A/N: I'm really so sorry about the long wait. Whose fault is it? Why it's finals! But now school is out, whose fault is it? Why it's me traveling! Actually…Kingdom Hearts 2 is to blame. That game is so incredibly awesome. Man I love that game! Anyway, I'm very sorry!

Rin and Sesshoumaru: Well, I never said they were going to be together. I just implied it strongly and made it clear that Rin wants that. For the truth, you're going to have to read the rest of the chapter.

Chapter 6

I don't own Inuyasha

'How did I get myself into this mess?' Ikuto kept asking himself that question over and over again. He just really couldn't understand why or how he had fallen so far. 'Now I'm without Kagome, and I'm stuck with a much crueler version of Suno.'

Rin kept looking back behind her in order to check up on Ikuto, who was beginning to lag behind. "He doesn't seem to be doing too well, Lord Sesshoumaru."

"Leave him be, Rin. He's not any of your concern."

Oh, but he was! She was so interested in what he could tell her. He had already explained that Sesshoumaru's blood line was going to mix with a human's, but there was so much more she could find out. He was from the future, and he perhaps knew of her life and her Lord's life afterwards. 'I've got to know!'

"He's just a bother, like Inuyasha!" Jaken hated this idea, but who was he to question his Lord?

'I've got to keep it together...' Ikuto was losing it. He couldn't keep his mind together and he was getting angrier for no apparent reason. 'I've got to...I've got to...' The more he tried to resist, the angrier he became, until he couldn't take it anymore. He wanted to kill, and at the time, he wanted to kill someone innocent and defenseless. Rin seemed to be the perfect target.

"He sounds like a rapid dog!" Jaken complained. "Can't we just leave him?"

"No," Sesshoumaru answered 'things are becoming very interesting.'

With a ravenous growl, Ikuto charged the young girl from behind. She wasn't afraid though, nor did Sesshoumaru move to save her. "Rrrrgh!"

"Ikuto?" Rin didn't have the time to see if he would snap back to himself. She had to save herself. "Sorry about this." In an instant, Rin drew her sword and rammed it right through the gut of her attacker. Thought it was not enough to kill him, it gave her enough time to draw her sword out and give him a roundhouse to the face. "I'm not that easy to kill!"

It was enough to knock the new half breed on his back. He was in pain, and not completely healed of his injuries. He wasn't getting up at that moment. "Rrrrgh!" He was in was in pain, but mostly frustration.

"You're not starting off well, human." Sesshoumaru gave Rin a glance of approval, so she knew that she didn't go too over the top, but she was in the right for defending herself. Sesshoumaru then walked over to the bleeding victim who was still trying to get a hold of himself. "Let's see how much like Inuyasha you really are." Sesshoumaru drew his Tetsusaiga and held it out towards Ikuto and it immediately began pulsing. 'So the sword will also contain his demon blood.'

Ikuto could think again. Everything was beginning to become clear. "What's...?" The desire to kill Rin was gone, and he was calm. He was bleeding and severely inured, but he was at least calm. "What did you do?"

"It wasn't me," said Sesshoumaru, "it was the Tetsusaiga." After Ikuto was once again to his normal state, he truly realized how much pain he was in. Sesshoumaru could see the agony on Ikuto's face. "Clean yourself up." Sesshoumaru said nothing more to Ikuto and began walking away. Jaken happily followed.

Rin decided to help him. "I'll attend to his wounds, Lord Sesshoumaru."

"Do as you will, Rin."

She nodded and helped him to his feet. "Come on..." She then realized that she didn't know his name. "What is your name again?"

Ikuto had to struggle through the pain to tell her his name. "My name is...Ikuto..."

"Ikuto, huh?" She began to talk, but he had no idea what she was saying. He was losing consciousness, but he told himself to keep it together. He didn't want her to lug around his body. He offered a little strength, but he couldn't do much. He kept moving, but didn't know where they were going. By the time they stopped walking, he could smell the scent of water.

"Where are we?"

"Can't see?" Rin set him down gently and began taking off his shirt. "I'm so sorry, Ikuto. I really didn't mean to do this to you. I was just protecting myself. Lord Sesshoumaru told me that no matter what, I've got to protect myself, above anything else." She saw that Ikuto was losing it, so she gently slapped him in the face. "Hey, Ikuto!"

He opened his eyes and could see Rin, but she was fuzzy. "I'm awake..."

She smiled. "You'll be okay. I'll fix you up." She had herbs and bandages, and though it wasn't Kagome's special touch, Rin was a big help. For a long time she said nothing, and just patched him up comfortably. 'I've never done this to a boy. I've only done it to myself...' That was only one reason though. She really had so many questions she wanted to ask him, but she was afraid that he was too tired to answer. Then again, she didn't want him to lose consciousness either. He could sleep later. "Ikuto..."

"...what..."

She felt so guilty, but she had to know. "Ikuto...did you know that Lord Sesshoumaru was your ancestor?"

He slowly and weakly shook his head no.

"So..."she bit her lip. 'I'm so stupid!' "Do you know the human who mixes with Lord Sesshoumaru's bloodline?"

Ikuto barely, but did shake his head.

'I'm not getting anywhere with these questions...' "Do you perhaps know someone like me? You know...like how you and Kagome where reincarnated...was I too?"

He looked her directly in the eye. It was so clear. "Yeah...my brother has a step daughter like you."

"You have a brother?"

"Yeah..."

Rin felt tears began to well up in her eyes. "So...is Lord Sesshoumaru still alive 500 years from now? Does he rule over these lands?" Ikuto tried to touch his gaping wound, but Rin moved his hand. "I just finished patching that, so don't touch it!"

"Sorry..." He could tell that she was impatient at that moment. She was curious, but he knew that she didn't want to hear what he had to say. "Rin...I'm pretty certain that he's not alive. There really aren't any demons at all. The land belongs to the people."

"It does?" Rin was probably the only human in the whole world that would be saddened by that sentence. The truth be told, she cared more for demons than for humans. She was in fact...'But I...I love...' She wiped her eyes as tears fell from her eyes. "Uh...so your brother...he's...?"

"A lot like Sesshoumaru. He, in fact, is probably his reincarnation."

"And...I'm his daughter?" She began to cry again. "Don't mind me...I just..." She wiped her eyes and forced herself to stop. "Tell me of my mother..."

"She's nice, and she's very sweet. She loves you, and him." He wasn't that dense. He could tell the truth. "You're in love with him, aren't you?"

She shook her head. "I said don't mind me! I'm a fool, that's all." It was painful to look at Ikuto now, knowing what he told her. "I just..." She had to wipe her eyes again, but she managed to smile. "I told him that I did once. Maybe more than that when I was little, but that didn't matter before. Now it's different how I love him. I told him about month ago."

Ikuto couldn't believe it. He could hardly imagine what Sesshoumaru's reaction was. "So, what did he say?"

"Nothing. He didn't have anything to say, and he certainly didn't know what to say. I made him uncomfortable. I was so heartbroken." She gathered her emotions together and was able to restrain herself. "I just learned something now, though. No matter how much I care for him, I'll always be the little girl he took in."

Ikuto didn't understand her thinking. Why would someone like Rin fall in love with someone as ruthless as Sesshoumaru? "Well, that's the future, and there's not much you can do about it."

"You're right..." Rin asked nothing more of Ikuto. "Why don't you try and go to sleep."

"What about Sesshoumaru?"

"We'll just catch up later. My senses and tracking aren't as good as a demon's, but they are probably better than yours' considering that you're new at this demon thing."

"I guess you're right…" He felt a little bad for her, besides befuddled. 'How can someone like her fall for Sesshoumaru?' Ikuto didn't know much about Rin and Sesshoumaru, even though he knew a lot about Suno. They were different, and maybe there was something he just couldn't see. "I'll go to sleep then."

"Good…"

It only took a moment for him to completely lose consciousness. He didn't even have to try. He miraculously felt a lot better once he had woken up. Rin looked a lot more cheerful as well. She must have thought about Sesshoumaru the whole night, but apparently pulled it together. 'Maybe she's accepted it all. Besides, how could he fall in love with her? She's probably like a daughter to him than anything else.' "Should we catch up?"

She did feel a lot better. She had come to the conclusion that simply being by his side was enough. She didn't need anything else. As long as she got to be by his side, she was alright. "Yeah, and we had better hurry because he really won't wait around for us. He can be very impatient."

'At least she feels better…' Ikuto didn't mention any more about the future, and Rin didn't ask. He just wanted to find a way to get back to normal. "So, I guess it's sort of day two."

Rin gave a nod. "You only wanted to be with us for three, isn't that right?"

Ikuto didn't know what to do. 'How can I possibly pull it together for Kagome? Even if I go back, she won't be safe around me.' "I need to talk to Sesshoumaru."

"Well, that is why you've come along with us, isn't it?" She smiled again. "Come on. I can still probably track them." And indeed she did. She knew exactly how to get to where she needed to go. Ikuto was very much impressed. He partially knew how to do things like that, since he would go hunting with his brother and did boy scout and things like that, but he was nothing compared to Rin. She was practically raised in the wilderness, and it only took them about three hours to catch up to Sesshoumaru and Jaken.

"Rin," was Sesshoumaru's small greeting.

"Seems you weren't trying to get very far. It wasn't even a challenge for me."

"You should have let the boy find his way. I was curious to see how adapted to his demon blood he has become."

"You wanna know?" Ikuto practically pushed Rin out of the way. "I'm not a boy by the way and my name is Ikuto!"

'It appears he's getting angry again.' "Fine then, Ikuto. Come after me, and I'll test your ability against mine."

Ikuto smirked. 'This should be interesting.' He couldn't explain why he wanted to fight Sesshoumaru. He just did. "You may be stronger, but I should be the better fighter!" Ikuto charged Sesshoumaru without even a second thought. He just wanted to take him down, and would do whatever it took in order to make sure he was going down.

"He must have a death wish..." Jaken mumbled.

"He's not himself," Rin told Jaken. "Besides, he's got to work through his aggression before he can find himself. Sooner or later, he'll realize that he's a human, and not a demon."

The more Sesshoumaru saw Ikuto fight, the more intrigued he was by him. He hadn't really seen that style of fighting before. It was made up of many styles by the looks of things. Unlike Inuyasha, his reincarnation definitely knew how to fight. He was unfortunately as fast as Inuyasha and as strong as Inuyasha. That meant that this reincarnation didn't stand a chance against Sesshoumaru, especially since over half of Inuyasha's powers were based upon his sword alone.

"You fight well, but that's hardly enough to defeat me. You haven't touched me yet, but I already know that your strength will not match mine, nor will it come close."

"We'll see!" Ikuto tried a kick, a punch, another kick, and another, but he couldn't even lay a hand on his ancestor. 'What do I have to do?' The more frustrated he began to get, the sloppier he became, and his fighting style soon began to mimic Inuyasha's more and more.

"You're not thinking anymore, and you're simply just attacking me." Sesshoumaru noticed that Ikuto wasn't listening anymore. He was trying to get a hit in at any cost. 'His mind is starting to go. He isn't acting like himself.' Since his fight wasn't improving, Sesshoumaru figured he might as well test his resistance to pain. Sesshoumaru gave him one good poisonous right hook to the face, and knocked Ikuto right off of his feet and up into the air. 'Pathetic.'

'What's happening... ?' Ikuto could feel everything around him beginning to darken. It wasn't like before. He wasn't losing control. He was just losing...himself.

"Ikuto?" Rin was a bit worried when he didn't get up at first. "Is he really that weak?"

"Of course!" Jaken insisted. "Who isn't weak compared to Sesshoumaru?"

"Where am I?" Ikuto began to ask. No, this wasn't Ikuto. This was Inuyasha, once again resurfaced. He felt his burning face and remembered that specific pain. "Sesshoumaru!" Inuyasha got up, smelling the scent of his brother, and once he looked up, he saw that it was Sesshoumaru. "It is you."

"He's flipped his lid..." Jaken whispered to Rin. She sadly had to agree.

"Where is Kagome?" he asked. "What did you do with her?" he was a bit panicked. He didn't know where he was or where she was.

The Tetsusaiga began to shake. "Inuyasha?" Sesshoumaru asked, trying not to show his slight bit of confusion.

"Yeah, and who else would I be?"

'He's taken on Inuyasha personality within an instant. He's tapped into Inuyasha's soul in mind, his once previous life.' Sesshoumaru could feel the Tetsusaiga pulsing towards Ikuto, who now claimed to be Inuyasha. "It's odd that you could make such a hasty transformation from your true self, to your past self. Are you that unstable?"

"What do you mean, unstable? I know who I am..." 'Wait a second...do I?'

'Things are beginning to get appealing.' "Rin, Jaken."

"Yes" they both answered at the same time.

"Get on Ah-Un and flee from here."

"But Lord Sess—"

Rin covered Jaken's mouth in order to remind him that he shouldn't argue with Sesshoumaru. "We're leaving, my Lord." The two didn't say another word, and rushed as far away as they could.

"Why'd you tell them to leave?" Inuyasha asked.

Sesshoumaru drew the Tetsusaiga and prepared to fight Inuyasha. "If you were truly Inuyasha, then it would be you who would be holding this blade, as father intended it."

"Why do you have it?"

"You truly don't remember?" 'He believes he is Inuyasha, and doesn't even remember his death. It appears that he mostly reacts to pain.' "I have it because the Tetsusaiga has chosen me as its master. Inuyasha did not truly have the strength to master such a sword. He was weak and the Tetsusaiga only was with Inuyasha only because it was father's will, not it's own."

"What are yapping about?" Inuyasha truly didn't understand what he was talking about. "Stop talking about me as if I'm not here!" 'I am Inuyasha, aren't I? I...I can't be that kid Kagome talked about earlier. I'm me. I'm simply and purely just me...' "Besides, my sword always rejected you. If you were truly Tetsusaiga's master, then it wouldn't have tried to get rid of you by burning your hands so many times."

"Then why do I wield it now, little brother?" He only called him little brother to mock his sanity. Sesshoumaru had to admit that his sanity lapse was amusing.

There had to be a reason, and only one came to mind. "Because...I died?" he asked so unsure.

A small smirk appeared on Sesshoumaru's face, which meant trouble. "If that were the case, then why am I still wielding it instead of you now? You're alive now, but the Tetsusaiga doesn't reject me now." The wind scar began to circle around the Tetsusaiga. "I'm truly better suited for this sword than you are, Inuyasha. Otherwise, this sword would belong to you, rather than me."

"Well, once I take the Tetsusaiga back, it'll remember who its master is."

"Such a fool." 'He truly does think he is Inuyasha. He doesn't even remember being Ikuto. He does remember being dead though. Intriguing...' "Do you remember the wind scar, Inuyasha?"

'This isn't good...'

'I shall see if causing more pain to him will revert him back to normal.' With a slash of his sword, the wind scar charged forth to severely hurt Ikuto, or rather Inuyasha. Sesshoumaru didn't use the full force of the wind scar. After all, he had no intention of killing Ikuto. He just wanted to make him remember. The attack came at Inuyasha so quickly that he didn't have time to dodge. He had forgotten how fast Sesshoumaru was, a mistake that cost him the fight...not that he really had a chance.

"Ahhhhhh!" Inuyasha was hit by the attack and though he did not die, he was knocked unconscious.

Sesshoumaru could already tell that this was not going to work. Despite how hard Ikuto would try, Sesshoumaru couldn't help him control his human blood. Only one thing could...

Once Ikuto had awakened, he was again was in pain and bleeding. He was starting to get used to it, but it really did annoy him. At least he was calm. 'But why am I…?' He realized that Sesshoumaru's sword the Tetsusaiga had been placed on top of him. "What? Why is this here?" He sat up and looked up at his ancestor, who was observing him. Rin and Jaken were standing far away in the distance, just in case it wasn't safe.

"You appear to be yourself again."

Ikuto just assumed that he had gone crazy with rage again. "I feel fine now..." He grunted in pain. "Besides the new wounds!"

"It was necessary." 'It appears that he is once again himself.'

"By the way..." Ikuto forced himself to stand, even though he really didn't want to. He needed to know. "Why did you place your sword on top of me? What are you trying to say?"

It took him a minute to answer, partly because he himself couldn't believe that he was doing it. "It's day three."

"I've been out that long?"

"You're lucky you didn't die" was his cold reply. "You don't know yourself. With the slightest bit of rage, you could lose complete control and kill everyone in your way. Then your soul will be devoured. And you lose yourself in other manners as well..." Sesshoumaru realized that Ikuto had no idea that he became Inuyasha. That was very interesting, but Sesshoumaru wasn't going to say anything about it. That mortal woman of his could do that. "The Tetsusaiga should be able to tame the demon blood in your body. After all, that is one reason why father gave Inuyasha the sword, rather than myself."

"I see..." Ikuto still couldn't believe it. "So, you're giving it to me?"

"Consider it as a loan." Sesshoumaru acted very quickly to correct Ikuto. He had no intention of letting him have it.

"But you've wanted it for so long, and now it's your's. Now you're going to let me borrow it? I don't understand. You don't even like Inuyasha. Why would you do anything for me?"

"You don't know yourself." Was his simple answer. "You won't keep the sword for long. I don't expect you to. You don't belong in this world, so I expect you to leave soon." There was a bit of command in his voice. He not only was telling Ikuto what he expected, but what Ikuto was going to do.

"Well, I don't plan on staying long. I only want to get back to normal, so I can go home, but even still..." Ikuto didn't understand.

"You don't belong here. You don't deserve to have demon blood in your veins either. You're a human with a drop of demon blood in you, and that is all. You should know your place, and you don't. I'm merely helping you realize it. It's as simple as that."

'I hardly call that simple...' "If you say so..." Ikuto appreciated it. He could hardly believe what Sesshoumaru was telling him. "I really don't understand...but I thank you."

"Save your thanks. I'm only lending you the sword. My powers have increased. The Tetsusaiga is merely mine, but I can do without it for a short amount of time." He was trying to let Ikuto know that it was strictly business why he gave him the Tetsusaiga, rather than concern or anything else. "I have perfected a technique with the Tenseiga, even more powerful than the Tetsusaiga's attacks."

"Really..." Ikuto was going to ask to see it, but knowing Sesshoumaru for the past few hours that he's actually been conscious made him afraid that he would try it on him. Ikuto decided to keep his mouth shut and listen. "Alright then, I'll simply just believe you."

"You had best." 'He would have never overcome his demon blood. He's too pathetic. He needs the Tetsusaiga, just as Inuyasha did.'

Ikuto was extremely grateful for this. "Then I suppose I'll be returning to Kagome now."

"Do as you wish."

Ikuto held on tightly to the Tetsusaiga. He knew Sesshoumaru had his reasons for letting him borrow the Tetsusaiga, but some of him believed that Sesshoumaru was concerned. Yes he hated Inuyasha, but it wasn't as serve as he first thought. They were brothers after all, and Ikuto was Sesshoumaru's descendant. They were family. "I won't let anything happen to it."

Sesshoumaru was quick to comment. "If anything happens to it, I'll kill you."

Ikuto knew it to be true, so he remembered those words. "I'll protect it with my life."

Sesshoumaru didn't really trust him, but he trusted Ikuto more than Inuyasha. Ikuto was obviously smarter. 'Will Tetsusaiga keep Inuyasha at bay, or will he resurface again?' Mostly, Sesshoumaru was curious, and he had good reason to be. Ikuto was very interesting...

To be continued...

A/N: Can you actually believe Sesshoumaru helped? Will this be the end of Inuyasha, or will he resurface? You will have to wait and see! REVIEW!