12/5/05 (A/N: Inspiration has struck!)

After Sesshomaru had taken Rin and buried her, his lonesome journey continued. He had abandoned Jaken, more like shouted at him out of his own frustration of his failure. But Jaken had reassured his lord that it was not a failure, not even a loss. Sesshomaru didn't want to hear that. And on a note neither did Jaken but he thought that was what Sesshomaru desired. Not that he ever asked for comfort or reassurance. So at that he left Jaken somewhere and started to the north. Where it was cold and isolated, just like he was. He had managed to keep all his feelings of sadness and grief inside and not allow them escape. Less he fall weak under any circumstance. In the distance he caught the scent of something he wasn't too pleased with. That filthy half breed. He grunted. Hoping that the smell would dissipate into the wind and not cross his path.

But it did not disappear into the air. Sesshomaru stopped at a magnolia tree. With his eyes closed he tilted his nose to the constant breeze. He raised his hand, molded it into a fist and slammed it against the trunk of the tree. The second after he let his hand off the tree, Inuyasha, the incompetent idiot that he is, lost his balance and feel hard on the ground.

"WHAT THE HELL DID YA DO THAT FOR!" He scolded rubbing his head.

"Did you want something from me Inuyasha?"

"Huh? What makes you think I want something?"

"Because" Sesshomaru turned to Inuyasha. "You've been following me for several miles" He could tell Inuyasha wanted to protest, insisting that he was being delirious and it wasn't true. But they both knew it was true. So for a moment later he stayed silent. "Well?" Not a word. "Fine then…if you insist on staying around I shall have to kill you" Lighting fast Tokijin was unleashed…but not at Inuyasha's throat as Sesshomaru had imagined. His eyes shot down to a groveling stance Sesshomaru had never witnessed from his younger. "What's this? My little brother…on his knees?" A growl admitted from the back of his throat, Inuyasha moved his arms to where he would get up, but Sesshomaru shoved him back down with his foot. "No…" Sesshomaru started. "You would never, you do want something from me. Oh how much pride must be running down your throat and into your belly for doing something like this. Submitting to your elder…your better"

"Please" Inuyasha began. "I do need something from you, but it is not for myself" He sighed deeply and looked up at Sesshomaru, for he knew it would give him great satisfaction. And he needed for him to be on his good side. "Sesshomaru…if you do this for me I will allow you to kill me after I've carried out my last duty"

Sesshomaru's brow raised in confusion. "You're foolish, since when do you have duties?"

"Let me explain myself." Sesshomaru lifted Tokijin and looked down to Inuyasha, matching both golden stares.

"What is this about?"

"Since Kagome died.." His voice trailed off for a moment, but he collected himself and spoke quickly. "I need to tell her mother, her family. But I don't want to face them. I can't, I failed her. So would you….Write them a letter, instructing on what happened?"

"Your pathetic."

Inuyasha lifted his body more "What'd you say!"

"Not only are you pleading to me, but your not man enough to face the family of the woman you once loved? You can't even tell them yourself, no thanks but I wont waste my time"

Inuyasha's fist met with the ground but soon retracted into his elder's foot. "It's not that I don't want to face them…it's that I can't. I can't tell them how I had to watch Kagome die and…" Tears were born in his eyes but quickly shut tight so they would not escape. "So I beg of you…Please… do this for me…for Kagome."

Sesshomaru lifted his foot from Inuyasha's entrapment. With his cold voice he replied "No. I will not do as you ask"

"IF NOT FOR HER THAN FOR RIN!"

"What did you say?"

Inuyasha was rapidly breathing and stood now on both feet. "Kagome tried her hardest to save Rin in your absence. Without her…Naraku would have long killed her before. So I ask you….please"

Sesshomaru stopped for a moment. He knew what Inuyasha was saying was in fact very true. And for that he was grateful for Kagome's assistance. One of his principles was to honor those who had honored you in return. She had. By helping Rin with no questions or commands.

"Give me a parchment and quill"

Inuyasha waited impatiently for Sesshomaru to finish his explanation and condolences to Kagome's family. His foot tapped like a humming bird's wings. And to no end annoyed Sesshomaru but, he discarded it and continued writing.

"What's taking so long?"

"Do honestly think you have room to be complaining? And I'm slower writing with my right hand, I used to write with my left" He shot a glare at Inuyasha, and how he was not effected by the pervious statement. Of course he was…he still had both of his arms. Sesshomaru held out the yellow looking paper, examined it once last time and folded it. "Here now be off with you"

"Wait…I said you could kill me if you-"

"What do you take me for? Do you really believe that I would do that? If I kill you Inuyasha, it will be because I chose to or that you actually challenge me."

The sun rose what seemed like hours early, but none the less Sesshomaru woke, mostly because he couldn't get the last couple of weeks out of his head. His thought shifted from Rin's pleading of death to Naraku's horrid behavior. Along with his emotions, sadness to loathing. He wasn't sure which one he should feel more. If either of them. He didn't want to acknowledge their existence. Unlike most demon lords of his age, Sesshomaru preferred to sleep outside. Others assumed it was because of his dog nature, but the reality of it was that he hated sleeping in taverns or geisha houses. They mostly smelt of sex or just other demons. Which both he despised. Out in the forest or mountains, there was clear air, not tainted by smut and other auras. But more importantly, Rin loved to hear the birds in the morning. Or the sound of running water. Often mentioned it was the sound of her lord's heart that set her asleep.

He carried on with his traveling to the high mountains of Shizu. There he could rest better and heal from Naraku's toxins. His head shook in slight disillusionment. It was faint, perhaps it was the cold air rushing through him too fast. He filled his chest cavity with crisp air and continued on.

His path was obstructed, by humans no less. His eyes narrowed as he saw most of them were scared out of their minds facing him. "What is your purpose?"

A much heaver man on a horse came forward. "No demons allowed pass this point."

Sesshomaru had not caught their scent before hand, which meant he was worse off then he had first thought. "Need I remind you…humans that this territory belongs to demons. Insignificant creatures such as yourself could not match to their strength"

The man laughed, encouraging his followers join him. They did but in an uncertain tone. "You're under arrest for insulting a superior"

"Superior!" The other humans held staffs with weak blades and moved toward him. He flicked his fingers until they glowed into a metallic yellow, soon from it a whip was born and unleashed upon the poor souls that dare challenge it. He left the leader alive. "I ask you again" His tone raised in a yell "MOVE" Sesshomaru never asked anyone, he commanded or killed them. This man did not move. He saw fear in his eyes but he suspected it was because someone else…someone stronger had instructed him not to let him pass. A narcotic was released into the air. One that made Sesshomaru's insides churn and welt up. But did his best to hide it.

But his nose couldn't take much more of this. It was not only making him sick but forcing his muscles to contract and grow into his larger beast. He tried holding back, ignoring it, but it was very strong, and his body was finding it easier to give into it's effect. Sesshomaru's mind however, refused. After several minutes of fighting his transformation not to come, it did. So he charged forth and trampled over the large man and ripped his horse to shreds. Higher he climbed into the mountains, swift his feet were but the strain growing with seconds. To his last resort he plunged into a cold river to shake off the smell.

For what seemed almost an hour Sesshomaru shot from the freezing water and took in air again. Resurfacing was more work than he imagined. Pulling himself on the shore he flipped on his back. Harsh and fast breathing was all he could accomplish for now. So in the sunset he just lay, making sure he was alive and no other advisories were around to see him in this condition. In this he did soon realized that he was naked. He grunted at that thought. 'Damn' His eyes fluttered open and against the sun was a figure standing before him. He gripped the earth beneath him.

His senses were off but he was sure that…it was a demon. Closer the shadow walked to him, no longer a dark figure but that of a full grown woman. Hair black as night with the color of water running through it. She kneeled down to him, Sesshomaru had no strength to pull away or move so he helplessly lay. Hoping she'd either show mercy or indifference and leave. She did not. He finally saw her eyes. Also blue but piercing like his gold ones. And just as dangerous from what he saw.

"So beautiful" She said, draping a hand down his neck. "Yes, you may have killed them but they defiantly made you weaker" A smirk came to her grin, as Sesshomaru finally realized she had planned on capturing him. "You were hard to capture but I finally have you…my slave" He had just about reached to attack her but, she pressed her claw into his neck pressure point, and he had fainted.

The next time Sesshomaru came around, he found that he was chained to a stone wall his back was to. Around his neck and mid torso was a cold metal brace. As expected he struggled for a bid but gave up minutes later. His nose twitched, jerking his head to his right he noticed, that only one cage over was his little brother laying out cold.

(A/N: Phew that wasn't easy…thanks guys for reading)