AUTHOR'S NOTE: Ok I know this is late, please forgive me. Work got in the way yesterday and I had to work longer than what I normally did. Anyways, please enjoy and review!

Several hours later, Sesshomaru stopped looking at the book he pulled out from near the top of the bookshelf and turned to look at the rest of the room. Inuyasha had attacked his side with the same fierceness he did in battle and as a result the room was littered with books and scrolls. He was over by Kagome trying to offer his "assistance".

Jackan will not like picking up this mess...

He looked over to Kagome. She was only on her second shelf and was now arguing with his brother over his method of "helping" her with her side. He sighed and replaced the book and selected another. He turned his head to look at Sakura. She was only one shelf behind him and was using the utmost care for the tombs. She must have felt his gaze for she turned from the book she held to meet his eyes. She gave a small weary smile, turned and replaced the book, picking up another.

"Would you like my assistance?"

Sakura turned back to her brother, and smiled a bit more brightly.

"Yes, that would be lovely. Thank you."

Sesshomaru nodded and replaced the last book of his designated section on the shelf and went to help his sister.

Where are you...?

Sakura replaced yet another book back on the self. She was almost done with this shelf and Sesshomaru had started at the bottom of her final, working his way up. She pulled another book, and peeked behind it.

Bingo!

She reached in and touched the mechanism, hopping that it would reveal what they had been searching for. The molding right above her head gave a pop as a latch was released and a slim door swung open.

She blinked, and turned to everyone to tell them she found something, only to find that they already looking at her. Shesshomaru climbed the ladder behind her and pulled the leather bound book out and after a moments hesitation, handed it to her. Their father's scent was prominent on the cover and along the edges.

Sakura barely breathed as she opened the cover. She read what was on the first page out loud:

These are the memories and drabbles

Of the Inu no Tashio, Toga

Lord of the Western Lands

Sakura looked up at Sesshomaru, her eyes filling with tears, a small smile on her face.

"We found it."

She went down the ladder and walked to a cushion that had not been pelted with books. She sat down a turned the page. Silently she read the words she found there.

My darling daughter,

Sakura, if you are reading this then that means I am no longer in this world. Please forgive me as I so wished to see you grow up and become the woman I envision you to be. Know that even though we never knew each other, you have your fathers love.

Within these pages are the tools you will need to complete your task. I know you will succeed.

All my love,

Your father

She turned another page reading another letter addressed to her. Curious, she flipped through the book and realized the pages were filled with letters; letters addressed to her. She randomly began reading another letter. After reading halfway through it, she decided Sesshomaru would like to hear this one.

"Sesshomaru listen…"

My dearest Sakura,

Today was a wonderful day. I have learned that I am expecting an heir. Seams that my mate had declined to tell me until now, when she couldn't hide her belly any longer.

If you remember, I married Inukimi at your mother's behest. Now the frosty bitch is pregnant and I don't have to touch her ever again. Unless the pup is female. Kami please let this pup be male. Not that I'm saying another daughter would be unwelcome. However you need a protector and I need an heir.

Let us keep our fingers crossed.

All my love,

Your father

"It looks like our Father was desperate for a male, Sesshomaru."

Sakura giggled as she looked at her brother. The scowl on his face was priceless.

"'Frosty bitch'? Father was most accurate on Mother's personality."

"And you are upset about it….?"

"Not at all. I just never thought to call her that before."

The room burst into laughter.

"Read another one."

Sakura nodded and selected another random letter.

My darling Sakura,

Your brother is becoming increasingly difficult to handle. Today he nearly killed one of my more seasoned warriors. He's only a four year old pup! He will surpass me in power and will be the perfect protector for you. I will ensure it.

All my love,

Your father

Everyone turned to Sassumaru. He just looked back at them; eyebrow quirked as if to say "So what?".

"Well... on to the next one..."

She randomly selected another page.

My dearest Daughter,

I have met my soul mate. She is human and will not be accepted in our world. Your brother now shuns me for what he calls my "foolishness". But he is young and one day he will find his heart and fall to the same "foolishness" I have succumbed to.

Her name is Izayoi. A local hime; a human princess. She is beautiful in spirit, personality, and appearance. Izayoi is indescribable. Her kindness knows no bounds. She cares for everyone, almost like a mother. She even mothered me. That how we met.

A week I was out on patrol. A demon attacked me. He was a sly slippery creature. I didn't know he was there or that I was so close to the human village he was going to attack. I was ambushed and as a result I was seriously injured. After destroying him I was in no condition to get home and attend my wounds. It was Izayoi who discovered me. She came looking for herbs for her healing salves. I growled at her to stay away but she ignored me. She actually told me to stop growling at her and she wanted to help me.

My wounds were not healing like they should. The herbs she had would be what I needed. I told her to leave the herbs and leave. Again she ignored me and came closer, kneeling down by my side. The demon must have had poison defenses; I was too weak to force her off me. As a result she was able to take off my armor and kimono and access my wound. She washed and dressed them, using the necessary herbs and strips of her own kimono as a bandage. All the while she spoke to me, things about her life, using the soothing voice a mother.

She proved herself to be intelligent and resourceful as well. She knew that demons didn't eat human food and she gave me rabbit that she had snared. She became my companion as I healed. And by the time I was recovered enough to make my way home, I lost my heart to her.

I will petition her father for her hand. She will be a good mother to you and Sesshomaru. Maybe he can learn some gentleness from her. But I doubt anyone will break his heart of ice.

All my love,

Your Father

Sakura looked up at Inuyasha. She wanted to see his reaction to how his parents met, and the confessions their father had. His head was hanging just enough for his bangs to cover his eyes, but the smell of salt water was heavy in the air. She stood up and went over to hold her brother. Inuyasha, feeling her embrace, immediately responded in kind, wrapping his arms around her and laying his head on her shoulder. Sakura looked to see Kagome in tears as well, feeling her mates pain. Sakura motioned for her to join them and Kagome readily went. Sakura turned to envelop her sister in her embrace.

Sesshomaru watched his siblings, not truly knowing what to do. Just then Rin enveloped him in a hug of her own. He hadn't realized when she walked in or that she was so near. He looked down at her.

"I thought you could use the comfort for the things your father said about you."

"Hnn."

Some time later, Inuyasha calmed down. Sakura released him when he started to pull away, gave him a kiss on his cheek. She noticed Rin was back and gave her a smile in greeting.

"There's only one more entry. There's blood on it; his blood."

She started reading...

Sakura,

I do not have much time. My battle with Ryukotsusei has left me mortally wounded and Izayoi is about to give birth to your new brother.

I am sure that I will die tonight and my biggest regrets will be not seeing you and raising both your new brother and you. That will now fall to Sesshomaru. I hope he does me proud.

Sakura your destiny is an honorable one. I know you will succeed. In order for this to happen, you will need help, from both your brothers. Find your namesake in my garden, you will find your answers there.

Remember this: Blood will call to blood.

Love,

Your father

"'Find your namesake'...'Blood calls to blood'... What does that mean? Sesshomaru do you know?"

Sakura looked at her eldest brother. He had that mask on again, the one where he shows no emotion. But his eyes had a far-off look to them. He blinked then looked at her.

"There are no Sakura trees in the gardens. I do not know what Father meant."

"Not that I don't trust you but may I see Father's garden?"

Sesshomaru nodded then lead her out the study.

"you will need to be properly dressed first. I had a room prepared for you and you should find everything you need there."

He lead her to her rooms and told Rin and Kagome to help her dress and meet him and Inuyasha in the dinning room for lunch.

Not long after Inuyasha and Sesshomaru sat down in the dinning room Sango, Miroku, and Shippo came back and Inuysha had told Sango where the girls were and eagerly joined them leaving the boys at the table.

Shesshomaru sat at the head of the table thinking about the last letter in his father's book as he waited for the girls to be done. He was glad no one commented on his failure to raise Inuyasha or Sakura. He was betting himself up enough as it was, knowing that he had failed his father's wishes.

His mind went back to the last time he saw his father...

'Do you have someone to protect?'

'No.'

That's what he had meant that night. Father wanted him to protect Inuyasha and Sakura. He failed. Not only did he fail. but he outright abandoned Inuyasha, criticized him, and beaten him in nearly every encounter they had.

Father, please forgive me.

He also knew that he would have to apologize to Inuyasha as well. But how to fix a bond that never existed? Maybe Inuyasha would have some suggestions on how he could atone for his sins. He turned to his brother.

"Inuyasha..."

Just then the girls walked into the dinning room, laughing. The boys turned to the door and their jaws dropped. Well Inuyasha, Miroku and Shippo's jaws dropped, Sesshomaru's eyes showed he was stunned. The girls obviously enjoyed playing dress up with Sakura's new kimonos. Sakura had on a cream kimono that had a sakura tree on the back, it's branches wrapping around her shoulders to the front, pink petals falling from the branches and scattering down to the hem. She finished her outfit with a light pink obi.

Sesshomaru couldn't keep his eyes off Rin. He never saw her look so lovely. She wore a light pink kimono with purple and red flowers near the collar and at the bottom hem, with a grass green obi around her waist. He decided she need to wear more elegant kimonos and made a mental note to order some for her.

Inuyasha and Shippo stared at Kagome, both trying to decide on how to tell her she looked amazing. Kagome wore a cobalt blue kimono studded with small silver stars through out and finished it off with a shimmery cream obi.

Sango wore a cream colored kimono with orange and red koi swimming around her collar and down the side; it was tied with a light blue obi. Miroku on the other hand was the only one to recover from his shock on how stunning Sango looked in her kimono.

"Ladies, you all look so beautiful. Sango, my love, you are radiant."

The boys nodded their agreement and the girls giggled as they sat down. Rin to Sesshomaru's left, Sakura next to her, then Shippo. Inuyasha sat to Sesshomaru's right, followed by Kagome, Miroku, and then Sango. At Sesshomaru's signal they all started to eat and light chatter was heard between bites.

Inuyasha knew his brother wanted to talk to him about something before the girls walked in but Sesshomaru never resumed talking to him. In fact Sesshomaru was the only one not talking.

"Hey, Sesshomaru. What were you gonna say earlier?"

"We will speak later. Now is not the time for the conversation I have in mind."

Inuyasha nodded and went back to his ramen.

When the meal was done, they all walked out the garden to look for Sakura's namesake.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: OK there it is. Now to work on chapter 7...Surprises are in store. Again, please review!