This is the story that Hiccups was prologue to. It's not a pretty story. There won't be a happily ever after. This is war, and you'd better believe I'm trying to make it like one. So if you want a nice ending that doesn't involve emotional scarring and a lot of pain and blood, turn back now. I'm not gonna censor too much.

The Battle For the Western Lands

It was a message.

Sesshoumaru knew the slaughter of his brother was meant to warn him of impending war. It did not have such a strong effect on him, despite what Inuyasha had recently done for him. It had been a year since Sesshoumaru had become ill from Kagome's chocolate and been under the Inu-gumi's care. True, he only spent a short amount of time with them, but his opinion had risen about a notch due to this.

That was why he felt the tiniest bit of anger sprout from the death of Inuyasha.

Sesshoumaru had recently sent an ultimatum to the Eastern Lands. He was losing his patience with the dragons and snake Youkai—they had crossed into his province. Being the good lord he was, the young Inu Youkai knew it was not incorrect for them to do so.

It was, however, incorrect for them to slay his humans, and his demons. That was what forced Sesshoumaru to send the ultimatum to the Eastern Lord. In reply, here was his brother, a message pinned to his chest by a snake fang.

We shall just as soon apologize and harbor your filthy debt as slice our throats. If you know what's good for you, you'll abdicate your position as the Lord of the Western Planes.

HUMAN LOVER!

Sesshoumaru's lip curled. That is what he received for soliciting the help of the greater and lesser lords to fight Naraku. He should not have included the part about Inuyasha and the others fighting alongside him. Filthy humans and half-breed!

The taiyoukai sighed.

They haven't been my enemies. Not since the Chocolate Incident. I am a human lover. However, I will not be second guessed by the lord of the East.

Sesshoumaru removed the snake fang from Inuyasha's chest and drew Tenseiga. Gracefully, he swung the sword in an arc, slaying the messengers of the netherworld that crawled over his hanyou brother.

The hanyou opened his eyes and stumbled to his feet.

"What…? I thought those damn youkai…but you…" he stuttered, not comprehending that his brother had resurrected him of his free will.

"What news from the East? I know who killed you."

"Er…I was attacked by dragons I guess," Inuyasha said. "Why they hunted me, I don't know…"

Sesshoumaru invited his brother to sit down. More like he forced him into a chair, in all honesty.

"I recently sent a statement to Eros, the dragon lord of the Eastern lands. His subjects have been attacking my subjects."

"So? All youkai fight. Get over it, you baby…"

"I mean all my subjects, Inuyasha."

"Humans too?"

"Indeed. Now, as I was saying, I merely requested an apology in the form of an ultimatum. I needed no reparations or appeasement, only assurance that it would not happen again. Jaken delivered the message for me. This Sesshoumaru should have seen the inevitable. Compensation was imminent, whether I wanted it or not. If they didn't pay it, they would break many old statutes. I bend enough of those that they wouldn't mind…let me see, what is a good term? Ah, yes. They wouldn't mind 'offing' me for it. Apart from that, in case you couldn't see, the Western Lands are the largest province under control of a youkai. The North and South lords are humans, protected by age-old laws."

"But Sesshoumaru, you haven't really done anything wrong. They can't get you on anything…"

"It is simply the fact that I am too young. I am much too young to be ruling the West. Father's premature death threw that into sharp relief, and they believe that youth is weakness and naivety. Another thing; an ultimatum means war if it is not agreed to. It took all of my willpower to send that. There was no other way."

"And I was supposed to be the warning to you, eh?" Inuyasha growled. "Damn those bastards…"

"I have no choice but to act on the rejection of my negotiations. We shall go to war."

Sesshoumaru looked up to see Inuyasha halfway to the exit.

"Okay, you do that. Good luck, niichan!"

"Inuyasha," Sesshoumaru said dangerously.

"Whaaat!" the hanyou snarled.

"I am drafting you and you friends. You will join the war effort…"

"Like hell we will!"

"Do not be unreasonable. You'll find I can persuade very well, considering how easily I can control life and death…"

"Feh! Is that a challenge!" Inuyasha snapped.

"Only if need be…"

"Sesshoumaru, you have a grander army even than the continent. Your navy is tough as nails too!"

"However, my reasons are still plain; You reside in my lands, and so this affects you as well. Also, Eros resorts to much trickery and has an utter lack of proper honor. I am, at the moment, soliciting your help, little brother."

"I ain't havin' no part!"

Sesshoumaru sighed in desperation. Inuyasha wasn't making his job any easier.

"Look, Inuyasha. The truth is that if I were to fall victim to even a bastard such as Eros, my grand legions of samurai and youkai would be lost. Join me. As you must be able to tell, I am soliciting your help without the least bit of remorse."

Inuyasha's eyes softened. He remembered what his brother had told him a mere year ago…

"If ever you need a heavy helping hand in battle, you can solicit my help. If your opponent is Naraku, you can count on my presence. I will give you that…"

"Okay, Sesshoumaru. You win. I'll help you."

Sesshoumaru sighed in relief.

"But just this once," the hanyou added.

Well, that's the start. The quicker you review, the quicker I'll be obliged to type. I'm not forcin' you, but I don't have too much free time, and if I only have one review against the Dot Hack Mutation game, I'm going for Mutation.