Sesshomaru was under his bed. So, when Sango strolled in, calling out to him in that concerned voice of hers, he had no choice but to slide into view.

There was nothing elegant about sliding from under the bed, but the world was so small there. It put things into perspective.

"What are you doing down there, dear?" She pushed him back under and slid underneath with him. Her hand grabbed his, "you don't do well with confrontation."

"Ironic, isn't it?"

She hummed, "you can't hurt people who make you feel cornered. It's not alright. Don't push yourself until you snap, just," she felt him running his thumb along her hand, "walk away if you need to. I won't let anyone stop you."

He didn't reply to that, instead he changed the subject entirely, "will you keep parchment in your desk?"

"Does it make you feel better to write things down." In the dim light she could tell that his ears had bled pink. He didn't want to say, didn't want her to know all of his quirks.

For the millionth time he wished his sanity wasn't hanging on by a perfect mahogany strand. When trying to grasp at the smoke that was his control, he wished he could just hurt people, instead of seeing those dark, disapproving eyes.

It hurt less to hurt people. Locking it up was holding his breath for too long. It made him dizzy.

Writing was the only way to express himself without feeling like he'd snap in half.

"Aren't we supposed to be getting to know each other?" Her hand slid from his hand, tickling the flesh on his arms.

"I suppose."

"Then tell me-,"

"What do you do when you feel like you're going to explode?" He turned to look at her, "I don't want to talk anymore."

She nodded, "well, I cry or scream. It's not helpful to anyone if you keep it all bottled up. That's why InuYasha screamed at you. He was angry and he was overwhelmed."

He was quiet for a while, doing nothing but listening to her stifle sneezes. His heart wasn't racing anymore, his mind felt like one piece again. Once again he was faced with an ugly truth. He'd forgotten how to be normal.

"Solitude drives the strongest men insane. Kagome once told me that they use it as a punishment in her own time. It only takes a few weeks for people to break."

"I'm not human."

"You don't have to be human to have emotions. You locked everything away in an effort to cope with being alone and trying to save your people. It was a cruel thing to do to a boy."

He grabbed her hand again, finding he was happiest when it was within his own, "it was their only choice. The people here are losing their minds. I'm not the only one who sacrificed something."

"It doesn't matter if you were the only one or not. What matters is that you need some help."

Sesshomaru slid from under the bed, he could hear the approaching footsteps of his troublesome brother. He was emotionally drained, but he didn't know how to articulate that.

Sango also came up from Their Place, "give me a moment." She went outside, shutting the door behind her.

He could hear them arguing, but Sango was strong against InuYasha, "you've done enough. Show some compassion-,"

"He whipped me in the face!"

"Yeah, well," she paused, trying not to expose him as she fought with his dense younger brother.

Lying was equally draining. It may be easier to come clean. Sango had been so accommodating, so kind. He couldn't expect that kind of humanity from InuYasha, but maybe he'd understand?

Or he'd throw it in his face. Taunt him for being broken. That option scared him far more. He much rathered fighting the boy and being done with it.

"Look here, you're going to have to let that go." Sango sighed finally, "not only does this rivalry need to end, but you need each other. Without his help Kagome will die. If you both can't work together you lose the woman who loved you enough to leave her family behind."

That sobered him. Sesshomaru could imagine the petulant look on his face.

"What am I supposed to do? You're the only one who he'll talk to. He doesn't care about anyone else."

Sango chuckled, "that's not true. He's just," she struggled for the right word and Sesshomaru found himself supplying them; broken, detached, robotic, lost.

"He's sensitive," was what she came up with. Sesshomaru stared at the stone floor, longing for the sweet release of unconsciousness. Why. Why would she tell InuYasha that? Of all the threats to his sanity InuYasha was public enemy number zero.

He'd have -wholeheartedly- rathered it if she'd told Naraku that he was sensitive.

Inside he was screaming, but outside he was just staring at the door, the smallest of frowns tugging on his lips.

InuYasha barked a laugh, "sensitive? That man is not sensitive. He doesn't feel anything at all. He's never cared about me and I'm his brother, but he sets eyes on you and decides it's love?"

"I can't tell you why he fell for me, I doubt he knows himself, but-," she groaned and InuYasha started to laugh at her.

"What are you blushing for!"

"I'm not blushing!"

"Then why are your cheeks so red ?"

"It's- ugh!"

InuYasha's laughter bounced along the corridor and Sesshomaru noticed, with a start, that he'd never heard that noise before.

It was kind of nice, much better than his constant squawking.

"Just give him some time to reset! We're gonna snoop around the castle library later and see if there's anything we can do."

"And until then? Kagome is already in pain, that bastard needs to offer us some kind of solution."

Sesshomaru, at that moment, had an idea. He knew there was a scroll in his personal collection about enchanted objects.

If he and InuYasha could simultaneously enchant a pendant it might provide relief for the time being. That was assuming that the half breed- he should stop thinking things like that. His child would be a halfbreed and would be as flawless as the dawn. That was for sure.

His plans relied on that imbecile being able to call upon his youki without going into that childish blood lust that he was so fond of.

He opened the door, catching Sango when she staggered, "begone InuYasha and find a pendant." He glanced at the guide, quartz stones were the most receptive to charms and enchantments, "one of these will do, if you succeed we can try and keep the priestess comfortable. At very least."

The door closed again before the yammering could begin. Sango was smiling at him again.

"So you've decided to help, even though you swore you wouldn't get involved."

He shrugged, "we'll just have to have a few children, just in case the first isn't on balance. Y'know, since I'm helping your friends."

She rolled her eyes, "he's your brother. Don't you forget that." His hand on her cheek was playful, his claw tickled the skin beneath it, but the look on his face was filled with a pure kind of joy.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I don't have the words," his lips were feather light on hers, the heavy, passionate kisses from earlier had nothing on these. The building in her chest was insurmountable. She didn't know why she felt the sudden need to laugh and cry and squeeze him within her arms.

"I think you're projecting."

He gave her one of those dazzling smiles, the kind that were contagious and perfect, "I wouldn't be able to do that if we weren't made for each other."

A.N./ I'm sorry, but is Sesshomaru, OR IS HE NOT, baby?