Sesshomaru smirked faintly and started back towards his house. Hisoka could catch up easily enough.

A week later, Kris was stretched out on her bed, unwilling to get up. There were times she hated being half-human, and this was one of them. Not only was it the full moon tonight, but she was dealing with a distinctly human, distinctly female problem. And she hated it.

And, because females living together tended to synchronize, Aura was facing the same distinctly female problem. And this month, the Midol wasn't helping. She consoled herself with the fact that at least she had gotten out of bed; she'd wanted something chocolate and had gone in search of it in the kitchen.

Sesshomaru showed up at the appointed time that he and Aura had agreed on, knocking quietly and keeping Inuyasha firmly in his arms. The pup wanted to go explore more recently, and Sesshomaru was having none of that right at this moment.

Shippou blinked before he went to go pull the door open, looking up at Sesshomaru before moving aside.

"Where are the others?" he asked quietly, stepping into the house.

"Kris is upstairs and Aura's in the kitchen." Shippou kept his voice low. "They're not in very good moods..."

Aura heard the knock on the door, but Shippou had gotten it before she could get out of the kitchen. For a moment, she wondered why anyone was at the door, and realized that she was supposed to go with Sesshoumaru that day. She poked her head out of the kitchen.

"I'm so sorry, I forgot that was today," she said. She glanced at the time. Yeah, she'd lost track. "Give me fifteen minutes, I'll be ready."

Sesshomaru got one whiff of her and had to pause to recollect himself. "Take as much time as you need," he said, watching her go. Oh this was going to be an interesting week. Briefly he wondered if he should warn Hisoka beforehand.

Aura nodded and went upstairs to get properly dressed and ready to leave. There was absolutely nothing she could do about the next four days except make sure she brought more than enough supplies with her.

And pack extra pants, just in case.

She did feel a bit better once she was properly dressed, though, enough so that she was humming slightly as she went back downstairs. She had been looking forward to the week, and she wouldn't let nature's inappropriate sense of timing ruin it.

"Kris is still in bed," she said when she saw Shippou. "I think there's some tea already blended in the pantry, it'll make her feel a bit better."

Shippou nodded and scurried over to the kitchen to go make tea for her.

Sesshomaru watched for a moment before he looked at her. "Would you prefer to walk, or shall I run?" he asked quietly. He had little experience with human issues, so he wasn't sure exactly what to do.

"Whatever you're more comfortable with," Aura replied, putting her bag over her shoulder. She knew he'd already figured out what was going on, and she wouldn't subject him to more than she absolutely had to.

Sesshomaru nodded and led the way outside before he handed Inuyasha to her, giving her a moment before he picked her up. He wanted to be back home soon, and this was the fastest way.

Meaning it only took them a few minutes to get back to the house.

Aura settled comfortably in his arms, although the trip was almost disappointingly short. She didn't blame him, though, and so didn't comment on it. Once she was back on her feet again, she let him take his brother back.

Sesshomaru led the way inside, letting her decide where she wanted to put her things. He set Inuyasha down, and the kid took off.

But he didn't let Aura go running after him, either. He kept an eye on his little brother as Inuyasha pelted up the stairs to go fetch some toys.

Aura would have gone chasing the pup, too. Briefly, she wondered if Sesshoumaru realized that she couldn't just skip work for a week every month, and that she HAD gone chasing after kids like that.

"I'm still perfectly capable of playing, you know," she said.

"I realize. But I wanted to speak to you." Sesshomaru looked at her, his eyes a little brighter than normal. "I wondered if you wished to see the grounds while you are here."

Because that would most definitely be showing off.

Aura barely had to think about that. Not only was it an excuse to spend time with him, but she hadn't seen much more than the most commonly-trafficked areas of the mansion the last time she was there.

"I'd love to," she said, smiling.

Sesshomaru nodded and watched as Inuyasha scrambled down the stairs and skittered towards the living room. With a huff, Sesshomaru motioned for her to follow the pup.

Aura just laughed lightly and went to see what the pup was up to. Time to get to 'work,' it seemed. Inuyasha seemed more hyperactive than usual, and Aura raised an eyebrow slightly at Sesshoumaru questioningly.

Sesshomaru shrugged. "Perhaps he is simply excited to have you here?" he murmured. Aura's scent had almost left the house. He wasn't sure he liked not being able to smell her in the house anymore. He'd grown accustomed to having her around in some form or another.

"He sees me at the daycare almost every day," Aura responded softly, even as she sat down on the floor to play with the pup. She ignored the ache in her back that came with her cramps and such every month.

"Hnn. Here it is different." Sesshomaru slanted a look at her. But he didn't offer any further explanation, instead sitting a little off to the side to watch them.

"Even still," Aura said. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and added in a murmur, "there's someone else I want to miss me more."

Sesshomaru smiled faintly but didn't actually say anything more. That wasn't something that needed discussing in front of the pup.

Aura was also saved from that conversation when she was pounced on by Inuyasha. Playtime now, apparently. She grinned and played along, grabbing and cuddling him before letting go so he could pounce again.

Sesshomaru watched them for a while before he got up, starting to heat up food for dinner for them both. He knew the pup would play nicely while he was gone. He wasn't worried about either of them, not while they were in the house.

It didn't take long for the pup to tire himself out for the moment, and Aura gathered him up into her arms so he could snuggle in for a little while. She gently rubbed his ears as he settled down.

Inuyasha yawned, showing little baby fangs, before he nestled closer to her. He started purring, almost, his eyes closing in bliss.

Sesshomaru checked in on them briefly before moving outside to the back yard, starting to light the lanterns out there.