Recap: InuYasha had led his makeshift pack to a safe clearing and wandered off to be alone. Several times he smelled the familiar jasmine scent of the mysterious he. This fragrance had invoked odd feelings that InuYasha had rather not dwelled upon.

Author's Note: Thanks to comedy of Robin Williams for an inspired line.

Dedication: This is for Lady Kanna-Chan (because you popped my review-cherry) and Tokyo-Rose2006 (because I like the way you think).

Prophecy of Brothers

By Scarlet Willows

Chapter Two – The Vision

He was standing at the door to a strange mansion. It was vast, elegant, clean-cut…and so isolated, surrounded by forests and fields. He knew he'd never seen it, but as in dreams, it was familiar. He knew to whom the house belonged. He was somewhat surprised to be there, of all places. He would've chosen…somewhere else. No particular place came to mind immediately, but he accepted the fact that he was there. He had a purpose, a proposition.

The door slid open, seemingly on its own. But as InuYasha stepped in and turned to see whom his greeter was, the familiar squashed, frog-like face of Jaken, Sesshoumaru's servant, gazed in astonishment. "InuYasha-sama? Er…um…how may I serve you?" came his nasally high-pitched voice.

"I've come to see your master," He said with supercilious authority. Jaken looked extremely uncomfortable, sweat beading on his forehead, and suspicion arching his eyebrows. "I haven't come here to fight. I just want to talk."

Jaken sighed. "Wait here."

Suddenly, as dreams do, the scene fast-forwarded and InuYasha was facing him, the cold enigma that was his brother, his rival.

"What do you want, InuYasha?" His voice was the depths of the ocean and InuYasha couldn't help but want to drown. He almost shivered as his name fell from those pale lips and caressed his ears.

"I have a proposal…Sesshoumaru…brother."

…

He awoke from his reverie, shaking, heaving. The sun had set and night had fallen in its place; it was pouring rain in a moonless sky. He was now human, with normal ears, ordinary teeth, and onyx hair. His senses had dulled and he felt so exposed and vulnerable.

Instead of fading away from his sleep-fogged brain, the dream had stayed with him, every detail, every word and if he had been able to think clearly, he might have been slightly disturbed. However, he had a problem in the form of his burning erection; the male form is created with a brain, a penis, and only enough blood to run one at a time, so suffice it to say, he wasn't thinking properly. He cupped his hand forcefully over the straining bulge between his quivering thighs, his toes coiling and grating the dirt floor. Gods, this feels so good, he thought as his head fell back and his hips arched into his palm as he rubbed up and down his front.

In the back of his mind, however, he knew that if he denied his urges, he would gain much more fulfillment when he finally gave in. Quick, think of something icky…something icky…Kaede…Kaede naked.… Ew, ew, ew! With resolve as firm as steel, but as thick as rice paper, he removed his hand from his crotch. Immediately his hard-on deflated, but he was still stuck with the repellent image. I'm scarred, ruined for life…I'll never have an erection again, oh, I'm sorry little buddy, he apologized to his cock.

He focused his mind again on the dream he'd had…a dream that wasn't a dream, but so much more. He knew what he had to do to bring peace now. But he would have to wait at least a day to regain strength and plan a strategy in case something went wrong, for he would be incredibly at risk and without friends should negotiations go foul. He would be trusting one of the most dangerous youkai with his life, one who hated him and wanted him dead.

He'd at least tell Miroku of his plans, as a safety precaution. He knew he couldn't tell the girls; they'd have a fit. He knew this wasn't just some random dream; it was a premonition. Miroku would understand. Besides, he was fond of Miroku; he had a connection with him and knew he could be honest and frank with the monk no matter what…purely a "guy-thing." If anyone knew anything of following visions and connecting with higher functioning senses of the body, it was Miroku.

That night he couldn't sleep, all he could think about was the dream. It all made so much sense. The rain was hammering the ground outside. He wondered how his friends were holding up…

…

"InuYasha, that bastard! Leaving us high and dry like that!" exclaimed Kagome, pacing in the pouring rain.

"Well, actually, I think you mean high and wet," piped Miroku. Their shelter, supplies, and selves were soaked, so it didn't make much of a difference now if they got drenched any further.

"Why did he have to run off like that? We all know it's that time of the month for him so it's no big secret!"

"Like he said, he just wanted to be alone," suggested Sango, her bangs sticking to her cheeks and her clothes clinging to her body.

"Ya know, Sango, have I ever told you how beautiful you look when you're wet?" asked Miroku, noticing her sopping attire. SMACK!

"You lecherous pervert. How can you think of a thing like that at a time like this?" Miroku blushed.

…

"Can't you smell it? Can't you smell him? The dream even comes to me in my waking hours now. It's more vivid. The smell alone drives me mad," he said staring out through the third story window of his winter mansion. "I don't think I can wait much longer."

"Sesshoumaru-sama? I don't understand. Are you all right? Can I get you anything?" asked Jaken, a little worried and afraid. But then again, he was always afraid. His master would have no problem killing him should he blunder, so he was used to living in fear. This was probably why he "sucked up" to the taiyoukai continually, which, of course, made him very annoying. This is probably the most he's spoken in the year, marveled Jaken. His master never spoke unless it was of the utmost importance; he always kept his speculations and comments to himself.

Sesshoumaru was lost in his thoughts, ignoring Jaken's presence. His features were bathed in an unreadable expression, which was rare that he even had an expression at all, and his golden orbs were fixed on the horizon. Presently, he came-to and ordered Jaken to check on Rin, a girl he had resurrected and taken under his wing.

When Jaken left, Sesshoumaru sank to his knees, his back against the wall. Why had the scent simultaneously strengthened and weakened him? He couldn't understand it. He couldn't resist it. He looked down at his hands, large, clawed, and soft as a woman's. He stretched his long piano-fingers, admiring his porcelain skin and his deceptively hidden strength.

On the exterior, he seemed like a slender, delicate, effeminate beauty. None truly knew of the fierce, passionate flame that burned within, under the surface. Yes, he did possess feelings…emotions. He only regarded them as a hindrance. The transparent walls he put up were for protection. Anyone he ever loved had either left him or wanted to kill him. Rin was an exception, she stayed with him because he provided for her and she followed him with the blind trust of a child.

He was gazing at both of his hands, marveling at his once-absent arm that had grown back, when he noticed his talons were longer, sharper. His supernatural hearing had increased. His taste and, more noticeably, his sense of smell had tripled. He rose from the floor and walked over to the mirror. His fangs had elongated somewhat and his eyes now shone with a preternatural glow. He touched his face and almost gasped. His skin and fingers were so sensitive. He smiled. He knew why. And so it begins, he thought.

…

"InuYasha, where have you been? I was worried sick," demanded Kagome, hands on hips and lips pursed in an angry scowl.

"I told you, I wanted to be alone."

"Well-"

"Kagome, drop it," he put his hand up to silence her. He was in no mood to argue with her. All he wanted to do was talk to Miroku so he could get that out of the way. He'd spent the whole time away devising a proposition that…the mysterious he…would, at least, consider.

"But you said you'd come back in a day or two. You've been away for almost a week!"

"Kagome, I needed to think and I can't very well do that while you're breathing down my neck. Now please, I'm trying to ask you nicely to drop it!" he yelled the last two words, letting his temper get the better of him. That rewarded him with an "Osuwari" command and her stomping off into the forest, muttering darkly to herself something about "men."

When he could, he stood up, rubbing his stomach, rolling his eyes. "She's so high-strung."

"Well, she does have a point. We were starting to worry," said Sango, putting more fuel into their improvised fire. Miroku nodded.

"Miroku?" asked InuYasha.

"Yes?"

"Can I talk to you?"

"Certainly." Sango eyed the two men suspiciously.

Miroku followed InuYasha into the forest for a ways until InuYasha deemed a worthy spot and sat down.

…

"And that's what you plan to do?" Miroku puffed in shock.

"Yup."

"Well, it's one of two things; really bold, or really stupid."

"I know, but I also know that it wasn't just a dream. I know this sounds…stupid…but I feel it in my gut. I don't think I've ever been more sure of anything else in my life."

"Stupid! Stupid? This sounds insane! But…I do believe in visions and prophecies."

"I knew I could tell you. The girls would freak out and shriek like chickens if I said a word of this to them," he grinned, visualizing Kagome clucking and flapping about with wings of a hen.

"I thank you for trusting me, InuYasha. But, if I may ask, how can this be possible?"

"It's kind of like a secret…similar to the secret that all hanyou lose their power one day each month. All of us youkai and hanyou are hermaphrodites," InuYasha looked down at the ground and reddened somewhat. "A hermaphrodite is a person with both genders."

"Oh…well…it doesn't surprise me."

"And what's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing," said Miroku, and then, as an afterthought to himself, "Just that you do have the temper of a woman, especially during a certain time of the month."

"I heard that…. Just, don't tell the girls, okay?" He sighed.

"Oh, you have my word, although, if you go through with this, they'll know soon enough."

"I know, I'd just rather not tell them until I absolutely have to."

"How long will it last?"

"Six, maybe seven months."

"How long will you wait until…until you go to him?"

"Another week."

Miroku sat in silence for a while, pulling at the blades of grass until an idea struck him. "Hey, InuYasha, maybe we should go see Myouga, the flea demon, and hear what he has to say about it."

"Alright."

…

"Jaken, prepare the guestrooms. We'll be having company."

"Who will be coming, Sesshoumaru-sama?"

"That is for me to know, and you not to question." Jaken stood there on the spot, dumbly. "Why are you still standing there? Go, now!"

"Yes, milord, right away." Jaken could be heard barking orders at the house staff as he went to make arrangements. He's coming, Sesshoumaru thought with almost a whimper. Why did this knowledge make him react this way? Why did it arouse him so? The scent had grown stronger lately...the scent of a hanyou in heat. And Sesshoumaru's skin had increased in even more sensitivity, if that was possible. If the slightest breeze ruffled his clothing, he wanted to moan. All day, his loins would be on fire. He started panting at the thought of his guest. His pants grew tight.

…

It had been twelve days since the First Day and InuYasha was becoming gradually more unsocial and on edge, but Myouga's advice and assurance had lessened most of his fears. However, discussions turned sensitive when his brother's name was spoken and he'd wake up in the dead of night sweating and heaving. The dream had been reoccurring, at first every other night or so. Now it was every night. He was almost afraid to sleep, afraid to blink, for if he closed his eyes he'd see him again and his golden stare made him uncomfortable and tremendously nervous; so nervous that he'd shake when he thought of it. The smell, oh, the smell…. It took all his reserve not to run at top speed through the forest to where the enticing aroma originated.

All his senses had heightened at rapid pace. Miroku knew, or had a feeling, that the dog-hanyou was going into heat; he took sympathy upon him when he'd wake, saturated in a cold sweat. He'd put a cloth over his forehead and sooth him with a Buddhist prayer. Miroku was the only one he'd confide in of late.

One night, when InuYasha had woken from the dream, winded as if he'd run forever, Miroku sidled down beside him with a damp rag. "When are you going to him?"

"Miroku, I'm afraid. Even when I fight him and talk big, I'm afraid. He frightens me, Miroku. He frightens me so much," InuYasha deliriously confessed, burying his head in Miroku's chest, wracking with dry sobs. Miroku held him, rocking somewhat. His friend was so vulnerable at these times in the middle of the night, but he'd never shown this much distress. Miroku was thankful for their new bond, but blamed these mood-swings on InuYasha's changing hormones.

"When are you going to him?" he repeated.

"…So powerful. I'm so weak. Why haven't I seen it before?" It appeared InuYasha hadn't heard Miroku; he was absorbed in his thoughts.

"You're not weak. Seriously considering this shows that you are not weak." InuYasha looked up at him with childlike eyes. It unnerved Miroku to see his friend like this. "When are you going to him," he repeated yet again.

InuYasha looked down at his hands; they were shaking. "Tomorrow," he answered in a quaking voice.

Japanese terms:

Taiyoukai – full-blooded demon

-sama (prefix) – lord

To be continued…