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Sesshomaru watched Melissa as she returned to the town singing her demented childrens' song. He then turned and strode into the woods, but not toward camp. He was not yet tired despite not having slept the night before.

As he walked deeper into the forest of Inuyasha he picked up a familiar scent. It was a mid ranking raccoon youkai from his northern territory, what was he doing in his brother's forest? He followed the scent and soon the youkai was before him.

"Sesshomarusama, I'd hoped to find you in your brother's forest, I have been looking for you." The racoon declared bowing low.

"A powerful dragon who calls himself Hebikazan is starting to cause a lot of trouble. He is terrorizing Youkai and humans alike and threatening to destroy your blood line and take the territory you inherited from your father. I thought you should know as soon as possible my lord. Right now I believe your mother is in the most danger as the winds have blown her castle in the clouds northward, but I am sure he will attack Inuyasha's village afterwards. My lord?"

Sesshomaru had turned and strode off. Yes, this was a situation that needed to be dealt with, and quickly. If a dragon attacked the village Rin and Melissa would be in danger. Plus while his mother was sometimes a pain in the ass she was still his mother and the only parent he had left.

As he neared the village again he saw lamps still burning in many houses, including Keade's and Inuyasha's. This was good as the only person he might have to wake was Rin. He entered Keade's house like he owned it and nodded in acknowledgment of the old miko's surprised greeting.

"Rin, wake up." He demanded kneeling at the child's side.

"Sesshomarusama? What is it my lord?" she asked rubbing sleep from her eyes then coughing.

"I must leave."

"Already? But you just got here. I thought you planned to stay a few days." She whined, she coughed again and sniffled.

"I had planned to remain close until you had recovered but a situation has arisen I must deal with. I will return in two to three weeks."

"You will be well by then Rin, the visit will be more enjoyable." Keade informed the downcast girl. She nodded but was still sad that he was leaving so soon.

Sesshomaru stood and took a paper wrapped package from inside his kimono and handed it to Rin. "Sleep." He instructed then turned and left.

"Don't believe in knocking, do you Sesshomaru?" An irritated Inuyasha asked as his brother entered his home. Sesshomaru spared his brother a glance then scanned to room. The kitsune was asleep on a futon in the corner. Kagome and Melissa were sitting near the fire grinding dried seeds for medicinal teas the next day.

Turning from his brother to face the two women he said "A situation has arisen, I am leaving to night." Kagome nodded and spoke to Melissa. She looked confused then stood.

"You are to remain behind." He told her and waited for Kagome to translate. Melissa spoke to Kagome, she sounded confused.

"She says she doesn't understand."

"You are to remain in this village. You will be safe here. You will no longer accompany me, and you are not to leave."

Kagome seemed reluctant to translate that, but Sesshomaru gave her a look that said she had little choice. Melissa jumped up, hands on her hips and spoke in anger.

"She says she'll leave town if she feels like it."

Not breaking eye contact with Melissa he said "You are under my protection, you will do as I say."

"She says she is a grown woman, she'll do as she pleases."

"A grown woman? I was under the impression you were a child who can not dress herself."

"What do you mean can't dress herself?" Inuyasha asked while Kagome translated.

"When I first met her she put the kimono on in the manner of dressing a corpse and tied her obi as a whore would."

Inuyasha began to chuckle. Sesshomarue turned to glare at his brother. Before he could even demand to know what was funny the woman yelled something that made Kagome giggle behind her hands.

"Well she seems to be dressed alright now." Inuyasha grinned, "And Jaken's to short to have helped her. Imagine that, the great Sesshomaru dressing a human like her mother, or like a child with her dolls." Inuyasha gaffed. Sesshomaru glared, oh how he'd love to thrust his hand through Inuyasha's chest as he once had.

"What did she say?" He asked turning back to the women. Melissa matched his glare, hands still on her hips.

"Um... She said she'd like to see you wear a pair of slacks." Kagome replied nervously.

"There's more to it."

Kagome swallowed and said "She said she'd like to see you put on slacks, and she hopes it get caught in the zipper." Inuyasha started laughing again.

"Explain."

"Well, slacks are like hakama, but much closer fitting."

"And what is a zipper?"

"It's the device Americans use to fasten their clothing." She was being vague. But Inuyasha was digging through a basket. He located what her was looking for, the purse Kagome had been carrying when she returned from her own time for good.

"This is a zipper." He informed his brother, still laughing. He showed Sesshomaru a device with hundreds of tiny, interlocking, metal teeth.

"And what part of this Sesshomaru is the woman wishing to get mangled in such a device?"

"Well, zippers are on the front so I'm guessing your dick. Of course seeing as all you are is a giant dick..."

"Well... there are stories of men getting... caught in zippers. But just a little skin, that's all! No big deal really..." Kagome state, trying to do damage control.

"I see. And do you possess a penis Kagome?" Sesshomaru asked coolly.

"N-no..."

He started to reply angrily back to Melissa, then stopped himself. What was he doing? This could not be happening. He could not be arguing with a human woman. Through an interpreter. In front of his brother. But he was.

He closed his eyes. Inhale. Exhale. Then he opened his eyes and glared at Melissa once more.

"Do you remember the circumstances under which this Sesshomaru found you?" She did. He knew he'd made his point when her face went pale. "Stay where you are safe!"

With that he turned and stormed outside, to go to the camp site and pick up Jaken then go deal with the dragon. Kagome let out a relieved breath then turned on Inuyasha.

"Were you trying to get her killed? Sit!"

"I was right here, dammit. I'd have stopped him if he tried anything!" He shot back from the floor.

"Sitsitsitsitsit!" She screeched not stopping for a breath.

"What did Inuyasha do this time?" Shippo asked rubbing his eyes.

"Now look what you've done, Inuyasha, you woke up Shippo. He's a kid, he needs his sleep."

"Me? You were the one screeching sit!"

"Because of you, idiot! Sit! Sitsitsitsit!"

Melissa picked the kitsune up and carried him outside while they fought. She walked through town cradling the little one and crooning a soft lullaby. Shippo was asleep in her arms when Kagome came to find them. Spotting the miko she held a finger to her lips then nodded down at Shippo.

"I sorry you see that." She whispered softly so as not to wake her son again. "My husband baka."

"Baka?"

"Um... I think word is stupid."

"Well, he is a man."

"Sesshomaru not always patient. And Inuyasha make him mad, tease I think is word. Make me afraid."

Kagome was silent for a long moment, watching Melissa with Shippo. "You good with kid. You not have kid go home to?"

Melissa shook her head, still looking at Shippo. "No, my husband and I never had any kids. Well, he had a kid. I didn't. We'd been having problems, but I tried to make it work. When that skank showed up at the house 2 weeks late and demanding to see my husband that was the last straw.

The joke's on them though. I saw the skank in the supermarket about a month ago. His son looks an awful lot like his best friend. I wish I could be a fly on the wall when that comes out, it's just too bad the kid will get caught up in the mess."

"Yes, is too bad kid suffer because of parent. We should get back. Should try sleep."

Melissa nodded in agreement and the three returned to the house. Inuyasha wasn't there. He was on a roof somewhere sulking.