The servant gave a quick bow.

"Apologies for the disturbance," he said. "The Lady requests your presence, my lord."

Sesshomaru scowled a bit. Right again. Damn.

"Two minutes," he said. "I'll see myself there." He shut the door again. The servants were all used to him by now, fortunately.

"Of course," the servant said, bowing again.

"What's going on?" Aura asked softly. She kept her voice low; Katsuro had fallen asleep on her, and she didn't want to wake him.

"My mother is requesting me," Sesshomaru said with a little huff. "I shouldn't be long. You stay here and rest, get comfortable." He gave her a quick kiss.

Aura smiled and returned the kiss.

"Go on, then," she said. "We'll be fine here."

Sesshomaru grumbled a little but nodded and left. He didn't want to, but he knew he didn't really have a choice. So he went to go see his mother.

The Western Lady was waiting for him in her room. She knew he was likely to take his time in arriving; he'd been like that ever since adolescence and she doubted that had changed.

Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow when he was let into her rooms. "I wasn't expecting to be summoned so soon after we arrived," he said, giving her a bit of a look.

The Lady raised an eyebrow in return.

"Is that any way to speak to your mother after not visiting for so long?" she asked.

"I would think that by now you know that I don't stand on ceremony," Sesshomaru said dryly. "Besides, this was your idea."

"Well, since you didn't bring your mate to me to introduce her, what else was I supposed to do?" his mother asked. She looked at him. "And really, son. A human woman? I know I raised you better than that."

"Perhaps, but the women you were throwing at me were worse. Much worse." Sesshomaru sneered a little.

"They were appropriate," Hotaru replied, raising an eyebrow at him. "Worthy of your position."

"And completely intolerable," Sesshomaru said with a derisive snort. "I couldn't have taken any of them as a mate, I would have killed her within a year."

"And a human is more tolerable?" Hotaru asked. She 'humph'ed slightly. "Just like your father."

"Perhaps," Sesshomaru allowed. "But I am content." He tilted his head a bit, trying to figure out if she was going to cause actual trouble over this.

"So I've heard." Hotaru studied him for a moment, and then waved a hand. "So be it. Send her to me. I'd like to meet her for myself."

"Now?" Sesshomaru asked with a bit of a frown. He had been hoping to put this off until tomorrow, at least.

"Is that a problem?" his mother asked, raising an eyebrow.

"We did just arrive," Sesshomaru pointed out. "She's resting from the trip."

Hotaru sighed slightly.

"Fine," she said. "In the morning, then, so you can be sure she's rested."

"Of course." Sesshomaru smirked faintly. "I'll bring her by after breakfast." He was a little surprised (and pleased) that he'd actually won this round.

Hotaru just waved her hand again, dismissing him. Never let it be said she was cruel enough to put undue strain on a woman with child, and heaven forbid she keep her son from his expectant mate longer than necessary.

Sesshomaru didn't stick around after that. He just slipped out and headed back to his rooms to check on Aura and Katsuro.

Aura was curled up on the bed, asleep. Katsuro was settled in with her, although one of his ears flicked in the direction of the door when his father came in.