Disclaimer - I don't own em. Nuff said.



Author's Notes - I realize this chapter is a bit shorter than usual . . . I do apologize. It's been a very busy week, full of house guests and very little time to write. So, I hope you will all forgive.

As for Sesshoumaru kissing Kagome . . . I have no idea, honestly. It just came out. I guess you could say it sort of shows his confusion about what he's currently going through. Anyway, this chapter might help explain that a bit. To those who were worried, this is not going to become an Kag/Sess fic . . . . I'm too hard core Inu/Kag to do that. Sess is just very confused right now, and Kagome understands this. At any rate, read and enjoy. And don't forget to review.





Chapter 16 - Family Bonds

InuYasha returned to the village, Rin riding on his back, squealing happily as he leaped over the ground in short jumps. He winced as one particular squeal sounded right in his ears, but didn't growl at her to keep it down. It had taken him a while to get her to trust him enough to even come with him . . . and he'd had to knock that annoying toad out to do it. Damn Jakken . . . arguing with him that Sesshoumaru would NEVER have sent his brother to retrieve them. Hopefully that fist to the head would jar some brains into the stupid little servant.

Arriving at the village, he gently lifted Rin to the ground, setting her on her feet carefully so she could walk the rest of the way.

"Rin thanks InuYasha for the ride. Rin had a lot of fun," the little girl chirped, skipping merrily before him into the village.

"It was nothing, Rin," InuYasha replied. "I'm glad you had fun." Under his breath, he added "Although my ears are certainly going to suffer from it for a while." His golden eyes lit with pleasure as Kagome came into view, just coming out from their hut. She waved to him cheerfully as she spied him, waiting patiently for him to join her.

His heart leapt at the warmth of her smile and the wave she directed towards him. Gods, what had he ever done to deserve her love? His mate . . . his light and life - Kagome. How could he have ever thought to go with Kikyo to hell and turn his back on her? Thank all the gods above that he had come to his senses. In a way, he supposed he should thank the bandits that had started the whole mess . . . had they not attacked them and taken Kagome, he would probably never have gotten the guts to tell her. And, in the long run, he supposed he had to thank Naraku for his part in it . . . after he killed that spineless bastard, that was. Reaching Kagome, he enveloped her in a huge hug, lifting her off her feet as he pressed her to him.

Kagome returned the embrace, her arms catching around his neck as she squeaked slightly when her feet left the ground. She giggled as she felt his arms tighten around her before he growled softly into her neck.

"You smell of my brother, my mate. But underneath, I can still catch the scent of us. How is he?" InuYasha asked, setting her back on her feet before putting her at arms length to look at her. He still wasn't sure how to react to this 'new' Sesshoumaru . . . he was too used to his older half-brother trying to kill him and take Tetsusiaga. This was 'a whole new ball game' as Kagome occasionally said. He was glad he'd had her explain that saying to him . . . it fit the current turn of events rather well. Kagome sighed before answering him.

"He's healing . . . but he's confused, as well. I think . . . that he's suddenly discovering discrepancies in the way he's viewed the world - and after living gods only know how many years with that specific mind set, suddenly finding them changing so unexpectedly has left him at a loss. But . . . this gives you a chance to mend whatever lies between the two of you. Please, InuYasha . . . talk to him. Just try . . . try to become brothers again, and not enemies." InuYasha sighed, but nodded. He would do anything if Kagome ever asked it of him . . . he supposed he could at least ATTEMPT this. Hugging her gently one last time, he stepped around her, and approached the hut with a great amount of trepidation.



*-------*-------*-------*-------*



InuYasha stepped into the hut slowly, allowing his eyes to adjust to the difference in lighting before moving further. His brother lay on the futon they had set up for him, his golden eyes staring absently at the roof above him. He appeared to be deep in thought . . . and just as confused and lost as Kagome had said.

"Sesshoumaru . . ." he began, before pausing, unsure of how to continue. They had never talked before . . . not outside of battle, at any rate. And usually, that talking had been throwing random curses and insults as they tried to kill each other.

"InuYasha . . ." Sesshoumaru replied quietly. He sighed suddenly, before his golden eyes turned to meet the near-identical ones of his hanyou brother. "Your mate is an amazing woman. I envy you." InuYasha's eyes widened at that statement. Sesshoumaru envied him - for Kagome?

"I almost lost her . . . if you hadn't talked to me that day, I would have continued to stay away from her. I . . . owe you, I guess," InuYasha finally replied, moving to settle on the floor near the futon, Tetsusiaga resting against his shoulder.

"Yes . . . but in the end, you made the smart move. Something I seem to have never done in my life thus far." InuYasha snorted at that.

"While I'm not exactly inclined to say it, Sesshoumaru, you have made a few. Calling that truce would be top of my list . . . and helping Kagome and I. I doubt we would be where we are now if you hadn't done as you did - and Naraku could very well have taken Kagome that day if you hadn't stepped in." He sighed, turning to meet Sesshoumaru's eyes. "Why . . . why did you hate my mother and I so much? She would have been safe . . . if you hadn't . . ."

"Hadn't denied you the protection of the castle. Yes, I know . . . but at the time, I did not care. I was jealous of you, InuYasha . . . jealous of the love you had from both parents, when I had only our father's. And even he turned away from me when you were born." Sesshoumaru growled softly under his breath, struggling to rise into a sitting position. He attained it finally, leaning back against the wall with a sigh of relief. "I was young . . . and foolish. It does not make up for what I did . . . or the loss you suffered and the life you led . . . but I would still like to say that I am sorry . . . my brother." His dark golden eyes met InuYasha's warily, his shoulders hunching as he awaited the condemnation he was sure was coming.

"Kagome . . . has done a lot to make me see things differently from how I used to. I can't say that I can forget what you did . . . but I can try to understand and forgive you for it. She . . . wants us to get along. For her . . . I'm willing to give it a shot if you are," InuYasha said, trying not to grin at his brother's shocked expression. He shrugged instead. "What can I say, Sesshoumaru? Kagome is an amazing, bright, warm-hearted woman. I think she could even melt Naraku's heart . . . if he had one, that is." Sesshoumaru could only smile slightly at that.

"I would have to agree with you, InuYasha. Had things been different . . ." his voice faded into silence. InuYasha looked at him speculatively for a moment, before a nagging thought he'd had earlier came back to him.

"Is there something you want to tell me, brother?" InuYasha asked quietly, his eyes never leaving the youkai lord's face. He was startled when a slight blush graced his half-brother's face. Finally, Sesshoumaru sighed, and spoke softly.

"She is an amazing human . . . and I find that she is one of the few that I respect. Had things been different . . . and I not so stubborn, as she put it . . . she would be my mate, not yours." InuYasha growled softly at this, drawing his brother's eyes to his face. "Be at ease, InuYasha. I will make no move for your mate . . . I kissed her, nothing more. It was no more than a second or two, and very chaste. I suspect had I done anything that had offended her, she could easily have taken care of it." He turned his eyes back to the ceiling above. "But . . . I will protect her as if she was my mate . . . she is family now, after all. Be assured of that, hanyou. I value her life as much as you do . . . even if she is a human." InuYasha's growl lessened slightly, fading off until it was no more than a subsonic rumbling in his chest.

"Just . . . don't . . . do it . . . again," he ground out, his teeth clenched together tightly.

"Trust me . . . I will not. I have no desire to break this rather tenuous new relationship we have discovered . . . indeed, we will need everything to defeat Naraku." InuYasha sighed finally, releasing the tension his brother's admission had caused. He still found himself riled over it . . . but if Kagome had not reacted to it, then neither would he. It was the least he could do.

To Be Continued