Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.....

Simple Lies

Chapter Twelve: Memories of Betrayal, Welcome Back!

Chasing down the raven-haired girl whom owed to him an explanation, when suddenly he came colliding into a solid wall of flesh and then proceeded to land on his bottom. Mustering up as much dignity as he could, Inuyasha stood fully intending to rip this the wall of flesh a new one only to have the words die upon his lips, eyes widening, and a slight blush of embarrassment at whom it was.

Sesshoumaru.

Opening and closing his mouth a few times, Inuyasha tried to banish the blush from his cheeks, and calm himself down enough to demand what his brother wanted. Or anything really to rid himself of the awkward moment and silence. Though it didn't help much that his brother wore a look of pure amusement beneath his normally cold mask façade. With a well-placed glare, arms coming to cross over his chest, Inuyasha demanded. "What the hell do you want, keh, can't you see I'm busy."

Outwardly Sesshoumaru face showed not an inch of what he truly felt in that moment, well all save for his eyes. In that moment when his brother collided with him only to end up sprawled about the floor, he had known no greater amusement in his life. Normally Inuyasha, despite his childish way, would never be caught unawares and he had fully expected the hanyou to maneuver his way around him, not for him to try and bowl right through him. The only thing was that the older youkai could tell his brother did not scent him, and, judging by the look of absolute surprise when there eyes met, he would say did not see him there even though he was right before his very own eyes.

Sesshoumaru chuckled dryly. "I can see that, but if your not too busy running into people perhaps you would wish to speak to me about this." With that he reached with in his robes and pulled forth a parcel and tossed it to the inu-hanyou, watching with none blinking eyes as he caught it single handedly. "I was quite surprised when the weasels came and brought me this tidbit of information, but the complaints that followed it were of no shock. Though I must say the work is quite good, all you need to do is write up a few more documents to make it binding..." He brought the word out. "Though I must say it dose surprise me greatly that you even made time to write up what you did manage, normally you would have found anything at all to occupy your time. Dare I say dear brother, that you may have finally matured a bit, or is it this situation finally opened your eyes to your importance to the kingdom."

Inuyasha pulled the parchments from the parcel they were placed within, his eyes skimming over the words written by his own hand while he listened with one ear to his brother's voice. The words were thin and wispy, easy for his eyes and perhaps his brother's to read, others, because the words were drawn so small and so close together would have had trouble deciphering some of the kanji. As he read the details he wrote not long ago detailing the conditions around the shelter for the poor, he, himself decided to fund, Inuyasha couldn't help but smile as the words "the weasel's", as they were a personal joke between the two brothers. From the time they were able to understand the workings of the hierarchy, they then saw the counsel men for what they were, power hungry slime balls... in other words, weasels. Yep, that was the personal nickname thought up lovingly for them by the two-youkai brothers.

Inuyasha brought his eyes up from his papers at Sesshoumaru's last words. "Well what did you expect me to do, hear something like that and do nothing?" He shook his head, and brought the parchments back in within parcel he handed it back over to his brother, which the older youkai excepted with a nod of his head placing them into the folds of his kimono. "Look did you see that girl came around here, you know Kagome?" He questioned.

Sesshoumaru cocked his head to the side, a small sly smile upon his lips. "Now dear brother, why would you be looking for the young miko?" He raised a brow, eying him suggestively.

With a glare that would have sent most running for the hills, Inuyasha replied. "She owes me an explanation as to how she came to have two pups." He grumbled, not entirely sure as to why he even gave his brother's question a response. Normally he would have just side stepped the older youkai and continued on hunting his prey. "Not that it's any of your business!" He shouted immediately after.

He paid no mind to the outburst, but rather what was said before it. "She's already mated?" He asked, disappointment layering his words slightly, and here he had been looking forward to having the miko as a sister-in-law. Shaking his head of the thoughts, Sesshoumaru went on to inquire. "Are you sure?"

"What! No, she's not mated, she's just got two pups that don't even share her blood." He added, just to make sure he did not give his brother the wrong idea about his raven-haired personal maid. Deciding that he had, indeed, spoken enough about said subject Inuyasha then sidestepped his brother using his youkai speed as a means to further himself from Sesshoumaru and nearer himself towards his goal. The answers he craved from Kagome, or, at least part of them. He doubted he would get the answers to the hundreds of questions that plagued his thoughts on a constant basis since her arrival, but at least he had some hope of getting them when Kikyou returned.

Coming to stop in the middle of the western side of the castle only to take the time to sniff out her scent. Pick wisps of the sweet smelling scent that could only belong to Kagome, Inuyasha traced the wisps of scent blowing in in the wind from the western point of where he know stood. His demon blood boiled beneath the surface of his bronze toned skin, calling out in excitement. It was a strange feeling, hunting down this girl gave him, and he wasn't quite sure on what to make of it. He had never experienced such a feeling before, well except when hunting for his prey out in wilds of his father's lands. Inuyasha's brow rose, an understanding dawning upon him and he grinned a feral smile.

She was his prey, and he was hunting her down just like he had done before on several occasions when scouring the well traveled hunting grounds of their lands, though the feeling he noticed was slightly different it didn't matter. She was his prey, he needed the information from her, thus making him the hunter whom would corner her and move in for the kill.

Now that he had found a new light to adrenaline pumping through his veins, Inuyasha took off once again at a faster pace no longer needing his nose to find the miko girl. He knew where she was, and though it took the fun out of the hunt, it served to lessen his time in getting to her thus giving more time for the upcoming battle to prepare for. And, he thought clenching his clawed hand into a fist, more time to prepare for my time of venerability.

Every new moon of each month Inuyasha transformed into a... human. He hated it, despised it. He did not desire to feel the weakness, the emotions, and venerability his human side brought to him. The only part of the whole deal that kept him from despising the transformation entirely would be the fact that his brother and father both agreed that he looked more like his mother during that time. He loves his mother dearly, she was the only one there for him in his earlier years... he only had her back then...

-

-

Isolated away from the rest of the village was a lone solitary hut surrounded in the wilds towards the eastern borders of the westerns lands. The hut itself was of moderate size as not to attract much attention, and when one got close enough they would see a cleared path towards the entrance. To either side of the path were a myriad of flowers, herbs and edible vegetation.

What was the purpose of this well hidden hut?

The lands of Japan were at unrest, and the subject, the reason for that unrest... hanyous. Humans feared them for their demonic blood, and demons shunned them for they're weak human blood. While humans tried to, shamefully, kill them when they were too young to defend themselves, demons hunted them down by the time they were old enough for their instincts to help them fight. Mainly, many, on both sides, sought to commit complete genocide upon this new tainted race.

Why was this hidden hut here, what was its purpose? The point was to hide an inu-hanyou and his mother, but not just any hanyou-child and mother but the Queen of the western lands and the young prince. Yes, they took residency here in this hut for their own protection as well as to pacify the demon lord's worried mind and heart. For once the acts against hanyous started did this mighty youkai come in and take charge. His son was hanyou, and a prince, he would not have to live the life of being shunned for his heritage, have to live his life in fear of losing it to some genocidal pond-scum maniac.

So for this reason, as well as so that others would not have to behold a similar fate, and this reason only did the taiyoukai of the western lands go forth to fight for the new race. A race that most youkai would deem a tainted mistake in the workings of mankind, while mankind saw it as the mistakes of the demon world.

Inuyasha…

That is the name of the hanyou child that claims residency here along with his mother and only friend. Out side the hut Inuyasha and the said friend lay back in a small field of flowers, the gentle wind cooling down their sweat-slicked faces after a hard game of tag. They lay in silence their small stomachs rising and falling slowly with each breath, eyes, one pair golden and the other a deep onyx, staring listlessly upon the smoky aqua blue sky.

Inuyasha never understood why people seemed to hate him so much; he had never lifted a claw against any of them. He brought his hands before his face studying them intently. They were small and chubby like any four year-olds would be, just like his friend's hands, but his sported ten deadly claws; five for each hand. They weren't quite like his brother's hands, but more like his father's. At lest that is what his mother claims. He on the other hand wouldn't mind one way or the other, as he admired both of them. They were always so strong, and they care about him when every one else seemed to hate him for some reason or another.

The young hanyou's eyes slide to examine his friend. Yep, their hands were completely the same and yet completely different. They weren't the only differences, where his friend had ears were all humans have them Inuyasha sported two dog like ears. Where his friend had the normal coloring for a human of the western lands, he had golden eyes and silverish-white hair. He was also a lot stronger then a normal human child, most humans were afraid he'd hurt them, but not his friend. No, his friend was not afraid of him and that made Inuyasha's small heart fill with joy. It proved that not every human hated him, and gave the small child a sliver of hope that there may be another out there whom did not hate him as well.

Inuyasha's puppy ears, as his mother called them, drooped in slight defection. All the demons but his father and brother wanted to kill him, and that is why he had to hide at this place. His Oyaji and Aniki were working to make their home safer, to make the demons leave him be and no longer seek his life. Inuyasha swallowed hard so that the whine that wished to issue fourth would not do so. He did not understand! Why did they all wish to kill him so, what did he do? The hanyou always was a good boy to make his mother happy; he was a good boy, so why did they hate him?

Better yet, why did the town's people and those of castle call him half-bread, freak, and a dirty mutt? There where so many other words they used in reference to him that it was impossible for his small childish mind to remember. Why did his mother shed tears when he asked her what they meant? He did not understand, but he wished he could then he would be able to fix it. His mother would not longer be sad and they could live back in the castle with the rest of their family.

Inuyasha sat up from his prone position, in a few moments the sky would be black from the lack in sunlight. He would be human then. He loved his transformation, as it would make him look like the villagers. On nights such as this one, when he went into the village they did not throw stones at him like usual. They were nice to him, the children would allow him to join in on their games and the adults would give him treats because of his gray-violet eyes. Every one loved his human eyes because they were so unique. No one had them.

"Hey, Hikari, you want to visit the village after I turn human again, or do you want to do something else?" He asked the older boy; two years older then Inuyasha, Hikari stood about a few inches taller his sleek black hair chopped just above his ears. "I'll be human in a few minutes." The hanyou added.

Hikari seemed to think on that a moment, before nodding. "Yeah, but we got to ask your mom first, okay." His friend told him in that strange slurred accent of his. "We don't want her to worry about us, and we don't want to get in trouble either."

Inuyasha agreed, he hated to make his mother worry. She always got so sad; she didn't want to lose him. With a muffled gasp, as he had tried to swallow it, Inuyasha's wide amber eyes flew to his hands as his aura began to pulse. Inuyasha watched, in strange fascination, as his clawed hand became that of a normal human one, his body grew a tad smaller while his eyes became that gray-violet everyone seemed to love. Last, but not least, his puppy ears-as his mother calls them-shrank into nothingness as human ears appeared to either side of his head like they should be. His silvery-white tresses were now a stark black that cascaded down his backside.

Standing from his spot upon the ground, Inuyasha offered his now negin hand to his best friend, his only friend, helping him to stand as well. Becoming human on the new moons always left Inuyasha feeling incomplete. It was probably due to the fact that in his human form all of his senses dulled, making him feel less then himself. It was for this reason that Inuyasha went into hiding, for if a demon were to attack he would not be able to defend himself as well and would mostly forfeit his life.

On such nights as these, at the castle, Inuyasha would spend his human times hidden away in his room, never allowed to step outside. For his father feared other demons would learn of his time of vulnerability, therefore Inuyasha never left the safety his room provided him. Sesshoumaru, when he was not busy, because of this fact, he would spend the nights of the new moon within his brother's quarters usually playing 'hide and seek'. Due to the fact that Inuyasha had problems playing such a game during this time, because of this loss in senses when he became human, Sesshoumaru forwent using his demonic abilities. Something for which Inuyasha truly found himself grateful. If not for that, then the younger brother would have never found the elder.

Pushing such reminiscing from his young mind, the now eight-year-old Inuyasha set off to find his good friend Hikari. Four years the hanyou has spent in hiding away at this hut isolated away from the furthest village of the western lands. Why this village, you may ask? He never understood then, but the demons of the west always thought to look closer to home for the young hanyou prince of the western kingdom. He was too young to understand then, but Inuyasha understood now. He knew, he was able to comprehend now, the meaning of the words half-breed, hanyou, and mutt and so many more that were thrown to him on a daily basis.

He was tainted with the blood of both human and demon.

He was weak because of his human blood, to demons he deserved to die for that reason alone. He was a weakened taint on their bloodline. The bloodline of youkai.

He was a monster because of his demon blood; to humans he should die for this reason alone. He was far too strong to be human; he could hurt other human children by barely lifting a finger. He was considered a taint to their bloodline. The bloodline of mankind.

He was tainted to bother sides of his blood, he was evil, he was weak, and he was an abomination, he should die... He was cast aside from the youkai race, as they would not have him, he was cast aside from the human race, as neither would they have him as well. He belong with no one, he was no one... that is what, in his small eight years of life, have come to learn.

Inuyasha frowned as he past the threshold of his home for the past four years, out into the small garden they had grown in the short, yet seemingly long, time. He was the only one of his kind, so he made a place from himself and in this place were his mother and best friend. Inuyasha planned, once they went back to the castle, to include his brother and father in this place of his. Not that he didn't already include them, but Inuyasha wanted to make sure they both wished to share in his place.

It was dark again, not even the moon to light up the pathway, and he was human. The villagers were still not wise to the fact that he is Inuyasha, the hanyou, just in human form. They still think that he is, Tashio, the human boy that lives with his human mother older brother Hikaru. When he was a hanyou visiting the village, which he rarely does anymore with the hostility that always seemed to meet up with him upon entering the village and falling upon their sights, he was the taint no one bothered to get to know and they just picked on him.

If he were still hanyou, his ears would be drooping right now and it was not only from the direction his thoughts were taking. He could not find his friend and it was dark, not to mention the new moon. If Hikari were to find trouble he would not be able to get him out of it very well with him being human. Unless of course, the threat to his friend, it was something that he, as a human, was able to handle. Still, with the luck that a hanyou such as himself seemed to have, he doubted that it were something he could handle, very much so but it didn't stop him from searching for the missing friend.

Looking back, with his now human eyes, at the obscured shapes in the darkness that would be his and his mother's hut, and felt torn as he turned back to look past the barrier, which he now stood at the foot of. On human nights he was not to leave, with out his mother knowing, what little protection he held from the outside world. Meaning the demons and humans that wished front row seats at his execution. Yes, he was old enough now to understand, and he understood; too many things, truly, about his world in this day and age.

Casting one last glance to the home he could barely see, Inuyasha walked forward and out of the protective barrier his mother had placed for him. Taking in a deep breath once both of his feet were on the other side, Inuyasha began his search. He did not call out, did not breath very loud, and moved with ruminating care as not to draw attention to himself. Humans may not recognize him in this state, but a demon surely would. He may smell human, but there was an underlying scent underneath it all that gave him away and thus the reason the barrier was erected in the first place. He didn't let that stop him.

Taking in a deep breath, before remembering he could not scent trace his friend, and growled in resignation. He would just have to find Hikaru on his own, using his now human senses to locate him. Inuyasha briefly wondered where, and what, his friend could be, and doing that would have kept him away for so long. He just hoped it wasn't the type of danger of being in the throws of battle with a bloodthirsty youkai. Deciding to go with common sense, rather then his natural sense, he decided the start the search for his friend near their favorite place in the forest that was near the springs to the north of their hut. If Hikari were anywhere it would most likely be there considering it was where most of their childhood memories were spent.

Letting his feet carry him to his destination, which would not take much of his time, Inuyasha was lost in his thoughts. He remembered the first time they happened upon the little grove. It held his favorite tree, next to the Goshinbouku in the castle's courtyard next to the shrine built to his great grandmother, to lounge in. He remember, on that day, they had wandered off the path to the village from the hut eventually getting themselves lost, he was human at the time and could not retrace their steps by scenting them out. It being so dark that they could hardly see, Inuyasha suggested they rest until morning so that he could find the way home and Hikari had agreed. When they awoke they found themselves in the middle of an apple tree grove, the springs just on the other side of it. They spent most of the morning there before deciding it would be best if they returned, knowing that his mother would be deathly worried for the both of them. He didn't get in much trouble, but was severely told never to do something so foolish again Inuyasha was probably six when that happened, and after seeing how upset he made his mother he never again went to the village after turning human.

No, he didn't stop his visits all together; he just waited until he was human before leaving a small shed built a few weeks after the said incident. His mother wished for him to remain at their little hut, but after he insisted his friends would miss him if he never returned on the full moons. Then he did not understand friends did care what you were only who you were, she caved in and insisted that he have at lest a place that he could hide away at until the transformation takes place and to stay at until the sun rises so that he had enough light to see his way home.

Inuyasha's human eyes searched as best they could in the dark for the signs they had left behind that told the location of their secret place for later uses. Not that he didn't remember where it was, its just that it was so dark out that he couldn't really tell where he was and the markers would be a welcomed help to point him in the right direction.

Finding them and fallowing them one by one soon brought him to his little grove, he paused. Something didn't feel right, and if he were hanyou instead of human at this point he might have an idea as to what it is. He slowed his gait to step after the other, eyes searching the grove for his friend while he debated over shouting for him or not. Did he want to alert whatever bad feeling he received from this place of his presence here? He wanted to find his only true friend, so tanking another step forward he opened his mouth to call out his name, only to have the words die out on his lips.

The chain of events that happened next, all went by in a matter of seconds. The moment he stepped forward to call out, Inuyasha was pulled up by his ankles, his world turning upside-down. It took him a moment to catch his breath and calm his startled heart before he was trying to reach for his feet to remove what bound him there.

He froze in his action, his heart speeding with fear once more as mad laughter cut through the silence. Inuyasha's eyes darted around looking for the source, wishing for the safety of his mother's arms and the company of his close friend, Hikaru. He was scared, even though he tried not to be, he couldn't help it. He was human now and couldn't defend himself and more then anything he wished for the protection of his older brother and his father.

Inuyasha squinted his eyes in the dark to make out the shadowy silhouette of his captors, and his eyes widened. Before him were the castle's head guard and his friend Hikaru, both with identical looks of malice. "Why are you doing this? I didn't do anything to you!" His eyes went to his friend, his best friend, pleading with him silently. "Hikari please help me, you're my best friend, my only friend." When he showed no sign of budging, no sign of coming to his rescue, Inuyasha thought he could feel tears come to his eyes. "Your my friend, why... how can you...?" He could feel his world spinning and it didn't help that he was currently hanging upside down.

Hikari stepped forward, his form changing into an older more demonic looking version of himself, and slapped the hanyou child across the face drawing thin lines of blood from the claws that now adorned his right hand. "Don't you dare call me friend you half-breed scum!" He hollered in a deeper voice then before, no longer did it hold that childlike innocence. He glared at the hanging hanyou with so much hate it was hard for the now human child to look his once friend in the eyes any longer. "Your a hanyou, a mutt, the scum of the earth and have no right to live in this world with the rest of us. You are a mistake, one that should not be heir to the throne of the western lands, you are a taint to the great blood of Inutashio and on the blood of the demon race. We are going to rectify that mistake by ending your life, little hanyou child." He hissed. "But before that were going to play a little game." His voice sly and void of any feeling that it once held, it made him shiver.

Inuyasha felt his heart clench tightly, before it broke in to many pieces. He hurt, his chest hurt so bad and Hikari hadn't even hit him yet, at lest not there. He didn't understand, they were friends, he always stood up for him, how could that have all been a lie? How could their friendship be false? How could Hikari have fooled him into believing they were friends? That he cared for him despite the rest of the world hating him for something he held no control over? If it were up to him he would be a demon, he would be stronger then everyone and no one would be able to hurt him this way again.

He forced down the tears, he would not cry for him. Hikari is not his friend, he never was, and he even said so. These thoughts still did not make the hurt go away. He was wrong, he thought that as long as he had his friend he belonged somewhere, that he had a place in this world. He had no friend, no place.... no he took that back he had his mother and only his mother. She seemed to be the only one to truly care for him. Inuyasha couldn't even be sure if his brother and father truly care for him, he hadn't seen them for four years and Hikaru was here with him all that time and he didn't care. How could he be sure they cared when he thought Hikaru did? Inuyasha stopped his line of thought as it made the pain in his chest worsen.

Gasping for breath when a fist, Hikaru's fist, connected with his face, Inuyasha stared into his eyes in disbelief. "Your are nothing." Another fist to his stomach, and he grunted trying to hold in the pain trying not to let it show. He must have failed seeing as Hikaru wore a look of such smug triumph. "You're worthless, and no one would ever have you. Not a hanyou, you deserve no happiness and only deserve death." With each harsh word spoken Hikaru delivered a punch to his smaller form, and it took everything for Inuyasha not to cry out his pain. Those words cut him, each one sending a dagger through his heart. These words were spoken to him through out his life when he visited the village in hanyou form, it never hurt then, at lest not this much. Hikaru was once his friend, and for him to be saying these things, it crushed his heart and soul even though he knew he should not allow it to do so. "And this is what I shall give you, hanyou, and you should be grateful I'm granting you this release."

Inuyasha could feel the blood trailing from his wounds, dripping to his face then down to the forest floor. He could feel extreme pain in his chest and knew that Hikaru at least broke a few ribs, and bruised his stomach pretty badly. His legs held a few slash marks that most likely matched the ones on his face, and he cringed when he heard the sound of a drawn sword. "Please don't do this, I thought we're friends." He pleaded, and winced when a fist connected to the already bruised flesh of his cheek.

"Don't you dare say that again, I would never befriend a hanyou. I only pretended to be so that I could find a weakness in you so that I might ride the world of you. The world will be a much better place with you gone." Lifting the blade in his right hand, he raised it above his head and brought it down with a vengeance while Inuyasha squeezed his eyes shut preparing for the pain that never came.

He waited and still it did not come, cracking an eye open and then both as his body was frozen in shock. There, holding Hikari's sword arm in a crushing grip was Sesshoumaru with his hard emotionless eyes boring into Hikari's promising much future pain for his friend. "Jiro... cut Inuyasha down while I deal with this pond scum." Sesshoumaru smirk cruelly at the confusion that crossed his young brother's betrayer of a friend. "That's right, he was never on your side. I always knew someone in the castle was plotting against Inuyasha and I had him spread his supposed dislike of him in hopes to ensnare the true culprit." He tightened his hold so that he could feel Hikaru's bones crush beneath his clawed grip. "My only regret is that I did not find you sooner, and now my brother has to live with the knowledge of betrayal at such young age and you being his friend at one point will not save you if that is what you think." Not turning his eyes from Hikaru, you never take your eyes of the enemy as it could mean your defeat, he called out to his half brother. "Turn your eyes Inuyasha, you should not see this."

Fallowing his brother's orders, he turned, and squeezed his eyes shut and his fists at his side closed when Hikaru's screams of torment reached his ears.

-

-

"Inuyasha, are you alright?"

Snapping himself from his agonizing past, Inuyasha noticed for the first time that he now stood before his quarters the doors wide open and he at it's entrance. Kagome stood before him, the two pups behind her peering at him curiously, and she with worry. He wondered briefly what his expression held, before wiping all emotions from his face. "Feh, of course I'm alright, you stupid girl. What would make you think otherwise?" Seeing her, it made the pain of his past experience worse, and the flashes of that night past through his mind once more. He would be doing that to her, if he continued on with his course in action, but he didn't want... Would she even try to kill her sister for the other half? Maybe, maybe he could talk Kikyou in to some other course and just maybe he wouldn't have to betray her.

He didn't want to be forced into choosing, but at this point in time with the memory so fresh in his mind now that he had relived it on the way to his room, Inuyasha was sure that Kikyou would be the one to not like his choice.

Kagome shrugged to his question, ignoring the insult, and placed her hand to his forehead checking for fever. "Your kind of pale, and you had this look on your face..." She trailed, not knowing how to explain the myriad of emotions she saw play across his face in the few moments that he stood in his doorway. "Amway, you seem to be fine now, maybe I was just imagining things."

"Yeah, maybe." He replied distractedly, his mind on other things right then. He still had to finish that journal that he found in his father's study about the Shikon no Tama, he needed to find out more about this jewel before he mad his decision, and more about his love's twin. It didn't help too much that there was a battle-taking place tomorrow, or that he was starting to care for Kagome. He did not want to see her in any pain, his demon blood demanding him to release his promise of getting the jewel back for Kikyou. Inuyasha only knew of a handful of people that truly did not care that he was of mixed blood, Kagome and her companions being some of those people and he knew that if he were to go through with this plan he would not only lose her companionship, but theirs as well. Not that he ever really spoke with them before, beside a small conversation in passing, but when they were around him he could never seen the disgust clouding their eyes like in most he had been in the presence of. They did not care if he touched them, they would not shrink away from him and he wasn't sure if he were ready to lose that.

The young miko watched him curiously, what was his problem; he was perfectly fine when she left him a bit ago? What happened between now and then for him to look so desolate, the air around him hummed with aura of someone in complete misery, distress and perhaps a twinge of anger. She could see the pain swimming in his eyes, and knew that she was not the only one as the two that hid behind her, she noticed, watched him with the same curiosity and knowing in their eyes. She also realized that Inuyasha was nowhere near trusting her enough to explain away the troubles plaguing his thoughts, and knew that she also felt the same. She would never trust anyone with her woes, unless they be Sango, Miroku and her two adopted sons and even they took a bit of time to gain her complete trust. After being betrayed by family, something that to her meant a sacred bound between her and Kikyou, she felt it hard to find it in herself to trust anyone.

Miroku took three weeks to gain her trust, and Sango nearly the same amount, even Shippo and Shiro took a bit of time. She wasn't taking any chances, even if they were only children, you never know, as Kanna, one of Naraku's minions, was only a couple of years older then Shippo. Even Kohaku, another child, was used by the evil baboon youkai to cause their group pain. You just could never be to sure about trusting someone these days, and Kagome refused to take chances and thus never gave her trust to easily to anyone. Thus Inuyasha would have to prove himself if he wanted her trust, unlike Sesshoumaru of whom she was forced into trusting. With that little mess there she dearly hopped not to get burned, she didn't think she would be able to take another disappointment like that.

Snapping back to the present, Kagome decided to try and distract him from his thoughts if she couldn't help him with them. "Uh..." Now what to say, she blushed a bit, here she was trying to take his mind off of whatever seemed to be brining him down and she couldn't think of a decent conversation. "Do you care if I ward your bedroom for tonight?" She inquired, and then berated herself for it as the hanyou turned his gaze on her suspiciously.

"And why would you need to do that?" He raised a brow in inquiry, his arms coming to cross over his chest.

"I would just feel better tonight if I did, that's all." She replied rather quickly, and that only succeeded in raising his suspicions. Just what was she planning on doing? Of all the times she spent in his quarters this week, she's never once felt the need to ward his rooms. Why was tonight of all nights so special?

"What's the real reason?" He demanded.

"That is my real reason!"

"No its not!"

"Yes it is!"

Shiro watched the two as they argued over giving a reason for his haha-ue to want to ward the lord's quarters, it was entertaining at first, but he soon decided he should end the spectacle. Taking a few steps forward out from behind her legs, Shiro pulled on Inuyasha's red hakama. Shiro looked up as golden eyes that matched his own looked down at him in question. "Tonight's the new moon, I become human today. Haha-ue just wants to protect me and make sure that I am safe, no one can know about this though, cause otherwise I'd be in danger." Shiro explained in a matter of fact tone of voice.

Kagome stared at him with shock in her eyes, they say that a child could see into the soul of a person and decide weather or not they were trustworthy. For Shiro to trust him so easily, it must mean that he can be… Should she risk things with Inuyasha, tell him the real reasoning behind her stay in the palace? Kagome shook her head, she was not ready for such a risk right then and would wait a while longer to see.

Inuyasha too was shock and debated on weather or not he, as well, should share that tonight Shiro would not be the only one human when the sun went down. Only to rethink the thought as soon as it processed in his mind. He respected the girl, as he was the heir to the western lands as well as hanyou and she still did not share her true reasoning with him, but Inuyasha still did not want to risk betrayal in such a way once more. He once told his best friend, a wolf in sheep's clothing, of his time of the month and even went as far as to show him the change. It only resulted in his near death, and the loss of one he thought that he could rely on, one that he thought would be there for him always only to find that he was wrong. No he would not risk such a thing again, never again.

With a defeated sigh, Inuyasha looked up in Kagome's gray-blue gaze and just sat there a moment, before replying. "Yeah, whatever, go ahead." He turned on his heels to exit, he would question her later and receive his answers. "Just make sure that I'll be able to enter once this is all done and over with." He requested as he walked on not once looking back. Maybe he could finish where he left of in the journal of the Shikon no Tama.

Kagome watched his retreating back with the barest hint of a smile, she knew something was up with but couldn't figure out quite what it was. She knew he would never tell her if she asked, trust being an issue between them, but maybe she could do something to lessen the pain that he seems to keep locked away within himself. "As long as you bare no ill will towards anyone in this room you won't have a problem." She called after his retreating for, knowing full well that his hanyou ears would hear her words. "If you do then the barrier will throw you clear across the room, so I'd be careful coming in here tonight." If he heard her words at all he gave no sign of it.

With a shake of her head, Kagome set about to getting the wards in place, though she would have to see Miroku about certain herbs that she did not have up there with her and perhaps some more odufua's though she was pretty sure she had enough. Another glance at where the hanyou left and she sighed, maybe his problem was the up coming battle. After today they would leave for the village, but Sango and Miroku would be leaving towards the border tonight sense it was further off though it shouldn't take them too long with Kirara's help. With a well-placed look at her two adopted sons she stated sternly. "You both stay put, I'll be right back." That said, Kagome took to the halls, but not before shutting the doors behind her, and went in search of the lecherous monk.

~*~

Sesshoumaru watched as Inuyasha speed off towards the western side of the palace, before shaking his head at the sight the hunting hanyou made. Only to grin when a scent caught his nose, and retracted his thoughts about Inuyasha. The hanyou was no worse when it came to courting his chosen mate, then he himself is. When it came to Rin, or at lest his father says so as he never misses a chance to point it out to him, he was like a village idiot. If anyone else had pointed that out to him they would've been nothing but melted down skin and bones from the poisonous claws he was gifted with at birth, Sesshoumaru mused. Though he hated to admit it, but his father is right about his interactions with Rin, or at lest most of the time.

When it came to the young girl, he usually stumbled over his words, rarely ever coming up with something suitable to say. If they were alone that's when it usually became worse, as in alone without a soul present, for it a servant was there he still found it in himself to be himself. The taiyoukai frowned to himself as he thought about the other suitors whom have come to claim Rin for their own; he needed to make an official claim before he lost her to someone else. It wasn't as if he could continue to kill, as in youkai courting rituals it was alright to kill off the competition, her suitors until he some how scrounged up the courage to make a verbal attempt. He wondered briefly if she even knew about the killings of her gentlemen callers.

Sighing Sesshoumaru moved to fallow the scent to the owner at his own leisurely pace. How was it that this girl made him, heir to the western lands whom is said to be colder then ice with the heart of stone and ever stoic, into a blundering buffoon? How was she able to make him feel as if he could do anything as long as he had her by his side? Most of all he didn't understand how she could enmesh her way so into his lifestyle that he could not comprehend the rest of his youkai life without her bubbly presence? He already figured out that if he lost her he would miss the way she could bright up his bad days with just the sound of her soft laughter.

He paused in his thoughts when he noticed they begin to sound like some love stricken fool, something he most certainly could never be. As he continued to walk he went on thinking about his Rin not matter how hard he tried to force in other matters, like dealing with the counsel, taking care of trades with other lands, and other such things that needed to be done with is parents gone. Even though he knew it was his brother's job this time around, he still wanted to make sure it was done right, no that he didn't trust Inuyasha it was just that the hanyou usually forgot certain matters or mixed things up a bit. He had to admit, though, the hanyou was doing a much better job then the last time he was left in charge.

He wondered if Rin was his favorite kimono, the red with the white blossoms along the edge and lush red obi, as he had not seen her at all this day before growling at his thought turn. He is supposed to be cold, damn it! He was not supposed to fell mushy things, and especially not for a human. He was supposed to hate all humans but his stepmother and half-brother, even though he thought about Inuyasha a more of a youkai then the latter. What was she doing to him?

"Sesshoumaru, what's wrong? You look a bit distressed." Rin's voice flowed from his side, and he had to use every ounce of control within him not to jump when he heard it. How did she always seem to appear without his notice? Better yet, how was she able to see exactly what he felt when none other has been able to penetrate his carefully constructed emotionless mask of indifference? It was quite aggravating sometimes, and others it was nice. He nodded to himself mentally as if in agreement with his assessment, yes, it was nice to have to someone who understood him well enough to see what it was he felt. His family has come close to seeing thought it, but none have mastered it like Rin has seemed to.

"Nothings is wrong Rin, I just have some things on my mind, especially with this upcoming battle I and my men will be frightening." He threw out there when he knew perfectly well his cause of distress were the strange and unfamiliar feelings he was having for a certain someone standing off to his side. He could never tell her that, especially when she had no idea that he officially wished to make her, his.

She grinned at the mention of the battle. "I know that this is all serious, but I find it exciting that Kagome-chan will be fighting in it. I don't think that I would have the courage to do such thing. I know I would have no trouble defending myself against the enemy, but knowing how to fight and actually doing so out one the battlefield are two very different things. I admire her for doing this, her and Sango-chan. Even though I've never really spoken to Sango, I find her rather nice and pleasant conversation." She giggled slightly, a turned a sideways glance to her company. "You're parents should be here soon, do you think that your father will be joining you this fight?"

Sesshoumaru shrugged, something uncharacteristic of him, but he seemed to have a lot of those moments around Rin. "Since this is against Naraku, and not some senseless power struggle against a greedy lord, I am sure that my father will be joining Inuyasha and I out there. That is part of the reason he is returning early then normal, so that he may be let in on the plans for this fight." He explained.

"I figured as much." She supplied. "Your father was never one to be left out of a fight anyway, besides I thought that you might like to know that your father had a man ride a bit ahead to tell us that they are about a few minutes away. If you want to walked down to the northern gates, I'd be happy to accompany you there if you wish it." She announced hopefully.

Sesshoumaru grinned inside, taking her arm on his own. "I'd feel most honored for you to accompany me lady Rin." And then cursed himself for sounding, again, like a lovesick fool.

~*~

Inutashio glanced sideways at his wife as she watched the trees and growth as the rode by, and grinned madly to himself. Though he wished their stay were a bit longer, he couldn't say that he didn't have a nice rest this time around. A very nice rest in deed. One of the best rests he's had in a long while, and dearly wished to make Naraku pay for cutting his get away so short. Just the thought of the corrupt baboon sent him into a furry, and a low growl built up in his throat as he though about what the bastard pulled while he was on his way to pure bliss. His vacation away from the throne of course.

The girl, Kagome, was right about one thing so far. He did have use for the stone she gave him, or at least had Sesshoumaru give to him. He was curious though to see how the battle she and his sons came up with; for he had no doubt that they threw in and forcefully changed something with their input, stands up to others he has fought in his lifetime.

-

-

Inutashio watched as his son walked forward, accompanied by Ring, and smiled lightly. He was beginning to get impatient for his Son to make the girl his, he really wanted her in the family, he wanted to have the right to really call her his daughter. He couldn't help but believe she was right for him; heck when the girl was around Sesshoumaru actually had a heart. He thought that by giving him Tensiega he would accomplish that, no it actually took this slip of a girl, and know he wanted her for his daughter, and to have that his son and her needed to be mated and soon! "Father." Sesshoumaru began, and Inutashio shook himself from his thoughts to give the boy his full attention. "Kagome wished for you to have this, she has reason to believe that you may be attacked and that this might come in handy." Pulling from the folds of his kimono Inutashio took the pouch from his eldest son without peering into his contains and shoving it up his own sleeve going on to make the same speech he did ever time before he left only slightly altered a bit.

"Sesshoumaru I'm counting on you to set up the plan we have established, as well as inform your brother of it." He shook his head with a sigh. "Please make sure that Inuyasha doesn't blow of his duties to throne while we are away. Just thinking about the last time he was in charge... its enough to make me worry." He informed with half-hearted humor.

Sesshoumaru smiled at that, and then frowned. He remember the time very clearly, it was around the time his brother met Kikyou. He was so happy, like a pup that found a new toy. Inuyasha would disappear for hours on end, only to return with a smile on his face and a light step. He remembered being very happy for his younger brother, or at least that is until he met the girl. Sesshoumaru knew he did not like her from the moment he set eyes upon her. It had to be something in her scent and perhaps her eyes. He knew that the girl was going to break his brothers already fragile heart. Being a half-bread, like his brother was, humans and demons alike shun you. He had to smother the growl that wished to be released as he remembered the beating his brother received that he kept quite about, and the taunts. He knew why Inuyasha said nothing of them; it was a matter of pride. So that is why he, Sesshoumaru, took care of the matters with out his brother ever finding out. Except for the betrayal, as Inuyasha was there for that. If anyone were to harm his brother, it would be him, as that was the job of all older siblings.

The taiyoukai wasn't sure if Inuyasha truly loved Kikyou, or if it was just an infatuation with her because she did not push him away for being a hanyou. The girl was playing a dangerous game with his younger brother's heart, and if she managed to crumble it, she would rue the day she ever decided one making Inuyasha her target of information. "Yes, father, I will do so, you have my word." He bowed slightly, and then smiled letting it show upon his lips. "Although I do believe that Inuyasha could not make it to see you off, for such reasons as he intends to take things seriously this time. "He replied to his father's later sentiment, a tad bit of pride in his brother making way into his tone.

The king smiled as he held a hand out to Seiko, helping her within the carriage, before he himself claimed the seat beside her. "That is good to hear then." He reached out to shut the door. "You will send word should anything happen." It was not a question or request, but a demand and mere statement of fact. None the less, Sesshoumaru found himself nodding in agreement with his father, before he watched the carriage begin to move from the safety of the palace walls, guards flanking either side. Knowing that his son would here him he yelled out. "Be sure to take good care of Rin, and at lest wait until our return before you think of claiming her." Inutashio smirked to himself, imagining the light colored blush his words would have brought out in his very much stoic son while ducking the fist his wife aimed for his head.

"Inutashio!" She warned with a speaking glare, with a tinge of playfulness to it. "You keep that up and it be an even longer wait for him to claim her, she'll be an old maid by then. You forget, he is a youkai and is ageless while Rin is not. Well, unless of course she becomes his mate, and if you want her for a daughter in law so bad as you keep telling me then lighten up on the teasing of you poor son." There was no real heat to her voice as she grabbed his hand and explained this all to him, more like gentle and trying to coax an understanding out of him.

The youkai king sighed in complete dejection, while he looked up at her with pleading eyes. "Does that mean that I must quite entirely, surely I can still send a few quips at him from time to time?" He spoke with such hopefulness and puppy eyes that she nearly laughed out right, but settled for smothering her giggles with her right hand.

"Maybe, if you're good, I'll consider it." She teased good naturally.

Inutashio grinned, and pulled his mate in for a brief kiss, pulling away so that he was only breadths inch away from her lips. "You mean like that? Or..." He closed the distance between them once more, allowing his tongue to trace her lips, and at her acceptance allowed his tongue to slip within her mouth to explore to his hearts content. Parting once more with slightly panting breath said. "Like this?" He smirked at her dazed expression, proud of himself for being the one to get that type of reaction from her.

"Hmm... Keep up with this course and I may forget what I have said and let you get way with murder." She murmured against his lips.

Still grinning Inutashio went to lean in to comply with his mates wished, only to bump her head instead when the carriage came to an abrupt stop. Rubbing the spot his head hit against hers the demon lord frowned instantly when the smell of an unfamiliar youkai hit his nose. Glaring sternly at his wife, he said quite firmly. "Stay put, something's wrong!" He then turned to leap through the window of the carriage not bothering with the door. His amber gaze took in the seen of his dead driver and the footmen along with several guards that came along for the ride engaged in battle with low-level demons. Inutashio scoffed, obviously whomever issued the attack did not think very highly of him, and he felt very offended at such blatant disrespect his enemy seemed to be showing him.

"Are you the western land King, Inutashio?" A deep voice questioned from behind.

Turning quickly, but making sure to keep an ear to the battle behind him, and answered. "Depending on who you are and if you're worth my time I might just be he." His voice nonchalant as he replied to the question given. The demon king gave his opponent the once over, assessing his abilities from appearance, though keeping in mind that such can be deceiving. He looked to be your average demon, long purple hair, claws and long lean body. The mask on his face gave him pause, did the enemy plan on poison or something?

The youkai just laughed. "So you think highly of yourself, then tell me are you up to the challenge of fighting me, one of Naraku's creations, to the death?" He offered up. "And if things go as planned, a message to your sons, otherwise this is just a message to yourself so that you may see a portion of Naraku's power before hand." He then got into fighting stance, training all senses of the demon lord before him. He did not want to fail his master, did not want the torture that went along with it. He would either die today, or come out the winner. There would be no in between.

Inutashio fallowed suite, his hand resting above his blade while he waited for his opponent to move first. He watched, muscles taught and ready if needed be to move according to the signs his opponent gave off. Dodging to the left and then the right as his opponent's fists sailed past his face and side, Inutashio drew his sword shoving the hilt into his stomach. Swiftly rearranging it within his grasp he then brought the katana down in an arch, slashing his shirt in a sideways cut. Unfortunately he did not hit the flesh, he could smell no blood nor could he feel the ease in which a sword breaks the skin. Fortunately for the demon he managed to move back just in the nick of time.

Using his Katana as a distraction by swinging for his left, Inutashio balled up his fist sending it to the right of his cheek. As the demon's face snapped back, he kicked the feet right out from underneath him, the mask upon his face falling from its position to the ground. He coughed a couple of times before his lips kicked up into a smug grin.

The demon stayed in that position a moment longer, and Inutashio raised his blade to deal in that killing blow before freezing and dropping the weapon falling to his knees in shock and pain. Eyes wide searched for what injured him, in the middle of his stomach were a whole where something forced it's way through, before landing on a small worm like demon with scythes for arms. How could he have missed this?

"Father." Sesshoumaru began, and Inutashio shook himself from his thoughts to give the boy his full attention. "Kagome wished for you to have this, she has reason to believe that you may be attacked and that this might come in handy."

How did she know? Perhaps her miko powers allowed her sight into the future, he mused as he fished through his kimono for the package given to him. "Ready to give in, lord Inutashio?" The demon asked smugly, but he paid him no mind. Pulling forth a velvet pouch he peered inside his heart stopping. Dumping the contents into his clawed hand and stared dumbly at the pink sphere shaped jewel. "The Shikon no Tama…" The other demon breathed.

That was what he himself thought as well, and began to wonder what in the world the girl with doing with such a powerful piece, until he found the difference in the aura. He, himself, had been in the presence of the jewel a few centuries ago and knew that this was not its aura not completely. It was a good imitation, and he wondered how she was able to create such a perfect fake. Had she seen the jewel once before as well? Or is she its new guardian? He would have to look into that once he returned.

He gasped in shock when the sphere disappeared within his bronzed flesh, and immediately after doing so felt a power surge up within him. Something of the likes he had never felt before. Lifting his blade from where it rested beside him, he moved with speed never possessed by himself before and ripped through the demon as if he were nothing only to repeat the processes with the worm like thing as well. After doing so he dropped to his knees feeling as if he had ran the entire expanse of his lands and then some. He felt completely and utterly drained, feeling he has never experience or at least not since the wars between demons and humans.

~*~

Inutashio grinned to his mate when the carriage stopped, reaching over he planted a chaste kiss upon her lips before taking her hands in his to help from her seat and on to steady ground. Helping her to straighten out her skirts, he turned to find Sesshoumaru heading towards him. "Go, and keep Rin company Koishii, I have something's that my son and I must speak of." Once his mouth reached her ear he whispered. Nodding her understanding she rushed to the younger girls side and ushered her away speaking of their stay with her parents. The edited version, he noted with a found smile.

Sesshoumaru nodded his head in greeting. "Father."

His faced lost it's grin to be replaced by something serious, as he regarded his son. "Before we speak of war, I think I need to speak to you of that girl we hired to be Inuyasha's personal maid."

Curious, and wondering weather or not his father figured it out, he said. "What about her?"

"She was right, we were attacked." He informed in controlled tones, trying to keep the anger in check he felt towards Naraku for doing such an act while he was on his way to vacation. "Naraku thought to leave you and Inuyasha a message by killing your mother and I before the war, and some how this girl knew of that. Once more, she seems to know something of the Shikon." He looked his son in the eyes searching. "It would seem that what she gave me was a perfect imitation of the jewel, it gave me, when I used it, the same feel a demon would should it be absorbed within the skin…." He trailed.

"Father?" He inquired after his Oyaji was silent for a period of time.

Shaking himself, Inutashio replied. "We will finish this conversation in a more private place, you know the old saying, 'the walls have ears'…"

Nodding, Sesshoumaru found himself following his father's leave. "I couldn't agree more."

~*~

A/N: I am so- sorry for the long wait for this chapter, but I have been side tracked with school. I've got so- much going on that I'm not sure of how soon I will be able to update for a while, but don't worry too much as the next one won't take as long as this one here did.

I hope you all have enjoyed this chapter, I loved writing it… especially the part with Inuyasha's past betrayal… This chapter in my opinion is the best!

Thank you to all of those whom have reviewed!!!!!! All of those lovely messages I get are a big help in motivation to write, so this Chapter is dedicated to all my wonderful reviewers out there!!!!!!!!!

I hope to hear from all of you again, so please read and review!!!!!