Morning met another couple fairly early as well; Inuyasha and Kikyo had decided they would not leave for his father's villa till this morning. If Inuyasha was to understand it correct the villa laid on the coast line of the western lands, it would be covered in a barrier that would not be noticeable to the normal eye but he as his father's son would feel it and be able to pass through it when they arrived at the location.

Inuyasha opened his eyes slowly they were still slightly sore from crying the day before but he was quick to push the feeling as well as the reason for it off. He couldn't take back what he did all he could do was wait out time and hope for the best from his best friend. Turning to his side he noticed at once that Kikyo was no longer next to him. That got his attention rather quickly, he stood and stretched and headed to the main room of the hut they were staying in for the moment.

He was greeted with the delightful smell of cooking rabbit and Kikyo kneeling down by the fire putting more herbs on to the meat. A soft smile was on his face she was a sight to behold so early in the morning, she turned and smiled at him it wasn't the full smile he was hoping for the events of yesterday still weighing heavy on her as well as him.

He pushed off the door way and walked to sit next to her "How are you today Kikyo?" he asked pushing her hair behind her ear.

Kikyo's smile widened slightly at the sweet gesture "I'm good Inu, are you feeling better today?" she asked the concern still evident in her voice.

Yasha offered her a sad smile "Nothing time won't fix" he offered in an optimistic tone.

Kikyo patted his leg as she stood "We can leave after breakfast if you'd like."

Yasha hummed low "Yeah that sounds good to me" he said sending a smile over his shoulder to her.

The two enjoyed a small breakfast of roast rabbit and rice, cleaned up and packed a few supplies for the trip that they figured would take about a day so long as Yasha was carrying Kikyo on his back and running at full speed. They left their hut and headed to Kaede's to wish her well and let her know they would be gone a few days and would return once Inuyasha's father arrived at the villa.

Kaede wished them safe travel, she watched as they left the village with prayers for the entire group that was once so close. Shoulders sagging slightly she walked back to her hut. There were people in the village that needed herbs for the oncoming winter colds. A small smile graced her face with her new youth she would not share the worries this year that she normally did in the winter months. Kaede quickly gather the items she would need and began to make rounds in the village.

Back in the western palace the pack was beginning to wake up as a whole. The pups springing up quickly to dress and ready themselves for the day. Aoihi had watched them with a smile noticing that his kit was sticking close to Rin once more. It didn't really strike him as odd he was sure that part of the kit now realized with his growth his position in pack being the oldest and strongest of the pups was beta male.

Rin being the youngest and only female pup drew out Shippo's protective instincts as a beta male of the pack. Aoihi looked to his right to see Kagome still burrowed deep in to Toga's side, said male stroking her hair gently with a content smile on his face as he watched the pups with his eyes.

He was not asleep when the incidents with Sesshomaru took place; he didn't not miss the sadness in Kagome's aura when said inu left the room. He only hoped that she would not dwell on it for long, while Sesshomaru's acceptance of the bond was needed Aoihi would not let it stress out his female if he could help it. He scooted over to her wrapping his body around hers where she still laid sleeping in Toga's side.

Toga saw the look Aoihi had on his face as he studied their female, he too worried about the thoughts she may now have of Sesshomaru. Toga did not want his little alpha female to worry about his eldest pup he would come around in his own time. Perhaps it was time to cut this visit short and head out to his villa. If his pup wished to see Rin they would only be a few hours run away from the palace. It was clear at dinner last night that the demoness that Sesshomaru had picked out were not going to be as accepting of Rin as his son had thought.

They had stayed long enough for Rin to meet them that was all Sesshomaru had asked for; he did not ask to keep them here till the mating trials were over. Toga thought he would get Aoihi's thoughts on the idea and spoke in a low tone "I think in light of the events last night it would be in the interest of the pack to leave for my villa today."

Aoihi raised his head slightly from the pillows "In light of Kagome's instincts developing more I am in agreement with you. She is developing faster than I thought she would and it will only endanger the remaining demoness here if we were to stay."

Toga nodded "I would like you to accompany me when I speak to Sesshomaru about the subject, I believe he may try to fight it due to his new bond to Rin however perhaps the both of us will be able to convince him."

Aoihi looked at him with slightly widened eyes, Toga let out a chuckle "You are as much alpha of this pack as I am we are doing this for our pack" he said with a serious note to his voice.

Aoihi sent Toga a smile of appreciation part of the fox feared that Toga being the stronger dai would try to push him back from most of the alpha duties. That Toga wished for not only his opinion on the matter but his company in confronting Sesshomaru said a lot to Aoihi. They were to be equals in the pack and Toga was going out of his way to make sure Aoihi was comfortable as well.

The two males were brought out of their thoughts by a little growl, Kagome had been awake how they didn't know it she wasn't sure but she had heard the conversation and there was no way they were going to talk to Sesshomaru without her. "Last I checked I am also an alpha in this pack" she said never moving from her position between the two dais.

Aoihi was first to answer her "Of course you are dear one" he said in what he was hoping was a calming tone. He kind of felt like a child that was being scolded when she use that tone of voice.

Toga on the other hand just chuckled at her tone "My apologies Kagome, it was my understanding that after this morning's brief conversation with him you did not wish to speak to him so soon."

Kagome sat up and bared her fangs slightly at Toga "When the safety of my pack hangs in the balance I will speak to him even if I do not desire to."

Aoihi watched them silently, seeing Toga's face tighten slightly when Kagome bared her fangs and him not to mention she was already in a dominate position he chose to avoid another display of dominance by Toga. "It would be wise dear one not to bare your fangs at one of your alphas while you hold a dominate position over him" he spoke close to her ear.

Toga set up supporting his weight on his hands and leaned over to her and nipped her lightly on the neck in reprimand "Aoihi is correct, unless you enjoy the feel of my fangs in your neck dear" he purred low.

Kagome pulled back from the very oppressive aura of Toga in front of her to press herself closer to Aoihi, a blush burning brightly on her cheeks. She turned her head from Toga to the pups helping each other get dressed in their clothes, she noticed Shippo fussing over Rin and couldn't help but smile at his antics.

Togas seeing her not answer and feeling just a little frisky leaned over and kissed her temple "Is that a yes" he whispered and then leapt off the bead and she swung to hit him.

Of course he was much faster than her and stood to the side of the bed chuckling at her as he stretched his hands far above his head to stretch his back out.

Kagome growled "I swear Toga one of these days I will get you back" it would have been threating if there was not a smile on her face the whole time.

Aoihi behind her tickled her sides lightly, "Come on dear one we need to get you dressed for the day."

Toga taking the lead once more headed to the wardrobe on the other side of the room to select a kimono for her. Aoihi crawled off the bed and offered a hand to her from the side, she gratefully took the offered hand and allowed him to pull her off the bed and in to his arms. He cradled her to his chest and walked over to Toga and placed her down on her feet once more. The blush on her cheeks was so worth whatever repercussions his actions may have.

Kagome made to take the kimono from Toga's hand when it was jerked out of her reach, "Toga come on we don't have time for your games" she growled out to him.

Toga took on a serious look, "This is no game dear I wish to help you dress it is after all my right as alpha" he stated with a wink to her.

Kagome huffed and walked behind the screen by the wardrobe and slipped her sleeping yakuta off and put her bra back on and stepped from behind the screen. Toga smiled at her and she suddenly found it very hard to be mad at him with that gentle smile on his face.

"Turn dear" he said as he presented the kimono to her so she could slip her arms in. Once her arms were slipped in Toga turned her around to face him and continued to pull the kimono to the right length and wrap it around her. After securing it he once more turned her and placed the obi in place and tied it in an intricate knot meant for nobles. The kimono that Toga had selected this time for her was a soft blue that faded down to a silver blue at the bottom delicate lilies stitched in to the sleeves in a gold color that was close to his own eyes. Kagome smiled sweetly to Toga as she looked herself over.

Aoihi was walking to them from the other side of the room once more fully dressed. "If you would allow it dear one I would like to groom your hair for you today" he said in a soft tone.

Kagome's smile brightened at her second alpha and she nodded turning her back to him. Aoihi stepped up to her and gently ran her brush through her hair to make sure there were no tangles. Once sure it was smooth and silky he gathered half of her hair and began gently twisting it, pulling it to the right side of her head and rolled it in something that looked like a bun once secured with a silver comb he called to Rin.

Rin quickly made it over to their side and smiled up at Aoihi, looking over to a vase in the room that held several flowers he silently asked Rin to pick out the Lillie that was in it. Rin quickly ran over to do as her alpha asked and picked the Lillie as well as a few of the brilliant blue bells that were in the vase. Coming back over to them she smiled holding the flowers out to Aoihi.

Aoihi smiled warmly at his little pup "Perfect my sweet" he said in praise to Rin's choice of flowers. Gently placing the Lillie in the center of the bun like hair dew he then placed the bells in the front where they hung gently against Kagome's temple. Aoihi than began to curl the rest of Kagome's hair around his fingers allowing his fox magic to flare slightly and releasing the hair.

By the time he was done the remaining hair fell in gentle curls to her waist now rather than her knees. He turned her around to face him and slipped one of the larger curls over her shoulder to hang down her body on her left side. Aoihi stepped back to admire her beauty and his handy work, Rin stepped up next to him and gasped "Mommy you look just like a noble" she said in awe.

The rest of the room shared in Rin's thoughts complementing both Kagome and Aoihi's work. Turning to walk back Aoihi felt a small tug on his hand looking down he found his female pup staring up in wonder "Will Aoihi-sama do Rin's hair too please" she asked.

Aoihi smiled at her "Of course my little one" he said leading her to the bed where he sat down and stood Rin in front of him.

He pulled hair from both sides of her head back and made two braids he then pulled the rest of her hair up like he was going to pony tail it and twisted it twice. Looking to Toga he asked him to bring him a comb, Toga picked out an ivory comb with a crane mid-flight along the top of it. Aoihi carefully placed the comb at the top of her head securing the hair he had pulled up. He then took the two braids he made and pinned them to her head around the hair that now fell down to her shoulders. Once again he curled the loose hair as he had with Kagome's leaving the braids exposed now that the hair was shorter. Rin was dressed in a deep red kimono with silver cranes stitched on the right shoulder and wild flowers across the bottom. Before he even asked Kagome stood to his right with flowers already in hand. She picked a fully bloomed red rose and several stems of baby's breath. Aoihi placed the rose up with the comb than picked small patches of the baby's breath off and placed them in the braids on both sides of her head. Tapping her shoulder once he pushed her to a mirror in the room.

Rin gasped in delight at the image that met her "Wow Aoihi-sama you're so good at this" she beamed. Kagome walked up to her pup "Now we both look like nobles my little lady" she giggled to her. Once more the room rang out with praise for Rin's beauty and Aoihi's work, sadly the joyous moment was broke by a loud knock on the door between the rooms.