Author's note : I just want to thank all those who are taking a bit of their time to read my fic. It means a lot... Please review if you can ! Oh and just so you can know, this chapter contains a lot of fluff, remember ? Grab an handkerchief !

Chapter five : I don't want you to die

Sesshomaru's POV

Sesshomaru stayed still for a moment, trying to regain his composure. Shivers were running through his body. Not because he was tired, or hurt, but because of the storm of strong emotions he was feeling. Him who hadn't felt one for years !... An understatement, but it was quite disturbing. He was... confuse. Another strange thing ! The pain he had felt when Inu-Yasha had been pierced, the rage when the demon puppet had laughed at him, and the panic just a moment ago... Sesshomaru couldn't understand. He was never feeling anything, never. No exceptions. Well... maybe except for Rin, but that was different. But even with her, he had never felt this way. Like he was totally... overwhelmed by his emotions. This total lost of control was scaring him. But what was even more scary was that he had felt all those things for his younger brother. He had... cared for him, for his well-being. It was weird, and troubling, and so completely not normal... But strangely, he didn't want that feeling to go away... This was exactly like when they were pups. What could have caused that radical change in him ? It was beyond his understanding. "I must be going crazy" he thought. That was the only explanation.

A laboured breathing suddenly caught his attention. He quickly sheathed his sword an went to kneel beside his brother. He slowly turned the hanyou on his back. This one made a little yelp, and Sesshomaru winced. The bittersweet smell of death all around Inu-Yasha was almost making him sick. Not to mention the smell of his brother's blood, and lots of it. He gently pulled his younger sibling to his chest with his only arm, careful about his wound. For some reason, he wanted him close, one last time, before it was too late... He was really going crazy... To his surprise, Inu-Yasha opened his eyes and looked at him. Sesshomaru felt his heart clench painfully. There was pain in those golden eyes, a lot of pain, but there was also a warmth that he hadn't seen for such a long time... Under that warmth, he felt his own iciness slowly melting away, finally allowing him to feel ; sadness, guilt, regrets, anger... It all filled his heart at the same time, leaving him dizzy. And then he spoke, asking one simple question, the only one that mattered :

- Why ?

Inu-Yasha weakly smiled at him, answering with a trembling voice :

- Why what ?

- Why... did you saved me ? You surely knew that by pushing me aside, YOU would be the one to get hurt. Why did you risked your life for me ? Why did you... gave your life for me ?

The hanyou took a shaky breath and softly said :

- I'm... not sure. I just... I didn't wondered why. I... don't know why... but... I didn't wanted you... to die. Weird... heh ?...

Sesshomaru closed his eyes. His brother's answer wasn't making him feel any better. Unconsciously, he held Inu-Yasha closer. He felt terrible. Another thing he didn't liked about feeling... He jumped when he heard his name being called.

- Sesshomaru... (his brother was saying) Rin... the demon... that took her... it went... toward the mountains, to the west. It looked like... a dragon... with feathered wings. You... should go... get her...

He was interrupted by a series of coughs. He was spitting blood. It was almost surprising to see that there was still some of it left in his body. Sesshomaru passed a soothing hand through his hair, rubbed his little doggy ears. His heart was squeezing harshly when he whispered :

- Shhh... Don't talk... There's no need. Save your strengths.

But Inu-Yasha continued :

- I... I need to... You'll get her... right ?

Sesshomaru nodded.

- G... good. Don't... don't worry... I'm sure... she's alright.

His face contorted in pain. He was starting to have difficulties breathing. Sesshomaru tighten his hold, saying almost pleadingly :

- It's OK Inu-Yasha. Don't speak anymore. You're hurting yourself.

But his demand fell in deaf ears as his brother pursued :

- You... would you tell them... to Kagome and the others... could you tell them... I'm sorry ? And... that I love them... more than everything... Would you... please ?...

- I will, the demon Lord promised.

- Thank you... Keh... Kagome will be... so mad... at me... And... the others, too...

He tried to laugh, but was forced to stop at the excruciating pain it caused. He closed his eyes a moment to regain himself. Sesshomaru was still rubbing his ears, hoping to sooth him. He used to do that when they were young... When Little Yasha would hurt himself or get sick... It was always making him feel so bad when that would happen... and apparently, it still had the same effect. Sesshomaru had a deep sentiment of injustice. Why when he had finally made up with his little brother, was he doomed to lose him ? Was it some kind of punishment ? It just didn't seem fair... Not at all.

- Sesshomaru ? Inu-Yasha suddenly said, startling him. You... look mad... Are you mad... at me... too ?...

- Not at you, Inu-Yasha. But I am mad.

He sighed and added :

- I wish I could do something, but I can't. I don't like it. I don't like feeling useless.

Inu-Yasha was a bit confuse.

- What... are you... talking about ?...

Sesshomaru looked at him. He was scared. He could feel and smell Inu-Yasha slowly slipping away... And there he was, the almighty Sesshomaru, unable to prevent it...

- Inu-Yasha, he whispered, little brother... I... I don't want you to die either...

There. He had said it. The hanyou gave him a stunned look. "He's probably going to say I'm crazy" Sesshomaru told himself. "He has good reasons, though. After all those times I tried to kill him in the past, and now I'm telling him I don't want him to die ! He'll think I hit my head or something..." It made him feel kind of sad. He wanted his brother to believe him, but it was like asking for the moon...

He felt Inu-Yasha move in his hold. Looking down, he blinked ; the hanyou had snuggled his face in his brother's kimono ! Sesshomaru then picked up a salty scent. "Tears..." he realized. Inu-Yasha was crying ! Softly and without any noise, but he was indubitably crying. "Why ? What did I say ?" Confused, Sesshomaru asked :

- Inu-Yasha ? Are you okay ? Why are you crying ?

To his surprise, the corner of his brother's mouth lifted. "He's smiling..." Sesshomaru thought. And then Inu-Yasha murmured :

- I'm fine... I'm just... happy... that's all... Don't... bother whit it...

Sesshomaru couldn't believe what he was hearing. "He's happy ? He... believes me !" He felt an enormous burden being lifted from his shoulders. Maybe the moon wasn't so hard to obtain after all...

Inu-Yasha's blood was all over him, but he didn't care. He held his brother even closer, if possible, and whispered in his ear :

- I'm sorry, Inu-Yasha. For accusing you unfairly, and... for everything else... I... want us to be brothers again.

Inu-Yasha responded in a muffle voice, his face still buried in his brother's kimono :

- Me too... oh, me too... big brother...

Sesshomaru felt like he had wings. Putting his chin on the top of his brother's head, he calmly stroke his hair, a tiny smile dancing on his lips. He felt his eyes becoming glassy... "Oh no !" he told himself angrily, "No way in Hell I'm gonna cry !" Seriously, smiling and apologizing were more then enough from him! He was recomposing himself when Inu-Yasha suddenly said with a broken voice :

- It's... it's not fair...

Sesshomaru's smile vanished. He knew too well what his brother was talking about.

- I know... he answered.

He hugged the dying hanyou, never wanting to let go. But it was no use : Inu-Yasha was passing away, slipping through his fingers like flowing water. There was nothing he could do.

- Big brother ? Inu-Yasha asked with a voice so low even Sesshomaru had a hard time hearing it.

- Yes ?

- I... I love you...

The soft words enveloped him like a silky cloth, bringing another tender smile on his lips. He hadn't realized how much he had been longing for that brotherly love again. Just like before. Like nothing had changed. "I'm going softie... I'll have to be careful with that !" he thought. He had a reputation to maintain ! But... right now, he didn't give a damn about his reputation. Rubbing a small puppy ear, he whispered :

- I love you too, Yasha.

He could almost feel his brother smile. Sesshomaru smiled back (it was weird how he suddenly couldn't stop smiling, him who hadn't done it for centuries...), but deeply, his heart was aching. He knew that Inu-Yasha only had a few seconds left. So he just held him, stroking his hair, happy that at least, the important things had been said. Happy to have his little brother back. Even if he was now gonna lose him.

Inu-Yasha shivered. Sesshomaru stiffened. His brother's body gave a last convulsion... and then went limp in his grasp. It was over.

Sesshomaru felt a tear run down his cheek. Just one, nothing more.

Inu-Yasha was dead.

A/N : Oh boy, you must reallyhate me for making our little Yasha suffer like this !And I'm sorry to say there is more to come... But please don't kill me, I swear it will all end happily ! InuYasha will end up just fine, I promise !