Author's note : Hi ! Me again ! This time I won't write long and I'll leave you to your reading. I just wanted to say hello.

Chapter three : Patching things up

Inu-Yasha's POV

His speech over, Inu-Yasha just stood there, waiting. Sesshomaru was staring at him with an almost comic expression. He seemed unsure of what to do next. Inu-Yasha hoped that he had made the right choice. He also hoped that Sesshomaru would react as he expected him to. He didn't really want to die today... Kagome would be soooooooooo mad if he was letting himself kill...

He looked at his brother again. Sesshomaru appeared to have relaxed, but maybe it was just his imagination. At least, there was no red in his eyes anymore. "Well Sesshomaru, I hope you're not as blind as you seem to be, cause if that's the case I won't be living for much longer."

Inu-Yasha was serious. He would not fight his brother. That was exactly what Naraku wanted him to do. Apparently, the worm had foreseen everything, everything except the possibility that... Inu-Yasha wouldn't fight back. Surely, he hadn't seen this one coming. But hey, who would've ? Inu-Yasha not fighting back was almost as possible as the sun becoming purple. And the half-demon knew that by doing something unusual, Naraku's plan wouldn't work as it was suppose to work. It seemed elaborated, but in fact it was very simple.

Now, the only thing Inu-Yasha was praying for was that he had anticipated his brother correctly. Based on what he knew about Sesshomaru, he was practically sure that his older sibling wouldn't attack him in the present situation. He just hoped he wasn't wrong... As if answering his silent question, Sesshomaru lowered his Tokijin and held it carelessly to his side. He took a more common position and looked skeptically at his younger brother. Finally, he asked :

- You didn't killed Rin ?

Inu-Yasha simply answered :

- No.

- But you did transformed.

- I did. And she was there. But I didn't touched her. In fact... (he made a little grin) she saved me. From myself. She brung me my sword. I took it and turned back to normal. If it weren't for her, I... don't think I would've made it. She's very brave.

Sesshomaru's face softened. Now he looked completely at ease.

- But then again, I shouldn't be surprised, Inu-Yasha added. She's travelling with you after all. You wouldn't let a weakling accompany you, heh ? She's indeed very strong... inside. And she's just a kid.

Inu-Yasha blinked at the look Sesshomaru gave him. There was something in his eyes... something that seemed to be... gratefulness. Like if he was relieved to see that someone other than him had understood Rin. Inu-Yasha couldn't resist ; he smiled. A true smile, without any provocation behind it. He felt weird inside, like something was clenching his heart harshly. But it wasn't painful. On the contrary, it felt... kind of... great. Strangely, it was giving him the urge to smile more. And Sesshomaru was almost smiling back at him. Now when did that brutal battlefield had suddenly become this sweet and calm interaction ? And where did their fighting mood had gone to ?

Sesshomaru's POV

He just couldn't figure him out. Each time he thought he had understood him, his little brother would do something that would sweep all of his convictions away. Were all half-demons like that ? He had the feeling that it wasn't the case. Inu-Yasha was definitely in a class of his own.

Sesshomaru was confused. A huge understatement. It was frustrating. When he had first come here, he was sure of himself. Everything was clear in his head. But now... Could it be possible that he had made such a mistake ? He wasn't easy to trick. No, let's be realist : he was almost impossible to trick. Could he have been blinded by rage that much ? He wasn't use to that feeling. In fact, he wasn't use to any feelings. Feelings were a weakness, they were making you do things you wouldn't do in your normal state. They were making you too easy to provoke, too predictable. They could get you killed... or fall into traps. At least, that was what he had always thought.

When Kagura had told him that Inu-Yasha had killed Rin, he hadn't believed her. First, because Kagura was an incurable liar. Secondly, because Naraku was obviously behind it. And finally, because he had that unexplainable certitude that Inu-Yasha hadn't done it. But when he had returned to their camp and found out that Rin was missing, something like anxiety had begun to grow inside him. Jaken had told him that she had went for a walk in the woods, somewhere toward the east. Sesshomaru had thrown him a rock for not going with her, and had started to look for the little girl. Sure enough, he hadn't found her. He couldn't even pick up her scent. And then, he had smelled it. Rin's blood. No mistake. And really close. Accompanied by another scent, stronger, and very much familiar : Inu-Yasha's.

Sesshomaru had seen red. So Kagura had told him the truth after all ? Suddenly, Inu-Yasha himself had jumped before him. He was telling him something, but Sesshomaru couldn't hear. The only thing he was aware of was the scent of Rin's blood, a lot more evident now that Inu-Yasha was right in front of him. Hatred had filled his heart. His brother had transformed and killed Rin. For that, he would die.

He had attacked Inu-Yasha with all his might. This one had seemed surprised, like if he was wondering why Sesshomaru was trying to kill him. "That little hypocrite", he had thought, " I will tear him to pieces !" But something was bothering him : the way his younger brother was constantly asking what was wrong. Like he didn't knew it ! At first, Sesshomaru hadn't even answered him. He didn't owed him anything, not after what he had done. But he had then seen real confusion in Inu-Yasha's eyes. Thinking that maybe he didn't remember, Sesshomaru had finally told him why he wanted to kill him. One thing's for sure, he wasn't expecting the flaring outburst that came after his declaration. Total denial, sharp voice and golden eyes burning with indignation. Sure Inu-Yasha was childish sometimes, but that was a little much. And then he had come up with that incredible fabrication where Rin had in fact been kidnapped by one of Naraku's reincarnations, him trying to get her back and failing in his attempt, scratching her leg by accident (which would explain the scent of her blood on him), while Sesshomaru was being manipulated in believing that he had killed the girl, etc, etc...

Sesshomaru couldn't take it anymore. He had shut his brother up and accused him of lying. He would kill him, no matter what. To avenge Rin. He could see that Inu-Yasha was fuming with anger, but he hadn't cared. His brother was going to die.

But then, Inu-Yasha had done something really weird : he had re-sheathed his sword and looked at him right in the eyes. His childish demeanor had totally vanished. No more anger in his gaze, no more fear or frustration. He looked calmed and peaceful, like he had just taken an important decision. And he had indeed...

He had told him his whole story again, but this time with a much more mature tone and in a much more logical way. It hadn't looked like a fabrication this time : Inu-Yasha was just stating the facts, not caring if Sesshomaru would believe him or not, but determined to keep his positions. Now THAT... had troubled the older demon. His brother wasn't lying, he had realized. He could see it, he could smell it... Everything in Inu-Yasha was screaming that he was telling the truth. So, HE was the one who had been wrong all along... How humiliating...

His pride was hurt, to say the least. But he was civilized enough to pass over that. He had begun to questioned Inu-Yasha more calmly, lowering his Tokijin. His brother had told him how he had effectively transformed before Rin, and how the child had brung him his Tetsusaiga to help him. Sesshomaru had felt proud at that statement.

- If it weren't for her, I... don't think I would've made it, Inu-Yasha had said. She's very brave.

"Yes, she is" Sesshomaru had thought. The tension had left his body. He wasn't angry anymore. Anyway, not against Inu-Yasha. He was sure now that the half-demon hadn't killed Rin. So, his first guess was the right one. He had made a mistake and accused his brother for something he hadn't done. Should he apologize ? It would be the good thing to do, but... him ? Apologizing to Inu-Yasha ? He wasn't sure if he could do it. It was absolutely not usual... But then, his younger brother had told him :

- But then again, I shouldn't be surprised. She's travelling with you after all. You wouldn't let a weakling accompany you, heh ? She's indeed very strong... inside. And she's just a kid.

Sesshomaru had felt strange. It was weird, he hadn't expected his little brother, of all people, to understand Rin so well just a few minutes after meeting her. Him who was so arrogant, so childish, so stubborn, so... But maybe he had been wrong about that too. Maybe his younger sibling wasn't at all what he seemed to be.

Coming back to the present, Sesshomaru took another look at Inu-Yasha. It was true that he appeared to have grown up. There was more patience in his gaze, more experience and knowledge. He seemed even more sure of himself that he habitually was. But it wasn't an arrogant assurance, just a calm one, showing that he knew exactly what he was doing. In other words, it seemed that his little brother... had become a man. How come he hadn't seen that sooner ? "Because I wasn't looking" he answered himself, realist. However, he felt kind of proud to see that his baby brother had turned into a man. The curse of the older brothers, he supposed. But strangely, there was that small and disturbing part of him that missed the little Inu-Yasha pup. "Damn these stupid human feelings !" he thought.

And yet, the time when they were kids had probably been the happiest time of his life. Back then, he didn't have to hide his feelings, didn't have to build an ice fortress around his heart. There was no need for him to show the cold and emotionless facade that he was using now, no need to be unbreakable. Back then, he could laugh and play freely, he could be his true self and smile whenever he wanted to. He remembered that time ; Inu-Yasha and him were so close, they were sharing their every thoughts and feelings, and were always there for each other. Sesshomaru recalled how little Inu-Yasha used to look at him with complete love and devotion, admiring his every words and gestures. No one had ever given him their trust so completely before, or loved him so strongly for no particular reason. Just because he was him. He could be himself with Inu-Yasha, he knew that the small pup would love him anyway... And suddenly he wondered what had gone wrong. When had it gone so terribly wrong ?

He looked at the hanyou again. He was smiling. At him. Sesshomaru, his despicable older brother who had tried countless times to eliminate him. How could he smile to him ? And why was his heart aching at the sight of that smile ? But with the ache came something else : something sweet and warm, something that made him feel great inside. He wanted to smile back, but he couldn't. His cold expression had been fixed for too long on his face. "At least, I should apologize" he supposed. But that wasn't easy either. However, he was under the impression that if he didn't say something quick, he would most certainly break.

Inu-Yasha wasn't smiling anymore, but he still had that serene expression on his face. He seemed to be waiting. It was now or never. And besides, he had to hurry if he wanted to go and save Rin. He sheathed his sword and moved toward Inu-Yasha. This one didn't flinched, nor did he looked worried. How odd all this was... Sesshomaru stopped. Now, he had to apologize now. "I'm sorry, Inu-Yasha !" his heart was screaming. But his face stayed as stiff as ever. With a polite tone, he begun :

- Inu-Yasha, I...

But he couldn't finish. Inu-Yasha's eyes suddenly widened as an horrified expression appeared on his features. Looking at something over his brother's left shoulder, he screamed :

- Sesshomaru, behind you !

Sesshomaru barely had the time to realize what was going on when he felt himself being tossed aside violently by his brother. He turned back in time to see Inu-Yasha being pierced right through the chest by an enormous tentacle. The hanyou then fell limp to the ground with a moan of pain. At that precise moment, two thoughts hit the demon Lord : one, his younger brother had just saved his life. Two : the hanyou was probably going to die. And that's when a terrible rage took hold of Sesshomaru...

A/N : Oh my oh my, it doesn't look good for InuYasha. And let's not talk about Sesshomaru. Have you ever seen him angry ? I mean, really really angry ? Not pretty... You don't want to get in his way when he's like that... And does he really care about InuYasha ? What if he does ? See you at the next chapter !