{A/N} Hey! I got this chapter out a lot faster than the last couple, ne? That's probably 'cause I already knew what I wanted in it. Oh, and I was looking forward to writing InuYasha's reaction to the end of the last chapter. He's so much fun!!

{Disclaimer} I own a lot of InuYasha stuff, just not InuYasha himself. Dammit.

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Chapter Three

In Which InuYasha Gets Pissed Off

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"Servants?" InuYasha growled. "SERVANTS?!"

Kagome winced as the hanyou's voice rose and moved to put a calming hand on his arm. "InuYasha, please, we can't get into trouble here. Calm down."

"Hontou, InuYasha, she's right," Miroku added. "As much as I hate to admit it, we'll have to play along."

The monk shot a glare at Sesshoumaru, who was currently sitting comfortably against silken pillows. The youkai was watching the irate hanyou rampage, a faintly amused look on his face.

"I am NOT pretending to be a servant! Especially not that asshole's!" InuYasha countered."

"Please! Just until we know what's going on," Sango pleaded. It galled her as well, but it had to be done. That much was plain.

The guards had escorted the youkai lord and his "followers" back to the taiyoukai's estate – which currently seemed to be in mayhem. After a quick (though vague) explanation for the pandemonium, InuYasha and the rest were guided to a waiting room of sorts while Sesshoumaru held a brief audience with KatsuYasha-daishou. No one in the group knew what Sesshoumaru came up with, but as a result the youkai was given lavish quarters with an adjoining suite for his "servants."

So now they were welcomed guests, in a way. But the youkai who had escorted the group to their lodgings had made one thing clear, to them more than Sesshoumaru: It wouldn't do to displease anyone here.

"Sango's right, you know. We're pretty obviously at a disadvantage here," Shippou added.

"And we only have to pretend when there are others around, okay?" Kagome told him. "We may be able to figure out what's going on better like this, anyway."

"Mm. Servants usually know nearly everything that goes on in a castle like this," Sango agreed. InuYasha growled a final time, then backed down.

"Fine," he spat. "But I'm not having anymore to do with him then I absolutely have to."

"It's a temporary truce, then. You can keep Tetsusaiga as long as we are trapped here," Sesshoumaru intoned.

"Where ever here is," Kagome put in.

"I'm gonna keep Tetsusaiga no matter where we are!" InuYasha informed the youkai, one hand on the sword's hilt. Sesshoumaru simply raised an eyebrow.

"We'll see."

"Anyway, we accept the truce," Miroku broke in, halting the brewing fight. "You be civil to us, and we'll be civil to you – or at least, Kagome-sama, Sango, Shippou, and I will be civil, and also hold InuYasha's temper in check."

"Hey! I ain't that bad!"

"Also, we should also work together to figure out what's going on – you talking to the nobles, and us talking to the servants," Miroku continued, ignoring InuYasha's indignant out burst. "That way, we'll have two perspectives to compare."

Sesshoumaru considered Miroku for a moment, then nodded slightly, "Well, InuYasha, at least I know why you associate yourself with Ningen now. They do all your thinking for you."

InuYasha growled and lunged for the youkai, only to be stopped by his friends holding him back. Sesshoumaru turned and walked into his sleeping quarters.

"GET OVER HERE YOU -"

"InuYasha!"

"Stop, InuYasha!"

"The truce! The truce!!"

"Don't, InuYasha!"

"LET GO OF ME!!!"

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"Sesshou-kun? D'ya think it's safe to go back yet?" Yuki asked. She poked the little youkai on the head when he didn't answer. "Sesshou-kun!"

She poked him again. Still no answer. Yuki huffed and pulled a dandelion out of her haori. Reaching over to his face, she ticked the weed underneath his nose. The nose wiggled, wrinkled, then did both at the same time.

"Ah...AH...AH-CHOOO!!!!" Sesshoumaru rubbed his nose furiously, then snatched the dandelion. Crumpling in his hands the best he could, his claws began to glow poisonously. Throwing what was left of the cursed thing out a nearby window, the youkai turned and glared at the girl. Yuki simply grinned back.

"Well?"

" Can't cha see I'm busy?" Sesshoumaru snapped, gesturing to the papers in his lap. "Go bother 'Yasha."

"He's lookout, 'nember? 'Sides, You've read that one."

"And?"

"And answer my question. S'it safe?"

"Iie. Go away."

"Sesshou-kuuunnn!!!"

Sesshoumaru stick his tongue out. Yuki puffed out her cheeks and pouted, "Mou! I'm bored!"

"Then go replace 'Yasha on lookout duty. He's been out there a while 'neways," Sesshoumaru settled back into his favorite cushion and returned to drawing. Yuki huffed and trotted out the door.

The "treehouse," as it were, was hidden high in the trunk of an old cedar tree, and the foliage helped to hide the camouflaged entrance. It had taken nearly a year to dig out the hole so it was big enough to suit, but it was well worth it. The place was nearly impossible to find unless you already knew where it was; thus, a good place to avoid getting in trouble.

InuYasha had taken up residence on one of the higher, more veiled branches, and was busy watching for any possible trouble heading their way – or at least, that was what he was supposed to be busy doing. Instead, the hanyou was busy taking a nap.

Yuki climbed up beside the pup and tilted her head, considering. Nodding resolutely to herself, the ice youkai moved up a couple more branches and pulled out a couple acorns. Coating them with a thick a layer of frost, she leaned over the hanyou and took careful aim.

"YAAHHH!!!!" InuYasha scrambled to move as five frozen nuts dropped into his haori. Yuki laughed as her friend tried frantically to get them out and slipped off his branch. The hanyou fell rather ungracefully into a bough a few feet down, and glared up at his giggling tormentor. "Yuki! That's cold!"

"G...gomen, Inu-kun, but it was just so easy! You didn't notice at all!!" Yuki laughed. InuYasha frowned.

"I'll get you, ya'know!" he warned her. Yuki nodded happily, and slipped off her branch as well, landing beside the pup.

"Yosh!"

InuYasha stuck his tongue out at her. Yuki grinned and tugged gently on his hair.

"Play with me?" she requested earnestly. "Sesshou-kun is bein' boring 'gain."

"'Tay," the hanyou agreed, tugging back on her locks as well. "S'it safe ta go back yet?"

"Nuh-uh, I asked."

"Oh," InuYasha shrugged. "C'mon!"

InuYasha rolled out off the bough to one of the lowest branches, and Yuki followed suit. The two bounded through the forest, sticking to the trees and staying out of sight as best they could.

{A/N} I hope you liked it! And I'd like to thank the people that reveiwed. I appreciate it!

closet geek - I'm glad you think it's cute. Oh, and Yuki is the girl - that may be clearer in this chapter. Did I post quick enough?

Shiva - No, I don't suppose it did go over too well, did it? Thank you very much, I'm glad you like my writing!