Author's Rant: Thanks so very much to those of you who checked on me during my stressful time. This past year has been simply awful. I've lost some of the motivation to write for this fandom, and I want so very much to gain it back. The Inuyasha/Sesshomaru community is the coziest slash home on the planet and I miss the worth. I hope to be able to return to a regular routine someday. Anyway, please enjoy the next chapter and please excuse any mistakes.

Threats and Re-connections

If there's one thing Muso absolutely detested, it was being threatened. He never took kindly to the few internet warriors who took it upon themselves to tarnish his image every chance they got on social media and he ensured that each one was properly reprimanded.

His way.

But this one took the cake. Someone was brave enough to leave a handwritten note on his car demanding, not asking, that he rendezvous with them to a random location outside of Atlanta to discuss his behavior. As if he's some temper-tantrum having child needing discipline.

Now, he wasn't a fool by any means. It isn't unheard of for greedy fans to take it upon themselves to lure their sports heroes to destination locations to try robbing them of their valuables. In the likelihood this person turned out to be some lunatic psycho thinking he would be an easy cash stash, Muso had his SIG Pro semi-automatic tucked away in the waistband of his Falco's sweatpants.

He found the letter taped to his windshield, on his baby, his pearl white 2013 Honda CR-Z. If it wasn't already painfully clear, Muso took pride in taking care of his rides like he did his men and women; with delicate, aggressive love. If this person wasn't promised a beat down for leaving this message, Muso already planned on giving them a polite ass whooping as soon as they rolled up.

Muso arrived to the location in one of his rentals, a simple Impala, and looked around the desolate area. How his GPS even picked up on this backwater spot is beyond him. A small town called Cumming in Forsyth County. It was so damn tiny, a quick speed through and you'll miss it in a blink. Not a whole lot of humans lived around here. It smelled to be mostly comprised of demons and hanyous.

Muso parked his car near the landmark mentioned, got out and waited. The note said to be there by nine o'clock. He draws back his jacket sleeve, noting the time's precise change to the appointed time.

Not even a second later, a molten silver 2012 Toyota Tundra with jet black spider rims and a custom designed grill drives up, lumbering next to his car. The windows are tinted pitch black. He could faintly make out the thumping beats to Lloyd's 'Pusha' throbbing like a monstrous heartbeat through the speakers. He almost wanted to compliment the driver for taste, knowing how much the price for these puppies ran for. And, given the beaut of the car, Muso actually allowed a small smirk tilt his lips, thinking this was probably some elaborate joke proposed by one of his teammates to drag him out here.

But then, the driver emerged with blinding red hair and Muso is absolutely certain no one on the team has that hair color, nor the skin tone accompanying the body. The guy comes around, tall, and chiseled like a block of Hersey ready for a licking. He was sporting a Falco's snapback pulled to the side over his left eye, but the visible one he could make out was a striking spring green. The grey Levi jeans he wore hugged around long, massive thighs, matching the black and grey trimmed V-neck Hensley shirt and leather jacket.

Too bad the guy was an Alpha. Muso could detect the sharp pheromones drifting from the other like he was dunked in a bucket of cologne. And as the guy drew closer, a slow realization gathered in Muso's thoughts. One, another Alpha's scent wouldn't be so loudly announced unless they were trying to state a potential standoff. Second, this dude's face looked way too freaking familiar. It's something in the way he walked or how he was glaring lethal acid in Muso's direction, but either way Muso stood his ground, shifting off his car and approaching to meet the dark toned Alpha.

Once the two reach a mutual middle, the size and height difference couldn't be more obvious. Muso's lean physique and 6'1 height didn't compare. Guess it's a good thing he did bring his—

"Hey!" He shouts when the stranger's hands shoot out to start frisking him. The gun's found and snatched away. All bullets are emptied from the barrel and the safety clicked on, then flung in the woods. "Son of a bitch," he gawks at his lost property. "Who the fuck are you?"

"Somebody you need to be scared of," was the direct answer.

Muso blinked stupidly. "Come again? Ha!" He barked. "You must've gotten me confused with—"

"A bitch? No, I'm positive that's exactly what I'm talking to."

"Whoa," Muso held up his hands in a gesture of confusion and gave his head a snappy shake. "My brotha', do you know who the Hell you're talkin' to? I'm one of the top paid football players in the nation. Do you know how," he chuckles, "little you are compared to me? You better respect your betters."

"Nah my brotha'," the guy mocked, "I think you're the one that better recognize who's got the real power here." He proceeds to flip back the side of his jacket, revealing a polished City of Atlanta Police badge.

Muso isn't the slightest bit impressed. "Is that little toy supposed to mean something to me? If anything, now I know who to sue for harassment."

The guy shrugs. "Feel free to do whatever you want. . . So long as you don't care about your dirty past being aired out in public."

At hearing that, Muso's demeanor stiffens for only a split second before regulating. "Ah, so what, you're one of those jealous exes hell-bent on revenge? That's just precious." He rolls his eyes. "Look sweetheart, I'm sure what we shared was mutual at one point, but don't take it hard—"

A boisterous laugh suddenly erupts from the stranger. "You definitely got me confused man. No way in Hell I'd wanna fuck a homewreckin', disease carryin' pompous dick like you."

"You better watch who—"

"Shut up."

Those two words worked. Muso clamped his mouth shut, sneering.

The guy unfolds his arms, stalking up to stand directly in Muso's personal space. "I won't keep us both out here playing guessing games," his deep voice rumples, void of any slang. "I know all about what you did five years ago, Muso Espada. With one Inuyasha Shikon. I know all about what transpired that night."

Muso's face went sickly white. He took a step back, eyes darting every which way before settling back on the guy before him.

"I'm here to warn you about keeping your distance from him and Zaya. No matter what you may think is important, if he owes you money or if he sneezes and you casually want to say bless you, don't. If I ever, ever catch wind about you being anywhere near him or his daughter, I swear to the heavenly Father that I will do more than wreck your fucking reputation. I will break your bitch ass in half."

Muso swallows hard, then rectifies his stance, squaring off at the shoulders and meeting the guy's glare head on. "You don't understand. What me and Inuyasha had was mutual. He wanted it, begged me for." He smirks. "All that screamin' he did that night wasn't pain. It was pure ecstasy."

The muscles around the guy's neck noticeably bunch with tension. Muso braces himself, but nothing happens.

The dude looks him up and down, lone green eye searing with malicious intent. "You've been warned, bitch."

"You threatening me, cop?" Muso snaps.

"A threat entitles you to the possibility that it won't come true. I can guarantee you that bodily harm is the prettier way to describe what I'll do to you." He turns and pauses. "And if that doesn't keep you on your toes, I think you should consider Sesshomaru . . ."

Muso's heart froze in his chest. This dude wouldn't. . . He wouldn't fucking dare.

"I doubt he'll be kind enough to warn you before laying into you for ruining his life. Stealing his lover, best friend, being the prime reason why he wasn't able to be near his daughter? Yeah. . . I wonder what he'd do to you."

Muso ran a shaky hand through his hair, gnawing down hard on his bottom lip as he swayed until propping his hip against his car. He shoots a foul glare in the guy's direction, a violent hatred brewing for him. He wanted him more than dead for having this much power over him.

"What the fuck are you after?" Muso demands. "Money? Is that what you want? Fine, have it. If it'll buy your damn silence, I'll give it."

The guy whips around and is on Muso before he has a chance to catch his breath. Strong hands grip around his shirt collar, squeezing so tight, black spots splattered in Muso's vision.

"I don't want your fucking money you rapin' piece a' shit. There's nothing a miserable coward like you can possibly give me. I want you to know what it's like to be scared every waking second of every day. Look over your shoulder, think, wonder, and imagine if anyone else knows about the crime you committed on your own family. That's guilt you have to live with. Knowing you feel that is payment enough. . ." He drops Muso on the ground and turns on his heel to leave. "You'll be hanging in limbo wondering if I intend to tell anyone else about this. I may or may not do it. That's enough for me. So know how it feels to be the scared bitch in this situation." With that finely sown into Muso's brain, the stranger leaves.

Muso slides off the car and to the ground, cradling his head. Dread sunk like an anchor in his gut, nerves shot and emotions scattered. For so long he's always held onto the notion that just he and Inuyasha would know about what happened. The hanyou was too honor bound to keep their affair and. . . that night from being known by the family, especially Sesshomaru.

But how had that guy found out? Does he know Inuyasha? Had the hanyou went and blabbed?

Muso's eyes squint when a memory from before gradually bubbles to the top of his mind. He could've sworn he had seen that guy before. He thought he'd seen Kyora talking to him. . . At the mall! That dude was with Inuyasha and Zaya that day they ran into the lot of them at the mall.

"Fuck!" He shouts, slamming his fist on the ground. No fucking wonder. Of course Inuyasha must've said something to him. No other way that son of a bitch could've found out. Muso saw red. Damn that hanyou for running his mouth. He wanted so much to run that bitch through, but knew better. Times were different now. Back then, Inuyasha wasn't able to defend himself. Now, he was sure to fight back like he had that night in the alley.

And he has reinforcements in Sesshomaru and this dude. But who was he? Muso shook his head and gathered his wits. He needed to get a grip. He can figure this out, cover his tracks. One place he could find help in getting started was talking to Kyora. The way those two were talking, there has to be some history.

With a purpose in mind, Muso gets back in his car and makes his way back to town to find answers for his problems.

They left the house in comfortable silence, occasionally interrupted with baby girl's curious inquiry by some new landmark or another she'd never seen. It's to be expected. She's never been near the outskirts of South Atlanta before. Neither had Inuyasha for that matter. Not for a while anyway. Most of what he use to remember had changed.

Inuyasha stayed huddled in his plush leather seat, mildly abuzz with hesitation. He still felt apprehensive about seeing the whole family on a personal level again. Back then he could easily blend into the folds of their love and feel like one of the members. Now, how would they receive him? How would they really? Would there be hidden resentment for keeping Zaya away or pity for him dealing with what went down all alone? The latter would be the absolute worst since he could do just fine without having anyone's pity. He dealt without it when his parents died, he didn't need it now.

Usher's 'You Make Me Wanna' pleasantly purred in the Tahoe's dark interior, thankfully not as disgustingly loud as Sesshomaru had a tendency to do once upon a time. The song's sultry beat eased some of the tension in Inuyasha's body and from the looks of it, Sesshomaru appreciated the slow mellowness it brought for them. His head was bobbing absently to the rhythm, lips mumbling to the lyrics. The change's a welcome one. The hanyou was actually enjoying his time with the older demon, frightening as that sounded.

The drive went on another twenty minutes in smooth silence. Inuyasha checked over his shoulder when he didn't hear his daughter's playful banter with her stuffed toy and found her sound asleep in her car seat, head lopsided against the side, mouth agape. He smiled, amazed at how innocent she looked when sleep. What a huge understandable that was for his sweet diva.

"She sleep?"

"Yeah," Inuyasha muttered, righting himself in his seat. He side glanced Sesshomaru a moment, then went back to staring out the window. "Where are we goin'? This isn't the way to your parents' house."

The sun reflects an amused twinkle in Sesshomaru's eyes. "We are going to their house. One of their houses."

Inuyasha looks at the other with a low-eyed scowl. He sighs, saying nothing and folds his arms, lifting his knee to perch against the glove compartment, listing his head into the seatbelt strap.

"What's on your mind, Inuyasha?"

"A lot," the hanyou answers honestly, and has to rattle off the notion that he was comfortable enough to be that way with the other demon. "Just random thoughts mostly."

"Anything about me?"

Inuyasha nearly answered that honestly, then thought better of it and replied with a snippy, "You're so conceited." He sees Sesshomaru lift his shoulder in a careless shrug. "Just stuff. I'm free to do that much, yeah?"

"Yeah, do what you want."

"I intend to."

"Good."

"Fine."

"Yeah."

Inuyasha cuts his eyes at Sesshomaru. "Whatever," he murmurs. "Stupid ass." The hanyou sits up more when the last of the city's scenery melts into a blend of suburban rural. Now he was positive he didn't recognize any of this. More and more of the land spaced out, opening to wide open fields, farmlands, and huddles of tall pine trees. He couldn't explain the free delight blooming inside him at being brought away from the suffocating city limits. He loved Atlanta, but it can never compare to driving through hilly roads overlooking grassy pastures.

Call him a simpleton, but he adored those forgotten routes people ignored for the speedier interstates. They never knew what they were missing out on. Like the simplistic beauty of nature and those warm, cozy looking farmhouses and the calm, alluring sight of meadows that shimmered like fields of liquid emerald.

"Not bad, huh?"

Inuyasha hears Sesshomaru's smug analysis, but he was too caught up in admiring the view to scold him for it. "It's like how we'd visit my grandma's house over the summer. She didn't have any air conditioning, just the fan and open windows."

"I remember us playin' in her sunflower field."

Inuyasha chuckled at the memory. "And playin' hide and seek in the barn house?"

"You and Koga always picked the barn house. Me and Naraku always went—"

"Under the house," Inuyasha finished, shaking his head. "That's how you morons almost got bit by that snake too. Grandmama had a fit when she saw ya'll crawlin' from there covered in dirt."

"Hey, say what you want. Going under there's equivalent to discovering Atlantis. I found a quarter, some marbles, a hose, some kittens, a puppy . . . but that snake? Jesus, I pissed myself. Your grandma became my national icon when she beat that snake with her shovel."

Sesshomaru veers off to a side road barricaded on both sides by wooden fences. Inuyasha leaned forward when he spied a large red gate ahead with the word letters ESPADA shaped in the bars. He gazed around at the empty fields on both sides, wondering where the house was. They stayed on the road for another ten minutes or so, Inuyasha eventually spying a couple of houses, but Sesshomaru never stopped for any of them.

"Those are the guest houses," he says to the curious expression on Inuyasha's face. "My parents' house is at the end of the property."

"Guest . . . houses." Inuyasha mumbles in wonder. "So, all of this, since the gate?"

"Yep, those horses too."

Inuyasha's head snaps to the side at the mention of that and right away finds a tiny herd of eight tall, colorful horses grazing in the field and three foals frolicking amongst the adults. His face presses into the glass with glee. He fucking loved horses. Always has since he was a kid. Riding one was out of the question. He just liked to see them gallop, neigh and eat apples. He was beside himself, mouth formed into the brightest smile as he took in more and more of the developing landscape. They bypassed a quaint sized grape vineyard on the right and further up, an apple orchard.

"Zaya, wake up." Inuyasha turned around to tap his daughter's shoe. She grumbled, displeased at her nap being disturbed and cracked open a single violet eye. "Look baby girl!"

She blinks sleepily to the side, rubbing her fists over her eyes, yawning. Sitting up, she studies the outside. Zaya doesn't see what has her daddy so excited until the car pulls up to a glorious village style ranch house.

"Daddy it's a castle, Daddy!" Zaya squealed, clapping.

A castle indeed. The neatly paved red dirt road ended to a circular drive way where several other cars were already parked against the curve. Sesshomaru rolled his car in behind a Camaro before cutting the engine. Inuyasha quickly got out, unable to contain his bubbly desire to explore the property. He felt like his child, too overwhelmed with wanting to do everything at once and not having enough arms and legs to do it.

His eyes skated across it all; the distant sky-high forest line shielding the property from outside view, the house's two story glory, expanding on both ends to other portions, the truck-thick pillars framing the entrance, the shed in the distance storing what looked like golf carts and everywhere he turned, there was more to see.

"You bought this," Inuyasha whispered.

Sesshomaru came up next to him with Zaya in his arms, staring over the property. "Yeah, givin' back to my family. They stuck by me, why not return the favor, ya know?"

"I think they got the picture." Inuyasha inhaled as much of the fresh air he could and released it. "Man, it's gorgeous here."

Sesshomaru's chest swelled. "Come on," he reached over, grabbing Inuyasha's hand to tug him to the main house. He smiles down at the hanyou when he doesn't pull away and the subtle peace he gets from it is empowering. Deep down, he wished it'd always been like this. This is how it was meant to be from the start.

Inuyasha let himself get taken to the front of the house. When the doorbell's rung, his previous anxiety slowly tickles like ants inside his belly. He could hear cheery commotion inside the home, a bunch of voices and laughter. Would his presence put a halt to that? He straightens his red turtle neck, cuffs the sleeves on his wooly jacket and fiddles with the hem of his blue jeans in an effort to hide his worry.

A squeeze of his hand is there to ease his fear. Inuyasha gaze up at soft, warm hazel gold eyes telling him so much without a sound. Supportive, determined, at ease, no worries and even teasing. Inuyasha looks away, playfully shouldering Sesshomaru's side. But he returns the gesture with a firmer grasp in silent gratitude.

The door's swiftly yanked open and there stands a woman, Inuyasha feared facing the most. The years were kind to her, hardly stealing much of her lovely features. The only giveaway were the tiniest lines in the corner of her eyes and those could be excuse for the strong smile she presented to each of them in turn. She looked amazing, wearing a form fitting lavender sweater dress on her slim frame, stretching down to her ankles, accented by the teardrop earrings and jewel crested broach on her chest. All of her hair was bundled on top of her in curl ringlets and over off her right shoulder.

"It's about time. I didn't think ya'll were ever gonna get here with my grandbaby," Michiko scolded, tapping her foot. A twinkle teasingly reflects in her eyes as she places her hands on her hips. "Well? Where's my hug?"

Sesshomaru rolled his eyes. "Ma, don't come out here with all that fussin'."

"Boy, I'm not your daddy. You better remember who took that belt to your behind. You aren't too big yet."

"Michi-baby, who's that at the door?" Booms a deep voice.

Michiko shifts out of the door way, beckoning them to come inside. "Your smart mouth son finally decided to show his face with Inuyasha and Zaya!"

"I thought you said no yelling in the house," Sesshomaru teased, which earned him a swift smack to the back of the head. "Ma!"

"Sesshomaru," she snaps, sharp eyes daring him to speak again. He promptly shuts his mouth.

She nods approvingly at his silence and turns her stern expression on Inuyasha. Around here is where Inuyasha doesn't think he's really prepared. Michiko Espada is no one to cross. She reminded him so much of his own mother, demeanor and stride confident and strong. He lowers his eyes, very aware of the blush on his cheeks.

"Well?" she says, tapping her foot. "Aren't you going to speak, Inuyasha? I know your mother taught you better."

"Oh!" Inuyasha's ears perk up, voice stammering, "Uh, hey Mrs. Espada, it's good to see you."

"Oh Lord, I know this child didn't call me Mrs. Espada like we're strangers." Michiko exasperatedly wipes a hand over her eyes. "Inuyasha, don't just stand there. Bring it here."

Michiko takes a step towards as if she weren't compelled beyond her power to do otherwise. Inuyasha held his breath. He wondered if she would slap him for his actions or reject him in another manner. Instead, she stops a foot away, waiting.

Inuyasha hesitates unsurely. After a beat he takes a step forward, then another. He clears his throat and takes the slender woman into his arms, having to bend a bit to adjust to her smaller stature. He keeps his grasp politely light, but Michiko won't have any of that. She brings him in closer in a motherly squeeze, rubbing along the length of his back the way a parent consoles a weeping child. All the air he'd been holding comes out as a soft whoosh. This moment terrified him until now. The embrace is so warm, inviting. It's the kind of consent Inuyasha gladly reciprocates and he tightens his grip.

Michiko rested her chin on his shoulder and sighed. "I'm so happy to see you, sweetie. We missed you."

Inuyasha nodded, just blessedly grateful to have another chance. "Thank you," he says, voice hitched. "I missed ya'll too." More than he ever realized up to this point.

Michiko pulls out of the embrace first, curling a finger under a tear escaping her eye. "Look at me crying," she chuckles wetly. "I'm gonna ruin my makeup." Clearing her throat, she composes herself, smoothing out the wrinkles creased in her dress and erects her posture. "Now then, is this my grandbaby?"

Sesshomaru comes forward with their daughter, smiling the brightest Inuyasha has ever seen. "Ma, lemme introduce you to Zaya Marie Shikon," he pauses, looks down at the hanyou, smirks and proudly finishes with a prideful, "Espada."

Both Inuyasha's ears kick up. What?

Sesshomaru lowers Zaya to the floor. She looks between the adults, finger in her mouth. Then she turns, blinking up towards Inuyasha expectedly, obviously waiting for him to do the introductions. He holds out his hand until she places her free one in his and he angles it toward Michiko.

"Zaya, this wonderful lady is Mrs. Michiko Espada, your . . ." he swallows thickly at the overdo introduction, "your grandmama."

"Oh!" says Zaya in a tone of delight, finger popping as she pulled it from her mouth. "You're Big Daddy's mama!"

"Yes ma'am I am," giggles Michiko. "Who might you be?"

"I Zaya." She lays her hand on her grandmother's dress and lightly tugs. "Wanna play tea time?"

"Oh, isn't she just darling?" Michiko kneeled and scooped up her granddaughter for the first time and held her to against her chest. Zaya giggled, wrapping her arms around Michiko's neck as they stood. "You know what honey, Grandmama's got a china set she's never touched. We can use those for our teatime. We'll get your grandpa and my sister to play too."

Zaya gasps. "You have a sissy?"

"Sure do. She's your tee tee. We're gonna go meet the whole family. Would you like that?"

"Yes!"

Sesshomaru and Inuyasha stared at them disappearing into the foyer. "You know we aren't gonna get our daughter back now," he grumbles shrugging out of his jacket.

Inuyasha does the same. "Probably not."

Sesshomaru takes their jackets to hang on the coatrack. "You're comfortable?"

"I will be." He certainly will now that he'd received that hug. The rest of the family would be a breeze if Michiko's attitude is any indication. Only way to find out was to take the bull by the horns and see what happens.

Inuyasha kept his fingers crossed.

There were a whole lot more people here Sesshomaru failed to mention. Inuyasha anticipated a quaint gathering of Espadas, not damn near the whole clan taking up nearly every space in the house and backyard. He couldn't take a step without missing someone's foot or sidestepping to dodge a horde of kids sprinting from one end of the room to the next. Sesshomaru did his best to stay at his side, but every few minutes someone dragged him off to talk about the good ole days. Zaya was passed between the elder Espadas, Michiko keeping her hand securely grasped in hers as she showed off her very first grandchild to anyone who cared.

Inuyasha kept to himself most of the time, hugging the wall with a can of grape soda his only company. The generation of Espadas he grew up with were all married with their own children. Anytime he asked about the few missing members, he heard they were either in jail or would come to the next party.

No one was rude to him. In fact, it was the total opposite. Many remembered him from his kiddy days spent with them and offered all kinds of warm greetings, hugs, kisses, handshakes and back pats. He was invited to a game of spades which he declined to get a breather. Hence why he chose to stay in the background. All of this was too much to handle at once. More times than he could count, he couldn't stop his eyes from scouring the house in search of his daughter. And each time he found her safe and happily smiling to whoever held her as she entertained him with her stories about daycare. Right now she was in the middle of playing cars with a couple of cousins around her age.

Zaya looks up briefly, waving one of the toy cars at him. Inuyasha returns the smile before disappearing to discard his drink.

"I was wonderin' where you were," someone whispered to him at one point when he'd disappeared into the kitchen.

Inuyasha looked up, surprised. He'd heard more visitors arrive, but hadn't paid attention to the voices. Koga, thank God, must've been the new set of people to come in, and he was lounging against the kitchen entrance, arms folded, looking real suede in his fur vest, black turtleneck and dark blue jeans. A rush of relief fills Inuyasha as he strides over to bring his friend into a hug.

"Man, you are a sight."

Koga smirks. "Too many folks in here, huh?"

Inuyasha gives him a look that says the answer is painfully obvious.

"Welcome to my world. It's hard being married into the Espadas. They're family and I love 'em to death, but damn can they work a nerve. Everybody always wants to know what's goin' on in your house, wanna know when you're gonna have another baby and don't get me started on how you're raising your kids. They'll start demanding you bring them around more than you already do."

Inuyasha hadn't had to deal with that sort of treatment just yet, and wouldn't jinx it.

"Wanna ditch?"

Inuyasha chokes back a laugh. "That's rude."

"Damn a'rude. I just arrived and I'm already bored. Izayoi didn't waste time snatchin' up my kids. I bet that's cause Michiko's got Zaya, right? They're gonna be showin' off our kids to every Tom, Dick and Jane here."

"Yeah, I haven't had baby girl since we got here."

"You probably won't see her until ya'll leave." Koga nods towards the backdoor. "Join me outside. I need the air. Looks like you do too."

Inuyasha didn't waste time following after Koga as they weaved through the crowded hallway to exit out the backdoor. As soon as they step out onto a high porch surrounded by floral chairs and benches. The air's wonderfully crisp and cool against their faces. Inuyasha looks over the spacious backyard, at the homemade chicken pen, large oak tree with a roped swing and what he guesses to be the guest house nestled neatly by the tree line.

"So, I didn't see your car out front."

Inuyasha rolled his eyes to the sky, then glanced at Koga with mild interest. "Don't even start."

"What? I didn't say a word."

"I know how that twisted mind of yours works."

Koga barks a short laugh. "Wow see, that's how feelings get hurt. Don't be so quick to toss out accusations, Mutt. I was just, eh, ya know, spectulatin'."

"Sure you were." Inuyasha hardly believes his best friend. He could see the gears in motion in Koga's head. The circumstances couldn't be more perfect. "We're here as friends. Just friends. We already had this day scheduled for Zaya to meet her family. She wasn't gonna come without me so I tagged along. End of story."

Koga directed a finger to his chest, barely able to contain his smile. "Did I ask for an explanation? Nope, all I said was I didn't see your car out there." He shrugs. "All you had to say is you bummed a ride off Sesshomaru. Simple, short, straight to the point. But I'm happy to see you here instead that red haired hoe. I can't wait until Sesshomaru drops that thing and gets with someone better."

Inuyasha sucks his teeth. "You know that isn't gonna happen anytime soon. That thing is giving Sesshomaru something he's always wanted. You know how much of a family man he is. It's all he's ever talked about when we were together."

"So? Giving him a family doesn't necessarily qualify Kyora as husband material. He's still a bitch, still a gold digger and very much a hoe."

"You may as well get over all that hatin', Koga. Once they're married that's the end of it."

"A man can dream right?"

Dream? Right. Dream is all Inuyasha can do while absorbing the familiar energy of being around the Espada family again. He thought he'd feel awkward and out of place, but everyone's been courteous and pleasant. Not a single soul disregarded and it stings a bit knowing that he could have easily kept this in his life.

If only he hadn't left that day. . .

Koga nudges him in the side. "Hey, let's head back inside. I hear Naraku callin' for a spades match. You down?"

Inuyasha smiles. No sense in dwelling on old memories. He can just make new ones and enjoy the day. "Yeah."