A/N: Wow…another chappie so soon.

Sweet.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inu Yasha. If—and God forbid if I did—own it, then Sesshomaru, Naraku, and Bankotsu would never see the light of day.

….except from behind my bedroom door.

Italics thoughts

Bold Italics Memories/Flashbacks

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Sesshomaru cradled Naoko's frail body in his arms. Surveying the damage done to her, he wasn't so sure that she would survive, but one look at the already-fading bruises on her left hand, he knew better.

"I'm a healer…"

So she was. Her wound on her shoulder was only a minor injury, but it was the one on her back that still bled. He knew it would stop bleeding on its own, but he didn't know when.

A low growl to his right had him tightening his grip on the youkai heiress in his arms. Sukyako had regained consciousness, and the bastard looked just a little too happy.

"Ah, the bitch must be dead from all the blood-loss. Her land is mine for the taking." The fool should have kept his mouth shut. When he tried to stand, he was met with the ice-cold glare of the proprietor of the land he coveted.

"Oh…Lord Sesshomaru. What a pleasant surprise."

"Leave the Western Lands, Lord Sukyako. You cannot claim this portion of my lands under Youkai Law. You challenged the Lady Naoko and lost in front of witnesses. Under the Law, you are only able to challenge another youkai land owner once every generation."

"I know the Code of Conduct, inu-kodomo." He stood and bowed, eyes mocking Sesshomaru, then he turned on his heel to leave.

"What a jerk," Kagome commented, and half-considered purifying his pompous ass into oblivion. Thinking better of it, she followed Sesshomaru inside.

Sango watched with interest as Naoko's servants hurried to clean the blood left behind by their mistress. "They're acting so…casual, as if it's every day work."

Myoga bounced onto her shoulder, "That's because it is everyday work. I doubt this is the first time that Naoko has been challenged. Naturally, her servants must be well-versed with the Youkai Code of Conduct."

At her blank stare, Shippo spoke from in front of her, "It's pretty simple. If you're a Youkai Lord, another youkai can challenge you if they wish to add your land to theirs. Sesshomaru gave the condensed version: You can only be challenged once by any youkai per generation. The challenger states the terms of the challenge. It's usually a one-on-one fight to the death."

Miroku raised a brow. "I'm impressed, Shippo. I had no idea you were so knowledgeable." The kit scoffed, "Oh, please. Any youkai with a half a brain practically knows Youkai Law from birth. Look at Inu Yasha. He's a half breed with half a brain and even he knows the Law—Ow!"

Inu Yasha punched the kid again just for spite. "Shut up, brat." Kagome questioned him, "So you do know it, then?" The hanyou shrugged, "It's no big deal. Myoga taught it to me on and off since I was a kid."

Sesshomaru ignored their meaningless chatter and shifted the unconscious youkai in his arms. She was barely breathing, but her servants were not in a state of worry. One of them—the same one who prepared his room—came to his side and clucked her tongue in what sounded like pity.

"Another challenge from a Youkai Lord…." She sighed in exasperation. "Well at least she did relatively better than Lord Kousuke." She watched the Daiyoukai with calculating eyes; carefully studying his predictable reaction.

And it was pretty damn predictable.

His eyes widened a fraction of an inch and his lips formed a thin line. He knew of Lord Kousuke. He just didn't know how the great Lord had passed on to the afterlife. He had assumed that the old bear been poisoned just like the rumors stated. But according to Naoko's servant, that was not the case. Before he could question the elder servant, she ushered him away from the others.

"It's best if we speak in the North Wing, Lord Sesshomaru. We will not be bothered and I can tend to milady's wounds." With a sharp whistle, a small group of servants were there to take care of Inu Yasha and his companions.

The Daiyoukai agreed with a nod and followed the old one up a large stair case and through large wooden doors inscribed with Lord Raizen's insignia: a tree with a lightning shaped scar on its bough. That's when he remembered where they were. The North Wing belonged to Lord Raizen and it was Naoko's haven when she couldn't handle the pressure of being heiress to a Daiyoukai's land.

They came to a room with a large bed covered with furs. The servant instructed that he place her Mistress on the bed so that she could clean the wounds. He obeyed and averted his head as she removed Naoko's kimono.

"He wasn't poisoned at all," Sesshomaru stated and waited for the servant to speak.

"Iie, he wasn't. Shortly after Lord Raizen passed, he came to the front gate, issuing a challenge to my Mistress. My poor Mistress was still in turmoil from her parents' passing but dutifully accepted the challenge." She put Naoko on her belly and pulled the kimono down her Lady's back. The wound from Sukyako was already healed and was quickly fading. But it was the scars that were beneath the wound that had her sighing with remembrance.

"Look, Lord Sesshomaru. The damage done to Lady Naoko is permanent and no amount of youki could heal the wounds inflicted by Lord Kousuke's claws."

Reluctantly, he looked and was immediately surprised. The scars were not as horrible as the servant made them seem, but just by the look of them, he could tell that the receiving of the scars was brutal.

"My Lady returned to her chambers so badly wounded that we all feared she would die." The old youkai adjusted her Mistress' kimono and ran her fingers through her hair. "But thank Kami; he did not take her from us."

He watched the old woman leave and moved to sit on the bed beside Naoko. Listening, to her quiet, even breathing, he could not help but feel guilty. Her land was a part of his. What kind of Daiyoukai was he to not know of her family's struggles? He didn't even have the correct information on her father's and Lord Kousuke's demise!

Closing his eyes, he placed a hand over hers and bowed his head in what looked like respect. In reality, he was bowing in apology.

"Gomen nasai, Naoko-san. Your Daiyoukai asks for your forgiveness. I am a poor example of a Daiyoukai to ignore the problems of my people."

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A/N: Mwahahaha I have made the great Lord Fluffy feel guilt! Ah, life is good. I'll update soon. Graduation is only 8 days away.

Review please!