A/N: This one had a few good days put into revising it so I hope you enjoy reading it!

~ * ~ This chapter was revised. ~ * ~


Chapter 11: Memories

In the western lands …

In the old castle, the once great lord Inutashio was alone in his study. In the silence that surrounded him, his thoughts traveled back in time to the day he first saw her. It had been after years of mourning his late mate, Sesshomaru's mother. A warm day in spring, the day all the blossoms seam to bloom in her memory. It marked the last day of the mournig period he had set for himself. That day had caught him skipping from tree top to tree top across the land. His late mate had made him swear to find their son a mother before the Tensaiga had failed him. The daiyoukai slowed to a stop and looked around at the whirlwind of sakura petals. He shield his eyes from the velvet assault. His dark gold orbs settle on a shadow, a little ways from the hut on top of the hill. He crossed the distance in one powerful jump and landed silently next to her. His breath hitched in his throat. She was beautiful... yet sad. His curios nature got the better of him. He slowly crouched much like a dog.

" Why are you so sad on a day like this, human?" he asked her in the softest voice the rumbling in his chest would allow. Her eyes widened for a moment. Then hid her face behind the sleeve of her long sleeved kimono even if she couldn't pull her eyes away from him.

" Why do men think they can fix everything?" an eyebrow arched to accompany the question. Inutashio couldn't keep in the rumble as he laughed. He stood and summoning his cloud of youki he left, dragging a rain of sakura petals over the woman. The next day he spent studying the onna from the other hill. Then from the shadows in the sunset for over a week. The woman clearly knew he was there. She made it her goal to keep her beauty hidden from his curious eyes. The last night he had spent looking at the stars above from beneath the sakura branches in the place that smelled most of her. He had decided that he will talk to her again in the morning.

"I guess it's because of the trust women show them..." he answered turning on his side, back facing her as she walked the well worn path to the stream. She giggled at the disheveled appearance he was. She turned her back to him and hid behind her sleeve when he looked over his shoulder. "You haven't answered my question..."

"Perhaps with another occasion..." she whispered picking up the basked she would use to gather herbs. He ruffle his hair, growled and stood walking after her.

"At least you name!" he whined as the day came to an end, leaning against a tree. She stood, basket full of herbs in one hand as the other pull at the silver hair tie holding her hair in place. The silk slipped through her fingers from a gust of wind and floated in his direction. He caught it easily and their eyes met briefly. She blushed, sheltering her face from the long shreds of black hair blown around her. He cleared his throat.

" Izzaryo." she smiled at him for a moment and then turned to watch the hills again. He was hypnotized. He sat back down in the grass so he would not do anything stupid. That night he had returned home to his young son. He had happily claimed to have the other half of the silk hair tie. Intrigued he had put the two strips next to the other and his eyes widened in surprise. Since the birth of Sesshomaru, his mate had worn her hair tied up in two side ponytails... except for the day she died. She claimed them as being a parting gift with a friend. His hand closed over the two hair ties.


" Why did it have to be you?" he asked a few days later. His eyes were narrowed and a growl passed his lips when she stared at the matching hair tie. Her eyes filled with tears and he panicked. "Look I'm not accusing you or anything like that!" he hurried to say. She blinked and hid behind her sleeve.

" I don't know..." she whispered suspicious as to how he had gotten a hold of those hair ties. He sweat dropped and sunk to the ground. His eyes whipped to hers at her pleasant laugh. "...but I'm glad you're exactly as my friend described you." he blinked up at her and shot to his feet.

"Really?"

"Yes. Impatient, emotional, persistent, brash, childish, an incredible hothead..." she continued as he crossed his arms and sulked. Then she laughed, torso leaned forward and head slightly to the side. "...but also easily deceived and honest to a fault, caring and dependable, honorable and just." he blinked surprised at her smile. She sighed dreamily. "It's no wonder she fell for you..." she let the words hang and walked back in the direction of her hut. He hurried to walk besides her.

" You know I'm a..."

" Demon?... Yes. What a silly question..." he cleared his throat.

"What are you doing here?" she looked over her shoulder, one hand on the door mat.

"Waiting..." and she left him there. He remained around for a few more minutes before leaving.


"Waiting for what?" he startled her the next day. He grinned at her expense. She huffed and rouse to leave, he followed persistently.

"Ugh!" her temper raised to the surface showing on her cheeks. As he had followed her all day and kept popping his head over her shoulder ruining her concentration in sorting the herbs. She turned around to face him so fast he barely managed not to fall back. "You're impossible!" she started, dropping the basket. "I was told that I was special, that my seed shall be strong and that it would protect and love the innocent one of the eight generation of the Higurashi family." he blinked thinking of his friend.

" Who told you this?" his face became serious.

" The old miko." she crossed her arms and glared at him from beneath her long eyelashes. "She stopped training me years ago and told me to wait on this damn hill till the day all the blossoms bloom together to ease my lowliness since the year my friend left." a hand went to her forehead as if trying to soothe a headache. He stepped closer, she glared breathing elaborately. " And the only other breathing soul to have walked under these trees is you." she blurred it all out poking him in the chest at the end. His heart skipped a beat and he nearly purred. Then she whirled around and stomped her way unladylike back to the hut. She almost reached it when his hand clasped hers gently.

" Then, will you end my lowliness today?" her eyes narrowed, pulling her hand away from his grasp.

" You want a human as your wife?" her hands clenched at her sides. "Because I won't become a whore, not even if my life depended on it. I will not dishonor my friend so." the seriousness never left his features and his eyes hardened even more.

" Yes. I want you..." he took her hand in his again and brought it up palm touching palm. "...as my love..." he intertwined their fingers. "...as my life..." her eyes widened when he took out the long waved silver ribbons. "...my wife..." he tied it around their joined hands. "...and mate." breath left her chest and her knees went weak as he turned and kissed her hand. He easily caught her and held her to him. Head leaned on his chest, she let out a sight of relief.

"I know, I love you too." her eyes rose to his with a little help from the fingers under her chin. His lips descended over hers softly. That had been the night his second son had been conceived.


Then his mind traveled to the day Inuyasha was born. He entered the room and he was greeted by a weak but happy smile. Sesshomaru was there putting more wood on the burning fire. Inuyasha had been born on the winter solstice while he had been away to settle a dispute between lower human lords. As he walked forward, his hand rested gently on his eldest' crown proudly. Then he continued and sat in the open space near his second mate. The place smelled strongly of Sesshomaru. His chest swelled at the protective attitude he had shown.

" Inutashio, we have a son." she whispered drawing back the silk sheet to reveal a fuzzy silver head and flickering dog ears. He bended and kissed her forehead.

" He's beautiful. What do you want to call him?" he asked to repay her for her great efforts in giving birth to his son. She wasn't all that young as she looked. The thought of what could happen had kept him on his toes all this time.

" Inuyasha... Do you want to hold your son?"

" Of course." he nodded. Izzaryo handed Inuyasha to him. He breathed in his scent and was happy to find just small traces of it as it had efficiently been covered by Sesshomaru's. He eyes shown with pride towards his eldest and he gave a nod of his approval. Sesshomaru nodded back and quietly left the room. He knew his eldest was very tired and had been fighting sleep till he was sure he had arrived. "My son, Inuyasha." he whispered as his mate too gave in to fatigue, head resting lovingly against his chest.


He smiled at the memory. He felt fortunate remembering how Inuyasha grew, his sons first quarrel, his first steps, his first word in human language, till the day he last saw him and everything came crashing down.

He was in the dining room with Izzaryo when Inuyasha came screaming through the open door. He could hear the hurry in his small feet from the other side of the castle.

" Dad! Dad! Sesshomaru says I'm not coming!" he whined and his wife hid a giggle behind her sleeve. The mirth in her eyes told of how similar she considered them to be.

" He's right." he nodded with a sigh. He moved the tray of food to the side and opened his arms to his youngest. He climbed in the nest his crossed legs made before he continued protesting.

" What?! No! I wanna come too." he whined a note higher than before. His golden eyes moved to his wife and mate. Inuyasha apparently thought he could get his way as his mother did. She shrugged innocently and nodded to the servant taking her tray away.

" You'd get tired, and besides I want you to take good care of your mother for me." he said with a smile, hand petting his head. Inuyasha crossed his small arms over his little chest. Ears flickered in concentration as he thought it over.

" Oh, okay." he gave in. Ears lowered in sadness but eyes sparkled happily that his father trusted him with the safety of his mother so he didn't protest any further. "But next time I come too." he said jumping to his own feet then turned holding out his pinkie like his mother often did. "Promise?" he took to compromise as his brother thought him. His eyes looked accusingly to his eldest as he walked inside the room. He arched an eyebrow and shares a simple 'hn', then walked the rest of the distance to Izzaryo. He bowed respectfully and sat on the spot she patted next to her. Her hand lovingly combed through his banks so that his blue crescent moon showed proudly. "WELL?" Inuyasha asked impatiently. He chuckled.

" I promise." he pinkie swore nodding. Inuyasha received a big hug to seal the deal. He then put his hand in his pocket and took something out.

" Here. I made this for you, dad, so you won't forget mom, Fluffy and me when you go away. Sesshomaru helped a little bit." his small fingers showed the height a flea would have. Sesshomaru crossed his hands and pouted but otherwise remained quiet. Izzaryo kissed his cheek and pulled him into a hug. The tightness in his features relaxed as he took the opportunity to bask in her love.

" I'll keep it near my heart. Thank you son." he scratched a silver ear earning a light purr from Inuyasha. Sesshomaru stood, bowed again and waited. Inuyasha glared at Sesshomaru then stuck out his tongue and pulled at a lower eyelid to spite him. His eyes narrowed and he grinned running off to play in the garden. Izzaryo slid gracefully on the wood floor and closed the distance between her and her husband.

" I wish you'd take Inuyasha with you as well." she set a hand on his arm. His larger one covered it.

" Sesshomaru's right, it would be too much for him." he shook his head remembering how much trouble they have gone through after Sesshomaru's birthday ball. Inuyasha had been so tired he couldn't even fall asleep. not to say the apnea episodes he developed from crying so much.

" Still I'd feel better to know him with you." she insisted as she fist her hand in the silk of his sleeve.

" You'll be fine. Don't worry we'll be back in four days." he brought her hand to his lips. She whimpered softly, head bowing. "You can handle things here on your own." he assured.

" Dad we should go now before Inuyasha hates me more than he already does." he said looking away from the two. Inutashio nodded at his son's embarrassment.

" Go ahead. I'll be right there." he waited till he was out of the room to kiss his wife good bye and then followed Sesshomaru out side the house.


And the last memory was the most painful. Inutashio played in his mind the scene when he found out of Izzaryo's death and Inuyasha's disappearance. He became sad, pain hitting him again.

"She knew, dammit!" his beast growled in response to his emotions. "She knew, but I didn't listen." he whispered and hit the the wall near the window. The image of his wife's pained and horror-stricken face, tear smeared and bruised permanently fixed in his memory. A knock at the door prevented him from making anymore damage and pulled him back from the darkness. He drew a deep breath, combed his hair back and straitened his clothing before answering. " Yes?" the door opened and a short haired servant bowed respectfully.

" Lady Kaiya is here to see you, sir." she informed.

" Send her in." the servant bowed again and invited her in. "Ah, Kaiya how nice to see you." he smiled warmly.

" Hello, Inutashio. How have you been?" she asked clearly seeing how that smile didn't reach his dark circled eyes.

" Good, you?" he nodded for the door to be closed as he invited her to take a seat.

" Not as good as you." she said customary to their routine. It just didn't go well with the atmosphere inside this cold dark study.

" Let me guess. Kikyo won't get married?" he chuckled lifting the tension a bit as she sat with an unladylike thud. She sighed and shook her head smiling.

" Neither would Kagome or Souta." he sat across from her on the other large silk pillow.

" I see, so what should we do today? Planning or counseling?" he said putting the tetsubin to warm up a bit of tea for her. The nights in the northern study remained chilly even in mid summer. He wouldn't want a runny nose Kaiya on his hands. She tended to be more emotional than usual when sick.

" Planning. I'm determent to marry Kagome so I need your help to find a good match." he nodded and sighed. So she too considered his lost son Kagome's perfect match.

" Alright, who are the candidates?" he asked crossing his legs, resting his chin in the palm of his hand, bent elbow on his knee and the other relaxed over the other knee. Kaiya smiled sympathetically and picked up the parchment.

" Well, the first one is..."