Author's note: I don't know what to write, I'm deeply inside the story! So, good reading, I hope you'll like this chapter ^ ^ Warning: These are the last chapters, so they could end on a moment of tension ^ ^;; Don't kill me for this, please ^ ^;;;;;;;; CHAPTER 21 BROTHERS "Well, we could start analyzing your actions, my brother." Inuyasha said, sarcastic, sitting on the ground. Sesshoumaru looked at him like he was a strange animal. "Don't lengthen our talk more than the necessary.- he said, annoyed, sitting- I haven't so much time to waste." "You've the eternity in front of you, if you'll talk with me for an hour the world doesn't stop to spin!" Inuyasha said, acid. "I'm followed, imbecile." Sesshoumaru froze him. "Followed?- Inuyasha asked, surprised- Who are." "Doesn't Anna tell you about." Sesshoumaru started. "About Inuzuka? Certain.- Inuyasha ended the phrase, understanding- The Family is still searching her?! Damned bastards." Inuyasha showed his fangs, remembering his only meeting with the inu-youkai's Family. A remember he preferred to cancel. How many humiliations for him.and for his poor mother.and the youkai in front of him didn't give an hand to him. He gave him a cold glance, but Sesshoumaru was deep inside his thoughts. "You've said she's dead for you. Why are you searching her?- Inuyasha asked, making Sesshoumaru return on the earth- Do you want to lead them to her?" "Don't talk nonsense.- Sesshoumaru said, annoyed- I don't care about Family's laws. My will is my law." Inuyasha restrained himself to sigh. Sesshoumaru had an enormous self-confidence. "Ok, but if you don't care about Family's revenge, why by the hell are you here?" he asked. Sesshoumaru didn't answered. "Why do you want to see Anna? Haven't you hurt her enough?" Inuyasha asked, chasing him. Sesshoumaru shot him dead with his eyes. "You, don't dare to judge my actions." Sesshoumaru said coldly. Inuyasha started to get angry. "But I care about your actions, because Anna is our friend!" he said, dry. Sesshoumaru made a face. "Friend?" he asked, puzzled. "Yes, a friend, you stupid fool!- Inuyasha cried- And you are the only damned brother I have, even if we try to kill each other every time we meet!" Sesshoumaru looked at him in silence and Inuyasha regretted immediately his words. "Feh! I don't care about you, but our father wanted that you, beast, could be happy and I can't ignore his desire!" "It was true." Sesshoumaru whispered. "Anna doesn't lie." Inuyasha said. He was surprised when he saw him paling slightly. He sighed and tried to calm down. "Listen, it's better to reach the point, because we are only getting angry.- Inuyasha said, trying to be a mature person- You are here to take her with you because you've repented of what you've done to her, and look at your face it's enough to understand it." Sesshoumaru's face became icing and Inuyasha shook his head. " Ehi, it's not a disgrace.- he said, resigned- It's a progress, from the icicle you were. It's not a dishonor even if you admit you love her." Sesshoumaru corrugated his forehead. "Do I love her?" he asked more to himself than to Inuyasha. Inuyasha was near to fall on the ground. "A.are you saying you don't know it?!" he asked, stunned. Sesshoumaru looked at him with annoyance, than made a distract deed with his hand. "What can I know about your fool human feelings?" he said, looking away. Inuyasha stood open mouth. "You are more stupid than me, I can't believe it." he murmured after a moment, suffocating a laugh when he said his brother's glance. "Listen,- he said- we can do a thing. You tell me about your sensations and I translate them to you. I'm more expert than you about this kind of things, don't you think so?" "What would I do?- Sesshoumaru asked, pretty puzzled- I'd to explain my." Sesshoumaru darkened and stood up, giving his back to his brother. "It's out of the question. You're annoying, idiot creature." Sesshoumaru said. "Well, consider that I'll not carry you to her if you don't really love her.- Inuyasha said, stood up him too and starting to walk away in the direction he was come from- And without me, she'll run away." Sesshoumaru made an angry face. The only thought of disembowel his feelings filled him of a so deeply uneasiness he felt his stomach squeeze. He wasn't able to admit them to himself, so he wasn't certain able to explain them. He didn't want to explain them! There was nothing more embarrassing and humiliating!! ( I understand you, Ses-chan ç_ç NoA) Put his heart in Inuyasha's hands.the only thought made him feel sick! His bastard brother would have a power on him he didn't deserve. Damned Anna! It was her fault if he was so humiliated now! Sesshoumaru sighed. No, it wasn't Anna's fault. He wanted her at all costs. At all costs. Meanwhile, Inuyasha was really annoyed. His brother was still silent. Grunting, he turned, deciding it was time to use bad manners. "When she is with me." Sesshoumaru said. Inuyasha stopped. "I.feel.warmth in all my body. And I'm not talking about physical desire, in this case the problem wouldn't exist." Sesshoumaru went on, saying every word with an effort of will. "When she sang, I couldn't restrain myself to stop my activities and go to the window to listen.- Sesshoumaru said, concentrated like he was in a battle- The only sight of her made my heartbeat grow fast." Inuyasha's face softened. Sesshoumaru was making a big effort. He couldn't see his face. but Sesshoumaru's fist were tight and his arms and his back trembled because the tension. For the first time in his life, Inuyasha understood his brother's torment. "That warmth.- he helped him- you felt it especially when she smiled at him, didn't you?" "Yes." Sesshoumaru answered. "And when she was near you, or she touched you by chance?" Inuyasha asked again. Hell, those were exactly his feelings for Kagome! "Well, yes." Sesshoumaru replied, annoyed. He turned to Inuyasha and became surprised when he saw that his brother was on tenterhooks as he was. "And now what you have, baka? I'm the one that feels uneasy, here, or you?" he asked, sarcastic. "Feh! I can't stood this mawkishness, too, what are you thinking?- Inuyasha said, blushing and looking away with an annoyed air- It may be a family trait." Sesshoumaru stood in silence. For the first time, he noticed his common traits with his bastard brother. And, for the first time in his life, he didn't feel so disgusted by the thing. "A woman is been able to change me like this?!" he asked to himself, corrugating his forehead. "By the way." Inuyasha said. Sesshoumaru returned to the reality and looked at his brother. ".this is love, my brother. You've done so much foolishness, but only because you didn't want to admit your love. Because this, you've nearly lost her!" "Ok, I've understand.- Sesshoumaru said, closing the question- Now that you are satisfied, let's go to her." "I've to advise you, Sesshoumaru. She has said she doesn't want to see you again." Inuyasha said, serious. Sesshoumaru had some problems to not show his pain at those words. "How am I reduced." he thought, annoyed. "But I think there's still your shadow inside her heart.- Inuyasha went on- I'll carry you to her, then it will be your task to find the right word to convince her." Sesshoumaru darkened and Inuyasha gave him a slap over his shoulder to encourage him. Sesshoumaru tried to hit him with a punch, really annoyed, but Inuyasha avoided, laughing. "Courage, we'll succeed!" he said to his brother, smiling. Sesshoumaru looked at him, stunned, and Inuyasha gave him a perplex glance. Sesshoumaru looked away and shook his head. "Recently, people smile at me for strange reasons." he murmured, uneasy. "Yeah, well.don't expect this from me often.- Inuyasha muttered, turning- Let's go." The two started to run to the village. ** "When is been the last time I've smiled at him? Have I ever done it?" Inuyasha asked to himself, while he run side by side with his big brother. He gave him a strange glance. Well, yes, but much, very much time ago. Inuyasha thought against his will about the first time he had met his brother, one hundred and twenty years ago, more or less. He lived in the Palace, at the time. he was only a little hanyou surrounded by his father and mother's love. He didn't have a single idea about his future, or about what peoples could it about him. He didn't even know the meaning of 'bastard' or 'half-breed', words that would follow him for his entire life. He remembered that, when he was six, an inu-youkai very similar to his father was arrived at the Palace. Inuken had introduced him as his older brother, Sesshoumaru, returned from a long trip. Inuyasha had looked at the youkai, who wasn't very different from the today's Sesshoumaru, and noticing the similarities through them had made him happy. Finally he could have someone else to play with! He could have a friend.hell, a brother! Wonderful, he had thought! Sesshoumaru had greeted him politely, but Inuyasha hadn't noticed his coldness and had replied with a bright smile. His older brother had replied with a very light one. In the next years, Inuyasha had seen Sesshoumaru not very often, but the youkai was been polite and, if not thoughtful, kind. All the problems started few days before Inuken's death. An evening, Inuyasha had heard his father and Sesshoumaru argue with violence, then Sesshoumaru came out from a room, slamming the door. Seeing him, the youkai had gave him a look that had made his mouth dry, before returning normal and greeting him lightly. Inuyasha had asked to his father what was the problem, but he hadn't answered, hugging his little son in silence. Two weeks later, his father was dead. Sesshoumaru was disappeared after the battle into Inuken had found his death and the Big Family inu-youkai had occupied the Palace and he and his mother were been forced to run away. The two had found a refuge in the mountains and there, a night, Sesshoumaru had found him. Inuyasha had woken up with his brother's bloody and ruffled face in front of his one, while a Sesshoumaru's hand pushed him against the wall, suffocating him. Inuyasha was paralyzed by the hate he could read inside his brother's eyes. In that moment he realized what he was been for his brother: less than nothing. "Where's Tetsusaiga?" Sesshoumaru had asked in a hiss. Inuyasha could only stand in silence, didn't knowing what Sesshoumaru was talking about. "Give it to me, damned brat!" Sesshoumaru had said, ready to transfix him with his poisoned claws.for the first time. Inuyasha didn't react that time. He was too much little, he couldn't fight. His mother saved him, putting herself through him and Sesshoumaru, and the youkai went away. Maybe he didn't want to offend his father's memory. "Sooner or later, you'll die, wench.- Sesshoumaru had said, before going away- And then I'll kill your son and take the inheritance I deserve!" And so he had done, more or less. Since the day Inuyasha's mother was dead, the young hanyou had found himself forced to avoid or face every kind of attacks from his brother, who had followed him everywhere, searching Tetsusaiga's power. Inuyasha's power was inferior than Sesshoumaru's one, but he didn't ever lost a fight. Inuyasha hadn't ever asked to himself why, simply being happy to be still alive and hating Sesshoumaru every day more. Now, running at his side for the first time in his life, Inuyasha asked to himself how this could be possible. Sesshoumaru had ever hesitated to land the final blow.was it possible he had impediment about really kill his brother? Moved, Inuyasha gave a look to Sesshoumaru. Maybe, Anna had made more miracle than she thought. "When will we arrive?" Sesshoumaru asked, noticing that his brother didn't have difficulties in follow him at that speed. That Shikon no Tama had worked well. "Tomorrow morning." Inuyasha answered. "Can I know your plan, if you please?" Sesshoumaru asked, sarcastic. Inuyasha made a little smile. "Have you ever noticed how much our smells and yukis are similar?- Inuyasha asked, ignoring the ironic face of his brother- I've the intention to cover your presence with mine. Anna is enough calm, inside the village, she will not notice you till it will be too late." "There's still difference through our yukis, my brother.- Sesshoumaru replied, dry- Your plan leaks." "Wait a moment." Inuyasha murmured, concentrating. Sesshoumaru watched with surprise Inuyasha's transformation. He became a full youkai. His hair became more fine, taking a good resemblance with his one. The dog's hair disappeared, and appeared pointed ears. Three red signs, one on the forehead and two on the cheeks, appeared over his face. His yuki became more powerful. "Not too bad, isn't it?" Inuyasha asked, with a grin. "Why don't you stay in this form, idiot?- Sesshoumaru asked, sarcastic- I can't understand your stubbornness about your stupid hanyou's appearance." "How he's similar to our father." he thought, against his will. "I do it because Kagome.- Inuyasha said, darkening- I don't want she could think that my soul is changed, too. For her, I'll be forever the Inuyasha she has known and loved." "Your mate?" Sesshoumaru asked, remembering the black hair miko. Inuyasha nodded. "So, I'll cover you only till we'll be near the village.- he said- There, you'll have to arrange." Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha looked at each other with an arrogant smile, the they went on to run in silence. "Anna, you haven't an idea about the miracle you've done.- Inuyasha thought- Please, gave him another chance." ** "What's up, Kagome?" Anna asked, looking with a perplex face the girl. Kagome returned on the earth suddenly, smiling. "Mmh? Oh, nothing! Why?" she asked, continuing to pick up berries. Anna made a face. "Because is an half hour you're picking up leaves instead of berries, Kagome." the youkai girl said, pointing his basket. Kagome stopped, blushing. "Kagome-chan can't act very well." Sango sighed, giving a look to Miroku and Shippou. Inuyasha was gone to find Sesshoumaru two days ago. They all knew, besides Anna. Kagome had said to her he was in search of the old Myoga. She didn't seem really persuaded, but she hadn't asked anything, luckily. But that morning Kagome was on the clouds. The thought of Inuyasha fighting alone with Sesshoumaru made her feel nervous, and the thing was clear to the eyes of everyone. and to Anna's eyes too. "Is it because Inuyasha?" Anna asked, corrugating her forehead. "No, I.- Kagome started to replied, but she caught Sango's glance and nodded- Well, yes, it is. We are been near from time and now.to be separated.I'm a bit nervous." "Mmh, I understand." Anna murmured. The other made a sigh of relief, than the girl smiled and raised her head to the west. "Good news, Kagome! Inuyasha's near, he's coming!" Anna said, pointing the direction. The girl stopped the movement, while her smile faded away in a perplex expression. "Finally." Kagome whispered, relieved. "What's up, Anna?- Sango asked, smiling to hide the tension- Aren't you happy about Inuyasha's return?" "His yuki.is more powerful than the usual.- Anna murmured, darkening- It's strange." She opened her eyes wide and looked at the other. "What.there's someone with him." she said. The others looked at each other, pretending ignorance. TUM: Anna's heart made a jump and her veins filled with adrenaline. "It can't be.- Anna whispered, stunned- Sesshoumaru! Inuyasha how have you could?!" "Anna, listen." tried to calm her Kagome. "NO!" Anna cried, giving to them an hurt glance. She turned and started to run. "An." Kagome started to say. "ANNA!" the voice arrived only a second before the white flash that passed through the friend and started to follow Anna. Inuyasha arrived a moment later. "Crap.- the inu-youkai panted- She has noticed him immediately!" "He was Sesshoumaru, wasn't he?- Kagome asked, clutching his red kariginu- We were right!" Inuyasha nodded. "He was searching her from weeks.- he said- Hell, they're running fast! Let's go after them, I don't want anything strange happen." "Strange? What do you mean?" Miroku asked, while Inuyasha took Kagome over his back. "The inu-youkais are following us. I don't want they could attack them in such a critical moment." Inuyasha said, starting to run. "The Inu-youkais? Damn." Miroku murmured, looking at the two. "Do you come up? Or do you want to stay here?" Miroku turned to Sango, who was already on Kirara's back with Shippou, and smiled. "I could never be separate from you, Sango-chan." the monk said, going up while Kirara started to run after those strange runners.