Well, seems I was right to leave out that Kag/Inu lemon. None of my reviewers seemed particularly keen on it, and honestly, neither was I. Kagome gets on my nerves (WAY too optimistic for my tastes), and Inuyasha kind of does (I like my characters to be a little more refined, hence my liking of Sesshy and Naraku).

Well, I dare say this story won't be much longer. I'm shooting for at least seven chapters, since that would make this longer than the prequel 'Inmates'. And afterwards, I'm going to leave off on this storyline. No more Ashe or anything like that, though I may write more Ses/Nar. I'm really haven't decided if I will or not, since the reviewing is not what it used to be.

IMPORTANT: I've started a livejournal that is devoted entirely to my writing on this website. It will contain essential information such as dates for future chapter postings, sneak previews for completed chapters, character bios, polls and surveys, drabbles and oneshots, and much more. I'll also tell you if I plan to take a story down, do any major editing, put a fic on hiatus, etc. Obviously this livejournal is VERY important. Be sure to check it regularly, or you WILL miss something important. I'll post a link at the end of the chapter.

Anyways, on to chapter six.

…

Inuyasha shivered, as the cold forest air seemed to drip like ice water through his veins. Why did I leave my clothes back with Kagome? He snarled in his mind. All he had left on was the white hakama that he wore under his red haori. She could've gone back to the camp and warmed by the fire! I'm the one who's going to freeze out here! Why did I have to leave my clothes!

"Cold, Inuyasha?" asked a voice that was icier even than the frigid wind.

"Of course not," the hanyou snapped. Even if he had agreed to help the youkai traveling with him, that didn't mean he was going to start admitting weaknesses. Sesshoumaru gave him a condescendingly skeptical look, just as he always did when Inuyasha started acting tough.

Somehow, his brother had always been able to see through his bravado, no matter how much power he had to back it up. Those molten gold eyes were as piercing as the strongest arrow; no armor could ever stand against them, regardless if it was iron, flesh, or otherwise.

Sesshoumaru's resplendent eyes drifted back to the invisible path he was leading his brother along. This trail was very old and rarely used; and it would take them to the castle of their mutual father in the shortest possible time. Sesshoumaru wanted to use his demonic speed to get him there faster, but he doubted if his brother could keep up.

As much as I hate to admit it, Sesshoumaru thought, I need Inuyasha's help if this is going to work. I certainly can't go and lose him in the woods. Sesshoumaru trailed off as his thoughts took an uneasy turn. I wonder… I wonder if Naraku is still alive. Could he have survived this long while under the curse's influence?

If he is alive, what kind of condition will he be in when I return? Will he ever fully recover? I can't even remember how long it's been since I left his side… A familiar ache filled the inu youkai's chest. He'd had these thoughts many times before, and he knew they would probably never go away until he was back with his lover.

A sickening wave of fear filled him whenever he wondered if Naraku might've died in his absence. The kumo was already very sick when Sesshoumaru left. He'd almost been too weak to talk at all. Sesshoumaru bit his lip nervously. What would he do if Naraku did die?

How could he possibly live on without him? Sesshoumaru could barely remember a time when Naraku wasn't a part of his world. How could anyone expect him to return to such a lifeless, loveless, hopeless existence?

Sesshoumaru shook his head stubbornly, banishing these morbid thoughts to some distant corner of his mind. He had to be strong. Stronger than he'd ever been forced to be before in his life. He would have to survive this, even if he only survived in the name of Naraku's memory.

Sesshoumaru picked up speed, no longer caring if Inuyasha could keep up comfortably. Much to the inu youkai's surprise, his half-brother matched his pace almost effortlessly, dodging the many mossy trees as gracefully as a forest nymph. They raced through the woods together, two separate bands of flashing silver.

The leagues melted away beneath them as the hours flew by overhead. By the time they made it to the edge of Sesshoumaru's territory, a brilliant crimson dawn had come creeping across the horizon. Sesshoumaru paused for a moment to survey the new day, hoping that the bloodied color of the sky was not an ill omen.

Sesshoumaru felt his heart beat faster as his castle finally loomed up in the distance, a beacon of hope shining pink in the dawn's light. The large doors swung open upon his approach, obediently allowing their master to return. Inuyasha stepped into the castle cautiously, as if he would rather distance himself from something so closely related to his demon heritage.

It must be hard for him to be here after the hardships his demon half forced him to suffer at the hands of humans, Sesshoumaru thought with a touch of uncharacteristic pity. He would remember that when it came time to resume his feud with Inuyasha. Perhaps it would help him send the hanyou to a blissful death.

Sesshoumaru led the way to his chambers, where he prayed to any gods listening that he would find Naraku still waiting for him. The door to his bedroom was closed, and the creak of its hinges as it swung open was as loud as a howling banshee to him. The first sight that greeted his eyes was that of Rin with her face buried in her hands, obviously weeping.

She was kneeling next to the bed where Naraku had been sleeping when Sesshoumaru left, and for a moment the inu youkai was filled with cold dread. This emotion quickly turned to happiness as he saw the bed was not empty. If Naraku had died, they surely would have removed his body before Sesshoumaru's return.

The inu's lover still lay exactly where he'd been before, though his clothes had obviously been changed and the air around him smelled faintly of medicinal herbs. Rin looked up when she heard the door open and surprise registered on her face.

"Sesshoumaru-sama, you have returned!" She looked overjoyed, until her eyes turned to Inuyasha. Her face once again became confused. "It is Sesshoumaru-sama's brother, Inuyasha-san! But why did my lord bring his brother back with him?"

Sesshoumaru glided forward and placed a hand on Rin's head. "I will explain it to you when you are a little older. You have done well, Rin, but you are no longer needed. For now, leave us be."

Rin turned to leave, but first she whispered, "Naraku-sama has done nothing but get worse. Rin fears he will not live to the end of the day. She cried because she thought you might not make it back before—" A choked sob ruined the rest of the girl's sentence and she hurried out of the room.

Inuyasha stepped awkwardly forward, gazing at the bed that held his greatest enemy. It must be unsettling to see someone you hate in such a state, Sesshoumaru thought as he watched Inuyasha's face carefully. Especially when you know you will soon be working to cure him.

"So… what do we do?" Inuyasha asked awkwardly, still staring at the sleeping Naraku with an unreadable expression.

"I am not certain." Sesshoumaru's own eyes drifted to his lover's face. Naraku's skin was even paler than before. A lack of food had made it gaunt and waxen, and his hair had become a tangled mess of black.

"We must act quickly, or I fear it will be too late. Rin was very generous in guessing Naraku would survive to the end of the day." Sesshoumaru hesitated for a moment, as if trying to make a decision in less time than was wise, and then quickly unsheathed Tokijin. Inuyasha flinched at the sight of the sword that had been used to hurt him so many times before.

"What are you going to do with that?"

Sesshoumaru didn't answer. Instead, he moved to Naraku's side and gazed down at the kumo. Knowing that Inuyasha was watching and not caring in the least, Sesshoumaru bent down and gently kissed his lover's mouth. Despite his loss of health, Naraku's lips were every bit as soft as they'd ever been.

Inuyasha struggled to hide his alarm and failed miserably. Sesshoumaru drew away from Naraku and gave his hanyou brother a meaningful look. "Inuyasha, if I were to die this very moment, what would you do?"

"You mean after I was finished dancing on your grave?"

Sesshoumaru growled and Inuyasha held up his hands defensively. "Just kidding, of course. Well…I don't really know what I'd do. You and I aren't exactly the closest brothers in the world. You've spent most of my life trying to kill me."

Sesshoumaru seemed to consider this. "Would you mourn my death?" Inuyasha looked uncomfortable. "I—I just don't know, okay? Why are you asking me this anyway?"

Sesshoumaru sighed slightly. "I was hoping maybe your answers would help me know what I would do if I lost Naraku. Promise me this, my brother: if something were to happen to me, for whatever reasons, you would take your place as our father's heir and rule his lands."

Inuyasha hesitated awkwardly, but nodded. Sesshoumaru continued, "And you would care for Rin as if she were your own pup."

Again, Inuyasha nodded.

"One last thing." Sesshoumaru stared directly into Inuyasha's eyes. "You would make sure that if Naraku were to die as well, by your sword or by any other means, we would be buried together on these lands, the lands that were our home for the months in which we truly were in love."

Inuyasha showed not the slightest hint of hesitation this time as he nodded confidently. No matter how cruel his pureblood brother had been, he knew Sesshoumaru deserved at least that much—to be buried with the only person who had ever melted his icy heart.

With that, Sesshoumaru turned to Naraku and gently opened his mouth. Inuyasha watched in horrified fascination as his brother raised Tokijin to the tender flesh of his wrist and drew a thin, but deep, line across his pale skin.

A fine trickle of blood dripped into Naraku's mouth from the wound, though that wasn't all that accompanied it. Sesshoumaru had fused his blood with his youki, empowering the crimson liquid with the very essence of himself.

Inuyasha took the cue and quickly unsheathed Tetsusaiga. He stood next to Sesshoumaru and slowly drew on his own youki. It wasn't as potent as his brother's, but he knew it would have the same effect. Naraku would be infused with the energy of both love and hate, and Inuyasha prayed, for his brother's sake, that it would be enough.

The hanyou drew a quick line across his wrist and watched as his own crimson blood trickled into Naraku's mouth. The youki that flowed with it was so startlingly different from that of his brother's. Inuyasha watched in something that was close to fascination as a black aura suddenly lifted itself from Naraku.

The aura became no more than a wisp as it dissipated into the air, gone before any could really be certain of what they were seeing.

"Do you…" Inuyasha began haltingly, "do you think it worked?" Sesshoumaru sighed wearily and sheathed his sword. The wound on his wrist had already healed.

"We'll know soon enough, I suppose. You are welcome to stay in the castle, Inuyasha, but I'd rather be alone right now. See if you can find Rin and offer her some comfort."

Inuyasha took the hint in his brother's voice and exited the room, but not before shooting one final look at the inu youkai. He watched his brother crawl into bed next to the man that was his lover, grieving in the same silent, beautiful way as he did everything. Somehow, his brother had never seemed so real before.

To be continued…

ANOTHER IMPORTANT NOTICE: Before I forget, I hope y'all will be pleased to know I started a C2 archive of all the greatest Sesshoumaru x Naraku romantic fics. I haven't had a lot of time to scout new ones, so it's mostly full of my favorites for now, but hopefully you guys will like my taste in fics. Here's the URL if you'd like to check it out:

http/ www . fanfiction . net/c2/20057/0/0/1/

Remember to remove spaces. Also, if you have a Sess x Nar story of any rating, feel free to contact me if you'd like to have it put in the C2. Naturally, I'll have to read it and decide if I like it… Remember, this C2 is for the BEST N x S fics. Don't be offended if you wrote one and it hasn't been put in. Like I said, I haven't had time to put in more than the big-league fics. Also, if you'd like to become a member of my staff, so you can add fics that you think are great, contact me via email, or review one of my stories and ask.

And finally, don't forget to check out my livejournal. Here's a lovely little link that needs only to have the spaces removed:

http/ www . livejournal . com/users/hieiaijin1410/