Inuyasha: The Bond Between Brothers

By Alex Lyons3

Disclaimer: I do not own nor make any profits from the writing and distribution of this fan fiction. It is merely for entertainment purposes. All known characters are the property of Rumiko Takahashi and are used without specific permission, however, one hopes that she won't be too upset.

Summary: Inuyasha and Sesshomaru have never gotten along, but when an evil presence from the Far West begins to enter Japan it will take any and all the meager scraps of brotherly feelings the two have for one another to survive.

Note: The story is going to be divided into Acts and Scenes instead of Chapters. Hopefully, this won't confuse too many of you.

Act 1, Scene 3

A storm had begun to gather above the small group of travelers that sought the shelter of the forest. It was times like this that Kagome wished repeatedly that she'd get a tent since they'd occasionally be caught out of doors when bad weather hit. She hated the frosty rain that would be pummeling her soon. A flash of lightening cracked across the sky as the thunder began to roll. The sky opened soon after, but what came next was terrifying to the friends.

Nergal sat upon a smoldering stump, his arms crossed across his chest as he looked down on the company, his red-orange eyes narrowed as he contemplated them silently. His job was simple really, keep Tessaiga from coming to Tenseiga's aid. He had scoffed at the ridiculous notion that a weak hanyou could take him on, however, his devout followers–as he thought of them–were far more powerful than he had expected especially for mere humans. They, at least, would keep him on his toes.

"Who the hell are you?" snarled the brutish hanyou as he drew his sword, the crafted fang transforming, showing its true self to the evil demon.

"I," said Nergal with a leer at the two women who stood at the ready, "am to be your opponent for tonight. My Lady insists that I keep you and your bothersome sword away from her and her objective for now."

Inuyasha glared at the full demon angrily, watching as his eyes strayed to Kagome and Sango, his lust plain for anyone to see. "You bastard!" the half-demon snapped gaining the other's glare. "If I'm your opponent then you'd better keep your eyes on me!" he swung Tessaiga and cried out his attack, "WIND SCAR!"

Nergal had only a brief moment to evade the attack, but was soon beginning his own. "SOLAR FLARE!" he cried as he drew his own sword sending out bright red flames towards Inuyasha.

The half-demon evaded them easily and sent the Backlash Wave at the one-time king of hell. "I don't know what you want," said the half-demon as he seethed, "but when I find out you're dead meat!"

Nergal laughed a low; cruel taunting laugh at Inuyasha as his Backlash Wave did nothing. "My," said the full demon as he examined Inuyasha passively. "You've got spunk! However, it will not save you. ENGULFING FLAMES!" as he cried out his next attack. Inuyasha forced to use another Backlash Wave in defense against the flames that begun to consume everything in their path. This time it sent the flames back on their source and Nergal was blown across the now smoldering landscape.

Nergal stood carefully, favoring his left leg slightly. He rolled his right shoulder until an audible snap was heard echoing through the clearing. He smirked unpleasantly. "Well," he said his tone genuinely interested. "Apparently you aren't as weak as I had you pegged for. Shall we finish this half-breed?"

Inuyasha snarled and screamed. "ADAMANT BARRAGE!" firing off a huge shower of diamond shards towards the evil demon.

"RIVER OF FIRE!" cried Nergal as he sent another wave of power towards the half-demon.

"Kagome!" called Miroku from his place behind Sango atop Kirara. "We need to finish this! Before Inuyasha gets hurt!"

"Right!" said Kagome, who was atop Shippo in his large pink balloon-like transformation. She pulled out her long bow and an arrow. Aiming it at Nergal carefully, she fired hitting Nergal's shoulder armor and bouncing off harmlessly.

Nergal looked up towards the humans and smirked cruelly. "I was wondering when you'd get involved!" he called up to them tauntingly. "Why not try this on for size?" he murmured as he slashed his sword upwards with a cry. "SOLAR TSUNAMI!" a huge wave of fire suddenly roared upwards toward the unprotected Kagome and Shippo.

"Kagome!" cried Inuyasha as he watched the wave of fire consume his two friends. "You bastard!" he cried as he charged towards the full demon.

Nergal was ready to finish the job when a strange expression came over his face. He then sidestepped the enraged hanyou and slashed his back and left side as he rushed by. "I've no time to play with you anymore," he sneered elegantly. "My Lady has achieved her objective. I'll leave you to mourn your losses in peace."

Inuyasha turned, blood seeping out of his cuts and staining his Robe of the Fire Rat a darker shade of red. "Get back here, you bastard," he grunted, but as he turned fully to face him, the demon had become a pillar of flame that rose into the air and dispersed into ashes. "Dammit! Damn him to hell!" cried Inuyasha in pain as he rushed to see if there was anything left of Kagome and Shippo.

Author's Note: I've left you with a cliffy...eh-heh! Sorry about that, but if you want to know what happens next, you need to review. Reviews make my muse happy. So does Piña Coladas in the Bahamas, but that isn't constructive to writing and so if you want to keep the muse here with me. Please review!