Sesshomaru was beginning to notice a lot of things with Kenji. One, he was always helpful. Almost overly so. For the most part Sesshomaru wasn't annoyed. There were times this came in handy. It showed Kenji was willing to adapt to his new pack.

Two, he wasn't afraid to voice his opinion or touching. Mind, he never went further than a one armed hug, but the first time he had done that came to a surprise to everyone. Kenji probably expected his eyes to be clawed out.

When given no boundaries on the matter Kenji continued. And from that he opened up. Soon the silent days was filled by Kenji constantly talking. Either telling stories or starting conversations. He gently asked how they all wound up together.

Kohaku explained what he knew.

"Sesshomaru was heavily wounded from a fight against Inuyasha. The Tenseiga saved his life and the sheath brought him to safety. Rin found him and stayed by his side as he healed."

"And the young girl left a lasting impression." Kenji concluded, earning a nod. "What about you then?"

"I'm a demon slayer raised by a family of them. One day, we were all slaughtered. Naraku revived me using a shard of the Shikon Jewel. He controlled me through it to use me against my sister Sango. She's the demon slayer traveling with Inuyasha."

"That girl with the cat?" Kenji guessed. "I see the resemblance now."

"That's my sister. One day I woke up and tried to escape after being under Naraku's control. I don't know how that happened. Maybe he let me go out of boredom. I wandered around until I found Rin and Jaken alone."

"Alone? I can't imagine a warm welcome from Sesshomaru when he returned." Kenji glanced at their leader.

"Actually, he let me be. At one point though he did try to kill me. But then he didn't. And I've been following him since." Kohaku shrugged.

"You mean he wanted to kill you, almost did, but then stopped. Why?" Kenji was confused.

"I don't know. He's never made that clear." The young boy stared at Sesshomaru.

"What about Jaken then?"

"He's always been around. Though I always wondered why." Kohaku couldn't recall how many times he found the imp annoying.

They both glanced at Jaken. He was currently talking with Rin. They were currently talking about flowers. Well actually Rin was saying which flowers she should pick to place in Sesshomaru's hair while Jaken was arguing no flower will ever be placed in said hair.

"Kenji, would you like some flowers in your hair?" Rin noticed he was listening.

He blinked. Honestly he couldn't say no to that.

"Sure. You can even braid my hair if you want." Kenji offered. He usually had it in a high ponytail, but it had come undone during his getaway from Akane. Now he was growing irritated at the loose strands.

"Careful. She won't leave your hair alone for a long time from now." Sesshomaru commented.

"I don't mind. I had a little sister who used to play with my hair." Kenji flinched at his own words that slipped through by accident.

"What was she like?" Rin was ever curious.

"You don't just ask someone about something personal girl!" Jaken reprimanded.

"No, it's fine. She was maybe around Kohaku's age. She was the only sister, and of course the youngest. Mother got sickly after having me, hence the huge gap between us. And when she was born, mother passed. Father distanced himself from all of us, so it was us two brothers raising her."

Everyone was listening in quietly.

"She loved playing with our hair. Oftentimes she braided our hair together so we were stuck until she deemed otherwise. Sometimes she left us stuck for hours." Kenji actually smiled as he remembered those times.

"What happened?" Kohaku inquired softly.

"There was a storm. Our castle was too close to the mountainside. The rain had poured for almost two days when the lightning began. We heard the rumbles of the landslide. My brother and I tried to pull her with us. She ran away saying she will get father. Asahi grabbed me before I could chase her."

"She still loved him even though you and your brother raised her." Rin observed.

"Yeah. When we dug the bodies out for the funerals, we found them together. They were hugging tightly. Everything changed after that. Asahi stopped smiling. He focused more on his lordly duties. When I got too out of hand due to boredom and bitterness he placed me in the guard. She had been the glue that held us together I guess."

"Hmph. I see why my inner demon was unimpressed. It sounds like he grew bitter and cold." Sesshomaru commented.

"After a few years of making it to captain, I tried to reconnect to him. But it was too late. And I guess I reflected his behavior. Now that I'm free of him, of home, my men gone, I don't know if I even want to go back." Kenji admitted.

"...If Inuyasha and I can connect despite the fact I actually tried to kill him several times over, you and your brother have the same chance. I suggest start with a punch in the face to knock some sense into him."

"That might actually get me killed you know that right?" Kenji raised an eyebrow.

"It's what brothers do. We knock some sense into each other to keep the other in line. Sometimes it requires physical action. Just recently I punched Inuyasha in the jaw for calling me a coward and insulting my inheritance of the Tenseiga." Sesshomaru wondered why he was even bothering to explain anything.

"Is that why you came back so angry?" Kenji had a sly smirk. "But I get the feeling he said those things to make you come to your senses. You weren't exactly yourself for a while. Not that I would be able to judge, but I knew something was off. I was too scared you would cut me in pieces if I tried to pry anything out of you."

"I probably would have blinded you with my Poison Claw." Sesshomaru admitted.

"This is why I stayed out of it. But does this mean I can say anything in the future? I'll take the poisoning, I just don't want to be sent straight into Hell."

"So long as you don't push your luck too much." He wasn't making any promises.

Kenji smiled at the sense he felt he found his place in this new and strange pack. And that evening Rin had complete freedom with his hair. She even took the time to comb it out. In the end he had his hair up how he used to have it, but this time in a braid.

And of course he noticed Sesshomaru staring. Once again it peaked his interest. Kenji knew when he was being admired. Being the captain of a royal guard and younger brother of the lord of the castle, many would take notice of him. It helped he was handsome, despite some of the scars on his body.

Kenji didn't have a preference with either male or female. Hell, he's had a few human lovers just out of plain curiosity. Of course he had to learn to be extra gentle with them. But it was a learning experience that stuck when he continued his spiral of accepting a new lover.

"You know, I'm used to being chased. Not the one giving chase." Kenji snickered as he approached Sesshomaru after the others were asleep.

"In other words you just went from one to the other without care." Sesshomaru stated flatly. This earned a nervous laugh.

"I can't deny that." Kenji should have known that would be noticed.

"Why didn't you settle down?"

"Well, no one caught interest of my inner demon. But when someone showed interest in me I let them into my bed. I know, horrible way of being taken advantage of. And a possible assassin, but that's part of the fun." At least it made things interesting.

Not to mention it was the only means for him to actually hold a conversation with Asahi that wasn't business. Of course it was all to scold him for being so openly available for anyone that had interest. Kenji didn't care if it meant that they actually got to talk.

"And now?" Sesshomaru glanced over his shoulder.

"Oh I'm definitely interested. My inner demon more so. But that side of me recognizes you've already been claimed. That idiot is just too caught up to realize yet that he's got you at the palm of his hand."

"And you hesitate knowing his temper."

"That, and I will never hear the end of it from my brother. Stealing his betrothed from him before returning home? Yeah, might as well prepare my funeral." Kenji at least made light of the matter.

"That would definitely earn an execution." Sesshomaru snorted.

"What about you then? I can guess your inner demon wasn't impressed with my brother and I can understand why." Kenji tilted his head.

"...The first I met Inuyasha, I was in my first heat. I had been wandering when I found myself too close to a human settlement when my heat cycle started. He happened to be living there at the time."

"So he followed his nose to you. How old was he?"

"Maybe around eight. I could have ended him then and there. He was tiny and helpless. But of course, I was in heat. It wasn't long before he knew we were brothers, so he stayed by my side even though he had no idea what was happening or the dangers of staying beside an unmarked omega in heat."

"That would have gotten him killed if you were found." Kenji blinked.

Any children around an unmarked omega in their time of heat always lead to tragedies. It didn't matter if the child wasn't the omega's or not. Instincts of alphas tell them to kill any and all children. And usually the alpha was too driven to claim to come to their senses until after the deed is done.

"His body reacted to my heat. Not sexually, but as in enveloping my scent with his own."

"And that gave the cue that you were claimed so you two were left alone." Kenji was amazed. "I've never heard of that. Children don't react in such a way."

"He didn't realize it was happening either. I suppose that left an impression on my inner demon. Since then no one has surpassed Inuyasha in that regard."

"What about you then?" Kenji wondered.

Sesshomaru didn't answer.

"It's fine. I'm leaving it up to you on what you want." Kenji turned to leave.

He didn't get far when he heard Sesshomaru's voice.

"What was her name?"

"Who?" Kenji half turned, confused.

"Your sister. What was her name?"

Oh. Kenji had almost forgotten he told that story.

"Chiyo. Her name was Chiyo."

A moment of silence.

"Does it ever get easier?" Sesshomaru asked.

"If I ever figure that out, you'll be the first to know."

Silence filled the air. The winds picked up. Kenji glanced at the sky. He hoped there wouldn't be a storm coming. They were currently traversing the mountains. And summer rains can be quite violent. In fact it was years ago the summer rain had torn his family apart.

With that thought in mind Kenji returned to watch over the pack. He left Sesshomaru alone with his thoughts. They both had their own grieving to think about.