"You know, you just keep on surprising me," Aura commented suddenly when Sesshoumaru sat down. "I'm almost thinking I should just expect it for a while until I get used to it."

"Perhaps it would be a good idea to add some sort of bath to the cabin?" Hisoka suggested. Suggestions were still the way to go. "I was under the impression that women enjoyed hot baths... unless I'm mistaken? And I'm certain children like warm baths." At least, Inuyasha liked splashing in them, so Hisoka figured that Shippou would, too. "It might be a good idea."

Sesshomaru snorted quietly. "Hnn. Perhaps that would be wise," he agreed, though he looked amused. "How have I surprised you this time?"

Kris nodded. "Yeah," she mumbled. "I hated cold baths when I was his age, but I didn't have a choice." She shrugged. "However, you are correct. I should get something in here." She started rubbing her hair dry, wringing it out a few times.

Aura gestured to the meal.

"Kid-friendly dinner," she said. "Playing with your brother like a daycare veteran... I never would have imagined it before today."

"Perhaps next time you visit for more than just a weekend," Hisoka suggested. He didn't automatically assume he would be there with her; she hadn't extended a standing invitation, after all. Of course, he hoped to be there with her next time.

Sesshomaru chuckled quietly. "I have spent quite a bit of time with my brother," he said quietly. "I did help raise him."

Inuyasha looked up from his food, a smea of chili across one cheek. Sesshomaru wiped it away almost without thinking about it.

Kris nodded. "I'll have to come up with something." She sighed and finished with her hair, instead starting to braid it. She didn't have anything planned until Shippou got up a little later, so she leaned against the door frame, keeping track of everything outside.

"Things like that," Aura pointed out when he cleaned Inuyasha's face. "Nobody would ever guess. It's just so out of context with the face you put up for the rest of the world." And she could tell it was a mask, too, now that she'd had a chance to watch him for a while. It was a good mask, damn near perfect, but still a mask.

"Have you decided on your plan for tonight?" Hisoka asked quietly. Not that it really mattered, he planned on taking care of her at least until sunrise, but he wanted to hear what she thought she had planned.

Sesshomaru quirked an eyebrow at her. "The rest of the world does not need to see this," hs eaid, quite calmly. Nevermind the implications that he was letting her see this.

"I usually hide under the house for the night," Kris said quietly. She'd built a hidey-hole under the house, which was more like a tunnel, actually. Going from her house into the forest, so in case someone else tried to come after her, she could escape. Plus it was just big enough for her to go through, so most youkai would have problems following her.

"I never said it did," Aura pointed out. She caught at least a couple of the implications, and was turning them over in her head a bit. She wanted to ask Kris about it later on, though, after the weekend was over.

"If you would rather be comfortable for the night, I would be pleased to stand guard for you," Hisoka replied. "Stay inside, perhaps in front of the fireplace with a good book and your kit without needing to worry."

Sesshomaru put the dishes in the sink once they were all done. Inuyasha was looking a little tired, but he didn't insist the pup go to bed yet. He'd let him stay up a little later than normal.

Kris considered that briefly, pulling a strip of leather out of nowhere and tying off the braid. It was hard to go against her instincts, which were telling her to hide somewhere, and to go against the years of tradition. "We'll see," she said after a few moments.

Aura could tell that Inuyasha was tired, and already had a plan. Going over to him, she picked him up and cuddled him. Then she started to rub his ears again. If it relaxed him before, it would put him to sleep now.

She'd done the same to Kris more than once.

Hisoka nodded. Fair enough. Let her think about it for a little while and debate over whether she wanted to spend the night in the cellar or in the comfort of the main room. Meanwhile, he would be hinting a bit to Shippou that Kris would be more comfortable in the main room, and let the kit work his magic on her.

Inuyasha relaxed against her again, his eyes sliding closed as he started to purr again. Within a few minutes he was asleep, and Sesshomaru's eyes raised in surprise. That had been... surprisingly easy.

"Would you care to put him to bed?" he asked quietly, giving her the option of doing it herself or handing the pup off to him.

Kris nodded and stretched again briefly before she glanced at Hisoka. Now to find something for breakfast for them...

"Stay here and watch him," she said, just shy of an order, before she slipped outside again.

Aura glanced at Sesshoumaru.

"You seem a little surprised," she said softly, still rubbing the pup's ears so he would keep sleeping against her. It was kind of amusing, it seemed like she had surprised him for once, rather than the other way around.

Hisoka nodded his assent and settled in to keep an eye on Shippou while Kris was out hunting.

"I was unaware you would know that trick," Sesshomaru said, raising one eyebrow at her. Although it did make a certain sort of sense, since she did live with the fox hanyou.

Kris got back not that long later with another three rabbits and some peppers. She sat down outside to skin and cut the rabbits. She hummed to herself as she did.

"Kris is stubborn about things like sleep," Aura admitted. "I kind of figured it out by accident once, and made sure to remember it afterwards." Of course, Kris had been highly annoyed that Aura had figured it out... at least for a little while.

Hisoka settled himself in the doorway so he could keep an eye on both Kris and Shippou. He didn't interrupt Kris, though. She seemed like she was in a bit of a better mood at the moment, so he would let her enjoy it as long as he could.

Sesshomaru snorted quietly. "She does seem the type," he agreed mildly. Kris was still not his favorite person, but she certainly wasn't his least favorite, either. Besides, he did still have to ask her permission to court Aura.

Kris set the meat to cook before she went to go wake Shippou. The kit yawned and blinked at her a few times before he sat up straighter, smelling the meat.

"Better eat up, kid," Kris said with a brief grin. "We're going fishing today, remember?"

Shippou grinned broadly at that and went to go watch the meat cook. In case that made it cook faster.

Aura shrugged a little, although she made sure not to wake Inuyasha. He seemed comfortable against her shoulder, and she didn't want to disturb him.

"Kris is stubborn about a lot of things," she said.

Hisoka smiled faintly at the kit's excitement and stayed back to let the two foxes 'work.'

Sesshomaru was downstairs with Inuyasha. It was the end of the weekend, and Aura was supposed to be going home soon. Inuyasha was still a little hyper, so Sesshomaru was having fun with him by letting him run around and find places to hide while Aura packed.

Mostly he was keeping the pup out of her hair.

Kris shifted Shippou's weight on her back. The kit was asleep on her back, since they'd had another long day, and she didn't mind carrying him. They'd be back home in another hour or so.

Aura was in one of the guest bedrooms, cramming her things back into her bag. Not that she brought much to begin with, but somehow things never fit into the bag the same way twice, so she was trying to make sure her bag would at least close once she got everything into it.

Hisoka kept pace with Kris. He'd offered to carry the kit for a while, but she'd refused, and he hadn't pushed the issue. They weren't too far from her home, so there was no reason to insist that she take a rest until they got back.

Inu Taisho heard someone in the guest room, so he slipped up past Sesshomaru, motioning for his sons to stay downstairs, before he went up to the guest room. This must be the female that occupied his elder son's mind so much of the time. He just stood there, watching her.

Kris glanced over at him and kept running at the easy pace, unsure what else to say. He was the first adult full youkai she'd been able to get close to.

Aura didn't turn around, although she felt the tingle of youki on her back. She'd gotten used to the constant exposure to higher levels of youki, lately, so it didn't bother her like it used to.

"Did I already forget something?" she asked as she worked on stuffing another shirt into her bag. "Or are you going to try to organize my bag for me now?"

Hisoka didn't mind the silence, actually. It was something he was used to, from keeping Sesshoumaru company for such a long time.

"Did you enjoy the weekend away from home?" he asked her after a few moments, regardless.

Inu Taisho raised an eyebrow at her before he snorted.

"I was unaware I was in the habit of organizing anything for anyone," he said, his voice cool and rather amused.

"I did. It was relaxing. And educational." Kris glanced over at him. "Did you?"

She wanted to make sure he had. Which was unusual for her.

Aura jumped and squeaked, whirling around. She had not been expecting that.

"I'm so sorry," she managed to say. "I thought it was Sesshoumaru behind me."

Hisoka nodded.

"It was both relaxing and educational," he agreed with a small smile. "I enjoyed sharing the weekend with you and your kit."

Inu Taisho chuckled quietly, looking her over.

"I could tell," he said his voice a little dry. He looked her over again. "Hmm. I see why my son is interested in you."

Kris grinned briefly, irrationally pleased.

"Good. I'm glad you enjoyed yourself."

Aura couldn't completely fight back a blush.

"Um...?" She had no idea what to say to that. Such a thing hadn't quite occurred to her until it was mentioned.

Hisoka smiled back at her, glad that she was pleased. With any luck, he'd also proven to her over the course of the weekend that he could both protect her, and let her take the lead when he needed to.

Inu Taisho chuckled quietly. "And if I know my son, he has been posturing and showing off all weekend." The thought clearly amused him. Greatly.

Kris ran the rest of the way back, pausing only to unlock the door and put Shippou to bed. Then she slouched back down the stairs and flopped on the couch, kicking her shoes off and letting them land wherever.

Aura blinked. THAT was something she hadn't necessarily been aware of. Oh she was going to need to talk to Kris about this, and soon.

Hisoka raised an eyebrow when she kicked off her shoes, but didn't comment on it. Yet. But he would. For the moment, though, he moved behind her and started to rub her shoulders a little. She could pull away if she wanted to, but he wanted to help her relax from the run.