[[Disclaimer: Bits will resemble actions in the manga/anime series, yes, but most things will be out of order. Not only because it's been horribly long since I've seen/read the series, but because I want to give this story my own, personal touch. So.. If you read something familiar and realize, at the end, it's not exactly what you remember in the series, bear with me. It's how I'm playing things out so things go faster.]]

Downfall.

Of course it would come this way, and at a time like this, no less.

I could feel his hand in mine. I could hardly breathe, much less speak. I could feel the sweat slipping down my face. Where the droplets would usually be calming and cool, they were not, for my body temperature was much too low to register their cooling effect. I looked into those eyes.. Those eyes I had fallen in love with.. And I could say nothing. Not even those words I hardly said when I had ample opportunity. But I was more than aware that he knew the words that I could not say.. I knew that he could and would go on without me. That he would take care of what I was leaving behind. Though.. Even in his willingness to carry on, I could still see the pain he was trying so very hard to hide from me, "..don't.." I whispered, giving his bloodied hand as hard of a squeeze as I could muster. Now, whether I was telling him not to cry or to not hold back his emotions, even I was uncertain.. But it seemed he understood, because as his eyes began to swell with tears, and his grip tightened on my hand, a small smile came to his lips, "I'll miss you, my rose.." As he said that, a tear slid down his cheek. A single tear.. And it made my throat swell. I had never seen him cry. I wanted so badly to say something back, but words betrayed me.

I felt that single tear hit my hand, and my eyes grew heavy. I could make out the evident straining in his features.. The clenching of his well defined jaw.. He wanted to beg for me not to go.. However, we both knew there was no going back. I trusted he wouldn't let my memory fade. It was the price I had to pay for what we always wanted.

My breathing slowed dramatically.. And I could feel the stilling of my heart.. I could hear a faint voice, but his attention was never called from me, and, with a last.. Desperate squeeze to his hand, I succumbed to my bitter ending, letting my eyes fall closed as the cold of darkness carried me to a place I never told anyone I feared..

.

.

"Die, Inuyasha," Sesshomaru muttered calmly, swinging his sword at his younger half brother, only to have it clash with the Tetsusaiga. Inuyasha shoved at his brother's sword with his own blade, at which point Sesshomaru nimbly leaped back and out of reach, a scowl evident in his features.

"Aw, what's the matter, Sesshomaru? Don't get bent out of shape just because you can't kill a lousy, little half-breed like me," Inuyasha taunted as he jumped high in the air, bringing his sword down over his older brother, who simply moved out of the way, catching him in the back with an attack from his poison whip. A cry ripped its way out of the younger male's lips, "Attacking from behind, you wretch?"

"You should never allow me to be at your back. You lack style, filthy half-breed."

"This thing is heavier than I make it look!" He hollered, charging at his fully demon brother, who parried his attack with his own sword.

"If it is so heavy.. Why don't I relieve you of the burden?" With a thrust to the side, his blade sent Inuyasha's sword flying, landing with a light thud, tip down, into the dirt. Kagome could be heard, calling out for Inuyasha from the sidelines, but this did not stop Sesshomaru from leaping into the air once more and landing next to the sword, reaching out and grabbing the hilt, the barrier having no effect because of his human appendage, "Witness the true power of Tetsusaiga when its true master wields it."

'What..?' Inuyasha couldn't speak. He could only stare, lips tight as he tried to figure out how Sesshomaru could touch the blade. Why wasn't it repelling him? "Just because you can grab the damn sword doesn't mean it'll transform for you, you idiot!" He snarled, glowering at his brother, who only answered with a smirk and a swing of the sword. Its strength was tremendous, raging over the ground toward a mountain and awaking hundreds of demons that had to time to fear for their lives, as they were slain nearly instantly.

"He split the mountain!" Miroku could only gape as he laid there, still poisoned from the insect attack earlier, though the medicines Kagome had given him earlier were beginning to take effect.

"Prepare to die, little brother," as Sesshomaru took aim at Inuyasha, an arrow came flying at him, piercing his armor, but not touching his skin.

"There!" Kagome screamed, taking aim with another arrow, "He's got a shard of the sacred jewel embedded in his arm!" Sesshomaru scowled as Inuyasha screamed for her not to interfere, but it was too late, "I can get him!" Another arrow was shot at Sesshomaru. What a mistake.. The graceful demon caught the arrow between his fingers and proceeded to evaporate it with his venomous claws.

"Foolish woman.." With a swift move and a swing of the Tetsusaiga, a lethal wave was sent in the human's direction. Inuyasha acted quickly, jumping in the way of the blast and landing on top of Kagome.

"Kagome..?" Inuyasha said lowly, crawling over to her and cradling her in his arms, "Kagome, answer me!" When she didn't answer, Inuyasha growled ferally, bearing his teeth as he looked to Sesshomaru out of the corner of his eyes, "You bastard!" The half-breed left her to Miroku and Shippo, "Take her far from here! Now!"

Sesshomaru was taken aback when his brother jumped at him furiously. It was the embrace he never wanted, and it gave him the upper hand, "Foolish little brother.." He muttered quietly, jabbing his poisonous claws into Inuyasha's back and completely through his abdomen. He bellowed in pain, but that turned into sarcastic laughter.

"I really thought you would have noticed, brother.." The full-blooded demon's eyes widened as he realized what was going on, but it was too late to stop it. The human arm he had acquired was ripped from him, along with the sword, and his ability to ever touch it again.

Inuyasha removed the hand that still clung to the sword and then fell to his knees, the sword still pulsing with life as it buried itself in the ground in front of Inuyasha, who now seemed to be unconscious. Jaken burst forth from the remains of the slain demons which were scattered along the plains in which they stood, "M'lord! Inuyasha has fallen unconscious. We shall-"

"Don't step any closer, Jaken," Sesshomaru commanded, though it was too late. Tetsusaiga acted of it's own accord and struck waves of deadly energy through the ground, scaring Jaken into running toward Sesshomaru, who had jumped out of the way, 'What is this..? His energy.. This scent..' Amber eyes narrowed to slits as he studied his younger a moment longer, "Come, Jaken.."

"B-but.. Lord Sesshomaru-" It was lost on his master's ears, as he was already ascending into the air. Jaken had to scramble to catch up, "Wait for me, master!" And they were off, soaring through the clouds as Sesshomaru continued to ponder the events of only moments ago. What could have cause Inuyasha's blood to.. Change like that? It had been the scent of.. A demon. A full blooded demon. Not that of his bastard brother, "Master! Your arm!" While he had been lost in thought, not only had a cluster of Naraku's insects begun following him, but the joint at which the human arm had been connected was beginning to burn, the flames licking up his shoulder.

Sesshomaru scowled, grabbing the remaining flesh and ripping it from his own so the he could fling it to the evil creatures. Quickly, they began devouring the jewel from inside it, carrying it off toward the owner once it was found. The demon lord wasn't about to let this treachery go by without a consequence. Jaken was complaining about how horrible that Naraku character was for deceiving his master as Sesshomaru set course to follow the hell bugs. And, of course, they led him right to the shady man he was in search of, "Very good, my pets," The man in the baboon pelt cooed to his insects, accepting the return of his jewel shard, "It seems I overestimated Sesshomaru.."

"You," came Sesshomaru's calm tone, "You intended to kill me with that jewel fragment.."

"Ah.. Lord Sesshomaru," Naraku said, facing him, "I hadn't intended for your life to be in danger at all. I simply needed to make sure my fragment was returned to me."

"Mm.." Within the blink of an eye, Naraku's head was separated from his body, Sesshomaru's poison whip barely being seen before it was withdrawn.

"That's what you get for messing with my master, you heathen!" Jaken exclaimed, kicking at the head which had plopped to the ground.

"Enough, Jaken. He's fled." The imp looked to his master, confused by what he'd said, and he glanced back down to what he'd kicked, realizing the hood was empty.

"That sneaky bastard! He shall pay yet for endangering you, m'lord!" And then there was a dark chuckling that echoed around them, causing Jaken to jump and fall on his bottom, shielding himself with the two-headed staff.

"Hmmhm… Lord Sesshomaru… I shall call upon your services again, should the need arise in the future." And with another chuckle, Naraku's presence was gone entirely.

For a moment, Sesshomaru just stared at the remains of the pelt on the ground, wondering how he had gotten out of the way before the silver haired male even had the chance to notice it. Never had someone been so quick in battle before… "M'lord…?" Jaken called to him, questioning the concentration in his gaze. Sesshomaru simply grunted and began walking off through the brush, his imp hot on his heels, knowing he was defenseless without his master.

.

.

Naraku made his way back to the temple he'd been staying in, disguised as he prince, and he tossed the jewel fragment up in the air, catching it as it began to fall. Sesshomaru, Sesshomaru, Sesshomaru.. What a marvelous specimen.. Yes. He would make sure that their paths met once again. For not only was he strong, but he was gorgeous. Not one to fight with, but perhaps one to.. Just then, Naraku's attention was called elsewhere, "My lord… Have you been out?"

Red eyes faded to a gray color before he turned to face the elderly man, "Yes, Mataro," He said softly, "I was a bit restless, so I took a stroll."

"Do be careful, my lord… There are demons out there who could kill you in a heartbeat with no one around to protect you."

Naraku turned away, his eyes closed as a smirk found his lips, "Leave me to my thoughts."

With a bow and a soft mutter of obedience, the man was gone, leaving Naraku to his demon puppetry. What could he do to bring Sesshomaru to him…?

.

.

Clouds were beginning to build up overhead as Sesshomaru and Jaken headed back to where they had left Rin. It was a safe place in the middle of a forest, near a waterfall. It seemed she was picking flowers, running around Ah-un, "Master Sesshomaru!" She exclaimed, a large grin settling on her lips, "I've been waiting for your safe return~"

Sesshomaru just nodded a bit, a small grunt leaving his lips, "Good to see you did not get yourself into trouble while I was dealing with matters." He didn't accept the flowers she held out, but she still smiled, walking as he moved past, "Tonight, we rest up, for tomorrow I will be retrieving my arm from my father's grave site." No longer would he be in search of arms to replace his own.