All characters, unless stated as original creations or additions, belong to Rumiko Takahashi, Viz Media and Shogakukan. Blame them. I'm just taking their characters' concepts to a different place. Also, feedback would be appreciated.

"This is really boring…" the half-demon Inuyasha complained loudly to his wife, Kagome, as they strolled around the castle's courtyard for the umpteenth time. The rock gardens had been nice enough the first and second times but they were boringly repetitive. What Kagome found more impressive were the Demon Dog Clan soldiers doing combat drills with strict discipline. She had used their route to observe them from multiple perspectives, finding their cohesion and precision to be more fearsome than she expected. Neither she nor Inuyasha had given the demon world much thought in recent years and they didn't know what to say to Kaede to explain Sesshōmaru's sudden and dramatic appearance.

"They look pretty tough. I think I see why Sesshōmaru is so hard on himself," Kagome commented as their finished another lap, stopping where they had left the napping Kirara.

"Huh?" her husband replied, looking at her as if Kagome had just lost her mind. No one could understand Sesshōmaru. That was made him who he was, it was the way he was. A loner. No one was his equal. He never acknowledged anyone as his equal. Sesshōmaru killed anyone who got close and it never seemed like anyone could meet him on equal terms.

"He's got to prove himself to them. As their leader, he has to be better than them, you know," Kagome pointed to the soldiers who had broken up into pairs to spar with swords.

Inuyasha scoffed at the thought that Sesshōmaru tried to be responsible enough to live up to his parents' legacy. He was too self-centered for that. "They're not so tough! I could take any of them with Tessaiga!" From the concerned look on Kagome's face and the sudden silence behind him, it was one of those moments when his mouth moved faster than his brain. There was no clatter of steel and the silent glares from one hundred and twenty-two pairs of eyes. His wife backed away nervously, fully aware that these were demons who had no compunction about killing humans. Kirara got her feet and growled, though she did not transform. It was only Sesshōmaru's word which kept all three of them safe and he was not here to enforce his will.

"There is no question of a contest if you use Tessaiga. Only Sesshōmaru-dono can best it. But unarmed? That is a true test. And I want to see if the bastard son can fend for himself without borrowing power from his father!" Everyone turned to face the newcomer. She entered the courtyard with a slow, majestic grace. Long silver hair flowed behind her in a ponytail and a sheathed sword hung from her belt.

Earlier

"Is Sesshōmaru-sama the strongest demon in the world?" the little human asked the Lady Mother. The demoness chuckled gleefully at the innocence of the question.

"No he is not. For the simple reason that neither you nor I can say how strong the demons are in other lands. He is, of course, the most powerful demon in our clan but the boy lacks knowledge. I had hoped all of his aimless wandering would lead him to greater knowledge but alas… he has only learnt a little bit of the world," she replied to Rin. It irked Tsukiyo that a mere human was being so casual with the Lady Mother. And as the castle's Captain of the Guards looked over the little girl, she realized that Rin was wearing something entirely different from the night before despite not having brought any change of clothes. In fact, it was the same kimono that Tsubame and Taiya had worked on for the past few weeks.

"I told my beloved so many times not to be so indirect with his sons! But he insisted that they had to find the answers themselves! How much time we have wasted! I was surprised to see that the quarrel between him and the Panther has been cleared. I suppose she is the only political choice," the Lady Mother sighed. Tsukiyo felt her anger rise to her throat but she forced it down. "Last I heard, there was a bird daiyōkai who might have given the boy a challenge but I haven't heard about them recently. Tsukiyo, go ask the mongrel boy if he knows what happened to that girl, Abi. Even if she's not a marriage option, her tribe would be a good addition to Sesshōmaru's army."

Tsukiyo bowed silently and withdrew from the chamber, seething with pent-up fury.

Present

"Works for me!" Inuyasha growled, crouching down and extending his claws.

"Osuwari!" Tsukiyo watched in complete amazement as the hanyō slammed into the flooring. She directed her gaze at the human girl with him and attempted to understand the magic words she had said. "You and your big mouth will not get us into any more trouble." Tsukiyo had no idea what was going on but then she thought she saw something move. But it was gone and there was no scent…

"You should let him fight. Demons will not respect anyone who doesn't have the strength to back up his words," Tsukiyo said to Kagome.

"Your opinion doesn't matter to me. You're just trying to goad him into a fight. He will behave himself so I expect there will not be any problems," the human shot back.

"Inuyasha-sama! You must leave this place immediately. I don't know what possessed you to come here but we're all in grave danger here!" a voice hissed into Inuyasha's ear.

"Myōga-jii? How'd…" he whispered back.

"Never mind! You need to leave now!"

"Not happening!" Inuyasha roared, leaping back to his feet and lunging at Tsukiyo. "Sankon…urk!"

A green strand of light shot out and wrapped itself around Inuyasha. Just as quickly, it whipped to the side and flung him into the group of Demon Dog soldiers. The hanyō was pinned to the flooring by the weight of over a dozen soldiers before he could regain his balance. Each one growled and snarled threateningly.

"Myōga… I believe I made it very clear what would happen if you ever entered this castle again…" came the regal voice of the Lady Mother.

"Let him go!" Kagome demanded angrily.

Tsukiyo watched as a tiny flea demon was picked up by one of her soldiers, petrified with terror. She didn't know who he was but it was obvious from her Mistress' tone that his presence was intolerable. Of more immediate concern, however, was how he had snuck in without any guards or herself noticing. It was a lapse which she needed to find and address… if she survived the punishment that was sure to come.

The Inu no Kimi curled a finger, beckoning the prisoner be brought before her. "Put your hand out," she said to Rin, who was standing beside her. The little girl obeyed, putting both hands out, palms up. The soldier put Myōga on Rin's outstretched hands and backed away, head bowed. "Myōga, you have failed to inform this wretched boy about his father's legacy. How do you explain yourself?"

"It was not his wish for Inuyasha to … to be burdened by that legacy. It was his intention for Sesshōmaru to enter fully into those responsibilities when he was ready!" Myōga said frantically. Just then, Inuyasha managed to shake off the demons pushing him down and drew Tessaiga. He ran forwards, swinging it at the Lady Mother who held a hand out lazily to stop the blade. Tsukiyo expected to see it cleave off her hand as it slid between her index and middle finger. But the moment it touched her skin, the sword shone as it transformed into a thin, gleaming blade.

"You see, Myōga? He thinks he can save you from me with his father's sword. To inherit Tessaiga is to inherit a part of my dear beloved's legacy. His ignorance is your crime. Boy," she said now to Inuyasha as she held Tessaiga between her fingers. "This is your father's blade, Tessaiga. Do you see how handsome he is? Do you see how charming he was? He pulled out his fang to have it forged into a blade with a single purpose. To protect the ones he loved. Do you know what he did with this sword? Do you think he would ever hurt me?" She ran her fingers up and down the gleaming blade, tenderly caressing its edge.

"That makes no sense! Inuyasha cut off Sesshōmaru's arm with Tessaiga!" Kagome protested.

"Of course it did. Tessaiga was not meant for my son! It was a suitable punishment for Sesshōmaru for daring to defy his father's will and stray from his destiny. As he is now, Tessaiga is useless to my son for it cannot channel his power. But this boy swings his father's fang without understanding it."

"That's no different from Sesshōmaru and Tenseiga!" Inuyasha snapped back at her.

"On the contrary. Sesshōmaru understands, within his limited mind, why he has Tenseiga. Like Tessaiga, Tenseiga possesses something which its wielder lacks. My son is simply too stupid to realize that he has need of compassion."

Another gate to the courtyard opened and another Demon Dog soldier rushed forwards. She knelt, panting from running, with his head bowed. "Mistresses," she said to Tsukiyo and the Inu no Kimi, "there is a group at the main gate. A smith, a human boy and an imp claiming to Sesshōmaru-dono's vassal, all riding atop a cow. They seek entry."

The Inu no Kimi's lips curled into a smile. "Tōtōsai."

Author's Notes:

1. I expect to have Chapter 9 done by the end of the month and posted within a week of its written completion.

2. Not as much hilarity as I had hoped but if you have a better idea how to craft it, let me know.

3. I was surprised to see how much I changed Kagome from my handwritten draft. A lot more defiant as she bloody well ought to be.

4. Next chapter is going to be lots of Sesshomaru + Toran fun. And no, not THAT kind of fun. I used "+" not "x" so :P