The boys followed silently behind Rikona, who had returned upon being summoned. Ichirou rode Kilala, who had transformed to her saber tooth-like form with my full attention and sparkling, amazed eyes on her. Byakko flew on his . . . Aura? It looked like he was flying on a small purple cloud that streamed behind him like a trail of smoke marking a plane's line of flight.

The two kept their distance from each other, but stayed close to me.

I thought back to that episode earlier. I could've handled it. Does he not think I'm capable of defending myself? Who does he think I am? I rose a fist. Some weak innocent woman who doesn't know anything about men? (Author replies: No he's just possessive and you know you like it. xD )

Probably. I mean, for all he knows, I'm a crybaby who can't even feed herself.

Okay, it's official. I'm depressed now. I thought as my eyes lowered from the beautiful rising sun to the soft black fur beneath my hands.

I didn't even notice the village coming into view.

What upsets her so? Her mood has smelled odd ever since that 'monk', though I doubt his credibility, mentioned her father. Did she miss him? Ridiculous. She is not a child. Though I'm not surprised he hasn't married her off yet. Her outbursts would never appeal to any human bachelor, despite her appealing countenance.

The image of her glistening in the sun atop his rearing horse flashed in his mind, only to be erased by his superior will.

He sighed as the five of them descended upon the village. He had picked up on Sesshomaru's scent long ago and knew he was waiting.

Not wanting to waste any time, in an orb of light, he darted to the ground several minutes before the others. The orb vanished with a force of wind and youki that had Sesshomaru's hair billowing.

Their mirrored lifeless expressions stunned the imp demon at Sesshomaru's side. Jaken nearly dropped the pile of all the scrolls he was holding. Though this demon lord is dashing as well, I am loyal only to Sesshomaru! He glanced at his master. Then, he inched away from the glaring yellow gaze, "Ngh, I-I wasn't thinking anything!"

He was glad when the overpowering stare shifted back to normal and his attention was again directed at the sea white-tiger daiyoukai.

The three slayers and the monk ran over to sesshomaru's side from their daily walk through the village. "We sensed a demonic aura." Miroku explained at their approach to his presence.

He looked from them to the daiyoukai, who all the while never looked away from Sesshomaru.

Sensing his brother, he waited before speaking.

Inuyasha approached calmly from the other side of Sesshomaru, his left to be exact, from the direction of his home he assumed. These few years sure had changed Inuyasha. Now, he was more . . . Bearable.

Inuyasha looked to his friends' worried looks from the other side of Sesshomaru, "Don't worry you guys. There's no threat here," he said with his arms in his haori.

Kagome's right hand was entwined with his arm. The other placed itself on his shoulder and he turned, sniffing at the air above him. His ears twitched knowingly. At his smile, Kagome looked up, waiting for what he'd sensed.

There was a feline roar from the sky and Sango's head whipped up, "I'd know that roar anywhere! KILALA!" She shouted happily.

She spotted her feline in the sky but something dark dropped from her gliding form. Her son landed gracefully on his two feet with a thud and the girls ran to him while Miroku looked on with a sense of pride at the fellow monk that he'd taught and raised.

Kilala roared again and Sango held her arms out. The demon descended fast and was about to crush Sango when at the last second, she transformed back to her smaller form and landed in her arms. She then padded energetically around Sango's shoulders who then laughed. "Ahahaha, hello Kilala." She said as her cat nuzzled against her cheek.

Her smile faded when she heard her daughter, Kurenai, ask, "Ichirou, where's Uncle Kohaku?"

Even to this day, any word about her brother had her full attention. Ichirou had a hand at the back of his head, rubbing awkwardly. He had Miroku's sneaky lecherous smile playing on his lips. Her eyes narrowed.

Sensing his mother's growing fury, he quickly said, "I left him at a nearby village after slaying a demon."

"Why." She said firmly.

He laughed nervously, "Er, well . . ."

Rikona neighed loudly with demon energy booming about her as she announced her presence to the group below. I shivered and nearly jumped at the same time. Her energy sped through her veins and thrummed beneath me as she thundered to the ground blue fire blazing high from beneath her. The earth rumbled at her landing.

I realized my shoulders were stiff with tension and released them with a sigh. Still not used to her yet. I didn't know you had an ego, miss 'high horse'. I sneered. She whipped her head back at me, orange eyes glaring creepily.

She knows.

I slid off her back and found myself in my mother's arms.

"Moriko-chan!" She cried.

My first reaction was worry. That look . . . Why is she so scared?

Kagome was shocked, "Your face!"

My hands flew about my face. Checking. Probing. "Whu- eh- What's wrong with it?" Was it something horrifying? Her hand cupped my cheek.

"You seem normal but-"

Inuyasha came and stood in the unoccupied space between us and the others protectively. This is apparently a family matter. . . right?

Above my head, I felt a huff of warm air. Inuyasha examined my scent. "Moriko's fine, Kagome."

"But-"

"I don't understand it but . . . it seems as though your youki blends in better with your scent . . ."

After the dust settled and everyone was introduced and realizing some of us were already acquainted, we all looked at the strange daiyoukai from the circle we had formed with the two demon lords facing each other.

With deep, even voice, Sesshomaru said, "Umi Byakko."

"Sesshomaru." He stared blankly.

At his name, Sesshomaru's nose wrinkled, "What were your intentions with Moriko?"

Inuyasha sniffed, "Her scent is all over you. If you're as high and mighty as Sesshomaru you wouldn't ever allow yourself to be covered with the scent of another soul."

Irritation hidden under his expressionless mask, Sesshomaru glanced sideways at his brother. He'll allow the interruption and the remark to slide.

I rushed to Byakko defensively, "Hey, give him a chance! He hasn't even said a word yet."

Kagome put a hand on her rumbling hanyou's chest, "She's right. We can't jump to conclusions."

Byakko's eyes had closed, waiting for the desired silence before he'd speak.

Then he faced me, giving me this look that made me uncomfortable. "There is no need to defend me Moriko."

It was then that I noticed that my heart started pounding. His gaze narrowed in concern, making it even worse.

He finally looked away, to my relief.

I heard him say, "She came to me," He paused. "Unintentionally," he added.

Wait, I eyed him suspiciously, how did this become about MY intentions?

Sesshomaru grunted. Then, "Come," was all he said.

We all watched, gaping, as he walked away, his imp vassal following obediently.

Byakko closed his eyes, almost as if he were tired. He stuck his arms in his kimono sleeves and moved to follow where Sesshomaru had gone, pausing to send me a peeking glance, and disappeared.

"I was worried about you!"

I watched as Kagome fussed at our daughter who didn't look the slightest bit apologetic.

When she huffed at exhaustion from ranting, I cut in, "Look to be honest, I don't care what you do, it's your life, but you gotta realize that you're our responsibility now. So just do us all a favor and don't do anything stupid from here on out, okay?"

He opened his eyes to find a scary Moriko looming over him. He froze with fear.

"I'VE LIVED JUST FINE ALL THIS TIME WITHOUT HAVING PARENTS AND I CAN KEEP ON GOING WITHOUT ANY, THANK YOU! I COULD CARE LESS ABOUT ANYONE! I'VE BEEN ON MY OWN FROM THE START!" She was silent then, and to his despair, she remained so for a few long excruciating moments.

Then she calmed, and a sombering gaze swept over her face. Not wanting to look at him, she said, "You had let me go."

Her outburst was so like his own that he didn't even flinch at her biting tone.

"You had to figure it out on your own. It's hard being different. Trust me." I stood before her, waiting for her response.

Her eyes hid under her bangs, "I'm going to live for five hundred years."

And I'm going to live for a thousand, with about eight hundred left, give or take fifty for being sealed to a tree. Except, my fate is sealed to die before Kagome is born so that the threads of time do not tangle. At least, that's what we concluded as there are no demons in her time and . . . Wait, that means Moriko can't live that long either, or else contradicting her own timeline!

"Moriko, do you know the year you were born?" I asked hastily, grasping her shoulders.

"Of course, 1998- wait, but I was born here soo . . ."

"You're going to die before Kagome's era." I said gravely.

"SO WHAT?" She vented, "THAT'S STILL A GODDANG LONG TIME!

I rushed to Kagome and kneeled, embracing her shaking form. "Hey, shhh, no tears." I soothed. I'd smelled her tears immediately.

The love of my life trembled in my arms. I felt an excruciating ache in my chest.

She whimpered, "I'm sorry that I'm just a human."

The fire suddenly felt so hot against my face. In response, liquid pooled in my eyes.

So. That's the scent of tears huh?

Before I knew it I was kneeling beside my mother opposite of Inuyasha, a clawed hand on her shoulder. "You can't help what you are, mom."

Her head whipped to me, staring. Inuyasha stared as well. The attention made me snap. "What?!"

"You . . . Called me mom."

"So, that's what happened."

Ichirou nodded. I narrowed my eyes at him. I get the feeling you're leaving something out of your story.

One of my tails twitched at the thought. Unlike before when I was a runt, I voiced my suspicions every time.

"What'd you do? Grope her?"

"I would never lay these holy hands on a claimed woman." He huffed.

Miroku put a hand to his chin. "Well she is beautiful . . . And of age."

At this point I was glad I'd taken my usual perch on the windowsill. In one motion, Sango had grabbed Miroku's collar and pulled him to her face. She growled viciously enough to put even an inu daiyoukai we all know well to shame. He turned his head away not-so-innocently.

"What was that, Monk?!"

"I was just looking out for his best interests, n-nothing more."

Ichirou even sighed. Kurenai and Akane both leered at him. Akane spoke first. "What do you mean claimed?"

"Oh that Byakko-sama has a thing for her." He said flippantly, "It's obvious."

Everyone in the room was dumbfounded. Sango's grip on Miroku had loosened and he'd fallen to the ground agape at his son's words.

Glancing around at the gawking audience, he reasoned "He's her protector and he clearly didn't appreciate my presence, another male, around her."

"Anyone could guess why," Kurenai narrowed her eyes at him as well as her sister.

I rolled my eyes and stared at the ceiling, hands behind my head. "Some things never change."

Outside, Kirara leaped to the sky to fetch Kohaku.