A/N: Inspiration strikes! I'm on a writing spree...Now, in future chapters, I will be making references to another fanfic done by my soul sister. We plot together, so we'll have bits and pieces of each other's fanfics mixed in with our own. So, if you want to understand them, read Fumetsu no Fushigi by kazemizu'umi.

Chappie Eight

What's With The Brotherly Love?

Sesshoumaru studied the strange girl that always traveled with his 'sister'. InuYasha obviously had feelings for her, but he always denied it. Why, when she quite clearly reciprocated them? Perhaps it was because of his previous love, the miko who had pinned him to a tree. 'That would make anyone leery of love, I suppose.'

Then there was this gender switch. It unnerved him. He would much rather kill his brother, not his 'sister'. The enchantress had eccentric ways of accomplishing her goals. What her goal was this time was unclear at the moment.

"I will show you a shortcut to the castle." Sesshoumaru looked InuYasha in the eyes. snort "What's with the brotherly love thing all of a sudden?" the hanyou asked. "I do intend to kill you. Make no mistake about that. Just not in the current situation." "That makes me feel so much better..."

"Will you two stop with the animosity already!? This is not how brothers should act!" Kagome cut in. The youkai raised an eyebrow, "And how exactly are brothers supposed to act, according to you?" The miko drew herself up, "Even if they don't like each other, they shouldn't try to kill each other! They should just accept the differences. That's what makes things interesting. Besides, it's pointless to chase after a sword you can't even hold, isn't it? You have Tenseiga, be happy with that. You're acting like a spoiled brat over this sword, you know." She wheeled around, "And you! You could at least try to form a truce with him instead of fighting!" Kagome sat down with a huff, glaring at the siblings.

Sesshoumaru didn't respond. InuYasha looked slightly ashamed and embarrassed, "She's right. We never did try to reconcile." "You cut my arm off" "You were trying to kill me, I was defending myself! You tricked me with that demon, making her look like my mother!" the hanyou retorted.

The clearing went silent. All that could be heard was Rin humming, skipping by the stream.

"If you are done eating, pack up and I will show you the shortcut. InuYasha, come with me." Sesshoumaru walked into the woods. Glaring, she followed, keeping her hand on Tetsusaiga.

"What your mate said is true." InuYasha turned red, "She's not my mate!" "Yet. It is obvious. Why do you fight it?"

The hanyou turned her head to the side, "So, why'd you want to talk to me?" Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes, "In all my centuries, no one has ever reprimanded our behavior except for father and my mother. I believe we needed it." he sighed, "It is hard for me to do this. I am out of practice."

InuYasha looked at her brother questioningly, "Are you trying to apologize?" A smile was visible in his eyes, "Yes, I am. I have been acting petty, like a 'spoiled brat', as your Kagome put it. But the same could be said about you and the Shikon Jewel." "I just want to get it back together now. I have people that accept me now, and protection from father. Besides, I've been youkai. I didn't like it."

"It seems we formed a truce of a sort. We shall take it slow. I do not expect us to be 'joined at the hip', but we can at least get along. Agreed?" lnuYasha smiled warmly, "Agreed." she paused, "Hey, Sesshoumaru, did you ever really hate me?"

"No, I never hated you. It was merely jealousy."

"I never hated you, either."

"I'll show you the shortcut now. I don't want to get used to a sister."

Sesshoumaru led them up a series of plateaus. InuYasha came up beside him, nervous, "What was father like?" "Much like you. He liked to forego shoes as well, and to think in trees. Of course, his love for a human woman." She turned red. "You even look like him. You have his face, minus the stripes."

Miroku nodded towards the siblings, "Wow, they're getting along! Miracles do happen!" He received two golden-eyed glares.

"I can't believe he didn't kill me when I said those things! I mean, he's tried to kill me before, multiple times." Kagome whispered. "Well, the truth in your words was obvious."

Sesshoumaru stopped them and looked down. They followed his gaze to see a beautiful valley with a stream running right down the middle, surrounded by vibrantly colored wildflowers. Rin squealed happily and rushed headlong down the faint path. "Follow the stream. It will take you straight to the enchantress' castle."

"You could have just pointed us in this direction. You didn't have to come with us." Sango said. "No, I couldn't have. Only those who have been to her castle before can find this shortcut. That way, no one can make a surprise attack on her." "Ah. I see."

After a hardy dinner of (wait for it...) ramen and 'chipped potatoes', as InuYasha put it, Rin was falling asleep and Jaken already snoring. Shippou was cuddled up in Kagome's sleeping bag, dead to the world.

A perfect full moon hung in the sky, coating the group with silver light.

Well? How was it!? Sesshoumaru and InuYasha really needed a good 'smack on the nose' over their behaviour, huh? Otherwise, they'd never reconcile. Keep on reading, review, and ja ne!