A/N: Happy Valentine's Day to all my wonderful readers! May you all have a weekend full of fun and romance, and, if you happen to be single, I send my hearts joy to you! My hubby is taking me to see Deadpool, yes, Deadpool and I can't wait! Lol! Enjoy!


Koga awoke with a splitting head, a fuzzy tongue and the scent of something heavenly on the air. "Fuck me…" Groaning, he rolled to his back and flinched when the shaft of sunlight speared straight through his closed eyelids. Snatching the pillow from beneath his head to place over his face, he regretted the move instantly when his head cracked into the floor under it. "Fuck! Fuck! Dammit!" He hissed and had the rock youkai marching through his skull doing a dance.

Laying beneath the fat pillow, he wondered if it would be worth it to try and suffocate himself to put himself out of his misery. When the throbbing finally lessoned, he peeled the fabric from his face and peered bleary eyed at the ceiling. "Never again…" He groaned and sat slowly upright. The rock youkai began to jump up and down between his ears and had him hanging his head. "Never, ever, again." Never again would he let that little kuso owl talk him into opening a third bottle of sake.

When the knock came, he snarled. "Go away!" It hurt too much to think just yet.

"Prince Koga? My mate sent me with a tonic for your headache." Feza hid her smile behind her hand for Leishu had said nearly the same thing this morning.

"Then come in!" Koga snarled and glanced down at himself. "Bloody hell…" Bare to the waist, he wasn't sure if he even had hakama on, and made sure the sheets were pulled up. Didn't need to flash the owl's female.

Sliding the door open, Feza walked softly towards the obviously irate ookami, and held down the tray. "Down the hatch, prince."

"Not so loud woman!" He growled, blinking up at her when he took the cup and threw the tonic back. The cough caught him when it hit his tongue but he forced the swallow. "A little warning next time! That was revolting!" It left him wanting to scrape off his tongue. "What the hell was in it? Sweat from an oni?"

"Would you like breakfast brought to you prince, or in the dining room?" Feza asked, unwilling to comment on her morning after tonic. She'd poured a cup down Leishu's throat as well.

"Here." He had no desire to see, speak, or interact with anyone in the next few minutes.

"Very good prince." Giving a little bow, Feza disappeared back out the door.

Groaning, Koga fell back and glared up at the ceiling. What the hell had he been thinking? He was not a young, stupid wolf. He did not drink like that anymore because he knew how horrible he felt the next day. "Damn owl." They had spent the night reminiscing on his grandfather, the old wolf's time in the west, and playing Kitsune Bakuchi or Go until the wee hours of the morning. Little more was said on the reason he was here, InuYasha and Kagome. That suited him fine because until he found himself in the western keep and figured out what the toad meant by different, he wasn't saying nothing.

After thinking it over on his way here and speaking to the owl about the old days he had decided coming here was an opportunity he could not pass on. Sesshomaru's summoning while curt, did give him the opening he needed to come to the west without having it look like he was seeking an alliance. Open to the idea, especially after the hardships of the last few years, he didn't want it looking like it was him coming for a favor. If anything it should be dog breath that initiated the conversation. He was already doing them a favor by even showing up at this accession.

The snort left him. InuYasha ascending. Who the hell ever saw that coming? "Damn dog's more trouble than he's worth." But at least Kagome would be there. He could spend a little time with her even if it was just to annoy the hanyou. Not like he could flirt and fondle as he once had to piss off the puppy. It was likely to have him on the receiving end of that alpha of his. Another weird occurrence. 'Dog boy mate's a miko and ends up an alpha. How the hell does that happen?'

Sighing, he lifted the sheet enough to see, sure enough, he'd slept in the damn pants. Wiggling his toes he realized he was still in the boots too. Whipping the sheet back, he lurched unsteadily to his feet but found the drumming in his skull had lessened to more of a thumping instead of a pounding. The rock youkai was getting smaller. Stretching his arms to the ceiling, he gave a tongue curling yawn and grunted happily when his back cracked. Shaking himself, Koga took a look around the room and arched a brow impressed.

While clean and with minimal furniture, the space still continued that stately elegance he'd come to expect. The futon he stood on was centered on the wall to the side of the door. A table stood across from it with pillows placed for seating. Another taller side table held pitcher and bowl for washing and that was where he headed. Dumping the water in the bowl, he splashed his face and sighed when the rest of the throbbing faded into only a mild annoyance. Quickly he stripped out of his wrinkled hakama and kicked the boots into the corner before donning his clean furs and strapping on his armor. The metal gleamed and the leather had not looked so soft or supple even new. Apparently Leishu's people knew what they were doing.

He was in the process of tugging his incredibly clean boots up his legs when the knock came a second time. "Just come in already!"

Biting her lip to hold back her smile, Feza shoved the door open and proceeded towards the table. The ookami prince was a gruff sort of fellow, something she had learned rather quickly last night when she had found him with her mate, swearing and snarling over the dice. Leishu had been chuckling heartily away so she knew it was not something to worry over. Like the previous daiyoukai who had granted her mate this inn, she had also not met the ookami who was this prince's grandfather but she'd heard tales. Evidently this wolf took after his relative. Was it any wonder Leishu liked him? "Your breakfast prince."

"Koga will do." He'd been prince'd so many times he was beginning to think it was his name.

"Koga then." Smiling, Feza set the tray on the table. "When you are ready, Leishu will show you the pass." Bowing, she left the wolf to his meal.

Again he was impressed at the food set before him. Another meal of ookami favorites, bloody meat and pickles. It would not be a hardship to return here if this was the treatment provided. There was even some kind of fruity drink that seemed to clean his tongue of the vile liquid the little owl had poured down his throat earlier.

Pleasantly full, but not so stuffed that he needed a nap before he made his run, Koga dropped a small pile of coins on the table and left to find the innkeeper. Their friendly game had turned into a bit of a competition when they found they were evenly matched and luck seemed to run to either side with consistency. But when it came to the tally at the end he had come out a few coins ahead of what he owed for his room and food. The same coins he left for the staff that would clean up after him.

He didn't often have cause to stay in such places but he was not so uncivilized that he did not have an understanding of common courtesies and how to treat the people that made such stays tolerable. Leishu and his people had done an exceptional job. They should be well compensated for their actions and it was not a hardship to leave behind his winnings. It would only have the owl's people looking out for him the next time he stayed and treating him, or his mate, with the highest of courtesies. 'That would please Ayame to no end.' She was a sweet thing but she could get her nose out of joint if she thought someone wasn't treating her with the proper respect due the leader of the eastern ookami's mate.

Striding outside, Koga glanced towards where the sun shone through the trees and grunted in satisfaction. It was early still. Perhaps he'd catch the dog lazing about. A deep inhale showed him where the owl waited, and Koga trotted his direction. "Leishu."

"Koga." The owl grinned and gave a small bow. His body was better today than yesterday but it had a bit further to go before he would be spry again. Pointing towards the towering path at his back, Leishu explained. "Here lies the path into the west. The first section is high and narrow, many switch backs, the second curves the gorge and while the path is fairly flat, the danger lies in a misstep off one of the slides. It is a long fall to a certain death so please be careful prince. The last is the descent into the valley, again, narrow and steep but the trail will lead you to the Guardians. For your own protection please stay on the path, follow it to the guards at the entrance to the western valley and allow them to escort you to the palace."

Koga gave a snort. "Why would I need an escort?" It wasn't as if they weren't expecting him.

Smiling his innkeeper's smile, Leishu did his best to placate the ookami. "The west is well protected. The wards and the guardians are there for a reason and making the mistake of trying to go through the forest or bypassing the guards would not be well received. Those venturing into the west do so at the pleasure of my Lord and those who try to do so with subterfuge do not get far. It would ease my mind if you would consent to use the path milord."

"Fine. Whatever." Koga grumbled and headed towards the opening.

Bowing to the retreating back of the wolf Leishu called quietly, "Watch your step prince." Koga glanced back at him and gave a short, curt nod before breaking into a run and disappearing up the trail. Leishu watched him go for a moment, the dust trail easy to see as he wound his way back and forth before turning to face Feza.

"That was perhaps too subtle of warning." She smiled at her mate when the smirk twitched his mouth.

"I wouldn't want to spoil Lord InuYasha's surprise." He chuckled softly to himself and wrapped his good arm around Feza when she joined him.

Stroking her fingers over he mate's chest, Feza giggled along with him. "I thought you liked the prince."

"Oh, I like him well enough. He is a surly fellow though and I can see how that would have irritated our young Lord. Prince Koga has a rather high opinion of himself." Glancing down, he grinned at his mate when she laughed.

"I'm sure the fact that they both vied for Lady Kagome's attention did not help matters." She snickered. "I almost wish I could be there when the prince finds out."

Leishu laughed. "Wicked mate!" He teased her and danced his claws up her ribs making her giggle.

"Like you didn't have the same thought." She patted his chest gently, aware he was still hurting.

"Ah, yes, but you said it." They had spoken very little about the Lord and his Lady last night but considering the nature of their arrival in the west, the secret the Lady had been carrying, he had not brought it up and when he had casually enquired when last the prince had seen InuYasha and Kagome, it was clear the wolf would also not be privy to the information. Leishu had kept his mouth shut. "Still, Prince Koga is in for a mighty big shock."

Feza snorted out another giggle and turned away to continue with her day. There was still much to prepare. "That is perhaps an understatement, mate."


Content and slightly overfull, Kagome returned to the common room dressed and ready for the day along with a mildly annoyed InuYasha. Senchineru would be arriving soon and the Commander was charged with taking InuYasha through the barracks, training grounds, and army. He would likely spend the day dealing with soldiers and guards, and needed to dress accordingly. She'd made him change clothes, out of the ones he'd worn the previous day and into a set that looked more suited to dealing with the possible rough and tumble life of the barracks than the court ones he'd worn previously. While still of high quality these had a heavier weight, were slightly less elegant, but fit him well and continued to give her a new definition for what masculine beauty truly entailed. Where yesterdays had been black with red accents, the kimono he wore today was solid red with the pattern of diamonds along the collar that she was used to seeing on Sesshomaru. The pattern repeated on both cuffs, banded in a red so dark it was nearly black, with a sash that matched over hakama in the same dark red. The red on red reminded her of his fire rat robes and had her grinning at the picture he presented.

The red crescents were in that deep crimson as well and she had traced her fingers over the pattern after he'd strapped on his armor. The cuirass with its spikes and solid metal that moulded to his chest was just so damn hot and had her purring out a sound of pleasure that had swiveled his ears forwards with an almost audible snap. However, they were out of time and she had shaken her head at him when he reached for her. It was the reason he was pouting, her refusal to let him have his way with her and made her snicker softly in reaction. He could be such a puppy sometimes.

She had braided her hair back, allowing the long tail to fall down her spine and the end to twitch just below her knees. It appeased him, a little, and had him tucking the comb from Moerui-hi near the crown of her head so the wisteria would dangle and jingle as she walked. Today her own kimono consisted of the valley at night and when InuYasha had helped to get it up her arms and over her own assortment of clothing, Kagome had had a bit of a moment. The dark cloth with all its shimmering accents and the way her hair was pulled back, had her thinking she looked like some spell casting sorceress from some movie. The hound that sat at her hip looking up at her with adoring silver eyes was her familiar and the male at her back was her consort, her shugosha, and her most fearsome warrior. It made her snicker for she could practically see the fanciful tale laid out before her and shook her head at her own imagination.

Entering the common room, Kagome chuckled when Shippo gasped in amazement. "Little different than normal." He, too, looked nice in the clothing Kato had provided.

"Kagome…" Moving cautiously forwards, Shippo touched only the edge of the kimono with one finger. It was incredible. Continuing around to her back, he gazed up at the pattern, at the thick tail of black and white hair that he thought looked really pretty on her, and the dangling blue flowers of her comb. When InuYasha had explained about his human night, how he had been forced to assume his true-form in order to contain his youki and had turned black in reaction, Shippo had been stunned. Never in even his wildest dreams would he have expected such a thing to happen. That Kagome had taken on so much of his aura that it had turned her hair white had seemed slightly trivial in comparison but the white locks, silky soft and so pretty, gave her such a unique look he was kind of happy it had happened. So many neat things had occurred with their mating that Shippo was quite looking forward to seeing what happened next, especially when the pups arrived! He could only imagine how interesting they would be with their miko mother and Dog General father.

InuYasha watched Shippo and smirked a grin at the range of emotions that came and went across the kit's face. Awe, excitement, wonder. Looking at Kagome standing in the common room of their second home, surrounded by their pack and garbed in clothing fit for the most regal of himes, he could understand the kit's feelings. She really was stunningly beautiful. "Gorgeous…" He purred softly to her and had brown eyes lift to his. Her lashes, spiky and dark, swept down. Her blush colored her cheeks and she radiated a happiness that he was determined to keep on her face for as long as possible. Glancing towards the door he waited for Senchineru to arrive. The commander was easy to feel at any given moment and when he finally made the door InuYasha called out, "Come in Commander."

Standing in the open door, he bowed to the interior before stepping over the threshold. "My Lords. My Lady." He offered in way of greeting, noticing the addition of a small fox kit.

"Senchineru." Kagome smiled at him before bending to pick up Shippo. "I'd like you to meet Shippo, our omega and my very best kit." Grinning, she tucked her nose down in his hair when he giggled.

Surprised, Senchineru offered a nod to the kit. "It is a pleasure young fox. I, the dark Inu, am pleased to see you made it without incident." That, however, was not quite true and he glanced towards InuYasha for more information. Something had gone wrong last night, of this he was certain. The spike of powers from Sesshomaru's garden had been mild enough that most had ignored it but he had known it was not nothing, not the Lord simply letting off his aggression. But when InuYasha had not called for him, he had let it be.

Seeing the clear question in his beta's eyes, InuYasha nodded towards the back of the house. "Shippo." He beckoned the kit who wiggled himself free of Kagome and jumped up on his own shoulder.

Turning to the twins while InuYasha, Senchineru and Shippo disappeared out the back, Kagome smiled and motioned them towards her. "What are you two up to today?"

"Lessons."

It made her giggle for while Yuzuki said the word with excitement, Shinobu said it with a tone of resignation. "With?"

"Lord Ryūsui." Sesshomaru spoke before they could. Until he had a chance to question their governess they would be spending time with the otter in the athenaeum. "He expects you promptly. Jaken." He growled at the kappa hovering near the door.

"Oh, Jaken. Come in." Kagome smiled at the small green male. "There's no need to wait outside."

Momentarily frozen, Jaken stared at Kagome. She was even lovelier today than yesterday but when the growl came from his lord a second time he scampered quickly in the door. "Arigato Lady! How lovely you look! So grand, so kind." He eeped in fear when Sesshomaru's mokomoko snapped in warning and shut his mouth.

"See the twins to the athenaeum, then return and find Higuma." The daiyoukai waved the twins towards the door. "You two may return when the otter is satisfied you have learned something of value."

Biting at her lip Yuzuki snickered. "Sorry Bu. You're going to be a while!"

"Hey!" He barked at her but was relieved that she was at least talking to him again and followed her laughing behind out the door.

Chuckling softly, Kagome waited for them to get farther away, Jaken hollering about manners and dignity, before turning narrowed eyes on her onii-san. "First tedious chores and now Jaken?" He was siccing the Kappa on her, too? A twitch of lips, a hidden grin, was all the answer he would give her and had her huffing at him before grinning at the bunny that snickered quietly on her way to the dining room and the breakfast dishes.


Striding out the back door, InuYasha headed towards the water while Shippo sat perched on his shoulder and eyed Senchineru warily. "Kit," He rumbled softly, turning to look at the fox. "He ain't no enemy."

Cocking his head, Shippo looked the dark Inu up and down. "You sure?" He was a strange looking Inu with all his braids and dark skin.

"Yah." InuYasha's lip quirked up and he nodded. It tickled him to find the kit so suspicious, acting more and more like him every day.

"Keh."

The disgruntled sound had him grinning. "You keep talking like that Kagome's going to claim I'm a bad influence on yah."

Shippo snorted and crossed his arms. "Like she doesn't know that already."

Chuckling, InuYasha returned his attention to Senchineru. "Shippo got in a bit of trouble last night. Took a blast of reiki Kagome left as protection for a friend of ours accidently. Kit's fine but Sesshomaru went and got him for us."

Nodding thoughtfully Senchineru looked the kitsune over. "I am relieved to hear it. Your absence has been difficult for Kagome."

A red wash of color crossed Shippo's nose. "She missed me?"

"Course she did. You know that squirt." InuYasha ruffled his hair before plucking the kit from his shoulder to sit in the crook of his arm. "Look kid, the reason I wanted to introduce you to Senchineru is cause… he's pack." With Shippo staying in their home the kit was liable to see things, reactions between alpha and beta, especially when Senchineru began to wear his mokomoko again.

"Pack?" Shippo looked from golden eyes to copper. Where the hell did he fit? The male's youki was strong. He was older and clearly powerful. What place would he hold?

"Shippo, the Commander is my Beta." InuYasha murmured and watched the kit's face pale. "Now, it ain't-"

Shoving away, Shippo leapt into the branches of the tree above him. "How could you?! How could you do this to Miroku?" If the human could lose his place in the pack that easily what was to stop InuYasha from kicking him out? "You said we'd never lose our places! That we're pack. Family!"

"Shippo!" He knew it would be hard to explain but he hadn't thought the kit would go off this badly. "Kagome! I need you!"

Her head whipped up and around. "Shippo?"

Sesshomaru blinked and she was gone, out the door at a full run that had him following and her hound scrambling. Arriving only a second after her, he looked up into the branches of the beech tree to see a kitsune with red rimmed eyes. "Brother?"

"He took the news wrong!" InuYasha grumbled and glared at the snarling boy. "Get your furry behind down here so we can explain. Don't make me come get you!"

Snarling, Shippo stuck out his tongue and scrambled higher. "You ain't ever caught me yet!"

Kagome took one look at her kit and had her Inu rush into full life, surging her alpha out around her and growling at the males to get back. All three looked at her in astonishment before taking slow steps away. Glaring at them, she snarled softly in warning, "Don't threaten my kit!"

"He's being irrational." InuYasha growled at her, refusing to back away any farther when the kit was also his.

She hissed and had him hiss back at her before she looked up at Shippo. "Come down. Now!" She barked when he hesitated and held up her arms.

He slid down the trunk of the tree to land lightly in her open arms. "He replaced Miroku!" Shippo wailed and burst promptly into tears.

Holding him to her, Kagome sighed and rumbled out a soft purr until he calmed down. "No, he did not." Gazing down at the teary face, she brushed them off his cheeks with her thumb. "Are you ready to listen now?"

Dark eyes sparked with gold and had him nodding slowly. "Hai…" He whispered.

Turning towards the three Inu and a shadow hound that watched her, three warily and an annoyed, huffy hanyou, Kagome spoke softly. "Miroku has not been replaced. Do you remember after our mating how InuYasha and I talked to you, told you that things were… different with us, and that until you grew up a little more we weren't going to be able to tell you everything?"

"Yah." A pout was forming for he could see where she was going with this.

"This is one of those things." She smiled gently at him and touched his nose when the full pout emerged. "Senchineru is Beta to InuYasha's Alpha. It is a bond neither could resist or deny. It changes things, certainly, but adding the commander is no different than having Shinobu or Yuzuki in the pack. Do you think adding the twins takes away my love for you?"

"No…" He grumbled petulantly. The twins were fun, older like Rin, but hadn't treated him any different and he had appreciated that. He knew he was, different that is. Growing up in dangerous situations had matured him beyond his physical age and had him seeing the world without the veil of youth coloring his vision. It often made him stand out among his kitsune cousins.

There was a very distinct whine in his voice that had her growling a soft warning. He would not get away with acting the brat after her explanation. The initial outburst she understood but he was too old to continue to pout. "Senchineru will be InuYasha's beta in the west, Miroku in the east. The commander is willing to share the position, work with Miroku, and I can't see Miroku being upset for long when the truth comes out." Sighing when defiant green eyes snuck a glance up at her before shooting away she shook her head. "There are things I can't tell you Shippo but this has to happen. Senchineru is also our pack beta and you will show the proper respect."

The or else hung in the air with the weight of her displeased alpha and made him yip softly for forgiveness. "Sorry 'Gome." He murmured, still frustrated and unhappy but resigned to the change.

"So many sorry puppies today…" She sighed heavily. "Don't tell me." Kagome tilted her head towards her ruffled mate.

Shippo glanced towards InuYasha and cringed. The alpha was not happy with him at all. When Kagome released him, he made his way slowly towards InuYasha with a bowed head. "InuYasha… gomen nasai. I shouldn't have said-"

InuYasha crouched down and snatched the kit to his chest. A shadow with Kagome nearly constantly, it had not taken a soul bond to see the fear in the fox. The words, the lack of trust, may have hurt but he understood the boy's concern. "Shippo, you ain't getting out of this pack until you have nine tails and are strong enough to give Inari-sama a run for his title. Even then you'll always have a home with us." There was almost nothing the kit could do that wouldn't eventually be forgiven.

Burying his face into the white fur Shippo clung to InuYasha. "I'm sorry I didn't trust you." He just never wanted to be alone again.

Senchineru looked up to find Kagome watching him and froze when eyes of Inu gold peered back. It was as if she spoke to him without words across the distance and had him moving to crouch beside InuYasha. "Shippo," The small face turned to peek at him from behind the thick fur, suspicion still heavy in the green eyes. "It is my honour to be considered pack and beta to InuYasha. I am willing to stand at Miroku's side in this and do not seek to replace the monk that has been beta for these past years. I wish only to add my strength to that of the Inu no Taisho. To guard she who is the bright heart," InuYasha's head lifted and alpha eyes warned him to watch what he said. "Your Lady's heart is bright and pure and I would see to her safety no different than you do. The dark Inu speak only truth. I am pack to your pack and wish only to join, not supplant."

Shippo looked up at InuYasha to see a reassuring nod, glanced at Kagome and got a second before looking to Sesshomaru. The daiyoukai added his own agreement, a subtle tilt of his head and made him sigh. "Welcome to the pack commander. I apologize for my reaction." Still a little suspicious, Shippo sniffed at the dark Inu and found no deception in his scent. But he wasn't going to just accept so easily. This male was unknown to him and no matter what they all thought he would wait to see how this Senchineru faired in the coming days. "We'll see if you can earn your spot." He murmured.

"Shippo!" Kagome snapped at his rudeness. "I give up." Throwing her hands in the air she stalked away back inside, her hound at her heels. "You deal with him!"

"Guess it's a good thing she can't tell you to sit." InuYasha chuckled at the kit. "Better go suck up before she gets really snarly." Her irate voice washed through him, "I heard that!" It made him flinch but he didn't comment. Grabbing Shippo before he could bound away, InuYasha muttered, "The twins don't know about the commander kit, so keep it to yourself and things have been rough these last couple of days. Be good for her today and don't get in trouble alright?" Nodding vigorously, Shippo raced towards the house.

"How much is he privy to?" Senchineru asked in a voice pitched low.

"The basics. That we're… bonded, that Kagome's powers are mine and mine hers. About my beast and…" He hesitated, shifting his eyes to Sesshomaru. His brother gave an imperceptible shrug, able to discern his question but unwilling to offer comment. Flashing a fang in annoyance InuYasha reached for Kagome. "Tell him." The Commander would figure it out eventually with how much time he spent around them. "About the mind speak." He finished quietly.

The softly spoken words had Senchineru inhaling sharply. "Mind…" He whispered. Certain things began to make sense. "I see." It was astounding!

A snicker left InuYasha and had him smirking at the beta. "Yeah."

Sesshomaru turned towards the house, feeling Kato moving towards the bedroom. The rabbit had been occupied with clearing away the meal and her humming had not changed in tempo or volume during Shippo's outburst. She had been unaware of the confrontation thankfully. Glancing at the beta he contained the smirk that tugged at his mouth. "Another for you two to exasperate when you speak in half answers, little brother. It quite frustrates Miroku does it not?"

"Bah! Nosy monk deserves it." InuYasha grinned a flash of fang and swivelled his ear towards the door when Kagome giggled and had Shippo squealing. "Tormenting the kit already?" She appeared in the opening and stuck her tongue out.

"Are we going or are you three going to continue to stand around gossiping like old women?"

"Oi!" He growled at her. "We ain't old women."

Giving a silent sigh, Sesshomaru glided towards Kagome. "No but your language skills have deserted you little brother."

"Bite me." InuYasha grumbled.

Coughing into his fist, Senchineru had to dig a fang into his lip to keep from laughing and had golden eyes swing his way. "Pardon. Just a tickle."

"Feh. I'm sure." Rolling his eyes InuYasha gruffed out, "Go ahead. I've already got a head full of snickering wench!" And tapped a knuckle against his temple.

It was fascinating and explained so much. The way Kagome had looked at InuYasha on the way to the village. How the hanyou had talked about her catching them. The laughter that had burst from her yesterday in the courtyard when he had been certain they had not been speaking. Even just now. Plainly she had been said something to tease InuYasha. Something about old women that had her laughing. "Incredible…"

Glancing again at the wide eyes and slowly shaking head of the commander, InuYasha chuckled. "Takes some getting used to but it makes things easier when we have to be apart."

"It would." It would certainly work to soothe the instincts that came with a mate bond.

"Only my immediate pack knows of this. The twins do not." InuYasha warned, striding after his brother and back towards the house.

"Understood." Senchineru said, following his alpha inside. The laughing eyes of the Lady swept his way and had him smirking at her. She enjoyed teasing them all and had him wondering when he would be on the receiving end.

"Shall we?" Kagome grinned and shifted Shippo to her shoulder. He latched onto her braid when she turned towards the door and followed a prancing shadow hound, her three Inu pacing along behind. The path from the door led through a row of trees, winding towards the back of the castle. "Shippo? What festival was the village celebrating?" She'd kind of lost track of the days with her return to the feudal era.

"Star. I got to make a new wish this year!" He smirked smugly, his tail swishing against her shoulder as she walked.

"Oh…" The star festival. Sighing softly, she listened to his excited chatter. "Kagome? What's wrong?" InuYasha's hand caught hers and pulled her to a stop at the top of a short flight of stairs that led down into the gravel at the rear of the castle. Looking up into concerned gold eyes, she sighed a second time and dropped her gaze to his chest. "Obon…" She murmured. It would be the first time she would not be home to take care of her father's grave.

Cupping her cheek, he rubbed his thumb over the skin gently. "Mate," He sighed softly. There wasn't much he could say to make her feel better. Technically her father wasn't born yet but he understood how she was feeling. To her he was gone, had been for years, and this time was special for her to honor his memory and do so with her family. But that wasn't possible, not now. "I'm sorry Kagome." He wasn't sure how to fix this for her.

"Imouto?" Sesshomaru stepped up behind her and drew his fingers down her braid. Standing in the shadows beneath two trees, she seemed small and sad, lost. Looking to InuYasha he frowned, uncertain as to what had brought this on.

"Obon." InuYasha clarified but Sesshomaru only frowned. "It's a festival that celebrates ones ancestors, one where Kagome would spend time with her family."

"Hn." And she had no hope of doing so now.

Wetness began to gather on her lashes with the idea that she would not be able to honor her ancestors that year. Would not be there to take care of her father's haka. "Mama… she'll have to get Souta…" The tears welled higher but she refused to let them spill over and found herself held tight to InuYasha's chest while Shippo slipped from her shoulder.

InuYasha gathered her close and stroked her braid, nodding his thanks to Shippo where the kit now sat on the back of Kemuri, concern showing on his face. "You forget saiai. He hasn't been born yet so there is no haka." Purring softly, his words didn't stop the welling tears but it did lessen the burn.

"This obon is a human tradition Imouto?" Sesshomaru had not known of such things before, rarely paying attention to what human's celebrated prior to having Rin in his life.

Nodding, Kagome tucked her nose up into InuYasha's throat and relaxed into him. "To honor our ancestors… and family that we've lost. We make offerings, clean their grave monuments, sing, dance, and celebrate their life." And this year she would miss it. "I know that InuYasha, but just because he haven't lived yet doesn't mean I haven't lived through his loss once already." His purr grew deeper, more intense, as comfort and sorrow blended between them sliding down the bond.

"You lost your father as well little bird?" Sesshomaru had not known and had his own ripple of sadness rise with her sorrow.

"He was killed in a car accident when I was little, just before my brother was born." She murmured. The memories she had of her father were few but powerful. A tall, dark haired man with a quick smile and hearty laugh. He used to pick her up, swing her high into the air and catch her. "He always caught me. Maybe that's why I never doubted that you would catch me too."

InuYasha closed his eyes as the memory brought joy and pain for her, both emotions squeezing a fist around his heart. "I will always catch you, saiai."

While he did not know what a car was, he did not doubt that it had been a tragedy for her family. "I am sorry, Imouto, for your loss."

Tugging a square of linen from her sleeve, InuYasha gave it to her to catch the only tear she'd let spill when she sighed and pulled away. "Thank you, Sesshomaru. He's been gone a long time." She was simply more emotional than usual, as they well knew. "Do youkai do something like that? Honor their ancestors?" Kagome wondered, glancing between the two of them.

"Hn." Sesshomaru nodded. "We do. Each of us in a different fashion. Inu-youkai sing."

"Sing?" Kagome murmured.

"When the leaves of the sakura first turn red we, Inu-youkai, howl with the rising moon to celebrate the life and death of our departed." He answered her, tucking a loose hair back into her braid.

"Did you do that?" She asked InuYasha.

"Keh. For my mother." InuYasha nodded. He had them back to Kaede's just before so he could slip away for a few days, return to the bamboo forest where his mother was and sing to the moon in honor of her. Looking to where his beta stood watching InuYasha could see the confusion rippling across his features from their conversation. "I'll explain later." He offered and had the dark Inu nod in response. They might as well get it all out. Senchineru needed the rest of the details in order to truly understand a few of the things Kagome did.

Shippo reached up and took Kagome's hand. "Kitsune play a prank in honor of ours, but we do it in the winter when the snow is deep and the wind blows the drifts high."

Uncertain of his welcome, Senchineru shifted cautiously closer. "We also sing, Lady, but as a tribe. We celebrate with dance, with fire, and with food and do so for many days and nights." It was the biggest celebration they had. "We do so when the full moon rises after the first sakura blossom blooms."

Looking at them all, Kagome's smile was small. "Thank you, all of you. It's nice to know that youkai also honor their ancestors." But it didn't really help with her problem.

Sesshomaru took Kagome's hand and tucked it in his elbow. "Come, Imouto. I have something to show you."

"What?" She stepped down the stairs at his side and out into the crunch of gravel.

"You will see." While he could not give her, her own ancestors to honor he could offer her an alternative.

Kagome peered up at him as they made their way through the long shadows cast by the sun that was only just flooding the valley. His white hair glowed brightly when the light hit it and gave him a halo that made her smile. Gold eyes slipped her direction, his brow lifted along with the corner of his mouth but she only shook her head. She doubted he'd appreciate being likened to an angel. "Probably not." InuYasha snickered in her head and had her glancing back at him.

He smirked at her, laughter dancing in his eyes, and looked around at the grounds they walked. The long lines of buildings piqued his interest and InuYasha rumbled to Senchineru. "What's this?" It was quiet but he could feel the youkai stirring within.

"Army barracks. For the unmated youkai." The dark Inu offered.

"Hm." He nodded. Four long buildings ran perpendicular with the direction they were headed, along the length of the castle towards the stone and wood wall that circled the perimeter. Only a single story high they would house many youkai, an abundance of soldiers, but he knew there would be more living in the village if these were only those without mates.

The few guards they chanced upon came immediately to attention and while Sesshomaru mainly ignored them, continuing on to wherever he was taking them, InuYasha looked each over carefully. Armor and weapons gleamed, were in good repair and showed the time and attention put into caring for the pieces. Not one of them looked slovenly or ill-kempt. It showed that they took pride in their position and he looked each one in the eye, assessing, watching for the reactions that came in those first instants of connection. It was interesting for the males attention was always caught initially by Kagome before moving on to him. There was a blink as they came out of the trance she often caused with her gentle, kind soul, and a careful bow was offered to him along with a look of mild envy. He would nod in acknowledgement but did his best to keep his pride in check. He knew he was lucky. There was no point in rubbing it in.

Kagome kept her fingers light on Sesshomaru's arm as he led her from the gravel back into grass, her swinging hand often brushing either Kemuri or Shippo where they continued at her side. She could just scent the nerves on the fox. He, not unlike her yesterday, was finding everything just slightly overwhelming and she set her hand gently on the top of his head. His hair was loose, flowing around his shoulders in an unruly mass of red waves and she skimmed her fingers through it. "We'll need to get you a new bow if you'd like one."

Glancing up at her, Shippo shrugged. "Whatever." InuYasha and Sesshomaru wore theirs loose. Maybe he would continue to as well.

A hint of red crossed his cheeks and made Kagome smile. He was looking to emulate InuYasha again. "If you do decide to return to tying it back you would not be alone." Curious green eyes shot up to hers before glancing at her own swinging braid.

"Here, little bird." Sesshomaru touched her hand to gain her attention and motioned towards the path that led into the expanse of bamboo forest that infiltrated the pine trees.

Turning away from Shippo, Kagome looked up and felt her mouth drop open in wonder. The intense green of the bamboo was broken only by the high red gate. It resembled a torii gate so closely she was astonished. "Wow…" Lofty, it was twice as high as Sesshomaru was tall with smooth lintels but carved support posts, and a heavy black kasagi capped the upper most crossbeam. It was beautiful and she stared at it for a moment before noticing how the grass gave way to bright white stones. Smooth, round and flat, they reminded her of the stepping stones you would see imbedded in a garden. "What is this place?" She finally managed to whisper, looking up the path that disappeared into the forest.

"You will see." Turning his head, Sesshomaru looked over his shoulder at the dark Inu. "Commander."

"As my lord wishes." Senchineru bowed, understanding the daiyoukai's wish for him to remain behind. This was not a place many were invited into and he found no insult in being excluded. "I shall wait."

Shifting his gaze to InuYasha, Sesshomaru nodded towards the kitsune. This first time he wished to share this place with them alone but he would not force InuYasha to leave the kit behind, especially if Kagome's instincts would not allow it.

"Shippo." InuYasha, reading his brother's unspoken request for what it was, looked down at the kit and the shadow hound he sat on. "Stay with Senchineru."

Glittering gold eyes locked with his and had Shippo swallowing his protest. "Fine." He didn't want to stay here with the dark Inu. He wasn't happy about being excluded again but he couldn't fight it when InuYasha used that voice.

"Kemuri can stay with you." Kagome offered, unable to ignore the discomfort in the kit and cupped his little face gently. "Behave. We won't be long." At least she didn't think they would and glanced to Sesshomaru for conformation.

"Not long." Sesshomaru tilted his head in agreement. "Shippo, you may join us next time." But this first time was for the three of them to go alone. Pulling gently, he encouraged Kagome away and together they stepped beneath the gate and onto the white path.

The forest was nearly silent so dense was the bamboo in its vibrant green but small sounds of wildlife could be heard moving in the brush. It gave the entire area a sacred feel, as if they walked towards a holy place and had InuYasha reaching for Kagome's hand. Her eyes shifted up to him, curious but calm, for she found the place as peaceful as he did. A soft wash of contentment and curiosity trickled between them.

When InuYasha sent his senses out he found the immediate vicinity was empty, the nearest youkai well out of hearing range, and wondered at it. What was this place? Where were they going and why was Sesshomaru being so secretive about it? When the second red gate came into view at the top of a short hill it had his ears twisting towards the answer.

"While we may not be able to offer you the human equivalent of markers and grave stones, Imouto, or help you honor those ancestors not yet born, this one can offer an alternative that may work if you are not averse to honoring your youkai heritage?" Arriving between the columns of red at the upper gate Sesshomaru paused to take in their reactions.

InuYasha's mouth dropped open when he looked around the small clearing in the middle of this lush green forest, the bamboo so tall it filtered the light and kept the space dim. Monuments to past Inu, ancestors he knew nothing about, were placed around the perimeter at regular intervals. "Who…?" Was all he was able to get out before his gaze landed on the figure in the middle and his breath left him in a solid rush of air when he gasped, "Father!"

His emotions ran through her in such quick succession that they were almost impossible to sort through. Confusion, wonder, awe and a small twist of pain that he had never known any of the white statues prior to today. But it was the stately dog demon in his true-form standing regal in all his glory in the middle that drew her slowly forwards. Here was the male she had met in her dream, the father to the Inu behind her, in the form that seemed to fit him better than the humanoid one did. His head was tilted, as if he looked down at her from one eye, and she reached up to touch the tip of the carved nose unaware of the tear that tracked her face. The statue was nowhere near his true size but the person who had carved it had done such a masterful job she could see the look in the eye that he'd had in person when she had met him. "Gifu…" She whispered, trailing her fingers along his cheek. Warrior proud, and with a strength of will she had a hard time fathoming, Kagome looked at the statue that was a match for her own mate and set her hand against his foreleg. Wiping the tear from her cheek she looked back up at this magnificent dog demon, taken in the prime of his life and whispered, "Do not go gentle…"

Sharing a confused look with Sesshomaru, InuYasha walked towards her and wrapped his arms around her from the back. Setting his hands on his pups, he rumbled softly against her ear. "Kagome?"

Standing at her side, Sesshomaru took the hand she offered and brushed his thumb across her knuckles. "What does this mean Imouto?" The words had been foreign and he had not understood.

Looking back up into that stone eye, Kagome smiled but it was a sad one. "Sorry. It's a poem I learned in school, one that just popped into my head seeing him like this. It's considered a classic in my time but won't be written for another… oh, four hundred years." Give or take.

Here, again, was her higher education and the words had intrigued him. "Will you recite it for this Sesshomaru?" Preferably in a language he understood.

With InuYasha's quiet purr in her ear and his encouragement covering her she tightened her grip on Sesshomaru's fingers and did her best to translate the words without losing the meaning. When she got to the second to last stanza she stopped, took a shuddering breath and spoke the words that she felt described their father so well. "Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight. Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. And you, my father, there on the sad height, Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray. Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying light."

She opened eyes washed in tears and Sesshomaru could not help but touch her cheek. It seemed as if a tight fist had closed around his throat and he had to swallow hard before speaking. "You see him so? Why?"

The tears slid over and she gently laid her hand on Sesshomaru's armor covered chest. InuYasha's arms had tightened and she could tell he was fighting back his own wild mix of emotions, aware of the meanings behind the words, aware of her feelings towards them with his shadow in her mind, and she breathed out another hard breath. "Because, at the very end he knew he was dying. He knew Sesshomaru but he went anyways to save InuYasha and Izayoi. He did not go gently, he fought, he raged, he lived until the very end." It was one of the many things she had seen in her search for answers for InuYasha. When they had spoken of his mother and her denying their father the ability to mate her, she had seen what could have been but also what had been. She had seen the desperate rush through the forest, the blood that had fallen like rain on the snow, and how their father had fought, fought, to the bitter end. "He lived, and when his death came calling, he did not just take it and give up. He did not lay down and die. He raged, he raved at the close of day. And he went with few regrets."

She took the strength from his legs with her words, with how strongly they affected him and he found himself back on his knees at her feet with little idea of how he had gotten there. How could someone write something so profound that so clearly described his father in four hundred years' time? It was only a moment that he sat there before she joined him, her arms wrapping his neck and her wet cheek laying gently against his. "Imouto…"

His baritone was even deeper than normal with how this had stripped him back. It had not been her intention to affect them all so strongly for InuYasha had dropped down with her, his hands on her hips while his head rested against her shoulder, but the words had come and would not stop. They flowed from her like water, an outpouring of grief for a man she had met only once, but for a father whose love for his sons extended even beyond the grave. "I'm sorry." She whispered in Sesshomaru's ear and stroked a hand down the silk of his fine hair while her powers rose around them. Her instincts shifted, mourned, sang with a song of loss and grief and letting go.

The caress of her power came but instead of the sizzle of reiki on Sesshomaru's skin there was a brush of warmth that sank in and made him sigh in reaction. Even without the question, without the offered hand, he could feel it and answered simply yes. There was grief with his father's passing he had never allowed himself to feel, never allowed it to surface and he had covered it with anger instead. Anger at receiving the Tenseiga, anger at how his father had left him alone to deal with the fallout, so much anger. And while Kagome had helped him before, healed wounds that had festered far too long, here was a wound that he had long forgotten about. Many times had he come here, sang in remembrance to the stars, but not once in two hundred years had he let himself feel the grief.

She held him tighter, her heart hurting for the pup who'd lost his father, for the male that suddenly realized it, and for the brother who was seeing how painful it truly was. Here she cried for him, cried with him, cried for them, knowing neither Inu would be able to release the grief without her, too stubborn and prideful to allow more than a few tears to fall. And, in so doing, she cried for herself. For her own loss. For the father taken too soon and found peace between the two Inu that were so much a part of her life now she wouldn't know what to do without both of them to lean on. Sesshomaru was her brother, her counsellor when she needed guidance, and had become family for her when hers had slipped out of reach. He was her rock, her strength, in nearly the same way as InuYasha and she had come to depend on him so quickly it still surprised her.

InuYasha was, simply, her life. She couldn't live without him at her side. Her heart beat for him and along with his. And, like his brother, her mate was her rock, her strength, her very heart and soul. She couldn't do this without him, would never want to, and allowed herself to become the chalice they filled with their pain. It was nothing for her to tip it out and let her tears wash it away.

He could feel his brother's grief through Kagome and it tore at him. He had never known the male that was their sire, not really, not till Kagome, but Sesshomaru had. This great male that everyone spoke of with such awe and such reverence. To lose that influence so suddenly and so harshly, it had been horrible but Sesshomaru had stuffed it down under a wall of ice and disdain that had broken under Kagome's words. The wall hadn't just cracked and allowed a trickle of that grief to come through and be dealt with, no. It had, quite simply, collapsed. Falling so fast and so completely it had been overwhelming for his brother that was only just allowing his emotions back to the surface. Reaching around her, InuYasha closed his hand over Sesshomaru's shoulder.

The strong hand tightened down on his arm and had the daiyoukai wondering how he was ever supposed to come back from this. It was personal and painful, and he felt empty. Hollowed out. As if she could sense his discomfort, a new influx of strong power filled the chasm inside him with such a feeling of comfort, understanding, and affection, he knew that neither of them judged him for this. Neither of them would ever see him as weak for needing the assistance he did to deal with all these emotions. Still, he lifted his head from where it had landed on Kagome's shoulder.

When he pulled away, Kagome released him enough to see his face and pressed her lips to his cheek when he refused to look at her. "Sorry, onii-san." That had his eyes darting to hers and she could see the suspicious shimmer of moisture there.

Rising to his feet, Sesshomaru helped her to hers and stole the handkerchief from her sleeve to give to her. "I… am not." She did what she did and he was learning to just go with it. "You cannot help yourself little bird. I have come to expect it."

Pressing up to his own feet, InuYasha watched Kagome wipe her face and sighed softly. "I would really like one day when you didn't spend it crying." But, as his brother had said, she couldn't often help herself. A sweeping wave of love crashed through him, followed by a second of calm so absolute, he felt his tight shoulders relax and chuckled softly. "Was that necessary?"

"Yup!" Her smile was soft and sweet, and she turned it from InuYasha to Sesshomaru. "Thank you for bringing me here."

"Come, I will introduce you to our ancestors little brother." Kagome turned away, gliding towards the next closest monument, but InuYasha only continued to look at him. "Brother?"

Sesshomaru's frown was that crease between his eyebrows. "Will you tell me about him?" InuYasha asked quietly, gesturing towards the statue of his father. Surprise was a flicker in his brother's eyes.

"Hn." He gave a tilt of his head. "Lord Ryūsui was more than willing as well."

Continuing to just look at his brother, holding gold eyes with his own, InuYasha shook his head. "I'd rather you tell me. He was our father and I'd rather know what he was like as a father before hearing what he was like as a leader."

This time his brow lifted with InuYasha's request. It…pleased him, his brother's words, and had a smile twitch at his mouth until it broke free and flashed his fang. "Yes, little brother, I can tell you of our father."

Grinning, InuYasha followed Kagome with his brother at his side. "That was well done watashi no kokoro." Her approval was swift and he smirked at her. "Keh. Your hard headed mate is learning." He'd walked the pathways of her mind enough times to be able to tell that talking to Sesshomaru, asking questions and hearing stories, would do as much to help heal the grief as what she had done. They could heal together, one through the telling, one through the listening.


A/N: Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night by Dylan Thomas is an amazing poem and when I first read it I immediately likened it to Inu no Taisho. There is a wonderful summary on the poem on shmoop dot com that gives incredible insight to the meaning behind the words and is worth a read if you are interested. R&R as you like!