Chapter 3

I don't own Inuyasha

As Sesshoumaru, Jaken, and Ah-Un searched for the missing Rin, Sesshoumaru couldn't help but keep moving his new fingers on his new hand. He didn't realize how much he missed having two arms since Inuyasha whacked it off. 'Inuyasha would be surprised to see my new arm. I'm still quite surprised.' He cracked his knuckles. 'For whatever reason why my arm grew back is the same reason why I keep dying only to be reborn. I will find out why.'

As Inuyasha walked with the injured Kirara in his arms-who was moaning from the pain of the burn-she received from Inochi, Inuyasha watched Inochi suspiciously and carefully. He didn't trust him. He really didn't trust Myouga since his story started to crumble. He especially decided not to trust Myouga once he jumped on Inochi's shoulder, since he supposedly never came to Inochi's village. 'I wonder what's going on. I don't understand why he looks exactly like Sesshoumaru. Even his actions and his movements are just like him. It's almost as if he was Sesshoumaru...but that's impossible. It's impossible!' Inuyasha glanced down at Rin who was a few feet in front of him, but still behind Inochi. 'It even seems weird that the girl has left Sesshoumaru and showed up with this guy. I've got to find out what's going on...'

'This half breed and this child has called me the same name. It shouldn't bother me this much, but for some reason, I can't get this out of my mind. This is troublesome.' "Half demon, I swear that if you dare try to cause any trouble while in my home, I will slaughter you."

"Slaughter me?" he said amused. "I wouldn't do anything to your stupid village, and you can't exactly slaughter me."

"You're the lowest of lows, half demon. Don't attempt to assume that you could defeat someone with such strong purification powers such as myself. You're not worthy enough to lick the dust from my shoes, dog demon."

"What was that?" Inuyasha jumped in front of Inochi and unsheathed the Tetsusaiga. As it transformed, Inochi's hands started to glow as his aura surrounded them. "I was thinking about letting you live, but now I'm going to have to kill you!"

"Your illusions are comical. For you to think that a worthless half breed could have the strength and cunning to over come I, Inochi, is indeed laughable." Shippo jumped on Inuyasha's shoulder and began to calm him down. Inuyasha wanted to find out the truth, not provoke a fight all day with Inochi. Inochi also calmed down and the aura surrounding his hands died down and Inuyasha put the Tetsusaiga away.

When they entered the village, Inuyasha was about to be mobbed by all of the villagers, but since Inochi was there, the people realized he was not guilty of killing the precious Lord Inochi. With all of the commotion, Inochi announced something to the people. "I want all of the women to come to my castle. I will pick someone to produce my heir." All of the surrounding women in the area who were single were happy with his announcement. It was time he settled down and after his death experience or near death experience. Someone needed to take over once he was gone. 'I can't let my people fall without a leader. I need an heir.'

'He treats himself more like a king then a lord. What's his deal? This place is so huge he might as well just call it his kingdom. He's arrogant enough to be Sesshoumaru. I've never met a human who holds himself up so high. Not only is he powerful, he acts like he is. He acts as if everything around him is no more valuable than stones. How can a man be this way?' "My friends are already in your castle."

"Why are they in my castle?" he asked angrily without actually raising his voice. Shippo explained the story, but nothing calmed down Inochi until there was a mentioning of them being human. "As long as their not demons."

When they arrived at the castle, Miroku, Sango, and Kagome were beginning to leave. "Inuyasha" Miroku said "we were on our way."

"Stay" Inochi said, but rather commanded than asked them. "I have things to question you all about." He looked down at Rin. "You need some new garments. Follow me." Inuyasha watched Inochi as he walked away with Rin following and couldn't get the thought of him being like Sesshoumaru out of his mind.

"You know what" Kagome said "that guy looks exactly like Sesshoumaru!"

"He does" Sango said. "That's weird. It's such a strong resemblance as well."

"Why was that little girl following him?" Miroku asked. "Isn't that the girl who follows Sesshoumaru around?" Miroku began to piece suspicions about Inochi together very quickly, and Inuyasha couldn't blame him. Inuyasha almost suspected the same thing Miroku was beginning to.

"His name is Inochi."

"The dead Lord of this castle?" Kagome said. "That's impossible!"

"He can't be Inochi, at least not the same one that I'm thinking about." Sango shook her head. "It came to me while we were leaving. I thought about Inochi. The names sounded familiar and I figured out why. My grandfather told me a story about a demon slayer by the name of Inochi. He said he was the greatest demon slayer that ever lived. His legend is just as old as the Shikon Jewel. I don't see how it is possible how it could be the same person."

"Trust me" Inuyasha said "he's a demon slayer, alright. His spiritual powers are also amazing as well. I think he's stronger than you, Kagome." He handed the moaning Kirara to Sango. Sango looked horrified. Before she asked, Inuyasha answered. "It was Inochi. He thinks demons are insects so when he saw us, he attacked me without warning. Kirara jumped in on the fight, and he was able to concentrate his power into one hand and burn Kirara."

"That doesn't make any sense." Sango shook her head. "That can't be right. Inuyasha, he sounds like the same Inochi my grandfather told me about when I was a child, but he's too young. If you say that he's this strong, then he has to be Inochi, but my grandfather heard this story from his."

"Insects?" Miroku asked. "Sounds exactly like Sesshoumaru. It is very strange indeed. It's also strange about his spiritual powers. These people here don't follow any teachings of Buddha, nor do they worship any gods. Inochi isn't a monk or a priest. He shouldn't be able to produce such strong spiritual powers, if any at all. According to Sango's grandfather, no one's spiritual power rivals Inochi except for Priestess Midoriko. The only difference is that Midoriko could purify demons. The rumor is that Inochi could do the same thing, but in the process of purifying them, the demons are killed. He might be able to actually do as Midokiro did, but the truth is, he doesn't want to. He has a strong hatred for demons."

"I know. I'm not sure why he let us into his castle. I do at least want to know why he looks like Sesshoumaru. It probably wouldn't matter that much, but it even sounds like he stole his dialogue. Everything is the same, except for the fact that he's human."

Kagome crossed her arms while she tried to think of a possible solution. "You don't think they're related somehow, do you?"

"That's impossible. None of them are half breeds. There's no possible way that any of them could be related. Inochi's a human, and Sesshoumaru is a demon. Besides, it would seem that if I have another half brother then Myouga would have said something. I don't know what he's hiding, but he knows Inochi, and he must know him well. I think there is some sort of connection between Inochi and Sesshoumaru. I don't think it's a coincidence."

"Then what could it be that binds them together?"

"I don't know Kagome, but I'll find out."

Thirty minutes later, Inuyasha wanted to question Inochi, but he was in his throne room, waiting to meet a possible bride. That didn't stop Inuyasha. He went in there to question him. 'This guy has his own people treating him like an emperor. Yeah, he's really full of himself!' Inuyasha ignored the threats from the guards and went by Inochi's side. "I've got something to talk to you about!"

"That's strange. I don't remember you being important enough for me to actually listen." He signaled his hands forward, so the beautiful girl in front of him would step forward. "Hm…next."

She walked away in tears and Miroku complained. "What was wrong with her? She had nice wide hips, great for child bearing and her face was gorgeous." His compliments for the young maiden came to a halt once Sango knocked Miroku upside his head.

"When I need your opinion then I will ask for it, so you might as well stop talking all together."

"Don't talk to Miroku that way!" Kagome said. 'He certainly acts like royalty.' The whole place made it look like something Kagome would see in a movie about a king. There were dancers, and music, and food being served to him whenever he asked for something. It didn't even seem like she was in Japan anymore. Inochi didn't seem like he needed a lot of attachments to get by, but he did enjoy people worshiping him like a king. 'I wonder how he got such a far position up.'

There were plenty of girls there, but none of them were interesting enough for Inochi. He didn't need a monk and a girl telling him what to do as far as picking someone to have his child. "Don't annoy me, girl." He signaled for the next girl, but she was struggling. The guards had to pull her forward. "And what is the meaning of this?"

She had a hood covering her face, but the guard pulled it off and revealed her beauty. She looked too different to be Japanese. Her hair was long, black, and curly, and her skin was tanned to perfection, but it was almost an orange color. Her eyes were an unusual color of green, but they fit her face. Her body was well developed. She was obviously full grown. "She's from the continent" one man said.

"The continent?" questioned Inochi. "Liar" he announced. "She's a half breed."

"What?" asked Inuyasha. "That's impossible! I would know. She smells exactly like a human."

"No" Inochi insisted "she's a half breed. She's just in her human form."

Horror filled her face as his guards grabbed her. Inuyasha unsheathed his sword. "Let the girl go! She hasn't done anything." Inochi didn't answer Inuyasha, and Inuyasha was ready to strike him down if he killed the girl. The other guards surrounding Inuyasha was ready to fight Inuyasha if he was to harm Inochi. "She's a human!"

"No" she said sadly. "I am not a human. I am a half breed. This is my human form."

"Let her go" Inochi commanded. She was let go and Inuyasha calmed down a little. "So you've been living here among all of these people as a human, and you were able to deceive them all by telling them that you were from the continent?"

"You might as well end everything now. If you won't then all of the people in the village will! My life is over."

He signaled her away with his hand. "Leave from presence. I give you my word that no one will hurt you. Now go home and do not return to this castle." She was confused by his behavior, and so was everyone else. Everyone thought she would be killed for sure. "Leave us" he commanded everyone. "I need to talk to the half breed." Kagome was disgusted by the way the people handled her for being a half breed and she rushed to the half breed girl who had begun crying as she walked away along with everyone else.

"Where are you going, Kagome?"

"We'll follow her" said Miroku.

"I'm coming too!" Sango followed Miroku, but she was mostly worried about the fact that he was heading in the direction of all the beautiful women who were forced to leave. Shippo followed them as well. Once Inochi and Inuyasha were alone, Inuyasha placed his sword back into his sheath.

"Okay, you've got some things to answer!"

"And you have things to explain as well, demon."

"I wasn't talking to you!" Inuyasha grabbed Myouga who had been on Inochi's shoulder ever since he left Inuyasha's side. "Alright you little flea, you probably already know what I'm thinking, so I suggest you say something before I really get angry!"

"Half breed, you called me a name" Inochi stated dryly. "Why did you call me this name? The small child called me this name as well. I wish to know why."

"It's Sesshoumaru, and you look just like him." He squeezed Myouga tighter. "He's a demon and you resemble him. I wanted to know if there was a reason for that." Myouga started to cry for Inochi to save him. "I find it strange that you would let a flea demon accompany you, since you hate demons and think their insects. What could actually be worse than a demon that is an insect?"

"Myouga has been in this village ever since I was a child. I don't know his reasons, but he has been here for a while. I've grown accustomed to his annoyance." Inochi stood to his feet and faced Inuyasha with disgust in his eyes. "Half breed, I despise demons. I despise all demons. You're lucky you're alive right now. I'm much stronger than that priestess that follows you around."

"How do you know Kagome is a priestess and how can you tell whether or not a human is a really a half breed."

"I have abilities far beyond yours. If that's all the information that you have to offer me, then simply take the flea and go. I don't have the patience to listen to your drivel."

"Lord Inochi?" Rin came into the throne room with her new kimono on and her old one still in her hands. "I couldn't throw away this. "May I leave to find my lord now?" Rin was restless and ready to leave Sesshoumaru. He was probably worried about her, or at least that's what she told herself. 'I don't want them to find each other. Lord Sesshoumaru is probably coming here to rescue me. He doesn't know that I'm not in danger.'

"Rin" Inuyasha asked. "When was the last time you saw Sesshoumaru?"

"When he told me to fetch some water a day ago was the last time I saw him. He was sick and so when I left, a demon attacked me. When I woke up, Lord Inochi had rescued me."

"Rescued you?" Inuyasha asked. 'So she hasn't seen Sesshoumaru since the time she saw Inochi?' "I'll take you to find Sesshoumaru." 'I'm going to regret this, but I've got to make sure of something. I've got to make sure that they can be in two places at once.'

"Fine. I release the girl into your care. You may both leave."

"I don't need your permission!"

"Don't argue with me half breed. You have been spared for now. Don't make me kill you in front of the child."

Rin began to run off. "Come on Inuyasha! Let's find Lord Sesshoumaru! He's been expecting me for a long time now."

Inuyasha still had Myouga clasped in his hand tightly. 'I didn't find out anything from him. He must not know anything. I'm on my own, unless Myouga squeals. I wonder what Myouga knows.'

Inochi was also unsatisfied by the lack of information that he had gotten from Inuyasha. All he knew was what he already knew, but at least the girl was gone. 'Now, if I could only find out what happened to me yesterday…'

"Thank you for taking me home" said the half demon girl to Miroku, Sango, Kagome, and Shippo. "The people here dislike demons greatly." Her home was small enough for one, but very nice. She obviously had some money in order to live alone and make such a nice place for herself. She also had on nice clothes. "The people would have killed me, if Inochi wouldn't have said to leave me be. They still might have done it, if you weren't with me." They were all sitting at her table, drinking some tea that she had made for them. "Everything will be different now."

"Excuse me" Miroku said "but could you tell us about Lord Inochi?"

"Lord Inochi?" she asked. "Lord Inochi is a very strong demon slayer. He has taught this land to despise demons and destroy any demon that we see. This place has always been safe for me, because my emotions control when I am a demon or not. If I can remain calm, then I can live my life as a human. No one knew the truth about me, but somehow, Lord Inochi has the ability to sense whether or not someone is a half demon, even in their human form."

"And why is that?" asked Sango.

"I am not sure, but another strange thing about him is his age. Inochi has been ruling this land every since I was a child."

"And how long has that been?" Kagome asked.

"I'm five hundred years old. Lord Inochi must be immortal."

"Immortal?" Miroku asked. "This is impossible. No mortal man can be immortal. Is he even human?"

"He is human, and I don't know how. All I know is that he has an unusual amount of spiritual power and immortality." She sighed. "I also believe that there is a conspiracy against him forming. He has been ruler of this land for so long, I wouldn't be surprised if someone was trying to knock him down, even though Inochi is a great leader. Did you know that this land used to belong to demons? He conquered demonic territories. He's unstoppable. If any one was to challenge him, he would be dead. He's the fearless leader, and we are his humble servants."

"And you all follow him blindly?"

"I have no reason not to, besides being afraid that he would find my secret, and now I am in danger, since he knows."

"So this is the same Inochi that my grandfather mentioned." Sango pointed out. We should tell Inuyasha what we found out. There might just be a connection to Sesshoumaru after all. There are too many coincidences not for there to be a dark secret behind it all."

"I agree."

"Well" Shippo said "whatever it is, we must figure it out, because Inuyasha sure won't be able to."

"So Rin" questioned Inuyasha as they had left the village and began their journey to find Sesshoumaru. "Define sick."

"Sick? It's when you are not feeling well."

Inuyasha opened his hand to reveal the half alive Myouga. "Now you've got a lot to explain. Do you mind telling me why Inochi and Sesshoumaru look exactly alike?" Myouga popped back into place, but he decided that he wasn't going to say a word. "Come on Myouga, it's not worth losing your life. I'll squish you to death, if you don't talk!"

"But I don't see a resemblance!"

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "I don't believe you. You're so pathetic. Stop playing dumb and tell me the truth!" Myouga wouldn't say a word. 'If you don't say anything, I bet the girl will.' "How not well was Sesshoumaru? Demons don't exactly get sick unless their poisoned and Sesshoumaru doesn't get poisoned, he poisons other people, now explain to me what happened."

"Well, his chest hurt and then his heart stopped."

Inuyasha stopped in his tracks. "What do you mean his heart stopped? You mean he died?" Inuyasha thought this would make him happy, but now he could only think about what happened. "He's dead?"

"Yes, but he woke back up."

"He woke back up?" Inuyasha was so upset that he became appalled with Rin. "You probably just mean that he fell asleep or something, you can't possibly mean that Sesshoumaru died. You don't die and come back."

"But I did. That's how we…" Rin and Inuyasha spotted a ball of light heading their way and Inuyasha knew who it was. He placed his hand on his sword, just in case Sesshoumaru was looking for a fight. "Lord Sesshoumaru!"

'He probably just wants the girl, but I know better than to just expect that.' When he appeared before them in his normal form, he was a bit agitated. 'I see. I knew it wouldn't make any sense if Inochi was Sesshoumaru, but at least I know for sure. I almost feel a little foolish for thinking such a thing.' "Sesshoumaru," Inuyasha noticed two arms instead of one. "Got a new arm I see."

Sesshoumaru wasn't exactly looking for a fight, but this was becoming a blessing. Rin ran to Sesshoumaru's side and Sesshoumaru cracked his knuckles on both hands. "Yes, but there is a difference, Inuyasha." He drew out Tokijin. "These are both mine."

To Be Continued…

A/N: So Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru are together! What will happen? Review!