Sesshomaru & Inuyasha: Brothers in Arms
Sesshomaru & Inuyasha: Kyōdai de Busō
BIA: The Finale Battle

A/N: Thank you all for joining me again in my fanfic attempting to display the life of the youkai lord and the hanyou after the end of the Inuyasha anime. In case you did not know, I am a huge Sesshomaru fan and even though this fanfic is based on the Inuyasha anime series, it is more of a Sesshomaru oriented fanfic and he will receive more accolades. Inuyasha will be used more sparingly. This fanfic is more about Sesshomaru's life and his attempts to include his brother in it since he did not do it when he was a child. I do intend however, to include more Inuyasha and Rin in this continuing sequel than I did toward the end of the original Brothers in Arms.

Just a short recap. Having defeated the mistress of the southern lands, Sesshomaru is now the ruler of the western and southern lands and is living in a castle. A youkai hidenka/princess life sorceress by the name of Akatsuki from the Suzaku clan in his western lands came to him telling him Inuyasha would die if he did not offer his assistance, but nearly died herself after that battle in an attempt to restore Inuyasha's life who had died. Believing it was a responsibility that he had to fulfill even though he did not want to Sesshomaru cared for and nursed her back to health but eventually fell in love and mated with her.

But he did that without the sanction of her parents because she asked him to. She did not want him to have to battle and kill the youkai she had planned to mate with, (Prince Akimaru - a longtime friend) when she thought Sesshomaru would never be able to love her. Because of the curse on her clan she could not in good conscience give her heart to a youkai who could not love or she would perhaps lose her mind and turn into a youkai soul sucking succuvex and/or possibly die a slow and painful death; so she left Sesshomaru and was going to pledge herself to another, until Sesshomaru came to her and told her that he did love her.

Now, the aftermath.

章1- 落ち着く
Shō 1- Ochitsuku
Chapter 1-Settling In

After three consecutive water soaked days that left them trapped inside the castle walls, with the sun finally beaming its warm yellow brilliance across the overhead morning sky, everyone scurried outside to go about their normal routine.

Lady Akatsuki was not a housemate or more specifically, a castlemate; had never been one; and despite accepting her love's request as a right of their union to put aside her life sorceress responsibilities, it was never her intent to sit at home tending the castle. Sesshomaru had secured a team of youkai to attend such issues. She had no doubt they would be able to take care of business without her constant observation. She, though, had been helpful all her life; she knew nothing else. She reasoned it would be much like asking Sesshomaru to put aside his warrior instincts - that of course would essentially be impossible and thus, would never happen, and she fully understood the complications her first generation mother had undergone.

Akatsuki was confident that Sesshomaru would have no problems implementing any of the military or strategic requirements of the castle. But as a life sorceress, she believed her role was to address the more deep-seated, intrinsic issues affecting all the castle residents - their hearts. With a month having passed since their mating ceremony, she knew there was one primary goal she had set for herself when she had initially went to the aid of her lord and love; but her injuries had prevented her from accomplishing it. Now, that they were all beginning to settle in to castle living, Akatsuki would allow nothing to stop her from achieving it.

Akatsuki knew not, what had caused such friction between them, but she would try to do what she could to eliminate it. So upon locking her goal in mind, the youkai lady left her love in the partially constructed dojo, as he monitored the assembly efforts and set out to speak to young Inuyasha. Yes, she could speak to Sesshomaru, but she knew him well enough to know he was too stubborn to speak of that which he did not wish to discuss. But Inuyasha harbored more human characteristics. Perhaps he would be the best place to start.

"Okay, get in you fighting stance," Inuyasha instructed his young trainee, as he removed his outer haori and placed it beside his sword at the foot of a nearby tree. Jaken sat beside it looking on. Having begun their training amidst the early morning chatter of birds, they had been training for several hours already, but he wanted to make sure he gave Rin a few defensive tips before calling it a day.

Immediately lunging into her fighting stance, Rin positioned her legs shoulder-width, her non-dominant leg a little in front of her more dominant one, bending her knees slightly as she moved her hands upward to protect her face. Finally, she tucked in her chin, while wondering why she had to do that. Inuyasha had never thrown a punch at her and she knew he never would.

"I want you to push all your strength upward," Inuyasha said, pulling his arms up the length of his body to demonstrate what he was talking about. "From the tip of your toes to the top of your head. When you're ready, I want you come at me and give me a mighty kick, okay."

"A mighty kick?" Rin questioned puzzled, her eyes pulsing in confusion as she gave him a disbelieving look. He had never asked her to do that before. "Won't I hurt you Inuyasha?"

"No, you won't hurt me. You're kind of little, and I'm going to block you, anyway," Inuyasha informed her with a slight grin. "You have to be ready for anything. So today, I'm going to show you how to block your opponent, so pay close attention, okay?"

"I will, Inuyasha," Rin agreed with a hearty nod. She was delighted to know her training had progressed to a level where she was actually going to get a chance to do some real fighting.

"All right whenever you're ready, come after me," Inuyasha instructed as he caught site of Akatsuki approaching from the corner of his eye. Had he gone beyond his allotted training time again? Was she coming to give Rin swimming lessons now, he wondered as he turned his head to ask Akatsuki if she was ready to take over.

Unfortunately, following his usual path of not thinking things through, the young hanyou turned his head without first forewarning his young charge that he was not ready and thus, did not see the foot approaching his mid-section.

It was just a matter of seconds, but it felt like an eternity had elapsed between the impact and the time the young hanyou had actually acknowledged the pain. For some inexplicable reason, his hands instinctively clutched at his stomach instead of the spot where the pain truly emanated. That action was likely a reflection of the embarrassment that instantly encompassed him. Nevertheless, that did nothing to prevent him from doubling over and crumbling to his knees, his already contorted and pained face planting itself deep in the dirt before he finally managed to let out a wounded yelp.

"Inuyasha," Rin screamed rushing forward and falling to her knees in a panic as Akatsuki, who had witnessed the entire event, rushed forward. "I'm sorry," she continued helplessly. She had never seen anyone crumble like that and she was certain Inuyasha had died until he had screamed out. "You said you were going to block me. Why didn't you block me?" Rin pleaded in distress.

Agonized and rolling to his side, Inuyasha gasped for breath for a couple of minutes, as his eyes rolled in his head. It felt like a paralyzing bolt of electricity had knocked him to his knees.

"Inuyasha, are you all right?" Akatsuki asked as she rushed forward and knelt beside him. "Can I help you?" she wanted to know. She knew nothing of the pain he felt, but she was certain she could assist him with her healing ability.

The hanyou's eyes instantly widened in a stunned, panicked shock. "No," he blurted out between short gasps of air. "I'm... I'm fine," He choked.

"Clearly, you are not. How can you possibly say you are fine, doubled over like that?" Akatsuki demanded in disbelief as she stared at the young hanyou still gasping for air. "I am a healing life sorceress. I can help if you just allow it," she said, trying to roll him over.

"I said... no," Inuyasha insisted. Though still struggling to breathe properly, he refused to allow her to budge him. What was she crazy? Why would she think she could help him with this?

"You are being childish," Akatsuki concluded as she continued to study him. Is this the typical behavior of a hanyou? No youkai would behave in such a manner, placing more emphasis on their dignity, than their relief, would they? "You do know, I can make you if I wish; so why do you not just allow me to ease the pain," Akatsuki persisted.

"Don't you dare," Inuyasha demanded, managing to eke out a slightly more coherent sentence.

"Please, let her help, Inuyasha," Rin interjected with wide-eyed concern, her anguished heart pained as she witnessed what she had done. "I'm so sorry."

"He's just a foolish hanyou," Jaken said, deciding to give his opinion, though it wasn't asked for. "Why Lord Sesshomaru is letting him train you anyway, is beyond me," he declared, deciding now was the time to voice his displeasure over the entire episode. He had no idea why the foolish girl needed to be trained and even less of one as to why that hanyou had been selected to do the task. "He has no idea what he's doing. Just let him lay there, if he wants to die." he added without sympathy.

"Master Jaken," Rin cried snapping her head around to stare at him, barely able to believe her ears. "How could you say that?"

"You'd best shut your trap, you little toad," Inuyasha puffed out, while managing to bear just enough fang to present a foreboding glare. "Or I'll rip your head off," he said, managing to string together two complete sentences now.

"You see," Jaken quickly threw out undaunted, as he glared down at the hanyou. "He's just fine. Anyone who can threaten another must be, so there's no need to worry about him," he said folding his staff of two heads into his arms as he wrapped them across his chest. If that stupid hanyou didn't want their lady's assistance, what did he care?

"You can't heal me," Inuyasha informed Akatsuki, as he decided to ignore the side conversation taking place around him, he didn't have the strength to do anything right now anyway. "Besides, it wouldn't last long anyway," he managed to puff out once more. "Because if Sesshomaru saw us, he'd kill me for sure."

Akatsuki was stunned as she stared down at him. Is this truly what she had on her hands? Such suspicion and distrust? "Surely you do not truly believe that. Sesshomaru would want nothing but for his younger brother to be healed."

Inuyasha laughed then choked uncontrollably at this revelation, fighting to control himself as every hack of his body caused his damaged area to throb incessantly, as his nose joined suit and began to run. Now he could barely breathe as his lungs seemed to twist into a knot inside of him.

"You don't know my brother as well as I do," Inuyasha stated flatly after a few minutes, once he'd stopped choking, while all the years of agony he had endured at that youkai's hands flashed through his head. "I've known that youkai too long to not know better."

Akatsuki considered his words. She knew she had years of hatred between them to try to overcome, but despite all their time together, Inuyasha still did not seem to realize that Sesshomaru was not the youkai he used to be. He did not seem to realize that Sesshomaru no longer hated him, if he ever did. But had she been mistaken? Had Sesshomaru only changed to her? No, he could never show her the love he did if he did not already care for others. "I am not asking you to disrobe, or allow me to touch you, Inuyasha," Akatsuki declared, believing that the stubbornness these two brothers shared was one of the primary reasons for their problems. "I am simply saying I can eliminate the pain as well as the bruising and swelling that are sure to come.

"And what I'm saying," Inuyasha coughed out. "Is the pain I feel now, is secondary to what Sesshomaru will dole out."

"No, just listen to yourself," Akatsuki folded her arms across her chest as she began to correct him. "What you're saying is you'd rather endure the pain than suffer a few minutes of minor embarrassment. But that's ridiculous; there is no need to when I can assist you."

Inuyasha breathed heavily now, showing his frustration. "It's my decision," he declared with continued stubbornness, barely able to choke out more than a couple of words at a time. The choking hacks he'd just emitted left him feeling like he'd been squeezed in some kind of iron grip. "So leave me alone, I'll be fine," he puffed out despite not believing a word he spoke.

"Well what if I stand a distance away, and simply project my youkai, will you turn around and provide me access to the injured area?" Akatsuki tried to come up with a strategy that he might consider less humiliating.

Inuyasha considered that. He was no wimp, but this pain was freaking unbearable. But really, was he supposed to sit here with his legs wide open as she projected her youkai down there?

"Can't you put up a barrier or something? You know, to like hide us?"

Slightly exasperated now, Akatsuki rolled her eyes. Was it his stubbornness that Sesshomaru found so exasperating? The only thing she wanted to do was help him, but he could not trust her enough to allow her to do that? "And do you not believe that would be worse if Sesshomaru were to come out and see me take it down? What would be my explanation for why I concealed us?"

"Well then, just let me lay here for a few minutes, I'll be fine, I promise," Inuyasha insisted, but wondering if his pain would ever subside, or whether he would walk with a limp for the rest of his life.

"You are just like your brother, so stubborn," Akatsuki declared as she rose to her feet, "And selfish. Do you propose to allow Rin to watch you hobble around for the rest of the day?" she demanded, looking down at the poor child who seriously looked as if she had actually killed him. "But do as you wish," Akatsuki finally conceded, though having no real intent of allowing the matter to drop so easily. He would soon find out that she too, could be stubborn, or at least persistent.

"Haah, I'm surprised to hear you admit he's stubborn," Inuyasha eked out, managing a minor chuckle.

"Sesshomaru is my mate," Akatsuki began, as she brushed the grass stains from her knees. "I know his character well."

"But ... but my lady..., Inuyasha..." Rin whimpered between sobs, as her head flipped from one to the other when she saw her lady rise, leaving Inuyasha so close to what clearly looked like near death in her eyes.

"Do not cry Rin, he will be fine soon," Akatsuki smiled at her as she leaned forward to rub Rin's head. "And I love him," she said directing her words toward Inuyasha, now. "But loving him does not change what he is, nor would I wish to. Nor, do I believe it will change what you are."

Ground and soil,
Obey my will,
Constrain this hanyou,
Make him still.

Akatsuki muttered as she flared her youki slightly and quickly moved her hands as they were mimicked by the ground beneath the young hanyou, when it reached up and grabbed his legs and arms, locking him securely in a spread-eagled position, while she proceeded to release her healing youki, directed toward his damaged area.

"Stop it," Inuyasha screamed. "Stop it. I thought you were an honorable youkai," but immediately, the warm soothing sensation of her healing power restored life and vitality to his damaged area, and the hanyou grew silent as he basked in his relief.

"I am honorable," Akatsuki declared, as she gave Rin a little wink. "That is why I could not allow you to remain injured. Besides, I am now questioning your honor for allowing Rin to cry so."

Finally, sensing no further discomfort, Akatsuki freed him from his restraints. "Now, was that so bad? Do you not feel better?"

Grumbling as he shifted his weight to his buttocks to sit up, Inuyasha acknowledged nothing. If he did speak, he would readily admit that he felt 200% better, but he would not admit anything, he was still too embarrassed, probably even more so now. Instead, he shot a piercing glare toward Jaken. "What did you say toad?" He barked in a threatening tone, as he cracked his knuckles.

"Uggh, nothing," Jaken hastily declared. "I didn't say anything," he screeched as he quickly scurried behind his lady's legs.

"Yes you did Master Jaken," Rin declared innocently. "We all heard you."

Without responding, Jaken made every attempt to hide himself more securely behind his lady's kimono as he glared at Rin.

"Inuyasha, do you feel better now," Rin questioned as she studied him. "I'm sorry."

"Yeah," Inuyasha responded, not looking at her angered that he had caused her such distress, or more accurately because she'd caused him such humiliation. "I'm fine."

"Rin, would you mind picking some flowers for Lord Sesshomaru?" Akatsuki asked as she remembered her intended objective for coming out when she did. "I will join you shortly for our swimming lesson, but for now, I would like to talk to Inuyasha."

"Oh, yes, Lady Akatsuki. Rin hasn't picked flowers for him in quite some time," she said with realization. "He will get mad if he thinks Rin forgot," she said turning away, then quickly turned back. "Do you want Rin to pick some for you too, my lady?" she asked.

"That would be very sweet, if you would like," Akatsuki said as she turned toward the little imp. "Jaken will accompany you, but do not move out of our sight."

Though it was extremely difficult for him to do, Jaken refrained from giving his words of warnings to his lady that she should reprimand that hanyou for his stubbornness. But clearly, seeing the hanyou well and quite capable of kicking him half-way across the castle grounds provided the necessary incentive to keep quiet.

"I won't, my lady," Rin said as she proceeded to dance away toward the field of flowers.

"So what do you want to talk about," Inuyasha grumbled, still not quite pleased with the turn of events.

Despite the still damp grounds, Akatsuki took a seat in front of a large oak tree not far from where they were. "First, may I ask, what are you teaching her to kill anyway?" she asked, looking at him with puzzled eyes. "I thought she was supposed to be in training to kill youkai. Do you really expect her to walk up to a youkai and kick him?"

"Nawh, it wasn't like that," Inuyasha responded still filled with humiliation from that event. "I was just planning to teach her some defensive techniques so she could protect herself, but I got caught off guard. Besides, now that Sesshomaru is settling into this castle, I doubt she'd have much opportunity to fight anything anyway."

"Oh, I wondered about that myself."

"So what did you want to talk about?"

"Do you like me, Inuyasha?" Akatsuki asked, but realized how unfair her question was. He likely did not know her well enough to have any feelings for her. "Do you trust me?"

"What? You're not asking that because of what happened are you?"

"No, I am not. I just want to know if you trust me enough to tell me your thoughts."

"My thoughts? What do you mean?"

"Inuyasha you know that I am a life sorceress, do you not?"

"Well, yeah," Inuyasha responded slightly embarrassed as he remembered the conversation he had with his brother. "Sesshomaru mentioned that several times, although I don't really know what that means."

Akatsuki smiled. "That means that I can become one soul with another youkai and when I do that, I can sense their emotions and clearly see the issues impacting their lives." She grew solemn, as she reflected on how cruel that was, when she considered the disadvantage of being unable to see issues in her own life, when she considered these two brothers would surely add more. But humans did that all the time she reasoned. She would just have to cope. "Do you know that there was a time when our souls were once connected?" She asked as she turned to study the young hanyou beside her.

"Yeah, Sesshomaru mentioned that too, but I don't..." Inuyasha looked away. He had no idea where this conversation was headed. Akatsuki had always been nice when she'd seen him, but she'd never sat and talked with him alone before. Was she about to give him some bad news about something?

"I know, you do not know what that means, either," Akatsuki smiled slightly. Since he was the only person she had ever connected to without his consent, she had no desire to frighten him about her abilities. "In truth it does not matter. It only matters that through that connection, I was able to restore your life."

"I know, and I'm grateful for that."

"I am not seeking your thanks," Akatsuki quickly informed him. In truth; she had done that simply because she believed it was her responsibility to do so, and she had no desire to fail her lord. "I simply want you to know that through that connection I had also sensed some of your thoughts after you came here to be with Princess Edera," she said, reflecting on how ironic it was, that that event had been the catalyst to change her life. "Unfortunately, I am susceptible to dark magic, so I was unable to sense as much of your thoughts as I would normally be able to."

"So what are you saying? That you can sense my thoughts now?"

"No, as far as you should be concerned, I am just another youkai now. But I am also your brother's mate who is a life sorceress. But I am a life sorceress that no longer goes out into the world to try to resolve the problems of other youkai, because I will hold to my mate's desires. So, I must do that here."

"I don't think I know what that means."

No, she did not imagine that he did, but did it truly matter if he understood the responsibilities of a life sorceress? No, that was not why she had begun this conversation. "I would like to know how you and your brother are doing."

"How we're doing? What do you mean?"

Akatsuki turned a pair of serene blue eyes toward him and studied the pulsating puzzled golden orbs that stared back at her; eyes that must have looked like Sesshomaru's looked so many years ago. "Do you still hate him?" she wanted to know.

"What makes you think I hated him?" Inuyasha asked defensively as he stared at her, wondering why he had not expected that. She is Sesshomaru's mate. Of course, she would not like his having a brother around that hated him.

"I told you, we were one soul for a time," Akatsuki paused, allowing her words to sink in but surprised by the spike in her own heart. She had not expected that, but why hadn't she? She was not as familiar with Inuyasha as she was with her love, and then, she had shared his soul for nearly 50 years; dormant or not, perhaps she still retained a residual tie-in. "For most of it, your soul remained dormant within me, but during the time that it was not, I did get a good sense of the hatred between the two of you," she said, wondering if she should tell him they may well still have some minor connection, but she decided against that as she hoped she could do this without reminding him of a time that was clearly difficult for him to remember, as was obvious in the uncomfortable shifting of his body and the turning of his head. But she hoped by the time this conversation ended, he would understand that she cared for him as did Sesshomaru. "Sesshomaru is my mate, but I am not taking sides. I am aware that you and he had a difficult time as you were growing up and I just want to know what you think about him now."

Inuyasha grew solemn as he lowered his head. In some ways, any hatred he'd felt for that youkai was so long ago. Now, things were changing; had changed. Sesshomaru had trusted his abilities enough to make him his general; they spent every night talking and he was also starting to receive training from him to enhance his fighting techniques. "Is this because I gave you a hard time about healing me?"

"No," Akatsuki smiled slightly as she leaned her head against the tree and looked up at the bright blue sky, mentally shutting down her sensors. She would not intrude upon his privacy at the moment, she had already done that long enough. "This is because Sesshomaru is my mate, and you are now my brother and as I mentioned, I am a life sorceress. That means one of the things I do is help youkai find their path."

"Well, I'm not a youkai. I'm a hanyou," Inuyasha informed her stiffly. He couldn't exactly say he enjoyed this line of conversation. "Shouldn't you be out helping Sesshomaru?"

"Actually, I think I am."

"How? By talking to me?"

"Yes," Akatsuki studied him. In those short moments, she had felt such pain in his heart, and that is what she hoped she could heal now. She hoped she could heal both of their hearts. "Inuyasha; I want to help if I can."

"So, if I don't talk what are you going to do," he asked casting a pair of suspicious golden orbs toward her. "Cast some kind of spell on me to make me spill my guts?"

"Actually, if you do not talk, I will simply give Rin her swimming lesson as usual, but I hope you do."

Inuyasha studied her confusedly. He didn't really want to give her a hard time and he didn't even know why he was. Should he just tell her to come back some other time, once he'd thought this through? Or maybe he should just tell her what she wanted now. He did feel closer to her than he did to all the other youkai in this castle, maybe even closer than he did to Sesshomaru, and they were kin, but is that because she had made that connection to his soul that she was talking about? "Well, just so you know, I don't like talking about that kind of stuff."

"I see," Akatsuki said, knowing if he did not, it was because he did not trust her enough to do so. "Believe me, I will say nothing to Sesshomaru about anything personal you tell me," she informed him with a subtle smile. "I just want to know. I will reside in this castle as you know, and I would simply like to try yo ease the tension that brought us here."

Inuyasha grew silent for a moment as he thought back on what had brought them here. "I don't think I ever hated him really," he said finally, lowering his head slightly. "I guess I just hated how he treated me."

"But you do know he's trying now, do you not?"

"Yeah, I think so," Inuyasha said as he reflected on how different Sesshomaru seemed to be treating him lately, but in some ways he had to admit, he also seemed to treat him as if he was just another hired hand that he was simply being nice to. He couldn't help but think what was it he truly wanted from that youkai. If they simply continued like this, wouldn't that make things better over time? But how long would that take? Sesshomaru was his brother and if nothing else, he wished he could act like he really was. "But sometimes the past is hard to forget."

"I see," Akatsuki said softly as she turned toward him. "Is that because you are not happy being here with him?"

"No," Inuyasha tried to think about why he couldn't just forget? Sesshomaru was now trying to do all the things he had always hoped he would. "Actually, I don't know why it is. It's just hard."

"Is it because Sesshomaru has never told you he cared about you?"

"No, he's my brother. I don't need..."

"Inuyasha," Akatsuki interrupted. "I was connected to your soul, remember."

Inuyasha studied her. "I don't know," he said finally. "Maybe."

"You do know that expressing his emotions is not an easy thing for Sesshomaru, do you not? He is a youkai - a warrior, in fact. Such things are not part of his usual arsenal. He is more of a youkai of action than of words."

Akatsuki studied the displeased look on his face. She could see the years of pain he had likely endured. She could not help but wonder if he resented her for coming into their lives and winning a part of Sesshomaru's heart. "You are a hanyou," she continued. "You have led a different life than his. You can express yourself more freely than he can. He has never had friends that he has relied on and trusted as you have. I am certain he would say it was because he never wanted any, but I am seriously beginning to doubt that," she rambled as her thoughts began to drift. "Have you ever thought about what you have learned from your friends and what your life would be like if you had never met them?" She asked, refocusing her thoughts. "Do you have any idea how difficult it was for him to tell me that he loved me? And I am the female he loves," Akatsuki grew silent as she considered the preceding events; as she considered how close she had come to losing Sesshomaru, to losing them all.

"You may be unaware of this, but when I left here before, I was certain he hated me; despite all the time he spent caring for me. Any other female youkai might have been different, but before I could become his mate I had to know that he loved me. In essence, I believe he had to force himself to say words he had likely never said to another," she grew silent as she considered how much she had cared for Sesshomaru and how she had committed herself to the Ōji, because she did not believe he would ever love her. "Sometimes, I think back on those events, and I believe I judged him incorrectly, and I truly regret that. You see, I judged him on his past acts, things I had heard of him and his nature. Not once had I seen him for what he was doing for me then, taking care of me."

"Why are you telling me this?" Inuyasha asked with mixed emotions half suspiciously and half uncomfortably. She was Sesshomaru's mate, should he be more trusting of her than he was of him. The last youkai he had trusted had wanted nothing more than to kill him and take his soul so she could get his sword; but then, just about every youkai he had ever known had also tried to kill him. But Akatsuki was different wasn't she? She had finally gotten his youkai lord brother to say he loved her; that was something, wasn't it? But even if she hadn't done that, she had saved his life, hadn't she?

Akatsuki smiled. She knew he had no reason to trust her, any more than any other youkai he had ever known, but she hoped she could change that over time. "Because, like you, I too clung to the past, I believe I misjudged him. Everything I knew of Sesshomaru was based on his past. Some of it, of course, was based on what I initially sensed in his heart, but even that was based on the past. I saw him every day while I was here, but I still allowed myself to judge him based on his past. The past is an important reference point, Inuyasha; and some events that happened then, we should never forget; but we should not allow it to rule our todays or tomorrows. We will only lose sight of something important if we do."

"What do you mean?"

"If Sesshomaru does not tell you that he cares for you, it does not mean that he does not," Akatsuki said, wishing she, herself, had realized that before she had left the castle that time. "It simply means that he has not yet found the freedom to express himself in that manner. Please be patient with him, because he does care about you, you know. He would not want you here, if he did not. Just think of all the things he has done in the past few months and try to view them with an open mind."

"I am a Life Sorceress. I have touched the souls and hearts of many through the years. One thing I know for certain is that no one could ever change another. A person will only change because they truly want to," Akatsuki grew quiet as she considered that and hoped Inuyasha considered it as well. "Sesshomaru is changing because he wants to change, even though he would probably be the last person to admit that. You two are talking now, something you have probably never done before. I hope you can take that one step further."

The hanyou's eyes glazed slightly as he considered her words. "One step further?"

"Yes, Sesshomaru is the lord of two lands. He finally got what he fought so hard to obtain but he is also finding himself under a great deal of future stress and obligation. Of course I do not believe it is something he will be unable to handle. But in obtaining that goal, I believe he realizes that he lost sight of something important to him while on route to it. But now he is trying to find some way to get that back."

"Something important to him" Inuyasha queried. "What are you talking about?"

"You, Inuyasha. I'm talking about you," Akatsuki declared studying him; hoping he would realize the truth of her words. "Sesshomaru wants you in his life, but he cannot do it alone. You have to help him."

"Help him? What can I help him with?"

"Your heart," Akatsuki reached out and laid her clawed fingers lightly upon his chest.

"My heart, now, I really don't know what you're talking about. Isn't that your job?"

"Yes, it is, but the heart is not simply about loving, it is also about caring. He is teaching you Kenjutsu; I am hoping you can teach him how to care."

"How to care? How can he love you if he doesn't care?"

"You are taking that too literally. But if you wish to be blunt, Sesshomaru is a male, I am a female. He took care of me when I sent my handmaidens away. It was not my intent, but in doing that; I believe he found in me, something he wanted. But because I am a life sorceress he realized there was only one way he could obtain it, and that was by showing me love and so," she turned her head slightly. "He learned how to love. But what he feels for me is different from what he will feel for anyone else. I have since considered it, and in some ways, I believe I should be grateful to Rin. I believe she came into his life at a time when he was questioning himself in some ways. I believe it was her who initially opened his heart. Anyway, as I said, Sesshomaru wants to change, but he is more a youkai of actions than of words. He will never admit that is what he wants."

"Well, how the hell can I teach him how to care?"

"By teaching him how to have fun."

"Fun? Sesshomaru doesn't want to know anything about fun. He says shit like 'the world is not about having fun, Inuyasha. It is about killing every youkai you see'."

Akatsuki smiled with a broad grin. "I am certain he is not that bad, but I am equally certain that you are likely very close."

"You're damned right I am."

"That is why I need your help. I am hoping we can work together and perhaps we could teach him how to have fun."

"I don't think I even know how to have fun, myself," Inuyasha said, thoughtfully. "My friends did, and I was just kind of there when they did."

"Well perhaps you can teach him how to laugh. He needs you and he does want you with him."

Wants me with him, Inuyasha considered that as he swallowed in discomfort, his eyes pulsed with confusion. Was she right? Had she sensed that in Sesshomaru's heart? Cleary, he does want something from him. After that blatant lie he'd told him, Sesshomaru had come back and killed Princess Edera for his sake. But he would never admit that. He would only say some shit like that youkai had invaded his lands and she deserved to die. But was that all there was to it, really? Or was Akatsuki right?

"Well, I have no idea how to go about doing something like that."

Akatsuki considered that. Her clan had been independent of other youkai for so long. They had not been warriors for thousands of years; so to compensate, they had adapted alternate avenues of activities. Perhaps they could start there. "You know, in my clan the male youkai engage in sort of a martial arts competition. It is a game they call sumo. And I believe they have great fun engaging in it."

"Sumo," Inuyasha puzzled. "I think I've heard of it. That's when two male enter a dohyō and try to see who's stronger by trying to push the other person out, isn't it."

"Yes," Akatsuki smiled. "Perhaps you can organize a monthly event and get Sesshomaru to participate."

"I don't know, that youkai would probably always win."

"You do not know that for certain," Akatsuki said, studying him intently; hoping he did not give up before he had even tried. "I have found it is not always the strongest who wins."

"No, it's not," Inuyasha agreed. Hadn't Naraku really been stronger than him and all his friends with the jewel shards he had and all the power he'd accumulated? But he wasn't the one who won in the end. "I'll think about it," he said, knowing Akatsuki was probably correct; it was up to him now, to move closer to his older brother.

"Good, that is all I am asking."

Exiting the castle, Sarula could see the edges of Inuyasha's red hakama and the white of his haori perched at the edge of a nearby tree. She could also see Rin and Jaken picking flowers in the distance. If he'd finished his training session with her, perhaps she could ask him now, she thought as she headed toward her young master.

"Inuyasha," Sarula called, approaching the vibrant red hakama poking out from behind the large tree. "Oh, Lady Akatsuki, I apologize, I did not know you were here," Sarula said, bowing from the waist and lowering her gaze.

"That is quite all right Sarula, Inuyasha and I are finished," Akatsuki informed her as she rose from her seat. "I was just leaving,"

"No, please my lady. Do not leave on my account."

"I am not leaving on your account. I am simply leaving because we are finished."

"Sarula," Akatsuki began before heading toward Rin near the lake. "I have heard of the ordeal you underwent under Princess Edera's rule. I am sorry. But how is your sister. I understand that she was here as well. If there is anything you ever wish to talk about, please let me know."

"Oh, thank you my lady," Sarula said bowing her head again, but not believing she would ever burden her lady with her problems.

"Well, I hope you think about it. And of course if you wish, please bring your younger sister to stay here with you. She could be a friend to Rin, there are no other young children here for her to play with."

"Thank you my lady. Perhaps I will do that."

"Inuyasha, I will see you later tonight," Akatsuki said as she turned to make her way toward the lake.

"So what do you need?" Inuyasha wanted to know, looking up at Sarula, but not bothering to get to his feet.

Kneeling beside him, Sarula was uncertain if he would help, but she'd come to him with this objective, and she was determined to carry it out. "I've seen you training Rin."

"Yeah, so?" Inuyasha angled his head as he studied her with a puzzled gaze, wrapping his hands up behind his head. Did she come out here to mention something about Rin kicking him in the gut earlier? He certainly hoped not, because she'd be doing nothing but asking for a backhand to the face.

"I was hoping that you could perhaps train me as well."

"Train you for what?" Inuyasha balked, what was it with everyone today, just thinking they could come ask for his help. Akatsuki was one thing, she was his sister now and she was nicer to him than his brother had ever been. But to ask him to consider having fun with Sesshomaru? What the hell was up with that? You needed at least two willing participants to have fun, didn't you? But would Sesshomaru even want to participate in that sumo competition Akatsuki mentioned, or anything else, for that matter?

"Train me to fight. I don't know how. All I have is my claws and fangs."

"Well, I'm only training Rin. Sesshomaru's training everyone else. What do you need to fight for?"

"If I could fight, Princess Edera's errtu would never have been able to grab us," she said, lowering her large brown-eyed gaze to the ground.

"Well, I think you should check with Sesshomaru," Inuyasha offered, wondering why she had chosen him. Sesshomaru now had a camp full of guards who could probably train her, if he didn't do it himself. "The dojo will be finished in a couple of weeks and you can let him know you want to attend one of his classes."

"Oh no, I could never..."

"Never what?" Inuyasha demanded as he snapped his head around. "I thought you said you wanted training?"

"But I want you to train me. Lord Sesshomaru is far too busy to bother training me."

"Well Sesshomaru is training me. If you want to be trained, you need to go to the best, and he's much better than I am."

"Lord Sesshomaru is not training you," Sarula stared at him with her large brown eyes. She had observed their training sessions over the past couple of weeks and she could not really agree that Inuyasha required any training. "You already know how to fight. I saw you when the two of you battled Princess Edera..."

"You saw that fight? I thought I told you guys to get your asses out of there?"

"Ahh, umm, you did, but we... I mean I..." Sarula stumbled. "Well we just stayed for a little while, Sasuki was too scared and I ..."

"And you what," Inuyasha fumed as he bolted upright. "What are you stupid? Didn't you know that was a sure-fired way to get yourselves killed? I risk my neck to get your asses out of there and you hang around for what? To watch a freaking show?" he barked, not realizing the timber of his voice was so loud. But even if he had, he wouldn't have cared. Sometimes girls could be so stupid.

"I'm sorry, I didn't...," Sarula began, fighting back the tears. She was not going to cry, she decided. She refused to cry, especially in front of him. He had already shown her how much he hated seeing her cry. Gathering her courage, she continued with a lot more conviction. "Well will you teach me how to fight?" She asked staunchly as she squared her shoulders. She refused to allow him to believe that he would be training a wimp. She knew she had the courage to fight she just needed to learn how. "And don't tell me about your brother; at most, he may be helping you to refine you skills, but he is not training you. That is why I want you to train me. You are training Rin. She has no fighting skills, nor do I. So we could all train together."

Inuyasha studied her. What was this kid up to? Princess Edera was dead, there was no need for revenge and no one would attack her as long as she remained in this castle. "Why do you feel you need to fight? Sesshomaru is going to have a swarm of guards here before long."

"Yes, but I might not always be here," Sarula explained, knowing this was not her home and she did not wish to be away from Sasuki forever. "And one thing my four years here has taught me is that one should always be prepared, because one never knows."

Inuyasha couldn't argue with that. A little preparedness never hurt anyone. But after that battle with Princess Edera's errtu, he doubted anything he taught her would have helped her with those creatures. She would need a powerful sword for that. "Okay," Inuyasha resigned himself. "We'll be out training again first thing in the morning. I'll see what you can do. If you can get a sword, get one, if not, get a stick."

"Thank you, Inuyasha. Thank you so much," Sarula said as she bowed her acceptances then began to rise to her feet to return to the castle to prepare lunch for the guards.

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A/N: I've inserted that scene with Inuyasha and Rin here because I wanted to start with a little diversion from the upcoming tension and violence that's on its way. I know there's nothing funny about what happened to Inu, but I felt I could throw in some giggles for his embarrassed reaction, hope it turned out that way.

And yes, I might be wrong, (sorry guys if I am) but I really think the pain would have subsided long before it seems to have subsided in this chapter, but Inuyasha was being stubborn and Akatsuki wanted to help, so it took a little while to show it.

I know, this was a long chapter, but unfortunately I think they'll be longer moving forward, because I have a lot to cover and want to try to wrap this story up in about 15 chapters. Anyway, I actually split this chapter into two parts. So part two of this is actually included in chapter 42 which should be uploaded by tomorrow.

Hope you enjoyed!

Next up: Akatsuki/Rin