{Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, so don't sue me. College has a strict hold on my wallet anyway.}

Vengeance

By Striking Falcon

Chapter Eleven: The Gathering

Inuyasha poked the fire with a stick, stealing a glance at Sesshoumaru every so often. Kagome and the others had returned to camp with them. When Kagome heard the real story of what happened, she was a little upset.

*****************

"So you WERE going to kill him?" she asked him, her hands on her hips. Kouga had ripped her white shirt in his haste, so now she was stuck with her halter top and shorts. Inuyasha kept blushing every time his gaze fell somewhere it shouldn't, but he had enough sense not to let Kagome catch him looking. Kagome tapped her foot expectantly.

"Well?"

Sesshoumaru chuckled low enough for Inuyasha to hear. "Behaving like a mate already, is she not little brother?"

Inuyasha scowled in his direction, but not before Kagome reached down and jerked his face to hers. Her breath danced on his cheek and he blushed again. Sesshoumaru glanced at Shippou and gave him a small smile before the both of them fell into laughter. Sango and Miroku shrugged.

"Must be a demon thing."

Kagome ignored them, her focus on the red-faced demon in front of her. Inuyasha's ears flattened to his skull.

"I asked you a question."

Inuyasha scowled, but the blush didn't leave his face. "I could have killed him before I came to you, you know."

Kagome looked away for a moment, considering this new piece of information, before returning her intense gaze to his.

"Yes, I suppose you're right."

She released him and returned her hands to her hips. Inuyasha glared at Sesshoumaru, then Shippou. He received the response he wanted from Shippou, the little kit freezing mid laugh. However, when Sesshoumaru picked him up and out of reach of Inuyasha's temper, he started his laughter anew, with added gusto. Inuyasha groaned. 'Now everyone's out to get me.' Kagome scattered his fantasies of ripping both demons apart with a kiss on his forehead.

"I won't S. I. T. you for the remainder of the time we're here," she said, arranging her sleeping bag a few feet from Sango's pallet.

"But you'd better believe you've earned enough to land you on the other side of the world."

Shippou cracked up again, this time with Sango and Miroku joining him. They listened all week to Kagome grumble about how much trouble Inuyasha was in, and it seemed she was making good on her threat. Sesshoumaru looked confused.

"What does she mean by 'sit you'?"

*****************

Kagome and the others were asleep, leaving Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru, Jakken and Myouga to plan the next day.

"We really must find Kagome something different to wear while she's here," Sesshoumaru said. He remembered what Jakken told him earlier in the week, and knew the other demons were on the lookout for her.

"Jakken, see if you can find her suitable clothing."

Jakken scampered off, no longer surprised by his master's strange behavior over the past week. Inuyasha glared at him.

"Fluffy, what's wrong with you? Are you sick or something?"

Sesshoumaru regarded him strangely, like he didn't know either, then shook his head.

"As long as you and I are allies, I will do my best to protect yours. That includes the kit and the miko you seem to favor."

Inuyasha blushed. "What are you babbling about?"

"I know about the mark."

Inuyasha's brain came to a full stop at that one. "Huh?"

Sesshoumaru chuckled. "Even though it's gone, I can still sense it. Don't worry, half-breed. I approve."

Inuyasha found enough of his senses to mutter something about "not needing his fucking approval" before jumping in the tree above Kagome. Sesshoumaru chuckled again before launching himself in the branches above him. He watched Inuyasha for a while before he realized something that made him shudder in disgust. 'It's kind of nice not having to fight him. I don't even think I want the Tetsusaiga anymore.'

Sesshoumaru sighed in long suffering before drifting off to sleep.

*******

The rest of the week was spent fighting and watching the rest of the tournament. Kagome left the jewel shards in the jar back at Kaede's, but now that Inuyasha had given her back the necklace it seemed leaving the jar behind was useless. Kagome sighed, fingering the kimono Sesshoumaru had given her. It was a pale blue, almost white, with embroidered cherry blossoms decorating the fabric. Sango pulled her hair in the traditional style before she was allowed to move around outside the camp. Even then, she had to stay in close proximity of the others. When they were busy, Jakken was assigned to stay with her, much to his disappointment.

Today was no different.

She and Sango stood at the top of the crater, watching Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru participate in one of the many fights. Jakken fluttered around then like a cranky mother hen, warning any demon that came close that they were under the Western Lands protection. A few thought to ignore him, but one look at Kagome caused them to reconsider it, even though the jewel shard at her throat was very tempting. She and Sango found themselves extremely bored. They still cheered for them, but it seemed like a waste of breath since every demon they faced they defeated.

"Like a machine." Kagome whispered. Sango turned to her.

"What?"

Kagome shook the cobwebs out of her head. "Oh. Just watching them."

Sango sighed and returned her attention to the crater. "It's weird watching them fight together, isn't it?"

Kagome nodded, remembering something even weirder.

***********

She still had the nightmares, but instead of waking up to Shippou's worried squeaks, she now woke up to two dog demons intently staring at her. She screamed the first night, reaching for her bow and arrows before she could think. Sesshoumaru's hand rested on one shoulder, and Inuyasha's hand rested on the other.

"Kagome, its us," Inuyasha whispered, shaking her gently. She blinked at him for a moment, before lowering her head.

"Sorry."

"You were scared. You didn't know who it was," Sesshoumaru said, shocking the both of them with his gentle tone. Kagome didn't know which was the most disturbing, how much they looked alike, or how out of character they were both behaving. Inuyasha blinked before pulling her to him.

"Come on. It might help you to sleep in the tree with me."

Before Kagome could protest, she was up in the air, landing in the branches with a soft thump. As Inuyasha adjusted his haori around her, she stole a glance at Sesshoumaru. He gazed up at her, gave her a knowing smile and walked back to his tree.

"Inuyasha, why is Sesshoumaru so…different?"

Inuyasha shrugged behind her. "I don't know. He said something about us being allies for the time being, but I feel like something has changed. Like he's changed."

Kagome yawned and snuggled closer to his chest, scattering his thoughts so badly he nearly didn't hear what she said before she went to sleep.

"I bet he doesn't even want the Tetsusaiga anymore."

Inuyasha waited until her heartbeat slowed and her breath evened in sleep before giving her statement a low snort. Brushing his lips against her temple gently before closing his eyes, he whispered,

"Yeah right. That'll be the day I finally tell you I love you."

Now every night she had the nightmare, she expected to see the both of them, like two angels waiting to comfort her. She hugged them both tightly, taking them by complete surprise, until she calmed down enough to fall back to sleep. Seems like neither of them could refuse a girl in distress.

***********

Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru came back up the side of the crater, covered in blood. The Fire God they fought didn't want to give up, so they had to kill him before the fight could be finished. Neither brother really minded, but Inuyasha worried a little about Kagome seeing so much blood. They came to a stop beside her and Sango, waiting for her to speak.

"Great job, guys!" she said, coming to a stop before hugging them. Sango stood beside her, grimacing.

"Ew. Go bathe."

Inuyasha shook his head in amusement as he and Sesshoumaru turned to do as they were told. They headed for a set of springs, each dragging their stained robes in the water with them.

"Inuyasha, have you wondered about Kagome's dream?"

Inuyasha nodded his head, rubbing his slippers together in an effort to get them clean.

"She says she can't remember the whole dream, just you and me fighting someone and wining. The guy we're fighting in it sounds a lot like Ryuukosssei."

Sesshoumaru nodded, using the time to untie his hair. Rin had given him a memento also. It was a little strip of her dress, cleaner than it usually was, but still filled with her scent. Inuyasha didn't need his reminder anymore, but kept both the red sash and the blue ribbon on him at all times.

"Then why does she scream both our names in the end if we win?" Sesshoumaru asked. Inuyasha was going to correct him, saying that it was his name and not them both, when he thought about it. 'That is a real good question,' he told himself. He frowned at the little voice that said that.

"I don't know."

"Maybe we should take her dream as a warning."

Inuyasha nodded before ducking his head underwater.

********

"Sesshoumaru has such nice hair, Inuyasha," Sango called to him across the fire.

"It's too bad Kagome's stuck with you."

Inuyasha growled at her, then blushed when Kagome hugged him from behind.

"That's ok, Sango. You have your fun. You don't have cute little doggy ears to play with."

Sesshoumaru chuckled at Inuyasha's more than embarrassed face. Seems Kagome had a power over his brother he couldn't match.

Both girls were busy brushing both demons' hair, and they hadn't even asked. The second they sat down, Sango and Kagome came up from behind and got to work. Inuyasha closed his eyes as Kagome scratched behind his ears.

"My ears are not cute," he growled, a satisfied rumble starting in his chest. The others laughed in amusement at his obvious pleasure.

"Sure, sure." Kagome sang, but continued the blessed scratching. Sesshoumaru shook his head, then turned as Sango whispered in his ear.

"Would you like me to scratch behind your ears, demon?"

Sesshoumaru scowled and turned away, his posture saying in no certain terms that the demon exterminator's life would be short-lived if she did. Sango sighed and continued her brushing, giggling at Inuyasha. He was now fully relaxed and leaning on Kagome to the point where if something went askew, she would fall with Inuyasha on top of her.

Which is exactly what happened.

Miroku came up from behind and yanked Kagome's foot out from under her, sending her straight to the ground. Inuyasha spun around and caught her, but couldn't stop their rapid decent. They landed in the dirt with an oomph. Sango tossed one of her brushes at the laughing monk.

"Miroku! You pervert! How could you?"

Sesshoumaru and Shippou were laughing too hard to help the poor man. Sango scowled as Miroku rubbed the bump on his head.

"What if Kagome is hurt?"

Something like a growl caught their attention as they looked back. Inuyasha was staring back at them, but he wasn't the source of it. Their gaze turned to Sesshoumaru, who looked just as clueless. Suddenly Inuyasha was launched into the air, a streak of shimmering blue flying out from under him toward the monk. Miroku found his senses and ran before small fingers could wrap around his throat.

"WHY YOU PERV-COME BACK HERE MIROKU!!!" Kagome screamed as she chased the man into the forest. The others looked at each other before bursting into laughter. Inuyasha stood up and brushed himself off.

"I'd better go catch her before she kills him," he said before disappearing into the trees. Sango sighed and returned to Sesshoumaru's head.

"I'll never understand them."

Sesshoumaru leaned back against her chest, catching Sango off guard. "Inuyasha really cares for the girl, and it seems his mark is still affecting her."

Sango looked down at him, his eyes closed as if he were asleep. "What was that mark anyway?"

"If he hasn't told her, then I won't tell you."

"Such loyalty for someone you don't like, demon."

Sesshoumaru sighed. "I never said anything about loyalty."

Sango decided to return to the subject. "But its something good, right?"

Sesshoumaru opened his eyes, the sudden dept of them making Sango's heart stop. "Yes. Good for them, anyway."

Sango regarded him a moment, then heard what he said. "Why do you care all of a sudden?"

Sesshoumaru closed his eyes again as Sango caught her breath. "I don't really, but if she must be human, then I would rather he be with her than that undead miko he chases around. Besides, Kagome is a lot more powerful than she is." Sango nodded her agreement to his former statement, then gasped as the latter caught her attention.

"What do you mean more powerful?"

Sesshoumaru opened one eye before nudging his head against her.

"You will see."

Sango took the hint and started brushing his hair again, silently wishing her heart would stop beating so fast.

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SF: {::coming onstage::} Jerk! The next time you kiss me without my permission, I'll stuff a lightening bolt up your ass!

{Sesshou follows behind her, a smug smile on his face. Lipstick stains his lips. The rest of the Inuyasha cast burst into laughs as SF and Sesshou argue.}

Sesshou: I do as I please.

SF: Not to me, you selfish- {::Sesshou's growl stops the insult. SF flicks Sesshou off::}

SF: You're still a jerk.

Sesshou: You're still a bitch.

SF: Whatever. You can't beat this bitch.

{Sesshou grabs SF by the waist.}

Sesshou: {::growling in SF's face::} Care to test that theory?

SF: {::struggling to get away::} Move, Sesshou! I have a job to do! {Sesshou releases SF} Thank you. Anyway, here's the preview to chapter eleven and responses.

Chapter Twelve: Attempted Kidnappings and Other Such Fluff

Sesshoumaru looked down at the both of them, watching them, before realizing something: He'd never felt more complete in his life.

Responses:

Cristal Tears: Kouga is going to mess with Inuyasha until the end, I assure you. I don't know why he can't get it through his thick skull to get a life.

Kagome look-alike: Everyone loves a good fight!

Animegirlll: Inu's speed is more an effect of Sesshou's training than the blue potion. All the blue potion really does is change what Inu looks like and helps him do something unexpected near the end of the fic. My update schedule is on my bio page.

Eartha: Thanks for the time!

Yusuke: Thanks for the review! Here's chapters ten and eleven!

Shandrial: Not even Kouga is dumb enough to try to take on the great taiyoukai.

Dark Millenia: This entire series is going to last for a while, so don't worry about a thing!

Badgerwolf: Kouga makes himself a nuisance throughout the series.