Thank you for reading, and thank you to alimaj for the review. If anyone is interested in being my beta, the only responsibilities my beta would have would be to read over the chapter and look for any grammatical, spelling, punctuation, etc. errors. Beinvenidos a los lectores de España! Iré a España este septiembre para estudiar en Sevilla. Quiero mejorar mis habilidades con la idioma.

Mrs. Higurashi watched Kagome and Inuyasha eat the breakfast she prepared for them in silence, an unusual feat. Usually they would be chatting animatedly or bickering passionately. Silence, however was new, and it had started after they had arrived home last evening. Both had been so consumed by their thoughts that they didn't register anyone other than themselves.

Clearing her throat pointedly to get their attention, Mrs. Higurashi finally asked the question that had been on her mind since they had arrived home last night. "What happened, did you get in another fight?"

Kagome looked up from her food, startled. "No mama, we didn't fight. It's just that something unexpected happened yesterday, and I think we're still processing what happened."

"Please tell me you aren't pregnant, and that I don't need to worry about being a grandmother yet," Mrs. Higurashi asked bluntly, causing both Inuyasha and Kagome to start protesting vehemently.

"Wha! It ain't like that!"

"Mama! Why would you assume that I'd be pregnant of all things?"

"As a mother I feel that I should know if there was any risk at all of you becoming pregnant. This is the Modern Era Kagome. Women do not usually have children until they're much older than you," Mrs. Higurashi said sternly as she cut her waffles.

"Mama, I'm NOT pregnant," Kagome finally muttered. "It isn't like that between us. I mean, we've barely even kissed!"

"Hey!" Inuyasha exclaimed, embarrassed the Kagome had revealed that private information.

"What? It's true!" Kagome exclaimed as she watched Inuyasha "Keh!" grumpily.

"I do hope that when you are to that point in your relationship, that you do come and talk to me. I believe that I have been very understanding thus far, and I would rather know you guys were being safe rather than sorry," Mrs. Higurashi continued, oblivious to the two teen's embarrassment.

"Mama," Kagome groaned.

"No, Kagome. It is important that I know that you two will make smart decisions, but for now I will drop the subject with the trust that you two will talk to me when that time comes," Mrs. Higurashi reasoned before switching the subject. "So what is it that happened last night that caused the silence between you two?"

"We saw Inuyasha's brother yesterday, and we weren't prepared for that," Kagome was quick to reply. She was relieved that her mother had dropped the topic of sex and pregnancy.

"Inuyasha has a brother?" Mrs. Higurashi exclaimed surprised. She had always been under the impression that Inuyasha had no living family, especially since any family that he did have would be five hundred years in the past.

"Half-brother. His name's Sesshomaru, and he can be a right baka, sometimes," Inuyasha gruffed, his arms folded inside his clothes.

"Your lack of manner's never cease to amaze me, brother. Talking about a person when they're not even in the room," Sesshomaru said from just outside the front door to the Higurashi shrine, which naturally caused the three seated at the table to jump in surprise.

"Sesshomaru! How did you sneak up on us? I should have smelled you!" Inuyasha growled to mask his alarm.

"Part of the yokai technology I started telling you about yesterday, Inuyasha. It allows yokai to mask their scent," Sesshomaru said as he invited himself inside.

"You must be Inuyasha's brother?" Mrs. Higurashi asked. She could see some resemblance in the color of their hair and eyes, but that did not mean that she approved of the strange young man now standing inside her house.

"I can sense your unease, woman," Sesshomaru said as he turned to Mrs. Higurashi.

"You would be wary too if a strange man entered the house where your family stayed," Mrs. Higurashi said bravely, despite Sesshomaru's intimating appraisal.

"You consider a half-demon to be part of your family?" Sesshomaru inquired.

Mrs. Higurashi bristled at the question. Not only did this man enter her home uninvited, but he had the gall to suggest that she wouldn't consider Inuyasha as part of her family for something that was quite literally beyond her control. "I do not like what you're insinuating."

"I assure you that I am not insinuating anything. I am merely, curious. It is not usual for human's to be so accepting of our kind," Sesshomaru said, as he released his yokai traits to Kagome's mother.

"My daughter accepts him, and he has always treated her well. If he treated her at all unkindly I would not have let her go with him. But as it is, I trust Inuyasha immensely. My daughter cares deeply for him, and by extension, so do I," Mrs. Higurashi said, ready to defend the strange young man she had started to consider a second son.

Inuyasha blused heavily under Mrs. Higurashi's praise. In truth, Kagome's mother reminded him of his own mother, in the way that she was so trustful and accepting. He considered it the highest honor to know that Mrs. Higurashi felt so strongly about him and his worth.

Sesshomaru nodded in understanding. Although he no longer harbored a deep hatred for humans, he still did not trust the majority of them. He had seen to many rotten and manipulative humans in his years, and had learned to trust only a select few. Rin, Kohaku, the now long deceased Keade, some of his employees, Inuyasha's miko, and now his miko's mother. It was a big deal to earn the trust and respect of Sesshomaru.

"Very well, woman. I accept your explanation. Inuyasha, although less powerful and great than this Sesshomaru, still possess the blood of our late father. For that and reasons yet to happen, I consider him to be my family. As family, he only deserves the best treatment," Sesshomaru explained, as a strange look of understanding passed between him and Mrs. Higurashi.

Kagome had been looking between her mother, Sesshomaru, and Inuyasha during the whole conversation. She had never been more proud of her mother in that moment, as she stood up to one of the most powerful demons in the world, not even flinching as his less human traits had been revealed.

She had watched Inuyasha's face grow red as he took in her mother's compliments, and had watched the myriad of expressions flicker across his face. From awe, to embarrassment, from embarrassment to anger at his brother's declaration of superiority over him, and finally, to slack-jawed surprise at hearing Sesshomaru actually refer to him as a child of their father and a member of the Inu Taisho family.

Sesshomaru, assured that he and Kagome's mother were now on the same level of understanding, returned his attention to his brother and his miko. "Come, we will leave now," Sesshomaru said as he glided towards the door.

"Wait, where are you taking them?" Mrs. Higurashi asked, some suspicion evident in her voice.

Sesshomaru paused before turning back towards Kagome's mother with an unreadable expression on his face. "I thought we had come to an understanding, woman. That I mean my brother and your daughter no harm."

"I do in a sense understand where you're coming from," Mrs. Higurashi stated. "But that doesn't mean that I don't have a right to know where they're going. I don't know how things worked in the Feudal Era, but in this time my daughter is still a minor." Mrs. Higurashi warned.

"Mama, we're just going to buy Inuyasha some normal clothes, and get his hair cut," Kagome said to placate her mother.

"Well, then why don't I come along? You surely will need money," Mrs. Higurashi said as she moved to get her purse.

"That will not be necessary. As Inuyasha is my brother, I will be covering all expenses," Sesshomaru said as he held up a hand to halt Kagome's mother.

"Nonsense! Inuyasha will need many sets of clothes, as well as a uniform if he is to attend school in the fall with my daughter. That is too much money for one person to cover," Kagome's mother exclaimed.

"Woman, trust me when I say that money is no object for this Sesshomaru. I have had over 700 years to accumulate my wealth and develop certain talents that ensure that there is never a shortage of money. Come with us if you wish, but I will be paying," Sesshomaru said with finality.

"Very well," Kagome's mother said as she followed the three out the door.

Inuyasha was in a very sour mood. His idiotic brother had insisted on dragging him to no less than ten stores. In each store, he was forced to try on multiple outfits as people poked and prodded at his person. And during the whole embarrassing ordeal, his brother, Kagome, and Kagome's mother had been there to watch and judge him!

"Oh, that looks so good on you, Inuyasha!" Kagome exclaimed, a light blush gracing her features.

Inuyasha looked himself over in the mirror. He was wearing the strange pants called jeans, and they were rather form fitting, showing off the curve of his ass in a way that Inuyasha wasn't sure he was quite comfortable with. On top he had on what Sesshomaru had referred to as a "muscle shirt," and it was also rather tight. Inuyasha didn't understand why it was called that because he certainly didn't feel any stronger for wearing the stretchy material.

"Yes, Inuyasha, the girls wouldn't be able to resist you when you wear something like that," Kagome's mother helpfully commented.

Inuyasha blushed, and uttered an embarrassed, "keh" to the woman's compliment. It was one thing for Kagome to find him attractive, and in fact, he took pride in knowing that Kagome was attracted to his appearance. But her mother was another story. As much as he may adore and respect her, she was still his woman's mother.

"Add it to the pile, Inuyasha," Sesshomaru said as he gestured to the ever growing pile of clothing.

"Feh, I don't see why I need this much stuff," Inuyasha replied with as he went to change.

"Because Inuyasha, it is unseemly to wear the same outfit every day of the week. You need to blend in, remember?" Sesshomaru explained.

"Yeah, yeah," Inuyasha said as he slammed the door to the dressing room open in annoyance. "Whatever, just get em' so we can eat!"

Sesshomaru rolled his eyes at his brother's impatience. It was like looking after an eight year old, only the last eight year old he had taken under his guidance hadn't been as immature and annoying. A slight smile threatened the corners of Sesshomaru's mouth as he remembered a young Rin, who had essentially been his daughter. Now, to see her grown up and pregnant with her own pup was something none of them had the foresight to see when he had allowed the young human to join him so long ago.

Inuyasha was on his fifth bowl of ramen from the noddle shop he had chosen for their lunch spot. All of his frustration at being made to try on clothes for the better part of three hours had evaporated once he was allowed to eat.

Now it was Sesshomaru's turn to be impatient. His brother was really being inconsiderate. Eating five bowls of ramen as if he, Sesshomaru wished to play personal stylist to an irritable hanyou all day.

"Inuyasha, I do believe that you are done," Sesshomaru abruptly said, causing Inuyasha to scowl.

"Why don't you just go ahead without me. You know my sizes," Inuyasha said as he eyed their waiter's progression on the other side of the noddle shop.

"Because you are required to be there for your own haircut," Sesshomaru replied through narrowed eyes.

"No, I let you put me in weird clothes, but like hell are you touching my hair! You know that demons with long hair are the most respected and feared. Cutting your hair is like admitting weakness. It could get you killed!" Inuyasha hissed as he grabbed his hair protectively.

"That may be true in the Feudal Era brother, but now, a demon with long hair is an easy target. You don't want to be seen as easy, do you brother?" Sesshomaru asked goadingly, knowing very well how Inuyasha would react. He had over 500 years of experience where his brother was concerned.

"Is that a challenge?" Inuyasha growled, his hand automatically reaching for tessaiga.

"Nearly defenseless. You wouldn't be able to protect your woman if you were attacked in public. Your swords and claws would surely attract attention from the police," Sesshomaru continued.

"Shut up!" Inuyasha growled, his eyes shifting from gold to red, and back again under his brother's taunts about his strength and insults about his ability to protect Kagome.

"Hey!" Kagome cut in, annoyed and indignant. "I can protect myself you know! Sure Inuyasha does a good job at protecting me, but that doesn't mean I'm completely useless!" Kagome said, her temper rising.

Sesshomaru only turned to regard her for a few seconds before refocusing on the pissed hanyou. "You are strong miko, I will give you that. However, you are untrained. For that you are almost a liability, and Inuyasha will always need to protect you. I however, plan on changing that," Sesshomaru said.

"What does that mean?" Kagome and Inuyasha demanded at the same time.

"It means that Inuyasha wouldn't be the only one undergoing tutoring. You miko, will be training at a miko academy while Inuyasha is tutored in regular school subjects. If you are to be my brother's woman, you must be talented, not just strong of spirit and will," Sesshomaru stated bluntly, causing Kagome to flush a brilliant red.

"Do I have any say in this, does my daughter?" Mrs. Higurashi questioned.

"You must trust that this Sesshomaru knows what he is talking about. The training that your daughter must complete will not come in handy at a later time," Sesshomaru said.

"And what time would that be? I thought the monster was dead, and that the well was sealed," Mrs. Higurashi stated, her eyes narrowing at the elder yokai. She was getting tired of his circular and incomplete answers.

"Time and space are curious things. Revealing too much might impact the future in unforeseeable ways. I cannot disclose more than I feel is absolutely necessary," Sesshomaru added, hoping the miko's mother would drop the distrustful attitude.

"Very well, but as Kagome's mother, I wish to check out this miko academy before allowing her to go," Mrs. Higurashi said.

"You may check it out only if the academy lets you enter. Traditionally only those with miko power are welcome," Sesshomaru replied.

Inuyasha for his part was irritable again. "I'm with Mrs. H. No way am I letting Kagome go in some strange place alone," Inuyasha said gruffly.

"Let me? You two can't control my life, and if I want to go to the miko academy I'm going to go," Kagome said fiercely. She was tired of them talking as if she were incapable of doing so herself.

"Inuyasha, if you tried to follow Kagome into the academy, you would be purified on site. It is called a miko academy for a reason," Sesshomaru related to his frustrated brother. "And do not believe for one second that this Sesshomaru forgot about your hair appointment."

"Feh!"