A/N: Thank you to the following who reviewed the last chapter: Alannada, "Guest," "guest," KitElizaKing, "Guest," Gul Sen Go, Ryan, Dragon and Sword Master, and MissKitty35. My thanks also to those that put this or its author on their lists. I'm slowly getting back into the swing of things and finishing my "In Progress" stories.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Inuyasha characters, manga, anime, movies, etc. They belong by copyright laws to Rumiko Takahashi et al.
One Hanyou Too Many
It Could Be Worse
The Inutachi lasted just over a day at the home of Sesshoumaru's mother before restlessness and irritation set in. The Honorable Mother had yet to produce any worthwhile clues on how to get the rosary off of Miroku, and they were beginning to wonder if she was drawing things out for another reason other than to torture them. Sesshoumaru, while not exactly welcoming, had gone out of his way to be polite. At least he had until the second afternoon.
"Are you a cat?" the elder Taisho brother questioned his brother, his tone accusatory and insulting.
"Do I look like one?" Inuyasha sniped back, without looking or moving from his perch on a battlement.
"Your absurd fondness for high perches leads me to believe there must have been a mix-up in your heritage. Surely your mother was the cat and only disguised herself as a human."
"Says the guy that can fly. Height gives the advantage when looking for trouble."
"It is a well-known battle tactic."
"My human grandfather kept a copy of Sunzi's 'The Art of War' around."
"I did not know you were educated to that extent."
"Wasn't. Bastard threw it at my head once and walked away. Read it just to spite him. Not anyone but Ofukuro around to teach me."
"Inuyasha, that treatise is difficult even for the best educated human. How did you…?"
"Ofukuro and I used it as a bedtime story. Put me out like a light most days. Not a lot for her to do after Father died so she read all that she could. Taught me what she could. Said I'd need it since my aniue wasn't around to teach me and I had no relatives that would help. Myouga showed up every now and then to impart some demon wisdom before disappearing for months on end."
Sesshoumaru raised a brow at this information, unaware that his brother knew anything beyond what a normal human princess would be taught. "I see. Perhaps I underestimated your mother."
"You underestimate yours all the time. Not surprising that you'd discount mine. You never actually held a conversation with Ofukuro, did you?"
"Once. We were introduce when Father told me of your existence. I believe it lasted all of a minute."
"That's not a conversation, idiot. You probably insulted her, turned your nose up, and Father probably slapped you silly for it before you stormed off like a brat."
"Your assumption is…"
"Accurate, I'm afraid, my lords." Myoga appeared on a wall in between the brothers and wondered why he'd opened his mouth. "Your great father was quite angry at you. I believe his claws were glowing when he smacked you, Lord Sesshoumaru." Gold eyes from both brothers glanced over at him. One set was curious while the other angry.
"You are senile, old flea."
"Perhaps, but Lady Izayoi was extremely disappointed that your meeting did not go better. We tried to warn her but…"
"We?"
"The Lady Mother, Inutaisho, and myself." Sweat gathered at the tiny demon's brow and he wiped it away nervously. He was starting to get the feeling that he was a hare's breath away from getting sliced in two by dangerously sharp claws.
"I thought you said I never met Sesshoumaru's mother."
"Technically you didn't. You were still in your mother's womb at that point, my lord. Later she came to see how your mother was doing after the birth, but a certain incident prevented her from actually meeting you. She offered to train you in the ways of a dog demon, but your mother was too scared to let you out of her sight for long."
"Just as well," Sesshoumaru slipped in, his tone thoughtful. "My mother's training methods are dangerous. Your body as a child would not have held up."
"Why didn't you tell me sooner, Myouga? I've been grown a long time. I could have sought her out and asked her about all this years ago." Inuyasha jumped down from his perch to grab a hold of his servant.
"You are not yet fully grown," Sesshoumaru corrected. His younger brother turned on him and snarled.
"You grow up fast when left on your own," Inuyasha shot back, hand on Tetsusaiga. Youki began swirling around the air, drawing several spectators and guards. Inuyasha's friends hurried to the scene, Sesshoumaru's mother and sister following while Rin brought up the rear.
"Boys! If you're going to squabble, go to the back courtyard. I will not have my throne destroyed by a spat." Sesshoumaru's mother moved in between them and glared at each in turn. They wilted under her mother's stare and the swirling energy ceased. "Now then. Sesshoumaru, you are supposed to be the host. One does not pick fights with guests. Inuyasha was perfectly within his rights to get upset. You have always been very lax when it comes to your brotherly duties. Demons don't always take well to family members, so I have let things alone. However, had I realized you did not know about my offer, I would have sought you out, Inuyasha. I presumed that your mother had warned you away because of her fear."
"She never mentioned you."
"Yes, well, I'm not entirely surprised. I didn't put my best foot forward the last time we met. I'm afraid I went a bit overboard during that incident Myouga mentioned."
"What incident was that, my lady?" Miroku asked, curiosity peaked.
"Your human grandfather came to retrieve your mother and you after you were born. He was not pleased that Takemaru had failed in doing away with you as well as my husband. Let's just say that he tried to rectify that, and I stepped in to make sure that he knew the consequences of his actions." The Honorable Mother smoothed a lock of Inuyasha's hair down before returning to her throne. She patted Sesshoumaru's pelt as she went passed.
"You gave him that scar," Inuyasha said, understanding in his voice. He'd always thought it looked like the acid burns that he got when Sesshoumaru injured him. His grandfather never spoke about the scar with the same boastful pride as he had about the others he'd gotten in battle. Now he knew why. Not only had he gotten it from a demon, but he'd gotten from a female. "Prick never did see women as equals."
"A fool," his brother said shortly. "Female demons are often more vicious than males. Mother might be smaller than Father in her true form, but some say she is far more lethal."
"Thank you, my dear. It's nice to still be feared. Now then, I trust you'll not be picking fights with each other while under my roof?"
"Er…"
"Hn."
"We'll try?" Inuyasha said, the pitch of his voice making it a question. Sesshoumaru and he had never gone more than an hour without arguing.
"Very well. I know one hundred fifty years is a long time to get into the habit, so I can't expect things to change in a week."
"Uh, my lady, I am two hundred."
"You were stuck to a tree for fifty of that. I highly doubt Sesshoumaru came and fought with you. It would be terribly one sided and he does like to get in some good one-liners."
Sesshoumaru felt heat rise in his face and he looked away from the assembled crowd. There was no need to tell them that he had in fact gone to see his brother while the fool had been stuck to the Goshinboku. He'd heaped criticism onto his brother's still form, but it wasn't like the give and take they normally spat at each other. The twinkle in his mother's eyes when he finally turned around let him know she had known of his visits.
"Hn."
"A week?" Kagome questioned, the older woman's words coming back to her. "We haven't been here that long. Please tell me it won't take more than a day or so to find the answer to the rosary." Sango and the others gave the elder demon a pleading look.
"I have had to have the servants bring up archives from the basement. It seems that my files are a bit messy, and all is not as it should be in the records room. Of course, if the one who is supposed to be in charge of that would stay in the castle for more than a few days, that might change." Gold eyes narrowed on Myouga who was still caught in Inuyasha's claws.
"Gee, what a surprise. You ran away from work," the half demon grunted. "Go do your job. As much fun as it's been watching Miroku make an idiot of himself learning to be a half demon, we have more important things to do."
"If that is your wish, Master Inuyasha," Myouga acquiesced and left to go do just that.
"Wonderful! Now I can spend time with all of you. Come sit and tell me of your adventures. It does get terribly dull here on the mountain." The Lady Mother patted the empty throne space next to her and her daughter and Rin immediately took up a seat. The others reluctantly gathered around her feet. Sesshoumaru turned to reenter the castle and she snapped her ki whip at him to stop him from leaving.
"I will return. As host, it is only right that I procure refreshments." He been hoping to lock himself away in his office that probably had a mountain of paperwork waiting for him because of his mother's lack of attention to detail, but that was not to be.
"Excellent idea. Tell the maids to make that new tea I bought from the mainland. It has the nicest aroma."
"As you wish, Mother." He bowed his head and went to the main hall to find someone who had a brain. Jaken caught up to him halfway there and trailed him for several moments.
"When will we be able to leave, my lord?"
"When Mother is finished with her games. You would not like it if she were to get angry at you." He'd seen her furious before and would rather that not be directed at him.
"We have much to do," the small demon lamented.
"Yes, which is why you'll help Myouga search the records for that rosary information. The sooner that's off of the monk, the better."
"As you wish." Jaken bowed and left to go to the records room, hoping the new batch of files would have what they sought. Sesshoumaru watched his servant leave and let a small sigh out. He just had to keep reminding himself that things could be worse. His mother could have planned a party. She could have held a conference of allies to figure out what to do about Naraku and invited his brother's group to join in. She could have…
She could have planned a wedding.
"Kuso."