Beyond 30

A/N. Sorry this has taken so long, but during of my absence I have noticed that a crucial plot device of my story line has already been used by another author. This has meant changing my story somewhat. Hopefully back on track now though.

30

Sesshoumaru held up his hand and silenced his brother's next words.

"Tomorrow will do for further discussion on this Inuyasha, for now you are to be summoned back to bed."

"You're telling me to go to bed; I'm not a child idiot."

"Not me Inuyasha, my mother; she has never liked pups out of their baskets once she's told them to retire." Sesshoumaru smirked, a genuine smile just hovering on his lips as he raised his eyes to his door in time to welcome The Lady who had just arrived. Her attention was immediately drawn to the young hanyou and her eyes narrowed in a very familiar way to him.

"I thought you would be here when you were absent from your chamber Inuyasha, it is time to return if you wish to be rested enough to try to amalgamate your identities enough to attempt a transformation in time."

"Feh!" was the answer and Inuyasha knew that he would get no help from his brother, but his aunt was very aware of her amused son and came to the younger boy's rescue.

"Sesshoumaru, you well know that I keep decent hours, you too will go to bed in two hours, which should be enough time to work on your master plan." She softened her manner and swept his hair behind his ears, love shining from her gem like eyes as she contemplated her socially repressed son. His own eyes told her all he could not verbalise and she smiled as she leaned forward and kissed his brow. Then she turned her attention back to Inuyasha and smiled for him too as she gently pushed him and then followed him out back to his own rooms.

Inuyasha didn't really grumble as he climbed back into his futon, he was tired and it was nice being mothered in a way he would never admit to anyone. The window was open and fresh cold air came in to be warmed by the large fire and it didn't take long before his eyes were closed and sleep overpowered him. The Lady just kept her low humming for a little while longer and then added more furs to her stepson, pleased when he didn't stir.

If Inuyasha would have been surprised at just how deeply asleep he fell, the Lady was not, she had heard to her great satisfaction a growly 'Alpha Mother' just before the hanyou slept. His youkai nature had acknowledged her status over him; showing trust and putting his welfare under her care for the first time. This was a very good sign, it meant that the almost feral side of Inuyasha was maturing and calming, all things it needed to do if there was to be any hope of the boy being able to transform in the future. Inuyasha would be far less likely to lose his sanity if his being could be amalgamated rather than remain separated halves.

And so Inuyasha slept deeply for the first time in decades, as his youkai also rested and when he awoke in the morning it was to a boneless feeling of comfort. He was comfortably over warm due to the amount and weight of furs and for a brief second he wondered what had made him awaken from his enjoyable torpor before he smelt blood and felt an incredibly powerful youki. Inuyasha's inertia was gone immediately; he grabbed Tessaiga and ran out in his sleepwear, every moment wasted could be critical. It was Sesshoumaru's blood he could scent, but his was not the youki.

Sesshoumaru's two headed dragon was tethered outside and Inuyasha grabbed his reins, freeing them from their post and seeing that the animal was not muzzled. He also noticed that the Lady was standing in her natural form; silently, but anxiously staring at something in the distance. In the time it took to register all of this, Inuyasha had jumped to stand on Ah-Un's back and urged them to fly, as his brother had taken the fight to the skies. He needed to get close to where Sesshoumaru, also in his dog shape, was trying to hold off another youkai dog; this one twice as big as himself.

It did not take long for the two antagonists to notice the intruder who threatened their fight. The larger dog turned with a look of interest, stopping his attack on Sesshoumaru who also looked, but this time with alarm at his brother. Although not able to form words in his natural state, the Western Lord could still communicate, and he barked to Ah-Un to land with Inuyasha, and not to bring the boy closer. The dragon understood the meaning of the order and obeyed at once; slowing his acceleration. Unfortunately Inuyasha had already started his leap into the air to perform the Wind Scar.

As the beast started his descent, Inuyasha was jostled by the almost ungainly jolting of the dragon as he immediately obeyed his master and the path of the Wind Scar was thrown out. Ah-Un grabbed Inuyasha by the waist of his trousers and tossed him onto his back as the hanyou watched in horror as the strike from Tessaiga headed towards his brother instead of the larger Inuyoukai. It might not kill his brother but it would injure him if it hit and Sesshoumaru was already in trouble.

However quicker than it took to think, there was an explosion of immense youki which overpowered Sesshoumaru's own, and making him diminish into his more human body structure. The other youkai too had forgone his dog shape and he now stood in front of Sesshoumaru as the strong blast narrowly missed their smaller sizes. When it was safe, Inuyasha saw that the other youkai was all round bigger than his brother; taller and broader; and that he used this advantage to grab his brother and hurl him towards the ground.

Before Sesshoumaru hit the ground, a deep voice spoke;

"Bitch, retrieve your whelp." And quick as lightening The Lady moved and caught Sesshoumaru on her back before shaking him off and moving him between her paws. "As for you, stay with your dam and do not move." The unknown youkai hovered for a few minutes above the family on the ground and he was vaguely amused when Inuyasha turned on Sesshoumaru, his aura bristling with anger.

"What the hell are you doing letting that…whoever beat you up. Get up there again and take him out."

"I cannot; and what did you mean by attacking after I told Ah-Un to land, you are without armour and you let Tessaiga get out of control. Never get between a Inuyoukai and his prey again." Sesshoumaru too was angry and he snarled at Inuyasha who ignored him and snarled back.

I didn't know what you said to the dragon and he took my feet from under me and from my view it seemed that you were the prey. And it don't matter that he's bigger than you, I've taken out lots that are bigger than me."

"You think that I cannot take anything bigger than me, you insult me Inuyasha…"

"Then get up there and do it, before I do."

"Don't tell…."Sesshoumaru was interrupted by his mother telling them to be silent before she growled threateningly herself. The growling intensified as she pushed the two back further beneath her body and leaned forward and down ready to attack. Her poison dropped to the ground and the two brothers could not see what was happening. But they could hear and the stranger was approaching although he had not transformed back to his dog form so as not to threaten The Lady of the West.

"Stop your growling Mate of My Son; I wish to speak with my grandsons." And the youkai approached with a confident stride walking right under The Lady's chin. "Do not interfere." He warned her as he passed and waited as her aura swelled and her youkai contracted and she appeared before him as the beautiful woman that had captivated his son centuries before.

"Give me no cause." She replied coldly and he smiled at her, baring his fangs. As he approached his grandsons, Sesshoumaru stepped in front of Inuyasha only to get swept aside by a powerful arm and a scornful voice.

"Imbecile; you would try and separate me from my son's heart? Let me see the pup." And he stood in front of Inuyasha and took him in in a long look. Inuyasha meantime was getting more and more irate and ready to explode with indignation. But before he could do anything, the youkai's golden eyes softened and a genuine smile graced his handsome face making him look warm and friendly. Inuyasha was not to be fooled by that however until his grandfather moved swiftly and wrapped his arms around the hanyou's stiff body.

The embrace was firm yet gentle and a sense of longing formed itself unwanted in Inuyasha's heart. There was safety and warmth in these arms; security from all dangers was promised in the deep and real feelings that projected acceptance for his son's hanyou offspring. It was a heady mixture for Inuyasha and brought tears to his eyes, which he refused to let fall. The grandfather though was wise and knowing and nuzzled the top of the boy's head as he welcomed his mixed race grandson to his family; calling him his child and his pup.

Inuyasha allowed the embrace to go on for a few minutes before he started to pull away, there were questions that needed answers; not the least of which was what was going on with Sesshoumaru. For an experienced elder it was easy to see the thoughts flashing across such an open face as Inuyasha's and the grandfather smiled; he relished in what the next few minutes would bring.

As for Sesshoumaru, he was obediently still standing in the figurative shelter of his mother. But he was perplexed and his aura was telling, even as his expression was his more usual indifference. His mildly distressed youki buffeted against Inuyasha's and distracted the hanyou from his grandfather's presence. He glanced at his brother but that drew grandfather's attention; the tall youkai spoke gently, with his warm amber eyes focused intently on the boy.

"We didn't know you existed Inuyasha; what joy you bring to us now. You will of course come to live with your grandmother and me; you will be most precious to us both. Naturally you will be our heir."

"Feh, I can't be your heir, Sesshoumaru is firstborn of our father." Inuyasha replied and then looked with wide open eyes as the rest of his grandfather's words penetrated his understanding. He could have a home, a proper home where he would be cherished for himself and not as an obligation through any misguided sense of honour or guilt.

"Where do you live, you've never heard of me, yet most everyone's heard of me. Or at least they did." Inuyasha trailed off quietly. The time that had passed since Naraku was nothing to him but to the humans it was over a lifetime ago and they forgot so easily.

"We live on the mainland, we always have; you would like it. There's plenty of room and it is a most beautiful country. Your father was born there and you could learn a lot about where he grew up and meet your aunts, his younger sisters. They will adore you."

"I have more family? All this time I thought I had no one; well 'cept for Sesshoumaru, but for a long time he didn't count cos I thought he was trying to kill me. Wow, you've missed a lot haven't you? But if you haven't seen him for so long, why were you fighting and you were real rude too?" Inuyasha turned to regard his brother as he felt a spike of almost fear come from the younger youkai.

"No Inuyasha, we have only missed out on you. Sesshoumaru has been a regular visitor to our home and we have often been guests here while we visited with Aimi and her mother. Nobody has mentioned that you are alive and well and have been for all this time. And that has angered me greatly.

"Sesshoumaru, your father, my son would be inordinately disappointed in you; for all the evil that this child has suffered unnecessarily can be laid at your door. My mate was too easily swayed; I hereby declare that you are no longer pack and therefore no longer welcome in our presence. You will leave immediately.

"My son's former mate is excused for reasons we understand. Now come Inuyasha, we have much to catch up on."