A/N

Thanks to all the fans who reviewed my authors notes. I really appreciate what you all said. Your words made me so happy that I decided to type up this chapter! Just for you all! I'm sorry for being so harsh but that's just how I am. Thanks for sticking with me and this story. Just to let you know, if my muse is working properly, there will be one more chapter, an epilogue. Sorry peoples but I want to finish this story before school starts and I head to camp. I always get the best ideas when I'm not near a computer and I hate writing stuff down and then transferring it to the computer, it cramps my hands. Anyway, thanks and I hope you enjoy!

Ja Ne

Wounded

"Mother?"

Karappo turned away from the large picture window. She looked behind her to see Yumiko. She was 16 now. She looked just like her mother. She had knee length dark grey hair and her split bangs went down to her waist. She had beautiful dark gold eyes. She had very pale skin and an hour glass figure. She was almost as tall as her mother. She had a long panther tail that had a little puff ball of fur on the end of it and it was also a dark grey. She wore a navy blue kimono with a purple obi. Her marking stood out against her pale skin, one dark blue crescent moon upon her forehead and one black strip on each side of her face. The strips on her arms had become a shade of crimson instead of red. Overall, she was beautiful.

"Yes Yumiko, what is it?"

"They are at it again."

"Those two!"

Karappo stomped out of the library and down the hall. Yumiko followed her mother, a smirk on her face.

"Where are they?"

"Dining room."

"What's it about this time?"

"Cookies."

"Have they destroyed anything?"

"Not when I was in there."

"And your father just remodeled that room."

"I know mom, I know."

Karappo burst through the doors that lead to the dining room. She stood, her hands clenched into fists. Before her and Yumiko lay a battle field. There was broken furniture everywhere. There were pieces of food and pottery everywhere. Torn curtains and broken windows. And in the center of the room, there was a smoke cloud with two little demons fighting inside of it. Karappo walked over to the cloud and reached in. after a moment, she pulled out two 12 year old boys. She held them by the scruffs of their necks.

"What do you think you two were doing?"

"Fighting?"

"No! You were destroying the dining room over cookies!"

"But he ate the last one!"

"No I didn't!"

"Yeah you did!"

"No I didn't!"

"Be quiet!"

"Ok mom."

"Yes mother."

"You two are in so much trouble."

Karappo set the two boys down on the floor.

"Taisho."

The first boy looked to her. He was the mirror image of his father. He was tall and lean. He had the same hair but his was a shade darker. He had a dark blue crescent moon upon his forehead and one red strip on each side of his face. He had cold and calculating gold eyes, but she could see through them. He wore a blue harori and hakamas. His long tail hung behind him. It was like a shelties tail but all white. He stood before her without fear of punishment.

"You go to your room and think about what happened. Do you understand?'

"Yes I do mother."

"Good. Now Toshio."

The boy that stood before her was a hair shorter than his brother. He had spiky bangs like Inuyasha. He kept his long white hair in a ponytail. He had thick, black eyebrows and bright gold eyes. He had a dark blue crescent moon under his bangs and one red strip on each side of his face. He was very muscular for his age and had an arrogance that couldn't be topped. Unlike his brother, he had a bushy tail. He wore a red harori with white designs on it and a pair of red and white hakamas.

"You are going to clean this room up. You are going to make it spotless. Fix every broken thing or replace it. I want this place looking normal before your father gets home."

"Why doesn't Taisho help me clean?"

"You picked the fight, you are the reason the room is destroyed. I think you can clean it yourself. And if it isn't clean when your father gets back, your punishment will be much worse. Do you understand?"

"Yeah mom."

"Now get to work."

Karappo, Yumiko and Taisho left the dining room and Toshio to work. When Taisho turned to go to his room, Karappo grabbed his shoulder and told him to follow her and Yumiko. He merely nodded and followed them. The three traveled down the halls in silence. The occasional cough could be heard but that was it. They walked until they reached the library. Karappo opened the door and they walked in. she went back to the window while Yumiko grabbed a scroll and Taisho stood in the center of the room, confusion written on his face.

"Why did you bring me here mother?"

"I wanted to talk to you."

"About what?"

"About you and your brother."

"What is there to talk about? He's nothing but a big idiot."

"That's what I want to talk about. Yumiko, show him the scroll."

"Yes mother."

Yumiko handed Taisho the scroll she had picked up and told him to unroll it. He gazed at a miniature painting. It was of his father when he was a teen. Standing behind him was his grandfather and a human woman. Standing next to his father was a small boy with dog ears. He looked at the scroll before looking to his mother. She was staring out the window, like she did everyday. She always looked like she was waiting for something or someone to come over the hillside. He knew it wasn't his father. Even when his father was home, she would stare out the window.

"Why did you show me this mother? Why is this scroll so important?"

"That was your father when he was your age. Your grandfather is also in that painting."

"I know but who are the other two people?"

"The human was a princess that your grandfather fell in love with after your fathers' mother died. The boy was your uncle. Your fathers' half brother."

"Why do I need to know this?"

"Does the hanyou look familiar?"

"He looks like Toshio."

"And you look like your father."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Everything!"

"What do you mean?"

"Your father and uncle fought for centuries over nothing. They tried to kill each other every time they met! And in the end that caused the hanyou's death!"

"Father killed him?"

"No, your father couldn't kill his brother."

"Then why?"

"You and Toshio are acting just like them. I fear for Toshio and your safety. Do everything in your power to stop him from fighting you."

"But I can't."

"Yes you can, you are stronger than him. Yumiko, Shippo, Kitsuneko, Your father and I will help you."

"Alright mother. I will try."

"That is my boy."

"Just one more question mother."

"Yes Taisho?"

"If father didn't kill the hanyou, who did?"

"I did Taisho. I killed him."

"Why?"

"I'll tell you when you are older. Now you can go to your room."

"Alright mother."

Taisho set the scroll down on the table and left. Yumiko looked to her mother. She was staring out the window. Her mother confused her. She was so quiet yet her presence scared the fiercest demon. Yumiko feared her mother when she was young because she scared her at night. She blended in with the dark but her skin stood out. Yumiko used to think her mother was a ghost at night but now she knows better. But nothing she could ever learn about her mother would make her understand her. Karappo was a complicated demon. Yumiko wondered what her father saw in her. Why he loved her but she would never ask.

"Mother?"

"Yes Yumiko."

"What are you looking for?"

"A purpose."

"A purpose for what?"

"For me."

"You have a purpose mother. You have us, father, me and the twins!"

"I know but you don't know what I've been through Yumiko. No one does, not even your father."

"But father should know!"

"He knows some but not all."

"Well he should know it all mother! He's your mate!"

"I will tell him when I am ready!"

"All right mother."

"You may go now."

"Yes mother."

Yumiko left the library and walked down the halls. She walked, not knowing where she was going. Thoughts about what her mother had said filled her mind. She wondered why her mother hadn't told her father everything yet. Now she had more questions about her mother but like usual she would never ask them. Yumiko continued walking until she ran into someone. She looked up to see Kitsuneko, Rin and Shippo's hanyou daughter. She was a little shorter than Yumiko. She had waist length black hair with orange streaks. She had fox ears upon her head. They were black with orange tips. She had turquoise eyes and tan skin. She wore a green kimono and obi. She had a big smile upon her face.

"Hey Yumiko! I've been looking for you!"

"Hey Kitsuneko!"

"Where have you been?"

"With my mom. What about you? I haven't seen you in a while."

"I was with my dad, he was teaching me how to do fox tricks."

"That's cool. Where is Shippo anyway? I want to talk to him."

"Dad is in the open field, he's practicing his fox fire."

"Thanks."

"I'm coming with you!"

Both girls ran through the halls of the palace, racing one another. They went down every hallway and went through every room. Then they reached the doors that lead to the fields. Yumiko got outside first and ran to the hill. Kitsuneko followed close behind. Yumiko ducked to the ground when she reached the top of the hill. A blue flame blast was hurling in her direction. Once she stood again, she looked behind her to see Kitsuneko with her ears on fire. She was patting them to put them out. Then, Yumiko heard a deep but warm voice.

"Sorry Yumiko, Kitsuneko. I didn't see you guys."

"It's alright Uncle Shippo."

"What are you two doing out here?"

"I came to ask you something."

"Alright Yumiko, ask away."

"What was mom like when you first met her?"

"I don't know if I can answer that Yumiko. I think that's something you should ask her yourself."

"I did but she yelled at me."

"Then I can't tell you."

"Why?"

"If she didn't tell you then she doesn't want you to know."

"But it's been bugging me!"

"If that's the case, then I will tell you one thing."

"What?"

"When I met Kagome, she was a happy girl. She had no worries and laughed everyday. Her smile was warm and so were her hugs. Her voice was high pitched and sounded full of life. Back then, she was full of life. I sure do miss that Kagome."

"What happened to her?"

"You late Uncle Inuyasha is what happened. He broke her heart and she hasn't been the same since."

"That's all I wanted to know, thanks Uncle Shippo."

"You're welcome Yumiko. But don't tell your mother I told you that ok."

"Ok."

"Now you had better get inside Yumiko, I believe that SesshoMaru is back."

"Yeah! Father is home!"

Yumiko ran back into the palace. She soon found herself running behind Toshio. She smirked as she grabbed him by his bushy tail and pulled him to the floor. She then jumped over him and ran away. Toshio growled and was about to get up when Taisho jumped over him. He growled again and ran after his brother. Soon they all reached the library. They stood by the door and waited to be talked to. Their mother was looking out the picture window, as usual. Their father was sitting behind the desk he had in that room. He looked up to see them and told them to sit. Yumiko sat in the leather chair while Taisho and Toshio sat on the couch.

"Hello children, I trust you have been good for your mother."

"Yes father I have been good."

"That's wonderful Yumiko."

"I have been good as well father."

"Excellent Taisho."

"I have been good too father."

"I doubt that Toshio."

"He did pick a fight with Taisho this morning. It was over who ate the last cookie."

"I figured as much. Now the reason I have you all here is so I can tell you who my heir is."

All three teens sat on the edge of their seats as their father got up from his desk and stood by their mother. He had her glance at the name he had written on the papers. She smiled and nodded in approval of his choice. He then leaned against the front of his desk and looked over the papers again. After a moment, he cleared his throat and spoke.

"My heir is Taisho."

"What! Why?"

"Taisho is the more responsible of the two of you Toshio. I can trust him with anything, unlike you."

"Thank you father, I will take very good care of the lands when it is my turn."

"I know you will son that is why I chose you. But in the event that something happens to you before or while you are lord, Yumiko will take your place."

"Thank you father!"

"You're welcome Yumiko."

"What do I get?"

"Toshio, you get a small forest on the northern boarder."

"A forest! That's all?"

"Yes and I will be surprised if you manage to keep it alive."

"You all may go now, me and your mother need to talk."

All three stood and walked out of the library single file. SesshoMaru sat in his chair and stared at the pile of papers before him. He sighed as he looked to Karappo. She was staring out the window again. He wished she would talk to him and tell him what's wrong but she never said a word. He stood and walked over to her. He wrapped her in a warm embrace. She returned it. He nuzzled his mating mark and sighed. Her scent had changed. He couldn't place it but the scent was familiar. He looked into her eyes to find a distant glaze over them.

"What are you looking at?"

"Nothing."

"What are you looking for?"

"Nothing."

"What are you doing?"

"Waiting."

"Waiting for what?"

"I don't know SesshoMaru, I really don't know. My family I guess. It'll be another 300 years until I can see them since the well stopped working."

"You miss them don't you?"

"Yes I do."

"Well, you have a family here to make you happy until you can see them again."

"I know."

"Then why do you ignore us?"

"I don't know."

"When you do know, tell me. I sense there is a lot you haven't told me."

"Yes there is."

"Why?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know anything anymore do you?"

"No, I don't. But maybe someday I will."