A/N: I would like to thank BellaDonnaSpencer, Esha Napoleon, ILoveInuyasha4Eva, and xRaianx for their reviews and I need to thank those that have added this to their lists. From the comments I got, I seemed to have done a pretty good job portraying the Lady Mother. Except for the fact that she was too calm about the situation. Thank you xRaianx for pointing that out. I will now attempt to fix the plot hole before it gets any bigger. Let me know what you all think.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Inuyasha characters, manga, anime, movies, etc. They belong by copyright laws to Rumiko Takahashi et al.

Her Monk

Ch. 10

She wasn't as calm as she pretended to be. The Lady Mother might have had a change of heart where her "stepson" was concerned and she didn't hate humans per say, but that didn't mean she approved of having humans in the clan. The next time she saw her real son, there would be words. He had covered for his brother and while that showed an oh so touching display of filial loyalty, she was his mother.

"Che, pup never was respectful of his elders."

"If you mean your son, you are correct. Inuyasha is another matter." The challenging voice grated on the dog demon's nerves and she turned to face a humanoid Kirara.

"Lady Kirara," she acknowledged. "I was polite, was I not?"

"Only because you sensed me. I'm sure your intent was entirely different when you arrived. I saw you knock Inuyasha over. And you knew what would have happened if you had stepped out of line. Why are you still here?"

Instead of answering, the other female demon let out her frustration. "I resent having to accept these humans into the clan, despite knowing it was not their doing. Although, that ramen did taste good…" her mind veered off track for a moment.

Kirara sighed, sweat dropping. Knowing she didn't have long before she returned to her usual form, she got to the point quickly. "Just so we understand each other. Those kittens are motherless, including Kagome while she is here. Instead of raging against things that can't be changed, you should be wanting to protect them, as any mother worth her salt would want to. Right now my Sango is afraid of the centuries she's facing, and it's all your fault. It's your duty now that she's part of your clan to guide them as I cannot. Make no mistake, I'll tear you limb from limb if you hurt them." Her threat delivered, the nekomata turned to walk away.

How dare she? Temper ignited, the Lady Mother gripped the Meidou Seki around her neck. It began glowing, its power a weapon in an enraged demon's hands. "You know the Meidou is useless against me, Lady Taisho," Kirara called back, not bothering to turn around.

"I hate cats!" the female dog demon growled when she was once more alone. It was time she searched out her son.


Sango pulled open the shoji door to let Kirara back into the house. "Did you enjoy your walk, Kirara?"

Kirara, once more in her kitten form, mewed in irritation and flicked her tails to show her discontent. She padded over to the dying fire, and curled up next to Miroku who was meditating. His eyes opened with her approach and he casually reached out and petted her. "The Lady Mother is gone, is she, Kirara?"

"Mew!" the vexed quality of the fire cat's voice clearly indicated that it was about time.

"Ah, I rather thought there was more to her attitude. She was much too calm and accepting about what had happened."

"Miroku?"

"I believe that she and Kirara have known each other for quite some time. It was likely only our feline friend's presence that saved us from what Sesshoumaru's mother truly wanted to do."

"So Inuyasha was right about her wanting to kill us."

"At the very least she wanted to punish us for "dirtying" the clan."

"She sounded so civil."

"Exactly, she was too civil. I can see her changing her mind about Inuyasha, as he has become stronger than any thought he could be, but humans… No, she was angry."

Miroku stood and went to his wife. He took her hands when he saw her become worried once more. "Will she come back?"

"No doubt, especially if she is serious about putting on a wedding for Inuyasha and Kagome."

"Miroku, if she was so angry, why did she say she'd do that and even write a letter to Higurashi-san?"

"You call that fifteen page dissertation a letter?" he asked, his hands still cramped from all the writing.

"Well…"

"I'm convinced it was a small act of revenge. It was petty but control of the situation was out of her hands and she knew it. Besides, she couldn't very well let a human out do her in that sense. The Lady Mother may not hate humans in general but she doesn't want us in her clan. She also showed Inuyasha she could make his life extremely unpleasant. Who wants a meddling stepmother underfoot?"

"So you think he's figured it out yet?"

"Most likely," the monk answered, thinking he heard the faint echo of a tree falling. Apparently a run was not going to calm the half demon's temper when Inuyasha did work out his brother's mother's intentions.

Leading Sango into their room, Miroku glanced back at Kirara. The demon cat was sound asleep and had given no indication that she'd heard any part of their conversation. Silently he wondered just how much energy she'd used in her "talk" with Sesshoumaru's mother. He'd sensed no flare in her youki that had signaled a fight, so something else must have happened. The mystery surrounding Sango's faithful companion was deepening.

"Miroku, will you hold me tonight?"

"I will hold you every night for the rest of our lives, Sango, my dear."

Long after they had made love, Miroku held his beloved wife while she tried to go to sleep. He had thought the still as yet unfamiliar activity would have tired her out, but it was a mental impediment not a physical one that prevented her from finding rest.

"Sango, please try to rest."

"I'm worried."

"About what?"

"Kohaku, us, the future." Even though he chuckled, he did not take her concerns lightly.

"And here I thought my prowess was greater than it apparently is."

"No! You're wonderful, I just…"

"Calm yourself, Sango. I was only joking. Kohaku will be fine in Sesshoumaru's care. He might not seem like it, but he has changed. Little Rin has made him more compassionate. I think, for the moment, he is just what your brother needs. He will not baby him and he will not allow Kohaku to wallow in the past. Neither will Rin. She has too much curiosity for your brother to stay lost in thought for long. Besides, if she can change the cold hearted demon lord, imagine what miracles she can perform on one young teen."

"You're right."

"As for us, why don't we concentrate on the immediate future? Let us go visit Master Mushin like we'd planned. When we come back, we'll help Inuyasha finish building his 'house' and help run interference if the Lady Mother makes a nuisance of herself."

"Yes, all right." Fatigue settling over her at last, Sango was drifting off to sleep when a stray thought occurred to her. "Miroku, did you find it odd that she apparently liked ramen?"

"Maybe it's a dog demon thing. Their sense of taste is probably more acute than ours."

"Hmm," Sango murmured. "I wonder if that means Sesshoumaru would like it as well…" came the reply as she drifted into slumber.

Unable to help himself, Miroku laughed at the thought.