Narrowing her gaze, Kagome tilted her head to the side. Lips pinched. Her eyes squinted smaller as she tried to figure out what was making the weird sound she kept hearing off and on all morning.

There was something so familiar about it. She stepped toward the sound.

And suddenly, like it had many times throughout the morning, it stopped.

"Huh." Weird.

Swinging a basket full of herbs, she didn't bother to dwell on it as she stopped at one of the larger homes in the village.

"Hey, Lady Kagome!" Rin waved with a grin, toddler on her hip. "You just missed Sesshomaru-sama!"

"How is he doing? I haven't seen him since little Toru was born."

The baby giggled, trying to grab the finger that waggled in his direction.

"We don't talk much, My Lord just leaves gifts for Toru, talks to him a bit, and leaves. I'm kind of jealous of my own baby, he doesn't bring me anything anymore." Rin faked a pout.

Kagome laughed, "Well, grandchildren do steal all the thunder." Trading Rin the basket of herbs for Toru, she nuzzled his cheek and cooed at him. "Who wouldn't dote on you!?" Her words muffled as she spoke against his soft cheek. He squirmed and laughed.

"If you care to say hello, Sesshomaru-sama comes once a month, if you focus on noticing the auras in the village, you won't miss him." Her eyes lit up, "His is like a beacon."

"Still hero worshiping, my dear?" Kohaku walked up with a bundle over his shoulder and a big grin on his face. A grin brought on by the love they shared.

Rin gasped, "Kohaku! You're home!"

Herbs dropped to the ground as her arms caught her husband.

"Darling," His hand, cursed from watching his sister and brother-in-law during formative years, moved to her ass. "I brought you a surprise."

She laughed as he squeezed, "Kohaku," and playfully slapped his hand away, "I didn't need a surprise, I needed YOU!"

One long kiss and Kohaku called to Kagome, "You wouldn't mind watching Toru tonight, would you Kagome?"

"Not at all!" Kagome grinned. Rubbing noses with the baby, "Looks like it's just you and me tonight little guy."

Toru grabbed a handful of her hair and babbled. A red string fell from his other hand.

"What do you have there Toru?" Kagome grabbed his little wrist and pried her thumb under the baby's death grip. "Come on, let's see what you have..."

Brows rose. More red strings.

"Not again! Toru!" Rin cried. Dislodging herself from her husband's arms, she grabbed up red strings off the ground and sighed, "He'll be coming back for these, I guess alone time will have to wait."

Kagome shook her head, "You two spend time together, I can give these back to whomever."

"They're Sesshomaru's, they hold up part of his armor. Toru is always taking them, I'm surprised Sesshomaru didn't check to make sure they were still there." Rin looked apologetically at Kohaku, "He'll probably come here. The last thing I want is for my adoptive father hearing us..." Her entire body cringed. Face a light shade of green.

"Why don't you two go to an inn or something, get away and go relax. I don't mind staying here and waiting for him." Kagome readjusted Toru on her hip as he gummed on his fist.

"Are you sure, Kagome?" Rin asked, still looking grim. "He's been teething, maybe it's a bad idea."

"Kagome can take care of our little guy, don't worry. She watched our nieces and nephew all the time when they were his age." Kohaku grabbed her hand. "Try not to worry."

Rin glanced from her husband to the baby and back again, "I suppose we could. He has been happy most of the day."

"Exactly!" He grinned, "I passed by a new inn not too far away. They were advertising pork dumplings. Let's go there!"

"What, you'd rather eat pork dumplings than..." Rin blushed, eyes a little wide as she glanced over at Kagome. "Fine, alright eat whatever you want. As long as we are together that's all I care about."

Kohaku laughed, nuzzling her hair, "Don't worry, my love, I'll leave room for dessert."

Another shade of red darkened Rin's cheeks.

"Thanks for doing this, Kagome." She petted Toru's cheek and held out her other hand where he couldn't see it. "You be good, Toru."

Kagome took the red strings. "No problem at all. In fact if you want to stay a few days, feel free. Toru will be just fine."

Things had been just fine, that is until the sun had gone down.

Toru wailed. He flailed his arms and legs on the floor of the hut.

"Toru, you're okay, everything is okay," Kagome bent down to pick him up and he bucked and screamed louder. Her ears rang.

The back of his head hit her jaw and his kicks smacked against her chest. Chubby hands grabbed fistfulls of her hair.

She didn't remember Sango's children ever being so violent. Toru had never been so before either.

"Toru, honey, shhh you're okay. Everything is okay." As much as she tried to soothe him, still he wailed. Her nerves frayed. On edge as she tried and failed to soothe him.

She opened her mouth to sing and his head went back again, knocking her in the teeth so hard she thought they might break.

His cries grew shrill. She checked his head, not even a red mark marred his little skull. The back of her neck ached from the force of the blow.

Her jaw felt bruised. Muscles ached.

Suddenly the door to the hut opened and large clawed hands plucked the cranky baby from her arms.

"No!" Kagome gasped, unwilling to let go until realization took hold and she caught sight of the demon in the room..

"Allow me." Sesshomaru spoke softly. His amber gaze locked on the baby.

Toru froze mid-flail. His big brown eyes on his Grandfather. He traded pulling dark brown hair for silver. Noses brushed as Sesshomaru dipped low, nuzzling.

His hand rubbed soothing circles over Toru's back as he held him against his chest and shoulder. A deep sound hummed from Sesshomaru's lips in a song she found oddly familiar and soothing.

Toru's little body relaxed. His legs calmed. Red cheek pressed against Sesshomaru's shoulder. He gave a little whimper and Sesshomaru's hum turned into a different sound.

A sound she'd only ever heard from a much different species.

With wide dark circle lined eyes, Kagome leaned closer to the demon Lord and whispered in awe, "You're purring!" Her open mouth turned into a grin, "You're that sound I keep hearing!"

Amber eyes narrowed in the least intimidating glare she'd ever seen.

Toru shifted, a soft sleepy babble escaped him.