Chapter Eleven: The Higurashi Shrine

The first thing he became aware of were voices from all around him. His body ached all over, and he released a groan and a hand touched his forehead gently. On impulse, he flinched and tried to shrink back from the touch.

"Easy, it's okay." A woman's voice told him as he struggled to open his eyes.

"Mama should we call the police?" Another voice filled his hearing and he groaned again.

"Not yet, let the guy make that decision."

"Hey mom, I found this outside. It has blood all over it." A small child spoke.

Inuyasha furrowed his brows as his eyes refused to open for him.

"I see, put it down, Sota." The first woman's voice said.

"You shouldn't be harboring a youkai. It's dangerous." An old man's voice filled his ears.

"Grandpa, that's enough." The older woman said. "Now young man, easy." She said as he struggled.

Inuyasha groaned and finally blinked open one eyes, and saw nothing but fuzz. He croaked out as soon as the light signaled that night was over and day was already on them. "Call…brother…"

"Okay. What's the number?"

After some struggled words and finally the number, the phone was pressed to his ear, and he heard a frantic voice answer.

"Hello?"

"Sess." Inuyasha ground out.

"Inuyasha? Kami, where are you?"

He blinked stupidly he had no idea. "Where…?"

The woman took the phone from him and spoke quickly into the phone explaining that she had found him outside their shrine late last night. She gave out the address and then turned to face the boy on her couch.

"Your brother is on his way. He sounds worried." She gave a small smile.

Inuyasha nodded and grunted against the sharp pain in his chest as he tried to breath. His whole body felt like it was on fire from the inside out. "Wh…where…am I?" He forced out between sharp intakes of breath.

"You are at the Higurashi shrine. My daughter Kagome found you outside on the street."

He attempted to nod, but his head pounded furiously. Blinking open his eyes, he was able to make out blurred figures standing around him and he wrinkled his nose. "You are humans." He blurted out.

The woman nodded and touched the welt on his forehead causing him to wince. Pushing away from her fingers he sighed and closed his eyes again. "I've seen your daughter before." He mumbled opening his eyes again, now that the spinning had stopped.

Kagome walked forward and frowned. "You have?" She asked, curiosity filling her words rather then alarm.

Inuyasha grunted and nodded. "I knocked you down at the mall. I was leaving and you were coming in. I remember your face."

Kagome blushed and swallowed. "Oh."

Mrs. Higurashi smiled and stood up. "How long do you think it will take for your brother to…" She stopped and blinked as the bell sounded.

Inuyasha chuckled lightly. "Not long."

Voices entered a room and grew as they walked into the living area. Inuyasha shifted and groaned.

"Baka!" Sesshoumaru growled, kneeling beside the couch.

Inuyasha wrinkled his nose and met his brother's eyes. "Keh! I'm fine." He stated.

Sesshoumaru raised a brow and nodded. "I see that. Have you taken a look at your face?"

Inuyasha shook his head. "No. Can we talk about this later?"

Sesshoumaru scowled. "Indeed." He helped his brother into a sitting position and gripped him tightly as Inuyasha wavered slightly.

Inuyasha shivered. "Wow. Can you make the room stop spinning?" He asked his brother earnestly.

Sesshoumaru snorted. "Sure thing, once I discover the art of that, I will do so."

Inuyasha chuckled. The hanyou's face grew white and his gaze locked onto Sesshoumaru's startled. "Sess…" He muttered.

Sesshoumaru cursed and caught his brother as he fell limp into his arm. "Baka!" Shaking his head, Sesshoumaru eased his brother back onto the couch and reached into his shirt for his cell phone. Dialing quickly, he waited for an answer. "Hai, Toutousai. I need you to come in. Need your help getting this baka into the car."

Snapping the phone closed, Sesshoumaru glanced at the companions in the room and sighed. "You have my thanks." He inclined his head.

Mrs. Higurashi shook her head and looked down at Inuyasha. "My daughter should receive your thanks. Kagome came rushing in after she discovered him and we got him inside."

Kagome blushed scarlet and looked down at her feet. "I thought he was dead." She whispered.

Sesshoumaru glanced over at the young girl and tilted his head to the side. "Are you aware of what happened?"

Kagome shook her head slowly. "I was just coming home from a day with my friends and he was just lying there."

Sesshoumaru nodded and turned as he heard someone approach him from behind. Looking down he raised a brow at the young boy who held a metal bat in his hands.

"I found this in the bushes." The boy flinched at the height. "It has blood on it."

Sesshoumaru reached out and took the bat from the young boy and lifted it to his nose, sniffing along the surface of the bat. "It is Inuyasha's blood, and another scent I can't quite pinpoint." He frowned. "I know this scent." He muttered quietly.

Blinking, he turned his head to glance at his brother's limp form and stared at the hanyou.

"Why would someone want to hurt your brother?" Mrs. Higurashi asked shaking her head, and running her fingers through the silver hair. "He seems like such a nice boy."

Sesshoumaru turned his gaze to the woman and raised a brow. "You look at him as though he were no different then yourself." He stated somewhat surprised.

Mrs. Higurashi glanced up and smiled. "I have no biased opinion towards anyone. You find that surprising?"

Sesshoumaru wrinkled his nose and looked away. There was no lie in the woman's words and now he felt somewhat uncomfortable. Everywhere he had gone, humans looked at him in fear, or terror. Others stared at him due to his unusual appearance, and snickered behind their hands. He didn't have any human friends, usually due to the fact that they thought he would kill them in an instant. Personally, he preferred youkai company, only because they saw the real him, and didn't judge him.

Sesshoumaru glanced over at the young human girl who had found his brother. He couldn't fathom how Inuyasha managed to draw in the human females so easily, and trust them without question. It was more then likely due to his half human heritage that made it so easy, but Sesshoumaru couldn't understand it. He was a full youkai, and didn't have the patience or brash nature his brother did.

The young boy seemed wary of them though. Sesshoumaru felt unease and fear from the boy, but that part of the scent was slowly vanishing in their company. Smirking, Sesshoumaru watched the boy take a step forward and actually tugged on his shirt. Looking down at the youth, he waited.

"Umm ano why do you have marks on your face?" He asked hesitantly.

Mrs. Higurashi gasped and stared at her son. "Souta."

Sesshoumaru blinked and knelt down. "It is my heritage. I was born with these." He waved to his face.

Souta nodded and shyly looked at his feet. "None of the youkai in my school has those." He mumbled.

Sesshoumaru smirked. "Is that so? How old are you, Souta?"

"I'm ten."

Sesshoumaru nodded. "Most youkai do not gain their markings until they hit maturity. Inuyoukai are born with them."

Souta's mouth opened in surprise. "I don't think there are any Inuyoukai at my school."

Nodding, Sesshoumaru smirked. "Inuyoukai are rare. Only a handful left."

"Wow. That's so cool. How come he has ears on his head, and not ears like yours?" Souta asked, curiosity filling every question.

"Inuyasha is half youkai, half human." Sesshoumaru explained.

"Wow a hanyou. That is so cool. I have never met an actual youkai before, except in my school, but they always keep to themselves. Now I've met two." Souta beamed happily.

Sesshoumaru was speechless. He didn't know what to make of this family. The only member of the house that seemed to keep his distance was the old man who stood by the corner, watching every move he made. Smirking, it looked to be a farce on the old mans part, but he didn't question any further in the matter. Lifting his head, he watched Toutousai walk into the room and glance at both brothers.

"Do I even want to know how master Inuyasha got himself into this mess?" Toutousai asked.

Sesshoumaru stood up and shook his head. "We will find out soon." He helped the youkai get Inuyasha up from the couch, and once again nodded his thanks to the family. Just as they were walking out of the shrine, Inuyasha blinked open his eyes with a groan.

"My heads gonna explode." He mumbled.

Sesshoumaru smirked. "Hai." He stated as they placed Inuyasha into the car.

Before long they were back at their house and placing a rather cranky hanyou onto the couch. As soon as Inuyasha was reclined on the couch with several pillows at his back, he glared at his brother who escorted Toutousai to the door.

Eventually Sesshoumaru returned to the living room and stared at him. "Do you mind explaining how you ended up at a human Shrine?"

"Keh! How the hell should I know? All I know is I went for a walk and then I got smashed in the face with something." Inuyasha grumbled crossing his arms.

Sesshoumaru held up the bat. "You got hit with this, baka." He furrowed his brows and closed his eyes, the whole experience falling onto his shoulders. "I thought…"

Inuyasha glanced at his brother curiously, watching the emotions wash across the youkai's face. Surprised, Inuyasha dropped his arms and sighed. "I'm fine, really."

Sesshoumaru nodded and sat down on the edge of the couch. "I had thought I lost you too." He whispered.

Inuyasha gasped, and winced when his brother crushed him to his chest. "Ah!" He cried at the unusual display of affection from his normally stoic brother. "Sess?"

Sesshoumaru shook his head and finally released his brother. "Damn Inuyasha. Did you happen to see who did this to you?"

Inuyasha shook his head. "I really can't remember much. I know I went for a walk to clear my head, and I kinda just let my feet take me. I felt a sharp pain at the base of my skull and then I got shoved into the brick wall. It hurt." He commented. Shrugging his shoulders, he continued. "I remember looking up and then seeing something shiny fly towards my face and that's it."

Sesshoumaru nodded and fingered the bat, sniffing it again. "The scent is somewhat familiar." He stated.

Inuyasha frowned and grabbed the bat. "It is?" He sniffed along the bats surface and winced when he detected his own blood smell. "You're right. Where have we come across this scent before?" His frown deepened.

Sesshoumaru shook his head and took the bat from his brother. His mind recalled everything that had happened up until that point, but the recognition of the scent eluded him. "I don't know. I'll find out soon enough."

Inuyasha allowed his head to flop back onto the pillows and he groaned. "I can't believe I didn't even smell the bugger who snuck on me."

"It is probably someone who is familiar with Inu youkai's sense of smell, Inuyasha. He probably masked his scent in order to approach you."

"Yeah but still, I mean think about it. There is always a scent attached to it. We are usually able to smell something, like the foul odor of old cream, or rotting grass that is connected with the scent masks." Inuyasha sighed, rolling his eyes.

Sesshoumaru nodded. "So you didn't smell any of those?"

Inuyasha shook his head. "Iie. This must be something new."

"I'll have Jaken and Myoga look into it. See if they can find out if there is a new product out to mask scents." Sesshoumaru stated, standing up and placing the bat onto the coffee table.

Inuyasha watched his brother lift his cell phone and vanish from the room. Shaking his head, he reached out for the TV remote and clicked it onto the cartoon network absently. Faintly he could hear his brother talking to someone but couldn't make out all the words. He vaguely heard something about how is she, and his mind immediately ran to his brother's girlfriend who still sat in the hospital. Smirking, Inuyasha wondered if Sesshoumaru had been able to find someone to slip him information on his girlfriend's condition.

Shaking his head, he turned his attention to the TV and watched an episode of roadrunner and Coyote. Snorting, he wondered how anyone could find this sort of cartoon funny. Rolling his eyes at the show, he flicked the remote to another channel and grinned when he saw an action flick fill the screen. Settling himself more comfortably against the couch and pillows, he only faintly heard his brother announce something about the office and being back later.

Shrugging his shoulders, Inuyasha winced at the pounding in his head and drifted off to sleep his last image from the show being an exploding building. What had it been that he was watching?

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Sesshoumaru locked the door and tilted his head at the lawyer who stood beside a rather newish car. Raising a brow in question, Toutousai waved and grinned. "Think you can manage to keep this car intact? I must say the last one looked a bit beat up."

Sesshoumaru ignored the pun and snorted. "Blame that on Inuyasha. He was the one who gave directions to that neighborhood."

Toutousai nodded. "Isn't that where his friend, Shippou lives?"

Sesshoumaru nodded. "Apparently."

Toutousai handed over a set of keys and stepped back while Sesshoumaru climbed into the drivers seat and peered at the interior of the car. It was older then the other but it would suffice. Nodding his head, Sesshoumaru started the car and glanced out the window.

Toutousai shook his head. "You are heading to the office?"

Sesshoumaru nodded. "Hai, there is something I need to do."

Nodding his head, Toutousai pursed his lips. "Regarding the matter you had Bokusenou look into, correct?"

"Hai."

"Be careful Sesshoumaru. From what Bokusenou told me, something happened and the child is an orphan."

Sesshoumaru nodded. "I am aware, Toutousai, I spoke with Bokusenou minutes ago." Shaking his head, he put the car into drive. "Besides that, I must check on the new artifacts that were shipped after I had left yesterday. My father had a problem with items not arriving, or missing from packaging during shipping, and I remember he had been rather angry several times over it."

Toutousai nodded. "Most items were not found. I remember the investigations. Do you know what arrived?"

Shaking his head, Sesshoumaru snorted. "There is a manifest in my office that Saya placed aside for me. I am merely going to check to see if everything is there."

"Have a good day then, Lord Sesshoumaru." Toutousai smirked as Sesshoumaru flinched at the term.

Sesshoumaru pulled out of the driveway and rolled his eyes. There had been several items that he remembered his father mentioning before his death. He remembered the excitement on his father's face and in his voice when he had talked about what was coming. Even though his father didn't spill what it was that had been ordered, or discovered, Sesshoumaru knew it was something important. It had been the night before his birthday that his father had received word on the shipment, and his father had been ecstatic.

Everything had seemed to be pushed aside, everything but his coming of age day however, and that had been the worst night of Sesshoumaru's life. Now the items had been delivered and he was extremely curious as to what those items were. As he merged into the traffic on the main highway into downtown Tokyo, Sesshoumaru thought back to everything that had happened since the mentioning of the shipment.

His father had come home the day before earlier then expected and had slapped him on the back while he was pouring over his calculus books. Sesshoumaru remembered he had been surprised, but even more shocked when his father dragged him into his home office excitedly.

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"Sesshoumaru, how are your studies coming?" His father asked.

Sesshoumaru shrugged. "Well I suppose."

His father seated himself in his recliner and waved at another. "Your coming of age is fast approaching."

Sesshoumaru seated himself and smirked. "Hai, tomorrow."

Mr. Souske feigned mock shock. "Tomorrow? Has so much time past already?" He asked with a wide grin.

Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes. "Why are you home so early father?"

"I received word today that a shipment of ancient artifacts are arriving next month. I must say that I can barely contain my excitement."

Sesshoumaru raised a brow. "What are these items?"

"Ah, that I won't tell you. When they arrive, I would like you to be there and learn how to read the manifest and categorize each item appropriately. I will say this much, they are far older then I am."

Sesshoumaru quirked a brow at that. "They must hold some importance then."

Mr. Souske nodded. "Extreme importance, Sesshoumaru. These items have been lost for so long and now they have surfaced. They are secret, and should word escape on what they are, then I can only imagine the power struggles that would erupt over their possession."

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Sesshoumaru furrowed his brow as he took the off ramp into the district of his father's office. Were these items that important? Had the word of their arrival escaped? Was this somehow connected to what had happened the next night and his father's death? Clenching his teeth, he remembered that night all too well.

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"Hey Sess?" Inuyasha asked running into his room.

Sesshoumaru looked up from his desk and stared at his younger brother. "What do you want, Inuyasha?"

"Do you still have that old haori that you used to wear out?"

"Hai." Sesshoumaru nodded, as he rose from his desk. "Why?"

"Can I borrow it? Mine seems to have gone for a walk."

Sesshoumaru snorted and pulled the deep blue haori from his closet. "Don't spill anything on it."

Inuyasha snorted. "That had been my plan the whole time. Keh! Thanks, Sess." The hanyou walked out of the room, but stopped and turned his head. "Hey when do we leave?"

"An hour." Sesshoumaru sighed returning to his desk.

"Are you going in your casual clothes?" Inuyasha asked waving at Sesshoumaru's blue jeans and black t-shirt.

"Iie. I will get ready in a minute." He grumbled trying to memorize the formula for his test coming up in two days. "Let me finish this."

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He had been so engrossed with trying to figure out the formula, that he had lost track of time and had to get ready quickly. His father had come up into his room and had laughed when his announcement of leaving had startled him so much. Smirking, Sesshoumaru remembered how quickly he had gotten ready and they had left hurriedly.

"Sesshoumaru, you are coming with us, correct?" His father asked walking into the room.

"Hai, of course, Chichi."

"Then perhaps you should look at your watch." His father chuckled.

Sesshoumaru frowned and looked at his wrist and paled at the time. "Oh! Wow!" He stood up so quickly he knocked over his chair. "I was only trying to figure this equation out."

"Ah, well when we get home tonight, I will see if I can be of assistance. Hurry and get ready." His father left and Sesshoumaru scrambled around the room trying to sort through his already frazzled mind.

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Sesshoumaru pulled into the parking lot and exited the car. He wondered if everything that had happened up until this point had a connection to the artifacts that had arrived. His father had mentioned that many would want possession over them, and he furrowed his brows trying to sort through everything.

Since the mention of the artifacts, his father and stepmother had been killed. He and Inuyasha were threatened, their house burnt to the ground, and now his brother being beaten silly.

Narrowing his eyes, he walked towards the building and completely walked past Bokusenou who waited for him. Sesshoumaru had missed seeing the lawyer.

"Sesshoumaru? Not going to greet me?" Bokusenou joked.

Sesshoumaru shook his head and looked back surprised. "Gomen Bokusenou. I was thinking."

Bokusenou patted him on the back. "So much like your father. Usually he never heard me and I had to follow him to his office, so engrossed with thought he was."

Sesshoumaru chuckled. "What have you discovered?"

"On the child?" The lawyer asked.

"Hai."

Bokusenou shrugged. "Actually not much. She is terrified and completely disengaged from the world."

"She?" Sesshoumaru frowned.

"Yes. A human girl. I am not certain how long she has been hiding out in the ally, but it has been at least a few weeks. She refuses to speak or acknowledge anyone, or me so it had to have been something traumatic."

Sesshoumaru nodded. "I trust she is still in the ally then?"

Bokusenou nodded. "You are concerned for this child?" He asked confused. "Why?"

"Concerned? Iie. Curious, hai." Sesshoumaru glanced around and waved for Bokusenou to go into the building while he slipped into the ally. Immediately, he detected the scent of blood and filth and he winced. Was the girl hurt? Furrowing his brows, he made his way over to the box and saw her curled up under the ratty blanket, whimpering in her sleep.

Reaching out his hand, he poked her shoulder and she shot up instantly, mouth open in a silent scream of terror.

Sesshoumaru pulled back slightly and produced a small bag of cheese and crackers he had prepared at home before leaving. Her eyes wandered to the bag and then up to his eyes. Warily, her small hands took the bag, while shaking uncontrollably and clutched it to her chest.

Sesshoumaru sat back and watched her actions carefully. She was very young and filled with fear, but it wasn't directed at him, and he pondered this. "I am Sesshoumaru." He whispered gently.

Her eyes shot up to his and locked onto the golden orbs. Her mouth opened to say something but nothing escaped her lips. Sesshoumaru remained still watching her as she fought with herself and she shook her head slowly, large tears rolling down her face.

"I won't harm you." He whispered, and her eyes widened shocked. The girl looked down at her tightly clutched bag and then a small smile crossed her face. "Would you like something hot to eat?" He asked.

The girl seemed to ponder his request but eventually she nodded, and quickly stood up and ran down the ally much to Sesshoumaru's confusion. He waited for a few minutes and then saw her approach once again, holding something behind her back. Curios, Sesshoumaru watched her walk up to him and she waved to the building and then pointed to him.

Confused, he frowned. "Are you asking if I work here?"

The girl nodded, and then her little finger found his stripe and ran over it.

Shocked, Sesshoumaru swallowed and nodded. "I am the owner."

The girl nodded happily and produced the item from behind her back and placed it into his hand. Sesshoumaru stared at it and turned it over. It was a golden colored item molded together in a circle. Several smaller rings clicked together as he moved it and he lifted his eyes to the young girl.

"What is this?" He whispered.

The girl wrapped his hand around it and patted the top of his hand happily, and made her way past him towards the street. Startled, Sesshoumaru gathered his feet and followed the girl, who climbed the steps of his building and she turned and waved to him with a large smile on her face.

Shaking himself out of his stupor, Sesshoumaru arrived at the girls side and both made their way into his building and to the elevator with Bokusenou standing there holding it open surprised at the appearance of the human child.

Sesshoumaru shook his head and the three of them entered the car and took it up to his office. The small girl ran into the room and looked around curiously. The youkai turned to the lawyer and whispered. "Can you bring up a hot meal for the child? I will see if I can get her to clean up a little."

Bokusenou nodded and chuckled. "It seems to me, she is dirty for one of two reasons. She doesn't care of her appearance, or she doesn't want to be recognized."

Sesshoumaru nodded and creased his brows at that. "Perhaps. All the same, the smell is torturing my nose." He snorted and turned away from the youkai. "Oh, and see if you can find information on this thing." He stated handing the lawyer the object the girl had given him.

Bokusenou turned and glanced down at the hand and froze. His face paled and he gulped at the object. "Where did you get that?" He hissed.

Sesshoumaru frowned at the lawyer's reaction and stared into his hand. What was so special about this thing? The girl had had it hidden and now the lawyer's reaction to it. "The girl had it." He mumbled.

Bokusenou swallowed and shoved the object back towards Sesshoumaru, glancing around fearfully. "Hide that thing, now!" He hissed sharply. Turning around to head out of the office he whispered. "I will explain when I return."

Sesshoumaru raised a brow curiously and shoved the item into his pocket. What ever this thing was it obviously had his lawyer rattled. Shaking his head, Sesshomaru watched the small child in his office move around inspecting everything inside. From the books on the shelves, to the stands holding items, all the way to the treated wood of his desk.

"Come girl, let us get you cleaned up." He spoke softly so he didn't startle her.

The girl turned around to face him and her eyes darted around nervously, as though expecting something to pop out of nowhere and attack her.

"You fear to be recognized?" He asked and sniffed at her nod of confirmation. "Do not be, you are safe here."

The girl seemed to relax slightly and followed him into the small bathroom in his office. Sesshoumaru handed her a cloth and a bar of soap and pointed to the small shower in the corner.

The girl glanced at him and watched as he exited the room shutting the door behind him allowing her a tiny bit of privacy.

Once Sesshoumaru closed the door, he wandered to his desk and picked up the manifest of the items that were shipped. They were listed from the highest priority to the lowest and he glanced at the boxes in the corner. So far everything looked intact, but he would find out if everything listed were indeed in the boxes upon further inspection.

He was somewhat curious about several of the objects listed, and he couldn't wait to see them for himself. The door to his office opened and Bokusenou wandered in carrying a plate of steamy breakfast and in his other hand he held a clean kimono for the girl. Smirking, he stood up and nodded in the direction of the bathroom and Bokusenou nodded, smiling knowingly.

Sesshoumaru carried the manifest over to the boxes and opened the first one. "What can you tell me about that object I showed you?" Sesshoumaru asked without turning his head.

"Sesshoumaru, there is much to tell you regarding certain artifacts that come in and out of this office. Some of which I don't know about, and others I do." Bokusenou started, pulling a chair back from the desk to sit in it. "The artifacts I do know about all belong to the time of Medieval Japan, some even older then that Sesshoumaru. I believe one artifact that your father was searching for belonged to the Jomon and Yayoi eras. I wasn't even alive back then."

Sesshoumaru snorted loudly. "I figured out that much." He turned his head and glared at the magnolia youkai. "How idiotic do you think I am? Weren't you born during the Medieval Era?"

"The latter part, hai. I wasn't born until well after the Onin War. My father met Ashikaga Yoshimasa just shortly after he met my mother and she was carrying me. Eventually the Onin war initiated the warring states period, also known as the Sengoku jidai, which was a more popular term back then. I believe your father was born during this era.

"Hai, he was born when many humans declared themselves daimyo, which in turn led to massive power struggles to dominate all of Japan. I did not ask you for a history lesson, Bokusenou. I know all about these eras from my schooling. I merely asked for information on these artifacts. Nothing more."

Bokusenou sighed. "That item you showed me, Sesshoumaru. Place it on the table."

Sesshoumaru furrowed his brows but did as he was asked, and placed it on the desk. He noticed Bokusenou's nervousness, and refusal to touch it. "This item, it is from the Sengoku Jidai. It belonged to a monk who was cursed with a wind tunnel. When word first reached your grandfather regarding this monk, your father was but a mere pup."

"Cursed?" Sesshoumaru frowned deeply.

Bokusenou nodded. "Hai, cursed. His curse came about by his father angering a youkai, or human. I can't remember for sure. But this curse led to him possessing the wind tunnel."

"What is this wind tunnel?"

Bokusenou shook his head. "I never crossed paths with this monk, but rumor had it where he could suck up anything into this Kazanaa and defeat a high ranking youkai lord without breaking a sweat."

"Ridiculous." Sesshoumaru snarled, turning away and heading back to the boxes he was inspecting.

"I am serious, Sesshoumaru. You weren't even an itch in your father's pants when this monk was around." Bokusenou saw Sesshoumaru stiffen at the implication of his words. "But seriously, this monk was real, this is evidence of that."

"It doesn't look like much." Sesshoumaru muttered his back turned to the magnolia youkai.

"It still has some of its former power, I can feel it." Bokusenou shuddered.

Sesshoumaru snorted and pulled an item from the box he was looking in. "What in the world is this thing?" He asked, holding up a strange looking necklace.

Bokusenou gasped and got to his feet. "It can't be!" He exclaimed. "It's a rosary. Why are these turning up now of all times?"

Sesshoumaru tilted his head to the side, rather bored. "Huh?"

Bokusenou shivered and rubbed his arms. "Back to the history lesson. There was a hanyou who traveled with the monk who bore these around his neck. I didn't really hear much else other then these beads were magical."

"And how do you figure that these are those beads exactly?"

Bokusenou glared at the youth. "I don't. Coincidence maybe?"

Shaking his head, Sesshoumaru smirked. 'Magical? Hnn.' He placed the beads onto the bookshelf and pulled out an antique sword. The large red bulb at the end was faded and it seemed to be locked within its sheath. Shrugging his shoulders, he placed that onto the floor and pulled out the next object and hissed when it felt like his fingers were being seared off. Blinking, he stared at the half pink object and snarled at it.

Bokusenou raised a brow turning to face Sesshoumaru. "What are you growling at?" He sighed.

Before he was able to respond, the bathroom door opened revealing the young girl wrapped in a towel.

Sesshoumaru turned his head, the items in the box forgotten and quickly gathered the kimono and handed it to her. Once she was locked back in the room, Sesshoumaru returned to his inspections, having forgotten all about the pink object. Using a cloth, he moved the pink thing into the corner of the box and raised a single brow at a zip lock bag containing some small brown items and he lifted it with his brow rising above his bangs.

Turning around with a rather peeved look on his face, he held it out for Bokusenou to see. "Mind telling me how this, is an antique?" He asked, shaking the bag of acorns for emphasis.

Bokusenou burst into laughter. "My dear Sesshoumaru. There are many things that you will never understand. Your father didn't understand them, so you certainly won't either."

"That does not answer my question, Bokusenou. How are acorns supposed to be artifacts?"

Bokusenou caught the flash in Sesshoumaru's eyes, and gulped. "Uhh. Well they were often used by Kitsune to disguise their youketsu. Or call upon their youketsu, which ever helped them when they were in danger."

"So these are ancient acorns?" Sesshoumaru drawled. Snorting, he tossed the bag onto the bookshelf and pulled out a child's toy. "Let me guess, this toy is used for play between children? Correct?" He held up the spinning top and watched Bokusenou's reaction.

"Umm, Sesshoumaru, perhaps you should leave those items for now?" He gulped.

Sesshoumaru snarled softly and tossed the top beside the acorns and retrieved the shiny pink object with the same cloth he had pushed it aside with. "Perhaps you can explain this?" He said between clenched teeth, holding the item carefully in the cloth so it dangled below the protection of the cloth.

"That's…" Bokusenou paled, he flinched away from the object and took a step back.

Sesshoumaru furrowed his brows, but quickly hid the object when the bathroom door opened revealing a clean orphan. He walked forward and nudged his head for the lawyer to leave, and he guided the girl to the plate of food Bokusenou had prepared for her.

The girl grinned happily and stood on her tiptoes to inspect the food and frowned when voices filtered into the room. Turning around surprised and shocked, Sesshoumaru pressed his lips together.

To his surprise the girl whirled around and dove under his desk, completely covered by the mahogany sides, and he turned around in time to see Naraku slam open the door and grin from ear to ear. "Ahh! Sesshoumaru! It is such a pleasure to see you again."