Author's Note: Out of character Sesshoumaru but darnit, he seemed to allow himself to be written that way. Rin rules, I love that girl. Kagome…appears more mature then she normally is but I guess this situation has everyone asking crazy. Kudos to Star Trek for inspiration and god, I love the mystery guest.

Please don't hate him. Any guesses who he is?

Chapter Nine: We Band of Brothers

Kagome was careful where she stepped, going quietly as she approached Inuyasha. In the darkness of the New Moon, she could barely make out his outline. He turned just as she approached, and offered the weakness of nods before turning back to study the distance. The day had passed slowly, and thickly, with the still unfamiliar spring heat sapping at what little strength was left in the group. Nanashi was hidden from the rest, choosing solitude rather then deal with humans, hanyoi and children. The children were back in their room, with Jaken. Since he had returned, Rin refused to go anywhere without him. Zen stayed close to Rin and Shippo was merely along for the ride.

Sango had agreed to do patrols with Kirara. This left Inuyasha to wait.

He sat now, crouched on his back legs with Tessaiga resting across his shoulder. Without his demonic powers or appearance, he looked very much like a young soldier, unaccustomed and ill-equip to deal with whatever waited in the woods tonight.

"Inuyasha?"

"Yeah?"

"Why don't you come inside?" Kagome asked softly; she wanted very much to touch his shoulder then, in a small sign of affection but chose not to. Inuyasha had enough to worry about without her and her feelings. "You can't do anything tonight."

"He'll come tonight." It was as simple as that. Kagome knew he was probably right. It was the way her stomach turned that seemed to prove it. She lied anyways.

"There's no way to know."

"He'll come." Inuyasha repeated.

"How do you know?"

A voice broke behind them; shaky and stern. "Because I would." Sesshoumaru walked forward haphazardly. His gait was uneven but proud, a shadow of his former glory. His eyes were blood-shot and brown, but set in cold hatred. The curtain of his gray brown hair hung behind him, clutching to his sweat-ridden face. And in the darkness, his sickle moon looked bloodied.

At his hip hung a peace bonded Tokijin. There was something surreal about glimpsing Sesshoumaru without Tenseiga. It made Kagome shiver.

"You're human tonight." Sesshoumaru said, addressing Inuyasha in the calmest of voices. "It's not safe for you here."

"Concerned?"

"Cautious." The elder brother replied, as he walked to Inuyasha's side and put his hand over Tokijin's hilt. "Tama will destroy you."

"Tama and I have unfinished business."

"Don't be foolish, Inuyasha. Think of your human."

"I'm thinking of yours." Inuyasha said simply. "That's why I'm here."

"How dare you…" Sesshoumaru began angrily and was silenced by one deft movement by his younger brother. Inuyasha raised his hands calmly and began to clap. Sesshoumaru glared. "You're as stubborn as an ass."

"Just like my brother.

Whatever remark that Sesshoumaru had to counter died suddenly as he turned around him. He seemed to hear something, sense something that Inuyasha and Kagome never picked up. He turned about suddenly, and gasped a little.

Rin stopped in her trek when caught in Sesshoumaru's gaze. She seemed to hesitate a little as Youkai and human watched each other, double tracking but stopping in retreat. She clutched the object she held closer to her chest. Tenseiga was taller then her, and set against the sword, Rin somehow looked smaller and younger. Kagome suddenly wanted to take the blade from the child's grip; healing sword or not, the blade looked ugly when set against something so young and innocent.

Rin spoke before Sesshoumaru had a chance to. She stumbled over her words at first, before forcing herself forward. "Lord Sesshoumaru!" She exclaimed, falling to her knees and lifting up the sword above her head. Kagome thought she saw Sesshoumaru flinch, as Rin bowed her head and stumbled again over her words. "Lord Sesshoumaru, you forget your sword…you are never without it. Don't forget it…"

"Get up, Rin. Get up." It was a long time before Sesshoumaru spoke, but his voice seemed to shake even in its coldness. He looked pained again, but nothing hinted at a physical ailment. Not this time. "Do not kneel to me."

"But Lord Sesshoumaru…"

"Get up."

Rin stood a little, bringing Tenseiga to rest on her shoulder. Her face was twisted into confusion, wet and distorted by tears that ran freely down her cheeks, unto her clothing and rested there. Sesshoumaru crossed the distance between them in one stride, calling on all the last reserves of his strength as he did so. He seemed to recapture something then, as he neared Rin, he seemed to unleash some hidden part of his will that had not yet surrendered to his curse.

He reached out his hand and ran his fingers through her hair, indulging in what he never could before. A simple sign of affection, meant only for his small ward.

"Master Jaken says the sword protects you," Rin told him, earnestly, stepping away from his touch to push Tenseiga into his palm. "He says you won't be hurt if you wear it! Please, Lord Sesshoumaru, please."

Kagome studied the blade, knowingly. Tenseiga had protected Sesshoumaru many times, and she hoped, with Inuyasha there, the sword would still do what it was made for. She gasped a little, when Sesshoumaru shook his head and pushed the sword back into Rin's arms.

"I entrust this to you for tonight." He told Rin, his voice a cool cloak of impassiveness. For the first time since this whole ordeal, he looked like he normally did. He had someone to be strong for, she realized. Someone whose trust lied in him so completely, there was nothing left for him to do but remain steadfast.

And something changed in the way Kagome saw Sesshoumaru, even though he never changed. She did step up though, when she saw the Western Lord hesitate in his words.

"It is yours to protect tonight." He continued, searching Rin's eyes. "The sword," He leaned a little closer, to Rin, sharing some secret. "And Jaken too."

"But, without the sword, you might get hurt…" Sesshoumaru said nothing then, but kept her fixed in his gaze. Rin seemed to take heart in it, and steadied. She frowned a little. "You'll come for me in the morning?"

"Come on, Rin." Kagome murmured, as she stepped forward, refusing to meet either brother's look. She put her hand on Rin's shoulder. "Let's get with the others."

Rin left without a word, and Sesshoumaru watched till she had disappeared entirely from view. His face never betrayed the emotion he seemed to feel. But Inuyasha thought he knew better.

"You're hoping Tenseiga will save her." He said simply. "If Tama goes after her."

"It has before." Sesshoumaru answered, meeting his eyes and turning about to stand shoulder to shoulder with Inuyasha. His hand clutched Tokijin's hilt. He looked to his brother once more before returning it to face the forest, searching for action.

Inuyasha looked at him again, then followed suit. He had no words for this time: no thoughts of encouragement or comfort. This was new to him, and uncertain. It had him itch. He wanted very much to speak, however, to somehow walk his way through and understand that this was real and maybe, there'd be some other ending then the one that seemed fated. He could not lose his brother.

Not before…

"I've been thinking." Sesshoumaru said suddenly. He licked his parched lips and fingered Tokijin nervously. "About what you asked me yesterday…"

Inuyasha felt his cheeks burn as he began to look down. So this is how Sesshoumaru would go into his final battle, he thought grimly, parading the fact Inuyasha had once wished to be only his brother… "It was stupid…"

"Do you remember," Sesshoumaru cut him off, his voice lowering a little as the demon reached deep into his memory for this one moment. "The day in the country, you were very young then," Sesshoumaru tilted his head a little. "You couldn't have been older then Rin…"

Inuyasha felt his body seize at the memory and how vivid it came to him now. He hadn't thought of it for more then 50 years, before he had even met Kikyo. The last time he had thought of it was when he first began his journey to find the Shikon Jewel, another lifetime ago. He was amazed at how much the memory still stung.

"I remember." He told his brother.

"I can still see you, on Ah-Un's back. You must have fallen off a dozen times but you refused to give up. You were determined to learn…"

"I remember limping home." Inuyasha added grimly, and then, looking up very softly. "You held my hand…"

Sesshoumaru's face was a mask, but he nodded. "You can go now, Inuyasha." He told him, as easily as he would dismiss Jaken. "You've done everything I could ask. It's time to finish this."

That said, Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western Lands began to walk wordlessly towards the forest. Inuyasha, still lost in his thoughts and the shared memory, blinked out if a moment later. His brother would not wait till Tama made the first move; he'd forced the Fox to move.

Inuyasha smiled. This would be fun.

XXXXXX

Perched in the trees, a figure watched as Sesshoumaru and the other one began to walk into the forest. The figure hissed a little, but should have known to expect that. Sesshoumaru was backed into a corner; it would only be a matter of time before the dog bit. That didn't make it any easier. The figure rose a little, but only to adjust the grip on his bow. He had had it drawn when the woman approached Sesshoumaru's comrade, and had debated for a moment on releasing it. Only the appearance of the child had stayed his hand and saved a life. His orders had been clear. The human females were not be harmed just yet. His only target had been to ensure Sesshoumaru and this other one remained as his benefactor wished them.

The figure grunted a little. With the curse and the dull senses of a hanyoi, the two would not be able to hear him. There was a rustling near his left side, causing him to turn.

He was high enough to see Tama as the Fox appeared through the clearing. It appeared Tama had expected this too and was attacking from Sesshoumaru's unprotected left.

The wind whipped the air, bringing Tama's scent towards the pair. He held his breath and cursed when Sesshoumaru didn't react. He had no idea Tama was there.

This was dull, he thought to himself. This would be a butcher, not a battle. Unless he did something; but doing something would severely upset his benefactor. To hell with it, he thought, he'd make the game more interesting. He was a member of the Wild Pack and he had unfinished business with Sesshoumaru.

Besides, he thought as he tightened his arrow and took aim for Sesshoumaru. It seemed a shame to for the Lord to be ambushed by a Fox.

He was doing him a favor then.