Chapter 8:

I'm Sorry

"Let's keep moving," Sesshomaru told the two trailing behind him.

"But, My Lord," Azami yawned. "It's the middle of the night. I'm tired and I'm hungry. I don't mean to complain, but we have been walking almost nonstop. You haven't rested properly in days. And Jakken is so tired that he doesn't complain... at all, about anything. Watch."

Azami stopped walking and waited for Jakken to catch up. When he passed by her, she stuck out her foot and tripped him. He fell face first into the tent bag he had been carrying, and then promptly fell asleep.

"See, My Lord Sesshomaru?"

"I understand, Azami. But we have to keep moving."

"Are you paranoid, or something?" Azami sped up. She caught Sesshomaru's arm and spun him around. "What happened to the stand and fight Sesshomaru? Why are you running?"

"I am trying to get you to safety." Sesshomaru wrapped his arms around Azami's waist. "I promised you that I would protect you," he whispered.

"No matter what you do, Sesshomaru, InuYasha will always be a few steps behind me. He will always be after us. If we stand and fight, we may be able to stop this."

"Stop what?" came a voice from behind Azami. "You want to stop me?"

"InuYasha!" Sesshomaru hissed. "How dare you?"

Azami refused to turn around. She nestled closer to Sesshomaru, clinging to his kimono top and burying her face into his chest.

"How dare I? Oh no, dear brother, how dare you? You are the one who took Azami from me. You took everything about her. I want her heart back."

"The only way you could ever have my heart," Azami dared, turning slightly. "Is if you ripped it from my chest."

"Turn and face me," InuYasha commanded. "It's time you finally saw me."

Azami looked up at Sesshomaru, who stared ahead at InuYasha. She closed her eyes and turned. Upon opening her eyes, her breath caught in the lungs. InuYasha stood in front of her, a giant sword resting on his shoulder and a wicked grin spread across his face. Then she noticed the two little dog-like ears poking up through his silvery hair. She tried to suppress the laughter that was building itself inside of her, pressing a hand to her mouth.

"What, may I ask, is so funny?" InuYasha demanded of her.

"Those are the cutest little dog ears I've ever seen!" she burst out, tears of mirth streaming down her face. Even Sesshomaru couldn't hide his enjoyment at his brother's expense. Both Azami and Sesshomaru fell to the ground, their sides feeling like they were to split open.

In one leap, InuYasha went forward and caught Azami by the throat, pinning her to the nearest tree. "I don't think I'll need my sword for this," he told her, sheathing the huge weapon.

"InuYasha!" Sesshomaru shouted. "Let her go, or you'll face my wrath... and there will be no mercy from me."

"Oh how sweet," InuYasha mocked. He turned around, holding Azami against the tree trunk. "My dear older brother is in love. Well now you'll know how it feels to have the one you love taken from you." He faced Azami again. "Are you going to come with me?" Azami spit in his eye. "Fine. Then I'll just take the heart that you never gave to me."

"InuYasha! NOOOOOOO!" Sesshomaru screamed.

He rushed forward, but it was too late. InuYasha had plunged his hand deep inside Azami's chest and ripped her heart from her body. Azami fell to the ground, her blood pouring from the hole. InuYasha, after placing the heart in a pocket, stepped back as Sesshomaru pulled Azami's body into his lap, stroking her hair and cheeks.

"Azami," he whispered, tears flowing down his face. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry that I didn't protect you. I'm so sorry..."

"Well 'sorry' doesn't cut it, mister," InuYasha mockingly chastised. He laughed evilly, breaking a giant thorn from a nearby bush. "Azami's name," he said, eyeing the barb in his hand. "It means, 'thorn', does it not? That's why she called herself 'Thorn'." InuYasha strode towards his sobbing brother. "And you had told her once, while she was lying in bed recovering, that she had managed to worm her way into your heart." He placed a hand on Sesshomaru's shoulder. "Well then, allow me to give you your heart's desire!" he shouted, plunging the thorn deep into Sesshomaru's heart.

Sesshomaru fell sideways onto the bloodstained ground. He felt his life quickly flooding away from him. With the last of his strength, he pulled Azami's corpse close and kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry," he choked out with his last breath.

InuYasha laughed hysterically. "That's two down," he stated. "Now all I need to do is find that Kikyo wench and kill her to get the Shikon Jewel, and then I'll finally be a full demon!" He walked off, laughing to himself, leaving the body of his brother clinging to the woman he had loved.