From Sesshomaru, the boy learned technique. From Inuyasha, he learned creativity. Between the two of them, Kenshin became adept at swordplay within the next six years, enough that his father no longer worried about the random demons that stumbled upon Sesshomaru's secret. Only time would give Kenshin the mastery the inu lord practiced with ease.

An ease that once again landed the boy in the dirt on his rump. Sesshomaru held his sword at Kenshin's throat. "You are dead."

Kenshin flashed a resentful eye up at his father. "It's not fair. You don't even give me a chance."

"Would any who came upon you intending to kill you?" Sesshomaru sheathed his sword and gestured. "Up."

The hanyou stood, automatically falling into the ready stance. Sesshomaru saw, with approval, the hunger to vanquish his father ride high in those blue eyes. "Why do you wait?"

"You don't have your sword out."

"Never let opportunity slip away. There is no such thing as honorable combat." The words hadn't quite left his lips when the boy decided to take action. The lord dodged a lunge and jumped back a few paces. Kenshin charged him, notched blade already swinging down to stove in his father's skull. He could see no fault in the attack, but . . .. In a single sweep, Sesshomaru drew and cut. The boy's sword whined as it split in half. The taiyoukai tilted his head a fraction to let the point fly past him. He heard rather than saw it sink into the bark of a tree behind him.

Kenshin looked at his sundered weapon with dismay. Only three inches of steel had been left to him above the tsuba.

Sesshomaru said, "Be wary the one who comes to battle with sheathed sword. He knows something you do not."

Awe shined up at him from his son's eyes, filling him with a warmth that he dared not show. Kenshin laughed and said, "Show me?"

Sesshomaru smirked. "The draw cut is powerful. Plus, it seems we need to find you a proper blade. Tomorrow, I will show you battōjutsu, the art of drawing the sword."

The pup threw a fist in the air and crowed, "Yes!"

It seems he learned such unseemly exuberance from Inuyasha. Or inherited it from his mother. Either way, Sesshomaru didn't begrudge the boy his joy, though it would be nice to see some seriousness. The boy settled down under his stare, as though aware of his disapproval of such boisterous behavior. "Now we play shogi to see what you've learned about cunning."

The grin on the pup's face resurfaced. "Uncle won't play me any more. He thinks I'm cheating."

"Subtlety is lost on those who have none. Come." He led them to their customary bench for such an activity and sat.

Kenshin set up the board and moved first. Silence reigned as the pair concentrated on their match. "Tou-san."

"Yes, Inu-Kenshin?"

"Uncle says there have been lots of attacks out in the West. Youkai razing whole villages."

"This Sesshomaru is aware."

The boy seemed to struggle with his next question, confusion filling his features. "Why do they do that?"

"Hn. Youkai are strong. Ningen are weak. It has always been this way." Sesshomaru hummed as he advanced a flank on the board. In his mind, he smiled to see the first tiny blossoming of long-laid plans.

"But . . .."

"Speak, boy, if you have something worth saying."

Kenshin frowned at that toneless rebuke and said, "Aren't you their lord? Can you not stop them?"

"Could I? Surely. Should I? That is not so clear." The taiyoukai waited for the boy to take the bait. "Will I? No."

Never one to disappoint, Kenshin burst out with, "But it's not right! Youkai shouldn't just be able to kill humans just for being weak."

"But they do. In droves." A bare statement of fact that made his son quiver in indignation.

"What have they done to deserve such slaughter?"

"Nothing." He played out the word like it meant there didn't have to be a reason.

"Someone should stop them!"

"Who?" Polite interest, only, seeped from his words and Sesshomaru could tell it fanned the fires of rebellion within the half-grown hanyou.

"Someone strong. Someone who can stand up to them!" Kenshin thrust a pawn forward and glared at his father. "Someone like you!"

"This Sesshomaru is much too busy administering his lands and tending to the war with the North to see to every disgruntled youkai in his domain or every beleaguered ningen." He shrugged one shoulder in elegant dismissal.

"What if it happened here? To Kaede? Or Rin?" So the boy would appeal to him for those to whom he felt ties. A time-honored strategy. It might be more effective if the lord didn't already have layers of protection around this one small village. Mostly in the form of this boy's uncle and his friends. But Kenshin didn't need to know that.

Sesshomaru shook his head. "I have no power over the youkai of the East."

"Then I'll do it!"

"Will you, pup?" Sesshomaru let scorn touch his words, just the most subtle hint of it. "Can you?"

The boy heard the scorn and resented it. So eager to show his capability. "I can! What have I been learning the sword for if not to use it?!"

"To be this Sesshomaru's heir. All I have taught you is not to be wasted chasing bandits and rogue demons." He planted the suggestion so carefully and wanted to crow to see it take hold in the light of the boy's eyes. Truly, being a parent was a delicate dance. Say one thing and they will, with defiance, do the very opposite. To push them in one direction meant warning them away from it. Strange how the calculation he'd learned at court came in handy now.

"It's not a waste," grumbled Kenshin, looking up at him with wounded reassessment. Sesshomaru had just lost his godhood in the boy's estimation. Thus are the dreams of youth crushed.

"Let there be no more talk of such foolishness." Sesshomaru wanted to squeeze the boy's shoulder and take it all back, but there could be no softness with so much on the line. What would the boy think if he knew the lord might have had something to do with those attacks, might have prodded and suggested to certain youkai that some villages lay undefended? Then, he knew, that disappointment so etched on the boy's face would fast turn to hate. Hate might come, but not until much later, when it suited his purposes.

Kenshin's eyes dropped into his lap and his face filled with thoughts and doubts.

Sesshomaru drew his son's attention back to the board. The inu lord said, "It's your move."

That sentence rang true on multiple levels, but the boy gave no sign that he'd heard.

It is almost time for Kenshin to meet the Lady-Mother. He needs to learn intrigue and how to understand the smoke and mirror thoughts of ancient youkai lords, Sesshomaru mused as he played shogi with his whelp. Plans within plans within plans. How they wheeled in his mind. Would Kenshin ever unravel them? The inu lord hoped so. For all their sakes.

He stayed outside til well after the others had retired for the evening and spoke to the air, "Our son is so strong, Kagome. He makes this Sesshomaru proud. Would that you could see him grow. Forgive me for all I do to him in his shaping."

Thoughts of her filled his mind, trying to picture her in his mind among the tall dwellings she'd told him of.

"Don't you ever sleep?" Inuyasha plopped to the ground at his side, near but not too near as to be seen as threatening.

"Only when this Sesshomaru cannot avoid it. There is much to be done."

"You're just sitting here, though. Not like you're actually doin' anything."

"Says the unobservant one. I am doing more just sitting here than you did all day."

"How so, oh mysterious one?" jibed the hanyou. Sesshomaru favored his brother with an enigmatic smile. Inuyasha snorted. "Fine. Keep your secrets."

"I shall," said the lord in a tone bordering on flippant. After a long pause, he said, "Take him with you."

"Feh. Like I need your permission. I was gonna anyway. He's ready." The hanyou scratched at his belly and swiveled his ears in idle directions. "We could use another sword. Since Sango's on momma duty, it's just been me and Kohaku and Miroku, when that priest can pry himself away from his wife's loving arms. With demon attacks on the rise, we need the help."

"Speaking of swords, this Sesshomaru would have you find Totosai on your travels. It is past time for the boy to have a proper weapon."

"Not going to give him either of yours, huh? Stingy dog."

Sesshomaru considered his brother's words. He'd never thought of that. But not Bakusaiga. The inu lord would no sooner lose his soul blade as be parted from his life. "He may have Tenseiga. In case either of you fools fall in battle."

"Keh!" spat Inuyasha. Then he shot a sly look at Sesshomaru. "I see Rin's been making googley eyes at Kohaku. Is there a wedding in the works?"

"Rin is a woman grown. She can make her own choices. If she wants to brood a passel of demon-slayer brats, she may. It is past time for her to have a life of her own." Sesshomaru ignored the pang that ran through him then. Time truly swept by at a cruel sprint.

"Poor Shippo thought for sure she'd pick him. Silly kit." The hanyou laughed, not unkindly. Then he turned a questioning stare on the taiyoukai. "How come you've never asked when Ken's night of weakness is?"

Sesshomaru shrugged. "It holds no importance for me. Also, I would not wish to know it, in any case. Nor have it widely spread."

"Just seems like something a father would want to know. Tch. Doesn't really matter, I guess."

Weeks later, when he received a missive at his house concerning the eradication of a whole clutch of spider youkai at the hands of some mysterious hanyou youth with silver hair, his hands gave a slight tremble. Bittersweet feelings of remorse and joy flowed into him. Joy for his son's first cutting of his teeth. And terrible remorse for the loss of innocence.

Face serene as ever, he turned to his advisors and innocently asked, "Was it that Inuyasha?"

"Our scouts say the lord's bastard half-brother was there and accounted well for himself in the battle, but that the group was led by this new upstart." Shishi, the lion-dog youkai growled. "Lord, do you have any knowledge of this hanyou boy? He favors your house in appearance."

"Am I to keep track of all my family's by-blows, then?" He dropped the parchment to the floor, as if it did not have anything to do with him. With studied nonchalance, he said to all ears present, visible and hidden, "Surely, it is no large task to see to one hanyou? Don't waste my time with trivialities."

And so, he sends his people against his own son. Kami grant the boy fortitude. He will need it.

Sesshomaru entered his own study to see a strange cloaked and hooded apparition seated on his cushions at his writing desk. Suspecting imminent attack, the inu lord's waited, already calculating angles and advantages. The stranger held up one hand to halt him. "I do not seek harm, Sesshomaru, inu lord of the West."

"Perhaps I do. Especially to one so bold as to intrude on my private quarters. Maybe such insolence could only be answered with your death." His words bought him time to try to suss out the man's intentions and true nature. He breathed deep to catch a scent and found none. None whatsoever. The stranger may as well not exist. He seemed so 'not there' that a shiver ran up the lord's spine.

The man or youkai lifted his head and Sesshomaru found himself staring into a hideous countenance. Long hooked nose over twisted scowling mouth. The glitter of one eye speared him from deep in the intruder's cowl. Then the lord saw that his guest wore a mask.

Sesshomaru demanded, "Who are you?"

"Don't you mean, 'What am I?' I can feel your confusion from here. Well, I can allay your fears. What I am, is inconsequential. I am merely a hermit."

"The one-eyed hermit who came to this house 14 years ago?"

"The same." The self-styled hermit bowed low. "And I know what you have done for your son."

"Then I should kill you now." He readied himself to do just that, but felt the icy touch of intrigue stay his hand. Something uncanny occurred here. He would know what it is.

The hermit seemed to read his mind. How could he be so transparent to this creature who didn't know him? The masked man said, "Maybe. But then I could not assist you."

"First, tell me this. How did you bring my son through the closed portal of time?"

The stranger spread his hands. "Persons struck a deal with ancient ineffable powers, as all things of this nature tend to come about. And no, before you ask, it is not possible to re-open it. You will have to meet her again by taking the long route."

His guest again showed startling insight. The thought had only just struck Sesshomaru. "Hn."

"Give Totosai this ingot." A lump of metal landed on his writing desk with a ringing thud. Its resonance felt strange and potent. "Tell him only that he will know what to do with it when the time is right."

"And when will that be?"

"When your son breaks Tenseiga in two." The hermit went to the window and paused. "Do not scowl so. Many things will be broken in the years to come."

Then the stranger leapt out and said over his shoulder. "I am Amanojaku! We will meet again."

Sesshomaru briefly considered pursuing the masked man, but thought better of it. Seems other powers were interested in his doings. So be it. If they come to challenge him, he would be ready. Til then, his plans moved forward. Ever onward. Too late to stop now.