"We must make haste." Inukumi hissed shifting her arms under Sesshomaru's legs tightening the grip she had on the pup.

It had been three days since they had begun the journey leaving a teary eyed Jaken behind to guide the slayer and monk once the time came. Inukumi daringly insistent on carrying Sesshomaru during the night the pup had no objections to his mother carrying him but he had missed the solid warmth he felt from his big brother on chiller nights and the safety he felt surrounding him, compared to his mother's soft large orbs of flesh that squished and smothered him.

At least they were quite comfortable.

Inuyasha however was lost in a turmoil of jealousy and confusion his arms felt empty there was no heartbeat thrumming against his chest.

But.

Inukumi had said that he and his youkai were one his youkai a base of raw emotions stemming from his own needs and wants? Therefore was he really was jealous of Inukumi hogging all of Sesshomaru's attentions? His youkai had more acceptance flaunting his jealousy within the dark confines of the hanyous mind growling softly in annoyance in the corners of his mind.

Kami. He had lost it.

His ears swiveled around gently soft breeze caressing his downy ears his eyes wandering off into the silent darkness between the large silhouettes of trees. They had been walking for days now the hanyou had not a clue as to where they were going exactly. He had noted that the foliage got thicker as they walked having to duck and push skinny twigs from his person while huffing in annoyance he didn't have to worry about Rin, Shippo and the beast Sesshomaru kept near they walked ahead of the hanyou Rin and Shippo laid chest down sprawled around the beast's back they had covered themselves with a thick quilt to avoid the night air.

He wondered where exactly they were going to. Inukumi as he'd learned Sesshomaru's mother's name said she was going to hide her pup away somewhere safe. He guessed safe meant somewhere buried in deep within dense a forest with rocky ground. His feet ached as hard as they were from callouses a rock was a rock and he felt it dammit. His thoughts trailed off onto Sesshomaru and he wondered if the pup snuggling deep into his mother's hefty breasts missed him as he missed the solid weight the pup provided in his arms. To think that he once complained a short number of days go about having to hold Sesshomaru.

Pup…

Now he missed him.

'Soon.' The words drifted across her busy mind feet moving on their own accord across the hard land up grown roots and rocks littered the ground. She walked this path many times within her life span and knew the terrain quite well.

Her bundle shifted nudging his head across her chest switching to the other side. 'A cooler side.' She mused feeling the cold seep through the fabric of her traveling yukata from his cool flesh. It was not a bother to her. How long had it been since she'd held her pup as she did now? After he'd turned so cold and aloof he no longer wanted to be held by his mother. Did not need her comfort or short open displays of affection.

No longer needed her to brush his hair long hours into the night no matter how many times he promised to stay awake and talk the pup would fall asleep within the hour and sleep deeply whilst she maneuvered his head in her lap and brushed his beautiful mane. As she recalled he no longer slept deeply and never seemed to wear light clothing or even a simple robe always draped in heavy layers of his formal kimono. She looked down at the sleeping face of Sesshomaru.

'Why a hanyou?' her thoughts drifted off to the hanyou she could smell so strongly. Truly he had drenched her pup in his awful smell. She could smell her pup of course his light flowery scent she knew well but the scent of hanyou was harsh to her sensitive nose.

Sesshomaru had defended the hanyou however.

'Inuyasha' she mused.

ooo

They were on a beach.

"Can we go swimming Master Inuyasha?" Rin clasped her hands together bouncing on her heels with big brown eyes.

Shippo looked out onto the ocean longingly.

Sesshomaru look mesmerized as if he were trapped in a lost memory. Inuyasha moved past the two brats coming up behind Sesshomaru placing a hand on his soft silver head of hair.

"You ok?" Inuyasha spoke softly just to Sesshomaru.

Sesshomaru hummed nodding his head he felt odd. A part of him was excited to see this beach again it held happy memories for him that to his mind felt fresh and vivid. Yet his heart and feeling told him it have been many years since he had seen this place. From the look of the forest and the area outside the large estate it had been quite some time. Overgrown grass thick around the walls of the large estate where the sand became thick and dirt like. He felt a heavy pressure within his mind he immediately ceased his thought process. He'd learned that when he tried to think on many things that made no sense to him he was plagued with severe head pain. Especially when he thought of the hanyou whom he felt torn about the most yet loved a love that was so real he could easily cast aside silly conflicting emotions and focus solely on the earthy hanyou.

"Come along." Inukumi broke the moment already half way across the sandy beach to within the grassy land before a large Iron Gate surrounded by eerily blue stone. She placed her hand to her chest then to gate which gave a deep groan as it slowly opened itself allowing the mismatched group entrance into a well-kept yard trimmed neatly with flowers blooming around the base of wild oak trees large and proud.

They walked silently down the stoned pathway leading to large wooden doors that opened gently.

Dressed in all white yukatas with silver trim stood an older toned male demon with fire red hair that grew wildly from his head and piercing black eyes gracing tanned skin. The other was younger with pitch black hair enhancing light green eyes plastered onto sun kissed skin as dark as the older male demon. They smelt of cinnamon and lilies.

They bowed deeply once Inukumi had reached the doorway each stepped to one side of the threshold. "My Lady Mother." They synced.

"Rah." She addressed the redheaded male who straightened up. "Riko" the green eyed male mimicked the older demons actions.

She walked further into the large house. "Come my dears I have jobs for you after so many long lonely years." She spun slowly facing the tired group as the trailed in behind her Ah and Un strayed over to a moist patch of healthy green grass. "Your prince will be staying here for a time being with his chosen."

"The kit and human child comes with the hanyou I've assumed, there is a beast outside the needs food and shelter."

"Hai!" Riko nodded shuffling outside after slipping on a pair of bamboo getas; he would be tending to Ah and Un.

Rah nodded at the graceful lady moving upward into the home you could hear movement and pounding from the upper section of the house.

"This is where you'll stay." Inukumi spoke directly to the hanyou who nodded having nothing else to say.

"You will protect my pup whist I am gone, this place is not easily found, there should be no trouble." She narrowed her eyes at the rag tag group of youth compared to one as old as herself.

"Where is here exactly?" The hanyou cut in crossing his arms he grew tired of this lady very quickly.

"It is the family's beach estate, I suppose since you are of Toga you are family as well." Her tone was airy and light yet heavily laced with attitude. Inuyasha found himself wondering how the hell she could sound so playful yet evil all at once.

"Whatever." The hanyou shook his head.

"My lady I have finished." Riko shuffled back within the large entrance hall bowing deeply once more before awaiting further instruction.

"Riko dear." Inukumi smirked with a gentle swish of clothing she stood before Riko grasping his youthful face.

"No need to be so stiff darling." She cooed. "My pup is in dire need of protection I know you and your brother will aid me yes?"

Riko's eyes become wide and he nodded vigorously "Yes My Lady Mother, Rah and I gladly service the house of Toga." Her hands prevented him from bowing once more.

"No need for that dear, the hanyou will be of aid to you both. He is strong for a hanyou." Her tone was wispy yet serious. "The kit and human child I have no concern for but I suppose hiding them would be best if need be." At this moment Riko made way back into the hall.

"It is finished and prepaid the bed chambers my lady, shall I start on a late lunch?" the demon offered with a smile.

Inukumi returned the smile with one of her own nodding and exclaiming about how long it's been since the servant had graced her with his culinary skills. Inuyasha found his skin crawling at the sharp teeth beautiful but sharp that graced her wicked smile. Were Sesshomaru's teeth this way?

He didn't recall them being so.

"Sesshomaru come along, Riko show our new guests to their quarters." With a ruffle of clothing the lady and her prince were gone beyond the hall following Rah toward the kitchens Inuyasha assumed.

He allowed Riko to show them the upstairs where Rin and Shippo were given their room closer to the stairs. The rooms were large with four poster bed frames and light netting to keep the bugs away. Both rooms the same in coloured themes of silver and blue the rooms connected with one another and shared a large tiled washroom.

They children were left to their own curiosities exploring their new rooms. Inuyasha supposed Rin had forgiven Shippo for his verbal attack on Sesshomaru.

Next was the hanyou whose room connected with no ones and seemed quite lonely at the end of the hall across from another set of conjoining rooms he assumed belonged to Inukumi and Sesshomaru.

Like the brats he had his own wash room and the colour scheme was the exact same with the same furnishings.

"Would you like to explore another part of the house? Lord Inuyasha?" Riko asked politely obviously a little mindful at how to address the hanyou.

"Inuyasha is fine." He huffed suddenly annoyed at the royalties. "I ain't like her majesty downstairs I'm not royalty."

Riko bristled his eyebrows lifting into his forehead. "My Lord! You shouldn't speak that way I can smell the house of Toga on you despite…"he trailed off "Your human touch."

"Our Lady Mother has also announced you as family, you are my Lord." He bowed deeply then took leave quickly already sensing the comeback at the tip of the hanyou's tongue.

"House of Toga my ass…" Inuyasha grumbled making his way to the large bed. Throwing himself back first onto the soft goose feathered stuffed bed. "Kami." He sighed as the stress of three days tugged at his eyes.

Maybe a nap would do some good.

ooo

Sesshomaru sat with his back straight and no feet dangling or playing with the chairs feet, he was proper for someone of his stature while at the table. He sat listening to his mother speak about plans for his safety. She asked if he remembered the witch known as Mishi, he did the bubbly yet stern witch always stopped to give him kind words in passing. She was very important to the House of Toga said his father believing that her power would grow to match no other. He wanted her at his court and so he barraged his way into a rouge group of demon witch hunter that held her captive after murdering only her mother, her father already passed.

"Is she coming here?" Inukumi nodded at her pup "She will, I will bring her here, in three days' time."

Sesshomaru thought it would make sense that she come here, magic countering magic and all, he still didn't quite understand what it is that everyone was dodging about telling him. "When will anyone explain to me what I cannot remember?"

Inukumi smiled fondly at her only pup hand reaching out to caress his head gently it had been so long since she had laid hand on her pup his warmth was soothing, of course she could still see Sesshomaru's natural born character traits within her pup. "My Sesshomaru, how about we say you just did not grow into what you could have been. She paused, "Emotionally and otherwise really." She muffled her words by raising her wide pristine white sleeve the very tip held snug between two fingers up to the bridge of her nose and turned away.

Sesshomaru felt himself become slightly irritated and held back a sigh. His mother was always a bit of a dramatic and on this day he held no patience for it. "I've waiting long enough, Mother." His eyes locked with hers held in her steady gaze.

"I see. Go collect your hanyou then." She smiled a little tapping the bottom of his chin with her fingertips lightly before he could fully walk away. She watched him walk away a playful smirk graced her full now lilac tinted lips.

ooo

Sesshomaru moved swiftly down the hall after practically running up the stairs to following only the scent of his brother. It took him down the hall passed a room filled with childlike laughter that could only be Shippo and Rin, then he came to a closed door where Inuyasha's scent was most strongest.

He knocked. "Inuyasha?" he called softly his chest felt tight stomach knotting viciously yet he did not know why. The hanyou did not answer to which Sesshomaru huffed in annoyance.

He pushed the door open words of irritation hot on his tongue until he saw the hanyou fast asleep face down upon the bed his bare back exposed for Sesshomaru's golden eyes. He felt drawn to touch soft taps graced his pointed ears; his own feet moving toward the bed.

He briefly wondering why Inuyasha was still asleep, shouldn't he have sensed another within the room by now?

He was within arms reach now his brothers scent thick with in each breath he took, reaching out his lightly ran his fingertips across the expanse of his brothers back the skin was smooth and warm. He felt as if a blush stained his cheeks. So warm.

A hand reached out to grasp his pale wrist. "Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha's throat sounded scratchy and rough with sleep.

"Hai." Sesshomaru replied.

Sesshomaru felt himself being pulled toward the bed he moved in compliance until he fit snug within his brothers arms back to chest. He could feel the hanyous breathe caress his ear.

" `Yasha I wanted to speak with you and mother, about my memories." Sesshomaru whispered. He felt as if he were disturbing something serine by speaking.

"Later Sessho." Inuyasha snuggled closer to the pup drawing his knees up behind the pup until he had spooned him in as close as physically possible. Back to chest, groin to bum, and head to hair. He inhaled the pups sweet calming scent and felt himself drifting back off into sleep. Kami he missed his scent his warmth. He figured his actions were all due to his sleepy disposition at which his yokai laughed strongly.

"Sleep Sessho." Inuyasha kissed the back of Sesshomaru's head lips lingering on the soft silky strands. "I missed you... " he murmured.

Sesshomaru was positive his face was as red as the sky with a setting sun. He nodded at his brothers words no longer wondering about memories he had forgotten. Inuyasha had missed him, and held onto him as if he were afraid to wake up and find him gone.

"Inuyasha." he placed his small pale hands upon his brothers larger one lacing his thin fingers as best he could with the other snuggling back into the warmth of his brothers chest.

"I missed you too."