Chapter 4

I don't own Inuyasha

"I wonder when he shall return." Many years had passed now. Inuyasha was now a little over 100 years old and yet his body only looked about ten or eleven years old. Inuyasha had grown accustomed to being with his brother and taking care of himself, so when his brother told him to stay alone for a bit, he didn't mind that much. Inuyasha's only concern was the fact that he couldn't go to whatever battle he wanted to go to. 'I'm really hungry.'

Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru would often go into human villages with his brother and would do as they pleased. Inuyasha assumed that he could make it work for him alone, so he walked into a human village while his brother was gone off, and looked around. Every one in the village could tell that he was a demon. There was panic among some since they could tell he was a dog demon, but the adults saw that he was only a child and did not fear Inuyasha.

"And what are you doing here in our village?"

A crowd began to form around Inuyasha and he noticed that among the crowd were some monks. He didn't have much experience with them and didn't know how to really defend himself against them. Still, he didn't let that show. "I am not afraid of you humans. Step aside if you value your lives." Inuyasha figured that was something his brother would say. The villagers didn't seem too worried though.

"Perish demon!" Two different monks threw sutras at Inuyasha and Inuyasha was fast enough to dodge the first one, but the second one caught him off guard and he was subdued.

"Ahhh!" His body was being electrocuted so badly that he dropped to his knees. At his weakest moment, that was when the men of the village began to beat him. They began kicking him, punching him, and beating him with various objects. Inuyasha was thankful he was part demon, or else he'd be in real trouble. He was in pain and bleeding, but once his anger built up high enough, he was able to break free and force his way up and the humans off. "You disgusting humans!"

Some of the crowd ran away, but the two monks stayed to fight. They resembled one another except there was an age gap. One looked about twenty while the other was about sixteen. The two monks prepared themselves for an attack and began praying while one samurai attacked. He swung his sword at Inuyasha, but Inuyasha stepped out of the way.

'I won't die!' He closed his eyes and screamed "Iron Reaver, soul stealer!" When he opened his eyes he saw that he had gutted the man and he was now motionless and lifeless. Inuyasha's mouth dropped, not knowing exactly what to do. He had never killed a human while in control before and the sight of it made him sick. 'What did I do?' He dropped to his knees and began throwing up at the scent of the human's blood so thick in the air.

"Attack now!" commanded the eldest monk. They both attacked, but Inuyasha wasn't going to die, no matter how sick he just felt at that moment. He growled and slashed at the younger monk, who was weaker and he fell. Inuyasha hadn't killed him, but he could no longer walk. Inuyasha thought for sure that the older monk would attack him, but he was stricken with fear and began to run off.

"No!" the younger monk yelled. "Brother no! Please don't leave me all alone to die! Brother!"

The monk didn't give a second thought and continued to run away, leaving his little brother behind.

"He just left his little brother?" Inuyasha was confused at first to how he could just abandon his own flesh and blood. "My brother would never..." That made Inuyasha's blood boil. "How could you just leave your younger brother like that? How could you?" All of is pity and regret for killing that other man suddenly left and he despised them even more.

Just before Inuyasha ran to finish off the human who was sick enough to actually leave his own family behind, Inuyasha heard his only family call to him. "Inuyasha..."

Inuyasha's attention left the monk brothers and he turned to see that his own brother was behind him. "Brother...I thought that you were..."

"I changed my mind," he said simply. "That is all, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha had been with his brother long enough to figure out his actions. "You just said you were going to leave to see how I would handle myself!"

"And?"

"Well..." Inuyasha shrugged his shoulders. "Well...never mind." He gave up on his brother and pointed to the monk that was running away. "I want to-"

"Finish him off? It makes no difference to me. Go ahead and do it."

Inuyasha was a bit surprised. "You don't expect me to?"

"He's running and is no real threat to you. It doesn't serve any real purpose; unless it purely gave you pleasure. If slaying such easy prey satisfies you, than do it. I wouldn't waste my energy."

Inuyasha realized that the young monk was speaking. "Please don't hurt him! He's my brother! He's all I have! Please don't touch him! Kill me, but let him live! Please! I beg of you..."

'He still wishes for his brother to live, even though he was just abandoned?' Inuyasha knew that he could depend on his brother, even if Sesshoumaru didn't easily let that show. This human's brother abandoned him, and though Inuyasha should have admired the merciful heart of the younger brother, he saw his hopes in vain and despised the elder brother. He saw the weakness of the human race and despised them. He had grown to hate them in further experiences after his mother was killed. Most of his experiences with them didn't end well and now he had enough. "They're not worth my time."

"Then let's go."

The young monk was grateful to see them go and to know that his brother was still alive, even though he had to live with the pain of knowing that he was abandoned.

Inuyasha hadn't said much since his brother met up with him again, but Inuyasha realized that they were headed west. "Uh...brother where are we going?"

"Home."

"Home?"

"To the Western Lands, Inuyasha." It had been a long time since Sesshoumaru had been home, but he found it necessary to go. He aged so slowly compared to Inuyasha, but they both had quite a bit of a spurt. Inuyasha had grown very fast and his clothes needed to be properly adjusted. Sesshoumaru too had grown a bit taller and his face and body had matured even further. He was beginning to resemble is father's features even more than before.

"You're not ashamed to bring me?" Inuyasha asked, a bit baffled and a bit happy. "Won't they too despise me because I'm not a full fledged demon?"

"Perhaps they will, but nevertheless, they won't kill you, Inuyasha. Demons are too afraid to attack you while you're in my presence."

"But they've always attacked me brother. I don't understand."

"I allowed those demons to attack" he admitted.

"But…" Inuyasha pouted with anger. "You let them try to kill me all of those times?"

"You've faired well, Inuyasha. You're still alive, aren't you?"

Inuyasha really didn't have a comeback after that. His brother was right. He was still alive and he was doing exceptionally well. Everyday was a new experience and he had even done a new technique that he made up.

"Iron Reaver, Soul Stealer?" Sesshoumaru questioned. He thought it was foolish.

Inuyasha smiled and blushed. "You don't like it?"

Sesshoumaru didn't even bother to answer his question. Of course it was a stupid name for a technique, but Inuyasha was a child and children tend to do stupid things. He was coming accustomed to Inuyasha's foolishness, just as Inuyasha was coming accustomed to Sesshoumaru's cold hearted nature.

"I thought it was cool…" Inuyasha muttered under his breath.

It took a while for the two brother's to actually reach their destination, but not entirely too long with Ah-Un, who had the ability to fly. Inuyasha rode on Ah-Un, while Sesshoumaru flew himself, which Inuyasha thought was the most amazing thing ever. Inuyasha wished that he could fly as well, but when he asked his brother if it could be taught, Sesshoumaru explained that a half demon such as Inuyasha could never learn how to fly, so Inuyasha's ears dropped and his spirit was ruined all day, until Sesshoumaru announced that they had arrived.

"We're here?" Inuyasha looked below him and saw hills and valleys all before him. "This is all yours?"

"Everything is mine Inuyasha. It's all a matter of time."

"Oh…" Inuyasha looked and looked and the land was nice and beautiful, but he was expecting a castle or something like that. 'Are we still going to rough it out in the wilderness?' Inuyasha sighed as the two of them began to land. Inuyasha could sense something, like other demon auras, but he wasn't sure where it was coming from. "Uh…brother, why are we just standing here?"

"Can't you see little brother?"

"See what?" Inuyasha squinted his eyes, hoping that it would somehow help, but he had no such luck. "I don't get it." Just as Inuyasha finished his sentence, the presence began to get stronger, but not only that but Inuyasha could smell the scent of the demons.

'The fool doesn't know what a barrier is?' Sesshoumaru began to doubt whether taking Inuyasha there was a wise decision. Sure he's a lot smarter and stronger than how he would be than if he was alone, but still, he's only a half breed.

"Brother, look!" A gate began to appear in front of the two brothers, and the doors were huge. "I don't think I can jump that high!" Inuyasha apparently didn't need to, since the doors flung opened and let the two in. "Look at that brother!" Inuyasha pointed straight ahead to the biggest mansion he had ever seen in his whole entire life. "It's like a mountain, brother!"

Inuyasha was so amazed by the mansion that he completely missed all of the surrounding dog demons. "Lord Sesshoumaru?" they all began to say.

There was one demon in particular; a dog demon female that seemed very excited, but she didn't say a word at first. Inuyasha hadn't quite ever seen anyone like her. Inuyasha suspected that all dog demons would look like Sesshoumaru, but they were surrounded with dog demons that looked so different. This one had long black hair and warm brown skin. Inuyasha thought she was a very pretty demon. "Lord Sesshoumaru!" She ran to him and stopped right in front of him, knowing that he wouldn't openly display any affection to her, even though she was so happy. "It's been a while since you left here, Lord Sesshoumaru."

"Ziah."

"Ziah?" Inuyasha questioned.

She glanced down at Inuyasha, very surprised. "A half demon? You brought a half demon here?" Once she noticed his glare, she corrected herself. "Not that I was questioning your power or your methods, Lord Sesshoumaru, but I just find it odd. I would have thought that you of all people would-"

"Despise them?" he asked.

"Well, since we all know what happened to your father, you can understand my speculation."

The mention of how Sesshoumaru's father and his outcome struck a nerve of annoyance, but Inuyasha distracted his anger. "Uh…" Inuyasha bowed his head a little bit. "My name is Inuyasha."

"Don't be so foolish, Inuyasha." Sesshoumaru scolded him. "You should only bow to me."

Inuyasha felt embarrassed, being scolded in front of her and the surrounding dog demons. Sesshoumaru always scolded him, but they didn't usually have an audience. It was usually just the two of them.

"Inuyasha?" She bent down and got eye level with him to study his features. He didn't have any of the facial markings that dog demons usually had, but that was understandable, since he was only a half breed. His ears were different, but at least they looked demonic, as well as his golden eyes. Inuyasha actually looked a lot like how she remembered Sesshoumaru to be. She noticed that his clothes need to be adjusted. "The cloth of the fire rat is the only thing your father gave you?"

Inuyasha nodded. "I never actually met him though."

"Did you see your brother's gift?" she asked with pride. "It's the legendary Tetsusaiga and it can kill one hundred demons with one stroke and your brother is the only one worthy of wielding it, with your father gone. Your brother is the strongest demon in the world. Did you know that little one?"

Inuyasha nodded his head. "He mentions it a lot."

That made her laugh. Sesshoumaru was always arrogant, but she always loved his confidence. A great leader needed confidence in order to lead and no one was as worthy to lead the dog demons as Sesshoumaru. She stopped observing Inuyasha and paid close attention to Sesshoumaru's features. He certainly did look different. He was older and much better looking. He looked even more like his father, but not as rugged as his father, but more of a graceful beauty. His face wasn't as round as it used to be, but was more masculine and defined. His eyes had narrowed more and his hair had grown exceptionally longer as well. She could see that his body had matured. He was much better built. "My Lord Sesshoumaru, you've grown up."

"And you."

She didn't expect him to comment at all to that, but he apparently noticed that she too had matured. "It's nice to have you back."

"I require new clothes," he told her. "He'll need adjustments as well."

"Not a new one?"

"It's my fathers!" Inuyasha yelled. "I'm keeping it!"

"And what of that other sword?" she asked. "Your father didn't leave you that?"

Inuyasha looked up to his brother to find out what she was talking about. Sesshoumaru couldn't believe that she would ask such a question. "Inuyasha would never be able to wield a sword like the Sounga. Why would you even ask of it?"

"I wasn't referring to the Sounga. I know you very well Lord Sesshoumaru and if you don't have possession of the Sounga, then it must be unable to grasp for anyone. I was referring to the Tenseiga, that other sword forged by your father's fang. You know the one that can save lives and bring people back from the dead?"

"Bring people back from the dead?" Inuyasha asked.

Sesshoumaru realized Inuyasha's curiosity and understood why a boy like him would be interested in that sort of power. He knew what Inuyasha was thinking, and it disgusted him. "Why bother finding a sword that can't kill?"

"If it's your father's, it must hold a lot of true power."

"The Tenseiga would be useless. There is no need of such a sword."

"The kid seems a bit sentimental. I would assume that he'd like a lovely family heirloom. Besides, a half breed like that might just need a sword like that. He seems like he'd need the sword of healing rather than a sword of destruction."

Inuyasha growled. "I'm plenty strong!" he argued. "I fought countless of demons."

"And I've killed most of them," Sesshoumaru pointed out. "You are still a weak half demon, because of that filthy human blood in your veins." Inuyasha frowned and said nothing. "You may have father's blood coursing through your veins, but you still have treacherous human blood in your body. Don't pretend to be stronger than what you are. Know your place, Inuyasha."

'Know my place? But he's the one who said to disregard my human blood. What does he want me to do? I don't understand what he wants from me. I'm really trying to change, but I don't know how to. How can he expect me to disregard my human blood if he keeps reminding me of it?' It was hard on Inuyasha, and definitely confusing, but he decided to keep quiet.

"Take Inuyasha," Sesshoumaru commanded.

She didn't understand Sesshoumaru's and Inuyasha' relationship, but she wasn't going to question it. Though she herself didn't like half breeds, she wasn't foolish enough to harm Sesshoumaru's younger half breed brother. She didn't have a death wish. "Come along, Inuyasha."

"But where are you going?" he asked his brother, before he left.

She looked panicked for a moment and grabbed Inuyasha by his ears. Inuyasha cried out in pain, but she didn't care. "Want some advice kid? Don't you dare ever question him again, or he'll kill you."

"But he's my brother, he'd never-"

"He'd never what?" She had a smirk on her face. Picking with Inuyasha would at least be fun. "Inuyasha, just in case you didn't know this, your brother is totally ruthless and nothing is more important to him than his own ambitions. Nothing can stop him and he demands respect for his great power. Let me give you a piece of advice, little one. If you are wise, you'll never stand in his way. It's better to be at his right hand, than in his path. Otherwise, you'll be crushed." She lightly punched Inuyasha in the face, but it bothered Inuyasha a little bit.

'He would never ever hurt me,' Inuyasha told himself in his mind. 'He's been taking care of me since I was very little.' Inuyasha watched the eyes of the demons as he walked with Ziah. They were all in shock that he was there and disgusted that he was there as well. Inuyasha expected that he wouldn't be accepted, but he didn't mind too much. He was used to being despised and was accustomed to only having his brother's company. He only hoped that his brother wouldn't treat him differently because Sesshoumaru was home again. "Can we go to the castle?"

"That's where we're going."

"So what's he doing?" The other dog demons started to come closer to Sesshoumaru and some began speaking to him, but as politely as possible.

"Why do you ask so many questions, Inuyasha? Just be quiet and accept it all, otherwise you might end up dead, little half breed."

Inuyasha didn't bother wondering about his brother anymore. It was pointless. Inuyasha looked around the land and saw that the land was very different than anything he had ever seen. The land had a very dark appeal to it, but it was still was a nice environment, but with an eerie sort of feel. It wasn't a place for humans. The air was also strange. Inuyasha could breathe just fine, but he realized that it was unusual, filled with demonic aura and toxins.

"Is your brother staying long?"

Inuyasha snapped out of his trance. "Oh…well how am I supposed to know? He gets mad if I ask too many questions. I don't know where we go. I only follow him."

"I see. Let's hurry along, Inuyasha. I'd rather be with your brother rather than a pest like you," she said under her breath.


Ziah took Inuyasha into the mansion and tried to avoid being seen with Inuyasha. Everyone was uncomfortable with Inuyasha being there, but no one would kill him, since Sesshoumaru obviously didn't want him dead. As soon as she got in the mansion, she took Inuyasha's clothes and made him take a bath. She hated his scent. While Inuyasha was taking a bath, Ziah came through the sliding door with his clothes folded up nice and neat in one of her hands and in the other, she was holding a hot bucket of water. "It's altered" she told him, very annoyed. She threw his clothes down on the floor and poured the hot bucket of water on top of Inuyasha's head.

Inuyasha bit his lip from feeling the water just suddenly drop on top of his head. "What's the matter with you?" His body was a little red now and the water was warm.

"I don't feel hot of cold, I was curious to see if you did." She began laughing at the little half breed, but only until Inuyasha got incredibly angry. He started growling like a wild animal and she calmed herself down and stopped laughing. "Don't be such a little bother, Inuyasha. I only wanted to see." She bent down and got eye level with the little half breed, which was still angry. "You know, you look a lot like how your brother did when he was younger."

Inuyasha suddenly calmed down. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"I suppose it really doesn't have to do with anything at all." Her admiring of his features ended soon. If she stayed in Inuyasha's presence too long, his scent would begin to bother her. She hated his half breed blood, especially since she knew it bothered Sesshoumaru so much. "I have more important matters to attend to, like seeing what your brother is doing."

"He's in the mansion?"

"Of course. It belongs to him, half breed."

Just as she was leaving, Inuyasha curiosity got the better of him and he couldn't wait to ask the question any longer. He had to ask someone and he was very afraid to ask his brother. She was his only choice. Besides, she was the one who brought it up. "Wait a moment!"

She considered just leaving Inuyasha and not seeing what he wanted, but she did at least find the boy to be interesting. Besides, she didn't want Sesshoumaru to be angry at her and he specifically told her to take care of Inuyasha. "Well little one, what do you want?"

"I want…" Inuyasha's ears fell. He felt like he shouldn't even be asking about it. He figured it was wrong for some reason. Still, he decided to ask. "Well, you mentioned a sword. You said that this sword is a sword that was forged by my father's fang…" Inuyasha realized that by the look on her face, she knew exactly what he was talking about, but she didn't seem willing to help at all. 'Should I bother asking?' He decided to take the risk. "Uh…can the sword really bring people back from the dead?"

She was amused by his question and had a hard time deciding whether or not she should say anything at all. Sesshoumaru obviously didn't care too much for the sword, but it supposedly was Inuyasha's. "Well, I suppose I'll tell you all that I know and I've said what I've know, kid. I heard that the sword can bring the dead back to life. I've never seen your father use it and I don't even think Sesshoumaru has seen that happen either."

"If I find it, can I bring someone back who's been dead a long time?" he asked.

"Why don't you ask your brother Inuyasha? He's actually seen the sword and met Toutousai, the demon who has forged it. I have no answers to give to you, half breed." She saw his sad reaction and decided that she would mention Inuyasha's question to Sesshoumaru. There was obviously something important that Inuyasha didn't want Sesshoumaru to know. "I'll speak to him on it."

Once she left, Inuyasha finished up his bath and tried on his altered clothes. They fit perfectly and he was happy for that. He didn't wish to get rid of them. Sesshoumaru spoke little, but he would speak highly of their father. Inuyasha placed a lot of pride in his father and treasured his only item that tied them together, but now he wanted to know of this new item that might belong to him, the Tenseiga. 'I should find Toutousai or perhaps even Myouga.'


"He wants to know of the Tenseiga," Ziah told Sesshoumaru while the two of them looked over the valley on his balcony. "Is this a problem?"

"Searching for it isn't worth my time," Sesshoumaru explained. "It's a worthless sword. I have the Tetsusaiga and that is all that matters."

"Forgive me for asking…" he faced her and she gazed into his golden eyes. "Lord Sesshoumaru, would you protest to the boy finding it at all? It seems that the boy has a motive for finding the sword."

"I am aware of his motives and I don't plan on stopping or supporting his future decisions. As of right now, the boy is perhaps too weak to even try to survive on his own."

'If I wouldn't know any better, I would dare say that Sesshoumaru has grown a bit of compassion.' She tried to hide her smile. 'That would mean there's hope for me after all.' Ziah turned her head away just in time for her smile to fully bloom on her face.

Sesshoumaru noticed her smile, but thought it best not to ask. Females seemed to often mix curiosity with concern and Sesshoumaru's ambitions were more important than some woman.

"Lord Sesshoumaru, I wish for you to know that you have resources at your disposal. So many demons would bow down and do your will and help you get whatever land you want. We're only waiting for your command."

"I don't need any assistance."

"I'm not a fool, my Lord. Everyone knows that you don't require help, but I'm just saying that we're willing to help you do whatever you need to."

That was true. Sesshoumaru had loyal servants and even if he did get help. Sesshoumaru considered saying something but there was no need to do so. He was going to do what he wanted to, rather than what anyone else wanted. If he felt that he should use his followers, he would. If he didn't, he wouldn't. Sesshoumaru didn't need help, but he might conquer faster if he had help. He at first preferred to be alone, at least for a few more years.

"I won't say anymore…" Ziah told him. She just stood with him until Sesshoumaru decided that he should speak with his brother.


It was the middle of the night, which didn't affect Sesshoumaru too much. Inuyasha had found a comfortable room and quickly fell asleep. He had never slept in a bed so large and comfortable before. It was a lot better than roughing it out in the forest. He was having a peaceful sleep, until his brother came into his room and began calling him. "Inuyasha."

Inuyasha was trained to wake up to Sesshoumaru's voice. If Sesshoumaru had to call more than once, he would be angry with Inuyasha. He was still tired and took his time getting up. He sat up, stretched, and yawned. "Hello brother." He scratched his stomach. "So, what's going on?"

"We are leaving in the morning."

"What?" Inuyasha's sleepiness left him immediately. "But why are we leaving? I like this place. This bed is large and comfortable and nice. "

"We came here for a few things Inuyasha. That is all. We're not settling."

Inuyasha noticed that his brother's clothes were different. He was wearing a was red and white kimono, with some flower patterns on it. Inuyasha liked it a bit better than his other one. "Brother, why do you want to leave your home?"

"I've still got work to be done, Inuyasha, and nothing shall stand in my way." Sesshoumaru drew his sword, the Tetsusaiga, and held it in front of Inuyasha fully transformed. Inuyasha was frightened. The tip of the Tetsusaiga was right in front of Inuyasha's nose. "Be still Inuyasha. My blade could easily fall and cut your nose off."

"But…" Inuyasha was sweating heavily. He had never been so scared in his life. He had been attacked countless of times, but this was different. His brother wasn't there to protect him now. His brother was the one holding the sword. Inuyasha could only think of Ziah's warnings. She told him that Sesshoumaru would kill him. Inuyasha thought for sure that he wouldn't, but now he wasn't too sure. "Brother?"

"This sword is the Tetsusaiga. This sword is the fang of destruction, created in order to kill. You've seen me use it, Inuyasha. You know its power."

"Y-y-yes brother! I know of its power."

"The other sword, the Tenseiga, is a sword of healing. It is a blade that cannot cut and is said to bring people back from the dead." Sesshoumaru could see his little brother's fear so strongly. He was terrified. He believed he was going to die. "Inuyasha, you seek information on the Tenseiga, because it can bring those who are dead back to life."

"But it was our father's sword…" he tried to explain. "Could it be mine?"

"If you wish to find it, then you may. I do not wish to find such a useless weapon. You Inuyasha, you need a sword that you can use to protect yourself with, not a sword that can protect you. The Tenseiga would not do that. Your interest in the sword is to bring your dead mortal mother back from the grave."

Inuyasha tried not to move, but his body was shaking. He didn't want his brother to be angry, but no matter how much he tried not to mention his mother, she would come to mind. His feelings couldn't change for her. He hated humans, but his mother did nothing wrong. "I am sorry brother. I…I was only curious if it could be done!"

"And if you could, would you bring her back, Inuyasha?"

"I…" Inuyasha didn't know what to say.

"I told you that you could travel with me if you disregarded your humanity."

"But I…I don't know how…" Inuyasha didn't know what to do. "I…I don't know how."

Sesshoumaru raised his sword and just when Inuyasha thought his brother would lower it, it returned to its normal form and became a rusty old sword. "Inuyasha, I despise your wretched mother. She caused our father's demise, you and she. I despise their union and I despise what you are."

"Do you really hate me brother?" he asked so sadly. "I don't mean to be-"

"I despise what you are Inuyasha. That does not mean that I particularly despise you."

Inuyasha was a bit confused. 'So he doesn't hate me? He wasn't going to actually kill me?' "Brother you tell me not to be human and yet you call me half breed and tell me to know my place. I do not understand."

"Inuyasha, you've seen humans and you've had experiences with them. I said disregard your humanity. You cannot deny what is in your blood, little brother. Your actions do not have to be like them. They are insects, and though you have their weakness, you still have demon blood, father's blood."

Inuyasha was finally beginning to understand. "Yes, brother." Inuyasha was still a little frightened though.

"We leave at dawn, Inuyasha." Just before Sesshoumaru left out, he told Inuyasha, "It would be too late to bring her back Inuyasha. Her soul has already been collected and rests in the afterlife."

Inuyasha's heart fell. When Sesshoumaru left the room, Inuyasha collapsed on his bed and thought of her. 'You truly are gone, mother. I cannot be with you.' It had been a long time, but he couldn't forget. 'I'll have to let you go.'

To be continued…