A/N: Okay, not much to say here. Um, lemme see...here we go.

laura: sorry for what? Um, oh well, whatever you did or think you did, I don't mind. Glad you enjoy this story!

liz: Yes, yes, I know. I'm sorry about that, with the German numbers and all. didn't let me put the entire title in-I was two letters short, so I had to cut that part out. I'm going to continue doing that, even though I hate it, for the simple fact that I already did one that way. I mean, it would look strange to have one say, for example, "Neunundzwänzig", while another says "Seibenzwänzig." I'm sorry for the improper usage, and I truly do hate it myself, but it's an unavoidable necessity. I hope you undrstand and forgive me for my atrocity. And thanks for the compliment! I'm glad you like the story! -smiling-

All other anonymous reviewers: Well you all said the same thing, along the general lines of liking the story, and I'm horrible at remembering names, so I'll just say thank you right here to everyone! THANK YOU!

Thanks to everyone who reads this story! You're all so wonderful! You make me so happy!

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

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or anything else that Rumiko Takahashi created. Most of the story is mone, some of the ideas are borrowed from what I know of the third movie (as many of you can tell). I still haven't seen the third movie yet but I've read enough sumaries and seen lots of AMV's and acquired many clips which I use in my own AMV's, so I have a pretty good idea of what happens anyways. I still want to see the third movie but I'll just have to make do with what I have for now (sigh). I also don't own the songs that are used as the chapter titles. No suing me.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 22-Stricken (Disturbed)

When the heart is cold, there's no hope, and we know that I am stricken by all that you've done...

#-Inuyasha POV

Inuyasha gazed out at the rising sun mournfully, wondering why the night had to end so soon. He had been so absorbed by his own thoughts that he'd scarcely realized the passage of time. The half-demon had been busy thinking about his brother...

Why the hell do I have to think about him so damn much all of a sudden? Inuyasha mentally pouted to himself. I don't usually spare him a thought, much less dwell on everything like it's a goddamn shame! To hell with the bastard, that stupid...stupid evil...brother of mine...

Inuyasha's mental curses faltered, his mind unwilling to listen to his anger for some reason or other. Inuyasha stopped, confusing himself momentarily.

I guess he isn't technically a bastard...and he's not really evil if he can put up with that stupid toad and that funny little girl all the time. And much as I hate to admit it, he ain't stupid...dammit all though, why does it have to be my goddamn brother that hates me the most! Is his heart really that cold? Inuyasha growled angrily to himself, not realizing that he did so.

"Fuckin' jackass..." Inuyasha muttered unhappily to himself, caught between utter hateful loathing and complete sulking depression.

"Fuckin' son of a bitch thinks the whole goddamn world owes him everything just cause old Pops keeled over and now he's the new Lord of the West...too good for a fuckin' halfbreed, is he? Fuckin' figures. The only goddamn family I've got, and he fuckin' hates me so much he wants to kill me. Goddamn wonderful," Inuyasha snarled to himself, unaware of the fact that he was talking to himself out loud. Fortunately for him, none of his companions were awake yet.

Inuyasha sighed in frustration as he hopped down from his perch in the high branches of a tree, rudely waking up Miroku and Sango, then taking a bit more care in waking Kagome and Shippou-though not much at that.

"Come on, you morons, let's get going," Inuyasha said impatiently as the group roused from slumber.

"Don't you want to eat breakfast, Inuyasha?" Kagome yawned sleepily, digging through her pack.

"I'm not hungry," Inuyasha said, turning to look off into the distance anxiously, his senses keen. He felt like something was going to happen soon, something strange...he wasn't sure if he liked the feeling.

"It's Ramen," Kagome taunted.

"I said I'm not hungry," Inuyasha growled and stalked off, leaning against a tree and closing his eyes.

"Hey, Inuyasha, are you okay?" Shippou asked worriedly. The others looked over in concern as well-Inuyasha NEVER refused Ramen, even if he were sick.

"I'm fine," Inuyasha sighed. "Just be quick about eating and let's get going already, huh?" he said, keeping his eyes closed. The others shook their heads and looked at him worriedly, but went about eating anyways. Soon the group was on the path again, inevitably hoping to find a jewel shard or perhaps catch wind of Naraku.

"Inuyasha, something's bugging you," Shippou noticed quietly as he hopped up onto the halfdemon's shouder, whispering in his ear.

"It ain't none of your business," Inuyasha snapped quietly. Shippou sighed heavily and hung his head in defeat.

But something about the fox struck Inuyasha, and he glanced sideways at his small companion.

He's worried, Inuyasha realized. He's worried, which means he actually gives a damn...Sesshoumaru was a little kid once, he must've been innocent at some point in his life...what could have turned him into such an emotionless brick wall? What could have stricken him so close to make his heart so unfeeling?

"Well, I hope you get better, whatever it is," Shippou grumbled and hopped back over to Kagome's bike, propping himself inside the basket comfortably.

Hope...does Sesshoumaru hope anymore? I know I try not to...keh, stupid fool, he chided himself. I still hope, yeah, but I wonder if he does anymore. Or maybe I should be wondering if there's any hope for him anymore...with such a cold heart, he's gonna die a very lonely death when his time comes...

For some reason, the thought made Inuyasha uncomfortable. His ears twitched uneasily.

With such a cold heart, there's no hope of any friends to be there for you...and we know that I'm scarred by you, you stupid bastard. The only family you have left...and I won't even be allowed to feel sorry if you go and die on me. I won't be allowed to care, because you don't care, so I can't...why? Inuyasha asked his question silently, looking over towards the west longingly.

-Sesshoumaru POV

You'll never know how your face has haunted me, my very soul has to bleed this time...Another hole in the wall of my inner defenses, leaving me breathless...

"Had a good rest, pup?" Bokuseno chuckled quietly as Sesshoumaru blinked drowsily.

"Bokuseno," Sesshoumaru stated calmly, allowing himself time to wake up. He was fully awake about five minutes later, and he looked up at the tree quietly.

"Termites again?" Bokuseno asked with a sigh. It had been Sesshoumaru's own joke when he was a child; nobody else would have truly understood the reference.

Sesshoumaru smirked.

"No, just a few birds, old Bokuseno," he said with a weak smile as he stood up. "I'm going now."

"Alright," Bokuseno agreed. "Sesshoumaru..." the tree-demon stopped hesitantly. Sesshoumaru turned around and looked at him expectantly.

"Only do what you think is best," Bokuseno finished. "Now get going!" the tree said in a mock-angry voice.

"Heh," Sesshoumaru grinned, heeding the old demon nonetheless. He walked away calmly, and not until he was far out of sight did Bokuseno realize that he had gone off in a different direction than he had come from.

"Sesshoumaru...why do you visit the grounds of your Father's passing? It only causes you pain..."

Sesshoumaru stopped a few hundred yards from a patch of open land, gazing out over the field thoughtfully.

This is where Father died, right here...Sesshoumaru thought as he started walking. And Inuyasha was born right here, only a few scant steps away...Izayoi was dead, but Father brought her back to life.

Sesshoumaru looked up, seeing the sloped cliff that he had so often visited in the far distance, a mere shelf from here.

That was where Father stood when he talked to me, and I stood right behind him...I thought that taking his swords from him would be the only way to stop him...what a fool I was back then...

Sesshoumaru stood there quietly, contemplating something deep in the recesses of his mind for a while before finally turning away. He headed back towards the direction he had left his companions, giving one final thought to his father's last stand.

And after all was said and done, he was stricken down anyways.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So, what do you think? Please review and let me know! It makes me so happy when people review! Even if you hate me, I would still enjoy reading your review! Well maybe not if you HATE me, but you can still review anyways, because that's the joy of reviewing! I would love to hear any comments, criticism, and even flames. However, flames are subject to my erratic temper, so you've been warned. Of course you don't have to read anything if I go and get mad at you so that's perfectly fine! So please review! You'd make me very happy! -insert appropriate smiley or emoticon here-