The wind, gently passed through the tree's, decorating the forest floor with pink petals. The brook babbled by, lazily, transporting leaves and branches on its back. The Sun was high in the clear blue sky, its rays caressing the pink canopy, its yellow fingers poking through the branches, touching the ground below. Today was, beautiful. He sat under the Sakura tree, pointed ears twitching ever so slightly as he listened to the world around him, the air was sweet with the aroma of the blossoms and it tickled his nose. Perhaps he would take a nap here. An energy approached fast, from his left, he sighed heavily knowing he'd been caught, again.

"Young Lord!" The Presence cried. "Your father will have my head, if he finds out you've been absent from your classes, again."

The young boy sitting below the Sakura tree, opened one eye, revealing a shimmering gold Iris, the other still closed, his magenta eyelid, contrasting brightly against his pale face. The demon servant before him, was on one knee, head bowed respectfully. " Eiji-" He spoke, his voice calm and icy, a style of talk that was scary for one of his age.

"Sesshomaru." This voice was deep and commanding, it caused the young lord to jump up immediately from his relaxed position, to standing on both feet, eyes wide open.

The demon servant tensed, placing his other knee on the ground and falling lower into a bow. "My Lord."

"Father." The young yokai child stood tall. He never could sense when his father was near, no matter how hard he tried. "After Eiji brought me to class, I left. It is not his fault."

His father looked down, towering above him, it seemed as if he touched the tree's. Long Silver hair was pulled up together high above his head, secured with a tie, the rest of it cascading down past his shoulders. Thick dark eyebrows, made his Golden eyes seem to burn, like fire. His mouth pulled back in a half smile, which pushed the dark blue stripes on his cheeks, back towards his pointed ears. "I see." He raised a thick unruly brow. "Then do this my son, I will spare Mr. Eiji if you return to class." He watched his son carefully, the features on his pup-ish face hardly seemed to change. His son inherited both he and his mother's' good looks, a handsome pup indeed he had made with his wife. Their young Sesshomaru was more like his wife in many aspects, cool and refined even at such a young age, he far surpassed his peers in personality and control, but, he wanted his son to make allies in this class, that was the whole point the Demon lords had made this deal. A deal to ensure future alliances between their respective kingdoms or tribes. His son turned, swiftly on one heel and began walking away.

"Mr. Eiji will meet me where the brook expands, as the sun falls" He said walking away.

The Inu Daiyokai laughed, hearing Eiji's audible sigh of relief. "You can stand Eiji." He looked at his serviceman, a sturdy and lean demon that had served him for many years. "It's a good thing I didn't have to kill you." He patted his shoulder hard. "You've been by my side for many years, it would have been horrible to lose you."

"My lord." Eiji choked. "You-you really would have killed me?"

Sesshomaru could hear the others not far ahead. Some, were in the water and others, sparing bare clawed, he could hear the growls and giggles, the girls watching and the boys showing off. He found it irritating. He stepped into the clearing.

"Nice of you to join us, Prince Sesshomaru."

Things can change in the blink of an eye, in less than one breath, the world can change. Day had fallen and night has claimed its place, the moon a sliver in the sky. Torches cast dim glows around the palace, the demons who worked and lived here, didn't require much light to see.

"My pup." A woman cooed, her pink lips curling up in a smile, revealing glossy white fangs. "I hear you are causing trouble among your peers, and poor Eiji." She was slender and of average height, possessing otherworldly good looks, long straight silver hair pulled up high on each side at the back of her head, and longs silver forelocks that framed her face, her bangs split in the middle to reveal the crescent moon on her head, a mark that her son shared with her. "Do you not care of Eiji's fate or wish to make alliances for your future?" She tilted her head curiously to the side.

"Mother." He frowned. "Tha-that's not what-"

"Are you no better than them, behaving that way, my pup. You think of yourself too high, you are still young like them and in running away from class instead of using it to your advantage, are you not being pup-like?" She asked him, reaching out to gently stroke the top of his head.

The young Prince closed his mouth tight, absorbing his mother's words. She was right, he hadn't looked at the whole picture. He put 's life in danger and didn't think of the fact that relationships formed now could be beneficial in his future.

"MY LORD!"

Sesshomaru and his mother turned in surprise, the voice was screaming in a way that made the Lady of the Palace narrow her amber eyes. "What is this?" She wondered out loud.

"MY LORD, NEWS FROM THE SOUTH!"

"Sesshomaru, retire to your room, for the night." She snapped. "Dani, Uja." The names of her court ladies. "Follow me."

The young lord stood in the hall, never had he seen his mother make a face like that, never had he seen the palace suddenly come to life the way it did. Noise filled the courtyard, the lights grew brighter, footsteps of the bigger more clumsy demons, rattled the floorboards. He walked slowly towards his room, ears trying to pick up the chatter. This time he could sense his father, his aura immense as it shadowed his home. Something is happening. Sesshomaru thought to himself.

"It cannot be true!" A guard cried to another. "Slaughtered, gone?"

"Keep your voice down, we cannot say anything until, The Inu no Taisho hosts a formal meeting."

Sesshomaru's heartbeat quickened, he walked quickly to his room and shut the door. "Slaughtered, the South?" He asked himself. He searched his young mind and wondered if the few Inu Daiyokai of the south had been killed. He knew of their history, the Inu Daiyokai history, great and powerful demons, they were often the target of those who feared and hated their power and because of that, there weren't many left. Infact, his mother was the last of her tribe and there were some that ruled deep in the Southern lands that his father had made contact with as of late.

Multiple footsteps passed his door. "I'll go to the panthers of the west, you to the ogre's, Jin and Joon to the Sprites and Nymphs. Habi, gather the generals,we must be ready for war!"

The young prince bunched his hand into a fist, thinking of his Mother's words. "I am not a pup." He growled. At ten and two years of age, he would start to mature soon and if he was to fulfill his father's place, he would start acting like it. He left his room in a flash, making his way to his father's meeting room. He could hear his father shouting. "What is this, sacred jewel?"

"I'm curious to know as well." His mother was also in the room. "Why have we never heard of it."

"Well my lord and lady, you see, it is rather new, it seems, so there is no real knowledge of it yet, just that who ever possess the jewel become incredibly powerful." Another voice spoke, this one was from their vassal, Jinoga, a flea demon with much wisdom, a scholar in the demon world, he had made it his life goal to learn all that he could and use it well, especially when it came to helping the Inu no Taisho.

"I need to send a recovery team, see if their are any survivors-" The Inu no Taisho paced the floor of the room.

Sesshomaru slid open the door and watched carefully, this was the first time he had seen his parents like this. His mother was standing by his desk, following her Mate with narrowed eyes as he paced back and forth. "Toga." She snapped. The young prince's eyes widened in shock, hearing his mother say his father's given name. "This unknown demon has this powerful jewel, they slaughtered the southern Inu Daiyokai's, which is no easy feat, You should not go there, we don't know enough about the jewel, we don't know enough about what is happening there." She sat against the desk, adjusting her furry wrap around her arms. "It is not safe-"

"Kazane." Inu no Taisho barked, baring his white fangs. "We have to see if there are survivors, he had children, we cannot just standby as their bloodline dies out. We cannot be the last Daiyokai left. My father came and found you, do you not remember."

"Of course I remember, but there were no jewels involved in the slaughter of my family, my dear husband."

Sesshomaru hid, sensing more aura's approaching. Eiji was among them, leading a group of soldiers, he was dressed regally in battleware. "My Lord, it is I." He bowed before the door. It slid open, the Inu no Taisho stood before him, he looked around then focused on his serviceman.

"Tell me you have more information."

Eiji stood straight and nodded. "My Lord, the borders are ready and the united tribes are alerted, it does not seem that were are in any imminent threat, I have my brothers scouting now. The Southern lands are a mess, fighting within the factions, it is horrible sir." He trailed off for a moment, then continued. "I believe more than one person is involved here- and there is story of a jewel-"

"Who else knows of this jewel?" The Great Lord of the West asked, a growl escaping his chest.

Sesshomaru couldn't make out Eiji's facial expressions, as his back was to him, but he could hear it in his voice. "Everyone sir, there is chatter everywhere. The one who slaughtered the Daiyokai of the South, was said to be a spider demon...for now, that is all we know."

"What do you mean by said to be?" The General asked.

"My lord, the jewel doesn't only make you stronger, but it can transform you, this spider demon has been modified, according to watchers in the woods, they had never seen a creature like it before."

"Despicable." He spat. "Kazune, I entrust the protection of this domain to you. Eiji and our best, come with me."

"My Dear Husband." She replied coolly. "I warn you against this, but since I cannot change your mind, I will do as you ask. Trust no one. It seems this jewel can bring out that which is deep within."

Sesshomaru watched crouched low in the bushes, ears twitching as he tried to sift through the different sounds that flooded his ears, the different smells that filled his nose, the waves of different auras that bounced around the palace. His father, with Eiji and the other soldiers were gone in a flash, his mother soon walked out of the room, Dani and Uja appearing as if from mist, behind her. The Prince held his breath as his mother seemed to stare right in his direction, through the trees and straight into his body. She then turned, Dani shutting the door before they made their way down the hall. Sesshomaru used that as his chance to leave. He raced into his room, through the back sliding door and into his personal bathing chambers.

"Young lord." The keepers of the bathhouse bowed.

"I've been here, the whole time. Do you understand." He said stripping off his clothes quickly and sliding into the water.

"Yes, my lord." They said in unison as one received his worn garb and another went to fetch new ones.

"Is this water to your liking, my-"

"Please." Sesshomaru raised his hand. "Leave me to my thoughts. I do not need you here the whole time, I am not a child."

The keepers bowed and quickly left.

"How is he so scary and only a kid." He could hear a keeper whisper to another. His thin dark eyebrow twitched in annoyance. Scary? He thought to himself amused. The water was hot like he enjoyed and scented oils were used, flower petals decorated the water and torches flickered in the ripples his body made. He sank down low, knowing his mother would appear at anytime, to 'check' on him. She knew I was there. He would try to pretend he wasn't, but if it was truly futile, he would admit to having listened in. She never showed.

A/N: I'm just having fun. I'll listen to any critiques one has. This shouldn't be too long of a story. Not really a one shot. Definitely a Sesshomaru/OC story. I'll make it more interesting as they get older. Thanks for reading. :D -T.O.P