Chapter 4: Uncoordinated

Sesshomaru snarled to himself. How could he lose control like that? He was glad that his father was going to tell Inuyasha tonight; he didn't think he could stand this much longer. Sesshomaru decided to clear his head.

After trying to meditate in a cave for about an hour, he gave up and headed back towards the castle. All he could think about was Inuyasha… How good he smelled. How soft his skin was. And the bulge in his pants was getting very uncomfortable. He would have to call a concubine when he got back to the castle.

Meanwhile, Inuyasha was sneaking into the herb cellar. It was easy to steal the key from his father's study, but not so easy to get in. He didn't want anyone to see him going there, in case they might suspect what he was doing. Of course, he didn't normally run into that many people, but nowadays they would come looking for him because they smelled his heat scent. Even the servants. Luckily, they controlled themselves. They knew better then to attack Inu-taisho's son.

After several minuets of stopping and leaning nonchalantly on a wall whenever someone passed, Inuyasha slipped into the cellar. The only light came from torches on the walls, and the air was so thick with the smell of herbs that Inuyasha had to cover his sensitive nose. He stepped further into the damp cellar, looking carefully for the Ever-root.

Ever root was an extremely rare herb that completely blocked the scent of a youkai; even one in heat. It only lasted a day or two, but that would be long enough to get a good ways away from the castle.

Inuyasha finally found it and stuffed the slightly moist, ground up root into his pockets. He sighed in relief. He really wanted to get out of this dark, creepy place. Spider webs lined the walls and corners and a small moth fluttered drunkenly around a torch. Inuyasha turned and started to leave, his footsteps echoing in the dark cavern. Suddenly a bony white hand latched onto his shoulder.

Inuyasha screamed in alarm and spun around. It was Namie, the creepy old herb keeper. He had only seen glimpses of her, seeing as he had never needed to go down to the cellar before. But she was so old that he thought she died a long time ago.

"Do you need something dearie?" she asked in her scratchy old voice.

"N-no, um, I just got lost, that's all…" Inuyasha stuttered, backing away.

"Oh, okay then dearie." She said, retreating back into the shadows. Inuyasha shuddered and ran as quickly as he could out of the cellar. He was lucky she was completely off her rocker.

Inuyasha now had everything he needed. He could easily live of the land for a few days and his father's castle was on an island, so all he had to do was follow the river to the ocean where he could stow away on a ship.

He decided to visit the gardens one last time… because if he pulled this off he would most likely never see them again.

And so he sat under that same sakura tree. His mother's tree. For a moment he forgot everything that had happened, going back to that innocent time when nothing mattered… All those carefree days, sitting under that tree in his mother's warm embrace. The sound of her voice as she softly sung him to sleep. Listening to the wind rustling the leaves on the tree.

The tree that was now her grave.

She had died years ago, of malaria. Now she was buried under her favorite tree, which now had an emblem carved into it.

"Sorry I have to leave you mom." Inuyasha said, picking a few flowers and placing them at the foot of the tree, kneeling there. "I can't stay here any longer. I'm too afraid. Please understand."

Soft petals floated down and landed on top of his head, but he didn't brush them off. A silent tear tricked down his face.

He stayed there until the sun began it's decent, shining golden rays across the castle.

'Oh no.' he thought. 'I'd better get out of here.' He hopped up and started running towards the secret exit.

Meanwhile

Inu-taisho sighed to himself. How was he going to explain this? He knew Inuyasha wouldn't take it well. Sesshomaru had tormented him quite a bit, and it got worse when his mother died.

Of course, he knew that the both of them would get used to it eventually.

Now outside the castle grounds, Inuyasha quickly rubbed the Ever-root all over himself, being careful not to miss a spot. By the time that was done, the sky was pink and yellow from the setting sun. Inuyasha took off, following the river.

About an hour later, Inu-taisho drummed his fingers against the dinner table anxiously.

"My lord, don't worry." Myoga assured him. "It is not uncommon for Inuyasha to be late for dinner."

"I know." Inu-taisho sighed. But as the meal progressed, Inuyasha still didn't come.

Inu-taisho waited until it was completely dark outside before calling out servants to search the grounds. Still, no one could find him.

"Excuse me my lord, may I have a word?"

Inu-taisho was startled when turned around to see Namie. Wasn't she dead or something?

"I saw the commotion, and I thought you should know that Master Inuyasha took some Ever-root from the cellar and then I saw him slip through a hole in the castle wall…" she said before shuffling back towards the cellar.

Inu-taisho was shocked. "He must have run away… And he took Ever-root! Now we'll never find him. But, why would he do such a thing…?"

"Father, allow me to retrieve him." Said Sesshomaru, appearing out of no where. Inu-taisho nodded and Sesshomaru immediately set off, scaling the castle wall in one leap. He felt like it was his responsibility to find his mate; after all it was most likely his loosing control that scared him off. Guilt was not an emotion he was used to feeling… And he didn't like it.

Niko Mane: Well, I hope you likie! . Please R&R!