Reuniting Brothers

*Unfortunately, I do not own Inuyasha and Company. Rumiko Takahashi does. (Except Koneko, she's mine.)

Koneko knew that if she didn't say something, things would be very awkward for the rest of the trip. Sighing, she opened her mouth to say…

She didn't get a chance. At that moment, Rin jerked up with a small cry, startling everyone. Both Sesshoumaru and Koneko saw what had happened immediately. Sesshoumaru growled softly to not scare Rin, but he was a little angry. Meanwhile, Koneko grinned brightly, "Myoga! What are you doing here?" Everybody watched as the small nomi demon jumped from Rin onto Koneko's shoulder.

"Ah! Hello Koneko!" Myoga greeted. "I'm so glad I ran into you. I fear you are the only one who respects me anymore." He only then noticed the glare he was receiving from Sesshoumaru and started trembling. "I- er- Lord Sesshoumaru!" Myoga nervously glanced around for an escape route. "I didn't think you would be here considering your opinion of humans."

Inuyasha smiled slightly. He didn't actually believe his brother cared for him. In his mind, this just supported that theory.

Koneko smiled at the demon. "It's ok, Myoga." she said. "It's not a secret anymore."

Inuyasha's grin faded as Myoga jumped with joy. "That is fantastic news!" he exclaimed. "It was always so hard to see two brothers fight that I would always have to leave during them."

Kagome frowned at him, "Myoga, you run from every fight."

He stopped jumping and looked seriously at her, "That may be true, but those were always the hardest." He looked around the clearing before finally noticing the mating marks on both Koneko and Sesshoumaru. "That's fantastic!" he cried out, getting excited again. "You two have mated just like the prophecy fore-." He stopped midsentence and his eyes widened when he realized what he revealed.

Inuyasha couldn't help chuckling at Myoga expression. "Relax, we already know about all that."

The nomi demon slumped with relief. "Good, I would've ruined everything. So I'm assuming you have already heard the news about what is going on in the South if you are headed there."

"We haven't, actually. It was part of the letter from Koneko's mom. What's going on?" Kagome asked.

Myoga gulped, "There has been a lot of demon activity. Supposedly there is a Miko who can grant any wish. This story has been spreading and demons are going there to try and get her to grant them a wish."

Miroku frowned, "That sounds remarkably similar to the Shikon Jewel, does it not? The jewel would grant a wish and now a Miko claims to do the same." The group nodded, frowning at what it could mean.

"Sounds simple," Inuyasha piped in after some silence. "We just go, find this Miko, and talk to her, right?"

Myoga frowned, "Perhaps, Inuyasha-sama." He looked up at the now risen moon and jumped in surprise. "Oh my! I am to meet somebody soon and I'm going to be late!" With that, he left before anyone else could say a word.

"Well," said Sango, trying to break the silence that followed, "seeing Myoga is always… interesting." Everyone nodded in agreement before settling down to sleep again. It didn't take long for almost everyone to fall asleep.

Soon, only the two brothers were still awake. Koneko had been to last one to sleep and as soon as she did, she started purring. This caused Inuyasha to glance at the couple from where he sat in a tree. Seeing Sesshoumaru lying there peacefully caused many thoughts pass through his head. This whole thing was too good to be true, wasn't it? Sensing his brother looking at him, Sesshoumaru turned towards him. Both sets of golden eyes glowed in the firelight as they caught each other. One questioning, the other calm.

Sesshoumaru suddenly found himself slightly nervous. He had spent so long pretending to hate his brother, he had forgotten how to show love towards him. 200 year-old habits are hard to break.

Inuyasha finally gathered enough courage to ask "Was it true?"

Sesshoumaru, knowing what he meant, nodded. "Yes," he practically whispered, "it's all true."

"Why?"

Knowing again, the demon sighed. "What I said before was true, but there is more. I did send you away to protect you and I did want you to come back." Sesshoumaru stared into the fire as he thought. "You were then trapped for 50 years, during which I tried to find a way to free you. I had almost given up when you were released. Then I knew you needed the sword our father left for you. I devoted all my time looking for it." He looked back at his brother who looked almost shocked. "I regret using the memory of your mother against you. You wouldn't have talked to me so that was the only way I could figure out if you knew." He sighed again and closed his eyes. "I had to do what you expected me to do. I had already known it was protected against those with evil in their hearts, so I purposely caused it to activate. I also want you to know, I wouldn't have tried to melt your now mate if I hadn't known for certain that the sword would protect her. Anything else?"

Inuyasha was reeling at the knowledge just given to him. Trying to delay and absorb, he asked softly, "And after?"

Sesshoumaru winced, knowing he would have to explain what he wanted to avoid. "After…" he murmured. Heaving another sigh, he forged ahead. "Something I am ashamed for it was irrational. I was mad at you. After all that I had done, even though you hadn't known, you cut my arm off." He didn't notice when Inuyasha flinched at this. He continued, "So when that vile half-demon, Naraku, offered me an arm for vengeance, I accepted." Sesshoumaru looked up to meet Inuyasha's dazed eyes. "I soon realized how foolish this was and joined you in your hunt for him." His gaze darkened, "Especially after I found out he was the reason you were sealed. After that, all those battles were tests. A way for you to get stronger without being in any real danger. If I defeated you, I would make an excuse not to kill you. That is everything."

They were both silent for a moment. Inuyasha tried to think of what to say to that. Sesshoumaru simply waited, knowing his brother would say something. Finally, he did but it was not what Sesshoumaru expected. "How did you meet Koneko?"

He was surprised at the direction the conversation and took a moment to gather his thoughts. He then went and described the day their father died. He hesitated before adding, "I respected your mother. She was strong for a human and had a way of getting everyone to like her. Even demons who claimed to hate all humans found themselves smiling in her company. You look a lot like her actually."

He was going continue when they heard Kagome waking up. They were silent as she stirred then sat up. She was half asleep as she glanced first at Sesshoumaru before looking up at the half-demon above her. "Inuyasha?"

He was down in a moment, crouching next to her. "Yeah?" he asked. "What is it? Do you need something?"

"No." She smiled at him. "I'm just glad you and your brother are getting along," she said before lying back down.

Inuyasha smirked at her and wrapped her in his arms. "Me too." There was a beat of silence. Then, "Good night, Sesshoumaru."

"Good night, brother."

*Nomi means flea