He had to take the risk, "WIND SCAR!" He leaped up after the streaks of energy and caught Sesshomaru as he fell inside the detached tentacle, ripping it from his small body as he landed.
Tetsusaiga lay forgotten where he had thrown it as he examined the pup, blood leaked slowly from his mouth as he pulled him close. Inuyasha cradled his brother's still form, his torso looked somehow twisted and wrong, "Hey kid, Sesshomaru!" He shook him a little but there was no response.
He put his face close and listened; no air was passing through his lungs and his heart no longer beat. He had failed; he had told him he would be safe.
Rin's tears and murmurs of her Lords name reached him as he collapsed on the ground with his dead brother. 'No, he can't be.'
A sudden, urgent pulsing at his hip caught his attention.
Tensaiga was calling…
Chapter 7
Rin ran over and was in hysterics as she called out for the demon pup and clutched his cream colored sleeve.
Inuyasha pulled away from the girl and she collapsed to the ground in her tears, watching with wide eyes. Removing the sword, sheath and all he held it up, it glowed a faint blue and pulsed urgently in his hand. 'Tensaiga… The sword of healing and the power to resurrect the dead.'
Grasping the sheath he pulled it slowly from the sword, revealing what could be an ordinary sword were it not glowing. It seemed almost to speak to him as he held it up for his sight.
Narrowing his eyes, he looked past the sword to his brother's body as the world seemed to fall away and it was only them. Imps with chains faded into existence and he felt rage as they began to chain Sesshomaru. In his anger he swung the sword at them, hearing their screams wash over him as his brother's body arched violently.
The sword fell with a clang and the unnoticed world plunged back into existence as he fell to his brother's side. He pulled the writhing pup to him and held him as blank golden eyes snapped open along with his mouth in a silent scream before drawing in breath.
Sesshomaru fell limp in his grasp and Inuyasha leaned down, his diminutive chest rose and fell with steady breaths. He started when a small-clawed hand touched his cheek and he looked up from his place near the child's chest into tired golden eyes that were so much like his own.
"Inu…"
He crushed the child to his chest, "You stupid brat, you listen to me next time!" The tears were still coming and he couldn't seem to stop them as he smothered the pup. He felt the familiar, slightly rough tongue run over his neck where Sesshomaru's face was.
"Safe Inu. No cry." He tried pulling himself up but barely had the strength and Inuyasha helped him. He looked into his 'big' brother's still watering eyes and smiled reassuringly. "Safe Inu. No cry." He licked the fading tears away as best he could and nuzzled Inuyasha's face.
"Inuyasha saved Lord Sesshomaru like Lord Sesshomaru saved Rin?" Her voice was filled with awe and hope. Inuyasha lifted his arm and she came scrambling over, grabbing Sesshomaru's clothes in a death grip as she cried into him. "Rin was so worried but Lord Sesshomaru is okay, Rin didn't know what she would have done if her lord was gone." She collapsed into fresh tears, but these were happy as she held onto the dog brothers for dear life.
Inuyasha pulled them close and tucked them to his chest as Sesshomaru fell into an exhausted sleep and soon Rin cried herself to sleep after him.
He stood up cradling the children in his arms and looked to the other members of their little group, Jaken was knocked out cold while Ah-Un was lying down watching with interested eyes. Walking over to the dragons he set the children between the twin heads where they would be off the ground and retrieved the fallen swords, sheathing the now untransformed Tetsusaiga and then Tensaiga before replacing it back in his sash.
Inuyasha picked up his Fire Rat kimono and wrapped the children in it as he picked them up, "Come on dragon we'll keep going, grab the idiot." He watched as Jaken was tossed on to their back and they lumbered to their feet to follow. "He still alive?" He snorted when they nodded and muttered as they began walking, "Too bad." Looking down at the kids he noticed the drying trail of blood from Sesshomaru's mouth and wiped it away, rolling his eyes when a small striped hand snuck out to hold his hand there, the kid was still sleep though. "Stupid brat." The seeming insult held affection in its tone.
They continued down the path that had been blocked by the horrible tentacle monster and had to climb over an unsteady pile of rubble created from the Tetsusaiga's attack. Inuyasha was up and over in a few bounds, the dragon had a little more difficulty but its powers of flight eventually helped it over.
Soon with a demon's stamina Sesshomaru was awake and calling for his attention. "Inu? Rin okay?"
"She's just tired. Ya little moron ya need ta listen to me next time. Do you realize you were dead?"
"Yes, like Rin. Safe Inu." He nuzzled into his brother's larger hand, holding it to his striped cheek.
"Yeah, how ya feeling?"
"Fine, Inu okay?"
"Yeah brat. How did you know that was there?" He growled when Sesshomaru just shrugged and licked his hand.
"No more bad thing, Rin hurt?" He pointed to the girls arm near him, she had a nasty cut running up it, visible through her torn sleeve. It needed to be cleaned but before he could do anything Sesshomaru was licking it gently, helping it to heal. Soon it was nothing more than a scratch and the pup made a face as he finished licking the blood. "Bad."
"I could of just cleaned that with some water and wrapped it you know. Stupid brat." He shifted them a little in his arms as they continued walking.
"Rin better." Sesshomaru ran his hand gently over her cheek, being careful of his claws as they grazed the fragile skin. He touched her throat then his own and started scrabbling at his clothes. "Inu! Myu's horse gone!"
"Do we have to go back and get it?" He cringed a little when the pup's eyes turned liquid.
"Please Inu? Myu cry, remember her with it."
"Okay brat, we'll go back and look for it." He turned around and the dragons stopped walking, "Give me that staff." He took it from Ah's mouth and poked Jaken awake with it.
"Milord!"
"Come on toad, you're going to help us look for a silver horse charm."
"Why should I listen to you? You are not my master." He barely managed to dodge the staff as it was swung at him.
"Jaken will help."
"Yes Milord." They turned back and scrambled over the rock pile again and Inuyasha set his brother down, helping them go through the rock piles, along with bits and pieces of tentacles.
Jaken poked at a tentacle then began running around screaming at the stop of his lungs, waving his hand frantically in the air until he had wiped it off on his clothes. He sat wailing and clutching his blister covered webbed hand.
Inuyasha looked him over and noted the spot dissolving slowly on his brown robes, "Hey brat, be careful. The blood of that thing is acid."
"Yes Inu." They continued looking around; even Ah-Un was helping. Inuyasha was still holding on to Rin with one arm and poking through the remains with his other hand.
Thinking about it for a minute he made his way over to the main body of the monster, covering his nose with an under sleeve at the dead smell it was already creating and peered into it giant mouth, all that was left after the Wind Scar took the top of it off. He thought he could see something but wasn't sure until he moved so the sun could shine in, it reflected brightly off the silver charm at the back of it's mouth. "Well that's just fucking great. Hey toad! Get over here."
The imp was about to protest when a rock whizzed over and smacked him in the forehead. He looked over at Sesshomaru and gulped when he saw the larger rock in his master's hand, then waddled obediently over to Inuyasha.
"Climb in there and get that charm out."
"Inu found?"
"Yeah, must of fell off when it was holding you up there." The pup shivered and whined a little in fear as he looked at the beast. Remembering what had happened; had him trembling all over and moving quickly to hold onto his brother's leg.
Sesshomaru laughed though as Jaken climbed down inside to get the charm. He made the imp clean it off before he took it, and pouted over the broken leather.
He sat with Rin against his chest so his hands were free, "Here brat," Inuyasha took the necklace and tied the two loose ends together before slipping it over the pup's head and pulling his long silver braid from under it.
"Thank you Inu."
"Now can we go?"
"Yes." He held up his arms to be picked up and grinned when he was scooped up by one cream colored arm.
They spent almost another hour walking through the canyon, Rin remaining asleep the whole time. Jaken had been knocked out once more by his own staff for whining about having to climb into the monster's gullet.
Inuyasha was left to his thoughts as they walked and he wondered how Rin and the dragon had gotten back out without running into that monster, unless it didn't exist then and was specifically created after Sesshomaru had destroyed another.
Soon they came to a passage that was too narrow for the dragons and after inspecting the floor he found scratch marks trailing out of it, like something had been dragged out and gouged the stone. Inuyasha roused the sleeping girl, "Hey kid, you recognize this place?"
"This is where Rin found Lord Sesshomaru." He set the children down as the pup nodded in agreement.
"What are those scratches?"
"Lord Sesshomaru's armor made them when he and Rin pulled it out."
"His sword was in there?"
"The bad sword? Yes, it was right over there." She pointed to an empty space like any other in the pass.
Inuyasha shifted in place, debating whether or not to take the pups with him or leave them with the dragon and imp. Scenting the slight breeze that floated towards him through the passage he caught a vaguely familiar scent that he couldn't quite place his finger on, it tickled the back of his mind but not in a bad way. Like it was something that he had smelled when he was young.
He turned and addressed the dragons, "We're going in, find a way to wake the toad and send him in after us. Can you do that?" They snorted and dipped their heads in agreement.
The half demon took his fire rat that the girl was holding to him and slipped it on before picking up his brother and letting him on his shoulders. Then scooped up the girl, "Come on brats, we're gonna go find out who did this."
"Did what Inuyasha?"
"Took Tokijin and made him like this." He jerked a thumb to the demon on his shoulder, growling a little when said demon grabbed it and shook himself free. "Knock it off brat, and stay away from my ears! I need to hear." The small clawed hands released the furry appendages and dug into his hair instead as he walked. Inuyasha kept scenting the air, trying to figure out that familiar scent.
"Rin's arm is better?" She was examining the torn sleeve and looking at the scratch that was all that was left of the wound.
"Yes, better." She looked up at him, smiling when soft fur curled around her neck.
"Lord Sesshomaru fixed Rin?"
"Yes."
"Thank you Lord Sesshomaru!" She gathered the fur off her neck and began stroking it as it hung off her shoulder. The demon pup's eyes closed and he began purring softly while the fur moved more into her grasp, making Rin giggle. "Lord Sesshomaru likes this?"
"Yes."
"Rin thinks it is funny, Inuyasha likes his ears touched and Lord Sesshomaru likes this. Rin can't decide which she likes better…" She rubbed her cheek into the fur much like she had done before with Inuyasha's ear.
The owner of said ear rolled his eyes and shifted her a little in his arm as he continued walking, then found that the purring was getting on nerves. "Quit doing that brats, I can't take that damn noise anymore."
"Sorry." She dropped the soft fur and it curled around her neck again.
"Sorry Inu." The purring stopped and little fingers from both began running through his silver hair instead.
Inuyasha gave Rin a sidelong dirty look as she began braiding the shorter lock of hair that hung where normal human (or demon) ears would be. But it was keeping them quiet so he let it be, that scent was getting closer rapidly and it was occupying his attention. He soon cut the fondling to his forelock short when Rin tried to thread a ribbon from some unknown place into it. "Quit that, and take my hair out of that braid."
"Yes Inuyasha." She did as he asked just as they turned an easy corner in the passage and came upon an amazing thing.
An almost completely opaque green barrier swirled in front of them; his sharp eyes could barely make out a large hulking form beyond the dark swirling greens.
Instead of his usual method of barging through obstacle in his way he sat to inspect it, not knowing how it would affect the children he was holding. "Stay here." He set them down and stood, walking cautiously to barrier he touched it lightly with a clawed finger, when he received no shock he stuck his hand in fully.
"Hey brat, come here." Sesshomaru was next to him in a second, leaving his 'tail' behind on Rin.
"Inu?"
"See if you can touch this barrier, but be careful about it." His arm reached foreword and up slightly, the dark blue sleeve falling to reveal the twin stripes on his wrist as he copied what he had seen Inuyasha doing, right down to sticking his hand in when it didn't hurt him.
He looked up at his 'big' brother confusedly; "Water?"
"No, magic." He understood the pup's confusion though; it did feel like cool water running around his hand as he pulled out and beckoned to the other child.
"Inuyasha wants Rin to touch it too?" She took his grunt as a yes and reached out touch it, putting both hands in and giggling at the way it felt when she combed her fingers through it. "Rin likes this, it's fun." Her ability to touch it had him wondering why it was there at all if it didn't stop humans or demons from entering, not to mention half-breeds such as himself.
Inuyasha snorted and crouched, trying to decide how it was best to take them through. It would be better if they all just walked through, otherwise he might not be free enough to defend them if something attacked. But doing that posed a risk of something separating them. So he settled on them holding hands as they went through, with Rin in between them on his left so his sword arm was free.
He got them into the proper places and took Rin's hand, then made sure the pup had a good grip on Rin's other hand. With his hand on Tetsusaiga's hilt he stepped through with the children close behind, trying to hear past their delighted giggles at the way the barrier felt as they passed through.
Inside they found a home that looked like it was built directly into the mountain, it wasn't large but it couldn't be considered normal either. It was beautiful and they stared as someone very familiar to Inuyasha stepped out.
It was a dog demon-ess dressed in a deep blue flowing kimono that complemented her startling, silver accented blue eyes. A deep gray strip grace each cheekbone and her long black hair swung free nearly to the floor. Deep ebony fur similar to Sesshomaru's wound around her left arm and shoulder as she stepped gracefully towards them.
"It has been a while Inuyasha."
"Y-Yuma?" He couldn't believe his eyes, he hadn't seen this close friend of his fathers since he was nothing more then a pup. "You did this to him?"
She bowed her head in a yes then smiled mischievously and seemed to glide over. She hugged the half demon; "You've grown up well Inuyasha, unlike your brother there. He wanted to act like a spoiled pup, so I turned him into one." She bent down close to the little pup, laughing and tapping his nose smartly one finger when he growled. "You are such a bad pup, that is exactly what got you in this situation in the first place." Sesshomaru growled again and pushed Rin behind him. "You know he was just as protective of you when you two were younger."
"Feh." Inuyasha watched slightly amused as the female demon easily blurred around his brother to pick up Rin.
"Hello Rin, how are you today?"
"Rin is fine, Rin likes Yuma's hair, it is longer than even Lord Sesshomaru's!" The demon-ess laughed and sent a small glare at the growling pup that was only restrained by Inuyasha's hand on his shoulder.
"Now Rin, I know that Sesshomaru has been teaching you to speak properly has he not?"
"Yes but sometimes R- I forget." She looked down at her protector, "Lord Sesshomaru should stop growling at Yuma, she is very nice."
"Inu?"
"It's fine brat." The pup jumped onto Inuyasha's back, easily climbing up to peer over his shoulder at the female demon, still ticked at her for the nose tap he stopped growling and settled for glaring.
"What a little brat he is this time around, at least before his studies kept him in line. Inuyasha you have spoiled him." She laughed as the half demons ears laid back in anger.
"Well it's not like I wanted to take care of him! What the hell did he do anyways?"
"Language Inuyasha, come inside and I will explain." She turned with Rin and was followed by the dog brothers, she didn't miss the quiet 'feh' from one and low growl from the other.
Both brothers sneezed as they entered the heavily perfumed hut, looking around the numerous bundles of hanging herbs explain the heavy odor. Yuma gestured for them to have a seat and did not bother to hide her laughter when Sesshomaru walked over and tugged Rin by her hand to sit with him on Inuyasha's lap.
"It is interesting to know that some of his natural… personality traits, were not affected, he is still as possessive as he always was." She made a gesture with her hands and fairy light flooded the room, producing plenty of normal colored light but no heat.
Yuma peered at the little demon in his brother's lap and sighed, "Seeing him up close like this make me almost wish I had checked up on him personally, I had forgotten how cute he was when he was little. I am almost tempted to do the same to you too Inuyasha, you were absolutely adorable, especially with those ears." She only smiled when Inuyasha narrowed his eyes at her. "You seem to have control over the pup, send him over here I need to check him."
"For what?"
"To make sure there were no lasting effects from the spell that could harm him when it is reversed… That is why you are here is it not?"
"Feh." He pushed Sesshomaru to his feet, "Go brat."
"No." He whined when Inuyasha rapped his head lightly with one knuckle.
"What happened the last two times you didn't listen to me? Tell me what happened when you didn't listen."
Sesshomaru trembled a little, "Cliff… Then like Rin."
"Right, now go." He pointed towards the she-demon, grunting in disgust when Sesshomaru licked the nearby hand before walking across the room to where Yuma was seated on a large red cushion.
"Come here Sesshomaru." She pulled him onto her lap and ran her fingers through his bangs once before reaching behind him and undoing the tie on his braid. "Your hair is too pretty to be braided back like that, though perhaps tied up as your father wore it would be acceptable." She straightened his hair out and ran her fingers through it, looking satisfied when he began purring. While he was distracted she placed two fingers on his forehead and felt over him with her magic, checking him for any in discrepancies.
"Good, everything seems normal." She looked at the half demon with a small grin. "Are you sure you don't want to just keep him this way? He's a lot sweeter." She tickled him a little, minding her blue tinted claws as he laughed.
"And take over all of that assholes responsibilities? I don't know nothin' about running our father's lands."
"I see your lessons from when you lived there have been forgotten." Inuyasha turned his nose up at the sardonic humor.
"Feh. Are you going to change him back or what?" His glare softened when Sesshomaru came back over and hugged him around his neck.
"Inu?"
"Nothing brat." Inuyasha automatically put an arm under the pup as he waited for his answer.
"I am hungry Inuyasha. Rin- I haven't had anything to eat since the bad thing." The girl's eyes grew wide when Inuyasha's face twisted in anger and he turned on the calm female demon.
"What the fuck was that thing? It killed him!" He hoisted the trembling demon pup in his arm a little as he glared.
"Oh that? Merely a security measure, your dear brother destroyed my first one." She waved a hand dismissively, "He's fine isn't he? Those wonderful swords from your father saved him."
"You knew?"
"I've been watching the whole time. You were so good with those village children; they really look up to you. You know, when those children grow up at least a few of them will remember that and it will change their opinions of demons, and half-demons, when they are older." She ignored his growl, "I know how attached you have become to him so I will leave the decision of returning him to himself to you."
Yuma reached into one of her large sleeves and pulled out a blood red amulet then tossed it to him. "Destroy this and he will be returned to his former self."
Inuyasha and the pups examined the amulet; Sesshomaru in particular was fascinated and couldn't keep his claws off it. To the point of snatching it away and holding it really close to one eye so he could peer into the depths of it. The pup gasped and pushed it away from himself so it landed in Rin's lap.
"What's your problem brat?"
"Inu!" He pointed to the amulet, unable to voice his problem with his limited vocabulary.
"His memories are contained within the amulet, I believe he saw a one of you."
"Inu hurt, Sesshomaru." He looked sad and wasn't meeting his 'big' brothers eyes.
"Get over it brat, not like you could ever kill me. Will he remember any of this when he changes back?"
"It is possible. Here, they should eat something." She moved away into another room and came back with some food for the children.
"He's going to want his sword."
"Well that is just too bad, I destroyed it. He doesn't need a sword when its soul purpose is to shed your blood."
"He'll come for revenge if he remembers any of this, I'll probably be the first he tries to kill."
"He can't get past my barrier unless I wish him to. You will be leaving after they are done." It wasn't an order, more like a statement as if Yuma already knew what was going to happen and Inuyasha gave her a suspicious look.
"Why do I remember something about you being able to tell the future when I was younger?"
"Because I scryed for your father on occasion."
"Why did you do this to my brother?"
"I am fulfilling the wishes of your father and a good friend of yours. They are finished; I believe you should leave now. If you think there will be a fight wait until you have left the pass into my mountain. I do not need it to be destroyed further."
Inuyasha stood up grumbling and grabbed the kids, "Bitch."
"Thank you. We will see each other again Inuyasha," She stood and put a hand on his cheek. "Try to remember that your brother was only a pup when your father died, he was confused and hurt. The little girl you are holding proves that Sesshomaru still has his heart; I was there when the rift between you formed. By the time he realized his mistake his pride would not let him correct it. Do not let his mistake be yours." She kissed his forehead and whispered into his ear. "Your father and mother would be proud of you doing this for your brother, as well as Kagome."
She kissed each of the children's foreheads as well before stepping back, and looking into Inuyasha's wide golden eyes with a sad smile. "How do you know about Kagome?"
"I see into the future remember? Until we meet again Prince Inuyasha." She bowed slightly before snapping with one hand.
A strange shifting feeling came over the three of them and they were left slightly dizzy standing just outside the barrier, Inuyasha had no doubts that they would not be able to pass it now.
"Look, Jaken is here." Rin pointed to the unconscious, slightly toasted looking toad on the ground and Inuyasha set her down.
"Take his staff and wake him up, don't hit him with it."
"Rin will poke him." She picked up the fallen staff and began nudging the imp with the smaller end, calling his name between giggles.
Inuyasha helped Sesshomaru to sit on his shoulders before he held up the amulet to the light; it was a pretty stone set in a silver circle and the long chain flowed over his fingers. This was it; his time with his brother was over. He pushed the thoughts away as Jaken woke and began squawking. "Shut up. Let's go."
He picked the girl up and began walking, noticing that by the time they met up with the dragon, the pass was different. It was less menacing, and seemed somehow shorter.
Ah-Un roared it's greeting as they began walking out and obediently followed them. "Dragon, can you fly out of here now?" It nodded and he rolled his eyes, of course Yuma would make things easy now, after Sesshomaru had already been killed. "Let's go then, we'll go back to where we spent the night."
They went through the usual routine of wrapping Rin up so she would be warm then mounted the broad back with Jaken sitting sulkily behind them since Inuyasha wouldn't answer his questions.
"Inuyasha? Is Lord Sesshomaru going to be back to normal soon?"
"Yeah." The half demon was grateful when that ended the discussion and Rin turned back to talk to 'her lord'.
As the ride through the cold air continued, the unbidden memory of his brother throwing him out came to mind.
-Flashback-
Their father was dead from the wounds received in his battle with the great dragon. Sesshomaru was only fifteen, looking even younger due to way demons aged, and he was now lord of the western lands in their father's place.
He remembered trying to seek comfort from his brother only to be pushed away. He thought his brother was only grieving and would get over it.
Soon the days dragged on and Inuyasha was forced to spend his first human night in years alone. He had even risked going through the halls to his brother's room. He knocked on the door, "Sesshomaru? Are you in there?" He stumbled back when the door slid open to reveal his brother dressed in loose pants for bed with narrowed golden eyes.
"What do you want Inuyasha?" His brother's voice was so different from the warm one he was used to.
"I just thought…" He fidgeted his clawless hands nervously.
"You are old enough to stay by yourself, must I continue to indulge you Inuyasha? You are twelve years old, you will be fine." He remembered the distinctive sound of the door sliding harshly closed and the last glimpse he had of the cold golden eyes.
He had run as fast as he could with his human legs and sat curled up on his bed like the first new moon Sesshomaru had found him. Those frigid eyes were burned into his mind as he sat crying, unable to even fall asleep until the sun had risen.
The next morning he asked his mother what he had done and she hugged him like she used to when he was younger, "Sesshomaru is just overwhelmed. Come Inuyasha, we must gather our things. We are going to live at my old home now."
"But mother, I don't want to go there. The nobles do not like me, why can't we stay here?"
"The lord of this castle has requested that we leave." He remembered the sad look on his mother's face when he pulled away in a panic.
"No! Sess wouldn't do that! You're wrong." He fled from her and sought his brother out, he found him in their father's former study that now belonged to Sesshomaru. His brother was made to look even younger in their father's chair since he had yet to be fully grown.
"What do you want Inuyasha? I am very busy."
"Is what my mother said true? You want us to leave?"
"Yes."
"Why?" He had jumped back when Sesshomaru stood up and began shouting at him from across the large desk.
"This is you and your human mothers fault! If she weren't so weak father would have never died defending her! Get out of my sight. One with human blood such as yours does not belong here."
"But-"
"No! Leave you filthy half-breed, if I never see you again it will be too soon. I won't die protecting you like father, so remove yourself from my home little brother." He gasped; never had his brother called him that or spoke to him with such malice in his tone. So he shouted back even as the tears flowed.
"Fine! I don't want to be here with a cold hearted bastard like you anyways!" He heard a vase smash into the door right where his head was just seconds after he closed it.
They had been out of the castle that very day and back to his mother's old home, the place where he had first learnt what it meant to be a half-breed all those years ago. Soon he was left all alone in the world when she died and his hatred for his once beloved brother grew.
-End Flashback-
He was brought back as the dragons set down just next to the wooded area, and Inuyasha jumped off with the kids. Wanting to be in a more private place when he changed Sesshomaru back he returned to the clearing they had spent the night in.
Seeing as how his brother's clothes hadn't changed with him before he decided to change him. He pulled his under and over Kimono out and draped them around the pup after disrobing him of the dark blue clothes. The pup was obviously confused as he did this and also set out the rest of Sesshomaru's clothes on the dragon's back.
"Inu?" He became worried when saw the sadness in his brother's golden eyes and held up his arms, hurt when he wasn't picked up. "Inu? Please?" Inuyasha picked the pup up, unsurprised when a rough tongue ran over his cheek. "Inu?"
"Come on Sess, it's time for you to go back to normal." Unconcerned about whether it would be remembered he nuzzled the child's face briefly in affection before setting him behind the dragons. "Stay there." He made sure that the girl was behind him before clenching the amulet in his fist and whispered, "Goodbye Sess. It was definitely an interesting few days."
He crushed the amulet and a silver misted emerged from it. It shot towards Sesshomaru and engulfed him completely. Inuyasha was forced to knock Jaken out with his staff when the imp tried to go investigate and was holding the girl back.
Soon Sesshomaru emerged fully-grown, he looked innocent for only a moment before his face became blank and he dressed in privacy –minus the armor- behind the dragon. He stepped away from it as he finished with the sash and looked down as Rin attached herself to his leg.
"Rin is so happy! Lord Sesshomaru is back to himself! Rin missed her lord!" He patted her on the head once and allowed her to cry for a moment.
"Rin, wake Jaken."
"Yes Lord Sesshomaru!" She ran over and shook the imp awake. A rock flew in from nowhere when Jaken began groveling.
"Jaken, you will leave with Rin."
"W-where to milord?"
"We will be returning home."
"Can Rin say goodbye to Inuyasha?" She took his silence as a yes, ran over to where Inuyasha was crouched watching things play out, and threw her arms around his neck. "Rin will miss Inuyasha." She lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper that he knew his brother could still hear, "Do you think Rin could touch Inuyasha's soft ears one more time since Lord Sesshomaru does not have any?"
Inuyasha glanced to his brother who seemed to be absorbed in inspecting his returned left arm and not paying them any attention. He looked back into the hopeful brown eyes of the little girl and her gaped tooth smile. "Fine." He lowered his head to her reach and let her pet his ears for a moment, pulling away before it could relax him too much. He blinked in surprise when she graced him with a kiss and another hug.
"Rin will miss Inuyasha." She turned back to his brother, "Will Rin get to see Inuyasha again?"
"Perhaps." He picked her up and set her onto the dragons' back.
"Promise?"
"Jaken, be on your way."
Inuyasha muttered under his breath as he watched the three leave with his back semi towards Sesshomaru, "It's better that you don't promise her anything, not as if you can keep them." He stood and pulled Tensaiga from his sash and tossed it to his brother. "Here's your sword. Yuma destroyed Tokijin."
"I am aware." Inuyasha sat back down with his arms and legs crossed, not caring if his brother decided to attack him as he listened for his departure. "I must at admit I am curious as to why you did not drop me from that cliff, or bothered at all."
"Feh, I wouldn't kill a child. You have that kid to take care of, you're a bastard but I wouldn't do that to her." 'She reminds me too much of Kagome.'
Sesshomaru's face held almost a soft look as he touched the horse charm hidden beneath his clothes and looked down on his half-brother. "You spoke of promises."
"What is this, twenty questions? But yeah, you promised to protect me."
"When have I broken that promise?" He was much closer now but Inuyasha didn't move.
"Trying to kill me sort of does that don't you think? Or how about letting me scrape by after you threw us out of the only home I knew and my mother died?"
"Yet you are still here, and stronger for it."
"You don't expect me to believe that all that shit you put me through was to help me? Feh. Just go away, I did what I came to do." He stood with his back still to his older brother and went to leave through the trees when an arm wrapped around his stomach and arms and another about his neck.
Sesshomaru spoke softly into one of his twitching ears, "If you believe that is so, what is to stop me from killing you right now, then proceeding to that human village you call home and destroying every last person that saw us?"
"Bastard, leave them out of this!" He heard the sigh that passed through his brother's lips and stiffened.
"I owe you my life little brother, so they may keep theirs." The arm about his neck removed itself and Sesshomaru began stroking one of his ears, just as he used to when they were younger.
He was confused and didn't understand, "S-stop." This wasn't fair, his brother wasn't supposed to do this. Sesshomaru was just suppose to leave so he could get back to being alone, back to his normal life of waiting for a time when he could somehow see Kagome again. Despite this he didn't move away when Sesshomaru began stroking the other ear as well, even though he was free to move. "Why are you doing this?"
"I wish for you to return home."
"Home?"
"Our fathers former lands." At this Inuyasha did pull away and whirled to look at his blank faced and voiced brother.
"No. How can I know this just isn't another trick to get Tetsusaiga now that your sword is gone?"
"I have no desire to possess father's sword any longer. I have never lied, it is beneath me."
As Inuyasha opened his mouth to reply when Yuma's words came to him, 'Do not let his mistake be yours.' He closed his mouth and sunk to the ground with his face covered. "Why now?" He felt Sesshomaru kneel next to him and slightly over before those large hands were on his ears again.
"Look at me Inuyasha." He looked up from his hands into the soft golden eyes that looked just like they had when they were pups. "I wish for you to come back home, where you belong. It is time to put the foolish mistakes of the past behind us."
Inuyasha's eyes grew wide when he saw the familiar spark of mischief in his brothers, the state he had been in was obviously still affecting his thoughts and actions, "It would truly anger Jaken. I am sure you are aware that he still smells like the Koi pond after all these years." He saw the amusement in Sesshomaru's eyes and wondered how he knew of his recent thoughts. "You seem to have forgotten that I am gifted with slight telepathic abilities when it comes to you, courtesy of the mistake we made as pups. I was aware of your memories."
"Feh." He pulled away from his brother and stood, watching warily as he followed.
"Will you come little brother?"
Inuyasha made his decision, damn the consequences if his brother was lying. It was too tempting to pass up. He shrugged and began walking after the path the dragons had taken, "Sure, if you answer one question."
Sesshomaru put his restored arm on his shoulders as they left the clearing, "Yes?"
"What the hell is that damn furry thing on your shoulder Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha grinned as he heard his brother's long lost laugh.
"I see you remain as tactful as ever Inuyasha."
-In the hidden home past the green barrier-
Yuma smiled as the two brothers disappeared into the trees; her promise to their father was kept. Soon she would be helping to complete the wishes of another. "Stubborn pups, more than sixty years just to get over this. What in the world are you two going to do when you meet Kagome again?" She smiled and shook her head at her own foolishness, "Of course. I will just find out for myself." She passed her hands over the pool of water and peered intently at the image that formed…
The End
Followed by an epilogue