Author's Note:
After the persistent delays, I will ask for your patience; it seems my luck does not allow me for the regularity I would love to have... I hope you like this chapter and it is worthy of your patience. Please, accept my apologies!

As for who was the one who kidnapped Kaede and let that message behind, well, you shall see...

I know Sesshoumarou does not speak like that, but I find it somewhat difficult to be read the way he speaks; plus, I would not like to fail in his manner of speech.

Chapter 19
Brothers in Arms & Blood.

Mirok was getting impatient. "Could you please explain me what you meant by talking about your father's death?" Inuyasha's death glare on the wretched piece of paper lasted only a moment. Then Inuyasha turned to Shippo, who also had a god sense of smell, and threw it at him so he would catch it. The little kitsune phewed when he snatched it in the air.

"It has to do with Ryuukotsusei, I presume... That's the smell I detect on this piece of paper!"

Miroku took a step backwards. "Are you insane? Ryuukotsusei is dead! You fell him during our journey! Tetsusaiga would not have been as strong without you doing so!"

Inuyasha turned at him. "I know, but how else can you explain his reek on the message?"

"He is right, you know..." Shippo said. "It does stink of that youkai. You ningen may not smell it, but it still is here!"

Miroku sighed in defeat. "OK, all right already! Can you figure out what this riddle before us means, though?"

Kagome aswered: "Not yet, but we must find out soon enough. Kaede has been kidnapped, and we still don't know what sort of connection these strange clouds have with this most recent incident! We should act as fast as we can..."

"Then I suppose we could start looking from... there? The fog seems to originate from that point!", said Sango.

The hanyou drew Kagome and Shippo close to his chest and jumbed up high and far speaking back to the rest of them "Come on!"

The six companions were following the path the mist was plotting on the ground for them. They soon realised that the fog was coming from the west as well. They travelled on and on, till they moved beyond Sesshoumarou's realm. Their trek was long and tiring but they had to follow it. Who knew what they would have to fight against?

"This seems so wrong!" Miroku moaned from Kirara's back. "We follow this lead to west for so many days... Are you sure we are not mistaken to go on further?"

Inuyasha was not too eager to answer his question. Sango chose to do both of them a favour. "This is heavy on Inuyasha, dear... I mean, he was supposed to have killed the dragon, but it now seems he was more powerful than that or that someone else is helping him? Inuyasha never liked fighting against riddles. His advantage is in battle prowess, not intrigues!"

The hanyou heard all of this and shivered at the mere thought of what could that youkai have in mind now... He doubted it could really be Ryuukotsusei, but who else could it be? He didn't like the insecurity the least!

Lost in his thoughts, avoiding the many obstacles by instinct and reflexes alone, he was surprised to hear that voice.

"It seems we meet again, brother..."

Inuyasha stood and sure there was Sesshoumarou! Jaken moved behind him, then inquired up to his master in a whispery tone. "Why should we ask for their help, Sesshoumarou-sama?" Not whispery enough for any ningen, let alone one of youkai heritage... Rest assured that a vein on Inuyasha's forehead started popping out.

"Don't mind Jaken..." said Sesshoumarou as he kicked him upside the head. "I come here to talk once again with you, Inuyasha... The last time we talked together we agreed that none would raise a hand against the other."

"I remember; we agreed that Tetsusaiga would be left with me, while you would keep Tensaiga. You would rule over our father's realm, while I would live however I wanted to the east. I am still grateful for your help against Naraku."

Sesshoumarou remained calm, yet a single tear (Author's Note: as in "cut", not "teardrop") run on one side of his emotionless mask. "I don't know why are you here, but I would like to ask you a favour in return of the one I have done you."

Kaede remained throughout the days stoically on the floor, as some underling youkai brought her something to eat and drink. The way she had to endure laying down on the cold flagstones reminded her of the the time Youra of the Hair made her appearance, when Inuyasha literaly half-buried her under a pile of leaves so that she could be kept safe while she was still injured. The wound across her shoulder was not something that she really cared for right now, but the whole leaf-burrying thing was rather unnerving!

The room seemes more lit every day: maybe it was her imagination, or could it be her eyes adapting better to the shadows? Making sure she would keep relaxed and and not get a cramp to add to her many a nuisance, she used to turn around from one side to the other, also twisting her limps and head in more comfortable positions and stances. As she was turning around one day that the room seemed very well lit, she noticed she was not alone. There was a girl bound with the same kind of chains on one dark corner of the room. She twisted her head so she could have a better look with her one eye.

She would have never expected to see Rin...

"You mean to tell me that wretched thing has not only caught Rin, but the miko elder as well?"

"That's right, and this is why we have set up for west." Inuyasha smiled weakly. "It seems we can help each other once again in need we have not thought of, ne?"

Kagome was deeply moved by Sesshoumarou's actions. He had shown in the past he bore no hatred towards humans, not real abhorrance, just lack of compassion... Something he seemed to show for most people. But then came Rin and he changed if only a little... He saved her using Tensaiga's powers on her after the attack against her village and took her under his wing... He had changed, and now he was asking his brother's help to save her. "Poor Rin..."

"Will you help me, my brother?" Sesshoumarou said, gaining complete control over his features once again. Inuyasha nodded.

"I wonder what this youkai might be up to, though..." Miroku whispered.

Sesshoumarou eyed him curiously. "What do you mean by that, houshi no ningen?"

"I had to the same question myself, Miroku-chan. What bugs you?" Sango questioned.

"Well, let me put it this way: he had gotten both Keade-sama and Rin. It seems he had something with both of you... Why would he do so, that is the question! Inuyasha was the hanyou son of your father and the one who 'killed' him at last. Why should he go after both of you? Would it not be wiser if he firstly disposed of Inuyasha, then go after you, Sesshoumarou-sama?"

Sango spoke out loud her opinion. "Could it be he wants your katana, both Tetsusaiga and Tensaiga?"

Inuyasha answered that. "Apart from any other problems that make your point insubstantial, you still have not answered the problem why had he not taken Tetsusaiga after killing me, then gone after Sesshoumarou-anchan with it!"

"It would be possible that he goes after the two of us as in a sort of trick? Like luring us in a trap we haven't figured out that has to involve both of us in order to work?" Sesshoumarou replied.

"And what if all of this is just some big sort of trick?"

Everyone turned around to look at Shippo.

I am putting up my site step by step; for now it will be hosted by GeoCities, but this might change later on. The URL is http://www.geocities.com/raspk_fog/ but is not ready yet... Ja ne! ^_^