21- Sesshomaru

Sesshomaru met Rin's eyes with his indifferent and suddenly unreadable golden gaze, the eyes like layers of gold glass encompassing a spark of light.

Inuyasha stared in horror. Sesshomaru flexed his fingers and the green whip, oozing with demon poison, appeared at his hand.

No, no, NO! Inuyasha stared helplessly and in horror. He heard the silent angry and helpless cry of Sango's protest. He was about to fight Iko off, his instincts to protect those he loved unbearable, but then heard Kagome's cry of pain as Iso pulled her arm harder. The blade cut into her skin, but not bringing blood.

This forced Inuyasha to bite back his own protests, his own screams. Damn you Sesshomaru, DAMN YOU!

Miroku grabbed Sango and wrapped his arms around his wife, as he squeezed his eyes shut in pain, catching her sobs with his shoulders. He bowed his head helplessly.

Rin, he thought. I am so sorry.

He had children to think of. The faces of Rokuro, Tamae, Taka and Minaro appeared behind closed lids and a silent tear fell from his eyes. His children needed their mother and father and Kagome would die along with the unborn pup and that will destroy Inuyasha.

Kohaku stared in disbelief and shock at Sesshomaru, a dai youkai who he had followed and trusted in for so long.

Shippo froze as he fell onto his knees, his claws curling and clenching so tightly that he drew blood as he bowed his head. Kirara growled and grumbled as she went over and licked Kohaku's blood.

Hiroto and Masahi stared at Sesshomaru, trying to understand what was going through the young, but powerful lord's mind. They were unsure of what to think of the situation.

"No! Sesshomaru," Mitsuki cried out before being silenced by the blade on her throat.

Sesshomaru ignored his mother, ignored his half breed brother and ignored everyone in the room. His eyes never strayed from the young woman in front of him.

Momiji fought down the screams of protest. His eyes took in the blade on Kagome's neck and the dagger at her stomach. His body trembled with anger and helplessness.

Zuzu curled up into a ball as she felt Momiji's overwhelming emotions. Kagome bit back the distressed cry as she saw the shock and vulnerability on Rin's face as Sesshomaru turned on her. She fought down her screams and curses as she stared in shock at Sesshomaru, her brother in law.

"Rin," Sesshomaru whispered as he walked towards her.

He was very aware of the eyes of the youkais around him, aware of the looks from his brother, Momiji, the monk, the slayers, the kitsune, his mother, but most of all, Rin.

Shock and pain was written over her face, but it was quickly replaced with a sudden fierce determination. Her hand wrapped around her chest protectively and he could hear the heart beats of the hanyou pups within her folds.

He ignored the useless ningen katana in her other hand. He ignored the growls, the squeals, the hisses, but most of all, he ignored the glares, the looks of shame and anger.

This was his land, his palace. This was his family and no one will touch them…except him.

To the eyes of everyone, Sesshomaru was emotionless. He was in their eyes, the dai youkai rumors spoke of; cold, calculated, emotionless, indifferent, but most of all, cruel.

Momiji glared over at Mefisuto, the Northern Lord smirking in triumph. The Fifth fought the urge to rip off Mefisuto's head and kill all the guards that held their blade against Inuyasha and the others. He looked over at Inuyasha, his eyes solemn. He had not meant for this to happen.

Inuyasha fought back his screams. His whole body trembled with anger and disbelief as he watched Sesshomaru's hand touched the hilt of Bakusaiga.

Kohaku was still on the ground, his whole body heavy and weak as blood trailed down his face, his eyes blinking slowly at the scene before him.

"No," the demon slayer whispered as he tried to raise himself up, even as he weakly failed. "No! Se-sesshomaru-sama! Please, my lord!"

He gasped as a guard kicked him in the side, flipping him over.

Sesshomaru seemed unfazed by Kohaku's words, barely even looking at the demon slayer. Rin clenched her fists as she continued to look at everyone else, ignoring the emotionless golden eyes of the one walking towards her now and instead focused on those around him.

The glares, the shining of red, green, yellow, white…the glowing eyes of youkais as they watched from afar, yet she could feel their consuming urge to kill her and her sons. Their unbearable inhuman emotions pressed down on her as she tightened her hand around the useless katana in her hand.

Words echoed hauntingly in her mind. The words of those who had raised and loved her.

She had grown up being told over and over again that she was weak, that she may be stronger than regular ningens, but she would never surpass a dai youkai. Jaken had told her this, Inuyasha, Momiji, Miroku, Sango, Kohaku, Kaede, Kagome, Shippo and…Sesshomaru.

Sesshomaru.

She fought back the sob that welled up her throat: the pain, the betrayal, the grief. Everything she had ever been, he has given her.

Even the pups that she so desperately was trying to save now, were his and given by him. Her life was given by him, saved by him, kept by him.

She has always been his and only his. There has never been a doubt in her mind that he was her world. From the innocence as a child following her lord, to the human ward training under the older miko, to the young woman who followed him, to the lover he held at night. She has always been his: to take or to break.

She refused to let the tears fall, refused to look at him as he edged closer to her, refused to give him the satisfaction of letting him see her tears. Even after all this, she kept his words close to her. Never show your enemy fear.

He glided with towards her with perfection. From the flawless ivory of his skin, to the youkai marks on his face, to every single silver pearl strand of hair, he was perfect. He was immortal and compared to him, she has always been weaker, smaller and so human, so imperfect.

She did not tremble, did not back down. Instead, clenched the katana in her hand tighter and tucked her pups more into her. She was glad that they were not ningen babes, but the hanyou pups of the great Sesshomaru. Even now, they felt the tension in their mother and stayed calm for her.

The two pups listened closely to their mother's heartbeat. The rapid tattoo and the calm and fear mixed and fought around her, but already they sensed another being, one that has been calling out to them since he had landed.

His scent came closer to them, but still they forced themselves to be calm. For even as the call of their sire called out to them, the fear of their mother held them with her.

Rin refused to look at him, her eyes never leaving the youkais surrounding them. Her hair covered her eyes from his view, the folds of her kimono covering the pups, their pups—his pups—from view.

For once, Sesshomaru did not know what to expect from this small ningen in front of him. He slowly pulled out Bakusaiga, the sword glimmering in the light.

Time, for once, was all Sesshomaru asked for, a little more time.

"Rin," Sesshomaru whispered again, this time, an unknown emotion elapsing within his voice, the emotionless and monotonic tone broken, "Look at me."

Rin fought the command, the urge to listen to him from years of blind faith, years of foolish love. The pups began to struggle against her, suddenly whining loudly. Their sudden urge to get closer to the voice of their sire was strong.

Rin clutched her chest tighter, trying to still the pups even as she brought the katana in front of her and shifted her feet apart. She stared at Bakusaiga and at the green whip.

She would have never thought that those very weapons, weapons that have always protected her, will turn against her. She could feel the golden gaze on her.

She had loved him so much, has always loved him. He has been her world since she had woken from the nightmares of fire, blood, and wolves, of pain and despair. He had been her hero, her savior, her lord, her lover, and most of all…her family.

Sesshomaru watched as a single drop of crystal travel down the smooth and silky skin and watched as it dropped from her chin. He raised his eyes back up and watched her. Something clenched within his chest at the pain he saw. The determination was still there, in her stance, in her eyes, but it was her pain, the betrayal and loneliness, that ate him. An ache grew from within him, an unbearable ache as he continued to walk towards her.

"Rin," he whispered softly, almost tenderly and Rin felt herself tumble into his eyes, into his voice, the voice that has always soothed her and protected her.

Mefisuto yawned and crossed his arms.

"Sesshomaru," he said the name as if talking to a child, the impatience within his voice, "you should hurry this up."

Sesshomaru ignored the dai youkai and instead continued walking towards Rin, his face suddenly soft.

Rin hesitated as she saw his eyes change, saw his face change. She felt her lips trembled as Sesshomaru suddenly came within striking distance from her, but then again, he had always been able to kill her from any distance.

She hesitantly loosened her grip on the katana and on her pups as she looked up at him, his face suddenly tender and gentle, the look on his face was one she has never seen. Not in the midst of passion or the after math of it, not when they were reunited every time he left for patrol.

Never.

"Sesshomaru-sama," she finally whispered, his name slipping through her lips, the sound falling from her tongue with an ache, as if his name brought her both pleasure and pain.

With that one name, Sesshomaru knew what his decision had to be, should have been and should always be.

Maybe, he never had a choice to begin with when it came to this small woman in front of him, even when she had just been a small child he had carelessly saved. He had never had a choice when it came to Rin.

Sesshomaru let Bakusaiga go, the sword stabbing deep into the cold floor, standing still and triumphant. Sesshomaru moved forward and stood in front of Rin, the whip gone from his hands. He gently reached for the katana in Rin's hand and threw it aside. The sound of metal hitting the floor echoed hollowly in the room.

The pups fought against their mother's hold and finally poked out their heads and stared up with identical golden eyes to their sire, their father. Sesshomaru caught the gaze of his sons and he stared steadily at them, his gaze firm and calm.

He reached one clawed hand out and touched the white one, then the black one, his eyes unreadable. Rin held her breathe, waiting to see what he will do even as she fought the fear and trusted him.

Sesshomaru was silent as he pulled his hand away and looked back up at Rin then back to the white pup, his golden eyes suddenly calm. "Akihiko—" Rin's breathe stuttered as she blinked back tears.

Sesshomaru looked at the black pup, his eyes still very calm even as the room full of youkais stared at him with disbelief. "—and Akuouji."

He paused as he watched her reaction, breathing in her scent along with their pups before slowly continuing.

"I, Sesshomaru as the first born of my chichiue and as lord of the West, seal this Naming of the Western Heirs as my father and grandfather has done before me. I seal this Naming in the names of my sons; Akihiko, the bright prince, and Akuouji, the dark prince."

Rin trembled as she stared up at him, her eyes glistening. She reached a hand out to him.

Sesshomaru looked away from Akihiko and Akuouji and without another word, pulled Rin closer and leaned his head down, the silver white strands covering his face along with hers. He rested his lips on her hair, his hand moving up to cover the pups protectively as the other hand encircled his mate.

Rin trembled within his embrace, her hand coming up to reach his chest and clenching the cloth there. Her other hand rested on top of his, their pups licking their intertwined hands.

Rin buried her head within his chest, her breathing growing steady as she tried to match their heart beats together. She trembled as she realized what he had just done, the decision he had just made.

Mefisuto's grin fell from his lips, the grin turning into a hideous and angry scowl. "I should have known." He sat back down, his eyes glowering. "Sesshomaru, it seems that you have failed. I guess, now the life of the miko and the disgrace she carries within her should be the forfeit of your failure."

"No!" Inuyasha screamed, finally letting out all that he was holding in and before Iko could do anything, Inuyasha threw him off, the hanyou's eyes suddenly blood red, his whole body shaking as the demonic aura surrounded him. The demonic markings appeared onto his face, slipping within him like poison as he seethed out between sharp fangs.

Sesshomaru softly said one name into the air, so softly that only Rin heard him.

"Jaken," Sesshomaru commanded silently even as raised his eyes up to meet Mefisuto's over confident ones.

Suddenly, there was a sudden cracking sound followed by a loud crash. Sesshomaru quickly enfolded his family and felt as the debris harmlessly fell onto his back and onto the ground.

Ino and Iso jerked and looked up in surprise, but screamed as arrows hit Ino's hand, the dagger flying out of her hand and another arrow hitting Iso right in the neck, causing the youkai's hand to grow limp as he fell onto his knees, his arms now paralyzed as he screamed in pain.

The dagger and sword fell uselessly onto the ground and Momiji and Zuzu flew forward. Zuzu grasped Ino's neck and attempted to choke her to only scramble around her shoulder and head trying to get away from the grasping claws.

Momiji smashed into Iso and both fell, wrestling on the floor even as Momiji punched the dai youkai in the face. Kagome fell onto the floor, her hands encircling her stomach as she let out a deep and raspy breath that merged with a choked sob.

Sango and Miroku quickly moved forward. Miroku moved forward to protect Sango from the guards trying to stop them to only watch as more arrows flew from the ceiling to hit the guards. He looked up and saw Tsukiko bowed her head in acknowledgement as she shot another volley of arrows at youkais charging at them.

Suddenly Jaken flew down riding on Ah and Un, looking fiercely confident and proud as fire breathed out from the staff of two-heads. "Keya! This is for Lord Sesshomaru and Lady Rin you heathens!"

For once in his youkai life, Jaken looked mighty and glorious as he fell from the sky with the dragon youkais. The two heads breathed out blue lightening and ember flames from their mouths, destroying guards and youkais who had dared to attack their mistress.

The Western guards cheered as soldiers of the West joined in the fight pouring down. Kenji grinned as he looked over at his lord and lady before rushing towards Mitsuki and Hinata, killing all who was in his way.

Sango quickly slammed Hiraikotsu into a youkai before falling onto her knees in front of Kagome. She quickly gathered the woman in her arms as she raised her head and yelled out for her husband, "Miroku!"

"Here I am dear heart," Miroku said between clenched teeth as he whacked and shoved youkais. Using scrolls, he quickly purified some and attacked others. "This has certainly gotten out of hand."

Iko clenched Tohaikai and stood up. He grabbed hold of a guard that charged at him and threw him against another guard rushing towards him. Using his sheath he slammed it into a guard to his left then easily parryed and dodged arrows flying at him from above.

Inuyasha tried to regain control even as he used his youkai power to cut down and slash at all guards coming for him. He repeated Kagome's name in his mind over and over again to try and regain control.

He looked over at his mate and his eyes quickly turned back to normal ambers as he watched Miroku and Sango protect her.

Kagome looked up as she sensed Inuyasha's gaze, his name escaping her lips as she watched him dodged an axe that swung down on him.

"Inuyasha..." Kagome tried to rise, but Sango kept her down, the slayer running a soothing hand over Kagome's back.

"Inuyasha is fine Kagome. We have to get you out of here."

"No," Momiji growled as he came back to them, his hand bleeding still as new cuts have appeared all over his body. He quickly knocked out a youkai from behind him without looking with his staff. "If Mefisuto was able to bring all his guards into the Western Palace without Mitsuki knowing, it must mean he has inside help and I don't want to have Kagome or any of you out of my sight."

He quickly jumped back into battle as he heard Zuzu cried out. The pain in her voice shattered his resolve, his eyes hardening as he ruthlessly stabbed Ino in the heart just she had stabbed Hazuki in the chest.

The taro dai youkai blindly grasped at the hilt of the metal staff from her heart, shock on her face as Momiji pulled the staff out and turned his anguished gaze to Zuzu. Ino fell onto her knees as she tried to gasp for her breath.

Zuzu caught and held onto the folds of his haori tightly as she climbed weakly onto Momiji's shoulder, her head resting on his shoulder. "Mo-momiji-sama?"

"Zuzu," Momiji whispered as he dodged an arrow or two and blocked four before snapping the neck of a youkai. "Quit being so lazy and help me out." He added the lightness at the end even as he felt her hand loosen on his clothes. "Zuzu, come on. This is nothing. We've been through more than this."

Zuzu nodded even as she caught an arrow in midair and threw it back, shaking her head as she smiled. "H-hai."

Momiji watched her even as he caught an arrow and snapped it in half, feeling her grip suddenly loosen.

Momiji felt his heart constrict as Zuzu suddenly fell from his back. His hand quickly snatched her falling form even as he blocked two guards, "Hazuki!"

Zuzu nodded weakly as she looked up at Momiji, her eyes closing and opening as if she was trying to clear her vision. The poison was already burning away at her.

"It's okay, I-I'll be f…fine. You…have…to…to-to reach Lady Mitsuki and…Hinata…"

Momiji held the smaller youkai in his hand as he cradled her against his chest. "I know you'll be fine. You always are, but I'm not leaving you here on the floor."

Hazuki smiled weakly at him, her eyes staring unseeingly up at him. "You n-never listen to me."

"Nope and I won't ever. You take away the fun in everything," Momiji whispered as he looked up, his eyes suddenly glassy as he stared blankly at the battle before him.

Already, the Northern guards and the Cloud guards were falling back. The youkais who had tried to attack had already fallen back and were just watching the battle.

Hiroto was making his way to the middle, his mighty axe ripping away at any youkai that tried to get in his way.

Masahi was also making his way to Sesshomaru, his whip catching and ripping off any limps or heads.

Wazuka remained seating, her eyes watching him. Momiji turned away from the gaze of the Cloud Province Lady, his anger boiling. Momiji turned back to the small youkai in his hands, his eyes softening, as something suddenly wet slipped from his face.

"I believe the battle is almost over," he whispered as he gently went onto his knees. When he noticed the lack of concentration in her eyes, the sudden weakening of her spirit, he panicked. "You cannot leave me, not because of this. Not because of Mefisuto."

Hazuki blinked up at him, her eyes suddenly teary. "Wh-who said I was leaving you? You'll…die…without me. I-I'm the reason the reason…the reason wh-why you're still here." She seemed to pause, trying to breathe, "I've always…taken..care…o-of you…since the beginning. I took care of the east when…you…were g-gone." Suddenly she trembled. "I tried…tried to take care of Izayoi a-and…that…koinu…"

"I know," Momiji whispered as he closed his eyes, wetness coating his eyes as he felt his cheeks become wet. "I know."

Hazuki shook her head weakly even as she whispered, "You…you've never should have…tr-trusted me with her…I…" Suddenly she sobbed, her breath heaving as she closed her eyes. "I h-hated her."

Momiji listened to what he already knew. He drew Hazuki closer to him as he began to rock the little dai youkai. He knew, he knew all of that.

Hazuki had grown up with him, in the slums, in the rain, in the dirt, in the glory of the old days when the High Seven had been formed. No one knew this, but she would have been the eighth.

If she had not been so loyal to him, if she had not loved him so, she could have been a lady herself and she could have ruled on her own.

If it wasn't because of him, she wouldn't have stayed in this form, a form undeserving of her true dai youkai form.

Only he and Inutaisho has ever seen Hazuki's humanoid form, a form that Hazuki refused to use because it brought back a past that she never wanted again.

A past where Momiji had been the mere animal and he had been her follower, a past where she had loved him so much that she given up the power of a dai youkai to give him the power to become stronger.

As he continued to hold her, the small monkey's body transformed, but he continued to hold the body as if it hadn't changed.

Hazuki's furry youkai body slowly gradually transformed to be replaced by smooth tan skinned until only short brown spiky hair was left on top of her head, falling over her heart shaped face, her humanoid form petite and small, almost matching that of her true form.

The white hakama and haori transformed with her, filling her small human frame loosely even as she blinked her strange intelligent leaf green eyes up at Momiji, tears appearing at the corner of her eyes.

It has been over a thousand years since he has seen that form and he knew that this was it.

Momiji fought back a sob as he stared down at his master and best friend, a dai youkai woman who had given everything to him and he had given nothing back.

"I hated her…for…what…she did…but…I cannot…blame her. I loved y-," Hazuki was crying now as she said the words, unable to say more of what she really wanted.

She had spent too long, dug the hole too deep, buried and broken her heart too many times, to say the three words that she wanted. Three words that destroyed or created worlds.

Her body shook as her eyes began to cloud, her petite fingers loosening on Momiji's hair. "I'm…so…sorry…Momiji…"

Momiji shook his head in denial, his eyes frantically searching Zuzu's. Kagome and Sango turned away from the scene. Miroku bowed his head and said a few prayer, pulling prayer beads out.

Zuzu suddenly went limp, her small hand falling from the grasp of Momiji's hair. Momiji felt as if something inside of him died then. He squeezed his eyes shut and rocked the small lifeless body in his arms, the woman that had given it life gone.

He cradled her head, but when she still didn't respond, he buried his head into the spiky tuff of hair as he gently cried her name over and over again, as if chanting it will bring her back.

Sobs broke from within his chest, a well of emotions breaking free. The demon inside of him bellowed out mournfully.

The cries and sobs of the Eastern Lord broke through the battle, all youkais catching the scent of his tears.

Hinata froze as she felt Hazuki's life left her. Her eyes quickly found the Fifth and she clenched her fists.

It truly was just the two of them now. Her eyes closed as she held back the grief. She will mourn Hazuki when the time comes, but for now, she opened her eyes and stared at Mefisuto's stricken face.

Mefisuto's face twisted into an ugly anger. His plan was going to ruins before his eyes,

Hinata looked back at the guard that held the spear to her back and when he took his eyes off of her to look at the battle, she quickly whirled around, the hidden dagger in her sleeves coming out and she watched emotionlessly as his hand was slashed off from his body and then his head.

She quickly took the spear in the lifeless guard's hand and stabbed the youkai holding Mitsuki and turned to Mefisuto, but froze at the sudden grin on his face.

"It seems like the little Hazuki is gone and the Fifth is grieving over her death," Mefisuto clucked his teeth. Iko suddenly smashed right through the first floor and landed gracefully next to Mefisuto, debris and dust on his clothes, but he ignored it as he pointed Tohaikai to Hinata and Mitsuki.

"Hello, nephew," Mefisuto said as he nodded to Iko then turned to Hinata and Mitsuki, "these two no longer have uses for me. Dispose of them."

Iko nodded indifferently as he raised his sword. Masahi and Hiroto screamed in protest as they realized what was happening on the second floor.

The nobles watched helplessly as Mefisuto ordered the death of two of the strongest ladies in the land.

The Water guards and youkai protested, their cries rising to the heavens as they all ran towards their lady, to protect her and the Lady Mother of the West.

Kenji froze as he stared at Iko, his feet turning towards them even as he knew that he would not reach in time.

Sesshomaru raised his head as he heard Mefisuto's words, his eyes turning cold as he looked at his mother and the Fifth. His arms tightened around Rin and the pups.

Rin stared up at Sesshomaru, having not heard Mefisuto's words.

He looked down at her, his eyes taking her in before he suddenly disappeared, leaving Rin alone on the floor as Masahi and Hiroto reached her.

Sesshomaru suddenly appeared right in front of Hinata and Mitsuki, Bakusaiga out and they all felt as Tohaikai and Bakusaiga clashed, the two swords demonic energy resonating each other. Mefisuto grinned even more as Sesshomaru appeared.

"Sesshomaru-sama," he nodded his head, "how surprisingly of you to come to the protection of your mother. Traitors seem to run in your blood and now your own children have become that very betrayal to your heritage."

Iko's eyes flashed as he stepped back as soon as Sesshomaru did. The two stared at each other, their eyes emotionless and indifferent.

Mefisuto suddenly turned around and looked back at the ruined battle. "I shall return Sesshomaru, for your heart and that ningen whore of yours and I will force you both to watch as I skin those half-breeds and hang their skin as triumph over the West. This is far from over."

Before anyone could do anything, Mefisuto was gone and Sesshomaru's eyes had sharpened. He was about to follow, but then Iko slammed Tohaikai against Bakusaiga, distracting the Western Lord.

"Find him!" Hiroto and Masahi yelled at the same time as they ordered guards to scatter. The youkais quickly began to disperse, creating even more chaos.

Hinata and Mitsuki had already been reached by the western and water guards, but as the guards moved forward to help the western lord, Mitsuki stopped them.

"Let my son handle this," she whispered.

Hinata accepted the healing of a guard as she was fawned over by her maids as they cooed and muttered curses at Mefisuto, trying to see if she was alright.

Sesshomaru pushed Iko down, forcing the hanyou to fall into the hole he had created, but as they landed on the floor, Iko held steady as Bakusaiga was pushed down on him.

"Have you fallen so low that you will aid the escape of that coward," Sesshomaru whispered as he flicked Iko away from him, the hanyou staggering as he was thrown off.

Iko's only response was a cry of anger as he rushed towards Sesshomaru, Tohaikai shimmering red with anger. Bakusaiga weakened at the sudden surge of demonic power, Sesshomaru taking a few steps back. Iko roared as he used his free had to swipe at Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru dodged the claws, barely in time, as he pushed Iko forward and forced them both away from the others.

Rin's muted cry echoed in Sesshomaru's ears, his eyes quickly turning to her. Masahi and Hiroto noticed Sesshomaru's sudden distraction and quickly ushered Rin away, Hiroto taking the young woman's shoulders and bringing her past the fighting towards Inuyasha. Masahi attacked all that got in the way.

Turning his attention back to Iko, Sesshomaru flicked Bakusaiga, the blade cutting into Iko's fingers and Tohaikai fell from its master's hand. He cried out in pain and fell to his knees.

Sesshomaru looked calmly at Iko as the hanyou lifted himself up, his eyes shifting from Tohaikai to Sesshomaru.

Sesshomaru stepped forward and kicked the sword away from Iko. The next words he said were soft, almost humbling. "That ningen…the woman, would not have wanted this."

Iko trembled as he flared his fangs at Sesshomaru."The dead cannot want for anything."

Sesshomaru looked at Iko, a strange glint in his eyes. He remembered the ningen corpses of the underworld, the way they strived towards Tessaiga, reaching for it, the life in it. "Even the dead can want Iko."

Iko growled as he suddenly lunged for Tohaikai, but Sesshomaru was faster as he grabbed the neck of Iko, the hanyou pushing the hands away with sudden strength as he tackled Sesshomaru.

Sesshomaru slammed Iko away from him as he smashed the hanyou into the wall. Iko quickly stood back up, swiping his claws at Sesshomaru.

It caught the western lord on the chest, ripping the silk clothes, but missed the ivory skin by mere inches and Sesshomaru's whip came out, latching onto the neck of Iko.

Iko growled and grabbed at the whip even as it tightened around his neck, his claws growing even as his demon marks grew, his eyes turning a sudden bright golden red.

"What do you know of death Sesshomaru," Iko growled, his voice no longer belonging to him, the sound like chalk against glass as he hissed and seethed. "You know no compassion, Tessaiga wasted upon you. You could have saved her! All I asked for was her life!"

Sesshomaru watched emotionlessly as Iko ripped the whip away from him, the poison already seeping into the hanyou's system. The youki inside of Iko prevented the pain from reaching his nerves.

Iko growled once more and launched himself at Sesshomaru. The claws this time, tasted the blood of the Western Lord.

Akihiko: Bright Prince (Aki-kun) - From Sessrin_lover

Akuouji: Dark prince (Aku-san) - From Me

Disclaimer: Inuyasha =/= mine.

Author's Note: Updated and alive stil! Thank you for the reviews and I promise I won't disappear again! I updated sooner than I said because from the few reviews I had, I couldn't help but say, what the heck and update. This is for the reviewers so plz don't die or hunt me down _