Hey there Ladies and Gents.

It has been one crazy month: fights with my boyfriend (whom I live with), having three jobs instead of one, getting accepted into the program I applied for the University (Dalhousie, if anyone cares - and anyone would be me!), and - inhale - having to scrape up money to pay for $500 Glasses…well I guess the value was my choice, I just had to have designer frames (I couldn't have fallen in love with a cheap pair of frames…oh, no, I just had to pick up the expensive ones -geez!).

Anyway, on top of that, I was hit with another story idea that won't go away, and seeing as how I've been having a tough time cranking out these chapters (lately) I thought that maybe something on the side would be a good idea. I'm not quitting on this one, that's for sure (I hate it when people do that) but I think I'm going to be switching back and forth a bit. Haha, well, I guess it doesn't matter too much, you guys are pretty patient and used to the long waits…but I thought I'd let you know what was going on.

Good grief this is a long note! I'd better get this show on the road:

Disclaimer -

"Ah, do I have to?"

- nods -

"Fine, I don't own Inu and the gang…they just plague my thoughts with plots and dialogue." - pouts - "Happy now?!"

- nods -

"But I do own my thoughts and therefore this story IS mine ….wahahahaha!"

- crickets -

(Just thought I'd try something a little different…oh, I think I'm about to drown in the lameness of it all…)

Chapter 11 - Mature Decision

Both bodies were still alive, which didn't account for the stench of death that surrounded the pair. Then again, Inuyasha wasn't really paying much attention to that kind of detail.

He would kill Sesshomaru for this.

He withdrew Tetsusaiga and was about to do just that, but as he approached the two a bout of protective purifying energy pulsed from Katin. She moaned, as though she could feel some pain in her deep unconsciousness.

Inuyasha's step faltered; confused he took another forward. Again, a very weak energy surrounded the pair, and this time Katin's reaction was more violent. She recoiled and cried out, still unconscious, but in obvious pain.

He was completely confused, but at least he knew she was alive. What Sesshomaru was doing there was beyond him, but he knew he wanted the bastard's hands off his daughter.

Before he could try to remove them the others arrived. Sango, Miroku and Keto fronted the group, apparently the flash of white energy hadn't gone unnoticed by the villagers.

Sango spotted the girl's prostate form and before Inuyasha could warn her she rushed to Katin's side.

Surprising, though, nothing happened.

Nothing continued to happen, (besides questions and fussing) until Miroku tried to separate Katin and Sesshomaru.

The monk stumbled back, crying out in surprised pain.

"What the…"

It was then that Kaeda arrived. As old as she was, she had had to find a horse and guide brave enough to lead her into the forest.

She took one look at the unconscious pair and stated, "We will not be moving them. Build up camp around them, they will need time to recover."

"WHAT!" Inuyasha exploded. He'd kept a tight reign on his emotions, but could hold back no longer. "Get Katin back to the village so I can kill…"

At that another jolt of energy, and painful moan escaped Katin.

"Inuyasha, are ye blind? We can not separate them."

"Lady Kaeda, what happened here?" Miroku interrupted before Inuyasha could show the elder any more disrespect.

"I know not but what I see with my own eyes." Then she set about making Katin comfortable. "It seems she rests easy when no harm is meant." She glared meaningfully at Inuyasha, "Set up camp around them."

There was a moment of silence as the villagers looked between Kaeda and Inuyasha. Who should they obey? With a shrug they set to making camp.

Indignant, Inuyasha flopped to the ground, sitting Indian style, to watch the activity around him. After a while Kaeda approached him, a wary look in her eye.

"Do not touch them, when ye approach with malice in yer heart, she reacts. No, I don't wish to hear it," she interjected, seeing he was about to argue, "This is Miko energy, I do not know the meaning of it, but surely ye can see that it's harming Katin."

In fact he really hadn't noticed that at all. All he had been able to think of was how dead she looked and how there Sesshomaru was. He hadn't taken much time to consider anything else.

"Leave them to awaken."

Reluctantly Inuyasha nodded and Kaeda turned to leave. He spoke again before she took a step away.

"If he wakes before her…the very moment he wakes, I will kill him."

"But don't ye…"

"NO. He will die for this."

Kaeda shook her head in disapproval. She had the feeling they would have a hard time trying to hold Inuyasha back when the time came. She had a feeling that Sesshomaru had not been the cause of all this.

But she wasn't about to argue at the moment, not with a stubborn, angry hanyou.

Damned if it didn't take two days for either of them to even stir. Inuyasha's patience, limited at the best of times, was quickly wearing thin.

On the third day Katin finally opened her eyes.

Kaeda comforted her in her waking confusion and then sent Keto to get Inuyasha.

Katin was still very weak, and though she'd been unconscious for three days, she still had dark bags under her eyes and a sickly pallor to her skin. She tried to speak but found she didn't have the strength. She moved to try and sit up, but found her hand entwined. To her surprise she found her estranged uncle. Confused she tried to recall what on earth had happened.

It was then that Inuyasha rushed into the temporary hut. He stopped the moment he registered that her eyes were open. Inwardly he sighed with immense relief; his heart squeezed with it and he though he'd never been so overjoyed to learn of someone's well being. He wanted to run to her and hold her, but he remembered the energy and was hesitant. Then he remembered that it was only when with malicious intent (as Kaeda so delicately put it) that it would cause her pain. Well screw "malicious intent", he wanted to hold her, or at least touch her, if only to reassure himself of her health. He pushed all hatred for a certain half brother aside and knelt beside her. Gently, he brushed a stray lock of her hair out of her face, and genuinely smiled down at her.

"Yokata," he whispered, so quiet even Katin could hardly hear him.

She tried to smile reassuringly up at him, too tired and confused about her situation to realize just how out of character that had been.

Moved by the tenderness of the moment, Sango placed a comforting hand on the hanyou's shoulder. The contact caused him to start. He had not known of the others' presence. He stood and cleared his throat, hoping to clear away the emotion that seemed to be clogged there, and glared around.

"Can we move her to the village yet?" He demanded, the question directed to Kaeda.

The old woman shrugged, "I don't see why not."

Then Sesshomaru stirred. Inuyasha's reaction was immediate - so was Katin's. The moment Inuyasha drew Tetsusaiga and took a menacing step forward, Katin collapsed and miko energy filled the room. She screamed a scream of such agony that Inuyasha actually dropped his katana in shock, surprise, and horror.

Sesshomaru grunted in pain, eyes snapping open. One look at Katin's agony and he withdrew his hand from hers, then weakly pushed himself into a sitting position.

Seeing this, Inuyasha went to grab for Tetsusaiga, but Miroku kicked it out of range. The monk had no idea what was going on, but he knew Inuyasha's weapon was only making it worse.

Before Inuyasha could curse Miroku, (which was exactly what his mouth was open to do) Sesshomaru recaptured his attention. The Taiyouki grasped Katin by the shoulders and seemingly transferred the energy into himself.

Katin quieted and slumped to the floor, unconscious once more.

Lethargically Sesshomaru's eyes swept around the room, catching the old woman's eyes before he, too, collapsed.

Everyone stared in complete sock and confusion at the scene before them.

The Inuyasha turned to retrieve Tetsusaiga, but Kaeda had a firm foot on the blunt side of the blade.

"Don't be foolish," she warned him.

He glared back, getting really fed up with everyone undermining his authority and trying to tell him how to handle the situation.

"If ye want Tetsusaiga, ye must leave." She stated simply.

He bristled, "Listen hag, I'm not going to say it again…"

"Inuyasha!" Sango burst out, finding the whole situation so distressful that her voice was tight with it. "Please, leave it be for now! Can't you see he's helping her?"

"Keh! Not fucking likely!"

"But he is!"

"No he's…"

"Inuyasha," Kaeda interrupted, her tone warning but calm, "They are again unconscious, your attempts on Sesshomaru's life seem to bring about strong feelings from her. It seems she's inherited Kagome's miko powers."

"Obviously…"he muttered earning him glares all around.

"If ye wish her well again drop this foolishness!"

It was uncharacteristic for Kaeda to lose her elderly calm, so it was no surprise that the group retained a shocked silence following this outburst.

She, herself, was taken back by the feeling behind her last statement. She took a calming breath. Damn excitable hanyou!

"Inuyasha, Sango is correct. Sesshomaru's intent is not harm."

He opened his mouth to argue, but she beat him to it.

"Ye are the only one here causing Katin pain."

It took a few moments for her harsh words to sink in. He opened his mouth to reply but found he had no response.

Is that how they feel? He looked around the group. It seemed that they were less willing to admit it but he knew that they agreed with the old woman's sentiment.

For a brief moment he was furious, how could his friends, his family, turn on him like this? Sesshomaru had never given any of them a reason to believe in him. He had done nothing to secure their faith in him, his only contribution in the past was to hinder and endanger them. How could they possibly think he had any kind of good intentions?

Then his pushed his anger and wounded pride aside. This was not about him it was about Katin. He knew that so far his feelings regarding Sesshomaru had only made the problem worse. Grudgingly he did have to admit that for all intensive purposes it did appear that the demon had taken on Katin's pain a moment ago.

He still didn't trust Sesshomaru, and he was hurt an offended by the others' reactions and treatment. But one look at his daughters limp body and he knew none of that mattered. If his intent on Sesshomaru's life was causing this kind of reaction from her, then he would put an end to it. He would give and do anything to see her well.

He took one last reproachful look at his brother's prostate form, then let his face slip into an emotionless mask; he squared his shoulders and turned to face Kaeda.

"Give me Tetsusaiga," he saw she was about to protest so he added - as calmly and unthreatening as he could - "I swear I will not raise it against him again in her presence."

Miroku and Sango exchanged doubtful looks, which almost brought out his anger.

He turned a sharp eye on them, "Have I ever given you a reason to doubt my word?"

Taken back and slightly ashamed they shook their heads.

He looked back to Kaeda calmly, "I swear on Katin's life."

For a moment he seemed to be making a morbid joke, until the others realized it was simply the truth. Relieved that he understood the situation, the tension in the room eased.

Miroku retrieved Tetsusaiga and handed Inuyasha his blade.

"No hard feelings," he mumbled.

"Keh."

Well, there you have it, after 12 years of growing emotionally (from experience) Inuyasha finally listens to reason and his heart, instead of pride and anger…VERY mature of him!

I hope to get some of the new story out within a week or so (though please don't hold me to that, it's very busy right now). It's AU, and, well, rather hard to sum up…making a good summary is always so difficult!

"Kagome's a single mom with a past worth forgetting. Inuyasha's a washed up 'One Hit Wonder' desperate to make a come back. Add to that a daughter relentlessly tracking down the 'father' she's never known and a sleazy agent with a 'brilliant' plan to put his client back in the limelight, and you have a story filled with humor, drama, love, blackmail, and self realization."

Whew, think that'll fit in the summary section…I sure hope so!

Thanks for reading!

ShortPoet - I'll being bringing an awake Sesshomaru into the mix next chapter, promise! Katin's miko power and demon blood are going to cause a bit more problems, I'm afraid, but thanks to Sesshomaru…well, you'll see next chapter! wink

ArtificialRed - Sorry you didn't get your answers this chapter, next I promise!

Kasumii - He's going to get even more helpful, just you wait!

Thanks for reviewing!