1. With all due respect I am thankful for Rumiko Takahashi's work for her creation of Inuyasha.

2. My muse would be happy to see how I have posted two updates-Reason for War and Youkai Senso (Youkai Wars). I must have been more stressed that I have let on. But you my readers would reap the benefit of my travails. Oh, enough drama! I hope you like it!

3. By the way, Happy Chinese New Year! Gōngxǐ fācái!

YOUKAI SENSO

CHAPTER 4

CHIAROSCURO

"Brother."

"Brother." The younger but different reflection of me nodded curtly. "Did you bring what I asked?" I stepped forward as the moon was released by the clouds and turned my half-sibling's hair and puppy dog ears spun silver. I took note that tonight he wore the robe our father gave to him. It strangely pleased me to see something of home.

"I did. But it was a bitch getting it out. Don't you forget it." I straightened as he lifted a case behind his back and set the black heavy crate on the grass and freed the bindings. I stepped close, my heart beat fast when the first click of the fastener snapped up as if it was the door that led to the room of a beautiful courtesan swinging open. When the case was open for me to beheld their contents my brother stepped back two paces allowing me to feast my eyes at the two most important things in my life, second to my family.

At last I beheld the extension of my being for in truth they were a part of me; one came from my father's fangs and the other forged from my very own flesh. But one of them I hold especially dear to me. My eyes slightly lost focus as if diving under the lake near our shiro. I bent down and took hold of one of them. I felt electrified as I run my hand on the sheath's familiar curve and the etchings on its pale grip. Bakusaiga sang that familiar tune as its blade flashed under the glow of the moon. For a moment I saw part of my reflection on its sharp edge.

"Oi, you're welcome. There, now you got 'em. So, tell me your plans from here on."

A tick formed at the arch of my brow. Trust my brother to ruin my moment. When I looked up, there he was up the tree picking his teeth with a sharp claw. "Inuyasha, come down here." I called him tiredly.

Inuyasha leapt down but looked suspiciously at one of the men who came out of the trees. "Hey…"

I stopped him when he grabbed the man who bent down and gathered the case. "Let him go. He is my beta." Inuyasha's expression was priceless. If I could paint this moment I'd like to keep it for posterity.

"But…but…you can't! He's not clan!" My younger brother's eyes were flashing fire and I couldn't help my brows from rising at his attitude.

"Not clan." My voice sounded amused to my ears. 'Ah, yes. The clan." I looked up at the moon and let it bathe me. I felt a special affinity with it. Both solitary. Alone. Eternal. "Where was my clan when I needed them the most, brother?"

Inuyasha stopped when I faced him. "Hey…!" Inuyasha love to sputter whenever he's upset. "I'm here right now, aren't I?"

"I do not question you, brother." My hands met inside my robe. "Where were the rest of the people who were supposed to stop this war?" I snorted when my brother lowered his eyes to the ground.

"It's not that easy to leave everything behind you know."

"And I could?" My rage surfaced and I slammed him at the back of a tree. "What is my sacrifice worth, Inuyasha?" I snarled at his face. "I lost everything!"

"And I would not?" Inuyasha snarled back. "When you were deposed I became their new target. I could end up like you or worse. Didn't you ever realize that when you began this stupid quest of yours?"

"That 'stupid quest' is a life in question, brother."

"What the fuck? " then he guffawed. "Are you fucking trying to make me laugh?" A hard edge came to his eyes when the laughter stopped. "What in hell do you care about life, huh? Apart from taking it? Who was called the 'man killer' in their heyday, huh? Who was the one who looked down on everyone like we're insects you step on? Who was it who loved being called the perfect assassin? Who was that, huh? Weren't you that bastard?" Inuyasha smirked despite my glare. "Did you forget that life? Don't you give me that holier-than-thou drama crap at me, brother."

In another time I would have wanted to correct my half-sibling's way with coarse and vulgar words with my own acidic retort but it froze on my lips. He was correct. That was who I am. I frowned.

Am?

In the present?

Now?

Have I not changed? Do I still walk in my old ways? If so, then who was that person who walked the cold marble floors of the trial hall? Was it I?

Was it my voice who accused those people of crafting a farce of a trial? Did I not want their death because they fooled me into thinking they were on my side?

Why did I let them take me, consign me into that filthy cell?

Is my old shell still around me? Have I not…

Inuyasha pushed off the tree after observing my silence. "Oi! So why do you care if more lives were snuffed out, huh? Why didn't you just support them to shut them up? What's your point anyway?" he sniffed.

"I need you to do something for me."

"Again?" Inuyasha pointed a finger. "I'm not a glorified goffer."

"You are my glorified brother and if not for this you wouldn't be getting the windfall of my concubines." I almost smirked again.

"What the…"

I waved my hand to stop his futile explanations as I paced. I knew he had been enjoying himself with the perks of being the new heir including having the harem all for himself. "I don't care about those useless females. You can have all of them." Inuyasha sighed deep. "Now cease your prattle and listen to me."

The only time Inuyasha could become speechless was in front of me and he uses superbly colorful language to get his ideas across. "O…oi! You bastard! You stupid turd!"

"I am in high hopes that my instructions would be fulfilled to my satisfaction, younger brother?"

"If I get my head chopped off our house would be in ruins!"

It was a good thing I was quite a few feet away to avoid spittle from blowing my way. " Killing you would be counter productive. They need you to keep the funds coming. Make sure you do not disabuse their belief that you were obedient and on their side."

"Oi, you bastard. You know I hate those greedy assholes. If it were up to me I'd have let Tetsaiga at them."

"It is a good thing that the katana has more brains than you do, brother."

"Well, if it weren't for me you wouldn't even have your precious swords, a-hole." he snorted shaking his head. "Ah! Why did you choose a bad time to get a conscience…"

I shushed Inuyasha as one of my men came. "My lord, I have an urgent message." The man hurried to me after I waved him over to approach. I was surprised when he cupped his hand over his mouth and whispered. He leaned back anxiously as I looked back at him. At my nod he backed away and blended back into the forest.

"Inuyasha, go back home." I lifted my swords and placed them where they belonged.

"Whoa! Wait up. Did something happen?" Inuyasha blocked my way. "Did someone follow me here?"

I walked around him and he followed me deep into the camp. "No, but I am needed somewhere. Everything about my plan hinges on your cooperation Inuyasha. You want me to come back and take the title again, don't you?"

"Of course! I never wanted your damn title in the first place." We stopped at the edge of the camp where my men were waiting. "I also want to get some payback at those bastards. I've never thought about that but…" He shrugged after a moment. "All right. I'll play your game."

My brother and I looked at each other; he under the light of the moon and I in the shadows and vice versa. When we have reached an accord he disappeared into the night while I remained until I couldn't see the shade of his clothes and hair in the dark.

Light and dark.

Dark and light.

Like the moon above. It hides a dark side that people have never glimpsed upon. What, I mused, could it be hiding?

An unusual but welcome item brushed my hands and I gave in to its call. There under the moon shine my heart sang with my sword as we beheld each other once more.

I wondered if my younger brother noted that my eyes have changed when I beheld the gleaming blade of Bakusaiga. He said that I was happy but the truth was it reflected the fire of revenge.