Chapter 23

Author's note: I like where this story is going, so I shall write while I still have my muse!

They welcomed their little girl Hiromi into the world nine months later. Though Inuyasha would never admit it to his other pups, he knew she was the most beautiful. She had his ears, the only white things on her head. Her hair was all black, hinting at Inuyasha's half blood heritage. She, however, was thsnkfully full demon, and very strong. Sesshomaru adored her, spending more time with her than he had his elder children. Rin shortly passed after her birth which could have possibly led to his affection, though Inuyasha would not question it.

She had her father's markings and slender face, all accented by the crescent moon. She had Inuyasha's wide eyes however, which held the deepest honey gold the hanyou had ever seen. The night of her ten-year ceremony was only a larger testament to her beauty. She already had many suitors which Inuyasha shot down, still enforcing love to be the determining factor of all of his children's future pursuits. He was finally being respected, finally being accepted as he proved his worth through his pups.

He was proud. He was worthy.

"Mama?" Moriko asked one day, her small hands holding a scroll as she sat in Inuyasha's lap. The hanyou was playing with her hair as he led her through her studies, feeling happy to be present to teach his pups. Takeo had entered the age where he no longer desired to sit in his mother's lap, as he noticed other pups no longer did so. Kazuhiko was more willing, though he had definitely become more refined. He would only be cuddled when they were alone, so not even his siblings could see.

Inuyasha missed coddling his children.

Inuyasha almost wished they wouldn't grow older. He wanted them to stay his pups forever.

"Yes?" Inuyasha replied, Moriko frowning slightly at her scroll.

"How did you and papa meet?" She asked, Inuyasha smiling softly as he remembered their beginning years as spiteful enemies. He didn't voice any of this to her, since it was not something for a pup to learn at such a young age. Even if Sesshomaru wanted them to know things like battle tactics and how to properly and effectively kill an enemy.

After a quick talk with Kimi he learned that was how Sesshomaru was raised, and that the demon could kill a group of men before he even learned what the word death meant. It was slightly daunting, since Inuyasha himself only started fighting after his mother died. And even then, it was more for self-defense then an enforced schooling.

"We met while I was fighting a mean human," Inuyasha supplied instead, Moriko tilting her head slightly as she kept reading the scroll. Inuyasha could see the gears in her head turning.

"Naraku?" She asked, Inuyasha nodding softly. After much debate the half demon had been included into the history books, though he was portrayed as a power hunger man rather than a half demon that tried to destroy the world for love.

It was more accurate anyway.

"Yeah, we were fighting against him together," Inuyasha whispered, the memory of Kagome playing across his mind.

"What does love feel like mama?" Moriko asked, Inuyasha feeling his lips upturn as he remembered the previous night. He shook away the urge to think about sex, especially with his daughter on his lap.

"Why do you ask?" Inuyasha asked, Moriko lowering her scroll as she seemed to pull into herself. Inuyasha stopped playing with her hair, feeling an unease set into his stomach. He tried to push it away though, moving the hair away from her small face.

"What's the matter?" Inuyasha asked, Moriko releasing a small sigh as she slowly opened herself up once again.

"I really like Tadashi mama. He's very kind to me."

Death.

Inuyasha reigned in his demon as he tried not to show any rage, not even sure of how to take his daughter's interest in a boy. She was obviously expecting some form of ridicule, which only meant he needed to tread carefully. The last thing he wanted was to make his daughter feel unable to speak to him about things like this.

"He's kind?" Inuyasha asked as he resumed combing his fingers through her hair, deciding to do little braids in her luscious hair. She relaxed in his lap, Inuyasha holding back his sigh of relief. He knew who Tadashi was, and wasn't too happy about it. He was one of Katsumi's younger brother's, a new addition to the rapidly growing family. He was only a hundred, but that didn't stop the hanyou from wanting to tear his head off.

Why couldn't she be interested in the other pups outside of Katsumi's family?

There were millions of boys for her to pick from there!

Inuyasha relaxed himself once again, knowing it was normal for girls her age to have crushes. And he was the one who had initially forced Sesshomaru to not be so over bearing and force her into a marriage. He really regretted opening his mouth sometimes.

"He's very, very kind. Yesterday Master Saito joined our class's, and the other girls were being mean to me. Tadashi made them go away and leave me alone." Inuyasha flared with rage at the thought anybody was messing with his pup, fighting back his urge to get their names so he could beat the crap out of them. He reminded himself they were all pups, and it was normal for them to deal with things like this.

Sesshomaru was very adamant his children grew a back bone, and even pushed them into situations that made them feel uncomfortable. Inuyasha fought him on that all the time, but the demon wouldn't budge in his ruling. He kept using Inuyasha himself as an example, though the half demon didn't understand how that helped his reasoning. He went through absolute hell to get the back bone he had now.

That didn't mean his children needed to.

"That's very kind of him," Inuyasha replied, biting back his initial response. Moriko nodded, grabbing a piece of her own hair and twisting it between her fingers. Inuyasha could see the barest of blushes on her cheeks, the sight of it melting his heart. He calmed down fully at the sight of it, taking in a deep breath and releasing it.

"He even helped me with my sword fighting," Moriko continued, her lips widening with a smile. She had the most beautiful smile Inuyasha deduced, and even though he wanted to kill the pup, he was glad he could put such a smile on his daughter's face.

"He's very strong mama, but I still beat him!" Inuyasha smiled at that, looking up when the doors to the study opened. Sesshomaru entered with Kazuhiko and Takeo, their little girl Hiromi clinging to his neck. Inuyasha smiled, though realized Moriko clamped up once again. He had to tread carefully with the information she shared with him.

"Studying hard?" Sesshomaru asked, Moriko lifting the scroll with a nod.

"Mama is teaching me," she boasted, Sesshomaru's lips tilting up just slightly.

"It's time for your hand to hand, head with your brothers to the dojo," he ordered, Moriko nodding happily before scurrying off Inuyasha's lap. Sesshomaru pat her head as she passed by, Inuyasha watching Takeo taunt her as they scurried off. He was turning into the annoying brother alright, which only made Inuyasha want to laugh. Kazuhiko was always the calm one however, becoming more and more like his father every day.

Besides the secret cuddles he tried to sneak in between his lessons.

Inuyasha grinned as Sesshomaru handed him Hiromi, the hanyou placing a soft kiss against her cheek. She was growing fast, seemingly faster than her siblings. She was almost their size at ten years old, though Inuyasha was reassured she was in fact full demon. His worst fear was to lose his baby like he had lost Miroku and Sango, even the old wench Kaede.

They had all grown old and perished, leaving behind their offspring who even now grew close to perishing. It was strange to be around to see their third and fourth generations, with the fifth on the way. He visited every now and then, and was even surprised to see Shippo took over protecting the village. He had grown into his body well, and was now a strong young demon. Inuyasha wondered when he would settle down and a find a mate, though he knew it would be some time.

"Hungry?" Sesshomaru asked, Inuyasha nodding as he stood from his seat. Hiromi let herself be held as she clung to him, the little demon very much willing to cuddle. It made Inuyasha feel less isolated as his older pups matured and took on more responsibility.

"Starving, are they preparing the food?" Inuyasha asked, Sesshomaru nodding as he walked elegantly alongside him. Inuyasha had corrected his over bearing steps to a controlled strut, though he was far from elegant.

"It will be done after their hand to hand," Sesshomaru replied, Inuyasha nodding as he mulled over what his pup had told him before Sesshomaru entered the room.

"Cover your ears," Inuyasha ordered his youngest pup, the little girl nodding before covering them obediently.

"Moriko has a crush on Lady Katsumi's brother, Tadashi," Inuyasha spoke quickly, hoping his youngest didn't listen in and try to tease her sister about it. The last thing he needed was for his daughter to lose her trust in him.

"Tadashi?" Sesshomaru parroted, raising an eyebrow at the name. The boy hadn't been a witness to his sister's death, though he was sure he was told what had happened to her. Sesshomaru's expression didn't change for a minute.

"What did he do to win her affections?" Sesshomaru asked, Hiromi beginning to hum softly as she continued to cover her ears.

"He stopped a few girls from bullying her," Inuyasha replied, Sesshomaru humming softly in response. Inuyasha saw the rage that built from the knowledge of his daughter being bullied, though Sesshomaru didn't outwardly comment. Inuyasha knew he never would.

"I do not think we need to worry. It may only be a crush Inuyasha." The hanyou scoffed, though he knew it could very well be correct. He sighed softly, gently removing one of Hiromi's small hands from her ears. She wrapped her arms around his neck, laying against his chest.

"What's for dinner?" Hiromi asked, Sesshomaru looking over to her and smiling softly.

"You'll see," Sesshomaru replied, patting his daughter on the head lovingly. Hiromi smiled, leaning into his touch.

"I'm going to have Lady Ai take you for a bath okay?" Sesshomaru informed her as the maid approached, Hiromi nodding without fussing. She let herself be taken for a bath, the most obedient of the four.

Inuyasha adored her for that, but he hoped it wouldn't stop her from making her own decisions in life. They had a lot more time to go, so he tried hard to hope all of his pups grew to be wise and successful in life.

The thought made him ache as it brought his thoughts to the son he would meet eventually in life, hoping his first son would also be as successful in life. Inuyasha still don't know much about Kagome's world, though he wondered if he would live long enough to see it. He wondered if his son would be a business man, and got married to a good girl. His children now were his main priority however, and for now he would be proud of how much they have already accomplished in life.

Even if eldest daughter had a crush on his sworn enemies' brother. Dead sworn enemy, but that didn't matter. Even if her family turned out fine, Inuyasha would still be skeptical of their intentions towards his family.

"What's the matter?" Sesshomaru asked, feeling his mate's uneasiness. Inuyasha frowned in response, sometimes hating that Sesshomaru had become more in tune with him. They could feel each other's emotions through the connection their demons shared, though that didn't stop Inuyasha from feeling a bit like his privacy was invaded every now and then.

"It's nothing, just a stupid thought," Inuyasha spoke, though Sesshomaru knew him well enough to know that was a lie. His mate took them to their room, giving them the much-needed privacy from the maids and guards who frequented the castle.

"Speak to me, Inuyasha," Sesshomaru ordered, Inuyasha pursing his lips. He tried to stall with silence, but eventually his own thoughts grew to be too much.

"I don't like Katsumi's family, and I don't want Moriko to be near Tadashi." Sesshomaru didn't react at first, since they both knew there was more. Inuyasha sighed softly, moving over to their futon and sitting with his legs crossed.

"I know I want my pups to marry for love, but I hate them Sesshomaru. Their daughter, his sister nearly took them away from me. I know it has been many years, but… But what if they plan on hurting my pups?" Inuyasha looked down when he finally got the words out, fighting back tears that built with his rage.

"That is a reasonable feeling Inuyasha," Sesshomaru spoke softly, seeming to be choosing his words carefully.

"However, I have had many interactions with them. I would know if they intended to harm our family." Inuyasha looked up to his mate, his eyes shining with tears. Sesshomaru got down to his knees in front of his mate, something he very rarely ever did. It was his own way of showing his complete trust in his mate, the act taking away Inuyasha's breath every time.

"If I ever feel they wish to hurt our family Inuyasha, I will send their damned souls to hell myself." The hanyou nodded, Sesshomaru once again surprising him with the rare act of kissing his feet. It left him completely open to any attack, though the act was purely to show Inuyasha he was not only trusted, but protected by his strong, reliable mate.

Sesshomaru rose back up, his eyes showing an emotion that not even Inuyasha could read. The sight of it made the hanyou blush, his mind wiped blank as he felt the desire to become one with his mate.

"Do you trust me?" Sesshomaru whispered, the intensity of the worlds catching the hanyou off guard.

"Yes," Inuyasha whispered, entranced.

"Then trust they will not harm us or our pups." Inuyasha felt a part of himself still want to argue, though he begrudgingly nodded. Sesshomaru stood, Inuyasha feeling his body heat up when his groin was close to his face. Sesshomaru didn't let him indulge in his desire however, reaching out a hand to help him stand.

"Tonight, after dinner," Sesshomaru promised, Inuyasha sighing dramatically. He saw the beginnings of his mate's smile at his antics, the sight of it putting him fully at ease.

"Do the boys have crushes on anybody?" Inuyasha ventured to ask, Sesshomaru smirking softly. Inuyasha felt his stomach drop.

"Takeo has many crushes which he actively pursues, though so far he has yet to be reciprocated. He may very well be like your monk." Inuyasha rolled his eyes at that, remembering fondly the monk who actively tried to bed any woman within a five-mile radius.

"However, Kazuhiko really likes Ai's girl, Kiyoko" Inuyasha raised an eyebrow, never expecting his eldest to go for a maid's daughter of all things. The name reminded him of his dear Kikyo as well, the thought making him almost want to cut off the crush right there and then. The last thing he wanted was for his son to feel the ridicule he felt when he married Sesshomaru, especially when there were so many ladies who were higher in status.

The thought made him twist his lip.

When did he start to care about status?

Had he been stuck in this castle for too long?

"I think we should take a trip to the countryside," Inuyasha suddenly suggested, Sesshomaru shaking his head.

"War is being waged just past our borders, it is best if we stay in the castle. It is merely the humans however, we have no need to worry." Inuyasha nodded, understanding how fickle the humans have become. They have become more war hungry these past few years as they fought a useless battle of control, though Inuyasha knew enough from Kagome's history books to not take that knowledge lightly.

"Okay, I understand," Inuyasha sighed, opening the shoji as he smelled their meal being prepared.

"Let's go watch our pup's, I want to see how amazing they have become."

"Yes, let us."