Author's Note: I apologize; this chapter did take some time to get up. Exams and visiting relatives took up a good deal of my time. I also have to apologize for how dark this story is. And the poem comes from a French song called "Douce Dame Joulie". I've put the English translation up because I thought the song worked so well with the storyline.

Milady sweet and fair,

By Heaven I declare,

To nothing do I bear,

Allegiance save to thee.

Without deceit or snare,

And e'er

With lowly bended knee,

Each day of life I swear,

Forever

Thy servant to be.

I hoped in my despair,

To find relief somewhere,

But joy will never be there,

Unless thou pitiest me.

My heart finds no repair,

Except thy heart to share,

Which if thou whilst not spare,

Leave me sans remedy.

Sesshoumaru had to sneak in that night, yet it didn't prove that arduous of a task for his mother was preoccupied with tending to Arya to notice her badly wounded son. Inutaishou, of course, spoke nothing of the matter. He too had no desire to deal with his screaming wife who would complain about her son's current condition and how her husband was abusing him.

Making sure his dilapidated haori was hidden so Achika wouldn't suspect anything; Sesshoumaru got rid of everything that would make his mother aware of his current situation. He felt guilty betraying her like this, yet he didn't want another conflict uprising between his parents. Sighing, he collapsed into bed. It had been a long day, just like every other day of his life.

The following day went the same. Sesshoumaru's condition was worse; his back torn open and bloody. It was late that night when the two youkai came back from training. Inutaishou went instantly to his room, never saying a word to his son. Exhausted, Sesshoumaru made his way to the fireplace, sitting down in front of the warm hearth. He figured Achika was in bed by this hour so he needn't worry if she would see him. This was one of the last times he would be so careless for he hadn't been by the fireplace ten minutes before his mother showed up.

"Sesshoumaru!" she called out, rushing to his side as she looked at this bloodied top. "Did he do this?! I thought I told your father to stop this abuse!" Achika scowled, instantly taking off her son's haori, inspecting the wounds. Her son cursed himself silently; he didn't know why he didn't smell her coming.

"Mother, I appreciate your concern, but this is nothing you should trouble yourself with. I'm fine," Sesshoumaru said quietly, ignoring the pain as his mother ran her fingers over scars reopening his wounds.

"Nothing?! This is nothing?!" she hissed. Achika was enraged now. How dare Inutaishou do this! He told her that he would back off on Sesshoumaru's training, that he would be more understanding. And now, the warlord had gone back on his word? This deceit only further vexed the demoness. "And look at this! Your wounds are festering with Inutaishou's poison. Damn that man." Sesshoumaru felt a cool rag go over his bare shoulders and back, sensing the anger exuding from his mother's body. He'd never seen her this furious. "Why does he do this? You're still a growing boy. You need to be loved, not beaten. You should be concerned about courting some girl, not worrying if you'll be flogged or not. I'm so glad I was here to see this. After I'm done I'm going to your father and giving him a good talking to—"

"I wish you wouldn't..." Sesshoumaru said quietly, actually taking pleasure in the gentle touch of his mother. He didn't receive much affection nowadays. Inutaishou was busy dealing out punishment; Achika was trying to keep the household in good spirits; and Arya kept to training of her own.

"Sesshoumaru, if I don't he'll continue to hurt you..."

"If you do, he'll hurt me more."

"No. Inutaishou-sama isn't like that. He wouldn't betray me twice. No, no, I think he'll listen to me..." Achika whispered quietly, cleansing her son's wounds before wrapping bandages around Sesshoumaru. She trusted her husband. Inutaishou had just been stressed lately, that was all. He would come around. Achika was sure of it.

"Mother, how can you say that? He's a warlord, and he's doing his duty. I probably deserve this anyway. It will benefit me."

"Don't you say that! You know very well that this is wrong and completely unacceptable," Achika stated with a finality that marked the end of the topic. Tightening the last bandage, she suddenly enfolded her arms around Sesshoumaru, hugging him tightly. This made him wince as she touched his scars yet he kept quiet. Inhaling, he noticed a sweet vanilla scent. Realizing it was his mother; he sniffed at the perfume's aroma.

"You smell nice..." he spoke softly, trying to think of something to calm his mother and get her to let go of her death grip. She did release him, turning so that she might face him.

"Oh, you like it?" The woman beamed. She rarely received a compliment from her emotionless son. "I found the perfume at one of the local villages. I think I'll wear it from now on if you approve," she laughed, standing up. Sesshoumaru hoped that this might distract her from yelling at Inutaishou—but it didn't. "Now, you go to bed. I'm off to speak to your father." Wincing, Sesshoumaru nodded. There was no arguing with her. He'd learned that a long time ago.

"Inutaishou, I've got a bone to pick with you," Achika said flatly as she entered her bedchamber. Her husband was standing at a desk, finishing some papers he had taken from his study.

"Oh? What is it this time, Achika?" Came the curt response.

"Do you know what pain you're causing our son?" she began, hands placed firmly on her hips.

"Perhaps. And perhaps not. Tis none of your concern," Inutaishou said blankly, still focusing on the papers. He shuffled a few, organizing them into piles, never once giving his wife eye contact.

"Why don't you pay attention to me? You never listen anymore, Inutaishou. I brought up this issue before and yet you still ignore me. Don't you know your place, Inutaishou? Your place as Sesshoumaru's father and my husband?"

Looking over to her, the warlord let his eyes fall into a death glare.

"And do you know yours?" he snapped, "You are my wife, you listen to me and me alone! Now I don't know why you have these idiotic ideas of trying to change my views. Why can't you learn that you obey me? Now what do I have to do, beat the hell out of you as well? I've put up with your maternal fantasy crap of trying to keep Sesshoumaru some naive little pup the rest of his life and I've had enough!" Inutaishou bellowed to her, his eyes flashing red from his rage. Achika took a step back, her lower lip trembling in terror. In fear, she ran to the door, to escape this monster of a husband but Inutaishou beat her there, locking the door. Grabbing her wrist, he hurled her to their bed, snarling as he approached her. Chest heaving with struggled breaths, the demoness attempted to crawl away from him, trying to put anything between her and this crazed man. Oh, she'd done it now. She'd pissed him off and there wasn't any turning back. "So, what sort of punishment does a man give a wife who mouths off and doesn't stay in line?" At this point he reached the bed, grabbing the woman by the breast of her kimono, drawing her up close to him. "Want me to try it Sasame's way, Achika? Want me to give you the same treatment he gives his disobedient concubines? Because you've been talking a lot about him lately. Would that make you shut the hell up, bitch?!"

Achika had tears streaming down her cheeks; hot, salty tears. She didn't mean to make him this angry. She wasn't aware of how infuriated and stressed her husband had been. And now Inutaishou was to take out his hatred on her in bed. The demoness wasn't sure what had happened. This man could not possibly be her husband. No, surely not! This was not the romantic she had dreamed about marrying when she was but a child. "Speak, wench!" he yelled, yanking at her top, jolting her head.

"I'm sorry, Inutaishou-sama, milord!" she cried out, clasping her hands around his, her sorrowful amber eyes yearning for him to cease. "Please, I won't question you anymore, my husband. Just don't bring harm to me, I beg of you!" Inutaishou watched her for a moment, then snatched his hand away from hers and wrapped both his arms around her as he kneeled in front of her. She was sobbing into his chest now, her tears staining Inutaishou's haori. He just held her there, nuzzling her neck softly.

"Oh, Achika, my love," he whispered quietly. "Forgive my temper. I cannot help the youkai blood that boils in me...but that is not an excuse to take it out on my wife. I've just been so pressured as of late." Inutaishou continued, moving his hand to run his clawed fingers through the woman's silken hair. "I've just wanted to protect you and Sesshoumaru so badly, but it seems I've brought harm to you two instead. I don't know, Achika. Do I do nothing and let Sesshoumaru grow up unaware and unable to protect himself? If I bring pain to him now, he'll know how to avoid it and protect himself when he's older and I am long gone. It's painful and perhaps wrong.. But this is life, Achika. You cannot keep him your boy forever. I want him to stay, but he's growing up; it's something we can't change." he said softly, kissing her ear as he held her close.

"It's just...Oh, I love that boy of ours, Inutaishou. I would die for him. He's my only son and I can't watch him in so much pain, especially when it's caused by his own father."

"I know my dear. But Sesshoumaru is a lot stronger than you think. I won't kill him. Yet, as he gets stronger, I want to challenge him. I want to give him opportunities I wasn't given as a pup. Isn't that what you want for our son?"

"...Yes." Achika responded quietly, as her husband ran fingers through her bangs. Kissing her softly, he then pulled away, correcting the top of hers that he had yanked about. Laying her down, he wrapped the covers around her, hugging the woman before walking to his side of the bed. Slipping under the covers, he sat up for a minute, reflecting his actions as he tried to calm himself. He was suddenly awoken from his thoughts when Achika spoke again, carefully choosing her words.

"Inutaishou...what's this?" she chanced, pulling out a long strand of black hair from her pillow. She looked over the hair. It surely didn't belong to either of the silver-haired demons. "And it smells of human. In fact, my whole side of the bed smells like wretched human." Achika was quiet, but she was scrutinizing her side, looking over every inch of the bed. Inutaishou bit his lip, his eyes widened ever so slightly from surprise. He cursed himself silently, trying to think of something to keep the woman of suspecting him.

"Human woman," Achika decided, twitching the strand in her fingers as he eyes fell to Inutaishou. "Would you know the reason of this, my husband?"

"Um," The warlord started, searching for an answer she would believe. "Oh, well we hired a few human maids to work in the castle. We were short of the demonesses that worked here. Don't you remember?"

"No. I don't."

"Well, anyway, they must have gotten their scent on our sheets while they were making up the bed."

"Yes, but it's only on my side. Don't you find that strange, Inutaishou?"

"I suppose it is rather odd. But then again, humans are different. I don't think we should concern ourselves," he spoke quickly, praying that the woman would buy this. The couple did not need another disagreement tonight.

"...Okay. I guess you're right. It's silly for me to get this worked up," she reluctantly agreed, causing much relief to her husband. But Inutaishou had to distract her. Achika was no idiot. She would figure out soon enough.

"Now that that is settled, why don't you remind me of why I married you again?" he smirked, while she giggled, glad to find her husband had returned to his "normal" self.

Two years passed, marking Sesshoumaru's fifteenth birthday. It was a cold day. The winter breeze was enough to chill one's bones and freeze eyelids shut. Snow pelted the Western Lands, taunting anyone to try and go against its powerful nature. Unfortunately, Inutaishou took his chances.

The father and son stood out in the unrelenting weather, both with training swords in hand. Sesshoumaru was stripped of his shirt, his whole body covered in chills. His father told him that he should be able to fight just as well in all weather and that fighting without a shirt to keep in heat should make no difference. Lips blue, muscles frozen, Sesshoumaru sneezed before starting toward his father, wooden blade held firmly. As soon as he came in contact with Inutaishou, the warlord had whacked his son's blade from his grip and struck him three times, once across the face, chest, and back. Coughing and hacking up blood as he was kicked a few times in the lungs, Sesshoumaru looked up into Inutaishou's eyes mournfully.

"Please, Father, I can't breathe. I'm sick and I can't perform well for you," Sesshoumaru begged, something he didn't do often. He knew Inutaishou was angered easily by petty attempts to get out of a tough situation.

"Damn right you can't. Come on, Sesshoumaru, can't you take a few hits? What do I have to do? Get you a sword that heals or something?" Inutaishou snarled, looking at his wounded son, watching the blood dribble from the boy's mouth and then staining the snow. The man sighed, shaking his head as he thought of his wife for a split second. He's my only son and I can't watch him in so much pain, especially when it's caused by his own father.

"Oh, all right, Sesshoumaru. I've got matters to attend to anyway. You've got the day off," And with a wave of his hand, Inutaishou walked off, leaving his son stunned. Yet, Sesshoumaru found he couldn't get up, so he lay there with the bitter snow nipping at him. Inutaishou walked in his castle, kicking off his boots and throwing his armor down.

"...And this is how you mend the haori," Achika said quietly to Arya, clearly teaching the girl how to sew. Arya had torn her clothing in training; she too learned how to wield a weapon, though her master was not as cruel. Yet, the young demoness didn't seem to be having the greatest of time fixing her garment as she kept stabbing herself with the needle. Groaning, she shook her head as she attempted the task again, muttering to herself. "Oh, Inutaishou-sama. You've come back early." Achika looked to her husband, smiling warmly. "Where's Sesshoumaru?"

"I gave him the day off. He's had a little too much training I thought. Although, I figured he'd be in by now," Inutaishou shrugged as he kissed his wife on the cheek and waved a hello to Arya. He was strangely in a good mood. Achika didn't object to this, yet she couldn't help but wonder why. "Anyway, I'm going to go up to our room. I need some rest, so please don't bother me," he smiled, which threw his wife off guard.

"Of course, Inutaishou-sama. I'll tell the maids to let you have your sleep," Achika beamed. Maybe things would turn out all right. Everything seemed to be looking so much brighter. Inutaishou then nodded, making his way up to his room. "Well, Arya, perhaps we should go see if Sesshoumaru is coming." Arya nodded in agreement; anything to get away from this sewing. And seeing Sesshoumaru was something she'd never disagree about. Setting their sewing things down, the two women made their way out the door.

"It's so good to see Inutaishou-sama in good spirits," Arya said merrily, smiling at Achika.

"Yes, the whole castle seems to be in much better condition when our lord is happy. Although, I wonder what happened to cause such a change but I'm not complaining."

"Nor am I—" Arya stopped suddenly as she looked over to the wounded Sesshoumaru. The girl ran to him, terrified as she turned over the bleeding youkai. "Sesshoumaru! Sesshoumaru, please, speak to me!" Achika went to him as well, looking him over as she shook her head in surprised.

"He shouldn't be like this in the cold. Come on, Arya, can you help me pick him up? We need to get him inside," the demoness spoke quickly, and with Arya's help was able to lift Sesshoumaru, helping him walk inside. He said nothing and his mother's only concern was tending to him before he became sick. She would ask questions later. Surely, this was not Inutaishou's doing. Placing Sesshoumaru in front of the familiar fireplace, the two began tending to him, trying to keep his frozen body warm.

"Arya, I'm going to get some more blankets from my room. I don't want to disturb Inutaishou-sama, but I think he'll understand. Can you tend to Sesshoumaru for a few minutes?" Achika looked over to the girl who was dabbing at her friend's bloodied mouth. Arya nodded.

"Yes milady." With this confirmed, Achika made her way to her room, brushing past the maids, then opening the door to her bedchamber.

"Inutaishou-sama, I'm dreadfully sorry to disrupt your rest but Sesshoumaru—" Achika didn't get to finish this thought, for what she saw before her took the words out of her mouth. The sight completely shattered the world she knew. For lo and behold there was her husband and he was most certainly sleeping...with another woman. A woman with black hair. A human woman with black hair. Inutaishou looked up suddenly pulling away from this woman's embrace, his amber eyes holding too many emotions. The woman was surprised as well. But no one's feelings could be compared to that of Achika's. She was caught too off guard to say anything.

To be the father of any of your children would be my greatest wish...

Achika, you need nothing to shield you. I will always be here to protect you.

I'll be waiting up for you.

Can you trust me, Achika? Put a little faith in me?

Yes, Achika. I love you.

I trust you, Inutaishou-sama. I know you will never leave me.

Oh, but how wrong she had been. How very wrong.

"Inutaishou...sama?"

I hoped in my despair,

To find relief somewhere,

But joy will never be there...