Love and Politics in Feudal Japan

Disclaimer: I do not own Inu-Yasha.

~Dream~
"Found you," Sesshoumaru whispered as he came up behind Inutaishi and grabbed her. Tai screamed and shoved Sesshoumaru off the cliff and into the stream below. "BAKA!!! Don't scare me like that! When you mask your scent you know I can't find you and......," Tai stopped and looked into the stream only to find that Sesshoumaru had hit his head on a rock at the bottom and had gotten knocked out, "Fluffy?" Inutaishi panicked and dove into the stream. When she resurfaced, she dragged Sesshoumaru to the shoreline where he started coughing up water and glared at her, "What in the hell did you do that for?" If it had been anyone else they would've ran away screaming or cower in fear from the look on his face and tone of voice. Tai, however, did neither. Instead, she stood to her full height and glared at him with such malice that Sesshoumaru cowered. "Now listen here, F...L...U...F...F...Y. If you hadn't masked your scent and snuck up behind me, that wouldn't have happened. You, of all people, should know that I haven't started my training yet, so I respond with what my instincts tell me. You had me cornered, so I reacted," Tai responded in a dangerously low voice that even Sesshoumaru couldn't ignore. Inutaishi hmphed and turned her back to him.
"Aniki, Aniki!! Inutaishi-chan, Aniki!" Inuyasha came running up to both of them and latched himself to Sesshoumaru, "Aniki, your bleeding!" Sesshoumaru reached up to his forehead just as Tai turned around, "Ah, Fluffy-sama, Gomen." Tai blushed and began licking Sesshoumaru's wound causing him to blush as well.
"Oi, you two are still too young for that," Inutaisho smiled as he watched Tai and his sons.
Beside him, Inuraichu smiled as well, "Tai, time to go, you'll be able to see Sesshoumaru again in a few days," Tai looked at her father with doubtful eyes causing him to sigh, "Promise."
Inutaishi smiled as she leaned her head against Sesshoumaru's. "I'll see you again in a few days then. Right, Fluffy-sama?" Sesshoumaru smiled and replied, "Yeah, Rosy-sama, you will." Sesshoumaru hugged Tai and said, "It was great playing with you today, Inutaishi. Next time, I'd like to spar with you if that's alright?" They looked to Inuraichu, who nodded at them. Tai smiled and followed her father home to the Eastern Lands.
Meanwhile, Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha, and Inutaisho returned to the castle in the Western Lands where Inutaisho pulled Sesshoumaru aside. "You really like Inutaishi don't you, son?" Inutaisho asked Sesshoumaru, who nodded, "Then, I'm pleased to tell you that Tai will be staying here every summer until her 98th birthday. Inuraichu-sama has agreed to let me train her along with you."
Sesshoumaru beamed at his father, but had to ask, "Why her 98th birthday?" His curiosity was killing him and he started bouncing on the balls of his feet like any 50 year old demon would when their interest was peaked.
"Ah, my boy, you're still too young, but I guess it wouldn't hurt to tell you," Inutaisho smiled at his oldest son who was acting like the pup he was, "Tai will become fertile and have her first heat cycle on or around her 98th birthday. If she were here the week before, the day of, or the two weeks following her birthday, neither of you would be able to resist the call of your instincts and may do something you'd regret."
~end dream~

Sesshoumaru jerked awake and ran his fingers through his hair as he sat up in bed and looked around the room. Inuyasha was asleep against the wall on his right, Miroku by the door, Sango, Kagome, Kirara, and Shippo across the room, Jaken against the wall on his left, and Rin cradled in his tail. He looked at Rin as she snuggled closer to him.
'She needs a mother. Tai would've made a great mother.' Sesshoumaru almost sighed as he thought about Inutaishi, 'Why didn't I listen to my Otousan? I should've kept her away that summer, but I was stubborn and didn't listen to reason' 'No you didn't, stubborn pup' ' One, this Sesshoumaru is no longer a pup, this Sesshoumaru is the Taiyoukai of the Western Lands. Two, who the hell are you and why are you prying into this Sesshoumaru's business?' 'I am you, moron and I know you're no longer a pup, but you should've listened to your Otousan. It's been what 90? 100? years since then?' 'Try a hundred and ten. Now leave me the hell alone.' 'Fine, but I'll be back.'
Sesshoumaru gently laid Rin down on the futon as he rose and headed out the door making sure not to wake the others. He needed to walk, maybe hunt, or maybe just find something really weak and tear its head off...hell, he knew he just needed to do something to work out the feelings and emotions he was having. He transformed into his true form and took to the sky just as the sun was rising. He flew toward the Northeast to find something to take his frustration out on.