate. Because I Have fathers blood in my veins she won't hurt me. Now we should get ready for lunch or she will hunt us down."

Sesshomaru was shocked to see how civil his mother was being to Inuyasha. As soon as they walked into the garden where they were to have lunch she patted the cushion next to her. Inuyasha didn't hesitate for a moment and moved towards her. Before sitting down he bowed to her.

"Thank you for helping this morning and for bandaging my wound."

The lady reached up to his cheek and pulled the bandage away to be shocked.

"Your face is already healed?"

Inuyasha sat on the cushion and began to explain that he heals faster than a human but not as fast as a full demon. The meal passed amazingly smooth with no major problems.

"Inuyasha if you are done eating you can explore the garden, but do not leave my sight. "

Inuyasha immediately jumped to his feet to run off and play.

"Just a moment child."

Inuyasha skidded to a stop and turned to her.

"A proper young demon asks to be excused from the table."

Her eyes were well hide from Sesshomaru, he couldn't see the teasing tone in her eyes meant for Inuyasha. Inuyasha immediately caught on to her plan.

'She is trying to get a rise out of Onii-san. This should be fun.'

Inuyasha glanced towards Sesshomaru to also see his reaction.

"Mother we had this argument last night Inuyasha is not your responsibility. It irritates me to say this but she is right you are forgiven this time but please remember in the future to excuse yourself from the table before you leave."

Inuyasha's ears drooped in shame.

'Oka-san taught me manners and I have forgotten to use them. I have shamed Oka-san'

Sesshomaru reached over and pulled him to face himself.

"You are not in trouble Inuyasha but you do need to learn and practice manners so the lords and ladies won't have leverage against you. That you are just a uneducated mongrel that doesn't belong in high demon society."

Inuyasha rubbed his arm in embarrassment.

"I know weren't angry with me, it's just that my Oka-san taught me manner and I shame her for not remembering my manners. I will get better at remembering them. May I still explore the garden?"

"Yes you may Inuyasha while you are exploring look for a place to build a shrine to place your mother's ashes."

Inuyasha lighted up at the prospect of finding the perfect spot for his mother's resting place. Nodding he turned to the dowager and bowed then bowed to Sesshomaru and ran off to explore.

"I have to thank you for saving him this morning mother."

Sesshomaru stated to his mother before turning to her and pierce her with a glare with the promise of a slow painful death.

"But if you had anything to do with Zurui attacking him I will kill you. What was your reason for saving him and why were you there just in time."

The lady turned to meet her stubborn sons glare with one of her own.

"I figured you sent the child away to interrogate me and accuse me of interacting with that traitor Zurui. For your information no I did not have anything to do with the attack on that boy. I saved him because he is just a child. Your father's child, he is the spitting image of him. I couldn't see your father die again even if it is a ghost image of him in his son. As for why I happened to be there in "time" to save him is because I thought he would still be in your room but when I found that he wasn't I was curious as to why. So I followed his sent to your library. There I saw him with a book in hand staring warily at that phony woman when I saw her slap him I entered the room and when she pulled a sword on him I flung her away from him. You have my side of the story believe me or not it is up to you now if you excuse me I have more important things to do then to sit here and be accused of attacking a child. Good day to you my lord son."

The lady stood bowed and angrily stalked off to her quarters, to start looking into colors and fabrics for Inuyasha's new room.

Sesshomaru stared after her warily.

'She is up to something I can feel it. I believe that she didn't have anything to do with today's attack, but she could be plotting in another way. I will need to keep a close eye on her and keep Inuyasha far away from her. Speaking of Inuyasha I should go and see what kind of trouble he has gotten into, as well as if he has decide where his mother's resting place should be. I also need to see if Kimu will be willing to provide a companion for Inuyasha. I will deal with that tomorrow'

Motioning for the servants to clean up he turned to locate Inuyasha and head in for the day.

Well I am sorry for the really long wait. Life just becomes crazy to the point where you lock yourself in your room to recover for a few days. Well let me know what some of your theories of what's going on and your input please I love reading your reviews it really inspires me to continue this story.