Disclaimer: I do own Satoru, Itachirou, Naiera, Ichirou, Noboru, Atoru, Matasumi, Sayuri, Kinjo and Kasumi. I do not own Sesshomaru, Jaken, InuYasha, Kagome, Miroku, Sango or Kaede. They are all the brilliant workings of Rumiko Takahashi.

An Eventful Dinner

The kids were already in the dining hall when we got there, the spaces empty where we were to sit, Satoru at the end of the table, where I was certain Sesshomaru would be at the head of table, while I would take my place beside adjacent to Satoru, and beside Ichirou, across from Naiera who sat beside Itachirou. An arrangement I thought was best, Itachirou wasn't the warm welcoming kind, but he was a comfort to his sister, a protector. His role in truth, to all of us, even Satoru though one would believe he did not care much for him. As always, those close to him knew better. The kids talked with their father, who seemed to have returned to his old self. The room quieted only when Sesshomaru came and took his place at the head of the table, Jaken near him.

"Good evening, Sesshomaru."

Satoru spoke without pain, as if not bothered by anything. There was none of the pain and weakness in his eyes that I had seen a moment ago. No break or change in his voice.

We received our food, when I noticed the look on Naiera's face, she looked to her brother, who nodded slightly, and I couldn't help but wonder what was going on between them two. Was Naiera okay? Had she learned the truth, which I was certain Itachirou was already certain of?

"Lord Sesshomaru; you look like my brother and my sister."

I felt the whole room tense at Matasumi's words. We continued eating our soup slowly, as if to gauge the reactions of all within the room.

"Hmm."

"You have the same countenance and demanding presence. Yet as always, Naiera is the softer of the two."

"Matasumi." Atoru said. "It is inappropriate to say such things. I apologize, Lord Sesshomaru."

Normally it would have been Ichirou to correct, but he was stunned. There were three two mirror images of Sesshomaru at the table. He was watching, waiting to see what would happen.

"Naiera is no fool, Atoru. Neither are you, do not undervalue your intelligence by pretending to be ignorant to the obvious." Itachirou said coldly, catching all of our attention.

"Itachirou."

"I know mother, she does as well."

"I will play no role in this, Itachirou." Sesshomaru said with indifference, I knew he was frustrated. "What you believe you know is nothing."

"You are our father, I know that much."

Shock crossed the room. If I could be happy for anything, it was that given the shock they had expressed. The lie that they had lived, had become truth, they thhought Satoru had fathered Itachirou and Naiera. Now, we could never go back to the time where that was the only truth.

"Am I."

"Do not speak down to me, Sesshomaru." Itachirou warned. "I am aware of truth, but Naiera deservers to hear it."

"There is no truth. Your mother has yet to learn her place."

"It takes two to make a child." Ichirou interjected. "How can you be so heartless? They cannot be your children. No... They cannot."

"Ichirou." Satoru eased.

I could only watch helplessly. What could I say that would ease the situation? It was created due to my own misjudgement.

"You hakf-breeds must learn your place."

"Enough!...What are we?! Is that all in your eyes." Naiera snapped, throwing her spoon with such force that it broke the dishes it hit, being half of the table. "To you we are just monsters. I have heard of demon that believe such ideals, but could never believe they existed. Nor will I believe I am related to such a monster."

"Never the less, the truth stands. Acknowledged by all but I. You are a monster, nothing less, but certainly nothing more."

The tone in which he spoke, only darkened the room. He was insulting, and hurting her, his own blood, and he did not care what damage was being done at the same time he was expressing his deepest ignorance.

"Lord InuYasha is like us, and an even stronger demon than you." Naiera snapped. "I will claim your blood because it means I claim his as well. You, I will eternally hate!"

"He is a half breed, like you, with no place in this world. Where I have a place, of power over you and your mortal mother. Humans, the weakness of the world. You do not wish to believe such a demon exists, but that is what it means to be a demon. Your father once shared my views, and even more so. He has taken many villages with his own hands. Even still he has a rank above you and your mother. As do I. We have a place in this world. You do not. I would rid the world of you myself, but you are undeserving of such honor."

She broke. We all, but Itachirou, looked to Satoru, who shed no tears. Gave no expression, but in his eyes, we could see the truth, we could feel it. Worse, so could she. I watched tears well in Naiera's eyes.

"How can you say that to her Sesshomaru!" I yelled.

"You are not my father, and I would sooner claim relation to a hell hound, than to you. You who will forever burn in Hell, a fate even you are undeserving of. I HAVE NO RELATION TO YOU!" She ran from the room, using every ounce of demonic power she had, leaving a destroyed dining hall, and many sad confused faces behind. Naiera. I am truly sorry.

"You call yourself a demon." Itachirou sneered, rising to his feet.

The room changed, the air grew thick with anger, and demonic energy that I was certain came from Itachioru. We all watched as his eyes began to glow, red with fury and fire of destruction.

"Respect. Has your father not taught you that is what you will show to a demon of rank?"

"I see no demon, I see a monster. I can overlook, but not forgive. Now, I will do neither. You mated with my mother, and then left her for dead. Knowing well this world offered no place for her. She has shed a tear at your expense. Now, my sister. You will suffer, and it will come at your own hands. Mine, should they shed another tear at your expense. Should they, it will be me you answer to. Sesshomaru."

With that he left the room, we all knew to find Naiera.

"I will agree with my brother." Ichirou rose. "All of you come with me." He directed to the children.

"Mother, tell us the truth if you will, but either way, it will be known."

All three of us were left in the room together, left to ponder the events of what had happened.

"I consider myself a reasonable demon, Sesshomaru. I have treated you with respect, regardless of how I feel about you and what you did to my wife, and my children. The least you could have done is kept them from a truth that no one is happy about."

"You have lost your strength Satoru, and as a result, a war is being waged against your lands."

"NOT EVERYONE CAN BE AS STRONG AS THE MIGHTY SESSHOMARU! You have destroyed my family, hurt my wife. All within a single evening."

"They wished for the truth."

"I hate you." I snapped.

"Rin. The past has proven that, as well as this evening to be untrue."

"What do you want, Sesshomaru? Do you wish for my wife to return the affections you so clearly have for her? Well I am here to tell you, that she could never fall in love with the monster that you are."

Satoru rose, reaching his hand out for me.

"I will protect my own family."

"Satoru. You know that to be impossible." Sesshomaru stood, and came towards us. "I gave you my word that they would be safe."

"From your ridicule as well."

"I will protect them, Satoru."

Sesshomaru. He honestly looked sincere in that moment.

"I have always respected you, Sesshomaru. Even knowing the truth in regards to Rin, Itachirou and Naiera. But make no mistake." Satoru eyes turned from their lovely blue to red. "Should you injure them again. I will not hesitate to kill you."

Sesshomaru's POV...

I left the empty room, bound for the courtyard. In the empty silence of the night, I listened Naiera, breathing as she stared into the moonlight. I cloaked my presence, and watched. Satpru headed towards her. Smiling as he did.

"May I sit down?" His tone was playful.

How far he had fallen, that he would concern himself with the feelings of a half-breed. She would not answer, just simply nodded. He sat beside her, following her gaze to the starry sky.

"Rememeber when you were a little girl, before this major growth spurt you seem to have hit, when I would take you into the courtyard, and label the stars."

She seemed reluctant to answer. Her voice dropped.

"I remember."

"All different constellations in the same sky. Much like the creatures of the earth. All different, and still connected."

"What point is there in your statment?"

"I did not deserve that moment." He spoke with a tone that fitted unhappiness.

She looked to him with surprise. He did not deserve it. This was not the demon that he had taught those years ago, he had become the pet of a mortal woman.

"I have, for the past nine years, sought to make up for what I took all that time before... If anything Naiera. I am beneath you. I knew that when I first held you in my arms. You wiggled, a small little thing, and I tightened the blankets around you, knowing that you were cold. I held you near my heart, and there you rested and fell asleep. I loved you with all my heart, and would give my life to see you Itachirou and your mother safe. I got lucky and had more kids with her, returned to my palace, and a pleasant happy life. But I couldn't forget my past. I am selfish with you Naiera, because you help me forget that. I had no right to claim you, or your mother. Even still, I want you to know that you. And I want to remain your father..."

What?

"If you do not wish that. I will respect it, and leave you be."

The girl cried more as she buried herself in Satoru's chest. Holding him tight enough for injury.

"I would never wish that, dad. No matter what you did in your past, I don't care. I love you, dad."

Satoru seemed as if nothing could bring him down from above the clouds. He was happy, beyond belief. It was evident on his face, as was she. They were bonded. Satoru had varied greatly from he once was. He had gained a conscience. He had remained a firm and strong leader, I had heard. Towards his family he was nothing but kind, and that over shadowed the demonic lord within him. They made him weak, and she seemd to be the best link to him, of all the children. What effect had I hoped for there to be by revealing the truth? I must gain control of myself, yet something in this sight frustrated me. Itachirou, he told Satoru where to find her.

"Satoru, Naiera. Are you alright?" He asked them as he approached.

"Yes." She said wiping the tears from her eyes. "And you brother?"

"The concern lies with you... We must go talk with mother."

"Yes." Satoru agreed rising with Naiera. "We must gather the whole family, the truth must be known. We have kept to much from you already."

"You did it to protect us, father. In the end, it is us who owes you. Even still, we are are stronger than ever."

"I fear much will change." Satoru said to himself, and I could sense the fear within him that something would.

It is best to clear the air Satoru. While your still here, you would not pass with a broken family in your wake.