20th century

1942

"How are the evacuations going?" Kagome inquires as she walks into the room, her two children trailing behind her, Daichi now full grown at 220 and Sayua only a few years shy of being of age at 170.

"As well as can be expected. There are some who still do not wish to heed the warnings, however, most have moved north. A few have requested to move here." Sesshoumaru informs her as he puts the papers down on his desk, holding out a hand for her. She steps to him, letting him tug her into his lap, as her children sit on the other side of the desk.

"They want to move to the Shiro? Why? We've only recently started renovating it." Sayua's musical voice asks.

Daichi shrugs lightly, "They're looking for work, and hoping we'll hire them. We need carpenters, electricians, plumbers, the works."

His father nods, "Indeed. They hope for work and in exchange, a home."

"I don't see why not, if they're qualified to do the work. And, if we're going to be moving back here from the Castle after the war, we may as well also think about hiring folks as house keepers and servants. This place is too big for me to run on my own long term." Kagome muses, head cocking.

"Very well, I will have word spread that we are looking to hire for various tasks. Was there anything else?" Sesshoumaru looks between his pups before turning to his mate.

"Don't think so. Just wanted to get away from the idiots. They're bickering again and it'll be turning-" a crash is heard from across the house, "-violent soon." Kagome sighs and leans her head back against Sesshoumaru's shoulder. "Why are they pack again?" she grumbles.

"Because you wished it, little mate. At least, the wolf was your doing." he corrects, knowing that InuYasha was due to him, even though he and Kagome have since become friends again. The miko snorts lightly.

"Yeah, I guess Kouga is my fault. Yash is definitely yours, though." She giggles before sighing again. "They need mates. Something to occupy their time so they stop destroying my homes when they're bored."

"Kouga's been eyeing a neko recently, Mama." Sayua chimes in, devious smirk in place on her face, Daichi's face morphing to match his sisters. They were certainly their mother's children.

"Oh, is that so? Which one?" Kagome queries, looking up as she sees Shippo lope into the room, hands in the pockets of his charcoal gray pinstriped suit.

"The little blonde one that works in the flower shop in town." the kitsune says before falling back gracefully into a seat, his eight tails curling off the side of the chair.

"You mean Mai?"

"Mhm, they've been making eyes at each other for months now. I don't know why he doesn't just ask her." Daichi comments.

"Cuz he's a wolf." Kagome shrugs. "He's something like eight centuries old, and she's a neko. She's a lot younger, so she won't have grown up with the same teachings he did. He doesn't really care, but it's something he'll have to work himself up to ignoring. What about Yash? He got anyone?" The miko looks around the room.

"Not that I know of." Shippo replies, leaning his head back in his seat.

"If he is, we haven't noticed, Mama. You know how he is, though." Sayua murmurs, brushing her claws through the ends of her long black hair, currently held up in a high tail that also holds a few smaller braids.

"Mm, yeah." Kagome turns to look at her mate briefly in a silent exchange. They both know it is unlikely that he will ever find a mate, not when he lost the one his beast had wanted so many centuries ago.

"Oh, I think Gran is seeing someone, though." Daichi throws out, smirking at the look on his father's face.

"Really now… who?" the miko asks, leaning forward a bit, immensely curious.

"Nobaru."

"Her spymaster?" Sayua gasps.

"Mhm. Saw them in the garden holding hands the other day." Daichi confirms.

"Huh... Well, I wish the old dog luck. He needs it with her." Shippo remarks.

"What's with the pow wow and why wasn't I invited?" Kouga says as he steps into the room, followed shortly by InuYasha, thier clothes dishevelled, but neither is bleeding.

"How much of my house did you two destroy?" Sesshoumaru pins them with a look, making them freeze before chuckling awkwardly.

"Nothing of the house is destroyed… but one of the garden's might need redoing." InuYasha mumbles.

"Then I guess you two will be busy for the next few days." Rin huffs as she walks into the room with a full grown Emica, who is balancing her forty year old brother, Takuma, on her hip. The small hanyou's dark hair is cut to shoulder length, his furry ears flickering on his head as his warm stone coloured eyes sweep the room.

"Yes, ma'am." the two guilty canines tell her as they lean against the wall.

"What is everyone doing in here? Did I miss a memo for a family meeting?" Rin asks as she notes each person in the room.

"Nope, kids and I came to see Sess and ask about the evacuations and then everyone else kinda showed up." Kagome smiles.

"Going well then?" Kouga looks to the inu lord, who nods.

"As I told them, as well as can be. Though, it appears we will be hiring workers for the Shiro and new servants."

"Nice. I might move back down here for good then. Kinda annoying having to wait for one of you guys to fly me up and down from the Castle." InuYasha states, Kouga nodding next to him.

"As the non fliers of the group, it'd be nice to be able to get to my own bed without relying on someone else to get me there."

"That's fine, but that means you can't destroy the house and gardens when you two start bickering. Actually, you guys can be in charge of supervising the work for us, would be a huge help." Kagome decides.

"Sounds good to me. Anything else important happening or..." Kouga trails off.

"I guess now's as good a time as ever." Kagome says quiety, looking at her mate again, feeling his arms tighten around her as he nods. Turning back to the group, she smiles and brings her hands to her stomach. "Kimiko already knows, cuz it's impossible to keep a secret from her," she starts before Sayua gasps loudly.

"You're pregnant!" she shouts loudly before sheepishly turning to the group with a mumbled 'sorry'. Kagome laughs and nods. The room erupts with calls of congratulations for the mated pair, and demands for a feast to celebrate. Kagome looks out at her pack, eternally grateful for the blessed life she's had, and hopefully continues to have.

Kouga paces back and forth, having been debating with himself for months now as to what he should do and he just can't come to a decision. Stopping, he lifts his nose to the air and scents out the one person who'll be able to help him. Padding down the hall, he pauses outside the door to Kagome's tea room, taking a deep breath to prepare himself.

"Kags? You in here?" he calls as he steps into the room.

"Hey, Kouga what's up?" she greets, looking up at him with a smile before frowning slightly. "Hey, what's wrong?"

"I... I need advice, I guess." he grunts as he flops down beside her. He feels her put up a barrier to give them privacy and flashes her a grateful grin.

"What's up?" she asks, reaching for his hand.

"I… think my beast chose a mate." he starts, keeping his eyes locked on their hands.

"And…"

"I'm not sure if I should pursue it."

"Why not?"

"She's a neko..." Kagome forces herself not to react, even though she finds it really stupid that he's agonizing over the fact that she's a cat.

"Okay."

"Well..." he prods when she doesn't say anything else.

"Well, what?"

"What do I do?" he cries, throwing his hands in the air, tossing Kagome's as he does and falling back against the cushions.

"Do you like her?" Kagome looks at her oldest friend, wishing he'd stop being silly and just get on with it, but knowing it'll take her nudging him to that point.

"Yeah. She reminds me a bit of you, but… quieter. Softer. Gods, Kagome, she's gorgeous, and funny, and sweet, and... and... a cat." He sighs heavily, closing his eyes.

"So. Let me see if I understand. She's perfect. Except for the fact that she's feline." the miko says slowly, watching Kouga's face scrunch a bit.

"I… yeah, I guess."

"And, why is that the deciding factor for a no?"

"Because! Because she's a cat! And I'm a wolf. An Alpha wolf. They don't go together!" He jumps up and starts pacing again, arms gesticulating wildly as explains.

"Why?" He stops midstep, before shifting his foot back and cocking his head, arms lowering slowly.

"I… I don't know." he whispers as his brows furrow trying to remember why it's such a problem.

"Is it possible…." Kagome muses blithely, "that the reason you think it's a problem is because once upon a time, when you were young, you were taught some bigotted ideas?" She lifts a cup of tea to her lips and sips quietly, watching her friend stare at the floor wide eyed, his mouth working as if he wants to say something but can't quite voice it. She waits patiently for him to roll her words around in his head, sipping her tea and looking out the window to the garden, seeing Shippo and her daughter chasing each other. Now, that's a thought.

"Kags... I'm being an idiot, aren't I." Kouga finally speaks up.

"You are." She nods, smiling at him. "So, what are you going to do now?"

"Gunna go stop being an idiot and ask her if she'll let me court her." he grunts, pivoting on his foot to stalk out of the room as she drops the barrier.

"Good luck, Kouga!" she calls out after him, then turning her head to continue watching Sayua evading Shippo easily, holding up whatever it is that he's after, and laughing as the kitsune uses every trick that won't cause harm that he can think of to stump her.

"They are still at it, I see." comes the velvet voice of her mate as he settles beside her.

"Have they been at it long?"

"The last few hours. She stole his favourite tie, apparently, and he's determined to get it back." Sesshoumaru chuckles, draping his arm around her shoulders and taking her tea cup.

"That's mine, jerk. And, I don't think it's so much about the tie, koi. I've never seen Shippo be that determined, especially over a piece of cloth. And, certainly not for that long. Not to mention, if he really wanted it, he couldve easily have caught her." she hums as she takes her cup back and refills it.

"She is too young."

"She'll be of age in five years, Sess."

"They are siblings."

"Not by blood."

"I will not allow it." he growls out, hand clenching on his knee.

"I don't think you'll have a say in the matter, love."

"You are okay with this?" He looks at her incredulously.

Kagome shrugs, sipping her tea. "I don't have a say, either. They're not related, he's of age, and he won't do anything until she is or without getting permission. They could each do much worse. We raised good kids, is it really so bad if it happens?" She turns to her mate, lifting a hand and tracing her fingers down his clenching jaw. He sighs heavily, reaching for her hand to twine his fingers with hers.

"I suppose not. The wolf came to a decision regarding the neko, then?" changing topics quickly, making her laugh.

"Yeah, made him see he was being an idiot. Once upon a time, it might've mattered politically, but now... There are no courts to judge, and who cares if some old biddies get their knickers in a knot over it. The world isn't what it once was, and in the eyes of civilization, they're just two people. Who cares what they are underneath, so long as they're happy and not hurting anyone." Kagome remarks.

"You are correct." he acknowledges, stealing her tea again.

"Quit that. There's a cup right there." she mock scolds, taking her cup back after he swallows.

"Mm, yes, but yours is always better." he teases, chuckling at her half hearted glare. "So, we may likely have a cat in the family soon, it seems."

"Mhm. Speaking of cats, has anyone turned up anything regarding Kirara? We've been looking for so long… I don't think she survived, at this point." Kagome says sadly.

"Nothing concrete, only vague rumours, as always. The rumours are still being investigated, however. We may still find something, or her." Sesshoumaru leans over to nuzzle her temple, watching his daughter flip over the fox and dart behind a tree, before springing into it's branches and watching Shippo spin around searching for her. Sayua and Daichi had both inherited their mothers reiki, to an extent, and were able to use it to hide themselves any way they wished. A very useful talent for defense, but one that they also use without restraint to prank and tease the pack. Shippo throws his hands up in exasperation, smiling as he glares around, looking for the hidden inu.

"She's gotten really good at that." Kagome comments, giggling.

"She has always been 'good at it', Daichi was the one that took a while to master it. She has been using it since she was thirty years old. If we were unable to see past her barriers, she would have used it on us as well." the inu huffs, feigning irritation, though Kagome could feel the intense pride he has over how talented his daughter is.

"Mm, you're right. And, it mightve taken Daichi a bit longer to learn that, but he has other talents. I'm almost sad that it's not a few centuries ago anymore with them full grown. Can you imagine what they would've done? How spectacular it would've been to see it?" Kagome murmurs, her voice colouring with awe.

"Hn. I do not believe they would have been anymore impressive than we were, koi, we would just be able to witness them accomplish things we had from the place of an observer rather than an active participant. Though," he cocks his head, "knowing you, you still would have been involved." He looks fondly at his little miko, watching her narrow her eyes momentarily before sighing in defeat.

"Yeah, yeah. I wouldn't have been able to just stand by, I know. Still, though. Our kids are remarkable."

"Indeed, they are, little mate." he says as he leans in to kiss her, only pulling away when they hear Shippo yelp. Turning, they find Shippo hanging upside down from the tree their daughter had been hiding it, being held up by the self same tie he had been trying to get back, with Sayua in a heap on the ground laughing at the poor kitsune.

"Perhaps they are a match for the other." Sesshoumaru admits, as Kagome laughs brightly.

1943

"Congratulations, you guys." Kagome hugs Kouga and then Mai.

"It's about damn time you got our head outta your ass, wolf." InuYasha grunts, before clapping Kouga on the shoulder and nodding at the neko.

Sesshoumaru nods to both, "Have you come to a decision about where you will reside?" he asks them as Kagome moves to scoop her newborn son, Koto, from his arms, smoothing a lock of silver fluff. His blue eyes open slowly at the movement, having been sleeping, before yawning widely, his tiny magenta stripes scrunching adorably on his face.

"If it's alright with you guys, here. It's near her family, close to the remnants of my pack, and the place needs permanent caretakers." Kouga shrugs lightly, his arm around the waist of his new mate.

The inu lord nods, looking at his own mate. "No issue from us, Kouga, you know that." Kagome tells them happily.

"Good. In that case, you mind if we move into the guest wing and turn it into our own family wing? Don't want to take your room, it's been yours for centuries, even if you weren't actively living in it for the last couple."

"Of course, you guys do what you want, hell, if you want to build your own wing, go for it, just don't go overboard on the costs. We're wealthy, but we're not a never ending bank." Kagaome giggles.

"No, we don't plan on changing anything about the Shiro, Kagome, it has too much history as it is to change. We just want to restore it and have our own space." Mai replies, her voice soft and bright.

"Glad to hear it. Now, I'm exhausted, I only had a baby five days ago, so I'm gunna go nap. You guys enjoy the day, and I'll see you at dinner for the ceremony." The miko stands, handing her son back to her mate, who rises with her, gives final hugs to the newly mated pair and then leaves the room.

Ambling along the hallways, her arm linked with Sesshoumaru's, Kagome closes her eyes and trails the fingers of her free hand along the walls, allowing old memories to float to the surface and smiling.

"You seem especially pleased, little mate." he murmurs to her.

"I am. I'm just over four hundred years old now, and excluding the first few years, and a few jarring occasions, my life has been bliss. And, I owe it all to you." She turns a beaming smile to her inu.

"I do believe that it was your own doing, had you not entreatied me to bring you back to the Shiro, I would not have, and it is unlikely we would have seen each other again." he counters.

"Hm, maybe. I dunno, I probably would've found my way to the Shiro somehow, anyways. My original reason being that with the aging aspect, I couldn't really stay with humans was important. Had it not been you, I likely would've gone looking for Kouga, and found my way to you, anyways, just, maybe on a different time table." she teases him. "Regardless, you did let me come and that was when my life changed for the better." She leans up and kisses his cheek, before they turn the corner and see their door.

"Now, c'mon and take a nap with me."

1950

"Mama?" Kagome looks up to see her daughter slip into her office, closing the door behind her and erecting a barrier.

"Honey, is everything okay?" Kagome asks, slightly worried.

"I... yeah... At least until Daddy finds out…." Sayua says quietly as she plops down into a chair.

"Finds out… what, exactly?" the miko prods slowly.

"I'm of age now… and... Well… my beast already chose a mate… and I think he feels the same way… I've ignored it because I wasn't sure how you guys would feel about it... And I-"

"Shippo?" Kagome interrupts, and Sayua freezes midword, mouth still open as her eyes widen comically, blinking slowly.

"How... did you know?"

"Oh, I've known for a few years now. Since I was pregnant with Koto. Did something happened?" Kagome smiles lightly, encouraging her daughter to continue.

"Uh... well... We… Kami, this is embarrassing to talk to you about."

"Did you sleep with him?" Kagome smirks as her daughter squeaks, turning her face away quickly as a bright blush erupts on her face. "Well, that's a yes. Your father's going to be able to smell it as soon as he's around you, even if it's been days. Have you talked to Shippo about things yet?"

"No... it kinda just... Happened. Oh, Mama, what am I gunna do?" Sayua slumps back, worrying the hem of her blue dress.

"First of all, you're going to go talk to Shippo, and be honest with what you want from him. Honestly, I think he wants the same. Second of all, your father and I have suspected for years, and while, yes, he's going to be a royal pissy poodle about it, he really just wants you to be happy, baby. Okay?" Kagome reaches across her desk towards her daughter, who stretches her own hand out and clasped it tightly.

"You're right, Mama. I don't suppose you could tell Daddy for me…?" the young inu hedges hopefully, before scowling when her mother laughs at her.

"Absolutely not. That's your news to give him. However, I would sort things with Shippo today. If you haven't by the time your father gets home tomorrow..." her daughter pales considerable.

"Uh, yeah... Okay, I'm gunna. Go do that. Now. Thanks, Mama." Sayua stands and rushes from the room, off to find her fox, Kagome's laughter following her down the hallway.

"You can come out now, Sess. And, youre not going to kill Shippo, either. Come here, it's been weeks since I've seen you, and I've missed you." Kagome states to the seemingly empty room.

"Hn. I should kill him. They are not even courting…" Sesshoumaru appears as he drops his barrier and steps out from the darkened corner of the room.

"She's of age, Sess. We knew this was going to happen, and honestly, we expected it sooner. So, quit being a pissy poodle, and come here."

"I am hardly a poodle, mate." he grumps as he steps over to Kagome, scooping her up and stealing her seat, planting her on his lap.

"Ah, but you are pissy. My pissy pup." She giggles before kissing him. Pulling back to breathe, she shifts to settle more comfortably across his lap, his arms snaking around her waist. "Daichi and Yash settling okay at the new site?"

"They are. The new building should be operational in the next year. They are working on filling positions for the upper management first before accepting resumes for anything else." Sesshoumaru tells her, glad to be home after dealing with his brother and son butting heads for the last six weeks as they worked to finish establishing the new building for their company- Taisho Corp, the forefront in security innovation.

"Good, that's good. And, Kouga? He's handling the old building alright?"

"As far as I am aware. Mai keeps me apprised of day to day operations, as her mate is evidently incapable of doing such."

Kagome laughs, "He's not incapable. He just doesn't do it because Mai enjoys it and drive him nuts asking for things to do otherwise. Nariko's big enough that she doesn't need constant attention, so Mai gets bored, and she enjoys being his assistant."

"Hn. And, what have you been working on, little mate? Where is Koto?"

"He's with Rin, and I was updating paperwork for my licensing. Can't just have a gun now, or any of our weapons, really. Have to have paperwork to go with it." she laments. She had, as she had stated over four centuries ago, learned everything she could about guns when they began to become commonplace and had kept up her education on them. "I do miss the days when I could walk around with forty blades hidden on me though."

"As do I, my beautiful goddess of war." Sesshoumaru rumbles, nuzzling on her mark and nipping lightly. One of his hands slides down to slip under the hem of her dress and drag his blunted nails along her leg, trailing up her inner thigh until he cups her core.

She groans at the contact, putting up a barrier as she shifts to straddle his lap. "Don't think we've done it in here yet."

"I do not believe we have. We will have to remedy that, little minx." His other hand reaches up and begins to undo the buttons running down her front, as he slides his fingers along her underwear in long slow drags. Kagome busies herself with removing his tie and undoing the buttons of his suit, shoving the cloth down his shoulders before latching onto his mark and biting it hard. A snarl erupts from the inu as he bucks abruptly against her.

"Minx." he growls as he yanks her dress down once the last button is undone, and diving for a breast. He grabs her underwear and yanks, ripping it from her body before plunging two fingers into her, making her arch harshly, shoving her breasts against him further, a mewling cry escaping her. Smirking against her flesh, he undoes the clasp of her bra and slides it from her body, before pressing her back to lay on her desk.

Shedding his jacket and shirt, he hooks his mates legs over his shoulders, putting her core inches from his face. Replacing his fingers inside of her, he flicks his tongue out to tease her clit, rumbling as she gasps.

"Three hundred years, little mate, and you are just as enticing now as you were then. I am the luckiest man alive." he tells her before nipping her bud and sucking. His fingers press up against her upper walls, delighting in the cries he draws from her. He feasts upon her, bringing her through two releases before his own aching member demands attention. Standing, he unbuckles his belt and unzips his pants, shoving pants and underwear down, then leaning over his mate and rocking against her. She looks at him with lust and love in equal measures as he thrusts himself in, ripping groans from both of them.

It doesn't take long for them to reach their peaks, and collapse, panting as they clutch at each other. When Sesshoumaru can focus again, he gathers up Kagome and returns to her chair, settling her comfortably over his lap.

"I missed you." Kagome whispers against his neck, nipping at his mark and nuzzling under his ear. "I love you."

"And, I you, my mate. I did, however, come in here originally to tell you something." he murmurs into her hair.

"Uh huh? What's that?"

"I found her."

Kagome pulls back and stares at him for a long moment before squealing and lunging to throw her arms around his neck. "Kirara? You found her?! Where? Where is she now?"

"She was wandering in the woods near where the old demon slayer village your former pack mates settled in used to be. She's been there, seemingly, since then. She's being brought here, and should arrive in a few days." he smirks as she dives to kiss him again.

"Kami, Sess, thank you. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" She peppers kisses all over his face and neck, making him laugh outright.

1995

"You're just the prettiest little girl, aren't you, Reina? Yes, you are!" Kagome cooes at the little black haired, green eyed angel in her lap.

"Mama, really?" Sayua says from the couch across from her, Kirara on her lap, in Sesshoumaru and Kagome's Tokyo penthouse.

"Oh, hush. She's gorgeous. Let me goo on the girl. She'll grow up faster than you think, and then she won't let you smother her with affection like this." Kagome flaps her hand at her daughter.

"She's right." Shippo adds as he sits next to his mate, looping his arm around her shoulders.

"See, he knows, now shush and let me love my granddaughter."

"Aunt Kagome! Aunt Kagome!" a little voice cries out before the miko feels a weight barrel into her side.

"Hey there, Nariko! How's my favourite little niece?" Kagome laughs, scooping the little blonde blue eyed girl into a squishing hug.

"I'm definitely too old for this now." Kouga enters the room, puffing as he flops onto a cushy chair.

"Must be, fastest wolf alive, can't even keep up with his own daughter." Shippo chortles as Mai appears behind her mate, smiling.

"Aunt Kagome, look what I made for you!" Nariko holds out her hand, showing off a small white origami dog with pink lines on its 'cheeks' and a tiny blue crescent moon on it's forehead- no doubt added by Mai. "It looks like Uncle Sesshy!"

"Wow, it really does." Kagome giggles, "Thank you, Nariko. Let's go out it up on a shelf in my office, so everyone can see it when they visit me." She stands and hands her granddaughter to Shippo and Sayua, taking her nieces hand and leading her from the room.

"I assume it was more you who made it, Mai?" Shippo asks.

"Actually, all I did was add the little markings. She's been practicing a lot. She wants to make one for all of the pack, and I'm just glad she has something that doesn't involve paint and markers to keep her occupied." Mai replies, sliding into Kouga's lap.

"What'd Nariko make?" Rin asks, setting down a tray of tea before taking a seat.

"She made an origami dog of Daddy." Sayua tells her with a wide grin.

"Really? Is it good?"

"Yeah, it is, though it took several days of doing it over and over. The house is covered in crumpled paper now." Kouga chuckles.

"That's really sweet. Daddy doesn't get a lot of little things like that, even if she gave it to Kagome. We all know she adores him." Rin muses.

"She's gunna get jealous of Kagome when she's older." InuYasha remarks, leaning on the door jamb.

"Yep." Kouga says, popping the p, and ignoring InuYasha's growl of irritation, then shrugging. "She'll get over it, though."

"Get over what?" The inu lord queries as he closes the front door behind him, peering at all of the visitors he has in his living room.

"Oh, Nariko's crush on you." The hanyou smirks at his brother, who's lips quirk down just slightly. Almost 500 years and he's barely relaxed his mask, save for with Kagome, the pups, and occasionally Kouga.

"She is barely forty years old." Sesshoumaru informs them.

"Yeah, and your point? It's a crush." Kouga retorts.

"Even you must know how gorgeous you are, Daddy." Rin tells him, trying not to laugh at his discomfort with the topic. He scoffs at her before shaking his head and leaving the room to find his mate.

"You'd think he'd be used to females fawning over him." InuYasha mumbles.

"He's never liked it. Even before Kagome. He rarely even visited concubines, he hated the attention that much." Kouga comments offhandedly, watching his old friend disappear around the corner.

Sesshoumaru rolls his eyes at his pack, now that they can't see him do it. He hears Kagome talking quietly to Nariko in her office and pauses outside the door.

"Do you really think he'll like it?" the little neko-ookami asks the miko hesitantly.

"Of course he will, honey. It looks just like him, and you made it. How could he not like it?"

Curious now, he knocks once and steps through the door. Nariko gasps and launches herself at him, giggling when he catches her deftly, and balances her on his hip.

"What is it you are afraid I will not like, koneko?" he queries, smoothing a lock of blonde hair behind her ear. She looks down bashfully and lifts a hand to point to the shelf next to Kagome. Sesshoumaru walks over to the shelf, brushing the fingers of the hand not supporting the child down his mates cheek as he stands next to her. Looking at the shelf, he browses it quickly looking for what's was new, then finds it. He breaks into a wide grin, turning to look at Nariko.

"Did you make that?" The little girl nods shyly, tucking herself closer to him, hiding her face against his neck.

"It is perfect, little one. It looks just like me. Thank you for making it." He rubs her back gently, his smile staying as he eyes the little white folded dog with his markings on its head. Nariko starts to squirm, so he sets her down and watches her bolt from the room, overwhelmed but giggling. He hears his make chuckle quietly, and pins her blue eyes with his own gold.

"She definitely has a crush on you, my gorgeous mate." Kagome teases as she wraps her arms around his waist, leaning up to kiss him.

"As I told the others, she is but a child." He huffs when she pulls away, his own arms holding her tightly to him.

"Mm, kids get crushes, too. That's why it's called puppy love. Nothing ever comes of it, but I think it's sweet. And, she couldn't have chosen a better example."

"How is that?"

"You're beautiful, strong, highly intelligent, extremely sweet, honourable, and you treat your own very, very well. It doesn't get much better than that, koi." He preens at the compliments, humming in agreement and placing kisses on her face with each one before capturing her lips when she finishes.

"I suppose you are correct." he concedes.

"I'm very rarely wrong. How was work?"

"Boring and exhausting." he replies, smile dimming slightly. "I am too old to be dealing with idiots. Let Daichi handle it, he is capable and far more patience." he grumbles as they begin walking back to the rest of their pack.

"Mm, you're patient when you need to be, but I think it'll be good for Daichi to be in charge of the company. Let us take a backseat, we spent centuries managing people and lands. Time to retire, at least for a while." she concludes.

"I heard my name, Mom. What're you planning?" Their son calls as they round the corner.

"Oh, just our retirement." she states.

"Really?" His eyes widen.

"Maybe. I'm ready for a break, your father is another story." She chuckles at his huff.

"I am not old enough to retire." he asserts.

"Sure ya are. Don't think of it as retirement, if don't you want to. Think of it as an extended vacation. Of at least a decade. Or two." A wicked grin splits her face.

"Perhaps." he grants. Daichi looks back and forth between his parents, not sure he can believe what he's hearing.

"You mean... you're stepping down? And letting me run things… really?" he stumbles out.

"We will discuss this later, but it may be time." Sesshoumaru replies, before turning to his daughter and granddaughter.

"Hi Daddy!" Sayua chirps as she hands him Reina. He smiles as the little girl cooes at him, her tiny hands reaching for his hair and immediately yanks a lock from its low ponytail and starts to gum it.

"Why is it always the hair?" he grunts, still smiling at the girl, before pressing his nose to her hair.

"It's shiny. Attracts attention." Shippo guesses, grinning widely at the sight of the impeccable silver Inu having his hair mussed and shoved into a baby's mouth.

"Why is everyone in my house?" he finally asks, turning to his mate, who shrugs.

"Beats me, they all just showed up."

"My fault, Daddy. It's been a long time since we've all been under the same roof together to hang out. So, we're ordering food once everyone gets here and spending time with each other." Rin says, Matsu nodding solemnly beside her, just as the front door opens, and bickering is heard.

"I told you, Granny, the engine just isn't as powerful, it's a simple one on one comparison." Emica explains exasperated.

"Bah! It is not, and my Jag would outstrip your contraption any day. Tell her, Nobaru."

"I am not getting involved, sweetling." He backs away with his hands up palms out.

Kimiko tsks, "Coward." Flicking a lock of hair over her shoulder, she walks away, bringing Koto with her, who is balanced on her hip.

"Hi, honey!" Kagome says, reaching to take her son from her mother 'in law'. "Did you have a good day with Gran?"

"Uh huh! We went swimming with Emica!" Koto declares, clapping, before squirming to get down and run off to find Nariko and Takuma.

"Swimming?" Sesshoumaru queries, arching a brow at his mother.

"Yes, it was a warm day, and the pool was just cleaned. Emica and I were with him the entire time, stop fussing." She flaps a hand at him.

"I do not fuss, mother." he scowls.

"Of course not, dear." Kimiko insists. "Now, what are we having for dinner. I do not wish for pizza."

"Whatever Rin was planning, Sess and I are only hosting and paying for it, everything else is on Rin."

"Gee thanks, Mama. Anyone opposed to just ordering a ton of sushi?" Rin proffers.

"My wallet does." Sesshoumaru remarks, ignoring the swat on his arm from his mate.

"No, it doesn't, and that sounds great, honey. You know what everyone likes." Kagome says, shooting a look at her mate.

"Sure thing, Mama. And I'll get Daddy extra of his favourite." She winks.

A/N: tea stealing is completely inspired by Drosselmeyer (EPU sequel where Sess's kids all keep stealing his coffee)