Of Gold and Adamant

Hard Moments

In life one has to make choices
It can be good or bad
Hiding those inside voices
Can make one quite angry and sad
The moments we share together
Not always good ones you see
The hard and stormy weather
To find peace and harmony

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Hideharu waited by the cherry blossoms enjoying the scenery. It was beautiful here. This was someplace he hid from his Father when he was a child. Very few people came here because of the fact that it was said that so many blossoms would make one mad, but for demons this was a place of peace and silent joy.

Leaning against the tree he thought about how he was going to get over Inuyasha and how he was going to make Shippo’s life better. Perhaps it would be best to give the boy over to Lin who was an exceptional Father, but in his heart Hideharu really wanted a chance to make it up to Shippo and be the Father that his brother was to the pup before the Thunder Brothers had destroyed the poor pup’s life.

Sesshoumaru arrived looking splendid in his armor like a shining god amongst the trees. Could a man wish to be any more beautiful? Hideharu would have loved to have been his beta, but as an alpha he could not bear offspring so it would be a mating that would last eternity with no fruitful purpose other than pleasure that would most likely fade with time.

“Lord Sesshoumaru, I am here as requested.”

Sesshoumaru acknowledged the pretty fox that was a thorn in his side. Now how to go about this without chasing the man off since Sesshoumaru was in no mood to do any chasing.

“Hn…..I see.”

Sesshoumaru stood his ground as did the fox that bowed, but then leaned once again against the tree.

“You stated this was about a political matter Lord Tashio?”

Hideharu stated as he anticipated the answer.

“It is about Shippo and my favoritism of him. I see him as a pack member as you well know and therefore I have some concerns.”

Hideharu nodded and waited. This wasn’t unusual. Hopefully Shippo wasn’t causing any mischief or his cousin. He would have to punish him if he did by bringing him back home and indeed he would have to go against his word by spanking the boy soundly. It was not the usual punishment, but he had been talking to his brother Lin about some things. Lin was informed of his poor behavior with Shippo by his own mouth and Lin in turn took over as Lord of the East since he felt his younger sibling could not handle the responsibility if he could not even control his temper. It was a fair punishment and less painful then he thought. Lin would take Shippo until he felt Hideharu was safe for the boy although they agreed to raise him together since Hideharu did wish to try to do the right thing.

Lin had suffered at their Father’s hand, but became the complete opposite of his Father. If Lin could do it then Hideharu felt he could also, it was just going to take time since change did not come easy and losing his position had been a hard blow.

Sesshoumaru continued on.

“I have some disturbing information that I gathered from Shippo’s cousin, young Choukichi.”

Hideharu knew what was coming and lifted his hands up in surrender nodding acknowledging that what Sesshoumaru was told was indeed true. It wasn’t Shippo since the child would keep his promises. It was indeed his brother’s brat that spilled information that should have stayed in the family and corrected in the family as well.

“I believe Sire that these matters will need to be discussed with my brother Lin. I have shamed my family in my raising of Shippo and therefore I am no longer the Lord of the East.”

Sesshoumaru wasn’t concerned about Lin. His confrontation was with Hideharu and Hideharu was not going to weasel his way out of this conversation.

“I am not finished with you. It is you I wish to discuss this with. What shame you have brought to your family is also a shame on mine. You beat a ward of my mate after we entrusted him to your care, to your family’s care. He was too young for such discipline.’
“I am no one to judge your conduct since mine has been most despicable, however the difference is I did such to one who could defend himself. I would not do such to a child no matter how ruthless I can be. I do have standards, ones you do not. So now I must deal with you.”

Hideharu kneeled down before his Lord knowing he could not beat Sesshoumaru.

“Then strike me dead my Lord for I cannot change the past no matter how much now I desire to do so. I love that boy. I just did not know how to raise him and was too proud to ask for assistance from my brother. I do wish for a second chance with Shippo, but if it is not to be then so be it. My life is yours.”

Sesshoumaru snorted.

“Get up from the ground fool. It is not I who you will be placated. You will be made an example of in private and then I will decide what to do with you. As far as Shippo is concerned he will remain with my brother and I as our ward once again.’
“I will speak to your brother on other matters. I wish to save face as far as my involvement in these affairs and not upset the other Lords. Therefore it will be stated that I am taking Shippo on for further training and if any other children who are to be mated to my pups wish for training they shall receive such when they come of age. This way no one will see that any family is favored over another.’
“If you wish to assist in the raising of Shippo then you will do more than claim you wish to change. You will show improvement. Now come, your life is mine as you state. I shall do with you as I see fit Hideharu.”

Hideharu got up from the ground and followed Sesshoumaru. He wondered what his punishment would be and shuddered.

Silently he followed until they reached the castle where an irate wife waits his disappearing husband.

“Oh I see how it is. I have the pups and then you just take off whenever you feel like it? Well Mister I am insensitive you can sleep with yourself tonight.”

Hideharu tried to keep from smiling a bit as Sesshoumaru chased his wife back into the castle. However two guards were with him as he was ordered into a rather dreary room where he would remain until Lord Sesshoumaru wished to seek audience with him again.

Inuyasha storms through the hallway as Sesshoumaru follows only to get his own bedroom door slammed in his face then locked.

“Inuyasha open the door!”

Sesshoumaru roars.

“No fucking way asshole.”

Sesshoumaru at that breaks the door off its hinges and storms over to his angry wife.

“You did not need to cause a scene because I left. You fell asleep so I was trying to let you rest. I was not doing so to ignore you and I had a meeting. I do have duties here as you well know.”

Sesshoumaru saw Inuyasha burst into tears.

“But, but I was all alone…….and when you left I was still wanting you……”

Sesshoumaru sighed. He was such a damn sucker. Those big eyes and tears always made him suffer to do anything for his wife to make Inuyasha stop crying.

“My beloved, I would not leave you for long. I am never far and this was something important that I believe I should tell you since you should be the one to decide Hideharu’s punishment.”

At that Inuyasha sat and listened for a whole two seconds. The second he heard beat and Shippo that was it.

“I am going to kill him….”

Sesshoumaru grabbed his wife before Inuyasha went ballistic on the man.

“No, then he will never learn.”

Inuyasha growled.

“I don’t care. Let me go…….”

Sesshoumaru refused to let his kicking thrashing wife go no matter how much Inuyasha growled.

“Inuyasha stop it right now. He will be punished severely and Lord Lin has reclaimed the title of Lord of the East.”

Inuyasha understood the implications of this, but it still didn’t change his mind about killing the bastard.

“Killing him would solve everything you know.”

Sesshoumaru smirked at his beloved.

“I am aware of this and as much as I concur I also have a duty as do you. I as Lord cannot just slaughter another Lord we are allies with even if he was former Lord. It would cause a war with the Lin family and I have a deep respect for the Lin’s. Tact is necessary Inuyasha, in being a Lady you are also not to bloody your lovely claws unless no other option is available.”

Inuyasha sat on the bed.

“Can I change my mind to become a Lord just long enough to be able to use my claws on this bastard?”

Sesshoumaru chuckled.

“No, you already had the announcement made and believe me you are not the only one who wishes to get those pretty claws dirty. I am certain if Mother knew or any others of the Lin family, besides ourselves it would possibly be a bloodbath since Shippo is adored by all who know him.”

Inuyasha nodded and understood. It just sucked since he really wanted to rake his claws across that asshole’s throat and watch him bleed. Stupid politics.

Sesshoumaru went back to tell the servants to fix the door as he went back into the room. Holding his wife’s hand he wanted to tell him the good and bad news.

“Inuyasha we will keep Shippo here with us. However, it must be mainly for training since Lord Lin is a good man and deserves to keep his family together. Shippo deserves nothing less.”

Inuyasha grunted.

“Ya, I guess that would be for the best. So what is the catch?”

Sesshoumaru looked confused and then assumed Inuyasha was ready for the bad news.

“Lord Hideharu, after his punishment has requested with supervision to be able to be with Shippo in order to earn the right to assist with raising the boy.”

Inuyasha seethed.

“After what he did? Why?”

Sesshoumaru sighed.

“Lord Lin has already proclaimed it so for his family. Since he is the head of the family there is little I can do without causing disharmony for our family. If I take Shippo as a ward he may not mate Fuu. If I go against the family I shame a man whom I have respect for and see as a friend who is not at fault for his brother’s actions. I may punish Hideharu, but it is not our place to completely destroy him.”

Inuyasha hated politics. It was bullshit, but he couldn’t do a damn thing about it.

“I don’t like this or agree with it.”

Sesshoumaru sighed and patted his wife’s hand as he watched the servants work on the door.

“I do not either, but I do not want war.”

Sesshoumaru looked at Inuyasha and kissed him gently.

“What do you wish to do to him?”

Inuyasha thought about it. He wanted to have him drawn and quartered, but that wasn’t allowed.

“I think that we need to talk to Shippo and then I can decide.”

Inuyasha stated as Sesshoumaru nodded. It was a good decision. Until then Hideharu could remain in the worst room of the house and think about all he had done. Sometimes being left with your own thoughts was the worst punishment you could give a man.