A/N: Wow, so many nice people are reviewing! I really didn't expect this much parise! Thanks so much to all my wonderful readers! I really appreciate your feedback and I'm glad you like my story!

Ok, not much else to say-here goes.

Reminder-... /-/-/-/memory;... +-+-+-+past, not a memory;... /-/-+memory and past;... #(anything after)special pov

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or the songs. Original character later-mine. Storyline-sort of mine. I borrowed from the third movie a little bit, at least what I know of it. Haven't watched it yet, but I've read enough and seen enough clips to suffice for my fic. But other than that, the storyline is mine. So no suing; you'll pay more for the lawyer than you'd win from me.

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Chapter 4-Guarded (Disturbed)

Guarding yourself from the love of another left you with nothing tonight...

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"Sesshoumaru-kun, what are you so upset about?" InuTaisho asked, a hint of frustration just barely touching the edge of his voice.

"Oh, don't you worry about me, Father, just keep on entertaining yourself with that oh-so-wonderful human woman of yours. I'm perfectly fine," Sesshoumaru mocked angrily.

"Sesshoumaru-kun, your jealously is misplaced," InuTaisho sighed heavily.

"I'm not jealous at all," Sesshoumaru lied. "Why should I be jealous of a mere human woman? She's weak, fragile, pouty, emotional, flighty, fearful, and clingy. What makes you think I'm jealous?" he sneered.

"Because you seem to think that I love her more than I love you," InuTaisho said quietly.

"And so what if you do?" Sesshoumaru crossed his arms and turned his head to the side sharply, refusing to look at his father. "I don't care how much you love me, because I don't love anyone. I really wouldn't give a damn if you said you hated me, right here and right now."

"But Sesshoumaru-kun...I don't hate you," InuTaisho whispered. "I really do love you, no matter what you think...I love you more than you can even imagine...you're my child, my son, my own flesh and blood..."

"I don't care," Sesshoumaru snapped angrily, turning completely away from his father. "I don't care, I don't want to care, I don't have to care, I refuse to care...just leave me alone and go amuse your stupid little human."

"Sesshoumaru-kun..." InuTaisho sighed heavily and shuffled off, leaving his son to his own thoughts. Sesshoumaru didn't glance back when his father left. He didn't look at him when the older demon whispered a single question, didn't even spare a second of hesitation when he was asked.

"Sesshoumaru-kun...what do you seek in life, if not love?"

"Power, conquest, possibly even wealth-I wish to rule these lands one day, to take over all of Nippon and prove how strong I am. And nobody is going to stop me."

InuTaisho stared at his son for a few minutes, silently mulling over his thoughts before turning away, his eyes filled with sadness and regret. Sesshoumaru ignored him, refusing to acknowledge anything that concerned his father anymore.

"Izayoi...I fear that he is lost to me," InuTaisho whispered quietly to his wife, laying down on thier bed wearily. "He no longer seems to care whether or not I love him..." the dog-demon shivered and closed his eyes.

"Oh, my love, it pains me to see you in such agony," Izayoi said, sitting down on the bed and scooting over until she was right next to him. He turned to glance at her, and she beckoned for him to move closer. He allowed her to gently urge him closer, to begin slowly massaging his scalp as he rested his head in her lap. She looked down at her love sympathetically as a few tears formed in his gentle eyes.

"Izayoi, he says that he doesn't care anymore...that he does not seek love-only power...Izayoi, I begin to wonder if I've done something terribly wrong," he said, turning his golden eyes to look at her sorrowfully. She only looked back at him with equal regret, understanding his feelings as well as if they were her own.

"I know what you feel, I know how it pains you," she began in a near-whisper. "If you...if you think it would help, if you think it would mend your bonds...I would leave and-"

"No, Izayoi, don't do that," InuTaisho reached his hand up to cup her cheek within his palm. "I don't want you to leave. I don't think it would matter that much anymore, really. He has already made up his mind."

"My love...what can be done?" Izayoi asked quietly.

"I don't know," InuTaisho sighed heavily. "I suppose that only time will tell..."

"You cannot go on like this," Izayoi said quietly. "You must make amends with him. Your very heart is being crushed...will you not try to save what you two once had?" she asked.

"There is nothing I can do anymore, Izayoi. Nothing I can do or say will change his mind. He's stubborn in everything he does-he will not change even if he wants to, because he wants to prove his point," InuTaisho said very softly, choking back the urge to cry his heart out.

"Your feelings for him have not changed," Izayoi started quietly. "His feelings have turned against you...he has turned away from you in his confusion...do not be sad for long; all things come in due course...he is simply guarding his own heart, unwilling to open himself to anyone else...he may yet remand his own declaration..."

"If he were only to let down his walls...why must he be so guarded?" InuTaisho asked in a pained voice.

And Izayoi stroked the demon's head gently as he softly began to cry, tears streaming down his face as his body shivered. She held him to herself, quietly soothing his aching soul until he fell asleep within her arms.

"He remains guarded, my love...but one day, he will allow someone to see who he truly is..."

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