Hah!

Another chappie for my lovelies! I hope the story is going as smoothly as I intend it to be.

Before I upload the other chapters, there's just one thing I want to know. I'm not sure if I'll still make this an INUcest, because I'm finding the KouInu pairing a little cuter than I expected. Well! Let me hear what you guys think, ok. This is originally a Sesshounaru/FemInuyasha pairing, buuuuuuutttttttt I may be swayed to change it to a Kouga/FemInuyasha . . . depending on you guys that is. Or even greater! I can make it a Sesshoumaru/FemInuyasha/Kouga pairing! But there's this part of me saying to leave it as such and just make it a Sesshounaru/FemInuyasha pairing still. Argh!

Tell me! Tell me! Tell me! Please! The complete overhaul of the chapters I've already made resides within your hands, my dear readers. *smiles*

Anyway, there's this little snippets I placed at the end of every chapter starting from chapter3, those little scenes will be explained later on in the story ok! Those are what I call clichés. Tee-hee!

One more thing, I changed my Pen Name from .FIORE to URIpuppy! Sis said it's cuter *smiles* and easier to remember!

Sooooooooooooo . . . On with the chappie!

Disclaimer: I do not, in any way what-so-ever, own Inuyasha. If I did . . . well . . . (grins)

Chapter 4

Myouga's eyes widen, he can feel the sudden tension in the air, feel the hostility coming out in waves from the otherwise calm prince. The demon aura bathing the room with its scent of restrained power making breathing slightly harder as the silence continued to stretch on. He folded his hands inside the sleeves of his dirty green hakama, body hunching over ever so slightly, sweat rolling down from either side of his withered face, big buggy eyes closing, hiding the turmoil of emotions within.

The Moon Lit Castle, a place Inu Taisho built for his most precious ones. Once for a time was supposed to be a gift for his beloved lady, now a prison for his most prized treasure. A place hidden by a web of magic and secrets weaved intricately around a past well forgotten, a place the full moon shone brightly bathing it lovingly with its rays of ethereal light, a place where she lies unseen from the world that was supposed to be hers.

He gave out a quiet sigh, was it time? Opening his eyes a fraction, he let his gaze fall on to the regal Inu Youkai before him. Was this young prince ready for the truth his father had hidden well through the decades? For the responsibilities the revelation of these secrets entails? For the actions and decisions he must make however hard they may be for him and his future? His gaze slid to the little ningen girl bouncing at her seat beside the Inu Youkai. He had heard how Sesshoumaru had saved this child from her own kind, from those bandit-turned soldiers that purged her village and killed her family and friends; how the Inu Youkai let the ningen child follow him and in time cared for the child in turn. And maybe, just maybe this young prince was ready. Maybe not quiet, but almost there to the point of acceptance. For he knew how Inu Taisho's son despised humans, and how said son despised his father more for consorting with a ningen woman. But with the appearance of this human child, maybe there was hope still, for the treasure that lay within those castle walls was far too precious than one would care to imagine. Yes, maybe it was time. It was time to open the cage and let the burdened wings spread and take flight.

"Ahh, yes! Lord Inu Taisho's castle. I do remember, now that you have mentioned it. But I'm afraid I can not disclose its location just yet, Sesshoumaru-sama" he said calmly, hiding the fear that was crawling beneath his skin.

Sesshoumaru's POV

He can feel the rage slowly building up inside him, how dare this insignificant fool deny him of his birth right?! He was seething, his Youkai slamming through his self control to just kill the petty demon with his claws. But he needed him still; apparently the fool was the only one who knew where the blasted Castle was. He should know, he didn't spend all 200 years of travelling just sightseeing! Even with the warring emotions, his face remained calm etched in perfect indifference; his grip not slipping a bit on his cool facade.

"And why is that, this Sesshoumaru asks?" he said, word slipping from his lips in a deadly calm way.

"I do apologise Sesshoumaru-sama. But I can not disclose any information just yet without proof of your blood relation to Lord Inu Taisho. For that I will have to take a small amount of your blood. And by Lord Inu Taisho's orders, I require a blood oath from you that state that in no circumstance are you to neither deny nor leave Lord Inu Taisho's last . . . possession, lest you be stripped off of your Title as Lord of the Western Lands" the flea demon answered, voiced trembling with forced calmness.

Sesshoumaru cannot believe what he was hearing. For a piece of . . . what? Jewellery? Weapon? . . . his father would go this far? He wanted to say no, to just forget about this whole predicament and continue on with his reign. But this was his father's dying request, his father's last wishes. He had gone so far from going through his father's humongous library to searching high and low of his lands for 200 years. Was he just going to give up now? No. Absolutely not. He was the Lord of the Western Lands, last of the regal Dog Demon Clan, only son of Lord Inu no Taisho. He will not stop until each and last of his birth right was within his grasp. But was this piece of parcel worth all that much? Was it so special for his father to put his title on the line? Yet, with his father's last words echoing in his mind, he stilled his rampant thoughts.

"Very well, this Sesshoumaru will supply all the things needed of him to acquire this parcel. Shall we move to this Sesshoumaru's study so we can carry out this deed and discuss of the Castle's location?" he said, rising from his seat and looking down on the flea demon cowering in his gaze.

"I cannot tell you the location of the castle, Sesshoumaru-sama" Myouga replied, "But I can take you there" he hastily added when he saw the flash of anger that passed the Inu Youkai's eyes.

"This Sesshoumaru accepts" he said after a while, his gaze flicking to the green imp silently seating beside the human girl. "Jaken, retrieve some parchments and construct the contract at once. Deliver it at my study once it is finished"

"Of course, Sesshoumaru-sama" The green imp bowed, then scurried out the room.

"Rin, Myouga-san, follow this Sesshoumaru" he nodded to the two remaining and headed for the door, the little girl jumping up and bouncing on her steps as she followed the Inu Youkai while the flee demon gave out a relieved sigh before following.

-oOo-

The sun was setting, its last rays of light disappearing in to the horizon painting the sky with different hues of red, puffy clouds catching the lovely shades of colour as they float lazily about the darkening sky, the cold night wind beginning its journey as it blew through the forests and endless expanse of lands.

He sighed, crimson eyes taking in the beauty of the setting sun. Wanting to capture the breath taking vision in a parchment, like what he always do oh so long ago whenever he found something worthy to keep not only in memory but in his sights forever. But that was something he had stopped doing for so many decades now, the memory of it bringing pain and sadness he had buried deep within his heart. His fingers twitch, longing for the feel of that thin, smooth item he used to make to draw, the feel of the parchment beneath his fingers. He curled his hands into tight fist, resisting the urge.

He closed his eyes; head falling back and hitting the pillar he was leaning on with a soft thud, his hands resting atop his left knee hoisted up the wooden banister he was sitting on as his right leg dangled down onto the varnished floor.

"I thought I'd find you hear" a soft voice called.

Opening his eyes once again, he turned to look at the direction where the voice came from. There, just a few feet away down the hall stood a woman; her soft pink hair gather all over her left shoulder cascading down in waves through her slim figure till it reached her thin waist where its strands were tied together with a pink cloth, her shinning blue eyes looking at him with unhidden affection, her small pink lips set into a small smile, her delicate hands clasped together in front of her holding a small basket full of flowers, three sets of fluffy white tail with a tint of pink at their tips hugging her form, complimenting her white kimono designed with pink flowers complete with a red obi.

"What is it Kaishi?" he asked.

"Nothing, I haven't seen you all day. Have you been here all along?" she asked, not moving from where she stood.

He didn't answer her, she already knew so why even bother. Instead, he tore his gaze from her and looks out to the horizon, the sun already gone and the moon taking its place as it climbs to the darkening skies, numerous stars already shinning about. He didn't want to ignore her, but he just didn't know what to say. And he knew she understands, like how she does every time he disappears and finds him here staring out to the distance. They have known each other for so long, grew up together under his father's stern gaze. And she understands, she knows, and he appreciates her silent support.

"She'll adore you when she meets you, Rei" she said out of the blue.

He frowned and looked back at her, but all he saw was her back as she walked away, her parting words confusing him even more.

"Be sure to be nice to her, though. The Lord of the West is an easy man to anger" she called back, glancing atop her shoulders before waving and continuing on her way.

-oOo-

Sesshoumaru closed his eyes, leaning back at his chair as he tried to relax his stiff muscles. It has been a long day; discussing matters with the old flee demon and dealing with the incompetence of his so called loyal servant in making the contract. They have agreed with each other at some point, and tomorrow they will leave for this Moon Lit Castle of his fathers.

He opened his eyes, yellow golden eyes staring through the darkness. He stood up and walked towards the open balcony of his study, stepping out to the cold night air. He stared at the moon shinning above, the stars twinkling brightly from the cloudless night skies. Ah, just a few more days and the harvest moon will come. He allowed the small tug of anticipation linger in his chest, the memory of a beautiful voice singing softly flooding his mind. How long has it been since he had first heard of that estrange voice? That song carried by the wind and played faintly within the distance. He had tried to search for the one who owns that voice, for the one who sang that song vaguely in the wind. Yet he cannot find them, for the song only echoes on the night of the Harvest Moon.

He closed his eyes once more, relishing the feel of the cold night air upon his cheeks. How many times has that enchanted voice soothed all his worries, cleared all his troubled thoughts, and calm his Youkai's rage? A small twitch on the corners of his lips was the only indication of a smile that wasn't really there. Yes, he was looking forward to another serenade.

-cut-

"What's that?" a soft voice asked.

He glanced up and saw a girl leaning down towards him, her arms clasped behind her back, her raven black hair tied in a messy bun atop her head with some strands falling down and framing her heart shaped face, her pink lips pursed, her soft lilac eyes staring at his hands. He glanced down at what he was holding.

"A parchment" he said matter-of-factly.

The girl pouted, plopping herself down beside him. "I know that! I meant that" she answered, pointing at his right hand where he was holding a small, thin and black object.

"Oh, this?" he asked, holding it up. "I don't know, but I made it"

"What's it for?"

"You see this?" he asked holding the parchment closer to the girl where he had drawn the view of the flower fields before them. The girl gave a small gasp, looking at the parchment in amazement. "It's for making this work of art. It's for drawing in this parchment"

"It's beautiful. Can I have it when you're done?" she asked, eyes still not leaving the parchment.

"If you want it, why not? I'll give it to you when I'm finished"

"Thank you, Rei!" she squealed, hugging him and watching quietly as he began to draw again.

-oOo-

Wow!

I find it really cute how Sesshoumaru always refer to himself in the Third Person. He's so adorable, don't you think so?

Anyway, review people! It makes me happy, and when I'm happy, inspiration hits me upside the head and makes me write. Wait, I think that was my sister. Even so! I would really appreciate some love!

Yours truly,

Uri-chan!