For those who believe the story is gonna end with this battle between Sesshomaru and Hiten, I have a surprise... it's not gonna end here! xD I have a lot more plans for our little inu-youkai duo, plans that are gonna be quite thrilling I hope. But until then, enjoy this chapter.

P.S. Every Inuyasha character belongs to Rumiko-san, not to me.

10. Shame

The girl's eyes snapped wide open when Hiten's voice reached her ears, the thunder-youkai standing in the doorway with a hand over his nose and mouth. When her gaze met his fiery glance, her heart shrank and quivered in fear. Though her youki lashed out at Hiten, the youkai was unimpressed. Taking a moment to ponder, he changed his mind and stepped into the room, making Sayuri curl against the bed's headboard. It was as if all her training had gone down the drain... the mere memory of her first encounter with Hiten was enough to stun her.

"You're not even worth enough to be my concubine anymore." he smirked, briefly eyeing Sesshomaru's mark on her neck.

Now standing next to the bed, he took a moment to watch the girl... she was trembling like a leaf, but still that defiant shade was present in her gaze. It almost made him laugh.

"Keh... I have another plan for you."

Within the blink of an eye, he reached forward to grab her arm, pinning her on her back upon the black sheets.

"Do you know what a man's worst shame is? One that he can't erase for the rest of his life...?" he grinned, now leaning over her until he could whisper in her ear. "It's to have his woman dishonored on his own bed."

Swallowing her fear, Sayuri returned his gaze with a murderous spark in her eyes. Though her knee was pressed against Hiten's abdomen, she couldn't even push him away. Still, she managed to move her leg in such a way that she smashed her ankle against his groin. Though it wasn't her most powerful kick, it was enough to make Hiten clench his teeth.

"Damned slut..." he growled, leaning back.

Without warning, her head was forced to turn to the side, a sharp pain erupting in her cheek when the back of Hiten's hand made contact with it. Out of reflex her eyes filled with tears, but she caught the chance to try and slip away from Hiten's grasp. Reaching forward, the youkai buried his hand in her hair, pulling her off the bed.

"You're rather full of yourself, aren't you? Guess I'll have to teach you some humility..."

Even from that position, Sayuri glared at him which only further fueled his anger, until he couldn't hold back from smashing her into one of the bed posts. He hadn't given up on his plan to rape her right there, on Sesshomaru's bed, but he needed a bit of time to recover from that kick. So why not break her, while he was at it, and wipe off that proud gaze from her face? About three hours later, Sayuri could hardly feel any part of her body. And still that murderous glare refused to leave her gaze. Wrinkling his nose, Hiten finally threw her onto the bed.

"Tch... stubborn mutt." he growled.

As much as she wanted, Sayuri couldn't even put up the slightest resistance anymore... her muscles simply refused to cooperate with her brain. By then, Sesshomaru had finally sighted the castle towers amidst the trees. He could sense Raiten's youki near the front gates and Hiten's somewhere in the castle. He would deal with that incompetent bastard first... changing direction, he now reached the castle through the grove that stretched from the garden, so as to avoid the front yard.

When Hiten finally removed the spear from his back and leaned it against the wall, she knew what was going to follow. She closed her eyes, but even that failed to hide her tears. How would she ever erase that shame, not for her own sake, but more importantly for Sesshomaru? Her regenerative power was taking effect, but not fast enough to ensure that she could at least try to stop Hiten.

"Now... where were we?" he smirked, crawling over her.

Her willpower alone was what gave her enough strength to slap the youkai, taking him by surprise. Rubbing his reddened cheek, Hiten barely held back from smashing his fist into her face. Licking the corner of his lower lip, where Sayuri's claw had pricked his skin, he spat out the blood, baring his fangs at her in a grin.

"Still feisty, eh?" he chuckled grimly. "I like that in a woman."

'Sesshomaru-sama... where are you?'

Even now, after all those years, her words were shaky even in her mind. She closed her eyes tightly, as though she was hoping it was all just a bad dream. But it wasn't... and that wasn't the same day, so long ago, when Sesshomaru had come to save her from Hiten. No, this time he wasn't coming... this time Hiten would have his way. As much as she tried to deny that, reality was bent on sinking its teeth into her mind. She could feel Hiten's hand grasping the edge of her breastplate to pull it off, but the next moment his weight vanished from her body, followed by a low thud.

Her eyes once more snapped open to see Sesshomaru standing next to the bed, his arm extended as he held Hiten by his throat against the wall. The scent of his rage came crashing down upon her, just as it had so many years before. He was there... he was really there to save her again. The only difference was that this time Hiten was up for a fight. Swiftly reaching for his spear, he slashed it horizontally at Sesshomaru, forcing the Taiyoukai to release him so as to avoid the hit.

Once he was free, he rushed out of the room to go join his father. He knew Sesshomaru would follow him, and he had no doubt that his father could take that mutt down without any trouble. The scent of his mate's fear, mixed with that of her blood from her cuts and bruises, ultimately convinced Sesshomaru to take a moment to comfort Sayuri before going on pursue of the two thunder-youkai. In the very instant that he sat on the bed, the girl simply threw herself into his arms, holding him as tight as she could. His gaze slightly dulled with pain, at the sight of her numerous wounds, but still he couldn't hold back from wrapping his arms around her.

"I have to go, Sayuri."

Shaking her head, the girl now raised her teary gaze to him.

"Don't... please, Sesshomaru-sama."

Trailing the back of his fingers along her reddened cheek, he now leaned down to offer her a loving kiss.

"I will return, I promise." he whispered, before moving to his feet and leaving the room.

On his way to the front yard, he briefly eyed the Tessaiga that now swayed against his hip, along with his own katana. He'd tried to copy one of that blade's attacks, namely the Kaze no Kizu. But now, he did have to wonder... would the real Tessaiga reveal the secret of that attack to him? Would the blade deem him powerful enough to wield it and make use of that technique? Touga had yet to tell him, after all, that the Tessaiga submitted to the will of its wielder, if that wielder had something to protect.

Outside, Raiten now waited at the gates with his arms crossed. He would indulge Hiten's fight with Sesshomaru... yes, his son had asked for his help to take down the young Lord. And he wouldn't have accepted, had it not been for Touga's deep humiliation. Such a disgrace could only be purged through blood... and Touga would suffer at the loss of his only child, for shaming the Thunder Clan.

As the youki of the manor grasped at the young Lord and the sword of his father, which he carried, he closed in on the lit doorway. His own youki responded, reaching out as if expecting the power of his ancestors to guide the heavy sword, which was lightened by his rage as he took it up to his shoulder. Then, when the light of the sun engulfed his form, he arrived outside. Golden oculars settled on Raiten and Hiten, seething with his hatred. She had chosen him, and yet they haunted him still... the voice of his own energies rose in his very soul, touching only his own ears.

"Defeat them, and greatness and vengeance will be yours!"

Grinning, Hiten twirled the spear in his hand.

"So you finally showed up, mutt. You could've acted like the mannered brat you are, and waited till I was done with the lady."

Even with that outward demeanor, Hiten still remembered how he'd always looked up to Sesshomaru as a role model, for his seemingly native strength and desire for power. But no more... they weren't kids anymore they were men fighting over a woman. Raiten himself remained silent... for now he would only watch, waiting to strike if his son needed him. He'd once cared for Sesshomaru as he did for his own children, but Touga's refusal had completely erased that feeling in his heart. To think women held such power as to drive men who once considered each other brothers, to seek the death of one another.

"In this place and this fang..."

Taking up the blade to point its tip at Hiten, Sesshomaru grimly spoke toward the other youth.

"...Is the full power of my family. The Western Lords of the past and present are with me. I will bring down all of their might on you! Hiten!"

Now he bared his own fangs, however inadequate they were in comparison to the sword. He'd give Hiten the first move, then pick an opening when he finally did come. However... Raiten was right there, and if that man intervened, he knew he would have to fight both of them. But, now... he could win. They'd pushed him too far, for him to fail there. He refused to shame his noble bloodline, by losing to them in his own home. Allowing his grin to tone down, Hiten now raised his arm twirling the heavy spear above his head, whilst high in the heavens dark clouds gathered to veil the sun.

Once the entire sky was covered, as far as the eye could see, Hiten brought the spear down, smashing the blade into the ground. A pillar of electricity rose from his body to pierce the clouds, from which a rain of lightning bolts soon began to shower upon the entire yard and part of the forest beyond the ancient walls. Unable to rest, Sayuri now watched them from one of the windows, one of her hands clenched over her still cringing heart, while the other covered her mark. She could feel Sesshomaru's youki stirring inside her, making the tiny scars pulse, only further fueling her anxiety.

Sesshomaru's silence was punctuated by the flashes of light reflecting off his father's sword as he once more shouldered it, freeing one hand. While the lightning struck down around them, it didn't quite reach the young Lord, even as it landed between them. When the dust and dirt rose from that, there was a shimmer to cut through it, the ribbon based upon his index and middle finger slicing through on its way toward Hiten's left thigh. As he had mastered the technique on the field of war, it was sharp enough to slice both legs off, if it could only hit home. His youki spoke to him, and yet, he was too focused on his efforts to break his foe.

With an annoyed huff, Hiten swept his hand toward the youki whip, two lightning bolts falling from the heavens to strike it, deflecting the aim just enough to allow the thunder-youkai to leap to safety.

"I know all your tricks, Sesshomaru. We grew up together, remember?" he grinned.

With that, he now charged his opponent, aiming to impale the massive sword with the tip of his spear which now crackled with electricity. Raiten somewhat narrowed his eyes. Why wasn't Sesshomaru using the sword? He'd seen Touga wielding Tessaiga before, but why wasn't the young Taiyoukai making use of that devastating attack? He could only hope Hiten would take advantage of that weakness.

Swinging the Tessaiga, Sesshomaru used raw force for the purposes of clearing the dust, as well as repelling Hiten's spear by hitting its shaft, its organic composition and youki dulling the effects of his adversary's power to a tingle. Using one hand to do that, it was from just behind the blade that his glowing claws came into view with that acidic venom. It would've been ironic to slay Hiten in the same manner as Manten, but he wasn't one for humor right now. As was told by his rapid, snake-like strike, he wasn't playing around, and was somewhat banking on that strike finishing him off. At the very last moment Hiten noticed that telltale glow, and managed to pull back with just his light blue sash touched. As the crisscrossing material slowly disintegrated along his armor, he tore it off and threw it at Sesshomaru's feet.

"Tch..."

"Focus, Hiten."

Raiten's voice made the young thunder-youkai cringe inwardly. He was not going to be mocked by that mutt in front of his father! Extending his arm toward Sesshomaru, he charged an orb of lightning which soon shot like a bullet at the inu-youkai's face. At the same time, due to his rising anger, the clouds above became lit by lightning more and more often, some of those bolts striking down in random places since Hiten had yet to command them.

Sesshomaru jumped upward with immense speed at the attack, before taking up the great weapon. Though angered, he wore a calm visage now, the edge of his vision dimming as he rushed forward with his father's speed technique, carving down Hiten's right arm along the bicep, inner elbow, and forearm, before ripping out the blade, furthering the severity of the wound. Though his lips did not, his eyes smiled at this injury, his youki rumbling with pleasure as the blood tainted his white kosode.

Even Sayuri cringed at Hiten's painful shout, averting her gaze from the blood that now gushed from his wound. Somehow managing to move away, he skillfully made use of lightning to force the severed muscles into obeying his commands, despite the sharp pain which made him feel as if his very brain was about to decompose.

"You damned mutt..." he growled through clenched teeth.

Grasping the spear's shaft with his slightly trembling hand, he violently lowered the tip toward Sesshomaru, several dozen lightning bolts – equal in power to his rage – converging upon the Taiyoukai from the clouds above. Even before the dust cleared completely, he saw the blood dripping onto the ground.

'Keh... not so light on your feet, eh Sesshomaru?' he mused, while his lips curved into a sinister grin.

Though he could scent his own blood, Sesshomaru was now able to hear his youki as it pulsed around him, his body smoking even as he still stood. Then, with a burst, it erupted around him, ominously loosing its tendrils to strike out at Hiten. A growl came to Sesshomaru's voice as he narrowed his eyes in anger.

"I will hear you scream when you die, just as your brother did!"

The air around him sizzled as he unleashed a wave of venom from his pores, much like miasma. For a moment both Hiten and Raiten merely stared at Sesshomaru, upon hearing those words.

"M... Manten?" Hiten muttered.

Hadn't they left him at home because he was too young to be in a battle like that? Beyond the rage that now flooded his body, just as his youki flooded his eyes like blood, two tears slid down the youkai's cheeks.

"How dare you... touch my brother? Curse you, you damn mutt!"

His shout resounded in the booming thunder above, making Sayuri cover her ears, her heart twitching painfully. It was the first time even Raiten had seen his son losing all grasp on his rage, but even so he conjured a lightning bolt in his hand, holding it as if he was holding a spear. Touga's son would not live to see another day, for that crime... with a wave of his hand, two bolts fell from the clouds, in between Sesshomaru and Hiten, the blast dispelling the miasma wave. Yes, Sesshomaru was powerful and he had many tricks up his sleeve, but Raiten had the advantage of age. He'd not only amassed great power, but also much experience in battle.

Had Hiten just said those words to him? Sesshomaru had been enraged before, but now his youki was so wild, that it actually gave a bitter taste to the air. Letting out a battle roar of his own, he brandished the Tessaiga, focusing into it until a blue aura blazed through that legendary weapon. With a vertical swing that planted the edge in the ground, a tremendous wave careened forth at Hiten, crushing upon and exploding against him. He'd destroy them... he would kill those two, that day.

At the very last moment Raiten had managed to encase his son in electricity which was supposed to act as a shield. But Sesshomaru's attack came too fast and took him by surprise, thus more than half of that energy was left for Hiten's body to endure. Finally enraged enough, Raiten himself now charged the young Taiyoukai. He would not lose the only son he had left, to Sesshomaru. As a tribute to his centuries spent on the battlefield, he quickly eyed an opening in Sesshomaru's defense, since he was so focused on Hiten. The lightning bolt in his hand broke into thousands of electric shards, that now impaled the inu-youkai's body, quite a lot of them hitting their target. It was now that Raiten stood between Sesshomaru and Hiten, forging another lightning in his bare hand, his gaze glowing with murderous intent, though his expression was like an emotionless mask.

With the pain rattling his body and electricity seizing his muscles, Sesshomaru could only snarl at the man. It seemed that the battle was now between the two of them, though with his youki so unrestrained, he was able to stay mobile after that frankly crushing attack. His body couldn't take too many more of those, though he seemingly shrugged it off as if it were nothing. When his muscles were finally under his control again, he eyed Raiten.

"...I'm going to send you to the underworld. Then you and your sons... can mourn your dead bloodline together, forever."

Without any words, Raiten's image now blurred in front of the inu-youkai's eyes, homage to the man's dazzling speed which so far only Touga had ever matched. It wouldn't be more than a moment before he impaled the lightning in his hand into Sesshomaru's body.

"Your hate dulls that blade... this sword is useless in your hands."

It was all he said before withdrawing to check on his wounded son, the lightning slowly disintegrating into Sesshomaru's body to cause massive internal bleeding. With his blood soaking into his clothes and the ground beneath his feet, the Taiyoukai scowled to the demon, his own body numbing.

"My hate... is my power, against ones like you. I don't hate you because you oppose me... I hate you for what you let your son do to Sayuri..."

The instant he said her name, the vortexes of his youki and Raiten's illuminated his vision. It took him no more than a few moments, to eye the narrow space where the two whirlwinds collided, causing sparks of energy to fly. His hands, seemingly having a will of their own, didn't want to hold the sword, though he forced them. Raising it, he squeezed the hilt, his voice echoing into every corner of the castle, augmented by his boiling youki.

"She isn't... some common human girl you can just bend to your will, and take for your pleasure. She's my woman... mine... SAYURI!"

Wow, mindblowing or what? xD The following chapter will tear both your mind and heart out, I promise ;D *evil cackle*

Ahem... where was I? Oh yes, look forward to the next chapter which will be full of Sesshy's epicness. And reviews are highly appreciated. :)