I don't own InuYasha, Sesshomaru, or any other cannon characters. The only ones I own are my OC's. Yuugao is LightningRip's OC, Im just borrowing her.

Demon speak: I want!

Thinking speak: I don't care, get back in your cage!

Chapter 21: Diffrent Instincts

Tsukiko sat staring out the window in her chambers, looking out over the fortress grounds and the far off forests, and sighed. For the last several months, her beast had begun to make itself known much more, and was being quite vocal. And it was beginning to annoy the crap out of her.

Want to go!

Want to go where?

Anywhere, Just want to go!

I've told you, this is home, our pack is here, we can't just go.

But want to go!

She had no idea what to do. When she asked her beast nicely if it didn't want to be around their pack any more, it said it did not want to leave the pack, it just wanted to go away for a while. She was utterly confused by that. Not to mention that the damn thing kept yelling at her to pick up anything shiny. She now had a rather large collection of useless jewellery, bits and bobbles that she had purchased to sate her beast. Rationally she saw no point in the collection, but when she looked at it her beast purred and was delighted at their hoard.

You have no idea how much you confuse me.

Instincts confuse us, don't fit.

… what do you mean?

One side say go, other say stay.

Which side says stay?

Inu instincts say stay with pack, stay with Alpha.

And Ryuu side?

Ryuu instincts say go, come back later when we prove our strength.

And what about all the shiny things?

Ryuu side says collect hoard, want shines!

Shut up and get back in your cage, I'll go see if I can find Myoga or someone to help us.

Yuugao watched as her friend and pack mate walked slowly across the courtyard, and shook her head. Over the last 4 years Tsukiko and Sesshomaru had basicly run the whole Shiro and western lands, with little input from advisors, Leiko or herself. They didn't run the day to day things of course, but they kept the territory secure, the treasury full, the people safe, and relations with the other clans and the other cardinal lords. Yuugao herself had taken on the role as one of the primary heads of staff, one of Sesshomaru and Tsukiko's most trusted inside the shiro.

But lately there was something wrong with Tsu. She was acting strange, secluding herself from them most of the time, and staring out with longing written all over her face. Not to mention her sudden fascination with anything shiny. It didn't even have to be something of value, so long as it was shiny, her eyes would light up and she clearly had to fight with her beast to stop herself from picking it up.

This was not normal behaviour for an Inu, so after speaking with some of the advisors, they had decided it had something to do with her mixed blood. So they had sent for an advisor from the southern lands. Their relations with the south were still bad, neither side had yet gotten over the battle between the southern lord's father-in-law, Ryukotsusei, and Touga had not been pleasant for either side, and both were walking on eggshells around one another. But the dragons would have a better idea of what was happening than they did, so for now they would just have to bear it, for Tsu's sake.

After turning the shiro upside down to ensure Myoga wasn't hiding somewhere within, Tsukiko set about finding him elsewhere. She asked one of the spies that they always had skulking about to track him down, seeing as the afore mentioned spy had nothing better to do right now. She was going to find that flea and get him to help her one way or the other, even if he was too terrified to come the the shiro unless it was an emergency, and even then never got anywhere near Sesshomaru.

Sesshomaru watched, highly amused, as his two pack members seemed to stress themselves over nothing. Sure, he was worried about Tsu's behaviour, but after Yuu told him what she thought on the matter, he was willing to wait before panicking or doing something stupid. Yuugao on the other hand seemed to be pulling her hair out from the stress. And when Tsukiko had started pulling each room apart, looking for something, he was sure the Thunder Inu would stress herself enough to have a stroke. He had asked Tsukiko what she was looking for, and she had simply said "That spineless flea". He could have told her he couldn't sense Myoga in the shiro, but he was having too much fun watching her look for him.

Hiromasa and his escort arrived at the Western fortress, to be greeted by armed guards pointing swords at them. They had expected than of course, nobody in the west trusted full Ryuus any more, not after the battle with their Lord's father-in-law. But they had been summoned anyway, and the matter was deemed very important by the young lord of the west, so they had agreed to come. It wasn't much, but it was the start to what would hopefully be a peaceful future.

Sesshomaru was in his study, attending to yet more paperwork, when he heard the door start to slide open. Only two beings ever dared enter without knocking, but he could tell already it wasn't the one he hoped it was. As Yuugao entered, he put down the scroll he was reading, and glared at her in annoyance.

"Stop glaring Sessh, the advisor I called for to... speak with Tsu is here. You want me to let him in?"

Sesshomaru sighed and nodded.

"Call for some tea while your at it, and knock first before you come in, I wont have you disgracing me before the advisor from the south, lest you want me to throw you into the dungeons for a week or two." He smirked.

"In fact, that's a brilliant idea, I wouldn't have to listen to you for that whole time."

"You wish, you overgrown fur ball. You couldn't shut me up if you cut off my head" Yuugao smirked evilly, and ducked out before he got the chance to test that theory.

Sesshomaru watched as the advisor and Yuugao seated themselves on the other side of his desk, chin on his hands and elbows propping him up. He was just hoping Yuugao decided to remain civil; he could visually count on the girl, but occasionally she did lash out, especially when it came to anything to do with pure RyuuYoukai.

The advisor, Hiromasa, was clearly nervous about what he had been summoned to a fortress full of dogs for, though was doing a good job of hiding it. When both were comfortable, he cleared his throat and sat up straighter.

"We have asked for your presence because we need to know something about Ryuu instincts and behaviour."

Hiromasa was slightly shocked, but nodded. He had no idea why they would want to know these things, but he had come all this way, and there was no real point hiding anything.

"I can give you that information, can I ask why?"

"There is a member of the court who is only half Inu... her mother was RyuuYoukai, and she was orphaned at a young age. We have no idea what is happening, but we feel it has something to do with her Ryuu blood."

Hiromasa nodded in understanding.

"May I ask how old she is?"
"She has just entered her third decade"

"That would be it then."

Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow. "Explain"

"Although instincts differ between sub-races, most Ryuu have a few core instincts that run very deep, and several begin to appear at this age. The instinct to leave the den is probably what is troubling the girl, being half Inu that would clash with her instincts to stay with her pack."

"Why would she wish to leave?" Yuugao had panic written all over her face.

"She doesn't wish it, her beast demands it. It is a way our kind ensures only the strongest survive to breed. The young leave the den, and those that survive come back just before they are old enough to mate. They also learn to control urges such as hoarding, and master skills such as flight in ways they never could if coddled."

"So what would you suggest we do?"

"I can speak to her for you my lord, but if her beast demands she leave, you must let her go."

"And if I do not wish her to leave unprotected?" Sesshomaru's claws were embedded quite firmly into the wooden arm rests of his chair by now.

"Then I suggest having an amulet or such made, and filling it with your yoki. While she has it, you would always know where she was and if she were in danger. I'm sure her beast would be purring to receive it if her hoarding instincts have kicked in, though making her keep it on is another matter entirely."

Sesshomaru was silent for a moment, contemplating his options, before standing.

"You may speak with her, and if she decides to leave for now, I will consider your proposal, so long as its in her best interest."
"As you wish my lord"

"As you wish my ass, if you try ANYTHING you overgrown lizard I'll gut you before you can say oops!"

Hiromasa stood in shock, the pup actually threatened him!

"Do not mind her, she is a Thunder Inu. And Thunder Inu's are just like thunder; they make a lot of noise, but don't do much else"

Sesshomaru smirked as the older Ryuu burst out laughing and Yuugao glared at him, growling, and clenched her fists hard enough for her claws to draw blood.

"Your so going to pay for that next time we are on the dojo you ass"

"This Sesshomaru can not be beaten by you, little bitch, so get it out of your head"

"Tsu beat you once, you never know"

"But Tsu is different from you, special; I know you could never beat me."

Tsukiko glared at her two pack mates. They had managed to corner her in the private wing of the shiro, where each of their chambers were, but that wasnt the problem. The fact that one, they didnt look like this was a friendly chat and two, there was some old demon behind them, made her suspisius,

"Ok, you got me, what do you want?"

"There is something wrong with you, we can tell, and this RyuuYoukai can tell you what it is and possibly help you."

"Is that so fluffy"

Sesshomaru gritted his teeth.

"I have no idea how you have the patience with these two Lord Sesshomaru, the prince of the South cant stand onna's his own age, or any age yet for that matter."

"I ask myself that same question, daily"

"Fine, I'll speak to him, but your staying out."

Tsukiko turned to lead Hiromasa to a guest room, and ass soon as both were inside, promptly locked the door behind her.

Sesshomaru paced restlessly outside the door that Tsukiko and the Ryuu advisor had entered over an hour ago. Yuugao was leaning against the wall, counting down the seconds left till his pacing would make her snap. Then they heard the door open.

Both of their heads snapped towards the door and watched as the two exited. Hiromasa looked calm as ever, and Tsukiko looked more at peace, though still worried. At least now they would know what was going to happen.

Sesshomaru couldn't help feeling uneasy and unhappy that Tsu was locked in a room with the older male, and the feeling did not go when they exited. As soon as she was within arms length, he reached out and pulled her to himself, which she gave a squeak of protest to, and began to use both touch and smell to make sure she was uninjured and untouched. Tsukiko was not very happy about this treatment, and being quite vocal about it.

Yuugao couldn't help laugh at her friends antics. Sesshomaru's instincts to make sure that his pack members were ok were strong, and despite the fact that said pack member was protesting his handling of her, he was making sure the older male had not harmed her in any way.

Tsukiko attempted to struggle out Sesshomaru's grip as he checked her over for injury. She knew it was his instinct to make sure his pack was ok, she did not like the fact that he was, probably not even noticing that he was doing it, placing his hands in unwelcome places while he checked her over.

"Sessh! Stop feeling me up so we can get on with this, you hentai dog!"

Sesshomaru froze. He suddenly became very aware of where his hands were. One hand was on Tsu's upper thigh, while the other was at her waist. He pulled away, and it took all his control to avoid turning red at his display.

You did that, didn't you!

We did that, hai

No, I wanted to check my pack mate was unharmed, not feel her up!

Our Bitch, we check our bitch unharmed.

…

…

WHEN DID YOU DECIDE SHE WAS OUR BITCH

She is ours

She is not our bitch, get back in your cage till I can yell at you in private!

"...So, your going to leave then?" Yuugao was trying very hard to to burst into tears.

"Hai, I need to deal with this, get it out of my system. I'll be back, I promise, don't worry Yuu." Tsukiko leaned over and grasped Yuu's hand for comfort, on both ends.

"You'd better, I don't know how I'm going to live with Sesshomaru for the next few decades when your not here."

"This Sesshomaru may consider a temporary self-imposed exile as well if it means getting away from you, Yuugao."

"Dont be so mean Fluf.. epp!"

Tsukiko quickly found herself with a hand in front of her mouth, being pushed down onto the desk she had been sitting on, Yuugao laughing hystericaly beside her.

"How many times much I remind you little bitch, do not call your Alpha "fluffy", or suffer the consequences."

She watched with narrowed eyes as he sat down in the chair at the desk, keeping her pinned with just the hand that kept her mouth shut.

"And I dont care that you are licking my hand, I got over that a long time ago."

He leaned forward to whisper in her ear.

"Although... my beast rather enjoys it..."

Tsu speant the next hour franticly strugging to get free, while Yuugao simply continued to laugh like a maniac and Sesshomaru chuckled at her futile attempts.

Sorry it seems a little rushed, I wanted to get this part over with so i can get onto the planned next part, which also time skips quite a bit. Hope you liked it!

Dontgotaclue88: time skipped by 4 years, not much has changed YET...

RoyalKitzune: Yes, Sesshie has a lecher in him, there is no supprise there... X3

Shade Revrac: Thank you! Sesshie shows both those side again here, as well as his lecherous side X3

Steph the bat 11: I love plot bunnies, I just wish they would breed at a more steady pace X3 In the previous chapter, Sesshie was 31 and Tsu was 26, but physically they were 14 and 13, respectively. In this chapter, Sesshie is 35 and Tsu is 30 (5yrs age difference), and are both the same physical age, but one more year and each will look a year older (I have a massive spreadsheet to keep track of this X3 ).

Everliss the wolf: Glad you liked it X3

Yey! I got over 40 reviews now! I love all you reviewers! More cookies and ramen for everyone!