I do not own Inuyasha.

Please read and review.

If any are curious about my own little Sesshomaru, he is flourishing. Its a wonder what a big bowl, clean water, and regular feedings can do.

"You heard Sesshomarusama, Merissasama is to stay here so don't try to move her!" Jaken warned Granny as soon as Sesshomaru was gone.

"I wouldn't dream of defying my little lord. Infact, it might actually be good for him to catch ill from the girl." She replied, "His ego seems to have gotten a bit out of control with out his Granny around. A day or two with his head in a bucket might take him down a few pegs. Gods don't vomit.

"Anyway, he seems to trust you, kappa, I believe it is safe for me to do the same. I need to fetch a cleaning lady and get her some medicine. Would you be so kind as to make sure none but the lord or the cleaners enter until I return?"

"My name is Jaken. It is my duty to protect what is important to my lord. He often leaves her in my care. Before her I alone was trusted to watch after Rin. Sessomarusama knows I would die before I allow harm to come to what is his."

"Rin? Is that the human child I have heard rumors about? Why is she no longer with him?"

"He left her in his brother's village to learn to live with her own kind. He attempted to leave Merissa with them but she was singled out for violence due to her foreign ways."

They were interrupted by a coughing fit from the futon. Granny glanced at her and lowered her voice, "You understand that she is in danger even here, I assume."

Jaken nodded, "I do, and I will protect her with my life." Satisfied with his answer Granny left to fetch some medicine while Jaken stood guard. A few minutes later two maids showed up, one with a bucket of soapy water, and one carrying an empty bucket. Jaken allowed them in and entered behind them, standing by the door to watch.

Melissa lifted her head and looked at them when they entered. One had wild, bright red and orange hair that looked like fire. Then she blinked and realized it was fire. The other one might have been human other than her pointed ears.

The one with the flaming head walked right by without acknowledging Melissa and began mopping up the mess. The dark haired girl looked around the room and accidentally made eye contact. She immediately looked away and approached Melissa, placing the empty bucket beside the bed. "Incase your stomach is upset again, my lady."

"My name Melissa."

The girl looked a little startled then replied "My name is Yuki, My sister is Hihana. If there is anything else you need, my lady, please let us know."

"No, thank you. I sorry I make mess." She then turned her head and covered her mouth to cough again. Yuki waited for her to catch her breath then replied that it was no problem before bowing and going to help her sister clean while Melissa closed her eyes.

"So, that's his concubine?" Hihana hissed looking back at Melissa, who was awake but appeared to be dozing. She heard her, though Jaken was far enough away that her couldn't make out what was said.

"Hush, she'll hear you. We aren't suppose to call her that, she is our lord's intended wife." Yuki replied.

"She's asleep, humans don't hear very well anyway. All the youkai who would gladly warm his bed and he chose a human!"

"She's very pretty. And she seems sweet, no one has ever apologised for making a mess before."

"Sweet? You think he keeps her because she's sweet? She probably just spreads her legs easily for him. She is his little human fuck toy."

"He would not object to her being called a concubine in that case. He wouldn't risk marrying her. I think you're just jealous because he turned you away. Called you a gold digger, didn't he?"

There was a sound of a fist hitting flesh and Melissa opened her eyes as Jaken yelled and ran toward them. Hihanna was standing over Yuki who was laying in the floor with her hands over her mouth, blood already spattering the tatami mats.

"That's enough, break it up!" Jaken yelled getting between them. Hihanna tried to kick Yuki but she rolled away just as Jaken reached them and the kick sent him tumbling into the wall.

"Jaken!" Melissa yelled jumping to her feet. She became light headed and stumbled, falling to the floor as Hihanna grabbed Yuki who attempted to back away and pushed her into the wall.

"I said break it up!" Jaken yelled hitting her over the head with the staff of two heads. She kicked him again then turned back to Yuki. Melissa felt the floor tremble as she drew back her fist.

All of a sudden Hihanna screamed in pain as a huge brown bear with patches of grey fur caught her arm in it's jaws. It shook its head, flinging her against a far wall then charged her. It stopped and roared in her face then in a flash of white granny was before her in a rage that made Hihanna cower against the wall. "Stay! I will deal with you in a moment!"

Melissa was her charge so she went to her first. "Are you ok, my little lady?"

"Yes, dizzy. Jaken ok?" Melissa asked climbing back under the covers.

"He seems to be." Then she turned to Yuki who was still covering her bloody face with her hands, "Let me see little one. Oh dear, I think you had best go see the healer. Jaken, are you injured?"

"I'm fine." He replied, wincing as he stood.

"I m afraid I dropped Merissa's medicine, would you be so kind as to get more and see Yuki safely down while I deal with Hihanna? I'll tell Sesshomaru where you went and why if he returns before you do. And how brave you were in breaking up the fight."

Jaken nodded and limped toward the door. When his back was turned Granny leaned toward Yuki, "Make sure you tell them he was kicked." She whispered. Yuki nodded and followed after the kappa.

"And that is how you deal with men, 'Rissachan. Stroke their egos a little and they'll eat out of the palm of your hand."

"Maybe not as easy for Sesshomaru."

"Well, no, he has spent his entire life having people kiss his royal tushy, his ego hardly needs stroking. But with most men gaining control is easy."

"And as for you!" She grabbed Hihanna by the ear and drug her into the just outside the door. "What has gotten into you?! I sent you up here to clean, not start a brawl with your sister in the royal chambers! Nor to attack Sesshomaru's man servant! And all while your princess is laying in her sick bed watching! I will be talking to your mother about this! If you were my charge you wouldn't sit for a week, do you understand me?"

Melissa wasn't sure how long Granny yelled at Hihanna. She didn't stop until Jaken arrived with the medicine. Jaken placed himself at the doorway and watched as Granny helped Melissa sit up and drink her medicine while Hihanna finished cleaning.

"I didn't get your name." Jaken stated after a long silence.

"Everyone calls me Granny."

"You are too young to be my Grandmother."

"Then call me Ume." She told him and they fell into another long silence as Melissa drifted off and Ume pulled her needlework out of her sleeve. She sang soft lullabies as she worked. Every so often she placed a hand on Melissa to check her temperature or feel her pulse.

"I smell blood. Yuki's blood, I believe." Sesshomaru announced walking into the room a kneeling by Melissa to check on her.

"Yes, Hihanna and Yuki got into a fight while I was fetching medicine. Jaken was breaking it up when I got back but you know how quickly Hihanna can attack. He got kicked but jumped right back up into it."

"I would expect no less. Few have proven their loyalty to the extent Jaken has." He replied then settled down to look over some papers he had brought with him. Jaken's face lit up at this praise from Sesshomaru.

The next morning Sesshomaru woke up with his stomach feeling as though he'd swallowed a small youkai alive and it was trying to escape. Granny was right, he caught Melissa's illness. Damn.

Fighting down the urge to puke he pushed himself to his feet. He couldn't let Granny know she was right. He pulled on his hakama and leaned against the wall. He should rest, but not here. He'd go on patrol and lay low until he felt better.

But he couldn't leave Melissa alone, not even for a few minutes. He had painted a target on her back himself by announcing his intention to marry her. His only hope was that Jaken would arrive before Granny did. He picked up his kimono and was pulling it on when the door slid open.

"Get back in the bed Maruchan." Granny ordered with a glance at his flushed face as she took medicinal tea to Melissa's side of the futon.

"I am going on patrol." told her.

"No, you're not. You're not going anywhere until you're over it." She replied turning to him with her hands on her hips.

"I am not sick."

"Oh really?" She marched over to him, slapped a hand against his forehead, then pointed to the futon. "I said get in that bed."

He began to growl at her but wisely changed his mind and cut it off. She raised her eyebrows at him. "Cub, have I ever taken it easy on you just because you are sick? Get in the bed. One." She held up a single short finger.

His stomach tried to rebel again and he once more fought the urge to vomit. When he opened his eye granny had a second finger up. "I said two while you were fighting with your belly, Sesshomaru. I would suggest you get moving."

Instead he just glared at her. "Three." She moved to get a clear shot and slapped him on the ass. He moved toward the bed but it was too late, she'd already said three. She grabbed his arm and marched him to the bed, smacking his buttocks the whole way, she desisted only once he was safely under the covers.

He felt another wave of nausea and she placed a spare bucket she had brought to the room the day before by his side of the bed. "Cough it up, Maruchan. Your belly will feel better." She told him gently.

He started to push the bucket away but then felt himself lose this battle and snatched it back just in time. Granny rubbed his back as he threw up. "That's it, cub, get it out."

He finished and flopped over on the futon beside Melissa. Granny straightened up and cross her arms as she stood over him with a smug smile. "I did warn you this would happen. Maybe next time you will listen to the wisdom of your humble Granny."

At that moment Jaken appeared in the doorway, "Sesshomarusama I am sorry for the delay but I met your mo... My lord?"

"Oh, Jaken, good timing. If you wish to help Sesshomaru please inform his mother he cannot heed her summons right now and then fetch some medicine." Ume said turning to the door.

"You do not order him, Granny." Sesshomaru informed her, still lying prone in bed beside Melissa who'd woken up and listened silently.

"I am aware, I was merely making a request, or do you need his services at the moment, Maruchan?"

"Jaken, inform my mother, but I do not wish for you to bring medicine."

"Aye m'lord!" Jaken replied scurrying off. Several minutes later he returned, as Sesshomaru ordered he did not bring any medicine. Seconds later however the head healer came to check on Melissa and just happened to discover Sesshomaru was ill. He also just happened to have ingredients for extra medicine on him. Sesshomaru glared at Jaken, but said nothing as Jaken hadn't actually disobeyed him.

He heard his mother's voice some time later. "I assume you attempted to move her?"

"Of course, my lady, but you know how Maruchan can be, and it was more important to let her rest. But her fever is coming down and she hasn't thrown up today. It may take a week or two for her to be back to full health, you can start teaching her then. Sesshomaru should be back on his feet in a day or two."

Sesshomaru felt a cold cloth pressed to his head and opened his eyes. He had expected to see granny but it was his mother dabbing his head with the cloth. "So Sesshomaru, have we learned a lesson? This is what happens when you ignore the advice of one whose main concern is your welfare."

"Are you here to lecture me, mother?"

"Oh no, my son, that is just a perk. I wish to ask you about your brother. Do you know if your brother still lives near the forest that bears his name?"

"Yes." He replied then covered his mouth to cough.

"I thought he might. May I borrow your servant as messenger, I assume he would know him. There is a dispute about his northern border. I will tell the daiyuki of the north that any encroachment will be viewed as an act of war by our family, but it would be wise to alert him. especially if I deem it wise to send senteries."

"Inuyasha would not welcome help. But it would be wise to alert him to danger."

Jaken decided to put his two cents in, "You're wasting your time, Lady Mother, that fool is hard headed and hot tempered. He will never accept your generous offer to assist him."

"Like his brother then. I really don't know where the two of you get it, Sesshomaru, your father was charming. He was very young when Izayoi died, do you know if he can read?"

"His wife can if he cannot." He coughed again and had to fight down the urge to reach for the pail beside his bed. He would not vomit in front of his mother of all people!

"Rest now, my puppy. Get better." she said, petting his head before she left.