I was discussing government with one of my online friends, and realized most people don't even know what's going on in Iraq and why, or anything. I wonder if people even realize September eleventh could have been prevented? So I urge you, any readers to find out more about what is going on right now, and the actual reason why. Don't be the stupid american most other countries think we are.

Disclaimer: I'm am not the lucky owner of Inu-Yasha.

*

Losing Grace

*

" What in the world are you doing?"

Choosing to ignore the girl's question, Sesshoumaru keep his eyes on the endless sky laid out before him.

She was getting annoyed, he could sense it in every little motion she made. The atmosphere was slowly but surely heating up and angry energy was coming off of her in waves. This girl's temper was a something she had yet to gain control of.

" Oh. . . I wish I still had prayer beads over your head!"

Childishly she crossed her arms and pouted. A death glare shot in his direction and he had to stop a chuckle from resounding through his body. The time combined with Inu-Yasha had made him soft to find something so simple entertaining. Before he very rarely had an urge to even smile. Normally that urge was because of the most evil things.

For almost a week he'd been combined with his useless brother, yet it was hard to find the thought as disgusting as he first found it. Though he'd seen Inu-Yasha's most secret views, the hanyou had not the strength nor the patience to pry open his full demon brother's barriers.

He'd never thought his life simple, or boring in the least until he'd experienced a different one. At first Sesshoumaru only looked upon the hanyou's memories, but because of the compromising situation his brother and him had been placed in, such things became a regular occurrence.

It had been enlightening to say the least. And now, the weakness in his younger brother's heart was starting to become his.

Hastily he looked back to the direction he was racing in. He'd just have to put enough distance between him and his half-brother and then she'd find out soon enough.

~*~*~

Inu-Yasha flicked his gaze back to the seething demoness.

He suddenly gained an even deeper hate for his brother. So he thought that his battle with Treotha would slow him down.

There was also the subject of his friends. No matter how much Inu-Yasha cared about Kagome, he couldn't leave the others in such a vulnerable position. He was sure the girl he'd grown so fond of would be safe for the moment.

The sudden thought was strange, and something he would never have considered in the past, the time before he'd allocated in the same body as his elder half-brother. A time before Sesshoumaru had shared Inu-Yasha's secret thoughts and feelings for the girl from the future. A time before the demon knew the weakness in his heart.

" Shit!" He raced towards the plant demon with a newfound rage.

~*~*~

Sesshoumaru landed softly in a small valley separating the forest. When he set her down the girl took a quick survey of her surroundings. He labeled her as a very resourceful human to know always be on your guard.

" Sesshoumaru." She was looking at him now, the silent question wavering between them. Kagome knew the great lord did very little things without reason and she wanted answers as to why the last person she expected kidnapped her.

" You will not prohibit him to use the Shikon jewel."

She knew whom he was talking about, but still looked at him with an even more bemused expression. " I-I thought you wouldn't mind if your brother became a full demon."

" If that hanyou uses the jewel or any other tool to become 'anything' it will bring shame to our family." He couldn't stop the underlining snarl that followed the comment.

" Anything?" she looked at him quizzically. " Why do you say that? I'm sure Inu-Yasha has no intention of becoming human."

" He has every intention."

" Oh . . ." Kagome ran a shaky hand through her hair and looked away.

Silently he studied her. The realization had finally dawned and she seemed surprised, almost upset. The full demon was taken aback even as he hid it. Hadn't she wanted this?

" I won't let him use the jewel." She closed her eyes painfully and he had to stop himself from inquiring about her condition. " I need to talk to him, I need to talk to Inu-Yasha."

" First we will return to the village."

He picked her small form up before a protest could be made.

~*~*~

She'd always had trouble trying not to cry. It took all her will power to not break out into sobs and forget her dignity or how red and puffy her face would be or even just the whole damn world.

So she swallowed the lump in her throat and smiled softly. " Rin, I'm going to miss you so much."

" Yea, me too." Shippo nodded slowly.

To her right she heard a certain toad demon complain about human sentiment, but she ignored him. Those big watery brown eyes would not let her turn away.

" Don't be sad," the child patted Kagome's head sympathetically even whilst trying to hold back her own tears, " Rin will come back."

Slowly Kagome's grin grew and she pulled the small girl into a tight embrace. " You'd better or I'll never be able to tickle you again!"

The little girl giggled cutely and she found herself smiling even wider. It'd been a long time since she'd felt this peaceful with the sun shining and the grass swaying back and forth. For a moment she overlooked the fact that Sesshoumaru and Jaken were waiting impatiently to leave, that Inu- Yasha was out somewhere battling Treotha, that she might never see her family again, and that she still hadn't purified the jewel.

There was only Rin and her with the sun beating down on their backs. Only the love of a teenage girl for this child, and a child's admiration of her idol.

" Sesshoumaru you bastard!" An exceptionally angry voice yelled.

On impulse, Kagome cringed and then wondered at herself for the action. She'd been wishing for Inu-Yasha just a few hours ago.

Sesshoumaru gave his half-brother an uncaring look, and turned to leave. " Jaken, Rin, come."

" Oh no you don't!" Inu-Yasha was suddenly on the scene. He dropped their companions roughly and drew his legendary sword.

" Sit boy!"

" Wha-? You bi-!" Said hanyou met the dirt in a reunion worse than family's. Kagome swore she saw Sesshoumaru's lips twitch out of the corner of her eye. Shippo only sighed.

By the time the trio had left the village the spell had worn off and the area was full of curses.

" Inu-Yasha."

" What?!" The half-demon barked angrily and Kagome had to count to ten.

" Wasn't there something that you wanted to tell me before all this happened?"

He looked at her in all seriousness. To tell the truth he'd been very surprised to find Kagome in the village with Sesshoumaru and unharmed. He'd expected him to take off with the girl and demand Tetsusiga. Instead he found a tearful goodbye.

Nevertheless, seeing his elder brother caused his adrenaline to run and he'd jumped to protect Kagome, from a retreating enemy even so.

Now they were back to square one. Except this time, he'd had the threat of his half-brother, and he'd been sat for only trying to protect the stupid schoolgirl. She wasn't apologizing, yet she demanded answers from him.

As far as he was concerned, he didn't owe her anything.

" No wench, there's nothing to talk about." He stood stiffly as the spell wore off and took to the forest to think in solitude.

He missed the frown Kagome sent his way as she and a now awake Miroku ("You can explain what happened while I help you with that Lady Kagome.") carried Sango into Kaede's hut.

*

This was such a hard chapter to write, and plus it's so short. I still hope you liked it. I've already started working on the next one, so I hope to update soon.

Many thanks to all reviewers!