Chapter 30

Sesshoumaru had returned from his patrol and was enjoying the attentions of his wife as she bathed him. She let him know all of the goings on of the household.

Shippo was in trouble again for playing some trick or other on Inuyasha. The boys were busy with their exercises and no one was safe from the whips of the sons of Sesshoumaru.

"Do you think that they might be ready to join you on patrol? The poor kids are board. I think they long for a little excitement." Katame asked.

"I'll talk to Inuyasha. It's his turn to patrol next. Maybe he would like to take them. Although I must tell you, it's not exciting." He sunk a little lower in the tub.

Katame was outside the tub washing Sesshoumaru's hair. He loved it when she played with his hair.

He thought back to the first time she dared to touch him. She seemed terrified that he might hurt her for daring to be so bold. She had spotted some debris in his hair and wanted to take it out. Her hand had touched his hair so softly. Her eyes went wide. Perhaps she was thinking that since he was hard with her that the rest of him must be equally hard.

She couldn't seem to help herself. She ran her fingers though his hair again and again. She remarked out loud about it softness and then suddenly went very pail. She immediately ran to the far corner of the palace and hid herself there for hours, until he finally went and got her.

"Mmmm." He said aloud.

"What?" Katame asked.

"This feels nice. I've missed you."

Katame pulled back. "You're not going to pull me into the tub again. I haven't finished your hair and I..."

Splash!

"Excellent idea my dear. I wish I'd thought of it myself."

"MMMFFF! Oh you horror. Look at this you got soap in the tub...mffff." It was hard to tell what she was saying with Sesshoumaru's mouth over hers.

Later that evening Sesshoumaru sat at the meal discussing his wife's suggestion of taking the young ones on patrol.

"The kids of course will like it, but will we?" Inuyasha laughed at the thought of three excited demon children out on their first patrol. "I don't know what's scarier a huge battle or those three playing tricks on me for three days out in the wild."

Sesshoumaru just smiled and sipped his tea. He knew how those boys loved to play tricks on his brother.

Kagome and Katame brought in the food. The smells immediately called to the hungry kids. Those kids were always hungry and ate everything their mothers put in front of them.

"Hey." Katame grabbed the hand of Sugumi as it reached for the bowl in the center of the table. "Look at those filthy hands. Ahhh! Go wash, all of you. No dirty hands at the table. Get!"

The boys were all getting very big but not one of them would dare go against Katame. Human or not she was a force to be reckoned with.

Sesshoumaru laughed.

"What are you laughing at?" Katame had her hands on her hips.

Sesshoumaru looked at her. "A feisty wife. I remember a time when you wouldn't open your mouth. What happened? Have I been too soft on you?" His voice was soft but she could tell he was planning something and she wasn't sure she would like it. She went a bit pail at the thought of some hidden threat.

"There! That's more like it." Sesshoumaru liked to play these games with his wife. It kept her on her toes.

"Oh, you stop that!" She smacked at the back of his head. His hair flew forward. He had her in an instant.

"You enjoy your meal I'll see you later." And walked off with Katame tucked neatly under his arm.

Sesshoumaru was up early and left Katame to her rest. He had been a little rough with her last night and she could use the rest.

The boys had eaten breakfast and Kagome was giving last minute instructions. "Don't you three dare play any tricks on him or he'll hang you from a tree." She kissed her son. "Be careful and mind your father. And don't let Shippo get into trouble. He already has more chores than he can handle."

The four demons left for patrol. They went east this time. The men had decided that the patrol should take a different route each time to keep any enemy watching them, guessing.

They had been traveling for hours and were about to break for a drink when Inuyasha scented something.

"Samoto, jump up to the top of that tree and tell me what you see." Inuyasha knew the smell but was still training the boys.

Samoto hopped and leaped to the top of a huge oak tree. He looked into the distance. There in the field were two humans. One male he looked like a monk the other was female as near as he could tell. She had a something huge strapped to her back. He had never seen them before and they weren't dressed in any of the local costumes that he knew of. He hopped down.

"Father there are two humans in the field over there. One is male, a monk, I think. The other is female. She wares a strange costume I have not see it before. She also carries something odd on her back."

"They are old friends of mine. Sango and Miroku." He smiled. "I haven't seen them in a long time. Shall we go meet them?" The four set off running.

"What are you doing all the way out here?" Inuyasha suddenly landed in front of them. The humans looked around themselves and saw that they were surrounded by a group of demons. They took up a defensive stance.

Two of them looked like Inuyasha, with long silver hair and dog-ears the other looked human. He had long black hair but he had an unusual shade of purple eyes. All of them looked very fierce. They had large swords at their hips and looked ready to fight.

"Whoa, who are all these with you, Inuyasha? Should we be worried? Miroku asked looking around him at the strange faces.

"Yes. But, not right now. This is my son Sugumi."

Sugumi stepped forward and bowed.

"And these two terrors are my nephews Inumouru and Samotoyame."

The other two boys also bowed.

"Son and nephews. How? I mean I know how, but... How? Miroku was taken back the boys were almost as tall as Inuyasha's shoulder; it seemed so strange that this could be.

"I know we haven't seen you in a long while, but a son. Who?" Miroku asked.

"Come back with me I'll tell you on the way."

They traveled along and Inuyasha told them all the things that have happened in the last few years.

"I mated with Kagome. She gave birth to this horrible monster five years ago."

"Five years?" Sango looked at Sugumi and remarked. "This kid is five? I knew demons grew fast but this is ridiculous." She ran up to beside Inuyasha. "Hey. I thought you were only half-demon. How come this guy is so big? He looks human."

"Sugumi is a full demon. He is a sort of demon that looks completely human. He grows the same as any other demon child. He has all the strength and abilities of a demon without the scent of one."

"That should come in handy in a fight. Your enemies wont be able to scent you coming." Miroku said to Sugumi.

"It does." Sugumi wasn't sure he liked these humans. But they were friends of his father's therefore he would be nice.

They arrived at Sesshoumaru's palace. "I'm staying with my brother Sesshoumaru. I'll warn you though, he isn't partial to humans. You may want to stay out of his way as much as possible."

"Sesshoumaru!" Miroku grabbed Inuyasha by the arm. His face was full of concern. "Didn't you and he battle? I thought he wanted you dead. What are you doing hanging around here for?"

Inuyasha. Laughed at his friend. "Look at those two will you." He motions to his nephews. "Notice anything familiar about them?"

"Yeah, they look like you."

"Yeah they look like me, because they are like me. They are half demons. Born of Sesshoumaru and his human mate Katame." He paused a moment. "He can't exactly fault me for being a half-breed when he has produced two of them, himself. Now, can he?" Inuyasha chuckled.

"We've put aside our differences for the sake of the children. Sesshoumaru isn't the only demon that dislikes half-breeds. As soon as it became known that Katame was pregnant, we have had to work together to fend off one enemy after another." He continued.

"Now we work together to train the kids to fight for themselves."

They went into the house.

"Sango!" Kagome ran and hugged her friend. "It's so good to see you. How have you been?

Miroku, what brings you here?"

"Apparently, your son." He pointed back at the boy. "We were just minding our own business when we were surrounded by this group of horrible demons. They took us captive and dragged us back here. Can you help us escape?" Miroku joked

"You fool. Don't be so silly. Come on and sit down I'll get you some tea and something to eat."

Sesshoumaru and Katame walked into the main room. Inuyasha made the introductions. And everyone sat down to tea.

Katame had gone to help Kagome get the tea and a small meal ready. "Who are these friends of yours Kagome? They look like they are on some kind of a quest."

"They are demon hunters looking for the one who destroyed Sango's village. We met them a long time ago. They thought that Inuyasha was the one responsible for her families deaths." She paused.

"We joined forces with them to hunt down the real culprit. We never did get him though. They are probably still looking."

"Demon hunters. They aren't going to ... I mean is it safe to have them here. The place is full of demons. They wont try anything with Sesshoumaru will they?"

"Relax Katame, unless Sesshoumaru is the one who attacked the village he won't be in any danger. Besides attacking villages isn't Sesshoumaru's style." Kagome was right. Sesshoumaru hated humans but couldn't be bothered to attack a village. Humans were beneath him he would not bother with them, unless they bothered with him.

They brought out the food and tea and they all sat eating and chatting. Inuyasha and Kagome were catching up on lost time. Sesshoumaru asked questions about this man turned demon. He was not pleased to hear of such an abomination on the demon heritage he was so proud of.

"Tell me everything you know about this man who would be demon." Sesshoumaru's voice was cold. "Where did you last see him?"

Sango told him everything she could. They had lost track of him over a year ago and had been searching ever since.

"Inuyasha do you know this one's scent?

"Yes."

"Good, you both will stay hear until morning Inuyasha and I will join your hunt in the morning. Inumouru, Samotoyame. You two will stay here and guard your mother. Sugumi, you will watch yours. Understand? I don't want you leaving here. Your mothers will need your protection. Shippo!"

POP!

"I told you to stop hiding yourself around me. Stay here I don't need any of your foolishness following me around."

He got up from the table taking Katame with him. "I will see you in the morning."

After he left the two guests looked at each other.

"He certainly is a take charge kind of guy isn't he?" Sango remarked.

"Doesn't give you much choice does he?" Miroku noted.

"Never has." Inuyasha agreed. "It's just his way. He has always been like that. Try not to let him bother you."

Sesshoumaru had taken his wife to bed.

"Sesshoumaru, where are you going and will you be gone long?" Katame was worried.

"I'm going to find this Naraku who feels he can play demon and get away with it. As far as how long I will be, I'm not sure. That will depend on Inuyasha's nose. I have never smelt this one before and until I do I won't be able to track him for myself."

"What if an enemy comes while you are gone? Sugumi is the only one who has truly fought and it tired him so completely Inuyasha had to carry him into the house." Katame was worried. The boys had not truly tested their skills on their own.

"They have been well trained Katame. They will be fine. I'll instruct them to always work together while I'm gone. Better?"

"I'm not so sure, but it would seem I don't have much choice, now do I." Katame would have to trust her sons.

"Enough worry for tonight my love. You will have to do without me for a while and I you. But tonight we have each other."

Katame looked up at her husband's eyes they were a brilliant shade of red. He lowered her to the mat and didn't let her go until it was well into the night.

The next morning Katame and Kagome were busy packing food and supplies for the trip. Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru were discussing the best plan of attack.

Later, both demons and hunters left over the hill and to the north.