The Ribbon That Binds Us

by Millenyra

A half demon seeking power. A priestess seeking normalcy. An assassin seeking redemption. See how the ribbon of fate binds them to a cursed jewel that will change their lives forever. A different take on a feudal fairy tale, seen through the eyes of a man to be known as Battousai. Summary credit goes to my friend, Soul. Thank you buddy. I give credit where it's due.

20. Chapter Seventeen

Hello once again my darling reviewers. *insert heart here*. I'm really sorry for the wait, however, you'll be glad to know that the next chapter is just below. But first, I'll see if I can answer some of your questions and or concerns. Don't fret, I won't keep you too long.

Inu Battousai, my dear sweet reviewer, It's fairly hard to surprise him now. Think about it, he's spend about ten to fourteen years in the strange feudal era filled with demons, watching Kaede grow into a beautiful (at least to me) priestess. He's fiercely loyal to her, in a sense I guess you could consider him a bit of a samurai protector or something. As for the blood sucking Myoga does, perhaps... And yes, Kenshin is very curious about dog boy.

Zanza, my reviewer. Yes, Ol Fluffy has indeed appeared and so has the annoying frog/imp. Fun fact (that you may or may not already know): Inu No Taisho aka "Toga" or "Touga" is actually voiced by Jaken. I know, it's shocking. I was surprised too. As for whether or not battousai will "come out to play", is going to be revealed in future chapters. or just one, perhaps. We'll see. I also took at the fan art, and it looks good. Love it!

Now, I'll see you at the end and without further adieu... Here it is! *smiles and waves* Enjoy!

Last Time:

That was the moment where the wind picked up and with it a scent was carried, but only to the knowledge of InuYasha. The next moment he leapt down to shove her face in the dirt, with a loud "get down!". Something that was loud enough for the human ears of a man remaining in the shadows.

"InuYasha!" she sent him a glare through her dirt ridden face.

"Something's comin', can you feel it?"

Looking up, Kagome gasped in seeing something in the sky, something that resembled a carriage passing before the moon. Upon closer inspection there were about up to five small creatures surrounding the cart, only one carried with it a flag of sorts. What caught the attention of the red clad boy was what he saw inside the carriage, it couldn't be... Slowly he stood up and took only two steps ahead with disbelieving eyes.

"Mo... Mother?"

The Ribbon That Binds Us (Reunion Between Brothers)

Kagome blinked a few times from her position on the ground, where she'd been left by InuYasha. He was acting strange and not only that, but did she hear him right? Had he really said mother? The school girl pushed herself up on her knees and glanced up, much like what InuYasha was doing. The clouds moving in a circle in the sky, or at least it seemed that way. The man hidden in the shadows had also looked on, and squinted from his position to see that a woman with long black hair, adorned in a numerous layers of kimonos and so on, sat in the carriage. The male moved his sights on InuYasha in time to notice his ears twitching to the voice being carried from the carriage in the sky. Suspision growing by the minute within him.

"It is you! InuYasha!" she moved as if feeling the urge to go to him however, the woman's actions were quickly halted by the chains keeping her still, even as they tightened around her frame causing her to cry out in pain.

Both InuYasha and Kagome ran closer, and InuYasha repeated his last line while Kagome could only stare, much like what he was doing, come to think of it. He on the other hand, seemed quite a bit more concerned and frightened but could you really blame him? It was his mother after all.

"It can't be, your mother's dead... You told me that yourself"

InuYasha felt his brow furrow a bit further as confusion set in. Kagome was right. He'd told her that his mother had died but then... Who was that in the carriage? That woman looked exactly like her! What was going on!?

"InuYasha!" the woman screamed again, more horrified as she felt the carriage being lifted up higher.

Moments later a three fingered hand descended from the sky, one with sharp, deadly claws and dark skin. InuYasha and the other two watched in horror as the carriage which carried his alleged mother was crushed to pieces, leaving only her form in the palm of said hand. It was then revealed that it was the hand of an ogre with a tan brown messy mane with red eyes and pointed ears. It wore nothing but a loincloth of it's size. That was the moment where the red head rushed to the duo standing there, merely staring. His blue eyes stared up at the woman who seemed to have lost conciousness, that gave him very few precious moments to take in how young she looked. And her attire... They were many and very elegant. InuYasha would have growled at Kenshin if it were not for the fact that his mother could very well be in danger, yet... was she really his mother?

"Oh no! He's going to hurt your mom!" Kagome yelled out.

"No he's not!" InuYasha finally growled out and ran forward to jump through the air, intending to free his alleged mother.

His save of her was cut short when a blast of flames was shot right for him, he was quick to dodge despite his intial shock. Another short lived ball of fire was sent in his direction, in which InuYasha was forced to leap back further. His feet landed a little rough among the dirt but his soles had grown used to that sort of abuse, for the most part. InuYasha though was left in a crouched position on his spot some ways away from Kenshin and Kagome. He glanced up to his attacker, with forrowed brows as the sounds from the singed earth reached his ears. His mother temporally forgotten.

"You missed!" His amber eyes falling over to the green skinned retainer on the arm of the ogre.

"Jaken" came the stoic voice of a mightier demon.

"Yes Mi'Lord?" the lower demon turned his nervous eyes on the one clad in white whose arms were crossed within his sleeves.

"Once we're through, I want him dead"

"Yes Mi'lord..." came his nervous tone again.

"It is you... Sesshoumaru!" InuYasha stared from his position on the ground, but grew more aggressive.

"Indeed, I've quite missed you as well... Little brother" the taller demon ended with a small smile.

Kagome and Kenshin stood some distance away still somewhat worried for the woman in the Ogre's arm, even more so where the red head was concerned. He took one step forward, partially tempted to rush ahead and attack the beast yet he knew better. That demon in white, seemed not only powerful judging from his stature but also... Smart. That combination in his kind was extremely dangerous. Kagome on the other hand approached InuYasha side, whispering something to him, or perhaps to herself. Sesshoumaru on the other hand, from his spot on the ogre's shoulder, narrowed his eyes at the pair.

"A mortal, how interesting"

"Yeah, what of it?" Kagome stated bravely, rising a hand to grip at InuYasha's haori.

"Others would be shamed, but with you little brother the girl quite suits you"

Suddenly his mother was lifted by the chains surrounding her, causing some pain. Kenshin had to resist the urge to rush in again and slice them apart but that was growing increasingly difficult when all he saw now was a certain person in the grasp of that beast. The part of him he thought was buried, sought to come out.

"These human creatures, I should think you've had enough of them. Or is it a taste from father?"

InuYasha unfortunately could not deny nor agree to that comment, espicially considering that this was his brother. A heartless bastard. He instead settled for a low growl with a glare directed to Sesshoumaru. In that time Kenshin was not only trying to hold back his urge to save that woman immediately but to think of a plan to go about that. Kagome looked at InuYasha in that time, with a bit of a surprise stare mixed in with a slight bit of sadness due to this situation. Then she noticed him stand a little bit more upright, his right hand rising from the sleeve to show his fingers twitch somewhat, perhaps a sign he was itching to claw at his brother.

"That's not all, is it? You couldn't have come all this way just to tell me that!" the halfling clad in red glared up at his brother while clenching his fist so tightly it was shaking with anger.

"Be not a fool, I've no such time to waste. The tomb of our father, where must I seek it?"

"Our father's tomb?! Why ask me?!"

"Seeing yet never seen, protected yet never known to it's protector. No other clues are known"

"I've got no idea what you're talkin' about, besides even if I did there's no way I'd tell you!" InuYasha ended, pointing a finger to his brother.

"I see. Then you leave me know choice but to let your mother's suffering convince you." with that he moved his right arm from the sleeve and moved swiftly to whip the ogre's cheek.

In reponse to the abuse, the beast cried out and clenched it's three fingered arm around the dark haired woman, causing her to cry out in turn. Kagome let out a gasp and turned to InuYasha who seemed to be quite a bit more relunctant to just rush in now. On the other hand Kenshin, clenched his fists tightly on the verge of forgetting the plan and going ahead. He looked over to the silver maned halfling who merely stood there.

"InuYasha!" the school girl yelled out in concern.

"Nice try, jerk! She's been dead for years and we both know it! Like I'd really fall for some stupid trick like that!"

"A trick, is it?" he let a small smile rise upon his lips.

"You're whose stupid! Recalling spirits from the netherworld is simple, if you are Lord Sesshoumaru. He was even so kind as to give her flesh and yet her own son would deny it. How sad to be mother to one such as you."

The dark haired mother struggled to reach to InuYasha, through her binds and pain, catching the attention of the trio. Even more so when she cried out her son's name. Shock arose along InuYasha's features, his ears moving to the sound of her voice.

/ Then maybe... It is true! /

The woman still saw some doubt in him, or so it seemed that way, and she thought to purge it entirely. With a smile rising from red painted lips she spoke again.

"I have come back, InuYasha. Back from the world of the dead." said the woman before the chains tightened around her and caused her more pain.

Kenshin could take no more of this, and intended to move towards them and find out a way to free that woman. Dog boy's mother, it would seem. InuYasha, however, beat him to it. He leapt up in the air with an angry scowl, and furrowed brow. The familiar golden arch of his attack reached the ogre's arm, which caused a chain reaction of sorts. First the arm fell to the ground with the small imps around his mother squealing from the fall while the loud screeching of pain from the ogre filled the night air. His mother was freed and the three small imps rushed off in fear, even more so when Kenshin and Kagome approached. The red head looked her over, just as Kagome did. Just as they were about to ask her to be sure, InuYasha's voice reached them.

"Kagome, you and her get out of here!"

"I think not."

With that having been said, Sesshoumaru rose his arm with that eerie green glow around his hand that quickly reached to the point of his claws. He moved his arm to the side swiftly and hit the ogre's face, causing it to screech out in pain. Even with that Sesshoumaru did not let up, he leapt from the beast and once again, relentlessly hit his face with the glow of youki twice.

"And you, you worthless."

He soon returned to his shoulder even as the beast screeched out in pain, and soon a three fingered claw moved quickly towards Kagome and InuYasha's mother. Kenshin was quick to move in front of the two, drawing out his reverse blade sword. InuYasha was quick to react too, screaming for his mother. He leapt over only to be hit by the the palm of the looming demon ogre. Before then, his mother had opened her eyes to look over and cry out for him in much the same fashion. Kenshin turned to move and brace the two women but was met with a light orb expending outwards from her hands with some kind of flower shielded within it. The scream coming from InuYasha was all they heard before all went white then faded to darkness.

Little time had passed and two triangle shapes moved from the head of a red clad halfling, whose eyes slowly opened. He rose his head slowly and pushed himself up with little trouble. One look around told him that they were not anywhere near the village, and the entire area was filled with nothing but lush greenery, trees and a lake with lilypads accompanied with water lilies. Further off from his current position was a gazebo standing proud inches above the water's surface with a small bridge that led back to land. There was a light fog surrounding the area, yet he could still see around him.

"This place... Where is it?" curious amber eyes looked around him, taking in what he could.

A rustling behind him, caught his attention. Glancing back he noticed his mother approaching, with a solemn look on her face.

"We are at the border of the spirit world... I must be crossing over it very soon.

"Crossing over?... Oh right, it happened so long ago I keep forgetting you're dead" he repeated before standing upright to face her.

With that having been said, she turned and proceeded to walk from him yet knowing he would follow. InuYasha took one quick glance at the two laying amongst the grass, still unconcious. He couldn't bring himself to be angry at the red head laying there, he'd been reunited with his mother. The halfling clad in red soon followed after his mother, expecting to stay with her until she would pass over.

"InuYasha, you... You have become a man, haven't you?"

"Well, yeah... I guess when you died, I was still just a kid, right?"

"Such terrible, violent days... And you, all alone with no one to care for you" she stopped in her stride when those last words slipped through her lips, and her head lowered slightly with eyes closing.

There was a brief pause between mother and son, and it prolonged for a short while. InuYasha could almost feel the sadness radiating from her. Slowly her eyes opened again, and she turned to face him.

"How can you ever forgive me?"

He was caught off guard by that, eyes widening but he quickly regained his composure. Turning away slightly, he crossed his arms into his fire rat sleeves with a bit of a scowl. Perhaps due to her mention of the past...

"It weren't that big of a deal, I mean..."

"InuYasha..."

At the sound of his name leaving her lips, his ears moved again and he turned his head to look at her. Either brow was lifted in surprise as she stared at her. Meanwhile with the other two amongst the grass, one stirred awake though as her eyes opened, it remained a blur but soon cleared to reveal better image of her surroundings.

/ InuYasha's mother... She's okay / she thought.

That was a great relief however, when Kagome attempted to move, it was like her body was frozen. Not even a finger could be lifted. Kagome looked ahead, towards where the two stood. The closer she looked, the more she saw what she'd not expect to see. There, in the water, sat no reflection to the one InuYasha believed was his mother. Kagome attempted then to call out for the halfling, yet not a sound escaped from her mouth. Not even a whine or a squeak. A feeling of dread filled her as that woman whoever she was approach InuYasha.

"Mother..."

"Partings are never easy, wouldn't you agree?"

InuYasha's ears lowered somewhat before turning slightly away from her, while Kagome was left to watch it all, happening. Her eyes, wide with shock yet she could do nothing to help. That was perhaps the worse feeling one could get.

Back in the other world, a few dozen village men were carrying torches and searching for Kagome. It was night so they needed that light in order to see. Few of them called out for her, though two in particular found the strange pink contraption that Kagome had brought from "her world".

"Oh, no"

"Over here!"

The two waved over most of the men to the strange two wheeled contraption, talking amongst themselves for a short time before one turned to see Kaede approached. Her arm remained in the sling but she seemed a little better. Kaede glanced down to the bicycle with a curious stare that was quickly over taken by concern. The villagers stood there for a time while she seemed to be looking for any other sign that might have been left.

"Lady Kaede?"

"I doubt that she would just leave this here, where could they have gone?" her eyes slowly fell onto the pink bicycle left alone on the ground.

Concern filled her features which in turn worried the villagers that stood there. Did this mean that Lady Kagome, was in trouble? Was InuYasha not with her and where had Kenshin gone?

Returning to Kagome, she still could not move and only watched in dismay as whoever that woman was, reamained close to InuYasha. For a short time, they both remained as they were. InuYasha stared at whom he believed was his mother, and that woman lift her head to glance up at him.

"InuYasha... I must return now to the Netherworld"

"Do you... Have to?"

Slowly, she lift her arms to and allowed her hands to be seen. A light colored flower took shape above her small hands and carefully, his mother lowered it to the water of the lake where the petals parted and floated above the water's surface which in turn created a gently ripple effect. That was around the time where Kenshin awoke from his spot on the grass, not too far off from Kagome. Blinking a few times, he took in the surroundings, quietly watching the happenings. InuYasha was a ways off from him and Kagome, and talking to that woman. When he tried to move, he could not speak out either. This was very strange.

"The petals, look into the water"

There was no more hesitance in InuYasha's actions as he moved and knelt on one knee by the water's edge, once approaching it. Surprise filled his features when, slowly but surely, the ripples gave way to a old memory long since forgotten. There was a ball bouncing on the ground with a young InuYasha seen chasing after it. Eventually showing the ball roll over an arch bridge where the young halfling continued after the round object, soon catching up and picking it up in his small clawed hands. After a short minute, he turned to look over his shoulder to his mother standing among the flowers watching him. Soon, he tossed the ball and ran over to her where she reached out to him, bringing him comfort.

Eventually mother and son found their way to a fairly large above water gazebo, either one watching the peaceful movements of the water. Young InuYasha sat ahead of her, while his mother had her arms wrapped around his torso.

"That's me... Back when I was still small"

"You remember, that's good. As a child, I often held you that way"

Retunring to the reality, InuYasha felt the familar feeling of his mother's arms wrap around him in a comforting manner. He began to feel safe. Too safe, much to Kagome dismay and Kenshin's curiousity of the situation. Though he was growing a little... Irritated and concern that he could not move much less speak. If that was not the case he would have helped Kagome.

"I held you to my heart, just as I am doing now"

InuYasha shut his eyes and turned to face her, perhaps in order to embrace her in his arms too yet as he did, she was prepared. The woman's hands slowly sunk into his back, through clothes and all, causing some ammount of pain for InuYasha that eventually subsided. Which shocked Kagome whom was watching alongside a surprised yet speculating Kenshin.

"I'll never let go, not now... Not ever" the woman whispered.

"Mother..." he mustered out before allowing himself to drift into unconciousness against her.

/ I'm still suck... Why can't I move? /

Suddenly, she finally noticed the appearance of chains around her form, along with the few imps holding her still and checking if they would hold just fine. Kenshin was unfortunately beginning to see the same thing she was somehow while also taking notice that the world was warping into something... Darker. The once clear lake turned into a dark watered one, with skulls of dead animals here and there. Even the grass and trees were not spared.

/ It's an illusion... This place, his mom... All of it! /

While she stared blankly ahead, Kenshin was comtemplating on his course of action when he was freed from the spell. Though judging from their situation, it could take a while and he'd rather not think of what could happen when that woman was done with InuYasha. Come to think of it, where was that demon male that resembled InuYasha so much. Could he be hiding somewhere in the shadows? And where was that imp? His eyes grew wide suddenly at the feel of a small sting on his cheek and he rose to smack it off. Upon doing so, realizing that he could move for whatever reason. Looking to his palm, he noticed the little flea. Myoga was his name as he recalled. Popping from his flat form, Myoga was quick to jump over to Kagome without offering an explanation yet. Kenshin removed the chains with ease and stood up to dust himself off then walking over to Kagome to make sure she was fine. Thankfully she was. The red head watched as Myoga drunk from her cheek in the same fashion and much of his reaction was repeated on her part. Kenshin would have probably gave a smile and a light laugh, if it were not for the situation at hand.

"What do you know? I'm less paralyzed then I thought"

"Hate to hear it..." he said in some ammount of pain, floating to the ground.

"Are you alright, Lady Kagome?"

Kagome pried her eyes from Myoga's floating form, with her brows lifting somewhat. So, he was trapped too, then? After a short moment of staring, she nodded and moved her sights on the two forms several feet away. The creaking sounds from the water was heard some ways away, and they were approaching.

"My boy, my precious boy..."

As soon at the boat hit land, Jaken quickly leapt from the boat and rushed over to InuYasha and the woman, where he hit her across the face with his staff of two heads.

"What are you doing?! No soul sucking until I tell you!"

"Sorry!..."

"You can have your way with him later, after he tells us where to find the tomb of Lord Sesshoumaru and InuYasha's father"

Some ways away, Kagome and Kenshin were hiding to listen in. Myoga on her shoulder, watching it all play out with them. The school girl turned to look at Myoga, with forrowed brows.

"So that's Jaken? Sesshoumaru's evil henchman?" she whispered out.

"Right! But keep your eye on his staff"

With that, Kagome nodded and Kenshin followed after her, after failing to stop her from doing anything reckless. She was quite the free spirit. Either way he did not like this turn of events, not one bit. The woman whom had entrapped InuYasha, called for him while there seemed to be a pulse and for whatever reason that had caused him to sink more into her.

"InuYasha... InuYasha, your father's tomb, where is it? Please tell me"

Within his psyche, InuYasha was held into the bottom of a lake of sorts with the elongated arms of his "mother" leading up to the safety of shore. His brows furrowed while his head turned somewhat to the side as if in thought.

"I don't know..."

"Then think harder"

"Let me see into your heart..." she said as her elongated arms made it further into him somehow and a black pearl with a faint earrie white glow sat there.

There was a brief pause, then almost immediately...

"What's that?"

"Black pearl... On the right"

"What black pearl?! Where? We need more than that! Go deeper!"

"But Lord Jaken, if I delve deeper, his spirit will be broken"

"I don't care! Do it!" Jaken shouted, with an angry scowl.

Much to her dismay, she had to. They had brought her to him, hadn't they? The woman merely wanted him to be with her, now and forever. Looking to InuYasha leaning against her, slowly sinking into her skin, she brought her arms around him.

"InuYasha, shh..."

"But mother, I can't breathe..." he said within his psyche and opened his eye in order to look over his left shoulder.

His eyes grew wide in shock upon noticing his current situation. He was being held under water, while that woman above the water looked fairly similar to his mother but her face... She had none! InuYasha turned to look under at rocks beneath him as realization hit him like a ton of bricks. That was not his mother! It was all a trick after all, then! Quickly the elongated arms grew longer in order to wrap him and her hands ended up around his neck. He was losing air so much faster that way.

"What's taking so long?! Get a move on before Lord Sesshoumaru comes back and-..."

His sentence was cut short when his staff was taken from his right hand, and just as quickly a foot found it's way to his head. That had caused him to fall forward, feeling the pressure against his head quickly being lifted and soon he found himself into the air, only to fall into the dark water due to having been hit by his own weapon. Kenshin would have let out a laugh in amusement, if it were not for that woman left to take care of. He reached for his weapon but to his surprise, with Kagome's stare, she moved back in order to swallow InuYasha into her.

"Wait! Let him go, please!" Kagome started to chase after him, tightly holding onto the staff.

Boy. Was she ever a handful. Kenshin couldn't image her when she was a child... or a toddler. He began to chase after the two, taking notice that InuYasha was slowly being swallowed in. Kagome reached her right hand out to pull at the halfling's hair, she was succeeding somewhat however, she slipped and had to release his hair into order to brace her fall. Kenshin stopped next to her, with an angry scowl directed at the woman who'd tricked them. Though... She was not really a woman, was she?

"She's sucking him into her!"

Kenshin had wished to leap at that woman and slice her in half for having tricked them that way, but despite his difference with dog boy, part of him was hesitant to strike in fear of harming a highly aggressive yet interesting potential comrade. Though he was far from admitting that aloud. He was brought out of his thoughts in hearing Myouga's words.

"Kagome! His spirit, awaken it!"

"His spirit? But how am I..."

His spirit? How would one go about doing that? One could not pierce her heart, or could they? He doubted that.

"Behold, the unmother. Born from the grief of losing children from famine and war, she seeks to fill the void within herself by taking the spirits of others. In this case, InuYasha"

"I'm with you so far but how do you suggest we..." Kagome looked over the surrounding area, and gasped at what she saw.

The three were shocked to see InuYasha's body half way through that demoness already, entirely limb and unmoving. Kenshin's brow furrowed and he reached for his sword for the second time, however another gasp from Kagome caught his attention. His eyes left the scene and fell onto Kagome who seemed to be staring at the water. Or more precisely, what the surface showed. It was her, the woman who'd tricked them, craddling a sleeping InuYasha in her arms.

"That child!... Is he... InuYasha?"

"An illusion, but yes, that's how it works"

"So, if I erase the illusion...! InuYasha! Snap out of it!" she rushed forth into the water, using the staff to splash into the water.

The moment the distortions in the water reached the illusion, that woman cried out in pain and in turn releasing hold on InuYasha. By doing so, he slipped from sinking into her body entirely. His body crashed into the ground, and Kagome was quick to rush to his side, calling his name. InuYasha took a moment to even out his breathing, then opened his eyes to reveal his eyes having paled. Luckilly with a few blink or so they returned to normal. Kenshin rushed towards them with his reverse blade sword already drawn. With InuYasha's release he could handle the situation while InuYasha got back on his feet.

"How dare she! You pretended to be...! I fell for it! I can't believe I thought she was my...!" he shouted angrily, ignoring Kenshin's appearance.

"But it was Jaken and your brother, Sesshoumaru who..."

"What did you...!?" he turned his anger on her, but that was quickly replaced with some pain.

"InuYasha" came the voice of his brother.

InuYasha's eyes grew wide while Kagome's attention moved ahead of them, Kenshin on the other hand stepped in front of the two in order to shield them from the approaching danger, his blade at the ready.

"I know where is it now" he said approaching with slow elegant steps, uncaring of the fact that he'd just used this trickery on him.

"Sesshoumaru!"

At that moment, Sesshoumaru used his agility to rush forth, Kenshin had to move aside rather quickly in order to avoid the stirk of that demon's claws, a left hand grasped onto InuYasha's throat. Quickly he lifted him into the air, with a small smile playing on his lips.

"You bast..." InuYasha managed to squeeze out.

"of all the places for him to hide it, all this time, beneath our very own noses. Or to be technical, above our very own noses. Right above, one might say. Father was determined to keep it a secret. Which is why he chose here to hide it."

Kagome was still seated in the grass, eyes wide in shock, perhaps fright. InuYasha on the other hand was glaring down at his brother, reaching up to grasp his hand over his arm. While that was happening, Kenshin pushed himself up again in time to see the scene unfolding.

"What are you talking about?! You're making no sense at all!"

"Well, little brother, since it was obviously done without your knowledge, how would you like to come with me and find out?" with that said, Sesshoumaru moved his right hand dangerously close to InuYasha's right eye.

Almost immediately a bright yellow electrical power of sorts made it's way into the eye despite InuYasha's efforts to avoid that. It was painful, awfully painful to even watch much less hear his pained scream. Kagome could do nothing either, leaving her horrified at the sight, and Myouga concerned on her shoulder. Sesshoumaru slowly drew back his hand with the electrical energy extending out with it, and eventually a small orb, or more precisely, a pearl was drawn out from the pupil. Sesshoumaru looked upon it while releasing InuYasha from his grasp, roughly he fell to the ground. His first action was to close and cover his eye, the next was to push himself up. Kagome was quick to move to his side, Kenshin soon followed suit, if only for Kagome's sake.

It was such a small thing. The electrical surge of power faded slowly and he held between his index finger and thumb. His smile never leaving his features, and a small chuckle escaped him. Perhaps indicating his excitement in this turn of events.

"No wonder searching for it beneath ground was useless. Seeing yet never seen, protected yet never known to it's protector. Our father's tomb hidden in a black pearl, deep within your eye."

InuYasha sat there with a series of growls and heavy breaths of anger, he lowered his hand and managed to open his right eye. The pupil had faded out and he could see nothing, at most it was highly blurred.

"And all for something like that!? You pretended she was my mother!"

At that moment, the faceless woman lifted herself up partially to look in their direction, just as InuYasha stood. Sesshoumaru shut his eyes indicating that he would not dignify his outcry with a response, further angering his younger half-brother. Shortly after that, Sesshoumaru opened either of his eyes to look over to an angered half-demon.

"You're not amused?"

"No, I'm not! You BASTARD!" he shouted, rushing over to swipe at his brother.

Dangerously quickly, the strike was dodged and with such ease. He had leapt in the air in order to do that, nearly immediately aimed his two fingers at InuYasha, the green glow appearing at the point of his claws and a green whip of energy was sent hurling towards him. The halfling dodged quickly, and the second one too yet the third one struck his chest, sending him flying back. Third time's the charm as they say. Sesshoumaru pulled back his arm to charge a deadly attack that did not take long at all and just as quickly aimed and shot his hand forth intended for InuYasha, however, the unmother moved in the way in order to protect him. That had caused her to shatter apart, like a fleshy clay and her body dicinagrated into nothing. Kagome gasped out in surprise and shock yet Kenshin just stood there dumbfounded. Why had she...? Slowly a piece of the cloth she'd been wearing fluttered to InuYasha's right shoulder, he was just as surprised and dumbfounded at what had just happened. Slowly his widened amber hues moved to the cloth that lay there, somewhat confused yet not entirely.

"The unmother..."

"She gave her life to protect him" Kagome stated her thoughts aloud.

"Demon spirit or not, she still had a mother's heart. And isn't protecting her child what a mother can't help but do?" Myouga said with a few nods of his head.

Kenshin's eyes had fallen on the small flea on Kagome's shoulder when he spoke. What he had said, struck home for him, in some sense or another. His eyes fell onto InuYasha whom still sat there, still as dumbstruck as the rest of them, but with this, he couldn't be blamed.

"My boy..." came the unmother's voice from the head that remained.

InuYasha moved his sights on the head, even though it seemed to be facing the other direction. Slight curiousity had set in, while his ears had intended on listening to what she might have to say though, Sesshoumaru was having none of that. His whip flew at the head that was left of her and dicinagrated it too. There was a moment of shock that surfaced across his features but that was quickly replaced with an angry scowl and a growl as he lifted his sights to his brother. Sesshoumaru landed ahead of them, not even dignifying his brother with a glance, thought the voice of that girl caught his attention.

"Hey you!"

"Kagome, don't! Or he'll kill us"

Kenshin approached at those words, and shielded Kagome from Sesshoumaru's direct sight. He may be human, but he sure as hell won't let harm come to her. The one clad in white and armor chose then to ignore them, instead focusing his attention on calling his retainer's name.

"Jaken."

The imp, his retainer was quick to retrieve his staff of two head and rush over to his Lord after his name was more sternly called out. The four that watched was highly concerned yet one in particular was slightly curious as well. Jaken offered the staff to Sesshoumaru and he took it in a clawed hand, the pearl still sat between his index finger and thumb, and a smile surfaced again, as small as it was.

"At last the moment has come" with that said, Sesshoumaru dropped the pearl on the ground.

There was brief pause as Sesshoumaru lifted the hand with the staff, before it was lowered quickly. The very end hit, causing the small pearl to turn white and the glow to expand outwards. At that moment, the man on one side of the staff opened his eyes and begun to laugh. The glow and the light soon vanished from the small round object before a portal appeared to the right of Sesshoumaru whose eyes moved towards. After a short moment of stared at said portal, he entered it alongside Jaken.

"The portal, we must move quickly before it's closed!" Myouga said upon hopping onto InuYasha's shoulder while the other two stared on, awestruck.

Silence. Silence was all Myouga received. The old flea turned to look over InuYasha's face, or what he could see from his spot. InuYasha stared ahead, towards the portal with his brows deeply furrowed, thought a moment later, he turned to look at Myouga.

"Let him, what do I care?"

"But sire!" he jumped up and down a few times while shaking his little arms.

"I'm never said I'm not goin' in there, okay! Say your prayers Sesshoumaru, you're dead!" he begun, but the end of that ended in a growl as he tore the piece of cloth that remained.

InuYasha quickly turned to look at the two that stood to his left, fully intending to tell them to stay here, however... He was met with nothing. Turning towards the portal, he was met with the sight of Kenshin watching Kagome enter the portal, or at least partially.

"What do you want? An invitation?"

InuYasha gave one look to Kenshin tho merely shrugged and turned to enter the portal once Kagome was gone. The halfling approached the portal, and all three of them were met with odd distortions colored in red, or a dark faded shade of that color. InuYasha approached Kagome and Kenshin through his flight in this space-time.

"You realize Sesshoumaru's there"

"Well duh! That's why we gotta go, no one does that no matter who he is" Kagome responded back.

"She's right, that she is"

After that had been said, white light shone through and they found themselves falling into another sort of dimension... Starting from the sky. All three were falling. InuYasha had grasped onto Kagome, to save her and him should they not be saved by something else. There was a screech from behind them suddenly and the duo was caught on the back of a skeletal bird. The same had happened to Kenshin, though his landing was a little rougher. That's when all three had the chance to take in the surrounding area. Around them was nothing but rocks, all different shapes and sizes yet further off was giagantic skeletal remains of a large beast, with full armor of it's size.

"Father"

"Those bones there are your dad?"

"What else would they be?" InuYasha regarded her, and responded with that, annoyed somewhat.

At that moment, the skeletal bird with InuYasha and Kagome at it's back did a large circle manuever, as the wind continued to brush past their frames. In Kenshin's case however, the bird merely did careful manuevers to avoid his falling off.

"Not that he wasn't alive once too but- What do you mean what else? They're huge, okay?" Kagome said turning to stare at him with a furrowed brow.

"It's true, they're huge because he himself was of incrompable stature. Here he is, in truest form. Undisgused. The treasure sword embedded in his bones, that is what Lord Sesshoumaru is after"

Both birds entered the mouth of the large skeleton, unfortunately, Kenshin had not heard what Myouga said though Kagome and InuYasha had. At least the beginning he had not. A tresure sword was it? The two birds flew through the throat and down into the darkness below. While the trio travelled, Sesshoumaru stood in the belly of his father, among pieces of various skeletal remains of what one might guess was either human or demon. Perhaps both. And there, on a pedestal of what appeared to be gold in color. The Tetsusaiga. The blade, old and somewhat worn, as was the handle.

"Here is what I had sought. At last, I shall take possession of the scared sword. The lethal, legendary sword known to kill a hundred in one stroke, Tessaiga" he finished before reaching out his right hand to hold onto the handle.

He would have the sword in his possession soon. So close, he could almost smell the blood of his enemies. After a brief pause, Sesshoumaru tightened his grip around the hilt in order to draw it from the pedestal yet the reponse he received from Tetsusaiga was what he'd expected. Small surges of lightning formed as he begun to feel a burn against his palm. Once his hand was removed from there, the bits of active lightning faded. Lifting his hand, he first took notice of the blue flame like energy that formed around his hand and the small burn that had been left on his palm.

"It's not stuck is it?..."

"Father has done his work well, the blade is insorcceled." he watched as the flame like energy faded too, leaving smoke coming from the burn that was left.

"Sesshoumaru!" came the echo of InuYasha's voice.

Glancing up, InuYasha was there, on one of the larger bones with that girl and the other one with the strangely colored hair. The halfling jumped towards him, seeking to strike his brother down with his claws, however that was dodged with ease. That had caused InuYasha to crash into the ground of skulls. This wouldn't stop InuYasha. He shot up to his feet, looking around to pin point the direction of his brother's location, fists in the air. God, was he ever aching to rake his claws over Sesshoumaru.

"Be more respectful, it's our father's tomb." he said upon his brother noticing him.

"Look who's talkin', you're the one over here robbin' his grave! Why not respect him by leaving?"

"Lord InuYasha! Look back, look back!" Myouga said as he made his way onto the halfling's shoulder.

"Back where? How come?" he asked but turned to look over at the blade in the pedestal.

"Do you see it? The blade from your father's fang! Tesseiga!"

"What? You mean this? What a piece of junk?... Tesseiga what? It wouldn't even cut paper... Wet" InuYasha approached the sword within the stone.

"Lord InuYasha. You must draw the sword, please! And you Lord Sesshoumaru, you couldn't pull it out, could you?"

"Do you mean to say InuYasha can?"

"of course, it was always intended that Lord InuYasha inherit it. He was entrusted with the tomb, wasn't he? That should be proof enough if you ask me. Now hurry, hurry and claim what's yours?" said the flea as he felt the pools of sweat forming on his brow as he chose about then to hide within the silver mane of InuYasha.

The duo still atop the bone were merely watching this scene play out. Kenshin and Kagome were watching InuYasha and what he might do. Both nearly knowing what he would do at this point and they were right...

"What entrusted? What inheritance? For all I care, he can keep the rusty piece of junk!" he said turning his head from the embedded sword, shutting his eyes in saying that.

InuYasha opened his eyes to glared up at his brother, rising a fist in the air. Evetually pointing a finger up at the white clad demon. Kenshin couldn't help but bringing his hand to his face, what a fool...

"What I do mind though, is all the other stuff! Good thing you're in a grave 'cause you're gonna die!" with that having been said, InuYasha leapt for his brother, fully intending to strike him with his claws but again, it was avoided.

"Now, was that aimed at me?" Sesshoumaru retorted with a playful tone of sorts, before he landed with grace and just as quickly moved to leap further.

InuYasha was quick to follow after him, striking at him again and again. Each one avoided like the last. On the fourth strike at Sesshoumaru's life, his brother leapt above him cause his clawed hand to crush through a bone, sending small pieces of shattered piece flying about.

Both spectators watched as InuYasha shot up again, on all fours from his previous fallen position. Quickly he looked about, searching for Sesshoumaru and he did not have to look for very long. He elegantly landed behind the halfling, turning his head to look at him. Kenshin having long ago noticed that Sesshoumaru was merely toying with him, had dog boy noticed it too?

"You fight as though you are still a child."

"You can't fight unarmed, the sword! Get the sword!"

"You shut up!"

"InuYasha! Get the dumb sword!"

"Kagome?" he asked in question, glancing up to her.

"Sesshoumaru couldn't pull it out right? If you can't hit him in the body, hit him in the ego! Hurt his pride!"

"Heh, I get it! I'll do it, if only to see the look on your face" InuYasha stated and approached the sword, pouncing over onto the pedastal.

Sesshoumaru couldn't help the small scowl that formed over his usually stoic features as his eyes followed after his brother's movements. Jaken pushed the skulls that was previously his hiding place, or something of that sort with an outcry of not wanting InuYasha to take the powerful sword in place of Sesshoumaru. InuYasha took hold of the hilt, quickly gripping it with a growing smirk upon his lips.

"I knew it! Tesseiga's fated to be Lord InuYasha's"

InuYasha pulled at the sword as hard as her could when suddenly light shone around the Tetsusaiga, even more so, where the blade was embedded. Kagome and Kenshin watched on his amazement from their spot on the bone. Did that mean he would draw it out?

As the one clad in red attempted to draw the sword out however, Kenshin had taken the chance to slip down and land amongst the bones. Due to InuYasha's grunting and screaming, they were all distracted when his landing was anything but graceful. Soon however, the light faded from the blade and anything around it. He'd failed in drawing out the sword? Well, this didn't look too good did it?

"What?"

"Huh?" InuYasha stared dumbfounded at the steaming blade.

For a short time, the halfling remained as he was but soon he found himself quite annoyed while releasing the hilt of Tetsusaiga. His features quickly taking on an annoyed stare.

"Yo... I couldn't pull the sword out, could I!" he said, snatching Myouga from his hair and proceeding then to squish the little flea between his index finger and thumb.

"Not, really... No"

"Are you done? I am." Sesshoumaru shut his eyes and rushed quickly towards InuYasha who dodged by a hair.

Sesshoumaru was quick to turn and attempt another strike, however that was avoided too when his brother leapt back to extend the distance between himself and the danger. InuYasha turned the moment he landed in order to run, the quick patter of his feet making him easily detectable by his irritated brother. The older demon though, caught up quite easily despite InuYasha's effort, he extended out his left hand and clutched his shoulder. Just moments later, the halfling found himself crashing into one of the bigger bones with an assailaint. His brother lifting his right hand with a cold, dangerous smile which soon faded into his usual stoic expression when the green glow took shape around his hand. InuYasha's eyes grew wide and Kenshin could sit back no longer, he rushed over as quickly as his feet could carry him and he drew out his sword. That was enough to serve as a small distraction after the older demon's attempt at his younger brother's life.

"If you chose to fight me, you will die" he said the moment he'd moved from the strike of the human's blade.

Kenshin turned to the right and face him, with his trademark battle pose. He was growing tired of sitting in the sidelines, watching InuYasha do all the work. Yet... This was a demon. A dangerous one at that. What had he walked into? Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes dangeroulsy on the red head who refused to stand down. Deep gold-like colored hues fell onto the blade which the strange human held. The blade was... different. It was on the wrong side? Sesshoumaru lift his sights on the red head's face, yet he didn't seem to falter with that gaze.

"Idiot! What are you doing?!" came the scream from an irritated InuYasha.

"I will not stand idly by anymore and let you bask in the glory"

"Very well." Sesshoumaru moved forth without hesitation, fully intending to strike him down.

Kenshin's actions had to be quick, and they were, if only by a hair. The poison claws tore through his sleeves however and Kenshin was quick to turn the blade and cut the piece that begun to burn through the material. Almost immediately, Kenshin returned to his battle position. Kagome blinked, amazed but InuYasha grew more irritated. When Sesshoumaru moved to strike him down, InuYasha managed to shove Kenshin away but immediately regretted it. His claws entered the halfling's abdomen while the other male took some time to recover from the shove. It was then that Kenshin moved forth to a forward strike towards Sesshoumaru, left hand against the butt of the hilt. Sesshoumaru was quick to avoid it, and that left InuYasha free to yell out against the swordsman and tell him to butt out.

Jaken watched from his position, letting out a chuckle before feeling the pressure of two feet on his back causing him to fall forth. Kagome moved from atop the imp like creature to turn and face him. Her brows furrowed at him even as he laid there for a moment.

"You coward!"

"Why you...!" Jaken retorted, moving his staff to hit her with it.

Kagome quickly enough took old of the staff in order to stop the attack from harming her.

"You stinking toad!"

"You stinking human!"

"This human's gonna kick your-..."

"I don't think so!" he retorted once again, and with one final push of the staff despite her struggles, she fell onto the floor of skulls.

While Kagome had her own little on goings, Kenshin had been knocked away. InuYasha was thankfully for that at least, now he could focus. Or so he thought, out of the corner of his eye, he'd noticed that Kagome had fallen. As silly as it may have been, she was still technically prone to injury. She was only human after all. Avoiding two Sesshoumaru strike for his chest using that annoying wipe attack, he thought it fairly safe for a moment to move his eyes to her.

"Kago-"

That was a mistake. A horrible, painful mistake. A fist pushed into his abdomen, knocking the air out and almost immediately afterwards, a rough back hand to his face. It was at that moment that Kenshin opened his eyes, and shot up while Kagome on the other end crawled to the pedestal which contained the sword. She reached for the dormant sword, grasping the hilt for whatever reason and took just a moment to catch her breath, ignoring the annoying taunt that toad over there used to get to her. Yet, turning her attention over to the fighting brothers, she noticed Sesshoumaru looming over InuYasha with an earrie glow to his claws. InuYasha being stubborn and headstrong as he was, pushed himself onto his elbows and in time to his hands. A scowl clear on his features as he made it to his feet yet remained in a crouching position, and shortly there after InuYasha took the leap. He lunged himself at his brother, intending to strike him with his claws but was met with a harsh reality. That was not going to happen.

The left hand of his brother lifted just in time, and InuYasha just helped Sesshoumaru's favor in getting a hold of him. The claws dug right into his abdomen, and tat left the halfling's eyes to grow wide as the force of his lunge moments before caused his torso and legs to move forward slightly. Slowly Sesshoumaru lifted his arm as the glow of deadly green itensified around his hand.

"The time has come. Die." with that having been said, his brother leaping into the air only to use InuYasha as a sort of cushion for the descent.

Sesshoumaru reveled in the pain that caused his brother, and even more so when he screamed out in pain. This would be the end. Cracking his fingers, claws so ready to drain the life from him. Kenshin pushed himself on his feet and ran from his spot across the large skeletal belly of skulls, but all four of them heard Kagome's scream of dog boy's name and the next thing none of them expected, the blade she held from the hilt was freed from the confines of that pedestal. With little to no force. That seemed to halt any other actions in this strange battle arena of sorts. Sesshoumaru's poison claw faded into normalcy and turned to look over at the situation. Kenshin had frozen half way towards his target to look at Kagome and her own shocked expression... She'd freed the sword.

"It just came out... Sorry" she said upon repositioning the sword upright, and turning to look at them.

Kagome stared over to the three before returning her attention to the sword she now held. All four of them were shocked, Jaken freely expressed it however, as if to convince himself of what his eyes were seeing.

"That's impossible...! If the two of them couldn't do it, how could a mere human ever hope to...!"

InuYasha realized the danger that remained and so jumped at the chance.

"Don't look at her, look at me!" pushing himself up to strike at his brother, whom merely dodged.

The frightened squeak coming from Kagome, caught the other two male's attention. Sesshoumaru was standing before her!

"Lady Kagome...!" Kenshin cried out, hoping that perhaps she'd move back or run, yet that would endanger her either way, wouldn't it?

"What are you and how did you draw the sword?" he asked, moving his eyes on the blade before regarding her again.

That made her nervous. Very nervous. Even InuYasha seemed to notice it...

"Good thing he's after her and not us, right Lord InuYasha?"

"Be quiet! Sesshoumaru, leave her alone, she's not involved in this!"

Kagome took a step away some Sesshoumaru to try and distance herself, Kenshin stood there with a sweat drop slipping from his brow. If it came to it... He'd convince himself that he would intervene.

"One step closer and I'll cut you!"

"For some unknown reason, I was unable to draw Tesseiga. Fortunately, you were unable to draw it either. It's obvious that she must die."

"You're right. It is weird she could do it, and we couldn't but she's still just a human girl! Kagome, give him the sword, there's no choice!"

"No way! Why does he automatically get to keep it? If he couldn't pull it out, it means he's not supposed to have it! He'll have to come and take it?"

Boy. She was incredibly stupid, or just incredibly brave. Kenshin was growing more concerned by the minute and he had to be careful where to step... This demon was even more dangerous than InuYasha.

"Don't be stupid! You're only a human, so back off, shut up and butt out"

"Butt ou-... What do you know, you're just a...!" She said pointing the Tetsusaiga to the one screaming in her direction but just as quickly, pulled the blade to her.

"InuYasha. Your patience with this creature is astonishing to me. You protect her, endulge her, even seem to love her. Certainly, these feelings of mercy of yours are not something I inherited from our great and terrible father." he began and soon turned his back on the girl to walk foward, and by the end, lifting his gaze to the largeness of this place.

Kenshin felt his eyes growing wide, even in the slightest at the older demon's statement. That was impossible, wasn't it? Turning his steel blue eyes onto the form of InuYasha, he seemed to have no response.

"It must have been that mother of yours. That humanmother. Who caused our father to meet his end, in this ignoble place. Her blood effects you, as well. Is it that which endears you so to them?" Sesshoumaru lowered his gaze to InuYasha.

There was a brief pause longer and by then Kenshin returned his attention to Sesshoumaru as his eyes narrowed slightly. He was the first to notice the change, and a feeling of dread filled his chest.

"When it comes to humans, I, of course bear no such weakness."

Time seemed to slow, as the older demon turned on his heel and aimed his posion blast towards Kagome. Before he could stop himself, Kenshin rushed forth just as time picked up again. He cried out for her, just as the blast begun to melt everthing around her. As she moved the sword ahead of her, a vain attempt to shield herself, Kenshin jumped right for her and chose to shield her as much as he could. InuYasha had to watch the whole thing play out before his eyes. Those idiots!

"InuYasha!..." soon that cry of hers was halted with the melting bone falling over their forms.

"Kagome!..."

Silence is was met his triangular appendages. His amber eyes shaking somewhat, the fear of loss becoming overwhelming. InuYasha clenched his fists as a growl threatened to rise from his throat.

"So fragile, don't you agree little brother?" Sesshoumaru glanced at his work.

"Sesshoumaru..." came the angry voice of InuYasha, laced with malice.

"And not just humans, half breeds too." Sesshoumaru turned slowly to face the danger.

InuYasha had enough of this. He ran ahead and lunged for his brother crying out the name of his attack quite loudly, yet just as his claws took on a bright yellow-gold color, Sesshoumaru moved to avoid it. A second later, the fur along his shoulder extended out and wrapped around the red clad halfling to pull up upwards. InuYasha found himself entrapped within his brother's reach, yet he couldn't help but send him an angry glare that was easily ingored.

"How could you think that with your dirty blood that you are my equal?"

Without awaiting a response, Sesshoumaru spun twice to send him flying into the ground of skulls. He skid across for a few feet while he attempted to stop from going further, however that only succeeded in smacking his back against bone, and crash down again. Pieces of bone that had shattered fell amongst his form while he pushed himself up to brace for the coming attack. The green whip came down onto him and InuYasha used his firerat robe for protection. There seemed to be a brief pause when Sesshoumaru chose to speak.

"You forget your station. Worthless half-breed!" with that, he sent the whip right for InuYasha's chest and watched with satisfaction when it hit.

"A half-breed, am I?" he stated more to himself after he crashed into bone and collided with the skeleton filled ground.

Utilizing his quick reflexes, InuYasha braced himself again and again, in order to avoid the strikes sent at him. Though, as he did so, painful memories he thought were long forgotten resurfaced. To taunt him, perhaps or... InuYasha stood slowly after the barrage of attacks had ceased, looking towards the melted bone. He wasn't fond of the red head, but he had protected Kagome... As for her... Slowly he grazed his claws over the bone he'd used to stand.

"Half-breed or full breed, to me, it don't matter but when you insult my mother... That's when I get angry. For her sake then, if nothing else, I'M GONNA MAKE YOU PAY!" with that said, InuYasha turned and rushed forth in a blur of red and silver.

When close enough, the yellow-gold glow returned to his claws and struck at Sesshoumaru, whom despite dodging was hit. More precisely, the chest plate that protected his person. He was shocked at the certain burst of confidence, and speed. Not that he'd admit that aloud. The older demon moved back, and leapt away in order to analyze his situation.

"That was for mother! And this, this is for Kagome!" InuYasha lunged up at his brother and struck at the chest plate again.

The friction was so great there was a yellow-gold energy that burst from it and soon faded as either brother landed. Sesshoumaru glanced down in time to see the top of his trusted chest plate crack and shatter. He felt a small smile growing on his lips and rose his eyes to look at his younger sibling.

"All that for a memory and a dead mortal girl? If I had know that's what it took to make you fight, I would have done so sooner"

That was it... his last restrains were broken.

"I'm gonna slit your stomach, take out your guts and put 'em in a bowl! By the time I'm through, you're gonna wish it was you who was dead!"

It was at that moment there was a sound to his left and InuYasha's right, Kagome and Kenshin shot out from the melted sludge. Either one took in the air that their body sought, but one in particular stood and pointed the rusty blade at Sesshoumaru with furrowed brow.

"Hey you! You tried to kill us, didn't you?! Don't go thinking you're gonna get away with it mister! Here. I think were underestimated it, don't let me down" she said while approaching InuYasha's side, handing him the sword with a smile.

"Hey... Uh, how come you're still alive?"

Kagome realized what he meant, and took a moment to look at herself, shrugging. Kenshin stood the moment clattering was heard and quickly retrieved the sword he'd dropped previously.

"The sword. That's what protected you."

"It's true, those claws of his dip deadly poison, it had to be the sword or they really would have died! Why not put it to a real test and try on Sesshoumaru?"

"Big words, for such small vermin" a pink glow of sorts shaped around Sesshoumaru, likely his youki, the moment he widened his eyes and either pupils begame slightly smaller.

Nearly immediately a tornado of skulls formed around him, several of the heads were sent hurling towards InuYasha to which he merely stood there and took them to the face. Occasionally shutting an eye when it was too close for comfort.

"Let's see if a half-breed can even wielf Tesseiga. I myself shall be the witness." as those words left the mouth of Sesshoumaru, his hair and mokomoko rose up in the air and his eyes took on a deep red color.

There were sounds of bones cracking and shifting of his form, Kenshin watched on both shocked and surprised, even more so when the glow over took the demon's body into a more solid form. Sooner rather then later, his form burst upwards and in a flash of white, he returned. Bigger. More menacing. There stood a large white dog, with a pair of airy ears and elongated tail, a dust white mane wrapped around his torso. The claws on this creature were at least the size of three long swords. And those teeth, each one looked razor sharp. How were they going to fight this monstrosity...

"He changed..."

"Good. 'Cause now we know his real form"

Kenshin mentally shook himself, no. This would and will not frighten him. Carefully he stepped closer to InuYasha who only spared him a short lived glance before turning to look at his brother again. Crouching down slightly, he shielded Kagome somewhat and with his left arm while lifting the Tetsusaiga with a smirk. That caused a reaction out of the large dog, a menacing growl and a fine look at those sharp canines, while moving a step back.

"Now that I'm usin' this, I'll win for sure. I'd say this battle's just about over before it even starts" he stated, eventually stepping back with the other two when Sesshoumaru drew close.

A single mock swipe of the sword though got him to back off, with a few barks that followed.

"You two go hide until it's over" amber eyes never leaving the white dog.

"Sure but where?"

"Here goes! This it sword, time to show me what you're made of!" he said leaping into the air and countering when Sesshoumaru pounced up to bite down on him.

He noticed two things immediately, number one, the sword had not cut and second, Kagome's high pitched screaming. Kenshin took her and jumped from the direct path of the giant paw's trajectory. InuYasha twist his body mid-air and hit the ground in a roll before making it to his feet, only then did he notice of the blade of the sword shaking with a slight sound that sounding similar to humming. The halfling stood there for a time staring at the sword in his hand, but a growl from above caused him to divert his attention in order to avoid the coming strike. Twice more, InuYasha avoided attempts at his life. The third strike however was with his mouth, Kenshin was the first to notice the strange liquid slipping out. Was it spit? The green vapor rising up proved it, and as the spit continued to slip out from the dog's mouth as he turned... That was... Poisonous spit?!

"Yo, Myouga! What the deal? This sword can't even bruise let alone cut"

"Well, uh... Lord InuYasha, I, uh... suppose that it will make a lovely heirloom, if nothing else, besides it's the thought that counts, now if you'll excuse me" Myouga started with sweat at his brow, while packing whatever belongings into a makeshift bag of sorts before jumping off InuYasha's shoulder.

"Hey, hey! Whoa!"

"And don't let that Sesshoumaru push you around okay?" he said before rushing in a zig zag motion.

Sesshoumaru growled towards the halfling with a fanged sneer, even as the strangely colored spit slipped fomr his mouth and that produced more green vapor. Finally InuYasha had noticed it too, but Kenshin was one step ahead. He'd convinced Kagome to climb up, but it had taken the vapor to do so. As either humans climbed up the vines and used whatever leverage they could, a series of growls below were heard. Occasionally, the place shook as they made their way up, indicating the ongoing battle.

Down below, InuYasha had to continuously move to avoid being stepped on by his large but speedy brother. By then the poisonous vapor had filled the entirety of the bottom, leaving little no room for InuYasha to escape it's effects. The halfling slid back after avoiding another attack, halting himself with the help of a large bone at his back, realizing that even it was melting.

"Even I can't stay down here that much longer..." he stated to himself before turning to leap his way up.

As he soared above the vapor's reach his eyes began to grow blurry, and he had to blink that away, only for it to worsen a moment later. InuYasha spun once and made it to what one would consider a ledge, where he chose there to try and catch his breath. Several times he coughed, trying to keep it together. He took a short moment or so to recover before attempting to move, realizing that his body was numbing and he could hardly move anymore. Damn...

There was an approaching rumble that soon turned into a loud growl, then came the pain. His brother had snagged him. Pain rushed throughout InuYasha's body as he felt the sharp fangs trying to pierce through his form. Sesshoumaru jumped back down into the vapor below them and glanced down at InuYasha who seemed to be screaming out in pain. He would have grinned at the sight, or rather he was already, in a sense. He relished in if for a time before shaking his head, perhaps an attempt to tear the halfling in half. InuYasha glared down at the sword he still held somehow, once Sesshoumaru stopped his damned moving.

"Even a misquito with wooden teeth must bite harder than this piece of junk!" he stated before looking to his brother where he rose his arm to pierce Sesshoumaru's right eye with the sword.

That caused Sesshoumaru to turn his right left to right and shut either of his eyes, followed by a roll in a vain attempt to immediately stop the pain. When that failed, the giant dog leapt up from his place in the poisonous vapor and eventually crashed out of their gigantic father's right shoulder. Somehow by that time, InuYasha had made it out of his mouth and now clung to the furry chin while Sesshoumaru desperately tried to shake him off. The halfling obliged and leapt back to land some feet from the hole that had been made. On the other hand, his dog brother shook his head a few times before, barking out in his half brother's direction. Kenshin followed after Kagome once they'd made it up the giant skeletal remains of those two brothers. She hid behind a bush of sorts that sat several feet away and he followed suit, in order to watch.

"Now do you see the power of Tessaiga? Hoho! You're giving Sesshoumaru what for, I hope?" said the flea that had once again appeared on a leaf from that very bush.

"Where have you been!? This thing's about as useful as a walking stick!" InuYasha shouted back from over his shoulder.

"Oh... So, maybe it isn't from your father..." said the flea as he shut his eyes and crossed all four of his arms, before sinking into the leaves and rushing off.

"Hey!"

Kenshin watched the insect run away... Again. He shut his eyes and let out a sigh. This was getting stranger by the minute.

"Why am I not surprised? In the meantime, what am I gonna do with this thing?" InuYasha stated before looking up to notice his brother coming right for him.

Quickly he avoided the giant paw, and skid across bone before coming to a stop. He had to avoid another paw soon after, due to Sesshoumaru's relentlessness. The third time however, he rose the sword to counter and did just that. Two swings from the rusty blade was enough to have his brother withdraw his paw yet Sesshoumaru used his other in order to try and crush him but that was avoided too. His half-breed brother landed near the other two, leaving him to mend his paw.

"That's it, suck it to him InuYasha! I think the first one hit!"

Kenshin looked to Kagome as did InuYasha. Her slang was so confusing to the red head yet the other male paid that no mind.

"What? Are you nuts?! That wasn't even close!"

"But the sword's yours now, all you gotta do is believe in it, like I believe in you"

"You are nuts! This sword is good for nothing! Me, I'll live, I'm half demon, you though, you ain't got a chance..."

"So I just, give up hope?" she said as her eyes lowered, feeling a familiar sting in her eye.

Kenshin's eyes grew wide for a moment before sending a glare to InuYasha that promised certain death, yet again that was brushed off. InuYasha's eyes were on her, and they had grown wide.

"W...What are you doing? You're not crying are you?... Stop crying!"

"Oh! Should I laugh!?"

"No! You should shut up and let me protect you!"

Kagome gasped at that and Kenshin's eyes grew wide again...

"Oro?"

InuYasha gave one short-lived glance to Kenshin whom had regained his composure by then, but their attention were stolen when Sesshoumaru finally drew closer, growling out his displeasure of this situation.

"You stay here and watch" He turned and walked forward, to face his brother.

Sesshoumaru backed away a little as InuYasha drew closer, he growled out to the half-breed. Piercing red eyes staring into amber-gold, and vice-versa.

"Yeah, yeah, roar roar to you too buddy. Let's get this over and done with" with that said, InuYasha moved the sword ahead of him and almost immediately, there was a pulse.

The pulses continued, like a heartbeat. The halfling pulled it closer to inspect it, even as the pulses continued.

"Tesseiga's pulsing... I can hear it, the sound from before. No, this time it's different"

"Get him Lord Sesshoumaru! Bite his little head off! Nibble on his litt- Oh!" Jaken had begun but was cut off by a skull hitting his head.

"We'll see who eats who!" Kagome stood there with two more skulls in her hands which she tossed at Jaken, while Kenshin watched from behind her with a sweatdrop at his brow.

Either one watched from their spot as Sesshoumaru leapt into the air and aimed a paw right for InuYasha, which the one clad in red tightened his grip on the hilt before leaping up to meet his brother part of the way there. One final pulse and the blade rapidly grew into a longer, sharp fang. InuYasha used it to pierce through along the leg and up before using to cut it off entirely, all the while a yellow path of destructive power followed the blade. Sesshoumaru crashed into the giant structure of their father, while InuYasha was left to land fairly safely some feet away.

"Huh? It looks like a fang..." InuYasha finally noticed the change in the Tetsusaiga, and he took the time to swing it a few times with a growing smirk.

Sesshoumaru in that time had stood, baring his fangs at InuYasha despite the large ammounts of blood that spilled from his injury. His brother tore his attention from the sword to look at him.

"It is a fang, the old man really did leave something worth while. So here we are, two brothers fightin' over father's sword, but compared to him, me and you are nothin'. Don't you get it, we're like a couple of fleas jumpin' on his body. Heh! We'd be lucky if he didn't squash us flat"

Sesshoumaru bared his fangs further, the humans forgotten and his murderous intent fully on the halfling.

"So, maybe I don't have too many memories of him, but it was me after all father chose to hide his tomb in after all. I'd rather give up an eye than give up his sword, maybe I'm not so worthless after all am I?!"

Sesshoumaru had enough. He lunged at his brother, fully intending on killing him then and there. Though InuYasha retorted with three swipes at his chest with the very sword his brother sought to take, the yellow power remained even as Sesshoumaru flew back from the force. When he was seen falling, the large dog curled while a white glow formed around him and he turned into a pearl in order to fly off in the distance. InuYasha breathed out heavily as Jaken rushed passed him in order to go after his brother. After being sure that he'd not come back, InuYasha knelt down after stabbing Tetsusaiga in the remains even as Kagome approached with Kenshin and followed suit.

"Are you okay?"

"Heheh... I take it back, so the sword's not such a piece of junk"

"You see, I was right. of course, if you'd listen earlier, you'd never have... Wait! Over there, see! I wasn't running away, I was getting us a ride home. You believe me right?" Myouga started as he reappeared on InuYasha's shoulder, only for his sentence to be haltedby his master's finger coming down on him which he stopped on time.

As the group looked on, they noticed two skeleton birds sitting there, patiently. InuYasha returned his attention to the flea with a growing smile.

"Oh, so you didn't run away"

"I didn't?" Myouga looked out to see InuYasha's smile.

Sweat drops pooled at his brow before finally, caving in.

"Okay! I admit it, I ran away! but you have to believe me, if I had know you were going to make a comeback, I would've never have left you. I'm ashamed of myself... I oughtta have more faith, please, please forgive me! If only I can make it up to you...!"

"Myouga..." the smile remained for just a moment before it was turned upside down, and the flea was crushed between thumb and index finger.

Soon the small group made it throught the portal, Kagome had convinced him to let Kenshin on his back before then, while he carried her. They landed and InuYasha was quick to push him off, unhappy with the fact he had too. The red head fell with a ouff and glared at InuYasha who ignored him, by looking to the skies were the portal vanished and the pearl reformed. Slowly it descended on them and returned to InuYasha's eye, to which he blinked the strange feeling away. Their adventure over... For now.

"So how are you doing?"

"Actually I feel pretty okay, everything's back to normal and at least now I know the old man can rest in peace"

Returning to the village, they rejoiced happily and eventually gave Kaede time alone with Kagome, Kenshin and Myouga. The school girl took time to explain to her friend, the priestess of what had occured. One question came to mind...

"How is it that ye child, were able to pull the Tesseiga? I must say, you continue to surprise me..."

"My theory is that it's because Kagome is mortal. Don't forget, Tessaiga was forged by Lord InuYasha's father as a way to protect his mortal mother. It was his feelings towards mortals that allowed him to wield it effectively"

Kenshin, whom sat by the door, opened his eyes slightly as he listened in to their conversation. So, that dog boy had a heart, yet the question remained... Why had he killed off Kikyou so long ago? This was worth investigating.

"For someone like Sesshoumaru, who could only hate humans, wielding Tessaiga was impossible"

"That is a strange story, aye. To InuYasha, his half human heritage has been a curse. His feelings for his mother has been tinged with shame... And yet, those same feelings are what make him different, that's why his father chose him for his resting place. Perhaps who most resembles the father, is not Sesshoumaru, but InuYasha"

InuYasha sat within a tree, continuously swung the sword in order to tap into it's power again but each one failed. Looking to the trunk of the tree, he swiped at it with said sword but only succeeded instead of nearly falling off the tree. He sighed out in dismay.

"I spoke to soon, it's back to being a piece of junk"

"Hey InuYasha"

"What?"

"Do you want me to tell you? You know, how to use Tessaiga?"

"since when are you an expert?" he said jumping down in fron of her.

"Well do yo promise what you'll protect me with it. Forever and ever?" she asked with a smile.

"What in the world are you babbling about? Is your brain broken or somethin'?"

"But you said I should let you protect me!"

"But I didn't mean it like that! If you shut up for a minute, I'll tell you what a sword like this should really be used for, stuff like collecting jewel shards and making me more powerful. I sure as heck ain't wasting it on babysittin' a helpless little human like you!" he said as he approached a bridge that was nearby.

Kagome felt her brow furrow, and she shut her eyes. Keeping herself from retorting, then found herself pushing him all the way at the center of the bridge. Turning on her heel, she returned to safety before shouting sit, to which he broke through said bridge and fell into the water.

"It's my fault for think I can teach an old dog, a new trick"

"What do you mean 'trick'?"

Kagome didn't respond and merely walked away from him, even as he screamed for her to tell her what the secret was.

As promised a very long chapter. I hope you guys enjoyed it, and I'm sorry if I repeated or if there are typos, I've been working on this for days. About five days to be exact. If not more. I just hope it's satisfactory for now. After this, I'm going to take a well needed break, but this is not abandoned. I have plans for the future. And receiving a little help with that, too.

Much love ~Millenyra.