Disclaimer - I don't own Inu and the gang.

Chapter 5 - More of the Truth

She had had every intention of staying with Lady Kaeda until Keto came to fetch her. Had.

Now she found herself slipping out of the old woman's hut, careful not to rouse her from her catnap.

Katin did not quite know what to make of all she had been told. After Kaeda revealed she knew no more the two had set to grinding herbs in thoughtful silence. Two hours of thought still hadn't given any shape to Katin's blurred emotions. She walked, deep in thought, in the general direction of her home. In the back of her mind her realized her father would be furious if she showed up alone, and changed her path. Unintentionally she found herself under The Goshinboku.

Why would I come here?

The forest around her was quiet and calm. Momentary fear welled up inside her. All her life her father had drilled it into her that this forest was a dangerous place to visit and apart from the few times Miroku and Sango had accompanied her, Katin had never been under the canopy of Inuyasha's Forest.

Baka, that's just what he wants you to do…run back home, stay safe and sound, away from all the fearful demons…but it's so peaceful here. Father must be crazy! I feel no evil in these trees, no danger lurking in the shadows…only stillness and peace.

She sat down and the base of the legendary tree, crossed her legs, closed her eyes and simply breathed.

Mother and he met here. This is where it all started…he even tried to harm her at first…always such a baka!

Katin thought of all the times that her father had chastised, growled, demanded, and yelled - all the times he had looked upon her with annoyance and indifference. The indifference hurt more than anything else.

Why must he be so mean to me? After everything that's happened, I am his only family…I realize that of him, why…

Suddenly she noticed a change in the atmosphere of the surrounding forest. Her senses went on red alert. Nothing had visibly changed, but the feeling about the place was no longer peaceful, something dark lurked near by, and she felt the danger deep in her bones.

Bugger, he's going to be so angry when he finds out…

She feared her father's wrath more then the immediate danger.

Slowing she stood, straining her ears hoping to catch a sound that would let her know at which angle she was about to be attacked from. Nothing. The same silence filled the forest as before.

Am I imagining…

At once a figure stood in front of her. It was so sudden she didn't even have time to react. Fear and rational thought had not had the chance to register. She gaped up at the tall demon.

"Little hanyou." The demon had a frighteningly powerful voice, though it held almost no emotion – almost.

As her mind began to process again she realized he said the last word with a very small hint of disgust. Confused, she gave him a questioning look. She had been raised in village that accepted her heritage; she'd never been treated any different from the other humans.

The male demon continued to look upon her with impenetrable eyes.

Her slight curiosity over his disgust was gone in a moment, replaced with something close to fear. For a reason unknown to her she was not as frightened as she knew she should be. A very small part of her knew that if this demon had intended to harm her, he would have already.

She took in the demon's appearance. He seemed vaguely familiar. Now her curiosity had returned full force.

"Do I know you?" she questioned, child-like and innocent.

Her lack of fear annoyed the demon.

"Do you not know to whom you speak?"

His arrogance annoyed her.

"I wouldn't have asked had I known." This statement lacked innocence.

Her fiery spirit amused him, but the impertinence of her statement offended his honor; it also confirmed his previous belief.

"You are Inuyasha's daughter."

She eyed him suspiciously. A new worry entering her mind. If this demon knew her, and who her father was, that meant it was not a coincidence he was here. Her father had many enemies…might this be one? Remembering Kaeda's words "he used you to lure yer mother and father into a trap" she swallowed the answer she was about to give. She was beginning to regret very much her foolish decision to leave the hut.

"Why?"

He almost smirked. The foolish child was smarter than she seemed.

"Do you intended to deny what I know from your scent?"

She balked at that. My scent?

She knew nothing about her hanyou status and less about her demon abilities. Inuyasha had never bothered to have such conversations with her.

This much was apparent to the demon standing in front of her. He read her confused look accurately.

"You smell of his blood. I know you are who I say you are. This Sesshomaru does not need your affirmation."

Well, if he knew who she was – no matter how strange his method – she saw no point in arguing, but she couldn't bring herself to be compliant; his arrogance annoyed her too much.

"Keh! If you knew why'd you ask?"

His eyes narrowed dangerously at her insolence.

She gulped back her fear, trying desperately to remain calm. He was very dangerous, and she was being foolish to bate his anger, silently she damned her hot headedness.

He took a step forward and placed a clawed finger under her chin, tilting her head slightly to that they were eye to eye.

She knew she should try to run, or at least show him she was afraid. Something about him seemed to demand that type of reaction. He wants me scared. Knowing this somehow gave her enough strength to face him, unflinching.

Sesshomaru admired the little ones courage. Foolish though it may be…

"You should know when to be afraid, little one."

He spoke the last words with smothered affection. And very suddenly she realized why he had seemed so familiar. She quickly scanned his face - it was so close she could see how his purple markings were raised slightly from his skin. Her eyes returned to his. Amber met amber.

He watched the realization flash across her eyes and held back a satisfactory smile.

"You are Inuyasha's daughter. I am his brother."

Her jaw dropped. With a flick of his finger he closed it for her.

"But, but…"

He conveyed his disapproval with a slight frown. "Do not speak unless you know what you want to say."

Katin bristled. She'd had quite enough of this. Her day had been confusing enough, but now she stood face to face with an unknown uncle who saw fit to criticize everything she did. She had a father to do that for her, thank you very much! But she did not know how to get herself out of the situation. Despite the revelation that he was family he had not let her go, nor had the danger receded from her senses.

Taking a few deep breaths, she tried to think of something to say.

He bet her to it. "You do not generally leave the security of the town, what has brought to into this dangerous place?"

"I, ah, I was not thinking…"

"Hai, you were not."

Anger invaded her thoughts again.

He watched her eyes fill with it, felt her jaw clench. He warned her against an outburst by tightening his hold on her chin.

"Do not be foolish, little one."

This was very quickly becoming too much for her to handle. She was scared, worried and angry. On top of everything else that had happen today she felt complete mental exhaustion…and she was only eleven after all, for someone her age she had held up quite nicely.

Sesshomaru watched with some confusion as her eyes filled with tears, and listened with what was close to bafflement when she spoke.

"P-please, I-I don't know what you want with me."

He lessened his grip on her, inwardly chastising himself. She was, after all, only a quarter demon, he should have known she would let her fear overcome her too quickly.

"I wanted to meet my niece." He let go of her then, and turned and walked a few steps away, allowing her time to regain her composure.

She sniffled, and wiped away the single tear that had escaped her eye. She still sensed the danger in this Sesshomaru demon, but she knew it was no longer a threat.

"W-why did you frighten me?"

"You should not have wandered off alone, you needed to be taught that."

She actually smiled. This lesson was a million times more affective then her father's incessant ranting.

"Does father know you are here?"

"No."

"Why?"

"It is better that way."

"Why?"

"We do not get along."

"Why?"

"That is a long story."

"Will you tell me?"

"No."

"Why?"

He glared at her, shutting her up instantly.

Surprisingly, though, she giggled.

"I know why you and father do not get along."

Her playful attitude interested him. "Really?"

"Hai. You have the same problem that I do."

"I sincerely doubt that." Then, seeing her pout, he indulged her foolishness. "What is our apparent 'problem'?"

"We are just too much alike," she grinned, taking a step forward and looking up to him. "I do not get along with father either," she crinkled her nose, "Do you think that I am very much like him?"

"Hai."

"Why?"

He was not prepared to play this little game with her again. It was trying enough on his patients the first time. He took charge of the conversation.

"What is your name?"

"Katin. How can you not know your own niece's name?" Her question was one of simple curiosity.

"This is the first I have seen of you."

"Really?"

"Hai."

"I wish I had met you sooner."

This threw him a little. "Why?"

She giggle, finding humor in how he hadn't been able to with hold his curiosity and how much he had sounded like she had only moments ago.

"I like you." Then she took his hand in her own. "Will you come back to the village with me? I want to show you to Aunt Sango."

There were so many things wrong with the current situation he did not know where to start. The fact she had taken his hand had completely shocked him. No one, since Rin, had held such trust in him so implicitly. He was not sure whether this was wise. The girl should be taught how the world worked. You did not go around grabbing powerful and dangerous demons' hands. He was about to reprimand her when Inuyasha crashed through the trees.

"GET YOU HANDS OFF HER!"

Katin nearly jumped straight out of her skin.

Sesshomaru simply let the girl's hand drop; he showed no outward signs that his hanyou brother had startled him. He had been so concerned with Katin that he hadn't even noticed the hanyou's scent.

"F-father…"

"Katin, get away from him!" Inuyasha barked, drawing Tetsiaga.

"B-but, but…"

"Listen to your father, little one."

She stared wide-eyed at her Uncle, "But I…"

"A good child obeys their father."

"N-nani?"

"ENOUGH! Sesshomaru get away from her or Kami help me…" He tensed himself for a full attack.

"Inuyasha, do not be a fool. You will harm the child."

Anger enveloped him. That bastard has the nerve…Then Inuyasha realized something. His daughter was trembling with fear, and it was not due to Sesshomaru. Her frightened eyes were trained on him.

Sesshomaru saw his realization and chose that moment to leave.

~@~@~@~@~@~

This had not initially planned on introducing Sesshomaru to the story in such a way…but due to my recent change of attitude toward said demon (thanks to you Mary :) ) I couldn't resist. I know he might seem a bit more tolerant then his original character, but the reason for that will be revealed in the future.