Of Claws And Fangs
Episode 25


Keishou thought he was beginning to understand what this girl talk was but he was still slightly confused about it. He shook his head at his Uncle's question. "No, why?"

Sesshomaru sighed, "I hope the Houshi is sleeping soundly. If not...."

Sango stood and stretched. "I don't know about the three of you but, I'm not tired in the least. I vote for bath."

Rin nodded, "I agree, a nice soak sounds like the perfect compliment."

"I guess we need to 'kick the men out' then." Haya started towards the door following the other three women.

Akisame paused at the entrance. Midori still lay in state, but what surprised her was Jaken standing guard over her. "Arigatou, Jaken." Continuing on she was pleased to see that Keikan had apparently cleared the wing of men.

Sesshomaru motioned his family to the gardens as the sun peaked over the horizon. A bird youkai fluttered to a landing nearby and quickly approached the group bowing low before the Western Lord. "From the East, my Lord Sesshomaru."

Keishou looked on with interest as his father took the message. He wondered what the message could be about. The messengers sent last night could not possibly have even arrived in the Eastern Lands yet.

Keikan looked at the message, waiting for his father to open it.

Sesshomaru broke the seal and his eyes skimmed the message quickly. A growl fell from his lips. "It seems our Northern friend is stirring trouble in other places as well," he spat, crushing the scroll in his fist. "He is stoking the ningen's hatred of us in the east as well and there has been an attack on East that was made to look as if it was us."

Keishou's jaw dropped. "Why is he doing this?"

"Damn him." Keikan swore. "Does East still believe we are behind the attack?" Remembering the note he asked, "Shit. The way I worded that note... it could be read as we thought him behind the attacks."

Sesshomaru shook his head. "He was suspicious and does not know for a fact that it was North but he could not believe that we would attack him."

Keishou thought a moment. He could understand why the Northern Lord would try to turn the houses against one another but why humans? "Why would North instigate trouble between youkai and ningen?"

"Because, North believes ningen are beneath him." Miroku spoke walking up to the four men standing around, "My wife and daughter kicked me out of the house." He said in way of explanation, "I was also instructed to tell all males of the household are forbidden to enter until we are summoned by the women."

Inu Yasha smirked, "Well I know that upset you monk. No spying on the girl talk." He teased.

Miroku raised an eyebrow in question. He hadn't seen Inu Yasha playful since Kagome's death. Maybe Sango was right. "You should try it sometime, it is very educational. Well worth the pain."

Keishou looked at the man who would be his father-in-law, at least he hoped. "Educational or not, if what chichioya says is true, I think I prefer my hearing to education."

Sesshomaru chuckled, the problem at hand forgotten for the moment, "But the houshi is correct...aren't you in the least bit curious as to what Haya might say about you."

"Well actually," Miroku chuckled, "the topic of conversation is you Sesshomaru."

Keishou could not resist laughing at the expression on his father's face. The inu Taiyoukai was blinking in surprise. "What are they saying about him?" he asked through his laughter.

For once in his lecherous life the monk held his tongue. "I don't think I'll tell the son what the mother said about the father." Looking Sesshomaru in the eye he spoke, "I picked up on what your pouts did to her, almost nineteen years ago... Are you that dense?"

Keishou burst into fresh peals as Sesshomaru's jaw dropped then worked soundlessly as he tried to speak. Unable to stand with the force of his laughter, the hanyou sat on the ground, holding his stomach.

Sesshomaru growled a threat that was only half hearted. "And just how did you manage to listen in on the conversation, houshi?"

"Practice." Miroku answered with a straight face.

"You could always hit him upside the head." Inu Yasha volunteered, trying to control his own laughter. "It worked for Sango, Akiri and Kagome... for a while at least."

Keikan looked at his Uncle. "You said her name, without any sadness."

"Well it has been a long time." Inu Yasha said, "Maybe it's time I let go."

Sesshomaru decided that Inu Yasha's suggestion was not a bad one and reached out to lightly smack Miroku in the back of the head. Then he folded his arms, glaring at all of them, making a mental note to pout later. "If you are all quite finished taking your amusement at my expense, we should discuss the matter at hand."

"Oh, and what's that?" Miroku asked in his most innocent voice.

Sesshomaru narrowed his golden eyes at the monk. "Now I understand why the taijiya hit you so often with that weapon of hers," he snarled, as he gestured at the crumpled scroll, "That baka of a youkai who rules the North."

"Look, as we are friends, and my wife is your sons' Daibo, I'm going to ignore the anger. If you will remember you were discussing girl talk when I came out." He patiently reminded the furious Taiyoukai. "I would suggest, that before we begin planning reaking havoc on North. We tend to a small family matter. Jaken can not guard her forever." He pointedly looked towards the entrance way. "Her soul needs to be sent on its journey, soon."

Keishou was shocked from his laughter. "Jaken is doing what?"

Sesshomaru embarrassed anger faded quickly. "Forgive me Miroku," he said softly, "You are right of course."

"No need, my friend. Now who is going to brave the women?"

Sesshomaru cocked an elegant eyebrow at his son who still remained on the ground, holding his aching sides. "Keishou...you will go."

Keishou's jaw dropped. "Why me?"

"Because," Sesshomaru responded dryly, "You were the only one cackling like a hen."

Inu Yasha leaned down to his nephew, "Never laugh AT your father. Now go.." He dropped his voice to a soft whisper "Go to the kitchen and have one of the maids get them."

Grumbling, Keishou set off at a jog for the castle. Sesshomaru watched him go a small smile dancing onto his lips. "So houshi, might I use your revelations as an excuse to pout?"

Miroku opened his mouth, then closed it rethinking his wording. "Do you want me to answer that in front of your son?"

Sesshomaru glanced at his heir, who had the most amusing look of utter disgust on his face and nearly broke into his own gales of laughter. "I suppose we could discuss it at a later time."

He grinned "But I will deluge the results of the kiss rating. Keishou received a 9, as did you Sesshomaru something about being too gentle sometimes hurt your score. Rin's new man got a 9.5 and my lovely bride gave me a 10." At the Taiyoukai's snarl he continued whispering to his host, "Though your bride did concede that you were a 10 in the futon."

Inu Yasha blushed, "9.5 for Rin's new man you say?"

Keikan shuttered, the thought of his parents... "I'm going to go check on our Northern friends." Walking out of the courtyard he walked away from the castle. When the woods surrounding it hid the walls from him he transformed and headed north. Soon he saw them, they had not moved since he had seen them yesterday. 'Awaiting their scout's report.' He thought. He almost turned to return home, but decided to go further north. Concentrating he shrank his form to that of an Akita and continued running.

Despite his own flushed embarrassment/pride, he noticed the change in his half brother's scent and skin color and gave him a curious look. Then he turned to the monk, "New man you say? I was not aware that she had discovered a new mate."



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