Two Worlds Chapter 21, an inuyasha fanfic

Remember the choice I must make… Promise… Contract…

"Ridiculous," he whispered almost as if to convince to himself, his tone nowhere near the confident, great youkai he normally was.

Unbeknownst to Sesshōmaru, there was a faint glow from the crescent moon that adorned his brow as a small thread of golden light stretched out behind flowing white and faded from around the daiyoukai's body.

A startlingly loud crack broke an oppressive silence as an enraged scream rent through the darkened throne room of the kami. A lithe, muscular form majestically arrayed in fabulous garments of living light forcefully slammed his hands onto a large carved stone table. Allowing his head to drop down to the cool, cracked stone, Masato ran his fingers violently through his pitch black hair while his teeth gnashed at his lips. His hands strayed to his majestic robes and fisted in the cloth, pulling as the light swirled in an agitated manner. However this light was oozing malice and hate while dripping with darkness that was corrupting the image of purity and holiness which was supposed to be radiating from the soft folds.

"This will not be…allowed," the kami practically spat from his mouth in a spew of spit and anger as his form shook harshly.

His legendary control, the ease of his body and the image he had painstakingly created and upheld for millennia was gone as dust in the wind. The smoothness of his deliriously handsome face was a mere memory as lines curved harshly as he barred his fangs as rage and fury drowned him in their very depths and a mad light shone brightly behind closed eyelids. The servants, the animals, even Katsuo and Seira were staying clear of him in his unpredictable and unstable state. None would dare to approach as he began his descent into undeniable insanity.

Soon, the soft click of footsteps drew his attention from his bleeding forearms to the double doors of the Great Hall just as they swung open soundlessly. Arrayed in all her majesty and glory, her power a cloak of such purity and light Masato could not help but flinch, was the Weaver of Destinies, the Manipulator and the Soul-Bounder, Fate. A stillness feel upon the Great Hall as her gaze moved over the fissures in the wall and the floor and the destruction of tables, chairs, bowls and vases, lingering over the upturned urns still smoking incense. Then, her eyes caught his and held. With a roar of an unearthly rage and such magnitude that the room shook, Masato crashed his clenched fists once again into the massive stone table but, as the force exerted was greater, the stone shattered and splintered from the points of impact. Another scream tore itself from his bloody lips as he grabbed one of the still intact larger pieces and hurled it towards the seemingly glass wall where it again broke into many more shards and a fine shower of light mixed with the stone.

"What have you done?!"

Staring at one ruler of many worlds, of the Heavens and the Earth, of life and Death, Fate allowed herself a smile.

"As expected of a creature such as you. It only took one look, but please, what did you see, O Honored Kami-sama?"

Masato growled at the subtle mockery of his title, his incisors lengthening and sharpening as his beautiful features took an animalistic edge. His torn fingernails re-grew into claws, smeared with his own blood as the smell of iron and copper rose sickeningly into the incense saturated air.

"Ever-lasting judgment and sorrow. Satisfaction. And the undeniable sheen of triumph," the kami said lowly, his words hoarse and threatening in the obvious demand for answers.

Fate merely widen her smile.

"Past and present are colliding. One who understands but does not know, one who does not know but is beginning to understand. Slowly but surely the secrets of the Moon with be revealed. And the two shall become as one in body mind and soul."

With a nonchalant and flippant gesture completely unlike her, Fate shrugged as she raised her arms, her eyes gleaming as diamonds in the night.

"So relaxed and calculating as you take measure of everything, determining their worth. Never would you expect an unexpected event because you account for everything. But," her smile widened as a small laugh escaped her, "in your arrogance and pride you failed to understand why the ones with the gift are the Silver Inus, why they have continued since their beginning when there always were so few of them."

With a swirl of her own garments, Fate presented her back to the seething kami but not before she allowed herself a small moment to cherish the feeling of victory over her enemy.

"That is because overtime any and all predictions, calculations, any enemies, people or things, even spells and curses will disappear in front of those golden eyes. The you of old would have known this, simply because he wished to know everything like the beast he was."

With a choked cry and a swift flurry of movement, Masato whirled in a great flash of light and darkness as he reached out with killing intent towards Fate. Just a breath away, so close that he could see the shock and surprise in her eyes before it registered on her lovely face. He could clearly see how surprised she was to see a part of him so old he had almost forgotten its existence. A red haze descended on his thoughts and no longer could he make out his surroundings, only the rush of immense joy that flooded his veins.

His first kill, by his own hand. The first time in his infinitely long lifetime his own hands, not one I have commanded nor by his manipulations, but by his own hands would be rob a living being of their life. He was ecstatic, so excited, why had I not done this sooner? How would it feel? The warm blood that would spill against him, the light, the soul that would fade from the body before my eyes. Will I see their sins? The darkness in their hearts? I need to know, need to find out, just a little more and my questions would be answered and I would know everything once again. Just a little more an-

At the faint rustle of heavy cloth, he abruptly stopped.

Confused, Masato stared at his hand, a few inches short from plunging itself into the body of the woman in front of him. His gaze trailed up to the dark-skinned hand clamped firmly around his upper arm. Slowly he turned his head to stare at a tall and strongly built cloak-wearing figure the shadows had hid from his sight until the moment he had grabbed his arm. The hood fell back; exposing the blank face and glittering stare of the kami known as the most violent and unpredictable. Katsuo maintained eye-contact as he slowly pulled Masato away from Fate. Pacing a gentle hand on the woman's shoulder he spoke as softly as his fellow kami had ever heard in all the centuries he had known this man.

"Are you well?"

She nodded, almost pained, the ever-lingering sadness in her eyes deepening to something almost akin to pity as she gazed at the deranged kami.

"I apologize, I did not believe something such as this would happen," she said.

Katsuo did not acknowledge her, just jerked his head down the hallway.

"You need to go; it will not be long now."

In a swift movement beyond the comprehension capabilities of the human mind, Fate vanished. Both Masato and Katsuo stood in silence, one staring at the other in stunned confusion and disbelief as the other was a blank mask. Steadily several minutes ticked by before someone spoke.

"What are you doing, Masato?"

Said kami jerked as his claw returned to normal nails and his fangs receded back into his mouth. The carved lines in his facial skin eased and a semblance of normality was grasped in Masato mind and he carefully, cautiously relaxed his body. Another moment went by and still the two men stood, one a calm and collected warrior, the other struggling to maintain clear thinking process as the darkness so clearly seen in his attire eventually stop it's assault upon the light. Blood from self-inflicted wounds dripped sluggishly onto the marble floor, staining the heavenly silver and gold with the dark scarlet, almost black liquid.

Taking a deep, steadying breath, Masato answered.

"Upon those who bear the Moon on their brow, long ago I placed an enchantment by which the power of the Moon would keep. For when a time came that it would be useful to me. However," he hissed lowly, "For the sake of the Original One, an entire species sacrificed their lives…or so I thought. As it turns out, they merely went into hiding to wait until the day where they could move against us, against our divinity. They have caused this enchantment to die!"

He looked up into Katsuo's eyes, excepting to see understanding or bloodlust, anything but the small smile upon the other man's lips.

"You lost yourself, right? Into the madness of wanting to know something and everything, of that instinct that all youkai master at an early age. You regressed into what you once were, did you not?"

With those words came an immediate change over Masato. He completely relaxed the edge surrounding him vanishing quickly and in a few instances, he was as usual. Katsuo quickly released the kami and took a step back, his eyes narrowing as the corner of his mouth lifted.

"As always, you're quite the unsavory character," he hummed, "The last piece has been added, has it not?"

A stiff nod was the only answer he received.

"Since when, Katsuo?"

At the softly spoken question, he sighed and reached up to ruffle his hair. Thick and heavy, small curls, the color gold suited the man well, even more so with his tanned skin and emerald eyes.

"He knew, you know. Even before He took us in."

There was a stifled gasp before Masato swung around, shock lining his every movement,

"What?"

At the solemnity and the regret in his face, the kami stumbled back as the other continued to speak.

"Perhaps you might say it was for us to learn. For Rika to learn what mistakes could do to a person. For Seira to learn that there are those who will retaliate against those around you when your judgment is corrupted," he spoke lightly, his gaze bearing into his fellow kami as if to convince him of the truth of his words.

"Oh really then? Then what were you supposed to learn, Katsuo?"

Masato's tone was collected and he looked every inch the one in control, the all-knowing.

"To choose a path to keep to," Katsuo said displaying a touch of anger that seemed to be directed at himself.

A beat of silence followed.

"And I? What was this important thing that I was to learn in this?"

Katsuo smiled. It looked odd on his face, as if he just lifted his lips to show his teeth.

"You cannot figure something that simple out for yourself?"

There was no answer, just a continued beat of silence between the two kami.

"Very well then," he spoke in a resigned way, as if the other had failed a test, "If you learn anything at all, He would have been able to spare your life."

Reaching his hand into the dark lines of the heavy fabric that obscured his body, Katsuo withdrew a small pouch and turned to fully face his once companion, his expression pensive and unguarded.

"Have you ever felt like you did not really have emotions?"

At the strange and random question, Masato merely lifted a brow.

"Have you ever wondered if you were just acting? If since you saw others react to something similar to this, I should as well?"

A smile, tinged with sadness crossed Katsuo's face.

"That is how I have lived this long life of mine. Pretending to be someone, anyone, so long as it made me seem real. Until the day He found me."

Masato instantly stiffened with the sudden revelation. An icy glare replaced his previously indifferent gaze.

"So you were keeping tabs on us, Katsuo?"

The words were posed as a question yet the tone made it clear this was a statement of fact. Only Katsuo just nodded.

"I suppose you could say that. To be honest, I was all for kicking Him out, yet the instant I did I realized that was what exactly you would do in that situation. It was not what I wanted to do," he explained as he slowly moved to stand between Masato and the doors.

"Oh? And I suppose killing me is also what you desire to do with your new-found free will?"

He laughed, almost sadly, a hollow ring in his amusement as he slowly shook his head.

"You underestimated that one. It was not like you. Then again, maybe after so long of unopposed rule and unworthy enemies you would not know what to do with one who could surpass you? But," he added lowly, "it does not matter anymore because you will not leave this place."

Comprehension dawned in an instant as a sneer marred the beauty of the traitor.

"So? I am Kami and I will stand for millennia as pathetic morals perish below my feet! The Archives is my sanctuary, the Library my home! Everything that will be done is written among the pages of those scrolls and books, I need not leave this place."

Another odd smile came to Katsuo's face.

"Fate is taking Rika and I am to talk to Seira. There is no hope for your salvation so when that one comes, he will do exactly as his wishes and fulfill all those goals he set for himself. Do you remember?"

With a well-aimed swing a brightly glittering dust spewed in an arc from the small pouch in the kami's hand onto Masato, who promptly froze and hissed several choice words, before Katsuo glided out of the Great Hall, his voice echoing loudly across the crystal chandeliers.

"He seeks to battle the strongest one alive for we killed his father! He seeks vengeance on those who stole away his peace and that lays at our feet! The great youkai, of the glorious House of the Moon! The Silver Inu, the Killing Perfection! Do welcome him into this place, Masato."

Silence before him, silence behind him yet Katsuo steeled himself to prepare to do what he should have done so very long ago. He only hoped there would be something he could do to be forgiven for the crimes he had committed. Even if this was impossible, he would still try. He was lost no more.

Although time flows differently in the many places that existed besides the Earth, perhaps it was at the very time these things were happening in the Heavens that another village was burning. The stars were blocked from view by the haze of the smoke and the Land cried out in protest at the blood which was spilt across the once rich soil, the once lush fields and the once green farmland. As Naoko, Arata and Tamotsu looked on in equal parts awe and horror as the Killing Perfection reaped the lives of the people who once lived in this burning mass.

"I have a question, actually," Tamotsu spoke quietly.

Shifting his hold on the book the youkai had indeed returned to him, he again wondered if he was wrong to reveal its existence to the daiyoukai.

"What is it, Father?"

"Do you think the red sky is from the blood or from the fire?"

In the silence that followed the question that was obviously not going to be answered, the screams of the dying could be heard quite clearly as the smoke made all three of the human's eyes water.

"What was in that book?" Naoko breathed, partially afraid of the answer she would receive.

Arata pulled his wife closer into his chest, wrapping an arm about her shoulders as he shot a look at his father.

Said man signed deeply seemingly resigned at the events unfolding before him.

"At the end there was a page full of writing that no one has been able to read. Some have said that it speaks of the end of the world, others say the kami wrote it so only by the kami's will should it ever be understood."

"Well, since Sesshomaru read whatever it was he's destroyed neigh unto three villages in one night."

"I say it was convenient that they were very close together, but…"

His voice trailing off, Tamotsu shrugged almost absently in an apparent answer, as another beat of silence fell over the three as they collectively turned again to the violently raging fire that was devouring the wooden structures and altars the Kami's Followers had built over the years. With their eyes still fixated on the sight, they caught a glimpse of a white figure and small flashed of green which quickly faded as did several voices that had been screaming.

"I wonder how many lives that youkai has taken in just the past few minutes?"

"I think it has to do the jewels that will carry a youkai to the four atop the heavens," Naoko said suddenly, ignoring her husband's words as she pulled a mass of glittering gems out from underneath her kimono.

Tamotsu jerked in surprise, his face contorting, throwing his hands up in a defensive gesture.

"Why do you have those on you, I ask?! Those are dangerous, I say!"

Shooting a reproachful look at her father-in-law, Naoko smiled mischievously.

"Dangerous for youkai, not humans," she countered.

"I do not want to find out if that statement is true!"

"I have had it on since Sesshomaru gave it to me and several have been added. I have not noticed anything different," she pointed out in a logical manner.

Still freaking out in a ridiculous manner, Tamotsu's face began to redden from the deprivation of oxygen brought about by his sudden inability to breath.

"That you've noticed! There could be plenty of things you haven't noticed! Like what if it suddenly takes control of your body movements?!"

As both his son and daughter-in-law turned to stare blankly at him, the elder paid no heed and rapidly made several jerky motions.

"For example, you might develop a taste for blood and the desire to hunt humans! Or suddenly bursting out in a flash of some unknown ancient power and Sesshomaru-sama suddenly wishes to feast upon our hearts!"

His mouth gasped for breath almost comically as horror decorated his face and his knees dropped to the ground in a dramatic fashion.

"Oh land, we're going to be eaten!" He wailed in great anguish, either not hearing or ignoring the sound of Naoko clearing her throat, so lost in… grief.

"While some youkai consider human hearts to be delicacies and kill humans solely for that organ, this Sesshomaru dislikes to partake in such a practice."

Jolting up as if he was electrocuted, Tamotsu gasped, and quickly choked, in shock as his heart skipped several beats at the sight and sound of the inuyoukai who stood directly behind him. He was covered in head to toe, save for his luscious locks, in blood and other…darker bits…and was in the middle was calmly flicking his fingers in an effort to remove the chunks of flesh from the tips. Apparently dissatisfied at the stubbornness of a particular piece, a harsh green glow was used to efficiently clean his claws, much to the terror of Tamotsu.

"Youkai also enjoy the scent of a human's fear in an effort to appease their ego, although this one has determined that those who reek of an offensive smell should be dispatched swiftly," Sesshomaru remarked indifferently.

"I- I- Ah- Err..."

With his mouth gaping open and the obvious lack of coherent speech, Sesshomaru turned his gaze to Naoko, who offered him a tiny, knowing grin. For a moment he stilled, reminded of a similar look he would receive from time to time. Then his hand disappeared into his sleeves and returned with another large chunk of gem. Holding it out to her, he dropped it into her awaiting hands. At the small sound the woman made all eyes turned to take in the sudden display of power in the ethereal jewels as a light began to shine, a soft, peaceful light as they rearranged themselves into a certain position in the thick heavy chains that comprised its foundation. With a relieved sigh, Naoko held up the necklace.

"It has been completed. In just a few hours I'm confident this could take you to the place you wish to be," she said, satisfaction coating her tone.

With a nod of approval, Sesshomaru turned on his heel, his mokomoko dragging slightly in the ground as he walked back firmly set towards the destruction behind him.

"Perhaps you should bathe, Sesshomaru? Unless of course you wish to make a profound statement to the kami through your current attire?"

At the thought of reaching the throne room of the four that positioned him on this path covered in the blood and gore of their ever-faithful followers, a feral grin curved his lips as the fading light of fires reflected off the wetness dotting his face. It just as quickly faded as Ah-Un came into sight. The daiyoukai stopped.

"Go on ahead. There is something this one needs to do."

With no explanations and leaving no chance for the humans to ask pointless questions, Sesshomaru leaped into the hazy night sky, as Naoko, Arata and an embarrassed Tamotsu looked on in quiet bewilderment.

Arata sighed heavily.

"You went too far, Father," the man said lowly.

"I suppose I did," he answered.

"Do you think he was actually attempting to joke with you or if he was being serious?"

"I think he wasn't being serious, but I don't think he was joking," Naoko volunteered as she carefully climbed up to sit on the dragon's back.

"Did you see that look on his face when you grinned at him?"

"Like he was remembering something he didn't want to," Tamotsu nodded at his son.

"I think he's going to say 'good-bye'," Naoko added as she scooted forward to make room from her husband, who stopped at her words.

"'Good-bye'? What do you mean by that?"

Reaching up to gently stroke one of the heads of the dragon, her tone took on a quality of sorrow.

"I heard many things in my position as my father was important. A great inuyoukai, the only male of the House of the Moon and the human girl that follows him is something that both youkai and mortals talk about. Perhaps she could be considered his ward as he protects and keeps her? But as he does care for the girl he will make sure to see her before he sets off."

"Wasn't there was something about a devil written in one of the treasured books of the elders? In the end of the book," Arata questioned hesitantly.

Leaning forward, Naoko closed her eyes as she hugged Ah-Un as her voice dropped to a solemn whisper.

"In the last days, the devil rose up from the Earth to make war against the gods and their peoples. By Death was the sky rent, the moon turned to blood and with great anguish the people cried out, 'Surely the End has come!'."

Rin lifted her head as a flash of white caught the edge of her vision. She was sitting a small ways away from the Silver Slayer Village, hiding in the shadows of a large tree. Standing up and coming out form the branches shielding her, she squinted and soon made out a figure against the early morning light. A smile spread across her face as she abandoned her spot and moved to the center of the flower field she been spending most of her moments. In just a few short minutes, her Lord's booted feet touched down with a whisper of wind. There was a faint scent of smoke that trailed in the air behind him, but there were no stains on his white kimonos.

"Sesshomaru-sama," she greeted happily.

Inclining his head, Sesshomaru laid his hand on her dark hair.

"Rin," he said softly, a touch of affection clear in his voice.

By the look in his face and the feelings Rin instinctively knew that there was a very specific reason why her Lord was here and her smile dimmed into a resigned acceptance.

"Are you going, Sesshomaru-sama?"

A small frown tugged down the corners of his mouth and his lids slide shut, his hand still firmly resting on her head. He did not speak, nor indicated his answer by any sign.

"Are you leaving me behind, Sesshomaru-sama?"

Rin internally winced at the hitch in her voice at saying the inuyoukai's name and made a valiant effort to control herself. To her surprise, Sesshomaru knelt down, his hand cupping the side of her face as he dropped down to eye level.

"I go to slay a kami that has offended this one greatly," he spoke in all serious as he had many a time before, yet there was a hard edge of steel in his tone.

"Wh-"

Rin cut herself off and hung her head, leaning in to the warmth of the hand on her skin before she tried again.

"Rin misses her a lot. And Rin will miss you just as much."

A tear slid down her cheek, hidden by her bangs which had grown considerably longer in a style much alike to that of the youkai kneeling before her.

"Rin thinks her heart is breaking," she whispered hoarsely, the words themselves breaking as they left her lips.

Sesshomaru stared at the trembling child his heart had grown to care deeply for. With a minimum amount of force he gently pulled the girl closer to him, his arm reaching around her shoulders to cradle her against him. The smell of salt sent a pang to his usually silent heart as he breathed in the scents laying on his ward.

Wild flowers.

The rich soil after a hard rain.

A crisp breeze rolling off the water at noonday.

And the clear scent of a young kitsune.

The monk and the slayer woman, pregnant with her pups.

And…

A thick cover of an extremely familiar half inuyoukai half human male.

His scent was gone from his ward. It did not surprise him; he had not been close to her in many months. In its place was his half-breed half-brother's scent. A mark of claim, as pack, to protect and keep… yet it was also more than that, a subtle hint of intention. Despite the rush of anger, of rage, denial and the strong desire and longing for Kagome to be at his side with him, with his Rin, Sesshomaru did not so much as twitch. Despite Inuyasha's many flaws, he treasured his pack and took great care of them, took pride in them. Despite many things, Inuyasha was many times stronger than a human yet he possessed a more caring nature than most youkai, an aspect Rin would benefit from.

The wind blew lightly against his face as the scent of the slayer woman neared to the place he crouched with his ward. Sesshomaru eased his hold on Rin, returning his hand to his side but she still clutched at the white silk of his garments.

"Rin does not want you to leave."

The muffled exclamation was met with silence and after a moment Rin stepped back, relinquishing her hold on the fabric. Looking up with mournful eyes into the beautiful gold she loved so well, she smiled sadly.

Sesshomaru's gaze lingered on her smile. Once he had told himself that there was nothing special about a single human being. Once he had taunted Inuyasha with the supposed death of Kagome in the resting place of his honored father, saying if he had know the half-breed would have fought harder he would have killed the mortal girl sooner. Once he had been truly unaware if he possessed a heart at all. When Kagome entered into his life, followed on the heels by Rin, time had changed his ways and he began to think that the small organ beating in his chest was solely for them. For that woman and that child.

And now she was gone and he was leaving Rin.

Not once had he stopped to question his decision. Not once had he warred with himself about the path he would now travel down. Those four insulted him, offended him by taking what should have been his and no one else's. Their arrogance in their apparent belief that none would stand against them was pathetic and he would personally force them to beg at his feet for mercy. In this war, in this quest he would be victorious. There was no doubt in his mind that vengeance would be his.

Once this was completed, he would have to seek out ways to return Kagome to her world, to this world. Rin would stay with the slayer woman and the monk; she would learn the ways of humans and live her life in peace. Perhaps she would mate, perhaps marry, but her happiness would be guaranteed so long as he lived. Of this he would make absolute certainty of. Rin would be happy.

"Rin, return to the village," Sesshomaru spoke quietly.

She nodded, discreetly wiping her tears away as she slowly turned and began walked away from her lord. Away from Sesshomaru.

The sun now jumped into the sky in a beautiful display of color as the inuyoukai's form was washed in light. A wind blew stiffly from the north, bringing a chill in its midst. Still, Sesshomaru stood unmoving, silently watching the small girl drift farther and farther away, heading to the large gates that offered her home protection.

"You're not plannin' on comin' back, are ya?"

His scent had been there on the wind, impossibility for a youkai to miss. His usual red haori stood out and simultaneously blended in with the leaves' changing colors. The silver hair glinting in the light was the same as his half-brother's which flowed down is back.

"This Sesshomaru will not fail."

"I never said you would," Inuyasha softly pointed out.

Lifting his head so that his eyes could glare at the half-breed from the corner of his vision, Sesshomaru did not say anything more. His half-brother held his glare steadily as the other studied him. The seasons had changed since they last met and Inuyasha looked different. He appeared to be more older, solemn and there was a vague air of sorrow and grief that hung around him. He had matured. His bearing was relaxed and his hands were not clenched around Tessaiga's hilt.

"I hear things, bein' so close to Kagome as I am, and one of those is that you're goin' into the realm of the kami and there might not be a way for you to come back," Inuyasha said challengingly, a hint of his old, brash self.

Turn about to fully face the half-breed, Sesshomaru raised a brow.

"From where did you hear this?"

Inuyasha scoffed.

"I would be able to tell you, but it's your own fault that I can't."

Before Sesshomaru could reply, he sighed heavily and his shoulders sunk as his head bowed.

"Ya know, Kagome is my best friend. She's my pack. But she's not my sister, because you don't truly consider me your brother," he said lowly, a hint of pain creeping into his voice.

With a deliberate step forward, Inuyasha proceeded to walk past the silent inuyoukai; following in the path Rin had taken just minutes earlier.

"You went after revenge, Sesshomaru. I'm waiting and believing in her even when I could do many other things," he threw over his shoulder as he slowed his pace, "And I also know that because of you, her heart's gonna break."

At his last words, a violent growl broke the calmness of the early morning. This time, Inuyasha stopped, yet he did not look back.

"You love her and let down your walls for her, she was the peace in your life, but you didn't really, truly know her like the rest of us do. You're a youkai, a great one and probably the most powerful, so there are some things you cannot possibly understand about humans. I, being half-human, can understand both worlds in a way you will never be able to unless you wish to learn how."

Inuyasha's tone grew harsher as he continued to speak and when he closed his mouth, he glanced back at his half-brother once more.

"And one more thing, Sesshomaru. When I see you again, if you still haven't gotten it, I…"

Gold turned frigid and cruel in the extreme, the light leaving their depths as Inuyasha barred his fangs and a growl rose in his throat. The chill in the wind was stronger, the light from the ever-rising sun fading swiftly into gray as a weight descended onto the clearing.

"…will kill you. Without hesitation."

As Sango pulled back the covering to exit the house she was born into, the one she was currently sharing with her husband, she was startled to see a scary looking Inuyasha sitting on the porch with hands jammed firmly into his sleeves.

"What happened?"

His gaze did not waver from the high walls towering over the mostly empty settlement. His back was straight and ridged and there was a hard edge about him, yet he turned to greet her.

"Sango. How are y-"

"Never mind about that, what happened?"

Inuyasha smiled faintly before he answered.

"Sesshomaru came, saying his good-bye to Rin and that idiot still hasn't gotten it yet," he scoffed in clear disappointment and disapproval.

Carefully lowering herself to the smooth wood to sit next to the irritated half-blood, Sango took a moment to rub her rather large stomach.

"You didn't get it either until just recently, so you have no room to complain," she shot back.

"Yeah but this is different," he gruffly protested.

"You can't have both, Inuyasha," the slayer reminded him with a narrowed glare.

With a soft 'keh' the half-blood's face turned almost pouty as he adverted his eyes.

"That monk told you about that, huh?"

The ease of the moment quickly faded, as grim looks set themselves firmly onto both of their faces.

"Because of that you lost Kagome, and if you screw this up you'll be losing her again, this time forever."

"I know, Sango," he whispered heavily, "But if it's going to work out the way they say it will, I don't want to be there when it happens."

Sango's face contorted in pain for a split second before the lines smoothed. Reaching out with an open hand, she gently slapped his cheek.

"Liar," she accused.

His eyes lowered and closed as his head bowed, long silver hair shading his face.

"I know."

A/N I have returned! I am victorious! And while I don't have a new computer, I was able to use another semi-working computer I had and after a couple weeks, I got that one to work properly! Yay for my computer smarts!

Anyways, since the Computer Incident, I have decided to answer people's reviews by PM instead of the opening part of the chapter. If this is not to your liking, I do apologize. Also, I have learned my lesson and now back up everything via email draft.

Today is the 21st so like four more days until Christmas!

…OMG, there's only fours day until Christmas. HOLY CRAP, I'M NOT READY FOR CHRISTMAS!

Gah! Anyways, I have cookies to bake, pretzel rods to dip in chocolate, gingerbread lemon crème whoopie pies to make and things to randomly wrap in pretty paper so…

MERRY (almost) CHRISTMAS GUYS! Y'ALL ARE REALLY AWESOME! THANKS FOR EVERYTHING!

Until next time!

OH! And one other thing, a bonus, if you will! Enjoy!

"While some youkai consider human hearts to be delicacies and kill humans solely for that organ, this Sesshomaru dislikes to partake in such a practice."

"However, there is a certain process by which hearts may be removed and hardened to form what many youkai consider a dessert," Sesshomaru remarked indifferently.

Stepping alarmingly close to Tamotsu he held up a single clawed hand.

"Perhaps a visual demonstration?"

Shoving his hand down into the shocked human's chest and ignoring the cries of horror from the other two, Sesshomaru then yanked his arm back, bringing a glowing, pulsing, red hardened heart out of Tamotsu's chest. Holding up the organ, which resembled a pretty stone at the moment, for inspection, the inu nodded in apparent pleasure.

"This one was unsure if he would be able to do such a thing. I am very pleased to see that it is possible for youkai."

With that remark, Sesshomaru turned on his heel and walked away leaving three shell-shocked humans behind him.

"Do you think it'll be as easy to get my heart back as it was to get my book back?" Tamotsu hoarsely croaked.

A/N *snicker* OUaT/Inuyasha cross-over. Happy Season 4 Hiatus!