Chapter Eleven: On the Road Again

There was a feeling of normalcy around the group for the first time in over a month. Even with Sesshomaru sitting across from Inuyasha, the group was feeling revitalized. Everyone's moods were better and the night's sleep was peaceful. It was the morning that they planned on continuing their journey to find Naraku, and hopefully run across Kikyo in the process, so after they ate their breakfast, they packed up their gear and said goodbye to Kaede before they left the village to head west. Even Sesshomaru gave the old woman a farewell.

Their travels brought them to a single village sitting on the edge of a swamp sometime in the afternoon. The village was larger than expected when they noticed how few people were there. With the number of huts that they could see, they expected double the number of villagers, so something was up. Their suspicions were confirmed when a few distracted children noticed their approach and fled.

"Something isn't right here…" Kagome spoke up quietly, so only the group could hear her.

"Look." Sango pointed ahead, toward a few villagers showing themselves.

As they got closer, the villagers became defensive and afraid of them, only something Sesshomaru could easily ignore. Suddenly, a rock struck Inuyasha on the head and a few more were inbound.

"What the hell was that for?" Inuyasha shouted at the villagers.

"Give us back our women and children, demon!" one of them shouted and the rocks went flying.

As one went to strike Kagome, it was swiped out of the air by Sesshomaru. He let it fall from his hand and turned toward the villagers, who retreated from him. The moment he took a step toward them, the unphased expression left them quivering, but that did not stop the demon from approaching.

"Wait, Sesshomaru!" Kagome called out and stopped him.

Sesshomaru looked back over his shoulder, glaring at her. He normally wouldn't have stopped. The mark forced him to. Kagome realized that and looked at him regretfully and shook her head.

"Villagers, please." Kagome begged them, "If there is a demon taking your people away, we aren't it."

"Liars!" one of the villagers shouted and went to throw another rock at Kagome.

"Enough." Sesshomaru raised his voice with authority, keeping as calm as he could.

The villagers hesitated. Sesshomaru was staring them down, daring them to raise their arms and throw another rock. No one tried. Instead, an elderly man made his way through, using an old stick as a walking cane. He was a scrawny old thing with a beard that had grown down to his chest. The old man approached cautiously, keeping his distance from Sesshomaru.

"I'm sorry, travelers, but when people pass by this way, we must be vigilant." The old man politely explained, "It is not often that we get visitors, so with what has been happening here as of late, we're all on edge. The last few months, a demon has stolen our women and children in the night. We've not been able to catch sight of it, but people keep disappearing. We cannot be too careful."

"I see." Miroku stepped forward, taking his role as negotiator for the group; though, the overly-interested tone he expressed once women in distress became a possibility as too obvious, "So, the women and children of your village are just vanishing? Please, tell me everything about the women who have been taken. It is possible that my friends and I could help subdue this vile demon."

The villagers became excited. Eyes brightened and people began cheering, dropping the rocks and defensive demeanors they held. While this behavior over women was normal for the group, Sesshomaru was not aware of Miroku's womanizing ways, so the tone that the monk spoke with raised questions. Sesshomaru looked to Sango, who was obviously annoyed, to Miroku once more.

"Kagome." Sesshomaru called for her while staring at the monk.

"Um, yes, Sesshomaru?" Kagome responded.

"Is this monk not mated with the slayer?" Sesshomaru asked bluntly and turned to Kagome to get the answer, "Why does he emphasize the women over children in the strange manner he is? Are they both not important to humans like it has been said? I was informed that humans preferred single mates, not multiple, or is this a trait that humans share with some demons?"

Sango's face practically burned with red from blushing so intensely. Miroku froze in place. Shippo crossed his arms and shook his head, mentally shaming Miroku for this display. Inuyasha, however, was laughing so hard that a human may have peed their pants. He couldn't even stand and ended up on his back, holding his stomach and rolling around on the ground, practically unable to breathe.

"Why was my question amusing?" Sesshomaru glared at Inuyasha.

Sesshomaru was being laughed at again and he highly disliked that. His question was honest and he wanted answers, so for his younger brother to make a fool of him like this, punishment would have to be enacted. Since Kagome was just watching Sesshomaru and seemingly unable to answer the question, he turned his attention toward his younger brother and walked over to him. Inuyasha saw the shadow loom over him and instantly stopped laughing. He looked up to see Sesshomaru glaring at him.

"You obviously know the answer if you find the question that amusing. Speak." Sesshomaru demanded.

"Hmph." Inuyasha turned his head away like a child, "Like I'd tell you anything."

Sesshomaru became more irritated and went to reach for Inuyasha's collar.

"Sit." Kagome shouted.

Inuyasha was forced to the ground, pulling him and his collar out of Sesshomaru's reach, for the moment. The demon lord looked over to Kagome, who just smiled at him. He stood up straight.

"It's more complicated than that." Kagome said, hands behind her back, "Mind if we talk about it later?"

Sesshomaru nodded and negotiations with the villagers continued, but not without some more caution on the villager's side. Hearing what the group said about Miroku, they couldn't help but wonder if the monk's intentions were actually pure. They needed help nonetheless and this is what came to help them.

After explaining what had been happening to Miroku and Sango, who insisted on being at Miroku's side, the Headman offered the group their own room to rest in until night. The group settled down quietly for a while. Miroku was dealing with Sango's glares most of the time. Kagome and Shippo were drawing with colorful instruments that Sesshomaru had not seen before. Inuyasha didn't stay quiet.

"Agh. Why do we have to stop at every village that needs help?" Inuyasha asked and looked to Kagome, "Don't you think we have more important things to do? We can't save everyone!"

"I know that Inuyasha, and right now, there are likely villages in the north, east, and south being attacked." Kagome glared at him, "We're not saving them, are we? So, no, we can't save everyone, but we can save those that need it. If something is right in front of your face, you don't just turn away!"

"I get that, but your situation takes priority!" Inuyasha said.

Kagome fell silent for a moment, a little flattered by that comment, but that wasn't the point.

"That's sweet, Inuyasha." Kagome replied more calmly, "But this could be a lead to Naraku."

"I don't smell him and you don't sense the jewel, so I d-…" Inuyasha was interrupted by a crayon being thrown at his head. He looked down to Shippo and growled. "What was that for?"

"I can't sense the jewel right now, remember?" Kagome sadly reminded him.

Inuyasha felt guilty for forgetting something so important, but being reminded calmed him. Kagome gave Shippo a kiss on the cheek and then sat up from the floor, stopping her coloring for now.

"Since I can't sense them, we're going to have to look harder than ever." Kagome explained and sighed, realizing herself how annoying this was going to be, "We can't just pass villages by if demons are involved because who knows if they have a shard?"

"Right. Yeah, I get it." Inuyasha yielded and it went silent again.

"You two." Sesshomaru called out to Miroku and Sango, "I don't want Kagome to have to explain it to me. You do it yourselves. Are you two mated or not? Monk," he turned to Miroku specifically, "Your behavior today dishonored the slayer and from your previous interactions with me, I did not think you'd stoop so low as to put your life in danger like that."

"Put my life in danger? What are you talking about?" Miroku questioned, confused.

"Did you not sense the bloodlust?" Sesshomaru motioned toward Sango, "A woman betrayed is not to be taken lightly. If I learned anything from my own Mother, it is that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."

"You have a mother?" Inuyasha asked.

"… I did just spontaneously appear, Inuyasha. I was born. I have a mother." Sesshomaru said and then put a hand up when Inuyasha looked to ask another question, "So, explain, Monk. Do you honor her or not?"

"What? Well, I… This is so sudden." Miroku looked away sheepishly.

"It is not. You've ogled her since I arrived. Explain this if you're not mated." Sesshomaru demanded.

Miroku only became more and more flustered. He didn't dare look to Sango. He assumed battle axes were growing from her eyes with each demand for answers Sesshomaru tossed out.

"We're not mated, yet." Sango spoke up as the adult in their relationship. "It's more of an engagement, something to be. He just can't help himself when it comes to flirting with women. It pisses me off sometimes, but I also trust him not to betray me. If he does, I'll cut him in half and he knows it."

Kagome began giggling like crazy, squirming around like an excited child.

"It's so nice to hear you finally sat it out loud!" Kagome clapped her hands together, "I remember watching you two by the river… It was so cute! Of course, he still couldn't help himself then…"

"Y-You were watching?" Miroku asked, embarrassed.

"Yep. We saw it all." Shippo gave a sly grin, kicking his feet happily in the air.

"Yeah, I still thought he was faking it." Inuyasha added.

"Nope. He wasn't. We're engaged alright." Sango said with a big smile.

"It's anther reason that we have to defeat Naraku no matter what!" Kagome said with determination, "I am gonna be an aunt. It's going to be so awesome. Ah! And Shippo's gonna have cousins!"

"I am?" Shippo hopped to his feet excitedly.

As the two cheered, Sesshomaru was the first to catch a new scent in the village. It was a rotten smell that reeked of fish, mud, and dirty water. He coughed and shook his head.

"Disgusting." Sesshomaru disrupted the celebration.

"That was very rude, even for you." Kagome said, appalled by what she thought he meant.

"Not your cheering or their situation. It's here." Sesshomaru stood up and looked out of the small window, "I am not so impolite I'd insult someone's engagement, demon or human. The demon that just arrived in this village smells of foul swamp water. I'm sure Inuyasha will smell it soon."

"Mm…" Inuyasha nodded and covered his nose as he stood up, "Yeah, I just got it. Ugh."

Inuyasha opened the door to begin and both he and his brother rushed out of the house without a moment to spare. As far as they were concerned, the quicker it died, the quicker its stench would as well. Unfortunately, the humans of the group realized that they'd never find the women and children that had been taken if they just kill the demon without figuring things out first. Sango and Miroku stood up and were ready to go, but were confused when Kagome didn't even move.

"No reason for me to go. I can't do anything. Just be safe." Kagome waved them off.

Sango and Miroku exchange guilty looks, but they weren't going to argue. The two rushed off on Kilala, leaving Shippo and Kagome behind, and did their best to keep up with the silver haired duo.

"I'd rather keep coloring anyway." Shippo attempted to cheer Kagome up.

"I agree." Kagome agreed and laid down to continue coloring with her son, but her worry did not fade.

Besides a cheerful tune being hummed by Shippo, the room was quiet. Shippo showed off his drawing of him, Kagome, and the rest of their friends, even Sesshomaru. He was getting better every day and so was his sense of smell. Suddenly, the same smell struck Shippo that Sesshomaru described.

"Ew." Shippo put his hands over his nose.

"What's wrong?" Kagome asked.

"That demon stinks so bad." Shippo explained.

When Kagome's expression changed from concern to horror, Shippo realized what it meant. His sense of smell may be getting better as he got older, but he was not as good as Inuyasha. If he could smell the demon, then it must have been close. Kagome picked Shippo up and sprinted out of the door in order to get to the rest of her friends, but was suddenly knocked to the ground. Something thick and heavy slammed into her side before she had a chance to see it. Shippo fell from her arms and rolled away. She winced and looked up to Shippo, who was unconscious with a bump on his head.

"Shippo!" she yelled and stood up, but it collided with her back and pushed her to the floor.

"What do have we here?" a deep, menacing voice spoke up from behind her, "A priestess, maybe? I don't remember seeing you in the village before today. Came in with that new group, didn't you?"

"Get off of me." Kagome tried pushing back against him, but he wouldn't budge.

Kagome turned to look over her shoulder. The creature standing on her was a humanoid alligator or crocodile. She didn't know the difference. It was just ugly, scaly, and really did smell horrible. What Kagome did know about him though, was that he had a jewel shard in his chest. She couldn't sense it, but she could see the small glint of pink that shined off it when it was struck just right by the moonlight.

"I'll be taking the fox." He said and dark mucky water reached over Kagome and coiled around Shippo like a snake, "Don't worry, I'll come back for you too, but just not yet. I'll let you suffer a while."

"N-NO." Kagome screamed, eyes wide with this strange and terrifying expression of hatred as she fought desperately against the demon's strength, "DO NOT TOUCH HIM. PUT HIM DOWN NOW."

The demon laughed, amused by her reaction, and lifted his foot from her back. She raised herself from the floor only to be kicked in the ribs and sent rolling away. She ignored the pain and got to her feet as quickly as she could. She charged ran at Shippo, who was being held in a murky water bubble. As she got near Shippo, the demon swung his tail around and struck her even harder. She flew into the nearby wall, breaking the wooden fence and flying farther through, landing softly into someone's arms.

"Sh-Shippo!" Kagome hurried back through the fence as the demon laughed and walked over a small hill toward the swamp. She didn't even pay any mind to the one standing behind her. She struggled, but Kagome did not stop moving until an arm wrapped over her shoulder and kept her still. "NO, PLEASE. DON'T TAKE HIM. GIVE HIM BACK. GIVE ME BACK MY SON."

"You'll seem him again, if you behave." The demon said when he caught sight of the demon holding her, "Good evening, Lord Sesshomaru. I'm sorry to leave so soon, but I must be going."

Kagome froze and was forced to watch the demon vanish into the swamp with Shippo. She stood stunned, breathing heavily. Her eyes didn't leave that spot by the swamp that they vanished from until Inuyasha showed up and Kilala landed with Miroku and Sango on her back.

"Kagome, are you okay?" Sango hopped off Kilala and walked over, "Sorry, but the ones we were fighting suddenly fled. Sesshomaru realized there was another back here an-...:

"I couldn't do anything." Kagome said and chuckled hysterically from the immense anger she felt, "I couldn't do anything. He took my son and I couldn't DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT."

"We made a mistake." Miroku sighed and got off Kilala as well, "We did not think about what the demons were after. Mother's and children. We left his targets alone, unguarded. This is on all of us."

"You knew him." Kagome said and turned around to Sesshomaru, who just now let her go, "Or at least he knew you. What did you do? Is this another one of those demons you sent at me? Why didn't you save him? WHY DIDN'T YOU SAVE SHIPPO? YOU COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING!"

"You are correct." Sesshomaru nodded.

Kagome's eyes widened again and she raise a hand to slap him, but he caught her wrist without a problem. She pulled away, but he refused to let her go.

"Let her go, Sesshomaru." Inuyasha warned, but stopped when Miroku put a hand on his shoulder.

"Let him speak." Miroku suggested, "Sesshomaru has a reason. I hope so, at least."

"You are correct. I do know that demon." Sesshomaru explained, looking directly in Kagome's eyes, "I also know that he's merely a soldier working for a more powerful demon, who I also know. I will help you get your son back. It may be as simple as a brief conversation or as complicated as a war. I do not know, but I do know that he does not kill his victims immediately. He holds them for a time. I also know that until he has you, he definitely will not harm the pup. Understood?"

"Wh-Why?" Kagome teared up and her knees buckled, "Why didn't you just grab him?"

Sesshomaru sighed and shook his head. Since she was just hanging there by her wrist, he gently lowered her to the ground and let her sit there. Sometimes, humans and their tears were beyond infuriating.

"If that demon died, Shippo still would have been taken by the spell." Sesshomaru continued explaining and then growled, "I have not had to explain myself this much in my entire lifetime."

"That's what happens when you're on a team." Sango said, crossing her arms, "Sure, when you're by yourself, able to do whatever you want without anyone judging you, life is easy. You don't have to make sure someone understand why you did what you did. It's all about you, but it's not anymore, Sesshomaru. It's about all of us. It's about understanding, friendship, and respect."

"I have never needed such a thing." Sesshomaru scoffed.

"That's a lie." Kagome spat the words, her head lowered, "What do you think all of this has been since your stubborn pride started all of this? Do you know why we're not overly pissed off at you for what you've done? Because we understand that it wasn't entirely your fault. How about me allowing you to come to my world and meet my family? Yeah, I didn't think it'd work, but I wouldn't have said yes to you trying to come if I hadn't accepted you as part of this group and decided to be a friend. Want more? How about not stabbing you in your sleep?" Kagome looked up to him, eyes puffy and red. She stood up and wiped the tears, glaring angrily at him as she continued on talking. "Or stopping Inuyasha from killing you because that would have been the easy way to deal with all of this? If you were some random demon, then it would have been a no-brainer. We wouldn't have second guessed just killing you, but we did. Why? Because it's you. Because even if we didn't like you, we do have some semblance of respect for your prideful, stubborn, arrogant, SELFISH, EGOTISTICAL, EMOTIONLESS DEMON ASS."

"Kagome…" Sango took a step back and hid behind Miroku. Inuyasha copied.

"Who do I hide behind?" Miroku jokingly asked them.

"I hate it when she yells like that." Inuyasha said, trembling in fear.

"What made you like this?" Kagome asked.

"Like what?" Sesshomaru asked, not liking the implication something was wrong with him.

"Like this," she motioned to all of him, "So angry, hating humans, hating your own brother, thinking that you're better than everyone, acting like you can't trust anyone! You just let a demon take the most precious thing in my life away from me and stopped me from trying to get him back. If Rin was here and I stood back and did nothing. Would you feel anything? Would… Would you even worry about her?"

"Are you done?" Sesshomaru asked.

Silence. Kagome stared at Sesshomaru and he stared back.

"Yeah, I'm done." Kagome nodded, defeated and looked back to the swamp.

"Once someone is inside that orb of water, they're taken back to his lair whether the soldier leading the attack is dead or alive." Sesshomaru explained, "The only thing I could have done was cut through the orb and I'm sure I'd get a lot more anger and likely a beheading if I hurt the pup."

"So, there really was nothing you could do?" Kagome asked and closed her eyes.

"He's gone." Inuyasha said.

Kagome turned around to see Sesshomaru had vanished. She just threw her arms in the air and shook her head. She couldn't believe this. He just left? What were they supposed to do now?

"Fucking bastard." Kagome spat angrily and punched the broken fence.

The punch she threw sent her fist through the wood. It wasn't the strongest of wood, but it was still wood, so Kagome's hand quickly bruised because of it. She winced and screamed at the top of her lungs, the echo going for miles and waking a few villagers at the same time. Sango hurried to her side and pulled Kagome in her arms. There was a moment that Kagome struggled, the anger she felt at herself and Sesshomaru controlling her, but she calmed down when Sango refused to let go.

"It's okay. We'll get him back." Sango comforted Kagome.

"We have to…" Kagome begged and went weak. She and Sango fell to their knees together.

.

.

Sesshomaru was off to release some of the anger that had built up over the last few days. What way to do it better than to annihilate the demon who caused his most recent problem? He knew where the demon who took Shippo was residing, so it was time to pay a visit. The soldier that saw him at the village has likely already informed the demon of Sesshomaru's presence. It wasn't long before he was at his front gate in the middle of this disgusting swamp forest. The trees were thick and the water was muddy and would be hard to maneuver through for any human, which made it a good place to hide.

"YOMIAKI." Sesshomaru shouted angrily over the gates.

There were a few guards at the entrance, but not many. This castle was not a fancy one, built with old swamp wood and quickly thrown together. When the guards did not immediately open the gate, Sesshomaru punched the thing down and made his own entrance. Guards surrounded him, pointing their spears and swords at him. The ruckus caught the attention of many more and they were all ready to do their jobs as Yomiaki's guards, but a bellow from inside the castle calmed them.

"LORD SESSHOMARU!" An Alligator/Crocodile demon walked out in armor and stood about twice Sesshomaru's height. He laughed and welcomed the demon lord into his castle.

"Listen to me carefully, Yomiaki. I have found myself in a predicament that I cannot explain and so your recent activities in that vile swamp village must cease now." Sesshomaru demanded.

"We had a deal." Yomiaki replied.

"The deal ended the moment your soldiers kidnapped a demon child." Sesshomaru shouted.

"What?" Yomiaki looked around and they all shrugged and seemed to not know what Sesshomaru was talking about, "They know not to attack demons within your land, my lord."

"I watched this happen, so unless the pup is returned, I will have to deal with this in a different manner, Yomiaki." Sesshomaru threatened and the demons raised their spears higher.

"I do not appreciate you backing out of our deal, Sesshomaru." Yomiaki dropped the 'lord' of his name quickly and turned back to his castle.

"You dare turn your back on me?" Sesshomaru growled, his eyes flashing red.

"You turned your back on our deal!" Yomiaki faced him once more and yelled, "As far as I'm concerned, you're the one who has done me wrong. If you wish to fight, then my army will slaughter you."

Yomiaki did not give time for another word. He leaned forward and fell on all fours and shot a blast of high-pressure water from his mouth. Sesshomaru, having not seen this attack before, was caught off guard and thrown back out of the "castle" grounds. He stood up quickly and charged, unsheathing his Tokijin in the process. About a hundred demons suddenly poured from the castle, something Sesshomaru had no time for. He raised Tokijin in the air and swung the sword down, releasing his Dragon Strike over a large portion of the army and sprinting with augmented speed from what opponents normally saw him fight with. As if he had gained power recently, Sesshomaru moved through Yomiaki's army as if they were nothing more than flies on the sidelines. He reached Yomiaki quickly.

"I suggest you reconsider your stance." Sesshomaru suggested threateningly.

"I think not." Yomiaki laughed.

Sesshomaru unexpectedly felt a sharp pain in his abdomen and looked down to see that Yomiaki had stabbed him through the gut with his tongue. He winced and stepped back as the tongue was withdrawn. Sesshomaru still stood strong, as if the pain wasn't even there.

"I've grown more powerful in these last couple of years too, boy." Yomiaki said, laughing.

"And how is that?" Sesshomaru placed his free hand on his gut looking at the blood that seeped from his wound, as if it were more interesting than their conversation.

"I've come across a few jewel shards recently." Yomiaki boasted.

Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow. He had never thought the jewel useful, but that recently changed when it became a possible way to reverse the mark he had on Kagome. Suddenly, the shards were important.

"I see. Jewel shards?" Sesshomaru smirked, "I'll make you a deal, Yomiaki."

"I cannot trust any deal that you make now, Sesshomaru." Yomiaki said and then laughed, "And besides, my power has grown stronger. I have an army at my side and have already wounded you."

"Yomiaki, I'm sure you realize that was a fluke." Sesshomaru stared him directly in the eyes, "I will heal this by tomorrow and return with my own army to annihilate you without having to lift a finger myself. I will rid you of your jewel shards and the humans you've been ripening since you came here."

"You really think you can defeat me still?" Yomiaki asked.

"In less than ten seconds, I've dropped eighty percent of your army with a single swing of my blade," Sesshomaru said cockily, a small proud smirk on his face, "Yomiaki, even if you could wound me in this form, what makes you think that you can stand my true demon form?" Sesshomaru placed his sword at Yomiaki's face, "Now listen. You hand over those jewel shards, every single one you have, and bring me to the pup I know your soldier took from the village tonight, and I'll leave you be. Refuse and I'll just kill you now, take them anyway, and release everything that you've captured."

"N-Now, don't be rash." Yomiaki's words trembled.

Sesshomaru may have been caught off guard by this one attack, but even with the jewel shards, he was not going to be beaten so easily. If Sesshomaru ended up in his full-demon form, Yomiaki and everything he worked for would perish. The alligator demon knew this and stood on his hind legs again. He called off his guards and pulled a jewel shard from his chest and held his hand out to his Lieutenant.

"But sir." The demon was reluctant to release the power he gained.

"We can find more later. Give them to him." Yomiaki demanded.

Sesshomaru glared at the Lieutenant, realizing that was the one who kidnapped Shippo and got him in this mess in the first place. Sesshomaru was handed the jewel shards and reassured that the two were all they had when he threatened to return if he found out Yomiaki was lying. Sesshomaru was then taken back to what these demons called their garden. He walked into a disgusting room with humans being "ripened" like fruit in strange orbs of water.

"Which one is the pup you spoke of?" Yomiaki asked.

Sesshomaru walked over to Shippo and Yomiaki stuck his hand into the orb to release the boy. The water splashed around, broken like a dirty bubble. Yomiaki handed the boy to Sesshomaru, who examined him and nodded. Shippo was fine. Filthy, but fine.

"Alright. Now, leave us." Yomiaki demanded, "You have what you came for."

"I am a demon of my word, Yomiaki." Sesshomaru nodded and began walking out.

As they left the castle gates, Shippo came to. His vision was blurry and when the first thing he saw was Sesshomaru, he jumped and squealed, ready to run away. However, he remembered the last couple of days and calmed down. Sesshomaru looked down to Shippo.

"Are you alright, boy?" Sesshomaru asked him.

"Uh… Uh'huh." Shippo nodded and looked around, "Where's Mom?"

"I'm taking you to her now." Sesshomaru replied.

Shippo blinked and then smiled widely. He jumped up to Sesshomaru's shoulder and hugged the demon lords entire head. Sesshomaru froze, stopped dead in his tracks and looked around.

"What? Looking around to make sure no one saw me hug you?" Shippo asked.

"Correct." Sesshomaru grabbed Shippo's tail and pried him off.

"I only did it to see what you'd do." Shippo said, swinging from Sesshomaru's grasp by his tail, "I won't do it again, but… thank you for saving me, Dad."

"What the hell was that?" Sesshomaru's heart skipped a beat. Being called "Dad" was not expected from the fox child. He was stuck. He completely dazed out, attempting to figure out what the hell that meant. Was this another test? Was the boy serious?

"Do not call me that." Sesshomaru demanded suddenly and dropped Shippo.

Shippo fell face-first into the mucky water and jumped to his feet, the water coming up to his stomach. He coughed, having not expected it and breathed it in a bit. Seeing that, Sesshomaru picked the boy back up and watched him until he stopped coughing. Once Shippo stopped, Sesshomaru sighed.

"Do not tell your mother about that." Sesshomaru said.

For some reason, the request Shippo was just given surprised him. The confused look in his eyes caught Sesshomaru off guard. He tried to ignore it, but he wanted to know what the boy was thinking. Would he tell Kagome he dropped him in the mud? He really did not want to get yelled at again.

"What?" Sesshomaru asked him as they began walking again.

"What you said reminded me of my Father." Shippo said, sitting on Sesshomaru's shoulder and staring at the swamp water, "I remember him saying 'please don't tell your mom' when he did something bad. It was usually something funny or when he let me do something that she'd be mad at."

"I see." Sesshomaru replied.

"Sesshomaru, can I ask you something?" Shippo asked.

"Fine."

"Do you love my Momma?"