One Week

I don't own Inuyasha

Chapter 6

Izaiyoi looked up from her book and watched the waves crash against the beach as Taisho flipped through the channels in their hotel room.

"It's so rainy today. I hope the kids aren't too bored staying in."

"I'm sure they found something to get into like they always do."

...

Sesshoumaru smirked at the text Kagura sent to him doing a handstand in the rain and then another one blowing a kiss. He loved her ability to be careless and free.

"Boo!"

"What's up Bug?"

Rin popped up as Aun hopped down from Sesshoumaru's bed to greet her with a nudge of his nose.

"Can me and Kohaku go outside?"

"It's still raining."

"So?"

"You know how Izaiyoi feels about you guys tracking mud back through the house."

"We won't. I promise."

Sesshoumaru arched a brow, "And just how are you going to do that?"

"We'll shake all the water and mud off, like Aun." Rin grabbed the dog's front paws and jumped around and twisted.

"Sorry, I don't think that one's going to work. People don't dry off the same way dogs do. You guys will have to wait until it stops raining."

Rin pouted but found throwing Aun's ball entertaining enough as she heard Sesshoumaru's phone ring. She found her brother's reaction to the phone odd as he let it ring a few more times in that time seeming like he was trying to make a decision.

"Who is it?"

"My mom."

"Mommy's calling?"

"No. My Mom, Satomi."

"Why don't you answer it?"

"I don't really want to. I'll call her back later."

"How come?"

"I know it's about next weekend."

"Oh, yeah. Why do you have to go?" Rin hugged Aun to her as her expression saddened.

"It's not fair to my mom if she doesn't get to spend time with me too."

"I always miss you." She always hated the weekends when Sesshoumaru was at his mother's house.

"I miss you guys too, well maybe not Inuyasha but..."

"Deep down, you miss him too!"

"...mmmm..."

Rin stared at him and squinted her eyes in an attempt to look like she was glaring until Sesshoumaru finally gave in.

"Way, way, way deep down, I might, somewhat, hardly miss Inuyasha"

Rin smiled looking at the window she jumped up noticing the sun peak through the clouds.

"Sun's out!" Rin sprinted from the room and pulled Kohaku with her. Sesshoumaru followed them pausing at Inuyasha's room where his younger brother seemed to be fully engulfed in whatever video game he was playing. He thought about whether or not he really missed Inuyasha when he was away. As much as it was a reprieve to be away from his younger brother for a few days, it was almost boring without the nuisance. It was hard to determine whether it was the noise of the three siblings or Inuyasha himself. But there was always a certain level of challenge that was lost. Sesshoumaru decided he did miss Inuyasha a small fraction of the time he was away. Sesshoumaru watched Rin and Kohaku from the back window. He had no interest in dodging the rain puddles that he was sure would become the star of their games outside.

Sesshoumaru heard his stomach growl and decided that this might be the only time he'd get a chance to eat something uninterrupted by his siblings. It never failed that Rin seemed to be nearby and turned on the pleading eyes, that Kohaku would stare off and look like some poor unfortunate child from a struggling country or that Aun was glued to his side no matter what the food. The dog didn't even turn down vegetables. Sesshoumaru peaked out the window again to see Kohaku, Rin and Aun still on the playset before he made a dash for the pantry. There was a certain level of excitement that overcame him spotting the jar of peanut butter until he picked up the jar and wondered if there was anything left. Sweet relief set in as there was just enough left for one sandwich. He searched the refrigerator for the strawberry jam which was his father's best-kept secret. He shuddered at the thought of having to use grape jelly and Izaiyoi thought that by purchasing apple jelly she had somehow solved the problem because apple was universal. There was no way to define his disappointment that day and he hadn't bothered with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich until his father had gone to the store again and decided to accommodate all of their tastes.

Sesshoumaru finished making the sandwich and grabbed half of it off the plate. He shook his head as he turned to watch his siblings still outside. Rin was jumping from puddle to puddle as Kohaku pretended that Aun was his opponent in a wrestling match. The dog simply rolled over for a belly rub. Sesshoumaru reached back to the plate for the other half of the sandwich only to find his hand resting on nothing. He looked up noticing Inuyasha frozen like a deer in headlights, the other half of his sandwich in hand halfway to his younger brother's mouth. Inuyasha was sure he would be able to get in and out quietly enough. He could feel a bead of sweat rolling down the back of his neck as Sesshoumaru stared him down. It was almost like the predator was daring his prey to blink, move or do anything that might lead to a chase. Inuyasha was sure he heard an audible snap and growl from Sesshoumaru or was that just his imagination? Inuyasha took off feeling Sesshoumaru in pursuit of his life before he was tackled. Sesshoumaru decided he had no ability to keep from destroying Inuyasha any longer. Sandwich or no sandwich, his younger brother had led a decent life for 14 years.

"I was just hungry!"

"You're always hungry!"

Inuyasha took a swipe at Sesshoumaru freeing himself from the headlock before Sesshoumaru smacked him.

"Ow! Damnit! Here!

Sesshoumaru only felt further angered as Inuyasha held out a smushed half sandwich as a bit of strawberry jam dripped to the floor.

"Die, Inuyasha"

Inuyasha realized that Sesshoumaru had him cornered and only an act of a higher power might save him as Sesshoumaru grabbed him by the front of his shirt and shook him before trapping him against the wall

Rin, Kohaku, and Aun burst through the back door, chasing each other stopping to see the oddity that was their brothers at the moment.

"Were you two fighting?" Kohaku tried to determined why Inuyasha looked like he was struggling to breathe with Sesshoumaru's arm around his neck.

Sesshoumaru straightened, loosening his arm from Inuyasha.

"No, just sharing my sandwich with Inuyasha. Move along."

Inuyasha took a bite of the sandwich to play along but suddenly felt Sesshoumaru's hold tighten again coughing and trying to swallow until the three of them heard Rin scream and react jumping onto Kohaku's back and making him crash to the floor. Sesshoumaru wasn't quite sure what she was reacting to until Aun started barking and giving chase to the squirrel that had run into the house.

"...Aun sit! Stop!"

Kohaku ran after Aun as Rin followed. Sesshoumaru dropped Inuyasha before sprinting after his siblings.

"NO!" Sesshoumaru followed the muddy tracks and the screaming and barking. He prayed to the gods that they had not ended up where he thought they were. It was inevitable that they would be in his father's and Izaiyoi's master bedroom. Aun had jumped onto the bed, cornering the squirrel on the curtain, Kohaku and Rin were trying to beckon Aun off the bed. Inuyasha had finally joined them.

"Oh, this is bad."

"Inuyasha, I don't need your commentary right now."

Sesshoumaru's moment of shock ended as he realized that he was the closest thing to an adult right now and would have to figure out what to do. Managing to collect Rin and Kohaku out of the room he was none too happy about trying to pull Aun away from the squirrel. The dog had a habit of forgetting every command once a squirrel was spotted. He'd finally managed to bear hug the obsessed sloppy wet dog and close the door.

"So, what are we going to do? We can't leave the squirrel in there for mom and dad to come home to."

Sesshoumaru stood up straight as he caught his breath

"Rin do you still have your butterfly net?"

"Yup."

"Go get it."

"Kohaku, grab the pool skimmer."

"You are not about to catch this squirrel with a pool skimmer and butterfly net."

"No. We're about to catch the squirrel with a pool skimmer and butterfly net."

"Why am I getting dragged into this?!"

"You ate my damn sandwich. Do you have anything else to say?"

"..." Inuyasha licked his lips, tasting the jam and guilt as he swallowed.

Kohaku and Rin returned with the requested squirrel capturing items. Rin handed Inuyasha the butterfly net.

"Why do I get the butterfly net?"

"You're smaller and less likely to catch the squirrel." Rin smiled sheepishly folding her hands behind her back and leaning back on her heels as Sesshoumaru smirked.

Inuyasha waved the butterfly net around a bit before deciding he had some chance at catching the squirrel. Kohaku handed Sesshoumaru the pool skimmer as he and Rin watched their older brothers disappear behind the bedroom door.

Inuyasha immediately jumped on the bed and Sesshoumaru glared at him until he got back down.

"I was just trying to get a better vantage point."

"Your better vantage point is from the floor if you want to live."

"Yeah, yeah. Oooh, squirrel!"

Inuyasha pointed at the accent chair.

"Good boy!"

Kohaku and Rin looked to each other a bit worried as they heard a great deal of yelling, crashing and what sounded like the breaking of many things. Eventually, everything became quiet and Rin started to worry.

"Do you think the squirrel won?"

"I hope not."

A few moments later Rin was relieved as Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha came out of the room looking every bit dazed and confused.

"What happened?"

Inuyasha looked at Kohaku. "Well, the good news is that the squirrel is gone."

"Right after you broke the window and he jumped out." Sesshoumaru crossed his arms over his chest deciding that he would have to rethink just how much of that fraction he was going to miss Inuyasha. Looking around at the three of them, Aun, and himself they all looked like they'd been rolling in the mud. He shuddered looking down at the floor, slowly made his way to the steps that had muddy hand and footprints on every single step, even the handrails had seen better days. He looked back into their parents' bedroom hoping that maybe the chaos wasn't as bad as it seemed. He was wrong, it was worse. The comforter and sheets were a tattered mess, the curtain hung halfway on a bent rod before adding insult to injury and sliding to the floor. There were feathers strewn about from ripped pillows, not to mention the breeze flowing in through the broken window.

"Where do we even start? Dad is going to kill me."

"Daddy won't kill you. Besides even if he does he can always bring you back because he loves you."

Kohaku leaned over to Rin, "I don't think that's how that works."

"Oh, well, we can always do like the Puppy Police."

"What's that?"

"When times get woof, the woof get going."

A/N: There was a lot going on but it was meant to be chaotic! Much appreciation and glad you all are enjoying the story :)