Chapter Two:
When Youko heard that Kuronue arrived earlier, from his daughter no less, he was surprised and curious as to why. He left Kaoru to play with his other kits leaving them under the supervision of Youtaira as he went to find the bat.
What surprised him even more was that Kuronue had come to speak to Sesshoumaru, and not him! Just what? He was soon knocking on the office door and before he could be told to butt out he opened the door and stepped in, looking between Sesshoumaru and Kuronue, seeing as both looked upset and angry... "What did I miss?" He asked bluntly.
Youko watched the two, looking back and forth between them. His silvery auds folded back. Sesshomaru was snarling, with a look of sorrow on his face-not that the dog would want to know that. And Kuronue looked more upset than pissed.
Youko sighed... "Is this about Youmaru... and Lyken?" The name Lyken was said with distaste. He knew, just knew that stupid wolf was hurting his boy. It was bad enough he was forced to stay with the wolf, but the few scant times they could see him, there was always a scent on him. And the one time he saw a bruise Youko had wanted to leap and tear the wolf's throat out.
Youko growled Looking to his mate, "I don't care if it's for the treaty anymore... I want Youmaru home." He stated, tail twitching irritably behind him watching his mate.
Kuronue scowled, lip curling back from his fang for a moment, "That smelly bastard hits him, I saw the bruises. But Youmaru won't admit anything is wrong. He considers it some twisted duty to stay with the mongrel." He glared at Sesshoumaru, clearly blaming the dog lord.
Sesshoumaru snarled at the both of them and stood, "And this Sesshoumaru told you, bat, unless Youmaru speaks out against the wolf there is nothing to be done."
Golden eyes narrowed to slits, menace rolling off the silver inu, "Or would you have this Sesshoumaru shirk tradition and start a new war over a few bumps and bruises?" He sounded disgusted with himself that he wouldn't, but Kuronue wouldn't know him well enough to catch on.
"Yes," Youko blurted out, then realized what he'd done, but he couldn't help it. That was his kit, his first born son. A mother's instincts were to protect his or her children, damn it.
A three way glare fest started in the room, and the office was practically boiling over with tension and youki, so much so that Kuronue was mildly surprised nothing had burst into flames yet. Just as the bat was sure that something had to snap the door opened with a cry of "Lord Sesshoumaruuuu..!" as Jaken rushed in, holding a sealed parchment in his webbed claws.
Youko was by the door so he was the first to snarl. Moving so fast he snatched the parchment and gave a ferocious kick to the toad demon sending him back outside the room and then slammed the door shut. Growling a bit, he finally chanced a look at the parchment frowning at the seal. Wait... "You better look at this now." He held it out to his mate.
Sesshoumaru unrolled the scroll grimly, lips pulled down into a frown as he read;
Greetings Lord Sesshoumaru,
I was under the impression you wanted this treaty to come to fruition. My son informs me that your pup has been more and more distant of late, and has been sneaking off at night, coming back smelling of other demons. Is this what your family considers loyalty? This behavior is becoming an issue, as well as the other issues my son has reported with yours. We request your presence to talk sense into your disobedient heir lest the joining of East and West be broken.
~Lord Garou
Youko watched his mate, tail twitching irritably... "What is it?" He couldn't peak over his mates shoulder even if he wanted to, the tall bastard.
Sesshoumaru snarled and stalked to his window, trying to keep himself calm as he glared at the innocent trees and flowers outside.
Youko frowned, slowly stepping up behind his mate, giving Kuronue a look-a warning that he should go, at least for now. Then he stepped up to stand beside his mate. "Sesshoumaru, please tell me..."
The dog lord grunted and waved a hand at the letter, gesturing the fox to read it himself. He was far too mad to speak rationally at the moment.
Kuronue glared at the fox and the dog before snarling and storming out of the room. Fine! Let the uppity bastards talk, he would go see his daughter and make sure she was getting along with her aunts.
Youko turned and soon lifted the parchment, eyes scanning it over. He frowned. "How soon are we leaving?" He wanted to rip new ones into those wolves. Like Youmaru would do anything like they were describing! And the only reason he would sneak off would be to see his daughter!
Sesshoumaru turned red eyes upon his mate, seething with anger at what he had read and what the bat had already told him about his eldest son. "We leave in three days time, this Sesshoumaru must first respond and give the wolves time to prepare." The corners of his eyes tightened and his fangs nearly cut his lower lip. His pup would never be so dishonorable. It was only that the wolf lord's son had barred Youmaru from his own daughter that had the boy 'sneaking off' to see her. Family was important to canines, and it angered him greatly that Lyken was showing such dishonorable traits as to separate a parent from their pup.
Youko nodded, watching him. "If you take no issue with it, I will send for Kagome and Inuyasha. They can help watch over the kits while we're away." he stated gently. Even though Sesshoumaru wanted to always call them pups, it was just habit for the fox to say kits. He turned, looking over his shoulder frowning... "Hopefully we can get it all straightened out... and Youmaru can come home.." He stated softly. He eventually stepped out of the room, going to get that letter sent now. If he got it out now it would be to Kagome before nightfall, then she could be here by the end of the day tomorrow. So he could fill her in a bit and help her get situated-and also inform her how to care for his newest kits. The triplets were a handful only because there were so many of them.
~time skip one day~
On the cusp of twilight there was a commotion at the gate as a red clad figure came floating down from the sky, a woman on his back, two smaller figures trailing in his wake. When InuYasha and his family landed, Kagome leap off of his back and marched up to the castle, hands on her hips. "Kurama!" She bellowed, crumpled note in her left hand, "Get your fluffy butt out here this instant!"
Kagome was pissed, the letter told her to get to the castle because something was wrong with her oldest nephew, and her mama bear instincts reared their ugly head. Her fingers itched to grab a bow and get some target practice on the wolf her nephew was being courted by, she didn't like the boy, his aura just rubbed her the wrong way. InuYasha watched with hands folded into his sleeves, son and daughter standing behind him, keeping out of the way of their mother's temper.
Youko was informed quickly, and the bellowing of his name hadn't gone unnoticed, he didn't waste time getting out to the gate, waving a hand at the guard there and the gate was opened. "A little sooner than I expected, but I'm glad none the less.. We'll talk in side.." He stated gently, not wanting to talk about this out in the open-even if it was in their court yard. It was a sensitive subject that no straying ears needed to hear.
Kagome scrutinized the silver fox with pursed lips before nodding sharply and snapping her fingers to summon her children and mate as she followed her old friend into the inner sanctum of the castle. "What's wrong with Youmaru?" She pressed as InuYasha gave them a quick glance before grabbing the twins and leading them off to find their cousins the triplets. Kami knew he didn't want to deal with his brother's whelps, but they adored Taya and Toushi loved to rough house with the little monsters. His lips twisted into a smirk as he thought of all the trouble his pups could get into if they enlisted the help of the female twins Ati and Tia. His golden eyes gleamed and he chuckled evily. Yes, he'd have the castle turned on its ear by morning!
Youko glanced back as InuYasha took their two children, probably to go play with his own kits. He sighed softly, "Sorry for the short letter, I couldn't be sure if it'd reach or get intercepted.." Really, he had no idea how dirty handed the eastern wolves were. "I am fairly certain the eastern wolf, Lyken... Is abusing Youmaru." He spoke bluntly, getting that bit out of the way... "We received a letter form Lord Garou that we need to go talk to him and Youmaru about being...obedient." He stated a bit bitterly. "I needed someone here to watch over the kits, or rather make sure the kits don't tear the house down or anything while we're gone... I know it's a lot to ask of you, but Sesshoumaru and I both need to go to the East... I don't know how long we'll be."
Kagome gasped, rage burning in her sapphire eyes as Kurama informed her of the treatment her nephew had to endure. "They'll be lucky not to get a purification arrow where the sun doesn't shine!" The somewhat excitable priestess exclaimed. She blamed her long exposure to InuYasha entirely on it, ignoring the teasing whispers of the Jewel in her mind suggesting otherwise. The Jewel's souls – Midoriko's and the combined demon from the statue – had refused to be destroyed with the artifact and had bonded with her own to keep her eternally young and able to protect the power that flowed in her veins.
She took a deep breath before nodding and reassuring Kurama with a smile, "Of course I'll look after your kits! Go and teach that runt a lesson about abusing his intended partner." There was a cold fire in Kagome's eyes as she spoke of the wolf prince, who was nothing like Kouga, though they were related. Kouga was far too honorable to take out his aggression on his pack mates in such a way.
Youko nodded, "I do intend to." If he even got a turn. If Sesshoumaru had his way the boy would probably never walk again, Youko would be quite fine with that. "I just hope we can settle this without a war between the eastern and western lands.." So many would get caught up into it if that happened.
Kagome gave him a grim smile and her eyes glowed with a pink fire for a moment, her voice resonating with power. "You'll have me on your side, Kurama. Count on it." Then the fire died and her expression lightened, "But Sesshoumaru is a great negotiator when push comes to shove, I'm sure it'll be fine. Go on, protect your kit, Fox. I'll look after things here."
Youko was still not use to seeing the affects of the jewel from her, but he nodded, "Go find your mate and your own kits, before they get into some trouble with my twins." he chuckled softly, giving her a quick hug before he turned to find Sesshoumaru to inform him of their guests-and that they had sitters.
Getting to his mates office he gently knocked before he entered the room, looking to his mate. "Kagome and all arrived, she agreed to watch over the kits for us while we are gone... I need to ask, is Kuronue going with us when we head for the east?"
Sesshoumaru looked up from his paperwork with a frown, glaring out the window as his sharp eyes caught the bat's silhouette in the garden, entertaining the pups and no doubt plotting trouble. "This Sesshoumaru will not bring him as an official member of the Western Pack, but the bat is also not forbidden to come in his own rights." The Fox could take it as he would, Sesshoumaru did not like Kuronue and never would, but he had to admit a grudging sort of respect for the thief that he at least honored the ties to his pup, taking care of her in the secondary castle he had all but banished the irritating creature to when Youmaru had gone East. "We leave at first light."
Youko gave his mate a nod, he'd leave it up to Kuronue if he wanted to go or not. He didn't think Kuronue would want to leave Kaoru here by herself, but he also wasn't the bat, what would he know about what the idiotic bat would decide to do? Exactly. "Make sure you get to bed soon then my dear."
Youko turned to leave the room giving a playful smirk as he looked back at his mate, "Don't need a cranky dog tomorrow~" the words were in jest, trying to lighten his mates mood. But his smirk didn't last long before he gave his mate a nod to go talk to the bat.
When he finally arrived outside he looked to Kuronue, "Oye, have a minute?"
Kuronue gave him a somewhat haggard look as he dodged the flying triplets, launched into the air by both sets of twins as some bizarre form of target practice. The bat's hat nearly fell off and he ducked into a somersault as he caught it and landed next to the kitsune, taking half a step behind him to use the plant master as a shield. "If you can keep the monsters off of me long enough, then sure."
Youko blinked, but huffed, growling a bit, "That's enough." He snapped looking at the two sets of twins, looking to his triplets, making sure they were all right.. "What would you have done if any of them got hurt?" he snapped, fur bristling a bit. Normally he wouldn't get this upset, but he was also distressed over all of this with Youmaru.
Kuronue gave him a somewhat strange look, muttering 'as if I'd let them get hurt' under his breath as Ati and Tia looked hurt and cuddled their squirming siblings in bear hugs. "We were being careful!" "Yeah! They never even touched the ground!"
Toushi looked a little uncomfortable as he stood by his sister, unwilling to admit it was his idea to play 'pup ball'. Taya rocked back on her heels and glanced behind her twin to see her father in the trees, watching them with silent mockery. Of course, he'd never have let the pups get hurt, either.
Kuronue tugged Youko's sleeve, "You wanted to talk to me, Fox? Is this about Youmaru?"
Kaoru popped up then, jumping out of the tree InuYasha had been hid-… perched in, "What about Mama?"
Youko's silvery auds folded back as he looked to Kuronue but hearing Kaoru he frowned a bit more. He didn't want to talk about this in front of her! Oh well... To late now, Kuronue caused that damage. "Sesshoumaru and I are going to the east tomorrow at first light. You're welcome to go... but you know my stubborn mate, you're not 'part' of the western group persay..."
Kuronue snorted and caught Kaoru as she launched herself at them, perching his daughter on his hip and tapping her nose. "Kaoru wants to see her mother." It was his way of saying he wanted to go without admitting it himself. The ten year old nodded and smiled up at her grandmother, "Mama had to go before I could show off my favorite treasure!" The little girl missed her mother terribly, though she didn't 'need' Youmaru the way she did as a smaller pup, she still loved her mother.
Youko gave a faint nod, "All right... don't be late or we will leave without you." He stated honestly, sighing as he looked over to his kits, "No more tossing the triplets around, please girls." Then he headed inside, he was going to lay down... He was tired and feeling stressed which made him feel even more tired.
They had left at first light without the bat or his pup, as they were late, and it wasn't until noon when they stopped for a small lunch at Youko's insistence that the pair caught up with them, Kaoru having a lumpy pack on her back that looked rather heavy and weighted down with something Youko strongly suspected was stolen. But he couldn't begrudge the bat for passing his skills on, if it weren't for the fact that Sesshoumaru would try to tear off one of his tails, the fox would have likely taught his own kits similar tricks. He smiled at his grand kit as he offered her a sandwich and Kuronue leaned stoically against a tree opposite Sesshoumaru. The 'manly men' refused the snack, and so the two ate silently before continuing on as a single group.
The sun was setting as they crossed the Eastern border, Kuronue carrying his tired pup, her bag slung over one arm as the wolves surrounded them suspiciously. Sesshoumaru growled at them and they backed off, running with their tails between their leg back to their masters to announce the Western Pack had arrived.
-End Chapter two-
As always, reviews are loved!