Hi guys! I know, I've been MIA for quite a while. Real world stuff demanded my attention and it still does but I always have this story in my mind. This chapter has been done for a while but I wanted to finish drafts for a couple chapters at least before I upload this but I didn't get the time to just focus and write. Anyway, thank you all for your patience and kind words to this story. It means the world to me but of course I'm also open to constructive criticisms.

I hope you enjoy this chapter! Let me know what you think :)

THIRTY EIGHT

There's a sense of awe in those from the Feudal era at finally meeting the fabled older brother as Mavick's presence dominated the room with every self-assured move, eloquent words spoken and seemingly perpetually perceptive eyes. These attributes make him an asset as one of the top executives in his father's company which they naturally thought he'd take over but to their surprise, he's not keen on the idea and he's more passionate towards his life as a photographer and after learning that he captured many of the compelling portraits in the siblings' house, it made sense.

His noted protectiveness they find, is not only for Kurenai but also for Ren when he took over coordinating with the team that picked Nimbus up so his siblings can deal with their emotions and comfort their dogs as they barked and tried to run after their brother as he's being taken away. He also objected on his sister wanting to cook lunch and insisted on ordering instead.

But when his siblings refused to eat, Mavick didn't have the heart to scold them when they looked like toppled dominos on the couch with their fur children—Zodiac draped over Kurenai as she sat with one soothing arm around him and the other alternately rubbing Toffee and Ren who's curled up with Sawyer.

The orange sky is shifting to pink by the time Ren and Kurenai got the motivation to shovel a bite of food into their mouths much to the relief of their older brother and friends. The dogs also halfheartedly dug into their bowls next to their owners' feet.

"Hey you two, I have to go but I'll drop by tomorrow with Luke." Ryan reached in to hug Kurenai, "I'm so sorry for your loss." He slid over to hug Ren as well, "I'm sure he's in dog heaven, running on clouds as fluffy as he is."

"Thank you." they both responded then Kurenai added,

"Thank you for your work on the rooms Ryan, they turned out incredible, much better than we could ever hope for." From Rin and Sango's dreamy peach and aqua blue room, Sesshoumaru's sophisticated and relaxing gray room and Inuyasha, Miroku and Shippo's blue and white naval room, they all loved it and her friends are ecstatic to be occupying such sublime spaces.

Hannah left with Ryan but not before the siblings made sure to remind their cousin that what happened wasn't her fault.

"Kurenai," Sesshoumaru walked up to them at the kitchen island, "I hate to bother you but your father sent an email on clearing yours and Ren's calendars for the next three days or for as long as you need."

In the past, Kurenai would have objected to this. Work keeps her sane. In hindsight, she took on tons of workload to occupy herself and keep her tragic childhood memories at bay, but right now, Ren is not her only family that needs her but Zodiac, Sawyer, and Toffee as well.

"Let's go through it later, there may be some appointments we can't reschedule."

Mavick watched the exchange while leaning on the counter across his siblings, "Curry," to the amusement of their friends, this is Mavick's nickname for Kurenai. He felt the need to shorten his sister's name and since he adores the curry she makes, that's what he decided to call her. Kurenai didn't find it very endearing at first but slowly warmed up to it and it's exclusive to him the same way 'V' is exclusive to her. "How's the training of the new assistants going?" he asked.

"Sango's getting the hang of it and Sesshoumaru's doing splendid for someone who's only two days into the job but there's still a lot for him to learn."

"That's why I said hiring someone with zero experience is not a good idea." Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed at the condescending remark, "You've got a lot going on and training him is just more work."

"He wants to help me, V and I need it. I'd rather invest in teaching someone from the ground up." Kurenai's eyes locked with Sesshoumaru's, "At least I know I can trust him than someone with glowing accolades but hides malicious intent."

Mavick sneered, "Trust him? After what he did to you? He's malice personified!" They tensed, Kurenai looked around and was thankful Miguel is out by the pool on a phone call and aside from Inuyasha's dog demon hearing, the rest of her friends are oblivious to the discussion with their full attention on the TV.

"Now Mav, take it easy," Ren said in a cautionary tone, "That's in the past, people change for the better and Sesshoumaru definitely has. He's the one who offered his help when our sister's struggling, we should be relieved."

"The man who almost liquefied my sister is beside her all the time and is apparently playing house with her. Yeah, that's reassuring."

"V... He's never done anything to me since then, he even saved my life once."

Mavick sighed. While he's thankful that her experience with being betrayed by her own family and a friend that she treated as family didn't turn his sister into a cold, hard person, he wished she'd be weary of letting the freaking demon close to her.

"If he hurts you, I'll fu—"Kurenai glared at him and pointed at the living room to remind him of the children's presence. "Freaking kill him."

"I won't." Sesshoumaru finally spoke and their eyes fell on him, "I will never hurt her." His golden eyes bore intensely into Mavick's deep blues, unaware of Kurenai's heart skipping a beat at his words and his intense delivery.

Ren smirked despite being concerned that these two might just go at it because Sesshoumaru's declaration didn't sit well with his brother judging from the way his stubble-carpeted jaw shifted. After years of chasing boys away, Mavick may have found his match in Sesshoumaru.

Mavick walked towards Sesshoumaru, his features taut and eyes practically ablaze. He stopped inches away from the daiyoukai, "It'll take more than words to convince me," he said in a scathing tone before Kurenai's hand jumped out and grabbed his arm.

"V, not today please..."

The exhaustion in his sister's voice snapped him out of overprotective brother mode and instantly felt guilty. This is the last thing his siblings need, he's supposed to be supporting them, not adding to their misery.

Mavick dug his fingers through his slightly wavy dark brown hair and sighed, "I'm sorry curry." He stroked her hair gently, "I'm gonna get some air," he said and headed out to the backyard.

Sesshoumaru's eyes followed Mavick out into the backyard and watched him light a cigarette. He can't help but feel that there's something more to Mavick's protective compulsion because he would occasionally look at him like he wants him to stay away from his woman, not his sister and it's rousing Sesshoumaru's primal instinct to assert his dominance towards another male.

"I apologize for his aggressive behavior," Kurenai said as she too watched her brother smoke.

"He cares for you," the daiyoukai stated and she turned to him, surprised to be getting a response that is other than a cutting remark after everything that Mavick said.

She chuckled, "He can be a little excessive."

"He scared off any man that showed interest in you for years. Yeah. A little." Ren said sarcastically but got confused by the accusing look that the daiyoukai threw at him, then he realized that he forgot to mention that bit of important information to the Sesshoumaru during their heart-to-heart in New York. He lifted his shoulders and mouthed an apologetic Oops to the daiyoukai.

Oblivious to the exchange, Kurenai rubbed Zodiac's neck when he nudged at her knee, "V's well aware of our history and being an only child until his early twenties, I'm sure he was thrilled to finally have siblings and took the role seriously. We couldn't have asked for a better adoptive brother, he never saw us as a threat to his standing with dad unlike some people in his situation especially considering the amount of fortune he could've had to himself. He's a natural older brother."

Kurenai's fond statement about her brother inadvertently sparked guilt in the daiyoukai. It made Sesshoumaru think that maybe Mavick who cared for Kurenai longer and indiscriminately welcomed her and Ren as part of his family deserves her more than someone like him who endangered Kurenai's life with his own hands and spited his half-brother even with their father's blood they shared in their veins.

For the first time in his life, the daiyoukai learned the bitter taste of jealousy and insecurity in his mouth.