Author's Note:

I hope you guys are ready for another somewhat emotional and cute chapter for our favorite Inu family! Chapter 7, let's go!

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Chapter 7

Ever since that day in the Gardens, InuKanpeki has been reading to InuYasha each night. Sometimes, when he's not in trouble, InuRida will sit in and listen and hang on to every word of their sister's. Other times, he would feel awkward, as if he were intruding on a private moment between one child and parent before finding his own entertainment. During these times, InuRida would also feel jealous that InuYasha was spending more time with his sister than him. Luckily, he was smart enough to find a way around it.

Since InuYasha lost some muscle mass during his slumber, InuRida would do his best to help him gain it back. Sometimes, when InuKanpeki partook in her lessons, he would sneak away and help InuYasha exercise. Because his papa was still somewhat weak, he would encourage him to walk about his room while hugging the wall. After he had gained enough strength to do it on his own, they tried walking to the Gardens without hugging the wall. Sometimes, they were successful; other times, Sesshomaru was there to scold both of them before forcing InuRida back to his lessons while InuYasha was herded back to his room. However, after seeing the progress InuYasha was making and being scolded by Lady Narou, Sesshomaru eventually backed off and only watched from a distance with a sense of pride welling in his chest.

It took the entire two weeks for InuYasha to gain enough strength to get up from his bed, walk around his room, and go into the Gardens by himself. With his determination and his son's help, the hanyo swelled with pride at feeling his strength return. Now, if only he could wield his sword without tumbling to the ground, then he would be back to his full strength. However, Lady Narou and Usagi advised him that he was not there just yet, which is his current situation.

Usagi sat by InuYasha's bed and made sure he drank all of his medicine and ate his soup while Lady Naoru finished her examination.

"Well, Lord InuYasha, I have good news and bad news. The good news is that I am giving you a clean bill of health. No more bedrest for you. You are free to wander around the castle grounds without assistance."

"Finally! I was getting sick and tired of laying around her all day. What's the bad news?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"You still cannot wield your sword. It is too heavy for you, and you currently do not have the muscle mass to handle it without hurting yourself," Lady Narou explained.

"You've got to be kidding me," he groaned as he smacked his forehead with his hand.

"I'm afraid so. But don't worry, with enough exercise and movement, you'll be back to climbing trees and swinging your sword around in no time," Usagi smiled.

Despite his groaning and moaning, InuYasha accepted his fate with a nod as he watched the women leave his room. The hanyo sighed as he was left alone but decided he wasn't going to let the news get him down. Instead, he focused on the good news that he was regaining his strength and used that to motivate him to continue to get stronger. He also made a mental note to thank his son for the encouragement and assistance with his exercises when he came to visit. Just then, a knock at his door caught his attention.

"Speak of the devil, and he shall appear," InuYasha chuckled as he moved into a seated position before calling for his son to enter the room. InuRida quickly entered the room and shut the door with a sneaky suspicion. "Let me guess, you skipped your lessons again."

"Shhhhh! I don't want father to catch wind, or else he'll have my skin."

"I won't tell, but if he comes in here, I won't be able to save ya," InuYasha said as he crossed his arms.

"That's not true. You've fought father before, so I know that you'll protect me. I'll make sure to stay out of the way," InuRida smirked as he sat down beside his papa.

"Not for a little while longer."

"Are you still on bed rest?"

InuYasha shook his head, "No, but I can't wield my sword right now. I'll keep getting stronger."

"Well, I can keep helping you with that! My sensei says that I'm his favorite student besides Kanpeki. Don't tell her this, but he said that I show more respect and determination than she does," he whispered with a snicker.

"That's because I had to move onto a more advanced sensei," InuKanpeki glared as she entered the room with her arms crossed. "Your tutor asked me to find you since you cut your session again. You know how angry father will be if he finds out."

"But you're going to be a good sister and not tell him, right?"

"She doesn't have to when I already know," Sesshomaru said as he entered the room, too, startling everyone.

"Why does everyone have to come into my room? What am I, the entertainment special?" InuYasha groaned.

"I am disappointed in you, InuRida. How many times have you skipped your lessons this week alone?" Sesshomaru glared, causing their son to lower his head.

"I know how you feel, father. I am just as disappointed as you. That is why his tutor asked me to find him."

"I am disappointed in you too, InuKanpeki. It is beneath and unlike you to skip your lessons, too."

She gasped before kneeling on the ground with her head down next to her brother, "I apologize, father."

InuRida smirked at his sister before she not so gently elbowed him with her elbow, making him yelp in pain.

"Oh, stop being so hard on them, Sesshomaru. They have been helping me with my recovery. They're just trying to take care of me," InuYasha defended as he stood up and walked toward his elder brother.

"Be that as it may, it is still important that they take their lessons seriously. They can visit you and help with your recovery after they have both completed their lessons."

"But father~"

"No, he's right. As much as I hate to agree with your father, I guess it's important for you to continue your lessons before visiting me. So, from now on, I want you to finish your lessons before coming to see me. Is that understood?"

"Yes, papa," they said with their heads lowered.

"Good. Now, go back to your lessons. And, if I find out that either of you skipped your lessons again, both of you will be in trouble. Dismissed."

Both parents watched their twins quietly exit the room and shut the door. Once they were alone, Sesshomaru turned to InuYasha with a raised eyebrow, "You surprised me today. Since when have you ever agreed with me on anything?"

"Don't let it go to your already large ego. This was just one of those times where you were right. You're still wrong the other 99% of the time. Now, what are you doing in my room? Aren't you buried to your eyebrows in paperwork and ruling the lands?"

"I am, but I came to see if you were up for a walk with me."

"You're asking me to walk with you? You ain't gonna try and kill me, are you?" InuYasha asked with suspicion in his voice.

"Do not think so lowly of me, half-breed. Remember, I still own your life, and if I wanted you dead, you would be."

"Yeah, and you know that if you tried to kill me, you'd have a helluva time," InuYasha smirked.

"I wanted to show you something. If you want to see it, then follow me. I care not either way."

Interested in what Sesshomaru had to show him, InuYasha stuffed his arms in his sleeves and followed him into the hallway and further into the castle.

After a few moments, Sesshomaru led him towards a different part of the castle.

"Where are we?" InuYasha asked.

"This is the Royal West Wing. This is where the royal family's rooms are located. You have been staying in the Recovery Wing of the castle. When you are well enough, and should you choose to stay within the castle, you shall be permitted to move into this wing of the castle. However, that is not all I wanted to show you," Sesshomaru answered before opening a random door. "This room is what I wanted to show you."

As he opened the door, InuYasha's eyes went wide with what he saw. The room was decorated with various animal heads along the tan walls. Similar to his room, there were two doors, one leading to a balcony outside and another leading to a bathroom. In the middle of the room and along the side of the wall was a large, soft futon with plush, deep red pillows and matching satin covers. There was an oak table desk with oil lamps, wild lilies, and scrolls on top in the corner of the room next to a fireplace. Tucked away in a corner was a rack of fancy, beautifully sown kimonos and male clothing. And finally, next to that was a large armor set encased inside a glass container. As InuYasha stepped into the room, he marveled at the size of it. It was the largest room he'd ever seen in his entire life.

"What… is this room…?" he asked as he continued to look around the room.

"This room belonged to our father. But he also accommodated it to move your mother in before you were born. I thought you might want to see it."

"So, this… was my parent's room? This is a huge ass room."

"Yes. When he was alive, father spent no expense on himself or this castle when he built it. He made sure to do the same when your mother and you were to come and live in the castle. If you follow me, I'll show you to the room you were supposed to be your nursery."

"My nursery? I was supposed to have a nursery?"

"Yes. Father built it for you. He was… excited about your birth. After his death, I left both their room and your old nursery exactly the way he created it out of respect for him."

Sesshomaru led him out of his parent's room and into the next room. When he opened the door, the walls were lined with oil portraits of their family separately across from a white bassinet. The one on the left was of their father. The one in the middle was his pregnant mother. And the final one was of a younger Sesshomaru. Around the room was a small oak desk with an oil lamp, white lilies, and scrolls on top of it. Next to it was a fireplace in between a door leading to a balcony and another leading to a bathroom. Tucked into a corner was a rack of child-size clothing, hand-sewn in various colors.

"Our father… did all of this… for me…?" InuYasha gasped as he looked around the room, his claws running along the lining of the bassinet. Sesshomaru nodded as he watched his brother explore the room.

"Once you've recovered, I shall call a designer to help you redesign your room to a more updated version to your liking."

"Why?"

"Excuse me?"

"Why are you showing me this? Why are you allowing me to change what our father created for my benefit? What's the catch?"

"There is no catch."

"Bullshit. There's always a catch. You don't just suddenly go from hunting me to bringing me home and being nice to me. So, spit it out already. I don't have time for your games, bastard," InuYasha glared.

Sesshomaru sighed as he massaged the bridge of his nose, "There is no catch to anything that I am doing. It is your birthright to these rooms and everything in them, including the stories from your father and your mother. Nothing more, nothing less." InuYasha didn't say anything as he continued to look away from his elder brother. However, as the silence dragged on, Sesshomaru felt compelled to say, "A lot of time passed, InuYasha. People died, and people lived. Things changed… people changed. It would do you good to understand and accept it."

"I… don't know if I can. Time passed differently for both of us. You got to see the world and live your life while I slept in an old demon tree. It hasn't been… easy for me to accept. Even talking with our pups. It's great that I get to be there for and learn about them, but I missed so much time… Time that I can't get back… It's heartbreaking…"

"You were sealed away before, correct?" InuYasha nodded. "I admit that I do not know what it's like to lose so much time. It must be… disorienting to know that every time you woke up, several decades or a century passed each time."

"Yeah… it is…"

"I only hope that how you choose to spend the remainder of your life does you well."

InuYasha turned to face his brother with a surprised expression. With a nervous hand, he scratched the back of his head as a blush appeared on his cheeks. "Thanks. I think that is the nicest thing you've ever said to me."

Sesshomaru nodded before turning his back and heading to the door. "Come. There is one more thing I wanted to show you."

InuYasha obediently followed his brother until they reached Sesshomaru's office. However, once they were right outside the doors, the elder demon stopped and turned toward his younger brother.

"What's wrong?" InuYasha asked.

"Inside my office are two people that wanted to meet you. I want to make sure that you're ready."

"What do you mean? I thought you said that you didn't tell anyone I was alive?"

"There were two I knew could keep it a secret, especially in regard to your safety. However, be warned that there are more people that I must tell about your existence. But for now, they can wait. I also hope that seeing these two people will make up for some of the time that you've lost."

As the door opened, InuYasha looked at Sesshomaru with confusion. Suddenly, the familiar scent of a fox and wolf demon hit his nose. Cautiously, the hanyo stepped inside as the two demons had their back to him.

"Shippo? Koga? Is that really you?" he whispered.

Suddenly, the two demons turned around and stared at him with shock in their eyes. The smaller of the two, Shippo, who stood a little shorter than InuYasha but wore the same clothes as when he was younger, cried as he transformed into his smaller form and ran toward his friend.

"InuYasha!"

Without hesitation, InuYasha reached for his friend with a smile, but Shippo was intercepted by Sesshomaru, who caught him by his tail.

"Sesshomaru! Let Shippo go so I can give him a proper hug!"

"You cannot currently hold your sword. What makes you think that you could catch a full-grown demon?" he said before glaring as he put Shippo onto the ground. "Do not hurt him, or I will kill you. Understood?"

"Yes, Lord Sesshomaru," Shippo saluted with tears still in his eyes.

InuYasha rolled his eyes as he pushed past Sesshomaru and knelt with a smile, "Don't mind him, squirt. Now, hug me before I slug, ya,"

Shippo sniffed as he ran into InuYasha's arms and held on for dear life. "I… missed… you… so… much…!"

"I know. I know. I missed you, too, squirt." InuYasha whispered as he cuddled the crying demon. They held on to each other for a while longer before finally pulling apart.

"I thought you were dead… We were told~."

"I know. It's ok. It was for the best. It was to protect you," InuYasha explained.

"Hey, am I going to get a hello, too?" Kiba said, reminding InuYasha that he was there.

When the hanyo looked up, Kiba stood tall and proud, with a smirk on his face and hands on his hips.

"Well, well, look what the cat dragged in," Kiba smirked as he walked over toward them. "And you even smell the same. So, tell me, Muttface, did they not have baths where you were the last one hundred and fifty years?" he chuckled.

"Oh, haha. Very funny, Dog Breath. I was pronounced dead for those years. What's your excuse for never taking a bath and always stinkin' up the place to high heaven?" InuYasha smirked as he stood up with his hands on his hips.

At that moment, both men busted out laughing before embracing each other in a manly hug and patting each other on the back.

"It's good to see that you're still around kickin', Muttface."

"Same to you, Dog Breath."

"Where the hell have ya been, anyway? If ya wasn't dead, then were you hidin' somewhere?" asked Kiba.

"It's complicated."

"Well, could you at least try to explain? We were worried sick about you and even had a funeral for you when Lord Sesshomaru said that you were dead. You've… missed so much, InuYasha," Shippo said with sadness laced in his voice.

InuYasha smiled gently as he knelt at the fox demon's level and patted his head. "I know. It wasn't my choice either. But I promise to explain everything to you."

"Why don't you take them to the Gardens while I finish the rest of my work. I'll have the servants bring refreshments and send the pups outside to join you when they're done with their lessons," Sesshomaru offered.

"That would be great. Will you be joining us, too?" InuYasha asked.

"When I am finished with my work, yes."

InuYasha nodded before he turned away and led his friends to the Gardens while Sesshomaru returned to his work.

Out in the Gardens, InuYasha spent time explaining what happened after the carriage retrieved him to come to the castle. Much like his pups, Koga and Shippo hung on every word in excitement as he told his tale.

"Wow, Muttface. That's one hell of a story. So, your cousin Fukushu kidnapped you and tried to kill Sesshomaru and your pups? And they're still dealing with assassination attempts all this time? Why didn't the bastard say anything? We could have helped him kill the guy and brought you back sooner," Koga groaned in frustration.

"You know how Sesshomaru is. His pride is too big to swallow. He would never allow this information to get out. He thinks he would look weak if he didn't handle things on his own," InuYasha said with his arms folded into his sleeves.

"Ha, sounds like another Inu demon, I know. I'm sure if it were the other way around, you would have done the same thing," laughed Shippo, causing the hanyo to hit him on top of his head. "Ouchy."

"You're not wrong about that. I would have hunted that motherfucker down until there was nowhere left for him to hide."

"If I wasn't wrong, then why did you hit me?!" Yelled Shippo as he rubbed his head.

"I just miss doing it," laughed InuYasha.

"But still, it doesn't make sense why Sesshomaru didn't tell us that you were hidden in an old demon tree all these years. It's not like this Fukushu guy would have found out from any of us," said Koga.

"I know, but he knew what village I was from. If he caught wind that any of you knew that I was still alive, there's no doubt that he would have come after you guys. He's an Inu daiyōkai, so he was pretty strong. Even Sesshomaru had trouble with the guy. But that's mostly because he kept escaping, or so I'm told."

"Still, though, it wasn't fair that we were told that you were dead. Sango, Rin, Miroku, Lady Kaeda, and I were heartbroken and cried the most during your funeral. I wish I could go back and tell them that you're ok and alive and well. You would have loved to see and meet their kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids," Shippo said with a sad expression.

"I know. It's unfair. But at least I get to be a part of my pup's lives. Maybe one day I'll go back to the village to meet their families."

"You would love them. Rin's great-granddaughter is the leader of the village and the high priestess. Sango's great-grandkids protect the village from demons, and the village is almost twice the size back in your day. It's amazing to see how fast humans have grown since you were gone," said Shippo.

"I'll take your word for it and see for myself when they release me from here. Speaking of pups and kids, what's been going on with you guys? Koga, did you ever finally settle down with Ayame, or is she still chasing you?" InuYasha laughed after wiggling his eyebrows.

"Yeah, I finally courted the old gal. The elders were on me about creating some heirs and that she was the best candidate. What really made me fall for her was when she almost beat me in a one-on-one match. You should have seen how determined she was to win me over that day. We've almost been inseparable ever since. She even gave birth to five strong boys and one princess for me. Gods above, how I love that woman."

"That's great, man. What about you, Shippo? Anything new with you?" asked InuYasha.

"Oh yes. I got married to another fox demon almost a century ago. Her name is Utskushi, and we have three young girls. I met her after I left the village and returned to my fox village to study magic. After a few decades, I became the leader of my village and gained more tails," He said with a blush as he showed off his five tails.

"Wow, look at you. You're all grown up now. I'm so proud of both of you for doing so great."

Just then, the three men turned around and saw Sesshomaru, the twins, and a servant with more refreshments coming towards them. As the servant served them tea and other refreshments, Sesshomaru and the twins joined them on the grass.

"Welcome to our home, Lord Koga and Lord Shippo," the twins greeted with a bow.

"Always a pleasure to see my niece and nephew," smirked Koga.

"Did you finally finish your work?" InuYasha asked.

Sesshomaru nodded, "Yes, but I also had other pressing issues to deal with."

"Such as?"

"Do you recall when I mentioned that I would have to inform others about your reappearance? I met with The Council and my mother, Lady InuKimi, earlier. They wish to have an audience with you immediately."

"Pushy bastards, aren't they?" InuYasha sighed.

"They are, indeed. However, I told them that you would be well enough to speak with them tomorrow, so enjoy tonight before you are forced into interacting with them."

"This is going to be a headache," InuYasha groaned.

"Do not fret, papa. Grandmother InuKimi is kinder than she looks. She will most likely scold father more than anything. The Council can be a bit much, though, so be careful of them," InuKanpeki said as she took a sip of tea.

"She's right, papa. I'm sure they'll understand your circumstances and go easy on you… at least for a moment."

"Thanks for trying to comfort me, pups, but your father and I can handle them with no problem," smirked InuYasha.

"Be on your guard, InuYasha. Do not overestimate them. Both my mother and The Council are more manipulative and conniving than you think. Allow them to do most of the talking, and try not to lose your temper," warned Sesshomaru.

"Then Muttface will be in trouble already," laughed Koga.

"Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence," grumbled InuYasha as everyone else laughed at him.

The rest of this evening was filled with storytelling and laughter before Shippo and Koga were escorted to the Guest Wing while everyone else turned in for the night. Despite the lightheartedness of the day, tomorrow was filled with uncertainty and nervousness as the meeting with The Council hung over their heads.

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To Be Continued…