The continuation of the story! FINALLY!! You can blame Sesshoumaru for this one. He's so hard to write! Kyaaa! D: AND I had to think of a reason for him to visit InuYasha in the first place! He caused me my writer's block, which in turn led me to forgetting about this story. Also, I started writing this chapter a year ago, and picked it up again today. Try to guess where I stopped/started again. ;D Anyway, without further ado, chapter 26! (Finally!!)

Chapter 26

A white-haired figure made his way through the forest. Behind him followed a large demon with a human girl and smaller demon riding on top. His golden eyes kept focused on the path ahead. He was going somewhere. Using his superhuman sense of smell and pointed ears, along with 'asking' a few people with his claws, he had tracked down the person he was searching for. His name was Sesshoumaru, and he was looking for his brother. ((A/N: It almost sounded like it was InuYasha with Kilala, Sango or Kagome, and Shippo behind him, eh?))

Why exactly he was going to visit his hated younger brother, neither his retainer Jaken or young girl follower Rin knew. But they kept loyal to him and followed anyway. But only after almost being left behind. Again.

"Milord, why are we going to see your half-breed brother?" Jaken asked his master for the umpteenth time.

But this time was different. The Lord of the Western Lands actually answered him. "Did you not hear the rumor, Jaken? InuYasha has taken a mate. I am to see if this is true, and if it is..." He paused.

"Yes milord?"

Sesshoumaru's lips suddenly curved up in a smile. "You will see."

Jaken stared up at Sesshoumaru. As he had said many times before, when Lord Sesshoumaru smiled, it always meant something big was going to happen.

"Lord Sesshoumaru," Rin began, "Do you think InuYasha's mate is that dead priestess woman?"

"No."

"Then who milord? Is it Lady Kagome?"

Sesshoumaru did not answer. Jaken looked over at Rin and began to yell at her for asking the lord too many questions again.

--

"InuYasha, are you okay?"

InuYasha was startled to hear a voice come from the previously silent girl next to him.

"All of a sudden, you got this really worried expression on your face," Kagome explained.

"Oh, it's nothing. Don't worry about it."

How was he supposed to tell her that he suddenly sensed his brother's presence coming nearer and nearer towards the village? He didn't want to worry her right now, especially not with all the stress she was under trying to help Miroku and Sango with Sayumi. It was best to keep quiet just a little longer; maybe it would go away...

The sun was going down, and the pair were sitting on the fence near Kaede's hut after having eaten dinner there. Neither said much of anything. InuYasha stared at nothing in particular while thinking of different things, and Kagome watched every movement of his face. They both seemed to be content with doing just this.

"Um, InuYasha?" Kagome scooted a little closer to him.

"What is it?" He queried.

"Are you sure you're okay? I mean, you have this intense look... Is anything wrong?"

Immediately, InuYasha attempted to soften his features so that he appeared more at ease. It didn't work and his face changed so that he looked like he had just seen something very beautiful, but very stinky.

Kagome had to laugh. "InuYasha!" she said between giggles, "Seriously! What is up with your face? That's probably one of the funniest expressions I've ever seen on you!"

InuYasha did not laugh. He didn't smile. However, he did change his look back to the one he had had previously.

"Kagome?"

She giggled. "Yes?"

"Sesshoumaru."

She stopped mid-chuckle and stared. "What?"

"Sesshoumaru is coming."

She continued to stare. "Why?"

"How the hell would I know? Just get inside."

Kagome, although she didn't like it, did as she was told. She jumped off of the fence and jogged over to Kaede's hut. Once inside, she told everyone what was happening and who was coming.

--

"Look out! A demon!" one of the villagers yelled, running away from the white-clad figure.

As the rest began to follow suit, Sesshoumaru's look remained unchanged. Less work for him if they got rid of themselves. As he walked, the hard dirt crunched beneath his feet. The wind tossed his silver hair. And yet, he did not move one inch from his straight path.

And at that moment, he stopped. He needed not to search for InuYasha, for his prey had come to him. The half-demon leapt down from a rooftop, landed in front of his brother, and drew his sword, all in one movement.

"What in the seven hells are you doing here?" he growled.

Sesshoumaru did not grab Tokijin, nor did he blink. Instead, he replied, "At ease, little brother." He smiled.

InuYasha froze. He had never seen his brother smile before. It could only mean calamity. Sesshoumaru was never known to hold any emotions or feelings. That was always the younger brother's department. InuYasha squeezed Tetsusaiga more tightly with both hands.

"Answer me," he said. "What are you doing here? Come for a surprise attack, huh? You bastard."

InuYasha wore the look of hatred he did almost every other time he encountered Sesshoumaru. And yet, Sesshoumaru's smile remained.

"LORD SESSHOUMARU!!" a voice bellowed.

Jaken, followed by Rin on Ah-Un, sped up to them, panting.

"Lord Sesshoumaru, we're here! Now… Why are we here?" he questioned, wiping the sweat from his brow.

"Oh, so you brought your pet toad, didja?" InuYasha snarled. "And the little human girl, too. Why do you, a demon, keep a human around?"

Sesshoumaru took a step closer. "I came to ask you that."

InuYasha's expression changed to a puzzled one. For a moment, he didn't say anything, and the wind blew through the brothers' white hair, the most alike thing between the two. The sun had now gone down, and the stars were beginning to show themselves. The village was quiet, as everyone was asleep or hiding.

Suddenly, the silence was broken. "InuYasha…" A small voice said.

The hanyou turned, to see the concerned face of Kagome, clutching the bow on her shoulder.

"Kagome! I told you to go hide!"

She frowned. "It was too quiet… I thought something bad had happened… I'm sorry, InuYasha. But are you sure you can handle him on your own?"

"Keh." He focused his attention back on Sesshoumaru. "I'm fine."

"So it is true," Sesshoumaru murmured.

"What was that?" InuYasha growled. "Couldn't quite hear you."

Sesshoumaru reiterated, this time at a decibel level that those who weren't dogs could hear. ((A/N: Ha. Pun. x3 )) "The rumors are true. You, InuYasha, have taken a human mate," he smirked.

InuYasha dropped his sword and blushed. "W-what's it to ya?" he asked, embarrassed.

Sesshoumaru took a few more steps and began making a large circle around InuYasha, examining him. InuYasha once again wore a confused look. Sesshoumaru spoke again. "You really do share our miserable father's affinity for humans. It must be what you inherited from him, since you obviously did not get his strength."

"What is that supposed to mean? In your dreams! I've kicked your butt a zillion times!" InuYasha backsassed.

"That mark on the girl's neck," Sesshoumaru said, changing the subject. He stopped mid-circle and fixated his gaze on Kagome, who drew back out of surprise and fear. "It is unbefitting of a human. Be aware that it was your human mother that caused our father's untimely demise. He too took a human for his mate, and look what befell him." ((A/N: See InuYasha Movie 3.)) A look of accusation played across his face.

"I don't need you lecturing me." InuYasha picked up Tetsusaiga and moved once more into his battle stance, still blushing a bit. "Besides, what's done is done."

"InuYasha…" Kagome held out a hand.

Sesshoumaru began to back up, leaving the way he came. "I merely came to warn you, InuYasha. Humans and demons, even half-breeds like yourself, cannot be mixed. I will not have my father's blood dissipated with every new generation. Terrible things happen to those who choose to disregard the boundary between youkai and humans."

"Sesshoumaru! You shut up!" InuYasha yelled, leaping forward at him and swiping the Tetsusaiga.

The dog demon easily dodged. "And your children," he continued, "they will be quarter demon. They will live the same life you did. Hated by everyone, belonging nowhere. Do you really want to bring that upon another creature? You must abandon that girl, lest you will have sealed your fate."

And with that, he disappeared completely into the forest.

"Ah! Lord Sesshoumaru, wait for us!" Rin yelled, motioning for Ah-Un to turn around. Jaken jumped on, and the two-headed demon began to chase after the departing dog demon.

--

A/N: MUAHAHA! Evil almost-cliffie. So Sesshoumaru shows up and is like "Hay! U shudnt be hanging uhround wif da humins, yo!" How will InuYasha and Kagome react to everything he said? Find out next chapter! (... Finally!!) Sayounnara!