Chapter 21

Izayoi's eyes grew wide, "What do you mean he is gone!"

Kagome fell to her knees crying, "When I went to the lab it was trashed and blood was everywhere and he wasn't anywhere in the lab or around the house…"

Inu-Taisho ran to the lab out back to confirm what Kagome had told them. His lab was utterly destroyed on the inside, and there was a hole in the roof. What scared him the most was the obvious scent of Inuyasha's blood. He frantically searched for a scent other than his sons and finally found some blood that was different and recognized the strange scent from long ago. Sesshomaru walked into the lab and recognized the scent easily. Inu-Taisho growled as he looked at his eldest son, "This is Naraku's scent is it not?" Sesshomaru nodded as a response. Faster than he has moved in a long time, Inu-Taisho rose from the floor and stood right in front of Sesshomaru towering over him, "You said you wanted to make amends right? You can start by directing us to your lab."

Sesshomaru glared at his father, "You really do care about your stupid half-breed of a son more. Rin was wrong."

Inu-Taisho growled and started walking out the lab, "I don't care about either of you more. You are my first born Sesshomaru. Nothing can change that and nothing you could do would make a difference when it came to how much I care about you. It is your actions I hate." Red eyes glared back at Sesshomaru, "Your actions, your choices, is why it always seemed like I cared for Inuyasha more than you because even though he was an outcast, not only in the world but by you as well, he never let his heart grow empty and cold like you have allowed yours too. Have no mistake Sesshomaru, I love you like any father would love a son, but if your actions kill your younger brother, I will not forgive you."

Inu-Taisho swiftly walked back to the house leaving Sesshomaru in a daze, 'He is lying… he has to be…' Sesshomaru clinched his fist as he felt his heart hammer in his chest, 'It doesn't matter how many times I say it… I know I'm just lying to myself. I saw no lie in his eyes… all this time if I wouldn't have been so blind…' Sesshomaru growled as his eyes turned red. He swiftly started walking towards the house, 'This Sesshomaru will NOT let Naraku take away what I have denied myself for years. He will not take my father from me, nor my little brother.' Sesshomaru walked into the house and saw that everyone was staring at him. Keeping his static composer, he confidently walked past all of them. "If you want to see Inuyasha I would follow me with haste."

Kagome and Izayoi perked up and got ready to leave. Inu-Taisho gently put a hand on his son's shoulder, "Lead the way."

Sesshomaru looked at his father, his mask falling some but shook it off and nodded walking out the door, his family close behind him.

...

Inuyasha growled and struggled against the chains he was in, 'Damn it! What the hell are these things made out of? The more I struggle the harder it gets to move…' With swift movements, Inuyasha pushed his feet against the wall and pushed away with as much force as he could, feeling the wall start to give way, 'Yes! Alright one more shove…' Suddenly, he felt something like an electric shock course through his body, making him scream and collapse on the floor.

Naraku laughed as he walked into the cell, "I did warn you that struggling wouldn't help you."

Inuyasha growled, "Naraku you bastard…"

"Now now Inuyasha there is no need for that. You simply just got in the way so you had to be stopped before you could ruin my plan."

"You will be caught and stopped! My father will make sure of that."

Naraku smiled evilly at Inuyasha, "Oh I believe you are wrong Inuyasha. Your father is soft. Once he sees his son in danger he will do whatever I say."

"Feh. I can take care of myself! He knows that!"

"You are correct however if I threaten to inject this into you…" Naraku smiled as he pulled out a small shot needle full of the demon pacifier, "he WILL do whatever I tell him too because he knows if I inject this into you, your mind and everything you use to be, will be gone. He won't want to kill his son."

Inuyasha froze as he processed this, 'Shit… I know he's not kidding. Please father… don't listen to him…' "My father… will let me die because I will ask him too. I am not going to let an asshole like you rule over everyone."

Naraku smirked and kicked Inuyasha in the stomach, making Inuyasha gag and curl into himself, "I took that into account as well, but you see Inuyasha I don't have as much faith in your father as you do, and even if you are correct and he will listen to you, Sesshomaru will force him to stop and listen to me because he will not let me kill his little friend." Snapping his fingers, a demon carried a screaming girl into the cell and locked her into a chain on the wall, leaving her crying.

Inuyasha stared at her confused, "She's human. Sesshomaru won't care about her."

Naraku laughed, "You will be surprised whenever he gets here with the rest of your family. Now I must leave and prepare for my overtaking." As quickly as he appeared, Naraku disappeared leaving Inuyasha and the human girl there alone.

Inuyasha growled and tried to break free again but he could barely pull against the chains. Frustrated, he punched the wall before slouching against it. Slowly, he turned towards the girl softly crying on the other side of the room, "Hey. What's your name?"

The girl looked up and sniffed, "R….Rin…"

"How did you get wrapped up into this?"

"Well…" *sniff* "I was running from some wolf demons that wanted… they wanted to do bad things to me and Sesshomaru saved me. He took me in and healed me…"

Inuyasha couldn't believe his ears, "Are you sure it was a demon named Sesshomaru that saved you?"

Rin nodded and finally got a good look at Inuyasha, "You… You are Inuyasha aren't you? Sesshomaru mentioned you before."

Inuyasha froze and just stared at her, 'Sesshomaru mentioned me? Ok what the hell is going on! She's human for one and he hates my guts!' After a few moments he finally managed out, "Yeah…"

Rin smiled, "I knew it. You are strong and look just like him. Well without the markings and you have adorable dog ears."

"Um… thanks?"

"I hope you and Sesshomaru can start getting alone. He's lucky to have a brother and a family that I don't have."

"You don't have a family?"

"No. But I'm alright. Sesshomaru cares about me now so I'm not alone anymore."

Inuyasha stared at the young girl Rin, his heart softening, 'She was alone… even more than me…' "Hey we are going to get out of here alright? We can figure this out."

Rin nodded and sat up straight, "Ok what do we need to do?"

"… there isn't any real hope for me. These chains are meant to keep a demon from escaping. Every time I move, more and more of my strength disappears… but I can get you out of here. Naraku is planning on using both of us to stop my father and Sesshomaru from attacking. If I free you Naraku might still be stopped. So what I need you to do is stretch out your chain as far as you can." Rin nods and does what he says, "Good now don't move alright?" She nods again and Inuyasha stands up weakly and walks to the wall so he will be able to get a full swing out of his arm. Slowly he cut his arm open, wincing as he did so, and dipped his claws in his blood. Pulling his hand back he yells out only loud enough for the claws to work, "Blades of Blood!" Inuyasha screamed and fell to his knees right as Rin's chains fell off.

Rin gasped as the chains fell off, "I'm free! You did it… Inuyasha!" Rin ran over to Inuyasha who was shaking, "Are you alright?"

"N…no… but I want you to get out of here. Run and don't get caught."

"I don't want to leave you here…"

"Forget about me. Listen the guards are coming. Hide in the corner until they get in here then run. The door will be open. Run, hide and don't get caught." Rin nodded and backed up into a dark corner near the door. Guards barged in and Inuyasha attacked, "Blades of Blood!" Inuyasha screamed again and coughed up blood as he watched the guards fall to the floor. Weakly he glanced towards the dark corner and noticed that Rin was still standing there. Using the last of his strength, Inuyasha yelled out, "RUN YOU FOOL! GET OUT OF HERE AND GET SESSHOMARU!"

Rin flinched, "Y…yes." Quickly she ran out the prison and Inuyasha saw her running up the stairs before the world around him, went black.

(Outside the lab)

Sesshomaru looked up at the building that he called his home for the past month, "This is it."

Inu-Taisho nodded, "Well let's make ourselves known." He growled going to attack the door when the door opened on its own and a voice came from the inside.

"Now now there is no need for that. Please come in."

Sesshomaru growled, "Naraku."

"Sesshomaru my friend why don't you show your family into our home. Hurry now."

Sesshomaru, Inu-Taisho, Izayoi, and Kagome rushed inside. Inu-Taisho growled as he saw Naraku standing inside waiting for them, "Naraku! Where is my son!"

Naraku grinned, "You seem quite concerned. Looks like the great dog demon of old has grown soft just as I suspected."

Inu-Taisho growled louder, "Do not accuse me of going soft Naraku for I am still one of the most powerful demons in this country and can kill you in an instant."

"Yes, but I won't die and neither will my intentions, all because of your son."

Inu-Taisho looked at him confused, "What do you mean?"

Naraku smiled and snapped his fingers. Through another door, two demons came in dragging a bloody, barely conscious Inuyasha. Izayoi gasped as she saw her son, "I…Inuyasha!" The two demons dropped Inuyasha on his knees, next to Naraku. Naraku laughed and smiled at the shocked family, "His injuries are his own fault. His chains were designed to drain power as he uses it. And dear little Inuyasha was trying to be so heroic."

Inuyasha flinched and growled. He glared up at Naraku and weakly managed out, "What the hell do you mean?"

Naraku smirked and squatted down to Inuyasha's level, "You think I would be such a fool that I wouldn't notice your heroic efforts to save that human girl Rin?"

Sesshomaru froze and his eyes widened, "What…"

Naraku stood again, "Oh yes Sesshomaru I knew about her. And she is the reason why you will not do any harm to me." Snapping his fingers again, a demon came in carrying a girl squirming in his arms.

Inuyasha growled again as he stared at Rin, "You fool I told you to run and not get caught!"

Rin struggled against the demon, tears falling down her face, "I… I'm sorry… I tried to get the keys for you…" Rin struggled and tried to reach for a set of keys that were strung around her neck.

Naraku calmly walked over to her and took the keys, "Your efforts were useless. You should have saved yourself girl instead of coming back for a worthless half-breed." Inuyasha growled again and tried to stand but gasped and screamed as electricity coursed through his body, making him collapse on the floor.

Kagome gasped and screamed out his name, "Inuyasha!"

Naraku smiled, clearly amused, "I did tell you half-breed that if you attempt to attack you would be hurt. Behave like a good pup."

Inuyasha growled, "You… bastard…" He tried to move but couldn't make his body respond at all.

Kagome felt a tear roll down her face, "You are a devil!"

Kagome started to run forward but was stopped when she saw Naraku holding a remote, "Careful girl. I'm sure you don't want Inuyasha to be shocked again." Kagome felt more tears fall as she back away. Naraku smiled and pulled Inuyasha to his knees by his hair, "Now Inu-Taisho if you want your son to stay alive and sane you will listen to me."

Inu-Taisho growled and stood his ground, "I will do no such thing. My son is strong and can survive long enough for me to get a solid attack."

Naraku laughed as he saw Inu-Taisho get into a striking position, "Oh I forgot to mention something." He quickly pulled out a shot needle full of the purple demon pacifier and pressed it against Inuyasha's neck, "If you try and attack me I will inject your son and force you to fight him instead." Inu-Taisho froze and Naraku smiled, "None of you will interfere with my plans. Not if you want to see your loved ones alive."