Time Trip: Misplaced Hanyou

"Chichi-ue, you called for me?"

"Yes, do you know where your brother went last night? He wasn't there when I went to wake him."

"He left soon after you did. He said he wished to speak with his mother. I retired to my apartment right after he did."

"Well he wouldn't still be there, so where could he have gone?"

"Pardon the intrusion, Lord Nishi, but I know where he is." A servant boy, carrying one of the breakfast trays for the woman's apartments, quietly interjected.

"Well then, out with it."

"I heard Lady Shinju speaking to one of the other Ladies of the house. The young prince Inuyasha did stay with his mother last night. Lady Shinju was restless and went for a short walk. She overheard the young prince and his mother speaking quietly for quite some time. I don't think its right to repeat the rest."

"I do."

"Lady Shinju said she heard the young prince say he… that he loved his 'Kasan' repeatedly, purring the whole time. I want to say that I think it is lewd to repeat such things out of context, as I am sure there is a respectable reason for the young prince to spend the night in his mother's apartment, even though he is no longer a child. He is, most likely, still there, as I heard a male voice as I walked past Lady Yukio's apartment."

"Right then." Lord Nishi walked calmly out of his sitting room, though Sesshoumaru knew better. He followed his father, at a short distance; to see the bloodbath at was sure to follow. For a grown man to insult Lord Nishi, and then stay in one of his mate's apartments, was to invite a good thrashing. As they neared the apartment voices could be heard. Lord Nishi stopped to listen, as he was never one to jump into things unaware.

"If you spoke honestly I doubt he would stay angry."

"I spoke much too honestly, Kasan. It is so frustrating to have no control over my words. If I ever get my claws on the guy that made that damn portal…"

"Inuyasha, language!"

"Sorry Kasan, when I get angry it just kind of slips, and that was before the whole portal problem."

"Don't blame someone else for what you think and feel. As long as you love your Chichi…"

"I don't, that's what started the whole mess."

"Why? Do you have a good reason for your feelings?"

"I never knew him." There was a pause. Inside, Lady Yukio covered her heart in shock. Outside, Lord Nishi's mouth hung open. "I never knew him so I don't have any feelings for him one way or the other. I can't feel for a total stranger."

"Did he… I mean… Is that what you meant about…?"

"No, no Kasan! Sesshoumaru did that, and he's a bloody idiot for it… Don't look at me that way. If I was talking to my pack I'd use a heck of a lot stronger words then 'bloody' and 'idiot'. I have a heck of a bone to pick with that guy for what he did to you, and as far as I'm concerned he's NOT part of my family. Oyajii died, left me a sword, and I avenged him. End of story. I count that to be dead even for what he did for me, which is no more or less then make you pregnant."

"You didn't say that did you?"

"He didn't give me the chance to explain, and I was so angry at myself for blurting all that junk out I just wanted to keep my mouth full of futon stuffing. That or wake up from this nightmare." Outside Lord Nishi sat down, deep in thought. Sesshoumaru gestured, and Nishi shook his head at the unvoiced question.

"So you came here to have your ears pet and be put to bed?"

"Yeah, kind of silly, eh? I've fought more battles then most people could live through, and the first chance I get I run to my Kasan."

"No matter how many battles you've fought, I believe you are nothing but a gentle puppy at heart."

"I'll take that as a complement, Kasan."

"Good, I meant it that way. Calm down, Inu-chan, you've shed your tears so it's time to move on. Now when are you planning on returning, or don't you know how?"

"I haven't a clue. I miss Kagome and I'm so lonely without her."

"You've sunk up to your ears in that pool, I'm afraid."

"Kasan…"

"Now, now Inu-chan, you've already told me you love the girl, so all you have to do is tell her. She sounds like a lovely young lady."

"It doesn't work that way Kasan."

"Inu-chan, I know better then you how these things work and let me tell you that it most certainly does work that way."

"When I go to say anything to her about a relationship I stop breathing. It feels like a tight cord wraps around my heart, and a million memories come to mind. I can never remember what I want to say, or if I even decided on what I wanted to say."

"You really are shy as they come, aren't you?"

"Yes, and that's why I hate whatever happened to me. I don't want to talk to Kagome like this. I'd run away if I saw her now. No matter what is going on with my speech, I can't say that to her."

"You speak to me easily enough."

"You're my Kasan; I've always talked to you. Even when you weren't there, I talked to the stars and knew you were listening." Outside Sesshoumaru's heart fell. Not only wouldn't he get to see someone beaten bloody by his Chichi-ue, what Inuyasha said gave him serious doubts about his Haha-ue's actions.

"Well after meeting you as a grown man my worries are gone. I had wondered if I could raise a good, honest boy with demon blood, and now I see that I can with the small addition of him being extremely shy."

"Kasan, do you like seeing me embarrassed?" Lady Yukio giggled again.

"That's how I know that you are so shy at heart. What you say and what you do are so at odds! Do you know what it looks like to see a person turn red as a cherry with embarrassment, but hear them pour out their heart in bold, honest speech?"

"Kasan!"

"But that is what you are doing, Inuyasha. I'm sure your Chichi-ue is intelligent enough to see it and understand, or try to understand, what it is you are going through. You get a good portion of your personality from him after all."

"What portion?"

"The constant curiosity underscored by honesty and plain, logical thought. You get the shyness from my Chichi-ue, if not a bit from the demon side as well, though I wouldn't know where it would come from on that side of the family. The mix is rather contradictory though. Being both shy and curious must be quite difficult."

"I've got plenty of contradictions. I'm a gentle puppy at heart, but a monster runs in my veins. I love Kagome, but I could never be with her. I care about Shippou like he was my own pup, but I treat him like I don't care at all. My best friend is a Monk, but he's so perverted I can't stand him. I idolize my brother because of his strength, but hate him for everything else. I'm really adaptable and can be comfortable in almost any situation, but I get very angry if anything at all is changed."

"I think I'll stop you now."

"It's about time."

"I was enjoying your little tirade, and I think some of that needed to come out. Take this as a blessing, to let you blow off a bit of compressed steam."

"I've done fine keeping my trap shut, with the noted exception of eating Ramen."

"What is this wonder food?"

"It's yellow, with noodles and chicken and all kinds of funny vegetables. I don't know how to make it, but what Kagome brings me is a type of dry mix. You pour hot water in it, just like making tea, and then you wait. I hate waiting. I have to wait way too long for the sand in this little hourglass she gave me to run out before I can eat it."

"It takes an hour?"

"Only three minutes, it's just a little glass. It just feels like forever 'cause it smells great the second she opens the bag."

"Interesting, you fell in love with her cooking."

"Well, no. I fell in love with her way before she started cooking for me. That happened when she saved my life."

"Explain it to me." Lord Nishi's ears perked up at this. He hadn't meant to listen so long, but his son seemed willing to pour his heart out to his mother. Nishi had noticed how his son fought against himself as he spoke to him, fighting to remain quiet and wanting nothing more then to shut up. He wanted to know as much as he could.

"I was sealed away by my first love, pinned to a tree in eternal sleep. Kagome woke me up and pulled the arrow from my heart that held me solid to my tree. She was battling a centipede demon, and needed help. She was so bold, so trusting, and so terribly outmatched. I cut the thing to ribbons in ten seconds flat of course. The idea that she would fight something so much stronger then herself, that she would lead it away from the village to my forest and wake me up in the hope that I would exterminate the overgrown bug to protect my territory and pride. What did she think I would do with her? Why did she think she could ask me to save her and not deal with me afterwards? I attacked her too, when I got rid of the main threat. Did she think I wouldn't? She had the Shikon no Tama in her body; the bug ripped it out during the fight. How could she think I wouldn't want it, when that was part of the reason I was pinned to that tree in the first place? The old Miko from the village, Kaede, threw this enchanted collar around my neck. Stupid rosary slams me into the ground on command. Kagome's the only one who can use it, and it hurts a lot, sometimes more then others. I stuck around, saying that I wanted the jewel, but it was half a lie. She's so… innocent. It takes so much to get her truly angry. Yeah, I can get her fairly pissed at times, but it's always a passing thing. Not a minute later and all is forgiven."

"The only person she hates is the demon we're currently after. He works from the shadows; humiliating his victims and making them suffer the very worst deaths. He rarely puts himself in harms way, and plays with people's emotions. He is the reason why my first love thought I betrayed her for the jewel. It doesn't matter though. If her trust in me was shattered so quickly, if she could switch from loving me to hating me that quickly, then I am glad we were tested. I would have made a terrible mistake if I had become human for her."

"You were going to become human?"

"Yes, I thought we could lead a normal, human life. I'm not pathetic in my human form. There is plenty of strength in my body that has nothing at all to do with youki. Demon spirit only enhances what is already there, the same way spice can only enhance the flavor of food. If the food is rotten to begin with, it will be rotten when you are done with it."

"A simple, but deep remark, Inuyasha." Lord Nishi finally spoke up, scaring the occupants of the apartment. "I hope you may soon find a way back to your own time; you seem to be needed there. Whatever ailment has seized you're ability to control your tongue, I hope the answer is found quickly. I also give my permission for you to stay in your Haha-ue's apartment until you find a way to your own time. You obviously find comfort in her familiar company that you cannot find in mine." Inuyasha nearly ran into Lord Nishi when he came out of the door.

"Oyajii, how much did you hear?" He asked, suddenly terrified. Seeing Sesshoumaru sitting on the floor not far away quickly sent him into all out panic.

"Enough to understand that you are indeed in need of some help regarding your mental and physical state. I have heard more then enough to understand why you said what you did to me. You have shocked your brother nearly out of his skin, though which statements he was collected enough to absorb are beyond my knowledge. Sesshoumaru! Are you awake?"

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Eeep... That certainly was more then Inuyasha would ever want to tell his Dad. Ever notice how most people are closer to one parent then they are to the other? Maybe it's just me. Next chapter: Sesshoumaru: It's best not to Know, Not to Compare

And you thought this was a story about INUYASHA's problems!