{A/N} Sorry I took so long, but here's the new chapter! I'm working on the next right now, so I should get it up sooner than I got up this one. Thank you for your patience!

{Disclaimer} I don't own InuYasha. I can dream, though!

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Chapter Two

Decisions, Decisions

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Sesshoumaru dropped his companion's arms as soon as they had sense enough to run on their own. With all three running on their own steam, they picked up their speed and made for their hideout. The trio halted their head-long rush only after they had scrabbled up the ancient oak and were laid across the treehouse floor, panting. Once InuYasha had caught what he considered enough breath, he spoke.

"Hey...Sess...shou...nii-chan," the little boy panted. "I...thought...you said...everyone was... in the dining hall?"

"Well...odviously...not," huffed Sesshoumaru.

"Isn't...that... 'obviously'?" panted the little girl.

Sesshoumaru sucked in a deep breath, "Shut up, Yuki."

InuYasha wrinkled his nose. "You aren't suppos'd ta swear, Sesshou-nii-chan. Mahito-sama said so," he informed his big brother.

"Shut up ain't a swear, dummy," Sesshoumaru countered, sitting up and taking a halfhearted swipe at the hanyou.

"'S so."

"'S not."

"'S so."

"'S not."

"'S so!"

"'S not!"

"'S so!"

"'S not!"

"'S so!"

"'S not!"

"'S so!"

"'S not!"

"'S so times infinity!"

"'S not times infinity times infinity!"

"'S so times infinity times -"

"Y'know, they looked sorta familiar," Yuki mused, interrupting the brothers' debate. Sesshoumaru blinked and sat down cross-legged, cupping his chin in his fingers - his "thinking pose." InuYasha frowned down at his brother before plopping back down on the floor.

"Not all of em, just the two youkai with swords," Yuki elaborated, finally getting up into asitting position. The brothers had abandoned their previous positions during their debate, and now sat rather close together in the center of the floor. Yuki scooted over to join them.

"Yeah," Sesshoumaru mused, "they did. What I don't get is how they were familiar - I've never seen them."

"Un," InuYasha agreed. "I've never seen em, neither, but they were familiar, still."

"Tis a mystery!" Yuki chirped, jumping to her feet. "Let's go solve it!!!"

Sesshoumaru pulled on her grey robes as she moved for the door, "Later, Yuki!! D'ya wanna get in trouble?!"

Yuki fell back onto her backside, pouting.

"So what should we do, Sesshou-nii-chan?" InuYasha asked, looking to him for guidance. Sesshoumaru looked back and shrugged.

"Not a lot we can do, if we wanna avoid getting in too much trouble. We'll have'ta wait it out," responded the young youkai.

InuYasha nodded and got up, "I'll take first watch."

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"What... was that?" Shippou asked shakily. He got slowly to his feet and began moving over to Kagome. The continued to stare after the three children in disbelief before giving her head a hard shake.

"I have no idea," she responded.

"It appears to have been InuYasha and Sesshoumaru as children," Miroku told the kit.

"But... how?" Sango wondered, turning to look at the two mollified half brothers. "They're right here, and are definitely adults."

InuYasha shook the surprise off, enough to turn to the youkai lord. Sesshoumaru continued to look where the three had disappeared, a vague look of surprise taking the place of his usual poker face. Slowly, Sesshoumaru faced the hanyou and returned the look.

"We have more company," the inu youkai murmured. His poker face was back in place. InuYasha nodded slightly and moved into a position to better protect Kagome and the little kitsune now safely in her arms, turning back to where the chibi had made their entrance.

They waited. About five minutes later, the humans found out what they were waiting for. A small group entered the field, all in light armor and looking pretty irritated. They were looking down, as though searching for something, but after a moment, the troop had noticed the intruders and were on guard.

"You! What are you doing here?" commanded the first. "These are Taishou-sama's private lands!"

InuYasha started slightly, and confusion clouded his face. Before he could say anything, Sesshoumaru spoke, "Gomen nasai, I was here to visit."

The youkai in armor relaxed slightly, "And these others?"

Sesshoumaru was quiet for a moment, then answered - again, before InuYasha could say anything.

"My servants," he offered, a small smirk on his face.

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{A/N} Well, there you go! I'll get the next bit up ASAP, promise.

Jaye - You really think so? Thank you very much!

Crazar - Thank you! I'm sorry for making you wait.

insanechildfanfic - Thank you!

waterdragonmaster - I'm glad you think so!!! It means a lot, thank you!

rose19 - I'm very sorry for making you wait, I'll try to get chapters up sooner in future.

Deathofthelight - Thank you very much! I'm sorry about the wait.