Author's Note: As a warning, Sesshoumaru may be a bit out of character in this chapter, the reasons being that I don't have a suitable amount of experience when it comes to writing with him and that he is letting off a terrible emotional burden he's been carrying for 200 years. That's all.

"I'm not the one who's gonna die here, Sesshoumaru," Growled Inuyasha as he took Tetsusaiga in hand, a satisfied smirk tugging at his lips while the weapon transformed for him once more, "But you're going to have the honour of getting cut up by the Tetsusaiga, the sword you so dearly want. You just can't handle losing out because you got a sword that can't cut."

"The Tetsusaiga is my birthright, half-breed," Sesshoumaru finally lunged at Inuyasha, using his Tokijin to drive the Tetsusaiga back, causing Inuyasha to grunt with the effort it took to repel his elder brother, "And today it shall remain in my hands, permanently. You never stood a chance from the moment you laid eyes on me."

"Words are cheap, let your own sword do the talking!" Inuyasha launched his own attack against the other demon, though sadly he missed as Sesshoumaru used his speed to get out of the attack's path. Inuyasha then cursed under his breath before blinking to see Sesshoumaru had gone, did he run away? But maybe he was hiding and waiting to attack-

"Osuwari!"

Cruelly was he crushed into the ground by the enchanted beads, almost immediately he moved to his feet, and was about to shout at Kouga when he noticed that Sesshoumaru had his back turned, as if he had just jumped right over him...oh! "You're actually good for somethin', Kouga! Thanks for the save!"

"You are not worthy of father's mighty Tetsusaiga if you have to rely on the aid of another to defeat me, Inuyasha!" Sesshoumaru glared angrily as he once again began his assault, Inuyasha being forced to do everything in his power to stave the other off. This was insane, he still didn't get why Sesshoumaru hated him so much? Sure, he got the more powerful of the two swords their father had left behind, and he also cut off the other's left arm...okay. Sesshoumaru did have reasons to hate him so, but to the point to always come after him for the sheer purpose of taking his life? "I shall be the one to destroy you, for causing father's death!"

"What the hell are you talking about? I didn't kill him! I don't even know what he looked like!" Inuyasha felt confusion well up in his chest as he fought with his half-brother, being forced to use the Tetsusaiga to block every blow Sesshoumaru threw at him. He was losing concentration, otherwise Inuyasha would have been hit by now... "You're out of your tree! I didn't do anything!"

"You were born, weren't you?" Inuyasha couldn't help but be surprised, he had never seen this much emotion come from Sesshoumaru in any of the times he'd seen the other, he was always so cold and never showing anything past mere resentment when he tried to kill him before, "It was because of you and your human mother that he died! He was wounded from fighting Ryukotsusei, right before he came to your mother's palace and saved both of your lives at the cost of his own! On the night you were born!"

He felt his eyes widen with shock at the other demon's words as he blankly continued to fight, just barely dodging and blocking the continual onslaught he was faced with while this processed in his head. Their father, he had died to protect him and his mother, Izayoi? What exactly had happened on that night though...

"You're blaming me for something that was entirely out of my control? You really are pathetic, Sesshoumaru!" Inuyasha finally came to his senses and thrusted the Tetsusaiga forward, a bit of cruel satisfaction welling up within him as he saw the blade pierce Sesshoumaru's right arm, "It was the old man's decision to come for my mother, if you can't handle the reminder then just leave! I'm not interested in playing these games with you!"

"Games?" Sesshoumaru let out a hollow laugh as he shook his head, jumping back to avoid yet another one of Inuyasha's attacks, "You think this is a game? No, you'll die here, Inuyasha. And I am going to be the one who finally sends you to the grave! This is the last time you'll be in my way, you filthy half-demon!"

There was a hot, white flash that went in front of Inuyasha's eyes as he felt Tokijin go through his right thigh, his body inevitably crashing against the ground, Sesshoumaru having withdrawn the demonic blade before then. Tetsusaiga, it had slipped out of his reach, if only he could grab it...however, he winced when his wrist was stepped on by the other, a small grunt leaving him as Sesshoumaru put his weight into keeping his wrist on the ground, "And thus is the great Inuyasha defeated by Sesshoumaru, ruler of the western lands. Here...is where you repent for your sins of the past."

At least Sesshoumaru seemed to have calmed down back into his state of constant resentment. Inuyasha let that thought pass through his mind grimly as he looked up to the demon above him, seeing the Tokijin being raised above him and just beginning to come down...

However, before he could even blink, Kouga was above him, legs shaking as he had caught Sesshoumaru's weapon in his hand, blood trickling down both of his arms as a result, "Like hell I'm gonna let you kill him without a fight, you stinkin' dog," Kouga growled in an furious, low tone, which made even Inuyasha shiver in fear. It was that anger again, the same anger that had been used against Ayame when she insulted him. And once again, Inuyasha couldn't help but feel relieved he wasn't on the receiving end of Kouga's fury.

"Then you die as well, Kouga of the wolf demon tribe," Sesshoumaru hissed as he jumped back, quickly followed by Kouga as they began a clash of their own. Sitting up, Inuyasha couldn't help but wince as pain shot up his thigh, but he forced himself not to blink as the other two demons went at it, not even protesting as he felt the combined efforts of Totosai and Kirara helping him to his feet. They were both so fast, there was no way he could even hope to compete with their speed...

At long last, the two were broken apart, standing on opposite sides of the clearing and breathing hard while looks of utmost loathing were shot at each other. The more he watched their clash (up to this point), the more Inuyasha realized the limits of his own strength, even with the Tetsusaiga. He'd be no match for either of them, and Sesshoumaru didn't even have any shards of the Shikon no Tama...maybe he really was unworthy of the Tetsusaiga, and because of his human blood, he was completely inferior to the pair of them...

"Are you impressed yet, Inuyasha?" Blinking and looking to his left, he could see the tiny, pitless and unblinking eyes of Totosai looking at the battle effortlessly, as if he had no trouble keeping up with the pair's speed when they began to fight again, "Your father could have taken both of them on and win without a scratch. This only proves how far you have to go in order to be truly powerful, Inuyasha."

"...you're right, old man," Mumbled Inuyasha as he concentrated his gaze onto the ground, a small chuckle escaping his throat. He'd be no match for either of them in battle, let alone both of them together, but... "But I have one thing none of them have. Not my father, not Kouga, not Sesshoumaru, none of them have it. And that's my human blood..."

"And your heart," Totosai nodded as he looked on at the continuing battle, making Inuyasha feel mixed surprise and confusion as he turned his glance back to the old man, "It's because of your blood that you can wield Tetsusaiga in the first place, that's something Sesshoumaru and Kouga will never be able to do until they're at least as strong as your father. But...your heart is what makes you stronger than them. Your ability to love, and to feel pain for the fallen, your compassion drives you onward, does it not?"

"Totosai..." Unbelieving that the old man could even muster such a speech, Inuyasha could think of nothing that he could say in response, for these words had stunned him and pierced him through the heart. It was true...not even Kouga had as much compassion as he did, though he had no doubts about his father having such a quality. After all, what else could have driven the mighty dog demon to save both his son and his wife at the cost of his own life?

Inuyasha was brought back to reality quite suddenly when Kouga's yelp of pain reached his ear, and before his eyes, Kouga was forced onto the ground, sliding several metres away from Sesshoumaru. Without a second thought did Inuyasha jump back into battle, and even if his pacing was a bit shaky with his injured thigh, he still reached his fallen lover rather quickly, "You okay there, Kouga?"

"I'm fine, mutt-face. But your brother doesn't look so good," With a smirk did Kouga say the words, causing Inuyasha to blink before he turned to look at the said sibling, feeling a grimace pulling at his features when his eyes drunk in the sight.

Sesshoumaru was soaked in blood, his stance slightly wider than normal as he panted heavily, glaring at the pair before him. Not to mention all of the cuts on his clothing, the grip on his demonic blade shaking while formerly silver hair clung onto the wounds on his face, chest, and back. Kouga really did a number on him...

"I'll finish this once and for all," Inuyasha mumbled as he got to his feet, bolting to grab the fallen Tetsusaiga as Sesshoumaru began his pursuit once more, "Prepare to meet our old man, Sesshoumaru!"