I don't own this most awesome anime.

The kitsune maid pulled Rin backward into the palace as her mistress took the form of a giant white dog that growled down at her son. He didn't want to fight her, she was his mother. But she'd taken his Rin and apparently this was the only way to get the child back.

His silver hair was lifted from his back and his eyes turned red. A moment later he stood before his mother in his true form. Then both dogs began to growl and circle each other.

He lunged at his mother but she dodged him. He was larger, stronger, but she was faster and much more nimble. He lunged and missed again. When he lunged and missed the third time she saw an opening and clamped her jaws around his throat, shaking her head back and forth like a dog with a stuffed toy.

He lifted his paw and batted her away, scratching her muzzle as he did. Then he managed to grab her by the ear and flung her across the court yard, his teeth leaving long gashes. She landed on her back but rolled instantly to her feet and launched at him, grabbing the back of his neck.

He rolled, dislodging her and tried to clamp his jaws around her leg. He managed to grab her foot but this allowed her to turn and bite his muzzle. Snarling he release her foot and reared up on his hind legs, trying to pin her.

She whipped around and grabbed his hind leg, pulling it out from under him and causing him to fall. Then she tried to pin him. Both dogs snarled and growled. Bit at muzzles, paws, and any other available body part. Rolling and rearing as they bit each other viciously. It went on forever.

Sesshomaru managed at long last to pin Inukimi with his jaws around her throat. But he didn't bite down hard. She was his mother, the only parent left to him. And Rin was watching. His Rin, whom she had stolen. Still, she was his mother.

He didn't hold her tightly enough. She, sensing his hesitation, broke free and the fight resumed. Snarling, biting, leaping they fought.

Finally she managed to pin him with her jaws around his windpipe. She didn't hesitate but clamped her jaws down tightly. He struggled and thrashed, but she held tightly to her son's throat, starving him for air. His head swam, his vision began to darken. He reverted back to a human shape, the only way to escape her jaws.

He climbed to his feet, his mother had also resumed a human shape and regarded him coolly. Her chest rose and fell rapidly with the exertion of their fight. He also panted facing her. Mirroring each other they wiped spit and blood from their chins.

Behind her was the open door from which Rin and the kitsune had watched the battle. Rin was still clutched in the maid's arms. He locked his burning eyes on his mother's. "What right do you have to keep my puppy from me?" He demanded.

His mother smiled slowly, he'd admitted it, whether he'd meant to or not. The child was his puppy. She turned slowly to look at the girl. She'd known it from the moment he'd stepped into the Meido to save her. But there was the undeniable proof, his own admission.

Inukimi whipped back around to glare at her son and he was shocked to see her eyes sparkling with tears. "What right have you to keep my puppy from me Sesshomaru? How many times have you been home to see your mother in these two hundred years? Do you know? I do, I can count them on one hand! And always it's to ask a question and leave as soon as you have your answer."

"How many times..." She continued, "did I remind you that you still had a home here. I waited for you to come see me. Then I asked. Finally I demanded and still you wouldn't heed my request. I took your puppy because mine wouldn't come when I called him!" She'd blinked rapidly, forcing the tears back, but they remained in her eyes, threatening to fall.

"I took her because my puppy ran away from home." She turned her back on him. She was silent for a long while. "I don't know what I have done to make you despise me so." It was almost a whisper. "Take your puppy and go!"

The kitsune released Rin. Then scampered away, unnerved at seeing her lady so close to losing control. Rin began to walk to Sesshomaru, but gazed up at Inukimi with concern in her eyes. The proud youkai didn't look down at the girl but stared at the wall as the child passed her.

The child paused beside her and reached out to squeeze her hand. She allowed her fingers to close around the child's hand for a moment. Then counted the steps it would take the child to reach her son. For her son to turn and walk away from her. Only then did she let a single tear fall down each cheek.

She wiped them away with her sleeve then took a shuddering breath. Composure regained she turned back around to watch her son's retreating back. Only he hadn't moved.

He held tightly to Rin's hand, as though afraid his mother might steal her back again. But he stared at his mother, eyes slightly wider than normal. Then quickly adverted his eyes, as though ashamed to witness her tears. "I do not despise you."

"Then why?"

He didn't answer. He wasn't sure how to answer. Then something purple in the corner caught his eye. Those wisteria trees were new. Well, they hadn't been there two hundred years ago anyway.

He'd been so focused on getting his child back he hadn't looked at the garden properly. His eyes went from one corner to the next. He noted the paint on the walls was different. And a rock garden had been added to the corner opposite the wisteria trees. He turned his head, that pond didn't have a bridge before.

"I've made some changes." She took a few steps towards him and her voice dropped to a whisper. "It didn't feel like my home at first. It was too quiet, the memories..." She shook her head. "Would you like to see some more changes, my son?" He stared at her for a long moment, then he gave her a single nod.

A few hours later Sesshomaru led Rin down the stairs. He had not seen all the changes his mother had made. She'd taken her time showing him around. But the sun had set long ago, and Rin was getting tired.

Inukimi made it clear they were welcome to spend the night. His own room had been kept in order, or he could sleep in a guest room nearer to his pup if he wished. But he either wouldn't or couldn't spend the night, though he'd expressed an interest in continuing the tour at a later time. For now that was enough.

Rin rubbed her eyes then scratched her head, then gasped. She'd changed into her own kimono but had forgotten the jeweled butterfly clip. She yanked it out of her hair and ran up the steps to inukimi.

"I forgot about your hair clip." She apologized, holding the clip out to the youkai.

"I have to many." She replied indifferently. "It shows up better against dark hair anyway." Rin stared at her. She took the clip from the child's hand and placed it back in her dark hair. Now Rin gaped at her.

She smiled gently down at the child, then made a shooing motion with her hand. "My son is waiting for you." The little girl nodded and bowed before skipping down the steps to Sesshomaru, who'd watched the whole exchange. Then she shot her another brilliant smile and waved.

She was like a butterfly. Her life would be ridiculously short, but she'd make many people smile while she was here. Inukimi would never know when she died, nor would she mourn her any more than any other visitor that danced in her garden. But she remembered every single butterfly.

"Sesshomaru." He stopped and looked back at his mother. "Perhaps Rin would like to complete the tour at some point in the future as well." He nodded once then they continued on their way.

the end.