6 Chapters down, I really hope you've enjoyed the read so far!
Azuma watched as Inuyasha ran in the direction of his friends. "Uncle, if you're watching. You should be very proud of your son," He thought as he used his demonic speed to rush in the direction of Sesshomaru. A few moments later he arrived merely a few yards behind Sesshomaru. He could see villagers clutching their weapons and walking slowly toward Sesshomaru, and Sesshomaru didn't look like he was in a mood to calmly deal with them.
Sesshomaru drew Tōkijin and prepared to strike them down but before he could deliver the first blow, he was stopped suddenly by the voice of his cousin. "Sesshomaru! Stop!" Azuma said firmly, stopping Sesshomaru in his tracks. "Azuma, do not stand in my way," He said back as he turned toward Azuma. "These humans are possessed by that half-demon filth, can you not tell?" He said with a hint of disgust in his voice. "It matters, not. You and I have slaughtered more than our fair share of humans in our time, what makes these any different?" Sesshomaru said staring intently at Azuma.
"That was a long time ago, and if you have failed to grow up since then, then you have my pity. But you will not slaughter these humans when they have done nothing to deserve it," Azuma said firmly, staring right back into Sesshomaru's eyes. "You dare try to command me?" Sesshomaru said angrily as his eyes began turning red. "I will do what I must to protect these humans, dear cousin, including stop you. Now stand down," Azuma said as his eyes also began turning red.
The two stared at once another intently for a few seconds before they were interrupted by the possessed villagers swinging their weapons at them. Azuma merely dodged the attacks, not a difficult feat for him, but when the unmistakable scent of human blood filled the air, Azuma's eyes shot straight to Sesshomaru. He saw his cousin raising his hand, covered in blood as a human fell before his feet. The very sight was enough to cause a spike of rage within Azuma.
"I warned you not to harm them," He said with a sense of dry fury in his voice. "If you think you can command ME, then you're sorely mistaken, Azuma," Sesshomaru said as he began to transform into his Dog Yōkai form. "If a battle is what you wish, far be it from me to deny your request," Azuma said as he began transforming as well. A few moments later, the two cousins were standing eye to eye once again, though this time they were monstrous and dripping poisonous saliva.
Azuma bore his teeth at Sesshomaru, he immediately lunged for Azuma, missing him by only a few feet. Azuma recovered and immediately took a defensive stance before lunging for his cousin. The two met each other and raised on hind legs, trying their best to rip out the other's throat. Azuma managed to get a bite on Sesshomaru's chest but he didn't realize he had left himself unbalanced, allowing Sesshomaru to get his shoulders under Azuma's chest and send him flying back several feet.
Azuma landed on a grove of trees and some huts, he could immediately smell the human blood of Inuyasha. The smell resinated in Azuma's nose for a second or two, causing his rage to go off the chart as he lunged back at Sesshomaru and using his razor-sharp teeth, grabbed him by throat and forced him down to the ground. Azuma stood over Sesshomaru, contemplating killing him for a moment, but he wouldn't. Sesshomaru was his family and though he may have been stubborn and cruel, nothing was going to change that.
Sesshomaru began to rise again, still hindered by his missing arm, he growled ferociously at Azuma. Azuma snarled back, almost daring him to attack again. Though he wouldn't kill his cousin, he would certainly not cower before him either. The two began to circle one another, daring the other to make the first move, when suddenly a sour and foul scent began to fill the air as Naraku appeared above the two, still clad in his disguise. He began to chuckle as the two cousins looked up and snarled. "Poor Sesshomaru, you fear being outmatched by Inuyasha and here you are being beaten by your cousin like a worm, He said, still floating. Sesshomaru roared with fury as he lunged for Naraku. However, Naraku was prepared, moving out of the way with ease and chuckling again.
"A valiant effort, Sesshomaru, but useless," He said as he exploded from his baboon pelt. Naraku began to grow more and more demonic, his arms becoming like pincers and his legs like that of a spider demon. He swung his sharp pincer at them causing the two of them to dodge. As Sesshomaru landed, he immediately lunged for Naraku, managing to rip off one of his arms as he did. Azuma watched for his opening and found it when Naraku turned his back to hit Sesshomaru. Azuma swiftly ran underneath Naraku, ripping two legs off and partly severing another. As the two cousins met again on the opposite side and took defensive stances, a low chuckle could be hard as Naraku began regrowing his lost limbs. "Isn't it such a heartwarming sight to see the two of you working together?" Naraku said smugly. "It would seem you have forgotten someone, however," He said as he looked to the crushed remains of the trees and huts.
A sense of urgency rushed over Azuma as he gave Sesshomaru a look the both of them understood. In one look, he told him he was sorry, but he had to help Inuyasha. Sesshomaru simply looked back at him, though not in contempt, but understanding. Sesshomaru knew Azuma cared for Inuyasha and though he had his feelings toward his half-demon brother, he would never look down on his cousin for helping family when needed, no matter who it was. Azuma immediately transformed back this his human form and began rushing to the hut where he could smell Inuyasha's blood coming from.
As he ran he was attacked by Naraku, who attempted to impale him with his regrown pincer arm, slamming it down inches away from Azuma. He attempted another attack but before he could connect, he was forced to deflect as Sesshomaru lunged and slashed at him with ferocity. Azuma looked back at his cousin once again and smiled as he ran, he knew deep down inside, past all the titles, the respect, and even the power, Sesshomaru loved what family he had left, even if he would never admit it.