Disclaimers Notice: Maybe...yes...n-n-no...um...possibly???

Authors Beginning Note: A little bit of Sesshoumaru in this chapter, and the mysterious Keio and Inuyasha finally officially meet.

Shout it outs!

Animefreak808-44 chapters is a lot. More than I had intended to write...oh well...any shorter and the plot wouldn't be nearly as interesting, ne?

Shinna-I hope this is soon enough

Rayame325- You're right, one can make a huge difference. However the everyone in the two wolf tribes may not see it that way and choose not to fight...than again...you never know...

Draechaeli-Thank you!

Chapter 44

Past of my Life

Inuyasha had been watching Kagome quite closely from the distance, while trying not to be noticed by the Miko's around him. Some however were quite the chatterboxes and decided he looked like the perfect candidate to converse with. If it weren't for the unnoticeable Shippo, the world would probably have been with a few less Miko's.

Soon enough, after a days worth of treading, the company was commanded to a halt and spread out to make camp. Most were in a company of four or five, their travel sized sleeping mats unrolled in a circle with a fire in the middle. Inuyasha how ever was on his own. A pang ran through him, not completely unfamiliar, but one that he hadn't felt in a while. One that made him recoil inside and seem hard on the outside.

'This is the first time I've been almost completely alone since...since Kagome came. When she wasn't around at least Miroku... Sango... or even Keade...were with me. Now it's just me and Shippo...'

"Earth to Inuyasha!"

"What do you want?" Inuyasha growled quietly so as not to be heard. Though his voice was harsh, he was still grateful for the Kitsune's company.

"You should try to blend in more. That weird guy is beginning to notice something's up." Inuyasha glanced over at the dubbed 'weird guy' Keio who had begun to take over on training Kagome for the evening.

She looked exhausted, even though the days travels was a break compared to their usual escapade through Japan gather jewel shards.

Without hesitation Inuyasha jumped into the nearest tree. On a high branch where no one could see him, but he could see them.

"What's up this 'weird guy' thing?"

"He's weird." Inuyasha looked at the now normal form of the Kitsune. He sighed and shook his head, like a teacher who is disappointed in a student for not keeping up in class.

"He's Kanna's brother, and not in the least bit normal. He has a bit of a temper too. He's not only weird he's an all around jerk! I mean, I still can't believe he showed Kagome..." Uh oh, too late.

"He showed her what...?" Inuyasha growled. Shippo gulped.

Oh great, just what we need...I can't tell him what really happened ... he'll blow a casket...then take it out on Keio...and blow our cover...even if he is weird...and a pigheaded....selfish...jerk who deserves to get beat up by Inuyasha...

"You have five seconds to talk before I bash your head in the tree. One..."

"Ain't telling." Shippo crossed his arms.

"Two...." Shippo stuck his tongue out in defiance.

"Five!"

"Huh! Wait! You didn't finish...!" And he found himself quite dizzy, after being slammed into the tree a couple five or eight times. He rubbed the growing bumps on his head and scowled at Inuyasha.

"So, are you going to talk?"

"Nuh uh." Inuyasha shrugged and advanced on the small defiant Shippo, who by force of habit, began to yell his saviors name.

"Kagome...!" He wailed, and Inuyasha jumped on him covering his mouth. Shippo struggled while Inuyasha hissed.

"Be quiet! She's not supposed to know we're here." He swiveled his ears every which way, listening. Shippo's cry had not gone unnoticed.

"Who's not supposed to hear?" Inuyasha just about completely jumped out of his skin at the new intrusive voice, and upon reflex, the not so welcome guest found a sharp sword at his throat. Keio didn't even flinch at the presence of cold metal. As a matter of fact, he looked like he had expected it, and would have found it to be bothersome if it wasn't on his bare neck.

"Wait, I think I know. Kagome isn't supposed to hear, though why ever not is anyone's guess."

"What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same."

"It's none of your business."

"My, you aren't very lady like, but then again, you're not a lady, are you Inuyasha."

"How the hell..." Inuyasha was completely perplexed, and this set him on the edge, which of course, made his temper rise.

"Inuyasha the half demon, son of InuTaisho, and wielder of the Tetsusaiga. I know a lot about you, among many things."

"Who the hell are you? How do you know about me?" Inuyasha pressed Tetsusaiga closer to Keio's throat. A bead of red slowly slipped down.

"I am Keio, Kanna's brother, like her, I can see through the past, present, and future, and in doing so, I see you quite frequently, so I decided to learn more about you." Inuyasha didn't even budge.

"Hmm, why don't you come and eat. You haven't much of anything else, and hunting is quite out of the questioning." Keio smiled and casually slipped out of the tree and landed onto his feet. Inuyasha was more than irritated by the guy, but at the same time, found a strange connection of commrodery to him, even though this is the first time they had ever met.

"Well, are you coming down?"

"But, what if Kagome sees me?" Shippo whispered to Inuyasha, quite uneasy about Keio. Inuyasha seemed to think it over.

"Well then, I guess you can stay up here." Inuyasha leapt out of the tree.

"Wa! Inuyasha! You big rotten jerk." Shippo indignantly cried, but Inuyasha wasn't paying attention, especially as smoked boar meat and a small bowl of warm rice were served into his hands. He swiveled his ears to and fro, and constantly sniffed the air.

That's funny, I smell Kagome near by...but I can't see her

"Kagome is practicing her meditation. A protective ring is made around her. She can neither hear, nor see anything past its barrier, vise versa." Inuyasha seemed slightly uncomfortable with the situation, but decided she was safe. Instead he decided to concentrate more on the person across the fire facing him.

The guy was irritating to be sure. Unpredictable more like it. He throws a person right off balance. His self-intellect has yet to be shown, but his skill is impressive, or at least what could be seen. He wasn't arrogant, no, never arrogant, instead, he was humble and cheerful. Like he had been your buddy from the good old days. Mysterious too. Completely the opposite, yet completely the same as Kanna. There is no telling what the guy is capable of or what he is planning.

That is why Inuyasha was so set off by him. If he were an enemy, Inuyasha would be hard pressed in battle, with a foe as unpredictable.

"Hey! Save some for me!" Shippo yelled as he bounced onto Inuyasha's head, knocking Inuyasha forward, and nearly starting his head on fire.

"Go get your own food you moocher." Inuyasha threw Shippo aside.

"Hey! Look who's talking!" Keio grinned and chuckled as he dug into his bag.

"Hey! You have food for me right?"

"Sorry Shippo. I gave the last to Inuyasha." Shippo slipped to the ground, as his tummy rolled and grumbled like a captured thunderstorm. Little 'x's replaced his eyes as he fell unconscious.

"Uh. I was going to say that I'm making more." Shippo didn't so much as twitch. Keio shook his head and continued to prepare a small meal.

"What is it that you wanted to talk about, I have a feeling you didn't ask me here just to feed us, so talk."

"You don't beat around the bush all that much, do you?" Inuyasha just glared at the guy. He shook his head.

"You're right, I didn't have you come all the way down the tree just to feed you. The reason is, your sword."

"Yah, what about it?"

"Do you even know why you have it?"

"Because my father left it to me." Inuyasha growled. This was dangerous territory for any one to tread on.

"But do you know why?"

"Of course, to protect me from..."

"Go on, say it." Inuyasha felt like shoving a huge sticky rice cake in his mouth to keep it too busy from talking.

"You were going to say, to protect you from your demon blood. Yes, that is one reason, and important one too, but not the full reason, after all, why would Sesshoumaru have his sword, he is a full demon and doesn't need the protection you do." Inuyasha was speechless. He wasn't sure which shocked him more, what Keio knew he was going to say, or that there was possibly another reason that he was given Tetsusaiga.

"That's okay, your brother doesn't know why he has his either."

"What does this have to do with Sesshoumaru?"

"Not much I suppose. However, you two have much in common."

"Sesshoumaru and I are nothing alike." He growled.

"A lot more than you know, for instance, neither of you know how to use the full extent of your swords. I'm sure if you had the chance, you could wield Tensuseiga with graceful ease, just like he can Tetsusaiga, but neither of you can use your own entirely."

"You mean to tell me that you..." Inuyasha's voice began to grow in volume.

"No. Now let me finish. Another thing you have in common is the reason behind the hindrance of your ability to wield your swords."

"Which would be?"

"You do not know why they were given to you."

"What a bunch of bull."

"Is it?"

"'Is it'" Inuyasha mimicked. Keio laughed out loud at the silly impersonation. Inuyasha didn't know how to react to that one.

"Now, I must ask you, do you want to wield Tetsusaiga to its full capability, or do you want to just go back up to your tree?" Inuyasha said nothing, nor made any move. As much as he hated the idea, this guy might know a thing or two. Keio nodded.

"It had to do with a long time ago, before you were born actually. It began with Sesshoumaru...why don't I...just show you instead." Keio took out Kanna's mirror and threw it into the fire.

"What the hell!" Inuyasha definitely had not expected this and was instantly at his feet. Either this guy was planning something, or he was just plain crazy.

"Wait a minute." Keio said quietly. Inuyasha felt like running but found himself glued to the spot. A slow feeling of fire seemed to rise from his feet and rushed through the rest of his body making him sweat. An inescapable panic settled through him that made him want to scream, but no voice escaped. Then a sheet of ice layered over his body, making him feel comfortable for a moment, until it began to burn and chip into his skin, freezing the very blood that pumps into his veins.

He wanted to fall, wanted to run, wanted to scream, and yes, even wanted to cry shameful tears of agony, until he felt himself dipped into a warm spring of water. The feeling of warmth and security wrapped around him, until it slipped away like the finest silk, to reveal a world so familiar, but different as to be called strange.

"Father! You dare shame our family name and blood by actually considering of taking a human for a mate!"

"Do not raise your voice like that to me. You may think you are old and wise, much more or so than me, but if anything, you have much to learn." The boy that looked to be no older than 15 glared up at the man beside him.

The man was tall, his body lean and masculine, his face was long but not entirely slender. His nose curved into a slope, his cheeks bore three dark purple/navy lines upon them signifying him to be a Yukai. His amber eyes held dominance, strength, patience, and kindness in them. His long silver hair flowed down in gracious streams. His skin was a bronze, his hands calloused, Right wrist holding three purple crescents, his clothes simple but made of fine cloth. He held himself up with dignity and humbleness.

The boy besides him looked similar in as many ways as different. His white hair was rebelliously cut to a short tasseled length, his face long and slender, holding an almost womanly quality, forehead adorned with a sliver of a purple moon, nose similar to the man's but did not curve as much, the cheeks held two crescents of pink. Amber eyes defiant and cold. Right wrist with three purple crescents. His clothes seemed to suit him wrongly, as he was garbed in a princes outfit of white, gold, and red; as if he belonged in something more dominant, or strong, like a warriors outfit.

"I will not call her mother."

"I did not ask you to, however, you will show courtesy to her, and treat her decently and with the utmost respect."

"I don't see why, she is only a filthy human." The larger man sighed.

"You will do well to keep such comments to yourself." The boy merely glared at the path in front of him.

Inuyasha stared; his mouth gaped open as the two walked past him on the garden path.

This can't be...that...it's impossible...there is no way...this place...can't be...

"Where in seven hells am I?"

"You my friend are in the past. Can't be heard, felt, nor, seen, but you can watch it all unfurl before you." Inuyasha turned to Keio who was standing besides him.

"Than that really..."

"Yup. You better believe it. They were your brother Sesshoumaru and the great InuTaisho...your father. I must say, you and your father bare more resemblance to each other than your brother does." Inuyasha felt sick to his stomach. Weather from excitement, or dread, he wasn't sure.

Authors Ending Note: Umm...I guess by Sesshoumaru...I didn't clarify that it would be him in the present. (te he)

Next Chapter-Teachings of the Two Swords. Mystery, past, present, relationship, hardship, and deep feelings.