Author's Note: I am really sorry, I know that it has been a month, add a week or two, since I have updated this story. I had a Research paper do, and it took all of that time. So to say I am sorry; I have posted two more chapters. My loyal reviewers, please forgive me, and thank you for your reviews, they mean soooooooo much to me.

Disclaimer: I do own Satoru, Itachirou, Naiera, Ichirou, Noboru, Atoru, Matasumi, and Sayuri. Sesshomaru, Jaken, InuYasha, Kagome, Miroku, Sango or Kaede are all the brilliant workings of Rumiko Takahashi.

Journey to the Western Palace

The two days passed in silence. Itachirou had requested that we share a carriage until we neared the gates of the Western Palace. One of the many customs adhered to in the Fujian family, I was to exit the carriage with my husband, the younger children from a carriage all their own, and finally the four oldest from a carriage all their own. I would not argue why things were done that way, within myself I questioned how such a tradition came to be. Today it would pass, in the future, things would change, though I was sure that Satoru enjoyed the extra time that he could spend with the children. Satoru was always for them, but recently, he had been acting in a manner out of the ordinary, even for him. I had seen Jaken give him two letters, one containing Sesshomaru's request for us to make way to the West. What was in the other? I had never thought of it, until I noticed that it is what may be causing Satoru and Itachirou's for that matters, shifting mood. Did something await us at the Western Palace, something that I could not sense? Other than what was to be expected given the circumstances.

Even still our journey continued, my mind was focused, but my eyes wandered to the endless fields of pure white. A slight chill hung in the air. The wind blew, setting the rhythmic tone to which the trees danced. The sun vainly attempted to heat the earth as it continued its ascent into the sky. Even here, in this time where the world stood still, the winter seemed to take life, and leave an empty barren wasteland. There was no promise of relief as you stared into the wide expanse of the White Sea. I remember as a child, how I used to love the snow, and how it reminded me of my Lord. His demeanor in comparison with the snow was nothing to be contradicted.

In the village, the snow, like Lord Sesshomaru would leave, and return in what seemed like a century, the most important part being his return. Snow was dangerous, it had the power to destroy homes, to trap, and kill, very much the tale of Sesshomaru's life. Yet in all its destructive possibilities, more times was it calm, and beautiful. Was that the way that he was now? Could I have been wrong in saying that time cannot change? Perhaps he was gentler now, could that be the case? As pleasing as the truth may have been, were it the truth. It could not, most likely would not, be confirmed. If I admitted that as truth, I would be seeing the world through false eyes. I have lived through enough due to my own decisions to know that that is never good. It can lead only to a life of misery, such as Sesshomaru has most likely lived. Never knowing what it meant to love and be loved, for the person that lay inside, it was a feeling I would hope my children would never know.

"Mother."

My head snapped to the sound that came from Itachirou. For these two days past, he had not spoken a single word to anyone; not that talking was often his custom.

"Yes." I said calmly, though surprised in his sudden break of silence. Itachirou did not break silence, he kept it.

"This Lord that we are to meet… Are you familiar with him?"

I sat in silence. I prided myself in not withholding anything from my children, more accurately; I did not lie to them. Though a stepfather, Satoru was still a father, and they came to see him as such. When speaking of their real father, I just kept him from our mouths completely, something Satoru could easily agree to. But, Itachirou was no fool, upon his very first seeing Sesshomaru, he would know. Though it was no secret he always knew of his variation in both body and appearance, the same with Naiera. Who could know what would go through her mind once she saw him. What would they think once they learned the full truth, beyond the account of speculation? What would Itachirou think of me?

"I am more familiar with him in regards to what Satoru has told me." That was truth enough, what little I knew of Sesshomaru was added to after I wed Satoru.

"What opinion does Satoru have of him?"

"He thinks very highly of him, to my understanding… Sesshomaru was a mentor to him, from a young age."

"And yet his planning skills lack. Is not this demon lord, a master strategist?"

It continued to amaze me, the lack of definition Itachirou had in his voice. He was truly like him, never curious, or sad, or hurt, or, what troubled me most, happy. In the years of his life, he had never told me he was happy, or that he loved me, or anyone for that matter. For me, it was to be known to even those who did not know him. His actions, much like his, spoke louder than his words, and his they were clear as day. He did not lack emotion, but he seemed as if he was to sit and watch life. He referred to me as mother, but never Satoru as father, even as a young boy. He acknowledged very little, and never seemed to give titles like that because it meant that he might actually belong.

"Yes, given his position that would seem a reasonable truth."

"Skills that Satoru seems to lack."

"I must disagree with you on this my son. He excels when it comes to battle strategies. However, when his children are involved, I am afraid due to their similarities, he stands no chance. Do you not respect him as a Lord?"

"Do you?" He asked in a manner that pulled at your heart. There was more beneath the question, and Itachirou never elaborated. But he needed the answer, for some reason, he needed to know what my reply would be.

"Very much." My gaze turned toward the window. "Love is not respect. I do respect him, it is something he has come to earn in the time that I have known him." My eyes returned to my son's, meeting his piercing glare. "Should you chose to respect him Itachirou, he will love you regardless."

The door swung open as the carriage came to a slow halt. It was Ichirou, Noboru, and Naiera who stood smiling at the door.

"We do apologize mother, but the castle gates are less than two miles away."

"Thank you, Ichirou."

The boys held their hands out to assist me as I exited the carriage dressed in the heaviest furs that Satoru could buy. It was times like these that I wished I was the child who wore nothing but a kimono of orange and crème, the salvation that left none to be had in the harsh winter. Yet, I could not really complain, Satoru gave me all that I desired and more. More than I needed to survive, and more than I could ever want. It was the needs that sometimes proved to be the problem. As I stepped into the frosty air, I turned once more to Itachirou, his countenance seemed calm, but only to those who knew nothing of him. I gave him a reassuring smile before heading up the front carriage where Satoru stood waiting at the open door. He gave a slight bow as he gestured for me to take his hand.

Before I could enjoy the open air, I was seated once more within a box, Satoru across from me, staring at me with mesmerized eyes. Blood rushed to my cheeks, as it always did when he stared at me that way.

"Why do you look at me that way?"

"Because, I am ashamed. As I always am when I look at you."

"What do you mean?"

"Rin. You know nothing of who I was before I met you, what I was. It is a truth I have been too ashamed to tell you. It is not a past I wish Sesshomaru to reveal to you. It shames me that that is the way that I was. I am ashamed because of what I have brought on you."

"First, I will handle anything that he has to tell me." I threw my gloves to the ground and took his hands in mine, with one I held his face beneath my fingers, forcing him to look at me, and feel the plea that I made. "Second, if shame should befall someone, it is me. I have turned a full-fledged, powerful demon Lord into nothing more than a mere kitten. I have given him half human children. I have destroyed his life, his family, and his line. I have betrayed my kind… I should feel shame at all those facts, and yet I do not. I should desire to wake beside a mortal man, and I do not. I wake beside a demon every morning, one whom I love with all that I am. One I am certain loves me, and the children we have had together. You have brought love to me and that is all that you should feel there is no shame in that. But if you must feel shame Satoru, let it be to the fact that you lost a battle for cookies to your youngest children."

We both laughed as I returned to my seat.

"On that I cannot disagree." He said.

"I know. We seem to have those occurrences quite often."

"And oddly, I am glad we do."

I looked to him with confusion.

"It's something we do. I am very proud that I have the right to have these moments with you."

"You are so insane." I said with a shake of my head.

He swiftly shifted to sit beside me, sending the carriage shaking slightly. His eyes met mine, searching for something that it appeared my actions and words had not given. His eyes, soft, warm and loving, were now cold, frightful, and full of worry. He closed them as he leaned against my hand as I held his face. Every day he was reminded in some fashion of why we shouldn't be together. Our love was to be ignored as society dictated, demons with demons, humans with human, and anything in between was different, and therefore not only wrong, but a crime. Regardless of that fact, we were showing all of the reasons why we should. What he feared, oddly, was how I was to be labeled by my kind, and in some part of his mind, he thought that I would leave. That for the smallest second, I regretted the life that I had chosen out of the promise of security and safety for the two children that I bore at fourteen.

"I love you my Lord."

He opened his eyes again with the same plea.

"It is I who wants your love, Rin."

I smiled as I lay my head against his chest, wrapping our arms around each other tightly as I did.

"I love you, Satoru."

"I love you, Rin."

"Milord, we are approaching the gates." Called the driver.

Satoru gently pushed me from him, taking my hands he looked to me with an entertained expression.

"Well, I suppose, that should get me through the hell we're about to enter."

"On the positive side…"

"The negative, I can't lay with my wife."

"Go to an inn you two perverts." Noboru yelled from the carriage behind us.

Satoru smiled as he held up his finger, and then stuck his head out the window.

"You will be confined to your room."

"Are you sure you don't want to be confined to your room."

I covered my mouth as I laughed. Satoru turned briefly to me.

"You think this humorous?"

"Of course. How can I not? And though you may deny it, I know that you are somewhat entertained."

"Yes, Sesshomaru will be as well." He noted sarcastically.

I pulled him back into my arms.

"Whatever comes…?"

He placed his hands over mine, after kissing each.

"We will handle it together." He assured. "Once more."

"I love you."

We continued smiling at each other, until the smile on his face disappeared. The carriage came to a slow halt. I heard the sound of Jaken's voice as he announced our arrival to whoever stood outside. Satoru said not a word, neither could I, if Sesshomaru was there, he could hear us. All Satoru could do, was squeeze my hand before opening the door, and stepping into the cold air. As he held his hand out to assist me out of the carriage, I began to fear, not for myself, for my children. One half breed in Sesshomaru's eyes was ridiculous, now seven, two of whom were… no. They would always and forever be Satoru's.

Naiera, Itachirou, how would they see it? Itachirou knew that Satoru was not his father, like Sesshomaru, he possessed a very keen intelligence, and common sense. Naiera however, truly in her heart believed that Satoru was her father. She like her brother was clever, though, even a blind man could tell the relation between Sesshomaru and the two if they were together, even from afar, people somewhat questioned their lineage. It was of course, not voiced openly, but it did not have to be, in the death of their stare I could see it. They loved them, as everyone who met our kids did. Satoru could not see them hurt. What would the truth do to them, assuming that he told them, if his appearance did not betray it first?

I reached for the warmth of his hand, taking a breath as I stepped into the wintry air that heated quickly as I felt the power of a demon's stare. I took Satoru's arm as he led me up to the steps, towards the demon I knew was waiting.

"Sesshomaru, my old friend." Satoru spoke joyfully. He knew the relationship between Sesshomaru and I, yet continued to act as if it never existed, I need not even ask. "May I present Lady Rin Fujian of the Northern Lands. Lady Fujian, Lord Sesshomaru of the Western Palace."

I bowed slightly in recognition and respect, still afraid to meet his eyes.

As the second carriage came around, our attention shifted. Being foolish, I turned slightly to find Sesshomaru looking at me with the most piercing glare. Part of me wished to smile, nine years I had not met those eyes that warmed the darkest part of my soul, another to cringe, the rest was just wonder. What was in his eyes that stopped my heart? Was he angry with the decision that Satoru had made in accepting me as his wife? Was he angry with the half breed children that Satoru valued more than his wealth, and title? It was no secret that Sesshomaru led a life which he was all too proud to live, and Satoru had chosen a different path, the same path that the father he resented had taken. However, if it meant that our kids would grow up to smile, and laugh, not walk around as if there was always a war to be fought, I would do it again. We would never allow them to be like Sesshomaru, nor would we change how things were done.

Why did he send a shiver down my spine? His gaze locked with mine, and I felt that I could not look away. It was as if he was searching for something, something within me that could not be located, but you were certain it was there. Satoru, sensing my uneasiness, took my hand in his as we dropped our arms, and as I looked to him, I was met with a warm and loving smile, and I couldn't help but return the favor. We returned our attention to the carriage from which our youngest children exited, and Satoru, with no shame, introduced them all by name. All the while I continued to be ignorant to the look Sesshomaru had given the moment Satoru took my hand.

"Lord Sesshomaru, I present my youngest daughter, Sayuri Fujian." I moved to help her as she seemed too afraid to step down from the carriage. With demonic speed, Satoru was there and back taking her hand as she stood beside us. "Next is our second youngest, Matasumi Fujian, and last, but certainly not least our fourth oldest son, Atoru Fujian." They joined each other and bowed respectfully to Sesshomaru.

I saw some form of contempt in his eyes, and, though it could not be proven, or believed, it was wishful. Hope. The day that we had set to leave, Jaken had told us that the children had been specially requested. Was he really seeking to see Naiera and Itachirou, was this all a hoax just to see them?

The final carriage rolled around. My heart stopped dead in its tracks, the air became thicker, slowly taking my breath away.

The door swung open. Noboru stepped out, followed by Ichirou.

"My third oldest son, Noboru Fujian, and my second oldest, Ichirou Fujian of the North."

From the corner of my eye, I could see tension in Sesshomaru's stance, as Itachirou exited the carriage, to aide his sister.

"My oldest daughter Naiera Fujian, and my oldest son, Itachirou Fujian."

As Ichirou and Noboru took place beside their brothers and sisters. Naiera and Itachirou were frozen in place; Sesshomaru altogether appeared to no longer be breathing. They all looked at each other in a manner of unwilling recognition, all except Itachirou, it was as if he knew something, a secret existed between the two, and an extreme hatred. Naiera, she was hurt. Sesshomaru looked at me; I bent my head slightly, returning my attention to Naiera. I saw Itachirou take her hand as Satoru squeezed mine. They knew something about her, and it must have been worse than what I could see. It was what I felt that made me understand why she managed to get someone like Itachirou to show her some support. He was a loving brother, but it never showed to anyone who had not watched him grow, and been with him all his life.

Naiera's eyes watered and I knew she wanted desperately to lock herself away and cry. Her heart was breaking as she continued to meet the eyes of the demon that was technically her father. She looked to her brother, and met my eyes for the briefest moment, my heart broke. It was the look of betrayal, which was basically what I had done to her. Naiera was always one for family, and shared a particular bond with Satoru, now it, in her eyes, had been severed. It never existed. I wished I could tell her that it was not true, but given my current position, it was unwise. Tears welled in my eyes as I continued to look at her. Naiera, I am so sorry.

I met Satoru's eyes and nodded to him knowing where he wanted to be. He went down the steps taking Naiera's arm, escorting her back up the steps.

"Sesshomaru, if possible, may we be taken to our quarters?"

Sesshomaru dropped his gaze from us, and nodded to us in acknowledgement.

Each child received their own room in the west wing of the palace, the opposite side from Sesshomaru's. We each unpacked for the long week that we were to spend here. All the while, I could not stop thinking about Naiera, and Itachirou, the looks in their eyes when they first saw him. Naiera, what would she think of us, of me? I had betrayed the trust given to me by my children, and now, it had caused them pain.

"You're wrong."

I was pulled out of my thoughts by the sound of Satoru. I looked to see him placing his clothes within the wardrobe.

"What?" I asked confused.

"Whatever you're thinking, you're wrong."

"How do you know that?" I snapped. "I betrayed the trust of my daughter and my son."

"You protected them, Rin."

"I hurt them. Did you not see the look in her eyes?"

He threw the boxes of kimono across the room.

"Yes I saw it." His eyes began to slowly turn red, the room slowly changed. I began to feel smaller, as did the room. "I felt it, Rin! Yes, coming here was not the best choice in the world."

I said nothing; for fear that it would anger him further. His nails were slowly turning into claws with the power to tear apart this room in seconds. His skin was slowly changing, and black stripes rolled around his arms. The air grew heavy with darkness, the light seemed to fade, but still cast a tiger's shadow behind Satoru. A heavy roar could be heard from within his chest.

"Rin, you of all people cannot run from the truth of the world. There are things coming..."

"What truth, Satoru? That the world has maybe five or six half breeds in the world, and we just added more. Put our children up for ridicule, and Sesshomaru's as well."

He opened his mouth, shut it quickly as if he was to say something else, somehing other than what came out. "They are not his children, Rin." He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Slowly his features began to resemble those of a human.

I looked and met eyes with the most heartbreaking expression. His head dropped to look at his hands as they made their change. He dropped to the floor. I ran to him, taking him in an embraced, equally shared. We both needed each other, now was not the time for us to fight. There was never a time where it was necessary. Not that it was a fight, we were both angry at the circumstances, not each other, and we were both feeling the pain of our children, which naturally hurt us. We were angry at the pain we were putting them through.

"I am so sorry, Rin." He whispered against my hair. "I have no words for how I reacted."

"None need be said. I understand. I am sorry too… I love you." I whispered into his shoulder.

"I love you too." He said against my neck.

"…So what are we going to do?" I asked pulling back to look at him.

"Tell them the truth. Be a real family, and stick together, regardless of what it is. We have after all endured worse."

"You know, before today I would have agreed. But now, I think this is the worst it has or will ever be." I mumbled against his shoulder.

"No matter. You, me, and our children, will get through it."

"How?" I questioned suspiciously.

"I'll distract them and more importantly myself."

I looked to him with a confused look. He turned around, and pulled from his bag a large pouch, handing it to me. I opened it to reveal a couple dozen chocolate chip cookies. A flash of white appeared as he grinned.

"You didn't."

Satoru looked to me with a huge smile.

"Not to worry, I have got it covered."

I shook my head and stepped towards the door after handing him the bag back.

"Where are you going?" He questioned.

I slid the door shut.

"To go find you a doctor."

From almost all the children, not even a second later, we heard…

"DAAAAAAAAD!"