Sesshomaru was on vacation. A few weeks before the death of his brother he had decided he needed a break. As a demon reaching his eighth century Sesshomaru had gained quite a bit of wealth over the years, and now owned a very successful company known internationally. Thus, well past the point of 'the middle of nowhere', Sesshomaru walked down the hallways of his mansion, which was only a small part of his large country estate.

"Shippo" he knocked on the fox's bedroom door. After a couple minutes only silence answered him. Finally he decided to just open the door himself. He peered into the room and looked toward where he knew the bed was. There he saw the young man hunched over on the edge of the mattress with his forehead resting on his knuckles, his sharp elbows digging into his knees. He glared at the floor for a few more seconds before raising his head.

Green piercing eyes moved their gaze to Sesshomaru's own amber irises. The younger demon's hands clenched before him. "I know." was his only reply. He knew what his adoptive uncle was implying. It had already been a week. His mother needed him, yet he had not yet gone to her side. "I'm not ready." He insisted.

Sesshomaru sighed exasperated. "This Sesshomaru has already taught you all you will ever need to protect her." The kit had come to him a few years ago seeking training. Shippo had also known that Inuyasha's death loomed over them. In his old age he had stubbornly remained as Kagome's protector, but even the brash hanyou knew it would not be much longer, and had told Shippo to take his place when he was gone.

Standing he wrung his hands through his flame red hair, tousling it even more than it already was. "You don't get Sesshomaru, I'll never be able to replace him. I'm not ready!"

That was the last straw. "You are ready because I say you are ready! No one but me, your master, has the right to decide this!" In two strides he had Shippo's shirt in his hands. It had been a long time since he had lost his composure this much. "Open your eyes boy! It is time to prove your manhood! My brother is gone he is never coming back, your mother is sensible enough to realize this. Now she is suffering the loss of the person that meant the most to her in the world, and you, her son have not even shown up to bring her comfort." Green orbs widened, and began to glisten. Shippo's knees gave out from his uncle's intensity. Seeing this Sesshomaru released the fox's now crumpled shirt. "She does not desire nor need you to be him." he growled.

Sesshomaru had not seen the miko for a long while, but throughout the years he had come to know her well. He had occasionally been the one to bring that bright entrancing smile to her face, and had come to desire it more. When he had come to realize he'd fallen in love with her, he thought it was not his place. He knew his brother did not see her that way, but they were so intimate in their relationship he felt intrusive. So he distanced himself, and had successfully kept from being in contact with her for fifty years. A century before that they had brief run ins with each other, and every time left him wanting for more. To prevent this he immersed himself in his work keeping busy enough to have an excuse not to come to the family 'get togethers' she scheduled every few years. He exited her life with no plan to walk back into it any time soon even with his brother now gone; no, especially now that his brother was no longer at her side.

"You must do what this Sesshomaru cannot." He murmured, now recomposed and in control of himself. Shippo nodded and picking himself back up onto his feet.

"I will." He said with resolve and determination, and preceded to walk out the door.

"What I will not." He whispered to himself this time. With his brother now gone pursuing her seemed even more taboo. He did not dare to take, what he thought not to be his, from his only family.

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Getting into his car Shippo recalled the look on his uncle's face. He shook his head. If he could not fulfill his role as protector he knew his uncle could. He at least hoped Sesshomaru would pursue the role himself. As he drove towards the airport he thought of the past.

There had been one year when Kagome had insisted they all be together. She wanted to experience each day of the year with every one of her loved ones at least once. Yes this included Sesshomaru. This had been around two centuries ago. Over the course of the year he and Inuyasha had noticed something about Sesshomaru that they guessed had been building for awhile. Who would of thought that the great stoic Ruler of the West could fall in love? Not to mention with his complete opposite not only in personality, but in her entire being.

When Inuyasha first realized it he had a completely different reaction than Shippo had expected. The old temperamental hanyou of five centuries ago would have charged right up to Sesshomaru with Tessaiga raised high, ready to strike a killing blow. He himself had actually kind of hoped something similar to that would have happened. But Inuyasha just smirked, "I wonder if he's gutsy enough to come out with it." Was his only comment on the matter. Well, later when Sesshomaru began to distance himself it was, "That damn idiot! He has no balls whatsoever!"

To Inuyasha his brother's affection was a chance for Kagome to truly be happy. He knew if Sesshomaru pursued his feelings, he would love and protect Kagome with every fiber of his being. He was also someone who could spend the rest of his existence by her side. She would not have to fear a limited amount of time with Sesshomaru. Not only because of the demon lord's life span, but also because there were few demons still living that could match his power.

Albeit he approved of the potential relationship between the two, he refused to interfere or play matchmaker. If Sesshomaru truly wanted her he would not let anything keep he from claiming her as his. Inuyasha expected that after he was gone it would only be a matter of time before his prideful brother made his move.

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hanyou- half demon

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