Chapter 10

Inochi walked down the halls of his castle unsure of what he must do, or what he would find. 'My warriors are in search of Kakihara. I know he's turned against me, and he shall pay for it. He's risen up against me. Sesshoumaru did not kill me. I was poisoned. That is not my only problem. Sesshoumaru shall surely come to this castle.' He had a book tightly clasped in his hands. It was old, ancient. It wasn't made out of normal material. It was of a demonic sort, so it would last. "Inuyasha" he walked into a room where they had placed him. Inuyasha was in a horrible state. He had lost so much blood and Inochi knew what would become of him that night. "Inuyasha."

Inuyasha opened his eyes and to his surprise, he was actually still alive. 'I had better heal up before tonight.' His vision was still blurry and he couldn't really move. He didn't have the strength to. 'That Sesshoumaru, I swear I'll make him pay.' "Kagome?" he called out. "Kagome, where's Kagome?"

"You had better be more concerned of your own safety. Your demonic power is fading, isn't it? Tonight, you shall be a full blooded human." Inochi didn't need Inuyasha to answer in order to confirm it. He could sense it. "You were a fool to fight Sesshoumaru with this night approaching."

"Oh, shut up!" Inuyasha tried to sit up, but he couldn't. "Where's Kagome? Tell me or I'll-"

"Bleed some more? Come now Inuyasha, if I wanted you and your friends dead, you would not be conversing with me right now." Inochi held the book even tighter, in a reaction to being around Inuyasha. 'Myouga told me that my memory would return and it has. I remember everything, including what he told me. This book was buried in the same location of my mother, but it was behind her tombstone. Why was it buried?' Although he had been waiting for the answers for such a long time, he knew that he wouldn't enjoy the answers that he would receive and was hesitant about it. "Your friends are safe. They were dying, but they are safe and recovering as of right now. The poison from Sesshoumaru is unlike any other demonic poison that I've ever encountered, but just like all other demonic poison, all it took was my purification powers."

Inuyasha sighed in relief. He was just glad that Kagome and the others were still alive. He hesitated on what he was about to do, but then he finally did it "Thank you."

"Do not thank me, Inuyasha, for I still have things that I might want to ask you when I am done." Any further conversing with Inuyasha would have been futile, for Inuyasha had begun to fall fast asleep. Inochi looked behind him to make sure that the sliding door was shut. 'Now is the time.' He sat in one of the corners of the room and glanced at Inuyasha one last time to make sure he was sleeping. 'If I have a question, I shall awaken him. He cannot be totally useless. He knows things about Sesshoumaru, and I will want to know all that I can.' His finger tips traced the outside of the cover gently with anticipation and actually, for some unknown reason, fear. He knew something was wrong. 'I must get a hold of myself. Sesshoumaru will surely come in search of me. I have to know before I face him again.' He finally opened the cover and began to read the first page.

The Life of Saikoubi

'My mother' Inochi thought. 'This is her journal.' He decided just to read. To think would only get in the way. It would take forever. The book was incredibly thick. 'I must only read.' He continued on the next page where her entries had begun.

My name is Saikoubi. I have begun to keep a journal so that I can look back on all of the progress that I am about to make. Today I am to start a long journey of becoming a powerful priestess. I am only at the young age of 16 as of right now, but in a few years, I shall ripen into one of the greatest and powerful priestesses in the world. My passion is to help my people in this region. I wish to save the people from the demons that are beginning to attack without fail. There are so many now in these days. It is a very dangerous time. I doubt anyone is safe.

The only person strong enough to take on the challenging demons ahead is my mentor, Priestess Midoriko. I am to meet her for training now, but I wanted to write of my excitement before I went on to start. I only hope that in time, I can amount to her greatness. There is no priestess like her.

Inochi began to read on for a little bit, but then in frustration, began turning the pages on and on. "There is nothing here I need" he spoke quietly. "What was Myouga thinking?" he kept turning the pages until he had gone through three years. 'Maybe there is something here.' He started to read again.

Priestess Midoriko has said three days ago that my training was complete, but I still feel that there is so much to learn. I feel that I am not strong enough. I must not think such things though. When I show any sign of weakness, that is when demons shall come and strike. I must tell myself that I am strong. I must not waver. I must...

"There's nothing here" Inochi began to anger himself. 'What was Myouga thinking?' It wasn't that he didn't want to know about his mother. Finding out the truth between him and Sesshoumaru was just more important at the moment. He turned the page, hoping to find something of more importance.

My father passed away in his sleep last night. He was not in good health and had been ill for a very long time. I have tried to remain strong. If I was to show any weakness, then I would be vulnerable. I must be strong.

My brother is taking things very well. He has prepared himself for the time that is now upon us. He is very strong. I believe the fact that I am older than him bothers him. I am only a year older, and yet father has decided to leave everything to me. I was just as surprised as him. Women usually don't get such honors. Now I am in charge of our village and the castle is mine, but material things don't matter to me. I wish only to protect our people.

Inochi didn't finish reading the passage and turned the page.

Last night I took a moment to grieve in silence. By doing so, I made a horrible mistake. I was spotted by a demon, and it was a fierce one at that. I had never seen a demon like him before. I had heard rumors that a great dog demon was coming, but I was not sure if they were true. I wish I would not have taken the time to grieve, for he spotted me and it gave him the perfect opportunity to attack.

However, he hesitated in doing so. He didn't strike me first, so I didn't give him another chance in doing so. I was armed, so I had began to threaten the demon to leave. He told me that he would not obey my orders. He had absolutely no respect for me, probably because I was a mortal. He didn't see me as a threat. I told him that Priestess Midoriko trained me, and he didn't even care. It was then that I fired my arrows, but he was too quick and he dodged them all. I blinked and he had already managed to knock me down.

I looked up and he was hovering over me with a fierce look in his eyes. His eyes were a glowing red and he was growling like a rapid dog. It was then that I showed a moment of fear. I know that he could see it in my eyes. I thought it was all going to end, but then his eyes, they became gold and he began to calm down. He looked startled for a moment, as if he wasn't sure what to do or what was going on. It was then that he turned around and left.

I was insulted, but then I was grateful. However, I shall hunt this dog demon down tonight, and I will slay him. I will reclaim my honor.

"She went to slay him?" Inochi asked aloud. 'But he kills her, does he not? I am not even born yet.' He turned the page.

I searched for the dog demon today, but he was the one who found me. Just outside our small village, there he was sitting under the shade of a tree, pretending that he didn't know I was coming. He was waiting for me. I told him to prepare for battle, or he would be slain, but all he did was stand, and he didn't move.

"What are you doing?" I asked him. "Are you just going to let me kill you?"

What he said to me afterwards angered me. He had a completely plain look on his face. It was completely blank. He had fewer emotions in his eyes than a stone. "You cannot destroy me" he said.

I attempted to. I shot the arrow, but he moved so quickly. It wasn't long until he managed to take my weapon away from me, and pin me to the tree that I attempted to pin him to. "Let me go!" I yelled. The whole situation was rather embarrassing. I only hoped that he would end it all quick.

"Mortal, I have no intention of killing you."

"Then why are you here?" I asked him. "Why have you been watching me?"

"I wanted to know" he was hesitant about what he wanted to say. "Why were you crying?" I noticed a change in his eyes. I know that he had to be embarrassed about asking me. I had never heard of a demon being concerned about a human. I couldn't help myself, but I blushed when I looked into his eyes. They had changed, and I could see the loneliness in his eyes, just as he must have seen the loneliness in my eyes only a few days ago. "Never mind" he said. "I was just curious. I do not care for your well being mortal. I was just curious."

I could not help myself. I hadn't realized how lonely I was until I saw him. I wasn't just sad about my father, I was lonely. I wanted something, something more than being a priestess. "It is alright. I shall tell you." I smiled, and he looked away. He had probably never talked to a mortal before. In all honesty, I had never talked to a demon like that before. "My father passed away."

"Humans always pass away. That is what makes them mortal. Why shed tears about the inevitable?"

I got up enough courage and took a step closer to him. "You know, I have never heard of a demon and a human having a conversation with each other, besides death threats. You must be very lonely."

"I do not need anyone" he lied. It was obvious that he was lonely. I heard a great deal of this particular dog demon. He was the strongest among the dog demons and had been walking the path of conquest his whole life. I doubted that I would ever see another demon stronger than him. But in the path of conquest, one cannot afford to have loved ones to protect. It's a very lonely journey. He probably never let anyone get close to him, not even another demon.

"Why did you spare me the other night? Were you curious or was there something more?"

"I said I was curious. What more is there to suspect, mortal?"

I shook my head. "I suppose there is nothing more to suspect then." I smiled and told him my name. He told me that his name was Inutashio, and I secretly swore to myself, that I would always keep that name in my heart, for he had captured it and grasped it tightly.

"What?" he asked aloud to himself. 'This is impossible! This dog demon slaughtered her. How could she have feelings for him? This is impossible.' He turned the page.

He told me that he did not care for my well being and was only curious to why I was crying, but he was watching me today. I could just sense it. He was watching me from overhead. I could feel his presence while I was playing with some of the children from the village. I tried to pretend like I did not notice him, but I eventually looked up and glanced at him. He was standing up in a tree, but when I finally looked at him, he was so shocked and embarrassed that he almost fell out of it. I laughed as he made his retreat. I wonder if I shall see this demon tomorrow. I surely wish that I will.

Inochi read the next few pages, and they were all the same. They had similar passages in them, all like the one before. Inutashio would be watching her and then he eventually leave, but then the next day, he would do the same thing.

Earlier today I traveled a far distance from my small village deep into the demons forest. I had even decided to go unarmed, just to see what would happen. I was confident though that he would save me, and just before I met my end, I felt his warm arms wrap around me, and he quickly got me to safety in the plains near my village. "Why would you do something so foolish? Why would you go into the demon's forest unarmed?"

I only began to laugh, which made him upset. I did not mean to make him riled up. I just thought it to be humorous. "I did not mean to make you worry. I however was not unarmed." I smiled because he had the most confused expression on his face. "I knew you would save me."

He looked as if he would strike me down, he was so upset. "You mortals play with your lives even though you knew that you could easily lose it. That is why you are inferior."

He began to leave me, but I grabbed on to his arm. "Please do not leave me!" At my touch, he stopped. I then grabbed his hand, and he looked as if he did not know what to do. "Please, do not leave me. I did not mean to make you worry. I just wanted to prove something to myself."

He rubbed his fingers against my hand. Maybe he wasn't used to feeling skin so soft. He was a demon after all. He probably never took the time to embrace the soft touch of a woman. "What did you want to know?"

"I wanted to know if you would always be there to protect me." I began to blush. "I know that you have been watching me, ever since the day you asked me why I cried. I had not realized how lonely I truly was, until you asked me. I also realized" I dared to place my hand up to his cheek. "I also realized that I didn't want to be lonely anymore." He stepped closer to me and that is when I began to blush rapidly. I knew what was coming. I could feel it deep within my bones. I just closed my eyes and waited for him to do the rest. It seemed like an eternity as I waited for him to place his lips against mine, and when he finally did, when I finally received my first kiss, I felt complete. I could have stayed that way forever, but the kiss did finally end and we backed away from each other. We began to analyze what we just did and what just happened. It meant so much. Who heard of a demon and a human kissing? It was unheard of! Then we decided that we didn't care. I soon wrapped my arms around him, and he wrapped his arms around me, and we once again began to kiss, and I did not doubt anymore, that I loved this dog demon, and he loved a priestess.

Inochi closed the book. "Inuyasha" he called. Inuyasha however wasn't about to wake up so easily. "Inuyasha, wake up!"

Inuyasha wasn't used to hearing Sesshoumaru's voice grow loud, so he opened his eyes at the unusual sound. "What is it?"

"Sesshoumaru is a full blooded demon, is he not?"

Inuyasha was finally able to sit up. "That's the most stupid question I've ever heard in my whole life! Why would you even ask such a thing? Sesshoumaru would slit your throat for even thinking such a stupid thing. Do you realize how much he despises mortals?"

"How old is he?"

Inuyasha noticed the book in Inochi's hand. "Why? What do you know that I don't?"

Inochi had to stop himself from strangling Inuyasha. "How old is he, half breed?"

Inuyasha winced in pain from his wounds. "I'm not sure. He's at least got to be around 1000 years old. That's the best I can give you. Now tell me what you know!"

"Do you have any other relatives? Are their anymore half dog demons such as you?"

"No! Now tell me or I'll-"

"Is your father Inutashio, the great dog demon?"

Inuyasha nodded. "Why? Tell me!"

"Silence, half breed" He instructed Inuyasha. "There's nothing I have to tell you." Inochi even wondered if he should continue. It didn't make sense at all, but what could be more accurate than his mother's journal? 'If this demon and my mother did have a child, it could be Inuyasha, but Inuyasha surely is not that old. Sesshoumaru is definitely older than Inuyasha, so what exactly is going on?' He opened up the pages and continued reading while Inuyasha rested his head again, since Inochi was entranced by the book. Inuyasha didn't have the strength to bother with him at the moment. He needed to make sure that he would be well enough by the time he became human.

When I woke up this morning and felt his arms wrapped around me tightly, I was honestly frightened as I began to recall what I had done. I surely would not be accepted, and nor would he be. A human and a demon together was unheard of. I thought my life to be over, but once I rolled over and gazed into his golden eyes, I could not help but smile as doubt began to leave me. "I am not sure what we have just done" I admitted. I doubted that he knew either, because he never answered me. He just kissed me once again on my lips and expected that to be a good enough answer. "Will you be back for me, Inutashio?" Then doubt began to creep into my mind. What if he would never seek me out again because he had what he wanted? "I shall see you again?"

"I shall return."

That was all I needed to hear. I just needed to hear his reply, and I believed him. Now as I write this, I am waiting for his return to me. No one knows what occurred between him and me last night, but it would be dishonorable for one of us to leave out of our relationship now. We're in this together, me and my dog demon love.

Inochi was disgusted by it all. He skimmed through the next few pages, and they were just about her waiting and how he returned and how his mother slowly noticed a change in Inutashio and how his eyes weren't so cold. Every bit of it was sickening. It was a disgusting thought.

This morning I did not wait for Inutashio to return by the garden like I always do, but I instead sought out Priestess Midoriko. I needed her guidance and her wisdom. I do not feel well and fear something bad might happen to me. I traveled by horse to see her. I suppose that I have never mentioned this before, but Priestess Midoriko lives in a village far off from mine. In the time of my training I stayed with her, but I came back to my village once I was finished.

When I arrived at the village of Priestess Midoriko, I unfortunately learned a horrible detail. I learned that she had been involved in a horrible fight with many demons that had lasted many days and many nights. The demons eventually fused and tried to destroy her. With the last remains of her strength, she fought the demons and just as it saw fit to devour her, a jewel flew out of her body. Now my beloved mentor's soul is trapped within the jewel and her body is forever in stone. I wish this was not so. I needed to ask her so many things, and now I would not be able to. She was gone. My mentor is gone.

"Priestess Midoriko" Inochi said out loud.

"What about her?" Inuyasha asked.

"The Sacred Shikon Jewel was flung out of her body after fighting many demons for many nights. She was a very powerful priestess, but it is said that my powers are greater than hers."

"And how is that possible?" Inuyasha asked. "It's not everyday when I meet someone with stronger spiritual powers than Kagome. You're really some piece of work. I wonder why you're so special."

"If you are implying that I know more than you about my past, then you're insane. I still do not know the truth, so stop patronizing me, Inuyasha, before I myself kill you."

"If you wanted me dead, then I wouldn't be here alive, remember?"

"That was then and this is now." Inochi closed the book once again and stood to his feet. "I think I've had enough of your company. The sight of you is nauseating." Inochi left Inuyasha alone. 'That girl Kagome has shards of the Shikon Jewel. I shall take them from her, until I know more about the jewel and how it relates to me.' Inochi walked down the halls of his castle until he was in the room where Sango and Kagome had been placed in. "Kagome" he called just to make sure she was sleeping. She didn't answer, so he quickly retrieved the whole bottle of jewel shards from her before either of the girls had awakened. 'Sesshoumaru's poison surely was strong. I have never met a demon like him before.'

Inochi decided that going back to Inuyasha would be futile and pointless. He knew all that he needed to know at the time, so he retreated to the safety of his own room. 'And now to learn the truth' he continued on reading once he had rested in his bed.

Inutashio was angry with me this morning. He told me that he had gone to the garden looking for me, and when he did not find me, he began to think of possibilities to why I was not there. I was happy once I learned that he was concerned for my safety, but I still could not find enough happiness to smile, not while Midoriko was dead. I began to cry in front of him. "Why are you crying?" I told him about Priestess Midoriko and the jewel and he replied the same as with my father. "Mortals always die. That's what makes them mortal. Why cry over the inevitable?"

"That is not the only reason I am crying" I told him. I began to confess the truth about Priestess Midoriko. I never had a mother to look up to, and Priestess Midoriko was like my mother in a sense. She taught me everything I knew and her guidance meant the world to me. I told him that I was troubled from what was coming over me and that I was very afraid. He finally asked me why I was afraid and I took his hand and placed it on my stomach. "I have experienced the signs of having a child, and I believe that I am giving birth to yours. I am going to have your child." I tried to show happiness instead of fear, but his unsure expression was not helping me.

"My child?" he asked me. "You are having my child? A half demon half human child?"

In a way he seemed happy, but in another way, he looked sad. Even though I tried to smile, I found many tears. I eventually rushed into his arms and buried my face in his chest. He did not care if mortals knew that he and I were together, but no one knew, even though we would meet in my garden everyday, it was still private. Now there was no denying it. I and my child probably would not be accepted, and his demon brethren probably would not accept our child either. A half demon child was unheard of, and it made us unsure. For the first time in a long time, I was frightened. I doubted that Inutashio had ever really experienced uncertainty, but I knew now that he was experiencing a lot of it.

Inochi hesitated to read the next passage, but he did.

I told my brother today what had been happening between Inutashio and I. He did not seem too pleased about it either. He told me that I was a disgrace and that I had no right to be Princess of the castle and that I had shamed our father's memory. He told me that I have spit upon the honor of Priestess Midoriko and so many others like her. I could not blame him for being angry. How could I?

Nevertheless, I told him that I had no intention of keeping my hand over the castle. I did however tell him that if I was to give birth to a son, then he would rule when he was at an appropriate age. He said I did not have the right to make that choice, but I told him that I did, and he knew that I was right.

He decided that I should keep my half demon child a secret from our villagers until the appropriate time to reveal it approached. I agreed with him.

As he read on, he kept wondering and wondering who this half demon child was, but the more he read, the more he began to know. It was not Inuyasha.

More rumors of the Shikon Jewel have begun spreading. Many demons have sought after it and which ever demon possesses it, shall have increased power. I fear they are not mere rumors though. Inutashio has told me that these things are true. He has faced some of the demons, but he has told me that he has no intention of taking the jewel for his own power, for someone with great power like Inutashio does not need the Sacred Shikon Jewel.

I only hope that my child shall be strong and wise like Inutashio. I could tell that he was once a cold hearted demon that walked the path of conquest but he changed, and for the better. I am very glad that I met him, and I am glad to be carrying his child. There is no mortal man whose child I would like to bare. My heart only belongs to Inutashio.

He read on throughout the months until eight had passed. Eight very difficult months had passed. Each day was filled with love for Inutashio, which disgusted Inochi, and each day was filled with some kind of doubt. Now there were many half demons, but at that time, it was unheard of. 'I do not understand. Why would Inutashio kill someone that he loves so dearly? Why would he kill my mother?' He still had not pieced everything together, although it was becoming dreadfully obvious.

He came today. My wonderful baby boy came into this world today. He came early, but he thankfully came to me. I had decided not to listen to the warnings of my brother and sought out Inutashio. I could not deny from the villagers that I was with child, but the father to them was still unknown. I cared not that they knew either. I only wanted to see him. We did not meet in the garden, but where we had first met. We were just simply talking, talking about the child, and that is when he saw fit to enter into the world. No one but Inutashio was around when it came, but he was all I needed, and our child was born.

He is a picture of perfection. Unlike his father, he has the cutest little dog ears. Inutashio replied that it must be a half demon trait, for all of the dog demons that he knew, had ears like Inutashio's. I did not argue with that. I thought his ears to be adorable. Another difference from his father was the fact that he did not have any of the markings that Inutashio had on his body. He must be seven pounds. I believe that he is a very healthy baby. He was even born with a lot of hair. It was silver like his father's and it was very thin. Just holding him was like a miracle and even though he was a half demon and half human, and he would face so many problems, I did not dare to ruin the best day of my life with thoughts such as that. I only held him in my arms.

Right now, he is sleeping peacefully in a crib made especially for him. I am glad that he is sleeping peacefully at this moment, for right now at this very moment, my brother is trying to stop an uprising in my village. They all know of my half demon child now, and they know that the father is a dog demon. Inutashio is waiting near, just incase I need his assistance. I would have never thought I would need protection from my own people.

I want my baby to sleep and be well rested though. I just want him to know that I love him and so does his father. I knew that when I saw his father hold him so tightly and yet so gently. If you ever read this my dear boy, I want you to know that I love you, and whether you are half demon, or whole demon, or all human, it doesn't matter to me. I will always love you.

Inochi narrowed his eyes in on the words. He could almost feel her warmth as if she was talking to him. 'But are you? I must have a brother or something else of the sort, because I cannot be the son of a demon and a mortal. It makes no sense.' He turned the page.

I have not written in a week's time, because I have been so busy with my darling boy. A child is a lot of work, no matter what the condition. He does not cry a lot though. He is practically a saint, well, as much as a saint that a half demon could be. He is so strong though. He might grow up to be one of the strongest demons that ever lived according to his father, even if he is a half demon.

A problem has arisen between his father and me though. I have told Inutashio that I wish our child to stay in my village, while he says that it is too dangerous with the uprisings. I told Inutashio that if our child would not be accepted among humans, then there was less chance that he would be taken in by demons, even if Inutashio ruled the Western Lands. The living conditions of my young son would be our greatest challenge yet. He would not be accepted on either sides, but I thought mine to be safer. I argued that we at least know that humans are not as powerful as demons and would have to try far harder to kill our child than a demon. Inutashio argued that it is human nature to fear what they cannot understand and would destroy the child just out of paranoia. I suppose he is right, but I am as well. Although I love my son, I do wish that it was easier, somehow, someway.

Inutashio and I cannot even decide on a name for our boy and he has been in this world for a week. He wishes to name him Sesshoumaru, but that is a name of a fierce demon. I would much rather give him a name of a strong and bold human, like Inochi.

Inochi dropped the book once he saw his name written on the pages and quickly stood and backed away from it, as if it were poison. "No" he said aloud quietly. He had never experienced this feeling before. It was uncertainly, and he didn't like it. He tried not to panic from the information that he had just found out, but how could he not? 'But this is impossible! How can I be a half demon? I and Sesshoumaru are one? We are one in the same?' He shook his head. "This doesn't make any sense. My father was a demon?" The truth was written in front of him in black and white, literally. There was no denying the truth. Inochi and Sesshoumaru were one in the same. Deep down, he always knew, just somehow. The only question was how. 'But how? I cannot be a half demon! Demons are disgusting and loathsome creatures.' He grabbed a hold of the bottle of jewel shards around his neck. 'Can it be that my mother found a way to free me from the bondage of being a sordid demon? The only thing that I can think of having such power is the Sacred Shikon Jewel.' He grunted. 'Which would make sense.'

Knowing the truth was indeed disturbing to Inochi. He had lived his whole life despising demons only to learn the truth about himself. He swore that he would rid the world of all demons. 'Should it still make a difference? I am still a full blooded human blessed with the powers to rid the world of all demons.'

"Inochi" said someone behind his door. "There is a demon that started attacking our village. I believe that it is a-"

"Dog?" Inochi knew what he had to do. He picked up the book on last time. 'There are no more entries after this one. She was soon murdered after she wrote this.' He flipped furiously through the pages to make sure, and there was nothing else written. Now Inochi was blinded by rage and repulsion. 'I was born a half demon, but that doesn't mean that I am a half demon now.'

Three Hours Earlier…

"Your mother" Myouga was trembling greatly. There was a great chance that Sesshoumaru would kill Myouga if he didn't like what he heard. "Your mother was a beauty, far beyond compare. Your father had never seen anyone like her before. Her name was Saikoubi." Myouga gulped and waited for the pain. "She was a mortal woman."

He closed his eyes and waited to die, but surprisingly nothing happened to him. He opened his eyes and realized that Sesshoumaru was waiting for the real answer, as if he didn't believe him. He said nothing and waited, but Myouga had nothing to say. When he said nothing more, that is when Sesshoumaru began to get angry. "Surely you must be joking."

Myouga shook his head. "Your mother was a mortal, the most beautiful mortal in the land." The next part, Myouga spoke quietly. "And she was a priestess."

Myouga could no longer speak, for Sesshoumaru began to squeeze him until he could no longer speak, or breathe. "Lord Sesshoumaru is a half demon?" Rin asked, sitting on top of Ah-Un.

"No, of course not!" Jaken yelled. "He is a full blooded demon! To think such a thing is betrayal, Rin!"

Rin slouched a bit, feeling guilty. "I am sorry."

"It's impossible." Sesshoumaru usually kept a cool and calm composure, but he felt himself beginning to slip into a furious rage. He tried not to kill Myouga, but to even suggest such a thing, was preposterous. "To even think that human blood could mix with mine is sickening!" He began to raise his voice. "Why would you lie to me Myouga, what's the real connection?"

He loosened up, so Myouga could breathe and speak. Myouga thought for sure that he would not live to see another day. "Your father was once like you, Lord Sesshoumaru. He cared nothing for mortals until he met your mother, and that was when he began to change. The day you were born brought him great happiness, but many sorrows, for you were the first of your kind, the first known anyway. He did not know how to deal with the emotions that he had, like with your brother, Inuyasha. He let Inuyasha's mother decide on how Inuyasha was to live and how to grow. Not just so much because your father passed away that day, but because he didn't want to make the same mistake he made as before."

Sesshoumaru began to squeeze tighter. "You treacherous liar!"

Sesshoumaru's temper began to scare Rin. She had never seen him like his before. 'Why is having human blood so wrong to him? He treats me well. Does he despise all other mortals?'

"I am not lying!" Myouga struggled to get out his words. His air was limited. "After your mother died, your father used the Shikon Jewel to change you. We were not sure how to use the jewel, for it was new and strange. It ended up splitting you into two. You were the demon side, the purest demon you could ever meet with more potential than that of your father. Inochi was the human side, the purest of humans, with more spiritual powers than what your mother could ever dream of comprehending. This is the secret that your father told me not to tell you, because he knew you wouldn't believe me, you or Inochi, and was afraid of what you might do."

Surprisingly, Sesshoumaru let go of Myouga, but not because he had calmed down. 'How can this be possible? My father was foolish enough to make the same mistake twice? He was actually with two different mortal women?' It infuriated him.

"Lord Sesshoumaru cannot be a half demon!" Jaken yelled, but once he saw how upset his Lord was, he knew it to be true. "But how, but why?" 'How can my magnificent Lord be born a half demon like his brother Inuyasha? This must be killing him!'

"How could my father be so foolish?"

"Lord Sesshoumaru" Myouga pleaded "whatever you are thinking, you mustn't do. You must not kill Lord Inochi, for every time he dies, you die and if you two were to slaughter each other-"

"Then we would both die" Sesshoumaru answered. 'Those disgusting mortals are more treacherous than I originally thought.' The thought of once being a half demon made his skin crawl. 'Just because I might have been born a half demon, does not mean I am one now.' "This doesn't change my hatred for them, Myouga; it only adds fuel to the fire."

"You still wish to kill Master Inuyasha and Lord Inochi after all of that?" Sesshoumaru did not answer. He became a ball of pure light, and began to take off into the air with Myouga still in his hand.

"I cannot believe this" Jaken said. "How can this be? Lord Sesshoumaru is too great to be tainted with human blood!"

"Tainted?" Rin asked. "Lord Sesshoumaru is still great to me. I care not if he is half demon or full demon. He's still my Lord."

Jaken thought her to be crazy. This would change everything, but Jaken couldn't stop being loyal to his Lord. 'Lord Sesshoumaru, I shall remain loyal to you, until the day I die!'

Present…

"So" Inochi looked out from the balcony of his room to see Sesshoumaru. "I see that you now know the truth, half demon."

Sesshoumaru had killed many. Hundreds of bodies were laid out in the village. The scent of blood was everywhere. "And I suppose that you know the truth as well, half demon." Sesshoumaru was appalled, just as much as Inochi.

"Did you have to slaughter so many villagers?"

"They were in my way" was his cold and angry reply.

"Have you come for Inuyasha? The sun has just set. You know as well as I do that he is a human as of right now. It would be futile to fight him, unless you were always looking for the easy way to end his life."

"Be not a fool. I can kill Inuyasha anytime that I wish to. It is you that I wish to kill and I shall do it now."

"You are the fool" Inochi made the bold move of jumping off of his high balcony, but landed gracefully on his feet. "You still wish to walk the path of conquest, do you not? You have come to fight me, but right before you finish me off, you'll decide that you do not wish to kill me, and you'll leave, keeping the secret locked away within your mind for all throughout eternity, knowing that you are truly immortal, and nothing can kill you. So no matter what, in time you'll surpass your father." The longer Inochi stayed around Sesshoumaru, the more he started to know about him, and vise versa. It probably could be the jewel shards around Inochi's neck that was hidden by his clothes. Sesshoumaru and Inochi were once one. Now perhaps the jewel was binding their memories together. But who knows? Neither of them cared. "You wish to be all powerful and rule all. I already have much, Sesshoumaru, my blood brother. My only goal now has been to exterminate every single demon that I possibly can. Even being born a half demon makes no difference to me. I shall kill you this day."

"And kill yourself as well?" Sesshoumaru asked.

"I know the price. I am no fool. I wish to take the risk anyway. Prepare to die demon!"

"You'll draw your last breath before I draw mine, mortal."

To be continued…..

A/N: So they both know the truth! Will this really be the end of fluffy? Will they be forced to kill each other? Find out next time.