Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters.

Chapter Fifty-Six: A substitute for Goro.

As they had previously established, the following morning, Katsuro met Sesshomaru in his office to discuss the several options they had. The dai-youkai couldn't waste so much time because he wanted to find a solution to Goro's problem as soon as possible. Thus, he left Rin very early even though he would have gladly stayed with her more.

He couldn't even fathom how he had thought to let him be a part of the council for more time. Sure, Rin's miscarriage had probably sped up his schedule and it was one of the reasons why he had decided to remove him immediately. However, Sesshomaru was sure that, somehow, Goro would have found some other way to irk him or his brother.

Taking into consideration that his father had been dead for 200 years, the dog demon thought he had tolerated Goro's complaints long enough. Even if they had shared the same beliefs at some point – a very low point for Sesshomaru, he had to admit – the cat demon had always grated on his nerves.

He had just taken a seat behind his desk when Jaken announced Katsuro's presence.

The First Commander bowed and then placed himself in the same chair he had occupied the day before. "Sesshomaru-sama," he offered as a greeting.

"Katsuro, do you have good news for me?" Sesshomaru asked him without hesitation.

"Yes, Sesshomaru-sama. Yesterday I spent the rest of my day observing my oldest Commanders and trying to understand which one could suit your case the best way possible." It hadn't been an easy task. Some he had discarded immediately, but others still represented a mystery; they had never given him or the West problems, but, also, they had never taken a side openly. It was true that he knew everyone in the western army, old or young, but when it came to loyalty, he could only be sure of those who had always shown it.

In the end, his gaze had fallen on a blond-haired demon, one of the oldest of the army to boot. Demons like him were a rarity because, at some point, many preferred to retire and serve in the army only under extreme necessity – see the last surprise attack. He was a kitsune with seven tails, a master of illusions and owner of an even more thunderous laugh than Hayato.

Kitsune in the western valley were not many; all of them, by blood or marriage, belonged to Shiguro's family, as well as this Commander. They loved to create mischief, taking advantage of the most clumsy and unaware victims, and only a few of them had a dark soul.

Shiguro, along with his immediate family, had never had problems with the late Inu-no-Taisho nor with his sons. Katsuro remembered well that he even loved to discuss intellectual matters with Kagome every time he could. Moreover, his mate, Etsuho, was Kimi's close friend. He could only hope that Haruki was part of that good branch of the family. He was almost sure of it because never once, during his years as First Commander, something had suggested to him that the older kitsune was in close contact with that foxes. That was already saying a lot, Katsuro had told himself.

Nonetheless, the dog demon had kept observing other demons to find the best candidate to offer to Sesshomaru. He had even made second choices, but he hoped it wouldn't come to that. He guessed Sesshomaru wouldn't take it well if Katsuro failed to present him with a suitable candidate the first time.

Yet he had come back to Haruki, in the end; he was sure the kitsune was the best choice. He only hoped that Sesshomaru could understand it as well.

However, before he could even think to speak with the fox demon about their plans, he needed the Inu-no-Taisho's permission.

"Speak," Sesshomaru encouraged him.

"Sesshomaru-sama, I have in mind the perfect candidate. He is one of the oldest in the army and has never given problems. I am talking about Commander Haruki." He didn't need to tell him who he was or his sphere of influence. Sesshomaru knew everyone in this valley.

The dai-youkai's eyes sparkled for a moment, then he took on a contemplative expression. "Hmm... A fox in the council, huh? Are we sure we would be able to maintain a serious demeanour between him and Hayato being a fox in hawk's clothing?"

Katsuro refrained from smiling. Since when has Sesshomaru been trying to make jokes? What has he been missing? "Ah, I'm sure Hayato-sama would appreciate a lot his presence in the council, surely opposed to the one offered by Goro-sama. However, the last decision is yours. I can only give you my piece of advice and the reason why I chose this candidate. Not to mention that Haruki is one of the few members who didn't abandon the army due to old age. It's saying a lot about his diligence and commitment. Concerning loyalty, I'm quite sure we won't have problems with him. He has never been in touch with Noboru or his associates."

"Very well, I'm satisfied with your report, Katsuro. I know very well who Haruki is, and, as you say, he has never given us problems, nor has he ever backed out." Sesshomaru nodded. The idea wasn't bad at all; he liked it. Sure, the fox was very exuberant, much like Hayato but he would gladly endure hours of not-so-funny jokes from a Hayato-Haruki coalition to get rid of Goro. Not to mention that, even though the hawk often crossed the line, he was one of the demons Sesshomaru trusted the most in the valley. If Haruki proved to be even just a little like him, it was a done deal.

The dai-youkai observed the First Commander, who was still waiting for dismissal. "Very well," he repeated, "Although you had limited time, you did well." Katsuro bowed his head as a sign of gratitude. "Inuyasha should arrive by this evening with his sons; the journey should last a little longer because of them. Knowing him and his family, he won't have time for anyone else. We will set a meeting first thing tomorrow morning. You can inform the Commander, but… do not explain to him the reason why we are requesting his presence. I would hate for the news to get out before the time."

Katsuro nodded. "Naturally."

"Excellent, you can go, Katsuro. Until tomorrow."

While Sesshomaru had his meeting with Katsuro, Inuyasha was just waking up, surrounded by the strong and unmistakable scents of his children. A mixture of Kagome's sweet one and his own muskier. There, he recognized also the soap that Kagome made on her own and said it reminded her of the one her mother used for her and Sota when she was a child. She had accustomed the children to using a proper hygiene routine from a young age because of the horrors that, she said, she had seen in his era where many things were still unknown. And so the children, who now followed that ritual with closed eyes, had incorporated that fragrance into themselves, making it their own.

The pups were snuggled against his chest, Inuyasha held them close to him with his own arms, but the night before, they had still fought over his attentions. Now, one could clearly sense the calm aura surrounding all three of them. Inuyasha definitely couldn't have stayed away from them a second longer.

A sudden noise from outside snapped him out of his thoughts. He made to stand up, but what he hadn't predicted were his sons waking up and Toga going into a full panic mood at the idea of his father leaving for even just a second.

"No, no, daddy," he begged him while his thin arms clutched to his neck. Turning to Muteki, Inuyasha read in his eyes what he wasn't telling out loud.

"I'm not going anywhere, pups," he told them tenderly. He took the little one in his arms and the other by the hand and walked towards the entrance. He recognized the smell of Sango along with that of a nice hot soup.

Ah, the Gods may bless Sango. He hadn't thought about breakfast, and right now, he couldn't go hunting with two pups clutching to him.

Sango smiled sweetly as soon as he opened the door. After so many years, she was still moved by the sight of Inuyasha being so open with his feelings; a proud father and a half-demon entirely different from the one she had met back then. Maybe the pregnancy affected her so much.

"Good Morning, Inuyasha. I brought you something to eat. I thought that, without Kagome, you would have some problems hunting and cooking with those two rascals crowding you," she kidded. In her arms was a big bowl filled with what the half-demon recognized as miso soup and rice. He decided he would also prepare some tea; the pups always wanted tea in the morning.

"Sango, you're God-sent! Come in, I'll boil some water and prepare the tea. Why are you alone?" Hiroshi was soundless sleeping on her back, but the rest of her brood was absent. He put a reluctant Toga on his feet and filled the kettle.

"Miroku will arrive soon with the children and Kaede. I thought it was better to come a little earlier; I didn't want your pups to starve," she offered as an explanation. "After all, it's not like Shippo can offer you so much help in the kitchen."

"Hey!" the fox demon, that meanwhile had joined them and was now yawing, immediately protested. Inuyasha and Sango turned to him, giving him a meaningful look; Muteki and Toga looked at him too as to say: "Seriously?"

"Ok, ok, maybe I'm not so good, but you don't have to stress it," he harrumphed, crossing his arms.

Sango chuckled. "Don't worry. I brought you some too."

While Inuyasha took a seat in front of the fire pit with his youngest in his lap, Shippo and Muteki occupied his right and left respectively. Sango started to pass out the bowls as Miroku, Kaede, and the children reached them.

Breakfast followed the usual rituals, even if everyone missed Kagome: Inuyasha and Shippo bickered for the food – even if they had plenty. Miroku tried to caress his wife's curves when the children weren't looking. Toga left food trails everywhere and especially on his and his father's robes. Now that the twins were older and smarter, Mariko and Hisui tried to pull Shippo's tail or Inuyasha's ears. The latter made sure Toga ate at least half of the food in front of him as he stole a riceball from Shippo.

Half an hour later, they were fed, bathed, clothed and wide-awake – so to speak; after handling six children plus an infant, Miroku would have preferred to go back to bed. Inuyasha finally decided to approach the subject. "I understand last day a few things happened while Kagome and I were away."

He hadn't spoken to Miroku the night before, but the looks on his sons' faces and Shippo's still somehow singed tail were enough clues.

Miroku and Kaede immediately pricked up their ears; the former's eyes shifted from Toga to Shippo and back again. A grin graced his lips then he winked at the smallest of the demons in the room.

"Inuyasha, my friend," the monk began, "we've discovered something amazing!"

"That's not possible!" Inuyasha exclaimed after Miroku had finished recounting the previous day's events. Toga hadn't even started his real training. So far, he had just been meditating, trying to understand the difference between his spiritual side and the demonic side. How could have he done that?

He peered down at his son; the pup looked at him with concerned eyes as if he was afraid he was in trouble. But Inuyasha only worried about the situation; he knew Toga hadn't done anything wrong. It wasn't the first time the pup accidentally unleashed his power on someone, and they had been damn lucky both times. Shippo had dodged his attack on time, but Inuyasha believed that even if he hadn't, the amount of power wouldn't have been enough to purify him completely. Not that he wanted the proof. What of the next time? It was likely there would be another time. They had to intensify his training; so far, his had been different from Muteki's.

"Inuyasha…" a voice from his left said.

"What?" the half-demon snapped rudely at Kaede, but she ignored his tone; she recognized the worry filling his eyes.

"I do not know if you have ever noticed it before, but your wife is a powerful priestess," she continued. "Thus, your sons have inherited her powers in addition to yours."

Inuyasha glared at her. "There's no need to be ironic, old hag. I'm saying that's not possible the way it has happened. Muteki told us he was teaching one of my basic attacks. Sankon-Tessou is not a spiritual-based attack, he could have never used his spiritual powers – still untrained, may I add – instead of the demonic ones to launch one. That's… that's…" he couldn't find the words to describe how much the news was unsettling.

Not only had he freaked out when Shippo had told him that, to stop his brother from crying, Muteki had tried to teach him something he hadn't mastered himself – they could have hurt themselves badly, they could have maimed each other or worse –, but outcome was equally shocking.

He was going to kill that damn bouzu! He turned to Miroku and sent him a death glare. "And that's what you do when I entrust you with my children?!" he shouted, unable to contain his anger. "Do you even know what could have happened? They're children! They cannot let unsupervised doing something like that! I trust you, Miroku, I trust you to see to my children's safety when their mother or I cannot do it!"

"Hey! I am not the one who taught my son that!" Miroku tried to reason, but he knew it was a game lost from the outset. He couldn't blame Inuyasha if he was angry with him right now. Miroku had seen the worry in his eyes yesterday night and how a weight had been lifted from his shoulder the moment his children had hugged him welcome. Whatever was happening in the West was troubling him, and when he had come back to retrieve his children, he had found out that his best friend – the man with who he had entrusted his children – had been so careless.

"Dad, do not blame uncle Miroku. It was my idea," Muteki tried to defend the monk.

Inuyasha turned his eyes to him, his gaze softened, but the tenseness in his shoulder didn't decrease. "You're a kid, Muteki. It's your uncle's job to tell you what you're doing is wrong, not encourage you!"

"Inuyasha, I can understand why you're worried now, but I think we have more important problems at hand. I promise you that when you come back to the village, I'll let both you and Kagome do what you want to with him, but why don't we let Kaede tell us what she thinks is happening with Toga?" Sango tried to reason, ignoring his husband's protests.

"Keh," Inuyasha grunted, clutching to his son. He was still angry, but he would let the subject drop for now. He hadn't so much time and couldn't waste any. "Thank your Buddha you have a badass wife, Miroku," he told him before he sent another glare his way. Then he turned to his sons again and added, "I'm not angry at any of you. I'm only worried because you could have hurt yourselves. You must understand that you cannot do anything like this when I am not around, is that clear? Nor do I want you to use your spiritual powers when you're mother is not there to assist you." His tone was stern but held no anger. It wasn't the voice he used when they had done something wrong, but the one for warnings. They both recognized it and nodded.

"Well, now that this matter is settled, I think Miroku was right when he said that we've discovered something amazing, Inuyasha," Kaede started. "My hypothesis is, since Toga is still not able to discern perfectly between the two sources of his powers, he was able to convert a demonic base attack into a spiritual one. It's something he may have done impulsively and not really knowing how, but the important thing is that he had done it. We cannot say 'it's impossible' because so far there's never been one being with both powers, so we cannot tell for sure if or how an attack can be transformed."

Inuyasha nodded; it made sense. He had no spiritual powers, and he had learnt his basic attacks one way; he would have never fathomed another possibility. "But how we are sure he can do it again? It could have been a fluke, and since he is not perfectly aware of the difference between his two sides, he could use both indifferently."

"That's why we have to intensify his training. He has to learn how to differentiate and how to launch a different version of the same attack. Meanwhile, we discovered he can do it and, growing up, such an attack could be very useful to him. He could purify demons from a distance without the aid of arrows, for example," Kaede continued.

"Does this mean that both of them could achieve something like that? Muteki is further along in his training, being him older."

"I can't, Dad," the interested party answered. "I've already tried."

"And why not?"

"It seems that Toga's inexperience was the key to unlocking such an attack. Muteki is well aware of the difference between his spiritual and demonic powers; he has already begun to use them differently and the knowledge prevents him from transforming an attack he knows to be demonic in origin. It's not a matter of combining the two powers but switching them in this case," Miroku offered him as an explanation.

Inuyasha looked at them all wide-eyed. It was really a lot to take in. Sure, in the end, it was nothing to worry about – thankfully so – nonetheless, it was a substantial piece of information to receive at an already difficult time. He wondered how he should break the news to his mate.

On the other hand, he was glad that at least Toga had found something of his own, albeit he was still small. After all, his two children could have both powers, but they were different from each other, and he was sure that as they grew up, he and Kagome would understand even more how much.

He had always wondered why Muteki had that peculiar power while Toga had found none. They had tried not to burden him with its absence because they knew how sibling rivalry could matter even at an early age, nor had Muteki ever shown off his ability. However, now it was different. If they trained him more, despite the young age, he could have something to call his. It didn't matter if it had been discovered by sheer luck.

Inuyasha lowered his gaze to peer at Toga, lifted him and spun him around in his arms. "You're a wonder, pup," he finally told him, smiling widely. His son's joyful laughter followed his statement as, slowly, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. At least for now, a catastrophe had been avoided.

Inuyasha, Shippo and the kids left shortly after with Ah-Un. They bid everyone goodbye and promised to come back as soon as the situation west got better.

They tried to stop as little as possible, always out of respect for the children who got tired at some point and arrived at the castle just before supper time. The changing of the guard was still in progress when the two-headed demon descended in front of the eastern gates.

Inuyasha helped his sons climb down Ah-Un, took one in his arms and the other by the hand and nodded at the guards who had immediately bowed in their presence.

"Inuyasha-sama, welcome back."

"Hn," he only offered in a very Sesshomaru-like way. Without wasting a second, he headed to the royal wing with his children and Shippo in tow, avoiding the stares and the whispers of whoever was still around and pacing the corridors.

When they arrived in the common room, the children could no longer contain their excitement; even Inuyasha was affected by their growing emotion and giddy auras. He had left his mate just a day ago, but as always, the distance seemed to triple the minutes and seconds he was away from her.

No one was there, and judging by the scents lingering, no one had been for quite some time; he had expected at least Chie. Using his nose and turning right, he headed towards the private gardens where he could now listen to the quiet chattering of three women.

A smile stretched on his lips, seeing his beautiful mate in a better shape than the day before; he knew that it would be even better as soon as she noticed their pups there. Just because she'd been so focused on Rin and her problem, it didn't mean she wasn't thinking about the children left at home or that her heart didn't clench any less. She'd just tried to put the thought aside, knowing that they were safe in the village. Having them close, though, was definitely another thing.

The first one to notice them, on the other side of the small pond, thanks to her heightened senses, was Kimi. She turned to them, eyes gleaming – who would have thought seven years ago that the same demoness who had ignored him for so long could learn to love his children as her own grandchildren? – and, inevitably, she drew the other two's attention. Kagome and Rin immediately followed her lead, and when the former noticed too, she brought a hand to her lips to stop a gasp as tears welled up in her eyes.

At the same moment Kagome stood up to reach them, Inuyasha let go of his children so that they could meet their mother halfway. They were faster, and less than a minute later, they tackled her crying "Mom" and "Mommy", letting her hug them tightly and bathing them in kisses. She couldn't draw comfort from their scents in the same way her mate could do, but she nuzzled their cheeks anyway and buried her head in their hair; the pups reciprocated her gestures.

"My little men, how I missed you!" she cried, not letting them go. Inuyasha and Shippo joined shortly after, and only then, she loosed her grip on the pups and stood up again. Muteki and Toga remained next to her, hugging her thigh or her waist, even when their father approached and kissed her fiercely. For them, it was normal, and their parents had never hidden the light touches they exchanged all the time or the kisses that followed. Everyone else was now used to it even if the only one who knew the truth – that is how, in the beginning, even the slightest touch, the slightest display of affection could send them both into a panic – was Shippo who, by now, didn't even make fun of them anymore.

"Oh, my big man, I missed you too," she teased, returning the kiss and then turning to welcome Shippo too.

That evening, due to the strong emotions and the journey, it was easy to put the children to bed; they fell like dead right after filling their bellies.

Now alone in their bedroom, Inuyasha wasted no time telling her the latest news. He ignored her glares when it came time to tell her he had started teaching their eldest son his attacks and focused on the need to increase the spiritual training. To be honest, Kagome had already suspected Inuyasha and Muteki's secret, and she had done nothing to stop them. She realized it was an achievement that her husband had waited a good seven years before teaching the child certain things.

Meanwhile, Toga could be as excited as he wanted, but perhaps he hadn't quite understood that more training also meant more meditation. He still had to master that technique first and recognize the duality of his own nature before he could do anything else. It was their curse, as Shippo liked to joke in quieter moments.

Aside from her initial irritation at Inuyasha and anger at Miroku – her mate had assured her she could do whatever she wanted with the monk once they got back to the village – Kagome had been shocked as well. Mulling over it, she had agreed with Kaede: their kids were one of a kind, and as such, they were always full of surprise. Didn't they already know that, in fact, from the first moment? She asked him rhetorically.

"Can you imagine? Our children are so special," she said, leaning back into his embrace. "I can't bring myself to be worried or angry too much about the way we found out about it. Or better, I am angry at Miroku for the most. However, taking away the initial shock, I'm so glad Toga found out he is capable of doing something like this too. And heck, that's a great discovery! If he can master this attack, once he grows up it might be even more useful than yours. Then again, it's not like Muteki put us through any less when we discovered that ability of his. Remember how much he used to spook the strangers coming into the village?" She laughed about it now, but at the time, they hadn't really thought of it that way.

"Uh, yeah… about that," Inuyasha started, scratching the back of his neck. He still had to discuss Sesshomaru's suggestion with Kagome and Muteki, not that he really wanted to do it now.

"What?" she asked, raising her eyes to him.

"I have to speak about something with you and Muteki first thing tomorrow. Something Sesshomaru told me yesterday before I left."

"Can't you tell me now instead?" she huffed, her bottom lip sticking out. "You know how I hate when you do like that. I'm curious now, and I could stay awake the whole night just thinking about it."

"How about you stay awake for a whole different reason?" he smirked as his hands started travelling down her body and sneaked underneath her robes. "Do you think I might be able to distract you in some way?" he teased while his lips trailed down her neck and the collarbone.

"Hmm…" she pretended to think about it, "Maybe," she answered; she tilted her head to give him more access and helped him get rid of the clothes. As he undressed her, he bathed her now bare skin with kisses.

Soft but impetuous kisses, they spoke of the love he felt for her but also of the uncontrollable desire he had to make her his again. He knelt in front of her, and in a slow, sensual ritual, he kissed her leg from her ankle to her inner thigh. As he got closer to the centre of her pleasure, he grew bolder, leaving love bites and lapping at her skin. Once there, he stopped, teased her without really touching her and then went back, repeating the whole process with the other leg.

When he was face to face with her again, he captured her lips in another, more passionate kiss, and she was a writhing mass, panting; Inuyasha watched her breath come in little puffs from her half-open lips as they parted. He took advantage of that and immediately claimed her tongue with his as their bodies already sought each other, eagerly.

Inuyasha leaned his forehead against Kagome's, breathing heavily as her hands returned the favor: they slid over his chest, his abdomen, and finally to his manhood, eliciting more than a groan from him.

"Kagome," he murmured when he felt her hands grow bolder and more insistent. "Kagome," he moaned more than murmured, overcome with pleasure. "Kagome..." he whispered a third time when she brought their sexes closer together but without linking them, "don't tease me," he finally managed to say, gritting his teeth. He was dying to get inside her, feel her tighten around him and he couldn't take any more of that game.

She replied with a mischievous smile and kissed him on the neck, moving down and then up. "I thought you liked to play, my love. Don't you like it when I'm the one to touch-oh! Kagome gasped and squeezed her eyes shut as her lips went to form a small 'o'.

"I like it better when I'm the one holding the reins," she heard him whisper in her ear, his breath hot on her skin as the thrusts increased and heat built up in her belly; she felt chills run down her body, up her spine, her vision blurring and their moans filling the room. Inuyasha had stolen her control the moment he'd felt he wouldn't respond of himself if he stayed even a second longer outside of her. "You did a great job, koi, but now..." one of his hands suddenly caressed her breast and pinched her nipple, eliciting more gasps, "you'll get your reward," he concluded as he pulled back before sinking into her even more impetuously.

Kagome continued to cling to him throughout the night as he made her his again, as he showed her his undying love and reclaimed her body with his hands, his lips, his seed. Again and again… Inuyasha didn't want to stop.

Each time it was supposed to be the last, but they started all over again; they surrendered to each other's embrace. Kagome let him do with her body what he wanted, as he gave her yet another orgasm and muffled her screams with his lips.

The frenzy and the agitation given by that one day apart subsided as Inuyasha felt her in his arms, as his hands and lips claimed every inch of her skin.

He should have known it that first night when he became a prisoner of her moans and her alluring aroma; he should have known there was no escape for him. The physical distance between them, whether it was an hour, a day, or a week, made him feel empty and purposeless. Each time the only solution seemed to become one again.

She should have known it that day she let him claim her heart and, afterwards, her body; she should have known there was no way for her but to be his for the eternity and for him to be hers.

Only when their souls calmed down and the need they both had for each other subsided did they stop. Tired, sweaty, and winded, they collapsed on their futon, for once not caring about anything else than themselves.

A/N: A little more fluff than what I am used to writing but I think we needed it here. Since this is a very difficult and stressful time for Inu/kag, it would be natural for them to feel bad when separated from each other or their sons.

As for Toga's newfound ability: I've been thinking for a while about what I could give him and this one came out of the blue. I hope it didn't seem too simplistic but I like the idea.

Next, we will find out more about this new character I introduced in this chapter.