Three years later.

Inuyasha walked through the stone walls of the palace. He looked around at a home he had never known and felt the numbness of his affection towards it. "father you lived here, my mother and I never did, how am I supposed to call this home?" he asked looking at a painting of a demon male that resembled him and his brother. It was another second child without the markings of the true heir. He looked at it for more then a second and them was greeted by small raised voices just ahead of him. He recognized one as a maturing young inu he was well acquainted with.

" Takehiko, I have arrived. Where is your mother?" he called and the voices stilled. He saw Takehikos' scarily similar face poke from around the corner. He frowned and his eyes told Inuyasha that he was not in the mood to watch him flirt with his mother. " I ain't here to cause trouble, this time." he smirked and Takehiko sighed and rounded the corner. Himiko was in his arms and she jumped down and ran to Inuyasha's leg throwing her arms around it and sitting down on his foot.

" now you are responsible for her, I have dealt with that all day." Takehiko said trying to act more annoyed than he was. Himiko's big amber eyes smiled up at him and he saw Kagome's smile. Leaning down the small inu girl raised her arms.

" Inuyasha!" she chirped happily. He swung her up into a hug and strode down the halls with her on his hip. She reached up and toyed with his ears making him cringe but she was gentle and so he let her.

Kagome was sitting in the study going over the lessons she prepared for Himiko. Kagome was getting older, he knew she was but he could barely tell with her ageless eyes and appearance. It had been thirteen years since he had left her but seeing her, exactly as he remembered her, he felt the shadows of his aching heart. " mommy" Himiko squealed and squirmed until Inuyasha put her down.

" Himiko" her fathers voice penetrated the quietness of the room and Sesshomaru stood nodding toward his brother and reaching for his daughter when she ran over and held her arms up to him. Coming face to face Himiko leaned forward and kissed her fathers nose before wrapping her arms around his neck affectionately. He growled pleased and let her down once more.

" shes getting big, though not as fast as I had thought." Inuyasha said when Himiko returned and once more wrapped her self around his leg and sat on his foot. She smiled up at him wishing for him to walk around and entertain her.

" inu females take a while longer to mature, she is strong though." he said walking to the window and looking over his lands.

" father says even Takehiko had to learn to use his claws and I do it naturally. Watch." she smiled and raised her small razor claws and with one finger she sliced his plant leg at the knee and nicked his leg accidentally. He hissed with the poison of her claws and saw Sesshomaru's smirk.

" oh Himiko!" Kagome stood. " your poison claws are dangerous. Remember when you scratched Takehiko and he was sick?" Kagome knelt down and pulled her daughter off of her friends leg. Himiko nodded looking regretful and Inuyasha had to stop himself from going to her when big tears welled in her amber eyes and she cried.

" I'm sorry Inuyasha, don't get sick!" she said and buried her face in Kagome's shoulder.

" do not worry about Inuyasha, my darling. He has withstood this ones claws several times, he will be fine." Sesshomaru encouraged her. Himiko looked at Inuyasha and he nodded.

" I'll be fine darling." he said and she smiled.

a while later Inuyasha and Himiko were out in the gardens. Inuyasha had her captivated in a story, Takehiko listened from afar. Pretending that he was not interested. "...and then I saw it, the ogre. It was as big as a mountain and I felt the most evil presence I knew at the time riding on its shoulder." he looked at her nearly frightened face and smiled knowing that they story would have some lasting effects, as did the last one and the one before. " there was a great white haired inu demon, he was hungry for power and he looked down on me and said..' this is the day you die Inuyasha'" he retold Himiko jumped up.

" you didn't die, your here now!" she said with an outraged shout.

" let me finish, Himiko." he said " well he and his retainer stood high above the ground riding on the back of an ogre the size of a kami, when I used Tetsuiga and battled the ogre killing it and leaving only his insanely angry master to deal with. He was powerful. Trained by one of the strongest of our kind. He grabbed me and stole something that my father had given to me, my birthright."

" what did father take?" Takehiko asked.

" what? That evil demon wasn't father!" Himiko turned on her brother and flew at him.

" how did you know I was talking about him?" Inuyasha asked.

" mother used to tell me of your adventures when I was a child. This is where father takes you into our grandfathers tomb and battles you for Tetsuiga." he said smirking and watching the unamused, but thoughtful look on Inuyasha's face as he restrained his sisters fists.

" I don't believe you!" Himiko said. " father is not evil!" she screamed and ran away to the palace. Takehiko and Inuyasha both ran after her.

Her feet carried her to the steps of her fathers study and she pushed the door open. And burst through and rushed to her father who sat pouring over the volumes of text concerning half demons. "father, Takehiko said the most terrible thing!" she said angrily.

" what is it?" he looked up and gave her his attention. She was fuming and he could not help but smile at her small raging posture. She went to him and climbed into his lap facing him and gripping his shoulders.

" he said that you were evil." she whispered like was forbidden to utter something so wrong.

" why would he say that?" Sesshomaru knew his son, the boy was free spirited and they had a good relationship as he matured into a adolescent. He was sure this had something to do with Inuyasha. Last time he paid a long visit Takehikos' training was fouled up for a month after. He gave them ideas and it was frustrating.

" Inuyasha was telling me a make believe story about a demon riding on the shoulder of an ogre demon. He says the demon was evil and Takehiko said it was you! Tell me father. They are lying!" she said her small voice outraged.

" i-uh" he recalled the incident clearly, it was just before he got his arm taken. He sighed. "your brother is right. I did that." he admitted to his daughters dismayed reaction. She furrowed silver brows and frowned shaking her head.

" why would you steal Inuyasha's birth right?" she asked and he felt rage and suppressed it.

" because before you and Takehiko were born I was different, your mother helped to see that there are other ways to live aside from taking power, and killing whomever I wished. Inuyasha's' stories are true... to a point, your mother will confirm that." he said feathering his fingers through her thick silver hair. She had pointed ears like him and he tweaked one gently.

"why would mother know?" she looked at him curiously.

" because before your father, Inuyasha protected me. Those stories are our adventures together." Kagome could not resist entering though the slightly opened door. Himiko snapped her head back and looked at her mother with wide eyes.

" Really? mother was father really so evil?" sh asked

Kagome sat down next to her mate and daughter. She did not like to lie to their children, she glanced at Sesshomaru and he nodded. " tell her." he said.

" I was terrified of your father." she laughed trying to make light of it. But, Himiko read the seriousness in her mothers voice and looked at her father not sure any more who he was Kagome saw this and patted her back. " do not worry, your father may be evil sometimes but he would never hurt you." she said. Himiko looked offended.

" hurt me?! I cant even believe that you thought he would hurt you. I don't believe the stories. I cant, father tell me they are lies." she begged. The thought of her beloved father being evil made her heart hurt. But Sesshomaru was relentless.

" I am an evil and powerful ruler. None has stood before me and none shall ever dare." he answered using his demonic energy to show how true the statement was. Himiko got chills from her fathers release of energy.

When Inuyasha caught up with the girl he listened to his brothers reaction and laughed. He didn't think that Kagome would be so forthright with their past but the boy was well versed in their adventure and told him things from Kagome's perspective, which he promptly corrected. Takehiko waited beside him.

" kid, sometimes your mouth runs away with you." he scolded the boy. He snorted.

" father told me that when you started your games that I should stop them in their tracks." he defended himself.

"she had to know. Besides I wasn't going to tell her who the evil demon was until the fight scene, she was really interested until you spoiled it!" Inuyasha crossed his arms.

" shes didn't believe a word of it, she only ever listens to father any way." Takehiko scoffed and earned a fist to the head. His ears flattened and Takehiko growled not liking to be punched by his older replica. Inuyasha smirked and Takehiko flew at him.

Himiko jumped as the commotion in the hall started. Sesshomaru stood with her in his arms and went out to see the commotion. He knew his brother and son were fighting and growled when he saw them . Takehiko had one of Inuyasha's ears in his fist and likewise Inuyasha had the scruff of his neck and they were pushing each other across the hallway bumping into tables and knocking things over. " enough." he snapped and the two stopped hearing the finality in his voice. Inuyasha let go of his nephew and straightened his cloths.

Himiko watched the display of authority with new eyes. Looking at Inuyasha she saw that there was respect in his stance if not a little dislike. Takehiko immediately came to attention and regarded their father with a guilty frown.

" what are you two fighting about?" he demanded looking between the two of them Himiko sniffed and glared at the two of them putting her hear soaked cheek on his shoulder.

" it ain't nothing, but teasing." Inuyasha crossed his arm glad his brothers arms were full. He growled and Himiko tightened her grip on his neck.

" see that it stops here. Takehiko I will watch your sister perhaps you and Inuyasha should go to the training grounds. Inuyasha since you are in the mood to tell stories, see that you reenact the battle of Ryokotsei,"

" you mean where I killed him and you ran after that ward of yours like she was your entire world... yeah I remember that one." Inuyasha smirked. Swinging his arm around his nephew Inuyasha lead him toward the open grass fields of the training grounds. He started the tale as he rounded the corner and Kagome laughed and ran after him correcting him as she followed.

Sesshomaru looked after the three of them and smiled, they would be fine. All of them would be fine. He drew his hand to Himiko's back and she sniffed still distraught from the disillusion and fighting. " father I just don't understand, why did all of that happen, that way. How did you become so different then the mean man from uncles stories, even mothers tales are frightening, I never knew it was you in those stories!" she said demanding her answers.

He looked at her with a mixture of pride and apprehension, " I understand that the life that I have given you is far from the one that either your mother or I lived. This is intentional." he explained.

" why father?" she whined low pleading with her eyes while clutching him as a lifeline.

"Let me tell you how your mother and I met, you will understand why she feared me, I was not one for the company of others, you see. I was on the pathway to gaining the utmost power and becoming the most powerful demon in the entire country, my father was the greatest and the way to reach his level, in my mind was to take the sword that had forged his legacy, you see it was stored in the tomb of my fathers bones and the old man had gone through great lengths to see that I didn't get it.." Sesshomaru carried her to the tallest of towers telling his tale as she listened to the planning and ambition that had lead to the story that had outraged her.

" father." she interrupted when he got to the familiar portion of the story. " weren't you were telling me how you and mother met? Your telling me the same story that uncle told me." she shook her head.

" that is correct, once I extracted the pearl from Inuyasha's eye the portal opened and I entered the realm of my fathers grave. Inside of his bones the sword was mounted and I went to it and grasped the sword in my hand. My fathers wrath was on me and I was barred from touching it. I intended on taking it but as I reached for it again. A girl jumped in front of me and stole it from my reach. I heard Inuyasha behind me and I did not hesitate to strike her down with my claws and sent enough poison to eviscerate any foe before me."

" what girl?... mother! You killed her?" she said outraged.

" the sword protected her from my wrath and my brothers anger was on me tenfold, taking my attention away from her. That was when she gave him Tetsuiga and I lost my arm in the battle. We began a feud that day that drew my anger whenever I sensed them near. I would have gladly killed her, you understand, they stood in the way of what I wanted. And I nearly decimated her several times and would have if Inuyasha hadn't have stopped my claws each time. I dare say I am glad he did, though annoying as it was at the time." he finished his story standing at the tower window and looking down at the three that battled in the front field, he watched as Kagome ran forward pretending to use her bow and Inuyasha jumping from place to place with her on his back. Takehiko watched with envy and rage joining in and, Sesshomaru assumed, playing the part his son believed him to have in the battle.

When the final blow was enacted the three settled into an animated conversation that soon became a brawl between Inuyasha and Takehiko. Kagome swatted the two making Sesshomaru smile.

" you really hated mother? And uncle protected her from you? How did you change?" she asked. Big eyes looked down and watched with curiosity the three interact as though none of the things of the past mattered any more. Even her father the villain of the story from his own mouth was nonchalant.

"... no, I did not hate her. She was a nuisance." he admitted.

" but you love her." she said knowing it was true.

" deeply." he said letting the warmth of this feeling soften his features. " there was a time when Inuyasha's heart was divided and he left Kagome, I was angry and looking for anything to take my mind from the bitterness of not getting what I wanted. Inuyasha had Tetsuiga and was far beyond my care to retrieve him. When your mother and I reunited, it was when I was dazed and half mad from wandering and she gave me comfort. It was then that I realized that there was something else I wanted," Himiko looked at him dubiously and he could not blame her, she was smart and even he had a hard time figuring out what it was that had changed him.

" what was it that you wanted?" she asked. He brought his hand to the back of her head and tipped her forehead forward to kiss it lightly.

" I wanted you." he answered earning her delighted giggle. She hugged him tightly.

" I knew it, Takehiko thinks hes the favorite." She smiled and kissed his cheek. Sesshomaru smirked and shook his head.

" I wanted him too," he burst her bubble and she wilted but was unswayed.

" but I have poison claws," she showed him the glow of her poison in the dim room and the light shown on his face making his markings stand out. She traced them and smiled when he snorted at her inspection. Sesshomaru set Himiko on her feet and she looked around at her fathers map room there were fine parchment papers spread over the center table and lined the walls. She danced around the room exploring and sniffing the different places he liked to rest and sneezed when she found a dusty parchment.

Himiko stayed up that night, it was the new moon and she knew that father would be with Takehiko for a while longer. Takehiko was going through more changes with his demon nights and it required father to help him control the energy he was releasing. It burned her nose to feel the different conflicting auras her brother possessed. She didn't change, ever. Looking at her reflection in the mirror that sat across the chamber from her bed she crossed the room and climbed onto the chair to peer curiously at her own reflection.

She reached forward and traced the line of her face in the reflection, her hair was silver with dark highlights that shown almost blue under the winters gray shy. Her eyes matched the color of her fathers and shape of her mothers, her nose and chin were her fathers, she also his pointed ears. She frowned and tried to match her fathers cold stare. She cracked a smile at her impression and went back to her bed knowing that hearing her up he would indeed come in and tell her to do so.

There was a crash down the hall and curiosity got the better of her and she turned from her bed to see whatever was going on. She barely made it out of her room before she was scooped up and she squealed shocked to be abruptly swept from the hall. She could not scent who it was with the conglomeration of smells overriding her clarity. " go back to bed Himiko the kids gone nuts." she heard her uncles voice and calmed looking up at him she was shocked to find his hair black and his ears gone, she reached up to his face and drew back his hair to look.

" why?" she asked.

" He's transformed. Your father has to coax him back before he gets out and goes on a rampage." Inuyasha went to the child's window and saw flashes of white.

" Transformed? Into what?" she asked and her eyes were glued to the commotion that had worked its way into the gardens.

" Into an inuyoukai... want to watch from the roof?" he asked.

" How can you do that? You're human." she asked and Inuyasha smiled and removed the shutters scurrying onto the sill and reaching for her.

" Yeah but you aren't and ill live if I fall from here. Though I wouldn't imagine Sesshomaru would be happy so hurry."

" Did father say I couldn't go?" she asked crossing her arms and stopping at the window.

Inuyasha thought quickly. " Well he didn't exactly say you couldn't... just that you should stay out of the halls... he never said don't go on the roof." Inuyasha reasoned. He saw her wheels turning and she logic-ed her way to a smile and accepting his hand and climbing through the window. Inuyasha walked ahead of her clinging to the edge of the building and she followed finding it odd that he was struggling so much.

She heard a crash and there were several big growls, she was giddy wanting to see what was happening. Inuyasha scurried up onto the roof and held out a hand to her. She jumped up and passed him walking to the tallest point and staring down at the two inuyoukai. She knew which one was her father. He was bigger, ferocious and easily holding his ground against the smaller demon. She noted that her brothers energy was powerful, a shadow compared to their father but someday he would be strong like him. She took a seat and watched Takehiko. He was mad, growling and eyes aglow she could feel the anger and confusion that emanated from her elder sibling.

Sesshomaru held his ground, he growled a warning and commanded that he calm down at once. But his demands fell on deaf ears. Taking a more direct approach was in order he thought and bared his teeth stepping forward and grabbing the boy by the scruff of the neck and flipping him onto the ground. He growled low and stilled his rage with the energy he exuded with dominating force. Takehiko whined and resigned ceasing his struggling and taking a panted still not sure how to revert to his usual form.

Sesshomaru let the full force of his aura overcome the younger demons suppressing his will until only his power saturated the grounds and palace. Takehikos reaction was immediate. His suppressed energy withdrew within himself and he felt the transformation and the withdrawing of fur and limb. He was himself again within a moment and stared up at his fathers demon form. Sesshomaru transformed and stood in front of his son.

" father I did not mean to loose control." he started bowing and trying not to look back at the destroyed places around them.

" it is no matter. Continue your meditation and focus on your control more for the future lessons." he said and nodded for him to go back inside. Takehiko exhaled a breath and made no effort to hide his relief. He nearly fled back

Looking up over the roof tops of the palace he saw her watching from the tower. She was standing on the outer sill of his map room. Inuyasha was below beckoning her down while she just smiled. " come down Himiko! Your father will kill me it you fall, regardless to weather you die or not." he heard Inuyasha plead with the girl and she looked down on him from her high perch and waved.

" would you catch me?" she asked teasing him.

" No! Don't jump" he cried while she laughed.

Sesshomaru walked into the palace through the ruins of the retaining wall and to the place were Kagome slept ignoring the noise of his lesson, she had faith in him that everything would be okay with him overseeing their son. He agreed, thinking it was probably better she didn't see the fights they had during his training. He opened the door to his chamber and found Kagome sleeping in a chair with a candle burn down beside her on the table. He smiled seeing her face half covered by her midnight tresses, it reminded of the first time he saw her peaceful face in sleep. Going to her he put her scroll aside and lifted her from the cushions and waking her at once.

" I heard crashing..." she said sleepily.

" the retaining wall will have to be repaired." he said and took her to their bed. Ridding her of her kimono he dumped her onto the bed and undressed pulling the cover back and pulling her to his chest as he moved in beside her. Feeling her soft curves he felt excitement of anticipation, gripping her hips and squeezing her bottom.

" is that all... that's not so bad." she mumbled snuggling into the warmth of his body from the cold of the sheet and cover. " Himiko is out of bed" she said yawning and gasping startled when she felt his fangs scrape her shoulder and then he tipped her chin to cover her mouth with his.

" let Inuyasha watch over her," he said and nibbled on her lower lip and trying to wake her up enough to be with him. She resisted still only half awake and he pressed her back to the futon and moved over her pressing intimately and growling sending vibrations through her entire being. Her eyes widened now fully awake and she planted her hands on his chest feeling the reverberating rumble from within. She was curtained in silver, his lips hovered just above hers and his eyes were molten making her cheeks stain with the evident desire.

Laying kisses along her shoulder he reached to her knee and pulled her leg up over his hip and reached to her heat gently touching her soft lips, he heard her sigh and she closed her eyes and pressed against him arching her hips and pressing her breast up into his other hand. Building her pleasure he delved inside wringing cries from her and pressing her sensitive place with the pad of his thumb. She drew in a fast breath and clutched his back digging her dull nails into him and jerking her hips to match his movement. He scented the alluring arousal and breathed deeply feeling the responding affect she had on him.

Kagome bit down in his shoulder muffling the sound of her pleasure and reached between them to grasp his already hard erection. Pumping her hand slowly she brought him to attention and felt the deep growl that meant he was content. Leaning to his chin she planted sweet kisses below his bottom lip and he brought his free hand up catching her bottom lip between hid sharp teeth and nibbling gently, surprising her before withdrawing his fingers and replacing them with his ready form.

She breathed through the intimate invasion feeling the familiar warmth and pleasure that ran through them like an electric shock. When he drew back she inhaled feeling the sudden loss and crying out at the feeling of being filed by him once more. Sesshomaru made love to her, again, it was never too long between times together but he found himself caught up in thinking about how she had affected him. From the moment her heard her soft song in the forest, and realized that he did want her she had changed his mind,, shown him the warmth of being loved and found himself wanting more of that love in his life.

Takehiko made him proud, and Himiko was his joy she warmed the cockles of his heart, but neither of them would be without the woman that reached out to please him with her longing kissed and gentle embrace. Her song of silent nights and tender moments had added dimension to his life, brought him out of his crazed hunger for empty power and helped him to harness the willpower and strength to live daily, protecting the small solace that he had in this world. It was a much smaller project, but it filled him with a more lasting legacy and great satisfaction.

" Sesshomaru I'm cumming, " she gasped and grasped his shoulders tightly. He increased the ferocity of his passion and felt the orgasm washed through her sending aftershocks to her core. He groaned feeling he clenching and unclench of her muscles. He was close.

Picking her up he set her on her knees below him and pushed her head forward bringing her bottom up and he entered her from behind grasping her hips and squeezing her bottom. He felt the familiar sensation and blinding pleasure that exploded within him. Finally sated he moved off of her and laid behind her pulling her back into his chest and resting on his side with his long leg cast over hers. She was asleep very soon after, he was not surprised and listened to the sounds of his palace. He heard himiko in her room, Takehiko practicing and Inuyasha wandering the night looking for unknown passagways and trouble. He closed his eyes.

Sesshomaru woke to the sound of footsteps. It was dawn. He reached to the pile of cloths that he had discarded the night before and slipped into his hakima drawing the ties and going to their wardrobe to get Kagome's youkata and slipping back into bed. She grumbled irritated by his rummaging, but he worked her arms into the robe and tied it before the door swung open and he saw the silver crown of Himiko's head as she walked into the room and jumped up onto the bed. Crawling she snuggled between them and worked her way into Kagome's warm grasp. She fell asleep, immediately.

" father..." Sesshomaru heard Takehikos' voice and the door cracked open. He motioned for the boy to come in and he saw the returned features of his half demon form. Takehiko stood before his father and looked a little sheepish.

" what is it, Takehiko?" he asked. He sniffed and found a small disturbance.

" it seems that Himiko, has a strange ability." he ventured and Sesshomaru leaned froward wondering what on earth he could have overlooked in the three years since her birth. " you see, when I found her this morning she was playing in the front room, I told her that you would want her to stay in bed until morning and she was not happy about being picked up, so she summoned a cloud... and flew"

" father, im just like you!" she said sleepily and peered at him through a half opened eye.

He smiled. " it seems you are."

AN thank you all this is the final chapter, it was a joy to write and please leave a review and let me know what you think. as always take care.

-idreamofinuyoukai out