Inuyasha was in the forest to the south of the palace, working on all three boys individual strengths. Each boy had special abilities. Inumouru and Samoto had extremely strong claws. They could both generate poison like their father, Sesshoumaru.
Sugumi being a man-demon didn't have the outward appearance of strength. His only noticeable weapon were his claws, which were as sharp as razors. Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru were certain that the boys had other abilities that had not yet been tapped into.
To get the boys to explore their potential was to try various exercises and see how they each do.
First the boys were instructed to try and throw their claws as if they were darts. After several failed attempts Sugumi was able to hit the target. The other two's claws remained firmly attached.
The next exercise involved using mind to try summoning their inner strength and abilities. The boys sat on the ground in a circle concentrating deeply. Inuyasha was not much for this meditation thing but Sesshoumaru said it is the only way to tap into the hidden abilities of a young demon.
Suddenly Samotoyame's eyes popped open as a blast of energy erupted from his hand. He couldn't control it at first. His cousin Sugumi had to jump out of the way.
"Whoa... what was that?" Samotoyame was shocked that, that bolt came from him. He stood up and tried it again. ZAP! The bolt of energy took form this time. It looked like a cross between a bolt of lightening and his father's whip.
"All right Samoto, I want you to aim it at the base of that small tree." Inuyasha stood beside the boy. "Concentrate and aim." He urged. ZAP! CRACK! The tree burst in half top to bottom. The blast really scared Samoto and he jumped back. "Uncle Inuyasha, can you do that?" The little boy's silvery golden eyes were filled with fear. "I don't like this. I don't like this at all."
Inuyasha put his hand on his young nephew's shoulder and looked down at him. "You don't need to be afraid Samoto. You are in control of this power. All you need is practice, and to answer your question. No, I can't do anything like that. You must have inherited that from your dad."
"The rest of you keep working on it I'm going to work with Samoto for a few minutes." He took Samoto aside and sat down with him. "Each demon has special strengths and abilities in him. If you work at it you will discover not only what those abilities are but how to use them." Inuyasha tried to relieve the little demon's fears. "You have a great strength in you, little man. All you need to do is keep working on it you will be able to control it. It will help a lot when it comes to a battle. So what do you say? Want to give it another go?"
Samoto nodded. He still wasn't sure if this was such a good idea.
The little half-demon closed his eyes and concentrated raised his hand and suddenly ZAP! The bolt flew from his hand looking more and more like a whip. SNAP! The tree he was aiming at burst in two. Samoto was starting to get used to this new ability. He was actually beginning to think how great it was to be the first to discover what his special power was.
It was at that moment when. "Yeoww!" It was Sugumi. He was jumping up and down holding his foot.
Inuyasha ran to him. "What happened?" He examined his son's foot. It had a small burn on it. He wasn't really hurt he was more surprised than anything.
Inumouru was standing there staring at his hand. He had a stunned look on his face. A bolt had erupted form his hand as well. He looked at his uncle and aimed his hand at a nearby bush. A bolt of energy erupted and hit the bush. The bush instantly burst into flames. The energy was definitely a flame. Inumouru tried again and again. The flame refined its shape and took on a whip-like look. Everything it touched burst instantly into flame.
"OK that's enough Inu, we don't want to burn down the whole forest." Inuyasha said stomping out yet another of the fires Inumouru had started. "Lets take a break for a little while and have something to eat."
They sat in a circle eating some fruits Katame had packed them to take.
Sesshoumaru joined them as they ate. "I thought you were going to work here in the forest. Instead I find you having a picnic."
"Father we were working hard honest." Samotoyame said. "I figured out how to use a new skill father. Look." He aimed at a tree behind Sesshoumaru and Flash! The tree burst apart.
Sesshoumaru's eyes widened. He was genuinely impressed. "You have a great power my son. I am very pleased you seem to have gained control of this so very quickly."
"Yes father, I was the first to figure out what my special power was." He gloated. Being the youngest he was desperate to prove that he was more than just Inu's little brother.
Sesshoumaru ruffled his son's hair. "Were you now. I am impressed."
Inumouru stood and showed his father his own power. ZAP! The tree Samoto had broken burst into flames and burned brightly.
His father looked on and nodded his approval. "You have done well my son."
Sugumi, not to be out done stood and said. "Look, uncle Sesshoumaru." He flung his hand filled the tree in front of him with long sharp darts. The darts were nearly as long as a man's hand from base to the fingertip.
"Very good indeed Sugumi. But I sense you are able to so more." He put his hand on the boy's shoulder. "I will work with you on something different."
The little man-demon looked disappointed.
Sesshoumaru took him aside.
"Do not think, little one, that I am displeased with your efforts. I'm very proud of you. But you are a special kind of demon, my boy and that means you will have hidden inside you, many secret strengths. I want to help you focus your thoughts so you can tap into them."
Sugumi smiled up at his uncle. It meant a lot to the little man-demon to have his uncle's approval. He always felt that he was less that the sons of Sesshoumaru, because he was so different.
But now his uncle was going to spend special time with him. He would work hard to tap the power his uncle was sure he had inside.
Sesshoumaru and Sugumi walked and talked for some time. Them he sat down with the boy. "We don't know what your strengths are. But if you concentrate your efforts in on specific areas you will be able to detect if you have any power there."
Sugumi nodded.
"I can fly. I want you to try that first."
"Fly? Uncle Sesshoumaru I don't think I.."
"I wasn't born flying, Sugumi, I had to learn it. If you have the power of flight, you will fly. If you don't then we will look elsewhere for your strengths. Ready?"
"Uhuh."
"Stand here. Concentrate on the area under your feet. Feel it in your mind. Create a barrier between you and the ground. Can you feel it?"
Sugumi concentrated hard. His little face scrunched up in a knot. Suddenly he broke into a broad grin.
"I can feel it. Uncle Sesshoumaru, I can feel it."
"Good. Now push it down with your thoughts and you will feel yourself rise. Do it slowly. I don't want you to fly off into a tree just yet."
Sugumi thought deeply. Slowly he began to rise then he wobbled and fell.
Sesshoumaru caught him.
"Did you see me? I did it. I did it. I can fly, uncle Sesshoumaru, I can fly." He hugged his uncle. "I want to do it again so I can show my dad. How do I keep from wobbling and falling like that?"
Sesshoumaru laughed. "Slow down. All you need to do is concentrate hold yourself still. You need to aim yourself as you would a dart. Take your time, young one. Don't rush, these things take time." Sesshoumaru encouraged his young nephew.
They worked for the rest of that day.
That night, as they sat having a meal. They talked about the skills they had discovered in themselves. Each of the boys was excited about their new talents. They talked about how best to practice with them so as not to damage anything or anyone. The hottest topic was how great it will be to use these new powers in battle.
"I can hardly wait to show momma." Inumouru said. "She will be so excited to see us."
"Yeah wait till she sees the whip I can make, its just like father's." Samoto was so happy he was about to bust.
Sugumi was keeping his new skill to himself. He didn't want anyone to know until he could control it. Then he would surprise his father. He had asked his uncle to help keep the secret. He was having trouble. He really wanted to tell but he also wanted to be good at flying first.
Two weeks later.....
The five had returned to the palace tired and dirty. Katame was busy in the kitchen and hadn't heard them come in. She turned around from cutting up some vegetables and just about stabbed Sesshoumaru who was standing right behind her.
He grabbed the knife and held it up. "This is a nice welcome I receive. I must have stayed away to long. You no longer know who your mate is." He pulled her close. "Perhaps I need to remind you." He gave her a long deep kiss on the mouth.
When he finally released her she scolded him. "You! You shouldn't sneak up on me like that I could have really hurt you."
He laughed. "You can't hurt me Katame, even if you tried. That knife would barely scratch me." He brushed her hair away from her face. "We could all use a bath after supper. Are you interested in washing a bunch of dirty dogs, my dear?"
"I'll get your bath for you. But at least make sure you wash your hands before you eat." She held his hands out in front of her. "You look like you've been digging in the dirt for months."
She set supper out for them and went to the bathing room. The servants had already heated enough water and were getting the towels and clean clothes ready. She put some fresh herbs in the water.
The first to arrive were the boys. Their fathers usually liked to have the tub to themselves and so sent them on ahead to get bathed.
Come on you three. Lets get started. Katame had her soapy cloth ready.
"OH momma can't we bathe by ourselves. We're big enough to fight you know." Inu was getting to that age when he was embarrassed to be seen by his mother.
Katame laughed at her son. "I used to change your diapers young man, you have nothing I haven't seen before."
"MOM!"
"Alright, but if you get any dirt in my tub I'll drown you myself, you understand?" She left them. (Reminder...all washing and rinsing is done outside the tub in Japanese culture.)
Back in the main room Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru were enjoying some tea.
"You're back early. The boys can't be washed already." Inuyasha knew that Katame was the terror of the tub and would never let the boys into the bath still dirty.
"Hee hee, the boys are too grown up to let a mere human woman bathe them. The terrible and fierce lords ordered me out. However, they are under threat of death, if they dare get any of that mud in my tub."
"Oh you horror you!" Inuyasha had a look of mock terror on his face.
She shook her head. "You two are just as bad as the boys. Look at you." She went around to the back of Inuyasha and pulled several bits of twigs and leaves from his hair. "I'm going to have to scrub you two for half a hour before I can even think of letting you anywhere near that tub."
Sesshoumaru reached over and took hold of his wife. "I warned you to be careful what you threaten me with girl, I may just turn it against you."