For the record (ahem): I do not own, in whole or in part, any part of the Inuyasha franchise. Nor do I own any of the characters from said franchise that is used forthwith. The following story is solely based on the ramblings of a college student at a boring job and is not to be taken or believed as part of the true Inuyasha saga. That being said, please enjoy my first attempt at fan fiction. Feel free to critique ad nauseum. (Whew!)

Chapter Sixteen – Two Against One

Sesshomaru was growing impatient, waiting for his half-brother to come and find him. That puppy never does what is expected of him. He should be here by now, full of righteous indignation. He needs to hurry so I can defeat him quickly, or I will not be able to help Kagome with Kikyou. That dead miko gets closer by the second.

He sniffed the air, feeling that something was afoul. He sensed nor smelled no other demons in the castle other than himself, Inuyasha, Jaken, the fire-cat, and the little Kitsune. But, something inside him would not settle for that. It all seems too easy. I want Inuyasha to come here to me, and he does in record time. How did any of them know where to find my castle? None of them have been here before, and the mist barrier keeps most confused as to its location. With the dead miko and the monk, I would expect them to get through it, but it was as if it were not there. There is definitely something else going on here.

Inuyasha was calmly, if somewhat stiffly, going through the hallways towards his brother. Each time he came to a crosswalk or another door, he stopped to sense his brother before continuing. This greatly reduced his backtracking, as many of the doors and hallways inadvertently led him back to a place he had already been. Now, only one door stood between him and Sesshomaru. His blood began to burn as he steadied himself for the attack. He knows that I am here. He can't not know. He is waiting for me, right there.

"Sesshomaru!" he screamed as he kicked open the door. But, his half-brother just stood there, in his full regalia, staring back at him. "Where is she?"

He flinched at Inuyasha's possessive tone. "She is safe from that miko you brought. For the moment, anyway."

Inuyasha instantly went on the defensive. "What do you mean by that?"

"Did you really think that Kikyou wanted to help you find her? The reason why she cannot be fully alive? She helped you here so she could kill Kagome. The miko was perfectly safe here until you showed up."

The hanyou did not know how to react to that statement. Something inside of him had known that this was true. Known it and regretted it. My love for Kikyou blinded me to the truth that even my friends could see and I could not. Kikyou did not feel compelled to help me. Even my damn brother knew that. Wait? Did he sound possessive? Of my Kagome? "She was not perfectly fine here. She was your bait to lure me here. Well, you got me."

Sesshomaru looked away from him, as if he were bored. "It was not my intention to lure you here. Not until we fought earlier. Then I decided it would be better for you to come here and see for yourself."

He balled his hands into fists, struggling for control. "See what?"

"That Kagome is better off with me. She is too powerful for you already, and her powers will only continue to grow. You cannot handle her. You were never meant to. I can. And I will."

Inuyasha rested his hand on the hilt of his Tetsusaiga. "You mean to keep her as a weapon?"

"That was my original intention, yes. And to train Rin in the same manner."

He pulled the blade out, bringing it to vibrant life. "I don't think so."

Sesshomaru pulled out his own blade, not wanting to hurt a friend of Kagome's. "You are not listening to me, Inuyasha."

"Don't care what you have to say. Kagome is going home with me where she belongs."

Now it was Sesshomaru who was beginning to struggle with his control. "What makes you think that she belongs with you, little brother?"

He jumped in the air. "Because she does. She always has."

The two blades hit, Inuyasha pushing with all his might. But, Sesshomaru stayed put. "I don't think so. If she did always belong to be with you, she would not have been born in the future."

That stopped him for a moment. "How did you know that?"

"She told me."

He laughed at that. "If that is the case, then she doesn't belong with you either."

Sesshomaru attacked this time, leaving Inuyasha with little chance to do anything but throw up his blade in defense. Before another round of verbal sparring took place, both brothers caught notice of a slight disturbance in the air. It only lasted for a second, but they both got the impression that someone was in the castle that shouldn't be there.

"Did you feel that?"

Sesshomaru nodded. "Yes, although very slightly. Someone is hiding in my castle."

"Jeez, how many enemies do you have?"

He grimaced slightly. "Not half so much as you, Inuyasha. Quiet."

Without removing their swords from the locked fighting position they were in, they listened and sniffed for any further disturbance. "I smell something faint, but I do not know what it is."

The demon lord sniffed. "It smells like the creation of a half breed. Kagura."

Inuyasha groaned. "Not that bitch. She is like a bad stew. She keeps repeating."

"Now it makes sense."

"What does?"

"Kagura led you to my castle. There is no way that dead miko could have known where it was, but she led you right to it. Kagura has been here before, entreating my help against Naraku. Kagura told her exactly where to find me." He turned on his brother. "You led everyone right into my castle. That sudden disturbance we felt was a barrier Kagura must have passed through." Knowing her, she probably knew I would feel it the moment the barrier was weakened. Is she still trying to get me to help her out of her bondage?

Inuyasha mulled over his brother's words. "That means that Naraku is in here somewhere. I bet that bastard planned the whole thing. I wondered how Kikyou happened to show up at just the right moment."

"And now that dead miko is going after Kagome."

Inuyasha turned to find Kagome, the problem with his brother suddenly forgotten. But, Sesshomaru's hand on his arm stopped him. "We must fight the greater evil first. If Naraku is allowed to wander free, we are all in danger."

He narrowed his eyes. "What are you saying, Sesshomaru? Do you want me to help you defeat Naraku?"

Sesshomaru gave a quick nod of his head. "If this is truly Naraku's doing, then our not fighting now puts a wrench in his plans. He may go after Kagome first. I wager that Kagura already knows where Kagome is. We have to go after Naraku now. Kagome can take care of herself for a while. When that is over we will take care of Kagome."

Reluctantly, Inuyasha agreed. "Two is better against one. But, we do not know where Naraku is."

"I know. That barrier dropped in the direction of my personal wing. Follow me."

Sango leaned against the wall to catch her breath. "This is ridiculous. We should have caught up to him by now. Where in the world are they?" Kirara nudged her with her little paw, now in her minute size.

Miroku decided that this would be as good a time as any to rest and joined her against the wall. "I think that we are trying to hard, Sango. I have an idea." He picked up Kirara and set her down in the courtyard next to her. "Forget stealth. Kirara, fly up there and find where the two brothers are fighting. We will wait right here for you to return." Kirara went without another word. Ah, finally alone. "Sango, I need to talk to you while I have you alone."

Sango rolled her eyes. Not another stab at baby-making. "What is it now, Miroku?"

"I just wanted you to know that I never meant to hurt you." Sango was speechless. She did not expect him to say that. "And, whenever I pinched some other girl's cheeks, I always thought of you."

She let out a little laugh and made a move to hit his face. He caught her hand, also with a laugh, and pulled her close. "And, I want you to know that I will always be here for you. I will be by your side when you fight demons. I want to be there. I like it there." He nuzzled her neck. "Even if you push me away again, this is where I want to be."

Sango leaned her head back, still reeling from the monk's long overdue confession. "I don't want to push you away, Miroku. I just cannot stand to be one of many in your life. One of many women, anyway."

He picked his head up from her neck and stared into her eyes. "You are the only woman in my life. The only one I truly want to have children with. Grow old with. Die with."

Just as he leaned in to kiss her, a cold shiver passed through both of them. It worked like a bucket of ice water. "What was that?" Sango breathed.

"It felt like the presence of a very strong demon."

"It felt like evil coursing through my veins."

Miroku turned towards the direction of the momentary chill. Only one thing could make that kind of evil pass through us. "Naraku."

I wish she would hurry up and get here, so I can get this over with. I cannot stand hiding like this, as if I were afraid of her. She's dead, for crying out loud! What on earth should there be to be afraid of? But, Kagome sat in wait, knowing that Kikyou was very close now.

An eerie noise wafted slowly into Kagome's ears. It set her blood running cold. It is the same noise I heard before. Only this time it is louder. That must be her. No one else could make me tremble. Tremble? I am not afraid of her. I am tired of her.

Kagome stood up, upending her pestle full of wolfs bane and looked down at Rin. "Would you scoop that back into the bowl? I forgot an ingredient we need and I want to get it real quick."

Rin frowned. "Sesshomaru-sama said to stay put."

She sighed. "I am not leaving the wing. I left the black powder herbs in my room. We need them for this concoction." Rin seemed pleased with this answer, as Kagome knew she would be. She thinks I am going to teach her a new formula. I don't even know if there is such a thing as black powder herbs.

Kagome ran out the door and almost fell flat on the ground, tripping over Jaken. "Kagome, what are you doing out of this room?"

She motioned for the toad to speak quietly. "If I tell you, will you promise not to tell Rin?" The toad nodded and came in close to hear her explanation. "Kikyou is coming for me. And I do not want Rin to be in the room when she is here. I will wait for her in my room. You go in there and keep Rin distracted, so she doesn't know how long I have been gone."

Jaken looked nonplussed. "But...but...but how am I to do that?"

Kagome was surprised that he did not try to weasel his way out of it, like he always did. "Just ask her what she is doing. And then don't stop her when she proceeds to tell you. She has been dying to show off what she has learned, and you will be the puppet who is going to listen."

Without another word, Kagome ran to her room and shut the door, awaiting dead miko's arrival. Jaken had a decision to make. If I stand guard, which to guard? I cannot guard them both, but Lord Sesshomaru wants them both protected. Kagome says she can take care of herself. And Rin is my friend. I will risk doing what I want to do. He went into Rin's room. "What are you making."

As predicted, her eyes lit up with delight. "We are making a poultice to ward off the effects of being bitten by a wolf-demon..."

Just after the door shut behind Jaken, Kikyou finally made it up to the entrance to the far wing. She stood at the entrance and listened to the souls' songs. To her left, the broken melody of the soul piece in Kagome's body called to her. It is a very powerful song. My soul piece does not want to ignore it. Toward her left, the unrestrained melody of the whole soul also tantalized her. Kagura said that it would be easier to retrieve my soul from the child. It would be a simple thing then to kill Kagome. She would in no way be able to defeat me after I have regained possession of a whole soul. But, I have wanted to kill that bitch since I saw her with my Inuyasha. Her death is too sweet to wait. I have a tough decision to make here.

Coming Soon -- Chapter Seventeen -- The Miko Unleashed

Sesshomaru and Inuyasha reluctantly square off against Naraku. Kagome and Rin are found by Kikyou, and Kagura seeks her own fate.