Chapter 7

Recovering himself Inuyasha glared right back at his father, his hackles up and extremely wary but unable to back down, his pride getting the better of him.

That suited Mattaki just fine, giving him a reason to lay hands on the brat for the first time. Reaching out faster than Inuyasha could even see he had ahold of his son and dragged him into his face, his kariginu held so tightly it was actually cutting off circulation.

Stunned, Inuyasha didn't move for a moment, but then his temper caught up with him and he started thrashing, ignoring the fact that his father's sharp claws were actually cutting into his throat as he tried to get away.

His father just stood there effortlessly holding Inuyasha above the ground, and for all the boy's thrashing his hold wasn't loosed an inch. He watched his son fight his grip with a bored expression on his face that only egged the hanyou on. Finally however, weakening from a lack of oxygen, his struggling form slowed in its movements and he went limp, his vision beginning to go dark even as the tang of blood from the many cuts on his neck from his father's claws caused said father's eyes to flash crimson.

Mattaki waited until he knew Inuyasha was nearly unconscious before loosening his hold and allowing the limp form of his obnoxious son to fall to the ground. He landed hard, which served the purpose of waking him back up.

"Are you done, or do you wish to go another round?" he asked Inuyasha coldly, staring at him with an expression the hanyou had cause to remember seeing on his brother's face many times before. It chilled him even worse when coming from this male, who was obviously many times more dangerous than Sesshoumaru was.

"What the fuck's your problem?" Inuaysha croaked, barely able to get his voice to work as he rubbed his quickly bruising throat.

Reaching down and grabbing his son by the arm Mattaki proceeded to drag his recalcitrant youngest through the garden and into the house, heading for the dojo. He wasn't about to allow the first thrashing he gave the boy to damage his home, and the dojo was made for fighting. The garden was not.

Once again Inuyasha began fighting – until his father's claws began to glow green, and then he fell still, staring at that hand warily. Those claws were way too close to his skin, and he didn't particularly have any good memories of the poison Sesshoumaru obviously shared with their sire.

"If you damage one thing in my house, bakayarou, I will allow my poison to take your arm off," he warned silkily as he glanced down at Inuyasha, noting his mesmerized staring at those brightly glowing claws. "If you wish to try your hand at taking me down, you will wait until we are in the dojo."

"Why the hell do ya hate me so much, eh?" Inuyasha finally asked sullenly. "You ain't never even met me. Don't tell me... it's the same 'I hate hanyou' thing that asshole Sesshoumaru is always spouting. If you didn't like hanyou, then you shouldn't have fucked a human."

Mattaki was actually astounded. Did the boy have no conscience at all? Was it always about him in his mind? He obviously didn't know how to listen, since the reasons for his anger had already been divulged to everyone by the kami himself. Shaking his head in frustrated and bewildered fury, he wondered how his son could be so damn obtuse.

The moment he arrived in the dojo, he let the glow simmering under his claws fall back to sleep and tossed his son almost the entire way across the dojo in frustration with all the crap the boy was still spouting. Yes, he understood that his son had suffered almost two hundred years of horrible abuse and constant fighting just to survive. And that fact made something hurt deep inside, although there was also a bit of pride as well – his son was strong to have survived against all odds – and even against Sesshoumaru, too.

But that didn't give him the right to treat Kagome, nor his other 'friends' the way he had. He could understand Inuyasha treating strangers with suspicion and not caring so much about their well-being. But Kagome? A beautiful woman who'd given him everything? Or his other friends, who'd done the same? From things Kagome had let drop, Inuyasha had quite often actually treated strangers better than he did her! Sure, he'd grumble and gripe about helping people, but he didn't really treat those people they were helping badly nor call them the names he'd always called the one woman – the one person – that had always treated him with love.

He watched as his son peeled himself off the floor where he'd landed and sat up, and flash-stepped across the intervening space to once more loom over the already injured brat. The already injured loudmouthed brat; it was clear his mouth hadn't been injured, since the moment he landed he was screaming obscenities and imprecations loud enough to be heard on the other side of the palace.

Determined to make sure that was his next target Mattaki smacked Inuyasha hard across the cheek, stunning him so badly that it did, indeed, cut off the flow of nastiness coming out of that mouth of his. Pleased, the inuyoukai started talking immediately so as to keep the boy quiet.

"If you ever speak of your mother or my relationship with her in such disgusting and derogatory terms again, I will make sure you never speak again, period," he spat venomously. "I cannot believe that someone so uncouth as you came from a woman of elegance, breeding, sweetness and honor like your mother. You drag her memory down every time you open your mouth, whether you are speaking of her in such terms as you just did or berating someone else. It breaks my heart to hear it, knowing how much your behavior would have hurt her gentle soul."

That reprimand certainly got Inuyasha's attention; he flinched back, his head dropping in shame. The one thing he had always loved unquestioningly was his mother, and he'd had far too little time with her before she'd died. He had always missed her so much, and it was true – what he'd just said would have hurt her. He decided in that moment not to ever say anything that could be taken as derogatory about her, even peripherally.

Still...

"Fine," he growled, "I deserved that one. But only about mother! Why the hell do you care how I talk to anyone else? Especially the wench! She ain't all perfect, ya know," he grumbled. "She can be a real bitch!"

Once again he smacked his son, this time drawing blood before dropping down to thrust his face into the boy's, since he was still sitting on the ground from being tossed there. "And yet again with the names!" he snarled. "I am sure she can be 'a bitch', as you say – no one is perfect. But I find that I cannot blame her, especially when it comes to you. Why the hell should she treat you nicely, when all you do with every word is put her down and treat her like shit? Do you speak to or about all females like you do her? What about your precious Kikyou?" he taunted. "Was she not also a human?"

Inuyasha snarled back at his father. "You leave Kikyou out of this!"

Mattaki laughed cruelly, then. "And why should I, you idiot child? Do you still protect the bitch who sealed you and tried to kill you, then suckered you into going to hell supposedly with her, all while really condemning you to a cold death alone since she'd be reincarnated into Kagome while you lay in death's frozen embrace, forever denied light or life?"

At that Inuyasha lunged for his father, rage overpowering his common sense just like it always had, only to find himself once more flying through the air. Before he could even fully comprehend that he wasn't knocking heads with his father he crashed full force into the opposite wall of the dojo, causing the whole room to shudder with the impact. He slid to the floor, stunned and almost unconscious, vaguely taking note of the fact that his arm had just broken in two places.

He lay there for some moments, unable to wake himself from the daze he found himself in; probably concussed, he let idle thoughts just slide through his head, none of which really made any sense though he was too far gone for the moment to notice or even care.

Watching with satisfaction as his son thumped against the wall and then slid down, Mattaki strolled slowly over to him, figuring that it would probably take a few minutes for his healing abilities to clear his mind of the concussion he was pretty sure he had given the little monster. No point in rushing over there to speak when he most likely wouldn't remember what was said, anyway.

Sure enough, after a few minutes spent lying there Inuyasha felt his mind clear and he struggled to sit up, wincing in pain as the bones in his arm shifted.

He turned his head to look for the enemy, finding him a few feet away watching him with a bored expression. He snorted bitterly. At least now he knew where that bastard Sesshoumaru got the expression.

"So... what? Is this what I have to look forward to now that I've been dumped on your doorstep?" he asked, that bitterness bleeding into his voice. "The father I've never known gets brought back, and the first thing he does when he meets me is start trying to break me just like his perfect, pure youkai son always has. Figures that you'd care more about other people than me. Bet you and that bastard'll get together and start swappin' stories of all the things you've done to me, eh? I'm surprised you didn't invite him over so you could both gang up on me. And then when you're both tired of torturing me you can break my neck and get it over with, right? Keh. I've always wished I'd never been born, and now I wish it even more." He turned away from his father. "Why don't you just do whatever you're gonna do and get it over with."

There was silence for a moment, and then an ironic chuckle was heard. "And still it's all about what you perceive as someone treating you wrongfully. Do you never take note of what you've done wrong to others? Tell me, Inuyasha. What has Kagome really done to you to make you hate her so much? Because it's clear from your treatment of her that you do. She must really have done something terrible to you."

Another guilty stab went through Inuyasha, and just as it always did it caused him to get even angrier with the one pointing his behavior out. "Fuck you! I don't hate the wench! But what happens between us ain't none of your damned business! What, are you her fuckin' guard dog or something?" That statement seemed to bring something front and center in Inuyasha's mind and he snarled at his father, his anger allowing him the surge of energy he needed to get back up to his feet. "And I don't care what that asshole callin' himself a kami said – you ain't Kagome's protector. I ain't dead anymore so I'm taking my place back. We don't need you, so I'll just be taking my wench and leaving!"

It had clearly slipped his mind in his temper that the kami had clearly stated that not only did Kagome have to stay with Mattaki, but that he did too, or he'd lose this second life of his. Mattaki took great joy in reminding him.

"Have you forgotten what the kami said, then? Did I perhaps sire an idiot?" he asked silkily, watching with enjoyment as the little brat's face reddened. "Not only can Kagome not leave my side, but you cannot leave my presence or you will simply die once more. In easy words for simple minds, if you try to leave you're dead. Now what kind of good could some little whelp like you do for Kagome – let alone when you're dead?"

That reminder sent Inuyasha's rage even higher and he whipped around and punched the wall with his good arm, beyond frustrated. He actually felt like he was going to explode.

"Kagome ain't by your side, bastard," he shouted, "she's mine! Mine! She promised to stay by my side!"

That statement, after Inuyasha's abandonment of Kagome and all of his abuse of her sent Mattaki into a feral rage, and he snarled so loudly that the entire palace trembled in its wake. Inuyasha fell back, shocked right out of his temper by the overwhelming sight of his father's.

In an instant the enraged inuyoukai had his son pinned beneath him, his claws blooming with poison once again as he left a mere breath of air between them and his son's skin. Disgust liberally coating his words he said, "You forfeited your rights as her protector when you abandoned her, you little fucking whelp! How do you even have the nerve to claim her as yours after you did that, hm? You left her alone, frightened, and severely injured on the battlefield to wander off after some manipulative bitch who is no more than the dirt beneath Kagome's feet. You were so intent on trailing after that abomination that you didn't even take the time to at least help her other injured friends get her back to the village by the well so the miko could take care of her! Nor did you, as she said, take the smallest moment to even say goodbye. No. You abandoned her at the same time as you abandoned any honor that you might have been able to lay claim to before those actions took it all away. So you don't say a word to me or anyone else about her being yours. She's mine, Inuyasha, and it's by my side she'll be staying. I'll be the one protecting her while you lay dying once more, only this time of old age, and with Kagome looking no older than she does now."

Not inclined to let his loud-mouthed son get another word in he snarled again just as the brat opened his mouth, and cuffed him alongside his head. This time there was no resistance. Inuyasha instantly went limp, his eyes falling closed as he lost consciousness, and Mattaki let him go. Sweeping from the room he motioned for a passing servant to attend him, and when the male did he gave instructions for Inuyasha to be carried to one of the rooms in the palace. He made sure to have him put in a different wing than the one that he and Kagome shared and then walked off, heading for the outside air. He needed to get away and clear his head and his temper.

What a monster I sired!

~oOo~

Shippo watched the Inuyoukai walk away leaving Inuyasha in a lump on the floor, and shivered, glad that he wasn't the one on the male's shit list. He was scaaarry, just like Kagome could be sometimes.

He'd been stunned when Mattaki had moved so fast and nailed Inuyasha right there in the garden but then he'd turned gleeful, just so happy that the hanyou was about to get his own back after tormenting his mother-figure for so, so long. So he'd followed quietly as the daiyoukai had dragged Inuyasha's fruitlessly struggling form through the palace to the dojo, and wide-eyed had watched him proceed to pounding the hell out of the hanyou, mostly using the walls and floor of the massive room.

Bristling with anger he'd listened as Inuyasha once more started bad-mouthing Kagome, but before he'd even had a chance to say anything, let alone move the fight had continued, and Inuyasha had ended up flying through the air only to land hard yet again against a wall of stone, and slide down to land in a broken heap at its base.

Apparently his words and actions had quite thoroughly pissed off his father, as well.

But after the confrontation was over and servants had appeared to take Inuyasha off to the healers to see to his injuries and then to his rooms, Shippo had immediately wondered if Kagome had perhaps heard some of the shouting or felt some of the shuddering of the walls. He knew that she wasn't too happy with what was happening, and it bothered him that she would have to be subjected to the hanyou's big mouth and constant insults again. No telling what the baka would say to her now, especially with how angry he was going to be with his punishment. Inuyasha never did take well to being reprimanded or having his bad behavior pointed out, let alone with being actually physically punished for it and there was no way to know what he would do, because it was no odds he'd blame Kagome for all of this.

He'd always blamed her for everything bad that happened, so why not this, too?

Intent on finding her he began sniffing, and soon caught her scent coming from a bathing room though it was obvious she'd finished there and moved on, and he tracked her to what was clearly her room and then further, out into the gardens.

It was clear from the expression on her face that she had heard what had gone on in the dojo, and Shippo winced, wondering exactly what part of it she'd heard. With a sigh the kitsune trotted over to her and plopped down on his little butt, looking up at her solemnly.

"What'd you hear?"

"Enough."

"Things he said, or just noise?"

"A little of both. I can't believe he's still protecting Kikyou after everything she did." She shook her head in confusion. "I just can't figure him out. At what point would he consider what she'd done enough? She's already tried to kill him and succeeded. I don't know what could be any worse."

Shippo folded his arms and shook his head as he agreed with her assessment, still bristling. "He's an idiot, just like his papa told him. He sure didn't like it when he heard it, either. But then again, Inuyasha never could face the truth, since the truth always showed him up for the bully he is."

Kagome chuckled at that... she couldn't help it. Shippo just looked so... so cute like that - so stern and disapproving and... bristly. It was absolutely adorable!

"Yeah, bully is a good name for him, eh? In some ways. But it's strange – the only ones he wanted to bully was us. I don't understand why. Is it a youkai thing, to bully those that treat you well and treat well those that bully you?" she asked.

"Eh, no!" Shippo squeaked out in high dudgeon. "It's an Inuyasha thing. The rest of us youkai aren't so stupid!"

Kagome put up her hands and waved them placatingly as she laughed and pleaded for forgiveness from the offended kit. "Hai, hai, you are right, Shippo-chan, please forgive me for saying something so obviously wrong. I didn't mean to offend you."

He eyed her for a moment and then relented, unfolding his arms and collapsing into giggles himself. He'd achieved his goal, which had been to cheer Kagome up and make her laugh. He loved it when she was laughing and happy – she practically glowed, and it was a lovely thing to watch. Besides... her pleasure pleased him – when Kagome was happy her aura drenched everyone around her in happiness, relaxing even the most tense and upset person. It even worked on Inuyasha, though he was always loath to admit it.

But sometimes keeping her happy could be a difficult thing, especially with bakayasha around. If Kagome had one fault, it was that her belief in herself was entirely too easily destroyed. It drove Shippo nuts that the actions of one jerk could bring her down so easily and yet the actions of all the people that cared for her couldn't seem to affect her belief in herself at all.

He hoped that Mattaki could take care of that little problem, and from what he'd seen of the daiyoukai, if anyone had a chance of fixing the damage that stupid Inuyasha had caused it would be him. He was so supremely confident in himself that it was really hard to believe anything that he didn't. That was why he was such a great leader – his confidence in himself and his choices convinced those around him that if he believed they were worthy then they were, because there was just no way he could be so wrong about anything. And that was just what Kagome needed.

Watching her for a moment, he smiled to himself as he watched that glow from her intensify and wondered what had caused it to spike. He tilted his head to the side with a questioning expression on his little face.

Kagome couldn't help the affectionate expression that lit her face, but she did have a question for the little kit, though she was a little reluctant to ask it, afraid of being hurt again. But... she had to – she couldn't just keep wondering...

"Ano... Shippo... can I... I mean, well... what did the kami mean earlier when he said that you thought of me as your... m-mother?" she stuttered softly, blushing.

Shippo blinked, a little startled at that question truthfully, but then he blushed too. "You... you don't mind, do you?" he asked. "I didn't want to push myself on you or anything," he finished hesitantly.

Practically lunging towards him she scooped him up and hugged him tightly to her, the tears in her eyes shimmering in the sunlight for a moment before spilling over and down her cheeks as she shook her head fiercely. "Of course I don't mind! I've always thought of you as mine, anyway – I just didn't want to take liberties that weren't appreciated. I didn't know if you'd get upset with me, thinking I was trying to take your parent's place, or something. But I'm not, really! I would never-" she stopped as a paw was placed over her lips, and looked down at the little kitsune in her lap.

"It's okay, Kagome," he chirped, smiling up at her. "I don't mind. You've always taken care of me just like a mother does anyway, so that's how I've always seen you." He looked down then, a frown chasing the smile away from his face. "I kinda always felt bad about thinking of you like my mother... like I was disrespecting my real parents, but the kami knew and said that it was okay, that they weren't mad at me for it and that they were glad I was with you. I felt a lot better about it after he said that," he admitted, looking back up at her again and smiling just a little this time.

Kagome couldn't help but smile through her tears, feeling a great deal of relief that they had gotten this out in the open. She'd been feeling awkward about it for a while, now. Wiping the tears away from her cheeks she relaxed her tense posture and her smile widened a little. "So..." she trailed off, a chuckle showing her nervousness, and Shippo laughed a little, too.

He looked down at his little fingers for a moment as he fidgeted with them in his lap, and then back up at her with a hopeful expression on his face. "So... can I?" he asked, then added, "Call you mama?" at her questioning look.

She grinned and nodded, thinking how adorable he looked with his head tilted like that, and hugged him close again. "I'd... like that," she responded softly. "It would make me feel not so alone here. It's been hard losing my family and wondering why I'm stranded here, alone and away from them. You know, even though I know Sango and Miroku care about me and all, and they are my friends, family's just... different, ne?"

Shippo nodded in return. "Yeah... family's different. Now I feel like I really have a place to belong again," he said.

"Yes! That's exactly how it makes me feel... like I have a place to belong here now because I have you, and you're my family," she agreed, her aura shining even more brightly and soothing Shippo's aura, had she but known it. With her aura so content and light and happy, the little kitsune was actually beginning to feel drowsy with the contentment that seeped into him as her aura stroked his.

With all the feel-good energies running through the two and the drowsy, slumberous warmth of the garden around them complete with lazily buzzing bees, it wasn't really surprising when the two fell asleep together, curled up and quite content to snooze the afternoon away there in the open air.

Mattaki, coming on them just as they dropped off, was actually considering joining them...

Until a certain aura swept over his, and his hair stood on end.

Damn it, no! Not Satori... I really don't want to deal with this right now – I just now managed to finally calm down!

But that didn't matter, because Satori was already arriving – and she wasn't one to be put off. He sighed, disgruntled, as he turned and went inside to deal with his 'company'.

Damn!

~oOo~

Satori sniffed elegantly.

"What a fine new life you've found yourself, Mattaki," she said blandly, glancing out the garden door at Kagome and Shippo, who were both still curled up together and perfectly peaceful – and asleep, which was what Mattaki was wishing he was, too. "What a... perfectly awful millstone to find around one's neck – a little human girl. Rather like Sesshoumaru, as a matter of fact, both of you with your little human followers."

She looked at him, one fine brow raised and her expression falsely sympathetic. He knew it was false - she wasn't sympathetic to his perceived horrible fate, not at all – she was laughing at him. Not that he cared.

"How can you possibly stand it?"

He finally shook his head. Turning away from her he looked out at the garden, his expression lightening as it landed on Kagome. "Play your games elsewhere, Satori, I've no interest in them. I have not the slightest problem with my 'fine new life' as you've called it, so sharpen your claws on some other person's corpse." He glanced back at her for a moment, his own expression turning calculating. "Why are you really here?" he asked her, clearly knowing that something was up.

She considered him for a time and then smirked, knowing she wouldn't fool him and that there was really no reason to try. She shrugged, even that movement spare and elegant. Mattaki watched her, acknowledging distantly that she was still the most beautiful woman he'd ever met... and that while fond of her, he still did not love her. It was clear however, from the tiny spark in her eye that was there and then gone, that she still held feelings for him. He felt badly for that, but he had never returned her feelings. He still didn't. She just wasn't for him; though he'd hoped that she'd finally found someone who she could be for, it appeared he'd hoped in vain. He sighed inwardly, suddenly uncomfortable as he waited for her to speak.

"I was enjoying watching you take that pup you sired with Izayoi in hand earlier today, but eventually decided that perhaps I would enjoy the contretemps better up close rather than just by mirror, so I decided to visit." Her words were plainly spoken, but Mattaki knew immediately that while she was probably enjoying the show with Inuyasha quite a bit, because that was her personality, that wasn't really her true reason for being there. She apparently hadn't realized that there was anything going on between he and Kagome, and was hoping for a chance herself.

What a mess, he sighed to himself again. I hate having to hurt her... perhaps I shouldn't say anything directly, instead just letting her get the picture silently so that at least she can leave with her pride intact. For Satori, pride is a really big thing and I don't want to take that from her.

In the end it wasn't hard to decide to just let her figure out what was going on between he and Kagome on her own, and hope that would keep her from being humiliated by him having to actually tell her he wasn't interested.

He summoned a servant and gave them instructions to put her in the guest wing of the palace. He caught the sideways look she sent him at her placement in the guest wing but acted as though he hadn't, and then the moment she'd left the room he headed outside to join Kagome and Shippo.

Now he really needed the benefit of her soothing aura.

~oOo~

He really should have realized that having the mother of one of his children who wanted to have more of his children, along with the woman he wanted to be the mother of more of his children in his house at the same time was a terribly bad idea.

Kagome was quite taken aback to meet Satori and didn't really know what to say to her – but when Satori started in with her usual bevy of insults, Kagome shocked her - and Mattaki, as well - with how she handled the situation.

"She really isn't much to look at, is she?" Satori'd asked him the moment she'd been introduced to Kagome. She'd looked the girl over with a critical air and then started talking to him like she wasn't even there. "Well, just because you've been forced to act as a father to her, I suppose that doesn't totally end your life," she'd sighed with a long-suffering air. "She could be kept quietly out of the way of your day-to-day life. It will certainly put a damper on certain things, though – not too many females will want to mate you when you come with such... simple-looking baggage."

Completely expecting Kagome to simply fold into herself and walk away, he was stunned when she'd eyed Satori right back and then turned to him, ignoring Satori as she'd ignored her, and said, "I see what you meant about her being the most beautiful woman you'd ever met." When Satori practically purred with pleasure and looked over at him with that spark in her eye glowing even stronger, she continued. "I also see what you meant when you said that her coldness is off-putting, though I'd have to say her manners are just as terrible as her cold attitude. It's too bad that her outside doesn't match her inside – or you wouldn't have had to go elsewhere to find someone to love," she'd said mildly. "But at least now I understand it – I couldn't imagine a male looking elsewhere when he had such an obviously beautiful female as I knew Sesshoumaru's mother just had to be already available; she doesn't seem to realize that a warm personality is just as important as looks, though," she told a shocked Mattaki as a just as stunned Satori glared at her venomously. She'd looked back over at Satori and then shook her head, an expression of distaste on her face. "Anyway, I think I'll leave you to deal with her – I really have no desire to listen to her prove my point by opening her mouth and allowing more filth to flow out of it."

With that she'd turned and left the room, a snickering Shippo still cuddled in her arms.

Too stunned to react immediately, the moment her rage overtook her shock Satori snarled, and with her eyes flashing red, Mattaki was forced to step into her path to stop her from going after Kagome. He knew just from the look on her face what she was about to do, and it would be her death if she tried it.

"Move, Mattaki," she spat, her face no longer looking quite so perfect. "I will challenge the bitch for speaking to me so!"

At that his face became stern. "No you will not, Satori. First of all, you pretty much deserved it. You did, after all, insult her first." He put up a hand at her attempt to answer that. "And second of all, Kagome is no helpless female. She is a miko, and a very strong one. On top of that I am her protector, put in this place by the kami themselves. If you challenge her I will be the one you face in combat, not her."

"It is not the place of a lowly human to speak back to me! If I choose to insult one, though I was merely speaking the truth," she spat angrily, "then that is my right! And that little bitch can't be much of a miko – I didn't even feel any reiki from her. As for the gods... they only did that because your bastard second son refused to uphold his own vow to her! That should tell you something – if a worthless hanyou couldn't even find it in himself to think her worth any of his time, then I don't know why the gods even bother!"

His eyes flashed; now she was making him angry. "You know nothing of what you speak, woman, so I suggest you sheathe your claws before it means your death!" he warned. "I would not like to have to explain to Sesshoumaru that I had been forced to kill his mother. That 'little bitch' as you name her is called something else by the kami, Satori. Would you like to know what? They call her daughter. You continue to insult one who is above you," he told the now silent and shocked female, "because I don't see the gods claiming you as such. And she is a miko. She is, however, very good at hiding that fact." He lowered his voice then, and sighed. "I may have originally been forced to take over the vow that Inuyasha forsook, but I am not an unwilling protector. Kagome will not be forced to hide in some dusty old corner of my life while I give only lip service to my place as protector. She's a big part of my life now, and if you can't treat her respectfully then you will have to leave, Satori. I will not have you upsetting her in her own home, which this now is." He paused, taking in her still stunned countenance, then said softly but with a dangerous edge, "And you will cease to call my son names, as well. What he is or isn't is none of your business."

Stunned, and not liking the fact that the gods had named the little unremarkable human wench 'daughter', meaning that she was off-limits, Satori had to force herself to calm down. She was not used to having anyone be equal to her, let alone above her – and especially not some disgusting, worthless human. But there was nothing for it – even she could not fight the kami.

Setting that matter aside since there was nothing else she could do, she narrowed her eyes on Mattaki, something else that the human girl had said coming to mind and greatly upsetting her. He had been talking about her. "So... I'm the most beautiful woman you've ever seen – but too cold-hearted for your liking?" she asked him, her voice quiet and yet haughty and once more cold and under her control.

Really unhappy with the fact that he'd been put in this position because he could clearly hear the hurt she was trying so hard to hide, Mattaki cursed at Kagome under his breath. Yes, he could understand why she'd done what she'd done and he was even glad that she'd stood up for herself and not allowed herself to be stepped on – but had she really had to get back at Satori using things he'd told her? He'd have to have a talk with her about that... and in the meantime he needed to figure out a way to get out of this without upsetting Satori any more than she'd already been upset.

He decided to try the direct approach. "This surprises you, Satori? I doubt it – we've talked of this before. You know I don't like the cold attitude you and Sesshoumaru use as a weapon to carve others into little, itty-bitty pieces. So what are you upset for?" he asked, truly curious. Though he suspected that it had more to do with her feelings for him rather than that such a small thing, something she already knew, really bothered her. If she hadn't cared for him he was one hundred percent certain that she would be happy that her cold manner was off-putting, since that was part of the reason she used it. Yes, what he'd told Kagome was true – her parents had taught her to act so, but it was also a fact that she enjoyed using that coldness to dissect people and make them uncomfortable. It gave her the upper hand – most of the time, unless she was up against one who also had sharp claws. Like Kagome, though that was one thing he hadn't expected from her normally soft and gentle behavior.

It appeared that she wasn't always soft and gentle, however.

Satori turned her back on him, knowing that what he had said was nothing but the truth but unable to help her upset. She'd always had feelings for Mattaki, but he had never returned them. She had hoped that this time, with no Izayoi in the way she would finally have a chance with him. She sighed inwardly and forced the hurt feeling away. There was still a chance... perhaps if she were to act warmer, at least around him it would help her case. It couldn't hurt to try.

"Nonetheless, I would prefer it if you didn't speak about me to that... that female, Mattaki." She glanced at him over her shoulder, her tone softening. "I will see you for the next meal," she finished and then left, needing to go to her room and regroup. That had not been a pleasant episode, and she growled inwardly at the bitch she directly attributed that fact to. If that little wench had just kept her mouth shut to one who was clearly her superior, the kami notwithstanding, then everything would have been just fine.

Hopefully, she wouldn't have to see her again during her stay here – and if she was able to woo Mattaki and he mated her, that little wench would find herself shuffled off to the darkest corner of the estate that she could find for her. She would not tolerate that little monster interfering in their day to day lives.

End of story.

~oOo~

"We need to talk."

Kagome turned in surprise to see Mattaki standing in the doorway of the room she'd chosen to sit in after that little introduction to Sesshoumaru's mother. No wonder he's got a chip on his shoulder – I would, too, if she was my mother, she thought mutinously as she took in the inuyoukai's upset expression.

"About what?" she asked lightly, turning back and setting down her book – one of two novels that she'd had in her bag when they'd been forced to destroy the well. Shippo had gone off with Myouga to show him some of his new tricks – and to pump the flea for more information about Mattaki, no doubt.

She waited patiently as he moved into the room and sat down on a cushion across from her; after getting comfortable he looked fully at her and she rolled her eyes inwardly – she could just tell that she wasn't going to like what she was going to hear.

"I understand that Satori upset you with what she said – and I'm even pleased that you stood up for yourself against her. But I am not pleased that you took something I said to you, believing it to be in confidence, and used it to get your own blow in."

Her face dropped and she sighed, nodding after a moment. She hadn't really thought of that, but he was right – she shouldn't have done that. "You're right. I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

A little surprised that she'd folded so easily he inclined his head in acceptance of her apology. "Thank you. She will be staying here for a little while, and I'd like for there to be peace while she is."

At that, her head shot up and she snorted. "I should think you'd be better off telling her that. I didn't start all that, she did." And then she frowned. "Wait a minute... why's she going to be staying here, anyway?" she asked suspiciously, her eyes narrowing on him. Just what she needed – a mouthy bitch that for whatever reason had it out for her staying in the same place she was basically forced to stay.

He cocked a brow at her sudden change of demeanor and her question. "This is my home, correct? I can invite anyone I choose to without having to give a reason for their visit to you or anyone else, Kagome." Frowning at her as she stiffened at his almost supercilious tone of voice, he finished, "She is my guest, whatever the reason, and you will treat her with the respect due her, is that clear? I will not tolerate anything else."

Instantly fuming that he would expect her to be polite to a bitch that had verbally attacked her with no provocation and at the fact that he was refusing to answer her question of why she needed to be here in the first place, she stood up and swiped her book from the small table she'd set it on and then turned to head out the door. Pausing, she gritted out, "I am not the one that mouthed off to her but it's nice to know that you think more of her than you do me, since you seem to think that you have to tell me to be polite to one who treated me badly for no reason! You can keep your oh-so-precious guest, Mattaki – be sure that I won't bother her - ever!" And then she stormed out of there, leaving an angry daiyoukai behind to snarl at an empty room.

The nerve of him, she growled as she swept through the halls towards her room, taking note as she did that her room was far too close to his. I can just bet I know what she's really here for, and I don't want to hear that crap! Her heart shorted out at the thought, but really – why would he need Sesshoumaru's mother here – it wasn't like Sesshoumaru was here too and she was visiting him. No... there was something else going on there, and it didn't take a genius to figure it out. So much for all his bullshit about wanting me. Although... he is a Lord, and this is the Feudal Era – maybe he was thinking about having several women – me as one mate, and her as another? Well, he can be a player all he wants, but he can count me out of it – I'm no one's whore or plaything! she thought with a mutinous snarl.

Catching a passing servant she asked that her things be moved to the servant's wing, which was the wing farthest away from all the rest of the castle. She wanted the smallest room there, and as she directed the dubious servants that the first one called she was soon transferred into her new room – a small room with a little, low-set window that overlooked the kitchen garden, and was at the far end of the servants quarters. There weren't even any servants housed near her, so it was quiet and private – and far away from Mattaki and his bitch-apparent. It had nothing but a futon, a small tansu, and a little oil lamp. Since Kagome didn't have much it didn't take long to get her settled, and she fit just fine into the little room. Then she asked them not to say a word to Mattaki about her new accommodations and also to have her meals served to her there, and settled into her new bed to spend the rest of the day alternately crying and raging into her pillow in frustrated anger, interrupted by a dinner that she barely even touched. Even Shippo stopping in to eat with her and question her about what was going on after he'd had to track her down didn't phase her ill-temper, and once alone again she went right back to screaming into her pillow all her frustrations with life.

Damn him anyways – I don't need him! was her last defiant thought before she finally drowsed off to sleep, her eyes tired after so much crying.