Chapter Three:

Being led inside the Eastern lords home by a pack of grungy and smelly wolves was not Youko's idea of fun. But he kept his mouth shut, not wanting to 'insult' Lord Garou or his pack and have him do something to Youmaru out of spite. If Youko had his way, they'd be going home with Youmaru, and Lyken would have his balls removed. He'd be happier with just Youmaru coming home if he had to pick one of the two things.

When they entered the large hall the fox couldn't smell his son anywhere. Little did he know was Lyken-who was also missing-was currently having his way with his poor kit. Youko's tail twitched nervously looking around. It was just him, Sesshoumaru, Kuronue, and Kaoru here. Well, of any use that is.

Lord Garou arrived a moment later, one of his wives following in his wake, her face covered by a veil and her bangs hiding her eyes. "Ah, Sesshoumaru. You arrived just in time for dinner. Come, eat with us so that we may discuss this matter amongst family. Together."

Sesshoumaru grunted and nodded, following the wolf into his den. The missing males arrived later, Youmaru looking a bit pale as he limped the slightest bit while Lyken sat gracelessly by his father and tore into the raw deer ribs arranged on his plate. Youmaru's serving was much smaller, less even than Kaoru's, who was fidgeting by her father's side as she tried not to rush across the table to tackle her mother and hug him 'til he smiled again.

Youko's silvery auds folded back, but he held his tongue, knowing this required more finesse then he possessed if they wanted to avoid a war. His pup hadn't even realized any of them were there yet! Was he really that out of it? Just what did this mutt of a wolf do to his kit?

Youmaru hadn't really noticed his family there. He was so use to moving around, trying to keep the pain unnoticed. To be silent and behaved like 'a good mate should be'. He knew it was his duty to keep his fathers lands from falling into war, it was his place in life and he's accepted that.

Sesshoumaru frowned at the pitiful sized portions his pup was served, and curled his nose in disgust as Lyken's 'manners' before he turned to Lord Garou, who was busy being fed by his harem of wives. Sesshoumaru did not approve of Garou's throwing away of tradition; canine youkai mated for life to a single other being. He was sorely tempted to grab his blade and cull the Eastern Pack until a suitable heir remained. But he refrained, for now.

He did not say a word through the first part of their meal until the plates were cleared away and goblets of wine – and juice – were served to keep them busy while the second course was busy being butchered. "You mentioned difficulties." He spoke at last, "Yet this Sesshoumaru has seen Youmaru do nothing but sit quietly. Are you entirely certain your pup is not the one being difficult, Lord Garou?" He challenged, voice an icy growl.

Garou and Lyken both sputtered in protest, glaring at the Western Lord. "What are you implying?!"

Youmaru's head snapped up hearing the voice of his father, turning his head and actually looking at the others there... His father, mother... Kuronue, and.. and his pup... What was going on that they were here? Lord Garou mentioned difficulties? Had he done something to upset the Eastern Lord? No no no... It had to go perfect... He didn't want his father to be forced into a war!

Sesshoumaru's lip curled a little, "This Sesshoumaru implies that your defiance of tradition has made your son a hot tempered jealous fool. The bond of mating you forced upon the agreement is conditional that Youmaru be an equal partner in the process. This Sesshoumaru has seen nothing of the sort."

Lyken growled back, fangs bared in challenge, "Partners don't sneak around each others backs."

Kuronue hissed his words the same time Kaoru did her own; "Partners don't beat each other senseless." "Mommy's just coming to see me you big meany!"

Chaos descended upon the table until Sesshoumaru flared his powers, causing the entire chamber to shake and a small amount of dust to fall into their untouched glasses. "Enough!"

"I agree," Lord Garou spat coldly, "Your pup, Sesshoumaru, has been nothing but difficult for my son. I don't think he wants this treaty at all. In fact, I don't believe you do either. You want that land so badly? We'll fight for it." He gestured sharply and his wives scattered, "You come in here and insult my family!" He snarled as he stood, "When you sullies your lines with mongrels! How dare you. This is war Sesshoumaru. Get out! Out!" His words rose to a roar, the anger filled bellowing echoing off the walls even as Lyken grabbed Youmaru around the upper arm and began to drag him backwards towards the inner castle. He wasn't giving up his little fuck toy without a fight.

Kaoru screamed, "Mommy!" and Kuronue snarled as he grabbed his pup just as the table was flipped over and glass shards flew everywhere as the expensive imported cups shattered.

Youmaru winced from the tight grip, unable to hold back the whimper. If the two sides were going to be at war, there was no reason to put up with this anymore, but after so long, he didn't have the strength to fight the wolf anymore. So when another hand grabbed the wrist of the arm holding him Youmaru's eye's widened to find himself looking at his very pissed off mother.

Youko had practically flew from the table as it was flipped, and first he did was grab hold of Lyken's wrist to keep him from dragging off his kit. Snarling claws dug into the soft flesh as he glared, "You have five seconds to let my kit go before you loose your arm." His eyes held an natural glow to them, tinged a faint green. A few more seconds and this castle was going to explode with plants.

Lyken snarled, then stiffened as his instincts screamed at him that something bad was about to happen. Tempted to do something stupid, it was the smell of his own blood that had him releasing the mongrel and sneering as he grabbed the kitsune's own wrist and flipped him into the stone floor. He was gone in seconds, like the coward he was, and his father's whores screamed like ninnies as they scrambled out the doors as well.

"GET! OUT!" Lord Garou bellowed, wind pouring in from the windows to push at the members of the Western family. "Heads will roll for this insult Sesshoumaru." He hissed as the jyaki charged currents pushed and the Western Lord did not fight it. He did not want to spend another minute in this filthy hovel, he'd see the mongrels across the battlefield come hell or high water. He was taking his pup home, and there would be a change in management in the Eastern lands or the devil would know the reason why.

Youko had gasped, stunned for a moment from getting flipped. Youmaru was soon pulling his mother to his feet as both were soon heading out as well.

~Smallish Time Skip~

They hadn't stopped until they reached the border and were well into the Western lands. Youko's back ached but it wasn't the worse thing. He was just glad Youmaru was with them. Youko frowned looking at his pup that was leaning against his fathers back from how Sesshoumaru carried him that way. Youko would of tried carrying him if he hadn't been thrown to the concrete floor. He was still peeved that mongrel caught him off guard to do that to him.

Youmaru hadn't had the strength to keep up during their leaving, so his father had doubled back for him. As much as Youmaru hated being so weak, he could only obey his fathers wishes and accept the... piggy back ride. Half way out of the eastern lands his exhaustion caught up with him since he didn't have to be the one moving himself and he had fallen asleep with his head resting on his fathers shoulder, one arm loosely hung over the other shoulder, the other sort of hanging at his side. It's been ages since he'd felt so safe.

Sesshoumaru kept Youmaru safely held to his back with the aid of his mokomoko, needing his arms free should the wolves try a sneak attack. His sharp ears twitched at every sound and his nose worked constantly, keeping tabs on his territory with a dedication only a true dog could show. Lord Garou had allowed his family line to fall into disgrace, and Sesshoumaru was intent on rectifying that with his own claws. True, the other Lords would make waves and call for cease fires, but it was none of their business. The Wolf tribes had many capable candidates that Sesshoumaru would back as the new Eastern Lord, provided they proved their loyalty to him when he won the childish war.

It had been centuries since the last war, and he could be honest in admitting he did not regret the upcoming bloodshed. It would be different from what that filthy hanyou Naraku brought upon them, a true demon war was far bloodier. His inner beast growled in anticipation, and his hand twitched next to his swords. They would be very useful in the upcoming battles, and his little brother could prove useful with their father's fang of destruction. Yes… He regretted nothing but allowing his pup to live with the wolves for as long as he had.

They traveled for what was a long while. Youko wasn't sure how long, but none of them felt like stopping any time soon. But when they finally reached their home Youko sighed. He was happy to be home. They could get Youmaru the care he needed, and he was sure Kuronue and Kaoru would both be much happier with his kit home where they knew he was safe. He just wished they had done something sooner. Four years his kit had to live with those wolves. Four long years. Youko wanted to rip tender parts from their bodies and make them watch. It wasn't usually in Youko to torture, but he was very interested in doing so to them.

Youko blamed his maternal instincts, though he was quite the killer when it came down to his life or someone else's, he'd left that behind him with his first kit. Or so he told himself. Kagome arrived at the gate with a gasp, staring at Youmaru in concern, "Is he..?"

"He'll be fine, miko." Sesshoumaru grumbled as he moved past her and into his home, ignoring the burn marks he saw on the wall. He was putting his pup to bed where he could rest with his own pup, and in the morning he'd deal with the repercussions of the upcoming war.

Youko just looked at Kagome and gave a weak smile to her before he followed Sesshoumaru, intent on staying with his mate and pup, leaving Kagome to deal with the other kits and possibly a concerned Kuronue and Kaoru. He knew his mate wouldn't want to be apart from their kit for awhile, and he wouldn't force him away either.

Kuronue gave Kagome a somewhat strained look before following suit. His pup wanted her mother, and before Youko could say anything the little girl was pushed gently through the door and it closed again behind her. He vanished down the halls and reappeared outside Youmaru's window, wrapped in his wings as he lay in wait for Sesshoumaru and Youko to leave so that he could fuss over the hybrid himself. Kaoru latched onto her mother's side and refused to let go.

Youko sighed looking to his mate, who thankfully didn't seem to mind, or was to tired to mind little Kaoru latching onto her mother. Youko moved to gently tuck in Youmaru and Kaoru, knowing Youmaru needed rest, and odds were Kaoru would end up taking a nap as well. He slowly looked up to his mate and gave him a faint nod.. Glancing to the window, then to his mate... "We should rest in our room... there isn't anything else we can do for now.." he tried softly. He knew Kuronue wouldn't sleep unless it was beside his little family. Even if the bat hadn't asked his kit yet, he had a feeling he really cared about him-as one would for a mate.

Sesshoumaru glanced at the window as well, lip curling before he nodded. He turned to lay a hand upon Kaoru's head, ruffling her locks gently before he patted his sleeping son's shoulder and led his mate from the room. They needed their rest.

Kuronue waited about a minute before he crept in through the window and crawled into the bed with his ma-… partner and their child, wing spreading protectively over them in a cocoon as he pressed his face to Youmaru's neck and tried to ignore the lingering scent of wolf there.

~Small time Skip~

Youmaru groaned when he started to come to. For the first time in ages he woke up feeling warm and not cold. Of course who he was forced to share a bed with tended to be a cover hog. Slowly he looked, eyes slowly adjusting, brain slowly waking up. The scent, didn't belong to Lyken. His eyes landed on Kaoru and he smiled softly, a hand slowly moving to gently pet his pups head. Oh how he's missed her, and how much she's grown! He wished he could of seen her more often.

But another scent got his attention and he slowly turned his head, blinking a few times at the face fo the bat. He looked to be asleep. Youmaru couldn't recall the last time he woke up to this face.. It brought tears to his eyes, and he had to close them tightly to try to keep them from falling. Damn it.. He wasn't suppose to miss Kuronue so much! He wasn't his mate!

Kuronue's nose twitched and his wing dropped down tighter to Youmaru's chest in a protective embrace as, even slumbering, the bat reacted to the threat of tears. Kaoru just sighed contentedly and snuggled into her mother, dreams filled with memories from their trip to the beach and how she had buried her daddy in the sand. She still had to show off her best treasure, the one that she kept hidden in the secret tunnels he had shown her after their last scavenger hunt.

Youmaru eventually relaxed his emotions a hand slowly moved to gently go through Kuronue's hair, hoping the gesture would gently wake him up. He was hungry, but not hungry enough to throw his family off of him, he had missed them so much.

Kuronue stirred a little, brows furrowing even as he leaned into the caress with a purr. Then he blinked sleepily when it continued and he realized that it wasn't just a particularly pleasant breeze. Peering at Youmaru, he couldn't help the smile that twitched the corners of his lips. "Hello, Maru-chan," he teased gently, "fancy meeting you here." His wing clenched tighter for a moment before lifting up to furl back against the bat's spine, keeping out of the way as he perched himself up on one arm.

Youmaru let out a soft sound, not wanting to make much noise and wake their pup. He looked to her for a moment before he looked back at him, "It... is nice to know I hadn't dreamed yesterday." he admitted softly. Feeling it was all right to admit this now that no matter what he did there would be a war. He wished he would of been enough to prevent his father from having to deal with a war.. But he hadn't been, but now it was out of his hands there was nothing he could do to stop the war..

Kuronue leaned back and grabbed the cup of luke warm soup that Youko had had delivered, offering it silently to Youmaru. "If it were up to me," he spoke plainly, "I would have had you out of there in three days, tops."

Youmaru blinked a few times, seeing the cup, he grunted a bit when he moved to sit up but he kept even that fairly quiet, careful to not jostle their pup as he sat up enough to take the offered cup, sipping at it, looking over at Kuronue. When he swallowed that he sighed and spoke softly, "It was my duty to be there Kuronue... To prevent a war... Not like it worked though huh?" He looked of to a side, feeling very much like a failure, since he was pretty sure he was.

Kuronue growled softly, "It was not your fault, Maru. It was that mongrel, Lyken, who treated you like a piece of filth. The wolf did not uphold his end of the bargain, and finally gave enough of an excuse to get you home. Youko's been wanting you home just as badly as Kaoru." His eyes flicked to the side for a moment as he again wormed his way around admitting that he was just as concerned; he was the one seeing the hybrid's bruises when he'd abduct him on their rare nights out. "Don't you dare blame yourself," he warned, voice low and eyes hard.

Youmaru frowned, but he wasn't going to argue about this, not while Kaoru was sleeping. It was little to no surprise the bat didn't say he had wanted him home, but his statement earlier, how he wouldn't of waited to get him out of there. So he wasn't to sure if Kuronue had missed him for him-or if it really was all for Kaoru's sake. He just gave a faint shrug at his warning, and finished the soup he had. It was enough to tide his stomach over for now, and then he gave the now empty cup to Kuronue since he was able to reach the bed side table where as he couldn't from where he was pretty much in the middle. He slowly eased back to laying down again. He winced, but no sound escaped him. His back was hurting more from the beatings than anything else right now.

Kuronue placed the empty cup aside and lay down with Youmaru, wing twitched as it rustled, wanting to spread out over the male again protectively, yet not wanting to seem too… smothery. He noticed the hybrid's wince but said nothing, simply reaching over the breeder to pet their daughter's hair as well, a fond smile on his face as he gazed at their sleeping pup. "War is inevitable. We'll just have to be sure that we win is all."

Youmaru sighed softly, eyes closing. He felt exhausted still, but he didn't want to fall asleep and find this to be all a dream he would wake from. Forcing his eyes open he looked over at Kuronue, biting his lip for a moment, he sighed, letting his eyes close, oh fuck it. "Put your wing back, yea?" he asked softly before he fell back asleep to tired to stay awake.

Kuronue pressed his face back against Youmaru's throat, pleased when he smelled only his own scent and the lingering tang of Sesshoumaru from when he carried the male back to the Western Lands. Youmaru could feel the upward curve of Kuronue's lips as his wing spread out over them and the three of them slept once more.

-End Chapter three-

As always, reviews are loved!