Author's note: Grr, I'm on a mission… I've been writing this thing for like a week now! X.x! This chapter that is… Blame school… my mind's on science… I had an entire effing week on SCIENCE! Today was the last day (Thank heavens) even so I felt that this week helped a lot :D! But that's just my random babbling. After this chapter, don't expect anything up until the twenty-fifth (Easter weekend) of March, since my exams end the twenty-fourth. It starts this Monday, the fourteenth… yea, we don't get much time... lucky for me I only have six subjects to write on… 3D Art and Design is an open book assignment. They even gave us tutorials x)

Chapter Seven:

Sesshōmaru was just leaving the forest where the cave was. His dad went the opposite direction that he's going. Setsuko walked a few feet behind Sesshōmaru with Rin's hand in hers, while Jaken was walking behind them.

"Sesshōmaru," Setsuko started, but Sesshōmaru just kept on walking. "Do you know what caused the cave to collapse?" She decided to talk about something else before she says what she really wants to say.

"No, but I assume it was part of Sou'unga's trap. Getting Rin back was too easy. It must have been a set up," Sesshōmaru spoke then stopped in his tracks when he reached the end of the forest. 'We never would've gotten out of there if it wasn't for father… Tōkijin could nearly do any damage to those boulders…' He glared at complete nothingness.

"Don't you think you should've gone with your father to the village of dogs?" Setsuko spoke her mind, also stopping in her tracks.

"Why would I want to?"

"He is your father…" Setsuko reminded him.

"I don't care. I'm not going back there as long as he has the company of humans around him."

"You know you say that, but your father is right," she looked down at Rin whose hand slipped out of Setsuko's and she ran after a dragonfly. "You accuse your father of having humans as company but it looks to me like the pot's calling the kettle black…" (A/N: If they had pots and kettles back then xD!)

Sesshōmaru turned around to face his mother. "Rin's different. She prefers yōkai over humans, and I never asked her to tag along with me."

"But you still allow it!" Setsuko argued with him. What came to a big surprise for them both was that she actually stood up for humans. She hated them with her entire heart, but it was just so damn hard to hate Rin. "Go with your father to the village," she demanded. "I'll keep an eye on Jaken and Rin for you."

Sesshōmaru looked at his mother as if saying thank you and I hate you at the same time. He walked past her into the direction his dad went. Rin's little head tilted up.

"Setsuko-sama, where is Sesshōmaru-sama going?" The little girl asked the elder woman.

"Don't worry, he'll be back," Setsuko smiled at the young girl.

"Here," Kagome handed Inuyasha a fish on a stick. Inuyasha looked up at her and took the fish and started to eat.

Inu no Taishō and Izayoi stood next to a tree a bit further away from the fire, looking at the night's sky. Also eating. Saya was rested next to Inuyasha.

The only sounds heard was the sound of the fire, Inu no Taishō and Izayoi's whispers and everybody's munching.

Kagome sat down next to Inuyasha and started to eat her fish as well. "So how you holding up? You feeling better yet?" Kagome asked regarding his wounds.

"Keh! These wounds are nothing!" Inuyasha replied all stubborn-y. (A/N: He said that in the first movie! I love that line!)

Kagome smiled, that attitude proved he was fine.

Kirara suddenly jumped up from her resting place next to the fire and transformed into big Kirara.

"Kirara?" Sango asked then heard footsteps in the forest, she grabbed her boomerang and jumped up. Ready to attack at any minute.

Miroku jumped up as well. Inu no Taishō turned around at the smell of the yōki with a surprised look on his face.

Inuyasha tried to get up but Kagome held him down. "No you should stay down. You haven't completely healed yet!"

Sesshōmaru stepped out from the trees.

"Sesshōmaru?" Sango asked and she and Miroku let their guards down, Kirara jumping into her arms (the small Kirara). Inuyasha looked up with surprise but suspicion in his eyes.

Inu no Taishō walked forward towards Sesshōmaru. Before anything was said by Inu no Taishō, Sesshōmaru spoke up.

"Don't get me wrong, I'm only here to go to the dog village."

Inu no Taishō smiled and rested a hand on Sesshōmaru's shoulder. "Glad you changed your mind."

Inuyasha sighed out of annoyance but rested against the tree again, almost as if he was trying to hide from his brother. Kagome smiled then went to the fire again to get some more food.

Sesshōmaru looked over at his little human brother. He never saw him like this and it was interesting. He walked over to his little brother and stopped in front of him, a few feet away of course. Inu no Taishō's attention was immediately brought to this.

Inuyasha looked up at Sesshōmaru, injured, but on guard, ready to jump up and defend himself at any minute that Sesshōmaru might try to attack, completely forgetting that his father was there. That would be kind of foolish considering the fact that their father was standing right there.

Sesshōmaru kneeled down on one knee, looking his brother in the eye, then he rose up his right hand. Inuyasha sat ready for a Dakkasō, Inu no Taishō was also ready in case Sesshōmaru did something funny… but he doubted he would, he admitted he wouldn't try to kill Inuyasha like this. Sesshōmaru touched Inuyasha's left ear. Inuyasha blinked out of surprise, it took him a while to realise that Sesshōmaruwas touching his ear. Everyone blinked in surprise. Izayoi walked over to the fire where Inu no Taishō was standing. "What's going on?" She whispered.

"I honestly have no clue…" Inu no Taishō shook his head and stared in amazement at his two sons. He just couldn't believe what he was seeing. Either he was extremely happy that Sesshōmaru was being friendly towards Inuyasha in a weird way, or he was extremely confused at what was happening, or both.

"W-what?" Inuyasha asked not feeling so comfortable like this.

"Your ears are normal…" Sesshōmaru said then touched his own ear with the hand he touched Inuyasha's with.

"So…?"

"Mine are pointy…"

"Sesshōmaru," Inu no Taishō said in his normal deep more serious voice. It almost sounded as if he was about to scold Sesshōmaru, but he was actually trying not to die laughing.

Sesshōmaru looked at his father. "What? I wasn't beating him up or anything…" Sesshōmaru stated and lowered his hand.

Inu no Taishō sighed with a smile, letting a little chuckle escape his lips; "Aren't you hungry?"

The sun's rays found their way to cover most of the shading on the earth's soft ground. Little birds began to sing and jump from tree to tree.

Inuyasha opened his eyes to catch a blast from the sun, just in time to see his claws return back to normal. He blinked a few times… that ought to be the first time he actually slept in his human form… He inhaled some fresh air and was about to get up when he noticed Kagome's head resting on his shoulder, he was still sitting against the tree. He looked at the girl and decided to stay put until she awoke. He looked around and saw Miroku and Sango still sleeping with Kirara and Shippō on the ground, and his mother… just wasn't there. She was probably taking a bath somewhere. She loved to bathe in the mornings. He looked around for his dad then saw him standing looking at the sunrise with Sesshōmaru. Then his eyes searched to see if there was a river nearby, and his ear's battle to hear the sound of water of the soft hums from a woman - wait a minute…. Sesshōmaru? Oh yea, he forgot Sesshōmaru was there.

"I'm glad you changed your mind." Inu no Taishō said.

Sesshōmaru looked behind him to see Inuyasha is awake. "He's awake, can we go now?"

"The others are still asleep and Izayoi is still in the village. Have patience," Inu no Taishō turned around and looked at his younger son with the sleeping Kagome on him. He rested his hand on Sesshōmaru's back.

Kagome yawned and opened up her eyes. She blinked a few times to get used to the light then she sat up and noticed she was sleeping on Inuyasha. "Oh… sorry…" she went a feint red.

Inuyasha got up. "No worries."

"C'mon," Inu no Taishō spoke and he and Sesshōmaru walked over to Inuyasha and the group.

Kagome stood up and dusted off her school skirt. "Morning!" She greeted.

"Morning," Inu no Taishō stopped with Sesshōmaru at his side. "Your mom should be back any minute with food, then we can head for the village."

"How far is this… dog village of yours?" Inuyasha asked. They have been walking for a long time, and he expected for it to be closer, since Sesshōmaru was there. He wouldn't want to stay with them for too long.

"Impatient, aren't we?" Sesshōmaru said half annoyed.

"We're almost there," Inu no Taishō replied then stopped in his tracks. "Do you see that mist over there?"

Inuyasha stopped a bit behind him and looked forward and saw a thick layer of mist a few meters away from them. "What's that?"

"That's the entrance of the village."

"Whoa, are you trying to scare everyone trying to go there off or what?" Inuyasha asked.

"Yes, it's to scare intruders off," Inu no Taishō began to walk again.

"And what happens to people who just want to visit?" Inuyasha asked picking up pace as well.

"Then the warriors let them in."

Inuyasha raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"You'll see when we get there so stop moaning about it," Sesshōmaru snapped out of annoyance at his little brother.

"Sesshōmaru!" Inu no Taishō scolded. Sesshōmaru just looked at his father out of the corner of his eye with an annoyed glint.

Inuyasha looked at Sesshōmaru annoyed then Inu no Taishō shot a serious look at Inuyasha telling him to back off. Inuyasha sighed and just concentrated on the road again.

It wasn't too long until they arrived at the mist that lay in front of them. Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku, Sango, Kirara and Shippō started in amazement. The thick layer of mist was covering what seemed to be a small village. They were standing in front of it, and way at the back further into the mist there were two huge gates that could vaguely be spotted. There were yōkai walking around there, they were in their human forms and one by one spotted them standing there and they either paused or ran away. But gossip spread through the entire place.

"Dad… what is this place?" Inuyasha asked. "Certainly this isn't the village of dogs?"

"No it's not, this is the entrance. Some warriors live outside of the village to protect it, and the mist is just to fool appearance. But since I am supposed to be dead they'd probably not let us into the village," Inu no Taishō stated looking at the dog demons starting to stand in front of them, blocking their path to the village.

"Halt! Who goes there!" The captain of the troops asked.

"Move for your leader," Inu no Taishō demanded.

"Our leader died two hundred years ago! A phoney shall not be allowed into this village!"

"I stand here before you and you deny me. I assure you that I am the same Inu no Taishō who lead you two hundred years ago. I have been resurrected from the grave."

The captain seemed uncertain now. "If this is true then the family heir should be here too?"

Inu no Taishō calmed down a bit. "Sesshōmaru. Would you listen to him, my son?" He asked in a calmer tone.

"That who was to be our next leader. We vowed ourselves to only obey him when he makes his return!" (A/N: Don't ask… I am just… putting my English words together in a weird way!)

Sesshōmaru's eyes twitched with slight annoyance as the dogs wanted him to be their leader. He wasn't as powerful as his father yet they wanted him to lead them? Sesshōmaru looked at his father then back at the demon dogs. "Move for your leader or be killed."

The captain lowered his guard. "Sesshōmaru-sama, is this man really what he claims to be?"

"You should be disappointed in yourselves for forgetting the smell of your leader. If anyone should know who this man before you is, it should be you. He trained you and taught you everything you know, and this is how you repay him? If I could remember his scent after two hundred years there should be no doubt you'd be able to do the same, or has the mist finally gone to your heads?" Sesshōmaru's words escaped his mouth.

Finally the captain's expression changed to disappointment and disapproval of himself. He dropped to his knees and the army behind him moved left and right forming a path to the two large gates at the back. They also fell down to their knees after they moved either right or left.

"Inu no Taishō, forgive us!" The captain started to plead.

"You are forgiven noble man," Inu no Taishō spoke without letting the man finish. "Open the gates to the village."

"But sire," the captain looked upwards, "Humans aren't allowed inside of the village."

"And I thought I made it clear that they are."

The captain bowed his head to show he understands then quickly stood up and walked to the way back to the giant gates. Inu no Taishō and the rest of them started to walk through the army of bowing men. The captain opened the gates to reveal one beautiful mist-free city. It was unbelievable… It looked so much different from the outside. From the gates there lead a path right through the village to another gate, but it also lead to the fountain in the middle of the village called the town centre. (A/N: I got that off from Fairyland… all the villages there have a fountain in the middle to represent village centre or town centre P ). The houses were quite big and pretty, from the main path, small paths made its way to the houses inside the village. Some of the houses were even located next to the main route.

The captain bowed next to Inu no Taishō on his knees. Sesshōmaru walked into the village, remembering it. He stopped a few feet after he walked through the gate. He caught the attention of most of the villagers who were outside of their houses. They all looked around confused then ran to the edge of the main route and bowed in front of Sesshōmaru on their knees.

"Sesshōmaru-sama, have you finally come to take care of us?" A noble woman asked.

Sesshōmaru looked at the woman with disgusted eyes. "I haven't returned for you."

The dog demons raised their heads, sad that Sesshōmaru did not return for their sakes, but for his own. But only to find a figure walking out from the mist, a figure that was oh so familiar to them, a figure they once addressed as Inu no Taishō, a figure they thought had died. Their heads turned to each other and gossip spread out in the crowd of dog demons.

"Is that Inu no Taishō?"

"Has he risen from the grave?"

"That must be his half-human son, Inuyasha." A voice spoke as soon as Inuyasha was visible from the mist.

"A hanyō? In our village? We cannot allow the presence of a pathetic hanyō in our village," Another voice spoke up. A small gust of wind went over the demon that held the voice. The demon looked around the find the source of the wind to only find Inu no Taishō glaring at him, holding out his hand and from his hand came the gust of wind. Soon the wind increased and hit him right over.

"I will not tolerate this behaviour," Inu no Taishō glared at the one who insulted his son. He faced forward once again, "We will be heading to the castle. Feel free to let the other villagers know I have returned." With that he walked onwards.

They all remained on their knees, until the last person in the row behind Inu no Taishō had passed them, who happened to be Inuyasha. Kagome was next to Inuyasha but a bit more in front of him, then Miroku and Sango walked side by side with Kirara and Shippō at their feet. Izayoi walked in front of them, almost next to Inu no Taishō, she was on his left side and Sesshōmaru at his right, just a little more distance stood between Inu no Taishō and Sesshōmaru than him and Izayoi.

"Um sir," Saya spoke off from Inu no Taishō's back, floating in front of him. "Not that I want to be the bearer of bad news or anything, but don't you think they'd already have found a replacement?"

"Don't be ridiculous, Saya. If they did, it would've been Sesshōmaru and he never came back here."

"But Sir, don't you think they'd have gotten just a small commander to take those little steps and decisions that they need?"

Inu no Taishō's eyes filled up with fury and he fastened his pace.

At the fountain they passed right towards the up-right corner at the top where a nice big castle was found. It was surrounded by its own gates and walls, not only that around the village. The two guards guarding the front of the castle at the two gates, instantly dropped to their knees when they saw Inu no Taishō.

"Inu no Taishō!"

"Have you returned to us?"

"Stand up and open the gates," Inu no Taishō commanded. "And tell me who lives here."

The two noble warriors lifted their heads looking straight into Inu no Taishō's serious, frightening, face. The two men got up and started to unlock the gate.

"Kane-sama moved in to take temporary lead until Sesshōmaru-sama would come," The one warrior spoke and the gates now stood wide open for them to enter. Inu no Taishō started to walk inside, into the castle's garden.

Sesshōmaru hit the warrior against the wall that kept the two gates up. "You replaced me with that bastard?" Sesshōmaru spoke in his usual calm voice, holding the man up by his kimono.

Before the warrior could reply, Inu no Taishō stopped in his tracks. "Let him go, Sesshōmaru. You don't want to rule over my empire, so why let it get to you? Besides, there is only one way to solve this and that is to speak to Kane himself."

Sesshōmaru shot one dead cold glare to his father's back then let go of the warrior and walked towards his father.

Inuyasha and the others also walked into the garden then the two warriors closed the gates once again. Inuyasha ran-jumped to the front where his dad was still standing. "What's going on? Who's this Kane?"

Sesshōmaru stopped next to Inuyasha, and glared at him. "Kane himself is too important for a hanyō such as yourself to know about."

"Sesshōmaru!" His father scolded.

Sesshōmaru just glared at his father then back away. Inu no Taishō turned around to face his two boys. He first shot a short glare at Sesshōmaru to warn him, then he turned towards Inuyasha. "Kane's a noble man. His parents were good friends of our family up until they got killed, and my parents adopted him, without any doubt."

"As if you weren't enough kids already," Sesshōmaru mumbled, but this time Inu no Taishō paid no attention to him.

"Instead of handing this village to one of my brothers, somehow it ended up in his paws. But fear no worries. As I said he's a noble man, and he's just waiting for Sesshōmaru's arrival anyway before he steps off from the throne."

"Father, there is something you are forgetting," Sesshōmaru spoke. His father and brother's heads turned towards him. "Kane might be a noble man who sticks with his words and who grew up with you. But as your parents taught him, he hates humans. At this rate," Sesshōmaru's eyes travelled over the humans in the group, including the half-human, Inuyasha, referring to them, "He'll refuse to give your own village back to you."

Inu no Taishō realised that Sesshōmaru was right, and him having a human as a wife and a half-human son doesn't make the matter any better. "It's still my village," were his words before he turned around and walked towards the entrance of the castle, guarded by two more dog beasts.

"What do you think you're doing!" Jaken exclaimed. "If Sesshōmaru-sama comes back he won't know where we are!" He ran after Setsuko and Rin who were peacefully walking down the road, Rin stopping every two seconds to pick some flowers.

"Jaken," Setsuko spoke.

"Uh?" He looked up at the elder dog demon.

"Shut up. Sesshōmaru wouldn't have left me alone with you two if he didn't trust me, and me being his mother, he is supposed to trust me."

Jaken closed his mouth and just kept on holding onto Aun's reins, wlaking after the dog demon. "Ah!" He suddenly gasped as he realised what path they're taking. "You're going to see that old fart! What for!"

"Didn't I just tell you to shut up?" Setsuko replied getting impatient with her son's lackey. A smirk came upon her face as the huge skull came into view, the huge skull were Tōtōsai lived. She stopped and looked over her shoulder at Rin. "Jaken, I trust you with Rin. If anything happens to her, I will skin you alive." Then her head turned forward and she walked to the old man.

Jaken stood there, frozen solid in his tracks at the old demon's threat.

"Oi! Tōtōsai-jiji!" Setsuko waved at the old man.

Tōtōsai looked up from his work and saw her walking towards him. "S-setsuko!"

"Don't sound so scared to see me! I won't hurt you," She said and stopped at the mouth of his cave. "I just came here to talk."

"Oh… about what?" Tōtōsai asked, obviously scared of this dog demon standing in front of him.

"Oh nothing too serious… you and the Dog General are pretty good friends, right? You guys come a looooong way…" She said her smirk just widening with each question mark she passes.

"Uh… yea…" Tōtōsai nodded his head.

"So then tell me," She sat down in front of him, almost causing the old man to jump out of his own roof. "How did he meet this… Izayoi…?"

Author's Note:drum toll: Ta-da! I finally relaxed a bit and got enough energy into my brain to end this chapter! YAY:dances: So let's see… what is Setsuko up to? What will Kane's reaction be towards Inu no Taishō and his "family" and what will those headless jumping frogs to do Jaken's tail? Does he even HAVE a tail? O.o I watched it SO long ago… I don't remember! XD! Partly because my sound card's blown out from the thunder… I cry… ;o;! I can't write/draw/work/watch Inuyasha/live without it! I NEED my soundcard since my hi-fi's CD-player doesn't work -.-' I hate the radio… and the tapes I have don't have my favourite songs on them! Now my dad refuses to buy me a new one ;o;!

Well at least I got to see the firth movie before that happened… xD And at LEAST I've seen all of the episodes… I'm just waiting for to upload the latest manga chapters:D! But I'l have to get through my exams first… gonna write science first since I HAVE it all in my mind (yep… I can choose which subjects I wanna write and when…but within the limit they gave me). But you probably don't care anyway! xD

A BIG special HUG and THANKS to all of my nice reviewers! And the mean ones too :P at least you're all bumping up my review numbers x) Which comes to remind me… I just found out "Kiyoshi" is actually a guy's name… o.o aw well x) I don't really care. I like the name "Kiyoshi" xD

Again, I only vaguely scanned it with my eyes... I'm kind of in a hurry, and if I want this chapter up I can't postpone any longer... so hope you like!

Kiyoshi Kaiiki Rindō