In the palace gardens, where everyone was enjoying the day (i.e. Sesshomaru, Kagome, their infant-pup, Inuhime, Rin, Shippo, Inuyasha, Sango, Miroku, their children, Kikyo, Inukimi, InuTaisho, and Kimiko.) They were relaxing in the summer sun. It wasn't very hot, yet, but it would be there soon enough. Sango finally had her last child not long after Kagome. Miroku got a welcome home gift from Sango, whenever she'd returned from the Sky Palace. Sango was holding her infant while Miroku was sitting next to them. The pup was making a bunch of playful growling/gurgling sounds at Rin and Shippo as she was laying on her father's mokomoko. Sesshomaru was sitting in his usual siting position; his back against the tree's trunk with one leg bent and one of his arms resting on top of his knee. Kagome was leaning against his chest; one of her hands was on his straighten leg as the other was resting on her stomach. Inuhime was sitting next to her twin. Inukimi was sitting next to Kagome as InuTaisho was resting his head in his mate's lap. Kimiko was leaning against a tree that was next to where Sesshomaru and Kagome were. Inuyasha and Kikyo were resting on one of the trees' branches. They were watching the children playing with a ball.

Inuhime spoke to break the silence, "So, brother... Kagome, what are you going to name your daughter?"

"Oh, I haven't really thought about it. How about you, anata?"

"Hn. No."

Inuhime shook her head. "Well, I thought of one, if you don't mind me naming her, that is."

"Hn."

"I have no problem with that."

"Rin give me the pup, please." Rin smiled at her aunt and picked up the pup and brought it over to her.

"What are you going to name her," Rin asked as she handed over the pup to her aunt.

"Well," Inuhime cradled her niece. "Her name will be..." She paused for a moment. "...Natsume." Inuhime was looking at her niece. The pup gave her a cute smile. Inuhime giggled. "Natsume. You like that name, pup?" The pup giggled and gurgled.

Kagome giggled at her daughter's reaction. "I suppose... Natsume, it is, then."

"Hn. Natsume," he said as he tested the name. "It doesn't strike fear like mine does." Both Kagome and Inuhime rolled their eyes. "However, it does suit her."

"Hmm, summer beauty," Inukimi said. "Yes it does suit her." InuTaisho nodded in agreement.

Kimiko asked, "When will you introduce her to the council? The Court? Her people?"

Sesshomaru sighed. He knew this would come eventually. "Hn."

InuTaisho said, "Traditionally, seven days after the pup is born. It would be introduce to the council, to the court, and to the people."

Inukimi nodded, "Yes, it's about time for you to introduce the pup to the council and so forth."

Sesshomaru groaned. Inuhime chuckled at her brother's hesitation. She couldn't blame him for not wanting to be around those ignorant and arrogant fools. Nevertheless, it must be done.

Sesshomaru out of nowhere asked, "Are you going to find a mate, sister?

There was silence, at first, and then she answered, "I don't know, brother. My 'mate' would probably want pups and I am still uncertain if Amaterasu restored my body to it's original glory."

"Well, did you say that your late son will return?"

"Yes."

"Then how do you think to return your son's soul into this world if you don't have a mate," InuTaisho asked.

"I don't know. I don't know if anyone's interested in mating me." Sesshomaru quirked his eyebrow at that because he knows for certain that his General, Hikaru, would pursue her. Yes, he knew how much he loved his sister.

"I am sure, granddaughter, that there are plenty of suitors out there."

Inukimi suddenly had a epiphany. "How about having a ball?" Sesshomaru and Inuhime groaned. They hated parties, especially dealing with those fools. Inukimi continued, "It would kill two birds with one stone; While Inuhime will be finding any suitors as Sesshomaru will introduce Natsume to the council and her people."

Kagome said, "It wouldn't be long for another Annual Ball, right? Why not wait until then?"

InuTaisho hummed. "Perhaps, but introducing Natsume is more important. The sooner the better.

"Why such a hurry?"

"No reason, really. It just something the lord and lady does after they bore a pup."

Kimiko added, "Also the people will be grateful to know that this house will continue after Sesshomaru's reign. Just imagine what chaos the South is going through as we speak. They would reform everything from naming their minor lords/ladies to govern their selected cardinal lands to hiring new help for the new lady's house. It's simply chaos. The South's occupants, if desired, could rebel against their new lady. As I said before chaos." Everyone nodded in agreement on that.

"Um... you sounded like you had experience in that, grandmother."

Kimiko smiled a sad smile. "Yes, however, I'll tell you the story on a later day."

"Well, son, it's up to you when you want to introduce your pup." Sesshomaru looked down at his mate as Kagome gazed up into his eyes. It seemed like they having a conversation. Kagome smiled as if she was saying that she didn't care either way. He slightly nodded.

"Hn. This Sesshomaru needs to think on that." Sesshomaru didn't want to introduce his little pup. He remembered what he went through when he and his twin were pups. Yes, he knew that things were different then as they were different in the now. However, there was always someone that would cause trouble.

Inuyasha (c) Rumiko Takahashi

Fanfiction & OCs (c) ladytari