Two weeks later: July

I pause at the door of the pack wing, feeling Kagome's aura wash over me, the sheer joy infused within it nearly stealing my breath. A warm smile spreads across my face as I open the door to the pups playroom, seeing Kagome on the floor with the pups piled on top of her, their laughter ringing across the room like music.

"Shippo, do it again, that was amazing!" Kagome says.

"Okay, Mama!" He replies before a whirl of magic is seen in the center of the room, forming into a depiction of Jaken. His scowling face clear, solid, and impeccably imitated. Then, a large mortal cat is formed, before it begins chasing the image-toad in circles, his face comically twisted into a look of fear.

Smirking lightly as the image trips and allows the 'cat' to land on the image-toas's back, I stride into the room filled with giggles.

"Oh, hi Sesshoumaru! Shippo's been showing us some of his new tricks."

"Hn, I see. Very well done, kit. Had I not seen the image form, I would have thought he had abandoned his duties." I say, watching as the kits face nearly began to glow with pride. "Dinner will be called soon, and I wished to know if you wanted to eat in the dining hall, or here." I turn to Kagome.

"Well, I can't keep hiding here, so I guess we'll eat in the dining hall. C'mon kids, let's tidy a bit and get ready."

I watch as the pups move about the room at her request, enjoying her natural maternal aptitude being displayed. She is the perfect mother. Kagome then has the pups straighten their clothing before shooing them and their guards out the door. She pauses next to me, accepting the arm I offer, and we turn to follow the boisterous pups down the hall, Morina following behind.

"How has your training been going, Kagome? In your opinion, as I already have Naoko's." I smirk as Kagome blows her bangs up.

"It's... difficult, but I guess that's expected. If it was easy, everyone would do it. I think I'm learning okay. He's a grump, that's for sure, but I think I'm doing okay."

"Hn. He is not being too hard on you?"

"Oh, no. Morina would have said something if he was being harsh. He just doesn't accept complacently, understandably. He has other stuff to do than teach someone who's not serious in learning, and I am. Though, Kami, do my arms feel like jelly after a few hours with him." She giggles. I hear Morina snort quietly behind us.

She is amazing, truly.

"That is good to hear. I am glad you are learning and enjoying it, even if it is exhausting. It seems he has not changed his instruction in the 800 some years since he taught me." I reply, a mischievous smirk gracing my features.

"He taught you?! How old is he?!" Kagome cries out softly, sapphire eyes wide and mouth agape.

"He was a childhood friend of my fathers, and has been second general for over a millennia. I believe a more exact age is somewhere around 2900."

"Holy shit." Kagome breathes out, shaking her head slowly. "Wait, if he's that old and skilled, why's he only second general?"

"Because he wishes it. He very well could be first, but he prefers following orders to giving them. If he had his way, he probably wouldn't even be second, but he is too skilled, experienced and powerful to be anything less." I say with a light shrug. "Truly, Naoko could have possibly rivalled myself before Bakusaiga. His expertise in all matters of combat and war is nearly second to none, and he is a vital facet to the West."

"Wow. Not that I didn't before, but damn, that's worth a lot of respect."

"Hn. Indeed. He has earned every bit of it."

4/3/21 A/n: bit of a filler chapter, but some background on Naoko and the kids having a good giggle over poor Jaken being tormented, even a fake one.