Once Upon a Time...

The inu sighed and sat back in his chair. "It's... Not that I detest him, exactly."

---

Shinki walked over and hugged her with a warm smile. "Anytime, little red."

"What is it then?" Kikyou inquired as she took a sip of her water.

---

Ayame returned his hug, "Let's get to bed now. I'm getting tired."

"How would you feel, dealing with a brother you knew came from your father's mistress?" he asked. "Who you've only really been around for about four years since his mother died and now he has to share a roof with you because he has no where else to go."

---

Shinki nodded in agreement. "Yeah."

"Honestly...I would have reached out to him. His mother died, and I." Kikyou paused before continuing. "I know that feeling. In the grand scheme of things, he did not ask to come into this world and he should not be punished for it." Kikyou stated with a frown. "I would never hold someone accountable for the sins of their father."

---

Ayame yawned and climbed into bed, "I'll warn you now. I like to cuddle in my sleep."

"It's not holding him accountable for anything," was all he said, obviously starting to get annoyed and uncomfortable with the topic.

---

Shinki chuckled as he climbed in with her. "I'll make sure to keep it in mind."

"If you were not, he would not be getting that treatment from you." Kikyou frowned. "And calm yourself, you asked me a question and I answered truthfully. If you can't handle that, then do not bother asking me anything at all."

---

Ayame smiled and snuggled under her covers.

He resorted to ignoring the statement. He was most definitely not going to spend his night speaking about Inuyasha and whatever profound feelings he may have for his younger brother.

---

Shinki gave her one last hug. "Thank you, Ayame. For letting me stay. I know you'll say something about how it's nothing, but you don't know how much I need this right now." He buried his nose in her hair. "Thank you so much."

Kikyou suddenly didn't want to be on the date anymore. She wanted to go back to the solace of her room, where she didn't have to deal with people.

---

Ayame returned his hug with a sigh, "I know what you mean Shinki...It's no problem really. I need this as much as you do."

He pulled his napkin off his lap and laid it on the side as he stood. "You'll have to excuse me," Sesshoumaru said, heading for the bathroom. "I'll be right back."

---

Shinki simply closed his eyes and rubbed circles into her back soothingly.

".........." Kikyou ignored him.

----

Ayame let out a purr of content as she began to doze off to sleep.

Hana frowned as she watched him leave. "Ah... I was about to ask how everything was," she told Kikyou.

---

Shinki dozed off.

"Not so well as you can see." Kikyou frowned. "Things were going well until the topic of Inuyasha arrived."

---

Ayame fell asleep, "Zzzzzzzzz"

Hana gripped onto her tray and bit her lip nervously. "Would you think me rude if I offered an idea as to what he's thinking?"

"No...you obviously are well adjusted to his....behavior." Kikyou replied.

"He doesn't like verbalizing his feelings," she told her with a small smile. "He and his brother are alike in that sense, but Sesshoumaru is... really subtle with his actions." Hana shifted her weight from one foot to the other as she tried to explain. "If it's about Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru doesn't actually hate him. I can tell he tries to, but I know he doesn't. It's just..." Hana turned her head from one side to the other as she gathered the right words, the ends of her hair brushing along her jawline as her mouth puckered thoughtfully. "He doesn't know what to feel sometimes. He's really introverted and pampered and he was used to this ideal image of his life until Inuyasha came along and he was forced to realize that his life isn't perfect, like he was taught to think of it as. He can't find it in him to hate his father, who he'd idealized and who still continues to care for him all these years, and... Sometimes, it's just easier to be bitter for him, who doesn't deal well with people or all these really positive outlooks.

"But... I think if it came down to it, he actually has some love for his brother, who is kin no matter what, and he just doesn't know how to express it." Hana smiled a bit sympathetically, having been in Kikyou's chair more than once before she'd given up on trying to better the brothers' relationship. "Nor does he like other people trying to tell him how to express it before he figures it out himself."

Kikyou sighed, "I must apologize to him then. If it wasn't very obvious, I am in fact very protective of Inuyasha and because of that I let it rule my emotions."

She grinned a little. "You don't even have to apologize directly if you don't want to. He prefers apologies in the form of conversation."

"Thank you." Kikyou said looking up at her. "You really didn't have to do that....I appreciate the help."

Hana smiled at her. "You can't look at him like you look at everyone else. Sesshoumaru is one of the few people I know that can even command his own entirely unique method of understanding. He's not easy to put up with and I'm not so bad as to sit by idly when I can help."

Kikyou buried her face in her hands suddenly tired, "You're right, and what's worse I have acted completely out of character and embarrassed myself. I hope he does not take too much offense to this."

Hana hugged her tightly. "He'll forgive it. And don't beat on yourself for speaking out. I couldn't help myself either in the beginning."

Kikyou returned her hug with a small smile, "Alright and thank you again."

"Anytime," Hana told her.

Kikyou gave Hana a sincere smile.

Hana spotted Sesshoumaru coming out of the bathroom and gave Kikyou a short wave. "Call me over if you need absolutely anything!" She told her before scurrying away.

Sesshoumaru gave the scene an odd look before taking his seat.