Edited (Author notes at beginning and end ONLY).

Chapter Eight

"Inu no Taishō!" The guard gasped, he looked at the other one. "What do we do now?"

"You know we have to obey the Inu no Taishō. He rules over dogs everywhere, not just this village in the west," The other guard spoke and immediately kneeled before Inu no Taishō reached them.

The other guard looked slightly back at the door, "What about Kane-sama? He ordered us to not let any humans pass the gates…"

Inu no Taishō finally reached them, "What's going on here?" He demanded to know.

"My Lord!" The guard who was still on his feet fell down to his knees.

"Sire, Kane-sama has a meeting right now-" The guard who was on his knees first got interrupted by the door opening. A woman who looked very similar to Sesshōmaru and his father stood there in a pink, reddish kimono, her armour quite similar to Seshōmaru's. Her hair was tied up, and it was the same colour as Inu no Taishō's hair. The stripes Inu no Taishō had on his face, she had on hers, only pink-purple in colour.

"Soyahana-sama!" The two guards exclaimed.

"Shhh!" She said and silently closed the door behind her, "If Kane was to found out I'm doing this, I'm dead-meat!" She exclaimed in a whisper. Her face turned more serious now, "If anybody asks you if you've seen me or him," she pointed towards Inu no Taishō, "Or any of the other people, then you haven't, so get up."

The two guards looked confused and got up.

Inu no Taishō eyed her, "What are you up to?"

"Shh!" She said then suddenly grabbed his wrist, very unexpectedly, and pulled him into the castle's garden maze, motioning for the others to follow them.

Everyone looked confused, except Sesshōmaru who seemed annoyed. Izayoi was the first to set foot after them, then finally the others also followed.

Just when they disappeared the doors opened again and a man with black hair and with a white Kimono stood there. "Did Hana pass here?" He asked the two guards.

"No, Kane-sama," The first guard spoke, the second one looked though he was full of doubts.

"Alright, men you may leave," he made way for his guests to walk out of the castle. "I can smell her close by," Kane murmured under his breath. 'What's she up to?'

"How Inu no Taishō and Izayoi met?" Tōtōsai scratched his head. "I don't know…"

Setsuko looked at him with a blank expression. "Surely you must know. He always went to you for new swords, sword repairing…. Anything to do with swords… didn't he tell you anything?"

"Not that I remember," Tōtōsai's head slightly titled to the right. "All I know is that Izayoi was some sort of a hime, and needed a bodyguard for some reason and the Dog General somehow ended up to be her bodyguard. The rest I have no idea."

"Is that so?" She said and slammed her claws into the sword he was busy wielding, and since it was still hot her claws went right through.

Tōtōsai blinked a few times. "They somehow became attracted to each other! That's all I know, I swear!"

Setsuko removed her claws from the sword and Tōtōsai immediately pulled the sword away. "About when did this happen?"

"Um… sometime after you guys weren't married anymore."

"Hmm," Setsuko said and leaned backwards, resting her arms behind her so that she won't fall flat onto her back. She sighed, "So he didn't cheat on me…"

"I thought you cheated on him?" Tōtōsai pointed out.

"Oh shut up!" She growled at him and threw a handful of dirt at him. Her eyes were full of guilt now and she looked up towards the ceiling. 'The old man may be right… But I so regretted it afterwards… I ended up losing everything… from Sesshōmaru… to my husband…then some human bitch got her dirty hands all over him.'

"What else can you tell me regarding them?" She asked.

"I don't see how that concerns you…" Tōtōsai said and put the sword down.

Setsuko looked him in the eye. "So you do know more?" She paused for a small while. "Did they ever… argue or fight over things?"

"Now I really don't see how that concerns you in any way," Tōtōsai said.

"So they did," she said and looked up at the ceiling again. "What did they fight about?"

Tōtōsai remained silent. Setsuko's eyes travelled down to him, her head remaining in its position. They filled up with annoyance and she hit Tōtōsai over his head with her fist.

"I'm not going to tell you. I know what you're up to. You just want to break them up…" Tōtōsai spoke.

Setsuko stood up. "Fine, I know someone who will help me." Then she made her way out, kicking some dust into Tōtōsai's eyes.

"Hana!" Izayoi said and stopped when she finally reached their destination.

"Izayoi!" She smiled happily, she was busy glomping Inu no Taishō.

Inuyasha stopped next to his mother, eyeing this weird thing hugging his father to death. Everyone else behind them, Sesshōmaru a bit further away from them.

"Oh my gosh!" She squealed. "You must be Inuyasha!" She literally jumped on him and hugged him to death, them both falling over.

"Oh goodness," Inu no Taishō said with huge eyes, only relieved that he wasn't in her clutches anymore.

"WHAT THE FUCK? WHO ARE YOU!" Inuyasha yelled, and tired to kick her off of him.

Hana let go of him and got up. She dusted herself off, and Inuyasha helped himself up. "I am Soyahana, but people call me Hana," she smiled pointing at herself. "I'm your father's brother's sister!" She gleefully smiled. She paused for a while then lowered her hands and smiled in a silly way. "Your father's sister," she corrected herself.

"Crazy sister is more liked it," Sesshōmaru stated.

Hana opened her mouth to say something, then closed it again, while thinking for a while. "Well it's nice to see you too, Sesshōmaru," she said pulling herself together. She looked over at Inu no Taishō. "I heard you guys have all been revived. Kane also found out and he's not too happy about it…"

Inu no Taishō's head titled with confusion. "What do you mean not too happy about it?"

"I don't know… ever since he was put in command of the village… I guess he grew quite fond of the position… he's been having all of these meetings with these weird demons, setting out to look for you. Something about a duel… I don't know why, he knows he can't beat you, you're too strong. That's why you got the title 'Inu no Taishō' and not father!" She said all in one breathe.

"Hana! Calm down!" Inu no Taishō rested his hands on her shoulders.

Hana breathed in, then looked her brother in the eye. "You know… if Inuyasha had his hair up, he'd kind of look like you…"

Inu no Taishō raised an eyebrow, "What's that got to do with anything?"

"Don't know," she shrugged. "I thought it'd be nice to know…"

Inu no Taishō sighed then removed his hands from her shoulders.

"Can we get to the point?" Sesshōmaru asked. "Why are we hiding?"

"Because I don't know what Kane is capable off… two hundred years is a BIG gap you know… he's gotten a lot stronger since you guys last saw him…" She said and folded her arms across her chest. Her eyes fell upon Inuyasha… "OH MY GOSH! HE'S JUST SOOO CUTE! Can I touch his ears!" She asked her big brother, causing Inuyasha to jump backwards.

Inu no Taishō raised an eyebrow again, "I'm not the one you should be asking that…"

She turned to Inuyasha.

"Don't touch me," he said as he bended further away from her.

She yelped then sat down on the grass. "Well Kane most probably already picked up your scent and the scent of humans in what he claims to be his yard…"

"And you only think of that now?" Inu no Taishō rolled his eyes.

"He probably won't approach you directly… he still has his respect for you. He just wants this village, he doesn't want you to have it back. That's all. He couldn't care less about being called Inu no Taishō, because he knows he can't become stronger than you." She sighed. "What about Sesshōmaru? Think he'll one day surpass you like you did with our father?"

This grabbed Sesshōmaru's attention, and Inuyasha's. They both eyed the conversation from all directions.

"I don't know," Inu no Taishō said. "Get up."

"What, why?"

"We're going to Kane, I don't see why you want to hide."

"But ō-aniki!"

"No buts." He started to make his way out of the maze.

Sesshōmaru looked at Soyahana as if she was insane then walked after his father.

"You do realise that Kane will hate you even more when he sees you brought a whole group of humans to the village!" Hana yelled after her brother, but obviously, he couldn't care less since he just kept on walking.

Setsuko sat in a valley of daisies with Rin hopping around, picking daisies then bringing them to Setsuko and putting it either next to her or in her hair, or anywhere else where she can.

'Rin… I can see why Sesshōmaru likes her… it's kind of hard to hate her, or am I just pushing myself because it's my son's wishes?' She looked at the little girl running towards her, with more flowers in her hand.

"Setsuko-sama, when is Sesshōmaru-sama getting back? I want to give him his flowers," The little girl asked the demon.

"In a while. Why don't you pick some flowers for Jaken and Aun? I'm sure they'd appreciate it…" Setsuko suggested since she was getting a little too full of flowers.

Rin nodded her head, "Okay!" She ran towards Jaken with the flowers in her hands.

Setsuko looked up into the sky. 'Izayoi… how can I get rid of you without my husband getting mad at me, but at you? Takemaru… that guy who has Sou'unga! He could help me… but Sou'unga most probably won't trust me… and to top that off… I don't know the whereabouts of Takemaru…' Her mind circled in her skull. Her heart ached because she couldn't be with the man she loved. She wanted Sesshōmaru to at least have a great relationship with the man who once loved her. That's why she told him to go with him, partly so that he can make up with his father and partly so that she could clear her mind. But it wasn't really working… the more she thought about getting rid of Izayoi, the more she felt guilty. Somehow she felt that she didn't deserve him… she did break his heart after all… maybe Izayoi deserved him more than she did. 'What! No! No human deserves the Dog's Lord!' She sighed herself into calming down. "Maybe it would've been better if I was never revived…"

She looked down at Rin throwing Jaken and Aun full of flowers. Aun seemed to enjoy it, but Jaken just wanted to run away. 'Maybe I was revived for other purposes other than to try and get my revenge on Izayoi…'

The doors flew open and Inu no Taishō walked through the halls, "Where is he?" He demanded to know as he walked passed the servants. He had asked Izayoi to stay with Inuyasha and Sesshōmaru and the other humans outside with Hana. He partly did that because he didn't want his children to see him angry, I could get ugly, and he wanted Inuyasha to have a proper welcoming to his home when he first sets foot into it.

"KANE!" His voice travelled through the hallways of the gigantic castle.

The servants were forced to just watch as they couldn't stand up to their leader.

"What the hell?" Kane walked through another pair of doors on the opposite side of where Inu no Taishō stood. "Aniki? What are you doing here?"

"That's what I'd like to ask you?" Inu no Taishō said, keeping his distance before he did something stupid.

"I was just put temporarily in charge until Sesshōmaru came back," he spoke.

"Well I have returned. You can leave now," Inu no Taishō said, dead serious.

"Aniki… these demons won't look up to you if you have a human wife and a half-human son."

"Kane, I will tell you once more, before I lose my temper. You can leave now."

Kane nodded. "I'll be back though." Then he made his way out. Inu no Taishō eyed him. He sure had changed since he last saw him. He made his way out to greet the rest.

Kane walked outside into the garden then stopped when he saw Inuyasha and Izayoi. "So you must be Inuyasha then," he aid observing Inuyasha seeing resemblance in his appearance to Izayoi.

"I don't see how that's any of your concern," Inuyasha growled.

Kane looked over at Sesshōmaru, "So it is like they say… like father like son?"

"I have no business with these humans," Sesshōmaru spoke.

"What's going on?" Hana asked looking concerned at Kane.

"Kane's leaving," Inu no Taishō spoke as he came out from the castle.

Kane looked at Inu no Taishō then looked at Inuyasha again. "You know what would be funny… if that brat would surpass you and Sesshōmaru both one day. I'd laugh…" Kane said, then simply made his way out of the castle's yards.

"That was… easy…" Hana said. "What did you do?"

"Something tells me that's not the last we'll see of him…" Inu no Taishō said. "Hana, show these people the spare rooms, so that they can rest there. Sesshōmaru, Inuyasha. Come with me." He walked back into the castle.

Sesshōmaru gave one nasty glare to Inuyasha then walked after his dad. Inuyasha returned the favour and followed Sesshōmaru.

"Okay, follow me people!" Hana said with a cute smile on her face. (A/N: like this:3 )

"Wow!" Kagome exclaimed when she saw the giant room she had all to herself for the night. Sango's was right next to hers, and her expression was similar to Kagome's. Kirara jumped out of Sango's arms and made herself comfortable on the bed. Miroku's room was just across from Sango's.

"We normally share a room in the other villages…" Miroku said throwing an eye at Sango, half disappointed.

Sango went deep red and stood still in her position.

"Heh," Hana said her back on them. "Look, you guys just enjoy yourself, if you want to you can share rooms... I just found it more appropriate for you guys to sleep separately… but do as you wish…"

Miroku gained a smile on his face, then turned around and walked towards Sango's room.

"Don't even think about it Hōshi-sama," Sango warned him, tugging Hiraikotsu closer. Miroku immediately changed directions once again.

"The raccoon can share your room, Miroku," Hana said.

"I'm a fox…" Shippō replied annoyed.

"I guess you all want a grand tour of the castle, but that I can't give you. You'll just have to wait until ō-aniki is finished with Inuyasha, then he can show you around if he remembers what his dad tells and shows him," Hana chuckled. "And right now I want to catch up with Izayoi, so for now you guys can rest. I will come call you for necessary activities you need to participate in."

"Necessary activities we need to participate in?" Kagome asked confused.

"You know… lunch, dinner, breakfast… whatever, those things," Hana said shoving it off with a few waves of her hand.

"Oh…" Kagome said.

"So you guys will be okay from here?" Hana asked.

"It's kind of hard to not be okay," Sango said whilst looking into her giant room. It was fit for a hime.

"Alright, so I'll see you guys at either lunch or dinner," Hana smiled and walked down the hall.

"I can't believe it! I can finally sleep in a nice soft bed again!" Kagome squealed and ran into her room, falling face first onto her bed. "And to think Inuyasha could have grown up living here! He'd have been a spoilt brat!" Kagome chuckled at her own remark, then figured things probably happened the way they did for a reason. If he did grow up here with both of his parents and a more loving brother… he probably never would've wanted to Shikon no Tama, and therefore never would've met Kikyo and then definitely wouldn't have crossed paths with Kagome. 'To think Inuyasha had to go through all that pain just so that we could meet?' She sighed at her own thoughts then turned onto her back and stared at the ceiling. She smiled when she heard a slap come from Sango's room.

"Sesshōmaru. Inuyasha," Inu no Taishō spoke, pausing between the two names. "I don't know where to begin. I've missed out two hundred years of your lives." His back was to both Sesshōmaru and Inuyasha, whilst those two stood next to each other, from a safe distance.

Sesshōmaru folded his arms across his chest.

"Sesshōmaru, you handle Tenseiga well," Inu no Taishō said. "You have proven yourself worthy of a sword such as Tenseiga."

"This useless sword? You're kidding me…" Sesshōmaru bitched.

"If it's not to much trouble for you… I'd like for you to have a word with the warriors," his father said in a loving voice. (A/N: Scary thought…)

Sesshōmaru glanced at his dad then turned around and made his exit. Inuyasha's eyes travelled with the exiting Sesshōmaru then looked confused at his father's back.

"Inuyasha," His father spoke. "I am proud of you. You've mastered Tessaiga and it gladly chooses you as its master."

Tessaiga started to pulse in its sheath, as if agreeing to what Inu no Taishō was saying. Inuyasha grabbed hold of Tessaiga when he felt the pulsing. Inuyasha smiled at Tessaiga who was obviously happy to be near Inu no Taishō. Inu no Taishō finally turned around to come face to face with his son.

"Heh, Tessaiga's happy to see you," Inuyasha said with his smart ass smile.

Inu no Taishō rested his hand on Inuyasha's that was on Tessaiga's handle. Inuyasha felt Tessaiga pulse even harder.

"Hmmmh," Inu no Taishō said with a smile then let go of Tessaiga and it calmed down again.

"Not only that," Inu no Taishō said smiling at his son, "But you've become an excellent fighter without any training. I'm very proud of you."

"Heh… I learnt from watching others fight."

"Come, I want to show you something," Inu no Taishō said then walked down the hall. Inuyasha let go of the pulsing Tessaiga and followed his dad down the long hall. They walked into the room with the stairs and walked up the stairs. (A/N: Whatever that room's called… the stair room? P)

Izayoi and Hana were sitting outside of the castle, in the garden.

"This place is beautiful…" Izayoi said.

"Heh… it was more beautiful two hundred years ago…" Hana replied. "I really missed you guys and when I heard you died I assumed Inuyasha was dead too…"

Izayoi smiled at her husband's younger sister. "There was no way I was going to let him die… I have died twice already… I was just the living dead back then, while he was just a newborn still free to explore the world. And his father died for him. There was no way I could let him die…" Izayoi spoke as a silent tear made its way down her cheek.

Hana looked down. "I feel bad though, I promised myself and ō-aniki to look after you and Inuyasha, but when I got there I was too late. The villagers told me the hanyō kid was dead…"

"I'd expect for that… they hated him and wanted him dead. They probably kicked him out of the village the minute they found out I died… but he ran away…"

Hana looked up at Izayoi, "What exactly happened?"

YAY! Jump back in time to my own fantasy!

"Inuyasha!" his mom gasped when she saw him enter with dirt and bruises all over him. She ran over to him, leaving he food she was busy cooking then she kneeled down and hugged him. "What happened?"

"Nothing!" Inuyasha replied. His mother looked him in the eye and even if he was giving forth a brave pose, she could clearly see he wanted to cry. On one end she wanted him to cry so he could release all of the emotions and feelings he keeps bottled up inside, but on the other end… she couldn't stand seeing him cry… Izayoi got up and closed the door. She sat down on the ground and motioned for Inuyasha to come sit with her.

Inuyasha ran over to her and fell down into her lap, all playfully. She envied him on how he could be so playful during the hardest times… (A/N: Little Inuyasha makes me think of a hamster… they're so white, they have no tails and when they run you don't hear them running…)

"How about I tell you a story about you father?" Izayoi suggested to get his mind off from things.

Inuyasha jumped up and sat in a kneeled position. "Yay! Daddy!"

Izayoi couldn't help but smile at him. "Come, rest your head," she pulled his head down into her lap, pushing him into a laying position. "Let's see…"

"AAAAHHHH! Yōkai!" A villager yelled.

"Yōkai!" Izayoi gasped.

Inuyasha got up, "Yōkai? Dad was yōkai, wasn't he? Is daddy here!" Inuyasha jumped op and instantly ran out of the house.

"Inuyasha! No!" Izayoi gasped.

Disclaimer: Soyahana and Kane are my characters. Please ask permission before using them. A photo of Soyahana should be posted soon enough on my profile page.

~Lil