Sesshomaru had been injured because he had been left alone. The silver haired demon frowned as he remembered the way that Hakudoshi had taunted him. He knew that his mate was not as strong as himself but he had proved himself enough when it came to their love.

The love that they had anyway. The demon let out a barely audible sigh as he thought back to the days when he first realized that he had conceived. He was ecstatic to be pregnant but that moment was soon gone when he had the rumors floating about. The rumors about his love being with someone else and trying impregnate another female.

"Lord Sesshomaru, I will rub this over ye belly to heal thy wound."

Kaede rubbed some ointment over Sesshomaru's wounded belly as the Tai youkai glared at her old wrinkle hands. It felt strange to him to have someone other than himself or Rin touching his overly tender belly. Sango rung out a wash cloth, handing it to Kaede; the old woman thanked her before she placed the rag over Sesshomaru's forehead which was resting against Miroku's chest much against the demon's protest and the monk's caution.

Miroku couldn't help but notice how the demon would easily doze against him and gently grip onto the sleeves of his kimono when he thought he wouldn't notice. Kagome and Inuyasha had returned to the present to get more medical supplies for the Tai youkai. Sango looked at Miroku and smiled gently.

The monk smiled back, admiring her lovely face from afar. Kaede turned to the demon slayer, motioning for her to follow out of the hut. Miroku guessed for more herbs; Shippo and Kirara were asleep against his thigh. Miroku sighed as he watched Sango's shapely body leave the hut; he has craved the young woman for so long and yet all she does is tease him.

"Calm yourself, Monk. I can smell your arousal." Sesshomaru said bluntly making the younger man blush. Miroku cleared his throat and shifted his position. Sesshomaru hissed as he sat up from his lying position and he turned his golden eyes on Miroku making the monk gulp. Sesshomaru's eyes were like he was boring into your soul; they were so scrutinizing and judging.

Sesshomaru turned his head away from the monk's face and stared down at fox kit and fire cat that were curled together sleeping. His golden eyes softened before he gazed back up at the black haired human.

"As you can see, I am not the friendliest person for you to meet but..." Miroku's dark blue eyes widened when Sesshomaru took his hand and gently grasped the monk's.

"You...remind me of someone who is most precious to me." He gazed up meeting Miroku's eyes. The monk swallowed as he stared into Sesshomaru's beautiful face; the demon was cold hearted and conniving but he did have the beauty of a goddess. This, Sesshomaru knew and kept at his advantage.

"I apologize for making you feel the upmost uncomfortable in my prescence but your dark hair and blue eyes remind of his character. He is the only person to treat me as a person and not as a dictator." Miroku watched as the demon stood and walked over to a small bed that Kaede had made up for him, lying down he made himself comfortable and fell into a light doze. Miroku stared down at his hand and smelled Sesshomaru's remaining Sakura perfumed scent.

That's when he realized that the demon had apologized for making him uncomfortable.

Sesshomaru had apologized…

Apologized!?

He brought the hand up to his face and inhaled that sweet perfume that remained on his hands and faintly on his robes. Whoever the cold hearted demon had mated with, they had changed his attitude greatly. Miroku paused in mid thought.

Black hair and blue eyes...Miroku gasped.

He only knew one demon that was possibly strong enough to battle the Tai youkai but it couldn't be that demon could it?

...

"Kouga, why are we going to see Kagome again?" Ginta asked as he and Hakkaku finally caught up with their alpha male and best friend. Hakkaku wiped the sweat off of his forehead as he watched the tan skinned wolf smell the air.

"Yeah, it's not like she knows where Naraku is." Kouga ignored the two demons as he smelled the scent he was searching for. He was headed in the right direction and before long he would be where he needed to be.

''Come on Sesshomaru-sama!" Shippo laughed as he pulled the tall demon by his hand. Inuyasha had convinced the small fox to keep his brother occupied for a few hours while Kagome, Sango and Miroku went in search for news of Hakudoshi. The hanyou snorted in laughter when Sesshomaru stared down at the young fox; he was debating whether to run from the kit or hurt the young fox kit.

Inuyasha stayed behind to keep an eye on his elder sibling; he has quickly healed from his injuries but his body was still weak from the way he was beaten. Kaede had mentioned that his body show signs of forced penetration and while he and Miroku helped the taller male wash his silver hair he smelt Naraku's scent on his back.

Inuyasha's golden eyes narrowed at the thought of Naraku mounting his brother. The hanyou cursed himself; he does not know why he felt so protective of his sibling but he felt obliged too.

"Inuyasha!" Shippo hollered as he pointed to the three other members of their small group returning. Inuyasha nodded as he jumped down from the tree he was seated in.

"Hey Shippo, where's Sesshomaru?" He asked. The red headed child pointed over to the tree that Inuyasha just came from. Seated at the trunk with the fire cat in his lap was Sesshomaru who was staring at the sky.

"Did you find anything?" Inuyasha asked the humans. They frowned and shook their heads.

Kagome sighed as she stretched popping her back.

"No one has heard or seen anything. It's like the time when Naraku had disappeared."

"But there was news of a demon running around asking for a silver haired young man." Sango added in. Inuyasha stared at her.

"Did they say why?" He asked. The demon slayed nodded her head and continued.

"They say that he was looking for his mate?" Inuyasha began to open his mouth but he stopped when Kagome called his name.

"What?" The young priestess gripped his sleeve as she looked in the direction where Sesshomaru was seated.

"There's a jewel shard...and it's coming fast!"

Right when those words left her mouth a gust of wind appeared and paused in front of Sesshomaru. Kagome gasped when she recognized the wind.

"It's Kouga!"

Sesshomaru stood with Kirara in his arms as the wolf demon appeared in front of the silver haired beauty. Baby blue eyes stared into gold as Kouga went forward and pulled the Tai youkai into his arms. Sesshomaru buried his face in the wolf's neck as he let Kouga's strong arms pull his body closer. Kirara mewed as she was pressed between the two demons.

Kouga pulled back and the held the silver haired demon at arm's length, his blue eyes scanned over Sesshomaru's face admiring his god like beauty. He had missed holding his beloved but Sesshomaru's aloofness made it very difficult. Sesshomaru focused his eyes elsewhere than the other demon's face. He was angry with the wolf for more than one occasion and though he was happy to have Kouga with him finally; it did not make up for his mistakes.

A frown crossed his lips making the wolf look at him in confusion. He took his hands and slid them over Sesshomaru's back and shoulders.

The group watched in shock as Kouga pulled back, running his tan hands over Sesshomaru's pale face and through his silver hair. Miroku quickly recovered, stepping forward he gained the demons' attention.

"So Kouga was the father of your child?" Sango and Kagome turned wide brown eyes on their taller team mate while Inuyasha glared at the black haired wolf. He was the reason that his impregnated mate was endangered. He growled as he pushed forward pushing the taller male back from his brother.

Kouga stumbled, turning angry blue eyes on the hanyou who now stood in front of Sesshomaru; his hand gripping the hilt of his sword. Inuyasha spat at his feet.

Kouga looked to Sesshomaru to make his brother back down but the elder demon only turned his head away from the wolf; his bangs hiding his eyes.

"You got some nerve showing up here, flea bag." Inuyasha taunted.

Kouga flipped his pony tail over his shoulder and took a stance ready to pounce. Inuyasha smirked, gripping the hilt tighter. Kagome hollered at them to stop but Inuyasha made her hush her mouth.

"Do you honestly think I'm letting this mongrel touch my brother?" He hissed. At that time Ikkaku and Ginta came crashing through the bushes. Upon hearing the comment Hakkaku looked at the hanyou.

"Why would he want to touch your brother? He's here for Kagome." The mohawked wolf stated. Inuyasha glared harder, Sesshomaru turned cold eyes on the human girl and Kouga almost busted a vain in his for head as he snapped his teeth at his two betas. Kagome scooted over behind Miroku when she felt a chill run down her spine from the deathly look the Tai youkai was giving her. She swore she would have been frozen on spot if he had that power.