"Are you sure about this, Sesshomaru? Not that I'm not grateful, it's just I would hate to impose on you and your mother," his father's mate looked down at Inuyasha, her hand tweaking one of his ears and causing the pup to growl in irritation as he batted at her hand.

"We may not have much, but we are making by."

"Do not concern yourself. Your safety and the pups are necessary. Until the time I take a mate, Inuyasha is my heir."

She nodded her head though he could sense her uncertainty.

It was no matter. No one would touch either of them so long as they resided in the shiro.

With a wave of a hand, two servants stepped forward.

"This is Yua and Ichika. They will escort you to your rooms and provide you both with anything you may require during your stay here. I will have them summon you after you have had adequate time to bathe and prepare yourselves for the evening meal."

She bowed, a quiet "thank you" escaping her lips.

Before he could turn, Inuyasha stepped forward. His small clawed hand reaching out to tug on his sleeve with his ears tucked back.

Sending his aura out to prod the boy, he determined the reason the pup reached out to him - anxiety, uncertainty, fear, and a small amount of excitement filtered through his little body.

Slowly, he raised his hand as he had seen Izayoi do many times before, and slowly ruffled the pup's hair, surprised at the fur-like texture it held.

Sesshomaru rumbled soothingly, and near-instantly the boy's tumultuous emotions quieted.

"Go. We will be reunited shortly."

With a small nod, the boy turned, hand reaching to grasp his mother's.

Sesshomaru stayed, watching as they walked away if only to ensure that no harm befell them.

Inukimi glanced at her son as he studied the go board. She had invited him to a game after the human woman and her child went to their rooms for the night, wanting to take the time to speak with him.

"He looks much like your father."

"Hn."

She studied his move, looking over the pieces before her as she determined the best course of action.

"The woman, Izayoi, is raising him well."

A small grunt was her response, and she held firm to her irritation as she laid her piece.

"He seems fond of you, nearly worships you."

A huff.

Her eyes narrowed as another piece was placed on the board.

"The woman seems to respect you as well. She seems truly grateful."

Another grunt.

Frustration mounted, and she grit her teeth under the borage.

"Are you truly going to ignore me the entire time? I had thought you would be pleased, but it seems you are content to blame me for something though I know not what. If there is an issue with the arrangement you simply have to speak, and we can do things differently."

For a moment, while she silently urged him to look up, there was nothing but silence.

If it weren't so unlike her, she would have groaned aloud.

Her son could be such a frustrating little twit.

Resigned to never receiving a response, she turned her focus back to the game, only to look upon the board and have her eyes widen in shock.

She was well-known for her prowess in strategy. Her war plans had been used to teach the entirety of the Western army and were why enemies were terrified to cross them.

A talent that was often flaunted in the game the Lady Mother had dragged her son into playing, a game she had never lost - until today.

She turned wide golden eyes to her son only to see the same eyes reflected at her, though his held a small amount of mirth and a whole load of pride.

"To answer your questions, mother - yes, he does indeed resemble father a great deal. The woman does a fair job with him. It is only right he looks to the dominant male in his life. His mother is thankful. The arrangement is satisfactory. I am speaking to you - now."

Her eyes narrowed dangerously with each word spoken between his lips, tracking him as he rose from his place and moved to stand beside her.

She watched from the corner of her eye as he knelt close.

"Also, I could never ignore you."

A wet tongue grazed her cheek, and she snapped her teeth half-heartedly at him as he pulled away.

Truthfully, she was pleased he had bested her. He was learning and growing every day and was maturing into a magnificent ruler.

Her ears pricked as he stopped at the door, and she turned her head after a moment when he failed to speak.

"Though not from a lack of trying."

She was confused for a moment as she watched him step through the doorway. The soft sound of it sliding shut echoed through the room as his meaning clicked.

An indignant snarl echoed through the shiro followed by a deep chuckle.

"Raise your sword."

Inuyasha lifted the wooden practice sword hesitantly, studying it before looking at Sesshomaru confusedly.

"You need training. Though you have the advantage of having demon blood coursing through your veins, you cannot always rely on brute strength and speed to serve you. Your enemies may not always be hanyou or human."

Furry ears flattened to his skull as the pup started to lower his head. Sesshomaru stepped forward, clawed hand shooting out to catch his chin before he could complete the action.

Gold bore into gold.

"You may be weak now, but you will not remain so. If you train and discipline yourself, you will never be at a disadvantage."

He watched patiently as the pup mulled over what he had told him.

He didn't have to wait long. Shortly, he watched as the pup nodded his head, shoulders squaring as he rose to his full height. Not nearly tall enough to be intimidating, but the sentiment was understood.

With a sharp nod of his head, Sesshomaru went back to his previous position and held his own wooden sword at the ready.

"Raise your sword."

He did not hesitate again.

Izayoi stood before Sesshomaru and his mother, wringing her fingers nervously.

"I'm concerned about Inuyasha."

Both predators instantly came to attention. Sesshomaru's gaze sharpened, and Inukimi visibly straightened.

"For what reason," the Lady Mother asked.

She chewed on her lip, unsure whether she was being foolish or not, but unwilling to risk the possibility.

"He's six years old, and he isn't speaking. He obviously can communicate effectively, and I know he's part demon, but for humans, it's considered... worrisome if they haven't spoken by this time."

She watched as Sesshomaru glanced to his mother whose brows were furrowed in thought.

"I had not considered it because Inu are normally born in their true form, and do not take a human guise until well into their first century. Speech isn't normally obtained until a few decades after."

Izayoi felt the blood drain from her face.

A - a century?

Sesshomaru felt the anxiety spike in the room and decided to interject.

"We will have the healer here examine him. If nothing comes of it, we shall send a scout to search for one who can aid the pup, or at the very least inform of us of what to expect."

Izayoi watched as Inukimi nodded her acceptance. Obviously believing in Sesshomaru's ability to find answers, and she couldn't deny that she believed in him as well. He had been so helpful and had done so well with her son.

She had feared when he had first made an appearance in their lives that he would despise them both. Her mate had expressed his worries for his son, and she in turn had worried for him as well. However, she couldn't help but think that perhaps her mate had been too quick to judge his eldest son.

She bowed to the two rulers before her, leaving her concerns and trust in their hands.

Inuyasha sat perfectly still as the healer Yoshiro had returned with examined his youki.

Sesshomaru watched avidly from the doorway with his mother, Izayoi standing next to Inuyasha as the okami prodded and searched for any hint as to why the boy did not yet speak.

He could not help the sharpness of his gaze, his eyes pinpointing every move the healer made.

Should he raise his youki or hand against the boy in hostility, he would have no qualms about ending his life.

"Hm. It is a bit odd he hasn't chosen to speak yet," the healer mused. His gruff voice was surprisingly gentle as he spoke to all of those in attendance.

"I cannot say for certain whether it is the same for Inu, but okami generally do not start speaking until after their first century when they are roughly five human years old. The same generally applies to hanyou, in terms of human years that is. My guess, and it is only a guess, My Lord, is that he still has a year or two before he reaches the appropriate age."

Relief flowed through the room, pleased to have answers regarding the boy.

Sesshomaru never noticed his own relief mingled as well.