Ohio! Well it's not quite morning anymore, so since my Japanese is severely limited I'll revert to my comfort zone: Latin! Savete viri! Nova quid est? Optime meus est. (Hi guys! What's new? I'm great. [Literally: Salute to you men! New what is? Being the absolute best I is. I know it's awkward but cut me some slack, it's just a hobby and Latin is written in stream of consciousness.]) So I've gotten 9 reviews, only 4 left before I get my but in gear and write a Kagome chapter. I've already written the next 6 chapters for Inuyasha's POV. But I will resist the urge to post more then one a day. ;) Savete! (Note: Savete is a greeting, think 'Salutations' however it can be both hello and goodbye. Cool beans, eh?)

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Time Trip: A Woman Scorned

"So, you have an angry Otouto." An older woman with a crescent moon on her forehead spoke into her teacup. She was dressed in many bright silk kimonos, with the red plumb blossom crest on the sash.

"Hai, Haha-ue, but I don't understand it at all." Sesshoumaru sat across from his mother in her private apartment.

"He's come back to rob you of your birthright, Sesshoumaru, of this I am sure! Just look what your poor Haha-ue has to endure now that that human girl has stolen my beloved Nishi from me. I'm sure it was her idea to place me here, the furthest apartment from the main building. Nishi had that garden planted to give himself an excuse to move me. Did he think that I would enjoy the peace and privacy of living practically outside the castle walls? Oh Sesshoumaru, it is a trouble, but don't worry. Your devoted mother still loves you with all her heart."

"Of course you do, Haha-ue, you have always cared for me."

"I have a beautiful son; thank Kami-sama for that. Now what else did the retched boy say to you?"

"He said I was far too self-centered to be Lord of the Western Lands."

"A ridiculous claim, to say the least!"

"He as much as told me I would never have an heir because I was too conceited and not domesticated enough. His exact words were a bit hard to understand."

"What do you mean by that? What was this talk about being 'domesticated?' Is there some sickness to befall you?"

"No I think his meaning was more that I couldn't find a proper mate, but then he went on to admit that his son is adopted. He had received a substantial head injury, but Lady Futomi said he spoke true."

"Why? My darling son, what was the reason behind his declaration?"

"That was what was so cryptic, and where the whole 'domesticated' thing came in. I teased him about how he described his relationship with some woman he can't find. I said he was acting like a domesticated dog protecting its master, and he threw it back at me. He just roared out 'That's why I have a son and you don't.' Then he sat in silence for a while. Chichi suggested that if she was his mate, it would be alright that he would feel the need to be with her and even allow the kind of punishment that she inflicted on him when he misbehaved."

"Punished? Like some lapdog?"

"Hai, he has a collar that responds when she says 'sit.' The weird thing is he cut Chichi off, and explained that she wasn't his mate, but he still had a duty to protect her, like some hired muscle."

"Disgraceful! Perhaps we won't have that much of a problem. I will not let my beloved Nishi forget his first born and most faithful wife."

"Yukiyo is…"

"Don't speak that terrible woman's name to me, my precious Sesshoumaru."

"Gomen nasai, Haha-ue, I meant to say the she is heavy with pup and not in the best of moods. Chichi does not go to her as often lately because of her disagreeable attitude, and my Otouto isn't the most polite creature."

"I know this, my darling son, and I do intend on taking advantage of the situation. You are beginning to see how things are done in court among the ladies. Remember what I have shown you, I guarantee it will occur when you are on the throne, and you should be aware."

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