Disclaimer: And no, I still have not magically become Rumiko Takahashi.

"All the juicy secrets," Tensaiga cackled.

"Which part of not reading them was difficult for you? Or was it the putting them back part you had trouble with?"

"Command words confuse me."

"I've noticed."

"So I'll start."

"I figured," Tetsaiga sighed.

"Here I go!"

"…get on with it."

"Getting on!"

"…apparently not."

"I'm working up the motivation," Tensaiga defended himself.

"Whatever. I'm leaving."

"Nooooooo! Don't leave meeeeee! I promise I'll start!"

"I want you to give them back," Tetsaiga snapped.

"If you leave I'll kill you."

"Violent much?"

"Wanna try me?"

"Not really."

"Then I suggest you stay put."

Chapter 1: A Mistake to Never Know

I wasn't one for wandering around aimlessly. It served no purpose and I was no foolish human, eager to waste my time. But I also understood that to stay in Western Castle day in and day out would appear weak.

I was not weak.

And seeing things was also something below a demon of my stature. Thus, after seeing what appeared to be a figure of a young mortal girl directing an army of mutant marshmallows in an attempt to capture and kill a green toad like demon, I felt it best that I get away from the castle.

It was less fun than I had previously thought to watch paint chip off the walls.

Mortals became bored.

Petty humans with small attention spans needed to occupy themselves with such things.

I did not get bored.

But I did get…restless.

It had been two years since I'd had a real fight with any worthy opponent.

Inside the castle I had forgotten there were so many trees.

An entire forest of them.

Some of those would have to be cut down later.

I didn't like the sun, either. But somehow I thought my chances of getting rid of that as well would be somewhat slimmer.

Damn distance issues.

There was no one else around. Not even a stray demon or rabid beast. And yes, I was talking about two different things.

Still, it was better. Less enclosed, less groveling servants deeply wanting to cater to my each and every whim, a happy little smile planted on ever last face as behind my back half of them plotted murder.

I was not my father.

I was not a disgrace.

A great deal of the so called servants had problems accepting that.

Perhaps two years had been too long to go without seeing the sun.

I didn't remember it hurting my eyes as much before.

Not that with all the trees in the way, there was much sun to see.

But this fresh air. It was vastly superior to the age old, dust infected, possible air-borne poison carrying air inside.

What had I been doing all this time?

Suddenly, out here, it seemed less apparent why I had stayed away from here so long.

It wasn't fear.

I wasn't afraid of anything.

But I was curious, now. What had I been thinking?

That tree there looked as tree like as the rest of those surrounding it. It seemed a fair place to stop and contemplate things for a moment.

Then Tensaiga shook.

And then before I could begin to wonder what that could mean, a ball of red flung itself at me.

A curious occurrence in this uninhabited forest.

"Get off me, wretch," I commanded.

Unexpected or not, this was my forest and I, Sesshomaru, commanded respect.

Especially in what was mine.

The ball whimpered.

I frowned. Who did it think it was to disobey me?

"Get off," I repeated, more firmly this time.

It clung to my leg tighter.

A familiar wetness seeped through the cloth.

Even better. The ball was bleeding all over me.

"Which part of get off was difficult for you to comprehend?" I snapped irritably.

Then I noticed something.

"Ah. You're a half breed, are you? That explains things…"

An amazingly clingy half breed.

It was disgusting.

And it was still whimpering.

"There you are," a horrible rasping voice called from in the tree.

Even as far as demons went, it looked stupid. And hungry.

Apparently the forest was somewhat less empty than it had seemed.

"Get out of here," I warned it.

Surprisingly, it didn't listen.

And then the half breed looked up.

Some days were best when over.

Rather liked some demons.

At least it died quickly.

"Would you stop whimpering? You're not that badly injured."

My half brother seemed incapable of coherently voicing a thought. But completely capable of jumping onto my arm.

He planned on moving up in life, did he?

I hissed quietly.

How had such a weak demon managed to wound me at all?

With a sigh, I put my other arm around the half breed, forcing him to look up at me.

"What is it you want?" he couldn't have just happened to come here. Not by accident.

A pause, then-

"Home."

Authors Notes: Thank you all so much for the reviews! I'm sorry the chapter is so short and that it's posted on Saturday (really early Saturday…oh I miss sleeping…), but this week has been kind of crazy and I'm off to Anime Boston today, so I'm sorry, it couldn't be helped. Thing should get longer and more on schedule again in a couple weeks when school gets out. But to tide me over 'til then, might I say how much you all deeply want to review. Really. You do.