DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters in this story expect Tristis, Astoria, Maaya, Masako, & Ikue. They all belong to Rumiko Takahashi, I just borrowed them.


AUTHOR'S NOTE: Once again thank you everyone for reviewing!! Okibi Chan you and your evil bunnies are definitely making me write faster! Also I seriously doubt my story is the best Sessy and Rin fic on the web but thank you for the compliment. Lol, and Amargo Scribe I swear your questions will be answered once I reach the chapters where I planned to address those topics. Also in the last chapter I meant to give a special thanks to Quiet (sorry!). I can see Rin being a proper young lady but due to Fluffy's lifestyle I have a feeling she's going to need to learn how to protect herself. I'm leaving town on the 28th and won't be back till the 3rd so I'm going to try to get chapter ten out if I have the time and I get enough reviews before I leave. *hint, hint* One final thing please read the note at the bottom to understand the age process in this story. Thanks, enjoy and please review.


Chapter Nine- Shame is Born

'How fast does this demon travel? He's only been gone for three days and were so far away! I've never seen this place before.'

Astoria's little fairy Maaya flew high above Lord Sesshoumaru and found herself exhausted. When she was ordered to follow the demon lord she had been terrified. Everyone found fairies annoying and she was sure he would kill her on the spot.

So far she hadn't seen anything unusual. Unless you counted the several times the silent demon threw rocks at the smaller one. 'Why do I always get these type of missions? It's not fair! I get left out because of my size but then get the most dangerous tasks because of it!'

"Why aren't you with Inuyasha old man?"

The fairy broke from her self-pitying thoughts to see Sesshoumaru talking to himself, or so she thought. Forgetting her fear she flew down to rest on a branch while the demon finally stopped for at least a moment. With her sharp hazel eyes she noticed a tiny creature hop on the lord's shoulder.

"I fear your actions as of late will cause unpleasantness for us all."

"Haven't they always."

The flea sighed before continuing with what he set out to do. "Your father's old enemies are saying you've become like your father..."

"I am nothing like him," the younger demon interjected. "I don't plan on leaving my mate and pups alone for months on end so I may pursue a worthless bitch."

"He's been dead for so long now Lord Sesshoumaru. Can't you forgive him for his mistakes?"

Red eyes now turned to grant Myouga a glance. "You want me to forget my mother's tears? And the pain she went through as she bled to death on his grounds at his bitch's feet."

By this time Jaken felt the need to make his presence known. And to shock of all present the demon lord didn't hit nor threaten him for interrupting. "You foolish useless demon! How dare you bring up such painful memories to Lord Sesshoumaru! Go back to that worthless half breed that is the cause of all this misery!"

"None of this is Lord Inuyasha's fault," cried out the said half demon's servant.

"True, Inuyasha never asked to be born. And considering his childhood he wouldn't have asked for a human mother nor a demon father. The blame falls on the shoulders of the man who started this blood bath when he rejected my mother's love and my very being as well."

Myouga frantically jumped up and down on his shoulder with a slight air of anger hanging around him. "He never rejected you! You, Lord Sesshoumaru, were the one who told him that you had no father!"

The markings on his began to widen, "Has old age caused you to forget his frequent lengthy travels which turned out only to be hunting for a human scum's bed?"

"But he never meant to push you away," the flea's slight bravery had now slipped into the cowardliness he was best known for as his voice now slightly wavered.

Sesshoumaru had heard enough from the annoying vermin. He flicked the flea from his shoulder and began to walk away. 'Father's enemies shouldn't concern themselves with my business. He broke a scared vow and brought shame to our clans. I, Sesshoumaru, won't become like him. I won't abandon my mate and then shame the family and clans even more by forgetting my duties.'

~*Flashback*~

Boring. Boring and pointless were two words that kept flashing in his mind as his tutor dragged on and on about the dog clans history. Young Sesshoumaru had heard the information far too many things for it to be even slightly interesting to him. His attention, therefore, was lost to the subject and his much complimented eyes drank in the sight of his mother passing by his study room with Jaken at her heels.

A smile, that could only be described as breathtaking even at his age, took over his face as he ran past his annoyed tutor. "Mother!"

Ikue stopped her walking and turned to see her precious son running to her arms. She caught him with ease in one arm as she gently scolded him. "Sesshoumaru be careful of the flowers."

"Sorry Mother." The apology was sincere even though a glimmer of a mischievous smile played on his perfect face.

"Tell me, is our family history boring you to tears?"

Guilt filled the pup. He knew very well that all the history his tutors made him study was quite important but it was just a terrible bore to the poor boy. Though he couldn't tell his mother this information, which was a clear fact in his mind. His mother was the smartest female that ever lived and she would be so ashamed that he found no use for such an important subject. She didn't want him to be an ignorant puppy when he took over the Western lands.

"Your lack of speech causes me to believe what I say is true."

"I know its importance Mother but... I know it all! Why must I be forced to learn it all again year after year?"

A rich laugh was given to his honest answer. "That's what I told my father when I ran out of my history lessons. So as my son I expect you to be able to tell me everything about the subject in my drawing room tonight. If I'm satisfied with your progress history can be crossed out of your education."

"Will you have to discuss it with Father first?"

To his puzzlement his mother's smile left her and was replaced with a rather sad one. Sadness was such an alien emotion to Ikue whenever her mate was around. "I'm not sure when he'll return so I suppose I'll have to make that decision on mine own."

"Why does Father take such long trips now? Has there been an increase in demons on our land?"

"I suppose Sesshoumaru. That's the only logical reason why he would want to leave us for so long."

The pup wiggled out of his mother's arm and looked up at her. Feeling uneasy he glanced at the unusual silent Jaken before asking, "Is everything alright Mother? You always seem distraught when Father leaves."

Her violet eyes filled with tears as she looked down and brushed back her long bluish white hair out of her face. "I am fine darling. I suppose I just miss your father when he leaves us for his trips. Not that I bear any ill will against him, as you shouldn't. Everything he does is so important and mustn't be burden with guilt. We just have to make our short time with him as wonderful as we can."

"Will I have to leave my family all the time when I become lord of the Western lands?"

"Oh I hope not! You Sesshoumaru will become the greatest lord there ever was. You will rule the way a proper demon lord should and your mate will forever love you. Nothing will ever separate you from her."

Tears began to fall and the boy felt horror rise within him. He threw himself back to her arms, not caring about the flowers this time. "I'm sorry Mother! I didn't mean it! Please don't cry because of something I said."

"Never," She knelt down to look at the young boy and gave him a soft kiss on the top of his head before continuing. "Go back to your studies. I expect you in my drawing room after dinner. Jaken follow me."

Ikue turned away and rather quickly made her way to her many rooms. Sesshoumaru looked at his mother's retreating figure and felt his stomach turn over. 'I wish Father wouldn't leave so much and for so long. Mother becomes so quiet and sad whenever he's not around.'

With an annoyed sigh he turned back to his room and began to memorize family trees.

~*End Flashback*~

"We will rest here for the night. Old man if you're going to follow us you are not to feed off of me. I am not as indulgent as my brother is."

Myouga kept quiet and hopped on Jaken's shoulder. The imp began the task of gathering firewood, knowing Sesshoumaru was clearly in the mood to be alone. The latter demon rested on Ah-un and closed his eyes. Sleep was something that wasn't coming easy to him anymore. He dreamed too much and the dreams were always focused on the same subjects, the past and Rin's future. If she had one.

He mentally scolded himself for his last thought. She was a strong woman, even if she was cursed being human, and had never let things bother her for too long. Things would work out in the end, he knew it.

He sighed and concentrated on sleeping. To his misfortune an image of his mother sitting down in her drawing room crying came to mind. He growled at the offending scene and shook his head. As if by his will it would erase the memory from being true. However this only seemed to bring more images of a forever crying version of his mother and a guilt ridden version of his father.

'I'm sick of these memories. I couldn't heal her pain then and I can't heal her pain now, so why torment me with these scenes of the past?'

~*Flashback*~

"Father has returned."

Jaken looked up and saw the still young Sesshoumaru, though he looked like an older teenager. "Perhaps we should stay out here while your father and mother talk, Lord Sesshoumaru."

"No, you stay here. Something is happening."

He left the woods surrounding his home and found himself racing towards his mother's drawing room. Why he couldn't explain but at the moment he felt the need to be present. Though after walking in he wished that he had listened to his little servant and stayed out in the woods.

There in a chair his mother sat with her face in her slender hands as her shoulders shook from all the crying she was obviously doing. His father stood away from her. Looking guilty but at the same time disgusted. Despite being his heir, Sesshoumaru went to his mother and knelt before her, clasping her hands into his.

Ikue looked dreadful. For the first time in his life, his mother didn't fit her role as the beautiful noble demon everyone knew her as. "Mother what is it?"

When only her tears answered him he gathered her in his arms and glared at his father. "What did you do to her?"

"We need to sit down and have a discussion Sesshoumaru."

Before the pup could reply the only female in the room gently pushed away her son and wiped her eyes. She patted down her hair and cleared her throat. "After a brief discussion I have decided to return to my family's land. You are to remain here and finish your training as the heir to the Western lands."

The younger demon stared at her for a moment before standing up. He walked towards his father and gave a slight warning growl. "So it's true. You've mated with a disgusting human. Why else would Mother leave her home."

"Step down before I'm forced to put you in your place," his father growled back.

"Do you think you could handle me old man?"

The two males stepped closer with their fangs bared. The older one got a hold of Sesshoumaru's neck and let his claws painfully poke at his flesh. His father didn't want to hurt him but when the boy's mother was in any type of pain he became irrational. After all he was now trying to take on his father.

Ikue jumped up and forced herself between the two. Like a true female dog demon she growled at her mate and then turned her attentions to her ashamed son. After checking his neck, and becoming very relieved that there was no harm, she sighed and turned to her mate. "There's no need for this. I've given you your freedom to do as you wish so I beg of you... I can't leave quietly if I fear for my child's safety."

"No harm will come to him."

"Mother how can you take this indignity?! How can you allow him to shame our family by breaking his promise to you? You knew something like this was happening yet you did nothing to stop it. Why? Why will you leave your home so that some worthless human bitch can take your place?"

"Enough!"

His mother put her arms around him and cried into his robes. The years that had passed and cause him to grow much taller than his small regal mother. "Take me to my room."

Forever obeying her wishes he picked her up but turned to look back at his now silent father. "Your new bitch can produce you an heir. As far as I'm concerned you are dead and so is the Western lands. I'll be gone with my mother tomorrow morning."

He then took her to her room without another glance at his father. After gently placing her on her bed he went to close her doors. As he was doing this Ikue's soft voice called out to him. "Sesshoumaru please don't speak in malice terms about your father. You're still young and don't understand everything. Because of this you must stay with him, I'll be fine."

"Mother why did you allow him to play you for a fool? You must have at least suspected something was happening, why did you let him?"

"I could never deny him anything. You'll understand once you take on a mate."

"Hmmm, and will I abandon her as he has done to you," he asked bitterly.

A sigh left the now former lady of the Western lands. "You are his heir Sesshoumaru. You can just denounce your title because you are angry with him."

"This is the ultimate shame he could have brought against us. I won't have any part of him Mother. I refuse to be associated with a traitor to our family, our kind, and to us."

~*End Flashback*~

Maaya sat on her branch and let her head rest in one of her hands. 'Well isn't he loads of fun,' she thought. She sat watching at the other two demons returned and began making a fire before Sesshoumaru even ordered them to. The lord had looked deeply troubled and the fairy was quite sure that for the first time in days that his mind wasn't focused on his human mate Rin.



AUTHOR'S NOTE: In the first flashback Sesshoumaru is the age Inuyasha is when he remembers asking his mother what a half breed is. In the second he is a few years younger than what he appears to be now. In my story I'm having it that demon children age as fast as humans do but once they reach their late teens they begin to age much slower. I hope I don't confuse anyone with this. I just thought I should make that clear.