A.N. I don't own Inuyasha.

Wandering through the abandoned study, sadness blanketed the orange haired male. "No one ever comes in here, now that you're gone..." He turned, gazing at the portrait of a pretty dark haired woman with smiling sapphire eyes. Eyes he would never see again. Anguish pulsed through him, but a moment, before he stopped it. She wouldn't want him to be sad.

Papers littered the desk, probably still in the same place she had left them. Her untidy scrawl could be spotted on almost all of them-Little edits and side notes on historical documents that she'd promised to go over for her Lord, signatures on pre-written letters to be sent to this or that noble, and then some papers written entirely by her.

Furrowing his eyebrows, the man picked up one scrap of paper that lacked the seals and such marking the more official documents. As he read, his eyes and nose began to sting.

Shippou,

I'm so sorry I won't make it to your party! Sesshomaru has kept me quite busy as of late-So many papers! Being his secretary sucks!

Aw, sorry about that. Guess I still get a little too worked up sometimes. But I really miss you, my not so little kit. It's been too long since I've seen you. At least a year. But I'm glad you're doing this. Sesshomaru taught you well but Kouga is also skilled in other ways. Especially with the "friendly" spar. Sess is way too serious. He nearly took my head off just yesterday.

As I said, I'm deeply sorry that I'll miss your birthday celebration. Maybe we can get together a few days after though? I hope so. In the meantime, I wish you a happy birthday and I hope you like your gift! I love you Shippou-chan. You're my son, my light. I want you to have everything you deserve. Anyway, enough with the mushy stuff, or else I'll make myself cry.

Love forever,

your okaa-san

Tears were running down his cheeks by the time he finished. He grabbed an envelope marked with his name and pulled out a necklace. It was a platinum chain with a kitsune pendant. The kitsune had pink eyes, the color of her holy reiki and it was obviously charmed. The mere feel of it sent warmth through him, her reiki pulsing in a protective shield around him. "Thank you, Okaa-san... I love my gift. Sorry it took me so long to come get it."