Author's Note: Sigh. . .can't think of much to say except thanks for reading(!), and all suggestions and reviews are much appreciated!

Disclaimer: you all know the drill, I don't own Inuyasha...

Daylight was slipping away on the horizon in the western lands, and all the activity in the castle was calming down. Sesshoumaru made his way to his father's chambers as he had been asked, and found himself standing outside the door in silence. He had the answers he came for, and now he wasn't sure if the wanted to have any sort of discussion about it.

"Sesshoumaru, come in." his father's voice said from the other side of the thin paper door. He should have known that his father would detect his presence if he stood there long enough.

Sesshoumaru did as he was told, and once inside with the door shut, he merely stood and stared at his father. Inutaisho had his back to him, but even though he couldn't see his face, Sesshoumaru could tell he was carrying a heavy burden. He had seen him troubled before, but now he seemed as if almost all hope had left him.

"Are you angry with me, son?" he asked, the fatigue clearly showing in his voice.

Sesshoumaru stood quietly for a moment. "I am not angry with you father." he answered finally. "Although I am sorely perplexed as to why you have taken the chance of throwing away everything you have worked for and built from your greatness on a mere human woman." he said. "Never in my life have I seen you put your strength and estate second to anything else." "And now, for a simple human girl, you have come to the brink of losing everything you have earned." he told him. "Of course you must know, I cannot understand it in the least." he finished with emphasis, his voice hard and cold as steel.

"I am sorry, Sesshoumaru, if I was not the father I should have been." Inutaisho began, turning to face his son. "I spent many years fighting wars, gaining conquest, and increasing my strength, and during all that time the only thing I managed to teach you was the principles of warfare and noble etiquette." "By the time I tried to teach you the things that were truly important, it was already too late, and even then I placed them in the context of battle or ruling as nobility." "They were grave mistakes indeed." he continued. "If I had taught you when you were a child to follow what you felt to be right in your own heart, perhaps you would not stand here before me as a torn and confused young man." "And the worst of it all is that you cannot even see it in yourself." he finished.

Sesshoumaru was astonished at his father's outpouring. He had expected this conversation to be reminiscent of their previous one, but this time he was markedly more uncomfortable. His father was right about one thing, he did not see that he was confused at all, rather he felt he had a clear cut plan of the things he wanted in life. When he had control of everything around him and he knew all things were in correct order according to his will, he would have nothing to worry about, and certainly not some grave mistake over a lowly human.

"Father, my power will one day be as great as yours, and greater when I manage to accomplish it." Sesshoumaru said. "On that day, my power will be absolute and there will be no question of my rule, nothing will be able to harm me, and I will be satisfied." he told him.

"Those are still your wishes?" Inutaisho asked, but it was a rhetorical question. He did not expect an answer. His head swam, and he truly didn't know how to help his son find the peace he lacked in his present state of mind.

For him the answer had been Izayoi; never had he seen such an unbridled sense of love. And not only for him, but for her family, friends, and life in general. Perhaps it was the nature of humans with their fleeting lives that allowed them to express their feelings in such an unguarded way. He had found it in the last place he would have expected it, but he knew that such an answer would be nothing short of insane to his son where he stood now. He knew now for certain that Sesshoumaru would indeed have to endure many battles within himself before he found any real fulfilment, and his heart ached for him.

He knew the next thing he would tell him would be the most difficult for him to hear, but he owed it to his son now to be completely forthcoming, no matter the consequence. "Sesshoumaru, she is going to have a child." "I do not even know if she has realized it, but I have sensed it." he said after a moment. "You will be a brother before next winter is over." he told him. He looked up at Sesshoumaru, and the look in his eyes made him sick with grief.

Though he made no outburst of any kind, Sesshoumaru's eyes belied his true feelings. They were filled with rage, almost a kind of betrayal. Inutaisho knew from his eyes that Sesshoumaru felt he had abandoned him in some way, though he would never admit it, and for a creature he felt was totally inferior. He closed his eyes in pain at the sight of him. Suddenly Sesshoumaru spoke, his words cut from ice and venom.

"A half-breed father?" he seethed. "You have sullied our great and noble blood with that of a baseborn, half-witted breed of creature?" "You must know it will have no place in either world, demon or human." "Your disgrace would have been bad enough just from your association with a human in this way, and now it is sealed with the creation of this child." "It will be your downfall, you have made yourself easy prey for your enemies with the blatant display of this human as a weakness." he finished, his voice shaking with anger.

"I do not expect you to understand." Inutaisho replied in a low voice. He didn't know what else to say to his son. The damage had already been done. "I must find Ryuukossei soon, and dispose of him quickly." he said. "When her family finds out about this child, she will be in great danger, and I must rid myself of this threat before then." he said, not sure if Sesshoumaru was even listening, or if he even cared anymore. His hopes for the future were beginning to fade; he was running out of time. Yet he knew it was of his own doing, but he felt then that if he must give his life for that which had finally made it complete, he would do so gladly. His only regret was his son's bitterness. "I will leave in the morning, and go on the hunt for Ryuukossei." he continued. "I will send Myouga to observe things in the east for me." he said, looking down at the map on his desk.

Inutaisho looked up, surprised that Sesshoumaru still stood there. He didn't speak, but he seemed to have calmed down a little. He turned to leave his father's room, but stopped and turned back for a moment. "You should have done away with Ryuukossei long ago." he said. "He will not be the last of your enemies seeking your blood now." he told him. He stood for a moment longer staring at his father, and then turned and left in silence. Inutaisho didn't call after him, he knew there was nothing left to say now.

Izayoi sat alone in the garden that night, surprised that it was still warm after darkness had fallen. It had been warm for the last few days; spring must be coming early. She felt she would be unable to sleep anyway, she was worried about Inutaisho and what would happen to them. She had faith that he would return as he said he would, but she knew little of what went on in a society of demons. She was certain now that she was going to have a child, and it made her frantic for his return. If he did not return and her father found out, she wasn't sure what kind of punishment she would have to endure.

"My lady Izayoi, won't you come in and retire for the night?" her maid asked from the doorway of her chambers. "You will become ill sitting out in the night air, especially since you are already feeling unwell." the old woman chided. "It will not do for you to become ill so soon before your wedding." she followed up, even though it was still a few months away. Izayoi felt like sobbing at the thought of it. She hadn't wished to hurt Takemaru, she knew how he felt about her, but she had never felt more for him than a respected friendship.

She lay in bed wide awake, and wondered what her child might look like. If it had been under better circumstances, she would have been ecstatic at the thought of having Inutaisho's child. A thought suddenly entered her mind. Inutaisho had told her that he had been married once before, and that he had a grown son. She hadn't been very surprised, but they had spoken little of the subject during their time together. She wondered what his son was like, and if he was as kind and noble as his father. She wondered if her child would be accepted by him, and what kind of big brother he might be. She closed her eyes tight and prayed for Inutaisho's swift return.

At first light the next morning, Inutaisho set out to find Ryuukossei, his rival of so many years. His son was right, he should have done away with him years ago. His spies had told him that they had found him nowhere in the west, so he headed to the north as a precaution. He knew the regions the old dragon frequented, and he thought that he may have gone north in search of him. He reached inside his armor and laid his hand on the large black jewel he carried with him. He had to stop somewhere else in the north as well, in case the worst happened and he never got the change again.