Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters from that show.

Acknowledgments: I didn't come up with the idea of this story. I got it off from a challenge on Ssp from Forest Karma.

Author: JenNie Beta: Icewings & Firevixen

[The Hidden Voice]

Chapter 4

The Mysterious Bonsai Tree

Sesshoumaru stood while gently pressed his forehead against the cold, smooth glass window. When he looked down through the window, he could barely make out tiny black dots. Those tiny black dots were all the people hurriedly walking to their obligated places. If he looked right across from him, there was another huge building similar to the one he was in, which was also part of the Mikadzuki Estate.

"Mikadzuki?"

He slowly turned to face a tall, slim woman.

"It's your mother. She called earlier requesting to speak with you, but you were in a very important meeting. She left a message," the woman said warily.

Sesshoumaru's usually bored eyes looked hardly interested in hearing the message.

"'Please come home for your brother's birthday.' That's all she said," the woman stated bowing her head.

Sesshoumaru didn't reply anything to his secretary. Instead, he dismissed her with a flick of his wrist. She left immediately. If Sesshoumaru had been paying attention to her departure, he would have seen the sour look on her face.

He sat down on one of his expensive, leather chairs in front of his marble table and thought about the request.

'Mother wishes for me to come home. Why not go home?

It could be a warm family reunion.' Sesshoumaru thought sarcastically.

- - - -

"Kagome, come take a look at this!" cried an excited Miki.

From Kagome's position, gazing at a black Airedale terrier, she hurriedly walked to where Miki crouched excitedly pointing at two white puppies.

"Two huskies! "cried Miki while pressing her palms against the glass.

The puppies were beautiful to say the least. One puppy had elegant blue eyes that sparkled, and the other had shining golden ones that glowed. Their fur looked as if grime and filth could never affect it.

Kagome could have sworn that if the two puppies were placed in some sort of dog contest, they would definitely win.

"They're-they're breathtaking!" Kagome said slowly.

While looking up, Miki questioned," How much do you think they cost? "

Kagome shrugged, but placed her own palm against the clear glass. The puppy with glowing golden eyes curiously pawed at the area where her palm rested. Kagome smiled at the cute, innocent gesture from the gorgeous puppy. How she would love to own such a precious thing!

Her cheery smile soon turned upside down to form a slight frown.

"Such a thing would cost at least five-hundred dollars," Kagome said dreadfully. (Sorry, I don't know yen.)

"Ah, O well," said Miki straightening up," besides; we backup-dancers don't have the time to take care of pets. Remember what happened to your genie pig?"

Kagome gazed guiltily at the checkered floor.

' Ah yes, the genie pig incident. I should have known Miki would remember the story. '

"It was an accident," Kagome muttered sheepishly.

"Yes, yes, it was a total accident when you left poor Lucky in your dark, lonesome closet," Miki dragged on jokingly, " It survived a total of three months! I suppose it's the only thing to survive that long under your care."

' O please don't tell me she remembers the fish incident too. '

Before Miki could say more, Kagome purposely yanked her out of the pet store. She was determined to have an enjoyable time at the mall. Secretly, Kagome was plotting a plan to spend like hell.

Hours past by, and by the time the two girls had considered how long they were spending at the mall, it was well past eight; soon to be nine. During the time after which Kagome settled her idea on their never-ending shopping spree, they had bought: seven shirts (each a different shade of striking blue for Kagome), three pairs of jeans, a dozen of matching knee-high white socks, three matching gold bracelets with adorable charms, two dresses, a 'I'm missing you!' Card, and last but not least, two pairs of Sasha dancing sneakers. (For the upcoming concert.)

Even though their spending was undeniably costly, Kagome was well satisfied of all the things she had purchased.

The third bracelet they had bought, as well as the card, was for Sango. Kagome knew well that her close friend had left Japan in haste to revise her modern dancing technique in New York. But what Kagome could not figure out was why? Sango was proud of her technique. Why change the way she was accustomed to dancing? Maybe she really wished to study a different style. If so, why leave in such a hurry? Was she that determined to learn?

Kagome knew good and well that the truth ran a lot deeper than from what she thought. It was very much possible that Hiten had something to do with Sango's sudden departure.

"What do you think, Kagome?"

"Huh?"

Kagome was slightly confused as to why Miki was holding up a black shirt, which had the brand name 'South Pole', that was at least three times her size. What was even more confusing was that the shirt clearly was for men.

'Miki wants a shirt that's for men?'

"Kakko Ä« ?" Kagome answered bewildered.

Miki eyed the shirt more skeptically.

Then the thought struck her.

' OH! That's right! It's her brother's birthday. '

"What kind of brother do you have?" questioned Kagome, "Does he happen to have an interest in Martial Arts?"

Kagome had a brother of her own named Souta. He had taken a great liking in Martial Arts since she could remember, and he was very much interested in it. It really wouldn't be a coincidence if Miki's brother did too.

"I think so," affirmed Miki while placing down the shirt, "I'm not so sure now because the last time he dueled against our elder brother, he lost big time and declared that he 'hated it anyways'."

While pouting slightly, Miki whined, "I need to get him the perfect gift! I already bought the first half of his present."

Thinking thoughtfully to herself, Kagome came to a conclusion.

"Why don't you get him a katana?" suggested Kagome sensibly.

At Kagome's suggestion, Miki brightened up.

"Yeah! Of coarse! That would be the ideal thing to get for that evil brother of mine!" cheered Miki while clapping her hands together.

Beaming happily, Miki thanked Kagome but then dragged her to their last and final store for the day.

' Bro, you're going to be so surprised after you see what I got for you! ' Miki gleefully thought.

- - - -

No matter how many times Sesshoumaru told himself that he would regret coming, he could not bring himself to stop what he had set out to do. His decision was already made. He would come visit and stay for the maximum total of three days. Once those days were up, he would leave immediately. That was all to it.

It wasn't like he was unsure of what to do. He knew exactly what consequences he would have to face: endless annoyance from the intolerable Inuyasha, more annoyance if Inuyasha happens to have female guests, boredom when he finishes unnerving most people, etc. The list was endless.

After closing and locking his car door, Sesshoumaru approached a large manor.

He wasn't surprised to not see any difference in how well the front garden was kept. Everything looked exactly the same way it did the last time he came to visit.

He spotted the all too familiar bonsai tree.

It was a small tree that his mother had informed he and his younger siblings to take care of. At the time, not one of them had exceeded the age of 10. Did his mother really anticipate that they would care for it?

Sesshoumaru thought that he would rather cut his throat first. He wasn't a plant person. It was true that he admired the potted tree culture, but that didn't necessarily mean that he'd go around planting them. Even though he wasn't exactly Mr. Green-thumb, it was his perpetual respect for his mother that kept his mouth shut.

It really was astonishing on how the diminutive tree was still alive on the account that they had neglected to water it countless times. If he recalled correctly, Inuyasha had nearly dropped the bonsai when he was repotting it.

' He was always clumsy. .' Sesshoumaru thought amusingly.

- - Flash Back - -

Sesshoumaru and his siblings clustered around their mother's sitting form. She had one hand resting on her lap while the other clutched a colorful dish with a strange plant in it.

"You see this? Do you know what it is?" their mother questioned gently.

It was quiet a few seconds before Miki responded," Hai. It is a bonsai tree."

She smiled and ran her free hand through her hair.

"Sou desu ne. It is a small tree. I want you all to take care of it," she smiled warmly to all of them.

Sesshoumaru stared at the odd plant. His mother wanted them to take care of that thing? This so-called bonsai plant looked nothing like a tree. One reason was because it was way too short! Maybe it was a weak tree, or maybe it was cursed. Sesshoumaru couldn't help but wonder about all the possible reasons to why the unusual tree was shorter than him!

"Okasan, Inuyasha won't take good care of it!" whined Miki.

'Clever girl,'

"Of coarse he will," their mother embraced a five-year-old Inuyasha in a hug," won't you, Inu-chan?"

"Hai, Okasan!" squeaked an excited Inuyasha.

"What about you, Sesshoumaru?" asked their mother.

Sesshoumaru slowly nodded his head. He was uncertain if he liked the idea of taking care of the mysterious Bonsai tree.

"I'm going to tell Otusan!" cried Miki gleefully.

With that, she hurriedly stood and dashed away followed closely by Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha.

- - End Of Flash Back - -

Sesshoumaru was right about to knock on the door when he heard the distinct sound of splashing water.

Two seconds later, he heard a female voice cry out," INNNNUUUUUYAASHHHAA! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"

[ Author's notes ]

I wrote this chapter because I felt that I needed to explain some things. Actually, It was crucial that I wrote this chapter, or else, most readers who didn't get the clues in chapter three would be confused. I called it ' The Mysterious Bonsai Tree' because Sesshoumaru was only nine during the flash back, and let's just say that even though he's very intelligent for a nine-year-old, he had no clue to what a bonsai tree was. I gave the chapter this title also because it shows what relationship Sesshoumaru has with Miki and Inuyasha. Most people know by now that they're all related. =]

Next chapter: Things Seen Behind A Singer's Eyes

They all think I have a perfect life, but did I really? Did I have a perfect life? I already knew the answer. I wouldn't be thinking about this if I had a perfect life.

I wouldn't be thinking about vanishing.

How would I ever be able to pull it off?

I could pay someone to take my place temporarily. No, that won't do. No one would ever believe my impersonator because they were all too familiar with my appearance. Unless. .

Unless Higurashi took my place. .

I know most people don't like Kikyo much, but I neither like her nor resent her. I won't 'bash' her and make her seem like an evvvil character, but she's not getting any guys in this story. Please leave reviews. They honestly make me more devoted to writing more.

I'm not Japanese and I do not speak their language. I'm very sorry if I spelled the Japanese words wrong or if I improperly used them in a sentence. I'm going to Japan this summer and my mom wanted me to learn how to say some things for our benefit. --'' If you have any advice for me, please tell me! Well, here's a mini-dictionary to the words I used. Have a great summer!

Kakkoi: Cool/ trendy

Hai: yes

Sou desu ne: That is right/that is so

Okasan: Mother

Otusan: Father

Katana: Some sort of Japanese sword.

Bonsai tree: The word bonsai is derived from two Chinese characters, meaning a tree planted in a shallow container. The word is pronounced "bone- sigh". Bonsai is an art form that is composed partly of horticulture and partly three-dimensional design. To qualify as a bonsai, the growing miniature tree must be both a representation of nature and creative expression.