Chapter 8- Brotherly Love

Inuyasha crouched at a fork in the trail, sniffing the dirt. The scent he had been following was scattered now. He hadn't picked up the scent until only an hour ago, and it was still very faint. But the wind had picked up and the newly acquired scent took off in both directions. They'd traveled for almost 10 hours straight, and the sky had begun to fade from blue to light orange and pinks. The young half demon was getting more and more frustrated as the minutes ticked by.

His friends watched as he crawled across the ground sniffing and gazing down both roads. Kirara had landed and Sango stood to stretch her legs. She walked over to Sesshoumaru who was watching his brother's movements with a hint of humor in his eyes.

"Sesshoumaru." Sango asked in a hushed voice. "Why don't you help him? With your full demon strength surely you can find the right path."

"Lord Sesshoumaru does not take orders from a lowly human!" Announced Jaken.

But Sesshoumaru lifted his foot and booted Jaken into the air and over the cart that held Kagome. His flight was stopped by a near by tree and the little demon slid down the side of the bark getting splinters in his green skin. "I also do not need you to speak for me, Jaken." Sesshoumaru evenly stated. Then he turned back to Sango and leaned in so only she could hear, "this is why."

Then he walked over to Inuyasha and stood over him. "Having trouble, little brother?"

Inuyasha stood, "No. I know exactly what I'm doing."

"Then which way is it?" He asked patiently. "You realize we're running out of time, don't you?"

With that Inuyasha snapped, "No shit! Of course I realize that! But the damned wind kicked up the scent and now I can't..." He stopped himself before admitting defeat. He knew he'd have to ask for Sessoumaru's help. He turned back to the others who just watched.

Sesshoumaru smiled, one of those you know I'm right smiles. "You can't what?"

Inuyasha jutted out his jaw and defiantly crossed his arms over his chest. His eyes narrowed as he realized that his brother must have had the scent for a while now. "Sesshoumaru you know I can't pick up the scent that well," he reached out grabbing a handful of his half-brother's haori and pulling his face to his own "but you can smell it just fine."

Sesshoumaru's face stayed beautifully calm. "Yes," he plainly said, "I've smelt it for a while now."

Inuyasha's golden eyes narrowed on his brothers and he clung more tightly to the cloth that filled his hands. "Don't waist my time, Sesshoumaru. If Kagome dies because of you I'll-"

"You'll do what?"

Then Sesshoumaru noticed his brother's eyes turn for a moment from beautiful white and gold to a shocking red and blue, then back again. His inner demon is willing to kill for her, interesting. He thought.

"If she dies, I'll kill you." Inuyasha completed his threat. Sesshoumaru kept eye contact with the golden orbs, but lifted his arm and pointed down the trail to his right. His brother smiled, "There, that wasn't so hard was it."

The full blooded demon balled up his fist and swung at his brother. Next think Inuyasha knew he had been thrown backwards into the dirt, his face stinging from where his brother's fist collided with it. "Not hard at all." Sesshoumaru said before turning on his heels and walking down the chosen path.

Kaede snapped the reigns on the horse and began trotting down after him. Sango walked up to Inuyasha and offered him her hand. He reluctantly took it as she helped him up and brushed him off. "We should probably make camp soon." She offered.

"No. Not until night fall, I want to travel while there is even the faintest light in the sky." He said before stalking off after the others. Sango shrugged her shoulders and walked along side Kirara while Miroku rode her down the trail.

Kagome was running, running as fast as she could after a red blur that constantly escaped her. She pulled up her bow, nocked the arrow and fired. The arrow caught the red blur by the sleeve and pinned him to a tree. Inuyasha tried in vain to free himself but he couldn't. She raised her hand and took the Shikron Jewel from his hand. "Stop coming for this Inuyasha." She heard Kikyo's voice come out of her own mouth. Although the words came out harsh, she felt a pinch of admiration in her heart. Then she looked down and saw herself in Kikyo's priestess kimono.

Everything went black.

Kikyo stood before her. "What are you doing to me!" Kagome demanded.

Kikyo smiled, "It has begun. You and I are trading lives. While you are taking in my memories, I'm taking in yours. Eventually this body will reject your soul and take mine in as its rightful owner."

Inuyasha walked steadily beside the cart keeping an eye on Kagome. If he hadn't known about the circumstances that put her there, he would have thought she looked lovely. Her jet black hair was spread out around her head like a halo and she had slept somewhat peacefully for most of the journey. The hay was keeping her reasonably comfortable. Every time he even sensed her slightest discomfort he would hop into the cart and strok her cheek to sooth her. But as the fits became more and more common it took him longer to sooth her.

Her latest fit she was able to articulate a few words that scared Inuyasha, although he did not state it. She said "What...you doing...me?" Which he could only piece together as, "What are you doing to me?", those words frightened him, because he could not answer her question. He even wanted to ask the same thing to her, What are you doing to me, Kagome? A voice inside his head asked, another answered him, Making you fall in love with me. He quickly silenced the voiced.

They had stopped for the night when they sky went black. No one went near Kagome except Inuyasha and Keade. The old priestess was allowed to dress and clean her wound only because she yelled at Inuyasha for being too protective, even among his friends. He just huffed in his usual manor and stalked off, but not too far away from her.

As night fell and the fire began to die out Inuyasha sat beside Kagome once more refusing to sleep. He did not hear his brother approaching; he was too lost in his thoughts of Kagome.

Sesshoumaru placed a hand on Inuyasha's shoulder, causing him to spin and unsheathe his sword.

"Calm down little brother, it's only me." He said in his usual degrading tone. "If it had been the enemy you would have been long dead by now."

"I heard you coming up behind me." Inuyasha lied and he knew his brother knew he was lying.

But Sesshoumaru let it be and nodded towards the woods. "The true enemy is out there. You will need all of your strength to fight the Luwi."

Inuyasha nodded, "The scent has been getting stronger, and there are a lot of them."

Sesshoumaru nodded. "Get some sleep, I will watch over her."

Inuyasha flashed him a look. "No I'm fine-"he started.

But he was cut off by his older sibling. "I know you are slow to react, brother, but not that slow. You are fatigued. Let me watch over her while you rest." It was more of a demand than a request, so Inuyasha got up and looked questioningly into his brother's eyes.

"Alright, but if you harm one hair..." this time he cut himself off, he could see in Sesshoumaru's eyes that he had no ill intent. So, not saying another word, he turned and jumped into a tree, convinced he would not sleep. But he fell asleep in seconds.