The healer bustled around the room, grabbing different herbs and poultices that Sesshomaru had no knowledge of, had never cared to - until now.

Raspy breathing accompanied every so often with a wet-sounding cough echoed through the room. The foul scent of illness filling the family wing.

Inuyasha whimpered softly from his place beside him as they gazed at Izayoi lying on the sweat-soaked bedding.

She had become sick a month prior - a cold - after Inuyasha had begged her to play outside in the snow, having found his speech seven years ago.

It had crept slowly, like a snake slithering through the brush before striking its unsuspecting prey. It was as though one day she was fine, and then the next she was this ill, dying thing before him.

The pup had been inconsolable, blaming himself and repeatedly apologizing despite everyone's numerous protests and assurances the fault did not lay with him.

Even Sesshomaru could not comfort the boy, a show of how deep his concern and guilt went.

Over the years since he had brought the two to his shiro, Inuyasha had stuck close, following the Lord of the West wherever he went and becoming downtrodden when he was unable to stay by his side.

Now, despite the offer to join him, the pup refused in preference to staying by his human mother's side.

When Sesshomaru had checked in that morning to get a report on her condition, Inuyasha had turned to face him. His golden eyes silently pleading.

Stay.

Sesshomaru found he could not deny his request.

So after a few moments of servants quietly relocating what he would require, he settled down next to mother and son.

Yet, during the meager hours he had stayed in the room, he could not displace his concern for the woman.

He could honestly say if only to himself, that he no longer wished for their deaths.

His father's mate had become a welcome companion over the years. She was pleasant enough to engage in conversation, and she never overstepped her bounds.

The pup, too, had become a welcome part of his daily life. He frequently found himself eager for their lessons and had become accustomed to his constant presence. The last few days without it had left him feeling bereft and on edge not having him in his immediate range of sight.

Loud, sickly coughs interrupted his line of thought, and his brows creased as the pup's anxiety spiked.

"Is there nothing you can do to offer her a reprieve?"

The healer bowed his head, "I can offer her a sleeping tonic, but otherwise, there is not much else that can be done. I am hoping that this concoction will help aid her pain, but..." the healer trailed off, eyes drifting to the young pup who was still looking at his mother, before slanting back to him.

A quick shake of his head told him what he needed to know.

Gently laying his hand upon the boy's head to gain his attention, his voice softening to a degree he had never used, "I shall return shortly."

Inuyasha nodded, eyes never leaving Izayoi.

Sesshomaru's mouth set in a grim line as he turned for the doors, silently slipping out into the hall.

A clawed hand reached up and swiped across his face, a heavy sigh escaping him.

He had hoped to avoid this, at least for a few more years. It would seem the two were constantly going to upend his plans.

Grimly, he strode down the corridor to find his mother.

He would need assistance with the funeral preparations.

Inukimi had to fight the snarl threatening to work its way out of her throat. These fools had become complacent with her son.

Assuming that his consideration of their advice was due to ignorance, that his lack of expediency towards expanding the West was due to weakness, that his acceptance of his father's mate and their halfbreed child was due to idiocy.

Her eyes flit to Sesshomaru, noting the snapping of his aura the others failed to sense

She hid a feral grin behind her fan.

They would soon learn.

"It is simply outrageous to allow a human to be laid to rest in the West's burial grounds."

"Would it not be more appropriate to take her remains to her people?"

"For kamisake, she's just a human. Throw her remains in a river, or better yet the stables."

"If you are worried about the wrath of the Death God, you could simply place her in an unmarked grave on the outskirts of our territory."

Youki flared and the oppressive weight sent the council members to the floor. Their meager spikes of power looking like fireflies against her son's overwhelming strength.

"It would seem you have all forgotten your place. This One did not ask for your advice, nor a meeting for open discussion. You would do well to remember that though This One accepts your council, the final say is mine and mine alone, just as the West is also belongs solely to me. It is not 'ours.'"

The weight began to lift from the room as his youki began receding into his body. Groans echoed all around as demons lifted themselves off the floor, the Lady Mother being the only exception.

"Or did This One miss the invitation to your rite?"

A chorus of "No, milord" flowed through the chamber, and Inukimi didn't bother to hide her grin at their newfound submission.

"Hn. I thought not."

Sesshomaru's gaze raked across every single member in the room, his voice holding no room for argument as he commanded them all.

"You will see to it the groundskeepers know to set about reading a plot next to my father. Mother will be in charge of the ceremony, and you will give your full cooperation or forfeit your seat. I do not have time to deal with insubordination. Also, see to it that a stone carver is brought in immediately. There shall be a memorial built for the two of them, honoring their mating and reunion in the afterlife. I want it completed before the next new moon."

Inukimi watched as he glared around the room, eyes searching for any hint of usurpation.

"You are all dismissed."

Demons fled the room, hurrying off to do the Lord's bidding.

"You handled that well, my son."

He sighed, his hand raising to pinch the bridge of his nose.

"They are all utterly worthless."

"Perhaps, but that is part of being a ruler."

Sesshomaru lowered his clawed hand, using it to brace his weight as he rose from his seat.

"Dealing with imbeciles?"

Inukimi laughed, rising from her own seat as she did so.

"While that is also part of it, no. It is deciding whether or not the pleasure of killing every last one is worth the headache of having to replace them."

Sesshomaru choked on a bitter laugh.

Inuyasha, despite the tears streaming silently down his face, held his head high as he lowered his mother's ashes into the funeral plot. When the boy had heard of the ceremony he had made one request - that he would be the one to lay her in her final resting place.

It was an easy enough request to fulfill.

Sesshomaru, for his part, hid his upset behind a mask. Unwilling to show those unworthy of his emotions how truly upset he was at the loss of life. Izayoi was unlike any human he had come across. She had not once batted an eye to staying in his shiro. Her only concern was for the welfare of her son and the mental wellbeing of himself and his mother.

He could easily say now that she had been his first friend.

Guilt - an emotion he was unaccustomed to - flickered in his stomach before he pushed it away.

Now is not the time to examine such things.

Inuyasha trudged back to his place next to him. Breath hitching as he attempted to hold his emotions at bay amongst all of those in attendance.

Subtly, so as not to alert any other, he sent a tendril of calming youki to wrap around the pup, not showing his appreciation when he felt it returned.

Golden eyes snapped open when he felt the hesitant aura outside his door, melancholy and depression wafting to his nose.

Sesshomaru reached out with his youki, prodding his brother to enter.

Quietly his door slid open before closing back. The soft pitter-patter of clawed feet echoed on the wooden floors as he crossed the room to his bed.

Even in the dark, he could clearly make out the questioning gaze of the pup, asking for permission - for comfort.

He slid over, making room while lifting the furs lining his bedding. Inuyasha wasted no time diving in, his small body huddling close.

Even though he was fifteen years old, mentally and physically, he was only around nine human years.

The salty scent of his tears reached his nose before he felt him tremble.

Just this once.

Stretching out his arm, Sesshomaru pulled the boy to him, tucking his head beneath his chin as he let out a rumbling purr, its purpose to comfort as much a soothe.

It was nearly dawn before Inuyasha finally settled enough to find sleep, his eyes swollen, face red with exhaustion sweeping through his aura.

Sesshomaru followed shortly after, joining the boy in much-needed rest, unconcerned with returning him back to his own chambers.