Sesshoumaru knelt to sniff for Naraku's scent. He wanted to make sure they were going the right way. Inuyasha hovered a small ways behind, watching his elder brother. The cut had been severe, and Inuyasha wasn't taking any chances. Perhaps with luck Sesshoumaru would stay on their side. Inuyasha had never had a single member of the family to care for. "Find it yet?" He asked impatiently.br
"Yes. I just located it. He covered it well," Sesshoumaru commented. He rubbed his nose, trying to get rid of the rancid stench. He sidled over to Inuyasha. "Perhaps we should leave them here. It's far too dangerous for any mortal to tag along."br
Inuyasha surveyed his friends. His gaze lingered on Kagome as he said, "Yeah, we probably should. They wouldn't last two minutes against Naraku."br
Sesshoumaru followed the direction of his gaze. "You really care for her don't you?"br
"NO OF COURSE NOT!" Inuyasha shouted at his brother. His cheeks were flaming red. Even if Sesshoumaru WAS wounded, he shouldn't make stupid comments like that one! "WHAT GAVE YOU THAT CRAZY IDEA YOU FOOL?!"br
"Good God I'm sorry I asked," muttered Sesshoumaru, massaging his ear. "Let's get moving. Go ahead and tell them, Inuyasha."br
iThis isn't going to be easy,/i Inuyasha thought. iEspecially for Kagome. She's always trying to be as tough as I am./i "Guys?" He said. "You're gonna hafta stay here. It's too dangerous."br
To his surprise, no one argued. Kagome walked forward and said, "Um, Inuyasha?"br
"Yes, Kagome?"br
Tears formed in her eyes. "Be really careful. I want you back here alive, ok?"br
Inuyasha grinned. "Count on it," he said. Then Kagome leaned forward and kissed him, right on the lips. He jumped a little, then returned it. He was suddenly conscious of everyone watching him. He quickly ended the kiss and said, "Ok, I'm ready Sesshoumaru."br
When Inuyasha looked, Sesshoumaru was in a daze. A look of pain was plastered on his face. Suddenly the shield of attitude was up again, and he nodded. The brothers set off into the woods.p
"What was wrong back there?" Asked Inuyasha. Sesshoumaru hadn't said a word the entire two hours they'd been walking. When he didn't get a reply, he pressed on. "Come on. There's definitly something bothering you. Tell me."br
Sesshoumaru looked over at Inuyasha. "It's Raene," he said slowly. "I've got this...tense...feeling. Like something's happened to her. I've never felt this way before about anyone. It...worries me."br
Inuyasha nodded knowingly. "Don't be ashamed of feelings toward a girl. You know, being worried about them and their safety makes you stronger. That's why I'm able to use the Tetsusaig-" Inuyasha clamped his hands over his mouth. Even though Sesshoumaru APPEARED to be on his side at the time, there was no telling what he might do. He silently cursed himself for being so foolish.br
"There is no need to worry, Inuyasha. I have lost all interest in the Tetsusaiga. All I am worried about is saving Rin's mother."br
They heard a cry up ahead. "Come on!" Came a voice. "Tell me where Sesshoumaru is!"br
"I swear I have no idea! But even if I did I would never tell you, you monster!" Came a woman's voice.br
"Let's go! That's her voice!" Sesshoumaru ran forwards, Inuyasha close behind.br
"How do you know it's her?" Inuyasha panted.br
"Could you ever mistake Kagome's voice for another?" Sesshoumaru called back.br
"Nope. But then again, there's no voice on this planet that's as annoying as hers." They stopped short. Naraku had Raene by the neck and had one hand poised to take her life.br
"LET HER GO!" Screamed Sesshoumaru. He ran out into plain view.br
"What are you doing?!" Inuyasha hissed. "Are you crazy?!"br
Sesshoumaru didn't answer. Naraku laughed. "I knew you'd show some weakness sooner or later. Now give me the pieces of the Shikon No Tama, or I'll just have to destroy this hideous monstrosity."br
"Ses...shou...maru..." choked Raene. "Help...me..."br
"Let her go, and you'll have your filthy jewel!" Shouted Sesshoumaru.br
Naraku shook his head. "You really think I'm as stupid as that. You complete your end of the bargain, then I'll complete mine."br
Inuyasha stepped out of the bushes. "He doesn't have the pieces, you piece of crap," he said cooly. "I do."br
Naraku's eyes narrowed in recognition. "Inuyasha," he hissed. "So we meet again."br
"I'll distract ugly, you get the girl," muttered Inuyasha. Their identical moonlight colored hair mingled in the wind for a moment, then they both disappeared to complete their tasks.br
"What are you trying to prove?" Naraku asked Inuyasha as he approached. But he knew from experience that when dealing with Inuyasha, you needed both hands free. He set Raene down on a tree limb and ran for Inuyasha.br
"IRON REAVER SOUL STEALER!" Inuyasha's claws glowed bright, then three identical lines of energy escaped from their tips. SSHHIICCKKTTT! Everything in their path was immediately cut to shreds. Unfortunately, Naraku wasn't among the pile of rubble. Inuyasha's eyes darted nervously back and forth. Where was that darned demon?br
"Looking for me?" Naraku exploded out from behind. "HOW SWEET!" He punched Inuyasha, sending him flying to the ground. He bounced once, then jumped to his feet.br
"Man, I'm gonna feel that in the morning," he muttered. He dodged as Naraku came back for a second blow. Where was Sesshoumaru?! They needed to get Raene and leave! Suddenly Naraku had Inuyasha pinned to the ground.br
"Leaving so soon?" He pressed against Inuyasha's neck. "But the party's just getting started!" He raised a clawed hand to deliver the killing blow.
iThis is it,/i thought Inuyasha vaguely, iI'm done for./ibr
"Let him go!" Sesshoumaru slammed his elbow down hard on Naraku's head. Naraku let out a howl of rage and pain as Sesshoumaru picked up Inuyasha and dragged him away.br
Inuyasha struggled against his older brother. "Let me go! I can walk. I'm not two anymore!" He protested.br
CRACK! "HELP!" Both demons' heads snapped upwards. Raene's branch had broken, and she was dangling from one arm. The end of the branch had jammed straight through her slender hand, cementing her to the spot. Strangely, she didn't let out a cry of pain or anything. Just let her gaze linger pleadingly on Sesshoumaru. But by that time Naraku had gotten back up.br
"You filthy YOUKAIS!" He shrieked. "You are DEAD!"br
"Great here it comes," said Sesshoumaru. He jumped up into the tree, going from branch to branch as easily as one might go up stairs. When he reached the branch holding Raene, he swung Inuyasha over his shoulder and set to work, hastily trying to dislodge her hand.br
Naraku appeared behind them. "Now you die!" He cackled.br
"Sesshoumaru!" Shouted Inuyasha. "You free Raene, and I'll take care of scum-bag here!"br
"Ok. Good luck!"br
Inuyasha jumped on Naraku, and the two demons fell wrestling all the way down. Raene looked up at Sesshoumaru. "I'm so sorry about all this. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't be going through all this trouble..."br
Sesshoumaru wasn't listening. The bones were stuck tight, and he couldn't pull the hand loose without breaking the entire hand. He desperately tried to break the branch off, but it kept splintering. Raene whimpered, a sound that tore at Sesshoumaru's heart. Suddenly, Naraku's sword flew through the air and went right through Raene's left shoulder. Her eyes went blank.br
"Mother! No!" Rin was standing admist the fight on the ground below. "Sesshoumaru! What have you done?! You let that evil demon kill my mother!" And with that, Rin fled into the forest, neither knowing or caring whether she was being followed.br
"YOU B******!" Screamed Sesshoumaru. "Look what you've done!" He leaped from the top of the tree to the ground below. Naraku lept and ran from the scene, shouting his revenge over his shoulder.br
Inuyasha flicked his hair out of his face. "Coward," he commented. "Hey, what's the matter? Didn't you save..."br
Sesshoumaru's head was bowed, moonlight hair flowing in waves over his face. His fists were clenched so tight his own claws dug into his palms. Shoulders shaking with rage, he whispered, "Damn you...Naraku...YOU HEAR ME?" He raised his voice suddenly. "DAMN YOU! Look what you've done to me! You've turned me into a sniveling fool, head over heels for a woman who is now dead! Damn...you..." He sunk to his knees, then started beating the ground with his fists. The whole earth seemed to be shake as the demon prince pounded the ground again and again, uttering cries of rage and despair.br
Kagome and the others came out of the forest. "Inuyasha! You're alive!" She ran and hugged him gently, for there was a huge bloodstain covering the front of his kimono. "What's...wrong with your brother?"br
Inuyasha just shook his head and pointed to the tree. Kagome clapped her hands over her mouth in utter horror. Raene hung limp from the highest branch. She looked back at Inuyasha, then to the shuddering demon on the ground before her. Miroku had retrieved the body from the tree and was cradling it in his arms. He gently removed the branch from her slender hand and the sword from her shoulder. He clucked his tongue. "That's a sure loss," he commented. "She would have made a good mother for my child."br
"LECHEROUS PRIEST!" Shouted Kagome. She snatched Raene out of his greedy paws. "Seshoumaru..." she whispered to him.br
He looked up at her. His face was dry, but as she looked closer, she saw glistening drops forming around the edges. But at the sight of Raene, one finally found its way down his cheek; the first tear he had ever shed.br
"Give her...here," he said softly. Kagome handed her over. At first Sesshoumaru just looked at the fallen woman, then he buried his head in her hair. At last he looked up. "There's...no way to bring her back... is there?" He asked. He smoothed a strand of her deep black hair out of her face, one of the only ones to have ever smiled upon him.br
"What about the Tenseiga?" Came Rin's voice. Her face was streamed with tears, but there was faint hope in her eyes as she said, "That's how you brought me back."br
Sesshoumaru jumped up and felt for the Tenseiga, only to find it gone. "WHERE IS IT?" He cried. "It's...gone."br
"Oh no! Naraku took it!" Gasped Rin.br
"Shit," muttered Inuyasha.br
"I know what we could do," said Kagome, slowly. "We could regain the remaining pieces of the Shikon No Tama and wish her back to life!"br
Inuyasha smirked. He could kill two birds with one stone! He could help his brother and become a full blood demon! "Hey Kagome! That's not such a bad idea! Glad I thought of it." He pulled out his shards of the jewel. "How many do you have?"br
Kagome added 9 more shards to the bunch they had. It all added together to make over 3/4s of the jewel. "Naraku must have the rest," said Kagome. "Sesshoumaru! We're going to save Raene!"p