Kiyomisa: Over 100 reviews!!! yeay!!!! *opens bottle of sparkling grape juice and toasts to all reviewers* Thank you all so much! If it weren't for you, I would never have had enough pressure to get past chapter three ^-^'. I'd especially like to thank those who have been with me since the early chappters: Demonblade, Snowgirl, Kaylana, Jaid, Lynnxlady. I guess I'd better respond to some questions though ^-^'

Lipana: I'm not sure about this (someone please tell me if I'm wrong) but I think Sesshoumaru gets an arm later in the manga, like when he gets that healing sword (I can't remember it's name!! ;-.-;)?? If not then, well...my bad -_-'

Lynnxlady: The badguys pick on Mousse because...well...'cause they can. I wanted them to get hold of someone, and it had to be either Ryoga or Mousse 'cause they're the most easily manipulated and I love Ryoga so...don't get me wrong, I love Mousse too! So yeah...-_-'

To Everyone: Yes there will be more romance (I'm working on it!!) and yes we'll find out what's going on with Mousse and yes Ranma will get to fight more, and we will find out about the connection between Ryoga and Kouga...sometime, when there's a lull in the action ^-^'

Anyhoo, time for the next chapter!

* * *

"I'm going to regret asking, but why bother with the duck again?" Kagura asked Naraku as the youkai sat patiently in his private chambers.

"He still has the shikon shard in him," Naraku replied calmly.

Kagura frowned. "Then why not just kill him and take it back?"

"Because, that would not nearly be as much fun. Now, don't you think it would be nice if my enemies killed each other off?"

"They already are," Kanna said softly, not looking away from her mirror. Naraku glanced at her in slight surprise. "Inu-Yasha and the others are trying to storm Sesshoumaru's castle. Apparently he took one of their friends."

"Hmm…keep watch on them and let me know how it turns out." A slow smile spread over Naraku's face and Kagura shivered.

She bowed and asked permission to leave. Naraku waved her away impatiently. Only once she was out of the room did she let herself breathe again. Her master was the only thing that truly terrified her, and she hated him for it. If there were a way to leave him and not pay the price, she would do it in a heartbeat.

* * *

Mousse awoke in a warm room, the sound of soft humming reaching his ears. There was a low giggle followed by an authorative hush.

"But he looks funny like that!" a girl's voice protested, trying unsuccessfully to stifle a giggle.

"He's just not wearing a shirt, that's all," a patient, boy's voice explained. "Be quiet, he needs his rest."

"But aniki, he's been asleep for so long!"

Mousse groaned and sat up, rubbing tiredly at his eyes. When he looked about, a young boy was sitting next to him, a look of concern on his face. Beside him was a younger-looking girl with light blue hair.

"Are you feeling okay?" the boy inquired politely.

Mousse nodded. "Hai…just feel like I've slept for a couple of days."

"Nope, only one day!" the girl supplied chipperly.

"Who are you?" Mousse asked, frowning curiously at them. He couldn't really remember anything. He had a vague image of a girl with long flowing hair and cat-like eyes, but beyond that, his memory was a greenish-grey fog.

"My name is Kohaku, and this is-"

"Jousuiko-chan!" the girl interrupted, bouncing excitedly.

Kohaku rolled his eyes sufferingly and put a firm hand on her head, holding her still.

Mousse couldn't help but smile a bit at them. "And…where am I?"

"Naraku-sama's castle. He said you were found unconscious out in the rain and that we were to look after you."

Jousuiko frowned a bit. "But aniki, that's not what-" Kohaku pressed down on her head with a little more pressure, quieting her.

Mousse sat for a bit more, trying hard to remember things, anything. It just made the green-grey fog swirl around in his mind and gave him a headache. "Why can't I remember anything?"

Kohaku looked at him, unsurprised, and Mousse thought he saw a hint of sadness in his eyes. "There's a mist about this place, it takes away memories. I don't have mine either…all I can remember is this vague feeling of a girl…"

Jousuiko looked up at him with watery-eyes. "Aniki…" she sniffed a little and Kohaku smiled at her reassuringly, ruffling her hair.

Mousse sat there thoughtfully and the image flashed across his mind again. "I remember a girl…well, a young woman…but I don't know who she is. All I know is her face…"

Jousuiko's face lit up mischievously and she began bouncing again. "Maybe she's your girlfriend," she teased.

Mousse liked that idea; the girl was very beautiful.

"Or maybe she's your enemy," Kohaku said darkly. His face looked scornful and hurt and he stood up suddenly, clenching his fists.

"Kohaku?"

"I'll tell you right now, our lord has many enemies because he's powerful. And only he knows things about our pasts. He'll probably tell you tomorrow what he knows, and you probably won't like it." He took a deep breath and seemed to calm down a bit. He bowed apologetically to Mousse and Jousuiko and left to get his charge some food.

Jousuiko scrambled up after him worriedly. "Aniki! Ani-kiii!" she called, chasing after him. Mousse was left alone in the room, trying to digest it all. Who was he? Who was the girl? And why the hell would this Naraku know about his past anyway? Mousse let out a frustrated sigh and ran his hands irritably through his hair. There wasn't anything he could do but wait.

* * *

Meinu woke up in the middle of the night, feeling strangely cold. Then she noticed that Sesshoumaru was no longer lying next to her. The thought worried her for some reason and she sat up to look for him. He was standing next to the bed, a pensive look on his face. As she watched, he seemed to come to a decision and he snapped his fingers.

Jaken came in through the door, panting as if he'd run quickly. "Hai!"

"There are intruders in my home; two groups of two and one group of four. Alert the guards and have them herd them into the courtyard. I will be waiting for them," the great lord murmured quietly. Jaken bobbed his head quickly and dashed out again, moving fast enough to look blurry.

"Sesshoumaru-sama?" Meinu queried tremulously.

"Meinu…you will stay here. There is going to be fighting, and I don't want you near it."

"Demo-" she began to protest, why she didn't know.

"You will stay here!" he barked, and she flinched, clutching the sheets to herself. Without looking at her, he strode from the room, and Meinu watched him go with a heavy feeling in her heart.

* * *

"Well this is just great!" Kouga snarled, kicking away yet another youkai. The four didn't know why they were suddenly swarmed with guards, but it didn't really matter.

"There's too many! We should just outrun them!" Ayame called out, punching a youkai of her own.

"We can take 'em!" Kouga replied indignantly, even as one scored a shallow gash on his arm.

"Shimatta!" Ryoga swore, barely dodging an attack.

"She's right! Let's get out of here!" Ukyo said, grabbing hold of both men and dragging on them insistently. With grumbles and last minute parting shots, the two complied and they dashed down the hall. Every other turn made for a hallway of youkai and they had to go a different way, finally coming out into a large, luxurious courtyard.

To their surprise, the guards halted at the various doors leading to the vast space. They looked around cautiously.

"Why aren't they chasing us anymore?" Ryoga growled.

"Who cares! Keep going!" Ayame snapped, heading for a clear doorway.

"Kuso-ooo! Get out of our way!" a furious voice barked from within the depths of the doorway and a large boomerang smashed its way through the door. Ayame fell down with a startled squawk, the weapon brushing the top of her ponytails in passing.

Miroku and Sango charged out followed by yet another hoard of youkai.

Miroku glanced around, and raised an eyebrow at the group. "They escorted you here as well?"

"There's gotta be someway out!" Kouga said, searching desperately. Even he did not think their chances of fighting so many were very good.

"Stupid fucking bastards!" yet another curse came from one of the few open passages as Inu-Yasha and Kagome entered the clearing as well.

"He planned this, he wanted us all in one spot," Sango spat, as the youkai watched them patiently from the doorways. The group instinctively grouped into a circle, not sure where the inevitable attack would come from.

"Well, well, eight little gnats caught in a web," a voice said emotionlessly from above them. Sesshoumaru was standing on the roof of the main entrance, the wind catching his hair and leading it away from his pale face. "I hope you have a good reason for intruding my home."

"Where's Meinu!" Ukyo shouted back, gripping her spatula meaningfully.

"She's mine now, I suggest you leave while you still can and forget about her."

"We're not like you, youkai filth!" Sango snarled, readying her boomerang for a toss.

"Filth?" the question was dangerous, an underlying tension of rage making it twang in the air.

"Stay out of this, all of you!" Inu-Yasha growled, holding out the Tetsusaiga. "He's my brother."

Ukyo and Sango took deep breaths to calm themselves and backed away from the half-demon, giving him the fight. Ryoga understood the importance of the honor a fight like this entailed, and he prepared to cross anyone who tried to interfere.

"Still think you can beat your betters, oni-chan?" Sesshoumaru asked mockingly.

"Blood doesn't count, heart does," Inu-Yasha replied simply, calmly. He raised the Tetsusaiga and swept it down again. "Cutting Wind!"

Sesshoumaru raised his own sword to block the flow, but he was knocked back harshly, and he looked startled at the amount of power in the attack. He said nothing, but gripped his weapon again, and moved before Inu-Yasha could launch another attack. He was still faster than his half-brother at least.

He landed a strong blow on Inu-Yasha's side, slicing through the fire-rat-fur armor and drawing blood. The shorter youkai stumbled down to his knees, but he lashed out viscously, catching Sesshoumaru's shoulder.

Taking advantage of the situation, Inu-Yasha ignored his wound and pressed forward ruthlessly, not allowing his brother a single moment of peace. Sesshoumaru snarled in frustration as he found himself continually pressed back, and the blows were beginning to make his arms tingle. The attacks increased, became even faster, and he was horrified to find that he could not block them all. Soon his arms, shoulders and sides were covered with shallow wounds, and his blood was dying his robes crimson.

Finally Inu-Yasha struck the sword from his hands, and Sesshoumaru went down on one knee, staggering under the blow and his robes, now heavy with his blood.

He looked up at Inu-Yasha, snarling haughtily. "Finish it then! Kill me now, before the disgrace of defeat ruins me," he growled.

Inu-Yasha's expression went from anger, to surprise, then determination. He raised the Tetsusaiga high above his head. "As you wish."

In the stunned, dead silence of the courtyard, he brought the Tetsusaiga down, the harsh hiss of the blade the only sound.




The sound of a connection never came. A blur of blue flashed between the two brothers, and the blade stopped.

"Stop it Inu-Yasha!"

Meinu, caramel hair loose and flowing, cheeks stained with tears stood between them, the sword buried in her shoulder.

"Meinu!" the astonished half-breed croaked.

"Meinu, what are you doing!?" Ukyo cried out, resorting to anger as a safer emotion than falling apart hysterically.

"I won't let you kill him!" She called back, her chin wavering, but her voice steady.

"I told you to stay in the room!" Sesshoumaru hissed, his face pale and drawn as he stared up at her.

"Meinu-" Inu-Yasha began again, as the Tetsusaiga untransformed and slid out of her shoulder. She gasped in pain, but stood her ground.

"You can't kill him. He-he's asked me to marry him…and I-have, accepted." She got out before fainting. With a sharp cry, the group lunged forward, even as Sesshoumaru caught her and cradled her protectively to him.

"You little fool," he whispered harshly, and to everyone's surprise, one tear, then another slid down his scarred cheeks.

Kiyoimsa: *dodges the flying objects* hey, I could've ended it before Meinu showed up and made you think Inu-Yasha killed him! But I didn't, I'm not that mean...and I'll get more out soon, I hope. I'm pretty bad about getting sidetracked on new ideas -_-', but I'll keep doing this one! So yeah, oh, and do you think this should be re-catorgarized in Romance? Or should it stay in General where it is?? Let me know ^-^