Chapter III

By the time Sesshomaru returned to the palace, he immediately noticed that there were too many females' scents than there should be. He was a very foreboding feeling.

A guard that guarded the main entrance of the palace estate bowed after he opened the gate to allow his lord, his ward, his retainer, and his guests inside. "Welcome home, milord."

Sesshomaru just nod and walked pass him. The guard was surprised to find that his lord brought his half-brother here. He shrugged thinking it wasn't any of his business. He closed the gate after he saw his lord with more humans. It was surprising to say the least. Not only that though, he found that this group was odd. A taijiya, an inuhanyou, a monk, a miko, and a kitsune with a nekoyoukai walking beside them like it was a everyday occurrence.

Once Sesshomaru got inside the palace, he ordered Jaken to arrange rooms in the family and quest chambers. He said in his usual stoic baritone, "Come."

Inuyasha 'keh'ed as they followed Sesshomaru to his study. He was surprised to see that his twin wasn't there. Nanami just happened to be in there. The sound of Sesshomaru's unexpected voice boomed throughout the room.

"Where is this one's sister?"

"She's in the courtyard with the Lady Mother and many of your potential mates."

Sesshomaru's turned red. He was furious. The group heard him growled furiously.

"He's very angry," Miroku stated the obvious.

"Keh, I'd never heard him growl that furiously before; not even when he tried to kill us so many times before."

Nanami overheard and coughed to get their attention. Once she had it, she said, "Yes, milord is very angry. I wouldn't to want my mistress being maimed, but I couldn't hide it from him either or he would had kill me."

They nodded in understanding. "Is there a safe place to watch Sesshomaru to beat up the stupid idiot?"

"Inuyasha, that 'stupid idiot' is your half-sister!"

"Keh!" Nanami nodded and took them out to the study's balcony where one could oversee the whole estate, especially, the courtyard.

Once Sesshomaru saw his sister talking to one of those gold-digging bitches, he snarled. With blinding speed, he grabbed his sister's throat and slammed her to the ground. The females, excluding his mother and sister, saw the sight so arousing. When Sesshomaru smelled their arousal, he said with a menacing snarl, "Leave!"

His sister on the ground was shock to find Sesshomaru here so early. However, she wasn't surprise to find him displeased with this situation.

The Lady Mother said, "Sesshomaru, release your sister at once!"

"Brother, if you will release me, I will explain," she said with painfully gasps.

He lessen his grasp to let her breath and talk. "Brother, I know that you are displeased. If we could go to the study, I will explain further."

"Hn. Very well." He straighten up, but didn't help his twin up as he usually does.

The Lady Mother looked at her daughter with soften eyes. She knew that Sesshomaru had seen this as a betrayal.

Once they arrived at the study, ignoring the fact that they had company, Sesshomaru roared, "Explain!"

Inuhime inwardly flinched when she heard her brother's cold voice. "I told you that you can't refuse the proposals forever. You have no earthly idea how frustrating it was to give those lord excuses after excuses. I was starting to run out of excuses for you."

Inukimi added, "Besides, my son, you don't have to mate with either of them by the end of the month."

Sesshomaru yelled, "They would be here for a month!"

Inukimi and Inuhime said in unison, "Yes!"

Kagome thought, "Excuses? I wondered what kind of excuses. I wondered if they were as ridiculous as my grandpa used for my excuses whenever I missed so much school."

Sesshomaru gave a frustrated sighed. "This Sesshomaru apologizes to his Lady Sister for overreacting."

"Oh, who are you and where did you put my twin?"

Sesshomaru glared at her. She chuckled. "Are you going to introduce us to your friends?"

Sesshomaru glared at her and said, "They aren't this one's friends. However, they are friends of our idiotic brother."

"Hey, bastard, don't talk as if I wasn't here!"

Inuhime heard her half-brother. She couldn't help, but to run to him and gave him a big bear hug.

The hug was making Inuyasha's face blue. "As much I want to see Inuyasha in pain, refrain from your hugging or your will kill him due to lack of air," Sesshomaru said with a stoic and bored voice.

Inuhime instantly let go of him. "Oh, I am so sorry, Inuyasha. I missed you so much."

Inuyasha was gasping for air before replying, "Keh, how do you know me? I don't remember you."

"Oh, that's right. You were nothing, but a pup when I had last seen you. Boy how you grown! When I saw you last you were only a half of my arm length. You were so cute!"

Inuyasha blushed in embarrassment. "Shut up, woman!"

Sesshomaru growled at him, "Respect our elder sibling, half-breed."

Inuhime smiled as she said, "That's alright, little brother. He doesn't know any better... yet."

"Hn."

Kagome ahemed to gain the ladies' attention. "Forgive me for interrupting, but I am Kagome Higurashi."

"Sango," Sango said with a hand raised half way up. "This is Kirara," pointing at the nekoyoukai on her shoulder.

"I am called Miroku, miladies," he said with one of his devilishly charming smiles as he bowed in respect.

"And my name is Shippo," he said with a bright smile.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. This one is called Inuhime, however, you may address me as Inuki," she said with a smile. "and this is this Inuhime's and her twins' mother, Inukimi."

"Pleasure to meet all of you," Inukimi said with a forced smile. No she didn't hate humans like she used to, but humans have no love for her and her race. Could you blame her? "Nanami go get us some tea."

Nanami bowed, "As you wish, milady."

Sesshomaru sighed. "Sit," he said pointing at the cushions.

They all sat on the cushions that were there around a table.

Inuyasha (c) Rumiko Takahashi

Fanfiction & OCs (c) ladytari