It had been late in the summer when Sesshoumaru had come home with a young, dirty, tear stained Inuyasha at his heels. Tsukiko had looked at him with a distant expression. She had turned away, waved a servant forward, and ordered him to help clean up the small boy.

When later she called him to her, he sat in front of her, tears threatening to rain as he fisted his hands in his lap, gaze on the floor before him. Tsukiko had merely watched him a second before she spoke to Sesshoumaru who sat beside her. "So, Sesshoumaru, why have you brought me Inuyasha in such a state?"

Sesshoumaru shrugged. "His mother has died."

Tsukiko's eyes had widened, barely, and she turned back to Inuyasha who was now fighting back sobs and losing. She had stared at him a moment before turning back to Sesshoumaru. "Go get a room ready."

Sesshoumaru had stared at his mother. He hadn't been sure of her reaction hut he hadn't seriously expected her to take the hanyou so easily. She had sat there waiting before glaring and clearing her throat loudly before he got at went to do as told. That had left her alone with the weeping Inuyasha. She turned back to him and watched as his little form shook. She lifted her hand, claws clicking together, and moved to place it on his head before stopping short. She looked down at the inconsolable little thing and another little boy replaced him.

"...Ofukuro...ofukuro!"

"-hic-hahaue...-hic-"

She sighed and pulled him up into her lap. Tsukiko heard him gasp as she lifted him up and walked out into the courtyard. She raised her hand and pointed to the stars. "Inuyasha, did your mother ever tell you about the stars?"

"...nuh uh." he whispered and stared up into the inky dark.

---------------

Tsukiko ran her claws through Inuyasha's hair-she had done it with both Sayuri and Sesshoumaru, and it had almost felt as if one of them were young again but she never forgot that was Inuyasha in her lap. His dog ears prevented throughly.

When Sayuri had seen she had gone on and on about how cute they were but when both her and her mother shared a look they knew he was branded most visibly for life. Inuyasha had missed the look entirely and had played distractedly with her hands before jumping up and playing with his nephews and nieces in the yard. Sayuri had bitten her lip and shook her head. "He'll have to wear something to hide them."

"He hates things covering them-says it muffles the sounds to much." Tsukiko said lightly, looking at her not son as he played with her grandchildren.

Inuyasha was twelve when he insisted on leaving-the only one that really treated him right was Tsukiko and Sayuri and neither could be there for him all the time. No, Tsukiko had agreed that there was far too much danger for him to live there much longer. On sticky, sweaty summer night, Tsukiko peered out her window to see him scale a wall and then he was gone. Like a thief in the night.

"Forgive me, Izayoi-sama, but I could not protect him." she whispered as if to appease the ghost at the door.