******************Flashback******************
He could smell the blood, even through the heavy rain, he could smell it. The heavy gusts blowing in through his window made sure of that.He rushed to his mothers quarters.

~~~~Chimeiyuri's Quarters~~~~ "Okaasan! Okaasan! Do you smell it? Otousan's hurt!" He clutched at his mothers obi. Sesshoumaru, at only two looked like a boy of nine. The powerful yasha looked down at her young son.

"Yes. Otousan is injured, badly, possibly gravely. The Nigou probably doesnt know. Go and tell her so she can help."

"I dont want to, Okaasan! Send Jaken! As far as I'm concerned Nigou-ibo shouldnt even be here! Okaasan, I dont even like seeing her. Dont make me actually talk to her!" Sesshoumaru whined.

"Sesshoumaru-ni..." Chimeiyuri gave her son a glance. It was enough.

"Hai, Okaasan." Sesshoumaru said, relenting. He went to the Nigou's quarters.

~~~~~Nigou's Quarters~~~~ "Oi, Nigou! Otousan is coming home and-" He heard strange groaning noises."Nigou?" he growled when the scent of blood and birth invaded his nose.

"It's happening...." Groaned the woman. Sesshoumaru ran back to his mother's quarters.

~~~~Chimeiyuri's Quarters~~~~ "Okaasan, Nigou-ibo is having the mutt-child, now. " His mother stood and walked towards the Nigou's quarters.

"JAKEN! Come and aide me. If I am to be saddled with this task I shall not be alone in my misery." Jaken entered the room and stood at Chimeiyuri's side.

"What do I do Okaasan? What about Otousan? Stupid humans! They have such bad timing!"Sesshoumaru grabbed his mothers obi again. She pulled his hand from her and looked down at him, he was crying.

"Sesshoumaru-ni, be strong. Your father will be here soon." she paused and looked at the imp at her feet. "Jaken, go with Sesshoumaru and help with Sugimi Sama."

"But M'Lady, I thought I was to assist you with Miss-"

"Do you attempt to challenge my order?" she growled. Jaken squealed and headed for the foyer.

"C-Come young master.." he said, leaving the room with haste. Sesshoumaru held back, and his mother touched his cheek softly.

"Be strong Sesshoumaru-ni" She said and walked out of the room. Sesshoumaru followed her out and caught up to Jaken. They got to the foyer and sat, waiting. Sesshoumaru got bored and started playing with his hair. He pulled it over his shoulder and began braiding it. Jaken happened to look over at him and had to hide a snicker.

"What?!" Sesshoumaru snapped.

"You fuss with your hair like a little girl."

"Shut up or I'll get rid of you, slave."

"You cant, young master. You forget I am a servant of your parents, not of you."

"I'll be taiyoukai of these lands someday Jaken, so show me some respect!"

"No doubt, someday you will rule these lands. But that day isnt approaching to quickly and for now youre just a little pup..." He paused "And I do not jump at the sound of a puppy's bark." Jaken laughed. Sesshoumaru stood and he stopped. Even at only two years Sesshoumaru was twice Jaken's size. He grabbed Jaken's hakama and held his arm up ready to punch him, when the doors flew open. Sugimi stood there, a large pool of blood at his feet.

"Sesshoumaru..." Sugimi faltered. Sesshoumaru dropped Jaken and ran to catch his father.

"Jaken! Help me! Otousan is too heavy for me alone." The sight of his master bloody and unconscious snapped Jaken into quiet compliance. Together he and Sesshoumaru slowly managed to get Sugimi to his bedchambers and into his bed. They had two other servants help to undress him, tend to his wounds and change him into his bedclothes. Even after his father was tended to Sesshoumaru stayed by his side, and eventually fell asleep in a chair at his bedside. The following morning Sesshoumaru was awakened by a hand on the back of his head.

"Hmm...?" He asked groggily.

"Ohayo, son."

"Good morning, Otousan- What happened?" He asked as soon as he was awake enough to remember why he was where he was.

"Just that pesky dragon, Ryukossei." Sugimi forced a chuckle and changed the subject. "Wheres your Okaasan?"

"She was home last night when the Nigo-" His father gave him a stern look."...when Ibosan was-" He stopped, hope rising in his chest that the Nigou and the mutt hadnt made it through birth and Okaasan was out disposing of the bodies. But his hopes were crashed when he heard the door creek open and he saw the black haired Nigou walk in- with a bundle of cloth in her arms that carried a new scent with it.

"Sugimi Sama, look-" She started, excitedly, happy and smiling. Sesshoumaru stood.

"GET OUT NIGOU! Otousan isnt well. He doesnt need you to be here and make him worse!" The Nigou stopped, surprised, first because that was the most she had heard the yound Lord say to her in the year she had known him, and because of the coldness of his words and in his voice.

"SESSHOUMARU!" Unwell or not, when angry Sigumi's voice shook the castle itself. "Child. You do NOT speak for me when I am here and able to speak for myself!" He glared at Sesshoumaru for a moment before turning back to the Nigou, his face regaining it's softness. "What is it, darling?" He asked. She hesitated for a moment before coming foreward slowly.

"Youre a father." She said, smiling. Sesshoumaru glared.

"He already was! Baka!"

"Sesshoumaru..." Sugimi said warningly. "A boy?"

"Yes." She smiled happily.

"Let me see my son." The nigou came closer, holding the baby out to Sugimi.

"I'm right here, Otousan! What do you need two sons for? Especially when the second is a little disgusting half-breed abomination?!" The Nigou held the baby close to her, as if trying to protect it from Sesshoumaru's harsh words.

"Sesshoumaru!"

"No! I dont want a worthless half-human mongrel for a brother! If you wanted another son so badly why couldnt you have mated Okaasan again?! I HATE this human wench of yours! She reeks and her child reeks and I'm SICK of her!!" Sesshoumaru screamed and lunged at the Nigou and the baby. His eyes were now red and his markings were more defined. The Nogou screamed and turned her back to shelter the baby. Sugimi was between them in an instant. He roared and grabbed Sesshoumaru by the neck. Sugimi brought them face to face and growled.

"GET. OUT. OF. MY. SIGHT. NOW." he dropped Seshoumaru harshly and turned to comfort his mistress. Sesshoumaru fled the castle and searched for the only person who seemed to be on his side, his mother. He followed her scent for a long distance until he found her. Chimeiyuri was leaned against her favorite tree, a large full plum tree on the edge of a lake that seemed to always be in full bloom.

"Okaasan!" Sesshoumaru called out to her, happily. Here was someone who would agree with him! Someone who loved him more than some human bitch. Someone who he loved emmensely. He called again. "Oi, Okaasan! It's me, Sesshoumaru-ni!" She didnt move. "Okaasan?" Is she asleep? he wondered. He walked nearer and nearer until he saw a crimson shine that told him what, because he was upwind, he hadnt smelled: Chimeiyuri was dead.

Her throat was torn open and part of it was in her right hand. Sesshoumaru stared for a moment that seemed like forever. he stood, dumbstruck until hot tears on his cheeks startled him into action.

"OKAA!" He called. "Okaa!" He ran to her and shook her. "Okaasan! Wake up, Okaa! Okaa, please... Please..." Sobbing with full realsization washing over him at a sickening speed he curled up in her lap and cried for over an hour. Finally, when the tears wouldnt come anymore, he stood.

"You told me to be strong. I will." He said. He then reached down and slowly, delicately removed her obi. It was her favorite, purple with yellow. He had to wrap it around himself many times, then he left some to drape at his sides, and tied it in the front. He leaned down and kissed her cheek, telling himself to be strong, while at the same time, blinking back tears. "I love you Okaasan. I will be strong and make you proud of me. I will. I promise." He turned around and headed back to the castle to spread the news.

Three days later he stood at his Otousan's bedside as the taiyoukai died from the wounds inflicted by Ryukossei. That night he stood on the balcony of his mother's room, which he had taken for himself. The moon matched that on his and Chimeiyuri's forheads.

"Otousan died today, Okaasan. I'm sure you already knew that though. What you might not know is that I have sent the Nigou and her spawn 'Inuyasha' out of our home." The wind suddenly picked up and sent a sweet plum scented breeze that ruffled his hair, which was in a ponytail, and the purple and yellow obi, which Sesshoumaru now wore instead of any others. He smiled. "I knew you would be pleased, Okaasan. I..." He bit his lip, holding back tears. "I'm trying to keep my promise... It's harder...now, being alone, and.." the tears refused to stay back. "Your scent is fading from your room and all your things. Okaa, even though you've only been gone a few days now..." He was sobbing hard now.
"I really miss you mama." Sesshoumaru sniffed and closed his eyes. "I will do my best to keep my promise, Okaasan. Even after your scent fades, I'll hold your memory in me, until I can see you again..." the wind blew again, and for Sesshoumaru, the world itself smelled of plums.

End note: I hope you enjoyed it. Wow, that was sad... I cried twice while writing it.. Chimeiyuri is a name of my own design, if ya wanna use it for your story put a little reference in there for me, will ya? ^_^ To my knowledge Miss Takahashi hasnt given her a face or a name. "The Nigou" doesnt [far as I know] have a name either. If you know something I dont, can you let me in on it? ^_^ I started working on the third chapter before I even had this one posted, so it should be up pretty soon. I'm really liking how this turned out. -+-Chapters-+-

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