I do not own Inuyasha

It was silent- no one expected something like this to happen. Even Totosai, who had known what the blade's ability was, felt surprised. He didn't think she would charge so suddenly- it was a move for fools.

Or just those that had been angered to the point of blindness.

Akaiinu felt it the worst out of all of the three. His twin sister had just had her throat slit, apparently by her own hand. He ran forward to her.

"Sister! Sister, wake up!" He pleaded, shaking her body. His eyes were wide with both fear and anger- anger that his sister would do such things to people like Totosai. He didn't provoke either of them. This didn't have to happen.

Quickly, Kagome came next to him. She put her hands on the wound, applying pressure so it wouldn't bleed as much. "Have you checked her pulse?" she asked. Akaiinu shook his head. Kagome took Kuroinu's wrist, checking for a pulse. After a few moments, she let out a sigh of relief.

"It's weak, but it's there. Your sister's still alive, Akaiinu, but we have to get her to a healer and fast." Said Kagome. You could see Akaiinu's eyes soften. She was going to be all right.

But there was still one problem.

"Naraku… He's gone…" said Akaiinu. He was now faced with a decision- save his sister's life, or go after the man who would kill his brother?

No matter which decision he took, someone was going to die. He cursed himself mentally. Why did it have to be like this? Why couldn't everyone just stay out of trouble so that no one would be hurt? What was it about this family that attracted danger? Deep in thought on what he could do, he somehow didn't sense the Lord of the Western lands, his brother, approaching.

"What happened here?" His voice was calm and impassive, as usual.

All able heads turned to see the mystifying demons standing behind them.

"TOTOSAI!" Kagome exclaimed. Behind her was Totosai who seemed to be hiding. "You coward!" The old man slunk his face in shame.

"I thought you were taking that girl to the miko?" Akaiinu asked, he voice almost as calm as his brother.

"I already did. Now that I answered your question, can you be so kind as to answer mine?" As soon as Sesshoumaru finished his sentence, his eyes laid on the sword next to Akaiinu. It was magnificent! Such craft and sharpness. Must have been the work of Totosai, but what was his brother doing with it?

"Kuroinu tried to attack that old man over there," he explained. "It seemed that her new sword had a type of affect on her and backfired. She is now in critical condition."

Sesshoumaru eyes widen just a fraction. He had only heard a part of what is older sibling was saying. "Who sword is that?" he asked, referring to the crystal bladed sword.

Akaiinu looked his new sword. "The man gave me this one was well. I do not know what it does, since it seems he has temporarily lost his memory of the sword's information."

"Totosai, you gave them swords of their own?" Sesshoumaru asked in a calm yet demanding voice.

"Your father asked me to do it. I had no choice in the matter. It seemed that your father entrusted me to forge all of his children's swords." The old man explained, still distant from the young Lord.

"Even though exiled, you still treat them as one of us, father." Sesshoumaru thought to himself.

Akaiinu took this silence to look back towards his sister, who was dieing slowly in his hands. What was he to do? He still hasn't decided. Then from the corner of his eye, he saw a gleam of metal by Kuroinu's waist. Drawing his attention to the item, his eye widen slightly.

"I have an idea."

Everyone turned toward him, wondering what he had in mind. Resting Kuroinu's body on the ground, he swiftly moved towards her waist and pulled the sword out of the hilt. Sesshoumaru and Totosai quickly recognized it.

"Please. You have to save her."

Sesshoumaru stared at the sword, as if deciding what to do. Every eye was on him. What was he going to do?

"And why would I want to do that?" The Lord asked coldly.

Akaiinu shut his eyes tightly and fell to his hands and knees. "Please! I'm begging you!" he exclaimed.

Kagome reached a hand out for him, but quickly retracted it. "Akaiinu," she whispered.

"I know that I'm asking you more much, and I know that I haven't made your life as simple as you want it, but I ask for only this. You don't even have to watch over her! Please, as my Lord, as my brother and hopefully as an ally, I ask you for this one favor, save my, no, OUR, sister!"

His head was low, almost to the ground. He was bowing to his brother, the one who he treated cruelly to. The one who took his crown to become Lord. The one who he needed right now.

Sesshoumaru looked at the bowing dog demon and then to Kuroinu. Without giving Akaiinu another glance, Sesshoumaru walked past him to stand next to their dying sister. He bent down to pick up the Tokijin from her waist and pulled the long sword from its sheath. By this time, Akaiinu looked up to see what he was up to. He looked in horror as he saw his younger brother raise the Tokijin high above Kuroinu.

"What are you doing?" He asked, a bit afraid to find out the answer.

Sesshoumaru looked at him and then back to his Tokijin suspended above his sister. "I'm saving her." He told him impassively and plunged the sword straight into Kuroinu's chest.

(End of chapter)

A/N: I didn't want to end this chapter so short, but this was such a crazy cliffy, I just had to do it! Well I guess you know what's going to happen since it's so obvious, just don't tell us what's gonna happen if you know okay?