She was almost certain she'd never seen a creature more beautiful and radiant than the one standing before her now. Not in any book, movie, painting, or fantasy game like her brother always played.

When Sesshoumaru had stopped them in the middle of an empty field, announced they had arrived, and then pulsed his aura several times, none of them had had any idea what to expect.

It certainly hadn't been the dainty yet colossal silvery dog that had flown down from the clouds to alight on the grass before them.

And it certainly certainly hadn't been the beautiful woman that the strong, formidable youki she'd swirled around her had revealed, either.

They were, in a word, stunned. Even Inuyasha had had nothing to say.

This woman held all the cool, stern beauty that Sesshoumaru himself possessed; long, gleaming silver hair, piercing gold eyes, flawless alabaster skin, a violet crescent moon on her brow. However, unlike the strict control that gave nothing away on their resident demon lord's face, this being held a certain mirth deep in her eyes, and it struck a chord of familiarity deep in Kagome's mind.

"Oh my..." she hadn't known she'd spoken aloud until those very eyes met her own, and in them she could read amusement, curiosity, contemplation, and a very slight confusion.

She turned her golden gaze back to their leader, the barest hint of a smirk lifting the corners of her mouth.

"Well Sesshoumaru, to what do I owe this completely unexpected visit, hm?"

Her voice was soft and lilting, as cool as Sesshoumaru's but layered with all sorts of other things that Kagome couldn't hope to unravel.

"Play not your games with me today, mother, I know your spying, scheming ways. No doubt you've been expecting us."

'That's his MOM?!' Kagome thought, mind completely shaken. She wasn't sure why, but she'd always just assumed his mother was dead like his father. He certainly never spoke of her, past or present tense.

"My my, still so serious." She drug her eyes over every face that had been trailing along behind her stoic son, lingering just a hair longer on Kagome before addressing her son again.

"What an...interesting group of friends you've collected my son. I am surprised at their diversity."

"We are allies mother. Nothing more."

"Hmmmmm." It was as close to a mocking giggle as she'd heard from any of the dogs Kagome had known since she'd come here.

"Oh yes, allies. Well, be welcome to my palace. I'm sure you remember your lessons in hospitality, and will have no trouble ushering your... allies into my courtyard. Do not tarry, now, Sesshoumaru."

With that, she wrapped her youki tightly around her and streaked straight up into the sky in a glowing sphere of explosive energy, much like they'd all witnessed Sesshoumaru do on occasion.

And judging by the demon lord's wildly fluctuating aura, Kagome could tell that he was barely keeping the lid on his usually tight control.

Suddenly, a roiling, shimmering cloud of youki seeped under their feet and seemed to solidify. They were raised suddenly, slowly, slowly, higher and higher. They all subconsciously huddled closer to each other, watching in awe as the ground below disappeared and they ascended through the clouds above that looked so much like the cloud under their feet. They stopped at a small but ornate little palace floating on a cloud of its own, and stepped off into the courtyard of the palace in the clouds.

It was the most curious little castle she'd ever seen. Most of it was open and airy, fully enclosed spaces few and far between to allow for a full view of the glorious, shimmering sky all around. She imagined the night view would be even more spectacular.

Upon their arrival, Sesshoumaru's mother had snapped her delicately clawed fingers and a servant had appeared nearly out of nowhere to usher them into rooms. She and Sesshoumaru had disappeared shortly after and had yet to return.

Kagome had decided to take the opportunity to explore their current holdings. There was no telling how long they'd be staying, and this was the perfect opportunity for distraction from her tumultuous emotions.

Currently she found herself wandering down an empty corridor. It had a wall on either side, where sliding doors led the way into several rooms of one use or another. The ceiling had great, wide openings all along the length of it, and she could see the earliest tendrils of pink stretching across the sky as the sun began to set.

Ahead, the hallway opened up into what she could really only describe as a ball room. It was wide and open and airy, with no ceiling at all and only two complete walls that held old portraits and paintings. In the farthest corner, facing one such painting, was Inuyasha. She could feel the consternation writhing in his aura, and she approached him calmly, reaching out to place a gentle hand in his shoulder to check on him.

He startled at her touch, and swung wide, surprisingly open eyes toward her. She could see uncertainty simmering in their depths and her heart clenched.

"Inuyasha... are you alright?"

His eyes then hardened slightly and he turned back to the painting, a disgusted "feh" his only answer. She took a moment to observe the painting he was so absorbed in and gasped. There before them was a gorgeous portrait of the female Inu they'd all met just hours before, standing just behind a small, somber child who was unmistakably the older brother of her hanyo friend. Next to them both was a tall, broad male with the same silvery hair, gathered at the top of his head and falling over one shoulder. He was missing the signature crescent moon, but the jagged blue markings slashed across his cheeks gave away his identity. His slight smirk and dark, heavy brows were all the additional identifying markers she needed.

"Oh my, it's your father."

"Keh."

"You look like him."

"...keh?"

She giggled. He could be as taciturn as his brother sometimes.

"Sure you do! You have his eyebrows for one. And that arrogant smirk. And that's what your markings look like when you transform, too."

"Really?" She could heat the disbelief and curiosity mixing in his voice and she smiled reassuringly.

"Yep! They look just like that. Sesshomaru has his mother's moon, you have your father's stripes."

He didn't answer, and she glanced at him to find him staring longingly at the portrait, probably not realizing that she could see everything. He was so skittish with his emotions, she'd have to tread carefully to keep him from clamming up.

"Do you miss him?"

He huffed and scowled, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Miss him? I didn't even know him."

"What does that matter, Inuyasha? He's your father, and he should be here, and he's not. It's okay to miss him. It's also okay if you don't, you don't have to be embarrassed either way."

He met her eyes and shrugged helplessly.

"How is it possible miss someone you never met?"

She smiled sadly and looped her arm through his, looking back at the little silver family in the portrait.

"I wish I knew."